It’s a dog’s life

Have you ever stopped to think; how good does my dog have it? As I sit here in my lounge room typing on my laptop, my two dogs; Archie a Boxer and Joseph a black Labrador Retriever lie on their beds sleeping, where they have remained for most of the day.

A typical day for my dogs begins with a hearty breakfast followed by a quick game of fetch or tug-o-war in the backyard. When we head off to work, they are kept entertained with the latest chew toys or a puzzle toy filled with treats. In the summer months they even have access to a mini swimming pool so they can cool off on hot days.

Upon our return from a hard days work the dogs are again fed. After dinner it’s time for a training session or another game followed by their evening walk down to the local dog park. Once home, they return to their favourite spot – their beds in the lounge room where they remain until the next morning.

Weekends entail other special things for Archie and Joseph; a trip to the local dog-friendly café, a visit to our family’s house or a treat to chew on.

When I think about it, my dogs don’t have much to worry about. They are given everything their little hearts desire and don’t have to work a day in their lives, except of course to provide unconditional love to us!

Dog vs no-dog - which is the happier household?

An opinion piece in Melbourne's The Age newspaper last week gave a very personal account of Helen and her dog Chloe.  As she recalls the final days in Chloe's life, it is obvious that having a dog in the house is important to Helen.  

But she finds that without a dog, she has a sense of freedom in her life.

This is a lovely article describing the conflict between living a "dog-free life" and having "the champagne factor" that comes with having a dog in the home. 

Summer heat and your pets

We all long for summer weather, but for your pet sizzling summer days can be distressing. During summer pet owners must take special precautions to ensure that their pets are adequately catered for when temperatures soar. Now is the time to be prepared for the hot weather.

All domestic pets should always have access to cool, shady areas. For dogs and cats this can be large, thick foliaged trees or wide verandas. In the case of other pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs or birds, the cage in which they are housed must never be in direct sunlight. Be particularly careful with bird cages and aquariums that are near windows where the sun may stream in at certain times of the day, as even on a moderately sunny day the sun shining through the glass may be hot enough to be dangerous to the pet’s well-being. Take care that a cage which is in the shade during the morning isn’t exposed to the hot afternoon sun as the shade moves.

All animals must have an adequate supply of cool, clean water. During the summer your pets will drink more water than in winter. If pets are alone during the day it is best to leave them with more than one container of water in case the container is knocked over.
If pets are locked in a house or shed during the day it is essential that the area is well ventilated. A steel garden shed or garage can become a death trap on a hot day.

Never leave pets in a car as even in the shade temperatures within cars can cause death from heat exhaustion in a very short time. Leaving windows down does not prevent the temperature from rising to dangerous levels and may allow the pet to escape on to a busy road or become lost.

Animals suffering from heat exhaustion will pant, lie on their side, be listless and disoriented. In severe cases they may become unconscious. If you think your pet is suffering from heat exhaustion it must be cooled promptly.

Put the animal in a cool and shady area. Damp it down with tepid water (never ice) and fan the animal. Contact your nearest veterinarian urgently but do not transport the animal in a hot car. Only place it in a vehicle which has air conditioning or is cool and airy. Keep the animal damp with cool air playing over its body during the car trip. If the animal is conscious, offer cool, not cold, drinking water. Do not allow the animal to gulp large amounts of water.

Old animals, and the very young, are more susceptible to heat and should be provided with special care during hot weather.

Although many dogs look forward to their regular walk late in the afternoon they should not be walked until the sun goes down during hot weather. Also be aware that concrete and footpaths may be hot enough to burn the dog’s feet.

With a little preparation and consideration for your pet’s well-being, summer will be an enjoyable time for you and your pet.

Polly Want a Cracker?

Companion (or hand-raised) parrots are popular pets for a number of reasons. Their colourful plumage, unique ability to mimic human speech, superior intelligence and friendly, inquisitive nature make them highly desirable additions to the family. While these characteristics may appeal to you as a potential parrot owner, there are several things you should consider carefully before you commit to parrot ownership.

Parrots are social animals and live in flocks in the wild. For this reason companion parrots are not suitable for workaholics. Lonely, bored parrots are prone to developing behavioural problems such as loud screeching and feather plucking.

Providing a large cage is very important, especially if your parrot is confined to its cage for the majority of the day. Due to their high intelligence parrots must be provided with mental stimulation in the form of interactive toys, a varied diet and training sessions to prevent boredom.

Last but not least, if you are considering purchasing a companion parrot be sure to do your research. Talking to breeders and searching the internet is a good start. There are many different species of companion parrots available whose needs differ considerably.