Scratch My Butt

WOW Happy, Happy 15!!!

2012-01-24T13:30:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that Jesse has been around for FIFTEEN years. Happy Birthday to Queen Jess. Putting up with all the boys must be keeping you young.

Some past year birthday wishes;
Happy, Happy 13 Jess
Happy, Happy 14 Jess

Sundance's Little Buddy Butch

2011-12-28T09:05:00.000-06:00

Because you can't have Sundance without Butch - just thought I'd quickly introduce Sundance's new best bud - Butch. Butch is 8 weeks old and a solid black purebred German Shepherd puppy. I'm looking forward to sharing with everyone some of the great adventures I'm sure will be in store with Butch & Sundance.

Registered Name: Dario von der Staatsmacht

A Christmas Poem From the Dog

2011-12-19T17:52:00.000-06:00

Photo by Ilja and used under creative commons license.

Eyeing hydrants, digging holes,
Drinking from the toilet bowls . . .

Playing games of "tug-o'-war,"
Putting scratch marks on your door . . .
Rolling over, playing dead,
Getting dog hair on your bed . . .

Scaring folks who bring the mail,
Chasing cars, as well as tail . . .

Barking, begging, heeling, howling,
And also, on occasion, growling . . .
Romping through a field of grass,
Sneezing, snoozing, passing gas . . .
Sniffing everything I see,
Peeing on the Christmas tree . . .

Woofing, wagging, chomping, chewing . . .
These are things I sure love doing!
(But I'll try not to do that tree thing . . .)

Merry Christmas!

~ Author Unknown

Who Flushed the Toilet?

2011-12-15T22:23:00.000-06:00

Both of us (humans) sitting in our living room with the dogs lounging around on the floor, just chatting about our days and all the sudden the toilet flushes. We freaked a bit and wondered who else is in our house? So we took a peek around the corner into the bathroom and there on the toilet sits Wyatt (the cat). Apparently he figured out how to flush the toilet. I know he likes to play with the toilet paper but had no clue he figure out how to flush. I guess it's getting too cold to pretend he's a dog and demand to go outside to potty - now he wants to pretend he's human so he can stay inside and use the toilet. Geez, I thought cats used litter boxes.......

Photo used under Creative Commons License. Photo by Lauren Paulsen

Liebster Blog Award

2011-12-14T10:32:00.000-06:00

One of those fun little blog thingys – Awards from other bloggers!

I was honored a few days ago with the Liebster Award from Jamie at ‘It Just Keeps Getting Better’ Thank you Jamie!

I understand that liebster is a German word meaning dearest or beloved. The award is to help spotlight some lesser known blogs with less than 200 followers and bring them some attention.

I’d like to pass the award on to the following blogs that I follow and really think others would love if they knew about them.

It Matters To Me

King of the Kastle

Marge Blog

The Black Dog's Shop

2011-09-28T14:20:00.003-05:00

Some new developments here at the ‘Scratch My Butt’ home front.

I’ve been looking for a few extra income generating ideas and actually came up with a plan! (We’ve got to build up that doggy fund for the holidays that are just around the corner.) It started with the thought that I’d really like to make and sell some doggy items but I want them to have a tiny bit of something different from the big box stores.

So I’ve come up with a few different things;

Dog collars – can a good dog ever have enough cool collars? I will be taking old no longer use belts and making them into cool new dog collars. I will put them up for sale on etsy.com in the Black Dog’s Shop (HERE). The fun thing about this is you know each one will be unique and no one else will ever have the same collar. Each collar is an original and can be sized to fit your dog. Pictured here is the collar I call 'the Dalton' (click on picture to see larger).
Dog biscuits – we all know that good dogs need treats. In fact they need a lot of treats. Problem is there are so many different dog treats out there but not too many that are good for our dogs (just like commercial dog food). So I’ve decided that each one of these treats should be made with “good for my dogs” ingredients. Again, I will put them up for sale on etsy.com in the Black Dog’s Shop (HERE).
Dog spa/hygiene products – Just like people, dogs have hygiene needs. In order to help our dogs stay healthy and happy we need to pay attention to these hygiene needs. My biggest problem with the dog hygiene products is most of them are not put together very well. So I was going to create my own products using natural items but then I found ‘Happy Tails’ that makes natural hygiene products and sells them for a reasonable price. So instead I’ve decided to promote and sell their products. Please see my affiliate link in the left side navigation bar (it's the dog with the cucumber slices over his eyes) or visit (HERE).
Doggy Gift Baskets – For people who want a convenient, easy way of buying a gift for the dog lover they know. I’ve taken a combination of the above items and included them into gift baskets. Check them out (HERE).

Everything is customizable. Send me a request and let me know what you want to see.

For example;

You want dog treats but your dog doesn't seem to tolerate wheat.
You love a dog collar I’m selling but want it smaller.
You love the basket idea and are wondering if I can design one for your mom’s dog.
Your wondering which hygiene product might help for your itchy dog.

