Briarwood Pups

Sunday, March 11, 2007

1 vs 100 Pug Style

Pugs in the toy basket

Friday, March 02, 2007
1 vs 100 pug style Category: Pets and Animals
This morning we had the pug version of 1 vs. 100. Jolene was feeling even more spunky than usual, if that's possible. And she took on all the big dogs. She is the only one that easily fits under the green chair in the living room, so she would dart out, bite at their feet, then run back under the chair. They were all just waiting to get themselves a piece of Jolene, but she is lickety-split quick! Maybe we should include "greased lightning" somewhere in her name. I had to put her back with the puppies before she had the adults ticked off.
Ellie's puppies are cracking me up. They're at that stage where they're trying to take on the world. They stand on the floor, take all 4 paws and stomp them, while stomping around in a circle looking for a challenge. Then they'll bark randomly to see what trouble they can stir up. When they're in the pen, they'll search for my voice and my face. But when on the floor, they prefer chasing feet. Time to pull out the super fuzzy socks and really make their day!
Daisy is doing much, much better. Although she makes some of the world's best puppies, this pregnancy has just been too much on her. So she'll be retired and will enjoy the leisurely life of being pampered and just being a nanny to other puppies (which she loves to do!).
Isabelle is sporting a lovely new pink Puppia harness. Will have to get pictures up. Our resident model is more than willing to pose as soon as we get on the ball! I can't tell you how many puppy pictures Isabelle has walked in front of. She is a camera hound and will sit perfectly for any shot.

Jolene the Hoarder

Thursday, March 01, 2007
Jolene the Hoarder Category: Pets and Animals
Jolene seems wonderfully happy and at ease whenever she's put in with Daisy's pups. And I think we finally figured out why. She plays gently with them, so it's not like she beats them up being smaller than her. However, she can STEAL their toys very easily. She will grab a toy and march off to her place of choice. The first treasure chest was the bolster bed. She had so many in there that no one could sleep there anymore! When I picked up the bolster bed for it's occasional wash, and I put all the toys back in the basket, she took them all to the crate, instead.
The pups don't seem to mind. When I fill up the toy basket, they climb in and sleep on the plush toys. Then they eventually knock it over, start to play with the toys until Jolene hides them all, then they get back into the basket and roll it around to another part of the room. Then they pack as many as they can into the tipped basket until they get top-heavy and tilt it right-side-up again. Then they all climb out until it's the last man standing, then he tips it over and they're off and running again. I had no idea how much fun a $3 wicker basket could be!!
Mulan has gone to her new home where she is raising cain, climbing into bags of cat food, holding her leash in her mouth and streaking through the house, and talking smack to all the other animals in the house. Ahhh, finally fullfilling life's purpose ;)
Ellie's pups are getting out and about more. The more time they spend out of the whelping pen, the more adventurous they are becoming. They have made it into the other rooms and are actively playing with mom and getting downright feisty! They go in for their first set of shots Monday and then they can start getting some more exposure.
Thank goodness it finally warmed up! I took Shang over to the municipal building the other day where he followed the chief of police around the office. Maybe he'll be a K9 cop one day??

Updates

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Updates Category: Pets and Animals
Lots and lots going on around here. Ellie's pups are starting to prefer food over mom's milk and are eating like little piggy pigs. They are letting me know when they're hungry and helping me wake up in the morning so that I can run and get their breakfast. They have been spending more time out and about and are getting curious about more of their surroundings. They're interacting great with the adults and they've been begging for new pictures, so I need to get on the ball and oblige them!!
Daisy's have taken over the office. There is a wicker basket full of toys and lately more and more of them have been found sleeping in the basket on the plush toys. I was at home eating supper last night and Mulan told me that the pups were out of water. So we took care of that right away and she was the #1 star of the pups for a while! They will be 8 weeks old on Friday - where did the time go??
Tony was playing with the dogs the other day and told Petunia she looked like Olive Oil. I about fell out of my chair because she DOES look like Olive Oil. You just have to see her in person. Too funny.
Gator is back out on the road. Patrick is getting him all ready and fattened up to go take on the challenges of the ring again. Letting him show his manly studliness. His head gets bigger with each show he goes to and he is really letting this "I'm da bomb" thing get out of control. So we're going to definitely have to revisit some obedience when he gets back to see if we can cut down on his wanting to throw his weight around. But between you and me, he really is da bomb. Oh so handsome!
And the most exciting news of all - we have a new member of the family! As you know, we've been selectively breeding trying to get closer and closer to a show pug, and we just added our first high falutin' real deal show pug to the family. Although her lines say that she is a distinguished and cultured lady, she isn't above eating the smaller puppies' kibble, stealing toys when she can, taking over the sofa and trying to kick Tony off, and demanding that we cater to her every wish. She's a true blue pug and is working hard on getting everyone here wrapped around her paw. And if we don't immediately cave to her wishes, she does a very convincing imitation of the frenchie death yodel.

Heat Therapy?

Saturday, February 17, 2007
Heat Therapy? Category: Pets and Animals
Along with the snow came use of the might shovel and triggering of an old back injury. I've been immobile and useless the past few days. Yesterday was so bad that my mom came over to help me convalesce and she brought with her, among other things, those really cool thera-cure heating pads for the back that you can activate and wear under your clothes at work. I've been wanting to try them, so I was pretty excited about that!
This morning I had too many appointments to cancel, so I sucked it up and went into work. When I got home, all the dogs were willing to go outside, even Isabelle! I chalked it up to slightly warmer temperatures and cabin fever. However, when we came back in, I noticed several of them ran straight for the bedroom.
As I entered the room behind them, I saw the carnage. Cardboard was torn, chewed and spread all over the room. So much for the theracure box that had been safely on my desk in the office, or so I thought. When I moved the huddled group of 3 dogs in the middle of the bed, I was stunned. Under them was one of the back packs, opened and heating them up like a toasty heating pad. Isabelle didn't mind going outside because she had a toasty warm place waiting for her return!
Daisy's pups are fitting right into daily life and routine. They spend most of their time between the living room and the office (formerly the dining room). The food and water bowls are placed where the two rooms join, and they also have a supply in their crate when they are tucked safely away. They have been on dry food now, free-feeding, for a little over a week with their supplements once a day. Their preferred method of eating is to pile as many pups into a single bowl as possible like teenagers cramming into a volkswagon.
Food is very important to them all and they hate to be left out. One day Rizzo was at the far side of the living room and heard munching. Her ears perked up, she tossed her head, let out a yarf, and went running for the food bowl, jumping on top of the pile and knocking another puppy out of the bowl. The next day, she was foraging under the office desk for treasures and I called her from the living room. She cocked her head, focused on the sound, and came runnning at me full throttle with those feet a flying. However, as she passed the food bowl, she came to a screeching halt and jumped in. So much for wanting to spend time with people.
Ellie's are doing great. They are full-fledged pugs now. They want to be in on the action, they are all about the food, and they do their cute little feed me dance when I bring on the chow. They are much more interested in the outside world and are ready to do some investigating.
Hoping to get some new pictures up soon!

Sooooooo Cold Outside

Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Sooooo cold outside Current mood: cold Category: Pets and Animals
Here we are in mid-winter with some serious snow and well below-freezing temperatures. At first the dogs loved it. Fresh snow, they'd run and play and speed around the yard, chasing each other and kicking up the snowflakes. But after the novelty wore off, they realized it was kind of cold out there. They'd pick up feet, limping on the way back in, making every attempt possible to touch the cold ground with the least amount of paws.
They would still humor me and at least run outside to use the bathroom if I go out with them. After all, they can't just let me go out by myself. But now the snow is deeper, the drifts are unfriendly, and the depth is taller than their legs. Some of the more adventurous ones still bounded through the snow and Petunia is so light she can almost walk on top of it, but most of them are meandering outside, looking off the deck, deeming it too deep and using the bathroom on the deck. I keep trying to clear them a place in the yard, but the wind blows it over about as soon as I get some headway made.
Yesterday they really caught on. I only got 3 of them to even go outside to look, and the rest opted for the puppy pads. I can't blame Daisy - her nursing area hangs down and drags on the snow and I can't say I'd like that much, either. Ellie Mae starts shivering when she stands at the door and looks outside, then gives me the big brown eye look (I call it her Ren & Stimpy look).
But the biggest wussie of all is Isabella, hands down even though she has the healthiest layer of insulative fat out of all of them. She hasn't gone outside for a week, unless I have physically tossed her out the door. When I wake up for the morning ask if they want to go outside, instead of at least going to the door and looking, she jumps off the bed and makes a beeline for the register vent in the living room and sits on it, looking all sorts of pitiful. Letting me know she's far too frail to allow her body temperature to drop. In fact, it's sheer torture for her to go into the kitchen where the temperature is only 68 instead of 73. But for all her blustering and airs, I did catch her playing outside of her own accord several times at the beginning of the week. Busted!

