�I never had a love story���how profound is that statement? Those are the words that someone wrote on a website that I belong to. When I read what the woman had to say (she was writing about her three failed marriages), I just knew that I had to use those words for an article. �How sad those words are� I thought to myself. In this whole big wide world of ours there are those that will never know what it is like to love and to be loved. Sad, indeed! There are so many different loves in ones life if we were to look for it. There�s the love of one�s children, one�s animals, love of one�s job, love of one�s friends, love of God and country and the list can go on and on. Oh I foolishly said to a friend of mine many years ago, �I just love my car!� It was a fancy little red sports car which I wanted all of my life! My friend said to me, �Barbara, you can�t love a car! It�s a thing.� He was right, I suppose, but I did love driving around it anyway! But truth be told, we are all looking for that connection with a significant other that all the other loves of our lives just aren�t capable of filling.
Some of us will love more than once or twice in our lifetime, but to find �the one� is what most of us are looking for. But what if you never do find �the one� should you give up on love altogether thinking that it�s for everyone else but not for you? There are no guarantees in life. Perhaps you will never have a �love story!� We are all capable of loving. It�s our God given right. But it doesn�t mean that we will be loved back. It�s the subject that makes the Country/Western singers a fortune and yet some of their real life �love stories� are nothing but horror stories! Maybe that�s why they�re so good about writing and singing about pain!
Now one can live a life of bitterness and exclaim, �What about me? Why doesn�t someone love me?� Or you can choose to be a loving person anyway. Love will come to us in many different ways when we open ourselves up to it. And because this is a blog about dogs and more specifically the German Shepherd Dog; let�s begin there.
I�ve written many articles about the love one can receive from their dog. There truly is nothing like it. Even the most bitter of human beings can be wilted away to a blushing fool if he surrenders and opens up his heart to the love a dog. I don�t know of another being on this planet earth that is more determined and will try harder to win your love than a dog. It is after all what he lives for. No really, it is his only purpose on this earth. We don�t eat of his flesh, or drink of his milk or use his hide for leather. He is here to love and serve us, to guide and be a companion to us. I dare say, not too unlike a partner in one�s life!
I got up this morning thinking about how short a dog�s life is and wondered why that was. My oldest dog will be 8 in a couple of months and I hate it. I had just finished reading about a friend�s dog who is 13 and how hard it is for her to get around now and I read about the love he had for her in every word that he wrote. I don�t know why our dogs live such short lives. Why are they here for such a short time? Oh I do believe with all of my heart and soul that they are here to teach us how to love. I think dogs should be called �love� because I can�t find another purpose for them to be here on earth! I found this wonderful little quote about dogs: �The dog is mentioned in the Bible eighteen times and the cat not even once!� W.E. Farbstein (referring to the Old Testament). That�s not to say the cat is not some peoples beloved pets as well. But to know the love of a dog is to have him kidnap your soul. When he leaves us, it�s like a part of our soul leaves with him. I still find myself thinking of some of my beloved dogs that have been gone for many, many years. My love for them has never ended. They shall remain with me for the rest of my life. I still dream about some of them and I love it because they remain living, loving creatures if only for the amount of time I lay sleeping.
The fear of rejection is a very strong emotion that we all have. You can love someone and they don�t have to love you back. This is never the way with a dog. They will never reject your love. For the dog lover, we are �mad as hell� that they are with us for such a short amount of time. Geez, dear Lord, we�re just �getting going� with the dog. We�ve got so many more things we want to do with him yet. We�ve got places to go, people to see, things to do yet with our dogs. Why are you taking him away so soon? We�re just getting started! �Don�t take my love away we want to scream. Not yet. We�ve got so much more loving to do yet.� All our crying and pleading doesn�t change it. The dog will only be with us for maybe 8 � 15 years and it�s never enough! So love him now, because time keeps on moving whether we want to move along with it or not!
I believe the dog is a teacher without any words to speak. He speaks volumes in his actions and in his eyes that are almost human like. He sends messages to us about life every day. He teaches us how to survive with very little, how to forgive the unforgivable, how to enjoy life with the bare minimum, and how to love the loveless. Is it any wonder why we are tortured and grieve so much when they leave us? To have a being here with us for such a short time and to show us so much about living and loving is more than most of us can bear. But if we learned what we needed to from the dog, then we will have learned that we can go on without their physical presence with us. For you see when the dog came into our lives, he also snuck into our souls and it�s there that he resides until we meet up with him again on the other side of Heaven�s gate!
A few days ago, someone posted (on Facebook) a painting of all different kinds of dogs sitting up in the clouds on the other side of Heaven�s Gate waiting to be rejoined with their masters. I loved it and pray that God does rejoin us all with our beloved pets someday. They are by far some of the most angelic creatures put on this earth in my opinion!
There was a popular love song written back in 1984 called �I Want to Know What Love Is.� Some of us may never find it with another human being, but I believe God sends us love in many different ways. So if you never had a �Love Story�, but instead had the love of a dog, you have truly known the purity of what love is suppose to be. Grab onto her fast for she leaves us all too quickly. Your dog may just end up being the love of your life. It may have not been the love you were looking for, but it�s what you got and your life may never be the same again.
So if your dog is laying by your side right now like mine is snoring away as loud as a truck driver, reach down and pet her on her head and let her know that you love her. Oh loving doesn�t come without pain whether it is with another human being or your dog, but which ever it may be; hold on fast because you�re in for the time of your life. Embrace it; be thankful for it even if it�s for the short time you share with your dog. All it means is that you�re alive and still kicking and you can keep on kicking until you take your last breath. You are loved! Maybe you didn�t know it then, but the two of you began writing your own love story the moment God sent her to you.
Is it true then, �It�s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all?� This writer thinks so!
My rating: dog ownership: (4)!
Showing posts with label dog toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog toys. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Thursday, 10 February 2011
DO SHOW DOGS MAKE GOOD HOUSE DOGS?
So what do you think? Do you think that show dogs make good house dogs? Or are you of the belief that to keep a good attitude on the show dog, you need to keep him outside? Now I do know some people that live with their show dogs in the house, but most of those people only do this with their shows dogs that are retired and are no longer being shown.
I�ve had some breeders advise me not to keep a potential show dog in the house if I wanted to keep a good attitude on them. Many people also believe that keeping a show dog in the house makes them lazy and makes them put on weight because they are not outside in a dog run running back and forth.
I am of the belief that a good show dog is born with a certain type of attitude and personality. It along with the other attributes needed to show is what sets them apart from the rest of their litter mates. You can have a well structured dog that has no attitude and you will have to fight every step of the way to get him finished, if at all. On the other hand, you can have a lesser quality dog that has a great attitude and he�ll finish quicker. So yes, attitude for the show ring is very important for the German Shepherd Dog. This is especially true on the National and futurity levels.
Take a ball of energy and try living with it. Great for the show ring, but not necessarily for the house environment. My top show dog that I ever owned could never lie still in the house. My best bitch that I own now, never ever stops when she comes in and she�s in the house a lot more than the above mentioned bitch ever was. She doesn�t know what the words �lay down� means. The only time she does that is when she�s chewing on a bone and even with that, it�s not a very long time. She never walks from room to room. She�s always gaiting and is always turned on�..ideal for showing, but not for living with!
In my opinion these are the types of dogs that always need something to do. One of the most important things that they do need is lots of exercise to wear them out a little bit or to burn some of that high energy that they possess!
Show dogs that possess a lot of attitude are a dream come true for most exhibitors. Very little double handling is needed for this type of dog. Call them to get their attention and leave the rest to them. These are the performers in the show ring. The handler loves them, the judge loves them and the audience loves them. They are the crowd pleasers.
Living with them on the other hand is a whole other story all together. The problem with some of these dogs is they don�t know how to turn it off when they�re at home. My girl with the abundance of energy is always on display. I swear she wiggles her little butt as she prances from room to room. I kid you not. She has that twinkle in her eye and she knows she�s something special. These are the types of dogs that are always turned on even if you�re not looking for them to be so at that particular moment. They are born to show and they never let you forget it and age doesn�t slow them down.
So what do you think is a show dog a good house dog? Do you think that they know how to turn it off when they step outside of the show ring? Do you let your show dogs live in the house with you while you are showing them?
My rating: Show Dogs as house dogs: (1 - 4)!
I�ve had some breeders advise me not to keep a potential show dog in the house if I wanted to keep a good attitude on them. Many people also believe that keeping a show dog in the house makes them lazy and makes them put on weight because they are not outside in a dog run running back and forth.
I am of the belief that a good show dog is born with a certain type of attitude and personality. It along with the other attributes needed to show is what sets them apart from the rest of their litter mates. You can have a well structured dog that has no attitude and you will have to fight every step of the way to get him finished, if at all. On the other hand, you can have a lesser quality dog that has a great attitude and he�ll finish quicker. So yes, attitude for the show ring is very important for the German Shepherd Dog. This is especially true on the National and futurity levels.
Take a ball of energy and try living with it. Great for the show ring, but not necessarily for the house environment. My top show dog that I ever owned could never lie still in the house. My best bitch that I own now, never ever stops when she comes in and she�s in the house a lot more than the above mentioned bitch ever was. She doesn�t know what the words �lay down� means. The only time she does that is when she�s chewing on a bone and even with that, it�s not a very long time. She never walks from room to room. She�s always gaiting and is always turned on�..ideal for showing, but not for living with!
In my opinion these are the types of dogs that always need something to do. One of the most important things that they do need is lots of exercise to wear them out a little bit or to burn some of that high energy that they possess!
Show dogs that possess a lot of attitude are a dream come true for most exhibitors. Very little double handling is needed for this type of dog. Call them to get their attention and leave the rest to them. These are the performers in the show ring. The handler loves them, the judge loves them and the audience loves them. They are the crowd pleasers.
