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Bo knows! Bo knows best, too!
Bo the cat here! It seems that Jessie has been given a lot of time on this blog lately, and I am here to take a stand and present my voice. I did a bit of research on the internet while my person, Karen, was out doing her pet sitting duties through her business, Joy of Living Pet Sitting Services. Did you know, and I quote, that “cats have surpassed dogs as the favorite pet among Americans?” There are approximately 88 million cats owned in the United States. To further my point about the popularity of cats, “more than half of all households with a cat have more than one.” (I am the only cat in my household, and I prefer to keep it that way. Jessie and Karen can only handle so much greatness!) A few other items worth noting: Cat owners spend roughly $175 per year on routine veterinary care for their pets. Also, cat owners are very responsible about preventing unncecessary breeding. Eighty-seven percent of owned cats are spayed or neutered. So, as you can see, those of us in the feline category are quite deserving of our top-notch recognition! Touche, Jessie!
Adding a new pet to your household
Hey! Jessie here! I am sure most of you know this already, but we canine types are highly social animals. We are born with certain behavioral traits that give credence to our ability to be trained, to our playfulness, and to our ability to easily fit into the human household. In fact, some of us are so good, we have actually trained our humans how we want them to behave around us! Life is just so much easier that way!
As a domestic creature, I prefer living within a social environment. My human, Miss Karen, is very much a part of my family. Sometimes, we share our lives with other human creatures and with other pets. In my case, I happen to share my domicile with a cat, Bo. In such settings, we need to lay some ground rules and establish who is the leader within this little social group. Obviously, Miss Karen rules the roost, but when it comes to the four-legged members among our household, I am the Queen!
When you are attempting to integrate a new dog or cat into your household, gently and consistently help your pet to learn what is considered to be acceptable behavior and what is not. This allows your pet to become more comfortable within his or her surroundings. When we do not know what to expect, it confuses us and makes us stressed. We get stressed just as our human counterparts do! I integrated into Miss Karen’s household quite well. Bo? Well, we are working on that darned cat! Some days, being the Queen is hard work! Carry on!
Unique dog facts, per Jessie
You know, I just cannot help but mention how unique canines are. Sure, the kitty litters can hold their own, but the dog world rocks! For example, do you even know how many breeds of dogs there are in this world? According to the World Canine Organization, there are 400 recognized breeds of dogs! Rock on, my fellow canines! While most of us are outspoken, there is one breed that is actually barkless. Basenji dogs simply cannot bark. I am sure Bo would appreciate this trait in me, but, alas, I am and shall forever remain, verbally outspoken. The Basenji is actually an African hunting dog. While he cannot bark, he can produce a host of other animal noises, including a unique yodelling sound. Perhaps I should learn how to do that, if only to annoy Bo! Another quick tid bit: Chow-Chows are the only breed of dogs to have a bluish-black tongue, and not from eating candy! While they are born with pink tongues, after about eight weeks of age, the color turns. Interesting!
Well, I have to get back to terrorizing Bo. I am one busy dog!
The good ol' dog days of summer!
You have heard of “the dog days of summer,” right? Bet you didn’t know that expression has nothing to do with dogs. (Yeah, I know…we thought it did, too!) That expression actually dates back to Roman times, when they held the belief that Sirius, the Dog Star, added its heat to that of the sun from July 3 to August 11. Thus, the temperatures soared during those days. The Romans then referred to these days as “days of the dog.”
Who is the Alpha Dog anyway?
My friend has two dogs….a five-year-old 37 pound Wheaten Terrier and a one-year-old 7 pound Yorkie-Poo. While the Wheaten is ever-protective of the household and has always ruled the roost, once this little Yorkie-poo moved in, all bets were off. It is funny to see how a mere 7-pound puupy can boss around a 37-pound dog. My friend is not sure if the Wheaten has mellowed with age or is nervous aruond the little mutt, who bares his teeth and growls whenever the bigger dog even gets near his food bowl. Perhaps the little guy just has a Napoleon complex or something. Nevertheless, the Wheaten carries on and lets the Yorkie-poo call the shots. My guess is, the Wheaten is merely exhibiting his authority by being silent, making observations, and planning for his alpha return!
Looking like a top dog!
The perfect feline or canine always needs to look his or her best at all times. After all, you never know who you might run into on your daily walk. Recently, there was talk on a day time talk show about getting braces for dogs. Huh? I can barely afford them for my own children, but for a dog???? Get real! What? Is it like a dog’s teeth have to be perfectly aligned in order to attract a mate? We really don’t know what the attractor factor is for dog’s….maybe it IS a brilliant smile, but I think pets should stick to the basics, .like getting groomed and licking themselves.
For example, Jessie and Bo are two distinct personalities. Every six weeks, it is imperative that Jessie receive an updated coif. The shampoo, the air-dried coat, and the trimming all add to Jessie’s overall look and glamour. I asked Jessie and Bo about this sensitive area of pet care, and this is what they had to offer:
Jessie: Getting groomed is definitely NOT a luxury for me. It is a necessity. In order for me to feel my best, I have to look my best. It does not bother me a bit that my human has me groomed routinely so that I look gorgeous and smell fabulous.
Bo: (Making a gagging sound) You DO smell after you’ve been groomed. Thank goodness I have no need to undergo such trivial pursuits. I have better things to do with my time and with my human’s money.
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