My Facebook Dog Rant: Harsh, but informative

Before I started this blog, I posted a note on Facebook because I wanted to really lay out what I felt about people who breed dogs just because they have an unfixed male or female.  I'm posting it here because it's all still relevant and maybe it will help someone who is contemplating breeding their dog.  It's a little harsh in some places, but that's because I'm passionate about this subject.  Below is the note I posted:

About once a week a co-worker of mine will talk about her dogs with me. She usually asks me a question about food or behavior and I'll answer politely, even if I think the question is a no-brainer( I have to remind myself that not everyone has the same passion for learning about animals that I do). Yesterday she asked me something that I could not answer politely, and it got me so heated that I had to write this note.


The first question was fine, "how often in a year do female dogs go into heat?" Okay, that's an easy one, about twice a year. Then came the kicker. It actually wasn't really a question, more of a statement with some hesitation, "So I should probably breed her soon, right?" My breath caught for a second and I had to cool off a little before I answered. The dog (Chiquita) is a family pet who's been spoiled by humans and wasn't raised in the company of other breeding females. She should never be bred and should have been fixed months ago.

I didn't want to be offensive, but that was an ignorant and ridiculous question. The answer in my head was, "Are you insane? Your dog is not purebred and you have NO idea how difficult breeding dogs is. Why would you even think that could be a good idea?"

I did not voice these thoughts. Instead, I explained to her the amount of time and money that goes into caring for a pregnant dog. You will spend more on vet bills, food and toys than you'll ever be able to charge for all of the puppies you would end up with. Breeding shouldn't be about money anyway, it should be about bettering the breed.

Unfortunately, people don't seem to care about this. I've seen people carrying chihuahuas that they bought from a "breeder" when it's obvious there's 50% of another breed in the same dog. I once met a "purebred" yorkie that looked about three times the size of the breed's standard. And do you want to know how much people will pay for these puppy "knock-offs"? It's sickening how many people breed for money and end up duping people in the process. And don't even get me started on "designer" breeds (maltipoos, puggles, labradoodles).

I probably sound harsh to some people, but this is just the way I feel about this subject. If you are not a licensed breeder who has years of experience around a particular breed, then you shouldn't be able to have a dog who is not fixed. Not only does an unfixed dog cause the potential side-effect of creating more dogs, it is also a hazard to everyone around it. Male dogs, no matter their size, are WAY more aggressive when that testosterone is coursing through their veins. Being in-tact also causes male (and female) dogs to roam. When hormones are racing, Spot doesn't care if there's a fence, he's getting out. Cars are a wandering dog's worst enemy.

Never say it's because of cost that you're not spaying/neutering. Anyone who can't afford to spay or neuter a dog shouldn't own one, especially since there are programs that will help to pay for it.

Have you ever been to a dog shelter and heard the dogs barking, pleading to be taken out of their cages and played with? The number is growing every day, especially in this economy.

Have you ever seen the people standing outside of stores with signs that say "Puppies for sale" or "Free puppies"? You know the people who take those puppies have no idea what they're in for. Soon that puppy will end up in the same shelters as the other dogs, once the new owners realize they can't handle the huge responsibility they've just taken on.

The reason why these things happen is because people do not spay and neuter their dogs.

If your dog is not fixed, find a program or a low-cost vet in your area and just GET IT DONE. It will prolong your dog's life and make things happier for everyone.

My advice to anyone contemplating owning a dog is this:

DO YOUR RESEARCH.

~Research the time and money that go into owning a dog. It's not a game. You need to be willing to give up hanging out with friends and going on vacation. You need to be able to afford things like dog food (the good stuff ain't cheap), vet bills and people to take care of your dog when you're not available. You're basically adopting a child.

~Will you have time to care for a dog? If coming home from work and taking your dog out for at least a 20 minute walk, even if it's raining, doesn't sound like fun to you, then a dog is not for you. Even if you have a backyard, dogs need exercise too.

