Absolute Yorkies

Let's go inside when the fireworks start, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  It’s holiday fun this weekend for Canadians as we celebrate Queen Victoria’s Birthday!  With holidays come BBQ’s, fun in the backyard and noisy and frightening fireworks for your Yorkie!  We’re reprinting this post from 2010 to help you keep your Yorkie safe and happy this holiday weekend.

Fireworks: Explosives In Your Backyard
TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Happy Victoria Day weekend to all of our Canadian friends!  This special weekend marks the official beginning of summer for many of us.  Everyone loves a great celebration with food and fun.  But what’s fun for us may not be so fun for our Yorkies.

Fireworks are wonderful to watch but can be very loud and dangerous.  A dog’s hearing is extremely sensitive so the loud bangs of fireworks can be very distressing for your Yorkie.  Keep your dog at home and in his safe area inside the house away from the fireworks.  He may become nervous and have a little accident on the floor or chew something he wouldn’t normally so make special effort to ensure there’s nothing he can get into.

Even if the fireworks and festivities are not in your yard, keep your dog inside in his safe place.  Your dog may become frightened and anxious and try to escape from the backyard to find you.  If you know your Yorkie is very nervous when he hears loud noises, talk to your vet ahead of time to see if there’s any actions she recommends to keep your Yorkie comfortable.

Have fun and keep your Yorkie safe!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Who's this, mommy?

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Has your dog ever run out of the front door or the gate and completely ignored your frantic pleas for her to come back?  Next thing you know you’re chasing your dog down the street screaming her name as she picks up speed furthering the distance between you.  Or the unmentionable happens if she bolts in front of a car.

One of our readers, Janice, from “Rescue Me” Yorkie Rescue, wrote this excellent and informative article for her newsletter to teach Yorkie owners how to save their doggy if he bolts out the door, gets off his leash or otherwise runs away.   

What to Do When Your Dog Runs Away From You
We are used to being careful with our dogs and to watching over them, but do you know what to do if the unthinkable happens and your dog escapes? Being prepared can save your dog’s life. I hope that all of you will take a few minutes to read this and put into practice some of the things I am going to discuss.

Teach Your Dog To Come
The first defence is to teach your dog to come. You may say, “well my dog will come if I call her.” Perhaps, but will she come when she is not used to being free and when you are running behind her screaming? The answer is most likely no. I won’t go into specifics here on training your dog to come because there are many links on the subject including these:

http://www.dogtrainingbasics.com/come.html
http://www.perfectpaws.com/recall.html
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-come/page1.aspx

Here are a few points that could save your dog’s life:

• Do not call your dog and then punish her for coming (including interrupting her fun). Instead, praise her, treat her, play with her when she comes.
• During training, do not call your dog unless you think she is going to come because that may actually be teaching her to stay away!
• Do not use your dog’s name for the come command – her name doesn’t give her any information as to what you want her to do. You can use her name to get her attention and then use your COME command, whatever word you decide it will be.
• Once your dog comes reliably, practice every day, in different situations, with and without distractions. Dogs do not generalize and while they may come all the time in your living room, they may not come in other situations, unless you have trained them to do so. One of my dogs would come every time I called except when I was close to him so I have to work on that specifically with him.

What To Do If Your Dog Gets Loose
Now that you have worked on teaching your dog to come and she is coming reliably, what happens if she gets loose? The hardest thing to do is to stay calm and I am not kidding. If you panic, the dog will pick up on your mood and may be afraid to come to a “maniac,” which is pretty much what you will be feeling like.

Keep an image in your mind of the dog coming back to you as you use your cue to recall her. Do NOT run after her – she will think that you are playing follow the leader and will keep heading away from you. Instead, try running in the other direction and calling out playfully for the dog to follow you – many times dogs will just naturally follow when you do this.

If that doesn’t work, either yell her name once or yell “stop” to get her attention. If your dog is looking at you but intending to head away, hold out your hand palm facing her like a traffic cop, when you yell stop, and you may be able to keep her still long enough to approach her (keep your hand up as you approach). Do not, of course, yell stop if having her stop at that moment will put her in danger.

Do not repeat any sounds quickly in succession (like come, come, come, come) if she is heading away from you – this is like saying go, go, go, go, go to your team and will most likely result in the dog running further away. One clear command is what is most likely to stop her.

If she stops and looks at you like she might be thinking about coming to you, drop to your knees and give the come command in your sweetest, happiest, most playful voice (and then you can say come, come, come, come to encourage her to move toward you).

I also hold out my arms and wiggle my fingers to encourage a dog to come to me. Dropping to your knees and calling the dog calmly may also work as a first defence and often results in getting the dog back right away.

Practice, Practice, Practice!
Something that I practice every single day with my dogs is:  I call all my dogs at once by saying, “boys,” in a drawn-out voice that starts low and rises at the end. I also sometimes use a clicker as back-up to call them because that sound seems to carry farther if I am inside the house and they are outside.

During training, they get a small treat 100% of the time when they come. After I am more confident that they understand, I drop to fewer treats but still a higher percentage than with normal training.

I call them when they are inside, outside, in different locations, when a car pulls into the driveway (not always reliable unless you catch them a little ahead of time), when they are far away, when they are close and any other situation I can think of.  One thing I noticed after I started training them to come is that they now pay closer attention to me in general.

Here is an excellent page that goes into more detail and suggests some other creative ways to attract your dog in this situation:
http://www.washingtonpashelter.org/PDF/Catching%20_Dog.pdf

Thank you so much, Jan!  This is fabulous information!  I’ll be practicing with my Yorkies.  Have a safe and happy weekend everybody and see you on Wednesday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I prefer to sleep on a chair, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Trampolines.  Every other backyard in our neighbourhood either has a pool or a trampoline.  I turned fifty last summer and jumped on a trampoline for the very first time!  Can’t say I’d buy one myself but I know kids love to play on it.

Watch for sharp trampoline bolts

Recently I read about a dog whose side was badly cut by a jagged bolt sticking out of a trampoline leg.  The vet stitched the wound and the dog had to take antibiotics and wear an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) so he couldn’t lick the wound and it would heal.  Poor fellow!

Jagged trampoline bolts, torn wire fencing, broken patio stones and broken flowerpots can cut your Yorkie and cause her serious harm.  Take a good look around your yard for sharp or broken objects now that it’s spring and many of us are out cleaning up our yards after the winter.

A little prevention goes a long way!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I think I'll have a nap, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  It takes a few days for all of us to get used to daylight savings time.  In fact it could take as long as a week or two for your internal clock to get in sync with the clocks hanging on the wall. 

I know we’ve talked about our Yorkies and time change but I actually never really noticed how Gideon and Hope adjusted to the change until this year.

Gideon loves to play after his breakfast but this week he’s had a little nap instead of hurling his soggy pink piggy toy at me while I’m trying to eat my porridge.  Hope is having a hard time settling down at night.  She thinks its playtime not sleep time and refuses to come when I call “Yorkies bedtime!”

Dogs are creatures of habit and routine.  So when the clocks change our routines change and so do theirs.  And it’ll take some getting used to for your Yorkie.  Be patient with your doggies.  They’re little internal clocks have to adjust too!

Have a great day everybody and enjoy the sunshine.  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Thank you for updating my info, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  I have a nasty flu today folks so my brain is a bit fuzzy!  I’ve decided to re-post one of our articles about Microchips.  With spring right around the corner many of you start thinking about moving and you may forget to change your Yorkie’s emergency microchip contact information.  So add, “change of address for our Yorkie” to your To Do List!

Moving?  Update Your Yorkie’s Microchip Contact Information
TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Keeping your Yorkie’s microchip contact information current is critical!  You and your little Yorkie will both be lost if you move and forget to update your emergency contact information.

