Tag: Climate controlled

History of Siberian Huskies

The history of Siberian Huskies starts in Siberia, Russia. The Chukchi people were isolated, so they needed to figure out a way to expand their hunting grounds. If they didn’t, then they would end up starving. This caused them to start breeding Siberian Huskies. The Huskies would pull sleds across large frozen wasteland. It wasn’t until the 1900s that Siberian Huskies became more known. The dogs would start winning sled races. But it wasn’t until the “serum run” when these dogs blew up.

In 1925, there was an illness break out in Nome, Alaska. There was medicine that could help with the outbreak, but there was only one way that the medicine could get to Nome. It was by using huskies to pull a sled to Nome. There was a few different sleds that were helping out with this journey. The dog sleds were spread throughout the trail. This was because the medicine was 658 miles away from Nome. There was no way that one sled could pull it all the way. This would be too tiring on the dogs. Another reason that it was so difficult was because of the weather. There were blizzards that were happening throughout the 5 and a half days. The person that was on the sled could not see, but the dogs were able to pull through.

 Huskies are able to deal with the harsh cold weather because of how they are built. Huskies have fur that is thicker than most dogs’ fur. Their fur is two layers. The bottom layer is a shorter and warmer layer. The top layer is longer and it is water-resistant. They are able to squint their eyes, so no snow gets into them. This helps the huskies when they are out in the snow pulling sleds. They have huge, fluffy tails that can protect them from the cold. They will wrap their tails around their face to keep them warm. The last thing that really helps them is that they can control their metabolism. This helps them when they go on long sled runs. It helps them not become fatigued. Also, Huskies can get hypopigmentation. This is when the dog’s nose starts to turn white. This a thing that naturally happens to their nose. When summer comes back around, their nose will lose the white pigmentation.

Siberian Huskies are amazing pets, but they also have some requirements. They need a lot of exercise. This because they were bred to run. Siberian Huskies can be very mischievous, so watch them carefully. Overall, these are amazing, gorgeous, and friendly dogs.

Resources:

https://foreverhusky.org/husky-101/about-the-breed.html

Siberian Husky

History of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a very popular commercialized holiday. It is celebrated in many different countries, like America, United Kingdom, Australia, and more. There are many theories on how Valentine’s Day came to be.

The first one is that it came from martyrs of the Catholic faith. It is hard to tell from which martyr it came from because there were a few. The first well known Valentine’s was a priest that married people behind the emperor’s (Claudia II) back. The emperor thought men that were married and had a family weren’t good soldiers. This made the emperor outlaw marriages. But Valentines still decided to marry people, in secret. When the emperor found out, he executed Valentines. The second Valentines was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop. Claudia II also killed him, but it is believed to be for different reasons. It was believed that Saint Valentine of Terni was helping Christians escape the persecutions that was happening in the Roman prisons. Valentine’s Day is named after Saint Valentine of Terni. The last theory is believed to be a priest that was in jail, who sent a letter to jailor’s daughter. This priest signed the letter “From your Valentine”. It is unknown where Valentine’s Day originated from. These theories come from a Christian perspective and beliefs, but the Pagans have a different beliefs.

The Pagans believed that the Christians were trying take over Lupercalia, a Pagan holiday. Lupercalia was a fertility festival that was dedicated to Faunus, Romulus, and Remus. Faunus is the Roman god of agriculture. Romulus and Remus were both the founders of Rome. This festival would start on February 15th. An order of Roman priests would gather in a sacred cave. It is believed that infant Romulus and Remus grew up in this cave. The priests would then sacrifice a goat and a dog. The goat represented fertility and the dog represented purification. The Roman priests would cut the goat’s hide into strips and dip is in the sacrificial blood. Then they would go out and gently slap the women and crop fields with the strips of bloody goat. The women didn’t mind being gently slapped by the bloody goat strips. They thought that it would make them more fertile. Later on, the women would place their names in an urn. The city bachelors would then would come and pick a name. This meant that the women and men would be paired for a year. In the 5th century, Lupercalia was outlawed.

