Out, Damned Tick!

We found a tick latched to Andy's inner thigh Saturday night...shudder. I'm pretty sure it was a black-legged tick, also known as a deer tick (see photo - that's my pinky finger shown for scale). Andy probably picked it up at the park earlier that day. I'm surprised the parasitic little bugger was even on the prowl given how cold it's been lately.

Thankfully we had our trusty Tick Twister on hand. This is the second time we've used it, and I must say, it certainly is worth the $3.99 we paid for it! This particular tick was a little stubborn and didn't want to let go of Andy's delicious tender flesh. My husband did get it to detach eventually, mouthparts and all, but not without a little bit of effort. The skin around the bite is irritated so I'll be keeping an eye on it and on Andy in general. Ticks can carry lyme disease, canine anaplasmosis, and other unpleasantness, so it's important to keep an eye on your pet for symptoms of illness if a tick has had a chance to attach itself. Check out the Humane Society's webpage, "Getting a Tick Off Your Dog," for more information on ticks and safe tick removal. 

Review | Premier Easy Walk Harness | Part 2: Overall

As promised, here's Part 2 of my review of the Premier Easy Walk Harness. As mentioned in Part 1 of my review, aside from sizing issues I'm actually happy with the harness and would recommend it to anyone with a dog that doesn't walk "nice" on the leash. While no leash, collar, or harness can take the place of proper training (which I know we haven't done enough of with Andy) I think most dog owners should see immediate results with the Easy Walk Harness. The harness consists of two straps, one that wraps around the torso, directly behind the legs, and one that falls across the top of the breast bone. The front strap is similar to a martingale collar, with loops that tighten gently across the chest and shoulder blades when your dog tugs. This, coupled with the fact that the leash clips to the front of the harness, makes it difficult for your pup to pull. When he does pull the pressure created by the martingale loops will force him to his side and redirect his attention towards you.

The Easy Walk Harness hasn't stopped Andy from pulling completely but I'd say he tugs about 70% less - which is a vast improvement and much better results than we had with the gentle leader or the body harness. It's also easy to get on and off. The harness is actually dual-toned, unlike the product photo, so I know immediately which strap goes around Andy's body and which goes across his chest. From what I've read the model I purchased, which is the Easy Walk Reflective Harness and Leash set, is actually sturdier than the regular model sold in most stores (which does not come with a leash). The set is made of a nice heavy nylon and features reflective threads (which really do reflect!) and snap buckles made of sturdy plastic. One complaint I do have is that the instructions for the harness say you should use a leash with a light-weight clip but the leash that came with the set actually has a pretty heavy clip, which contributes to the front strap sagging.

Review | Premier Easy Walk Harness | Part 1: Fit

Andy's been wearing his new Premier Easy Walk Harness for a month now and I'm finally ready to share some of my thoughts about it (To read about why we chose this particular harness, click here). I'm going to split this review into 2 parts: "fit" and overall feelings about the product. Today I'm going to write primarily about the fit and fitting of the harness.

Before ordering the harness I had to decide what size to get. I started by consulting the sizing instructions on Premier's website. The instructions had me measure Andy's girth - the length around his rib cage, directly behind his front legs. I then compared that measurement to the sizing chart and decided to order a medium since his girth is approximately 23 inches. The harness came with some pretty detailed fitting instructions. After a lot of adjusting of straps, readjusting, and adjusting some more, I just couldn't get the medium size harness to fit properly, and I determined it was because it was actually a touch too small. Either Andy has a really odd shaped body or Premier's sizing chart is way off...I'm guessing it's the latter of the two. I did see some complaints about sizing when I read reviews on the harness, I just didn't think the sizing chart would be SO off.

New Gear

We needed to replace Andy's collar so we ended up picking up a collar/leash set at Target this past weekend. The set (in size medium), from the Boots & Barkley brand, is made of reinforced nylon and cloth and has a quick-release buckle. Andy gets walked on a harness so the matching collar/leash is sort of a vanity thing - of course the collar does serve the practical purpose of holding his i.d. and rabies tags (the pup is also microchipped) and is required for doggy day care.

The Good: Inexpensive ($5.99 for the collar, $6.99 for the leash). Adorable and unique pattern - the type of visual design I've come to expect from Target products.

The Bad: Not the heaviest of materials. The pattern is only on one side of the leash - the other side is simply brown nylon. The spring-hinge clasp on the leash feels a little on the light side. 

I'm hoping to get at least 2 years wear out of the set, perhaps more...though I'm not gonna lie, I think that's being optimistic. Maxwell's leash and collar were made of quality heavy black nylon and were still going after 6+ years. The leash is actually still in good shape - a little rough around the edges but still good enough to keep in the car for emergencies. I guess my like of pretty things won out in this case, much like my couch. Buyer's remorse? A little. Ah well. I'll let you know how they hold up.

