Topic: Dog is worried needs some advice.
Hi!
My name is Nick. I'm a 3 yr. old springer spaniel. I've spent my entire life in the east...but, I don't want you to think I'm a sissy easterner. I don't wear bows or a rhinestone collar! I like to hike and swim and keep the local squirrel population up in the trees where they belong.
Now here's my question. My people have some hare-brained idea about spending a month in the desert!!! Is there anyway they can teach me the hazards out there? I know pups who grow up around them learn about cacti and such from birth. But, how about us transplants? Is there anyway to save us from the dreaded jumping cholla...whatever that is??!!!! Please, if you have any ideas on this tell my people.
Inquiring dogs want to know.
MsVegas
Hey there Nick, my name is MsVegas and I'm a big white standard poodle, probably a good 8-10" taller than you. I'm 26" tall at the shoulder, how tall are you?
My canine column advice is that you have to learn most of these things on your own. But for starters you should talk to your People about enrolling YOU (not them) in a snake-avoidance program so you don't get yourself in a deadly situation. In this program they put a shock collar around your neck (don't worry, it doesn't hurt all that bad) and then they lead you up to a cage containing rattlesnakes. As you approach you'll smell the snakes (remember we have very keen sense of smell), you'll hear the rattling, you'll see them moving, and at the same time you'll FEEL a jolt of electricity on your neck which is to make you THINK the SNAKE DID IT so you won't want anything more to do with the crawlie creatures.
As far as the dreaded jumping cholla (hope that's correct spelling), you'll have to obey your people or suffer the consequences. I suppose they could put that same shock collar on you for that too in case you get too close to danger.
Your Poodle Friend, the Macho MsVegas :)
MsVegas
Oops Nick, I made a big boo-boo. They don't LEAD you up to the cage of rattlesnakes, they send you out ahead to find them. This is so you'll associate the shock from the collar as coming from the snakes, not from your humans.
And as far as avoiding prickly cacti, are you Clicker Trained to run back to your humans?? This would be better and it wouldn't be a shocking experience.
Click Click to my friend Nick :)
MsVegas
DEM
Hi Nick. It depends on what part of the desert you're coming to. You might have to put up with being on a leash until they introduce you to some of the hazards and see how you do. If you're the kind of dog...hey, come back here! Sit! Stay! Good dog! If you're one of those dogs who likes to nip at bugs and moving things, you might think twice. about that penchant. Make sure they don't unleash you until they know you aren't going to be a snake hunter. You can't run off willy-nilly after rabbits and quail like you might be able to get away with at home. If you're going to go running off like that without thinking first, you're liable to get in trouble with the local flora.
The standing-up cholla aren't as much of a concern as the cholla joints that are broken off and laying on the ground where they are easily stepped on. And if your family tries to leave you out at night where coyotes might want to visit, bark your head off until they let you in, unless you're used to coyotes where you come from. Make sure you let them know you're going to need extra water because it's a lot drier out here than you are used to. The rest--bugs and snakes and stuff--should not be a problem, unless you are one of those dogs--HEY, quit CHEWING on the HOSE!! Good dog! Are you sure you want to go with them? Maybe they have a GOOD friend who can dog sit. If not, just be careful. You'll like all the new smells and stuff. Make sure they bring your brush to get stickers out of your coat and some tweezers/needle-nose pliers for cactus spines. Here, here's dog biscuit. Up! Speak! Good boy!
MsVegas
Good advice about taking along plenty of water.
(This is me MsVegas speaking again)
I wear a backpack with pockets on both sides to carry our sport bottles of water. Whenever I get thirsty, I just nudge my mama and she takes one out for herself, and one for me. She holds the nozzle in the left corner of my mouth while I drink. I've gotten really good and rarely spill any of it.
