Why should you follow this blog? What makes it unique? Well that is an excellent set of questions. We try to post some fun stuff on the blog and lots of pictures of Lucy (the title character of the blog) and an occasional video or two. We write about things that matter to dog lovers and especially boxer dog lovers. So, here are the details of who Lucy the White Boxer Dog is...

Lucy the white boxer dog has been in our family for a little over six years now. She is not truly white but rather what is referred to as a "check boxer" due to her spots. She is not an albino! She has brown eyes and splashes of black on her in addition to her spots. She is a full blooded boxer. She is also extremely healthy with the exception of having a sensitive stomach.

Want to learn more about Lucy and the things we write about her, follow her blog. Better yet, check out some of the older posts. There is a lot of information on the care of boxers and dogs in general... We look forward to see your comments on some of the posts... Happy blogging to all!


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

A Short Story

A Successful Landing

by Bob Novotney


The command was “Eject – Eject - Eject!”

It seemed like an eternity after pulling the handles for the ejection seat to fire. Time slows when you’re having fun the pilot thought to himself! Watching with great interest, the pilot observed his feet drawn in by the stirrups and the seat slammed back. The canopy that was once protecting him from the elements disappeared from view. Suddenly the force of twenty-one G’s pressed him to his seat as the blast of the veneer rocket sent him upward and away from the aircraft. This is a once in a lifetime ride; I’d better make the best of it the pilot thought.
Everything was working as advertised in training.

Although traveling at more than 350 knots at the time of the ejection, he had hardly noticed the violence of the windblast or the loss of his flight helmet. Even with the distraction of the loss of his helmet, his training took over.

Once kicked free of the ejection seat, he started the routine taught to every pilot who finds themselves in the situation after getting a good chute. The routine came automatically – Canopy, visor, four-line and finally, prepare for landing.

At the end of every flight, there is a landing. In this case - a parachute landing! The PLF (parachute landing fall) as known to many), is designed to reduce the shock of hitting the ground. It distributes the load of impact to multiple points of the body. 

In reality, most pilots look at the termination of a flight in this situation as having two possible outcomes. You can make a PLF or you can make a PFL (poor f*@king landing). The real difference here is, the PLF is taught in training, the PFL is how you should not accomplish the task, as something always manages to get your attention when you come to a full stop. 

The C-9 canopy (parachute) is not noted to be the most maneuverable parachute in the world and today was no exception. While the pilot did not attempt to steer the chute at first, some rather rough looking terrain was coming up fast.  Trees and fence posts are not the most desirable of landing areas! 

Turning the chute into the wind, the now first time parachutist managed to miss the trees but hit the fence line at about twenty miles per hour. The sudden stop was not the most welcomed of outcomes but the pilot realized that he was alive on the ground.

It is kind of funny how the human body works. You can sometimes suffer some rather significant injuries and still function in a rather normal capacity. Adrenaline and survival instincts are hardwired into each of us and today was no exception.

The pilot actually completed his post-landing checklist by detaching himself from the parachute by releasing the quick disconnects on the harness. He also took stock of where he dropped the seat kit that was attached to him while coming down. The seat kit holds some rather important items – a radio, food, water and in this case a rather useless one-man life raft. Basic stuff when you think about it, but even in a peacetime training environment these simple items may make the difference between living and dying.

Taking stock of his location, the young pilot realized that he had two options - He could go get the seat kit and use the radio to call Rescue or he could walk over to the nearby farmhouse and try to use the phone to call the base and have someone come get him. Since it didn’t appear that he was hurt, he elected to do both.  But first, he needed something to drink.

He felt as if he had cotton in his mouth and he could feel some of the effects of shock starting to take hold of his body. And then there was this streak of pain in the lower back that was starting to take over his conscious being. After retrieving the seat kit, the young pilot decided that it was time to take a seat and let everything from this point forward come to him.

Finding a cool place to sit, the pilot began to reflect on what brought him to this point in time…

So, you want to become an Air Force Pilot! The odds are not with you the recruiter told the new recruit. Only about two out of two thousand that apply actually make it to a flying position. But since you are transferring over from the Marine PLC program you may have a shot at getting a flying slot with us. But you’ve really got to want to succeed to fly airplanes in the military.
These words were to hold true in the coming months.

