‘Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.’
– Agnes Sligh Turnbull, author
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.
Posted in Dogs
Tagged Aborigines, Aborigines of Australia, Inuit, sayings, southern hemisphere, Three Dog Night
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.
Posted in dog books
Tagged cocker spaniel, Dr Nick Trout, Dr Trout, Love is the Best Medicine, Miniature Pinscher
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.
Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards
Tagged Anzac Day, Australian War Memorial, dogs
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
Helga, the Bernese Mountain Dog, wishes all of our Canine Catering customers and blog subscribers a Happy Easter….
Photo by Dany Wu
The Golden Retriever comfort dogs are returning to Boston, one year on…great story!
See last year’s story in this blog post: Luther and Ruthie go to Boston
Posted in dog breeds, special dogs and awards
A University of Missouri researcher has studied dog ownership decisions in families of children with autism and found that parents report a range of benefits of dog ownership including companionship, stress relief and opportunities for their children to learn responsibility.
Photo credit: Noël Zia Lee, Wikimedia Commons
‘Children with autism spectrum disorders often struggle with interacting with others, which can make it difficult for them to form friendships,’ said Gretchen Carlisle, the study’s author. ‘Children with autism may especially benefit from interacting with dogs, which can provide unconditional, nonjudgmental love and companionship to the children.’
Carlisle interviewed 70 parents of children with autism. Nearly two-thirds of the parents in the study owned dogs, and of those parents, 94 percent reported their children with autism were bonded to their dogs. Even in families without dogs, 70 percent of parents said their children with autism liked dogs.
‘Bringing a dog into any family is a big step, but for families of children with autism, getting a dog should be a decision that’s taken very seriously. If a child with autism is sensitive to loud noises, choosing a dog that is likely to bark will not provide the best match for the child and the family. If the child has touch sensitivities, perhaps a dog with a softer coat, such as a poodle, would be better than a dog with a wiry or rough coat, such as a terrier.’
The study, “Pet Dog Ownership Decisions for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder,” was published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing earlier this year.
Source: University of Missouri media release
For more about the benefits of dogs for people with autism, read my post Dogs are a ‘social lubricant’ in helping people with autism
Canada Post’s Adopt a Pet stamps feature two dogs (as well as a two cats and a parrot) to promote the message of animal adoption.
A partnership with the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), the stamps help to spread the word that when looking for a pet, the first stop of animal lovers should be their local humane society or SPCA.
For more about dogs on stamps, read my post on US stamps in honour of working dogs
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