WHAT KIND OF DOG OWNER ARE YOU?
By
Barbara J. Galasso
1) When you get up in the morning, you…..
a) Take care of the dogs first and you and the family last.
b) Take care of the family and yourself first and the dog last.
c) Neither. You stay in bed till 10:00 o’clock, get up and drink 3 cups of coffee and
then with one eye open and the other still shut, you let them out of their crates.
2) When you buy dog food for your dog…..
a) You don’t buy dog food. You cook for him.
b) You read labels and make sure it’s premium grade or all natural.
c) You feel the cheapest brand will do.
3) When you buy supplements for your dog….
a) You make sure it’s holistic and human grade.
b) You make sure it’s a good value for your money and will still do the job.
c) What supplements? His no-brand dog food is good enough!
4) When you buy toys for your dog….
a) You make sure he has one to chew on, one to tug with, one to catch with, etc.
b) You make sure he’s entertained with one or two toys.
c) His “toy” is trying to bite the tail from the dog that’s in the next run.
5) When you exercise your dog…..
a) You road work him with a car or bike a few times a week.
b) You take him for a walk down the street or in the woods.
c) Exercise? Hell, let him fence run the kennels. You’re too busy watching the
“soaps!”
6) When you groom your dog….
a) You’ve bought a special tub, a special table, hair blower, clippers, shampoos, etc.
b) He goes in to the bath tub, using the same shampoo & conditioner that you do.
c) Grooming? (Scratch, scratch *&%)….What’s that?
7) When you show your dog….
a) You hire the best handler, pay him top prices & bonus’s…nothing is too good for
your dog!
b) You hire a good handler and even a young up and coming one.
c) You ask the kid down the street who mows your lawn if he’s free this week-end.
8) The kind of car you drive to a dog show in is….
a) The top of the line van or motor home. You believe in traveling in style.
b) A nice SUV or mini-van that’s comfortable for you and your dog.
c) What ever happens to be running at the time and has gas in it that’s sitting in your
driveway.
9) When you breed your bitch….
a) You choose the top stud dog that money can buy. You do expensive testing, pay
airfare to get her to him & back and set up a custom made whelping box.
b) You choose a stud that you can afford hopefully in your area.
c) You breed her to her brother in the next run.
10) When you sell your puppies you….
a) Advertise them in a top publication and tell all your breeder friends about them.
b) You advertise them in the local paper as well as on your website.
c) You hang a sign out on the front tree…”Puppies for sale, highest bidder takes them
all!”
SCORE:
Mostly (a’s) – You live, breathe, talk, walk, and dream dogs. You’re a true dog person. You can’t believe there’s any other kind of person. Perhaps that’s why you don’t have too much in common with most people unless they’re show dog people. You adore your dogs and your dogs adore you. They come first and they are very spoiled and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Your home, your life and your social circle centers around your dogs. Guess one could say, “You’ve gone to the dogs.”
Mostly (b’s) – You truly love your dogs and realize they have a place in your life, but they aren’t the only thing that matters. They are included in your life, but they are not your whole life. (See example in the mostly a’s section above). You enjoy them and want the best for them, and you make sure you give them an excellent quality of life, but they do not come before yours and your families needs. (Again see the mostly a’s section above). You take your wins graciously, and accept your losses as it being part of the game. Life is good for you and your dogs because you have struck a harmonious balance.
Mostly (c’s) – Not one of your dogs is more important to you than your own needs. Nothing will prevent you from watching your soap opera’s, and no dog is going to use your “Evening in Paris" cologne to smell better than you do. Your dogs live around your schedule even if that means he went to bed at 8:00 the previous evening and will have to wait until 10:00 the next morning to be let out. You don’t exercise him because you’re talking on the telephone all day when your soaps are not on. You wonder why he’s not doing more winning in the show ring than he does. You’re pis--- off at the judge for not putting him up, you’re cranky with the kid who mows your lawn for not winning with him and you’re jealous of the ones who are winning. Your1988 Dodge pick-up breaks down on the way home from the show and you vow never to go to another one again……..and you curse to yourself wondering why Mostly a’s and Mostly b’s avoid having anything to do with you.
My rating: Mostly a’s or b’s: (4), mostly c’s: (1)
NO PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE USED OR REPRINTED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR!
