I do update periodically on this page. If there is something you would like to see here, please let me know and I will post more articles of interest to everyone.
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I get a lot of questions on what I do for treats as I do not feed commercial treats. Many are made in China and carry a lot of bad chemicals, melamine, plastic etc. PLEASE stop buying at the Dollar Store as well.
I am going to place the links here for treats that I have tried. When you see a recipe that calls for pumpkin, please insure you are using "Pureed Pumpkin or Pure Pumpkin" not pumpkin pie mix. And as with all treats, please give in moderation. If it calls for Peanut Butter, make sure the peanut butter does NOT CONTAIN XYLITOL. Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Dog Treats https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/133123/peanut-butter-and-pumpkin-dog-treats/ Christmas Mint Apple Treats https://best-dog-treat-recipes.com/dog-treat-recipes/christmas-dog-bones/best-dog-treat-recipes.com/dog-treat-recipes/christmas-dog-bones/ Doggy Candy Canes (lots of work but don't be intimidated, the kids could help you roll out the parts for the canes) www.dogtreatkitchen.com/free-dog-treat-recipes.html Gingerbread Dog Cookies http://gonetothesnowdogs.com/gingerbread-dog-cookies-christmas-treats-how-to-make-homemade-dog-treats-recipe/ I will be moving the recipes over to the Info area after Christmas.
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Here are the periods in a dogs life per se. I hope this will help you in your understanding and training! Have fun!
Keep in mind that all dogs are individuals and don't read books so some of the timing for fear periods can be off. Neonatal: Birth to 12 days (Obtain nutrition and stay warm) Transition: 13-20 days (Eyes open but not seeing well until 21 days, puppy can crawl backwards and forwards now, begins to walk, first teeth “may” erupt around 20 days, tail wagging begins, reacts to sounds around 19 days but cannot locate source, moves bowels without stimulation.) Awareness: 21-28 days (First week puppy is able to use sight and hearing. This change happens abruptly so a stable environment at this period is critical. Can psychologically scar puppies if moved to new location. Pups have greatest need for mother and familiarity at this time. Learning begins in this stage, it is time to begin learning what it means to be a dog.) Canine Socialization: 21-49 days (3 to 7 weeks) (Puppy learns to use species specific behaviors that make him a dog. Practices body postures, facial expressions, and vocalizations and learns their effects on siblings. Plays chase games to learn coordination and timing, greeting behaviors to learn body postures and fight games teach him use of his body. Learns to accept discipline during this time from his mother. Learns bite inhibitions and weaning. Mother dogs set up the puppies for these lessons. Very important to let mother dog stay with pups to teach these lessons.) Human Socialization: 7 to 12 weeks (Best time for bringing pup to new home. Best time to introduce pup to things (in a positive manner) that he will be exposed to. Brain waves are same as an adult dog at this age. Most rapid learning occurs. LEARNING AT THIS AGE IS PERMANENT. ) First Fear Impact: 8-11 weeks (Any traumatic, painful or frightening experience at this time will have a more lasting effect on the puppy then if the event happened at any other time. Puppies perception of the event is important not owners. NO elective surgery should be done at this time. Puppy classes at this age need to be non-stressful for pup.) Seniority Classification: 13-16 weeks ( Also known as age of cutting teeth and apron strings. Pup begins testing to see who is going to be pack leader. From 13 weeks on if puppy attempts to bite even in play it is an attempt to dominate. Pup is attempting to clarify and resolve the question of leadership. Establishing rules for pup extremely important at this time.) Things to be Aware of:
ROCKING CHAIRS: While comfortable for you, these things are deadly. I have had 2 pups killed when puppy wanted to play around their owner’s feet and got under the rocker. It’s not something we would even think about if not brought to your attention, accidents can and do happen. People Food: especially fatty and processed foods. Grease left and the dog got into it. I recently had a call from a distraught owner. She was cleaning her oven and pulled out a tray she had cooked chicken on and forgot about. Unthinking she placed it within reach of her little Shih Tzu and proceeded to clean her oven. The little guy smacked his lips and licked it clean. A few hours later she found him lethargic, vomiting, and lying on the floor in a huge puddle of blood. An emergency visit to her vet, and weeks of treatment did save his life. However, his life will never be the same. His gastrointestinal process will never be the same. Please please please ensure you keep greasy and fatty foods away from your dog. Google pancreatitis in dogs and read how you can actually harm or kill your dog. Most people just don’t realize, and of course your dog will try to eat anything you eat! Rawhide: the treat that kills. I have a video on how they make this killer treat posted to the website. Would you like a “treat” that had the chemicals and offal, and parts of the animals that are useless literally cleaned off the slaughterhouse floor and made into a bleached hide? Many dogs have died when the rawhide could not be broken down in their stomach and caused blockages or simply rotted there. XYLITOL: Diet sugar substitute, goes by other names as well. A piece of xylitol diet gum can drop a small dog in 20 minutes. Symptoms mimic other health concerns and the time spent by a vet trying to figure out whats wrong with the dog can cost your baby his/her life. Watch the ingredients in peanut butter, energy bars, and much of what is considered to be diet foods. Thank you for reading and being a responsible pet parent. Last night I got a call about an older Shih Tzu. One of ours. His mom was frantic. She had come home to vomited blood and mucus on the floor. He was really looking peaked. As she tried to get help, the vet offices weren't open or not taking anyone in.
