How to Talk to Your Dog

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Maggie Mae Pup Reporter — 2 Comments

How to Talk to Your Dog
by Jean Craighead George

When I was a puppy my owner got lots advice on raising a dog. There were trainers, the pet store owner and the veterinarian, and she had books of advice all over the house. One of them was How to Talk to Your Dog, by Jean Craighead George. I liked the idea that my owner was going to talk to me and to understand what I was trying to say to her—even when I didn’t make a sound.When I discovered that Mrs. George, who’s an award-winning author of children’s books, lived in Chappaqua, not very far from my house, I knew I had to meet her. I wanted to know how a human could know so much about dogs. So, on my next walk into town I walked a little farther to her home.I could tell this was the home of someone who loved animals and nature. It was nestled in woods, and I could hear birds chirping and a bullfrog croaking in the pond. I saw a chipmunk scurrying in her garden.

In good hands with Jean Craighead George at her home in 2010

Mrs. George, who was 91 years old at the time, had lived in Chappaqua for 51 years. On Mrs. George’s working table were her notebooks and sketch books and a stack of letters from children. I was glad she read her fan mail. I asked her how she knew so much about us dogs and how we think. She told me she had had five dogs and had studied wolves. Her dog Qimmiq was the most wonderful dog and the inspiration for How to Talk to Your Dog. “After I studied wolves I realized Qimmiq was talking to me the way the wolves do,” she said. “He howled ‘Ah oohh’ just like a wolf. My granddaughters would call in the morning and say, ‘I want to speak to Qimmiq.’ I’d hold up the phone and he’d howl. And then they would hang up. They didn’t want to talk to me.”I liked the way Jean George talked to me and was very intrigued by the way she spoke about Qimmiq. I wished I could have met him. We could have been good friends. When I got home, I turned on the computer and went to her website www.jeancraigheadgeorge.com. There I found a video of Jean George and Qimmiq talking to each other. I could hear the love in Jean’s voice and in Qimmiq’s howl.

Before I left, Jean George gave me some good advice: “Always obey,” which I didn’t much like, and “Let your owner know when you are annoyed!” That made my tail wag, and I hope my owner heard it too!

My owner told me that Mrs. George passed away in 2012, two years after I met her. She said she was sad because she was such a great writer, but she was glad that I got to meet her too.

How do you talk to your dog?

Tagged with: Chappaqua, Children's Book Authors, Dog communication, Dogs, Inside Chappaqua magazine, Jean Craighead George, Maggie Mae Pup Reporter
Posted in A Day in the Life of Maggie Mae, Maggie Mae’s Book Blog, One Day in the Life of Maggie Mae

Snow showers they called it today

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Maggie Mae Pup Reporter — Leave a comment

Watching the snow plow go by

A few inches of snow and a polar vortex on the way.

Be prepared. Please be sure to see my post “Keeping your dog safe in the winter” posted earlier this year.

How much snow did you see today?

Tagged with: Dogs, Maggie Mae Pup Reporter, Pets, polar vortex, Raphael Miranda, Ronni Diamondstein, Snow, snow removal, Weather, Winter
Posted in A Day in the Life of Maggie Mae, One Day in the Life of Maggie Mae

What’s in a Name?

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Maggie Mae Pup Reporter — 2 Comments

Megan and Alexis named their dog Chloe to rhyme with their cousin’s dog Zoe.

Veterinary Pet Insurance just released a list of the most popular dog names and my name is on the list. This made me curious so I asked my owner how I got my name. My owner says it’s important to meet a new pet before deciding on a name. It’s just like naming a baby, she thinks; you look at it and say, “Yes, that’s the name.” My owner learned that bit of wisdom when I came into her life. When she decided to get a poodle, she thought she would give the dog a French name after someone she admired like Coco Chanel. But when she met me, she realized that name didn’t suit me. I was so tiny, I weighed only 2 ½ pounds at 3 months old, yet so out-going and friendly she thought I needed a name with more spunk . Then, because she is a librarian and knows lots of children’s books she thought about the character Maggie in her friend and Chappaqua resident Jean Van Leeuwen’s book, “Wait for Me,” Said Maggie McGee.” Maggie in the book was the youngest and smallest in the family and was always chasing after the big kids for their attention. So I became Maggie with Mae for a middle name because my owner liked that Rod Stewart song. And when she told the students at her elementary school how she named me, one very wise fourth grader, Lucas said, “Of course Ms. Diamondstein would name her dog after a character in a book.

I wondered how other dogs got their names, so I decided to ask some of my canine friends how they were named and was surprised by the variety of the answers.

*My Boston Terrier neighbor MJ, has a mind of her own and told me she didn’t like her given name Princess, so she never answered to it when she was called. One day at the veterinarian’s office she heard the Tech called “MJ”. She decided that was a good name, so she starting responding every time it was called. Now that’s what everyone calls her.

