Love the Dog You’re With

09/01/2024

Come meet them !

I wish we could take every dog and I know everybody wants us to take every dog, but we don't want to become one of those rescues who can't take care of the ones they already have. Yes, we always need fosters/n donations , but we also need adopters for the great dogs we already have.

Please come adopt.

07/01/2024

So did you ever see or hear of a dog bite with their tail wagging and/or no barking or snarling first ? I unfortunately did many years ago with my own dog ! Also with dogs I knew at shelters. Sandy was on her leash outside our house and she gave me no indication she would actually bite my mail carrier. Her tail was clearly wagging and she was silent. Boy did she fool both of us. I was able to pull her back due to her being on her leash, but she left a colorful bruise on his leg. I was naive at that time and did not see or hear any of the usual well known behavior dogs show before they bite.

My dog’s tail wagging just indicated excitement, which is hard to assess. The fact that excitement can mean the dog is uncertain is enough to use caution. Slower tail swaying generally means a friendly confident state of mind.

The following are charts to review if you have a dog. Body language is very important to understand as dog owners. It is wise to secure your dog safely if you have any doubts about them around people or other animals.

04/01/2024

There are a few types of collars I don’t work with and some leashes have cheap clasps or hurt my hands. Slip leads are good only if used correctly and safely. I use a few different types of reliable comfortable and safe walking equipment depending on the dog and their needs.

Retractable leashes are NEVER on my list. They are the leash that is a potential danger to everyone. The dog attatched to it, the human using it, drivers, pedestrians and other dogs and animals. I have heard story after story for many years.

My husband picked a woman off the ground who got tangled in the leash. My friend years ago got bad leash burns on her fingers that took weeks to heal. Someone yesterday told me his dog snapped his retractable leash and killed a small dog.

I feel compelled to speak up about these leashes as dangerous tools that I would like to see off the market. They won’t be, so the best we can do is share information about them. This chart is easy to share with people, I hope you pass it along.

31/12/2023

Wishing you and your furkids Peace and Love a in 2024 !

29/12/2023

Sweet promises and good looks could attract us to other people. We often make lots of mistakes judging people too fast on this alone.

Dogs however don’t look for these qualities and are not swayed by them. Behavior, routines and rituals make up the language of canines concerning humans. The average dog can learn 165 words and a soft voice can help a nervous dog relax. Language using words will be almost meaningless until a relationship through repeated experiences develops.

Be patient and keep your behavior, rituals and routines with your new dog as steady as possible. Feeding them the same times, walking the same times on the same route, giving them affection and play time in the same manner are all helpful for a dog adjusting to a new home. Praising them when their behavior pleases you will help them understand your expectations. All of this will make your dog trust you and make them feel confident. It will bring out their desire to please you.

There is no magic number of days that your dog will fully blossom in your home. You may see small changes like more play or looking for your attention more. Very shy cautious dogs are also generally very intelligent, so hang in there.

Words could be cheap to dogs, looks don’t matter, actions speak loudly to them. All of this is what makes them honest, loyal and true companions for life.

Dogs are the best friends !

25/12/2023

To all the homeless dogs and pets may Christmas Angels bring you Earth Angels to wrap you in love ! 🙏🏻🤞🏻❤️

23/12/2023

This good boy needs to be adopted :
I got to know this sweet and very balanced dog recently. He is 1.5, a Great Dane mix and will be 2 in May. He is good with all people and dogs he knows, he lives with children and another dog now. The family raised him with love since a baby. They realize he needs more time for walks and attention being a young large dog. Their time is limited and their property is very small. Maverick is neutered, healthy and about 90 pounds. He is house trained and was crate trained, but stays free in the home without doing any damage. His energy level is moderate and not to repeat myself, but he is a complete sweetheart. He has that Great Dane personality that gets me every time without being too large. He also walks well on his leash, he learns fast. A very sensitive and beautiful dog. Let me know if you are interested, you can meet Maverick in Oyster Bay. A home visit will be part of his adoption process.