~Research the breed you are interested in. Know what the dog was bred for(to determine activity level and temperment), what kind of grooming it will need, how big the dog will be at maturity, etc. Talk to a breeder when you find a breed you like, they will answer questions if they really care about their breed.

~If you're looking into adoption, find out what breeds/crossbreeds are at your local shelter and research their individual breed traits. The ASPCA dog handbook has a few sections specifically dealing with different dog mixes (toy mixes, shephard mixes, lab mixes, the list goes on and on). Even mutts are decipherable if you take the time to learn about them.

~Don't EVER buy a puppy from a pet store. Why? 95% of the time those puppies are from puppy mills. This means their lives (as well as their parents' lives) have been spent in cages with little human interaction. Most of the time they have genetic disorders or illnesses caused by living in cramped quarters and walking in their own filth. The pet stores who sell puppies charge exorbitant amounts for puppies they've paid almost nothing for. It's a SICK industry that needs to be shut down.

While I could write for hours on this subject, I will end my rant here. I hope someone takes something good away from this. It is a subject I am passionate about.

Our dog Apollo lived outside in a backyard for two years, spent months in a cage at a rescue agency and endured a flea infested existence tied to a sliding glass door before coming to us.

Think Before You Purchase: Pets you should avoid buying at a pet store

Recently I learned that my youngest sister-in-law purchased a Chameleon for her dorm room. Now, I have no problem with having (approved) pets at school. They can be calming and soothing to people who need that feeling of companionship with someone other than their roommate. Plus, it's always a cool conversation starter when you're trying to make new friends. The issue I had with my sis's purchase is the fact that Chameleons are known to be one of the most DIFFICULT reptiles to keep in captivity. I don't mean that they escape easily, I mean they die easily.

Chameleons are amazing reptiles. Not only do they look AWESOME, but they can change color and their tongues are like sticky rubberbands that stretch super far to catch prey. I don't blame anyone who wants to keep one as a pet - they look like little aliens! The problem is, people forget to do the research (there's my favorite word) before bringing the Chameleon home. This is a reptile that needs an extremely specific environment to survive. Humidity, heat, water, food - all very specific. I have seen numerous websites and read numerous books that state emphatically that Chameleons are not suitable for beginners.

So why did Petco sell a baby Chameleon to someone who had no reptile experience? Because that's what pet stores do. Unless you go somewhere like the East Bay Vivarium (http://www.eastbayvivarium.com/), where reptile husbandry is the only business they do, then you're not going to get all of the information you need before bringing your little bundle of scales home. People that work in big chain pet stores know a limited amount about each animal they are selling you (trust me on this, I used to be one of them). They go through a few days of training, then get tossed out on the sales floor to help people with something that really takes years of practice and learning to master.

Before buying ANY pet, you should always give yourself a day or two to research and be sure it's going to fit in with your lifestyle. For example, if you are a busy mom who barely has time for herself, you should not bring home a pet that needs lots of TLC. Animals in this category include, but aren't limited to, dogs, any small animal (cage cleaning and daily handling are necessities with these pets), certain reptiles, amphibians, birds (especially parrots, parakeets and cockatiels - all of these birds need handling daily in order to bond with their owner), and any fish that needs a tank with filter to survive (the only fish not in this category is the Betta). This limits your options, but also means you will not have to explain to your kids why their pet died or had to be given away.

In general, there are certain animals that just shouldn't be sold in pet stores. The number one animal on that list (in my opinion) is the dog. Whenever I see a sign in a pet store window advertising puppies, I know that I won't ever be going into that store. If, on the other hand, there is an adoption day at a pet store, I will be more likely to give my business. Puppies should not live in cages (don't confuse this with crating, there is a huge difference). They need to have freedom to roam in a safe environment in order to develop properly, physically and mentally. Unfortunately, the puppies you see in pet stores are usually crawling with parasites and have congenital defects due to inbreeding at puppy mills. Plus, their feet don't do well on the wire flooring, which can cause problems with legs, paws and spines. Another thing to keep in mind is that pet stores jack up the price of a "purebred" puppy in order to profit substantially. Half the time you're getting a sick, inbred mutt (don't trust the word purebred, it is not always accurate) that will cost more in vet bills than you can afford. I know some people think they are "saving" the puppy from a wire-bottomed hell surrounded by plexi-glass, but really you are just keeping the business alive. As hard as it may be to hear, it is better to not buy that puppy than to take it home out of pity.

