Yes, In my not-so-humble opinion, dogs go to Heaven.

The same one (human) believers go to.  God does not make mistakes, nor does He make anything unimportant.  If God thought creatures important enough to create them in the first place, I don’t think He allows them to pass into oblivion.  He thinks animals are important enough to make covenants with  Genesis 9:8-17), promises to (Psalm 36:6, Psalm 104:21, Luke 12:24) and gives them a role in the final judgment and restoration (Ezekial 39:17, Hosea 2:18, Revelations 19:17-18).   My faith says that when a human baby dies, it automatically goes to heaven, as it is an innocent.  So are the animal creations of God innocents.

Dr. Robert T. Sharp, a veterinarian for over a quarter century in Hillsboro, Ohio, has this to say from his book No Dogs in Heaven? “For the next several months I asked every clergyman who came into the office if they felt there were dogs in heaven.  It became an obsession with me.  I asked Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of Christ, Baptist (3) and Pentecostal ministers.  I asked two Catholic priests.  I asked Evangelical United Brethren, Nazarene, and Bible Baptist preachers. I asked the part-time clergy of very small churches, and I listened to the Rev. Billy Graham.  They were all of one opinion: If it wouldn’t be heaven for you if your dog were not there, then your dog will indeed be waiting there for you”.

Author Sylvia Browne says:   “consider this – we have an all-loving, magnanimous God … God is perfect and never flawed, and therefore God is all good.  With that in mind, why would He ever destroy or neglect these marvelous creatures that He made to be loving companions and aids to humankind?”

Phyllis O’Beollain

The death of a pet means the loss of a source of unconditional love.

Our pets have such an important role in our life: they are non-judgmental, offering continual companionship, acceptance and devoted love. The emotional ties we develop with our pets are strong; the stronger the bond, the greater the loss we feel when they return to their Creator. The pain is real and is a normal response to the loss of a significant relationship.

You’re not going crazy

When faced with losing your pet, you may be shocked at the intensity of your grief. The grief can be so much more intense than you ever expected, no different from that of losing any other beloved family member or friend.

You may think your feelings are abnormal, or even that you are losing your mind. Grief can affect you physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. Grief follows no specific time frame; there is no set time for you to “get over it and get on with things”. (You’ll never completely get over it, and you wouldn’t want to – your pet meant too much for you to stop missing him/her entirely).

People may not “get it”

The loss of our pet can put you into a deep depression with little support and not much understanding from people who have never had pets. Not much support is offered to grieving pet owners in our culture; your grief may not be recognized as the significant, legitimate emotion that it is.

Know that it’s OK to feel sad. Unfeeling people may ridicule you for crying over a lost pet, but your feelings are valid. Crying and feeling sad are natural responses to your loss. As grieving over animals isn’t generally accepted in this society, you may feel embarrassed, as if you have no right to feel so griefstricken. Listen – you are not grieving “just a pet”. You are the only one who knows just how very much this companion meant to you, and therefore you are the only one who can know how very much you have lost (for now, anyway-I have faith that we will see them again).

When animal friends pass on, there are no public rituals or ceremonies in which to express and share sorrow, talk about the loss and receive sympathy and support of others. When you most need to be with empathetic individuals, you may feel very, very alone. You need to find someone with whom you can share your feelings, work through your grief and pain and find support. People who have experienced this loss themselves will best be able to understand what you are going through. 
Know that grief comes out in many ways, and at different (and sometimes unexpected) times. You may feel anger, guilt, or depression.

On the passing of a chronically ill pet

Don’t expect that you’ll feel better right away with the death of an ill or very elderly pet. It may bring some relief (and then guilt) but you are still going to be sad. Allow yourself to feel all these things in order to work through the grief.

You’re likely to feel guilty no matter what. When Oliver had to go back to his Creator, I felt guilty over not giving him more treats: “I should have given him all the treats he could eat!”. All that would have accomplished would have been a bad case of GI stasis, but you cannot help how you feel at the time. Feelings are not logical: feelings are simply feelings.

