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The ‘new dog’ honeymoon is over, so now what? ‘Today’ contributor Tamar Geller offers tips to keep your children interested in the family dog.

The kids pleaded and begged you for a dog. They even whined a bit as they promised they would definitely take care of it — telling you it’s the one thing in the whole world they really, really, really want. You succumbed, you gave in and you got a family dog.

It’s been a few weeks and the newness of having a dog has worn off for the kids — their attention to the dog is dwindling. The reality of all the work involved in taking care of a dog has set in and the responsibility is competing with all the other life, school and social responsibilities that the kids have. Mom and Dad are left holding the poop bag, so to speak, and it even looks like the dog may be suffering from a lack of attention and interaction. What can you do?

The best way to keep kids interested in the dog and teach the dog manners at the same time — is to have them play some fun and exciting games together. Games that have a purpose, that will keep the kids and the dog occupied for a good amount of time and will focus them on something other than a chore. They will BOTH love it!

Here are three of my all-time favorites:

1) Hide and Seek -- This game is played in several distinct stages. Give your kids some yummie treats for their pockets.

Have them spread out indoors (we don’t want the dog to run away) and, one at a time, call the dog by name. When the dog comes to the child calling his name, he gets a treat (salmon or turkey breast treats are easy and healthy), as the child repeats “come” several times. This should be done with each child for a little while.

Once the dog gets the hang of this, the kids take turns hiding and calling the dog by name. The dog will have fun looking for them and, once found, the child gives him a treat (Nature's Variety freeze dried turkey liver is also a good treat), again repeating “come.”

After a while, when the kids hide they put the two commands together by calling “come” and the dog’s name, giving him a treat when he finds them.

Eventually, when the dog finds them, they give him the treat and repeat their name, so the dog learns who he is finding.

Lastly, one child will simply tell your dog to find another child by telling him to “find Johnnie” and the dog will search for the child he has learned is Johnnie.

2) Bettie stuffing & Spring Roll sutffing -- Assemble as many Betties or Spring Rolls as kids and ten glass jars (so the kids can easily see what’s in them), filling each jar with a different yummie goodie for the dog. Make sure the goodies are in small pieces and not creamy (like peanut butter) they have to be things that the dog won’t have too much trouble getting out of the Bettie or the Spring Roll. Each child fills their toy with a combination of the three treats they think the dog will like best. Once filled, all Betties or Spring Rolls are put down at the same time and the one that the dog goes to first is the winner.

3) Musical chairs -- This game is for several kids, each with a dog. Set up one less chair than the number of kids playing. Each child has his dog on a leash and yummie treats in their pocket. The music plays while the kids and their dog circle the chairs. The music stops and the kids have to sit — the one with no chair to sit on is eliminated — but there’s a fun catch, the kids can’t sit on an empty chair until they get their dog to sit first! Since this is a competition, encourage your kids to practice teaching your dog to “sit” in between games to increase their chance of winning.

Remember, when you take on a family pet, it’s ultimately a family responsibility. A child’s attention span is variable according to age and maturity, but my experience is that the honeymoon period for most kids with a new dog tends to be about two weeks. It’s not enough to get a dog “for the kids.” A pet should not be a temporary playmate for them, but a lifelong member of the family who depends on everyone, especially the adults. Teaching your children about pet care and training is always much more palatable as a game than as an assigned chore. And much more FUN for both your kids and your dog!

NEW YORK - Lie down. Roll over. Sit up. Give me a paw.

The pet tricks are so simple they couldn’t even qualify as “stupid” on television, but for the pooches performing them at the ASPCA’s charm school, they could be a ticket to adoption.

That was, after all, the purpose and the hope for which trainers and handlers put Porky, Basil, Tuffy, Negrita, Newman, Spencer, Tiny Tim and Mister Pink through their paces. All are former problem dogs, retrained at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Manhattan shelter after being rescued or legally seized from abusive or neglectful owners.

