Monday, December 24, 2007
Sweet Potato Chew Recipe - Easy Healthy Yummy Cheap!
This is so easy to do and WAY cheaper than the store-bought versions. Most dogs LOVE them and they're super healthy.
Be aware that they may not hold up well at room temperature for more than a few days since there are no added preservatives--so either use them up quickly or refrigerate or freeze if they won't be gobbled up pretty quickly . Of course, your dog would prefer you just give him the whole batch at once...
SWEET POTATO CHEWS
--Wash sweet potatoes, peel if desired or just remove knobs and spots.
--Slice into whatever shape you like, such as french fry-sized strips. (The more consistent your pieces, the more uniformly they'll cook up, of course, and the smaller or thinner, the faster they'll get chewy and then hard.)
--Bake at 250 degrees for two or three hours to desired level of firmness or chewiness. (I didn't use any seasoning or oil or spray and they came out fine).
--Allow to cool, then call your dog for snack time and be worshiped!
YUMMMM! WOOF!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
(Human) Food Do's and Dont's for Dogs - A Reminder
Here is a quick refresher on some human food items toxic to dogs and some that are actually good for them. Especially at this time of year with food lying around and perhaps more readily available than usual, and with the possibility that other people will be in and out of your home and may not be as attentive, or you yourself are distracted, better safe than sorry. I hope this is old news for most people, but in case it's not:
AVOID AVOID AVOID:
--Chocolate
--Onions (and, according to SOME things I've read, the entire onion family)
--Raisins (and grapes but raisins are more concentrated so they are worse)
--Most nuts should be avoided as they are not well digested from what I have learned
Chocolate is bad news for dogs as it contains compounds that can be highly toxic. Plus virtually every household has it lying around and it's such a common gift item, you really can't avoid it. Some dogs seem able to tolerate it better than others--the problem is you don't know until your dog eats it if yours is one that seems to suffer no ill effects or one that reacts badly.
The darker or more intensely flavored, the worse it is, with home baking chocolate being particularly dangerous. Remember that dogs will sniff out wrapped chocolate candy in a flash and may scarf it down before you even know they got to it, sometimes wrapper and all. Keep all chocolate totally out of reach. You just can't underestimate the hound nose and drive for food!
If your dog does ingest chocolate despite your best efforts, if the amount seems small relative to your dog's size, keep an eye on her, watching for signs of unusual excitability or any behavior that is not normal for your dog. Be sure she has quick access to getting outside in case she needs to "let it go" on her own. It might give her diarrhea or it could come back up.
If the amount is large or you're not sure or are just panic-stricken, contact your vet's emergency number. Before calling, make note of the type of chocolate she ate and the ingredient list if available, the amount she ate in ounces and how long ago it was eaten, and know your dog's weight so you can provide as much of this information as possible.
Depending on the amount and timeline, you may be advised to make your dog purge by forcing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide down her throat. Follow instructions and don't overdo it; BE PREPARED, this can work VERY quickly! Do it outside if possible, or be right by the door. It may take a while for the vomiting to stop, then the diarrhea may set in. Ahhh, what great entertainment. Of course this will most likely occur late at night or in the morning when you're already late for work or otherwise in a hurry to get somewhere. :)
One of our 25 pound beagles ate a fairly large amount of homemade, solid-chocolate candy once and she was fine. We made her throw it up right away after calling our vet's emergency line, and it was a sleepless night while we stressed out watching to see if she showed any signs of trouble, which she did not. WHEW. She has gotten into sealed bags of candy a time or two as well, but only got one or two pieces before we noticed. She is very clever and can get into things we'd never expect her to if she really focuses!
AVOID AVOID AVOID:
--Chocolate
--Onions (and, according to SOME things I've read, the entire onion family)
--Raisins (and grapes but raisins are more concentrated so they are worse)
--Most nuts should be avoided as they are not well digested from what I have learned
Chocolate is bad news for dogs as it contains compounds that can be highly toxic. Plus virtually every household has it lying around and it's such a common gift item, you really can't avoid it. Some dogs seem able to tolerate it better than others--the problem is you don't know until your dog eats it if yours is one that seems to suffer no ill effects or one that reacts badly.
The darker or more intensely flavored, the worse it is, with home baking chocolate being particularly dangerous. Remember that dogs will sniff out wrapped chocolate candy in a flash and may scarf it down before you even know they got to it, sometimes wrapper and all. Keep all chocolate totally out of reach. You just can't underestimate the hound nose and drive for food!