A microchip is a tiny capsule about the size of a grain of rice that contains a computer chip.  It’s injected under your Yorkie’s skin between the shoulder blades.  This chip stores a unique, permanent identification number.  If your Yorkie gets lost, her microchip can be scanned and the emergency contact person will be notified.

Your Yorkie’s microchip is useless if you don’t update your emergency contact information!  Follow these easy steps to protect your Yorkie:

1. Ask your vet or breeder for the name of the emergency contact person that was registered with the microchip company. 
2. If the vet or breeder used their own name to register the microchip, inform them of your new address and phone number.
3. If the microchip was registered in your name, ask the vet or breeder for the name of the company that supplied the microchip that’s implanted in your Yorkie.  We use Microchip4Solutions but the Canadian Kennel Club and several other reputable companies supply microchips.  Call the supplier with your new contact information.

We’d rather be safe than sorry so keep your Yorkie’s microchip number in a safe place. 

Have a great day everybody and see you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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My crate is ready, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT: We were devastated to hear about the horrific tornado that struck Harrisburg, Illinois this morning. Our hearts go out to the families affected by this terrible tragedy.

Our guest writer, Judy Wright of Rosehill Yorkies  wrote an excellent 4-part series for us last fall, “Disaster Planning: Do It Now!”   Please review the series even if you followed along with us in November. And if you missed it, please read the series now! With nature being so unpredictable we all need to be prepared.

A demolished neighbourhood we saw in Alabama after the tornado last year.

Our prayers are with the people of Harrisburg. And with the many pets that will be affected by this dreadful disaster. See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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Avocados are bad for us, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Many of you know I recently started Weight Watchers so I’m really watching what I eat!  I’ve learned that there are good fats and bad fats.  Avocados are a tasty healthy fat for us BUT NOT FOR OUR YORKIES!!!

According to the ASPCA Poison Control Centre avocados are poisonous if ingested by dogs.  “The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.”  Persin is a fungicidal toxin (poisonous substance) found in avocados.  Ingesting avocados can be fatal to your dog.  CLICK HERE  to see the ASPCA’s “People Food To Avoid Feeding Your Pets.”

So remember:  keep the peel, pit, leaves and the fruit of the avocado AWAY from your Yorkie!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I don't like reclining chairs, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  My husband LOVES to come home from work, disappear into the family room and hop into his comfy La-Z-Boy recliner chair.  I can hear the familiar “crank” when he leans back and raises the footrest.

Recliner chairs and couches are wonderful but can pose a real safety hazard for your Yorkie!  I recently read about a dog that broke her leg when she got it caught in the footrest of a reclining chair.  Fortunately the little doggie’s leg has healed properly.

Please keep your Yorkie away from any reclining furniture!  They can easily become trapped when the footrest is closing or get caught in the tracks or mechanisms under the chair. 

Gideon and Hope sit at my feet when my husband is reclined in his chair.  But, he always looks around the chair before he gets up just to make sure no Yorkies have scooted under his footrest before he closes it.

Having your Yorkie sit with you while you relax is comforting but be extra cautious when reclining on your couch or chair.

Hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day yesterday!  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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I'm so sorry to hear about Mia, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  Our hearts go out this morning to a dear friend of our guest writer, Judy Wright of Rosehill Yorkies, whose Yorkie, Mia passed away after a sad and tragic accident at home.  Judy would like to share her story.  Please keep her friend in your thoughts: 

My dear friend went shopping and in her rush to bring groceries inside, she dropped her purse in her chair, as she struggled to get the bags of groceries to the kitchen.  She made several trips to the car, rushing back inside, with her arms loaded down.  

The phone rang, the kids needed picking up from soccer, dinner was not even started yet, bathroom break was way overdue and meanwhile, her precious little girl, Mia, climbed into her purse, thinking she would “load up” for the next car trip out with mommy.  She then decided she would “snack” a little while waiting for mommy to go again.

