The Dog Company: Newsletter

Volume 61 - February 13, 2004

Materials in this newsletter are the sole possession of the authors and Dog Company. Please do not copy or use in any fashion without written permission

This is a trick that is done very well with small dogs. Small dogs are usually always coming up to see over things and just look around. Medium size dogs can be encouraged by holding a tidbit over their head and rewarding them for the effort to come up for it. Coming up and holding will come in a few practices. You can start from a sit position and then start standing up for the treat from there. Now your hips, , thorax, forelegs and head must be positioned just right (that means they should all be lined up nice and straight.) That way you will be balanced and not hurt yourself.

Now if your human needs to help you, here are a few ideas for them. Have them put a flat leather collar on you and a standard leash. The collar and leash will give you a bit more support and confidence as your human holds the treat up and you start to stretch for it; they can help hold you there ...but not choke you!

As soon as your position is good, they must make the leash slack so you are doing it on your own. Now once your balance is good and you can hold while you are up there, moving forward or back will be easier for you. Now turn on the music......... You will learn to turn around and do some moves to your favourite tunes. It will take practice but just follow the treat smell and you will be awesome.

YOU'RE SUCH A CLEVER DOG!

wuf...Sweep.......dancing with my Mom ^..^~~!

My family and I received hundreds of beautiful cards and emails, letters and calls from people who had known, worked, and played with Slick over the past 15.5 years. I was so overwhelmed by the number of people who remember my most wonderful dog and all the touching and funny stories they had to tell. To pick just one of the beautiful thoughts that people took the time to send to me was a very difficult task. I would like to share this "Living Love" from my dear friend, Val Scott.

Woof ... Peni Fitzpatrick & family ^..^~~!

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember... The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend.

You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room--and when you feel it brush against you for the first time--it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your long-time friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow, deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep where you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, a feeling which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you---you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you. But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size than your own---seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg--very, very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay---you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely be painful, and leave an ache in your heart---As time passes the ache will come and go as it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when---along with the memory of your pet---and piercing through the heaviness in your heart---there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love---like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow--and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets--it is a Love that we will always possess.

(To our advertisers: we'd love to hear if your ad in the Woof was successful. Please drop us a line and let us know.)

Home Wanted: Black, Beautiful, and looking to be your one and only

My name is Shadow. I'm a great dog, mid sized, built like a Greek God and I love to play and run! I am three years old. As you can see, I have a great smile to go along with my good looks. Like everyone else I have one or two small quicks...for me, I want to be your one and only! My parents love me and I know it. I have had a wonderful home with them and I am very well trained. However, I don't know how it happened, but they had a baby! Can you believe it! It has no fur, no teeth, no bark, no walk or run. What were they thinking! Anyway, I like the little guy and all, but really I wanted to be the one and only. I have tried to show them I am not happy about it all; I have started barking and just being a brat, lIke when I was little. Now they have said they can't take the baby back...so I have asked if I could find someone who, like me, wants me to be their life. I know you're out there. Please email jasnlis@shaw.ca or call 544-1018. I can't come to the phone but Jason or Lisa are good about taking messages.

Tail wagging and waiting....Shadow

Sick Call: We've been really remiss in not telling you about Peaches. She did a ligament thing and is confined to quarters so to speak. Last word we had was that she was on the mend, but slowly. Big bunch of woofs and ruffs from the Woof gang and the Trail Blazers, Peaches.

Wanted: Your 'articles', your 'For Sales', your 'Want Ads', your birthday wishes, your letters to Mam'selle, your ......... ????? By Wed. Feb.25th .... for the next Woof, please...... mailto:peni@dogcompany.com

(Disclaimer: Advertisements posted by the Woof are done as a service, not as an endorsement. Please communicate directly with the ad contact for further information on any items.)

Dear, Mam'selle,

I don't know if I should be writing to you or a doctor, but it's sort of a behaviour thing, and you know so much, so I'm hoping you can help me. I like to eat grass... any kind of grass. When we're out for a walk, I'm continually grabbing a mouthful here and there. I never throw up after I've done it; I just seem to like to eat it. Am I missing something in my diet? Should my Mom be worrying about it? Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

Sincerely,

"Salad" Susie

Dear Salad Susie

All dogs like to "graze" at sometime. It helps settle the tummy. However what you're doing sounds more like you are agitated and over anxious. I doubt that your diet is lacking but perhaps some help with your behaviours and fears might be in order.

It might be just that you are nervous about where you're walking and about the other dogs you might meet. Are you dragging your people or are you feeling confident and walking nicely beside them and just diving in from time to time? These questions are important as then we can figure out just what is going on. I am very good at helping my Mom with other dogs with behavioural problems and we have met other dogs like yourself who were going through the same behaviour. Call me 656-1659.

woof...Poutine ^..^~~!

I'm not quite sure what's going on, but I seem to be having to go to school again. I guess that's what it's called. It sort of reminds me of when I was a pup and Mom and I were learning all about "sit's" and "down's" and "here's" and all that sort of stuff.

