BALANCING THE LOAD (testing design limits)

Posted on December 4, 2012 by BigFootClub

Something that I’ve learned about, sometimes the hard way, over the years is the need for appropriate design of tools and equipment, and the need for appropriate application. When you exceed design limitations with use, bad things can and do happen.

For example, when you load a trailer to pull behind a vehicle, it should be loaded with weight not exceeding the limits stated by the manufacturer, and the items added must be loaded to distribute the weight as described by the manufacturer. When we bought our last toy-hauler trailer, our sales person commented that this was the number one issue he had seen with these trailers. People will load their food, clothing and travel gear, fill the water tanks and load their ATV or motorcycle, and often exceed the design limits. Well, we pull the trailer with our van, and the dogs are in the van, so that 300 lbs. isn’t in the trailer. We don’t usually travel with the water tanks filled, but this may mean that more weight is placed on the tongue. However, the design limit for the tongue is not exceeded, and the total weight of the loaded trailer does not exceed the specification for our vehicle. Toy haulers are nice for traveling with dogs. When the weather is nice, you can open the tailgate and enjoy the fresh air through the screen across the full width of the trailer door.

When you have Newfoundlands, you must pay closer attention to designs and design weights, in general. For example, trailer steps are typically steep for Newfoundlands, especially in toy haulers, where the door opening may be a little higher from the ground.  This can lead to damage  from repetitive impact on their front end joints.  Ramps work well for an entrance and exit for the dogs across the steps. Also, there are wider steps that can be used to replace the ones that come on the trailer.

Ramps are a good basic tool to have for Newfs in any case. When exiting a vehicle, joint impact is avoided when they use a ramp. Dogs tend to want to jump out of a vehicle, but owners should not let this happen. Owners can assist a dog by putting one arm under the neck and one under the belly and moving down with the dog in a sweeping motion. This reduces strain on the owner’s back as well as joint impact for the dog, but ramps accomplish this even better.

The problem with ramps is that the Newfs don’t like to go up the ramp. This may be because the angle is uncomfortable for their toenails, pushing their nails backward. There are also options of adjustable height platform metal steps, and for vehicles, there is a step that attaches to a trailer hitch and twists outward. There are also steps that fold into the space of a suitcase. The design limits of each should be considered carefully as well as whether the device will hold securely in place during use.

Do you know how much your Newf weighs?  How much weight will the ramp hold?  What if the Newf comes down the ramp quickly, applying more force than simply his weight?  Will the ramp support the extra force?

Parker has had the misfortune of being the one to test design limits in our Newf household. He has been the largest of all of the Newfs so far, weighing 168 at maturity. He has also been one who likes to do things Fast!  Our first ramp was a heavy folding plastic ramp which required that pins be added underneath to support the weight of the dog at the hinge. It wasn’t always easy to get the pins into their supports, and I developed a bad habit of using one pin, then not even using one pin. Once when Parker bounded out of the vehicle, the ramp broke across the plastic below the hinge and he fell.

Our next ramp was a telescoping ramp. That one is plastic with an aluminum frame, and it has lasted well so far. As Newfs age, it is even more important to have this as an assistance device for exiting the vehicle. When they need assistance going in, the sling combined with the ramp helps, and the lower the entry height for a vehicle, the better.

Another basic tool for which design and design limitations should be considered is the grooming table. Grooming tables are wonderful for the owners! It is much easier to groom a Newf from a table, but the table must be constructed reliably to hold the weight of a giant breed dog. The table legs for a folding grooming table must be strong and locked securely in place for use. A comfortable height for a grooming table is somewhere between about 20 – 24″.  This allows the groomer to reach Newfs from the top to the bottom with ease, and most Newfs can jump onto the table without assistance. As they age, it is easier to assist them onto a table of this height, or even a little lower, than one that is taller. And at any age, the longevity of their joints will benefit from your assistance as they come off of the grooming table, using the same sweeping movement (with an arm under their neck and one under the belly) as when you support their weight coming out of a vehicle.

There may be other items that you can substitute for a grooming table, but those should be abundantly sturdy, with a slip-resistant finish and not too tall.