I've started a facebook page for those who want to keep up with new products, ideas and items for sale (like the page to get updates in your news feed);

The Black Dog's Photographer & Shop | Promote Your Page Too

So that's about it for now (who knows we might add cat products). Check us out and feel free to give us feedback!

Goodbye Mr. Velvet Nose

2011-09-14T08:51:00.000-05:00

Dalton's Apprentice

2011-08-12T10:27:00.002-05:00

Well since Jake has an apprentice, Dalton wanted one. After all Jake and Dalton are almost the same age (separated by 6 months). It's always been hard to give one something and not the other.

So without further ado, here is Sundance at 10 weeks (he is 11 weeks now);

Registered name: Ezio zu Treuen Händen

Tip for today: Always treat the animals fair.

Jake's Apprentice

2011-07-26T21:15:00.001-05:00

So Jakey has been spending a lot of time trying to train Wyatt on the fine art of being lazy. I'll tell ya, these 2 could sleep all day. However, Jakey says that Wyatt still needs more training.

Tip for Today: Sometimes a good long nap is all ya need.

Nose Printing?

2011-07-19T20:37:00.001-05:00

Did you know that a dog's nose print is as unique as a human's finger print and can be used to identify them?

It's true. The Canadian Kennel Club has accepted nose prints as proof of identity since 1938.

Here's a great blog entry from a guy who's grandparents tried to send in nose prints for their dogs back in 1951; [Nose Printing Your Dog] He's got some fun historical prints and a letter from the Canadian National Live Stock Records.

If you're interested in the US check out [Dognose ID]

You take the nose print and send it in along with a photo to this company and they keep it in a database file and send you back an ID card. I'm sure there are other places here in the states that will also do this but this is just the first I found. Sounds interesting and maybe another way to protect your dog besides id tags, tattoos and microchips.

Also interesting, there are several places that make jewelry from your dog's nose print.

Photo used under the Creative Commons License. Click on photo to go to photographer's flickr page.

The Neighbor's Barking Dog

2011-07-17T18:55:00.002-05:00

(Please click on picture to go to Photographer's flickr page.) Used under the Creative Commons License

Hey do you ever get annoyed by that neighbor who has the dog(s) that barks all the time? You know the one. The dang dog barks in the middle of the night and wakes you up or is barking over your favorite television program. I know I've been there.

Lets just hope it doesn't have to go this far;

(Neighbors sign peace deal to stop feud)

He BARKED?

2011-07-14T15:48:00.004-05:00

Photo by Nick Busse and used under the Creative Commons License

[Man Charged With Barking at Police Dog]

I really would love to know how the officer controlled his laughter at this guy. Seriously?

Ok, so maybe this guy thought he was being funny or something and had no clue that he could be charged with a crime for "barking". Who knows. But I bet one thing that he didn't think about was how those officers (human or K9) always seem to stick together, did he?

The Oldest Dog

2011-07-07T16:15:00.001-05:00

Fun Dog Fact:

According to the Guinness (I know you guys are thinking I have a thing about Guinness now) World Records the longest living dog was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey. He lived to be 29 years, 5 months and 7 days of age (7 June 1910 - 14 November 1939). [Link: Guinness Record - Oldest Dog]

Bluey survived his original owner, William Hall and was then cared for by William's son Les and his wife Esma Hall of Rochester, Victoria, Australia. Bluey worked among sheep and cattle for 20 years. His diet consisted of kangaroo and emu meat.

Black Label Guinness Draught vs. Heartworms?

2011-06-28T21:48:00.003-05:00

Photo by Kenji Oka and used under the Creative Commons License.

(Click on the Photo to go to their flickr page.)

Beer for heartworms? Interesting! But of course, only the good stuff imported from Ireland.

[New Adopted Dog Care: Heart Worm:]

I found this amusing. That's why I posted it on my blog. I'm not saying this Guinness Beer will work as a heartworm treatment/perventative but it is interesting and maybe it could work. From (human) drinkers of this beer I have heard comments that it taste like it could kill anything others seem to really like the flavor.

My own vet has surprised me sometimes with the treatments he suggests. He's your small town, old farm boy and doesn't always subscribe to traditional medicine but after being raised on a farm he has learned some of the old ways/remedies work best - and cost less. Because of him, I've learned not to discredit some of these goofy remedies so fast just because there are no clinical studies or "proof" behind them.

As far as studies or proof, I have heard that there was a study done at the U of WI (on dogs) in 2002-2003 by Dr. John D. Folts, PhD which found that the dark beer is better for canines with narrowed arteries in their hearts (similar to the narrowing observed in people with heart disease) than the lighter counterparts. Apparently the darker brews have more powerful antioxidant effects and helps to reduce blood clots.

So if nothing else, there is some sort of benefit to the canine heart from moderate amounts of dark beer. Who knew?

Attention Dogs

2011-06-21T21:09:00.002-05:00

Grrrrr, bark, woof

Photo by Jessica Whittle and used under the Creative Commons License.

