Tank goes to School

[blanche]

Blanche - you can also try either a bleach and water solution or a salt and water solution to kill the yeasts and staph. Soak the sheets for a half hour and that should help.

Nix on the bleach, unfortunately--not allowed to use any chemicals.  But the salt is a good idea.  I may try that one.  For now, I'm boiling the sheets (daily) and then drying them in the dryer.

[Nancy-Jean]

Tank, what a wonderful teacher you are!! 

[Kathy]

Nix on the bleach, unfortunately--not allowed to use any chemicals.  But the salt is a good idea.  I may try that one.  For now, I'm boiling the sheets (daily) and then drying them in the dryer.

You would need a fair bit of salt a cup or so per bucket of hot water and let them soak for at least 1/2 hr.... my thoughts were to soak the sheets in the bleach/water then wash them in the washer to get rid of the bleach... there is chlorine in the water anyway you are just upping the ante a bit.

[blanche]

I'm going to try the salt, Kathy.  I really am trying to minimize any contact with harsher solutions for Tank.  I have scads of salt so don't mind using a fair bit. 

I will say that while this has all been a bit labour intensive, it does seem to be working.  His itching is way down.

[Gerk]

Way to go Tank.  That one shot of him in the midst of about 5 simultaneous pets is great.  He looks right in his element.

[blanche]

Awesome! 

Tank is amazing!......I bet the kids had lots of questions and learned so much!    They look to be Andrew's age......I think it would be great to see this happening in all schools! Do you know if there is any formal canine education being done?  Or is this a lucky school to have such an expert come and visit?

Amanda:
The kids in the pictures are from a grade 1/2 class.  We also visited a 5/6 class where I spoke mostly about jobs with animals as that was what they were most interested in.
I think the police and the SPCA have a canine education program--but not entirely sure about that.  I make an effort to go to Gordon's school every year to talk about dogs and safety.
Many of the children in this school are recent immigrants and many are from countries where feral and rabid dogs are common so the concern by parents about dogs being dangerous is based in legitimate experience.
I'm not sure if I'd get the same warm reception if I were showcasing a bigger dog, frankly.  It's one of the things I talk about--that it's not right to assume all big dogs are dangerous and all small dogs are safe.  I talk about Lola a bit--although I never bring her!
I usually bring a picture of my big black border collie cross, Scout (now dead) and a picture of Lola and I ask kids which dog they would be afraid of.  They always say Scout--who was the most gentle of dogs.

[serenpugity]

What a fabulous experience for those kids. Their attitudes may be changed forever because of an encounter with you Blanche and your most perfect Tank.

[blanche]

What a fabulous experience for those kids. Their attitudes may be changed forever because of an encounter with you Blanche and your most perfect Tank.

Not that I'm biased at all, but Tank is one of the best dogs I've ever had.  He is truly a joy and an ambassador for dogs everywhere, and pugs in particular.

[Jeanne]

It's a great education for the kids that would not normally come into contact with a dog.  There is a woman that came into my children's school with a mix of some sort and did pretty much the same thing.  I think it made some of the children with no animal experience a lot more comfortable.