Grooming tables for Newfs may be 48″, 42″ or even 36″ long. The longer the grooming table, the further you must reach from the back to work on the dog’s rear, since most of the time they will crowd the front of a table. Longer Newfs may have trouble with a 36″ table, so 42″ is a good size for general purposes. The most important design feature is the weight the table will hold. When you have a 125 lb. Newf, and the design limit for a table is 150 lbs., there isn’t much of a margin of safety.

Grooming tables that are built to withstand water (such as those made from marine-grade plywood or with a fully coated top) are nice for bathing. There is not the side of a tub to get in the way. A vinyl apron with rubber boots keeps the bather comfortably dry with either a tub or a grooming table. A well built grooming table will last a very long time, although not forever. The weak point is often in the metal legs, and the rust that occurs inside the metal tubing, particularly at welds. Parker was again the one to uncover this limitation for us, as the table collapsed while he was on it, with the legs folding under at the welds.

A folding grooming table is convenient. It can be more easily stored, and if there is room, you may want to take it with you when you travel. Having the table on trips can be a very nice asset, for those times when the Newf gets into burrs, mud, or worse. Your Newf may not think of that sewage lagoon near the travel stop in Kansas as anything but a lake, and that cute little black and white kitty may leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

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AGING NEWFS, ALLERGIES & CELL PHONES

Posted on November 29, 2012 by BigFootClub

Parker will soon be 11. Somewhere along the way, I began to discover that he had some food sensitivities and possible allergies. For example, millet: in trying some different grains, I discovered that this would give him “the runs” very quickly. As he aged, there were other sensitivities that developed, such as beef gelatin. I used to give the dogs baked or steamed bones, and they would pull at the sinew and gnaw on the bone surface. At some point, he broke a tooth, so I quit giving bones. Later, I tried bones again, and noticed that it would cause him to have “the runs”. His reaction advanced to the point that I would empty anything in a gelcap into his food rather than giving him the capsule. Eventually, his reactions became skin itches, and scratching leads to more problems. Last fall, something triggered a reaction, possibly mildew that follows rain during moist periods or perhaps neurodermatitis from his spondylosis. At nearly 10, his arthritic problems were advancing, although what could be seen on his spinal x-rays didn’t indicate much change.

Being a very intelligent fellow, he had been walking down the sidewalk and along the drive rather than walking across the yard when it was wet, keeping his feet from getting so wet. Whether it was contact dermatitis, inhalant allergy or food allergy, he seemed to understand that exacerbated the problem. The itching became nearly incessant. He had scratched until hair was missing behind his elbows, so I began putting a denim shirt on him to reduce the damage from his toenails. Then he scratched behind his ear and created a hematoma. I ordered some boots to reduce the damage he could inflict with his toenails.

Another thing that I had discovered in the previous year was his reaction to food gums, primarily xanthan gum. This meant no more frozen custard, for a boy who would get excited whenever we drove past the frozen custard shop. With Parker, I had decided to use a conservative treatment approach, with the plan to begin using prednisone or cyclosporine if the issues escalated. I was feeding a home-prepared diet, so I could control the ingredients. In the house, we used air filters to reduce airborne particles, and I did a whole-house cleaning every couple of weeks. Parker was getting a bath every 2-3 weeks, which is typical here, but there are times now when his itching necessitates weekly baths. Giving him a good bath and drying him well seems to help.

Last spring, his veterinarian suggested laser treatment for the spondylosis, to decrease the itching. He had new equipment, and while I had planned to try this at some point for his arthritis, he wasn’t having enough trouble to warrant looking for a clinic with this capability. I had planned to locate a clinic with experience, and had talked to one in Kansas City. But, the opportunity presented itself, and given the degree of itching, and the veterinarian’s confidence even though this equipment was new, I decided to let him try it, and since this was such “good medicine”, I asked him to treat his hips too. This decision turned out to be a good intention gone awry. When I took him back out to the van, he needed help getting into the van. That night, and several nights afterward, he woke up crying in pain. When he stood, he clearly had pain in his left rear, and when he moved, it looked like he did not have good motor control. The spondylosis did appear to improve, but within three weeks, he became lethargic. Parker has always been a bright and energetic Newf, full of fun, the Party Boy, the one who keeps us all in motion and in good spirits. Seeing him like that was crucifying!

