DogBoy's Dog BlogDog boarding, training, daycare and wellness in the Austin area

If you’ve lived in Texas any length of time, you’ve probably come to see that passing bills when the Legislature is in session doesn’t resemble the old Schoolhouse Rock classic “I’m Just a Bill” so much as a brutal contact sport. The current session is just about over and has had no shortage of controversial bills, some of which have even made national news like House Bill 1451, better known as the Puppy Mill Bill. You can read the text of the bill and all amendments, and see more, at the Texas Legislature Online. The bill would require licensing and inspection for any facility having more than 11 breeding female dogs or cats, mandating humane conditions such as proper ventilation, food, water, and enough space.

Passions have run high on both sides. Supporting the bill is Texas Humane Legislation Network. Opposing it is the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance.  Our aim here is to present both sides as fairly as possible.

It is undeniable that something needs to be done to curb the problem of puppy mills in Texas. We here at DogBoy’s have seen the tragic health and temperament consequences of puppy mill dogs, as well as the heroic efforts of customers who have helped rescue these dogs to give them the best and most dignified life possible. It is a wonderful thing to rescue a dog in need of a home from a good shelter or rescue group, but responsible breeders produce good pets as well. Unfortunately, not enough people investigate where they are buying their puppies from, or simply may not know what separates a good breeder from a disreputable one.  We covered this in part in a previous blog entry, “Getting A New Dog.”

Opponents  of HB 1451, led by the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance, say that the aim of the bill is to eliminate commercial pet breeding altogether, in service of a radical agenda that seeks to eliminate meat eating and pet ownership.  Additionally, RPOA says that the bill would be the first step down a a path which would prohibit livestock farming; hunting, trapping and fishing; zoos, rodeos and circuses. There have also been claims that the bill would dictate training methods, especially for hunting dogs.  In light of that, it is worth noting that State Rep.  David Simpson of Longview, a leading opponent of the bill in the legislature, received approximately $500 from the NRA and another $300 from the Texas Deer Association in the period covering the 2010 campaign (view Rep. Simpson’s filings online at the Texas Ethics Commission’s website). Furthermore, opponents of HB 1451 say that existing state and federal standards and anti-cruelty laws are more than adequate to police puppy mills.

On the other side, supporters of HB 1451—led by the Texas Humane Legislation Network argue that criticism of the bill is overblown or outright false. In their FAQ section covering HB 1451, THLN asserts the following: that only commercial breeders with 11 or more intact female animals which ALSO sell the offspring of those females will be subject to the bill’s licensing requirements and standards, and subject to inspection. Boarding facilities like DogBoy’s would not be affected; trainers would not be affected; so-called “hobby breeders” who may only have one or two litters in a year would not be affected. THLN also argues that the inspection and standards give the state the leverage to seize animals before they die from neglect, instead of charging the people responsible for animal cruelty after it’s too late.

As with many bills the Legislature considers, the good intentions behind the puppy mill bill have been lost in a system that seems to value controversy over sober analysis. Hopefully we were able to shed some light on this subject, and we’ll be sure to follow up on HB 1451 if anything new develops.

Nicole Mlakar Photography, http://www.nicolemlakarphotography.com

Summer’s here, and it’s time to start being conscious of the heat.  Not just in regards to ourselves, but also with our dogs. Most of us know when the heat’s getting to us, our children or our friends; do you know what to look for in your four-legged friends?  Dogs do sweat, but unlike with people, it is not their primary means of cooling down. In fact, once the temperature or heat index reaches the upper-90s to low 100s, all dogs have a much more difficult time cooling down.

VetInfo.com has an excellent summary of the signs to look for, but here are the major symptoms:

1. Heavy panting and hyperventilation;
2. “Belling” of the tongue; if your dog is panting heavily, his tongue will flare out into a bell-like shape at the bottom; 
3. Lethargy or confusion; 
4. Staggering gate.

As the dog’s body temperature rises:

1. Gray or pale gums;  
2. Shallow and/or labored breathing;
3. Vomiting and bloody diarrhea.

Some dogs are more at risk than others.  Much like people, puppies and senior dogs are more prone to heat stress.  Short-snouted breeds such as pugs or boxers also overheat very quickly, as do dogs on thyroid medications such as soloxine or thyroxine.  Both of these factors make dogs less able to regulate their body temperature, especially when it comes to keeping cool.  Finally, overweight dogs are at increased risk for heat exhaustion—one more incentive to make sure your dog maintains a proper weight.