Monday, February 19, 2007

Heat Therapy?

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Heat Therapy?
Category: Pets and Animals

Along with the snow came use of the might shovel and triggering of an old back injury. I've been immobile and useless the past few days. Yesterday was so bad that my mom came over to help me convalesce and she brought with her, among other things, those really cool thera-cure heating pads for the back that you can activate and wear under your clothes at work. I've been wanting to try them, so I was pretty excited about that!

This morning I had too many appointments to cancel, so I sucked it up and went into work. When I got home, all the dogs were willing to go outside, even Isabelle! I chalked it up to slightly warmer temperatures and cabin fever. However, when we came back in, I noticed several of them ran straight for the bedroom.

As I entered the room behind them, I saw the carnage. Cardboard was torn, chewed and spread all over the room. So much for the theracure box that had been safely on my desk in the office, or so I thought. When I moved the huddled group of 3 dogs in the middle of the bed, I was stunned. Under them was one of the back packs, opened and heating them up like a toasty heating pad. Isabelle didn't mind going outside because she had a toasty warm place waiting for her return!

Daisy's pups are fitting right into daily life and routine. They spend most of their time between the living room and the office (formerly the dining room). The food and water bowls are placed where the two rooms join, and they also have a supply in their crate when they are tucked safely away. They have been on dry food now, free-feeding, for a little over a week with their supplements once a day. Their preferred method of eating is to pile as many pups into a single bowl as possible like teenagers cramming into a volkswagon.

Food is very important to them all and they hate to be left out. One day Rizzo was at the far side of the living room and heard munching. Her ears perked up, she tossed her head, let out a yarf, and went running for the food bowl, jumping on top of the pile and knocking another puppy out of the bowl. The next day, she was foraging under the office desk for treasures and I called her from the living room. She cocked her head, focused on the sound, and came runnning at me full throttle with those feet a flying. However, as she passed the food bowl, she came to a screeching halt and jumped in. So much for wanting to spend time with people.

Ellie's are doing great. They are full-fledged pugs now. They want to be in on the action, they are all about the food, and they do their cute little feed me dance when I bring on the chow. They are much more interested in the outside world and are ready to do some investigating.

Hoping to get some new pictures up soon!

Soooooo Cold Outside

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Sooooo cold outside
Current mood: cold
Category: Pets and Animals

Here we are in mid-winter with some serious snow and well below-freezing temperatures. At first the dogs loved it. Fresh snow, they'd run and play and speed around the yard, chasing each other and kicking up the snowflakes. But after the novelty wore off, they realized it was kind of cold out there. They'd pick up feet, limping on the way back in, making every attempt possible to touch the cold ground with the least amount of paws.

They would still humor me and at least run outside to use the bathroom if I go out with them. After all, they can't just let me go out by myself. But now the snow is deeper, the drifts are unfriendly, and the depth is taller than their legs. Some of the more adventurous ones still bounded through the snow and Petunia is so light she can almost walk on top of it, but most of them are meandering outside, looking off the deck, deeming it too deep and using the bathroom on the deck. I keep trying to clear them a place in the yard, but the wind blows it over about as soon as I get some headway made.

Yesterday they really caught on. I only got 3 of them to even go outside to look, and the rest opted for the puppy pads. I can't blame Daisy - her nursing area hangs down and drags on the snow and I can't say I'd like that much, either. Ellie Mae starts shivering when she stands at the door and looks outside, then gives me the big brown eye look (I call it her Ren & Stimpy look).

But the biggest wussie of all is Isabella, hands down even though she has the healthiest layer of insulative fat out of all of them. She hasn't gone outside for a week, unless I have physically tossed her out the door. When I wake up for the morning ask if they want to go outside, instead of at least going to the door and looking, she jumps off the bed and makes a beeline for the register vent in the living room and sits on it, looking all sorts of pitiful. Letting me know she's far too frail to allow her body temperature to drop. In fact, it's sheer torture for her to go into the kitchen where the temperature is only 68 instead of 73. But for all her blustering and airs, I did catch her playing outside of her own accord several times at the beginning of the week. Busted!

Fabio & His Toys Part II

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Fabio & his toys part II
Category: Pets and Animals

I noticed the other day that many of the toys are starting to look bedraggled around here. I found some toys on sale and got even more through a catalog order and now the puppies have a wide variety of fun things to entertain them. Fabio found the stash and got all excited. While his head was stuck deep in the basket of toys sniffing, his back legs were excitedly kicking around and moving his whole back end back and forth.

Ah-hah! The first toy of choice was a yellow duckie. It fit the mouth perfectly, squeeked ever so wonderfully, and was promptly stolen by Mariah within 3 seconds.

Never fear, there are many toys in the basket. Next up - a green elf. Interesting texture on the legs, fun to toss in the air and push around on the floor with the nose. Yep, this will do. Promptly stolen by Mariah within 15 seconds.

Five toys later, it was time for all the dogs to go outside to use the bathroom. I found Mariah's stash tucked away in the corner of the couch for safe keeping. Poor Fabio. So when it came time to crate him, I put the yellow duckie in with him and he contentedly squeeked it as we fell asleep that night. Mariah had no further interest in the toys and instead sucked up to Tony for a frequent belly rub.

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Monday, February 12, 2007

Turning into real pugs
Category: Pets and Animals

This morning at around 4am-ish, Ellie told me she was tired. The pups were starting to get to her and she'd appreciate a break from feeding. I asked her if she could wait till the alarm went off and I'd feed them for her. So this morning the pups got their first taste of something other than mother's milk. They dove in, wallowed around, and played with their food. Mom cleaned up their leftovers and their fur and made the nest all tidy again. At lunch they got more and even peeked up over the side of the pen to find more food. I should have known it would take food to make them really act like pugs - lol.

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Saturday, February 10, 2007

Overprotective Mothers
Category: Pets and Animals

A few years back, I took in a pregnant kitten. Only a kitten herself, she was already pregnant and due to deliver at only 6 months of age. She did a fine job, and had 3 lovely kittens. She was the type to prefer to find her own living quarters and if I got too close, she would move them. She settled in the guest room and so I let them be and tried my best not to peek under the bed and check on them. They were growing and I could hear their playtime sessions. The mom would come out and get her food, her attention, and then go back to tending her babies.

It grew to her laying by the door to the room so that she could keep an eye on what I was doing as well as her babies, and prevent them from wondering past her barrier. I would watch their direction too, and every once in a while I'd see a bit of fluff bounce out, then right back into place. Fascinated by their cuteness, I laid on my belly in the hallway one day, just watching. The mother studied me closely. It was business as normal for about 10 min. Then all of a sudden, she looked to her left, issued a meow, and the babies came flying around the corner and out to investigate me. I had been deemed worthy and harmless!

Ellie Mae has been just as protective. This is her first litter, and she wasn't altogether fond of us doing the initial developmental exercises on them. She hasn't issued the ok meow yet, but the pups are starting to cave to their curiosity. There's just such a big world out there to investigate! They've been interacting more with each other, with us and with the dogs, and it's so much fun to watch them grow. Ellie is starting to calm a little, but she keeps very close tabs on exactly where each one is at any given time and anyone holding a pup gets an intense stare and usually a chin on the knee till the pups are safely back in their pen.

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Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Mutinous Take-Over
Category: Pets and Animals

The bed. The little $10 bed I picked up at Walgreen's just before Christmas because it looked like the whole thing would fit in the washing machine. Who would think it would become such an object of dispute? Even as I write this, the tiny bed is holding Ellie, Petunia and Mariah, none of whom are willing to give up a tiny bit of their real estate.

Some dogs suckle even as they're older. There is speculation that the pups who do this might have been weaned too early, miss their mothers, weren't socialized, etc. We got Petunia when she was a pup and she never suckled on anything, she had the older pugs here who helped her adjust and socialize, and she did very well. However, when we got this bed, something came out in her. She would get into the bed, grab the bolster with her mouth, and her eyes would glaze over, like a cat with catnip. Beyond her control, her paws would start kneading the bolster on either side of her mouth and she would contentedly do this for hours and even fall asleep in this position if allowed. My mom came to visit the puppies and saw Petunia on the bed doing this ritual and was amazed. Have you ever seen her so sublimely happy?? Of course, the bed was in essence, Petunia's. It became one of her most valued possessions in just a short time.

When Daisy's pups got moved to the crate in the office, it was the easiest thing to grab and put by the crate for Daisy to sleep in while overseeing her pups. Petunia seemed ok with that, since she would use it in the office, too.

