It's a Dog's Life - At the Governor's Mansion!

When politics gets hard in the State of Minnesota (for all of us), we can go home to our 4-legged friends!

Pitbull vs kitten - Offbeat

Pitbull vs kitten - Offbeat

Fireworks are not a dog's best friend...

I Love Family Reunions!

I remember my Dalmatian lab mix, Pal, I had when I was around 10 years old.  Pal did not like fireworks, firecrackers, bottle rockers, storms or anything that went boom.  He didn't grow up with the loud noises being a regular occurrence, and when I got him, it was probably too late to retrain him.

When I bred hunting labs, when they were young we would expose them to many things very early, trips in the car to the bank, or to the McDonald's drive through, or to run an errand, water, noise, people, kids, other animals, cats, more people and so on, and as many noises as we could.  Normally labs aren't gun shy or water shy, but it happens.

If you get a pup at a younger age, you can work on anxiety issues early.  The more you can expose a puppy to before the age of 16 weeks, the less it will fear things when it's older.  This is a key time for socializing and introducing new things.  If you get a dog from a breeder you can ask if they've socialized the pup or introduced them to different things, but if you get a dog from a rescue or another place, you'll find out what they're afraid of as you get to know them.  You can retrain a dog by doing the same thing 31 days in a row.  That means if you want them to lose a bad habit, you have to prevent them from doing that bad habit that many days in a row while introducing the good habit for 31 days.

Here's how to work on noise issues, have one person by the pup petting it, or just talking to it.  Have another person farther away, bang pots and pans, let off some firecrackers, run the generator in the garage, the house vacuum, or shop vac, and have the person by the pup just act calm--not react to the noise and act like nothing happened.  It doesn't always work, but if you get pups used to all kinds of noises when they're young, they won't fear them when they're older.

There's also the magnetic force field that comes with a storm, some dogs sense it before the weather person even knows it's coming and they're in the closet, under the bed, or just shaking their little boots off with fear.  Those dogs may need a dogie medication from your vet.  Talk to your vet about how extreme their fear of storm is and your options.

Remember, dog's sense how you feel and react from you, just like children.

1st Annual No Kill Walk for the Animals, Como Lake, 4-30-11

There were lots of people that came out in spite of the rain, we had our big, little and medium size dogs, a 9 year old Beagle, 4 month old border collie/terrier mix puppy, and 3 year old Golden Doodle to help us raise money for our favorite Rescue, Happy Hound Rescue.  Visit their website at http://happyhoundrescue.org

This Video is how you feel when you rescue ONE dog!

This video is from Dogwork.com.  It's "More than a Feeling!"  Click on the title to see the video.  Enjoy & thanks Lorelei!

Begging for SPRING

New School, new clothes, new shoes, new books, how about a new rescue pet?

It's time for everything new, fall is a fresh and school is just starting.  How about helping one of the many rescue organizations by adopting a new family member.  Please please please look at rescue dogs before you look into purchasing from a breeder.  These dogs are in rescue through no fault of their own, they aren't bad dogs, dogs with issues, dogs that nobody wants, they're just dogs that lost their home due to foreclosure, family finances, illness and other various reasons.

Go to HappyHoundRescue.org and find your new study buddy, shopping trip escort and "walk in the park exercise friend!"

Prayer of a Senior Rescue Dog

Peanut & Romeo

One by one they pass my cage,


Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.


Way past his prime he can't run and play,


Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way


A little old man, arthritic and sore,


It seems I am not wanted anymore.


I once had a home, I once had a bed,


A place that was warm, and where I was fed.


Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail,


Who wants a dog so old and so frail?


My family decided I didn't belong,


I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.


Whatever excuse they made in their head


Can't justify how they left me for dead.


Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,


The younger dogs get adopted away.


When I had almost come to the end of my rope,


You saw my face and I finally had hope.


You saw through the grey, and the legs bent with age,


And felt I still had life beyond the cage.


You took me home, gave me food and a bed.


And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.


We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,


You love me so dearly and want me to know.


I may have lived most of my life with another,


But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.






I promise to return all the love I can give,


To You, my dear person, as long as I live.


I may be with you for a week or for years,


We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.


And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,


I know you will cry and your heart will grieve.


And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,


My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.


And I will brag to all who will hear,


Of the person who made my last days so dear.






Author Unknown

Top 10 Dog Books for KIDS!!!!!

Books about dogs have entertained us for decades. Here are some favorites!

1. The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey

2. Clifford the Big Red Dog Scholastic Series

3. Biscuit Storybook Collection by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

4. Henry and Mudge: The First Book series by Cynthia Rylant

5. A Day in the Life of Murphy by Alice Provensen

6. Walter the Farting Dog by William Katzwinkle and Glenn Murray

7. Sally Goes to the Vet by Stephen Huneck

8. Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight

9. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

10. The Call of the Wild by Jack London

ENJOY SOME SUMMER READING!

Reunion Time

Flash got to meet one of his ancester's owners.  This is my Aunt Joan and Uncle Warren, who had a cute little Pom named Foxy when I was growing up.  I got to see him every time I went to their house and I got to go camping  

with him.  I thought it was sooooo cool to have a dog in the camper because I was from the farm where dogs certainly don't belong inside.  I took a picture of them and Flash for a trip down memory lane...