Please help us find JD the missing whippet puppy!

JD is a 6 month old whippet puppy who has been missing in Annapolis, MD since October 29th. Please help us find him! His mother is a Timbreblue whippet so he is family!

From Bobbie Lutz, JD's breeder:

Here's the latest on Ashley's missing baby JD.  Sun., the 10th, we had a 2nd dog tracker out & she tracked his scent (& air tracked him part of the way) to a different side of the park where he was lost.  So there is still hope he's out there somewhere.   Although the search team has pulled out the humane traps, 4 feeding stations have been put down in the new area.

The MD "Whippet Playdate Group" who have members on it who're part of the WRAP Rapid Response Team for such things have been instrumental on trying to help get JD home to his owner Chris, who is a single guy.  Chris only had him a month & 1/2 before he slipped past him as he was unloading him from his car at a new dog park there in Annapolis.

Fran McHugh (from the Rapid Response Team) posted a message to the administrators of the Lost and Found Pets of Anne Arundel County web site (as well as a couple other related web sites) to ask for volunteers in that area to help post more fliers and to man the feeding stations.  She also created an email address findjdwhippet@gmail.com where folks who are interested in helping can send a note to sign up to help.

This is approximately what the FB posting will say:

"Help desperately needed!  We picked up JD's scent, but are having trouble getting people to man the feeding stations and put up fliers.  Please if you can man stations (takes only about 6 minutes each) please help.  Also, we would like to organize a community "flyer posting".  Our goal is to post 500 flyers.  If we simply get 20 volunteers to come out for just an hour or so to post 25 flyers each, we will meet our goal.  Please help bring this puppy home"!  Please if you are in the Broadneck Park area, please help us!"
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We will need volunteers to perform duties associated with this effort.  If you can volunteer for #1 or #4 below  or to hang more fliers, let her know at that email address.

1. Supplies cache:
We need someone/somwhere to keep a stash of canned tripe and flour and to mix and replenish tripe spray.  This location will also keep a supply of fliers.  This needs to be nearby to the feeding stations (Broadneck Park area).  Instructions for maintaining the feed stations will be supplied.

2. Facebook Coordinator/Lead:
   Fran will do this & request volunteers to post more fliers in designated areas, and volunteers to check feeding stations once the FB Group is set up.  She lives in Glen Burnie, not Annapolis, so she needs someone nearer the scene to run the supply cache.

3. Fliers:
Fliers will be provided to volunteer in #1 once that person is identified.

4. Shelter Contact:
Fran will ask for a volunteer on FB to make a list of shelters to contact and make bi-weekly calls.
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 Little JD turned 6 months old on Nov. 14 and we sure hope to get him back soon.  He's an outgoing Whippet with '"excessive greeting disorder" so I can't imagine him still wandering the woods alone.  Someone just has to have him & either hasn't seen the ads in the Annapolis Capital Gazette or the fliers posted, or they like him so much they don't want to give him back & we need to make them feel guilty about keeping him.

So if any of the Timbreblue Family (or others I've sent this note to) can help, please contact that new email address Fran McHugh has set up.   Encourage your friends in that area of Annapolis to help.  They don't have to own a Whippet or even be current dog owners, just a willingness & time to help.

Bobbie Lutz

Don't waste that pumpkin!

Don't waste that pumpkin! Here are a few tips for using that holiday pumpkin for more than just a decoration on your front porch.

Pumpkin is great in recipes, and very useful to add to dog food for added fiber, especially if loose stools are a problem. Add a generous spoonful -- 1-2 tablespoons -- to each meal to help with diarrhea or just to keep dogs regular.

Pumpkin seeds (raw or roasted) are thought to help with internal parasites and to boost immune health in dogs and humans. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, protein, and antioxidants. Plus, they are a tasty snack. Don't let those pumpkin seeds go to waste when you carve pumpkins for your porch!

ROASTING PUMPKINS
(only roast fresh pumpkins, not pumpkins that have been carved and sitting out)

Halve the pumpkin, scoop out the seeds (see instructions for roasting seeds below). Place halves, cut side down, in a large baking pan lined with foil. Add about an inch of water and bake, uncovered, at 375F for 1.5-2 hours or until fork-tender (this is estimating a 7-lb pumpkin).

Cool, then scrape the "meat" from the shells and puree in a food processor or blender (add a little at a time). Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth and drain the puree to remove the extra moisture before using in recipes or dog food.

