Lessons of March

Posted on 16. Apr, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits, Lessons, Rescue Dogs

“The road to wisdom?-Well, it’s plain
and simple to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less. ”
~ Piet Hein

Well, I should say March 2010 equaled absolutely miserable for me.  I have totally been down in the dumps, which may have resulted in no blog postings. Sorry to those of you who missed me, if anyone did. 

Now that it is April, a time of spring, a time for growth- looking back, I realized that I actually learned a lot in March and thought it was worth sharing.

First of all, Luke came to us at the end of January, our second foster pup.  Luke was a complete street dog.  I am not sure if he had ever even lived with a family.  We didn’t realize this until after we agreed to foster him.  Mistake #1 on our part.  We should have met him to see how he would interact with our two pups and whether we could handle a temporary third dog.  Lucky for us, he got along great with Rocky and Zeus; however, he played very rough and required a lot of rehabilitation.  We weren’t sure if he was dog aggressive because he got overly excited when he met other dogs on our walks.  We got a trainer involved, who introduced me to clicker training.  I had never even heard of this.  Basically, it is a click sound.  You use it when your dog does something right and then you reward the dog with a treat.  The clicker is helpful because it allows you to pinpoint the exact point of time when your dog does something correctly.  When you just use praise or a treat, you may miss that moment and the dog may not recognize what action he did that he is being rewarded for doing.

If you are interested in clicker training, check this site out.  It has a lot of helpful information.

I also grew very frustrated with myself.  Luke did not understand what I wanted him to do.  I did not know how to communicate with him.  I couldn’t get him to sit, stay, etc.  I was completely confused and I am sure he was confused too.  This led me to Patricia McConnell.  She is AWESOME!  She has studied animals for decades and compares primates to canines.  She explains how we are different and how we are alike to our canine companions.  For example, I never paid attention to how my dogs socialize with other dogs.  If you pay attention, they always go for the side, they don’t meet other dogs head on (unless they know the dog or feel safe).  We, humans, interact with dogs head on- patting on the head, eye contact, etc.  This is almost instinctual for us because that is how we greet other humans.  We say hello, do a handshake, eye contact, etc.  Dogs do not introduce themselves to other dogs like this.   When I meet a new dog, I now go for the side.  It is crazy how much of a difference this makes in terms of putting the dog at ease.  Most well-socialized dogs tolerate the head on interaction, but when you go for the side- it definitely makes a world of difference.  I highly recommend her books if you are interested in learning more about dogs.

Luke was definitely getting better, but I was exhausted and got sick.  I wasn’t getting anything else done besides working with Luke and my dogs seemed stressed out.  Zeus had been acting up-  he had become totally destructive.  He even got into a 1,000 page accounting book that he tore to shreds.  Luke also went for Rocky’s legs and hurt him.  Tobiah and I had to make the decision to give Luke back to the rescue organization so that they could find another foster home for him.  I felt horrible because we had committed to Luke, but at the same time we were not equipped to handle him.  However, just like we must understand our own dogs limitations and not put them in situations that are harmful for them or other dogs, we must also know our own limitations.  The rescue was able to find another foster home for Luke, thankfully.

When you make a decision to volunteer or help unwanted animals, you must know what your limitations are.  I realize now that I am not a very good foster parent, but I am good at promoting adopting dogs, walking dogs at our local shelter, etc.

Another lesson I have learned is to stay focused on what I can do and the positive aspects of working with abused, neglected, and/or unwanted animals.  There are so many horrible stories of what people do to animals and it is easy to get consumed by these to the point of becoming angry and unable to act.  I had become so depressed that I haven’t gone to BARC in at least a month.  I had forgotten all the good people are doing to help save and protect these animals.  Working with homeless animals can leave you feeling hopeless because there are so many dogs that need our help, but you have to focus on all the good you are doing and all the good those around you are doing.

This line of work is difficult and emotional; however, I have never done anything in my life that has such a huge impact on the life of another being.  If you cannot bear to see so many animals in your local shelter or do not have the time/resources to foster, consider volunteering at an adoption drive.  There are events almost every weekend and rescue organizations are always looking for volunteers!