From the book: DOG OWNER'S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK...Open the front cover and the first two pages you see contain the Index of Signs and Symptoms, from Abdomen (painful, swollen, distended, and tucked up) to Weight loss, Wheezing, and Whining (continual). There's a comprehensive index in back, of course, running the gamut from Abortion to Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis, which is all very useful, but when your pooch is in pain, it's great to be able to turn, with the minimum of folderol, to the page that says to relax, it's nothing a bit of extra grooming won't fix, or alternatively to hightail it over to the vet hospital. It's a wonderful reference for any dog owner, with chapters on emergencies (such as burns, dehydration, and poisoning), as well as worms, infectious diseases, skin care, and canine eyes, ears, and nose. There are chapters on the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems, the nervous, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems, plus dog sex, whelping, puppy pediatrics, geriatrics, and chapters on cancers and medications. In short, it covers every health dimension a dog owner might want to know more about, identifies the possible causes, helps you determine the severity of the condition, and indicates what treatments or actions to take to best insure your dog's good health.
Showing posts with label german shepherd health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label german shepherd health. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
TAKING CARE OF DOGS IN A BAD ECONOMY
Very few people are not affected by this bad economy. Some are affected more than others, but everyone has been touched or knows someone that has by this economic depression. For many this means their lifestyles have had to be adjusted. Things that people have taken for granted in the past have now been compromised and we have had to learn to sacrifice some of those things for a simpler way of life.
Because of this poor economy, some have had to change the way that they are taking care of their dogs. Many of us have to stop and think before we buy that $15 toy at the dog store that we just know that “Rover” will love to chew on.
Perhaps we have looked at another way of feeding our dogs without sacrificing the health of our companions. With the gazillion different brands of dog foods on the market, it has made many of us wiser consumers by reading the labels and understanding just what it is that our dogs are eating. Doggie snacks have always been an indulgent treat that we enjoy giving our pets, but even these have become more expensive than some households can afford.
So what’s the answer when you are trying to survive yourself and then you have dogs that depend on you for everything? It’s about compromise. It’s about educating yourself to understand and truly read labels. It’s about getting the best value for your dollar.
Some people find themselves feeding a cheaper dog food than they have in the past. Others will take a cheaper dog food and mix it with a higher quality, more expensive food hoping to get the best that they can without spending too much money. Others feed a raw diet and swear that it’s cheaper than the traditional dog foods. I feed a dry dog food and also buy meats for my dogs. I look for any meat that is on sale or reduced in price like the manager’s specials. I find that a great buy is chicken legs when they go on sale. I don’t feed raw, however. I cook all of the meats that I feed my girls. I take the chicken legs and roast them in the oven and then cut off all the meat and put it in their dry food. I used to feed them lots of chicken livers, but this has gone up a lot in price this last year. So now the only time that I feed them this is when I see it go on sale. I’ll feed them beef liver, hearts, giblets, etc. Also they get eggs in their dinner every day. Cottage cheese is something else you can add if you see it goes on sale. Yogurt is also great for their digestive system and I’ll buy the store brand unless I have a coupon for a national brand.
You can add vegetables to your dog’s food as well. Just make sure it’s a vegetable that they can have. No onions or raw garlic. Carrots, string beans and sweet potatoes are good choices if you want to add these things to your dog’s diet. String beans are good to use as filler if your dog needs to go on a diet. Giving raw carrots as a treat is a good option if you dogs like it.
If you like to bake, then you can bake your dog’s treats and snacks. There are a whole lot of recipes on the web that you can try. Also if you belong to the Show list they have recipes in their archives that you can use as well. Some people make their own dried liver treats which are great for double handling your dog for shows. There are recipes using hot dogs, cheese, etc. The list is endless or you can make up your own ingredients.
Anyone that knows me well knows that I am the coupon queen. I never go to the store without them. Some of your better known dog food companies offer coupons for you to use on their products. Just go on line to the company that makes your dog food and see if they offer coupons. Many times you have to sign up for their newsletter and they’ll send you coupons every month. You can also call them and ask if they can send you coupons. Many companies have a breeders program where if you buy a certain amount of their product, they will send you a coupon for a free bag. The companies are aware of the economy problems and many of them are trying to help and keep their customers happy.
Another thing you might consider doing. If you have other breeders that live in your area that feed the same food as you do, you might want to order your dog food from a company together. Many times a company will give a discount when you order a certain amount of food from them. This can amount to a considerable savings when you divide up the expense among the breeders.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to get some toys for your dogs, one of the best and most economical places you can go to is the Good Will or Salvation Army stores. Just go into their children’s section and many times you will find a great variety of stuffed animals and a lot of times they are new or just like new. You can always throw them in the washing machine before you give it to your dog. Just make sure when you buy these stuffed toys that there are no removal parts like button eyes or noses or squeaky gadgets in them.
