Patchy's World Newsletter.#4

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I was just about to post this blog when I came across this marvelous story about a stray dog and a newborn.  After reading this account, I knew this story had to be the lead article in this newsletter.

The article is from PetsFans.com We live in a world full of cruelty; we are surrounded by heartless, inhumane people. The people who use every chance to abuse dogs, leave them abandoned on streets, poison them, or kill them.

In a parallel world to the cruelty, we still find dogs loyal and are there for people when they need to be. 

No matter how much hatred and abuse they received from humans; they will still be there for us, saving us from any danger, and making the world an amazing place with their loyalty and love.

This story shows how noble dogs are, whether they are living in a home or astray, their hearts and morals are the same. It all started in one of Oman’s streets, when a stray dog was roaming around to find food, but found something shocking and unbelievable instead. The dog found a newborn baby only a few hours old, with its umbilical cord still attached to it. 
Who is the heartless person who did this? How can someone throw their baby that way? What would this dog do?

Have a look at the link . The pictures are something else to see. I hope this smart and brave dog gets a good home with a family to love him. He is a hero dog! 

Does your four legged furry friend ever look like this? 

Patches does when she has done something she knows she shouldn’t have, like pull the blankets off the beds.. She then crunches them up and makes herself a fluffy pillow to lie on.

Our furry friends depend on us. This link explains in cartoon form how our pets communicate with us and what their different actions mean. Do you know how they say “I love you”?

Did you know: Petting your dog will give you health benefits?  Petregale tells us about a study.

A large Missouri study has proven that petting your dog for just 15 minutes has the same health benefits of red wine and chocolate without any of the sugar or alcohol.  Get the facts.

News from Legoland…… 
What happens when a sprocker spaniel named Sully meets his double made from Lego at Legoland in Windsor Resort, Britain 

Taking a bath has never been so much fun. A golden retriever is just enjoying his bath splashing away

A New Zealand couple Matt and Abby were tired of family and friends asking when they were going to have a baby. They decided enough is enough. 

And so they welcomed a sweet, fluffy newborn named Humphrey into their life…but it’s what came next that has their story going viral.

And from the Toronto Sun we get Dogs on the Cat walk, Canines strut their stuff to raise money for the Baycrest Hospital in Toronto Ontario pet therapy program.

Walking with a leash  
Does your dog pull and not co-operate when walking with a leash? Do you sometimes feel like your dog is the one walking you? Dogington Post gives us good tips on how to train your dog to walk nicely with a leash.

Do you sometimes see a beautiful service dogs doing the job it was trained to do and you just want to go and give it a pat and say good doggie?

Veterinarian Dr. Ian Kupkee from Florida stresses-The Importance Of Service dog Etiquette. The do’s and don’ts.

Some dogs become such good friends that they eventually become 'partners in crime' ! Just like this German Shepherd named Twitch, and his tiny little friend named Sophie!

And we end this newsletter with these true words:

That’s all for now. Feel free to comment and share.
Miriam and Patches.   

Cooling Ideas, Plants, and Much More…

Hello once again and thank-you for reading the 3^rd newsletter for Patchy’s World! Please feel free to share and comment.  

It has been so very hot and humid where we live. And Patches is having a hard time. In this photo, Patchy doing what she likes best...relaxing, trying to cool off in the evening and looking out of the patio window. She can lie there for hours listening to music and watching everything that is happening on our street.

In this newsletter, I have a selection of articles that I have found from different sites and publications.

Cooling ideas has ten easy ways to cool your dog and beat the heat.

If your dog is anything like Patchy, they like to sniff plants when they go for a walk.  I always think of the children’s story Ferdinand the Bull who preferred sniffing flowers than fighting.

Patchy loves to take her time and sniff every flower she passes. But some plants and vegetation are very dangerous to dogs. All it takes is a nibble or two and we have a sick dog on our hands. From Dogington Post  we learn what is safe and what is not. 

Do you call the police or SPCA when you see an animal in trouble?  The Ottawa Sun reports that locals are not afraid to wag their finger at irresponsible pet owners. 

