Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
michael vick - asks for forgivness
Michael Vick apologized to everyone under the sun he had hurt.....except the dogs of course. This apology wasn't about the dogs who had been tortured and murdered. This apology was for his family, his friends and his next football contract. Thinking up, financing and taking part in a dog fighting ring is not a mistake you make. It speaks to who you are and what beliefs you have. Vick thinks dog fighting is a sport and 30,000 to 40,000 people in this country alone share that view.
Monday, August 27, 2007
nyc taxi strike - GPS navigation
image source:
There is a planned nyc taxi cab strike (on september 5th) in new york city. At issue is the cities proposed GPS tracking system to be put into every nyc taxi cab.
Taxi driver complaints have ranged from their fear of being tracked to potential problems the GPS might cause to their meters. The proposed $3,000-$5,000 fee they will have to pay has not been received well either.
There is a planned nyc taxi cab strike (on september 5th) in new york city. At issue is the cities proposed GPS tracking system to be put into every nyc taxi cab.
Taxi driver complaints have ranged from their fear of being tracked to potential problems the GPS might cause to their meters. The proposed $3,000-$5,000 fee they will have to pay has not been received well either.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
great pet products - nature's miracle
image source:
Nature's Miracle is a great product for dealing with the odor and or stain from the urine of a cat or dog. It's a necessity for clients house training their dogs but great for any cat or dog owner to have it on hand. You can purchase nature's miracle at your local pet store or click here.
Nature's Miracle is a great product for dealing with the odor and or stain from the urine of a cat or dog. It's a necessity for clients house training their dogs but great for any cat or dog owner to have it on hand. You can purchase nature's miracle at your local pet store or click here.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
knick point guard comments on michael vick -
"I think we don't say anything about people who shoot deer or shoot other animals," the Knick point guard told Capital News 9, an Albany TV station. "You know, from what I understand, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors."
- stephon marbury, new york knicks point-guard, responding to michael vick dog fighting coverage
Marbury has since backtracked from those comments (and his support of michael vick) but his comments raise some interesting questions for me. I actually agree with the idea behind marbury's point in the hypocrisy of caring about cruelty to some animals but not others. Unfortunately it seems as though he and others are trying to actually justify dog fighting because of the existence of hunting. I would hope that while the dog fighting issue is fresh in peoples minds they try and make the connection between cruelty to domestic animals with cruelty to all animals. Animal cruelty is just as heartbreaking whether it be a farm hand smacking around a pig, kentucky fried chicken boiling chickens alive, or the underground world of dog fighting.
Please click the following link to read a full page of blog posts about the michael vick dog fighting case.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
the prong collar - painful and unnecessary
I'm surprised the prong collar is still used so often in dog training. On top of the fact the prong collar hurts dogs, with the possibility of seriously hurting them (dog's necks have been pierced and some vets associate routing choking of dogs with throat cancer.) If you are trying to stop your dog from pulling, jumping, scavenging etc. there are three types of equipment I would recommend and they are:
1. sensation harness - This is my favorite piece of dog training equipment. It doesn't hurt dogs, is amazingly effective and dogs do not seem to mind it. It can be used for a dog who pulls, a dog who jumps and or for a dog who is perfect on the leash, in place of a collar.
2. gentle leader - The gentle leader is one of the most used pieces of equipment for dogs who pull but there are things to be wary of with it. Over use of the gentle leader can lead to both neck and eye problems. The gentle leader is meant for dogs who either bite, lunge and or scavenge but I would try and not use it long term. I would more recommend using the gentle leader as a negotiating tool for teaching a term, like "no bite", "drop it", etc..
3. halti - The halti is very similar to the gentle leader with the difference being the gentle leader is lighter and dogs seem to like it better. What you as an owner might like is that the halti has a clip that attaches to the collar for added safety. But if the gentle leader is sized correctly it shouldn't never come off. The halti is meant for dogs who pull, scavenge, bite and or lunge.
Monday, August 20, 2007
michael vick agrees to plea deal -
image source:
Michael Vick has agreed to a plea deal for financing and participating in the running of a dog fighting ring! The play maker found no place to run as even his friends began to turn on him. He faces a year or more in prison and his present contract will likely be voided.
