Our Paws For Thought

06/09/2023

I'm Opting Out too!
So now they are doing it, just announced on Channel 4 News. Facebook is charging all users starting Monday. You can do an opt-out by doing this. Hold your finger over this message and copy it. It can’t be shared. I do not give permission for Facebook to charge $4.99 a month to my account, also; all my pictures are my property of mine and NOT Facebook's!!! Opt-out Special thanks to Larry for this legal advice… and to Tim Barker for posting this information:
Due to the fact everyone is slowly getting hi-jacked, yeah hi-jacked not hacked, they're flat out hi-jacking our accounts, even more now.
Just in case Notice: An attorney advised us to post this. The violation of privacy can be punished by law. NOTE: Facebook Meta is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you do not publish a statement at least once, it will be technically understood that you are allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile status updates.
I HEREBY STATE THAT I DO NOT GIVE FACEBOOK META MY PERMISSION TO USE ANY OF MY PERSONAL DATA OR PHOTOS.
Copy and paste, do not share. I am getting more sales ad posts than friends' posts. Hold your finger anywhere in this post and click ′′ copy ". Go to your page where it says "What's on your mind." Tap your finger anywhere in the blank field. Click paste. This upgrades the system. Remember tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule (aka... new name META) where they can use your pics. Dont forget the deadline is today!!! I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, messages or publications, past and future.

With this statement, I notify Facebook that it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The violation of privacy can be punished by law

You can copy and paste this version if you prefer. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tacitly allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in your profile and status updates.

DO NOT SHARE. Copy And Paste.

Here's how to proceed:

Hold your finger anywhere in this message and "copy" will appear. Click on "Copy". Then go to your page, create a new post and put your finger anywhere in the blank field. 'Paste' will pop up and click Paste.

This will bypass the system....

He who does nothing agrees apparently.

04/06/2018

Well very soon now we shall be breeding with our amazing Owen Glendower our Int.champion star (left) and Jemima our baby of 3 years from Sweden (right) together hoping for a successful breeding.
This is such a special mating as Owen Glendower is not with us any more as he sadly died in May 2017,(age 14 yrs) he travelled from abroad with us 12 years ago and has a history behind him, keeping his lineage going through Jemima our Import from Sweden.
Watch this space between now and a few months on for our hopefully new generation of babies. !!!

09/08/2017

It can be harder to lose a dog than a relative or friend — here's wh

Recently, my wife and I went through one of the more excruciating experiences of our lives – the euthanasia of our beloved dog, Murphy.

I remember making eye contact with Murphy moments before she took her last breath – she flashed me a look that was an endearing blend of confusion and the reassurance that everyone was ok because we were both by her side.

When people who have never had a dog see their dog-owning friends mourn the loss of a pet, they probably think it’s all a bit of an overreaction; after all, it’s “just a dog.”

However, those who have loved a dog know the truth: Your own pet is never “just a dog.”

Many times, I’ve had friends guiltily confide to me that they grieved more over the loss of a dog than over the loss of friends or relatives. Research has confirmed that for most people, the loss of a dog is, in almost every way, comparable to the loss of a human loved one.

Unfortunately, there’s little in our cultural playbook – no grief rituals, no obituary in the local newspaper, no religious service – to help us get through the loss of a pet, which can make us feel more than a bit embarrassed to show too much public grief over our dead dogs.

Perhaps if people realized just how strong and intense the bond is between people and their dogs, such grief would become more widely accepted. This would greatly help dog owners to integrate the death into their lives and help them move forward.

An interspecies bond like no other
What is it about dogs, exactly, that make humans bond so closely with them?

For starters, dogs have had to adapt to living with humans over the past 10,000 years. And they’ve done it very well: They’re the only animal to have evolved specifically to be our companions and friends. Anthropologist Brian Hare has developed the “Domestication Hypothesis” to explain how dogs morphed from their grey wolf ancestors into the socially skilled animals that we now interact with in very much the same way as we interact with other people.

Perhaps one reason our relationships with dogs can be even more satisfying than our human relationships is that dogs provide us with such unconditional, uncritical positive feedback. (As the old saying goes, “May I become the kind of person that my dog thinks I already am.”)

This is no accident. They have been selectively bred through generations to pay attention to people, and MRI scans show that dog brains respond to praise from their owners just as strongly as they do to food (and for some dogs, praise is an even more effective incentive than food). Dogs recognize people and can learn to interpret human emotional states from facial expression alone. Scientific studies also indicate that dogs can understand human intentions, try to help their owners and even avoid people who don’t cooperate with their owners or treat them well.

Not surprisingly, humans respond positively to such unrequited affection, assistance and loyalty. Just looking at dogs can make people smile. Dog owners score higher on measures of well-being and they are happier, on average than people who own cats or no pets at all.

Like a member of the family
Our strong attachment to dogs was subtly revealed in a recent study of “misnaming.” Misnaming happens when you call someone by the wrong name, like when parents mistakenly call one of their kids by a sibling’s name. It turns out that the name of the family dog also gets confused with human family members, indicating that the dog’s name is being pulled from the same cognitive pool that contains other members of the family. (Curiously, the same thing rarely happens with cat names.)

It’s no wonder dog owners miss them so much when they’re gone.

Psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren’t just losing the pet. It could mean the loss of a source of unconditional love, a primary companion who provides security and comfort, and maybe even a protégé that’s been mentored like a child.

The loss of a dog can also seriously disrupt an owner’s daily routine more profoundly than the loss of most friends and relatives. For owners, their daily schedules – even their vacation plans – can revolve around the needs of their pets. Changes in lifestyle and routine are some of the primary sources of stress.

According to a recent survey, many bereaved pet owners will even mistakenly interpret ambiguous sights and sounds as the movements, pants and whimpers of the deceased pet. This is most likely to happen shortly after the death of the pet, especially among owners who had very high levels of attachment to their pets.

While the death of a dog is horrible, dog owners have become so accustomed to the reassuring and nonjudgmental presence of their canine companions that, more often than not, they’ll eventually get a new one.

So yes, I miss my dog. But I’m sure that I’ll be putting myself through this ordeal again in the years to come.

By Frank T. McAndrew, Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, Knox College.

09/08/2017

It can be harder to lose a dog than a relative or friend — here's why


Recently, my wife and I went through one of the more excruciating experiences of our lives – the euthanasia of our beloved dog, Murphy.

I remember making eye contact with Murphy moments before she took her last breath – she flashed me a look that was an endearing blend of confusion and the reassurance that everyone was ok because we were both by her side.

When people who have never had a dog see their dog-owning friends mourn the loss of a pet, they probably think it’s all a bit of an overreaction; after all, it’s “just a dog.”

However, those who have loved a dog know the truth: Your own pet is never “just a dog.”

Many times, I’ve had friends guiltily confide to me that they grieved more over the loss of a dog than over the loss of friends or relatives. Research has confirmed that for most people, the loss of a dog is, in almost every way, comparable to the loss of a human loved one.

Unfortunately, there’s little in our cultural playbook – no grief rituals, no obituary in the local newspaper, no religious service – to help us get through the loss of a pet, which can make us feel more than a bit embarrassed to show too much public grief over our dead dogs.

Perhaps if people realized just how strong and intense the bond is between people and their dogs, such grief would become more widely accepted. This would greatly help dog owners to integrate the death into their lives and help them move forward.

An interspecies bond like no other
What is it about dogs, exactly, that make humans bond so closely with them?

For starters, dogs have had to adapt to living with humans over the past 10,000 years. And they’ve done it very well: They’re the only animal to have evolved specifically to be our companions and friends. Anthropologist Brian Hare has developed the “Domestication Hypothesis” to explain how dogs morphed from their grey wolf ancestors into the socially skilled animals that we now interact with in very much the same way as we interact with other people.

Perhaps one reason our relationships with dogs can be even more satisfying than our human relationships is that dogs provide us with such unconditional, uncritical positive feedback. (As the old saying goes, “May I become the kind of person that my dog thinks I already am.”)

A woman and her dog
Mary Turner/Getty Images

This is no accident. They have been selectively bred through generations to pay attention to people, and MRI scans show that dog brains respond to praise from their owners just as strongly as they do to food (and for some dogs, praise is an even more effective incentive than food). Dogs recognize people and can learn to interpret human emotional states from facial expression alone. Scientific studies also indicate that dogs can understand human intentions, try to help their owners and even avoid people who don’t cooperate with their owners or treat them well.

Not surprisingly, humans respond positively to such unrequited affection, assistance and loyalty. Just looking at dogs can make people smile. Dog owners score higher on measures of well-being and they are happier, on average than people who own cats or no pets at all.

Like a member of the family
Our strong attachment to dogs was subtly revealed in a recent study of “misnaming.” Misnaming happens when you call someone by the wrong name, like when parents mistakenly call one of their kids by a sibling’s name. It turns out that the name of the family dog also gets confused with human family members, indicating that the dog’s name is being pulled from the same cognitive pool that contains other members of the family. (Curiously, the same thing rarely happens with cat names.)

