Ouch!!! That (insert expletive) BONE!

The thing is, Shelby is a professional bone chewer by trade. She’s nine years old and still chews on bones like she’s barely out of puppy puberty. The vet tells me she has the whitest teeth she’s seen on an adult dog. That’s all well and good, but step barefoot on one of these bones and you will curse like a longshoreman. Even if you’re a monk.

Trust me.

It got worse before it got better.

Tucker, the very elderly old man senior dachshund we adopted last summer was attempting to have a poopy moment on the floor as I rubbed my foot.

Okay, so Tucker needed to go out asap. I tucked him under my arm like a football and set him down on the grass. Like the good boy he is, he adopted the poop-in-progress body position even though I’d rudely interrupted his moment. All seemed to be going well, until a little soft poopy smeared into his arse hairs, which then got caught up in the grass bits from the newly trimmed lawn.

Lovely!

Beautiful!

A small dog butt smeared with poo and grass clippings. I brought him inside and stuck him in the sink. I had to wash the whole dog, head to tail because he’s only ten pounds and if you start washing his bum, the rest of him jumps in for the fun of it. I toweled him off, fluff dried him, gave him a kiss on his noggin, and fed him his breakfast.

Mind you, this is before coffee. And did I mention I worked late last night? Okay, I just wanted to be sure you’re getting the whole picture.

Arlo, our third dog is not in trouble of any kind. Apart from the fact that he sheds enough hair to make a completely new dog every single livelong day. I brush him, feed him well, it doesn’t matter all that much. Arlo sheds like a Shetland pony.

Living with dogs isn’t as romantic as the Disney movies have you believe. It’s not a neverending carousel of fun and frolic. I have to cover my couch with sheets because Shelby licks the fabric and Arlo drools, which leaves weird and suspicious-looking wet spots that I’d rather not have to explain to dinner guests. The draped sheets puts my decorating theme somewhere between modern country and an abandoned clubhouse.

Then there’s my wood floors. Forgetaboutit. No matter how often I clip their toenails, my dogs manage to scritch and scratch the floors. I mean, they don’t know they’re bringing down the value of our house, but still, what a racket this whole adopt-a-dog thing is. Has anyone done research on home contractors? Those dudes are sneaky. They could be secretly promoting dog ownership to keep themselves in business.

This is no Hallmark card. This is no walk in the park, people. This is real. This is work. This is not always a bag of biscuits and googly eyes.

If I didn’t have dogs, my home would be spotless. There’d be no more clumps of Arlo’s hair drifting across the floor. My windows would be clear of doggy nose marks. There’d be no poopy elderly miniature dachshunds to hose down first thing in the morning, before coffee, after a late night, after stepping on a nubby bone with my bare feet!

I’d be so light and carefree and happy.

^{Wouldn’t I?}

No. I have to say no. I would not be happy.

I’ve lived in a dog-less home. I’ve experienced the dog-less household when a loved dog passes away. During those times our house goes quiet in much the same way it does if we lose power and the pulse of the house goes silent. No refrigerator humming, no clocks ticking, no furnace vibrating. A house without a dog feels lifeless to me; silent, brooding, waiting to be filled with the thrum of the next wonderful dog.

So, the truth is, I know what I signed up for when I adopted these three amigos. I signed up for surprises like poopy butts first thing in the morning, dust bunnies full of dog hair, and even stepping on the $&%*-ing bone. But, there are other moments.

Right now, I’m writing this with Shelby at my elbow. I turn to her and she ‘smiles’, a wave of joy ripples through her body, not because she just won the lotto, but because I smiled at her. Gosh, if that isn’t humbling. If that isn’t a great way to begin my day. If that isn’t a true miracle, then what is?

Shelby thumps her tail three times and goes back to chawing on her bone. Arlo sits on the rug and I can see hairs blowing off him in the sunlight. Tucker lies on his bed, fluffy clean, smelling like lavender.

What else would I be doing on such a beautiful summer day?

This. Exactly this. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here. .

Have you had those doggy days? The ones that aren’t the best, but still end up in a tail wag? Tell us about the good, the bad, and the ugly in the comments. I know you guys have stories.