Then he pooed, and it was runs and mucus. Then he went again, and this time it was puddles of blood, and he could hardly get around. We actually thought he had been poisoned at one point. She finally found an after hours vet to take him but it was over 2 hours to wait. In trying to find out what he might have got into, there was three culprits that "could" have played the part, or maybe all together. While cleaning her stove she had pulled a tray out with porkchop grease and garlic (poisonous to dogs) and he licked it clean, unbeknownst to her, he had grabbed a small garbage bag while she was out and she found a small container of Burger King Zesty Sauce that he had at least taste tested! and last but definitely not least, he loves to roll in other dog smells when he walks, and just that morning had come in smelling like tires. He rolled in "something". The vet finally got to see him and he was rehydrated, placed on antibiotics, anti-nausea meds and a couple of other things. He has been placed on a bland diet and hopefully will make a full recovery. We will know more as time passes. The vet mentioned that they are seeing more of this with small dogs. He was diagnosed as having Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis. For more information please check here. I am always cautioning people about the foods they feed, and plants around their home and garden, not taking pups out in public places until they have at least had their full compliment of puppy shots . We owners have to be the eyes and protection for our babies. One thoughtless move or omission on our part could be a fatal accident or very traumatic event for that little one that trusts us for everything. Do you sew, knit or crochet? I have added a few links here to patterns for dogs. If we are stuck in a lot over the coming winter, maybe some of these would be of interest to you! Please feel free to send a photo if you make something for your pup and I will be glad to show it off! You can also send me links for fun things to make and I will add them here! Have fun everyone! 1. https://mariasbluecrayon.com/2018/12/crochet-dog-sweater-free-step-by-step.html 2. https://www.yarnspirations.com/red-heart-doggie-deer-snood/RHC0713-017086M.html 3. https://thewhoot.com/whoot-news/crafty-corner/knitted-dog-hat-free-patterns 4. http://aonestopshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/bella-frill-dress.html Reilly's Reg'd contract requires that you place insurance on your puppy for the first year of birth. You do receive 6 weeks of trial insurance with Pets Plus Us when you adopt your puppy, and can choose to continue with them or check around with others.
There are many excellent insurance companies and your vet likely has a preferred one they can recommend as well. Here are a few links you can check out and decide what best suits your needs. Pet Plan Insurance Trupanion Small puppies are prone to mishaps especially in their first year. Like toddlers, everything on the floor is something to be chewed and explored. Stuffing pulled from toys, rocks, bones, medical prescriptions tablets that fell on the floor, if it's there it's fair game to your puppy. All breeds have something they are pre-disposed to. Eyes issues, gastric issues, hip or bone issues, allergies or skin conditions. Genetic issues may be in a recessive gene unbeknownst to the breeder and can crop up later, teeth and dental issues....all can come at a hefty price to you. Protect your little one, your puppy is a family member and needs to have a coverage you can afford. I do not endorse one company over another, nor do I get compensation from any company. I am now requiring that you place insurance on your puppy for at least the first year of life. I do offer a return/replacement in my contract (limited) and I expect to be contacted if there is some health issue I should know about that I was unaware of when your puppy went home. In 2018 there was a change made to the purchase plans and policies of the 24 PetWatch Microchips that we use. I did not know of these changes until today. (March 23, 2021)
Prior to 2018, when a microchip was registered through a breeder or a vet, it was an automatic enrolment into a service that let you know if your lost/missing pet was found. This was changed to a paid enrolment and the onus is on the client to enrol their pet. Otherwise you have to struggle through making a report, and making sure the right information is out into the right hands and hope for the best. While your pet IS in the database, it must be enrolled into what is called "Lifetime Protection Membership" for a fee which can be paid annually or pay a one-time lifetime fee. This puts your pet into a live monitored database, 24-7, and if your pet goes missing and is found and scanned, it goes directly to 24 PetWatch's monitored database. You receive a call immediately. There are a lot of other perks, but THIS is the main one. (at least in my opinion). This is the link to the page where you can get more information. Apparently there are other perks involved in this service. I am educating myself as well right now. https://www.24petwatch.com/ca/lost-pet-services/membership 2018 was a rough year for me health-wise with the latter part of the year spent in surgery, recuperation and physiotherapy, so I can see how I missed this important piece of information. I have also been told there are vets that are unaware as well. Please contact 24 Petwatch and sign up if you own a Reillys puppy/dog. My worst nightmare is that one of my dogs go missing. I am sure it would be yours as well. ~Thank you~  Excerpts used with permission from Enchanted Mountain Shih Tzus.
