This past weekend I was in need of something to do with “the kids.” I first thought of my favorite, nearby hike – The CCT – but it has water and with all the rain we have endured, I was just not in the mood for 2 wet Berners. Again.
Instead, we loaded up the SUV and accepted an invitation from an OBH friend, Pawgevity, to attend their Octoberfest out I-66 at The Plains exit. OBH is a BIG fan of Carol and her Pawgevity raw food and Pawgevity has long shared OBH’s blog with their fans so it was time to meet in person – finally!
The weather was perfect for fall and when we arrived the straw bale maze was already in place along with a few vendors and some farmers’ market yummies (of course we had a carmel apple!). While we did not partake in the costume contest and didn’t stay for the straw bale toss, the day was sprinkled with activities for dogs and their guardians.
Of course it wouldn’t be an OBH story without something mortifying – haha. Indie and Karma were naturally excited to be in a new place with so much going on. As predicted, on two 6′ leashes they always wanted to be 18′ apart and I had a few moments where I threatened like any mom would, “If you don’t behave, you’re going back in the car.” And so on. I was unreasonable (perhaps) about my expectations of my dogs who have earned a sum total of 20 titles and I later apologized to them. (And really, they weren’t so bad)
However … the mortifying part was when some nice, well-meaning woman with a 10-pound dog came up to me to suggest that if I used the harness she had in her hand perhaps my dogs would stop pulling. OMG. Deep breath. I reminded myself she meant well and I came up with some reason why they were pulling and how we were all set without the harness. After she left, I tuned to the dogs, “Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?” Of course not. Heck, they probably were laughing their tails off!
I wised up and put Karma in the car while Indie played with her new friends and then switched them once Indie was tired and Karma had settled. A much happier experience for all of us.
Thanks again to Pawgevity for a great outing and for reminding me that dogs will be dogs and I love them no matter what.
It’s the first cold fall-like morning here in Virginia. While I’ve bundled up in my robe and slippers, Cannon’s also bundled up. He had cold ears, so while I sit at my computer he’s trying to nap. And yes… I have blue walls.
The movie Bull Durham has given me some of my favorite quotes, and this one seemed to fit our recent weekend in Shenandoah National Park: “This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.”
Yup, sometimes it rains and did it ever!
The OBH crew arrived Friday night to the Big Meadows campground and thankfully Katina snagged the last walk-up spot since all the reservation sites were booked. She and Cannon had time for a beautiful walk in the Big Meadow before Karma and I, with new puppy Indie, pulled into the grounds.
The next morning it was a yummy breakfast followed by the Lewis Falls hike we had done before. We laughed as we struggled – as usual – to find the obvious trailhead, but it was smooth sailing from there as Indie completed her inaugural 3+ mile hike like a big girl.
The afternoon was lovely and then the rain came …
It started just before dinner and luckily I had packed a giant (seriously, GIANT) umbrella meant to create shade at the beach but also stave off the light rain shower. Well it was a good thing because all five of us huddled under it and made dinner during a brief “intermission.”
We finally gave up and went to our tents early as we were sitting in the rain, in the dark and Cannon had long since retired. It poured all night. Pounding, glad-I-have-a-good-tent kind of rain. And in the morning, when it was still raining at 8 a.m., we surrendered and packed up, shoving our tents in garbage bags. So much for a morning hike in the Big Meadow!
So it got me thinking about rain gear. Sooner or later it happens to everyone, so what do you pack for these moments?
For me, I was happy to be loading up wearing rain pants and my rain jacket with a hood but I was bummed that a baseball hat and/or rain hat was at home. It didn’t bother me that my feet were wet (only because it was already 80 degrees), but rain boots would be nice in cooler weather. I was grateful for large (yard sized) garbage bags, several towels and the fact that I have a seat/cargo cover for wet dogs. The giant umbrella was a bonus because otherwise we would have been forced to retire to our separate tent hours earlier. We are fair weather hikers but I will probably toss a garbage bag in my day pack just in case I need to keep something dry.
“… Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains.”