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Colostrum, specifically bovine colostrum, is proving to be a powerful supplement. Some early studies show colostrum can boost the immune system, support tissue recovery, protect the digestive system, and act as an anti-inflammatory.

What is it?

Bovine colostrum is immunoglobulin-rich fluid produced by the cow’s mammary glands in the first few days after birth. Colostrum provides several important growth hormones and other compounds for the newborn, such as lactoferrin. Important antibodies provide immunity and protection from many infections for several weeks. Studies have shown that bovine colostrum offers benefits to other animals and humans as well.

What makes bovine colostrum a great supplement for other animals?

Immune system modulator

Colostrum acts as an immune system modulator, meaning it can stimulate a sleepy immune system or bring an overreactive immune system (inflammatory responses) back to homeostasis. Colostrum contains immunoglobulins that can kill dangerous bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and even cancer cells.

Proline rich proteins (PRPs) help to keep the thymus gland functioning as it should. The thymus gland is the immune system’s greatest defense. When it’s working as it should, it’s a barrier against disease and infection.

Prebiotics in bovine colostrum help to maintain healthy bacteria in the small intestine, boosting the immune system’s ability to ward off infection and disease.

Supports recovery from injury, boosts metabolism, and alleviates gut inflammation

Colostrum contains more than 70 growth factors, (natural proteins and hormones) that help damaged cells and tissue grow, divide, and recover. Studies show that wounds may heal faster with colostrum supplementation. Soft tissue, muscle, tendon, and ligament repair are another benefit. Recent studies show promise in bone regeneration and increased bone density after supplementation with colostrum.

There is also evidence that colostrum can increase the effectiveness of vaccines.

Gut health benefits are well documented. Bovine colostrum helps with leaky gut syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Some studies show bovine colostrum helps to alleviate allergies, particularly skin irritation, or dogs experiencing an allergic reaction to their environment, including flea allergies.

Supports dogs in active work or in competitive sports

It’s no secret that bovine colostrum helps human athletes perform better. One study showed a 20% increase in stamina and recovery time in athletes supplementing with colostrum. Although studies are few on dogs in athletic sports, it stands to reason they benefit as well.

How to choose a colostrum supplement

Whenever there’s a new discovery in supplements, you can bet there will be some less than honest manufacturers. To avoid wasting money or making your dog ill, here are some guidelines to purchasing bovine colostrum.

• Ethically sourced. Choose bovine colostrum, preferably from grass-fed cows, and collected within the first few hours after calving. Choose ethically sourced colostrum. This means the farm allows the calves to get the colostrum they need before collection.

• Purity and percentages. Look for colostrum collected from pasture raised dairy cows. Check the IgG percentage. IgG is shorthand for immunoglobulins also known as antibodies. Choose a supplement high in IgGs, anywhere from 20-38% is standard for dried (powdered) colostrum.

• Minimal to zero added ingredients. Stay away from flavored powders or added sugars.

Possible side effects

Side effects are few and far between, but some dogs experience tummy upset, including nausea and diarrhea. Most side effects can be avoided by adding the colostrum to your dog’s diet slowly.

If your dog has a lactose sensitivity, a colostrum supplement isn’t recommended. You should check with your veterinarian before supplementing if your dog has any allergies or sensitivities to food.

How to feed colostrum

• Colostrum is an oral supplement. It comes in various forms includng capsules, chews, oral liquid, tablets, or powder. The best time to feed your dog colostrum is about 30 minutes before meals for maximum absorption. If however, your dog balks at the taste or just won’t eat it alone, it’s perfectly okay to feed with meals. Ideally, feed at the same time every day.

• Monitor your dog for adverse reactions. To date, the only adverse reaction to pure colostrum has been tummy upset. This is usually due to a dairy sensitivity or adding the supplement too fast. Go slow when adding anything new to your dog’s diet.

• Be sure your dog has plenty of fresh drinking water.

• If you have a dairy sensitivity, you should avoid handling colostrum.

I publish short videos, photos, and tips on Substack Notes, and would love for you to join me there!

Notes is a new space on Substack for us to share links, short posts, quotes, photos, and more. I plan to use it for things that don’t fit in the newsletter, like work-in-progress or quick questions.

