What's New

Contents :
 
Under What's New, this page has links to recently added material, ie What's New on Crazy Pam's Bouvier Site. I expect to be adding something each month or more often. I will put the newest material at the top so it is easy to find. The first section are the pages of Rescue Listings, which I try to keep up to date; and the second section is everything else which I have added or substantially changed, with most recent additions at the top..
 
Under Coming Attractions, I might list material I hope to add sooner or later, but frankly I'm not at all sure how soon these plans will be fulfilled. Real life and the needs of my own dogs and foster dogs tend to get in the way of my plans, either preventing me from working on the site or suggesting another topic that needs attention.
 
I have updated the SITE INDEX to be more useful ; this page is an overview of the site.

What's New

Rescue Listings, regularly updated

• Bouviers currently available for adoption in N. California    (updated 8.19/08 ). BCNC Rescue Chairperson, Barry Leece at (925) 784-2190 or (925) 456-0686 or e-mail at < BouviersRUs@comcast.net >
• Bouviers currently available for adoption in S. California (as of 8/17/08) ; this contains the contact info for rescue people in Southern. California, which has changed again recently. While I cannot keep current with the dogs in foster care , new intakes ocur with some frequency.
• Bouviers currently available for adoption located outside of California : selected individuals with whose placement I have been asked to help, plus links to Petfinder.com and to the American Bouvier Rescue League site. This is a new page added 3/20/06.
• My "du Clos de la FouriËre" ("from the enclosure of the animal pound") Rescue, for Bouviers, Bouvier crosses, and Bouvier "pretenders", is now on Petfinder.com at http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/CA899.html. I joined Petfinder to get needed extra exposure for those dogs who are not purebred Bouviers and thus are excluded from the Bouvier Club of Northern California's rescue program.

material added in recent months

• added October , 2008
• Your Kids Already Know : regarding California's Proposition 8 and the effect or lack of effect of what kids read in story books. (guarranteed to offend and upset homophobes)
• You Say that You Dislike Abortion : about all the things that those who say they oppose abortion should be supporting to reduce the need for abortion, ie to reduce unwanted and problem pregnancies. (guaranteed to outrage the Rabid Right and Anti-Choicers everywhere)
• From "Juno" to Juneau : the Sarah Palin soap opera illustrates why reproductive choice is crucial to everyone.
• Re-thinking "Marriage" : re-thinking "marriage" and "civil union" (note : may offend some people). Further material added 10/07/08
 

• added September , 2008
• Photo and information about Picasa, a very sweet and trusting mid-life bitch available for adoption because of her owner's death. Updated 9/02/08
• Questions and Answers about California law requiring Rescues to spay/neuter cats and dogs prior to placement.
• It's Deja Vu All Over Again : why California's Proposition 4 is just as bad as the previously rejected Prop 85 two years ago and Prop 73 four years ago. (this will offend the very people who most need to read it.)
• Thinking About Energy Policies : towards breaking the addiction to guzzler cars and guzzler houses.
• California Wedding cards (note : may offend some people)
• Re-thinking "Marriage" : re-thinking "marriage" and "civil union" (note : may offend some people).
• Save and Back Up : poster to remind you to save and back up files (note : may offend some people)
 

• added August , 2008
• Going for a Walk : how to begin a walk calmly with loose leashes.
• Jogger Cart : use of a child-jogger cart to take a mobility impaired dog for a walk.
• updated Bouviers currently available for adoption in S. California to show change of SCBDFC Rescue Chairperson.
• Hillary for Veep : the reasons why Hillary should be the 2008 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee. (update 8/31/08 : now of historical interest.)
• Roe v Wade and the 13th Amendment : a discussion of why Roe did not go far enough and why restrictions on contraception and abortion violate the 13th Amendment which forbids slavery and involuntary servitude. (note : this article may offend some readers.)
 

• added July, 2008
• She'll Always Be My Nominee, a song for Hillary. This is part of a new sub-section in MISCELLANEOUS that will deal with the human condition, politics, and other topics likely to offend some readers.
 

