Helping Charities

As we all know, with this economic “blip” more and more pets have been turned into rescue and shelters in record numbers. I can only imagine the heartache a family must feel to be forced to turn a pet over to rescue de to financial developments. To support a couple of my fave charities I have created listings on good old eBay for my Nose Butters. A percentage of the one ounce size sales will go to MAPR, Mid Atlantic Pug Rescue and a percentage of the 2 and 4 ounce will go to FBRN, French Bulldog Rescue Network.

Visit eBay and enter nose butter and you will see the offerings. Let me know what label you want and I will do that for you!

French Bulldog Fun Camp at Good Karma Retreats

BLATANT PLUG for Frenchie Fun Cam. September 12-19th are the 2009 dates for Frenchie Fun Camp. If you want to get away for a bit of French Bulldog fun, fellowship with other Frenchie lovers, arts and crafts and more…call 218.243.2845 or email me for more info. We have a couple of cabins open and I promise it will be more fun than you would have imagined!

We have arts and crafts, free Quantum Biofeedback with Kelly MacLaughlin of Pawsitive Healing, hopefully Ilga Cimbulis will be here with her animal communication skills and more, more, more!

Visit my new retreat site for more info…Good Karma Retreats.

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome in Dogs

Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is an age related disease that produces the deterioration of cognitive abilities. Ok, what does that mean in plain English? It means your dog, as he or she ages, does not think or reason as well as he or she once did. For a couple of my oldsters, they seemed to get “lost” just walking around the house. CDS is often referred to as “old dog syndrome” or “senility”, and can be determined by your dog exhibiting the following….

Disorientation
Wanders aimlessly around the house
Gets lost or confused in the yard or house
Becomes “stuck” in a corner or behind furniture
Does not recognize familiar people
Does not respond to their name
Appears to forget reason for going outdoors or back in

Interaction
No longer greets family members
Does not seem interested in being petted
No longer remembers once familiar tricks or commands

Sleep/Wake Patterns
Sleeps more than normal
Sleep pattern has changed, especially during the night
Marked decrease in activity level

Housetraining
No longer asks to go outside
“Goes” in the house
Appears to have forgotten why he wanted to go outdoors
Soils indoors immediately after being outdoors

As with Alzheimer’s disease in humans, the cause of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is not completely known. In the aging process of dogs, as with humans, the accumulation of a nerve damaging protein, beta-amyloid, increases and causes the formation of plaques in the brain. This build up eventually causes a gradual decline of cognitive abilities.

Some age-related changes, like the graying of the muzzle, are inevitable. As with US, your dog may just slow down as he ages. But, dogs with CDS experience changes in behavior which are not a normal part of getting older.

The first step in diagnosing CDS is recognition of signs. When you begin to notice more than a few of the above indicators, contact your vet for a geriatric exam. A thorough examination, including a complete physical and neurological study, complemented by a medical history will allow your vet to diagnose the condition and determine an appropriate course of action. Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome is a common condition in senior dogs.

Although there is no cure for CDS, you can prolong the quality of their dog’s life and preserve their pet’s role in the family by decreasing the behavioral problems resulting from the syndrome. You may choose to use pet gates to prevent injury (i.e. stairs), using leads and fences outdoors for safety. Removing clutter from the house and yard can help your dog navigate the area easier (and de-cluttering is a GOOD thing for everyone). Dogs might also be restricted to areas easily cleaned if they are having difficulty with housetraining. But, please, do not isolate an old dog away from family just because of housetraining issues…that is just sad and mean

Currently the drug deprenyl has been shown to reduce symptoms. It is not my place to go into medications, you can Google it or ask your vet, there are lots of sites on this drug.

BLATANT PLUG ALERT: I have had great success with my more holistic approach, using my Age Well Vibrational Essences for my older dogs. I have a houseful of little grey faces, as all seven of my French Bulldogs are seniors now (where does the time go???) and I use my AGE WELL on them when needed. Just an idea! As always, I do use brandy as a preservative, if that ohers you, I can use Apple Cider vinegar Click here for more on AGE WELL.

