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INTERNATIONAL AKITA DAY

Pet Safety Crusader — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:00:58 +0000

https://japandaily.jp/hachiko-incredible-story-loyalty-love-friendship-5075/

On March 8th, in 1935, the world lost an iconic canine. Hachiko, the beloved Akita whose fame arose from his unwavering loyalty to his owner, Professor Ueno, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on this day 87 years ago!

March 8th has now become a day that Akita parents celebrate this amazing breed. We remember all of the Akitas who have touched our hearts, now and in the past.

The Legendary Akita, Hachiko

Hachi was born in a barn in Odate, Japan and traveled via train to Tokyo as a gift from one of Professor Ueno’s students. The day he traveled, a large earthquake shook the region but Hachi made it safely and met his new master with whom he became inseparable. Each day, the man and dog would walk together to Shibuya Station where the professor boarded a train for the University.

One tragic day, Hachiko accompanied Professor Ueno to the train but at work, the professor suffered a stroke a passed away. Hachi waited as usual for his best pal to arrive back in the evening, but Professor Ueno did not return. Hachiko continued to visit Shibuya Station every day and tirelessly waited for the remainder of his life until on March 8th, 1935, the ever faithful dog passed away at age 13.

Hachi’s loyalty demonstrates the trait seen in the breed to this day. Those who have loved an Akita Inu know firsthand, the unbreakable bond that exists even beyond life. My husband and I can speak to this wholeheartedly having loved 5 Akita family members and suffering good-byes with 4. They are always in our hearts…

SUSHI, our 1st Akita The Lady BONSAI

Unforgettable, HAIKU the Chikita (chow-akita), forever love, Princess KIKO and our current sweet girl, WISHY!

About the Akita

Before bringing an Akita into your heart and your home, please learn about the breed to make sure this special dog will be the perfect match for your family for his or her lifetime!

Grooming

The Akita is a double-coated breed that ‘blows coat’ (aka sheds) twice a year for about 3 months at a time. Hair, hair, everywhere! Their coat requires regular grooming, at least twice weekly brushing can keep the shedding to a minimum and bathing can help your Akita feel and look his or her best! Nail trims too are very important as is brushing their teeth.

Exercise, Training & Socialization

Akitas must often be tricked into exercising although mine have always loved their daily walks and hiking in new places. Afterwards, they are often happy to relax. Many do have a high prey drive that is difficult to train out of them, so always walk your Akita on leash and have a secure fence at least 6 ft. high. Don’t however leave your Akita alone in the yard. They are very loyal to their people and like to be with them. Like other breeds, some like toys and some do not. Often the squeaky toys interest them due to their prey drive. As for throwing the ball…you Akita just might retrieve it, but I wouldn’t bet money on it. Your Akita is more likely to look at you as if to say, “You threw it. Go get it yourself.”

Obedience Training

Every pet parent thinks their breed is their smartest, and Akitas are no exception. A highly intelligent breed, they are also very independent and need stimulation and motivation to work. They will defy you, even use their big paws like suction cups and note move, if they feel what you are asking is not worth doing. Akitas PAWSitively can be trained and should be taught to work nicely on-leash, come when called, sit for a treat, stay and leave it, but you may just have to get a little more creative to show your Akita why it’s in their best interest (aka reward) to obey.

Socializing

When in the correct home with the right people, an Akita is a wonderful addition. With that being said, mixing them with kids and other dogs is an important consideration to carefully weigh the pros and cons before bringing one into your home.

Akitas can live harmoniously with children under some conditions. For example, kids that are a little older and have been taught how to properly respect and interact with animals may provide the right environment for an Akita.

As for other dogs, you must take into account that Akitas can be dog aggressive. Some Akitas can do well with dogs of the opposite sex. Others may be happiest on their own.

When introduced and brought into the family young, you can have success with your Akita integrating into the home with another dog of the opposite sex. Of course, it is possible to do it when they’re older, but you must be prepared if it turns out that the two dogs cannot live harmoniously together.

Having a plan is important, and understanding that Akitas can be dog aggressive, especially at maturity is important to know as well.

Nutrition

Akita Personality Traits

The personality of the Akita is different than that of other breeds. Not all breeds are built the same and come with their own sets of traits that make them unique and desirable to different groups of people.

If you’re looking into the Akita, it’s important to ensure that you’re prepared to live with a dog that has a mind of its own and isn’t afraid to use it. Here are some personality traits to consider when it comes to the Akita.

Loyalty

One of the most common traits to associate with the Akita is their loyalty. Loyalty has become synonymous with the Akita since the famous story of Hachiko.

Today, we can still see loyalty in our Akitas. They are very much loyal to their close families, those that they live with.

Typically, they get more attached to one member of the family a little more than the others. But rest assured, an Akita will protect the household if there is a threat.

Affection

Akitas are not overly affectionate. They typically won’t seek out cuddles and love, but will often be tolerant of it when it comes to their family. In all honesty, once an Akita bonds with you, you might be amazed about how soft and lovable the dog becomes

It’s important to be able to read your dog’s body language so that you know when you’re being imposing, or when they’re willing to accept it.

Akitas will often give you all the love and attention when you come home, but you’ll notice it start to waver quickly after the initial excitement.

Akitas often show their affection in other ways as well. They may linger near you or lay at your feet. They may also turn to you when they’re hungry or want to go outside.

These actions show that they are comfortable and happy to be with you!

Protection

The days of the Akita being used as a hunting dog are long behind us, but that doesn’t mean that they still can’t work. An Akita is a wonderful choice when it comes to keeping watch over their homes.

Protection of their home, family, and territory is in their nature. If a stranger enters your yard, you’re going to know about it.

While this is a highly desirable trait to have if you’re looking for a dog that will keep your home and family safe, it can be a double-edged sword if you don’t have control over it.

To keep in control of your Akita’s protectiveness, early socialization is a must. A great way to do this is to have your Akita on a leash when you have visitors to your home.

While it may be perfectly acceptable to you for them to give a few warning barks, it’s good to have them calm down quickly and accept the stranger into your home if they are welcomed.

Keeping them on a leash allows you to be in control. If they are not behaving properly toward the friendly stranger, try leading them away to calm down first. Once calm, reintroduce them to the stranger and try again.

Remember to reward them for good behavior!

This is just one method that you can try. Working with a great trainer that’s familiar with Akitas and their traits is another good option too if you’re not seeing progress.

Keep in mind that an Akita knows how to protect and will do so when needed. It’s your job as their owner to let them know when someone is not a threat and manage their behavior.

How Are You Celebrating International Akita Day?

On the day of Hachiko’s death, we celebrate the love that we have for our Akitas. Today, I’ll be remembering Professor Ueno, Hachiko, and Sushi, Rex, Bonsai, Haiku and Kiko while I will love and embrace our Wishy!

Hachikō is known in Japanese as chūken Hachikō (忠犬ハチ公) “faithful dog Hachikō”, hachi meaning “eight” and -kō which originates as a suffix once used for ancient Chinese dukes; thus, Hachikō could be roughly translated as either “Mr. Eight” or “Sir Eight”. A few years back, I literally took the number 8 as my mantra for the year . The numeral 8 is a circle on top of a circle. If you have a strong foundation, you can face the world. I can write so much about the number 8 but that is for another blog. Today…if you share your life with an Akita, spend special time together. If you have never met a dog of this breed, take away from this that Akitas are an often misjudged breed and if you take the time to know one, your life will be forever changed. On International Akita Dog Day, a day that honors loyalty and nobility, every pet lover wants to give their Akita a special keepsake. Why not choose Custom Enamel Pins Canada to capture this deep bond? You can incorporate the Akita’s iconic features and your pet’s birthday into the design, etching a personalized mark on every moment spent together.

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7 Tips That Will Improve the Health of Your Aging Pooch

Pet Safety Crusader — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:26:02 +0000

Watching your dog grow old can be a slow and gradual process that is hard to come to terms with. Your senior dog may not be able to walk as far, or play as much as he used to, but this doesn’t mean that he isn’t the same dog you have always loved. Even though your older dog is slowing down and sleeping more often, he will still love you just as much, and will rely on you more to help him age gracefully. In order to remain healthy and comfortable, you will need to make changes to your senior’s lifestyle and meet his new needs. There is no better time to start than the present, so here are 7 tips that will improve the health of your aging pooch.