Pope Gelasius declared that Valentine’s Day would be on February 14th. At this time, the holiday wasn’t associated with love. Around 1400s-1500s, valentine messages started appearing. In the 1800s, printed Valentine’s Day cards were being printed. This would happen later on. In present time, Valentine’s Day is a huge commercialized holiday. But this year’s Valentine’s Day, will be interesting, due to Covid.  

Resources:

https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Valentines-Day

Guard Dogs VS. Protection Dogs

Did you know that there is a difference between guard dogs and protection dogs? It is very easy to think that they have a similar meanings, but they are two different type of dogs.

Guard dogs are trained to be working dogs, alerting their owners if there is intruders. It is hard for these dogs to stop training mode. There are 3 different types of guard dogs. The first one is an alarm dog. This type of guard dog is not physical. They have a low, threatening bark. Alarm dogs will usually use this type of bark to inform the owner of an intruder. The intruders usually get scared when the dog barks and will leave.  The second type of guard dog is a sentry dog. These dogs are trained to be on big properties. The owners will let the dogs roam around the properties by themselves because they are trained to attack intruders. The third type of guard dog is attack dogs. These dogs are trained to attack, and if needed, kill. They will only listen to their handlers. Attack dogs are not meant to be pets. They are not sociable dogs. The police and military are the only ones who should have these dogs. Guard dogs are not meant to be pets. They are meant to protect and work. Protection dogs can be pets.

Protection dogs create a connection with the family and can be considered a family member. These dogs don’t need to be trained on what they are naturally made to do. But they do need obedience training. It is important to get obedience training because they can start becoming dominant. Having a dominant dog in the family can be dangerous because they can get their roles confused. Reminding the dog that you are the alpha in the family will remind them of their role. Also, it is important to exercise the dog. This is important because the exercise helps them behave.

Guard dogs and protection dogs both require training, but they trained in different ways. It is important to think about how you want your dog to be trained and what kind of work you want them to do.

Resources:

https://www.mypspa.org/article/more/guard-dog-vs-protection-dog

The Difference Between Protection Dogs and Guard Dogs

Snow Days For Dogs

Snow peaks a dog’s interest. This is because it’s something knew to them. There are new smells and new adventures to go on. But there are precautions to take when taking your dog outside. 

First, you have to be careful of their paws. When touching snow or ice, their feet could freeze and be in pain. If their paws get too cold, they could start bleeding and cracking. There are ways to stop this from happening, like little doggy boots. This will protect their paws from getting hurt. At first, they will have a hard time walking with the shoes but overtime they will get better at it. 

Second, dogs can only stay out for a certain amount of time. If it is their first time in the snow, be extra careful. This is because the dog’s body is not used to being around snow. This might cause the dog’s body to start trembling and moving slower. If this happens, it is time to bring the dog inside! 

Third, the size and hair length of the dog matters. If they are a smaller or shorter haired dog, there needs to be protection for them. There are clothes that are made for dogs. This can help keep them warm. Along with this, if the dog is not able to walk in the snow, shovel a path for them. This is because they will have a path to follow. If the snow reaches their neck or goes above, do not let your dog go into it. They could get lost because they are unable to find their way back. 

                                 Let your dogs have fun but be safe about it! 

Conditioning A Dog

Conditioning is a simple form of learning involving the formation, strengthening, or weakening of an association between a stimulus and a response. Petrovich Pavlov was the first man to come up with the idea of conditioning. Pavlov was originally testing the secretion activity of dog’s digestion. Pavlov needed to test the salivary ducts of the dogs. He did this by conditioning. He started this experiment by ringing a bell and giving the dog food. Every time the dog heard the bell, the dog would start salivating. This is because the dog connects the bell to getting food.

There are a couple ways of conditioning a dog. The first one is to award the dog every time it does what it’s supposed to do. This might not be affective because the dog will start doing the act just to get a treat. The second way is to award the dog every time, within a time span. For example, every time the dog rings the bell 5 times then it gets a treat. The third way is to give the dog a treat whenever you feel like it. This is the best way to train a dog because they will be on their best behavior because there is a chance that they could get a treat.

