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

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 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

Treats for Senior Dogs

Posted on 11. Jan, 2010 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits, Rescue Dogs

“Dogs are, after all, man’s best friends.  The least we can do is try to understand them a little better.” ~ Nicholas Dodman

Around the age of seven or eight, depending on size and breed, a dog’s needs tend to change, just like ours do.  Older dogs muscle mass begins to decrease so their caloric intake must be adjusted because they may gain weight faster.  This does not mean you should stop giving your senior dog some delicious gourmet dog biscuits though.  Keep those coming.  Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits to be exact.  Our treats are made by hand and baked to perfection.  They aren’t too hard like the ones you can buy in the store.  They were created in such a way so that older and younger pups alike can enjoy them.  Besides, sometimes, a dog should not have to work too hard to enjoy his treat, right?

Ok, enough with the self promotion.  But really, if you are looking for a treat good enough for your wise partner- in-crime, look no further, Barkin’ Doggie Biscuits to the rescue!

And now, here are some tips to help you be the best parent you can be to your senior dog.  After all, your cutie definitely deserves it.  And, some reasons why you should consider adopting that gorgeous senior dog.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Does my dog need a sweater?

Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits

Ok, I am not going to lie.  At Tobiah’s expense, I would LOVE to put cute little sweaters on Z and Roo for our daily walks.  Plus, I always wonder, do dogs get cold in the winter? I mean, don’t they all need sweaters?  Sigh, to my dismay, only small dogs and dogs with short hair/thin undercoats probably need sweaters.  And apparently, dogs have higher internal temperatures than us humans- ranging from 100-102 degrees.

This brings me to the topic of snow.  In Houston, we rarely see any snow.  This year, we got one day of it. Do your dogs like it?  Rocky kept eating it and Zeus was a bit confused by it.  Pretty funny to watch for those of you who have dogs that are accustomed to snow.  LOL.

Tobiah grew up in Idaho.  I hope we can take the puppers up there one year for the holidays.  I wonder if either of them will love snow as much as this little one?  Enjoy!

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

How Dogs Drink Water

Posted on 14. Dec, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Interesting Dog Tidbits

“I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons.” ~ Will Rogers

Ok, do you really know how doggies drink water out of their water bowls?  I thought they just somehow scoop it up.  This is how it all goes down:

I did not know this is how they drink water.  It looks like they actually scoop it up with the bottom of their tongues, not the top- like I thought.  Very interesting.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

From Service Dog to SURFice Dog

Posted on 11. Dec, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Community Efforts, Interesting Dog Tidbits

Just another example of the profound impact a doggie can have on all of us.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah

Fences For Fido

Posted on 09. Dec, 2009 by Annvi in Barkin' Doggie Bloggie, Community Efforts, Companies doin' cool things, Interesting Dog Tidbits

“One person can have a profound effect on another. And two people…well, two people can work miracles. They can change a whole town. They can change the world.” ~ Diane Frolove and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Cicely, 1992

UN-CHAINED one dog at a time

Have you heard of this organization?  Pretty cool people in Portland, Oregon.  Basically, they build fences and unchain dogs- improving the quality of life for outdoor dogs.  Ready for a tear jerker?

What I love about this group is the fact that they aren’t taking dogs away from people or judging anyone.  They are educating the public and providing a safer environment for these pups. Fences for Fido is part of the solution.  Just another example of how just a few people can have such a huge impact on so many lives.

Some stats I found on their site:

•Dogs are pack animals who want and need socialization and companionship.
•The Animal Welfare Act prohibits dog chaining as the primary means of confinement.
•The American Veterinary Medical Association warns that chaining a dog can contribute to aggressive behavior.
•The Centers for Disease Control states that chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite than unchained dogs.

Cheers and Happy Barkin’!

Annvi and Tobiah