I read a study from Purdue that said therapy dogs working more than 4 days a week show signs of stress in their cortisol levels. Some trainers say it's fine as long as the dog seems happy, but others argue we're ignoring their needs for our benefit. Where do you draw the line between a working dog and an overworked one?
I was torn between getting a terrier or a cat to keep the mice down at my barn in Brookfield. After talking to my neighbor who breeds Jack Russells, I went with a rescue barn cat named Mabel instead. She cost me $35 for the adoption fee and shots, way less than a trained dog would have been. In three months she has caught over 20 mice and even chased off a few rats from the feed room. She does her rounds every evening like clockwork and needs zero training from me. Has anyone else switched from a dog to a cat for pest control on a farm?
I spent $60 on a heavily padded vest for my golden retriever who does reading therapy at the local library. The stitching split at the front seam after just three sessions. I thought I was getting a deal compared to the $40 ones but they all look flimsy now. The buckle broke on the fifth wear and I had to use zip ties to keep it on for our Thursday visit. The kids at the library laughed at the hack job I did with the zip ties. I should have just paid the extra for a real brand from a pet supply store. Has anyone found a vest that actually lasts through weekly therapy visits without breaking?
Ngl, I've been using a slicker brush on my border collie, Rusty, thinking I was getting all the loose fur out. But my buddy Tom, who runs a sheep farm near Boise, pointed out I was just skimming the top layer and missing the undercoat completely. He showed me one pass with an undercoat rake, and suddenly I had enough fur to stuff a pillow. Has anyone else been using the wrong tool on their working dog's coat?