Thursday, July 29, 2010

Kids and Dogs, good companions?


The child has no escape here and the child
 is on the same level as the dog. In a home situation
 this is a disaster waiting waiting to happen.

Chance & Steeler visit David J. Thompson Mailing~ Day Care Center 
Before any interaction with the dogs, I give instructions to have the children sit in a circle , then I bring the dogs to them. This shows the dog's that I have things in control.  It is just as vital to explain possible upcoming actions by the dog to children before they happen. (dog may give a paw, may lick the face, may sniff, etc.)
After learning about the dogs, all posed very nicely for a picture!  

Kids and dogs, are they always a match made in heaven?

This article was written for families that adopt older dogs. While the basic premise is the same for all dogs, puppies require a bit more stabilization and training by the adults in the home before the child can get involved  in any way.


‘Wow! Kids with a clubhouse and a dog?’ That’s what I used to think as I watched Petey and Spanky in the Little Rascals. Mine was a dog-less home, I had only a pet chicken named Henry, and thus I set out to capture every neighborhood dog that I could find and take it for a walk, regardless of whether it wanted to go or not! Did I ever get bit? Yes, but not from walking a dog. On a day when the neighborhood children were teasing a fierce Chihuahua mix  my leg became a victim and while I was an unwilling participant in the bite, it taught  me respect for the dog! And of course after that, dragging my pet chicken downtown on a leash didn’t look so bad  either!
Lassie of course was another of my favorites. Heck, what kid didn’t want a dog to protect them the way that Lassie had protected Timmy?  Hollywood had some great characters, but they were just that, trained characters, even the dogs. Which brings me to my topic; do kids and dogs always go together?

Having had children and dogs, and going on twenty plus years of experience with both, I can safely state that children and dogs do not always make good companions. As well, I will never agree with this reasoning by some ill prepared people that state, “getting a dog will teach the children some responsibility.” I for one do not want my young children responsible for any other living creature at such a young age. Who needs the pressure? If you are getting a dog that you intend to care for yourself while teaching your children lessons along the way, that’s fine, no one really suffers.

I’ve seen some absolutely wonderful dogs up for adoption but on occasion difficulties do arise. One has to realize that a shelter only has information from the owner who surrendered the dog. If I drop off Fido and say, “yeah, he loves kids!” they may take that as fact until they can disprove it. The truth is, until you get the dog into your home you won’t know for sure how it will get along with your children. Dogs may act fine until they begin to settle in, and that’s when Cutie can turn into Cujo! It may happen all at once or you may see it gradually.

Within the last few years, Therapy Dogs International has required children to be near the immediate area where dogs are being tested for therapy work and I can see why this feature was proposed. Young children have ear curdling screams and quick unpredictable movements which to a dog can be seen as possible prey to be hunted down, or, an untrustworthy source.

Keep in mind older dogs that have not grown up around children are not used to the closeness that a child adorns on them. You know, sharing the love, the spit, the hugging, and the hair tugging which youngin’s seem to want to thrust upon a dog. Kids sometimes show a kind of... well, ‘in you face’ love that only a mom can enjoy!

It’s my personal view that parents, while not thinking their kids are perfect, certainly believe they would never hurt an animal and this is true of the majority, but it is not the hurting of the animal that  triggers most dog bites. Actually what causes most attacks are children doing what children do best which is innocently giving their unconditional love to anyone or anything around them. Heck, I’ve seen youngin’s cuddle with a hermit crab and get pinched!

Much of the problem is that children just don’t know how to respect the personal space of a dog and this is usually when the growls and nips start to happen. With that being said, know that when you adopt a dog and you have children, you now have double duty on your hands! Not only do you have to keep your dog up to date with training, you also have to remind your kids how to respect the dog’s boundaries as well as respect the dog’s warning signs. Only when a child learns to respect the dog, will there be some peace in the home. Don’t feel bad, it’s not just young kids who act like this, I’ve seen some seriously sick minded adults act ridiculously stupid around a dog!