One after another, the dogs bounded forth Wednesday, tails wagging, and obeyed the commands as if they had never been kicked, starved, isolated or, in the cases of Tuffy and Negrita, confined in a four-room Bronx apartment with 27 other dogs and forced to survive on a diet of popcorn.

The ASPCA called the charm school event a “showcase to display what our dogs have learned.”
“They are available for adoption, but they are much more adoptable if they have some tricks,” explained Victoria Wells, the ASPCA’s manager of shelter behavior and training, who served as emcee for the event.

Socialization is key: The ASPCA shelter has about 300 resident dogs and cats at a time, and most are adopted within two years, workers said. But socialization is the key, especially for dogs acquired from collectors or hoarders who often have more animals than they can care for, said ASPCA vice president Gail Buchwald.

Porky, who along with his sister Petunia had been tied up and nearly starved when rescued by law enforcers from an abandoned apartment, mugged happily for the cameras, as did Tuffy and Negrita, a matched set of endearingly homely terriers of uncertain ancestry.

Tiny Tim pranced in on three legs, having had a rear leg amputated at the shelter due to multiple pelvic fractures that could not be repaired. Mister Pink, a formerly malnourished American bulldog named for the rosy cast of his white fur, sat erectly at attention amid cheers for his performance. All were rewarded by their handlers with liver-based dog treats.
Except for two TV cameras and a few reporters, the appreciative audience consisted entirely of ASPCA employees and volunteers. Wells and Trish McMillan, who brought the charm school idea from her former job at the Richmond, Va., SPCA shelter, conceded it might be better to showcase the dogs in a more public setting.

No speeches were required as to why the dogs needed rescue from neglect and abuse in the first place.

“There are a lot of different reasons,” said Jennifer Lander, the shelter’s veterinarian. “Some of it really is malice. Sometimes it’s just ignorance, or people don’t have the resources available to them even though they know they should be doing something.”

What makes her job so rewarding, she said, is knowing that “these dogs have a great life here and it’s only going to get better when they’re adopted.”

At least 100 dogs in the United States have been killed in recent weeks by toxic pet food despite a recall of the products, scientists said today.

Some 19 brands of Diamond, Country Value and Professional dog foods have been recalled. But many pet owners are not aware of the recall, researchers at Cornell University said Friday.
Dogs have refused to eat the food and, in some cases, their owners have enticed them with gravy and other lures without knowing they were killing the animals.

Entire kennels have been wiped out, and because of the holiday these past few weeks, the dispersal of recall information was disrupted," said Sharon Center, a professor of veterinary medicine who specializes in liver function and disease at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell.

Toxic food damages the liverThe dog food is tainted with deadly aflatoxins that waste the liver away. The bad food could be present in a dozen other countries, too, the researchers say. About two-thirds of dogs that show symptoms from the toxin have died.

The dogs seemed to know their food was deadly.

"Some dogs were stealing food from the kitchen counter," Center said. "Others just stopped eating the food and begged for treats. Unfortunately, some owners used gravy and other mixers to entice their dogs to consume what they thought was safe, quality dog food."
Only about two dozen deaths have been firmly linked to the tainted pet food. But Center and her colleagues know the toll is far higher.

RELATED STORY - see Blog titled "23 Dog Deaths linked to Contaminated Food"

"Every day, we're hearing reports from veterinarians in the East and Southeast who have treated dogs that have died from liver damage this past month or so," Center said. "We're also concerned about the long-term health of dogs that survive as well as dogs that have eaten the tainted food but show no clinical signs."

Surviving dogs may develop chronic liver disease or liver cancer, she said.

"Despite our understanding of this complex toxin, we have no direct antidote," Center said.
Symptoms arise over days or weeks. Early signs include lethargy, loss of appetite and vomiting. Later, look for orange-colored urine and jaundice, which is a yellowing of the eyes and gums. Severely affected dogs produce a blood-tinged vomit and bloody or blackened stools.

