Saturday, January 30, 2021

Brown Dog Tales was my first blog - launched January 21, 2008. It was named for and dedicated to my chocolate Lab, Murphy. When Murph passed away in 2017, I stopped posting to it.

But I continued to write - creating several other blogs on a variety of dog-related subjects. I've decided to pick the best from each of those blogs and post them here. 

So, welcome aboard and say hello to my current brown dog, Miss Figgy.




Monday, November 27, 2017

Preparing for your puppy


Your puppy is coming home soon and you're off to the pet store to buy toys and dog bowls, a bed, lots of treats and more toys. But wait. What does your puppy really need? Here's where I have my clients start. Sizes are based on a Labrador retriever puppy. Adjust for your pup's adult size.
  • This is my favorite crate. (42” is perfect for an adult Lab)
  • This “pet yard” is the most versatile dog pen I’ve ever used. I have one in my house. It can be used to block wide doorways or as an extra “crate”.
  • Dog bowls - stainless steel no-tip are the best
  • 2 extra large Kongs (a must!)
  • Tricky treat ball
  • Kong Jumbler (indestructible)
  • Kong Wobbler
  • Dog food bin. You can get a bin from Target or Walmart if you like. It needs to hold at least 30 pounds of food. While you're at it, get another bin for dog toys.
  • Treat pouch. Not a requirement but helpful.
  • A 7 to 10 inch antler
  • Poop bags
  • 4-foot leash
  • Quick release martingale collar
  • A couple of tennis balls
If you plan to be out in the world with your dog, create first aid kit. In addition to standard first aid items found in human first aid kits, add:
  • Vet wrap
  • Bag balm
  • EMT Gel
  • Benadryl
If your pup is a future service dog, a hands-free bag to use as your puppy’s go bag. Backpacks and string bags work well. You want your hands free to handle the leash and treats. For around town, include these things:
  • Poop bags
  • Clean up material: wet wipes and paper towels
  • Training treats
  • Quick drying microfiber towel for rainy days
  • Ziploc bags (gallon bags can hold soiled cleanup material until you find a trashcan or for the wet towel after you dry off your soggy dog)
  • Bottled water and a travel water bowl
For road trips, include a couple of your pup’s favorite toys, chewies (antler, raw bone), and dog food. Overnight trip? Take your pup’s crate.

You'll save a good bit of money buying online at chewy.com and Amazon rather than at the pet store. Also look into local pet consignment shops.


Thursday, August 24, 2017

Murphy's failing health

Murphy sat staring at my desk this morning. Not unusual if I'm sitting at it. Unheard of when I'm not.

Murphy is 12 years old. His physical health is failing, as is his mental health. We've been together since he was 8 weeks old. I watched him learn and grow and loved having him as my partner. He taught many a client's dog that the world isn't a scary place. His calm demeanor and that sweet face have brought happiness to many.


A couple of years ago I noticed a slight change in his pace. At that point we had walked hundreds of miles together - him at my side, on leash. So I felt the change. Over the next week or two, the change grew more pronounced. After talking to my vet, I switched up the way and where we walked, making it a easier for Murph. That was first sign of the onset of old age for my boy.

During the last year, Murphy's hips have deteriorated. He can still walk but often has trouble standing. Occasionally he needs my help to get up and get his back legs under him. If he turns too quickly, he falls. I can't let him walk in rooms with hardwood floors or tile because he will slip and fall. He follows the dog trail that wraps around the perimeter of the backyard a number of times every day. Going out for swim therapy or anything else is not possible because he can't get into my car. The last time we tried - with a ramp - he fell. He's on daily pain meds that are keeping him as comfortable as possible.

Then there are the lipomas (noncancerous growths). He's riddled with them and some are huge (softball sized and bigger). He looks fat but isn't. The lipomas have changed the shape of his body. He's got them in his belly, sides, armpits, and neck. They can't be removed. And they scare the hell out of me. My roommate's lab died when a lipoma that had attached itself to the artery in one of her back legs detached. Tootsie bled out.

And the dementia, which manifests itself like this: Murphy will stand or sit and stare - like this morning - seeming not to understand what he's supposed to do next. Or maybe he's just lost in his own mind. He knows how to get from one place to another in the house and the yard but gets confused if his regular path is blocked. He forgets sometimes that he's just been outside and walks back to the door to be let out again. Habit is his friend. As is Fig, my year old lab. She's learned to be gentle with him and will often sleep next to him.

Murphy has hearing loss, too, and sometimes his breathing is labored. And though all of this is breaking my heart, it's a journey we're taking together.


Love you, Murph! Good girl, Fig!

Monday, July 3, 2017

Dogs & Fireworks

Will your 4th of July celebration include fireworks? You'll likely love the experience ... but will your dog love those bright lights in the sky or be frightened by them?



Fireworks displays can be absolutely gorgeous. But it is the noise they generate that may be a problem for your dog. Make certain this 4th of July is a safe and happy experience for him. First, if you're going to a fireworks display and don't know how your dog will respond, leave him at home.