Within conditioning, there is positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. Positive reinforcement is getting something because of good behavior. This is when the dog does something the owner wants them to do, like sit when told to. Negative reinforcement is the taking away of something bad to get a positive response, like a dog on a leash. Most dogs don’t enjoy being on leashes. Taking them to a dog park and having them sit before taking off the leashes might help. This could help because every time they go to the dog park and have to sit, then they know that the leash comes off. Positive punishment is the adding of something unwanted because of wrong behavior. Every time the dog barks, the owner will shock the dog (not enough hurt the dog). The punishment would be getting shocked because they are barking. Negative punishment is the taking away something because of bad behavior. If the dog has a problem jumping on people, then take away something they enjoy. It could be a treat, a bed, or a toy. The dog will learn that when they jump, something they like will get taken away. They will stop jumping on people once they learn the conditioning.

While you are training, conditioning can be put in great use. For example, training a dog to go the bathroom outside. One could hang bells on the door knob, for the dog to ring. This will show the dog that every time they ring the bell, they go outside. You would still have to give the dog a treat when they ring the bell. This will help train the dog. Training the dog to ask, to go outside is one way conditioning can be used. There are many other ways conditioning can be used to help train dogs.

Resources:

Learning theory basics, part 1- Classical conditioning in dogs: beyond the training session

https://www.biography.com/scientist/ivan-petrovich-pavlov

The History And Evolution Of Dog Training

The First Dog And The Most Recent Dog, In The White House

George Washington

George Washington was a first for a couple of things. He was the first president. He was the first president to have a dog. It is said that Washington’s love of dogs came from fox hunting. This caused him to start breeding his own dog. He wanted a faster dog. One of his friends heard about how Washington wanted to breed his hounds with something faster. So, Washington’s friend sent him some French hounds. Washington started to breed his own dogs with the French hounds. George Washington didn’t mean to leave a legacy with the new breed. He wanted to improve his collection of hunting dogs. He had several different breeds. He had Dalmatians, Italian Greyhounds, mastiffs, and many more. These dogs would have different tasks to do, like herding, working, and toy dogs. George Washington put his dogs to work, but this doesn’t mean that he didn’t love them any less. He names all his dogs, like Sweet Lips, Tipsy, and Tipler. He would go visit his dogs in the kennels every day. Georges Washington made sure that his dogs got the love and attention that they needed.

Resources:

https://www.history.com/news/george-washington-dogs

Joe Biden

Our recent elected president has brought back the tradition of having dogs in the white house. President Biden brought in two dogs. They are both German shepherds, named Major and Champ. Champ is a 12-year-old dog that has been in the white house before. This happened when Biden was the Vice President of the United States. But Major (2 years old) has never been in the White House before. His story is a little special. Major is the first rescue dog to live in the White House. This news blew up. Delaware Humane Association (the place that Major came from) held a virtual event for Major. Americans are excited to see Champ and Major live in the White House. They are the first dogs that have been in the White House, since Obama’s presidency.

Resources:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/joe-bidens-dogs-shepherd-in-new-era-of-presidential-pets-at-the-white-house-11611160275

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a34680434/joe-biden-dogs/

Greyhounds Have Universal Blood

When it comes to blood transfusions, it’s more complicated than it seems. First, they have to find someone with the same blood type. The blood types are A, B, AB, and O. Second, we have to look at if it’s positive or negative. This is very important because if they transfuse the wrong blood type then the patient can get sick. But there is a blood type that is universal, O positive. This means that anyone can receive this blood. Humans are not the only “species” that need blood transfusions. Domestic dogs are another species that need blood transfusions.

Domestic dogs needs blood transfusions for the same reason. They could need it because blood lost, illnesses, and other emergency situations. But dog blood is different from human blood. It is more complicated. First, there are 12 different blood types that a dog could have. Secondly, their blood type is considered universal only if they have a negative blood type. This is for certain blood antigens. Testing dog blood takes longer, so it is easier for dogs to only receive ‘negative’ blood. There are not a lot of breeds that have universal blood, but greyhounds are one.

