• 3/4 cup Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 2/3 cup Butter
• 2/3 cup Brown Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups oatmeal
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 cup Wheat Germ
• 1/2 pound Bacon, or bacon bits

Method

1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2. Combine flour, soda and salt.
3. Mix well and set aside.
4. Cream butter and sugar, beat in egg and vanilla.
5. Add flour mix mixing well.
6. Stir in oats, cheese, wheat germ and bacon.
7. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
8. Bake for 16 minutes.
9. Cool.

For a great collection of homemade recipes for your dog head on over to Rover’s Recipes.

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 1/2 cup oats, rolled (raw) – quick cooking
• 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Method

1. Cut in 1/3 cup shortening until mix is coarse crumbs.
2. Stir in 1 egg.
3. Dissolve 1 tablespoon instant chicken or beef bouillon granules in 1/2
4. cup water.
5. Stir liquid into flour mix with a fork.
6. Form dough into a ball and knead on floured board for 5 minutes.
7. Divide ball in half and roll each portion until 1/2 inch thick.
8. Use a cookie cutter or shape biscuits.
9. Put 6 on a plate and microwave at medium for 5 to 10 minutes or until
10. firm and dry to touch.
11. Turn biscuits over after 1/2 cooking time.

For a great collection of homemade recipes for your dog head on over to Rover’s Recipes.

How embarrassing is it then when your dog does something that makes you want to crawl into a hole? You’ve been telling people how smart, how cute, how wonderful your dog is and as soon as they see your dog he does something you hate.

Jumping on People

One of the embarrassing things some dogs do is jumping on people. Whether you’re out for a walk or your dog jumps on people when they walk in your door, this is embarrassing behavior. It’s a clear sign that your overly-enthusiastic dog seems to be out of control.

What can you do to stop the jumping behavior?

One of the best things you can do to head off jumping behavior is teach your dog the Sit command when she is preparing to jump. It’s best to practice this in a confined area at first. Practice when it’s just you and your dog. Make sure she already knows Sit. When she starts to jump on you tell her to Sit.

Depending on how excited she is it may take a few tries to get this right but it will work. Make sure you praise her and give her a reward she really enjoys, whether it’s dog treats, a favorite dog toy or lots of petting and attention.

Once your dog is reliably sitting when she starts to jump on you, you can practice having a friend or family member ring your doorbell or knock on your door. Your dog may get very excited again and prepared to jump on them when they enter. Practice having her sit before opening the door. Again, this may take some practice but your dog should get the idea that she is supposed to sit instead of jump. If nothing else, she should be responding to your command to Sit.

Eventually you will move on to the hardest part — teaching your dog to politely sit when she has the urge to jump up on someone she meets in the street or elsewhere. This is an uncontrolled situation so you should always have your dog leashed when you’re out. Make sure that your dog gives you a perfect Sit at home when she has the urge to jump before you try this outside your home.

Lunging at Dogs

It’s very embarrassing, not to mention rather dangerous, to have your dog lunging at other dogs when you’re out for a walk. The best way to prevent this problem is by making sure that you socialize any puppy well from an early age. However, if you have a dog that is already lunging at other dogs or people, it’s a little late for socialization. You need to take steps to keep your dog from hurting anyone. You may want to consider whether you should be walking your dog in public and whether you are able to control him.

You should consider whether your dog could have any kind of veterinary condition causing him to lunge or behave aggressively toward others. Your vet may be able to find a physical cause for your dog’s behavior. If not, then you need to consider possible behavioral problems. If your dog lunges at other dogs (or people) on an ongoing basis then you may wish to ask your vet to recommend a dog behaviorist. They may be able to work with your dog and find the problem.

There are some things you can do yourself if your dog lunges at other dogs. Consider a properly fitted muzzle or head collar. A head collar such as a Halti training collar or Gentle Leader is not a good choice for every dog but it does give added control over dogs that lunge and pull their owners. You should be careful about possible neck injuries to your dog when he’s wearing a head collar.

Avoid walking where there may be loose or stray dogs. Your lunging dog doesn’t need an added reason to pull on the leash.

Walk your dog in quiet neighborhoods and more controlled settings.

Constant Barking

One thing that frequently embarrasses people with their neighbors is a dog that barks constantly. If your dog is a nuisance barker and you’re outside yelling at him to shut up, the neighbors can become annoyed with both of you very quickly, especially when they’re trying to sleep.

Dogs often bark because they are bored, lonely or frustrated. But there are some dogs that seem to bark to hear the sound of their own voice.