Even if you are blessed with understanding family and friends, an online forum where you can talk about your grief to like-minded pet owners is invaluable. Join a support group for people who have lost pets, or find an online community where you can talk about your grief with others who are going through or have gone through the grieving process. 
Find your own method and give yourself your own time and space to fully grieve the loss of your dear friend and companion.

Most of us know how to protect our pups in freezing temperatures (doggie sweaters, here we come!) but not everyone is aware of another winter danger for dogs: the ubiquitous rock salt used to melt ice. In the past five years, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has received hundreds of calls about ice melt exposure. Here’s everything you need to know to keep Fido safe from salt melts till spring:

1. Ice melts are poisonous to dogs if ingested. Dogs who lick their paws after a wintry walk may be exposing themselves to toxic chemicals like potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium carbonate and calcium magnesium acetate that are present in many ice melts. Consumption of ice melts can be lethal, but only if your dog ingests large quantities.
“Larger ingestions can lead to an increase in the blood’s electrolyte levels, weakness, lethargy, moderate irritation to the oral and gastrointestinal system, and even tremors,” says Nicole Martin, a certified veterinary technician and Client Services Manager at APCC.
Still, smaller quantities of ice melts can make your dog feel pretty sick. “We would expect a small ingestion, such as licking paw pads after a walk through ice melts, to lead to mild gastrointestinal signs such as hypersalivating, nausea and vomiting,” Martin warns.
2. Melts can irritate dogs’ paws. Dogs’ gastrointestinal systems are not the only part of their bodies that react badly to ice melt exposure. Though paw pads are tough, ice melts can cause them to burn, become irritated and even crack, turning a daily walk into a painful ordeal for your dog. “It’s important to regularly check in between your pet’s paw pads for signs of irritation,” Martin advises.
3. It’s relatively easy to protect your pup from ice melts. A few simple steps can keep your dog safe, but one of them is especially key: “After wintertime walks, pet parents should wipe their pet’s paws off with a clean, damp towel,” says Martin. She adds that dog boots can go a long way toward protecting your pet from the perils of winter walks.
Other ways to keep your pet safe: Wipe down your dog’s entire body if she was rolling around in the snow, don’t let your dog drink from puddles of melted snow, and keep your dog from snacking on snow near any place where ice melts may have been used.
4. “Pet-friendly” ice melts are available, but they may not be the answer. “Although these types of melts tend to be considered safer, they, too, can lead to problems if the animal has been exposed to enough of the product,” says Martin. If you’ve got ice melts of any kind at home, keep them in sealed, pet-proof containers.
5. If you think your dog ate ice melts, please take action. Call your veterinarian.

I’ve not read anything serious about the Reasons for Mounting Behavior in Dogs. I made a lot of assumptions, most or perhaps all, of which are wrong according to this trainer’s information.

So if you’re a bit like me take this information in, process it and decide if your dog needs a little help. With rare exception I’ve always had females. They have never “acted out” on humans, just each other.

Read More »

It is a good practice to get into the habit of trimming your pet’s toenails at least once a month when they are still puppies because their nails grow so fast and are sharp and pointed which is easier for their nails to become caught in carpeting. This could cause a toenail to be ripped right off right down to the cuticle. Give your dog’s toenails a manicure regularly to keep the toenails trimmed down to prevent any accidents from happening plus this will teach your puppy at a young age to tolerate nail trimmings in the future.

Dogs cannot retract their toenails like cats can do so it is a good practice to keep your dog’s toenails trimmed before their toenails have a chance to start curling under. When the toenails on a dog do begin curling under, this makes trimming the toenails a much harder task. The toenails can become embedded into the paw and will cause much pain for your pet when the toenails are trimmed off.

The nail of an animal is composed of a hard toenail which is on the outer surface of the claw itself and then there is a spongy material part to the interior of the toenail and this material is called the ‘quick’. The quick supports the blood vessels and nerves of each entire part of each claw. Your dog can feel this pain and the toenail will bleed if you cut the toenail too short and cut into the pink area. This is similar in the way when we cut our own fingernails too close to the nail bed. It hurts a lot.