If your dog does ingest chocolate despite your best efforts, if the amount seems small relative to your dog's size, keep an eye on her, watching for signs of unusual excitability or any behavior that is not normal for your dog. Be sure she has quick access to getting outside in case she needs to "let it go" on her own. It might give her diarrhea or it could come back up.
If the amount is large or you're not sure or are just panic-stricken, contact your vet's emergency number. Before calling, make note of the type of chocolate she ate and the ingredient list if available, the amount she ate in ounces and how long ago it was eaten, and know your dog's weight so you can provide as much of this information as possible.
Depending on the amount and timeline, you may be advised to make your dog purge by forcing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide down her throat. Follow instructions and don't overdo it; BE PREPARED, this can work VERY quickly! Do it outside if possible, or be right by the door. It may take a while for the vomiting to stop, then the diarrhea may set in. Ahhh, what great entertainment. Of course this will most likely occur late at night or in the morning when you're already late for work or otherwise in a hurry to get somewhere. :)
One of our 25 pound beagles ate a fairly large amount of homemade, solid-chocolate candy once and she was fine. We made her throw it up right away after calling our vet's emergency line, and it was a sleepless night while we stressed out watching to see if she showed any signs of trouble, which she did not. WHEW. She has gotten into sealed bags of candy a time or two as well, but only got one or two pieces before we noticed. She is very clever and can get into things we'd never expect her to if she really focuses!
As for onions and raisins and their respective relatives, they too contain potentially harmful compounds. Luckily, most dogs are not as drawn to either, particularly onions, and few of us have raisins just lying around in bowl or bags. Nor is either a common gift item in my experience!
GOOD STUFF
--Sweet potatoes (see recipe in next post)
--Apples
--Carrots (raw if they'll put up with the chewing, gently cooked to soften if not)
--Berries (I've read recently that raspberries and blueberries are particularly good)
These items can be used as treats or added to regular food, cooked or raw.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Seeking House Pet - Experience Required
Recognizing an experienced house pet in a new dog.
People ask how I "know" that a newly-arriving foster dog has prior experience as a house pet, as opposed to having been an outdoor or farm-type dog. So I'll share my observations in hopes of being helpful.
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian nor am I a trained animal behaviorist or trainer or anything other than a person who has taken in several dogs and has seen differences in how they act/react to the home environment. Consult a professional if you have real problems! And of course we can never truly know about the dog's prior circumstances, so it's all a matter of interpretation. But there are some traits that I believe indicate a cushy life in the recent past.
First, of course, is house training. If the dog seems to immediately understand the concept of going out the door and doing his business, bingo. Some need a few minutes or hours to confirm the location of the door, or which door to use, while others seem to instantly get it. There are some that need a few days to grasp the concept that one goes outside to do business in EVERY house, not just the one they may have been in previously. "Oh, I see, it wasn't just at that one place where they made me go outside to eliminate, it's this house too. Aha!"
It probably helps that we have other dogs in our home, because there may be some kind of dog signaling, or observation or basic pack mentality that reinforces the process. In some cases, a new dog will want to "mark" in the house. This is more likely with a male and especially one that is not yet neutered, or a young dog. But really it's all about pack status. (Marking means going to various spots and putting a little bit of urine on it to tell others "I was here." Very normal, instinctual dog behavior, and of course VERY unwanted inside the human home!). The one dog we had that marked the most was a spayed, middle-aged female who was relentless the first evening. I believe that she and our Katie were too closely matched in terms of hierarchy and she was trying to take over. Katie just kept looking at the dog and then at us as if to say, "What in the world have you brought here and when will she go away?"
One of our fosters, also a spayed, middle-aged female (hmmm), was perfectly fine in our house, but in her first adoptive home she apparently marked constantly, and the house was fully carpeted. A behaviorist determined it was in response to the pre-existing female Labrador that lived there. Again, a pack/status thing. She came back to us briefly then was adopted into a home where she's the only dog, and is doing great.
Other signs of house pet experience include:
--knowing that when the refrigerator starts to open, you should run and sniff the contents
--knowing that furniture is softer than the floor, and that sofas are meant for lounging
--knowing how to jump up onto the bed when the humans lie down there
--knowing that a leash being put on you means you're going for a walk and you should jump and bark and get really, really excited about this!
--knowing that an open car door means "jump in, we're going for a ride"
--knowing that the humans will be smitten if you curl up next to them on the sofa, and especially if you lick their face and then lay your head on their lap
--automatically sitting for a treat, with or without the command being said
--scratching or barking at the door to go out our come in (or another indication - some dogs just stare at the door, some prance around in front of it, some whine)
--responding appropriately to basic commands such as Sit, Down, Off, Stay, etc.