She looked around in the purse, found a packet of sugarless gum, had a couple of pieces, a roll of sugarless mints, then noticed those tiny little pills in that blister pack.  She ate a couple, they were really small and did not do a thing for her pre dinner hunger pangs, so she ate the rest of them.  Mommy was still running around and Mia was getting a little light headed so she jumped down and went to her bed, curled up and went to sleep.

My friend dashed out to get the kids, delivered several of the team-mates to their homes, rushed home and started dinner.  That is when she noticed that Mia was not in the kitchen, “helping” with dinner as she always did.  And then they found her lifeless little body, still curled up peacefully in her bed.

We all know we have to be so very cautious about purses and things these babies can get into and eat things that can cause them grave harm.  It just takes one minute of rushed confusion of everyday life activities, where we drop our guard, and we pay for it dearly.  

Lets review what we carry in our purses that can end tragically for our precious babies:

1. Human medications, both prescribed as well as over the counter meds – Antidepressants, NSAIDS, aspirin, Tylenol, Motrin, any painkillers can be toxic to your pet.
2. Sugarless Gum and Candy that contain Xylitol – Xylitol is highly toxic to your pet. It causes blood sugar crash in dogs, which they think is what happened to Mia.  She went into a severe hypoglycemic state of unconsciousness.
3. Cigarettes, Tobacco and Nicotine Gum – Just 3 cigarettes can kill your baby. Nicotine poisoning is rapid onset, and results in rapid heart and respiratory rate, neurological symptoms, seizures, paralysis and death.
4. Asthma Inhalers – Biting into and puncturing the dispenser results in acute life threatening poisoning.
5. Hand Sanitizer – Alcohol is the active ingredient in these, and even a small bottle of sanitizer is equal to a shot of hard liquor.  This results in drop in blood sugar, hypothermia, coma, and death.

PLEASE, try to remember in your hustle and bustle, to throw your purse on some high, out of reach area.  You do not want to go through what my friend now has to face.  The event alone is tragic, but the guilt she is suffering is overwhelming.  I do not know if she will ever get over that.

We’re so sad for Mia’s Mom!  We’ll be praying for her.  Freak household accidents happen everyday, folks.  Please be aware and keep your Yorkie safe.  See you on Friday for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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***We’re on vacation after today but we’ll be back on Wednesday, February 01***

We're so happy for Faith, mommy!

TODAY’S TIDBIT:  I wanted to share a little story with you today about faith and the power of believing in the compassion of others. 

Last Sunday, our church service started out like any other Sunday with lots of singing, praising and fellowship.  I’m the church photographer so I often have “assignments” to take pictures during the service. 

Leaving my seat a little bit early to snap some pictures of the students in our Youth Group, I quietly crept down the stairs.  And as I rounded the corner there was a sweet black lab puppy sitting wagging her tail with two of the Youth Group Leaders.  Assuming the puppy belonged to one of the leaders, I was surprised she’d brought her dog to church.

“The puppy isn’t mine,” she said.  “Someone just left her here with her bed, bowl and food.”  The puppy sprang up and kissed my hand furiously wagging her tail.  She’d obviously been well taken care of and I wondered if her family just couldn’t afford to take care of her anymore. 

Sadly, people give puppies as gifts at Christmas and don’t really understand the magnitude of the commitment required to look after a dog.  Poor puppies like this little dog are left confused and waiting for their family to return. 

“I think we should call her Faith,” said the Youth Leader.  I have to admit it was hard for me to tear myself away from Faith.  I said a little prayer for her as I rushed to take the Youth pics. 

Shortly after the service ended, the Youth Leader caught up with me.  “A young couple is taking Faith home!” she said excitedly.  “They’re really great and she’ll have a good home.”  Relieved I packed up my camera equipment and stopped briefly at the spot where her bed had been. 

Keep the faith I thought to myself.  No truer words have ever been spoken.

Have a great weekend everybody!  See you on Wednesday, February 01 for TODAY’S TIDBIT.

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