And in Spain, a small village Trigueros del Valle, has become the first residence to recognize dogs and cats as "non-human residents" awarding them equal rights to co-exist alongside their human counterparts.  

Mamma German Sheppard is tired but her pup wants to run and play. Mama wants to nap and she wants junior to nap…watch this sweet video how mamma gets her way.

Did you know that having a pet can improve your health? Here are 8 ways your pets keep you healthy.

lower your risk for heart disease..
lower your stress level..
being a good friend..
help to make friends [socializing]
helps you exercise
saves lives [serve and therapy dogs]
less chance of stroke
helps battle depression and other mental illness.

And to end this week’s newsletter, a sweet note from your puppy. The author is unknown. If anyone knows who wrote this sweet letter, please comment.

I AM A PUPPY

I am a puppy, This means that my intelligence and capacity for learning are the same as an 8-month-old child. I am a puppy: I will chew EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on. This is how I explore and learn about the world. Even HUMAN children put things in their mouths. It's up to you to guide me to what is mine to chew and what is not.

I am a puppy: I cannot hold my bladder for longer than 1-2 hours. I cannot "feel" that I need to poop until it is actually beginning to come out. I cannot vocalize nor tell you that I need to go, and I cannot have "bladder and bowel control" until 4 /5 months.

Do not punish me if you have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your fault.

As a puppy it is wise to remember that I NEED to go potty after: eating, sleeping, playing, drinking and around every 2-3 hours in addition. If you want me to sleep through the night, then do not give me water after 7 or 8pm. A crate will help me learn to housebreak easier, and will avoid you being mad at me.

I am a puppy, accidents WILL happen, please be patient with me! In time I will learn.

I am a puppy, I like to play. I will run around, and chase imaginary monsters, and chase your feet and your toes and 'attack' you, and chase fuzzballs, other pets, and small kids. It is play.  It's what I do.

Do not be mad at me or expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day. If my high-energy level is too much for you, maybe you could consider an older rescue from a shelter or rescue group.

My play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide me in my play with appropriate toys, and activities like chasing a rolling ball, or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys for me.

If I nip you too hard, talk to me in "dog talk", by giving a loud YELP, I will usually get the message, as this is how dogs communicate with one another. If I get to rough simply ignore me for a few moments, or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew toy. I am puppy.

Hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat a 6-month-old human infant so please do not do the same to me. I am delicate and also very impressionable.

If you treat me harshly now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked, kicked or beaten. Instead, please guide me with encouragement, and wisdom. (For instance, if I am chewing something wrong, say, "No chew!" and hand me a toy I CAN chew) better yet, pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to get into. I can't tell the difference between your old sock and your new sock, or an old sneaker and your $200 Nikes.

I am a puppy, and I am a creature with feelings, and drives much like your own, but yet also very different. Although I am NOT a human in a dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO want to please you, and be a part of your family, and your life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving partner and companion, so do not relegate me to the backyard when I get bigger, do not judge me harshly but instead mold me with gentleness and guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to be.

I am a puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either. I Love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about training, and puppy behaviors and caring for me from your Veterinarian, books on dog care and even researching on the computer! Learn about my particular breed and it's "characteristics" - it will give you understanding and insight into WHY I do the things I do.

Please teach me with love, and patience, the right way to behave and socialize me with training in a puppy class or obedience class, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.

I am a puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with you, and to please you. Won't you please take time to understand how I work?


We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst, discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different and must work to understand one another's language, body signals, wants and needs. 

Someday I will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.

Your loving Puppy.

That's all for this newsletter. Don't forget to comment and please share.
Miriam and Patches   

Fruits, Vegetables, Treats and More..2nd newsletter.

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Thank-you so much for reading our first Patchy's World! newsletter / blog. I received encouraging private notes and blog comments. If you have a suggestion or something special you would like to see on our newsletter / blog, please contact me.

