Dawn O Watson/CNBNewsnet I have addressed the steps to take if you have lost your dog. But what should a responsible person do if he or she finds a dog? If the dog is friendly check to see if he has tags. There may be an address and/or phone number listed. If he is wearing a license tag, there is probably a veterinarian’s number on it. If he is wearing a rabies tag it will usually list the county from which the rabies shot was... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor I’m social distancing. I’ve been at it for sixty-nine years. As a child I was always the tallest among my friends. That made it awkward when one of them insisted on hugging me. Most of them didn’t quite reach my chin. Some of them were chest-height. If I bent down to hug one of them my behind stuck out. If I stood up, I’d lift them off their feet. Either option could cause trouble, so I usually just kept my distance.... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor I am often asked how to make a dog stop exhibiting inappropriate behavior. In my years of teaching, training, and mentoring I have only used a physical correction one time, and only because I was attacked by a dog during a training session. There are many methods of dog training. I use and recommend a combination of positive and negative reinforcement. That is, the dog is rewarded (reinforced) when he responds appropriately and given a frown or denied attention when he... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor I hate waiting in lines. I was waiting at Dunkin’ Donuts and the people behind me were sharing a joke, laughing uproariously. I enjoy a good joke, so I turned around and asked what was so funny. A lady pointed at my behind. Seems I’d torn the seat of my slacks and everything was hanging out there for their viewing pleasure. I did not buy coffee. I did not buy donuts. Another time I accidentally made folks laugh was after an... Continue reading

