The Poodle (and Dog) Blog

Golden Poodle awards for December and Happy New Year

The Golden Poodle award for December goes to Chili Pasternak, the Jerry Garcia lookalike Poodle; his owner Jake Pasternak; and all the therapy dog teams who came to Newtown, Connecticut at their own expense to console the children and adults, as only dogs can do.

 

 

The Lizard Brain award goes to Gary Rintel, 45, the owner of a pair of cloned dogs which he lets run loose in New York’s Central Park and on nearby city streets to the exasperation of other residents.

Rintel lives on a trust fund. He seems to believe that keeping a dog on a leash and picking up after them are for peasants who can’t afford $140,000 for a pair of cloned dogs and unlimited city fines.

Unfortunately his dogs and other people are the victims of his arrested development.

 

 

The Neanderthal award goes to the person who helped herself to someone else’s black and orange Mohawk Poodle in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Then while the whole area was searching, she took the dog for a walk where three witnesses reported seeing them.

Actually this may be an insult to Neanderthals who probably didn’t steal each other’s stuff.

 

 

 

Have a happy and Apocalypse-free New Year

Light therapy for dogs with winter depression

I’m a spring summer person. The first spring blooms, the long hot days of summer. I take no joy in the autumn when days start getting shorter and the darkness longer.

And so are my dogs. Instead of rushing outside in the morning sun to do their doggie business and play in the yard, they sniff the darkness and try to convince me they can hold it until spring.

Seasonal affective disorder or SAD not only affects many people but it can also affect pets. At its worst, symptoms can include depression, lack of energy, restlessness, difficulty in sleeping, anxiety, decreased appetite and social withdrawal.

And it isn’t our imaginations. Lack of sunlight can lower levels of serotonin production, a hormone in our bodies that causes us to have feelings of happiness and well being, and of melatonin, a hormone which helps us sleep.

As days grew shorter Max Marvin from rainy Seattle was suffering from insomnia when a sleep specialist suggested he try a light box to reset his sleep cycle and balance production of melatonin. After only a week he felt more energized and less depressed.

And so did his dog Luke.

Dogs will seek out the smallest beam of light that comes into their home, but when there is no sunlight they can fall victim to SAD just as humans do.

After seeing the effect of light on Luke, Marvin decided to create a light box for dogs. Working with a British manufacturer, they developed the Sol Box, the first light box designed just for pets, but humans can find it helpful too. In fact, it can be a bonding experience.

The powerful Sol Box by Pawsitive Lighting can deliver the equivalent of a sunny day to your pet, anytime. Simply place the box somewhere your pet finds comfortable, turn it on, and let them gravitate towards the light. Soon your companion will be enjoying the amazing benefits of light therapy including increased energy, decreased anxiety, enhanced sleep and elevated mood. The minimum effective dose is about 30 to 45 minutes of light, however there is no harm in letting your cat or dog bask in the refreshing light box all day long. Source

Drugs such as Prozac are often prescribed to ease winter depression in humans and dogs, but Sol Box has no side effects.

The $200 may seem a little pricey but the company offers a 30 day money back guarantee. And it is a lot less expensive than joining Georgia Little Pea and our other friends in summery Australia.

More information at Pawsitive Lighting

Disclaimer: I was not given a sample Sol Box to try out. However I would not turn one down. It beats our current solution of turning every light on in the house on dark nights and gloomy days.

Chili Pasternak, therapy dog to the children in Newtown

No matter what you think of dyeing Poodle fur, you have to admit Chili Pasternak can provide comfort and joy just by his presence. He was one of many therapy dogs who came at their owners' expense to Newtown, Connecticut recently. Chili was accompanied by his owner Jake Pasternak.

 

 

 

Chili and Jake are from Virginia and have made many appearances together, giving people severe cases of cute overload wherever they go.

 

Chili is becoming a Poodle celebrity. He was chosen by online viewers in July to be the groom at the world’s most expensive dog wedding. Goods and services were donated and all proceeds went to help homeless dogs.

 

 

 

 It's been suggested that Chili looks a lot like Jerry Garcia. At least they both have made people happy.

 

Tiny dog survives five days…you won’t believe where

If you think Yorkshire Terriers are just delicate, pampered purse pets, this story of survival will shock you.

In upstate New York Laura Emmons let nine-year-old Zoey the Yorkie and her Yorkie sister out to do their doggie business in the yard, but when she called them back in, Zoey was gone.

In a panic the whole family and friends searched, but since it was a rural area, they feared that Zoey had become Zoey Tetrazzini for some wild animal.

Five days later her son noticed a strange smell in the car. Fortunately it was of the fecal kind rather than the decomposing kind. When they lifted the hood of the car, there was Zoey, dirty, weak and dehydrated, but otherwise able to make a full recovery.

It was their best Christmas present ever.

Zoey had lost a pound but had no injuries even though the son had driven the car three times during the lost days.

The family believes that Zoey chased a squirrel under the car and somehow got trapped, proving conclusively that squirrels are evil Ninjas.

What puzzles me is why her sister Yorkie didn’t pull a Lassie and lead them to her sister in distress. Sibling rivalry?

At last, I’m an only dog.

Story and video

(No) Fleas Navidog

Merry Christmas to all of our friends in blogville and beyond
from Misty, Timmy, Chamois, Tudee, Taki and Jan

 

Tango the Pomeranian lures donors to the red kettle

Seven-year-old Tango the Pomeranian is a special kind of working dog, a veteran fundraiser. 