While the time will not fit the crime, this is a big deal because until recently dog fighting / animal fighting was not even against the law.
Just make sure 2-3 years from now if he comes to play for your home team that you don't forget what he did. He lead to the abuse, torture and deaths of countless dogs. Please click the following link to read a full page of blog posts about the michael vick case and dog fighting in general.
Michael Vick has agreed to a plea deal for financing and participating in the running of a dog fighting ring! The play maker found no place to run as even his friends began to turn on him. He faces a year or more in prison and his present contract will likely be voided.
While the time will not fit the crime, this is a big deal because until recently dog fighting / animal fighting was not even against the law.
Just make sure 2-3 years from now if he comes to play for your home team that you don't forget what he did. He lead to the abuse, torture and deaths of countless dogs. Please click the following link to read a full page of blog posts about the michael vick case and dog fighting in general.
flex petz - renting dogs
Flex Petz is a bit of an oddity in that you can rent dogs for hours or days at a time. It's a nice idea in that the dogs are all rescues and trained but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I need to find out more to understand if the aim is to help these dogs eventually find homes or just a money making idea. The money you spend does go to the care of the housed dogs.
The following is in their own words: "Flex Petz provides our members with local access to a variety of dogs, all of whom are rescued or rehomed, very lovable and fully trained. FLEXPETZ members can spend from just a few hours to a number of days with each of our dogs. FLEXPETZ dogs are available in varied breed sizes to ensure compatibility with our member's individual lifestyles and unique circumstances. Local drop-off and collection to your home or office is available in some locations." You can view their website by clicking here.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
non dairy desserts - mocha ice cream sandwich
Amazing non-dairy ice cream desserts like soy delicious, soy decadent and soy minis (among others) are made by turtle mountain.
michael vick's co-defendants plead guilty in dog fighting trial -
image source:
Not surprisingly Michael Vick's two co-defendants have pleaded guilty to their dog fighting charges, presumably in a plea deal to point the finger at Vick himself. It is assumed they will receive 12-16 months each for their roles in running a brutal (the norm for the trade) dog fighting ring. This means that Vick, if found guilty, will probably get a more severe sentence and the fact that he is assumed to have financed the operation himself makes him even more responsible.
Whenever there is an animal rights issue in the spotlight you always have some people who are surprised by all this commotion created over an animal. It's common to hear someone say, "if this had happened to a little kid no one would care", but they couldn't be more off the mark. Animal lovers might be passionate and vocal about the many atrocities committed against animals daily but the actual government resources dedicated to protecting animal rights is almost non-existent. There need to be strong voices because the truth is there are very few people running around whose sole purpose is to protect animals. Domestic animals have rights against abuse and the anti-fighting bill was recently passed but the resources to prosecute those who commit crimes and the actual penalties they receive don't come close to equaling the crimes committed. There's no doubt positive things are happening for animal welfare, but not to the degree some think.
Just think about this - the New York City Police force is the size of some countries armies and yet our NYCACC (New York City Animal Care and Control) is smaller than the one in the city of Atlanta!
Please click the following link to view a full page of posts about dog fighting.
Not surprisingly Michael Vick's two co-defendants have pleaded guilty to their dog fighting charges, presumably in a plea deal to point the finger at Vick himself. It is assumed they will receive 12-16 months each for their roles in running a brutal (the norm for the trade) dog fighting ring. This means that Vick, if found guilty, will probably get a more severe sentence and the fact that he is assumed to have financed the operation himself makes him even more responsible.
Whenever there is an animal rights issue in the spotlight you always have some people who are surprised by all this commotion created over an animal. It's common to hear someone say, "if this had happened to a little kid no one would care", but they couldn't be more off the mark. Animal lovers might be passionate and vocal about the many atrocities committed against animals daily but the actual government resources dedicated to protecting animal rights is almost non-existent. There need to be strong voices because the truth is there are very few people running around whose sole purpose is to protect animals. Domestic animals have rights against abuse and the anti-fighting bill was recently passed but the resources to prosecute those who commit crimes and the actual penalties they receive don't come close to equaling the crimes committed. There's no doubt positive things are happening for animal welfare, but not to the degree some think.
