Dogs Dollars & Sense

Save Money Using Listerine as a Flea Repellant

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:48:00 +0000

You can make a quick flea shampoo by adding a small dropperful of Listerine to your regular dog shampoo. Like any flea shampoo you will want to make sure you keep it out of the eyes and don't let your dog eat the lather.
(I once had a dog named Yushi who was adamant about eating shampoo lather, so much so that I had to tie her muzzle with a nylon stocking to bathe her).If you use a topical flea treatment it will make it somewhat less effective. I don't recommend using flea shampoo of any type, natural or not when your dog is wearing a topical flea treatment. Just use a gentle sulfate free dog shampoo.
I have used a homemade coat spray at ringside when showing shortcoated dogs like Dobes and Salukis that consisted of a half teaspoon of Listerine added to a 15 oz spray bottle of water. After spraying, a quick rubdown with a genuine chamois cloth brought a beautiful luster to the coat. For double coated breeds like Corgis, I have used distilled water in the spray bottle and then combed the hair backwards after a light spray remembering to avoid the eyes.
But my favorite use of Listerine is as a cheap yard spray to kill fleas. Mix one ounce of dish soap, a half teaspoon olive oil and a tablespoon Listerine to a gallon of water, then spray the yard. I prefer phosphate free dish washing liquid. We used this mixture for years and years to keep fleas at bay in the yard. As an added benefit, the thymol in Listerine helps repel mosquitos to some degree too.
And you thought Listerine was just a mouthwash...

Combatting Canine Rescue Fatigue

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:51:00 +0000

This week I have had three different women confide in me that they were overwhelmed and exhausted by the massive work required in their canine rescue efforts.
I see these Mother Theresas' of the dog world give of themselves day in and day out, often risking marriages, friendships, and personal finances. They do it not for personal satisfaction, but because there is a need.
The stream of dogs in dire need seems endless, and it is.
Senior dogs, dogs with medical needs, dogs abandoned for no apparent reason, dogs homeless because their owners are homeless, dogs with behavior issues...it just doesn't stop. They feel that if they don't do it, who will? And for them, the thought of a dog suffering is too much to bear.
You may be one of these self sacrificing people...
How can you cope with rescue fatigue? Having suffered from it myself, here are some tips:
Take a mental break.
My love of French history and French antiques developed as a form of escapism from the mental pain of rescue work. Find a hobby that you can escape into and make time for it. ( Make a scrapbook of the dogs you have helped save and look at it when you get depressed.)
If you have been fostering, consider something different.
Transport or fund raising perhaps.
Consider narrowing down the kinds of dogs you rescue.
Maybe you have a lot of experience with behavior modification for example, then limit yourself to dogs who need your special skill.
Or become breed specific. Whether it is Lab/Pit mixes or Maltese, becoming breed specific has its' advantages. For one, it helps you learn their breed idiosyncrasies both emotionally and medically. It is easier to network with other persons and groups who are breed specific also.

Or try this breed specific approach...for several years I was involved in Standard Poodle rescue. My own rescued Standard Poodle was a wonderful ambassador for his breed. When we were out in public, which was a lot, I often met people who confessed an admiration for the breed. It was an opportunity to educate them about the plight of so many homeless Standard Poodles. I would give them my phone number as I was a contact person for the breed with area shelters. I soon had a wait list of prospective homes. Yes, I said wait list. Because of that I was able to co-ordinate the adoption of many Standard Poodles, far more than I could ever have taken in and cared for.
Get more people involved. Spread the word among friends, family and co- workers. The beautiful tiny Imperial Shih Tzu pictured at the beginning of this post is named Alphie. This year he was dumped at the entrance to our local pound/kill shelter in the middle of the night. He was heartworm positive... I was worried for him as it didn't look like anyone was going to save his life. My friend and co-worker Keesha and her husband John stepped in. Now, thanks to their involvement, he has a loving home with everything a little dog could dream of.
Rescue fatigue is a serious condition. Don't let your family, your job and your own pets' lives suffer because you are stretched too thin.
Most importantly, realize that you can't do it all and you can't save them all,no matter how badly you want to.

Touched by a Canine Angel

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:23:00 +0000

This weekend, Gilby and I attended our local Christmas Flea Market along with literally thousands of other people. Gilby insisted on walking and despite my qualms of letting a toy dog walk in a crowd I let him have his way. As a Certified Therapy Dog he was remarkable at manuvering among the throngs of people, wheelchairs, power scooters, shopping carts, walkers, large dogs and kids. In fact, his small size seemed to make him a kid magnet.
We had stopped for a while to chat with my friend Larry who is a seller at the market and shows Cavaliers when a family stopped and the mother asked if her son could pet Gilby. The shy little boy reached out and gently stroked him. His mother asked, ''Isn't he soft''?
The little boy nodded in silence. After a few minutes the mother thanked me and they began to walk away when suddenly the little boy turned back around to Gilby and shouted ''Look!''
Gilby cocked his head to the side quizzically ( we all said ''awww, how cute'') as the little boy told Gilby that his mother had just bought him this train engine.
He had a bad speech impediment which explained his reluctance to speak earlier...
Therapy dogs carry their skills with them wherever they go and Gilby never took his attention off of the little boy despite all the commotion going on around us. He looked him right in the face as the boy dropped to his knees and, oblivious to the adults standing around him, said to Gilby,'' and you know what else? Santa comes NEXT WEEK ! I hope he brings me more stuff for my train!''
For a brief few minutes this little boy overcame his obvious shyness and spoke in public...to a dog.
I think we were all kind of touched by the moment.