If you are looking for bedding for your dog, here again the Good Will and Salvation Army is a great place to find these things. You can buy quilts and blankets and towels here that you just need to put in the washing machine and there you go, you now have spent a whole lot less and your dog has a comfortable place to lay his head. The towels are great for bathing him as well.
Someone told me recently that where she lives there are many dog clinics. Wow……..so I looked into my area just yesterday and I found a couple not too far from me. I’ve never used them, but I’m told that they can save you a lot of money. I’ll have to call them to see what they charge for similar services that my vet performs. There are also spaying and neutering clinics that you can check out if this is something you need for your dogs.
Many breeders give their own shots and medicines. You can find these items in most animal catalogs. JUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE YOU DO IT! Don’t play veterinarian unless you know what it is that you’re doing. Don’t administer medicine unless your dog has been checked out by your vet. Ask him/her for a discount on the medicines that they are advising you give your animal. Some vets (not all) will be willing to work with you on this. If not, buy the medicine from a catalog or on line.
When it comes to dog shows, here again, some people have had to cut back on how many times they show their animals. Some now are only going to local shows or ones that are no longer hours and hours away. They are no longer staying over night at hotels and eating out at restaurants. They pack up their own lunches and don’t go to shows where they have to stay over night. Some people “car pool” with their friends and share the expense of gas and tolls to help cut down on the money that they are spending.
Well these are just a few tips that I have found to be helpful when taking care of dogs in these rough times. I’m sure many of you have other tips you could share in how you make ends meet. I’ll be looking forward to hearing about some of them.
My rating: cutting back where needed without sacrificing quality care: (4)
Because of this poor economy, some have had to change the way that they are taking care of their dogs. Many of us have to stop and think before we buy that $15 toy at the dog store that we just know that “Rover” will love to chew on.
Perhaps we have looked at another way of feeding our dogs without sacrificing the health of our companions. With the gazillion different brands of dog foods on the market, it has made many of us wiser consumers by reading the labels and understanding just what it is that our dogs are eating. Doggie snacks have always been an indulgent treat that we enjoy giving our pets, but even these have become more expensive than some households can afford.
So what’s the answer when you are trying to survive yourself and then you have dogs that depend on you for everything? It’s about compromise. It’s about educating yourself to understand and truly read labels. It’s about getting the best value for your dollar.
Some people find themselves feeding a cheaper dog food than they have in the past. Others will take a cheaper dog food and mix it with a higher quality, more expensive food hoping to get the best that they can without spending too much money. Others feed a raw diet and swear that it’s cheaper than the traditional dog foods. I feed a dry dog food and also buy meats for my dogs. I look for any meat that is on sale or reduced in price like the manager’s specials. I find that a great buy is chicken legs when they go on sale. I don’t feed raw, however. I cook all of the meats that I feed my girls. I take the chicken legs and roast them in the oven and then cut off all the meat and put it in their dry food. I used to feed them lots of chicken livers, but this has gone up a lot in price this last year. So now the only time that I feed them this is when I see it go on sale. I’ll feed them beef liver, hearts, giblets, etc. Also they get eggs in their dinner every day. Cottage cheese is something else you can add if you see it goes on sale. Yogurt is also great for their digestive system and I’ll buy the store brand unless I have a coupon for a national brand.
You can add vegetables to your dog’s food as well. Just make sure it’s a vegetable that they can have. No onions or raw garlic. Carrots, string beans and sweet potatoes are good choices if you want to add these things to your dog’s diet. String beans are good to use as filler if your dog needs to go on a diet. Giving raw carrots as a treat is a good option if you dogs like it.
If you like to bake, then you can bake your dog’s treats and snacks. There are a whole lot of recipes on the web that you can try. Also if you belong to the Show list they have recipes in their archives that you can use as well. Some people make their own dried liver treats which are great for double handling your dog for shows. There are recipes using hot dogs, cheese, etc. The list is endless or you can make up your own ingredients.
Anyone that knows me well knows that I am the coupon queen. I never go to the store without them. Some of your better known dog food companies offer coupons for you to use on their products. Just go on line to the company that makes your dog food and see if they offer coupons. Many times you have to sign up for their newsletter and they’ll send you coupons every month. You can also call them and ask if they can send you coupons. Many companies have a breeders program where if you buy a certain amount of their product, they will send you a coupon for a free bag. The companies are aware of the economy problems and many of them are trying to help and keep their customers happy.
