My Bestfriend

The new First Dog, Bo, is getting massive media mileage. At this point, he is one of the most popular pooches in the world with leading plush toy manufacturer, Ty Warner, even releasing a beany baby in his likeness: white front legs and paws, sporting a patriotic collar of red, white and blue.

The 6-month-old Portuguese water dog was officially introduced to media, and the world, on April 14 when the Obamas took him out for a walk on the White House South lawn. When asked by media correspondents, the President simply said that his family is very pleased with Bo and that the pooch has star quality.

According to sources, Bo was a gift to the Obamas by Sen. Ted Kennedy. Some people were disappointed that the First Family didn’t adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group but we guess the president just couldn’t turn down the offer from a good friend.

In our opinion, the Obama’s still kept their promise of getting a dog from a shelter or rescue group. The First Family saved Bo from going to a shelter since he was not a good fit with the family he’d been initially placed with. We believe that the Obamas will give Bo the loving and happy home every dog deserves. We will definitely follow Bo’s adventures as the First Dog at www.persidentialmansion.com.

Getting a pet is a huge responsibility. You don’t just buy a puppy from some pet shop because you think it is cute! Or give it as a present to your six-year-old daughter because you heard her say that she wants a Chihuahua just like Paris Hilton’s. Pets are not things that we can discard we don’t like it anymore. Pet shelters are already crowded with unwanted animals and this has got to stop, now!

Shaun Olmstead, a responsible pet ownership advocate, provides these valuable tips for parents who are considering getting a pet for their kids.

Make sure your child is mature enough to care for the pet. Ideal age would be 5 years and above. Younger children don’t have the maturity to control aggressive and compulsive impulses and must be monitored with a pet at all times. However, older kids still need to be taught how to care for a pet and the responsibilities that come with owning a pet, including time spent exercising, grooming and playing. Parents should not expect children to take full responsibility for a pet. They should to be willing to shoulder the responsibility if the child can’t.

You should be prepared for the financial responsibility of taking care of a pet. Set money aside to have if the animal needs medical care. Pets need annual exams and vaccinations, food, toys, treats, beds, crates, leashes, collars, etc.

Before trooping to the pet shop, research on the internet the various animals and breeds that may interest you and your kids. Know all the details about the animal of your choice like grooming, exercise requirements, feeding, temperament, etc, and make sure it will match the kind of lifestyle your family leads. And when you finally get the pet of your choice, teach your kids to treat the animal just like a member of the family.

A trained dog is a more enjoyable pet to be around, not only to its owners but also to other people and pets it socializes with. Shaun Olmstead, an advocate of responsible pet ownership, says that it is the job of every dog owner to train his canine companion to make it a respected and respectful member of the society. Furthermore, training is also a great opportunity for owners to bond with their pooches.

Aside from tricks that make doggies even more adorable, every well-mannered dog should also be able to perform the five basic commands: heel, sit, down, stay and come. Below are some tips on how to teach your dog these basic commands.

Sit
Hold the treat directly above the dog’s head.
When the dog’s eyes follow the food, his head will tilt back and his hind legs will begin to fold under him to offset his body position, causing him to sit naturally.
As the dog’s back legs begin to bend, say: “Sit.”
When the dog fully sits, give him the treat.
Once the sit command is understood, reduce and then eliminate the food reward, always praising the dog as he sits obediently.

Down
While the dog is in the “sit” position, hold a treat near its nose and move the treat downward.
As his nose follows the treat, move your hand forward in front of his face.
As he starts to lower himself, give the command: “Down.”
Move your hand farther down and forward until the dog is fully lying down.
Immediately praise him with: “Good, down!”
Reward him with the treat.

Stay
During early training for “stay,” you should use a short leash so the dog is aware of your control.
With the dog in the “sit” position say, “Stay” and with your palm facing the dog to reinforce the “stay” command, move a small step away while maintaining eye contact.
After a brief pause, reward the dog with praise and a food treat for remaining in position.
Don’t be too effusive in praise or say his name, as he will probably break his stay to come to you.
Repeat the exercise, gradually increasing the length of the pause.
If the dog breaks the stay, make him sit and repeat the exercise with a shorter pause before giving the treat.
Once the dog masters this, use a longer, slack leash to maintain control and gradually move farther away as the dog remains in the “stay” position.

