Knows and Tales

Can cats and dogs get along?

Posted on by KAsinbe

The quick answer is absolutely.  You simply have to do a search on Google and you’ll get photographs and Youtube videos by the bundle that will be offered as easy proof.  Such happy companions, cuddling together on the couch.  And I too have had cats and dogs that have got along, played together, slept together, or at the very least said hello with a rollover.

But here I have to be honest.  I have had some cats and dogs that hated each other.  Often this was caused by an error in judgement either by the cat or the dog.

We had this beautiful black and white cat, one of those tuxedo cats.  He was the friendliest cat I had ever had…with people that is.  He had a personality flaw that the other animals tolerated but found obnoxious:  he was a teaser.  Blackie (that was his rather unoriginal name) would find something that irritated the other animal and do it over and over.  With his cat-sister, it was to cut her off.  He would come from behind at a trot and run ahead of her and make a quick left or right in front of her.  She often had to stop abruptly to avoid walking into him.  I could see that this habit of his irked her, but I could not see a way to stop him from doing it.

He used to love to sit on the chair directly in front of the busiest entrance in the house so he could keep track of those coming in and out of the backyard.  Whenever my sheltie passed by Blackie on his prestigious chair, Blackie would give the sheltie a paw to the butt end.  The sheltie put up with this. After all, the cat wasn’t taking out his claws; he was just taping him.  Then one evening, when my sheltie was suffering from a sore leg, Blackie gave him the usual tap as my sheltie limped by.  All hell broke lose.  My sheltie barked and growled directly in Blackie’s face, exactly three times.  Blackie backed away, sliding backwards off the chair through the hole below the low rail on the backrest and ending up under the table looking both aghast and astonished.  After that they were mortal enemies.

And then there was the dog I adopted from the shelter.  Immediately on his arrival at his forever home, he chased my cat up a tree.  That ended any chances of the two of them becoming buddies.  Even though I gave the dog a lecture, he chased the cat several more times before finally realizing that the cat belonged on the property.  After that, he only chased strange cats, but it didn’t matter, the damage had been done.  Whenever he got close to the cat, the cat hissed at him, and it sounded as if he was blowing up balloons so the dog was well-warned.

Not long ago I had to move my mother into a nursing home and I took her cats into my home.  I asked Memie how she felt about my dog Sadie and this is the answer I got.

Memie on meeting Sadie

 

 

RETURNING FROM VACATION

Posted on by KAsinbe

Sinatra and I have had such a great summer.  We visited several lakes during day trips and then we took a vacation up to Temiskaming Shores in Ontario Canada.  We stopped in Temagami, a unique place where the old growth forest provides for beautiful vistas.

Here is a picture taken atop of the Temagami fire tower.

viewing platorm Temagami

 

Most people get to know other people by chatting about the weather. But we tend to talk with dog owners about their dogs, and we remember them by their dog’s name, such as “There’s Hunter” or “Diesel is going for a walk”.  So when a cute dog walked by our hotel we naturally took a picture of the dog and not the owner.

 

little dog in Temagami

 

 

 