ROASTING PUMPKIN SEEDS
Pumpkin seeds can be eaten by humans and dogs raw or roasted. Pumpkin seeds are thought to help naturally eliminate internal parasites in dogs, and boost immune health in dogs and people. Save the pumpkin seeds when you carve your pumpkins. Raw or roasted pumpkin seeds can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Boil seeds for 5 minutes in plenty of water. Drain well, sprinkle with salt, and spread in a thin layer on a cookie sheet or flat baking tray.

Bake at 250F for 30 minutes, stir, then bake another 30 minutes to one hour, or until crunchy.

You could say Siren sleeps around

With baby Sophie-Grace

With Juliet

With Rowan, the Cirneco dell'Etna

Trick is happy and settled in his new home

Thank you to all who replied to the blog post about Trick needing a home. Trick now has a wonderful new family, and he is living in New Jersey with a new "brother", a red brindle whippet named Chili.

Trick has been renamed "Enzo" and is able to accompany his owner and Chili to work every day. As you can see from the photo of the boys hanging out in their owner's office, Enzo and Chili are very lucky dogs!

Trick is looking for a special home

Hi guys! Our beautiful young boy Trick is looking for the perfect home. We would have loved to keep him to breed, he is a sweet, affectionate and gorgeous boy, but he didn't end up with testicles, so he is neutered now.

Trick is one year old, a red brindle and white whippet with a dramatic white head. He's playful and fun, but also happy to curl up and cuddle on the couch watching TV. He loves to chase a tennis ball and could learn to chase a frisbee pretty quickly!

Trick would do fine in a multi-dog household, or would be happy being someone's one special dog. He'd love to take long walks or go to the dog park.

Let us know if you're looking for a special boy to add to your family.

Jake's (Rally) Excellent Adventure

This is reprinted from a private note with the kind permission of the author, Jake's owner, Diana C. 

Rally competition is an obedience-type sport, much more relaxed than traditional obedience competition. In rally, the owner and dog go through a course designed by the judge reading signs along the way with various instructions. It's a great way to build rapport with your dog and learn about AKC events. Go to http://classic.akc.org/events/rally/getting_started.cfm for a more complete description. 

To earn the title Jake is working on, Rally Advanced Excellent, the dog and owner team must qualify (Q) in both the advanced and excellent classes at the same trial. Ten times.  Not easy considering the creativity many whippets like to demonstrate when asked to do anything remotely resembling obedience.

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Our first entries for the RAE (Rally Advanced Excellent title) were Friday. It was a tough environment. The courses were set super close to the ring gates, it was very loud, they were preparing food for the judges not far on the one side. There was a hole in the roof...drips and a puddle between where you are and the dog runs to go over the jump. As we approached the sign in Excellent, I said sit. Jake went into a bow and stretched his little heart out. I said JAKE SIT and he went into a down. We had to redo. His heeling was really wide and his jump was about 20 yards long. He earned a 95 and 3rd place. 

In Advanced, his heeling was better.  We almost had an oops. The judge used the same jump with one sign in between them. She just eliminated the second jump and you moved to the next sign. Well, little Jake likes patterns and he was ready to take off for the second jump when I yelled (excited not mad tone) and it clicked in his liddle head. "Oh I supposed to be with you?" A couple of people actually cheered and the judge gave a sigh of relief!  He got a 99, 2nd place, and that gave him his first double Q.

Saturday AKC had a My Dog Can Do That ring with agility equipment. (Note: My Dog Can Do That is an AKC program offered at many shows, pet expos, etc, that allows the public to try agility and rally with the help of experienced trainers.)  So I took Jake in. we did a couple of jumps and weave poles. He had never been through a chute tunnel. LAUGH Your PANTS OFF!  A lady helped twice holding Jake while I held it open. Then he was zooming through and scooting around me with pure joy...he was the CUTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

He enjoyed going through the regular tunnel. I was slow getting to the end so he back tracked and caught up to me with a silly expression on his face. I thought the ladies at ringside were gonna fall off their chairs laughing.

Back to rally. I knew when we got to the ring entrance for Excellent there was gonna be a problem. We got to sign #5 It was a sit, stand, down  He did the sit and the stand very nicely. He went down for a milisecond and then lifted his butt and started crawling backwards. I know Jake so I decided not to take a redo...figured I'd lose major points either way. So we continued. He ended up with an 89 (thank you, Lord!). 