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Dogs in Weddings

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Fun Tidbits, Weddings

“Are you marrying the dog or me?” ~ Tobiah

We got Rocky in Feb 2008.  We got engaged in April 2008.  I would say that Rocky certainly served as the catalyst to our engagement.  Watching Tobiah pull out a raw hide from Rocky’s mouth out of fear that our Roo would choke to death or how he handled Rocky throwing up everywhere because Rocky got into something melted my heart.  I didn’t know that my lover boy could be so caring…so sensitive.  Rocky sealed the deal.

When I morphed into bridezilla, I had one requirement:  ROCKY WAS GOING TO BE THERE.  I didn’t care what else happened that day as long as my best bud, Rocky, was there.  I was ecstatic when I found a venue that would allow our pup to join in the festivities.  Having him there made a world of difference.  I was a nervous wreck that day- my make-up lady was 2 hours late, which got me all off schedule.  Seeing Rocky with my cute hubby-to-be allayed all my anxiety. Plus, I just have to say…look at how much happier Rocky is when I come in the picture. LOL.  I am Rocky’s favorite, I know.  Now that wedding season is approaching, I thought it would be a good time to do a post on having your cutie pie in your wedding.  I think it is a great idea!  Here are some tips that I learned from my own wedding:

1.  Have one of your friends or family members be in charge of the dog.  Someone your pup trusts and listens to well so that you can hand over the dog when you have more important things to take care of- like getting married. 

2.  Bring a water bowl for your pup.  As you can see from the picture, Rocky’s tongue is hanging way out of his mouth.  Great pic, but he was so thirsty!  Poor guy.  I think someone ended up giving him some ice cubes.

3.  We got married in Georgia at the end of May.  Although, getting Rocky to wear one of those dog tuxedo costumes would have been super cute, Rocky would have been uber uncomfortable and hot.  He is not used to wearing clothes, unless Tobiah isn’t around…

I got a friend to stitch a collar for him and tie on a bow tie.  I am sure you could get a tailor in your area to custom make some sort of attire for your pup.  I don’t think it would be too expensive since it is such a small amount of material.

4.  Choose a  wedding photographer that is comfortable taking pictures of pets.  I’d find out if they have pets because it was important to me that my photographer likes and understands pets.  Photographing pets is difficult especially on a day where photographing a pet is not the main focus.  Your photographers have to get a few good shots fast so they can move on to other parts of the event.  Ask to see pictures your photographers  have taken of pets in other weddings to get a better idea if your photographer is up for the task!

5.  Take your pup to the venue a few times before the event to ensure that your pet is familiar/comfortable with the area.

6.  Let your guests know there will be a dog at your wedding so that they are not unexpectedly surprised.  Some people are allergic/afraid/ do not approve of dogs in weddings.  People react much better when they are prepared.  A few of our guests were worried about having Rocky at the wedding.  I told them he would be on a leash the entire time and would have someone in charge on him at all times.

7.  Know your dog’s limitations.  Rocky is great with loud noises, big crowds, unfamiliar situations- as long as there is no food.  He has been known to jump up on tables at dinner parties and devour whatever is in sight.  This meant I had to get him in and out before any food was available.

8.  Make some time before the ceremony to exercise with your pup!  Have some fun!  I wanted Rocky to be as calm as possible and have no “accidents” during our ceremony.

9.  I knew that if I went to a wedding and saw a pup, it would have made me miss my own pup dearly.  We had many guests traveling from out of town to celebrate with us.  We set up a “Rocky table”  with treats for our guests from Rocky to take to their own dogs.  We hadn’t created barkin’ doggie biscuits yet.

I can’t think of anything else from my wedding.  Rocky got a lot of attention and had a ton of fun.  Neither of us regret having him there.  If you have any questions/comments- bark at us!  Plus, if you’d like to have some barkin’ doggie treats at your wedding- let us know!  We’d love to make that happen for you!

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Don’t Breed and Don’t Buy!

Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Rescue Dogs

Ever wondered what a high-kill shelter is like from someone who works there?

Here is the truth.  From what I see at our Houston shelter, BARC- I think it is pretty accurate.

Letter from a Shelter Manager

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 breeders/sellers 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 change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays”, that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; “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 about 25 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 shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

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 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will 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.

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? 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 that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say “I saw this and it made me want to adopt”. THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT

For those of you that care— please repost this to at least one other craiglist in another city/state. Let’s see if we can get this all around the US and have an impact.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

I don’t want my dog anymore.

Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Rescue Dogs

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

A few months ago, I read a story about a family that dropped off their yellow lab to a shelter because they didn’t want him anymore.  The two-year-old lab was so confused that he somehow broke loose and chased his owner’s car for 3-4 miles.  When the shelter caught the dog, his paws were rubbed raw and very bloody from the running.  Thankfully, the rescue world heard of his plight and I believe someone rescued him.  Not that this is always the case for dogs in shelters (See this post for information on euthanization rates).  Percentages of dogs being put down are very high.  Hundreds of dogs a day depending on the city.

The number one reason dogs are brought to shelters?  Their owners don’t want them.  Not strays- but UNWANTED pets.  In fact, today, I just read about a dog being fostered because the family wanted a new dog.  Apparently, their seven-year-old dog was too old for them.  Hmm… teaching our children that life is disposable.  great.  Think twice before you get a dog.  They are huge responsibilities.  Once you get a dog- that dog should be your dog for life.  Your dog would never give up on you- how can you give up on her?

This three minute video pretty much sums it up.  Please share with your friends and family.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Do dogs know when we are sick?

Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits

“A dog is not “almost human” and I know of no greater insult to the canine race than to describe it as such.”  ~John Holmes

Another hectic week in the barkin’ doggie household.  I had the flu. grossness.  Whenever I am sick or down, I always wonder if my dogs know/understand.  Can dogs really pick up on our behavior- changes in our behaviors?   I have heard of stories of dogs not leaving their owner’s side when their owner is sick.  Zeus hates it when Tobiah and I get into a heated argument.  He hides in a corner and sulks.  It always makes us feel bad. He totally picks up on something- not sure whether it is our raised voices, body languages, or what.

Many believe dogs can sense changes in our emotional and/or physical well-being.  Some believe it is because dogs can identify changes in our behaviors, while others consider it is because of the dog’s heightened sense of smell.  Scientific data is still unclear as to how and if a dog can really sense when we are ill.

I really want to believe that my dogs are concerned about my well-being at all times.  However, who really knows?  There are times when I have been upset or in a sour mood and Rocky just pounces on me- because he is hungry or wants to go outside.  I mean, totally inconsiderate of my moodiness or maybe it is because he thinks I need to get over myself.  lol.  who knows.

What I do know is that for a week and a half, my two crazy boys haven’t been exercised enough.  They didn’t whine or jump on me to take them out.  They waited patiently at the foot of our bed and slept while I slept all day.  Maybe…they do know when I am sick.  Or maybe they weren’t sleeping well at night because of all my coughing. 

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Are all pit bulls aggressive?

Posted on 12. Feb, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Pitbulls

“Many US jurisdictions have breed specific bans or vicious dog laws. These laws blame dogs for their breeds, not their deeds. They indict the therapy dogs and search and rescue dogs and gentle family pets along with the dogs that roam at large, threatening neighbors and their pets.”  ~ Norma Bennett Woolf

“I can’t stand pit bulls.”

“I would never get a pit bull.”

“Pit bulls are scary.”

“I hear pit bulls can turn on their owners.”

“Can you believe that family has a pit bull when they have small kids?”

I love pit bulls. I love them.  They have big heads, stout bodies, and goofy grins.  When they are happy, their entire bodies wiggle.  Funny stuff.  And boy, do they love humans.