Other animals that pet stores should stop selling to the uneducated consumer include reptiles, fish and amphibians with very specific needs, rabbits, chinchillas and many types of birds (mainly parrots). I've never seen cats for sale at a pet store (I did work at a store that was a satellite for the county shelter and had cats for adoption, which is different), but I think it's safe to say kittens would have the same issues as puppies do, so put them on the "do not sell" list as well.

It is always a better idea to give a pet purchase some thought before jumping in. Most pet store employees are not as educated as they could be. Even the few that are would need more time than is given to lay out the real impact a pet can have on someone's life.

Surf the web, read books, talk to breeders and enthusiasts of the pet you're looking into. Don't trust the 20-year-old pet store employee who gives you a checklist of supplies, but neglects to inform you of issues you'll run into with the animal you are bringing home.

My sister-in-law's Chameleon did not survive, I am sad to say. Due to improper care (at the pet store), the poor thing was already suffering from calcium deficiency, a condition that affects MANY pet store reptiles, before it was purchased. If I'd had the chance to give her some advice before she bought that cute little Chameleon I would have suggested a better beginner reptile such as a Bearded Dragon or a Leopard Gecko. Both are much easier to care for and make much better pets (Chameleons don't like being handled, it stresses them out).

I hope people will read this and heed my advice. I don't blog to be critical, just to give you all better insight into the world of owning a pet.

More Dog Park Adventures

My husband and I recently moved back to a city in Northern California that has an itsy bitsy dog park. While it's nice to have separation between the large and small dog sections of the park, sometimes the area is not large enough to hold the dog personalities that are within its gates. Last Saturday we decided to give our pup the chance to roam off-leash at this tiny park, with unfortunate results.

As we arrived we were pleased to see four other small dogs (three terriers and a toy poodle mix) had also come to play. Suddenly, as we got closer to the entrance gate, a fight broke out between the miniature pinscher and toy poodle/bichon frise cross who were nearest to where we stood. This action immediately caused me to put my dog behavior goggles on, because I knew I'd need to watch the min-pin carefully. Little did I know, he was not the real aggressor.

I soon noticed two rat terriers sitting with a rather large woman over to the side of all the dog action. She had one dog in her lap (in my opinion a no-no at the dog park, as it promotes aggressive behavior) and the other was slinking around her, ears back, tail between his legs. I heard the owners of the min-pin and bichon mix discussing this woman quite loudly, "Her dogs attacked mine two on one and she did nothing to stop it," "Her dog attacked my dog too!" My gaze quickly changed from the harmless min-pin to the lurking terriers across the way.

Dog behavior is not always easy to decipher, but there are signs of aggression that show themselves before an attack. I believe the reason why we saw the miniature pinscher attack the poodle mix was because both had been agitated by the two aggressive rat terriers. I decided to keep an eye on them, in case they went after Apollo. Within a few minutes I noticed that the terrier on the ground was now stalking Apollo. Every time our dog ran within 5 feet of the terriers' owner, this little bugger would run out in an attempt to intimidate. I kept my eye on him and, soon enough, the attack happened.

The aggression in this little dog was intense. Fear aggression is the worst kind, because you never know how it's going to manifest itself. I believe this little dog was also feeling territorial, since his owner was sitting in her chair with the other terrier on her lap. He felt the need to show there was a boundary that no dog in the park could cross. As soon as Apollo got close enough (about 3 feet away from the woman), the rat terrier charged, fangs bared, growls emitted, snarls building and went right for Apollo's throat! To my surprise, the woman did nothing. She just watched as her dog viciously attacked mine. Apollo was surprised and didn't know how to react. He can be dominant, but he's not big into fighting other dogs.