21/12/2023

These cutie pies are ready and waiting for their special someone !

18/12/2023

This busy and social time of year brings a lot into our homes. New people, extra goodies to eat and sometimes visitors that stay over and take medicine. Some holiday plants are toxic too and decorations could be very tempting to dogs that like to chew.

Be careful not to let people and children overwhelm your dog with attention. Some dogs just rather not have attention from strangers. If you have a nervous dog around people give them their own comfy room or area during holiday gatherings in your home. Everyone will be safe and happy, a crate or a baby gate your dog can’t get past are perfect. A relief walk and some tasty treats should keep them happy.

The best trained dogs can find it impossible to leave good smelling things alone. Check your counters and tables for goodies your dog can reach before you leave the room or home. Garbage pails should never be left within their reach either. This is probably not an issue for most dogs, but I always think probably is not good enough.

When you have visitors that may be taking medicine please have them be mindful of where they are when taking any medicine. The dog should not be under their feet. You can assist them with a glass of water making sure nothing is dropped and that medicine is put away securely. There is nothing worse than searching for a tiny dropped powerful pill with your dog around. If you don’t find it right away you will panic, hopefully for nothing. So avoid this, we have been there !

Decorations and plants should be kept under watch and/or out of reach. Our puppy gave himself and his dad a good shock years ago and blew out the entire pre lit tree. This happened just as the tree was being set up, he wasted no time !

It really just takes a little planning to avoid a problem. A happy, safe and healthy holiday time to all !

15/12/2023

Adding a puppy or dog to our lives is a joyful and fulfilling event during the holidays or any time. Please keep in mind it also comes with daily work and devotion long after the “ honeymoon “. Someone will depend on you daily for their survival and well being. They will love you unconditionally, this is even more of a reason to choose a dog that you can care for well.

Consider all the needs of a dog or puppy you choose. Age, energy level, size, coat type and typical traits of the breed or mix are all important. Of course individual personality often counts the most.

Puppies are a ton of work in the first year or so. They also will need to see the Vet quite often for their growth check ups, vaccines and to be neutered or spayed.

Dogs that have hair that keeps growing will need professional grooming which takes time and/or money to keep up with.

Guard type dogs need owners that are ready to take this responsibility on.

High energy breeds are going to need more daily exercise than the average dog.

Working dogs will need both physical and mental exercise to keep them content.

Dogs 6 months and older have more obvious personality traits and needs than puppies.

If possible meet a dog more than once to be certain they are the right choice for you. Ask to walk them and play with them outside. Have every member of your home meet the dog before a final decision is made. Adopting a dog is so special, they are old enough to appreciate being chosen.

If you decide to purchase a puppy you should be invited to the home they were born in. You should meet their mother and possibly their father too.

Wishing you and your new best friend all the best always !

13/12/2023

All the colorful fun looking and festive chews and toys for dogs fill shelves everywhere at this time of year. Remember to be distrustful of all toys and treats that you are not familiar with. Rawhide products are often soaked in bleach and then dyed with coloring that is not a food grade substance. The dog chew and toy industry is NOT regulated like dog food. It is a separate category and is far more loose and dangerous. We have to stick with tried and true products from companies we know.

Don’t be worried to insult someone that buys your dog a gift that you are not eager to give them. Just let them know that they had enough for the day and toss it out later. Dogs wind up in emergency situations with intestinal blockages and perforations in their intestines all too often from unsafe chew products.

Anything your dog can get apart too fast is not safe. Any material too hard for your dog is not safe for their teeth. Balls and chew toys that are too small are not safe. Bigger is generally safer. Watch them with everything you give them because chewing power varies. Take chew toys away from puppies and new dogs when they are left alone. This is the time to give them edible easy to chew treats, not chew toys or products.

