manblogsdog

Happy Easter

I'm not really into Easter (especially being vegan) but this card was the absolute cutest thing I've seen. I can't believe I didn't think of it first!

Pooty Time

Littering training for dogs is the best thing to happen to pet ownership since the dog itself. When I found out that it was, in fact, possible to have your dog act like a cat in the potty department, the lightbulb went off that now was the time to get a dog. To be honest, I can't even imagine walking my dog on a bathroom routine instead of just for fun. Granted, Lebowski will pee on anything next to the sidewalk (even when there's nothing much left) but no doggie bags for this gal and her pooches!

The problem with having such an intense training specific daily duty with dogs like Miniature Pinschers means that we have to do constant training. And that's the situation we've been in for the past month in terms of the litterbox. Quint likes to stand with him back legs outside and pee in (like a urinal) and Lebowski, well, let's just say he doesn't have much aim. So we were really back to square one. We bought a new litterbox - a cat litterbox with high sides. And we confined their space, rewarding them with more room when they were good. And though it's a tough thing for me to do, it really, really works.

So, without giving TMI about pooping dogs, I wanted to post a link to the Dog Litter page. I also wanted to share the biggest tip that has helped us; it's also the most difficult. That tip is...whenever your dog does something wrong, ignore it. Don't punish because all your dog wants is your attention whether or not it's good or bad. Instead, praise them whenever they do something good. I'm telling you, sing, dance, clap, anything to let them know they do a good job. Oh, and the other tip is to establish a command word so that when you put them in the litterbox you say that word so they know. Mine is "pooty tang" - feel free to use it.

Give Me Back My Ball!

My uncle in Florida is forever sending me mass emails. Mostly they're not my style but sometimes there is the ultra-cute animal one. Here's an image from the "Funny Animals" email he sent me this weekend. Ha ha.

Police Shooting of Animals :: LA Times

The LA Times has a story in its Sunday edition about the LAPD's policy on shooting animals in self-defense. This topic is on the forefront of many people's minds after the unnecessary (in my opinion) shooting of the pitbull Teri on February 16; this was reported in many publications including blogging.la. According to today's article, (which I hope you click and read the whole thing) the shooting animals apparently isn't all that uncommon.

Since 1985, police have shot at more than 465 dogs, killing at least 200 and wounding at least 140, according to incident reports...The standard an officer must follow when shooting a dog is the same as for shooting a person: as a last resort to avoid death or serious injury. When dogs are involved, officers often believe they are going to be bitten, which is why many of the animals shot by police were pit bull terriers, Rottweilers and other breeds that have reputations for being vicious.

Some believe that officers simply need to be better trained:

Randall Lockwood, a psychologist and animal behaviorist with the Humane Society of the United States who has worked with police agencies on issues relating to dogs, said most officers are not adequately trained to handle confrontations with aggressive dogs. Lockwood said he thought the number of dogs shot at by LAPD officers was "surprisingly high."

"Police departments throughout the country need to develop better training so officers can more accurately assess which dogs are life-threatening and dangerous and which ones are not," Lockwood said.

"Our opinion is that often, lethal use of force is not required or justified," he said. "In many cases, a shooting is a knee-jerk reaction by an officer not familiar with dogs. We have to acknowledge that there are situations where they have to shoot a dog, but we feel that's relatively rare.

People can be weird about dogs even if they aren't the stereotyped aggressive kind. For instance, I took my boys to an art walk last Thursday. We walked into a gallery where two little boys were running around screaming. Lebowski let out a bark and the boys were anxious to get near them; the people little boys could care less. So my dogs are just standing there as I talk to someone and this security guard tells me to hold my dogs for the safety of the children. It doesn't matter that two 7 year olds are running around artwork but my 7 pound dog on a tight leash is a threat? So I turned around and left. Although I am grateful there wasn't any shooting involved - I mean, it was downtown Los Angeles!

Friday Pooch Portrait :: March 11

This week's Friday Pooch Portrait is Birdie who, apparently, is the softest dog ever.

Photo by Lana Kim.

Anesthesia Free Teeth Cleaning

Cleaning your pet's teeth isn't always at the forefront of our minds. Mostly we're concerned with proper shots, running eyes, etc. but you know that we have to have those suckers brushed. (For instance, my cats need some Colgate and a toothbrush stat).

I have always been concerned with the anesthesia that generally comes along with teeth cleaning. For one thing, you have to have blood work done and there is always a danger of the animal not reacting properly. Because of all that, I prefer to do the anesthesia-free option. Various Los Angeles places hosts them (note: I'm always looking for recommendations) and Heavy Petting Pet Boutique in West Hollywood hosts two this month...

This month’s Anesthesia-Free Dental Clinics will be held on Saturday March 12 and on Sunday March 20. We currently still have a very few appointments available for between 10:30AM and 1 PM. Please call us ASAP if you’d like us to schedule a dental cleaning for Fluffy of Fido and we’ll do our best to fit you in.

Check them out at their new address too @  Heavy Petting Pet Boutique :: 8229 Santa Monica Boulevard

And if anyone has any tips on at-home teeth maintenance for your pet, let me know. I already have the toothbrush kit for the dogs but all they want to do is lick the liver-flavor off the brush.

More Crevasses of Silver Lake Dog Park

Just to follow up on my previous post about the questionnable terrain at Silver Lake Dog Park, I wanted to post this picture of what it looks like from the outside. The path is complete with caution tape, cones and those reflector signs! That can't mean that that is safe. And when you're actually walking to the dog park, watch out for you dear ankles.

Hopefully this bit of rain this week won't worsten the condition or mix up the mud pit even more!

Friday Pooch Photo

Every Friday manblogsdog presents a new pooch superstar photo by the wonderful Lana Kim.

For the first week we present Louis...he's a Vizsla.

How Sad, Dogs are the New Handbag

From E!Online:

Bitchin' New Accessories: In Touch's latest trend report is titled "Dogs Are the New Handbags!" And they've got the pooch-toting ladies to prove it, noting that  Boston Public's hottie Rhona Mitra matches her fluffy coat to her big white boxer at a fashion show, Jessica Alba lugs her panting pugs everywhere and Haylie Duff's Pekinese matches sister Hilary's coloring perfectly (?!). Okay, but doesn't it beg the question: If dogs are the new handbags, where on earth would you store your lipstick?

Rita the French Bulldog

And speaking of French bulldogs, let me introduce you to Rita...

Rita is the second child of my friends Nathan and Lesley, their first being the beautiful minpin Bella who graduated concurrently with Quint at puppy class. The pictures here are taken on their second day together which is a confusing time for all but I suppose that romantic bed by the fire makes up for the fact that Bella's pampered life as a single child is over...no more greenies to herself and no more "my toys" again, only a life filled with some strange pooch who will eventually become your buddy.

Nathan called me to ask some questions about "the new arrival" and it took me back to when we got little Quint. Lebowski wasn't even all that interested in him when we went to pick out a puppy; he was more into the large backyard. He quickly came to realize though, as Quint got into our car and ultimately got into his bed, that this rascal was here to stay. I really think this bummed him out for a good couple of months as he watched attention being dispersed (man, I wonder what my cats must think). Feeding was different, scratches were different, bones were different. But now? Now they are inseparable and look like little twins. Just like children, it takes time.

But back to Rita, ah sweet Rita...all ears and belly as they like to say. And that little heart-shaped mark on her rear! I don't know about you but it might have to be a new law that you can't have a minpin AND a french bulldog just because that much cuteness in one room might prove to be deadly. And while I believe my friends that this may in fact be true, you best believe I'm tempting my fate soon with a puppy playdate with my boys.