Geez I just realized that I am almost out of cranberry pills. Oh Oh I have to make sure I get to the health food store tomorrow and pick up a couple of bottles.

When Roxie first came to live with me she almost immediately started getting a urinary tract infection. I took her to the vet and put her on a round of antibiotics. She cleared up, but a week later started showing signs of it starting again. For any of you who have escaped that girly problem, they will ask to go out constantly, try to go over and over but nothing is there.

I remember my 99 year old Grandma bragging how she never had those kind of problems because she drank cranberry juice every day. Hey I figured “what could it hurt”, so I went out and got cranberry juice and Roxie drank it. Poor little girl, she kind of made a funny face but down it went. Anyway I have since found cranberry pills which are much more palatable, so each morning the girls in the house (including me), have a pill. She has lived with me almost 6 years now and never had another problem. Just goes to show you Grandma really does know best!!!!!!!!

Lots of my friends are out of state enjoying the American Kennel Club Agility Nationals and in the spirit of good old competition my agility instructor decided we would have our own competition.

The course we ran was very difficult, we all had a case of nerves, we were timed, faulted and placed.  We sat silently watching our classmates navigate the course and ran over and over in our heads how we would handle our dogs.  Funny what a little competition will do to a person.  Usually we are chatting with each other, laughing and enjoying our friends and dogs while waiting for our turn to practice.  Anyway, it was great fun for all…..

By the way, Max got 2nd overall and Roxie earned 3rd overall.

YAHOO!!!!!!!

We got out today for our first hiking trip of the year. I am so lucky to have places that I can take my dogs, turn them loose and let them just have fun. Through the bog, across the creek, tip toe over two beaver dams and we’re there.  Wooded hiking trails, water to play in, chasing each other down the trails, they came home wet, filthy, exhausted, and perfectly happy.  Me too!!

I use lots of treats in my household.  Because I have four dogs that are all involved in dog sports and I am a firm believer in the old adage you get better results with treats than hard corrections, OK maybe that is my adage……..I am always on the lookout for good, healthy snacks.

If we have chicken for dinner, I will squirrel a piece away, cut it into tiny bites, stick it into a baggie and freeze it.  A bit of leftover roast?  Kids didn’t finish all their dinner? , put it away for the canine member of your family. When block cheese goes on sale, I will pick up a number of blocks and keep it available for training sessions.   My dogs love carrots, broccoli, apples, bananas.  Pretty inexpensive and healthy.

One thing I NEVER give my dogs is anything red, you know the treats that they sell for a pretty big price that are red.  Look at the ingredients and do a bit of research on what some of those things are.

I know this may seem like a lot of work and effort, but just like feeding your human family well, you will find a great deal of satisfaction from helping you canine member stay in optimum health.

Can you imagine sitting down to your favorite meal, starting to eat and suddenly one of your family members walks over, grabs you plate and walks away with it?  Wow, I don’t think THAT would go over well.  And yet that is what many do to their dog so he will LEARN that they must graciously let their food go.

I believe that the opposite is true.  Dropping  yummy treats into their food bowl as they eat teaches your favorite canine that your hand in their bowl is a very good thing.  Now of course this technique would not be advisable for a confirmed resource guarder but for most of our dogs it will be no time at all before your hand hovering around their bowl is a welcome sight.

My beautiful black girl Roxie came into the shelter very, very thin, she has never gotten over being hungry.  She absolutely inhales her food and would prefer never to be interrupted while she eats for any reason, except treats.

With spring coming, lots of people will be thinking about a new puppy, this is a nice easy way to help your new puppy be comfortable with food.

My first attempt at cutting Max’s nails after bringing him home from the shelter was met by a snarling, snapping whirling dervish.  Never have I had a dog react with such terror.

My neighbor asked me if I would come over and hold her dog so she could cut her nails, Tink absolutely went crazy at nail trimming time.

I was at agility class last night when the owner lamented that he was going up to his house because he had to trim all 3 of his dogs nails.  We all made that face, you know that face you make when you have a distasteful job ahead of you.

Seems to be universal, most dogs really dislike having their nails cut.  More than likely because we have on occasion cut them too short. OUCH…….

I started Max’s nail cutting education by waiting until he was relaxed, took a handful of treats, quickly clipped just the tip off one nail, praised the daylights out of him and gave him lots of treats.  I can, after a very long time, cut all of his nails at the same time.  I still treat him after a few nails and am extremely careful not to cut into the quick.

Tink is also much better about having her nails clipped after her owner tried the one nail, lots of treats method.

If you have a dog that hates manicure day, try this method, it really works!!!!!

There is usually always a dog at the shelter that I am head over heels crazy about,  usually they are busy, funny dogs that make me laugh.

My buddy Zeus is just that dog.  I pretty much spend most of my time with him when I am at the shelter.  He looks like a LARGE Boston Terrier, obviously came from a home that didn’t help him learn basic manners and is like an intelligent teenager that is aching for a job that will give him exercise and stimulation.  I say he needs a family that has about 5 teenagers that all love him and all want to play and work with him.

When in the world did we become a country that puts prong collars on every dog and puppy. I am constantly amazed that wherever I go I see nothing but prong collars, even on the youngest puppy. Not only are people using them in record numbers, my bet is they have no idea how to use them. I see people jerking on the collars, OUCH!!!! Prong collars are meant to be self correcting, in other words the dog should pull, feel discomfort and stop pulling which will immediately take the pressure off.

After 9 years of volunteering at MARL the one thing that constantly amazes me are the people that come in, walk through the noisy kennel, choose an adult dog, take them home and live happily ever after.

You all deserve angel on earth halos. My question when I come into the shelter is always “Did any of the big dogs get adopted” They are so wonderful, Augie who has been there since he was a puppy, big wise eyes, gentle soul, oh, where is that single gal who would like a wonderful companion, but also wants a dog that will look and probably be protective...

When I took my small dog Max to his first agility trial, we ran in 5 classes, qualified and took first place all five runs. I was sooooo proud of him!!!!!!! When I went to agility class that week I took all 5 blue rosettes to show my agility instructor. Now Christine is a world class agility competitor and I feel really lucky to have her close enough to benefit from her expertise, and Her reply to me was...