Can Writing a Thank You Note Be Good for Your Health?

I just read an article on MSN.com called, "12 Little Instant Health Boosts."  Number 4 on the list is "Pen a Thank You Note".  Of course this caught my eye since I not only write thank you notes but also design and sell note cards.  In this day and age, it seems everyone is texting, emailing, and tweeting...everything is digital.  In fact, it seems many people would rather do the above than actually call someone on the phone, let alone actually write a note with paper and pen!  Sometimes I wonder if children who are growing up now will actually have good penmanship since it seems they know how to type before they can write!

According to the article written by Alyssa Shaffer (http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100265404&gt1=31036),  people who wrote notes of gratitude (and actually meant it) were happier. 

Some other benefits of writing according to the article may be improvements in:

• liver function
• lung function
• immune system
• reduced blood pressure
• well-being

A benefit that I think one gets from writing is the knowledge that the recipient of your note will be so excited to receive an actual hand-written note in the mail.  It seems the only things we get in the mail these days are bills and junk; it's always such a treat to see an envelope with a real stamp and your friend or family member's handwriting on the front.  When you see a note like that in your mailbox, you know something good is inside and can't wait to sit down and read the thoughtful note inside.

So, take a moment to grab some note cards, make some tea (another healthy item on the list!), and write a note or two to those you care about.  It will make you feel better and I guarantee, it will make the day of the ones you love!

Boxerstock - What A Blast!

We had an amazing time at Boxerstock presented by the Atlanta Boxer Rescue.  It was a great event with lots and lots of boxers...and a few other breeds for good measure!  ;)  I think the final count was 1200 people which was fantastic - a lot of great folks came out for a great cause. 

I learned a few things at Boxerstock:

• Check your boxer for lumps as boxers are prone to cancer.  Even if they are young, you should pay attention because if caught early, most cancers can be treated.
• Some breeders "put down" white boxers as they are seen as "undesirable".  Wait, what?!  Why not find them a home like the lovely ones I saw at Boxerstock?!  I realized I hadn't seen a white boxer before and I now knew why.  They are so pretty!
• Many people are not cropping the ears anymore...these guys are so cute with floppy ears!
• There's not as much barking at a boxer event as there is at a terrier event!  ;) 

We had a really good time and will definitely plan on being there next year!  Our thanks to everyone who came out and supported us!

O Magazine article - Megan and her border terriers!

Hi Everyone!

Sorry it's been so long since I've written, I started a second blog called Dog Friendly Spots (www.dogfriendlyspots.com) and have been super-busy!  Alas, I don't want to neglect this blog either, so I think I'm back on track.

For those of you who have been following this blog, you know that I had the honor to be trained by Victoria Stilwell for the October issue of O Magazine.  The magazine is out and the article is great!  They were really truthful and I hope the article will help other dog owners who have similar issues.  I cannot stress how wonderful Victoria was and how her positive methods of training really work. 
Here's a photo of Riley from the shoot...yes, she's on the kitchen table, and no, it wasn't a staged photo! ;)




Photo courtesy of Christopher T Martin.


Here's the link to the article: http://www.oprah.com/relationships/How-to-Train-a-Disobedient-Dog

Check it out and let me know what you think! 

By the way, I'm prepping for Boxerstock next Sunday 10/24.  If you're in the Atlanta area, come check it out!  It benefits the Atlanta Boxer Rescue and is sure to be a great day of live music, great vendors (including Hound and Thistle!), and great fun!  It's at Jim R Miller Park from 12 pm -  7 pm.

Take Care, Megan

Working Terrier...In A Tree!

Check out this video...This is a border terrier who is quite a hunter!  We were watching it with Riley (yes, she watches TV) and she went nuts!  Now, if she could only be that intense at an earthdog trial...

John Paul Pet

We have border terriers and the proper way to groom their coats is to hand-strip them, not use clippers. When Finlay was a pup, our breeder recommended a gentle shampoo like Johnson's Baby Shampoo which worked really well. One day, we found a dog grooming salon that had a groomer who knew how to hand-strip, so we made an appointment. Finlay's coat is softer and fuller than most border terriers and it took us forever to strip his coat. We were excited that we found a professional who could help us!



It turns out, it took a lot longer than the groomer anticipated because of Fin's coat, but he looked great! That evening, we noticed bumps all over his skin and he was rubbing all over the sofas, scratching constantly. Since he smelled 'perfume-y", we bathed him with the baby shampoo and also put him in an oatmeal bath to soothe his skin. After a few days, Finlay was feeling better and we realized that we had to make sure to bring our own shampoo when we got him groomed.