 When my oldest son was about three years old he received a bite on the nose while bending over a mother dog that was in a box with her puppies. Sad lesson learned, but a lesson learned never the less for both of us. It made me more aware of what my kids needed to learn and my son had a constant reminder of how to respect a dogs space each time he looked in a mirror.  If you were to ask my children today about their childhood, they would tell you that I put the family dog before them, but they did not see, nor could they comprehend, what I was really doing which was to give them a constant reminder of how to respect a dog in order to keep themselves safe from harm. Now if you ask my husband the same question his response would be, "I wish I was treated as good as the dog!"

No dog should ever be left alone in a room with a child. Even though you go over rules on a regular basis with your children and do regular training with your dog, both child and dog really only remember the last few hours of their life unless an incident was painful or frightening.
If you have ever asked your pre-school child what he or she did during the school day , you'll find you won't get much of an answer, and if you do it won't make much sense anyway because they forget!   This is the reason that parents, dog trainers, and teachers, are repetitive with teaching, as neither dog nor youngin’ remember what they have learned the first few times a lesson is taught and some do not retain what they have learned very long after they have learned it!

Unfortunately words are not as strong as actions. We can tell a child, “hot, don’t touch!” But what does hot really mean to a child? How many children actually burn themselves before they understand what you are trying to tell them? Suffice it to say I purposely told  my children to touch a hot surface so they would get a little burn and learn their lessons just a bit quicker! Okay folks, don’t turn me in to CPS, it’s just disturbed humor, it did not really happen!  But you get the meaning?

A hug around the dog’s neck or a kiss on the cheek is just too tempting for young children. Remember, kids act on impulse and dogs act on instinct. It is important to recognize the two for what they are.

 Impulse: A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unpremeditated act or feeling; an abrupt inclination:
Instinct: Acting or happening without apparent forethought, prompting, or planning:


So, what’s the deal? What should we be telling our children? Even if you can get across a few of these basic rules it will be helpful.

Always act in a calm manner around a dog

Always ask an adult if you can pet a  dog

Never approach the dog with a raised hand over the head for petting, go under the chin instead. A hand over the head can be seen as a threat to a dog.

Never put your face up to a dog’s face

Don’t stare at a dog

Don't jump on the dog

don't hug/pull around the neck or body.

No screaming and running around the dog

Don't tease any dog, especially if the dog is in a pen, behind a fence, or tied up

No tug games. When you play tug and the dog ends up with the prize you are actually putting them above yourself and other humans in the home.

Always keep in mind that dogs do not see young children as being above them, they are seen as equal or lesser than the dog.


Growling, tail tucking, cowering, and ears back, are a dog’s way of saying, 'please leave me alone!' teach your kids these cues


And a really big misnomer is, 'a wagging tail means the dog is happy and wants to play!'   This can also mean , 'Attack mode.'            

                                     WOW!  Doesn’t owning a dog sound like fun?

Ah, don’t despair folks! Many dogs are adopted into a family and work out just fine, but teaching children the correct way to respect and play with a dog is not only playing it safe but it can be fun and rewarding as well. Showing a child how to train a dog using positive and fun training methods can fill the child’s need to be with the dog and give them a sense of pride and accomplishment at the same time! Keep in mind that that all training should be supervised by an adult and lessons should be kept short. Lessons can occur frequently throughout the day but they should be kept to fifteen minutes max as a child does not yet have the tool needed not to show their frustration. Believe it or not your dog will pick up all frustration in a human's voice.  Again, this goes along with a child’s impulse reaction, so always explain what and why you are doing something and keep it fun for both the child and the dog!

