Puggle??? Labradoodle??? Schnoodle??? What ???

What exactly are "Designer Dogs"???

A designer or hybrid dog is a mixed breed dog with a cute name attached. They are mutts that are bred intentionally by crossing 2 distinctly different breeds of dogs together, and often sold for a premium price. 

MYTHS:
*Designer dogs are free from genetic issues
FALSE-- no living creature is free from hereditary and/or environmental effects on their health

*Designer dogs or mixed breed dogs are hardier and live longer than purebreds
FALSE-- in the wild, over a series of multiple generations and multiple "mixes" survival of the fittest and those that best adapt to their environment naturally evolve.
There is NO advantage with deliberate breeding of specific dogs by humans either purebred or mixed. Some breeds have longer average lifespans and of course the care provided over the course of their life signifigantly affects how long a dog will live.

*Designer dogs will always look the same: your labradoodle will look like your friends, a cockapoo will always look like a cockapoo, cavashon look like cavashons etc.
FALSE-- Think of genetics  like rolling  dice. When you mix two or more breeds, you add sides to the dice ! There is a wide variation in size, coat, and temperament magnified by mixing breeds. There is no standard to strive for, and often the quality of the parents varies significantly. Is your labradoodle a red standard poodle crossed with a yellow lab and you are hoping it will look and act just like your friend's whose dog was actually a black miniature poodle crossed with a black lab that was really part German shepeherd??? Think About It !!!

*This is a" new breed"  that the AKC is going to be recognizing soon ...
FALSE-- The process of creating a new breed and achieving AKC recognition (or similar status in another registry) is a long, involved process requiring multiple generations of breeding over a period of years! Designer breeds cannot reproduce their own "copy" (remember the extra sides on that pair of dice !)You can get special registration for your pet to compete in canine sports, but this registration does NOT recognize your dog as purebred or allow you to register any offspring as such.

FACTS:


* Mixed breed dogs can make outstanding companions !

* AKC registration alone does not guarantee that the dog you've purchased is going to be the perfect dog.

*Reliable, responsible breeders and rescue organizations invest money, time and years of experience into producing dogs that will do well in the home they are matched with. 
If you want a designer dog, check the pound or a rescue group! If you want a specific breed, do a little research to find a reputable breeder!

*** DO NOT IMPULSE BUY ~ ALL PUPPIES ARE CUTE !!! avoid petstore pups that at best are healthy and reasonably well treated but already in their second or third 'home' of their young lives before you get them --- you have no way of knowing what to expect as your final outcome when that ball of fluff grows up! *** 

Have a Thankful Day !

Keep Your Spirits High
     on this Thanksgiving Day
Enjoy this special day
    with friends and family
With drinks and turkey for
       company
Be Thankful for eveything God
   has given you
Happy Thanksgiving Day !

Morgan says" Win Big or Go Home" :)

I would say it was a pretty good weekend at the Minneapolis KC dog shows for Tami Bagley and her lhasa boy GCH Ch Ha-Lee Kiki-Ari Captain Morgan !  Morgan went Best of Breed and a Group 1 under judge J Shoemaker and  another Best of Breed and a Group 3 under judge Jacki Stacy! Handled beautifully by Greg Larson.

The National Dog Show....Coming Thanksgiving Day !

Just a reminder....Puppies grow up...and grow old...and need a forever home

Green Thumb Danger

Got a curious kid or hungry pet? Many potted plants and cut flowers that people love to keep around the home are actually quite poisonous if ingested. While most house pets and children don't go around regularly munching on plants, it's still a good idea to be aware of any in your house that may pose a risk, this way you can at least put them in harder to reach places and keep an eye on them

Philodendron

Philodendrons are a favorite among house plants. They are poisonous to both humans and pets, and ingesting them will result in painful burning and swelling of the lips, tongue and throat. They can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is a popular house plant for its low light requirements. The plant is highly toxic however, and native Amazonian people have long used juice from the plant in a preparation to poison arrows. Among other symptoms, if ingested the plant can cause severe burning in the mouth and swelling of the tongue, which may obstruct breathing if severe enough. In serious cases, the plant can be fatal for both humans and pets.