The real truth of the matter is, the military has to have use for you, i.e. want you! There are only so many flying slots to go around. It helps if you graduate from the Air Force Academy, but even this is no guarantee of successful completion of pilot training. Some very bright and accomplished students have washed out of pilot training and some not so bright and underachievers have gone on to fly some rather great aircraft. The only thing that holds true is that if the Air Force wants and needs you and you have the desire and discipline to stick with it, you’ll succeed the recruiter went on to say.

This sounds like a “Catch Twenty Two” the recruit thought to himself. School was always easy to him he thought. There will be no problem with graduating from college and flight-training academics should be no problem as well. After experiencing Marine Corps basic training, anything the Air Force could throw at him physically should be a breeze he thought. With nothing but positive thoughts of how he would succeed at this challenge, he was ready to sign up!

Awaking from his thoughts of the past, the young pilot could hear the sound of rescue vehicles in the distance along with the sounds of rotor noise from a helicopter coming toward his position. He readied his survival radio and made the call. “Rescue, Rescue, Rescue - This is Mustang three-two, I’m on the ground and ok.” My location is in a field next to a fence line about three-quarters of a mile west of a farmhouse just off of what I think is Highway 50.  Ready to pop smoke to mark my location.


Thursday, May 28, 2015

New Book Published

I know this is way off the subject of Lucy the White Boxer Dog but I needed to let everyone know of my new book. You can find it on Amazon over in the Kindle Books section. For a quick look at the new issue please click here! The link should open in a new window.

Now for what the book is about... It's kind of a self-help book covering the topic of fatigue. It actually, a practical guide on how to approach a serious topic that we all encounter in our daily lives. It's a fairly quick read but don't underestimate its value. The book is packed with checklists and advice on how to cope with everyday causes of fatigue.

If you are looking for a quick reference on the topic of fatigue, I think you will find it useful.




Monday, March 30, 2015

It Will Break Your Heart

I haven't really written about my constant companion Lucy lately. She turned ten this past fall and can now officially be considered a senior citizen. Her mind is still as sharp as it ever was. She is still very playful and has a lot of heart and wants to go everywhere. While she has the heart she just doesn't have the legs for it anymore.

She is experiencing what many dogs go through in their later years. She has developed a lack of strength in her hindquarters. While we still go for occasional walks, it saddens me not to be able to take her on the big outings that we use to go on together. The trails behind our home are quite steep and rugged. If we do take one of them, it is at a pace that doesn't challenge her physical state. I say that, yet I do find myself helping her with obstacles from time to time. Her wellbeing is always at the forefront of our activities together. This is part of the daily routine when helping an aging friend enjoy life.

Stiffness and discomfort is part of what she is experiencing in the aging process. One of the things I do for her to ease her stiffness and discomfort is massage. This takes place first thing before she goes to bed at night and then again the first thing in the morning to get her up and moving. It seems to help, I just wish I could do more. We've spoken with the Vet about different things that might be done for her condition but there are no real solutions to the problem. The best advice the Vet gave us was "let her do the things she wants, she'll tell you when she not up to it, just pay attention to what she's telling you. It will break your heart, but she'll let you know!"

I guess the next step in the evolution of my aging boxer is a doggy wheel chair. At least this will provide her a means to get bit of quality outdoor time and exercise. The newly designed chairs actually exercise the hind quarters while the dog uses its front legs to propel themselves. I'm a bit apprehensive as to how accepting to the chair Lucy will be. Only time will tell... Stay tune for the new adventures of Lucy the White Boxer Dog with her new wheels. Until next time... Peace be with you and enjoy the time you have with your favorite critter and friend.

Are you looking for natural ways to help your dog live a healthier life? Please click here to try a new way of care.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

What Is It You Do In Life?


I often have people ask me about what I do for a living. No one seems to understand just what it is I do? I use to go into a litany of detail about my professional life, but not anymore. I no longer tell people how I am an independent contractor for instructional design. No longer do I tell them about the cool inventions I'm associated with at KOSTechnolgy, a startup company that I'm working with. No longer do I tell them about how I work tirelessly in the insurance industry to help people, or about me and my wife's home-based business. Today I just tell them that I am involved in multiple projects. My elevator pitch goes something like this...

"I have the greatest job in the world! I help people accomplish goals. Whether those goals involve instruction and training, finances, health insurance or starting a business - I help people accomplish their goals! I'm involved in multiple projects and for this, I am compensated in spirit and in my personal goal of making a living."

