Yee-haw, friends! I don't know about you but I can barely bark tonight - I've almost ruffing lost my voice! See, last night I spent almost 45 minutes yapping non-stop at an intruder, who was trying to make his way into our home through the hot-mouth. He's lucky it was my teeth and not the mouth that tried to stop him - his fur looked like the kind the mouth likes to swallow without chewing. And he had a lot worth chewing, let me tell you that.

Anyhow, by the time my human Sage had calmed down, I realized that he was none other than the legendary Santa Claws! That's right, I saw him in the fur! Oh Dog, and was he ever nice. After I helped him clean up the packages he had dropped - by ripping out the insides and burying them under the rug of course - he pulled out a succulent bone for me. What a guy! While I was enjoying it, Sage helped him bring out a few other packages - I was too busy to help with those - and in no time he was gone. And so was I, out like a light.

And all I've done today has been chewchewchew, pee, drink, chewchew, napnapnapnap, chew. It's a dawg's life, bitches. And may it be so for years to come.

And so I wish you all, my furry, fuzzy friends, the finest, chewiest holiday season! I hope Santa Claws was nice to you all (and didn't scare the beagleezus out of you!), and that you were good to you human(s).

Merry Chewsmaws, Buster

Grooming The Pet - How To Get Us Sleek and Gorgeous!

Oh yap, yap, yap how I love to be brushed and rubbed! We pets love your touch and affection, and there's nothing like a serious grooming session (which should be done whenever we're dirty - just use your nose!).

That's why I love the holidays: my human Sage takes it upon herself to make sure I'm extra silky-smooth, and great smelling (not stinky dawg like you know I love, but I put up with her version of yum). And boy is she thorough! She clips and snips, brushes in and out. She lathers and towels and spritzes... And when she's done, I look and smell like one smart stallion!

Some of my fine feathered, furried friends are whiskered away to day spas. How lapping-luxurious! But most of us are left to be putty in our human's hands, so it's important that they know how to groom us. Here's how my human does it:

Brush - Brush us before bathing to remove any tangles or matted areas, as well as any other clingy-thingy's. If you don't get these snarls out before bathing, they can just get worse. If we have any sort of gum clinging to hairs, try using a bit of olive oil or just cut it out! Never use anything like nail polish remover or solvent - it's totally tawxic to us!

Bath - It's best to bathe us only when we're really dirty. Use your nose! It always knows when it's bath time. Bathing us too often can strip our skin of natural, protective oils - making us itchyitchyitchy. This can also irritate sensitive skin! Use a pet formulated shampoo or soap, gentle enough for us (most human stuff is WAY too strong). A great one is Neem Soap! Sage and I also love the products at Earth Bath .

I love being bathed outside (Sage picks a spot where it - and us - won't get muddy) in the summertime! Sage just uses a hose. So fun. but colder weather means we have to be inside, in the tub. Small pets like kitties and pups can be bathed in the sink or basin - great, because you, dear human, can get a good hold on us. We are so slippery when wet! Big guys like me need a larger spot like the bathtub - though Sage gets me in the shower with the door shut! She's so smart. A closed door keeps us from running and slipping around the howl-house!

Use a drain screen, to catch the multitude of our hairs. Sheepishly, I shed a lot. And if we tend to get water in our ears, try a little cotton ball inserted - just remember to take it out after!

And start with our heads - it encourages any flea to move towards our rear ends, which are far easier to dunk in water than our heads. This isn't water torture (even though we may act like it is).

Haircut - If we can sit still, carefully snip hairs around eyes and in between toes.

Nails - Who doesn't love a paw-dicure? Trimming our nails can be really perilous. How about a learning with a little University upgrade: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/dog_nails.aspx

Ears - Make sure our ears are completely dry after bathing! Remember my post on pet ears - extra moisture makes this part of ours a bacteria haven! Use gentle swabbing motions with cotton tips, and if necessary now's a good time to put drops in our ears.

