I’ve found that most pet owners have the following qualities. The more we can surround ourselves with those who are positive and healthy, the more we may model those positive behaviors. I think that I am who I am now because of my wonderful clients, both the human kind and their animals. Hopefully I possess these traits. At least I try.

If you really think about it, once in awhile you come across a person who knocks you off your socks…legitimately. Maybe they have a fantastic outlook on life, even during difficult times. Maybe they are really humble, although they are extremely gifted. Maybe they make you feel special. All of these are good.

Below, I’ve listed some of the traits I admire most in people. Although I could probably list a dozen characteristics, I thought I’d list those that seem to be the rarest or most difficult to find.

1. Selflessness: In a world where many people don’t have the time or the interest in others, selflessness is a quality that seems to be less and less common. People can be selfless in the time they give, the ability to listen, their level of patience and the love that they give. Those who are giving and generous in nature have the power to make others feel loved, appreciated and special. While those who are self-absorbed tend to do the exact opposite.
2. Tolerance: Those people who are tolerant make us feel comfortable with who we are and special as individuals. All of us are different, and many of us have quirks and idiosyncrasies. After all, these differences make the world go round. Having the ability to accept people for who they are and not expect them to be who we want them to be is important in life, happiness and in the health of our relationships.
3. Genuineness: Having the ability to be real, authentic and honest is unique in a world where we put so much emphasis on the superficial. Feeling comfortable in one’s skin and being true to one’s self is one of the most beautiful traits one can possess. To have a REAL relationship with someone requires honesty…it requires hearing and giving input or feedback that may not always be popular…it means having the strength to tell it like it is and to not be afraid to face the consequences for doing so…it means loving people for who they really are…deep down…and not for what they appear to be.
4. Sensitivity: So often we are focused on what is important to ourselves that we can forget about those around us. Those who are sensitive are often thoughtful, appreciative and loving, in a way that makes you feel understood, valued and respected. Often, sensitive people are also self-aware, making them mindful of how they impact others with what they do and say.
5. Integrity: I think this characteristic is especially difficult to find. In a time when people will do things that are underhanded to make an extra buck (Bernie Madoff…can you hear me?), expose their personal lives to the public so they can be famous (balloon boy’s dad and any other reality TV mongers) , integrity is a characteristic that is especially unique today.
6. Humility: Whether someone is super-smart, extremely talented or drop-dead gorgeous, there is something extra special about them if they don’t come across as though they know it all the time. Humility in those that possess extraordinary traits make others feel special too.

Oh boy the list could go on! What characteristics do you admire in others? Are there any that you want to cultivate?

Partially Originally published on Sheer Balance

Fun Animal Facts from Pet News and Views

Happy Holidays, and thank you for reading Pet News and Views.

Cats: Did you know that a cat has more bones in its body than a human being? Humans have 206 bones and cats have 230. Cats hear and see better than we do too. A cat’s hearing is more sensitive than people and dogs. At night, cats can see six times better than humans. All cats have an incredible sense of balance thanks to their tail.

Dogs: Did you know that dogs are related to the wolf? Scientists believe that friendship between dogs and people began more than 14,000 years ago. This friendship began when humans tried to tame wolf pups by giving them food. Over the centuries, humans have used dogs as hunters and watchdogs. For a long time, scientists have believed that dogs can tell when humans are happy, sad, angry, or frightened, making them good companions.

Fish: Did you know that fish can get dirty? Fish can have tiny animals living on their scales. If these tiny animals aren’t cleaned, the fish get sick. To clean themselves they go to the coral reefs. (It’s not a spa.) At these cleaning stations, there are special fish called Cleaners, who pick these tiny animals off of the scales. A fish called the Spanish Hogfish cleans the insides of other fishes’ mouths.

Chickens and Dinosaurs: Did you know that the chicken is the closest living relative of the tyrannosaurus-rex? Scientists compared and studied old dinosaur bones and new chicken bones. They discovered similar material found in each making the chicken and tyrannosaurus-rex distant cousins.

