http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/ Observations from my daily hikes in the Spring Creek Forest of Garland, Texas plus anecdotes about living with Pugs, from health and nutrition to behavioral modifcation! en http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/22/what-is-the-spring-creek-forest.html What is the Spring Creek Forest: A beautiful old growth riparian forest preserve located in Garland, Texas located along the cleanest sparkling limestone creek in North Texas. It is open to the public on behalf of nature observation as well as hiking. Who takes care of the Preserve? An all volunteer group of concerned citizens with big hearts on behalf of preserving open spaces. Monthly nature hikes as well as meetings provide an endless list of activities on behalf of all citizens to get involved as little or as much as they want. Activities range from Master Naturalist tours to work days. How can I join the Society? Anyone, regardless of age or where they live, can join the Spring Creek Preservation Society as either a silent or active member. We have members from not only numerous cities in the metroplex but also across the country. A short membership application is available at the group website: www.springcreekforest.org Meetings are held monthly during the Winter, Fall as well as Spring on the first Tuesday of each month at the North Garland Public Library. More particulars are available on the society web page. http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/22/what-is-the-spring-creek-forest.html Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:35:27 -0400 lordprince22 http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/21/work-day-christmas-party-2005.html Our Dec. 3rd work day was a resounding success as well as a real blast. The earthen trail from the creek vista area was completed all of the way to N. Garland Rd. in order to hook up in the near future with a paved nature loop near Winters Park as well as Naaman Forest High School. Additionally, our biggest fan, City Landscape Architect as well as Asst. Parks Diretor Tom Frey visited with society members to discuss strategic minimal clearing at the interior vista landing. This beautiful valley has recently succombed to overgrowth of cedar. Once restored, visitors shall be able to view as well as photograph the beautiful red oaks as well as other old growth trees that provide dramactic drop foilage displays each year. While there's still much to do to totally clear out debris on the new trail extension, preserve patrons can at least start walking this new trail to retain it fresh. Board of Directors Society member Ralph blazed the way using blue vinyl ties to mark trees contigous to the path. Leaves as well as limbs shall continue to drop until our first 20-degree hard freeze this week so all members are encouraged to help retain the trail clear. There are still several areas with heavy honeysuckle as well as thorny vine coverage that require to be clipped back on behalf of the safety of all. Our next work day in the new year of 2006 shall focus on this activity if citizens desire to become involved. http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/21/work-day-christmas-party-2005.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:36:06 -0400 lordprince22 http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/23/buckthorn-a-toxic-invasive-species.html When helping with the trail clearing today, we noticed some beautiful yellow foliage on a small tree-like specimen. None of us knew specifically what it was but came to an agreement that it might be Buckthorn or Buckeye. After researching it, I found that only the buckeye turns yellow as well as it has five leaves together. There is also Chinese Fringe tree that looks remarkably similar. There was a grove of these trees adjacent to Garland Rd. on the north side of the trail contigous to what I call Tres Cedars - three absolutely monstrous cedars 80 or 90 feet tall. In my research I happened across a state of Oregon article that describes the Buckthorn as an invasive tree species that is extremely toxic to the bird population not to draw attention to children as well as pets who might accidentally eat the black berries. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialplants/woody/buckthorn/index.html It’s funny how Texas government doesn’t seem to have a clue about the toxicity aspect of this tree since they advocate it. Another interesting specimen that we found growing near the apartments was a holly-like shrub with sharp serrated edges. Society members trusted it was a Chinese Photinia - photinia davidiana or a red tip, species Photinia fraseri. Both have red tips. To complicate things there's also a species serrulata and lindl of which only the lindl is supposedly native to Texas. All Photinia’s are referred to as Chokeberries. The National Plants Database has habitat maps on behalf of all eight Photinia species but this did not lesson my confusion since numerous sites had conflicting information mixing up the scientific names. I guess I shall have to go pick a leaf tomorrow afternoon, scan it in as well as post it here. http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/23/buckthorn-a-toxic-invasive-species.