Life without Satchmo: Recreation

Showing posts with label Recreation. Show all posts

Monday, July 12, 2010

Pet Travel tips from DogTimes Weekly

Here is an article from DogTimes Weekly, a site filled with wonderful information about dogs and how to be a great dog friend. With summer in full swing, I know that many people are contemplating traveling with their pet, so I felt this article to be both informative and timely. Please visit the site after reading because they have articles about anything and everything "dog".

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With pet-friendly hotels, cabins, and resort spots popping up all over the map, traveling with your best friend has never been easier. But while jetting off without planning in advance sounds romantic, it can cause sticky situations if your dog is along for the ride.

Practice first

In any endeavor, practice makes perfect. Your angel of a dog could turn into a devil in transit if you embark on a lengthy trip without preparing properly. But with a little advance work, you can help your pup learn to take travel in stride.

Acclimate your dog to his carrier or crate. Set the carrier up in the comfort of home well in advance, to help your dog view it as a safe and familiar den that's just his. Be sure the carrier's big enough so your dog can stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.
Stick to day trips at first. This is especially helpful for a puppy who hasn't been away from home much. A Saturday visit to an unfamiliar locale can help your dog get used to exploring new terrain and meeting new people.
Try an overnight trip next. Once he's used to short journeys, arrange to spend a night with a friend or relative, or go to a pet-friendly hotel. This will introduce your dog to a variety of potentially anxiety-producing situations, such as sleeping in a new place, meeting strangers, and dealing with the odd noises of a different household or a hotel.

Prepare your dog for a lengthy trip

Whether you're setting out via plane, ship, or automobile, take these steps first to prevent problems while you and your dog are away from home:
1. See your veterinarian. Make sure your dog is in good health, is up-to-date on shots, and has enough of any needed medications for the trip. Depending on the destination, the vet may suggest additional vaccinations. For example, if travel involves hiking in the woods, the vet could advise a shot for Lyme disease.
2. Get a health certificate from your vet. This verifies that your dog's in good condition, and it may be required by some airlines, hotels, or doggie daycare locations in other cities.
3. Talk to the vet about sedatives. These are most important if your pet has had travel anxiety in the past, but you may choose to use them as a precautionary measure. However, your vet may advise against them for airplane travel.
4. Try any new sedatives or medications before you leave. Check to see if your dog has any allergic reactions that require a vet visit.
5. Ask your vet about a microchip. If your dog doesn't have one already, you may want one as a safeguard against losing him permanently in an unfamiliar place.
6. Know the rules at your destination. For instance, to bring a dog across the border to Mexico, the health certificate must be dated within two weeks of the travel date. Most such certificates will remain valid for 30 days, to cover bringing the dog back into the U.S. at the end of your trip.
7. Research dog-walking routes in advance. Remember, dogs are creatures of routine, and yours will need that daily walk no matter where your vacation spot is--plus he'll enjoy the adventure of new outings.
Bottom line: Pet-friendly accommodations make it possible to travel widely with your dog--but regulations and requirements mean it's crucial to plan all the details first.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Cocoa and Pip -- Smile Like a Dog Photography

I happened upon this wonderful site. I love the pictures and the comments. This photographer has a real affinity for the subject matter and it shows. Anyway, this particular set of pictures made me laugh. I really cannot imagine trying to get one terrier to be still for a formal photograph, let alone two at the same time. However, the resulting picture simply speaks to you of the intelligence, curiosity and playfulness of this particular breed.

Please check out Mark's blog and see if you don't get a chuckle or two just like I did.

The White and Black rattie could be a doppelganger for my Satchmo! Only quite a bit younger!!

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Cocoa & Pip

Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Mark in Dogs

Trying to photograph two terrier mixes for a poster is like…? You fill in the blank. To be fair Cocoa and Pip’s owner, who rescued them through Rocket Dog said it would be a challenge but I thought, nah, it’ll be on my turf. No problem. Well, let’s just say it took a little longer than usual but in the end we definitely got the money shot. Check it out below…

Cocoa

Pip

Heading back from St Francis

We Rat Terriers are a Proud Bunch

Me, proud? Not so much.

Terrier Times Two

You can visit Mark's website to see more of his wonderful work or to contact him for your own setting for your dog at Pet Photos with Personality

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Are Rat Terriers jumping dogs?

Image via Wikipedia

Here is the best answer, rated 100% on Yahoo answers:

I own a rat terrier and we compete in agility. Lots to say about them...

1. You won't find out much about them on the AKC website. AKC still doesn't recognize them as a breed (they're in the ILP program in the process of being recognized by AKC).

2. They're in the terrier family but really aren't much of a terrier. They were originally a mix of a Manchester Terrier, Black & White Terrier (now extinct). Then American farmers mixed in some beagle (for nose), corgi (for herding ability), and sight hounds (Greyhound, Italian Greyhound, Whippet) for speed and eyesight. Teddy Roosevelt popularized this breed (brought his ratties into the White House and set them on the rat population in the Jefferson's aging greenhouse).