References: The Pet Center, The Pet Place, Pfizer.com, Swiftwaterfarms.com

The Blissful Dog ETSY Store Saves The Day!

Woe, woe, woe is me…today’s Personal Pity Party reaches monumental proportions! I had a glitch in my ZenCart store that I had been using the last couple of years, so I decided to put all my efforts into making one of the many WordPress ecommerce options work for me – HA! Due to that really cool looking slideshow none of the plug-ins that have a shopping cart will work properly AND due to the fact that some of my files seem to be in wonky places (technical WordPress term) I was reaching that point of sobbing and shaking my hands in the air while wailing, “Why me?” None of my throwing myself about and weeping seem to matter to the WordPress Gods (or my husband…he muttered something about the insignificance of my HUGE computer problems in the overall scheme of things).

Then the lightbulb came on and I did what I do best…I GAVE UP…yes, I threw in the towel (at least for today) and linked the store part of this site to my ETSY store. WHEW…crisis du jour averted…at least until my head quits pounding and I can regroup.

I share my tale of woe to make myself feel better, as I know all of you are laughing and remembering the time you wept and shook your fist at your computer. So, that is why my SHOPPING button redirects to my ETSY store! For now at least…maybe after a good night’s sleep and a cuppa strong black tea I will tackle the demon WordPress again tomorrow.

Not Totally Dog Related…

Today was a rarity for this summer…it actually WAS summer! Clear, sunny, warm, an absolutely stellar day for this sun loving Leo. So, I ditched all the work that was calling me and went to the beach with a book. Then my nature show began. Oh, as a bit of background, as most of you know we own a resort here in NW MN and this is our busy season. Well, somehow I was the only person on the beach, everyone else was out fishing or on a town journey….I was ALL ALONE!

First, I heard a buzz in my ear and turned my head to be face to face with a sassy little hummingbird. He gave me a look and then zoomed away! Then I happened to glance up and there were, not one, but TWO eagles flying overhead, just lazily circling, enjoying their amazing ability to ride an air wave without exerting any energy.

I sat down and was reading my book and once again, glanced up and there was an eagle literally ten feet above my head! He was purposefully zooming along and I felt as if I could have almost reached up and touched him! A bit later I walked back up to the house to snag a water and there was a woodpecker feather…right on my path!

OK, I know I live in the woods…but this was all pretty amazing by MY standards! This is in addition to the usual chipmunks, swallows, and so on and so forth we see all over the place. I felt all of these sightings in such a short period of time meant I was supposed to SHARE, so here goes…

Eagle: divine Spirit and connection to creator: Eagles are a symbol of power, healing and wisdom. Eagle represents a state of grace that is reached through inner work, understanding and passing the initiation tests that result from reclaiming our personal power. It is the spirit of tenacity, the gift of clear vision with which one can truly see the things one sees. It is the patience to wait for the appropriate moment. It is to live in balance with heaven and Earth. Eagle tells you that the universe is giving you the opportunity to fly above your life’s worldly levels, or above the shadow of past realities. Eagle asks you to grant yourself permission to be free in order to reach the joy that your heart desires.

Hummingbird: messenger, timelessness

Hummingbird – the tiniest of all birds – brings special messages for us. It is the only creature that can stop dead while traveling at full speed. It can hover, or can go forward, backward, up or down. It lives on nectar and searches for the sweetness of life. Its long tongue lets it bypass the often tough and bitter outer layer to find the hidden treasures underneath. Hummingbird is loved by the flowers and plants, for as it sucks the nectar from the flower, the plant reproduces and more of its kind are created. In many traditions, Hummingbird feathers have been prized for their almost magical qualities. It is said that Hummingbird brings love as no other medicine can, and its presence brings joy to the observer.