10 Rules for Dogs

Posted on by KAsinbe
  1. Never give up. If your owner (master, mommy/daddy) doesn’t get that you want to go out the first time you bring the leash, try and try again.  And if he (or she) still ignores you, begin dancing around like a bee providing GPS directions for the hive.  This will show him that it’s “high time” for a trip to the outside washroom.  Remember you know the right “time”.  You’re a watch dog.
  2. If another dog goes near your dish, growl (practise this with the family cat). However, if a dog urinates on your owner’s leg, pretend you didn’t see a thing.
  3.  If you have had a disagreement with a dog bigger than you, hide behind your owner when you see that dog coming. If, like Bean, you actually nipped the dog because he stood over you and pretended to be in love, hide behind your bigger brother who will be hiding behind your owner.
  4. If you actually had a fight with another dog (about your size), and nothing got settled during that dispute, insist on trying to get at that other dog every time you see him walking with his owner. Being the responsible dog owner, your owner will move off the walking trail into the brambles and thickets and will have to spend an hour getting burrs out of your fur.  The other dog owner will have insisted on bringing you and your enemy as close together as possible.  This other dog owner will smile and say “Nice evening isn’t it?” as he passes on the trail with his dog growling (uttering insults) at you. This will make you even more committed to getting at that s.o.b. the next time.
  5. When it’s bath time, head for the hills.
  6. When it’s grooming time, hide behind the Mugho pine that grew huge due to neglect. Ignore your owner when he says, “You could be more cooperative; groomers cost money you know.”  Definitely turn the other cheek if he says, “Come here you little so and so.  Who do you think buys your food?” He really doesn’t mean to lay on the guilt.  He has just lost it because he trampled his wife’s prized tea rose.  (Don’t forget to act fearful yourself when he catches it from the wife.  It’s called moral support and shows how you really are man’s best friend.  Tuck your tail between your legs and start to skulk away.  That’ll make her wonder who did what.  (It’s kind of like providing your owner with an alibi.)
  7. When it’s time to go to the veterinarian, refuse to get in the car. At all other times, insist that you’re part of the family and should not be left behind.  If they don’t get this, bark and jump in the door as they are existing the house.  If they still don’t get it, howl the whole time they’re away.  Make sure the neighbours hear.
  8. When you finally get to the off-leash dog park, get in with the most disobedient dog there. Forget all your training.  When your owner says “Come”, pretend you heard the word “Run”.
  9. When you have gas, insist on sleeping on her side of the bedroom. That’ll teach her to disallow dogs on the bed.  Rules, rules, rules.  Who needs them?  Also, never let on that pop actually takes you up on the bed when she’s away on business trips.  (It would make her feel that any warm body will do.)
  10. Oh yeh, and when she is away on those business trips, always tilt your head in that cute way so pop insists she talks to you over the phone even if all her co-workers are listening.  Do the same when he calls to say he’s at a union meeting or having a beer with the guys from work.  (This will show her that you aren’t playing favourites.)

Mayhem in Dog Class

Posted on by KAsinbe

First there was the funeral, then grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer after finally getting in to see a gerontologist.  She is getting some treatment and it seems to be helping.  Now mom is off her feet with a knee injury so maybe she’ll start paying attention to our blog.

During our absence we learned a new trick called “You are under arrest!”  where we put our front paws on the couch and the policewoman frisks us.  Dad thinks it’s hilarious especially when little Bean does it.

To date we know at least 15 tricks.  But, when we first started our schooling, Bean hated learning.  Several times he refused to go to class, once he walked right out of class, and another time he just sat there looking at all the other dogs.  So, dad decided to bring incentive:  cooked chicken.  And it worked—-on every dog in the class except Mr.Bean who couldn’t concentrate because of all the attention he was getting from all the other dogs…well his chicken was getting attention.  Mayhem in the dog class.

Bean would have been wearing the dunce hat had the trainer had one, and we were a bit embarassed because all the other dogs, including Sinatra, seemed to be doing so well.  We were concerned that Bean had a mind of his own and would never do well.

Finally the trainer announced that dogs should learn the word play.  So guess who aces that class?  Yes, Mr. Bean himself.  He was so excited to play that the trainer’s  assistant had to try and calm him down.

gooey with the spread
SINATRA – what long legs
bean
Mr. Bean

 

Georgian Bay Peninsula

Posted on by KAsinbe

We were in Owen Sound this June and thought we’d share some of the highlights of our trip.  The beautiful vistas are courtesy of the Niagara Escarpment, a prominent natural feature of the area.  The Escarpment is also the reason there are a number of waterfalls to see.

Sauble Falls is in the park adjacent to  Sauble Beach.  Sauble Beach is quite popular and the second longest freshwater beach in the world.    We didn’t get much of a look as it was so foggy you couldn’t see your paw in front of you, never mind get any kind of perspective for a photo.  But you can see tons of pictures on lines.

