I want the perfect Pomeranian! Seriously?!

This is a bit of a rant. I got a call the other day from this lady looking for a puppy. I was tired and she kind of flabergasted me. She asked me how many dogs I have here. Well there are close to 60 dogs living out their lives here... let's see... am I breeding all these dogs... one word answer. NO! I mean seriously... I haven't had puppies here in 2 years or more.

Then she asks ... how do

you bathe all those dogs. I felt like saying I stuffed them in a huge washing machine and then fluffed them dry. Really... how do you suppose I groom them... one hairy dog at a time. Somedays... none... somedays one... some days 4 or 5... somedays more...

What I did say... is that this is a ranch and they get to be dogs. They (the ones that like to... not all do) are in and out of wading tubs all the time... digging in the dirt... rolling in whatever they can get into... barking at the cats... chickens... mailman... whatever they feel like barking at... running and playing... they have 7 by 4 ft houses with straw in them... which they dig in and spread everywhere... they have 8 by 16 kennel runs... that are their main pens... then there are several large as in around 35 by 100 for one... one is bigger than that... and the other is a bit smaller... running play pens. That they take turns in... no I do not run them all together... seriously bad idea... there are multiple packs... like kids in school.... same thing... their friends and cliques...

This is their home... and I am not kicking them out of it... they will leave here when they age out and cross over the rainbow bridge or I do. Whichever comes first... If I cross over first it means my work here is done... if they do then their time here was done...

Frankly she pissed me off. She told me how wonderful the Pom she had was…. Then proceeded to slam the breeder she got it from. Whining because it peed on the floor at 12 weeks old in a brand new environment. I mean really… seriously. Btw… no the dog was not from me. Saying how horrible it was that the breeder had her puppies in playpens. Really?! Should they be running all over the house getting stepped on… saying the puppy was not socialized when she got it. Ok… so did it bite her… no… did it stiffen in fear and pee and poop all over itself when she picked it up… no… Is it going to take time and patience training a puppy in a new environment… YES!

The dogs that came in here out of rescue were not socialized to anyone but the lady that had them. These dogs were so fearful it was like catching coyotes. Wear gloves and be fast… and stay calm… yes they fear bit… yes they growled and attacked… yes they urinated and defecated all over themselves and me when I picked them up. That is what an un-socialized Pom is like.

Poms…just like other dogs… are living creatures. It takes patience and love to gain their trust… or rather to earn their trust… It is a major shock for a puppy or dog to be pulled away from everything it knows and thrust into a new situation… how do you like it when that happens to you. Get a clue and love that dog/puppy and be patient and consistent in training.

If you want some perfect dog that never messes on the floor or barks, or gets scared (just like you do) … or pees when you yell at it… because it wants to please you or is so confused and frightened that it doesn’t know what to do… then get a porcelain figurine of a dog and sit it on the shelf… and leave the living creatures be… they deserve to be accepted for what they are… not bullied for what they are not. They are living creatures… with feelings, personality traits, physical issues, illnesses, and huge souls… If you want the “perfect” pet… buy a stuffed toy… and the next time you expect an animal to be perfect… look in the mirror and judge that creature looking back at you by the same standard!

 

After over 2 years of not having any puppies... I decided to allow a pair of my Poms to breed.  Will I be very selective as to where their puppies go.... hmmmm... in a word.  YES!

Protecting Your Pet with Dr. Oz

Heads up Pet lovers... here comes some good info. Saw this article in my Oprah newsletter...

Enjoy...

Life is a journey, much more enjoyable with a furry friend by your side...
Mary E. Robbins
Robbins Run Ranch: Living the dream with our Poms.
307.788.0202

Protecting Your Pet with Dr. Oz

Choosing the Right Veterinarian

Dr. Oz isn't only interested in helping people maintain good health—he wants your furry friends at home to live long and healthy lives too. On his Oprah Radio show, Dr. Oz gets the answers to common health questions from three authorities on petcare.

Dr. Louise Murray, the director of medicine for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and author of Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet, says there are a few things you need to know before you chose a veterinarian to care for your animal.