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I remember this day and it still makes me mad. This was more than twenty years ago now. We leased an old barn on a rural road in southern Connecticut. There were three of us and that August day was so hot that we chose not to ride. The horses grazed in the big field under the shade of a few gentlemanly old oaks. We sat on our tack trunks in the barn aisle and talked horses.

The field bordered an access trail into the Naugatuck State Forest where we’d ride out. We shared the trail with mountain bikers and hikers so it wasn’t unusual to have them cross the field to the barn, looking for directions back to the main picnic area or to fill their water bottles.

So we weren’t all that surprised when we heard a mountain bike skid to a stop in the gravel outside the door that day, but we were shocked to see what he carried.

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This is a picture of Bentley on the day we brought him home. Right from the start, he cherished comfortable places to nap. Bentley was an ‘open air’ sleeper and would lie on his back, chin up, to cool off his tummy on breezy summer days. If you’d had the good fortune to meet Bentley, here’s how you would have described him:

Bentley is the most ethical, responsible, kind, gracious, honest, humble, and incredibly handsome basset hound the world may ever know.

You wouldn’t have been the first to say it.

So when he was diagnosed with an aggressive stomach cancer at the age of seven I couldn’t get the phrase, “It’s not fair.” out of my head.

It’s true that Bentley drooled. A lot. My walls…well, let’s not talk about my walls.

I often had to dab at my guests’ good dress pants with a wet washcloth. One friend said she didn’t care at all and bent down to give him a second hug. “Bentley is my boyfriend,” she said, “what’s a little drool?” When she stood up, her pants glisten…

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The brochure said the self-guided driving tour would take about three hours. We left the campground and drove down a rural highway past sprawling horse farms, this was bluegrass country, Lexington, Kentucky.

Before we found the dog, we stopped at a small cabin where President Lincoln was said to have spent the night. No one was around and the cabin was locked up tight. We wandered the grounds and moved on to the next stop in the brochure, a covered wooden bridge over a muddy creek.

The pull off before the bridge was deserted. We hadn’t met anyone else on this self-guided tour, but it was noon and hot and sticky. Most tourists were probably in hotel pools or buying themselves an ice cream. The heat was getting to us, too. We’d make this our last stop and head back to the campground. We peered into the covered bridge and took a few photos of its long and black interior. We stayed on our side of the creek.

I took out my camera to take a few photos, brushed away a loud fly by my ear, and…

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The following article originally appeared in Animal Wellness Magazine, September 2021

Your dog or cat’s skin is his largest and hardest-working organ. It protects him from the elements, helps regulate his body temperature, and allows him to enjoy your loving touch. But his skin plays another important role – it can provide the first clues to brewing health problems. In fact, you can look at the condition of your dog’s skin – whether it’s dry or greasy, exhibits hot spots, pigment changes or other abnormalities — as an early warning system for hidden health issues.

Dry skin, itchiness, dandruff, flaking

• If your dog or cat’s skin is dry and itchy, with flakiness and/or dandruff, it could signal poor diet and inadequate nutrition uptake, or a serious problem such as demodectic mange, canine scabies, or ringworm. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough skin evaluation and may take scrapings or perform biopsies to rule out systemic issues.

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I remember a short, pocket-sized dog training book I read years ago that focused on adopting an older dog from a shelter. It was a great little book, full of helpful training information, while offering insights into the mind of the dog who is now in his second or third home.

In a brief section, she talks about eye contact, suggesting that whoever initiates eye contact first is alpha and whoever looks away first is submissive. To be fair, the book’s first printing was almost four decades ago. The author might have different ideas today.

In the book, she cautions us to pay attention when we’re reading or watching television. If we glance up to find our dog staring at us, we should send daggers back. If the dog looks away or slinks off, we made our point.

We’ve reestablished ourselves as the alpha dog.

But, is this true?

I don’t agree with this idea, except under very rare circumstances. I’m not a dog trainer so much as a person who studies dog behavior. I spend a lot of time watching …

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When I was a kid I loved Cocker Spaniels. There was something about those long, feathered ears and enormous dark brown eyes. I imagined that if I had a Cocker Spaniel I would take her everywhere, even march in the town parade.