I hate the bad rap these cutie pies get.  And, it makes my stomach churn when I hear people, especially dog lovers bad mouth these sweet pups. Seriously.  Do your research before passing judgment.  I know I had to.  I wasn’t sure what to believe. I’ll admit, I was terrified of these breeds when I started handling them at adoption events and shelters.  They are tough cookies.  All that muscle. WHOA.  100 pound lab, let’s do it!  But a 40 pound American Staffordshire…YIKES.  Stupid me.  If you haven’t hung out with a pit bull, you are missing out.  They are a riot and will definitely give you a workout.  And sweet as can be.  Check out my previous post on them by clicking here.

But what about aggression?  Ok, here’s the thing.  PITBULLS ARE NOT HUMAN AGGRESSIVE.  A pit bull that shows any signs of HUMAN aggression is atypical of the breed.  This is not normal, just like any dog that is human aggressive is not normal.

How do dogs become human aggressive?  Dogs that are poorly socialized, mistreated, neglected, tied up and forgotten about, etc.  These are the types of dogs that have the propensity for human aggression.  What does this mean?  Any dog can become human aggressive.  Human aggression is very serious.  These types of dogs should be handled only by dog professionals.

Pit bulls can be DOG AGGRESSIVE.  Just like there are breeds of dogs that are bred to specifically hunt, pit bulls were bred for bull baiting.  When this was outlawed in the 1800s, pit bulls began to be bred to fight each other.  In the ring, there were three people- two handlers and a referee.  This type of dog was selected for this task because of its friendly disposition towards humans.  Any sort of human aggression was not tolerated.  Pit bulls are perfect working dogs.  Why?  because of their strong will and determination.  Whether fatigued, in pain, sick, they will get the job done- whatever that job is.  This is why they are perfect therapy and service dogs.  You want to see a loyal dog, get a pit bull. Pit bulls used to be the most popular dog.  It was known as the “nanny dog,” soldiers loved pit bulls, and it became a symbol of America.   I mean, Pete the Pup on the Little Rascals was an American Pit Bull Terrier.  How bad can these dogs possibly be?

Like I said, pit bulls can be dog aggressive- just like a lab has a desire to retrieve.  This is what the pit bull was bred to do.  But this does not mean that all pit bulls are dog aggressive.  The amount of dog aggression varies- from no aggression to a pit bull sees any dog and freaks out.  Our job as owners is to properly socialize them.  Expose them when they are young and ensure that every encounter with other dogs are positive.  Watch your dogs. Know your dogs.  This is true for any dog.  I have met many dogs that are not pit bulls and are dog aggressive.  Zeus, our lazy, easy-going lab mix gets along with most dogs, but every once in awhile, he will meet a dog that he does not like.  You have to train your dog.  Watch him around other dogs.  It isn’t the dog’s fault, it is our fault for being irresponsible dog owners.

Warning:  This may be a bit graphic.

This is cute.

And here is Luke.  Our pit bull mix foster.  Playing with our dogs on his first day here.  Supervised?  Yes.  Would I let him off the leash outside to meet other dogs?  No, I don’t know his behavior patterns yet.  Am I working on training him?  You betcha. He was dumped in the Corridor of Cruelty to fend for himself. The Corridor of Cruelty is where dogs in dog fights, unwanted, neglected, abused dogs are dumped to die. Luke is incredible. He is resilient. SMART. and totally lovable. I don’t even want to imagine what he has been through. Scars all over his body.

Don’t discount the breed.  You would be missing out, if you did.

Click here for a great resource on pit bulls.  And Treat ‘ Em Right in Houston works specifically with bully breeds.  They even offer a $5 per class training class once a week for your bully breed!

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!
Annvi and Tobiah

How many homeless dogs are euthanized every year?

Posted on 09. Feb, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Rescue Dogs

“Dogs are miracles with paws”~ Susan Kennedy

It has been a very busy few weeks, which has made it difficult for me to find time to write!  Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits has gained a bit of momentum! YAY!  We are now in two places in Houston: Heights Urban Dog and Cooper Animal Clinic.  And, a Washington DC store, Dog Shop DC is featuring us by the end of the week!  We have been spreading the word!  Hopefully, we will be in a store near you really soon!  On that note, please let us know if you know of a good place to sell our biscuits.  We cannot make a difference in the dog community without you guys!

