Moonlit Rescue

This is what ethical rescues call unethical rescues.
This is an unethical rescue because instead of giving this dog to a home that he already has set up and ready to take him in
They'd rather be selfish because of ARA "morals" and kill this creature.

He has a home
He has potential to be an amazing dog for someone
He still has full life left

But this rescue and the owner would rather kill him because they won't return him to the breeder.

THIS is a bad shelter.

Uodate! (Sorry for the poor quality pictures. I really need a new phone)

Poor bear is in The Cone of Shame
Kia keeps chewing herself raw from all this shedding she's doing despite being combed and raked daily.
She is being bathed with her in her itchy shampoo, but no one can keep watch 100% of the time to keep her from scratching, so The Cone it is!
She's very unhappy.

Thanks to Cherryland Humane Society Thrift for having dog items available to buy. I showed up at the right time to grab this bad boy before someone else took it.

In other news:
-She's been a lot more wiggly and happy whiney lately
-Still enjoys lazing around and prefers to be inside at all times. But of course her owner is a terrible person and forces her on walks, hikes, and backyard play time anyway 🤭
-Has started playing around with more toys, but still prefers her shinies and mammoth toys
-She still will and does happily steal food when no one is watching, dog food including
-She loves watching TV sometimes, even when there aren't animals on it
-Still barks in her sleep
-LOVES her butt and chest being scratched

We went out to watch the firework show.
And I am proud to report that Kia had no reaction at all! If anything, she was more annoyed that I wouldn't let her go any further than her leash since she's used to being off-leash 😂

I prepared with some fish treats since her food drive is higher than any 'bad' thing.
She might still have dog aggression, so I make sure to heavily reward her when she removes focus from any dog. She didn't even notice the doodle that was pulling towards her!

Other things to note:
-She really enjoys shiny objects. We found this out because a toy she started PLAYING with - yes, she's actually playing with toys now - is a shiny silver material and a plain red balloon was brought home and she wouldn't stop staring.
-Now play bows and has started to zoomie around, even inside the home.
-Now comfortably sprawls out on the couch when she can
-Rolls over in the grass
-Sleeps on her back
-Playing more rough and how I'd expect Akitas to play
-Less of a weird back gait now that we're building up muscle

I forget what else has been improving
She's living fantastically and I still visit her often. 💜

Just a heads up/reminder
If ANY breeder at ANY capacity promotes/requires NuVet in ANY way
They're not ethical. Point blank. No exceptions.

NuVet does not follow any FDA or AAFCO standards
All products contain shark cartilage (to which sharks have to be finned)
And all of the products have ingredients that have BMAA toxins

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/nuvet-pet-supplement-snake-oil/

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/algal-poisoning/algal-poisoning-of-animals

https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20190423132738/https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2016/ucm525952.htm

Algal Poisoning of Animals - Toxicology - Merck Veterinary Manual Learn about the veterinary topic of Algal Poisoning of Animals. Find specific details on this topic and related topics from the Merck Vet Manual.

Update on Kia!

I know it's been a while since I've last made a post, but life has been busy and so much has changed since.
She officially has a new home. She'll be staying locally and will finally be able to have the socialization, training, and vet work she desperately needs. She's happy and healthy, but she'll need to have her hips checked for possible dysplasia and desperately needs dental done.

Her coat has gotten significantly softer and more plush, her nails are down to the length they need to be, and she's a lot more confident.

I will continue to support her and her new owner, so she won't go completely missing from this page 🥰

From Manged to Changed 😍

I'm glad her coat came in but uh-

I got too comfortable with her lack of coat that I completely forgot this breed is double coated and haven't kept up on her grooming (except for nails, of course)

So with the back and forth Michigan weather, nothing but c l u m p s of fur just kept pouring out.
I feel bad for Pet Supplies Plus - Traverse City, MI drains 😂😅

Not sponsered by Mane 'n Tail. However, I wouldn't decline 👀
I use this stuff religiously

Nails are important no matter what your animal thinks!
And this means all domestic mammals and birds!

It's time to start DEBUNKING these harmful myths 🙌🏼🤔

I know it's been awhile!
There haven't really been any important updates on Kia.
She's becoming a lot more confident and comfortable. She LOVES playing with my wimdhound.
I've finally been able to train "down" and we're working on "spin" just because.

I got a new nail grinder from Secret Santa Paws and I couldn't be happier. The right picture was after ONE paw. With the aftermath of all 4, I should've been wearing a mask 😂
BUT, all nails are officially where they should be. I'll be working on them once a week to shorten the quicks a bit. Her nails are still oddly long, but with that amount of neglect, I'm not surprised.
She h a t e s the clippers, so I'm exclusively working with the grinder.

Sniffing Is Super Important 🐶❗

It benefits your dog's overall well-being (and longevity!) when you give them a chance to sniff and explore the world through their nose while walking. So, as often as you can, take your dog on a scent walk and let them satisfy their sniffer.

Check out today’s free article (link below) to learn why it’s crucial for dogs to go on regular sniffing adventures.

Hi everyone, let’s take a moment to talk about littermate syndrome.

