It's a dog's life

Will your dog pay the price for our toxic ways of living?

2012-02-16T16:53:00.000-08:00

Toxic toys, food contamination, lawn pesticides. We know we're supposed to be worried about all this for our two-legged kids, but what about our four-legged family members?

A study by the Environmental Working Group shows that cats and dogs carry a much higher "body burden" - the amount of persistent toxic chemicals in the body - than their human caregivers. 5 times higher in cats than in humans.

Paranoid pet owners beware: the report is full of scary phrases like "dancing cat fever" the result of mercury poisoning and Teflon toxicosis (fumes from over-heated non stick pans). The study notes a rise in several types of cancers among pets, which could be linked to the toxic chemicals fund in their and our daily surroundings. cancer is now the 2nd leading cause of death in dogs.

Just why are our pets so susceptible? Their vulnerability is due in part to their diminutive size and lifespan, but a larger component probably have to do with the way pets live: close to the ground. Like human children, dogs and cats will eat food off the floor and spend a lot of time on toxin-laden carpets. Pets pick up outside dust, insecticides, and herbicides, then ingest these chemicals through self=grooming. Toxic dyes in pet products and plastic chew toys and water bowls also play a dangerous role.

How can I protect my pet?

Don't use lawn herbicides
Use plant-based kitty litter
Vacuum frequently
Flea collars are ineffective and a source of constant toxic exposure.
Pick pet food free of chemical preservatives. Make sure food and treat ingredients do not includes: BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin, and by-products.
If you suspect your deck was made with arsenic =treated wood- make sure to treat with sealant, wash with soap and water, and never power wash.
Choose toys free of colored dyes and fashioned from organic, natural fibers.

Questioning the Pet Food Industry.

2012-02-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

Everyone should care about pet food because there is only one food supply. Let me elaborate – Pets eat the same foods we do, they may eat different parts, but the sources are the same. The pet food recalls were a perfect example of what's gone wrong with our food system. They made it obvious that food for pets and food for people are inseparable. Taking it a step further, the pet food recalls made the discovery of melamine in Chinese infant formula completely predictable.

At the time of the recalls, very few manufactures (of both pet and human foods) realized that many of their ingredients were coming from a single source, and that many consumers were surprised to find out so many foods were made by the same company. Brands such as Ol' Roy to Iams were made at one plant! What a revelation. One company makes an ingredient that goes into thousands of products. The companies making these products have no clue where the “bad” material came from because they get it from a broker. That is our food system!

American Veterinary Dental Society says 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of three. It's estimated that something like 1 in 5 adult dogs (doubled for senior dogs) has arthritis, and there is a high rate of obesity in dogs and cats too.

Many high end commercial dog foods started to pop up in our stores relatively recently but the question is, “Are they genuinely superior to lower priced, more mass-marketed products, in objective terms?” We've looked for the evidence but couldn't find much of a difference. Organic, Real meats, no artificial additives all sounds healthier but don't forget that pet food companies only publish studies that put their products in a good light.

All complete and balanced products have to meet the same nutritional standard of dog foods called AAFCO. In my opinion AAFCO doesn't know what the heck they are talking about. All they require is that you have certain proteins, moisture, content in it. What does that mean? It's a whole lot of BS if you ask me! So following AAFCO guidelines will create a recipe of health and nutrition? NO WAY! Don't get me started with foods classified into the “treat” category. Those aren't even monitored.

I am sure everyone who has gone to the vet has been recommended by the doctor to switch to “Science Diet” do you ever notice that in almost every vet office lobby is a huge display or brochure of Science Diet? They get paid to promote it. In Vet School, very little emphasis is put on veterinary nutrition training. Their guess is as good as yours. The best thing to do is to educate yourself. Don't listen to anyone and do your own research – that's what Google is for!

Ask yourself questions like:

What did ancestral wolves eat and how are they different from modern dogs and cats?
What did pets eat before commercial pet food existed?
When did the pet food industry start?
What did it look like in the past and what doe sit look like now?
How do you read the labels?
How do veterinarians learn about nutrition?

Our favorite Etsy Finds for pets!

2012-01-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

For those who don't know about Etsy, it's a online store strictly for hand-made products. If you make feather earings and want to reach out to people via the world wide web - give Etsy a try. They take a % of the sale and a small monthly fee to post.

Here are a few of our favorite finds @ Etsy!

Dog Bow Tie's and Flowers by LearnedStitchWorks Starts @ $6.00

Fun Dog Tags by ID4Pet - About $13

Cute I'm lost ID tags by thehappychihuahua - $14.75

Pink Damask Pet ID by sofacitysweethearts - $14.00

STAR WARS DOG hat costume yoda inspired and HANUKKAH hat and BEAR hat by HandmadeMonster $23.00

Stylish Dog Cowl by Mailo $23

Cheer Bear Hat by Sweethoots - $19

Sweater Cowl by CharlieHeartsDiesel $40.00

Blossom Dog Hat with String Tie by BeanTownHomemade -$32

Polka Dot Skate Pet Feeder by SkateDogStudios $90

A story about a homeless man and his dog, Mary - Update

2012-01-22T16:52:00.000-08:00

Mary is doing well, gained several pounds.

During Mary's recovery in the hospital the 3 pups tested positive for parvo. After medication they have pulled through. Buck and Tasha have both been adopted to wonderful families.

Although Mary hasn't reunited with her babies, 6 of the 10 have been adopted to good homes. I am sure she thinks about them but they are all healthy and well. Hopefully one of these days they will meet again!

Thanks to everyone for all the help and kindness to help Mary and her 10 beautiful Rhodesian pups.

A story about a homeless man and his dog, Mary

2012-01-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving 2011, I was on a beautiful walk and we ran into a homeless man named James and his dog Mary. Cesar Milan wasn't joking when he said that the homeless make the best pack leader. Mary was as well behaved as any dog I have met. She was calm, walking side by side with him and his shopping cart. Just beautiful. I happen to talk to James because Mary was the same breed as Guinness. A rhodesian ridgeback mix.

All of a sudden things started to move in his shopping cart and out came one of Mary's puppies! 10 to be exact! I knew I needed to help Mary and her puppies. I told him that I would help him get these puppies adopted. Of course he was asking for $150 each. I couldn't argue. His homeless and probably could use that money. After finding out that he didn't mean for Mary to get pregnant, I met up with him later that evening to take some pictures of the babies. They had just turned 2 weeks old!

We brought over a food, wet food, clothes for Mary, blankets, beds. Some were donated from kind people who had read my Ad asking for help through Craigslist. It had gotten very cold in December and it was difficult for the babies to keep warm.

I had visited James and the dogs a couple of times a week. Mid December, I got a frantic call from James asking for help because Mary was very sick. I rushed over and sure enough Mary was almost lifeless. She couldn't take 2 steps without falling over and was throwing up bile. We had to take her to the emergency room right away. Where does one take a sick dog to get care for free? James knew of a place 30 minutes from where we were so we packed up his things and rushed to the vet.

The ride over was pretty nauseating to say the least. I'm sure you can imagine the odor that James carried as he in fact is a homeless man.

Mary was diagnosed with an infection in her teats from nursing. She stayed over night and was released the next day with antibiotics. Thanks to HOPE foundation for paying for Mary's care. She was no longer allowed to nurse but she seemed to be doing better. Or so we thought.....

The next day I got another call from James asking for hot compress. It's difficult to understand James over the phone because he doesn't have any teeth so I rushed over to him with a first aid kit and hot compress. As soon as I got to him Mary walked over and blood dripping down her. I looked to see what James was talking about and Mary had torn one of her teats. I had never seen anything like this before. I saw things that appeared to look like intestine! Holy smokes.

We went to a different hospital after asking for help from Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue. Mary's teats had ruptured and she was diagnosed with mastitis. Her bill was over $2500. After donations (Thanks to J.J. Woofin' Paws Rescue Agency) Mary was able to get a mastectomy and a week later she was spayed. Because it was too risky to send her back out on the streets to recover, they decided to keep her until the new year. She stayed in a cagefree recovery room everyday and was under the care of Dr. Quezasa

More updates to come....

Bully Sticks don't have to be so expensive.