I realized the woman was not going to respond and decided to intervene. I walked quickly over and, without physically intervening (that is never a safe move, dogs can't distinguish a human hand from a dog body in the heat of the moment) I yelled out, "HEY!" Which caused the rat terrier to lose focus and allowed Apollo to escape. The woman suddenly came to life and said "No", as if this would help the situation. I decided not to scold the woman, although I wanted to, because the last thing we needed now was human drama. I kept Apollo over with the other dogs, who were playing well together now, and let Jace know what had happened. Now we were both keeping our eye on the rat terriers.

Apollo quickly went back into play mode and brought us part of a tennis ball to throw. As my husband threw the ball, I noticed it landed right next to the rat terriers' "territory". Apollo ran to get the ball and was sideswiped, again, by the unstoppable force that resided in that area of the dog park. As with before, the rotund mass of an owner did NOTHING to dissuade her dog! Jace was not having this and put himself between Apollo and mini-Cujo. He even had to push the dog away with his foot, it was so caught up in the attack! Eventually the lady stood up and quietly asked Jace if he had any food in his pocket, as if this was his fault. How rude! She tried, unsuccessfully, to round up her dogs and then sat back down in her chair. This was getting ridiculous!!!

Jace and I made the decision to take Apollo out of the small dog park and bring him over to the any-size side, even though there were some larger dogs there. Within about 5 minutes of us walking out, the lady with the rat terriers left. Good riddance!

My goal in publishing this blog is to keep people aware of what to watch for not only in dog behavior, but in humans as well. If you see an owner doing nothing to stop his or her aggressive dogs, leave the dog park or call the dog park authorities, if their number is listed somewhere in the park. It's not worth the risk of your dog getting hurt to stick around and allow these behaviors to continue. Another thing we could have done was to try and get the other women in the park to stand up to the rat terrier owner with us, but they didn't seem too willing. Take precaution when you see an owner with a dog sitting on his/her lap. This does spike the chances of aggressive reactions.

Remember to watch and listen while at the dog park. There are ways to keep fights from happening. Move your dog to another area if aggressive behavior is shown. Leave the dog park altogether if your dog is the one showing hardcore aggression. Any dog who has fear is a loaded gun. Watch out for dogs who stick super close to their owners and lash out at any dog who walks by. Just keep an eye out for anything that doesn't seem friendly. We need our dog parks to be fun places to visit, not hotbeds of aggressive behavior!

Aggressive Behavior at the Dog Park

I try to bring Apollo, my chihuahua/shiba inu mix, to the dog park as often as possible. Not only does he enjoy running around off leash, he also savors the interaction with other dogs his size. Socialization is important for dogs of any age (but don't bring your puppy to the dog park until it has ALL of its shots).

Last weekend as I stood with my fiance on the "small dog side" of our local dog park my gaze wandered through the chain link fence over to some big dogs introducing themselves on the "big dog side". I immediately noticed that one pitbull, a grey and white neutered male, was showing somewhat hidden signs of aggression toward another pit in the group. I mentioned to my fiance that in a minute there would be a dog fight and he asked how I could tell. "Ears back, tail straight up, not wagging, eyes fixed and head lowered slightly," I replied, thinking everyone else must notice it too. To my surprise, the aggressive pit's owner stayed on her iphone, jabbering away as her dog commenced his attack on the innocent tan-colored pit mix he had been stalking. My fiance and I watched until someone finally pulled the grey dog off, swearing at the woman to keep control of her dog. She never even broke from her phone conversation.