Safe Play
Games like hide and seek (hiding something and asking the dog to find it), and fetch games are fun and non threatening to dogs as long as the kids don’t chase after them to get the object they’ve asked the dog to fetch. The dog should be taught to bring the object back and drop it.   Teaching objects is also a fun way to play with a dog. Train one item weekly, and once the dog knows that item start teaching another item the next week and so forth. All trainings should be done under parent supervision and remember, the better the reward the better the dog’s attention! 
 Like everything else, this learning process has to start in the home.

How to protect ones body

Just as important as teaching children how to respect a dog is  teaching them what to do if a dog suddenly goes on the attack! Now there's one I bet you didn't think of!

Tell the child not to scream or run. tell them to drop to the ground on their belly, bring their knees up to their chest and curl up like a ball, protect the back of their head and neck with their hands by interlacing their fingers, or if they have a backpack, book, toy, etc. use that to protect their head and neck and wait for the dog to leave. He may get in a few good bites, but if they respond to the attack as little as possible,  as hard as it might be, chances are the dog will no longer view them as a threat and will leave.



Keep in mind that parenting skills include teaching your children how to act in  foreseen and unforeseen situations with animals. Showing young children what they can do rather than just saying what they can’t do and guiding them through it with a ‘hands on demonstration’ is very much worth the time and effort in keeping your children safe.

"So, until next time, before seeking out your new dog, guide your kids through the rules and hey, check out some pet chickens as well!  After all, they make for better eatin’ in the long run! "


Click here for some great advice on  kids and dog interaction from the ASPCA

Click here to view a great youtube video on reading a dog’s body language. After you view it, see if it's  worth watching with your children.

And Just for fun! Check out Jessie the Jack Russell! Dogs with excess energy do very well with learning tricks. And no good deed goes without reward! This should get your kids energized and ready to help you  train! 

Steeler (Therapy visit)
The child is near the dog but acting accordingly.
Basically just not moving! If he
were a touchy- feely- mobile kid there may
be a different outcome under the best
of circumstances. Why? Well, one step backwards
and the child would fall on the dog.

Chance (therapy visit)
 Chance was not brought up with kids like Steeler was, but he is trained to act accordingly.
Mack, the young lady, is acting calm and although close, she is not  right in his face, and both dog and human are looking away from each other so there is no threat.








This is a therapy visit and this adult
 knows my dog fairly well, but  kids
 do this all to often and this should
be avoided. Humm, maybe the
grownups are setting the bad
example!

Normally this would be a NO, NO.The child's hand is
clearly over the dog's head and their faces are in close
proximity.  A nervous/fearful dog might bite in this situation.  

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Weird but true!


Weird but true!

Oy Vey, I think the summer heat is getting to me and making me brain dead because what you are about to read is not about a new product, there are no health tips and there’s no training advice, just pure unbelievably true nonsense! So this tells me that my brain is in need of some R&R. However this leaves you with some very entertaining stories with only my commentaries! Feel free to add your own!

 I suppose I have to put some type of disclaimer on these stories as they are not mine, but rather the mindless dribble I chose to read for entertainment and pass along to you! Enjoy!

Click on the area of subject to read the articles, Just don't forget to hit the back button to see other weird stories on the blog.
Berlin
“Soup Kitchen Opens for Dogs” This is not a bad idea if I must say so myself! As long as there’s no “Soup Nazi!” Granted, more people care about their dogs and will put their dog’s needs before their own so if their pooches have food, that’s more in the pocket for the owner to feed himself! What a smashing idea! I think the USA needs one of these!
Israel:

DNA to fight against Dog Poop! In my opinion this one takes the cake! I think this would take up much manpower, but maybe they have a lot of time on their hands! However I think the idea of receiving a coupon for a dog product or dog food could be an incentive for some to scoop their dog's poop when out in public!

Portsmouth NH:

On another note, following the above, if you want to hide the  DNA  your dog left behind just hire this woman! Gotta say I never thought of picking up poop this way! This really gets the point across that good fences make good neighbors!

