Friday Party People!

Okay, so I've not been good at posting at all this week, I think this will only make my third post - which is just ridiculous! It's been a very busy week here, both physically and emotionally - it's like as the heat rises so does everything else. I hope you all have a great Friday and if I don't talk to/comment at you before the weekend, have a great one.

In the Dog House - with Dr. ChiChi - July 8

Hello again Humans! Thank you for the warm welcome I received last week, I so appreciate the kind words and support.

This week's topic is - Little Dog Exercise: Necessary Evil or Boredom Buster?

Many people recognize that large dogs, like Labs, Retrievers, Pit Bull Terriers, etc. need to have regular exercise. However most people don't realize that small dogs need regular exercise too, and often the benefits to small dogs of regular exercise outweigh any inconvenience of taking them out!

Now, you may be saying to yourself "Dr. ChiChi! My little Scruffy is only five pounds, he sits in the lap of luxury all day, he does not need exercise!" But Au Contraire Mes Amies! Little Scruffy does need exercise, nothing major though, no hiking for five miles, no marathon training, just a little walk around the block should do him a lot of good.

What are the benefits of regular exercise for a small dog you ask?

• Exercise means your pup gets to see and sniff the world, keeping him both entertained and stimulating the mind
• A stimulated mind is important to dogs - most dogs who bark all day, bark at random things, have anxiety, and are demanding of their humans are bored, unstimulated dogs.
  
• Yappy, uncontrolled chaos is the hallmark of the little dog - however a good walk can take the bite out of your little barker!
  
• An exercised dog means a tired, relaxed dog. How do you feel dear Human when you are finished with a good workout? Your doggie feels the same! A good walk stimulates blood flow, refreshes the mind and body, and allows your doggie to be a part of the world around her!
  
• Small dogs have a propensity for weight issues, and weight issues are nothing good for Humans or Doggies! You took on this dog as a family member, it's your job to be their lifelong Guardian. Part of that job then is to make sure they are healthy, stimulated, happy, loved, and cared for! Though we sometimes like to show love through treats, too many treats can mean Love Gone Wrong for the petite pooch!
  
• You wouldn't want to sit around a house bored all day, so don't expect Scruffy to do the same.

Start out slow, and build up your exercise routine - just like you, doggies need a chance to acclimate to an exercise program. If you've never walked Scruffy before don't take him on a three mile walk! A little jaunt around the neighborhood for ten minutes or so for the first couple days will be sufficient - then every day add another five minutes!

Many people say "Oh my little Scruffy doesn't like to walk on a leash!" or "It's too Hot to walk little Scruffy!" Blimey! Not True At All! Some dogs naturally take to the leash and some dogs don't - but all dogs can be trained to be comfortable on a leash. That in an of itself is a whole day of post, so I'll leave that for now. But in terms of it being too hot? Easy fixes Amigos!

Hot Weather Exercise:

• Walk your pooch in the early morning or late evening hours. Early morning tends to be better in very hot climates because at night the cement will retain heat from the day.
  
• If you are concerned that the cement is too hot to walk your pup, take off your shoe and put your bare foot in an area you would normally walk with your pup. If you are uncomfortable, then walking is not in order.
  
• Swim with your dog! Not all dogs automatically know how to swim, but almost all dogs (Except Bulldogs in my humble opinion) can be taught how to swim. Before you step in to the pool, take them out for a restroom break!
  
• Never leave a dog alone around water! Teach your dog that she only gets in when you do! Make sure you teach them where the steps are too, just in case.
  
• If you are swimming in a pool with chlorine, make sure to rinse/wash your dog after swimming. Just like you, the chlorine can wreck havoc on our hair!
• Swimming can also be a panacea to older dogs and dogs with bone, joint, and other issues. Swimming takes pressure off joints and bones, making exercise easier and more enjoyable!
• Swimming can also be a first-step exercise for dogs that are too overweight or obese to walk on a leash comfortably. When we work with overweight dogs at the rescue, they always start out in a pool with their Temporary Guardian until they can walk more comfortably.
  
• Make sure to bring your dog inside after exercise and have lots of cool, fresh water available.
  
• Check pads and paws to make sure they are healthy too! No bleeding, splitting, cracking, foreign objects.
  
• If your dog starts to breathe heavily, struggle walking, sits or lays down and can't be moved (and isn't just being a stubbord donkey), is panting heavily, looks glassy-eyed or "stunned" (and doesn't normally) - stop walking immediately! Do not make the pup walk home, pick them up and let them rest. Never push a dog beyond their boundaries.
  