10/12/2023

Check out Remember Me Rescue if Pookey interests you or if you are looking for a companion dog. This rescue provides needed medical care, spay, neuter and even needed dentals before their dogs go into homes. They have great foster people, but always need more. The fosters can tell you a lot about the dogs that live with them. They are careful in placing their dogs and do home checks. They have me on their team for any training a dog may need. This is a rescue that keeps their promise to the dogs they rescue and to people that adopt them.

Poor Pookey ... it def wasn't the right home. I'm all for Senior Dogs for senior citizens, but the adult children have to be more realistic when they reach out and say my parent is very active , that they hike, take long walks, etc. even a senior dog needs to have exercise and then when I'm told there is a fence when a yard is not enclosed that's even more frustrating.

Pookey is a young senior with a lot of energy and a ton of love to give. He would be good with kids nine and up, he actually loved the daughter's own nine-year-old daughter, and if they didn't live in a condo, they would've taken him because he really is a great dog. And then I'm told that the last dog got out at least 10 times… Come on people... I know you want to get your parent some companionship but I don't want anything to happen to my dogs. I'm looking for adopters who can provide them with the home they deserve.

Pookey is a young 11-year-old, who would enjoy a fenced yard or going on a walk. He loves to be held and lay in your lap, or sit beside you. He's very demanding about it, and will bark to say hold me, love me. He deserves to get what he needs this time around.

He got his hopes up, only to be
disappointed yet again. I swear it looked like he was crying.

Remembermerescueny.net

09/12/2023

Sadly property crime rates are up along with all the other crime. You know what interferes with criminal activity, a noisy dog protecting their turf ! Dogs from 5 pounds to over 100 pounds can deter criminals from entering your home or from your car in the driveway. The barking coupled with a sneaky on edge criminal is often enough to stop crime.

Reward your dog for alerting you, as mine just did as a package was delivered. Training them not to bark excessively actually starts with praising them for barking to alert you. It sounds hard to achieve, but I can teach you what to do in a short time. We never want to silence our dogs with fear, their bark is their voice.

Wild dogs and humans started a relationship based on rewards. The dogs were given food and in turn protected their turf and their people. This loyalty was recognized and has been built on for centuries. Unfortunately, humans don’t always have the degree of loyalty that dogs have.

We are so lucky to have these loyal animals to share our lives with and to help us so much too. They deserve our respect and protection. If you can’t have a dog right now and admire their loyalty please support a rescue of your choice. These are hard times with rescues and shelters at capacity.

09/12/2023

It’s not an easy step to take a dog that you know may not be around long. However, it will bring you great joy in knowing the impact you make when they need love, security and comfort more than ever. Shelter life is extremely hard on senior dogs. It’s something that every dog lover should consider, it is actually life changing.

07/12/2023

Have you noticed many dog coats do not have good coverage on the chest or underside area like the back or top does ? This is not practical for cold weather and just saves material and time for the manufacturers. Choose coats that have full coverage on your dogs chest to keep them warm. Coats that are hoodie style and cover the tops of their front legs are generally good for warmth. Keeping a thin coated dog covered close to their heart is especially important on cold days. Dogs also have less hair or fur on their underside.

If you are going to walk far on cold days consider booties for your dog. These really help if the ground is wet or snow covered.

Without booties paws need to be checked for compressed snow stuck in their pads if you are out or have been out in the snow. This could be painfully cold for them. A fast way to relieve them of this once inside is to dip their paws in warm water and dry them very well.

04/12/2023

The easiest training code to crack is in the name :
D- treat a dog with Dignity
O - they will be Obedient
G- they will show their Gratitude

Training needs to be fun and engaging for your dog.
Training should not be punitive or tedious.
Training should be approaced a lot like athletic or artistic training. We want to coach them while they are doing things they enjoy.

02/12/2023

Great session ! Great dogs with the ability to be social, just like most. Don’t label your dog “ unfriendly “ until you learn to do a little confidence building work with them.