Here is an example of how I have even shortened up my job description in my insurance life to provide even better clarity as to what I do. When someone asks me what I do I simply smile and state:

"I have the greatest job in the world! I help people accomplish their goals. I have over twenty-five solutions to helping people achieve their financial security and another twenty-five to protect their health. I truly love what I do and I'm good at it!"

The thing I love about this less than thirty-second job description is that every word of it is true and it brings laser focus to just what I do! Is there any question in your mind about what I do?

What is your thirty-second job description? Does it bring a smile to your face? Have you tried improving yours lately? I almost guarantee if you start it out with a positive statement it will improve and make you smile! I know mine does!


Monday, March 16, 2015

Positive Thought that I Stumbled Upon


We are all looking for something to motivate us and unlock the potential for success in our daily lives. Here is one thought that I stumbled upon that makes perfectly good sense to me. I hope you find it the same. It revolves around a concept that I have adopted in my life and it has brought an overall greater joy to my life. Here goes...

"Regrets will do you no good, but action will. Wishing, wondering and speculating will not bring much value into your world, but action will.
Are you going to just think about it, getting angry, resentful and dejected about it, or are you going to do something about it? Now would be the perfect opportunity to do something about it.
Staying frustrated won't make you feel any better, but action will. Work to resolve those frustrations, and to create a new situation that puts those frustrations behind you.
Action is difficult, complicated and inconvenient. And action is worth all the trouble because the action will make a difference.
Action will bring you experience and achievement, and provide options you never had before. Action will transform problems into opportunities, and dreams into reality.
What action can you take today that will make for a more positive tomorrow? Take your pick, and get started now."  
I hope this helped someone today! What action can you take to make things better in your life? 
Peace and prosperity to all... 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Our Middle Aged Boxer...

 
      Lucy on one of our many hikes. 

Well, Lucy is now 9 years old and she is starting to show signs of being middle aged. While she still has a lot of heart, she is starting to slow down just a bit. I think this is mostly because of joint discomfort in her hips. 

In an effort to allow her more mobility and relieve joint pain, we've been very careful in helping her maintain a healthy weight. She is now down to a healthier 65 lbs. versus the 78 lbs. that she was at. In addition to weight management, we've put her on a glucosamine supplement. Before we started on the supplement, she would sometimes drag her rear back right leg. This got our immediate attention. The glucosamine seems to have helped her regain quite a bit of flexibility. 

We've also placed her on a daily doggy aspirin routine. She gets a dose of 160 mg. aspirin twice a day. One tablet in the morning and one before she goes to bed at night. This too seems to help her flexibility. I say doggie aspirin because it comes from the Vet and tastes like liver. Yes, I tried one! Not bad!!! Even the glucosamine has a nice taste - if you are a dog! 

Since we live in fairly hilly terrain, we are very careful in where we take her on our hikes together. We stop a little more often than we use to in order for her to cool down and take a break. I learned this the hard way one day when we over did it just a bit and Lucy insisted that we either stop or I carry her home. I did a bit of both. I think she got overly excited in the first part of walk and over did it on a rather warm day. That leads me to another topic...

Boxers aren't equipped with the best cooling system. Due to their shorter snouts they can overheat in a hurry if you aren't careful. We tend to pick cooler times of the day to hike with Lucy. The cooler the better. You can see in the picture we also keep a coat handy for comfort on the cooler mornings and evenings. 

If you would like more information on the supplement and aspirin, drop me a note and I'll be happy share where you can find what we are giving Lucy. Until next time, cioa! 



Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Novotney Artography has Changed!

We have a new look for and host for our Novotney Artography site. Not everything is posted yet but it's a start! If you are looking for something different, please take a look... We suggest you check out the "Wondering Wine Glass Gallery" for new post card ideas... Thanks for your support.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Vote "Yes!" on Amendment 68...


There seems to be a huge resistance here in Colorado to supporting anything that will add funding to our schools... Colorado ranks near the bottom among all states in public funding for schools. In my humble opinion, Amendment 68 (A68) offers Colorado voters a better option for better schools.

With all the negativity on supporting education in the state, I have a question - What would be an alternative to fund our schools that you would or could support? Colorado voted down a tax increase in the previous election. Colorado schools and their teachers need help! Schools are closing and overcrowding is common place in some areas, Additionally,quality teachers are leaving the career field and our kids are not receiving the education necessary to be successful!  What's the answer? A68 will not cost the tax payers of Colorado a dime! 