Another thing you might consider doing. If you have other breeders that live in your area that feed the same food as you do, you might want to order your dog food from a company together. Many times a company will give a discount when you order a certain amount of food from them. This can amount to a considerable savings when you divide up the expense among the breeders.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to get some toys for your dogs, one of the best and most economical places you can go to is the Good Will or Salvation Army stores. Just go into their children’s section and many times you will find a great variety of stuffed animals and a lot of times they are new or just like new. You can always throw them in the washing machine before you give it to your dog. Just make sure when you buy these stuffed toys that there are no removal parts like button eyes or noses or squeaky gadgets in them.
If you are looking for bedding for your dog, here again the Good Will and Salvation Army is a great place to find these things. You can buy quilts and blankets and towels here that you just need to put in the washing machine and there you go, you now have spent a whole lot less and your dog has a comfortable place to lay his head. The towels are great for bathing him as well.
Someone told me recently that where she lives there are many dog clinics. Wow……..so I looked into my area just yesterday and I found a couple not too far from me. I’ve never used them, but I’m told that they can save you a lot of money. I’ll have to call them to see what they charge for similar services that my vet performs. There are also spaying and neutering clinics that you can check out if this is something you need for your dogs.
Many breeders give their own shots and medicines. You can find these items in most animal catalogs. JUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE YOU DO IT! Don’t play veterinarian unless you know what it is that you’re doing. Don’t administer medicine unless your dog has been checked out by your vet. Ask him/her for a discount on the medicines that they are advising you give your animal. Some vets (not all) will be willing to work with you on this. If not, buy the medicine from a catalog or on line.
When it comes to dog shows, here again, some people have had to cut back on how many times they show their animals. Some now are only going to local shows or ones that are no longer hours and hours away. They are no longer staying over night at hotels and eating out at restaurants. They pack up their own lunches and don’t go to shows where they have to stay over night. Some people “car pool” with their friends and share the expense of gas and tolls to help cut down on the money that they are spending.
Well these are just a few tips that I have found to be helpful when taking care of dogs in these rough times. I’m sure many of you have other tips you could share in how you make ends meet. I’ll be looking forward to hearing about some of them.
My rating: cutting back where needed without sacrificing quality care: (4)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
THE BEST OF YESTERDAY WITH THE BEST OF TODAY
So this couple goes to divorce court to have the judge decide how to divide up their assets. She says that she couldn’t live without her Waterford glasses. He wants his Sears ride on mower. They owned a breeding and boarding kennel and some show dogs. He said he wanted a few of the younger champions and she said she’d take some of the younger breeding bitches. For his last request he tells the judge, “Your honor, I want my dog’s frozen semen! Well you probably could hear a pin drop from the shocked expressions by those in the court room. The wife shakes her head in disagreement. In all the years that this judge has resided over his court room, he has never heard of such a request before. So the judge looks at the man a bit quizzically and with a bit of a smirk on his face he asks the man, “Did I hear you correctly Mr. Smith, you want some frozen semen?” “Yes sir, I do. I want my dog’s frozen semen!” There was some nervous laughter and people shifting in their seats as they whispered among themselves. Who ever heard of such a thing as people fighting over a dog’s semen? Well if you are a dog breeder, you wouldn’t think this was such an unusual request.
How come some dog breeders have their dogs’ semen frozen? Some breeders who own some top stud dogs know that there are only a certain amount of years that their dogs will have a chance to produce. When they get older, many of them can no longer produce a litter. Then the dog passes away and many times, the breeder wishes they could still use their stud dog on their bitches. So some of them opt to collect the semen from their dogs and have it frozen so they can use their bloodlines at a later time.
Now on the other hand there are those breeders who don’t want to breed to a dog that is no longer being used in the gene pool. They feel that they are old blood lines and why use them anymore. It’s time for new blood so they move on. They feel that there are many good dogs available today, so why go back to the past.
My feeling is that I think it’s a wonderful idea having some of the “Greats” of yesterday still available to us today. I only wish there were more dogs that we had frozen on that were available to us. Was there ever a dog that you wish you could have bred to and didn’t? I know that I would like to have been able to have bred to Lance, Mannix, Bear, and so many others. Unfortunately, many of these top producing dogs are lost to us forever. Frozen semen wasn’t available at the time.