Protect Joints

Many dogs become slower and less flexible during their old age and will struggle with joint pain and discomfort. You can help to protect joints by continuing to take your older best friend on short, but regular walks and helping maintain a healthy weight. Feeding your dog joint care supplements can help to slow down the progression of joint conditions and improve mobility. YuMove has a selection of products designed with joint care for dogs in mind. These tablets contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which help to lubricate joints and reduce stiffness in older dogs.

Don’t Stop Exercising

Even if your dog naps a lot and takes his daily walks a bit slower, keeping him active is vital and will improve the health of your aging pet. If you don’t exercise your elderly dog regularly, muscles become weak, which will lead to him being able to walk less and less over time. Walking an old dog frequently will keep his joints flexible, maintain a healthy weight, reduces inflammation and pain, promotes tissue regeneration, aids digestion, and more…exercise also stimulates the mind!

Adjust The Diet

Adjusting your dog’s diet as he grows older is important. Your dog should be eating high-quality food that is well-balanced and suits his current life stage. For example, many pet foods have a senior variety, which contains less calories and extra vitamins to support your aging pet’s health. Changing your dog’s food takes time and should be discussed with your vet. Don’t just drop the calories on your own because if you have an active senior, he may still need those calories whereas if even a younger dog is a couch potato, he should consume less. Each dog is unique however, if your dog is gaining or losing weight without you trying to help him do so, you must speak with your dog’s second best friend – his veterinarian!.

Monitor Temperature Extremes

Temperature extremes can be difficult for an old dog. When the temperatures heats up during the summer, your senior pet will be more susceptible to heatstroke compared to a younger pet, so you should provide them with plenty of shade, fresh water and go for walks when temperatures are low. The cold weather can be dangerous during the winter. It makes joints stiffer and can put them at risk of developing hypothermia, so you should provide them with a warm indoor area when it’s cold.

Clean Their Teeth

The health of your dog’s mouth is just as important as any other part of their body. Studies show that dogs who have regular dental care, live longer than those who don’t. Just like people, there is a link between poor dental health and certain diseases because the bacteria in the mouth travels through the blood stream and throughout the body. Bad teeth and gums may prevent your best friend from taking in good nutrition. You should brush your dog’s teeth 3-5 times a week using a dog-specific tooth paste. Dental chews and raw bones (just make sure they don’t become a choking hazard) are also effective at removing tartar and plaque, which will keep your elderly dog’s mouth healthy. Remember, bad breath could be, and usually is, a sign of a serious health problem.

Regular Health Checks

Regular health checks are essential when it comes to monitoring the health of your senior pet and checking for early signs of disease. Older dogs should see their vet every 6 months, unless your vet wants to see your dog more often. You can also perform health checks on your dog at home. This includes feeling for any lumps or bumps, monitoring their speed and agility and their eating habits, checking their eyes, nose, ears and mouths for any changes, and keeping them well-groomed.

Watch Their Eyes

You may have noticed that your dog’s eyes are no longer as bright and clear as they used to be. They may have become slightly glazed over and have a grey/blue tinge to them. This is an eye condition known as Nuclear Sclerosis and is often mistaken for cataracts. Even though the lens appears cloudy, the dog will be able to see quite well. However, if your pooch begins to walk into things, this could be a sign that something more serious is going on and you should arrange a vet appointment at once.

Elderly dogs are less demanding than younger dogs and are a pleasure to be around. By following the above tips and any advice given to you by your veterinarian, you will improve your senior pet’s quality of life by improving their health as they age, and continue to enjoy life together into their golden years.

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Enrichment Creates the Bond of a Lifetime: One Dog’s Journey Using His Eyes, Ears, Nose, Paws and Tongue

Pet Safety Crusader — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 19:53:47 +0000

At age 15 years, 2 months and 15 days (that’s about 95 in human years¹), I could not feel more blessed about the time I’ve shared on this earth with my best pal, Haiku the Chikita (Chow-Akita mix)! This bundle of fluff with almond-shaped eyes came into our lives when only 6-weeks old, so we’ve spent more than 15-years together! In that time, we have grown together and created a life-time bond.

Prior to this moment in time, my husband and I usually adopted senior dogs, but having lost several over an 11-month period, the rescue I volunteered at encouraged me to care for this young pup, knowing good and well that we would become inseparable. How right they were! Found wandering the California desert, Hi-Coo (we later changed the spelling to the word for a 3-line Japanese poem), must have been scrappy to survive coyotes, crows and rattlesnakes in the July heat. Lancaster Animal Control, part of Los Angeles County Animal Services, placed the pup in a kennel with a litter of mixed breeds until the Director of an Akita Rescue, bailed him out and placed him in my hands.

A very young Haiku helping with the gardening.

Since Haiku was the first young dog I had cared for in several decades, I realized I had been offered the gift of helping him live his best life by encouraging his exuberant personality to shine. Enriching his life with a vast array of experiences, nourished our connection and created the bond of a lifetime. My first step however, was to move beyond my human brain and truly understand what is important to the canine species: his different priorities and uses for his 5 senses and his basic instincts.

Enjoying exercise together!

Exercise & Manners Lead to Exploration

The journey began with helping Haiku to become a well-behaved family member. Numerous articles² on the web spell out negative behaviors that a lack of exercise can lead to:

Destructive chewing, digging or scratching
Investigative behaviors, like garbage raiding
Hyperactivity, excitability and night-time activity
Unruliness, knocking over furniture and jumping up on people
Excessive predatory and social play
Play biting and rough play
Attention-getting behaviors like barking and whining

I learned from dog trainer and co-owner of Thank Dog! Boot Camp, Jill Bowers, that a good dog is a tired dog, and not only did I want Haiku to behave, I hoped he would be healthy and well-conditioned by physical exercise. So, at sunrise, 5-days a week, my work-out partner and I would head to Burbank’s Johnny Carson park to practice manners and get physical. Haiku’s joy for life was apparent to all, and you can see it in his smile which garnered him the “money shot” at the end of this video³ when we thank our workout partners!

In addition to sunrise activities, we were lucky to provide Haiku with a large fenced yard in which he, his brother and sister, could run to their hearts’ content, always under human supervision, just in case there was a misstep. His puppy-hood was an exciting time to observe ways in which the other canine family members molded Haiku, teaching him manners and behaviors, enriching his learning and play, and a lot about the pecking order of the pack.

Haiku idolized his big brother.

Mr. Rico (black Labrador) taught him to “raise his leg” outdoors. Haiku idolized Rico and followed him to every corner of our yard sniffing and marking. Along with playing a nurturing big sister role, I was amazed at how my Lady Bonsai (pinto Akita) took on the role of disciplinarian when Haiku’s play got too rough.

Big sister Bonsai helped Haiku understand his place in the pack.

I did seek other outlets for Haiku (and all my dogs) by taking him to a variety of locales: parks, the beach, public events, and enrolling him in additional obedience training classes, 1) to socialize him to dogs outside his pack, and 2) to keep his brain sharp by reinforcing skills learned. One such training was with Sit Stay Good Dawg where my best buddy achieved his Canine Good Citizen⁴ status. Explains Haiku’s trainer, Cyndy Wood⁵, CPDT-KA, “Training enhances communication and the relationship between dogs & humans. When a dog learns their basic manners and advances learning to CGC and beyond, there are more opportunities to experience life with their human. Well trained dogs can accompany their humans to brunch at outside eating establishments, go to street fairs and enjoy hiking on public trails. ” And that is what Haiku did! Obtaining his CGC expanded my best buddy’s world and mine as together we did many things most dogs and humans don’t experience together.

Brain Stimulation

Specializing in senior dogs, I knew that early cognitive enrichment could potentially protect my best buddy from age-associated dementia. A 2019 study⁶ at the University of California at Davis showed signs of cognitive dysfunction in 62% of dogs age 11 and older, so I vowed to continue stimulating Haiku’s mind, along with his body. Helping his eyes, ears and nose experience as much as possible. Over the years, we refreshed obedience skills, traveled from coast-to-coast, stayed in hotels, attended conferences, dined in outdoor cafes and hiked many a trail where sniffs vastly varied. We tackled games and taste tests, and I put him, by my side, in a number of situations that challenged Haiku’s abilities to interact and behave appropriately (i.e. photo shoots, appearing at packed conventions and even on television).

Waiting to be served…

Let’s explore why this enrichment is so doggone important, and why I chose to make sure every sense my boy has – smell, see, hear, taste and touch — was stimulated.