It’s no wonder dog owners miss them so much when they’re gone.

Psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren’t just losing the pet. It could mean the loss of a source of unconditional love, a primary companion who provides security and comfort, and maybe even a protégé that’s been mentored like a child.

The loss of a dog can also seriously disrupt an owner’s daily routine more profoundly than the loss of most friends and relatives. For owners, their daily schedules – even their vacation plans – can revolve around the needs of their pets. Changes in lifestyle and routine are some of the primary sources of stress.

According to a recent survey, many bereaved pet owners will even mistakenly interpret ambiguous sights and sounds as the movements, pants and whimpers of the deceased pet. This is most likely to happen shortly after the death of the pet, especially among owners who had very high levels of attachment to their pets.

While the death of a dog is horrible, dog owners have become so accustomed to the reassuring and nonjudgmental presence of their canine companions that, more often than not, they’ll eventually get a new one.

So yes, I miss my dog. But I’m sure that I’ll be putting myself through this ordeal again in the years to come.

By Frank T. McAndrew, Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, Knox College.

02/02/2017

This was a special day for Owen Glendower age 10 years but now 13 years, he was chosen as an exhibit for Crufts and the first experience for us all, these are his pictures from this show with his proud owner Kirston Murray... this will be a memory never to be forgotten at his age in the Veteran class.....

17/10/2016

Having a Bunter and William day today, remembering them in their early days, how we brought them over to UK from South Africa, over 10 years ago, these 2 brothers are no longer with us but I so miss them every day that passes, they were so perfect in their unique ways, Bunter an International Champion and William just our "Golden Wonder" who was just happy carrying his toys everywhere with him, I miss you so much boys and will always shower my love onto you both !! ######x
We also have here our baby Beatrix, who only left us in May this year and is so close to my heart right now, as with Bunter she also gained her International Championship, we hope through baby Jemima, Beatrix will shine through, I will always love you sweetheart and think of you every day, just looking at your portrait brings joy into my heart ######xx

02/12/2015

I am sorry that I haven't been on here for so long but I have been busy finalising my book publishing,I shall be back soon.
Thank you for your patience !!

15/10/2015

I thought I would post here today after the dreadful news that my Neice and her family have had to face this week.

Their devoted Golden Labrador just one year old was poisoned with "Slug Pellets" after eating them, this is the most dreadful death to go through and some animal owners do not know the consequences when placing pesticides in their gardens, however this was not the case for them, it was actually thrown into their garden, we have to protect our animals and be with them at all times, if you can't be with them which is also in many cases, please make sure you lock them inside where they are safe and do not let them out when you are away from them !!!

Some people are fortunate that they are at home all day to watch them, especially puppies, they are more vulnerable than older dogs as they will eat and try anything laying about ...

My heart goes out to my family as they grieve over their beautiful one year old stunning baby girl, what a waste of a life for this beautiful baby...

10/10/2015

08/10/2015

It happened in May that the last of our old babies was taken from us, Beatrix 14 years passed away in May, it has been very hard to bring myself to write about her, the last of our Int.Ch. babies.
She died of Kidney failure after struggling so hard to keep her going, Owen her son who himself is now 11 years of age has really missed her but looking on the bright side I would like to introduce everyone to "Jemima" our new baby from Sweden, we travelled all the way to Germany to pick her up, at only 15/16 weeks she is such a confident and happy little girl, having a lot of ways similar to Beatrix, but not ever replacing Beatrix for her, all our babies both gone and still with us are still truly part of our lives...
Jemima travelled really well back to the UK and took everything in her stride, well trained in every way, staying in B&B's throughout Europe and eating in smart Restaurants, she certainly knows about style now.
She has fitted in really well with Owen and Bella our little solid and not forgetting "Lord Paw Paw our Maine C**n cat, they are adoring her so much and all getting on really well.
I shall post more on her progress as she matures and tell the world all about her, she is really our world and totally love her more and more every day, I know Beatrix would have loved her too.
Below in order we have: Jemima, Owen her new brother and of course not forgetting our beautiful baby Beatrix.
We have an exciting career ahead for Jemima and are so looking forward to it, love all you babies so much ###

22/04/2015

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It’s been a while since I talked about our Maine C**n Kitten who is now 8 months old, as you can see he is growing into a handsome boy !! Either known as the Lion Cat or Gentle Giant.
Now able to go out and about has stayed quite close to his home apart from visiting the next door neighbour a much smaller in size average...

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