Another Happy Christmas pet: Dr. Becker adopts!

December 25, 2010

More details tomorrow, but here’s what I just got in my e-mail:

Dr. Becker, his daughter, Mikkel, and volunteers from the two hospitals where he practices, Lakewood Animal Hospital (Coeur D’Alene) and North Idaho Animal Hospital (Sandpoint), spent part of Christmas Eve and today taking toys and treats to the pets in the north Idaho shelters. Apparently one pet really got Dr. Becker’s attention, a Lab-pit mix named Gracie. From his e-mail just now:

We ended up adopting Gracie, the 2-year-old Lab-pit cross who has spent her entire life in the pound. They said she had two broken legs when she came to them, but I actually think it’s a congenital defect of both rear knee joints. We’ve already introduced her to the six other dogs at the house (Shakira, Quixote, Quora, Willy, Bruce and Mr. Teddy) and they get along great. She loved the feel of snow on her feet. Loved to chase a tennis ball. Loves to be held (she’s 35-40 pounds) in your lap. I’ve already made her bed for her.

And here’s the image from earlier today, from Dr. Becker’s iPhone, with Gracie in his arms. We’ll have something better later, but … well, this was just too cool not to share right away!

Update: Here’s a better picture. Dr. Becker and his daughter, Coeur D’Alene-based dog-trainer Mikkel Becker, with Gracie.  Adopted from Second Chance Animal Adoption in Dr. Becker’s hometown, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. We’ll have lots more tomorrow.

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New reviews: Too late for Christmas, but there’s always New Year’s

December 24, 2010

Our new product section is humming along nicely, and I know review coordinator Ericka Basile has quite a few more reviews in the pipeline, including another popular review where the PetConnection team each takes one of a class of products — like time it was vacs — and tries it out for a compare-contrast with others. Phyllis DeGioia is taking over coordinating book reviews, so we’ll have a lot more of them. And even though we had to say good-bye to our DogCars.com website in 2010, we’re hitting the accelerator pedal again on vehicle reviews, which will now be in our general reviews section.

Here’s what’s over there now:

Jill Fisher Gibbs reviews MuttMops:

MuttMops are sturdy fleece toys that captivate and entertain.  They come in six different flavors, er, colors, including Wintergreen, which I kind of expected would smell like Lifesavers, but it didn’t. Bright color, though, which is helpful to spot in the snow.

Isabeau, one of my two Flat-Coated Retrievers, wanted it right out of the envelope, and she got it. Took off running, she did, which is a positive review from her.

These toys are 11 inches in diameter and are made with a 100 percent polyester fringe around a solid rubber ring that creates a very floppy toy.  Floppy toys make for the best “toss into the air and catch” fun.

Henry, my Golden Retriever, seemed to have the most fun with it.  Running, tossing, catching, running, tossing and catching.

Next up: Ericka Basile with Ramps4Paws, reviewed with assistance of Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida:

I asked Dennis Guyitt, with Golden Retriever Rescue of Southwest Florida, to bring a few dogs to my house so we could test out the ramp on larger and senior dogs. My 9-pound Chihuahua, Roxi, was miffed, but she is recovering from the hit to her small-dog ego.

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You’ll see in the video  how well-designed the ramp is. It comes in a carrying case, weighs about 15 pounds, and rolls out to make a ramp almost anywhere. We tested the large version.

Amber, 8, and Wiley, 2, were our canine testers. In the video you will see I chose to leave in the first attempts the dogs made at using the ramp (even the FAIL), because I want to show real-world trial and error of using a ramp for the first time. It only took two tries and six liver treats to teach these  beauties how to use the Ramp4Paws.

Ericka gives cat-owners some love with her other two reviews: One for the Magneticat toy and and then with reviews of some lovely beds.

Click over to our product reviews section and check them all out. You can also find out how to get a product to us for review, and what happens to products after we review them.

Big thanks to Ericka for her work on the product reviews. You’ll be seeing a lot more of them in 2011, now that we have our own section for them.

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‘Good dog’ rules bring up sweet memories

I love this time of year for the outrageously funny things that find their way into my e-mail Inbox. One recurrent favorite of mine is the list of things dogs must remember in order to be a “Good Dog.” I received it earlier this week and it both warmed my heart and brought to front of mind some of the most precious memories of my life. It’s moments like these that remind me what a privilege it is to share days and nights, ups and downs, highs and lows with furry four-leggeds. I’d like to share a few of these stories, smiles, and memories …

To be a Good Dog I will remember:

The sofa is not a “face towel.”The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.I will not eat the cats’ food before they eat it or after they throw it up.

Micah, my very first dog as an adult, was a heat-seeking missile when it came to food (matched only by my current Golden Retriever, Farrah). He and my cat of that time, OJ, had a deal. Periodically OJ would eat too quickly and erp up his breakfast or dinner, providing Micah with an extra “snack.” They were in cahoots for all the years they lived together.

I will not play tug-of-war with Mom’s underwear when she’s on the toilet.I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house — not after.The litter box is not a cookie jar.

Mollie Mae was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. She was a very sweet, very petite Saint Bernard — only 85 pounds — and we had an idea early on that she would not attend MIT. We found out late in her life that she had a condition we generally associate with tiny dogs like Chihuahuas and Yorkie –  hydrocephalus –  also called “water on the brain.” When the neurologist called following Mollie’s brain MRI she said, “The good news is that Mollie does NOT have a brain tumor, and the bad news is that Mollie dosen’t have very much brain at all.” We joked that Mollie had only one neuron, and it fired backward. She really seemed able to hold only one thought in her brain at a time. Her favorite “one thought” was the memory of where the “crunchy granola bars” lived. Inspite of scooping litter pans twice daily, Mollie Mae regularly managed to raid what was, for her, her favorite “cookie jar.”