The four essentials: 

What we feed our pets is an important part of owning a dog or cat. Dogs in general are beggars. They give you that ‘look’ and your heart melts. 

Giving them something they shouldn’t have can prove to be disastrous for them and you.

Hartz Dog Food tell us each day it’s important to feed your dog from all of the essential food groups on a daily basis.

Protein: Dogs need a minimum of 18% protein in their diet for maintenance when they are adults and 22% for reproduction and growth. 

Fat: Fats keep your dog's coat healthy and provide energy. Adult dogs need a minimum of 5% fat in their diet.

Vitamins: A vitamin supplement will provide those nutrients above and beyond the minimum, which are required to meet his particular needs. 

Water: Your dog's water needs depend on his activity level. 

Feeding the right quantity:

Most dogs should have two small meals a day. A recommended serving size is provided on nearly all packaged foods. Here are the guideline that most pet products follow:

Toy dogs 3-12 lbs: 1/2 - 1 1/4 cups
Small dogs 13-25 lbs: 1 1/4 – 2 cups
Medium dogs 26-50 lbs: 2 – 3 3/4 cups
Large dogs 51-100 lbs: 3 3/4 – 6 3/4 cups
Extra Large dogs over 100 lbs: 6 3/4 plus 1/2 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs. 


The aged old argument on whether to feed your dog package food or homemade food is something to discuss with your vet. He /she will be able to give you the pros and cons.

Feeding people food:
Our 4 legged friends love treats. Fruits and vegetables are great for dogs but some fruits and vegetables are just downright dangerous.

Be sure to wash all fruits and remove rinds, inedible skins, seeds, and pits before feeding. 

10 best fruits and vegetables: pet360.com has a very informative slideshow on the best 10 fruits and vegetables Have a look!

Toxic fruits and vegetables:
From iheartdogs.com  we learn that some fruits and vegetables are dangerous. Watch this slideshow and learn what fruits and vegetable are toxic.

Our pet friends love people food:

Patches loves people food. What about your furry friend?

pets.webmd.com has a slide show of people foods we can serve our dogs. 

And Foodbeast.com tells us why and what foods we should never serve our pets even when they have begging eyes.

Home baking:

There is nothing like home baked cookies.  When looking for a good recipe to bake cookies for Patches, I came across this site. Everything looks delicious and relatively easy to make. 

Frozen Pupsicles
Chicken Wild Rice Dog Treats
Mint Buckwheat Dog Biscuits
Small Batch Peanut Butter Banana Dog Biscuits
Puppy Power Smoothies
positively.com

Sarah Lukemire is the author of this page. Click her site page. She has many interesting articles. 

If you have a good recipe you would like to share, contact me.

And onto other important topics…

We all love our pets. Whether going to work, school, shopping, we sometimes have to leave them at home when we go out. What would happen to your 4 legged friend if you took sick or were in an accident? Who would make sure they have someone to look after them while you recuperate. 

The Dogington Post has the solution. Print out this form and keep it in your wallet.

And lastly from Paws in the City this friendly reminder:

That’s all for now. Please feel free to comment and share.


Miriam and Patches 

Introducing Patches and Much, Much More............

בס''ד
Welcome, welcome to the first posting of Patchy’s World blog/newsletter. The plan is to post a new blog / newsletter once a week.

Today, our dogs and cats are more than just pets. They are friends and 4 legged furry family members. 


And so here is a little reminder………..

Super idea:
An Ikea store in Germany had a super idea. They installed a "Parking Lot for Dogs", so customers don't leave their dogs in hot cars while shopping.  

SPCA ISRAEL:
The SPCA does wonderful work saving abandoned animals. If you are looking for a dog, please consider a rescue dog. There so many 4 legged furry friends looking for a good home to be loved and give love. 

From the mission statement of the SPCA:  The Society takes in abandoned animals and tries to find adopting homes for them. Similarly, we provide various services to the community: a veterinary clinic with comfortable prices, a boarding facility for pets, rescue and collection of animals in trouble and a department of education and guidance.
SPCA ISRAEL or on Facebook SPCA Facebook

And now about Patches:
Patches joined our family 4 years ago, when she was 6 weeks old.  It didn’t take us long to realize how clever she was. 