It’s my favorite (not!) topic that never goes away! And it seems the problem gets worse every year. Even my puppy had a tick on her at just 13 weeks! So what’s a girl to do?
Lately I have been comparing notes with my friends on this exact subject. I would be curious to hear back from our fans to learn what is – and is not – working for them.
I am especially desperate for a few reasons: 1) I have really hairy dogs! And the odds of finding one on them in time are not in my favor. 2) I have decided I don’t want to apply any more pesticides on my dog (like the liquids applied to their skin monthly – not mentioning brand names). My breed just has too many health issues and I don’t want to add to them. 3) Ticks gross me out. Period.
On our recent camping trip I put a natural/herbal collar on both dogs and sprayed them each morning with a natural flea/tick/mosquito deterrent. Then when I brought them home I gave them a flea and tick bath deciding the harshness to their skin was outweighed by the nastiness of the ticks. I didn’t find any on them, but …
Since then, I have heard a few other tips that I may try:
- Spray a Deet insect repellent on a bandana and tie around their neck.
- Spray them with rose geranium essential oil diluted in water.
- Spray then with garlic oil diluted in water. (Will they smell like pasta?)
- Feed them garlic oil. (watch the amounts per their size!)
- Add brewer’s yeast with garlic to their food.
What are you doing to combat the beasts from hell?
Oh the excitement! This weekend we will pack up the cars and head to the mountains for our first camping adventure of the season. Overdue, perhaps, but don’t judge! We’ve been busy girls!
Times like this kindle my already flaming desire to shop! Surely I must need something, right? Well, realistically, probably not as over the years I have amassed quite the camping war chest.
So today we revisit a well-stocked “kitchen.” As you know, we OBH girls don’t eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or spaghetti when we are in the woods. No way! We love to try new recipes on the grill and see just how far we can push camp cooking. My only consistent request: S’mores. Yum!
We have created the attached checklist for you to get started building your “kitchen bin.” My bin stays packed year-round and I just pull it from its place in storage and into the car without worrying I have forgotten something. My bin is air-tight/water-tight so I don’t worry about anything getting dirty during transport or sitting around a dusty campsite.
If we forgot something, please let us know! I will run out and buy it immediately!
Today I got an email from a friend asking me if I’ve stuck to, or quit on my new year’s resolutions. Already!! It’s only been 16-days. It’s tough that while I’m writing out my hopes and desires for 2011 there are a contingent of people out there who seem like they’re waiting for us “well-wishers” to fail. This is why I’d like to give a bit of encouragement to you all this post holiday season.
As humans, we likely have the all too familiar “get healthy/lose weight” goal listed on our to-dos. As dog owners, we also have a list of resolutions that are Fido focused – with anything from mastering that inconsistent come command to giving your dog the happiest life possible. And if no one else has said this to you yet, I’d like to be the first to say – “you can do it!” Whatever has made it to your list of wants and desires for 2011 it’s yours for the taking.
To get you started, I recommend picking one thing off your list and making a plan for how you can make that resolution/goal a reality. It may take you a day to accomplish or it may take you three months. Don’t worry, it’s not a race J you’ve got all year.
For those of you with fitness goals (you and/or your dogs), you can “get two dogs with one bone” here. The tried and true method, of course, is getting out and walking your dog at least once a day. A recent issue of AKC Family Dog has highlighted some additional recommendations that sound like fun for both you and your pup.
- Running agility
- Practice “doga”
- Participate in the YMCA Power of Pets program (offered locally at the Silver Spring YMCA)
There are also an endless number of outdoor activities, a myriad of which we feature here at Outbound Hound. Are you going for a fitter you and more balanced pup in 2011? If so, please share what activities you will be doing to obtain that goal. Have a different goal? We’d love to read about it so please share!
I have always had a thing for a great firework display. The whole sitting on a blanket staring up at a summer sky or writing my name in the air with a sparkler just makes me smile. But there are a great many dogs who do not share that enthusiasm and can take up a lot of insane behaviors when scared.
