After several visits to kennels, rescue societies and shelters we found a place called Home At Last–A non-profit organization that houses dogs with residents in the local community, while trying to find permanent homes for them.  We had seen 4 dogs that day and while they were all wonderful animals, I needed a dog that had a natural instinct to guard, not to mention a very loud bark.  I was told his name was “Pete” as we pulled up to the house, and that he was an Akita mix.  He had been abused before he was rescued so he could be a bit timid at first.  We were apprehensive but optimistic.

We walked into the yard and waited for them to bring him out.  Moments later a dog resembling a dairy cow with the most gigantic ears ever seen on a canine comes bounding out and runs right to me.  He runs and leaps and begins jumping straight up and down.  Immediately, I feel a bond with this dog.  As we are talking about how excitable he was a man walking on the other side of the street became the focus of “Pete’s” attention and “Pete” lets him know he sees him.  He stood right in front of me and began barking so loud until the pedestrian had cleared the entire block.  We looked at each other and laughed and said, “When can we take him home?”

We had found our dog and my new protector.  After a very modest donation we put “Pete” in the car and drove him home.   I wasn’t sure about the name, I said to my mother.  He didn’t seem like a “Pete” to me so we decided to wait a few days and see what his personality was like.  After we got him home we realized we had our hands full with this dog.  Not only did he have the sweetest personality, but also boundless energy, and the notion that the furniture was a good place to nap and the kitchen floor was a good place to relieve himself.  Yes, he needed some basic training but he had the traits that were most important and so the rest we were more than willing to work on.

After only a few days, we found his new name.  While in high school we had a foreign exchange student from Germany stay with us.  He had boundless energy but at the same time the sweetest personality.  And black hair, and big ears.  Kai was his name and for years, he was a very dear friend.  “Pete” was renamed as Kai and it was as if that was what he had been called since he was a puppy.

Kai proved to be an excellent guard dog.  As his behavior improved so did his keenness on my moods.  More than once did he alert me to an intruder on my property.  He heard everything and always let me know when I needed to be on guard—in other words, call the police.  After several months of living in fear and with the police no closer to catching him, I decided to leave school and move back home. Kai kept me safe while living away from home but it was getting too dangerous and I knew it was time to leave.  Kai and I packed up in the middle of the night and drove 300 miles away to start over.

We moved in with my Mother and Grandmother and Kai had a new yard to play in.  Everybody in the family loved this dog.  Not just because we felt he was my guardian, but because of how much joy he brought to our lives.  My Grandmother who had leukemia at the time, was convinced there would never be another dog as fabulous as Rusty (Rusty was laid to rest in the early 50’s).  Even she couldn’t resist fell for this wonderful animal.  She loved his sweet disposition and thought be must be the smartest dog alive.  She marveled at how he would tiptoe over her oxygen cord, never once tripping on it.  This never stopped him from barreling down the stairs and taking out the screen door on more than once occasion, of course.  But if Grandma had her oxygen tank out he knew it was time to slow things down.

A year later I moved in with my boyfriend and started college again.  We brought another puppy into our home and by then Kai was four.  A Staffordshire Terrier who had energy to match his.  He was good with her and tolerated her puppy behavior well.  We learned very soon that I wasn’t the only one he looked after.  I came home early from work one day and was greeted by Kai who was acting more hyper and frantic than usual.  Chloe, our puppy, was lying on the far edge of the patio as I walked in the house.  Kai continued dancing and yelping and running in the door and out again.  After a moment I followed him outside and he rant to Chloe and nudged her.  As I walked around I could finally see what he was panicking about.  Chloe’s collar had somehow twisted several times around her neck and was choking her.  She could no longer move, was barely breathing and her eyes were bulging out of her head.  I un-fastened the collar and raced her to the vet.  Fortunately we found her just in time, because Kai was so intent on getting me outside to her.  If he hadn’t been so insistent we might have lost Chloe that day.   He knew he did well, and was very happy to see his sister when we got her home.  Kia, the “Super Dog!”

Kai was very sensitive to the moods of everyone around him.  He could always tell if there was something wrong with me.  It was nearly 6 years since I had spent a night alone after the incident in college and was terrified when my husband had to go out of town.  Kai knew I was on edge, and sat right in front of me with his ears up, all night until I fell asleep.  If I went to the bathroom, he went to the bathroom.  He never left my side.  He always knew when I had a bad day and could tell if I needed him to do something silly like jump straight up and down or if I just needed him to sit near me.  Even though I was no longer in danger, he had a job to do and that was to make sure I was always safe and comfortable.  He has done that job superbly each and every day.

