Puppy Pics

Just wanted to share a few photos.

In the Heat of Summer

The sweltering summer heat is finally creeping into Ohio. As much as we’ve all been looking forward to shedding our winter coats and basking in the sun, our dogs can’t really do the same thing. Sure, we can shave them and relieve some of their misery in the sunshine, but we have to remember that dogs can still overheat more quickly than we can.

As much as I wanted to let my dog (Charliey) lie next to me outside today on a gorgeous sunny 88 degree day, I knew it wouldn’t be good for her. She’s a German shepherd mix with Golden Retriever hair and weighs a pudgy 93 lbs. I decided on wasting energy (sorry) and keeping my air conditioning on for her while keeping the screen door open so she could feel like she was near me and still be able to snort up all kinds of smells. She whimpered and scratched a little bit at the screen door, but I kindly explained to her that she would be too hot and miserable outside. Yea, I really explained it….then she kept scratching and kept whimpering and I may or may not have been more direct about my request to keep quiet and be happy that I left the A/C on for her.

It’s another difficult task for us to take walks in the summer, but Charliey and I have about equal tolerance for the pace. I have Cystic Fibrosis, which can slow me down going up hills, and she’s a little bit chubby and lazy, which slows her down too. Add heat on top of that and it slows us down quite a bit. With our abilities being about equal, I’m not dragging her and she’s not dragging me, but we just tough out the hills together. Hopefully I can stay in shape and keep healthy and she can lose about 10 lbs. We just have to keep our walks fairly short, so neither of us gets overheated. Be careful keeping dogs out on long walks in summer heat! Water, water, water!

It’s a well-known fact that dogs don’t really sweat, but instead pant and release heat from the core of their body. I think we can all be relieved of that fact, or dogs would smell like butt (aside from the occasional wet dog smell)! Dogs with extremely short coats can usually fare better in the heat, but even a shaved long-haired dog will usually have a good amount of fur left on them. Always make sure your dog has lots of water and adequate shade when outside.

It never hurts to be overcautious, because dogs can’t tell you that they’re hot.

Check out this article on Dogs and Heat Stroke

BO

During this time of economic crisis, the ongoing war, and
everything else terrible in the world, we can all use a little bit of happiness
and fun in the news. What can be more
fun and make people happier than a puppy? President Obama’s new White House puppy
to be precise.

Although
the topic isn’t vital news, the whole country has been talking about what kind
of dog the President was going to get for his two daughters ever since he was
elected. The choice had basically been
narrowed down to a Portuguese Water Dog or a Labradoodle, which are both easier
on shedding and a better fit for Malia Obama who has allergies. Although I’m a
fan of both choices, I would have nixed both and gone for a Goldendoodle.

Well, the time has finally come and
the Obama’s have announced they are proud new owners of a Portuguese Water Dog
named Bo. I have to admit, after seeing pictures of the little guy, he’s
adorable. I’m just hoping they don’t
shave him poodle-style when he’s full grown.
I would probably be embarrassed if I were in the poodle’s shoes running
around with that goofy haircut.

Obama is getting hammered with
questions about his new puppy, just as with any other issue he deals with from
day to day. The mini-interrogation is
over the matter that Bo came from a breeder and not from a shelter, as the
Obama’s originally planned. After
hearing Bob Barker’s ending statement to every show of “The Price is Right” -
“Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered” - , we all
got the idea that overpopulation has been an ongoing problem. Whether the Obama’s truly planned on saving a
shelter dog or not, it isn’t exactly the family who made the choice. Bo was a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy who is an
owner of a PWD. To counter-balance his
adoption of a breeder puppy, Obama is planning to donate to the District of
Columbia Humane Society.

*Photo by: Pete Souza/ White House