France:

Never bite a former president! Lest you be banished! No wonder the dog is depressed! That’s all that one should have to say here, but I want to know why he allowed himself to get bit three times in the first place. And what’s the unknown body part and how did it get in the dog's mouth?  Better yet, what kind of leader does that make him?

Paris:

Dog Takes The Witness Stand In French Court! What???  While I believe this may be the case I don’t get the concept. What if the dog just does not like the look of the suspect? It’s not unusual for some dogs not to like men and others don’t like men with beards! Get my point? This would be totally unjust! Or just plain, dog gone wrong!


Port Jefferson, Long Island NY:

Okay, this is too close to home for me!  The owner has a song in his heart and is signing up for open mic night but hey, his pooch felt a little left out!

Darwin city

Now if the above was not funny enough…Think you can’t get a ticket if you don’t have a car? Check out what happened in Darwin County! Maybe they ought to have hitching posts like the good old days.


WALKERSVILLE, Md:

This bad French Poodle cut on dog napper Michael Shoemaker is just asking for trouble! I think it’s more embarrassing than the crime itself!

TILLAMOOK, Ore:

Dog shoots owner while hunting! I bet the ducks they were hunting were very happy for that mishap! Take a look at that boat!

SACRAMENTO:

Just what I like, a dog with a cell phone and a charge card!


Atlanta:

Problem Pooch? Go to Atlanta and put him on a reality show! I do like reality shows, but this may be a bit over the top!


Newcastle:

Want to keep your deceased dog around forever? Do what this couple did! Can’t be that costly and there’s usually plenty to go around!


Imported from Holland:

Need a drinking buddy while you watch the big game? I’m thinking this is not a good idea. For sure there are hillbillies out there that will give their dog a real beer just because they can’t read a label and this particular bottle made for dogs resembles a hillbilly beer bottle. I don’t think the picture on the bottle will deter them at all. I’m sure some hillbillies drink Red Dog!

New York, Los Angeles, & San Diego:
Don’t have a dog? Rent one! Only 39.95! You can really get yourself a babe or hunk magnet if you’re not one who can’t stand alone!


MACUNGIE, PA:
Okay, I lied, this one can certainly be health related, and training related. I think we should all teach our dogs how not to get in a car with their owner on a hot day or train them to honk the horn annoyingly once the owner has exited the automobile!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Summer Hazards: what every dog owner should know

July 7, 2010 ~10 AM. Outside the temp was nearly 90 degrees, but
the inside  of my car read 110 degrees!

For more information on the below hazards, click on the heading of each subject that has an *asterisk and a page will open to another site with more information.





                              Temperature:

Given this last week of brutal temperatures reaching 105 in some spots, namely my back porch, that would be first & foremost of the list of summer hazards on my list. Never, ever, put your pooch in a car on a hot day no matter how much those sad eyes beg you. You know, the look that says, “How can you possibly even consider leaving me behind?”

According to the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration “A locked car in the summer sun can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in just 3 minutes and to 125 degrees in 6 to 8 minutes.”

Something that most people do not think about is that their car windows act as heat holding sources, sort of like a magnifier glass, even tinted glass. We have all done this experiment as kids, you know, placing your eye glasses over a dry leaf in direct sunlight to start a  fire? Oh, okay, maybe I was the only sicko that did this because matches were not readily available to me, but you get the idea! So, no excuses, even if you think you are only going to be a minute in a store or friend’s house, as even a minute, in such an oven can kill your dog. Don’t believe me? Stick your head in a hot oven!

Most normal people keep an outdoor thermometer outdoors on the patio or on the side of the house. Not me! Well I do, but I also keep a thermometer in my car so I know the actual temperature in which I am about to place my dog in. Leaving the window open a crack is not going to cool the car down at all. Again, if don’t believe me, put yourself in your car, turn it off, crack the window just a wee bit because let’s face it, we all know you would only crack a window just wide enough for the dog’s nose but closed enough to deter intruders. Sit in there for as long as you think you might be in a store. Keep track of the time and check the car thermometer you just bought because of this blog, and see how quickly the red line on the thermometer sky rockets!

