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  1. leashedForLife

    Homemade flea repellent spray?

    . Pennyroyal, like black cohosh, is an abortifacent, which is fine if U want to end a pregnancy, but disastrous if U want to maintain it. :( Herbs are tricky, & U must use care in their application- cats often are made sick by things that do not bother humans & dogs, for instance. Even...
  2. leashedForLife

    Homemade flea repellent spray?

    . Just to clarify, when I say “catnip pump spray” I am talking about a water-based botanical extract, not the essential oil, which is extremely concentrated. “Catnip essence” by contrast is very low concentration, I can use it directly on my skin & on my clothing, backpack, etc, when out...
  3. leashedForLife

    Fireworks

    . Emotions are associative - that is, they are tagged by contexts, prior experiences, specific stimuli. If I am blindfolded & guided into an old-fashioned hardware store, with its scents of dry old wood, shellac, metals, light wisps of various solvents, the feel of random-width boards under my...
  4. leashedForLife

    What's for tea?...

    . I love Hasselbach baked potatoes, drizzled with EVOO, sprinkled with a little sea-salt, garlic, & fresh-ground ppr... when I eat them, before reheating them, I add grated Parmesan between the “pages”, or some caramelized onions, or after reheating, top them with a good Greek yogurt (rather...
  5. leashedForLife

    Fireworks

    . The myth that comforting a dog will lead to neurotically needy or demanding behaviors, or that comforting fright will “build more fear”, is poppycock. U can reinforce behaviors - U cannot reinforce an emotion. :) Tricia McConnell is a certified clinical behaviorist, & she has written 3...
  6. leashedForLife

    What's for tea?...

    . We’ve had some very interesting meals, lately - IMO, the best was a picnic for dinner, with assorted fruits, cheeses, 2 kinds of bread, an incredible dry-cured Italian copa ham (for my client) & stone-ground Mexican chocolate for dessert. Wow! - best of all, it was a surprise, my boss came...
  7. leashedForLife

    Recall training?

    . @Shalista , I don’t understand - U seem to think my last comment above was directed at U personally, but it’s just a general tip, for anyone using a front-clip harness. :). It’s not “to” U, nor is it any form of criticism, it’s a tip - for anyone who wants to try it, or finds they are...
  8. leashedForLife

    Homemade flea repellent spray?

    . Catnip spray in a pump bottle. :) In medical research, catnip spray proved to be just as effective as DEET in repelling mosquitoes & biting flies (horse flies & deer flies, not midges, sadly). It is safe, nontoxic, & inexpensive. Catnip spray is sold as an enrichment item for cats, be sure...
  9. leashedForLife

    Any need to add things to a puppy's diet ?

    . Diet is anything by mouth, so chew toys, wood splinters, trash picked up in the street, & plastic bits from a chewed doll can all be part of a pup’s diet. :eek: Management to keep them from eating or gnawing dangerous stuff is important. Leashes, fences, a shipping crate, baby gates, moving...
  10. leashedForLife

    Female Collie, weird aggressive behaviour to other dog - Help!

    . Just in case: If U absolutely cannot swing the cost of shipping for analysis, U could get the thyroid panel (5 tests, free & bound T3 & T4, TSH, & possibly ANA, anti-nuclear antibody) done locally, & then e-mail the numbers to either MSU vet-labs or HemoPet , for an expert analysis. It...
  11. leashedForLife

    Female Collie, weird aggressive behaviour to other dog - Help!

    . I would second the suggestion of vet exams for both dogs - but given her age, plus her prior Hx of spacey behavior, the male dog may be her latest OCD trigger. :( Keeping them separated except for supervised shared space with the F on leash ( so he chooses to interact, & can walk away...
  12. leashedForLife

    Recall training?

    . As an aside: when using a front-clipped harness, any hands on the leash should be below yer waist. ;) Bending one’s elbow, & especially bending both wrist & elbow, dramatically weaken yer strength & also wreck yer body mechanics, forcing U to use scrawny ineffective individual muscles...
  13. leashedForLife

    Recall training?

    . Personally, as a trainer, i wouldn’t suggest nor would I use a retractable/ extendable leash - they are spring-loaded, & the dog learns to pull against tension. They MUST pull in order to get any leash out, & the more length is out / in use, the harder the dog must pull, even merely to...
  14. leashedForLife

    Boston Terrier Cataract Test Advice

    QUOTE, "Jane V: ... I have seen a puppy (bred by) a reputable Kennel Club breeder, & both Sire and Dam had the hereditary HC-HSF4 DNA test, & passed. ... the Sire has had 4 additional BVA/KC/ISDA eye examination screenings, the 1st 3 were clear, but the 4th test, aged 8 in Feb of this year...
  15. leashedForLife

    Boston Terrier Cataract Test Advice

    . I am completely at a loss - how in heaven’s name could both sire & dam test clear before the mating, IOW neither was even a carrier, yet these many years later, the sire is not merely a carrier of hereditary cataracts, but has been genetically transformed, & is now AFFECTED by hereditary...
  16. leashedForLife

    Sibblings not so friendly

    . Along with the neuter op for both dogs, I would get a full thyroid panel done on both dogs - if the total cost is a problem, I’d get get both the desex surgery AND the full thyroid panel done on the growler 1st, then on the growlee as soon as U can possibly afford them, with the growlee’s...
  17. leashedForLife

    Are some dogs more dominant than others?

    . More than 10 years back, I was living in Va Beach, & a woman phoned me “for help” with her 3 to 4-YO English Bulldog, an intact male who’d been an only dog since she picked him up from the breeder at 9-WO. The owner was an elderly widow, in decent health but not active; the dog was a layabout...
  18. leashedForLife

    Sibblings not so friendly

    . OK - that’s not exactly informative. :) I will simply suggest desexing both dogs, ASAP, as that does reduce aggro across the board. It’s not a cure-all, but it will certainly make any b-mod easier & more effective. B-Mod simple plan I will also suggest making the presence of the dog who is...
  19. leashedForLife

    Sibblings not so friendly

    . What kind of “attention”? We need more details of their interactions, since we aren’t there to witness them - or a video would be nice?... - terry .
  20. leashedForLife

    Are some dogs more dominant than others?

    . I know thru many past clients, that APOs / Average Pet Owners often completely misread their own dogs when they try to determine ‘relative rank’ among their own dogs. :( I’ll give just 2 examples, as illustrations- A couple in Va Beach had 3 dogs, 2 Labs, 1 older s/F, 1 a 2-YO n/M, & a n/M...
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