Back to School

I almost never get in trouble but I think I may have stepped on Mom's last nerve.

It's not really my fault. You see, she says I need to ALWAYS come to her when she calls my name. Well, there are times when I am really busy and sort of ignore her. Since she is the MOM, she says that is unacceptable. She said DixieLee and I need a training refresher course. I wasn't sure exactly what that means so I went on line to find out about dog training.

From what I read there are lots of ways to train a dog and it seems like nobody is sure which is the bestest way. From all the choices I read about, I like the one called “reward based training” or “conditioning”. Although some dogs respond well to praise or play, DixieLee and I love food or as the professionals say, we are food motivated so I hope Mom decides to use food in our training.

Some people think that using food in training is bribery and when the food stops coming, we will stop listening. There is a trick people use so that doesn't happen. Mom always tells us when we do good and pets us when she gives us our reward. After a while, getting told we are good and getting petted is almost as good as getting a treat.

Others think that we will be afraid that if we don't behave we won't get fed. Only a really horrible person would do that! We trust Mom and know that we will always get fed every day.

DixieLee and I love all kinds of food but some dogs are picky. They would do better with people food like peanut butter or cheese. Not that we wouldn't love getting some cheese or peanut butter! The thing about using people food for training is that dogs should only have tiny bits of it and there are lots of people foods that dogs should not eat so they have to choose the right foods.

We would love to have people food but the treats Mom uses are made special for training. They are small and even healthy but they are really yummy so we overlook the small and healthy part.

Some people don't like to use food in training because they think their dog will get fat. Well, that is a concern and that is why you only get a tiny bit for the reward. Some people use regular kibble for training. They measure out the daily amount and take part of that amount for training. That way the dog is getting his or her regular amount of food only spread out over the day.

Now that I know what a refresher training course is all about, I'm ready to start. I saw that Mom put a box of the special small and healthy treats in the cabinet so I know she is ready too. The next time she calls my name I'll respond the first time. I'd hate to miss out on any of the rewards.

See you after class,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. When you are looking for a unique gift for your special fur buddy just go to pawpalsboutique.com We have the bestest pet gift baskets in the whole universe.

Everyone Should Know a Second Language

DixieLee and I were playing outside when she noticed the cat sitting in the window of the house across the street. There are two cats that live in that house with two dogs. We started to wonder if they all talked to each other.

I don't know much about cats so I asked our cat friend Fo how cats talk to each other and other animals and humans. (Fo lives in India so she speaks Hindi.  See her saying "Hello" in the picture)

Fo said that cats communicate lots of different ways. They use their voices, they use their bodies, and they use scents. Interesting, so do dogs.

Cats use their voices to let you know what they want. They purr when they are happy and they howl when they are scared or angry. A cat meowing while standing near their bowl probably means you are late with their dinner.

Cats use their eyes, ears and tails to let you know what they are thinking. If you see a cat puffing up her tail, baring her teeth, arching her back and bringing out her claws, it most likely means she is not happy and it's best to back away cuz she ready to fight.

Cats have a good sense of smell so their bestest way to communicate is by scent. They mark their territory with scent to let other cats know to stay way. When kittens are born, the can't see at all so the only way they know where their mama is is by smell. Cats have glands in their faces that release their scent. Lots of time you will see kittens kissing noses or rubbing heads with their mama. Grown cats will touch noses or rub their heads with cats they are friendly with.

Paws are another place where cats release scent. When you see a cat kneading, they are marking their territory.

Male cats spray to mark their territory which makes their humans very unhappy if they do it inside the house.

Fo couldn't tell us much about eye blinking or staring because she is blind but she said that her friend Alpha told her that she blinks or closes her eyes to Fo all the time because blinking and closing her eyes is a sign of trust.

The opposite of blinking is starting. Cats don't like eye contact so if a cat is staring it means they feel threatened so it is better to not go near them.

Cats use their tails to communicate too. A confident cat will walk with their tail held high. If you see a cat with their tail tucked between their legs, it means they are insecure or frightened.

It sounds like cats and dogs have a lot in common as far as how we communicate. Now if I see a cat showing her teeth and claws, I know to keep walking by and not stop to say hello.