One of the major objections seems to be that Colorado should not support an out of state company. My answer to this is - If you don't want to support the out of state entity, don't go there, but don't crap on something that can add to the bottom line of kids getting an education at no additional cost to the tax payer! 

There is an incredible amount of disinformation on the subject floating around.To make an informed decision on how to vote on this issue, take a look at the complete language of the proposition. It will address the concerns that have been at the forefront of the anti-A68 campaign. The number one concern appears to be who will administer the funds? The bottom line is, the State Treasurer will disburse the money to Education Fund on a per student basis. Furthermore, under A68, each and every school district is empowered to use the new education funds provided by the measure as they see fit - that's local control. With local control, schools get the help they need, where they need it.  Please access the full wording of A68 at this link... http://yesforbetterschools.com/.../Initiative2013-2014.pdf .  


Please Vote "Yes" on Amendment 68.

Friday, September 12, 2014

A Bit of History and Frustration!

As I prepare to pay my taxes, yet again, I must rant for a moment... As you read this, note that I am neither a Democrat or Republican. I subscribe to no "one political ideology" other than I vote my own mind. With that said here goes the rant... 

Did you know the Internal Revenue Service was started in 1862 to fund the war between the states. I think we are still paying on that debt. It sucked in 1862 to be a taxpayer and still sucks now.  The IRS is an agency that is controlled by no elected official.  It is an independent arm of the Treasury Department. Sure tax codes are set and approved by the executive and legislative branches of the government but the IRS has almost free reign in their approach to dealing with the American people.

I'm wondering, whatever happened to the Jeffersonian idea of "Democratic Process" and "No Federal Government" intervention into the lives of the citizens of the United States? As many of you know, I served and defended my country as an officer in the military and love it beyond belief. Regardless of this fact, I find that I'm sick of all the  political bullshit in Washington, on both sides of the fence! We need change!!! Right now! I feel as if I'm personally funding the national debt!!! Someone is having a damn good time and it's not me!!!

I want to offer one more thought before leaving this post. It involves  savings in next year's federal budget and perhaps a resultant reduction in the National Debt.  Let's institute a flat tax in this country!  Everyone would pay their fair share.  Don't give me the party line of "disproportionate burden on the poor."  10% is 10% of whatever number you are deducting it from.  It's fair and extremely democratic.  It would definitely increase revenue!  There would be no deductions.  Some will say that a flat would hurt housing.  Guess what, the idiots in Washington already have their sites set on not allowing you to deduct your mortgage interest in the very near future.  Think about it for a moment, the government is already reducing the amount of deductions that you can take nearly every year.  If you are like most middle income families, you fall in the 25% to 35% tax bracket.  You somehow manage to reduce you tax burden down to about 15%-20% using your deductions, while others pay next to nothing. When congress finally gets around to removing your one true deduction of owning a home, you'll pay more and they'll spend more, regardless of the party in power, but you will suck it up and continue to own your home because that is the true American dream.

You know what I really like about the idea of a flat tax, it would allow the American people to un-employ several thousand Internal Revenue Service workers...Your taxes would simply be deducted by your employer or perhaps, if self-employed, payed by you on a monthly basis and you would never have to deal with filing a return.  A flat tax would put much needed money into reducing the National Debt, simplify the process, and  help free up money to grow the economy, its simple economics.  Best of all, everyone would pay their fair share!  

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A Huge Change!

I'll begin this post by stating that there have been some major changes to my body and my life! 

I recently took an 8 week challenge from my wife. You see, she is a distributor for a product called Le-Vel Thrive. When she first told me what she was promoting I was very skeptical.  She said she had found this new product that would help me get my weight under control, have more energy and mental clarity, as well as improve my overall feeling of health. All I had to do is take two pills when I first awoke in the morning, have a shake mix for breakfast about 20 minute later and put on their DFT foam patch for the day. She stated that I wouldn't have to change anything else in my life style and I would see and feel a huge difference in my body. This sounded kinda like one of those miracle prescriptions that never pan out, right! Right! After a couple days of pestering I took her up on the challenge. 