Next was Advanced. Who was the dog that came in with me and where did he come from? Be nice if he hung around for awhile. He earned a 100 and 4th place. In real life, he was the fastest dog in the rally ring, but also the slowest sitter. So that gave him his 2nd RAE leg. Only eight more to go...

PuPpY PoWeR

Diana

Greyhound: Oneco Matate (Rocky) CD-H, NTD, RL1, RLV, AOE-V, W-HDFDX/MF, W-FD/MF, CGC, (retired) TDI

Greyhound: URO1 Oneco Isabella (Belle) CD-H, ATD, RL2 (AOE-L2),W-DDFD/HTM, W-DDFD/MF, W-CH.HDFD/MF,  W-FDM/MF,  W-FDX/HTM, W-TFD/MF-X2,  W-BFD/MF, W-BBFD/HTM, W-BBFD/MF, CGC,  (retired) TDI

Whippet: URO2 Timbreblue's Mysterious Dream Warrior (Jake): BN, CDX-C, RE, RL1, RL2, RL3, AOE-L1, L2, L3,  TDCH, DSA, W-D1DFD/MF, W-FDX/MF, W-FD/HTM, W-BB/MF,  CGC, POYC Therapy dog.

Why girlz rool (ghost-written for Rini)

On this blog there have been a number of posts about how awesome the whippet boys are, how sweet, how cuddly, and how they obey better. Well Rini wants the record set straight about whippet girls. Yes, they are manipulative and cunning ... but that is because they are SMART. Whippet girls can figure out English words and put together complex situations like "at around 7pm Mom looks at Dad and says 'Well...OK...' which means that it is dinner time and she is about to feed us" so the GIRL whippets go nuts! The boys are clueless.

Yes, the boys are cuddly, and they are more likely to curl up in your lap or follow you from room to room. But if your GIRL whippet believes that you may have a treat in store or something she might be interested in, she is not going to leave your side!

Girl whippets learn obedience lessons faster, and how to break the rules faster. They may learn faster, but they get bored faster, which keeps you on your toes -- a good thing, right??

Girl whippets will cuddle on your pillow all night with you. They will love you to the ends of the earth. Especially if it means you might share a midnight snack with them.

Who could resist this face?

I actually had to change up my evening routine because of Miss Rini. She learned that after dinner I was likely to hand out chewies if she came to me and oh-so-sweetly put her paw on my lap. It was sooooo cute! And I would respond by going to get chewies for everyone -- Rini first of course!

Once I realized I was being played like a harp, I started skipping a day or two of chewies, to keep her guessing. She soon figured out that I could go a day or two with no chewie-handout, but beyond that I was powerless to her charms. So she REALLY turns it on during day three. She climbs in my lap, gives me kisses, drapes herself on me, and she KNOWS that I will break down.

Boys may be awesome, but girl whippets know the secret code to your heart. Be warned. =)

Bully sticks at a great price on Amazon!

Wow! I don't usually share shopping scores, but I just got 50-ct bully sticks (6") for $50 including shipping on Amazon. They last a long time and my whips are nuts about them. Usually they are crazy expensive so I don't buy them. But in this case they are made in North & South America (no China) and I trust this company (Value Pet Supplies).

The pork twist chewies I used to buy were made in China and although I've NEVER had a problem with them, I wanted to make a change, given the recalls and reports of problems with Chinese-made chewies. Here's the link in case you want to check them out: Value Pet Bully Sticks 6" 50-ct (other quantities available).

A Whippet Picaso?

Okay, so we've never won Westminster. We've never even competed in the AKC/Eukanuba National Dog Show and we've never even been to Crufts. We don't have the top obedience whippet in the country. (Wait, is that an oxymoron?) We haven't put an addition on the house to hold the trophies. But I don't know any other breeder who can boast of a whippet who paints.

Actually I can't boast about it either. Yes, we bred Jake, but owner Diana has put the work and the joy into his training. Have fun watching this one!

An ordeal - or - Viola's litter!

