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The "No Chew" Command.

Do you have a new puppy that has decided your furniture makes a great chew toy? If so, I can help. Re-directing the puppy's focus is the key. If you happen to look over and see your pup chewing, or starting to chew on something they shouldn't, get a toy they are allowed to have and a small treat. Go over to the pup and use their name first and then the command, "no chew," move them away from the area they are chewing, give them the toy, and the minute their little teeth touch the toy, praise them heavily and then give them the treat.

If you do this consistently, within a week, when they hear the command, "no chew" they will stop and look for a toy and the treat for stopping. Puppy's are like children, they are either bored or not getting enough attention, so they will do anything to get attention, whether it is positive or negative attention.

Look for more commands in the next post.

Group Obedience Classes.

Pet Palace, Huntington WV, is now offering group obedience classes on Tues. and Thurs. Contact them for more information. I am the trainer, Tamara Myers-White. Classes are an hour long, for 10 wks.

Contact Pet Palace for more information on the cost.

Healthy Foods.

Source: Dog World-Mary Straus-owner dogAware.com

Finding the right combination of foods for your dog can be essential in keeping them fit and trim. The value of adding protein to your pets diet is it will help build lean muscle and contributes to skin and coat health and supports the immune and central nervous system. Puppies and seniors especially benefit from protein in the diet.

Dogs also have no known nutritional value for carbs. But, most of the dry kibble (dog food) is full of carbs. It is used to hold the food together and is an inexpensive way to add calories. The best foods to add are things like eggs, which are high in animal protein, meat, fish and dairy. But, with the dairy, you have to be careful that your dog is not lactose intolerant. Eggs can be cooked (in nothing, no oil or butter) or fed raw. Give a whole egg every day to dogs that weigh more than 20 lbs. and 1/2 of one to dogs that weigh less or even less for super tiny dogs.

Now, meat is fabulous. But, only if cooked without any oils or fats. You find dry foods now with venison, wild turkey, and, of course, lamb. Pork is also good. Organ meats such as heart, are nutritious and inexpensive. But, certain organs, such as liver, should only be fed in very small amounts. Too much can give loose stools.

Now, on to the fish. Believe it or not, fish is great for dogs. It is a great source of protein, but also, a source for omega-3 fatty acids. I suggest to people with dogs that have skin issues, such as dry skin, to use fish oil capsules. Squeeze one onto the food each day. Canned fish with bones, such as jack mackerel, pink salmon and sardines, are better choices than tuna, which is known to have a much higher mercury content. Don't serve raw fish. If you cook fish for your buddy, remove the bones. The bones in pre-cooked fish are softened due to being pressured cooked. So, it is fine to feed it.

Dairy is good. Personally, plain yogurt is fabulous. It has probiotics in it and I call it natures Mallox. Kefir is another cultured milk product that provides probiotics. Cottage and Ricotta cheeses are another good source of dairy. Add a spoonful to your dogs food and see them light up with the new taste in their diet.

Of course, veggies and fruits are super. But, avoid at all costs, grapes, onions and raisins. They can cause kidney failure. Leftovers, not so much. Stay away from the fatty and sugary leftovers. Healthy leftovers are fine. Reduction in food is a must if your dog is overweight. Too much weight is horrid for the hips and elbows and heart.

Now, how much do I feed, you ask. To estimate 1/4 of your dogs diet, multiply its weight in pounds by 8, then divide by 100 to get the ounces of fresh food.
Here is an example: 50lb. dog. 50x8=400 divided by 100=4. So, for the average 50 lb. dog, 4 ounces of fresh food would be the right amount to feed daily.

Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome.

Source: Dog World, Meredith Wargo, Journalist

Did you know that dogs get what is like human Alzheimer's? It is true. CDS, Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome, is common in older dogs. Some just cast it off as "old age." When in truth, they are suffering from this syndrome. It is caused by chemical and physiological changes in the brain, just like in humans. Sometimes a cluster of symptoms may be noted such as confusion, memory loss and personality changes, just like in humans.

The signs are progressive and gradual, just like the stages in Alzheimer's. Many dogs with CDS will forget which side of the door to go out of and stand at the hinge side, waiting for you to open the door. Other signs are sleeping abnormalities, such as sleeping more in the day and being restless at night. Some will become "lost" in their own yards, or get "stuck" in a corner. And, sometimes the symptoms seem contradictory, such as a dog with hearing loss being more sensitive to strange sounds.