The problem is now. The pups are older. They need more playtime outside of the crate, and more interaction with their pack. At first, they thought it was cool to play with aunt Petunia from beyond the bolster. Then they thought it was fun to jump in with her and crawl over her. She has a pretty high tolerance, but every once in a while you'd hear a low growl while she was trying to calm them down so they could sleep. This evolved into puppies cuddling with her, but now they're so big they've chased her out and overtaken the bed.

Poooooooooor Petunia......

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Sunday, February 04, 2007

The doggie door
Category: Pets and Animals

Right before Christmas we installed a dog door. It took us how long to get smart?? I guess part of the reason it took so long is because I've never had one and hearing stories of those who do and how hard it was to train their dog had me worried. I have to say that installation was a breeze (maybe that's because I just watched while he did it) and that training them just as easy. It just took once or twice through and they had the idea.

Now every dog seems to have their own doggie door persona. The majority of them will run through easily. Especially the boys - no problem and they will even use it on their own without me having to go outside with them. The rest prefer to wait for our 4x daily ritual of going outside together.

Ellie will go through, but it has taken her a while to figure out she has to use the top of her head to push it open. For the longest time she would close her eyes and use her face - no wonder she didn't like it that much!!

Daisy, who has me wrapped around her paw in a number of ways, prefers to go in and out the regular door with me. Since she's least likely to mess in the house, I continue to spoil her and cater to her wishes.

Tiki stands back and watches from the porch, afraid that the snow will bite her. I have to walk away from the door, down the stairs, then she will peek out the door and follow me. Then I have to run up the stairs, close the door and walk out with them while they go potty.

Petunia and Isabelle will run in, out, in, out, depending on where the action is so they don't miss anything.

And perhaps most strange of all is Mariah. She will wait till all the other dogs have gone out, and I have closed the regular door, then she will make her dash through the doggie door. If I stand there and watch her and don't close the door, she jumps high in the air, trying to make me hurry. As soon as the regular door is closed, she runs excitedly through the doggie door. I guess we all have little routines in life that make us happy!

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Friday, February 02, 2007

AKC tips for cold weather pet care
Category: Pets and Animals

Winter Care for Canines

*Briarwood's note: remember that all pugs and brachycephalics are temperature sensitive and do not adjust well to either extremes. They are most comfortable in moderate temperatures closer to 70 degrees. Their noses cannot regulate the temperature on cold or hot air entering the body. They should not be left outside unattended and should only be outside to use the bathroom when it is cold.

General Concerns

Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind:

Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.

Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.

Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured.

Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.

Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary.

Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.

Don't leave your dog alone in a car. If the car engine is left on, the carbon monoxide will endanger your dog's life. If the engine is off, the temperature in the car will get too cold.
Health Tips

Dogs cannot talk to us when they are sick. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to pay special attention to your dog's well-being during the winter season. Remember the following health concerns:
Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.

Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk.

Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.

Frostbite is your dog's winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, don't leave your dog outdoors for too long.

Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach.

Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.

Don't use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting a veterinarian.

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Thursday, February 01, 2007

Eclampsia woes
Current mood: worried
Category: Pets and Animals

At lunch today, Ellie's pups were all sprawled out, showing off those big tummies, so I was taking some pictures and getting ready to take a little movie of them waking up because they're walking so much better now. But then I noticed that Daisy was shaking.

We made an emergency run to the vet where she was treated and then went to work with me for the rest of the afternoon. Thank goodness the pups were already fed and that they are already accustomed to the supplemental feedings we've been giving them. I wonder if Isabelle knew that something was wrong with Daisy because as I let them out to use the bathroom, she stayed behind to try to nurse the pups. We have the best dogs with the biggest hearts!

Eclampsia is a condition where the mother has been producing so much milk that her system runs low on calcium and it is difficult for her body to absorb the calcium she takes in to use it where it is needed. It is very dangerous, is commonly found in toy dogs, and is life-threatening if not treated immediately. Anyone actively breeding should be familiar with the symptoms so that it does not go untreated. Knowing that it was a possibility is why we introduce the pups to alternative food sources early in life. It removes the resistance to changing food, it supplements the intake making it easier on the mother even when things are fine, and it helps to prevent the onset of eclampsia.

The vet said that even though Daisy is still shaking a bit, that her heartbeat is good and strong and she should be fine.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Puppy Update
Category: Pets and Animals

Daisy's: Here they are with a new pen, toys, food being brought to them, their every wish catered to, but the grass is greener on the other side. What's outside the crate? Hmm, that looks interesting. So they've been trying to climb out and this morning they just looked like they needed some good exercise and they're getting big enough to handle it. So I let the big dogs outside and let the pups have run of the office floor. They've been out a little, but never without someone keeping them rounded up into a certain area. This time they were free to run and investigate and they all went to different corners and checked things out.

I went to get my shower and when I came back 15 min later, all but one had climbed up into the dog bed I have there for Daisy's comfort. I found the straggler underneath a chair and behind a food bowl, softly whimpering a little. She came out running to me and we cuddled until the others woke up and got their second wind. After some more playtime, it was back into the pen for breakfast and they gulped it down - must have worked up an appetite!

So far they've been exposed to the surfaces of fleece, sherpa, puppy pads, hospital absorbent pads, the plastic bottom of their former whelping pen, the hardwood laminate of the office floor, and the bottom of a wicker basket. We'll be setting them up with some new challenges soon since they seem to be ready for them including new surfaces, different types of bowls, and I ordered the cutest puppy mobiles for their crate. The plush toys hang and they can bat at them!!

Ellie's: The pups have been trying to open their ears for a couple of days now. As of last night, it seems like they're all hearing! I go into their room when they're asleep and make little sounds to see which head pops up in search of the noise. This will be a week where will will not stress them, where they will spend as much time with Ellie as possible so that they can learn how to handle all these new sounds in a stabile environment. Next week we'll start introducing them to new sounds!

They are all wobbling, and spending more time trying to be on their feet. The little black female stood in one place for quite a while last night - I was so impressed! Tony picked up one and was looking it over, seeing how it was developing, looking at its face trying to predict what it would look like as an adult, and the pup opened her eyes real big, looked at Tony and squealed! LOL... Ellie had to come and make sure everything was ok and I got to tease Tony that he can't hold them this week because he scares them ;)

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Turning into real pugs

Monday, February 12, 2007

Turning into real pugs
Category: Pets and Animals

This morning at around 4am-ish, Ellie told me she was tired. The pups were starting to get to her and she'd appreciate a break from feeding. I asked her if she could wait till the alarm went off and I'd feed them for her. So this morning the pups got their first taste of something other than mother's milk. They dove in, wallowed around, and played with their food. Mom cleaned up their leftovers and their fur and made the nest all tidy again. At lunch they got more and even peeked up over the side of the pen to find more food. I should have known it would take food to make them really act like pugs - lol.

Overprotective Mothers

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Overprotective Mothers
Category: Pets and Animals

A few years back, I took in a pregnant kitten. Only a kitten herself, she was already pregnant and due to deliver at only 6 months of age. She did a fine job, and had 3 lovely kittens. She was the type to prefer to find her own living quarters and if I got too close, she would move them. She settled in the guest room and so I let them be and tried my best not to peek under the bed and check on them. They were growing and I could hear their playtime sessions. The mom would come out and get her food, her attention, and then go back to tending her babies.

It grew to her laying by the door to the room so that she could keep an eye on what I was doing as well as her babies, and prevent them from wondering past her barrier. I would watch their direction too, and every once in a while I'd see a bit of fluff bounce out, then right back into place. Fascinated by their cuteness, I laid on my belly in the hallway one day, just watching. The mother studied me closely. It was business as normal for about 10 min. Then all of a sudden, she looked to her left, issued a meow, and the babies came flying around the corner and out to investigate me. I had been deemed worthy and harmless!

Ellie Mae has been just as protective. This is her first litter, and she wasn't altogether fond of us doing the initial developmental exercises on them. She hasn't issued the ok meow yet, but the pups are starting to cave to their curiosity. There's just such a big world out there to investigate! They've been interacting more with each other, with us and with the dogs, and it's so much fun to watch them grow. Ellie is starting to calm a little, but she keeps very close tabs on exactly where each one is at any given time and anyone holding a pup gets an intense stare and usually a chin on the knee till the pups are safely back in their pen.

The mutinous takeover

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Mutinous Take-Over
Category: Pets and Animals

The bed. The little $10 bed I picked up at Walgreen's just before Christmas because it looked like the whole thing would fit in the washing machine. Who would think it would become such an object of dispute? Even as I write this, the tiny bed is holding Ellie, Petunia and Mariah, none of whom are willing to give up a tiny bit of their real estate.

