COME, SIT, STAY Canine Etiquette

11/13/2025

BEST FOODS TO SOOTHE YOUR DOG'S UPSET TUMMY...A bland diet is excellent to help a dog with tummy issues. This article from the AKC provides some excellent suggestions & advice for the bland diet. One thing NOT mentioned is an egg (boiled or scrambled with nothing added). Do read this it will provide some excellent info & suggestions.

Does your dog have an upset stomach? Learn which foods can help soothe your dog’s tummy, plus what to avoid and when to call the vet.

11/11/2025

VETERAN'S DAY...May we all remember the sacrifices of our wonderful & brave Veteran's. If you encounter a Veteran always thank them for their service. If you happen to be a restaurant, pick up the tab for their meal. Here is an incredible 7 min. video. Be sure you have the time sit & watch, with tears rolling down your face! Such wonderful & brave "soldiers" & a powerful tribute!!

We would like to extend our gratitude to all the Veterans that have served our country! This is the tribute video we debuted in our Branson theatre productio...

10/25/2025

HOW TO READ YOUR DOG'S BODY LANGUAGE...For many years, I have closely studied dogs' body language, facial expressions, & behaviors...(also, their vocalizations). This is an excellent article & covers a lot of important & fascinating information.

Dog body language can be confusing. But if you know the signs and signals to look for, it can make it easier to communicate with and understand your pet.

10/22/2025

RUB A DUB DUB...5 WESTIES IN A TUB!!! Thought I would cover some info & hints about bathing the dogs. If you need to bathe your dog in the cold weather, be sure you take measures to prevent them from "staying chilled" for very long. For most dogs, they really only need bathing 3-4 times a year. Bathing the dogs too often will dry their skin out by reducing their natural skin oils. How do you keep them clean between baths? Daily (or every other day) brushing will do the trick...except for an unusual circumstance. Dogs with allergies, skin issues, or other health issues may require more frequent bathing..

If you need to bathe your dog more frequently, consider using a conditioner/rinse to help replenish their skin oils & reduce chances of dry skin. I used Humilac for years, but it is no longer available in the States. There are now any number of like products. One I am aware of is Virbac's Epi-soothe Pet cream rinse & is oatmeal based. You mix it with water & sponge it on your dog at the end of the bath. Let the dog shake & lightly towel dry. When a dog is bathed frequently, it really is important to provide something at the end of the bath to help replenish their natural skin oils. Frequent bathing WILL deplete their natural skin oils.

You should use a dog shampoo because the dogs' ph levels are different than ours. Be sure to keep the soap out of their eyes & ears. I also recommend using something in the ears post bath to help the inner ears areas dry up because overly moist interior of the ears is a prime environment for the yeast to propagate. You can check with your Vet for what they recommend. I use a homemade mixture that was used years ago for "swimmer's ear". Moisture inside the ear creates a perfect environment for yeast to develop & propagate. This is especially true of the "drop eared" dogs.

Here are some hints for the bath, itself! BRUSH your dog before the bath. Brush again once their coat is completely dried. You may want to give a really "good daily" brushing for several days following a bath. Bathing loosens the dead hair. You will get a surprising amount of hair each day following the bath. I prefer that hair to go into a hairbrush instead of the house!

POTTY your dog right before the bath & then again within 2-5 minutes of the bath! WATCH your dog when you potty them right after the bath because your dog will most likely try to ROLL on the ground & boy are they quick on the roll!! My experience is a wet dog will always find the one place with dirt, soil, mud to roll in following their bath! Your dogs will rub against & on furniture. I always put some sheets on couches & over the bedspread. Your dog will "shake, shake, & shake" some more. So, you may want to cover the front of your curio cabinet, bookcases, glass coffee tables, etc.

When bathing: Consider putting a rubber mat in the bottom of the tub or shower to prevent your dog from slipping & falling on their hip or twisting their back. Consider putting a protective cover over the tub drain to protect paws & nails!! Do not get upset, irritated, yell at your dog for trying to "escape" the horrors of the tub & water! They don't remember just how great they feel following a bath. When you get upset, this increases your dog's stress & agitation level which is already super high.