It's good for people to understand how their pets communicate so they can make life less stressful for everyone. Like when you see your dog or cat sitting near the treat jar, it probably means they want a cookie and you should give them one so they don't get stressed.

Thanks for stopping by to say hi!

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion. For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com or our Facebook page at PawPals Boutique Store.

Not Just For Fun

If you think that playing is only for fun you would be wrong.  Play is a very serious thing.  Play is exercise and exercise is really important for dogs because it helps us get rid of energy.  If we don’t get rid of energy by playing we find some other way to get rid of it.   I’m not pointing paws or anything, but some dogs, like a certain sister I have, get rid of extra energy by misbehaving. 

By encouraging play, your human could save a nice pair of shoes or an end table or even Mom’s reading glasses.  (Not pointing paws.  Just saying it wasn’t me.)

Anyway, play can be lots of things.  Play can be gentle or extreme.  Taking a walk can be a kind of play.  Nice walks are good for older dogs or dogs that don’t have lots of energy like Basset Hounds or Bulldogs.  Breeds like Border Collies or Australian Shepherds are very high energy and need lots more exercise.  Lots of high energy dogs love agility training because they get to use up all that energy.

Beagles can do well in the agility part.  It’s the training part that gets in the way.  DixieLee is a beagle mix which might explain a lot.

I like to play catch and our toy box is filled with lots of different balls.  Balls are good for playing other games too.

When it’s too cold or rainy outside Mom likes to play Up and Down the Stairs.  Mom makes the ball go down the stairs and I have to go down the stairs, get the ball and bring it back up to her.

Up and Down the Stairs uses different muscles and gets rid of energy fast.

Fetch is another good game and you can use lots of different toys.  A ball makes a good fetch toy but so does a Frisbee or even a soft toy.  DixieLee’s favorite toy is a funny snowman.  She loves when Mom throws it and she can fetch it back. 

Chase games are fun.  DixieLee and I play chase all the time.  Mom and Dad aren’t very good at this game so they just watch and cheer.  Bubbles are pretty to chase but are not good for playing fetch.  No matter how quick you are they disappear as soon as you think you’ve got them.

The soft snowman is also good for another good game.  Tug of War.  This is lots of fun.  We play Tug of War with Mom and Dad and with each other.  Braided rope toys are good Tug of War toys.

We have lots of toys to play with and after a day of playing our toy box is empty and our toys are all over the house.  Some dogs, like our cousin Sophie, put all their toys back in the box when they are done playing.   Putting away toys takes energy and by the time I’m done playing I’m out of energy and ready for a nap.

I bet you have a favorite game and toy.  Let me know so that we can make sure that we have the most popular toys in all of our gift basket.

Your playful friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out our huge selection of pet gift baskets at pawpalsboutique.com or on our Facebook page.

Welcome Home

I love Mom and Dad and miss them when they are not at home.  I can hear when they start driving up our street and even though it is a short drive, it seems like forever before they come into the house.  I am so happy when they come home because then our pack is all together and I can watch over everyone.

I make sure I greet Mom and Dad at the door so they know I am happy to see them and to see if they have been around any other dogs.  My sister, however, goes overboard.  She loves Dad and greets him nice but when Mom comes home she goes crazy.  She runs to the toy chest or the couch and grabs a toy.  Then she runs to Mom.  She is so excited and her tail wags so hard she could give me a concussion if she hit me in the head.

She must think that Mom will like her more if she gives gifts but I don’t think so.  I’ve heard that some humans think it’s “cute”.  I’ve heard them say their dogs are bringing them gifts because they love them or they are showing respect because humans are the pack Alpha.

I’m not so sure about that.

 I’ve never seen Mom chew on a dirty sock or old caribou horn and Mom knows she is in charge and I know it too but I don’t need to bring her stuff to prove it.   It could be that DixieLee is part hound and in the way old times wild dogs would bring food to the den for the pack the share.  It would be just like her to show off her hunting skills.

It doesn’t help that Mom tells her she is a good dog and thanks her for the toy.  Of course DixieLee doesn’t give her the toy.  It’s not like she wants to play.  We know that Mom has things to put away when she gets home and can’t play so we just follow her around until she is done.

