IN THIS MONTHS ISSUE DEDICATED TO PEOPLE IN RESCUE BUDDY'S GOSSIP COLUMN QUOTES TIPS N TRICKS FROM baXteR HE MAY NOT BE SAYING NO... It Could Be Mites LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/CO-EDITOR ASK THE DOG TRAINING INSTRUSTOR DEADLY WASP STINGS MALTESE HOROSCOPE JUNE, JULY, AUGUST BIRTHDAYS NEW ADDITIONS TO PHOTO ALBUM NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY LIBBY'S CHATROOM SCHEDULE BUSTERS PRODUCT OF THE MONTH JOKES POEMS JUST FOR FUN BAMBI'S "PUP-POURRI" OF DOG TRIVIA SMILES FROM OUR WHITE FURBABIES MALTESE HOR0SCOPE MALTESE HOROSCOPE June 1 - August 31, 2000 Gemini/Cancer/Leo Not only is your Maltese energetic and full of the joys of summer, but he/she has an insatiable need for attention. Try to find ways to make your Maltese happy every waking hour! Your wonderful companion is more agreeable and cooperative than usual. Yet because he/she is inclined to get into a lot of mischief if left to his/her own devices, obviously you should keep a close watch over him/her. JUNE-JULY-AUGUST BIRTHDAYS Happy Birthday from MalteseOnly Bubbles Taylor Abby Gracie Girl Popcorn Muffi Bailey Moose & Squirrel Kabuki Suzette Snowy Simon Prince Zion Snookum Cloud Fonzie Archie Mop Snowball Taffy Sugar Molly Rudy Scooter Pie Dickens Tiffany Archie Tilda Milo & Molly Abby Pete Ricky Kristmuz Gizmo Lacie Ty Tammi Sassy Tiffany Tesse Bell Lilli Dovie Mitzi Nikita Speedo Miss Issa Little Miss Molly MacMuffin Tiny Tim Tucker Ashliegh Benji & Chip Sam Kodie Chelsea Emmyroo Frosti Jackson Sissy Darby Evita Reba Silkie Hadlee Geneva Chanel Sunny Max Henry Milly Bogart Tilly Hoss Socks Bianca Bianco's Sir Bentley Abby Bianco's Ghost Lucy Brown Prince Luca Brasi Emma Ms. Tee Zee Andy Harrigan Bear Chauncey yankee Doodle Duchess Lucky Crystal Buster Johnson Lexus Pippa & Lil Bit CoCo Barlo's Diana Cody BusterK Barney Powder Casey BusterB Lady Kewtip Tina Marie Princes Jasper Cricket Madeline & Sophie Miss Melody Mr. Ford Dion PC Cosmo Tassle Duchess Riddle Katie Yoshie Silk Snowbunnie Missy Le Blanc Chandler Natasha Ceasar Odry Chas Chloe Truffles Bently Dolly Bianco's What a Mug Muggs Chas Devon Lorenzo PJ Arju Susie Beau Angela & Precious Selena Angie Cotton Mina Shelby Romeo & Hamlet Lorenzo Sasha Louie Gracie Ali Harry DaisyM HeidiB Kashi Levi Scooter Buttons Poquito Ms. Precious Angel on a Cloud Gizmo Tiffany Jo Wally Ziggy & Mandy Spunky Milky Miss Bacal Precious Hampton Chester Bruster Tuggy Spanky Ziggy & Mandy Miller Sasee Landee Token Holly Mister Mollie Dolly Toby Crystal Spencer NEW ADDITIONS TO PHOTO ALBUM Submitted by Jay Bianco I will get back to updating the photo album very soon...... (Special Note: If your photo has not been posted please be patient. I've received an overwhelming amount of photos either by snail mail or e-mail. Your baby's picture will get posted. Your patience is greatly appreciated.) NEW ADDITIONS TO THE FAMILY! Marcia's ZC (ZeeSee) Ann's Cosmo Barbara's Marley Cupcake's Holly Minnie's Lucky Christy's Casper Biddle's Cupid Robyn's Icky Michelle's Opie Sharon's Waffles Harmony's Louie Anne's Skeeter Becky's Marvin Sarah's Sophie Minnie's Luck JudyC's Chance Courtney's Madison MaryB's Henry Ari's Boby MaryEllen's Spencer Tammy's Baxter Paula's Casper Tara's Georgie Lori's Casey Sharon's Snickerdoodle Nancy's Zoe & Jaz Mirna's Princess Alyson's Stafford Carina's Caly Chandra's Snow White Shirley's Pistol & Cowboy Harmony's Louie Vicki's Violet Minnie's Lilly Jan's Babe Chris's Megan Geralyn's Artie Rebecca's Snyphur MaryB's Buster Theresa's Bree Tara's Buster Eileen's Echo Lodri's Sadie Dawn's Holly RobinW's Icky Malteze's Buddy Jeanne's Dixie SPECIAL NOTE: IN MEMORY Our thoughts and prayers go out to the following: Jay & Bev who lost Duke Janaroi who lost Lucky Kathryn who lost Chloe Linda who lost Gatsby NCM who lost Daisey Donna who lost Nikki Joanne who lost Snowball Barbara who lost Sampson Janet who lost Spike Kathryn who lost Babbit & Chloe Kim family who lost Muffin Note: Please visit our new Petloss & Tribute Page! Thanx to Robin McDonald and Jay Bianco for providing us with this wonderful page to remember our furbabies that we have lost and hold so dear. CHATROOM SCHEDULE HOSTS: Libby & Buster Special Chats No special chats until Fall Note:The Maltese Only Chatroom is now open Saturday & Sunday evenings only until further notice. The fun starts at 8PM EST. Our chatroom is for Maltese dog discussion only. BUSTER'S PRODUCT OF THE MONTH -NATURAL BEEF BONES Extra Hard, heat sterilized natural beef bones chew down slowly and help remove plaque. Mommie gets me one of these each month and since I am a chewer this lasts me for a long time. I highly recommend these! They come in Sterile Natural, Hickory and Jerky flavored. POEMS SECOND DOG Submitted by: Debbie, mom to Tiffany, Toby & Tally Sometimes I look for traits in you Of a little dog you never knew; A dog that loved me all his days And understood in special ways. But that's not fair to you, you elf: You're not a substitute, but yourself. You've eased the loss, soothed the pain And tugged my laughter