Tips for a Faster, More Comfortable Grooming Experience

Some dogs hate being groomed, others don’t mind it. Some even seem to enjoy it! Whatever your dog’s attitude toward bath time, there are a few simple rules to help maintain a healthy coat and make a trip to the groomer a piece of cake.

* Avoid the temptation to shave your dog for the summer. Shaving changes the nature of the coat and can dull the hair and dry the skin. Depending on the breed, the top coat of a dog keeps her cool and safe from the sun. Panting is the way dogs perspire and a normal means of beating the heat – panting is not a result of having long hair! Have your groomer assess your dog to determine the safest coat length and whether or not the dog has undercoat that could be removed. When deciding on a hairstyle, remember that your dog’s coat does more than just make her look good – it’s her natural protection from the elements.

* Don’t bathe your dog at home, especially if she has a long, curly, or double coat. If not brushed properly with the right kind of comb, mats occur more frequently and more severely. Your groomer knows just what kinds of tools are needed to keep your individual pet looking good.

* It’s recommended that dogs such as Poodles, Labradoodles, and Old English Sheepdogs with long or curly hair get professionally groomed twice per month; first a bath and a full groom, then approximately two weeks later a bath with a trim. Smaller dogs with long hair such as Shih-Tzus should come back for a bath and a trim three to four weeks after being fully groomed. In between visits you should brush your dog at least once or twice per week to maintain a healthy coat.

* IMPORTANT! – Only have your dog groomed when she’s healthy. If your dog is prone to ear or eye infections, consult a vet before asking a groomer to clean them. The cleaning process may irritate a dog’s pre-existing condition.

* If you go to a groomer who is also part of a daycare facility, usually grooming dogs must be vaccinated and registered with the facility in order to participate in the playgroups.

* If your dog gets groomed often, try bringing her in for just daycare every once in a while. This way, she can associate the facility with playtime and fun, not just bath time.

* Tips are usually accepted and are a good way to let your groomer know how much you appreciate the hard work!

* Dogs can be very stubborn on the grooming table, so it might take more time to properly groom her than estimated. Be patient when having your dog groomed and be clear if you have a specific pickup time.

Summer Safety 101

Who better to share the summer’s outdoor activities and events with than your dog? Long walks, cookouts, festivals, dog parks, forest preserves; it’s easy to have a great time with your dog, but it’s also easy to forget some basic safety essentials.

Remember to bring water and food or treats to keep your dog happy, healthy, and involved in the fun. Most dogs don’t monitor their own activity very well, so we, as their “parents” have to check up on them from time to time. Inspect the pads of their feet throughout the day for cracks, bleeding, foreign objects, or swelling. For outings over four hours, rest times need to be enforced.

If you own a Pug, Shih-Tzu, Boston Terrier, Boxer, French or English Bulldog, or any dog with a “pushed-in face,” known as a Brachycephalic dog, you need to be especially careful with him in the heat. These dogs have physical traits that prevent them from being able to cool themselves as well as breeds with longer snouts. Since most dogs do not regulate their own activity well, the short-snouted dog may play until they reach a dangerous level of exhaustion. Be prepared to step in and decide when it’s time to take a break in the shade.

Cats are much better at knowing when to rest or move out of the sun, but they can also get sick from prolonged exposure to heat and have Brachycephalic breeds as well. Himalayan and Persian owners – we’re looking at you!

Signs of heat exhaustion include lethargy, refusing to drink water, fever, increased body temperature, panting, or dark red gums. If you think your pet may have heat exhaustion, move him to a cool place with ventilation. Use an ice pack, a package of frozen vegetables, or a frozen towel as under-bedding and wet his feet and neck with cool water to help send cool blood to the internal organs and lower his body temperature.

A common mistake is to allow your dog to drink as much water as he wants after long, strenuous activity. This can cause your dog to vomit from drinking too much water too quickly and may even lead to canine bloat! Any intake of food or water while you’re dog is still panting can cause more harm than good. A better idea is to let your dog rest for a few minutes before allowing him to drink, and then permit him to drink only small amounts intermittently.

No one wants to end a summer outing with a trip to the vet, so be prepared and be vigilant. And don’t feel like you’re spoiling your dog’s fun when you decide it’s time for a break. He’ll still love you anyway.

Bo Obama, or Water(dog)Gate?

I know it’s something of an American tradition for people to rip a President to shreds as soon as he takes office, but can’t a family enjoy their new pet?! I’ve heard everything from general outrage to conspiracy theories surrounding the origins of Bo, the Obama’s new Portuguese Water Dog puppy, and I really wish it would stop.