Finally, dry us with a nice, dark-colored, thick towel - or put a warm dryer on us. Not too close to our coats, mind you! Et voila: a gorgeously clean, sleek, sweet-smelling pet! All the better for you to hold close and stroke. I'll let you in on a little pet secret: this is the only reason we let you get us this clean! Oh, how we love the hand that caresses.

Pet you later, Buster

Photo Credit: psycho-pics

A Tooth For A Tooth - Proper Pet Dental Care

Chomping and chewing. Those are two of my favorite things to do! But I couldn't do them if I didn't have such amazingly strong fangs, thanks to my human's diligent care.

I've heard it said that doggies mouths are cleaner than a humans - you've praw-bably heard that too, right? Uh-uh. Think of all those places we stick our mouths, and you know it's not true. That yapped, it's just as important that we pets keep up dental hygiene as much as our humans! Domestic pets like to gnaw on whatever we can fit into our mouths (even rocks. Can you dig that?). The result: broken and missing teeth, gum lacerations, and even possible infections. Couple that with a lack of brushing, and you have a fine, hot, wet mess in there just begging for bacteria to breed. Since most of us go to town on our chow no matter what's happening in our mouths, it can be hard to tell what's going on in there. Humans, it's up to you to put your heads in the mouths of lions! So to yap.

Humans brush their teeth. Pets don't. We would if we could (especially those darn kitties - what with their obsessive compulsive grooming rituals), but we can't so we won't. Can you believe that approx. eighty-five percent of dogs and cats will have some notable level of gingivitis by the age of 2? Poor dental hygiene is one of the most common pet ailments, and can be prevented with help from our caretakers.

Let's start with warning signs that you pet is getting all mouthy:

Bad breath: we animals don't always have the nicest smelling breath around. But something of the rotting flesh variety (even though that sort of thing makes me want to roll in it) can be sign of a bacterial infection. A trip to the vet is in order! Why? Because the bloodstream can carry bacteria from a dental infection, other organs can be compromised, including the heart valves and kidneys. Nip that issue, now.

Plaque: Every day when we eat, our teeth are covered in bacterial plaque. If this plaque is not removed, it eventually builds up - look for yellowish stains near the gum line. Plaque can irritate the gum edges and cause them to inflame, and sometimes bleed. Gingivitis!

Other symptoms can include:

- Reddened or receding gums

- Drooling

- Lack of appetite (since we are always ready to eat, this is a real warning sign)

- Mouth pain or difficulty in closing mouth

Natural dental treatment and prevention of ailments is easy. But, dear caregivers, you must take daily care of us!

The first step in maintaining a healthy body is diet. Like my human Sage always says, we are what we eat. A pet diet rich in nutrients, without chemically processed ingredients, can be one of the best ways to keep our whole systems well. Make sure your pet is eating foods that contribute to well being, like Embark or Prowl created from organic, hormone-free, fresh, all natural ingredients. Instead of refined, sugary foots, the teeth will be exposed to vital nutrients.

Brush-a-brush-a-brush-a! Routine daily dental care involves brushing your pet's teeth with a soft brush and veterinary toothpaste. But you have to start us on this sort of thing when we're little! Otherwise, you may have one yap of a time getting your hands in our mouths. Gently hold your pet's muzzle with one hand and stroke it with the other hand. Lift our upper lip to expose teeth, then treat us. Repeat this procedure for several days until we feel comfortable with your hands near our mouth. You can use a piece of soft gauze or cloth around a fingertip, to gently start the brushing process. Try a tiny dot of pet toothpaste to start - something beefy! Human toothpaste contains detergents that will make us really sick if we swallow it (which we will). Pet pastes come in flavors that help make brushing more enjoyable for us - sadly not Fermented Fish or Stinky Shoe like I love, but whatever. I lap up what I get, anyhowl...

Here's a great video to help you learn paw-per brushing:

See your vet every 6 months to a year, for dental check-ups.

And finally, if your pet's breath is just so stinky that you can't handle kisses, try a mouth wash and some teeth chews. Come on, pucker up!