Click on photo to go to her flickr page.

Vandals Damage 9/11 Rescue Dogs Statue

2011-06-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

Why?

Photo Credit: Jim Staubitser

[Police Search For Vandals After Damage To 9/11 Rescue Dogs Statue]

[another news article (including video interview with Retired NYPD Officer Steve Smaldon)]

Gosh, I can hardly even watch this video without wanting to cry.

What a service these dogs provided while most of us sat on our butts!

So WHY on earth would someone want to vandalize a statue put in place to honor them? I just don't understand and probably never will. Pretty sad. :'(

The plaque on the front of the statue reads;

"Trained to Save, Live to Serve"

If anyone is interested in helping, read the following for more information.
[A Vow to Rebuild]

Dog Bites and the Mailman

2011-06-02T20:41:00.001-05:00

“Does your dog bite?” “Does he have teeth?” The truth is that any dog, given the proper set of circumstances, can and will bite.

[Montgomery man charged after loose dog bites mailman - Beacon News]

I know better than to say my dogs would "never". I've learned through the years to NEVER say "never". Though I believe my dogs are safe and my mail carrier drives around in a car, things happen. Maybe the article of mail is to large for my box or is registered and requires a signature so the carrier (in a friendly gesture) decides to bring it up to my door. They're doing me a favor so it would be wrong of me to return the favor with a dog bite.

It's all of our responsibility as dog owners to take steps to avoid any bad situation like this. It's not only for the safety of the mail carrier but for the safety of YOUR dog!

So what do you do?

The US Postal Service recently suggested that we make sure our pets are in separate rooms with closed doors before accepting mail from a carrier at our front doors. While this is a good suggestion it doesn't help to teach the dog anything and could create a negative experience. However, if you can't control the dog this is probably the path you should take.

Yelling at the dog is not the answer.
Leaving your young child to hold on to the dog is not the answer.

I've found that usually obedience training and what is referred to as "conditioning" is the ticket. Make the mail carrier's visits a positive experience. Start when your dog is a little puppy and it will last his/her lifetime. How do you make it a positive experience? Talk to your mail carrier and enlist his/her help and have a positive attitude about seeing the mail carrier yourself. Let the mail carrier toss a ball or praise the "good puppy" for wagging it's tail. Give him/her a scratch or pat. It's the simple little things that actually count. (BTW: I do not advocate any stranger giving your dog a treat - more on this another day.) If your mail carrier is not a dog lover and does not want to participate in the positive training experience, than it falls on you alone. It's your responsibility, not the mail carrier's responsibility. You praise the dog. You give it a treat. You maintain a happy & positive attitude. While training/conditioning your dog, it's advisable to keep him/her on a leash.

------------------------------------------------

And a little advice to the mailman who is plagued by viscous dogs on their route; when all else fails, take a page out of the history book. (See article linked below.)

[May 27, 1963 St. Joseph Gazette: Mailman's Problem Solved in Short by German Shepherd]

Another 11 Year Old

2011-05-24T13:31:00.002-05:00

Wow, again, hard to believe. Really, this is my babe. He's the young one and today, he's 11.

He's still not acting his age and full of energy.
I love you babes. You're the best bud a person could have.

Happy Birthday!

ACL OUCHY!

2011-02-22T22:34:00.000-06:00

We were out for a car ride and when we returned home there sat a fuzzy little critter on our side walk. I saw it and pulled the car in the garage. Got out and left Dalton in the car while I chased the vermin away. Went back to the garage and let Dalton out of the car. Apparently the vermin was stubborn and decided to come back into our yard and of course Dalton spotted it. They both ran off around the pole barn. I called Dalton and he came limping back - no vermin.

I know - I should of held on to Dalton when taking him out of the car and double checked for that nasty critter but I didn't.

I checked his leg and paw over for cuts or brakes but found nothing. So after a few days of limping I brought him to the vet where he did what is called the "drawer test" I learned that he has a partial ACL tear. OUCH!!! This is located between the femur bone and tibia bone at the stifle joint (canine knee joint). It is not a life threatening injury so that's good but it does have a long recovery time no matter which treatment route you pick.

We're opting for no surgery due to his age and instead we will be doing what's called conservative management.

What conservative management will mean to us? No running, no jumping, no long walks, no getting on furniture or beds, no playing catch and no going up stairs without assistance for at least 8 weeks.

That's going to be hard for Dalton. He's really going to miss his ball games especially. He's already tried bringing me his jolly ball. I think tomorrow I'll dust off that big book of 101 Tricks and we can work on something new.

Original Image Author = Florian Scheuerer 10-7-2007
Revision = Vahneesa Norberg to show Dalton's injury 2-22-2011
Licensed under Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike

Tip for Today: Vermin cause all sorts of problems!

Moving?