WASHINGTON - Contaminated dog food which was sold in 23 states killed nearly two dozen dogs and sickened 18 more, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The deaths and illnesses sparked an FDA investigation into the pet food made by the Diamond Pet Food Company at its Gaston, S.C., manufacturing plant. The FDA said so far 23 animal deaths have been linked to the pet food.

The company, based in Meta, Mo., issued a recall of 19 varieties of dog and cat food on Dec. 21 because some of the pet food made at the Gaston facility was discovered to contain aflatoxin.

Aflatoxin, a naturally occurring chemical that comes from a fungus sometimes found on corn and other crops, can cause severe liver damage. Aflatoxin poisoning can cause sluggishness, a lack of appetite and in severe cases severe vomiting, fever and jaundice.

The recalled pet food was sold in 23 states under the brand names Diamond, Country Value and Professional, and bears the date codes of March 1, 2007, through June 11, 2007. Consumers are asked to immediately stop using the product.

Last week, Tony Caver, the state veterinarian in South Carolina, said that state has five presumed cases linked to aflatoxin, including three fatalities.

Seven dogs from the Rochester, N.Y., area were being treated at Cornell University Hospital for Animals for liver disease and failure after eating contaminated food, said university spokeswoman Sabina Lee. An area veterinarian discovered the link after three dogs died in the area, she said.

Corn-based food recalled
In a Dec. 20 press release, the company said it had notified distributors to hold up the further sale of Diamond pet food that had used corn. The next day it ordered the recall.

“To ensure we got all the affected product or potential to be affected, we cast a very wide net with the recall,” Diamond spokesman Jim Fallon said Friday. He said the company is conducting tests and has set up a consumer information center, open seven days a week, to handle consumer questions.

“We are working with customers and their vets to confirm a link between the pet food and the pet’s illnesses,” he said. “Our whole focus is saving pets’ lives and doing the right thing.”
The company said it was analyzing retained samples of all of the affected pet food products in Gaston in an attempt to isolate specific lot numbers that were impacted and provide the information to distributors, retailers and customers.

According to the company, the pet food was distributed to stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont, and Virginia.

The FDA said some of the recalled product had been exported to at least 29 countries, including several in the European Union. Those countries have been notified, the agency said.

LOS ANGELES - If you think Hollywood celebrities and sports superstars are a neurotic and difficult bunch, try treating the personality disorders of their pets.

Meet Princess Cujo, a cute Maltese owned by high-ranking Los Angeles Lakers executive Jeanie Buss and given to fits of ankle-biting, eye-rolling fury.

Exasperated, Buss -- the daughter of Lakers owner Jerry Buss -- has turned to “dog whisperer” Cesar Millan, who offers cryptic wisdom as the cameras roll for his TV show.

“A dog is a window to see the person from the inside out,” says Millan, who has become canine psychologist to the stars and a celebrity himself. “The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” began its second season on the National Geographic Network this month.

Millan, who grew up surrounded by animals on a farm in Mexico, tells his human clients it’s essential to project a calm and assertive energy while setting rules and boundaries for their wayward dogs. As he puts it: “I rehabilitate dogs; I train people.”

It seems a lot of celebrities need training. Millan has a track record for tackling the canine woes of the rich and famous, including Will Smith, Michael Eisner and Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey, according to Millan, owned an “unbalanced” dog unsettled by her coddling, but Sophie is now rehabilitated.

Buss’ problem, says Millan, is that she is too much of a dog lover and not enough of a pack leader. At a recent taping of his television show, he watches, slightly amused, as Buss vainly tries to stop Princess Cujo as she barks, growls and eyes the ankles of the dog whisperer himself.
Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, Buss’ boyfriend and sometimes victim of her malevolent Maltese, agrees that Buss needs to stand her ground. “That’s basically a lot of the belief I have,” Jackson says. “Establishing dominance and taking responsibility for it.” Jackson, famed for handling the outsized egos of the NBA, began calling the dog Cujo after the Saint Bernard who goes on a killing spree in the Stephen King novel of the same name. “She comes to attack you every time you come through the door,” Jackson said of the diminutive Maltese.

