The Poodle (and Dog) Blog

The Bloodhound—a nose with a dog attached

Not long ago Holly the Bloodhound was on death row.

Because of her destructive behavior, she had become doggie non grata in six different homes before her first birthday. She ended up in a shelter with little hope of finding a place as a family pet.

Today the 85-pound Bloodhound is “one of the best and brightest detectives on the Massachusetts State Police Force.”

Holly seemed to be telling the world that she was meant to be a gainfully employed tracker police dog, not a house pet. Fortunately professional trainer, Larry Allen, recognized something in Holly that he was looking for.

Allen believes that training is a small part of what makes a good tracking Bloodhound. Because of his 25 years of experience, he sensed that the troubled puppy was an animal with phenomenal natural abilities. 

Where the olfactory center of a human is about the size of a postage stamp, for Holly it is the size of a handkerchief.

Often called a nose with a dog attached, the bloodhound is so adept at scent tracking its trailing results is admissible evidence in a court of law. Its outstanding ability to read terrain with its nose is primarily due to a large, ultrasensitive set of scent membranes that allows the dog to distinguish smells at least a thousand times better than humans. source

Besides tracking bad guys, Bloodhounds are used extensively to track missing children and adults with dementia who wander away from home. Some law enforcement departments offer a “scent package” service to families where a member suffers from Alzheimer’s. A package with articles containing the scent of only that person is kept in a sealed bag ready in case.

The Bloodhound is not just another pretty face. Everything about the dog's appearance adds to their tracking ability. Loose wrinkled skin on their faces helps trap scent particles. The mucous from the constant drooling (that some pet owners find offensive) traps the scent.

On the trail the long drooping ears drag on the ground, sweeping the scent into the nasal area. The long neck, muscular shoulders, and strong back allow them to track close to the ground for miles.

Once they identify the subject’s scent, they are not distracted by the millions of other odors. Now it is a game. And the best Bloodhounds have a strong play drive. Bloodhounds have been known to stay on a trail for more than 130 miles.

In spite of high tech surveillance equipment available today, many in law enforcement believe that the dogs are a greater asset than the best equipment. Some dogs have picked up cold trails and followed tracks over 300 hours old.

Does the Bloodhound make a good family pet? You might want to check out Sue Ruff’s warning at the American Bloodhound Club website before you go shopping.

Wordless Wednesday

Invisible dogs

PetSmart’s favorite things

PetSmart.com is having a Favorite Things sale. Now through October 26, you can save up to 20% on over 1000 items.

Here are some of the products they sent us in a CARE package.

The KONG. The Poodles and dogs love the KONG. Don’t we all wish we had invented it?

We all love the STUFF 'N PEANUT BUTTER PASTE which makes it very easy to stuff the KONGS. Just insert the tip into the opening and press. Each can has 45 servings.

The popular line of Bed Head Hair products is now available to cool dogs. Pet Head comes in a variety of shampoos. We got the no tears formula and it worked. I didn’t shed a single tear during bath time.

Everyone thinks their own dogs have no doggie odor, but just in case and between bath times the magical deodorant spray neutralizes odors and has no perfumy smell.

Another guide dog dropout makes good

The cost of training a guide dog is generally between $17,000 and $25,000. By the end of their training, the dogs are valued at $40,000 to $50,000. Only the top puppies are accepted for training and many cannot pass the test to become certified.

What happens to the ones who drop out?

Oops, my bad. These dogs should be referred to as career change dogs rather than dropouts. Most of these dogs go on to successful careers in a different field.

One of these was Porsche, a black Labrador. Porsche’s problem was that she couldn’t stop sniffing. But what is a fault in one line of work makes her valuable in another.

So Porsche went to work as an arson dog with Philadelphia firefighters about five years ago after being trained to detect accelerants, substances used to intentionally set fires. According to her handler Lt. Art Czajkowski, this “deficiency” as a guide dog have made her invaluable as a sniffer dog.

Porsche is credited with helping to find the causes in more that 300 fires, including 100 arsons that caused $24 million in damages. She also helped investigators solve two arson for profit cases that caused more than $3 million in damage to commercial properties.

When she detects an accelerant, she sits at the spot and looks dolefully at Czajkowski. He rewards her with dog food.

"We get scenes where it's been burning; our guys put thousands of gallons of water on it - there are layers and layers of debris. But [if there's an accelerant there], she'll find it," Czajkowski said. Source

What happens to retired guide dogs?

Animal rights groups would have you believe that retired guide dogs and those that don’t achieve certification are tossed out like yesterday’s trash.

However the truth is that these dogs are offered for adoption by application and currently there is a 4-6 year waiting list, according to the Guide Dogs of America website. They are currently not even taking applications because their waiting list is so long.

Anyone who knows anything about dogs knows that well trained, socialized dogs quickly adapt to new humans and new situations as long as love and noms are involved.

Where does your dog sleep?

Even if your dog sleeps with you, most dogs like to have a place of their own.

