Infographic : Your Dog’s Body

Us dogs are not just about wagging tails and snuffly noses, you know. Or of rolling in stuff that smell to high heaven, Heaven to dogs, that is 😄. Here’s an interesting Infographic (found on Pinterest) that shows our other working parts, and how you Humans can help take care of us and keep us in tip-top condition.

We know you love us very much, and you want the best for us so we can live longer lives by your side. So, please take a look at this infographic and familiarise yourself with our important bits 😉❤🐾. 

This is Doggy 101!

Our Human’s Mission : Saving Dogs And Homeless People

​Our Human is amazing, driven by a strong compassion to help animals, especially dogs. Here’s what she wrote on her Facebook page, when she shared this video clip. (The link takes you to Harmony Fund’s page, which contains the video of Sasha Pecic’s Sanctuary, as well as information on how you can help the plight of homeless dogs around the world).

(Google Images photo of Sasha Pecic with just a few of his dogs)

Some day I want to be able to say “Give me all your unwanted dogs”. Every dog is precious and deserves love, food and a warm bed at night. To be abandoned, neglected and unwanted is anyone’s worst nightmare, and to do that to any animal is cruel and inhumane. Luckily there are still some great people like Sasha Pesic in this clip here, and also Goran Grujin and Indira Causevic, who I am honoured to count as my friends, and who are doing their utmost best to save unwanted dogs in their area. I would very much like to do the same thing here in Australia. Who will join me? ❤🐾❤

We know that Australia is a terribly expensive place to live in. Everything revolves around money. Without money, it seems most things are unachievable. And our Human has no money. But that hasn’t deterred her. She will keep trying to find a way to make her dream come true, for the love of dogs. 

Our Human has also written directly to Harmony Fund in the USA, asking for advice on how she could bring about her Mission, with no funds and no land:

Hi, I’ve been following Sasha Pecic’s work for a while now, and also other dog rescuers like Goran Grujin and Indira Causevic on Facebook. I dearly would like to set up and run a Dog Sanctuary here in Perth, Western Australia, as there is such a lot of ignorance and backyard breeding going on, resulting in unwanted litters of puppies…and yet people still buy from pet shops. Dogs are also often the first victims of relationship breakdowns and changes in circumstances. Terribly unfair on the dogs. I also want to go around educating the public on responsible dog ownership and positive reinforcement methods of training (I am a qualified canine behaviourist). My main problem is that I have NO FUNDS and NO LAND to build that Dog Sanctuary…and I hoped you could perhaps advise me on how to get a campaign going to get around these obstacles. The Sanctuary I have in mind is also going to provide safe harbour for homeless people, who in return for board and lodging will be the ones looking after the dogs. They will get training in looking after companion animals, and hopefully gain qualifications that enable them to find employment and get back on their own two feet. It’s a Win-Win situation, but only if by some Miracle all this becomes possible. Can you help in any way, please? 

She’s put the idea out into the Universe before, but not in so many words and not so well articulated. And we really hope that there is someone or some organisation out there that will hear her message and be able to help her. 

HAPPY NATIONAL DOG DAY!

Mr Yip & Mrs Chew wish everypawdy a very Happy National Dog Day!

26th August 2016 is National Dog Day. Here’s info on who started National Dog Day, why there’s even such a thing, and how you can celebrate with your beloved pooch. 

The website is http://www.nationaldogday.com, and we’ve copied and pasted the info here for those of you without opposable thumbs:

National Dog Day is celebrated August 26th annually and was founded in 2004 by Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert and Animal Advocate, Colleen Paige, also the founder of National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day and National Cat Day and many more philanthropic days to bring attention to the plight of animals and encourage adoption. The date of August 26th is significant, as it’s the date that Colleen’s family adopted her first dog “Sheltie” when Colleen was 10 years old.

National Dog Day celebrates all dogs, mixed breed and pure. Our mission is to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day…
for personal protection, for law enforcement, for the disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage, now they’re detecting cancer and seizures…things even humans cannot do. NDD was adopted into New York State Legislation in 2013. Read more about it here.

National Dog Day is against any kind of “breed ban”. Dogs should not have to lose their lives because of the atrocities they have been forced to endure at the hands of man. And while we feel that American’s have the constitutional right to purchase a pure breed dog, we strongly discourage buying dogs from pet stores supplied by puppy mills, backyard breeders, the internet and newspaper ads. Rather, we encourage those seeking new canine companions, to consider choosing adoption first.

