Dog's Don't Stay Around Long Enough, Do They?

This was just sent to me, and I thought it fitting for those of you we've been close to recently that have lost their older soles.

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me.. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The Six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently..

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

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148th Carp Fair, Ottawa, Ontario

I've lived in this area since 1961, even closer since 1996, and never, ever, do I remember going to the Carp Fair; one always thought of going to our main Exhibition @ Lansdowne Park in Aug. Well, yesterday I met up with friends to watch the heavy horse hitch competition and go for dinner.

Here's a few pics of the 6 horse hitch. What an awesome sight, and the feeling as their hooves thundered past you was an experience in itself ... if I can learn how to properly downsize one of the videos I took so loading isn't an issue, I'll post it.

some 18 horses teams, all standing patiently

liked this team

the winners ~ no idea how they judge them

walking through the other barns ~ ever see chickens with feathered feet?

the grass is always greener on the other side :)

I didn't take pics, but in another area there was a sow with 5 young pigs and at the time we were there, I swear to god, all the times I've been on farms, I've never seen a group of young ones do FRAPS, just like a bunch of puppies @ 8wks of age! They were tearing around, going in no specific direction, altho using the sow as a round about, and one you could tell was more dominant than the rest as it would tend to mount the others & the sow. Ear licks, nuzzling, play bowing ... all the same as puppies. A real good chuckle for sure!

PS ... these grounds were the same as where our CSSA National 2006 was held. This main ring held both our herding & agility competitions. Our 2012 National will be in Ancaster, near London, Ont.

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Expecting Fall Litter

We can confirm that our girl "Tyme" is expecting. She's been bred to our Ch Shelamo Sugar Rush, who has produced two Champions in one litter. They are sisters, with one being "Breeze" MBPIS BPISS Ch Shelamo Flash Forward that we've had so much fun showing this yr.

"Breeze" in the Junior Handler competition @ the Ste Foy Dog Show with Justin

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A Whole Lot of Accomplishments

Wooowww ... did we all have a busy weekend here .. and the most gorgeous sunny, warm weekend for everything on our plate to go just so ....
Dogs got a new 26' long x 10' wide shade tent in their back pen ... thanks to two young strapping male friends of Mary Anne's they were able to assembly it.
There was also a 'crew' that we sold our above ground pool too - this was the last of it, the deck, being loaded late on Saturday.

Saturday & Sunday I was involved as the rep for Purina Proplan in the PetsMart Adoption day program that they sponsored.

these two were so proud of their new kitten and the Proplan goodies they received

I left this event @ 3:30 and flew across town to make it just in time for a 4pm wedding .. the bride was just headed down the isle. Rachel & Matt Davidson tied the knot in a lovely outdoor setting. Matt is the son of my friend Mary-lou; they are ones that adopted one of the sheltie rescues that I was involved with last October. I anxiously await the professional pics done of Timbit with the Groom's Men in his own bow tie.

right on ... it's done!

the gathering @ the Davidson's for the morning get together

Sunday, before I headed back to PetsMart I had time to drop in to the Davidson's for a morning after breakfast. Mary-lou had done a wonder job with a great selection of eats, including Tim Hortons coffee!

I heard many didn't hit the sack till 4am ... and I hear they learned a lot of new dance moves.

And, well, bless his sole, Mike spent the better part of Sunday shopping.

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Keeping our Fur-Kids Safe

I've already posted some things that seem way out, and not even considered, that would be toxic to your canine friend ... like the sweetener xylitol (chewing gums), and blue alga (small backyard feature ponds) ... here are a few more you might not have considered.

Did you know that the composter you have in your backyard that you are so diligent in keeping up to help our landfills out ... well as it does its 'work' it is also making deadly toxins that if your dog gets into it, it can be deadly for them. Specifically, it contains mycotoxins that can result in seizuring, tremoring, and secondary hyperthermia. Signs usually occur within 2 hours of ingesting the material, starting with vomiting and tremors (shaking). Whether you know your dog got into the composter or not, these signs mean it's time to get your dog to the vets.
Cocoa mulch shells, that one might put in their garden can also cause lethal effects. These products contain theobromine, which is what is in chocolate, that can make our canine friends so sick. So beware of what you put in your gardens, and also what your non-fur friend neighbours use.

