Archive for September, 2007
Dogs are born explorers. Migration comes naturally to them, just as it does to many other animals, humans included. But the process of moving is very different for people — and can often leave your dog feeling confused and anxious. Here are a few tips that may make the transition easier for you both.
1. As always, pay attention to your energy. A move can be highly stressful, and tempers are likely to run high. Your dog will already be feeling unsure once the things that are familiar to him around the house begin disappearing, so it’s important to give him stable energy to feed off of.
2. Allow your dog to explore the new house before the move. You wouldn’t feel entirely comfortable packing up and moving if you had no idea where you’d be moving to, would you? Trust me, neither would your dog! If you live close to the new house, consider walking him between the old house and the new, letting him get used to the sights and smells of the new neighborhood. This will help him feel more at ease when moving day arrives.
3. Take a nice, long walk before any kind of travel. This is important before any trip. The object is to make sure your dog is in a relaxed resting mode before putting him in a car or plane. If it’s a particularly long trip, make it a longer walk, or add an exercise backpack to maximize the workout.
4. Don’t give him the run of the new house right away. The last thing you want is to leave your dog alone to take command of the house while you unpack. It’s important to establish that you own the new space. Consider introducing him to one room and making him comfortable there while you put the finishing touches on the move. Then introduce him to the rest of the house, room by room, communicating that you are the leader in this new “den,” just like you were the leader in the old one.
These are tips from everybody’s favorite dog whisperer, Cesar Millan.
Quite some time ago we had the pleasure of getting to know the very talented Melanie Phillips, Pet Portrait Artist. I guess it never occurred to us to feature Melanie and her artwork here because we instantly thought of her as a friend not just a fellow artist, but her work is really wonderful so we just had to share it with you here.
Melanie has been an established artist in the UK for over 13 years, specializing in highly detailed, traditionally hand painted, custom pet portraits. Inspired by a life-long love for animals, she does her dog portraits and cat portraits from clients’ photos in their choice of oils, or in pencil, and her also truly, talented husband, Nick, paints pet portraits in pastels.
All are incredibly detailed!
Melanie’s very prolific works and offerings also include creative montages, colored pencil portraits, and even animal logos. In fact she has over 300 works of art on her website, you should definitely visit her online galleries.
While you’re there, also check out what may be the coolest part of her very extensive site, “On My Easel.” There you’ll see Melanie’s current artwork in progress and get a behind-the-scenes look at her process. It’s really amazing!
In case you’re curious about the cost there is also a price list on her site and YES, Melanie accepts commissions world wide!
We’re always on the lookout for great new stuff for Kylie, and this stuff is definitely great! But we have to warn you, these fantastic pet products are not in everyone’s price range (including ours) but we’re here to share!
Pet Flys – Pet Flys was created by Tammy Ann Arnett, who, by her own admission was always a “big dog” person…until she rescued a little Min Pin. At that point everything changed for her! With a new understanding of the wonder and fascination that comes with having a small dog, she developed Pet Flys. There are three sizes of Pet Flys carriers (mini, small and super) and many hot new carrier designs, which are of course all airline approved, as well as coordinating Ready~2~Ride apparel. Apparel styles offered are the “Sadie Sundress†as well as the “Weezil Wifebeater.†Outfits feature patches that match the carriers and are scented with fun smells like Strawberry, Bubble Gum, Hawaiian Punch, Lemon-Lime and “Old Spiceyâ€â€¦some even glow in the dark…perfect for the fashionista in you or your pet.
Prices start at $115, so if you’re jet-setting dog or cat is just too cool for the same old sherpa bag, check them out!
Perfect Petfeeder – According to their website the Perfect Petfeeder is simply the finest appliance of it’s kind and 
guaranteed to exceed your expectations for quality, ease of use, and reliability. The programmable pet feeder was created to satisfy the contemporary pet parent’s desire to ensure their pet’s nutritional needs and accommodate a modern lifestyle. Each meal can be set for a unique amount, as few as several pieces up to several cups. You can, for example, program three larger meals throughout the day with several snacks in between. Your pet gets just what they need without waste. And the hopper easily holds 10 lbs of food, so there are no bags to keep. The appliance is thoughtfully configured to ensure that even the most determined pet will not ever reach or dislodge the food stored inside, or come in contact with any moving parts. It even has power outage protection! Check out the Perfect Petfeeder website, you will be impressed, and the impressive price is $499.