If you have Hummingbird medicine, you adapt easily to whatever situation you may find yourself in, and make the most of your new circumstances. You don’t waste time looking back and wishing for “what was” for you are concerned with making the most of “what is”. Also, you could never become addicted to any artificial stimulants, for you find joy in your own heart. You take great pleasure in spreading joy and love and beauty to all around you, and have the gift of taking that inner joy into new and different surroundings. You have a talent for finding the good in people, and are not put off by a gruff or abrupt exterior, for you know that, if you can only get beyond that tough outside layer, you’ll find goodness and beauty inside. You may have a gift for working with flowers, maybe growing them to share with others, or using flower essences for healing. Aromatherapy may be your calling. You have high energy and a spirit that must be free. To restrict that wonderful, free, loving energy is to suffer great depressions and feelings of uselessness. Hummingbird must fly free in search of beauty, spreading joy and love to all it touches.

The Woodpecker: Their flight patterns are unique. Woodpeckers fly up, coast down then fly upwards again. Those with this totem often find that their path in life won’t always conform to society’s standards and that their personal unique rhythm needs to be honored. Woodpeckers teach us to honor our personal truth and move through life with perseverance and inner strength. By staying grounded in our pursuits our goals can be obtained.

Woodpeckers are opportunists. They know when to fly out from a perch to catch insects in the air or on the ground. Their barbed tongues and strong chiseled beaks symbolize life lessons associated with discernment and proper use of speech for those with this totem.

In spring the loud calls of woodpeckers often augmented by drumming on hollow wood are the sounds of males holding territories. Woodpeckers defend their territory aggressively. Those with this medicine need to be in control of their personal environment and will not tolerate others trying to change it. Although personal space is very important for woodpecker medicine people control issues can sometimes be a problem and flexibility needs to be learned. The woodpecker is known as the Earths drummer. Drumming is the heartbeat of mother earth and is associated with shamanism and the ability to move into other dimensions at will. For those with this totem the woodpecker represents self discovery. As they peck into and through trees and dead wood, hidden layers of ones psyche are revealed. Those with this medicine are good analysts and have strong mental capabilities. They make excellent psychiatrists and psychologists. Woodpeckers are active birds so caution is advised to maintain balance when reviewing any situation or issue. Too much analyzing can result in procrastination.

GREAT Quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Weekly Quote of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

“Before we can generate compassion and love, it is important to have a clear understanding of what we understand compassion and love to be. In simple terms, compassion and love can be defined as positive thoughts and feelings that give rise to such essential things in life as hope, courage, determination, and inner strength. In the Buddhist tradition, compassion and love are seen as two aspects of the same thing: Compassion is the wish for another being to be free from suffering; love is wanting them to have happiness.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Frozen Yogurt Pops for Dogs

Here’s a simple recipe for a sweet summer treat to help cool off those Dog Days of Summer:

FROZEN YOGURT POPS

32 oz. plain (or vanilla) yogurt
1 or 2 ripe bananas (or 1/2 # frozen cherries or blueberries)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinammon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Mash bananas, then mix in remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze. Give your hot dog a cube or two when the temperature rises. Sigh…I wish the temperatures woudl rise here in MN…it is still cool and it is August! From Barktalk.com

Dogs and Their Personalities

As you may know, we have a small resort in NW Minnesota, Dancing Bear Resort, and of course we are Dog Friendly! So, we get to see all sots of “dog on dog” interactions. Zoey, our Great Pyrenees, has assumed the mantle of Boss Dog and every dog who comes on the property seems to realize it. There is the occasional bristling of some hair along the backs of new dogs, but Zoey just stands taller…and taller. And at well over 110 pounds she is pretty imposing! Plus, her innate Great Pyrenees dignity adds to the image of CONTROL, and yes, all CAPS!

There are weeks in which every single cabin will have at least one dog and sometimes more and they all get along. Since we are in a pretty secluded area, dogs can be off leash. Our only rule is that we have final say…and we often leave that up to Zoey! She will stand over a dog that is acting out a bit and give them a LOOK and problem is usually solved.

I have found that as long as the dogs are treated with dignity, respect and a dose of common sense, all is well. When owners get all flustered and flap hands…then the dogs become agitated. But overall, our guests…two legged and four are an amazing group!