Taking care of our teeth takes a little time every day, but the results are ruffing worth it. Not only will you keep your vet bills own (have you ever splurged on a vet visit? Now that would be like pulling teeth), but our whole health will prosper. And that keeps us, your beloved furry pals, around as long as possible. I'll bite to that!

Chow, Buster

Photo Credit: andreanna

Beware Bitches! How To Avoid Holiday Pet Accidents

Every holiday I get tons of mail from my pals, telling me how they narrowly (if at all) avoided a perilous season. From eating bad-for-pet-bum bon-bons to pulling a decorated tree arf-over-tea-kettle, I think I`ve heard barks of them all!

Thank dogness that my human Sage knows how to carefully strategise around pet holiday perils. Now that I`m a big boy I know better than to chase a glass ornament, but back in the day I had no idea! I was THIS close to chomping an Xmas star, which would have ripped out my insides. I`m yapping to you, it was a Clawsmas Miracle.

Some humans are unaware of just how dangerous to us the holidays can be! I`ve taken today to put paw to keys, listing out some avoidable ruff-ups:

Ornaments: We are curious critters. Put out any thing new, shiny or otherwise, and we wannahaveattit! Those glimmering, dangly things set out before us are practically begging us to play around - and dawg, those balls are sure fun to swat around. Instead of glass or metal, try using wood, fabrics or toxin-free plastic - we won`t get cut.

Trees: What the ruff is that thing growing in my living room I? Chances are if it`s there, I will pee on it. I might also go for the water if it`s a live tree, which can poison me after it`s been sitting for so long. Blech. A few crazy kitties I know have the sharpest drive to get to the top - which can pull that tree right down. Try covering the stand, or putting up a tree in a pet-free zone.

Flowers and berries: Mistletoe, holly berries and lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, and poinsettas can cause us stomach upsets. You know we love to chew us some plants, so do us a favor and leave them growing outside!

Lights and Candles: I`m a whapper. Most of my pals are, too. We wag our tails so hard they send most things in their path flying! An open flame next to our walkway is not a good idea. And wires pose a paw-ticularly dangerous attraction: for the young and old who love to play with stings and things, a wire will look mighty chewable. One chew will give us the shock of our lives - literally - and can not only cause a pet injury or death, but cause a fire as well. Cover the wiring on floors and tack up loose cords!

Bon-Bons: I loves me a good biscuit! But not of the human kind (although I wish I could I wish I could I wish I could). Human foods of all sorts can cause all kinds of injury and harm, so keep every treat out of pet`s reach. Check out my post on foods to avoid, HERE.

And other than the sight of some crazy, over-sized intruder dressed entirely in red (that was the year I woke everyone up early and we got to open gifts at 4:30 in the morning), there isn`t much more that can cause us pets potential damage!

Dear humans, let`s keep this season safe and sound - all around.

That`s a wrap, Buster

Photo Credit: johnmichaelmayer

Dear Santa Claws, Help Our Friends!

Dear Santa Claws,

I hope you are happy and well, and that things up in the North Pole aren't too cold. I hope you haven't been too stressed out by the holiday preparations; and even though I am sure that Mrs. Claws is a great canner, I hope you are taking advantage of all of that fresh, raw meat up there. I know I would! But that's not what I'm writing to you about.

To answer your first question, yes I have been a good boy. A very, very, very good boy. And no, this letter has nothing to do with what I want for Xmas or anything. I don't need any new toys or border-collie bling, I am truly happy with everything I have.

Dear Santa Claws, I am writing to you to help you help my furry friends around the world.

Some of my friends - like Asian Elephants, Meerkats and Orangutans - and their families may not be around for much longer. Their environments are being destroyed by big, human industry around them, and to tell the truth they are dying out. It makes me whimper. Instead of presents, if you could adopt an endangered friend of mine it would make a huge difference! When you adopt an animal, you'll have a stuffed animal, reusable gift bag, and personalized adoption certificate that you can wrap up into a gift. A letter that identifies you as the gift-giver will show everyone that you, dear Santa Claws, left the prezzie. How great is that?