home again. Yet, puppy, at times I almost start When your eyes recall him to my heart: You'll never lack for love, it's clear Because of him you're twice as dear. Author: Lee Avery A PUPPY'S PRAYER Submitted by LarryW Now I lay me down to sleep, the king-size bed is soft and deep... I sleep right in the center groove, my human being can hardly move! I've trapped her legs, she's tucked in tight, and here is where I pass the night. No one disturbs me or dares intrude, till morning comes and "I want food!" I sneak up slowly to begin My nibbles on my human's chin. She wakes up quickly, I have sharp teeth -- I'm a puppy, don't you see? For the morning's here and it's time to play I always seem to get my way. So thank you Lord for giving me this human person that I see. The one who hugs and holds me tight, and shares her bed with me at night! Author unknown A POEM TO MY FOSTER DOG by Diane Morgan/Copyright 1999 I am the bridge Between what was and what can be. I am the pathway to a new life. I am made of mush, Because my heart melted when I saw you, Matted and sore, limping, depressed, Lonely, unwanted, afraid to love. For one little time you are mine. I will feed you with my own hand I will love you with my whole heart I will make you whole. I am made of steel. Because when the time comes, When you are well, and sleek, When your eyes shine, And your tail wags with joy Then comes the hard part. I will let you go--not without a tear, But without a regret. For you are safe forever-- A new dog needs me now. JUST FOR FUN! Top Ten Signs You Spoil Your Dog: Submitted by TraceyW 1. You think begging for table scraps is beneath him, so you let your dog eat at the table with you. 2. You take him to the supermarket and let him pick out his own dogfood. 3. Your husband comes home from work, looks at the stew on the stove and asks: "Is this people food or dog food?" 4. You bought matching His & Hers place mats for your dog and yourself. 5. At dinner parties you always have to double-check the butter for visible lick marks, before putting it on the table. 6. Your dog gets to vote on where to spend the next family vacation. 7. You don't care if you or your spouse are comforable at night, as long as Fido has enough room on the bed. 8. You complain about the rising costs of groceries, but you don't think twice about spending a fortune on doggie treats. 9. Your dog always gets the best spot on the couch and sometimes he even gets to hold the remote. 10. He has his own e-mail address. A Translation of English Dogs to Southern Dawgs: Submitted by MaryP (English) German Shepherd Dog (Southern) Poh-leece Dawg. (English) Poodle (Southern) Circus Dawg. (English) St. Bernard (Southern) "Thank Gawd, Here Comes The Whiskey Dawg." (English) Doberman Pinscher (Southern-TWO versions) Bad A## Dawg, or Dobimin Pinches. (English) Beagle (Southern) Rabbit Dawg. (English) Rottweiler (Southern) Bad A## AND Mean As He## Dawg. Good dawg to guard the still. (English) Yellow Lab (Southern) Ol' Yeller Dawg. (English) Black Lab (Southern) Duck fetchin' Dawg. (English) Greyhound (Southern) Greased Lightnin' Dawg. (English) Malinois (Southern) Another kind of Poh-leece Dawg. (English) Blue Ticks, Red Bones, etc. (Southern) Prize Coon Dawgs. (English) Maltese (Southern) Mop Dawg. (English) Chinese Crested (Southern) Nekkid Dawg. (English) Dachshund (Southern) Wienie Dawg. (English) Siberian Husky (Southern) Sled-Pullin' Dawg. (English) Bouvier, Komondor (Southern) "What The He## Kinda Dawg Is That?" (English) Great Dane, Mastiff (Southern) Danged BIG Dawg. (English) Any dog that raids the hen house (Southern) Egg-Suckin' Dawg. (English) Any lazy dog (Southern) Good fer nothin' Dawg. (English) Any dog that's died and been buried and gone to Rainbow Bridge (Southern) Best danged Dawg I ever had. PET RULES Submitted by Babs I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet. The garbage collector is NOT stealing our stuff. I do not need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm lying under the coffee table. I will not roll my toys behind the fridge. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur BEFORE entering the house. I will not eat the cats' food, before or after they eat it. I will stop trying to find the few remaining pieces of clean carpet in the house when I am about to throw up. I will not throw up in the car. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc. "Kitty box crunchies" are not food. I will not eat any more socks and then redeposit them in the backyard after processing. The diaper pail is not a cookie jar. I will not wake Mommy up by sticking my cold, wet nose up her bottom end. I will not chew my human's toothbrush and not tell them. I will not chew crayons or pens, especially not the red ones, or my people will think I am hemorrhaging. When in the car, I will not insist on having the window rolled down when it's raining outside. We do not have a doorbell. I will not bark each time I hear one on TV. I will not steal my Mom's underwear and dance all over the back yard with it. The sofa is not a face towel. Neither are Mom & Dad's laps. My head does not belong in the refrigerator. I will not bite the officer's hand when he reaches in for Dad's driver's license and car registration Author unknown... INSTRUCTIONS FOR GETTING DRESSED WITH THE DOG'S ASSISTANCE Submitted by JanS 1. Collect your chosen garments and lay them neatly on the dresser or bed. 2. Remove your robe and prepare to put on the garments. 