tool name

Saturday, Sep. 19, 2009

The Old Trainer: Dogs can go the distance

Dear Old Trainer: I walk my Rhodesian ridgeback, Roady, a mile a day, THREE days a week, but he still acts up and has too much energy. What do you recommend?

Puzzled, Sacramento

A: Walking an athletic breed like a ridgeback three miles a week is the equivalent of a human getting up and walking to the fridge once an evening, Puzzled.

I commend you for walking Roady as much as you do, but three miles a day would be more like it. If you do not have the time or are not able to walk more than you are now walking, I recommend taking Roady to a dog park every day. Running with the other dogs will be fun for him. If you have friends who are runners, ask them to take Roady along.

I can't recall ever seeing a hill in Sacramento, but if you can find one, take Roady out and throw a tennis ball down the hill for him. Running back up for half an hour or so daily will calm him down and keep him healthy.

Dear Old Trainer: I just found out I can buy vaccines to give my dog, Baxter, his yearly shots. Do you recommend this?

Thrifty, Omaha, Neb.

A: People living in rural areas who don't have immediate access to a veterinarian have done this for years, Thrifty, but I do not recommend it if there is any way possible that you can get Baxter to a good vet.

For one thing, while most farm supply and feed stores sell vaccines to individuals, most states require that only veterinarians can give rabies shots.

A more important reason is that a good vet does a lot more than merely give shots. A trained eye can detect and prevent troubles that an individual may not notice. Vets are also current on various diseases or infections that may be occurring in the region.

It is not common, but pets can have an allergic reaction to a vaccine. If that happens, the pet can die before you can get to a vet.

You may save a few dollars by giving the shots yourself, but Baxter will be better off if an experienced professional examines him once a year.

More on Labradoodles: Well, The Old Trainer stirred up a hornetdoodle's nest by pointing out the shortcomings of the Labradoodle. The dog marketing business has thrown a hissydoodle fit. A sampling:

Dear Old Trainer: You don't know nothing about dogs, and you don't know nothing about breeding dogs, and you sure don't know nothing about Labradoodles.

Responsible Labradoodle Breeder, Marin County

P.S.: And you are not even a good writer.

A: Picky, picky, picky.

Dear Old Trainer: You don't know what you are talking about. Labradoodles are great dogs, and the people who breed them are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts to produce a great breed.

Responsible Labradoodle Owner and Breeder, Bakersfield

A: I take your word about the goodness of their doodlehearts, but if that is so, then why do they all charge money for the dogs?

And what's with the "responsible" that all of you use? Why, a person might think that someone had written a columndoodle pointing out your shortcomings.

Dear Old Trainer: The poodle and the Labrador are both awesome breeds in many ways. Therefore, breeding the two does not give you an inferior dog, it gives an even more desirable breed...

Responsible Labradoodle and Goldendoodle Breeder (no address given)

A: Goldendoodle? You mean... Oh, no!

Wait a minute. Why would anyone stick a "d" in the middle of "Goldendoodle" anyway? Shouldn't you at least be required to spell a new breed correctly before you try to make money from it?

Send your questions for The Old Trainer to: TheOldTrainer711@yahoo.com.