There was a veterinarian about half an hour away who had a good reputation for acupuncture treatment, so I decided to see if this could improve his condition. Within the first couple of treatments, he was bouncing back, still having pain in his rear and moving with an odd gait, but he was returning to the same fellow who didn’t let a little pain stand in the way of having fun! Over the course of several treatments, he continued to improve. The look on his face when the electrical stimulation was applied to the needles made me want to get in line! He was able to swim again this spring, and that gave him even more benefit. This summer, we took a trip to Colorado during the summer, and he was able to complete the two-mile walk, with no detrimental effect. We let him choose the pace, watching for signs that he may try to ignore, and on the way back, we took a break to watch the kids fishing tournament.
For the next month of triple digit heat, we stayed indoors quite a bit, with only short walks in the mornings. When the heat began to subside, we took the Newfs on weekends for water training. He was doing well for a guy approaching his 11th birthday!

Following the episode of laser treatment, he also had a reaction to the cookie product, which upon examination by the manufacturer was found to be contaminated with a dental chew product (contains gums) from a previous batch. This produced a firestorm of itching! Now he seems to be reacting to the cookies, even though these were the most exciting part of after-breakfast, after-dinner and at most any point upon request. This has been a hard adjustment – no more cookies. I tried making cookies, using select ingredients, but this turned into more then I could keep up with. Now he gets boiled eggs, bacon, liver, apples, or other appropriate items as treats or rewards.

Returning to fall, it is clear that there is an allergen associated with the season and moisture conditions. He is again having persistent itching. I found a denim jacket at a thrift store last spring, with a “Large” size label on the mens’ rack, but it turned out to be a womens’ jacket. He can wear this upside down, without the top buttons being closed. It is a heavier fabric, so offers better protection, but the mens’ large or x-large would fit more comfortably. Last night, I put the jacket on him for the first time this fall. During the cooler weather, at least it doesn’t make him uncomfortably warm. The jacket also helps him sleep through the nights better.

This morning, as we were getting ready to leave, I couldn’t find my cell phone. This phone drains the battery almost daily, but fortunately there was enough power left that I could hear ringing when I called that number using another phone. The sound was muffled, like it was underneath something. I pulled the bed out to see if it had fallen under the bed (or was pushed out of the way by a sleeping Newfoundland). I walked back and forth through the house, listening for its ring until I was fairly certain that it was in the kitchen. Still, the sound was very faint. There weren’t many places in the kitchen where I wouldn’t be able to hear it clearly. This was puzzling! There were some clean towels on the bar stools, but I hadn’t been near the bar stools last night. Surely if it were in the refrigerator, I wouldn’t even be able to hear it. There wasn’t a crevice anywhere that it could have been slid into that would keep it from being audible. Finally, I realized two things: 1) The kitchen is the favorite room in the house for Newfoundlands, and Parker was lying there now. 2) Parker was lying on the kitchen floor last night when I put the jacket on him! The phone had fallen inside the jacket and had stayed there for at least one trip outside and all through the night! When it’s in my pocket, the buzz is very strong – good thing there had been no text messages! Of course, the alarm had gone off this morning, with its sequence of reminders. No wonder Parker had been talkative! I had been wondering if his talking was because he was feeling conversational or if he was beginning to have some of the geriatric issue of barking. Since removing the cell phone, he’s had a lot less on his mind that he needed to share, so I can put off worrying about that for a while longer!

Now we can begin the pre-Christmas partying! Where is that singing Christmas tree?!

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HAPPY PRE-THANKSGIVING!

Posted on November 13, 2012 by BigFootClub

Needless to say, but the weather change has been favorable from Jade’s perspective.

Upon leaving the last show, it began pouring down rain before I connected the trailer, and my raincoat, and emergency raincoat, were both at home.  That morning had begun at around 70 with sunshine, but on our way to class, there were a few clouds in the sky and the cold wind was beginning, with rain in the forecast.  I didn’t want to waste any prep time connecting the trailer, but paid for that afterward!  After changing clothes and doing a last walk-around with the rain pouring at what seemed like negative something Farenheit, and after changing clothes again, I pulled out.  A nice gentleman motioned to me that the scissors jacks were still down in the rear!  What we don’t see when we look at things with our eyes closed!

After I got home, I remembered that there was an emergency poncho in the van!