And, before any medical signs are apparent, these types of behavioral changes may indicate that something is changing in the older dog. Melissa Bain, DVM, Dipl. ACVB, M.S., of the Companion Animal Behavior Service at UC Davis says, " CDS is a diagnosis of exclusion in which all other diseases and medical conditions are ruled out."

First and second level problems are things like noise phobias and separation anxiety, need to be ruled out before diagnosing CDS. If you suspect that your older pet is suffering from this condition, tell your vet. He/she will typically ask you to complete a form that details the history of their dog's behavior and routines. This collects info on appetite, potty patterns, cognition, recognition, social relationships, sleep-wake patterns and anxiety.

The available treatments are a combination of drug therapy, dietary changes and environmental stimulation to help a dog maintain an optimal quality of life. Some symptoms are: Disorientation (not knowing their surroundings that were previously familiar, becoming stuck in a corner and forgets to stop or respond to its name) Interaction with others. (seeks attention less often, grows less tolerant of being petted, wanders away, displays lack of interest in surrounding. Sleep and activity: (sleeps more throughout the day and less at night, reduced activity in a 24 hr. day and increases wandering and pacing. House training: (loss of bladder/bowel indoors, house training habits seem to just be forgotten, signals less to go outside to potty and appears to forget reason for wanting out.)

This disease is as devastating as Alzheimer's is to humans. Personally, I think losing ones memory is the worst thing that can happen to someone or an animal. If your older pet is exhibiting any of these traits, take them to your vet and talk to him or her. Early detection is the key in giving your pet a chance at a better quality of life and maybe a few more years with you as your companion.

Cold Weather Tips For You And Your Dog.

It seems hard to believe that winter is just around the corner, but it is. So, here are some very useful tips to help you keep your best friend comfortable in the cold. Most of your toy breeds, Chihuahua's, Maltese, Yorkies, etc., usually have "clothes" that their responsible owners put on them. Even large dogs, such as Boxers, that have only one coat, get very cold. If your dog shivers when outside and it is cold, it needs to have some type of a sweater or coat. You can find many different kinds in pet boutiques such as Just Dogs! Gourmet in the Huntington Mall, or Pet Palace in Huntington WV or some grooming facilities also carry clothes.

If a dogs internal temperature gets below 96 degrees F, it can go into hypothermia. Shivering is a sign of an animal being too cold. They shiver to produce heat, by the way.

The most horrific thing about cold weather, is anti-freeze. This is a very sweet tasting substance to dogs and cats. Even in a very small amount, it can kill. Anti-freeze poisoning is very painful. Some horrible people use it to poison dogs and cats that run wild because they will drink it.

When the snows come, people use chemicals and salt to melt the snow. These can be very painful to your dog's feet. The chemicals actually burn the pads. So, if possible, walk them in areas that don't have that on it. Also, you can buy a salve called Mushis's Secret. It can be applied to reduce the pain caused by salt and chemicals.

Ah, Christmas. The tinsel and ornaments on the pretty tree. While they are so pretty to look at, they can be extremely harmful to your pet if ingested. The tinsel will bind in the intestines and the sharp edges can actually cut the intestines. Symptoms of ingestion include: decreased appetite,vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness and weight loss. Also, blood in the stool or vomit. The only cure is surgery.

Last, but not least, dogs that have to live outside. Never use a chain choke collar to tie up your outside dog. The main reason, they can hang themselves. But, metal attracts cold and can actually burn, yes burn, your dogs skin. The skin will be black. Meaning it is dead. Always use a flat buckle collar made of leather or nylon.

I hope these few tips help when the weather really turns cold.

Another Little Victories Event.

If you want a great time and super good food, come to Applebee's at the Huntington Mall on September 26, a Saturday, from 7:30 am till 10:00 am, and enjoy a pancake and sausage breakfast. All proceeds will benefit the injured, abused, abandoned animals that are being taken care of by the loving volunteers of Little Victories.

The animals really, really need your help. The price for this great time and food is only $5.00. Less than a pack of cigarettes or a latte'. So, please come to the mall and Applebee's and join me and all the other people that care about animals, whether they are fosters or volunteers, or just people who care deeply for the plight of the helpless animals that are thrown away like garbage, or beat just because the horrid person that has them wants to.

