A Pet's Ten Commandments

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~Take a moment today to thank God for your pets. Enjoy and take good care of them.
Life would be a much duller, less joyful experience without God’s critters.

~Now please pass this on to other pet owners. We do not have to wait for Heaven, to be surrounded by hope, love, and joyfulness. It is here on earth and has four legs!

Author Stan Rawlinson

How to Keep your Dog Safe on Thanksgiving!

Stuff the Turkey, Not the Dog: 10 Things to Hide from Your Pet this Thanksgiving

Written by:  Janine Kahn

We all know how hard it can be to resist those begging eyes and that furry face you can deny nothing on any given day, and on Thanksgiving – with the fragrant smell of that really rich dinner swimming throughout the house – the temptation can be that much worse. But this year, do your dog a favor and keep her away from the items listed below. Pookie Dearest might be miffed for the evening, but her stomach will thank you the next day.
1. Turkey Skin – On its own, turkey skin can be fatty and hard to digest, but on Thanksgiving it’s particularly bad (just think of the butter, oils and spices rubbed into it). If you must share the turkey with your dog, do peel the skin off and cut the meat up into bite-sized pieces. And consider choosing the white meat over the dark for your pooch – it’s a little blander and easier to digest.
2. Cooked Bones - Whether your bird is duck, goose or turkey, do not give the bones to your dog. Any dog cartoon features Fido carrying a bone around in his mouth, but the reality is that a cooked bone is often brittle and sharp pieces can get lodged in your pet’s intestine. And bird bones are hollow and break easily.
3. Gravy/Buttery Side Dishes - This one goes hand-in-hand with the turkey skin. Fatty foods and trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs at worst and diarrhea or vomiting at “best.” ThePoop.com suggests substituting gravy with a little turkey broth if you really want to give your pup a treat.
4. Aluminum Foil and Plastic Wrap – Dispose of these when you’re done with them. There are two risks here: one, your pet will be licking the fatty substances off the wrappings, and two, swallowing these can cause an intestinal obstruction.
5. Chocolate - Not that we think that you would intentionally feed your dog chocolate (which we all know can be toxic to our canine friends), but since candy is often left out on tables for guests during the holidays, it made the list. Be sure to keep bowls filled with chocolate out of reach.
6. The Garbage Pail – A frustrated pet who can’t get a scrap out of his usually-generous parents may be tempted to dig around the trash bin and find a good number of the items listed above.
7. The Kitchen – Thanksgiving can be the busiest day of the year for the kitchen, and you’ll want to keep your pup out of there. With hot dishes being whisked from one counter to the next, there’s a chance a dog that’s under foot could be burned or cut if something were to shatter.
8. Holiday Plants – Sure it’s Thanksgiving, but a good number of people have already decked the halls with holly by this time. Know that Poinsettias, holly berries, mistletoe and Cedar Christmas trees are toxic to dogs.
9. Decorations – Glass ornaments and candles are just begging for trouble. Like the chocolate, keep these out of reach.
10. Guests Who Mean Well – Educate your less pet-savvy visitors (and hey, maybe even send them this list). A child may accidentally feed a dog some chocolate and your great aunt might think she’s being nice by sharing her turkey skin.


Pass it on!!!

Happy Birthday Zena Marie Pugsly!!!!!

Happy Birthday Zena!!!!

8 years old today

To the best dog and friend
anyone could ever have.

I love you!!!!

Urgent - Emaciated sweet female pit - needs foster/rescue

Please Pass on the Information to your friends!!!

I received this e-mail earlier today. Information for the person to contact about this dog is at the bottom of this e-mail, thank you!!

Urgent - Emaciated sweet female pit - needs foster/rescue - Please crosspost (ROC)


This sweet girl was surrendered in the City of Rochester by a man who clearly could not care for her -- additionally his electricity had been shut off so there was no heat. Who knows when her last meal was. She is starved, weighing about 25 lbs. Probably about 1-2 years old, it appears that she has had a litter of pups. She is a smaller framed girl, a "pocket pittie", but she def. should have at least 20 lbs added to her body. She is very sweet, and dog friendly. She loves people and is attention starved as well. She is not good with cats, but possibly could do better with them after further exposure.
**She is safe--- but needs rescue or at least a foster who can devote more time to her & getting her healthy. She needs one on one, and to be on a good food regimen to beef her up.
Please crosspost -- this is urgent as current foster home is FULL and cannot house this sweet baby.
Donations are needed towards food costs & vetting.
If anyone can help---please email or call me ASAP!