02/12/2023

This little Aussie can seem unfriendly on her leash and proceeds with caution. She is actually very social and we have opened a new chapter in her life at 8 years old with her new owners. It is very important to ease a cautious dog into playing with dogs that are not too over excited for them. Her on leash behavior is much better too, she has gained a lot of confidence in a short time.

02/12/2023

Toast with butter attracts all kinds 🙄

01/12/2023

Thankfully this is something I have only heard of a few times. Hopefully sharing this will save other dogs in honor of this beautiful dog. Keep your dog from being able to reach the trash or food that may tempt them when you can’t watch them. Even the best trained dogs can’t always pass on grabbing what smells good to them.

It was a devastating holiday morning yesterday for Dusty McHenry whose sweet pup Ruca suffocated in a chip bag. Dusty writes, “I lost my Cattle Dog this Thanksgiving morning due to him getting in the trash and suffocating in a chip bag. Be thankful for your furry friends. I had no idea this could happen. Hug your furry ones tight for me. Had him by my side for 7 years. He moved with me everywhere I went. He helped me through my mental health.

I will always miss my boy and I feel so guilty this happened to him. I have to honor him and spread the word on these chip bags. I wish I would've known about it or would've cut the bags up. I'm going to do my best on spreading awareness on this matter because no one should have to feel this pain I feel.”

We are never prepared to lose a beloved pup to pet suffocation, especially on a celebratory holiday. Please share in honor of sweet Ruca, gone too soon. 💔
www.preventpetsuffocation.com

01/12/2023

Help advocate for animals, follow Voters 4 Voiceless to discover how you can be their voice

29/11/2023

Trainers that use and recommend ANY type of electronic device to stop behaviors are not training. It may not look like force and they may tell you how harmless it is. If it stops a dog cold in their tracks it works right ? It is also instilling fear because it bothered them or hurt them so much they had no choice left but to stop everything. This trainer showed you a successful tool and may seem like a true pro.

What they achieved was a change or stop in behavior as you requested of them. What they left in question is a dog that may never trust or bond with you as completely as they were capable of. There will always be a disconnect concerning full trust and this unfortunately can pop up anytime. Agression, timidness, depression or anxiety that can even impact their health.

Shock collars
Anti Bark collars
Electronic fencing
Citronella collars
High frequency noise correctors
Pulse collars

All of the above may work, none of them will create the bond you and your dog deserve. Your dog needs to know you are the one that is concerned with their happiness, safety and confidence. These tools will not allow your dog to think of you as their hero. Please pass on them whether you are hiring a trainer or just looking for training solutions.

27/11/2023

Peppa waits patiently for Dave to return. She is ready for her half hour slow snooping shuffle. We love this girl to pieces ! She can still move fast when she has to, true survivor.

27/11/2023

Separation anxiety can put both dogs and owners in a whirlwind of anxiety. It is actually one of the top reasons dogs get surrendered back to rescues and shelters. Dogs can cause destruction in our homes or to themselves by chewing. Frantic dogs often release their anxiety by chewing and/or barking while left home alone. They also may bark excessively, destroy or escape the average crate, jump gates, get stuck places and even jump out of windows. Coming home to find destroyed belongings, a hurt dog or being told your dog has been loud by neighbors is a lot to deal with.

Learn all the steps to ease your dogs mind into being by themselves. It is a process that is based on routines. Most dogs will get better and better at it until it becomes a regular accepted occurance in their lives. Occasionally, a dogs stress level may be severe enough to discuss medication therapy with your Vet. This is only if you do not see improvement as you are working on methods to help them.

Please don’t panic, your dog will feel every bit of your stress. Call me or a trainer that can help guide you through steps and routines to help relieve your dog of this fear. It is very common, very natural and happens with human children every day. Human kids don’t chew, but some cry hard and scream loud, they climb and try to escape their cribs, which is obviously dangerous. This is all part of being a social being and some beings need more help settling in on their own than others.