As an adult, I tend to go for medium-sized athletic types, fairly short-haired. I realize that I’ve had three of the same type of dog, all mixed breeds, that look remarkably like Shelby, the dog I have now, a whippet/hound mix.

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That’s Meg, in the photo. She’s my grand-dog and our Dog Wise cover girl. She’s just about fourteen years old now and as she lives in Big Sky country, she’s hiked in the backcountry, splashed in cool alpine lakes, and encountered more than her fair share of bull elk, some right in her own neighborhood. Meg’s frosted face gives it away, she’s in her senior years, but she still loves her adventures.

Longevity

I think about longevity in dogs and how (or if) it has changed over the last several decades. Improved veterinary care and nutrition has, in fact, lengthened the average lifespan of your dog by around 12 percent, from 11.5 years to 13 years.

Of course, any added time is a good thing, but in the words of Oliver Twist, “I’d like a little bit more, please.” It’s not such a crazy thing to ask for. I’m a lifelong horse person and have owned horses now for 25 years. Over the last 50 years, equine longevity rose from an average of 18-20 years to between 25-30 years and beyond.

That pheno…

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In February, I posted the following article. If you’ve seen the news of the Ridglan Farm Beagle Rescue on social media, you know that courageous animal advocates, perhaps supported by your words, your actions, your letters, or your restacks, helped to free 1500 pups from life in the lab.

The activists faced tear gas and rubber bullets, but they didn’t cave. 1500 Beagles are free to begin the lives they were always meant to live, in homes, in comfort, in love. I love watching the hundreds of videos of these sweet souls tentatively tip-toeing across a grassy yard or playing with a toy for the very first time. We needed this good news!

Never, never, never underestimate the force of your compassion and determination to make the impossible…possible. Below is the piece I wrote for Dog Wise just a few months ago.

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Tipper knew me better than any dog. She knew me on the outside and she knew me on the inside. I know she knew what I was thinking and I like to think I knew what she was thinking, at least some of the time.

Most dogs love unconditionally.

Tipper wasn’t one of them. She had high standards and we held to them. (no hugging, no sappy stuff, no baby talk.) She didn’t like to hike or be walked on a leash. What she loved, was her job as a farm dog. She was my heart dog. My muse.

After Tipper passed at the age of eighteen, I suffered. I cried. Yes, I’d had her for so many years, but I wanted more.

After a long search, I adopted Shelby, as a puppy. She started out spunky, sassy, joyful, loved hugs. She still does. When Shelby is happy, her smile ripples through her body, from her eyes to her tail. The tail thumps five times, exactly five times.

We’ve hiked so many trails together. All over Connecticut. Maine. New York. She loves to hike. We go and go and go. She loves bones. I mean loves bones.…

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So, why is there a horse on a Dog Wise post?

I’ve spent a lifetime with horses. They’re all so different, not just physically, but in personality. There are parallels between our relationship with horses and our relationship to other sentient beings, including dogs. If you own horses you know that there are two kinds of people in the horse world, those who over-romanticize horses, (which can put them at risk), and those who admire them, but take a more practical approach, which, I believe, is safer and even more satisfying.

I see parallels in the dog world. To us, they’re a blend of saint, mystic, and toddler, all rolled into one adorable creature. But, in the same way that some people try to turn their horses into unicorns, dog owners can get even more woo-woo.

The horse in the photo is Mighty. He was four years old when we welcomed him into our barn as a trail horse for my husband, Dave. Mighty was trained to pull a carriage, but had little experience on the trail, which is what we…

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I passed a woman on a gravel trail around a lake last Friday. She was dragging and tugging and pulling on her dog, a roly poly white pit bull mix, struggling to get him to walk. He wasn’t happily sniffing or curious about his environment. That wasn’t it at all. The dog was as reluctant to go on this walk as he would be heading into the examining room at the vet’s office.

His message was clear: I don’t want to.

The woman, a flowsy-haired forty-something, made little exasperated noises. “Come on! I just want to go on a walk!” The dog was having none of it. I smiled at his owner and stated the obvious. “I guess he doesn’t want to go on a walk today!” That elicited another, “ugh! come on! I just want to go on a walk!” The dog’s expression was miserable.