2011-02-17T12:01:00.002-06:00

No, not reallly. We've just linked to our parent page, over at the 'Scratch My Butt' website. Right now, we're just in the trial phase but to be honest, I'm a little tired of all the blogs and websites I manage so I'm planning to merge my hobby sites into one site and just make things easier for me.

What is our parent page? It's a place for me to put up articles and information I've learned and enjoyed over the years of dog ownership. Things I've found helpful and hope others will also find helpful.

I'd be thrilled to hear your comments and thoughts on our parent page. There's always room for improvement.

Canine Discoid Lupus Survey

2011-02-15T19:32:00.000-06:00

I'm conducting a little independent survey in my never ending quest to better understand what's going on with my dog and in hopes of helping others who might have to deal with this in the future. This survey is for people who have or are dealing with a dog who has DLE.

*DLE Survey*

This is on a free web server so I can only have 25 people take this survey per month. If it doesn't work, please try again next month. Also, I'd be thrilled if you would forward this survey to anyone you might know who has experienced a dog that has/had DLE.

Thank you,
Vinnie

The Big 1 - 1

2011-02-01T21:01:00.000-06:00

Happy, Happy Big 1 -1 Jakey! 11 years old - WOW!

Last year's birthday post --> Happy Birthday Mr. Velvet Nose

Happy, Happy 14th Jess

2011-01-28T13:39:00.000-06:00

Looks like another years has passed and you are still the Queen of this household!

Way to go, girl!

Happy Birthday.

(Last year's birthday post with puppy pictures up to 13 years --> Happy Happy 13th Jess)

Tip for today: Enjoy Life!

But Mom....

2011-01-17T21:26:00.002-06:00

Wyatt gets to be on the couch, why can't I?

Tip for today: Where one leads the other will follow.

I'd Like to Introduce

2010-11-27T22:46:00.004-06:00

The newest member of the Scratch My Butt Gang - Wyatt;

What? That's not a dog? NO! Say it isn't so.
But it is a special kitty. About a month ago a stray family of cats showed up in our barn. 5 kittens and 3 adults.
We've found homes for the others but this little one. Then the other night this one didn't seem to be handling the cold Minnesota weather too well so I just had to bring it inside. It looks like the best home for this little one is going to be my home. So after a bowl of warm milk and a piece of leftover Thanksgiving turkey and it was time for a nap.

Tip for today: Kittens like their butt's scratched too.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2010-11-23T21:21:00.002-06:00

First Snowfall of the Season and a Spaghetti Squash

2010-11-13T19:57:00.000-06:00

So we have our first snowfall and once again the dogs are happy. They love running around and playing in this stuff. Jesse even likes to roll in it. They're so funny.

Dalton seems to have found a spaghetti squash that got left behind in the garden. I think he was thinking it was some kind of funny Jolly Ball. Odd shaped, hard, orange and with a funny handle. He had a hard time trying to pick it up but finally figured out a way.

That's my boy. 10 1/2 and still figuring things out.

Tip for the day: You're never too old to learn something new.

There's a "Bright Side" to Dog Poop?

2010-09-22T11:10:00.002-05:00

(Photo by Ian B. Line and used under the creative commons license.)

No way! First it's slobber and now poop. What will they think of next?

Dog Poop Has Bright Side: Powering Mass. Park Lamp - ABC News

Tip for today: To the person or people who say having a dog is NOT eco-friendly: Take That!

And I was there....

2010-09-16T21:54:00.003-05:00

MANCHESTER: Spectators flock to Manchester farm for Mideastern Regional Schutzhund Championship dog show - Manchester Enterprise - Heritage

Yep this is what I did with my free time this past weekend. It was really a fun time. Well, except for the 11 hour car ride.

So now that we're back in town I guess I had better get back into updating the gang's website. Enough goofing off.

NEW Pocket Camcorder

2010-08-11T19:19:00.004-05:00

So we picked up a new Polaroid DVF-130 pocket camcorder and have been torturing the dogs. My first subject was Jake waiting for me to feed him. He usually makes a big scene, barking and circling around but today he was rather calm.

Jess & Dalton were my next subjects. Poor things and while they were eating too. (BTW: Sorry about turning the camcorder to portrait in the middle of this. I haven't figured out how to edit things yet but these are just my first tries.)

If anyone is interested, we found this pocket camcorder on Amazon. For some reason the red one is much cheaper than the other colors (overstocked?). This camcorder is best suited for YouTube use and the largest recommended viewing size is 640x480 which is about the size of an 4x6 inch print. So not really suitable for TV viewing.

Tip for the day: NEVER let your master own things like cameras or camcorders! They're just trouble for you.

Dalton is 10 years old!

2010-06-14T23:23:00.001-05:00

Well would you believe me if I said that I forgot to post on here that Dalton turned 10 years old last month? Yep, my baby is now a 10 year old. He sure doesn't act like it or look like it but he is. Happy Birthday my boy.

Look at that sweet little puppy sleeping on his water dish. Seems like yesterday.

