Tag Archives: Dog

Buy A Golden Retriever Chalkboard and Give Back!

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The statuesque photo of the golden retriever caught my eye immediately while browsing my Facebook news feed last night. The Dogington Post was holding Facebook contest to win a chalkboard decal of your favorite breed.  (The winners are to be announced this Monday, June 17th)   I entered the contest of course!

chalkboarddog

The chalkboards are sold by a family-owned company called  Steadfast Friends from Utah who also offer temporary tattoos and iphone cases of golden retrievers (and almost any other breed you can think of!).  The article in the Dogington post says they are currently offering a 20% discount on the chalkboards when you use the code: steadfast20%

Here is the super cool part – Steadfast Friends will donate 10% of ANY purchase to the charity of your choice.  Your three options are The Guide Dog Foundation, Best Friends (Utah) and America’s Vet Dogs.

Something to consider as a gift for the dog lovers in your life, (or yourself!) while giving back!

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Artist Tom Mosser Reveals Next Golden Retriever Painting

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A follow up to “A Golden Retriever At the Museum” was revealed yesterday by artist Tom Mosser.  He has created a new masterpiece entitled “A Golden Retriever and A Labrador Retriever At The Museum”

golden-retriever-insider--jpg

“A Golden Retriever and A Labrador Retriever at the Museum” – Tom Mosser

Norma is a female Labrador Retriever, and a friend of Lucas.

Mosser tells WTAE Pittsburg: “It is so simple. A dog and a ball. Simple things in life have the most resonance.”

Mosser revealed the painting at the Animal Rescue League shelter in  Pittsburgh. T-Shirts of the first painting in the “Lucas” series were sold, with a portion of the proceeds going to the shelter.  (I really want a T-shirt!!)

There are currently 100 prints available.  Email alanjsmith@juno.com for details.

Full story with video from WTAE.com

How to Protect Your Golden Retriever From Ticks

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Golden Retrievers are known to be tick magnets.  Some say ticks are more attracted to lighter colors, and a golden’s long fur is a great place for a tick to hang out and hide.

Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Due to factors like milder winters, an increase in white tailed deer, and fewer insecticides being used, 2013 is being predicted as a record year for ticks.  Ticks are a problem for animals and humans alike.  Tick species vary by location, and different species carry different diseases like Lyme Disease,  Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Tick Population to Explode in 2013 – Veterinary Practice News

Adult deer tick, Ixodes scapularis.

Adult deer tick, Ixodes scapularis. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  • Joint pain and stiffness similar to the symptoms of arthritis
  • High fever
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Neurological signs resulting in seizures and neck pain (infrequent)

- See more at: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/canine-anaplasmosis#sthash.9KsY5RIW.dpuf

  • Joint pain and stiffness similar to the symptoms of arthritis
  • High fever
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Neurological signs resulting in seizures and neck pain (infrequent)

- See more at: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/canine-anaplasmosis#sthash.9KsY5RIW.dpuf

  • Joint pain and stiffness similar to the symptoms of arthritis
  • High fever
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Neurological signs resulting in seizures and neck pain (infrequent)

- See more at: http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog-health/canine-anaplasmosis#sthash.9KsY5RIW.dpuf

Now that we know this, lets talk prevention.  Here are some things you can do to help protect your golden from these pests:

  • Keep your lawn cut short.  Ticks and other critters love to lurk in long grass
  • Try to avoid long grass and wooded areas
  • Check your dog for ticks every time you bring him/her indoors.
  • Visit your veterinarian every spring to discuss flea/tick and heart worm prevention medications.
  • There are shampoos and collars on the market that deter fleas and ticks.
  • Try a holistic approach such as Dr. Ben’s Cedar Oil

bens

So you have found a tick on your dog.  First, you must remove it with tweezers or a Tick Twister.  It is not recommended that you burn it or suffocate it off with any type of substance, as this can cause the tick to inject more saliva into you or your pet.  Then clean the area with an antiseptic and put some antibiotic ointment on the site.

Here is a great video from Doctors Foster & Smith on removing a tick from your dog:

If your dog has been bitten by a tick, watch for signs of illness including stiffness, loss of appetite and lethargy.  Contact your veterinarian right away if you suspect your dog has a tick borne illness. Keep in mind these illnesses can lay dormant for several months before showing signs.

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Comfort Dog “Prince” Featured in High School Yearbook, Graduation

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Portage, IN – Prince, one of the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs, is retiring from his position as a comfort dog at Portage High School.  In honor of Prince, his picture was featured in the yearbook with the graduating senior students.

From Portage High School Yearbook

From Portage High School Yearbook

Prince has patrolled the halls of school for the past 4 1/2 years and was loved by all the children.  He would also accompany his handler Tim Kunstek, a guidance counselor in his sessions.

“There’s something really calming about golden retrievers; they have a big effect on people,” said Kunstek in an article from Yahoo Shine.

Prince at work - www.facebook.com/Prince-Comfort-Dog

Prince at work – Facebook

On Sunday led the parade for the graduation ceremonies wearing a cap and gown!

Prince - Facebook.com/Prince-Comfort-Dog

Prince – Facebook.com/Prince-Comfort-Dog

Prince was one of the Comfort Dogs who traveled to Newtown, CT in December after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Here he is with LCC president Tim Hetzner.

Prince in Newtown, CT - Facebook

Prince in Newtown, CT – Facebook

Thanks for all your hard work Prince, and have a wonderful retirement!