There are many choices on the market today ranging from designer beds and luxury beds which, orthopedic beds, heated beds, oversize beds and plain old beds.

Our new sponsor has an entertaining, practical on line essay on the various types of beds available  today.  Link is on the sidebar.

Choices for a dog bed range from hundreds of dollars to a pile of your old clothes where your dog can enjoy some quiet time.

Where do dogs sleep in your house?

Scrappy the “not-a-wolf” dog is free at last

Nine-year-old Scrappy has been held prisoner since April, not because of anything she has done—but because of her looks.

The city of Des Moines has a law against people keeping wolves as pets. There are no laws against wolf dog hybrids. Scrappy’s owner insists that she isn’t a wolf, but no one can prove the exact heritage of a mixed breed dog.

After a heavy rain last April that washed some of the earth away, Scrappy dug her way under the fence to go play Buck or White Fang for a while. When she got busted she obediently got into the van knowing the fun was over.

When her owner, Crystal Smith, went to pay the fine and get her released, all went well at first. Then Police Sgt. Scott Raudabaugh, Des Moines' chief humane officer, decided that Scrappy “looked like a wolf” and he ordered her to be locked up again.

I wrote about Scrappy in August when she was released from an animal shelter and placed with an animal trainer for evaluation until the next court date.

She finally had her day in court on Friday. Judge Robert Hanson ruled in her favor and allowed her to go home to her family.

He further said that the dog had been improperly seized from her owners. Source

As some of you know I am a volunteer with our local police department and my experience with professional animal control staff is that they are well-trained, knowledgeable and compassionate. But in this case it would seem that Sgt. Raudabaugh overstepped his bounds to the extent of being cruel and stupid.

In nine years Scrappy hasn’t once dressed as a grandmother, blown down pig houses, or eaten neighborhood children. She has consistently followed behavior patterns of a normal friendly Nordic dog who has read too much Jack London enjoys an occasional adventure.

All her life she has been tame with no wild animal tendencies. And now after nine years Raudabaugh decides that she ”looks like a wolf” and must be taken away from her family.

Ms. Smith, a cook at a retirement home, said that she loves Scrappy as her own child. She and her family visited her almost every day.

Nothing can give them back the six months they were kept apart, but it would seem that the city should compensate her for legal and any boarding expenses.

And perhaps Sgt. Raudabaugh needs to seek employment in another field, some place where he can’t misuse his authority to hurt people and animals.

This is Egg Roll

This four-week-old Chihuahua pup has already had more excitement and danger in his life than most people ever have.

He was spotted near a storm drain on a busy intersection during lunchtime traffic in Gannett, New Jersey and turned over to the police.

He was named Egg Roll because he is about the size of an egg roll and was found in front of a Chinese restaurant.

No one has any idea how the tiny puppy found himself in such a dangerous situation. At this age he should still be nursing. The storm drain was checked for other puppies.

Weighing less than two pounds he was put immediately into a foster home because a puppy that age is susceptible to disease and too young to be vaccinated. A vet check showed that he was a little dehydrated from being separated from his mother, but otherwise fine.

 If Egg Roll’s owner doesn’t claim him and clear up the mystery within seven days, he will be eligible for adoption in three or four weeks after he clears foster care.

I’m guessing people will be lining up to give him a good home. Source

These boots are made for walking

Now before you start writing me hate mail, let me say that dogs benefit from wearing boots in the winter time if you live in snow country.

The snow gets between their pads and can be uncomfortable.

Even worse, the de-icing chemicals that go on streets and sidewalks can be toxic. If they lick their paws it isn’t good.

Even sled dogs have sensitive feet. Mushers put on fleece booties to keep the paws warm and protect them from cuts and bruises. A single sled team will use about 2000 booties during the course of the Iditarod.

So without further justification here is "Chihuahua wearing booties."

Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the Hound Dog - Friends at First Sight

Sometimes animals for reasons known only to them seem to have an immediate affinity for each other.

Doesn’t it seem like these guys knew each other in another Life?

See their story on this National Geographic video

Thanks to Denny

Dog custody battle settled—$40,000 later

Yes, $40,000, nearly three years—and some pretty happy lawyers.

Dexter the pug has been the focus of a legal battle after Eric Dare, a 36-year-old policeman, and Doreen Houseman, a 35-year-old customer service manager, ended their 13-year relationship.

Originally they agreed to share Dexter, but when Houseman started dating, Dare refused to let her see the dog.

She sued. Since Dare had bought the dog, the judge awarded Dexter to him.

Houseman appealed, saying a dog should not be treated as property. They have each spent around $20,000 in legal fees.

The wheels of justice move slowly (and expensively), but the case finally reached the New Jersey Superior Court. Superior Court Judge John Tomasello ruled that the couple must share the dog. Dexter will alternate five weeks in each of their homes, starting at 6 pm every fifth Friday.

Eric Dare said that he is considering an appeal.

Let it go, Eric. Your lawyer has made enough money from you, and Dexter is not a waffle iron.

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