2012-01-02T17:21:00.000-08:00

Bullys Sticks can be expensive if you are buying from your local Petco or Petsmart. Try ordering from bestbullysticks.com.

Most of the bully sticks found in major pet stores are from India or other parts of the world outside of South America. They only sell product from free-ranging South American cattle. This cattle is considered “green cattle” as it is not given hormones or fed feed. Also their treats and chews are all-natural and oven finished, which is more expensive but keeps the quality of the product high.

Here are a few of Guinness's favorites:

4 inch bully sticks - 50 pack - $30.75 - (61 cents each)
3 inch Trachea Chews - 50 pack - $19.99 - (40 cents each)

Bully sticks can be fattening but they keep your dogs teeth clean and it's all natural. So these 4 inch sticks are perfect size even for a large 80lb dog like Guinness.

We also get the Trachea chews because they are full of NATURAL chondroitin and glucosamine! I feel better giving her something natural rather than buying artificial glucosamine supplements.

Take your dog with you to Hawaii - Alaska Airlines

2012-01-02T17:00:00.000-08:00

The friendly skies have just gotten just a bit more dog-friendly for pet parents who want to travel to Hawaii with their dogs.

Alaska Airlines has implemented a new dog-friendly policy for flights to Hawaii. According to its website, “Effective August 15, 2011, Alaska Airlines will accept cats and dogs only for travel to and from Hawaii.”

Previously, Alaska Airlines’ policy did not allow dogs to fly to Hawaii.
If you choose to travel with your dog in the cabin, he will be considered your carry-on item. The fee to travel with your pet in cabin or in cargo is $100 each way.
The Alaska Airlines policy states, “Pet parents must be 18 years or older to travel with a pet in the cabin and are not allowed to occupy an emergency exit row seat. The First Class cabin can accommodate a total of one small pet per flight, and the main cabin can accommodate a total of up to five small pets per flight. A customer may travel with a maximum of two carry-on kennels/containers in the main cabin, only when the adjacent seat is purchased by the same customer.”

Be sure to check out Hawaii’s very strict guidelines and quarantine requirements for traveling with your pooch. Hawaii is the only state that is currently rabies-free and wants to keep it that way.

Hotels donate towels to shelters

2012-01-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

Where do old hotel towels and linens go? Usually they’re dumped in the trash. But now, in a win-win for both hotels and animal shelters, the nonprofit H.I.P. (Hospitality Industry Partnership) for Pets has set up a program where hotels can donate these used items to make shelter animals more comfortable.

H.I.P. for Pets was founded earlier this year by Scott Chapman, a 20-year veteran of the hotel business. Its mission is “to help hospitality organizations donate worn linens, towels and other items to animal organizations to help reduce hotel waste-removal costs by an estimated 7 percent, and produce a green boost to hotels’ bottom lines and sustainability initiatives,” according to its website. “Animal organizations benefit from receiving much-needed linens, towels and other items that help make homeless pets more comfortable—and thus more adoptable.”
According to a blog post by Chapman, a 500-room hotel could have an inventory of 6,000 bath towels. Towels are typically replaced four times a year, which means a whopping 24,000 towels could be dumped in the landfill each year by that hotel.

“Keeping these items out of the trash saves waste-removal costs and landfill space, while putting useable items into the hands of animal shelter personnel for the care and comfort of homeless pets,” Chapman wrote.

H.I.P. for Pets is also working to research and define “pet-friendly” hospitality policies and best practices.

Meet Angel and owner Alisha Dylan. Angel is blind and deaf but knows her commands!

2011-10-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

Click to watch this inspiring video of Angel.

Bicycle Riding with your dog - Leash and Leash Free

2011-08-28T15:54:00.000-07:00

Bicycling with your dog can be a fun and challenging exercise for you and your dog, especially for a dog who loves to run and enjoys exercise. Guinness and I bike ride a few times a week. She gets in her work mode and is 100% focused.

Bike with leash in hand:
We started off with biking with her with a leash while I held on to the other end with a light grip. Never wrap your hand around it because it can be dangerous for you and the dog. Be ready to release it if you have to. If your dog doesn't know these commands similar to "wait" and "slow" - train her before you get on the bicycle. Once your dog has mastered the wait and slow, you can start riding with her (always next to the bicycle). Tug on the leash if you need to to keep her next to you. Constantly use the commands so you are in full communication with her.

Bike without leash:
While we ride, I use only 2 commands, "slow" and "wait" she understands both of those words and that is all it takes for her to ride next to me. If the side walk is narrow, I allow her to run a head or behind me. If I need her to slow down, I simply use the command "Slow". If I need her to stop, I use the command "Wait". She is already trained not to cross the street without me so she automatically stops. When we do cross the street, I tell her to "come". We also taught her to walk slowly when crossing the street without a bicycle so she already knows to go slowly.

When I allow her to to play, I use the command "OK". Then she is off running around and hunting.

____________________________________________

Is all this dangerous? It can be if you and your dog don't speak the same language. I know my dogs weakness (squirrels) so I normally keep her very close to me if we are across the street from an area with a lot of squirrels. Other than that, I have 100% trust in her and she has 100% trust in me. The constant commands that I feed her is a great mental exercise for Guinness. Her brain is always moving and always thinking. It's a great mental and physical exercise for both of us.

Can I do this with a small dog? Of course you can. Bicycling doesn't discriminate on size or breed! As long as your dog has mastered those similar commands, you should be good to go. As always, when you are training, be in an area you and your dog feel comfortable in and a safe area to make mistakes.

Leashes make people lazy.

2011-08-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

Leashes are a easy way to control your dog. Shorter the leash the easier it gets. It is easy to not have to pay attention to your dog at all times if all you have to do is drag your dog by the neck. Right?

When my dog is unleashed, I am on full alert to make sure that she is where she should be. It's a lot of work and not many people realize that. Constant voice commands are necessary for an unleashed dog. I use words like "Stay" "Come" Stay close" "Slow" "Wait" "Ok" "No" to name a few. When you walk your dog on a voice command alone, you have to be in constant communication. I believe that this is very important not just the bond that it creates between you and your dog but also because your dog is always being mentally challenged.

When I walk around with my dog and run into open minded dog owners (few) they ask, wow your lucky your dog is so well behaved, I got mine from the pound as the dog continuously barks and lunges while the owner does nothing but hold tight on the leash. They think that Guinness was born this way. The truth is, she was a pound dog too. She was crazy and like most dog owners, i didn't know how to be assertive and control her. It took a lot of time, books, videos, and lots of one on one training with Guinness.

In California, we have a dog leash law. But the leash law should only be a temporary solution. Yes some dogs should always be leashed but like I said before, leashes make owners lazy. Most dog owners that I run into, if I ask them can you unleash your dog so they can play, the response is always a no because they'll run away. The dog runs away because they were never trained. Train them to come when called, Train them to not run away from you. I think they run because they are free! Wouldn't you? If you were always on a 6 foot leash, and you had a chance to be flee....? I see many dogs who are leashed and it makes me sad. They deserve to run and explore.

Take an extra hour every week to train your dog to be off the leash. Start with a small area where they can run and play and call them to come when it's time. Sit on the grass with them and make sure they don't go too far. Eventually your dog is going to understand that leash free means they need to listen more to you, not go too far out of sight. It is a reward for them.

If your dog is on the aggressive side, put yourself in their shoes. Imagine yourself in the middle of a fight with a 6 foot leash. The opponent is coming near you, wouldn't you do anything to protect yourself as best you can?

Next time don't judge dogs and their owner if they are walking without a leash. Chances of an unleashed dog being aggressive and not under voice command is very small. Please don't forget that dogs by nature are social and they should be allowed to sniff each other and play during their daily walks.

Getting hit by a car really does suck!

2011-07-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

It's been 1 year since my unfortunate bicycle accident and let me tell you it sucks. Of course you'll never hear anyone saying that it was great but truly it sucks.

Quick overview of what happened in July 2010:
9:15am Got on my road bike with a doggyride hitched to the back with Guinness in it.
9:30am As we were riding on the bike lane heading North bound, a car which was headed South bound charged across all of 3 of the North bound lanes to hit Guinness and I.

Pretty freakish accident if you ask me. Guinness and I could have died that morning. As grateful as I tried to feel, dealing with pain, embarrassment (physical appearance), lawyers, police, medical doctors, denists, and retraining Guinness to walk on the side walk and cross the street has been no walk in the park.

Laundry list of physical problems from the accident: severe pain of the neck, hip, feet, legs, face, shoulder, wrist, 3 broken front teeth, 2 severed nerves, and TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder - dislocation of the jaw). Guinness - 4 broken teeths.

**By the way, dogs are considered property damage. Crazy, I know. This definitively needs to be changed.

With anything you live and you learn. Here are a few of things that you should do:

1. Take care of yourself - see doctors, specialists, dentists, anything that you need to do to get better. Even if your ridiculous HMO causes you a world of frustration and anger! Demand it. HMO doctors want to do the least possible but DEMAND it. Dealing with doctor's who only wanted to shove pills down my throat and not help me was one of the most difficult things. (Hopefully your HMO or PPO plan will treat you better.)

2. Interview 3 lawyers. Choose one that you feel is competent, and someone who you can get a long with. This is a 1-2 year process and you will be dealing and communicating with your lawyer for a while. All personal injury lawyers will collect a % of money that is recovered, meaning they won't ask for money up front like most lawyers. In Personal Injuries, a typical fee would be 25% of the settlement and if you go into trial (court- which usually only happens if liabilities is a difficult one to prove) they may charge 30% of the settlement.

3. Keep a diary daily for the first month of your recovery. Take pictures of all of your bruises, cuts, site of the accident, and any property damage.

4. Try to keep things organized. Save all of your receipts from co-payments, medical supplies, prescriptions, etc. I created an excel of all of my expense report. date, description, $ amount, etc.

5. Stay honest, positive, and focus on your recovery.

**UPDATE: Case settled in one and a half years later for $75,000.

Fibrosarcomas forming at the Injection Site?

2011-06-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

According to a study by Jean Dodds, a vaccine occasionally provokes another disease. Sometimes even leading to death by compromising your pets immune system. What are vaccines? You are basically injecting "bacteria" into your body. A very small dose of it that most of the time your body goes unharmed but if at any point you do come across this bacteria or diseases later on, your body's immune system will already know about it and not go crazy.

So Dodds suggests that the vaccines for both feline leukemia and rabies are a pattern of cause and effect between vaccines and cancer. More often than not, these vaccines are injected commonly between the cat's shoulder blades or other flank areas. Sure enough, fibrosarcoma grows exactly where the injection was given. Even if the tumor is removed, it often grows back on or near the injection site.

2011-06-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Below are a few case studies of real patients of Dr. Martin Goldstein who have experienced common side effects from their overaggressive vaccine regimens. The coincidence became too obvious for him to ignore.

Annual Vaccines

I had animals all over the country responding beautifully to holistic treatment for one cancer or another. Then I'd get the panicked calls. A tumor had just appeared. Or with those who'd had tumors removed, the tumor was back, worse than before. I'd ask the owner, "what in the dog's environment changed"" Nothing. "Did you put him back on commercial pet food? Stop giving him the supplements?" Nope. "in fact," the owner would say, "our local veterinarian told us just two weeks ago how great our dog was doing when we brought him in for his annual vaccines!"

Wesley

By the time I treated, Wesley, a three year old Jack Russell, he had a long history of over vaccination. Some months before, he had developed a tumor on his abdomen that another veterinarian removed surgically. When I studied the medical report, I was amazed: while under general anesthesia, Wesley had been given a combo vaccine of DHLPP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza) plus a coronavirus vaccine, plus rabies. Seven agents in all, while the poor dog's immune system was already struggling with the general anesthetic and the cancer! Surprise: Wesley had soon grown another tumor, this one in the genital area. The second lump, too, had been removed under general anesthesia. Two weeks later, Wesley was brought in

"shaking and breathing hard," with a 103 degree temperature, swelling, and trauma. Only to be given antibiotics and cortisone. Unfortunately, too much damage had been done. Cancers continue to grow all over Wesley's bodyl, no matter what we did; with in a short period the dog was dead.

Missy

That was when the owner decided that Not long ago, I saw an older terrier mix named missy with a tumor on her back already diagnosed as mast cell cancer. We chose in this owner's local veterinarian had recommnded. Instead, we tried a nutritional program. The program worked; the tumor began to shrink, then owner's local veterinarian made the case for removing it. Instead, I stuck an exploratory needle i. Clear fluid oozed out; the new growth had converted to a cyst. For two years, Missy did fine. Then last winter she had an eye problem, and her owners took her to their local veterinarian. The veterinarian took her off to a treatment room to examine her eye under a special light. "For a fourteen and a half year old dog she's doing fine," the veterinarian reported as he returned Missy to her owners. "But I noticed from her medical history that she was long overdue on her vaccinations, so I brought her up to date." The owners, who'd expressly avoided vaccinations at my behest, were appalled. Within six weeks, Missy developed an almost inoperable cancerous tumor surrounding her ankle joint. The tumor was removed, but only with difficulty. And at what cost to Missy's overall health? Only time will tell.

Power of Marketing

2011-06-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

Back in 1990, Fort Dodge Company rushed a vaccine called Borrelia burgdorferi bacterin to the US market. The FDA approved it after seeing the results of 18 dogs. Wait, it gets worse!

This "approved" vaccine was then heavily advertised throughout the entire US. With campaigns showing a little girl playing with a dog titled: "Lyme Disease plays rough ... so why play around?" or an ad showing a map of the USA with 40 confirmed sightings of Lyme disease.

The truth is, Lyme disease was only discovered in the NE region, scientist confirmed that kids cannot contract the disease from dogs, and it was in fact 17 states officially confirmed not 44 states with Lyme disease.

Sadly enough the campaign worked because Fort Dodge Company sold 18,000 doses that year. In the entire year, 2.5 million doses were sold to 9,500 veterinarians in 46 states.

By the end of 1991, Cornell University researchers found at least 20 cases of vaccinated dogs who later caught Lyme Disease. With so many vaccinated dogs, the most common symptoms were joint aches that led to limping and degenerative joint disease. The next most common was kidney or liver failure.

Does that sound like a coincidence?

2011-05-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Guinness's chicken dance meal:
Raw Free Range Chicken
Olive Oil
Spices: Oregano, Cumin, Basil, Parsley, Thyme
glove of garlic
Vegetables: Cabbage, Collard Greens, Spinach, Carrots, Celery
Whole Wheat Pasta or rice
Ground egg shells (optional)
Apples (optional)

I take 2 raw free range chicken and put it in large pot with olive oil. I throw in a small crushed up garlic (fleas hate the smell and taste of garlic!), pinch of salt and pepper, and all kinds of herbs. Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Parsley, Cumin, cylantro.

Flip the chickens over so it browns a bit on each side. While thats browning, I cut up different types of fresh and frozen vegetables like celery, carrots, brocolli, cabbage, collard greens, and green beans. (She's not a fan of veggies but with the flavors of the chicken and herbs, she could care less whats in it!) We try to make sure we get as many colors of the rainbow goes in to her veggies!

We then add hot water to cover the chicken and let it simmer on low heat for 1-1.5 hours.

Then I take the chickens out and put in bags of organic whole wheat pasta. I fill it a little more with hot water and let it boil.
Meanwhile, I will have removed the chicken meat from the carcass and added it back into the mixture. Mix it all together and serve.

This lasts me exactly 7 days. I keep it in a air tight container in the fridge and we feed her morning and night. Don't forget she is 75lbs!

GOT BABIES? GET A DOG By Andy Brooks

2011-04-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

I read this article today and thought it was so cute. I don't have kids but thought it was a charming little article!

When my wife learned she was pregnant with twins and began worrying about how we would handle two babies at once, I assured her that our yellow Lab, Huey, would make an excellent nanny. We’ll go out to dinner and come home and there Huey will be in his apron fixing bottles for the night ahead and cleaning up after he’s gotten the kids to sleep, I told her. She didn’t think I was funny.

Turns out the joke was on me since she went back to working 80 hours a week when our twins were five-months-old, leaving me at home to be the one in the apron. Huey’s no nanny, but he has been indispensible. If you have infant twins, you need a dog. I don’t know how I’d have done it without one. If you don’t have a dog and already have babies, you’re too late. Dogs are a lot of work, and my bet is you don’t have time for one. But here’s what you’re missing.

I found taking care of kids by myself to be pretty intimidating. It took me a little while to connect with them, feel comfortable handling two at once and finally come up with a schedule that worked for eating, naps, playtime, etc. to reduce the general chaos. Through it all, Huey was there – seeking attention, trying to lick their faces and generally adding an element of annoyance that I really didn’t need. But what he was really good at was clean-up.

Early on, it was spilled milk and the occasional spit up. Huey’s so thorough he can even get liquids out of carpet. And once our boys started eating solid food, Huey was on the spot with anything that fell to the floor. Today, I estimate he saves me an hour a day cleaning up after meals. In the time it takes me to walk from our dining room to the kitchen to get paper towels, Huey can mop the entire area around the high chairs. The boys, Jack and Teddy, like having him there too. Whenever they accidentally drop something, they tell me “don’t worry, Huey get it.” They even say that in restaurants, so obviously he’s made quite an impression.

Huey’s good for other things too. Like protection. When we go on walks, Huey likes to get right beside the stroller with his nose just far enough ahead that he can see what’s coming and keep an eye on the twins. I get a lot of comments from people we meet about how watchful he is. Not that we live in a threatening area, but it makes me feel good to know he’s got our back. Like the time a middle-school-aged girl came rushing up to the stroller to see the babies. Huey barked and growled and the hair on his back stood up. He was ferocious. Of course, his reaction wasn’t warranted in this situation, but you never know.

I’ve even gotten Huey to do some brief babysitting. Now that our twins are two and we have a third son, Luke, who’s four-months-old, I need all of the help I can get. Luke is generally very relaxed and flexible, but he doesn’t like to be alone. One afternoon a couple of weeks ago, as Jack and Teddy were waking up from their nap, Luke, who was napping in his swing in another room, started to wake up too. Knowing I only needed a few minutes with Jack and Teddy and then could come back to Luke, I called Huey and made him sit by the swing. Sit, not lie down, I told him so that Luke could see him. My wife says it’s pretty well accepted that you’re not supposed to leave dogs alone with babies, but it worked for me.

I won’t say having Huey around is the same as having a nanny, but he’s a huge help. The kids get a kick out of him, and, most importantly, he never fails to let me know at the end of every day what a great job I’m doing.

Some say well-trained dogs are safe, but others want certain breeds out

2011-02-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

The majority of American pet owners believe a well-trained dog is safe — even if it comes from one of the "bully breeds."

Some dog breeds, such as pit bulls or Rottweilers, are considered truly dangerous by 28 percent of American pet owners, but an Associated Press- Petside.com poll found that 71 percent said any breed can be safe if the dogs are well trained.

"It's not the dog. It's the owner that's the problem," said Michael Hansen, a 59-year-old goldsmith from Port Orchard, Wash. "The dog will do whatever it can to please the owner, right down to killing another animal for you."

"If they are brought up in a loving household, they can flourish just like any other dog," agreed Nancy Lyman, 56, of Warwick, Mass.

Sixty percent of pet owners feel that all dog breeds should be allowed in residential communities, while 38 percent believe some breeds should be banned, according to the poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications.

Denver and Miami-Dade County in Florida have pit bull bans that go back decades. The Army and Marine Corps have put base housing off limits to the dogs in the last few years.

Of the pet owners in the poll who support breed bans, 85 percent would bar pit bulls. Other breeds considered too dangerous were Rottweilers, Dobermans, German shepherds and chow chows. Seven percent said any violent, vicious or fighting dog should be banned and 2 percent said all large dogs should be outlawed.

Asked specifically about pit bulls, 53 percent of those polled said they were safe for residential neighborhoods, but 43 percent said they were too dangerous.

Age played a major role in the pit bull questions — 76 percent of those under age 30 said pit bulls were safe, compared with just 37 percent of seniors.

Janice Dudley, 81, of Culver City, Calif., was taking out her garbage when she was charged by a pit bull whose owner had been walking him in her neighborhood for years.

"He came within a few inches of my leg. It was shocking. There was nothing I could do. The owner controlled the dog and they went on their way but it was really very frightening," she said.

She goes to great lengths to avoid the man and dog now, she said. "That was as close as I've ever come and as close as I ever want to be."

Dudley would stop short of imposing a widespread breed ban, but she believes pit bulls are too dangerous. "I think it is in their nature to be more vicious than other dogs," she said.

She blames breeders for the dangerous behavior of the animals and believes the dogs are genetically at risk. "People I know who have had them maintain they are the sweetest things in the world. I don't believe it," she said.

Older pet owners were more apt to support a breed ban than younger ones — 56 percent of seniors believe some dogs should be outlawed compared with just 22 percent of those under age 30.

Parents who own pets were no more or less likely than nonparents to say certain breeds should be banned.

But Tiffany Everhart, 40, of Splendora, Texas, wouldn't have a pit bull. "I have a small child and I'm not going to take that chance." A paralegal, she also believes some dogs are too dangerous for residential areas and she would support a breed ban.

"Every dog is different and should be evaluated on its own merits," said "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan.

"If a pit bull has good energy, and if he is socialized early and brought up in a balanced and structured pack environment, then I would consider him perfectly safe for a family with children," Millan said.

California budget cuts means faster euthanizing of strays in shelters. Adopt NOW

2011-01-29T14:07:00.000-08:00

California having no money is planning to reduce the days of animal shelters hours. This might mean that they will be open 1 day less than normal. This leads to less workers, less animals. There are already an overwhelming amount of dogs but with one less day, they will have no choice but to euthanize more animals than they already are.

If anyone is thinking of adding a dog to their family, do it now and please remember to spay and neuter your animals.

Don't forget that it is illegal to breed without a breeders license in Los Angeles. Please don't add to the overwhelming numbers of homeless dogs.

Barking Chef featured on Animal Planet France!

2011-01-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

Barking Chef is a homemade Dog Food Company located in Los Angeles. We were asked to be in a segment for Animal Planet France. France? Yup!
It was a lot of fun and believe it or not, all day of filming.

Barking Chef is a homemade organic dog food company located in Woodland Hills. Delicious foods made weekly for your pooch. Pork, Beef, Chicken, over whole wheat pasta, cous cous. Sounds like the foods I eat! No joke! Check out Barking Chef here.

This is a shorter video so watch and enjoy us speaking French!!

Daily News!

2011-01-29T12:06:00.000-08:00

Guinness and I hung out one morning at the Sepulveda Basin Dog Park and Daily News took a few pictures of a few of the dogs that was out and about at the park.

Thanks Hans for all the great pictures!!

Can you tell how much she loves her stick?!

Update - TPLO Plate Removal Surgery

2011-01-29T11:27:00.001-08:00

It has been 4 months since Guinness's TPLO Plate removal surgery and it was a success. We are so happy that we decided to get the plates removed. Most importantly, Guinness is happy too!

Having something foreign in her body (plates) was causing a lot of pain, infection, inflammation. Now that it has been removed, her legs are no longer swollen, she can get up faster, and you can see a difference in the way she moves, runs, and plays. We still have to be cautious because her legs are prone to injuries but we are delighted to update everyone that we made a good decision!

The recovery was also fairly quick. We confirmed that she is allergic to tremodol which is an anti-inflammatory medication. Each time she took it she broke out into hives. Her body temperature went up as well. No more!

The biggest challenge was trying to keep her from licking both of her legs and reopening her sutures. Oh boy!

I didn't want her to be miserable so I went to several pet stores and tried everything on the market!

1. Comfy Cone: This was a great idea but it didn't work. It was soft and comfortable but it wasn't long enough. Guinness could easily reach her legs. Mission Failed.

2. ProCollar Premium Inflatable Protective Collar: Super cool idea. You inflate it and wear it around the neck. Similar to the travel pillows that you put around your own neck.... Although nice and more freedom for the dogs, it was worse than the comfy cone. No restrictions and easy to reach behind. Again.... mission failed:

So on the 4th day, Guinness was sleeping and I was making lunch... well she was pretending to be asleep. She had removed all of her staples from her right leg. I went to check on her and there she was with her 7" cut wide open exposing everything inside! I saw the bone. I freaked out and bandaged her up right away and got in the car and drove all the way to san diego. Yup 3 hours later, she was re-patched and resutured. Unbelievable!

