Wizard of WAZ

10/30/2025

Did you know?

In Denmark, children grow up learning to be kind to animals from an early age.

From the ages of 6 to 16, every child takes weekly empathy classes that teach them to care for others, understand emotions, and show compassion toward both people and animals.

These lessons focus on real connection. Children talk about feelings, help each other, and learn what it means to treat every living being with respect and kindness.

Teachers say the results are life-changing. Bullying has dropped, friendships have grown stronger, and classrooms have become happier, safer spaces.

Denmark’s goal is simple. To raise a generation that understands love, empathy, and responsibility - not just for humans, but for animals too.

Because when children learn to love and care for animals, they grow into adults who make the world a gentler place.

10/18/2025

A lithium battery left for a dog to chew almost burned the house down. This is a tough lesson. Keep batteries secured.

10/10/2025

Wizard of WAZ: 💫
The 1 human year to 7 dog years myth.

When calculating your dog’s age, most have used the formula that "one dog year equals seven human years". 🚫 This is not true and is not an accurate calculation.

The calculation is a little more complex and the breed of a dog plays a role. Large-breed puppies tend to mature more slowly than small and medium dogs. When they hit adulthood, larger breeds often age faster than the average dog.

This means larger breeds, like Great Danes, can be pensioners (by human standards) at 6 or 7 dog years. Whereas a Jack Russell Terrier, on the other hand, would typically be considered a senior citizen around the age of 10-12 years.

It's also worth pointing out that, just like humans, a dog’s lifespan depends on numerous factors, including diet, healthcare and activity level.

➡️ According to the the Kennel Club, the general guidelines for determining how old a dog is are the following:

💎 The first two years of a small dog’s life is roughly the same as 12.5 human years, while it’s 10.5 for a medium dog and nine for large dogs.

💎 Each additional year of the dog’s life is then multiplied by between 4.3 and 13.4 years, depending on the breed, to find their human age.

The stages of a dog’s life
According to the American Animal Hospital Association, there are five age-related stages in the life of a dog:

🐶 Puppy: Birth to 6-9 months (the end of rapid growth); depends on breed and size

🐕 Young Adult: 6-9 months to 3-4 years (the completion of physical and social maturation)

🐩 Mature Adult: 3-4 years to beginning of the last 25% of estimated life span; depends on breed and size

🦮 Senior: Last 25% of estimated life span to end-of-life

🌈 End-of-life: The terminal stage

So just how old is your best friend? 🐾

09/30/2025

Wizard of WAZ: 💫 Pet Evacuation!

A pet evacuation plan involves creating a disaster-specific plan, assembling a pet emergency kit with food, water, medications, and a copy of records, arranging a safe place to go (like a friend's home or a pet-friendly hotel), and preparing your pets by practicing with carriers and ensuring they have identification like microchips. Knowing your pets' hiding spots and having a designated caregiver can also help during a stressful event.

📍Make a Plan
Identify Hazards: Understand the types of emergencies likely to occur in your area.

Find a Safe Haven: Research pet-friendly hotels outside your area, contact friends or relatives who can take your pet, or identify boarding kennels and shelters.
Designate a Caregiver: Arrange for a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to.

Train Your Pet: Practice getting your pet into their carrier, making it a comfortable space to reduce stress during an evacuation.

Practice: Include your pets in family evacuation drills to get them used to the process.

📍Prepare Your Pet's "Go Bag"
Supplies: Pack a sturdy carrier, a 3-7 day supply of food and water for your pet, their medications, a leash or harness, treats, and a favorite blanket or toy. 

Documents: Include copies of vaccination records, microchip information, photos of your pet (and you with your pet), and emergency contact information.

First Aid: Pack a pet first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, and any pet-specific medications.

📍ID Your Pet
Microchip: Ensure your pet is microchipped with updated information.

Collar with ID Tags: Make sure your pet wears a collar with securely fastened, up-to-date identification tags.

Rescue Sticker: Place a rescue alert sticker on a visible window of your home, listing the types and number of pets inside and your veterinarian's contact information. If you evacuate with your pets, write "EVACUATED" on the sticker.

📍Be Ready to Go
Know Your Pet's Hiding Spots: Identify where your pets hide when stressed to make it easier to find them quickly in an emergency.

Keep Your Carrier Ready: Leave your pet's carrier in a visible place and leave it open to help them get comfortable with it.

Transport Practice: Regularly take your pets for short, car rides to get them used to traveling in their carriers.

We Are Zeus

09/15/2025

This is why you make sure your dogs wear a martingale collar. Everyone should use them. You can keep your distance and choke them out. They will let go to breathe, if not they will go weak and let go.

If there is no martingale, twist the collar tight until the dog lets go to try and breathe.

The martingale also prevents them from slipping their collars. That issue can be devastating in these situations.

07/29/2025

Wizard of WAZ: 💫
Is your dog happy and smiling or are they stressed out?

👉 Start learning your dog’s body language. Want to know what each sign means?

✅ Relaxed: a soft gaze, relaxed mouth, and neutral or slightly wagging tail, about mid height They may also have floppy or relaxed ears, and a comfortable, loose body posture. Relaxed dogs may show a gentle blink.

✅ Overstimulation: stiff posture, tensed muscles, and high tail carriage. Panting and excessive licking of the lips can signal stress. Dilated pupils, "whale eye" (showing the whites of the eyes), and avoiding eye contact can indicate discomfort. Ears may be pinned back, or the tail may be tucked between the legs. Yawning, pacing, circling, or even shedding more than usual can also be indicators.

✅ Anxiety: Yawning excessively, even when they are not tired. Licking their lips even when they have not been eating or drinking. Panting particularly if the dog is not hot or has not been exercising. Avoiding eye contact and/or slow movements, lowered body posture, ears back or flatted to the side, furrowed brow.

Listen to your dog. They are telling you everything you need to know. 🐕