Working at the front desk at DogBoy’s, one of the most common questions I get from clients and prospective clients is “What do you do with the dogs when it gets hot?” Typically, we turn on the air conditioning in the kennel buildings in the late morning, then bring the dogs in at mid-day for a few hours’ rest to cool off.  Dogs who are particularly intolerant of the heat will spend much more time indoors, either in our kennel buildings or in the front office—where they’ll still get lots of people time and spoiling.

For the dogs that do get to spend more time outdoors, our hard-working kennel staff refreshes the water buckets and baby pools at noon so there’s lots of nice cold water to play in and drink. And as long as our pond has water that is safe to swim in, our best behaved and water-loving dogs will be able to have a dip as well during our pond hikes.

As always, we are happy to accommodate your dog’s special needs—heat-related or otherwise. And don’t forget: summer fills up fast, even on non-holiday weekends, so if you haven’t reserved a spot for your dog during your summer vacation, give us a call or email!

written by Jay Robison

Charlie Bear, photo by Nicole Mlakar Photography

Wow your friends, win trivia contests and maybe a few bar bets with these facts and stories about dogs:

• The average body temperature of a dog is 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Sight hounds like the Greyhound and Saluki are among the oldest known dog breeds. Pictures (in gold of course) of King Tutankhamun (1341-1323 BC) hunting in the marshes of the Nile with a Greyhound-like dog were found in his tomb; one of King Tut’s 18^th dynasty ancestors had a leather dog collar among the goods in his tomb.  If you will be in San Francisco between now and March, you can see both the pictures and the dog collar on tour as part of the “King Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharohs” exhibit. You can even buy a replica of the dog collar!
• Another ancient breed is the Irish Wolfhound—which is also one of the tallest dog breeds. The average Wolfhound is three feet high at the shoulders; some of the biggest ones are the size of a small pony. While their ancestors fought the Romans in the British Isles, the Wolfhound today is known for its quiet, gentle nature.
• The average life span for purebred dogs varies between just over 5 years for the Dogue de Bordeaux (aka French Mastiff) to 14-16 years for many toy and terrier breeds. The oldest confirmed dogs lived to be around 24; a dog named Bluey who died in 1939 was reputed to be 29 ½ , but this was anecdotal.
• The ancestor of the Dogue de Bordeaux and all other mastiff breeds (not to mention breeds with mastiff blood like the St. Bernard and Rottweiler) from England to Tibet was a Roman dog called the Molossian. The Molossian was used as a guard dog, a war dog, and—like two-legged Roman legionaries—may have helped haul loads in camps. To this day, mastiff-related breeds are sometimes called “Molossers.”
• The tallest and largest dog ever recorded was an English Mastiff named Zorba, who weighed 343 pounds and measured 8 feet nose to tail.
• We don’t think of dogs as beasts of burden, but dogs were used by North American tribes to help haul loads and people before the introduction of horses.
• On September 13, 2009, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Ali hauled 4982 pounds (over 50 times her own body weight) for 14.81 seconds—setting a new record in a weight pulling competition.
• The smallest dog living (in terms of length) is a Chihuahua named Heaven Sent Brandy, who is about 6 inches long from nose to tail.
• Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886), while still well-known today, was a music superstar in his lifetime. While the state of photographic technology in the 19^th century meant Liszt didn’t have to worry about the paparazzi, he did get many requests from fans for a lock of his hair. Instead of using his own hair, Liszt frequently sent out locks of his dog’s hair that he passed off as his own.
• As one of his first acts after being sworn in in July, Senator Al Franken of Minnesota led a bipartisan coalition in Congress to pass the Service Dogs for Veterans Act, to provide vets with dogs for both physical and mental disabilities. Franken was inspired after meeting a veteran with severe PTSD who was able to attend President Obama’s inauguration thanks to his service dog.
• The partnership between human and dogs is a long one, but just how long is a matter of debate. DNA evidence suggests that dogs and wolves split as separate species about 100,000 years ago; the earliest clear evidence of domestic dogs is about 30,000 years old. A site in Germany that dates back 14,000 years has people and dogs buried together—suggesting a very close partnership by that time. One thing is clear: dogs were the first domesticated animal.

Contributed by Jay Robison