I didn't really notice anything until about the third day of the challenge. The first thing I noticed was I had more energy. The second thing I noticed was that the normal aches and pains that I felt on most mornings were gone. The third thing that I noticed was I wasn't reaching for the coffee pot to get me going. I use to be about a six cup a day coffee drinker, but not anymore.  Although I had taken notice of this change, I didn't say anything to my wife about feeling better, I just let it ride. 

At the end of the first week I weighed myself and to my surprise I had actually lost three pounds and I was feeling really great! This weight loss continued throughout the eight week challenge. Every week I found myself 2 to 3 pounds lighter. By the forth week I started including a bit of exercise into my weekly routine and the pounds just melted away. I found myself excited about getting out and doing things again. My golf game really improved and I started looking forward to walking my weekly round of 18 holes and carrying my golf bag again. 

Thanks to my wife's encouragement for me to begin this challenge I have gone from being a middle-aged 6 foot 1 inch couch potato, weighing 243 pounds, to trimmer and more energetic 218 pound healthy person. I've lost 4 inches off my waist line and put on lean muscle in the process. The challenge was probably a life saving event for me. My goal is to be under 200 pounds by the end of the year! I think I'll be there sooner. 

More energy and a better mood to get out and do the things I used to do is what the challenge has brought me. What's holding you back from accomplishing the things you want to accomplish? Do you want to feel better? Lose some weight? Have better mental clarity? For more information on the Thrive 8 Week Challenge go to www.rockymtnthrive.com . Either link will get you there! 

Take the challenge!  I've become such a believer in the product(s) that I can't image myself going a day without it! Thrive on! Live life to the fullest... Thank you to my wife for introducing me to this amazing experience. 

Friday, August 1, 2014

Peanut Butter and Molasses

 
And..

Peanut butter and molasses as a treat for your dog just doesn't sound right, or does it? It does when you consider that in a world of processed foods, there just doesn't seem to be anything out there that can be considered healthy. Most store bought treats contain large amounts of animal by-products, artificial flavors, artificial colors and artificial preservatives. All which can have an impact on your pet's overall health. 

Over the years we have experimented with many different types of treats for Lucy - some good and some not so good. We've tried people foods that were considered healthy but Lucy would just turn them down and besides, there can be dangers in feeding your dog the same foods that you eat. We've also tried what were considered wholesome foods from the pet store that upset her stomach and were very expensive. But there was one treat we could always count on that she could tolerate and seemed to enjoy and it just happens to be peanut butter! She just loves the stuff! I must warn you; it is not easy to watch your dog eat peanut butter, especially in its normal packaging. They will lick and lick to try to get it all out of their mouths. But they will never turn it down and it's actually good for them. 

One day while in the store I came across a box of dog treats that listed all natural and low fat "peanut butter and molasses" healthy treats for dogs. The treat is a hard baked cookie containing unbleached wheat flour, whole-wheat flour, blackstrap molasses, palm oil, whey oats, natural caramel, nonfat milk, egg, salt, baking soda, natural peanut butter and brewer's yeast. They are baked semi-hard to help keep teeth clean. There is no artificial anything in the cookie! I instantly purchased them and brought them home for my dog.

Lucy has been eating these cookies as a treat for about a year now and loves them. 
They come out of the box as what I would call a large cookie for a treat, so I break them up for her. She never gets more than one large cookie on any given day. She's actually on a schedule for her treats receiving about a third of a cookie three times a day. This helps us maintain her calorie intake and of course, her weight. What a great idea for a treat! 

Since I'm not in the business of selling dog treats, I won't list the company here on my blog but if you will drop me a note I will be happy to give you the name of the bakery. Just a note, if the company ever goes out of business I think these treats would be easily made from home. It might take just a little experimentation in the kitchen to make up a healthy treat for your favorite critter but it would be well worth the time to do so! 

Cheers!

Friday, August 30, 2013

You Can't Control Everything!

