Posts from — June 2007

It used to be the hot thing to dress parent and child alike. This day and age, however, the child being dressed is four-legged and furry. The younger generation is having less children and satisfying their parental desires with pampered pooches. So, there are a large number of people looking to spoil their dogs and themselves by dishing out the dough on designer dog clothes. Just like human clothing, dog clothing designs get their inspiration on runways around the world and lead many different styles and colors to be the in thing this season.

The inventive colors and designs on models in Milan, Paris and New York have found their way into dog clothing boutiques around the world. Designers have only a short time after the human fashion shows to develop their new lines to go along with what the parents will be wearing. “The dog version of clothing must not only match human styles, it must also be functional for the dog” said Onika Carroll, a designer for Elizabeth Austin. All of these challenges lead to a varied array of dog clothing ranging from the cute and simple to the haute couture.

The different styles that are in this season include an assortment of day and evening wear as well as beach wear. Longer dresses and even ball gowns are going to be hot thanks to the popularity of the TV show “Dancing with the Stars”. The good news for retailers is and customers is that there is a wide variety of gowns and dresses to fit anyone’s taste. Colors like pink, lilac and lime green are strong this season, and polka dots and floral designs are prominent as well. Another fashion choice that should be popular is having sequins or appliqués of hearts and butterflies. Pooch parents want their girl dogs to be dainty and their boy dogs to be cool or tough. A very popular print this season for boys and some girls is anything camouflage. The bottom line is, there’s going to be plenty for everyone to choose what style fits them and their baby best.

Grant Carroll proud father of four dogs and co-owner of littlepamperedpets.com www.littlepamperedpets.com with littlepamperedpets.com Dog Clothes and Dog Clothing

Visit Elizabeth Austin Wholesale for elizabethaustinwholesale.com Wholesale Dog Clothing and Wholesale Pet Products

Can you train your cat to actually use your toilet? Can you not have to deal with litter boxes any more? Well for many people the answers to these questions are yes.

You may have heard that some people have managed to train their cats to use the human toilet, well this is correct. One advantage to this is the fact that you no longer have to lug heavy bags of litter home from the supermarket, or worry about cleaning out the dirty litter everyday.

Like any other cat training program, training your cat to use the toilet takes times and patience, you just can put your cat on the toilet and hope that they can use it.

By slowly shaping your cat’s behavior over a couple of weeks, you too can end lugging heavy bags of cat litter home from the supermarket.

First, start by slowly moving the litter box closer and closer to the toilet each day, so your cat gets used to being in the bathroom and being around the toilet.

Next, when you have had to litter box next to the toilet for several days, slowly raise the litter box higher and higher each day until it is at the level of the toilet. Then find an insert for the top of the toilet, like a shallow pan that can sit in the rim of the toilet and hold litter.

Once your cat gets used to using this litter pan on top of the toilet for a week or so, try removing the pan and your cat should be able to use the toilet.

Like any cat training program, it takes time and effort on the part of the cat owner to do this. Don’t get frustrated with your cat if she is not learning as fast as you would like, many cats learn at their own pace. With a little effort you too can have a toilet trained cat.

1catbehavior.blogspot.com Cat Behavior 101

This by no means is conclusive as it will depend on the type of carbon filter you use and I am not going to give detail on every different type and simply generalise on the subject. I suggest that you check with the manufacturer of your filter first and then treat your water appropriately.

Activated carbon filters remove some and reduce many volatile organic chemicals (VOC), pesticides and herbicides, as well as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethane (THM) compounds, radon, solvents and hundreds of other man-made chemicals found in your tap water.

Some activated carbon filters are moderately effective at removing some, but not all, heavy metals. In addition, densely compacted carbon block filters mechanically remove particles down to 0.5 micron, including Giardia and Cryptosporidium, turbidity and particulates.

Although some iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide will be removed by these higher quality activated carbon filters, a manganese greensand iron reduction filter is generally preferred to remove these contaminants as the effectiveness of carbon filter against iron and manganese is generally short-lived if the contaminant concentration is high.