3. Tell the dog to "Drop" your underwear. 4. Brush the lint and slobber from underwear and stick one leg through. 5. Tell the dog to "Come", then remove your t-shirt from the dog's mouth. 6. Pick yourself up from the floor and instruct the dog to "Leave It". 7. Tell the dog to "Drop" the underwear. 8. Choose a new, untorn set of underwear and begin again. 9. Run down the hall into the living room and tell the dog to "Drop" the underwear. 10. Phone your neighbor and apologize for inadvertently flashing them. 11. Return to bedroom, shut the door and stick one leg through the underwear. 12. Phone the home improvement store and get estimates on repairing dog damage to bedroom door. 13. Stick the other leg through the underwear. 14. Open bedroom door and proceed to the living room. Answer the doorbell. 15. Explain to the nice policeman that you did not purposely flash your neighbor. 16. Proceed to the kitchen, lay a towel on a chair to prevent chilling your skin, have a cup of coffee and then repeat procedure from Step 1. Author: Gerry, Puppy Raiser, Gresham, Oregon BIANCO'S BACI MI BAMBINA'S (BAMBI) "PUP-POURRI" OF DOG TRIVIA SMALL-DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES Do you own a small dog (under 25 pounds)? Some humane societies and dog-training schools offer special obedience classes just for small dogs and the special needs they and their owners have--such using different collars and not destroying the owners backs while teaching the dog to lie down. Obedience is often skipped with small dogs because individuals lack the sense of urgency they feel when, say, a 90-pound dog jumps on them. If a Maltese jumps on you, who cares? However, the lack of establishing a pack structure has just the same effect on a little dog as it does on a big dog. Without that structure, you might find that your cute little Maltese is running the household. Obedience is a great way, in dog language, to remind Fido that you are the King or Queen of your household. JOKES Seeking Help A man walked into the office of the eminent psychiatrist Dr. Von Bernuth, and sat down to explain his problem. "Doctor, doctor!" he started. "No need to repeat yourself, my good man," replied the doctor. "One 'doctor' is enough." "Yes, well, you see, I've got this problem," the man continued. "I keep hallucinating that I'm a dog. A large, white, hairy Pyrenees mountain dog. It's crazy. I don't know what to do!" "A common canine complex," said the doctor soothingly. "Come over here and lie down on the couch." "Oh no, Doctor. I can't do that." replied the man. "Why not?" said the doctor. The man responded, "Because I'm not allowed up on the furniture." "Author Unknown" "SMILES FROM OUR WHITE FURBABIES" Question : What is the most important thing in life your Maltese gives to you? Answer: Unconditional love, companionship and support. My Maltese, Iggy Submitted by Lynn R Walters Back in Aug 1994 I was working 2 jobs, mornings at a veterinary hospital, and nights at mail remote service. One night I got home at midnight, and when I got out of my car, there sitting on my front step was this poor matted flea bitten little dog. I opened my front door and he just came in and said "I'm home". I took him to he vet the next morning and had him checked out. He had fleas, matted to the skin where if it had been much longer he would have at maggets; worms, was not neutered, underweight. He had 3 baths, we finally had to shave all of his fur off, had him neutered, got all his shots, the works! He has never been away from me since, not even stays over night at vet if sick. I take care of him. The vet said he was 1-2 years old. He dances, sits up, and loves babies! Even knows the word "baby". Expecting my first grandchild in April and he even knows my daughter is expecting...never paid much attention to her until she found out she was pregnant. Now he gets in bed with her! My Mom named him Iggy after "Iggy the Iguana" on the Disney show "Under the Umbrella Tree". She said his top mop looked like the puppet!. He is my life always. Hello, My name was Snow White When my new mom and dad adopted me. I was rescued with 66 other dogs who were locked in a house our whole life and never allowed outside. We were filthy dirty, living in our own feces, fighting for what little food we could get and we were terrified of men's feet. We were carried out of the house, like an assembly line, one at a time and given a name as we were handed to the Animal Control Officers. A volunteer crew of vets shaved us, bathed us, doctored our wounds and then we were sent to rescue leagues and animal shelters all over the local area. I was only 6 months old and kind of funny