Did you know that second-hand smoke is just as dangerous to our pets as it is to us? Cats who live in homes with smokers are more than twice as likely to contact lymphoma. Cigarette smoke is also connected to an increased occurrence of canine nasal cancer, especially in longer-nosed breeds like German Shepherd Dogs, Collies, and Greyhounds. Finally, something I recently leaned, cigarette smoke is linked to atopic dermatitis in dogs, which is an allergic skin disease which is a common cause of scratching, itching, and skin infections. There is so much research and information about how cigarette smoke affects our pets these days. If you're curious of have questions about the affect cigarette smoke can have on your pets, I suggest that you Google it. You may be surprised at what you learn. I was.
Training Tip of the Month
Do you want to challenge your dog? Teach him/her the basic commands with hand signals. For example, instead of saying "sit", use a hand signal as your dog's cue to sit. Dogs use body language for communication more than vocalizations, so it shouldn't be hard to teach Fluffy to respond to your silent commands. If you're not sure how to do this, feel free to reach out to me.
Breed Spotlight
The Boston Terrier breed was developed in the late 1800's. It's one of the first dog breeds that was created in the United States. It was also the first American breed to be recognized by the American Kennel Club. Th Boston Terrier came from a mix of the Boxer, the Bull Terrier, the French Bulldog, and the English Bulldog. The Boston Terrier is said to be intelligent, lively, and alert. They can be stubborn and have tons of energy. The Boston Terrier is a brachycephalic dog, or smoosh-faced dog. This means that it could have breathing problems with an abundance of physical assertion or in very hot and humid temperatures. The Boston Terrier needs attention, physical exercise, mental stimulation, and training. Health concerns could include cataracts, deafness, luxating patellas, hypothyroidism, and mange.
Quote of the Month
"If I had a dollar for every time my dog made me smile, I would be a millionaire." Unknown
