Yorktown Toyland Parade

In the front row, Sophie, Shine and Sam. Second row (sort of), we have Charlie, Nina, Nellie, Bogey, Mojo, Onyx and then Benson and Oliver. In the back row, Emma, Brady (maybe) Cookie (in Susan’s arms) and Vinny and Gordy (sort of out of sight), then Callie and Max (again partially hidden), and finally Ranger.

Mojo, Shine and Charlie . . . and we’re underway

Vinny & Jordy always turn out

That’s Emma in front Honey Bee and her mom You may have seen your own dog barking crazily at your mail carrier, delivery person, and any other unfamiliar visitor. While this may appear to be a distressing situation, don't be alarmed - this behavior is usually because your pets feel the need to alert you - the supposed leader of the pack - against any potential intrusions.

So your dogs don't really have an agenda against your mail carrier, they're just doing their instinctive job! To diffuse the situation, it may be helpful if you introduce your dog to the people who regularly deliver goods and services to your house - this way they will see them as friends, and not as a potential threat.

19. Dogs Hate Cats

To be honest, we kind of get why this myth came up in the first place - cats are independent, somewhat moody, and don't like their personal boundaries played around with. On the other hand, dogs are naturally quite curious. So, there definitely is potential for a personality clash there.

But then again, cats and dogs can get along just fine - provided you introduce them to each other and socialize them properly. Of course, there may still be situations where your dog gets on your cat's nerves and vice versa, but those will be few and far between, and you can easily de-escalate them by distracting either of them.

20. Rubbing A Dog's Nose In An Accident Will Prevent It

Myths, myths everywhere! Some people think that rubbing their dog's nose after a pooping accident will help them remember never to repeat it in the future. Well, it doesn't work that way. If you rub your dog's nose this way after an oopsy, then your dog will most likely not understand what he's being punished for.

In fact, this can even worsen the problem in the future by aggravating their behavior. A far more effective solution is to catch them red-handed in the act, and quickly redirect Also, to remove all evidence, make sure to clean up the feces with a pet-friendly cleaner that removes any odor as well. This will prevent your dogs from coming back to that spot by following the smell.

Dog Myths

21. Garlic Is A Great Remedy For Ticks

Wrong! This myth has made several rounds on the internet lately, and it couldn't be further from the truth. Feeding your dogs garlic will do absolutely nothing to rid them of fleas and ticks. In fact, it can do way more harm than good.

Garlic is also responsible for causing a condition in dogs that's called 'hemolytic anemia'. In this serious condition, the dog's body starts to attack its own red blood cells. Its treatment requires hospitalization for several days and blood transfusions.

Granted, not all dogs will get affected by this condition by eating garlic, but why would you even want to take the chance?

22. Dogs Can Get Infected With Common Cold

Nope. While suffering from a bout or two of the common cold is a usual thing for most of us, dogs can't get infected with the common cold, because that virus doesn't have the mechanism to infect dogs. However, this in no way means that your dogs are invincible!

Your furry babies can get infected with other viruses such as parvo or leptospirosis, and even bacterial infections such as pneumonia. But they won't be catching a common cold if they're cuddling next to you while you're down with the flu. So go on, hug and snuggle with them guilt-free - we're sure it will make you feel better!

23. Rescue Dogs Are A Bad Choice

There are few things in the world that are ( continued on page 20 . . . )

Dog as soul-satisfying as rescuing a dog in Myths distress and raising them in a loving, caring home. So when we hear myths that assert that rescue dogs are a bad choice since we don't know their history, we're obligated to correct such beliefs. Raising a dog from a puppy doesn't really guarantee that they will turn out to be wellbehaved. In fact, there are several instances of dogs that were raised from newborns but still turned out aggressive, and there are also many rescue dogs that have turned out really sweet and nice. In fact, there are many rescues that have designed tests to help people gauge and test how the dogs will react to other people, food, children, etc.

