Check out those chicken jerky treats you feed your dog. Look at the label to see if they are manufactured in China. Be aware that some jerky treats may be linked to a condition that resembles Fanconi syndrome. Fanconi syndrome affects the kidney tubes and can be heritable in some dogs, or acquired. The acquired form can be caused by heavy metal poisoning or certain chemicals.
Signs of the acquired form include vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness and lack of appetite. The FDA investigated in 2008 and did not turn up any contaminant or a definitive cause for the illness. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.
Limit the amount of jerky treats, especially for young puppies. Watch for signs of illness noted above. Stop giving your dog the jerky treats if these signs are evident. Take your dog to the vet for blood tests to check for kidney failure or increase in liver enzymes and get a urine test to determine if there is an increase in glucose levels.
According to Scott Weldy, a veterinarian from Lake Forest, there is no definitive proof that the chicken jerky can cause illness. However he also says that he would not feed them to his dog. It is best to err on the side of caution until more studies are done. Look for all natural products made in the USA. Treat your dog well!
An event in New York City that brings together celebrities, former dancers, and some of the most stunning grooming seen outside of Hollywood; sounds like television show, Dancing with the Stars, has hit the east coast. But what this buzz is all about is the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, live from Madison Square Garden,February 13th and 14th. A once a year opportunity to take home a winning title brings out a fierce competition!
Bright Lights, Dog City: Westminster Dog Show is Here Again
By Jorge Bendersky
“In New York City this Valentine’s Day, glancing up you might spot the Empire State Building glowing purple and gold. A homage to advancement of gay marriage rights? Lovely thought, but not even close. Purple and gold are the Westminster Kennel Club’s signature colors and a sign that the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has arrived. This competition is an opportunity for the best breeders in the world to show off their breeding program, and compete for a title. A dog boasting the heritage of a championship line or even having a celebrity owner, doesn’t mean he’s a sure thing because this show is reserved to dogs already holding American Championship titles, and competition is fierce.
A prancing poodle with perfect bracelets and a nice round pom might look more like something seen on Toddlers and Tiaras, but all that primping is about more than looks. A pretty face but sub-par specimen of dog need not apply, because being picture perfect goes deeper than a nice coat and a hot trot. Grooming is, of course, a key element, but the right diet, physical fitness, training, and relationship with the handler are important factors when it comes time for a dog’s turn in the ring. Who better to understand the pressure of being physically perfect than former dancers from the New York City Ballet, Heather Watts and Damien Woetzel? But understanding the pressure won’t necessarily help when their Golden Retrievers take their twirl in the ring, facing comparison to the standards of perfection for the breed. Tutus aside, crowning a champion is serious business.
That serious business will get a little more interesting in its 136th year, as the WKC is making sure the competition isn’t predictable by introducing six new competing breeds, in a variety of shapes, sizes, and show groups. From fluffy, like the Finnish Lapphund, a reindeer herding dog, or hairless, like the Xoloitzcuintli, the national breed of Mexico, this change shows dedication to preserving the purity of recognized breeds.
A champion dog’s show life might be short, whether sired by a Westminster winner, or with a celebrity sugar daddy, like Bill Cosby, and eventually, each dog will retire to the ease and simplicity of a pet dog’s life. But while the lights are bright at Madison Square Garden on February 13th and 14th dog lovers everywhere have the opportunity to see what this sport’s favorite spectacle is really all about. ”
PS-On Friday, February 10th from 6-11 PM come and say hello to us at the Tails Untold Booth at the Pre-Westminster Fashion Show Friday Feb 10th – http://www.pre-westminsterfashionshow.com/
Crate training has always been the preferred way to housebreak a puppy. Plus, they enjoy the den-like enclosure of a crate. A crate is a good housebreaking tool because it takes advantage of a dog’s natural reluctance to soil its sleeping place. It also helps prevent destructive behaviors and keeps the pup away from potentially dangerous household items.
However, puppies under 4 months of age have little bladder or sphincter control. Very young puppies under 9 weeks should not be crated as they need to eliminate as much as 8-12 times per day. Puppies purchased in pet stores, who were kept solely in small cages when young (between 7-16 weeks of age), may be considerably harder to housebreak using a crate. This is due to having been forced to eliminate in their sleeping area during this formative stage of development. This is the age at which most puppies are learning to eliminate outside their sleeping area.
So, what to do when your puppy is too young for crate training. The best method is to confine the puppy in a small to medium sized room space with a non-porous floor. Set up the crate on one end, with the door propped open and soft bedding inside, the food and water a few feet away, and some newspapers (approx. 2’x3′ to 3’x3′) using a 3-4 layer thickness several feet away. It is best to use child gate versus a solid door to help your puppy feel less isolated. Take your puppy out frequently during the day to get him used to eliminating outdoors. Introduce the crate as confinement very carefully. As a rule of thumb, a puppy between 9 and 16 weeks should be crated from 30 minutes for the younger dog to 4 hours max. Except for overnight, a puppy or dog should not be crated for more than 5 to 6 hours.
Enjoy your new puppy and give all the love you can. It will be paid back to you in volumes!
Here are some quotes to lighten your day and give fun insights into your pets way of thinking:
In choosing a dog for showing, it is important to know what the judges are looking for. These official standards for each breed include qualifications for structure, temperament and movement. The AKC’s book called “The Complete Dog Book” gives specifications for what is looked for with each breed.
Anyone can enter and show a dog. The main qualifications are that the dog be purebred and a breed recognized by the AKC. If you decide to purchase a dog for showing, be sure to purchase your dog from a reputable breeder; preferably one that has shown dogs before. Just being a puppy from 2 champion parents does not guarantee a show dog.
Some of the areas that judges look at are teeth, muscles. bones, and coat texture. A judge looks for general balance and gait, or how a dog moves. Attitude and posture are a good percentage of what a dog will be judged on. You would not see a show dog having its ears down and no expression. Your dog needs to have an “up and ready” attitude or willingness to perform. Just like its owner!
Happy New Year all you Pet Lovers!
We all know about The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, but did you know about the Upcoming Pre-Westminster Fashion Show? This will be Tails Untold ‘s first time participating as a Gold Paw Sponsor. Come and visit us and see samples of our Tails Untold Personalized Pet Books! It is going to be a paws-atively exciting event! Some of the proceeds from the event will be going to The Animal Care and Control of NYC http://www.nycacc.org/. So get ready to PAW-TY. This year’s theme is Venetian Masquerade. For more information please visit http://www.pre-westminsterfashionshow.com/ We hope to see you there! Your friends at Tails Untold. www.tailsuntold.com
| Name: | Weezie |
| Nickname(s): | The Boss |
| Gender: | female |
| Characteristics: | One eye, white face, very large pointy ears |
| Personality: | stealthy, determined, quiet, funny |