Just think about this - the New York City Police force is the size of some countries armies and yet our NYCACC (New York City Animal Care and Control) is smaller than the one in the city of Atlanta!
Please click the following link to view a full page of posts about dog fighting.
Friday, August 17, 2007
dog fighting - HBO sports inside report
image source
Dog Fighting was the topic of interest on last nights HBO Sports with Bryant Gumbel and dog fighting will also be spotlighted on this coming Saturdays Real Sports with Bob Costas on HBO too. One of the most harrowing images was of the dogs who are forced / kidnapped into being practice for the training dogs. Suffice is to say most of these dogs do not make it out alive. It was tough to watch but it's great to see the spotlight finally on the underground slave trade of dog fighting and hopefully it will never go away. Please click the following link to view a full page of posts about dog fighting.
Dog Fighting was the topic of interest on last nights HBO Sports with Bryant Gumbel and dog fighting will also be spotlighted on this coming Saturdays Real Sports with Bob Costas on HBO too. One of the most harrowing images was of the dogs who are forced / kidnapped into being practice for the training dogs. Suffice is to say most of these dogs do not make it out alive. It was tough to watch but it's great to see the spotlight finally on the underground slave trade of dog fighting and hopefully it will never go away. Please click the following link to view a full page of posts about dog fighting.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
house training a dog - step one
Downtown Pets offers a comprehensive and free nyc puppy training program for our nyc dog walking clients. The following is a 5 step process to house training your puppy or adult dog.
STEP ONE: Getting the proper equipment and a healthy thumbs up from your vet.
* include your vet before house training a dog:
Before adopting a house training schedule you should take your dog to the vet and or call your vet. You firstly want to ensure your dog does not have a urinary track infection because you can not crate a dog with a urinary track infection nor one who presently has diarrhea. You also want to ask your vet how much you can alter your dogs feeding and drinking schedule. It is a good idea to have your dogs last meal and water break be as early in the day as your vet thinks is possible, so your dog goes to bed empty.
* Crate training a dog:
Crate training is the most effective way to house train an adult dog or puppy. While the idea of keeping a dog in a crate for 4-5 hours at a time seems unfair to many people, that's only because many of us take for granted that dogs think and process life differently than we do - no matter how domesticated we make them (:. All dogs originate from wolves and in the same way wolves slumber in a den, your dog will soon look at their crate in the same way. Many of the dogs we have house trained continue to go into their crates to this day, even though they are left free now.Your crate needs to be sized properly and it needs to be large enough for the dog to walk into it upright, turn around, and lie down. They should be able to stand upright without squatting BUT not any bigger than that or you dog can move to a side, or hide in a corner if it makes a mistake in the crate. If your dog is not fully grown you can purchase a crate with sections that allows you to increase the dogs living area over time.
You can usually purchase a crate at your local store or click the following link to purchase a crate online.
* house training without a crate:
It is harder but possible to house train your dog without a crate and we will discuss that in the following days.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
image source: muttsWithManners.net
house training your dog - step two
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
* where should I put my crate?
The more enclosed area the better. A closet or bathroom are the type of places you should use or a little nook in a room. But avoid large open spaces because this contributes to anxiousness in a crated dog in the same way a crib that is too large can do so to a baby.
* how should I introduce my dog to the crate?
Dogs are impressionable animals and you want their first experience with a crate to be a positive one. Take a string and tie open the crate door when you first bring it home. Put some food at the back of the crate and let your dog sniff around freely and the positive association of food with the crate will help ingratiate them BUT do not shut them in the crate yet.
important point: NEVER put your dog in a crate with any equipment on. Dogs have gotten caught on the wire of crates before and hung themselves.
Through the day start to close the door behind them for short periods of time and increase the amount of time they are in the crate over the day.
* my dog is barking like mad every time I crate them!
Do not immediately associate the barking with being in the crate because more than likely they are barking because they want to be with you and a puppy especially might do so.