Tip for today: cherish everyday.

Slobber Aids in Cancer Research

2010-04-15T22:05:00.001-05:00

Jake’s thinking about donating some of his slobber to science.

Slobbery kisses from 'man's best friend' aid cancer research

Tip for today: Slobber is good for something. :)

Bees Can Kill Dogs

2010-03-28T23:32:00.006-05:00

(Photo by paterjt and used under the creative commons license.)

I was reading some news articles the other day and came across this story about bees killing a dog in Miami FL. It never even occurred to me this sort of thing could happen. I can't tell you how many times my dogs have chased and tried to eat hornets and bees.
Africanized Killer Bees Kill Family Dog; Injures Owner | Firstcoastnews.com | Florida News

I can't tell you what I would of done had I been in this person's shoes but I hope I would of tried to save my dog. I just hope I'm never faced with this kind of decision.

So I figured maybe I should check into this a little more as spring is here and flowers will be blooming soon. With the flowers comes bees and hornets. I thought it might be a good idea to figure out what a person should do if their dog was stung by a bee or hornet. To my surprise the remedies I found are pretty similar to that of treating a human and fairly simple.

First thing you want to do is remove the stinger, if possible.

Even if you can't remove the stinger, you can apply a baking soda and water paste to the sting area.

Ice the area to keep the swelling down.

You can also give your dog some Benadryl if you want some additional backup. For a large breed dog you can give them 2 - 25mg tablets.

If these things are not helping and your dog is having a severe reaction , contact your vet.

I actually already have Benadryl in my doggy first aid kit which will now take on an additional use. I think I'll add some baking soda to that kit, too. And I think I'll be watching my dogs a little more carefully this spring and summer around those bees & hornets.

Tip for today: Don't antagonize those bees! They can kill ya.

2 New Pages

2010-03-18T20:21:00.001-05:00

Just a FYI for the readers. I've decided to add a books recommendation page and an equipment & toys recommendation page.

The links will be located at the top of the page just below the title.

Here's some links for quick reference.

Dog Books

Dog Equipment & Toys

You will probably also notice some new links show up in my blog posts to items I am talking about. This is all part of a new affiliate agreement I have made with Amazon. I will try to keep these to a minimum.

Disclosure - If you follow the links on these pages to Amazon and purchase an item I recommended within 4 days, I could earn 15%.

Winter Weather, part 5 of 5 – Winter Nutrition and Diet

2010-03-05T21:22:00.002-06:00

Winter feeding is a classic example of the need to treat each dog differently. Some dogs need to be fed less and some dogs need an increase in food. In our house we usually have to decrease the amount of food we feed due to less exercise. We don’t cut back a huge amount but we do cut down a little.

Another thing to think about is how dry the winter air is and how this affects your dog’s skin and coat. A fatty acid supplement to their diet is very helpful in cutting down on them dry weather itches.

Keep in mind that due to the dryness of the winter air that you may need to provide more water for your dog. It’s just that time of year.

Stay tuned for: Spring!

Winter Weather, part 4 of 5 – Grooming

2010-02-23T20:45:00.002-06:00

I think it’s important to brush my dog regularly. Why? Brushing my dog helps improve the natural oils and gets them flowing and circulated through out the coat. This helps in waterproofing the coat and moisturizing their skin. If my dog is dry, he/she will not get as cold.

Keep their nails trimmed. Nails that are too long can reduce traction and cause my dog to slip or twist their leg and be injured. Also when the nails are long it creates a larger space between the toes and more room for snow to build up.

Here’s one grooming thing that I generally do only in the winter time. Trim the hair between our dog’s toes. I usually clip it so it’s even with the pads. This also helps to prevent snow balls from building up between the toes.

Stay tuned for part 5 of 5 - Winter Nutrition & Diet

Winter Weather, part 3 of 5 - Dogs Like Antifreeze

2010-02-17T20:07:00.002-06:00

Yes, they do. It taste really sweet to them and they don’t know its harmful to them. They’ll lick the stuff right up thinking they’re having a treat.

Be careful and clean up any spills. Don’t let your dog drink from puddles on the side of public roadways where cars may have dripped antifreeze. You can also use an antifreeze made using propylene glycol which is less toxic (still toxic) than those formulas using ethylene glycol. If you’re really lucky maybe your area sells one of the non-toxic formulas.

½ of a teaspoon of regular antifreeze per pound can cause harm. This means that for an 80 lb. dog 40 teaspoons of regular antifreeze will cause poisoning. This “poison” will attack the nervous system and kidneys of your dog.

Some signs to keep an eye out for are lack of coordination, increased thirst, lethargy, seizures, vomiting and diarrhea. If you know or even suspect that your dog has gotten into some antifreeze, get him/her to your vet right away! Your vet can successfully treat your dog if caught in time and avoid kidney damage.