And with that Amigos, I leave you now to go on my morning walk with my foster brother Henry. We have not been able to leave the house in two days because it's been so hot, but my Guardian finally got up early enough this morning to take us out. So, I shall don my harness and matching retractable leash and do some perusing of the neighborhood.

I wish you all the best this week, take care and be good to others. Bon Sage!

*This feature on this blog is not meant to diagnose, treat, or in any other way take the place of real medical advice for your dog. If you have a concern about your dog or their behavior, always contact your Vet! Do not engage in any significant change in exercise or diet without first consulting a professional. This feature is meant to provide basic information to dog guardians and to encourage the dialogue about what and how to be a responsible, caring dog guardian. If you have any concerns about your pet or you have been advised by a vet to do something different than what is posted here - DO IT. Dr. ChiChi and me (Mel, his Human Guardian) are not in any way shape or form Vets, medical practitioners, or any other title that gives us credibility beyond our own experience - therefore, read as you'd like and take what you can, we are not responsible or liable for you or your pet if you do something against your vets orders or that violates basic common sense.

A Case of The Mondays!

Good morning everybody, I hope this finds you well and ready to start your week here - it's already the second week of July, I can't believe how fast this summer is going. If you hadn't noticed, I made some more small changes to my blog/blog name - stick with me here if you can/want to, I'm doing it slowly, I really can't bear to think about just starting over completely - I thought about it all weekend.

I have a lot of posting planned for this week, I hope to get it all caught up today and tomorrow and then put Blogger on "auto-post" - I do love this feature, I have to admit! I also have a lot of writing and statistics to do, so if it takes me a day or two to respond to comments, that's why. I do have a reality show update pending too - I know! I know! I'm like a week behind!

It's been a wild ride here in this household, some of which I am looking forward to posting about and some that just requires me to hire an exterminator and take my dogs to my mom's house for the day! I also have a bloggy award sitting in my inbox that I will get to either later today or tomorrow, because the wonderful CTB graced me with it and I want to do it justice.

Have a great Monday morning Home Peeps and we'll chat soon!

Blogger Etiquette and a Fourth of July Note...

***To my U.S. readers, please take a moment to think about all the people serving in the Armed Forces away from home right now and the families that await their return. Even if you don't agree with war, you probably agree that people are people and they are probably missing their families today. No one wants to lose a family member (although I do have a couple who I wish would lose my email address!) and today is no exception. We live in a country with immense freedom, where people are allowed to change their community simply by living within it - it's by no means perfect, it's by no means 100% right all the time, but it's pretty damned good to be an American. I come from a family of military people, in honor of them and all the people who make this country great every day simply by being good people, thank you. Blessed be.

Okay so I'm not the best with blogger etiquette, but I have to tell you that two things have been happening recently that I have just had enough of and rather than just ignore it like I usually do, I'm calling it out like I see it.

Number One: Do not threaten, coerce, or send martyrish comments to a blogger begging/pleading/demanding return comments. First it's annoying and juvenile, second it's just poor form. All of us in this blog community know that we sometimes post every day, sometimes once a week, sometimes life just attacks us and we take a month off. I love, love, love my fellow bloggers but it doesn't mean I comment on every single post. If we're new bloggy-buddies and we have something in common, I'll comment back. If we don't, I might just follow for awhile and see if something develops.

HOWEVER.... if your blog is in another language that I clearly don't speak, then don't expect me to comment back to you. If I don't know what the hell you're talking about, I'm not going to comment - It's really NOT a personal affront, do not send me snarky comments and emails about not being a reciprocal commenter.

Number Two: There seems to be a bit of a phenomenon lately of people leaving really mean-spirited or inappropriate comments on blogs, usually under the "Anonymous" moniker. This hasn't happened to me, let me assure you if it does I will be calling out the anonymous blogger and mocking you publicly, but it has happened to some really awesome bloggers lately and it's just not cool. If you want to disagree, fine. Do it in a way that is dignified and respectful - remember this is THEIR blog, not yours - they get to say what they want. If you just want to be mean and spiteful, go somewheres else... that's why we have blogs, that's why we have the First Amendment here in the US - I can say whatever the hell I want and I'm doing just that so back off.

And on that note, Happy Fourth of July to my wonderful fellow American bloggers and readers and Happy Saturday to all of my international readers!

This...

is who I want to be.