Posted: Saturday, July 26, 2008 12:00 am
Puppies need to meet people
As a dog trainer, I was shocked to read the advice in your Sunday paper where Dr. Jeff Kahler advises new puppy owners to keep their puppies home until they are 16-18 weeks old.
Puppies have a narrow time frame from 3-13 weeks of age to imprint on the world around them in order to be confident and relaxed in the world around them. They need to meet new people every day, play with social, healthy dogs, experience traffic, etc.
The new owner has the responsibility to teach the new pup about the world it has to live in, called socializing the puppy.
You cannot make up for lost time after this. Puppies who have been kept safe, according to Mr. Kahler's advice, are at great risk of growing up barking and afraid of everything that they were not exposed to as young puppies. It often results in the dog being kept home in the back yard, being re-homed or surrendered to a shelter.
By using common sense you can easily socialize a young puppy. Avoid dog parks until the pup is 4 months old, but take him to places where people with healthy dogs can be found; walk the pup in your neighborhood so he can meet and learn how to react to strangers, kids, bikes, cars etc.
I have raised many puppies, and never has any one of them gotten sick. Instead, they all have grown up safe and comfortable in the world around them.
Irma Kapsenberg
Corvallis
Irony abounds in O'Reilly rant
How ironic to have Bill O'Reilly teeing off on the Associated Press for not showing the late Tony Snow the same journalistic respect the press lavished on the late Tim Russert. In fact, the AP had degenerated from an objective news service into another spin service. Too much was made of Tim Russert for being the best of a very bad media beset by propaganda. Russert may have whispered truth to power, but Snow was employed to lie.
And he lied for FOX before he lied to the press for Bush. We are not talking about diverse opinions, we are talking about facts and evidence.
So I really enjoyed the comedy of O'Reilly getting offended because Snow was called a professional liar. He either felt ignored or vulnerable on the subject.
By the way, the column by Ellis Henican could actually help white people understand Jesse Jackson's jealousy as something human and common to white people as well. Most of what has been said and printed has not been helpful and has only contributed to racial voyeurism.
Don Caughey
Corvallis
Remember local elections
Good and wise local community leadership is no accident. Citizens must identify, encourage and support their community leaders.
Today we are faced with an economy in turmoil and many outside political and business interests that seek to benefit and influence our local community. Some of these influences are welcome and needed; some are predatory and self-serving and can harm our community in a variety of ways.
Local independent businesses such as shops, services and farmers are the backbone of a healthy local economy. Local governments institute fair and just laws, codes and regulations to encourage business and protect citizens from excesses and unfair advantage. When excessive power and influence get in the hands of individuals and special groups, both democracy and a healthy local economy suffers.
Wise and visionary local community leaders and elected officials are entrusted with maintaining this balance. Their sacred trust is that they will be looking out for the community's best interest first and not their own profit, prestige, personal or group interest.
The presidential elections are important but don't forget your local elections because they influence the very fabric, quality and health of your daily life, and also your community's future for better or worse.
David Anderer
Albany
SUNDAY LETTERS should be e-mailed to news@dhonline.com, with "Sunday letter" on the subject line.