* ok, but what about the barking?
A barking dog is a problem unto itself and if the barking starts to drive your neighbor crazy you might not have the luxury of a long term solution. The first thing you can try is a game of hide and seek. Put your dog in the crate and leave the apartment for a few minutes. Stand outside your front door and listen to hear if your dog is barking. If it's not, that's great and you are good to go. But if your dog is barking walk back in the apartment and after a few minutes leave again but this time for a little longer. Continue this process for days, maybe even weeks and your dog should start to think every time you leave the apartment you will shortly return. But after some time they get tired of waiting for you and usually fall asleep (:
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
* where should I put my crate?
The more enclosed area the better. A closet or bathroom are the type of places you should use or a little nook in a room. But avoid large open spaces because this contributes to anxiousness in a crated dog in the same way a crib that is too large can do so to a baby.
* how should I introduce my dog to the crate?
Dogs are impressionable animals and you want their first experience with a crate to be a positive one. Take a string and tie open the crate door when you first bring it home. Put some food at the back of the crate and let your dog sniff around freely and the positive association of food with the crate will help ingratiate them BUT do not shut them in the crate yet.
important point: NEVER put your dog in a crate with any equipment on. Dogs have gotten caught on the wire of crates before and hung themselves.
Through the day start to close the door behind them for short periods of time and increase the amount of time they are in the crate over the day.
* my dog is barking like mad every time I crate them!
Do not immediately associate the barking with being in the crate because more than likely they are barking because they want to be with you and a puppy especially might do so.
* ok, but what about the barking?
A barking dog is a problem unto itself and if the barking starts to drive your neighbor crazy you might not have the luxury of a long term solution. The first thing you can try is a game of hide and seek. Put your dog in the crate and leave the apartment for a few minutes. Stand outside your front door and listen to hear if your dog is barking. If it's not, that's great and you are good to go. But if your dog is barking walk back in the apartment and after a few minutes leave again but this time for a little longer. Continue this process for days, maybe even weeks and your dog should start to think every time you leave the apartment you will shortly return. But after some time they get tired of waiting for you and usually fall asleep (:
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
house training a dog - step three
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
Downtown Pets adopts the philosophy that your dog must earn it's freedom when being house trained. That sounds harsher than the reality. What we're saying is that your dog must relieve itself outside to be left out of the crate freely.
* how often should I walk my dog?
A puppy needs to relieve itself in a frequency equal to it's age - so a 4 month old puppy will usually need to go every 3 1/2 to 4 hours, etc.. An adult dog can go around 5 hours.
* how long can I leave my dog in a crate at one time?
Never more than 5-6 hours (again base it on their age) and I wouldn't push it. I've heard people say my dog can hold it 8 hours or even longer. Your dog might be able to hold it but that doesn't mean it should and doing so repeatedly can lead to health problems.
* if my dog goes #1 and / or #2 outside, how long can I leave them out of the crate?
It's partly based on how old your dog is but I would just start slowly. Let your dog prove it can be out of the crate for 1 or 2 hours without making a mistake. If you have no problems for a week or two increase that time.
* when my dog is out of the crate can it be alone?
Not at first - some people even keep their dogs leashed at first so they are always by their side. Why? Because dogs tend to run into closets or corners when they go to the bathroom in the house and you might never know they went at all.
* what if I catch my dog in the act of going in the house?
Run over, pick them up, tell them something like "not in house" and take them outside BUT do not yell at them or scare them in any way. You will scare them from ever going to the bathroom in front of you again and when they make a mistake in front of you it's a great time to correct them.
* how should I include wee-wee pads into the house training schedule?
YOU SHOULDN'T. If your dog has all their shots and is old enough to go outside, wee-wee pads should not be used at all when you are house training a dog. Your dog, plain and simple, can not go to the bathroom in the house and dogs can not differentiate between the wee-wee pad on your living room floor and the floor of a store, or hotel or your friends house. If you used wee-wee pads you can not consider your dog fully house trained. I would completely stop using them if you want to house train your dog.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
Downtown Pets adopts the philosophy that your dog must earn it's freedom when being house trained. That sounds harsher than the reality. What we're saying is that your dog must relieve itself outside to be left out of the crate freely.