I posted before about xylitol and its harmful effects on dogs. This chemical is not only found in many of the chewing gums, but I've also learned it's in a lot more these days - toothpaste, mouthwash, anti aging face creams, face masks, face cleanser (a whole raft of skin care products in general), and can even be in sun screens.

What does xylitol cause in a dog? In the canine body, the pancreas confuses xylitol with real sugar and releases insulin to store the “sugar.” The problem is that xylitol does not offer the extra calories of sugar and the rush of insulin only serves to remove the real sugar from the circulation. Blood sugar levels plummet resulting in weakness, disorientation, tremors, and potentially seizures. The other problem is with the liver. It is not yet known why, but it starts to destroy the liver tissue.
The hypoglycemic dose of xylitol for dogs is considered to be approximately 0.1 grams per kilogram of body weight (about 0.045 grams per pound). A typical stick of gum contains 0.3 to 0.4 grams of xylitol, which means that a 10 lb dog could be poisoned by as little as a stick and a half of gum.

How much is too much for liver damage?

The dose to cause hepatic necrosis is 1 gram per kilogram of body weight, about ten times more than the above dose. In the example above, the 10 lb dog would have to find an unopened package of gum and eat it for liver destruction to occur.

I can't tell you how much of this product might be in say, face cream, or toothpaste, but it's enough you need to look at labels and consider your storage options.

Signs can be seen within 30 minutes of ingestion - vomiting, weakness, uncoordinated movement.

If you're interested, here's a site that lists items in different categories using xylitol in them.

Homesteadmarket

Lastly, where does your dog travel in your vehicle? Are they safe? Loose? Riding beside you? On your lap; hanging out the window?

There are about only 1 in 10 dogs travelling by car that are properly secured. The danger is not only to them, but also to you. At just 20 kph (35 mph) a 60 lb dog would become a projectile with a force of 2,700 lbs in a collision.

2 years ago I was 1st on the scene of a car that had swerved to miss a deer and then bounced off a hydro poll, into and out of a small ditch. There was a gentleman and his small dog in the car. I was trying to get to the gentleman, but was faced with this barking, teeth barring terrier. Luckily, the gentleman wasn't injured and was able to control his dog. I was able to leash the dog, with one of my own, and remove him, then able to check both of them. No one was hurt, thankfully.

This just goes to show you that a loose dog in a vehicle accident can impede 1st responders. The dog can get startled by an accident, run off on, causing potentially other accidents as vehicles swerved to miss them, and/or if injured make it even harder for someone to administer 1st aid. However, if they are crated (my preference all the way around), or seat belted, this minimizes the risk to not only the driver, but to the dog and anyone trying to help.

And please don't think it's great to travel with your dog hanging its head out the window ... just think of the # of bugs that hit your windshield or your side mirrors. They can also hit your dog in the eye, or even go down their ears. If your dog loves the smell of the country air, then put the window down just enough that they can smell, or use these window grates.

There are many ways to secure your dog in a vehicle. Crating to me is the best, as I've said. It is an all-in-one safety feature - dog is safe from flying objects, and any one responding to the scene of an accident can easily just remove the dog in its crate. You can seat belt them in; there are booster seats for small dogs; there are gates for the back of vehicles like vans. What ever your choice, please use it, no matter how short of a trip you are taking. Remember, most car accidents happen within 3- 8 km (2-5 miles) from your home.

Keep your fur friends safe during these Dog Days of Summer. Travel safe.

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A Naming Game - Tic, Tac and now, Toe

Long time sheltie clients of ours have now completed their next generation of agility stars. Their interest in agility started back in 1997 when they purchased their 1st sheltie from us, Shelamo English Rose (and yes, as her name implies, she left with them the day Lady Di passed away).

Their 2nd sheltie from us is "Tic", she's a small tri girl, that is just eating up the agility rings.

"Tic" and owner Jack in 2009

"Tac" their 2nd dog is a Papillion.

And now, they've completed their naming game with "Toe". He was over to have his ears redone, so I took the opportunity to capture a few shots of him. He's just coming up 16 wks.

