Some Interesting Dog Facts

Did you know that the seeds from apples and pears contain arsenic?  Something to keep in mind, and also keep away from your dogs; as arsenic is deadly.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)
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Interesting Dog Facts

The bones of domesticated dogs have been found dating back to the fifth millennium BC in Egypt.  The ancient Egyptian word for dog is, iwiw.  They had varied roles in Egyptian life such as guard or police dog, aided in hunting, participated in military actions, and also were household pets.

From the above picture it appears that the following breeds may have a link to the Egyptian past:

• Pharoah
• Greyhound
• Ibizan
• Saluki
• Basenji
• Whippet

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Some Interesting Dog Facts

Did you know that dogs can be traced back to a weasel-like animal called Miacis that lived some 40 million years ago?  Miacis lived in trees and dens.

Miacis

      The Miacis evolved into the Tomarctus; which is the direct forbearer to genus Canis. 



Tomarctus

 

Comparing Your Dog's Age To Yours

We have all heard the adage; multiply your dog's age by 7 to determine their age in human years. It is really not that simple. In fact, even though dog/human age comparison tables abound, there is no precise formula to ascertain definitively whether or not you and your dog will be able to ring in your 40th birthdays together. What veterinarians do know is that large dogs tend to have shorter life spans than smaller dogs. Therefore, each human year for your Lab mix counts as more “dog years” than it does for your Maltese mix. As a guideline, a dog whose ideal adult weight is at least 50 pounds will generally be considered to have reached his senior years at about 7 years old. A dog whose ideal weight is between 20 to 50 pounds is generally considered geriatric at about 9 years old, and a dog who weighs below 20 pounds is usually considered geriatric at about 10 years old.

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Is My Dog Sick If His Nose Is Warm And Dry?

Your dog’s nose may be warm and dry or cold and wet for a variety of reasons completely unrelated to how he is feeling or whether he has a fever. Dog noses often become warm and dry during a nap, or when they are in a warm or dry environment. For example, a perfectly healthy dog relaxing in the morning sun or even in a heated room during winter will often have a warm and dry nose. Legitimate signs that may indicate your dog is not feeling well include changes in activity level, changes in appetite, and of course, symptoms such as limping, coughing, vomiting or changes in urinary or fecal output. As an informed dog owner you should also be aware of your dog’s vital signs – normal breathing rate, heart rate and temperature.

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Does Garlic Prevent Fleas?

There is no scientific evidence definitively linking the use of garlic with flea prevention. And garlic can be toxic to dogs so you definitely do not want to start giving your dog garlic. There are many products available that can help prevent fleas. Before starting on any flea prevention regime, however, you need to talk with your vet regarding which product will be appropriate for your dog. Use caution when using topical products for flea prevention due to a increase in the number of reported adverse reactions in pets using these products. Topical products are those products, usually sold in tubes or vials, that are applied to one or more areas of your dog’s body, such as in between the shoulder blades.

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Why Does My Dog Eat Grass?

Grass is in fact both a stomach irritant and a binding agent. Grass binds to certain toxins that may be present in your dog’s stomach. While not an optimum method for ridding your dog’s system of a particular toxin, ingesting grass can help your dog expel toxins from his system. However, it is generally believed that your dog is not making the connection that consuming grass leads to vomiting any more than he makes the connection that scavenging through the garbage will make him sick later on. Instead, your dog most likely eats grass – like garbage – because he likes the taste. Your dog’s wolf ancestors also ate grass when they consumed the intestines and stomach contents of their grass-eating prey, so the craving for a bit of a grass is likely still hard-wired in many dogs. One note of caution: eating even small quantities of grass can be dangerous if the grass your dog is nibbling on has been treated with pesticides or fertilizers.

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Does Playing Tug Increase Aggression?

