O. B. Streperous lives here!

Posted on October 31, 2014 by BigFootClub

It’s Friday!  And, did you know?!  It’s C-O-L-D outside!

With the North wind blowing hard and the sun shining, two Newfs are ready to party!

Two lovely Newfs went to work with me today, but two bored Newfs prompted an early closing of the business day.  It is Halloween, so I decided to bake some snacks for Newfs.  It seemed like a good time to put the rumors to the test about how wonderful those salmon cookies are.  Of course, it would be better to use the oven more often, so I could remember that Greg keeps the griddle with the wooden handle in there.  With a heavy layer of smoke once again fogging the upper 12″ or so of the ceiling, I placed the cookie sheet in the oven and set the timer.  I left the kitchen and told Jade that she was in charge.  She must have taken me seriously because she laid across the floor at the bottom of the oven and didn’t move until she was sure that it was time to open the oven door.  The Newfs were suddenly being patient and quiet, anticipating good things to come.  Somewhere lower, in the range of visibility, noses could detect the aroma of salmon.  I have their full attention now!

The cookies have been placed on top of the stove for cooling, and the Newfs are still quiet.  This is a remarkable change from a short time earlier, when one lovely young lady had donned the cape of invincibility, the one labeled “O. B. Streperous”.  With Halloween being on a Friday, and the north wind moving in, there was no way to restrain its powers.  It would be a daring move for anyone to knock on our door with the phrase “Trick or Treat”, especially that rascally terrier mix down the road.  I don’t think the girls will be willing to share.

 O_B_Streperous

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DESKUNKING YOUR NEWF

Posted on October 9, 2014 by BigFootClub

In the late 90s, our female Newf, who was the object of worship by the cats, encountered a black and white kitty cat.  If you alarm bells didn’t sound, let me be clear:  she approached or was approached by a SKUNK!

Think about the volume of coat that had to be cleaned!

For Holly, this happened three times, and twice as we were packing the evening before we were planning to leave for a Thanksgiving trip, after she had already been bathed and groomed in preparation for travel.  Two of Holly’s encounters must have been very close.  By her perception, the skunk’s reaction was no doubt an invitation for further inspection!

There are a number of skunk odor remedies.  A popular one includes hydrogen peroxide (the 3% bottle that is widely available), baking soda and Dawn dishwashing liquid.  Some other variants of skunk remedies include vinegar.  First, please be careful about mixing household cleaning products.  If you want to use one of these variations, locate a recipe from a reliable source, such as ASPCA, the Humane Society or a good veterinary resource such as the VCA site.  The peroxide works because the compounds that cause skunk odor contain sulfhydryl groups (-SH), which are easily oxidized.  So, it is no surprise that peroxide works.

Using these recipes or commercial products may be effective at removing skunk odor, but be sure to rinse very well and be sure to not get the product into the dogs eyes or onto mucous membranes.  Also, if you choose to mix your own, blend the hydrogen peroxide well, as this will cause reddening of a black coat straight from the peroxide bottle.

There is another alternative, used by veterinarians in the past, if you can tolerate a possible slight trace of odor:  tomato juice.  The cheap stuff in the quart container works well.  Due to the size of a Newfoundland, this may require 2 or 3 bottles.  The benefit of the tomato juice is that it is very safe to use.  They can ingest it by licking and it will not hurt them.  Skeptics claim that tomato juice does not work, or that it only masks odor.  However, my experience has been different, which leads me to suspect that 1) assumption has been overextended and 2) the chemisty behind it which appears to be a slower reaction, possibly involving ascorbic acid – vitamin C, has not been worked out.

We worked the tomato juice into her coat very well and left it for about 15 minutes, then she was rinsed and dried.  When we loaded the Expedition the next morning, there was a minor trace of odor on Holly, imperceptable within a very short time.  We rode with her in the enclosed space of the Expedition for over 4 hours.  By the time we arrived, no lingering trace of odor existed on her or in the vehicle.

Since Holly, there have been several successorships to the One Adored by the Cats, and there have been a few close calls with “black and white kitties”, who often show up in our area at night, but there has been only one other event.  We have quit stocking tomato juice in the pantry since it is a short drive to a store that is open 24 hours.

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IN THE MAKING

Posted on October 8, 2014 by BigFootClub

Written 10/1/14

A youngster takes a lot of attention.  At 15 months, she’s probably as tall as she will be, although the last time I thought she was finished growing, just a couple of weeks ago, she grew a little more.  I was looking at her one day thinking she was approaching a mature proportion a bit early.  A few days later, she was taller and lankier again.  That’s the way it goes.  Don’t get in a hurry.

This young lady, much like other of her relatives who have grown up with me, has been a very busy kid with a lot of energy and an active imagination.  One of her favorite activities, as with her other relatives, is a “blasting routine”, where she impresses herself (and the rest of us) with her starting gate practice, as if she has suddenly been shot from a Newf cannon.  Then she runs like mad, here, there and around, until she winds down.  I love her energy.  But energy like this has to be managed carefully.  Last week, I let her off-leash to run, and she disappeared in an instant, racing toward the back of the van, then she made a tight turn, accelerating into the curve like Rockford, and collided at high speed with the very solid large Equalizer hitch on the back of the van.  She instantly dropped, crying, and couldn’t stand up.  I coddled, and rubbed her shoulder and elbow.  When she stopped crying, she was limping.  I took her with me to another already scheduled vet appointment in hopes of an x-ray, but the vet was double-booked for the entire afternoon.  At that point she wasn’t limping, so we left with no x-ray and she was placed on restricted activity for observation and recuperation.

Try explaining that to an energetic young girl who wants to be entertained – a lot – if she can’t be busy or running.  She noticed that someone left a gate open in the house, and the back door was open, with the person standing by the door, so she shot out for a mad race around the yard on Sunday.

I started dinner, then walked to the mailbox to find that today was “Newf Tide is in the mail!” day.  Being a youngster, she hasn’t quite caught onto the change that occurs, while the world settles down long enough for me to peruse the freshly printed issue, which was pulled out of its cover as I walked back to the house.  Maybe I didn’t realize that we could be having more fun.  Maybe I would like to play with a pop bottle.  How about a shoe?  What’s in your lap?  OK.  This will require more effort.  I’ve got it!  Maybe the roll of toilet paper will get her attention!  Geesh!  You’re no fun.  I think I need to take a nap.  (Good idea!)

She is now sprawled belly up.  If I don’t move suddenly, perhaps she will let me finish.

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WHEN WILL IT STOP?! (SHEDDING)

Posted on September 19, 2014 by BigFootClub

As the sun sets on another layer of black fog hovering across the floor . . .

Also known as “coat turnover” or “blowing coat”:  Jade NEVER “blows coat” – she sheds a little at a time and not much.  I’ve been counting my blessings over the years because she has more coat than any other Newf I’ve had.  Last year at the end of summer she did some shedding, more than she had previously but not that much.  This year, WOW!  And it has been going on for around a month.  And from the sounds of things, this is happening for Newfs at multiple points on the globe simultaneously.

I wonder whether anyone has made a down comforter out of Newf “down”.  It is incredibly soft and plush, compressible with full resilience.  After combing out a mound of it as big as a Newf, it can be shoved into a small plastic trash bag.  My old Twinco rake is getting a lot of use again!  It pulls out the loose undercoat nicely, but there will be more coming out the next day, and the next.  And when she seems relatively naked (for Jade), there is still more coming out!

I need to start talking with her about reversing this trend for the shows next month!

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