On a sadder note, some of my brothers and sisters are being raised, right this minute, in really terrible circumstances. Their humans are not taking care of them, and they suffer emotional, physical and mental abuse - like dog fighting, puppy mills, and euthanasia. No living creature deserves to be hurt, and Santan Claws you can help us! A donation to The Humane Society of the United States will help the world's leading animal advocacy organization work to protect all animals across the nation and worldwide. Of course when you donate you'll have something to wrap: a profile and photo of an animal that has been saved by donations like yours. Included will also be a subscription of the HSUS All Animals magazine (filled with great pet info - not always as entertaining as mine, but from the horse's mouth anyhow.).

At this point I'd like to put a little wag in your step! Our good friends at Petco have an established foundation, and every year they run a fundraiser to support thier good work. Santa Claws, their calenders are now available on line and in stores for a donation of only $5.99. We certainly encourage you to consider rounding up with an additional donation of $10 or $20. 100% of the proceeds from this calendar will benefit animals in need.

And finally, nothing says I love you and Happy Holidays like keeping us healthy and happy. My friends at PetWellbeing.com have a whole variety of natural products to treat and prevent, and good dog they have helped alot of my pals. My human and I love them.

So, dear Santa Claws, you can consider this letter a wish list of sorts. I wish all my pals around the world a healthy, safe,happy holiday season. I know you can help!

Thanks for reading this, Buster

PS If you happen to have any extra Northern Rawhide still kicking around, I would be much obliged when you swing this-a-way. Yap!

Photo Credit: sayheypatrick

Congratulations, Bitches! Announcing This Month's Contest Winners!

Oh, happy happy happy day! Today is the day you and your humans have all been waiting for: the post to announce the winners of our Testimonial Draw! I'm yapping it up in thanks for your te-ruff-ic testimonials! Thank dogness we didn't have to choose Best Testimonial, as they were all so amazing. Instead, each of your entries went into a draw box, wherein I've had my hot little paws all morning.

Behold the paw-drawn contest winners!

Congratulations, bitches:

1st Prize Winner - $250 PetWellbeing Gift Certificate and Water Fountain:
Grover and his mom Connie Loper, from Craley, PA

2nd Prize Winners - $125 PetWellbeing Gift Certificate and Water Fountain:
Elliot and his mom Melissa Burris, from Greensboro, NC
Benjamin Michael and his mom Cheryl Tubisz, from Depew, NY

3rd Prize Winners - Water Fountain/Pet Food/Replacement Product:
Mr. Beaglie and his mom Melanny Michael, from Farmersville, OH
Dickens and his mom Sharon, from Edmonton, AB
Fox and his mom Vivian Goldberg, from Orlando, FL
Smokey and his mom Donna, from Pembroke Pines, FL
Fifi and her mom Judy Leska, from Jacob's Creek, PA

Crystal and her mom Shari Akers, from Lakewood, CO

Biscuit and Charlie and their mom Peggy Barnes, from Alexandria, KY

Buster and his mom Sandra Sovinski, from New Smyrna Beach, FL (Hey Pal, nice name)
Tara and her mom Nancy Ball, from Independence KY

Don't see you and your human's name today? Each month I post one of your inspiring stories, so have your human send me one! If I post it, you get treats. Who doesn't love that?

Stay cool, stay healthy, stay happy, Buster

*All winners above have been notified by email, so send me bark if you haven't received confirmation of your win!

Photo Credit: russellbernice

Photo Credit: kiwiwings

Lavender - Mother Nature's Chill Pill

Oh dawgs, I am really stressed out. I just got lunged at by one of the biggest chompers in our neighborhood, and he nipped me good.

Luckily I was hanging with my human Sage at the time, and she hauled me straight home. Still, my heart hasn't stopped racing since we got here - must have been 5 minutes ago now. I'm sitting in my corner having a lick, lick, lick,lick, and Sage is busy doing things. You know, like those humans always do, banging around...

