The Joyful Animal LLC

26/07/2022

No grapes or raisins for your dog.

BREAKING NEWS
Veterinarians at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center in the USA think they have worked out the reason why grapes are toxic to dogs.

After receiving reports of vomiting and kidney injury following exposure to cream of tartar, veterinarians put two and two together and worked out that tartaric acid and potassium bitartrate, compounds present in cream of tartar, are also present in grapes.

This may finally answer the long standing question as to why dogs develop kidney injury following ingestion of grapes. It also answers the question as to why some dogs are affected and others are not. This conundrum lies in the variability in tartaric acid concentration in grapes with concentrations changing based on grape type, locality and ripeness.

Whilst 20g of grapes per kg (approximately 5 grapes per kg) has been reported to cause kidney damage, there is a report of a dog eating 1/2 grape per kg developing kidney injury also. So the best advice out there is still to avoid feeding your dog grapes and sultanas!

04/06/2022

This is what impulse control looks like and what Predation Substitute Training will do for you (thanks Simone Müller!). Small mammals are a gateway drug to bigger animals for dogs. It's not ok for them to chase ground squirrels because you think they're varmints and then try to expect your dog to rein in their prey drive with cats, smaller dogs, skunks, deer, elk, bear etc. ALL wildlife should be off limits!

I am always very cognizant that the forest and wilderness belongs to the wildlife that make it their home and try to create as little stress as possible when we enter and trespass. This time of year birds are nesting, many on the ground, wildlife have young and even if your dog kills "just a squirrel", it may be leaving a nest full of youngsters to slowly starve to death or die of exposure. How horrible.

If you can't control your dog, keep them leashed until they can be trusted off leash. Buulding control and respect for wildlife takes time and hard work but it can be done! Being off-leash doesn't mean your dog gets to terrorize wildlife!

You'll notice Bounder is loose and only looking - the number one rule - look but do NOT chase or touch. Right after I took this the chipmunk made his little chippy sounds, zipped around the trunk and took off. We carried on our way happy and calmly with no harm done!

Good boy, Bounder!!

Please be a good wildlife advocate....need help teaching this? I happen to know who can help 😉

31/01/2022

Highly recommend Natasha and all of her Pathfinder's classes. Informative, FUN, relationship building classes. Check out her current schedule and go have a great time with your pup!

22/01/2022

Just a heads up for those who fill their Kong, bones, or treats with peanut butter or give your pet ice cream!

For many of these fillable toys, I do recommend reading your peanut butter's label or filling with wet dog food you can freeze or use any of our awesome in store stuffers!

21/01/2022

Always true...

Does your dog trust you? 🤔🐶

19/01/2022

Donars are welcome to come visit Abby and Peggy and see how their donations and shavings are helping to keep the happy and healthy. You can also purchase shavings at your favorite ranch supply store and they can hold them for us to pick up.

12/01/2022

Just to good not to share 🤣🤣🤣

04/01/2022

Trap-Release Workshop
Bitterroot Public Library, Hamilton MT
Saturday, January 16th, 2-4PM
RSVP required: send email to [email protected]

05/11/2021

Take the test then read why.

You’re on a walk and you see a dog on a lead. Your dog is running free.

Q: What should you do next?
(Cue *who wants to be a millionaire* music).

Is it:
A: put your dog on a lead
B. Let your dog run over and say hello.
C: Shout “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.”
Or
D: What dog? You were playing candy crush.

The answer is…. A.

Did you get it right?

Many dog owners don’t. They don’t understand what a negatively life-altering situation a rogue dog can be for on-lead walkers.

Here’s why:

Dogs you don’t know could be on lead for 100s of reasons.

They could be blind.
They could be recovering from surgery.
They could be deaf.
They could be aggressive.
They might be scared of being approached by strangers.
They might be training.
They could be a service dog.
They may be a rescue.
They might be terrified of dogs they don’t know.
They could be elderly or physically vulnerable.
They might simply prefer to walk on lead.

In the end, it doesn’t matter why they are on a lead. It’s none of your business. But what is your business is CONSENT.

Leads are a little flag that say “don’t come close”.

When you see them, putting your dog on a lead is respectful. You show the other owner that you CARE about their choice and consent. It doesn’t matter if your dog has 100% perfect recall. You respect the other person and their dog enough to be courteous and kind to uphold everyone’s safety by making absolutely sure everyone is on a lead (no matter how much you trust your dog).

As a person who is often walking a dog on lead for all of many the reasons listed, I can’t tell you how my heart sings when I see someone extend this gesture to me and my pack.

Your dog has no right or business running up to ANYONE (dog or human) without clear PRIOR consent to do so.

You have a responsibility to ensure your dog is in control in a public place. Failing to recall is an offense. It counts as a dog out of control in a public place.

Take note!!!

08/10/2021

FYI

Be aware and beware!!