* how often should I walk my dog?
A puppy needs to relieve itself in a frequency equal to it's age - so a 4 month old puppy will usually need to go every 3 1/2 to 4 hours, etc.. An adult dog can go around 5 hours.
* how long can I leave my dog in a crate at one time?
Never more than 5-6 hours (again base it on their age) and I wouldn't push it. I've heard people say my dog can hold it 8 hours or even longer. Your dog might be able to hold it but that doesn't mean it should and doing so repeatedly can lead to health problems.
* if my dog goes #1 and / or #2 outside, how long can I leave them out of the crate?
It's partly based on how old your dog is but I would just start slowly. Let your dog prove it can be out of the crate for 1 or 2 hours without making a mistake. If you have no problems for a week or two increase that time.
* when my dog is out of the crate can it be alone?
Not at first - some people even keep their dogs leashed at first so they are always by their side. Why? Because dogs tend to run into closets or corners when they go to the bathroom in the house and you might never know they went at all.
* what if I catch my dog in the act of going in the house?
Run over, pick them up, tell them something like "not in house" and take them outside BUT do not yell at them or scare them in any way. You will scare them from ever going to the bathroom in front of you again and when they make a mistake in front of you it's a great time to correct them.
* how should I include wee-wee pads into the house training schedule?
YOU SHOULDN'T. If your dog has all their shots and is old enough to go outside, wee-wee pads should not be used at all when you are house training a dog. Your dog, plain and simple, can not go to the bathroom in the house and dogs can not differentiate between the wee-wee pad on your living room floor and the floor of a store, or hotel or your friends house. If you used wee-wee pads you can not consider your dog fully house trained. I would completely stop using them if you want to house train your dog.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
house training a dog - step four
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
The following schedule is one we maintain with a 5 month old, medium sized puppy, named Moppy. Please keep in mind this is not a long term situation. You need to increase your walks in the beginning to set the tone and change your dogs mindset.
7am-8am: Owners take Moppy out of the crate and immediately take her outside. If Moppy does not relieve herself they put her back in the crate and feed her. 20-30 minutes later they take Moppy out again and offer her the chance to go to the bathroom. If she goes they take her for an extended walk but if not they put her back in the crate.
10am-11am: A Downtown Pets dog walker takes Moppy out of the crate. We offer her some water (before the walk) and take her outside. We offer her the chance to go to the bathroom. If she goes within 3-5 minutes we then proceed with a nice 25 minute walk. But if Moppy doesn't go we take her back in the apartment and crate her for 10-15 minutes. We then take her back outside and offer her the chance to go again. If she goes we continue with the walk but if not she goes back into the crate.
2pm-3pm: A Downtown Pets dog walker comes back and repeats the same process above.
5pm-6pm: Owner feeds and offers water to Moppy in the crate and 20-30 minutes later takes her out for a bathroom break. If Moppy relieves herself she gets an hour or two of freedom.
10pm-11pm: Owner takes Moppy out for a quick bathroom break and if she relieves herself she gets to stay out for an hour or two before being put into the crate for the night.
* should I use treats as a reward in house training?
Yes, yes and yes - your dog should be treated after going every time and I would say a consistent command every time they go, like "do your business, good dog".
* wow, so my dog might never leave the crate?
It's very rare that a dog does not grow to understand that if they relieve themselves outside they get to stay outside and vice a versa.
* how do I know when to feed my dog? and how much water to give them?
You need to ask your vet about these things but a mistake some people make is feeding their dog too late and giving their dog too much water through the day. Again, include your vet in these decisions.
* my dog isn't getting it, it's not going to the bathroom outside...
First of all, is your dog used to using wee-wee pads? If so make sure you have stopped using wee-wee pads all together. If you've already given up wee-wee pads and it's still happening, try bringing an already soiled wee-wee pad with you outside and put it on the ground. This can help bridge the transition to going outside.
* it's winter time and I have a very small dog who can't walk in rough weather...
