August 24, 2015

Cooling Ideas, Plants, and Much More…

Hello once again and thank-you for reading the 3rd newsletter for Patchy’s World! Please feel free to share and comment.  

It has been so very hot and humid where we live. And Patches is having a hard time. In this photo, Patchy doing what she likes best...relaxing, trying to cool off in the evening and looking out of the patio window. She can lie there for hours listening to music and watching everything that is happening on our street.




















In this newsletter, I have a selection of articles that I have found from different sites and publications.

Cooling ideas has ten easy ways to cool your dog and beat the heat.

If your dog is anything like Patchy, they like to sniff plants when they go for a walk.  I always think of the children’s story Ferdinand the Bull who preferred sniffing flowers than fighting.

Patchy loves to take her time and sniff every flower she passes. But some plants and vegetation are very dangerous to dogs. All it takes is a nibble or two and we have a sick dog on our hands. From Dogington Post  we learn what is safe and what is not. 

Do you call the police or SPCA when you see an animal in trouble?  The Ottawa Sun reports that locals are not afraid to wag their finger at irresponsible pet owners. 

And in Spain, a small village Trigueros del Vallehas become the first residence to recognize dogs and cats as "non-human residents" awarding them equal rights to co-exist alongside their human counterparts.  

Mamma German Sheppard is tired but her pup wants to run and play. Mama wants to nap and she wants junior to nap…watch this sweet video how mamma gets her way.

Did you know that having a pet can improve your health? Here are 8 ways your pets keep you healthy.

lower your risk for heart disease..
lower your stress level..
being a good friend..
help to make friends [socializing]
helps you exercise
saves lives [serve and therapy dogs]
less chance of stroke
helps battle depression and other mental illness.

And to end this week’s newsletter, a sweet note from your puppy. The author is unknown. If anyone knows who wrote this sweet letter, please comment.

I AM A PUPPY

I am a puppy, This means that my intelligence and capacity for learning are the same as an 8-month-old child. I am a puppy: I will chew EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on. This is how I explore and learn about the world. Even HUMAN children put things in their mouths. It's up to you to guide me to what is mine to chew and what is not.

I am a puppy: I cannot hold my bladder for longer than 1-2 hours. I cannot "feel" that I need to poop until it is actually beginning to come out. I cannot vocalize nor tell you that I need to go, and I cannot have "bladder and bowel control" until 4 /5 months.

Do not punish me if you have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your fault.

As a puppy it is wise to remember that I NEED to go potty after: eating, sleeping, playing, drinking and around every 2-3 hours in addition. If you want me to sleep through the night, then do not give me water after 7 or 8pm. A crate will help me learn to housebreak easier, and will avoid you being mad at me.

I am a puppy, accidents WILL happen, please be patient with me! In time I will learn.

I am a puppy, I like to play. I will run around, and chase imaginary monsters, and chase your feet and your toes and 'attack' you, and chase fuzzballs, other pets, and small kids. It is play.  It's what I do.

Do not be mad at me or expect me to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day. If my high-energy level is too much for you, maybe you could consider an older rescue from a shelter or rescue group.

My play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide me in my play with appropriate toys, and activities like chasing a rolling ball, or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys for me.

If I nip you too hard, talk to me in "dog talk", by giving a loud YELP, I will usually get the message, as this is how dogs communicate with one another. If I get to rough simply ignore me for a few moments, or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew toy. I am puppy.

Hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat a 6-month-old human infant so please do not do the same to me. I am delicate and also very impressionable.

If you treat me harshly now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked, kicked or beaten. Instead, please guide me with encouragement, and wisdom. (For instance, if I am chewing something wrong, say, "No chew!" and hand me a toy I CAN chew) better yet, pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to get into. I can't tell the difference between your old sock and your new sock, or an old sneaker and your $200 Nikes.

I am a puppy, and I am a creature with feelings, and drives much like your own, but yet also very different. Although I am NOT a human in a dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your every whim. I truly DO want to please you, and be a part of your family, and your life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving partner and companion, so do not relegate me to the backyard when I get bigger, do not judge me harshly but instead mold me with gentleness and guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to be.

