It appears that economic woes due to consequences of the credit crunch, the increased cost of living and the escalating numbers of property foreclosures, are forcing people to abandon animals in numbers never seen before. Families desperate to find ways of cutting costs or who are facing foreclosure on their property, are rendering their pets homeless too. If you want to find out more about this dire situation have a look at the story in USA Today by clicking on the link below, and I will be writing more about this sad trend and the huge strain it is putting on shelters and animal charities on both sides of the Atlantic.
When I first saw the title of Cesar Millan's latest book, "Be The Pack Leader" I wondered if it was directed at me or the dog! You could be forgiven for thinking this was one of those self-improvement bibles or business guru guides to getting ahead, typically the ones you buy but never quite get around to reading.
Well according to Amazon's description "Bestselling author Cesar Millan takes his principles of dog psycology a step further, showing you how to develop the calm-****ertive energy of a successful pack leader and use it to improve your dog's life - and your own.
Filled with practical tips and techniques as well as real-life success stories from his clients (including the Grogan family, owners of Marley from 'Marley & Me' and his popular television show 'Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan), Cesar helps you understand and read your dog's energy as well as your own so that you can move beyond just correcting behavioural issues and take your connection with your dog to the next level.
The principles of calm- ****ertive energy will help you become a better pack leader in every area of your life, improving your relationships with friends, family, and coworkers."
Well if you are looking for new inspiration in your world and your dog's, this sounds like the book for you! Millan has a loyal following, his last book "Cesar's Way" made it onto the New York Times bestseller list, and judging by the reviews of Be the Pack Leader, it has been well received. I have ordered a copy and will let you know what I think.
Dogs Monthly in the UK selected it as this month's favourite title and says that the book answers questions such as:
* How to tell the difference between your dog's personality and possible instability
* The truth about dog behaviour tools (leashes and harnesses to clickers and treats), how they came into use, and Cesar's experiences with them.
*How to understand and fulfil the needs of your dog's breed.
*What is calm- ****ertive energy and how to use it with your dogs and others around you.
Well I am all for communicating calm- ****ertive energy in and out of the home, so perhaps there is no need to call a shrink when dogs can teach us how we can achieve this (with Cesar's help of course)!
For some time now I have been giving fish oils to my children, encouraged by the research that shows that the fatty acids called DHA and EPA found in oily fish can benefit the growing brain, aid concentration and the ability to learn. Well of course it is a no-brainer for kids and as we get older we could all do with a little extra oil in the joints!
But what about Pets? Well I was intrigued to see on a recent visit with Toffee to the vet, that alongside the normal pet vitamins and teeth cleaning chews, were also the same brand of fish oil that I give to the kids. Mine refuse to try the capsules but put up with the rather unpleasant taste of the oil...Toffee being a labrador had no problem with woolfing down the yellow capsule with her lunch!
The vet said that the oils were beneficial for dog's coats, but perhaps more importantly these fatty acids have been shown to work effectively in the same way for pets and humans alike.
Susan McKay, a canine nutritionist writing for Dogs monthly in the UK says that while' the EPA has been shown to be closely ****ociated with joint health, DHA plays an important part in the development of the brain and eyes, and is now identified as an ingredient that could help facilitate learning in young animals. So if you want to have a smarter, more alert and obedient pup, choose a puppy food containing DHA.
Mckay goes on to say that "Both fatty acids have been added into pet foods in such a way that they can exert optimal effects, both in terms of amounts and ratios with other fatty acids."
Well I remember being given cod liver oil as a child, revolting, but even then Granny knew it was 'good for us'. As Mckay says "Science is providing the justification for using more natural ingredients and allowing us to harness their benefits more effectively."
Well one thing seems clear, it can't do any harm, so it is worth a try...let's see if Toffee gets the best coat in town and can start helping the children with their homework...and if I take the Omegas,EPAs DHAs too perhaps I will be able to outrun her in the park!
How do you honour a rock legend like the iconic singer and songwriter Neil Young? Name a spider after him of course! A great story from Los Angeles (Reuters) informs us that an East Carolina University biologist named Jason Bond - not James sadly, has discovered a new species of trapdoor spider and decided to name the arachnid after his favourite musician, Canadian Neil Young : a memorable name (for a spider) - 'Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi'.
In a statement Bond said "There are strict rules about how you name new species. As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice."
The new spider species was discovered by Bond in Jefferson County, Alabama in 2007. He explains that spiders in the trapdoor genus, who tend to live in burrows and build trap doors to seal off their living quarters, are distinguished from one species to the next on the basis of differences in genitalia. ( Perhaps a little too much information if you are more of a Neil Young fan, than a spider fan, but interesting none the less!)
Jason Bond has been able to confirm through the spider's DNA that the Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi is an identigiable, seperate species of spider within the trapdoor genus. That ought to make Neil Young fans happy, after all he is unique!
However he is not the only rock legend to have a creature named after him. He shares the honour with Roy Orbison and his wife: a species of beetle that looks as if it is wearing a tuxedo - the whirligig beetle, or Orectochilus orbisonorum - was named after them earlier this year!
Who needs a star when you can have a spider in the world wide web of fame!
If you have adopted a dog from a shelter or taken on a puppy from a breeder or even a friend, you will know how important it is to them that you understand your commitment to having a dog has to be 100% and that hopefully it will be a long lasting and mutual love affair! Well for one American company, FlexPetz, a dog is no longer for life, but just for the weekend!
I am probably not alone in thinking this is a strange and potentially cruel idea. There is nothing wrong with dog sharing when two people or even families take on the responsibility of caring for a pet, but cannot due to other daily commitments devote all the time needed to do so. Many people have dog walkers or sitters if they work or travel, but the idea of renting a pet seems to contradict what dog lovers understand : the vital importance of the relationship between pet and parent!
FlexPetz has, according to a recent article in the Evening Standard, proved popular enough in the U.S for them to launch the service in the UK. They currently have five dogs in London and have already signed up 100 'part-time owners. FlexPet (what a name) has plans to buy more dogs and expand to other British cities. Marlena Cervantes who launched the service and is a behavioural thereapist, said "Our members are responsible in that they realise full-time ownership is not an option. We screen all our members first to make sure they are suitable". (Whatever that means) Users pay an annual fee in the UK of £50 plus a monthly subscription which gets them four days with a dog. The fees also cover leads bowls, beds and food which are supplied for every trip. Well at least the dogs get to sleep in the same bed if not in the same home!
I read that most of the dogs are retired show animals that have all received full obedience training, and are fitted with tracking collars -and chips I hope- in case they get lost. But are they retired and happy to be passed around like a sports trophee?
The scheme has been criticised by animal charities who maintain that such 'timeshare' schemes are cruel to the dogs involved. Ryan Neile of pet charity Blue Cross said: "when dogs are passed around, they may become confused, distressed and upredictable" and Caroline Kisko of the British Kennel Club said that "The concept of renting out dogs as a 'timeshare' equivalent is detrimental to the dog".
Let me know your thoughts on this one, but let's hope that this rent a pet exercise will lead some of the scheme's members to put their time and pet caring efforts into adopting from a shelter where so many dogs are needing just one home!