Lucky for me, Karma could care less. However, my previous dog, Dugan, was terrified. I remember the exact day it started, too. It was July 3 and a neighbor was shooting off fireworks for his son’s birthday. Unfortunately they were practically in the backyard so the noises were up close.
This is when Dugan would sit on my head. Yup. Since fireworks work best in the dark, we were already tucked in for the night and he decided the safest place was by my head. Poor baby literally didn’t know what to do.
Ah, but Dugan was really smart – in this case, too smart. He transferred his fear of fireworks to thunder. And then figured out that lightening preceded thunder so he became afraid of that as well, even if there was no clap to follow. The ultimate transference happened when we moved to San Francisco right outside a (electric) bus stop. If you’ve ever been to SanFran you know that the busses “zap” and create mini “lightening.” Now I had a dog afraid of electric busses.
Today I would do what I do best and throw money at the problem. My friends at AgileDogs Rock!! sell a great new product called “Thundershirts” that the dog wears like a type of dog coat. It works by gently applying pressure and creating a “squeezing” effect which is scientifically proven to calm animals and people. (Think Temple Grandin and her squeeze shoots)
Other ways to help
- Keep you dog physically away from the fireworks or thunder as much as possible. A quiet place in the house, a safe corner, a favorite bed in just the perfect spot can all help to reduce anxiety.
- Turn on the lights, turn up some soothing music and create other distractions. Try playing games or doing other activities the dog enjoys.
- Incorporate Bach Flower Remedies which have formulas for specific situations like this.
- Be sure your pet is wearing ID in case he decides to make a run for it.
What about Dugan? Well since he was such a smarty-pants, he eventually figured out that “bus lightening” didn’t mean that thunder would follow. As a matter of fact, that micro-climate rarely has thunderstorms so he came to decouple the lightening from the thunder. Once that happened, he sort of just let the thunder go. Of course, he was 12 at the time!
When times are tough you have to be more creative about how to cut corners and let’s face it, sometimes those morning lattes are a necessity, not a luxury!
Yet so often we put our pets’ needs ahead of our own. Truth is, there are ways to save and your pooch will never be the wiser!
Coupons | look for coupons, discount codes and free samples everywhere – online, magazines, stores, facebook, twitter and in the mail. Also, with a little effort you can often find free samples of your favorite products.
Bulk Up | Whenever you can buy in volume or buy packages. Some places offer deals for buying quantity and some service providers (like groomers) offer packages which will offer savings.
Shop Smarter | Look around for deals. Chances are you have gotten into habits about where you shop when in fact, there may be a better deal out there is another store or online.
Join Up | Loyalty programs reward repeat purchases so check to see if the brands you buy or the stores you frequent have such benefits.
Time It Right | Pay attention to when the sales occur. Join mailing lists to find out about sales at your favorite stores or of preferred brands.
Ignore the Calendar | Your dog doesn’t know that it’s not cool to play with a Santa toy in April so look for items post-holiday – they will be on sale.
Share | Often what you’re eating for dinner is a great treat for your pooch. Treats don’t have to be dog cookies, they can be blueberries or apples – anything healthy. Just don’t create a beggar – be sure to feed “people” food away from where you eat and certainly not while you’re eating it.
Tell Your Friends | Get in the habit of telling friends about the deals you find. Pretty soon they will be telling you about deals, too!
Most importantly, remember that it all adds up. Just $15 pays for a night at a great campground! I’m sure your dog wouldn’t mind playing with Santa if he knew he could be in the woods!!
You already know exercise is key for your dog. But exercise combined with mental challenges is even more effective. Have you ever noticed that your dog is more tired after a tough class than an hour walk in the park? It’s because your best pal needs to think his way through the task at hand not just mindlessly sniffing and playing.
My very favorite reason to build this type of engagement with your pup is just that – engagement! Working together builds that all-important bond while increasing confidence in both of you!
Here are several ways you can amp-up your exercise regime. Hopefully it will give you even more ideas:
Active commands | “Pushups” or “Puppy Pushups” are a great example of combining physical movement with thinking and general control. Have your dog begin in a “sit” then ask for a “down” then have him push up back into a sit. You’re conditioning muscles and mind while creating a great distraction behavior to use next time you’re waiting in the vet’s office.