Masnax – Ma Snax Superior Treats for dogs and cats are made from the finest human-quality organic ingredients 
and are even low in fat. Even more exciting, some of their treats like the Gingerbread Doghouses at $65.95 are adorable and customizable for your pet! Professional chefs, Ellen Oertel and Ray Masnack started the company after they adopted a puppy and created a completely fresh food diet for her out of concern for her health. And they take pet nutrition very seriously. Read all about them, their fresh, healthy ingredients, and their yummy treats and great bake-at-home kits, both of which are actually quite modestly priced at $8 per bag, on their website.
By the way, this may be a good time to mention that it’s not too soon to start thinking about considering making a shopping list for the holidays!
Buddy began life in Florida. He met Jessica when he was only three years old. She worked with the little half-arab pony for a year and when his owners decided to sell him, she bought him to finish his training. Jessica trained Buddy as a hunter. He attended several local schooling shows with Jessica where a young girl would ride him in walk-trot classes and Jessica would ride him in a Baby Greens class. Life was good and Buddy was progressing well. At 5 years of age, Buddy then moved to Tennessee to go to college with Jessica where he participated on the school’s equestrian team for a time.
Buddy has been a relatively healthy and happy pony his whole life with the exception of the occassion “accident prone” injury. When he moved to Tennessee, the climate change made him slow to shed out his winter coat. However, after four years of living in Tennessee and still having problems shedding out in the fourth year, Jessica decided to find out what was going on and ordered some blood work to be done. When the test results came back, it was with bad news. Buddy was diagnosed with Cushings Disease at the young age of nine. If it weren’t for the slow shedding, no one would have guessed there was anything wrong with him at all.
At the age of nine, Buddy also learned a new talent. One day Jessica was going through all the art supplies she had and decided that Buddy should learn how to paint. Armed with a pen that clicked to open and close and some treats, Jessica started to teach Buddy to hold things in his mouth. She used a crop at first and Buddy would twirl the crop around in the air for her. He learned quick that he got a treat when he did that. She then got out a paint
brush and canvas and let him “paint” with an empty brush on the canvas to see what he would do. Buddy immediately began to make brush strokes on the canvas. After this “experiement,” Jessica decided it was time to try real paint and Buddy produced his first painting. He enjoyed the painting and would work himself into it. His technique consists of throwing the brush on the ground, which picks up gravel and dirt, and then painting with it. His paintings are often a “mixed media” as a result. He decides when he is done painting by simply not painting any longer. People began asking to purchase his paintings on a frenzy.
Once Buddy was diagnosed with Cushings, however, his paintings became a source to help fund treatment and for his condition. A percentage of the profits of his paintings is also donated to research for Equine Cushings.
Please visit ThePaintingPony.com to learn more about Buddy and about Equine Cushings, and to view and purchase available portraits.
Buddy also hosts The Painting Pony online Gift Shop – check it out, you’ll find some very unique gifts!
By the way, did you know that we also offer custom horse portraits? Click these images for a larger view, and please keep us in mind if you have a horse enthusiast on your shopping list for the holidays!
A new study here in Colorado at the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine suggests that dogs and cats may get into more medical mischief during certain phases of the lunar cycle. The study, authored by Dr. Raegan Wells, a veterinarian, and her colleagues at Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, shows a possible link between an increase in emergency room visits for dogs and cats during days when the moon is at or near its fullest.
The data, compiled from 10 years of nearly 12,000 case histories of dogs and cats treated at the university’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, indicates that the risk of emergencies on fuller moon days was 23 percent greater in cats and 28 percent greater in dogs when compared with other days. The types of emergencies ranged from cardiac arrest to epileptic seizures and trauma, and the increase was most pronounced during the moon’s three fullest stages – waxing gibbous, full and waning gibbous.
Dr. Wells said this is the first time the lunar cycle’s relationship to emergency veterinary medicine has been studied. The study, titled “Canine and feline emergency room visits and the lunar cycle: 11,940 cases (1992-2002),” appears in the July 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“If you talk to any person, from kennel help, nurse, front-desk person to doctor, you frequently hear the comment on a busy night, ‘Gee, is it a full moon?’ “said Dr. Wells, who is an emergency and critical care medicine resident in the Department of Clinical Sciences. “There is the belief that things are busier on full-moon nights.”
Just what is behind the correlation, however, isn’t clear.
“While the results of our retrospective study indicate that there is an increased likelihood of emergency room visits on the days surrounding a full moon, it is difficult to interpret the clinical significance of these findings,” Dr. Wells wrote in the article. “Many studies have investigated the effect of the moon on human nature, behavior and various medical problems, with evidence both supporting and refuting the effect.”
