Furry Butts and Smiles

09/20/2022

National Dog Week -- September 19-25. A celebration was observed last week of September to bring attention to man's best friend and educate all dog owners. Part of a man's education is to know the top dog breeds to help men attract women:

Mini pincher
Chicks love mini versions of big dogs. They are tiny, so they don't cost a lot to feed, and they look tough, especially with a studded collar.

Beagle
Charlie Brown was the sensitive underdog. You, too, can be the sensitive guy with a Beagle.

Dalmatian
Any dog who hangs out with firefighters is a sure bet with the ladies. This dog is a born hero.

English Pointer
Cute enough for a lady to swoon over; tough sufficient, so you won't look like a wimp.

Dachshund
This little guy is a wonder with the ladies. They are cute and are begging to be cared for.

Greyhound
Sleek and aerodynamic, plus many Greyhounds need rescuing, so you'll score some serious points with the ladies. So, cook some linguini and introduce her to Vincenzo, the Italian Greyhound.

Golden Retriever
Goldens are easy to train and strong, but their most outstanding trait is character. They are outgoing and devoted companions to all sorts of people, happy and trusting. But they can also be protective. Every woman's dream.

Labrador Retriever
Labs are playful, loving to people, and hardworking. Put a bandanna on him, and he's an instant chick magnet. The Lab can be counted on as a true friend anytime, anyplace.

Border Collie
These dogs are brilliant; you can train them to do anything from catching Frisbees to delivering roses to lovely ladies on the street. They are clean, cute, and beautiful herders. They are not too big to scare the lady off, and their soft coat is irresistible to the touch. A woman just has to pet this dog.

Mutt
Most mutts are found as strays, rescued from shelters. The Mutt is a natural conversation starter. "What kind of dog is that?" is the usual question the proud owner may hear. A guy with a mutt shows the world that substance matters. His dog may not have the cachet and price tag of a pure breed, but, like a rare, priceless work of art, the mutt owner knows the dog is unique and one of a kind.

08/08/2022

EVER BATHED A CAT?

(Woman's Day) Your cat's hatred of baths could be genetic most felines originated in the desert. Plus, because cats excel at grooming, they are rarely washed by owners as kittens, so they never adjust to getting wet. Woman's Day talked to Joel Kaye, D.V.M., Angell Animal Medical Center, and Pam Johnson-Bennet, author of CatWise. How to bathe your cat it's a two-person job:

Line the tub with a yoga or bath mast for traction. Have a towel handy.
While your partner gently holds the cat, use a cup to pour warm water over the cat's back and head. Lather with mild cat shampoo. Rinse.
After the bath, quickly scoop the cat into a dowel to dry her off.

08/08/2022

CAT PERSONALITY TEST

When it comes to personality, cats are very much like people. That's the word from Australian researchers who have created a cat personality test. Just as humans have the "Big Five" personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, openness to experience, conscientiousness, and neuroticism), cats have their own "Feline Five," -- and three overlap with human personality traits. Led by Philip Roetman from the University of South Australia, the research team created a cat personality test and asked the owners of about 2,800 domestic cats in Australia and New Zealand to give the test to their felines. Owners ranked their kitties on a scale of one to seven for each of 52 behaviors and traits, including clumsy, reckless, and vocal. The team then tabulated the responses for these micro-traits to create five broad feline personality dimensions and gave each cat a score for each trait.

Here are the "Feline Five" personality traits. Which one (or ones) best describe your cat?

