Dogs are animals of integrity. We have much to learn from them.
Category: Animal rescue
A brilliant set of lovely photographs.
These photos were shown on the website Ugly Hedgehog by a user called ‘daldds‘. I sent daldds a private message asking if I could republish the photos and he said ‘Yes’.
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Brilliant!
Yes, you guessed it! Back to Unsplash.
(And a postscript: This was meant to have been published next Sunday, the 16th. So enjoy an early Picture Parade!)
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They are all beautiful and underline in spades why dogs are so, so special to us humans.
This is a fascinating series of articles.
National Geographic published the above edition of their magazine recently that consists of three chapters: From Wolf to Wolf; The Human-Dog Bond; Inside Dog Behaviour.
In that first chapter it is stated that: “The exact timing of the appearance of the domesticated dog is hotly debated, but based on the latest science, it most likely falls somewhere between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago.”
So when I wrote on the home page of this blog all those years ago, “Yet they have been part of man’s world for an unimaginable time, at least 30,000 years.“, I wasn’t far wrong.
If you can possibly purchase a copy then please do. National Geographic provide back issues while Ebay, Amazon and others also sell this. You will not regret it!
Photos taken by Alex Handover on his recent trip to Merlin.
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There you go, folks, just nine photographs but what a keepsake of Alex’s visit.
More from Unsplash.
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They are all beyond beautiful. They are the reason we love dogs so much!
Yet more dogs from Unsplash.
My son is unable to provide his fabulous photographs of birds every other week. More from him on an ‘as and when‘ basis.
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There we go! More photographs in a week’s time.
A delightful story that one hopes will be allowed to share.
One is constantly looking for lovely dog stories and recently I came across this story from The Dodo.
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Woman Stops In Her Tracks When She Sees Brown Legs Poking Out Of Trash
Published on the 20th April, 2023
The other day, members of the neighborhood watch in Richards Bay, South Africa, received a shocking phone call. A woman said she’d been walking through an undeveloped area of wilderness nearby and stumbled on something heartbreaking.
Two watch captains rushed to the scene. When they arrived, they found a discarded pile of rubble and plastic — not necessarily a surprise, given that trash is occasionally dumped in the area. What was upsetting, though, were the pair of long brown legs and pleading black eyes barely visible under the debris.
A little dog was trapped, and he needed help.
With caution, the team began to cut the dog loose from the plastic bag where he’d been tied up. After freeing the pup, they carried him out of the trash and gently placed him in the grass nearby.
The dog, later named Rocky, was so happy to be able to move around, though he was very weak from his ordeal. Neighborhood watch personnel gave the pup some ice cubes to suck on while they waited for SPCA Richards Bay staff to arrive.
Safe at the SPCA, a veterinary team examined Rocky and treated him for a small wound on his head. The malnourished pup was given plenty of food and water, and, in no time, Rocky’s slim figure began to improve and his personality began to shine.
“Rocky is now the sweetest, most outgoing puppy,” a representative from SPCA Richards Bay told The Dodo.
SPCA staff were inspired by Rocky — who spread so much love and who didn’t seem jaded by his harrowing ordeal.
“We were amazed at how a puppy who had been discarded like trash could love and trust again,” the representative said.
Rocky has since been adopted into a loving family and taken to live with them on their farm. The grateful pup, who once spent hours trapped under garbage, unable to move, will spend the rest of his days running through the ample fields of his new home, loving every minute.
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All of the above photographs are taken by FACEBOOK/SPCA RICHARDS BAY
No matter where in the world one is there is a love for dogs and this account shows it to be so!
More dogs from Unsplash!
Alex has been in the Isle of Mull this past week taking the most amazing photographs of birds and I hope that in time some of Alex’s photographs will be shared with you on Learning from Dogs.
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This week I went for Poodles and selected the above photographs.
See you all next Tuesday.
More German Shepherds from Unsplash.
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Quite a few puppies, as you can see!
Introducing a guest post from Gloria Peters.
Although this blog is 99% about dogs that doesn’t preclude a guest post; one that is really charming.
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Fun DIY Toys to Keep Your Cat Entertained
Keep your cat entertained with these easy DIY toys, including puzzle toys and toilet paper roll toys. Challenge your cat’s mind and provide hours of fun with these ideas
Fun DIY Toys to Keep Your Cat Entertained
Cats are known for being playful and curious, so it’s important to give them things to keep them occupied and their minds working. But store-bought toys can be expensive, and your cat may not always be interested in them.
That’s why making your own toys is a good idea. Making your own cat toys is not only cheaper, but it also allows you to make them just the way your cat likes them. In this article, we’ll talk about ten fun toys you can make to keep your cat busy.
