THERE'S RAIN ON THE RADAR

RADAR SHOWS RAIN IN THE AREA

Heya Hounders,
It's your old buddy Homer J. with a short tidbit about our latest Bumpass Hounds weather prediction gadget. It's called Radar. The video screen captures what the Radar shows us when light precipitation is in the immediate area. We think that the Radar Rain Dance is actually the cause of the precipitation. If Radar were to behave like a dumb turkey and look up towards the rain it could lead to the water boarding sensation which is uncomfortable. This Radar is content to stay out in the rain. DUH! Mom says there nothing quite as distinctive as that fresh wet dog smell and wet paw prints to make her day complete.
- Homer J. and The Bumpass Hounds and Kitties

I HAVE "RADAR" CONTACT

INCOMING!

Radar & Sophie

Heya Hounders,

It's me, the Sofa-Dofa; Sophie. It's been two weeks since I last reported on my diet progress. Mom and dad were away at Dizzyworld for 5 days and, unfortunately, my pet sitter wasn't required to prepare my cut beans and carrots diet. I got straight Purina OM kibble, which is better than what the other guys eat, but it isn't my normal diet. Dad didn't know how much straight kibble I should get, so he guesstimated about double what I get with the beans and carrots. My last weigh-in had me at 82 lbs, that's 9 lbs below my target schedule weight of 91 lbs. This weekend my schedule goal was 89 lbs. Because the 4th of July holiday was Saturday, dad took me up to Doc Witter's for my weigh-in on Friday, 3 July. All in all it wasn't too bad. I hadn't gained any weight, but I weighed-in at 81 lbs which is only a 1 lb loss for the two week period. I was bummed out. Dad said that I had done very good under the circumstances. He says that I'm still 8 lbs below my schedule goal and it's harder for me to lose weigh now that I'm down in normal dog weight range instead of the "morbidly obese" range. Now I'm back on cut green beans and carrots along with a small amount of OM kibble. I'm still hanging tough.

A short respite for Sophie & Radar

Speaking of hanging tough, that's what it is to be Radar's best friend here in The Bumpass Hounds pack; it's a tough job (but somebody's gotta do it). I must be My Fair Lady because I've grown accustom to his face; Radar's that is. A girl can't even do her business in peace without getting torpedoed by the Red Tasmanian Devil. Yes, I have Radar contact; all of the time it seems. Heck, I can't even take a much needed nap on the kitchen floor without being accosted in my dreams by TRTD (The Red Tasmanian Devil). Maybe it's my maternal instincts that give me so much tolerance for the little guy. I actually missed him when he went on vacation over to Sissy Sarah's while mom and dad were away. The little guy is growing like a tick sucking blood out of a dog's ear. Dad says that MAYBE he'll calm down a bit as he gets older. Isn't that what the they said about Attila the Hun? Oh well, what's a princess to do?

- Sophie and The Bumpass Hounds and Kitties

CAN'T A GIRL GET SOME BEAUTY SLEEP - UNDISTURBED?