Two years ago I had to be hospitalized and was still very weak when I was brought home.  My mother came up to help and Kai had been lying by my bed since I had come home from the hospital.  For three days he would get up to eat and go potty and come straight back to my bedside.  I had been sleeping for a while and my mother decided that would be the best time to run to the store.  I felt a stir on the bed and thought someone had sat down.  Then I felt very hot breath on my face and opened my eyes to see Kai standing on my bed, snout inches from my face, looking down on me with a rather concerned stare.  Once I opened my eyes he licked my face, wagged his tail and lay down next to me.  Call me crazy, but I think he was scared that I hadn’t moved in so long and wanted to make sure I was okay.  For the first time since I had first gotten him, I let him sleep in the bed with me.  I don’t think he would have had it any other way.

Kai is more than a pet to us.  He is family.  He is my welcoming committee.  When I come home he gives me a hug every time by burying his head into me for as long as I will let him.  He sleeps on his back with his legs spread out and then wiggles around to scratch his own back.  At nearly 12 years old he still jumps straight up and down when he is excited.  He chases squirrels and other furry creatures that dare jump across our fence.  He scared off a burglar who broke into our car.  When he gets out he sits at the front door, waiting to get back in.  He has caught a bird in mid air before.  He has caught a skunk, and managed to do so with a surgical cone on his head.  Six months later, he still smells a little bit and I love that about him.  When I take him out we always get the same reaction—what an interesting looking dog!   Even still, when a stranger approaches he sits right in front of me, protecting me.  He barks in the most funny, high-pitched noise when he wants to come inside (a trait learned within the last year).  He will sit in front of the counter when it is time to take his pills—Mom, aren’t you going to give me my cheese ball with the stuff in it?!?!  When he is excited it sounds like he is tap-dancing on the hardwood floors. When he is at the Vet, he lets them remove stitches while sitting perfectly still. He pulled a whole chicken off the counter years ago and ate it before we even knew what he had done.  He loves sour apple cores.  When he is cold he curls up into the tiniest little ball and wraps his tail around his nose.  You could make a small dog with the amount of hair he loses in a day.  If you give him more than one treat in a day he will hide one for later.  He knows six hours in advance if we are going for a “car ride” that day.  He always brings a smile to my face.

Now that we know Kai’s time is limited and we will only have him for a short while, I think back to the beginning and how such a horrible experience brought me the most wonderful and loyal friend.  This wonderful, loving animal had been abused as a puppy and yet he wasted no time in loving and trusting us.  I know we have given him a good life. Kai is a very happy dog and that is one of the first things people say when they meet him.  For ten years Kai has brought joy to our lives and I am so grateful for each and every day.  He is the best friend we could have ever asked for and has enriched our lives in so many ways.  My life has been better with Kai.

These are just a few of the stories that we remember when looking back over the past ten years.  Every day with him is a joy, even the shedding has become endearing.

Thank you to those people who invest their time in finding homes for loving animals.  For it is a gift that we will forever be thankful.

Happy New Year!

Here are some of the most basic things you can do to keep your dog healthy and happy.

Diet
Have a regular feeding schedule for your dog, and stick to it religiously. Feed him only high quality and premium dog foods. Economy dog foods are not just inferior in their protein sources, but they may also lack important vitamins and minerals that should be part of a healthy dog’s habit. Economy brands can also be more expensive in the longer run since they are often designed to be less filling, so the dog needs more food. While buying a brand of dog food, take your dog’s age, weight size, breed and activity level into consideration. Make sure your dog has a constant supply of fresh water in his bowl.

Exercise
No matter what the size of your dog, he needs plenty of exercise, and not just in your yard. Many dog owners make the mistake of assuming that all a large dog needs is a large yard to bound about in. No. A large dog needs a long walk and some fresh air. He would be perfectly happy in a smaller house or yard. Some breeds of dogs need more exercise than others. When your buy a dog, take their activity levels into consideration. If you can’t spare a lot of time to exercise your dog, go in for a breed that’s comfortable with lesser amounts of activity.

Vet Visits

Your dog needs to have a periodic evaluation of his health by a veterinary doctor. Take your dog to a vet for complete physical every six months. Observe your dog’s eating and eliminating habits, and look for changes in his skin and any discharge from his eyes and ears. If you notice anything strange, tell your vet about it.

Training

Training a dog is not just for show competition purposes. You may not need your dog to display acrobatics, but you certainly need him to understand and obey some basic commands. Train your dogs to obey you through obedience training techniques. With a wealth of information available online, there’s really no need for you to let your pet remain untrained. An untrained dog is not just a danger to others, but also risks injuring himself. Training your dog helps you control his behavior which is a vital part of responsible dog ownership.