Living with them on the other hand is a whole other story all together. The problem with some of these dogs is they don�t know how to turn it off when they�re at home. My girl with the abundance of energy is always on display. I swear she wiggles her little butt as she prances from room to room. I kid you not. She has that twinkle in her eye and she knows she�s something special. These are the types of dogs that are always turned on even if you�re not looking for them to be so at that particular moment. They are born to show and they never let you forget it and age doesn�t slow them down.
So what do you think is a show dog a good house dog? Do you think that they know how to turn it off when they step outside of the show ring? Do you let your show dogs live in the house with you while you are showing them?
My rating: Show Dogs as house dogs: (1 - 4)!
Monday, 22 November 2010
YOU WANT ANSWERS!
Thank you to those of you who played along with my little quiz that I posted here on Friday. You put your thinking caps on and sent me your answers. Some of them you got right and of course, the others you got wrong. Someone got 99% of the answers correct. Everyone got one of the questions wrong. That was the question about who wrote the memorial for LaMar Kuhns and her husband read it at the Arizona National Specialty show. Many of you thought it was Connie Beckhardt. See the correct answer below. So here are the answers to my little quiz.
The handler that said �I can finish anything� was Jimmy Moses. Someone wrote to tell me that Jerry Guzman says this as well. Come to think of it, probably many handlers would say this to someone when asked if they could finish their dog.
The handler that said, �Give me a spooky dog to show. They always move, was LaMar Kuhns. I don�t know how well he�d do with a dog like this today as the judges are not as tolerant of spooky temperament in their ring.
The two litter sisters that were Grand Victrix was Anton�s Jenny and Anton�s Jessie. Everyone got that right.
The person that wrote the memorial tribute for LaMar Kuhns was Jane Dove and her husband Sylvan Dove read it at the 1984 National Specialty show in Arizona.
There were two writers of �This is the German Shepherd� book and they were Ernest Hart and William Goldbecker.
The editor of the GSD Review in 1985 was Lois Fryslin.
If a dog produces his phenotype, this means he produces himself��what he looks like.
The GSD Specialty club that Ed Barritt still belongs to and still stewards at most years but no longer lives in that state is the Mohawk Hudson Club in New York.
If your dog is diagnosed as having SIBO, those letters stand for �Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.�
The first ROM import since 1967 was Ch Jim v Fiemereck ROM
The people that used to advertise in the GSD Review and put on the bottom of their ads, �Records live, opinions die� were Ralph and Mary Roberts.
The Grand Victor whose father was a Grand Victor and he himself produced two Grand Victors and one Grand Victrix who lost one of his Grand Victor sons to bloat was GV Ch Mannix of Fran-Jo ROM.
The person that writes �Inside the German Shepherd Dog�s World� is me!
The person that writes the National Specialty show blogs is Evan Ginsberg
The German Shepherd Dog family of handlers are the Dancosses��Henry, Sandy and Leslie.
�Rex the wonder dog� was owned by breeder/exhibitor/judge, Joe Bihari.
If a dog is said to have the initials EPI then this means he has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.
The white German Shepherd Dog is the dog that is disqualified if he was in the ring. (Note: I said excused�..should be disqualified, but most of you knew what I was talking about).
All of these dogs would be disqualified: nose not predominately black, down with an undershot jaw, dog with hanging ears and the dog that tried to bite the judge.
That�s it for today, so once again, thanks for joining in.
My rating: refreshing your memory on trivia about the German Shepherd Dog: (4)
The handler that said �I can finish anything� was Jimmy Moses. Someone wrote to tell me that Jerry Guzman says this as well. Come to think of it, probably many handlers would say this to someone when asked if they could finish their dog.
The handler that said, �Give me a spooky dog to show. They always move, was LaMar Kuhns. I don�t know how well he�d do with a dog like this today as the judges are not as tolerant of spooky temperament in their ring.
The two litter sisters that were Grand Victrix was Anton�s Jenny and Anton�s Jessie. Everyone got that right.
The person that wrote the memorial tribute for LaMar Kuhns was Jane Dove and her husband Sylvan Dove read it at the 1984 National Specialty show in Arizona.
There were two writers of �This is the German Shepherd� book and they were Ernest Hart and William Goldbecker.
The editor of the GSD Review in 1985 was Lois Fryslin.
If a dog produces his phenotype, this means he produces himself��what he looks like.
The GSD Specialty club that Ed Barritt still belongs to and still stewards at most years but no longer lives in that state is the Mohawk Hudson Club in New York.
If your dog is diagnosed as having SIBO, those letters stand for �Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.�
The first ROM import since 1967 was Ch Jim v Fiemereck ROM
The people that used to advertise in the GSD Review and put on the bottom of their ads, �Records live, opinions die� were Ralph and Mary Roberts.
The Grand Victor whose father was a Grand Victor and he himself produced two Grand Victors and one Grand Victrix who lost one of his Grand Victor sons to bloat was GV Ch Mannix of Fran-Jo ROM.
The person that writes �Inside the German Shepherd Dog�s World� is me!
The person that writes the National Specialty show blogs is Evan Ginsberg
The German Shepherd Dog family of handlers are the Dancosses��Henry, Sandy and Leslie.
�Rex the wonder dog� was owned by breeder/exhibitor/judge, Joe Bihari.
If a dog is said to have the initials EPI then this means he has Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency.
The white German Shepherd Dog is the dog that is disqualified if he was in the ring. (Note: I said excused�..should be disqualified, but most of you knew what I was talking about).
All of these dogs would be disqualified: nose not predominately black, down with an undershot jaw, dog with hanging ears and the dog that tried to bite the judge.
That�s it for today, so once again, thanks for joining in.
My rating: refreshing your memory on trivia about the German Shepherd Dog: (4)
Thursday, 21 October 2010
AGAINST ALL ODDS
Okay so your dog didn�t win the Grand Victor or Grand Victrix title at the German Shepherd Dog National Specialty Show this past week. He didn�t come home with an obedience or herding trophy either. Maybe he didn�t even win a ribbon. Heck, then there are those like most of us that didn�t even show at the National. Maybe we didn�t show because we couldn�t afford it. Perhaps we didn�t want to fly with our dogs and just maybe we didn�t have anything good enough to really compete with. So we stayed home and watched the show on the streaming video or read Evan�s blog for a step by step account of life at the National. One way or another, we were all clued to our computer screens waiting for a phone call from a friend that was there or an announcement to be made flashing across our screens.
This year the entries were down, but I�m told the quality was up. But one fact remains, big show or small show, most exhibitors are going home empty handed. No ribbon, no trophy. Hopefully because they are good sports they bring home with them many fine memories of a great show with friends and some great looking dogs.
Every year before the National, there is much talk about who will be chosen this years Grand Victor or Grand Victrix. Were your favorites chosen? Were there any surprises? How about the Grand Victrix who wasn�t even a champion yet? Against all odds���..she is now this years Grand Victrix! Way to go! Congratulations to all the winners!
Have you ever owned a dog that no one else wanted? Perhaps he was a shelter dog that someone threw away. Maybe he was the runt of the litter that never got sold. Or maybe he had genetic health problems and you felt it was your responsibility to take care of him for the rest of his life. Did any of these dogs turn out to be real special and that you are so happy that you never got rid of them? Were any of these dogs the best dog that you ever owned? What made them so very special? Did they beg to be noticed? Did they go out of their way to impress upon you that although God didn�t give them a pretty face, he gave them a great old big heart that knew no competition? What made your non-champion, you�re non-obedient titled dog one of the best you ever owned?
I�ve already told the story of a scaly little runt of a female puppy that my top producing champion bitch gave birth to. As I already said, other breeders would have perhaps let her go to puppy dog Heaven. But against all odds, I literally breathed life into this puppy�s lungs to give her every chance to live. And live she did. Yup, she was a homely little thing alright having to fight for her drink of momma�s milk or her place at the puppy dog�s dish of food, but it was her will to live, her will to survive that seen her through her life. She lived to a ripe old age loving life on a farm in New York.
What makes a champion a champion is the dog that shows with a lot of heart. He shows his heart out for his owner. He commands the ring and defies you not to notice him. He stands among his peers and never considers them as competition. Well the same thing can be said about the unattractive dog that no one else wants��there is something about him that makes him stand out. Perhaps it�s his tenacity, or his will to survive and never give up, or his claiming his right to his life that makes him stand out. He�s out to prove to the world that there is a reason he was born to begin with. Because this dog hasn�t been born with the superficial armor of beauty, he has to work extra hard to prove the beauty that�s in his heart.
The will to survive����..the will to claim your God given right on this earth���is God�s gift to all his creatures. Some claim it and hold on against all odds!
From the book: �AMAZING GRACIE: A DOG'S TALE� - Now in paperback, AMAZING GRACIE is a moving, funny, and inspirational canine rags-to-riches story. "Tears will stain the pages as you read about Gracie," says USA Today. The Chicago Tribune advises, "If you're short on inspiration, read Amazing Gracie." "You don't have to be obsessed with dogs to love this story" (Philadelphia Enquirer), "Two paws up" (Portland Oregonian), "humorous yet poignant" (ASPCA Animal Watch). Booklist comments that "Dog-loving teens, especially reluctant readers, will eat this up." AMAZING GRACIE was nominated as a Young Adult Choice for 2002 by The International Reading Association-proof that it's a great crossover book.