Some dogs suckle even as they're older. There is speculation that the pups who do this might have been weaned too early, miss their mothers, weren't socialized, etc. We got Petunia when she was a pup and she never suckled on anything, she had the older pugs here who helped her adjust and socialize, and she did very well. However, when we got this bed, something came out in her. She would get into the bed, grab the bolster with her mouth, and her eyes would glaze over, like a cat with catnip. Beyond her control, her paws would start kneading the bolster on either side of her mouth and she would contentedly do this for hours and even fall asleep in this position if allowed. My mom came to visit the puppies and saw Petunia on the bed doing this ritual and was amazed. Have you ever seen her so sublimely happy?? Of course, the bed was in essence, Petunia's. It became one of her most valued possessions in just a short time.

When Daisy's pups got moved to the crate in the office, it was the easiest thing to grab and put by the crate for Daisy to sleep in while overseeing her pups. Petunia seemed ok with that, since she would use it in the office, too.

The problem is now. The pups are older. They need more playtime outside of the crate, and more interaction with their pack. At first, they thought it was cool to play with aunt Petunia from beyond the bolster. Then they thought it was fun to jump in with her and crawl over her. She has a pretty high tolerance, but every once in a while you'd hear a low growl while she was trying to calm them down so they could sleep. This evolved into puppies cuddling with her, but now they're so big they've chased her out and overtaken the bed.

Poooooooooor Petunia......

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Overprotective Mothers

Mutinous Take-over

The Doggie Door

Sunday, February 04, 2007

The doggie door
Category: Pets and Animals

Right before Christmas we installed a dog door. It took us how long to get smart?? I guess part of the reason it took so long is because I've never had one and hearing stories of those who do and how hard it was to train their dog had me worried. I have to say that installation was a breeze (maybe that's because I just watched while he did it) and that training them just as easy. It just took once or twice through and they had the idea.

Now every dog seems to have their own doggie door persona. The majority of them will run through easily. Especially the boys - no problem and they will even use it on their own without me having to go outside with them. The rest prefer to wait for our 4x daily ritual of going outside together.

Ellie will go through, but it has taken her a while to figure out she has to use the top of her head to push it open. For the longest time she would close her eyes and use her face - no wonder she didn't like it that much!!

Daisy, who has me wrapped around her paw in a number of ways, prefers to go in and out the regular door with me. Since she's least likely to mess in the house, I continue to spoil her and cater to her wishes.

Tiki stands back and watches from the porch, afraid that the snow will bite her. I have to walk away from the door, down the stairs, then she will peek out the door and follow me. Then I have to run up the stairs, close the door and walk out with them while they go potty.

Petunia and Isabelle will run in, out, in, out, depending on where the action is so they don't miss anything.

And perhaps most strange of all is Mariah. She will wait till all the other dogs have gone out, and I have closed the regular door, then she will make her dash through the doggie door. If I stand there and watch her and don't close the door, she jumps high in the air, trying to make me hurry. As soon as the regular door is closed, she runs excitedly through the doggie door. I guess we all have little routines in life that make us happy!

AKC Tips for Cold Weather Pet Care

Friday, February 02, 2007

AKC tips for cold weather pet care
Category: Pets and Animals

Winter Care for Canines

*Briarwood's note: remember that all pugs and brachycephalics are temperature sensitive and do not adjust well to either extremes. They are most comfortable in moderate temperatures closer to 70 degrees. Their noses cannot regulate the temperature on cold or hot air entering the body. They should not be left outside unattended and should only be outside to use the bathroom when it is cold.

General Concerns

Winter's cold air brings many concerns for responsible dog owners. Keep the following precautions in mind:

Don't leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time. Wind chill makes days colder than actual temperature readings. Be attentive to your dog's body temperature, and limit its time outdoors.

Adequate shelter is a necessity. Keep your dog warm, dry and away from drafts. Tiles and uncarpeted areas may become extremely cold, so make sure to place blankets and pads on floors in these areas.

Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured.

Groom your dog regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.

Feed your dog additional calories if it spends a lot of time outdoors or is a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary.

Towel or blow-dry your dog if it gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean its paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.

Don't leave your dog alone in a car. If the car engine is left on, the carbon monoxide will endanger your dog's life. If the engine is off, the temperature in the car will get too cold.
Health Tips

Dogs cannot talk to us when they are sick. As a responsible dog owner, it is important to pay special attention to your dog's well-being during the winter season. Remember the following health concerns:
Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your dog, it can be lethal.

Rock salt, used to melt ice on sidewalks, may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk.

Provide plenty of fresh water. Your dog is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.

Frostbite is your dog's winter hazard. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, don't leave your dog outdoors for too long.

Be very careful of supplemental heat sources. Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach.

Like people, dogs seem to be more susceptible to illness in the winter. Take your dog to a veterinarian if you see any suspicious symptoms.

Don't use over-the-counter medications on your dog without consulting a veterinarian.

Eclampsia Woes

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Eclampsia woes
Current mood: worried
Category: Pets and Animals

At lunch today, Ellie's pups were all sprawled out, showing off those big tummies, so I was taking some pictures and getting ready to take a little movie of them waking up because they're walking so much better now. But then I noticed that Daisy was shaking.

We made an emergency run to the vet where she was treated and then went to work with me for the rest of the afternoon. Thank goodness the pups were already fed and that they are already accustomed to the supplemental feedings we've been giving them. I wonder if Isabelle knew that something was wrong with Daisy because as I let them out to use the bathroom, she stayed behind to try to nurse the pups. We have the best dogs with the biggest hearts!

Eclampsia is a condition where the mother has been producing so much milk that her system runs low on calcium and it is difficult for her body to absorb the calcium she takes in to use it where it is needed. It is very dangerous, is commonly found in toy dogs, and is life-threatening if not treated immediately. Anyone actively breeding should be familiar with the symptoms so that it does not go untreated. Knowing that it was a possibility is why we introduce the pups to alternative food sources early in life. It removes the resistance to changing food, it supplements the intake making it easier on the mother even when things are fine, and it helps to prevent the onset of eclampsia.

The vet said that even though Daisy is still shaking a bit, that her heartbeat is good and strong and she should be fine.

Puppy Update 1-31-07

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Puppy Update
Category: Pets and Animals

Daisy's: Here they are with a new pen, toys, food being brought to them, their every wish catered to, but the grass is greener on the other side. What's outside the crate? Hmm, that looks interesting. So they've been trying to climb out and this morning they just looked like they needed some good exercise and they're getting big enough to handle it. So I let the big dogs outside and let the pups have run of the office floor. They've been out a little, but never without someone keeping them rounded up into a certain area. This time they were free to run and investigate and they all went to different corners and checked things out.

I went to get my shower and when I came back 15 min later, all but one had climbed up into the dog bed I have there for Daisy's comfort. I found the straggler underneath a chair and behind a food bowl, softly whimpering a little. She came out running to me and we cuddled until the others woke up and got their second wind. After some more playtime, it was back into the pen for breakfast and they gulped it down - must have worked up an appetite!

So far they've been exposed to the surfaces of fleece, sherpa, puppy pads, hospital absorbent pads, the plastic bottom of their former whelping pen, the hardwood laminate of the office floor, and the bottom of a wicker basket. We'll be setting them up with some new challenges soon since they seem to be ready for them including new surfaces, different types of bowls, and I ordered the cutest puppy mobiles for their crate. The plush toys hang and they can bat at them!!

Ellie's: The pups have been trying to open their ears for a couple of days now. As of last night, it seems like they're all hearing! I go into their room when they're asleep and make little sounds to see which head pops up in search of the noise. This will be a week where will will not stress them, where they will spend as much time with Ellie as possible so that they can learn how to handle all these new sounds in a stabile environment. Next week we'll start introducing them to new sounds!

They are all wobbling, and spending more time trying to be on their feet. The little black female stood in one place for quite a while last night - I was so impressed! Tony picked up one and was looking it over, seeing how it was developing, looking at its face trying to predict what it would look like as an adult, and the pup opened her eyes real big, looked at Tony and squealed! LOL... Ellie had to come and make sure everything was ok and I got to tease Tony that he can't hold them this week because he scares them ;)

Friday, January 26, 2007

Where is Gator?

We picked up a new comforter and it's just Gator's color. It's pretty good frenchie camoflauge, but he always gives himself away when he starts to snore. Can you find the frenchie?

