EnvironMental Monday: Dogs and Houseplants

For the first couple of years living with my mutts, I avoided all manner of plant life. It just seemed like too much hassle - as border collie mixes, my guys tend to get into anything and everything that seems even remotely interesting. A real live tree growing in our living room? It seemed like a recipe for disaster.

This summer, however, I decided that I'd had enough of my fern-free existence. So, armed with a list of the more dog-friendly houseplants out there and plenty of dogged determination, I set out to put a little green back in my life. Here are a few pointers that I learned in the process.

(1) That list of dog-friendly houseplants I mentioned before - as well as a list of those known to be toxic to pets - can be found through the ASPCA's website, here. Make sure to have the lists of toxic and non-toxic plants with you when you visit your local greenhouse.

(2) Before going out to stock up on foliage, consider the kind of dog(s) you have. Big or little? Wild inside the house or cool as the proverbial cucumber? Do you have a puppy, or is your dog in his twilight years? The answers will play a big part in just how much plant life you're able to spread around your home. For puppies and high energy dogs, you'd be well advised to start with plants that are hung out of reach. Brackets and window boxes are inexpensive, widely available, and can add color and flair to any decor.

(3) If you've decided on plants that are within reach of your dog, start out by monitoring his "interactions." If your pooch - whether adult or puppy - shows interest in a plant, don't shout or make a big deal of things. Calmly say "Uh unh," "Eh-eh" or whatever other verbal cue you give when the dog is doing something he's not supposed to. Then, redirect his attention to a more appropriate focus - a Kong, bone, or other chew toy, for example. Give praise whenever he is focused on the right object, and then calmly and firmly redirect him anytime he returns his attention to the plant.

(4) Watch out for sneak attacks. Be aware of signs that your prized pooch is sneaking midday snacks while you're not around. Chewed or missing leaves, or dirt that's spilled onto the floor could be signs that Fido is taking advantage of your fern while your back's turned. In that case, you can take 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper and mix in a spray bottle, and spray the plant's leaves lightly. The taste is offensive to most dogs, who will learn to give the plant a wide berth after that. Stop spraying the plant after a week or so, and see if you're still noticing missing leaves or other signs of covert destruction.

While I'm sure that you, as a responsible dog owner, have avoided any plants that are known to be toxic to our canine companions, certain dogs may be sensitive or have allergies to certain plants. According to a great article at www.flowershopnetwork.com, "Don't panic if you catch your pet chewing on one of your houseplants. Wash out your pet's mouth as most of the plants can cause mouth irritations. If your pet is vomiting or shows signs of distress call your vet. Collect any vomit your pet expels if possible. Give your vet as much information about the type of plant, amount ingested and the ingested parts (roots, bulbs, or leaves). It is a good idea to take a leaf from the plant to your vet." That article can be found here.

If you need more information on toxins or suspect your pet has ingested something toxic but he's showing no signs, you can always go to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. By using common sense and keeping an eye on your pup's behavior, however, you should be able to integrate houseplants into your dog-happy home with good results in no time flat. Best of luck!

EnvironMental Monday: Claiming a Fur-Free Zone

It's shedding time in my household at the moment. Truth be told, with two long-haired, VERY active dogs, it's pretty much always shedding time. Fur flies behind my doors, gets stuck in nooks and crannies, and I'll inexplicably find a stray Killian hair in my soup every so often. It's not pleasant, but unless I'm willing to vaccuum every day (I'm not), it seems to be an inescapable part of having hounds. I can be a bitter woman with a cleaning fetish, I can get rid of my canine compadres, or I can suck it up and deal.

I've chosen to deal.

HOWEVER, over the past month, I did come to a rather revolutionary (for me) decision: I made my living room sofa a fur-free zone. There are two dogs beds on the floor, but for the past two years, both dogs have become accustomed to reclining on my aged sofa whenever they had the yen. Killian, in particular, loved to stretch waaaay out with his belly in the air, and snooze the day away. The result of that particular habit was that I almost never spent any time in my living room, because the couch was always covered with fur. Which meant that anytime I wanted to hang out and watch a little TV, by the end of the evening I would also be covered with fur. Having guests was always mortifying, as I'd frequently find myself explaining that the sofa wasn't so much my sofa as... well, the dogs' sofa.

So, last month I decided enough was enough. The dogs have the run of the rest of the house, they can sleep on my bed, I spend more on their groceries each month than I do on my own... I should have one place that's just mine, right? Indeed. I washed the couch cover, cleaned the living room from top to bottom, bought myself a handy-dandy little shelf for my TV and DVDs, and now keep a broom stashed lengthwise over the couch whenever I'm not there, to discourage any trespassers. The dogs don't seem inordinately distressed by this arrangement, and neither of them have attempted to get back on the couch since I passed the No Dogs on the Sofa decree. And me? I get to snuggle up and watch TV or read while the dogs are happily snoozing on their beds on the floor.

The Fur-Free Zone has definitely made my world feel much more human-habitable - and, I'm much more likely to take a little time and lounge with the hounds, now that there is a space I feel good about. And that's something everyone in the house can woof about.

Socialization and the Anxious Owner

The hounds and I had a great morning today, out in an open field behind the Thomaston cemetery - the place we go almost every morning to get the day started off right, with a little wild, off-leash romping and play. We were just sniffing and minding our own business when I heard galloping paws headed our way, and a moment later Duncan appeared. Duncan is a big, silly, barrel-chested yellow Lab who is absolutely terrified of Killian. A moment later, Duncan's sister Tessa, a submissive, pudgy black Lab, appeared alongside her owners.

It was a moment when it became clear just how far I've fallen from those days of running play groups with ten to fifteen pit bulls: I froze. Fought the urge to panic, remembering that the last time Adia met up with one of her good pals, she went berserk and attacked the unsuspecting pooch. Of course, they were both on-leash at the time. And Rosita, the other dog, is a high-energy hound who was bouncing every which way - something Adia doesn't take kindly to in even the best situations.

But, I resisted the urge to grab my dogs and run, and stood still for a moment, watching their greetings. Adia sniffed and started to get a little bit of an attitude, but when Duncan and Tessa both showed their bellies, she came trotting over to me for a treat, not the least bit interested in the other dogs. Killian was super interested in Tessa, and not at all curious about Duncan, once he realized that poor Dunc was too spooked to play. The owners and I started to talk, and gradually I began to relax. I realize that this is without question my biggest hurdle - this overt panic that strikes the moment we make contact with other dogs, and my conviction that everyone in the immediate area is just a breath away from disaster.

I have always wanted dogs that I can take to outdoor cafes, out on hikes, along populated areas. But, because I personally tend to get a little phobic in social situations, I completely overcompensate with my hounds, sheltering them until they become unsocialized and fearful. I did the same thing with my last dog, Moonshadow, and swore I wouldn't do it again. Well... Clearly, I've gone wrong somewhere. But now, as I mentioned in my previous post, it's time to remedy that situation and get everyone to a place where they feel okay making the rounds and saying hello. That includes not only people, but other dogs. Today was a step in the right direction - now I just need to get my confidence back, and create an environment in which everyone - dogs and people alike - feel as though they can comfortably co-exist.

EnvironMental Monday: 'Tis the Season (Flea Season, That Is)

I'll admit it: I'm not a huge summer fan. I like spring, I love fall, and I've gotten a little loopy over winter in the past few years. Summer, however, just seems to bring out the worst in me - I don't like being hot and sweaty. I don't like bugs and allergies and summer traffic. I look good in wool coats and winter hats, but shorts and t-shirts are considerably less flattering.

My dogs are, likewise, not summer fans - which is another reason I'm less than thrilled with the season. The biggest reason, by far, that I'm not a Girl of Summer is the propagation of summer pests. Most notably, fleas and ticks. Up to this point, I've never had a big issue with either: ticks are common enough around these parts that a "tick-check" after every woodsy hike is a must, both for humans and dogs, but thus far I have been able to avoid the Dread Flea.

Until now.

The dogs are scratching, the house is covered with excess dog fur, and the other day I found a flea on my leg. Stop the world, I wanna get off. I really hate fleas.

So, today is a De-Fleaing Day. I'm not typically a fan of products like Frontline, but I picked up a dose for each of the hounds. I've mixed a salt and vinegar solution to spray on carpets and upholstery, which is supposed to kill the little buggers. I have quarters for the laundromat, as I will be doing laundry from now until, oh, the end of time - curtains, blankets, towels, anything and everything that could serve as home to nesting fleas. The dogs will be bathed. The floors will be washed. Diatomaceous earth will be sprinkled in every crack, cranny, and crevice. And then, when it's all done, I'll wait twenty-four hours and do it all over again - it's recommended that Flea Frenzy Victims vaccuum daily, wash down surfaces, and bathe their dogs frequently for at least a week in order to kill all critters good and dead.

The alternative is a flea bomb, but the concept freaks me out a little. All those chemicals released into air that the hounds and I breathe just seems... Unnerving, somehow. For now, I will go the labor-intensive route, scrubbing and re-scrubbing until my house is squeaky clean and, ideally, no self-respecting flea would even consider setting up camp here. Fingers crossed, we'll all be flea-free again in no time.

EnvironMental Monday: The Case of the Mad Pooper

In Dog Star Daily recently, there was a great article about how to properly dispose of your pooch's hazardous waste. And while EnvironMental Monday is typically about your home and immediate environs, it seems to me that there's nothing more pertinent to the world around us than the waste we put in it.

There is no dog park where I live, however there is a fairly extensive cemetery where many of the neighborhood pups go for their daily constitutional. I've always tried to be a considerate dog owner, cleaning up after my pups whenever we hit the mean streets or the quiet side lanes. After a bit of research, I've learned that such clean-up is about more than simply keeping the sidewalks clean. According to the Dog Star Daily article and some supplemental research I've been doing, canine feces has a wealth of micro-bacteria that are downright dangerous for the environment, and can pose serious health concerns if the poo leaches into groundwater. Check out the aforementioned article for some great tips on how to dispose properly of your dog's waste; I've actually just ordered a Doggie Dooley Pet Waste Digester myself, and I don't think I've been this excited about mail-order since my last Patricia McConnell shopping spree.

Unfortunately, however, not everyone reads Dog Star Daily. Despite having plastic baggies at our disposal, there are a few negligent dog owners sharing cemetery space here in Thomaston. One of my dog-walking neighbors has a ten-year-old daughter who has become slightly obsessed with the subject - she's a little like the Harriet the Spy of junior dog owners. She has nicknamed the worst offender the Mad Pooper, and apparently stalked me for some time before we actually met, convinced that it was I. Once she realized that I was not, in fact, the Mad Pooper, she turned her attention to others who frequent the "park." I have actually seen a few people there who turn a blind eye when their pups are squatting - one who even walked away while his dog defecated ON a gravestone! While I typically have a hard time making waves and don't want to upset anyone, even I feel that something has to be done. A woman whose young son is buried in the cemetery often writes letters to the editor of our local paper, pleading with dog owners to clean up after their pooping pooches.

So, how is it in this day and age that dog owners who otherwise appear very intelligent, can be so ignorant when it comes to a matter affecting not merely aesthetics, but the physical health of others? Are they really that callous, or merely uninformed? Now that I understand more about the potential health consequences of a poo-infested public space, I feel more equipped to talk to others when I see them walking without that all-important plastic baggie. With a little effort and some much-needed education, maybe we can eradicate the Mad Poopers among us.

EnvironMental Monday: The Shedding Conundrum

For the past couple of weeks, coming home has been a little less of a pleasure than it once was. The reason? A hot summer and two very hairy dogs means we are shedding to beat the band. I have hardwood floors, which technically should make things easier, but my oh my... how the fur does fly. Killian's hair comes out in great, thick clods, while Adia's is fine and wispy and tends to accumulate behind doors and in darkened corners. This past weekend I decided I couldn't take it anymore, and laid waste to every stray hair, every errant furball I could find. Here's what I learned about de-shedding a shed-upon house:

(1) The Swiffer is a brilliant invention. I've had vacuum cleaners that were supposedly made specifically for pets, but I have yet to find one that's actually all that effective. In my experience, the most thorough way to go is to do a clean sweep first, and then follow up with a Swiffer. I honestly didn't think my floors would ever be that clean again.

(2) I'm not sure what it is about glass that makes it so appealing to pups, but my dogs have licked every single window, mirror, and picture frame within reach. If you're a friend to the environment and thus try to stay away from commercial cleaners, try 3 tablespoons of lime juice, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 3/4 cup water mixed together in a clean spray bottle.

(3) Dog beds are your friend. There's something about having a fresh, clean dog bed in the room that - to me - just makes things nicer. It also helps ensure that your pups aren't shedding all over the couch, and makes the atmosphere more pleasant when you just want to hang out. I recommend having a bed in every room you spend time in - I splurged and bought five this weekend, which was pricey. Though I would love to say I go high-end on this stuff, I just don't have the money. If you have a Costco or Sam's Club nearby, that's the way to go. You can get a good bed for about $20 at either place; the covers are removable for easy cleaning, and they last a good, long time (provided, of course, your pup doesn't chew them to pieces).

(4) De-clutter your dog's toy box. For some inexplicable reason, I have a really hard time throwing out my dogs' old toys. It's not as though I have any sentimental attachment to them, but they do pull out that old, decapitated stuffed bear now and again for a game of tug... As a consequence, headless Charlie stays in the toy box, along with a whole slew of other, equally maimed puppy toys. This weekend, I started fresh. I threw out everything but the high-end toys, and paid a visit to the local Goodwill to restock on the stuffed toys that they go through in a matter of minutes, avoiding any toys with beaded stuffing and removing the eyes myself to avoid any potential choking hazards.

I'm always amazed at how much more content I am in a clean house. My entire outlook changes - making dinner is a pleasure without a sink full of dishes, and bedtime feels almost luxurious with fresh sheets and fluffed pillows. I don't know whether my pups are merely responding to my change of mind, or whether they genuinely prefer things tidy themselves, but either way they seem more at ease at the end of the day. So, if dog fur and window streaks have you feeling down and out, take a day to regain control. A few hours of cleaning can make a world of difference to your state of mind - and that's great news for you and your pup!

EnvironMental Monday: Separation Anxiety

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety - a condition in which a dog separated from its guardian exhibits extreme behavior as a result of intense anxiety - may dig, chew, bark, break windows, or exhibit self-harming behaviors, all in a desperate attempt to reunite with the person or people they love.

In this post, I won't talk a lot about training techniques to modify or change this behavior - there are many great articles out there on just that topic, including this one by the Humane Society of the United States. What I will talk about here are ways that you can modify your environment to create a setting that eases your dog's anxiety. These ways include aromatherapy, white noise and sound therapy, and the creation of visual stimuli to help relax your panicked pooch. These tools should be used in conjunction with the many excellent techniques espoused by the aforementioned Humane Society article.

Dogs have a much more keen sense of smell than do humans; it follows, then, that dogs are much more sensitive to scents of any kind - good or bad. This makes your pooch a great candidate for aromatherapy. And, aromatherapy has the added benefit of soothing you and helping to establish that tranquil setting to which we aspire. To begin using aromatherapy as a viable way to modify your dog's separation anxiety, it's best to start by trying a few different essential oils while you are at home to observe the effect (if any) they have on your pup. Dr. Edward Bach, creator of Rescue Remedy, has an entire line of natural essences geared toward pets. These formulas are typically administered either internally or externally, directly on the canine. Results are impressive, and happen quickly - the drawback is most certainly the price. If you're interested in blending your own essential oils, this article from Dog First Aid 101 will give you all the information you'll need to do so inexpensively and with minimal effort.

Another avenue you may try with your pooch is having music on in the background while you're away. While this alone will not get rid of the separation anxiety entirely, studies have shown that dogs are more relaxed and are less prone to frequent pacing or listless behavior when classical music is playing. There are now a whole host of specialized CDs created just for pets - you can find them on Amazon, or simply pick up a few classical CDs in the discount bin (percussion has been shown to be less popular with the pups, and Bach was the hands-down favorite), or tune your radio to a local classical station. You can read more about the findings from this very interesting study here.

And finally, we have stimuli for the more visually oriented pups out there. If you have a dog who likes to watch TV with you, this may be just the thing: videos for your dog. You can try tuning to Animal Planet and just leaving it on the station for the day, but I have found that actually creating your own videos are more fun and get better results. If your pooch is prone to severe separation anxiety, keep the content of your video low-key... collect footage of your pup playing, of you and your family, or simply of you talking quietly to your favorite pooch. Rigorous play sessions or you speaking in a high-pitched, excited voice should be avoided - the last thing you want is to stir your already anxious canine to a frenzy. If you can fill a six-hour tape with a combination of some soothing Animal Planet or National Geographic specials interspersed with snippets featuring you and your pup, the day will go that much faster for your four-legged friend.

Don't forget to include lots of hard chew toys - treat-filled Kongs or Nylabones are great, and try to keep absences short as you begin the process of acclimating your pup to the day on his own.

EnvironMental Monday: Putting an End to Unwanted Chewing

I got my first dog as an adult when I was twenty-three. Moonshadow was six months old at the time - already lean, lanky, and full of life. Over time, she became one of those perfect companions to whom all other dogs are forever compared: sweet, mellow, and fun-loving. For the first six months of our life together, however, our relationship was hardly ideal. In fact, there were many days when I genuinely debated sending my sweet Moon right back to the shelter where she'd come from.

The major issue? Chewing, hands down.

Before you can set up your personal paradise, in which you and your dog and your family and friends all peacefully cohabitate, there may be some obstacles. One of those obstacles is most definitely chewing. It's hard to make your place the ideal when you have no books lower than the fourth shelf on your bookcase, and all of your plants have to be suspended from the ceiling. Is it possible to have a great house and still have dogs? Absolutely. But it does take some work.

There are three common reasons dogs chew your stuff: Lack of exercise, separation anxiety, or - particularly in the case of teething puppies - simply because it feels good. The first thing you should do is determine which of these three issues is most likely to blame for your dog's chewing issues. If it's a lack of exercise, you need to prepare yourself for a harsh reality - dogs need to move. High energy dogs like terriers, especially young ones, may need a couple of long walks a day and a rigorous play session besides, while larger dogs or less active breeds may do just fine with a single long walk each day. Check out this Wednesday's blog for some ideas on how to make sure your pup is getting the exercise he or she needs, without either of you overdoing it. In the meantime, though, simply make a mental note as to whether your dog's chewing problems are related to exercise or some other problem.

Now that you've determined the root of your dog's problems, it's time to go about solving the issue. The first thing you need to know: You won't stop a dog who loves to chew, from chewing. So rather than trying to stop them from a natural behavior that is instantly gratifying, you need to find something that they love to chew more than your favorite shoes. There are a lot of alternatives out there. Those I have had the most success with are Kong toys stuffed with cheese or frozen peanut butter, marrow bones, and assorted stuffed toys. Provide a few alternatives, and give plenty of praise every time your pooch shows the slightest bit of interest in them.

The second thing you need to do is set your dog up for success. This means that, at least initially, you'll have to do a little puppy-proofing - they should have zero access to whatever you don't want eaten. If your dog is used to being crated, that's an easy solution. If he's not, you'll need to set up a space that's distinctly dog-friendly whenever you're out of sight. Provide plenty of chewy toys, lots of encouragement, and keep a close eye out whenever your pup is back in the great wide open.

Remember in all of this that accidents will invariably happen. If you find a shoe that's been chewed and your dog is nowhere in sight, don't bother any kind of reprimand. Dogs live in the moment - if you come up to them with shoe in hand and tell them they're a bad, bad dog, they will associate whatever they are doing in that instant with the reprimand. They will not, however, have the slightest idea why you're yelling at them and waving your shoe around. If you actually come upon your dog while chewing your shoe, go to them, gently remove the shoe, and then provide a firm "No. Bad dog." Screaming and, particularly, physically reprimanding your dog are counter-productive to training of any kind. Immediately after reprimanding your pooch, provide him with an acceptable chewing alternative and give lots of praise as soon as they show any interest.

Try this approach, along with a longer, more rigorous walk in the morning before work, and you'll be amazed at how many shoes you're able to save. If you do find no change in the behavior, then you just may be looking at a pup with some severe separation anxiety. If that's the case, read next EnvironMental Monday's post, when I address the issue of canine separation anxiety and provide a few tips for dealing with the issue.

EnvironMental Monday: Is Your House Making You (and Your Dog) Crazy?

When you think about caring for your canine companion, the first things that likely come to mind are the basics: Food, water, the daily walk... But what about where you hang your hat? We all know that, as humans, we are sensitive to things like limited sunlight, cramped spaces, and clutter. But do the same things have an effect on our pets?

The answer is a resounding yes, for a couple of reasons - the first of which has to do with the physiological make-up of animals themselves, while the second reason has more to do with something scientists are still trying to understand: The human-animal bond. To make things simple, we'll start with the most concrete answer first -the physical.

The canine sense of smell is thousands of times stronger than that of human beings. This is no surprise - dogs are now regularly employed in the task of sniffing out drugs, bodies, tumors, stress... The list goes on. Likewise, dogs can hear significantly higher frequencies than we can, and may actually feel physical pain at certain decibel levels. While their taste buds are less sophisticated than ours and their eyesight is typically not as keen, their extraordinary olfactory and auditory capabilities make it clear: Dogs are sensitive animals. If you use strong perfumes or detergents, or live in a neighborhood where sirens are sounding on a regular basis or there is ongoing construction, your pooch may be paying the price.

The second reason your environment may be adversely affecting your pup is not quite so widely understood, but may also have something to do with that extraordinary sense of smell I spoke of earlier. Dogs can actually smell changes in your mood, as a result of the pheromones naturally released when a body is under stress. Even a subtle shift can make your sensitive pal lift his muzzle in your direction. So, if you're coming home to a place that you don't like - the color doesn't appeal, the place is a mess, or you just plain don't feel right there... Well, chances are good that your canine companion is tuning into your discontent.

So, what's the answer? Do you sound-proof his crate, stop using deodorant, move to a low-crime area and hope no one has to re-pave the streets below in the near future? Or, go deep into debt making it the place of your dreams, just to make sure you aren't stressing poochie? Not at all. In the coming weeks, I'll devote each Monday to exploring simple, affordable ways that you can make your house a place both you and your dog love to come home to. In the meantime... Start looking at the place you call home. How do you feel about it? How does your dog react to it? Are you coming home to chewed furniture, accidents on the carpet, a pup that bowls you over in a frantic, out-of-control reception? If so, it may be time to take on a little subtle interior dog-design!