Gracie was a deaf and partially blind albino Great Dane with a delicate constitution and a penchant for small miracles. Dan is the man-sad over the loss of his last dog and trapped in a dead-end job-who adopted her. Three Dog Bakery is the burgeoning and much-publicized chain of canine bakeries that, inspired by Gracie, Dan and his friend Mark founded. A love story, AMAZING GRACIE describes how Dan saves Gracie, the loneliest pup in the litter, then how, over the next ten years, Gracie saves Dan and Mark, teaching them the real meaning of happiness. There's the moment of meeting, when Gracie gets to her feet like a clumsy foal and nuzzles Dan's nose. Gracie's romance with the pint-size Boston Terrier next door. And the eureka moment (born of Gracie's anorexia-inducing dislike for commercial dog food): Dan teaches himself to cook and within three days begins baking the dog cookies that will transform their lives. AMAZING GRACIE is a dog-lover's treat.
My rating: Champion or not....a German Shepherd is a German Shepherd: (4)
This year the entries were down, but I�m told the quality was up. But one fact remains, big show or small show, most exhibitors are going home empty handed. No ribbon, no trophy. Hopefully because they are good sports they bring home with them many fine memories of a great show with friends and some great looking dogs.
Every year before the National, there is much talk about who will be chosen this years Grand Victor or Grand Victrix. Were your favorites chosen? Were there any surprises? How about the Grand Victrix who wasn�t even a champion yet? Against all odds���..she is now this years Grand Victrix! Way to go! Congratulations to all the winners!
Have you ever owned a dog that no one else wanted? Perhaps he was a shelter dog that someone threw away. Maybe he was the runt of the litter that never got sold. Or maybe he had genetic health problems and you felt it was your responsibility to take care of him for the rest of his life. Did any of these dogs turn out to be real special and that you are so happy that you never got rid of them? Were any of these dogs the best dog that you ever owned? What made them so very special? Did they beg to be noticed? Did they go out of their way to impress upon you that although God didn�t give them a pretty face, he gave them a great old big heart that knew no competition? What made your non-champion, you�re non-obedient titled dog one of the best you ever owned?
I�ve already told the story of a scaly little runt of a female puppy that my top producing champion bitch gave birth to. As I already said, other breeders would have perhaps let her go to puppy dog Heaven. But against all odds, I literally breathed life into this puppy�s lungs to give her every chance to live. And live she did. Yup, she was a homely little thing alright having to fight for her drink of momma�s milk or her place at the puppy dog�s dish of food, but it was her will to live, her will to survive that seen her through her life. She lived to a ripe old age loving life on a farm in New York.
What makes a champion a champion is the dog that shows with a lot of heart. He shows his heart out for his owner. He commands the ring and defies you not to notice him. He stands among his peers and never considers them as competition. Well the same thing can be said about the unattractive dog that no one else wants��there is something about him that makes him stand out. Perhaps it�s his tenacity, or his will to survive and never give up, or his claiming his right to his life that makes him stand out. He�s out to prove to the world that there is a reason he was born to begin with. Because this dog hasn�t been born with the superficial armor of beauty, he has to work extra hard to prove the beauty that�s in his heart.
The will to survive����..the will to claim your God given right on this earth���is God�s gift to all his creatures. Some claim it and hold on against all odds!
From the book: �AMAZING GRACIE: A DOG'S TALE� - Now in paperback, AMAZING GRACIE is a moving, funny, and inspirational canine rags-to-riches story. "Tears will stain the pages as you read about Gracie," says USA Today. The Chicago Tribune advises, "If you're short on inspiration, read Amazing Gracie." "You don't have to be obsessed with dogs to love this story" (Philadelphia Enquirer), "Two paws up" (Portland Oregonian), "humorous yet poignant" (ASPCA Animal Watch). Booklist comments that "Dog-loving teens, especially reluctant readers, will eat this up." AMAZING GRACIE was nominated as a Young Adult Choice for 2002 by The International Reading Association-proof that it's a great crossover book.
Gracie was a deaf and partially blind albino Great Dane with a delicate constitution and a penchant for small miracles. Dan is the man-sad over the loss of his last dog and trapped in a dead-end job-who adopted her. Three Dog Bakery is the burgeoning and much-publicized chain of canine bakeries that, inspired by Gracie, Dan and his friend Mark founded. A love story, AMAZING GRACIE describes how Dan saves Gracie, the loneliest pup in the litter, then how, over the next ten years, Gracie saves Dan and Mark, teaching them the real meaning of happiness. There's the moment of meeting, when Gracie gets to her feet like a clumsy foal and nuzzles Dan's nose. Gracie's romance with the pint-size Boston Terrier next door. And the eureka moment (born of Gracie's anorexia-inducing dislike for commercial dog food): Dan teaches himself to cook and within three days begins baking the dog cookies that will transform their lives. AMAZING GRACIE is a dog-lover's treat.
My rating: Champion or not....a German Shepherd is a German Shepherd: (4)
Friday, 10 September 2010
A LITTLE BIT OF THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT
Thank God it�s Friday and where the heck did the week go anyway? This is the weekend of the Canadian National Specialty show and a lot of my friends are up there enjoying that right now. Everyone seems to have fun at this show. Good luck to all the exhibitors! One of my friends and her husband take their motor home up there every year. I always wanted to travel cross country in a motor home and just take my time and take in the sights along the high way. Oh well, maybe one day when I get rich and famous!
Speaking of rich and famous��I�m going to make this plea this coming week on a couple of lists that I belong to. I just put it on my Facebook page yesterday afternoon. I need your help, so I�m networking it here as well. I wonder if any of you can give me advice or lead me in the right direction. Recently I wrote an idea for a television reality show. I�ve had it copyrighted with the Copyright Office and also have a registration number from �The Writer�s Guild of America.� Because of my research on the internet, I was led to believe that MTV accepts unsolicited material so I wrote them a letter with my concept for the show. When I didn�t hear back from them, I called them and they told me they no longer accept unsolicited material and in fact haven�t done so for the last two years. They advised me to get an entertainment lawyer or agent. I contacted a lawyer that I know lives in California (non-entertainment) and he was kind enough to inquire about this for me. He was told the same thing that studios don�t accept unsolicited material. So what I need is an agent or an entertainment lawyer. Do any of you guys know anyone that fits this description��.friend, family member, associate, friend of a friend, distant relative��..anyone at all that can guide me in the right direction? No scratch that��.anyone who can get me into a production company??? PLEASE WRITE TO ME PRIVATELY at: uwish@hvc.rr.com Mucho thanks!
Now back to the doggy stuff. A couple of days ago I asked my readers what state did they think should be the official state of the German Shepherd Dog. Naturally I got answers from people who thought that the state that they lived in should be declared the official state of the German Shepherd. I heard from those from New York, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, etc. Oh and even someone wrote to me saying British Columbia, Canada should be the winner! The most responses came from New York. Two people wrote to me to tell me that New York tried to make this their official dog after the 9/11 incident but for some reason it hasn�t passed yet so one of the ladies that wrote to me just wrote a letter to her state Senator to inquire about it. She told me when she hears from him, she�ll let me know. Speaking of 9/11, this is a story that I wrote all those years ago concerning that horrific event in our countries history. Have a great week-end everyone!
THE MAJESTIC LADIES
By
Barbara J. Galasso
From a distance you could hear the steady humming of a jet that grows increasingly louder as it speeds ever faster towards its target. Closer now; the humming is replaced with a roar. Deafening, crashing, and crushing�..no time to prepare. Just a blank expression; not even recognition of ones surroundings. Jet fuel leaking, angry black smoke rising, red hot fire spreading. Steel beams collapsing, walls surrender, little Joey�s framed picture falls to the floor, a telephone rings from a forgotten desk in the corner of the office. Voices scream, crying and shouting. �Get out, get out� is the last words some hear as the voice succumbs to the dead of silence. The falling, the awful falling. The walls cave in; the floors disappear as the majestic ladies tumble to the ground, floor by floor, stairwell by stairwell.
Thick black choking smoke. Flames dance across the bleak landscape. Debris, so much debris. Crushed stone, twisted cables, a set of keys, a wedding band, and a scrap of paper with a note saying �Don�t forget 2:00 meeting today.� A cell phone rings among the trappings of the fallen buildings. A German Shepherd rescue dog lays exhausted by the feet of the dirt covered fireman who sits in shocked bewilderment among the rubble that was once known as the majestic ladies.
In other parts of the country, two more jets are racing towards their destiny and a place in the history books. No survivors, all victims have succumbed to their fate in a lone field or the side of a building. The majestic ladies are not alone in their heroic defeat.
Oh America, your innocent, your brave cry out for justice. Hear them shout from the top of a snow capped mountain, or your painted valleys awash with a tapestry of colors, or through the deep crevices that reverberate through your canyons. Hear them in the whisper of a gentle breeze that caresses a lone tree top that sits in a barren meadow. With each new dawn that starts the day and when dusk follows her lead, those who have gone before us prepare for their day of reckoning. They can no longer be silenced by the deafening thunder of a jet. The souls of the past beg to be remembered. Peace escapes them as they search for America to be vindicated.
The flags will be flown at half mast today as the breeze catches the fabric with her stars and stripes that ripple ever so gently across the clear blue sky. Wave high, wave proudly Old Glory, as we�ll never forget what you stand for and represent. The majestic ladies stand ever tall in our hearts. And if one walks past ground zero late at night and you listen long and hard enough, you may still hear the echoes of life begging to be remembered. One may think they can still hear the telephone ringing, faxes sending, copying machines copying, ideas exchanged at the board meeting�..business going on as usual. �Hey Jane, what did you do over the week-end?� someone asks. �No dear, I won�t forget to pick up a container of milk on my way home tonight,� another softly whispers in to the phone. A secretary types her boss�s presentation papers for the meeting early this afternoon. She accidentally types in the wrong number. She goes back and corrects it. She changes the 0 to a 1. �There now, that looks better,� she compliments herself. Her boss comes over to her desk and reminds her, �Don�t forget, I need to get out of here by 3:00 this afternoon. It�s my son�s birthday and I promised my wife I�d get home before rush hour traffic.� The secretary nods her head up and down in acknowledgment of his request. She makes a mental note to herself; �Today is not a good day to ask for that much needed raise. Tomorrow� she tells herself. �I�ll do it the very first thing in the morning.� She turns back to her paper she�s typing and dates it September 11, 2001. �Gee, I�d like to get out of here early myself,� she chuckles. The majestic ladies hear her. She�s about to make history.
