He’s at it again.  The FG has rediscovered the fun of swimming in his water dish – and better yet, the unparalleled joy in turning it over.  And FINALLY, my human THINKS she knows why he starts it.  If he sees something floating in the water – like a hair or a leaf or something else we have dragged in, he HAS to try and get it out.  And IF there is water in one of the metal bowls – and he happens to notice his own reflection in the water, it is imperative that he get that dog.  At least that’s what she THINKS.  I think he just enjoys the splashing around.  

He also discovered the sound of bullfrogs the other night when he went out for a walk.  He and my human approached a pond where the frogs were making a CRAZY racket.  Who knew they have a complicated calling system for communicating – generally when they are trying to find a mate?  And apparently their calling can be affected by environmental conditions – like temperature,  wind speed, and humidity.  AND it was pretty clear the other night that they also warn each other about the presence of Berger Picards.  Because as soon as Mr. Curious got REALLY close to the pond – all the calling stopped.  The FG looked totally puzzled.  Almost as puzzled as he looks when he dumps his water bowl and then there is no water IN the bowl anymore.  Ya gotta love him…

It’s Tuesday.  Not the start of the week.  Not the hump day.  Not the end of the week.  Just plain Tuesday.  I hope yours is great – and your water bowl stays full.

Have a good one.

So what’s new in dog research… Well a new study has come out in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews which looked at social evaluation of humans by dogs.  Specifically, they wanted to see how dogs would react to individuals who refused to help the dog’s owner.  It was quite interesting. Dogs watched as their owner asked someone for help in opening a jar.  In one situation, the owner was helped, and the dogs apparently approved.  In two other situations, the person did not help the owner, but the dogs didn’t seem to mind.  But when the person blatantly refused to help the owner, the dogs were NOT impressed.  And they did not forget.  When they were later offered treats by the researchers who refused to help, the dogs would NOT take the treat.  So we dogs are concerned about our owners – and we do not forget people who are not nice to them.  

I think it’s a cool study.  You humans KNOW that we dogs have your back and we care about you.  LOTS.  And it makes sense that we wouldn’t like someone who is not nice to you.  But honestly, I’m just a TINY bit concerned about what would happen if the PONs in this household were in this study.  Well, maybe not Einstein – but as for me….treat refusal is something I can’t even IMAGINE.  The FG is not as crazy a chow hound, so I can see him refusing.  And Einstein, well he would no doubt bark and voice his disapproval.  But me….OK.  OK.  I would refuse the treat.  It’s the right thing to do.  Besides, my human would then treat me for being a good dog.  So I still get the treat.  Phew.  Ethical dilemma solved.

Have a good one!  And don’t refuse to open someone’s jar.

My human has been watching a Facebook friend as she and her husband and well-behaved Berger Picard have traveled across Western and central Canada.  It’s hard to imagine a well-behaved Picard, while living with the FG.  Mind you he DOES have more and more moments of good behavior…Anyway,  the travelers have clearly enjoyed their visit to the Rockies and the plains and the forests of Ontario.  And as they head back to the US, my human has realized her pride in Canada.  And she counts herself as lucky – because she grew up in the US but she lives in Canada – so she holds passports in both countries and is a citizen of both.  

She recalls the time that an American once labelled her as a “traitor” for obtaining Canadian citizenship after living here for 30+ years.  The comment hurt her deeply.   Despite the often controversial political US climate,  her roots DO lie in a country where her grandfather emigrated from Poland – and where she proudly said the Pledge of Allegiance every day in school.  She does believe in the US – and it IS her birthplace.  It is in her heart.  But – she has also lived in a land where people are genuinely NICE – and where she has been welcomed and able to work and create a job that she truly loves.  Canada is not without problems – and she could write a book about the health care system.  But it IS a good place to live.  And while Nova Scotia sometimes feels like it is at the end of the east coast…and well, I guess it is except for Newfoundland (which is an island), it is a well-kept secret.  Not to mention the fact that she was adopted by two Polish Lowland Sheepdogs from this province!

And as for us dogs and passports, we don’t carry them for travel within North America – but as I understand it, dogs in Europe DO carry passports. They contain medical information, which allows dogs to go from country to country.  You can obtain passports from every country from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.  I understand that IF I was going to Zimbabwe, I COULD get a “Canadian” passport.  I have no travel plans right now – but who knows?!  One thing you DO need to check when traveling is whether the country has any quarantine period for newly arrived pets. That would NOT go over well with the dogs in THIS household….