There are easy and logical steps to take and many helpful routines to use. Almost every dog has the capacity to settle into a calm and confident state of mind on their own. A very small percentage of dogs may suffer too much for too long with separation anxiety. The right medication will certainly help them until being without you gets easier for them.

25/11/2023

That warm heart healthy oatmeal is great for our dogs too. Make some up and keep leftover in fridge a couple of days. A heaping tablespoon or two, ( depending on dogs size), is a great addition to their diet. It helps their skin, their digestion and can aide in weight management when more caloric food is reduced.
Plain Cheerios or similar cereal is also a good low calorie treat or food topper.

Remember, food is food, there really is no “ dog food “. This is just a term for commercially prepared foods for dogs. These products help our dogs get everything they need in one bag or can easily. We don’t have to only feed them prepared dog food.

Always check lists for foods that are safe and beneficial to dogs if you are not certain.

22/11/2023

Lot’s of people are thinking of getting a soft cuddly adorable puppy this holiday season. It’s such a happy time to choose a puppy and get it set up at home. You will hopefully be able to socialize them with adults, children and other dogs and maybe cats too. You will hopefully crate train them and be sure not to leave them alone too long in the daytime. 2 months, 2 hours, 3 months, 3 hours and so on is the standard recommended schedule. You will hopefully keep them in just a room or two watching everything they do when they are not in their crate or pen. You will hope they grow into the kind of dog you imagine yourself and perhaps your family or friends with. You will hope they enjoy the same things you do and have a similiar energy level.

Plan # 2 - Adopt a dog 6 month or older and have a lot less work and know a lot more about who they are. Dogs, like us are born with most of their personality. Meet them once, twice or more at the shelter or rescue if you are not sure. Ask to walk them and ask to play with them off leash too. See how they react to the world around them. People, noises, other animals and vehicles, see their energy and spirit. Now you are choosing not only a beautiful pet, but one that you know a lot about. People think they will be taking a big chance on adopting an adult dog. It’s actually a lot more of a gamble to adopt a young puppy. It’s much harder to get a read on their personality as babies. This is also very true for kittens vs. adult cats.

I adore puppies, I love puppy training, but it is not the best choice for everyone. They come
with a lot of work and unknown traits. After raising two puppies when my kids were little it was enough for me for a lifetime. They were fantastic dogs, but a lot of work at first. There are a lot of Vet visits and vaccines in the first 6 months, then bringing them to be spayed or neutered comes shortly after. I still wish I could adopt every adult dog I meet that needs a home.

Pets are a very personal choice, I just wanted to highlight some practical things to consider. Healthy puppies and young dogs are generally a 12-18 year commitment that rely on us once we choose them.

21/11/2023

Hoping and praying for safety and comfort this season and always for all people and animals

19/11/2023

Shaq be nimble
Shaq be quick
Do you think you will click ?

He is a very typical Jack Russel mix. Energetic, fun, sometimes compulsive, but ready for wherever or whatever you want to do together with him for fun. He adores playing ball, long hikes, car rides and couch cuddle time. He needs to be the only pet from some behavior we see with him. He needs a terrier lovers(s) and the strong leadership skills that come with that. I will continue to help work with Shaq and his approved adopter until his transition to becoming their dog becomes comfortable.

Let Loving Touch rescue in Queens know if you are interested in meeting Shaq. He is 2 years old.

17/11/2023

Shelters are at capacity and also over their intended capacity right now with surrendered dogs. We know this can lead to dogs not given nearly enough time out of their kennels, which is always hard for most shelters to keep up with or even worse 😞. If you are thinking your dog is too much for you to handle give me a call to help you before you make any final decisions. Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s too late for your dog to learn new things. When training is fun and reward based it works for the dog. When things work for a dog they repeat the behavior, they are natural opportunists !