Meet River! And yes, she IS a purebred Shih Tzu! Within a year of starting to breed Shih Tzu, I had a puppy show up that just looked "off" a little. I knew it was not a cross or mixed breed as I only had one male Shih Tzu. I started to compare a photo of the little puppy to other photos of Shih Tzu out on the internet. One day I spotted one that looked like mine! And I called the lady who had posted the photo to inquire about my puppy. Below is the information I received from her. Over the course of the last 13 years, we have had one show up here and there. Beautiful pets, but not to the standard of what a Shih Tzu is. "Occasionally in a litter of perfectly healthy and wonderful Shih Tzu puppies you will get a puppy that seems to be a little different as far as their hair growth goes. You generally don’t notice this until the puppy is around 6 weeks old and sometimes later depending on whether you have a partial or a full Prapso puppy. Most people have not heard of this condition and it used to be primarily thought of as a Lhasa Apso Condition, because that is where it was seen most often. They called them “smooth haired” Lhasa’s. The word “Prapso” started in Australia. From the phrase “perhaps an Apso” This “condition” however is not limited to the Lhasa Apso. It is periodically seen in the Shih Tzu as well as other Tibetan breeds. So just what is a Prapso? Prapso puppies are an interesting occurrence. They are perfectly healthy little babies. A Prapso puppy will mature faster than his litter mates, usually will open their eyes earlier than normal, They will get a full set of teeth much earlier than their littler mates and in general they tend to have a more rambunctious personality. They also for whatever reason are thought to be slightly smarter than other dogs of their breed. What is most noticeable is their shorter than average hair for their breed. In a full Prapso they will have shorter smooth hair, generally over their entire body however their muzzles and legs are generally shorter than their body, a Lhasa Apso looks almost identical to a Tibetan Spaniel if he/she is a full Prapso puppy. You can also have a partial Prapso, which is what I have seen in the Shih Tzu. A partial Prapso will generally have longer hair on the body, but it may not grow to the ground like a flowing show coat. There may be long hair on the face and head where your typical top knots can be done, but generally right around the muzzle will stay short and the legs will be shorter than the body, They can grow longer than a “smooth hair” look, but generally will not grow as long as typically seen on a Shih Tzu, but their hair will still have a straighter/smoother appearance with a slightly different texture than a typical Shih Tzu. Prapso puppies/dogs make excellent pets. You get the loving, fun, playful and loyal personality of the Shih Tzu without all the hard work of the long coat and profuse hair. If you keep your shih tzu in the shorter coat then the shorter hair is a non-issue. Prapso’s are not uncommon. Some breeders are unaware of this condition and often do not recognize the signs. Reputable breeders that are aware of this will simply sell the Prapso as a pet and educate potential buyers about how their puppy will be different if it is possible to tell before the puppy goes to his/her new home. However, some not so reputable breeders know exactly what a Prapso puppy is and choose not to tell buyers that the particular puppy they are interested in is a Prapso. A buyer can and usually will be very confused and disappointed in their puppy if they are not educated about this condition. Perhaps the buyer is looking for a show-quality Shih Tzu, the puppy or dog could then suffer from the results of a disappointed buyer and wind up in a shelter or worse homeless. A loving pet owner could spend unnecessary time and money and mental anguish trying to figure out what is “wrong” with their puppy. The Prapso puppy makes an absolutely wonderful, smart, affectionate, playful, somewhat low maintenance alternative to their breed standard counterparts. People that have owned Prapso’s are known to ask for another one as they realize what a joy they really are. The Prapso puppy is nothing to be ashamed of. (Reilly's Reg'd states in their contract that we will take a puppy back, so it does NOT wind up in a homeless state) On the breeder side of things, obviously, most breeders do not produce a Prapso puppy on purpose. They can just “pop up” every once in a while and no one really knows why. There are a lot of breeders that have had a litter or more with a Prapso puppy. There are theories that the Tibetan spaniel was mixed into the Lhasa and Shih Tzu breed many many years ago in Tibet, and they are the result of this practice. Some people just believe it is a genetic mutation that for whatever reason results in this characteristic. Many breeders who have had one show up will often get requests for another as they are so delightful and easy to care for. However, anyone who would think to breed them is in for a disappointment, as females seem to only have litters of 1-2 puppies. In the end a Prapso puppy is a perfectly healthy pet that can bring you years of love and affection. Signs you "might" own a Prapso? 