For more information on Certified Therapy Dogs check out the book 'Angels On a Leash' by David Frei

Removing Chemicals From Your Dogs' Coat

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:01:00 +0000

When Gilby was pulled out of the dog pound, his coat looked groomed but it had been brushed only on top leaving a mass of matted coat underneath, his tail had dreadlocks and a couple friends suggested shaving him down and starting over

If you have read this blog for any time you know I am against shaving down dogs, not only does it put them at risk of skin cancer but most dogs don't like it either.

Gilby had suffered enough trauma. His jaw had been broken, his side teeth had been filed to nubs to help his jaw close and the surgery had given him a massive bone infection.
After all that and the months it took to heal...his owners dumped him at the pound where he would have been destroyed if no one came and got him. Since he is a senior dog that was unlikely...

Having been a groomer for so many years I opted to comb him out. The drawback was that I suffer from MCS multiple chemical sensitivities that act like a combination of Lupus and MS on your body when exposed. Gilby had so many chemicals in his coat that attempting to demat him had left me very sick.

Normally you would demat your dog before putting him in the bath. Bathing a matted dog as I have put in previous posts makes the mats worse. But I had no choice.

Gilby was bathed mats and all, with organic dishwashing detergent, 1 oz to 15 oz water to which 15 drops organic lavender oil and 5 drops tea tree oil had been added.

The lavender acts as both an antibacterial and as a solvent to remove hard chemicals. The tea tree oil kills any fungus that may be lurking in those mats and the truth is fungus grows inside mats quickly. Before the bath he was rinsed down with a couple gallons of distilled water. Distilled water opens the hair shaft so that it is easier for the chemicals to be removed. It also makes the mats worse because it roughens the hair cuticle so I really had my work cut out for me.

After washing he was rinsed thoroughly then rerinsed with more distilled water. This leaves the cuticle open and then I applied Espree Luxury Reconditioner. I love the Espree natural shampoos and conditioners and used them on all my showdogs

Distilled water is hard on a silky coated dog and I don't recommend it often unless like me, you were trying to remove chemicals that had been picked up in the coat.

Gilby is a loving patient dog and he let me demat most of him using only my fingers and a comb.

If you rescue a dog I recommend getting the coat as chemical free as possible because you simply don't know where that dog has been or what he has been exposed to. It is better for you, your family and your dog...here are Gilbys' before and after pix:

Rant From a Shelter Worker

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:22:00 +0000

Someone sent me this rant a while back...it is depressing but true. I have often wondered why they call them 'Shelters'..

The shelter worker who wrote this obviously is refering to kill shelters which more often than not is your local animal control facility. I am illustrating this post with a picture of local singer songwriter Emmylou Harris. She rescues the dogs that no one else wants out of a local pound. Her rescue, named Bonapartes' Retreat has saved the live of many an unwanted dog and found him a loving home.

This shelter rant is definitely food for thought:

'I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will. First off, all of you people who have ever surrendered a pet to a shelter or humane society should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would stop flagging the ads on craigslist and help these animals find homes. That puppy you just bought will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. Just so you know there's a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it’s dumped at? Purebred or not! About 25% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into a shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses: "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because the shelter gets paid a fee to euthanize each animal and making money is better than spending money to take this animal to the vet.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down". First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 shelter workers depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a shelter worker who we call a euthanasia tech (not a vet) find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. You see shelters are trying to make money to pay employee pay checks and don’t forget the board of directors needs to be paid too, so we don’t spend our funds to tranquilize the animal before injecting them with the lethal drug, we just put the burning lethal drug in the vein and let them suffer until dead. If it were not a “making money issue” and we had to have a licensed vet do this procedure, the animal would be sedated or tranquilized and then euthanized, but to do this procedure correctly would cost more money so we do not follow what is right for the animal, we just follow what is the fastest way we can make a dollar. Shelters do not have to have a vet perform their euthanasia’s so even if it takes our employee 50 pokes with a needle and 3 hours to get the vein that is what we do. Making money is the issue here not loosing money.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? Or used for the schools to dissect and experiment on? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right!

I hope that those of you who still have a beating heart and have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head, I deal with this everyday. I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and start educating the public. Do research, do your homework, and know exactly what you are getting into before getting a pet. These shelters and humane societies exist because people just do not care about animals anymore. Animals were not intended to be disposable but somehow that is what they are these days. Animal shelters are an easy way out when you get tired of your dog (or cat), and breeders are the ones blamed for this. Animal shelters and rescue organizations are making a hefty profit by keeping this misconception going.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about taking their dog to a shelter, a humane society, or buying a dog. For those of you that care--- please repost this. (author unknown)

It is sad that so many pets die in so- called shelters each year, this Thanksgiving in our prayers let us also thank the many many people who so selflessly endure this emotional pain of caring for these animals in hopes that they will be adopted. And also all the foster moms and dads, the canine rescue transporters and rescue workers everywhere.
Happy Thanksgiving,
D.

An Adoption Option

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:13:00 +0000

If I were to tell you that the happy Japanese Chin boy pictured above was in need of rescue, that he was a Certified AKC Canine Good Citizen, a Certified Therapy Dog, in robust health with no allergies, no dental disease, hips, eyes , knees and elbows in excellent condition, was microchipped, fully vetted, neutered, up to date on his vaccinations, doesn't bark,,was fully housebroken AND pottied on command then you would say he was highly adoptable, right? If so, you would be WRONG.

