My Bestfriend

Dog lovers around the country, including me and my friend, Shaun Olmstead, are ecstatic over the announcement that the First family finally decided on what breed of pet to bring to the White House. According to news reports, the Obamas opted for a Portuguese water dog to be the next first dog. The breed is medium-sized and good-natured, perfect for the young presidential daughters Malia and Sasha. Furthermore, the breed is also hypoallergenic - a must, given Malia’s allergy to dogs.

Mrs. Obama said that the kids will have to wait until the end of April to get the dog, since the family is planning on going away for Spring Break. The kids are already thinking of names but the first lady is not a fun of their suggestions so far: Frank and Moose.

The first family’s choice for a pet dog got a lot of press after Obama mentioned that his daughters had “earned” a dog during his victory speech on Election Night. From then on, dog-lovers around the country and the world, speculated which breed will make it to the White House.

Aside from the name, the only thing left to decide on is the shelter wherein to find and adopt the next Top Dog of the land.

Cats are often perceived as independent, shy, or aloof animals. They are known for walking through the eye of chaos without even twitching a whisker of concern. But these are wrong impressions; cats can be extremely friendly companions, if you just let them be.

Carrying a cat in your arms like a baby or feeling their warmth beside you on the couch can be very relaxing. But just picking them up and petting them can be a bad decision, unless you enjoy being scratched and bitten.
Felines have an inherent distrust for predator species such as humans, and they try to minimize any contact with people they do not perceive as trustworthy. They relate to humans differently than more social animals like dogs, enjoying some time on their own each day and if they feel like spending time with their humans, it must be on their own terms. If you want to pick up your cat, you must make sure that the pet feel safe and secure.

My friend Shaun Olmstead, a pet advocate, shares the dos and don’ts of feline handling:

Never pick up a cat by the scruff of its neck. There’s no problem when mother cats carry their young this way and it’s safe for owners to handle kittens in this manner since they are still very light. But picking up an adult cat by the scruff is not recommended as it can be very uncomfortable for the cat and put strain on its neck muscles. They can retaliate by scratching and biting.

The best way to pick up a cat is for the owner to put one hand around its body under the front legs, then scoop up the back legs with the other hand. The cat should be held securely but not too firmly, and its hindquarters should always be supported. Do not leave the back legs dangling, as this is uncomfortable for the cat.
Some cats are happy to be cradled like a baby, but not all. If your cat shows signs that it doesn’t like this, don’t force it. And when any cat has had enough and wants to get down, don’t force it to stay, but put it down gently on the floor.

The worsening economy affects us all, out pets included. An increasing number of pet owners are giving up their furry companions for adoption or leaving them in shelters simply because they couldn’t afford the growing veterinary and food expenses. Other owners are trimming their budgets and thinking of ways to keep their pets.

Shaun Olmstead, a responsible pet ownership advocate, says that one way to cut cost on pet care expenses is to provide them with home made meals. He adds that aside from being cheaper, home-prepared pet food are also more nutritious than their store bought counterpart which are laden with high levels of fillers and preservatives.

Below is a simple and healthy dog food recipe that is full of protein to give the dog added energy and help to condition the coat.

Ingredients:
A large piece of liver, cut into cubes
Garlic powder
1 cup of rolled outs
1 carrot, diced
1 leek, cut into small pieces
1 small potato, diced (skin can be left on)

Procedure:
Fry the liver until it is thoroughly cooked but not rubbery
Stir in the garlic powder
Lightly boil the carrot, leek and potato until soft. Drain thoroughly
Mix the liver, oats, carrot, leek and potato together until thoroughly combined.
Store in an air-tight container until ready to serve to the dog.

We heard and read about it time and again: beloved pets going berserk. A golden retriever attacking a 2-year-old child, famous Las Vegas magician Roy Horn being mauled by his “pet” tiger, and more recently, a chimpanzee throwing a violent rampage that left a friend of its owner badly hurt. The animals involve in these sad incidents never exhibited any violent streaks before. In fact, these animals were given the best accommodations; they were more than just pets, they were treated like humans, a part of the family.

But why do some pets act this way? I bet no one can really explain why. All my friend, Shaun Olmstead, can say is that these are all accidents. He adds that animals will turn aggressive and attack humans only when they sense danger, are injured or are in a state of shock. Another friend, Jane Barcy, says that these attacks serve as a statement of what animals think about humans in general: that we suck at keeping this world a safe place to live for both humans and animals.

I just hope the attacks against animals by humans (and vice versa) stop now. I don’t want my beloved pug, Rama, going berserk and biting me hard on the ass one of these days.

Rawhide dog chews are very popular treats for pooches. They are usually made from cow or pig skin. They are relatively inexpensive and dogs seem to enjoy biting, chewing and gnawing on them for hours. Actually, it’s not the rawhide that the dogs like but the act of chewing which exercise their jaws and keep their teeth and gums healthy as well as relieve boredom and stress.

However, rawhide has no nutritional value at all. In fact, these type of treats are packed with artificial coloring and preservatives that can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions in dogs. Responsible pet ownership advocate, Shaun Olmstead, discourage dog owners from giving commercially available rawhide treats to their pets as some of these products can be contaminated with harmful bacteria which can cause rashes and irritation on the dog’s mouth and the inside of their lips. Furthermore, rawhides are indigestible and can cause causes digestive problems very similar to gastroenteritis, requiring immediate veterinarian attention.

As an alternative treat to rawhide, Olmstead suggests giving your pet non-toxic chew toys like twist cotton ropes or Nylabone products. Better yet, you can personally make a dried up beef joint bone for your beloved pet. Just get a knee or shoulder bone at your butcher and choose a size that is too big for your dog to break or swallow. Boil the bone and then dry in the oven at 350 degrees F until dry. This bone will probably last forever and will do wonders for your dog’s teeth.

Are you dog tired of kicking your smoking habit? Why not adopt a dog, a cat or any pet to help you quit your nicotine addiction? According to a recent study, owning a pet can encourage smokers to kick the habit to spare their furry companions from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

My friend and responsible pet ownership advocate, Shaun Olmstead, says that this is very good news as it will diminish the number of pets that will be victims of second hand smoke. Just like in humans, second hand smoke can raise a pet’s risk of lung cancer and other forms of cancer, allergies, eye and skin diseases and respiratory problems.

If you love yourself, your family and your pets, stop smoking now!

Do your cat and dog fight like, well, like cats and dogs? Mine did when they first met. They were both from the shelters and the ruckus they made was just astounding! My cat Vanna, with her ferocious claws, always win of course. Bert, a 3-year-old golden retriever (who usually starts the fight by sticking his nose on the cat’s food bowl) is such a wuss, retreating with his tail between his legs to a safer territory: under the dining table.

My friend Shaun Olmstead says that fighting is a normal behavior between cats and dogs. They fight because they don’t speak the same language. Like, cats lash their tails when they’re agitated while dogs growl. Cats purr when they’re happy while dogs wag their tails. So, there are really a lot of mixed signals going on!

The good thing is that cats and dogs can be the best of friends. That’s once they’re familiar with each other. Familiarity will help them learn to talk to each other. That’s why it’s a good idea to introduce them when they’re young.

With older pets, I suggest introducing them to each other slowly like keeping the dog in one half of the house and the cat in the other (by using a safety gate, for example), so they get used to having this other, somewhat-alarming critter around. The dog learns the cat isn’t food, and the cat learns the dog won’t eat him. Slowly, under supervision, start bringing them into the same room together.

I followed this technique and I must say it really works. My Vanna and Bert are now the best of friends. They play together, greet each other nose-to-nose and even share the same water bowl!

Picking a new dog for first daughters Sasha and Malia was, apparently, not one of the priorities of President Barack Obama. Last I heard, the Obamas will scout for a puppy or dog in the spring when they have already settled into their new home and the weather is perfect for the girls to go out to walk the pet.

According to the grapevine, the girls are rooting for a West Highland white terrier or Westie. However, my friend Shaun Olmstead, a passionate animal rights advocate, says that this could pose a problem if the First Family is not careful. Shaun is afraid that if the Obamas decide to pick a Westie (or any other breeds or cross breed), the breed would be highly popular and puppy millers will breed them like they are going out of style! And the unwanted/unsold pups could end up in shelters and rescue centers all over the US.

The First Family, by this time, has generated a lot of clout. Mrs. Obama wore a certain dress when she appeared on a TV show, the dress sold out in 10 minutes. If people follow her on her choice of dress, a dog is not far behind!

Does your dog wreak havoc at home when you leave, leaving poop and pee everywhere? Are your neighbors complaining about the non-stop howling and barking? If yes, your pooch might be suffering from separation anxiety. Just like a human child separated from a parent, pets can get traumatized and anxious when left by its primary caretaker. Other symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs include excessive grooming or licking, hyperactivity and depression or lethargy.

According to my friend Shaun Omstead, dogs have different ways of dealing with separation anxiety. Some will simply sigh and wait patiently for you to come back, and others will go into panic mode, crying and barking, trying to get you to come back. Some destroy things, such as plants, books, pillows, anything that was “yours”, even to the extent of defecating on the floor.

To get rid of your dog’s separation anxiety, make your comings and goings as inconspicuous as possible. The thought of being abandoned can be nerve-wracking for some dogs but some people unwittingly reinforce this anxiety by making a production of leaving in the belief that this will calm their pet. Unfortunately, it gives the opposite effect. Nothing enforces a dog’s belief that he has something to worry about more than somebody trying to keep him calm.

Try to desensitize your dog with your comings and goings by leaving the house for a little while, just a few seconds, and then come back. Once your dog is accustomed to seeing you go out and come right back in, you can increase the time you are out. This technique will help him get over his fear of abandonment.

Another good tip is to give your pooch a good workout. A tired dog will sleep (hopefully) while you are gone, and by wearing him out before you leave, he may be too tired to work up to a good panic.

Or try to keep your pet busy while you are out by providing mind-consuming dog toys like a Kong stuffed with cheese or peanut butter which will keep your dog busy trying to get the goodies out.

Pugs are little dogs with big personalities. They are my favorite dog breed. My friend Shaun Olmstead, who takes care of two pugs, describes them as the most friendly, intelligent and cute dog known to man. He adds that those with anything negative to say about pugs have obviously never come in contact with one in their lives. And I totally agree.

I have the great opportunity to take care of two great pugs: Marga who left us in 2006 and Rama who has been with me for almost three years now. These little round dogs are jolly, happy souls. They are affectionate, energetic, even-tempered and very people-friendly. They never fail to make me smile after a hard day’s work in the office and make me look forward to our early morning walks in the park. Walking my Rama in the park is such a treat (not to mention a very effective exercise regimen)! Everybody, young and old, just loves this funny, loving, and cute pooch!

Pugs are generally easy to take care of despite their reputation for breathing problems and eye issues. They shed like crazy but basic routine grooming is generally sufficient to keep most of their hairs out of the sofa. Extra attention should be placed upon keeping their facial folds clean to prevent infections. As with any dog breed, the Pug should be thoroughly trained (which is not difficult because of their immense intelligence). This breed does have a great deal of energy, so proper training and routine exercise are recommended. They tend to snore a lot but that only makes them more endearing to those of us who are owned by them.