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Posted on June 1, 2010
I can’t believe I almost missed it. I was featured in the Manhattan Mercury today. I hope I will still be able to find a copy or two somewhere tomorrow!!!
Posted on May 16, 2010
I like the rain. Usually. It’s great for playing in puddles and walking the dogs when no one else does. But because of the rain a photo shoot I was looking forward to had to be rescheduled. So let’s hope for better weather next weekend so I can meet 3 beautiful great pyrenees siblings who are being reunited for the first time after they left the animal shelter.
Meanwhile, we have gotten a new foster last week. And believe it or not, she already got adopted this weekend. Sweet little Olivia now lives with her new family in El Dorado, Kansas.
Posted on April 27, 2010
My freezer is full of pork necks and chicken parts. Because for almost a week now I have been feeding my dogs raw meat. And I am excited. And my dogs are even more excited!
Just a few perks this has already: 1. I don’t even think about what kind of chew toys I could get them next, because the bones left from their meals keeps them plenty busy (and their teeth healthy). 2. I don’t dread picking up poop anymore, it became small and ODORLESS! But I still have a foster that is being fed “vet recommended” food and her poop still stinks. Literally.
After two weeks, I am supposed to notice a significant mental and physical change in my dogs. I will keep you posted. For now I wanted to review a few books I have read on the topic. If you are interested, all of these books are rather thin. I think I read each of them within one or two days. And I am not the person who usually reads books within days. More like weeks… or months 
My favorite is called “Work Wonders” by Tom Lonsdale. It is my favorite because it is easy and written by a vet. My second favorite is also easy and straightforward, but not by a vet and I can’t help but trust someone with credentials a bit more. Although concerning nutrition my trust in vets in general is shaken. But this one is great! He is not afraid to tell you that raw meat will reduce your vet bills. Makes you wonder if other vets recommend crappy food to make sure their patients keep coming back!? Anyway, as I said, it is easy and straight forward. Don’t be put off by the silly cover. Read it and start making your dog happier! (Right now it is actually on sale at sitstay.com)
The second book, which I also like very much is called “Raw Dog Food” by Carina Beth MacDonald. She write from years of experience with raw feeding her own dogs and because she wished she would have had a book like that when she started. And it really is what she wants it to be. Simple guidance to feeding your dog better.
The third book I am not too excited about. It’s called “Pet Food Nation” by Joan Weiskopf. She is a nutritionist and I have an affinity for nutritionists. I LOVED my (equine) nutrition professor and I love the topic of nutrition in general. And if you are looking for a book to tell you what is wrong with commercial pet foods than I would almost recommend to read her book. Almost, because in my opinion she goes a little far in the alternative she suggests. She does not recommend feeding raw but cooked meat and veggies. And I’m sorry, but I don’t even cook for myself every day. I am still looking for something that is not too time consuming while healthy for my dogs. And I find her reasoning against raw food pretty iffy in light of the many people who successfully feed raw.
So that’s it so far. I will keep you posted on my experiences. Feel free to comment with questions or your own experiences!
EDIT 1: Lexi asked about my budget. To be honest, the only thing that held me back from trying raw food in the first place was that I didn’t want to spend more money than I am with my dry kibble. So after reading the books I made some calculations and figured I need to spend no more than $1 per pound of meat on average. And that is what I am doing, I am looking for sales and often the kind of meat you feed dogs (with bones) is the cheaper kind anyway. So no, no dent in pocket. I think with my two 50lbs dogs I am going to spend about $60. Not more than most premium kibble. Actually less.
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Posted on April 7, 2010
… anyone know that joke?
Posted on April 4, 2010
Dog noses are so miraculous. They know so much more about the world than we do. If we could just see all the things they can smell.
(and yes, that hair is on her nose not my lens… I hope shedding time is over soon)
Posted on March 27, 2010
With all the online resources and tools out there, there is one thing I have not found, yet. A dog training planner. There are meal planners, day planners, task planners, financial planners, everything that makes you more effective (if you love planning as much as I do) and I just realized I might be more effective in my dog training with a plan!? So far I have been training my dogs whatever I felt like that particular day. Whenever we take classes, I start to get a little more structured and driven. For the time period of that class I have someone to hold me accountable and whom I can show my improvements to. Of course, I can always show our new tricks to my husband but he would be okay with no training, too.
I love blogs like the Go Click Challenge or The Dogs Are Really In Charge, where dog owners keep track of their progress and actually work towards goals they set. To be honest, though, I have enough trouble keeping this blog updated. So I set up a spread sheet with all the commands my dogs know (or should know) and made columns like “just started”, “at home”, “outside”, and “with distractions”, so I can track my own progress with each dog. But it really reminds me of the days when I tracked my budget and spending in an Excel sheet. And I don’t want to tell you how that worked out.
I really wish I knew someone with programming skills. I would develop a program that tracks your progress, lets you set timely goals, even gives you tips on training and once in a while suggests a new fun trick to teach. Until that happens or someone comes up with it I’m just gonna keep dreaming… and training with a spread sheet.
*Laura, from The Dogs Are Really In Charge suggested a site that tries to accomplish what I have been thinking of. Its Sue Ailsby’s Training Tracker. She gives you several levels of training which all consists of tasks and commands your dog needs to master. Her explanation of how the task needs to be fulfilled by the dog is very detailed, but the way of how to train your dog to do that isn’t. So you have the freedom to train any way you want. Love it! Her levels are explained here. Thanks Laura!*
Posted on March 12, 2010
I am excited that we are going to be able to offer Pet First Aid Classes in Manhattan. Thanks to the Red Cross, who provided us with training, equipment and the location for our first two classes, we can help you be better prepared for emergencies. Classes cost between $25-30 and include a book and DVD for either dog or cat first aid. All proceeds go to the Red Cross (first two classes) and the Riley County Humane Society (future classes).
I am going to keep this post updated with the latest schedule. You can view it at anytime through the Links button above!
April 10th, 2010. 10am – 1pm at 2601 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan. (This class is already filled)
May 1st, 2010. 9am – 12pm at 2601 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan. (Sign up here)
More events will be scheduled soon. Check back for updates or contact me to be notified of the next class!
Posted on March 11, 2010
Yes, I do have a good reason for slacking. My husband is about to deploy. I will be back to the regular posts shortly after.
Posted on March 1, 2010
Remember Charli?
I posted her pictures last week. We took her in after Animal Control picked her and another boxer up somewhere in town. I was told that she is scared out of her mind and just needs to get out of the shelter until a rescue picks her up or we can find an adopter. She obviously has had one or more litters before, so they assumed she came from a puppy mill.
I have never dealt with or heard any details about dogs from a puppy mill before, so what I expects was a shy dog. Not this! We’ve had her for a week now and if I get her out of the door into the backyard on my first try I’m excited. I’m going to be honest, it is frustrating. And after I get mad at her and realize it is not her fault and getting mad just makes it worse then I get mad at whoever did this to her. REALLY mad. Like I want to cry and hurt that person. A LOT.
For everyone who also has not dealt with a dog like this before, let me give you a couple of examples. Charli has no idea that this world out there is fun, that other dogs are to play with and that people want to love her. She runs almost every time we approach her, if anyone else comes over she hides only God knows where. She is scared to walk on our kitchen floor, because she learned right away that she will slide in case she has to run away really quick. She won’t walk out of the back or front door unless we all (meaning me and all other dogs) go out there. She won’t come back in if anyone is standing within ten feet of the door and definitely not if that person is turned toward her or is looking at her. When we take her on walks (after she didn’t throw herself around like an alligator anymore) she only walks behind ALL of the people that come with. Once in a great while she will attempt to run with the other dogs only to look back after a few steps and realize that she ran in front of us and has to get back into her place ASAP (makes me wonder if the theory of dogs having to walk behind their owners just means the dog is scared out of his mind about what would happen if he doesn’t). And she has absolutely no idea what praise is. Kind words and treats are lost on her and she likes to be petted but first you have to get close enough to be able to touch her.
If I would have done a little more research on puppy mill dogs before, I probably would have spared me the frustration… or at least expected it. Here is what the ASPCA write about what to expect if you adopt a puppy mill dog: “It’s not uncommon for an unsocialized dog to hide under a couch or table for days or even weeks at a time, only coming out to eat and drink at night.” Compared to that Charli is a brave little soul.
So how can you help fight puppy mills:
1. DO NOT EVER BUY FROM A PET STORE unless you know the dogs are coming from a rescue group. And if they do they will NOT cost several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
2. Adopt!
3. If you want to buy from a breeder, make sure he/she is responsible.
4. Be careful about offers on the internet. Instead check petfinder.com where tons of humane society advertise their dogs.
Find more details about how to fight puppy mills on the ASPCA website.
More information about puppy mills can be found here on the ASPCA website.
Posted on February 28, 2010
There were two hints today that make believe very strongly that Spring is on its way. And please don’t tell me otherwise, because I need to get out of this winter depression!
So, in search of good news I bravely went to weather.com today and found clue no. ONE: several days with sun and 50 degrees in our near future. And then clue no. TWO: after a long time of only one paw on the daily “Comfort Index” for pets I finally saw TWO. And I have proof. Please allow me draw your attention to this unshapely red circle I drew for you over there on the right!
I’m simply going to ignore that the comfort index for Weatherford, TX, where I lived only a year ago, is four paws…
Want to get the PetCast for your town? Go here and enter your zipcode. It is also going to tell you the best times to walk your dog. What a handy feature for the hot summer! (or cold winter, but we are not using this word anymore!!!)