The following plants are toxic to both cats and dogs (unless otherwise noted) along with clinical signs of poisoning:

• Aloe Vera: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, anorexia, tremors, change in urine color.
• Asian Lily: Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, kidney failure, and death is possible. Cats are only species known to be affected (toxic to cats only).
• Asparagus Fern: allergic dermatitis with repeated dermal exposure. Berry ingestion could result in gastric upset (vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.)
• Begonia: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing. Tubers are the most toxic.
• Baby's Breath: Vomiting, diarrhea
• Calla Lily: Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
• Corn Plant: Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).
• Cycads (Sago Palm, Fern Palm): Vomiting (may be bloody), dark stools, jaundice, increased thirst, bloody diarrhea, bruising, liver failure, death. 1-2 seeds can be fatal.
• Daffodil: Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.
• Geranium: Vomiting, anorexia, depression, dermatitis.
• Jade Plant: Vomiting, depression, ataxia, slow heart rate (rare.)
• Pencil Cactus: Irritating to the mouth and stomach, sometimes causing vomiting, but generally over-rated in toxicity.
• Ribbon Plant (Corn Plant, Cornstalk Plant, Dracaena, Dragon Tree):Vomiting (occasionally with blood), depression, anorexia, hypersalivation, dilated pupils (cats).
• Tulip: Vomiting, depression, diarrhea, hypersalivation. Highest concentration of toxin in bulb.

English Ivy

English Ivy is a vine plant grown both indoors and outdoors for decorative purposes. It is poisonous to humans, pets, and livestock when ingested.Symptoms include breathing difficulties, convulsions, vomiting, and in extreme cases, paralysis and coma.

Happy Veterans Day

Many military members have close bonds with their pets, and seeing them for the first time in months can trigger the tears of knowing they have been missed. Sometimes the feeling of being back home doesn't set in until a soldier gets a slobbering kiss or a friendly nuzzle. Please enjoy these images and take a moment to be thankful for your freedom and the men and women who have defended it. 

Foods You Should NOT Feed your Dog...

Ok, we have all known a "garbage disposal" dog or two that could and did eat everything without any problems... and many, many people will tell you they have fed their dog this or that and it never hurt them...but it is better to be safe than sorry and these foods are ones that are generally NOT reccomended as treats for Fido! Just because he will eat it, doesn't mean he should !!!








CHOCOLATE 
This sweet stuff is toxic to dogs. Chocolate contains theobromide, a chemical that can damage a canine's lungs, heart, kidneys and nervous system. Baking chocolate is the most toxic to dogs, but owners should avoid feeding their pooch any kind of chocolate.

(My family has a funny story about coming home to find our not so innocent looking cavalier surrounded by candy Kiss wrappers that were from a box of wedding favors...needless to say, the guests didn't get any favors and the dog lived...but she did get a bit of indigestion!)

SUGARLESS GUM

Sure, dog breath can suck at times, but sugarless gum is not the answer. The sugar-free sweetener, xylitol, found in gum can stimulate a dog's pancreas to secrete insulin. This effect can lead to low blood sugar and severe liver damage. 

ALCOHOL

Again, you will hear stories about how hilarious it was the time your buddy's dog drank his beer and stumbled around...but dogs don't have the same metabolism as people and for many pets the consequences of "a night on the town" could be alcohol poisoning from the ethanol found in alcohol which can cause rapid damage to your dog's respiratory and central nervous systems. 

MACADAMIA NUTS

Not usually fatal, macadamia nuts can still cause your dog to become very ill. A mere handful of these nuts can lead to vomiting, muscle and joint pain, swelling and lethargy.

GRAPES AND RAISINS

It can take just four to five grapes or raisins for your dog to get extremely sick. The reason why the fruit is so poisonous to dogs is still unknown, but it is clearly not worth the risk! Yes, some dogs love grapes and eat them with abandon and no side effects...but some don't! 

Some other foods to avoid for various reasons include:

*Avocado (and Guacamole :) ! 

*Excessive amounts of fat trimmings, bones (especially the kinds that "splinter" when chewed)

*Human vitamins and /or iron supplements

*Liver in large amounts (yes dogs love it and its a good treat, but it contains iron oxide which can't be digested by dogs! )

*pear pips, apple core pips, kernels of plums, peaches, apricots -- contain cyanogenic glycosides which can result in cyanide poisoning ! 

*rhubarb Leaf

*mushrooms

*potato peelings

*moldy or spoiled foods

*nutmeg

*yeast dough

New Military Working Dogs National Monument !

A new monument was officiall dedicated at Lackland Airforce Base in San Antonio Texas on October 28th, 2013. This monument salutes our nation's four footed hero soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen and coast guards for saving countless  American lives since World War II.  Please see their website for more information:   http://www.jbmf.us

Lackland Air Force Base is also home of the Holland Military Working Dog Hospital. It is the largest veterinary hospital designed just for military working dogs. The hospital also serves working dogs of other federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dogs, as part of the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program.