In fairness, it’s not as if she was asking him to hike straight up the side of a mountain. It’s 3.60 miles of flat terrain, mostly gravel around a lake. But, the day was hot and I wondered if the gravel was hot, too. This dog was albino an…

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I’ve always wondered what it is like to be a dog.

When I was a kid, I wanted a dog more than anything. My parents weren’t dog people, though they LOVED all dogs. To compensate, I’d move around on all fours, sniffing the air, barking, and accepting treats from my older sister who had promised my mother she wouldn’t encourage me.

As an adult, I still wonder what it’s like to be a dog. They seem so comfortable in their skin. I know Shelby isn’t concerned that she’s going to go grey in the face. Arlo doesn’t seem concerned that his face is already frosted, and Tucker is deaf, toothless, and has trouble seeing. That doesn’t stop him at all.

We humans are physically different from dogs, of course. For starters, we’re bipedals and dogs are quadrupeds. We look very different just moving around our world. But, it’s more than visual. I know my dog’s experience of her body on four legs is superior to my own experience.

Dogs use their four legs for running, jumping, leaping, turning, spinning, cl…

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I adopted Shelby when she was 12 weeks old. Once she acclimated to us, I took her to outdoor cafes, walks around the neighborhood, into the woods, craft stores, pet shops, and even Walmart. We signed up for a series of basic obedience classes at a dog-training school where she got to meet other dogs. My goal was to socialize her well so she’d be welcome anywhere.

Eventually, I took her on real hikes in the forest. I let her explore shallow streams, climb rocks, dig holes, and investigate all the smells at the bottom of the tree trunks. I never had her off leash because she’s part whippet and part southern cur. She has a high chase instinct.

On one hike as she was tentatively navigating a shallow stream, disaster struck. A large Pyrenees mix hurtled towards her growling and snarling. The owner grabbed his dog by the collar and apologized. Shelby emerged physically unharmed, but she was rattled.

And so was I.

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She’s been memorialized in film, novels, and songs. Her statue graces the Russian Cosmonaut training facility in Moscow, a small dog standing atop a rocket that morphs into a palm. Her name was Laika.

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Whether you and your dog live in a city, town or rural area, you share habitat with local wildlife. Spring is an active time for bears, coyotes, raccoons, and other wildlife.

Confrontations between dogs and wild animals are common, and can result in dangerous or even life-threatening injuries. Since we love to share our world with these wild creatures, we have to take steps to protect wildlife, and our dogs, from potentially lethal face-to-face encounters.

Depending on where you live, local wildlife can run the gamut from the usual squirrels, rabbits and raccoons, to porcupines, skunks, possums, foxes and even bears or cougars. Animals like coyotes and bobcats have adapted so well to human development that even if you live in a suburban area, chances are you’ll meet up with them eventually. In fact, coyotes adapt to almost any living situation, making dens out of downed trees, culverts, or even under decks.

Most encounters between humans and wildlife are peaceful, but dogs — especially loose dogs — add another element. “Squirrels, raccoons, and skunks see your dog as a predator, and animals like coyotes see them as adversaries,” says Dr. Kat Miller, a certified professional dog trainer and Director of Anti-Cruelty Behavior Research with the ASPCA. Prey animals like rabbits and squirrels will usually run away from your dog, but others will try to defend themselves by various means — like a skunk with his spray or a porcupine with his quills. Larger predatory animals like coyotes, cougars or bears can attack if chased or confronted by a dog. “Either way, your dog is at risk, and he might even get you in trouble if he doesn’t know how to curb his chase instinct.”

It’s natural for your dog to give chase

“It’s important to understand that your dog’s predatory behavior is normal,” says Dr. Miller. “We sometimes think our dogs are being bad, but the chase/ prey drive is instinctual. The problem is that chasing another animal can really get your dog into trouble. When he’s ‘on chase’ he has a laser focus. He isn’t just ignoring your recall; he truly doesn’t hear you. All his attention is on the object. When he’s in that state, he can have a bad episode with a cornered animal or might even run across a road and get hit by a car.”