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Puppy Update
Category: Pets and Animals

Daisy's: Getting ready for work this morning, and the kids wanted to see the big world outside the pen. So I let them on the bed - it's their second time there. They had a blast, charging wrinkles in the bedspread, playing with the other dogs. I have to say we have the best dogs in the whole world. Isabelle has been playing nanny to Daisy's dogs and Petunia has been fiercely protecting Ellie's dogs when she's not in attendance, and helping her clean them up when necessary. Mariah has even thrown herself on her back in the task of playing gently with the puppies. Once the puppies got a good taste of the outside world, they decided they'd like to go there whenever they please and they tried to crawl out of the elevated whelping pen. One almost succeeded! They're young, but strong and determined. So I adjusted the pen and tonight they got moved to a different location, safer for them and more accessible for mom. They had a blast investigating their new surroundings. At first they barked, a little on the sassy side, then sniffed, ran, jumped, and played longer than I've ever seen them yet! Of course, then they were down for a good, hard nap.

Ellie's: Their eyes are open, but not their ears yet. Even though they've been handled and have been through the initial puppy stimulus exercises, they are still squirmy and a bit contrary. They are definitely opinionated, but we're working with them so they will settle comfortably. Now that the official whelping pen is vacated, they've been moved from the temporary location to it and they are enjoying the added space, but they're still inclined to spend most of their time in a puppy pile. Within a week, we'll be seeing a lot more activity out of this crew.

Ellie's pup's eyes are opening!

Ellie's Pups eyes are opening!
Category: Pets and Animals

Ellie's pups are just starting to open their eyes! Soon the first part of their puppy development exercises will come to an end and we'll be on to the next phase. The little black boy seems to be marching to the beat of a different drummer. He'll wake up in the middle of the night and demand attention while the others are sleeping peacefully. They're all pretty active and squirmy compared to most pug litters. I expect them to give me a run for my money when they get their legs under them!

Daisy's pups are getting more mobile. They've started peeking over the top of the whelping pen and love getting picked up and snuggled. They're starting to express their opinions and desires with little baby indignant barks, already searching for the people who will someday obey their every wish and command.

Most popular dogs in the US in 2006

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Most popular dogs in the US in 2006
Category: Pets and Animals

Per the AKC's registries, here are the most popular dogs in the US in 2006. Visit their website at www.akc.org for a longer list and more details!

2006 Rank Breed 2005 Rank
1 Retrievers (Labrador) 1
2 Yorkshire Terriers 3
3 German Shepherd Dogs 4
4 Retrievers (Golden) 2
5 Beagles 5
6 Dachshunds 6
7 Boxers 7
8 Poodles 8
9 Shih Tzu 9
10 Miniature Schnauzers 10
11 Chihuahuas 11
12 Bulldogs 13
13 Pugs 12
14 Pomeranians 14
15 Boston Terriers 17
16 Spaniels (Cocker) 15
17 Rottweilers 16
18 Maltese 19
19 Pointers (German Shorthaired) 20
20 Shetland Sheepdogs 18
21 Doberman Pinschers 21
22 Welsh Corgis (Pembroke) 23
23 Miniature Pinschers 22
24 Great Danes 24
25 Siberian Huskies 25
26 Spaniels (English Springer) 28
27 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 31
28 Basset Hounds 27
29 Bichons Frises 26
30 Weimaraners 29

Congratulations Ellie Mae!

Congratulations Ellie Mae 1-9-07
Category: Pets and Animals

On the 3rd of January, Daisy's puppies went in for their first vet check (passed with flying colors) and their dew claw removal. They are growing SO FAST! They seem like they came out of the womb jumping and are ahead of schedule on every measure. Daisy is doing a wonderful job keeping up with them and making sure they stay plump and happy.

In the meantime, Ellie went in for her x-rays on the 9th. We wanted an evaluation to see if she would be able to deliver naturally and to find out how many puppies. She was so small, that can mean a smaller litter and larger puppies. The x-rays showed for, and the heads looked like they would pass through just fine. But in the back of my head I was wondering if they would grow too large by her due date on the 13th.

Well, Providence, always being well-prepared, made sure that the delivery went just fine. It started by rescheduling the delivery to the 9th, then bumping me out of work early for lunch, then by making the fast food drive thru line sooooo long that I decided I could certainly scrounge up something for lunch at home. Any delays that day would have certainly lost one of her puppies. As I got home for lunch, the dogs were more interested in the bedroom than going outside and there was blood on the living room floor. Ellie Mae had knocked out one of the sofa cushions and was hiding behind it.

When it finally hit me what was going on, I discovered she had been in the bedroom, had made a nest of the clean sheets and bed coverings I had laid out the day before to make the bed, and had delivered her first puppy there. It was still in the sac with the afterbirth intact, and 5 other dogs standing in a circle looking at it wondering what to do while Ellie Mae hid in the sofa cushions. The puppy was still warm, I went into action and got it breathing and Daisy took care of the rest. She was a wonderful surrogate to the newborn until it finally sunk into Ellie Mae what that blob really was. Then her maternal instincts kicked in and she took great care of it.

I called into work to let them know I'd be an hour late (how long can it take to deliver 4 puppies? And Tony was on his way home, so he'd be there with them). Two hours later, nothing, just occassional contractions, so we put a call into the vet. They suggested we stop by and pick up some oxytocin and try that, and if it didn't do the trick, to bring her in for a c-section. At exactly 3 hours after the first puppy, I went into the room with the oxytocin and needle, and she took one look at me and went into serious contractions for #2. Next time I'm going to show her an empty needle and save myself the trip. But it wasn't until I sat on the one clean corner of the bed for her to get into my lap and deliver that she felt safe enough to actually pop out #2. Number 3 was soon to follow and #4 not too much later. In fact, all together it took less time for her to deliver than it did for me to wash all the bedclothes and clean up the mess she left behind. For those of you courious enough to know, we actually have a waterproof mattress pad on the bed. You just never know what's going to happen around here, and I've found it's best to be prepared.

Ellie's pups went this morning for their vet check and dew claw removal. Again, thumbs up all the way around. They are thriving and Ellie is doing great. Maybe it's because there are only 4, but they have rarely required rescuing (from her sitting on them). The only real problem we're having is that Ellie Mae wants to find bones (nylabones, rawhides, etc.) and bring them back to the whelping pen where she gets so enthusiastic about chewing them that she will elbow her puppies unintentionally. So I've had to take them away from her or she's only allowed to chew on them outside of the pen.

In the meantime, Ellie is protective of Daisy's pups (gets nervous when I pick one up) and vice versa. The two moms both have whelping pens in my bedroom and they really look out for each others puppies. Out of the other dogs, Isabelle is making the best nanny, occassionally helping with cleaning duties, and just checking in on everything overall to ensure all is well. Izzy doesn't like Mariah getting close to the puppies, so she chases her and the others away if they get too close, an arrangement that seems very suitable to the mommas.

Puppy Udate

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Puppy Update
Category: Pets and Animals

Daisy's pups are growing like weeds. This morning was their first real "awareness" day where they are getting pretty good at wobbling around, they are recognizing littermates as something more than a source of warmth (started playing with each other this morning), and they were nosing around the boundaries of the bolster on their bed, wondering what was in the world beyond. Not to mention the fine art of eliminating on their own - time to set up half the whelping area as a puppy pad! Not all of their ears are opened yet, and we have introduced food to them, but Daisy is keeping them so well fed that they would rather sleep than eat the gourmet meal I prepared for them. She must be timing their meals just before I walk in the door from work!

Ellie's are quiet and reserved, but starting to sound off a little more. They are getting more mobile, but still spending their time eating or sleeping. Their slight stress stimulus exercises are generating lots of protests, but these will help them adjust to the world around them that much better. I am amazed at how well Ellie is doing with her pups. Of course, four is a much easier number to handle, anyway.

We have more pictures to share, but we've had problems with our internet at home for almost a week now. We've had phone lines replaced, technicians out, multiple calls in for help. It has degenerated to the point where now we need a new high speed modem and network card. But someday soon we hope to be able to get a decent update to the web page for you all!

The truth about Daisy's Delivery

Monday, January 08, 2007

The truth about Daisy's delivery
Category: Pets and Animals

You know, in reviewing the earlier post, saying that she had lovely puppies does nothing to paint a true picture of that day. So here's how it really went.

To work in the morning with the dog in tow, spent significant time unloading the car. Dad, who works in the same office, wanted to be sure that we had adequate facilities, so he hunted down a really big box and cut it down to size. After going from the office and moving the whole entourage to the kitchen, without getting any work at all done, it was close enough to lunchtime that it was best to just move her home to her whelping pen.

On the way home, she moved around in circles, pawed at the blanket under her and stood and groaned a few times. Me, with one hand on her, one on the steering wheel, and a heavy foot on the accelerator, seriously considered calling in a police escort.

