Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2016)
6 Wednesday, July 20, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Adopting an adult dog You’ve had a puppy before and although he was cute and cuddly, it took a lot of your time and energy in the first few months when you brought that tiny ball of fur home. Memories of train- ing him days on end to use the bathroom outside and not to bark at every passing car or person who came to your door go through your head. So this time around, you’re planning to adopt an adolescent or adult dog from a rescue group or shelter. There are millions of dogs surrendered to humane societies and rescues every year. Adopting a dog from your local shelter is a heroic thing to do. You’ll be saving a life and greatly improving yours. It generally takes adult dogs a lot longer to get adopted than those irresist- ible puppies, even though they may be calmer, better socialized, housetrained, and even past the “chew every- thing in sight” stage. There are many advan- tages of adopting an adult dog. For one thing, you don’t have to deal with those sharp puppy teeth. And because your new dog has her adult teeth, she is less likely to chew everything within her reach. If not already housetrained (and many are), a mature dog at least has the physical ability to hold his bladder or bowel for lon- ger periods of time and can usually learn appropriate potty habits quickly, with the right training. And if you’re looking for a ready-made exercise partner, you don’t have to wait months for your walking/running buddy to go with you on your next 5k run. You’ll already know the size and disposition of your new furry friend, although you probably won’t know of his past. But the good news is since dogs live in the moment, it is possible to take an adult dog and start over. An adult dog can be inte- grated into a new household more quickly and with less work than a new puppy. And as an added benefit, you can feel good that you’ve adopted a dog that might oth- erwise not be able to find his forever home. But before you adopt your new best friend, know what qualities you’re looking for, and what you can’t tolerate. Be honest. Whether you’re adopting from a shelter or from a private individual, tell the person you’re deal- ing with the truth about what you can handle and what you can’t. Ask loads of questions about the dog you have taken interest in. Shelter adoption specialists often know the dogs fairly well and will be straight with you. The shelter staff will be able to give you a good idea of the dog’s temperament. If he interacts with other pets or is better by himself. The shelter staff will also let you know if he is clingy or laid- back. If you’re bringing your new dog home to a house that already has cats and dogs in it, look for a dog that has lived with other animals before. Spend some time alone with the pooch you want to bring home. Ask the shelter staff if there is some- where you can interact with the dog. The dog you have picked out at the shelter seems the perfect fit. And now after all the paperwork, it’s time to bring Rover to his new home. First, know that your new adult dog is grateful to you for rescuing him from an unpleasant situation. The first couple of weeks you and your dog are getting to know one another. Remember he doesn’t understand why he has come to your home or what is expected of him. Your new pooch must learn a whole new set of rules. Be patient and consistent. Don’t leave tempting shoes, cloth- ing or children’s toys within reach of your dog. Take your new furry friend to obedience class as soon as possible. The trainer can help you with any trou- blesome problems before they become ingrained. Within a week or two, your pooch will have set- tled into his new home and his new routine. Some may take a little longer. But in most cases he will be a well- adjusted member of the fam- ily within a month. DIZZYNESS? Quick and affordable relief. Auto accidents, workman’s comp. accepted. Three Sisters Chiropractic & Pain Management Dr. Inice Gough, DC | 541.549.3583 — Since 1997 — Safety hotline open for canning season By kym pokorny Correspondent Oregon State University’s food preservation and safety hotline has opened for the season. The toll-free hotline at 800-354-7319 runs until October 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. When the hotline is closed, callers can leave a message. Additionally, many Extension offices offer free pressure-gauge testing. Master Food Preservers, who have completed 40 hours of training, answer question ranging from how to avoid botulism to how to convert grandma’s recipe for pie fill- ing to modern standards. The hotline gets thousands of questions a year. “The most important part of safe and healthy food preservation is finding cur- rent, tested instructions, and following them,” said Jeanne Brandt, Extension Master Food Preserver program coordinator. “Food preserva- tion research is an ongoing process, so there are a lot of recent changes in canning recommendations and new equipment and products. Using the most current and research-based instructions will help ensure your prod- ucts are safe, healthy and delicious.” Most commonly, people ask about preserving salsa, tomatoes and tuna. OSU Extension offers publications on each: Salsa Recipes for Canning, Canning Seafood and Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products. For more information, go to the OSU Extension website on food preserva- tion. OSU Extension’s Ask an Expert service also takes online questions about food preservation. DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB? Call Sweeney Plumbing for fast & friendly service! Repairs. Replacements. Remodels. No job too small. 541-549-4349 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Licensed Bonded / Insured CCB#87587 We’re Here for You. Open every day, after hours and weekends. * BUY MORE, SAVE MORE! IT’S OUR SUMMER SALE Locally owned by a Sisters family 25% OFF BLINDS! PLUS buy 5 blinds GET AN EXTRA 5% OFF or buy 15 GET AN EXTRA 10% OFF Come See Why We Shine On Yelp & Trip Advisor Breakfast & Lunch 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. y A Week 7 Days Walk-In X-Ray Services *On Signature Series. Expires 8/30/16 FREE Cordless Upgrade! YourCareMedical.com 3818 SW 21st Pl. 541-788-8444 www.BudgetBlinds.com 403 E. Hood Ave. 30+ Years Experience FREE CONSULTING cottonwoodinsisters.com CCB Licensed #197715 | Bonded | Insured Offer valid through Budget Blinds of Deschutes County only. Offer not valid with any other offers. Sisters Family Owned Hwy. 126 to Redmond, 541-548-2899 two turns and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds) WALK-IN • URGENT CARE• OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE