A Dog Is For Love

"Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan's dog Daddy dies

At the age of 16, "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan's beloved pit bull Daddy passed away on February 19th. Daddy came to live with Cesar at age 4 months when his owner at the time couldn't cope with his behaviour. With Cesar's training the dog's behaviour became calm and submissive and he appeared in more than 50 of Cesar's TV shows as a positive example of a well-trained canine.

Daddy was shown to be very sensitive to the needs of other dogs and humans, especially if they were feeling sad.

Cesar commented "I've always seen Daddy as my teacher of life. He brought my family and me so much joy over the years. Personally, he represented what my grandfather taught me, never work against Mother Nature. He will be greatly missed, but his spirit lives on."

Cesar Millan has now set up an Emergency Animal Rescue Fund in Daddy's memory. The fund will raise money to assist dogs affected by hurricanes, fires and other natural disasters, as well as man-made situations such as hoarding, abuse, violence and puppy mills.

You can find out more about the fund at www.millanfoundation.org/daddyfund.

Remembering The Rescue Dogs of 9/11

Today is a day of rememberance for those who lost their lives at The World Trade Center and The Pentagon. I would also like to pay tribute to the rescue dogs, numbering over 380, that took part in the operation to recover people from the wreckage.

Bob Sessions - rescue worker for the Federal Emergency Management Agency said "If only these dogs knew what a difference they make. Certainly, there is nothing that can replace the precision of a dog's nose - and absolutely nothing can replace a dog's heart.'' 

Here are a few photographs of some of those brave friends who helped save human lives and recover bodies following the attack:

What a beautiful reminder of the faithful service dogs can offer their human companions. This is a partnership based on true respect and trust and is a lesson to us all about love and loyalty.

You can find more photos and information at Doggyspace.

Best Pals - The Guide Dog and The Blind Dog

This is a great story from Sky News

It's not unusual for visually-impaired humans to rely on a guide dog - but now a shelter in Norfolk has found a blind border collie with his own inseparable canine companion.

Best friends Bonnie and Clyde were brought to the animal shelter in Norfolk after they were found wandering the streets in a rain storm.

When the pair are together Clyde, five, seems as capable as a fully sighted dog - but he won't move unless Bonnie, two, is close.

Bonnie guides him on walks or towards food and lets him rest on her when he becomes disorientated.

Cherie Cootes, who runs the Meadow Green Dog Rescue .Centre in Loddon, Norfolk, said: "He totally relies on her the whole time. When she walks she tends to stop and make sure he's there - she does look out for him."

Vicky Bell, a spokeswoman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said she had never heard of a dog voluntarily acting as a guide for another dog.

"There's absolutely no option of homing them separately - they have to go as a pair," she said. "This is a very unusual case - it's such a lovely story.

Dog Nurses Red Panda Cubs in China

On June 25th at Taiyuan Zoo in China's Shanxi province, a red panda unexpectedly gave birth to two cubs. The zoo staff hadn't realised she was pregant and, as soon as they were born, the mother abandoned them.

Keen to find a substitute mother, the zoo found that a nearby farmer's dog had recently given birth to a litter. The small white mongrel proved to be a willing candidate and took on the baby pandas with enthusiasm. The young cubs are now thriving on their new mother's milk.

Red pandas are classified as an endangered species and are native to China, Nepal and Myanmar. I saw them at Banham zoo and they are absolutely delightful. Quite shy, tree dwelling creatures, they also have the cute factor in abundance! 

Tips for Avoiding Dog Bites

In the US it is National Dog Bite Prevention Week. This brought to mind something that happened to me a few weeks ago. I approached the library and there was the cutest dog sitting outside with a fresh flower on its collar. It looked so sweet that I approached saying "hello lovely little doggy, aren't you gorgeous!" or something similarly sloppy. I put my hand out to stroke it and it went for me and bit my thumb. No blood was drawn but the pressure bruised my thumb. So I learnt my lesson - you can't tell a dog's temperament by its appearance, no matter how cute!

The following tips appeared in an article by Laura T. Coffey in the St Petersburg Times (www.tampabay.com) and offers some good advice:

10 Tips for Avoiding Dog Bites

1 A dog's space should be treated with respect. Don't bother or surprise dogs while they're eating, sleeping or caring for puppies. Train children to leave dogs alone in such situations, and also to avoid running past unfamiliar dogs.

