Category Archives: Dogs

Dogs on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Posted on January 7, 2012 | 2 comments

Along a stretch of about 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California is the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   Stars are embedded in the pavement to honor achievements in the entertainment industry and are a major tourist attraction for anyone visiting Hollywood.

Three members of the Walk of Fame are canines:  Rin Tin Tin, Lassie and Strongheart (a canine star of silent films).

Strongheart was a German Shepherd that was born in 1917 and lived until 1929.  He starred in a number of films including White Fang and was sadly injured on a movie set when he was burned by a studio light.  The burn became tumorous and was responsible for his death.

Strongheart, an early canine star in Hollywood

Rin Tin Tin, another German Shepherd, is probably more well known.  The first Rin Tin Tin was born in 1918 and featured in 26 films for Warner Brothers studios.  There have been many successors to the first Rin Tin Tin and the dog has featured in comic books and other memorabilia.  You can learn lots more by visiting his official web site.

Most dog lovers will know about Lassie, a Collie dog who starred in Lassie Come Home in 1943.  The film was based on a novel that was published several years earlier.    Lassie was played by a dog named Pal.  Lassie went on to feature in a television programme, comic books, animated films, radio and other children’s books.  Like Rin Tin Tin, there have been a number of Lassies over the years.  Lassie also has an official web site.

Lassie on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

If you are visiting California, why not honour the dog stars of Hollywood by visiting them on the Walk of Fame?

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Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards

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Resolve to be a great dog owner this year

Posted on January 4, 2012 | 2 comments

There are lots of jokes that circulate at this time of year about a dog’s resolutions for the new year (e.g., kitty-box crunchies are not junk food, etc.).  But what about your resolutions for your role as a Doggy Mom or Doggy Dad?

Here are my suggestions for new year resolutions:

1.  Resolve to feed your dog the highest quality dog food you can afford.  Not sure what to feed or even if you are feeding the right amount?  That’s where a nutritional assessment comes in.  People like me are trained in reading the labels of your existing dog food and with some information about your dog’s condition and lifestyle, we can tell you a lot about whether you are feeding the right amount and make un-biased suggestions about your core dog food.

In my case, I’m not affiliated with any veterinary practice or brand of dog food (many professionals take their nutrition training from a programme offered by dog food manufacturer – ask about this when selecting a provider for nutritional advice!)

2.  Exercise more – for your dog and yourself!  Exercise is important mental and physical stimulation for both you and your dog.  Discover new walks, link up with walking partners and doggy buddies for more variety, and manage your exercise according to the temperatures of the day (your dog doesn’t have the heat regulation system that you do in the summer; and their paw pads can be irritated by road salt and ice during the winter).

3.  Groom your dog – regularly.   If you don’t know what to do, then take your dog to a professional groomer and get advice on maintenance that you can do at home.  It breaks my heart to hear about veterinary nurses and groomers that have to work on severely matted dogs because their owner has neglected their grooming responsibilities.

4.  Make time for your dog.  I signed off last month’s newsletter to my Canine Catering customers saying “remember that the best thing you give your dog this holiday season is your time.”  It goes for the rest of the year, too.  Your dog is a social animal and needs your love and attention throughout the year.

5.  Keep a watchful eye on your dog’s health, ensuring they are not overweight (or underweight) and that they receive regular veterinary care.  (For a dog to be accepted into my dog massage and rehabilitation practice, the owner must certify for me that their dog is under regular veterinary care.)

6.  Have fun together – play time is essential.  Dog walks are not the only stimulation for your dog.  Choose an activity that suits both you your dog.  It could be agility or obedience training, rally-o, fetch, cross-country skiing, hiking/tramping, or the use of interactive dog toys.

I wish you and your dog a wonderful 2012.  Contact me through this blog or my website for information on any topic I cover in this blog.

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Posted in dog care, dog ownership

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Happy New Year for Arizona dog

Posted on December 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

As we start a new year, great news out of Montana.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Buddy has been missing near Butte since November 28th.  He has been reunited with Phil Nichols, his owner, this week.

Read more here.

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Doggy quote of the month for January

Posted on December 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

“I’ve caught more ills from people sneezing over me and giving me virus infections than from kissing dogs.”

– Barbara Woodhouse

 

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Cool Collars for summertime heat

Posted on December 27, 2011 | 1 comment

In Christchurch, we are starting to get some hot summer days.  I walk Daisy twice each day and our early morning walks ensure that we escape the summer heat.  However, the pavement heats up during the afternoons and even when we walk in the evening, it can be hot for Daisy.

That’s where the Cool-Collar comes in.  Made by D-Fa based in beautiful Wanaka, New Zealand, this collar features a reusable chill strip insert.  As the insert (or ice, if you use it instead) melts, it cools your dog’s neck and chest.  This helps them to manage the summer heat better as panting is really the only other option for them to cool down.

Daisy in her Cool-Collar - ready for walkkies!

Daisy poses for her close up, wearing a D-Fa Cool-Collar

I don’t recommend products often, but this is one that I definitely support.