As the puppies turn one week old, we finally have enough room to breathe, and to catch you up on the ordeal -- umm, blessing! -- of Viola's first litter. This litter has been very hands-on, to say the least. Viola is finally turning into a good mommy but we have been through:

1. scary c-section with her under anesthesia for over three hours
2. Vi ignoring puppies
3. Vi not eating
4. finally deciding puppies were okay but lying on them and ignoring their squeaks of protest (this meant she could really never be left alone for several days and very little sleep for me -- my temporary bed is next to her box and I wake up with every squeal)
5. Vi having housebreaking issues -- turned out she was waiting as long as possible to ask to go out, then couldn't make it to the door
6. Vi deciding to move the puppies out of the box into her self-made bed just next to it. We solved that one (we think) by putting a very, very thick fleece in the box and she has left them alone for the time being. Apparently the Queen Mum was not comfortable enough.
7. Viola's milk not coming in. We are still coping with that one, having to supplement the smaller puppies several times a day and weigh them twice daily, deciding on an hourly basis which ones to supplement. They are doing well, just taking a lot of care. It is a balancing act to supplement them enough to keep them strong but not so much that we interfere with their nursing...if they don't nurse enough, mom's body goes into weaning mode and milk production shuts down.

Fortunately Viola is sweet and biddable, which makes all this much easier. Instinct has kicked in and she does love her puppies now (we were beginning to worry about that) and doesn't want to be away from them.

Boy, does this make me appreciate her mama Juliet, who hardly needed me at all. I was so sick with a cold during her last litter that I swear she was waking me up to say, "Hey, we have another one...all cleaned up for you. I'm going to take a nap too now, okay?" 

Viola, on the other hand, with her first contractions, went into OMG!!!! mode and stayed there, except when she was napping, which seemed like entirely too often for someone in labor! Finally after five were delivered, she decided that was all the puppies she needed and just quit on us. Thus, the c-section. We were expecting maybe one or two more, and there were FIVE more, Unfortunately we did lose one little girl, who had apparently died some time before delivery and was holding up the works. She is buried near her great-great Grandma Ivy and I am sure wherever they are, she is the BEST mannered little puppy you'd ever meet. Grandma Ivy takes no prisoners.

A Star is Born...well, a few years ago

Congratulations to our Jake and owner Diana C., who finished second in the national ratings for Rally Excellent for 2012! And if that isn't enough, they received an invitation to the AKC national rally championships! However, we should not be surprised.

Stardom is not new to Jake the Wonder Whippet though (officially, Timbreblue's Mysterious Dream Warrior). He and Diana have won titles in competitions I'll bet you didn't know existed!

For example,in the "Do More With Your Dog" tricks program, he's earned:
NTD (Novice Trick Dog)
ITD (Intermediate Trick Dog)
ATD (Advanced Trick Dog)
ETD (Excellent Trick Dog)
TDCH (Champion Trick Dog)

You can see some of Jake's amazing tricks on Youtube: -- all definitely worth watching! These are short videos that will inspire you to teach your whippet tricks....or at least think about it.

Jake's Advanced Tricks

And if you think that's impressive...

Jake's Expert Tricks

Jake Backs up the Steps

He started young!

Jake's Ball of Fun

When Jake gets bored with tricks, he goes dancing, In WCFO freestyle he's earned
his:

  W-FD/MF ( Beginners Musical Freestyle Dog Title)
  W-FDX/MF ( Novice Musical Freestyle Dog Title)
  W-FD/HTM ( Beginners Heelwork to Music Title)

Plus he passed the W-BB/MF  ( Bronze Bar Musical Freestyle Proficiency Test  Title)
(And I may be wrong, but I believe he was the first whippet to pass this!)

Combining all this, he earned his W-DDFD/MF ( Musical Freestyle Dancing Dog Title) which is earned after a freestyle title and a proficiency test in the same division,

With sister Piper. Who knew?

 But Jake isn't all about entertainment! He's also earned AKC titles:
RN (Rally Novice)
RA (Rally Advanced)
RE (Rally Excellent)
Obedience BN (Beginners Novice)
CGC (Canine Good Citizen)

And UKC titles:
URO1 (UKC Rally Level 1)
URO2 (UKC Rally Level 2)
and he has his first leg on a UKC obedience title (winning first place while he was at it!)

The Companion Dog Sports Program also offers titles and our well-rounded Jake picked up his novice obedience title (CD-C) from them and was ranked 11th in 2010 for Novice A obedience. He followed up with the next title, CDX-C, for open obedience.