The doctors at Veterinary Specialty Hospital gave me a standard E Collar. But as I was making my final payments, she was already removing the bandages! They had to give us the next size up and it finally worked.

To brighten up the mood we added some felt hearts and ribbon!

Here are some pictures of her recovery:

Dog Toy Drop Off - Paws 4 Hope Event 9/12/10

2010-09-13T22:38:00.001-07:00

The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura hosted their 2nd Annual Paws 4 Hope event on September 12, 2010 at 11am in Westlake Village.

The event helps support those affected by cancer. The event included a dog walk and doggie contests including Most Creative Costume, Funniest Trick, Best Smile and more.

We were thrilled to be able be a part of such a great organization! Gift bags included one of our dog toy. This was a first for One Dollar Dog Toy to do a drop off for an event!

For those who have purchased the toys from us, pat yourself on the back!!!! We hope we can be a part of this event again next year!!

http://www.twcvv.org/programs/

Pictures of 1st Annual Paws 4 Hope:

TPLO Surgery - Plate Removal

2010-09-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

Our dog Guinness had 2 TPLO surgeries December of 2006 in San Diego from Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego. Our orthopedic surgeon was Dr. Pike.

Guinness went to the office with me everyday in San Diego and she had 2 brothers to hang out with (2 black dogs).

Almost daily, she played a bit too rough with them and sure enough while we were heading home from the office, she began to limp and couldn't jump into the car. I took her to a few different doctors in San Diego and we ended up with Dr. Pike. She had a torn ACL and a partially torn ACL in her other leg!

After a near $10,000, she had undergone 2 TPLO surgeries. We started with one and a few months later, we did the other. It was difficult to get around and help her, especially being a 75lb dog! After less than 6 months, she was back to new!

2009, she would have a few flare ups throughout the year. If she ran too much or played too much, she would limp around for a week or two. We drove down to San Diego to see Dr. Pike and we discuss possibly removing the surgical plates. We opted not to since there didn't seem to be enough guarantee that she would feel better.

2010, her flare ups came way too often. She would be in pain more than she was healthy. September 8th, we decided to take the drive down to San Diego and have Dr. Pike look at her leg again. Sure enough, she had an infection on her left leg (from the plates) and a lot of scar tissue. Her right leg had a slight miniscus tear. On that same day she underwent surgery of both of her legs to remove the plates, remove the tear, and remove the scar tissue. This surgery cost $2500

I was able to pick her up on September 10th with lots of pain killers, anti inflammatory, and antibiotics! We both survived the 4 hour rush hour drive back to Los Angeles.

She didn't show a lot of pain but the first few days she was so drugged up, it felt like we brought home a different dog. She sometimes would forget that she had surgery and try to hop around. I have to say that this surgery was much easier for both of us than the initial TPLO surgery. She seems to be doing okay. We stopped the pain meds (50mg tramadol) after day 2. We also stopped Carprofen (Rimadyl) as well because she would break out and have some sort of an allergic reaction.

She is current taking 750mg of Cephalexin (antibiotics) at 10am and 10pm for the next 2 weeks. She seems to be doing okay.

We will be removing her bandages tomorrow which is good because her bandages are falling down!

We will be removing her staples within 10 - 14 days.

All in all, her spirits are high and we are all optimistic that this was the right decision!

Adding a little sweetener

2010-02-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

Guinness isn't much of a "girls" name so most people think that she is a boy. But that's okay because we put plenty of cute pink bows, cute red jacket, and even a stylish Coach collar. What we realized during our doggy makeover is that by putting cute bows, people are not afraid of her size.

Some people tend to be scared when a large brown dog approaches but never when they see how sweet she looks with her bow.

Next time you take out your dog, put a pink bow or even a blue ribbon and you will get a totally different reaction from your neighbors!

Try it out on your Pittbull or Rottie and see if you get a different reaction.

Cesar's Tips

2010-02-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of Cesar Millan's The Dog Whisper. Sadly we don't get the National geographyic channel on our cable line up but I just can't get enough! I believe 100% in his core strategies and his "dog psychology" mentality.

Whenever a friend is getting a dog or thinking of adopting a dog for the 10th time in his/her life, I always refer to Cesar. Watch his shows and follow his suggestions and guaranteed, you will come out with a well mannered dog that you have always wanted.

Here is a link to Cesar's insightful tips. Sure some might seem like a no brainer to you but gosh darn it, he knows dogs and I wish everyone would take the time to watch and implement these changes on their dog!

This may be over the top but shelters, rescue organizations, and breeders (unfortunately) should mandate that people watch his shows prior to getting a dog! Better yet, the Cesar Millan Corporation can offer a free sample DVD to all the adopting moms and dads!

Here is a sample tip from Cesar on a common problem like separation anxiety:

Before you leave, go for a walk. Start the day by providing vigorouBefore you leave, go for a walk. Start the day by providing vigorous exercise. Then reward your dog's calm-submissive energy with food and water. Some dogs may need to rest before eating, but all dogs can benefit from hydration. The idea is to leave your dog in quiet, resting mode while you are away.

No touch, no talk, no eye contact. Don't make a big deal when you leave for the day or when you return. This way, you are communicating to your dog that the time apart is no big deal. It's just business as usual! Depending on the severity of the case, you may need to practice the rule for five minutes or up to an hour before you leave and when you get back.

Say goodbye long before you leave. Having trouble practicing "no touch, no talk, no eye contact"? Take a moment to share affection and tell your dog that you will miss him way before you actually leave. Keep in mind that this display is for you - not your dog! Your dog won't have his feelings hurt if you didn't say goodbye.

Stay calm and assertive! When you are ready to go to work, leave those guilty, nervous, and concerned feelings behind. Instead, let your dog know that everything is going to be okay by projecting the confident energy of a pack leader.

3 children attacked by 5 dogs - who should be punished?

2010-02-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

I heard on the news today that another pack of dogs attacked a couple of kids. Apparently the dogs got out of their backyard and started to attack. It made me sad reading this article but more so I was angry at the owners of the dogs. I am sure that they will be punished but is it enough? Absolutely not. The owner did several things wrong in my opinion:

1. Dogs were not socialized to humans or other dogs beside the 5 they lived with.
2. The owner had 5 dogs in his/her backyard, probably have kept them in the backyard with little to no interaction (except for the daily food and water feeding).
3. Owning 5 dogs! Even the responsible dog owners max out at 2 or 3 but 5? Give me a break.
4. Owner probably never took them on a walk ever.
5. I can keep going but you get the point....

I am not talking about a dog snipping at someones leg, I am talking about these violent episodes where a dog violently attacks a human or another animal.

Yes, the dogs shouldn't have done what they did and I don't necessarily blame the police for shooting at them but with 3 kids badly injured, 1 dog killed, 4 awaiting euthanasia - where is the finger being pointed at?

What I want to know is how severe is the punishment for this dog owner?
3-5 years in jail and a fine? What about if the child died? Do you get a murder conviction?

I think I am more depressed about all the people and rescue organization who go out of there way to reassure that a breed like the Pit-bull is misrepresented but then when an event like this happens, where a owner doesn't do there part to train to help regain the Pitbull's image, all that work keeps getting shoved down the drain.

Perhaps there should be a better screening process as to what kind of people can apply for a specific adoption of a particular breed. Most rescue organizations do a thorough job but what about the shelters? What about the breeders?

Here is the article:
________________________

FONTANA -- A 5 year old girl who was mauled by a pack of escaped dogs is improving.

A spokesman for Loma Linda University Children's Hospital says Destiny Colon's condition has been upgraded from critical to serious.

Destiny and two of her siblings were attacked by a pack of five dogs who escaped from a home on Monday, according to Fontana police Sgt. Jeff Decker. Destiny was walking with her mother, Josie Arellano, and her three siblings when the dogs ripped her out of her mother's arms and tossed her around like a rag doll, Sgt. Decker said.

"Five dogs escaped ... through holes in the fence," Sgt. Decker said. "During the struggle, one of the dogs tore the 5-year-old victim away (from the woman) and began to maul the child. The other dogs began to attack the other two victims as they were trying to run home."

