RIP Mister

This is a video tribute to our first Keeshond Rymiska Mister Jeans. He went to the Rainbow Bridge on 20/10/2008. We know he is waiting there to meet us again. He was a funny little character, like all Kees and gave us many laughs and moments to remember.

Photo by deanna

Keeping a Keeshond in tip top condition requires some grooming. Even thought they have a luxurious coat that looks stunning, it doesn’t require as much grooming as many other long haired breeds. As a family pet, a quick brush two or three times a week will keep him looking neat and tidy. A thorough going over once a week to check for prickles and matts, and a bath every few weeks should keep his coat shiny and healthy.

You will need a brush and a comb, which can usually be found in the pet care aisle at your supermarket. When he is having his annual “blow”(Keeshonden lose their coat in one massive hit once or twice a year), you may need to use a proper shedding or stripping comb.

Drying your Keeshond is very important, otherwise they could develop hot spots on their skin. These can lead to serious skin conditions if not monitored carefully. Start of by towel drying, and if the weather is cold finish off with a blow dryer. Make sure you do this in an area where you don’t mind lots and lots of flying hair, as you will end up covered in it.

If you are planning on showing your Keeshond, more grooming and bathing will be needed.

Thanks to PurePawsInc on YouTube

It was very cold and wet all day yesterday and every time Mum opened the door, I went outside and sat in the rain. I like rain. Everyone thinks  I’m a bit crazy, but it’s very refreshing. In fact I just like water. I paddle in my water bowl sometimes too and I like to make a big wet mess when I take a drink.

Last night, I went outside with Luke. He was going to get in this big noisy bubbly thing they call a spa. The bubbly bathtub is next to another great big, huge bath. I don’t know what they use it for cos no one has ever gone in there since I moved here. It has a big fence around it and I haven’t been able to get in there to explore yet.

Anyway, I got my big chance. Luke opened the gate to go and get in the spa thingy. I snuck in behind him so I could get a closer look at the big bath. It looked so exciting and fun. I went down the other end as far away from him as I could and had a sniff at the water. It looked so inviting.

And then it happened. I just couldn’t resist. I jumped in. OMG it was so cold. I think Luke was scared something bad would happen cos he jumped in and rescued me(even though I don’t think I needed rescuing). I was enjoying my swim. The bath was a bit deeper than I expected but it was OK. I don’t think Luke liked it though. He got lots of big towels and took me inside to dry by the heater.

I don’t think I’ll do that again in a hurry. And I’m sure my people will make it harder for me to get in there now. But it was fun while it lasted though.

Persistent ankle biting and sheer determination pays off big time for “Krissy” the Keeshond. Using her famous “under the belly” maneuver she quickly gains the upper paw against the much larger but lethargic Big Dog.

Thanks to gallerynow on YouTube

Chewing on objects seems to be a matter of individual preference for dogs: some may chew for the pleasure of it, and others seem to have no need to chew whatsoever unless they’re completely bored.

The phrase “destructive chewing” may sound a bit silly, because all chewing is destructive. Your dog’s jaws are strong  and full of sharp, pointy teeth, so almost anything they chew will be damaged quickly. The type of chewing that I’m  referring to here is inappropriate chewing, when your dog chews on your possessions and household items, instead of on their own chew toys and treats.

Three Reasons Dogs Chew

• Most dogs have a natural desire to chew, because for them it’s fun, it relieves boredom and it’s a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing pastime(for example, if he’s chewing on something that tastes good.)
• Chewing gives a nervous, bored, or lonely dog an outlet for their emotions. For an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing.  It’s the doggie equivalent of comfort food.
• Under exercised dogs sometimes chew to burn up their nervous energy or just for something to do.

How to Prevent Destructive Chewing

Dogs can be taught not to chew, it just takes a little effort from you.

• Take control by keeping your possessions away from  your dog. You should be to dog-proof your home. Even the best-behaved dog in the world will chew in some situations. Why tempt fate by leaving your things within their reach?
• Dog-proofing your home means taking whatever you don’t want chewed, and putting it out of their reach. Think about his size and agility when deciding whether something is out of reach. If he can jump, climb, or stand on his back legs to get the desired object then it is still at risk of being chewed.
• Common items in the home include books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.
• It should go without saying that all food needs to be put securely away. Dogs can be very acrobatic when there’s food at stake. If possible put all food into containers or the pantry. Rinse foods scraps off dirty plates before leaving them on the sink.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Photo by ratterrell

Make sure that the items your dog is allowed to chew don’t resemble forbidden items, otherwise you are setting him up for failure. Don’t give your dog cast-off clothes, shoes, or towels to chew and play with. You cannot realistically expect him to tell the difference between your current shoes and the old ones you gave him five minutes ago.

Give him lots of tasty alternatives to your things. If there is nothing appealing for that he is allowed to chew, of course he will start on the most interesting object he can find. Remember, most dogs need to chew; if he’s an adolescent (under three years) or a puppy (under one year), his needs will be even more pronounced. Have a variety of chew toys for him to gnaw on and rotate them every few days to keep things interesting for him.

Supervise your dog or puppy properly so that he can learn what you expect of him. Keeping him penned or crated is not going to solve the problem or create a happy pet. He needs to be able to explore the boundaries so that he can learn what is allowed.