looking because I was shaved naked, had snaggle teeth and big dark buggy eyes, that were different than all the other rescued dogs that were Shitzus. I was also listed as a Shitzu, but I was all white, my hair was different than the others and so were my eyes.. My tongue hangs out when I am happy and my new mom thought it was a birth defect when she first saw me because she did not know anything about my breed. One Saturday a friend asked my new mom to go with her to pick out a rescued Shitzu and she said, "no" because she already had 4 big dogs and 2 indoor cats and feared she would fall in love with a dog herself. She finally gave in and came to the shelter with her friend and I was the first dog they picked up and held. They also picked up my partner "Torrie" who was a real pretty grey and white and that is who my mom's friend chose. A few days later my new mom came back again and picked me up and held me and my new dad came along too. They kept talking about how homely I looked and how my tongue hung out, but they could not resist my big dark eyes. My new mom just couldn't resist and my new dad wasn't too sure because they already had other pets at home. They adopted me, and the lady at the shelter warned them that potty training may be very difficult because I had never been outdoors and I was approximately 6 months old. My new dad cuddled me and took me home in his truck. I was so nervous I pottied in his truck, but he was real nice about it. When I got to my new home my dad said the rules were that I would sleep in my carrier at night and if I pottied on the floor too much this may not work out long term. Well it is 3 years later and I am so happy in my new home. After adopting me my mom did a lot of research to figure out why I looked so different than all my other mates. As my hair began to grow out she discovered I was a "very" pretty Maltese, with beautiful big dark eyes. I go everywhere with my folks , they don't take trips if I can't go along. I ride on my dad's Honda GoldWing motorcycle and he makes sure I am secured safely in my pet carrier, that is reinforced for safety and my mom makes sure I have sweaters, jackets, blankets, etc., for any type of weather we may encounter. My mom rides her own motorcycle and always keeps an eye on me as we ride along. I love all the adventures and new friends we meet and we have traveled over 5,000 miles all over the U.S. I sleep in bed with mom and dad and our 2 cats and I go for lots of rides in the car and they spoil me rotten! They tell me how special I am and how they don't know what they did before I came into their lives. I am really good and tell them when I have to go potty and I am really nice to the cats too. Missy Le Blanc, Female Maltese WEBSITE SPONSORS A special thanks goes out to the Sponsors of MalteseOnly: Dogtoys.com - http://www.dogtoys.com Woof Online Auctions http://www.malteseonly.com/auction EDITORS NOTE Note: If you wish to submit an article, poem, joke, birthday, etc. for MalteseOnly News please send an email to: Libby@malteseonly.com All submissions must be to me by the 25th of the month. EDITORS/CO-EDITORS NOTE: As quoted by Dr. Jane Leon, from America's Health Network, "Be good to your pets, they try so hard to be good to you and for you" Get a free MalteseOnly email address TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE To unsubscribe from the MalteseOnly Newsletter, simply go to http://www.malteseonly.com/subscribe.html then enter your email address and check "unsubscribe" and submit. Maltese Only Newsletter © 2000 All Rights Reserved Tell a friend about our Newsletter

Maltese Only News June-July-August 2000 Editor's Note: Welcome to MalteseOnly News! MalteseOnly went online in May of 1996. Created by Jay and Bev Bianco of Mt. Morris, PA. Today several thousand visitors daily find themselves at this website. The Maltese Only site provides a multitude of information on the health, care and training of a Maltese. The Discussion Forum is the #1 breed specific discussion on the Internet. Maltese Only has the most dedicated fans on the Internet. This Maltese Only News is dedicated to them. To unsubscribe from the MalteseOnly Newsletter, simply go to http://www.malteseonly.com/subscribe.html then enter your email address and check "unsubscribe" and submit. You will be removed immediately from any future mailings and announcements. Libby Johnson, Editor Libby@MalteseOnly.com Jay Bianco,Co-Editor Interested individuals may now subscribe to the National Maltese Rescue, Inc. email list of announcements. To subscribe or unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.malteseonly.com/rescues.html EDITORS NOTE: The MalteseOnly Newsletter is going to a Quarterly Publication. Effective immediately the newsletter schedule will be March, June, September and December. I am quite happy to report that we have hit over 5,100 subscribers. A number we never expected. Thanx to all who have supported our efforts and helped make this newsletter such a success. ****DEDICATED TO PEOPLE IN RESCUE**** Our rescue, rehabilitation and adoption efforts can be exhilarating, overwhelming, frustrating, and sometimes downright depressing, but I try to keep the following in mind: There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days that should be kept free from any fear, worry and apprehension. One of these days is Yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faults and blunders. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money and power in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said; we cannot change a single mistake. Yesterday has passed forever beyond revocation. Learn from it, but let it go. The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise, and potential. Tomorrow also is beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mass of clouds, but it will rise. And until it does, we cannot know what it will bring us, because it is as yet unborn. That leaves us but one day, Today! And a person can rise to the challenges of just one day. Yesterday and Tomorrow are futile "worries." Plan for the future, but know that each day will come of it's own accord. Let us, therefore, resolve to journey no more than one day at a time. SPECIAL RESCUE STORY Submitted by Libby Ariel"Buffie" Mcbaby/Buffy - Buffy came to NMR, Inc on May 9, 2000. We were notified of Buffys situation thru a concerned dog lover who's friend had Buffy and the children were abusing her. Buffy had lost an eye as a result of this abuse. Carina Rock, a NMR Representative met with her owners to pick her up to foster. Buffy was born in a local puppymill. According to the owner that mill was shut down a few years after Buffys birth. When Carina picked up Buffy she looked absolutely awful. She was the color of Georgia clay. According to her owner when she is clean she is white, but that was hard to believe as caramel colored as she was. The owners said she was an inside dog, but apparently not recently. She had been living on the porch and in the backyard, which explained how she got so dirty. She had fecal matter all over her backside. Carina's vet cleaned her behind to be sure she wasn't blocked, but it still needed more work. The owner had sheared her body, but her legs, face and backside were all matted beyond belief. And of course she is missing an eye. Her fur covered both eyes completely and it is hard to imagine how she can see at all. She has been to the vet twice as far as Carina could tell over her lifetime before her vet visit with Carina. The first time was at age two when she having been left alone in the backyard was shot at pointblank range in her stomach with a high-powered BB gun. According to the owner she bled all over the deck and porch before they arrived home. She received some medical attention then. And then again when she supposedly scratched through her eyeball with nails that are rarely clipped. She had the eye removed at that time which would have been in January of 1999. She had not been given any shots since then and from what the owner had told Carina she had only received shots one time before that on the occasion when they brought her in for the BB gun attack. The owner had considered putting her down on both occasions, but had felt that the original purchase price and the moneys spent on her would make putting her down a bad return on investment. She had also bitten off a small part of her tail. This is apparently one of the ways the four year old triplets and the soon to be ex-husband tortured this little girl. They would play with her tail and get her running around in circles after it. She frequently apparently chases her tail and bites at it until it bleeds. According to the owner she cannot be brought to the vet or groomer because she reacts so viciously. Naturally given this information Carina's vet muzzled her, and he did say that she was highly agitated when they were giving her the shots and the exam. However, she came willingly and allowed herself to be petted and comforted by two complete strangers (Carina and her mother). She in fact does cuddle with them. She often seems to crawl when she is scared and she has done a lot of crawling toward Carina and her family. But, she has in fact relaxed and has started walking normally and is finally starting to trust humans. Carina has adopted Buffy. Buffy is now known as Calypso aka Caly. Our hearts go out to Carina for giving this little girl the chance she so richly deserves. We at NMR, Inc. know that Caly is loved and has found her forever home. * * * * * * BUDDY'S GOSSIP COLUMN (Bianco's That's My Buddy) Note: When Libby asked me to do this gossip column I had to laugh. Ha! Me? Do a gossip column??!! My mommie (Bev) and my daddy (Jay) say that I am perfect for the job. Can't keep any secrets. So here goes. Daddy gave me my own email address so if you have any gossip worth printing please email me at: Buddy@malteseonly.com. Now for the gossip! I have it on good sources that Comet's mom, Halen met the breeder of Liz Taylor's Sugar. Wow! Halen...hobnobbing with the celebrities now. So do you get to meet Liz and Sugar next? Carina had an Easter