What Zookeepers Do

Considered the gold standard in animal research, the San Diego Zoo places great emphasis on enrichment. Senior zookeeper, Kelly Murphy⁷ feels enrichment is key to preventing boredom in any animal, and as already cited, a bored pet will display unnatural behaviors which can be either destructive or aggressive in nature. Murphy explains, “It’s really easy for us to just give animals their food and walk away. But it’s actually been shown that if an animal is presented with food completely free with no obstacles, versus that exact same food presented in a way that requires some sort of problem-solving behavior to get at it, they will choose the harder option to use their brains.” The name for this is contrafreeloading⁸, and it’s something humans do as well. Most people value the stuff they work harder to obtain than those things that come easy.

Tim Sullivan⁹, Curator of Behavioral Husbandry at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, adds, “Lowland gorillas spend half their day foraging for food. Even though, in a zoo environment, we can provide all their calories in pellet form that they can ingest in 20 minutes, that doesn’t meet the animal’s behavioral needs.” Therefore, the zoo scatters and hides much of their food to encourage foraging behavior.

Dogs need this sort of activity too because behavior-based enrichment stimulates a dog’s mind and movement by piquing their curiosity. Since dogs live a cushy life with their humans in a sort of ‘captivity,’ it is important for us to recreate experiences a wild dog, free of limitations, might experience and to an environment that resembles what his brain, muscles and senses were originally designed for. As an example, in this video¹⁰, you can watch how Abba, the Andean Bear, pretty much destroys everything she is given. The challenge is to keep her busy with new things. That was my Haiku. I would buy the doggone cutest toys, and in a snap, the stuffed animal was disemboweled and button eyes were separated from each other however, according to the Curator at the Denver Zoo, Emily Insalaco, “It’s only enrichment if it encourages behavior.” I guess Haiku’s stuffies were sacrificed for good cause, but I did take care to observe and choose toys that could longer sustain his torment without pieces causing him harm.

That famous quote¹¹ from William Cowper’s poem, “The Task” (1785), “Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor,” became my mantra to help Haiku flourish.

Olfactory Enrichment (The Sense of Smell)

Deemed the most important of all canine senses, a dog’s nose is considered the gateway to his world. With 300 million receptors¹² (humans have 5 million), a dog’s nose is 100,000 to 100,000,000 times more sensitive, and the part of the canine brain that analyzes smells is 40% larger than the comparable part of the human brain. Dogs can therefore detect scents that completely escape us. To put this in perspective, James Walker and colleagues at the Sensory Research Institute at Florida State University, devised this analogy, “Let’s suppose a dogs’ sense of smell is just 10,000 times better than ours. Comparing that to vision, what you and I see at 1/3 mile, a dog could see more than 3,000 miles away, and just as clearly.”

Norwegian dog nose expert (I bet you didn’t know there was such a thing) Dr. Frank Rosell¹³ is then right in saying, “A dog that has lost its sense of smell is no longer a dog.” This speaks to me in necessity of providing a multitude of sniffs in creating a full life for our canine pals.

Understanding the Uniqueness of a Dog’s Sniffer

Side Slits allow a dog to harness his sniffing power. The front nostrils take in air while the side slits let him exhale without disturbing the scent particles he is trying to take in. The way the exhaled air swirls out, in fact helps usher new odors into the nose and allows dogs to sniff continuously. Bioengineers at Pennsylvania State University¹⁴ are working to reverse-engineer the canine nose to aid in the design of artificial noses that can potentially sniff as well as man’s (and woman’s) best friend can.
Dogs shift from right nostril to left until they become familiar with a scent, then one nostril takes over depending on the scent. For example, the right side of the dog’s brain is associated with intense feelings, such as fear and aggression, so if your best buddy gets nervous at the vet’s office, he might shift to using just his right nostril.
Sniffing independently from each nostril also allows a dog to zero in on where the scent is coming from.
Dogs have a second olfactory system that humans do not. The vomeronasal organ (sometimes referred to as Jacobson’s organ) picks up pheromones.

Haiku’s sniffer never failed him. When playing the “Cup Game” where I’d put a treat under one of three paper cups and swirl them around, he found the prize on the first try each time! His favorite though, was when his dad would scatter a few treats on his bed and have him enter, with lights off! Almost immediately we’d hear the crunching as he sniffed out his nighttime reward.

Ocular Perception (The Sense of Sight/Vision)

The retina collects light for the brain changing light into images our dog see. It is made of rods, which detect motion and dim light, cones, which detect color and brightness, and the tapetum lucidum which is like a mirror reflecting light.

Cones & Color – Dogs have only yellow and blue-to-ultraviolet light cones. This makes red appear green, similar to people who experience red-green colorblindness. They also cannot tell pink, orange, yellow and green apart, so buying your pooch the same toy in various colors is not as enriching as providing various types of toys.

What helps your dog muddle through less differentiation in color is that he relies more heavily on his sense of smell and hearing, so yes! Enrichment is multi-sensational! Additionally, brightness and movement override their attention to color, so if the toy moves, it is likely to be a hit, at least for a while.

Tapetum Lucidum – Our dogs’ ancestors were crepuscular, meaning they hunted during dawn and dusk when prey is active, yet light is dim. Therefore, dogs see four times better than humans in less brightness. Additionally, they have a reflective layer behind the retina. As light passes through the retina, it reflects off this tapetum before passing back through the retina allowing both rods and cones to receive even more light. The resulting reflection is what gives our pets’ eyes that glow from the flash of a camera.

Field of Vision & Motion

Our furry friends also have a wider field of vision. Most humans see 180° in front while dogs see about 240° varying by breed. Increasing their world view is the fact that animals see things more quickly. Humans, dogs and cats see in a series of very quick still photos as the retina takes a fraction of a second to receive light and translate it into an image in the brain. For us, this happens about 60 times per second, but for our pets, the processing occurs between 70 and 80 times per second, and this is why dogs rarely miss a catch. When a ball is thrown, it takes your dog a fraction of a second less to see where it is going. Flicker fusion rate¹⁵, is why some pets don’t show interest in television. They actually see the gap between images, so rather than a moving picture, TV appears like a quick slide show of still photographs to them. This perception of motion may be the single most important factor separating predators from prey. The additional rods that our pets have in their eyes allows them to spot the slightest movement, the wave of a hand a ½-mile away, for instance. Yet, sometimes they’ll miss a still object a few inches from their snout, unless the scent is intense.

The sight and sound of toys can draw out the natural behaviors of going on the hunt, chasing, and dare I say, disembowling the creature (Haiku excelled at the last part), but from what we learned above, a range of toys, not just different colors, provides the chance for your pooch to mix it up.

Auditory (The Sense of Hearing)

Paws down, most would rate smell as the #1 most important canine sense, but a close second may be hearing. If you could hear what your dog hears, you would have a superpower! Dogs use their ears to listen for prey and listen for danger, so it is tuned to high-pitched squeaks and rustlings. No wonder Haiku never missed the opportunity to show up in the kitchen when potato chips or candy bar wrappers are opened.

Music does soothe the savage b[r]east!

Dogs hear 67 Hz–45,000 Hz¹⁶ while humans, 20 Hz–20,000 Hz, but what does that mean? I found an app on my phone camera that vocalized animal sounds, to be an excellent way to get Haiku to pose for a photo. The cat meow always perked his ears and so did the quacks! Since dogs can hear a wider range of noises, including ones too quiet for human ears to detect, when enhancing your dog’s auditory sense, it is important to keep in mind:

Jack hammer hurts humans 130+db but 85+ hurts dog ears
Barking dogs at a shelter 85-110dB
Ultrasonic flea collar sends out pulses of sound 30-50Hz

Taking sound to a different level, really more for the human, but…allowing your dog to have control of his needs is good for mental health. A great example is to provide a bell or other noisemaker, and train your dog to ring it when he needs to answer nature’s call. You could provide different sounds for play, a toy or when doggie wants a treat. One of Haiku’s long ago brothers, Rex, excelled at bringing his dad and me the frog stuffie, the squirrel stuffie or the frisbee on command.

Gustation (The Sense of Taste)

According to Fear Free® guru, Dr Marty Becker¹⁷ , “There is no more noticeable sign of a happy dog than a wagging tail, but there’s no better way to get that dog to wag than to open a bag of treats!” A symbiotic relationship exists between the mouth and the tail! Shares Becker, “When I first started Fear Free®, we had a rookie’s pantry of only freeze-dried liver and Honey Nut Cheerios. Now, we have a super power pantry with deli meats, cheeses (including cheez wiz), Fruit Loops and several other sweet breakfast cereals, various freeze-dried meats, Begg’n Strips, baby food, turkey hot dogs, probably five kinds of squeezables, even cat treats for dogs, as well as various canned and moist foods. Whatever will make them wag.”

