This super cute clip of a dog and a young deer romping in the yard is a must-see for animal lovers. First, some background from L.A. Unleashed:
The deer, named Theen, was cared for by mlcarriker's family after he was discovered alone and malnourished. The family bottle-fed Theen until he began to eat on his own, and although he's now free to wander and mingle with his wild brethren, he "frequently comes back to the house to eat some [cat food] and play with our dog, Buddy," mlcarriker explains. "He doesn't care much for deer corn."
At the end of the video, notice the cats perched on the porch bannister watching the show.
Amazon Hot New Pet Book Release -- Birdology by Sy Montgomery
What makes a bird a bird? That's what Sy Montgomery set out to discover in Birdology:Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur. Sy is the author of the national bestseller The Good Good Pig:The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood, as well as 15 other nonfiction books.
In Birdology, she uses compassion, humor and fascinating facts to explore and understand the lives of seven types of birds. The author studies bird communication, personality, homing and hunting abilities, as well as their relationship to dinosaurs. A must-read book, for birders, bird-lovers, and anyone with an interest in these beautiful creatures.
Hunch -- Practical Decision-Making About Pets and Other Stuff
Can't decide? Don't know what kind of dog or cat breed is best for you, what to name your pet, what kind of food to feed your pet, or even if you should get a pet? Hunch is a super cool site that helps you make these decisions and more.
Hobbies and Pets are only one of multiple categories (beauty, business, clothing, etc) and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of topics at Hunch. You can create a free account and then answer a few questions so Hunch can get to know you and figure out what you'd like best. You can also just browse and see what is generally popular based on other contributors' feedback.
1.) Problems on the walk - A canine pack leader leads, and so should you! Your dog should always be next to you or behind you, never out in front. Make sure you are the first one out the door and the first one to come back in.
2.) Barking at a specific stimulus - Take time to simulate the cause of the barking, and practice correcting your dog. If it's the doorbell that sets your dog off, ring it when no one is coming over, so you can stay focused on the task at hand: helping your dog overcome this unwanted behavior.
3.) Barking while the owner is away - This is most often a symptom of separation anxiety. You can help your dog to relax by communicating that being apart is no big deal. Instead of showering your dog with affection, practice no touch, no talk, and no eye contact for at least five minutes when entering or leaving your home.
4.) Overexcitement or hyperactivity - Overexcited or hyperactive dogs are not being challenged enough. Most often, they just require more exercise! Find a new activity to try with your dog - hiking, swimming, agility courses - or step up your current walk routine. Dogs require at least 30 minutes of a structured walk every day. Talk to your vet about how much exercise your dog can safely handle.
5.) Aggression towards other dogs - Watch your temper! If you are tense, frustrated, or angry, your dog will mirror that energy right back at you, so it's especially important to remain calm when dealing with an aggressive dog. But remember, always put your safety first! Seek the help of a professional to deal with this potentially dangerous issue.
Ms. Horowitz's work with dogs is cited in Time.com's fascinating The Secrets Inside Your Dog's Mind. Did you know that out of all animals on earth, only humans and canines understand the meaning of a pointed finger? Or that the sloppy kiss your dog plants on your lips may not be an expression of affection as much as a quest for food?
Researchers are opening up centers to study dog behavior here in the US and abroad in Europe, such as the Duke Canine Cognition Center whose assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology, Brian Hare, is profiled in the article and Harvard's Canine Cognition Lab.
Not only will these studies benefit dog owners who continually strive to interpret their dogs' signs and signals more accurately, they should improve and enhance training methods for service animals such as guide dogs and bomb-sniffers.
Ruminations on Being a Cat by Flautist at bookofjoe
Who hasn't wondered at some point what life is like for our pets--how do they really view the world? The 'world's most popular blogging anesthesiologist' posted the other day over at bookofjoe:
One project of mine over the past few months has been trying (without success, methinks) to become Gray Cat, see the world as she does and experience things from her point of view.
I sometimes lie down right next to her and look at what she's looking at and try to do a mind-meld with her cat brain but so far nada.
If only I had fur and whiskers to make the incoming more realistic....
And received the following insights from Flautist:
Regarding your project to experience and see things as Gray Cat [above and below] does, I can save you some time and effort. I've already done it with my felines and here's my report: They spend their time dividing everything up into Feels Good or Doesn't Feel Good, and Exciting or Not Exciting. There is broad agreement amongst felines and plenty of individual quirks. Feels Good examples -- chin scratch, sunny spot, chow; Doesn't -- bath, medicine applications, toenail clipping. Exciting -- squirrel chase, bird stalk, cockroach hunt; Not -- waiting for playtime, waiting for rodents to show up, etc. They can occasionally feel deeply conflicted; when I pick up Laurence (cat) I like to hold him upside down like a baby, which he hates, and he plants back feet under my chin in readiness to kick forcefully for release, but he seldom uses that move because he knows he will get back of head scratch which he loves more than anything on earth. Anyway, all that is to say, this is pretty much what you need to know about Gray Cat's (literal) experience of life.