• added May , 2008
• Adoption Trousseau : discussion of items an adopted dog is likely to need to start life in his new home, with some low cost sources for some of these.
 

• added April , 2008
• Updated Freddie's page to show his recent mis-adventures and his impending euthanasia if not adopted by end of May. UPDATE 5/5/08 : Freddie has been adopted.
• Keeping a Muzzle On (Preventing Dog from Removing Muzzle) : a method for reducing risk of dog getting rid of a muzzle when using one for safety in a training situation.
• Pet Safety for Kids : guest article by Patty Letawsky giving rhymed rules for children on how to behave around dogs and cats.
 

• added February , 2008
• information about Mijoux, recently rescued sweet senior male Bouvier who I am fostering.
• added another photo to Sadie of Reno's page, plus some update information.
• photos of my Arab , El Kumair , the love of my teens
• photos of my Arab , Tambu, a superb trail horse
• photos of my Thorobred, Sunny, as a driving horse
 

• added January , 2008
• Hand-warmer Warning : guest article warning against the dangers of dogs eating contents of chemical hand-warmers.
 

• added December, 2007
• Separation Anxiety, some modifications and implementations to programs for prevention and cure. This is a fairly long article, covering the classic protocols , plus some ideas of my own as to variations on those themes and ideas as to what might be done with high tech tools.
 

• added November, 2007
• For Mom, Between Worlds, written by my brother Mark as our mother was peacefully dying.
• Being an Effective Advocate for change at the Animal Shelter , by Jennifer Fearing, a step by step guide to being an activist for changes that will improve the welfare of shelter animals , improve the "Save" rate, and ultimately decrease intakes and improve owner education in the community. This program emphasizes becoming an ally rather than an adversary , and likewise emphasizes the use of positive reinforcement to shape the improvement you desire.
 

• added October, 2007
• Sadie of Reno, probably Bouv X Labrador, spayed bitch, available for adoption. Sadie is a very sweet dog, a bit timid with strangers and loud noises, but very well behaved and easy to live with.
 

• added September , 2007
• Updated Hazel's page to show her euthanasia 9/04/07 due to terminal illness from her cancer. It was a priviledge to give this discarded puppy mill bitch a year and a half of the life she always deserved, and I will miss her greatly.
• The Majority (of the flock) is Always Right , short discussion of a common herding situation, that of one or a few sheep separating from the rest of the flock.
• The "Joan of Arc" Complex , short discussion of the merits of leaving the handler's post to go to help or correct the dog at herding trials.
• Boatswain's monument verse. This is a longer and less well known memorial verse by Byron to his Newfoundland "Boatswain."
• My Life Was My Bitch, the story of the final mortal days of Chelsea Queen of Creation.
• Princess's epitaph and prayer for the dying.
 

• added August , 2007
• translation by Marjoleine De Waal Malefyt of some portions of the Dutch book "Bouvier Belge des Flandres" by G.F. van Gink - van Es
• Want a "Milo" Bouvier des Flandres ? by Judith Belsham Singer. Describes the disadvantages of the Bouvier breed in a humorous fashion.
• Don't Buy links : links to translations of "Don't Buy a Bouvier" to other languages and other breeds.
• How to Respond to Ads , an article about conversations with breeders and rescue people. What are the questions you should ask to determine if you want to get a puppy or dog from this person. What are the "red flags" that indicate a breeder you should avoid like the Black Death ? What are the questions that you should expect to be asked.
• updated Muzzle It ! by adding illustrations of how to tie on an emergency muzzle and photos of Greyhound muzzles . This article deals with types of muzzle, how to teach a dog to accept being muzzled, and what situations a muzzle might be useful for.
• Fanatics : Owner's Rights, Animal Rights, a discussion of fanaticism at both ends of the spectrum : at one end, those who feel animals are property and no laws should limit the owner's actions ; at the other end, those who feel animals should not be owned at all.
• Fleas and Hot Spots, describing some of the older but still useful techniques for controlling fleas and treating hot spots.
• Don't Buy a Bouvier, full length updated version, updated to 2007. This is the great classic that I wrote nearly a quarter century ago.
• Don't Buy a Bouvier , single page version. This is the shorter version that I made to be given out at various public events. The Portable Document Format version is Don't Buy a Bouvier, PDF.
• Raising Your First Bouvier Puppy, an article I wrote in 1985 plus a number of update notes, emphasizing raising the dog to be a companion and helpmate. This is pretty much how I did raise Keya, Chelsea, and Bones.
• Dog Mystery Books , a listing of books by my favorite dog mystery authors.
• Going to the Dogs at the Movies , brief descriptions of my favorite dog-centered films.
• The Sesquipedalian Bouvier , or It Pays to Increase Your Dog's Word Power. An article I wrote in 1985, based on 5 years partnership with Chelsea, about ways to communicate with your dog.
 

