Fifi Ate Spaghetti? Uh oh . . .

Here's a little tip for those of you with white-coated dogs. When Fifi eats some leftover spaghetti (yes, I've had them do that), all around her mouth is orange color, right?

Well, take some WHITE toothpaste and brush it into her coat wherever the orange is. Careful to keep away from her eyes. Let it sit for about 3 - 5 minutes. Yes, you should be holding Fifi so she doesn't mess it up or eat it . . . Then brush it out. It may take a few times but the color will probably come out. Then wash Fifi's face and she will be good as new . . . almost!

Need A Smile?

Probably the dog who has made me smile more than most dogs that were not my own is the Old English Sheepdog (OES).

His original purpose was that of herding and that is the American Kennel Club Group he is in now. His tale is generally docked close to the body if he is not naturally born without a tail. So he is often nicknamed a "Bobtail".

This breed is described in its Standard as an "intelligent dog of even disposition, with no sign of aggression, shyness or nervousness". Those are characteristics that make it a fine family dog. Of course, its size makes us double think if we really want him as our pet. The grooming, if the dog is left in coat rather than clipped might also discourage us from bringing him into the family. This is a very intelligent dog who needs lots of exercise.

Between their hair falling over their eyes and their clownish manner, I think it is probably the gait of the OES that endears me to him. When he is galloping, he does so effortlessly. When he is slow, he ambles.

It is fun to watch the OES in the conformation ring, but he evokes even more smiles when he participates in agility or scent hurtle trials.

However, a warning to the wise! I found when I was in the Shih Tzu breed that a very high percentage of their owners had come from OES. Probably a sign of the times: we prefer smaller, more compact - in our cars and in our dogs!

[For more info on any recognized breed, do visit the American Kennel Club website at akc.org]

What We Need For Dogs: Noisemakers That Last!

Dogs love to play with squeaky toys, right?

So, why does the "peeper" break so soon? Most dogs can stop the noisemaker in under five minutes. We need to get the researchers on this one!

The Remedy for Big Dogs Jumping on People

(I believe this dog is simply greeting his mistress, but he is pretty big to jump on visitors!)

Especially for seniors and younger children, it is not only annoying but dangerous when a large dog jumps up on them.

There is a pretty standard way of training a dog not to do this. Like all training - including the teaching of humans - it is never guaranteed!

When the dog jumps up on you, have your knee ready to thump the dog on the chest. If he or she is a smart dog who learns easily, you will not be long before he quits this behavior.

By the way, "Quit!" is another very nice word to use instead of "No" which dogs hear so often it loses its true meaning.

In all of our training with dogs, our goal is to turn out sociable, well-behaved canine citizens who people enjoy having around.

Poodles - Snooty or Family Dogs?

This dog originated in Germany and his original purpose was to retrieve. The dog pictured is in show coat which was originally created to help the dog move through the water more efficiently. The patches of hair left were to protect the dog's vital organs and joints from the cold.

Poodles come in three sizes. The original was the Standard size and then came Miniature and Toy varieties. The Standard and Mini sizes are in the Non-Sporting Group and the Toy size is in the Toy Group. (In International shows, I have seen four sizes and also another clip called the Continental Clip, where a band is cut around the dog's middle.)

[The American Kennel Club shows this breed as the only one who comes in three sizes. I think they must have been forgetting the Schnauzer who comes in Giant, Standard and Mini!]

Poodles come in a variety of colors including white, black, apricot and gray. They are meant to be a solid color.

Do not be deceived by the beauty and "fluff" of the Poodle. He is exceptionally smart and active and excels in obedience training. Poodles are still a very popular breed. Most families if they are not showing their dogs, would keep them in a "puppy" clip. Most of us all have chuckled at Toy Poodles working in a circus environment. The very fact they can be trained to perform as they do there indicates their intelligence!

Poodles have hypoallergenic coats that may reduce allergic reactions, but they do require professional grooming. Poodles are active and require daily exercise.

Why do Poodles win so often? Well, perhaps because they are easily trained for the show ring and have dedicated groomers who make them a beautiful picture, they just consistently keep on winning, year after year!