At the home base, she pawed at the mats in the whelping pen, moaned a bit, and her water sac emerged. It hung there FOREVER. You really can't do much to help a water sac. And the homeopathic remedies that help ease delivery weren't with me because they had been on loan to another person and we kept missing each other trying to get them back. We worked and worked at getting that sac out. Finally it busted and another sac emerged. Where is the puppy? Why was there only about an inch of sac coming out and I couldn't see a puppy? She stayed like that for too long for comfort, again, making lots of noises and starting to really scare me. She looked miserable in her crate, so I thought maybe if she were beside me in bed, she'd do better. So I laid out blankets and let her out with me there. The little snot immediately jumped off the bed onto the floor and hunched like she was going to defacate. I grabbed a blanket and stuck it under her just in time to catch the first puppy. Then the little stinker RAN UNDER THE BED. Yeh, the queen sized bed in a twin-sized room with no space for me to maneuver it to get her out.

So she's under the bed grunting, I'm trying to get the first puppy to breathe. I get it breathing but it won't wail. Figuring that if it were to wail, she would come running, I kept stimulating it and holding it at the edge of the bed, but she wasn't taking the bait. Hearing some commotion under the bed, I put the puppy in the whelping pen and grabbed a flashlight. She had #2 under the bed and appeared to be somewhat stuck. Putting my back into it, I managed to move the bed 6 inches or so away from the wall and reached down behind to grab the puppy.

All this time, I've been calling her, bribing her, and even threatening her, but she won't come out from her sanctuary under the bed. I get puppy #2 breathing. Scared to death I wouldn't be able to reach puppy #3 under the bed, my adrenaline really kicked in and I hoisted the mattress off the bed and into the hall. Yeh, I know you're supposed to keep a level head and a calm attitude, but I have to admit some curses slid her way in those moments.

Of course, once I tilted the box springs up and she knew she didn't have a choice, she sauntered out as easy as you please like "what's all the excitement??" Once she got back into the whelping pen and started cleaning her babies, the rest of the delivery went just fine.

After all the puppies were safe and nursing, we both took a nap. After we woke, it was toward supper time. She had been shaking during delivery, but that was nothing new for her. However, after waking up from the nap, whenever she would stand up or walk, she would start shivering again.

A call to the on-call emergency vet was placed and he said it shouldn't be calcium - it was too early for that. But then again, he didn't know without examining her. I'm sure he thought I was being overly concerned, but he met me at his office around 7:30 pm that evening. I'm soooo thankful for his time and his expertise. He gave her the calcium shot at my request and also a few other shots and after that her shaking ceased and didn't come back - it was a calcium issue after all!

Now that she's back in good shape, I need either an alignment or a massage. Or maybe I'll treat myself to both ;) So why did it take me a week to write the real story? Finally am getting enough sleep at night to be able to write whole sentences ;)

On an interesting note, while doing tonight's puppy development exercises, one of the puppies has just opened its eyes! That's very early! They are happy, healthy and plump little cuties.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Storytime - Fabio

Fabio is a doll. He's one of those who is so cute that they turn out to be terrorists because whenever softies like me try to discipline them, they just turn on the charm and get away with murder.

Like most pugs, Fabio likes toys. He likes a variety and has fun when there is something new and different to play with. However, his absolute most favorite toys are from the dryer. We have one of those doors that opens down instead of to the side, and when I'm folding laundry, Fabio sneaks up, jumps onto the dryer door, sticks his head in, and usually grabs a sock and goes running. Nevermind that there is a whole pile of socks that have holes in them and have been relegated to the dog toy pile. No, those aren't good enough. Only socks fresh from the dryer are good enough to steal and laud over the others. And evidently he's on to something because the others will flock over and try to take it from him and the chase is on!

Congratulations Daisy!

Daisy had beautiful puppies on 12-29-06. There are 4 male, 2 female, 3 apricot fawn, and 3 regular fawn. They are healthy, plump, and delightfully wiggly! They have been to the vet and had their dew claws removed and passed their first vet check with flying colors! This picture was taken when Daisy finished delivering - it was a long afternoon for her!

Poison control center info for animals

This is cross-posted from the Yahoo group Wellpet by Kat Berard. If you haven't had a chance to visit her website, it's worth a trip!

It's the holiday season so please keep these numbers handy, and I hope
you don't need them! These groups can assist with cases involving dogs
and cats as well as other animals such as avians, small mammals, large
animals and exotic species. Both groups are also available to vets for
consultations and follow-up on cases.

Pet Poison Helpline, www.petpoisonhelpli ne.com
, 24 hours a day, 800-213-6680, $35 case fee. Also serving Canada (same toll free number).

ASPCA animal poison control CENTER,
http://www.aspca. org/site/ PageServer? pagename= pro_apcc, 24 hours a day,
888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435) , $55 case fee, but in some cases the
manufacturer of a product that was ingested or whatever will cover the
fee.

Happy holidays, y'all, from Texas! :-)

Kat
Kathleen A. Berard, Animal Communicator, Flower Essences Practitioner
and Holistic Care Consultant

Friday, December 22, 2006

Storytime - Mariah

Mariah is our beautiful female french bulldog. She is still young, is a year old and has just completed her first heat. She knows that she is solidly loved and has a special place with us, but she's starting to test her boundaries to see just how special she is. She decided to get into a fight with another female and they both got crated for a while.

Mariah didn't like that idea very well. Although she has been crated for sleeping from time to time, and she will voluntarily sleep in it when open, she hasn't had to spend much time in a time-out situation. When I had taken care of a few things and was going to let the dogs out in a supervised setting, Mariah charged the door, demanding it be opened RIGHT NOW. So I used the "back" command and she finally acquiesced and sat back, only to charge the door every time I lifted my hand. I didn't yell, I didn't show any heightened emotion, just simply had her back away from the door so I could open it. At one point she got so mad that I wasn't doing what she wanted me to, that she jumped up high on all four paws, shook her head and snorted at me, all at the same time. I held my ground and wasn't going to open the crate until she backed away from the door and was in a calm state. Finally, in exasperation, she THREW her body to the floor of the crate and rolled on her back, exaggerating her submissiveness. I laughed and she got to come out and behaved much better with the other dog.

Bad Food for Dogs

Bad foods for dogs
Please check out this list of bad foods for dogs to help keep our canine companions safe:
http://mooreshaven.com/pets/dogs/safety/badfoodslist.html

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Gator & the Dog Psychic

In December of 2005, we went to the Cleveland pet show where I met Doris Straka, an animal communicator. She told me the cutest story of a dalmation and we had a wonderful conversation. I wanted to bring a dog back over but time wouldn't allow. So this year, you can imagine my excitement when she was at the same dog show and she had an opening!

Here is some of Gator's background - he was bred by one of the top frenchie breeders in the US who live in Louisiana. He had been sold to a family who later returned him to get a female. He lived with the breeders until Hurricane Katrina hit in the fall of 2005. When the storm was approaching, they sent their pets to be in the care of their handler in Houston to attempt to keep them safe. Later, they returned home, and he flew up to us in December of 2005, still a little shaken and a bit unbalanced from all he'd been through, but overall a great dog.

In talking with Doris, he had quite a few things to say on many subjects.

Hurricane: He never called it a hurricane, but referred to quite a few things that happened "during quarantine." He said there were lots of animals there, dogs, cats, birds. There was a cockatiel that screamed and screamed and no one could get any rest. Gaqtor was very stressed and missed his people. Everyone was stressed - there was a group of people that cared for the animals and they were in a constant state of stress during that time. But they were always kind, always had the animals' best interests at heart, and where some people would have lost their temper and became aggressive, they did not. There was a woman there who had grey hair down to her shoulders and she, in particular, felt for the animals. She felt for them so deeply that she threw up. Gator said all the animals really liked her and his group wanted to take her home with them, but they couldn't. Gator is also a daddy - he and one of the females at the quarantine hooked. He said it was a one-night stand and she was gone before the puppies were born. Also, there was a larger dog (st. bernard, or maybe a bernese mountain dog - something with that coloring) who was very sad and lonely. Gator wants to find out if that dog is ok now. He wants to send out a "hello, I'm doing good now - how are you?" to him.

Handler's house: At one point he started to describe a room where there were some crates, some stacked on each other. And he said it was really cool - like a dormitory where they just all hung out together. But sometimes they would put a blanket over the crates and they weren't allowed to talk to each other. (That would be when our little man got his bulldog, wanna fight attitude going.)