I think being able to use some of the older bloodlines would be a good idea with the gene pool being so concentrated with the same bloodlines. Practically the entire top producing bloodlines now days goes back to Dallas. Look at the top producing dogs and many of them are sons, grandsons or great grandsons of Dallas. The pedigrees become so overloaded with one dogs genes that after a while there’s no place to take your bitches to. This is what happens when a dog becomes a popular stud dog. Everyone runs out to breed to him and that’s all you see in today’s pedigrees. We need pedigrees to out cross to when the gene pool becomes this saturated.
For the newer students of the breed, introducing older pedigrees into their breeding program requires much studying of the bloodlines. One must get familiar with these lines to know what the temperaments, health and other faults of the lines are. Without being able to see these dogs in person, one is left going only by their pictures and if you are lucky maybe seeing a video tape of the dog. But more times than not, that’s probably not going to be available to you. So I can see the breeder that has been in the breed for some time doing this type of breeding before the newer breeder might.
Why would anyone want to breed to an older dog anyway? Well besides bringing some new (older) blood back into their breeding program, perhaps there are things that this bloodline can add to their breeding program. Perhaps this bloodline has great shoulders, wonderful hindquarters, super top lines, great temperaments, good hips, etc. It would be for all the same reasons you would breed to a dog that is living……hopefully to improve in areas that you need to improve on in your breeding program.
So if done with much research, incorporating the best of yesterdays bloodlines with the best of today’s bloodlines could prove very beneficial to the breeder and for future generations of the German Shepherd dog.
For a list of some dogs that have frozen semen available, check out Gerald Roaches website at www.geransgermanshepherds.com
My rating: frozen semen breedings: (4), incorporating old bloodlines with todays: (4)
How come some dog breeders have their dogs’ semen frozen? Some breeders who own some top stud dogs know that there are only a certain amount of years that their dogs will have a chance to produce. When they get older, many of them can no longer produce a litter. Then the dog passes away and many times, the breeder wishes they could still use their stud dog on their bitches. So some of them opt to collect the semen from their dogs and have it frozen so they can use their bloodlines at a later time.
Now on the other hand there are those breeders who don’t want to breed to a dog that is no longer being used in the gene pool. They feel that they are old blood lines and why use them anymore. It’s time for new blood so they move on. They feel that there are many good dogs available today, so why go back to the past.
My feeling is that I think it’s a wonderful idea having some of the “Greats” of yesterday still available to us today. I only wish there were more dogs that we had frozen on that were available to us. Was there ever a dog that you wish you could have bred to and didn’t? I know that I would like to have been able to have bred to Lance, Mannix, Bear, and so many others. Unfortunately, many of these top producing dogs are lost to us forever. Frozen semen wasn’t available at the time.
I think being able to use some of the older bloodlines would be a good idea with the gene pool being so concentrated with the same bloodlines. Practically the entire top producing bloodlines now days goes back to Dallas. Look at the top producing dogs and many of them are sons, grandsons or great grandsons of Dallas. The pedigrees become so overloaded with one dogs genes that after a while there’s no place to take your bitches to. This is what happens when a dog becomes a popular stud dog. Everyone runs out to breed to him and that’s all you see in today’s pedigrees. We need pedigrees to out cross to when the gene pool becomes this saturated.
For the newer students of the breed, introducing older pedigrees into their breeding program requires much studying of the bloodlines. One must get familiar with these lines to know what the temperaments, health and other faults of the lines are. Without being able to see these dogs in person, one is left going only by their pictures and if you are lucky maybe seeing a video tape of the dog. But more times than not, that’s probably not going to be available to you. So I can see the breeder that has been in the breed for some time doing this type of breeding before the newer breeder might.
Why would anyone want to breed to an older dog anyway? Well besides bringing some new (older) blood back into their breeding program, perhaps there are things that this bloodline can add to their breeding program. Perhaps this bloodline has great shoulders, wonderful hindquarters, super top lines, great temperaments, good hips, etc. It would be for all the same reasons you would breed to a dog that is living……hopefully to improve in areas that you need to improve on in your breeding program.
So if done with much research, incorporating the best of yesterdays bloodlines with the best of today’s bloodlines could prove very beneficial to the breeder and for future generations of the German Shepherd dog.
For a list of some dogs that have frozen semen available, check out Gerald Roaches website at www.geransgermanshepherds.com
My rating: frozen semen breedings: (4), incorporating old bloodlines with todays: (4)
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