Squirt squirt from MsVegas
Arf to All,
This is Nick again. I'm not much of a bug eater. Never developed the taste. Now about that shock collar and snake routine though. Is this common practice? Long ago my people had another springer named Sam. Sam once made the mistake of investigating the wrong end of a porcupine. One might think that after the 52 quills were removed he would never have wanted to SEE another porky. Wrong! He wanted revenge. My folks say he was an otherwise very intelligent dog. So, I wonder. What do you other pooches think? Does the shock collar work? Nick.
SPOT
Hey Nick: Welcome to the desert, you're one of the right breeds to be able to put up with the heat O.K. Take what that poodle says with a grain of salt, though, Two grains. Don't trust any dog who makes a point of telling you how much bigger they are than you, brags about "beating up" a whole bunch of other dogs, (where was her owner, I wonder?) and actually turns in a fellow dog to the Canine Gestapo. I'll make you a bet. No one "snake proofed" her with an electric shock! If that is the best way of making someone afraid of snakes (they call it operant conditioning), how come they don't use it on human kids? But the poodle thinks that her mother is a human, yuck yuck. No wonder she's confused.
Dem gave it to you straight. Don't let your folks take you out in the desert at night. The rattlers are out then, and YOU CAN GET LOST! Believe me, it happens, especially to newbies who don't know the territory -- they've just made a movie about two humans getting lost in the desert. With their lousy sense of smell and direction, I'm surprised they don't get lost a lot more.
If they take you out in the daytime, and you are in the real desert, insist that they take you on a leash. Not only can the terrain hurt us, we can do a lot of harm to the terrain, that's why the human government doesn't let us in most federal parks.
One last thing. Every time that you go out, day or night, on or off the leash, make sure that the humans check your ears CAREFULLY when you get home. If they have trouble learning to do this, give them an electric shock, yuck yuck, because tiny critters called ticks can get in your ears, drink your blood and quickly turn into big, fat critters which can cause diseases in us and the humans.
Well, that's it. Don't let them get you all scared and nervous before you get here. Remind them that a lot more of our kind get killed by cars than ever get bitten by a rattler (it's a fallacious argument, but it will probably make them feel better), just this once, listen to what they tell you, unless it's something really dumb, and don't leave the house, especially during the dog days, unless they bring a canteen and something for YOU to drink out of.
DOGS RULE. CATS DROOL!!
Cody Sue Lizardbreath
Nick, when it comes to cholla spines, here is the likely scenario. You'll be out wandering around following your nose, not paying attention to anything. You step on a cholla spine or two, not very big, but they hurt like heck. You do what we all do, start licking your paws, now one is in your mouth, stuck to your tongue. You run back to your people pawing at your mouth till they pay attention and check you out. Tell them to get a pair of pliers, one has to hold your mouth open while the other pulls it out. If you swallow it, like I did once, have them give you a can of sardines to help it get thorough.
P. L. Jake Vargo
My doggy sister and I traveled everywhere with our Mother and Father in our younger days, now we're getting a bit too old to travel much. We never had a run in with a snake, but maybe we were lucky. Our Mom's friend, Cat, has a famous dog named Ripley who did get bit, but Ripley was lucky, she only swelled up a little and everybody around her was arguing if she really did get bit or not until they actually saw the rattler hiding in the bush that Ripley had been nosing around. Ripley was very lucky, and fortunately in all of her 9 years of ghost town hunting, this was the first time, and hopefully the only time, she ever met up with one that close. Most important thing I can say is be careful where you put your nose, watch out for thorny cactus and other bushes, and always listen to your parents. If we misbehave on a trip we loose our off-leash privileges, so we've learned to be very good. We love to explore in the desert! We're not very well behaved at home but we always know out in the desert or up in the mountains, you've got to mind or you can get in big trouble!
Regarding water, it's offered to us often, even when it's cold out in the desert, as it's a very dry place and you can still dehydrate. We use a collapsible nylon bowl that folds up in Mother's backpack. She just fills it with water from her own water bottle.
P. L. Jake Vargo
One more thing, someone mentioned ticks. We're treated with flea and tick drops like Advantage during traveling season, so have never had a problem that way.
SPOT
Hey, again Nick. You sure are getting some interesting information from some of the desert dogs out here, good job I'm around to straighten you out. I'm going to make this short because when I'm done, it's walk, Treat, and kip for me.
Some of these dogs are saying that they've been lucky , except for the one that "swelled up" (Ripley's last name is Believeitornot. Right) so say you're not lucky? First, even if you do mess up and get real close to a rattler, chances are he won't bite you. Snakes use their venom to kill the tiny animals that they eat, and you try to chase. A desert kangaroo rat weighs 6 oz. tops. What do you weigh, around 50lbs? Do the math. Even if you get bitten, it might be a "dry" bite (no venom) to warn you off, or if the snake has killed recently he may not have recharged his venom sacs.
O.K.,if it is a bad bite, you will become woozy and your eyes will go black which means the muscles that constrict your pupils aren't working right. Don't let your humans put a tourniquet on whatever part got bitten, apply ice to the wound, make a cut on the wound and try and suck the venom out or give you a vitamin C shot. If your humans get you to a vet with snake bite experience, he/she will give you "symptomatic treatment", taking care of the problems caused by the venom instead of the venom itself. If you see the vet coming at you with snake antivenin, though, try and bite him in the wrist until he gives up. What will happen if you get it? You'll probably get well faster than if you didn't get it! So what's the problem? If you get bitten again, and yes, Nick, there are dogs out there that are that dumb or unlucky, your folks will rush you off for another antivenin shot which stands a fair chance of killing you from anaphylactic shock. So now you know a lot more about snake bites than a lot of humans.
About the ticks. That Vargo dog, must be a show champion to have a handle like that, gave a good reason for routine ear checks. All of the tick drops that I know of, don't kill the tick for a day or two, which means that it can still travel. One brand only kills dog ticks, and the other species will travel for sure, and if Vargo's folks think that they are protecting from ticks with Advantage, even if it does come in pretty colored containers, they didn't read the label. It only kills fleas. So get yourself a little attention after every walk, and a little insurance too.
One last thing. I hope that some of these dogs aren't scaring you with their talk of humans being their "mommy and daddy". It didn't scare me, because I remember my real mom and how she took care of me when I was whelped. I don't think that the dogs that say this are really dumb enough to believe it, but if they can fool their owners into believing it and get a Treat out of it, what the hey?
Hang in there Nick, DR.CD!
P. L. Jake Vargo
I think all dogs are different like people. Big Dog Jessie, and our younger sister, Sadie, and I have never had much of a run in with thorny things, but I know dogs that have. The worst thing here in California deserts are the cholla - Big Dog Jessie tells me she had one jump out at her when she was a puppy and it was painful! She never got that close to one again! I learned from her lesson and never had a problem with anything thorny. Sadie had to learn on her own. When our parents were showing photo students how to photograph a cholla, Sadie had to try to get in the picture with the darned thing. Fortunately, she listened when she was called back but a piece of the cholla still attached itself to her leg. Of course Sadie's a blonde, and a chow/retriever mix, so that could be part of her problem.
Our parents have been cautious with us on our first visits to an area, and learned to work with us each according to our personalities. Big Dog Jessie would always jump out of the car and act as if she would run off she was so excited about the desert it's new feel and smells. But mother and father soon learned she would never leave their site and would only run a short distance then come back. She always had an eye on the humans in the group. As for me, I'm a Mama's boy and won't leave Mother's side hardly, even if it means going for a hike with Father and the other two dogs. Sadie, well, like I said, it's a blonde thing, she's just sort of a mixed-up twit, so Mom watches her a lot closer. Cactushugger needs to cautiously take Nick out there and find out what's best for Nick and within Cactushugger's comfort level as well. Our mother was real over-protective until Father showed her we were safe out there.
We're ghost town hunting dogs like Ripley, by the way, and that's something else to consider when you go out to certain places - there are often vertical mines that we can fall in without even realizing they were there. Depending upon the ghost town or mining camp we're visiting, and what kind of shafts and other hazards might be around, we may or may not be allowed off the leash for a big doggie run.
Lots of things to think about, this desert travel, but it's lots of fun. My only regret is that I'm getting too old to go any more, and Big Dog Jessie, is too. Poor Sadie is missing out, she won't go anywhere without us, because the three of us all share the same brain and can't be separated. We whimper and howl when the separated even for a visit to the vet for shots. She hasn't had half the adventures that Big Dog Jessie and I have had, and she doesn't know how to get along without us!
Hi All,
This is Nick again. You may recall that I'm a Springer Spaniel with concerns about visiting the desert. (I live in the east.) So, heres the deal. I'm not bragging, but, I've got a mighty fine fur coat--long and thick. Should I have it cut short because of the heat? I've been told yes and I've been told no. My humans aren't much help on this subject. Hah! I have noticed that THEY don't wear heavy clothes when it gets hot out. What do you think?
Inquiring dog wants to know.
Nick
MsVegas, that bossy standard poodle
Hiya Nick...Since you have fur (double coat) that undergoes seasonal shedding, you shouldn't be clipped down for summer. Or if you are clipped at all, it should be done moderately so there'll be plenty left to protect against the sun's rays.
It's dogs like me (standard poodle) with hair that continues to grow to enormous lengths (and doesn't shed) that must be clipped down, but again it should only be clipped moderately 'cause we all need protection from sun.
Remember us'n dogs don't have sweat glands on our body to keep us cool (like those hairless humans do). We keep cool through our tongues and pads of our feet. Which brings me to another set of problems....how the heck do we keep our feet from being burned on the scorching sands of the desert? My mom doesn't take me out much during the extreme heat of the summer, she lets me lounge around in A/C comfort, and then go for exercise in the evenings when it cools off to a 100 degrees.
MsVegas, who knows how to "hot-foot-it"
Woof
Get some good doggie boots. 2 pairs in fact.
Annabelle Lee Sylvana
HI.... My name is Annie (for short) I am a Sheltie from the Shetland Isles. I have a double coat of hair that protects me from the cold and rain but also causes me to sweat in the hot weather cooling me down. My master wanted to have me shaved for summer but I raised such a hissy that he gave up on it. Those shoes sound good though; my feet are SOOOOO tender that the hot ground and the stones in the desert hurt my feet. OOPS! I have to run, those darned Sheep are starting to wander again. <
P. L. Jake Vargo
My doggy sister, Big Dog Jessie, is shepherd-husky with a big thick fur coat, which seems to work as insulation from both the heat and the cold. She never worries about the heat and she's been to the desert in 100 degrees or more temperatures many times. Depends on the breed of animal and the type of coat. Some breeds with coats like Big Dog Jessie, should not be clipped back real short. Any animal, in a dry desert climate, even in the cold of winter, should always have plenty of water available, that would be the most important thing I would thing of, rather than the haircut.
Doggie shoes might protect your pads when it's really hot, as others as suggested. Never had a problem in the sand, but the hot pavement at that place our parents call a motel we stayed in one time really burned!
Hi Y'all,
This is Nick again. Did you pick up on my southern accent. It slips in now and then. It's been a nice sunny day here in Virginia. Wow! No snow or ice for two whole weeks now. It's beeen so warm that the chipmonks have come out of hibernation. That has certainly added to my yard patrol duties. They're fast little suckers and I know I'll never catch one. Sure is fun running them off my territory though. After a winter of just squirrels it's kinda nice to see something different. My person saw a ground hog slinking through our woods yesterday. I don't know why she didn't wake me up from my nap so I could chase it! I guess those bothersome varmints will be invading by space too now the spring is on its way.
You pooches are great to share your own experiences with me. I keep learning new stuff. Like DON'T let anyone take clippers to me and turn me into a long-earred beagle! Walk when it's cool. No Problem there. My human is a wimp when it gets real hot. Well, gotta go.
Nick ps. Hey, Annie, do you have a real job chasing sheep? COOL!
Traveling and hiking wth your dog
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