Skittishness: anxious and fearful vs. calm and trusting (akin to neuroticism in people)
Outgoingness: curious and active vs. aimless (akin to extraversion in people)
Dominance: bullying and aggressive to other cats vs. friendly and submissive to other cats
Spontaneity: impulsive and erratic vs. predictable and constrained
Friendliness: highly friendly and affectionate vs. solitary and irritable (akin to agreeableness in people)

08/08/2022

Dogs and Cats get Wearable Fans to Beat the Heat
A Tokyo clothing maker has teamed up with veterinarians to create a wearable fan for pets, hoping to attract the anxious owners of dogs - or cats - that can't shed their fur coats in Japan's blistering summer weather. The device consists of a battery-operated, 3-ounce fan that is attached to a mesh outfit and blows air around an animal's body. The outfit costs about $74. (Reuters)

07/13/2022

WAYS YOU'RE RUINING YOUR DOG
(Cracked.com) Are you ruining your dog? Do you agree or disagree with this list?

Buying an expensive dog
One problem is inbreeding. There's only a limited pool of "perfect" designer dogs in a breed, and soon enough, everyone is everyone's cousin, and genetic defects start to become more prominent.

Giving it a bone
The FDA says you shouldn't give bones to your dog and, according to their cheerful top 10 list of reasons, bones can break dogs' teeth, cut up their mouth or tongue if splintered, and cut up their insides with bone fragments.

Scolding it for peeing on the floor
He's only peeing to show you he's the most worthless, harmless dog in the world. Yelling just feeds his little martyr complex.

Comforting it when it's scared
If you get all "comforting," they may think, "Thunderstorms are serious business, even my owner is worried," and elevate the threat to priority one.

Yelling at an aggressive/barking dog
Dogs barking excitedly or fearfully are kind of strung out, and getting them more stressed or excited will just make the barking worse. Whether he interprets your yelling as attention, anger, or you are joining in the barking, it won't encourage him to stop.

Punishing it after you discover something it destroyed
Dogs have pretty much no memory at all. This is why they're smart enough to know to wait until you're gone to dig that half-eaten burger out of the trash but not smart enough to clean up the evidence after the fact.

07/11/2022

SIGNS YOU'RE NOT SHOWING YOUR DOG ENOUGH AFFECTION

(Reader's Digest) Of course, you love your pup. With those soulful eyes, that waggy tail, and the sweetest spirit imaginable, how could you not? The question is: Does your dog know that? It's essential. "Showing your dog affection is an important part of establishing your bond," says Katy Nelson, DVM, a senior veterinarian at Chewy. Regardless of age, all dogs need affection and emotional interaction-but. They're unique in terms of their exact needs. "Some dogs crave pets, hugs, scratches, and lots of communication and cooing. Others are more laid-back and independent and will take what you give, but they don't necessarily love all the attention you may want to give."

Affection needs vary by breed; according to Dr. Nelson, a study published by the journal Royal Society Open Science showed that some dog breeds act more independently than others, resembling their wolf ancestors with their lack of dependence on humans. For example, Labradors were more likely than German Shepherds to look to their humans when solving puzzles. Czechoslovakian Wolf Dogs were even less likely to look to their humans, indicating a closer relationship to their wolf ancestors than the Shepherds and the Labradors.

Chewing on your shoes is his favorite hobby when a dog chews on your shoes, it might seem like just an annoying habit-but something is prompting this behavior. "Puppies may chew because of teething and should be supplemented with appropriate chew toys," advises Dr. Nelson. "Chewing may also be attributable to boredom or anxiety. In that case, your dog may need some extra playtime or TLC." If anxiety is the root issue, playtime alone will not necessarily help. Dr. Nelson suggests speaking with your veterinarian to help combat this issue. You may also want to check out these products specially designed to combat your dog's anxiety.

His barking has increased
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. "They could be alerting you to perceived danger, greeting a person or another dog, chasing after a squirrel in prey mode, experiencing anxiety, or simply begging for your attention," says Dr. Nelson. If your dog's barking is directed at other animals or people outside the home, it's likely due to territorial instinct. But if the barking is directed at you or another family member, there's a good chance your pup is trying to tell you something.

He keeps pawing at you, pawingyou
Pawing at you is your dog's way of asking for attention or initiating play. Think of it like a friendly tap on the shoulder from a particularly enthusiastic friend. "While this most often means that your dog wants your attention and affection, it could [also] be a sign that your dog is anxious or looking to you for comfort," says Dr. Nelson.