Sinatra didn’t like getting too close to these falls.  He seemed to find the noise unnerving.

Sauble Falls near the more famous Sauble Beach
Sauble Falls near the more famous Sauble Beach
Inglis Falls
Inglis Falls

 

This mom wasn’t swimming away.  She seemed to want to have her picture taken.

She was so proud of her little one.
She was so proud of her little one.

 

There were lots of people all over the rocks.  We can just imagine what it is like during the summer.  Mr. Bean slept after his long walk while Sinatra kept his eye on a squirrel who stole some cashews out of the snack bag.

 

seagull near bluffs

Rugged shoreline and bluffs in distance

Bluffs from Inglis Falls
Bluffs from Inglis Falls

Yes that’s a flag on the left.  Didn’t even notice it until we saw the photo.

 

 

 

Bluffs in distance
Bluffs in distance

 

These little orchids are not nearly as big as the pink ones.  You really have to keep your eyes open to see them.  But once you have spotted them, they are usually in large groups.  We saw these in the National Park.

Yellow Lady Slippers
Yellow Lady Slippers

 

 

Relaxing in the park after a long day of touring
Relaxing in the park after a long day of touring

 

 

 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR FIRST VISIT TO A BREEDER

Posted on by KAsinbe

So, you’ve decided that a breed dog is the way to go.  You’ve read all the information on the net and you’ve decided on the breed.  Now you’ve set up a date to meet the breeder who had 5 puppies for sale, but has informed you that she only has the one puppy left.  You’re desperate to get your hands on that last puppy.

Breeders are a special “pardon the pun” breed onto themselves.  You may want to get your new pet home…. or at least out to the car….but hold on…not so fast.

1.  You will likely meet your pet in the breeder’s home.   Puppies are like people.  They fare best if they come from good homes.  You should have checked out the breeder’s credentials so now you can check out the puppy’s home life.  Some of the other puppies may still be there so you may get to see how social your puppy is.  Also, the puppy’s mom will be there.  Is she healthy, jumping around her brood, fleet foot and cheerful?

2.  Ask to see both mom and dad.  The breeder expects it.  Oh,  and the breeder will likely be insulted if you don’t treat the mom like the Belle of the Ball.  “Mom” may be quite scruffy having just been through dog-birth, but you will get in the breeder’s good grace if you give “Mom” lots of compliments.  Like, “I hope Prince looks just like her when he grows up.  She’s so beautiful.” 

3.  Expect to be interrogated.  Don’t be insulted by the questions.  The breeder doesn’t think you’re an ex-con.  He (or she) is  looking for the best home for their puppy.

4.  Don’t worry about the person holding onto the puppy very tightly and glaring at you.  That’s the  Breeder’s daughter and Sparky (her name for Prince) was her favorite. (Oh she is going to cry when you leave but you’re tough —right?)

5.  Expect to sign some papers.  You will get some papers in return.  Don’t say, “But I don’t want to show the puppy, I just want a pet.”  Doesn’t matter.  The breeder is very proud of the puppy’s lineage.

6.  If a dog steals your purse—as one did when I got my puppies—you should find it amusing— you’re in for a lot more of that kind of behavior.  If you don’t find it funny, you may not be ready for puppy ownership.

 

Now it’s your turn:

1.  If the breeder doesn’t provide you with vaccination papers — think that odd, think that very odd.  Ask for them.  Leave if they don’t have them.  And when you do get them, keep them handy and bring them to your vet for all your visits.

2.  Ask the breeder what’s special about this breed.  What should you know about it?  Mentally check the information the breeder gives you against the information you’ve already checked out on your own.

3.  Now that you have the puppy in the car…(Yes, the daughter has stomped up to her bedroom crying)….and your wallet feels lighter.

4.  If you haven’t already stocked up on food and dog poop bags….better do so now.

5.  Enjoy your new puppy.

 

Oh, and expect the breeder to check back with you again and again….send pictures to provide reassurance.  In about a year …or two, the breeder will have learned to trust that you are doing right by Sparky.  I mean Prince, of course.