Carbon filters are NOT generally successful at removing dissolved inorganic contaminants or metals such as minerals/salts (hardness or scale-causing contaminants), antimony, arsenic, asbestos, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, mercury, nickel, nitrates/nitrites, selenium, sulfate, thallium, and certain radio nuclides. Removing these contaminants requires either a reverse osmosis water filter system or a distiller, which is not recomended for an aquarium situation.

Many will claim all sorts of wonderfull things they can remove and one of the major misunderstandings is the removal of Chlorine (Cl) or I should say the reduction of Chlorine as it really can not be removed totally as Cloramine is still left behind. The make up of Chlorine is basically Ammonia and Cloramine.

Chloramine (monochloramine) a toxic substance (NH2Cl) created by the chemical reaction of ammonia in your tank and sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) left over in your tap water, even if filtered through carbon filters. This reaction is more potent when in an alkaline situation such as high pH tanks.

You can buy catalytic carbon filters specifically designed for Chloramine removal which would prove better than charcoal (carbon) based filters. You could always use one of these to directly supply water from your tap to your tank, but you will have serious nitrate and nitrite issues. The Chlorine from the tap water would react to the ammonia in your water and produce Chloramine and then the filter would remove the Chloramine. Definately NOT recommended.

Not to mention the elusive Nitrate and Nitrite, as it is very present in tap water filtered or not. So effectively, if you are adding any tap water to your aquarium it must be treated before you put it in. To remove Chlorine you can boil the water. You can remove Chloramine (NH2Cl) with Sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) a sterilizer. However the use of Sodium metabisulfite is NOT recommended as it produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) when put in water. Great for sterilizing bottles for home brews though.

What choices have you got?

Leave it sit:
Chlorine will disapate in 2 to 3 days sitting at room temp. To speed this “aging” process up you can add an aeration to the bucket or drum to agitate the water and help gass off some of the Nitrate at the same time.

Splash some chemical in it:
Chemical De-Chlorinators work well though if you go the basic one Sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) then you are still going to be left with a bunch of Ammonia. eg:

EPA Guidelines set a maximum allowed level of Chlorine of 4ppm. Most water supplies target 2-4 ppm Chlorine. Note that 4ppm of Chlorine is actually 5.8ppm Chloramine. (The Chlorine is 69% of the chloramine molecule, ammonia is the other 31%) So, with a possible 5.8ppm Chloramine, you have 4ppm Chlorine, and 1.8ppm ammonia.

There are De-Chlorinators (chemical) that will also convert Ammonia to Ammonium (NH4 non toxic) this is conjugate acid of the base ammonia and simply has an extra Hydrogen ion. Ammonium in an aqueous solution (your tank) will disolve to create Ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) which is yet another compound of Ammonia and is still a weak acid. Because Ammonium is considered a weak acid it will then lower your pH. The results of adding a product called “Seachem Prime” that will achieve the above, will differ at different pH levels so be sure to check that first before application.

Side Note - As far as dealing with the Ammonia, if you are experienced enough, you can always add some sulfuric acid to calcium phosphate rock to create some Phosphoric Acid to mix with your Ammonia thereby converting it to Ammonium Phosphate which will feed your bacteria used in the bio-oxidation process to create carbon dioxide and water. But that is an entirely different conversation.

My apologies. I am getting side tracked. Yes it is good to use a carbon filter (preferably GAC granulated activated carbon) though it is not recommended to rely apon it totally as the Chlorine levels in your tap water will change quite often. Not to mention that some treatment plants are starting to use Chloramine instead of Chlorine, as it is more stable in comparison. So if that happens and you dont know about it your crayfish and fish for that matter will die.

By all means use the carbon filter on your tap water. However I will recommend that you also let it sit for at least 24 hours at room temp with an air stone in it. Just to be sure. I would even go so far as to filter the water then add something like “Seachem Prime” and then let it sit aerated for 24 hours. But I am pedantic when it comes to chemical reactions in water and the fewer I have to deal with the better.

Paul Van der Werf
Researcher and Farmer of Crayfish in Australia for the last eight years and advisor to many farms around the world as well as many aquarium enthusiasts. Personal blog somethin-tropical.epaulv.com somethin-tropical.epaulv.com and Crayfish Forum crayfishassociation.com/forums/ crayfishassociation.com/forums/

Whether you are considering becoming a first time dog owner or adding a new canine member to your household, consider a breed-based rescue organization as a great source for your new pet. The advantage of selecting a pet from a breed-based organization is the foreknowledge you have about your pet’s personality. Although your dog may not be AKC registered for that breed, he or she will be primarily characterized by it.

You should begin your search for a dog by doing some basic research on individual breeds. In addition to considering size, you should think about exercise requirements, guard or watch dog behaviors, and hereditary diseases that may be associated with that breed. You should be honest with yourself about your willingness to housebreak a puppy or provide an environment that includes daily walks or outdoor play time. Once you establish your basic requirements, select a breed that typically exhibits the desired characteristics.

The breed-based rescue organizations, such as The Golden Retriever Rescue, have potential pets available including puppies, mature, and senior dogs. The rescue organizations usually provide medical and foster care and can tell you about individual habits and personality from direct experience. In many cases, they will know how the dog reacts to other dogs in the home, young children, and cats. Rescue association will check their dogs for illnesses and heartworm. They provide treatment when necessary and neutering before a dog is placed on the eligible list. On organization websites, you will be able to see pictures of the available dogs and get information about their behavior in their foster home and any special needs or considerations.

Dogs come to rescue organization because their owners can no longer care for them. They are not bad, sick, or misbehaving dogs. There are many reasons why someone must give up a pet such as: illness, moving to a new location that does not allow pets, a new baby in the house, or a change in financial circumstances. These owners are being responsible and trying to ensure that their pet has a good home. Most rescue organizations also maintain contact with local shelters and will save breed dogs from euthanasia when it is believed that the dog is a viable candidate for adoption.

Rescue organizations go to extraordinary lengths to make sure that your family and your new pet are well matched. There are rescue organizations for most AKC recognized breeds. You can find one close to your home through your vet, the yellow pages and on the internet. The American Kennel Club maintains lists of breed specific rescue organizations organized by state. Although adoption procedures vary among organizations, the following activities are fairly standard. In your initial contact with the organization, you will register and provide basic information about your expectations and the environment you will provide. A preliminary phone interview or home visit may be conducted to allow the caring folks from the organization to ensure that you are worthy of being a caregiver to one of their special dogs. The organization really wants you and your dog to be happy together rather than just placing a dog to decrease inventory.

When you have selected a dog that you want to become a member of your family, the rescue organization may schedule a visit between you. They want to know about the environment you will provide. If you have other pets in your home, there may be a supervised meeting to determine if there are potential compatibility problems.

Rescue organizations are usually non-profit and staffed with volunteers who are also pet owners. There is a fee for adoption that typically ranges from $200 to $300. The process to adopt from a rescue organization may seem lengthy and involved, but, the organization exists to protect their dogs and ensure that new homes and families work out well for both the dogs and the new owners. You benefit greatly from their stewardship because you get a pet that is matched to your needs and is ready to share his or her unconditional love with you.

Great dog articles – everything from qualitydogresources.com/greyhound-rescue-2007-01-09 greyhound dog rescue and adoption to qualitydogresources.com/no-no-oh-no-stopping-your-dog-from-chewing-your-favorite-slippers-2006-12-07 puppy training tips.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 65 million dogs and more than 77 million cats currently reside in U.S. households. Many of those same households have or plan on having children. Old wives’ tales tell of babies and cats not mixing (cat’s steal babies’ breaths) and of jealous dogs attacking the new center of attention. While some pets may not be well trained and may attack humans, millions of pets interact peacefully and happily with people of all ages every day.

How can you ensure your household is a place where pets and people live harmoniously? By following these simple suggestions, adapted from an article in Modern Veterinarian Practice titled “Procedures for introducing a baby to a dog”:

First, even before the baby is born, make sure your pet is up on all of its vaccinations and that it is free from internal parasites. Then, begin preparing the animal for change by introducing the pet to the nursery and to baby smells, such as powder, lotion, etc. Animals suffer from stress when changes in their routine occur, so prepare the pet well in advance to get used to the idea of change. Try not to make any changes to where the pet sleeps and eats—places and things about which she or he may feel territorial. If possible, offer to baby-sit for a friend so your pet gets introduced to the concept of “baby” or “toddler.” You can even play a tape of a baby crying to get the cat or dog used to hearing this sound. Some experts even encourage role-playing in front of the pet before the baby is born, such as carrying a blanket-wrapped doll to a changing table and “changing” the doll, all the while speaking to the pet about what you are doing.

After the baby is born, bring his or her blanket or clothing home from the hospital before the baby comes home from the hospital to give the pet time to adjust to the smell. Then when you bring the baby home, spend time with both the baby and the pet together, in a quiet and controlled environment. Allow the pet to sniff the baby, who will be new and exciting for the pet. Depending on the personality of your pet, especially if your pet is an active canine, this may be done better if the animal is leashed. Remember that your pet probably won’t view the baby as a human being yet; some dogs may try to treat the baby as a puppy, using their mouths and paws to show who is dominant. This is why you should never leave the baby and dog together unattended, especially at the beginning of their lives together.

Your pet will get used to the baby rather quickly, but she or he still shouldn’t be left alone with an infant or a toddler, ever. Toddlers tend to use pets as “walking aids”, and some animals may not find this acceptable behavior from the child since it usually puts him or her in the dominant position over the animal. And also, “this will protect your child from an exuberant pet and protect your pet from an enthusiastic child,” according to printed material from the Humane Society of Ottawa-Carleton.

And if your child seems to sneeze or to have sinus problems or eye problems around the pet, it is best to see an allergist. Sometimes the “allergy” is caused by pet dander; other times, it is from a product.

And as your child grows, make sure she or he knows never to tease the pet with food, or to rush a pet head-on, which is threatening to the animal. And if you take a walk with both the child and the dog, do not attach the pet’s leash to baby’s stroller. The dog may take off after something and take the baby with him or her, or if your dog ever gets attacked by another dog while on a walk, the stroller and child might get into the middle of a dangerous situation.

One other idea about how to get your pets and new people to be one happy family: Beyond the basic obedience classes for pets, some areas offer “Four-legged Babies”(sometimes called Pets and Babies) classes, designed for expectant couples who want to help their “dog babies” and/or “cat babies” accept their new human baby siblings. Check with your local community centers or animal shelter for class availability in your specific area.

If you’d like to read more about raising children and pets together, the following books may be of interest to you:

* Child-proofing Your Dog by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson, published by Warner Books in 1994, is a short guide to preparing your older dog to accept an infant.

* Your Baby and Bowser by Stephen Rafe, reprinted and expanded by Alpine Publishing in 2004, is a 101-page guide for teaching your pets and children how to live harmoniously.

* Your Dog and Your Baby—A Practical Guide by Silvia Hartmann-Kent, published by Howln Moon Press in 1998, emphasizes anticipating and preventing problems between children and dogs, including example “action plans”, and how to create trust between the three of you.

Jill L. Ferguson is a writer, editor, public speaker and professor. She frequently writes about family issues. Her novel, Sometimes Art Can’t Save You, was published in October 2005 by In Your Face Ink ( inyourfaceink.com inyourfaceink.com).

Whether our feline pets should be house cats or allowed to wander outside is a subject people usually have a pre-formed opinion on. For some people, cats are allowed free reign, and can go outside night and day. For others, they are kept strictly indoors all the time. Still other pet owners let them out during the day or under supervision, and keep them in at night.

The question is, who is right? And what’s in the best interests of your cat? To answer this, it’s a good idea to distinguish between our domestic pets and their wild ancestors. Whilst wild cats lived and hunted outside, cats have been domesticated since ancient times. Not only that, many have been bred to create certain characteristics of color and style. Consequently, they are very different animals. Our domestication and interaction with them, as loving owners who feed, look after, cuddle, and pet them, has had an impact on their psychology, personality, and behaviour. Add to this mix the fact that the outside environment natural to them is now gone. In its’ place is a world with automobiles, pet thieves, toxic chemicals, dense population, and other dangers.

In short, not only are our cats different, but the world we share with them is. As a result, it is generally recommended that cats be kept indoors at all times. House cats tend to live longer, they are less susceptible to catching diseases which could be deadly to them, and they avoid the dangers of getting into fights with neighboring felines over territory.

However, because cats often want to go out, many owners think they are depriving their cats of adventure. And perhaps they are, though cats that are provided with a lot of toys and cat trees, can still live happy lives. Many owners also get a second kitten as companionship, so their pets have someone to chase and play with, and so they aren’t alone all day when their humans are at work. Ultimately, it comes down to weighing up the dangers with the benefits.

This is a topic that is hard to generalize, as we each live in such unique locations. Some will be in high rise apartments, or near busy roads, or simply in dangerous neighborhoods. In these situations, the choice becomes very clear – keep your cat in the house at all times. And play games with your cat when you get home. They love chasing hands under the doona, or pieces of string attached to a stick (to keep your own hands safe)! And if your house or apartment has some great windows, house cats can still bask in the sun and enjoy fresh air.

If you are fortunate enough to have a backyard, you could consider setting up an enclosed run or pen so your cat can go outside but still be safe. Some people have even erected them on the perimeters of buildings or through gardens so that they can really explore the world outside but not escape.

Some breeds are said to be better suited to being indoor cats. For example, tonkinese are considered to have poor road sense. Having said that, I let my tonkinese cat, as well as my 3 mixed breeds, out to play when I am at home during the day. I don’t live on a busy street however, and I don’t let them out the front. Plus, I keep an ear out for any sounds of fighting. They always come in before it gets dark, too. I think because they have each other to play with there, they are less likely to look for trouble out of boredom.

Whether your pet is a house-only cat is a matter of individual choice. The benefits to their health and lifespan have to be weighed against possible disadvantages like disease. Plus, your own individual circumstances should be factored in. One thing to keep in mind is that cats do roam at night. This is when a lot of fights happen, and is one of the reasons it is recommended they stay indoors then. One thing is for certain though – with a loving owner who makes sure their pets’ needs for affection and play are still met, a house cat is still a happy cat.

Magazines are a great source of qualified information on our catborn.com feline pets. We catborn.com/Cat_Fancy_Magazine_Reviewed.html review cat fancy magazine here.

Fatty acids, especially oils from coldwater fish, have been recommended in people for lowering triglycerides, reducing secondary cardiovascular disease (and probably primary disease,) decreasing heart arrhythmias, decreasing blood pressure, and improving rheumatoid arthritis. They are also possibly helpful in preventing stroke and treating cancer, allergies, and mild depression. Since fish oil taken for many months can lower vitamin E, most products contain added vitamin E.

In pets, fish oil may be beneficial for heart disease, cancer, allergies, arthritis,kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases. I use high doses (2-4 times the label dose) in my patients and most can have their conventional medications lowered.

Side effects of fatty acid supplementation are rare. Fish oil may decrease platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time. Contamination of fish meat (not oil) with methylmercury can occur. The human literature reports that fish oil may slightly increase LDL (bad) cholesterol although this does not seem to be common or of any significance in most cases. The human literature also reports multiple cases of bleeding (in the brain) when high dose doses is combined with ginkgo. I have not seen any side effects in my patients except the very rare case in a few dogs that smelled fishy.

Milk thistle is a well-known liver tonic. Milk thistle extract provides liver protection by stabilizing the cell membranes of the liver cells, aids in detoxification of toxins (especially those absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract,) stimulates protein synthesis and regeneration of damaged liver cells (actually helping the diseased cells to heal,) and also acts as an antioxidant.