You can find the right pair of nail clippers from your local Animal Clinic or at a Pet store. Ask which nail clipper is right for your pet.

To trim dogs’ toenails, place the clippers right at the point where the nails start to curve. You do not want to go past the pink part.

If you do get a toenail too short, and the nail starts to bleed, here is what you can do:

Make a paste of flour/water (1tsp flour and enough water to make a paste and stir until it becomes thickened and then take a Q-tip and dip it in the paste and dab on the nail & wait a few seconds to see if the bleeding has stopped. Or you can take a bar of soap and place some on the tip of the nail, but a lot of times using a bar of soap can sting. You can also use baking soda or cornstarch and all you do is dip the toenail that is bleeding into a dab of cornstarch or baking soda. Do not wipe the excess blood off of the toenail before you dab it into the cornstarch or baking soda. The toenail will have a bloody glob of what ever you dab the toenail in but just leave it there and don’t brush it off. Hold the dog in your lap for a few minutes to see if the bleeding has stopped. If the toenail is still bleeding repeat the process.

You can also buy a box of styptic pencils or styptic powder to keep on hand at your home just in case you do ever trim your dog’s toenails too short and they bleed. Using styptic pencil is the fastest & easiest way to stop a dog’s toenail from bleeding.

Another very quick and easy way to stop a dog’s toenail from bleeding and to prevent a mess in your house and on your carpeting from bloody toenails, is to rinse the entire paw off under warm running water and then dry the paw off some. Then take a soft wash cloth and dip it in warm water and wrap the warm cloth around the entire paw and sit down with your dog in your lap, putting gentle pressure on the paw and toenail for at least 20 minutes. This will stop the toenail from bleeding.

Whenever you do trim your pet’s toenails remember to trim their dewclaws as well. The dewclaw is attached to the leg only by loose skin and dewclaws are found on the inside of the front legs and occasionally can be found on the hind legs as well. Unlike front dewclaws, rear dewclaws tend to have little bone or muscle structure to them so when the animal is standing, it does not make contact with the ground. The dewclaw can usually be bent away from the leg so that you can fit a guillotine type trimmer over the tip of the dewclaw. Many pet owners will have their puppies dewclaws removed not long after they are born which is far less painful for the puppy than to wait until the puppy is a month or two older.

If you do cut the toenail too short, don’t panic. Your dog will be fine and the toenail will eventually stop bleeding on its own even though the amount of blood that goes along with trimming a toenail too close seems a lot.

- excerpt from Whole Dog Journal (http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/)

You can reduce the risk of damage to occasional ill-gotten items by teaching your pup to exchange toys for treats, using something he loves that he’s allowed to have, such as a favorite chew toy or a food-stuffed Kong.

The key to this game is he learns that if he gives something up, he gets something better in return and he gets the original thing back as well. Two rewards for the price of one! Then, when he has a forbidden object, he’s more likely to bring it to you to trade than to drag his prize to his cave under the dining room table for a leisurely chew. The rare occasion that he doesn’t get “the thing” back won’t be enough to overcome the programming you’ve done by playing the “trade” game with him frequently.

In order for this to work, you have to stop playing “chase the puppy” when he grabs the sofa cushion or some other forbidden object. This is often an attention-getting behavior; he’s learned that grabbing “your” toys and dashing off with them initiates a rousing play session.

Here’s what you do:

1. Offer him his well-stuffed Kong and say, “Take it!” Have him on a leash if you think he’ll run off with it.

2. Give him a little while to get fully engaged in chewing, and then say “Give!” or “Trade!” in a cheerful tone of voice and offer him a handful of irresistible treats, such as small bits of chicken or cheese.

3. Hold the treats under his nose and let him sniff. It may take him several seconds to think about it, but eventually he should drop his Kong and start eating the treats. Don’t let him gulp them! Hold the tidbits so he can only take them one by one.