24. Dogs Have Sweat Glands All Over

As humans, we have sweat glands all over our bodies, and that's primarily how we cool off if we feel hot. However, it's not the same way for dogs. Instead of sweating, dogs mainly cool off by panting and letting the moist lining of their lungs to cool down.

But this also doesn't mean that dogs have no sweat glands at all. But most of their sweat glands are located around their paws. Moreover, since panting is the main mode of cooling down, dogs who have poor air exchange such as pugs can actually end up suffering from heatstroke in hot and humid conditions. 26. It's Ok To Give Ibuprofen To My Dog

As a rule, never ever give human medication to your dogs by yourself, and even when it needs to be done, a veterinarian's consultation must always be taken. Medicines like ibuprofen can be quite fatal to dogs, and cause kidney and liver dysfunction and failure.

In the rare instance when doctors do prescribe Tylenol or aspirin for any dogs, they do so in a very specific dosage. But even then, the risk of your dog overdosing on the medicines is very real. So do the wise thing and steer clear of any such medicines unless they have been specifically prescribed by your vet. 29. It's Not Necessary To Vaccinate My Dog

We've seen some controversy surrounding the matter of vaccines lately., but vaccines have a solid track record spanning decades of their effectiveness and safety. Also, it's important to remember that conditions like rabies are a serious risk not just for dogs, but also for other humans.

Not to forget, several uS states require you to vaccinate your dogs by law, so there's no way around that either. Moreover, if you plan to make your dog stay at any dog boarding facility, then you will require your dog to be vaccinated for entry.

Nevertheless, if you do have any queries about dog vaccines, feel free to discuss them with your vet to discuss the best way forward and to resolve them.

27. I Don't Need To Brush My Dog's Teeth

Dog 25. My Backyard Fence Can Keep Heartworms Out It's astounding to hear people say this - "oh, I have a fully fenced yard, my dog is safe Myths from any nasty worms". Your yard may be a great way to make sure your dog stays in, but it will do nothing to keep any worms or parasites out. Intestinal parasites live in the urine and feces of birds, squirrels, and even rabbits. So, these can easily make their way into your 20 SOuTHEASTERN VIRGINIA GOlDEN RETRIEVER RESCuE, EDuCATION & TRAINING, INC.

yard, with your fence doing next to nothing to keep it out. In fact, some worms such as the whipworm can easily survive for up to 7 years in the soil! So it's best not to consider your fence as a magical fortress against infection-causing germs and parasites. It may feel a little weird to you when you're brushing your fur baby's teeth, but it's necessary for many reasons. Dental diseases have been known to cause widespread, systemic health problems in dogs, and bad teeth can also cause them a lot of discomfort and pain. Brushing your dog's teeth regularly will help prevent or slow down any dental condition that they might be suffering from. Plus, when you brush your dog's teeth regularly, you also get a chance to regularly check their mouth for any unwanted growth or tumors, so it's a great way of routinely inspecting their oral health as well. 28. Your Dog Eats Grass For a Serious Reason Nope, we don't really know for sure why some dogs enjoy eating grass. There have been a few possible reasons that have been speculated, though. Some dogs apparently do so because they simply enjoy the taste of grass. Others do it when they're just feeling bored, and others still eat grass to make their stomachs feel better. In fact, in some cases, dogs eat grass to make themselves throw up when they're feeling sick. So, as you can see, the reason could literally be anything, and we are yet to come across a scientific study that investigated this behavior. 30. A Thick Fur Coat Will Fully Protect My Dog In Winters We're not outright calling this an incorrect statement - but it's half the story. It's true that dogs with a thicker fur coat such as a Siberian husky will fare better in the freezing winters than say a chihuahua. However, simply having thick fur doesn't guarantee perfect insulation from the merciless winter chill. It's important to remember that even dogs with thick fur coats have some areas that remain exposed - such as their paws, scrotum, and the very tips of their ears. These areas are especially at risk of frostbite since there's no protection there. While winters can be a fun season for your dogs. Make it a point to not expose them to extremely cold temperatures for too long.