Come and join us on the 26Th from 7:30 am till 10:00 am. Thanks from all the people at Little Victories.

Tips To Choosing The Right Veterinarian.

Choosing a vet is very important. Here is a short checklist to help you find one that meets your needs.

Flexibility: are you able to go to an appointment in the middle of the day? Or, do u want a vet close to your home? Does the best vet in your town have his office quite a way across town? These are important questions you must ask yourself when shopping for a vet.

Always research when looking for a vet or a new vet, if you are dissatisfied with the one you have. Does this vet make house calls if you are disabled and can't drive and have no-one to help you get the pet to the vet? Will the vet let you come back to the exam room while the pet is getting its exam? Does the vet do the blood work him/herself, or does a vet tech do it? How does the office look, if you go to take an on site look? Is it clean, does it smell clean and disinfected?

These are very, very important things to research when looking for a vet or a new one. The most important thing, is the vet him or herself. Are they attentive to you when you speak to them? How do they interact with your pet? Do they talk to your pet if they are nervous, or do they just get you in and out in a hurry? To me the most important thing with a vet, is how do they treat you and you beloved pet if the time comes to let your pet go due to illness or just old age. Are they caring to you, and loving to the pet? How to find this out, is ask for references of people that have had to put a pet down due to those 2 reasons. If the vet will not give you this information, I, personally, would not use them.

This information comes from my own research and life experiences. I hope this helps you when the time comes for you to either find a vet, due to a new pet in your life, or you need to find a new vet due to whatever reasons.

Smelly Things And Your Dog.

source: email from Purina Foods and personal experience and knowledge.

My dog, Chance is going to be 5 this Dec. When he was about a yr. and a half, he did something I thought was just absolutely crazy. One evening, I was on the computer, working on this blog, when he came over to me and started to really bug me by butting me with his head, under my arm.

Well, after telling him, on numerous occasions, to go and lie down, he asked to go outside. Well, to my relief, or so I thought, I let him out. He came back to the door about 5 minutes later and barked to be let back in. Well, my husband got up and let him in. The next thing I hear is, "Chance what in the world is all over you?" He had gone out and rolled in poop! He was telling me, in no uncertain terms, "hey, smell where I have been!"

Personally, I think he did it just to get me to stop and pay total attention to him. So, I had to stop what I was doing, and take him to the shower and give him a bath. Where I am going with this little story is, "why dogs roll in stinky stuff."

This, I believe, is an instinctual behavior that comes from the dawn of the canine. It was used by wolves, the top of the canine list, to mask their odors when hunting. I could go back further, to the first ever dog-like creature, and I am almost certain, that they did the same thing. Hence, that is why, in a related theory of mine, that pre-domesticated canines, (feral dogs), roll around in smelly things to let their pack mates know where they have been and what they have encountered during their hunt or time out of the den.

What do I do, you ask? First, don't get mad. Remember, this is a natural and very normal behavior. Even though it is repulsive to us, it is almost like perfume to them. There are steps you can use to discourage this behavior. Here are some ways to help you with your smelly buddy.

If your baby rolls in his own poop, clean him/her up immediately and then the yard. If you are going for a walk, keep your best buddy on a short leash to prevent the infamous "smelly thing" roll. Now, to ultimately stop this behavior, you can try to put an unpleasant reaction to the rolling action. By this, I do not mean, hitting or yelling or jerking the leash. I suggest using a citronella spray collar or an e-collar on the vibrate mode, only. More intense use of an e-collar should be done by someone that has studied the collar usage and has been trained in its use.

If you use the spray method, remember to use it right as the dog starts to go into the roll behavior. You can also use anything your dog finds annoying. Loud noises to startle them. But, above all else, be consistent!! Consistency is the key to all, and I mean, all training. I hope these little tid-bits will help you and your buddy have a sweeter smelling experience together.

People Who Drop Animals Are Cowards!

Today, Chance and I headed down to our local Dollar General store on Rt. 2, in Lesage, WV. As we pulled in, I saw a small kitten running around the front of the store. Every time the door opened, it tried its best to get in. As one lady started in, the kitten ran in, between her feet, and ended up getting kicked, on accident, into the store. The cashier, gently, put it back outside.