RADAR'S VACATION

RADAR'S V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

<-- Radar At Sissy Sarah's House

Heya Hounders, It's Radar, the blind Golden Retriever puppy, with some news about my recent vacation. Last weekend mom and dad went to a big play park in Orlando, Dizzyworld or something like that. Anyway, all the other dogs and cats had Ms. Mary and Ms. Tammy pet sitting for them here in the house. I, however, was granted the special privilege of going over to my sissy Sarah's house and staying with her and her husband, the Beel (to avoid confusion with our dad, Bill), and their dogs, Boomer, Crumb, Emmy and Aldo. Boomer is big, lanky German Shepard, Crumb is a Besinji, Emmy is a Shelty and Aldo is a Cop. Yeah, Aldo is a working explosives detection dog (bomb dog) with the Pentagon's Force Protective Agency; The Pentagon Police. Aldo is a red Golden Retriever just like me. He can see and he has a tail but that's OK with me. He has a good nose so he can smell explosives hidden where they shouldn't be. I have a really good sense of smell too; I can find treats where they shouldn't be. When dad took me over to sissy's her and Aldo were at work but the Beel and the rest of their pack wre there to greet me. We all got along fine right from the git-go, which both dad and the Beel seemed to be surprised about. Crumb and I had fun playing. I even met Hemingway, a.k.a. Hemmi, one of the cats. Dad had to leave before Sarah and Aldo got home from work so he didn't witness how well we got along. Sarah took some pictures of me and Aldo playing so I thought I would post some of them for y'all to see. Evidently I'm getting bigger and growing; DUH! I had a lot of fun with Aldo and the gang. I want to thank Sarah, Beel and the gang for taking good care of me while mom and dad deserted me. In the pictures I'm the smaller guy with the shinny reflective collar and no tail. Y'all can click on each photo to see it in a larger view. I wish that I could see them; Sarah says that we were cute together. I had a swell time and hope I can visit there again. I hope y'all had a happy, and safe, Fourth of July holiday. - Radar and The Bumpass Hounds and Kitties

FOURTH OF JULY

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE

4TH OF JULY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

HELP PETS COPE WITH FIREWORKS

Heya Hounders,
Homer J. and Alex P. Kitten here with a word of caution for all of our friends. Tomorrow is the dreaded 4th of July. None of us Bumpass Hounds and Kitties like it much because people all around the development will be setting off fire works and pyrotechnics all weekend. The official Lake Anna display is at 9:15 PM Saturday night out on lake dike #2, it's far away so it won't bother us. It's all of the neighborhood stuff that rattles our cages (please excuse the pun). Mom and dad have learned to keep us all inside with the radios and TVs on kinda loud most of the time. This tends to desensitise us to the unexpected booms. We have the window blinds down and the A/C blasting. Some of us prefer to "hide" in the MBR on the floor at the other side of the big bed. It'll all be over by Monday and we'll get back to SOP. Outside activity will probably start being curtailed this afternoon or evening depending on the noise activity from the illegal fireworks. This will be Radar's first go at it so the plan is to keep him inside and in his crate with a cover over it at night and the radio on. Here's an appropriate blog page dad took off of the Internet. Y'all be as safe as you can this entire weekend, especially tomorrow.
- The Bumpass Hounds and Kitties.

TALL TAILS - A PET LOVER'S BLOG

By Lilly Anderson

Fireworks are a fact of life this time of year. As many pet owners know, fireworks can scare the daylights out of your cats and dogs. Rabbits, guinea pigs and horses aren't immune, either.
The sounds, sights and smells of fireworks contribute to pets' anxiety. Frightened dogs, cats, horses and other animals might run away, or worse - run into traffic.
Here are some tips I found for pet owners from a couple of Web sites:


WRAL.com
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Unscheduled fireworks:
Be prepared for your neighbors to set off fireworks anytime. Be sure that your pets are wearing identification tags or have microchips in case they run away.
Never walk your dog while fireworks are being set off.
Allow your cats or dogs to take refuge under furniture or in a corner. Don't try to tempt your pet because this could cause more stress.
Speak to your vet about a non-sedating remedy to keep your pet calm (this is also a good idea during storm season).

Scheduled fireworks
If you know a fireworks display will be going on nearby, distract your pet with chew toys and games, or play with another pet that does not share his or her fear.
Don't take pets to fireworks displays. Leave them indoors at home. Close all doors and windows, curtains and blinds, and put on music or the television to muffle the sound.
Bring small animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs indoors or into an outhouse or garden shed to give them extra protection.
Horses often bolt from firework noise and become injured. Always make sure horses and ponies are stabled while fireworks are being set off. Make sure fireworks are not in view by closing the stable door.
If you have time, desensitize your pet by playing CDs with sounds such as thunder, fireworks, trains, sirens, etc. After your pets get comfortable with the sounds at a lower volume, gradually increase the volume.
Pheromones. Really.
An interesting tip from the Web site of RSPCA, a non-profit organization in England and Wales, is to ask your vet about the Dog Appeasing Pheromone, a synthetic version of a chemical produced by a female dog shortly after she has given birth.
"The pheromone reassures newborn puppies and naturally calms them down. Scientists have discovered it also helps calm older dogs as well. A simple plug-in diffuser that disperses the chemical into the room is available at some veterinary practices. It is safe and easy to use."