Thank you so much!
Lindsay
--
~~~~~~~~~
Lindsay Bachl
585.520.2122 cell

Live, Love, Rescue.
Adopt, don't shop.
www.petfinder.com

Ask Zena: House breaking a Pug (or any other stubborn pooch!)

Dear Zena:

We recently got a Pug puppy and I heard that Pugs are difficult to house break. Is this true? Do you have any tips for us on how to house break our Pug puppy? Sincerely, Amy Brockport, NY



Dear Amy:

I chose this question not only because it is a good question but because it is what me and my family are experiencing right now. I recently acquired a new baby sister, Phoebe, she is a Pug also. She is about 12 weeks old and for a puppy she is not doing all that bad with the Puggie potty training. I think what helps is that she has me to follow around and to learn from. Also, if at all possible, my mom prefers to get a puppy when it is spring, summer or fall, definitely not winter. The cold and snow just makes it more difficult to house train a puppy.

Obviously, training your puppy to do its business outside also depends on your family's lifestyle. Not every dog is the same nor is everyone's lifestyle so you will need to choose the appropriate method of house training that suits your dog's personality and your daily routine. Let us begin with your first question, "Are Pugs hard to housebreak?" The answer is neither yes or no. Pugs are somewhere in the middle. Pugs are very intelligent dogs but they also have a stubborn streak, which unfortunately can rear its ugly head during the training process. Just keep calm, keep focused, and stay consistent. Here is some information that can aid you in the training process and help keep you realistic about expectations of your new puppy.

Pugs (and other small dogs) do not have the muscular ability to control their urges until they are about 12 weeks old, so anytime before that, when they have to go, they have to go. This does not mean that you can't start training before then but don't get upset when they have an accident, they just can't control it. Remember, praise is the key. When your puppy does his/her business outside, where they are supposed to, be sure to give them lots of hugs and kisses for doing the right thing (Pugs are attention and affection hogs). Pugs, and other small dogs, do not have the ability to hold it like large breed dogs, their bladders are smaller and they need to go more often. So, if your dog leaves you a present on the floor, which will happen, please choose to be calm and cool about it, scolding them will only teach them to fear you and you don't want that. If your dog does have an accident, please be sure to clean it up with a an odor eliminator (follow the directions on the label carefully) and clean it thoroughly. You may not smell it but your dog (and other dogs) will and chances are they will have a mistake in that same spot again.

There are many different methods to house train your dog, what you choose will all depend on your lifestyle, what may have worked for your friend and their dog may not work for you. Some methods are: • Crate Training - teach your Pug to hold themselves when in their crate - best if you are home some of the day and remember to get a crate that is big enough for them to lie down, stand up, and turn around but no bigger than that. • Paper Training - teach your Pug to go on a designated spot of house training paper - best if you are not home most of the day and do not have help • Schedule Based Training (SBT) - teach your Pug to go out at consistent, regular times - best if you are home most of the day or have help who is home, and you can be absolutely regular with the schedule Pick a method that works best for your lifestyle, as it's critical that you be consistent and set yourself up for success.

Also, learn the behaviors of your dog. By observing your dog's habits you will start to notice certain things that he or she does right before they are about pee or poop. When you see your dog doing these tell tail signs, bring them outside quick and when they do their business outside, give them lots of praise. Remember house breaking does NOT happen over night. Be patient and be consistent, some dogs can take up to 6 months before they are fully house trained. Another secret my mom told me (she learned this from me and my sister Buffy) that sometimes us Puggies like to go outside and play rather then do our business and then come inside and realize "oh, I forgot to pee or poop" and then do it inside. Be sure to watch your dog when they are outside and see if they are really going or if they are too busy playing with the others. You may have to let them out separately. If they are out there alone and too busy sniffing and checking out the sites and sounds of the world, you may have to stay out their with them and take them to a designated spot in the yard and repeat a certain command like, potty or whatever term suits you, until they do their business and then they can play, just keep an eye on them!!!

Well, I could go on and on about this subject so your best bet is to go on the Internet and do some research or pick up a book on Pugs with house breaking tips and look it over and find what method will work for you and your dog. Just remember, you made a commitment to be a parent/guardian to this dog. Don't be like the other 3,000,000 people per year that surrender their dog because they we're not successful at house training them. More often than not, it is the person's fault for not sticking to the method they have chosen and lack the persistence and patients that is needed to do this correctly. Please live up to your commitment.

Thank you Amy, I hope this information helps.

Sincerely,

Zena Marie Pugsly

Monroe County Dog Park Fundraiser-Paws in the Park

Pugstock 2009

Pugstock was a great success yesterday!

To see photos from this event please visit my Flickr page.

To see the video taken at the event that was aired on Channel 8 news, click here.