This year in my garden beds I am growing:
Lettuces
More lettuces, peppers and…
…one Greyhound! (Izzy heard the word ‘bed’ and decided she wanted an outdoor bed for summer)
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
With a new year on its way, many people will be setting goals for the upcoming year. Is it time for you to buy a new car, for example?
Auto Trader has published information on features to look for that are useful and they’ve also made recommendations for the best cars for dog owners.
The features to look for are:
And the top dog cars are:
The Subaru Outback – “If you live in a cold climate and have an outdoorsy dog that likes being in wintry conditions, the Outback’s superior traction and surefootedness will keep you and Fido safe and secure as you tread over snowy terrain. Additionally, the Outback’s wagon configuration makes for plenty of room in the cargo area. A wide, low load floor and an optional pet barrier round out the amenities. Subaru also has many pet-friendly accessories.”
The Nissan Juke – “This little urban runabout offers a low, car-like ride height for easy in and out, especially via the large rear hatch. A combination of coupe, crossover and hatchback, the Juke offers just the right amount of size and utility for small-to-medium dogs that ride in carriers. Tether down the crate, and get out of the city for the weekend!”
The Volkswagen Tiguan – “got its name by combining the words tiger and iguana, so the car’s sure to be pet-friendly. The Tiguan is a lot like the Nissan Juke: compact on the outside but deceivingly spacious within. The rear seats fold flat, making room for pets of almost any size, and an optional dog barrier keeps your pet safely contained where it can’t distract you.’
The BMW X3 – “Well proportioned, upscale and athletic, the BMW X3 maximizes canine comfort with soft, heated leather seats, a sunroof and rear climate control. The cargo area is the right size for small- to medium-sized dogs, and for dogs that like to play in the snow, the X3’s AWD system makes winter driving virtually worry-free.”
The Volvo V60 – “offers a spacious cargo area, lots of utility, rear climate control and one of the safest passenger compartments available. If crash safety is your top concern, the V60 is your best choice here. Rear tie-downs make harnessing your pet carrier easy. If you don’t use a carrier, then go with the optional dog barrier.”
The Kia Soul – “This stylish urban cruiser offers rear-seat heat and an extra-large panoramic roof for lots of sunlight. Its boxy and efficient shape also allows for plenty of headroom, so even though the Soul is compact, it comfortably accommodates big and tall dogs. The large rear hatch is also a plus for quick entry and exit.”
The Honda Odyssey – “has it all when it comes to driving with your dog. There’s a wealth of room, comfortable seats, rear ventilation, underfloor compartments and even a built-in vacuum. For dogs that shed excessively, this innovative vac system lets you clean up quickly and effectively. The Honda Odyssey also has side window shades that can help keep your dog from getting too hot while traveling.”
Posted in dog care, products for dog lovers
Tagged amenities, Auto Trader, BMW X3, car, climate control, Honda Odyssey, Kia Soul, Nissan Juke, pet carriers, Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Tiguan, Volvo V60
One of the good things about the Christmas holidays is that there are more family-friendly movies on television. Last night, I was able to watch Hachi: A Dog’s Tale for the first time.
This movie, starring Richard Gere, was released in 2009 but didn’t make it to movie theaters in many countries including the USA, as I understand it.
Gere plays a professor who finds Hachi, the Akita pup, on the train platform one night. The puppy had been in transit to an unknown location and the tag was torn off his cage.
There is an instant attraction, and Gere’s wife comes around to the fact that the dog and her husband are good for one another. Hachi begins to follow the professor to the train station each day, returning in the late afternoon to meet him for the return trip home. When the professor dies suddenly at work one day from a heart attack, Hachi continues his daily trips to the train station.
The loyal dog does this every day for over 10 years, and in the process becomes something of a local celebrity.
At the end of the film, we learn that the real Hachikō was born in Ōdate (Japan) in 1923. After the death of his professor/owner in 1925, Hachikō returned to the Shibuya train station the next day and every day after that for the next nine years before passing away in March 1934. His loyalty has been commemorated with a statue at the station.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and recommend it for hiring on DVD.
And wherever you are these holidays, I hope that you are enjoying the company and loyalty of your dogs.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in Dogs, dogs and mourning
Tagged A Dog's Tale, Akita, Hachi, Hachiko, Richard Gere, train station
Dr. Alistair Humphrey and his talented singing dog Chester, an 8 year old Cairn Terrier. Photo by David Walker/Fairfax
Chester, a local Cairn Terrier owned by Dr Alistair Humphrey who is Canterbury Medical Officer of Health, sings along to Silent Night.
Chester, the talented terrier sings carols | Stuff.co.nz
Merry Christmas!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
The dogs and residents of Prescott, Arizona got an early Christmas present this month: the opening of the Willow Creek Dog Park after $500,000 in expert renovations.
The Willow Creek Dog Park has a firefighting theme to honor 19 Granite Mountain Hot Shot firefighters that died last year fighting a wild fire
Linda Nichols, a Prescott resident, entered the park idea in Beneful’s Dream Dog Park contest and won.
This canine play equipment has a fire engine theme (Photo by 12 News)
What a wonderful Christmas present for all of the dogs in Prescott. Enjoy!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Perhaps not the most festive of postings for this time of year…but researchers from the University of Tübingen and the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment has revealed that dogs that lived 30,000 years ago ate reindeer as a staple in their diet.
Předmostí I is an exceptional prehistoric site located near Brno in the Czech Republic. Around 30,000 years ago it was inhabited by people of the pan-European Gravettian culture, who used the bones of more than 1,000 mammoths to build their settlement and to create ivory sculptures. Did prehistoric people collect this precious raw material from carcasses – easy to spot on the big cold steppe – or were they the direct result of hunting for food? This year-round settlement also yielded a large number of canids remains, some of them with characteristics of Palaeolithic dogs. Were these animals used to help hunt mammoths?
To answer these two questions, Tübingen researcher Hervé Bocherens and his international team carried out an analysis of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in human and animal fossil bones from the site. Working with researchers from Brno and Brussels, the researchers were able to test whether the Gravettian people of Předmostí ate mammoth meat and how the “palaeolithic dogs” fit into this subsistence picture.
They found that humans did consume mammoth – and in large quantities. Other carnivores, such as brown bears, wolves and wolverines, also had access to mammoth meat, indicating the high availability of fresh mammoth carcasses, most likely left behind by human hunters.
Surprisingly, the dogs did not show a high level of mammoth consumption, but rather consumed essentially reindeer meat that was not the staple food of their owners. A similar situation is observed in traditional populations from northern regions, who often feed their dogs with the food that they do not like. These results also suggest that these early dogs were restrained, and were probably used as transportation helpers.
Source: AlphaGalileo press release
I love working with special needs dogs. With technology and innovation, we have more opportunities than ever before to give these special dogs quality of life.
Today I came across this special story of Derby, an adopted dog born with malformed front legs. How’s that for inspiration?
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in special dogs and awards
Tagged 3D printing, Derby, prosthetic legs, wheelchair, YouTube
Yesterday afternoon the dogs caught me. Caught me wrapping up their Christmas toys! Dogs don’t miss anything! A simple crinkle noise from a package, sends them running to investigate. I sat on the rug in the living room wrapping up each new squeaky toy, rope pull, and stuffies, while they hoovered over my back the entire time. I was caught, but I continued to wrap!
But I made a mistake. When wrapping up a larger stuffie, I pushed down on it while wrapping and it “oinked”! “OMG” I thought and I turned around to look at Nikita and Bella and they were close to drooling! Their eyes were glazed over and the moved in to sniff the wrapping paper. I can’t believe that stuffie gave me away and squeaked on me! (darn stuffie)
I did not think much about the toys after I placed them in their Christmas stockings and…
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This is my first Christmas and holiday season without Daisy and, although I now have Izzy to nurture and care for, there are many memories I have of summer days and holidays with my special girl.
In my garden are now two daisy plants given to me by customers in the days following Daisy’s loss. On sunny days like today, the daisies are in full bloom:
And then it is clear that people are noticing that the addition of Izzy has changed things. I received a lovely note in my P O Box from the ladies at the Papanui Post Shop. It reads:
“Just a short note to say hello! It’s good to see you smiling. Daisy was such a kindred spirit, even though we didn’t see her much. I’m sure she was just as gentle and lovely like you. Kind regards, Faye and Karen (Papanui Post)
Izzy and Christmas trees are not compatible at this stage in her life; but I’m sure we will find a way of celebrating our first Christmas together.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in Dogs, dogs and holidays, dogs and mourning
Tagged Christmas, daisies, Daisy, Papanui Post Shop
Willow is a beautiful Beagle who was born earlier this year with a cleft lip and palate. As part of the defect, she has a bottom jaw that is slightly forward and bucked top front teeth – so her top teeth sink into the soft tissue of her lower jaw.
Cleft lip and palate are birth defects that have been traced to genetic factors. (see my earlier articles on Cleft Palate in Dogs and The Genetics of Cleft Lip and Palate in Dogs)
Willow, before her surgery, showing the cleft lip
The inside of Willow’s mouth, showing the palate deformation more clearly
Last week, Willow had surgery to correct her birth defect. She’s now home but taking strong pain relief medication and sucking on ice cubes for fluids.
Willow’s mouth, post-surgery
Willow in her Elizabethan collar (which brother Freddie believes makes her into a scary monster)
We are all hoping that the surgery was successful; her Elizabeth collar comes off later this week and she’ll be re-examined. Then her owner will discuss what can be done to help with the mis-alignment of Willow’s jaws and teeth.
Cleft lip and palate are serious defects (Willow had to be hand-fed from birth because she couldn’t nurse like normal pups; many people will ‘look the other way’ when a pup is born with these defects and let it die from malnutrition. Thankfully, Willow’s owner Gwen Hindmarsh wasn’t willing to do that).
Surgery is expensive and painful for the dog involved. Dogs with cleft lip and palate in their lines should not be allowed to breed, as the defects don’t always appear in every litter.
Good luck Willow!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dog breeds, dog care, Dogs
Tagged beagle, birth defects, cleft lip, cleft palate, Gwen Hindmarsh, surgery, Willow
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