Problem pooches with problem owners
The fascination with pets and their celebrity owners has reached dizzying heights in America, where Paris Hilton and her chihuahua Tinkerbell grace magazine covers and the latest issue of celebrity pet magazine Animal Fair features Jennifer Aniston posing with her terrier.

But whether their owners are famous or not, pooches become problems usually because of the quirks of their humans, who don’t understand the workings of the canine mind, Millan claims. Buss, for example, is hung up over an episode when Cujo was a puppy. At the time, two larger dogs attacked the Maltese and the dog ran away, terrified.

Now, Millan says, Buss is projecting nervousness around her dog instead of trust and respect. Buss, who says she is fascinated by leadership and wants to take charge of her dog, admits it’s hard to make Princess Cujo obey her when the dog looks so cute in that little purple-and-gold Laker jersey.

It doesn’t help that Princess Cujo doesn’t like the sound of bouncing basketballs -- not a great trait for a dog on a team that has won eight NBA championships. Buss likes to bring her dog to the office but worries about the potential liability in letting an ankle-biter loose at work.

There are a quite few dog lovers on the Lakers team -- Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa have Pomeranians, while forward Brian Cook recently adopted a dog named “Brick” rescued from Hurricane Katrina.

For the Lakers 2006 calendar, the players posed with dogs needing homes from The Amanda Foundation, a Los Angeles-based dog rescue that helps place abandoned animals. Jackson posed with Princess Cujo.

After a day spent with Millan, the Maltese’s future as a Laker mascot seems more possible. Princess Cujo is calmer and quieter and even able to socialize with other dogs, her owner says.

Preparation and patience is the key, says ‘Today’ pet contributor Tamar Geller. Here's more advice on how to build that everlasting bond:

By Tamar Geller
"Today" Pet Contributor
Updated: 3:22 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2006

Bringing home a new dog for the holidays is a big adjustment for any family. But with a little preparation and patience, starting that everlasting bond with your canine companion can be a lot easier. “Today” pet contributor Tamar Geller gives tips on how to get adjusted to the new member of the family.

When you bring your new dog home, remember that initially he will be a bit disoriented. The dog doesn’t know you, your family or your home. It’s similar to when you start a new job. This adjustment period rarely lasts for more than two weeks. Here are a few things you’ll need to know to welcome the latest addition to your family.

Be patient:
Please be patient with your dog. Most of us have an idea of some ideal dog in our mind and when reality doesn’t match the dream, we can lose our patience. Just like building on the talent that a child has in sports, your dog needs to have a good coach in order to become that ideal dog.
Take your dog to the vet immediately. Take him to the vet right away to check that he’s healthy and to microchip him. The microchip is inserted with a needle in the back of his neck and is no big deal. This can be a lifesaver by helping you locate your dog in case he gets lost.

Be consistent:
When trainingMake sure that as his coach, you give him clear and consistent messages. Determine the dog rules and make sure that ALL family members are consistent with enforcing them — such as what rooms are okay for him to use, if he’s allowed on the furniture and where he’s allowed to sleep. The key is that any time you catch your dog in behavior you don’t like, use a disapproving tone of voice and then show him what you would like him to do instead. Do not hit or use physical abuse to correct your dog. This can cause him to become nervous aggressive, which means he could bite to defend himself.

Keep to a schedule:
Dogs like routine. Have a schedule that he can get used to — when he gets fed, bathroom breaks, walks — and then stick to it.

Consider crating:
Crates are a great way to house-train your dog. They should be a size that allows him to stand up, turn around and lay down, but no bigger. Because you’re teaching him to hold it, you don’t want it big enough for him to pee on one side and then lay down on the other. If you’re completely adverse to using one, consider a puppy play pen. One of my clients even used a small shower as the dog’s room — it was very easy to clean! To clean accidents, use paper towels to thoroughly absorb the liquid, then spray with a neutralizing cleanser.