What is the problem?
We have accepted a number of dogs in to rescue this year suffering from littermate syndrome. Heartbroken owners handing over leashes and food bowls and belongings of a dog they love because someone allowed them to adopt 2 puppies from one litter. Once dogs have formed a littermate syndrome dynamic, their best hope for rehabilitation is to separate them. We can certainly help with compassion and without judgment of course, but maybe this information will help people make a more informed decision in the future.

You will frequently see us, and other rescues and breeders, say that it’s not a good idea to bring multiple pups of the same, or similar age into the home at the same time.

While it may seem like a good idea to have a playmate for them to interact with, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

The reality is that when given the opportunity, puppies are going to choose to play with each other. They’re going to focus on each other. They’re going to be most comfortable with each other.

The flip side of that is that they become more and more combative of resources; such as food, space, affection, anything that they value as individuals.

Our job as responsible canine owners is to teach them to interact in the human world. That’s our expectation of them-to be able to have them in our families and lives. If they’re focused on their siblings (either biological or just same age), then the harsh reality is that they are not focused on us. If they are not focused on us, then they are not going to accept human guidance.

When a dog of any age doesn’t accept human guidance, it prevents them from being successful in our world.

This isn’t to say that they CAN’T be successful in our world, just that the odds are stacked against them due to animal genetic predisposition.

Littermate syndrome presents itself in many different ways. Frequently it can result in aggression between littermates; think of animals in the wild, as they mature, they seek out their own “territories” away from their “family”. This can result in aggressive behaviors towards other dogs as they attempt to assert themselves.

Additionally, if you’ve ever tried to get a dog to focus on YOU during training, that’s a challenge in itself. Add into the mix the bond and focus they have with their siblings during preliminary training, and it’s infinitely more difficult. They say that raising 2 puppies is 4 times the work, and in my experience that’s 100% accurate. Not only do you need to do the standard one on one puppy training on each, but you also have to double that time with individual training to get them to focus on YOU and not the other pup.

Unfortunately, littermate syndrome has been the reason multiple dogs have found their way into rescue.

Bottom line, there are few and far between successful cases where littermates can be placed together. You will probably see comments on this post by people who insist it worked out for them and that’s great! But is the risk worth the potential loss? People who it did not work out for will undoubtedly tell you it’s not worth it.

In my opinion, knowing the challenges and additional work required, it’s not worth the potential risks to the outcome. Adopting 2 puppies together is taking the gamble that you will be dealing with behavior issues, potentially putting other animals in your home at risk, break your own heart and your family’s hearts when you have to let one go and many other consequences.

What is the solution?
If you want two young dogs who can play and help each other burn off some energy that is a common and healthy goal. You can achieve this successfully by adopting one pup and focusing on training it as an individual and then after 6 months - 1 year, adopt a second pup. If this becomes the plan, make sure the second pup gets that same individual time and training. Occasionally separate them and spend some one-on-one time going for a walk and/or practicing training. This helps maintain your ability to guide each dog without them ignoring safety commands like recall or “leave it”.

This is why NNR will NEVER place pups of the same age in a home together at the same time.

And on that note, we would like to welcome Odin into the NNR family! Odin has made his way into rescue due to the issues discussed above. We are looking forward to getting to know him as he settles in with his foster over the next couple weeks and he learns who he is without his littermate.

Thanks to a very kind individual who donated their dog beds and SO many toys, Kia now has a bed big enough to fit her comfortably and mamy new toys to explore and find her favorite 🥰

Pets Best Pet Health Insurance has sent me some pamphlets and appointment cards for my current and future foster dogs! 🥰

I currently have my dog on PetsBest because of their wide range of customizable coverage that no other insurances offers, especially covering exam fees!
Their deductible is covered annually and they offer direct vet pay as long as the vet fills out their form which provides more options than just specific vets.

My other recommendation is Trupanion
Their coverage is more heavy on the accident than illness, but they cover both, and have fairly customizable coverage options!
They also have pet assistance care (which includes but is not limited to cremation or burial due to an accident, liability coverage, and boarding should you end up in a hospital) which I have not seen a single other company offer!
Their deductible is covered per injury for the dog's life and they offer direct vet pay as long as the vet has their system.

All insurances can be used with any vet ever, so this isn't similar to human insurances. Depending on circumstances, you'll have to pay up-front and submit the claim to be reimbursed should the incident be covered!

I highly advise everyone with a cat or dog to get insurance while saving up emergency funds. I feel it's worth it 💜

Someone is enjoying life 🤭
I feel like she enjoys tummy rubs more than the average golden

8-12hrs of sleep while you're at work isn't going to harm them
Just make sure you give them plenty of exercise and mental stimulation possible when you are home and not sleeping

Public Service Announcement:
You can work AND keep your dog 😊
Know what? Dogs sleep 12 to 14 hours a day. Get a camera. Guess what your dog is doing while you're at work? Sleeping! They'll sleep with you at night and while you're at work. So that dog you just "rescued" 6 months ago while you were teleworking and now you want to get rid of because you have to go to work - great news! You don't need to. He'll sleep while you're gone and be ready to play when you get home. But he deserves someone who is home with him? Wait, you mean someone who doesn't work? Guess what? Most people have someone in the household that works! He loves you and he's fine with you earning money to feed him.
Carry on. Go to work. Keep your dog.
Even better - get him a friend and they can nap together.
By Jenny Guidry