1. Less grooming! the hair on most does not grow much, often they have a single coat so way less matting. In fact the only places you seem to get matting is behind the ears. 2. They generally have a thick "handlebar moustache" look to their pants on the back legs. 3. Little to no facial hair as we know it with a regular Shih Tzu. 4. Quick minds and learning tricks. 5. They shed more than a regular Shih Tzu. 6. "whoville" foot hair, LOL, it just seems to grow so much faster. Check out River's feet above! As with many other brachycephalic tight nostrils are very VERY common in the Shih Tzu breed. Tight nostrils and Stenotic Nares (pinched nostrils) are NOT the same thing. Tight Nostrils usually are noticed when the puppy is teething and may not go away until the adult teeth have fully come in (even up to a year old). This can come and go as the everything is swollen and plugging their tiny noses during this time, but as long as they are active and eating and drinking normally it is of little concern. Never have surgery done on a puppy that just simply has tight nostrils as it will eventually go away. Some dogs will have tighter nostrils than others and some will snore and snort more than others during their entire life, but tight nostrils to the point that they can't breath through their noses and cause health concerns is not common. You can help them alleviate the discomfort by massaging the sinus cavity, gums and between their eyes while teething. Stenotic Nares on the other hand are completely different and is usually present at birth but does not go away as the dog grows.. From the time the baby is born he has difficulty breathing through his nose and struggles with nursing from early on due to the inability to breath and eat at the same time. This may likely need to be corrected with surgery, but will depend on the severity of the condition. Talk to your vet about it, since you don't want to be doing an unnecessary surgery if your dog is still having the adult canine teeth come in, and could possible still be teething! For further information on this condition please check this website. They have an excellent article on stenotic nares.  For more information on surgical procedure to correct Stenotic Nares visit the website of Dr. Stephen Birchard.
Keeping Your Place FreshOctober 27, 2020
I have to admit that it makes me proud when visitors to my house comment on how they would “never know I have so many dogs”. Truth be told I only have 3 dogs currently so it’s not that many (in my opinion), but I do work hard to make sure my house does not smell like my house is overrun with dogs. After I receive the compliment, I usually joke to my guests that I believe “dogs should be seen not smelt”. Jokes aside, keeping your home free from doggy odours does require some chores and commitment, but the following steps can help you keep a cleaner, healthier home for both you and your dog. Start with the dog itself Believe it or not, some people don’t see how the obvious first step to a fresh smelling home is to clean the dog. About 95% of dog odours come from the actual dog itself so keeping your dog clean will result in way less doggy odours in your home. Bathing I got my first dog, an American Cocker Spaniel, when I was a child in the 90s. For some reason my family was told that one should only bathe a dog when absolutely necessary (“if he rolls in dead fish” was the actual example the VETERINARIAN gave us). Luckily for both our dogs and our noses this is no longer the case. Some breeds can be bathed weekly, others monthly, and others even less frequently. Talk with both your dog’s breeder and a professional groomer to decide which schedule is best for your dog, as well as which products to use. Dogs with dry, itchy skin usually benefit from an oatmeal based shampoo. If your dog has a skin condition, your vet can recommend a mild, soothing shampoo. Maintaining a regular bathing and blow-drying schedule with a professional groomer can also enormously reduce shedding double-coated breeds. With the use of the right equipment, a professional dog groomer can get enough hair out of your dog to make three more! Your dog and your vacuum will thank you. If your dog continues to have an unpleasant odour after bathing, it may be a sign of something more serious and a visit to your vet should be booked. Wiping Feet I don’t often see owning 3 dogs as overwhelming until it’s muddy outside and then I have to wipe 12 paws about a thousand times a day as they come from my backyard. Although it can a lot of work, dipping paws in warm water and then wiping them off every time your dogs come in and out of the house, this will help keep your floors clean from backyard debris and odor causing bacteria. A bonus to wiping paws is that you can double check to make sure they haven’t rolled in anything dirty and if you’ve got a “low rider” (like my Dandie) you can pick twigs and burrs out of their coat. A note here for backyard cleaning – I scoop poop daily to make sure my dogs do not step in it, or worse – and by worse, I mean roll in it! I currently have an 18-month-old dog and a 7-month-old puppy; every day is “Wrestle Mania” in my backyard. Keeping on top of your scooping is also a way to make sure your dogs are not having gastrointestinal issues. Grooming Keeping up on regular brushing and combing will keep shedding down as well as alert you immediately to an issue that could be causing a “stink”. Tooth