Dog that roots like a pig

Over the years we have had 3 dogs that have loved to root around in the dirt like pigs do. Their noses are covered in dirt when they are finished. I am surprised that they don't get blackheads on nose with all that dirt. Of course the reason they don't is the fact they have long tongues and they can clean their noses with it.

Of course most of our dogs just love to roll in something very smelly too......but that is another story.

Times have changed

Times have changed for the better when it comes to the treatment of dogs. About 30 years ago it was common that dogs were used in experiments. These tests and experiments were not to test advancements in treatments for dogs, it was more likely to test human medications or chemical reactions. Thankfully the advancement of computer aided virtual testing has eliminated most testing done with dogs. I would hope that testing for cell signal boosters, and stem cell research does not involve dogs.

Doggy doors

Having a doggy door does come in handy but don't have it on a outside door to your home. Why do I say that? It is to keep unwanted animals from entering your home. A close friend had a stray cat enter her home via her doggy door and the cat attacked her!! Other people report that raccoons and squirrels have entered their homes via doggy doors. So where is the best place for a doggy door? The doggy door is best placed on a door that that does not allow direct access to your home. A garage door or a door to an outbuilding is best. After all, all you are providing is access for your dog to get in out of the weather.

We have a doggy door installed on one of our smaller steel buildings. It provides a quick and easy shelter for our dogs when they are outside and need to get in out of the rain. Inside the building we have a walled off area for the dogs to get water and rest. The building also houses some tools and they are housed in another room.

Hiking with your dog

When you go hiking with your dog, do you have the dog wear its own backpack? If you don't then it might be something that you should get your dog use to wearing. Having your dog carry its own snacks, water and poop bags will have you carrying less. Even having your dog carry a small tick spray and doggy first aid kit will make your hike less stressful.

There are many styles of packs for dogs. Some are as elaborate as the expensive, human, Millet Backpacks or you can get creative and make your own. Don't forget to add some reflective stripping to the pack to make your dog more visible at night while you are near roads.

So when the weather permits it, have some fun and go hiking with your dog.

My heart goes out to those in Japan

News is still coming in regarding the situation in Japan after the huge earthquake yesterday. If you have not hugged your dog, do it now. Life is too short not to enjoy your four pawed friend.

As I sat with my mouth dropped open, just watching the devastation of the tsunami and the 100 plus fires, I wondered how many dogs were affected by this disaster. Several rescue teams are heading out tonight to Japan from California that have the search and rescue dogs. Along with them are fire fighters and EMT's. Supplies are also in route such as food and commercial pumps.

No doubt we will be hearing about dramatic rescues and miracles in the coming days. I will try and watch out for any videos about the dog rescue teams and post them here on the blog.

Insurance companies that offer dog coverage while riding in your car

After a local TV station broadcast a news story about auto insurance coverage and mentioned coverage for your dog while it was a passenger, I was curious as to which companies offered the coverage. Since the news story was very evasive about which companies did offer it, I did a quick search on the subject.

The most widely advertised company that offers insurance coverage to your dog while it is a passenger in your car, that is on your auto insurance policy, is Progressive. One other company is Farmers, but not in all states. Both of them have the coverage at no additional charge on your policy. Other companies also offer the coverage but each one is state specific and may or may not offer the coverage for free.

The best way to find that type of coverage is to first check with your own auto insurance company. Who knows, you might have coverage already.

Dog breeds that associated with human traits

How often have you compared a dog to a human trait or type? Advertisers do it all the time. Afghan Hounds are often depicted as fashion models. Pugs and English Bull dogs are depicted as distinguished gentlemen often wearing hats and smoking cigars.  Poodles are often portrayed as the typical airheads that is fashion minded.

So what are your thoughts on this? I would love you to comment and let me know what other breeds you think are associated with human types.