I am a puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either. I Love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about training, and puppy behaviors and caring for me from your Veterinarian, books on dog care and even researching on the computer! Learn about my particular breed and it's "characteristics" - it will give you understanding and insight into WHY I do the things I do.

Please teach me with love, and patience, the right way to behave and socialize me with training in a puppy class or obedience class, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.

I am a puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with you, and to please you. Won't you please take time to understand how I work?


We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst, discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different and must work to understand one another's language, body signals, wants and needs. 

Someday I will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.

Your loving Puppy.

That's all for this newsletter. Don't forget to comment and please share.
Miriam and Patches   

August 3, 2015

Fruits, Vegetables, Treats and More..2nd newsletter.

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Thank-you so much for reading our first Patchy's World! newsletter / blog. I received encouraging private notes and blog comments. If you have a suggestion or something special you would like to see on our newsletter / blog, please contact me.

The four essentials: 

What we feed our pets is an important part of owning a dog or cat. Dogs in general are beggars. They give you that ‘look’ and your heart melts. 

Giving them something they shouldn’t have can prove to be disastrous for them and you.

Hartz Dog Food tell us each day it’s important to feed your dog from all of the essential food groups on a daily basis.

Protein: Dogs need a minimum of 18% protein in their diet for maintenance when they are adults and 22% for reproduction and growth. 

Fat: Fats keep your dog's coat healthy and provide energy. Adult dogs need a minimum of 5% fat in their diet.

Vitamins: A vitamin supplement will provide those nutrients above and beyond the minimum, which are required to meet his particular needs. 

Water: Your dog's water needs depend on his activity level. 

Feeding the right quantity:

Most dogs should have two small meals a day. A recommended serving size is provided on nearly all packaged foods. Here are the guideline that most pet products follow:

Toy dogs 3-12 lbs: 1/2 - 1 1/4 cups
Small dogs 13-25 lbs: 1 1/4 – 2 cups
Medium dogs 26-50 lbs: 2 – 3 3/4 cups
Large dogs 51-100 lbs: 3 3/4 – 6 3/4 cups
Extra Large dogs over 100 lbs: 6 3/4 plus 1/2 cup for each 10 lbs of body weight over 100 lbs. 


The aged old argument on whether to feed your dog package food or homemade food is something to discuss with your vet. He /she will be able to give you the pros and cons.

Feeding people food:
Our 4 legged friends love treats. Fruits and vegetables are great for dogs but some fruits and vegetables are just downright dangerous.

Be sure to wash all fruits and remove rinds, inedible skins, seeds, and pits before feeding. 

10 best fruits and vegetables: pet360.com has a very informative slideshow on the best 10 fruits and vegetables Have a look!

Toxic fruits and vegetables:
From iheartdogs.com  we learn that some fruits and vegetables are dangerous. Watch this slideshow and learn what fruits and vegetable are toxic.

Our pet friends love people food:

Patches loves people food. What about your furry friend?

pets.webmd.com has a slide show of people foods we can serve our dogs. 

And Foodbeast.com tells us why and what foods we should never serve our pets even when they have begging eyes.

Home baking:












There is nothing like home baked cookies.  When looking for a good recipe to bake cookies for Patches, I came across this site. Everything looks delicious and relatively easy to make. 

Frozen Pupsicles
Chicken Wild Rice Dog Treats
Mint Buckwheat Dog Biscuits
Small Batch Peanut Butter Banana Dog Biscuits
Puppy Power Smoothies
positively.com

Sarah Lukemire is the author of this page. Click her site page. She has many interesting articles. 

If you have a good recipe you would like to share, contact me.

And onto other important topics…

We all love our pets. Whether going to work, school, shopping, we sometimes have to leave them at home when we go out. What would happen to your 4 legged friend if you took sick or were in an accident? Who would make sure they have someone to look after them while you recuperate. 

The Dogington Post has the solution. Print out this form and keep it in your wallet.















And lastly from Paws in the City this friendly reminder:















That’s all for now. Please feel free to comment and share.


Miriam and Patches