Little show off!

Grrrrr,
~Zena

By Pet Industry News:

A 14-year study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association has managed to bust several canine nutrition myths.

Forty-eight pairs of Labrador Retriever littermates were followed. Among other things, the results suggested that a 25% restriction of food intake—or maintaining an ideal body condition throughout a dog's life—increased the median lifespan of a dog by 1.8 years and delayed the onset of chronic disease symptoms. "Knowing what to feed and how much to feed are equally important," said Mike Grant, PA, the nutritional science director for SeniorPetProducts.com "Your veterinarian is always the best way to get the correct information. They are up to date on all the new science."

Several nutrition myths were disproved during the study:

1) A raw meat diet is the only one for canines: Today's domesticated dogs are not true carnivores. They need small amounts of grains, like rice, oatmeal, pasta, vegetables and fruits to round out their dietary needs.

2) Raw eggs are an absolute no-no for dogs: Dogs are far less susceptible to Salmonella poisoning and the occasional raw or boiled egg is a good source of protein for canines.

3) Dogs should never have any dairy products: Some dogs may be lactose intolerant, but cottage cheese and yogurt are two low-lactose options that are high in calcium.

4) Fat only gives dogs empty calories: Fats are the main source of energy for dogs. Fat is also necessary for the proper absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K, especially in low-saturated forms such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

5) A dog is unable to digest grains: This is partially true, but dogs can digest starch grains that have been converted by the cooking process. Rice is a better option than wheat or corn.

6) All commercial dog foods are bad: Research has shown that the quality of commercial dog foods is more than able to meet a dog's nutritional needs.

7) A diet must be specifically tailored to a dog's age or breed: In most cases, the same diet throughout a dog's life is sufficient. However, puppies need more food than seniors and older dogs may need nutritional supplements.

Pictured is a detector dog moving with a Marine unit. (Photo courtesy of US Marine Corps)

It has come to our attention that the 2,900 3200+ patrol, drug and explosive detection canines serving our country in Iraq & Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world, are in need of care packages (i.e toys, treats, etc.). While our soldiers receive care packages, many Military Working Dogs (MWD) do not.

We'd like to change all that!

In conjunction with the Saint Paul Police Department, and the Twin Cities Boxer Club,  All God's Creatures Pet Services is proud to support our four-footed heroes and will be collecting dog toys and treats (and more) to send over to them.


* Items needed include:

• Wubbas
• Tennis Balls
• Kongs
• Kong 3" Balls
• Squeaky Toys
• Large Rope Pulls
• Frisbee (aka Chuckit Squirrel)
• Heavy-duty Chew Toys
• Any TREATS in packages UNDER 1.5 pounds, or so ... we can not open a large treat box and divide it among several K-9 Care Packages (all treats must be in their original unopened package ... do NOT need to be refrigerated ... and NO rawhide chews or pork products, please.)
• K-9 Booties (Lucky brand - size Large ... or MuttLuks - Black/Medium)
• Foot Balms/Salve, and Antiseptic Sprays
• Collapsible Nylon Dog Water Bowls
• Dog Wipes
• Dog Grooming Tools - Brushes & Combs
• Doggie Shampoo/Conditioners
• K9 Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
• Cooling Vests by RPCM (size Large/Black)
• Doggles
• Dog Nail Clippers
• Financial donations to help with shipping costs
• A note of appreciation to soldier dog & handler

The deadline to deliver our donations is Friday, November 12th Saturday, December 4th. ... please contact us to make arrangements to collect your donation.


HOOOOOOAAAAAH!!!

~Pamela~

Cool graphic from the United States War Dogs Association  showing some of  the different breeds of dogs that have served our country over the years.

I've read that an average dog possesses a vocabulary of 200-300 words, which is enough for him to have his own Twitter account. Most people won't buy their dogs a smartphone, though, so you don't see too many canines tweeting their friends unless they have access to a computer.