Back to my topic of today, have you ever wondered how many sweet, lovable pups get put down each year?  In our city of Houston alone, it has been estimated that BARC has to put to sleep 1,500-2,000 each month.  This doesn’t even include all the surrounding shelters in our area.  Can you believe this?  It is hard for me to even imagine this many animals, who were borne at no fault of their own.  If only we could all spay/neuter our pets, stop the backyard breeding, end the puppy mills…I wonder how much money each of our cities would actually save from the resources that all city shelters need to keep unwanted pets off the streets?

Do you have a friend who hasn’t neutered/spayed his or her pets?  Or know someone that thinks breeding his or her cutie pet is a good idea? Send them here.   I get so frustrated…adoption event after adoption event.  I am a board member of Homeless Animal Partnership Initiative (HAPI), we have an adoption event the first Saturday of every month in the Heights.  We had this super cute 2 year old lab mix.  I thought for sure we’d find her a home.  Check Panda out:

At the end of day, she didn’t get adopted this time.  It brought tears to my eyes to see her get loaded back into the truck to be taken back to BARC.  She didn’t want to get into the truck.  There was also a 6 year old German Shepherd/Husky mix.  Beautiful dog that didn’t get adopted either.  6 years old.  Can you imagine the stress of being in a shelter?  Sigh.

Apparently, Petsmart Charities conducted a study that found 76% of Americans acquire their pets in places other than shelters.  A few of the reasons that people do not adopt is because they are unaware of the adoption process or of the unwanted pet problem.  Let me explain the adoption process:  Search websites (petfinder, rescue specific breeds, shelters, etc), find a pet you may be interested or go to an adoption event in your area (if you are unsure where one is held, go to your local Petco or Petsmart and ask someone- they usually have adoption events every weekend at these stores),  after you find your new best friend- the application process includes, name, address, why you want a pet, where you will keep the pet, etc, pay the adoption fee (usually between $50-$350).  What will your adoption fee include: a spay/neutered pet, current on all vaccinations, and sometimes already microchipped.

Most Americans underestimate the numbers of pets that are euthanized every year. 4 million pets are put down each year.  There are 4 million unwanted pets that deserve homes.  4 MILLION.  4 million have to suffer shelters, some gas chambers, some abuse….shutter.

We just got a new foster pup.  Meet Luke.  He came to us from the Corridor of Cruelty. The Corridor of Cruelty is an area where dogs  from dog fights or unwanted dogs are just dumped to die.  Luke ended up there somehow and was getting beat up by another dog.  It broke Tobiah’s heart- so now we have three dogs and no yard.    Luke has been transitioning well.  He is a lab mix, about 2 years old, surprisingly already housebroken, and not dog aggressive.  YAY.  Fostering is hard and can be frustrating, but it is so rewarding.  With every new pup comes new beginnings, I like to say.  Luke has already taught me so much…like PATIENCE.

He is a bit camera shy- hard to capture him outside of his crate!

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Are grains okay for my dog?

Posted on 25. Jan, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Dog Nutrition, Interesting Dog Tidbits

I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.~ Abraham Lincoln

When we decided that the dog biscuit business was the business we wanted to get into, we did a lot of research on ingredients.  A LOT.  We looked into grain-free, soy-free, etc…all sorts of dog diets that people believe are good for dogs.  We all want our dogs to be as healthy as possible and the best way to contribute to health is through the mouth- in other words, through food.  Yes, we know we aren’t baking dog food- just a treat that should be used to supplement a dog’s diet, but we still  wanted to create something that was whole-some, all-natural and DELICIOUS.  We wanted to bake something that was not only fun and an enjoyable experience for your dog, but something that also contributes to the healthy, well-being of your precious best friend.  Now, we aren’t food experts or dog nutritional experts.  However, we are law school graduates and what are lawyers good at?  Research. Research. Research.