I had no idea the Association of Pet Dog Trainers offered competitions, but Diana and Jake did! He's earned  his  RL1 (Rally Level 1) and bagged an Award of Excellence by scoring 190 or higher in his first three entries. He followed up with his RL2 (Rally Level 2) and the accompanying Award of Excellence for that level, and of course RL3 (Rally Level 3) and the Award of Excellence for that level.

Jake has two of three legs towards his first Cyber RallyO title, which is done by video.

Was he already planning a career?

He passed the Dogs Can Dance entry level (by the way, using Kevin Harris' music, thus keeping it all in the Timbreblue family. Dogs Can Dance is a video freestyle organization...you can compete with your dog in the privacy of your own home!

And between competitions, to keep themselves from getting bored, Jake and Diana earned Dog Scouts of America badges in dog scouting, therapy, retrieving, freestyle, and naked obedience (I didn't ask, but I'll assume this just means Jake performs without a leash and it has nothing to do with Diana's wardrobe...)

Jake even provides community service as a therapy dog certified by POYC (Pleasure of Your Company).

Now comes the fun part. When a dog earns a title, it becomes part of his official name, So, condensing all this, Jake is now URO2 Timbreblue's Mysterious Dream Warrior (Jake): BN, CDX-C, RE, RL3, AOE-L1,L2 & L3, TDCH, W-DDFD/MF, W-FDX/MF, W-FD/HTM, W-BB/MF, CGC, POYC Therapy dog, DSA.

Proud and happy doesn't begin to describe how we feel about Diana and Jake! We're proud of all our Timbreblue dogs and, as we have told our owners many times, all we want for our puppies is a loving home for each of them. But boy, when you get a pair like Diana and Jake, you just gotta brag on them a little!

Jake is from the 2009 Thanksgiving litter, Party and Nelson.

What Cooper (Winchester) has learned

Winchester (now Cooper) has been in his home in North Carolina with Hugh and Jean Bartlett now for a few weeks. Hugh and Jean own Cammie, from the Flower Children litter, and two other whippets, Geordie and Britt. Here is what we hear from him:
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 This is what Cooper Winchester Bartlett has learned in these last two weeks, per Cooper.

You can only get on furniture that has cover on it.  If you err, Mom tells you to get down in a VERY LOUD voice and then shows you the correct place.

You can NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put your feet on ANY table.  I learned that pretty fast.

Don't bring toys or chewies onto the people bed.

Wait your turn for your dinner.  Geordie goes first, Britt goes next, I finally get mine, and I don't care who goes next.

Mom took me for a walk by myself once.  Then she took me again with Cammie.
Dad took me once by myself and once with Geordie.  We all went for walks with everybody.  There's rules there too but I'm not too clear on them. Both people say I walk very well, whatever that means.

The people tell me easy when I'm nervous and pet my back.  I like that a lot.

Dad puts his hand out and uses it for a target.  I put my nose on his hand and get a treat.  Pretty cool.

I have to sit for a treat.  Mom says I situationally sit but Dad thinks I really know the word.

Don't mess with Britt when she has a chewie.

Geordie is pretty cool and does some really interesting stuff in the yard.

Cammie is fun to play with but is sometimes a little scarey.  Mom makes her stop playing and lets me in the house so I'm not scared.

Mom is wondering if the honeymoon is over.  I have no idea what she's talking about.

More boy joy

Couldn't resist these latest pics of Beca Zaun's Ohio boys. Their mom is Moka, Ch Timbreblue Abraxas Mocha Martini. She says Gibson in particular would be an excellent obedience or rally dog...he's unusually attentive to her.  This is Gibbs.

Did you call me?

Gibson catching zzzzz's

Okay, all boys look a little dopey sometimes...

Mom, stop with the camera already! We're sleeping here!

And here's Jack!

Was that a rabbit?

Let's DO something!

Could he get any cuter?

Well, yeah, this is cuter...


And just because we are so darn proud of Beca and Moka, here's a picture of them taking Best of Winners at the Dayton Kennel Club show when Moka was only six months old!

Moka's boys are available to people who will give them all the love whippet boys deserve! Contact Beca at roebeck@buckeye-express.com.

The Joys of Boys!

Gibson and Jack chowing down

We usually receive four or five inquiries a week from people looking for whippets. For the past two months we've noticed that all -- and I mean all with one exception --of the inquiries specify females, whether adults or puppies. I can only figure that somewhere on the internet must be a misguided bit of advice suggesting that girl dogs make better pets.

