My Bestfriend

They might not have the vocal capacity to talk to humans but we can still communicate with our beloved pooches in a variety of ways. Dogs communicate through body language, but sometimes we misunderstand what our beloved pet is trying to communicate to us. My friend and dog lover, Shaun Olmstead, shares these basic techniques to help us understand what our dog is telling us. Here are some ways to decipher “dog speak.”Your dog is trying to communicate play and fun when his front paws are out in front and his rear end is up in the air.

Beware of a dog whose ears are forward and erect, the tail standing straight up and flagging, the lips are drawn back and showing the teeth, the body is tense and upright with the hackles raised. This is a very dangerous body posture; if you see a dog displaying this type of body posture do not do anything to provoke the dog.

A dog that is fearful is hunched lower with his ears pinned back. His lips are drawn back and he is often showing his teeth. The tail is often tucked between his legs. This is also a dog that has the potential to bite, but would rather run than fight. Do not do anything to provoke or block this dog’s escape.

A friendly posture is when a dog’s ears are perked up and her eyes are friendly and her mouth is relaxed. The dog’s body is relaxed and upright, the tail is often wagging and a little lower than the dog. If you don’t know the dog, it is still a good idea not to approach.

When a dog is stressed the dog will yawn and pant a lot. The body is often tense. If you are training your dog and you see these signs, this is a good time to back off a little and take some rest.

I was down with flu the past couple of days and I realized how many lives depended on me to survive, my four cats! I was too sick to get out of bed and give them proper attention. Thank goodness my friend Shaun Olmstead played nurse to me and pet sitter to my kitties. He dropped by a few times a day to check on me and my cats. He fed my cats, cleaned their litter box and even spent some time playing with them while I dozed off.

I also realized that having pets by your side can help lift your spirits and hasten your road to recovery. Just keep in mind that pets can spread disease—so it’s equally essential to protect your pet’s health while tending to your own. Here are tips for getting yourself and your pet through your illness.

Be extra hygienic when your immune system is weak. Wash your hands with soap and water after petting or touching your pet. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning up after the pet or changing a litter box. And be sure to wash your hands after removing the gloves.

Keep your pet’s living and feeding areas clean. Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to minimize scratches and the spreading of germs. Use a flea and tick preventative on your pet to minimize the chances of flea and tick-related diseases. Stay up to date with your pet’s vaccinations.

As I was walking my pug in the park the other day and saw other dog lovers playing with their pooches, a question strike me: what is the most popular dog breed? I think the most popular dog is still probably the good old-fashioned mutt but a quick research on the net revealed the following top five breeds:

Coming at number five is the Beagle which could be best represented by the Peanuts star, Snoopy. He may have single-handedly brought the breed to the top of the list in the first place. The Beagle is a great tracker and hunter that’s why it should never be allowed out without a leash or it will take off on its own, following a trail to who-knows-where. They are friendly, cheerful dogs, known for imitating vultures and chasing Red Barons. If you are planning to get a beagle, be warned that they are a vocal dog, due to their background on the hunt.

Next in line is the Dachshund. How can anyone not love the little wiener dog? My friend Shaun Olmstead owns two but unfortunately lost one due to a brain tumor. Dachshunds make great apartment dogs, the short hairs require minimal grooming, and are endlessly entertaining to look at. And they don’t eat a lot, to be sure. A great companion dog, the Dachshund is intelligent, active, and fiercely loyal to its owner, sometimes focusing in on one person to the exclusion of all others. This makes them the ideal pet for a single person. The breed was originally developed in Germany over 300 years ago, and the name is actually German for “badger hound.” They are fiercely courageous, even to the point of foolhardiness, and their small stature allowed them to quickly jump into badger holes and flush out badgers on badger hunts. Who knew that Germany had so many badgers running around?

Barking at the third place is the German Shepherd, another breed developed in Germany where they seem to do little else but make big dogs. The German Shepherd is an extremely intelligent dog, often used as a guide dog, police dog, herder, and all around great family pet. They are curious, faithful, and obedient, and love to be in on all activities. While they make great housedogs, they are not recommended for apartments unless you are willing to take it outside for hours and hours of exercise. And they eat their weight in kibble every two and a half days.

The second most popular dog breed is, tah dah, the Golden Retriever. It is another highly intelligent breed, useful as a guide dog for the blind. They are also hunters, family pets, and show dogs. Goldies tend to be friendly and good-natured, not known for hostility towards people or animals, or even obnoxious little brats! This even temperament makes them a great family dog, especially with youngsters around. The Golden Retriever is a big dog with a big appetite, so it will need a lot of exercise, especially if confined to an apartment all day. They also shed TONS in the summer, so get ready to have dog hair cover your clothes, food, and everything in your entire house. Records on the breed’s development date back to 1835 in Scotland, thanks to scrupulous gamekeepers in Scotland.

Taking the top spot is the Labrador Retriever. Bred primarily as a working gun dog, the Labrador Retriever is a gentle breed, with an outgoing nature and a ridiculously friendly temperament. Known for its “otter tail” (and its drool), this athletic dog can go from the hunt to the showroom to the family room with equal aplomb. Because of their gentle nature, Labrador Retrievers make good pets when children or seniors are part of the household, although as pups they can get extremely wild and energetic. While they aren’t aggressive, they do bark to keep the weirdos at bay. Keep in mind that Labs have big appetites and need lots of exercise if you are planning to get this breed.

My sofa and nerves are in tatters. I thought my cats were well trained but I was disgruntled when I came home the other night and found a couple of my silk damask throw pillows shredded into pieces and the stuffing of my couch spilling out like guts! I also noticed some scratches on my antique armoire! The culprits, of course, are my cats. I just don’t know exactly which of the four did the crime or if all of them were guilty! I can’t really blame them, given their killer hunting instinct, cats don’t hesitate to use both their claws and jaws to destroy everything in sight.

I asked my friend and cat lover, Shaun Olmstead, for tips on how my cats could keep the scratching and chewing to a minimum. Here’s what he has suggested:

Have lots of toys around to keep them busy. Toys can be store-bought or home made. An empty paper bag, a ping pong ball tied to a string and hung tantalizingly from a door knob, a rubber ball too big to swallow, a wadded up ball of paper, a ball of yarn, or a feather on the end of a wire are all good cat toys. And make sure that what you give them is always theirs. If you let them play with your shoelace, don’t get upset when they eat the rest of your shoes.

You can’t really blame your kitties for tearing the stuffing out of your couch if it’s the only thing around they can sink their claws into. That’s why a scratching post is a must. Cats scratch a lot because they need to loosen the exterior layer of their claws to let new growth come through.

Whatever you do, be consistent, fair, and give your cat lots of praise and attention when they get it right. When you witness your cats chewing or scratching something they shouldn’t, squirt them suddenly and immediately with a water pistol. This is a tried and tested (and relatively humane) method of discipline for cats, who usually hate getting wet. You can also startle her by clapping your hands, shouting “No!” or hissing.