I sprung this dog out of animal control in a neighboring county this week. His crime? He is twelve years old....
Most people don't want to adopt a senior dog, they think that it will cost more money, that there will be additional veterinary expenses and they don't like the idea of investing time with a companion who has only a few years to live.
But look at it like this, if you are a busy person with a job who doesn't have time to housetrain or cope with teenage chewing issues,who wants companionship on nights and weekends, then a senior dog is PERFECT for you.
If you work from home and need a dog who is quiet and won't distract you or your clients from your work, then a senior dog is PERFECT for you.
If you are a senior yourself and would like a well behaved laid back companion and don't want to fuss with all that new puppy stuff, then a senior dog is PERFECT for you.
A puppy or young adult dog can and often does incur more veterinary expenses than an older dog.
Most breed clubs have an overflow of rescued senior dogs in your favorite breed awaiting adoption and many offer special adoption prices for seniors.
Gandhi said you can judge a country by the way it treats its' animals. In this country, senior pets don't get the compassion they deserve.
I hope that the next dog you adopt will be an older one. As for the little guy above, he is staying with fellow Chin devotee Lynn while I find us a new apartment. He is such a good dog, I can't wait to bring him home. He is PERFECT for me. A senior dog can be PERFECT for you too.

Just A Dog ...

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Recently I lost my beautiful little frog prince, my best friend, Puff. He was my whole world and losing him has been almost unbearable. The loss has been made worse because after his death I got his medical records and found the new vet clinic had diagnosed and treated him based on some other dogs medical records. I am too upset to write about it now , I know some people I associate with don't understand the intense hurt inside that can come from losing a dog, I literally feel as though a part of me has been ripped out..

Words cannot describe my loss but,I do want to share these beautiful words that were shared from Maria Calabrese as I feel everyone of us can relate:

"From time to time, people tell me, 'lighten up, it’s just a dog', or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog”. They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog”.
Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog”.
Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog”, but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog”, then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend”, “just a sunrise”, or “just a promise”. “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s NOT “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it’s NOT “just a dog” but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a human.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile, because they “just don’t understand!! ♥♥♥

Find Pet Product Bargains at the Flea Market!

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:26:00 +0000

I am a real bargain hound and that means I do a lot of flea market shopping. Pretty much any product you desire can be found for your dog at a local flea market, crates, bowls, blankets, beds, toys, grooming supplies,clothes, collars and leashes are all to be found brand spanking new at a flea market. My local flea market boasts over a dozen vendors specializing in dog products.

This lady and her lovely Toy Poodle are taking advantage of the bargains at Pet Tags Plus, a booth run by Sandra Wells. Sandra sells top quality name brand products at less than you would pay at the big Pet Superstore. While the big stores have the purchase power, Sandra and vendors like her don't have the enormous overhead and that means bargains for you and me. So what are you waiting for? Put flea market shopping on your to do list for this summer....and don't forget to bring your dog along for the fun! Happy hunting!

Adopt a Retired Military Dog

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 08 May 2011 21:29:00 +0000

When I was a child our family lived across the street from a man named Leonard Holland. Mr. Holland raised German Shepherd Dogs specifically for the military. Each litter was kept until they reached young adulthood and then they went to join their military handlers for training.
You have no idea how facinated I was as a child with Mr. Holland and his beautiful dogs. When Mr. Holland showed me how to fix their dinner of baked kibble and raw meat and supplements I tried to memorize the ingredients...when he discussed training and behavior, I hung onto every word. And when he allowed me to groom his dogs I thought it was such an honor....and it was. Mr. Holland told me stories of canine military heroics from the Korean War. He told me how important the jobs his pups were destined for would be to our country's future security.
Years later, a local family had a retired military dog chained in their back yard.
The father had retired from the Army and he adopted his canine companion who was also set to retire. Sadly, the father passed away shortly after retirement. He left behind a bereaved family and a former Military Police dog they were terribly afraid of. The dog was fed and watered with the help of a broom. She was shooed away and her bowl grabbed, then she was fed by pushing the refilled bowl just within her reach. Her water bucket was not touched until it was nearly empty,which meant it was always slimy....she had NO HUMAN CONTACT. This beautiful dog who had served our country had been chained for so long that her collar had grown into her neck and maggots had laid eggs in it.
It was at this point that I learned of her condition and went to her aid. She was a lovely dog albeit very overweight from no exercise and large quantities of food slathered in bacon grease pushed her way. Her diet was so bad I am surprised that she didn't develop pancreatitis.
After a few minutes of speaking to her I undid her chain, rubbed on her a while, and then proceeded the unpleasant task of removing her collar, cleaning out and medicating the maggot filled wound. She was so happy to have a human pet her.
As she healed, I began walks around her neighborhood with different family members, she was not aggressive, but they needed to become comfortable around her. I explained to them that she had been loved by their father and had been his military service partner and he would want her to be a family member. Eventually the eldest son took a real interest in her and she received the love and attention she deserved. It was a testament to the fabulous temperments of Military Dogs that she could have endured what she did at the hands of a frightened family and have no resentment towards them.

I mention all this because by now you have heard about the heroic dog who accompanied the Navy Seals into the Osama Bin Laden compound. These Navy Seals are some of the most skilled that our country has to offer...and when President Obama went to meet the Navy Seals and thank them for their heroic efforts, he included the dog who accompanied them. Military Dogs are real soldiers and there are Military Dogs out there who need adopting. Once their duty is over, they are either adopted or put down. Civilians CAN adopt retired canine military veterans. A website has been launched to help promote the adoption of our canine military heroes.
Please check it out.. http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com/index.html
Not every dog is adoptable but many are and deserve good homes after all they have done for our country...
The stunning photo above is from the Straits Times. The work these dogs and their handlers do never ceases to amaze me. And I also salute the dedicated breeders as well because it starts with breeding the right temperments....

Got Buttermilk?