I don’t need to suddenly stand up straight up when I’m under the coffee table.I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt across the carpet.I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

Cimarron was our genetically deaf Australian Shepherd. She was the product of two blue merle parents and was relinquished to us when we refused to kill her for the sin of deafness. She was mostly white with two blue merle patches, and loved nothing better than throwing her pristine whiteness onto something long enough dead to be really stinky, but not long enough dead to be returned to the dust of the earth. In spite of the nastiness, we had to smile at her delight in visiting outdoor “cologne bars.”

I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.The cat is not a “squeaky toy” so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it’s usually not a good thing.Sticking my nose into someone’s crotch is an unacceptable way of saying “hello.”

Murphy was an amazing dog (that’s Murphy with me in the photo). She was diagnosed at 5 years of age with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in her left front leg. Following a bone transplant to keep her leg and IV chemotherapy, she lived a completely normal life until her second osteosarcoma three years later. This tumor was in her right rear leg, and was treated with radiation therapy and a second round of IV chemotherapy. She was in remission until she died, five years after her first bone cancer diagnosis, when her heart stopped while she slept.

Murphy was the most gregarious Great Dane I have yet met. And her favorite way to say “hello” was to use her head as a battering ram into that most private area of a human’s body. Ultimately, we had to warn our male friends to wear their steel cups when they came to visit.

What a joy it has been to witness this steady stream of characters into and out of our lives! Each day is a new adventure with them. How wonderful it is to share space with animals.

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Remote Control Electronic Shock Dog Training Collar Pet Training Collars Vibration with 6 level Shock for Small/Medium/Big Stubborn Dog

You are looking at an Electronic Remote Electric Dog Training Shock Collar. This remote training shock collar has 6 levels of strong static shock and 1 level of vibration. It is an electronic dog training system with a working range up to 600 feet. This compact, easy to operate system will control bad behavior and dogs who run off when taken outdoors for exercise. This collar is suitable for small, medium to large dogs or pets.

Features:
Remote working distance: 250 m under ideal condition.
The six levels of different static impulse and the vibration can adapt to the needs of different situations. It is safe for the pet.
The conductive rubber electrode is soft and the static impulse can penetrate the hair of the pet. It is comfortable for the pet to wear.
The strongest static impulse can quickly and effectively curb the improper deeds of the pet.
The vibration call can help the master communicate with the pet gently. It will let your pet associate the vibration with static impulse. At the end, vibration will achieve the same effect as the static impulse.
Power-saving mode of receiver prolongs the life of the battery.
The soft remote controller antenna is anti-broken.
Adjustable collar length (from 8"to 20") fits different size of dogs.

Specifications-Collar:
Length: 60mm Height: 30mm Width: 35mm.
Weight 70 g (with battery)
Collar length: adjustable from 20 cm (8??) to 50 cm (20??)
Power: One 6V 4LR44 camera battery (One start-up battery is included).

Specifications-Handset:
Length: 120mm Height: 25mm Width: 45mm.
Weight: 100g (with battery)
Power: 9V battery

Package Includes:
1 x Multi-function training collar device
1 x Remote control unit
1 x Adjustable Snap-on/off Collar
1 x Collar Testing Unit (Clips to collar and lights up to tell you the shock action is operating)
1 x Operating Instructions
2 x 4LR44 Camera Battery
1x 9V Battery br>

Price:

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Command Performance Dog Training System, Volume Two

Three VHS videos: 1) THE MAKING OF A GUN DOG FINDING AND SELECTING A BREEDER Contained in this video: Where to look for a breeder. What questions to ask when selecting a breeder. What to expect from the breeder. How a Gun Dog Puppy should be raised. What your new puppy should know before it leaves the breeder, and much more. 2) GUN DOG PUPPY BASIC TRAINING. This video teaches: Hunting puppy obedience. The right way to get your puppy retrieving. Using birds with your puppy. Introducing your puppy to water, and much more.
3) GUN DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING THE ELECTRONIC WAY. This video teaches: The quickest, mildest and most effective way to gain control of your dog. Come when called, every time. Heel, anywhere, off lead. Sit automatically at your side. Stay, when told, anytime, anywhere. Using a remote trainer to teach your dog to obey you is easy, following the simple lessons in this video.

Price:

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Rich Diesslins Funny Out to Lunch Cartoons - Training the Dog to Fetch Pizza - Light Switch Covers - single toggle switch

Training the Dog to Fetch Pizza Light Switch Cover is new and handcrafted utilizing unique process resulting in a stunning high gloss ceramic-like finish. SET OF MATCHING SCREWS IS INCLUDED giving it a perfect finishing touch. Made of durable metal material.

Price: $15.75

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Fruitables All-Natural Pumpkin and Real Fruit Variety Pack Dog Treats (Pack of 4, 7-Ounce Pouches)

Combining Nature's tastiest Fruits and Vegetables to create the world's finest pet foods... they're Fruitables. These Pumpkin Powered Pet Treats provide a truly amazing sensory experience in each fresh pack. Hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and selected fruits accent a warm pumpkin muffin aroma. Great things happen when you treat your pet with Fruitables! love life together.

Price: $22.68

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