As a therapy dog owner, I put the kibosh on any therapy visit that is more than five minutes from my home in the heat of the day. Granted, my dogs have an extremely thick coat and my car’s AC is not the best, but if my dog’s coat were thinner and the AC worked to full capacity, I still would not take the chance unless I knew for sure what  the temperature of the car was before putting the dog in there. If you really feel you must make that visit, take two sets of car keys with you so you can leave your car running and the AC on while you do your visit and lock the doors with the other set of keys.
Is it going to prevent a thief from breaking the window and stealing your car? No! But I don’t know many thieves that hang out at nursing home parking lots either!

Always ask yourself this before you put the dog in the car , Is it worth the risk?



I mention these every year and you should know the warning signs and what to do. If it’s too hot for your human child to continue to partake in activities on a hot day, it is even hotter for your dog. Don’t think swimming in a cool lake or pool will make a difference as it is still strenuous activity that can impact your dog’s physical being.

When a dog is already overheated keeping him submerged in a body of water (such as a tub) only drives the body temperature up because the heat from the body begins to warm the water around it, thus it is further keeping more heat against the dog. So if heat stroke arises, rinse the dog off with a bucket of cool water, and check the temperature every three minutes until it starts to drop (to 103 F) then 'stop' cooling efforts. If you were to continue the cooling, the temp may drop to a hypothermia temperature.

 If you are out at a picnic, please pack a cooler with a cold damp towel in it for your dog.  If you think the dog is showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke lay the cool towel over the dogs belly , moving it around often, to bring down the body temperature and head for the nearest vet office.

Hot blacktop

Hot asphalt or hot sand should always be kept in mind and booties are something one should think about if they walk a lot with their dog. You never know when you are going to come upon either of these hot surfaces and engage in pleasant conversation with a friend or neighbor. Don’t think it’s hot? Take your shoes off and stand on it for a while! A dog’s paw pads are like the shock absorber's in your car which work each time the dog puts its paw down on the ground. This pressure makes the pad spread to absorb the shock. If your dog gets a cut, blister, boil, etc. on the pad, it can take months to heal because each time the dog takes a step, the pad spreads, thus reopening the wound.   Muttluk booties have been rated one of the best as far a consumer satisfaction.



OMG! This sweet smelling and tasting chemical can kill your dog with one lick. Check often under your car to make sure there are no leaks. If your dog roams free then you will also have to worry about your neighbor who is a hobby mechanic as well!

                                                                    Spoiled food

Summertime brings with it many back yard Bar~B~Q’s and unfortunately not everyone has their garbage picked up more than once a week. As well, many people in today's society compost, but not all abide by the proper rules of composting. If your dog gets into food that’s been in the heat for a while you know the food is spoiled. This can cause *garbage toxicosis (AKA garbage gut) and if the food is not yet spoiled but fatty, then * pancreatitis becomes a concern. As well any type of bone can cause an obstruction of the bowel.


                                                                   *Planting flowers

Before you pick the pretty purples, pinks, yellows, and reds, know which are toxic to dogs, and again if your dog roams, your neighbor may have toxic plants in their garden as well so know the possible signs of toxicity. Keep the poison control hotline for pets handy on the fridge. Believe it or not, your Vet does not deal with this everyday and does not always know what plants are toxic.
Poison control hot line (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
                                                      