Egg Hunt with her furkids this year. She used the plastic eggs with doggie biscuits inside. Our very own NMR rescue pup, Chu Chu found 2 eggs before Cloud or Clues found one. Looks like Chu Chu should have been named Inspector Clouseau.. I hear Buster Bergman was running the agility course and only had 2 obstacles to go. He all of a sudden ran off the course because he saw mommy's friend and ran and jumped in her arms. Way to go Buster! Seems our very own MaryP was interviewed by the Racine, Journal Times. She gave an excellent interview telling about her experiences with the Maltese Rescue. What's next Mary? TV? Be sure to save an autograph for me. Janines Alex ate a piece of manila file of daddies. Daddy was exercising and mommy was doing taxes. Nobody was paying attention to Alex. So....... And...bye the way...the rumors about me, Buddy, initiating Daddy's new desk are completely false! I'm innocent! But that new desk sure smelled good. Garnetts Kimmie has discovered the cats. Seems Kimmie is getting up on the kitchen table to get a better view of this four-legged thing. She jumps up on the chair, then up on the table. Ever think about agility classes Kimmie? Well, well, well....Buster Bergman went to his first AKC Agility Trials. When Buster and his mom Jill got there they had 45 minutes until they were up and poor Buster got nervous and threw up. After the trials started off goes Buster. Start - Jump - Teeter - Jump - Jump - A Frame - pause - table - next obstacle, tunnel. Off the pause table Buster goes and out of the ring to 5 little kids that were sitting there. Buster ran up to them and gave them kisses! What a social butter fly that Buster is. But what the heck! Gotta have a little fun. All work and no play makes a dull day. That's it for the gossip for this month. Stay tuned. I'll be watching and listening for more. Until next month...keep your head out the window and your tail to the sky. Buddy QUOTES "Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable. They might be a bit out of shape and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well." -- Bonnie Wilcox 'Old Dogs, Old Friends' "There is only one greatest dog in the world, and everyone has it"- Anonymous Submitted by Cathy Brown "Dogs are like wet cement: whatever touches them makes an impression."- Anonymous Submitted by MaryP "Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission -to be of service to them whenever they require it..." Saint Francis of Assisi "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." - St. Francis of Assisi "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, and his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown TIPS N TRICKS FROM baXteR Der Frens- I gotsta be da luckiest doggie in da hole whirle. On da weekens I havda afternoon tea - da engleesh duz likez der tea. I likez my tea wif milk nd suga jist da way dat mommee drinkz it an I gertz peeses of cooky. Everee nite afta inna I git to hav "pud" dats engloeesh fer deezert it gowse wif da tea. My mommee makez deelishus choklit kakez and sumting kalled rhum kake dat gots pekans on da top but da bestst is dat Bella neva gitz tea or pud. Dats bekos you gotsta lern wen you is gist a puppy how to beg. Bella dint neva do da beggy thingz. Ya gotsta sit pretty but da mis importan thig is you gotsta mak eye kontak an if dat aint werkin den ya hafta lif up one of da pawz (dint matter one or da udder) ik its brokin dat werkz all da thyme. Even if I out on da dek I knowz wen it thyme for da pudd. I skratchzez at da dor but ya gotta do it wif gist one paw an it helpz if da dor gotsa winda so dat dey kin see how cute ya look - I gif da goofy luk wif my mouth open an my tongue out like I pantin. In jist a little thyme ya getz to be da master moocher lik me. I haven bin mysef lately cos mommee and someone at her offis did sumthin to da komputa dat only letz me read but dint let me answer da messages. I bin in veri reel depreshun I dint even wanna finnish Bella's dinna. Mommee is tryin to get it fixed but I bin dooin lotsa pacein nd veri wurried I mite neva gets to tawk wif all da fur kids. Even Bella felz sori fer me she sitz on mommees lap and triez hittin da mousey thing wif her liddle pawz but da dint wurk. Well I ritez to you all reel soon. Luv to everyon and liks and waggy tails from baXteR an Bella. HE MAY NOT BE SAYING NO... It Could Be Mites Think your Maltese is saying "NO" when he/she's shaking his/her head at your words? Perhaps not. Scratching ears or shaking the head a lot means a trip to the veterinarian, one that may offer relief for you and your Maltese. There are many causes of itchy ears: ear mites, yeast infections or bacterial infections. "Although dogs can get ear mites at any age, younger pets are more susceptible. "If your young Maltese has been around a lot of other animals, ear mites (Otodectes) is a possible diagnosis." Dogs with such mites may have an ear discharge with increased wax and a coffee-ground appearance. Your veterinarian will need to take an ear swab and look at the discharge under a microscope to