*And my good friend Riley, the Staffordshire Terrier, was supposed to be Logan for the Boston airport connection of his owner Brian, but it just didn’t suit his personality.

*Harry Houdini, the Wire Fox Terrier, has an owner who is a magician.

*And my new Yorkie puppy friend Virginia Woof told me she got her literary name because there are so many English majors in her family.

*Ranger, the chocolate lab, was named by his hockey-loving family for their favorite team.

Every time I hear someone say, “Maggie Mae,” I wag my tail with joy because I love hearing my name. So whether you choose your dog’s name based on its breed, its looks or something you like to do, be sure you say it with a smile in your voice!

You can check out the list here: VPI Most Common Pet Names

How did you get your name? Please tell me here.

Tagged with: Dog names, Dogs, Inside Chappaqua magazine, Jean Van Leeuwen, Maggie Mae, Maggie Mae Pup Reporter, Names, Pets, Ronni Diamondstein, Veterinary Pet Insurance
Posted in A Day in the Life of Maggie Mae, One Day in the Life of Maggie Mae

Keeping your Dog Safe in the Winter

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Maggie Mae Pup Reporter — 1 Comment

It has been a very cold winter so I’m happy that my owner dresses me in one of my winter jackets. Being a small dog and close to the ground I really feel the cold. And she makes an extra special point of wiping off the salt on my feet when we come in from the ice and snow. It made me wonder if there were other things dogs needed to know about in the winter so I contacted a local veterinarian, Jeremy Tubbs, DVM of the Millwood Animal Hospital.

I love wearing my coats when I go out but I don’t always see other dogs wearing one on very cold days so I asked Dr. Tubbs if all dogs should wear a coat or sweater. “I think every dog is different and has its own level of tolerance,” says Dr. Tubbs. “Of my two dogs, Solo and Jasper, one loves wearing a sweater or a coat outside, the other will try to take it off. I feel that smaller dogs, and those with shorter hair coats would benefit from one, especially if they are going to be outdoors for a prolonged period of time.”

Sometimes when I’m out in the ice and snow I stop walking because my paw hurts. I lift it up and wait for my owner to make it feel better. I asked Dr. Tubbs about that. “With prolonged activity in the snow, snowballs can accumulate between the pads of a dog’s foot. This may become uncomfortable, or simply make walking difficult,” says Dr. Tubbs. “In this case boots may help, but like anything, a dog has to be trained to use them.” I tried them once but it was hard to walk in them. But it has been so cold lately, she wants me to try them again and I just may! Dr. Tubbs said he has heard of people using PAM cooking spray on their feet to prevent snow accumulations. “The most important thing is to know your own dog and its limits.” And like my owner, he is all for washing paws when you come in the house. “Some ice melt products can also irritate a dog’s pads and inter-digital spaces. I always recommend a quick wash of the feet after a walk to remove the snow melt and salt to prevent licking and further irritation.”

My friend Willie, a French Bulldog who is eight years old once slipped on the ice and sprained his rear leg. Dr. Tubbs said it very important to consider our older dogs in ice and snow. “By the time they are two years old, over 85% of dogs already have arthritic changes, and it may be more difficult for our geriatric dogs to step over high snow accumulation, or navigate icy sidewalks or areas. In this case, booties may be a good idea for better traction and footing.” And puppies need to be careful too. “Puppies will have more of a challenge over all,” says Dr. Tubbs, “Navigating through snow and ice, immature bones can be more prone to injury. So using more caution with the youngsters is always important.”

I also wondered if I still needed topical treatment of flea and tick medication during the winter and Dr. Tubbs agreed that it was a good idea. “All it takes is for the temperature to become a little mild for fleas and ticks to come out.”

Just like when it is very hot outside it’s not a good idea to leave your dog unattended in the car in the very cold weather. Dr. Tubbs says that dogs have a natural coat 365 days a year, though some are more dense and warm than others. “Air between the skin and the coat acts as a natural insulator. But if a pet is inactive, its core body temperature will lower, and if a pet is not acclimated to cold temperatures, it can become uncomfortable very soon.” Dr. Tubbs says that he would not leave his animals in his car for a prolonged period if the temperature is below 40 degrees. “But my dogs are used to the toasty confines of their dog beds and our home.”

I get excited when I see snow and love to be out and about in the winter, but I do get cold. Like Dr. Tubbs’s dogs nothing makes me happier than being cozy and warm in the house curled up with my owner or on my dog bed.

For more cold weather tips for pets you can go to the ASPCA website: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/cold-weather-tips.aspx

My owner is trying to get me to wear little boots. I don’t like them. Let’s see who wins.

What do you do to help your pets be safe in the winter?