Monday, January 29, 2007

The Home Spa Book for Dogs

The stresses and strains of modern life not only affect us but our doggy companions too! Canine expert Dr Jennifer Cermak contends that our busy schedules can affect the wellbeing of our beloved furry friends. In The Home Spa Book for Dogs, Dr Cermak provides a wealth of ideas for pampering and building rewarding relationships with our canine companions.

Home Day Spa for your Special Friend!
Dr Cermak contends that life has changed for both people and dogs. She explains that only a few generations ago, when we lived in a more agricultural society, our dogs probably enjoyed a more balanced life. They had jobs to keep them occupied, a farm to roam around; they ate a variety healthy unprocessed foods and enjoyed the constant companionship of family, other dogs and farm animals. This is not the case for the majority of dogs today. Dr Cermak explains that many dogs these days are inactive, overfed and at the same time live highly regulated, often isolated lives and are banned from most public places. They often have no other animal companions, get very little exercise, and have neither a sport nor a job to keep them stimulated and in partnership with their human companions.

Dr Cermak believes that dogs, like people experience stress, loneliness and boredom. They can also experience physical ailments such as sleeplessness, lack of energy, not to mention dry brittle skin, poor hair condition and wear and tear on their paws and nails. These problems can affect their overall health, appearance and happiness, and can contribute to a positive or difficult ageing process. With our increasingly busy lives it can be easy to overlook the many needs of our little friends.

Unfortunately it has become increasingly challenging for dog owners to especially provide for the social and recreational needs of their pets. Areas for dogs to freely run around in towns and cities are getting harder to find. Many time-poor pet owners resort to paying for thirty-minute dog walks and purchasing expensive toys to occupy their pets. But are our options so limited? Dr Cermak believes that most of our dog's needs can be provided in the home quite simply and provides a wealth of ideas to try. That's what makes this book a real gem.

The Home Spa Book for Dogs, is one of the best Dog books I've purchased. Already I've taken a different approach to bath time with Sooty and Zipper. What was once an exhausting experience (for me) and stressful experience (for Sooty and Zipper) has become an event we look forward too - a special time for me and my boys. I cannot praise this book enough. It is packed with thoughtful and inspirational ideas that can help to build a better relationship with our dogs. It covers the fundamentals of grooming, fitness, nutrition, play and sport, training and communication and shows how to thoughtfully care for, teach and pamper our dogs. Fun to read (and follow), I highly recommended this book to dedicated dog owners searching for ways to pamper and bond with their pets.

Photograph: by Daniel Montesinos at Flickr

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Dog Property Laws


Sooty & Zipper on holiday at Jervis Bay, New South Wales Australia. 2006


1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down,
it automatically becomes mine.
10. If its broken, it's yours.


-Author unknown


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Saturday, January 13, 2007

A Lark in the Park



Slideshow Captions:

Slide 1 - Zipper loves to play ball at the park.
Slide 2 - Sooty & Zipper - see them run!
Slide 3 - Zipper strutting his stuff.
Slide 4 - "My flapping ears give me extra leverage!"
Slide 5 - "Watch me! I can stand on two legs just like you!"

These photos were taken early in 2006. Thank you for viewing them!

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Welcome Friends!


English Cocker Spaniels are an active breed and appreciate a good run at least once a day. Zipper (above), will be turning 6 years old this month. Zippy's temperament is friendly and outgoing. Very little bothers him, he is an easy-going happy boy. However....should he feel he has not been given adequate attention he may show his annoyance by spreading the contents of the kitchen bin around the house! Very naughty. Fortunately this does not happen often.

Zipper's favorite activities include eating, sniffing, meeting people and other dogs, roaming off leash, swimming, car rides, kangaroo spotting, playing ball, walkies, protecting our yard from feline invaders, tummy rubs and sleeping. Zipper is very gentle with little children and smaller animals.

Zippy doesn't like bath time, taking medicine, hot weather or mum and dad leaving for work in the morning.



Sooty and Zipper love to run in the wide open spaces. This photo was taken in at an oval near our home. The small black streak at the top left hand corner is Sooty. Both photos were taken early in 2006. At this time we didn't realise that Sooty had hip dysplasia (Sooty was diagnosed with hip dysplasia this week and mummy cried for a whole hour after leaving the vet).

Sooty has just turned 8 years old and is also male. He is very affectionate with a joyful, sweet disposition. Sooty loves food, sleeping, being cuddled, playing ball, rides in the car, swimming, kangaroo spotting and walkies. Sooty doesn't like visiting the vet, staying at kennels or being parted, for any length of time, from his family pack.




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