10 reasons why dogs are better than turtles.

My sister is a bit more eccentric than myself.  While I stick to sharing our house with dogs, cats and an occasional pocket pet, she prefers to fill her with a beautiful (loud) assortment of Birds, Rabbits and lately, yes.....Turtles.........that's right....Turtles.

So.....we here in Washington decided to list the top10 reasons why

DOGS ARE BETTER PETS THAN TURTLES......

1. Dogs have fur.....Turtles have shells....When a dog curls up next to you at night, they are warm, furry and cuddly.  When a turtle curls up to you at night......oh....nevermind that would never happen.
2. One word......FRISBEE.......Whats a turtle going to do with that?
3. Stay with me here...  Dogs require a yearly vet visit.  Yes, this costs money and its a hassle to get an appointment .  Then, when you arrive, you end up dragging your dog through the front door while he pulls back at you with all of his weight because he KNOWS its the Vets office and DOES NOT WANT THEM TOUCHING HIM. True......but there's an Up-side.....For a few moments, your famous in that vets office.  If the staff is worth their mustard, they are working to calm the poor tortured canine and complimenting you on the utter cuteness of your terrified pooch.  Does that happen with a turtle?  I think not.  They come in a box, look like a hubcap. 
4. When you scratch a dog under the chin, his tail wags......WHERE IS A TURTLE'S CHIN HALF THE TIME?
5. Two words....DOG PARK.....a turtle wouldn't last 5 minutes.
6. You can teach a dog to sit, stay and fetch.  According to Michael J. Firth,...you can teach your dog 100 words.  What can you teach a turtle?  Maybe, just maybe, after years of trying...you can get the little guy to take a piece of lettuce out of your hand.  WOO HOO
7. Turtles can not stick their tongues out like dogs can.  Think about it. No licking, No grooming, they don't slobber after slurping up a huge amount of water.......how boring.
8. Two more words....."Home Security".  Studies have shown that MOST would-be burglars are turned around by the sound of a dog barking.  Unfortunately, turtles have not developed their skills in this area and are still unable to replicate the sound of a 90 pound Rottweiler.  (As a side note - we might as well have had a turtle.  We think our dog not even invited the hoodlums in, but offered them refreshments:). 
9. The Reverse Sneeze - Anyone who has witnessed this phenomenon can tell you that its probably one of the funniest things their dog has ever done.  Its unclear whether it's the look of surprise on the dogs face when these little fits hit or the spontaneous eruption of gas from the back end that often accompanies them....but its definately comical.
10. Finally.....Fur.  Yes, we curse it, we wash it, we comb it, we hate rolling it off of our furniture every spring and fall.  It sticks to our black clothing.  It defines us as dog owners in that it ends up in our cars, on our purses, stuck to our jackets.  But.....when properly cared for, it's soft and warm and fuzzy and fun to pet.

Yeah Yeah Yeah...we used fur twice....but hey.....that's HUGE...take a look at your dog and imagine him naked..... Ewww....

Oh yeah...and if you need anything to take care of that fur....check us out www.Xfleas.com!

How to Crate Train your Dog?

At the vet hospital where I work, there has been a steady parade of puppies, kittens, and newly adopted older pets coming through for their first checkups and shots.  Our puppy/kitten package sales are through the roof!  (For anyone not in the know...this is a "pay one price" package that gets you all the vaccines, exams and dewormings for the first year of a new pets life...its a great deal if you need it.)

At the same time, in the past week, I have spoken to two pet owners who are looking for homes for their dogs.  They just can't handle the destruction their dog has caused or deal with other behavioral issues.

This touches a nerve with me...mainly because I've been there!  We had a Lab for 14 years that systematically worked to destroy our home and our possessions until the day she died.  Coming home from a day of work was always an adventure.  Which floor would be chewed?.....which photo album destroyed?....which pair of shoes obliterated?  We spent one entire weekend building an outdoor pen for her safekeeping.  Only to watch her scale the fence within minutes.  The fifth of July was always a foreboding date for us.   Traditionally, we would spend that day cleaning up the diarrhea and vomit left behind by our poor dog tortured by the booming fireworks.

Still....the day she died, remains one of the saddest days of my life.  For all her faults....she tried to be a good dog....she just didn't have the confidence to be left alone or the self control to stick to her many training courses.

So.....I set out last night to write an entry on HOW TO CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOG!  I decided that I would start with some research to see if any of the ideas on crate training had changed since we trained our two year old Lab...Charlie.  What I found was one of the best resources that I have ever seen. It comes from The Humane Society of the United States and believe me, they know the drill!  This is one of the most exhaustive explanations I have ever read about crate training; why and how we do it and the positive results of the experience.  They map out the four main steps in crate training and also tell how to deal with problems that may occur along the way.

We learned our lesson the hard way....we raised two dogs to an elderly age without a crate. Yes...It can be done successfully..and we probably saved a couple hundred dollars in crates along the way.  But...we ate a ton of dinners in the parking lot of fast food restaurants because we knew that when we went home, there would be a mess to clean up.  We replaced flooring and carpet.  We lost cherished family mementos.  We even dealt with the local ASPCA a few times after they had retrieved a freaked and fleeing dog.  So yes...when we began the next dog generation in our house...we crate trained both of them.

Our three year old Aussie....is now free to roam the house when we're gone....we don't worry about damage or that she is on the furniture.  She trained in the crate and has the confidence and self control to wait patiently for our return.  Our two year old lab?  Still can't be trusted outside of her crate when her family is gone.  She loves her crate....hangs out in it while we're home and at night...voluntarily.  Finally, she usually crates herself 10 minutes or so before we leave the house for the day.  I swear she would pull the door shut behind her if she had thumbs!

So...if you are interested in a crate...or just want to know more about the different kinds available etc....go ahead and visit my website at Xfleas.com

And please remember.....Genesis 1:28  God blessed them and said to them "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." ....You are the boss!