It's time someone put in a word for the boys. I cannot speak for all breeds, but in whippets it is generally accepted that males are more affectionate, less moody, more loyal, and just sweeter in general. In my personal opinion, the girls are smarter, but smarter does not necessarily mean a more obedient pet. Sometimes smart = conniving.

While it's not true of all females, I swear that several of ours have actually flipped me off when I've asked them to do something. And not something difficult -- something more like,  "Come here, Ju-ju Bean!" (Admittedly the flip off could be a response to the nicknames I use for them, but whatever the reason, they still won't come unless they happen to feel like it and have nothing else to do.)

When one of our girls is naughty and gets a "No!" or "Cut that out!", she is likely to respond with a stink-eye that clearly says, "You godda problem wit' me?" On the other hand, fuss at any one of our boys and he'll do anything to get back into your good graces.

Jack: It's really and truly empty, huh?

When boys fight, and they seldom do, it's settled then and there and life goes on. When the girls fight, it is never over. Think of the girl in high school who told you your shoes were ugly. If you're a woman, I'll bet you still remember her name and you might well hate her until the day you die. That's a whippet girl when she believes she has been wronged, slighted, or insulted. She never forgets. There's a reason we call them bitches.

Now these are generalizations and you might well find a female who never has a bad day and will snuggle with you as long as you'll let her. We've had some. And I suppose there are moody boy dogs out there too though I've never met one.

Jack

Gibson

 But as a rule, if you want a whippet who will tell you daily that you are the smartest, funniest, and most beautiful person in the world, your odds are better with a boy. Most whippets are snugglers regardless of gender, but if someone is in a snit on the other side of the room, it's going to be the female.

We've asked a few people their reasons for preferring females. The two most common responses are that male dogs lift their legs on furniture and some of them "hump" inappropriately.  These are not common problems with whippets, and especially not neutered ones.

Males "mark" in the house to claim property rights (and actually, many females do the same!) but unless another dog has previously laid claim to Dad's recliner, it's unlikely your boy will feel the need to add his signature.  Most marking can be attributed to more than one intact male in the house and/or a female in season. The average pet whippet is just not going to feel the need to establish dominance this way.

Humping inappropriately? We have only one whippet who does this routinely, and she's a female. Really. Kara has a complicated relationship with her favorite teddy bear.

Gibson: A boy with a healthy appetite

As for humping legs or whatever, that is easily corrected the same way you would correct any unwanted behavior -- with a firm "NO" and redirecting the dog's interest elsewhere. I have never owned a male whippet who rode people's legs like some of the toy breeds do, though I'm sure if I say they never do, someone will tell me about the one he had who loved to hump Grandma's knee. But it is definitely not a common problem in whippets.

Humping other dogs, by the way, is seen at least as often in females as males. It's  a dominance thing, not a sex  thing, and again, a firm correction is called for, as well as redirecting the attention of both dogs so they can stop worrying about who's da boss.

Don't get me wrong. I adore my girls. But if I want pure, uncomplicated love, I'll take a male whippet any day.

If after reading this you think a little whippet boy might fit into your home, give us a call at 540-464-8046. We know of a number of boys just looking for someone to adore. Our lovely Moka (Ch Timbreblue Abraxis Mocha Martini) was bred and has two really nice brindle boys available in Ohio.  She belongs to Beca Zaun and you can reach Beca at roebeck@buckeye-express.com. Their photos are shown throughout this post.

If you want to skip the baby puppy phase, ask us  about Trick and Winchester. They are also brindle, around six months old, crate and leash-trained and very well started on housetraining. They are energetic, fun little guys who need to get settled in their "real" homes. And we know of a litter in Charlotte, North Carolina, with some boys available.

The boys and Mama Moka (and sister Brandi)

The official Timbreblue cocktail!

Timbreblue is proud to announce that one of the top 25 cocktail bars in America (GQ) -- The Whistler Chicago -- has named a cocktail after Timbreblue Whippets. One of the bar's co-owners has a Timbreblue puppy in the family, and he based the recipe on the "greyhound" cocktail, with a twist to make it more whippety. Check out The Whistler at the link below, and if you're in Chicago, stop by for a drink -- and make it a Timbreblue!

• The Whistler Chicago

Tips for an Emergency Vet-Free Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a whippet's idea of heaven. All those smells! All that food! All that company! All the opportunities to beg and steal!

