Dog Blog

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Puppy mills are a growing concern, but those behind proposed legislation are hoping to put an end to the abuse.

“The key to success is to create an enforceable inspection scheme that will encourage responsible kennels and alert the public when abusive conditions exist,” said Sen. Gary Cates.

Under the new legislation, kennels would have more standards and go through random inspections.

“Responsible breeders will have no problems with the requirements in this bill. This legislation aims to prevent the abuse of dogs in so-called puppy mills through a comprehensive, self-funded and state-administered licensing program,” said Attorney General Jim Petro.

Penalties would also be greater under the new legislation. If caught, there would be a suspension of the breeder’s license and the dogs would be taken away immediately.

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By Mary Bruemmer
mary.bruemmer@pineriverjournal.com

It was a hole-y time in the neighborhood…

Shortly after the snow had melted and the ground had apparently thawed, I looked out the window one day to see two freshly-dug holes in the front yard. To add insult to injury, one of our dogs was lounging right next to one of the holes, as if to brag about her latest feat. (Or would that be paws?) She looked like she was claiming squatters rights and wasn’t going to move for anyone. She was holding her head up high and glancing around as if to proudly say, “Look what I did.”

This is one of the downfalls of owning dogs. More to the point, this is one of the downfalls of owning dogs that rule your life and get away with anything. Go ahead, ask anyone who has visited us and met our “family” - they’ll tell you that our dogs are spoiled.

Back to the digging of holes…I refer to these as puppy potholes, and find myself constantly warning visitors to be on the lookout for them, lest they find themselves tripping into one. For the most part, the dogs dig their holes in our driveway, but apparently the front lawn was awfully appealing this spring. And, of course, we have no way of knowing which dog (there are three) actually dug the holes, although in this case it’s a pretty safe bet it was the one who was guarding them with her life.

A friend told me to just plant something in the holes, instead of patch, patch, patch. Looking at this from a dog’s point of view, if I plant things in their holes they might take that as permission to dig everywhere because, after all, “she’ll just stick a plant in here, anyway.” (Dog psychology is a little tricky. Not only do you have to delve into their psyche, but you also have to actually understand what they are thinking and/or saying.)

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Traveling with Pets If you’re a pet owner planning a business trip or vacation, the decision to take your pet along or leave him behind is an important one for both you and your companion. While it may be tempting to take your furry friend with you, keep in mind that some animals are not suited for travel because of temperament, illness, or physical impairment. If you have any doubts about whether it is appropriate for your pet to travel, talk to your veterinarian.

House Training Advice from Dog-Training-Sites.com

Download this press release as an Adobe PDF document.

A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion.

(PRWEB) March 29, 2006 — The best house training uses the dogs own instincts to avoid soiling its bed to train the dog where and where not to eliminate. That is the basis behind crate training, in which the dog is confined to its crate in the absence of the owner, and den training, in which the dog is confined to a small area of the home. In essence, the crate, or the room, becomes the dog‚Äö√Ñ√¥s den. Dogs are naturally very clean animals, and they try their best to avoid using their dens as toilets.

This type of training usually works very well, both for puppies and for older dogs. Problems with this type of toilet training are usually the result of not understanding the signals the dog is sending, not being consistent with feeding times, or trying to rush the process.

While the house training process can be sped up somewhat by consistently praising the dog and rewarding it for toileting in the proper place, some dogs cannot be rushed through this important process. It is always best to house train the dog properly the first time than to go back and retrain a problem dog.

If the dog continues to soil the den area after house training, the most likely reason is that the owner has left the dog in the den for too long. Another reason may be that the den area is too large. In this case, the best strategy is to make the den area smaller or to take the dog to the toilet area more frequently.

If the dog soils the bed that has been provided in the den area, it is most likely because the owner has left the dog there for too long, and the dog had an understandable accident. Or it could be that the dog has not yet adopted this area as the bed. In addition, urinary tract infections and other medical conditions can also cause dogs to soil their beds. It is important to have the dog thoroughly checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems.

One other reason for house training accidents that many people overlook is boredom. Dogs who are bored often drink large amounts of water and therefore must urinate more frequently than you might think. If you notice your dog consuming large amounts of water, be sure to take the dog to the established toilet area more often, and provide the
dog with toys and other distractions to eliminate
boredom.

Boredom is the root cause of many dog behavior problems, not only house training issues. Chewing and other destructive behaviors are also often caused by boredom and separation anxiety.