Here's an excerpt from a dog's wiki- dictionary of known words:

Sit (v): A word that means if you sit down your owner will give you a treat. Oddly, Sit works only some of the time. You can Sit all day while your owner is cooking tacos and he won't toss you one, even if you give him your most attentive expression. If, however, the owner starts saying "Sit!" and he has a dog treat in his hand, you're golden. Just make sure you pretend to take a long time to figure it out and you'll keep getting treats. The minute you give in and start doing it on command, though, he'll say "good dog" and there will be no treat involved. No one knows why people think that being told "good dog" is reward enough — would they go to work every day if instead of getting a paycheck, their bosses just said they were "good employees"?

Stay (v): This word makes no sense: It means that while your owners walk away, you're supposed to just sit there. This can't be right. Surely wherever they're going, the experience would be enhanced by having a dog present when they get there. If they don't want canine companionship, why did they get a dog? Also, there's no way to give a dog a treat if he Stays, because the owners have left. What good is a command if there is no treat involved? Worse, when Stay is over, the people will probably say "come," and then give you a treat. So at first, being with them is not good for a treat, and then all of a sudden it is. Probably if your owner tries to teach you to stay he is a mentally unbalanced person, so handle the situation however you need to in order to obtain a dog treat. (Once the reward for "Stay" migrates to "good dog" instead of "dog treat," we recommend you pretend you forgot what it means.)

Lie Down (v): First, some people say "lay down," which as any dog knows is bad grammar. Second, this one gets you a treat only after you've sprawled out on the floor, a position that makes it very difficult to chew. It's recommended you hold out for a treat before you Lie Down. Isn't that more convenient for everyone?

Bad Dog (n): The list of things you can do to qualify as a bad dog is so huge as to be completely bewildering. Your person left you lunch in the trash can when he went to work, so you helped yourself? Any reasonable dog would agree you showed excellent resourcefulness, but you guessed it, Bad Dog. Urinated in the house, which your person does all the time? Bad Dog. Barked at the mailman, who for all we know is on the verge of going postal? Bad Dog. You might as well give up trying to figure out what causes Bad Dog — you don't get a treat for being a bad dog; that's all you need to know.

Shake (v): Upon the command "shake," you're supposed to raise your paw and let your person grab it and drop it. It's a dumb way to earn a treat, in our opinion. If you show some initiative and, entirely on your own, paw your owner in the crotch, you probably won't get a treat (see Bad Dog).

Dinner (n): There simply isn't a finer word in the human vocabulary than "dinner." Most dogs try to explain this to their people by doing Sit, Lie down, Speak, Spin, Shake and Jump, but usually most people don't get it and serve dinner only once or twice a day.

Too bad they don't understand dog words.

I have seen them carved, smashed, cooked for dinner, and catapulted ... but who knew they could be such fun play toys!?!

Yesterday I received this cool video from Big Cat Rescue in Florida >>>

Then today I receive some cool photos of our very own Grizzly bears at The Minnesota Zoo - “Haines,” “Kenai,” and “Sadie” - having fun with pumpkin toys.










Wonder if I will be getting any pumpkins to play with ... I LOVE pumpkin!
~Zena


Edited to add ...  
Looks like our Grizzlys have a video too! ... and Mom thinks I  tear things up!

Pee-eww ... Skunk spray your doggies?

Try this home remedy for deskunking:

- 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1 teaspoon dish detergent

In an open bucket or bowl mix the above ingredients.  Wet your dog down with lukewarm water, rubbing the mixture into his coat.  Avoid eyes, noses, and mouth.  Cover dogs eyes with clean wash cloth to avoid getting mixture in their eyes. If skunk sprayed dog on face, carefully apply mixture using a wash cloth. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Repeat, if necessary.

Wash the sprayed area only - to avoid spreading the skunk oil all over your dog's body ... save over-all bath for third washing.

WARNING >>> Discard left-over mixture ... it becomes combustible when stored.