NO PART OF THIS STORY MAY BE REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR!
My rating: Thank God it's Friday: (4)
Speaking of rich and famous��I�m going to make this plea this coming week on a couple of lists that I belong to. I just put it on my Facebook page yesterday afternoon. I need your help, so I�m networking it here as well. I wonder if any of you can give me advice or lead me in the right direction. Recently I wrote an idea for a television reality show. I�ve had it copyrighted with the Copyright Office and also have a registration number from �The Writer�s Guild of America.� Because of my research on the internet, I was led to believe that MTV accepts unsolicited material so I wrote them a letter with my concept for the show. When I didn�t hear back from them, I called them and they told me they no longer accept unsolicited material and in fact haven�t done so for the last two years. They advised me to get an entertainment lawyer or agent. I contacted a lawyer that I know lives in California (non-entertainment) and he was kind enough to inquire about this for me. He was told the same thing that studios don�t accept unsolicited material. So what I need is an agent or an entertainment lawyer. Do any of you guys know anyone that fits this description��.friend, family member, associate, friend of a friend, distant relative��..anyone at all that can guide me in the right direction? No scratch that��.anyone who can get me into a production company??? PLEASE WRITE TO ME PRIVATELY at: uwish@hvc.rr.com Mucho thanks!
Now back to the doggy stuff. A couple of days ago I asked my readers what state did they think should be the official state of the German Shepherd Dog. Naturally I got answers from people who thought that the state that they lived in should be declared the official state of the German Shepherd. I heard from those from New York, Ohio, Texas, Colorado, etc. Oh and even someone wrote to me saying British Columbia, Canada should be the winner! The most responses came from New York. Two people wrote to me to tell me that New York tried to make this their official dog after the 9/11 incident but for some reason it hasn�t passed yet so one of the ladies that wrote to me just wrote a letter to her state Senator to inquire about it. She told me when she hears from him, she�ll let me know. Speaking of 9/11, this is a story that I wrote all those years ago concerning that horrific event in our countries history. Have a great week-end everyone!
THE MAJESTIC LADIES
By
Barbara J. Galasso
From a distance you could hear the steady humming of a jet that grows increasingly louder as it speeds ever faster towards its target. Closer now; the humming is replaced with a roar. Deafening, crashing, and crushing�..no time to prepare. Just a blank expression; not even recognition of ones surroundings. Jet fuel leaking, angry black smoke rising, red hot fire spreading. Steel beams collapsing, walls surrender, little Joey�s framed picture falls to the floor, a telephone rings from a forgotten desk in the corner of the office. Voices scream, crying and shouting. �Get out, get out� is the last words some hear as the voice succumbs to the dead of silence. The falling, the awful falling. The walls cave in; the floors disappear as the majestic ladies tumble to the ground, floor by floor, stairwell by stairwell.
Thick black choking smoke. Flames dance across the bleak landscape. Debris, so much debris. Crushed stone, twisted cables, a set of keys, a wedding band, and a scrap of paper with a note saying �Don�t forget 2:00 meeting today.� A cell phone rings among the trappings of the fallen buildings. A German Shepherd rescue dog lays exhausted by the feet of the dirt covered fireman who sits in shocked bewilderment among the rubble that was once known as the majestic ladies.
In other parts of the country, two more jets are racing towards their destiny and a place in the history books. No survivors, all victims have succumbed to their fate in a lone field or the side of a building. The majestic ladies are not alone in their heroic defeat.
Oh America, your innocent, your brave cry out for justice. Hear them shout from the top of a snow capped mountain, or your painted valleys awash with a tapestry of colors, or through the deep crevices that reverberate through your canyons. Hear them in the whisper of a gentle breeze that caresses a lone tree top that sits in a barren meadow. With each new dawn that starts the day and when dusk follows her lead, those who have gone before us prepare for their day of reckoning. They can no longer be silenced by the deafening thunder of a jet. The souls of the past beg to be remembered. Peace escapes them as they search for America to be vindicated.
The flags will be flown at half mast today as the breeze catches the fabric with her stars and stripes that ripple ever so gently across the clear blue sky. Wave high, wave proudly Old Glory, as we�ll never forget what you stand for and represent. The majestic ladies stand ever tall in our hearts. And if one walks past ground zero late at night and you listen long and hard enough, you may still hear the echoes of life begging to be remembered. One may think they can still hear the telephone ringing, faxes sending, copying machines copying, ideas exchanged at the board meeting�..business going on as usual. �Hey Jane, what did you do over the week-end?� someone asks. �No dear, I won�t forget to pick up a container of milk on my way home tonight,� another softly whispers in to the phone. A secretary types her boss�s presentation papers for the meeting early this afternoon. She accidentally types in the wrong number. She goes back and corrects it. She changes the 0 to a 1. �There now, that looks better,� she compliments herself. Her boss comes over to her desk and reminds her, �Don�t forget, I need to get out of here by 3:00 this afternoon. It�s my son�s birthday and I promised my wife I�d get home before rush hour traffic.� The secretary nods her head up and down in acknowledgment of his request. She makes a mental note to herself; �Today is not a good day to ask for that much needed raise. Tomorrow� she tells herself. �I�ll do it the very first thing in the morning.� She turns back to her paper she�s typing and dates it September 11, 2001. �Gee, I�d like to get out of here early myself,� she chuckles. The majestic ladies hear her. She�s about to make history.
NO PART OF THIS STORY MAY BE REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR!
My rating: Thank God it's Friday: (4)
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
SO YOU WANT TO BREED A LITTER OF PUPPIES - (Conclusion)
Mother and her puppies are doing well. She�s eating her food right on schedule and you�ve increased it because of all the hungry little mouths she has to feed. You�ve kept a close eye on the puppies to make sure that they are all doing well and are nursing on their mother. You should note that when you observe the puppies while they are sleeping you will notice that their little bodies jerk quite often while they�re sleeping. This is normal and your puppies are healthy so no need to worry. They should feel warm to the touch. It�s the puppy that isn�t moving very much and feels cooler to the touch that you should have a concern with. Call your vet if you notice anything that doesn�t seem right. It�s better to be safe than sorry.
The first couple of weeks, you won�t need to do too much of anything besides change the newspapers in the whelping box and wash the towels or blanket. The mother is very capable of taking care of her babies at this stage. She licks and cleans them to help stimulate their need to defecate and urinate before they can do this on their own.
Normally you will see the puppies eyes begin to open around 10 � 14 days old. At this tender age, the best they can see is shadows. They will have a bluish looking tint to their eyes. By 3 weeks, most puppies are beginning to try to stand and walk although they are shaky at best. It�s comical to watch them as they fall like drunken sailors back onto the floor of the whelping box. They will try to play with their litter mates and you will see a pattern developing as the alpha puppy is determined among the litter.
It is also at this young age that the puppy will have been introduced to a mushy type food. Many breeders will first introduce the puppy to meat by putting a small amount of chop meat on her finger and put it in the puppy�s mouth. The funny faces that they make can give you a chuckle but no more so than when you place the puppies around their dinner bowel and watch them slide head and body first into their food. It�s not unusual that most of them will be wearing more of their food than eating it. But give it time, and they�ll get the hang of it. Then you can gradually add dry food to your puppy�s gruel like mixture which can consist of baby rice cereal, ground meat, puppy milk like replacement supplement that�s loaded with vitamins, etc. Most puppies will be fed four times a day with solid food while still being nursed by their mother.
Many times a breeder will take the puppies to different parts of the house at 4 � 5 weeks of age to get them familiar with different sounds and objects. Up to this time, I like to have a radio playing in the room where the puppies whelping box is so they are already familiar with different sounds. I love to put them on a rug and watch them taking their first steps in unfamiliar territory. By five weeks I�ve already picked my best puppies because at this age, I�ve get my first glimpse of their movement as they do their little puppy gaits across the rug. It amazes me how much a puppy at this age has already developed considering that five weeks ago they were still in their mother�s tummies!
Most mothers will still allow their pups to nurse for a little while, but the puppies at this age show their mother no respect and can be very rough on her by biting and scratching her already tender body. You may see the mother discipline them as well by gently but firmly biting them to let them know that she has had enough of their rough housing. As time goes by she�ll nurse them less and less but will still want to play with and discipline them. This bonding is necessary for their mental and emotional health. They learn from their mother who normally enjoys teaching her offspring.
In a couple of weeks, the puppies will receive their first inoculations. Most of the time you will have to bring a litter of puppies into your vets. If you�re lucky, you may have a vet that makes a house call. However, many breeders give their puppies their own shots that they�ve ordered from a veterinarian supply catalog. They will also have received their first worming mediation.
These initial weeks of a puppies life is crucial for their health and their mental and emotional growth. You don�t just breed a litter of puppies and leave them in a dog run. It is very important that they are played with and socialized. They should come into the kitchen where pots and pans are rattling or dropped on the floor intentionally to watch their reaction and recovery time from their initial �shock� of the intruding object. This is when you observe do your puppies come to investigate what it was that made all that noise? Do they sniff at the invading intruder lying on the middle of the floor or do they run and hide behind a chair? Do your puppies like people? Are they friendly towards strangers, or are they suspicious and cower in a corner somewhere unwilling to come and make friends? This is all an indication of the pups character and future personality.