How to Stoop and Scoop!

Today, I have a really simple tip for you which you may already know.

Dogs love to go walking and generally they poop along the way. Some cities have a "Stoop and Poop" law and others do not.

There is a very simple way to take care of this. Put a couple of plastic grocery bags in your pocket. When your dog does his thing, just put one of the bags on your hand and up your arm, covering you. Then, carefully pick up the treasure and roll the plastic bag back down over it and fold it carefully for deposit into suitable waste container.

It's actually very tidy and gets the job done . . .

Responsible Dog Ownership

When we select a companion dog, we are choosing another member of our family. It is important to treat all of our family with respect and give them everything they deserve.

One of the main purposes for Kennel Clubs and Dog Breed Clubs is to teach responsible dog ownership. If there is a club in your area, you might think about joining. There is lots of information not only about breeds but about how to work with dogs, training them to be good companions. Check out the websites for the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.

Most humans like dogs and many select a dog for companionship. Some are individuals, some are couples and many are families. We'll talk another time about important things to look for when selecting a dog for you or your family.

You can go to an animal shelter and rescue a dog. The folks at the Shelter are generally able to help you with the breeds or mix of breeds in a specific dog, his or her probable age and the type of environment where that dog would most likely thrive. You can go to a breeder and pick a puppy or perhaps an older dog. You can also scan the newspaper classified ads for older dogs. (Sometimes change of circumstance forces people to find new homes for their pets.)

Today, I want to touch on how we make ourselves responsible dog owners. This is so important because dogs do not ask much and we - their humans - need to understand that they rely upon us for their safety.

Every dog needs a collar and a tag. If Fido or Fifi should meander away and someone finds him or her, they will be able to telephone you. Collars are available at all pet stores and the pet departments of K-Mart, WalMart and Target (to name a few). Tags can be ordered by mail, but I made a real nice one for our Buddy at PetSmart. They have a machine there that is simple to use. I put our last name and our telephone number on Buddy's tag.

Some people are wary of putting the dog's own call name on his tag because they feel it enables people who want to steal a dog. The point is that a potential thief could look at the dog's name and then commence talking to him as though he knew him (or her).

When purchasing a collar, you can also get a matching lead for those walks your dog enjoys so much! When training a dog to walk nicely or perhaps when taking him somewhere very exciting (like PetSmart), you may want to have a training lead or what some people call a "choke lead". What this does is give a little jerk when Fido gets out of control. It is simply a gentle reminder and not punishment. (Tip, before slipping this type of lead on your dog's neck, place it on your hand to ensure you have it going the correct way. When you jerk on it, it should tighten up around your hand.)

All dogs need water available all the time. If you crate a dog for long periods of time, do place a water bottle - usually a guinea pig type of bottle on the crate from the outside with the long tube facing into the crate.

Each dog eats differently. Some are voracious eaters; others are picky. One of my friends has the motto, "When the dog is hungry, the dog will eat". That is pretty sensible really. (Some dogs eat so quickly that they do not digest their food and end up being sick.)

We feed Buddy morning and late afternoon. Some people like to feed only once a day and there is a general rule about that. Dogs who you want to guard, should be fed in the morning and strictly companion dogs can be fed in the evening. Food is calming.

My comments are about companion dogs - some of whom also do a good guarding job - but inside dogs, not outdoor dogs. I don't like to see a dog kept outside. Where we live, it gets much too hot for a dog to be outside all the time.

It is very important to make certain your dog has all his or her shots up to date. Never trust to fate that a squirrel or other small infected animal will not come into your back yard. Never think that every other dog or cat your dog meets is perfectly healthy with current shots. This is fundamental.

Never, never give a dog as a gift without first checking that the recipient really wants the dog. Dogs become members of the family and deserve to be treated as such - with kindness.

Every dog deserves a fenced yard and a family who make sure he is let back in when he wants to come inside.

Treat your dog with respect because - you know - he thinks the world of you!

American Kennel Club Website http://www.akc.org
Canadian Kennel Club Website http://www.ckc.ca