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 13:34:00 +0000

My maternal grandmother was a sleek, well heeled sophisticate considered one of Londons' most stylish... ...in contrast, the most frequent memory of my fathers' mother is that of her churning butter, and the sweet/sour creaminess of the leftover buttermilk.
Buttermilk today is most often made with bacterial cultures and skim milk, making it a good substitute for yogurt and it has been a staple in my dogs' diets for years.
I once attended a long dog show circuit where Parvo was rampant. At that time, the vaccine had not been brought to market and there was little we could do to protect our dogs from this devastating man made disease.
My vet, Mark Ingram D.V.M. (recently named best Holistic Veterinarian by an area pet magazine) had told me that the disease could not take hold if the friendly bacteria count in the intestinal tract was high. We had traveled up to the Ravenna dog shows and were outdoors where I hoped the fresh air would make it less likely that the disease would spread, but it was not to be. For some of my friends and competitors, the ride back south took days and days because of stopovers for emergency fluids and treatments for Parvo.
Some of those dogs never made it home. It was a heartbreaking time, I recall spending hours on the phone offering condolences and entries at the shows dropped dramatically for fear of contracting Parvo. My own dogs and those I showed remained safe and I attribute that to buttermilk. At the shows, I would give small drinks of buttermilk all day long, mixed with slippery elm tree bark powder, it was a cooling pick me up for the dogs on a long hot circuit. And the dogs came home as healthy as they left.
I still give buttermilk daily as it helps balance the bodys' ph and adds beneficial bacteria. Buttermilk is more than an ingredient in ranch dressing and corn bread, it is an inexpensive way to enhance your dogs health. As you can see, Puff really loves his morning bowl of buttermilk!

What To Do With All That Dog Poop !

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 13:14:00 +0000

This weekend my friend Jon is making an inground dog waste digester. For Jon, and all of you out there who wonder what to do with all that dog poop I am revisiting this subject....

My neighbor used to have two large sporting type dogs. We live in a historical downtown urban neighborhood where the leash law is enforced and picking up after your dog is the law. He never mastered the art of walking two dogs on a leash so he would walk one dog on a leash and yell at the other one to get out of the road during the whole walk.
Perhaps if he wasn't always carrying a cat litter scoop in his free hand, he may have been able to walk both dogs at the same time.
And yes, he did pickup after his dogs. He would pick up the poop with the cat litter scoop and then catapult it into the street or the alley, whichever was closer.
Needless to say, there were those of us quite annoyed by this. Nothing quite like having the tread of your car tires wearing dog poop in the middle of summer!
Picking up dog poop is pretty much the least attractive feature of dog ownership. Many people in my area pay professional pooper scoopers to come clean up their yard. At 40 dollars a dog that can really add up. Especially if like my aformentioned neighbor, you feed a sub par dog food that produces copious amounts of stool.
But it doesn't have to be a chore. Biodegradable bags are available at a reasonable price, corn based, they degrade along with the poop. In a pinch you can recycle your plastic grocery bags but they are not biodegradable and we want to be green, don't we?
I noticed at the dog park this week-end that people are stealing the poop bags the city supplies. Shame on those people! I carry my own when we go to the park. To pick it up, simply turn the bag inside out like a glove over your hand, grimace, and then pick it up,turning the bag right side in. Deposit it in the nearest proper receptacle. Don't do like I once did and absent mindedly put it in your coat pocket! For those of you lucky enough to have a yard that you have to poop scoop, I once made my own doggy waste septic system, similar to the famed Doggie Dooley.
And here is how-

Take a trash can, plastic or galvanized, with a secure lid. I used a galvanized can. The can only needs to be 2 to 3 feet tall. Have some one who is adept at such things cut the can bottom off leaving the sides about 3 ft deep with no bottom. Dig a hole 3.5 or 4 ft deep and wide enough to bury the can in a suitable place in your yard. Bury the can with the rim protruding enough you can take the lid on and off easily. Two inches should do. In the bottom of the hole you want to layer gravel (I used granite gravel but you could use river bed gravel or even aquarium gravel)with activated charcoal like you buy at the pet store followed by another layer of gravel and charcoal. Add water, rain water will do fine, just above the gravel line, and add the Doggie Dooley enzymes that help break down the stool faster. Every pet store I know sells them, they are inexpensive and generally you don't have to add more enzymes for about 6 months. Now as you scoop the poop up in the yard just drop it in the ground and replace the lid securely. The enzymes will naturally go to work breaking down the poop into something more environmentally suitable. This will work for 2 medium sized dogs or one really big dog,or several toy dogs. And since the lid is sitting in your yard where everyone can see it, I recommend decorating it. If you have really green grass (and if you have dogs you probably don't)you could just paint it green to blend in, but hey, get creative. Put your dogs' name on it, decorate it with paw prints or flowers. Make it fun, because having one makes doggy clean up a whole lot better!

Banishing Odors

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 02:04:00 +0000

Last year I told you about Clean + Green, a line of products that I am a huge fan of because they are environmentally friendly, pet friendly, affordable, and THEY WORK.
Today Puff and I went out to my climate controlled indoor rented storage unit to do some cleaning. Last May we had a terrible 1000 year flood, 56,000 homes in the Middle Tennessee and Nashville area were affected.
My storage unit took on water from the flood. I spent days wicking water out of my antiques and steam cleaning the unit. I was successful, but if you have never experienced a major flood, nothing can describe the after flood odor that is almost impossible to remove. The odor comes from all of the things that the rushing water carried with it. Recently we received some Clean + Green Furniture Refresher for review, so I took along a can. It was made to remove pet odors from pet beds, carpets, furniture, etc. and I decided to try it on the antique pieces in my storage unit.
My favorite piece is a signed Louis XVI Giltwood Canape from the late 1700's pictured above. Yes, I said 1700's. It traveled from France to Cuba when the King was establishing sugar plantations,later it survived a trip to New Orleans, it survived Katrina and it survived the historic Nashville flood. I shook the can and gave the old silk upholstery a light spray. The best thing about this product is that it leaves no perfumey odor. Some antique dealers would think I was crazy spraying a refresher on such an antique but the trick is to spray it lightly as you don't need a lot of product to do the job.
I then sprayed it on an 1800's Louis chair (upholstery only, mind you) that my friend Ettienne (who is a French antiques dealer) brought back from Paris. This is one of Puffs' favorite chairs to sit on, you may have seen pix of him in it on this blog as well as the picture of him wearing a toilet paper crown on my antiques blog and Twitter account photo.