Even though a dog’s sense of taste is 1/6 as discriminating as a human’s (they have 1,700 to our 9,000 taste buds), dogs have other unique tasting features we do not. Dogs experience the same four classifications¹⁸: sweet, sour, salty and bitter, but they also have taste buds for water. Found at the tip of the tongue, these buds are more sensitive after eating salty and sugary foods. Since their ancestors’ palate experienced 80% meat in the wild, dogs surprisingly do not have an affinity for salt. Sour and bitter equates to rancid or poison, so could be life-saving, but dogs have developed a liking for sweet flavors as omnivores from the fruits and vegetables they scavenged. So why will they graze the garbage or your cat’s litterbox? Smell! Smell and taste are closed connected and dogs can taste food through their palate. The stronger the smell, the more interesting. Oddly, they cannot differentiate between, beef, chicken, pork, or fish without using their nose!

Something I did not try with Haiku, due to our need of working on resource guarding when he had a brother and sister, was to make feeding more challenging by placing his bowl in different locations every day. For some pets, that can add to mealtime fun.

Haiku taste testing pickles!

Honestly, the only thing he ever rejected was raw cauliflower! Someday, in the future*, just before it is time for Haiku to receive his angel wings and halo, I plan to bring a last moment of joy by sharing the forbidden taste of chocolate!

Snout-to-Tail Check-up

Tactile (The Sense of Touch)

Practice at home made Haiku an excellent patient at the vet’s office!

Touch is the first sense to develop¹⁹ and, during your pup’s first few weeks of life, it is the sense he relies on and learns from most. Touch speaks to both your dog touching objects and how he is touched by others. Covered in sensitive nerve endings, the canine body can feel the world around him: a fly landing on his back, the wind rustling his fur, a too hard nip from a litter mate and the human touch.

It took Haiku well into his golden years to settle enough to enjoy the feel of a massage. Belly rubs though, were always a favorite, only treats were more coveted. Brushing away loose hair also stimulates oil glands, so grooming is enrichment. Along with hearing, many experts believe that tough is the last sense to leave our canine best friends, so no matter how difficult, be there for your beloved pal’s final journey. Let your voice be the last he hears and your gentle, loving touch, the last thing he feels.

Action Steps for Your Dog

Shelters too, have discovered the role enrichment can play in making dogs easier to adopt²¹, but as you develop your plan for your best pal, keep just two specific things to keep in mind:

Obedience Training not only keeps the mind sharp but prepares your pup to go where other dogs may not have gone before, and…
The World is Your Oyster! You and your dog can achieve anything you wish. Enrichment does not take a lot of time or money, just a willingness to get creative.

Many of the tips you’ll find in the chart below are easy breezy and inexpensive. Mix it up and get a little of the wild back in your pooch! Let him experience the thrill of tracking prey (even if it’s stuffed), the excitement of finding hidden treats²² and the satisfaction of a doggie nap to recover from all the exertion.

Chart available as pdf by emailing PetSafetyCrusader@gmail.com

Summary

Enrichment does way more than alleviate boredom. I know the time Haiku and I have spent together travelling, learning, exploring and challenging, has created a bond that will last beyond his lifetime. Haiku has truly lived his canine life to the fullest: dipping paws in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, scenting in 14 U.S. states, indulging in room service from Pacific Palisades to Myrtle Beach, and helping his mom demonstrate pet first aid techniques at conferences, on television and for magazine photo shoots (where on occasion, he was reminded of his manners) as well as serving as product tester for my blog. Haiku had his picture taken by Lassie’s Star on the Walk of Fame and in front of the Hollywood Sign. He explored the ‘bat caves’ made famous in the 1960s “Batman” TV Show, and wet his whistle in the famous Cafe Lafitte in Exile after a long walk through New Orleans’ French Quarter. Foremost, Haiku got to be a dog, running, playing, eating, resting, chasing, barking and yes, pooping. He met other creatures along the way: horses, a tortoise, an owl, bunnies, cats, crows and a rattlesnake up close (but not too close like his sister did) and had the joy of being the baby brother to two older canines. He seemed to flourish in later years being doted upon as the only child, so enrichment came in many forms, each experience connecting us more deeply. I strongly feel that seeing sights, tasting flavors, sniffing scents and other ongoing mental stimulation was key to my best buddy remaining in the moment these 15+ years.

A life well-lived with a multitude of experiences!

Of course, I keep in touch with and am forever grateful to that wonderful Wendy Schmerse²², who first placed Haiku in my hands, and recently said, “I remember how tiny Haiku was. He had so much energy, and I wanted him to have the best life. I believe he did that with Paul and you.”

A highlight that melted my heart, occurred at an outdoor restaurant during Haiku’s first stay at a hotel. A young boy came up to my best buddy asking if he could pet him. When I responded in the affirmative, the boy touched Haiku’s soft fur and exclaimed, “He’s my dream come true.” What an incredible thing for anyone to say about another being! Nothing could make me prouder of giving my best buddy a life well lived, and I hope all of you will find that by enriching your dog’s life, you will discover your own life has been enriched as well.

HAIKU FLECK

*AUTHOR’S NOTE: My precious baby boy received his angel wings and halo only two days after this post first appeared. On August 31st, 2020, not only were the last faces Haiku saw mine and his dad’s, but our voices too, whispering our thanks for all the love and memories made together, and YES! Haiku did voraciously gobble two pieces of forbidden chocolate before we bid him adieu. I miss him terribly, but hope he’s getting plenty of belly rubs and pumpkin cookies wherever he is, until I can once again provide those things for him along with a great big kiss on his nose. That amazing bundle of fur is forever in my heart and made my life richer by being in it!

Footnotes

¹ American Kennel Club Staff, How to Calculate Dog Years to Human Years, November 20, 2019.

² KanineFit, Problems with Lack of Exercise or Running.

³ MSNBC Wellness, Thank Dog! Bootcamp episode, October 21, 2010.

⁴ American Kennel Club, What is Canine Good Citizen?

⁵ Cyndy Wood, personal interview, August 29, 2020.

⁶ Maxxipaws, Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.

⁷San Diego Union-Tribune, Zoos Entertain Visitors, Now They Also Entertain Their Animals, Bradley J. Fikes, February 18, 2018.

⁸The Audiopedia, Contrafreeloading, February 1, 2018.

⁹Fear Free Happy Homes, How to Think Like a Zookeeper About Your Pet’s Welfare, Linda Lombardi, July 6, 2020.

¹⁰ The San Diego Union-Tribune, Making the Animals Feel at Home, September 7, 2019.

¹¹ Dictionary.com.

¹²University of Chicago Press, Secrets of the Snout: The Dog’s Incredible Nose, Frank Rosell, , April 2018.

¹³Psychology Today, Secrets of the Snout: A Dog’s Nose is a Work of Art, Marc Beckoff, PhD, April 6, 2018.

¹⁴ NOVA, Tyson, Peter, Dog’s Dazzling Sense of Smell, October 4, 2012.

¹⁵ Herbsmith staff, The Eyes of a Dog.

¹⁶ Petful, How Do Dogs Hear So Well?, Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, June 4, 2019.

¹⁷ Dr. Marty Becker, personal interview, August 2018.

¹⁸ American Kennel Club, Finlay, Katie, Can Dogs Taste?, March 17, 2017.

¹⁹ The Doginton Post, Understanding Your Dog’s (Amazing) 5 Senses, Brandy Arnold, January 26, 2020

²⁰ PetFirst Pet Insurance, Get to Know Your Pet From Snout-to-Tail, Denise Fleck, August 2019.

²¹ The Dog People, Life-Saving Enrichment Helps These Untouchable Shelter Dogs, and Its Good For Your Dog Too, Shoshi Parks.

²² Science Direct, Neurobiology of Aging, Learning Ability in Aged Beagle Dogs is Preserved by Behavioral Enrichment and Dietary Fortification: a two-year longitudinal study, N.W.Milgram^a E.Head^b S.C.Zicker^c C.J.Ikeda-Douglas^a H.Murphey^d B.Muggenburg^d C.Siwak^a D.Tapp^a C.W.Cotman^b, January 2005.

²³ Wendy Schmerse, personal interview, August 29, 2020.

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Living vs Existing

Pet Safety Crusader — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 00:03:03 +0000

www.Pixabay.com

Max was my 16-year-old miniature schnauzer that I found on Craigslist. When he entered my life, he was 7 years old. The story that the “free to a good home” family gave me was that their teenage daughter had a baby, and having a dog was too much for them.