Ok here are the facts: President Obama promised a puppy to his daughters, which he made good on. His daughter is allergic to dogs, so a hypo-allergenic breed was mandatory. He said they’d like to get a dog from a shelter. They considered several different dogs before deciding on the Portuguese Water Dog. He did not adopt the dog. It was a gift from someone who is familiar with the breed. If the current situation has caused so much outrage, can you imagine what kinds of scenarios would be speculated if President Obama had turned down the gift from Ted Kennedy?

Perhaps even better than adopting from a shelter, the Obamas made an educated decision. They didn’t rush into adopting just any dog the girls thought was cute, nor did they adopt just because the dog was in a shelter. A hypo-allergenic dog was one criteria, but online sources say that the family researched dog tendencies and temperaments and chose the Portuguese Water Dog based on lifestyle and energy level as well as the breed’s non-shedding coat.

People have raised the question, “Why didn’t the Obamas get their dog from a Portie rescue if they were so set on the breed?” My online search for Portuguese Water Dog rescues yeilded no results. Now try searching for German Shepherd, Husky, or Shiba Inu rescues. It’s not so easy to find a used Portie.

There are concerns that now Portie breeders and puppy mills will start churning them out because the breed is going to be so popular. But that’s the point. The Obamas chose a dog based on the dog and their family, not on what’s popular. How many people already get Puggles, Beagles, Labradoodles, or any kind of ‘Doodle’ for that matter, based on popularity, then they realize the dog isn’t right for them and the dog ends up in a shelter. We shouldn’t place the responsibility of the future of dog adoptions on someone who was given a dog of his choice after months of research and consideration. The responsibility lies in the people who need to think for themselves before adopting a dog. Sadly, people haven’t had such a good record for this kind of decision-making thus far, so we can’t all of a sudden blame it on President Obama if people jump on a Portie bandwagon without thinking.

According to The Post, the Obamas made a donation to the shelters they had been working with, but is the rest of the country going to follow suit and donate to their local shelters? I’m gonna place my bet on “No.”

Here’s to Dachshunds

Among other things, my dog, Dave, has taught me that people love Dachshunds.

When I walk Davey it’s like I’m out on the town with America’s Most Beloved Celebrity – everyone smiles, points, gasps, comments. They all just bubble and drool over this shy, awkward-looking little doggy. I can even hear people with their car windows down say to their fellow passengers, “O! Look at the Dachshund!” In the year that I was a professional dog walker, I walked anywhere from six to 12 dogs in a day and I never got such a strong reaction as I do with my Davey.

I’ve noticed that people don’t really go up to other people’s dogs in PetsMart, but at least four groups of customers wanted to meet Davey when I took him there over the weekend, and one guy chased me down as I was leaving. I had checked out and was halfway to the exit, when a very large man (both in height and in width) called after me to wait and ran toward me. At first I thought he was a security guard, and as I fished for my receipt to prove that I had, indeed, paid for the giant bag of cat food under my arm, I noticed an elderly Dachshund being pulled along behind him. He proudly presented his Dachshund to Dave and I, as if he had just made all our dreams come true, and then tried to hide his disappointment when the two dogs didn’t want anything to do with each other. They looked off in opposite directions as he asked me questions about Dave that I didn’t have answers to, and I tried my best to feign interest in his dog. Not that his dog wasn’t neat or anything, but I had just gotten out of work and was trying to get home for food and a nap ASAP.

Dave seems just as confused by all this attention as I am. As a neighbor gushes over him, he looks around nervously like, “Who, me??” He really doesn’t talk to people or other dogs on the street. In fact, he tries to stay as far away from them as possible, which is awkward when people want to meet him. In daycare, however, he’s a little social butterfly. He remembers who his friends are and isn’t short on affection when he sees them.

Come to think of it, the other Dachshunds that come to daycare are similar in that we have to gain their respect before they’ll be friends with us. One Doxie bites and screams at every new employee, until one day he decides they’re okay, then he’s a little hot dog of love.

Davey is cute, yes. I like to think it’s an inner-adorableness that gets all the attention, though. It’s definitely an adventure getting to know this little guy, and it just keeps getting better.

Here’s to Dachshunds.

A Chihuahua/Pomeranian Haiku

Not all Chihuahuas

Are so bad as some might say

‘Cause Pancho’s awesome

Dog Park Etiquette

The sun is finally here! I’m already lining up playdates for my little Davey, and you bet the dog park is going to be a regular destination for us this summer. But before going out to play, I had to brush up on the dog park “Do’s” and “Don’ts.”