Born in Galveston, Texas in 1878 in the post slavery south, the boxer Jack Johnson went on to become one of the greatest boxers of the 20th century. But there is more to the story... John Arthur ("Jack") Johnson had many obstacles to overcome in his life. Born to parents who were former slaves and fighting at the height of the "Jim Crow" era, Johnson became the first African American World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, maintaining the title from 1908 to 1915. How did he accomplish this amazing feat in a time of racial bigotry, subjugation, and other barriers imposed on African Americans of his day? He concentrated his efforts on the things that he could control and didn't worry about the things he could not; thereby, refusing to bow to conventional wisdom that an African American could not compete in a world not built for him. Control is a concept that I've been struggling with for a while but I think I have a handle on it now...
Locus of control is the concept that refers to what we believe affects our existence. Individuals who have an internal locus of control believe that events result primarily from their own behavior and actions. Those with an external locus of control believe that powerful others, fate, or chance
primarily determine the outcome of events. One of the most important aspects of personal performance is understanding, what is, and what is not, within our control. Attempting to influence or change what is beyond our span of control is a fool’s errand. Even more disturbing is when we forfeit responsibility and effort to fix the things that are well within our power. Knowing the difference makes all the difference.

There is an old prayer that reflects these sentiments...

“God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed. Courage to change the things that should be changed and wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.”
─ Reinhold Niebuhr

Do you feel out of control? Do you know your locus of control? You might want to take some time to truly understand the concept.

A New Book for Aviation Professionals

A note to all my old flying buddies. A couple friends and former coworkers have co-authored a new book that many of you may find interesting. The title is Automation Airmanship, Nine Principles of Operating Glass Cockpit Aircraft, Authored by Captain Chris Lutat and Captain Ryan Swah, released 2013 through McGraw Hill publishing. It is a must have book for anyone flying or instructing in today's advanced technology aircraft. I feel it would make a great addition to any serious aviation professional's library. I think you can find it over on Amazon.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

A game of continuous improvement…

While this post has nothing to do with Lucy... or dogs for that matter. I felt compelled to share it here. The story begins -

As I established my setup for the first hole on the small executive golf course I like to play to work on my short game, I had to back off the shot. My mind was all over the place, how many times had I been presented with a shot just like this over the last 30 or so years that I have been playing this game?   “Many I thought to myself”… No matter how long I play the game, there is always this little nagging thought running through my brain - am I truly prepared? Have I practiced enough? Is my swing good today? The thing is - you can never truly master the game of golf – there always something that needs to be worked on or reworked. It’s all about continuous improvement. I guess this is what draws me to the game…

At the beginning of every year, I try to establish goals for where I want to be with my golf game by the end of the season. Sometimes I’ve succeeded and other times I’ve failed at my goals but they are always there. They give me something to concentrate my improvement efforts on. In reflecting back on my efforts to improve my game, I’ve discovered some roadblocks that prevent me from achieving all that I want to achieve.

For me, finding and dedicating the time to practice has always been a major obstacle. They say to truly become an expert at something; it takes about 10,000 hours of concentrated effort and practices over the course of a lifetime. There is no way that I have that kind of time to spend on my golf game. But I do put in practice time and I do attempt to make it fun. Speaking of fun, the fun has not always been part of my game. If I didn’t hit just the perfect shot or scoring wasn’t going well, I would sulk, get mad at myself and basically adopt a pretty crappy attitude about how I was playing. It was like emotional jetlag, I just couldn’t get past what I had just done, which led to even more problems. I use to see this same phenomenon in some of the students that I would train back when I was a flight instructor, but that’s another story...

Now that I’m older and wiser and possess a better understanding of the game, I find a new foe knocking at the door - physical degradation. My body isn’t as strong or flexible as it once was. But maybe this is a good thing. In my youth, I could hit the ball a ton and I didn’t think anything was out of reach (a problem in its own right). Today I find myself truly thinking about how I’m going to manage the course to achieve the results I want. I guess the old adage; “Old age and treachery will overcome youth and enthusiasm” holds some truth after all.       

I guess the bottom line for all of this is - golf is a game I will never master it. It, like life, presents us with many obstacles that we must face and overcome. To truly enjoy the game, you must put in the time to develop skills for the level you want to participate in. But most of all, we must put in the effort to enjoy the game – no matter what transpires on the scorecard. This is my new philosophy and my goals reflect it.


Friday, September 28, 2012

Pet Adoption


Are you thinking about obtaining a four-legged friend? Check out dogs looking for good homes through adoption. Adoption is the first best place to find a great dog. The ASPCA has a national database that will allow you find what you are looking for. Our Lucy was an adoption pup!

Some people shy away from adoption because of special needs or perhaps behavioral problems of some of the dogs. I can honestly say that we would adopt again in a minute. With love and attention, an adopted dog can become a valued family member.  When we first received Lucy she was under weight and very shy. It took a bit of time but she got into a routine and never looked back. She is one of the best-socialized dogs I know. All we did was offer her support and attention and she blossomed.