I went to meet Max the same night I found the ad, with no intention of taking him home until I discussed it with my husband. When Max walked into the room, he didn’t take interest in anything. He didn’t care that there was a stranger in his quarters. He didn’t acknowledge his “family”.

My immediate thought was that he wasn’t living, he was just existing.

His human told me that she wanted me to take him that night. He was pitiful, and he broke my heart, I couldn’t refuse.

She gave me his crate and all his paperwork. Later that night as I read through his paperwork, I was surprised to find that he was a champion sired puppy from Blythewood Kennels. There were also sporadic records of problems with his ears. His former owner did tell me that he had a history of ear infections. What I didn’t know was how severe they had been.

The first vet visit marked a healthy dog with exception to his ears. He would often shake his head; when you would touch his ears, he would grimace. Tests revealed a medicine resistant bacteria and also E.coli infection in his ear canals. After several months of trying to find a cure for the infections, it was finally recommended that we see a specialist to discuss a procedure called a TECA (total ear canal ablation). This dog that had only been in our lives for a few months was starting to cost us a pretty penny.

Through all the ear cleanings, ointments, pills, and general discomfort, Max was extremely calm and accepting. He let me touch and massage his sore ears. When something did hurt him, he would let me know with an almost inaudible whine. He never showed his teeth or snapped at me.

After his TECA procedure and the healing that went along with it, Max really came out of his shell. He was now alive! He ran, he played with toys, he looked for us and wanted to be with us. It was like we gave him a new lease on life and he grabbed it with both paws. We were told that he would only be able to hear loud sounds like clapping or vibrations (like a large truck rolling by). It was a learning curve, but we all adjusted.

Fast forward to 2018. Max really slowed down. He had some major unknown health issues in February. He was vomiting and losing weight. He ended up being admitted to the vet’s office for a week to monitor him and to re-hydrate him. When we picked him up, they gave us the terrible news that he wasn’t any better, in fact, he was worse. They estimated he had up to 2 weeks left in his condition. I took him home that night and for the whole weekend I held him and spent time with him. At this point we were giving him anything he would eat. Two weeks passed, then 3. Around 4 weeks we had a scare with stomach bloat. Our boy pulled through that, even the vets were baffled. He was an amazing fighter.

In December of 2018 Max was still with us but he no longer ran or played. He needed to be carried up and down the stairs. He lost his balance when he eliminated and was restless all night long. He looked lost a lot. . . I knew the time was coming and I began to prepare myself. He was no longer living, just existing.

On January 18th 2019, we gave our sweet, little gentleman one final act of love. Not a day has gone by since that I don’t think of him and miss him. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to help him live again even if it wasn’t as long as I had hoped for.

Thanks to Amy Dietrich, a blogger at woofster.net for sharing this personal story. Amy is passionate about all things dogs. She is a strong supporter of several Schnauzer rescue organizations..

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Tips For Choosing The Best Roomba Robot Vacuums For Pet Hair

Pet Safety Crusader — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 02:33:58 +0000

There is an increase in the number of Roomba vacuums sold in the market today, specifically to pick up unwanted pet hair and fur. If you are a first-time buyer, you may encounter some challenges while buying the machine. In this case, when choosing a Roomba cleaner, it is advisable to select a tool which is appropriate for the type of fur your pet leaves behind. The device should be able to get rid of stains, hair, and bad orders left behind by pets. With that said, here are a few factors to consider when looking for the best Roomba for pet hair vacuums:

1. The volume of the machine
If you want a machine with an efficient stain removal ability, you should buy a vacuum with a powerful motor. Devices with light engines are suitable for ordinary dirt, such as coffee spills or dust. For powerful smells and urine stains pets may leave behind, you need a powerful motor to achieve the best results, especially in thick carpets. Also, make sure that the power of the vacuum isn’t too strong for your carpet, so that it won’t damage the rug.

2. Stain insulator
This insulator isolates urine and other wastes away from the tank of water. If you continuously use the machine, you can permeate your carpet with the strong scent of ammonia if you don’t chose the correct model.

3. The capacity of the tank to hold water
It is an advantage to purchase a tool that has a large water tank. It will work more efficiently by reducing the need to constantly refill the tank. Although heavier, it will be a more substantial tool for your needs.

4. The cleaning feature
When selecting the best rug cleaner, you should consider all the necessary features you desire, with reliability and convenience topping the list. You should also choose a model that has appropriate filtration, brush attachments for varying heights of carpet as well as furnishings. Together these make the perfect cleaning.

5. The warranty on the machine
Take care, when operating your Roomba, that you do not breach the terms and conditions on the warranty. Some machines have specifications, determined by their manufacturers, regarding the brands of carpet formula or shampoo that must be used for optimum performance. If you operate the machine with products other than ones designated by the manufacturer and the machine breaks down, the warranty will not cover damages.

6. A cleaner that’s made for pet fur

Choosing the right robotic vacuum for the job is a must. Select a carpet cleaner that is designed to collect loose fur and pet hair without jamming or missing debris. Your rug will stay cleaner, and you will be happier for it.

7. The battery
It is advisable to keep in mind the lifespan of the battery – How long will the machine perform before you need to recharge? Seventy-five minutes is a good ballpark, and a machine with a self-charging feature is a plus!

8. Automated shutoff
As a pet owner, you should purchase a rug cleaner that can automatically shut off. Machines with this feature will shut off should the tank fill with dirty water or become empty, preventing damage to your carpeting.

9. The cost of the device
Do not forego quality when purchasing the a machine to keep your home free of pet debris. Vacuum cleaners are not inexpensive, however do your research and weigh the cost over time against it’s ability to keep your carpet looking like new.

10. The weight and the size of the machine
Most homeowners prefer a light-weight, compact Roomba which is easier to operate and more convenient to store. Nevertheless, if you opt to select a heavy-duty cleaner, keep in mind that the robot vacuum cleaner will be more substantial and capable of getting the job done!

Click here to find out how these products work.

Conclusion
In our homes, pets are held so close to our hearts. They truly are part of the family, however…accidents can happen, even when your pets know their manners. It can be upsetting, but don’t blame the pet, make sure you have the tool to fix the problem! Purchase a rug detergent that will clean the stains and odor, and a machine that will meet your needs at picking up pet hair.

Vacuums and cleaners are essential in keeping ours homes clean and odor-free, and if you choose wisely, they can save you anxiety and unnecessary effort. Therefore, please consider the factors mentioned above which should help you choose the best device to ease your workload, keep your house clean, and make life more comfortable with your furry family.

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ANIMAL SAFETY MONTH 40% off First Aid Classes

Pet Safety Crusader — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 21:28:25 +0000

So excited to share my partnership with Animal Rescue Professionals Association!

For ANIMAL SAFETY MONTH, First Aid & CPR Certificate Courses for Dogs, Cats, Birds, Rabbits & Pocket Pets (Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Gerbils, Mice & Rats) are 40% OFF through October 31st. Successful completion of the exam rewards you with a certificate and badge!

Go to PRODUCTS/CLASSES page on this site and you can click through to ARPA to register. Use ARPA40 at checkout to receive 40% off!

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My Soft Spot…Senior Pets

Pet Safety Crusader — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 20:47:32 +0000

https://mutts.com/2019/08/29/the-senior-dogs-who-transformed-my-life/

https://www.facebook.com/SunnyDogInk/videos/746930982426643/

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Grey Muzzle grants will help save thousands of at-risk old dogs nationwide

Pet Safety Crusader — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 19:53:09 +0000

As the President of the Board of Directors of The Grey Muzzle Organization, I am happy to share this Bow Wow WondeRUFFul news…

https://www.facebook.com/SunnyDogInk/videos/2244644452514817/

RALEIGH, NC— Old dogs and the people who love them have something to wag about this week, as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces $419,000 in grants going to 62 animal welfare groups nationwide. This brings the national nonprofit Grey Muzzle Organization’s total grant funding to nearly $2 million since 2008.

The new grantees, selected from among 236 applicants, will use the funds to help save and improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs in their communities. These grants will provide critically needed medical and dental treatment; foster and hospice care; adoption promotions; and programs that help keep old dogs in good homes.

Here are a few examples of how old dogs will benefit from the new Grey Muzzle grants:

Nike is almost nine, but thanks to daily medication for arthritis, he still enjoys leash-walks and snuggles. A Grey Muzzle grant to Austin Pets Alive! in Texas provides dogs like Nike with the veterinary care needed to diagnose and treat medical conditions, helping them feel better and improving their chances of adoption. Currently in a foster home, Nike is hoping to find a forever family soon.

