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The Debarking Debate

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Debarking is a controversial subject. The practice of removing vocal cord tissue to lower a dog’s bark volume is outlawed in some parts of the world — and raises a lot of debate among pet owners. One misconception about debarking: the surgery does not take away the dog’s bark entirely. The dog can still bark and make noise! Debarking reduces the volume of the sound produced. Some arguments against debarking: Why subject a pet to unnecessary surgery? Just like any other surgery, debarking comes with risks and complications. Is volume control worth a possible reaction to anesthesia, post-surgical infection, and … Continue reading →

Debarking

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I had never heard of debarking before it appeared on an intake form at the vet’s office: is your dog debarked? The lady checking me in said that if I didn’t know what it was, then my dog wasn’t debarked. But that wasn’t enough of an answer for me. Debarking is a surgical procedure that removes tissue from a dog’s vocal cords. The end result is that NOT that the dog cannot bark — the bark is simply quieter. A friend of mine who has encountered a debarked dog said it is a hoarser sounding bark. Other sources call it … Continue reading →

Moose is Full of Mischief!

I guess even dogs can get a wild hair now and then. My dog Moose (a German shepherd mix) has been full of mischief lately! It started a few nights ago. The dogs and I went to bed around ten (our usual bedtime, give or take an hour or so) after one last quick trip outside for piddles. Around 1:30 in the morning, something drags me out of slumber. Fwee! Fwee! This is the noise Moose makes when he wants attention; it’s a pathetic cross between a whine and a whistle. Moose only has the one “distress” noise, so I … Continue reading →

When a Dog Goes Blind

My next door neighbor’s dog, Simba, has had a rough road lately. First he was diagnosed with diabetes and Cushing’s syndrome, then shortly after that (not even a week later) he went blind. How They Knew Simba Was Blind When I was little, our family dog Mike went blind. I don’t remember exactly when it happened or how we knew. I’m fairly sure my dad was the first to notice it. I got to thinking about that because I asked my neighbors how they figured out Simba was blind. It’s not like he can just shout all of a sudden, … Continue reading →

New Neighbors and Their Outdoor Pets

Three new families have moved into my neighborhood during the last month. All have pets. (Woohoo! More pet people!) However, two of the households have outdoor pets. Aimee’s not the only one who takes exception to her neighbors from time to time. Occasionally, so do I. Most recently Aimee had to contend with neighbors not disposing of their trash (namely chicken bones) in the proper place. Frustrating. I can feel her pain. One of our new neighbors’ animals is leaving some litter behind I’d rather he dispose of elsewhere, too…. The Outdoor Cat Apparently he’s made friends with his next … Continue reading →

Do Your Pets Have a Sense of Humor?

Do your pets understand laughter? Do they understand it’s a good thing when they make you laugh? Do they do things on purpose to make you laugh? Do they even “laugh” themselves? Mine do. What Murphy Does to Make Me Laugh Murph can be quite the clown when he wants to, but his most favorite way to get me to laugh is by stealing socks. He’ll snag a dirty one from the dirty clothes, run up to me with tail wagging and eyes bright, and wait for me to say, “Oooo! Whatcha got there, puppy? Give me that, you Sock … Continue reading →

Why the Dogs and I Hate Tuesdays

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Over the last year, Tuesday has become my least favorite day of the week. You can try to guess why, but I don’t think you’ll get it. It’s not because of what’s on TV or what my schedule is like. It’s because Tuesday is landscaping day at the apartment complex where I live. Tuesdays are a day off from the cats only boarding facility, but I have to get up early anyway on Tuesday. I have to take Moose and Lally out for a nice long walk before the lawnmowers and weedwackers start up at 8:30. Then it’s a barkathon … Continue reading →

Decoding Different Barks

Researchers at Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary are using computers to help decode and translate different dog barks. The study began with recording the barks from fourteen different Hungarian sheepdogs. Barking was recorded in six different situations: When a stranger approached the house when the owner was away and the dog was home alone. When a trainer encouraged the dog to bite on protective gear and bark aggressively (think of police dog training). When an owner was preparing to take the dog for a walk. When an owner was holding a ball in front of the dog. When an owner … Continue reading →

How To Be A Good Neighbor

Apartment living means we have to be a lot more considerate about our neighbors. Not that this is a big surprise to me; it’s just an adjustment. Moose, Lally, and I spent the last three years living in a house with a huge yard and now we’re living in an apartment with no yard and lots of people close by. So what makes a good neighbor? Friendliness, for sure — I’m in a totally new area and while I knew some people before I moved, I don’t know anybody here at the apartment complex. We’ve made friends with another dog … Continue reading →

Training Your Dog With the Gentle Leader

Wearing a Gentle Leader is going to be an unusual experience for your dog — especially if he’s only used to wearing a traditional collar. The nose loop may feel very weird, kind of like a person wearing glasses for the very first time. His nose may itch or tickle. What might your dog do to resist the Gentle Leader? Paw at his face. Roll on the ground. Rub his face on furniture, people’s legs, or the carpet. Bark or whine. Petting your dog and telling him “it’s okay” will reinforce this behavior. Save the praise for when he is … Continue reading →