…and eyes, and ears, and tail…

Dogs don’t communicate with words or crying like we do. Their whining, barking, and growling is used in limited, and usually extreme, situations. To “hear” what your dog is saying, you really need to watch their body language.

Use these signals to assess your dog during training, agility, or other dog competitions. If you see signs of stress, try something easier for the dog to build up his confidence. Find games you can play to take his (and your) mind off of the surroundings at sporting events such as Touch Nose to Hand or other dog tricks.

A calm dog is relaxed – especially his eyes, mouth, ears, and tail. Take for example Rankine when his baby is walking all over him. Notice how his ears, lips, and eyes are relaxed. This is a calm dog who doesn’t mind the baby’s antics.

Had Rankine been asking baby to stop, you may have seen one of the following cues:

• Lip licking
• Yawning
• Ear flicking
• Flinching
• A “crescent” shaped whites of his eyes
• Intentional turning away from the baby
• “Freezing.” This is different from stillness in that you can almost see the tension in the body. If you ever see a dog “freeze,” beware. This is often a precursor to snapping.

You can learn more about a dog’s body language at Living with Kids and Dogs by Colleen Pelar. Watch her videos to see how dogs show their stress.

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Nearly half of all tested pet products contained “detectable levels” of hazardous chemicals, including lead in a quarter of all products and nearly half of tennis balls intended for pets!

Are these dog toys safe?

The testing was done by HealthyStuff.org, which focuses primarily on children’s toys. This is what they have to say:

HealthyStuff.org tested over 400 pet products, including beds, chew toys, stuffed toys, collars, leashes, and tennis balls. Since there are no government standards for hazardous chemicals in pet products, it is not surprising that toxic chemicals were found.

• 45% of pet products tested had detectable levels of one or more hazardous chemical, including:
• One-quarter of all pet products had detectable levels of lead.
• 7% of all pet products have lead levels greater than 300 ppm — the current CPSC lead standard for lead in children’s products.
• Nearly half of pet collars had detectable levels of lead; with 27% exceeding 300 ppm — the CPSC limit for lead in children’s products.
• One half (48%) of tennis balls tested had detectable levels of lead. Tennis balls intended for pets were much more likely to contain lead. Sports tennis balls contained no lead.

You can read the Overview of HealthyStuff.org Findings, but it doesn’t say much more than I’ve quoted here. They do list products by brand, type, and level of concern, but I was unable to find the pet products tested. If you see it, let me know! According to their methodology:

The sampling was not random or necessarily designed to be representative of all products on the market.

It is possible most toys are safe. My recommendation, buy sport tennis balls, avoid painted and dyed products, and do some research. I wonder how much a portable X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer costs???

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Halloween is a fun time for ghosts and goblins. This is also a time to take some special precautions for your dogs.

When the little ones go out trick or treating they are often accompanied by a parent and sometimes the family dog. It is not uncommon for your dog to have a costume too. If this is in your plans for this haunting season please take care. Some dogs may find the strange creatures walking the streets frightening, be sure that you are in control at all times; a short leash is a must.

If your dog is to wear a costume make sure it does not impede his movement or vision. When meeting other families, approach dogs and children cautiously, do not assume that just because your dog is friendly that the others are too.

Also be alert if your dog is staying home to answer the door with you. Your dog may have perfect door manners when strangers approach, but this is a special night and the costumes may be frightening, be prepared for every situation. It may be in your dog’s best interest to put him in a quiet room away from the hubbub.

When the evening is winding down and the kids are home with their treasures, phase two of taking care of your pet’s well being should be in place. You should not assume that human food and candy is safe for your pet. Be sure that the pets cannot get into your stash of Halloween candy and as always feed your dog right to increase their life span. (more…)

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Over 1,000 dogs, cats, and other animals were affected by the flooding around Cedar Rapids, IA in June of 2008. The Human Society of the United Stetes (HSUS), the Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS), and others set up a temporary shelter to house rescued pets, as well as those pets whose owners are staying in temporary housing that does not allow pets.

You may think you aren’t at risk because you don’t live under direct threat of floods and tornadoes. However, there are many disasters that could require home evacuations such as a wildfire, train wreck, chemical spill, or house fire. Here are some tips on what you can do for your loved ones:

• If you must evacuate, take your pets with you. Emergency rescue is not always available for pets.
• Make sure your animals have identification on them, even if they never leave the house. Microchip your pet (don’t forget to register) and make sure they wear collars and tags.
• Pack an emergency kit for your pet that includes food for at least 3 days, grooming supplies, extra medications, and their special toy.
• Make lost posters for each of your pets. Leave a space where you can fill in the contact information since you may not be staying at your regular location.
• Program numbers in your cell phone for animal agencies and veterinarians in your neighborhood. They will be the first ones to know what type of help is available.

You can find more information at UAN’s Disaster Preparedness page.

In 2008, I volunteered at the emergency shelter through June 26 – July 4. You can view my photo gallery or visit my Blog to read about her experiences, find links to information about the rescue efforts, and learn how you can help.

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