Whining is his song of the week whining is one of many ways that canines communicate vocally. "Dogs most commonly whine when they're seeking attention, when they're excited, when they're anxious, or when they're trying to please you," says Dr. Nelson. While more vocal breeds (terriers or toy breeds, for example) may be more prone to whining, any dog can learn to do it for attention if that behavior leads to you looking at, speaking to, or otherwise interacting with your pet.

He nudges you with his nose whennose
When dogs use their nose or head to bump you, they're simply asking for attention in a forward way. "They may be asking for pets, scratches, a walk, food, or to be played with," Dr. Nelson notes. Basically, here's the translation: "Hello! Remember me? The best dog in the whole wide world? Pay attention to me now!" Have you noticed your dog staring at you? Here are a few reasons he can't take his eyes off you.

He rolls on his back
When a dog rolls on his back; it may be a sign that he's giving you easy access to his belly for belly rubs. This may also be a sign of submission. "To determine the cause of this behavior, it is best to look at the dog's personality and the situation that made them start the behavior," advises Dr. Nelson. For example, he might be done play-wrestling with another dog or want to avoid an altercation, or it could be an invitation for you to dole out some belly rubs and affection. This is why dogs like belly rub so much, FYI.

07/11/2022

MOST PET-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS

According to a ranking by the blog, All About Cats, the most pet-friendly destination is Portland, OR. The west coast city is extremely animal-friendly, with about 60% of the population being pet owners. The city also ranked within the top 10 for most dog-friendly restaurants and charted at number three for the most dog-friendly hotels. And it's also an ideal destination for dogs who love to be outside, with 33 dog parks, the highest dog park per capita ratio in the country. Here are the top cities:

Portland, Austin, TX
San Diego
Seattle
New York
Glendale, AZ
Miami Beach
Chicago
Orlando
Kansas City
Madison, WI

07/11/2022

THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO TO YOUR CAT

Jack Hagerman with the Mercury News reveals things you should never do to your cat:

You should not force attention on cats though cats enjoy human attention; they like it in smaller doses than dogs and on their own terms. You should respect this basic need of your feline friends and never force attention on them, such as holding them against their will.

Make sure plants in your home are safe for cats
Lilies, often found in flower bouquets, are highly toxic to cats, and consumption of any part of this plant can lead to kidney failure and death. In fact, lilies are so harmful to cats that even sipping the water in a vase containing them can lead to kidney damage.

Don't let your cat play with yarn or strong ingestingstring
Ingesting yarn or string can cause what veterinarians call a linear foreign body. Intestines become scrunched and knotted as they attempt to pass the thread. This results in the death of sections of the intestines that must be surgically removed. Toys certified as cat-safe are a far better option for feline fun. Consult your vet if you're unsure about the appropriateness of your pets' toys.

Don't teach cats to "hand play. "
Whether it's a laser pointer or a light cord, cats love to bat at things that move their way. But during playtime, owners should avoid using their own hands as lures. This is because cats are hardwired to chase and hunt prey. When humans teach their cats that hands are appropriate objects to be tracked, the outcome is generally unpleasant and potentially dangerous for both the human and the cat. A more appropriate way to play with your cat is to use an inanimate object (usually a toy) as the go-between.

Never directly punish your cat. Using a loud sound now reprimanding your cat could have unwanted consequences. Cats are susceptible to loud noises and raised voices, finding them scary. They can perceive the person making these noises as a threat and will begin to avoid them.

Avoid feeding your cat only dry food
Cats are adapted to live in arid environments and can get all of their water from their food if they are served the proper diet. And since cats do not have a strong urge to drink water when thirsty, keeping them hydrated using food is super important.

Don't feed your cat milk
Cats tend to like the sweetness of milk, but you should avoid indulging them with a saucer of the stuff. Most cats are lactose intolerant, so giving them cow's milk can cause significant health issues.

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