Additional Tips:

- Leave your dog outside until you can bathe him ... you do not want the skunk oil on your carpets, furniture, dog beds, etc.
- Wear old clothes when bathing your dog ... and wear latex gloves!
- If your dog is long-haired, you may be able to trim away some of the affected hair.
- Use paper towels (instead of cloth towels) to blot excess skunk oil, before bathing.
- Bath your doggie ASAP ... before skunk spray dries, if possible.
- Make sure to check to see if your dog was injured by the skunk. If your dog is bleeding or appears to have been bitten, consult a vet immediately. Skunks may carry rabies.
- Check dogs eyes ... if red and watering, call vet.




~ What have you found to work best on removing skunk oil from your furry friend?

Halloween Safety Tips for Families with Dogs    
by BarkBusters

Halloween brings a fun time for most of us, but for some of our much-loved four-legged family members, Halloween can be a nightmare. Dog owners may not be able to control external surroundings, but they can care for their dog’s safety and well-being by observing the following tips from the world’s largest dog training company, Bark Busters:

Don’t leave your dog outside. Even if you have a fenced yard, bring your dog inside where it is safe. Your dog may be used to strangers, but so many little ghouls and goblins running about may be too much. Remember also that it is a natural instinct for dogs to protect the family from strangers, and on Halloween there will be no shortage of strangers.

Keep your dog restrained. If your dog is timid or scared, or if he tends to love people a little too much, it is best to put him in a separate room away from the front door to limit his excitability, aggression, and chance of running outside and becoming lost

Reassure your dog. The best thing you can do for your dog when he is feeling unsettled by Halloween activities is to act as you normally would around your dog. By over-reassuring your dog or giving him an unusual amount of attention, you inadvertently can communicate to him that there must be something to worry about.

Have your dog get used to costumes. Your dog may see his family members as strangers once they don their Halloween costumes. Before the kids put them on, allow your dog to scent the costumes and keep masks off while your dog is around.

Check your dog’s ID tag. Be sure identification tags are secure on your dog’s collar—just in case.

Keep candy away from your dog. Many candies—especially chocolate—are toxic to dogs, resulting from a mild upset tummy to vomiting and diarrhea, or even death. If you want to keep your dog safe, make certain that sweets, including their wrappers, are kept well away from your dog.

Protect dogs from candles and pumpkins. Excited or agitated dogs can easily knock over a lit candle or pumpkin. Be sure those items are away from your dog’s reach, or consider a battery-powered candle that does not burn.

Think twice about dressing your dog in a costume. While some dogs might enjoy being dressed up, many don’t. Experiment first to see if your dog likes being in a costume. If he shows any resistance, don’t do it.

Be prepared. If you take your dog with you while trick-or-treating, be prepared at all times. Do not let your dog approach the door of a house, and stay clear of possible witches or goblins that may pop out. Neither children nor adults in costumes should approach a dog without the owner’s consent.

Have fun but think of your dog’s safety. Finally, if you want your dog to be included in Halloween festivities, think about his safety as much as you would the safety of a small child.


*** Source of photo unknown.

Great little FYI about feeding the kitty, but what's up with the full moon and fog???

Glad to know that no kitties will be after my food!

~Zena

I have received countless emails over the years, and been told several horror stories, regarding the dangers of paper shredders. Who knew such a little office machine could cause so much pain and tragedy. From cat tails, to dog ears and tongues (and children's fingers) ... all are at-risk around an electric paper shredder.

Following is an article from a South Carolina newspaper that was sent to me several years ago (unfortunately I do not have a link to it) ... warning - graphic photos follow the article:

"Cross, a 1-year-old boxer who lives in Socastee, lost part of his tongue when he licked his owner's (paper) shredder."

A Socastee resident is spreading a safety message after her dog lost part of his tongue in a paper shredder accident.

Sandy Clarke's boxer Cross lost "three or four chunks" of his tongue in late February when he stuck it into a shredder in her home office.

"The dog was screaming," said Clarke, who ran out and yelled for her husband after Cross became entangled. "I woke my daughter up screaming. It was very traumatic."