Source: CSU E-Insight
“[We] just wanted to thank everyone at Pop Art Pet for the fantastic contest. Truman and I were on pins and needles Saturday night! I had no idea when this started how excited and committed people would be to voting for my fat little dog everyday. We have had a blast!!!!
I have [provided] a picture of Truman in his formal wear practicing his acceptance speech.”
~We at Pop Art Pet can’t wait to get started on Truman’s custom dog portrait – he’s going to make a very handsome subject!
CONGRATULATIONS, Truman!
With 899 total votes, Truman is the winner of our Pet Photo Contest and an 18″ custom pet portrait from Pop Art Pet!
“A 4-year-old bon vivant, Truman is quite the man about town! He enjoys mingling with ladies at the local dog park, strutting…okay, waddling…down the street on his twice daily walks and snuggling with anyone who will sit still long enough. He can be a tad mischievous (he’s never met a magazine or roll of toilet paper that he couldn’t shred in under 30 seconds) but at the end of the day all he wants to do is make people happy. His humans realize that their life is that much better with him around and would love a Pop Art Portrait to immortalize his portly existence.”
We would like to thank all of the participants and their pet parents and friends for participating so fervently. Hopefully it was as much fun for all of you as it has been for us!
Time is almost up – there’s only about 7 hours left to vote in our Pet Photo Contest and boy is it a close race! The top spots are constantly turning over. Here’s a glimpse at the standings right this minute..
Voting will close at 11:59 pm, Central Standard Time; at which time we will shut down the polls and do the final verifying and tabulating of all the votes. Then we’ll announce the winner a.s.a.p!
Stay tuned…
Did you know you could make a stylish sweater for your dog from nothing but one of your comfy socks (argyle is highly recommended)? It’s so simple anyone can do it:
Step 1 – Cut sock as indicated below.
Step 2 – Place sweater and bonus hat on small* dog.
Step 3 – Give dog lots of love and affirmation so he won’t hate you!
*This pattern is designed with a Yorkie, Chihuahua, Dachshund, or similar small breed in mind. Please do not try this for your German Shepherd, Rottweiler, etc., that would just be silly and possibly painful! What about cats you ask?? You’re on your own on that one!
Source: this has been around the internet a lot, including on one of our favorite sites, CuteOverload.com
We feel tremendous love for our dogs, and our dogs sure seem to love us. But is a dog really capable of emotions? Or are we just projecting our feelings onto our dogs?
Scientists avoid the subject because part of what sets humans apart from the animals is our ability to experience feelings. To say that animals actually have feelings, in the same way we do, would change everything – perhaps disrupt our entire position and standing in the animal kingdom. However, any dog owner knows that dogs love completely and have a greater capacity for love than most people. If one were to describe the main characteristics of a dog, they would have to be:
1. strong affection
2. warm attachment
3. unselfish loyalty and benevolent concern for others
Wait a minute – those are the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of love. Probably why the author of Dogs Never Lie About Love, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson writes, “dogs are love.†So there isn’t a question of whether dogs love, the mystery is how they have such an enormous capacity for it. Dogs who are neglected or abused still show love for their human and wag their tails in hope of a little affection.
Dogs taken from abusive situations hold no grudges toward the human race. A half an ounce of kindness from a new person results in an abundance of affection from the formerly mistreated dog. Humans rarely have the capacity to so completely forgive and love under those circumstances.
Probably the biggest reason the dog has become man’s best friend is because we know that when it comes to love, a dog can always outdo us. The highest form of love, agape love, which is completely unconditional, is something that people often have to work at or grow into. Agape love seems to come naturally between parent and child, but it’s more difficult between husband and wife, and harder still between friends. To love someone regardless of what wrongs they have done you is very difficult for humans. A dog, however, is born with an endless capacity for agape love, and doesn’t even have to work at it. You can be a complete grouch, ignore your dog, and refuse him your love. When you decide you’re ready to be sociable again, your dog doesn’t pay you back by ignoring you too. He’s just happy you’re there. More amazing still, is that the love that dogs and owners feel for each other lasts a lifetime. This is the ideal love humans strive for, but often fail at.
This is why we need dogs. They do something for us that rarely a human companion can do. No matter how much you mess up your life, or how much wrong you do, no matter how many mistakes you make or how often you make them, regardless of your looks, income or social standing, your dog never judges you. He always thinks you are wonderful and loves you with all his heart.
Source: PetCentric