Working with volunteers Eric Scheipers and Sandy Cruise in Winston-Salem, N.C., his little face attracts people who stop, pet him, chat with the volunteers, and put a donation in the Salvation Army kettle.

“He’s a big draw,” Scheipers said of Tango. “He’s a gimmick.”

“He puts a smile on their faces when they see him,” Cruise said.

The Angel Tree campaign helps provide children in need with gifts and necessities they would not otherwise receive during the holiday season.

More than 31 million Americans receive assistance from the Salvation Army each year.

Dogs of Courage—A book review

Dogs of Courage: The Heroism and Heart of Working Dogs around the World by Lisa Rogak

Dogs of Courage is a tribute to the modern working dog written by the author of The Dogs of War.

To say that Lisa Rogak is a thorough and meticulous researcher is an understatement. At the end of the book are 13 pages of notations and 11 pages of resources.

But this is not a scholarly tome. It is an engaging portrayal of the roles dogs play in modern life. And in a sense it is also a tribute to human ingenuity that we can find so many ways to use our oldest friends to continue to advance western civilization.

Few dogs today work as shepherds, hunters, or pack animals, but Rogak shows how they have proven invaluable as police and fire dogs; search and rescue dogs; guide, service and therapy dogs; as well as medical and wildlife detection dogs and even entertainers.

The author covers the selection and training of working dogs and the daily accomplishments that dogs provide to make the world a better place to live. While some dogs cost thousands of dollars to train, other dogs continue to demonstrate courage and intelligence even though they are considered to be merely companion animals.

Interspersed among the book pages are stories of trained working dogs and dogs who just seemed to know what to do when a situation called for courage.

Toby the Golden Retriever pushed his choking owner to the ground and jumped up and down on her chest performing a doggie Heimlich maneuver to dislodge a piece of apple from her windpipe. Reagan the Yellow Lab saved the lives of newborn kittens who had been tossed in a bag and abandoned in the road.

Besides the information and antedotes there are also some full color pictures of dogs in training or working. This is a book any dog lover would enjoy reading. And even though she does bring up Old Yeller, there is no sad ending.

Dog's rules for house guests

 To all dogs:

 

This is the time of the year when people often visit the families that you love and protect. You might want to post these rules on the front door so there is no misunderstanding.

 

You are welcome to visit my house as long as you abide by the rules...

1. Do not expect that they will put me outside during your visit.
2. My house. My fur. My dander. If you have allergies, take a pill or stay home.
3. If you don’t want hair on your clothes, don’t sit on the “fur”-niture.
4. My ears and tail are not toys for your children.
5. Anything dropped on the floor is mine after 1 second.
6. During dinner I will lie quietly under the chair of the messiest eater.
7. Please feel free to drink lots of beer. Drunks drop more food.
8. That thing where you pretend to throw something and then hide it behind your back…not funny.
9. The spot in front of the door is reserved for me. Walk around.
10. When it comes to protecting my family against outsiders, I have no sense of humor. You are an outsider. Keep that in mind.

 

 While you are here I am not supposed to

Jump up and lick your face
Use your lap for a towel
Eat grass and barf
Sniff your crotch
Hunch your leg
Lick my balls
Fart

 

Please keep in mind my sacrifices and obey the rules.

Dog rules for Christmas

It’s been a few years since we posted the
Dog Rules for Christmas.

1. Give lots of doggie leans and nuzzles.

Humans are under a lot of stress at this time. It is a season of joy and happiness and you know how hard it is for humans to be joyful and happy. This season calls for a lot of patience on the part of dogs to get them through it.

 

2. There will be lots of pictures. Plant yourself in the center and look adorable.

Many years from now your humans will look back at those pictures with bittersweet memories.

Never mind why.

 

3. Be patient if they try to decorate you.

For some reason they think antlers and red hats on dogs are adorable. Be a good sport, but smiling for these pictures is not necessary or wise. Remember, they are not laughing with you, they are laughing at you. They will probably give you noms to ease their consciences.

 

4. They will bring home packages which they call gifts.

They won’t think it’s funny if you rip them open, no matter how great they smell.

 

5. There will be food, lots of food, but be patient.

Helping yourself to the buffet or scarfing down a roast from the dining room table will get you banished from the festivities. Scope out little people and drunks. They drop more food.

 

6. If a large man in a red suit and white beard comes down the chimney, don’t bite him.

Never mind why. You wouldn’t believe it.

 

7. As weird as this sounds, even for humans, they will bring a tree into the house and put lights and decorations on it.

There are some definite rules for you to follow regarding the tree:

- Do not pee on it -

- Don’t knock it over -

- Don’t munch on the decorations -

- Don’t drink out of the bowl that holds the tree -

- Don’t wag your tail too hard when it is aimed toward the tree -

- If the cat climbs the tree, tell on her. -
 

8. Expect company to show up from time to time.

The Dog’s Rules for House Guests will be re-published in an upcoming post.

Who is the better driver, according to the dog

From Reddit

Redditor zarmostill has posted a side-by-side picture of the family dog giving his opinion of the driving skills of him and of his wife.

“My wife believes she is a better driver,” he posts. “I let our dog decide.”

It isn't clear what the dog is seeing, but from evidence presented, this round goes to the male chauvinist.

There used to be a lot of jokes about women drivers. But there has to be some truth in humor for it to be funny. And statistically women are FAR better drivers than men.