Aerobics | Maybe not Jane Fonda style, but your pup needs to get his cardio on regularly. Just like you, your dog’s body gets used to the usual lap around the neighborhood and it can cease to be much of a workout over time. Vary the lengths, speed and intensity regularly.
Fun in the rain | Well not in the rain but while the weather is yucky bring a little agility indoors. Jumping through a hula-hoop started close to the ground can be another way to combine physical and mental challenges. Just watch the breakables and do not do this on bare, slippery floors!
Tag, you’re it! | Want to strengthen those recalls and improve cardio? Work distance recalls and increase the speed at which your dog returns to you. Leave the dog in a sit/down/stay position and go out only as far as you think your dog can be successful. Call your dog (or whatever your recall command is). Only when he starts to come and get closer do you turn and run, increasing distance and speed over time. Reward the dog only when they run to you, not by you! You’ll get faster and more consistent recalls and get those hearts beating (both of you!).
Get into the box | One of the best “shaping” exercises you can do – indoors, too – is interacting with a plain ol’ cardboard box. With the top of the box open, reward your dog for stepping in it – front feet, back feet, all feet. Then flip the box over and have him put his front paw(s) on it, then back feet then (depending on the size of your latest UPS delivery) all feet. The idea is to reward the dog for interacting with objects on his own. Not until they reliably do a behavior do you start to name it. The hardest part is not luring them, but letting them offer up behaviors in an attempt to earn the treat. Now if Karma even sees a box he will start offering me behaviors with it.
I work a bunch of these things into our daily lives. Often I will “announce” one of these ultra-short sessions with the question, “Do you want a chance to earn?” Guess what the answer is?
We can’t emphasize the importance of looking out for your best friend during this summer heat! From our friend at About.com, here are some quick tips. For more information, read our 3-part series.
If your dog is showing the first signs of heat exhaustion, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, the first thing you must do is remove him from the confining area. Nine times out of ten, heat exhaustion occurs while the dog is confined, whether it is in a car, crate, or doghouse.
Take the dog to shade, and soak him with cool water. Do NOT use extremely cold or iced water. This will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from escaping.
You can apply ice packs to the areas underneath his front legs, and to the groin area for rapid blood cooling. Give your dog enough water to wet his mouth and throat, but do NOT allow your dog to drink copious amounts!
Take your dog’s temperature, this is done anally to get the most accurate reading.
Prepare your dog for transport to the nearest emergency animal clinic.
Do NOT cover your dog, even with a cold towel. This will prevent the heat from escaping.
Do NOT place him back in his crate, but keep him with you, with windows down and air conditioning on high, to allow evaporation which will aid in the cooling process.
Yes, there is also a danger that dog can become too cold. Monitor the temperatures and stop the cooling process as soon as your dog’s temperature reads normally again.
Continue on the vet’s, your dog is not saved yet!
If you’ve been following us on Facebook then you know that our very own Julie got a shout out on the Browns Automotive Group Blog. We love getting mentions in the blogosphere and Julie earned hers due to the car trouble she ran into on a recent trip from Michigan back to Virginia. I ran into my own car trouble just the weekend prior on a trip from Upstate New York south to Virginia, so now I think we might be the leading experts in juggling car care and dog care enroute.
About half way through my 500 mile drive I watched the various warning indicators illuminate one by one on my dash – battery light, ABS, airbag, on and on. About that same time my air conditioning quit, which was a huge concern since I’m very vigilant about keeping Cannon cool on any summer ride. As I was looking for an exit that indicated any type of civilization my car started lurching bit as it struggled to accelerate up a small hill. I called my hubby so someone knew just where I was and so I could talk through a plan of attack.
Just minutes later I was off the interstate, sitting in a restaurant parking lot and thinking about a tow cause my car was now not starting. My very first concern through all of this was how to keep Cannon safe and comfortable. I got him out of the hot car and into the shade. I pulled out his travel bowl and filled it with water. We hung out in the shade, called Geico for that tow which I made sure would accommodate me and an 80lb dog. We worked through which auto shop was nearby and open on a Sunday afternoon and even what hotels were close which would accommodate dogs, because who knows how long this adventure could last.
