Good Dog

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

It isn't really true, strictly speaking. But we do get a little harder to train with age.

Luckily, I'm still young.

After months of complaining about my behavior, Mom called someone.

Mind you, I think my behavior is fine. I am enthusiastic, and assertive. I am puppy-like, really. But a big puppy. Who's totally in charge of the entire neighborhood. And who is, chronologically, a little past puppyhood.

I can't imagine what's bad about that.

Mom called her friend Max Alligood, who's a trainer with Bark Busters. Max came over, and got to know me a little better. I liked that he came to my house. I don't feel as jumpy when I have my Things, and he didn't seem threatening on My Turf.

We talked, we walked. He got pretty pushy. Apparently, according to him, it's not a good thing that I'm in charge.

While I know, in my admittedly not-too-large dog brain, that Mom is my Alpha, I forget when I get outside and start smelling eau de neighborhood pup on the air...

I stand taller, I prance higher, I tug harder. I take inventory. I can smell them: bossy jack russells, clumsy-footed labradoodles, the giant great dane, the three-legged lab from up the block, the proud mini pin, the australian cattle dog around the corner, the chihuahua that needs to be reminded how little he is, the border collie that thinks she's really smart, the weimerauner that looks like he matches someone's couch,... that show-offy well-behaved other boxer... and the CATS....they ALL need to know I'm the Boss.

Apparently, Coach Max and Mom both disagree. He called me the "worst dog" he's seen all year. While I'm certain he just hasn't seen many dogs (After all, I know all those dogs I just mentioned - and some of them have very bad things to say, if you speak Dog. Which I do.), I'm still a little insulted.

I'm going to try really hard. And I'm going to get really good. I just know it. I love a pat on the head, a treat, a belly rub. I'm going to work a little harder at earning them, and at making Mom look good.

And if you have a dog that could use a little coaching? Call Buckhead Pet Pals and we'll refer you to Max. If you book with him, he'll have a little something extra for you.

I'll keep you posted on how this goes, but I'm betting on "Most Improved." (I'll still be the Boss of the Neighborhood, but I'll try to be a little more subtle about it.)

Cat Safety by Guest Blogger Sydney

Poor Rocky. He gets all overexcited and says too much.

My turn. I am Sydney. The Cat of the House.

I stay inside and I lay low. I am clean. I traveled to the beach and Rocky didn't. I have been with the Family far longer than he has. I am his elder, and despite how he presents things here, he mostly respects that.

I thought it only fitting that I take over his job at the keyboard and present my side of things, keep Rocky from making it look like Buckhead Pet Pals is prejudiced against cats. Of course they aren't.

In my humble opinion (as if I know anything about humility!), dogs are desperate, loud, slobbery creatures given to fits of jealousy. We, on the other hand, are subtle, independent, and often unobtrusive - heck, most of the time we're napping. Plus, we're smart.

Still, we are domesticated, and most of us need human help.

With emphasis on the "smart" part, I now offer my Small Pawful of Basic Cat Safety Tips:

• Indoor cats fare better than outside cats. They are safer. There are fewer hazards. That said, cats need exercise and are natural explorers. If your cat stays inside, give them places to climb and things to tear up (scratching posts) so they don't become bored, destructive, or overweight. (The ASPCA acknowledges the longer lifespan of inside cats and has tips for transitioning your outdoor cat inside.)
• Keep your cat hydrated. It is the hottest summer on record for much of the US. If your cat IS an outdoor cat, make sure they have shaded shelter and fresh water. Inside or out, cats especially love moving water and drink more if they can get it. Cat water fountains appeal to cats and help protect them from the dangers of dehydration. Amazon has a bunch.
• Keep fleas away. Summer is flea season. Use cat-specific flea preventatives quantities recommended by your vet so as not to endanger your cat or kitten in the quest to kill fleas. There is, of course, a tremendous amount of information on the internet about the various flea-prevention methods available. Do your research, then seek your veterinarian's advice.
• Keep your cat identified. Outdoor cats especially need IDs, but inside cats get out - and are less savvy, thereby needing the extra protection of clear identification. Ensure your cat wears a break-away collar and ID at all times, bearing current information. If your cat is too active or too smart for a collar (unlike dogs, we know how to remove them - and often will!), microchipping becomes especially important. These small computer chips (the size of a grain of rice) are injected under the skin by a vet and hold your cat's identifying information. If your cat were to get lost and end up at a shelter, most have the ability to scan chips and will contact you.
• Bring your cat in at night. Cats are nocturnal and, as such, are instinctively most active at night. Indoor cats can get rambunctious, and outdoor cats crave the outdoors. For indoor cats, take time to play with your cat earlier in the evening so she's calmer when its time for you to go to bed. For outdoor cats, train them to come in during the evening with scheduled feeding times. Your cat isn't the only nocturnal creature, and foxes, birds of prey, and fast cars provide specific nighttime hazards best avoided.
• Keep poisonous plants out of your house. Know what houseplants are dangerous to cats. The ASPCA is a good reference.
• Get your cat regular checkups. Cats hide their symptoms pretty well - there is a range of cat-specific illnesses, but by the time you see outward signs, the cat is usually pretty sick. Checkups help you prevent those illnesses before they happen, and ensure the health and safety of your kitty.