When I was a kid my relatives told me some interesting stories. As I grew older, I realized there wasn’t much truth to them. There was the story about the panther statue that graced my grandparent’s coffee table. My grandfather told me that a Chinese nobleman gave it to his great-grandfather as a symbol of their friendship. To prove this, I was shown the bottom of the statue where “Made in China” was printed. The panther had green jewels for eyes. “Chinese jade”, Grampa told... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor Pet Tip of the Week Puppies Puppies are fun! They are cute and cuddly, and nothing can make you laugh harder than a baby dog’s antics! There are certain things to consider before bringing Baby Fido into your family, however. With strict adherence to a schedule a twelve-week-old puppy can be taught to go ‘potty’ outside or on a puppy pad within four weeks. If you are unsure about the housebreaking technique my book, Training Your Dog With Love and Compassion,... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor As your dog ages he may show signs of age-related maladies. It is heartbreaking to witness and can be expensive to cure. Your best buddy could suffer silently or cry from pain. Look for signs of discomfort—panting, lethargy, lack of appetite—and deal with each issue as it presents itself. Ask your veterinarian for a plan of action. Take out pet insurance if you have not already done so. Discuss the end of his life with your family. I have been doing... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBNews Contributor My knees don’t bend the way they used to. I discovered this when I was attempting to sit down in a bathtub. I usually shower. But this time I decided to treat myself to a good, long soak. Soon, the bathroom was filled with steam and the air smelled like the rosewood bubble concoction I’d dumped in. I shut off the water and prepared to be indulged. Since the tub seemed to be narrower than my lower body, I shifted to the... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor Maybe you and Fido have been munching out during this time of quarantine and now you are both a little ‘rounder’. There is an easy fix for getting rid of that extra weight—take a hike! Walking around your neighborhood is a good way to enrich the bond you share with your family. And keeping a safe distance is easy if you keep moving! Keep a mask handy in case someone breaches the six-foot restriction, but most folks are compliant with the... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor Easter was a big deal when I was a kid. We went to the church in which my mom was baptized, confirmed and married, and in which my brother and I followed suit. We were obligated to go to church and Sunday School every week. Since our house was directly across the street, we couldn’t exactly tell folks we were sick when all they had to do was look through our windows and see us watching television. Anyway, Mother awakened us... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor There are many theories on training dogs. Some folks like to think they can get their dogs to do anything they train them to do. Conversely, they believe they can make their dogs stop behaviors that are unacceptable. While that may be true, most dogs will revert to instinct if given the opportunity. A good example of instinctual behavior is allowing a dog with a known, high prey drive access to a rabbit. Sure, the dog may seem friendly toward the... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor The other day I saw a neighbor putting a piece of paper on the windshield of my truck. Curious, I waited until she’d gone back inside and nonchalantly walked over to see what she’d written. I was excited, thinking it was an invitation to a party! Or perhaps the neighborhood was having a scavenger hunt I wasn’t aware of and this was her way of letting me know! Much to my disappointment it was a note that said, “Parking on this... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor There are many people that practice vegetarianism or veganism and the number is growing. More and more humans are protesting the way animals are treated prior to being slaughtered for food. Scientists are producing more foods that contain “artificial” proteins. According to the American Veterinarian website 70% of vegetarians feed their dogs slaughter-free proteins. Domestic animal diets are a source of much speculation. Recently, it was discovered that the absence of grain in animals’ diets greatly increased their risk of heart... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor Each of my dogs had a distinct personality. Two of my dogs are elderly. One of them is so old that I carry him around in a pouch on my shoulder. Every half hour or so he wakes up and forgets who I am, and he barks at me. I know better than to reach for him—his teeth are sharper than his mind. Sammy, my other elder is a feisty little Jack Russel/Chihuahua mix. Smartest dog I ever had. He will... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor Some folks tend to over-feed their pets, especially those that have been rescued from a neglectful background. Generally, adult dogs should be fed twice a day. Under normal circumstances a meat-and-plant based diet is ideal. According to the VCA (Veterinary Centers of America) dogs’ diets need to include the essential vitamins and amino acids found in many high-end dry dog foods. Whether to supplement dry food with meat and/or vegetables is a matter of debate. You can research on-line and find... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor Let’s discuss the elephant in the room: Social Distancing. I picture getting the “All Clear” sign from the government which will set off an instant opening of doors all over the world. Folks will stumble outside, holding up a hand to block a sun they haven’t seen for a long time, except through a window that’s been scrubbed so often it’s thinning in places. Women with ragged nails and unibrows will climb into their bird-bombed cars with bearded men, only to... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBNews Contributor (Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 21, 2020)--When a beloved pet passes away the grief is very real. We ache and the pain is overwhelming. It doesn’t help that non-pet owners do not understand this void. Whether your pet passes away from old age, an accident, or must be euthanized due to advancing age, extreme aggression, or illness you have a right to grieve! Do not let others demean you for your emotions! There are support groups both online, via phone, and in person that may help... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBNews Contributor I’ve lived through quite a few symptomatic adventures in my life. When I was eight, I survived the Summer of Poison Ivy. Although it doesn’t sound serious it is if it covers your entire body and causes you to lay naked on a rubber sheet in ninety-degree weather because your mother doesn’t want to wash icky sheets or articles of clothing. And we didn’t have air conditioning. At twelve I discovered chicken pox. All my friends had it, too. I gave it... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor In 1828 New York initiated the first laws that outlawed animal cruelty. In 1866 the ASPCA was created. In 1966 the Animal Welfare Act was created to set minimum standards for the care, sale, and overall handling of domestic animals. In 1970 the AWA broadened its scope to require anesthesia for lab experimentation on animals. In 1980 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was founded. In 1990 the AWA was amended to require that all dogs and cats be... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor “I wanna tell you, kid and I’ll give it to you square. I’m leaving you. I’m sorry it shook out this way but you and me don’t belong together, see?” “Oh Roscoe, how can you say that? How can you? After all we’ve been through. How many times did I fight with my mother and father, telling them you’re a swell guy.” “It’s no good I tell you! Your parents think one way and that ain’t the way I think, see?... Continue reading

Dawn Watson/CNBNews Contributor Your friend comes for a visit and wants to be friends with your dog. She talks loudly and reaches to pat him on the head but instead of him acting like the happy dog you know him to be, he snarls or hides in a corner. What now? Think about your friend's entry and relate it in human terms--you don't speak the language and you're accustomed to a calm environment. Suddenly, along comes a giant, shrieking maniac (remember, dogs' hearing is 100... Continue reading

Dawn O Watson/CNBNews Contributor I’m confused about colors. When I was very young, I was as plump and ruddy as a MacIntosh apple. My mother dressed me in hand-me-down boys’ shirts she cleverly disguised as blouses by putting the buttons where the buttonholes were and cutting buttonholes on the opposite side. Colors were not an issue. In my teens I donned tie-dyed tee shirts that looked like somebody’s nightmare and wore makeup to match. I was part of a group that treasured individuality as long... Continue reading

Dawn Watson,\CNBNews Contributor Good grooming is essential to maintain your dog's health. But how much grooming does it take? Many veterinarians recommend clipping Fido's nails every three weeks. If the nails become too long they may curl under and damage the pads of his feet, causing pain or even infection. Trimming the fur surrounding his pads is also a good idea because dirt can cling to the area or become matted. It requires the help of the best dog nail grinder. Some groomers are qualified... Continue reading