Naughty Dog's Day

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting my blog. 

I love feedback, so please feel free to comment, whether you agree with me or not.  If you have a question about your dog - care, feeding, training, problems... please feel free to e-mail me .  I'll help you out if I can.

Give Your Puppy a Hug!

It's the best thing you can do for both your puppy and all the people he will interact with for the rest of his life. So many dogs came into the veterinary clinic where I worked who were great dogs... until you had to draw some blood or cut their toenails. Then it would take a couple of people.  Maybe a muzzle.  Lots of sweating and swearing and eye rolling on the staff's part, and an embarrassed owner. 

You don't want that to be you. So handle your puppy. Hold him in your lap, rub and look in his ears, handle his feet, pull gently on his legs.  Lift up his lips and check his teeth.  Hold him in your arms like a baby.  Stand him on a table or the floor, and wrap one arm around his neck and the other underneath him and around his middle (like someone's holding him for the vet to give an examination). If he squirms or mouths or has a tantrum, persist, gently, quietly, and patiently.  Keep in mind that he's a baby.  He's learning.  No discipline is involved here.  It's unfair to discipline a dog for behavior he hasn't yet learned.  Later, for bratty behavior, that's the time for the sterner voice, a little spark when you make eye contact. Now, it's gentle, firm persistence, until you get an approximation of what you want.  You'll come back to it later, and eventually it will be perfected.

He will learn so many things from this.  That people can be trusted.  That he needs to stand quietly for the vet or groomer.  That it's people who rule his world, no matter that he thinks he was born crowned king.  Push on his butt.  Grab his collar.  Pet from head to the end of his tail with long strokes. Grab the end of his tail and pull lightly.  Gently pinch and lift the skin on his back and sides (these are tender areas, so you MUST be gentle here). Teach him to walk being led by the scruff of his neck (This doesn't hurt, but it feels weird and bossy so proceed appropriately, it's a very good lesson for him to learn.)  Remember that this should be a positive event for your puppy.  If you hurt him, you're ruining any progress you've made.  So keep it light.

Teaching a dog that humans can touch him anywhere, anytime, is a necessity.  It will reduce the likelihood of a bite when a neighbor's kid grabs him around the neck.  It will make it easier to draw blood for his heartworm test when he's at the vet.  Obedience training will be come more naturally to him, because he's already learned to look to you as the leader. It makes your dog a much better citizen overall. Because a dog accustomed to being handled is much less likely to bite.  Once again, it comes down to giving your dog the tools to be safe in his environment.  And for the urban dog, that environment contains a multitude of well intentioned but not necessarily dog savvy people.  So keep everybody safe.  Go hug your puppy.

Canine Isolation Anxiety & Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety.  If I hear those words one more time, I swear, I'm gonna lose my mind. At least once a week someone tells me their dog has separation anxiety.  It's become the catchall phrase for unusual, usually destructive behavior when the owner is not present.  Generally the people who tell me this are bright and competent, and have raised their dog with love and care.  They would go to the ends of the earth to make their dog happy.  This does not usually set the stage for separation anxiety. True separation anxiety is a rare occurrence and usually the result of a dog suffering trauma (someone breaks in, a fire, or other extreme situation) while left alone, or coming from a very abusive situation. But it's easy to say, "separation anxiety".  It rolls off the tongue, and makes the problem behavior the dog's fault.  Excellent.  Now you just need someone to fix it, or maybe some pills to pop down your dog every morning.

OK, everybody.  Here's what I have to say.  Most likely what your dog is really suffering from is terminal boredom (think "Ferris Bueller's Day Off")  or maybe, just maybe, isolation anxiety. Dogs are pack animals.  They need social interaction as much as we humans do.  If your dog spends day after day waiting for you while you're at work, he's lonely.  It's fine that you leave your dog and go to work.  We all have real lives. But you have to be willing to put in the effort to counteract that when you are home, or find another way to satisfy your dog's need to party a little with others.  Whether boredom or isolation anxiety, the fact is, no matter how much you love your dog, these are on you!  Sorry, but it's true.  Think about your routine.  How much exercise is that bright, bubbly, happy dog of yours actually getting?  When you picked out that lab, aussie, Jack Russell, or, heaven forbid, border collie, did you really think about how much exercise it would require? Did you think about what your dog was bred to do, what activity would be calling to him right down to his very last cell and wonder if you could find a way to fulfill that need?  Because that cushy life your dog is leading, while comfortable, isn't really very fulfilling. Dogs are amazingly like humans in that respect.  Sure we love our down time, but we don't want all of our time to be down time.  What fun would that be, really? Too many of our very lucky puppies live exactly that life. 