85% of greyhounds have universal blood. Their blood is rich in red blood cells, lower than average white blood cells, and platelets. When it comes to the procedure, the dogs are not sedated. They don’t need to be sedated because of the dogs’ big veins and calm demeanor. The large veins make it easy to draw the blood. Calm demeanor means that they are relaxed when the blood is being drawn. Some greyhounds even fall asleep during the drawing of blood. For a dog to be able to donate blood, they need to be between 1-7 years old and weigh over 50 pounds.

It is important to check the blood type between the same animals. This is because within that there are different blood types. It is also important to not mix blood between species. This could cause the animal to die. For example, if a cat receives dog blood then this wouldn’t be helpful. This is because dogs and cats don’t have the same blood.

Resources:

https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet_column/blood-transfusions/#:~:text=Blood%20Typing%20in%20Pets,blood%20cannot%20be%20used%20interchangeably.
https://www.greyhoundhealthinitiative.org/blood-bank/

3 Food That Dogs Should Not Eat

Pits

            Dogs cannot eat pits from peaches, apricots, cherries, and plums. The first reason is because the dogs could choke on the pit. Pits are usually hard to break down. If the dog is unable to break down the pit, then it could get stuck in their throat, causing the dog to stop breathing. Even if the dog was able to swallow the pit, it could get stuck in the intestines. This could cause fatal problems. But the biggest problem is that the pits are poisonous. This is because there is amygdalin, which is a form of cyanide, in the pits. So if a dog consumes a lot of pits then it could cause fatal problems, like kidney failure. If you are planning on getting a peach, apricot, cherry, or plum tree then I would be careful. This gives the dog easier access to the pit of the fruits. But it is not only the pits that are poisonous. The leaves and stems are also poisonous. The suggestion would be to keep the dogs away or keep the yard very clean. They could get sick even if they eat a little over time because it will start to build up. This is because the dog’s body can’t digest the amygdalin.

Resources:

https://wagwalking.com/condition/peach-pits-poisoning

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/foods-can-be-poisonous-pets

Potato, Tomato, and Rhubarb Leaves

            When it comes to potatoes and tomatoes, dogs should not eat these raw or the foliage of the plants. This is because they contain solanine (a poison). If the dog gets some solanine into the system, it could affect the function of their nervous system and the organs. Solanine would affect the main organs of the body, like the liver, brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys. If the dog digest a lot of solanine, then it would affect the dog heavily. It is okay for a dog to eat a ripe tomato here and there. This is because it contains less amount of solanine in the fruit. Unripe fruits contains more solanine. If you have a these plants in your garden, make sure that the dog can’t get to them. Rhubarb leaves are also poisonous for the dogs. This is because the leaves contain oxalic acid. Ingesting the leaves could cause intense pain and irritation. Most animals will stop eating these plants because of the pain. But there are some animals that will get through the pain and eat more of it. If the dog does eat a larger amount, then they need to go to the emergency room.

Resources:

https://wagwalking.com/condition/potato-green-poisoning

Can Dogs Eat Tomatoes?

https://wagwalking.com/condition/rhubarb-poisoning

Caffeine, Chocolate, and Tea

                      The reason that dogs can’t ingest caffeine, chocolate, and tea is because of theobromine. This is because the dogs can’t fully digest theobromine. Theobromine will start to build up in the dog’s system, which will cause it to become toxic. If the dog digest caffeine, chocolate, or tea, the dog could lose control over their muscles, have tremors, or seizures. It could also cause the dog to throw up. But this isn’t all bad because throwing up could remove some of the theobromine. Some other foods that contain theobromine is energy drinks, diet pills, sodas, and hot chocolate. If the dog digest a drop of caffeine, chocolate, or tea, then the dog should be okay. But in case, you should bring the dog in for a vet visit.

Resources:

https://wagwalking.com/condition/caffeine-poisoning

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/caffeine-toxicity-in-pets#:~:text=can%20be%20dangerous.%22-,Caffeine%20also%20raises%20blood%20pressure%20and%20causes%20cardiac%20arrhythmias%2C%20which,and%20have%20tremors%20or%20seizures.