Most dogs treat tug as a cooperative game – it’s no fun unless both parties have hold of the toy. And you can use tug to teach your dog to be super careful with his teeth (the game should end if teeth touch clothes or skin! Too bad!). To let go of something on cue. To wait till you give permission to grab the toy again. And to respond to your cues even when excited.  However, playing tug without set rules can crank up an excitable dog till he’s out of control. And it’s unwise to play tug with a dog who has certain behavioral problems – for example, possessiveness over toys.  Tug of War in and of itself, however, does not condition your dog to be aggressive.

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Are Dogs Really Pack Animals?

Dogs are social, yes – they communicate with one another and with us and they form social bonds. Sometimes dogs will form a temporary band, for instance to run down a rabbit. And obviously most dogs adapt well to living in households with people and other animals. But scientists have observed free-living dogs – city strays and village dogs, for instance – for decades, and those dogs just don’t form permanent, stable packs. You’ll see a mother dog with pups, or a bunch of males following around a female in heat, but you won’t see the dog equivalent of a wolf pack, with a long-term parent pair, an adolescent or two, and the current crop of pups.

We can and must help our dogs by providing a stable structure for their lives in the human world. For example, they need early socialization and a well-learned repertoire of mannerly behaviors, such as sitting to greet people and not charging out the door every time it opens. We can call our role “pack leader” if we want to, but it’s unlikely that that notion has much to do with what’s going on in the dog’s head.

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Does A Wagging Tail Mean Happy Dog?

Just too simple to be true. Not only does your dog use tail movement to signal a variety of moods from jolliness to stress and tension, but also she uses more than one body part at the same time to communicate her emotions and intentions. To understand what you are dog is communicating, you need to look not only at the tail but also at ear position, head position, eyes, and overall body posture. For example, a wagging tail at half mast together with loose body language – often the butt wags with the tail – is friendly and relaxed, but a stiffly wagging tail held erect and coupled with slow deliberate body language indicates a high degree of tension and is NOT an invitation to come closer or interact with the dog.

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When should a female dog be spayed?

If you do not plan to show or breed your female dog; you should consider spaying her. You often hear that you should let your female go through her first season; before spaying her. There are important health benefits to spaying your dog prior to her first heat. For example, if you spay your dog prior to her first heat, she has a minimal chance of developing a mammary gland (breast) tumor later in life. To wait for her to go through one heat cycle before spaying significantly increases her chances of developing this type of cancer. Spaying your dog prior to her first heat also immediately eliminates the risk for pyometra, ovarian cysts, unwanted pregnancies and false pregnancies.

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Do Dogs Only See Black and White?

Research indicates that dogs do see colors, but that they can only distinguish fewer colors. The mechanisms used for color recognition in both people and dog eyes are called cones. Dogs have cones, but they have fewer cones than people. Thus, it is believed that while dogs can recognize and distinguish between certain colors, they do not see the full "rainbow" of the color spectrum that people do. Don't feel bad, though, because some aspects of dogs' visions far surpasses our own. For example, dogs can see much better in dim light than we can. In addition, dogs are much better at detecting motion than people.

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Shaving A Dog

Many people shave a dog during the hot summer months.  Some think this will keep their dog cooler, or it will cut down on the dog hair in their homes.  Your dog's fur coat actually insulates them from the heat or cold.  It also helps protect their skin from sun burns. 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!

 

Our Barrels and Bibs Blog is posting for the first time today; this blog will focus on the products we sell at our store.  Check it out!

Hypoallergenic Dogs

For those who have allergies finding a hypoallergenic dog sounds like a dream come true. 