The dogs in the national database need your help and support. Please at least begin your search for a new dog through an adoption organization. There are literally thousands of dogs that are up for adoption and some do not have much time to find a new home.

If you are interested in a particular breed of dog, you can probably find it at an adoption organization. Just today I was up on the ASPCA site and found Jake CI 1864 (a full boxer in the database). Jake is part of the Prison Trained K-9 Companion Program here in Colorado. He is spayed and neutered, fully vaccinated and wormed for internal parasites, and best of all he is fully trained and ready for a great home. The prison program is not a tax-funded program and therefore there may be some expense incurred but it is well worth it. The program serves society and dogs looking for great homes at the same time.

There are many other adoption routes to take, all you have to do to find one is type into your web browser “adopt a pet” and you are sure to find one near you. Please begin your search for a new four-legged friend through an adoption agency.
Thank you.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Helping a Boxer with a Sensitive Stomach



Through the years I have written articles about Lucy’s sensitive stomach issues. I’ve informed you of how Lucy actually eats three meals a day and how this manages to keep her tummy issues at bay. Some may be thinking that I’m overfeeding her. The truth is, she rarely gets more than one cup per serving of her favorite dog food. In addition, she gets no more 1 to 3 treats on any given day but this is another story to tell later. This method of multiple feeding works only because of the quality of the food she receives.


Over time her dog food has changed. When we first brought Lucy home we were sold on Science Diet products. She did well with this food as far as the sensitivity goes but she put on weight. So we went exploring and experimenting with different foods. We tried all-natural foods from the health food store and several others as well. Some would cause weight gain, some would cause weight loss and some an excessive need to go poo. Some foods had too much filler and others perhaps not enough. Some so-called sensitive stomach foods actually magnified the sensitivity problem.

One day she got sick and kept getting sick on a regular basis. We took her to the Vet and had her checked out. She was healthy but had a sensitive stomach issued said the vet. The Vet recommended we feed her nothing but rice for a few days. The problem remedied itself very quickly. We asked the Vet to recommend dog food that would help us with our problem. I was expecting to have to spend a great deal of money on this recommended dog food but was pleasantly surprised with his recommendation, He recommended Purina One Rice and Lamb (Sensitive Stomach) dry dog food. Don’t worry, I don’t own stock in Purina nor am I advertising the product for any type of profit. I’m simply offering up a solution to a problem many dog owners run into.  Besides, the food has been fantastic for Lucy. No more sensitive stomach and she possesses abundant energy and displays all the signs of a healthy dog.

Lucy is eight years old now and has a lean body, strong bones, and strong muscles. She is rarely ill so her immune system must be strong as well. Her digestion is excellent and she rarely has a problem of throwing up like she used to do. I might add that she is quite regular as well.  Her skin coat and eyes are still as stunning as when she was a puppy. And her teeth are in good shape but like many dogs, she probably could use good teeth cleaning and perhaps something for doggie breath on occasion. With all this said, I would have to conclude that the food she is on now is a good one.

For those of you who have a boxer with a sensitive stomach, you might want to check this dog food out. Listed below are the ingredients along with the guaranteed analysis that Purina states concerning the product.  All I can say is that it has worked for Lucy and it may work for your boxer as well.

Ingredients:
Lamb (natural source of glucosamine), brewers rice, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), oatmeal, animal fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols – a source of vitamin E), lamb meal, animal digest, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, salt, caramel color, L-Lysine monochloride, choline chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, garlic oil, folic acid, vitamin D3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), sodium selenite


Purina’s Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude protein (min.) 26%, crude fat (min.) 16%, crude fiber (max.) 3%, moisture (max.) 12%, linoleic acid (min.) 1.4%, calcium (Ca) (min.) 1%, phosphorus (P) (min.) 0.8%, selenium (Se) (min.) 0.35 mg/kg, vitamin A (min.) 13,000 iu/kg, vitamin E (min.) 250 iu/kg, glucosamine* (min.) 400 ppm, Omega 6 fatty acids* (min.) 1.6%. *Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Nutrients Profile.

If you know of a better dog food that works as well as this one does for Lucy, I would appreciate it if you write a short response to this post for more options in helping a boxer with a sensitive stomach.

Thanks and Ciao for now…