Watch for part 4 or 5 - Winter Grooming

Winter Weather, part 2 of 5 – Winter Car Rides

2010-02-13T22:03:00.003-06:00

I don’t know about your dogs but mine love going for car rides. You don’t have to be going anywhere special. It’s just that they get to go with. I love to take them with me. However, sometimes there are reservations that should be observed.

First check your state laws. Believe it or not some states have laws regarding your dog riding in your vehicle. You could be required to have your dog restrained by a seat belt while he/she is going for a car ride.

I like to keep a winter survival kit in my care for myself but I include some things for my dogs too. For both of us blankets & water. I also like to keep a doggy first aid kit, a leash and a removable sign in for the window advising there is a dog in the car.

When the roads or weather is bad and I have to travel, I leave the dogs at home. If I should get stranded or in an accident, its better if I don’t have to worry about my dog too.

It’s really not a good idea to leave a dog in your car alone, unattended. Not even in the cold. Just like in summer. In the heat a car heats up fast. In the cold a car cools down fast. This can lead to hypothermia for your dog and possibly even death. (We’ll talk more about hypothermia and frostbite later.)

Stay tuned for part 3 of 5 - Dog's Love Antifreeze

Winter Weather, part 1 of 5 - Winter Walks

2010-02-09T19:32:00.005-06:00

For starters, I’m going to toss out a little disclaimer. This blog post is being written by the owner of 3 winter hearty breeds who are indoor dogs. I am not a veterinarian or any kind of expert and can not offer any medical advice. Many things in this post may not pertain to and is not intended to address issues relating to small dogs, hairless breeds, outdoor dogs or cats. I will be sharing my experience and personal advice/opinions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With all the snow being dumped out east and the cold temps here in the Midwest, it seems the perfect time to review some winter weather precautions we follow around here.

We love to go for walks. In the winter time when the temps are colder and there is lots of snow and ice we usually implement a few extra safety measures. We start with some foot protection. I usually have some nice warm boots with rubber soles to help protect my feet so why shouldn’t my dogs have some kind of protection? Because my dogs are a bit fussy and they hate wearing boots, I’ve found that Musher’s Secret Wax works best for us. This helps protect their feet from all the salt and chemicals that get spread on the roads and sidewalks to melt the ice.

Because my dogs are getting older now I also have to be sensitive to my dogs becoming less tolerant of the colder weather. This means that sometimes we have to cut our walks shorter than what we use to do. I have to pay attention to my dog and how they are responding to being outdoors.

Once we get back home I like to dry off the dog with a dry towel. That is if they’ve gotten wet from the snow. Be sure to check the dog’s belly. Check for ice that may have formed and little ice cubes. I also like to rinse off the paws. Just because we’ve applied wax to the paws it does not prevent the salt and chemicals from forming on the outside of the wax. Be sure to dry off dog after.

This leads me to caution you on chemicals you may use to melt ice on your own walkways. Be sure to read the label and know if what you’re using is toxic or harmful to animals. Shovel as much snow as you can to clear walkways and use as little de-icing product as possible.

Tip for today: Watch for 'Part 2 of 5 – Winter Car Rides' within the next few days.

Happy Birthday Mr. Velvet Nose

2010-01-31T16:23:00.000-06:00

Today, Jake turns 10

3 months old

Jakey, you are a surprise of a dog. For a dog that I was told would only live to maybe be 5 years old, your strength and endurance surprises even me. Between the seizures and the bad hips the vet wasn’t sure which would get you first. But it was all the crazy things you can eat from the box of chocolates to the box of blue paint balls that worried me the most. Despite these things you’ve lead a fairly active life from keeping up with your boy, hunting and being a doggy model on to now a life of leisure. I could go on forever telling about all your adventures.

1 year old

You have grown from the cute little guy that you were to the big softy that you are and through it all always managed to have slobber on your nose.

almost 10 years old

We love you big boy! Here’s to more life and adventure!

Tip for Today: You don't always have to believe people who tell you your dog won't live a long, happy life.

Happy, Happy 13 Jess

2010-01-25T19:42:00.000-06:00

Jesse, the Queen, turned 13 years old yesterday.

8 weeks old

2 years old

6 years old

13 years old

Tip for Today: Every day is special.

New Banner!

2010-01-11T19:43:00.002-06:00

Mom finally took the time to sit down and make us something new! She says it still needs some work but at least it has all three of us.

Don’t Forget Me!

2010-01-07T14:33:00.001-06:00

I have to tell you about my experience from yesterday. I’m still a little freaked out by it but I think I’m ok to talk about it now.

Mom had left for “work” and dad was heading out to visit with and check on his uncle. Dad said the temps were very cold and he had to make sure his uncle had enough wood in the house to keep warm. Dad let my little brother Dalton and big sis Jess out and I insisted I was fine. I didn’t need to go “potty”. I was nice and warm just cuddled up on my personal couch. Besides it was somewhere below zero out there. Was every body crazy? Did they really expect me to go outside just to pee? Unbelievable!