After that I tackled a couple of Persian rugs. All my rugs were at the time stored off the floor and did not come in contact with the nasty flood water. But they still smelled of the flood. I could have used Clean + Green for carpets, but the Furniture Refresher is lighter and this Tabriz rug is vegetable dyed. You can see from the photo that there is no color run because I did not have to spray a lot on it to eliminate the flood odor.

Unlike Febreeze, I feel safe using this product around my pets. And because I have chemical sensitivities, there are a lot of products that I personally cannot use.
Whether you have pets in your home, or antiques, or both, I highly recommend that you keep a can of
Clean + Green Furniture Refresher around. It is available at most Pet Specialty stores and at Petco. Even though we were asked to do a review of the product, the truth is we were already a loyal customer....Puff and I definitely give it two paws up.

Coping With Winter Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 05:07:00 +0000

Puff loves the snow and as you can see from this recent picture I keep him pretty bundled up, he has a whole wardrobe of dog coats, but this is his favorite, made by my mom, it comes with a matching wool knitted hat because his little Chin ears get sooo cold.
He thinks he is a puppy but in reality, Puff is an old dog, and some older dogs are very prone to arthritis flare ups in the winter just as people are.
While Puff doesn't have arthritis, he is an indoor dog and the radical change in temperatures from indoors to outdoors can be stressful on any dog, but especially on older ones as they have trouble maintaining their body temperature. Shivering out in the cold can compress the spine. Dogs with spinal issues and almost all toy dogs will benefit from some stretching exercises to decompress their spines.
I do reflexology massage on Puffs' feet, lying him on his side while I massage some raw organic shea butter on each pad. Pads get very dry this time of year...
Other winter issues include indoor heating. Believe it or not, everyone doesn't have central heat and air conditioning and I am one of those. We live in a very small, very old Southern shotgun style enfilade apartment that was built without heat, apparently before global warming or El Nina or what ever messed up our weather. Because of that I use electric oil radiators, they have been great ( my electric bill in December was 22.00, that is not a lie, but January it doubled). The problem with oil radiators is that they are hot to touch and a pet can be burned getting too close. I use fireplace screens around mine.
I once knew of an Afghan hound whose long coat went up in flames from just applied alcohol based grooming products and getting too close to a wall heater.
Dogs, especially older ones can lie too close to an open hearth as well.

We live in the city and with so much snow there are salt and chemicals everywhere. Neighbors put out ice melting chemicals on the sidewalks, merchants throw it in front of the stores. Salt residue sprays on you from the street when you are walking.....
Salt for melting ice usually contains high concentration of chlorine, and concentrated quantities of salt alone if ingested,is harmful to kidneys and hearts. Be sure to wipe down your dogs feet after every walk and check that you don't track any into your house.
Hopefully, spring is just around the corner....

Give Your Dog a Relaxing Massage

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:27:00 +0000

Dogs benefit from massage and I have been using massage for years as a means of developing a sense of well being in all of mine. Whether a show dog, a rescue or a very spoiled household member, dogs suffer stress for the sheer fact that we force them to live in an unnatural environment. From my other blog Nirvana Dog, here is a cross post for a simple Relaxation Massage:

Think your dog doesn't have worries?Your dog is hardwired to always be on his guard and aware of his surroundings.Ever notice how he will lie quietly in the same room while you watch TV or work on the computer and his eyes will be open watching you? Dogs rarely let their guard down.My dogs have always appreciated a relaxation massage and I know your dog will too.

Simply ask your dog to lie on his side and lightly spray on lavender coat spray( 30 drops organic lavender essential oil, 1 oz. vodka, 8 oz. spring water).Using the tips of your fingers,massage in little circles going in the direction toward the heart.Just like in people, massage helps the canine lymphatic system and it is a great time for you to have a little quiet and center yourself as well. It is that easy and your dog will love it!

Chinese grooming, art or puppy explotation?

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Someone sent me this pic of Chow Chow pups who have been professionally groomed to resemble Pandas.
I have mixed feelings about this. I think they look adorable! On the other hand it was done specifically for exhibition ...in a ZOO.
Is a zoo really the place for puppies?
As a former groomer, I am impressed with the skill of grooming being done in China. What do you think?
(If you are the photographer let me know so I can give photographer credit.)