Prince will be replaced at Portage High School by Comfort Dog Isaiah.

To donate to the LCC K-9 Comfort dogs, click here. 

Golden Retriever Survives Fall from Cliff

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Sidmouth Devon (UK) – An 8 year old golden retriever was rescued after falling approx 250 ft down a cliff after chasing a rabbit.

samrescue

Sam was out for a walk with family when he suddenly disappeared.  His owners were searching for him for about and hour, and he was eventually discovered halfway down the steep cliff.  Apparently some branches broke his fall, and he was not seriously injured.

The Fire Department and local rescue crews arrived a short time later and a rescuer was lowered down the cliff and lifted the dog to safety.  The whole ordeal took about 4 hours.

Sam’s owner Jonathan Minshull said Sam was just ready to go back to the campsite and cool off.

‘When he was pulled up over the cliff he was really happy to see us – he just wanted to get back to the campsite to cool down.’

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The Tucker Files – Time for “The Surgery”

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Don’t tell Tucker, because he doesn’t know, but tomorrow he is going to have “The Surgery”

Yes, he is 20 months old, we waited an extra 2 months, but some of that wait can be attributed to the fact that we actually did switch veterinary hospitals.

Tucker had a “meet and greet” at the new animal hospital and all went well, so we booked “The Surgery” and tomorrow is the big day.

At the time of this post Tucker has had his “last supper” as an intact male.  Here he is before I left for work tonight.  I hate leaving him tonight more that usual.

tuckerstairs

And since this is a Tucker Files post, I’m going to include some more pictures, because I can!

My sweet, sleeping angel…

tuckersleeping

Tucker isn’t allowed in the living room, which is the only room that faces the front of the house.  Some nights, my boyfriend lets Tucker out to the garage to watch for me.  He always knows when its almost time for me to get home.  Here’s what I see when pulling in the driveway…

garage

And one more, Tucker laying on the cool ceramic tile in the evening…

tilefloor

Here’s hoping for a trouble-free surgery!  I will let you know how it goes!

Golden Retriever Puppy Cam Alert!

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A litter of puppies was born at Spirit Golden Retrievers in Springboro, Ohio on May 26, 2013.  There were 11 puppies – six boys and five girls. Thanks to The Pet Collective, you can check them out on live stream anytime!

puppycam

These puppies are all spoken for, but how exciting for their new humans to be able to watch them grow! Sometimes technology can be a good thing. Limited time only!  Puppies scheduled to leave “the nest” on or around July 17th.

 

Golden Retriever who served 4 tours of duty laid to rest

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Galva, Illinois – Freddie, the 14 year old golden retriever who served four tours of duty oversees was laid to rest yesterday.

Ryan Anderson and Freddie

Ryan Anderson and Freddie

Freddie was a former show dog from England who served three tours of duty under the British Army before spending a year in Afghanistan with owner owner Ryan Anderson in 2009 with the U.S Army.

Dog who served four tours of duty laid to rest (Video) – WQAD News

Freddie was a bomb sniffing dog who often went ahead of the soldiers to lead the way through the mine-infested streets.  Freddie was one of the older K9 soldiers, but Anderson said you wouldn’t know it because he had so much drive.

There is currently no assistance for dogs released or retired from military service, financial or otherwise,  and it is up to the dog’s owner to pay for any treatment or healthcare.  Anderson says he is sure Freddie suffered from PTSD.

“He had nightmares, like normal soldiers,” Anderson said.

Anderson tells WQAD in an interview

“Many times in Afghanistan, it was just me and him, sleeping on a cot. Him keeping me warm. We slept in the same sleeping bag a lot of times. He’s always had my back, He’s my best friend, we toured together for 365 days,”

On Wednesday May 29, Ryan Anderson took Freddie to visit the vet one last time.  He had his back till the end.

“It’s a day I’ve known that has always been coming for a while. He’s been getting worse and worse. We went to the vet last week and I couldn’t do it. But I’m going back to the vet today. He’s in a lot of pain. I’m going to have him cremated, and get him a veteran’s urn,”

Thank you Ryan Anderson and Freddie for your dedicated service.

The Golden Retrievers of Instagram – Top Ten Contest

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I recently became part of the social media world that is Instagram. Here you can find thousands of beautiful pictures of golden retrievers. It is a very friendly community too! Just tag your photos #goldens #goldenretrievers #thegoldensofinstagram etc to share or search for other golden retrievers.

Poster via GlassGiant.com

Poster via GlassGiant.com

If your golden retriever is on Instagram, you can enter our contest for The Top 10 Golden Retrievers of Instagram. If you wish to enter your golden retriever(s) please add #TopTenGoldenRetrieversofInstagram to your photos. Entries will close June 30, 2013. At that time, the ten photos with the most likes will be shared in a post and you can have a chance to vote for your favorite. I already have a few in mind I would like to nominate! Maximum 3 photos per dog. If more are entered, I reserve the right to choose the top 3.

As you can see, Tucker has found his true calling. A model. Here’s my profile page. 35 followers! Yay!

dailygoldenPlease note that by tagging your photos #thedailygolden or #toptengoldenretrieversofinstagram you are giving The Daily Golden permission to share your photos.

If your golden retriever is not on Instagram, and you would like to share your golden retriever photos and/or stories, send them to thedailygolden@gmail.com.

May the best golden win!