Canine Kisses

It’s pretty standard for an affectionate dog to try to lick the face of a human pal. Some people welcome a slobbery lick–but, should they? Is it healthy?

I recently ran across this article that summarizes some of the science related to dog licks. It seems clear that licking is instinctive, and important, behavior for the dog, and is part of their naturally empathetic makeup. In short, dogs like to lick. For the human recipient of a lick, however, there is some risk,

The risk arises from the fact that most dogs are not exactly careful about what they put in their mouths. As a result, dog saliva may contain bacteria and other microbes that could cause serious health problems for humans, although the chances of that happening apparently aren’t all that significant. The risk seems to be greatest for people who are immunocompromised or who have open wounds, although older people, young children, and pregnant women also are urged to be cautious about accepting a canine kiss.

The most likely result of a dog lick therefore isn’t illness or infection, but rather getting a big whiff of foul dog breath in the process. Most dog owners gladly accept those risks in exchange for the affection and companionship that their dogs bring to their lives. Still, I try to avoid the lick and opt for a friendly pat on the head instead.

Trail Sky

Betty and I went for a walk around the noon hour yesterday to allow her to meet her daily quota of sniffs. We strolled to the end of the street, turned right, headed south down the access road, and then turned west onto the community trail where Betty eagerly greeted Tucker, a large yellow Lab, and exchanged ritual canine greetings with him.

It was a bright day with a brisk wind that was sculpting the cloud cover into fantastic shapes. Directly overhead, the wind furrowed the clouds so that they looked like the rows in a freshly plowed field that was ready for planting. In other parts of the sky, the clouds had been flattened into a kind of wispy haze that the sun didn’t quite cut through, so you could feel the warmth, but not the direct sunshine effect. And to the east, fleecy clouds scudded across the horizon, framed by glimpses of bright blue sky and the foothills of the mountains in the far distance. It was a strikingly pretty trail sky, so I had to stop and take this picture–which really doesn’t do it justice.

The surroundings in the Sonoran desert definitely give you an incentive to get out and walk around, because you never know what you might see in the sky above or on the ground below. I enjoyed the opportunity to see this particular sky. Betty, on the other hand, kept her snout to the ground and focused on some evidently irresistible smells left by dogs that had gone before.

Reusing Well With Silica Gel

If you buy pretty much any kind of product these days, there’s a good chance you’ll find one or more of those little packets of silica gel inside the box. You know that silica gel is a dessicant, and you know from the warnings on the packet that you aren’t supposed to eat the contents. (And thank goodness for that helpful warning label, incidentally, because otherwise curiosity about how raw silica gel might taste and the temptation to give it a try might be irresistible.)

The label also instructs you to “throw away” the packet–but should you obey? Or, should you follow your ingrained reduce/reuse/recycle instincts, and try to find something to do with the packets rather than tossing them into the trash?

Here’s a helpful article on 14–14!–ways you can reuse those little silica gel packets. All of the tips take advantage of the moisture-absorbing qualities of the packets, and allow them to serve their intended function in the kitchen, in the closet, and in other parts of the house. The author clearly spent a lot of time thinking about how to use the things. Who would have thought to tape them to the lid of a pet food container, to help to keep the kibble fresh and crispy? (Not that our ravenous dogs ever seemed especially picky about freshness and crispiness rather than quantity, but still.) As you read the article you get the sense that pretty much every nook and cranny of the author’s house features one of the little packets, fighting desperately to suck every ounce of moisture from the area.

So, now you know what to do with those silica gel packets. But how about the little cylinders you find in aspirin bottles? Or dry cleaning bags? Or cheap wire hangers that have accumulated over the years? Other than converting them into modern art sculptures, is there anything productive to be done with them? If only we had guidance!

White House Bites

President Biden’s problems with his dogs continue.

In 2021, the Bidens had to send their dog Major back to Delaware after he bit the hand of a Secret Service agent. Now the news media is reporting that the Biden’s new dog, Commander, a German Shepherd that the Bidens have had since December 2021, has had even greater behavioral problems. The Department of Homeland Security has released documents showing that Commander has been involved in ten different incidents where he has attacked, and in some cases injured, Secret Service agents.

The documents describe incidents that will sound familiar to anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with hyper-aggressive dogs, in which Commander has charged and bitten agents. In one incident last November, Commander bit one agent twice, causing the agent to ultimately seek treatment from White House medical staff and the hospital, and agents ultimately had to use a steel cart to shield themselves from the charging dog. In an incident in December in a White House garden, in the presence of President Biden, Commander was let off his leash and attacked and bit a Secret Service agent on the forearm and on the thumb.

