Springtime is always a good time to think about keeping you pet safe
Having a microchip is very important as a form of identification if you get lost. I wrote about it in my last Inside Chappaqua Magazine column. Recently VPI the Pet Insurance company wrote about it too.
Here is a link to that article Microchipping Pets
Photo credit: Liza Margulies
Today is the day to show your pet how much you love them. I know my owner loves me. I can’t imagine our lives without each other.
Joe, a Cocker Spaniel who was lost and brought in from Mount Kisco by a good Samaritan, gets lots of TLC from Lisa Bonnano-Spence, Development Manager at SPCA of Westchester in Briarcliff Manor
Recently my friend Olive was lost in the city. I felt so sorry for her family.
Here’s my latest column in Inside Chappaqua Magazine about what to do if your dog is lost.
Here is the link:
Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone.
Inside Chappaqua Magazine March/April 2014
East meets West: Romeo, a Yorkshire Terrier with his owner Nicole who was born in Korea.
With St. Patrick’s Day coming it got me thinking that most of the dogs I meet are not Native Americans. I, for one, am a Poodle. People think we are French but we really came from Germany. Former Secretary of State Clinton who lives in my town has a Toy Parti Poodle, Tally just like me. She and President Clinton also have a Canadian breed, Seamus, a Labrador Retriever. They are the most popular dogs in America and I can believe it because I meet a lot of them in all colors, Black, Yellow and Chocolate.
I have met a lot of dogs from around the world walking in my town. One of the first dogs I met when I was a puppy was Gizmo, a Tri-Color Australian Shepherd. Though he was about ten times my size, Gizmo was shy at first and the most gentle and friendly dog. He was like the mayor and made me feel right at home on the street.
Out of Egypt comes my friend Jester, the sleek and speedy Greyhound. “We are one of the oldest breeds known to man,” Jester, a former racing dog told me, “ and came to America in the 1500’s with the Spanish explorers.”
I’ve met lots of dogs from Europe: the very friendly and low-key Puffy, a Black and Gold English Spaniel and Oliver, the exuberant Yorkshire Terrier and Milo, the very affectionate cream-colored French Bulldog. Finnegan Patrick O’Keefe, the Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier whose name lives up to its breed’s Irish roots. Don’t be surprised when you see that handsome dog and he gives you his Wheaten greeting, playfully prancing on his hind legs and gaily showing himself off. Wheaten’s are very outgoing and self-confident that way.
And there is “Q” the Golden Retriever who romps around collecting tennis balls which is about the only thing this Scottish lad retrieves and Harry Houdini, the Wire Hair Terrier who also hails from the British Isles springing into action around town.
And there are all the “Doodles” and “Poo’s”. Goldendoodles like my friend Blue who, although he is not a service dog, told me that they started breeding Golden Retrievers with Poodles to create hypoallergenic dogs for visually impaired people with allergies. Labradoodles like Taz, an Australian Labradoodle who actually flew over from Victoria, Australia via pet jet 11 years at 4 months old and was picked up by his owners at JFK cargo. And there’s Cody the Malti-Poo who is a mix of the aristocratic Maltese with the intelligent Poodle.
My neighborhood is like the United Nations. We have French Papillons with butterfly-shaped ears, Chinese Shih Tzus and a Hungarian Vizsla, to name a few. There are two All American dogs on our block, MJ and Lucky, Boston Terriers. I did some research and found out that their breed was a Boston creation of two British dogs: English Terrier and English Bulldog.
And so globally or locally as I stroll around town greeting dogs from all over the world, no matter what our size, color or country of origin, the one thing we all have in common is we are and always will be man’s best friend and feel right at home wherever we live.