A new alternator and four hours later I was grateful for the kindness of strangers (especially the PepBoys that let Cannon and I hang out inside their shop for all that time) and for being prepared for those road side troubles you just can’t foresee. Check out the following list to keep you and your pup just a little safer if you have troubles on the road this summer.
- Keep your cellphone charged. Your car charger won’t help you if your car has no juice.
- Know who call in the case of an emergency and know their number. You may not always be close to home – does your auto insurance company provide roadside assistance?
- Carry a basic emergency kit in your vehicle. Include a flashlight for night time breakdowns.
- Pack enough water for both you and your dog to keep you hydrated for several hours. Include travel bowl for your pup… it’s funny but frustrating to get him to drink out of the bottle : )
- Travel with a leash at all times.
- Add an extra scoop or two in your dog’s travel bag. You never know when you’ll need an extra day of travel.
- Have a power bar or two in your own travel bag to keep yourself going on the road.
- Store a blanket in the car. It’s good for keeping warm on a cold day or creating shade on a hot one.
Also, we highly recommend checking out that blog post by Browns Automotive Group, it could save you and your pup a lot of stress during vacation season.
Because the summer has been so hot, it’s been difficult to create opportunities for Karma where he maintains his conditioning. For instance, long walks are greatly reduced And throwing the ball for more than a few times can also get tricky. So much for building stamina and getting his heart rate up.
Ah, but thankfully a water workout disguised as fun is a near-perfect solution. This past weekend Karma and I went back to Riverbend Park in the morning before too many people got the same idea.
We picked up the green trail just left of the waterfront at the information building. In less than five minutes we came upon a perfect “beach” that would let him play safely in the water and be off leash (shhhhhh!).
As luck would have it another woman, Sarah, and her Standard Poodle, Lilly, had the same idea. Now Lilly was a MUCH better swimmer than the Karmalicious but the competition was good for them both.
Sticks ended up being the preferred fetch “toy” and was a catalyst for increasing cardio and getting the dogs to really go for it. I had started off with his preferred water toy from Ruff Wear but a moment of distraction allowed it to float on down the river out of reach. I imagined it going over Great Falls later in the day, captured in the background of a family photo – Ha!
But I digress. We stayed for just over an hour and Karma let me know he was done by coming out of the water more often and laying in shallow water. He was a tired and content boy the rest of the day and I believe he got a decent workout out of it.
Recently I have had conversations with friends about tennis balls and dogs. Turns out, there can be quite a bit of lead and other chemicals in tennis balls and other dog toys. Incredible!
Of course, as a disclaimer, I should tell you that the data on lead content in tennis balls and dog toys is seriously debated. I mean, no one agrees on how much lead is safe for dogs and, not surprisingly, this area is not regulated for pets. Plus, what might be OK for a St. Bernard could be bad for a Chihuahua. Ugh!
But here is one thing on which most will agree. Toys made in China contain more lead (and other chemicals) than those made in other countries, especially the US where lead is a no-no. As for tennis balls, unfortunately those sold at pet store chains were singled out to be the worst (tennis ball) offenders.
Here are a few datapoints (thanks to the magazine, Animal Wellness):
- In 2007, Texas lab ExperTox tested toys from Wal-Mart and found lead, chromium, arsenic, cadmium and mercury.
- According to the article and Dr. Sharon Gwaltney, Vice President of the ASPCA’s Animal Poision Control Center, lead is trouble. It can cause abnormal behavior, vomiting, diarrhea, hiding in dark places, convulsions, anemia, weight loss and, if untreated, death.
Seriously?
The article goes on to present the “other side” of the argument saying that there is still no “proof” that certain levels of lead cause harm, and, of course, not every dog is affected.
So now what?
I hate to say it, but avoid made in China products whenever possible. If you have questions, check the product’s website. Painted items are going to be the worst offenders. Toys made in the US and Europe are manufactured under the toughest standards so try to find those.