Unfortunately, there is just no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. While sometimes allergies may be caused by a dog’s fur, often the real source of allergies is a protein that is found in a dog’s saliva. This protein sticks to the dried flakes of skin called dander which all dogs shed regardless of their type of coat or the amount of fur or hair they shed. So please don’t be fooled by the promise of a hypoallergenic dog.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)

Training A Saint

Barking can quickly become a nuisance.  If you let it become a nuisance then you are not being a good neighbor.  Some dogs bark constantly when their owners are not at home.  Dogs that bark that much should not be left outdoors; they are a huge nuisance for any of your neighbors who are at home. Try using a bark collar with a static discharge.  The static discharge needs to be sufficient enough to get your dog’s attention but not so strong that injury is caused.  In most cases people are not using a strong enough static discharge, so the dog is not responding and the barking continues.  Debarking a dog should be considered when you become aware that your dog is a real nuisance in the neighborhood.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)

Training A Saint

Housebreaking a puppy is another very important part of training.  It is pretty predictable when a puppy is going to need a potty break; so be proactive and take them outdoors.  Once a puppy has eaten, take them outdoors and be sure to praise them each and every time they do their business outdoors.  If you have some playtime with your puppy, afterward take them outdoors.  When they wake up from a nap, first thing in the morning and last thing at night; take them outdoors.  Repetition will teach them to go outdoors to relieve themselves.  Continual praise when they go outdoors is so very important as well.  If people are not consistent with housebreaking, their solution is simply to keep the dog outdoors.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)

Training A Saint

Training a puppy to walk on a leash without pulling requires a lot of time and patience.  I think it is something people give up on very early.  The way people deal with this problem is they stop walking their dogs, especially once they become large.  I think another way people deal with this is using dog parks; dogs are off leash in this environment, so the owner is not being dragged down the sidewalk and their dog is getting exercise.   There are many things you can use for leash training, head harnesses, chest harnesses, choke collars, choke collars with prongs, shorter leashes to name a few.  Techniques to use while walking, change directions, stop and don’t move till your puppy returns to your side and stops pulling, sharp yank on the leash when they are pulling to catch their attention.  It is not a onetime thing; success is achieved only with repetition and consistency.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)

Training A Saint

Some people send their puppies to boot camp.  Their puppy may get trained at camp but will they be trained for their owner?  Training requires that the owner be actively involved with the process.  There are no shortcuts with training.  It is very easy to become frustrated with the training process, success is not immediate.  Training is time consuming; we should all try to be responsible pet owners and training our puppies and dogs is fundamental.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)

Training A Saint

Until you have had a very unruly and difficult Saint Bernard; you probably have not given much thought to training.  We fall in love with the adorable Saint Bernard puppy and end up making some very big mistakes during that first year.  Early and continual training is necessary.  It is part of being a responsible pet owner.  Enrolling in a puppy class can be beneficial to your puppy and you.  If pet ownership is new to you, these classes help to point you in the right direction.  Of course, you have to actually go to all the classes and practice at home what you learn in each class.

(provided by Brandykegs Saint Bernards)

Pros To Having A Trained Dog

They sit when told to do so.
They leave guests alone when they are eating.
They will not jump up on guests.
They will not take over the house.
They know you are the boss.
They come when they are called and do not stray.
They do not strain on the leash and walk you.
They are not a nuisance to your neighbors.
They chew on items that are their toys.
They do not bark endlessly.
They do not chase other dogs or cats.
They do what you ask because they love you unconditionally.

Is your dog prepared for a disaster?

If you live in a disaster prone region you are encouraged to have a survival kit for your family.  But what about your dog/dogs?  Be sure to provide for them as well. Here are some suggestions for items to have for your dog:

• Leash and collar with ID tags attached
• Current vaccination records, especially rabies
• Current photo of your dog
• 3 day supply of food, water, and medication
• Dishes for their food and water
• Blankets or bedding
• Crate
• Toy
• Pick-up bags

Looking For Program Flea Control?

I noticed that Drs. Foster and Smith now has the Program Flea Control tablets back in stock.  Just in case any of you are looking for it.  It has been on back order on many online sites since the Novartis plant in Lincoln, Nebraska was shut down.  Sentinel is still on back order. 

Barrels and Bibs

Brandykegs has barrels and bibs for you big dog; visit our store to see our barrels and our bibs.