This is also a good time to introduce them to being handled and groomed. Gently brushing them and combing their fur gets them used to being handled. Put them on a grooming table and most of the time they will stiffen up because they may be frightened. But once they get used to it, most puppies are cooperative. This is also the time that you can introduce them to their first bath. Oh they�re going to kick and splash and try to get out of the sink or tub but they�re German Shepherds and they learn very quickly.
Alright so your puppies are now eating solid food, they�ve had their initial puppy shots, they�ve been wormed, they�ve been handled and groomed and played with and socialized. You�ve enjoyed them, (but the parties over) and it�s time to find them their loving �forever� homes. Let�s hope that you have already received some deposits on these puppies when they were first born or you had a waiting list when you bred this litter. No litter (in my opinion) should be bred unless you have homes for them to go to. You�ve also probably advertised your litter and are hopefully receiving inquiries about them.
Your first concern as a breeder should be to find the very best homes that you can for your puppies. You�ve screened your potential buyers by asking them the right questions like what are their plans for your puppy? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you have references? Who is the vet that you plan to take care of your dog? Do you work a full time job? Where will the people stay if you do? How will he be taken care of when you�re not home? Do you have other animals and how will they take onto the puppy? Do you have children and do they know how to treat a puppy? Do you know how to train a dog? Will you take him to obedience classes?
You will give the new owner a health guarantee on the puppy. You will tell them that they are to have the puppy neutered if they are not sold as a show or breeding animal. You will take the puppy back at whatever age it is if they can no longer keep him. You will give them a list of shots and worming and dates that they received them. You will tell them what food you recommend that they feed him. You might even give them some food for his first few days in his new home. You will ask them to get in touch with you with any concerns and ask that they give you an update on the puppy periodically. You will tell them that you might drop in on them occasionally just to see how things are going.
Now most of your puppies are sold into loving homes, but there still remains a few that were not so lucky. These are the puppies that no one seems to favor. Did you think of this BEFORE you bred the litter? Are you prepared to hold onto puppies after 8 � 10 weeks old knowing that the older they get, the less desirable they are to the pet market? Most pet people like to buy young puppies. Many a time a breeder will find themselves with puppies that are now over six months old? Do you have the space to hold onto them and the finances to feed them? This is all part of being a breeder��preparing yourself for the unexpected. Or how about the person that buys the 8 � 10 week old puppy and was never prepared for all the chewing, scratching, biting and destructive behavior of the little darling? Are you prepared when that person calls you first thing in the morning whining and complaining that they need to return the puppy to you and want their money back?
This folks is all part of being a breeder! So the next time you get an �urge� to breed Daisy to Duke, stop and think before you do it. Leave it to the breeder that knows what they�re doing because even the best of them can find themselves in situations that they didn�t plan for. It is not all about the cute, fluffy little butterballs that you see in the pictures that you just want to reach out and grab. It�s about the daily taking care of and meeting the needs of a very needy animal. Treat him right, raise him with love and care and he should give you 10 � 13 years of devoted and unconditional love that will leave paw prints on your heart forever!
KONG Extreme Kong Dog Toy, Extra Large, Black.........
* Stuff with KONG Treats and Ziggies
* Recommended for power chewers
* Keeps dogs busy and help deter misbehavior
* Made in the USA of nontoxic, extremely durable natural rubber
* Measures 5-inches long, for dogs 60 to 90 pounds
My rating: Dog breeding: (1 - 4)
The first couple of weeks, you won�t need to do too much of anything besides change the newspapers in the whelping box and wash the towels or blanket. The mother is very capable of taking care of her babies at this stage. She licks and cleans them to help stimulate their need to defecate and urinate before they can do this on their own.
Normally you will see the puppies eyes begin to open around 10 � 14 days old. At this tender age, the best they can see is shadows. They will have a bluish looking tint to their eyes. By 3 weeks, most puppies are beginning to try to stand and walk although they are shaky at best. It�s comical to watch them as they fall like drunken sailors back onto the floor of the whelping box. They will try to play with their litter mates and you will see a pattern developing as the alpha puppy is determined among the litter.
It is also at this young age that the puppy will have been introduced to a mushy type food. Many breeders will first introduce the puppy to meat by putting a small amount of chop meat on her finger and put it in the puppy�s mouth. The funny faces that they make can give you a chuckle but no more so than when you place the puppies around their dinner bowel and watch them slide head and body first into their food. It�s not unusual that most of them will be wearing more of their food than eating it. But give it time, and they�ll get the hang of it. Then you can gradually add dry food to your puppy�s gruel like mixture which can consist of baby rice cereal, ground meat, puppy milk like replacement supplement that�s loaded with vitamins, etc. Most puppies will be fed four times a day with solid food while still being nursed by their mother.
Many times a breeder will take the puppies to different parts of the house at 4 � 5 weeks of age to get them familiar with different sounds and objects. Up to this time, I like to have a radio playing in the room where the puppies whelping box is so they are already familiar with different sounds. I love to put them on a rug and watch them taking their first steps in unfamiliar territory. By five weeks I�ve already picked my best puppies because at this age, I�ve get my first glimpse of their movement as they do their little puppy gaits across the rug. It amazes me how much a puppy at this age has already developed considering that five weeks ago they were still in their mother�s tummies!
Most mothers will still allow their pups to nurse for a little while, but the puppies at this age show their mother no respect and can be very rough on her by biting and scratching her already tender body. You may see the mother discipline them as well by gently but firmly biting them to let them know that she has had enough of their rough housing. As time goes by she�ll nurse them less and less but will still want to play with and discipline them. This bonding is necessary for their mental and emotional health. They learn from their mother who normally enjoys teaching her offspring.
In a couple of weeks, the puppies will receive their first inoculations. Most of the time you will have to bring a litter of puppies into your vets. If you�re lucky, you may have a vet that makes a house call. However, many breeders give their puppies their own shots that they�ve ordered from a veterinarian supply catalog. They will also have received their first worming mediation.
These initial weeks of a puppies life is crucial for their health and their mental and emotional growth. You don�t just breed a litter of puppies and leave them in a dog run. It is very important that they are played with and socialized. They should come into the kitchen where pots and pans are rattling or dropped on the floor intentionally to watch their reaction and recovery time from their initial �shock� of the intruding object. This is when you observe do your puppies come to investigate what it was that made all that noise? Do they sniff at the invading intruder lying on the middle of the floor or do they run and hide behind a chair? Do your puppies like people? Are they friendly towards strangers, or are they suspicious and cower in a corner somewhere unwilling to come and make friends? This is all an indication of the pups character and future personality.
This is also a good time to introduce them to being handled and groomed. Gently brushing them and combing their fur gets them used to being handled. Put them on a grooming table and most of the time they will stiffen up because they may be frightened. But once they get used to it, most puppies are cooperative. This is also the time that you can introduce them to their first bath. Oh they�re going to kick and splash and try to get out of the sink or tub but they�re German Shepherds and they learn very quickly.
Alright so your puppies are now eating solid food, they�ve had their initial puppy shots, they�ve been wormed, they�ve been handled and groomed and played with and socialized. You�ve enjoyed them, (but the parties over) and it�s time to find them their loving �forever� homes. Let�s hope that you have already received some deposits on these puppies when they were first born or you had a waiting list when you bred this litter. No litter (in my opinion) should be bred unless you have homes for them to go to. You�ve also probably advertised your litter and are hopefully receiving inquiries about them.
Your first concern as a breeder should be to find the very best homes that you can for your puppies. You�ve screened your potential buyers by asking them the right questions like what are their plans for your puppy? Do you have a fenced in yard? Do you have references? Who is the vet that you plan to take care of your dog? Do you work a full time job? Where will the people stay if you do? How will he be taken care of when you�re not home? Do you have other animals and how will they take onto the puppy? Do you have children and do they know how to treat a puppy? Do you know how to train a dog? Will you take him to obedience classes?
You will give the new owner a health guarantee on the puppy. You will tell them that they are to have the puppy neutered if they are not sold as a show or breeding animal. You will take the puppy back at whatever age it is if they can no longer keep him. You will give them a list of shots and worming and dates that they received them. You will tell them what food you recommend that they feed him. You might even give them some food for his first few days in his new home. You will ask them to get in touch with you with any concerns and ask that they give you an update on the puppy periodically. You will tell them that you might drop in on them occasionally just to see how things are going.
Now most of your puppies are sold into loving homes, but there still remains a few that were not so lucky. These are the puppies that no one seems to favor. Did you think of this BEFORE you bred the litter? Are you prepared to hold onto puppies after 8 � 10 weeks old knowing that the older they get, the less desirable they are to the pet market? Most pet people like to buy young puppies. Many a time a breeder will find themselves with puppies that are now over six months old? Do you have the space to hold onto them and the finances to feed them? This is all part of being a breeder��preparing yourself for the unexpected. Or how about the person that buys the 8 � 10 week old puppy and was never prepared for all the chewing, scratching, biting and destructive behavior of the little darling? Are you prepared when that person calls you first thing in the morning whining and complaining that they need to return the puppy to you and want their money back?
This folks is all part of being a breeder! So the next time you get an �urge� to breed Daisy to Duke, stop and think before you do it. Leave it to the breeder that knows what they�re doing because even the best of them can find themselves in situations that they didn�t plan for. It is not all about the cute, fluffy little butterballs that you see in the pictures that you just want to reach out and grab. It�s about the daily taking care of and meeting the needs of a very needy animal. Treat him right, raise him with love and care and he should give you 10 � 13 years of devoted and unconditional love that will leave paw prints on your heart forever!
KONG Extreme Kong Dog Toy, Extra Large, Black.........
* Stuff with KONG Treats and Ziggies
* Recommended for power chewers
* Keeps dogs busy and help deter misbehavior
* Made in the USA of nontoxic, extremely durable natural rubber
* Measures 5-inches long, for dogs 60 to 90 pounds
My rating: Dog breeding: (1 - 4)
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
MAKING YOUR DOGS AND YOUR LIFE EASIER
Recently I was approached about placing an ad for �Discount Ramps� on my blog. After reviewing their website and products, I consented and you�ll see an ad on my blog for their website. I decided to have their website here because of all the many different products that they offer the pet owner to help make yours and your dog�s life a little bit easier. So I�m going to post some of those products here for you to look at. They also make other �make your life easier� products besides dog items. Check out their website for more information. They truly have something to help make your dogs and your life easier.
They offer dog ramps for every size, weight and length you may need. These ramps are used for your dog to help him get in and out of your van, truck or SUV without him having to jump to the ground. Sometimes this can be too much on an aging dog�s legs or hips or a youngster.
One of these ramps is an aluminum folding dog ramp. Some of the features of this ramp are: Light weight design
� One Year Warranty
� 2 lengths to choose from
� Durable grip tape surface - excellent for your pet's feet
� Hollow aluminum frame for maximum strength
� Strong hinges to allow ramp to fold in half
� 2 �" attaching lip for added stability
� Carrying handle on the side allows for easy transport
� Strap mounted on the side keeps the dog ramp compact for storage
� **Not designed for human use**
Your pets will get plenty of use out of this dog ramp. The new folding dog ramps from Discount Ramps are some of the strongest & sturdiest on the market today! Each ramp has an aluminum construction with heavy duty hinges that allows the dog truck ramps to hold up to 250 lbs. The dog ramp features a grip tape surface platform for superb traction in any weather for almost any pet. These folding ramps are available in 2 lengths to accommodate any dog or pet. They have a usable width of 15 inches and a 2 �" attaching lip on the top of the dog ramp allowing it to be used for Trucks, SUV's, Cars, or nearly anywhere. These dog truck ramps also feature a carrying handle and a strap mounted on to the ramps so that it can be strapped together in the closed position for easy transport & storage when not in use.
This is just a sample of the many ramps that this company makes. Check out all the many different sizes on their website.
They also make pet stairs. This can help a pet up on a bed or sofa that may have limited mobility. Here�s an example about one of the many steps and stairs that this company sells.
� Portable light weight design, only 10 lbs.
� Gives access to the back seat of an automobile which is difficult to do with ramps
� Supports over 250 lbs. for any size dog or pet
� Durable indoor/ outdoor carpet and plastic construction can be cleaned with soap & water
� Attractive design with neutral colors blends in almost anywhere
� Unique sloping treads are easier for small dogs to climb
� 19" height works well with most couches and beds
� Constructed from high density polyethylene and indoor outdoor carpet
� Made in the USA
� One year warranty
� **Not designed for human use**
They also make steps for loading a dog onto a boat and then there are steps for your dog to get in and out of the swimming pool. I thought that this was a great idea. So let�s say the steps that you normally would use to go in and out of your pool is on one side, but your dog is too tired to swim over that way, this can be placed in another area so he can get out quickly and easily. See the above picture.
This company also offers crates and vehicle barriers for your utility vehicle, vans and mini vans. There are dog seat protectors and dog seat covers. There are SUV cargo liners to protect your vehicle's carpet and they work for hatchbacks, SUVs, and vans. There is a dog crate constructed of aluminum and brown 1/8" wood laminate paneling. This dog cage is lightweight yet sturdy. The angled design gives it a unique look and makes it easier to fit into the back of mini-vans or SUVs when transporting. The pet dog crate also includes two tie down tabs on the front top corners, so you can more easily secure the dog crate when traveling.
I really enjoyed looking at this companies many products to help make traveling and living easier and more enjoyable for you and your dog. Check out their website on this blog for yourself.
My rating; �Discount Ramps�: (4)
They offer dog ramps for every size, weight and length you may need. These ramps are used for your dog to help him get in and out of your van, truck or SUV without him having to jump to the ground. Sometimes this can be too much on an aging dog�s legs or hips or a youngster.
� One Year Warranty
� 2 lengths to choose from
� Durable grip tape surface - excellent for your pet's feet
� Hollow aluminum frame for maximum strength
� Strong hinges to allow ramp to fold in half
� 2 �" attaching lip for added stability
� Carrying handle on the side allows for easy transport
� Strap mounted on the side keeps the dog ramp compact for storage
� **Not designed for human use**
Your pets will get plenty of use out of this dog ramp. The new folding dog ramps from Discount Ramps are some of the strongest & sturdiest on the market today! Each ramp has an aluminum construction with heavy duty hinges that allows the dog truck ramps to hold up to 250 lbs. The dog ramp features a grip tape surface platform for superb traction in any weather for almost any pet. These folding ramps are available in 2 lengths to accommodate any dog or pet. They have a usable width of 15 inches and a 2 �" attaching lip on the top of the dog ramp allowing it to be used for Trucks, SUV's, Cars, or nearly anywhere. These dog truck ramps also feature a carrying handle and a strap mounted on to the ramps so that it can be strapped together in the closed position for easy transport & storage when not in use.
This is just a sample of the many ramps that this company makes. Check out all the many different sizes on their website.
They also make pet stairs. This can help a pet up on a bed or sofa that may have limited mobility. Here�s an example about one of the many steps and stairs that this company sells.
� Portable light weight design, only 10 lbs.
� Gives access to the back seat of an automobile which is difficult to do with ramps
� Supports over 250 lbs. for any size dog or pet
� Durable indoor/ outdoor carpet and plastic construction can be cleaned with soap & water
� Attractive design with neutral colors blends in almost anywhere
� Unique sloping treads are easier for small dogs to climb
� 19" height works well with most couches and beds
� Constructed from high density polyethylene and indoor outdoor carpet
� Made in the USA
� One year warranty
� **Not designed for human use**
This company also offers crates and vehicle barriers for your utility vehicle, vans and mini vans. There are dog seat protectors and dog seat covers. There are SUV cargo liners to protect your vehicle's carpet and they work for hatchbacks, SUVs, and vans. There is a dog crate constructed of aluminum and brown 1/8" wood laminate paneling. This dog cage is lightweight yet sturdy. The angled design gives it a unique look and makes it easier to fit into the back of mini-vans or SUVs when transporting. The pet dog crate also includes two tie down tabs on the front top corners, so you can more easily secure the dog crate when traveling.
I really enjoyed looking at this companies many products to help make traveling and living easier and more enjoyable for you and your dog. Check out their website on this blog for yourself.
My rating; �Discount Ramps�: (4)
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
WHAT TYPE OF PEOPLE OWNS THE GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG?
Is there any one personality type that chooses to own a German Shepherd Dog? Do we all have similar personality traits? Absolutely and totally no we do not! Are our personalities anything like the breed that we love? Are we a noble, proud and loyal bunch of people? Can we be trusted no matter what? Will we come to the defense of those that we care about? Are we intelligent and do we learn quickly? One shoe most definitely does not fit all when it comes to those people that own this breed. But there must be a reason why we chose the breed that we do. They must answer some type of need that we have when we decided that the German Shepherd Dog is the dog for us.
So who is it that owns this �King� of dogs? It�s the lawyer, the doctor, the secretary, the nurse, the homemaker and people just like you and me. It�s the outdoors type of person. It�s the couch potato. It�s the friendly, �wish he was your best friend� kind of person. And it�s also the �no good for nothing� kind of person as well. Yes this dog is universal in his appeal to the general public.
One person may include his German Shepherd Dog in all of his activities with his family. The dog may have sleeping rights to juniors bed at night or may be found curled up at the bottom of the bed lying next to his master�s side. He may be treated like one of the kids of the family. He swims in the pool, sails the ocean with his master, goes fishing down at the pond, and he even eats left over steak once in awhile. He competes for as many toy�s in his dog chest as little Johnny has in his toy chest. He�s made a fool of when it�s his birthday and gets gifts wrapped up in pretty wrapping paper and bows. We may even bake a cake for him. And then again we may even take pictures of him in a totally ridiculous looking hat we made just for him. Yup, we humans sometimes have a way of trying to humanize our dogs! Some of us readily admit it while others do these �cute� little things for them behind closed doors just in case the men in the white coats are on the prowl that day!
Then there are those owners that treat �Duke� like, �Yeah, so what, he�s just a dog!� He never gets to come into the house to receive the attention that he�s dying for. He doesn�t even know that his master has little Susie May and Dexter Lee as the children in the family. Heck he doesn�t even know what children look like. His �home� probably consists of some old broken down dog house held together by very rusty nails that soon will be giving way to old age and then Duke won�t have a dog house at all. He doesn�t even have the benefit of a fenced in yard to play in. Oh there�s lots of property here alright, but he never gets to explore it. In the ten acres or so his master owns he�s only been on 20 feet of it. His chain is too strong even for his powerful body to break free from. When supper time rolls around, he anxiously awaits his Wal-Mart�s brand of food that his master got on special this week. Steak, what�s that? It would probably me a shock for good old Duke�s system if a piece of it were kindly thrown his way. Toys, bones, swimming pool, boat, a warm bed...............not in this dog�s lifetime!
There are also those people who own this breed that kennel their dogs. The dogs are well fed, watered and vaccinated. They�re warm in the winter and cool in the summer in their climate controlled dog kennel. They exercise on cement or dirt flooring by chasing the dog next to their dog run. They�re fed a decent to high end quality food. They get fresh air and sometimes are even taken out to be played with. Some of them are trained to be show dogs or obedience dogs. Many of them are used for breeding purposes. Most of the time, they belong to caring owners. But sometimes they are owned by owners looking to make money by breeding their animals over and over again until they�re all worn out. The latter are what some would call puppy mills. These are not true lovers of the noble German Shepherd Dog.