Monkeys: Did you know that there are more than 100 different types of monkeys? Monkeys are found in Africa, Asia, Mexico, Central America, and South American. Howler monkeys can be found in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. The male Howler monkey makes the most noise and is the loudest. When it howls, it can be heard up to 10 miles away. Monkeys live in trees and use their tales just like they use their hands and feet.

Elephants: Did you know that elephants are the largest land animals in the world? There are two kinds of elephants—African and Asian. You can easily tell them apart because African elephants are bigger and taller than Asian elephants. Asian elephants have smaller ears and shorter tusks than African elephants. Since both African and Asian elephants are so big, they spend a lot of time eating—20 hours a day. They eat large amounts of leaves, grass, and the barks of trees. Both African and Asian elephants live in herds.

Sheep: Did you know that sheep have good memories? Sheep can recognize at least 50 different sheep and 10 human faces. They can even recognize positive or negative emotions—and respond to pictures of friendly faces. Some breeds of sheep (like Katahdin and Dorper) have human-like hair instead of wool. Sheep talk to each other by hissing through their noses and by making grunting noises. When they are upset, they make bleating sounds.

Snakes: Did you know that there are more than 3,000 different kinds of snakes in the world? Most of them are not poisonous. In fact, snakes rather slither away than bite you. They only attack when they feel scared. Some snakes like the python can grow up to 15 feet long. They can eat an entire antelope by swallowing it in one gulp. Other snakes, like Garden Snakes, can be smaller than a pencil. Some snakes live in the sea, some live underground, and others live in trees.

Bugs: Did you know that three out of four creatures on earth are bugs? For every person, there are a million ants. Scientists have identified about one million different types of bugs, and these are just the bugs we know about. There are several unknown types of bugs living on this planet. Bugs live in tropical rainforests and on dry lands. They can be found in ponds and deserts. The oldest known fossil of insects dates back to 400 million years. They have been around before the dinosaur.

If you have any fun animal facts, please post here.

As a dog lover, you know that having a dog means having to deal with doggy odor on a daily basis. Young dogs, sick dogs and even old dogs can make mistakes. It is not uncommon for some older dogs to accidentally urinate in the house, or to have an episode of vomiting or diarrhea.

I talk about doggy odor a lot – mostly because it’s a big problem for dog owners. Doggy odor from drool or from your dog’s wet coat can make everything smell like dog – your furniture, your bed, your pillows … even your car.

Sometimes younger dogs can get sick or have house training problems. Older dogs can become confused. Sometimes they just can’t hold their urine as well as they used to. They can have accidents or leak urine in their bedding. It happens all the time.

Once they urinate in the house, it seem like the smell never goes away. And if you’ve had problems with your dog urinating in the house, you know that this is a smell that can be especially strong.

What can you do? Here are some tips:

1. Make sure to give your dog PLENTY of opportunities to urinate. Don’t test your dog. Take him out even before you think he needs to go.

2. Wash your dog’s bedding and blankets every week. Some older dogs will have trouble with leaking urine or anal glands … and their bedding stinks. That musty “wet dog smell”, dirt, drool and other odors can also get sealed in to your dog’s bedding, so wash it weekly.

3. Wash your dog. Some dogs need to be bathed every week while others only need to be bathed every few weeks to a month. If you can smell your dog, he definitely needs a bath! Make sure to bathe your dog on a regular basis.

4. Promptly clean all odors. If your dog vomits, has diarrhea or if he has an “accident”, quickly clean up the mess. Use white paper towels and clean/dry the mess as best you can. You can also use water.

5. Neutralize odors. Yes, doggy odors can be neutralized. A product called Zero Odor works very well to do just that. This product bonds with the odor molecule and changes it so it doesn’t stink. It is the only product we’ve found that will actually take away pet odor – for good. You can spray the floor, bedding, furniture, carpets and any areas where your dog (or any dog) may have urinated in the house.

6. We make sacrifices for the dogs we love, but living with daily doggy odor can be a real challenge. When your house smells like dog, life can get pretty miserable. And who wants to expose “outsiders” to that smell? It’s enough to make you cringe every time someone comes to the door.

Thanks to Dr. Jon

Feature: Protect Your Dog From Those Cold Winter Months: 9 Tips
That Can Help.

Cold, frigid weather presents the same problems for pets as it does
for some humans. If your dog is uncomfortable in the cold, expect
him to shiver or hold up his paws as he walks. Left outside for
extended periods of time, your dog can experience frostbite or
hypothermia.

Look for discoloring of the skin, especially on the ear tips and
other extremities. If you find any signs, contact your veterinarian.
Salt or other ice-melting chemicals as well as antifreeze can be
extremely hazardous and life-threatening for the dog that ingests
them. Road salt also can cause sores if it becomes lodged between
your dog’s footpads.

Dogs at risk from the cold and winter-related hazards, whether they
live indoors or out, need special care.

Here are a few tips:

1. Place a flannel sheet over your dog’s bed for extra warmth.

2. To keep warm, your dog may like to sleep on floor heating vents
that can catch the identification tags attached to his collar. If
your dog likes to snooze over a floor vent, put his tags in a Pet
Pocket, which attaches to his collar.

3. In cold weather, your dog will need more energy to fight the cold
in the form of extra calories, so don’t be afraid to offer him
additional food in the winter.

4. Be sure to wipe off your dog’s paws when he comes in from the
outside to prevent salt and other chemicals from sticking to his feet.

5. Keep antifreeze out of your dog’s reach, and be sure to clean up
any that may have spilled in the garage or driveway.

6. If your dog is accustomed to living the good life indoors, don’t
allow him to stay outside for extended periods of time in cold weather.

7. Make sure your dog has a warm, draft-free place to sleep. Since
warm air rises, offering him a bed off the floor will add extra
warmth and comfort for winter dreaming.

8. Don’t allow your dog to be off leash in a snowstorm or ice storm.
If he gets lost, he will not be able to use his sense of smell to
find his way home.

9. If your dog is short-haired, elderly, or sensitive to the cold,
even for short walks, consider purchasing a sweater for him to wear
in cold weather.
These are great tips from Adam Katz. You probably won’t need these if you live here in SoCal unless you travel to some place like Big Bear, but it’s good to know if you’re traveling with your dog to colder parts of the country.

Here is a list of Top 10 Dog Breeds in the US (2008 American Kennel Club)
1.Labrador Retriever
2.Yorkshire Terrier
3.German Shepherd Dog
4.Golden Retriever
5.Beagle
6.Boxer
7.Dachshund
8.Bulldog
9.Poodle
10.Shih Tzu
That being said, where should you go to find one of these “Top 10″? I recommend that you rescue a dog. You’d be surprised at how many pure bred dogs are up for adoption. If you’re like me than it doesn’t matter what mix you choose as long as you’re saving a dog. You’re choosing a companion that will love you unconditonally does it really matter if it’s a pure bred? If you’re really set on a certain breed make sure that you don’t buy from a puppy mill. When going to a breeder make sure they show you the mother and the dog’s living conditons. I have a client that bought from a breeder that would not allow her to see the mother or the living conditions. A red flag should have gone up. As long as people support puppy mills the abuse of dogs and puppies will continue. Do your research. Help stop puppy mills.

By the way November is “Adopt a Senior Dog Month”. That’s always an option. They need love too.

The holiday season is often the most joyous time of the year. However, joy can turn to tragedy if simple precautions are not taken to ensure the safety of your pets. Pet sitter, Debbie Floyd, offers advise that could, potentialy prevent a tragedy.

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Offering pet sitting, dog walking, & overnight pet sitting among other services for your pets. Bonded and insured pet sitters available in Huntington Beach, Ca and surrounding cities. Members of the BBB, HB Chamber of commerce & Pet Sitters International.