Well, maybe. Ok I guess I did have to go so I pulled myself up and climbed off the comfy couch. Dad was just letting the other two brown nosers in so I ducked around them to run out quickly. It really didn’t seem as cold as the weather guy said so I dilly dallied for a tiny bit. Next thing I know dad is driving away in his truck.

There I was thinking, what? What just happened? Did he really leave me out here? That’s just not possible. Doesn’t he know how cold it is? Doesn’t he know I could freeze my toes off in this weather? He wouldn’t forget about me. How could he? So I had to just sit down and cry a little bit. Not a lot, mind you. Just a little. Well maybe more than a little but NOT a lot. When dad came home I cried real loud just so he knew what a bad boy he’d been.

He brought me in the house and wrapped me in a nice warm blanket, gave me a treat and a nice massage. A few more massages and pampering and maybe (MAYBE) I’ll forgive him.

~Jake, the semi-frozen black lab

Tip of the day: always know where your dogs are before you leave home.

Dogs Decorating the Tree

2009-12-23T09:32:00.000-06:00

I know we made our Christmas post yesterday but I just found this today and I just had to share it with all dog lovers out there.
Merry Christmas,
from the scratch my butt pac of three

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-22T15:18:00.001-06:00

A Puppy's Christmas

(Unknown Author)

It's the day before Christmas

And all through the house

The puppies are squeaking

An old rubber mouse.

The wreath which had merrily

Hung on the door

Is scattered in pieces

All over the floor.

The stockings that hung

In a neat little row

Now boast a hole in

Each one of the toes.

The tree was subjected

To bright-eyed whims,

And now, although splendid,

It's missing some limbs.

I catch them and hold them.

"Be good", I insist.

They lick me, then run off

To see what they've missed.

And now as I watch them

The thought comes to me,

That their's is the spirit

That Christmas should be.

Should children and puppies

Yet show us the way,

And teach us the joy

That should come with this day?

Could they bring the message

That's written above,

And tell us that, most of all

Christmas is love.

Never Enough

2009-12-19T22:53:00.001-06:00

Yes we did get snow the other week and Jessie was very happy romping around and playing. Then she heard that they're getting nearly 2 feet of snow out east. Now the snow we have isn't good enough. Jesse wants to go visit the Big Apple for Christmas. Besides our snow is old and the other dogs have peed all over it. It’s just not fresh and new. She wants more!

Tip for today: It’s hard to keep the Queen happy.

Here it Comes!

2009-12-08T11:59:00.004-06:00

Food bin full - check
Water dish full - check
Snacks & treats - check
Toys - check
Bed soft and warm - check
Masters home - not yet!

Jess wanted snow - well, here it comes! Winter Storm Warning in Mpls/St.Paul; blizzard conditions
Dalton is waiting and watching to alert the Queen at the first sign of snow.

(The above picture is actually from the past winter. We don't have that much snow yet. Right now the grass is still showing.)

Tip for Today: Be careful what you wish for!

Snow?

2009-11-29T21:56:00.002-06:00

Did someone say we got some snow? Or was that just my imagination?

Tip for Today: Alaskan Malamutes LOVE snow, even when they get old!

Happy Thanksgiving All

2009-11-24T21:40:00.000-06:00

From Jesse the Queen, Jakey the Teddy Bear and Mr. New Nose, Dalton.

Tip for Today: Stay away from your master when she's decorating for the Holidays. ~Jake

Your Best Toy

2009-11-15T20:08:00.002-06:00

Tip for Today: It's good to have your best toy by your side when you fall asleep.

Da Nose Update

2009-11-10T17:35:00.003-06:00

Remember Day 1

Here's day 9

I think we have a nose again. Dalton has been so funny lately. It's like he can smell again and hasn't been able to in years. He's been sniffing EVERY thing.

We're on day 18 now

We're on to the cortizone in the morning and vitamin E in the evening. I think the vitamin E is really helping to heal up those 2 nasty spots. It also is adding some moisture. His nose has been super dry for a long, long time.

For those of you new to this new blog, here's my past posts on Dalton's discoid lupus;
Dalton's Vet Appointment
and Watch the Nose

Tip for Today: There are many new and interesting things to smell besides roses.

Watching

2009-11-04T14:48:00.001-06:00

Why?

2009-11-01T23:51:00.003-06:00

Why did all the kids leave? I wasn't that scary, was I?

I See A Jesse

2009-10-29T19:20:00.004-05:00

I see ya, Jess

What's that sound?

Save me Daddy!

Too late......

Listen buddy, NO means NO!

Tip for today: Never argue with the Queen!

K9 Veterans Day

2009-10-26T10:14:00.004-05:00

K9 Veterans Day Website

Sad news - Joe White, the driving force behind organizing K9 Veterans Day has passed away. In his honor let's keep K9 Veterans Day alive! Let's make his dream come true.

