Champs' Bedtime Prayer

Champ Hogs the Covers but That's Just Fine With ED !!!

Why Do Dogs Chase Cars?

 

I want to start the weekend early by asking a FUN question - Why Do Dogs Chase Cars?  How about dogs that ignore cars but never miss a chance to bark at a bus or a large truck?

Do dogs love to do this because cars are cowards and always "run way”– (giving the dog a sense of victory for having chased off the big noisy intruder!)? Well, there is a little more to it than that. To help understand this dog behavior
Car chasing is a dangerous behavior. Thousands of dogs are killed by autos and trucks every year. So please keep your dog safe.

Have a wonderful weekend.

People who wonder why dogs chase cars are missing the real question – what would a dog do if he caught the car? Finding the answer will satisfy both questions.

Dogs chase cars for the same reasons they chase kids on bikes, cats, small animals and other dogs: They are either playing a game or they are hunting. To a greater or lesser degree, chasing involves a dog's natural prey drive.

In most socialized, well-adjusted dogs, prey drive expresses itself as a canine tag game, in which the dogs take turns being "it." The object isn't necessarily to catch the other dog; the real fun is just running around. Chasing balls or Frisbees is another outlet for dogs' prey drive.

Dogs may play-fight as part of the game of tag, lunging or even snapping playfully at one another during the chase. This form of play may extend to include cats, joggers, people riding on bicycles or skateboards, or cars. The intent is not to hurt or kill, but to engage the other creature (or thing) in a game.

                 

A more serious form of chasing is the hunt. Some dogs have a higher prey drive than others. Sporting, herding dogs, terriers, and hounds have enhanced prey drive; they have the potential to chase and kill their prey. The sequence involves searching, stalking, chasing, catching, biting, killing and eating. Such dangerous behavior is called predatory aggression, but it's not a disorder or and is not engaged in out of anger. It's a natural behavior that's triggered by movement.

Predatory aggression has few warning signs. The dog slides up to the intended victim silently until it is within range, and then launches the attack – nipping at heels, biting, hanging on in an attempt to drag the victim to the ground. The consequences of such an attack can be deadly to the victim.

If your dog shows a heightened prey drive, he should be under your control at all times for his own safety and for the safety of the general public. He may need to undergo behavior modification as well. For more information see the article on predatory aggression.

Canine Heritage Test: DNA Reveals Mixed Breeds’ Makeup

By: Renae Hamrick, RVT

What kind of dog is that?! Mutt owners are quite accustomed to the frequent guessing of their dog's breed composition. It can be fun to imagine what breeds are in a mixed breed's family tree. However, for many families with a "Heinz 57" dog, truly knowing their canine companion's history would be very satisfying. Thanks to DNA testing technology, this is now an easy question to answer.

MetaMorphix, INC. Genomics has developed a test called the Canine Heritage Test which can genetically reveal the breed composition of your mixed breed dog at any age. This exciting advance in technology will allow mixed breed owners to learn more about their dog's health, behavior, and family history. For those who own a mysterious, loveable mix and want more dogs like him, this test can help in the search for similar dogs.

The first test they produced tested fro 38 breeds which has been replaced by the current version that tests for over 100 breeds.

How Can You Test Your Dog?

For $119.95 plus shipping and handling, you can order a test from the company's website, www.canineheritage.com. In three to seven days, the test will arrive at your home. Without pain or the help of a veterinary professional, you collect the DNA sample in the comfort of your home.

You will receive a soft-bristled brush which you rub on the inside of your dog's cheek to collect cells. There is video footage of this procedure on the website. You will also receive written cell collection instructions with the test. The swab is simply mailed back to MetaMorphix in a pre-paid envelope, and results will be returned in four to six weeks.

Results

The company has genetically identified and certified over 100 common, canine breeds. If any of these validated breeds are present in the composition of your mixed breed, they will be listed in one of three categories: "primary, secondary, and in-the-mix". Primary breeds make up 50% or more of the dog, secondary breeds are easily recognizable but not part of the majority, and breeds "in the mix" are present at a very low but measurable percentage.

Perhaps the only con of this exciting scientific development, if your dog has DNA of a breed that is not yet validated, it will not be listed. However, MetaMorphix's compilation of validated breeds is quite extensive and covers most breeds commonly found in mixes.

The results will be printed on a frame-quality "Certificate of Breed Analysis". This certificate can also include a picture of your dog if you email MetaMorphix a digital photo in .jpeg format. Visit the website for complete instructions on emailing a photo.

