Help Our Pets through Disaster - San Diego Fire Storm 2007

By Linda Lee
It has truly been a week full of anxiety here at home, living through what has come to be known as San Diego Fire Storm 2007. Though we were among the fortunate to discover our home had been spared, night after night of following the dramatic news footage has really made me rethink the special place our pets and animals play in our lives. As heart-breaking as it was to watch so many homes lost to the fury of wildfires in Southern California, it was even harder when I realized that many animals and pets were left behind during the evacuation process. My dog Sugar, a Bichon Frise who turned one year old earlier this month, was stressing out the moment he smelled smoke in the air. We knew we could not stay long.

We live in Carmel Valley in San Diego. Starting late Sunday afternoon, 10/21/07, I noticed the smell of smoke coming from outside. Soon, the sky started getting dark and we realized that it must be a nearby fire. Sugar did not to want to go outside and began following us very closely, a behavior we know fondly as the Sugar Shadow. By Monday morning we watched the news tell us that the fire had gotten much worse over the long night and that our area was being evacuated. With my asthma being a very serious concern, we decided to get out of town where the air quality was not affected by the fires.

We found a pet-friendly room at the Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa on 10/22/07 in Palm Springs area. This was Sugar’s first hotel stay. Despite how lush and beautiful the hotel was, Sugar remained alert and woke up with every noise. When housekeeping was cleaning the room next to us, our normally calm little cotton ball wanted to bark. The poor little guy was not able to eat regularly or take care of business on his short walks.

Unfortunately, Westin was sold out for Tuesday night 10/23/07. There were many people coming from San Diego to get away from the choking air. They recommended that we try to stay at the Las Palmas Resort which is another pet-friendly place, so we called and booked a night there. Unfortunately, we found Las Palmas to be roach friendly as well. We found a large cockroach in the middle of the room when we woke up the next morning. Fortunately we found it before Sugar! It was difficult to walk Sugar around the resort as grass at both the front and back of our room were dead with major renovation. We discovered that they started work at 7am with construction sounds waking us and Sugar up. This was disconcerting as they never notified us that this would be happening when we checked in… After 2 nights at Palm Springs, we were ready to come home.

Sugar was really happy to be home yet with hesitation to go outside due to poor air quality. We have since watched more TV coverage relating to San Diego Fire Storm 2007 and saw news about animals or lost pets. Our hearts go to all fellow pet owners and pets. We urge people to donate to the San Diego Humane Society’s Fire Storm 2007 to help with animal rescues and reuniting pets with their owners. While watching our own little guy, Sugar, deal with all the smoke, moving around and disruption to his life, we truly empathized with the struggles of the countless pets and animals and how they must have fared through this ordeal.

We love our Sugar and would love to extend that love to all fellow pet lovers!!!

Linda Lee is the founder of Sugar Paww, a company specializing in the most adorable pet gift baskets for our beloved dogs and cats. For more information please visit www.sugarpaww.com

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Photographing Your Dogs

By Suzanne Vandegrift
So you want to put Fido up on the family portrait wall. With a little planning and a fair amount of time and patience, you can get some great photographs that are definitely worth framing. So, the first order of business is to get your equipment and photography site ready. You don't want to be concerning yourself with these details during your photography session. Make sure everything is charged, enough memory cards or film, lighting is good, and let friends know you'll be unavailable for a couple hours to avoid distractions.

Recruit one or two of those friends to help you in your quest. If they have pets, offer to take pictures of their "family members" after you become a "pro", with their assistance. If it's necessary for them to hold the pet for a specific shot you really want to get, try to have them move out of the area quickly just before you snap the picture. With digital photography, it is possible to edit them out of the picture if they have to hold the pet.

Set your photography site up with your pet in mind. If you have a spunky, playful, never-still puppy, don't try photographing him sitting quietly on a pillow next to the fireplace. What you'll more than likely wind up with at the end of your photo session will be a lot of images of the puppy leaving the area and a very frustrated you. Have the setting fit the pet. If weather permits, find an outdoor location that will enhance your photographs and allow your pet's personality to shine through.

The eye is the same for your pet as it is for people. Using a flash will cause a reflection in your pet's eyes and they will appear to glow or possibly be a greenish color. The closer you are to your pet, the worse the reflection. Whenever possible, do your photography session using natural light. If it's just not possible, and you have to use a flash, the reflection can be removed from your photographs using a special pen.