Watch the Nose

2009-10-23T21:46:00.006-05:00

Just a pictorial update on Dalton's progress.
Day 2;

Day 3;

Day 4;

Day 5;

Day 5 view from above;

I've learned that Dalton has a hard time posing the same way twice and I have a hard time showing him how. Anyway, his nose is starting to take a normal shape again. Can you see it? Day 5 and it looks almost like a real doggy nose again. My hubby told me that he accidentally bumped Dalton in the nose today and he didn't even yelp.

Tip for today: Watch the nose and never stop sniffing.

Ode to Drool

2009-10-22T13:06:00.000-05:00

Drool is cool
Slobber is hotter
Oh to shake my head
And wonder where will it land
To watch it flying through the air
Maybe it'll hit tthe wall or the furniture
It's fun to drool
It's fun to slobber
Oh to rub up to a human and see their reaction
Got to love it when it lands on the floor and they loose their traction
The cold, wet, slimy, sticky stuff
I love to drool
I love to slobber

~Jake, the black lab, aka the King of Slobber Kings

Dalton's Vet Appointment

2009-10-19T20:03:00.001-05:00

Dalton had his vet appointment today. I was pretty happy with how everything went.

Dalton seen a small puppy (black lab) and a JRT. He really wasn't sure what to think of these strange new dogs but he was very well mannered with them. The little puppy wanted to play but Dalton really had no interest.

His heart worm test came back negative, yah! I really had no doubt as we do give him a preventative medicine for 6 months through the summer. However, it's always good to check and make sure these things are working.

2 years ago Dalton was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus Eryhematosus. With a big name like that it really does sound scary doesn't it? It's not as bad as it sounds.

Wikipedia: Canine Discoid Lupus Eryhematosus

Basically, it's a disease where his immune system thinks his nose is a virus. His immune system attacks his nose trying to fight it off. This process leaves behind sores on his nose.

The course of treatment we've followed has been very minimal but has successfully controlled his discoid lupus. We started out with prednisone which we stopped almost immediately as it seemed way too strong for Dalton's system to handle We've just been controlling it with a topical vitamin E bought at a local drug store. However, this does not clear-up nor reduce the sores. Just stops it from getting worse.

So today I asked the vet if there was any more we could do. He said that since Dalton's case of discoid lupus is on the mild side compared to other cases he's seen he would not recommend tetracycline and niacinamide. We discussed using a topical tacrolimus which he felt would be more successful than some other treatments. He sounded very positive about the tacrolimus but thought of a treatment plan that would be cheaper and he wanted us to try it first. I agreed. If it's cheaper and the vet feels it will be successful, why not?

So here's the treatment plan. Maximum Strength Cortizone - 10 Plus, topical creme (the one that says it includes "10 healing moisturizers") applied to the affected area 2 times a day for one week. Then 1 time a day plus vitamin E applied to the affected area 1 time a day. He also wants me to supplement Dalton's food 1 time a day with 1 vitamin E capsule and additional Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids.

This is more than we have been doing and it will take some dedication on my part but I feel very positive about this new plan. I'm going to take daily pictures (may not post them all here) to help me document his progress.

Here is day 1 (today) after one application of the cortizone;

Tip for today: Your vet can say words you've never imagined.

101 Dalmatians - the musical

2009-10-13T09:22:00.001-05:00

(Photo by GenBug and used under the Creative Commons License.)

101 Dalmatians - the musical

Anyone going? It’s scheduled to debut up here in Minnesota at the Orpheum today (Oct. 13th)! I’m usually not the musical kind of person but I’ve always loved Disney’s classic 101 Dalmatians. And because it contains real dogs, how can a dog lover not get excited over this.

And of the 15 live dogs in the musical, 9 are rescued dogs! Check out their 'our dogs' page (link found here: Our Dogs) for some short stories on the dog stars. WTG guys!!! I’m impressed.

Maybe this dog lover can now add a little culture to her life by going to see a musical???

Tip for today: Just because you like the dog in a movie or musical doesn't mean you should run out and buy one!

Welcome to the New Blog

2009-10-12T15:23:00.002-05:00

To begin I thought introductions would be in order.

Jesse is the matriarch of the pack. She is a Golden Retriever, Alaskan Malamute mix. My husband picked her up from a farmer when she was a puppy 12 years ago. She's the oldest furry member (orneriest at times too) and the only girl. Trust me, she has earned the title of "the Queen" or as some would call her the "alpha bitch".

Then there is Jake. He's a big black lab with a personality somewhat like Odie from the Garfield carton. Some of his nicknames are "velvet nose", "teddy bear", or "lug". He became a part of the family 9 years ago in February when my son decided he wanted a bird hunting dog.

Dalton, the youngest is also 9 years old. He is a somewhat strange looking purebred German Shepherd Dog that we found as a puppy in a local newspaper. He is my "boss", company mascot and constant companion.

In this blog we'll share stores, adventures, learned tips, funnies and the many things dogs teach us.

Welcome and I hope you enjoy.

Tip for today; scratch your dog's butt and you will make his day.