Cooter: I asked if she could explain to him that it wasn't necessary to argue with Cooter, our male pug, that there was no need to compete. Gator simply responded he didn't consider Cooter much competition, anyway (he evidently forgot about the times when Cooter won the fight hands-down). I explained that the female pugs were for Cooter and the female frenchie was for him. This resulted in a long conversation with the communicator about how he wasn't snobby. Lineage and pedigree didn't matter to him - as long as the legs were short enough, that was good enough for him. He even made the comment that he'll be a stud until he's neutered. To this, Doris explained that there are other things to do like agility, obedience, and rally. Gator thought that agility might be fun, but the others might require him to pay too much attention. They didn't sound like as much fun.

Health: I mentioned to Doris that we are trying to get him to put on some more weight. She recommended slightly cooked chicken and chicken livers (beef livers only if they're organic). And a combo vitamin A & D. A would cleanse the liver and D would follow through and help to heal. She said all this before I told her that we suspected some liver issues (also confirmed by a holistic vet). In fact, when Doris looked through his body, she said that his liver is a little more pink (or did she say a lighter pink?) than it should be. It's not like he's in danger, but some things to help it cleanse and heal all the way will be beneficial to him. Other than that, she said he was in great shape. She said that his structure was good, his bones were good, and that between his structure and his temperament, she felt that his bloodlines should be continued. This surprised me because she certainly didn't have to say something like that just to be polite. She truly loved Gator's personality (he had her laughing on several occassions) and she thought that a lesser dog would not have recovered from the hurricane as well as he did.

Food: I asked him not to snap at puppies anymore. He had been so good around them, always patient, playing with them, that one day when I let him out of his crate, I was surprised when moments later he snapped at one at the food bowl and caused some damage. I was shocked and I reprimanded him, but in my heart, I knew that he didn't intentionally hurt him - it was just that he caught the puppy just right. And Doris verified this. She said the whole situation traumatized Gator - he truly did not mean to hurt that puppy. His stomach was tight and when he came out of the crate to eat, he was just so hungry that he snapped. Doris explained that he can't snap at the babies, they don't mean any harm. They had quite a conversation about it and Doris assured him that he wasn't going to starve, we will always have food for him and he never has to worry about the puppies eating all of it. After quite a bit of go-around, Gator finally acquiesced and said ok, the food at the bottom of the bowl is better, anyway. This mysterious comment was solved when Patrick, the handler, explained that he would put a bit of potted meat on the bottom of Gator's bowl when he fed him. I also asked if he likes the food I feed him at home. Yes, but there was something called the yummies that he likes, but that hurts his stomach as it goes through. Yogurt?? Yes! Yogurt.. he loves it, and the beneficial bacteria is good for him, but it takes 3 times the amount of stomach acid to process dairy, and adult dogs just don't handle it well. She said to put his supplements in oatmeal or chicken broth, but no more yogurt, cottage cheese, or other dairy for the dogs unless it's cheese made from non-pasteurized milk. She said maybe a small amount once a month since he loves the flavor so much, but it's giving him a tummy ache.

Being a show dog: Although he certainly seems to enjoy the ring, it's always good to know for sure. We want them to be not only successful, but happy. He said that he likes dog shows. He likes them because there are so many different types of people. It turns out our little man is quite a people-watcher. We amuse him. He said that it's funny to watch the new people who are tense and under stress and then watch the more experieced and calm been-there-done-that people.

All in all, he's a happy dog who takes everything in stride. He is sure he's the bomb-diggity! He is enjoying life and could we ask for anything more?

Dogs & Chocolate

In a recent forum discussion, chocolate was brought up when a person's dog raided the Christmas M&M stash on the coffee table. We all have heard that chocolate is bad for dogs. A relative's lab shed some extra light on the topic. I'm not a vet, but here is how it was explained to us. The lab, Scarlett, had been boarded in a kennel where she contracted an illness that permanentaly affected her liver. Her vet said that it was very important that she never eat chocolate. According to him, the canine body does not have a way to eliminate chocolate from the system. The liver filters it out, and it continues to build in the liver and over time can cause damage. Because her liver was already damaged, it was important not to stress it further.
Revisiting the topic also reminds me of our own personal experience with chocolate. While Christmas shopping, I bought a pound of creme drops - you know the ones, wonderful white fluffy filling coated wtih chocolate. While in the next store shopping, my companion springer found the package of creme drops and when I returned to my car, I opened the door and the empty bag fell out at my feet. All the way home, she moaned and when we got home, she continued to complain loudly. Her eyes seemed dialated to me, so I called the emergency vet who said I need to induce vomiting by taking an eye-dropper full of hydrogen peroxide and squirting it at the back of her throat.
Well, we did this... nothing. I'm trying to remember all the things that would make me throw up when I was sick. A full stomach usually seemed to expel easier when it all kind of sat at the top. So I had her drink water. She drank and drank and drank. Another dose of hydrogen peroxide, nothing. I lifted her back legs over her front legs. Nothing. Sat on the floor in front of her and made whorfing sounds - nothing. Walked her outside, no good. Had her drink more water and had her run up and down the stairs - nothing. Another dose of hydrogen peroxide. You guessed - nothing. What else could I possibly do?
She was still moaning from her favorite spot in the house - in the middle of a big, neon pink bean bag chair. She LOVED that chair. So I picked up the chair, with her in the middle of it, and I spun around and around in circles, as fast as I could stand to until I couldn't anymore. As I clumsily sat the bean bag chair down, she stumbled out of it, and walked lopsided out the front door and barfed in the front yard.
So in case any of you find yourselves in a vomit-inducing situation this holiday season, maybe it will help to know what worked for us :)

Storytime - Petunia

We brought in a long folding buffet table to the kitchen for Thanksgiving to help with cooking & prep space. Well, it's still sitting there, and for the moment is accumulating folded, clean laundry. The other day I had a stack of blankets and Petunia, ever the opportunist, took advantage of a nearby chair and chose the top of the pile of blankets as her napping spot. In doing so, she made the corner of the red blanket move. Mariah, unable to see Petunia on her throne from the floor, just saw the blanket moving of its own accord and barked at it all night long, even after we chased away Petunia and explained it to Mariah. Nope, she's sure it's still alive. She has stopped barking, but she still stares at it suspisciously. Tonight I'll have time to clean up and get everything put away.

Barkbusters advice for the holidays

Nov. 14, 2006- TIS THE SEASON: 12 TIPS FOR DOG-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY
Englewood, Colo. – 'Tis the season for all things merry, but festivities can frustrate our furry friends – or even worse. Bark Busters USA, the world's largest dog training company, today released its 12 Holiday Tips to help keep the family dog safe and happy for the holidays. "The holiday season introduces our pets to a great deal of chaos, at least from their perspective," said Liam Crowe, master dog therapist and COO of Bark Busters USA. "Unfortunately for dogs, the festivities of the season introduce a host of new stimuli – sights, sounds, and smells – that can disrupt their routines and potentially present dangerous circumstances. However, following a few tips can make the holiday season a bright one for everyone – including the family dog."
A tired dog is a good dog. Before guests arrive for holiday festivities, walk your dog or play fetch to help your pup relieve excess energy. A 1-2 mile walk or 30 minutes of playing fetch will generally result in your dog taking a nap, just as guests arrive.
Prevent holiday decoration disasters. When decorating your Christmas tree, consider anchoring it to the ceiling or wall to prevent the tree from tipping. It is also wise to hang non-breakable ornaments near the bottom of the tree. This will help prevent potential disaster from an inquisitive canine or an over-active tail-wagger, which can wipe out an entire limb of precious ornaments.
Tinsel Town can land your pup in the emergency room. Tinsel is new and exciting to dogs. Unfortunately, if they eat the tinsel, it can twist in their intestines and cause serious problems. It is best to use it sparingly or not at all.
Evergreens are not always for everyone, especially a curious canine. Christmas trees are wonderful traditions, but they can lead to several problems if you have a curious canine. Don't let your dog drink the water from the base of the Christmas tree since this water often contains chemicals to help the tree last longer. If ingested by your dog, the water can cause severe indigestion. Even pinesap and pine needles can cause health problems. Plan to regularly sweep fallen pine needles to avoid a trip to the emergency animal clinic. If ingested, they can puncture holes in your pet's intestine.
Holiday sweets are not dog treats. Chocolates, cookies, cakes and peppermints are only a few of the sweets we treat ourselves to during the holidays. Unfortunately, these "treats," especially chocolate, can hurt your dog and may trigger life-threatening illnesses.
Make no bone about it. Cooked turkey and chicken bones are not for dogs. These types of bones are thin and can easily break causing choking or bone shards to get stuck in your dog's gums. It is best to stick with compressed rawhides or other bones specifically designed for dogs to chew.
Mistletoe is for kissing – not eating! Keep your pets away from mistletoe as well as amaryllis, which are both toxic if ingested by your dog. Theory has it that poinsettias are also considered poisonous, but they are not life threatening to dogs. However, these plants are dangerous if ingested by your cat.
Keep the liquids flowing! When pets are stressed, they typically pant more, so keep fresh water readily available for them to drink.
'Tis the season to give, so add your pet to your list. The holidays can be chaotic – not just for you, but for your dogs as well. To help them stay occupied and out of the holiday decorations give them their own gifts. The Buster Cube, for instance, is nearly indestructible and will distract your dogs for long periods of time – perfect to keep them busy during your holiday parties!
Do not give pets as a surprise gift! Many people choose to give cute and cuddly puppies as gifts during the holidays. Unfortunately, many recipients aren't thrilled with having a puppy that quickly grows into an adult dog. As a result, many of "holiday gifts" end up at animal shelters. It is not uncommon for parents to give their children puppies as gifts. While this is not necessarily considered a "surprise" to everyone in the household, parents must recognize a dog takes a real commitment of time. The parents and children must be ready to participate in training and managing the responsibility of their new family member. Instead of giving a dog as a gift, consider giving a leash, collar, or dog training certificate from Bark Busters. With the gift, include a note saying a dog comes with it, but the recipient gets to pick it out. This will help ensure the lucky person receives the dog he or she wishes to have as part of the family.
How low can the weather go? Frequently, owners put their dogs outside to get them out of the way when guests arrive for holiday festivities. Responsible pet owners need to be aware of the temperature, since it can quickly plummet in the winter. Additionally, if you live in an area that gets snow, keep your pets close to home and do not let them roam freely. Roads can be icy making it hard for cars to stop if your dog wanders into the street.
Blowing snow is best left in the globe. Did you know that many snow globes contain antifreeze? Antifreeze is extremely toxic to dogs. You may not know exactly what grandma's antique snow globe contains, so it is best to keep it (and all antifreeze) out of the reach of a happy, tail-wagging dog. If your dog does happen to knock over the snow globe, send him out of the room while you clean up the liquid. Dilute the spot with water and floor cleaner to make sure your dog does not lick harmful chemicals later.