What is the country of origin of your dog? My owner says there are lots of other breeds from abroad so you can let me know who you are. Contact me, Maggie Mae Pup Reporter™, at maggiemae10514@gmail.com
With two of my favorite cousins Sophia and Chloe
As I said last week, I love people. Nothing makes me happier than being out and about seeing old friends or making new ones. I am six years old and in dog years depending on the old or the new way you figure it, I’m either 38 or 43. Because I am so small, people always think I’m a puppy, but I don’t mind because I’m a kid at heart. I especially love children and I think that’s because I have a lot in common with them. Here are the final five of the top ten reasons:
5. I like to play. Even after I come in from a two mile walk into town, I will pick up a ball in my house and expect my owner to play fetch with me.
4. I’m obedient—most of the time! Since I have been well trained, I come when I’m called and sit on command. But, like most children, I sometimes have a mind of my own.
3. I’m loyal. Being the territorial creature that I am, I will defend my owner and always come to her when she calls. And like a child, I want to go home with my mommy.
2. I like attention. I think the world revolves around me. When anyone comes to our door, be it friend, relative or repairman, I think they are there to play with me.
1. And no surprise to anyone, the number one reason is love, unconditionally. I’m affectionate and show it with lots of kisses. Just like most little kids I want to cuddle and be cozy. But unlike a child as they grow older, I will want to snuggle with my owner for the rest of my life.
How is your pet like a child?
Natalia is one of the kids in my neighborhood that I love
I love people. Nothing makes me happier than being out and about seeing old friends or making new ones. I am six years old and in dog years depending on the old or the new way you figure it, I’m either 38 or 42. Because I am so small, people always think I’m a puppy, but I don’t mind because I’m a kid at heart. I especially love children and I think that’s because I have a lot in common with them. Here are the first five of the top ten reasons:
10. I needed to be trained. It’s all about the rules and boundaries. I was house broken and taught to ring a bell when I needed to go outside to do my business. I learned commands and words and the names for people and things. I was socialized. My owner introduced me to dogs of all sizes and people of all ages. I went on an elevator, to the train station and to crowded spots so I would not be afraid.
9. I’m honest, innocent and not judgmental. When I meet someone new I give them a good sniff. If I sense they are not “dog people,” I wag my tail and go on my way.
8. I’m curious. My owner thinks I’m nosey, but like most children who want to learn and explore new things, I like to know what is going on and sniff out who has been around.
7. I’m friendly, small and not threatening. I will wag my tail when I see someone I know or want to get to know.
6. I sleep a lot, just like a baby. No matter how much energy I have and although my owner has other ideas about what I do when she’s away, I’m really napping until she comes home.
The top five reasons will come next week…How is your pet like a child?
When I was two years old our friend Liza took this picture of me with my owner.
It’s love your pet day today! What more can I say. I love my owner and she loves me!
Jen and Belle: Loyal companions get cozy and comfortable together.
“Nobody will ever love you as much as your dog does,” writes Jean Craighead George in her book, How to Talk to Your Dog. I have been thinking about that line since I interviewed her several years ago. Since it is February and almost Valentine’s Day, what better time to explore the way my canine friends and I express our love. Several years ago I asked my friends and here is what they told me at the time.
I’m always happy when my owner comes home. I wag my tail, run to her and then scurry to see what she has brought into the house. My friend Bear, a big Akita/Shepherd blend, howls to welcome his owners Dan and Sheila when they walk through front door. Coco and Jules, two mixed breed rescue dogs, jump on their owners Dave and Celine giving them lots of licks. “We follow them around the house because we want to be near them,” says Coco who also loves to cuddle with the family cats.
Another way I show my love to my owner is to curl up on her bed. I roll over so she can rub my belly. Coco and Jules love to nestle in bed with their owners too. “My favorite morning moment is to jump in the bed and snuggle,” says Coco. “And Jules loves to kiss his daddy’s shiny bald head when he does his sit ups!”
