Hurricane Earl is heading our way. How much damage will Hurricane Earl is still debatable.

My question is, “Why can’t hurricanes be named after dogs?” Hurricanes are always named after humans. How about dog names? How about “Hurricane Spike” or Hurricane Rover” for names?

Hurricane Sonic would be a good name. I cause a lot of chaos when I get going. Something to think about in the future.

National Dog Day!!!Recognize that today is National Dog Day! All cats step back and revel in our glory.

Take the time to appreciate your dog on National Dog Day. Also, take your dog for an extra long walk, give your dog an extra scoop of dog food, and give your dog an extra treat on this day.

As I ponder what to do on this wonderful day, I appreciate my owners and what they do for me and what I do for them.

Well I finally decided what to do. I am going to do what I do best…sleep.

Happy National Dog Day!

After our recent heat wave we had a major thunderstorm and rain. Even though it cooled the temperature, Sonic the Crazy Beagle can never seem to get over my phobia of thunderstorms and I run for protective cover…the laundry room.What helps me overcome my fear of Thunderstorms is music. My owners usually play the classical music station and I stop panting. I am pretty mellow when they also play soft jazz. They haven’t played soul music. Maybe Barry White or Al Green will work as well.

You can also talk to talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s fear of thunderstorms. He or she can help you develop a program to gradually retrain your scared dog by gradually, gently helping him adjust to storms through behavior modification. Technically called “systematic desensitization,” this involves exposing the storm-phobic dog to some gentle reminders of a thunderstorm, such as a very soft tape recording of thunder or a flashing light, and rewarding the dog with lots of treats, attention, and other positive reinforcement only if there’s no evidence of anxiety. Over time, the intensity of the stimulus is increased, and only calm behavior rewarded. You should get professional guidance, either from a veterinarian or a veterinary behavior specialist, before you begin this process, however. If you introduce frightening stimuli too quickly or don’t see signs of fear your dog may be showing, you could possibly end up making the phobia worse.

If gentle, patient retraining doesn’t help your pooch, there are some prescriptions that can. Your veterinarian can prescribe one of several anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications to help your dog stay calm during storms. You can also make sure your dog has a warm, safe “den” to retreat to when the weather gets too scary. You can try padding a crate with blankets or clearing a space underneath your bed. Just make sure that it’s somewhere your pup can get out of whenever he wants. A panicked dog can do a lot of damage to his crate and himself if he’s confined.

Most important, though, is that your treat your dog gently and kindly when he is afraid. Don’t cuddle and reassure him, because that will reward his scared-dog behavior, but definitely don’t punish him for it either. Instead, just be calm and give him a safe, familiar place where he can feel secure and ride out the storm.

To your calm during the storm!

My owners and I was watching cable television the other day when we came across a great show for dogs (they also talked about cats, but as you know, they don’t exist in my world). The show is the Natural Companion Show with Amy Rosenthal.

During the show, Amy showed pet owners natural ways to take care of their pets so that their dogs are healthier and live longer. The following are some of the points discussed during the show concerning feeding and caring for us dogs:

• Limit process food for better nutrition
• Processed grains can lead to weight gain
• Set a specific time to feed your dog
• Set up an exercising regiment for your dog
• Feed your dog natural treats (commercial treats are not necessarily good for your dog’s digestive system)
• Don’t be fooled by fancy dog food labels

Many of the dog owners on the program were able to overcome their dog’s various ailments by taking them off processed foods and going all natural. My owners are pretty good at this already. With my “little girl” owner going away to college soon, I hope the big owners with step up to the plate and continue to take me for my much needed walks.