HSUS Reminders about buying a Christmas puppy

FROM HSUS - Who doesn't melt when they see adorable puppies with red bows tied around them leaping about in a pet store window? In December, holiday shoppers find them so irresistible that they are eager to pay top dollar to surprise someone on Christmas morning with a cuddly pup under the tree. Buyer beware says The Humane Society of the United States.
According to Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for companion animals at The HSUS, "The puppy-under-the-tree scenario has a great image but the reality is not always as warm and fuzzy as we'd like to imagine. A dog is a precious purchase that will be in someone's life for an average of 15 years, so it should not be an impulse buy. And for consumers who insist on buying a dog as a gift, they should never -- under any circumstance -- buy one from a pet store where most of the 'inventory' come from puppy mills and you just might end up giving the gift of a very sick or dying animal."
She recommends the following holiday gift-giving tips for consumers wanting to give a healthy, happy dog as a gift:
Be practical: Consider giving a gift certificate covering the adoption fee at a local shelter, rather than choosing a dog for someone else. Wrap the certificate with a dog bowl and toys so there is something to unwrap. "Not as cute as a live puppy, but a much more thoughtful decision for the animal and the recipient." It is best to let the recipient pick out the dog they connect with, rather than you picking out the one that you connect with.
Do your research: Does the recipient have the time to exercise a dog daily? Are they ready for the expense of vet bills and any emergencies that will come up? Do they have time to train a dog? How do they feel about dog hair on the furniture?
Where to start: Once you determine that you want to give the gift of an animal for the holidays, shelters are the best place to start. One of four shelter dogs is a purebred, and adopting from a shelter will save you hundreds of dollars, and save a life.
Alternatives: No luck at the shelter but still want to buy a puppy as a gift? Number one tip, according to Shain, "Find a reputable breeder. A responsible breeder will NEVER sell a puppy to someone who they have not personally met. No one should purchase a dog without physically visiting where the puppy was born and raised. Pet stores and online dealers will tell you what you want to hear to move that puppy out and stock the cage with another."
Beware: Most dogs sold in pet stores – and via the internet -- come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are mass breeding facilities where dogs are crowded into cages and puppies are churned out with little regard to their health or to sound breeding practices. Mills often hide behind the "legitimacy" of a neighborhood pet store. The worst gift you can ever give is the puppy who looks fine when you pick her out at the store, then "crashes" after a day or two. "Your gift will end up costing the recipient thousands of dollars, not to mention Christmas heartbreak. It happens way too often around the holidays."
Free guide: To make this process easier for anyone looking to buy a dog, and for free information on adopting, rescuing or finding a reputable breeder, check out the new brochure "Puppy Buyer's Guide" from The HSUS. Visit www.puppybuyersguide.com or send your request to HSUS - Puppy Buyers Guide 2100 L St., NW Washington, DC 20037.

Spay/Neuter Clinic - Rascal Unit

As part of the local government, we wanted to be proactive in helping our citizens find an affordable means of vaccinating and altering their pets to help with our rabies and animal population issues. We found a wonderful solution in the form of the Rascal Unit (www.rascalunit.com). We brought in the unit for a Wellness Clinic in November and for a day-long altering clinic on December 2, 2006. The entire program was fantastic. The vet is a wonderful, caring vet, her team is very talented, and the surgeries went very well. The response from the community was tremendous and almost everyone has asked when they might be back.
As others who might be watching this blog know, there are special concerns when treating brachycephalics. I'm happy to report that 5 pugs and a boxer went under anesthesia and all did very well. The vet volunteered information to me about appropriate procedures for brachycephalics during our wellness clinic which put me much more at ease booking them into the surgery schedule. Two of the pugs were pups we had raised, so you know how high my confidence level was to allow them to work on our babies.

Congratulations Gator & Patrick!

Congratulations to Gator and his handler, Patrick, for the first blue ribbon he's received at the 10-28-06 Delaware dog show!!

Rescues & Kennel Cough

One day in early July I stopped by the local humane society. The woman behind the desk was almost in tears. They had confiscated a pit bull puppy that was abused with firecrackers and run over by a truck. Amazingly, the resilient puppy had no broken bones, and they had nursed him to health and were waiting for a rescue group to take him. When it came time, the group didn't have enough room and turned him down. The girl had spent the better part of the day contacting other rescue groups, knowing that if she didn't find him a home soon, chances were good that he would never be given an opportunity in life. She finally found one, but he needed a home for 2 weeks before they could pick him up.
At first I said no, I have puppies at home. But then who could say no to a puppy who had been through so much? So I explained I have an unused outdoor kennel and as long as I picked him up from the vet's from neutering, he was welcome to stay there; it was the best I could do. He came to our home and was a very sweet boy. However, 3 days later his kennel cough kicked in.
Our dogs are vaccinated for kennel cough (bordatella), but through this experience I found that the vaccine covers 3 of the worst strains and that there are 52 strains out there, so it's still very easy to contract. In my research, I also found out that unless it settles deep into the chest and they appear to be sick, that it is best to let the illness run its course. Most of the dogs got a hacking that sounded similar to a cat coughing up a furball the firts day, then coughing for 1-4 days after that, tapering down to nothing. In this time, their attitudes were still good, they were playful and cheerful, just dealing with a hack or cough. One of them, though, had issues with it. He couldn't get a good cough, like he couldn't get enough air in to actually hack it back out. And he became reclusive and depressed, hanging his ears and trying to go outside and hide under the bushes. We got him into the vet as soon as they had an opening and they said he was just shy of pneumonia and we went through a round of antibiotics which did the trick.
Sometimes a dog will contract it and be rushed into the vet who will administer antibiotics for a normal cough. In general, if they are handling it well, they are better off fighting it and allowing the immunity to build. The immunity will last for a year against the same strain.
Unfortunately, the strain we had slowly worked its way through the dogs and I was afraid that the puppies would be exposed and/or contract it, so I kept them a few extra weeks. The good news is that they never got it! Evidently mom's colustrum was stronger! We kept them through their second set of shots, when they finally allowed us to also give the bordatella vaccine. It was important to us that they not get a cough, and if they did, that they weren't given a round of antibiotics unless it was necessary. I'm so glad it wasn't necessary. They are a group of strong, happy puppies with great dispositions.
We had lessons learned. I found some great homeopathic remedies for the cough. I don't regret helping save the puppy's life, but I'll definitely stay out of the humane society while I have little ones at home!

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Monday, February 19, 2007

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Friday, January 26, 2007

Friday, January 05, 2007

Friday, December 22, 2006

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

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