Just as the child photographer may carry props in her camera case, such as the teddy bear, to make the baby laugh, you can pack your pet's favorite toys in your camera case to help get them to respond the way you want them to. If you want to get an action shot of your puppy, toss his toy and snap as many pictures as you can as he bounds after it. If you're photographing a mature dog that has been trained and try getting him to "stay" with perhaps a chew toy or a bone. Use a toy that makes noise to get his attention drawn in the direction you want him to look. Often noises can result in your pet looking puzzled or curious, which can produce some priceless photographs. Again, take as many pictures, as quickly as you can, before he decides he's movin' on.

This is also another opportunity to experiment with different lenses for different effects. So pack your camera case with your camera and accessories, throw in Fido's favorite toy and a few dog treats and head out to that beautiful lake or your backyard rose garden to get some cherished photographs to hang on that family portrait wall.

Suzanne VanDeGrift has developed this article for M-ROCK.com, manufacturer of feature packed and functional digital camera bags.

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The Real Truth About Commercial Dog Food

By Dawn Smith
They say dog is mans best friend. What if he’s just eaten the arm of your sofa or helped himself to the roast turkey in the kitchen? But seriously, this is all part of raising your pet and all part of the fun (not at the time but you can look back and laugh). Just like any other member of your family you love your dog in spite of (and because of) his or her quirks, this is just part of their personality and what makes them so special.

Now obviously you wouldn’t want to give your pet roast turkey as a menu option but what should you be feeding your dog? Have you given it much thought? Many people are very quick to pick up the cheapest can of dog food off the supermarket shelves and not batter an eyelid. On the front of the tin it may say "succulent turkey and diced rabbit", but have you turned it around to see what’s really in it? This is something I am now very careful of and I’ll tell you why.

I once owned a cat named Billy. I used to buy him pouches of food and biscuits (brand named) from the supermarket without much thought until one day, I was absentmindedly reading the ingredients lists on the back of one of the pouches. That’s when I read "3% ash"! I re-read it just in case I’d made a mistake but there it was plain as day, ASH. It was then that I decided to pay far closer attention to what I fed Billy. This prompted me to do a little research into cat and dog food and find out what other surprising ingredients could be found in certain varieties. The first thing that came to my attention (and I didn’t have to look very hard) was the fact that it isn’t just the cheap label dog food that contains some awful ingredients. Large well-known and respected companies are using some of the things you are about to read in their pet food, which is why I developed www.yourdogsdiet.com to offer pet owners advice on how to feed their pets correctly.

First of all we have butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytolulene. These two chemicals are known to cause kidneys problems. Next we have Propylene glycol. This can destroy red blood cells. We also have things like Coloring agents ,drying agents, flavoring agents, lubricants, and texturizers.

What is often referred to, as "meat and bone" meal is actually the leftovers from meat used in human food products. All the left over parts of the dead animal are (along with all the other mess and waste is around) made into dog food. This could be lungs, teeth, chicken feet, intestines and even diseased animals. So what happens to all this before it is tinned and labelled "succulent tender healthy dog food"? Well, the whole pile of mess is cooked up on a high heat for up to an hour and left to cool. At this point the animal fat is skimmed from the top and what’s left over will be dried and pressed. It is not my intention to scare any pet owner but it is important to educate yourself with regards to your dog’s health and welfare. By feeding your dog the right kind of food instead of the rubbish that companies are somehow still allowed to sell, you will not only keep your dog healthy, but besides – You could save a fortune in vets fees.

If you want to know more about the reality of pet food or how to avoid feeding your dog the awful mix that is bags and tinned for supermarket shelves then visit Dogs Diet for helpful and practical advice.

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Diseases That Can Affect A Basset Hound Dog

By Richard Cussons
Now matter how hard you try to keep your Basset Hound dog healthy, he is still susceptible to some diseases that could hinder his normal activities. The best armor every Basset Hound owner should have is the awareness of what these diseases are and how it can damage their dog’s healthy condition.

Knowing your enemies is the best way to fight them! Below are some of the diseases listed in order for you to know who your enemies are.