The sofa is another place to show affection. I climb up with my owner, resting on her chest while she watches television or reads a book. I can feel her heart beating and I am sure she can feel mine. My friend Belle, a Chocolate Lab, nudges her owner Jen when she wants to lie down next to her. And on a cold winter night, Bruno, a Boxer, puts his paws up on his owner Carmine, hugging him till Bruno falls asleep in his arms.
Grooming is not my favorite activity, but it’s a special time for Alfie, an Old English Sheepdog. He loves to be brushed by his owner Bill. “I just melt,” says Alfie. It’s a bonding experience for both.
I never know who I will see when I take walks. When I see 9 year old Natalia and her friends who lives in my neighborhood, I always wiggle and wag my tail with happiness. I give them my kind of hug, nuzzling on their feet. One day I saw Riley, a year old American Staffordshire Terrier. We were sniffing each other “hello,” when all of a sudden the girls came running towards me. I was excited to see them, but Riley, who did not know them, barked. I had never heard him bark before so I knew he was protecting me–giving puppy love a new meaning!
When I’m feeling affectionate, I push my head under my owner’s hand, begging to be petted. She calls me a love bug and says, “Maggie, you’re my girl.” I love her no matter what she does, even if she annoys me—which she does from time to time. I protect her, I defend her and I will be a loyal friend, always. This talk of love makes me want to jump up on my owner’s lap, lean my head on her hands, and finish writing this post together.
I am a featured columnist in Inside Chappaqua Magazine. My latest column is about shopping with your dog. It has good advice for dog owners. Here’s a link to the article currently online.
Thank you to Grace Bennett for giving me a voice for the past four years!
Shopping with your Dog Inside Chappaqua Magazine,February 2014 issue.
Here is Finn with Ed Wechsler of La Mer Seafood and his owner Kelly Leonard
“May I pet your dog?” is music to my ears and a question I often hear my owner asked. I love to meet people and if I wasn’t a dog, I would say I’m a people person. In my travels I have had many opportunities to meet children, most of them pleasant. But once I was hit by a little girl whose mother assured my owner her daughter never did that to her own pets. I guess that girl had never been taught how to behave with strange dogs. I want everyone, no matter what their age, to know the right way to approach a strange dog, so I reached out to Gary Pietropaolo, a certified dog trainer who had worked with me when I was a pup.
Let the dog sniff your hand first before you pet him or her
He told me that if you love dogs and see a dog you’d like to pet, please ask the owner first. Not all dogs are used to being around children and the owner will know if it’s safe. If you have permission, listen for any special instructions. If the dog is approachable, walk over, but stand tall. Don’t squat or get low to the ground because, says Pietropaolo, that can spark aggression in a dog. And never crawl over to them. Put out your palm or a closed fist so the dog can sniff you. I don’t mind people petting my head, but most dogs do. So, pet the dog under its chin, not over the head; that can seem like a threat to a dog. Pet the side of the neck and chest, or along the back with gentle strokes. Don’t touch their eyes and ears and Pietropaolo warns, “Stay away from the sensitive flank area between the dog’s back legs.” What do you do if a dog gets feisty, jumpy and aggressive? Pietropaolo says, “Don’t scream if this happens, just freeze. Fold your arms and get stiff. That diffuses the dog’s excitement.”
I asked Pietropaolo what to do if a dog without its owner comes up to a child at a park or on the street. He says that the dog may look friendly, but it may not be. He had good advice about that too: “Don’t run or show fear if a stray dog approaches. Freeze, fold your arms and don’t touch it. Wait for an adult.”
Pietropaolo also recommends socializing your dog. “Hands down, acclimating your dog to a variety of situations and people is the best,” says Pietropaolo. My owner took me all over to get used to all kinds of people in every place you can imagine: from department stores to a building with an elevator and the train station. I encountered a variety of sights, sounds, scents and folks.
The next time you see a dog you want to pet, follow these recommendations for greeting a dog in a kind, caring and respectful way. In the end it can be mutually rewarding for you and the dog.
Maggie Mae Pup Reporter 