Teaching your dog to go to the bathroom on command can solve this. Every time your dog goes to the bathroom say a command like "do your business, good boy" and offer a treat when they are done. If you do this every time your dog goes to the bathroom you should be able to pop outside on a bad weather day, say the command and quickly have your dog go.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
The following schedule is one we maintain with a 5 month old, medium sized puppy, named Moppy. Please keep in mind this is not a long term situation. You need to increase your walks in the beginning to set the tone and change your dogs mindset.
7am-8am: Owners take Moppy out of the crate and immediately take her outside. If Moppy does not relieve herself they put her back in the crate and feed her. 20-30 minutes later they take Moppy out again and offer her the chance to go to the bathroom. If she goes they take her for an extended walk but if not they put her back in the crate.
10am-11am: A Downtown Pets dog walker takes Moppy out of the crate. We offer her some water (before the walk) and take her outside. We offer her the chance to go to the bathroom. If she goes within 3-5 minutes we then proceed with a nice 25 minute walk. But if Moppy doesn't go we take her back in the apartment and crate her for 10-15 minutes. We then take her back outside and offer her the chance to go again. If she goes we continue with the walk but if not she goes back into the crate.
2pm-3pm: A Downtown Pets dog walker comes back and repeats the same process above.
5pm-6pm: Owner feeds and offers water to Moppy in the crate and 20-30 minutes later takes her out for a bathroom break. If Moppy relieves herself she gets an hour or two of freedom.
10pm-11pm: Owner takes Moppy out for a quick bathroom break and if she relieves herself she gets to stay out for an hour or two before being put into the crate for the night.
* should I use treats as a reward in house training?
Yes, yes and yes - your dog should be treated after going every time and I would say a consistent command every time they go, like "do your business, good dog".
* wow, so my dog might never leave the crate?
It's very rare that a dog does not grow to understand that if they relieve themselves outside they get to stay outside and vice a versa.
* how do I know when to feed my dog? and how much water to give them?
You need to ask your vet about these things but a mistake some people make is feeding their dog too late and giving their dog too much water through the day. Again, include your vet in these decisions.
* my dog isn't getting it, it's not going to the bathroom outside...
First of all, is your dog used to using wee-wee pads? If so make sure you have stopped using wee-wee pads all together. If you've already given up wee-wee pads and it's still happening, try bringing an already soiled wee-wee pad with you outside and put it on the ground. This can help bridge the transition to going outside.
* it's winter time and I have a very small dog who can't walk in rough weather...
Teaching your dog to go to the bathroom on command can solve this. Every time your dog goes to the bathroom say a command like "do your business, good boy" and offer a treat when they are done. If you do this every time your dog goes to the bathroom you should be able to pop outside on a bad weather day, say the command and quickly have your dog go.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
house training a dog - step five
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
* why is my dog going #1 in the crate?
If it's always number one it might have a urinary tract infection and or your crate might be too big. Lastly, is your dog being left in the crate too long?
* why is my dog going #2 in the crate?
Is the crate too big? Are you leaving your dog in the crate too long?
* sometimes I leave my dog out too long and they make a mistake...
Plain and simple you need to be vigilant in keeping a tight schedule and having your dog earn it's freedom.
* can my dog sleep with me?
It shouldn't unless they are house trained. Many dogs who sleep with their owners will wake up in the middle of the night an relieve themselves on a rug, in your closet, etc. and you'll never know it happened.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
* why is my dog going #1 in the crate?
If it's always number one it might have a urinary tract infection and or your crate might be too big. Lastly, is your dog being left in the crate too long?
* why is my dog going #2 in the crate?
Is the crate too big? Are you leaving your dog in the crate too long?
* sometimes I leave my dog out too long and they make a mistake...
Plain and simple you need to be vigilant in keeping a tight schedule and having your dog earn it's freedom.
* can my dog sleep with me?
It shouldn't unless they are house trained. Many dogs who sleep with their owners will wake up in the middle of the night an relieve themselves on a rug, in your closet, etc. and you'll never know it happened.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
small changes to your life - add vegetarian and / or vegan meals:
image source: veganMenu.blogspot.com
Adding vegetarian and vegan meals to your diet benefits your health, the environment, animal welfare and there's so much great food to eat. When you start to remove meat from your diet many people start to recognize how it's not the taste of meat people love but rather the texture and flavors. Many of these textures and flavors can easily be duplicated without meat.