Arthritis – Arthritis is mostly suffered by most large dogs. Basset Hound dogs can acquire arthritis because of their odd bone structure. Activities such as too much running and prolonged up and down jumping can cause dogs to develop arthritis. Dogs with arthritis need a soft bed. An old mattress, a soft couch mattress or a 4 inch foam rubber is good. It also helps if you avoid letting your dog do strenuous activities, only gentle and regular exercise to meet their daily exercise requirement. Regular exercise prevents dog from becoming overweight thus decreasing the load their bone carries.

Torsion – Torsion is oftentimes described as a twist of the stomach or when the stomach’s end flips. This causes the stomach not to allow food in, and if not treated properly, the stomach dies causing the dog not to eat. Dogs suffering from torsion must seek veterinary help immediately for treatment and therapy. Not all animals with torsion are treated because this disease develops quickly causing the animal to die. So Basset Hound owner must focus their attention in preventing their dogs from acquiring this disease. Feed your dog at least twice instead of one large meal a day and he should not be allowed to drink large amount of water after eating. He should as well not be allowed to play and indulge in strenuous activity before and after eating.

Bloat – Dogs usually fed once daily are most likely to acquire this life-threatening condition. Factors of bloat can be gulping air, drinking large amount of water and doing vigorous activities after eating. See your veterinarian immediately once you bloat is suspected. Measures to prevent bloat are almost the same with torsion.

Basset hounds also referred as scent hounds, are short-legged breed of dogs that are bred to hunt by scent. Because their nose is close to the ground most of the time, it picks up parasites, bacteria and some viral diseases. Their long and floppy ears have a tendency to get odorous so cleaning them properly is necessary to prevent ear wax from building up and cause ear infection. Cleaning your dog’s ears 2 to 3 times a week with a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide is recommended.

Now that you are aware of the diseases that could possibly affect your dog, all you need to do is make sure that they are protected against these diseases. That’s the least you can do for this breed whose main aim is to please you and other people around him.

Richard Cussons is a great lover of dogs. Discover more about Basset Hound dogs at bassethoundsavvy.com.

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Dog Training Basics For The Average Person

By Sean Grady
Congratulations on the purchase of your cute little puppy. Now you can love it and spoil it as your own child. Your new pet will need you and depend on you for many things. It is important to remember that owning a dog also means there will be responsibilities. A dog, like a child, needs proper care, attention, and training. Your new dog is an extension of your family and needs to learn to fit in and live by the house rules. Just as you would want your kids to be well behaved, your dog is no different. I have some very simple and useful training tips to help you along the way.

It is best to start training your puppy earlier rather than later. The best time to start is when your puppy is between six and eight weeks old. You would not wait until your own child turns five before you start the training process. Can you imagine starting potty training when your child turns five years old, yuck!

It is also important that you educate yourself with various dog training techniques. I am not suggesting that you immerse yourself by going back to school. However, there are some very simple techniques you can learn that won't cost you an arm and leg. I have found some very useful books online that will teach you basic techniques and outline simple training schedules. The level of performance your puppy will achieve depends on your ability to be prepared. It is best to follow a simple and methodical plan. Your puppy will learn best with step-by-step instruction. Always keep it simple so it is fun for both of you.

The reward system is ranked the most effective training tip by professional dog trainers. This needs to be the foundation for all types of training whether your puppy is potty training, leash training, or simply learning tricks. Using positive reinforcement will increase the effectiveness of your training schedule. Be sure that you reward your puppy when it reacts positively to the training. An effective, not excessive, reward system will produce quicker results as your puppy achieves higher levels of success.

During your initial training your puppy will have accidents in the house. Don't worry, this is will happen it's natural. Contrary to old school teaching, you do not need to rub its nose in it! This is not the the an effective technique. This is as far away from the reward system as you can get. The best thing to do is to immediately take them outside and show them where they need to go. You do not want to create a fearful training environment. You want the training to be effective and not counter productive. Not using the reward system will make the entire training experience frustrating and exhausting.

Persistence and repetition are necessary attributes you need when training your new puppy. Remember to be patient, don’t expect your puppy to learn after one short lesson. You need to keep at it. Training your dog is an ongoing process and the biggest reward will be having a well behaved dog. It should be fun for the dog as well as you.

Now the rest is up to you, begin applying these techniques and enjoy and love your new puppy. Visit my weblog at http://ez-puppydogtraining.blogspot.com/ where you can find more great dog training tips for free.

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