If you think your dog will be frightened by fireworks that happen near your home, here are some ways to help him:
  • Close all your windows, blinds, and curtains. This will lesson the effect of the noise and bright flashes of nearby fireworks.
  • Leave the TV or radio on to help distract your dog from the noises outside. 
  • Play music specifically created to calm dogs like Through a Dog's Ear.
  • Put a Thundershirt on your dog the morning of the 4th. Leave it on until the morning of the 5th. 
  • If your dog has a place in your home that he runs to - say during a thunderstorm - make sure that safe place is accessible to him. Dogs can be drawn to the basement, under a bed, a closet or a laundry room. Dogs are smart - they know where they can go to feel safest. We shouldn't try to prevent that.
Here are more tips from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Monday, April 17, 2017

Keep your dog safe as the weather gets warmer

As the weather warms, get out there with your dog and enjoy yourself. Here are a few reminders to help keep your four-legged friend safe.
  1. Don't leave your dog in the car while you run errands or do anything else. What about if you park your car in the shade? No. Why? Because heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage, and death can happen. Fast. If you see a dog (or a child) in a car alone during warm months, call the police.
  2. Is your dog afraid of thunderstorms? A dog who is anxious about thunderstorms can become afraid of other things, too. How can you help your dog cope? Dr. Karen Becker sums up a variety of possible solutions in this article.  
  3. Working in your yard? Plant food, fertilizer, insecticides and lots of other things can be fatal if your dog ingests them. Some plants are also toxic. Learn more here.
  4. Does your dog have an ID tag on his collar? If he has a microchip, does the microchip provider have your current contact information, especially your cell phone number? If your dog gets lost, you are likely to get him back sooner if he has these two forms of identification.
  5. Check with your veterinarian to see if your dog should be on heartworm preventative. Heartworms - transmitted by mosquitoes - can kill your dog.
  6. Another summertime threat: fleas and ticks. You can use a commercial flea and tick product or go natural. Here are a few options to consider.
  7. Dogs can drown in swimming pools, so make sure your dog doesn't have access to a pool without your supervision.
  8. Protect your dog's paws from hot pavement and sand. If a surface is too hot for you to walk barefoot, then it's likely too hot for your dog as well. Consider booties or a product like Musher's Secret. Puppy's pads are especially susceptible to burns from hot surfaces.
  9. Dogs can get sunburned. Yours may require sunscreen, especially if he has a light colored nose, which can make him vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. Ask your vet what to use to prevent sunburn.
  10. Hot weather can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Both are dangerous and can kill your dog. Signs of heat-related stress include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid pulse, unsteadiness, a staggering gait, vomiting, and a deep red or purple tongue. If your dog becomes overheated, you have to start lowering his body temperature. If possible, move him into an air-conditioned car or building or at least into the shade. Apply cool (not cold) water over his body to gradually lower his core body temperature. Apply cold towels or ice packs to his head, neck, and chest only. Encourage him to drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Get him to a veterinarian immediately. Learn more here.
Provide plenty of water and shade for your dog while he's enjoying the great outdoors with you. And this is a great time of year to take a pet first aid class. Also make sure you have a doggy first aid kit that goes with you everywhere you and your dog go.

Woofs, wags and happy trails!

Sunday, July 24, 2016

8 things you need for your new puppy

There's a ton of stuff you don't need to get your dog for his first day in your home. Here are a few things you DO need to get.
  • Crate; perhaps two if you're getting a puppy and you have an upstairs.
  • A travel crate if one fits in your vehicle. This is the safest way to transport a dog.

  • Food - the same kind he's been eating. After a couple of weeks in your home, change the food if you like but do it gradually over a week to 10 days to make certain the new food doesn't upset his tummy.
  • A bin for his food, large enough to hold a full bag of dog food. Here's why. The puppy in this video is trying to find a way into the two bins of dog food. She's unsuccessful. If these had been bags of food, she would have had a party.
  • Bowls for water and food
  • Leash and collar or harness
  • Poop bags 
  • Treats. I suggest you not buy them from the pet store. If you do, make sure they're not made in China. And like in processed human food, look for treats with a short list of ingredients. Personally, I use chicken (boneless, skinless chicken breasts) boiled, drained and cut into pea-sized pieces. I fill snack-sized ziplock bags with the chicken and toss 'em in the freezer, then pull out one at a time for training. String cheese is a good alternative. Both are healthy and easy on a dog's tummy.
And, of course, you'll want a few toys. But don't go overboard. Some puppies don't care a thing about tennis balls but love squeaky toys. Pick up an interactive toy or two. Here are some of my favorites.

Many more trainer tips are in my book, Puppies chew shoes, don't they? It's available in print on Amazon or email me and I'll send you the eBook.

Friday, May 27, 2016

People training great dogs



Training your own service dog can be daunting. Need help? E-mail me at deethedogtrainer@gmail.com to schedule a free consultation.