Today, Patches is a loyal friend. She loves her family and we love her.  

After the ‘ooing and yawing’ of your new arrival..the learning begins for both you and your new friend.
I found this wonderful posting on Care2       

Nine Basic Training Tips for Dogs:
Here are nine great tips to help you successfully teach your puppy the basics:

Simply set aside about 10 to 20 minutes daily to work with your puppy.

1. Have one person in the family conduct the training. Even if everyone in the family is using the same verbal commands, their timing will be slightly different, which could confuse the dog. It should be someone who is patient. Have other family members work with the dog later, after her learning is well under way. Just be sure everyone in the family is using the same commands. If the puppy seems confused or backslides when more than one person works with her, return to having only one family member conduct the training.

2. Use positive reinforcement. Reward the dog as she learns, and never punish the dog or become unpleasant when she doesn’t catch on right away. If the dog associates obedience with something pleasant, she is more likely to obey. If she associates obedience with scolding, she won’t learn as well. Training is not the time to issue the word “No.” “No” should be used only to correct inappropriate behavior. A puppy that doesn’t catch on right away to training is not misbehaving. She just hasn’t yet learned what you want her to do. Use treats to encourage your puppy. Don’t use them every single time, however; otherwise you’ll find yourself with a dog that only obeys when you have a treat in hand!

3. Teach one command at a time. Move on to an additional command only after the dog has caught on well to the first.

4.Keep your voice cheerful. Some dogs respond best to a very playful, coaxing voice, whereas others respond better to a slightly stern–but still pleasant–voice. Again, experiment to see which tone of voice gets you the best response.

5. Keep your sense of humor. Puppies are distracted easily and can try your patience. Focus on your puppy’s accomplishments, no matter how small they are, and enjoy your time with her. She won’t be a puppy for long, after all.

6. Train in various places. All the commands can be practiced in the house, in the yard, or with the dog on leash at a neighborhood park. If you vary the places you train your dog, more likely she’ll learn to obey wherever you are. Training her in different places will also help socialize your puppy.

7. Train your puppy as you play. For instance, if you are playing fetch with a ball, ask your puppy to “Sit” before throwing the ball. Say “Come” as she returns with the ball. This reinforces your formal sessions, and since playtime is fun, it will help the dog learn to associate obedience with something pleasant.

8. Integrate training into daily life. As soon as your dog learns a command, begin using it routinely, not just during training sessions, and continue to reward the dog appropriately. Say “Heel” as you go from the kitchen to the living room, for example, and reward her when she obeys. Integrating commands into daily life as soon as possible will help ensure that your dog learns to listen in all types of situations, not just during your training sessions.

9. Do not expect a dog of any age to obey every command every single time. Dogs 
are living creatures, not robots. They have good days and not-so-good days, just as people do. Sometimes they concentrate better than others. This is why keeping your dog on a leash anytime she is not in a fenced-in yard or in the house is imperative. Most dogs can, however, learn to obey commands most of the time if you are persistent with training.

Adapted from The Puppy Owner’s Manual, by Diana Delmar (Storey Books, 2001).

Hebrew University veterinarian saves the day:
Military dogs are a very important part of the team and when they are injured they must be cared for immediately.

While serving in Afghanistan, Dano, a 7-year-old Malines (short-haired Belgian Shepherd Dog), was wounded, fracturing his left upper canine tooth, known as fang to those who have been bitten. The Multinational Forces turned to a Hebrew University veterinarian dentist, who saved Dano.

Dano's military service included two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where his responsibilities was explosives detection.
Military Dog

Facebook:
Patches has a Facebook page. If you would like to be her friend, the link is: 
Patches on Facebook

If you have a pet Facebook group and would like your address posted on this blog / newsletter, drop me a note at patchessworld@gmail.com

That’s all for now. See you next week.
Miriam and Patches.