4. When he drops the Kong, say, “Yes!”

5. While he is still nibbling, reach down with your other hand and pick up the toy.

6. Let him nibble a bit longer, then offer him the Kong again.

7. Repeat the exercise several times. Then end the game by giving him back his Kong and letting him chew to his heart’s content.

8. Play this game at every opportunity, whenever he’s engaged in chewing on his toys on his own, or whenever you feel like initiating the game, until he’ll give up his chew object easily on your “give” cue.

– excerpt from Whole Dog Journal

‘Lean dogs live longer, healthier lives than those who are overweight. A 14-year study showed that dogs fed 25 percent fewer calories than their free-fed littermates lived nearly two years longer and showed fewer visible signs of aging. They also were a full three years older before they needed treatment for arthritis.’

Please click on the following  article (http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/12_9/features/Canine-Weight-Loss-Advice_16158-1.html) for more info – it just may save your dog’s life!

I have been owned by Bichons Frises (curly white lap dogs) for the better part of  twenty years. During this time I have exhibited many of them in Canada and the United States and obtained Championship Titles in both countries. Presentation in the ring consistes of a number of factors, not the least of which is the condition of the dog’s coat. The Bichon is a white dog and that coat needs to be very white in the ring and this means that the show dog is going to have a whole lot of bathing done while in competition. The shampoo used needs to be gentle while at the same time being effective in cleaning the coat.

The number of dog shampoos on the market (and the prices) just boggle my mind and I’m sure there is a justifiable need for many of them.  I am  thinking particularly of medicated shampoos and those for skin sensitivies and other conditions. However, the vast majority of dog owners just want a basic shampoo that will clean their dogs’ skin and coat without causing an allergic reaction or other issue. Do we really have to buy a shampoo specifically designed for animals?

There are  professionals who have researched dog shampoo ingredients – Dog Groomer Barbara Bird, of Tucson, Arizona, being one – and here I must confess that I know nothing whatsoever of the benefits or disadvantages of ingredients of most shampoos on the market today. What I do know is that my own shampoo of choice is NOT sold in a store at all. It is a homemade concoction of very simple ingredients, and it does the job beautifully. I have never had a dog of my own breeding or a grooming client dog whose skin has reacted badly to this shampoo, but I am not guaranteeing that no dog ever will. I’m just saying that in twenty years it has not happened yet. And this shampoo will gently clean and whiten as well as any of the storebought brands, and better than many.

Here’s the formula of the shampoo that I use, and that has been used by Dog Show people for many years before I ever even heard of it:

1 bottle (888ml) Ivory dish detergent

2 ounces of Glycerin

2 cups white vinegar

Water

I fill a gallon jug about half full of water first, then add the vinegar and glycerin. Lastly I add the Ivory detergent and add enough extra water to fill the jug.

(An excerpt from ‘Special Paws Blog’ – Discussions of all things dog training!)

Layla (a super- trainer in Seattle, WA) so eloquently puts it: “If your dog fits into your lifestyle as you like it, then the dog is trained.”  It breaks my heart when people think having a trained dog means that the dog does everything you say when you say it, for no reason other than just because. The dog has to be at the human’s side every second of a walk and sitting whenever human decides to stop moving, the dog cannot look at another dog (and must never ever turn his head towards another dog), etc. What is the sense in this? Training is not about creating robots! Training doesn’t mean that dog has to stop being a dog, what’s fair or logical about that? We bring their species to live with us and expect them to completely abandon everything that is natural and normal to them? No!

Training is simply showing dogs that because they live with us humans, there will be certain times when we need them to follow certain human rules and social norms. Training is showing your dog that people, places and things they thought were unsafe before can actually be safe; even wonderful! Training is about creating a strong, healthy bond based on understanding each other. This means they learn to understand what we want from them and vice versa. We learn to read what their bodies are saying the way they are already so perceptive about what ours say to them (even when we’re not so aware of what our bodies are saying to them!).