Is it the strong type of personalities that own this breed or is it the more kindly, friendly type of person you�ll see walking proudly besides his dog down the street? Are these people sweet natured or mean spirited? Well actually you�ll see both types that own the German Shepherd Dog. And you know what because of the nature of this animal; they love their master no matter what. They adore the attention that they get from the warm, loving, nurturing master that owns them. There isn�t too much that they wouldn�t do for another belly rub. On the other hand those that are owned by the cold, �go away don�t bother me� type personality equally or even more so vies for the attention that his owner is giving to something else and not to him. The German Shepherd thrives on attention from his loved one even if that loved one is incapable of giving it to him. It is his mission in live to change his mind.
Then there are those types of people who have no love at all to give. To this type of personality, the German Shepherd is a money maker. He is after all the second most registered dog in the American Kennel Club. There�s no denying his popularity and in some peoples minds his money making capabilities. This dog was never bought to throw a ball to and to discover the true meaning of what it is to be �man�s best friend.� The dog is the owner�s property to do whatever it is he wants to do with him. Just as long as he�s making money from him, that�s all he cares about. It�s as if the dog is his tenant and he pays �rent� to stay in his kennel or make-shift dog run or mud hole by �spitting� out puppy after puppy. It�s like the dog and man have what used to be called the barter system. I want this from you so in order for you to get it, you have to give me something in return. There are no free rides here for this dog. This dog is paying (literally) for his time on this earth.
So there you have it. There are many wonderful people that own this beautiful breed of ours and know the true value of ownership of the German Shepherd Dog. They have developed and maintained the integrity and beauty of the breed. The others, although thankfully fewer in numbers have used and abused this dogs worthiness for their own financial gain. I don�t think, but I know that I like the first group of people a whole lot better than the second group of people! Oh yeah, if the German Shepherd could talk, I know he�d agree too!
From the book: "PLEASE UNDERSTAND ME: CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT TYPES"......Does your spouse's need to alphabetically organize books on the shelves puzzle you? Do your boss's tsunami-like moods leave you exasperated? Do your child's constant questions make you batty? If you've ever wanted to change your mate, your coworkers, or a family member, then "Put down your chisel," advise David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates in this book of personality types. We are different for a reason, and that reason is probably more good than bad. Keirsey and Bates believe that not only is it impossible to truly change others (which they call embarking on a "Pygmalion project"), it's much more important to understand and affirm differences. Sounds easier than it is, you might say. Well, this book is a guide for putting an end to the Pygmalion projects in your life and starting on the path to acceptance.
My rating: Accepting other peoples differences: (1 - 4)!
So who is it that owns this �King� of dogs? It�s the lawyer, the doctor, the secretary, the nurse, the homemaker and people just like you and me. It�s the outdoors type of person. It�s the couch potato. It�s the friendly, �wish he was your best friend� kind of person. And it�s also the �no good for nothing� kind of person as well. Yes this dog is universal in his appeal to the general public.
One person may include his German Shepherd Dog in all of his activities with his family. The dog may have sleeping rights to juniors bed at night or may be found curled up at the bottom of the bed lying next to his master�s side. He may be treated like one of the kids of the family. He swims in the pool, sails the ocean with his master, goes fishing down at the pond, and he even eats left over steak once in awhile. He competes for as many toy�s in his dog chest as little Johnny has in his toy chest. He�s made a fool of when it�s his birthday and gets gifts wrapped up in pretty wrapping paper and bows. We may even bake a cake for him. And then again we may even take pictures of him in a totally ridiculous looking hat we made just for him. Yup, we humans sometimes have a way of trying to humanize our dogs! Some of us readily admit it while others do these �cute� little things for them behind closed doors just in case the men in the white coats are on the prowl that day!
Then there are those owners that treat �Duke� like, �Yeah, so what, he�s just a dog!� He never gets to come into the house to receive the attention that he�s dying for. He doesn�t even know that his master has little Susie May and Dexter Lee as the children in the family. Heck he doesn�t even know what children look like. His �home� probably consists of some old broken down dog house held together by very rusty nails that soon will be giving way to old age and then Duke won�t have a dog house at all. He doesn�t even have the benefit of a fenced in yard to play in. Oh there�s lots of property here alright, but he never gets to explore it. In the ten acres or so his master owns he�s only been on 20 feet of it. His chain is too strong even for his powerful body to break free from. When supper time rolls around, he anxiously awaits his Wal-Mart�s brand of food that his master got on special this week. Steak, what�s that? It would probably me a shock for good old Duke�s system if a piece of it were kindly thrown his way. Toys, bones, swimming pool, boat, a warm bed...............not in this dog�s lifetime!
There are also those people who own this breed that kennel their dogs. The dogs are well fed, watered and vaccinated. They�re warm in the winter and cool in the summer in their climate controlled dog kennel. They exercise on cement or dirt flooring by chasing the dog next to their dog run. They�re fed a decent to high end quality food. They get fresh air and sometimes are even taken out to be played with. Some of them are trained to be show dogs or obedience dogs. Many of them are used for breeding purposes. Most of the time, they belong to caring owners. But sometimes they are owned by owners looking to make money by breeding their animals over and over again until they�re all worn out. The latter are what some would call puppy mills. These are not true lovers of the noble German Shepherd Dog.
Is it the strong type of personalities that own this breed or is it the more kindly, friendly type of person you�ll see walking proudly besides his dog down the street? Are these people sweet natured or mean spirited? Well actually you�ll see both types that own the German Shepherd Dog. And you know what because of the nature of this animal; they love their master no matter what. They adore the attention that they get from the warm, loving, nurturing master that owns them. There isn�t too much that they wouldn�t do for another belly rub. On the other hand those that are owned by the cold, �go away don�t bother me� type personality equally or even more so vies for the attention that his owner is giving to something else and not to him. The German Shepherd thrives on attention from his loved one even if that loved one is incapable of giving it to him. It is his mission in live to change his mind.
Then there are those types of people who have no love at all to give. To this type of personality, the German Shepherd is a money maker. He is after all the second most registered dog in the American Kennel Club. There�s no denying his popularity and in some peoples minds his money making capabilities. This dog was never bought to throw a ball to and to discover the true meaning of what it is to be �man�s best friend.� The dog is the owner�s property to do whatever it is he wants to do with him. Just as long as he�s making money from him, that�s all he cares about. It�s as if the dog is his tenant and he pays �rent� to stay in his kennel or make-shift dog run or mud hole by �spitting� out puppy after puppy. It�s like the dog and man have what used to be called the barter system. I want this from you so in order for you to get it, you have to give me something in return. There are no free rides here for this dog. This dog is paying (literally) for his time on this earth.
So there you have it. There are many wonderful people that own this beautiful breed of ours and know the true value of ownership of the German Shepherd Dog. They have developed and maintained the integrity and beauty of the breed. The others, although thankfully fewer in numbers have used and abused this dogs worthiness for their own financial gain. I don�t think, but I know that I like the first group of people a whole lot better than the second group of people! Oh yeah, if the German Shepherd could talk, I know he�d agree too!
From the book: "PLEASE UNDERSTAND ME: CHARACTER AND TEMPERAMENT TYPES"......Does your spouse's need to alphabetically organize books on the shelves puzzle you? Do your boss's tsunami-like moods leave you exasperated? Do your child's constant questions make you batty? If you've ever wanted to change your mate, your coworkers, or a family member, then "Put down your chisel," advise David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates in this book of personality types. We are different for a reason, and that reason is probably more good than bad. Keirsey and Bates believe that not only is it impossible to truly change others (which they call embarking on a "Pygmalion project"), it's much more important to understand and affirm differences. Sounds easier than it is, you might say. Well, this book is a guide for putting an end to the Pygmalion projects in your life and starting on the path to acceptance.
My rating: Accepting other peoples differences: (1 - 4)!
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
WORKING UP A SWEAT
When�s the last time you and your dog worked up a sweat together? After having high temperatures and even higher humidity these last few days in New York, today is beautiful. As I write this the sun is shining and its only 65 degrees this morning. The weatherman promises it�s not going to be any hotter than 76 degrees today. This is the type of day to get out and enjoy nature. Yes sir, I like this day all ready!
What kinds of things do you do to have fun with your dogs? Do you take them hiking? Do you go swimming with them? How do you take advantage of a beautiful day like this to enjoy with your dogs? I have been really bad about getting my dogs out. �Amber� and �Bu� love to go for walks. �Jess� is not really thrilled with it. She�d rather be home eating something! The trick for me today will be to get them all out one by one. The problem is when you take one out, the rest carry on screaming and complaining.
Oh I tried taking two of them out together. One day, I took the two sisters out to a local park with trails around the outside of the lawn. Let me tell you that was a big mistake. You try to do something fun and it was more aggravation than anything else. I should have known better than that with my two �wild childs!� All they did was crisscrossing one another and tangling up the leashes more than I care to remember. So �OK, I shout��I�ve had enough. Your sorry little butts are going back to the car.� So we turn around and do the same thing with twisting up the leashes while desperately trying to make it back to the car. You want to build up a sweat? There you go. Try handling two uncontrollable youngsters. Caesar Milan where are you when I need you?
I live at the bottom of a mountain. My mother all ways called this God�s little mountain. And right she was. When you go hiking up the mountain, the noise and the traffic slowly diminishes the higher you climb. All of a sudden you become very aware of the stillness and the silence. You truly are one with nature.