Besides, when we want to play we just throw toys at Mom.  She’s pretty smart and she knows we want to play catch or tug of war and unless she is typing something really, really important she will stop and play with us.

I’ve asked DixieLee why she greets Mom like that but she says she just feels like it. 

What about you?

A.  Do you bring something to your human when they come home?

B.  Why do you do it?

C.  What does your human do when you do?

Curiously yours,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self promotion.  Check out the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe at pawpalsboutique.com 

Winter Wonderland

I am sooooo excited!  The weather person says we are going to get a big snow tonight.  I hope this time he is right.  DixieLee and I love to run and play in the snow.  I have a nice thick coat to keep me warm and DixieLee runs so fast, the cold can’t catch her.

Even with thick coats we still need to be careful that we don’t stay out too long because if we get too cold we could get frostbite or even hypothermia.  Frostbite and hypothermia are bad, bad, bad for all animals and people too.  Puppies, older dogs or dogs who are not so well have to be extra careful not to be outside too long.

Dogs with short coats or who get cold easily can wear sweaters or coats when they go out.  Boots are also a good idea.  Boots not only keep feet warm and dry, they keep them safe from salts and chemicals.  The photo you see is of our friend Beauregard.  He lives in Canada where it is cold and snows a lot like it does in New England where we live.  He doesn’t like to wear his boots but his Mom knows keeping warm and dry is very important.  We think he looks very handsome in his boots and coat.

We have a nice pen to play in and our Dad uses pet safe salt to keep it not slippery but roads and city streets are treated with salts and chemicals that can be bad for dogs.

Dogs who walk on roads and streets should have their humans wash their paws, legs and bellies when they get back inside.  Licking the salt and chemicals can make you sick and if you don’t clean the salt and chemicals off they can get into your pad and make them hurt.

Chunks of snow can also get caught between your toes causing them to hurt which is one more reason to checked and cleaned when you get back inside.

Another chemical to be careful around is antifreeze.  Antifreeze is something that helps cars run better in the cold.  Antifreeze is sweet but is very poisonous so if you see any near your car, have your humans clean it up and DON’T drink any.

We need to be careful around ice in winter too.  It is best to not go near frozen lakes, ponds and rivers because the ice may look strong but it may not be.  If you fall through the ice you won’t be able to swim out like you can in the summer.

I know after a big day of playing in the snow I get hungry.  Some people think that extra weight helps keep a pet warm but my Mom says that extra weight brings more serious health problems so she makes sure our weight stays at the good level.

Animals that live outside do need more food during the cold weather but not those of us who live in nice warm houses.

Enjoy Winter but be safe.

Love,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self-promotion.  For the bestest pet gift baskets in the universe, check out pawpalsboutique.com

Tips On Vacationing With Your Pet

A few months ago I wrote about the difference between staying at a kennel and using a pet sitter while our humans were attending a wedding far away.  DixieLee and I weren't invited so we couldn't go but when Mom and Dad go on vacation, we can go with them.

DixieLee and I both like to ride in the car. She likes to sleep in her crate the whole time while I like to sit up and look out the window.  When traveling by car, a crate or seat belt harness is recommended.  Just like a human, we need to be protected in case there is an accident.

Dogs should never ride with their heads outside the window because they can get stuff flying in their eyes.  I keep the window down just enough to I can stick my nose out and smell all the good smells but not so far down where my eyes can get my eyes hurt.

And never ever ride in the back of a truck.  You could get very hurt or even died.

Just like humans, we need to pack our belongings.  We need our regular food and it's good to bring along water from our house or bottled water because we get thirsty on long car rides.  Mom likes to take lots of water because she says that in some places the water tastes yucky.  Don't forget any medications you are taking and of course treats and toys.

Since you will be drinking water, make time for potty breaks where you can walk around a little and stretch your legs.  Lots of rest areas have poop bags available but you should bring along your own just in case.  Also make sure your humans always clean up.  It's the nice thing to do.

Of course we need to be on leash whenever we leave the care, even for a minute.  It is easy to get distracted or confused and run into traffic.

Don't ever stay in the car without your humans, especially in hot weather.  It gets really, really hot very fast.  It can get so hot that you could get sick and even died.

No pet should ever leave home without proper identification and this is even more important if you are going to be far from home.  We have microchips so if our collars or tags get lost, we can still be identified.

It's a good idea for your humans to have your microchip number and the phone number of where to report you missing if they somehow get separated from you.  Having a recent photo of you is also a good idea.

If you are going on a very big trip a visit to the vet before you leave is recommended.  The vet can make sure you are in good shape and they can give you a copy of your inoculations report to take with you.

Mom is going to take us to the beach this summer.  We have never been to the beach so it will be a big adventure.  The beach is far away so we will need to stay at a hotel.  There are lots of hotels that let pets stay in the rooms with their humans but we need to be on our best behavior.

The first thing you need to do when you get to the hotel is take a big walk.  After riding in the car it's good to stretch your legs and get rid of some extra energy.  Since you will be going to a strange place, there will be lots of strange scents everywhere.   Your humans should walk around the whole hotel room so their scent is the freshest.  I may help you feel more comfortable.

Some places have size restrictions so Mom had to make sure we found a place where they let big dogs stay.  Like not staying in the car without your humans, you shouldn't stay in the hotel room alone either.  Hotels where dogs can stay are often near lots of places where dogs can go like the beach.  The beach we are going to has rules so we have to be on our best behavior there too.

Sine Mom and Dad don't like to fly we don't have to worry about traveling on an airplane.  If you are going on a vacation that needs an airplane to get to, there are lots more things you need to know about.  And, if you are going to travel to another country, oh boy, you really need to know about lots of stuff.

I hope you get to go on vacation with your humans.  If you already have been on one, I'd love to hear about it.

Your traveling friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotions.  Did you know you can now shop at pawpalsboutique.com right from our Facebook page?  Come and check it out.

Dog Heads Up New Division

We were cleaning up the Studio and getting things back in order after the Christmas rush when we found a bunch of brochures we had made up when we started the pet gift basket business.

The cover read:

Dog Heads Up New Division

January 2012

Press Release

Marie Lisewski,

owner and chief designer of

Laurel Mountain Basket Co

is pleased to announce the promotion of

Zeva The Dog to Canine Vice President

of the company’s Pet Division.

Zeva will be responsible for choosing and

testing all of the toys and treats that will be

used in the company’s expanded line of pet

gifts and gift baskets.

“Zeva joined the company in August of 2010

as a puppy and due to her Border Collie

intelligence and organizational skills quickly

rose to several management positions

“We plan to expand our on line presence in

the pet gift field in the next twelve months and

Zeva will be an important asset to help our

organization reach its goals”

said Ms. Lisewski.

“I am thrilled to be taking on this new role.  As

a dog, I am very aware of the  need for more

toys and treats in every pet’s life and my goal

is to see that we provide pet gifts to fit every

taste and every budget.” Said Zeva.

End

Zeva can be reached at

Zeva@laurelmtbasket.com

I can’t believe it’s been five years!  In those years we have experienced tremendous growth.  I got promoted some more and am now Chief Canine Officer with lots of new responsibilities.

We now have our very own website PawPalsBoutique.com and we have our own Facebook and Twitter (@Zevathedog) pages!

We are posting weekly to this blog and sending out a newsletter to our fans every other week. (If you want to receive our newsletter it’s easy.  Just go to our Facebook page and click on the newsletter link.)

In 2013 DixieLee came to live with us and soon became a very important part of our team.  Of course I had to train her in all aspects of the business but she is a fast learner and it didn’t take long before she was the best product tester I ever saw.  She loves checking out boxes so she has become very helpful in both shipping and receiving.

If you haven’t visited our website yet, I invite you to check it out and to friend us on Facebook and Twitter.  We love talking with dogs (and cats) from all around the world and would love to hear what you have to say.

Mom says it’s time to get back to work.  The Studio won’t clean itself.

Wishing you and your humans a healthy, happy and funfilled 2017.

Love

Zeva

P.S.  The photo is of me and Mom when we started the pet division.