These fights happen daily at the dog park, usually on the "big dog side". I feel that if dog owners paid more attention there would be a drop in dog park violence. Even on the "small dog side" there are acts of offensive aggression that could be avoided if owners would take responsibility for their dogs. The same day I saw the pitbull fight, there was also a fight involving two small dogs. One dog just lunged after another with no obvious provocation. The attack lasted much longer than it should have because the aggressive dog's owner was across the park seated under a tree instead of keeping an eye on her dog. By the time she had meandered over to where all the commotion was, we had already broken up the fight for her. She didn't apologize, just picked up her dog and started talking to it, "oh, you bad puppy...be nice to the other dogs." Really?

Don't get me wrong, there are certain aggressive behaviors that can be tolerated at the dog park. For instance, if a dog is being pestered constantly by another dog, then the pestered pup has the right to give the signal to back off (air nip, bared teeth, slight snarl). Or, if one dog becomes too enamored with another and begins to...ahem...hump, then the humpee has the right to teach the humper a lesson. These are things no dog park will ever be without. I've seen men yell at each other in the grocery store, and I'd say the two are pretty similar. There is a line, however, that a dog should not be allowed to cross. Unprovoked attacks and pack mentality attacks (where one dog starts the fight and others join in on the "fun") should not be tolerated. Once a dog has shown signs of this behavior it should immediately be taken home and a trainer should be notified. Some people may not agree, but I think these are the dangerous aggressive behaviors to watch out for.

Other signs of unhealthy aggression include: hiding behind "mommy" or "daddy" and lashing out at any dog brave enough to come sniffing (fear aggression) and barking or nipping at humans in the dog park. This should not be allowed. It only promotes bad behavior. Also, allowing your dog to pester another dog could be the cause of a fight. And finally, if you decide to bring Fluffy's toys to the dog park, be aware that this could cause tension. Plus, you will most likely lose your toy. It's better just to let the dogs play with each other. Toys (besides tennis balls) should stay home.

Another often overlooked trigger of aggression at the dog park is an unneutered/unspayed dog who wanders in. Owners with dogs who aren't fixed should NEVER bring their dogs to the dog park. Male and female dogs alike will feel threatened by an unfixed dog and may attack. I've seen intact males swarmed by neutered males who just didn't want them around. And think about the fact that if you are bringing your intact dog to the dog park, so is someone else. Two intact males will fight, especially if a female is around. Do you really want to risk it?

All in all, the dog park is an AWESOME resource for city people who need somewhere to let their dogs run off-leash. Just remember that when your dog is around other dogs and humans you should be paying attention to their behaviors. Break up a dog fight before it begins!

My favorite word: RESEARCH

Many people have a favorite word. It may be a word that sounds neat, like "scrumptious", or a word that has great meaning, like "grandiose". It may even be something that makes no sense, like "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". Well, I have a favorite word and it is simple: research.

This word pertains to the pet world in a HUGE way, because it's what pet ownership is all about. Before, during and after your time with a pet, this is all you'll be doing! When contemplating a new pet you should always head to the library or log on to the internet before making that final decision. While I'm of the mind that pet knowledge is all subjective, there are so many concrete needs that each different pet has, that it's just plain dumb NOT to research!

Imagine yourself in a pet store. You are walking around, checking out all the different animals when all of a sudden you see the PERFECT little pet! It's a dwarf hamster and it's cleaning its little whiskers just waiting for you to take it home. You look around for an employee and see no one. Figuring you'll find someone to help get the hamster out of its cage later, you wander off to search for supplies. Do you know what you'd need to start a dwarf hamster off right in your home? I'll give you some time to think about it...

...Okay, time's up! So, what did you decide on? A cage? What kind of cage? Are the bars small enough so that this little Houdini could never fit through them? Bedding? If you thought of bedding with a scent, you should just turn around and walk out of the store now. Any of those scented beddings are dangerous to small animals. The cedar chips may smell good to you, but your hamster is bound to end up with a respiratory issue, as their systems are more sensitive than ours. Go for something like Carefresh bedding. It's made from recycled newspaper and has no scent. Be aware that you will be changing this cage often. At LEAST once a week. Want some more ideas of what you should have purchased in order to start this pet off right?