If your dog is suffering from what you are sure is separation anxiety, it's time to implement a new schedule to test your theory.  A tired dog is a happy dog.  For the next couple of weeks, you need to make the effort to make your dog happily tired (which doesn't include hours on a treadmill.  What fun is that?).  But, lucky you, these days, the options are pretty much endless. If your dog is a sociable type, there are dog parks and daycare. I'd go every other day, at least, for a couple of weeks. If you're going to the dog park, plan on spending at least an hour, and during that time, make sure you are watching your dog.  This isn't the time to chat with other dog people, it's the time to make sure your dog is not getting into a bad situation.  If you take your dog to daycare try to have him spend the whole day, if you can't, at least go for a half day. Maybe neither of those options work for you and/or your dog.Enroll your little reprobate in a training class. Hire a dog walker.  Find a neighborhood kid to stand in the backyard and throw the ball for an hour.  Get up an hour earlier (I know, I know.  But if I can do it, so can you!) and take your dog for a nice long, brisk walk.  Play with him a little.  Fill his mind up and go to work leaving him feeling loved.  Keep a log of your dog's behavior, if you want, but I bet you'll see an improvement.

So, if your dog pooped right in the middle of the brand new, very expensive, cream colored, imported from Italy duvet when you went to the store, destroyed your clothes or furniture, shredded your shoes, or even jumped out a window, it's probably not separation anxiety.  It's probably your dog saying "Thank goodness he's gone, now I can really get some exercise!"

Water Dogs

I love this picture of Bruce, taken by his new mom the day after he was adopted into their family.  I always wonder what he's thinking.  Wishing he was back at the rescue (it was just the next day, after all, he didn't yet know how fabulous his life was to become)? Pondering the world's troubles?  Or maybe that the lake is the biggest water bowl he's ever seen!

Whether it's a lake, a river, or, especially, a pool, if your dog is around water, you owe it to him to give him the tools to keep him safe in his environment.

Since pools present the biggest danger, with their smooth sides which can trap an uneducated dog until, exhausted, he's lost to his family, we'll start there. 

• First things first.  NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG UNATTENDED WHEN HE HAS ACCESS TO YOUR POOL!
• A must-have is a ramp or steps which will allow your dog to easily exit the pool. Any type is fine, as long as it's sturdy and easy to use.  Once your dog is accustomed to the water and knows how to get out, he may enter the pool by leaping with wild abandon and a large splash into the deep end. That's fine.  Right now, he needs training wheels, he needs to use the ramp each and every time he gets in the water.
  
• The next thing I wouldn't be without is a pool alarm system.  There are many options to choose from, including one with a receiver located in the house, and a transmitter you attach to your dog's collar.
• The final element to pool safety is a way to mark where the ramp is, so your dog can see it.  A large plant, statue, or, if you don't care how it looks, a traffic cone will work.  Get in the water for a dog's eye view to make sure it will be visible.
• Once all your ducks are in a row, so to speak, it's time to start your training program.  Take your dog to the ramp.  Give the command "Ramp" or "Steps" and give your dog a treat. Repeat this until your dog will go to the ramp when you give the command.
  