                                                      
                                                          Water hazards: Drownings

* Read my beach blog from April 25, 2010 for beach safety.
Pools: I cannot  stress enough that not every dog knows how to swim and I don’t understand why John Q public believes their dog can swim just because it is a dog! Yes, there are some dogs that take to water like a drunkard takes to beer, but there are those that do not and struggle in water until exhaustion over takes them and they drown. Generally it is the exhaustion from the panic that usually claims their lives. I have Newfoundland’s, which are bred and used for water rescue, but when I first brought them into my pool they had no clue what to do, other than to panic because their feet were not touching land and they had not yet been taught how to get out. Imagine any living creature panicking in a pool of water with no knowledge of how to get out! Fear creates panic and panic creates death. If you don’t believe me, plop yourself in the middle of the ocean with no soul in sight and see how long it takes for panic to set in!
So if you have a backyard pool, block it off from your dog until it is taught how to get in and out safely and don’t leave him there unattended. Unfortunately curious puppies are most vulnerable to this. A good investment  would be a life jacket for your pooch.

Click here for How to help a drowned dog  (and other first aid tips)


                                                                   *Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes really flourish in warm stagnant water so empty all buckets or shallow sources of water. Mosquitoes cause heartworm disease in dogs so make sure your dog is on a preventative if possible. I know the preventative is expensive but in the long run it’s cheaper to prevent than the treatment they’ll need if they get heartworm. Please don’t think because you keep the dog inside most of the time that it will be free from mosquitoes. These buggers can breed in damp basements or crawl spaces.


                                                           *Ticks and *Fleas

Ticks and fleas flourish mostly in tall grasses or damp places but that’s not to say that a rabbit can’t hop into your yard and leave a tick deposit on your finely manicured short lawn. Ticks carry many diseases and fleas can get so bad they can cause anemia in dogs.

                                          * Allergic reactions to bug stings and bites

If your dog’s cheeks or lips start to swell taking on the appearance of Louis Armstrong, it is advised you have Benadryl at the ready. Any breathing difficulty should receive immediate Vet attention.
Keep Benadryl in your purse or car for just such occasions. *Benadryl is usually dispensed for dogs at 1-2 mg per pound of body weight and usually come in packages marked 25 or 50 mgs. Be sure it is *Benadryl allergy and not the allergy /sinus.

                                                                       * Skunked!

Most of us think about the horrible smell our dogs will carry with them for a long while once they have been skunked, but did you know that a direct hit can cause a more serious problem? Anemia in dogs has been caused by taking a hit from a spraying skunk.  So if you see signs of lethargy, weakness, or discolored urine, seek vet care.
                                    homemade skunk bath for your dog

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
¼ cup baking soda
1-2 teaspoons detergent such as softsoap or Ivory liquid

If you have a gigantic dog like mine, add a quart of tepid water to the mix to cover dog fully. Let stand on the dog for 5 to ten minutes rinse and repeat. Don’t however keep such a mixture for the future. Just like the hair dye you put on your head, the container could get a buildup of gasses and explode after a certain amount of time.



                                                                    *Fertilizer

Once fertilizer is spread on  lawns it much less toxic, but when it is eaten or inhaled directly from the bag then it becomes a real problem. Insecticides to kill bugs as a general rule should be thought toxic and it is best to call your poison control center if there is any uncertainty. Remember your Vet may not deal with such poisonings on a daily basis. Always have the package handy when possible to let poison control know the contents and do not induce vomiting unless told to, as bringing a toxic item back up can do even more harm than it did going down.
                                                             
                                                                       *Toad toxicity

Oh yeah, that fun little creature that dogs love to chase! Some can leave you dog with only a bad taste in the mouth, much drooling  and lip smacking but there are toads that are very toxic to dogs in the USA so I thought this should also be included in this blog. The Colorado River Toad and the Giant Toad (or marine toad) are two such toads that you would want to seek emergency help for if your dog got a hold of one.  The Colorado toad can be found  from Arizona to Southern California and the giant toad can  be found in Texas and Florida.   Breathing difficulty, seizures, fever, collapse, & vomiting are just some of the symptoms to watch for.

Okay, this was a lot of info to take in and I’m sure there are some things I am missing so if you think of something else please post. Include sites for further reading if necessary.

Well, until fall, keep cool and let the dog's tail be your fan!