Milk thistle is one of my favorite supplements for just about any disease, as the liver is involved in all disease processes. Many of my holistic clients like extra liver support during treatment with any conventional medications, including when they administer monthly heartworm and flea medications. Milk thistle is very safe to use and I’ve never seen any side effects from its use. Based upon general safety guidelines in people, it’s probably best not to use it in pregnant animals without veterinary supervision. According to some herbalists, long term use can result in depressed liver function unless chronic liver disease is present. Milk thistle is not recommended for use in normal pets but rather those that have diseases of the liver or affecting the liver.

Shawn Messonnier, DVM

Author, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, and the award-winning The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. Dr. Shawn is the medical consultant for Pet Togethers, a pet supplement company.

pettogethers.net/healthypet pettogethers.net/healthypet

petcarenaturally.com petcarenaturally.com

Once you become the owner of a Pit Bull puppy, you will also acquire many new responsibilities as well. One thing that all new owners should do is crate train their puppies. Crate training can be very beneficial to both owner and puppy when done correctly. Crate training will make your first few weeks as a dog owner much easier and more enjoyable.

By crate training your new Pit Bull puppy, not only will you have a house-broken puppy in less time, your puppy will have its own space during that time, which will make it feel much more safe and secure. Crate training has been proven to help ease the puppy’s transition to its new home, prevents the puppy from chewing up your belongings, and can help protect the puppy from many dangers that exist in the home. Puppies are naturally curious about their new space, and can easily come into contact with things that could harm them in the home.

Before you take your new puppy home, you will need to obtain your crate. Crates are fairly inexpensive and can be bought at most local pet supply stores. Some pet owners who do crate training also choose to make the crate rather than buy it, either option works the same. Whether you purchase or make your own crate, there are certain features it should have. Crates made of wire tend to work best, but the important thing is to make sure it can be divided into sections, so you can adjust it to the size of your Pit Bull puppy. It tends to work best if you buy a large crate and just section it off so that you won’t have to constantly buy larger crates as your dog grows. It is also beneficial to have a removable tray on the bottom of the crate to make it easier to clean. The most popular crates come with trays that slide out, which can be a real time saver, especially for breeders that may have more than one puppy.

Once you have obtained your crate, bring your new puppy home and introduce him to it. The puppy will need to learn about his new space. As with training any animal, it is important to be consistent. It is also very important to never use the crate to punish your dog, as it will have a negative impact on your training. The puppy should feel at ease in its crate. Your time and effort will soon payoff, making you and your puppy both happy in the end.

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Every year the American Kennel Club releases the number of dogs registered for each dog breed, and that information is used to discover the favorite dog breeds in the United States for that year. Here are the AKC favorites for 2006:

• Labrador Retriever (137,867)
• Golden Retriever (48,509)
• Yorkshire Terrier (47,238)
• German Shepherd Dog (45,014)
• Beagle (42,592)
• Dachshund (38,566)
• Boxer (37,268)
• Poodle (31,638)
• Shih Tzu (28,087)
• Miniature Schnauzer (24,144)

Compare this list with the top ten dogs from the United Kingdom’s list:

• Labrador Retriever
• English Cocker Spaniel
• English Springer Spaniel
• German Shepherd Dog
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Golden Retriever
• West Highland Terrier
• Boxer
• Border Terrier

Interesting that there are several dog breeds in the U.K. top ten list that are not near the top ten in the United States.

In the United States the Labrador Retriever has been in the number one position for 16 years in a row. Meanwhile the Chihuahua slipped from 10th place to number 11th, replaced by the Miniature Schnauzer.

It’s not surprising that the two most popular dog breeds in the United States and Canada are the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Both are such wonderful dogs to own with their easy-going nature and high intelligence.

These two dog breeds, along with the German Shepherd Dog, made the top ten dog list in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. The Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever make great dogs for families and are listed in a top ten list of dogs for children.

In the same list of “child-friendly dogs” are the Beagle, Poodle, French Bulldog, Pug, Cairn Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel, several of which made the AKC top ten dog list.

Looking at the United States AKC top ten dog list the Yorkshire Terrier has moved up to third place, it’s highest point since it became recognized by the AKC in 1885. With their spirited, loving yet willful personality, they deserve to be among the top ten popular dog breeds. Their only drawback is the daily grooming required, but that’s little inconvenience compared to the love they give.

While the Labrador Retriever has been number one since 1991, the breed that held the number one position the longest is the Cocker Spaniel, from 1936 to 1952 and again from 1983 to 1990 for a total of 23 years. Watch for the Labrador Retriever to beat that record.

The Poodle comes in a very close second for the number of years as America’s favorite breed; 1960 to 1982, a total of 22 years. It was in 1972 that the large breeds took over as America’s favorites when the Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers and Chow Chows rose in popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

By comparison, small dogs held anywhere from one to four slots in the top ten at that time. However, as we entered into the new millennium small dogs have increased in popularity among Americans, perhaps due to their portability or perhaps because celebrities are making these smaller breeds more visible.

Notice all the small dogs that are in the list of the 11-20 most popular:

• Chihuahua (23,575)
• Pug (22,064)
• Bulldog (20,556)
• Pomeranian (19,511)
• Cocker Spaniel (16,343)
• Rottweiler (15,916)
• Boston Terrier (15,852)
• Shetland Sheepdog (14,278)
• Maltese (13,676)
• German Shorthaired Pointer (13,273)

Four of these dogs are from the AKCs Toy group and another, the Boston Terrier, is a small dog from the Terrier group. Add the five small dogs from the top ten list and that’s why the new millennium seems to belong to the small dog.

Whatever your favorite breed, we can all agree that dogs continue to hold a very special place in the hearts of millions of Americans, and this is a bond that needs no special breed at all.

Copyright 2006 Carol Stack

Carol Stack has been working with dogs for over three decades. She and her daughter Christy have put up a web site to help others discover how to choose, care for and train their dogs: christysdogportal.com christysdogportal.com

A healthy dog is a wonderful thing. A dog is the perfect combination of loyalty, intelligence, willingness to please, ferocity when needed, gentleness and compassion. Dogs protect us, guide us, and perhaps most importantly, provide loving, unconditional companionship. Yes, a dog is a wonderful friend to have. Since dogs are so great for humans, the least we could do in return is everything possible to keep our furry, four-footed friends healthy. To that end, you should know your dog’s usual level of energy and how much he tends to scratch normally. If your dog seems to be moping around, scratching or rubbing his ear, tilting his head, or if you notice his ear is reddened, warm to the touch, swollen, producing discharge, emitting a foul odor, or losing fur, he may have an ear infection.

There are several different problems a dog could have with his ear. The anatomy of a dog’s ear, with its long, horizontal inner ear structure, is hospitable to bacterial and fungal infections. Not only is the inner ear warm and hairy, but the horizontal shape of the ear canal does not allow moisture to drain efficiently. Also, dogs often have floppy ears covered by an outer flap, which doesn’t allow air circulation. It’s not at all unusual for dogs to get ear infections, particularly in breeds that love swimming. Infections could be bacterial or fungal, and the treatment needs to be specific to the cause. Antibiotics will not help a fungal infection, while fungicides do nothing to alleviate bacterial infections. See your vet for a diagnosis, and follow the prescribed treatment to the letter.

Another common problem in dog ears is the mite. This teeny parasite will set up a colony and make your dog extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, mites are relatively easy to eradicate. And, unlike fungus, having mites does not make your dog more likely to get them again. When they’re gone, your dog has no more chance of getting mites than before.

A common ear problem for outdoor, very active dogs is getting foreign objects stuck in the canal. A piece of grass, with its rough texture, can become securely lodged in the ear and irritate the tender tissue inside. Your dog will scratch his ear and shake his head in an attempt to dislodge the object. If the ear is scratched too much, and the skin is broken, a bacterial infection may result. As soon as you notice your dog showing signs of discomfort, examine the ear yourself. If you are unable to locate the source of the problem, take him to the vet. Never attempt to dig out an object yourself with an implement. If you can pull out a piece of grass with your fingers, do it. But if it looks any more complicated than that, please see a vet.

Dogs’ ears are susceptible to problems, but you can prevent and cure them easily if you are a conscientious, observant dog owner.

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