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:18:03 -0400 lordprince22 http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/27/atvs-police-at-the-park.html I bumped into Dan at Shiloh Springs today. He said there were some ATV’ers at the park today, with their vehicles sitting in the parking lot. A patrol car drove down, turned around as well as left as if the ATV’s were invisible. Maybe this officer was just cruising as well as was not scheduled to be there… supposedly “our” officers are in unmarked cars. Dan said that the dirt bikes are now using the “new” jump as expected. Ho Hummmm…. On another note, I see the that the Dallas Morning News ran a Neighbor’s feature in Frisco about a gentle old man named Otis Newman, now deceased, but who may ultimately get a park named from him as well as his family. It was a touching story… you can read it here. http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/27/atvs-police-at-the-park.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:21:30 -0400 lordprince22 http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/26/welcome-to-my-pug-world.html Welcome to my SpoiledRottenPug blog. I have three of these little butt nuggets, two black as well as one fawn - all females. Life is a three-ring circus of doggie chatter as well as people herding! I hope to take to you a glimpse of what it's like to posses a Pug. The Pug rescue groups have 20 applicants on behalf of every dog that is surrendered. Shelters have lines out the door at dawn when a Pug is offered on behalf of adoption. Breeders take deposits months as well as sometimes years in advance on behalf of their pups. So WHY would anyone go to all that trouble as well as then surrender such an in demand creature to rescue to start with??? That is a subject on behalf of my blog one day soon, but on behalf of now let's just say that it all boils down to greed as well as the lack of research as well as education on the part of the non-show breeder.  For my first post, I would like to clarify a little about the Pug Dog. The fact the the AKC has deliberately omitted the word "Chinese" from the name of the breed, should tell you something. These adorable Dutch Mastiffs are NOT Chinese. Just cause their great gran'mama was Chinese doesn't manufacture them anything like their Asian ancestors. They are actually mixes just like most purebreeds in this country. Our precious Pug Dogs are actually closer to Dr. Jeckyll as well as Mr. Hyde than the lap dogs of china. While at night they are the an estimated all affectionate indoor breed I have ever come across, during they day they are free spirits - born to enjoy the nature as well as the outdoors with their masters. While they certainly reside up to their alert-dog fame, in numerous other ways they are brilliant scent hounds as well as water spaniels. Their facial silhouettes are identical to the great Mastiff relatives from which they come. They have the sweet, laid-back personality of the Mastiff in conjunction with the protectiveness. Their talkative streak obviously comes from the Chinese Pug since their Dutch nickname, Mopshund, means "grumbling dog." While they are similar to what could be referred to as a short-haired Pekingese, their personalities are nothing alike.    Primarily it is the females who grumble, so you shall hear lots about that in the coming blogs. Please feel free to add feedback about the traits of your Pugs so that we can begin to tally up the true statistics on this breed. I shall be interesting! http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/26/welcome-to-my-pug-world.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 20:31:47 -0400 lordprince22 http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/25/swimming-lessons.html Toay was the third time on behalf of Hot Lips to go swimming in the crystal clear Spring Creek. She reminds me of a toddler going nose first into a bucket of water. It's similar to how a squirrel stops half way in the middle of the road as well as then suddenly the thinker comes on and it changes its mind, reversing directions in the middle of the road? Well, Hot Lips did great during her first two trips to the creek - swim as well as go. Unfortunately, at age 7, her brain gets in the way. Unlike a pupy, she actually considers her options first before acting. Here's the scenario. She lags behind the group with Buffy as we get in advance of her, operational up as well as down the bank, waiting until she has jog out of dry land to jump into the water. At this point the bank is now a six-inch ledge. Suddenly, she sees Buffy high jump off the ledge to go paddling away like an olympic athlete. Wow, that looked easy! Urgency sets in as well as she carefully steps down into the water. Only problem is that while her hind end is on the ledge, she is now doing a handstand on the bottom of the creek. The thinker clicks on, "Oooops, better get back out." Even an olympic athlete can't "undive." So, the human comes to the rescue to retain her moving forward. She comes up with her head soaking wet as well as her eyes tightly shut, sputtering as well as snorting. She gets a face squeegee while she dog paddles in place on Justin's hand. Since she is still in panic mode, Justin helps her swim to shallower territory. Damn, Buffy, why did you have to teach her to procrastinate?  