When Goober, a nine-year-old corgi, needed emergency surgery to remove a foreign object lodged in his throat, his mom turned to the Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE) in San Diego, California. Although she was unable to afford the cost of the procedure, Goober got the surgery he needed and is back to his old self again. A Grey Muzzle grant to FACE will help cover the cost of care for senior dogs like Goober who have treatable conditions, saving their lives and keeping them with their families.

Sometimes, being seen makes all the difference in a shelter dog’s life. After 427 days of waiting for a home, some creative marketing and new photos of ten-year-old Bee helped shine a light on her personality and led to her being adopted! A Grey Muzzle grant to HeARTs Speak in Poughkeepsie, New York, will allow the nonprofit arts and advocacy group to create and distribute a free marketing toolkit for animal welfare organizations to use to help promote the senior dogs in their care.

Graham Greene was found as a stray, wandering the streets of Chicago. Luckily, he landed in the care of Second City Canine Rescue, where he received desperately needed dental and medical care. It didn’t take long for Graham to win the hearts of his foster family, who adopted him. A Grey Muzzle Grant will enable Second City Canine Rescue to provide dental exams and periodontal treatments for 50 senior dogs like Graham, making them healthier, happier and more adoptable.

“Through these grants, many more senior dogs will get the second chance they all deserve,” Grey Muzzle Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer said. “Thanks to our donors, who share our vision of a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid, thousands of at-risk old dogs will spend their golden years in homes with families who love them.”

Here is a complete list of 2019 Grantees:

Animal Rescue, Inc.

Animal Rescue League of Iowa

Asheville Humane Society

Auburn Valley Humane Society

Austin Humane Society

Austin Pets Alive!

Beagles of New England States (B.O.N.E.S.)

Best of Friends Humane Society

Bideawee, Inc.

C.A.R.E.4Paws

Carolina Poodle Rescue

Colorado State University-Pets Forever

Columbia Humane Society

Connecticut Humane Society

Dakin Humane Society

East Coast Corgi Rescue

Fairy Tail Endings, Inc.

Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE)

Friends of Norfolk Animal Care Center

Get A Bull

Golden Retriever Acres Senior Sanctuary

HeARTs Speak, Inc.

Humane Society for Hamilton County

Humane Society of Central Oregon

Jacksonville Humane Society

Kauai Humane Society

Kentucky Humane Society

Knoxville-Knox County Council on Aging (Knox PAWS)

Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center

Live Love Animal Rescue

Lollypop Farm, The Humane Society of Greater Rochester

Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation

Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

Main Line Animal Rescue

Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue

Muttville Senior Dog Rescue

Nevada Humane Society

NMDOG

NorCal Boxer Rescue

One Tail at a Time

Oshkosh Area Humane Society

Pawmetto Lifeline

Peak Lab Rescue

Pets In Need of Greater Cincinnati, Inc.

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Poodle and Pooch Rescue of Florida

Prairie Paws Animal Shelter

Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary

Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc.

Richmond Animal League

Seattle Humane

Second City Canine Rescue

Shelter from the Storm Animal Rescue

SPCA Florida

Stop the Suffering

Stray Hearts Animal Shelter

The Animal Foundation

The Animal Protective Foundation of Schenectady, Inc.

The Heartworm Foundation

Thulani Senior German Shepherd Rescue

Young at Heart Pet Rescue

The Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries and other nonprofit groups nationwide. We envision a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid. Learn more at www.GreyMuzzle.org

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Just Like Noah’s Ark, Gen7Pets™ Cares for Our Animal Friends!

Pet Safety Crusader — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 14:52:11 +0000

Noah and his sons, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock…every creature that moves along the ground and every bird. Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water. All the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. Every living thing that moved on land perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.

Knowing The Pet Safety Crusader, you might think I was leading you in the direction of disaster preparedness after sharing that passage. Well, I am in a way. Today I’d like to introduce you to Gen7 Pet Product. Like the ark preserved animal life after the flood, Gen7Pets mission is to care for our animal friends through product innovation, superior manufacturing and customer centered service.
Their commitment and investment in product innovation has resulted in industry breakthroughs from comfort for pets, to ease of operation and convenience for us pet parents. I must mention here that the products my husband and I tested out for Haiku were lightweight and oh so easy to assemble, fold and stow.

Gen7Pets products include pet strollers, carriers, ramps, steps, cots, travel beds and pet containments for the yard. Their products are all about keeping your pet comfortable and feeling secure while giving us pet parents portable convenience.

It’s the little things that make their products different – and make our lives easier as caring pet owners. Whether it’s a stronger zipper that doesn’t snag or wider, more durable wheels on a pet stroller making for a smoother ride, attention to detail is PAWSome!

I found the fit and finish to be excellent on the products we tested. The products are attractive and their functionality didn’t trump décor. Keeping Haiku safe, as you all know, is of utmost importance to me, but I also want him, especially going on his 14^th year, comfortable!

You can watch a fun video here:

https://www.chewy.com/gen7pets-cool-air-cot-pet-bed/dp/132492

but The Cool-Air Cot® Pet Bed arrived flat, nicely packaged and in excellent condition. It was super easy to assemble. No tools needed. I read reviews and one mentioned the back latch being difficult. I disagree as the directions pointed the way and mission accomplished with ease! All other parts slipped nicely together and the frame is covered to make it not only visually appealing to humans, but I feel alleviates pet fears by making it look continuous, no gaps or edges where your dog might fall off. The fit & finish gets four paws up, and I’m a big fan of the powder coated steel frame. I despise rust and particularly dislike picking up an item (whether it be human lawn chair or pet bed) that has gotten wet from rain or sprinklers only to have rusty water run out of the tubing and down my leg and shoes. Definitely a pet peeve but one I won’t encounter with the Cool-Air Cot!

Made of furniture-grade mesh, it stays cool allowing air to circulate under my best buddy and allowing drainage if left outside in the rain. Since it breathes and stays dry, it reduces the potential for itchy hot spots making me not have to dash for the pet first aid kit.

Pieces easily snap together to create the curved raised back which makes Haiku feel secure.

Other raised beds I’ve seen are flat and give the illusion (actually the potential) of falling off the back. Not with Gen7’s model and it’s ideal for raising him off our hard flagstone patio in his golden years. On a camping trip, your pooch will be able to lay out of the muddy, bug-infested, hot or wet surfaces if he’s resting on a Gen7Pets Cool-Air Cot Pet Bed, and the blue in particular, would look awesome poolside!

The 30” wide medium cot holds up to 60 lbs. (which can be two smaller pups). Haiku tested out the 36” wide large cot which amply held his 74 lbs. frame but can hold up to 90 lbs.

The cots come in Trailblazer Blue and Pathfinder Red.

If I had to offer a suggestion, the only thing would be to make a still larger cot and offer it in a more neutral green or khaki color for humans who want it to blend into their outdoor space. Otherwise, it rocks!

Price: $60 – $75 depending on size

It did take a little bit of encouragement to get Haiku to step on it the first time since it was raised and springy, but all new things can be a challenge to overcome, so patience, perseverance and high value treats can help you and your dog succeed! We practiced and the second day, not only did Haiku stand on the cot, be he then did a “sit” and “down.” Success in three easy steps with three yummy treats!

This was also the case with the Indoor-Carpet Mini Ramp. Haiku was in fact hesitant, even with treats, so a little deli meat and mission accomplished! Anytime you are teaching your dog something new in which his “four on the floor” is disrupted, it can be disconcerting. Take new things slowly with your best pal and don’t lose your patience. Train in short increments and always end on a good note! I started practicing with him on our guest bed, which is lower than mommy & daddy’s bed in the Master Suite.

The first session, Haiku got three paws on the ramp but wouldn’t get that last paw up, but by the end of our second trial the next day, he made it up on the bed. I continued to work with him a little each day, and now feel confident that this ramp will make his life better. Now that he understands, it’s easy to walk up the carpeted no-slip ramp to get in bed and snuggle and also…to get in the back side door of the car where he has his bed and bolsters keeping hi, comfy on car rides which he loves. No more jump ups or downs with his older bones. Haiku has had surgery on both ACLs and is doing great, but as he embarks on his 14^th year of life, his back and other joints are grateful to not be used as shock absorbers all the time.