Here is how we concluded that  our 100% pure whole wheat used in our dog cookies (with nothing added to it) is digestible by most dogs.

1. Where do dogs come from?  Short Answer: Descendant of wolves.

Long Answer: According to historians and fossil records, dogs first appeared 40 million years ago.  During this time, three main types of dogs existed:

1. A hybrid weasel and fox: became extinct 15 million years ago.

2. Larger hyena-like animal: big jaw muscles and strong teeth, became extinct 2.5 million years ago.

3. Wolf: Canis Lupus, located only in North America, until 7 million years ago, some of them crossed a land bridge to Asia.

No one is certain how and when domestication happened to our friendly creatures.  It was believed that the first dogs were domesticated about 12,000 years ago; however, recent scientific studies point to an earlier transformation of wolves to dogs- 130,000 years ago.

This indicates that wolves were adapting to human society way before humans began forming communities and practicing agriculture.  This seems to negate beliefs that humans domesticated dogs to assist us and provides support that  perhaps, dogs exploited us- somehow, recognized our need for this sort of companionship and convinced us to feed them and take them in from the cold.

2. Are wolves carnivores?  Although wolves are primarily meat-eaters, they do also consume berries, twigs, etc.

3. Are dogs carnivores?  No.

A cat is a true carnivore, but a dog is not.  Dogs are “opportunistic eaters.”  There is a lot of debate whether a dog is a carnivore because of their physical attributes- they have shorter intestinal tracts than us, sharp teeth, etc.  This all indicates that they are meat-eaters.  However, this does not imply that they can survive on only meat or protein (a dog can survive on a vegetarian diet if fed the proper amounts of non-meat protein) alone.

Most commercial dry dog foods contain between 30% and 70% carbohydrates.  Wolves do eat some carbs through the consumption of the intestinal content of their prey- not sure if you want to read all the gory details.  Essentially, the natural source of prey for dogs is a herbivore, a plant eater.  When a dog catches its prey, it first goes for the gut.  The gut of the prey is full of semi-digested plant and grain material.   A dog’s protein requirement can be met through meat; their energy and fiber requirements are met through the consumption of carbs.

It is important to remember that compared to our digestive tract, a dog’s is unable to digest a grains that are unprocessed and uncooked.  You will never see a dog grazing on wheat in the wheat’s natural state because dogs have short intestinal tracts.  Carbs take a much longer time to digest and since dogs have short tracts, uncooked grains can sit in their stomachs leading to health problems.  Also, we humans have enzymes in our mouths that start the digestion process, as opposed to dogs that do not have these enzymes.  Their digestion process begins in the stomach.

Furthermore, carbs aid in the proper functioning of your dog’s liver, heart, brain, and nerve tissues.  It seems that ingesting carbohydrates has always been an important part of wolves’ and dogs’ diets.

4. What about all that information on grains are bad for my dog?

Dogs cannot digest whole grains that are uncooked.  You will probably never see a dog hanging out with some horses or cows and grazing on grains.  Like I mentioned earlier, dogs ingest grains from the gut of the prey animal.  The grain has already been chewed, partially digested, and has been fermenting in the animal’s gut at 38.5′C.  Okay, I am sorry for the vivid picture, but I have done so much research on this.  I wanted to make sure I explain the whole picture.  This is also true for plants and fruits.  Dogs will typically eat ripened fruit off the ground, not fruit on a tree that hasn’t ripened yet.

But what about when my dog eats grass?  I am sure you have all seen your cute lil’ pup chewing on a blade of grass.  Dog can digest fresh plant material when they eat very young shoots.  If you watch your dog eating grass, s/he can be very selective.  You probably won’t see him/her eating big green leaves.  New shoots of grass have a thin cell wall that can be digested as compared to older plant cells that develop a tougher cell wall.

5.  So, what grains can my dog digest?

Grains are bad when they are not ground whole, not human grade, or when they are the main component of a dog food.  The grain must be a high quality and a low gluten level.  Dogs can digest cooked whole grains because when cooked, these grains are easily digestible by our furry friends and can be used completely by their bodies.