Validated Breeds

The validated breeds are the following

1.        Afghan Hound

2.        Airedale Terrier

3.        Akita

4.        Alaskan Malamute

5.        American Eskimo Dog

6.        American Water Spaniel

7.        Australian Shepherd

8.        Australian Terrier

9.        Basenji

10.        Basset Hound

11.        Beagle

12.        Bearded Collie

13.        Belgian Sheepdog

14.        Belgian Tervuren

15.        Bernese Mountain Dog

16.        Black and Tan Coonhound

17.        Bloodhound

18.        Blue Tick Coonhound

19.        Border Collie

20.        Border Terrier

21.        Borzoi

22.        Boston Terrier

23.        Bouviers des Flandre

24.        Boxer

25.        Brittany

26.        Brussels Griffon

27.        Bull Terrier

28.        Bulldog

29.        Bullmastiff

30.        Cairn Terrier

31.        Canaan Dog

32.        Cardigan Welsh Corgi

33.        Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

34.        Chesapeake Bay Retriever

35.        Chihuahua

36.        Chinese Crested

37.        Chinese Shar-Pei

38.        Chow Chow

39.        Clumber Spaniel

40.        Cocker Spaniel

41.        Collie

42.        Dachshund

43.        Dalmatian

44.        Doberman Pinscher

45.        English Cocker Spaniel

46.        English Coonhound

47.        English Setter

48.        English Toy Spaniel

49.        Field Spaniel

50.        Flat-Coated Retriever

51.        French Bulldog

52.        German Shepherd Dog
53.        German Shorthaired Pointer
54.        German Wirehaired Pointer
55.        Giant Schnauzer
56.        Golden Retriever
57.        Gordon Setter
58.        Great Pyrenees
59.        Greyhound
60.        Irish Setter
61.        Irish Terrier
62.        Italian Greyhound
63.        Keeshonden
64.        Kerry Blue Terrier
65.        Labrador Retriever
66.        Lhasa Apso
67.        Mastiff
68.        Miniature Pinscher
69.        Miniature Schnauzer
70.        Newfoundland
71.        Norwich Terrier
72.        Old English Sheepdog
73.        Papillon
74.        Pembroke Welsh Corgi
75.        Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
76.        Plott Coonhound
77.        Pointer
78.        Pomeranian
79.        Poodle
80.        Pug
81.        Puli
82.        Red Bone Coonhound
83.        Rhodesian Ridgeback
84.        Rottweiler
85.        Saluki
86.        Samoyed
87.        Schipperke
88.        Scottish Deerhound
89.        Scottish Terrier
90.        Shetland Sheepdog
91.        Shiba Inu
92.        Shih Tzu
93.        Siberian Husky
94.        Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
95.        St. Bernard
96.        Staffordshire Bull Terrier
97.        Standard Schnauzer
98.        Tibetan Spaniel
99.        Tibetan Terrier
100.        Treeing Walker
101.        Vizsla
102.        Weimaraner
103.        Whippet
104.        Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
105.        Yorkshire Terrier

In the News

The Canine Heritage Test was recently featured on the Today show when host, Meredith Vieira tested her mixed breed, Jasper. She purchased him from a pet store believing he was an Aussie-Poo, or Australian Shepherd, Poodle mix. She discovered that Jasper is actually a Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, and Borzoi mix. (Note: Because the Australian Shepherd is not in the list of validated breeds, it is still possible that Jasper is part "Aussie".)

With the increasing popularity of "designer" dogs, this DNA test will surely continue to be an exciting phenomenon for mixed breed lovers everywhere.

  

Cheeto The FAT CAT

Early one rainy morning back in December of 2012 a mangy starving tabby cat appeared out of our bushes. He was scared and he wouldn’t allow me to touch him plus he was bleeding from an open wound on his hip. First thing to do was get some food in him, which wasn’t easy but after about 30 minutes he cleaned out his bowl.  Now if I could just get my hands on him to give him a good once over. Around 2 pm I had gain his trust and checked out his bloody hip but it needed more attention than I was able to provide. Got him into a pet taxi (after some kicking & squirming) and away we went to Dr. Michele at Graham Animal Hospital. His injury wasn’t as bad as I had feared and with some meds for pain and some to prevent infection he was bandaged up with TLC. An appointment was set up for a recheck of the hip and a round of prevention shoots (rabies, leukemia etc) .

On the way home I picked up a Rubber Made storage container so he would have a warm dry place to sleep. He took to it like a duck to water and hasn’t missed a meal since

We got him fixed in March of 2012 and for the most part he hangs with Tigger on and around the front porch close to his tubs, food and water.

He did give me a scare in June when he went missing for a couple of days, I scoured the neighborhood in search of him with no success. Jean suggested I check the dog pound and low and behold he was there crying up a storm when he saw me. He was scheduled to be euthanized the following day. I made his bail (45.00) and away we went back home. We bonded that day on the trip home,  He’s my Fat Cat Now!