The First Lady’s spokeswoman, Elizabeth Alexander, responded to the reports on the attacks by saying: “The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets, and the First Family is working through ways to make this situation better for everyone.”  That the White House is a unique and often stressful environment is undoubtedly true generally, and especially so now for Secret Service agents whenever Commander is around–which makes you wonder if the presence of the dog could be distracting agents from doing their job of protecting the President and his family.

As for Commander and Major, there’s an unfortunate pattern here. Given the special nature of the White House, living there would be a challenge for even an exceptionally well-trained dog–and Commander, with multiple biting incidents in his record, clearly doesn’t fall into that category. It’s just not fair to ask people to work in a setting where they know they might be bitten by an aggressive dog. It would be best for Commander, the Bidens, and the Secret Service, if Commander were adopted by a new family that lives in a quieter place where his aggressive tendencies aren’t being provoked and the Bidens simply kept their cat, Willow, as the family pet.

Doggie Bag

It’s becoming more and more common to see dogs in airports–so much so that it’s almost rare to have a flight without at least one canine companion on board. It therefore makes sense that luggage manufacturers, pet supply companies, and creative inventors would be developing new products to help dog lovers manage and transport their four-legged pals in airport surroundings.

This contraption, seen yesterday afternoon at John Glenn International, is one example of what innovation has produced. The pooch’s body was zipped securely into the little bag, like a child snugly tucked into bed beneath a blanket, but its head was out in the open. The bag rolled along, like a standard roller board piece of luggage, so the dog got a fun ride and could check out its surroundings, and the device was sufficiently lightweight that when the dog and the lady reached an escalator, she could use the straps on the side to lift and carry the dog on the downward ride.

This product seemed to have a lot of advantages over the mesh holding pens that you often see on planes; it wouldn’t have the cage-like feel that some dogs object to, and the rollers made it as easy to maneuver down the concourse as any piece of luggage. For the other passengers like us, keeping the dog secured in the bag was better than letting the pooch trot loose alongside the owner, giving rise to the risks of inevitable nervous dog accidents or some of the dicey dog versus dog encounters we’ve seen recently.

Our society is still working out the parameters of acceptable approaches to dogs in airports. This device, which obviously is designed for smaller animals, seemed like a good way of accommodating the varying interests of the dog, its human companion, and other airport users who might be leery of an up close and personal interaction with a strange dog.

Cats On A Plane

My flight this morning featured multiple dogs and cats, including this furry feline on the aisle seat in my row. The cat, which apparently as been dosed with “kitty relaxant” for the flight, did not misbehave or make much noise, either. but that wasn’t the issue.

I’m fine with animals on planes, within reason, but given how increasingly common they are I think airlines should change their procedures to account for the fact that some of us (like me) are allergic to cat fur. Why not add some questions to the ticketing process about (1) whether a traveler will be accompanied by a cat or dog and (2) whether a traveler is allergic to cats or dogs or would otherwise prefer not to sit next to one? And then, based on the answers, separate those people? Should there even be an “animal section,” like there were smoking sections on planes years ago, to accommodate people traveling with pets?

Airlines collect a lot of information about passengers already. It’s ridiculous that they don’t know in advance who is traveling with a pet, and who might be launched into a drippy, sneezy, coughing frenzy if they are seated next to one. It would be a lot more comfortable for everyone and seems like a common sense way to address the matter.

The World’s Oldest Dog

Happy belated birthday to TobyKeith, a chihuahua who lives in Florida. The pooch turned 21 on January 9 and was recently confirmed to be the oldest dog in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records.

21 is remarkably old for a dog–even small breed dogs, which tend to live longer than the larger breeds. If you are trying to figure out what TobyKeith would be in “human years,” note that the American Veterinary Medical Association urges an analysis that is more precise than the old “7 dog years for every human year” rule of thumb (which would put TobyKeith at a mere 147 in human years). The AVMA now takes the position that a dog’s first year equals 15 human years, a dog’s second year equals nine human years, and every year after that equals five human years. By that calculation, TobyKeith comes in at 119 human years. Either way, TobyKeith has reached a ripe old age.

TobyKeith’s human pal, Gisela Shore, adopted him from a shelter when he was a puppy and has lived with him ever since. She’s a lucky person. Anyone who has shared a home with a dog inevitably wishes their canine friends could have a lived, and enriched the household, for a little bit longer. Having a dog that has survived for the age of 21 is a great gift.

