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
