About Laclede County, MO

A dog's tendency to bite depends on such factors as heredity, obedience training, socialization, health, and the victim's behavior. Dogs believe that they own things. Their toys, food dishes, you. It is their natural instinct to protect their belongings. Their resting place and your property are also its possession. When it comes to children, the dog considers itself dominant. Sometimes, a little nip is nothing more than "behave" from the dog's point of view. It can also be a "hey, that hurt" when you accidentally step on its tail or pull on its ears. Accidental bites when you offer it food or a toy can be prevented by teaching the dog bite inhibition. He isn't trying to take your hand off in this situation, he simply doesn't understand that he is biting too hard. Serious injury often occurs when the dog is frightened and someone startles him. Of course, it's possible that he's just old or grumpy and having a bad day.

One key is responsible ownership. Keep your dog on a leash when it's outside, or in a fenced area. Remember that an electronic fence might keep your dog in your yard, but it won't keep people or other animals out. Make sure to ensure proper nutrition. A dog that isn't feeling well can be quite aggressive. We'll touch more on that later.

Start your dog with a strong foundation on which to build. Socialize him. Ordinarily loving dogs may bite out of fear of strangers. Teach your dog the basic obedience commands: "sit", "down", "heel", and "no". It's also a good idea to train your dog to drop its toys on command so that you don't have to reach into his mouth for them or to retrieve items that they shouldn't have. While you're training, teach him not to jump on or paw at you for attention.

Don't set your dog up for failure. Be cautious when introducing your dog to new situations and be ready to respond to any signs of the dog being uncomfortable. Avoid situations where your dog could feel threatened or be teased. Don't play aggressive games such as tug-of-war, chase-me, or wrestling with your dog and expect him to NOT get aggressive. Find non-contact games that your dog can enjoy without getting overly excited. Don't encourage aggressive behavior or barking.

Visit my next blog to learn safe behavior practices around our canine friends.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 1, Statistically Speaking

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behaviors

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got ME!

Dogs are great, aren't they? What would you do without your dog? He's always there when you need him. He calms your mood, is a great playmate, and hunting companion. And regardless of what your husband or wife is mad at you for, your dog still loves you!

We have shared our lives with dogs for over 12,000 years. More than 53 million dogs in the US have human families! That's about 1 in 3 homes. Evidence shows that this companionship has contributed substantially to our quality of life. They truly are "man's best friend".

So, why are we here? We have invited you to my blog today to talk a little about dog bite prevention. Dog bites have become a serious public health problem in the United States. The number of dog bite instances continues to climb. About every 40 seconds someone in the US seeks medical attention for a dog bite related injury. Nearly 5 million incidents of dog bites are reported each year with nearly 800,000 of those requiring medical treatment. The majority of dog bites are never reported.

Statistically speaking

About 70% of dog bites occur on the owner's property. Outdoor dogs are more likely to bite than indoor dogs because they are more socialized. With that being said, a chained dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite. Believe it or not, dogs with identifiable owners bite more frequently than "strays". Only 10 -20% of dog bite victims don't know the dog that bit them.

Although all do not require medical attention, approximately ½ of all children are bitten by a dog before they hit the teenage years. According to the American Medical Association, dog bites are the second leading cause of childhood injury. That's about 20% more kids injured by a dog than playground accidents. Approximately 60% of all dog bite victims are children under the age of 12, especially boys between 5 and 9. Watch out guys, males are 2 times more likely to get bitten than females, regardless of your age. When a child less than 4 is the victim, the family dog was the attacker half the time and the attack most always happened in the family home. People over 70 comprise 10% of those bitten and 20% of those killed.

Dog bites cost society well over $1 billion a year and account for a most 1/3 of all homeowner's insurance liability claims. Our insurance companies are paying out roughly $1 billion per year alone. That averages about $17,000 per claim. Medical costs for dog bite victims is more than $165 million a year. Added to the cost are medical insurance claims, worker's comp claims, lost wages, and sick leave.

So, which dogs bite? Any of them! The media likes to portray big dogs as the aggressors, but that isn't necessarily true. It only appears as though large dogs are the problem because naturally, a bigger dog has a bigger bite. That's not to say that small dogs can't cause injury, however. Children could be at greater risk from breeds with reputations for nice temperaments and little furry balls of love since they tend to be less cautious with these than big dogs. Not to pick on a particular breed, but studies have shown that Pit Bulls make up 1-3% of the overall dog population and are reported to cause more than 50% of serious attacks. When they bite, 1 in 16 will inflict serious injury. There is an 8 of 10 chance that the biting dog is male, with a 6 out of 10 chance that he hasn't been neutered. Any dog that hasn't been sterilized is 3 times more likely to bite. Dogs between 1 and 5 yrs. seem to be more involved in dog bite instances.

Visit my next blog to find out what makes your cuddly friend want to bite.

Dog Bite Prevention Part 2, What Made Muffy Bite?