Unfortunately, Thanksgiving also pays for new additions on many emergency clinics. To protect your dog and your pocketbook during the holidays, keep the following in mind:

Many holiday foods are fine in very small amounts, but can make your dog very sick if given too freely. Turkey and duck are fatty meats and too many scraps can cause pancreatitis. This goes for beef, chicken and pork fat too. Pancreatitis is potentially life-threatening, with symptoms including severe vomiting, diarrhea, reluctance to walk, pain and crying, irritability, restlessness, and refusing to eat. If you see any of these signs, get thee and thy whippet to an emergency vet pronto. Pancreatis can be fatal. If your dog has ever had a bout of pancreatitis, don't give him any scraps at all. Stick to his regular diet. I know he will tell you he's going to die without turkey leftovers, but the opposite may be true! 

Nuts and chips are not only high in fat (see above warning) but also are very high in sodium. Another no-no for dogs. Macadamia nuts are deadly and often found in mixed nuts.

No chocolate! Dark chocolate is the worst, but none is good for dogs. It contains theobromine, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased urination. These can progress to cardiac arrhythmias, epileptic seizures, internal bleeding, heart attacks, and eventually death. Don't panic if someone gives the dog an M&M, but be sure chocolate is out of reach, including wrapped packages that might be under the tree or candy on a guest room bedside table.

Put all aluminum foil, wax paper, twine, plastic wrap, and other items used to prepare or store foods in an outside garbage can with a well-fitted lid. Even the best whippets are talented thieves and when the food is this good, they'll try anything to get to it...including eating the paper it was wrapped in. Intestinal blockage is another emergency vet goldmine.

It goes without saying that turkey bones are very dangerous for dogs, Any bone that splinters can lodge in the esophagus, cause punctures internally, or set him up for an intestinal blockage (see Emergency Vet Goldmine #2 above).

Watch not only for a well-meaning guest slipping the whippet a forbidden treat, but also for counter-surfing. If a human is not in the kitchen and/or dining room, neither should the dog be! Yes, he may usually be completely trustworthy around food (or so you say), but with a steaming turkey glistening with juices on the counter? Get serious!

If you're expecting company, make sure everyone knows you have a dog or dogs and what the rules are. It might be best to crate him or put him in another room while guests are arriving and making trips back and forth to the car for gifts or food. A door opening ten times in five minutes is an invitation for an unplanned game of chase!

Keep an eye on your dog and make sure he's comfortable with all the hoopla. If he's being badgered by children (or adults!), tactfully rescue him from the situation and give him some time to himself in that other room or crate. Just as for children, too much stimulation is not good for a dog. Whippets are generally very good with children, but they do have their limits. Nevermind the emergency vet, you definitely don't want to end your Thanksgiving Day in the emergency room with a niece or nephew who just didn't know when to quit! 

Finally, just a few more reminders:

No drinking for the dog -- alcohol can be extremely toxic for animals, and besides, who wants to see the dog dancing on the table with a lampshade on his head? Seriously though, some boys/men of a certain age/maturity seem to find it very funny to get the dog schnockered. Don't let them.

If you bake bread, be careful to keep the dough away from the dog. Bread dough rising inside the dog's tummy can make him very sick.

Stuffing may seem harmless enough, but if it is made with sage, garlic, onions, raisins, or chives , it's not healthy for dogs.

Avocados, all parts, are bad for dogs.

Xylitol, the artificial sweetener used in some chewing gums and candies is poisonous to dogs. Check that bedside table in the guestroom again.

And just in case, keep a bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide handy to induce vomiting if, after all your best efforts, your little Babyface Nelson succeeds in heisting the dinner. Dose is one teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for every 10 pounds of weight..This method will take roughly 15-20 minutes to take effect. If it doesn't work, you can give your dog hydrogen peroxide up to three times in a row. Do not induce vomiting if you think he has gotten into bones, however, as they may do even more damage coming back up.

Now go enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner!

 

Training Treats

When training your dog, a great motivator is food! It might take a little trial and error to figure out what makes your dog go crazy, but you can have a lot of fun trying different "recipes". Some of my favorites are on the link below. I've included my "go-to" dog training cookie recipe here.