To the coward that dropped that poor little baby kitten; shame on you. You don't have any sense of humanity, none at all. If someone doesn't pick up that kitten, it will get hit on the road. Look, even taking it to the pound is better than just dropping it off, "hoping" someone will pick it up. You are a coward!!

To all people that drop animals, SHAME ON YOU, YOU COWARDS!! I hope that someone picks up that poor baby kitten. Pray that someone does.

Benefit For Little Victories No-Kill Shelter.

Come one, come all, to a benefit dinner at Rocco's Ristorante' in Ceredo, WV, on Sept. 14/2009 at 6PM, to benefit Little Victories No-Kill Shelter, in Ona, WV. Tickets are $65.00 a person or a sponsorship of $250.00 which includes 2 tickets to the benefit and your name in the dinner program.

I know that might seem high, particularly in this day and time, but, honestly, it is for such a good cause. Your $65.00 will go to feed and medicate quite a few dogs and cats at the shelter and in the fosters homes throughout the area. At a time when WV is killing over 100,000 animals a yr., you can help put a stop to unnecessary killing of strays in our shelter systems.

Rocco's is one of the premier Italian restaurants in our area and their cuisine is fabulous. I know from personal experience. So, come on down and enjoy a night of fun, fabulous food and companionship with people that care as much about the homeless animals as you do. Who knows, if you are a single guy or gal, you might find someone that loves animals as much as you.

And, Little Victories has been accepted to the Rescue Waggin' program that takes animals from over crowded shelters throughout the nation and takes them to areas that have very, very strict spay and neuter laws, so there will be animals to adopt and it cuts down on the number of animals unnecessarily killed because over shelter over-population.

I hope to see you at the benefit.

Rocco's is located at 252 Main St., Ceredo WV
Heavy Hors d'oeuvers at 6pm and dinner at 7pm. If you have any questions please contact the president of Little Victories, Sue Brown at: 304-743-5802 or email her at: sbrown7987 @aol.com.

The Latest In The Michael Vick Saga.

Well, it looks like the Eagles are going to give Vick a chance to get back into football. Personally, and this is my own opinion, not the opinion of this paper, that he should not have been let back in the league to play. And, I feel the same way about players that have been caught with guns and drugs and alcohol. Now, with that out of the way, I don't think he can be rehabilitated. Like a vicious dog, he can not stop his behavior, as it has been ingrained into his brain that this behavior is perfectly acceptable.

As a boy, he grew up around people that fought dogs in alleys, and then moved on to the pit fighting. He just can't stop this way of life. I know he will continue to be in the fight world, just under the radar. He will definitely be more careful about the people he associates with in the underground fight world. The Eagles have taken on more than they bargained for. The Animal Rights and Welfare people will be at every single game to voice their opinions, very, very loudly.

The mobs of people that will come to harass him, and the team for taking him on, will be unreal. This action by the Eagles was really quite shocking to me. Look at the way they have treated Donovan McNabb. He was a fabulous QB, but the Philly fans can be unmerciful. So, I am interested to see how this plays out.

Help Needed For Little Victories.

From the Vice President, Jennifer Holley.

Hello, at the farm we have close to 100 puppies and dogs. We have many more in foster homes and also about 40 cats and kittens. We want to thank all of you who have dropped off food and supplies, but we would once again like to ask you to think of us when you are getting your groceries this week.

Feeding 100 hungry animals takes a lot of food! We feed then Purina dog chow and puppy chow and Pedigree because one brand is better for their tummies! (and the girls who pooper scoop love this!!) We also gladly accept other brands which we mix with these. As for cats and kittens, once again, Purina and we mix other brands. Any type of litter is appreciated. If you can help, please drop these off at the farm, or you can drop them off at Complete Petmart at the Target Mall Plaza (Merritts Creek) in Barboursville. They have very generously allowed us to do this to help the animals. (You can also donate by PayPal on our website.) www.littlevictories.org

Also, we need lots of heavy duty garbage bags, bleach, chlorox spray cleaner, paper towels, hand cleaner, dish washing detergent and laundry detergent. We also accept clean, used toys, leashes, collars, crates, towels, blankets, wash cloths, etc.

We also need a used air conditioner and a used clothes dryer (for so much laundry!!) if any of you have one you no longer need.