Destiny was the most seriously injured. She suffered a broken rib cage, a punctured lung and severe wounds to her head, neck, arms and legs. She was placed on a ventilator after the attack.

6 year old Hector Perez suffered serious injuries to his leg requiring 237 staples. 7 year old Princess Colon required 18 stitches to her legs.

Several people in the neighborhood heard the victims screaming and rushed to their rescue. A group of teenagers began throwing rocks at the dogs in a effort to force them to let the children go.

The pack of dogs, a mastiff, two pit bulls and two mixed breed canines, managed to get out of a yard of a home on Ceres Avenue and attacked all three children.

Another dog was shot and killed when it charged one of the officers who responded to the scene.

The four surviving dogs have been quarantined at the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter and will be euthanized, according to officials.

Detectives say they have identified the owner of the dogs and are passing the case along to the District Attorney's office which will consider any possible charges.

Sgt. Decker says the mother was taking the children to the park as a reward because they had done well in school.

I walked my dog on a leash today.

2010-02-01T14:15:00.001-08:00

So many will be opposed to a dog that is off leash in a public area but I get so frustrated when people get angry with me for not having a leash on my well mannered dog. She is social, happy, and loves everyone. She knows not to go on the street and we have complete trust in her.

Of course not all dogs can be off leash but if you have trained your dog, why stop people from allowing your dog to enjoy his/her walk more freely?

Yes I know, some places have leash laws but I say "poo on them". I have observed so many dog behaviors and correct me if I'm wrong but I think dogs are less violent being off leash than be strained and tied to a nervous owner. Just like Mr. Cesar Millan says, dogs can feel the negative and nervous energy. If you tense up because a new dog is smelling your dog, well more than likely your dog is going to tense up too and possibly get aggressive.

Dogs are smart! They know how to interact with each other as long as people allow them to have enough social interaction in their lives. If a dog gets too close or doesn't like something they will bark or snap but to me, that's just normal animal behavior. I think that sometimes dogs make the best dog trainers.

This Sunday I was out on a walk with my dog with leash intact (yes I didn't feel like getting yelled at that day). As we are walking by another lady with 2 poodles, the poodle starts to get on her hind legs and start barking and growling at my dog. The lady had the nerve to tell me and my dog to "get away because my dog is not friendly". I said, "excuse me?" shocked I told her, "My dog and I have every right to walk on this sidewalk. Maybe you should move out of our way or actually socialize your dog" Okay so I'm not proud of what I said to her because it wasn't very nice but gosh darn it!!!! Even with a leash, I got yelled out today! What is this world coming to!

"Why dogs are Better than kids"

2010-02-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

I read recently that there are now more dogs than children in Seattle and San Francisco. There is a book out called, "Why dogs are better than kids" explaining why Dogs give you warning before they throw up in the car. Makes me chuckle but how true!

In a recent poll, 45 percent of dog owners said that having a dog is better than having a child. 63 million American households have dogs, which is up 23% in the last 10 years.

I must be part of that 45%!

2010-01-30T23:53:00.000-08:00

Moscow is home to 35,000 stray dogs. That’s 84 dogs per square mile. It’s a hard life, especially in sub-zero winter months.

But according to a fascinating article in the Financial Times (brought to our attention last week by astute Dogster computermeister Paul Thrasher), these ubiquitous and resourceful dogs have each carved out their own niche within four main categories of dog “jobs.” We list them, with our own custom-made job titles, in order of descending social interaction with humans:

Security Guards – Their territories include hospitals, garages, warehouses, and other fenced-in institutions. They develop bonds with security guards, who give them food, and appreciate their added protection. The dogs regard the guards as their masters.

These dogs can identify the most soft-hearted people, and they know how to work their charms on them. A psychologist/beggar dog may appear to be sleeping as throngs walk past, but when an easy “target” comes within range, he’s suddenly alert and on the job.

“The dog will come to a little old lady, start smiling and wagging his tail, and sure enough, he’ll get food,” Andrei Poyarkov, a biologist who has studied Moscow’s strays extensively, tells the Financial Times. He states that “these dogs not only smell who is carrying something tasty, but sense who will stop and feed them.” The wily dogs learn by watching other dogs do their jobs. (Doggy internships?)

Sanitation Engineers – These are urban scavengers who help keep the streets free from edible litter. They wolf down food scraps on sidewalks and streets. They forage through garbage for things to eat. During the Soviet period, the pickings were slim, but as Russia started prospering, their food sources increased, and so did their numbers.

Hunters – They are the true wild children of the Moscow stray scene. They thrive near industrial complexes and wooded parks, according to the article. Hunters catch mice, rats, and occasional cats. They fear humans, and tend to be nocturnal.

There’s a subcategory of Psychologists/Beggars that’s especially fascinating: Moscow’s metro dogs. According to animal behaviorist Andrei Neuronov, some 500 dogs live in Moscow’s train and subway stations. And incredibly, about 20 have actually learned how to take advantage of riding trains.

“Why should they go by foot if they can get around by public transport?” he tells the Financial Times.

tired-dog

“They orient themselves in a number of ways,” he says. “They figure out where they are by smell, by recognizing the name of the station from the recorded announcer’s voice and by time intervals. If, for example, you come every Monday and feed a dog, that dog will know when it’s Monday and the hour to expect you, based on their sense of time intervals from their biological clocks.”

Wow! These dogs are better at navigating Moscow’s metro than some of my friends are at navigating San Francisco’s Muni system!

The article also discusses what Moscow is doing to combat the anti-neutering/spaying attitude that’s a huge contributor to the stray problem. In addition, it’s full of interesting nuggets about wild dogs, stray dogs, wolves, and the process of domestication and its reverse. It’s a very worthwhile read, and if you’ve read all the way to the end of this article, you should go there now to read more.

Amazing Dog Rescue, Spikey!

2010-01-30T19:03:00.000-08:00

I watched this video of this dog being saved on TV last week. What a happy ending. The poor baby and his beat up paws after such a big fight for his life.

According to this story in the Los Angeles Times, though the German Shepherd mix wasn't wearing a collar and wasn't microchipped, the dog's story and face were all over the meda -- and that's what saved him. Turns out his owner is an elderly woman who speaks only Spanish. A friend of hers saw the news reports and told her.

Turns out, the dog's name is Spikey. Animal control officers found the woman's other dog wandering the neighborhood. She thinks her grandchildren left the gate open.

It makes me sad though that owners are not responsible enough to microchip and provide tags on there collars for situations like this.

Fireman was a hero with a bitten hand and all.

Stop descriminating against the breed, weight, and color of a pet!

2010-01-30T18:35:00.000-08:00

I read so many misconceptions towards a specific breed like pit bulls and it makes me so angry and sick to my stomach.

Here is a sample of a comment I read today:

"People own pit bulls to use as a weapon and if you’re part of the few that doesn’t own a pit bull to use a weapon, then know you’re amongst the majority of trash that does. Nobody thinks, “Gee, a pit bull would be a GREAT family dog.”
A pug is a great family dog, a pit bull is not.
In fact, why not just go out and get your family a bear or a tiger? And if you’re fortunate enough to live in an area where one of your neighbors owns one of these weapons of mass destruction, then do yourself a favor and move (your property value will quickly decline with pit bulls running around anyway) or get your village to sign an ordinance banning these animals.
Children deserve better. "

This is very upsetting to read and I see this discrimination happening every day. Landlords won't let you live there because you have a specific breed or how big your dog is. home insurance wont go through because you have a specific breed.

This is no different than the days when blacks were viewed as incompetent and dangerous or when Jews were viewed inferior because of there religious background.

I even see more black cats and black dogs in shelters / rescue organizations than the lighter furred dogs/cats. Talk about discrimination.

What is up with the weight issue when it comes to housing. "Only pets less than 25lbs"
Larger dogs are messier? more destructive? more loud? Less obedient? NO WAY!

I read a few years ago that more people without pets loose out on security deposit than people who do have pets. So if this is correct, all landlords should allow dogs and cats to live in homes. There are so many people who wish the could adopt a pet by they can't because of there landlord. Can you imagine how many pets will find home if landlords would just change their policy?

We have to wake up and realize that discriminating against a breed, weight, or color of a dog/cat is just plain wrong.