Rough and Tumble Pup

We always make Andy visit the grass and do his business before going on a car ride. Yesterday morning he was so excited about going to Camp Bow Wow he refused to go to the grass and proceeded to take a big dump in the middle of the parking lot. He then bee-lined it to the car. Sheesh. That's one impatient pup!

When we picked Andy up from camp we noticed his collar was all filthy and torn up. I suspect it got pulled off during some rough and tumble play and got chewed up a bit before a counselor realized it had even fallen off. Looks like it's time to replace the collar, which is just as well, because it was already starting to fray around the edges. I'm going to look for an inexpensive, but fashionable, quick-release collar.  This type of collar has a squeezable trigger closure made of heavy plastic. The closure allows for quicker removal then say, a traditional buckle collar, which works well for us because Andy only wears his collar when we leave the grounds of our apartment complex. Camp Bow Wow also requires that all campers wear a quick-release collar for the safety of the pups.

That's a No Go on the New Hardware

So I tired fitting the Easy Walk Harness on Andy today and it doesn't fit correctly. Blurg. Based on the sizing chart from Premier (below, click to enlarge) I purchased the harness in a medium but it's just a tad too small. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense because I measured Andy's girth and it's approx. 23 inches - which should put him right at a medium. Looks like we need a medium/large. Andy's a fairly petite pup so this sizing chart is all out of whack. Something to consider if you're thinking of picking one of these up. I hope the harness actually works well enough that it's worth all this hassle!

New Hardware for Andy

Andy's new harness (the Premier Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness) is here! We're going to start test driving it today. I've already started doing some basic obedience with the pup using one of the training DVDs from K9 Living. In both instances, getting Andy comfortable with the new harness and with obedience training, I'm using treats to reward good behavior. 

Hotdogs were recommended by both the DVD and a coworker. According to Kathy Santo giving little pieces of hotdog, aka human food, to your pup in the context of training won't lead to begging at the table. My coworker's vet recommends low-fat hotdogs. I opted to pick up some mini Natural Balance Dog Food Rolls (Lamb Formula). I used to give Maxwell little slices as a treat and he loved them. They have a drier texture than a human sausage - more akin to a very dry salami - and they also have a strong (but delicious!) scent. I'm hoping Andy will respond well to them and be an obedient little pup. Wish us luck!

Waiting for Andy's New Harness

Andy's been a puller from the get go and when we first adopted him it was apparent the ol' leash and collar wasn't going to cut it. It's a combination of poor training on our part, bad manners on his part, and that darn hound nose of his. Once he catches whiff of a scent trail there's no turning back! We started Andy off with a gentle leader, a collar that looped around his muzzle and fit around his head. In theory it was supposed to combat pulling, lunging, and jumping. In reality it did no such thing and rubbed his muzzle raw to boot.

For the last 2 months Andy's been wearing a body harness he inherited from Maxwell. I think it was the cheapest one we could find at a local big box pet supply store. While it does give us better control over him than the Gentle Leader overall, its design is flawed. The adjustable straps are always coming loose (it's made of nylon but has a shiny, almost silky, finish if that makes any sense, and allows for more slide), the strap that goes around his torso frequently detaches from the rest of the harness, and the middle section (where the leash clips) migrates from side to side when we're walking. 

Nail Clipping Nightmare

Andy is the first dog I've owned that doesn't mind having his paws touched. My dogs of yore never tolerated paw touching, much less paw holding, so this is a nice change. I was nervous the first time we clipped Andy's claws because I've never owned a dog with black claws before. Makes it impossible to see the quick! I asked my vet for tips and he recommended making an initial cut up to where the claw begins to curve, then making smaller cuts until I start to see grayish-pink, which means I'm coming up on the quick. The quick is the bundle of blood vessels and nerves that feed the claw and if cut into will bleed and give your dog pain. Talk about pressure! I found this claw clipping guide from Washington State University's Vet Med program extremely helpful.

We have to clip Andy's claws every 3 weeks or so. The first 2 or 3 times we trimmed them it was a piece of cake. My husband held him while I systematically worked my way through each claw using a pair of spring-loaded clippers. He didn't put up a fight at all. The last time we trimmed them Andy put up a little bit of resistance. This time. Huh. This time was a nightmare. He fought us tooth and nail - literally! There was squirming, writhing, scratching, growling, attempted biting...the works. In hindsight we should have stopped and continued at a later time. Unfortunately I was stubborn and wanted to get it done. We were down to the last paw, only 3 more claws to go, and Andy jerked his paw right as I was clipping. I cut into his quick. There was blood. I felt like the worst pet owner ever. Sigh. So now the pup is running around with 3 nails that still need to be trimmed and I'm dreading having to do it. I'm thinking maybe I need to get sanding bands for my Dremel so I can just grind them down and avoid sharp cutting implements altogether. I'm a wuss when it comes to pain - my own and that of others. 