Contrary to popular belief, shelter and rescue dogs can be completely healthy, normal, and command-trained. Our second foster, the only non-beagle we've had (a hound or rottweiler head with a catahoula leopard dog body!), knew many word commands and had some kind of hand signal training as well; he would occasionally do something like drop to the ground and freeze when an arm moved in a particular way. He was the smart one - we couldn't figure out his "language"!
Well, I didn't mean to make this such a long post, as I know blogging is meant to be short and sweet. So that's all for now. I'm sure there are other behaviors to point out - please share!
Joyce
People ask how I "know" that a newly-arriving foster dog has prior experience as a house pet, as opposed to having been an outdoor or farm-type dog. So I'll share my observations in hopes of being helpful.
Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian nor am I a trained animal behaviorist or trainer or anything other than a person who has taken in several dogs and has seen differences in how they act/react to the home environment. Consult a professional if you have real problems! And of course we can never truly know about the dog's prior circumstances, so it's all a matter of interpretation. But there are some traits that I believe indicate a cushy life in the recent past.
First, of course, is house training. If the dog seems to immediately understand the concept of going out the door and doing his business, bingo. Some need a few minutes or hours to confirm the location of the door, or which door to use, while others seem to instantly get it. There are some that need a few days to grasp the concept that one goes outside to do business in EVERY house, not just the one they may have been in previously. "Oh, I see, it wasn't just at that one place where they made me go outside to eliminate, it's this house too. Aha!"
It probably helps that we have other dogs in our home, because there may be some kind of dog signaling, or observation or basic pack mentality that reinforces the process. In some cases, a new dog will want to "mark" in the house. This is more likely with a male and especially one that is not yet neutered, or a young dog. But really it's all about pack status. (Marking means going to various spots and putting a little bit of urine on it to tell others "I was here." Very normal, instinctual dog behavior, and of course VERY unwanted inside the human home!). The one dog we had that marked the most was a spayed, middle-aged female who was relentless the first evening. I believe that she and our Katie were too closely matched in terms of hierarchy and she was trying to take over. Katie just kept looking at the dog and then at us as if to say, "What in the world have you brought here and when will she go away?"
One of our fosters, also a spayed, middle-aged female (hmmm), was perfectly fine in our house, but in her first adoptive home she apparently marked constantly, and the house was fully carpeted. A behaviorist determined it was in response to the pre-existing female Labrador that lived there. Again, a pack/status thing. She came back to us briefly then was adopted into a home where she's the only dog, and is doing great.
Other signs of house pet experience include:
--knowing that when the refrigerator starts to open, you should run and sniff the contents
--knowing that furniture is softer than the floor, and that sofas are meant for lounging
--knowing how to jump up onto the bed when the humans lie down there
--knowing that a leash being put on you means you're going for a walk and you should jump and bark and get really, really excited about this!
--knowing that an open car door means "jump in, we're going for a ride"
--knowing that the humans will be smitten if you curl up next to them on the sofa, and especially if you lick their face and then lay your head on their lap
--automatically sitting for a treat, with or without the command being said
--scratching or barking at the door to go out our come in (or another indication - some dogs just stare at the door, some prance around in front of it, some whine)
--responding appropriately to basic commands such as Sit, Down, Off, Stay, etc.
Contrary to popular belief, shelter and rescue dogs can be completely healthy, normal, and command-trained. Our second foster, the only non-beagle we've had (a hound or rottweiler head with a catahoula leopard dog body!), knew many word commands and had some kind of hand signal training as well; he would occasionally do something like drop to the ground and freeze when an arm moved in a particular way. He was the smart one - we couldn't figure out his "language"!
Well, I didn't mean to make this such a long post, as I know blogging is meant to be short and sweet. So that's all for now. I'm sure there are other behaviors to point out - please share!
Joyce
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
"We Don't Have "Time" - Ours vs. Theirs
Fostering = Time; Theirs.
Fostering is really just giving a dog the gift of time.
My significant other/boyfriend and I foster beagles for rescue groups. It is probably the most meaningful thing we've ever done. We currently have Amos, a wonderful old beagle/basset mix who came from a kill shelter in a rural area, un-neutered, no microchip, but healthy, PERFECTLY house trained, and gentle, sweet and happy as a lark. He's a garbage-getter--used Kleenex are a particular treat--and last night he pulled a HEAVY saucepan of pasta off the stove to the floor and had an extra meal.