Have the basics:

Collar and leash - You’ll need a collar and leash before you bring your dog home. Puppies are constantly growing, so don’t invest in an expensive collar until they’re fully grown. Instead, purchase a simple, flat nylon collar that you can adjust or replace as he grows out of it. Periodically check to see if the collar is too small — you should be able to fit two fingers under the collar at all times. Small breeds should wear a harness when walking. Attaching the leash to a collar can put undo pressure on the neck and result in a collapsed trachea. If your new puppy is too small for even the smallest dog collar or harness, get one designed for a cat.
Get a four- or six-foot leash for walking. DO NOT use a retractable one, as this will teach him that the more he pulls on the leash, the more he is able to pull, simply reinforcing your dog’s pulling behavior when you walk.
I am against using a choke chain or prong collar, particularly when starting a new relationship with your dog. My personal opinion is that using this equipment causes pain that will not strengthen the loving relationship and may actually do just the opposite.

Food and water bowls - The best food and water bowls are Pyrex, glass or white ceramic that have been certified for human use — do not use plastic bowls. The problem with most ceramic dog bowls is that they are not regulated and may contain lead, which is potentially very harmful to dogs.

Treats - The best yummy treats should be used when your dog has gone to the bathroom outside. Generally speaking, give treats to reinforce your dog's good behavior. Try not to give your dog treats for free — for just being cute.

Exercise and games - Dogs learn through games, so don’t teach your dog biting games or games where he runs away from you. Games are also the way your dog will bond with you. He should think, “Wow, this person is really cool!” Games and exercise also help make sure your dog isn’t bored. Dogs come up with naughty behaviors — such as archeological digging in the yard, redecorating your house by chewing up the furniture or barking — to alleviate boredom.

Toys - Have at least five or six toys on hand since you might have to replace them. You can make them interesting and different by stuffing them with a variety of treats, so it’s always new and exciting for your dog. And they’re dishwasher safe. There’s a great plush toy you can play tug-of-war with called Dr. Noy’s that doesn’t have messy stuffing that your dog can choke on, and has a hidden compartment so that you can remove or replace the squeaker after your dog has “killed” the squeak (as most dogs do within seconds). Greenies are great chew toys for dogs (and they also help freshen their breath). Just as you would with a teething baby, supervise your dog whenever they’re chewing on something in order to prevent choking. Take it away from them when it gets down to a stub. Get one as big as can comfortably fit in your dog’s mouth — the bigger the greenie, the more time your dog will spend enjoying it. Bully sticks and tennis balls, particularly the squeaky kind, are also great toys to keep your dog occupied.

Investing the time now to coach your dog and help him be the best dog he can be will only strengthen your bond. In time, you will come to the point when all you have to do to communicate with your dog is look at him a certain way, and he will know what you want. In turn, you will learn to read his looks and body language to know what he wants. If you follow this, I'm sure you will have a rewarding and beautiful relationship to look forward to.

Labels: Behavior and Training, Dog Treat

One in three British cats and dogs are becoming obese, survey finds.....

Source: Reuters, Updated: 3:52 p.m. ET Jan. 6, 2006


LONDON - Just like their owners, a growing number of British pets are becoming obese and face chronic illnesses such as heart complaint, diabetes and arthritis, according to research on Friday.

A survey of British vets and owners showed that one in three pets, or 33 percent, were considered overweight and 38 percent of pet owners said their animals put on weight over Christmas.

Despite this, few owners plan to put their pets on a diet.

“Pets, like their owners, tend to expand a little over the Christmas period,” said Frances Wright at Halifax Pet Insurance, who conducted the survey.

The survey said signs of obesity included a sagging stomach, bulging sides and a reluctance to take exercise.

About 30,000 human deaths a year in Britain are attributable to obesity, health experts say.

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food

Toxic pet food may have killed dozens of dogs The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond Pet Foods.