• added in July, 2007
• Girl with Ice Cream Cone, two versions of a real life incident from Chelsea's life.
• How to Help a Dog Adjust to Loss of an Eye , guest article on helping a dog adjust to loss of an entire eye or loss of vision in one eye. Bouviers are at risk for loss of vision due to Glaucoma.
• How Long does a Bitch remain in Estrus ?, guest article in which an experienced breeder answers a question from a novice.
• Dog at Door, my version of a classic Gary Larson cartoon of an unfriendly (fearful aggressive) dog at the door and the owner giving the guests bad advice.
• "The Death of Marat" , my update of a classic painting.
• Godiva Rides , sketch and color versions of Godiva galloping her stallion, accompanied by her Basenji.
• In These Debates , my colorized version of a cartoon by Paul Noth that is relevant to the current debates on pet legislation.
• "My Dog Got a Leg This Weekend", an original cartoon showing two disparate meanings of this phrase.
• "My Dog Got a Major This Weekend" , an original cartoon showing two disparate meanings of this phrase.
• Portrait of Keya (Chiaroscuro) in front view.
• photo of myself and my precious puppy Keya in a rocking chair. Keya was my first Bouvier.
• updated the drawing of my puppy Keya and roommate Lynn by adding the original photograph from which it was made after her death
• Support Law and Order : Use a Trained Dog , a logo celebrating the use of Bouviers as Police K-9 dogs.
• reorganized the Farewell page , which is the page of links to other dog sites, so that it does a better job of grouping sites into categories.
• On the Relationship of Domestic Pets and Humans as being a Symbiosis , ie that the relationship between dogs and people is normally mutually beneficial and likewise that between cats and humans and that any legislation that purports to promote dog and cat welfare must recognize this and promote and protect that relationship. Dogs and cats should not be exterminated nor turned loose to "go back to the wild."
• "It's the Pits" , a satiric diatribe against the anti-Pit Bull hysteria, written several anti-Pit pogroms ago in the late 1980's and published in Dog Sports Magazine.
• "Dog Owners of America" , a satiric diatribe against anti-dog legislation, written in the late 1980's and published in Dog Sports Magazine
• New Puppy : for an easier trip home and first night. simple things breeders can do.
• In Honor of Halters , article on use of halters in training and warnings against mis-use. includes illustrations.
• Updated In Praise of Pinch Collars , adding warnings against mis-use and adding illustrations.
• Where are Shelter intakes coming from ? a call for a scheme of permanent identification for dogs and cats and DMV type registration of ownership and original source (breeder, pet shop), so that we can find out where the majority of shelter intakes and deaths are coming from. Without knowing the source of the problem , it is impossible to design a solution or legislate towards a remedy.
 