If you can help in any way, please help. We have enough food till the weekend. Every time we can save on food, we have more money for our expenses for the dogs-including utilities and vet bills, which is our largest expense. We currently have a dog who needs leg surgery, a blind one yr. old beagle who needs help, and other dogs with pressing needs. We also have about 35 puppies at the current time and some newer dogs, not even on the site yet. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT ADOPTION, SO THESE WONDERFUL ANIMALS CAN FIND HOMES!

Thank all of you for your help in the past. The animals could not make it without you. Every time you help, go to Happy Tails and look at all the wonderful dogs which you have helped get into wonderful new homes! None of this would be possible without YOU!!!!

Therapy Dogs Can Unknowingly Carry Germs.

Definitions were gotten from Wikepedia.

As a therapy dog owner and handler, I always was very concerned about spreading germs to my patients. So, before each visit, I would bathe my dog in a all natural shampoo. i.e. no perfumes or dyes. Then, the minute before I walked into the room where the patient was, I sanitized my hands.

Well, evidently, my caution was right. I was reading an article in Dog World that says Therapy dogs may carry germs. Those germs they talked about were MRSA, vancomycin-resistant enterocci and C. difficile. The vancomycin I will explain first.

Enterococci are bacteria that are normally present in the human intestines and in the female genital tract and are often found in the environment. These bacteria can sometimes cause infections. Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is often used to treat infections caused by enterococci. In some cases, enterococci have become resistant to vancomycin and are called vancomycin-resistant enterococci or VRE. Most VRE infections occur in people in hospitals.


The next one is MRSA. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems.

MRSA infections that occur in otherwise healthy people who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-associated (CA)-MRSA infections. These infections are usually skin infections, such as abscesses, boils, and other pus-filled lesions.

The last one is C. difficile. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that is related to the bacterium that cause tetanus and botulism. The C. difficile bacterium has two forms, an active, infectious form that cannot survive in the environment for prolonged periods, and a nonactive, "noninfectious" form, called a spore, that can survive in the environment for prolonged periods. Although spores cannot cause infection directly, when they are ingested they transform into the active, infectious form.

So, if you have a therapy dog, or even take your dog to work and you have a friend or relative in the hospital, remember to sanitize your hands and bathe your dog after each visit. I know you can't bathe your pet if you have multiple visits in a day, but you can carry hand sanitizer and do your hands. I also carry those Clorox cloths and wipe down any area my dog touches. Plus, I have the patients use the hand sanitizer, too.

Just some information to make it safer for you and the patients, and your loving buddy.

Natural Or Chemical - Your Choice.

Hey everyone, so sorry it has been quite awhile since I posted. But, I am back and ready to get after it. Today, I want to talk about your groomer. A good groomer is like a good hairdresser for us. If you find one you and your dog like, you stay with that groomer until he or she retires or re-locates to another area away from you.

I always used all natural products in my shop. By this, I mean, organic. I felt that chemicals did nothing but damage the coat, and possibly the animal, health wise. In the summer time, fleas and ticks are a huge concern, so many people ask for their pets to be dipped with a flea dip, or have a flea shampoo used on them.

Whenever a client of mine would ask for a dip or a flea shampoo, I carefully explained that I did not use a chemical dip, and gave my reasons. The reply I most invariably got was, "well, how do you kill the fleas?" An organic dip works just as well as a chemical dip if used correctly. My dip contained pennyroyal, a natural insect deterrent. If left on for the right amount of time, it not only nourishes the dogs skin and coat, but will deter fleas and ticks. Now, remember, you want to nourish the skin, not burn it with chemicals.


Let me share a story with you from my grooming days. I had a young lady bring a Yorkshire Terrier into the salon I owned in Huntington, WV, called Doggie Do's. This dog had not a single hair on her back. Her former "groomer," and I use that term very loosely, put the dog under a sunlamp and literally burnt all of her coat off her back. She was so pitiful. So, I immediately, ran my hands over her body and felt her coat, what she had left, and found that she did have a really nice texture to her coat.

I told the owner that I had a great shampoo that had some really fabulous botanicals in it. So, we started a weekly regiment of medicated shampoo, all natural, and air drying. By air drying, I mean that I put her on my grooming table and dried her with a regular, small fan. Well, long story cut short, within 2 months, she had a full coat again.

Ask your groomer to use natural products on your dog, if he or she doesn't already. These botanicals were being used by people centuries ago, now it has been found that they work extremely well on dogs and cats.