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 6:22 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2006
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that at least 76 dogs nationwide are believed to have died as a result of eating contaminated Diamond Pet Foods.
The company has recalled 19 varieties of dog and cat food because tests showed high levels of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical that comes from a fungus found on corn and other grains that causes severe liver damage in animals.
The company recalled products manufactured at its Gaston, S.C., plant from around September to November 2005. Based on sample testing, Diamond has narrowed down the exposure to food produced on Oct. 11, Brinkmann said Thursday.

The FDA and the South Carolina Department of Agriculture have launched investigations.
Customers who have purchased the recalled Diamond Pet Food manufactured in the South Carolina plant should immediately stop using it and return any remaining product to their retailer, according to the FDA.
The range of date codes being reviewed are "Best By 01-March-07" through Best By " 11-June-07".
FDA also has discovered that some of the recalled product was exported to at least 29 countries, including countries within the European Union. These countries have been notified.
Diamond officials say they are doing what they can to help affected pet owners.
“It’s going to take some time to take care of all these customers, and we’re going to do it,” said the company’s chief operating officer, Mark Brinkmann.
Diamond has promised to reimburse pet owners for vet bills and other costs associated with the aflatoxin poisoning, which officials now believe may include pets in Europe and other areas outside the country where the food is distributed.

Complete list of states and brands affected by recall

The company set up a call center staffed with veterinarians. The call volume peaked at about 2,000 calls a day last week, Brinkmann said.
Shanika Stewart has been caring for her ailing 9-year-old chow, force-feeding the animal with a syringe six times a day since suffering permanent liver damage after eating contaminated dog food.
“I haven’t had any time to do anything but take care of her,” said Stewart, a 19-year-old nursing student at the University of South Carolina. “She’s the No. 1 priority. ... I get maybe four hours of sleep before she wakes me up.”
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Aflatoxin poisoning symptoms:
Aflatoxin comes from a fungus found on corn and other crops and can cause severe liver damage in pets. If your pet shows any of these symptoms contact your veterinarian immediately.
— Sluggishness
— Loss of appetite
— Jaundice (yellow whites of the eyes, gums, belly)
— Severe, persistent vomiting combined with bloody diarrhea
— Fever
Source: Food and Drug AdministrationThrough relocations from Army bases in Georgia, Oklahoma, Washington and now South Carolina, Cocoa has been a constant companion for Stewart, whose father is serving in Iraq.
When her own daughter died last year, Stewart said Cocoa helped her through her grief. “It was like she understood,” Stewart said. “She was my best friend.”

Severe liver damage: Stewart’s other dog, a 2-year-old pit bull named Chulo, died last month just hours after being diagnosed with liver failure. It was only then that the family learned of the recall.

Stewart initially thought Cocoa had refused to eat because she was depressed about losing Chulo. After the recall, the family vet confirmed aflatoxin poisoning in Cocoa, Stewart said.
Steve Shrum, president of the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians, said vets around the state were confused when puppies began showing signs of liver problems usually seen in older dogs.


This news story source link to MSNBC:
http://g.msn.com/0MN2ET7/2?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10771943/from/ET/&&CM=EmailThis&CE=1

Labels: BARF Raw Pet Food, Dog Diet, Dog Nutrition

Happy New Year! This is a big year for TheDogBowl.com. We've been doing this for 8 years now. There aren't a whole lot (if any) pet supply companies that have been online that long.

Years ago our first big expansion was when we added a second computer. The next expansion we decided it might be time to take the big leap and actually move into a nice, large warehouse. Now here we are 8 years and another warehouse, plus storefront later!

We're gearing up to make 2006 a very memorable year. We have an entirely new web site this year. We kept the best features of our past web site but gave you more! It was a bit scary for us to change our website but we are confident we can give you even better customer service, more ordering options, more cool products and still be the little dog supply store on the corner you trust to bring you the very best for your dogs!

Thank you for visiting our website & best of luck to everyone in the new year!

Sincerely,

The Dog Bowl Team