Deserving of Prison. . .

I don’t think so. I came across this great site with photos of shelter dogs. Waiting at a shelter near you!

Shelter Dogs

What is Humane Treatment?

This is not an easy subject and still a bit raw personally. I feel the need to share. . .

I love that there are no-kill shelters. That is WONDERFUL!

They are full. All of the local shelters are full. What’s next for the dogs whose last stop was the local shelter and hopefully a no-kill one that is full? They are being abandoned along with their abandoned homes. It’s a difficult choice to make for their humans. An almost impossible one. So, leaving the dog behind or dropping them off in a neighborhood leaves more options for the dog, right?

Consider those options. . .starving or dehydration. Becoming ill and not having medical care. Being hit by a car. Feeling abandoned and lost without a clue of how to find food and water. Looking for a familiar face.

Those are a few of their options. Maybe someone will pick them up and bring them home. That someone may already be over their dog limit and financially strapped but feeling guilty to let this one go.

What are your options — keep your dog until you find a home or shelter that can take it. Don’t just put an ad in the local paper – ask rescues, ask friends, ask anyone. It’s better to experience a little sadness about re-homing your dog than the sickness of leaving them somewhere unsure of their future.

Ok – here’s the tough part. There are worse alternatives than humanely helping your dog go to sleep for a very long time. Most people have difficulty with death as is evidenced with our treatment of humans. It is far more humane to know the fate of your dog, than to leave it to chance or someone else.

I say this because I get a lot of calls from people who want to know if I can take their dog or help them find someone who can because they don’t want to take them to a shelter. There is a much better chance of adoption through a shelter where people are actively looking, than anywhere else. If, the choice has to be made by the already-over-filled shelter to “put your dog down” after a specific period of time, on behalf of your dog, I’d like to say there are worse things.

I hate writing this. I hate that dogs are euthanized by the thousands daily. What choice is there as long as people don’t spay or neuter their pets? That’s only part of the problem. The dogs that are being abandoned now may have been spayed and once came from a shelter. They deserve nothing less than humane treatment.

I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions.

Help! Stop My Dog From Digging

You’ve heard me say that dogs bark. I have some bad news. . .they also dig. Some enjoy the smell and feel of dirt as it is flying in the air and their bodies get dirtier as they become more engrossed in their task. Some breeds enjoy burying treasures in the yard so only they can return to them later.

Here are some reasons that a dog digs:

• To make a cool place in the soil where they can relax
• They are bored and it seems like a good thing to do
• Instinct says, “What are you waiting for man, there’s earth to uncover! You might find something to eat”
• They are young and goofy and everything is fun
• To bury a bone or toy for later
• They are certain they can get the rodent that just entered it’s home

Here are a few things to stop or at least detour your dog from digging:

• Put their poop in the hole they just dug
• Sprinkle cayenne pepper in the hole
• Give them a place to dig that is theirs. Frame in an area or use a kiddie pool and fill it with sand. Bury some of their bones to encourage them to dig there.
• Train them to stay away from the area where they dig by teaching them boundaries

If they are being left outside all day while you are at work and you come home to holes in the yard, this is a good indication of boredom. Another dog to play with might help (that could go either way – help with more holes or help with the boredom!) If you don’t give them something to do, they will find something.

Dog Yawns When He’s Nervous

It’s no secret that the animal shelters are overcrowded and euthanizing dogs by the hundreds on a daily basis. I want to introduce you to someone that ended up in a shelter (numerous times) and kept getting overlooked.

This post is dedicated to one of my shelter rescue named Sammy. Here he is. . .notice the yawning. Just like a nervous human, Sammy yawns when he is the focus of attention and doesn’t know what to “say.” Maybe he’s camera shy. He’s never too shy for a belly rub.

Stop by a local shelter and see how you can help. The smallest contribution will go a long way.

Here’s a site worth sharing with wonderful adoption stories.

How to Find the Best Dog

When looking for the right dog for your family, here are some important considerations:

• Size does not indicate temperament; i.e., don’t get a tiny dog because you think it will be a lap dog and love being cuddled or a large dog because it will be a good watch dog.
• Because a dog is in a shelter does not mean that it won’t be an amazing family pet. A lot of them were family dogs and don’t automatically come with behavior problems.
• When you are getting a dog from a breeder, ask to see the parents or at least one parent of the puppy. A reputable breeder has nothing to hide. It’s good to see the puppy’s environment.
• Learn about breeds, and while it’s good to do your research, don’t trust it 100%. Meet the dog for yourself. Ask about this particular dog rather than believing “everything you read!”
• Contact a trainer/behaviorist, rescue organization, etc., for guidance and take your time finding the right dog for your family.
• An older dog can make a wonderful companion without all of the work of a puppy.
• Don’t get a dog because it’s “free.”
• Don’t get a dog because it’s “expensive.”

I’d be more than happy to assist with additional information and help in finding the best dog for you and your family.

How to Tell Which Dog is Dominant

Dogs are definitely obvious about being dominant or their attempts at dominance by posturing and stance. Once you know what to look for, their exchange is a learning experience. As long as everyone is cooperating and show signs of being accepting to one another, I don’t intervene.

So, in the morning I put the dog bowls down — now five. And, I observe. I leave the room briefly and return to see that Moby, the 10 lb. yorkie mix is eating out of the extra large bowl intended for Violet, the Great Dane. I stood quietly and then realized that Violet was eating out of the ashtray-size food dish that is intended for Moby!

I couldn’t help but laugh but also be aware that since Violet is the newest member of this pack, she was following orders nicely. . .or was she? What may have looked like Moby took over could very well have been perfectly fine with Violet because there could be something in his food bowl that isn’t in hers.

I had a good laugh and then respectfully directed them back to their own bowls. They didn’t care, and I’m sure were quite satisfied at knowing that kibble was the entree for both of them (and the others).

Later that evening, I walk into the living room and guess what? Moby is lying in the middle of the largest dog bed while Violet looks at him in earnest silently looking for a sign or blessing from Moby that he’d either share the bed or perhaps consider an exchange for the bed that fits Moby.

Once again, I respectfully, intervene and make them move to their appropriate places. They listen and respond to me, but it sure is entertaining to watch the dynamic as they vie for the position of dominant dog. (Don’t tell them that will ALWAYS be me!)

Dog Wins Lottery

Not a lottery you want to “win.” I wrote previously about the dogs who are victims of foreclosure. I inquired with local shelters and the numbers of dogs are definitely up. I heard a news report that referred to it as epidemic. While I’m usually annoyed by news hype and propaganda, for this term I was glad. Maybe people will begin to see the importance of spaying and neutering their dogs. It all starts there.

I went to a local shelter yesterday. I guess I’ve realized that the pain it costs to see first hand how many dogs are “up” is an education I need. I spoke with a guy who said that this is definitely the worst he’s ever seen it. Dogs are being surrendered by their families on a daily basis due to some form of hardship. Some of the reasoning is still due to lack of training and the challenges of housebreaking.

I asked the guy what dogs were on “death row?” He was silent for a moment and then responded that he didn’t like to put it that way. I asked him if that’s not true. He explained that they pick the dogs daily. Usually there are a number of them who wouldn’t be adoptable and the others just won the lottery. Perhaps they have been there for awhile and need to make room for others.

While it is humane and a peaceful passing and for some dogs this may be the end of a not-so-good life, it could be prevented or at least lessened. Hey, we all die at some point so what’s the big deal?

The pain of the dogs’ lives prior to their passing is the big deal. Some go through hell. The Humane Society and shelters aren’t at fault! They are a wonderful organization that is there to promote and support the welfare of animals. They hate that they have to make the choice to kill these dogs.

It’s sad that the government has to legislate spay and neutering because WE won’t be responsible enough to do it. We want puppies! We all love puppies! Unfortunately, dogs end up in the shelters when they aren’t so cute and manageable.

It’s about training for the humans as much as the dogs. If you have concerns with your dog, contact a trainer. I know I’d be happy to answer questions and give assistance. It could mean the difference in your dog staying with you or going to a shelter.

If you must surrender your dog, attempt to find a good home without the assistance of a shelter. They are overbooked and underfunded. There are a lot of good dogs waiting for their forever home and a lot of good people looking for dogs. Let’s all do what we can.

SUBMIT DOG!

I so appreciate Cesar Milan’s approach and instruction on being a calm, assertive leader. What I see a lot of are loud, anxious, demonstrative, wanna-be-leaders. And, I’m not talking about the dog. =)

In observing the introduction of dogs to one another, there is a posturing but not a lot of noise. Usually, the noisy one is attempting to demonstrate their authority. I’m not sure that the alpha/leader in the group isn’t amused by the interaction while appearing tolerant.

Remember that when you are demonstrating authority to one or more dogs, that you do it with intention and presence of mind rather than as a reaction and in fear. Think of something that you really KNOW and then bring that same level of knowing to BEING the authority with the dog. They WILL get it as soon as you do.

Lap Dog

. . .but, I wanted a little lap dog. That’s like wanting a lap cat. There is nothing inherent in a dog’s size that MAKES them want to be a lap dog. I know a lot of Golden Retrievers, Pit Bulls, and Great Danes who are wonderfully, huge lap dogs. I also know lots of Yorkies and Maltese who will avoid your reach because they aren’t interested in always being nestled on your lap.

I imagine that there are a lot of little dogs released to shelters or going from home to home because they aren’t lap dogs. And, there are probably cats given away because they are considered too needy when what you wanted was an independent pet who didn’t care if you were around.

If you want a lap dog and yours doesn’t quite fit that characterization, relax and give it time. Don’t grab at them or chase them down. Let them be and when they come to you, praise them, but don’t reach out. Let them get close to you on their own.

If you keep grabbing at them they will approach with caution and stay just far enough away that you can’t possibly get them. Believe me, they learn very quickly that your next move will be an attempt to convince them that they really ARE a lap dog but haven’t yet experienced the joy of being smothered by you. If given time and patience, your dog may decide that being near you isn’t so bad.

The moral of the story – if you don’t have the dog you want, want the one you have!

Gotta’ Get Rid of The Dog

These are words I hate to hear.

Unfortunately, 171,229 dogs are feeling and living the impact of that statement and that’s just on http://Petfinder.org.

I know that they’re “just words.” Just words. . .”get rid of”. . .I think that there are a lot of things we can all get rid of and none of them would even closely resemble a dog. I’d like someone to be able to look in the eyes of their dog and explain exactly what “getting rid” of them means.

There may be a lot of reasons that a dog should be re-homed or helped in other ways due to a consideration that is in the best interest of the dog. I am very grateful that I have my dogs, and while I’ll have them with me for the remainder of their lives, I’m not their first home.

It’s not that there can’t be some synchronicity at play that brings the right dog to us but that’s a completely different story than a dog that someone chooses to get rid of out of an inconvenience. Some dogs are fortunate to have been loved by several families and have always known a loving environment. Some haven’t. Someone got rid of them.

Maybe you or I will be lucky enough to be loved by one of these dogs.

http://petfinder.org/