Top Ribbon Graphic

Archive for the ‘ Human Pet Connection ’ Category

« Older Entries

Show Us a Whole Lot of Loving!

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Party Marty here, in the party mood for Valentine’s Day!  Ahhh…chocolates, roses, jewelry….geez!  What am I thinking….what will I do with that?  Cats don’t need those things! Neither do dogs! However, if you love your pet as much as I am loved by my human, then consider spreading a bit of that Valentine Love to your dog or cat this coming heart day. And, if you are thrifty as am I, then it won’t cost you a dime! If I was your cat and was looking forward to being spoiled and pampered on Valentine’s Day, this is what I would enjoy (recommendations subject to change to change based on mood and attitude of the day):

**A nice belly rub!

**Hugs and kisses!

**Let me sleep on the bed!

**Open the blinds further to allow more sun in the room and let me bask in its glory!

**Treats! Treats! Treats! I know you have more hiding in the cupboard!

**Let me lounge in your lap for a bit while you work on the computer.

**Lock the dog in the closet for the day! (Oops…how did that suggestion make its way onto the list? Oh, well…it’s already here…not much I can do about it now!)

**Let’s snuggle on the couch and watch “Animal Planet” together or “Cats and Dogs: The Revene of Kitty Galore!”

**Tell me how much you love and adore me at least ten times throughout the day!

You get the idea….just make us feel special, loved, and adored. Oh, wait! You do that every day! Oh, well…we promise to return the favor in kind. Treat, please! I’ll be waiting over here in the sunlight on your new couch, snuggled up in that new blanket of yours!

Pin it

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, cats, dogs, pet behavior, pet care | No Comments »

And the Coolest Dog Is…

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Jessie, taking a break from an unseaonably warm winter’s day: Even though I would much rather be lounging in the embrace of the warm and happy sun today, I am taking a quick break to share some more amazing dog facts with you. After all, we dogs ARE amazing…even if I do say so myself.

Did you know…

**The Greyhound is the fastest dog on earth. That puppy can reach speeds of up to 45 miles per hour for short periods of time! Even on a bicycle, you’d be eating his dust!

**The Irish Wolfhound is the largest dog. With wolf in the name, who am I to argue with that declaration?

**The Great Dane is the tallest dog. Remember to look up to these fellows…literally!

**The Chihuahua is the smallest dog….but check out his personality! Tall order!

**The heaviest dog?  The St. Bernard!

**The world’s oldest dog was an Australian cattle-dog named Bluey who died at age 29 years and five months!  Holy Cow…I mean, Holy Dog!

**The world’s coolest dog? Need you ask?

(Thanks to dog-names.org.uk for this great info. Thanks to me for reminding you about that last fact!)

Pin it

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, dogs | No Comments »

Seeing Eye Dog Day

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Seeing Eye DogToday is Seeing Eye Dog Day, coinciding with the 83rd anniversary of The Seeing Eye, the largest organization for training of guide dogs for the visually impaired.

Twelve times a year, visitors from the US and Canada come to the Seeing Eye campus to become familiar with the program and see the benefits of a having a guide dog.  Once in the program, students spend a month training with a dog.

More than 15,000 specially bred and trained dogs have brought mobility, safety, and self-sufficiency to over 8,000 visually impaired men and women.

The Seeing Eye was formed in 1928 by Morris Frank.  He’d read an article about dogs being trained as guides for blinded veterans of World War I.  Being blind and frustrated by his own lack of mobility, he wrote its author for help.

Dorothy Harrison Eustis trained German shepherd dogs in Switzerland, and when she received Morris Frank’s letter, she agreed to help him.  He promised he would return to the United States and spread the word about these wonderful dogs.  In 1928, Frank demonstrated the ability of his dog Buddy for news reporters.  His one-word telegram to Mrs. Eustis told the entire story  … “Success.”  The Seeing Eye was born, with the dream of making the entire world accessible to people who are blind.

For more information on The Seeing Eye Program, go to seeingeye.org

Pin it

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, pet behavior | No Comments »

Fun At Work Day

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Today is Fun At Work Day, and I filmed client Rylee this morning enjoying his pets as evidenced by his “chop talk”.

It’s easy to have fun at work with clients like Rylee!

Pin it

Tags: , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, pet behavior | No Comments »

Take Your Dog’s Lead and Improve the Health of Your Eyes

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Dog Looking Out WindowJessie, the natural-born leader, here with a handy tip of the day:

You know, while you humans work tirelessly to teach us dogs some tricks, we can actually teach you a few things, if you just watch and learn.  Sure, we know how to relax and unwind when you continue to needlessly burn the midnight oil.  We love to romp and play and burn off energy while you sit in front of the TV and munch on snacks.  But there is something else we do from which you can benefit if you simply try it yourself, and all it takes is 20 seconds a few times a day!

Ever notice how we just love to sit and stare out the window? Whether we are eye-balling a squirrel or checking out the other dogs across the street, we love to just stare at things in the distance. In essence, we have perfected what is known as the 20/20/20 rule.

If you work at your computer for several hours a day, and, if you are like most people, you do, then you know your eyes can become strained from constantly staring at the screen.  According to researchers at the Mayo Clinic, you can develop what is known as repetitive stress injury, or RSI. Your vision can be impaired as a result.  In an effort to reduce eye strain, every 20 minutes, spend 20 seconds looking at something 20 feet away. That’s it!  In other words, gaze out the window just like we do!  Who knows?  You might see something wonderful and unexpected….and potentially ward off any annoying headache from constantly staring at that screen. (Unless, of course, you have a cat like Marty here…in that case, there is no cure for THAT type of headache!  He’s here to stay!)

