Easy to Put On Dog Cape

Polarctic
Patchwork Cape

Attractive, a bit different and easy to put on a dog!

I hate, or rather my dog hates, clothing that has to go
on over his head. That's why I look for wrap-arounds
with Velcro.

A great choice for the hard-to-fit dog. Warm and lightweight,
Polarctic fleece provides maximum coverage, with adjustable Velcro closure.

100% polyester that can be machine washed and dried. Perfect
for rainy cold days of Fall and early Winter.

Available in Blue (8"-20") and Brown (8"-22")

To determine size, measure from neck to base of tail.

Madein U.S.A. $24.99



P.S. This weighs less than a pound and is fine for even
Chihuahuas.

For more information or to order, click on the photo above
or the link below:

Polarctic
Patchwork Cape

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I Hate Dog Parks

I hate all dog parks but I absolutely despise off-leash dog parks where dogs run at will.

Dog parks have multiplied around the country, from 20 in 1995 to more than 600 today. Rarely does a day go by that I don't read about another city being petitioned to create a dog park and owners clamoring for an off-leash park.

The results are what any intelligent dog owner would expect.

In Boulder, CO, and Central Park in New York City large dogs have killed smaller dogs at the parks. Pit bulls have been banned from dog parks in Nashville, TN., because they attacked other dogs. In Madison, WI an unleashed black Labrador killed a leashed puppy in front of the horrified owner and her two children.

Even well trained dogs can act like dogs. A 100-pound service dog killed a 4-pound Yorkshire Terrier at a Cape Cod, MA area dog show. The service dog was a Bouvier des Flandres who helped a woman in a wheelchair.

Don't take your dog to a dog park. I don't how to state it any stronger. They are horrible - let me count the ways.

The typical owner does not understand how strong the pack instinct is in their dogs and how readily it is triggered when a dog is taken into a park with other dogs. Owners often are not prepared for how difficult it may be to control their dogs.

Dogs will try to establish rank. Aggressive dogs will bully dogs that are more cautious or reserved. Those are often smaller dogs like ours who are unskilled in the ways of the canine jungle.

Dogs innately try to form packs and sometimes threaten incoming dogs. They love to congregate around gates and entrances. This can threaten and overwhelm a small dog - not to mention a small child - even when the dogs are not menacing.

If your dog is the victim of an attack, even if he successfully defends himself, you can expect him to suffer emotional damage that will be difficult to overcome.
Your dog may be too frightened to ever be around new dogs again and may not even want to go outside. If your dog turns out to be aggressive and attacks other dogs, he may transfer that aggression to your home and become difficult to control.

Your dog may pick up worms or worse diseases at dog parks. Many owners do not have their dogs vaccinated beyond rabies. They also don't bother to treat their dog for worms, even heartworms, and never pick up their dog's poop.

Communities rarely spend the money necessary to ensure a clean and sanitary dog park. It's pretty common to see parks with nothing but gravel and dirt. Who wants to work for the city and pick up dog poop? If your dog is attacked, good luck getting animal control if it's on a weekend or evening.

Owners who lobby for dog parks and use them the most are often the worst kind of owners. The ones who think their dogs are furry human beings and are shocked when their dog acts like a dog. Or, they're too lazy to make the slightest effort to train and control their dog. That's why they want an off-leash park.

At the end of the day, a dog will act like a dog. He may run away to chase a squirrel, he may jump up on a dog of the opposite sex, he may challenge another dog who offends him, he may chase after a smaller dog. These are normal doggy behaviors but ones that can result in damage to your dog or another owner's.

Yes, I recognize the benefits of socialization for dogs. I'm not saying keep your dog inside. Take him out on a leash, just not to dog parks. Let him meet other dogs but make play dates with dogs you know are mellow and trained. In large cities, owners of small dogs are using the Internet to make play dates only for small dogs.

Bottom line - dog parks are diseased ridden areas where a small dog will sooner or later be the victim of an attack. Stay out of them.

Visit http://www.ToyBreeds.com next month for the Bone-Mot™

Stop Dog Attacks

I don’t even like dog parks, let alone off-leash areas. Too many irresponsible owners don’t have their dogs vaccinated or treated for worms (which all dogs can get). There’s also the problem of aggressive dogs and owners who can’t or won’t control their dogs.

Anytime you’re out in public, you and your small dog run the risk of being attacked by a dog. That doesn’t mean keep your dog at home but instead take some preliminary cautions to make the outing safe.

1. Stay out of harm’s way.

Last month’s Bone-Mot discussed how to keep your small dog from provoking an attack. Some of the same tips apply to humans.

• Do not make eye contact with a strange dog.
  