Release
With the dog in the “stay” position, reward him for his stay with a treat.
Stand in front of him, open your arms and say, “OK!” or your own personal choice for a release word.
Then reward this behavior with a treat.

Come
The dog should know how to sit and stay.
Move away, turn to face the dog, call him and while motioning with palm inward, say
“Come.”
When the dog reaches you, command the dog to sit, and then give him his food reward.

Heel
With the leashed dog in the “sit” position on your left side, hold the treat in your right hand.
Say the dog’s name, followed by, “Heel.”
Walk, left foot first, holding the treat just over the dog’s nose and doling out little bits to encourage him.
Keep the dog on a tight leash.
Ideally, your dog should pace himself so that his shoulder is in line with your left knee.
Reward him with larger treats when he does this.

Panting is normal and actually, quite healthy for dogs. It is their way of cooling their bodies down when the heat becomes too much for their systems too handle. However, excessive panting that continues without a break or shortness of breath may be a sign of dangerous over-heating. Left unchecked, heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heat stroke, resulting in possible death.

To prevent heat stroke, Shaun Olmstead, a responsible pet ownership advocate, suggests the following tips:

-If you think your dog is experiencing some level of distress, try offering him a little water and wait a few moments to see if things settle down. If they don’t, it may be prudent to seek help from your vet.
-Always make sure your pet has plenty of shade.
-Make water available to your pet on a constant basis and freshen it several times a day.
-Be sure your pet’s location has good ventilation.
-Never leave your dog locked in a car on a warm day.

Is your home safe for your pets? Responsible pet ownership advocate, Shaun Olmstead, lists down must-do’s to keep your pet safe at home.

Keep indoor garbage bins properly covered. The scent of rubbish can be appalling to humans but to cats and dogs, it can be very appealing! But the kitchen garbage bin may contain moldy food, coffee grinds, chocolate or other food scraps that can hurt your pets when ingested. Bathroom thrash cans might have disposed medicines and paper towels with chemical cleaners on them that can be harmful to animals, so make sure to close the lids of all your garbage cans. For added precaution, it would be better to hide them behind cabinet doors.

Store cleaners, bleach, detergents and other chemicals in areas out of reach of your pets. Chewing on the containers, licking spilled cleaners, or inhaling chemical fumes can hace adverse effects on your furry companions. Keep all cleaning supplies and chemicals behind securely closed cabinet doors.

Sharing snacks with your pet is fun and a very good way to bond with our furry friends. However, every pet owner should know that there are food items that are delectable for humans but can be detrimental to our pets such as chocolate, avocado, coffee, raisins and grapes, salt, garlic, onions, onion powder and bread dough.

Keep batteries, coins, spools of string, extension cords, cellophane, mothballs and glow-in-the-dark jewelry away from your pet’s choppers as these items can be choking hazards.

Make sure that the plants in your garden and indoors are not poisonous to animals. Cats and dogs love to chew on plants. Don’t let your pets near lilies, azaleas, rhododendron, English ivy and yew.

Cats are obligate carnivores and need nutrients found on animal tissues to meet their specific nutritional requirements. Their diet is very different from dogs and humans. Every cat owner should put a lot of thought into what they feed their feline companions as it can have a huge impact on the pet’s lifetime and very possibly help them avoid serious, painful and costly illnesses.

Responsible pet ownership advocate, Shaun Olmstead, shares important tips on feeding pet cats. Olmstead says that it is imperative to provide cats with good quality cat food
whether it is wet, dry or some of both. He also warns owners never to give their cats with dog food as it won’t meet the feline’s nutritional needs, and can make it sick.

The rule of thumb is to feed your cat twice a day. Discard any leftover wet food that hasn’t been eaten after half an hour.

Olmstead also warns against giving commercially available treat as these can contain lots of sugar and fat, which can pack on the pounds. Instead, he suggests providing fresh fruits and vegetables, like broccoli, corn or cantaloupe as healthier snack items.