Instead of just flipping through the Yellow Pages, turn to friends for veterinarian recommendations, Dr. Murray says. Then, visit the veterinarian's office and ask if he has these two important pieces of medical equipment:

• Blood pressure-measuring equipment: "Most pets in this country have never had their blood pressure measured, and it's just as important in pets as it is in people," she says.
  
• Pulse oximeter: This is a piece of equipment that measures the oxygen level in your pet's blood stream. Dr. Murray says it's important for a number of reasons. "If your pet is under anesthesia, one of the most dangerous things that can happen is that their oxygen level can drop," she says. "If you don't have a pulse oximeter on that pet ... there is no way for the veterinarian or pet to know the pet is getting into trouble until that pet stops breathing."

If you find a veterinarian you click with and he has the proper equipment on hand, Dr. Murray says you should talk with him about your pet's needs and lifestyle. Then, she says it's important to make sure your pet has these vaccinations:

For cats:

• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP) is the main viral vaccination for cats, and Dr. Murray says it protects from widespread diseases.
• Rabies vaccine

For dogs:

• Canine Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza (DA2PP) vaccine is one Dr. Murray says every dog should have. It protects dogs from several common viruses.
• Rabies vaccine

An Alternative Approach to Petcare

Many people believe their pets deserve the same treatment as other members of their family—even when it comes to medical care.

Veterinarian Dr. Marty Goldstein has an alternative approach to veterinary care and shares his views on how to prolong the lives of cats and dogs:

• Yearly vaccinations are not necessary. "Vaccinate at 12 weeks of age or older with a distemper and parvo vaccine—not a combination of four, five, six, seven [vaccines] in one—[and then] never vaccinate again in the life of the dog," Dr. Goldstein says. If you want, you can have your pet tested yearly to see if any vaccines have worn off, he says.
  
• Yearly blood samples are necessary. "Blood is the mirror of life," he says. "From that blood, we'll recommend a specific supplementation."
  
• Use daily supplements for preventative purposes. "[Give] vitamins as they start getting older, antioxidants, a good multivitamin, minerals and fish oil," he says.
  
• Buy pet food made with raw meat. Dr. Goldstein says cats and dogs are carnivores, but today's popular pet foods are made from byproducts of the cereal industry. The grain-heavy food is not good for the health of your animal, he says. "It plugs the system up, it overdoes the pancreas [and] it serves as a basis for allergies."
  
• Don't feed your pet an all raw meat diet. Because cats and dogs have not been on an all raw meat diet for generations, putting them on one could be dangerous, Dr. Goldstein says. "A raw meat diet balanced with either a proper calcium supplement or with crushed bone with some vegetation is the ideal way to go," he says.
  
• Make your pet's food at home. If you don't have access to raw meat pet food, cook meats for your animal in your home, Dr. Goldstein says. "I'm talking foods—lambs and chickens and turkeys and beef and things like that," he says.

Year-Round Pet Health

Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian, author and Good Morning America contributor, gives helpful tips on how to keep your pets healthy all year long.

Heat Exhaustion
Dr. Becker says pet owners can prevent their pets from getting dehydrated and succumbing to heat exhaustion in warmer months by making sure they have plenty of fresh drinking water and never leaving them in an excessively hot environment such as a car or a portable kennel.

Also, avoid walking pets during the hottest part of the day, he says, or on scorching concrete sidewalks. Not sure if it's too hot for Fido? Put the palm of your hand on the sidewalk— if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your pet's paws, Dr. Becker says.

Backyard Safety
Flying projectiles from lawn mowers can seriously injure pets, Dr. Becker says. Make sure your pet is confined to the house or another area that's away from where you're mowing.
Also, keep pets away from pesticides and fertilizers, Dr. Becker says. Look into using pet-friendly, organic pest repellents wherever possible.

Proper Diet and Exercise
About 50 percent of American pets are overweight or obese, Dr. Becker says. "It's the same exact causes [as humans]— too much food in their mouths, too few miles on their feet," he says. All year long, make sure pets eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise, he says.