Anyhow, I'm licking away and my leg is hurting, but I can feel my heart is starting to calm. Thank Dogness. Mmmm, what's that smell? Sage has something on the stove that smells goooooood. A little herby, a little spicy, a little sweet. I'm just gonna inhale a little deeper... Oh yeeeeeeaaaaah. It's really good. And... I'm cool.

Alright anyhow, so now I'm feeling better but my leg is really hurting and - oh, here comes Sage with a bottle and some cloth. Hey, hey, she's spraying me with the same herby-spicy-sweet stuff! Whimperwhimper! Oh... but that feels nice, too. Yeah, real nice. Like, I wanna just lie down now for a bit and... zzzz...

Snorf - oh, hey dawgs, sorry about that! I guess I dozed off. Hunh. 5 minutes ago I was freaking out, and now here I am feeling just fine! What the ruff did my human just do? I'm going to find out.

*************************************************************************************

Ok, so I had a little sniff around, and it turns out Sage is one smart, smart, biscuit! After she brought me home, she took out some lavender oil and burned it in her aromatherapy burner to calm me down. See, lavender is a natural remedy for everything from insomnia to anxiety, and it produces calming, soothing effects. It did me in!

The name lavender comes from the Latin lavare, which means "to wash". Sage grows her own lavender in a big pot. Hers has silvery grey-green leaves, and blue-violet flowers. I just think it's the prettiest thing! It has antibacterial, analgesic and antimicrobial properties - in fact, hospitals during those crazy human World Wars used the oil to clean off walls and surfaces. I guess that's why Sage used it to clean my wound!

Pets: advise your humans that some of your best remedies can be growing right in their own yards! Or at their local healthy pet stores.

Hot Dog, I never would have guessed that our li'l lavender would do me so good. I'll have to stop territorizing her from now on.

Passing my luck to you, Buster

Photo Credit: 44639455@N00
Photo Credit: oakleyoriginals

What's In A Name? How To Pick A Good One

I'm a lucky dog, on so many levels. I have a human who loves and adores me, lots and lots and lots of yummy treats, and a yard I can go to town in (and on). I also have a cool name: Buster, of English origin, meaning a particularly robust child. Also used informally in place of "fellow", or as in "pal" (ie. from one pal to another). Very appropriate, IMHO, and don't you think? I am a very robust type of fellow, who loves to pass on ideas from one pal to another. I'm just yapping.

So that makes me wonder: am I so affable a guy because of my dog name, or did my human Sage just pick a good one? Seems a lot of my friends have names that perfectly describe who and what sort of personality they are. Note to humans: we are what you name us!

If choosing a pet name can determine our humor, let's have a gander at some worth (and not) trying out:

Alfie: meaning "elf" or "magical counsel; ready for battle". Hm. I thought Alfie was a tail-chasing sort of fellow, but perhaps I had that wrong. Well, ready for battle - as in Sir Yapalot - is definitely the sort of fellow we all like around an empty house!

Arrow: On the straight and narrow. A pointer, surely in the right direction. Keep those other kitties off the catnip, keep those puppies away from the shoes - this one'll rule the household all right!

Buttons: Button, button, who's got a button? You lose 'em, we ate 'em. Probably, anyway. This fuzzy friend will make a great substitute! Well, sort of.

Chunky Monkey: My humans' fave Ben and Jerry's flavor. There's only thing this pet wants you for: to bury your head deep into his/her tummy and blow out warm air. That's it. Life is so simple.

The Dude: Yes, one can use "The" , as in "I have a title". Here we have the most radical, most laid-back sort of creature in the house. And probably not out of, since he likes to lay on the rug - all day long. No one'll take yours!

Gonzo: Our favorite muppet. Gonzo is equal parts smarts and nuts. We all need a great entertainer!

Jazz: Sweet, sweet music. Your pet will be equal parts cool, classic and contemporary - and creative. Same goes for Herbie, Nat, Louis, Ella, etc.

King: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all think we're royal (same goes for Drama Queen, Queenie, Princess et al). Save this one for someone else, unless you want your name to become Slave. Which, if you have a feline, it already is.