Have you noticed how wet you get when bathing your dog. Much of that is because they "full body" shake throughout the bath. Here is a super hint...your dog's body shake starts at the "head"!!! You can almost always tell when your dog is positioning themselves to start their full body shake. At this moment, take one hand & gently hold their head still. This is not a hard restraint. It is only a very slight hold on the muzzle area, top or back of the head will stop the shake before it can get started in earnest. Or, it will manage to keep it at a very low & manageable level. This does work!! I have used it for years. If you want to test this out "in reverse"...ruffle your dog's head hair. Wait a moment & by golly, they will shake.

Some hints for the end of the bath: Use your hands to "gently" squeeze as much hair off of their body & the paws as possible. This is like squeezing your wet hair. Gently squeeze the paws last. [Note: When rinsing your dog, please make sure you have rinsed the soap out of the paws!! Many people don't do this like they should.] Have your towel close by & get it ready to hold between you & your dog before you take your last hand off of your dog. Just stand there letting them shake a couple of times. Get them out of the tub & do your quickie towel dry & be prepared for their FUN to begin...LOL!! I always enjoy watching my "crazy wet dogs". Remember to give your dog a "supervised" potty within 2-5 minutes of exiting the tub/shower!!

You may want to have your video camera close by because the dogs' after bath antics are hysterical! (www.thedogspeaks.com)

09/19/2025

DOES YOUR DOG DO "TEETH CHATTERING...TEETH CLACKING"?? This is one of the very best articles I have read about the causes of "teeth chattering" or I like the term "teeth clacking" even more. I have read many articles regarding this behavior & this is the best one. [NOTE: One cause of this behavior is a result of a very uncommon cause...White Shaker's Syndrome (WSS). The white refers to this most commonly occurring in "small white breeds"...like the Westies, Bichons, Malteses, & several others. That said, it can occasionally show up in other breeds.

This is the link to the article from the AKC (American Kennel Club):

Dog teeth chattering doesn't only happen when your pet is cold. Veterinarians explain the reasons for teeth chattering in dogs and how to handle them.

09/11/2025

SEPT. 11, 2001... WELCOME AT RAINBOW BRIDGE
by Alexander Theodore, Bouvier, Fourth Year Resident

On the morning of September 11, 2001, there was an unprecedented amount of activity at the Rainbow Bridge. Decisions had to be made. They had to be made quickly. And, they were.

An issue, not often addressed here, is the fact that many residents really have no loved one for whom to wait. Think of the pups who lived and died in hideous puppy mills. No one on earth loved or protected them. What about the many who spent unhappy lives tied in backyards? And, the ones who were abused. Who are they to wait for?

We don't talk about that much up here. We share our loved ones as they arrive, happy to do so. But we all know there is nothing like having your very own person who thinks you are the most special pup in the Heavens.

Last Tuesday morning a request rang out for pups not waiting for specific persons to volunteer for special assignment.. An eager, curious crowd surged excitedly forward, each pup wondering what the assignment would be.

They were told by a solemn voice that unexpectedly, all at once, over 2,977 loving people had left Earth long before they were ready.

All the pups, as all pups do, felt the humans' pain deep in their own hearts. Without hearing more, there was a clamoring among them - "May I have one to comfort?" "I'll take two, I have a big heart." "I have been saving kisses forever."

One after another they came forward begging for assignment. One cozy-looking fluffy pup hesitantly asked, "Are there any children coming? I would be very comforting for a child 'cause I'm soft and squishy and I always wanted to be hugged." A group of Dalmatians came forward asking to meet the Firemen and be their friends. The larger working breeds offered to greet the Police Officers and make them feel at home.

Little dogs volunteered to do what they do best, cuddle and kiss.

Dogs who on Earth had never had a kind word or a pat on the head, stepped forward and said, "I will love any human who needs love."

Then all the dogs, wherever on Earth they originally came from, rushed to the Rainbow Bridge and stood waiting, overflowing with love to share - each tail wagging an American Flag.

09/11/2025

I PRAY WE NEVER, EVER FORGET...those we lost on 9/11 & those who have died from diseases, medical conditions as a result of their tireless work at Ground Zero. And, may we always give thanks for the men & women who joined the Military immediately following & since 9/11!!!

09/09/2025

INFO REGARDING EAR ISSUES...I wanted to share some info you may not be aware of regarding ear issues that can occur with our dogs. When a dog is itchy for whatever reason, chances are the dog will develop an ear issue (what I call an "earbo"). Even when a dog gets itchier than is normal like when we first turn on our A/C or our heat, or being outside more (rolling in the grass more), or Spring sprouting & pollen, maybe a flea bite (a single flea bite will cause a dog with flea dermatitis to have an itchy allergic reaction to the flea's saliva for 7-10 days)...anyway...any time a dog is itchier than normal, I tell people to keep a close eye on the ears, because chances are an ear issue will occur in relatively short order.

The earlier you catch an ear flare-up, the easier they are to knock out. If caught at the very beginning, before anything really gets hold of the ear...using an otic cleaning/drying product or homemade mixture like I use will often knock it out & they may not even need ear meds. However, when there is an ear flare-up just starting up...it will not get better on its own. It will continue to propagate into a full blown ear issue.

Some things to help you catch the ear things at the very beginning & beyond are:
** When your dog is scratching their ear...usually, just one to start, but sometimes the second will later become involved.
** When your dog is rubbing the side of their head on the floor or furniture...this can also indicate something with their teeth or something around their mouth. But, usually you can tell if they are rubbing to scratch or soother the ear area.
** When your dog is "gingerly...sort of like slow motion" scratching at their ear with their back paw or a front paw...this is an absolute that there is an ear issue! Note: This particular type of ear scratching is almost always accompanied by the dog making some low tone sounds....that fit with what you are seeing. When this happens the ear issue may likely need actual ear med., not just a cleaning/drying thing.
** When the dog does a quick/sharp head shake. You may get a couple of these fairly close together, but the actual shake is a quick/sharp type motion...not like when see a normal head shake where they shake, shake their head.
** When your dog has one ear even slightly cocked to the side of the head, off center from their normal ear set...YEP, you already have an ear issue, not just at the very start of it.
** When the inside of the ear upright ear flap looks even slightly dirty, even if the color of this ear area is not red...this is exudate from the interior portions of the ear. This becomes visible because the head shake brings up some of the ear flare-up stuff. When you have this, if it is at a very low level...not much at all, then the cleaning/drying thing may take care of it. The dirty looking stuff (exudate) will be brownish to reddish brown to rust color. [Note: if reddish or rust colored, your dog will likely need an ear medication along with the cleaning agent.

I have always cleaned my dogs' ears once a week without fail because it allows me to catch things before they have a chance to really get started. Also, it keeps their ear environment healthier. However, if I get any of the signs described above...depending on which it is, I will go to daily cleaning or every other day cleaning until the issue resolves.

BUT, if I get one of the more significant circumstances described above...I use the ear meds along with the cleaning/drying solution that I always keep on hand.

Interesting side note: A**l glands can flare up when a dog is having an allergy flare-up. This isn't a super common thing, but common enough to mention.

Anytime your dog is "messing" with an area of the body, if scratching or rubbing with a lot for force & fervor &/or licking that area...try to do something to divert them from that action because it doesn't take much time at all (as we have all experienced at one time or another) for a dog to have rubbed, scratched, or licked an the area & caused a raw or inflamed area or worse, a hot spot.

For the cleaning solution, you can buy a commercial product. I have used a commercial product (Chlorhexiderm). BUT, I have gotten better results with a homemade solution. Years ago, this is what they used to use for kids to prevent "swimmer's ear". The homemade solution is 1/2 vinegar & 1/2 alcohol. The alcohol is the drying agent & the vinegar works wonders on the yeast factor that is the primary culprit when there is an ear flare-up.