There is nothing like the feeling you get when you see the look in your dog’s eyes when they really understand what it means when you wave your hand in that one funny motion or when you say a particular word! There’s no way to know for sure of course, but I imagine the dog gets that same wonderful feeling when they finally understand that when we raise our hands in that one particular gesture we mean for them to put their rumps on the ground! I think this is part of the reason that training builds a dog’s confidence and heightens the trust they have in their person.

It is so sad that a lot of folks, including young veterinarians these days, buy into the “hybrid vigor” baloney. The vet schools have been infiltrated by the Animal Rights Extremists, who are teaching them this junk science in order to push their agenda.

All animals have a certain amount of genetic load, which is to say there is absolutely no animal without some genetic problem of some sort of another. Know anyone who wears glasses? Has allergies? Thyroid problems? Weak knees? Flat feet? A skin condition? Arthritis? A gapbetween their front teeth? These are all genetic imperfections.

No human is genetically “clean.” Neither is any individual of any species on earth. So this idea that dogs should not be bred because they might have a genetic problem, and that breeders are somehow “evil” for breeding them, is ridiculous. Every single individual of every single species has at least a few genetic conditions.

To use PeTA’s logic, all breeding of all kinds (including having human babies) should halt immediately. And to be honest, Ingrid Newkirk (the woman who founded PETA) does believe exactly that. She thinks that humans should become extinct, along with dogs, cats, etc. This ridiculous scenario is precisely what she would like to see happen.
So folks, if that is what you want…if you agree with IngridNewkirk’s whacky views, send your hard earned money to PETA. They will help to ensure you are not able to own a dog or cat or hamster or any other pet in the future. They will see to it that you can’t eat meat or fish or eggs or any type of animal-based nutrition. They will work to shut down places like Sea World, the zoos, etc. so you cannot observe the many wonderful animals on the Earth. Eventually, once they accomplish these things, they may turn their efforts to making it illegal for humans to procreate.
If you don’t agree with their extremist views, wise up and start supporting those who truly do love, care for and enjoy interaction with other species here on our little blue planet.

The fanciers of the breeds, those you see exhibiting their dogs at Westminster and other dog shows, work very hard to eliminate serious genetic conditions. They screen their breeding stock with every available test. They research pedigrees before breeding into other lines, to check for similar clearances in those animals. They contribute money to research organizations to further the work being done to track down genetic problems. They contribute blood, cell samples, etc. from their own animals to help with DNA and genome studies. They have made great progress so far, and they continue to work hard at it.

Are there unethical breeders? Certainly, there are. Just as in any group of humans, you will find the good and the bad. United States VP Elect Joe Biden, for example, managed to find a not so good one when he got his new German Shepherd puppy. I don’t know who did his research for him, but they obviously didn’t do their homework if they were looking for a responsible breeder. Joe has the right to get his dog from whomever he wishes, but if he was trying to set an example of purchasing from a responsible hobby breeder he went off the track this time. That’s too bad, but it was his choice.

Unfortunately, breeders like that may be a lot easier to find because of their high volume and high profile. If you are looking for a nice family pet from a breeder who will be there for you forever, you need to do due diligence. You won’t get that from a pet store. You won’t get that from the guy selling dogs out of his pickup truck in the WalMart parking lot. You won’t get that support from a high-volume breeder, either. Yes, it takes a little more time and effort to find someone who really cares and does all the work to breed the healthiest, happiest puppies possible and then stands behind those puppies.

This is a living being that will be part of your family, hopefully, for many years. Isn’t it worth a bit of effort to find a breeder who will be there for you and that puppy forever?

And guess what? Shows like Westminster are a very valuable resource for finding breeders who do care and who use the best possible practices, as well as for learning more about the various breeds.

Bravo to USA Network for broadcasting the Westminster Kennel Club show all these years. May they enjoy continued success through the ongoing inclusion of such programs. I will be eagerly watching this year’s show!”