A two question quiz on caring for your dog:
Are you the kind of person who craves information about caring for your dog?
Do your “ninja powers” of pet parenting come out when it comes to protecting, caring for, and loving your canine companion?
If you nodded yes, congratulations! And welcome to the Buzby pack of dog owners who love their dogs passionately and want them to live the happiest, healthiest life possible! But what are the secret “ninja skills” to loving and caring for your dog?
What I’ve learned from my kids about handling life’s challenges with Ninja strength and how it applies to…
Caring for your dog!
As the mom of six boys, two girls, and three dogs, I often get some pretty funny questions from my kids. One of their favorites is the “what would you do” scenario. The most recent question asked by one of my kids went like this…
If your room were on fire and you were trapped, would you…
- Crawl through the ceiling vent
- Lay there and die
- Or do a ninja triple whip move and vault out the window!
Since these quizzes happen so often, I’ve come to understand that there’s a formula to them. The “triple whip” is always the option that fighters choose. Thankfully, I have never seen my kids attempt a triple whip, but it is clear that this choice is in the hearts of those who never give up.
What’s interesting is that these scenarios always contain the opposite choice–to lie down and die. My kids have figured out that the way that we can handle life’s challenges fall on a spectrum between the “triple whip” and “give up and die.”
You may be asking… “What does this story have to do with caring for my dog?”
As an integrative veterinarian, I’ve observed a similar spectrum in the way dog owners participate in the care of the pets, and I’m not talking about the amount of money they are willing to spend on their dog’s veterinary care. I see a hunger in the way clients want to learn about their dog’s body, their dog’s test results, their dog’s diagnosis, best treatment options, and their active participation in home health care and follow up. These clients are passionate about their dog’s health and have secret ninja dog parenting strengths that you have too.
I love being part of their team.
How can you be the best advocate for your dog? Here are four ninja dog parenting skills:
#1: Be a highly engaged dog owner! Master the “Ninja Triple Whip” of caring for your dog!
Passionate dog owners have mastered the “ninja triple whip moves” of dog care. Yes, these ninjas of dog parenting intuitively handle their vet visits with strategy and finesse. They come to appointments prepared with questions, bring detailed records, and email me updates. I love them for it. I love to attract “ninja triple whippers” like a magnet so that I can help them fight for their four-legged family members.
#2: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your dog is depending on YOU!
Recently, a friend told me about an experience he had almost 20 years ago with his dog, who was unexpectedly diagnosed with a terminal condition. The events unfolded quickly and he felt uneasy about the situation and was compelled to get a second opinion. But he didn’t.
Ultimately, he decided to go with the doctor’s diagnosis and move forward with euthanasia without getting a second opinion. My friend told me that he felt terrible about that decision, and still does even 20 years later.
After hearing more about the diagnosis, I tried to reassure him that it was his best option and the recommendations his vet had made were the right ones. Even though I told him that I felt confident that he’d made the right choice, he said that wasn’t the point. He is the person who carries his dog out of the vet and goes to get the second opinion as a matter of principle. He is the master of the “triple whip.”
Now please understand, I’m not saying that you need a second opinion every time you receive bad news or something you disagree with (although I do like second opinions, particularly from board certified veterinary specialists, when the diagnosis is more grey than black and white). What I’m suggesting is that the more involved you are in your dog’s care, the longer and better your dog’s life will be.
[bctt tweet=”The more involved you are in your dog’s care, the better your dog’s life will be. – Dr. Buzby” username=”@DrBuzby”]My philosophies on caring for your dog (and handling life’s challenges too):
- Lie down and die is never the right option.
- If you are a “ninja triple whip” client, don’t apologize for it. Find a veterinarian who appreciates you.
- You are your dog’s advocate. It’s ok to ask questions until you are satisfied and don’t silence your intuition.
- Always do the best you can, then remember you did the best you could. You can’t control every outcome.
- The “triple whip” is a handy paradigm for life.
#3: Give your dog the “BUZBY” best
In our house, we use the word “Buzby” as a verb. The term “Buzby” is synonymous with giving it your best, seeing a task through in spite of personal sacrifice, and never giving up. Routinely, my patients live to be 15, 16, or 17 years of age. One of my client’s dogs lived to be 21! I don’t think that is by accident. I understand that you have no control over genetics, accidents, or this fallen world in which we live. But, after 20 years of being in practice, I think there is something shared in common by my clients – they “Buzby” their dogs!
Be your dog’s biggest advocate
My clients are advocates for their dogs. They are their dog’s champions and are never complacent. They never sit on the sidelines. When they recognize needs, they take action.
My passion is to share this “Buzby” pet parenting mentality with you. I want to empower YOU to work in partnership with your veterinarian. The reality is that your veterinarian only sees your dog a few hours a year. You, quite possibly, spend more time with your dog than you do anyone else. I want to help equip you to be a “Buzby” dog owner.
The Buzby promise to help you help your dog…
I hope you’ll join me, so that together we can use our ninja dog parenting skills to “Buzby” our dogs for a longer, healthier life.
What’s your favorite ninja parenting tip to caring for your dog? We’d love to hear! Please comment below!
We welcome your comments and questions about senior dog care.
However, if you need medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, please contact your local veterinarian.