Most US dogs live out their lives as pets, largely providing comfort and companionship 24/7 to the humans with whom they share their world. Definitely hard work.
Many dogs also formally serve us--searching, rescuing, herding, assisting the disabled, the police, the military. They provide therapy to the elderly and incapacitated, hunt, guard, track, and detect.
Today, Labor Day, we take off our hats to the extra special working dog. What would life be without them?
Alex the Parrot died unexpectedly overnight two years ago on September 6th 2007. Alex is the African gray parrot whose ability to master a vocabulary of more than 100 words and answer questions about the color, shape and number of objects brought him widespread acclaim during his life.
If Pets Could Talk -- New Online Guide to Dog and Cat Behavior at PetSmart.com
Want a better understanding of your pet? PetSmart.com has launched an interesting online guide to dog and cat behavior, "If Your Pets Could Talk" developed by animal behaviorist Dr. Suzanne Hetts and Dr. Robyn Jaynes, PetSmart's veterinary and pet care expert.
You will find variety of tools--quizzes, videos and exercises--to test and enhance your knowledge of typical animal behaviors. You may be surprised.
Yesterday, we wished our fabulous Golden Retrievers "Happy Birthday". The first night we brought them home, we must admit asking ourselves (in between the cuteness): "What on earth have we done to our lives??"
The New York Times has begun a weekly series, The Puppy Diaries, about "the challenges and satisfactions of raising a puppy through its first year of life". A snippet from author and new puppy owner Jill Abramson:
Somehow I had forgotten how much having a new puppy is like having a new baby. It's not only the made-up games, the hide-and-seek and stuffed animals. There is the special puppy smell, much like the distinctive scent, better than perfume, of a new baby's head. There is the reflexive urge to smother with kisses. There is the getting up in the middle of the night. There is the singing of lullabies to sleep, lying next to Scout's crate as if it were a cradle. There is the arrangement of play dates for socialization....There are the books written by experts (our puppy manual is by the Monks of New Skete, The Art of Raising a Puppy). There is the feeling of total relief in seeing tired eyes close for a nap.
Bowlingual Voice -- Translates Your Dog's Emotions into Human Words
Who amongst us have not wondered what our dog is saying when s/he barks?
A Japanese toy company has invented Bowlingual Voice, a device that purportedly interprets the emotions expressed in a dog's bark then translates them into human words.
This gadget "detects" sadness, joy, alertness to danger, neediness, happiness and frustration, plus has a recorded repertoire of spoken phrases such as "play with me", "leave me alone", and "feel sad". And for the dog owner who doesn't want to miss a thing, an answering machine function can also record your pet's feelings when you are not around.
Or maybe, as is often the case in relationships, the less said, the better.
Thunderstorms, Fireworks, Vet Visits -- 3 Remedies to Reduce Anxiety and Calm Your Pet
Does your pet suffer from anxiety? Thunderstorm season is here and the July 4th fireworks marathon approaches, not to mention those terrifying vet visits. Our dogs tremble, pant, pace and even become destructive. Our cats shake, meow strangely, and become skittish.
Pet anxiety is serious, especially for those who suffer continually. Your pet may flee the scene in terror and be hit by a car, get lost or stolen. S/he may jump through a glass window, scratch the walls or rip apart your furniture.
So, how to help your pet lose the terror?
Distraction -- Calming music, "white noise" such as fans or A/C, TV, radio to drown out the scary sounds.
Synthetic Pheromones -- These reduce or even prevent stress-related behavior if your pet's anxiety is mild to moderate.
We are following up after trying D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone, which worked well with our storm-phobic Golden as long as she stays put in one spot. Since she paces, the DAP Collar is the best choice as it goes where she goes.
Anti-Anxiety Meds -- Where a lot of pets live, thunderstorms or scary sounds can happen daily. If your pet experiences the misery of anxiety on a constant or extreme basis, your vet may prescribe Anxiety Relief medications.
PetScoop: Dog and Deer Playdate in the Yard
set out to discover in 
Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur. Sy is the author of the national bestseller 
The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood, as well as 15 other nonfiction books. 
. Here's a few helpful hints from his latest DVD 
by Alexandra Horowitz [New York Times review 
.
is a must-read.
). There is the feeling of total relief in seeing tired eyes close for a nap.
is recommended or spritz some 
on his/her bedding and favorite hangouts. Likewise, for your dog, apply some 
liberally in the cage and if in an enclosed area plug in a 
. 
is the best choice as it goes where she goes.
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