• added in June 2007
• Portrait of a Bouv with One Ear Bandaged
• Le Petit Berger (the Little Shepherd). painting of celestial Bonesy herding sheep for Saint-Exupery's Little Prince.
• additon of some book reviews to Beginner's Basic Bibliography, My TOP TEN Books, and Annotated Bibliography (titles and short notes on over 300 dog books).
• updating of all of the topics index pages for better organization and added topic logos to those topics pages that did not already have logos.
• added a Site Map to the Site Index page
• Guide to Good Use of the Dog on the Flock, english translation by Pam Green Guide pour une Bonne Utilization du Chien sur Troupeau (original in French) published by l'Institut de l'Elevage (Institute of Stockbreeding) , a booklet used in courses for stock-keepers in France to help them train and use herding dogs.
• Colonial Couple, a plaque showing an Early American couple with their Bouviers.
• Updated Teaching Wait at Door and Gate to reflect my more recent experiences with modified methods and training tools.
• Syllabus for a "CGC with Extras" course to prepare dog-handler teams for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, with supplementary exercises for other real world situations that most people encounter. This course also contains "handling hints" that are applicable to the test and to real life situations.
• Hints on Handling at CGC tests. This is an update from an article I wrote back in 1989 or 1990 soon after the AKC invented this test. I've updated it to show changes in rules. At the end there is a heart-felt plea for AKC to make this test a pre-requisite to breeding and to add a second and third level of testing ; and there is a call to arms for all responsible dog people to urge legislators to recognize that training is every bit as important to reducing shelter intakes and killings and to making dogs safer and better behaved in public situations and therefore legislators should incorporate CGC as a simple proof of training in dog licencing schemes rather than focusing exclusively on spay/neuter issues.
• Three Books about Dogs and Children is now Four Books, with the addition of an excellent book, Living with Kids and Dogs ... Without Losing Your Mind, by Colleen Pelar, CPDT
• updated the Farewell page with some additonal links to useful sites in the miscellaneous section of this page.
 

• added in April 2007
• Rational Approach to Licensing Pets, Pet Owners, and Breeders. This is a long analysis of some alternatives that might be more reasonable than those currently proposed . Current proposals over-emphasize spay/neuter and ignore owner education and need for dogs to be trained for good public and private behavior. I am proposeing to license owners and breeders based on educational attainments and track record of not causing trouble. I am proposing to license dogs based as much on their proof of basic training as on their spay/neuter status.
 

• added in February , 2007
• information and description of Max, a young neutered male Bouvier available for adoption through BCNC and fostered by myself. UPDATE : adopted 3/3/07.
 

• added in December 2006
• Updated Plato's page to show his adoption just before Christmas.
• Updated Nemo's page to show his adoption and message from his happy adopters.
 

• added in November 2006
• Some updating and addition to Rescue Finance, originally written in 1997, then updated in 2003, now updated again. I did not update the dollar amounts, but added to rationales for setting an adoption fee and discussing fees with adopters. This is an important article for anyone involved in rescue, and should be of interest to all adopters.
 

• added in September 2006
• guest article "Designer Dogs : super mixes or mixed blessings ?" by Deborah Wood, reprinted with author's permission.
• guest article "Tips on Interacting with Fearful Dogs", by Nicole Wilde, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer), discussing your body language and actions when dealing with a timid or fearful dog.
• Updated former foster dogs Blake (now Luke) and Sweet Pea (now Phoebe) with post adoption information.

 

• added in July, 2006
• "Toy Story", photo and description of some of my dogs' favorite dog toys for chewing and throwing, with advice and cautions on their use.
• photo of a 3 month old Bouvier puppy with a new toy, the GigglyBall, which jumps about and makes funny noises.

 

• added in June, 2006
• Grieving , an article about some of the components of grieving for the death (or anticipated loss) of a beloved dog and about some of the ways you can help yourself to cope.

 

• added in May , 2006
• beginning to add sections to Rescue on Puppy Mills & Irresponsible Breeders and on Ideas on Legal Reforms.
• How to Read an Ad , a guide to reading newspaper and web ads for puppies or dogs for sale, emphsizing the clues that tell you that the advertiser is likley to be a good responsible breeder or some kind of large scale or small scale puppy mill. Including a "Pop Quiz" of 7 more internet ads for you to analyze and then see my own analysis. In case this link does not show up properly , use link http://www.cal.net/~pamgreen/how2read_ads.html or cut and paste http://www.cal.net/~pamgreen/how2read_ads.html into your browser's go to space. .
• What can we do about Backyard Breeders ? , " Backyard Breeders, Puppy Millers and Rescue", by BCNC Rescue Chair.
• the story of Hazel, a backyard puppy mill breeding bitch abandoned by her owner and rescued by BCNC. Warning : this story is not a pretty one !! Be prepared to be disgusted and enraged. Updated 5/10/06.
• re-organized Puppy topics page. will be adding section about finding responsible breeder and making life hell for backyard puppy mills.
• added some new material to article on Dog Appeasement Pheromone.