It is also important to provide cats with fresh and clean water at ALL times. Water helps regulate body temperature, digest food, eliminate waste, lubricate tissue, and allow salt and other electrolytes to pass through the body. Change the bowl at least once a day.

Below is a list of food items that can be harmful to your cat:

• Chocolates
• Bones
• Avocado
• Coffee
• Raisins and grapes
• Moldy or spoiled food
• Salt
• Garlic
• Onions, onion powder

Our pets are not immune to accidents. Every pet owner should have a first aid kit which contains all the necessary medications and tools for immediate treatment in case of an emergency. Gathering the necessary items ahead of time could help save your pet’s life in an emergency. The kit must be placed in an accessible area in the house (or car when traveling).

Shaun Olmstead, a responsible pet ownership advocate, lists down all the necessary item that should be included in a pet first aid kit. Prepare a durable, waterproof (or at least water-resistant) container that opens and closes easily yet securely. It should be large enough to hold the items enumerated below.

1. Bandage material, such as gauze pads, cotton gauze, adhesive tape and masking tape. Be sure to pack a pair of scissors, plus tweezers or forceps.
2. Diarrhea medication, but seek your veterinarian’s approval before use.
3. Eyedroppers for dispensing liquid medication or for cleaning superficial wounds.
4. Syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting in the event your pet is poisoned. If your pet is poisoned, consult your veterinarian before inducing vomiting.
5. Activated charcoal (available at any health food stores). This remedy is good for poisoning or diarrhea and controls flatulence resulting from any stomach or intestinal upset.
6. Blankets in the kit to keep your pet warm in extreme conditions.
7. Include the phone numbers of your pet’s regular veterinarian and of a nearby emergency veterinary hospital.

When traveling, call ahead to your destination to see if there are any particular dangers, such as snakes, poisonous plants or extreme heat, that you will need to consider when packing your pet’s first aid kit.

Shedding is a natural occurrence to dogs, except for a short list of hairless breeds such as the American hairless terrier, Chinese crested, Khala, Peruvian Inca Orchid and Xoloitzcuintle. Natural hair loss varies from breed to breed, some shed more heavily than others. So if you are a dog owner and your pooch is not among these mentioned breeds, you are familiar with shedding and the hassle it creates on the sofa and your clothes. Fallen hair is unsightly except if you are obsessed with your pooch that you collect their hairs, spun them into thread and knit them into sweaters.

My friend Shaun Olmstead says that grooming is the key to keep hair loss under control. Your dog’s hair is going to fall out naturally and it is best to remove it yourself with a brush and throw it in the trash than to let the hair fall out all over the house. The more hair removed, the less you will see it all over your house and on you. Brushing your dog once a day is recommended to reduce the unwanted hair all over your clothes, carpet and furniture, especially during shedding season. .

It is also advised to seek immediate veterinary attention if you think your dog is shedding abnormally or you see bald spots. There are health conditions such as ringworm, skin infections, stress, mange and cancer that can cause large, abnormal amounts of shedding.

A dog’s wagging tail does not only mean that he’s happy to see you. My friend Shaun Olmstead says tail-wagging is a way of communicating, it serves the same functions as our human smile, polite greeting, or nod of recognition. A dog’s tail speaks volumes about his mental state, his social position, and his intentions.

A recent study on tail-wagging conducted at the University of Trieste in Italy revealed a deeper meaning for this canine behavior. The research reveals that tail-wagging to the right or left connotes different meanings. When a dog’s tail wags to the right, it means that the dog is happy and sees something it wants to approach. A left wag, on the other hand, means that the pooch is frightened and confronted with something they want to run away from.

The vast and well manicured lawns of the Presidential Mansion, the seat of office and residence of the most powerful man on earth, is under attacked by masked bandits—of the four-legged kind.

A pack of raccoons were reported roaming the grounds near the White House. The National Park Service are already dealing with the furry intruders with permission from the Secret Service. Live traps, with cat food, apples, and peanut butter (hopefully salmonella-free variety) as bait, were set up throughout the grounds to lure and capture the raccoons without hurting them. Once caught, the raccoons will be released into a wooded area of Washington, D.C.

According to www.presidentialmansion.com says President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace, had a pet raccoon during their time in the White House. The raccoon’s name was Rebecca.