All I could think about was stew, hot and fresh, with the aroma of beef, tomato and basil, and how warm it would feel to get a tummy full of stew.  The only problem with that plan was that it would take two hours to make, and since Greg was home ill with the flu, the cook would have to be me after we got back.  A restaurant was beginning to sound better.

Meanwhile, I was the only one in the van bemoaning the weather change.  That morning, Jade had spotted some Bouviers being taken out to relieve themselves, while she and Parker were on the way for the same purpose.  As we passed about 30’ away, one of the Bouviers lept into the air at the same time his owner pulled him toward her.  It was bad timing, and the poor dog landed on his side.  Jade had been watching for a sign of encouragement, and she was ready to rumble!  She makes me think of a Shania Twain ad for the Superbowl:  She was there to party!  She and her littermate had played like that constantly while I was there to look at her.  When she came home, she lost her playmate, and even now when she sees a black ball of fuzz, her hopes sail high!  She was bouncing around like a Newfoundland on a pogo stick in great delight.  I pulled her on toward her destination while the Bouviers continued to their corner of the relief area.

Arriving home, she went out to assess the yard and find the kittens.  The cold weather certainly pulls her trigger.  She wants to go outside at night multiple times, and she isn’t in a hurry to come back inside.  With the wind coming from the north, it was a long cold wait.

The Boston Terrier seems to be on my side, as when he races to the potty yard and back, and I ask “Did you poop?”, he looks to the side and lets out a fast and furious “pffftt!”  It begs the consideration whether “pffftt!” in Boston Terrier language is a form of explicative.  With his little bullet-shaped body, he raced back out to finish his business, then straight back to be let inside the house to the nearest air handling vent where warm air was blowing.

This morning, there are signs of “life returning to normal” (human perspective), with highs near 60 for several days.  The mornings are still filled with the wonder of chill, so we’re both getting some glee time each day.  She’s about to lose trust again from the cats, though, because she has gauged that they are agile and quick and she is looking for a playmate still.  Everybody seems happy.  Parker has enthusiasm and is also staying outside more, and the first thing he did when we got back was pick up the Squatty Chick and look for someone who would take the bait.  He’s also back on schedule, as he did this on pre-Friday also.  Yesterday was his Accupuncture day, and when we got there, he was too excited to be still.  To get the Newfs onto a floor scale, I say “Table” as if it were a grooming table or any other item that I wanted them to get onto.  This also tells them to get on and stay in place until I request that they move, but Parker was too excited.  He kept getting on, getting off and getting on again.  Humans can’t keep up or do things fast enough sometimes!

Well, the holiday season is approaching, and in the eyes of Newfs, it is the most wonderful time of the year!  A time to celebrate, appreciate the chill in the air and enjoy each other’s company.

Happy pre-Thanksgiving to all.

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THE INFLUENCE OF SUNSHINE ON A CHILLY MORNING

Posted on October 28, 2012 by BigFootClub

This morning there was frost on the ground.  Yesterday morning, it was 27.0 F.  I didn’t even look at the outdoor thermometer this time.  The Newfs had let me sleep to a reasonable time (for a Sunday) before asking me to get up to let them outside.  That was very gracious.  I notice more often that Jade, now 4 years of age, is transitioning from young adult to an elegant level of maturity, with more of the awareness that comes with maturity.  They are lovely company.  I sat up, collected my bearings, then put on a pair of sweats and started walking toward the back door.  I escorted Jade down the back steps, as the weather change has re-launched her sense of invincibility.  (She may sail through the air with the greatest of ease, but the landings from such flights are unavoidable, and usually on the concrete.)  Corky went out with the Newfs, only to zip back to the house as fast as possible.  I asked him if he pooped, and the dismay in his expression clearly showed that he knew he would need to dig deep, find the courage to face the cold and go back to the potty yard.  He trotted away quickly, not in joy but in the desire to get it over with.  I closed the door and started the next load of laundry, and in what seemed to be no time, Parker began barking.  It wasn’t the usual bark that says “I’m ready to come back inside”, it was more urgent and insistent.  I finished loading the washer while he persisted, then I realized that Corky must be turning blue!  Boston Terriers don’t have much temperature resistance, hot or cold, and while there may be a fair amount of drama about it when there is a +/- 5 degree shift, at 27 degrees, 40 seconds was a very long time!