The ramp is lightweight and easy to open, and holds up to 200 lbs. It’s best use if for heights up to 2 feet while its 42” length folds to 21” to store under the bed or in the back of the car. Gen7 makes other versions to help dogs get into the back of SUVs and even beautifully appointed wooden steps that look like furniture and double as toy bins. Just make sure when using any type of ramp that you have it secured so that it won’t collapse as your canine buddy walks the plank. Argh!

Price: $75.00 and well worth saving my boy’s joints and discs!

Gen7 has strollers, outdoor pens, carriers and commuter bags which have received the Center for Pet Safety’s Seal of Approval! Like the genesis of the company name demonstrates, Gen7Pets is about saving pet lives and enhancing that life on this planet!

Find these and other Gen7Pets products at: www.Chewy.com www.Walmart.com www.Amazon.com

and look for my blog/vlog that showcases the Gen7 Commuter Bag on Pet Safety Day, October 15th and receive a 10% discount via this special link! https://www.amazon.com/gp/mpc/A2DNDS1DN4P5BH

Please catch my VLOG on this topic: https://youtu.be/4tZtrsFLXmE __________________________________________________________

For 20 years Denise Fleck’s Sunny-dog Ink motto has been “Helping people to help their pets,” and she has…teaching more than 15,000 pet lovers animal life-saving skills and millions more on “The Doctors,” CNN, “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life,” Animal Planet and other TV shows. Denise is a frequent conference speaker, developed a line of pet first aid kits and now offers classes online.

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Remembering My Best Friends & All That They Have Taught Me

Pet Safety Crusader — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 19:51:08 +0000

August 28^th is Rainbow Bridge & Pet Remembrance Day. I recall so well the first event of this kind that I attended 24 years ago, just shortly after my beautiful lab Sunny went on to her next chapter in her journey through this universe. Tears streaming down my face with a candle in hand, I walked up to the outdoor podium and told her story…

For our first wedding anniversary, my husband Paul and I decided to become a family. Not in the way you are thinking but by adopting a fur child from the local animal shelter. As we passed Cage #31, a yellow dog with a tail wagging faster than an out-of-control windshield wiper was pressing the side of her face against the metal rungs eagerly trying to be noticed. Her gentle cry and soft brown eyes drew us in while her excitement for life won us over the moment we approached her. We stood there wondering how such a loving canine could have ended up in such a predicament — it was her last day at the shelter before being euthanized.

We adopted that yellow Labrador Retriever, named her “Sunny” for her color and disposition, and she quickly became the sunshine of our lives. Sunny went everywhere with us, and we’d regularly treat her to mornings at the local dog park followed by breakfast at one of her favorite outdoor cafes. Together we participated in dog walks raising money for less fortunate animals, explored the local hillsides and vacationed at dog-friendly locales, but mostly…we just lived our lives grateful we had been brought together. All our friends knew “The Sunny-dog” (as we affectionately called her), and she loved everyone.

When Sunny passed away, it drained my soul. I was so very lucky to have an amazing veterinarian, who was not only adept, but who had an incredible bed side manner. When it came time for Sunny to cross that Rainbow Bridge, he listened with the stethoscope and said that Sunny was “with the angels.” Later on when it became time to say goodbye to other canine family members, veterinarians would listen for their silent heartbeat and say, “She’s gone.” The difference in this approach will never leave my heart, mind or soul and made such a difference for me during that time of transition for my best friend. It also made me cherish the importance of my furry kids’ second best friends.

Sunny was my first canine child, but I had been blessed with some of the bestest best friends during my childhood: I was raised by a Great Dane named Ulysses Polopony who taught me great love and respect for the canine species. Because of him, I’ve never feared large dogs. Dating myself, Uly got his middle name from “The Honeymooners” TV Show in an episode where Art Carney mispronounced Polo Ponies as Poloponies. My dad laughed hysterically and gave Uly that middle name since at 180 lbs. he was in fact a small horse!

Jo-jo the poodle, who I started babysitting while his mom was at work (long before we ever heard the term “pet sitter”) joined our family when his mom “Bootsie” (yes, it was the 60s) decided I would have more time to spend with him than she did. He was my doll baby and let me dress him up and stroll him around. Although I could get away with anything, Jo-jo was jealous of Uly, who had a good 165 lbs. on him, and would bite the poor Dane’s tail when he’d come near a family member. Over the years, they worked out their differences. Still adoring my two dog pals, like most little girls, I wanted a kitten to join in the fun. I sat down with a litter at a friend’s neighbor’s house, and chose the one who wouldn’t let me put her back down. Rosebud Delilah the calico Siamese blessed our lives for 17 years.

We moved when I was 10 to the other side of the county, and a stray white Shepherd appeared in our neighborhood one day. Her story is coming out in a new anthology to be released in just a few weeks entitled, “Second-Chance Dogs: True Stories of the Dogs We Rescue and the Dogs Who Rescue Us,” so I won’t give it away here, but Blondie (pictured at left) truly become another best friend. She would follow us everywhere, swim out to the sandbar in the lake, and then us kids would have to hold her up not realizing dogs couldn’t tread water. What she loved best though was sleeping on the living room sofa. Initially, my dad placed a broom on the sofa when we went to bed at night, but one morning we woke up and found the broom on the floor and Blondie fast asleep on the sofa. It was hers forever more.

Moonshine was my next rescue and to this day, I don’t know her breed. She had an Irish setter tail, but the coloring and markings of a shepherd and hound. She was a love bug and for some reason, she was the dog I would sing to. Every song I knew, I changed the words to suit Mooner. She had come from Baton Rouge to Orlando in the back of a pick-up truck with her brothers and sisters, but she became my “Moonshine, smiling at me. Pretty little Moonshine’s what I see.” (tune: Willie Nelson’s “Blue Skies”)

All of my animal best friends have had a zest for life. If there’s something they want to do, they go for it. They aren’t worried about what others think and never ponder “what if I can’t do it.” They just do it!

Animals work hard…some search, some pull, some herd. Arctic dogs keep their handlers warm. Beagles can sniff out termites. Other dogs detect bombs & drugs and can alert to seizures or drops in glucose.

Cats, well they work hard at grooming, but seriously…they can be therapy cats, mousers and perform other tasks too, but just as animals work hard…they really play hard. We’re only get one go ‘round on this merry-go-round of life, so we’d be wise to make the most of it like our animal friends.

Moonshine was the last of my sibling canines, dogs I loved and cared for with the help of my parents. All of these best pals set the course for my life of loving animals. Sunny however, was the dog who changed the trajectory of my life, making it my purpose to better the lives of animals. She set me to learning everything I could about pet health and safety which I share with all of you. After her passing, each new canine that joined our pack has challenged and tested me to learn more. Sunny actually brought Sushi to us via a newspaper photo of Sunny & me. A woman saw it, called me up and said, “You look like someone who can help.” Next thing I knew, I was in a car driving to get The Soosh before Animal Control took this gorgeous 9 ½ year old Akita to a high kill shelter.

Writing about my beloved Sushi got me into the magazine biz which has resulted in hundreds of articles written to-date. When it was time for my mom to move in with Paul, Sushi and me, she brought along her Duchess. Duchess had enjoyed the company of my mom’s friends and had blossomed into a 44 lbs. Sheltie! With self-control and good nutrition, I got her down to ½ her size and boy, did she become a spunky addition to our household.

Mr. Rico found his way into our hearts after a divorce in his family left him tied to a table at age 9 out in the California desert. I’ll never forget how I bathed the dusty black lab and he became the handsome shiny dog who brought my words to life in “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover.” Ten days after Rico joined the family, an Akita-Border Collie needed a home. By adopting Rex, not only did we get a wonderful boy, but years later, I connected with his former “grandmom” who has become a dear and special friend. Unfortunately, Rexy came to us with liver issues, and try as we might, we only had 11 months with him, but they were truly glorious, and together…Rex & Rico were my “Dream Team.”

Having said goodbyes to Sushi, Duchess and Rex within less than a year, the rescue I was volunteering at convinced me to foster a 6-week old Akita pup. Paul and I were hesitant at first wondering if the small canine would terrorize Mr. Rico who was now 10, but in fact…Haiku breathed fresh life into his older big brother. Just a few weeks later, that same rescue encouraged me to take home a female Akita who was depressed over the death of her mate, YES! Animals grieve too! Not only that…she had a ginormous hole in the back of her head that needed care. Needless to say, Bonnie became Bonsai and the true Lady of the household. Her head healed, and she whipped young Haiku into shape teaching him manners and helping house train him. What a wonderful family it was!

To every time there is a season however, and Paul and I are still blessed that Haiku made the cross-country trek with us, dipped both paws in the Atlantic and the Pacific (our first bi-coastal dog) and had so many more wondeRUFFul adventures before his turn came to cross that Bridge. Princess Kiko, a ten-years young Akita opened a new and special place in our hearts. Besides the joy she showed playing with her hedgie & slothy whenever we’d return home, she grew to love riding in the ‘Kiko Cart.’ her golf cart in 4th of July Parades and just around the neighborhood. Kiko was my co-host in a TV Pilot (“Something to Bark About”), the grand marshall riding in a Corvette convertible in Ellijay’s St. PETricks Day parade and star of Woofstock. She melted our hearts during the 3 amazing years we spent together, and was truly meant to be our girl. I learned of her just two days before Paul’s & my 30th wedding anniversary. Unbeknownst to me, Paul had a get away planned to Amicolola Falls and as it turned out…Kiko was waiting for us in a shelter just 15 minutes from the Lodge!

Princess Kiko, Age 12 1/2

We now share our life with 11+ year old “Wishy” who we drove to the Jersey Shore in November 2023 to adopt. This sweet Akita was found on the streets of Memphis a year prior to that and went through treatment for heartworm disease, pneumonia, emergency bloat surgery, malnutrition and more. She too has such a gentle and loving soul and we hope to make whatever time we have with this gift of Wish the best time she has ever had. Likely our most challenging dog, loving and caring for Wishy is our personal joy! She is carrying on the tradition of riding in the golf cart and has come a long way. We look forward to watching her continue to blossom and gain confidence.

Each canine family member has left a unique set of paw prints on our hearts and has made us both better humans for having been loved by them. Animals truly know the secret to life, giving unconditional love and accepting it back. That’s why, as much as it hurts us, dogs and cats spend a shorter time on earth and go on to other things while we deal with loss. They learn that lesson quickly!

So as we approach this day of Remembrance, out of great love and in memory of the amazing animals who have touched my life, I’d like to share other lessons my animal best friends have taught me:

Take time to smell the flowers. Human or animal, if we take the time to be present, we can learn so much from others. Every moment is fleeting and beauty is everywhere. Don’t miss out by mentally being somewhere else.

Dream and believe in those dreams.

Focus. When it’s time for work, keep your eye on the prize.

High five your small victories. Every accomplishment is worth noting.

Stay curious. It’s how we learn. Even if sometimes the mystery on the other side of the bush is a skunk, at least you’ve made a discovery! People build walls and fences, but animals don’t see boundaries. Carve your own path!

Bark out loud. Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. By not speaking up, you condone the status quo – the behavior or situation as it stands. Those in animal rescue understand this first hand. If you do nothing, animals or people many continue to suffer.

Express gratitude. Take that time to praise others and good fortune that comes your way. Just waking to a new day is something to be grateful for, but a best friend is one of life’s greatest gifts!

Share your heart. Life is hopefully a long journey. Walk it with others.

Wag, howl & pounce regularly, but remember…a dog wags his tail, not his tongue!

Accept affection. Love and care for yourself as much as you do your pets. You know that is what they would truly want for us after they are gone, but also remember…gone but never forgotten for their light forever shines within us.

The Rainbow Bridge

Author Unknown but inspired by a Norse Legend

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

WATCH THE VLOG AT: https://youtu.be/KoR06UKPKSg

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Writing Down Your Disaster Preparedness Plan

Pet Safety Crusader — Fri, 11 May 2018 13:13:19 +0000

The reason Flight Attendants request you put on your oxygen mask before assisting others is that you have less than 15 seconds before you lose consciousness! This applies to Pet Parents & Professionals as well. You must take care of your family first. Doing so keeps you safe and gives you peace of mind to leave your home and loved ones to offer aid to others. This means that your Disaster Preparedness Plan may need to be two-fold:

1) A Family Emergency Plan to get your household through whatever may come along,

and for professional pet sitters, rescue workers, etc…

2) A Business Emergency Plan to render aid to clients, but also…it is in your best interest to educate and encourage clients to create plans of their own. By doing so, they won’t drain your time and resources and should they need your help, they will have all necessary supplies to facilitate your efforts. Impress upon them the importance of selecting 1 or 2 designated caregivers ahead of you on their list as when a disaster strikes, you may have too many concurrent demands or may be physically unable to reach them due to mother nature’s wrath.

Write it down!

Write down both your family and business plans and include all family members (employees, volunteers, independent contractors) in the process. Be inclusive – do not do this in a bubble. Your youngest housemate or newest hire may think of something others have not, and you may find something was left out in the 2^nd, 3^rd or even 4^th draft that should be implemented.

Be sure everyone, including your out-of-state contact, understands the details and has a copy on their cell phone including:

Primary, secondary and out-of-town Meet-up Location
Social Security, Medical & Contact Info for all
Location & Phone where family/hires may be found (work, school, day/pet care)
Supplies needed for pets & humans and where stashed.
Plan to keep gas tanks half full for quick departure
Money in small bills
Vital Information on Pets
Name & Phone of Out-of-State Contact
Copies of Insurance Policies & Pertinent Documents
Contact Numbers & Accounts for utility services, tree trimmer, HOA
Written Directions to your home as memories fail in times of stress
List of local News Radio stations
Last-Minute To-do List

A current photo of your pet allows you to make a quick flyer should the animal go missing. Include pictures that capture colors, patterns and markings in your pet’s fur along with shots of all family members– proof that her or she is yours. Update as needed for frosted faces don’t longer look puppy pix, and remember to account for new additions.

Vaccination records, medical history, diet, special hiding places as well as contact info for veterinarian, animal ER, groomer and 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd designated caregiver are musts. Have a list of pet friendly hotels that will accept your size, breed and number of pets, and make a reservation if you expect to evacuate. Ask other businesses if they will waive their “no pets” policy during times of crisis.
Knowledge of Lost & Found websites is imperative.

Practice!

Going through the motions, as if it was the real thing, may save your pet’s life as well as other family members. Several times annually make everyone participate and practice rounding up each of the pets. It is vital that animals are part of the drill too so that they learn the routine. You can’t explain what to do, but you can teach them by doing! Desensitizing pets to wear muzzles, life preservers or stay in a carrier or seat belt can alleviate stress (theirs and yours) when you need their cooperation the most!

You can’t predict who will be home when it’s time to leave, so make sure everyone who might ever find themselves home alone can handle all animals. Ask clients to include you in their drills so you are familiar with how they have prepared their pets for evacuation.

Know Where to Go!

Most human shelters only accept service animals, so find out if your city plans to erect temporary animal shelters near human locations. Choose a primary meet-up spot, and have a Plan B in case the location is in the heart of the disaster. Your plan must take into consideration how you will meet-up if coming from various locations – reconnecting with kids who are at school or daycare, spouse at work, pets and/or elderly family members at home alone.

A good out-of-town resource is https://www.ready.gov/plan-for-locations.
Apartment dwellers, make sure pets are on record with building management, so that if you aren’t home, others know to assist your animals. If you live in a multi-level structure, condition dogs to walk up and down stairs as elevators may not be an option if power is out.
Double check that invitation to stay with family/friends also include your pets.
Are pets in carriers are allowed on MTA subways, buses and trains in your city? When an evacuation order is declared, larger animals may be allowed if properly muzzled and on a sturdy leash, so practice ahead!

Preparing for the worst may prevent the worst from happening!

A GRReat way to get a move on this and benefit from my READY REACT RECOVER system is to take my Pet Disaster Preparedness Certificate Course! Sign up here and get my book or pack, “The Pet Safety Crusader’s My Pet & Me Guide to Disaster PAWparedness” BEFORE you wish you had!

Denise Fleck is an award winning author and freelance writer. After extensive training, practice, more training and more practice, she developed her own Pet First-Aid & CPR curriculum and has been teaching animal life-saving skills for close to 20 years with many success stories to share. Additionally she developed a 5 month long Animal Care course for high school students in conjunction with the Burbank Unified School District and Animal Shelter. She has demonstrated animal life-saving skills on CBS –TV’s “The Doctors,” Animal Planet’s “Pit Boss,” “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life” and countless other shows. To complement her teachings, Denise created a line of Pet First-Aid Kits, posters and books for children teaching animal respect and care! Visit www.PetSafetyCrusader.com or call (818) 951-7962.

Note: The articles on this page are copyrighted. Please do not reprint or use portions for any purpose without written permission from the author. Request permission for usage by sending an email explaining how you’d like to use the materials and what parts specifically. Thank you in advance!

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