I have now done my part to ensure cats get the respect they deserve. I think I'll go take a nap.

Make way for the... Cats??

As a dog, if I'm outside, I'm atttached to a leash. At the other end of the leash is a human. I can pull the human around, but the human is still ultimately in charge.

If I were to wander alone, leashless, people would scream. Calls would be made. A man with a white van and a net would swoop me away. My mom would be fined. I would do time.

I think. I only know what I have heard - and when tethered to a leash, you really only get to hear so much.

But I can see. And what I see is cats roaming free. All over the neighborhood, you see those creatures slinking around corners. Sleeker than shadows, without collars or tags or people - they slither around, mocking us. Crouched in the grasses, darting under cars, balancing on fence posts, they lick their whiskers and taunt.

It's not just here, either.

Mom saw this sign in Indiana. Apparently, at Lake Michigan, not only do the humans not mind the behavior of free cats, but they encourage it. Make way for the sandy, free-range cats enjoying the beach and wandering out in the open.

I am outraged, really. Man's best friend, indeed.

A tired pup is a happy pup: reasons to engage a pet sitter

Summer's ending, at least here in Atlanta. Many of the small people in my neighborhood start back school today. Today! August isn't even half over. It doesn't seem right to me. By next week, they will all be back in school - full force.

My own people leave today for their last hurrah. Luckily, Mom's people are 'on it,' so I don't have to feel quite so abandoned once the house is empty again during the day.

The good thing is, mom's people are YOUR people. That is, if your dog is faced with the same issue - an empty house after a summer of fun - you have the resources on this site to FIX that. Because, as it turns out, pet sitting isn't just for vacations. Some other reasons you might click over to schedule some home help for your pup include:

• You're anticipating long days at the office. Summer is slower all over the globe - and come fall, everyone's making up for those lazier days. Office hours are longer and commutes are less predictable. If someone else walks the dog, you can be free to stay late and not worry.

• You're injured, not your dog. Injuries happen. If you have even a minor injury, your speed and gait can be altered as you recover. This doesn't mean your dog NEEDS less exercise, just that he GETS less exercise. Make sure he doesn't get less when you do.

• "Sorry, I can't. I have to walk my dog." Happy hour is where deals are made, and cubicle scores are settled. Missing out on office social hour can hurt your credibility AND personal morale. Go ahead and have that cocktail. Let someone else worry about Spot.

• "Sorry, I can't. I have to walk my dog." Part II. Your interests shouldn't be truncated because you have a dog. A pet sitter helps ensure you get to chair that committee, meet with your daughter's teacher, or even just go shopping before you brave the traffic home.

• Restless dog syndrome. Nervous, anxious, or bored dogs will find ways to entertain themselves. If no one is there to monitor that entertainment, it may not be all that fun for you. (Tearing a hole in a couch doesn't SOUND fun, unless you are a dog. When bored, we find that sort of thing fascinating.)

• You walk, but your dog wants to run. Your dog may be pulling that leash to it's furthest point because she doesn't like your pace. You can schedule a sitter that is a runner - they train, your dog gets to run. Everybody wins... and you don't even break a sweat.

• Maternity leave ends. Your attention is already divided with the new babe in the home. Stave off bad behavior stemming from jealousy and reduced activity by engaging a sitter - for your dog.

• Family peace. A tired pup is, generally, a happy pup. That sleepiness reduces chaos and helps everyone appreciate their four-legged-companion without seeing him or her as only a distraction from the things that need to get done before it's time for another day.

Schedule now! Our people are standing by...