I began cooking breakfast, theirs and mine:  one slice of bacon for me, one for Parker, one for me, one for Jade, one for me, one for Corky.  Doesn’t seem quite fair, now that I count back.  <g>  As I put the bacon in the microwave, I noticed that it could use a good cleaning.  I began frying eggs.  Usually the Newfs get boiled eggs, kept in the frig in the original carton, since frying creates unhealthful components in the oils.  But humans have bad habits, and when eggs are fried for people, eggs are fried for the dogs too – an illicit delicacy.

One of the reasons that marital bliss isn’t always bliss is that minds who may share similar values still don’t follow the same path.  For example, I prefer organization.  This allows me to locate an item that I need without losing time searching for it.  Greg prefers Fast! So he puts things wherever there is a vacancy large enough to contain whatever he has finished using.  Sometimes the containment spot he finds is above my eye level, which can be in complete oblivion to me.  Sometimes, it is in the same cabinet, or even the same drawer, but it isn’t where I am looking for it.  The converse can have its results too.  Greg has called when I was traveling, telling me about trying to fry a boiled egg.  I don’t know if he did this in humor or because there was an open slot big enough for a carton of eggs, but the first egg that I tried to crack startled me.  It was stiff and hard yellow material emerged.  <g>  Caught in my own trap!  I usually put the boiled eggs beside the fresh eggs on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.  He had put the boiled eggs in the area where I keep the fresh eggs.

As a part of the temperature change that comes with the season, the angle of light from the sun changes.  This “puts a whole new light” on the kitchen.  When you live with big hairy slobbering dogs, you can’t afford an excessive need for house cleaning.  You find ways to manage maintenance tasks on a low time budget, and you develop an appreciation for those products that reduce time and effort, without exposing you to chemicals that have been launched into a “population study”.  Libman has become one of my favorite companies.  Cellulose sponge mops do a marvelous job of cleaning walls and cabinets.  The cellulose sponge doesn’t leave excessive wetness on the surface.  My fast method of cleaning is to use a cheap broom, with flexible bristles, to scrub walls and lower cabinets with cleaning solution, then follow with a sponge mop.  The bristles do a good job of cleaning crevices like those in base molding.  This requires that the walls and baseboard be sealed well.  (for which I’ve developed an appreciation for Sherwin-Williams, although I would bet that they don’t anticipate some of the ways that I use their paints)

The range/oven in our kitchen was selected based on the needs of our household.  The knobs are at the back, out of ease of reach from Newfoundlands who may become curious about what is on the stove.  The control panel is made to allow easier cleaning.  The top is a one-piece Schott glass product, which makes cleanups from spills much easier.  My husband has begun using the glass top for heating tortillas.  This method of preparing a tortilla (heating over a burner) is typical for many southern immigrants, and there is a clear improvement to fajitas or carnitas when the tortilla is toasted immediately before eating.  Fortunately, the glass top is easily cleaned with ceramic cooktop cleaner.  Even with follow-up cleaning though, it’s hard to not worry about any residues from using that cleaner.  It may not be on his wish list, but he may get a griddle for Christmas.

With the change in the angle of light (whether it is spring or fall), and a nice sunny morning, what becomes apparent is the need for a detail cleaning, for all of those places that are missed in the maintenance cleanings.  The first thing on my list was those little spots of polymerized oils on the range/oven, where an accumulation of quick cleanups missed a spot or left residue.  I no longer use cotton balls for cleaning Newf ears, but have a large supply that I also use for cleaning the tacky spots of polymerized oil.  One of my cleaning chemicals is 91% isopropyl alcohol, applied to cotton balls.  Now the oven is shiny again.

It isn’t always easy to recognize, but I am my mother’s daughter.  Sometimes it is nice to clean the house well, then enjoy it for the short time it lasts!

Yesterday, I worked on the camping trailer, today the house, one room at a time!  Next, the Newfs!  Then I need to resolve the problem with the router, and . . .  Don’t you wish that weekends lasted a little longer?

PS Another of those things to consider when getting your first Newf: How big is your “broom closet?” You may end up with multiple brooms, mops & many miscellaneous cleaning tools!

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