One day I took Amber up the mountain. This used to be a routine of ours as part of her exercise program. I�d walk her up part of the trail on a leash. When we got safely away from the road, I�d let her run loose. �Yee haw!� She loved it. Freedom at last. I was all ways aware of the danger of being in the woods and the many wild animals that we share these woods with. It would all ways make me a bit nervous. You never know what you may run into when you least expect it. On this day, we ran into a bunch of deer. �Amber� saw them and she was in hot pursuit. They took off so quickly up over the hill, she stopped as if to say, �Where did they go?� Thank God I put basic obedience training in her. I called her back to me because she knew when she came; she�d be rewarded with those treats that I all ways carried in my pocket when going out for a walk. My biggest fear was that we might run into a black bear. We never did. Thank God.
German Shepherds love to go everywhere with their owners. Exploring the woods and trails of a mountain excites their senses. �Bu� is at her happiest when she�s exploring things. Her tail never stops wagging. My biggest concern this time of year is those little nasty cousins of the yucky spiders known as the tick. I no longer use any of those poisons on my dogs. Every day they get sprayed with lavender oil mixed with water. I haven�t found any ticks on them for these last two summers. However, I haven�t taken them for a walk in the woods in a long time either.
Because our dogs are great companions, it�s a shame if we don�t include them in more of our outdoor activities. My first German Shepherd I used to take hiking with me. We�d take her to a river and she loved to go swimming. She was the type of dog that would try anything as long as she was doing it with us, she was happy. Only problem with Helga is that you didn�t want her swimming too close to you. She�d run you over with her �doggie paddle� style of splashing and kicking. Get too close and she would almost drown you.
Through out the years, I would buy my dogs those kiddie pools to splash around in. They loved it. It was an inexpensive way for them to have fun and at the same time keep themselves cooled off. �Rajah� loved to just lay down in it. He was so dark so he�d really feel the heat of the sun more than some of the other ones.
When I lived in Westchester, my friend Nancy Vaught (Masstana Shepherds) and I used to go out several times a week to exercise our dogs. We would each take a couple of our dogs to the Pound Ridge Reservation and go hiking with them on the trails. I�d take my �Xanadu� and maybe one or two of the others and Nancy would take whoever it was that she was trying to condition for an upcoming show. We never had a problem with any of our dogs getting in to a scuffle. They all knew that they were there to have fun. Some of the trails winded along side of streams that followed us on our long walks. Another time we�d take another path. You know what looking back at those days, I don�t remember ever having problems with ticks. I wasn�t treating my dogs with anything like they have now like Frontline. I might have been using a flea collar, but I don�t remember. This was back in the 80�s. We never ran into any wild animals but we would occasionally hear a deer or two off in the distance. Those were the good old days.
My friend Lorraine Cohen and her husband Marc take their dogs sailing all the time. She�s sent me pictures of some of the dogs on the boat in the past but unfortunately I didn�t save them. She�s been sailing with her dogs for years. All those years ago, she would take her Select Kharu with her. Now her Select Annie and the younger generation go sailing.
Even taking your dog for a walk around the neighborhood can be very rewarding for you and your dog. It�s great exercise for the both of you. It�s a great way to socialize your dog and it�s a great way to bond with your animal. Any dog at any age loves to take a walk. It�s all about him exploring and being with you. Dog shows are fun, but hiking with your dog is even better.
So what kinds of things do you do with your dog? Are you having fun with him? So now that I wrote this short little article, it looks like I�m going to have to get off of my �posterior� and break out in a sweat. It�s summertime and the living is easy��
Hiking Camp Travel Backpack: Head to the mountain with confidence with the Cuscus 75+10L internal frame backpack. This multiday mountaineering pack is made of high-quality polyester, and features a sizable 75 liters (5,400 cubic inches) of storage. There's plenty of room for clothes and gear in the large main compartment, which offers top and bottom access. You can also store smaller gear in the variety of accessory pockets, which include two large side zippered pockets, two front zippered pockets, two side stretch pockets (ideal for water bottles), and a top lid pocket for items like a compass, maps, or rain gear. And hikers have the option of storing a sleeping bag inside the separate sleeping bag compartment, which includes a detachable divider, or outside the bag via a series of straps. Most importantly for serious trekkers, the pack is comfortable and supportive, with a heavily padded back panel, shoulder straps, and waist straps. Other features include extra webbing holders for attaching additional gear outside the pack, tightening straps with buckles for securing the pack, a water-resistant PVC coating; and a removable internal frame.
My rating: exercising with your dog: (4), raising couch potatoes: (1)
What kinds of things do you do to have fun with your dogs? Do you take them hiking? Do you go swimming with them? How do you take advantage of a beautiful day like this to enjoy with your dogs? I have been really bad about getting my dogs out. �Amber� and �Bu� love to go for walks. �Jess� is not really thrilled with it. She�d rather be home eating something! The trick for me today will be to get them all out one by one. The problem is when you take one out, the rest carry on screaming and complaining.
Oh I tried taking two of them out together. One day, I took the two sisters out to a local park with trails around the outside of the lawn. Let me tell you that was a big mistake. You try to do something fun and it was more aggravation than anything else. I should have known better than that with my two �wild childs!� All they did was crisscrossing one another and tangling up the leashes more than I care to remember. So �OK, I shout��I�ve had enough. Your sorry little butts are going back to the car.� So we turn around and do the same thing with twisting up the leashes while desperately trying to make it back to the car. You want to build up a sweat? There you go. Try handling two uncontrollable youngsters. Caesar Milan where are you when I need you?
I live at the bottom of a mountain. My mother all ways called this God�s little mountain. And right she was. When you go hiking up the mountain, the noise and the traffic slowly diminishes the higher you climb. All of a sudden you become very aware of the stillness and the silence. You truly are one with nature.
One day I took Amber up the mountain. This used to be a routine of ours as part of her exercise program. I�d walk her up part of the trail on a leash. When we got safely away from the road, I�d let her run loose. �Yee haw!� She loved it. Freedom at last. I was all ways aware of the danger of being in the woods and the many wild animals that we share these woods with. It would all ways make me a bit nervous. You never know what you may run into when you least expect it. On this day, we ran into a bunch of deer. �Amber� saw them and she was in hot pursuit. They took off so quickly up over the hill, she stopped as if to say, �Where did they go?� Thank God I put basic obedience training in her. I called her back to me because she knew when she came; she�d be rewarded with those treats that I all ways carried in my pocket when going out for a walk. My biggest fear was that we might run into a black bear. We never did. Thank God.
German Shepherds love to go everywhere with their owners. Exploring the woods and trails of a mountain excites their senses. �Bu� is at her happiest when she�s exploring things. Her tail never stops wagging. My biggest concern this time of year is those little nasty cousins of the yucky spiders known as the tick. I no longer use any of those poisons on my dogs. Every day they get sprayed with lavender oil mixed with water. I haven�t found any ticks on them for these last two summers. However, I haven�t taken them for a walk in the woods in a long time either.
Because our dogs are great companions, it�s a shame if we don�t include them in more of our outdoor activities. My first German Shepherd I used to take hiking with me. We�d take her to a river and she loved to go swimming. She was the type of dog that would try anything as long as she was doing it with us, she was happy. Only problem with Helga is that you didn�t want her swimming too close to you. She�d run you over with her �doggie paddle� style of splashing and kicking. Get too close and she would almost drown you.
When I lived in Westchester, my friend Nancy Vaught (Masstana Shepherds) and I used to go out several times a week to exercise our dogs. We would each take a couple of our dogs to the Pound Ridge Reservation and go hiking with them on the trails. I�d take my �Xanadu� and maybe one or two of the others and Nancy would take whoever it was that she was trying to condition for an upcoming show. We never had a problem with any of our dogs getting in to a scuffle. They all knew that they were there to have fun. Some of the trails winded along side of streams that followed us on our long walks. Another time we�d take another path. You know what looking back at those days, I don�t remember ever having problems with ticks. I wasn�t treating my dogs with anything like they have now like Frontline. I might have been using a flea collar, but I don�t remember. This was back in the 80�s. We never ran into any wild animals but we would occasionally hear a deer or two off in the distance. Those were the good old days.
My friend Lorraine Cohen and her husband Marc take their dogs sailing all the time. She�s sent me pictures of some of the dogs on the boat in the past but unfortunately I didn�t save them. She�s been sailing with her dogs for years. All those years ago, she would take her Select Kharu with her. Now her Select Annie and the younger generation go sailing.
Even taking your dog for a walk around the neighborhood can be very rewarding for you and your dog. It�s great exercise for the both of you. It�s a great way to socialize your dog and it�s a great way to bond with your animal. Any dog at any age loves to take a walk. It�s all about him exploring and being with you. Dog shows are fun, but hiking with your dog is even better.
So what kinds of things do you do with your dog? Are you having fun with him? So now that I wrote this short little article, it looks like I�m going to have to get off of my �posterior� and break out in a sweat. It�s summertime and the living is easy��
Hiking Camp Travel Backpack: Head to the mountain with confidence with the Cuscus 75+10L internal frame backpack. This multiday mountaineering pack is made of high-quality polyester, and features a sizable 75 liters (5,400 cubic inches) of storage. There's plenty of room for clothes and gear in the large main compartment, which offers top and bottom access. You can also store smaller gear in the variety of accessory pockets, which include two large side zippered pockets, two front zippered pockets, two side stretch pockets (ideal for water bottles), and a top lid pocket for items like a compass, maps, or rain gear. And hikers have the option of storing a sleeping bag inside the separate sleeping bag compartment, which includes a detachable divider, or outside the bag via a series of straps. Most importantly for serious trekkers, the pack is comfortable and supportive, with a heavily padded back panel, shoulder straps, and waist straps. Other features include extra webbing holders for attaching additional gear outside the pack, tightening straps with buckles for securing the pack, a water-resistant PVC coating; and a removable internal frame.
My rating: exercising with your dog: (4), raising couch potatoes: (1)
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