Stressed?

2020 was a stressful year, but we all got through it. But this doesn’t mean that the stress we experience will go away. We all have experienced stress at one point of our lives. We can have stress because of work, school and family. Relationships can cause us stress. But how should we deal with the stress? There are many ways to deal with our stress. One of them could be: petting a dog. Yes, petting a dog can help a human with their physical and mental health.

There are many different benefits when it comes to dogs, but one of the biggest one is comforting humans. There are many reasons on why dogs are the best at comforting when it comes to stress. The first one is that they live in the moment. They aren’t stuck in the past or stressing about the future. They enjoy what is happening in the moment. This is very hard for humans to do because we are always worrying or stressing about the future or thinking about the past. Secondly, they are always forgiving. An example of this is- the owner steps on the dogs paws or gets mad at the dog, owners often feel guilty after the accident. But the dogs are able to move on a couple of minutes. With humans, we often hold grudges against one another. If we are already feeling stressed, holding a grudge could add onto this stress. This is not because we want it to, but we are human and it happens.

Dogs provide companionship. This is important when it comes to stress because there are people who find comfort in talking to their dog. For some people, talking out problems can help them feel better and find a solution. We are human and we need that human connection. If we aren’t able to connect with others, then there is a possibility that one could start feeling alone and sad. A dog’s companionship can help us feel less lonely. This is because dog’s are known to be loyal to their owners. This loyalty can help us feel better, especially during Covid. With Covid, we are all trying to stay safe and healthy. This causes us to distance ourselves from others. One good thing that came out of this pandemic is that we have picked up new hobbies, like exercising.

Exercising is an activity that can help with stress. It is very difficult to get into thought. The soreness that is felt after working out. The energy that it takes. It’s not an activity that all find enjoyable. But taking a dog along with you might make it more enjoyable. It’s also beneficial for both parties. For humans, they are exercising more and gaining a healthier lifestyle. For dogs, it helps them with their behavior. They are less likely for them to act out and misbehave. If you are able to exercise everyday then this could help you build a routine. With dogs, a routine is good for them. It keeps them calm. It can help you get a routine too. Routines are important because they help with coping with stress.

Dogs can help with a routine and dealing with stress. It is important to take care of yourself and your needs. Dogs are way to help with that. But if you don’t like dogs and you’re more of a cat person, then cats are able to provide similar help.

Pianos Disappearing from Homes

Piano retailers and manufacturers are closing their doors across North America and elsewhere as the public appetite for the expensive, space-consuming instruments dims.

Declining sales have plagued the industry for years and was exacerbated by the Great Recession. In many cases, pianos that once would have been resold are simply hauled to the trash dump.

“In our industry, it’s not as drastic as the computer replacing the typewriter,” said Ted Good, president of Ohio’s only dealer for new Steinway & Sons pianos, “it’s just changing.” The company, he said, has seen flat sales for the last five years.

PianoIn today’s fast-moving culture, shrinking homes and even competition with sports and video games have affected sales, according to industry experts and piano store owners. Nationwide sales dropped by half in a 20-year period, from nearly 175,000 in 1987 to 62,500 in 2007, according to the Bluebook of Pianos.

Bob Russell, a registered piano technician in Ohio runs a third-generation business. He said the piano business may be have been affected by some drastic changes in society but he still tunes close to 1,500 pianos a year. He believes new piano sales will continue to be flat for a while because of influences like a saturated market of used pianos.

“The problem with new piano sales is they’re competing with hundreds of thousands of pianos sold 10 years ago,” said Russell, “Ten years on a new piano is nothing. It’s like 5,000 miles on a car.”

From used and refurbished pianos to much less expensive brands and models, the piano’s biggest competition has probably been digital pianos – or even cheaper, digital keyboards that are sold in retailers that range from Kmart to Costco.

An electronic keyboard can be purchased for less than $200, while a standard piano may cost from $5,000 to $250,000. And the keyboard is portable, while the piano is a heavyweight consumer of large spaces in a home.