Scratchings-and-Sniffings

Back Packing with Miles

Miles got his first taste of back packing last weekend. I posted some photos on Monday and have more for today's post. Phil and Alice went along with us and we all had a great time. Miles got a little beat up but it's all part of the learning process for a puppy. He may look like an adult dog but he's still a puppy when it comes to common sense and he'll be that way for another year at least.

One thing he is learning is that not all dogs want to play puppy games all the time.

The Grumpy Old Lady Gets Her Way

Oh yes. She does. That would be me, anyway. I'm a cat, of course I get my own way! Sheesh!

Here's what I do... I wail. I wail at the top of my lungs. Mom and Tom think I'm going deaf - after all I ignore most of what they say to me - but the truth is I like wailing. I like talking out loud.

Sometimes I wail because I wonder where the dog is. Don't like him steaking up on me. (him/her - it doesn't matter, the 'dog' word is sufficient!)

Along about 6 a.m. I wail loud enough to wake the neigbors, the better to get Mom and Tom jumping out of bed. I KNOW they need to get up. And, I need my breakyfast. So, I just help things along. If they don't listen...I scratch the new walls. This new house is terrific! The walls make lots of noise when I run my claws over them!

Once I get my breakyfast, I make sure they're both up and off of the bed, and that it's made properly. I like a nicely made bed to sleep in.

And that's how I get my way. So simple...a caveman could do it!

Miles Goes Back Packing

Miles has been itching all winter to get out in the back country and this weekend he got his opportunity. It was a super trip and I'll write much more about his adventures this week.

In the meantime, check out the photos. 

It may be spring break time but it was still winter in the mountains.

The river was high with snow melting and the water was really, really cold.

Miles didn't notice the cold at all.

The Grumpy Old Lady Gets Fancy

Hey, don't bother me...I'm eating my Fancy Feast Appetizers for cats.

Check out my new collar and tag - I'm really the cat's meow. I know ya all are jealous! Mwah!

p.s. I'm holding back on the grumpiness while I eat...unless you keep bothering me! Mom, I mean you...get rid of the camera!

First Clicker Training Class for Miles

We've had a run of bad weather the last few weeks so our first clicker training class with Miles was delayed until this morning.

We did have the orientation where we got the basics including the concept behind clicker training. As I mentioned in more detail in a previous post on this topic, clicker training is nothing more than operant conditioning. First you get the dog conditioned to the idea that the noise of the clicker means a reward is soon to follow. Once that is accomplished you use the clicker to identify the behavior you are looking for. When you see the behavior you want, you click and then, treat.

This morning we worked on a few exercises that are designed to make training of specific command like "come" easier to train down the road. The first exercise was to get Miles to move forward and touch my hand with his muzzle. Starting out, if he even looked at the hand he got a click and a treat.

More #BlogPawsPawty Twitter Party Details

I'm excited to share with you our sponsors, exhibitors and speakers who have donated the prizes we'll be giving away throughout the evening. I think you'll agree they are pretty pawsome. Be sure to join us to have fun, meet our sponsors, speakers and exhibitors and win prizes! See you Thursday!

via www.blogpaws.com

Twitter party details. BlogPaws is having pawty on Thursday! Be there - and join in to win a chance for a free registration - books - toys - gift certificates - lots of GR8 stuff! Remember to register soon - before the best rooms at the Westin are gone! W00t!

For Chai and Pam

I received a sad e-mail over the weekend. Pam wrote to tell me that Chai, her Chesapeake Bay Retriever with degenerative myelopathy, had died. It was sad, but not surprising considering the progressive nature of this nasty disease. I was surprised though by the last few posts on Pam's blog about Chai. It's remarkable how devoted some people are when it comes to their dogs.

I often get questions from people with older or sick pets about euthanasia. Mainly they want to know how they can tell when it is time, if all else fails, to end their pet's life in a humane way.

Yes, you can come to BlogPaws! BlogPaws or Bust!

For regular readers, this announcement will spark LOTS MORE excitement. For new readers, this announcement will spark TANTILIZING NEW excitement. Either way, you'll be excited! How could you not be?

Over at BlogPaws, my other pet project, we're preparing for the first and best pet blogger conference on the planet. We have a fantastic line-up of speakers and sponsors, and our committee members are busy tweeting about the event every day. One thing we've discovered is that this kind of came about rather quickly (it did - we thought about it, created it, and hit the ground running just a few months ago) and some people are dying to come but need a little help.

Vets Without Borders

You've probably heard of Doctors Without Borders. This organization travels the globe providing much needed medical assistance in war or natural disaster ravaged countries. They were on the scene in Haiti within days of that disaster.

Turns out we have a similar group of Veterinarians, Animal Health Technicians and Veterinary Students. World Vets is an international animal aid group that currently has projects in 12 countries on five continents.

 

While they are sending a team to Haiti, their model is a little different than Doctors Without Borders. World Vets focuses on sustainable relationships with partner nations. They work with local authorities, health officials and community leaders to establish ongoing veterinary aid programs in mostly developing nations. 

That's One Big Dog

Have you heard about George the really Great Dane? He's been all over the news the last couple of days after being named world's tallest dog by the Guinness Book of World Records.

It's a pretty interesting story. Apparently, a Guinness official had to go to George's home in Tucson for an official measuring attended by George's Veterinarian among others. The title was in dispute as another Dane from California was also in the running.

George measured a whopping 43 inches at the shoulder, beating out the California Dane by a mere 3/4 inch. According to the AKC, a male Dane must be at least 30 inches at the shoulder to meet the breed standard. George beats that by one Beagle.