Liver Cookies

• 1 LB raw liver, defrosted (any kind is fine, my dogs prefer beef or chicken)
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup flour (any kind)
• 1/4 cup water (can increase to 1/2 cup if needed for consistency)
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1-2 eggs
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (optional, makes the cookies a little greasy but the dogs love it!)

Take a baking pan/cookie sheet with low sides and line it with aluminum foil. Spray with cooking spray.

Blend the liver in a food processor or blender until liquefied. Add remaining ingredients, moist first, blending each until well combined. The consistency will be like loose cement. If it is too thick, add another egg or a bit more water. It should not be runny but not thick as mud. Spoon mixture into pan and spread evenly. Bake 30-45 minutes, test by inserting a toothpick in the thickest part -- it will come out clean when the cookies are done. Remove from oven and cut into small bite-sized squares. Allow to cool and peel cookies off the pan. Remove foil and put the cookies back on the pan, put in the freezer until hard. Store in the freezer for several months or in the fridge for 3-4 days. Thaw at room temperature when you need them. Dogs also love them frozen!

• Dog training treats cookbook

Little boys ready for new homes!

We have two little whippet boys who are ready to go to new homes. Both are "older puppies" -- one 12 weeks and one 16 weeks (ages approximate; I haven't actually counted weeks lately!) The advantages of older puppies are many: already leash trained, mostly housetrained (at least paper trained), almost completely crate trained, and past the "biting your feet with little needle teeth" phase! These two are well-socialized and outgoing...and they don't get carsick! Shots and worming up to date, of course.

Winchester was bred by Jo Pelton (Rajopa Whippets) and has been here for a couple of months. He's a very nice puppy we were thinking of keeping, but decided we really don't want to deal with more boys when the girls come in season! He is affectionate and snuggly but playful. Would be great in a home with kids or other whippets.  Winnie is close to 100% "old Appraxin" breeding.

And below is Trick. Don't let that sweet face fool you! He is full of himself and happy-happy-happy. Loves attention and loves to play. Trick was born July 10, bred by Rachel Gongre (Deco) and Todd Miller (Jomyr). I was a little nervous about bringing another male puppy here with Winchester, especially since Trick was younger and smaller. I shouldn't have worried! He holds his own with Winnie and everyone else around here. He is a lovable little guy who will do well in an active home, though he certainly has his couch potato time too.

There are lots more photos of them at our Picasa site https://picasaweb.google.com/105255380483660395824/October212012

If you're interested in either of these boys, fill out our questionnaire and give Sharyn a call at 540-464-8046. I hate to see them go, but they need to get into their own homes.

Five weeks old!

The "Illicit Love" puppies are five weeks old today! We have photos taken at the beginning of this week on Picasa and Facebook. At this age, they are really, REALLY cute.

They've been weaned onto solid food -- we start with a mix of mostly cooked hamburger meat blended with canine milk replacement formula, then slowly move them over to kibble that has been soaked in warm water and pureed. We'll puree it less and less as the days go by, until they are eating soaked solid chunks of kibble, then eventually dry solid kibble.

As we begin feeding the puppies solid food and they nurse less, their mother (Juliet) gives over the cleaning-up duties to us -- bring on the newspapers! A litter of puppies goes through a truly shocking number of newspapers. We keep the whelping box and later the puppies' room very clean to teach them to keep their "den" clean, and make housebreaking a little easier. At this age the puppies are already gravitating to the back of the whelping box for bathroom duties, so that's where the newspapers are. This teaches them that there is an appropriate place to go, and it's not where they sleep.

Their puppy play has gotten a lot more exciting as their teeth have come in! They have little tussles with their siblings and it is hilarious to watch the little "puppy wars" that start so quickly and then fade off as one combatant falls over or loses interest. The puppies and their mother are teaching themselves "bite inhibition" -- as in, when you bite me, it hurts! They quickly figure out that when they bite too hard, the game ends. We also reinforce this idea when playing with the puppies -- when they bite, the game is over and we remove our hands. As the puppies age, their playful bites will get lighter and lighter as they learn this concept.

A few people have inquired about this litter -- all of these puppies are spoken for at this time, but sometimes plans change, so it's possible we might have a puppy available closer to the time when they go home (when they are 10 weeks old).

Unfortunately since we breed so little, we don't have enough puppies for the inquiries that we receive. We are happy to refer you to another breeder who might have puppies, though, so please feel free to inquire. We also have a couple of older puppies who have been waiting for their perfect homes, I will post about them separately.