Cooked good grains include whole wheat, rice, millet, oatmeal, and barley.

6. I thought dogs are allergic to wheat?

Most dogs are not allergic to wheat- at least 90% of dogs are not allergic to wheat.  Even dogs that consume a lot of wheat or corn from commercial dog foods seem to do fine, living healthy long lives.  However, we do recommend that your dog’s diet primarily should consist of a high protein diet supplemented by fruit, grains, and veggies.   Every pup is different, but for the most part a small portion of cooked whole grains are good for your dog.  The best way to figure out a good balance is see how your dog reacts to different foods.  When we first got Rocky, we gave him a very high protein diet.  It did not work for him, he was lethargic and constipated.  Zeus likes spinach, but Rocky spits it out.  Your dog will give you clues as to what s/he requires.  I always catch Zeus chomping on grass, but I rarely see Rocky doing that.

Our conclusion is that grains are good for your dog as long as they are not the dominate source of energy.  All dogs need a balance of protein, fats, fiber, and carbs.

We are very interested on your thoughts on this subject.  Please shoot us an email: info@barkindoggiebiscuits.com or comment below.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Barkin’ Doggie Biscuit Hunt

Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Fun Tidbits, Interesting Dog Tidbits

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better.  They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death.  Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.  ~George Bird Evans, Troubles with Bird Dogs

Tobiah taught me this really fun game to do with dog treats- but it only works with Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits, of course. 

1.  Put your Barkin’ Doggie in another room or somewhere s/he cannot see you.

2.  Grab your freshly baked bag of barkin’ doggie biscuits.

3.  Open the bag and take a sniff. (Think about how you wish you could have one of these, but you must save them all for your very sweet pup.)

4.  Scatter 4-5 of the gourmet yummy treats all over a room that is easy to cleanup (but we are sure there will not be anything left to cleanup).  If your pup has already had too many of our treats, break up a couple into smaller treats.

5.  Your pup has already inhaled the sweet aroma of the best dog treat on the planet.  S/he is wagging its tail, jumping up and down, and perhaps barkin’ in excitement.

6.  Let your dog out and see what happens.  It is so much fun to watch them sniff out those all-natural dog cookies.

Once you have played this game a few times- the next time, have your dog(s) sit in the corner of the room and not move until you have hidden all the treats.  This will help in teaching your dog how to sit patiently until you say “come” or “go.” And an obedient, tummy-filled doggie is definitely a barkin’ doggie in the making.

Have some fun.  If you can take some pictures- please send them our way.  We love barkin’ excited doggies.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

The Benefits of Walking and Dog Walking

Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits

“A house is not a home until it has a dog.” ~ Gerald Durrell

As  a kid, there was a time when my dad traveled a lot.  To make up for lost time, every Sunday, Dad and I would go on walks.  It became a sort of ritual.  We’d walk about two miles to the closest gas station from our house and pick up the Sunday paper (I’d read the Sunday Funnies when we got home) and a gallon of milk (for Mom and Dad’s morning chai).  I used to love those walks.  It was a time when it was just Dad and me and no other distractions.  There weren’t cell phones either back then- so really nothing else that could take you away from the walk.  Even during college, I’d sometimes come home for dinner (I attended the University of Georgia in my hometown, GO DAWGS!) and after dinner, Dad and I would take an after-dinner stroll.  Looking back at it, walking was such a simple way of spending time together, clearing our minds, and getting some exercise.  Too bad we didn’t have a dog back then.

My first dog walking experience was before Rocky.  In fact, I would say it may have been the catalyst to our adoption of Rocky.  A friend of mine was dog sitting and she needed help walking two dogs (her dog and the other one).  I just happened to be around- and so, I got dragged into walking.  By now, it had been probably 4-5 years since my last leisurely stroll in the park with Dad and I had forgotten how much fun walking was.  Having a little companion and walking down the street made it even more fun.  Watching the cute pup sniff new smells, mark his territory, greet other pups… was just a riot for me.  This is what convinced me that maybe owning a dog wasn’t so bad.  And then the next day, I get an email at work- how a cute little yellow lab needs a home.  Life works in mysterious ways.