#1 Close Doors and Gates; If you have to open a gate or a door to get in or out of the park, close it behind you! You don’t want to be responsible for someone’s dog running off.

#2 Stay Current on Vaccinations; Most likely, you’ll run into dogs there that don’t have vaccinations, so make sure your friend is protected. Plus, this ensures that your dog won’t be the one spreading diseases at the park.

#3 Sick Dogs Stay Home; Again, don’t let your dog get his friends at the park sick. If he has a cough, nasal discharge, diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of illness, let him stay at home and recover – or better yet, skip the park and go straight to the vet!

#4 Clean Up; Even if your dog seems healthy, he could still be carrying something and the most popular form of transportation for doggy diseases is through their droppings. Plus, it’s the most basic common courtesy of being a dog parent. Your human dog park friends don’t want to step in your dog’s business.

# 5 No Food; Don’t bring food for dogs or people to the dog park. Even the sweetest dogs can get defensive, or outright aggressive, when food is around. Go somewhere more private to have a picnic with your dog, or just wait until you get home to eat.

#6 Children? Use your best judgment when deciding whether to bring your child or not. Some dogs don’t like children, and a child has very little defense against an irritated dog. Be sure that your child knows it’s not ok to run up to strange dogs – or any dog for that matter.

# 7 No Other Animals; This may seem obvious, but do not bring any animals other than your dog to a dog park. You’ve undoubtedly seen how most dogs will ravenously pursue a rabbit or a squirrel when they see one – imagine having every dog in the park go after your pet bunny or cat.

# 8 Unaltered Dogs Use Extra Caution; If your dog hasn’t been spayed or neutered, know that this can affect other dogs at the park. Watch him closely, as unaltered dogs emit hormones that the other dogs can detect, and will likely react to. Be especially aware if your dog makes best friends with a dog of the opposite sex who might not be altered, either.

# 9 No Aggressive Dogs; If your dog doesn’t get along with other dogs or people, the dog park is not the place for him. Even if you keep him on a leash, other dogs will run up to him and people will want to meet him because the dog park is a social place.

#10 Follow the Rules; Most dog parks have rules posted at the entrance. Be sure to thoroughly read the rules at every dog park you go to, as some may vary.

Most dog park etiquette is common sense, but of course some things slip our minds. Just be sure to keep everyone safe and clean and know your park’s rules front and back. And know when to leave if your dog is playing too aggressively or is being bullied by the other dogs.

Now it’s time to play!

The Coco Scandal

Sometimes life doesn’t make sense. This is to be expected and most head-scratchers should be handled without too much scrutiny or worry. But sometimes situations come up that are so convoluted and nonsensical, you can’t help but panic because you just can’t figure it out. *if you’re familiar with the comedy of Lewis Black, you may relate this to his bit about the time he overheard someone say, “If it weren’t for my horse, I wouldn’t have spent that year in college.”

Days ago, my co-workers and I found ourselves in the face of such a situation and I’m still trying to make sense of it. Perhaps, dear reader, you can help us out with this.

About a month ago, a nice family – husband, wife, and child – adopted a dog from us. We’ll call the dog ‘Coco’ to protect her identity : ) The family saw Coco’s profile on our website the first day it was posted and applied to adopt her. Based on the application, they had grown up with dogs, just moved into a new house, and now wanted to adopt a doggy to complete their family. They seemed perfect for Coco. Their application was approved and Coco didn’t even spend one night at our facility.

A couple of days ago, we got a call from an animal care and control facility 40 miles away. A couple had dropped a dog off at the pound and said they’d found her in the forest preserve. The staff at the ACC scanned the dog’s microchip and traced it back to us – it was Coco.

But here’s where it gets weird – when the couple dropped off the dog, they gave their name – they were  the same people who had adopted Coco from us. So they adopt a dog and decide they don’t want her, but why would they lie and dump Coco at a high-kill facility instead of bringing her back to us where she’ll be cared for until we can find another home for her? This is one of those things that makes you lose a little faith in human compassion and sensibility, but let’s move on with life, right? Until we got more background on this family.

The head of our shelter alerted all the other shelters in the area not to adopt to these people. At least one shelter replied and said they had already adopted to them about a year ago. They compared notes and the family’s answers were identical on both applications. They had given both shelters the story about moving into a new house and wanting to complete the family, they would never leave the dog alone in the house, they would never give a dog up. They had all the right answers. But if they adopted a dog less than a year ago from this other shelter, why, on our application, does it say they don’t have a dog. What happened to that one?

