August 16, 2002 - Volume 25

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Please do not copy or use in any fashion without written permission

Lost Dog

Good afternoon, folks... remember Libby? We ran an ad about her in the July 5th edition of the Woof. Well, Libby even made the Times Colonist a week or so ago, and now a special bulletin from us... she went missing from her foster home and is still lost. Please keep an eye out for her.

Go to this site for further details and pictures.

Senior Pets
"Old age is a life stage, not a disease".
When is a pet a "Senior Citizen"?

Well, our 14th birthday is fast approaching, so I thought this would be a great topic for my brother, Slick and myself. It is hard to believe we are this old; time has just flown by! Generally a pet is considered senior when they have reached 75-80% of their life expectancy.

The average life span of a cat is 13 years but we have heard from our Vet, Lorie Clarke, a few do reach their late teens and some into their twenties. The oldest cat on record lived 37 years. Well, enough about those 'Felines!"

Longevity for dogs is related to size. Smaller dogs live considerably longer than giant breeds. The oldest dog on record lived 29 years.

"To the best of my knowledge, there has never been research to prove a rumour that the crankier a dog is, the longer they live!"

What to look for with normal aging:

• Loss of muscle and increase in body fat. "I think I might cut back on the calories, too."
• Loss of vision, especially at night.
• Loss of hearing which may seem selective at first. "I've gone deaf over the winter this year."
• Decreased sense of smell.
• Decreased heart & lung function. "I can't keep up to the young ones...... very frustrating."
• Increased thirst and having to urinate more often.
• Teeth and gums are prone to disease.
• Constipation if I don't get enough exercise.
• Behaviour changes such as sleeping more, disorientation, less family interaction.
• Heat and cold intolerance
• Arthritis leading to pain and decreased mobility.
• Change in nutritional requirements due to digestive and kidney functions.
• Change in coat.... a dull unkempt look, matting more frequently.
• Lumps or bumps on or under the skin
• Change in eye colour or clarity.

For more personal details, see your Veterinarian.

Geesh! I relate to all this stuff to one degree or another! Good thing I believe, "Aging is just a stage of life," or I could go into a deep depression!

Well, I think this has been very tiring, so I'll have a drink and go lay in the sun for a bit of a nap till I have to get up to go the bathroom!
-"Jiggs"

Classified Ads

Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle.... your ?????
By Wed. the 28th .... for the next Woof, please...... mtpeard@shaw.ca

Announcement: COME TO THE 135th Saanich Fair
The theme this year is "Something to Crow About!"
Yes, you guessed it............. Poultry!
However, there's a lot more to this fair!
The Saanich Fair is Western Canada's oldest continuous Agricultural Fair.

Events range from Draft horses to Donkeys, to Sheep and Dog Sports; there's entertainment, foods of all kinds, and arts and crafts. Did I mention Dog Sports Entertainment, a Miniature Horse show, Quilts and Rabbits, and a raffle with 5 great prizes (the tickets are only a loonie) ..........1st prize is a $1000 Gift Certificate from Peninsula Co-op. Of course the Midway Carnival Rides are back this year, too. Did I mention Dog Sports entertainment?

This is a three day fair with lots and lots to see and do.
It's usually warm on the long weekend, so wear sunscreen and a hat. Remember dogs are not permitted on the premises unless in a competition. (Those dogs have to leave the premises right after, too.)
It's a family fair and there is ZERO TOLERANCE TOWARDS DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ON THE PREMISES

Announcement: Did you know that the Woof is now on the web site too? And have you looked at the site lately? It's brand new!! www.islanddogsports.com

Birthday Wishes: Happy 4th Birthday, Brock Solotki .... still Big, Black and Beautiful! Woof ... Poutine & Sweep, Jazz, Trouble, and the gang! ^..^~~!

Health: www.ivas.org This is a site for those interested in the holistic approach to pet medicine containing info about and listings of certified vet acupuncturists.
A search feature lets you find one in your area.

