I think the title of this article is a little presumptuous, but it does have some fascinating information.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27240370/
From http://www.solidgoldhealth.com/news/
October 13, 2008
Due to some instances of mold growth in a single batch of Tiny Tots, we have decided to voluntarily withdraw the entire production run from the market. We would like to assure our customers that there have been no reported serious health effects on dogs that have consumed Tiny Tots from this batch.
If you have a bag of Tiny Tots with a Best Before date of April 2009, please return it to your retail store for a full refund. No other batches of Tiny Tots or any of our other jerky treats are affected.
Solid Gold is committed to producing the healthiest food, treats, and supplements for your pet. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please contact us at 800-364-4863 or online at dane@solidgoldhealth.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Fanklin, Tennessee -- September 12, 2008 -- Today, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella serotypeSchwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects the United States.
To see the entire article, click here.
This is one of those things most people don't realize, but I've always found fascinating. Watch your dog a little closer next time he takes a drink and you can see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWlVbgCKjkk
This is a fascinating paper written by Janice Koler-Matznick on some less familiar theories of the origin of the dog.
"The most widely accepted hypothesis of the origin of the dog, Canis familiaris, is that the dog is a domesticated gray wolf, Canis lupus. This paper reviews the evidence for this conclusion, finds many unanswered questions and conceptual gaps in the wolf origin hypothesis, and explores the alternative hypothesis that the most likely ancestor of the domestic dog was a medium-size, generalist canid."
For the complete paper, visit http://newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org/Tidbits/OriginOfTheDog.pdf
You'll need a copy of Adobe Acrobat to view the paper.
I haven't had a lot of free time to make any blog entries lately, so I thought I'd just mention a few books I've found very helpful. There are a lot of good books out there, but these are some of my favorites:
For the Love of a Dog by Patricia McConnell
The Other End of the Leash by Patricia McConnell
How to be Your Dog's Best Friend by The Monks of New Skete
The Art of Raising a Puppy by The Monks of New Skete
The Hidden Life of Dogs by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
The Intelligence of Dogs by Stanley Coren
Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. Q: Which foods could be dangerous for my dog? A: Some foods which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs because of their different metabolism. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. The following common food items should not be fed (intentionally or unintentionally) to dogs. This list is, of course, incomplete because we can not possibly list everything your dog should not eat. For the complete list, click here. |
I was interviewed this morning for "The Woman's Show" on KFRU. The program will air this Saturday at 6:00 am and again on Sunday. They told me 7:00 pm, but the website says 6:00 pm, so I'm not quite sure.
Either way, check it out this weekend on KFRU, AM 1400
I had my Brittany in the store the other day and someone asked if I thought they should get a Brittany. I told her that a Brittany was not for everyone and it was important that you find out about a breed in comparison with your lifestyle and needs.
The Animal Planet website has a great survey that recommends a breed or breeds after you answer 10 questions. I would not run out and buy or adopt what this survey recommends right off the bat, but it's a good place to start your research.
Personally, according to the survey, I should have a Curly-Coated Retriever or a Spinone Italiano. Brittanies have a low 90% compatibility for me, but I can't imagine having another breed.
Visit Animal Planet and try it out.
This is something I wrote for my personal site several years ago and I think it is probably the most important information I have to share.
As a general rule there are 7 postures that can tell a person how a dog is feeling:
| 1. The Play Posture. This is characterized by the dogs front end being down and his back side being up. The tail is erect and most likely waging. The ears will likewise be erect and the dogs mouth may be open with his tongue exposed. |  |
| 2. Relaxed Posture This is indicated by the ears up and relaxed (not forward) and the tail down and relaxed. The mouth may again be slightly opened with the tongue exposed. |  |
| 3. Alert Posture This is seen in the ears being up and forward, the mouth being closed and the tail being held straight out but not bristled. The legs are tense and the dog leans slightly forward. You may also observe the dog raising and lowering his head. This indicates an unsure submissiveness with the lowering of the head and curious alertness trying to catch sight and/or scent of the intruder. Be sensitive to this dog's posture and approach slowly if you must approach at all. |  |
| 4. Dominant Posture The most obvious trait in this posture is the bristling hair most noticable in the shoulder area and the tail which will be raised. On closer inspection (take my word for it and don't approach this dog) the hair is raised all over the body. The dog's nose is wrinkled in this posture and the teeth are bared. The dog's ears are raised and forward and his stance will be slightly forward. The dog will probably be barking or growling but may not be. DO NOT APPROACH THIS DOG! TURN SLIGHTLY SIDEWAYS TO THE DOG AND BACK AWAY SLOWLY WITHOUT LOOKING THE DOG IN THE EYES. EYE CONTACT IS CONSIDERED A THREAT OR CHALLENGE. |  |
| 5. Defensive Posture Just like people, no matter who you are or how you act there will be someone who doesn't like you. This is seen in the dog's body being lowered, the ears back and the tail between the legs. The most obvious trait in this dog is also the hair being raised. When a dogs hair is on end he should be avoided at all cost. This dog can turn to dominance or aggression in an instant in an effort to protect itself. |  |
| 6. Scared Posture Looking at this dog you will notice the dog may not look directly at you for very long if at all, the body is lowered, the ears are back and the tail is down, again in an effort to make himself look as small and unopposing as possible. The dog make lick you and the corners of the mouth are back. The dog may also raise a paw. This is not always a trick the dog has learned, I believe it is a submissive gesture that makes it easier for the "antagonist" to turn the dog over into a totally submissive posture. |  |
| 7. Submissive Posture This is the most obvious because the dog will be on his back or side with the top legs raised exposing his belly and throat. This dog too will avoid eye contact, the tail will be between the legs, the corners of the mouth pulled back and ears and hair will be down and back. Dogs identify themselves by scent and to identify himself there may be an expulsion of urine. If you have a dog that does this, don't scold him because it reenforces your dominance and is actually encourageing the behavior. You should have a well behaved dog and maintain your authority, but the dog should feel confident and relaxed around you. |  |
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