1. Proper food - be sure it's a hamster mix. There are all different kinds of small animal food, so be sure to choose one that suits your small animal. Also, be aware that it will have to be changed daily. Hamsters tend to walk on their own waste, then dig through their food. They are also going to leave seed husks behind, so the bowl will look more full than it is.

2. A water bottle that fits in the cage and has a spout small enough for a tiny mouth - don't get something big just because it means less work for you. It should be changed at least every other day. The water gets stale and yucky. Would you want to drink that?

3. A chew block - Small animal teeth never stop growing, so they need something hard to wear their teeth down on. If you don't give them something like this the teeth will grow too long and the hamster can starve to death. Always keep an eye on their teeth.

4. An exercise wheel - Hamsters have a ton of energy. They sleep all day and party all night. The exercise wheel is crucial in giving them somewhere to expend that energy. I recommend a plastic wheel because tiny hamster paws can get stuck in the mesh of a metal wheel. PLUS, plastic wheels tend to make less noise. Just make sure the wheel is sturdy.

5. A covered hamster house - As I said, hamsters are nocturnal. They need a dark place to sleep during the day. A house will become the hamster's hiding place, storage area and bed. On a side note: Do not lift the house and grab the hamster while it's sleeping. This is how people get hurt. The first thing a hamster does when threatened like this is to bite. Always give the hamster time to wake up before putting your hands in its face.

6. TONS of bedding - The animal is small, yes, but it is also very messy. Food, water, urine, and poop will litter the bottom of a hamster cage within hours of it being cleaned. Be ready to clean that sucker almost daily.
NOTES:
*You can make cage cleaning day easier by getting a hamster potty, which sits in a corner of the cage and is exactly what it sounds like. Many small animals do their "business" in only one corner of the cage. This works to our advantage as it means we don't have to search as hard to find problem areas.
*Spot cleaning is another good way to keep your hamster happy. Go through daily and remove anything icky with a scooper. Replace any of the bedding you took out with new bedding and your hamster will be happier! This doesn't mean you won't have to clean the cage on that designated day, it just makes life better for your furry friend.
*The smell of ammonia (the chemical in urine that smells so bad) is what turns MANY people off of owning a caged mammal. They do make ammonia absorbing litter to go under the bedding. I highly recommend this stuff as it cuts down the smell a lot.

I could go on and on with this list, putting in everything that a hamster can have, but I'll stick to the essentials. Usually once I get this list started for the parent who's been thinking about getting a hamster for his or her child, the parent is ready to head to the fish department and look for something a little easier (not that fish are any less work - an aquarium is even harder to care for than a small animal).

So, after hearing about all of this stuff are you still interested in that cute little hamster? If so, good! Hamsters have their moods, but tend to be friendly pets(when properly cared for and handled the right way). Remember, the dwarf hamster was just an example. EVERY pet you may be thinking of getting requires just as much, if not more, research and education.

NEVER walk into a pet store with no knowledge of what you're looking for. If you've just gone in to look, leave empty handed, but with an idea of what pet you're interested in researching. The animal will thank you, and you'll thank yourself in the long run.

I will warn you that every pet store is different. There are differing ideas on everything from bedding to animal behavior. If you have knowledge, you'll be able to take what they're telling you and make an informed decision as to what will work for you. Don't just take their word for it.

Remember this statement: research saves lives. Before I was a knowledgeable animal lover, I was ignorant to many of the needs different animals have. I put goldfish in small bowls, instead of the aquariums they need to survive. I let my mice go for weeks without cleaning their cages, subjecting them to a disgusting life I wouldn't wish on anyone or anything. I brought home lizards thinking they'd be fine in a plastic traveling tank with some dirt sprinkled on the bottom. Many animals lost their lives on my watch, and I'd like to see less of this happening in our world today. I hope my blog can help even one goldfish, mouse or lizard to live a happy healthy life by spreading the word about RESEARCH.

Please don't let your kids learn the hard way. Teach them how to teach themselves. Education is a tool to be used by everyone.