  
• Do not disturb a strange dog who is eating, drinking, with puppies or sleeping.
  
  
• If a strange dog approaches you, stay still and let him sniff you. If you don’t react, the odds are he will leave you alone.
  
  
• If a dog seems aggressive or you’re unsure, use your ultrasonic device (see #2) or find something to place between you and dog. That can be taking off your jacket and putting that in front of your body or picking up an object even a rock.
  
  
• Depending on your personality, if a dog starts to attack you or you small dog, you can yell NO in a loud, stern tone of voice and see if that stops the dog. If you have pepper spray or ultrasonic device, use that.
  
  
• NEVER, NEVER turn your back on a dog and run. That will trigger his prey instinct and he’ll hunt you down – with bad results.
  

2. Carry a pepper spray and/or the Dazer Ultrasonic Dog Deterrent.

Dazer is the only brand I like and it even it won’t work on every dog. Dazer and other ultrasonic devices emit ultrasonic sound bursts which dogs don’t like. A cheaper version is to carry an air-horn, such as the type boaters have, and try it.

I think pepper spray is effective on more dogs than ultrasonic devices but only if you spray it in the attacking dog’s eyes and nose.

Nonetheless, I recommend the Dazer because 1) under stress, it may not be possible to aim the pepper spray and spraying the dog’s side or back won’t stop it and 2) if the other dog’s owner is a moron, he may be incensed at what he perceives as YOUR attack on his dog. The Dazer can be used so that the other dog owner doesn’t see it. Dazer is great – when it works.

Either product can be found in stores or ordered over the Internet at amazon.com.

3. Rescue your dog – carefully.
If a dog grabs your dog, resist the natural urge to get in a tug-of-war with your dog and the attacker. Your pulling motion will only inflame the attacker and cause him to tighten his grip. Even if you were successful in
pulling your dog away, expect his coat and skin to remain in the attacker’s mouth.

Do NOT try to grab the dog’s collar and pull him away. All you’re likely to do is get badly bitten by one or both dogs. Instead,

• Lift the attacking dog by his legs and sway him back and forth as you back away with the dog’s leg paws in your hands. That may stop the attack. You’ll need to hold the dog until he hopefully calms down or you can turn him over to his owner or other person.
  
  
• An alternate is to blind the dog. This can be a clothing article that you can put over his face and tie around him, but that’s going to be difficult to do. Or, more effectively, find a object (key, shovel, rock, whatever) and poke his eyes as hard as you can.
  
  Yes, this is brutal but it may save your dog’s life. Hitting an attacking dog on the head, between the ears, as is so often requires many strong blows. You need a shovel and the strength to swing it forcefully for this technique to work. Anyone – man, woman or child – can poke a dog’s eye.
  
  
• What is unlikely to work is spraying them in the face with water or even vinegar. One or both dogs may be well beyond being aware of having something thrown in their face.

4. Save yourself if you’re the one attacked

Some of you may feel you’d rather be mauled to death than try this technique: stick his finger up his butt! That will create a physiological force that makes the dog gasp and thereby release whichever of your appendages he was biting. Then roll the dog over and put all your weight on a knee which you put on his ribs. Hopefully you can hold him down until help arrives or you reach some weapon that you can use to quiet the dog.

Hopefully, you’ll never have to use that one. Avoid areas where dogs run free and stay still and calm if you’re ever approached by a menacing dog.

Get Ready for Fall

Depending on where you live, you may have another month of summer or you may find that the weather in September can turn cool or wet very quickly.

Here are five tips to help you be prepared for sudden changes.

1. Check your dog's coat after walks when you venture in rural or wooden areas.

It's easy for burrs to get stuck in long coats. Also check his feet and ears - the dense coat there can hide these little boogers.

2. Keep old towels by the door.

You'll want to dry your dog and especially wipe his feet. You should teach you dog to sit at the door both before and after you two venture out. That will give you time to ensure your dog is ready for the climate outside and give you a chance to ready him for the inside and your carpets and furniture.

3. Clean up or replace winter clothing.

Now's a good time to make sure any winter clothing still fits either one of you. Your dog should have boots to wear and a jacket or rain slick. See my favorite products for ideas. Make sure wool items don't have insect or odor problems.

4. Get your car ready for your dog.

As the weather gets wetter, make sure you have some waterproof covers for car seats if you take your dog for rides. You'll want to protect your seats and flooring from muddy paw prints.

5. Watch for an abnormal amount of scratching.

Fall is a perfect time for mite and other insect infestations. If your dog starts scratching more than normal, he could have picked up some unwelcome guests. Key areas for attack are the skin around the armpits, head, stomach and between the toes.

Take your dog to the vet if you suspect he has been infested.