2 Don't leave a baby or young child alone with any dog, ever. Pediatricians and hospital workers treat far too many children whose parents never imagined that their trusted pet would bite. Little kids can provoke dogs in unexpected ways, and as Marti Ryan of Hillsborough County Animal Services pointed out, you can't interview dogs after the fact to find out what made them snap.

3 Shun aggressive play with dogs. Forceful tug-of-war games and other rough play can get dogs far more riled up than you might expect, and in an instant they could cross the line and bite you or a family member. Teasing dogs or making them feel threatened also can lead to trouble.

4 Give dogs the training and socialization they need. Puppies and older dogs should be exposed to lots of different people, experiences and sounds so they'll feel secure in myriad situations. By the time a puppy turns 4 months old, he or she should have met at least 100 different people. And the importance of obedience training that emphasizes positive reinforcement can't be emphasized enough.

5 Spay or neuter your dog. This step can make your pet less aggressive, less likely to roam and less likely to develop certain kinds of cancer.

6 Keep your dog healthy, happy and well-loved. A sick, scared, cold, hungry or lost dog will be more likely to bite. If you're going to take on the massive responsibility of having a dog, make sure you can load that animal up with lots of affection and all the health care and food he or she needs.

7 Chaining up a dog is a bad idea. Dogs who are chained up for hours on end can become frustrated, scared and aggressive. Their impulse will be to guard the limited territory around them, and this could prompt them to bite. When taking dogs on walks, though, a leash is hugely important for keeping them under control.

8 Don't stare a dog down. A dog may view extended, direct eye contact as menacing. Recognize — and teach children — about dog body language that spells trouble: a twitchy tail that may be mistaken for a happy, wagging tail; a shy dog who looks away before lashing out and biting in fear; and a dog whose fur stands up and who emits a low growl that gets louder and louder the closer you get.

9 Approach unfamiliar dogs with care. Train children to ask dog owners' permission before approaching any dog. Move toward the dog slowly and allow the dog to sniff you or your child first before any contact occurs. Pet the dog gently and avoid touching the dog's face or tail. Don't let your kids approach or pet stray dogs under any circumstances.

10 Know what to do if everything goes wrong. If an aggressive dog challenges you, remember these tricks: Stay still or back away very slowly; avoid direct eye contact; don't attempt to outrun the dog; put a purse, backpack or bike between yourself and the dog; and try to let the dog calm down. If a dog knocks you down, roll up into a ball and cover your face with your arms and fists. If you get bitten, get contact information for the dog's owner and veterinarian so you can check vaccination records later. Clean the bite area with water and soap as fast as you can, and consult a medical professional right away.

Chanel - The World's Oldest Dog

Nearly 21 years old, Chanel, the world’s oldest dog, is proudly owned by Denice Shaughnessy. She adopted the dachshund mix from an animal shelter in Virginia when the dog was just 6 weeks old. Her coat has become white as she has aged but I think she looks absolutely beautiful and hope I age this well!

So just how old would she be in human years? This article by Christopher Beam from www.slate.com explains:

A Dog's Life - How do you Really Calculate Dog Years?

The oldest dog in the world, a dachshund from Long Island named Chanel, turned 21 on Wednesday. Some news reports listed her age as 120 in "dog years." Others said she was 147. Which is it?

Chanel is about 113 dog years old. A "dog year" is a measurement that puts the age of a dog in the context of a human lifespan—in other words, if Chanel were a person, how old would she be? Most people think of one "human year" as equivalent to seven "dog years." But that's a bad predictor of longevity. The official formula, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, equates the first year of a medium-sized dog's life to 15 years of a human's. The dog's second year equals nine years for a human. And after that, every year feels like five for a dog.

This formula, however, varies depending on the dog's weight. Bigger dogs tend to have shorter lives, and thus age faster in dog years, while smaller dogs live longer, and thus age slower in dog years. (This discrepancy is due in part to the fact that big dogs are more likely to have debilitating arthritis and stomach problems.) The life expectancy of a Great Dane, for example, is just eight years, so a 4-year-old Great Dane is already a whopping 35. That said, calculating dog years is far from an exact science, as evidenced by the fact that the AVMA's calculator lumps all dogs more than 90 pounds—including 200-pound St. Bernards—into one category.

The formula has also changed over time, along with human and doggie life spans. Life expectancy for humans born in 1901 was 49 years. Now it's 77. Dogs also live longer than they used to. In 1987, 32 percent of dogs lived past six years. Now about 44 percent do.