Car Seat Cover | A Life Saver!

I bought this tan car seat cover 6 years ago and it's still going strong; granted it didn't get much use with Maxwell, who most frequently rode in the back of the suv. Andy on the other hand likes riding in the middle (passenger) section of the car because of his earlier bout with amaxophobia. He's since overcome his fear of the car and now hops right in without any reservations. Lately though we've been dealing with his love of rolling in piles of smelly crap - literally, I'm talking poop here, and the seat cover has been invaluable.

I wish I knew more about the specifics of the car seat cover we have but because I bought it so long ago I no longer have the packaging. I do know I bought it at a discount store called Tuesday Morning (my love of discount goods and all). To my recollection it cost about $20 and has been worth every penny. I don't know how we would've managed getting Andy home post-poop roll without it. I've seen similar covers at pet supply stores and I highly recommend them in general. Our particular cover is made of waterproof canvas with a vinyl backing. We've washed it multiple times and it's held up well. The cover has adjustable straps up top that fit around the headrests and the bottom corners have elastic that fit around the corners of the seat. You want to make sure you get one that fits your type of car - ours is for a small suv. The one downside of our cover is that the surface is a little slippery. I do have to be mindful when making turns otherwise Andy will slide right off the seat. Have been trying to think of ways to fix that issue. Other than that the car seat cover has saved our backseat from water, dirt, drool, and other more unsavory things.

Review | Tick Twister Pro

A couple of years ago we found a tick on Maxwell's neck and used a pair of tweezers to remove it. It wasn't easy to get a good grip on the tick with the tweezers and we were completely stressed out at the thought of popping it (the tick's saliva and gut contents may contain infective organisms). While we were able to successfully remove the tick intact we decided to pick up a tick removing tool to make future encounters a little less stressful. We picked up a gadget called the Tick Twister Pro at Petco for $3.99.

We used the Tick Twister for the first time the other night when we found a tick latched onto Andy's belly. It's a simple device - plastic, about 3 inches long, a handle on one end, and a notched "cup" on the other. Using it was just like using a crowbar: I slid the tick into the notch until snug, I then gently twisted the Twister and lifted until the tick came loose. The tick was dislodged intact with mouth-parts and all (you don't want to leave those behind as they can cause infection). The tick was small, about the size of a sesame seed, and I was afraid the Tick Twister would be too large to handle it but it wasn't a problem. 

Rethinking the Gentle Leader

So the gentle leader hasn't done much in the way of helping us "lead" Andy.  He still pulls and tugs and fights the leader and after three and half months I'm ready to try something different. I realize the gentle leader, or any training device for that matter, is only as good as the owner that is able to use the tool effectively. I'll be the first to admit we haven't done a good job with leash training Andy, but in the case of the gentle leader, I have additional concerns. I've noticed the leader is causing irritation to the bridge of Andy's muzzle because he pulls against it so hard. I'm concerned he's going to developed an unsightly callous or lose the fur there altogether. I don't want to permanently disfigure my pup so we're going to try a body harness we already have next. This particular harness isn't the best design so I'll be keeping my eyes open for a new one over the next couple of weeks. Anyone have a favorite?

Peace of Mind | Consider Microchipping Your Pup

Our local humane society microchips all animals prior to adoption. The cost is built into the adoption fee. Microchipping is fast and painless and can be done through your vet for about $40. The microchip is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. Once microchipped it’s up to the owner to register the microchip in a national pet recovery database. Should your pet ever go astray a microchip may play a part in its safe return. I.D. tags can be lost but microchips are relatively permanent.

For more information click this link for the American Veterinary Medical Association’s FAQ page on microchipping of animals.

Let's See Some I.D. Please

At a minimum all dogs should wear an I.D. tag on their collar; a microchip in addition is ideal. Before picking Andy up from the humane society we stopped by Petco and purchased a dog tag for about $13. The tags are located at check out. Once we payed for the tag we received a token which was used to activate the engraving machine located at the front of the store. The personalized tag has Andy’s name on one side and our phone numbers on the reverse. The process was quick and painless. 

Andy sports a quick release collar. The collar has a push button clasp as opposed to a buckle. The quick release collar makes it convenient to get his collar on and off without having to bother with a buckle. In addition to the I.D. tag Andy’s collar also has his rabies tag and a tag that indicates he is microchipped. 

Because we live in a small gated community we tend to take Andy’s collar off when he’s hanging out at home. I also get annoyed by the constant tinkling of all the tags and worry it might bother my neighbors. We used to have a neighbor with a dachshund that had jingle bells on its collar and of course this neighbor insisted on taking his dog out in the middle of the night. I'm a light sleeper and woke up all the time to the sound of those bells in the hallway and I wanted to take a hammer to them on more than one occasion. For the love of God - why does a dog need bells?