Rocky and Zeus don’t have a yard where they can get their business done. What does that mean?  It means we have to walk them EVERY DAY twice or three times a day so that they get their daily exercise- rain, humidity, snow, etc- it does not matter.  If our two very active pups do not get outside to play- it is not a pretty sight.  Zeus finds a towel or sock or a pillow to do damage too and Roo starts…humping (but that is another blog entry).  Sometimes, I am glad we don’t have a yard; I think it may make us lazy about putting on our shoes, grabbing the leashes, and getting outside everyday because we’d just throw them in the backyard when we weren’t in the mood to brave the weather.  Getting outside and playing with the pups also helps to remind me that there is much more to life than bills, work, and chores.  And there are a ton of benefits to walking your dog even if you do have a yard.

For us, some of the benefits include:

• Bonding: I try not to take my cell phone so that they have all of my attention.  They need our undivided attention just like our friends, co-workers, family, etc. do.  Maybe it is just me, but I feel that our daily walks have helped in my relationship with our dogs.  They listen more and understand my commands much better.
• Helps with Dog Socialization:  With rescue dogs, you do not know their history.  We know Rocky has had some very bad experiences, he was abused with an electric shock collar as a puppy, but in general, you may not know the history of your rescue dog.  Walking your dogs will teach them how to play and meet other dogs and humans in a controlled environment since they are on a leash.  It gives you the opportunity to correct bad behavior, such as growling at other dogs or people on your walks.  No one likes an aggressive dog on a dog walk.  Plus, many dogs can be dog aggressive only when on a leash, walking your dog every day will help curb this; it teaches the dog that there is nothing to be insecure about when on a leash- no one is attacking the dog’s owner or the dog just because he is on a leash.
• Mental and Physical Exercise: Just like our minds and bodies need to be challenged, so do our dogs’.  A dog that is going on new adventures- even a new street or a new fire hydrant is an adventure for our pups- is a happy dog.  Putting your dogs in the backyard every day to do their business is simply not enough to curb boredom.  They need those new smells and activities to keep them sane.  I know I couldn’t handle doing the same thing day in and day out.  I believe that walking your dog will extend the life of your dog.  A healthy dog is a happy dog.  And happiness can do a wonders of good for the mind, body, and soul- even your cute pup.

Recently, the NY Times reported on whether it is better to have a dog walking partner or a human walking partner.  According to the article, those who chose a dog as their walking partner demonstrated a bigger improvement in their fitness than those who chose a human as their walking partner.

“New research from the University of Missouri has found that people who walk dogs are more consistent about regular exercise and show more improvement in fitness than people who walk with a human companion. In a 12-week study of 54 older adults at an assisted living home, 35 people were assigned to a walking program for five days a week, while the remaining 19 served as a control group. Among the walkers, 23 selected a friend or spouse to serve as a regular walking partner along a trail laid out near the home. Another 12 participants took a bus daily to a local animal shelter where they were assigned a dog to walk.”

The reasoning that walking with a dog may be better for you than walking with a human?  You can’t tell your dog, “I am not well, let’s reschedule our walk.”  Walking speed was another factor.  I know I definitely walk a lot faster when I have two pups with me whether I want to or not.   “C’mon Mom! There’s a new pooch in the neighborhood!“  or “I think someone dropped a fry!” is totally what they are thinking when our speed has slightly increased.  This research showed that those who walked with dogs improved their walking speed by 28 PERCENT compared to the human partners- they only went up 4 PERCENT.

“What happened was nothing short of remarkable,” said Rebecca A. Johnson, a nursing professor and director of the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “The improvement in walking speed means their confidence in their walking ability had increased and their balance had increased. To have a 28 percent improvement in walking speed is mind boggling.”

What are you waiting for?  Grab your shoes and leash, get that dog off the couch!  And those of you who don’t own a dog, get to your local shelter or go walk a friend’s dog.  It just may be time for my dad to make an upgrade from his old walking buddy.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah