Category Archives: Dogs

Detroit’s new dog loo

Posted on May 5, 2014 | 1 comment

The Detroit Metropolitan Airport has just invested $75,000 for a dog loo primarily to support service dogs traveling with their owners.

ervice dogs Jello, right, and Cricket sniff around the new Service Animal Relief Area at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. (AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Mandi Wright)

Service dogs Jello, right, and Cricket sniff around the new Service Animal Relief Area at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. (AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Mandi Wright)

Most dogs in airports are certified service dogs but this facility will also help passengers who are flying with their dogs on holiday or to events like dog shows. Small dogs can fly in the cabin of most US airlines providing they meet size restrictions.

For other blogs about dogs, relief areas and airports read these postings:

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog care, Dogs

Tagged airport, Detroit, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, dog loo, dog shows, pet relief areas, relief areas, service dogs

Anatomy 101: the paw

Posted on May 4, 2014 | 1 comment

If you are a dog owner, you should know about the basic anatomy of the paw so you can describe to your vet or animal care practitioner about the location of pain or injuries.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

A = the nails

B = digital pads

C = main metacarpal pad

D = dew claw

E = carpal pad

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Posted in dog care, Dogs

Tagged carpal pad, dew claw, digital pads, main metacarpal pad, nails, paw

Life philosophy for dog lovers

Posted on May 2, 2014 | 1 comment

Sometimes you’re the fire hydrant, sometimes you’re the dog

Have a great weekend!

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Posted in Dogs

Tagged Dog, fire hydrant, philosophy

Picking up is important

Posted on May 2, 2014 | 2 comments

It’s National Scoop the Poop week in the USA.

In 1991, the EPA declared dog poo a non-point source pollutant. Other non-point sources include herbicides, oil and chemicals (including those used for production agriculture, or in your own back yard).

(Is it any wonder why people are so concerned in New Zealand about cow urine and dung’s impacts on the environment? A single cow excretes lots more waste than a single dog!)

To get into the spirit of things, the DoodyFree Water Project is giving away 250,000 pet waste bags to dog parks and other green spaces. You can apply through their website by explaining how a bag donation will impact on your community. You can also read about DoodyFree projects in your state.

The DoodyFree Water Project is sponsored by waste management company DoodyCalls.

Read my other posts about responsible dog ownership and scooping the poop:

The scoop on poop

The public relations nightmare of unscooped poop

The 5 types of dog walker

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in dog ownership

Tagged dog poo, dog poop, DoodyCalls, DoodyFree Water Project, Environmental Protection Agency, non-point source, pollutants, production agriculture, responsible dog ownership

Doggy quote of the month for May

Posted on April 29, 2014 | Leave a comment

‘Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.’

– Agnes Sligh Turnbull, author

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Posted in dog quotes

Tagged Agnes Sligh Turnbull, Dogs lives

A three dog night?

Posted on April 27, 2014 | Leave a comment

Some readers will think this post is about a rock band from the 1960s and 70s. It isn’t.

It’s about the origin of the phrase “Three Dog Night” from which the band took the name…

Widely attributed to the Aborigines of Australia, the term means that the night is so cold, you need to sleep with three dogs to keep warm (particularly appropriate as we are starting to have clear, cold nights in the southern hemisphere – winter is near).

This phrase is sometimes also attributed to the Inuit of the northern regions, who would sleep with their dogs to keep warm.

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Posted in Dogs

Tagged Aborigines, Aborigines of Australia, Inuit, sayings, southern hemisphere, Three Dog Night

Love is the Best Medicine – book review

Posted on April 25, 2014 | 1 comment

This is the third book by Dr Nick Trout that I’ve read. In it, Dr Trout weaves a tale based on two actual clients and their dogs who inspired him to consider his role in healing.

The book carries the appropriate subtitle ‘What two dogs taught one veterinarian about hope, humility and everyday miracles’

In this book we watch the stories of Cleo, a Miniature Pinscher and Helen, a Cocker Spaniel, unfold. The dogs and their owners don’t know each other, but their stories intertwine because of Dr Trout’s involvement with both dogs.

It’s never easy when we find out that our dog is seriously unwell, and we all want to believe in miracles to keep them with us for a little while longer. This theme of love for your dog will resonate with most dog parents.

I didn’t like this book as well as Tell me where it hurts, Dr Trout’s other autobiographical story. It was, nonetheless, a good read.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand

For other book reviews:

I’ve previously reviewed The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs, a novel by Dr Trout. Read it here.

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Posted in dog books

Tagged cocker spaniel, Dr Nick Trout, Dr Trout, Love is the Best Medicine, Miniature Pinscher

War Memorial pays tribute to animals that served in conflicts – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Posted on April 24, 2014 | Leave a comment

Soldiers with their dogs stand at the Australian War Memorial (photo by Siobhan Heanue, ABC)

On the eve of Anzac Day, here’s a special story about service animals honoured recently at the Australiam War Memorial.

War Memorial pays tribute to animals that served in conflicts – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

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Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards

Tagged Anzac Day, Australian War Memorial, dogs

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Wordless Wednesday, part 31

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Posted on April 22, 2014 in Dogs

Tagged American Pit Bull Terrier, Honeybun, Pit Bull

Cleaning up after digestive indiscretions

Posted on April 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Let’s just say that Daisy had the largest ‘digestive indiscretion’ of her life recently. I won’t go into the details (it was horrific for both of us).

Thankfully, I had this cleaning product in my cupboard.

Simple Green is a well-known manufacturer of non-toxic and biodegradable cleaners. It is very easy to use – shake the bottle, saturate the stain and then scrub gently.

It handled all of Daisy’s little accidents very well. When I had guests just few days later, they told me that they couldn’t see a single spot on the carpet! (And they didn’t smell anything, either)

What I particularly like about this product is that it is safe for pets and people and it’s fragrance is not overpowering. How many cleaners have you tried that are overpowering in their smell, while claiming that they deodorize? This isn’t one of those. It truly helped with the smell without causing me to have to open the windows before being overcome by the fragrance.

****Highly recommended for all dog owners****

(I purchased my Simple Green dog pet stain and odor remover from my local pet store; I have not been paid for my endorsement)

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand

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Posted in products for dogs

Tagged biodegradable, biodegradable cleaners, cleaner, cleaning product, digestive indiscretion, Simple Green