Unfortunately, you’ll be hard pressed to find a can of tennis balls made in the US, but try. And PLEASE let us know if you find any!
It seems there is never a shortage of things to fear – bleck!! But as the harbinger of safety (ha), I was happy to come across a poster at a national dog trial this year which contained the ever-growing list of toxic plants. It’s always surprising to me when I see “new” things on the list – plants in my very own backyard!
This fabulous poster was sponsored by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation and was reprinted from the Merck Veterinary Manual, 8th ed., 1998. The poster is available for purchase and the information is also available online.
The following is simply a list of the plants, but the poster also provides information on habit/distribution, affected animals, important characteristics, toxic principles and effects and treatment.
- Agave Americana: aka Century Plant, American aloe
- Aglaonema modestrum: aka Chinese evergreen, Painted drop tongue
- Agrostemma githago: aka Corn cockle
- Allium cepa, A canadense: aka Onion (cultivated & wild)
- Aloe barbadensis: aka Barbados aloe, Curacao aloe
- Apocynum: aka Dogbanes
- Asclepias: aka Milkweeds
- Brunfelsia pauciflora var floribunda: aka Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, Lady of the night
- Caladium: aka Fancy leaf caladium, Angel wings
- Cannabis sativa: aka Mary Jane, Marijuana, Grass, Pot (you know the slang!)
- Capsicum annuum: aka Cherry pepper, Chili pepper, Ornamental pepper, Capsicum
- Cestrum diurnum, C nocturnum: aka Day-blooming Jessamine & Night-blooming Jessamine, respectively
- Chlorophytum: aka Spider plant, St. Bernards’s lily, Airplane plant
- Cicuta: aka Water hemlock
- Colchium autumnale lilaceae: aka Autumn crocus, Crocus, Fall crocus, Meadow saffron, Wonder bulb
- Conium maculatum: aka Poison hemlock
- Convallaria majalis: aka Lily-of-the-valley, Conval lily, Mayflower
- Crotalaria: aka Rattlebox
- Cyclamen: aka Snowbread, Shooting Star
- Datura stamonium: aka Jimson weed, Thorn apple
- Daubentonia punicea: aka Rattlebox, Purple sesbane
- Dieffenbachia: aka Dumbcane
- Digitalis purpurea: aka Foxglove
- Dracaena: aka Dragon tree
- Euphorbia pulcherrima: aka Poinsettia, Christmas flower, Christmas star
- Gelsemium sepervirens: aka Yellow jessamine, Evening trumpet flower, Carolina jessamine
- Hyacinthus: aka Hyacinths
- Ilex aquifolium: aka English holly, European holly
- Kalanchoe: aka Air plant, Cathedral bells
- Kalmia: aka Laurel, Ivybush, Lambkill
- Lilium longi florm: aka Easter lily, Trumpet lily
- Nerium oleander: aka Oleander
- Persea Americana: aka Avocado pear, Alligator pear
- Philodendron
- Phoradendron flavescens: aka Mistletoe
- Ricinus commusis: aka Castor bean
- Rhododendron: aka Azalea
- Sansevieria: aka Snake plant, Mother-in-law’s tongue
- Schefflera: aka Umbrella Tree
- Sesbania: vesicara: aka Bladderpod, Rattlebox, Sesbane, Coffeebean
- Solanum pseudocapsicum: aka Jerusalem cherry
- Solanum: aka Nightshades, Jerusalem cherry, Potato, Horse nettle, Buffalo Bur
- Sorghum vulgare: aka Sudan grass, Kafir, Durra, Milo, Broomcorn, Schrock
- Taxus: aka Yew
- Xanthium: aka Cocklebur
- Zamia pumila: aka Coontie, Florida arrowroot, Seminole bread, Cycad
The author of this is unknown, but it was passed onto me and we think it’s worth sharing on a bigger level. For all of you who have ever competed with your dog on any level, we are confident you can relate!
What Is A Title Really?
Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher Title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores.
A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard. And though the dog himself doesn’t know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.
A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.
A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.
A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received permanently.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
