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Archive for January, 2010
The most popular dogs of 2009…where does yours rank?
And the winner, yet again, in the most popular purebred dog category is the Labrador retriever. For the 19th consecutive year the Labrador retriever beat out all other purebred dogs in America to take the top spot in 2009, according to The American Kennel Club (AKC).
While the list virtually remained the same as last year, two breeds rose in popularity. The Bulldog jumped up one spot, while the German shepherd became the second most popular in the nation for the first time in more than three decades. The rankings are based on 2009 registration statistics released by the AKC.
Here is the complete list of the top dogs:
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Labrador Retriever
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German Shepherd
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Yorkshire Terrier
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Golden Retriever
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Beagle
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Boxer
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Bulldog
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Dachshund
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Poodle
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Shih Tzu
What dog breeds do you think are winners? Did one of your own take top honors? Let us know what dog gets your vote and visit The American Kennel Club to find out where your favorite breed ranks in the nation and major U.S. cities.
Six facts about the Dog Flu that you probably didn’t know
The media buzz surrounding the Dog Flu has died down, but the virus hasn’t. Learn the cold hard facts about the canine influenza virus.
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H3N8, the canine influenza virus, is not a human influenza virus.
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It was originally an equine influenza virus that spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs.
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Since 2004, it has been spreading across the United States and has been identified in 20 states.
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H3N8 is spread via direct contact with respiratory secretions from infected dogs, by contact with contaminated bedding or other objects and by people carrying the virus between infected and uninfected dogs.
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According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly all dogs are susceptible to infection.
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H3N8 symptoms include cough, runny nose and fever. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
For more information, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/6/902.htm.
2010 Pet Resolution #2
It’s January and that typically means making resolutions to better yourself. This year, why not include your pets too? Does your pet need to eat healthier and spend more time outside burning off all those Milk-Bone®?
If so, consider it fate because January is also National Walk Your Pet Month. The start of a new year is the perfect time to start a new routine with your pet that will get both you off the couch and feeling great. It will also help burn off some of that energy!
The ASPCA recommends the following winter exercise guideline for pets:
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Entice your pooch with off-leash exercise sessions, playing tug or fetch, or romping with canine buddies—the more aerobic the activity, the warmer the dog will be.
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If your dog’s playing off-leash, you can use treats to reward her for fetching toys—even if you usually don’t have to. The extra incentive might further spark her interest in the great (and chilly!) outdoors.
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Offer your pet special treats during outdoor excursions. While on a brisk walk, pop something delicious into her mouth every now and then—or feed her breakfast by hand while outdoors.
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Winter is a great time to enroll in indoor training classes. Sports like agility and flyball are often taught in heated facilities and are excellent exercise for the canine body and mind—and you’ll enjoy them, too!
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Walk your pet in wooded areas during the winter months. The forest not only provides protection from wind, but the rich smells, sights and sounds can be infinitely interesting for dogs to investigate, distracting them from chilly temperatures.
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Many dogs dislike going outside during winter because snow, salt and chemical de-icers hurt their paws. Canine booties can protect paws, while keeping them warm—and disposable latex boots are available for dogs who don’t like the feel of thicker boots.
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Musher’s Secret, a waxy substance that you can apply to your dog’s paws, can be an effective alternative to booties for protecting toes and paw pads in snow and ice.
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Getting your dog to play outside may simply be a matter of keeping her warm:
· Dress puppies—who don’t have as much body fat as adults—in a coat or sweater.
· Get waterproof gear for wet days.
· Invest in a well-fitting coat that covers your dog’s back and underside. (Fleece is nice!)
· Staying warm during winter takes more energy, so increased food intake may be necessary. Good body condition means you can feel, but not see, your dog’s bones. If you can see his spine, hips and ribs, then he’s too thin and you should talk to your veterinarian about increasing his food intake.
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Help your dog expend mental energy by feeding her meals in food-puzzle toys, giving her plenty of things to chew, teaching her new tricks and playing interactive games like hide-and-seek.
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If you’ve tried everything and your dog still seems miserable when you take her outside, provide extra exercise indoors by playing games that involve physical exertion, like tug-of-war.
Make sure your dog has access to shelter and water at all times. And please remember, if you’re cold, your dog probably is, too, and it’s time to come home.
Combating the Cold - Part 2
Even though most parts of the country are getting a slight reprieve from the frigid temperatures, it still is cold and Old Man Winter is still unpredictable. To make sure your pets make it though the rest of the season safely, make sure your pets are winterized:
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Watch for antifreeze leaks – they can be deadly to pets!
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Provide extra food, as some pets have increased appetites during cold-weather months.
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Use sweaters, raincoats, hats or paw protection such as shoes or booties.
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Buy heated water bowls for outdoor pets.
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Consider using heated beds for extreme cold weather.
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Keep nails trimmed regularly. It is difficult to maintain solid footing with long nails in icy conditions.
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Add straw as insulation to dog houses. For outdoor cats, provide a snug, warm bed that does not sit directly on the cold ground or concrete.
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For indoor animals, use protective screens around fireplaces and maintain supervision in the area.