Other problems with house training can occur when the dog’s den is not properly introduced. In some cases dogs can react to the den as if it is a prison or a punishment. Those dogs may exhibit signs of anxiety, such as whining, chewing and excessive barking. It is important for the dog
to feel secure in its den, and to think of it as a home
and not a cage.

The best way to house train a puppy or dog, or to re-house train a problem dog, is to make yourself aware of the dog’s habits and needs. Creating a healthy, safe sleeping and play area for your dog, as well as a well defined toilet area, is important for any house training program.

House training is not always an easy process, but it is certainly an important one. The number one reason that dogs are surrendered to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so a well structured house training program can literally be a lifesaver for your dog.

Robert Bercume
Dog-Training-Sites.com

http://www.Dog-Training-Sites.com

Americans are in love with dogs. The current runaway success of John Grogan’s Marley and Me demonstrates how much Americans love anything “dog-related.” Unfortunately, many abandoned dogs and other pets languish in animal shelters, waiting for an owner who may not ever come for them. In fact, there are literally millions of animals who need homes. People sometimes forget about these animals and how much they can add to our lives.

(PRWEB) April 6, 2006 — Americans are in love with dogs. The current runaway success of John Grogan‚Äö√Ñ√¥s Marley and Me demonstrates how much Americans love anything ‚Äö√Ñ√∫dog-related.‚Äö√Ñ√π Unfortunately, many abandoned dogs and other pets languish in animal shelters, waiting for an owner who may not ever come for them. In fact, there are literally millions of animals who need homes. People sometimes forget about these animals and how much they can add to our lives.

Reiji Kanemoto’s life changed forever when he brought home Rufus, an elderly golden retriever that was abandoned by its owners. A professional photographer for over twenty years, Kanemoto quickly realized that Rufus could provide him with a unique point of view from a dog’s perspective. Rufus became a “Dog Photographer” by allowing Kanemoto to harness a real camera to his body.

“The idea was a simple one,” says Kanemoto. “Put a camera around my dog’s neck and start shooting pictures from his point of view. It was a lot of fun and really opened my eyes as a photographer. It also turned into a journey of companionship and unforgettable memories that I will always carry with me.”

The result is a unique book of photographs, taken from Rufus’ point of view, as he and Kanemoto snapped pictures of anything of interest all over Los Angeles. The book, My Name is Rufus, I Am a Photographer: A Dog’s True Story (StudioTanimoto, 2006), is unlike anything else on the market today, mostly because the dog himself took the photographs.

The book tells Rufus’ story in pictures and is at turns funny, fascinating, touching and hopelessly charming. Providing a rare view of the world from a dog’s perspective, the book chronicles trips to dog shows, dog parks, dog beaches, and even a pet café. You also get to see how other dogs reacted to Rufus’ camera and you even get a sense of his predilection for the ladies.

“Rufus was a ladies’ dog,” says Kanemoto. “Whenever we went for walks, he would always greet the girls passing by, and they would make a fuss over him. I think he knew he was a good-looking dog.”

The book serves as Kanemoto’s tribute to his beloved dog and also as a photo journal of the unbreakable bond between the photographer and his dog. While the photos are taken in the spirit of fun, the story also has a serious underlying theme between the lines.

His experience with Rufus profoundly affected Kanemoto‚Äö√Ñ√¥s life and his outlook on the many abandoned dogs living in shelters all over the country. ‚Äö√Ñ√∫The one thing he taught me was kindness,‚Äö√Ñ√π says Kanemoto. ‚Äö√Ñ√∫He made me realize there are so many abandoned pets like him, living in kennels waiting for their guardians to come back.”

As a result of his inseparable relationship with Rufus, Kanemoto has dedicated himself to try to help stray and abandoned pets. “Some of these pets find new people to care for them, but most don’t,” says Kanemoto. “I hope to continue adopting these animals, and try to find others who can as well.”

Because of his love and appreciation for Rufus, Kanemoto will be donating a portion of the book sales to the Golden Retriever Foundation, who foster the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of displaced Golden Retrievers.

After five wonderful years with Kanemoto, Rufus unfortunately passed away due to natural causes. Kanemoto has adopted Murphy, a stray dog that is part Black Labrador and part Great Dane. It is his hope that Murphy will someday be able to carry on Rufus’ work.

For a review copy of the book or to set up an interview with Reiji Kanemoto for a story, please contact Jay Wilke at 727-443-7115, ext. 223