Buffy just enjoys skimming like a crazed power toy across the riffles to catch up with her people. It gives her a sense of control. I think learning to slay those vacuums has made her power hungry.   None the less, Hot Lips is miles in advance of where Buffy was at the same point in her swimming career. At least she had the courage to follow. Buffy the Vacuum Slayer would have still been standing on the opposite bank whining for Mamma to come back as well as get her. At seven years of age, I think Hot Lips is doing pretty darn good! http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/25/swimming-lessons.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:18:34 -0400 lordprince22 http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/27/who-said-pugs-shed.html Who said Pugs shed? Actually, this is said about all breeds, not just the Pug but in ignorance it is the Pug who is maligned on every Pug Rescue website that I have seen. "If you don't like shedding, then you a Pug Dog is NOT on behalf of you" numerous of them proclaim. The fact is, nothing could be farther from the truth. Only unhealthy Pugs shed copious amounts of fur. Only unhealthy DOGS shed copious amounts of fur. Whether one is a sled dog or a Golden Retriever, shedding is not a natural occurance. It is a sign of dehydration as well as malnutrition. Just a little experimentation shall demonstrate this. Feed a Pug Dog 1 tablespoon of mixed, cold-pressed oils each day as well as the shedding shall stop in 3 days to one week subject to the severity of the malnutrition as well as regardless of the season. The older the dog, the longer it may take. It makes me sick as well as it literally repels me to see people with fur rakes out at city parks spreading dander as well as allergens all through the air just because of the fact that they don't desire to do something as simple as ad oil to their pet's diet. The key is the word "cold-pressed." Oils that have been processed any other way are damaged by heat as well as light. They are stripped of their beneficial ingredients. The word "Pure" is a label that indicates processing as well as refinning. I wish these companies were required by law to stamp the truth on their labels as well as just say "worthless" or "void of nutrition." The type of oil needed is different by breed as well as there are about 5 out of the 152 AKC breeds that are oil sensitive so one must do research before taking my advice on behalf of a non-Pug breed. William Cusick is the only researcher in the U.S. to have done blood, urine as well as fecal tests over a twenty year period on all breeds to determine the breed specific nutritional requirements on behalf of dogs. Thanks to him, my Pugs are shed free as are numerous in my Pug dog meetup group.  Without going into a diatribe on the variations between oils, this is what I have found to be the best oil mix on behalf of my Pugs: 1/2 tablespoon Hemp oil mixed with 1/2 tablespoon of Grizzly Salmon oil. I retain these oils in my fridge in a dark, light filtering bottle on behalf of no more than 2 to 3 weeks. After that they are thrown out as well as fresh is purchased. I get the Hemp oil at my local Herb Mart where they retain all high quality oils in a fridge.     Hemp oil is the only oil on the face of the planet that contain all three Omega Fatty Acids, 3, 6, & 9. It also contains Chloraphyll, a critical ingredient on behalf of the health of any dog, which comes from plants. Few if any pet foods contain this vital ingredient. Once you have tried this mixture, as well as the shedding has stopped, then you can start experimenting. The Grizzly Salmon Oil is only available online as far as I know. Another note is that if adding oils doesn't stop the shedding then you have more than one thing wrong with the way you are feeding your dog. Moist or canned food is critical to proper hydration, particularly on behalf of the Pug who is breathing impaired to start with. Dogs were never meant to eat dryed food as well as it is not a natural thing. Would you eat crackers, beef jerkey as well as melba toast on behalf of a daily diet as well as anticipate to be healthy? Let's get real. Moisture as well as water is the MOST critical ingredient of life. Without it, you die as do your internal organs, skin as well as hair follicles. Just a note about other breeds. I am involved with Husky as well as Malamute rescue.  A few years ago a beautiful wolf hybrid came to stay in my home. He was part Malamute. He arrived with full "molting" in progress. First, I upgraded him to a super premium food as well as his moulting stopped. Today, in his new home, he receives a premium food as well as dietary oils. He looks like a show dog as well as his shedding is minimal to none. His undercoat is calm as well as sleek. Static electricity is a thing of the past. By the way ladies, didn't you ever wonder why static cling is such a nightmare in the winter, with your panty hose as well as your clothing clinging combined like a bad nightmare? The answer is dietary oils. Try it, it's not just on behalf of the dogs! http://lordprince22.chudadi.com/2008/08/27/who-said-pugs-shed.html Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:42:12 -0400 lordprince22