NOW, if your dog's ear or ears are severe, you would not use this solution because the alcohol would burn any raw or inflamed parts of the ear. Please note that you should always consult your Vet for any issue of consequence or that does not clear up. And, remember...any ear issue that occurs will NOT improve without help. It will only get worse. (www.thedogspeaks.com)

09/06/2025

HELP FOR EXCESSIVE PAW LICKING...MAGIC PAW!! This is the time of year when the dogs are licking their paws excessively because it is wet outside so often. The dogs will always lick their paws when they come inside & their paws are wet. They do this to clean their paws. Licking perpetuates the "wet" environment of the paws, which in turn creates a perfect "environment" for yeast, bacteria, & fungus to propagate!!!

Granted, there are many reasons dogs lick their paws. However, all dogs lick their paws when they are wet as part of their "cleaning" process. Once they start licking to clean their wet paws & this scenario happens so frequently, paw issues abound!!!! Between the toes, paw pads, & often the sides & tops of the paws are places where many problems develop. Your dog can develop red & inflamed areas, hot spots, bacterial &/or fungal infections. So, you want to help head off these issues.

My program is: when your dog comes in with wet paws, I gently towel dry each paw. Then, I "lightly spritz" each paw with Bitter Apple. [Note: if the dog already has raw or inflamed paws, you would NOT want to use the Bitter Apple because it contain alcohol & it will sting.] If you cannot use Bitter Apple (or like product) you can dab some Campho Phenique (or camphor spirits) on & around the paws. The smell of camphor is what deters the licking. All products like this do have to be regularly "refreshed".

Even when you towel dry their paws...the moisture is still there between the toes & paw pads! This is why I use a homemade solution that does work wonders. I promise this DOES WORK!! When there is an issue, I use the Magic Paw solution every single day. Once the issue is resolved, I continue to use the Magic Paw solution 2-3 times per week...without fail!! This is a very successful "maintenance program"!

MAGIC PAW solution: 1/3 water...1/3 Listerine (original, not flavored)...1/3 Witch Hazel. Spray this between the toes & paw pads. Don't forget the spritzing with the Bitter Apple to help the dog to not lick wet paws, even those that have been towel dried. I do this as a matter of course each & every time my dog comes inside with wet paws!!

NOTE: If your dog licks for reasons other than "wet paws", spritz Bitter Apple when they are licking & if you are going to leave the house...spritz before you leave. And, regular apply the MAGIC PAW solution, it will help!!

08/27/2025

POP...R.I.P. (08-26-2017). I know you & Mom are together in Heaven. We all miss you more than words can describe. Thank you for your love & care all the years you were a "treasure" part of our family. And, even today...you are a "treasure" part of our lives & "memories". All our love.

08/26/2025

UNDERSTANDING GROWL SOUNDS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS...EVALUATING OTHER GROWLS...Growling is often misinterpreted. Many people consider that any & all growls are aggressive & inappropriate. This is not the case. The dogs have a myriad of growl communications. Their communications are not one dimensional. Here are the links to BOTH of my "growls" Chapters from my E-book. These will help you to understand your dog's growls sounds & to identify which are of concern & which are basic communications. PLEASE read both Chapters (click links)!!

UNDERSTANDING GROWL SOUNDS & OTHER COMMUNICATIONS...https://www.thedogspeaks.com/artgrowlsounds.htm

EVALUATING OTHER GROWLS:
https://www.thedogspeaks.com/artgrowlother.htm

08/23/2025

FRUITS & VEGETABLES DOGS "CAN & CANNOT" EAT SAFELY...This is a great info article by the AKC. It provides a list of fruits & vegetables. Below the listing, the article gives a "yes or no" for each of the items listed (keep scrolling to after the "list").

Do you know which fruits and vegetables dogs are safe for dogs to eat? Fresh, frozen, or canned, learn which fruits and veggies to feed and which to avoid.