Tigger (6 yr old female) shares the tubs with Cheeto

Neko ?-1998/12-2013

Our pet family shrunk by one today, I had to put Neko to sleep. He was a 15yr old rescue. Dad got him in NJ a few months before he passed in Aug. of 2010. I brought him home to NC Jan. 2011 and he blended right into our family of 3 dogs and 6 cats like he'd always been here. He has been struggling due to weak rear legs for the last 6 months and no amount of meds seemed to help. Christmas Eve he ate about midnight and went out to do his business returning to his spot next to my bed for the night. He couldn't walk or stand at all Christmas Day, just laid  there making soft whining and moaning sounds. All I could get in him was a small amount of water, he'd turn his nose away from food. About 6:00 Christmas evening he lost control of his bowels.  By the look on his face he was embarrassed and sorry for the mess he made. He had always been a very proud dog and carried himself with dignity.

This morning with tears in our eyes Jean and I bid him fair well. We should get his ashes back next week...our thoughts and love are with him always.

“I’ll Never Forget a Dog Named Beau.”

Jimmy Stewart’s poem about his beloved dog…

As we approach Christmas, we often stop to reflect on the many people who have made an undeniable impact in our lives over the years. But how often do we sit down and thank our dogs as well? Many of you may, and if you do, then you’re in good company. We came across this marvelous poem written by actor Jimmy Stewart titled simply, “I’ll Never Forget a Dog Named Beau.” This poem touched us so much we just had to share it with you here, and we feel it echoes many of the indescribable loves and joys we all experience when it comes to our four-legged friends and the lives they share with us.

“Beau”

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn’t come at all.

When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn’t drag.
He’d dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I’d grab him, he’d turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn’t read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story’s long to tell.
Suffice it to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The Old One and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the Old One was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house–
I guess I’m the first to retire.
And as I’d leave the room he’d look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I’d give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I’d fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He’d tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I’d feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I’d pat his head.

And there were nights when I’d feel this stare
And I’d wake up and he’d be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I’d feel him sigh
and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he’d be glad to have me near.

And now he’s dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,
But he’s not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn’t so,
I’ll always love a dog named Beau.

Here’s the story behind the poem, as related by Stewart:

While shooting a movie in Arizona, Stewart received a phone call from Dr. Keagy, his veterinarian, who informed him that Beau was terminally ill, and that Gloria sought his permission to perform euthanasia. Stewart declined to give a reply over the phone, and told Keagy to “keep him alive and I’ll be there.” Stewart requested several days’ leave, which allowed him to spend some time with Beau before granting the doctor permission to euthanize the sick dog. Following the procedure, Stewart sat in his car for ten minutes to clear his eyes of tears. Stewart later remembered: “After [Beau] died there were a lot of nights when I was certain that I could feel him get into bed beside me and I would reach out and pat his head. The feeling was so real that I wrote a poem about it and how much it hurt to realize that he wasn’t going to be there any more.”

Have you ever written a poem about your dog or made a bit of art to commemorate them? If so, we’d love for you to share them with us! And if you haven’t done so before, maybe this Christmas will prove the perfect time to do so.

I miss my companion and friend!  "Buddy" is in my heart daily.

- See more at: http://www.varietypetfoods.com/1829/jimmy-stewarts-poem-about-his-beloved-dog/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thevarietypack+%28The+Variety+Pack%29#sthash.lgV2RR75.dpuf

Recall Of Bailey's Choice Dog Treats In Georgia

Champ Says: Only Eat Healthy Treats Like The One's Ed Feeds Me From               Life's Abundance!

Click Here To ORDER & for INFOMATION

Wednesday, November 6 2013, 04:37 PM EST

Recall Of Bailey's Choice Dog Treats In Georgia

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is alerting Georgians to the expanded recall of particular packages of Bailey’s Choice dog treats sold in Georgia. These products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella and should be discarded.

Bailey’s Choice Dog Treats, LLC, of Waleska, Ga., is expanding the recall to include additional five-ounce packages of dog treats, including:
•          100% Chicken Treat, lot # “Jun 2 2013”
•          100% Chicken Treat, lot # “Jun 3 2013”
•          100% Chicken Breast Treat, lot # “Jun 4 2013”
•          100% Chicken Treat, lot # “Jun 15 2013”
•          100% Chicken Treat, lot # “Jul 8 2013”
•          100% Chicken Treat, lot # “Jul 11 2013”
•          100% Teriyaki Chicken Treats, lot # 132881

Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will continue checking retail stores and warehouses to make sure the recalled products have been removed from sale.

Dogs that have become infected by consuming treats contaminated with Salmonella may experience fever, lethargy, diarrhea or mucus in stool, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss or rapid heart rate. Pets experiencing these symptoms should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. This bacterial disease is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans.

Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea that may be bloody, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses, such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis. The very young, the elderly, and persons with compromised immune systems are most susceptible to foodborne illnesses. People experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

To date, no illnesses have been reported.

Consumers who purchased these products for their pets should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact Bailey’s Choice Dog Treats, LLC, for additional information at 770-881-0526 or thomdo4570@gmail.com or online at www.baileyschoicetreats.com .