Tumgik
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
Encountered the most frustrating topic in fish and pet care today on a Facebook axolotl group.
Someone asking about getting their axolotl high when they smoke weed around it.
I instantly was pissed beyond words. People actually talked about blowing pot smoke at their dogs and cats.
If you do this shit, unfollow me. It’s so messed up and dangerous. You’re a shit person if you do this to your pets. Marijuana is NOT SAFE FOR ANIMALS.
78 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
If you guys haven’t noticed from my endless bitching, it’s hot as fuck in Australia right now (thanks climate change).
These are a handful of resources I’ve seen floating about. The first one is my favourite - I have this one printed and on my wall at home for quick reference. It came handy on one night when I got home and was genuinely concerned about my dogs, so it helped me tick off if I should go to the vet or just focus on cooling everybody down. (And there’s always the option to just call my vet and have them run me through my concerns a la the avocado incident)
This informational post is linked as it has photos of what can happen to your dogs feet when walking on hot asphalt (tw: injury warning).
I didn’t see reference to these in any of them as a touch niche but keep in mind:
Dog booties are a double edged sword. They prevent blistering from asphalt but they also reduce the efficiency of dogs cooling via their feet.
Dogs CANNOT sniff and pant at the same time. Dogs cannot cool themselves while doing scent detection/tracking/search and rescue. 
Some links:
Running with dogs in the heat (things to consider)
Assorted information on heat management across a range of domestic species (dogs, cats, birds, birds etc) 
Also hey don’t leave your dogs in cars in summer (what to do in Australia if you see a dog in a hot car):
youtube
This is my car - it’s set up to have the boot open, has a traditional thermometer and emergency contacts clearly displayed, covered in a reflective cooling mesh, a water bucket, and has both cooling mats and portable fans that blow cold air. Still not leaving my dogs in this car once it goes over 25c.
Tumblr media
(we have a cooling coat for when we compete but once it hits 25c the dog stays out of the car with me between trials. Getting up to 30c? We go home. Ribbons can wait, dogs come first.)
Bonus - Vegan Dog Heatstroke Chart:
Tumblr media
346 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
When the honeymoon stage ends what happens
…………
224K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
PASS THIS ON.
The first transgender suicide hotline is now up and running in the U.S. You can reach Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.
592K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
Tick season is already in full swing and it’s going to be one of the worst years for ticks and lyme disease. Make sure your pets are on flea/tick/heartworm prevention and get your dogs vaccinated against lyme!
78K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Video
Feather star caught swimming. (Source)
6K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Note
Keeping things balanced and making sure the dog is comfortable and understands what you are saying is #1 in training. If your dog needs that difference in such a thing, then you should use it. Comparing it to a clicker makes a lot of sense and isn't something I have heard before! They aren't great how a lot of people use them, but good if used cautiously and handled well!
Could you tell me more about ecollars? In which situations do you use them, and for which behaviors? What would you want someone to know if they have never used them before?
You can use ecollars for pretty much anything imaginable. One of the main things I love about ecollars is how versatile they are. They’re totally impersonal vs something like a prong or voice correction, and you have a wide range of correction options. Vs with withholding rewards, where you have far less option for tailoring consequence - you essentially can immediately withhold the reward, or put the dog up, lol. Ecollars are much more black and white, and allow for significantly more precision - you can tailor the number, and you can use them as precisely as a clicker. I use a low stim (say, a 15 out of 127 - something which I can barely feel) to “activate” Happy sometimes. If you’ve ever seen a video of someone working on heeling by gently and rhythmically popping the prancing, happy dog with a prong, it’s the same concept. Not so much anymore, since her heeling is well established. And I use stim of varying levels for all sorts of behaviors - sometimes for more complex behaviors on a fairly low stim (say, mid-20s), like trying to “escape” heel position, so Happy has to work very hard to stay IN heel position. The stim makes it crystal clear when she is correct and when she is not. Megan often follows her “back” cue in heeling with stim; there’s a lot of options here. The sky’s the limit. But I would say the 3 biggest things I use the ecollar for are the out, the platz, and blocking behaviors. The first two have been emphasized enough at this point that she doesn’t frequently need corrections, but it still happens. Sometimes whatever is going on is more valuable than the ball. With blocking behaviors, I mean both BS in the crate - like if I hear her going all escape artist, or if she’s barking for the joy of it - and for competition stuff. An integral part of PSA is performing obedience around decoys. Happy had no issue with this till recently (many more bitework sessions under her belt), and then she started releasing herself towards decoys instead of the ball 😂 Using the ecollar tremendously sped up the process of getting her to play with a ball despite wanting to bite her BFF the decoy. For Happy, there is no higher reward than getting to bite someone. Using the ecollar helped communicate to her far more quickly HOW she can get the reward she so strongly desires. I know people