High Value Treat

So, a while ago, a dog trainer said to find a high value treat to train your dog. She said don't buy treats like "Beggin' bites" and "Pupperoni" because they are all full of sugar. We used anchovies for Mika's training and he liked them. The trainer had mentioned that one of the parents had brought brie cheese because the dog could smell it and was all over it. That parent had all of the other dogs coming to her.

Well, when I came home from visiting my family, I had brought home some of my dad's homemade beef jerky. I opened the bag and took one out to munch on, guess who was next to me in a blink of an eye? Mika remembered what this thing was! I had used some to train Mika before (I ate most of it and gave him a strip or two during training.). Now, every time I take a strip of beef jerky out, he's at my feet. This is a huuuuuge break through because before this, his high value treat were "Greenies," but how could I make that into a training treat? I didn't, that treat is his special treat to make him beeline back home if he escapes. He only eats that treat on his bed. But now, I have found something that I can pretty much make him do anything for. I have never seen him so focused on dad's jerky. So, all I need to do is buy a dehydrator, a kitchen aid and the meat grinder attachment, and make my dad's yummy jerky.

The funny thing was, I recently had Taco Bell and Mika was uninterested, until I went and got a strip of jerky. That's how much Mika likes my dad's beef jerky. It trumps processed fast food. The cool part is, I know exactly what is in the jerky too (no unknown chemicals to preserve the stuff). =)

-mika's mommy

Do Your Research

This is a little late since most people would have already bought the dogs they want to give as Christmas gifts, but please, please, please do your research on the dog you want.

Rescues will be overflowing with dogs that need to be re-homed because people don't do their research before buying dogs.

A friend of mine just asked me to repost this because a special shiba is going to be put to sleep on 28 December 2010, a few days after Christmas. People who live in San Diego, please help spread the word that this shiba needs a home or a foster home. http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=SNDG.A1390011 I hope this is not his last Christmas. Please help make this a special Christmas by adopting him and giving him a wonderful warm home with lots of love. Please help spread the word!

Thank you so much!

-Mika's mommy

Thank you, Mika!

I had a small early lunch yesterday (it's past midnight, so yeah, yesterday). In the evening before Mika's daddy got home, I got tired and took a nap with the TV on. Just a note, I'm not diabetic (I just had a full blood panel done not long ago to make sure I'm still good and everything is functioning properly.), but if I haven't eaten in a while, my blood sugar gets real low and I get the shakes.

I remember looking at the time before I fell asleep and it was around 1730. Right before it was 1900 (around 1845), Mika had started whining, pawing at the closed dog door, and at one point, he had stuck his cold nose on my hand and wouldn't move. I had let Mika out to do his business around 1700, so I knew he was still good. I thought Mika just wanted attention, so I shooed him away and told him to go to his bed. I heard him go towards the direction of his bed and then a few seconds later, he was back up and walking towards me and whining. This time, was when he came up to the couch where I was laying and stuck his cold wet nose on my hand. His nose did not move, but his eyes were looking at me. I opened my eyes to look at him and asked him what was wrong. He still didn't move. Then I pulled my hand away and Mika just got closer to my face whining again, so I thought, "Wow, Mika must have drank a ton of water when I was sleeping."

So I got up and then I realized, my sugar level was low, I was light headed, had trouble focusing, and my hands were shaking. I needed sugar. (The thing was, when I was laying down, I felt fine. I was groggy because I just woke up, but I didn't feel like there was anything wrong.) Once I got up and headed towards the kitchen, Mika followed me as if to watch. Luckily, I had a bag of gummies out, so I had some of those and Mika calmed down. I opened the door for him to go outside, but he just looked back at me. It wasn't until after looking at me for a while that he was satisfied that I was ok, then he went outside, peed real fast, then came back inside.

Thank you, Mika for waking me up and letting me know that I needed sugar. If I didn't get that sugar, by the time that Mika's daddy got home, I would feel really sick and nauseated, and I'd want to just sleep it off. Then Mika's daddy would be making me eat something and I'd need to make sure I didn't eat too much or else it'd make me more sick. It's just a pattern of yuck. He knows my eating (or should I say non eating) pattern, especially if I'm stressed about something, I eat very little or not at all because I forget to. (I know, not a good habit, but I have two boys to remind me. One has a curly tail.) Thank you, Mika again.

It's so intriguing how in tune Mika is with people. I noticed that when I was on my period and I would be in pain, he would stick by me. When Nami's daddy was out with gout, Mika was glued to him. When my godmother had her surgery and was recovering, Mika was glued to her too. I knew Mika has a 6th sense, but I didn't know he could sense my sugar level dropping so low.

Flu Season is here!

My mommy wanted to borrow the blog to remind all the humans of some stuff. Here ya go, mommy!

Thanks, Mika.

Anyways, I just wanted to remind everyone that washing your hands is the best thing to do to prevent getting sick. Mika's daddy is down with the flu right now, so it was a reminder that the sicky season is here.

Here are some tips to for this sicky season:

1. If you are in the "at risk" group (over 65, I believe, and/or have asthma or another chronic condition, and/or work in a health care facility) it is best for you to get the flu shot. Best speak with your primary care physician first.
2. Always wash your hands! 1st thing to do when you walk into the house (besides unhooking the dog and dropping off the groceries in an area where the dogs can't get to, and taking off your shoes) wash your hands. After you cough or sneeze-> wash your hands. After anything you do, wash your hands! Warm water and soap (doesn't have to be antibacterial), sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" twice, rinse and dry. Simple, right? (You can sing the ABCs too, rather than "Twinkle, Twinkle" if you need to brush up on your alphabet skills.)
3. Always cough into your shoulder or where your elbow bends, and always sneeze there too. You use your hands to do everything from greeting other people, to preparing food, so it is best to prevent sneezing or coughing there unless you like to spread your germs around.
4. Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated!
5. Get lots of rest. The less sleep you get, the weaker your immune system.
   
6. Don't stress out. The more stressed you are, the weaker your immune system. So that means, more walks for the dogs! Some fresh air and frolicking from your furkids may be just what you need to destress and SMILE!
   
7. Get lots of Vitamin C (hopefully in the form of fruits).
8. If you're sick, don't go to work or school. No body likes getting sick from coworkers or classmates.

I think that covers it. If I missed anything, let me know and I'll add it to the list.

All the images are from Google searches.