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:31:00 +0000

As we are experiencing record heat I have been getting out extra early while the temperature is still reasonable to give Puff his long morning walk.
I usually stumble outside around 5:15 or 5:30 a.m. Half asleep and rarely clothing co-ordinated, after all, who else would I see that early in the morning?
You can imagine my surprise recently when a neighbor was hanging around
outside of my place hoping for a chance to ask me for help with her dog....
She has a sweet little hyper terrier rescue named Fatima and has been working with a professional trainer for the past six months. She has been doing very well except for one thing...
... Fatima always goes crazy when they approached people,and if the other person has a dog in tow, forget it, Fatima would be completely out of control, jumping, leaping, twisting and barking. Fatima was very exuberant, to say the least. Because we live in the city, walking is an important part of our dog care regiment.
She had noticed that Puff, who is a ball of energy himself, always sat when we met people on a walk. He sits quietly for the duration of any conversation, WITHOUT being told, so she decided to ask me the secret.
For starters I said, stop approaching people....in nature, or for that matter even at the dog park, one dog approaches, and the other dog stands still waiting to be approached.
Stop walking when you see another person approaching, let them come to you. Stand straight, put your dog in a sit and tone down the way you greet the person. In the beginning, ask them if possible. to speak to you and to ignore the dog.
After a minute or two of conversation, if your dog has remained in a sit, let the person pet your dog. It won't be long before your dog will learn that he will only receive the attention he desires by remaining quiet.
In Fatima's case, she was a happy younger dog who never met a stranger, other dogs may have deeper rooted issues that would require a slightly different approach, but for most dogs, this technique works wonders. It has certainly worked for every dog I have used it on, including my old Standard Poodle rescue who was our citys' Historic Neighborhood Associations' inspiration for the Good Dog Neighbor Award....
If you have a dog who prefers to jump and wriggle when people approach,try this, you may be very pleased with the results.

Does Your Dog Lack Confidence?

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:55:00 +0000

Friends of mine rescued a Boston Terrier named Bridgett. She had a number of health issues that had to be treated and a broken leg as a puppy had left her with very little self confidence.
A good holistic diet helped her behavior, as did Bach Rescue Remedy. But she still preferred to hide under furniture, never really participating in the wonderful things her new life had to offer.
Bridgett was 'conditioned' by the people caring for her while her broken leg mended to believe she should remain hidden and protected.
She needed confidence building and one of my recommendations is my favorite confidence building game which I call 'Find It'.
Take a favorite treat, set it a few inches away from the dog and ask him/her to 'find it'. Praise him when he goes to it and reward him with the treat. Each time, move the treat farther away until finally it can be hidden out of sight (under a table or a pillow for example) and the dog has to really work for his reward.
This develops confidence as it is the urban equivalent of hunting down and securing a food kill, it appeals to his basic instincts and makes him feel like a viable member of the family pack unit and not a passive pup meant to stay at all times hidden from sight in his den.
I have used this successfully with a number of dogs and one of the keys to success with this game is a lot of praise when the treat is found.
My Standard Poodle so loved this excercise that in time I could hide a treat really well and keep him occupied looking for it in the house for as long as 30 minutes!

Is Microban Safe for Your Dog?

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 04:07:00 +0000

Do you have one of these Le Bistro feeders? I do, actually I have two, one for food and one for water. I love them. Because Puff is a toy dog and toys are so prone to blood sugar fluctuations I like to have food available to munch on if his blood sugar gets low. And I like to have a large supply of fresh water available at all times too. Because I work sometimes very long hours it is important to me that Puffs' food and water needs are met while I am gone. And besides, what if something happened and no one could get to my home? The recent historic flood drove that point home as I was at work on day one of the flood and almost didn't find a flood free route home. At least I wouldn't have had to worry that he was without food or water.
But now I am reconsidering the product and others as well due to the FDA's recent scrutinizing of Triclosan. Triclosan, when added to plastic products is called, Microban...
The EPA has registered it as a pesticide and it has chemical similiarities to dioxins and PCB's, toxic chemicals.
Recently the Environmental Working Group had this to say about Triclosan:
'Triclosan has been linked to cancer in lab animals, has been targeted for removal from some stores in Europe for its health and environmental risks, and the American Medical Association recommends against its use in the home. It is also linked to liver and inhalation toxicity, and low levels of Triclosan may disrupt the thyroid hormone system. Thyroid hormones are essential to proper growth and development, particularly for brain growth in utero and during infancy.

Triclosan breaks down into very toxic chemicals, including a form of dioxin; methyl triclosan, which is acutely toxic to aquatic life; and chloroform, a carcinogen formed when triclosan mixes with tap water that has been treated with chlorine.'

Now I don't give Puff chlorinated water because it can also contribute to thyroid disease in dogs, but what about the dog owners who do? Will the Triclosan in the Microban treated water bowl leach out and convert to cancer causing dioxins?
There are more and more pet products being manufactured with Microban, such as dog beds, litter boxes and kennel pads. I don't know how much risk Puff is at using his Le Bistro products but even if the risk is very low, the manufacture of, and disposal of such products still pose a risk to the environment.
For my dollar, I am not buying any more pet ( or people ) products that contain Microban....now if only I can figure out an eco -friendly way to dispose of the Le Bistro feeder and waterer...

Canine 4th of July Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:49:00 +0000

You can see from this pic that Puff is ready to party! So am I, and both of us could use a little recreation.
Every 4th, I think about an abandoned dog named Sammie who used to come to my home to be let in because she feared firecrackers. And every 4th, I would let her in to spend the night...

She had been thrown from a speeding car across from my place, yet she remained hopeful that the previous owners would come back.
Dogs are funny that way....
I put food and water out for her while she held a vigil on the corner she was dumped on. Each time she heard an approaching car she jumped up eagerly, but it was never the owners she so sadly missed...
After several weeks of this, my neighbor began to care for her. She wasn't fenced in because it was of the utmost importance to her to keep watch on that corner. Gradually she became a neighborhood fixture, escorting nannies and children down the street, and each time a car approached she would move from the persons' left side to the right, coming between them and the vehicle.No one knew exactly why she did that but I had my suspicions..
One morning at 5 a.m. Sammie threw herself at my front door, raising a huge ruckus. I opened the door to find a very frantic Sammie and a neighbors Lab/Setter mix writhing on the ground, pawing furiously at his face. I went to the dog and pulled a chicken bone out of his throat, then returned him to the neighbor from whose yard he had escaped. He thanked me profusely but I told him, it was Sammie he needed to thank.