Pin it

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, pet behavior | No Comments »

It’s All About The Tone

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Earlier today, I attended a lunch presentation entitled “It’s Not Just What You Say, It’s HOW You Say It”. The presenter, Barb Teicher of etc., an executive coaching company based in the KC area, spoke about all the aspects of communication, other than our words, that determine how effectively we communicate with others.

Although the presentation was about communication between humans, some aspects hold true when communicating with our pets. The jury is still out on just how many words our pets really understand, but it is very easy to tell how pets react to our tone of voice.

When we speak in a harsh tone to pets, they often will shrink away from us. The same words said in a kinder tone produce a much more positive reaction.

Think before you speak, you’ll like the results!

Pin it

Tags:
Posted in Human Pet Connection, cats, dogs, pet behavior | No Comments »

The Year of the Dragon

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Chinese DragonToday marks the Chinese New Year, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.  Good news for those thinking of starting a new business, the Dragon years are lucky for anyone thinking of starting a business or initiating a new project.  Money is easier to come by for everyone, whether it’s earned, borrowed or received as a gift.

This Chinese New Year 2012 ushers in the Water Dragon. Water exerts a calming influence on the Dragon’s innate fire. Water Dragons are more open to other people’s opinions than other Dragons which gives them the ability to channel their personal charisma into real leadership qualities.

People born under the Dragon are passionate, brave and self-assured. Dragons in general are blessed with good fortune. They are smart, enterprising and have a wicked sense of humor. They have a natural flair for fashion and are the people to consult if you want to catch up on the latest trends.

Famous celebrities born in under the Dragon include John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Al Pacino, Marlene Dietrich and Matt Dillon.

Happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!

Information for this post from chinesenewyear2012.net

Pin it

Tags: ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection | No Comments »

When Mere Words Are Not Enough…

Friday, January 20th, 2012

A Man and His Dog

Jessie, the compassionate dog (at least when Party Marty, that darned cat, is not around!): Sometimes, a picture says way more than mere words can.  I just had to post this today.  I don’t know to whom credit should be given for the photo, but I trust it will be appreciated by many posting it here. It warms my heart to see this. Dogs rock!

Pin it

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, dogs | 2 Comments »

Guest Post: Becoming A Pet Photographer

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

I admire Jennifer Hague’s work at Fix Your Images and asked her to write a guest post about her journey to becoming a pet photographer.  Following are her thoughts, along with a few of her favorite photographs she’s taken.  Enjoy!

RemingtonI studied Journalism and graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2003. I always assumed I would be a reporter or a writer…. that’s all I had ever known. Little did I realize, my photography career would begin when I discovered a love for photo restoration in 2005.

In 2009, I began offering photography services, quickly learning pet photography was my ultimate passion. This was of course after my husband and I brought a miniature schnauzer puppy, Remington, into our lives.  He promptly became my more-than-willing model who would do just about anything I asked of him during a photo shoot.

Smiling HuskyMy heart is always especially happy when I am around animals, especially dogs. I have been an animal lover my entire life, growing up with Lhasa Apsos throughout my childhood. I always knew I wanted to be involved in saving homeless animals– but I was never clear on how I would be involved. My path was shown to me when I began photographing dogs. I received such wonderful feedback when I began taking photographs at local shelters and rescues – the dogs true souls and smiles were shining in the photos and as a result, they were getting recognized and adopted quickly.

I support many local animal rescue organizations, participate in adoption events and offer my photography services complimentary to local rescues and shelters who need assistance photographing their animals up for adoption. My work has been published in various magazines including: Dog Fancy, Fido Friendly, Bella DOG and on the covers of Happy Tails books.

During my journey as a pet photographer, my life has been enriched in more ways than I could have ever imagined.  And I have truly seen it all – varying small and large breeds, from the ultra shy to the exceedingly hyper – but there has never been a photo session where I have been frustrated. I never feel like I am working when I am photographing dogs – which is the beauty of following my passion and my dream. Every photo shoot is memorable and every dog I meet stamps a forever paw print on my heart. I believe everything in life happens for a specific reason.  I am so blessed that I was led to be where I am today and I look forward to what the future brings.

If you’d like to contact Jennifer, her Email is fixyourimages@Hotmail.com or visit the Fix Your Images website: www.fixyourimages.com

Pin it

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, dogs, pet behavior | 2 Comments »

Does Your Dog Over-Eat?

Friday, January 13th, 2012

Overweight DogParty Marty on the scene, always looking out for the dogs in my life! We recently had an inquiry from a friend who is concerned that her dog over-eats. While her dog is not fat, she thinks that the over-eating is stress and anxiety-related. As such, I put on my detective hat to see what might trigger over-eating in dogs.  Here’s what I found, as expressed in bigpawsonly.com:

One reason a dog may over-eat is to beat out a canine sibling in a race to get to the food. (This makes sense for our friend, as the dog in question is usually bullied by the smaller, more aggressive dog in the household.)

The dog could be depressed, anxious, or even suffering from a side effect of any medication he might be taking.

From a physical standpoint, the dog might have internal parasites, a tumor, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease or some sort of internal organ infection.

If your dog is suffering from a sudden bout of over-eating, rest assured that there are steps you can take to help your furry friend overcome this ailment.  Of course, it is wise to consult your vet if you think something is out of the ordinary, but in the interim, there are ways that you can control the intake of food your dog consumes:

Reduce the amount of food that you are feeding him.

If you have more than one dog, feed them in separate rooms.

Limit the times that food is left out. Don’t allow for free feeding or grazing during the day.

Get your dog one of those toys that makes getting food a bit of a game and a challenge.

Engage your pet in more physical exercise.

I do know for certain the one thing that would keep ME from over-eating, if I had that problem:  fill my bowl with brussel sprouts. Yuck!

Pin it

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Human Pet Connection, dogs, pet behavior, pet care | No Comments »

« Older Entries