The best advice to deal with barking dogs is to make sure that all of their needs are being met on a regular basis. Take away their reasons to bark.

• Make sure that your dog gets lots of exercise — tired dogs take naps.
• Make sure that your dog has plenty of fun toys.
• And, very importantly, spend time training your dog.

Obedience training can help keep a dog mentally fit — the opposite of boredom. Spending time training your dog also means that you’re spending time together. When your dog is having all of his needs met he will, hopefully, have less to bark about.

If your dog still stands in the backyard and barks at least he will have had a little obedience training. When you tell him to “Come!” you have a better chance of him actually obeying you and coming inside where he will be quiet.

Our dogs depend on us to keep them safe. Having a good emergency plan can help to ensure that you, your family, and your pets will remain safe. The best time to think about this is before a disaster strikes. Proper planning is the key to keeping your dog safe when a disaster occurs.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for a disaster.

Plan for both yourself and your dog.

Prepare for two different possibilities:

• having to stay in your home for several days without help
• having to evacuate with your dog

Both plans should include supplies, food, and medications. Know where the safest parts of your home are. Create an evacuation plan to include several escape routes if you need to get out of the house and leave.

Do your research.

Choose multiple destinations and plan several escape routes leading to those destinations. You never know when a particular route will become impassable. It is always a good idea to practice those routes whenever you can so you know exactly what to do if you need to find a detour.

Have a backup plan.

Designate someone who can go to your house and get your dogs in the event that you are away when a disaster strikes.

Practice emergency situations with your dog.

Have practice drills for the types of emergencies that could occur in your area. Include your dog and try to work on doing things quickly. Include home drills, such as taking cover in a protected area of your home.

Stock up on supplies.

Keep a disaster supply kit for your dog in a convenient location in your home. Supplies should include:

• a readable map (highlight your evacuation routes)
• waterproof containers (for food and medications)
• plenty of water
• bowls
• leashes
• collapsible carriers or crates
• a good first aid kit

Check supplies regularly.

Check expiration dates on medications and food. Remember that certain medications can become ineffective or toxic after they expire. Food can spoil, and even water may need to be replaced. Check your supplies and replace anything that needs to be replaced.

Review your preparation plans regularly.

You may need to update your destinations and your escape routes. Your maps may also need to change to reflect these updates.

Maintain your vehicle.

Follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule and keep up with necessary repairs. Always try to keep gas in your vehicle so your are ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Maintain contact with local authorities.

Stay up to date with your local emergency management office and local dog clubs. In times of emergency, these local authorities will be in charge. They will be the ones to make decisions and emergency plans, and will be responsible for informing people. It is also a good idea to keep in touch with local dog clubs since they will usually have emergency information relevant to dog owners.

Crate train your dog.

This is one of the best things you can do for your dog. In case of an emergency or a disaster, you should be able to put your dog in her crate right away, and without any trouble.

Know where to take your dog.

Find out ahead of time, where you will be taking your dog during and after the disaster until you can return safely home.

Make sure your dog has identification.

Your dog should have an ID tag fastened to her collar. It should have your cell phone number since you will have that with you at all times. You will also want to have a copy of your dog’s insurance information, if you have any. Keeping a copy of proof of registration or ownership is also recommended. So is a photo and description of your dog, should you become separated.

Leave your house promptly.

As soon you have know that you have to evacuate, leave your house! Do not wait until the last minute to get out. Be absolutely sure that you and your pets will be safe before returning home.

One good thing to note is that following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS). It was signed into law in 2006. Now, any state seeking assistance from FEMA must have a plan to accommodate pets and service animals in their evacuation procedures.

Remember, be prepared.

Best,

Omar Reyes

You should read our article, Can Dogs Sense Earthquakes, to learn more about this hot topic.

From a scientific perspective, the evidence is inconclusive about whether or not a dog can sense and predict earthquakes and other natural disasters, but some people believe that dogs and other animals are good at predicting such dangers and are able to warn us minutes before before an earthquake is about to occur.

For hundreds of years people have believed that dogs, cats, and other animals have abilities to predict earthquakes. And that trend has continued today.

In 2003, a doctor from Japan,  Kiyoshi Shimamura, claimed that public health records indicated an unusual increase in dog barking just before the 1995 earthquake hit Kobe. However, seismologists are reluctant to accept behaviors like that as conclusive evidence that dogs are able to make predictions about natural disasters. Especially since several studies have already been attempted to understand the behavior of dogs before an earthquake.

