Posts Tagged ‘dog harnesses’
Gift of Adoption
If you read the newspapers or watch the news you have a slight idea of the animal abuse that occurs day in and day out. It is a never ending battle of what the American Humane Society fights daily.
I am taking a hint from the American Humane Society and asking that if you are thinking of adopting a pet for a family member or friend, please remember that it is a huge decision to take on your own. You may have the best of intentions to rescue an animal in need but if the receiver of that gift that does not appreciate the gesture than it is more heartbreaking and confusing for the animal to have to return the adoption center.
The best way to give the gift of adoption is to wrap a dog collar, dog toys or a horse halter in a box and present that as a gift with a card. In the card let them know that you are giving the gift of adoption to them at a time when they can visit a shelter and choose the best pet for them.
Providing a gift in this way is providing happiness for both the animal and the person receiving your gift.
Check out www.americanhumane.org for more information on adoption.
Pet Holiday?
Just a quick question for everyone.
Do you do anything special for your pets during the holidays?
I know we usually have special gifts and we hang a stocking for them. Maybe its the time of year to give a new collar or leash. Or maybe even a special new halter.
Canine Wheelchair
I am in the process of developing a new wheelchair for dogs. I have found, after having to purchase one for my dog Charlie, that it is a very expensive tool. There are also very few brands to choose from ranging from$300-$575. My thought on this topic is that it is not at a price point that most can afford. To think that you would possibly have to euthanize your pet because of a medical condition that can be assisted is absolutely heartbreaking.
I would like to ask a few questions from others that have had this experience or those that may soon face the need to purchase a canine wheelchair.
1. How much would you pay?
2. What are some concerns (i.e. portability, weight, etc)?
3. Would it beneficial to have it size adjustable?
Let’s Play!
I started working with Dogs and Horses at a very young age. Was taught to ride a horse and how to barrel race, which was a blast. Had some of those horses that, I will just say, were a challenge. But, whether it was training a horse or a dog the agility was the most important part.I will talk about the very first dogs I trained for agility, Duke and Dolly. Duke was a mix and Dolly was a german shepherd. They were so patient with me.
I started out with wooden poles and blocks of wood and tires. I didn’t have the great equipment they we have now. It probably took me a little longer than normal to get them to do things because all I wanted to do was play with them and pet them. It was really hard for me to be stern about anything, especially at a young age. But when they did what they were expected to do it was the most amazing and thrilling experience. Using the products that I do know makes it a little easier because they don’t cause the injury, to me or my dogs, as my old equipment did.
Massage for Your Dog?
I remember about 10 + years ago I began a new part of life and started attending massage school. I had to go at night because I also had a full time job. Well…I also had a family and 7 dogs to care for. So I get home feed the entire family and then go to school. I usually got home around 11pm. By then I was absolutely tired. I made the mistake (?) of giving a massage to each of the dogs one night when I got home. After that it was…a habit? No sooner did I walk in the door, of course I had to put the dog collars and dog leads on all to give them a walk and then all of the dogs lined up to get their daily dose of massage. It was great and they were so patient waiting for their turn but by the time I finally got done it was well past midnight. I know they like the special touch and the connection I was making with them but I was getting worn out.
10 years later SURPRISE!! I have now found my new best friend…a dog bed that has heat and massage, all in one. I am absolutely in seventh heaven and so are the members of my dog family that I have left. Miracle is 15 years old now and has a hard time walking due to a lot of health issues and she is always trying to find a comfortable place to lie down. I think now I am going to get the dog bed for Baby and Marina now. They still get a dose of massage periodically, but I get to bed a little earlier now.
Energy Work for Animals
I was wondering if anyone else has ever performed Reiki or any other kind of energy work on their pets.
Since I began providing massage many years ago, I found that energy work was just another stepping stone to provide a noninvasive treatment to my pets. It seemed to lessen their arthritis symptoms and actually helped to enhance their recovery after surgery. It was also just another way to provide that special bond. It was also an amazing thrill to be able to provide a noninvasive treatment to those horses that are not use to the touch that massage entails.
