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It's Dog's Play!
Jessie, the adorable canine: If you want a perfectly behaved, well-mannered, socially-adept dog like myself, you have to play at it. No, I did not mean work at it…I meant PLAY at it. When you engage in fun activities with your dog, it is good for everyone around. Dogs have a better chance of learning manners, and they become much easier to live with. When you play with your dog, you learn a bit more about him or her. You make a connection. Plus, you provide some exercise for your dog and reduce the boredom factor. Did you know that a dog that exercises with its human will probably display fewer behavioral problems? (Now I understand what is wrong with Bo, our cat!) Plus, activities serve to stimulate both our humans and us! It is a win-win! I know my friend, Bolt, a Yorkie-Poo, has recently taking up running with his human. He knows when it is time to leash up, lace up, and hit the road, and he will excitedly bark to let his human know it is time to go! Despite his seven-pound frame, this dog runs like the wind and has the grace of a gazelle! He literally has a smile on his face while doing this! His human has noted how much more social he is and more notably, how much calmer he is when inside. Plus, when it is time for bed, Bolt is fast asleep before his little head even hits the doggie bed!
If you want your dog to have some fun, and perhaps you don’t always have the time, contact the pet sitting experts at My Joy of Living in Kansas City. Owner Karen Harrison will know just what to do to bring fun and excitement into your dog’s daily routine! The Joy of Living will truly put the joy of living into your dog! You will be happier, too!
Gotta run now! Bye!
(Information for this post obtained at www.dogplay.com.)
Is your cat "purr-fect?"
What exactly is that vibrating, humming sound that comes from cats?
While theories abound as to what produces a purr in cats, none have resolutely been proven. Some scientists speculate that purring is the result of electrical impulses in the brain transmitted through the central nervous system to the muscles near the voice box and the diaphragm. Those nerve impulses then cause certain contractions of those muscles as the cat breathes in and out with its mouth closed. As the vibrations are felt along the cat’s body, they are audible near the nose and mouth. Studies have shown that purring also releases natural feel good hormones in a cat!
Purring is also a form of communication. Purring is used for social interaction when cats approach each other. It is their form of a greeting to each other. Sometimes kittens use their purring abilites to reassure each other that all is well. It is a comforting technique.
Cats will also purr when sick, injured, or dying. Some experts believe cats do this to alert others that he is not feeling well. If your cat looks or acts sick or is behaving in an abnormal way, yet is purring, you should notify your veterinarian.
Overall, cats like to greet us with their little purrs, and it always causes us to snuggle closely with them and make us feel like all is truly well. When you interact with your cat in this manner, you most surely feel that life is “purr-fect.”
If you want to hear joyous purrs from your cat, call the expert pet sitters at My Joy of Living in Kansas City. When you are away and your cat needs supervision, the pet sitters with My Joy of Living will make sure all of your cats purrs are happy ones!
Go grab a breath mint, dude!
Bo: You know, Jessie, I have been meaning to tell you this in some diplomatic way, but I don’t know how to say it other than, “Do you need some mouthwash or something? Your breath is kind of foul at times!” There is no Joy of Living in that, my friend!
Jessie: How dare you! I maintain proper oral health care! Perhaps I have just been breathing in some of your aroma and spewing it back out.
We often joke about bad breath in dogs, but it truly is not a laughing matter. Those breath mints for dogs only serve to cover it up, and it is of greater importance to discover the reason behind the foul odor. Some factors could include excess build up of tartar on the teeth, infected gums, or loose and diseased teeth. Other larger problems could be an oral tumor or some systemic disease at play, such as kidney problems or even diabetes. All of these can cause a change in the smell of your dog’s breath.
The most common culprit, however, rests in tooth and gum problems. (Jessie: Yes…like if I was ever so insane at to snack in Bo’s litter box, I would possess very foul breath.) If your pet’s bad breath is raising a concern with you, make it a point to get him or her to the vet so that a proper diagnosis can be made. If it is simply the teeth and gums causing the odor, then most likely the vet will recommend a good dental cleaning and provide you with some home-care guidelines to keep up the maintenance.
Bo: For now, I intend to sit as far away from Jessie as possible. I just threw a box of Altoids in her general direction. Hint! Ah…now I have My Joy of Living in Kansas City!
(Information for this entry provided by http://vetmedicine.about.com/od/caninehealthdogs/f/FAQ_badbreath.htm)
How do you know if your pet is in pain?
Bo: This is a great topic. Jessie is a pain in my side, and I have to tell someone. Who will listen? Maybe the experts at www.myjoyofliving.com in Kansas City can help me find out. They are the best pet sitters in town and seem to boast a wealth of knowledge when it comes to pet care.
Jessie: What about YOU? Perhaps you are even a bigger pain to me!
Bo: Well, I am smart enough to realize that we animals can “talk” through the various subtleties in our body language. Pain is a universal language. Most pet owners can tell that their pets are in pain by a visual clue such as a limp or an audible clue such as a whine or whimper from us. But what about chronic pain or pain that we can somewhat tolerate but needs to be explored?
Jessie: Isn’t it obvious that I can barely tolerate you?
Bo: When we are uncomfortable, we tend to show a change in behavior or temperament. If we are usually happy, playful, and affectionate, pain can make us irritable and perhaps even make us not want to be held or petted.
Jessie: Speak for yourself. I adore a good massage.
Bo: If your dog or cat is normally on the go, if he or she is in pain, you might find them sitting alone and being unusually quiet. If the dog or cat can reach the source of pain, such as a sore paw, he or she might begin to lick or bite at the area in an effort to make the pain go away. As a pet owner, if you notice any changes in your pet’s behavior, be sure to contact your veterinarian right away. Remember, our “language” is limited, so please take the time to “listen” to us. The sooner we get rid of the pain, the more playful we can continue to be.
Jessie: I know how to get rid of cat pain!
Bo: Oh, really? How?
Jessie: Lock the kitty in the closet!
(Information provided for this blog can be found at www.vetmed.wsu.edu.)
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!
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!
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