He is sired by our BPIS Ch Shelamo's Riding The Sky HIC (who is also working in agility with owner Linda Howie) out of our girl Ch Shelamo That's Amore.

We're hoping he follows in his father's paw prints.

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Showing - Full of Laughs & Good Times

I'm tardy in putting this post up ... just one of those weeks.

It was a fun show, last weekend in Ste Foy, Quebec. Marylou and I went for a 3+ day excursion starting out late in the day. It was about a 5.5 hr drive, with the weather on the way down hot and humid. Through Montreal we came across a couple of construction zones, seeing these signs ... to us, it meant 'suck it in' ... tummy tucks that is, so we were hoping we'd have flat stomachs by the time we'd finished ... nope.
There were 2 shows on the Friday, with our MPBIS MPBISS Ch Shelamo Flash Forward garnering another Best Puppy In Group and a Grp 3rd under judge E. Wild. Her sister Shelamo Deja Vu was Reserve Winners Bitch. In the afternoon show "Breeze" won another Best of Breed/Best Puppy.

Best Puppy in Group Presentation

Saturday, it was again very hot and humid ... guess pushing 37C or so. I got asked in the morning by Jodie of Treasure Coast, if one of our girls could be used for juniors for their son Justin. I knew "Breeze" would be a breeze (ha, ha) at that! I was proud of how my girl, still a puppy, handled herself with a total stranger, someone she'd only met an hour or so before juniors.

Justin & "Breeze" in his classes' line-up.

She never let up showing for him.

On our previous trip past Quebec City we'd eyed the Montmorency Falls Park, so we decided to head there Saturday after the show, maybe even get some lovely pics of the girls there.

On our way there, this is what we followed ....

how's that for an escort?!

Well, much to our surprise there was a BIG event going on - a fireworks display! There were cops, barricades, parking restrictions, parking attendants, no parking signs on the upper town area .... so after driving around to try and find, even a spot to view them from above we gave up. The weird thing was, that in our travels around the streets above, and OH MY, were there some beautiful homes overlooking the river ... didn't we see this Official Pace car (or one just like it) sitting in a driveway! The owners of the home could be seen sitting out in their enclosed patio, so I dared not take a pic.
This was our set up, nice and dry, mostly shaded for the day, right next to the obedience/rally rings. So we got to watch a lot of exhibitors go thru their paces. There was one young girl, just 9 yrs old with her Cavalier who achieved 2 qualifying legs for her Pre Novice. She got a great round of applause .... I still remember those days myself. Sunday, it was a totally different story ... it rained, and rained. Luckily it was just a drizzle when we were packing up, however it still meant stuff had to be dried out on Monday.

Another show trip over with, washing done, equipment dried out.

"Breeze" in the Juniors ring

After this weekend, she is now ranked #2 Sheltie Puppy (2 BPIS, 9 BPIG) and #9th overall Sheltie
We're proud of this girl's accomplishments.
(according to Best Dog In Canada & Canuck Dogs)

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Dog Obedience - Time To Think What To Do

It's time to think of fall dog obedience classes. Do you have a 4-6 month old pup that you need that extra help in getting them under control? Are they still pulling you down the street? Not coming when called? Maybe it's time to get some help.

Many of the obedience classes, especially in my area of the City of Ottawa, start up in September.

my Level 1 spring class @ Glen Cairn Community Center does well enough with distractions to start to work outdoors

The City of Ottawa has gone Green, and thus there is no longer a printed guide. The guide is now on-line here at

ottawa.ca/recreationguide

Go to the Adult Program/Sports and scroll down to page 29 where you will see all the classes offered in the Ottawa area.

Why train? It not only gives you and your dog a one-on-one time to enjoy each others company, but it also gives you and your dog a more consistent way of understanding one another. Dogs want to please, and we need to show them how. You and your dog also work at becoming a good neighbour, and in this world where we are living closer and closer to one another, we must show others our dogs can be well behaved in public.

If you've completed Level 1, consider the advanced distraction and off leash work that is done in the 2nd level. Learn more about your dog's behaviour in various situations in a secured indoor environment, and then, how do you control them.

Level 1 - distracted outside heeling

we make it fun for all at Halloween too!

