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About Westminster

       

 

 

      Every year I watch in amazement, first at these people who manage to get their animals, by sheer dint of will and training and plenty of Milk Bones to sit and to stay and to stand still and to look clean.

        Next, to see the parade of breeds, some beautiful and cuddly, and some looking like they came from the pound. But all of them groomed and happy to be strutting around the ring. The one that looks like a mop, the Komondor, is always a puzzlement.

 

 

      And finally I look at my own three dogs. My dogs are not ready for prime time. I break the news to them that they’ve lost Westminster every year as we sit on the couch together and watch the winner’s parade by. The Best in Show is never my favorite, (as is the case with almost all of the Oscars), and in the end, I can simply ponder the ordinariness that bonds all dog lovers together.

      Purina had it right; all you add is love. Even the fanciest and most beautiful of dogs wants the same thing that our lovable mutts crave. They just want to be loved, to have their bellies scratched, their ears rubbed, and to lie down and nap with their owners/handlers.

    The truth is simple. Dogs are the Universal Messengers of love. It’s a message decoded that all dog lovers understand.

 

 

Five Reasons not to bring a new puppy home for Christmas!

 

Everyone wants to believe that the holidays are a magical time for sharing and joy. But the truth is that during the holidays, common sense should not go out the window. It’s wonderful to share experiences and spend time with your family. And small surprises are always lots of fun.

But if you are going to do it right, bringing home a new puppy is tantamount to bringing home a baby. And the frenetic pace of the holiday season isn’t always the best time to bring a new dog into the family.

 Here are some reasons why it’s not a good idea to surprise the family with a new puppy on Christmas Day:

 

1)      You need time to Research the Breed. You may have always wanted to own a cute little Dalmatian puppy, just like the ones from the movie 101 Dalmations. But did you know that many Dalmatians are born deaf? They are also extremely high-energy dogs, part of the working dog group, and require patience and time to train. For example, did you know that many German Shepherds are born with some form of hip dysplasia, and poodles and other small breeds must be groomed regularly?  Know the breed!

 

2)      Plan to spend time with your new pet. A new puppy is adorable, but also requires a new routine that includes house training and learning the house rules. If you are a frenetic household full of outdoors people, you don’t want a dog that is fearful or one that may be easily spooked. Again, research the breed, and know that if you love to go on vacations, you will have to plan accordingly. Do you have a pet-sitter lined up? Or are you going to change your routine to include your new pet? If not, then you may want to re-think the whole thing.

 

3)      Confusion & Chaos: Holidays naturally bring some spontaneity and family time with group activities that leave you exhausted.  Perhaps too exhausted to worry about taking out the new puppy at least 5-6 times during the evening.  And if your new puppy is introduced to a chaotic household, it’s much harder to establish a routine for house-training and leash training. The worst scenarios involve a small puppy getting sick after eating rich foods or discarded wrappings during the chaos of a holiday get-together.

 

4)      The Holiday Syndrome: That’s when the cute little tiny ball of fur you saw under the tree turns into a 100 pound Monster within a few months! Again, research the breed! If you are a sports-enthusiast, and love to hike or bike or run and want to bring along your dog, a large breed that loves to run would be a good choice. If you are a couch potato and don’t want to be saddled with a high-energy dog after spending 8-10 hours at work daily, don’t get a Sporting breed dog like an Irish Setter or a Labrador Retriever. Too many times shelters and animal rescue groups see full grown adult dogs being turned in because busy families cannot cope with the long-term responsibilities that come with dog ownership.

 

5)      Holidays are for Family: Holidays are meant for humans to be together. Little puppies don’t easily understand what is going on, and the bright lights and noise are not always the best time to introduce a young dog into your family. If you want to get a dog at Christmas, plan accordingly. An alternative suggestion would be to give your loved ones a picture of a puppy with a gift certificate from a responsible breeder who will then help you to understand the breed and also bring first-hand knowledge when introducing the new puppy into your family.

 

In the long run, be aware that adopting a puppy or any dog is a life-time commitment. Be prepared and know that the joy and love that the animal can bring to your life also requires time and sacrifice on your part. Most animals have some “learning curve” where they will learn about you and your family’s habits as you learn about their own unique personalities and traits. If you plan wisely and do your homework, you will be rewarded ten-fold with the love and companionship of your new friend for life!

Abby loses Westminster again this year!

I know Abby is never going to win Best in Show at Westminster. But who cares? She will always be top dog in my book.

All about Love

Abby Just Groomed!

So many quotations about love exist in literature and song. So many of these are spot-on as they reveal the essence of the Malti-Poo. These dogs are all about love .Of course, all dog owners will tell you it’s not particular to the breed. Dogs are conduits that feed our need to love and be loved in return. It’s the way we feel about them, and the way they look at us. We know there is love when we look into their eyes. And with Malti-poo’s,  that love is returned ten-fold. For every hug & kiss bestowed, you will get a return on your investment.

The Book of Malti-poo Calendar now available for 2014!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?type=&keyWords=book+of+malti-poo+calendar&sitesearch=lulu.com&q=&x=0&y=0

The Book of Malti-poo Calendar for 2014

The Book of Malti-Poo! A Calendar for lovers of all things "malti-poo"! Available now on Lulu.com...

The Book of Malti-Poo

 

 Why...The Book of Malti-Poo, you may ask?
Does anyone remember the old 50’s rock n’roll song, Who wrote the Book of Love?

 

The Malti-poo answers the question hands down. They are the most affectionate, loving, loyal and intelligent little creatures. Take it from someone who never wanted a “foo-foo” type of little yip dog. This is a small dog with the heart of a lion. She is fearless and never backs down. Her sturdy little body stands up to hours of play with her three times larger Setter sistersI call them Setter-poo’s because they are such wimps at times.

 But she is at times too cute for words, at others, she just wants to be “one of the gang” and get down in the dirt like any other Heinz 57 dog. No special designer dog airs for this breed!

She wants to be with you. And she wants to be one of “us” She doesn’t seem to think she is a real dog, just a little tomboy in fur. She loves to snuggle, cuddle, kiss and nap as well as travel and socialize. A bundle of love is found in the malti-poo.

 Someone was holding a malti-poo puppy  some years back and when I saw and asked what it was, I knew I wouldn’t be happy till “I got me one of those”.  We had gone to check out a rescue dog last year, on a rescue run if you will, right before getting Abby.

The whole thing was a fiasco. We went downtown in rush hour traffic on this ill-advised expedition, complete with two Setters in the back seat. On the way home, the heavens opened up and it rained on us like I’ve never seen. I think now it was God’s way of telling us, “Be Patient, the right dog is coming, I’m sending her to you.” And sure enough, within the month, Abby landed on her doorstep.

 She stepped in the house and we can’t recall what it was like before her arrival. She instantly fit in with the other dogs, with our routine, and with our lives. She was full of acceptance of our love and she was made to love us back. I will never have to wonder Who wrote the Book of Love?

 The Malti-Poo is the one who wrote the Book of Love.