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Posted in products for dogs

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Canine PTSD: Dogs Suffer Like Soldiers

Posted on December 25, 2011 | 1 comment

The notion of canine post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is still somewhat new, although those of us living in the Christchurch region of Canterbury (New Zealand) have witnessed first-hand how dogs cope with extraordinary stress caused by our ongoing earthquakes.

I have one dog in my massage therapy practice who is undergoing treatment for post-earthquake stress.   She shows signs of self-mutilation (excessive licking) and her owner reports that she is a happy dog when taken on trips away from home but she shows worry and anxiety when she returns.  She’s getting better, though, through love, attention, and massage therapy to work on acupressure points that help with the stress response.   It’s all about desensitization and it takes time.

Earlier this month, the New York Times published this article:  After Duty, Dogs Suffer Like Soldiers.  In this article, you’ll read that there is a specialist military veterinary hospital called the Daniel E. Holland Military Working Dog Hospital at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.  There’s even a chart being used to show the acupressure points of the dog!   The hospital was named after Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Holland, who died in 2006 when a roadside bomb exploded in Iraq.

Some military dogs are being retired from service and re-homed:  For War Dogs, Life with PTSD Requires Patient Owners talks about one adoptive family’s approach to caring for their dog, Buck.

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Before Cesar and Victoria

Posted on December 25, 2011 | Leave a comment

Before Cesar Millan and Victoria Stilwell, there was Barbara Woodhouse.  I have just finished reading one of Barbara’s books, Almost Human.  It made me realise that today’s craze of celebrity ‘dog experts’ isn’t new; we are just repeating a more modern version of what has gone before.


Barbara’s Great Danes, Juno and Junia,  appeared in many British television and films, acting alongside famous actors such as Sir Alec Guinness, Clark Gable and Roger Moore.

In Almost Human, Barbara writes:  My Danes were treated in exactly the same way as our children, and in so doing I learnt an awful lot about how much dogs like to be included in everything the family does…By the end of their lives I am sure they knew at least 250 words and their meaning.

Almost Human was published in 1976 and is a memoir about all her Danes: Jean, Jyntee, Juno and Junia.  There are chapters about owning and caring for a Great Dane.

Her other books included No Bad Dogs, Talking to Animals, Dog Training My Way, and A-Z of Dogs and Puppies.  In the 1980s, Barbara hosted a UK television programme called Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way.  Mrs Woodhouse even recorded an LP (the precursor to DVDs!) entitled Training Dogs Her Way.

Barbara suffered a fatal stroke in July 1988, she was 78.

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Honey’s story – a rescue from dogfighting

Posted on December 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Humane Society of the United States is a major animal welfare organisation and it does some great work.   In July 2011, Humane Society inspectors entered a property to investigate a dogfighting ring.  There, they rescued Honey.  This YouTube video is her story.  Honey has since been adopted by a veterinary technician who was involved in her care.

Animal welfare charities need your support.  During this holiday season and into 2012, please consider making a monetary donation to the welfare organisation of your choice.  Donations are, in most cases, tax deductible.

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Posted in animal welfare

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Exercise for small dogs

Posted on December 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sometimes people forget that small dogs have different needs for their care and exercise than larger breed dogs.  Here’s some tips on how to keep your small breed dog happy and active.

  • Walking

Walking is ‘tops’ on my list for exercise for all dogs.  There are added health benefits for the dog owner, too. I recommend twice per day walks.  You need to be careful about the length of walk for small dogs because they may not be able to go as far as you can.

  • Swimming

I’m a big supporter for hydrotherapy for dogs, particularly as they age or have rehabilitation needs.  But, swimming is excellent general exercise for your small breed dog.  Check out hydrotherapy facilities in your area for information on ‘casual’ swims (therapist supervision not required).  In Christchurch, we have an excellent facility for this:  Dog Swim Spa.

  • Ball games – playing fetch

Small dogs can get quite a bit of exercise in by playing with toys and their owners.  This is great inside exercise during the winter months – provided you have a long hallway or room for your dog to play in.

  • Using the stairs

If your house has stairs or you can take your dog to work with you, using the stairs can be excellent exercise for your small breed dog.    Some breeds, such as dachshunds, should not be encouraged to do lots of stair climbing because their long spine makes them vulnerable to stress and strain injuries including slipped discs.    Be mindful of just how much effort a small dog may need to climb a stair designed for full-grown humans.  Aging dogs with arthritis should avoid stair climbing as a major source of exercise – there are better options as described above.

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First dog Bo features prominently this Christmas

Posted on December 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Well done to the White House!

Not for any policy platform or new piece of legislation, but for their Christmas decorations this year.  The First Dog features in almost every room of the White House along with 37 Christmas trees.  Tributes to military personnel who have been lost in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts also feature – something I think is really important to recognise the families who have lost loved ones.

The Daily Mail provided some really good coverage and photos of the different models of Bo.  Check out their article here.

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