If you’d like a pure breed dog, look into a pure breed rescue in your city, to see if they might have some little furry soul just waiting to make your life complete. Another great place to find a new best friend is at large chain pet stores that host adoption drives for local shelters and rescues.When considering buying from a breeder, verify that you’re buying from a reputable breeder by checking out their licensing, internet reviews and ask for local references such as from a veterinarian. It’s vital to educate yourself about the breed you’re considering parenting.

 

“Millions of dogs are killed each year because they’re simply unwanted, says Colleen Paige, founder of National Dog Day. They’re unwanted because no one realized how to properly care for the demands of the breed. They’re unwanted because they were bought as a Christmas gift for a child that didn’t keep their promises about caring for the dog…unwanted because they shed too much…unwanted because they bark too much. UNWANTED…simply because someone changed their mind. All a dog wants to do is love you and be loved by you. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing what was once considered “unwanted love”, into your heart and home on National Dog Day!”

 

For dogs adopted on August 26th, National Dog Day becomes many a dog’s birthday and for all dogs, it’s as popular and exciting as the
Super Bowl, with the anticipation of the day culminating into an explosion of network news stories, national TV show segments, online videos, shelter events, internet photos and K9 parties planned around the globe!  Even citizens who are not dog owners will be encouraged to donate $5 to their local shelter or rescue on August 26th.

Opposition Reflex

​Flashback to just over 8 months ago, when Mrs Chew first started walking with a Harness. This was her first Harness, a step-in which clips on the back. Dogs have an instinctive “Opposition Reflex” which means they will pull or push in the opposite direction to where the force of pressure is. So, if you’re holding them back by pulling on the harness, their instinct is to pull forward even harder. Think sled dogs. 

We had to use 2 leads to control Mrs Chew’s pulling. One was a standard nylon webbing lead, clipped to the harness. The other was a shorter, chain lead, clipped to Mrs Chew’s collar. And we had to “steer” Mrs Chew using both leads, as she was pulling really hard. It did not make for a very pleasant experience for anyone involved. Needless to say, we were soon casting about for a better Harness system. 

Tomorrow we’ll tell you about Mrs Chew’s 2nd Harness. 

#MrYipAndMrsChew #AlyZenMoonshadow #harness #dogbehaviour #caninepsychology #dogwalking #dogharnesschallenge #dogsofinstagram #dogsofperth #staffycross

Freebie! Keep Calm Poster

Feel free to copy, print, share, reblog, repost etc this pawsome poster our Human has created! And help spread the word that #rescueisthebestbreed and #adoptdontshop!

Have a wonderful day, everypawdy!

Climate Change for Dogs

Mr Yip is a scruffy terrier cross, and came from indeterminate origins in Ireland. That doesn’t detract from his cuteness one iota, of course 😉. Mr Yip’s fur is coarse, wiry and thick, mostly white with grey and black and a smidgeon of brown, and he also has black ticking underneath all that white. In a word, he’s Unique!

Now, Ireland is in the Northern Hemisphere, as we all know, and Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons therefore are reversed. 

When it’s Winter in Ireland (December-Feb), it’s Summer in Australia. 

When it’s Spring in Ireland (Mar – May), it’s Autumn in Australia. 

When it’s Summer in Ireland (June- August), it’s Winter in Australia. 

When it’s Autumn in Ireland (September – November), it’s Spring in Australia.

Well, no one told Mr Yip that. When he first arrived in Australia in December 2010, it was from a below-freezing Minus 10 degrees in Dublin, to a scorching 35 degrees in Perth. Mr Yip was in his full winter furcoat, and he must have suffered in the sudden change in temperature. A month spent in Quarantine did not make him shed his winter coat. 

In fact, in the 6 years that Mr Yip has been in Australia, his fur habits have never adapted to the Australian climate. Hypoallergemic he most certainly is Not! True to his Northern Hemisphere nature, he sheds the most in Australia’s Winter, when he really should be at his fluffiest. And he’s a real fluffball at the height of the Australian Summer, when he should be thin and lean. 

So, if you’re reading this and are considering a tree change from one end of the world to the other, spare a thought for your pets. They may not necessarily ever change their shedding habits. Speaking of trees, we have also observed that some European trees planted in Australia also appear to Not acclimatize, even after many years…we have seen trees shedding their russet leaves in Spring instead of Autumn, or flowering in Winter. 

Dogs from cold climates with very thick coats, especially Huskies and Malamutes, suffer in the stifling Australian Summers, and a swimming pool or even a clamshell paddling pool, or regular showers to cool down, will help tremendously. 

So, if the Aussie lifestyle appeals to you, do spare a thought for your dogs and other pets, before buying that (very expensive) one-way ticket! 

Bite-sized Advice: Getting more than 1 Dog

​Thinking of getting more than 1 dog? The best combination, to avoid conflict, is:

1)different breeds 

2)different sizes 

3) different sexes 

4)different ages. 