If you do catch him chewing the wrong things, interrupt with a loud noise like clapping your hands or a short, sharp “NO”. Then, immediately replace the object with a dog-appropriate alternative. As soon as he chews on the allowed object, praise him lavishly. There is no better way to make your dog understand that chewing his own toys means praise from you, but everything else equals trouble.

Maintain a Productive Attitude

Above all, remember to keep your expectations realistic. You’re not perfect, and neither is your dog. It’s likely there will be least one incident where a cherished item is damaged by his curiosity.

In the early stages of your relationship, he’s still learning what you expect. It will take some time before he’s completely reliable (and even then, if  he’s left alone for too long or feels neglected, he may still choose your stuff over his to occupy his time and teeth with.) Remember to give him time to learn the rules, and plenty of positive attention to help him learn faster. And remember to take precautions and keep things out of reach until he’s got the idea of the chewing rules!

For more information click here to visit  Secrets to Dog Training.

I got a new chew toy today. It’s a soccer ball on a rope and it makes a lovely jingly noise when I play with it. I’ve been playing with it for a couple of hors now and I’ve already managed to undo one of the knots. I’m pretty clever don’t you think?

I like having toys that I’m allowed to chew on because it keeps me occupied. I’ve got most of my adult teeth already and chewing on toys has helped me when my gums are feeling sore from my new teeth pushing through.

I found a piece of wood in the yard that I’ve been playing with as well. Mum is very careful to only let me chew on things that are safe for me. Sometimes I’ve been a bit naughty and chewed some things I shouldn’t(like Luke’s stinky socks – mmmmmm they smell sooo good to me). When I do this Mum tells me off and gives me something that I’m allowed to chew on.

If you would like to find some chew toys for your dog click here to visit Petshop-Online.com.au

Moving into a new home is scary. My old Mum dropped me off at my new Mum’s house yesterday. She stayed for about an hour to reassure me that everything was alright before she left.

My new family seem pretty nice. They used to have another Keeshond, but he died about a year ago. There were lot’s of new people to meet and lovely smells to sniff.

I was a bit sad when my old Mum(I’ll call her Angela now) left. I sat at the door and waited for her to come back, but she didn’t.

My new family has Mum and four kids. One of the kids has a boyfriend that lives here, too. Mum has a boyfriend as well. That’s lots of new people to meet. Everyone took it slowly with me and let me take my time getting to know them. I really appreciated that.

There is another old dog that lives here too. His name is Beau. He is really nice, but I can tell he gets a bit grumpy with me sometimes. Well, he is very old in doggie years….he’s eighty something and I’m only a young whippersnapper. My family have made sure that if Beau gets angry with me they won’t make it worse for me by giving him a pat. They are trying very hard to spread the attention out between us both so that neither of us get cross.

At tea time, Mum gave me some chicken necks, but I wasn’t hungry. Some of my friends told me that its hard to eat when you first move into a new home. Mum is a bit worried about me, but she knows I will eat once I have settled in. I had a few small treats during the day, so I wasn’t completely starving.

We have had some visitors call in to see me. I must be very special!! They all made a big fuss of me and gave me a nice scratch under the chin.

At bedtime, I slept in the loungeroom with the boy that lives here. I like him a lot. He’s my favourite person at the moment. He is helping me to settle in and paying me lots of attention.

Bye for now,

My Mum prefers Keeshond dogs, but there are hundreds of different breeds to choose from. Before you choose a puppy you should decide what breed would be best suited to you.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before choosing a breed. You need to be really honest with yourself when you answer these questions, otherwise your new puppy could very quickly become a chore instead of a happy new addition to your home.

How much grooming does it need ?

If you choose a dog like me with long hair, you will need to keep it well groomed, otherwise it could become uncomfortable and matted. Some long haired breeds need more grooming than others and all of them will need bathing and trimming at times. If you don’t have time to brush you dog at least once or twice a week, then choose a short haired breed.

How much exercise does it need ?

I love going for a walk, but I have a big yard so I am happy with the amount of exercise I can get running around. Some dogs don’t need much exercise at all, while others can get bored and become frustrated and destructive if they don’t get enough. And it’s not always the bigger the dog the more exercise they need. Some big dogs are not very active at all and some smaller dogs, like herding or sporting breeds need lots. Make sure you choose a dog whose activity level fits in with your own.

How trainable is it ?

Make sure you acquaint yourself with the breed you choose. Some breeds, like the Beagle or Afghan Hound, require much more training and learn much more slowly than other breeds. Other breeds, like me, Poodles, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds learn very quickly and are eager to please.

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Should I get a boy or a girl ?

I like girl doggies(cos I’m a boy). Girls are sometimes calmer and can be easier to train. The downside with girls is that they come into season about every six months unless you get them desexed or spayed. Boys can sometimes get aggressive with other dogs if they are not desexed or neutered. Unless you are a registered dog breeder you should probably think about getting your dog desexed anyway.

Should I get a purebred or a cross breed?

My Mum has had both in her lifetime and has loved them all. She always liked cross breeds best until she met the Keeshond. Crossbreeds can sometimes have the best traits of the breeds they come from. Some purebreds can be very finicky and fussy. Purebreds often have problems that are particular to their breed as well, although responsible breeders are trying to get rid of these problems with screening and proper breeding programs. Whichever type you choose, you need to make sure they are suited to your family.