So what’s my point today?  To love your roots and the passport that you hold – but to also love where you live.  And if both are in the same place – lucky you!  And if you have two places – or maybe MORE – lucky you TOO!  Don’t forget your roots – but appreciate and explore the place where you live.  And be grateful for that opportunity!

Have a good one…

So Ludwig goes in for his first oil change today.  My human hopes that they do a complimentary clean-up of Ludwig – including the removal of canine nose prints from the windows. Personally, I think canine olfactory art is a beautiful sign that someone shares their life with a canine companion (or three) and a badge of honor.  That and the two stickers on the rear window proclaiming Polish Lowland Sheepdog and Berger Picard on Board.  Humans LOVE to advertise what type of breed they own. In my human’s case, it helps her to find her car in a line-up in a parking lot.  

Humans like to advertise what breed(s) they own in lots of ways – besides the typical car bumper stickers or window decals.  They buy figurines of their breed, paintings of their breed, stationery, jewelry and of course attire.  My human has T-shirts and sweatshirts with the breeds she has been owned by.  Which got me thinking – we dogs in this house don’t really do the same.  I mean we don’t have any collars depicting single white females.  I suppose we really should.  

Anyway – enjoy your Saturday, and count every moment as a blessing.  Have a good one.

I wonder who did it.  Bought the property next to our place.  You see, we live in the semi-boonies.  Semi because we are not THAT far from the city, but boonies because we can’t easily walk to a grocery store.  We can’t REALLY walk to any amenity – except the golf course.  So we ARE in “the country”. 

But since my human moved here, there has been a 20 acre vacant property next to our property.  And rumor had it that to access the property, according to provincial laws, the owner would have to put in a paved road.  Which would be very expensive.  People have looked at the property over the years and have thought about building several homes on the acreage, but then realized the costs to build access would be quite high.  But apparently SOMEONE has the money.  And the big rumor in the neighborhood is that the person who bought it is going to build just one HUGE home.  An estate.  Rumors are flying fast and furious as to who bought the place.  I think I’ll start my own rumor.  Who could it be?  Someone with money.  Maybe a movie or TV star.  There ARE movie stars who own property in Nova Scotia – so it COULD be someone famous.  Whoever it is, they better like dogs chasing bunnies through their estate.  Who would we like for a neighbor?  Ellen Degeneres.  She’s funny.  Or Melissa McCarthy.  She’s funny too.  Both of them would probably laugh at our antics.  We don’t want Cesar Millan.  He would NOT appreciate our antics.  Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep are pretty cool – and who doesn’t like Anthony Hopkins?  Any of them we would welcome as neighbors.  My human would LOVE to see Liam Neeson be our neighbor.  She really hopes that is who it is.  She’s clearly delusional.  But I’ll start the rumor if she wants me to.  

Whoever it is, they REALLY better like dogs.  Let’s face it, it is QUITE likely we will go over to “visit.”  I can see the FG swimming in the huge pool, while Einstein and I steal the hors d’oeuvres during the garden party.  Not to mention us peeing in their garden.   Or pooping on their manicured lawn.  And I WONDER if they will have a dog.  Either guard dogs or poodles.  That’s what I’m thinking.  Hope they don’t put up an electric fence.  Imagine the FG if his hair stood up any more.  

Oh the drama.  Of the excitement.  I’ll keep you posted as the developments unfold.  My human went down to the lake on one of our trails, and saw the survey markers.  So this IS real.  And in her mind, it’s Liam Neeson.  I’ll humor her.   Suuuuuuure it is.

Have a good one.

It’s July 6 and an important day to think about a famous French biologist by the name of Louis Pasteur, and about his discoveries.  Lots of people think about his work in the area of pasteurization, but we dogs think about his work in the area of rabies.  His work on rabies focused on rabbits, and today, in 1885 he successfully tested his first rabies vaccine.

Rabies is a horrid condition, and when people or dogs are bit by a rabid animal, death is most surely certain. Over 55,000 people die worldwide from the disease.  Rabies is found pretty much everywhere, except Antarctica, and the state of Hawaii.  It is reported that in the U.S., rabies can occur in all mammals, but is most often found in  raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes.  Although rabies is so widespread, the vaccination for rabies, can protect and help control it. Once upon a time, dogs were vaccinated for rabies every year.  Now many places recommend every 3 years.  Humans can also test a dog’s immunity by doing a titer test.  It will show you whether or not your dog needs another rabies booster.