Researchers have long been intrigued by the ratio between human and canine life spans. In 1268, an inscription was etched into the floor of Westminster Abbey calculating the date of Judgment Day using the life spans of God's creations, including the dog's, which was considered to be nine years, and a person's, which they said was 81 years. Eighteenth-century naturalist Georges Buffon noted that dogs lived roughly 10 to 12 years, compared with the human life span of 90 to 100 years.

It wasn't until the 20^th century that the phrase "dog years" started to appear. It's unclear who coined it, but it was current by the 1960s, when some math textbooks had students calculate their age "in dog years." In the 1970s, Alpo commercials featuring actor Lorne Green popularized the seven-to-one conversion: "Duchess is 13. That's like 91 to you and me."

Meet Gibson - The World's Tallest Dog!

According to the Guinness Book of Records, Gibson is the tallest dog in the world. I think he is so handsome and adorable. He has been on many shows in the United States, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, and has made quite a name for himself. Not only that, he is a certified special needs Therapy Dog. What a great guy!

Dog Reunited with Owners Four Months After Falling Overboard

A pet dog, named Sophie Tucker, fell overboard in November as her owners were sailing in rough waters off the Queensland Coast in Australia. She was presumed drowned but has now been miraculously reunited with her owners four months later.

Sophie Tucker managed to swim five nautical miles to St Bees Island. There she fended for herself and it appears she fed on baby goats from a feral herd. The Island is largely uninhabited but rangers captured the dog and the owners, hearing about this, contacted them on the off chance. Sure enough it was Sophie Tucker!

There was such an eager reunion and a great end to a traumatic event. Doesn't it make your heart sing?

Read the full press story here.

Dogs Help Patients with Mental Health Problems

I came across an interesting article that appeared in the Hull Daily Mail this week and highlights how dogs can help lift the mood of mental health patients. The local NHS Mental Health Trust there have set up a dog visiting scheme with local residents.

The trust says the dogs provide social contact, a positive distraction and a talking point for patients, as well as serving as an incentive to get some fresh air and go for a short walk.

On a more formal basis, Pets As Therapy is an organisation that has been assessing dogs and their owners as therapy dogs for 25 Years and the scheme has brought comfort to many of those confined to hospital or in care homes. 

I can really relate to this because my dad spent 6 months in St Michael's, a cottage hospital in Aylsham, Norfolk where many of the patients were bed-bound. The staff kindly allowed me to take Hazel for visits and, not only did it give pleasure to my dad and ease the visits for me too, but as we arrived and walked down the corridor, patients would see us and call out "hello Hazel!". We would go into the side wards and many patients were uplifted by giving Hazel a stroke and having a little "chat" with her!

One time when my dad was in a room on his own, I popped out to the loo leaving Hazel in the room with dad. When I came back she was looking very pleased with herself, having jumped up to sit on the end of dad's bed! 

Don't tell Matron!!!

National Pet Owner Survey Finds People Prefer Pet Companionship Over Human

I read an interesting article about a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association. They asked pet owners about day-to-day interaction with their pets in the fifth annual national pet owner survey. The results provide insight on how people are humanising their relationships with their pets. Of the survey respondents:

57 percent of pet owners surveyed would want a pet as their only companion if deserted on an island.

80 percent of survey respondents selected companionship as the major reason for having a pet.

72 percent of pet owners say that affection is their pets' most endearing trait.

79 percent of surveyed pet owners give their pets holiday or birthday presents.

33 percent of pet owners talk to their pets on the phone or through the answering machine.

21 percent of dog owners sometimes dress their pets.

62 percent of respondents often sign letters or cards from them and their pets.

55 percent of pet owners consider themselves as mom or dad to their pets.

"When people find strong companionship and affection in their pets, it is not unusual for them to begin treating their animals as important family members," said Dr. Merry Crimi, AAHA president-elect. "Pets become as endearing as a child or a close friend to many pet owners."

Penny - the tree-climbing dog!

Penny is a Jack Russell from Wolverhampton and she'd rather climb a tree than go for walk!  To see her in action on the BBC website click on the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7889698.stm

Stump Wins Westminster Dog Show at age 10!

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is the jewel in the crown in American dog shows, like our Cruft's in the UK. Yesterday a Sussex Spaniel called Stump was named "Best In Show". Best of all he is 10 years old, equivalent to 70 in human years! This is truly inspiring and gives all of us late starters great hope and encouragement!

Stump lives in Houston, Texas and is the oldest dog ever to win Westminster. He showed great personality and is in great shape. When not performing in the ring he loves to play with a plush Grinch doll.

Judge Sari Tietjen said "He showed his heart out, I didn't know who he was or how old ... I just couldn't say no to him."