Fast forward a few years and a colleague of mine gave me two bottles of a new shampoo her husband was representing, John Paul Pet. Yes, this is related to the famous human hair care line, Paul Mitchell; the founder is John Paul DeJoria (CEO and Co-founder of the Paul Mitchell brand). Now, I am not a frou-frou person and my dogs are not frou-frou dogs, but it was free and it looked and sounded good! Because of Finlay's sensitive skin, I was hesitant to use it, but after reading about it, decided to give it a try, after all, the kind she gave me was "oatmeal". We tried the shampoo and not only did it clean well, but more importantly, it was not irritating to our dogs' skin. What we love even more is that the company's mission is to promote proper care of all pets and they support several outreach programs for pets.



If you're looking for good shampoos for your pets, make sure to check out John Paul Pet. You can visit their website at http://www.johnpaulpet.com/ to see where to get their products.

Dachshund Saves Owner!

I am a sucker for dogs (but you already knew that) and a sucker for heart-warming stories. Today, a story is circulating that's both heart-warming AND features a dog. Woo-hoo!

A dachshund in Oregon saved its owner! Yep, you heard me right, a dachshund saved its owner! You may wonder how such a little dog could save the life of its owner. I've attached an article from www.widetrends.com for the full story and a photo (love those wrinkly little legs!) of sweet Missy, an 11 year old hero, um, I mean heroine.

Missy's owner collapsed so, like any dog would do (or as we would hope any of our dogs would do), Missy went next door and stayed in the neighbor's yard (he was gardening) until he followed her back to her house where her owner had collapsed inside. Paramedics were called and luckily, Missy's owner is recovering. In case you're wondering, her owner had recently had heart surgery and suffered vertigo, hence the fall.

Stories like this are not only fun to read and heart-warming, but they also provide evidence about dogs' intelligence and bonds with their owners. Dogs are amazing creatures and give us so much that we need to remember to give them all the love, companionship, and stimulation they deserve. Think about your relationship with your dog. Can you improve it? Does your dog need more playtime, more walks, or a fun exercise like agility or flyball? We are responsible for our dogs and in saying that, we are responsible for giving them fulfilling lives. Don't just be a dog owner, be a responsible dog owner, it's amazing how it will enrich your life and strengthen your bond with your dog.

Finlay's & Riley's Fabulous Friday!

Friday night was a great training night for me and the dogs. I got a late start as I was working on a stationery order, a memorial service program, and simply got the walks in late...but late was good in this case because we saw more dogs! It's been so hot here in the Atlanta area (yes, hotter than normal) that many owners were out with their dogs late in the evening. I have to give them props for being good pet owners and waiting until the sun was going down.

Riley saw Maggie, the neighbor dog who we trained with when Victoria Stilwell was here. At first, Riley barked which totally surprised me. However, I was talking to my friend, Maggie's owner, and Riley settled really quickly. In fact, Maggie is not confident with Riley (because of her nutty behavior), and was really trying to avoid Riley at all costs! I was treating Riley for he passive behavior and she was so interested in Maggie that she started "army crawling" on her belly to get to Maggie. Maggie also relaxed after a bit and they sniffed each other and were very good dogs. Being a golden retriever, Maggie wanted to see me really badly (Goldens just seem to love people SO much!) so I put Riley in a sit/stay and gave Maggie some loving. Riley was great, Maggie was great, and I was able to bring Riley one step closer to being more balanced around another dog - yea!

Riley also saw her new "buddy" Baxter who is an adorable 9 month old terrier mix and she was great with him too. I call him her buddy because she's got to meet him before and really seems interested in him. She did the army crawl with him too and really seemed like she likes him. In fact, she may have been flirting a little, I'm not sure! ;)

Then there's Finlay; my little guy is making some good progress. We saw our neighbors with their Chihuahua, Lodai and I wasn't sure what to expect. Remember, my dogs are hunters and Chihuahuas are small and can be easily mistaken for rodents! No offense, meant here at all. So, Fin barked and barked as we passed, but then I began to talk to my neighbors and he settled. I gave him treats when he was calm and the one owner even wanted the dogs to meet. They sniffed and did well, though Finlay did "snap" a little bit after sniffing, but did not attempt to bite or anything like that. Since Lodai is very calm (yes, a calm, relaxed Chihuahua!), she didn't react and we used it as a training opportunity for Finlay. It got to the point where he was more interested in me and his food than Lodai and I was able to have a nice conversation with my meighbors. I think it was a success. Fin and I also encountered a Jack Russell who was off leash in his own yard, BUT when he saw us, he ignored his owner, walked across the street (thank God no cards were coming by) and came towards us. Fin did indeed react, don't get me wrong, he's still got a way to go, but we handled it well. I immediately turned him around and walked in the other direction as the Jack Russell followed...his owner still calling for him to no avail. Fin calmed down and we walked back the way we were going. The Jack was now back in his yard and we passed with no barking from our end - Finlay didn't seem to even care that the dog was in the vicinity! Again, it was a great experience for us to train and we are making progress!

Every chance we have to do training is a good thing and while I used to hope not to see other dogs, I now look out for them and try to walk where I know we'll encounter another dog!