No dog is too old to learn, to be able to spend dedicated time with their owner, to exercise their mind and just get out and go somewhere they know they will have fun.

What have you done with your dog today?

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Dear Deer, Please Don't Play On The Road

Saturday on our way out to a dog show, don't we get a glimpse of one of the two fawns heading across the road. I've seen one mother with her 2 fawns over the last few weeks, just never had my camera with me. Well, it was right behind my seat, so I slowed down, grabbed it and shot these pics through the van's window before the last one went off into the bush.

can you see it? just off to the left

we were able to get a little closer, then it disappeared

We stopped the van in the area we saw them cross, but no signs of mother or her fawns in the bush.

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An Unwanted Disappearing Act

Finally, summer has arrived ... and BOY has it arrived with a vengeance! It's been sweltering hot/humid for well over the last week and our gorgeous swimming pool that we finally got all the ph's and chlorine levels just right, has been pushing 80 F, guess around 24 C. With not so cool nights it's been staying around that temp.

Well ... Sunday morning I could hear a noise out the patio door ... it wasn't the a/c as the sound was a bit too far from the house ... it was the pool pump making a weird sound. I look out and sheesh, the water level was almost below the intake area. So out I go to at least turn off the pump and don't I step into a squishy water area! OH MY! there is a trickling water leak right down at the bottom.

Talk about my heart dropping ... I couldn't see where it might leaking from, just knew it was obviously somewhere 5' down. Mike got home from his errands and in he went to see if we could find a tear/crack. As he walked around in the area of where the water was, the water started to bubble even more and with the added pressure sure enough you could see the tear appear, right on the very bottom of the pool.

Within 24 hrs the pool was well over 2/3 rds empty ....

that brown spot ... well that's the tear with the sand under the pool showing thru

It's now Tuesday, and guess what, the higher temps haven't let up, with the prediction of upwards of 93F/34C into this weekend, and that's not with the humidex added in! Some are predicting we could get up to 41-44C with the humidex.

Oh, humbug .... wouldn't you know it!

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Our Baie St Paul, PQ Dog Show Trip

We (Marylou and I) took off this past weekend for a dog show, in an area of our vast country, Canada, that I haven't travelled through. It was a show in a small town, east of Quebec City called Baie St Paul that is situated on the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River. It's a quaint, artistic town, all homes/business so very well kept. Everything, from what seemed to be freshly painted surfaces, to colourful roofs, coloured vinyl siding, manicured lawns with flowers, shrubs and trees that seemed to be planted just so.

The great weather made the trip that more enjoyable.

Small outdoor cafes lined the main street & intersection in the downtown area.

A long mural lined a rock face along a small river in town - this is just one section where if you look closely there are actual train tracks on the flat surface.

one of the art galleries lawn art

Afternoon milking
On Sunday afternoon we headed up the road and visited two cheese factories. This one makes their cheese from their sheep.

This dog lives with his flock. A sign said, 'Dog working, don't disturb'

We took a walk down the board walk ... looking out onto the river as the sun started to set

Breeze .... sticks were there to relax and chew on

Marylou with the two girls at the motel coming back from their afternoon walk
Breeze is on her left, Pumpkin on her right

the daisy hill behind our motel (looking down towards the town) .... I didn't have my camera the 1st time Pumpkin decided it was the best place to roll ... the 2nd time she started to, but it was just a bit too hot to really get into it

Pumpkin did come away with a 3pt win going Best of Breed/Puppy Breed; sister Ch Breeze added a Group 4th to her winnings

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Puppies - Oh how they grow

The Whistler x Ruby litter are now just over 8 wks of age ... how time flies and what fun I've had with this litter. They've been such little dolls, taking every new adventure their grandma Linda (Whistler's owner) has thrown at them. With all she's done, there has to be some great agility stars in there.

Today it was lovely out, and, well, why not hang puppy laundry out to dry. Sure beats listening to them go plop, bang, thump in the dryer.

This is Ruby's boy at just over 8 wks of age ... he is so reminiscent of his father. A star we hope.

Here's the larger girl, she's now off to her new home and is called "Reno".