In another example, some people claim that earthquakes can be predicted by looking for an increase in the number of missing pet ads in areas prone to earthquakes. The theory suggests that dogs and others pets will leave an area before an earthquake hits, resulting in an increased number of missing pets. Once again, research studies have show that there is no correlation to support these claims.

On the other hand, many people have commented on a surprising lack of animal carcasses after the tsunami hit Indonesia. They suggest that the animals somehow sensed the coming disaster and left the area before the tsunami hit. One theory for this reaction is that animals can sense vibrations and tremors underground prior to a natural disaster occurring, so they up and leave.

However, I think this would more be an extension of a dog’s normal senses rather than some sort of magical sixth sense able to predict an impending natural disaster.

It must be said that dogs do have some senses that are more sensitive than human senses. So, it is possible that they may be able to detect smells, sounds, and vibrations before we are able to tell that something is happening. It is also true that dogs can predict certain things, like that a seizure is about to occur. However, in examples like these, the dogs seem to be detecting certain physical and chemical signs before they can be picked up by humans.

Dogs also seem to be able to use their senses in other unusual and often extraordinary ways as well. There are countless stories of dogs finding their way home after traveling hundred of miles. So it seems possible that dogs may indeed be able to use some combination of natural survival instincts and their senses to tell that we are about to experience some type of natural disaster.

Whether or not you agree that dogs can sense earthquakes and other natural disasters, there is one important truth to be told. Dogs play a crucial role in many search and rescue missions in the aftermath of a natural disaster. They are also used to locate the bodies of loved ones so that they can be laid to rest. Without the keen senses of these wonderful and highly skilled dogs, the job would be much more difficult.

So hats off to both dogs and handlers who work tirelessly in these natural disasters to save who they can, and recover those that they can’t.

Remember, one of the best things you can do is to make proper disaster preparations before they occur.

How about you, do you think dogs can sense earthquakes and other disasters?

Best,

Omar Reyes

While we are on the topic of natural disasters, do you have a first aid kit ready for your dog in case something happens? You can get a good one here – http://dogcarejourney.com/first-aid-kit

The AKC Canine Partners Listing Program

Mixed breed dogs are now eligible to participate in these events as part of the AKC Canine Partners Listing Program. As a requirement, all dogs listing in the program must be spayed or neutered.

Note: Wolf hybrids are not eligible to participate.

You can enroll your dog in the program at the AKC website or download an application and mail it in – Click Here (the application will open in a new window).

AKC clubs will offer these events on a voluntary basis. Each club decides whether or not they want to offer events that will allow mixed breeds to enter. Before submitting an entry, check with the club first to see if they are accepting entries for mixed breed dogs.

The Debate

Of course, this new development has led to some debate among current AKC competitors about accepting mixed breed dogs to compete in these events. Most of the debate is based on the fact that many of these events accept only a limited number of entries. This is usually because of the size of the facilities and the number of available judges.

These events can fill up pretty fast. So the argument is that by adding mixed breed dogs into the mix (no pun intended), some current participants may be locked out of the event as a result of the increased number of dogs trying to enter. That seems like a valid concern.

On the other hand, many people are happy that mixed breeds can now compete in these events. They point out that opening participation to other dogs will increase overall interest in Agility, Obedience, and Rally events. This in turn can lead to additional events and increased revenue for clubs – usually a good thing.

How To Participate

As I mentioned, participation in any of these events requires enrollment in the AKC Canine Partners program. Find a club that offer training classes in your local area. To find a club, go to the AKC events page, from there you should be able to find one in your area.

A good starting point is to work with your dog to earn an AKC Good Citizen certificate.

If your dog has already been competing in similar events then you just need to register your dog with AKC Canine Partners to get an AKC number. After that start entering events that are accepting entries from mixed breed dogs.

If you will be competing in Agility competitions then you will need an AKC Agility Height Card. Contact your local AKC club for a measuring clinic schedule. You can also have your dog measured at the first event you attend.

Where To Find Events

To find events accepting mixed breed dogs, go to the AKC event search page. Click on the “Obedience, Agility, AKC Rally” tab and then check the box for “Mix Breeds” to narrow your search further.

Remember that the AKC Canine Partners Program is a new program so things may still change as they grow and become more established. However, the good news is that mixed breed dogs can now compete in AKC events in Agility, Obedience, and Rally. 

Both dogs and dog owners benefit when they are able to compete in a wider variety of events. So this is certainly a positive step in the right direction, especially considering that mixed breed dogs are given their due. They can compete just as hard as any pure breed dog.

What do you think?