Ms. Shore says TobyKeith’s awesome longevity is attributable to good genetics, a healthy diet, and a loving home. That’s a pretty good recipe for longevity for anyone, dog or human. And, as the photo above reveals, apparently being dressed in embarrassing outfits isn’t a barrier to a long life–although, judging from the expression on TobyKeith’s face, he doesn’t particularly care for it.

Bad Dogs, or Bad Owners?

Anyone who has a dog in the family knows that they are uniquely sensitive to their human companions. It’s a trait that has been developed over thousands of years of serving as “man’s best friend.” So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that when dogs misbehave, the root cause may lie, at least in part, in the behavior of their human friends.

A recent study of thousands of dogs in Finland uncovered clear statistical connections between “bad dog” behavior and certain elements of the dog’s home life. The study found that canine misconduct like obsessive chewing, compulsive barking or whining, and pacing are all associated to some extent with the dog’s owner and environment. First-time dog owners are 58 percent more likely than experienced owners to have dogs that act out in such ways, and factors that contribute to dog stress–like not getting enough exercise, or being part of a large family where there is a lot going on at all times–also are associated with such unwanted repetitive behaviors. In addition, the study found that certain dog breeds are more prone to such conduct than others.

None of this should come as a surprise. Part of the reason first-time dog owners often struggle is that they don’t fully understand what having a dog in the family really requires–in terms of attention, exercise, and other time commitments. Dogs that aren’t getting the love and attention and play and walks they need are more likely to act out in a way that demands attention, by barking at every noise or chewing shoes or some other misbehavior. When the owner reacts to the barking or chewing, and gives the dog attention or takes it for a walk, the dog realizes their technique worked, and the behavior becomes engrained.

Dogs and humans have a symbiotic relationship, where one affects the conduct and mood of the other. Good dogs have good owners who make sure that their furry friends get plenty of exercise, love, and attention, and the dog’s behavior reflects that. People whose dogs are acting out should take a look in the mirror and think about whether their actions aren’t contributing to the problem. Barbara Woodhouse famously wrote about “no bad dogs,” but that doesn’t mean there are no bad dog owners.

A Deer’s-Eye View

Betty and I took a walk around the river in downtown Columbus this morning, which gave her a chance to hang with a deer friend (get it?) on the stepped seating area in front of COSI. She and her antlered pal got to take in a nifty view of the skyline.

The seated deer sculpture is one of several deer sculptures in the riverfront area, all of which are doing very undeerlike things. I think they are pretty cool.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! May this special day bring you happiness, peace, serenity, time with family and friends, a moment or two for reflection, and a visit from Santa Paws carrying the present of your dreams on his back.

Alternative Christmas Trees

It’s been years–decades, in fact–since we’ve had a Christmas tree in our house. With dogs drinking the tree water and knocking over the tree time and again, requiring us to repeatedly clean up broken ornament shards and pine needles, we just decided it was too much of a hassle. But maybe we weren’t looking at the issue with sufficient . . . creativity.

In San Antonio, where Whataburger is the favored local fast food option, one guy ate nothing but Whataburger food for weeks to obtain the cups, stryrofoam containers, fast food wrappers, and french fry boxes needed to turn his little tree into the colorful Whataburger celebration shown above. That’s the Whataburger logo in the top of tree star position, too.

The guy says he could eat (and sometimes does eat) Whataburger for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which you would need to do to collect all of the different tree decorations shown in the photo. The linked article quotes him as saying: “I mean, you can just never go wrong with Whataburger.” And what’s really impressive is that the boxes and containers don’t appear to be grease-stained. He evidently washed out and dried all of the debris to avoid attracting bugs and other vermin.

I’m guessing the Whataburger fan doesn’t have dogs, though. Even a good washing and drying wouldn’t keep our dogs from nosing through and probably destroying fast food boxes and bags.

Into Enemy Territory

German Village is one huge squirrel district, but Schiller Park is ground zero. There the trees and lawns are replete with those cute little rats with bushy tails, ever tantalizing to the dogs being walked around and through the park.

It’s interesting to watch Betty’s reaction to the park. Normally, she is a somewhat desultory fellow walker, taking a sniff here and there as we amble along. But as we approach and then enter the Schiller Park grounds, Betty’s whole attitude changes. Her posture stiffens, she goes nose to the ground for any olfactory clues, she scans the area with laser-like focus, and she is ever ready to charge after any squirrel in the vicinity. Nothing escapes her gaze. It’s as if every sensory organ has been switched on and dialed up and is vibrating to its maximum possible level.