OH THE MAYHEM!

CRAZY DOG NEWSLETTER

Thursday, 2 July 2009

Is your dog afraid of fireworks? Many dogs are. The loud noise of fireworks can send these dogs into a state of panic. Some dogs have even had seizures during fireworks. Saturday is the 4th of July, so it seemed like the right time to talk about this problem. Many cities and municipalities will be having their fireworks displays this Friday or Saturday night, so if your dog is frightened by the noise, this could help. At this time of year, many dog owners complain about their dog's reaction to fireworks. The combination of loud noises and bright lights can scare dogs, even those that don't normally have a history of noise phobias. Lots of dogs have phobias, and the most common dog phobia is fear of noises. Let me tell you about my friend's family dog, Ginger. She was adopted from the pound as an adult dog, so I have no idea what breed she is. Ginger is absolutely terrified of thunder, gunshots and fireworks. When she hears these noises, she totally panics. I was at their house one night when it started to thunder. Ginger went from being one of the most laid back dog I've ever met to a total manic mess. She was trying to dig her way into the kitchen cupboards, pacing and whining. The noise terrified her, and she was absolutely miserable.

Here is a picture of Ginger having a happy roll in the grass after a nice nap.

Ginger's phobia is not uncommon. Many of our dog lovers have asked about what they can do when their pets become anxious or nervous. It's a real problem, especially now with the upcoming 4th of July holiday.
Some dogs will exhibit signs of fear that can include pacing, panting, trembling, salivating, trying to escape and/or barking. Many dogs will actually injure themselves when trying to escape. (I've even seen dogs that were hit by a car when they tried to flee from noises.) What can you do to help keep your dog stay calm during the fireworks this weekend?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Consider not taking your dog to the fireworks display. Make sure that your dog will be calm at home, or stay home with your dog during the fireworks. Keep your dog confined in a comfortable location if possible.

2. Don't try too hard to reassure your dog during a fearful event with petting, soothing words, or extra attention. This can sometimes exacerbate the problem by reinforcing your dog's fearful response.

3. Some dogs are very sensitive to people's moods and may be influenced by the way that you react to the noise. It is best to act happy and upbeat or to redirect your dog's attention to some absorbing activity.

4. If you must leave your dog at home alone during the fireworks, consider what would make your dog most comfortable. Bring your dog indoors. Would he feel safest in a crate? Try turning on the radio, television, fan or air conditioner as "white noise". Make sure you provide a comfortable hiding place or "safe place" for your dog in case he is scared during the fireworks.

5. Pet anxiety studies have shown that music can have a calming effect on a stressed out pet. I would recommend the Music My Pet CD . This musical CD was created for the specific purpose of calming pets. The classical music tracks were arranged to have a smooth soothing dynamic from beginning to end. And the music is performed using only those instruments that have been proven to have a calming effect on pets (like the harp, flute and piano). Try playing the CD before the fireworks begin to get your dog into a relaxed state, and continue playing it throughout the fireworks.

So, the best way to deal with this issue is to be prepared. Before the fireworks begin, anticipate your dog's reaction to these loud noises. Whenever possible try to avoid exposing your dog to fireworks. If this is not possible, do everything that you can to make your dog feel more comfortable and secure. Talk to your dog in a light, cheerful tone that sends a comforting message that the noise is no big deal. Encourage your dog to find a quiet restful place to wait out the noise. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S. I really believe in the science behind the Music My Pet CD. This soothing music has helped so many pets through stressful situations, and it could help your pet, too.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Why couldn't we go too?

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