But I digress.
My point in this post is TIME. Lots of folks say they would be a foster home if only they had the time. No time, busy busy, time, time, time.
To which I say: of course you don't have time. No one does. Except for what you make time for. We all have the same 24 hours each day, and we all have more on the list than gets done in that span. But we all make choices continuously in how we spend those hours.
We already have two beagles of our own, and luckily they are easy, meaning they are healthy, well-behaved, sleep-all-day-while-we're-gone-couch-potatoes, they don't bark all day or chew things up. Basically we just feed them, let them out, and in exchange they shower us with that unconditional "love" that is, in my opinion, unique to the canine-human connection. Since we're going to go through all the motions of caring for our own dogs, how hard can it be to add one more to the mix?
And ultimately, while we may say we "don't have time," it's really the displaced dog standing alone on a cold, hard concrete slab behind bars in a shelter who truly doesn't have time. He may have a week, two weeks, in some cases up to a month, before the inevitable takes place, because in that time dozens more come in and there is no more space and rescue groups cannot take more in until a foster home opens up, so down the hall to The Table he goes. Because I said I didn't have time. So his time is up.
And another beagle was just brought in the door. All he has is time, just not much of it.
Joyce
The beagle rescue our dogs came from: www.houndsong.com; always in need of foster homes and donations.
Fostering is really just giving a dog the gift of time.
My significant other/boyfriend and I foster beagles for rescue groups. It is probably the most meaningful thing we've ever done. We currently have Amos, a wonderful old beagle/basset mix who came from a kill shelter in a rural area, un-neutered, no microchip, but healthy, PERFECTLY house trained, and gentle, sweet and happy as a lark. He's a garbage-getter--used Kleenex are a particular treat--and last night he pulled a HEAVY saucepan of pasta off the stove to the floor and had an extra meal.
But I digress.
My point in this post is TIME. Lots of folks say they would be a foster home if only they had the time. No time, busy busy, time, time, time.
To which I say: of course you don't have time. No one does. Except for what you make time for. We all have the same 24 hours each day, and we all have more on the list than gets done in that span. But we all make choices continuously in how we spend those hours.
We already have two beagles of our own, and luckily they are easy, meaning they are healthy, well-behaved, sleep-all-day-while-we're-gone-couch-potatoes, they don't bark all day or chew things up. Basically we just feed them, let them out, and in exchange they shower us with that unconditional "love" that is, in my opinion, unique to the canine-human connection. Since we're going to go through all the motions of caring for our own dogs, how hard can it be to add one more to the mix?
And ultimately, while we may say we "don't have time," it's really the displaced dog standing alone on a cold, hard concrete slab behind bars in a shelter who truly doesn't have time. He may have a week, two weeks, in some cases up to a month, before the inevitable takes place, because in that time dozens more come in and there is no more space and rescue groups cannot take more in until a foster home opens up, so down the hall to The Table he goes. Because I said I didn't have time. So his time is up.
And another beagle was just brought in the door. All he has is time, just not much of it.
Joyce
The beagle rescue our dogs came from: www.houndsong.com; always in need of foster homes and donations.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
SNYP! (Spay or Neuter Your Pet)
SNYP! That is my acronym for Spay or Neuter Your Pet!In this holiday season, there will be many inappropriate gifts of a new puppy, particularly beagles. Rescues and shelters dread this time of year, knowing they'll be inundated in the coming weeks with unwanted dogs that just didn't work out - too hyper, too much work, too noisy, we're not home enough, someone is allergic, this is the wrong breed for us, etc. etc. All of which could have been avoided with a little research and thought prior to purchase.
All owners should spay and neuter their dogs. All reputable rescues spay and neuter prior to adoption. The beagles that have come into shelter/rescue care are, in large part, the direct result of overpopulation and casual breeding. A quick visit your local shelter will confirm the overwhelming need for rescue, fostering and adoption. Far too many dogs are needlessly euthanized because of the irresponsibility of casual breeders. Breeding should be done directly by knowledgeable experts who show their beagles, are breeding to improve the standard of the breed, or are scrupulous in selling to the public. Please consider this before breeding your dog. Especially unfortunate for beagles it that they are the breed most often used in research due to their manageable size and temperament and ready availability of "stock."
We all can do our part to reduce beagle (and all pet) overpopulation by not breeding them and adopting pets that are spayed or neutered to save a life. I found this wonderful quote on a beagle rescue site and have altered it just a bit:
"If you rescue one beagle, you will not change the world, but the world will surely change for that one beagle."Joyce
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