Mr Yip is 8 years old and a medium-sized Terrier X, Mrs Chew is nearly 4 years old and a large Staffy X Mastiff. 

And yes, we are very different, but we love each other all the same! ❤🐾❤

Now all we need is … a new puppy! 😄

Dog Biscuits vs Dog Kibble

Recently we saw a post on Facebook where someone mentioned receiving donations of dog biscuits. The accompanying photo showed a mountain of bags of a well-known Australian brand of dog food. However, these were carelessly called “dog biscuits” by the person thanking the company for their kind donation.

We, Mr Yip and Mrs Chew, would just like to politely point out that that person is either not a real dog person or just ignorant of the BIG difference between dog BISCUITS and dog KIBBLE.

Dog Biscuits are like human biscuits – made as treats, containing dubious nutritional value, to be eaten sparingly. 

Dog Kibble, on the other hand, when made by reputable brands, is a Complete Dog Food. Dogs can subsist and thrive on just eating Kibble and drinking water (but it would be a very boring diet, indeed, and dogs do like variety in their food!). A Complete Food simply means it provides all the nutrients a dog requires to keep it in optimal health – all the essential vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates etc that a dog needs to grow or maintain its health. 

These are Dog Biscuits:

This is a typical Nutritional Content listing for Dog Biscuits:

Yes, we know…not much there, right? Basically, the same as you’d find in a box of biscuits made for humans. 

This is a bowl of Dog Kibble:

And here’s the Nutritional Content of a typical bag of manufactured Dog Kibble:

When reading a pet food label, always start with the “Guaranteed Analysis” list. That will give you a good idea of whether the product is excellent, good, mediocre or just plain rubbish. 

Depending on the dog’s age, size and energy requirements, the protein content in dog kibble should be between 21-24 percent. Older dogs will require less protein. 

Next, read the Ingredients Label. This is not to be confused with the Nutritional analysis of the product. The Ingredients List merely states, in descending order of occurrence, everything that constitutes the product. We can tell from the list of ingredients that the product below is of excellent quality.

If you really want to know more about what’s good or bad for dogs to eat, read this enlightening article by Roger Biduk. It’s a real eye-opener!

Oh, and remember this also – stay away from products with food colouring. They have no nutritional value whatsoever, and if you’ve read Roger Biduk’s article above, you’ll know that they’re also known culprits for making human children hyperactive and for causing allergies. The same goes for dogs too! So, if you MUST give your dogs cake, please don’t give them Chocolate cake (it makes dogs very ill and can be fatal!), and if the cake has coloured icing or frosting on it, please remove them first! 

Mr Yip And Mrs Chew would like to thank you for reading their BiteSized Advice. ❤🐾❤

Stormy Weather Tips for Pets

​Here it’s wet and windy out today, so we’re just gonna camp out on our Human’s bed! 

Remember, if the weather is wild, keep your beloved pets indoors, maybe in a secure and quiet room or crate, close the curtains/blinds, turn the radio/tv on for soothing background noise, or try softly playing music. 

A thundershirt or DIY anxiety wrap also works for very stressed dogs. 

Or try a few drops of Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets in their water dish, or rubbed around their ears and cheeks to help calm them. 

Play and treats can also work as distractions from the sound of stormy weather. 

If static in the air is bothering your pet, try rubbing their bodies with a fabric conditioning sheet or even a slightly damp soft towel, to neutralize the static buildup…nobody likes frizzy, crackly hair! 

Help Make Greyhound Racing History!

​Help make Greyhound Racing History. End it permanently! Join a peaceful rally near you this Sunday 24th July 2016, every major city in Australia (except Darwin) is having one. For more information, go to the Free The Hounds site https://www.instagram.com/p/BIG0TziAZ4m/

Or follow the Free The Hounds Facebook page. See screenshot (2nd image for details of the South Beach Fremantle peaceful march).

Dogs are not commodities or products. They are sentient beings capable of having emotions. They are companions, best friends, assistants, providers of service. They must not be treated like trash and simply discarded when no longer “useful”. 

Human beings are the only species in the world that has to “earn a living”. Please don’t make any other animal follow your stupid manmade rules. Please don’t exploit dogs, horses or any other animal, with a view towards making profit out of us. That includes backyard puppy breeders or puppy mills, who are in it only for the money. They don’t care if the animals are suffering, all they see are these signs $$$$$. So, please don’t buy puppies from a pet shop, or a backyard breeder or a puppy mill, when there are already hundreds abandoned at Animal Shelters. Adopt, Don’t Shop!