 

• added in April , 2006
• Book review of "Leader of the Pack" by Baer and Duno, which advises humans on how to ensure that their dogs regard them as pack leader. Some of the advice is good, but some is debatable, and I am always ready to debate.

 

• added in March 2006
• Onyx, a seven year old Bouv, currently fostered in S. Calif, but may be coming to be fostered by me in N Calif. He has been adopted.
• Hunter, story of a 10 year old Bouv rescued in Idaho. He was about to go to his adoptive home when fatal illness intervened.
• added Bouviers currently available for adoption located outside of California page and updated Bouviers currently available for adoption in N. California and Bouviers currently available for adoption in S. California pages to show new listings.

 

• added in January 2006
• "The Feeder Hand in Action " : illustration and discussion of the very first attempt to use the food dispensing fake hand in behavior modification of a dog with an aggression towards strangers problem.
• "Lumps and Bumps Map", a diagram you can use to record identifying features of your dog or to record lumps and swellings , etc, to bring to attention of your vet and record results of veterinary exams.
• The "Feeder Hand" and the "Pickup Hand", new tools for rescuers and shelter workers to use in behavior modification, especially those that might result in a bite to the hand.
• A Better Mousetrap, a mouse eliminator tool that is safer to use around dogs than is poison or ordinary mousetraps and that is more humane than glue traps.

 

• added in December 2005
• added several more books to Annotated Bibliography of over 300 dog books, and corrected some minor errors and some display problems.
• Book review of "Help for Your Shy Dog" , a good book on building confidence in timid or shy dogs, thus enabling the dog to become a rewarding pet.

 

• added in November 2005
  • Merv, a very nice older Bouvier is available for adoption at Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo, Ca. UPDATE : Merv has been ADOPTED.
  • Book Review : Dogs Bite but Balloons and Slippers are More Dangerous, by Janis Bradley. An outstanding ground-breaking MUST READ for ALL dog people book about the rarity of serious dog bite injuries and the media whipped social hysteria about the non-existant "dog bite crisis".
  • The Hayden Law : California Civil Code sections related to animal shelters, state policy to maximize adoptions and minimize euthanasias (including mandate to release animals to 501c rescue grups rather than to kill them), state law related to cruelty and neglect cases.
  • Tasty Training Treats, an article about three products that I have found ideal for use as food tid bits for positive reinforcement in training. They are also well accepted sick dogs whose appetite is poor.
  
   
  
• added in October 2005
• Updated Ashley, to show her adoption.
• Updated Shady to show his adoption (by me).
• Added a bunch of new links to the Farewell page , mostly links about products or information useful for health care for dogs.

 

• added August 2005
• How changes in the Shelter Scene affect Adopter's Strategies (why adopters need to check shelter websites and Petfinder.com as well as staying in touch with Rescue.).
• Heat Stroke : prevention, field treatment , and clinic treatment, by two vets.
• Death in a Hot Car : the deadly danger of leaving a dog in a car trusting the A/C to keep running.
• updated Adopter's Guidebook and Adopter's Information Summary to include more information and updated information. These are tools I have used for many years in my rescue and placement program. The Info Summary could also be used at intervals through the fostering process to record dog's current behavior in borad categories , and also to remind the foster home of what remains to be tested or investigated.
• The Dog Park Hour, a poem celebrating the Davis Dog Park.
• improved organization of PROBLEMS index page.