German Shepherd is the No. 2 most popular dog in America?

2010-01-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

For the 19th year in a row, the Labrador Retriever is America's most popular purebred dog.

The American Kennel Club today announced the results of their registration analysis. While the Lab retains his solid hold on the top, the German Shepherd Dog snuck up to snatch the No. 2 spot from the Yorkshire Terrier.

“Labs have been America’s top dog for nearly two decades due to their loyal and gentle nature,” AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson said in a statement. “But the German Shepherd dog has gained ground recently, quite possibly due to the increased attention they receive for their security efforts at home and abroad."

But here is the thing, we have a German Shepherd and Rhodesian Ridgeback mix but we usually comment that she is a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix for two reasons　(from our experience ofcourse)

1. they get scared that she is a German shepherd. maybe because they are police dogs? I have no clue.
2. Some landlord don't allow pit bulls and German shepherds. dumb right?
3. Our home insurance wont cover us if we have a German shepherd! WHY?!
4. not many have heard of Rhodesian ridge-backs so it's sometimes fun to see there reactions!

I recently saw on animal planet that the most popular now is the "laberodoodle". can you imagine, no shedding?! It sounds like heaven!

Prevent Skin Cancer

2009-06-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

Skin Cancer in dogs are all too common with older dogs. Luckily there are big advancements lately in curing the deadly skin tumors but we all agree that the best thing to do is prevent your dog from getting it. Just like humans, dogs too get skin cancer from the sun. As summer gets closer, remember to smooth on the sunscreen, especially around areas with less hair . . . and while your at it, put some on yourself too!

There are many “doggy” sunscreens available on the market from creams to sprays but make sure to pick out a natural sunscreen. If you see chemicals that you can't pronounce, don't use it! Just because the label says it's for dogs, doesn't mean that it is best for your dog.

I've used a couple of doggy sunscreens but baby “natural” sunscreens work just as well if not better. I particularly like the Neutrogena Pure and Free Baby Sunscreen.

So if your dog enjoys baking in the sun, make sure to rub some sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.

Hollistic Approach for your Dog's Health

2009-06-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

As you may already know, I am a huge advocate of natural healing and gentle remedies for treating your dog and cats health problems. Next time your dog or cat has any issues, give these home remedies a try. All of these products are probably already in your home and a more natural way to treating your dog and cats health.

Constipation and Diarrhea (cats and dogs) – Mix 1 tsp to 1 tbsp of pumpkin in with their food. I buy organic pumpkin in a can and it just works wonders! Also try slices of ginger – this will help with any upset stomach.

Hairballs in cats – Mix 1 tsp to 1 tbsp of olive oil in their food. Guinness and I take a tbsp of olive oil a week to help with softer skin and coat / hair.

Bug Bites – tab some honey on the bug bite and it works as antibacterial agent.

Cuts and bleeding – dab some flour on the cut to stop the bleeding.

Stinky cat and dog ears – pour some vinegar on a q-tip and gently rub the inside of the ear.

Stinky breath – add a little mint and parsley with their food. If they don't take it, blend it finely.

Let's close down Elite Animals!

2009-05-03T01:05:00.000-07:00

I was so thrilled today when I got a call from our neighbor that they began a protest / investigation on Elite Animals, a pet store located very close to our home. They sell puppies and kittens. I am against animals being sold and bought when there are so many amazing dogs and cats just waiting to be adopted from Shelters and Rescues.

We have been successful in shutting down pet shops selling puppies and kittens in Los Angeles, I have no doubt that Elite Animals of West Hollywood is seeing it's last days.

Take a look at this article

Take a look at Carly Lyn's Video Post

For more information on the Companion Animal Protection Society

Dangers of Flea Medication

2009-04-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Why would you put something so toxic on an animals skin? The instruction repeatedly says to put it on the back of the neck and spine where a dog can't reach. Well we all know that our dogs are so flexible and can reach almost everywhere they please. So why would you insist on giving something so toxic? I'm not even talking about the terrible Hertz brand that you might find at your local CVS or Petco. Yes its cheap but even the more expensive and more popular brands like: Frontline and Advantage are toxic too!

Our dog Guinness loves being in the wild and we will never stop her from exploring the jungles of West Hollywood but how do we keep all those pests away from her? GARLIC! Yes! It used to be that Garlic was not good for dogs but after doing our research and speaking to so many nutritionists and veterinarians, it is okay to give them garlic. It not only adds great flavor to their food but pets hate the taste of Garlic. We have give her garlic flavored meals a couple of times a month and guess what?! It works. No matter if we are out at Runyon Canyon or the wild jungles of the SFV, not one flea has appeared on Guinness.

For those at home, give it a try. No need to give them a lot, just the tiniest bit of Garlic will keep those pests away! There is always a healthier and natural alternative!

Guinness's Favorite Things.

2009-04-11T01:02:00.000-07:00

Oprah has her "Favorite Things" and so does Guinness!
Her can't live without list:

1. JW Pet Bad Cuz Hard Rubber Squeaky Dog Toy - $7.99
2. XL Memory Foam Bed $100
3. Coach Collar $40
4. Ikea Poop Bag $1.50 / 50 pack
5. Ikea water and food $15.00
6. Unlimited quantities of good ol sticks from nature. $0.00
7. Binkie - old wool blanket with lots of holes. $0.00
8. Furminator - Brush $40.00

Window Cleaner Warnings for Pets

2009-04-11T00:49:00.000-07:00

Glass cleaner is one of the essential cleaning products that you must have in your home. But like most cleaners, are they safe for you and your pets? Glass cleaner manufacturers aren't required to put warning labels on the outside of the container, rather they put them on the inside of the container. This makes it almost impossible to read. You would think something this important should be written on the outside in bold print!

Although some glass cleaners are roughly 90% water, others include isopropanol, ammonia, or other chemicals that can be irritating if ingested or inhaled in sufficient quantities. Mixing an ammonia based product with chlorine bleach creates poisonous gas.

We may not sniff or lick the floors everyday but your pets do. Next time you spray anything on windows or floors, make sure you read the ingredients. Just because it is “green” doesn't mean you don't have to read the labels! More than 9000 calls were made to the poison control centers during a recent year.

Try to make your own cleaning product!!!

1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 gallon water
1 lemon (Squeezed)

So simple and so healthy for your pets. You can even save money this way too!

"MUFFINS, MUTTS, AND MORE" Event 3/15/09

2009-03-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

We had a fun doggy event at the Esprit Property in Marina Del Rey this Sunday. We gave out free samples of our homemade dog meals to all the dogs that came by. All the dogs enjoyed a day of fun, especially, Guinness!

There were dog boarding, potty grass, toys and apparel vendors there. Such a beautiful property and most importantly very dog friendly.

After the event we decided to come back to West Hollywood and pass out our dog food samples out to all the dogs in the neighborhood. What a fun day.

Who ever said "there is no such thing as a free lunch"?

"Canine Good Citizen" = Responsible Dog

2009-03-16T13:04:00.000-07:00

Canine Good Citizen is a behavior test that your dog can take through the American Kennel Club (AKC). It is a certificate that shows that your dog is well behaved. State legislatures began recognizing the CGC program as a means of advocating responsible dog ownership and 34 states now have Canine Good Citizen resolutions.

Guinness passed this exam with flying colors. She could already do the commands without a leash so we knew she would pass it. It is basically a series of 10 tests:

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
Test 7: Coming when called
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
Test 10: Supervised separation

You can email a CGC Administrator (http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm). We went to a local Petco for the test. The test took about 5-10 minutes and at the end you get a Certificate! We even purchased a bandanna and a CGC Patch that Guinness proudly wears on her pink vest.

People do confuse this as a service dog or therapy dog but this does not qualify the dog to be a service dog. I encourage all dog owners to take this exam with your dog because these are basics things the dogs should be able to master at any age.

If vaccines are bad for my pet, what are the alternatives?

2009-02-08T21:36:00.000-08:00

You might want to consider “nosodes”. They are similar to vaccines in that they contain a tiny bit of the disease against which the host is to be immunized. Nosodes are benign and are taken orally, so the trauma of injections is avoided. They are virus free and contain no antibiotics or chemicals. The best alternative would be to vaccinate less when they are young and repeat it even less or none at all. I have not vaccinated Guinness for over 2 years now and she is healthy.