Care Dental care is extremely important to maintain throughout the life of your dog. Bad dog breath is a sign of dental decay and should be looked at by a veterinarian. Just like with us humans, bad breath can be a sign of periodontal disease, but could also be a sign of an even more serious condition. As long as you are on top of it from the time they develop adult teeth, it has been my experience that a quick daily brushing using a pet friendly toothpaste will keep your dog’s breath under control, and help keep your house smelling fresh as well. Collars Many people forget to wash their dog’s collar regularly. If you wore the same garment every day would it smell great? Probably not. The good news is that nylon collars are easy to wash. I put mine in with a cold water cycle and air dry them. Leather collars don’t need to be washed as frequently. When I clean leather collars or leads, I simply use white vinegar mixed half and half with water at first. Let the collar dry out completely, and then apply leather conditioner like Saddle Soap. Bedding To keep your home smelling fresh, make sure you frequently wash your dog’s bedding. Most dog beds have removable cotton covers that can handle a cold wash cycle in the washing machine. I also have 3 beds with cotton filling so the whole bed can go into the wash on a gentle cycle followed by a hang dry. I wash my dog beds about twice a month and the blankets that go on top of them every week. Follow the washing instructions from the manufacturer and use whatever detergent is best for your dog as many can be sensitive to perfumes and do best with an unscented wash. Pro tip: Don’t forget about your dog’s toys – especially the soft ones. Just like their bedding, soft toys can store dirt and odours, especially if they spend a lot of time in your dog’s mouths – I’m talking to you retriever & pointer breeds! Most soft toys, like bedding, can be washed on a gentle cycle and dried on low in your dryer. A water/vinegar mix is best for washing toys though as you don’t want your dog consuming detergents or soaps. Food Containers Once you open a bag of food, it is then exposed to the elements. A few factors contribute to the smell of dog food once it has been opened, including air, moisture and temperature. This is why it’s important to consider how you are storing dry dog food. Unless your dog’s brand of food comes with a reliable, tight, zipper-like seal, it is probably a good idea to use an airtight storage container. I currently use both plastic and stainless steel containers. Always store unopened canned food in a dry, cool place and seal and refrigerate any opened cans. House Care Carpets I have to admit right now I’m a bit of a vacuuming addict. I was gifted a light weight vacuum for Christmas last year (if that’s not a sign I’m getting older I don’t know what is) and I use it every other day. It’s so light and easy that it takes no longer than ten minutes to do all the carpeting in my house. It is no secret that regular vacuuming removes the dirt, dander, hair, and soil that is visible. But it also helps eliminate all the microscopic allergens that you cannot see. I find that regular vacuuming really helps keep dog odours to a minimum. For an extra step in odor control, you can try sprinkling some baking soda on the carpet, let it sit for 10 minutes then vacuum it up. Floors Hardwood and laminate flooring also need regular cleaning when you own dogs. I don’t find that the hardwood floors in my place are a source of odour, but they tend to show paw prints quickly. I use both a vacuum to pick up debris and a commercial mop/broom combo product to finish. I use a mixture of water and white vinegar to my floors and have been happy with the results from this non-toxic cleaner mix. Couches I allow my dogs on my furniture so it’s important that I always have washable covers on my couches and backups for them when the “first string” covers are in the laundry. I’m lucky because my mother is great at sewing so my covers match my leather couches perfectly. You can use any throw or blanket to cover couches and I wash mine twice a week. Windows Never underestimate the power of fresh air. An open window can do wonders for the smell of your home, especially during the winter months or hot summer months when windows generally remain closed due to heat and air conditioning. Even 10 -15 minutes makes a difference. Plants Plants help clean the air and having plenty of green in your home can help keep your home fresh. It’s important to buy plants that are pet safe. Even if the plants are kept out of your dog’s reach I think it is safest to only have pet safe plants in your home and give your friends without pets the other houseplants you have. I like Boston ferns, African violets, Areca palm and ponytail palm just to name a few. There are plenty so you can definitely find some to fit your taste. These are just a few ways I keep my house full of dogs smelling fresh. Do you have any tips or tricks of your own? I’d love to hear them! Jot them down in the comments below!The opinions expressed by authors on the Canadian Kennel Club Blog and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of the Canadian Kennel Club or any of its employees. For more great articles from the ckc.ca visit their links here. |
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