Have you ever tried taking pics of sleeping dogs while in the house? No sooner do you open a door and they're all up. Well, slowly, cm by cm I opened the patio door .. yes I got a few heads pop up a couple of times hearing the noise, but they went back to their snoozing, so I was able to capture these precious moments.

here's "Mighty Tot", the smallest girl who is likely to mature around 131/4-13 1/2.
Ruby has been the greatest mom, always wanting to be with them. She'll stand by their pen outside to be picked up and put in with them. Now that there is just the one left she's more than happy to be her best mate.

Oh, a bit of a stretch .... this afternoon lazing is just the thing ...

back to sleep ... life is so tough ... she'll be headed to her new home in a couple of days

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Are You Prepared to be Skunked?

If you meet one of these ... probably it will be last potty call at 10 pm or so, when your dog comes
face to face with one! Likely you're not prepared, but then what are you to do, other than panic, if your dog, and maybe you get sprayed? It's certainly not a pretty sight, or should I say smell.
First off, let's try to prevent this kind of incident from happening all together. Make sure you take your dog out on lead and carry a flashlight ... a) you'd like to keep your dog from putting his nose where you don't want it to go, and b) you just might see the light from their eyes, or the white stripe. Skunks only spray if they feel threatened.

However, if it happens what is one to do? Well, at 10 pm you're probably not prepared, right? or maybe after reading this Blog, and you're in an area where you could come into contact with them, you just might have some items on hand.

If you have none of the so called 'skunk-off' products, you can try going to your vet and finding their outside drop off box as they are usually kind enough to leave a bottle there for emergencies. Otherwise, you need to find a safe haven for your dog, out of the house ... like the garage. If you've crate trained your dog, here's a time when it would come in handy. Leaving your dog on a porch or deck, in their crate would also work. The key is to remember that where ever the dog has the skunk's oils on them it will transfer everywhere.

So what can you have on hand. In asking on FB and searching the web there are a couple of tried and true suggestions. Most people haven't found the store bought products to work well as they'd hoped.

This is one, and we can all keep it on hand at a minimal cost.

Take 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (available from any drugstore), 1/4 cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate for you science types) and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, such as Ivory. Mix in a bucket and immediately apply to the stinky pet. Rinse thoroughly with tap water.

*Warning*

This mixture can be explosive, as it will fizz and creates pressure if it is enclosed in a seal tight container. Never store unused portion, always discard. Be sure to only mix in an open container and do not try to store or cover it in any way. Do not get the mixture into the dog's eyes, nose or mouth.

Another one I was told worked well for them was the clear Ivory dish soap. Wet, lather well & rinse.

And the last one, believe it or not are the feminine hygiene douches! Yep, can you see a man buying a box of it at 11pm at a Shopper's Drug Mart? along with some candles? I've had more than one reply of similar nature :) but those that have tried it say it does work.

One key to remember is the skunk's oils transfer everywhere, have I said that already?! So change your clothes to old ones, use paper towels to soak up any oils you can 1st. Remember, that as you wash the dog the oils transfer from the affected area, so 1st work the skunked area well before doing the rest of the dog. Most often the face is involved, so one must be careful around the eyes. Use an old face cloth, sponge, or paper towels to clean this area - remember you are going to be throwing these things out!

Be prepared, and be alert at night, especially if you're in unknown territory, such as a camping.

Good luck, if this happens to happen to your dog.

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Back-To-Back Best Puppy In Show Wins

What a thrilling weekend for us and our puppy, now MBPIS BPISS Ch Shelamo Flash Forward. It was a gorgeous weather weekend for showing dogs at the Kingston KC dog show and topping it with Saturday & Sunday, both days taking a Group 3rd and Best Puppy In Show made the long days even more enjoyable.

"Breeze" on Saturday with her Group wins under judge Don Wallace
went on to win BPIS under judge Phyliss Wolfish

Don Wallace - judged her for BPIS on Sunday

"Breeze" hanging out keeping cool before BPIS on Sunday.

really chilling out, waiting is such a hard thing .....
and ... her sister Shelamo Deja Vu was Best of Winners on Friday
pictured with judge Letitia Bett
Winners Bitch on Sunday
Thanks Mary Lou for handling her in the Breed ring

Pictures of her BPIS win are in the mail ... let's hope the postal strike is over real fast!

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