Sammie passed away, she was old when she was abandoned and died of age related issues. The owners she so badly hoped would come for her never did... I miss her so much every 4th of July. She knew she could count on me for Bach Rescue Remedy which helped her fear of firecrackers. Brave little dog that she was, firecrackers were just too much for her.
Fireworks aren't pleasant for any dog. Make sure yours is in a safe place when the firecrackers are lit. And when they aren't lit, make sure your dog can't reach them as they are deadly if ingested. Putting your dog in a crate with a favorite chew toy is best if you are going to be gone or outdoors shooting fireworks. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July Celebration.

Is Your Dog a Mind Reader?

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:47:00 +0000

Have you ever noticed how your dog 'senses' your feelings? Doesn't it sometimes seem that he or she can read your mind?
For every thought you have, there is a bio chemical equivalent in your body...and dogs can detect this.
A dogs' sense of smell is so sensitive, he can detect cancer before tests can, detect seizures before they happen, and a tracking dog can find the scent he is following when it is only one part to 7 billion. Your dogs' super nose is estimated to be 100 million times more sensitive than yours.
After living with you for a while, your dog learns to associate certain bio chemical reactions released by your thoughts and emotions and can interpret your mood ,even when you exhibit no body language.
Dog show handlers often pop a breathe mint before entering the show ring. Not for the judges benefit, but to help mask a case of nerves from the dog they are showing.

So be mindful of the thoughts you have... redirect your bad thoughts, especially around your pets and think positive.
Pretending to be happy doesn't fool your dog, he knows the real you...

Groomers and Dog Owners Can Help Clean Up the Gulf Oil Spill

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:23:00 +0000

Groomers and dog owners take note, you can help clean up the nasty Gulf oil spill as well as other oil spills around the world by saving your clean dog hair and donating it to Matter of Trust, an organization that has the dog hair woven into hair mats that are superb at soaking up oil spills.
Wouldn't it make grooming that much easier if you knew that the hair you are combing out or shaving off is going to such a good cause? Please share this information with every dog groomer you know and friends who would like to help as well.
Go to http://www.matteroftrust.org/programs/hairmatsinfo.html to see how you can participate in this wonderful program as it is amazing.

The Animal Hospital of West Nashville Destroyed by Flood

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:30:00 +0000

Please check out this article and vid from local Nashville station News 2. Dr Burgess from the Animal Hospital of West Nashville, a clinic near my old dog grooming location, tells in her own words her fight to save the animals in the clinic from the rising flood waters.http://www.wkrn.com/global/story.asp?s=12465996

Thanks to all the AKC breed clubs making efforts to help and a special shout to the Doberman Parent Club and President Janet Van Wormer whom I heard from this morning.

Remember that you can help too. The Nashville Humane is taking donations.http://www.nashvillehumane.org/

This city is amazingly organized but there is so much to do and so many homes destroyed and animals displaced. Help if you can...

Ke$ha and Other Local Heroes Work to Help Animal Victims of Flood

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:31:00 +0000

It has been a harrowing past few days for all of us in Nashville..

The city declared a State of Emergency, the Red Cross Shelters are full, Fema officials have arrived, some of us are still without power, and we must ration our water. While, at the same time, many, many residents drag the soggy remains of their possesions out of what was once their homes.

There are as of right now, an untold number of lost pets, the city has reported that they are picking up lots of dead pets, and our city Animal Control is past capacity. The Nashville Humane Society has been working with the Red Cross to help with the pets brought to the Red Cross shelters and they have also been spending night and day attempting to rescue animals displaced in the flood.

This morning I paid a visit to Animal Control. Director Judy Ladebauche told me she was simply amazed at how so many Nashvillians have stepped up and brought food and supplies even when their own living circumstances were difficult.

I admit my first reaction to this disaster was the welfare of my own pets...we had what I am certain was a tornado at 6 a.m. on Sunday, then a lightening strike at 4 that afternoon....and we couldn't leave because of flooding...and we were the lucky ones. This view from the backyard....

....... and another from the front yard gives you an idea of the storm issues we had along with over 13 inches of rain.

The news media has mostly focused on the damage to city landmarks such as this Huffington Post photo of the Gaylord hotel. And to have the historic area of the city including the Grand Ole'Opry and the Symphony Center under water is very sad indeed. But nothng is as sad as losing your home, a relative, or your pet...

... I was especially heartened when pop phenom and local girl Kesha showed up at Animal Control with over a thousand pounds of supplies. It is people like Kesha that make Nashville such a special city, not because of her talent, but because of her heart.

Right now there are dogs with uncertain futures like this yellow Lab mix at Animal Control.

Another local hero, the amazing artist, and fellow blogger, Bernie Berlin went to Animal Control to take some of the animals to her farm

known as 'A Place to Bark'. Watch this vid of Bernie at Animal Control today and see some of those displaced canines.http://www.twitvid.com/Z4IEE

By taking on some of these dogs, Bernie is helping Animal Control have space for the dogs who haven't been captured yet

With heroes like these, the situation in Nashville is not as bad as it could have been. But we still need help.You can donate online to the Nashville Humane Society's effort to save these animals and learn more about their flood rescue efforts by going herehttp://www.nashvillehumane.org/

and Bernies' rescue site has several ways to donate including art auctions,http://www.aplacetobark.com/index.html, Nashville has one of the highest pet ownership percentages per capita in the country, which means we have a lot of pet owners and now we have a lot of pets and owners who are displaced by a natural disaster. Please, if you can, be a hero too....thanks.