Dogs like Betty in a squirrel-heavy area define the meaning of “alertness.”

Zigzagging To Work

The lobster boat workers of Stonington are early birds. They awaken at the crack of dawn, don their waterproof work clothes, pull on knee-high rubber boots, grab their lunch pails, and head to the water in their pickup trucks while the rest of the world is still abed. Those who anchor their boats off the Stonington town pier then walk down an aluminum ramp to a floating dock that zigzags out into the water. There they board the outboard craft that shuttle them to the larger, sturdier lobster boats in the harbor that chug out to the open water where the buoys and traps may be found. The Stonington floating dock employs a zigzag construction to conform to the available space while accommodating the maximum number of motorboats.

Usually this process is long completed by the time I walk by just after 6 a.m. and the floating dock is empty. Yesterday, though, a few lobstermen were just departing—with the help of their faithful dog.

Incidentally, it’s not unusual to see dogs on the motorboats, usually seated upright at the bow while their human companion operates the outboard. If you’re a dog, it’s got to beat hanging your head out of the passenger-side window of the car.

Major’s Minor Incident

Poor Major Biden.

The three-year-old German Shepherd has been sent from the White House back to the Bidens’ home in Wilmington, Delaware after a recent incident where the dog bit the hand of a Secret Service agent. The Secret Service said the injury was “extremely minor” and “no skin was broken.” However, some anonymous White House sources — there apparently are anonymous White House sources about everything, even dogs — said that Major also has been having issues with aggressive behavior, including jumping up on people, barking, and charging at White House staff and security. In a recent interview the First Lady said she has been focused on trying to get Major and the Bidens’ other dog, 13-year-old Champ, settled since the Bidens moved into the White House. She noted, for example, that the dogs have to take an elevator and have a lot of people watching them when they go out on the White House South Lawn for exercise.

I feel sorry for Major and other White House dogs, because the White House has got to be a tough environment for a dog. There are strangers coming in and out at all hours, and lots of people feeling stress and pressure–including, at times, the President and First Lady. Dogs are sensitive beings, and I’m sure Major feels the increased stress levels and is unsettled by all of the new faces. At the same time, if Major is nipping, jumping up, barking, and charging people, that poses a tough predicament for the Bidens, because dog misbehavior can escalate. You’d like to have your dog around, as one of the members of the family, but you can’t run the risk of the dog jumping up on a foreign dignitary or a member of Congress or the Cabinet, or really biting someone and doing some damage. And if the dog is barking and charging people, that’s got to be really tough for White House staffers, who can’t be sure whether Major is going to be a good boy or a growling threat the next time they see him in one of the White House hallways or the Oval Office.

Sending Major back to Delaware seems like a sensible approach to the problem and a good way to keep Major’s minor incident from becoming a real major problem.

The Champion Squirrel Chaser

I’ve written before about the dogs and squirrels at Schiller Park. The neighborhood dogs love to chase the squirrels, and the squirrels seem to enjoy taunting the dogs, which are never quite able to actually catch the squirrels.

With one notable exception: the little white dog above. This dog is the champion squirrel chaser at Schiller Park. She was made to chase squirrels in the same way Lamborghinis are designed to go from zero to 60 m.p.h. in ridiculously short amounts of time. The dog runs like the wind and takes corners and changes direction at top speed — tail wagging furiously all the while. The dog has energy to burn and never stops to take a breather. Squirrels expect the little white dog to be as slow and clumsy as other dogs, and are then surprised when she actually catches them and knocks them down. I’ve watched her send an astonished squirrel tumbling, and it is a sight to behold. (Fortunately, the squirrel was able to immediately regain its feet and dart up a nearby tree.)

Today the dog was at the park and I snapped the photo above — which is about the best picture you’re going to get, because the dog is basically a white furry blur at all times. I talked to her owner and asked if she could share what the dog eats, because I’d consider changing my diet to capture some of the never-ending energy that dog has. The woman laughed and said that the dog just loves to run and chase squirrels. “It’s her nature,” the woman explained.

It certainly is. Watching this little dog chase squirrels would be like watching Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, or watching Ernest Hemingway write The Sun Also Rises. You can’t help but stop and appreciate an artist working in her true medium.