But the chase drive itself isn’t the enemy. In fact, every time your dog fetches a ball or leaps up to catch a flying disc, he’s following his predatory response to movement. There’s a good reason he loves to do it; when your dog is “on chase”, his central nervous system releases feel-good endorphins to his brain. Those endorphins can last for hours. It’s similar to the feeling you get when looking at a beautiful piece of art or taking a bite of chocolate.

Chasing is a form of positive reinforcement

“Those feel-good endorphins are a form of positive reinforcement,” says Dr. Miller. “Even if your dog doesn’t catch the squirrel he’s chasing, the reward is in the good feeling he gets from the chase. If the behavior is consistently rewarded, it can really escalate.

“If you think about it,” she adds, “the toys you buy for your dog mimic little critters. Some of them squeak or roll like a prey animal might. You want to be a good dog parent by honoring his need to chase and shake things. And there’s no reason for your dog to give that up; he can still do it, but with a little more direction from you. Chasing is fun, but he must halt the chase if you ask him to.”

Start by redirecting his attention

A good place to begin, according to Dr. Miller, is by using your dog’s favorite toy to redirect his attention to you when he starts to chase something in the backyard. “The next time he chases a squirrel, try redirecting his attention back to you by shaking his favorite toy instead,” she says. “A whistle is helpful to get his attention. You’ll have to be very enthusiastic in order to make the reward for ‘chasing’ you greater than the reward he gets from chasing the squirrel.” Highly-valued treats can also help with this redirection.

Practice gaining your dog’s attention by catching his eye. If you can get your dog to look directly into your eyes as you redirect his attention to the toy or treat, you’re well on your way to the next step, which is to train your dog to “wait”.

Teaching your dog to “wait”

When I first adopted my Border Collie, Tipper, we worked on this a lot. As a Border Collie she was always on high alert so teaching her to control her impulses was key to keeping her safe. I taught her the wait command and I like it so much, I’ve taught it to my current dog, a sight-hound cross, Shelby.

The “wait” command is a lot like the “stay” command, but with a subtle difference. Your dog doesn’t need to hold any particular position. All you’re asking is that he pauses, redirects his attention to you, and waits for your command. Reward your dog for small successes and build on that foundation.

“You should start training the ‘wait’ command when your dog is still a puppy, but even a mature dog can learn this,” says Dr. Miller. “Start by teaching him to wait before he’s allowed to approach his food bowl, and before he goes outdoors.” Remember to use lots of praise and treats at this stage.

“Some dogs are easier to train than others,” says Dr. Miller. “The border collie, for instance, was bred to follow commands or signals at a distance. It might be easier to train her than a terrier or a sight hound, but it’s a trainable skill no matter what breed of dog you own.”

Once you have trained a solid “wait” into your dog, you have a much better chance of preventing him from chasing and confronting wildlife, whether you’re in the backyard, the dog park, or a wooded area. Yes, his urge to chase is a strong one, but with a little practice and some extra precautions, he’ll learn to override his instinctual response to hightail it after the next rabbit, skunk or other critter he sees.

I think of animal rescue workers as the world’s most accomplished long distance runners. Imagine putting your head on the pillow every night and knowing you couldn’t save every dog that landed on your radar. For every old dog, bedraggled dog, too skinny dog, too fearful dog rescuers save, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands more.

I wonder how they do it. Why not just give up?

Then I look at Arlo.

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Dogs are fascinating. They are one of the few animals that live inside our home in almost perfect harmony. They are the most domesticated animal on earth, a transformation that took roughly 15,000 years. If you compare the dog to other domesticated animals like the horse, the cat, chickens, or cows, there’s no contest in how well they’ve acclimated to living with humans.

Dogs are smart. Their intelligence is borne of a life lived through the senses. Sight, sound, taste, touch, and scent; this is where they live, free of the vagaries and misunderstandings of spoken language. Think of arriving at a beautiful beach; you stand and breathe in the sea air, smile, look around, and remark to your companion on the beauty of the scene.

Your dog, arriving at the same beach breathes in the sea air and smells not just the salt, but a strip of seaweed rotting off to his left, another dog upwind, and perhaps a single french fry someone dropped in the sand several yards away.

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