Mutts and More Mutts:It's the Magical Mystery Mutt Tour

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© courtesy Will My Dog Hate Me

Today's post is a bit of fun reminiscence about Xena, my Retriever mix that we lost to a stroke in October. I'm ready to talk about her now, having gone through the mourning period and realizing I NEED to talk about her now. I miss her.


My fellow bloggers, the folks at Will My Dog Hate Me, Peggy's Pet Place, and I Still Want More Puppies, have launched today's blog hop called the Magical Mystery Tour. This is sort of celebration of our mixed breed dogs, and Xena would never forgive me if I didn't participate. So here goes:


When I wrote a post, preparing my readers for what I assumed would be Xena's last year or so, I had no idea how soon it would creep up. Truth be told, I think I wrote this post more to prepare myself, than my readers :(. I knew she was slowing down, despite the still playful spirit inside. Her desire to snuggle with and toss around her daddy's socks will never leave the video recesses in my memory banks.


Xena was a beautiful younger dog--a mix of a Golden Retriever mom and a dad that was Labrador Retreiver/Chow Chow. Or so we were told. She was often mistaken for a Flat-Coated Retriever in your early years, even by new veterinarians. Her personality (don't tell me dogs don't have one; I simply don't buy that!) and behavior traits fit the 75% Retriever that was apparently in her DNA. She was people pleasing, loving, playful, affectionate and ever the mother.

Patches

Adopting a kitten at age 2, I allowed Xena to select her new housemate. Patches, a Heinz 57, won her over with her spunky attitude and quick left cross to her nose, assuring Xena that life would never be dull with Patches in the house. Was she every right. The two bonded instantly over a good ear-washing and back-end cleaning, provided by Xena's warm and loving tongue. Mom? Yup!

Robby

When Robby, our rabbit, arrived a few years later, she attempted to do the same with him. Robby was not as willing, but Tanner was pleased to have bathtime help, as a puppy, when he entered the picture in her 10th year. Tanner and Xena quickly became like-sized playmates that enjoyed a daily tag game, along with regular wrestling matches, right up till the week before Xena left us.

The best way to honor Xena in this post is probably with photos. When she joined us, it was before digital cameras were the norm. Pictures of her puppyhood are probably buried in a box somewhere, but I'll share a few of her later years here. Please comment; I could use the TLC right now. Thanks!

How about we announce a giveaway today, in honor of our sweet Xena. She was truly the epitome of man's best friend, so the perfect gift would be a MANKINDdog™ coffee mug. I'll give two away in a drawing next Friday. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post here at the blog, or comment on this post on my Facebook page. Best wishes to all of my Mutt-loving readers!

© MANKINDdog™

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Rescuing Rover: Can You Help?

by Carrie Boyko
 

Katie Bug and Barnacle 

Need a Home by June 25

This is Katie Bug and Barnacle.  They were found when approximately 6 months old in an abandoned home in Daytona Beach 4 years ago.They are a Lab and German shepherd mix.  

Katie Bug and Barnacle each weigh about 65 pounds.  Their shots are current.  They have been spayed/neutered.  They have lived with one family with two small children for the past four years.  They are both very friendly and wonderful family pets.  They are gentle and loving with children, and they are house broken.  

Their current family has to move out of the area due to employment relocation.  Their new rental home does not allow pets.  Katie Bug and Barnacle have never been apart.  Their current family was hoping to find new owners willing to take them both so that they can stay together.  There is a dead-line of June 25^th to find a new home for them… or they will have to go to the animal shelter.  If you are interested in saving Katie Bug and Barnacle, or can foster them for a while, please contact Angie at 1-386-624-1548. 

Thanks for any help you can provide. If you know someone who might be interested, you can email this post by clicking on the envelope icon below. Thanks again.

ASK THE DOG TRAINER: Why Test My Mixed-Breed Dog's DNA?

by Carrie Boyko

© reader BH copyright on file, all rights reserved
Churchill's Mix is
English Springer Spaniel/English Setter

Dear Trainer:

I've been hearing about tests that can tell the owners of mixed-breed dogs what their dog's mix is. I don't know exactly how much these tests cost, but I am interested to know what benefit there might be, from a training standpoint, in learning what my mixed breed dog's parents (and perhaps grandparents) were. My particular dog is a truly a Heinz 57. So undistinguishable are his characteristics that my vet has not wished to venture any guess. My curiosity is peaked. What can you tell me might be the benefit of testing my dog?

Thank you for any help you can give,

Mr. Creighton

-------------------------------------

Dear Mr. C:

Own a mixed breed dog?  He’s a good looking guy but you have no idea what kind of dog he is.  And, wouldn’t you like to know why he chases butterflies, or exhibits specific instinctive behaviors like digging and herding your children.  He doesn’t look like a terrier or a sheep dog.   He drools too.  Where’s that coming from?  

Well, now you can learn your dog’s breed ancestry with DNA testing.   Sold in kits, these tests can be purchased online.  Blood, saliva or other swab samples from your dog are mailed to a laboratory with results within a few weeks.  There are many kits to choose from with prices ranging from $30.00 to over $100.00 per test. 

Is this something you should consider doing?  What are the benefits gained from testing?  Knowing your dog’s breed ancestry can help explain certain behaviors, howling, herding, retrieving, chasing birds, as all of these can be attributed to particular breed groups.  Your pup’s approximate size and weight at maturity can be determined, allowing you to provide a diet appropriate for his early physical development and growth.  Exercise requirements can be fulfilled - important as he could be a couch potato, or long distance runner.  For training, realistic expectations can be established knowing specific traits and instinctive behaviors characteristic of his breed makeup, and allow the use of techniques that best motivate him to perform:  sight, smell, sound, touch or taste.  One of the most important benefits is health related, as genetic diseases (blindness, deafness, hip dysplasia, cancer, and epilepsy) are more common in some breeds than others.

The question of whether testing is necessary and/or worth the cost can only be answered by you, his owner.   Using his breed makeup to provide him an appropriate “job” or to expand his activities, i.e. providing swimming and retrieving opportunities to your Labrador mix, could prove beneficial to his overall well being.

Do you really need to know his ancestry?  No, of course you don’t.  You love him whatever he is.  Do you want to know his ancestry?  Yes, of course you do.  What mixed breed owner doesn’t?  Remember, breed mixtures can yield any combination of multiple behavioral, physical and personality characteristics, so if you decide to go ahead with DNA testing, make sure to get your dog breed reference books ready, as the results just may surprise you.

Here are a few you can purchase here, if you like:  

The AKC Complete Dog Book

The Complete Encyclopedia of Pedigree Dogs

The Original Dog Bible

Good luck,

Judy

ASK THE DOG TRAINER Columnist

Judith Joseph, DOI

Write to me at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com

For more information on Judith Joseph and her training, you may find her at TCDOA Dog Training. A personal appointment will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions.

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Thanks to Churchill for being our model today. He is a perfect example of how handsome a mix can be. Thanks BH!

Helping the Home Team Rescue More Dogs...Go shopping here:

by Carrie Boyko

NOTE: Bios for all the dogs in the slideshow are available in my sidebar. Included you will find health, behavior and contact information. Good luck!

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The Adoption Option: Help from Adopt-a-Pet

Find me on Facebook   Follow me on Twitter    Write to Dr. Jacki, ASK THE VET

ASK THE TRAINER at All Things Dog Blog

Pet
adoption and

rescue powered by

If you missed my first post about Adopt a Pet, you can still find it here at Join Me for a Tour of Adopt-a-Pet. Sometimes you find a site that can't be reviewed in one short post. This one falls into that category.

My favorite feature of their pet-finding search boxes is the Search Saver. The Search Saver will actually keep looking for your requested pet, and notify you by email when it becomes available in your area. No more daily or weekly trolling through pages of pets, looking for just the right Rover.Their software will do it for you!


Adopt-a-Pet is also working to make it easier for you to share pet possibilities with others. They call this Social Petworking, and it works through Facebook, Twitter and other social applications. You can use their Social Petworking feature with a quick sign up at this link: Adopt-a-Pet Social Petworking. I checked this out and found that they have had 115,000+ pets shared through this application already. That's simply awesome.


If you are totally over the moon about adoptions and rescues, Adopt-a-Pet has some fabulous code you can post on your website to promote pet adoption. They partnered with artist Shepard Fairey to create the artwork, and also sell products with this cool design at Mutts Like Me. You'll notice a sample of this at the top of this post, and one in my sidebar. I love the image!


If you love it too, you can even download computer wallpaper or cell phone backgrounds (Blackberries, IPhones, Razors and regular cell phones) with this art at the Mutts Like Me site. It's free; they just want to get the word out about adoption.


Time to wrap this up. One last topic and I'm outa here. Adopt a Pet has also provided a nice resource about veterinary care on their website. For folks who are not up to speed on what they might need for their new housemate, this is really helpful. Be sure to check out What to Ask Your Veterinarian.


I certainly hope all this wonderful information about adoption has gotten you to thinking about sharing your home with a less fortunate furry friend. I've provided a lot of resource materials here, and encourage you to use the search function at the top of the page to find anything you're interested in learning about sharing your home with a dog. Here's wishing you an awesome adoption.

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