Got Your Six

Do you know what "Got your six," means?  It is a military term for; I got your back and you've got mine.  Imagine the face of a clock, 12 is facing forward, between 12 and 3 is to the right, between 12 and 9 is to the left; and finally 6 is the back. 

"Got Your Six" is an initiative to support our veterans and their families.  This was inspired by our First Lady, Michelle Obama's Joining Forces initiative. 

Joining Forces Initiative Addresses:

1. Jobs
2. Education
3. Health
4. Housing
5. Family
6. Leadership

The "Got Your Six" came about from a veterans working group that was convened by the Clinton Global Initiative.  Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska; was the first senator to back the initiative.  This is not a partisan backed plan, but an American backed plan.  It is wonderful way for everyone to show our appreciation and support for the military. 

California Primary Election

It is your civic duty to vote; exercise your right.  There are two initiatives on the ballot today.

• Prop 28 Limits on Legislators' terms in office
• Prop 29 Imposes additional tax on cigarettes for cancer research

Polls open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm

More On Novartis VS Elanco/Lilly

I brought up the topic of monopolies yesterday; I am concerned about the shutdown of one plant with animal care products and another animal care manufacturer coming to the forefront. I hope this market is not being manipulated so that we as consumers are losing our choices once again.  It would not be this first time a competitor used tactics to eliminate their competition.

My thoughts are that both of these manufacturers produce quality products.  We as consumers should be allowed to make the choice of which product to use.  I also think it is unfortunate that so many veterinarians think they should control all of the dispensing of animal medications within their facilities.  Free enterprise is a good thing, not a bad thing.

The consumer is paying the price for this shutdown.  Prices have definitely gone up for flea control and heartworm products; and we have also lost our option to choose an alternative product.

Just a few thoughts to ponder from Brandykegs.

More On Novartis VS Elanco/Lilly

While I was researching why it was so difficult to purchase Novartis products; I discovered that there are many veterinarians out there that do not want veterinarian products to be available to the public online.  It is unfortunate that they do not support free enterprise.

Think about this, your dog has an ear infection and antibiotics are necessary for treatment.  How many of you are offered a prescription by your veterinarian to have it filled outside their facility?  Usually you have to ask them for the written prescription if you desire to have it filled somewhere else.

Many of us prefer to avoid the extra step of purchasing the product elsewhere; however it should always be our choice. I know of people who purchase somewhere else because it is considerably cheaper. If you have your dog on any long term maintenance drugs; you should always look into what the cost would be outside your veterinarian.  Bottom line there should not be monopolies on this; we as consumers should have choices.

(more on this tomorrow from Brandykegs)

More On Novartis VS Elanco/Lilly

By now you have probably heard about replacement products for Novartis products.  Comfortis is a monthly tablet administered to dogs for flea control. Elanco/Lilly states that this product kills fleas within 30 minutes and stops the development of fleas from larvae.  A prescription from you veterinarian is required for this product.  Trifexis is a monthly tablet administered to dogs for flea control, preventing heartworm, also treats and controls adult hookworm, roundworm and whipworm infections.  The manufacturer of Trifexis is also Elanco/Lilly.  Trifexis requires a prescription from your veterinarian as well.

These are two relatively new products that I have heard about.  I heard about Comfortis in the fall of 2011, and there have been commercials on television for Trifexis since March/April 2012. Isn't it interesting how these two new products which basically do the same thing as Novartis products, Program, Capstar, and Sentinel do are now the products available and the Novartis products are not?

(more tomorrow from Brandykegs)

Point Schedule For Division 9

Here is the point schedule for Saint Bernards in division 9; which comprises California and Arizona:

• 1 point is awarded for 2 dogs or 2 bitches
• 2 points are awarded for 4 dogs or 4 bitches
• 3 points are awarded for 6 dogs or 6 bitches
• 4 points are awarded for 9 dogs or 11 bitches
• 5 points are awarded for 15 dogs or 21 bitches

This point schedule became effective May 16, 2012.