Three times a week (most weeks that is), we go to this place and meet up with a bunch of other furfaces who are practicing their sit's and down's. It's not always the same dogs each time either. One of the times seems to be for babies - everyone there is a puppy except for me! What an insult!!! Me, the Lady Trouble, surrounded by puppies! Some of them are almost worth sniffing, but for the most part - puppies are something to be endured reluctantly. They jump all over you, get in your face, chew on your tail, and just generally make a nuisance of themselves. I'm not allowed to tell them off or snack on them; I get in big time trouble if I even think of doing anything like that. Like the other night, Bustle was really being a pest, and I sort of grumbled; boy, was that a mistake. I had to sit there for even longer!!

The other two times we go, the dogs are all sizes and ages and shapes. Some of them are furfaces who I've met before or seen on the trail walks; in fact, some are my good friends like Chinook and Monty. No matter who's there, we do the same sort of things. And don't let the fact that friends are there fool you ... we have to work.

I get to meet and greet a bit when I first arrive, with Mom watching me pretty closely in case I "get an attitude." Then I have to lie down or sit somewhere, while Mom makes marks on a piece of paper or goes around pointing that little shiny thing she has at different dogs, and making weird noises at them. When that bright light goes off, they sometimes jump, but it sure gets their attention. When she puts that thing away, then I have to go and practice like everyone else.

Now lemme tell you, walking around and around in that room, or sitting down and waiting, or lying down or having to stand and not move is really tiring. One of the things is fun though; after I've sat for awhile, Mom calls me to come to her and I get to pick up my leash and run to her. It's all hard work, especially when there are so many other dogs, because we all want to sniff and visit and when we're working, that's not allowed. By the end of the time, I'm usually dragging my tail and ready to go home.

Kaleb comes with me some of these times, too. When he's there, Mom always hopes there's someone around to work with me, 'cause if she takes me and leaves Kaleb on the blanket, he cries! He's pretty good at the sit's and down's, but sure doesn't like it if I'm not right with him, and he's a bit uncomfortable when he's meeting other big dogs he doesn't know.

I'm not sure how long I have to keep doing this. Sweep is still there, and she's been doing it for much longer than me. Maybe it's something I'll have to do forever!

HRH Trouble (athlete with attitude)

Question: What dog says, "Meow" ?
Answer: A police dog working undercover.

Playing this week: In Memory of Slick's Flick's

All Dogs go to Heaven. (Adventure, Children/Family)
Rated G: Approx. 83 Minutes
This movie is about Charlie, a German Shepard who is not a candidate to get into heaven. In order to become a candidate for heaven, he is given a reprieve and sent back to Earth to do one good deed.

If you are susceptible to blubbering during touching scenes, be prepared to cry, and don't forget to have those tissues on hand!

Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl.
Starring Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley.
Rated PG: Approx. 143 Minutes.
An adventure taking place on the high seas; full of laughter, action, adventure, and romance. A great Pirate film for the whole family; although rated PG, some scenes may not be suitable the younger puppies in your family!

ruffff... Monty

"No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does"
- Christopher Morley

There is a special breed of dog directly attributed to Queen Elizabeth. It's a "dorgi". Queen Elizabeth's corgi bred with Princess Margaret's dachshund.

Always Faithful - by Bill Putney
Regular family pets who went to war. Very interesting.
Did you know that Training took about 11 months.

Dog Fact quiz:

How many dogs served in World War 2 ?
A. 5 - 60
B. 500 -1,300
C. 9,000 -11,000

SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO info@dogcompany.com

Some people say that cats are sneaky, evil, and cruel.
True, and they have many other fine qualities as well.
-Missy Dizick

Cat Etiquette

1. If you have to throw up, get into a chair quickly. If you cannot manage this in time, get to an Oriental rug. Shag is good!
2. Determine quickly which guest hates cats. Sit on that lap during the evening.
3. He won't dare push you off and will even call you "Nice kitty." If you can arrange to have cat food on your breath, so much the better.
4. For sitting on laps or rubbing against trouser legs, select colors which contrast with your own.
5. Always accompany guests to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit and stare.
6. For guests who say, "I love kitties," be ready with aloof disdain, claws applied to stockings or a quick nip on the ankles.
7. Do not allow closed doors in any room. To get one open, stand on hind legs and hammer with forepaws. Once the door is opened for you, it is not necessary to use it. You can change your mind. When you have ordered an outside door opened, stand half in and half out and think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather or mosquito season.
8. If one person is busy and the other is idle, sit with the busy one. For book readers, get in close under the chin, unless you can lie across the book itself.
9. For ladies knitting, curl quietly into lap and pretend to doze. Then reach out and slap knitting needles sharply. This is what she calls a dropped stitch. She will try to distract you. Ignore it.
10. For people doing homework, sit on the paper being worked on. After being removed for the second time, push anything movable off the table -- pens,pencils, stamps -- one at a time.
11. Get enough sleep during the daytime so that you are fresh for playing at night between 2 & 4 a.m.

(Thanks to Vagabond Pets - www.vagabondpets.com)

Remember how I've told you that they're always downgrading we felines, and that it's got to come to a stop? Here's another example of the attitude we must correct.

(Thanks to Pat & Joanne with Monty)

Cleocatra
(Cats rule .... dogs drool!)

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