Household Chemicals and Your Pets

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I created this blog for several reasons. One was to keep track of my puppy families. But another is to offer up information I hope will be helpful, not just to my families, but to all pet owners.

This week I’m doing some research into items commonly used inside and outside our homes with regard to how they can affect our pets. There is, fortunately, a lot of information on the web and I hope to share some of those links with you here.

I’m sure all of us have had the unfortunate experience of losing a pet prematurely, or have close friends who have. Havanese, for example, should live from 12 to 14 years. There are many who live well beyond 15 years. And, sadly there are some Havanese who don’t make it to their 8th birthday. Sometimes accidents take the lives of our dear ones but, as often as not, cancer is the cause. Exposure to chemicals in and around our homes has long been suspected of causing these cancers.

Think about all the products we use on our floors, on our carpets, on our driveways, in our gardens and on our lawns. Then think about your pet who spends the majority of its time in these areas.

“The Truth About Cats, Dogs and Lawn Chemicals” is a PDF file put out by pesticidewatch.org and it is a real eye opener! I encourage all my readers to take a good look at this document.

I also hope my readers will feel free to comment on this article and add any information they have discovered about household chemicals or green alternatives.

One final note…I would appreciate your spreading the word about my blog. The more readers we have, the more information we can disperse…a kind of forum for all dog families! 

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Update on My Own Havanese Family

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Here are some photos I took the other day of the five Havanese in my life.  Maxi’s puppy, Digger, (formerly Burst) lives with my daughter on the weekends and with me during the week so he doesn’t have to be cooped up while she’s at work. Lily is the girl I bought from Kathy Ambler. And, of course, Phoebe, Maxi and Marli are my older girls.

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Update on Georgie, Now Brutus

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Jacqui, don’t know if you remember the day I picked up Brutus (Georgie) you were going through the folder of information with me and Brutus was barking at his reflection in your refridgerator. Well he still likes trying to get at his reflection. I get such a kick out of him trying to get to the dog outside (his reflection in the door glass.)

Hi Jacqui,
I received the registration in the mail, thank you!

I hope this picture comes through (more to follow), I was trying to send ones that would show you how big he has gotten. Brutus/Georie is doing great. At his last vet appointment he weighed in at 7lbs! I’m thinking he’s still the biggest one in the liter. That was on Oct. 1, his next appointment is this Monday, Oct. 22. I’ll be sure to let you know what he weighs after that appointment.

He is the center of attention wherever we go. He just loves everyone so of course everyone loves him, and wants to hold him. It’s difficult at puppy school because everyone is amazed at how fluffy he is and wants to hold him, even when we are supposed to be practicing or listening to the teacher.

We have had some set backs with the potty training but it is to be expected, or so the trainer says. He’s been using the bell since the day we brought him home, then he discovered the upstairs and downstairs and thought the landings were his personal restrooms (lol.) I blocked those off and we’re getting back on track.

He is such a cuddly, loving little guy. Every night at 10 pm he comes and finds me in my room watching TV, he’ll cry and whine until I pick him up onto the bed, and of course I just have to do it (lol.) He snuggles up next to me and we watch TV until 11, then it’s his bed time. It’s outside for the last potty break for the night then he goes straight to his kennel and to sleep with no problems. We keep the kennel door open when we are home, he learned quickly that is the place to go when he wants to catch a quiet nap, or is tuckered out from playing with my 5 year old nephew.

My 14 year old son tells me quite often, “I’m so glad we got Brutus mom.” I loved my Coton, but I can see the differance in the breed, or maybe it’s just the dog. Brutus very seldom barks, he loves everyone, and although he will seek me out more often than the others he still has plenty of love for the rest of the family. My son came down the stairs with a big smile on his face the this morning because Brutus was crying at the bottom of the stairs looking for his play buddy. When my husband comes home Brutus runs to greet him, plays with him for a good hour then he’ll look to see if I’m in the house. Once he finds me he’s good and it’s back to John for a little longer.

I just ordered a new camera, can’t wait till it comes in. Be prepared for lots more pictures!

WE LOVE BRUTUS!!
Thanks for breeding such beautiful, absolutely loving dogs!

Updates on Sunray and Blaze

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Sunray is now Bella and lives nearby. Here is what her family said about her recently:

Hi Jacqui!
Bella is doing great and has been a great addition to our family. She was at the vet yesterday and weighed 4.8 pounds. Michael has been teaching her how to play fetch, and she is learning it fast! She is a bit of a shoe thief, but she’s not very good at hiding them. They are always found under the lazy boy! I will send some pictures as soon as we get a new computer.
Take care!
Becky

No photos yet but I am hoping!

And here’s an update on Blaze, our tiniest one who is now Flash (after the superhero) and weighs a whopping 5.2 pounds!

Hi Jacqui,
Thanks for the microchip registry.  We received the hard copy, as well.
 Flash/Blaze is just a remarkable puppy!  I was at the vet on 10-12 and he weighed 5.25 pounds.  He’s growing quickly and doing so well!!  We are wondering if he might end up to be a bit bigger than we originally thought (which would be great with 3 kids in the houseJ).  He is FULL of energy and loves to play.  We’ve also discovered that he is extremely outgoing.  He loves attention and affection from anyone and everyone he meets…and of course he’s so sweet that they all love him right back!

I attached a few photos that I took this morning!!

I hope you are doing well!
Julie

 

Update on Georgie (now Brutus)

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Hi Jacqui, hope you received my little video of Brutus. (It’s at the bottom of this post!)
I accidently touched the send button before I typed in the message. Just wanted to let you know how much he loves the blanket you sent home with him. My husband jokes that we should have called him Linus.

Michelle writes:
Brutus (Georgie) likes to be close to me, I was sitting at the table reading and he squeezed his little head between my foot and the bar on the chair and took a little nap.

On Sept. 9 Michelle wrote:
Brutus was not very happy when I blocked him from the big rocks. Thank you for letting me know about the dangers of jumping when they are pups. I was going to ask the vet tomorrow when we go for our first visit with his new vet. I don’t know why I didn’t thinly to ask you if it could harm him.

 With the photo below she wrote:  It was definitely meant for us to have the biggest and not the smallest puppy from the liter. This was snapped just before we had a discussion on why little boy can not touch my puppy unless the are sitting on the floor with Aunt Shell next to them.

Two very happy smiles. These are the shots that warm my heart. 
When Brutus is not napping on the vent (which we closed off so he won’t get sick from air blowing directly on him) he enjoys napping on his place mat.