Dog Bite Prevention Part 3, Practicing Safe Behaviors

Dog Bite Prevention Part 4, OH NO! Here Comes Butch, And He Doesn't Look Happy!

Dog Bite Prevention Part 5, OUCH! He Got Me!

It's the time of year in Lebanon Missouri when things are heating up. Today has been a beautiful day with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 70's. Yes, Spring is right around the corner.

Not only are things getting warmer with the weather, they are in the Real Estate Market as well. As of this afternoon, there were seven hundred, thirty four (734) properties listed with the Lebanon Board of REALTORS. That's $116,122,555 worth of land, commercial, industrial, multifamily, and residential property just waiting for the right people to come along and snag them up.

If you're thinking about purchasing a home for your family, now is definately the time! The interest rates are still fairly low and there is plenty to choose from. Four hundred and twenty nine (429) of these listings are residential homes ranging in price from $25,000 to $1,400,000. That's an median price of $137,500.

Curious about what's available in your price range? Allow me to break it down for you.

$0-$50,000 35 Listings

$50,001-$100,00 107 Listings

$100,001-$150,000 103 Listings

$150,001-$200,000 62 Listings

$200,001-$250,000 34 Listings

$250,001-$300,000 39 Listings

$300,001-$400,000 20 Listings

$400,001+ 29 Listings

Visit my website to find your dream home today.

Are you looking for a place to get away, a place to hang out for a little while? Maybe a place to go on a Saturday night that has live music without the alcohol? A place to sit down with a great cup of coffee and free wifi? You'll find it at Django's Coffee House.

The name is deceiving. Django's is much more than just a coffee house. In my opinion, they serve the best lunch in town at very reasonable prices. Whether you're in the mood for Honey Pecan Chicken Salad or Lasagna, this is the place to go. They feature daily specials, such as Homemade Chicken & Dumplings, Lasagna, Chicken Pot Pie, and Ham & Beans, just to name a few.

Popping in for a cup of joe on your way to the office? Don't forget to pick up one of the best scones you'll ever taste (being a chocoholic, I enjoy the Chocolate Chunk Scone). If you're in the mood for a real breakfast sandwich, try egg, cheese, and a meat of your choice on either a bagel, biscuit, or croissant, or have a Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Wrap.

I was looking for a place to go on a Friday and Saturday night where I could be entertained without having alcohol involved. I found it here. Friday nights, beginning at 7:00 are "open mic" nights. Our local talent is amazing! The place is full of energy on Saturday nights, as the sound of live music fills the place. They have awesome bands such as 11th Hour and Refined By Fire, just to name a few.

Whether you're looking for a place to work, study, a business luncheon, family outing, entertainment, or a place where you can relax and read a book, Django's Coffee House is an Awesome Place In Lebanon & Laclede County MO.

For more information, visit www.djangoscoffee.com.

6:25 am
Lebanon, MO
Rolling Trout waters
Trout tag secure
Weighter's snug...

Almost ready....

This morning at 6:30 am the sound of the opening siren could be heard for miles. Fishermen (and women) were greeted with clear skies and a promise of temperatures in the 60's.

Opening Day of Trout Season at Bennett Spring State Park was officially under way.

While I am not a fisher-woman, I do enjoy the park and took a trip down to see all the excitement. License plates from Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Ohio were plentiful. Throw in a few from Wyoming and Florida, with one from Nevada for good measure. I'm sure there were others I didn't notice.

Park officials estimated over 3,000 trout tags would be sold today alone.

Here are a few fun facts about Bennett Springs State Park, some more well known than others:

• The Park has over 3,216 acres
• The property was acquired by the State in 1923
• The area originally attracted Settler's as a spot to set up grist and flour mills
• Over 100,000,000 gallons of water gush from the Spring each day
• There are over 12 miles of hiking trails on the property
• The Natural Tunnel is 15 ft wide and over 300 feet long
• There are 3 fishing "zones"
  Zone 1 - Only flies are permitted.
  Zone 2 - Only flies and artificial lures are permitted.
  Zone 3 - Only soft plastic bait (unscented), natural and scented bait are permitted. All flies and artificial lures are prohibited, even if natural bait or scent has been added.
• All zones are marked and enforced
• The "season" runs from March 1st at 6:30 am until sunset on October 31st.
• The daily limit is four, with only one brown trout equal to or greater than 15"
• There is no length limit on rainbow trout
• One of the largest fish to ever be caught in the park was on October 22, 2005 in zone 2.
  A brown trout weighed in at the store: 17 pounds, 5 ounces, 26.5 inches long
• The Hatchery Manager helps select the honorary whistle blower, typically someone with a long history of fishing in the park
  

Before leaving the Park this morning, I talked to one dedicated fisherman, Joe, while he was walking along the road, heading back to the water, I asked him about his experience so far. He said the water was high and running fast, making the water muddy. Said it was slow going today; he was still empty handed. But, he was back to the water. For my new friend Joe, it wasn't about catching any fish, it was all about the experience...

The experience of Opening Day, Trout Season 2008.