Baked Pumpkin or Winter Squash

Try this easy-to-make baked pumpkin or winter squash treat- packed with nutrition - dogs LOVE this!

Baking Method

• Cut the pumpkin or winter squash into pieces and discard the stem section, seeds and stringy pulp.
• Rub the surfaces with olive oil
• In a shallow baking dish, place the pieces face down and cover with foil.
• Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for about 1½ hours for a medium-sized sugar pumpkin, or until tender.
• Once the baked pumpkin has cooled, scoop out the flesh and puree or mash it.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of the baked pumpkin/squash to the food.

Pumpkin is also a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Potassium, Copper and Manganese. 

The Immune System

Tell me about my dog's Immune System

Inside your dog's body there are mechanisms designed to defend your dog from millions of bacteria, microbes, viruses, toxins and parasites.
 

Components of the Immune System

The most obvious part of the immune system is what we can see. For example, your dogs skin and coat is an important part of his immune system. It acts as a primary boundary between germs and your dog's body.  A dog's skin is tough and generally impermeable to bacteria and viruses.  The skin also secretes antibacterial substances - most bacteria and spores that land on the skin die quickly.

Your dog's nose, mouth and eyes are also obvious entry points for germs. Tears and mucus contain an enzyme (lysozyme) that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria. Saliva is also anti-bacterial. Since the nasal passage and lungs are coated in mucus, many germs not killed immediately are trapped in the mucus and soon swallowed.  Any bacteria or virus that wants to gain entry to the body must first make it past these defenses.

Once inside the body, a germ deals with the immune system at a different level. The major components of the immune system are:

• Thymus
• Spleen
• Lymph system
• Bone marrow
• White blood cells
• Antibodies
• Complement system
• Hormones

We will look at these systems in upcoming newsletters

Dogs and Swine Flu

The Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus), is a health concern in our country. This influenza has been spreading among people for many months. With this growing epidemic brings concern if our pets can also catch the virus.

It is extremely unlikely that your pet will catch the Swine Flu. According to Dr. Louise Murray, Director of Medicine at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Hospital in New York City, "At this time there is no data demonstrating any risk of dogs and cats contracting this strain of the virus."

The pig is the only animal that may be susceptible to catching the H1N1 Virus, but so far, no fatalities have been reported.

Be aware, dogs still can catch a strain of the flu known as H3N8 Virus, which cannot be spread to humans. Symptoms are similar to that of the human flu including runny nose and a fever.

After the flu runs its course (about 10 days) your pet will be back to their old selves. Also, be sure to isolate your sick pet from others in the house as the flu will spread from dog to dog.

Canine Intelligence

At the University of British Columbia, Stanley Coren (canine expert) conducted intelligence tests... The findings revealed that dogs can learn as many as 250 words including signals and gestures... but read on...

Basic Math

The language tests put our canine friends on par with a 2.5 year old child, but it turns out they can trump a 3 or 4 year old in basic arithmetic. Here's how the math test works - the dogs watch as 1 treat and then another is lowered down behind a screen. (1+1=2) When the screen is removed the dog expects to see 2 treats. If one is removed or a third added, the dogs looked surprised and stare longer. This proves that they understand the concept of addition.

Social Skills

Now we are up to about the levels of teens. Dogs, being very social animals, are keen on knowing who is moving up the pack, what the others are doing, who hangs with who and that sort of thing.

Basic Emotions

Dogs know when they are being treated fairly. In this test one dog is given a treat and the other is ignored. The unrewarded dog avoids making eye contact with the trainer. Interestingly, the dogs do not seem to care about 'equality' - if one dog is given a piece of meat and the other a piece of bread there is no difference in the reaction.

Top Dogs
Border Collies
Poodles
German Shepherds
Golden Retrievers
Dobermans
and your dog... of course

If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. ~Phil Pastoret

the blind dog and his best friend and guide.

Bonnie and Clyde - the blind dog and his best friend and guide.

Intelligence can be measured in many different ways.

Sure, you can give a dog a 'math test', but here is a story that transcends 'intelligence'. Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie and Clyde are two dogs recently rescued in Great Britain. They had been wandering in the countryside. Clyde is blind from a degenerative eye disease. Bonnie 'guides' him and when they are together, you cannot tell Clyde is blind - but... remove Bonnie- and Clyde will not move. Cherie Cootes, from the rescue centre, said: "If Clyde's unsure where he is, he will suddenly go behind Bonnie and put his face on the back of her so she can guide him, he totally relies on her." "And when she walks she tends to stop and make sure he's there - she does look out for him." For me, this story signifies what dog 'intelligence' is really all about - not only are these dogs intelligent (these dogs are pretty smart to work out a guidance system) but faithful friends and companions - willing to help each other - no questions asked.

Folk Art Dog

For those of you who love dogs and whimsical folk art - Natural Canine owners Michael and Marlene make these wonderful wood folk art pieces.

This one stands about 11 inches tall, made of wood and hand painted.

You can check out other folk art at BlueBellFolkArt.com

The River Severn in Great Britain (one of the most dangerous in the country) is the home of a handful of skilled fishermen, who along with their trusted canine companions, follow centuries-old customs to catch salmon, bass, gray mullet and shrimp.

The fishermen use a rough fashioned 'lave' net with a frame made of willow attached to an ash rod. When the tide falls the fish trapped in the shallow pools panic and try to swim to deeper water. The lave nets are used to catch the fish as they make a break for the deep pools with the rising tide. Great skill is required to work in a river full of slippery rocks, fast tides and quicksand.

How the Dogs Help

As the tide rises, another type of net is used called the Gill Net. The Gill Net is unravelled and the dog takes one end of the net and swims across the river.

The dog releases the net over to another fisherman who secures the net, now ready to catch the fish.

This is great fun for a working dog