Thus, while they'd dig, they don't dig like most terriers. They don't go to ground like most terriers. And they tend to be more social and focused on people than most terriers. Also, while they'll sound the alarm (ie: good watch dog), they usually don't bark a lot. These dogs are quick, very agile, very tough for their size, athletic but unlike a lot of terriers (especially Manchester Terriers and JRT's) they have an "off" switch. Ratties typically aren't as good at "going to ground" as most terriers (who typically don't mind going into holes after particular vermin). Lots of rat terriers also don't care for water--mine won't go into a pond or beach for instance and again most terriers are fine about water.

3. I don't know what size rattie you have: toy (up to 6-8 pounds), miniature( up to about 14 pounds), standard (up to 28 pounds) or Decker (up to 45 pounds). Rat Terriers are great at tricks. It's rare that the bond with only one person.

4. The poster who talked about "dominating" your rat terrier is, well, that's totally different from my experience and all of the other rat terrier owners I know. Rat Terriers, unlike say a Min Pin, are sensitive dogs (that is the part of them that is kind of un-terrier like). They do much better with positive training methods than negative or harsh approaches. And as long as you use positive methods they're usually easy to train. The toughest part is given the combination of beagle (great nose) and sighthound, they're easily distracted. Case in point: I was running an agility course in my backyard and in the middle of a fulltilt run, my dog stopped and raced 40 feet away where he stopped and looked down. I walked over and there was a dying bee in the mulch. My dog was focusing on me, working hard at agility, running full speed but from his peripheral vision, caught the motion in the mulch of a bee 40 feet away. So Rat Terriers are often easily distracted through sight or smell elements. But in terms of trainability, not only does my guy do agility but I've taught him to jump into my arms while I'm standing, weave between my legs as I walk, crawl, roll over, climb on command onto specific objects (rocking chair, stool), recognize left from right. His favorite activity of all is soccer where he likes to run and juggle a soccer ball on his head so it doesn't touch the ground.

5. Are they "jumping dogs?" Well, my rat terrier measures 15 inches at the whithers/shoulders. He jumped out of a 42 inch ex-pen (without any kind of a runup to get speed). He can jump into my arms (that's about 44-50 inches off the ground). It will vary from dog to dog but generally speaking, ratties are athletic dogs. They like walks, they like playing with another dog (my guy likes to play keep-away and then vault the other dog as it runs).

6. My advice for a great relationship for you and your rat terrier.
--give it exercise. My guy is in good shape and we walk him alot (90 minutes a day) plus agility training or classes, sometimes he jogs with me, plus kicking a soccer ball. Walks, play dates with other dogs, kicking a ball, a class---all are good ways to exercise your rat terrier.
--give him mental stimulation. Start working on tricks right now.
--keep the training positive. These are typically smart dogs who will read your demeanor, learn from experiences. Clicker training works very well with ratties.
--they're also problem solvers. That means if they think their solution is better than your's, then they'll tend to ignore your command. So shaping behavior is important.

Last of all, a rat terrier story from a family I know that got a rat terrier. Husband and wife are on the sofa watching a movie eating popcorn. Rattie looks expectantly like "is some of that popcorn for me?" Humans tell him "no." He looks mournful. They ignore him. So he runs and gets one of the wife's shoe, brings it into the room and begins to shake it. Husband and wife get up to take the shoe away and he goes racing through the house. They finally find the shoe on top of the bed and return to their movie....only to see their rat terrier laying on the sofa eating out of the popcorn bowl. Wife says to husband "that dog is smarter than us." Like I said, they're problem solvers.

I have to say that I totally agree with the writer about the intelligence and abilities of the rat terrier.
You can visit the original answer here>>

Monday, November 16, 2009

Here are some videos I found showing the agility of these little terriers. I laughed out loud when I watched these videos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Back to Basics

Image via Wikipedia

Since I have been having such a time with the new foster dog, I felt I should go back to basics and get out my dog training information. I originally got information from here. Although this information was specific to my rattie, I think it will work on Austen, even though he is a little more laid back than Satchmo.

Anyway, I will start his program tomorrow and we will see how he does!

I also think I will get out my information on making foods for these little ones, as my Satchmo is getting older and his stomach is much more sensitive. Austen, on the other hand, simply is a picky eater. If you would like a copy of the ebook on canine cuisine, you can get one too.

One of the things I struggle with most in having a rat terrier is that he moves with the speed of sound and is an escape artist. He and Austen are ganging up on me, as I am out chasing them more than I want to be.
I found a great product and am going to buy one for each of them after the holidays. It's called Animal GPS Tracking Solutions and with this on each one of them, I won't worry so much because I will be able to find them easily. After I get one, I'll let you know how it works!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Some cute pictures of Ratties!

Isn't this the cutest puppy?

Quite a "mood" shot, don't you agree?

Today the little man and the foster dog have gotten along fairly well. Satchmo has growled several times and snapped when Austen tries to get a toy, but other than that it has been fine.

The house is still intact since now whenever I leave I have to put Austen in a crate. My God! That dog can howl. He never makes any sound whatsoever until you put him in the crate.

My neighbor is still trying to get a job, but for now she is in a safe place. I worry about her all the time and want to see her resettled and rejoined with Austen. Until then, he will definitely be staying here with me!