Lucky: Well. Who doesn't want a pet with a name inferring the loveliest lady of all, Luck? I promise your Lucky will be your luckiest charm, yet. Or he/she will tie your tongue in a knot.

Maestro: Here, you may have someone who can conduct your orchestra of life. Could be great (make hubbin' change the litter, keep the mice away, keep the socks in line), could be not-so-great (will sleep on your face until you wake up, will sing for their supper all day long).

Renaldo: Want a pet who will keep you on your toes? Playing ball with this critter will keep you active forever. Goal!

Stinkpot: Poobutt, Buttboink, or any other name referring to you-know-what should be avoided at all costs. Reasons: obvious.

Tiny Tim/Tina: Small pet complex? I might skip this one. Unless of course you're one of those humans who thinks it's funny to name a big animal a small name, and vice versa. You're probably the same type who thinks the bubble-bum trick is hilarious, too. Well then, you deserve a personality like this one. Good luck!

Zeus: All knowing, all powerful. Enough said.

There we go folks, a round up of some of our most auspicious names.

So now I'm asking myself: would a Rose by any other name smell as sweet? Hmm. I think I'll go take a walk and sniff around some. Ahem.

Smell y'awll later, Buster

Photo Credit: meggito
Photo Credit: nieve44

MY YAPPING HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!

Have a pet you know and love, but don't know what the ruff to give them? Sniff no further. I have unearthed my top 5 gift faves, so that you, dear humans, may have more time to devote to your beloved beast.

Behold:

1. Everyone loves the lap of luxury - it's so warm up there! How about lapping luxury? A Drinkwell water fountain offers laps of love all day long. Great for cats and dogs (and other pets, too!).


2. Treats are treats. We will never NOT be excited by them. Even better for you if they help us stay healthy! Simple as that. Z-Ridge Edible Dental Chew Bones


3. Bling it! You're not the only one's who love to put on the bright stuff - adorn your pet-body beautiful with some, too. Park Avenue Bling


4. Everyone knows that the path to man's heart is through his stomach. Guess what, same with us. My human likes it raw, and doggity-dog so do I!


5. Show me a kitty who doesn't love looking fetching, and I'll show you a kitty who loves to fetch. Ok, I do know a fetching cat or two, but you get my meaning. Help your royal mewness along, with Royal Coat.

And finally: Nothing says happy holidays like... a Gift Card! Treat your baby-pet to a natural, holiday-inspired gift of your choice with a $10 Gift Card! Just enter "HOLIDAY" into the coupon section when you check out. *Valid until January 2nd with a minimum $35 purchase. Code: HOLIDAY!

Happy Yapping Holiday Season!

Love, Buster

Photo Credit: zachklein
Photo Credit: zanastardust

Putting Out The Fire In The Worm Hole - Natural Remedies for Itchy Bums

There's a fire in the hole! There's a fire in the hole! A real, ruffing fire!

Have a gander at the fine young lad in the picture above. He has adopted a much too familiar activity, that of dragging ragingly hot bum on floor. Not just an attempt at relief engaged in by dogs, the "Butt Scrag" (a dragging scratch) can been witnessed amongst other species. I once even saw a human do it, while his friends barked "Drag the butt! Drag the butt!" . It's so embarrassing but funny when humans pretend to be us.

All yapping aside, when one of us critters gets down that low it's never for laughs. Contrary to popular belief, it's not always because we have a wriggingly bad case of worms! More often, it's due to trouble with our anal sacs, and is terribly uncomfortable. A trip to the vet is most necessary, and treatment is key.

Allow me to regale you with my own personal tale - and why I chased mine so much.

It was a time in my life that I will never forget. I was young, I was lively. And I was having a very new sensation in my nether region. Like most dogs, I attempted to apply the lick method - famous for healing and treating most dogging ailments. It helped to tem-paw-rarily relieve the pressure and itching, but once I was up and at 'em, the sensations returned. And so of course, in my border collie-obsessive way, I got back down and licked. I licked and licked and licked and licked and licked... and licked. I couldn't stop. The sound started to make my human Sage crazy.