Maybe they did the same thing they did with Coco – gave her to ACC. But it’s highly unlikely that a dog from that shelter wouldn’t have a microchip and be returned by ACC.

Here’s the riddle: The husband and wife are both in on this. It would make a little more sense if it was an individual with a loose screw, but you’d think one of them would have more sense. They know exactly what the shelters want to hear on their applications and they lie to get accepted. Coco is a super sweet girl with no behavior issues like most of the dogs that get returned. They are told up front that the dogs are fixed, so they’re not adopting with the intent to breed. They’re using the dogs for bait in fighting? But Coco was returned to us unscratched.

We can’t figure out what motive they could possibly have for lying to adopt dogs and redistribute them. And it’s driving me crazy.

The last update I’ve gotten is that a police unit is going to inspect the house, and, though I’m scared to know what they find out, I can’t stand living without closure to this case. You bet I’ll be posting about this further.

That’s right. This blog just got juicy.

What to Expect (or NOT to expect) from Your Newly-Adopted Dog

A lot of our first-time adopters come to pick up their new doggy friend and are surprised when the dog has unexpected habits or isn’t as well-behaved as they imagined she’d be. Just because a dog isn’t a puppy, that doesn’t mean that she’s trained or that she doesn’t need to work on some things.

Your newly-adopted dog will most likely have some personality quirks. Too many of these dogs have come from troubled pasts and may have hangups about things such as crates, doorways, men, stairs, other dogs, brooms, sticks, or anything that could be wielded to hit her. She may be afraid to be outdoors, or she may even be afraid to be indoors.

If your dog was taken away from her litter at too early an age, she might be socially awkward and not know how to play with other dogs. She could be overly-aggressive when she plays because she didn’t learn with her littermates when play becomes too rough and isn’t fun for the other dog anymore. Or she might just stand there and look confused when another dog comes up to play.

As I said earlier, just because a dog isn’t a puppy anymore, doesn’t mean she’s housebroken or trained in any way. Many shelter dogs used to live outside or in terrible conditions with little to no daily structure. No one bothered to teach them manners or where to go potty. They might have bad chewing or marking habits, and they certainly wouldn’t know commands such as Sit, Stay, and Come if they were raised in such an environment.

Even if your adopted dog is a purebred, don’t expect to receive papers for her. If you do receive papers on a shelter dog, they’re most likely fake. Most of these dogs were found along the side of the road or otherwise abandoned, so there’s no way to trace the dogs’ lineage. There may be instances where a dog is turned in to a shelter with her papers, but this is rarely the case.

Some people get lucky and adopt a dog who already knows how to behave. But not everyone can be that lucky and no dog is perfect. It’s your job as her new parent to teach her any manners she lacks and coach her through her insecurities.

A Shih-Tzu Haiku

Smudge can always tell

When his mother is close by

Doggy ESP?

Extending your Canine Family? Some Tips

Since dogs are pack animals, adopting a second dog (or third, or …) can enrich your life and the life of your current dog. Human companionship is great for dogs, but sometimes having canines to keep each other company is beneficial. If you’re considering adding a member to your animal family, Linda Widmer, President of ARFhouse Chicago, has  a few tips that might make the adjustment easier.

Know your own dog. Does he get along with all dogs or does he do better with males or females? Small dogs or large dogs? There are even some dogs who prefer certain breeds to other breeds. Carefully study your dog’s behavior toward other dogs to get an idea of what to look for in a new companion.

Look for a dog to suit you and your current dog’s lifestyle. Oftentimes, people think a puppy is a good match for an older dog because it will keep the older dog on his toes. In reality, dogs do best with other dogs of similar energy levels, so adding a puppy to a household with a dog who enjoys the couch potato lifestyle will probably annoy a lower-energy dog and frustrate a puppy. Likewise, if you are an active person who wants a dog who can keep up with you, look for those breeds whose energy levels tend to match yours.

Make sure you are financially secure enough to add a second pet. Consider the expenses that come along with pet ownership and make sure that you are equipped to handle the unexpected expenses that are bound to occur.

Adopting a dog through a shelter is a great way to ensure that you will be matched up with a dog who is a good fit. Shelter volunteers and foster parents are excellent resources since they interact with the dogs on a regular basis.

When you finally find a dog who you think is a good match, introduce the dogs in a neutral area. You don’t want your prospective dog to meet on your current dog’s turf, or vice versa. This could cause territorial disputes. Take them on a long walk together in a place where neither dog is too familiar to truly see how they get along.

To find out more about ARFhouse Chicago and dogs currently up for adoption, visit the ARFhouse website at www.arfchicago.org.