Jan 12, 2011 Issue #32 Published by Sue SkiffIN THIS ISSUE
A NOTE FROM SUE A NOTE FROM SUE
There was a mix-up in my e-zine title, last week. I forgot to change the title that you see in your e-mail inbox from the previous week's title. If you saw the title, and thought that it was a repeat of the previous week,and therefore didn't open it, I apologize. Last week's issue was not about teaching your dog to leave it, or about cats in tight spaces. It was about fearful dogs, and some new e-zine features. If you missed it, and are interested in reading it, you can find it in my e-zine archives. The link for these is at the bottom of this page.
I had a great time trying to eat with gusto, as Emma advises, during the last week. You can find out more in the article about it, below. I am going to give a speech on it at my Toastmasters meeting, later this morning. And, I understand that that meeting is to be filmed for a local TV station. I'll let you know when it will be televised. I am happy to say that I have an audition for an improv troupe, this weekend. It is with Oakland's Pan Theater. I was in one of their troupes a few years ago, so I have high hopes that I'll get into a new troupe. It has been over 1 1/2 years since I had a troupe to call my own, and I miss being on stage terribly. This week's e-zine issue has an article on keeping your dog safe at the dog park. It also contains a summary of my experiences with eating with gusto, as I said. And, Emma happily answers her first advice question. I think that she did quite well with it. Enjoy your day! Sue DOG PARKS - FOUR SAFETY TIPS
Dog parks have become a popular way to provide exercise for many dogs. They are not my favorite way to exercise a canine, however Emma has taken a liking to them, so I have found myself checking out local dog parks, recently. If you are considering taking your best friend to a dog park, or are already taking yours to one, just remember that dog parks are potentially dangerous. Yes, it is possible to go to a dog park regularly, and never have a problem. However, the potential danger is still there, because anyone can bring her/his canine to the dog park, whether that dog is suitable to be there, or not. Inevitably, someone will bring a canine into a dog park that has no business being there, and a fight will ensue. Here are some tips for making sure that all your visits to the dog park are safe for your best friend. TIP 1: MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DOG IS SUITABLE Some dogs have no interest in interacting with groups of other dogs. If your dog is one of those, don’t force the issue. Your canine can live a happy, fulfilled life without ever going to the dog park. Please do not bring Fido to a dog park if it is scared of other canines. Fido will feel trapped, and will want to escape, so it is cruel. Also, the Marin (County) Humane Society did a study of dogs that start fights in dog parks, and they found over and over again that fights were started by fearful dogs that felt cornered. By the same token, if Fido always acts dominant around other canines, don’t bring it to the dog park. If it meets another dominant canine, and neither wants to back down, there will be a fight. TIP 2: KNOW THE OTHER DOGS THAT ARE PRESENT WHEN YOU GO Click here for the rest of the article LESSONS FROM A DOG BLOG – WEEK ONE IN REVIEW
Last week, I announced that I was going to try out
Emma’s Principles to Live By,
one at a time, and write about it. As you may recall, I picked
“eat with gusto”
for my first week’s test. That week is now over, and I have found that eating with gusto is something that I intend to continue indefinitely. I have already written detailed blogs about the first few days of this experience. At first, I thought that I would just write a short blog after each meal, so I confidently sat down after breakfast on the first day, and started writing about my mostly good experiences while eating that meal. It seems that I had a lot to say, because I ended up with an article some 600 words long. A second blog post on the first day turned into an essay on why I like to eat low-glycemic foods, as well as an admission that I was having a hard time remembering to “eat with gusto.” At that point, I realized that there was little likelihood that I would write short blogs, and quit trying to write after every meal. My third blog post was on day 5. And now, I am writing my final post on the subject of eating with gusto. I find that I don’t have much to say. I have said so much about the subject, already. However, I would like to summarize what I learned and experienced while eating over the past week. First of all, I learned that eating with gusto does not have to mean eating fast. For some reason, I thought that eating with gusto meant that I would be shoveling food into my mouth, in a similar fashion to the way Emma practically inhales her food. What I learned is that “gusto” is about enjoyment and enthusiasm, not about speed. This was an important lesson. Read the rest of this article ASK EMMA - EMMA ANSWERS HER FIRST QUESTION
I am so excited! I have been looking forward to running an
advice column
for so long now, and now I finally have my first question to answer (tail wag). So, here goes….Dear Emma, I have noticed that you seem to have an uncanny knack for making friends with everyone that you meet. My question is: How do you make everyone fall in love with you?. Sincerely, Jackie M, Concord, Ca. Wow, if I was able to, I’d be blushing right now. Do you really think that “everyone” falls in love with me? I sure hope so (tail wagging harder)! Oh, how I love this question! Friends are what life is all about, don’t you think? I never pass up the chance to make a new friend. And, therein lies the whole secret to “making everyone fall in love with you.” It’s so simple, really. You just have to notice when you have a chance to make a friend, expect that they will become your friend, and go from there. And, of course, you have to really want to be their friend. Now, I do have to admit that, being a dog, I have some advantage in making myself irresistible. I mean, the vigorous tail wag is such an important part of it all for me. However, you humans have the advantage when it comes to facial expressions. Sure, we dogs can smile, a little, and use our eyes and ears to express things. But, humans have whole faces that can do way more to express warmth and friendship that our furry countenances (How do you like that word? Pretty good word for a dog, don’t you think?). So, first thing humans, when you approach someone new, put on your warmest smile. Make sure that that smile shows on your whole face; your mouth (of course) your cheeks, your eyes, every part of your wonderfully expressive faces. Smile like you are vigorously wagging your tail. Now, of course, if you’re a dog, like me then get that tail really wagging as soon as you see someone, whether you know them, or not. See the rest of my answer here ABOUT SILVER LINING PET SERVICES
Silver Lining Pet Services is the business owned by Sue Skiff. It provides both dog training and pet sitting services. If you own a dog, then look to Sue to alleviate any fears and frustrations that you have over your dog's behavior. Sue will come to your home, and set up a training program that is customized to your, and your dog's, needs. You can even have Sue do the training for you, in your home, while you go about your business. If you don't live within Sue's service area, you can contact Sue about setting up a Skype, or phone, appointment.
The first 15 minutes are free
As for pet sitting services, Silver Lining Pet Services endeavors to give traveling pet owners peace of mind that their pets will be well cared for while they are away. For further information on the services provided by Silver Lining Pet Services, please
visit our website. Silver Linings is a publication of Silver Linings Pet Services, and is published for the purpose of marketing services. The current address of Silver Linings Pet Services is: 5555 Merritt Drive Concord, Ca 94521 |
