Humans take note:

I found these tips on another site. I don't agree with all of them (or all of each of them). My comments are included. Just encourage your humans to use their best judgments with you.

Rule #1: Chocolate is for you, not for your dog.
[I agree with this one. My humans had a little dog that ate a bunch of chocolate and it got a distended stomach and had heart problems.]

Rule #2: Dog food is for dogs and people food is for people. If you give your dog cookies, candy, turkey or other holiday foods, it can cause stomach upset, allergies or worse. [I don't agree with this one entirely. The cookies and candy, I understand. But the meat should be fine in moderation. I mean, what is the dog food made of? Yeah, I know, corn and rice, but there are meat byproducts in there too.]

Rule #3: Keep a training collar and leash on your dog, whenever your dog is around friends and family. Using the holidays as a training opportunity is a good way to teach your dog that he must behave, regardless of distractions. [No leash in my house. No further comment needed.]

Rule #4: Your dog doesn't need expensive gifts to have a happy holiday. Let's face it we're talking about an animal that derives pleasure from eating cat poop and rolling in dead fish. You don't need to spend $80 on a doggie sweater, when a rawhide bone covered with peanut butter will bring your dog hours of delight. [I take offense at the tone of this "Rule." There is nothing wrong with eating "Kittie-box crunchies" or rolling in dead things. This rule makes it wound like those are bad things. Otherwise, keeping the gifts simple is fine if that is what your human want's to do. However, I have friends whose humans do not have human-puppies and they treat their four-legged friends in their place. If you have one of those humans, there is no reason not to spoil your canine friend. You are allowed to skimp on gifts to cats. Better yet, don't give them anything.]

Rule #5: Confine your dog to a crate or a kennel when you can't supervise him. Dogs are "den animals". They derive a sense of security and well being when they're confined to a small, enclosed area. Think of a kennel in the same way you'd think of a baby's play pen or crib: If your dog isn't old enough (or responsible enough) to be left unsupervised then put him in the crate. [You put me in a box and I will bite you. I am not a "den animal," I am a pack animal. I do not want to be shoved in a box for security, I want to socialize with the rest of you. This rule is stupid. And I don't know of a human baby that likes being locked up in the playpen or crib when there are others about playing outside of it.]

Rule #6: Keep all trash containers safely closed or behind a cabinet door that your dog cannot get into. [In spirit, I disagree, as I like playing and eating the stuff. However, I always feel sick aftewards, so this is probably a good tip.]

Rule #7: Dogs are social pack animals. Include your dog in family holiday activities and your dog will be a cherished part of your family. This directly contradicts rule 5. Ignore the other one and follow this one.]

Happy holidays to all.

I feel ashamed

I don't know if this story is real, but if it is, I feel really ashamed.

There is a little goldfish named Albert Einstein. He does tricks. I mean, I will come when the bipeds call, play fetch and things like that, but when it comes to "agility training" I would rather chase The Cat.

Albert Einstein - the fish - can swim through hoops and tunnels, push an underwater soccer ball into a goal, and fetch a ball from the bottom of the aquarium to the surface. Using "animal and dolphin training techniques" the human says that he taught the fish to do all of these tricks.

They even have video of Albert performing the feats. While the video clips are short and you can't tell if he is responding to commands or other stimuli, it is pretty neat.

I wonder what The Cat thinks of this guy?

Faith Stringfellow is an amazing little dog . . .

As the title says, there is an amazing little dog that I would like to point out to all of my pet friends out there. I know that I typically call canines by the name "quadrapeds," but this article shows that little canines with big hearts and a lot of spirit can survive without that title.

There is a little canine named Faith Stringfellow. While her story has been out there for several years, this is the first I came across it. She has overcome great odds from a birth defect and is a example for all of us who think that we have it tough.

Go to her site and read her story.

Click this buddy!

I am curious about how many of you, my web friends, are "clicker" trained?

I myself would never respond to such a menial device to get my attention. Talk to me, pet me, love me.

However, that is me. There are many other quadrapeds that prefer to hear the clean simple click to convey the command. In fact, they even have their own training conference, Clicker Expo.





Animal trainers, veterinary professionals, shelter volunteers, and pet owners from all over go to the expo and attend different sessions during the three-day conference. The philosophy behind ClickerExpo is “improving, learning, practicing, and sharing.”

'Tis the season for giving

'Tis the season for giving. . . Give the gift of a home.

As the holidays approach, little bipeds are asking for a little friend in the form of a quadraped. This is an excellent opportunity to rescue a new friend.

This article has some good advice on adopting a friend. While I recommend dogs, at this time of year, even a cat deserves a home.

One thing that is stressed, and I believe is important, is that the humans should not use the friend as a surprise. If you want a real friendship, you need to meet before you adopt. If you want to have the strong of a reaction from a puppy under the tree, go to the shelter first and have the biped meet us, so that you can see if there is a spark. Just create a story of why you have to be there. Then go back alone to adopt and then spring the surprise, with a known animal.

My sister and I were adopted as birthday gifts to our boys. They came and visited us at the shelters and we were among many choices available, but our personalities were matches for the boys. I would hate to think of what would have happened if the big humans selected a friend at random.

Give the gift of love, give a friend a home.

Trees, trees, everywhere, but not a spot to mark.

It is weird, every year the humans put a big tree in the house. I just can't understand it.



We are not allowed to eat it. We are not allowed to play with it. We are definitely not allowed to mark it. Why put it there then?

Where oh where.

I know, I have been gone for a while. That biped that helps with the 'puter has been working too hard and has not had the time to help me. Well, he has finally found a bit of time and I am back on line.

Hopefully, I will be able to post as often as I had before. Lets do it.