The topic of vaccination is a tricky one – and honestly, I don’t want to get into anything controversial.  Clearly, humans and dogs DO need protection against certain diseases and vaccinations CAN control the diseases.  We are fortunate here in Nova Scotia, that rabies is not rampant in wild animals.  In fact, the strain of rabies here is almost always limited to bats.  So if a bat swings down like Dracula and bites you, you should be prepared to get a rabies vaccine – if you don’t already have one.

We boys haven’t had a rabies vaccine- but we would need one if traveling out of the province.  My human would definitely vaccinate us if she felt there was a high likelihood that we could contract it.  Remember old Barney, her first dog who lived to 17.5?  He was vaccinated EVERY YEAR of his life.  By the time he was getting older, the new protocols for vaccinations were beginning to come out.   But she didn’t want to STOP vaccinating him as clearly, it did not affect his longevity ( a fear by many pet owners).  She thought that stopping the vaccinations might jinx his good health.  Go figure.  By the time Barney went to the Rainbow Bridge, he could glow in the dark from all the vaccines he had had.  And our Vet was driving a shiny new car.

Anyway, today we thank Louis Pasteur for all of his work in vaccinations and in infectious diseases. As an aside, his work in vaccinations began after he sadly lost three young children to typhoid fever.  It’s a story of sadness that led to discoveries in infectious diseases that have helped to save millions of lives.  It’s called making lemonade from lemons.  And taking a bad thing to make something good.  Imagine what the world would be like if all humans took bad things and made good things…

Have a good one.

So here are a couple of words from my Viktionary.  See if you can relate to any of them!

 I hope your day is full of good learning experiences!!!

July 4.  Happy Independence Day to my American family and friends.  In honor of the holiday, let’s do a little quiz on just a few “Made in America” dog breeds…

1.  This tuxedo-wearing black and white dog hails from New England.
2.  This husky breed was valuable during the Gold Rush in the 1800’s.  They are native to the 49th state to join the Union.
3.  These dogs were said to have Newfoundland dogs in their ancestry.  They are hardy retrievers from Maryland.
4.  This white fluffy canine is said to be a cross from the German and Italian spitz.  Their nickname is the Eskie.
5. This feisty little dog is said to have originated from the Smooth Fox Terrier, the Chihuahua and the Manchester terrier.
6.  These herding dogs originated on ranches in the western US.  The name of these dogs may think they are from a country “down under.”
7.  This sporting dog is the state dog of Wisconsin. Their name indicates that they clearly don’t mind the rain – the way that Einstein and I do!

Let’s see how you did…
1.  Boston terrier
2.  Alaskan Malamute
3.  Chesapeake Bay Retriever
4.  American Eskimo Dog
5.  Toy Fox Terrier
6.  Australian Shepherd
7.  American Water Spaniel

There are other breeds – including the Redbone Coon Hound, the American Staffordshire terrier and the Catahoula Leopard Dog. And then of course, we have one of my favorite dogs – which came from Germany – but became VERY popular in the US.  Which one?  The HOTDOG – of course!

Have a good one.

The day began with POURING rain.  I mean POURING like standing-under-Niagara Falls-rain.  JUST imagine how happy Einstein and I were when my human opened the door yesterday morning.  I was outfitted in my snazzy blue raincoat, and Einstein was wearing the gortex body suit.  He lost the coin toss.  But let me tell you, we were still wet when we came home probably because yours truly refused to poop.  I find it hard to poop when wearing a coat.  Einstein went almost IMMEDIATELY so he was NOT happy with me when he was forced to walk along with me.  He was WAY behind my human walking down the road.  We were both walking like two sacks of potatoes.  Our gait improved SIGNIFICANTLY on the way home.  

The FG didn’t really care too much about the rain.  Although I THINK it was the first time he actually wore a raincoat – so he was initially suspended when my human put it on him.  Then of course, he tried to eat it.  Outside he walked and every ten feet would stop and shake himself off.  Walk, stop, shake.  Walk, stop, shake.  Luckily he pooped relatively quickly.

Yesterday was a long but good day in the learning experience department. We keep hoping for those good days.

Last night, my human took each of us for a another walk but this time, the rain and clouds were gone.  Now we experienced the fog. We quite enjoy the fog.  You can’t see far in the distance, but with each step you take, you CAN see things.  Fog can make the world seem blurry and out of focus – but you KNOW it will lift.   And maybe today, we’ll feel that sunshine again.  

Enjoy our fog dog photos.  

Thank you again for your support – and please keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming…