Dangerous Toy Alert

"On Sunday, June 22, 2008 my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws Inc, produces. The toy I'm referencing is the pimple ball with bell. (Item #20227-001, UPC Code 0 4566320227 9)

While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released ... "

Click here to read the full story.

Girly Lab Mom

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Never Argue with a Lab!

The high pitched bark began again this morning as I sat down to my computer. I ignored it but Cheyenne was persistent. Since they just finished eating, I kind of had an idea as to why she was annoyed.

After the Lab Brats eat at their own food stations, Cheyenne will wait for Dakota to walk away from hers before Cheyenne goes over to clean up any molecular particles of food left over. Sometimes we even think Cheyenne is going to lick the stainless steel finish straight off the bowl with how dead set she is on getting every single morsel.

This time though, there was some food she could not get to and she needed her mommy's help.

To the bowl I walk and lifted it out of it's elevated holding contraption. Sure enough, Dakota pushed 3 pieces of kibble under her bowl without realizing it. Of course, nothing passes by Cheyenne's nose undetected. She ate it happily and looked up with one of those award-winning Lab smiles to thank me.

Ten minutes later, she signals again. "What is it this time?" I fret as I walk over to Dakota's food station once again. To make her happy, I lift both the water and food bowls to show her no kibble has been left uncovered. I even move the entire food station to the side to let her sniff for kibble. Indeed, every nook and cranny was opened to show her once and for all that she already got it all.

My mistake was trying to walk away - trying to tell her that she was wrong. You see, I started to walk away and she barked that single bark once again. With a sigh I walked over to Dakota's station and lifted the food bowl again... this time turning it over to place it on the counter. Sure enough, there was a piece of kibble stuck to the bottom-side of the bowl. *laugh*

For a laugh, I brought it to the Lab Brats Daddy and explaining the scene to him, I turned over the bowl and he busted out laughing. "I should know better then to argue with a Lab nose!" I commented to him as I turned the bowl over and let Cheyenne have at the peice of kibble that no one could convince her did not exist!

Look at Me!

A quiet morning... a cup of delicious hot tea...

The the heart attack happens!

No sooner do I sit down to in my home office to start the day then an ear shattering high-pitch single bark comes from my kitchen. My heart jumps as the hot tea runs down my chin. It is Cheyenne and she wants me and wants me now!

I run to the kitchen to see what the life threatening event is when I spot Cheyenne laying relaxed on the "dog butt mat" (my sink floor mat that the dogs think is for them more then us humans). There is no emergency - no fire - just the wee pup wanting mommy to come to shower her with love and attention.

Look at me... love me... aren't I cute... you can't resist...

Blasted dog! She knows how to look up at me with a smile that only a Lab can give and looks so darn cute doing it too! I can't help but see the tiny puppy she once was in those eyes... so cute and cuddly... so irresistible.

My annoyance starts to soften as I continue to look into her eyes. No, I must resist. I must not give into the Lab puppy dog stare. I must hold my alpha ground and let her know that that was not appropriate behavior no matter how much I want to smile or scratch her under her ear (her "sweet" spot).

I turn away, ignoring her, and slowly walk back to my home office... making sure to not to laugh while hiding the huge smile on my face from prying Labrador eyes...

That's my sassy girl!

Fat Pets

Last night was one of those nights where you flip through the channels on the television and come to a dead stop in disbelief. The title on the screen said "Fat Pets" on Animal Planet and I just had to stop and see what was in store.

As I watched in horror, there was one woman that was down-right arguing with the groomer that was washing her beloved Rottie. Having Rottweilers in my extended family, I know quite a bit about this dog breed but I couldn't help but sit there with my mouth hanging open as the groomer kept saying to the dog owner "Your fat dog..." Indeed, this poor pup was HUGE! (see picture to right) She is 230lbs and her belly hanging so low as she waddled side-to-side, gasping for air as she walked.

It made me think about how easy it is to overfeed pets in this world. So many people look at their dogs and cats as being an extension of there family - no less then their own children (although sometimes the pet ranks higher then the kids). They think they are doing right by treating their beloved canine companions with love through food... and more food... and more food... and so on. Even kids in this world should have their limits for the more weight they pack on, the greater their risk at a premature death.

Given that I was once a very heavy child and own two Labrador Retrievers, which are notorious eaters if allowed, I understand how families can go overboard with feeding. But the problem on this particular show was that the dog owner was arguing that her dog was not fat and that no one should tell her how much to feed her dog.

I wonder if some dog owners realize how much they don't love their dogs by causing them to be obese. I mean, slightly overweight is one thing but when your dog is gasping for air, has heart murmurs, and the vet tells you that if you don't help it lose weight it will be gone in a year, wouldn't that cause a human being to take notice that they are hurting and not loving their dogs? Sure, I would love to shower Dakota & Cheyenne with loads of yummy goodies but that wouldn't be love to me as I want them to have the healthiest and happiest life they can while they are here... hopefully for the next 50 years or so. *wink* (Ok, one can always hope!)

I really wish people would wake up and realize what they are doing. *shakes head* I could never do that to the Lab Brats and I am sure I love them as much as this lady loved her Rott - if not more.

Metal Yellow Labrador

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Beautiful silhouette of a Yellow Labrador Retriever captured in a metal embossed oval with bold letters spelling out the breed name and three paw prints. Perfect for any Yellow Lab dog breed owner or family member!

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What to Blog?

Sometimes I sit down to write a new blog entry and wonder - do my visitors want to hear about that? What do my visitors come to the Lab Brats Blog in search for? New whimsical stories about Dakota & Cheyenne? Some Labrador Retriever advice? Dog product or toy reviews? How about some new Lab lover t-shirts or other dog owner swag?

Writing is second nature to me so I could go on forever about those things I am passionate about. Of course, the Lab Brats are high on my passion list so if I don't know what you all want then what am I to write about?

I mean, almost all the blogger advice sites claim that you should write from the heart and they will come. Write as though you are writing for yourself and don't worry about what your visitors want or don't want to read more about. Then there are sites that claim you should write specifically for your visitors and put a sock in your personal feelings.

Friends, Romans, Lab Lovers, lend me your ears. Why do you come to the Lab Brats Blog and what are you in search for? Please leave a comment or email me at hazeleyes7 [at] yahoo.com and let me know what toots your dog loving heart and how I can make the Lab Brats blog even better.

Is Peticure for Real?

While watching the Dog Whisperer lately, I have noticed a new infomercial for the Peticure Nail Trimmer. The infomercial looks like all the pets are easily handling a grinding machine so close to their toes but then I realized that the pets in those infomercials for the vacuum deshedding devices also look at home and relaxed.

My mind wandered to the Lab Brats. How would they handled such a device getting close to them and allowing me to stick their nail into this motorized device? The Dog Trick Academy Blog states: "The Peticure does produce quite a bit of noise; it’s not heavily noisy but to a dog, can be quite scary."

I started to laugh as I remember back to my childhood when my father introduced me to a sander-grinder. My father was an awesome carpenter by trade and the first thing he told me was to never, ever, get my hands too close to the device as I could easily grind off parts of my hand if I were not careful.

So if I would not stick my own finger or hand near a high-powered, extremely fast moving device, why would I stick my own dog's paws near it? I mean, it is difficult enough to see the whole nail and quick area while cutting with a good nail trimmer. So - 1) What dog in their right mind would allow their owner to go near them with the buzzing device in hand? and 2) What is there to protect the dog's nails from trimming too far and hitting the quick.

Sure, the infomercial mentions that the device is like what professional dog groomers would use and, I don't know about you, but I don't have professional dog groomer training. Heck, even my own vet technicians cut my Labrador's quick from time to time with a nail trimmer and this is second nature to them.

I don't know about you but I think the Lab Brats would be livid if I ever tried to use such a device on them. What do you think about this device? Have you tried it or is it something you can see wrestling with your large breed dog to use on them?

(Honestly, I can see even a Chihuahua biting off a finger if their handler got near them with one. *laugh*)

Lab University

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Training Steps: Find It

You wouldn't believe how many comments/emails I get asking for more information on our game of "Find It". I am truly surprised that I haven't written an article on the game as it not only helps keep hunting dogs from getting bored during days that they can't play outside but also helps hone-in on their instinct to hunt.

Now we aren't a hunting family. Rather, we are a family that understands the acute sense of hunting instinct that is automatic with almost every Labrador Retriever. They are sporting dogs after all and therefore it is a shame to keep them from feeling like they are earning their keep. Yes, my friends, most Labs are only truly happy when they used their innate hunting skills and sense of smell. Using the "Find It" game will help any Lab dog owner and lover to use up some of that Lab energy while keeping them mentally stimulated.

The Game: Find It
The Rules: Hide It

How to Play

1) Introducing your pup to the game - Start by leaving a bread crumb trail for your pup to follow. The pieces of kibble should be laid in a single room while the pup is tucked away in another. They should be in line of sight and on the floor level only. Once the pup is brought back into the room, lead the pup to the kibble and use the words "find it" when they find and eat the kibble. This will get them used to the command and learn the reward. Remember to praise as they find each piece by using a slightly higher pitched tone but don't make it too distracting because you want them to find the other pieces of kibble.

2) Bring it up a notch - When you pup becomes accustomed to finding the pieces of kibble on the floor and you know this is getting way too easy, start leaving pieces in other rooms on the floor and lead the pup to the room the kibble is in. Don't point it out, just let them know the space has expanded. When they are released from the original holding room, tell them to "find it" and lead them to the first room. Remember to praise and make it into a game.

3) As your pup gets faster at finding it at floor level, you can start to expand your hiding places to include any place they can see and reach. Then you will move to places they cannot see or reach and so on.

Once you get good at this, you can start to hide their morning bowls of kibble at high places or tucked away. Some of our hiding places now include closets (with the doors closed by on the floor so they can sniff under the door), on top of dressers, on top of the fridge, and so on. If the kibble is out of reach, they will let out a single bark to tell us they found it, sit nicely, and when I say "show me", they will look at the point where it is to lead me to where they cannot get to it.

This is a progressive game so you must start with the breadcrumb trail to let them both see and smell the kibble before getting to the point where you can hide it in closets. Just remember to use keyword training phrases, such as "Find It" and "Show Me" when using this training method so you can just give the command and let your Labrador Retriever do the hunting.

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Stomach Blemishes

Question:
I have a 9 month old yellow lab and I have noticed what looks like blackheads on her stomach area. They extend all the way from her top nipples down to her girl parts. I have looked everywhere on the internet and it all says canine acne occurs on the lips and chin of dogs. I an wondering if anyone has ever noticed it on their dogs abdomen? Or is this something i should consider taking her to the vet for.

Answer:
Acne on a dog is only a concern for a veterinarian when the area becomes infected or causes the pup to be uncomfortable. Acne on the stomach area can be caused by genetics, cleanliness, or an allergic reaction to something. Since they are only blackheads and are not red, inflamed, or causing her to lick/scratch them, then I would recommend that you use some oatmeal or hypo-allergic dog shampoo and warm water to clean the area daily. This is the best way to keep the area clean while not subjecting the skin harsh chemicals.

If it were one of my pups, I would also wash the dog's bedding with Nature's Miracle and a allergen free detergent to help should it be an allergic reaction to something it is laying or sleeping on.

If these recommendations do not rid your dog of the blackhead acne on the under belly area and you are still concerned, please call your veterinarian to ask for advice. They should be able to give you recommendations over the phone for free and not request that you come in for a visit.

Sore Ears

It is always a good idea to give your dog a "look over" once a week to see if there is anything out of place such as a new bump, wound, or infection. Usually we get by without so much as a good rub down but it never fails that when we find something on Cheyenne, it is usually something that is bigger then it originally started.

For those that don't know - Cheyenne hardly complains about anything. Once she had a broken toe and we didn't know about it until months later when she was getting her elbow x-ray for limping and the vet pointed it out. Since she never gives me any signals that something is wrong, it shouldn't surprise me that, upon checking her ears, I found the left one to be full of sores and inflamed.

Instead of panicking, I headed to the hydrogen peroxide and cotton balls to clean out any sores. With the sores cleaned, I found a left over bottle of the Panolog anti-bacterial/anti-infection medication used for Dakota during her last ear infection. Five drops in each ear twice a day and after a couple days all the redness and inflammation is gone. We will continue to use the medication for another couple of days per the instructions on the bottle but there is no need to go to the veterinarian as he was the one that told us to keep the leftover medication for the next ear infection.

Good thing we did because Labrador Retrievers are notorious for ear infections due to the fact that their ears flap over and moisture can easily get trapped. Just goes to show that when it comes to our pups, keeping unused medication around makes sense - especially when your veterinarian is a Lab owner and tells you to!

She is Not a Boy!

I wonder how many other Labrador Retriever owners deal with this scenario...

You take your dog out for a walk, for a drive, or even to the local dog park and someone turns around to say "What a handsome guy you have there!". If my husband is with us, I will usually turn around to look at him until I realize they are talking about Dakota.

"She", I emphasize, "is actually a female".

The look on their faces is always astonishment as they apologize for the mix up and begin asking other questions about her; never once telling me why they assumed she was a boy.

Why do people think she is a male Labrador Retriever? Well, from those people that have come clean, they say 1) it's the chocolate color, 2) it's the size (she is a Show-English Lab), or 3) it's the size of her block head.

I have tried to put pink collars on her and even call out "Let's go ladies" when they are trailing behind me at the dog park and yet 99% of the time people assume Dakota is a male dog. Granted, the pink colors are not overly female as the Lab Brats Daddy refuses his big mush dog to be at his side wearing a "bling-bling" pink collar. *laugh*

At first it was funny but after a while it is a little frustrating. When I cannot tell the gender of a dog properly, I will ask. What do I need to do people, dye her fur pink or paint her toenails before people realize that she is not a boy! *wink*

Anyone else get this same reaction to their female Lab(s)?

Labradors & Separation Anxiety

Do you leave your home and return only to find that your normally well behaved Lab has dug a hole straight through your couch or chewed the cushions off each of your new dining room chairs? If so, then welcome to the world of canine separation anxiety!

Labrador Retrievers are rated as one of the most common breeds for... [Read Full Article]

Will Work for Food

It is not common for dog owners to make their pups work for their food and treats these days. When I say work, I don't mean plowing the fields before they get their daily grub but rather using their natural born instincts and cleverness to either find or get their food.

In order to keep our own Labs sharp, we try to use their natural innate abilities throughout the day. Hence, our Lab Brats actually work for their food.

How so? Well, Labrador Retrievers are sporting dogs and they were originally bred to become hunting companions for people. Since neither or the humans in our house are hunters, we give them other ways to use their hunting skills and further nurturing the pack order.

In the morning, the Lab Brats Daddy takes the girls for a walk while I hang back to do some exercising of my own and straighten up the house. I also get fresh water and food together for the Lab Brats before they get home. The water is put into their elevated dish holders and the two bowls with their food are stacked one inside the other and hidden in the house.

Where do I hide them? When starting off I used to hide them somewhere the dogs could also see them but not reach them. Now we hide them in closets, drawers, under things, etc. A new day brings a new hiding place.

Now some people may think it is mean to hide their breakfast from them but they love it! As soon as they return, they run around the house with their noses in the air. They must hunt down the scent of their food bowls and alert us to where they are before they are fed. Once they have found them, Cheyenne will let out a single bark to let me know they are ready to show me what they found and upon following the sound, I will find both girls sitting straight up with their noses to the area of the food bowls.

Are they ever wrong? Nope! Depending on how difficult I make it, it may take them a while but they do eventually find their prize through their innate hunting skills.

A few "good girls" and deliverance of food is all they need as a reward for being good hunters. Now, if only I can get them to hunt down my car keys. *laugh*