The incident lasted 10 to 15 minutes, with Cross finally being freed once the shredder was put in reverse.

Shredder accidents, usually involving small children, have caught the attention of national advocates working to improve safety standards.

That is good news for the boxer who is recovering.

"I'm trying to get the word out. People need to be aware," she said. "(Shredders) need to be unplugged or there needs to be new safety devices on them."

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission most often hears about accidents involving small children.

"We are aware of ... incidents involving dogs getting their tongues stuck in the shredder," said Patty Davis, spokeswoman with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"Some of those had to be euthanized."

The paper-shredder market has grown, she said, with more people using them at home, for work or as a means to prevent identity theft.

Clarke has taken her concerns to the masses through national TV reports.

She hopes to see tougher measures than a "keep kids and pets away" blurb, and she may get her wish. The safety commission and a national laboratory are revising shredder standards to require stricter warning labels and to make the feeder area opening smaller and less flexible.

As for Clarke's shredder, it's still in her office " unplugged".

Clarke's daughter, Michael-Ann, 11, said the dog, which turns 1 on Saturday, trembles when he hears the shredder.

Cross was treated for tongue lacerations, said veterinarian Dr. Greg Conner, and should still have full use of his tongue for eating, drinking and licking.

~ Tips To Prevent This From Happening To Your Pet:


* Unplug shredders when not in use.

* Store shredders out of reach of animals (and, of course, children ... especially those under 5 ... who can also be victims of shredder accidents). Make sure that the shredder is located in a place that is "pounce proof" ... acrobatic kitties that jump atop shredders can also do terrible damage to themselves.

* To avoid attracting animals, never put food wrappers through shredders.

* Do not leave shredders on the "automatic" setting.

* When buying a shredder, look for one with a protective bar over the opening.

.

I recently received the following email, and thought I would pass it on to you ...

Share Your Strong Bonds Story and Win up to Year's Supply of Any Product, Plus Other Great Prizes!


“Companion” isn't a large enough word to describe the relationship you have with your 4-legged partner. You share so much with them – your dedication, your affection, your dreams. In return, they give you undying devotion, unfaltering trust & performance, unconditional love.

The bond between horse, dog, and human is profound. Whether it’s between you and your horse, your child and your dog, or even the animals themselves. The bond shared with or between your furry friends is special and unique. And we want to hear about it!

Simply submit (click HERE) your Strong Bonds story, that you or a family member has with your equine or canine companion, or that your animals have with each other, along with a photo for the opportunity to win!


Enter your story by December 31, 2010


Grand Prize

* One-year supply of your choice of any Arenus product for your horse or dog*
* Your horse or dog will be featured as the Arenus Strong Bonds Ambassador for one year
* Photo of your horse or dog displayed on an Arenus webpage or banner ad
* Press release announcing your win along with your horse and/or dog’s photo

2nd Place Prize

* Six-month supply of your choice of any Arenus product for your horse or dog*
* Press release announcing your win along with your horse and/or dog’s photo

3rd Place Prize

* Three-month supply of your choice of any Arenus product for your horse or dog*
* Press release announcing your win along with your horse and/or dog’s photo

*Only one animal permitted to receive free supply of Arenus product

Courtesy of Draw The Dog

Confirms what I already suspected ...
~Zena

Welcome to our new blog!  We appreciate that you have taken the time to stop by.  As this is our first attempt at a blog, we hope you will overlook any faux-"paws".  We realize that there may be a few "ruff" spots at first, but we hope with time all will go smoothly.

My name is Zena ... I am a Boxer, and a princess.  OK, I am not really a princess, but I think they should make me one. I like to run fast, eat fast, and sleep on mom's lap. Oh, and I love car rides.  Mom says I am a "good travel companion", whatever that means.  I will be the main poster here.

Well, looks like everyone is going outside to play, so I'll catch y'all later.  Thanks again for stopping by.  I look forward to seeing you again soon!


Boxer Hugs,
~Zena~
AGC Spokesperson Doggie

My baby picture ... so cute!