Beating the back-to-school blues
This time of year is always exciting for families. Kids head back to school, and parents are either cheering or crying. But other members of the family – our pets – are noticing the changes, too. Watch for signs of separation anxiety. For example, your pet may chew more than normal or go to the bathroom where he shouldn’t.
PetFinder.com offers this advice to help your furry pal deal with the back-to-school blues.
- Start early. Begin working with your pet as early as possible. Leave and come back without a lot of fanfare. Start with short separations and work you way into longer time periods.
- Promote independence. Don’t over-bond so that your pet relies on you every minute. Encourage her to sit or stay, leave the room and then quietly praise her when you come back.
- Invest in entertainment. Get toys or treats that will distract your pet, like a pet-sitter video or kong ball.
- Exercise with your animal before you leave. Go for a walk or have your kids spending time playing with your pet before you head out the door.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – squirrels are sneaky
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Event to help more dogs. (Oklahoma City)
- Pet Tales: Sneaky squirrel jars couple with tit for tat. (Oklahoma City)
- Chihuahua serves as fire alarm for two men. (The Village)
- Dungy says Vick’s choices limited. (Indiana)
- Eighty pit bulls seized in raid. (Indiana)
- Wolf release raises questions. (New Mexico)
- Rachel Ray planning pet charity contest. (California)
- Help available for storm-phobic dogs. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Doggy squats
So this dog has an amazing trainer. My dogs can barely sit on command.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Want to see something cute?
Our friends over at the L.A. Unleashed blog have the story about a pair of red panda cubs being raised by a dog after they were abandonded by their mother.
The cubs were born June 25 at the Taiyuan Zoo in northern China. They were immediately abandoned by their mother, leaving keepers looking for a surrogate. They found a willing foster mother: a white mixed-breed dog who had recently given birth to a litter of puppies.
Apparently mom is loving and attentive of both her pups and the cubs.
Photos are from the Associated Press.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pet Show – taking your furry friend on the road
Listen to Pet Show! Our guest this week was the illustrious Harrison Forbes! He’s the host of the nationally-syndicated Pet Talk show and author of the book Dog Talk. He’s an expert who’s been heard all over the world. (And as a side note, he’s been interviewed by Larry King. So in a way, the Pet Show crew is almost as awesome as Larry King. Admittedly, we don’t have suspenders.)
Anyway, Harrison’s impressive resume aside, he spoke to us about traveling with your pets this summer. Anybody who’s ever tried to load up a dog or cat and go for a road trip knows this is no easy task. Harrison gives us some great advice for keeping your pets calm and happy during the drive.
Our Tale Tips for the show are more than necessary considering the horrific heat in Oklahoma these days. Dawn shares info about how to protect your animals from the heat:
- Keep up with your regular vet visits.
- Pets need water and shade when outside.
- Look for symptoms of heat problems – panting, difficulty breathing, drooling, weakness, collapse, seizure, vomiting or high temperature.
- Don’t leave your pet in the car. Seriously.
- Keep animals that can’t swim away from the pool.
- Don’t leave windows open in upper stories. Pets can be attracted to the air flow and fall out.
- Haircuts are good – shaving to the skin is bad.
- Keep your pets off hot asphalt, which can burn the pads of their paws.
- If you’re boosting your lawn with chemicals, use them carefully and away from animals.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Pets in the paper – training pandas or puppies
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahiesoman today -
- Raids hit dogfighting rings. (statewide)
- Turtles slow plane traffic. (New York)
- Three hurt in running of the bulls. (Spain, page 9a)
- Horse races spur 12 arrests. (Guymon)
- Unusual surgery saves hound. (Edmond)
- Frog races have kids leaping for joy. (Oklahoma City)
- Training tips similar for pets, zoo animals. (nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pug pushing a stroller
It’s funny. That’s all.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – Fourth of July and hamsters
Listen to Pet Show! We talked about all kinds of good Fourth of July tips from the American Kennel Club. (Want to read all the tips directly? Check back on our blog tomorrow!)
Bryan also shared some excellent pet news. Here are the links:
- Pig that survied crash surfaces in swimming pool.
- France faces court for hamster neglect. (Yes, the picture here shows the kind of hamsters we’re talking about. Look at those precious little guys!)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Give me that banana or I’ll cut you
Visitors to the Calgary Zoo recently witnessed a disturbing incident between a pair of the zoo’s western lowland gorillas. 
According to the Calgary Herald, one of the gorillas somehow got hold of a knife, picked it up and appeared close to re-enacting a famous scene from “Pshycho” on another gorilla in his troop.
None of the gorillas were hurt, and zoo workers were able to recover the knife, which was accidentally left by a keeper who had cleaned the exhibit earlier.
Witnesses said the gorilla picked up the knife and held it in his hand. When another gorilla came close, the gorilla with the knife raised it up as if he was threatening to stab the other gorilla. The second gorilla backed away and the knife-wielding gorilla walked a few steps before placing the knife on a chair.
About 20 zoo visitors were watching as the incident unfolded, including children.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper – D-Boy is the man
Check out these (five million!) animal stories in The Oklahoman since Saturday -
- Pit bull is “People’s Hero” for taking burglar’s shots. (Oklahoma City)
- What’s new at the zoo? (Oklahoma City, page 16a, Saturday)
- Pet policies revisited. (nationwide, page 1b, Saturday)
- Southwest Airlines to add new fees for pets, unaccompanied minors. (nationwide)
- Redemption and Michael Vick. (NewsOK Religion and Values blog)
- Summer break can cut adoption of pets. (Stillwater, Edmond, Oklahoma City, Muskogee)
- Dog owner stabs worker. (Oklahoma City)
- Head to the bat cave. (Freedom)
- National Geographic hosting photo contest. (nationwide)
- Use caution to prevent dog bites. (nationwide)
- Reptile study keeps Tinker on track. (Midwest City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
