3:29 pm  •  22 September 2017  •  35 notes

sunglassesplz asked: Do you know of any dog enrichment toys or activities for when you leave the house? Our older dog has suddenly gotten destructive whenever we leave. Not afraid of diying bigger things like treadmills (if that's even a good idea to leave out unsupervised for her). I googled and found an idea to hide treats and train her to look for them when we leave, but that's only a short distraction and I'm afraid it might encourage more destructive behavior while she hunts. She doesn't like pb kongs either.

scutellatebooted:

why-animals-do-the-thing:

First, it’s worth noting that with old dogs, destructive behavior when left alone can indicate separation anxiety - it can often develop in animals where it hasn’t been an issue before as they get into their twilight years. I can’t tell you if what you’re seeing is that or not, but it might be worth setting up some cameras to watch her while you’re gone for a while to figure it out, or talking to a behaviorist if it gets worse. 

I’d suggest either non-PB kongs (you can use wet dog food or mashed banana instead of peanut butter) that are chilled or frozen to make them take longer, wobble feeders, and chews that you’re sure she’s safe with. If she’s into bully sticks or similar entirely edible chews, you can save them so they’re special things she only gets when you leave. 

In more complicated ideas, you could put radios / cd players on a timer to turn on at random points in time (make sure this doesn’t scare her - test run it when you’re just around the corner or something) or get one of those remote-controlled treat machines that lets you toss food out for her (they come with a camera so you could make sure she’s nearby so you risk less destruction). 

Have you tried tiring her out before you leave? Play a good game of tug or something so that she’ll sack out once you’re gone. 

You can also crate train her, if she’s getting too destructive to leave alone - dogs are never too old to crate train. You just have to go slow, like with any animal, and make sure she’s got enough to do so that she doesn’t get bored. 

Some people on a forum suggested making a box specifically for dogs to destruct while you’re out:

- put some of her favorite toys or chews at the bottom
- layer with crumpled newspaper
- put in some treats on the crumpled news paper
- fill some paper lunch sacks with more toys/chews/treats
- more newspaper
- “fortune cookies” made with old toilet paper rolls, ends folded in and treats inside.

The person who made this box was having issues with one of her dogs destroying the house while she was out and since she put it out, the dog goes for that instead. You may have to show your dog that you’re doing this so she’s aware that there’s good stuff inside.

Thank you both! It’s definitely separation anxiety. She’s always be anxious dog about a lot of things, just not separation before. But she mainly tears at the door we leave through and anything we try to block it with and she whines and acts stressed when we get back.

She just doesn’t get kongs at all, I think. She’ll lick at what’s immediately accessible and then give up once it’s harder. We’ve tried cheese-wiz and she loves it, but even with that she just gives up after a minute. We get her dog-safe duck jerky and she loves that, so maybe I can save that for leaving the house treats only.

Tiring her out is a good idea. We normally like to play with her with a squeaky toy before we leave, but she’s got loads of energy and never wants to stop playing, and she’s got minor hip problems so we’re afraid of pushing her too hard. Maybe we can mentally tire her out rather than make her run around a lot? Barrage her with a lot of different toys with different types of stimulation in a small space so she’s not running and chasing them, but just continuously being introduced to new ones and playing keep away?

The destruction box might be a nice long distraction we can leave close to the door so hopefully she goes for that instead of the door.

I’ll try this all out and hopefully come back and let you know how it goes. Thanks again!

2:50 pm  •  16 August 2017  •  103 notes

queenoftheantz:

We had an interaction assignment, and GUESS WHAT I DID!!!

(via rowanthesage)

12:23 am  •  19 May 2017  •  247,537 notes

Let me be real for a second here and complain about Shiro’s haircut. Because it’s terrible. Who starts their undercut there?? Why is there absolutely zero fade?? Who was even cutting his hair while he was the champion?? Where did he get access to a razor??

10:50 pm  •  15 May 2017

What are the chances of me ever being as happy with anything I draw ever again as I am with this stupid alarm clock.

1:48 pm  •  15 May 2017  •  2 notes

(via yourgothboyfriend)

6:12 pm  •  7 May 2017  •  542,182 notes

sunglassesplz asked: Do you know of any reputable animal health classes besides university degrees? I petsit a lot, and I'd like to take a mild health class to learn proper emergency response (especially identifying emergency symptoms) and regular but more complex health maintenance (insulin injections for diabetic animals, etc). Googling turns up some shady looking websites. Next step is to ask my vet if they offer any classes, but I thought I'd see if you knew other places to try. Thanks!

why-animals-do-the-thing:

fantasticbeastsandhowtokeepthem:

why-animals-do-the-thing:

I’ve done the PetSaver Pet First Aid course (it’s taught by independent instructors following the same standardized curriculum) and found it to be credible. It’s pretty basic, though - CPR and signs of different types of injuries and how to splint/secure things. 

I don’t really know where you can be guaranteed to find the rest of it. When it looked like I was going to have a diabetic catsitting client, I asked the vet at the animal hospital I was volunteering at to teach me to give insulin injections - if you have a relationship with a vet or a vet tech, that might be a viable option. I haven’t heard of any higher-level courses for that that aren’t part of a veterinary med program. 

You could possibly check into the courses offered by the IWRC, International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council? They are a bit pricy and may be more in depth than you’re looking for, but I really enjoyed taking the Pain and Wound Management course and have found useful for understanding a lot of basic animal medical care.

It’s suggested to take basic rehab first, but not required. You’d have to see if the combined physical course is going to have a session offered near you, but the Pain Management course is also offered online. https://theiwrc.org/courses

Ooh, I’ve never heard of this one. Thanks!

9:55 pm  •  5 May 2017  •  118 notes

oldsidelinghill:

They’re doing a special Limited Edition cover of the Art of Over the Garden Wall book! (The interior of the limited edition will be the same as the normal edition)

Also, above are some examples of what that interior will look like! (these are not final)

2:56 pm  •  2 May 2017  •  4,102 notes

your-eggcellency:

elletromil:

accio-shitpost:

arthur weasley looks in the mirror of erised

he sees himself. his reflection looks the same, but there is a knowing glint in his eye. he knows, arthur realises. he knows exactly the function of a rubber duck.

@krissielee @lady-mephistopheles

LOL

(via niedolia)

2:16 pm  •  2 May 2017  •  57,271 notes

kryptidz:

new discourse, opinions on:

• mushrooms
• tomatoes
• ramen
• popsicles
• bananas 

(via mitskinaturalposting)

2:24 am  •  1 May 2017  •  55,420 notes