I also had the distracting urge to go number two, constantly. That provided some relief too, but momentarily. And yes, for some strange reason I thought that if I could catch my own tail, I could put an end to my misery. What can I say, that itching put me right out of my very own mind.

And so I made for one last resort: I clawed my butt along the coarsest, wooliest carpet we own. Dog it felt good. But not for long. My human Sage caught me, and in an instant I was whisked to my vet for a very, very intimate examination. Turns out, I had a buildup of anal secretions that I wasn't able to expel on my own - common amongst household pets. Ew, dawgs!

There are two small glands just inside a doggie's anal opening. Marking our scents help the secretions to pass, but in my case (and in the case of many friends I know) my secretions had built up and clogged the ducts. The vet explained to Sage that a buildup could lead to painful eruptions and abscesses, and that she had caught my issue in the nick of time. Our vet taught Sage how to deal with it personally. Here's how (ack-ack):

(If you can't see the video, click HERE)

She also told us that there can be other reasons for itchy bumhole: allergies and worms. In those cases, straight up herbal formulas like Stimmune or Inulin can take care of those problems - no one wants wormy bums dragged on their carpets!

At this point in time, my little issue is no longer a big deal. The licking I do is mostly during love sessions with my humans, and the only tail I chase is - you guessed it: I am a bitch's hound. Taking this info to your human when you've got the butt heat will help you, too! Yap yap!

Be cool, Buster

Photo Credit: naritheole

Taming The Shrew - When Good Pets Go Bad

Downward facing dog is a great pose. I know, I do it all the time - it`s kind of my signature asana, if you will. Ahem. But when your doggie, kitty, or any other kind of pet, is posing to be a downer at home (translation: they`re no Mr. Or Miss Behavin`s), you know you need some help!

We pets don't act out inappropriately just 'cuz. My neighbour's cat Allowishes (you've heard about her) is a total brat, but not because she has a bad attitude; I myself drove my human Sage up the wall for a time (see that post HERE) , and not just for my own fun.

Pets act out because we're stressed, sick, or have no clue how to behave.

With what can seem like warp speed, we can completely soil the house, destroy your belongings, bark-meow-chirp excessively, unearth buried treasure in the backyard, carve holes in the doors, engage in bar brawling, defy your commands, and even attack you. For many animal species, this is normal behaviour! And truth be told, we have no problem with it. The humans we live with do, and we look to you to teach us not to do it.

Pets need to be taught how to, and not-to, act, as early as possible. By the time we`re one year old it`s almost too late. The best way to teach us how to act is to reward us for everything we do that you love - over, and over, and over again. Repetition never gets tired for us (you maybe, but it`s what works for us to help you stay sane. Keepatitkeepatitkeepatit). What ends up happening more often than not, though, is that a human will pay more attention to our bad behavior - and reward it! Eample:

- Prruskin sits by door, mewing. You open door to let her out. She mews and you open it to let her in. She mews and you open it to let her out. You ignore her next mew, she scratches door. You open it to let her in. And so on.

- Brian the bulldog runs away. You chase him.

- Sage comes home. I run to greet her, jumping up and licking her. She enthusiastically greets me back.

This kind of behavior is not cute, and not funny. And it's not good. But this is the kind of stuff most of us get away with, much to the chagrin of our humans. It gets us attention, even if we are scolded in the process.

What's hard for me to talk about are my friends who have little attention at all - some are tied out in their yards, or left inside all day. These are the pets who end up with serious issues - they can be lonely, bored, frustrated and anxious, but they act out in ways that can seem totally malicious! Which we pets totally aren't. We ain't people, people - we don't have a vindictive bone in our bodies.

So here are a few ways to get us to act the way you want us to. But a few don'ts before the do's:

DON'T

- Never hit an animal. We are extremely fragile creatures, especially us smaller ones (birds, rodents, lizards) and for many of us even the slightest force can cause severe injury or death. Physically abusing an animal can also lead to irreversible psychological problems, and can promote aggression and viciousness.