Adding vegetarian and vegan meals to your diet benefits your health, the environment, animal welfare and there's so much great food to eat. When you start to remove meat from your diet many people start to recognize how it's not the taste of meat people love but rather the texture and flavors. Many of these textures and flavors can easily be duplicated without meat.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
animal friendly products - seventh generation
Seventh Generation sells non-toxic household products that are not tested on animals. Their products range from cleaning sprays and dish washing liquids to paper towels and garbage bags. You can click the following link to view earth and animal friendly products from seventh generation. You can click the following link to view lists of both companies who DO and DON'T conduct lab tests on animals.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
three dvd's I've seen recently -
* 1st season of entourage - The boys were still hungry for fame and financial success at this time both on the show and in real life and it showed. The first two seasons of entourage are energetic, fresh and fun.
* the lookout - First time director Scott Frank (writer of "out of sight", "get shorty" and "minority report") creates a dreamy, dark world of subtlety and suspense.
* startUp.com - This is an interesting documentary shot during the internet boom and subsequent bust of the 90's. We follow two childhood friends through all the ups and downs of a startup and small business and potential startups can learn much from this entrepreneurial character study. The trailer for this film is not a you tube file and you'll need to click the bottom left play button to start it.
* the lookout - First time director Scott Frank (writer of "out of sight", "get shorty" and "minority report") creates a dreamy, dark world of subtlety and suspense.
* startUp.com - This is an interesting documentary shot during the internet boom and subsequent bust of the 90's. We follow two childhood friends through all the ups and downs of a startup and small business and potential startups can learn much from this entrepreneurial character study. The trailer for this film is not a you tube file and you'll need to click the bottom left play button to start it.
woody harrelson - environmental activist
image source:
"In money we trust we will find happiness, the prevailing attitude, like a genetically modified, irradiated big mac is somehow symbolic of food? Morality is legislated, prisons overpopulated, religion is incorporated,... profit motive has permeated all activity...Can you imagine clean food, water and air? Living in a community with people who care? Do you dare to feel responsible for every dollar you lay down? Are you going to make the rich man richer or are you going to stand your ground? You say you want a revolution, a communal evolution, to be a part of the solution? Maybe I'll be seeing you around..."
"In money we trust we will find happiness, the prevailing attitude, like a genetically modified, irradiated big mac is somehow symbolic of food? Morality is legislated, prisons overpopulated, religion is incorporated,... profit motive has permeated all activity...Can you imagine clean food, water and air? Living in a community with people who care? Do you dare to feel responsible for every dollar you lay down? Are you going to make the rich man richer or are you going to stand your ground? You say you want a revolution, a communal evolution, to be a part of the solution? Maybe I'll be seeing you around..."- woody harrelson speaking at the university of california (santa barbara) , in the film go further
vegan food - vegan cookies
image source:
Vegan cookies can be amazing and nothing is lost in taste by substituting oil for butter.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
5 older blog posts -
my appearance on the fine living channel (video)
pocket dog syndrome (article)
funny cats (video)
animals asia (charity)
talking parrot einstein (video)
pocket dog syndrome (article)
funny cats (video)
animals asia (charity)
talking parrot einstein (video)
house train an adult dog or puppy -
image source: muttsWithManners.net
House training an adult or puppy dog is essential for both you and your dog's health and happiness. Some people have adopted or relented to the small dog / pocket dog mentality, where their dog goes to the bathroom indoors and rarely go out for walks in general. This is NOT a recipe for a happy living situation for you or your dog. Downtown Pets uses a philosophy that has been very successful in house training hundreds of our clients dogs. In this continuing post we will discuss some of those methods and problems you might run into.
STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
House training an adult or puppy dog is essential for both you and your dog's health and happiness. Some people have adopted or relented to the small dog / pocket dog mentality, where their dog goes to the bathroom indoors and rarely go out for walks in general. This is NOT a recipe for a happy living situation for you or your dog. Downtown Pets uses a philosophy that has been very successful in house training hundreds of our clients dogs. In this continuing post we will discuss some of those methods and problems you might run into.STEP ONE: buying a crate and checking with your vet
STEP TWO: introducing your dog to the crate
STEP THREE: the crate training philosophy
STEP FOUR: example schedule for a dog being house trained
STEP FIVE: problems you might run into house training your dog
Friday, August 10, 2007
organic farming -
image source:
"it's the right way to grow....the ground's not being poisoned, the workers aren't being poisoned, the water's not being poisoned...we're trying to farm with nature...eating vegetables is good....eating organic vegetables is better....eating organic family farmed, best...."
- organic farmer jonathan steinberg, santa cruz, california
"it's the right way to grow....the ground's not being poisoned, the workers aren't being poisoned, the water's not being poisoned...we're trying to farm with nature...eating vegetables is good....eating organic vegetables is better....eating organic family farmed, best...."- organic farmer jonathan steinberg, santa cruz, california
3 new york city movies:
1. goodfellas - One of the best opening 15-20 minutes of any film I've seen and a street level mafia study. An all star cast of Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, among others.
2. annie hall: Anytime you think of woody allen you think of new york city....ok, you think of a few other things too but his movies are true old school nyc.
3. the pope of greenwich village - A fun movie with eric roberts as an off the wall young punk trying to make it big and taking his confused buddy, mickey rourke, along for the ride. It will make you want to take a trip to the village, buy a sandwich, hang out on a stoop and just people watch.
2. annie hall: Anytime you think of woody allen you think of new york city....ok, you think of a few other things too but his movies are true old school nyc.
3. the pope of greenwich village - A fun movie with eric roberts as an off the wall young punk trying to make it big and taking his confused buddy, mickey rourke, along for the ride. It will make you want to take a trip to the village, buy a sandwich, hang out on a stoop and just people watch.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
small changes to your life - ride a bike:
image source: jupiter images
There is definitely a sense of freedom you feel on a bike. Including more bike riding in your weekly regiment obviously improves your health but also has a great impact on the environment. Check out some bikes today at your local shop or by clicking here.
There is definitely a sense of freedom you feel on a bike. Including more bike riding in your weekly regiment obviously improves your health but also has a great impact on the environment. Check out some bikes today at your local shop or by clicking here.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
just one of those days...
image source: tranSalt.org
A rough day for travel in new york city and a good day to have a bicycle. Please click the following link for an updated status of the subway lines.
A rough day for travel in new york city and a good day to have a bicycle. Please click the following link for an updated status of the subway lines.
african elephants - a baby and mother elephant:
image source: elephant care
The African elephant is on the endangered species list, if you can believe that! The ivory trade, plus human expansion has lead to their rapid decline and many African elephants actually suffer from post traumatic stress disorders, from all the bloodshed they have seen. A simple change you can make to your life is not buying products made from ivory. Please click the following link to view a website that specializes in ivory alternatives.
The African elephant is on the endangered species list, if you can believe that! The ivory trade, plus human expansion has lead to their rapid decline and many African elephants actually suffer from post traumatic stress disorders, from all the bloodshed they have seen. A simple change you can make to your life is not buying products made from ivory. Please click the following link to view a website that specializes in ivory alternatives.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
small changes to your life - eat organic and buy local produce:
image source: join jake
Industrial farming does not work! It's a nightmare for the animals, the environment, the consumer and for the employee of the industrial farm too. It has been a complete failure...to put it lightly. I'm going to try and shop at farmers markets more often and only buy organic. There is a watershed of excess pesticides needed to be used in this country and if you don't buy organic and support local produce, that pesticide will end up on your dining room table.
Industrial farming does not work! It's a nightmare for the animals, the environment, the consumer and for the employee of the industrial farm too. It has been a complete failure...to put it lightly. I'm going to try and shop at farmers markets more often and only buy organic. There is a watershed of excess pesticides needed to be used in this country and if you don't buy organic and support local produce, that pesticide will end up on your dining room table.
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