A cardboard box is one of the easiest and most useful toys you can make for your cat. You can make a box fortress by cutting holes and tubes in the box and filling it with soft bedding. Cats love to hide and look around, and a cardboard box fort is the right place for them.
Find a large cardboard box to start making your cardboard fort. Cut holes and tubes into the sides of the box, making sure the edges are even so the cat doesn’t get hurt.
You can cut the paper with scissors or a utility knife. Then put something soft inside the box, such as a blanket or towel. Your cat will love hiding in his new fort and exploring it.
Cats love feathers and you can make your own feather toy by tying the feathers to a string or stick. Your cat will enjoy chasing and pouncing on feathers, which will exercise them, keep their mind active, and remind you that cat shed.
Start by getting feathers to make a feather toy. You can use feathers you find on the street or feathers bought from a craft store. Use glue or tape to attach the feathers to a string or stick. Make sure the feathers are well attached so they don’t fall off when the kids play. Then hang a feather toy in front of your cat and watch it jump and run after it.
Cats love the natural catnip stimulant, and you can make your own catnip toy by placing dried catnip in a sock and tying a knot at the end. Your cat will enjoy rubbing and biting on the sock, and the smell of catnip will keep her interested.
Find a clean sock to use as the base for your catnip sock. Put the dried catnip in the sock and then tie a knot at the end so the catnip stays inside. You can also put bells or wrinkled paper inside the sock to make it more interesting. Then give your cat a sock and watch her rub and bite into it, enjoying the smell of catnip.
Cats naturally love to scratch, but if you give them room to scratch, they won’t scratch your furniture. You can make a scratching post by wrapping string or carpet around a cardboard tube or wooden pole.
Find a sturdy cardboard tube or wooden pole to start making your scratching post. Cut a piece of string or carpet long enough to go around the pipe or pole. Then wrap the rope or cloth tightly around the pipe or pole and glue or staple it to keep it in place. Make sure the scratching post is high enough so that the cat can stretch out its entire body when using it. Place the scratching post where your cat likes to scratch and rub it with catnip so the cat can use it.
Make a ping pong ball track a fun and responsive toy for your cat. Make a path for the ping pong ball by cutting holes in the cardboard box and attaching the cardboard tubes. Your cat will love trying to catch the ball when you hit him with the bat.
Find a wooden box to start making a ping pong ball track. After making holes in the sides of the box, make sure they are large enough for a ping pong ball to fit through. Then make a maze by inserting cardboard tubes into the holes. The tubes can be glued with hot glue or tape. Finally, place the ping pong ball in the maze and watch your cat try to catch it by hitting it.
A paper bag tunnel is another easy and cheap toy you can make for your cat. You can make a tunnel for your cat by cutting the bottom out of a paper bag and sticking several bags together. You can also crumple up some paper and put it in bags to make them rustle and make the animals more excited.
Collect some paper bags to start making the paper bag tunnel. Make a long tunnel by cutting out the bottom of each bag and taping them together. You can also put crumpled paper inside the bags so that the cat makes noise while playing inside. Your cat will have a great time exploring his new cave and hiding in the bags.
Another fun toy for cats that looks like their natural prey is playing with a fishing rod. Stretch a toy or some feathers and tie them to a stick or dowel. Your cat will enjoy chasing and jumping on the toy, which will keep her active and stimulate her brain.
Find a stick or fishing rod to start making a fishing rod toy. Use glue or tape to attach the toy or feathers to the string, and tie the other end of the string to the stick. Hang the toy in front of your cat and watch it run and jump on it.
A toy that gives treats is a fun way to give your cat a treat and keep them entertained at the same time. Cut holes in a plastic bottle and fill it with treats to make a toy that dispenses treats. To get a treat, your cat will break the bottle.
Find a plastic bottle to start making a toy that gives out treats. Use a utility knife or scissors to cut some small holes in the sides of the bottle. Then put the best treats for your cat into the bottle. Your cat will love to hit the bottle and try to get treats out of the holes.
Conclusion
After all, making your own cat toys is a great way to keep them entertained and stimulated while saving money. But when you make these toys, it’s important to put your cat’s safety first and give her a range of toys that stimulate different senses. Don’t forget to play with your cat to bond with her and give her some exercise.
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Here is Gloria’s bio that she also supplied:
Gloria Peters is an experienced pet writer and enthusiast, sharing valuable insights on gadgets to keep your feline friend healthy, happy, and entertained. Her expertise in technology and pet care is well-known in the industry, as seen on her popular website blog tulip.
Gloria Peters
I must say that Gloria has done a splendid job in writing the above guest post. It is excellent and way better than I could have done myself.
Thank you, Gloria.
Learning from Dogs 