The best thing about the energy work is that they don’t have to be tied up with leads or leashes, they don’t even need a dog collar on or a halter!
Have Reindeer in Your Own Home
Have you ever seen the pictures of the reindeer laying in the front yard of someone’s home?
Well now you can have one right in your home for the holidays. Take a look at how wonderful your pet could look.
Some of the best pictures for the holidays can be of your dog in great dog apparel. I decided to include a picture of a great Reindeer dog costume to use as an example of a picture perfect moment.
With all of the great outfits available such as dog dresses, dog sweaters and dog coats why not look at this outfit as one of the regulars every year for the holidays. It even includes dog shoes to help keep your dogs paws toasty and dry when going outside. And just look at the antlers!!
They will be the talk of the party during the holiday season and make all the kids smile. I think they will get even more attention than they normally would. Have fun and enjoy the holidays and including your pet in all the activities as well. Hey, maybe he can help Santa in his sleigh!! By the way, all my husband can do is laugh at the dogs in their outfits. Hey, if it puts a smile on everyones face isn’t worth it?
Dog Beds vs The Floor, Which Would You Choose?
As pet owners we treat our pets as if they were family. They eat our scraps of food (oops did I say that), the kids sneak their vegetables to them, or did you think the kids were actually eating them?
I know I want the best for my pets. As they get older it is harder for them to become more comfortable. They get achy too. They have joint problems that make it hard to find a comfortable position to lie down. I have tried to buy simple foam or the egg crate foam, but as many times as I had to buy it, it became more and more expensive especially when I always have so many dogs.
I decided to actually use my money wisely, for a change. There are a variety of beds available that I liked for my friends like the heated dog bed or the orthopedic dog bed that have the memory foam in them. I also found, believe it or not, a bed that is heated and gives the dog a massage! I just have to get one and let you know about it later. I will keep you updated.
Charlie’s Chair Needs A Home
I have written about Charlie before, but I wanted to elaborate further on what his condition is and the wonderful people, besides my family, that helped me through it. Let me first tell you about Charlie. He was a bouncy, furry, loveable little boy. He was always up for chasing a ball or, of course, the squirrels. He would always squeak with joy when you came home. When he turned 8 we noticed that he was dragging his back paws. Then he started tripping over nothing. When we took him to vet he was, basically, “diagnosed” with something call Degenerative Myeolopathy (DM for short). It is a condition that affects the spinal column and basically breaks down the body and systems of the body. We were told that there was no cure. He would gradually deteriorate. The vet gave him a few months until he would have to be “put down”.
Well, I found the best website, www.mzjf.com, that contained a lot of information for me and everyone else going through this. I never realized that it was happening to so many. Their forums were wonderful support and had recipes and medicine (through a Pharmaceutical company) to help slow down the progression.
We bought him a wheelchair in February 2008. That was about 6 months after he was diagnosed. He was in doggie diapers and we used a sling to move him around in the house. He happily used the wheelchair for a year before it was his time to cross the rainbow bridge. I wanted to share this information in case you thought you were alone in this. Feel free to contact me through my website to get information on Charlie’s wheelchair as I have it sitting in my garage waiting for someone who may need it.
I have already found homes for his dog harnesses, orthopedic dog bed and other supplies and his dog toys have been handed down to his sister and “cousins”.
Marina the Bear!!
It seems to me that almost every dog I get, and it has been a lot, has to have an amount of fur that would make a dozen great sweaters or make a multiple amount of bird nests. Marina is one of those dogs. Just take a look at her picture! That’s just her face! All of the dog collars I have used seem to disappear in her fur.
I have tried all the newest concoctions out there. No matter what I do she always winds up with the knots behind her ears or the mats under her tail. And we won’t talk about the mess I found this weekend on her hind end. Its fall and it seems she is so furry that I couldn’t see all the leaves she had gathered while going to the bathroom until after she was in the house. Just wonderful. I spent over an hour just brushing and combing her hind end that I never made it to the front or belly. I guess I have to work in stages and maybe one day I can get it all in one day. Wish me luck.