Grooming

Some breeds require more intensive grooming than others, but ordinarily your dog should be groomed everyday. Use a soft bristled brush to brush his fur daily. Keep his nails short, but not too short, and well trimmed at all times. Clean his ears with cottons swabs,and wipe off excess mucus from his eyes and nose. Don’t forget his canines – a soft bristled toothbrush and a doggy flavored toothpaste will keep his molars looking sparkling clean.

Spaying and Neutering

Neutering or spaying your dog is an absolute must. There are too many dogs without homes or shelters for your dog to contribute to the canine overpopulation. Dogs should be neutered before they are 6 months old. Neutering a dog has many benefits – they become less territorial and less aggressive. Neutering also prevents the development of various cancers in your dog like cancer of the prostrate.

Females need to be spayed before 6 months too. You don’t want your dog to go through a pregnancy and a stressful and hormone ridden delivery every three months. Moreover, the scent of a female in heat can attract unneutered males from miles around. Dogs attracted to a female have been known to try to enter yards, and indulge in bloody fights over the female.

Companionship

Your dog is a social animal and needs company and companionship. Don’t confine him to the yard or hide him away in a crate for a long period of time. Make the time to play with him and shower lots of affection on your loving pet.

Responsible dog ownership is about taking good care of your pet, feeding him, and exercising him, and helping him to assimilate himself into society through obedience training. The above tips will help you lay the foundation for a mutually affectionate dog -owner relationship.

First of all, you’ve got to make sure that your dog does not become a nuisance to others. Your dog shouldn’t be out roaming the streets, destroying property, chasing animals or children, leaving excrement in the park, barking incessantly, etc. In sum, it really comes down to proper control of your dog, good dog training, cleaning up after your good friend, and giving him or her the proper attention and exercise that is needed. Here are some golden rules for owning a dog.

There are many reasons people will get a dog, and it is difficult to say the one “right” reason to do so. But, to put it simply dogs are great companions and should be considered part of the family. They serve a lot of different purposes such as an alarm, a hunting companion, an exercise partner, a playmate, a show dog, etc.; but, these should all be added bonuses to the one key trait—a great addition to the family.

You should be committed to properly training and socializing during the critical time early in his life. You might consider a dog obedience training school if you need help. You should become involved in activities that both you and your dog find enjoyable such as agility training, fetch, Frisbee, running, swimming or learning tricks. You should protect him from any harm, instill good doggy manners and teach him what is right from wrong.

Most importantly, you will commit your dog a lifelong companion that you will love and care for, provide good nutrition and hygiene, regularly exercise, provide mental stimulation, regular check-ups and vaccinations and lots of love and attention.

Pros and cons of using a boarding kennel

Your pet depends on you to take good care of her—even when you have to be out of town. Friends and neighbors may not have the experience or time to properly look after your pet, particularly for longer trips. Leave pet care to the professionals, such as a pet sitter or boarding kennel.

A facility specializing in care and overnight boarding allows your pet to:

• avoid the stress of a long car or airplane ride to your destination.

• stay where he’s welcome (unlike many hotels).

• receive more attention and supervision than he would if home alone most of the day.

• be monitored by staff trained to spot health problems.

• be secure in a kennel designed to foil canine and feline escape artists.

Potential drawbacks to using a boarding kennel include:

• the stress related to staying in an unfamiliar environment.

• the proximity to other pets, who may expose your pet to health problems.

• the difficulty of finding a kennel that accepts pets other than dogs and cats.

• the inconvenience of the drive over, which can be especially hard on a pet easily stressed by car travel.

How do I find a good kennel?

Ask a friend, neighbor, veterinarian, animal shelter, or dog trainer for a recommendation. You can also check the Yellow Pages under “Kennels & Pet Boarding.” Once you have names, it’s important to do a little background check.

First, find out whether your state requires boarding kennel inspections. If it does, make sure the kennel you are considering displays a license or certificate showing that the kennel meets mandated standards.

Also ask whether the prospective kennel belongs to The Pet Care Services Association, a trade association founded by kennel operators to promote professional standards of pet care. Besides requiring members to subscribe to a code of ethics, The Pet Care Services Association offers voluntary facility accreditation that indicates the facility has been inspected and meets its standards of professionalism, safety, and quality of care. Check with your Better Business Bureau to see whether any complaints have been lodged against a kennel you are considering.

After selecting a few kennels, confirm that they can accommodate your pet for specific dates and can address your pet’s special needs (if any). If you’re satisfied, schedule a visit.