identify an ear mite infection. Most mite infections are treated with a round of eardrops for 5-to weeks. If the discharge is thick, your veterinarian may wash out your pet=92s ears so the eardrop treatment can have better contact with the infected areas. The ear mites can be outside of the ear, as well. Flea control products help control the mite population outside of the ears. "In the near future, instead of ear drops, you may be using a treatment applied to your dog's skin -- similar to tick and flea control products on the market. "The contagious nature of ear mites -- other dogs and cats can become infected -- is a good reason to have a veterinarian perform a physical on your new pet before you introduce it to the rest of the family. If your pet has ear mites, it is wise to keep a close eye on your other pets to make sure they don't get ear mites also. "Should the discharge be yellow to brown, a yeast (Malassezia pachydermatitis) or bacterial infection is more likely. It is normal for yeast to be in the ear. But sometimes yeast can get out of control if the environment is more moist than usual. These yeast and bacterial infections won't cause infections in humans. Treatments may include a round of antibiotic eardrops along with an anti-inflammatory drug. Allergies, trauma and tumors are other causes of itchy ears. Allergies can be caused by fleas, pollen, molds or plants. Dogs with allergies may lick or itch other spots on the body, such as the feet and face. Aggressive cleaning can cause trauma to the ear. Never clean with a cotton applicant Prevent ear problems by being an observant owner and keeping ears clean and dry. Check the inside of your pet's ears periodically for abnormal discharges and remove any visible dirt. But never clean deeper than you can see. If your pet requires more frequent cleaning or is going through the scratching, head-shaking routine, this could be a sign of an infection. Contact your veterinarian. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/CO-EDITOR New to MalteseOnly News! Hi Libby,How are you it's been awhile since I have been on the internet Casper is doing so well, I don't think I could love that little fur baby more if I tried. My husband thinks I've gone over the edge, Casper has a back pac he get's to ride in made especially for little dogs and it has a little pillow for his bottom, so he's comfy. I'm having the time of my life with Casper, he certainly filled a large void in my life, after losing my cat almost 71/2 yrs ago. I am so grateful to you and the Bianco's for letting me adopt him. I know I thank you almost every time I write but thank you seems like such a small word when it comes to something that makes you happy in life! I pray all is well with you & yours. I still go out on the MalteseOnly web site; I do it on my lunchtime so I get to see all the good stuff they offer. Well I better run, I have a few more e-mails to write about my new address. Take care and I hope to talk to you soon. Sincerely, Maureen MacDonald ASK THE DOG TRAINING INSTRUSTOR If you have any questions to ask please email me and it will be printed in the next issue. QUESTION: This is my situation, my husband and I just recently adopted an 8-year-old full bread Maltese from pound. I have the AKC papers. I have talked to the previous owner quite a few times. I found the dog at the pound and everyday would drop in to observe it until the pound would okay the adoption. This was back in Dec. of 1999. He is a fine dog, very loyal, housebroken, behaves quite well for the most part. However, when people come to the door he immediately runs over to it and barks in their face, he has snipped at two people. Not bite, but snipped. Not the door to door salesmen either, these were my girlfriends who drop in all the time. This is my concern. I don't know how to break him of this bad habit and am afraid he will hurt someone, he is great with children. I have to do something because it is very uncomfortable. Before we made this decision I reviewed information on various breeds and everything that I had read about the Maltese breed never mentions this type of behavior. Is this something that you could give me advice on or tell me where to go for it? I would appreciate it. Thank you, Lisa Morgan ANSWER: It sounds to me like your Maltese is fear aggressive. I suggest you try having the people toss his favorite toy toward him but not at him and to encourage him to play with the toy. If they don't want to, you do the same as I describe above, to get him in a happy mood. This will help your Maltese see this situation as a non-threatening one and be more comfortable toward people. Praise him when he does go for the toy and is not snapping at people. If he is this way out in public, take his toy with you everywhere you go with him so you can introduce these people in a pleasant manner every time. It might be a good idea to have one to use for the people to throw and another for him to have fun with since the one he uses most might be so messed up with dog saliva. If he isn't into toys and