Generally families living in rural areas are not restricted to the number of dogs they can take in so it must have caught the Carvotta family off guard when they went in acquire a license for a 4th dog on their 2.9 acres and were informed of Farmington’s code restriction.

To me, the most surprising outcome is Read the rest of this entry

California recently added information about dogs left in cars to its 2011 drivers’ handbook, and members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals want New Mexico [and Nevada] to do the same.

“Death from heatstroke is slow, agonizing, and terrifying,” Daphna Nachminovitch, vice president of PETA said in a statement. ~ The New Mexican

Leaving dogs in a hot car is cruel, selfish and a conscious choice too many dog caretakers make.

While adding text to the state DMV manuals may not be a total solution to the growing problem, it could dramatically increase public awareness.

Several states are considering Read the rest of this entry

Small Dog Training Advice:

Make sure the dog food you’re buying has NEVER been on the recall list. Some commercial dog foods, such as Merrick Pet Care Products, have been on the recall list several times this year – 2010.

Important Update:
Usually the cooking process heats the pet food enough to kill any Salmonella organisms. However, frequently these foods are coated with flavorings or other products after the cooking process and if these products are contaminated, the entire food lot may become contaminated. ~ Pet Health Care Gazette

There’s more to small dog training than sit, stay, fetch and puppy potty training.
Today’s topic is categorized under Dog Health Problems.

You’ve heard the news:

• Half a billion eggs have been recalled to date.

• Several dog food companies, including Merrick Pet Care, Procter & Gamble, IAMS and Eukanuba, have voluntarily implemented recalls.

• Occurrences of egg-related food poisoning are up dramatically from previous years.

• CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) epidemiologist Dr Christopher Braden has said this is the largest outbreak of Salmonella enteriditis since the tracking of foodborne disease officially began in 1973.

How is all of this affecting your family dog? Since the 2007 pet food contamination disaster, during which many dogs lost their lives, the homemade dog food movement has seen a marked increase in momentum. Eggs are a very popular ingredient because they’re an inexpensive protein and easy to prepare. Now many dog owners are finding themselves in a dilemma about what to feed their beloved dogs.

Some are turning to organic cage-free eggs, but are they really safer? The following video may help Read the rest of this entry

Small Dog Training Advice:

Buckle your dog into a safety harness for all road trips and reward her (or him) with a special treat immediately the first few times. It won’t be long before she’ll eagerly jump into her new favorite spot.

There’s more to small dog training than sit, stay, fetch and puppy potty training.
Today’s topic is categorized under Dogs in the News.

AAA released online study results concerning dogs and the dangerous distraction they pose while in a moving vehicle. You may not believe small dogs pose as great a risk, however the study said Read the rest of this entry

Small Dog Training Advice:

Volunteering to help train service dogs is an honorable and generous way to spend a portion of your leisure time. Donating money to worthy causes can also create magic in someone’s life. Reach out.

There’s more to small dog training than sit, stay, fetch and puppy potty training.
Today’s topic is categorized under Dog Worthy Causes & Dogs in the News.

Because small dog training can lead to miracles for people in need, small service dogs are becoming more sought after every day.

Tabitha Cooke hopes to bring her four-legged miracle (seizure alert dog) home by October and you could help make it happen.

Cooke, 17, has epilepsy and experiences seizures on an almost daily basis. Because of the dangers presented by seizures, Cooke’s mother, Debbi Crutcher, doesn’t let her daughter do such normal teen activities as attending sleepovers. And she doesn’t dare venture to dinner or a movie Read the rest of this entry

Small Dog Training Advice:

If it’s too hot for you to sit in the car comfortably with the air conditioning off and windows barely open, then don’t risk your dog’s life that way. You can open the door if it gets too hot, but your dog can’t.

There’s more to small dog training than sit, stay, fetch and puppy potty training.
Today’s topic is categorized under Dog Health Problems & Dogs in the News.

Dog Health Problems – Heat stroke in dogs is not uncommon and many times it’s completely preventable by their human handlers.

Death from heat stroke can occur pretty quickly. The shortest interval between exposure to high heat extremes and death is about 20 minutes, based on our practice experience, but these have been “closed car” cases. It is probably more common for dogs to experience heat stroke in the first few days they are acclimating to heat and for it to occur in conjunction with excitement or exercise. Most dogs probably take an hour or more to develop heat stroke in these circumstances but if they were struggling with the heat prior to exercising it is possible that the problem could develop more quickly. Any illness that is contributing to an increase in body temperature can also shorten the time period for signs to become severe. – Mike Richards, DVM

Remember that it is much easier to prevent than to treat heat strokes. – NYC Pets Health

Heat Stroke in Dogs Who Die in Hot Cars and the Animal Abuse Registry – Where do you stand?

Read the rest of this entry