 

• added July 2005
• Annotated Bibliography of over 300 dog books (almost all of which I have read at least once, some many times. Updated Aug 1, adding a few more books and adding icons to mark the most recommended ones.
• Dog Behavior Record, an evaluation chart to guide and organize owner's or fosterer's detailed observations of dog's reactions to various situations, including many common situations, and classify reactions as being more or less accepting (calm, trusting, or happy), fearful, or aggressive.

 

• added May 2005
• Sadie , a new BCNC foster dog, AVALABLE for adoption. update June : now ADOPTED.
• updated Princess's page to show her euthanasia 5/10/05 and her epitaph.
 

• added April , 2005
• "The House Dog's Grave" by Robinson Jeffers
• Chelsea's ResumÈ , titles and achievements
• Chelsea's Epitaph
• Bone's ResumÈ, titles and achievements
• Bones' Epitaph, a Cyranoesque epitaph in French and English
• The Heart asks Pleasure first, by Emily Dickenson , which speaks eloquently about end of life issues ; highly relevant to euthanasia.
• Ceremony for Dying , by Ursula LeGuin , ceremonial verse for euthanasia.
• Image of needlepoint of Grinning Bouvier (Chelsea), a cartooned Boouvier face, showing a Bouvier in a "go ahead, make my day" mood.

 

• added February, 2005
• added verse and image to song "We (Dog Lovers) Will All Go Together When We Go"
• Breed Identification Chart , chart comparing observable characteristics of Bouvier to those of a wide range of other breeds that might be confused with the Bouvier in a pound or shelter situation. Expanded to add two more breed on 2/18/05.
• Updated and expanded article How to Identify Bouvs at the Pound which discusses the breeds most likely to be confused with the Bouvier in a shelter setting.

 

• added January , 2005
• updated Princess's and Sage's pages. Both will be 14 next month.
• "Stars in Life" , a painting of tribute to figure skating and cancer survival.
• updated Comfort and Safety for the Aging Bouv to reflect some vet advances and some experiences I have had with my many old dogs.
• Towards Better Co-operation Between Shelters and Rescue Groups,    concerning possible problems and disagreements between shelters and rescuers and some ideas on how to resolve these , or at least understand each other's points of view, so as to cooperate better and save more lives. Some material contributed by Dr Kate Hurley, head of the UCD Shelter Medicine Program ADDED Jan '05.

 


selected earlier listings

• How to do a Rescue of an Under-aged Litter  , by Michelle Mace .
• painting of "The Goddess Chelsea Creating Woman"    (warning : contains nudity ; may offend religious sensibilities.)     Later added another version that includes Bones and Keya, thus completing my personal Trinity.    Still later : retouched Eve's face closer to my own. (note: these pictures will take a bit longer to download than most of my other pictures : about 15 seconds on a dial-up connection.)
• Oil pastel painting of my horse Sunny on his 12th birthday.   Later added a second portrait done two days later.
• photo and Photoshop Impressionist art of Keya and me in Sunny's horse cart.
• Cross-tie for Grooming, article on cross-tieing as an aid to grooming difficult dogs, especially those who resist having feet scissored or toenails clipped.
• song "Three Ancient Bouvier Are We"
• information on Bloat (Gastric Dilation and Volvus) by an experienced Bouvier person whose dog bloated plus comments by an experienced Emergency vet.
• Expose Yourself to Herding, a humorous photograph.
• Fear of Flying Changes, drawing and verse about women in love with horses. (Warning : some would consider this a bit raunchy, ie mildly X-rated.)
• added generic alternative lines to The Bouv Pretender.
• updated basic article on food aggression.
 

Coming Attractions

(material I hope to add sooner or later)

• more logos to the various topic index pages --- finished !
• more puppy photos, working photos
• more cartoons
• book review of "The Art of Veterinary Practice" by Dr Myrna Milani DVM
• book review of "Beyond Obedience" by April Frost
• book review of "For the Love of a Dog" by Patricia McConnell
• a whole bunch of herding articles, especially for beginners and for those starting to compete in trials. I have already posted the most basic articles, but have quite a few more to prepare and post. I have added some translations of French herding methods.