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Install carbon monoxide detectors for the safety of your family and your pets.
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Keep the temperature level. Animals are more sensitive to temperature change than we are.
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Inspect pet paws regularly to check for cracked pads, broken nails or snow and ice damage.
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Brush the coat regularly to distribute natural oils to the skin.
For more winter weather tips, please visit www.petsit.com.
The bowl is half full…
Over the holidays, PSI members joined together to make sure the food bowls of homeless pets did not go unfilled!
PSI’s first Hungry Bowl™ Pet Food Drive raised thousands of pounds of pet food for shelters in members’ local communities throughout the U.S.
A total of 19,388.25 lbs of pet food was collected by PSI members!
PSI would like to extend a very special “thank you” to the following members:
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Shannon Anoia, See Spot Run Pet Services LLC
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Anne Matassa and Coleen Hook, Dazzling Pet Sitting Service
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Arnie and Grace Martinez, 2 Dogs & A Cat LLC
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Gay Boutwell, Paws ‘n Affection
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Gudrun Cobb, The Pet Nanny
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Kimberly Burker, KJB Sitting Services
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Kyla Culbert, Bark Avenue Pet Taxi and Sitter Service
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Margie Dempsey, Pet Care Plus
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Lana Freeman, Gentle Pet Sitter of New Castle
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April Hurley, Lilly and Friends, LLC
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Bonnie Ladwig, Posh Paws Pet Care
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Debra Milton, Four Paws Pet-Sitting Service
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Blake Mohler, Noah’s Ark Pet Sitting
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Marge Nemzek, Luv All Creatures Pet Services
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Marilyn S. O’Brien, Pet Nanny Plus LLC
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Marilyn Schnapp, Luv’n Your Pets
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Monica & Eric Hobby, All Breeds Dog Walking
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Morgan Brawley, Ready, Set, Sit LLC
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Nichole Endicott, Tail of a Good Time
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Pattie Meyers, Pattie’s Pet Care and House Sitting
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Christine Santora, The Paw Walker
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Pauline Speakman, Cozy Care Pet Sitting
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Ray Cline, Ray’s Pet Sitting Service
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Sally and Jonas Mullen, Palmetto Paws and Tails
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Stephanie Krilavicius, Golden Paws Pet Services
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Sharron Mack, Au Pair for Pets
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Trisha Stetzel, Fetch! Pet Care of Clearlake
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Mary Wright, Wright Pet Care
2010 Pet Resolution #1
If the start of a new year typically means making resolutions to better yourself, why not include your pets too? Does your pet need to eat healthier and spend more time outside burning off all those Milk-Bone®? Or does your pet need to brush up on his or her manners? If so, consider it fate!
The Association for Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) has declared the month of January National Train Your Dog Month to bring awareness to the importance of socialization and training.
The APDT is planning a variety of events throughout the month so that pet owners can see how easy and fun training can be, and how patience, consistency and a deeper understanding of their dog’s behavior can lead to happier, healthier and harmonious households.
The ADPT Web site covers a wide range of topics and provides a great deal of information that will help pet owners use methods that are kind, gentle and place an emphasis on building relationships with their dogs.
Please join the APDT in celebrating National Train Your Dog Month!
Combating the cold
Old Man Winter has reared his ugly head and many people are trying to find that delicate balance between staying warm and keeping the cost of their heating bill down. While it may be easy for people to put on a jacket or bump up the thermostat, pets don’t have the same luxury.
If you keep your pet outside, continually check your pet for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Frostbite
Frostbite most frequently affects ears, toes, tails and areas least covered by fur.
Signs of frostbite include red or swollen areas or skin that is very pale and white.
To treat frostbite, immerse the area in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Never use hot water and call your veterinarian.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when a pet has been exposed to very cold temperatures and/or winds for an extended period of time.
Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, low body temperature, stumbling, drowsiness and exhaustion.
To treat hypothermia, the pet’s body temperature must be raised. Surround the pet in hot water bottles, warm towels or immerse in room-temperature water and slowly add warmer water. Try to get the animal to drink warm liquids and, of course, call your veterinarian.
Pet Sitters International to Embrace World’s Most Famous Fat Cat
Garfield, Odie and friends will promote importance of professional in-home pet care
Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, announced today that it will play a prominent caregiving role for the world’s most famous fat cat, Garfield.
PSI views the partnership with Paws Inc., the company that founded Garfield, as a perfect union to take awareness of professional in-home pet care to the next level.
Garfield was a natural choice for PSI, whose membership of independent pet-sitting businesses numbers nearly 8,000. In addition to his charm, humor and cynicism, PSI was attracted to the cat’s pampered and deserving attitude.
“PSI is all about educating our members and our members are all about pampering their clients’ pets,” said Terry Chance, PSI marketing director. “Garfield is definitely an intellectual cat who wants the best treatment possible. We are delighted about the opportunity to work with the Garfield characters. They are fun, loveable and extremely well known among pet owners.”
PSI plans to use the cat’s persona to convey that you’ve got to be a really good pet sitter to please Garfield who is known as a demanding, finicky cat.
To learn more about PSI or to locate a pet sitter in your area, visit www.petsit.com
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