Humans and dogs helping each other out

The video below shows how inmates at a women's prison in Florida are training security dogs. I have heard of another program where inmates with seizures in prison were training dogs to detect seizures in people. Those dogs were then sent to a person that needed that type of dog.

Cute items for your pet

I just about laughed my head off when I saw the photo above at Shop.com It was not so much the cute jogging suit but the fact it looks just like my Min Pin wearing it, right down to the floppy ears and all. You can see the suit here and it only cost $12.99 which is cheaper than the dog jackets I have been seeing at the local pet store.

The same site also sells a treadmill for dogs priced at $489. At that price I'll get my butt out in the cold weather and take the dog for a run. I am sure that my dog would appreciate my company on a walk rather than him being trained to walk on a treadmill.

Persimmon plants and your dog

If you have any Persimmon trees on or near your property you should be aware that the fruit of the tree could be toxic to your dog. Animals that graze such as horses, sheep and cattle have died after ingesting the fruit. What happens in those animals is that after they ingest the fruit it forms a sticky mass in the stomach that proceeds to cause ulcers and often rupture of the stomach. If that does not happen then the mass forms a solid mass that then leads to an obstruction in the animal that leads to death if surgery is not done.

I have not found any incidents of dogs dying from the fruit but since it affects other animals so strongly then I would keep an eye on the dog when the Persimmon trees have dropped their fruit in the fall. Always pick up the fruit off the ground to prevent ingestion by your pet.

Grooming your Chow Chow

The Chow Chow dog has a very thick double coat. Surprisingly it does not take that much brushing. It is recommended by top Chow Chow groomers that the Chow dog not be thoroughly groomed more than once a week. More often than that will cause the outer long fur to break thus leaving only a shorter looking coat that lays flat.

The proper way to groom a Chow Chow is to have the dog laying down and using a "rake" go through the coat from tail to head one small section at a time. The whole process might take a few hours so take your time and teach the dog to relax as well. I use a rake similar to the one pictured below. The rake you choose should be comfortable to use since you will be using it for a few hours each week.



After using the "rake" you will need a brush to back brush the enter coat forward while the dog is standing. This will enhance the Chow Chow's mane and help with oil distribution.

Dog breed names - American Pit Bull Terrier

What is in a name? Plenty if you are trying to register an American Pit Bull Terrier with the AKC. The American Kennel Club does not recognize the American Pit Bull Terrier as a dog breed. They do register the American Staffordshire Terrier but not the Pit Bull Terrier. The 2 dog breeds are entirely separate types of dogs. The Staff is a smaller dog breed where as the Pit is a taller breed and type. Both are stout and muscular dog breeds. The Staff is usually shown with unaltered ears and the Pit often has its ears cropped short.

The American Pit Bull Terrier breed is recognized by the UKC (United Kennel Club) which is a smaller dog breed registry. If you are planning on looking at a litter of Pit Bull puppies and the owner tells you they are AKC registered then you should take a very close look at the registry papers. Yes people can and do fake registration papers. When in doubt you can always call the breed registry in question or the main breed club.

The Pit Bull has had a rash of bad publicity in the last 15 years. Because of that some home owners insurance companies will not issue a home owners policy of you have a Pit Bull on the property. Always check your insurance to see if they exculed Pit Bulls or other dog breeds from being on your property.

Become a dog groomer

Are you ready to put your love of dogs to the test? Not all dog lovers make good pet groomers. Watch the video below on becoming a dog groomer.