Make an Effort to Green Your Dogs' Lifestyle

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 03:45:00 +0000

Part of the appeal of dog ownership is that loving and caring for a dog brings us closer to nature. It just makes sense to give your dog a more natural and eco-friendly lifestyle.
Everyday, millions of dogs come in contact with harmful chemicals that their owners don't even think about.
Chemicals like formaldehyde in those cute t-shirts and bandannas (it takes multiple washings to remove the formaldehyde). Dioxins in plastic dog dishes that once ingested, stay in the body forever,tap water that contains traces of heavy metals and in most cities, flouride, a hormone disrupter that is often instigated as a cause of thyroid issues.
There are VOC's in paint that can take up to two years to 'gas out' as well as wall to wall carpeting, floor and furniture polish, (I bet your dog lays on the floor more than you do) air fresheners, petroleum based scented candles, even your beloved 'pet friendly' fabric and upholstery freshener.
Seemingly safe products like your dogs' shampoo ( and yours too) usually contain sodium lauryl sulfate, another hormone disrupter and a chemical that is being associated with many causes of skin irritations and some evidence points to the killing of brain cells. Vaccines contain heavy metals like aluminum and many veterinarians and holistic practitioners are suggesting that we have antibody titer tests done to help prevent auto immune disease from over vaccinating.

In addition, there are many unregulated chemicals in pet products that are not listed on the packaging. Dog food for example, can have chemicals added to individual ingredients prior to delivery to the manufacturing plant and because it wasn't added by the manufacturer, is not required to be on the ingredient list. Chicken is often treated with ethoxyquin before it reaches the manufacturing plant. Ethoxyquin is a chemical invented by Monsanto to preserve carpet backing...somehow, it became a popular dog food preservative. After many years as a dog food preservative, owners began to suspect it as the cause of a plethora of problems. Dog owners began to demand that their pets' food be free of this chemical as well as BHT and the dog food companies, for the most part have complied, sort of...your dog food bag may say 'no preservatives added',but that only ensures that it wasn't added at the plant!!!!
This lack of proper regulation is how chemicals find their way into your dogs' food despite your diligently reading the labels.
Is it any wonder that dogs have more cancer per capita than humans do? Dogs are smaller than humans and exposure to harmful chemicals packs a bigger punch.
This Earth Day, make a commitment to improve the quality of your dogs' life by using the green alternatives. Sulfate free pet shampoos, stainless steel or enamel bowls, filtered water, eco-friendly household products, dog toys and beds,certified organic food and working with your vet to help eliminate unnecessary chemical based treatments will go a long, long way to keeping your dog healthy and happy...and in the long run, a healthier, happier dog becomes cheaper to maintain.

How Harmful Are Head Halters For Dogs?

noreply@blogger.com (Debie) — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:50:00 +0000

When I was a teenager, I worked for a professional horse show trainer. One of my favorite places to visit was Beatty Farms. I especially loved looking at the new born foals. Those foals had halters put on them by three days old. Wearing a halter was just a part of life at that young age. A few weeks later, they had a lead rope snapped on and someone would gently hold the rope while also leading the foals' dam. The foals willingly walked beside their momma and never knew they were being taught the basics of being led. It was gentle, natural, and non- traumatic.

..But slapping a head halter on an adult dog or even a puppy and then having them hit the end of the leash HARD when they try to go somewhere is not only psychologically traumatic, it is hard on the dogs' spine. I hate watching dogs writhe on the floor,trying to remove the halter while it tightens below the eyes,pressing on cartilage and sinus cavities,clearly causing agony.

The picture above is one I received from a Linda Tellington TTouch email. I am a big believer in the Tellington Touch and I understand the training basics layed out in the photo. The head halter IS a tool that can be effective in the right hands...the problem is, that it is mostly used in the wrong hands...

Two women I know rescued a Tennessee Treeing Walker Hound from a farm where she was badly neglected. At fourteen weeks, they had her spayed. A month later they informed me that she had demodectic mange and the vet had said it would require regular treatment at a cost of five hundred dollars a month for several months. These women were upset because they didn't have a couple thousand extra due to just being layed off and so they consulted me in hopes of a cheaper route to treat her mange.

They were willing to do the treatment at home and since the medication was over the counter we were able to work out a more cost effective plan. They assured me it was a very mild case but when I saw her I was surprised to see that she had been misdiagnosed. She didn't have demodectic mange at all....in reality her head halter had rubbed the hair off around her eyes and the inside of her legs were red and raw from the pup rubbing the head halter trying to remove it!

This was a big relief for the two women and a relief for Precious the pup, as they stopped using the head halter and in three weeks her hair had grown in nicely.

Halters were invented at least two thousand years ago for horses and cows to be easily caught in the fields that they graze in. But dogs don't graze in fields, and if the halter were truly a viable training tool and not just the trend of the moment, wouldn't dog owners have used them centuries before now?
I worry a great deal about the effect that they have on a dogs' body and his mental outlook. Teaching a dog to walk on a lead should be a positive experience and there is NOTHING POSITIVE ABOUT HEAD HALTERS FROM THE DOGS' POINT OF VIEW.

Many dogs, in response to the tightening action of the head halter on their delicate cartilage, often hackney gait when the owners walk too fast and the dogs cannot naturally trot. The hackney gait is unnatural for all breeds except Min Pins. I wince every time I see this.

The bottom line is this...I never met a dog who couldn't be taught to walk quietly on a lead and I never met an owner who couldn't be taught the skills to properly walk a dog...

My neighbors have a Dalmation who has worn a head halter for a number of years...the Dals' name is SMILEY COW..... enough said.