fetching, then put a leash on him when people will be coming to visit. Don't leave the leash on unsupervised. When he starts to nip at people pull him away quickly, as you command, "No!" Repeat this until he stops nipping. Praise him vocally when he doesn't nip during this excited time. If he nips you, wrap your hand around his muzzle and command, "No!". I hope this advice helps you and your new Maltese. Vanetta QUESTION: Please advise how I can help my adoptee, Trey (neutered) to become more people friendly. I acquired him at 1 yr. old. He is adorable with me but will not accept certain people and all but 2 other dogs. I have another Maltese female neutered that I purchased from a breeder. She is not aggressive at all. He and she get along fine. He also gets along w/ my son's Pappalon (sp?) that is a male (unneutered), together since puppyhood. The Pap is also not aggressive. Trey mostly likes human females. I have taken him successfully through obedience training. However, he still has this aggressive problem. I work with him, curtailing him via a lead, isolating him in another room, making him sit, etc. I am stern with him but not negative. I have tried the water spraying in case this is considered abusive, please let me know. Thank you for you advise, ANSWER: I suggest you try having the people toss Trey's favorite toy toward him but not at him and to encourage him to play with the toy. If they don't want to, you do the same as I describe above, to get him in a happy mood. This will help Trey see this situation as a non-threatening one and be more comfortable toward people. Praise him when he does go for the toy and is not snapping at people. If he is this way out in public, take his toy with you everywhere you go with him so you can introduce these people in a pleasant manner every time. It might be a good idea to have one to use for the people to throw and another for him to have fun with since the one he uses most might be so messed up with dog saliva. With another dog have both dogs on leash and then toss the toy and let him go after the ball by going with him on the leash to get. Also it would be best to not have your other two dogs there. Don't let Trey or the other dog off-leash unless they are displaying good play behavior. The toy should not be left with them if they are fighting over it. Only use the toy to help Trey see that this is a pleasant or fun time and not a time to be aggressive. If he isn't into toys and fetching, then put a leash on him when people will be coming to visit. Don't leave the leash on unsupervised. When he starts to aggress at people or another dog pull him away quickly, as you command, "No!" and then have him sit. Have someone try petting him and if he growls the person needs to take their hand away while you command, "No!". It would help if you also used a word or phrase to tell him to allow someone to pet him and that they are not a threat like "Friend!" or "Be nice!". Also try having someone who he aggresses toward feed him his dinner or try a dog biscuit but have the person put it on the floor and not give straight to his mouth, as there might be a risk of a bite. Repeat these procedures until he stops his aggressiveness. Praise him vocally and with petting when he doesn't aggress toward someone or a dog. I hope this advice helps Trey behave better toward people and other dogs. Vanetta DEADLY WASP STINGS Submitted by Cathy Brown For those of us whose Maltese love to chase bees and eat them....this is for you! Apparently this family's dog was healthy one minute and dead the next (more or less). I thought I'd share this with you all. Something like this happening never occurred to me... Without going into to the technical jargon and long-winded explanations from the formal necropsy report, I will just paraphrase and shorten the jest of it all. Two wasps (rather their remains) were found in his stomach and the tissue samples showed that when he swallowed them, they went down fighting, as there were wasp stings in several places at the very back of his tongue, down his throat all the way down his esophagus. The report states that anaphylactic shock from these wasp stings appears to have brought on the chain reaction leading to heart failure. It was also reported that the anaphylactic shock can cause the dog's body temperature to spike very high, very quickly (his at time of death was 109 F), thus leading to the stroke. Dissection of heart, lungs and other major organs showed that they were healthy and normal before the stings. This tragedy was so hard for us to handle and we had to have answers. We had to know why he stroked out and had heart failure so suddenly, when a little over an hour before, he was silly, playful and romping about, as we were backing the last items needed to take with us in the motorhome. PLEASE caution pet owners about how dangerous, even deadly wasp and bee stings can be to our four legged family members. ... do all that is possible to protect your pets from these small and deadly pests!

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