ASK MAM'SELLE
woof@dogcompany.com

Dear Mamdamoiselle Poutine,
I have a problem. I am AFRAID of fireworks. Every time I hear them, I start to quiver and quake like a bowl of jello in an earthquake. What should my people do? I can't be the only dog out there that is afraid.
Jazz

Dear Jazz:
You're right - you aren't the only one! Having been born deaf, I personally have never "heard" the Fireworks but I have sure "Felt them." My sister and brothers hear it ... Slick and Sweep don't care about it . They, like me, have always lived with Peni. However, Jiggs was 6 years old and came later on and he used to get pretty scared. He overcame it pretty fast. Now Hamish is almost four years old and he is a basket case over anything new, so here we go again..... we are all working on how to help him overcome it. One thing about Hamish - he wants to bolt and run! Mom just steps on the leash the moment he tries to go and quietly tells him to get a life and get his mind back in the game. After the Fireworks is all over (for certain), we go outside for a pee and just hang out!
My Mom gets us happy and we play ball or do something fun to take our mind off it. Most all, she got us used to loud noises as puppies. She would stir our dinner with a metal spoon or drop a pot or pan that makes lots of noise and then she would let us smell the pan or pot, then love us up and tell us what good dog we were. We would go down where there was a lot of noise; we would get used to it by Mom saying how great we were, and how brave, and we would just keep walking and not stop. So we were kept busy and praised when hearing all the noise - we had to keep moving and pretty soon, it was just nothing to worry about. Mom had it all under control!
If it happens and we are alone at home, we are either in our crates, or we take to our crates and curl up in our safe places till it's over. Mom doesn't let us pace or run about because then the anxiety level gets out of control. Being stroked or patted to soothe you only teaches you to behave and feel the way you do, so going to your crate is the best. It's somewhere you can't pace.
By the way ... when you get a new puppy, you can do the pot and pan thing at home ... if you drop the pan, the pup should be able to recover in a few seconds from the fear. So make sure you don't drop it too close or have it too loud at first! Being exposed to all sorts of sights and sounds will help you and your new puppy or any other dog grow into a stable confident adult.
Woof ... Poutine

The Wedding Singers

Saturday Aug. 10, 2002 was a BIG Day for me.
As usual, first thing, all five of us went for a long walk/run after breakfast and mom tagged along with her poo bags. Then she started putting us through our paces ... I love it! We all try to sit, down, or come to her faster than one another. Whatever she calls out, each of us try to out do the other .... I love the obedience games!
Then we went on the Saturday morning trail walk with anyone who shows up - the puppies, the dogs that are learning to get along with others, etc. Then just I went with mom to her family reunion. It was so much fun; there were lots of kids to throw the ball for me, fields to run and roll in, and there were "Chooks"(chickens) who are free all over the farm watching me flip the light fantastic through the air for a ball or stick. Let's face it; I would even try to catch a blade of grass if some one threw it. No, I didn't chase the "Chooks;" we aren't allowed to chase the livestock and I heard mom tell her brother I wouldn't dream of it. .. hmmmmm! Anyway, people gave treats everytime I gave them "THE LOOK" You know the one I mean! I did pretty good till Mom saw me and gave me her "LOOK" and I went and lay in a nice quiet shady spot with some cold water and dozed off for a bit.

Next we went to Brian & Laura's & "Winston's" wedding! Of course Laura's dog, Winston, was part of the wedding party and looking very handsome I might add, (for a miniature Schnauzer).

Now picture this:
We are in Dean Park among the trees and flowers; there are fifty people and a few dogs. (Not counting the trail walkers who stopped to look on & their dogs.) The music won't work... no one checked the batteries! Mom always says, "Don't sweat the small stuff." So, they all started to sing "Here Comes the Bride." At first I thought, "Well, that's nice....but geeeesh ...who said humans could sing?" To the trained canine ear, it was obvious they needed some good ole howling to get the tune just right. As we, the "Canine Classics," got right into it, they all stopped. The rest of the nuptials went off without a hitch. No, I never got a chance to even get near the dinner and reception. Mom took me home and I got a chance to lie out on the deck with my brothers and sisters who were taking a day off. It's a dog's life!
Till next time ..... make your week a howling success; just don't get annoying about it.
Woof ... Sweep

Phydeaux Phun

Dear God,
Excuse me, but why are there cars named after the jaguar, the cougar, the mustang, the colt, the stingray, and the rabbit, but not one named for a dog? How often do you see a cougar riding around? We dogs love a nice ride! I know every breed cannot have its own model, but it would be easy to rename the Chrysler Eagle, the Chrysler Beagle!
Dog

The Sporty Dog Beat

I made some new friends over the last 4 days. They are Rogie, a 4-month-old Cairn terrier, and his big sister, Dallie, an adult Cairn terrier. They came to stay at our house while their parents were out of town.

Mom and I enjoyed them both for different reasons. Mom liked that they were so small and Dallie really liked to cuddle in her lap. I like to cuddle too but there is not enough room on Mom's lap for me to lie comfortably. Rogie was another matter. Yeah, he would cuddle in a squirmy kind of way, but he was loaded with terrier personality.

Any of you with terriers will know why Mom and Peni sometimes call them terrorists. Rogie was fun. He would steal the tennis balls right from my mouth then run around the yard growling in a fierce puppy way saying, "You can't catch me". I was good. I would just follow him around my yard and wait for him to drop the ball. Eventually he would come across another tennis ball and drop the original to play with the different one. This meant that I would get MY tennis ball back. but being a terrorist, he would come and take my ball again. I know it was all in fun and I enjoyed the game. Dallie and my Mom would just sit on the front stairs and laugh at us.

Rogie also thinks of himself as a big dog in a little body. I really don't think he knows that he only weighs about 7 pounds. One day while they were here, Mom and Peni took us for a walk in a park. It was me, Sweep, Poutine, Slick, Jiggs, Hamish, Rogie and Dallie. There were a lot of us dogs but we behaved well in the park. Rogie wanted to be one of the big dogs so we let him hang out with us. After a while, he started to lag back with the people because he got tired. He may have wanted to be a big dog but I think he still has a bit of growing to do before he can keep up with the big dogs.

Rogie also likes to give me many kisses. I was glad that he was so short as all I had to do was lift my head and he could not lick my mouth. Mom says that he was trying to be submissive. I don't know about that, 'cause any chance he got, he would try to hump my wrist. He seemed especially fond of my right wrist. Strange little guy! I know many dogs like me and some try to mount me, but usually they do it on a hind leg or my hind end. So, I learned this weekend that terriers are persistent and have a mind of their own and tons of personality. They sure are fun to have stay at our place. Mom and I really enjoy having doggie company come and stay. Mom says especially puppies as it resets her puppy biological clock.

Well, I gotta go. I must find all MY TENNIS BALLS.
Jazz, "The Black Locomotive"

Woofs of Wisdom

"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."
John Steinbeck

Tips by Miss Trouble

The car - that's that thing with the tires, remember them? These ones aren't pretty colours though, and they move. They move pretty fast too and they make the 'car' move. When I'm out for a walk with Mom and Dad, they always warn me when a car is moving so I can get farther off the road. I used to get really worried when one came up behind me, but I'm more okay about that now. But I'm getting away from what I really wanted to talk about.... and that's having to go IN the car. Here I am, being warned "Car", and they want me to move away and be safe, and then, at another time, they expect me to get in one!

Okay, I admit it - I'm a pup with an attitude about a lot of things. Most fur faces seem to enjoy getting into car things; they like to look out the window, or maybe feel the air on their face... whatever. I can think of lots of other things I'd rather do. Unfortunately, Mom insists, and I have to do what she tells me. I drag my feet, droop my tail, hang my head, flatten my ears, look absolutely pathetic, and take as long as I possibly can, but nothing works. She's tried putting me in the front as well as the back, but as far as I'm concerned, either one is pretty bad.

"Why," you might ask, "why don't you like it?" I'll be completely honest with you..... I DON'T KNOW! Maybe it started when I was a baby and taken away from my doggy mom. Maybe in a previous life I was hit by a car - or is it just cats that have more than one life? Whatever the reason, I just know that my tummy gets upset and I'm one unhappy puppy.

You gotta give Mom credit; she's tried everything that anybody has ever suggested. If you're at all inclined to get carsick, and need help, these are some of the ideas we've tried and maybe one of them will work for you.

"Rescue Remedy" - it's a liquid stuff made from different kinds of flowers and you put a couple of drops on your tongue. I'd rather smell the flowers, thank you.

"Gravol" - a pill. The only good thing about it was a piece of cheese to hide it in.

"Ginger cookies" - just what they sound like. I'd rather have a milk bone any day.

"Motion Sickness Travel Bands" - stretchy little things around my wrists. Not bad for bracelets, but I'd prefer gold and diamonds.

She even phoned a radio show one time, but the woman there didn't have any new ideas either.

Now, I don't know which of these really worked and helped me, but I do know that I'm a bit better than I was. Mom carries a roll of paper towel and a bucket in the car all the time but she hardly ever has to use it any more. For awhile, it was a roll of paper every trip, trying to keep my face dry. And I haven't upchucked for a long time.

'Car' seems to be a necessary evil - I couldn't get to Flyball without it, but I wish someone would invent one that didn't move. Maybe Mom would consider a helicopter... nah, that won't work. I forgot... I'm afraid of heights.
-HRH Trouble (athlete with attitude)

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