- Don't hold a grudge. We are extremely intelligent, but also very sensitive creatures. When you express displeasure with our behavior, make the lesson short and sweet. Prolonged negative attention can cause undue emotional stress for your pet.

- Never compromise our health. "Punishing" a pet by witholding food or neglecting cage cleaning is never a fit way to deal with a behavior problem. This is not only mean, but can cause serious physical and emotional damage for the pet.

Most abused pets, especially dogs, love their owners - unconditional love is a unique characteristic. But, it is the quickest way to eliminate our trust in you. Punishment will not stop our behavior problems.

DO

- Remember the correct way to respond.

- Respond at eye level. If you have a smaller animal like a bird, have them step onto your hand and bring them to your eyeline.

- Be expressive! Do not be afraid to frown.

- Speak sternly. Use a low tone and be as "matter of fact" as possible, keeping it short.

- Give your pet some space. A time out for a few minutes will help pets to reflect on what happened. Follow it by playful interaction, to help your pet know that they are still a good boy or girl.

- Repeat! Repeat! Repeat! Get it? Get it? Get it?

We can work it out, oh humans who we adore. Take a little time to find out why we`re acting up, or out, and with a little patience and love we`ll be back to business. The good kind. The kind that makes you wonder what the heck your life was like before you had a critter to care for.

Giving y`awll a paw whenever I can, Buster

Photo Credit: chainsawpanda

Photo Credit: dan4th

Photo Credit: technowannabe

Hot Diggity Dog - Rooting For Burdock!

Hot Dog I love to dig. It thrills me. Getting that dirt right in between my toes, kicking back with my hind legs and watching that hole get bigger and bigger... It's like, so prawmal.

So this afternoon I was rooting around in the backyard when I came across something that made my doggie-sense go wild. Somehow, I knew the thing I was scratching and tugging at had value and must be shown to my human, Sage, at once! At once! At once! Off to the house I went, with root in jaws, and after Sage spent a good 5 minutes waving her hands in the air and yelling "Nononono, dirty!" at me, I lay down my precious gift before her. It pleased her, I could tell: I was rewarded with a pat and a treat - which I promptly took back out to bury in the backyard. Sage went for her juicer.

So what the ruff did I uproot for her? I had found burdock, one of my humans' favorite natural remedies. Native to Europe and Asia, burdock grows like a weed in my home turf. Look for its distinctive spiny, burr-like heads. It flowers beautiful purple blooms from summer to early fall, and has large leaves that are green on top and grayish underneath. The best time to harvest the root is during the fall or spring. It's a really easy plant to grow, liking moist, rich soil and full sun. Hey, I like digging in moist, rich soil and then laying under the sun, too! Yap, yap, yap, life is good for Buster the Burdog! I digress (but yappily).

Burdock is used in both Western and Chinese herbal medicines for its detoxifying effects: it's fantastic for skin problems, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis or skin infections, and it's a traditional liver tonic. My human Sage loves to juice it into her veggie drinks, and many a barking-good veggie maki roll has been made with it (Sage makes sushi at home. I told y'awll I'm a lucky dawg). Best of all, many natural human and pet professionals agree that burdock can protect against, and treat, cancer, which is why it's a main ingredient in ES Clear for Cancer. In fact it was an ingredient in the controversial 1920's Hoxsey therapy, which is still being analyzed today.

Not to be a downer, but according to the Morris Animal Foundation "Nearly 50 percent of natural deaths in older cats and dogs are attributed to cancer". If I can help my fellow beasts live longer, healthier, happier lives by extolling the virtues of burdock, then by Dog I will. After all, according to my Hippawcratic Oath:

"I will apply dietic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgement; I will keep them from harm and injustice."

And of course, I am referring to you, my fuzzy brothers and sisters.

Get into digging Burdock!

Yours for long life, Buster

Photo Credit: oakleyoriginals