Should you trust your Veterinarian?

2009-02-08T21:35:00.001-08:00

I have had so many problems finding a good doctor for Guinness in Los Angeles because most just want to cure her issues with antibiotics and other pills I can't even pronounce. Guinness is a very high energy dog and at the age of 1 ½ years old she had TPLO surgery on both knee's after tearing her ACL. It was a huge blow to her but also to our wallet. She has since recovered well but because of her active nature, she sometimes plays too hard and ends up sore and a little swollen around the knees.

I have taken her to about 5 or 8 doctors in Los Angeles and have yet to find one that I trust. I may be picky but I want only the best for my dog. If anyone knows of a great homeopathic vet in LA, do let us know!

Be careful next time and pay attention to what is being administered to your pet. Don't just put 100% of trust into your vet, try to do some research and understand what is wrong with your pet and what they suggest doing.

Rabies Vaccine Controversy.

2009-02-08T21:34:00.000-08:00

There have been studies showing aggressive behavior in pets with result of administering rabies vaccinations. Pets, especially dogs will become suspicious, aggressive, impulsive, and destructive. Although these dog's did not have rabies these are the symptoms of rabies disease. The vaccines set off some of the same behaviors as the disease. Unfortunately there are legal requirements of rabies. In CA, the requirement is every 3 years.

Most homeopathic veterinarians will sometimes provide a certificate of rabies without actually administering one. Some veterinarian will take blood sample to test for immunity to rabies, but not many will recognize this as legitimate proof.

Stop Vaccinating your Dog!

2009-02-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

I think that vaccines are only their to tame the disease epidemics and are leading killers of dogs and cats today. Too often a pet will have flu like symptoms like fever, painful joints, and lack of appetite, after getting vaccinated. After a few months, the pet may show more serious symptoms like bleeding gums, allergies, hemorrhages, and even seizures. Then years later, leading to kidney failure, arthritis and even cancer.

Most pet owner's don't even know how many vaccines their animal has received, partly because they are now bundled in “combo” and also because we are told that vaccines are “good”. But are they really? Just like the commercial dog food industry, over the 25 years the manufacturing of animal vaccines has become a multi-billion – dollar industry for drug companies like Pfizer, Intervet, Peska, Fort Dodge, and Solvay. As any business, pushing all the products they can and create new market shares as quickly as possible while veterinarians although well intended, may also have share in the profits. It's the vets fault really, rather than practicing medicine most do nothing but shove vaccines and pills down our animals.

Dr. Pitcairn's, a homeopathic veterinarian often has a number of cases in which the dog or cat took a turn for the worse whenever it was vaccinated. He also goes on to say that most skin allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus pemphigus, and other immune system disorders are results of repeated annual vaccinations.

Green Green Green!

2009-02-08T21:32:00.000-08:00

Green seems to be the color these days. So many are now conscious about recycling and reusing and I think it's great! Our Barking Chef business also try to be as green as possible. We don't provide our food in any fancy container but instead we recycle and reuse Cottage Cheese and Greek Yogurt containers from Trader Joe's! Not only do we save little on our overhead expenses but we can also reuse these containers for our customers meals. Our customers have never complained and they always give our containers back so we can continue to reuse them. All of our marketing brochures and papers are on recycled paper and sometimes we even reuse the blank side of the paper. Sometimes I wonder if we are being too unprofessional and not branding our business with quality but our customers seem to love it.

Dog Whisper .... "Psst!"

2009-02-08T21:29:00.000-08:00

I am sure most of you have heard of the dog whisper, Cesar Milan. The best advice that I can give you for any dog owner is to watch a few episodes of his show on National Geographic. Every chance I get I watch it because 1. I love dogs and I can't get enough and 2. he is brilliant and really understands dog behavior.

Guinness was a rescue from San Diego Humane Society and she was a terrible dog. Almost like Marley from Marley and Me. We understood dog behavior even before watching Cesar's shows but he has helped us really tackle down on some of Guinness's issues. He is my hero. I don't' get people who want to audition for his show when all you have to do is watch a few of his episodes. I think most just want to see their dog on TV but I guess without it, there wouldn't be any more dog whisper shows. I see so many dog owners treating their dog as their baby... affection first and then maybe, just maybe a little discipline.

Well what they don't get is that they are only limiting their dog's life by encouraging anti social behavior and issues. Because of the owners, the dog's can't live to the max. You have no idea how many of these we have heard: “my dog doesn't like pit bulls” “my dog is friendly” (while he barks and tries to bite my dog) “my dog doesn't like big dog's” I laugh sometimes because they are the source of their dog's problem.

It saddens me seeing these amazing dog's and 95% of them have issues that the owner's are not even bothering to correct those behaviors. Just because they are small in stature, it doesn't mean they can get a way with bad behavior!!!! I wish more people would take the time to watch Cesar Milan. “Psst!”

Is there a leash law in one of the most dog friendly city?

2009-02-08T21:27:00.000-08:00

We still take her out often but we are more comfortable with the young friendly neighbors surrounding this town. We have trained Guinness so well that we want her to enjoy the freedom and be off leash most of the time. Yes we get some angry people shouting at us and threatening us to call the cops but there are more friendly people that don't mind it.

Here is the thing, our dog is well trained, well mannered. Why does she have to suffer being on a 6 ft leash just because most dog owners haven't figured out how to properly train and understand dog behavior? Yes, there is a leash law also in West Hollywood but we haven't received a ticket yet and it is worth it for us knowing our dog is the happiest dog in town.

With the Sheriff's building near us, we have come across sheriff's but they have never said anything to us, instead they smile and tell us how impressed they are with how well trained she is. We apologize to those who don't like us but inside I am thinking 'mind your own business and focus on your untrained, biting, barking, anti-social, dog'.

West Hollywood's Boys Town!

2009-02-08T21:24:00.000-08:00

It's been a month since we moved to West Hollywood and we love it here. This town is such a dog friendly city surrounded by the large gay community, which we love and support. Most of the stores have a water bowls outside and we can even bring our dog inside Wells Fargo and even the little yogurt place Angelina's! Flight Store even has biscuits sitting outside!

Our building consists of 8 residents with 6 dogs! Talk about heaven! Every walk we bump into several of Guinness's 4 legged friends and she gets to hunt for mice near the Metro bus station. Haven't caught any, thank goodness but she does come close!

San Diego to Beverly Hills

2009-02-08T21:21:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a year and a few months since we moved from San Diego to Los Angeles. We found ourselves living in Beverly Hills after taking on a new job. Paying nearly 3K on a 2 bedroom condo was not really something we are proud of but we felt like we had to get a 2 bedroom even though it was just the two of us and our dog Guinness. Guinness is 3 years old now but she was used to having a large house and a huge backyard while we lived in San Diego. We thought at the time that it would be a great idea to get a 2 bedroom to compensate for not having a back yard. It turns out we didn't really need a 2 bedroom since no one used the living room and the 2nd bedroom after all.

I took Guinness out on walks 3-5 times a day.... welcome to the world of city life! By the end of our one year lease, we can say that Beverly Hills was not for us. Although we loved our beautiful home the people in our neighborhood was not too happy with 2 late 20s couple walking around with a big brown dog. We would often let Guinness off leash so she can run around and be free but we got so many complaints and stares all the time! A couple of times our neighbor would stare us down from her balcony in disgust but what were we going to do, not let our dog enjoy her time outside in the semi fresh Los Angeles air?

Davita and Roxy were the only two friends Guinness made that year. We sure didn't make many friends in that town but that was okay because we moved to the city next door, West Hollywood!

Welcome to our blog.

2009-02-08T21:05:00.000-08:00

This is our first blog ever and we are so excited to share our views and our findings to all of our furry loving friends. A little about me, I have always been a animal lover even before I could walk. It didn't matter what breed or what size, as long as it was furry... I wanted to keep it! I was born and raised in Japan and have pretty much have had several dogs all of my life. I am sure most of my readers can relate to this over empowering sense of wanting to nurture and protect our animals and always wanting nothing but the best for them. My goal in writing this blog is to reach out to as many dog lovers and share with each other not just about pet nutrition but anything surrounding our dog's life... after all they do kind of rule the world!