often think of ecollars as creating a “have to” mindset in the dog, but I don’t agree with that at all. Even when Happy has gotten some major ass corrections, she doesn’t get a sullen or slave like mindset. In the right hands, ecollars are a tool of clarity: helping the dog get the reward faster. That’s absolutely how they’ve functioned with Happy, circumventing a LOT of confusion and frustration in the process. What I’d want to tell someone who’s never used an ecollar before is first and foremost, go above and aboard to make sure your dog won’t be collar smart. I’m talking put the collar on for a couple days before ever first switching it on and finding working level, put the collar on well before you ever plan to actually use it, and be careful about the dog watching the behavior chain of you grabbing the remote. Also, the collar probably needs to be tighter than you think to make consistent, even contact. Do not waste time teaching your dog the tone or vibrate function as a “warning” for a correction… with proper training for recall, out, and other high stakes behaviors, your voice is what should be functioning as a warning that stim is imminent without compliance. Don’t let other people make you feel guilty for using an ecollar - there’s a lot of misinformation about ecollars out there, including from people who’ve never picked up a remote. I get the vibe that a lot of balanced trainers feel pressured to say they ONLY use ecollars for emergency situations, or for gentle proofing, or whatever. I don’t! 🤷🏼‍♀️ I use ecollars for a melange of stuff, and my dog is perfectly happy and thrilled to work. She prefers correction to having rewards withheld or being put up. I have much more respect for balanced trainers who use more pressure than I do, but who are fair and thoughtful to the dog, than I do for anyone who is anti aversive, but interacts with their dog out of anger.
Ultimately, as long as you’re actively being considerate of your dog, an ecollar is a fantastic tool which can greatly increase clarity in training, as well as open up a lot of opportunities for your dog.
155 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
PET STORE DIALS DO NOT WORK.
All of these gauges have been sitting in my house for a week. A friend thought id need them so she brought them over. None of them are reading the same temperatures and humidity.
For the record it is 77 degrees (f) and 59% humidity in my house. Edit: Multiple people have argued that you can readjust them to read the appropriate temperatures, and those who have tried claim they do not stay adjusted for more than a couple days.
1K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
Freshly back from running around in a field for a hour and working really hard on recall! She did great and came back every time we called except once when I rabbit darted out in front of her and she took off into the little wooded area we were near. She was on a 6' leash, but we didn't manage to grab it before she got into the woods. She still didn't roam far and came back after a minute when she realized we weren't following her! Considering we haven't worked a ton on recall or even come when called, we were all very proud of her!
Tumblr media
2 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
Why Not Cesar’s Way? 
BEYOND CESAR MILLAN
Cesar Millan, Dominance Theory and Modern Dog Training
THE DOG WHISPERER CONTROVERSY
The Dog Whisperer: Frequently Asked Questions
Modern Dog Training vs. Cesar Millan
The Dominance Controversy and Cesar Millan
From Andrew Luescher, DVM, Veterinary Behaviorist
Veterinary Behaviorists Take a Stand Against Cesar Millan
dog training gone bad - Debra F. Horwitz, DVM, DACVB
Reputable Behaviorists and Dog Trainers Speak Out, “Cesar Millan’s philosophy is not ours.”
Behind the Behavior - AVMA Conference: The Controversy
‘Dog Whisperer’ Training Approach More Harmful Than Helpful
Critics Challenge ‘Dog Whisperer’ Methods
Quotes From Experts
New Study Finds Popular “Alpha Dog” Training Techniques Can Cause More Harm Than Good
8K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
Here’s another wasp PSA since summer is coming: the one in the top left is demonstrating a warning posture. All the others are relaxed and going about their business, but she’s noticed someone there, and she’s turned toward them and raised her wings to ask that they back off and leave. She would rather not engage if she has to, just like the signals a dog tries to give you before it resorts to biting.
Tumblr media
If you see all these V’s, just move a little farther away
25K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
Writing up my brithday wish list thing is hard because I don't want to seem like I pretty much only live for my animals but..... Everything I can think of that I would want is for the animals. Dog toys, rabbit toys, cages, dog DNA test, money (specifically for food for the animals because that and toys for them is basically what I spend money on at this point in my life)
3 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
Well designed infographic!
308 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
Took Dory out for a walk today. Just a short one because it was about 80° when we left, but I figured as long as it was about there temperature wise (and this is in the evening so I didn't think it would change much) then we would be fine walking in the grass in a field around a pond. About halfway through the walk we ended up with the temperature being almost 90° and my poor girl has to take a break and lay in a puddle for a few moment to cool off. We are now home and she got plenty of water and is now laying on the vent enjoying the air conditioning
1 note · View note
songofthefrog · 5 years
Photo
Tumblr media
Found this on facebook (don’t know the source.) Loved it.
317 notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Video
44K notes · View notes
songofthefrog · 5 years
Text
Tumblr media
Morning after pill is like ~40 at most pharmacies I think? Reblog to save a life lol
86K notes · View notes