• Now, with your dog on leash, get into the water.  Call your dog to you.  Not all dogs need coaxing, but some will.  Don't push it, this is supposed to be fun for everyone, remember?  Scare your dog now and he may, forevermore, refuse to dip his toes into anything deeper than his water dish.
• Once your dog is in the water, keep him close to you (try to stay away from his front end, unless you favor sporting a few battle wounds - a swimming dog can't really be worried about scratching you, he needs to stay afloat).  Tell him "ramp", and gently encourage him to swim to his safety "net".  He needs to know from go how to get out.  This is absolutely the most important lesson you will teach him. 
• If he's comfortable, and has been able to use the ramp to get out of the water, try again.  If he isn't ready, table it for a few hours or the day, and then try again.
• Whatever body of water your dog is using, when helping a dog learn how to swim (and dogs are just like us, they do need to learn), stay behind him.  A dog who is an experienced swimmer knows he needs to keep his head down, a newbie doesn't.  And the farther the head goes up, the farther the other end goes down, and pretty soon you've got a dog who's thrashing around, sure he's going to drown. At first he may need you to support his rear end.
• Keep sessions short, and don't leave your dog's side (or hind end) until he will go to the ramp when asked.  He needs to know where that ramp is from every area of the pool.
• If your dog is swimming in a lake or river, where he can swim far enough to tire himself, make sure you're close by.  Call him back before he gets too far out.  If he is in danger of going under, don't try to grab him around the head or neck if things are looking dire.  Again, get behind him and support his rear as much as possible while trying to direct him to shore.
• When he's finished swimming, hose him off or give him a quick bath to remove chlorine.
• Remember that just like us, dogs can get sunburned, especially dogs with white or light colored coats.  Even a well-coated dog can burn in areas like the top of his nose or his ears.  Keep an eye on your dog and get him out of the sun if he starts to pink up.
• Ultimately, even if you think of your dog as a little human, his safety is up to you.  Don't let him down.  Complacency can be a death knell when it comes to dogs and water.

Where Not to get a dog - revisited

So, after researching extensively to find the information stating that breeding a bitch every heat cycle was better for both the dam and the puppies, without result, I e-mailed Iams regarding the research cited on the North Country Kennels webpage.  This is the message I sent on their "contact us" page:

"I am looking for research Iams has done regarding benefits of
breeding every heat in dogs"

This was their reply:

"Thank you for taking the time to write. I wish I could assist you with your
inquiry.  However, this is not really our area of expertise."

For the full letter, please e-mail me

Also, if you are from North Country Kennels, and can supply a link to or hard copy of the research, I'd be more than happy to look at it, just use the e-mail link above.

As it stands, this is just one more example of the lengths to which puppy mills will go to convince you that they are NOT a puppy mill.  No way would they condone the evil puppy mills do, and that they are a fine, upstanding place to get a well bred puppy.  Don't fall for it.  Rescue one of the many dogs or puppies out there who is desperate for a home, or find a person who breeds for the love of their favorite breed, who lives to produce the most perfect example of that breed possible, who sleeps next to the whelping box lest one of their precious babies gets accidentally smothered by mom, who goes to great lengths to raise a happy, healthy puppy, and who actually CARES that their little baby is going to an appropriate home where it will be loved and cared for the rest of it's life.

Swift Run Dog Park Grand Opening

While these aren't dog park dogs, they're my daycare dogs playing in the yard, your dog will have even MORE fun at the Grand Opening of the Swift Run Dog Park than this happy little group shown here!

To be held August 1, 2008 from 2 - 4 pm, the grand opening is an event your dog-friendly buddy just won't want to miss.  What a great way to start the weekend!
There will be a raffle and other prizes, games, and of course, lots and lots of other happy dogs to meet and play with.

So head on over to the corner of Platt and Ellsworth Rds. (dog park entrance is on Platt Rd.), and let your dog indulge himself in some good, old fashioned fun!

Greatest American Dog

Well, I wasn't gonna watch it but I did, and now I fear I'm hooked.  I was sure that ding dong Brandy, and her poor little schnauzer, Beacon, were gonna get dumped.  Or maybe even Beth Joy and Bella Starlet.  But Michael and Ezzy?  Oh no, now that was just wrong.  Not that he wasn't annoying as all get out, but really.  No way was he worse than Brandy.  Maybe it's just that I find Brandy more annoying. Don't have a favorite yet.  Maybe Bill and Star.  Or Ron and Tillman. But then again...
Tell me who you liked.  Vote here.

Where NOT to get a dog

    Check out this website:   North Country Kennels

    I'm hoping you will never buy a dog from a kennel like this. Why?  Well, for starters, puppy mills are not always places where dogs sit in dingy, dark cages, with matted coats and goopy eyes.  This kennel is a puppy mill. They are, in fact, the definition of a puppy mill!  They factory produce 21 (TWENTY ONE!) different breeds of mutts.  At least they admit that they're in it for the money. Rest assured, these people are not breeding for any legitimate reason - a love of dogs, the desire to breed the perfect example of a certain breed - no.  If the bottom suddenly dropped out of the puppy market, these dogs would be dropped quicker than a hot potato.

    Buying a puppy from North Country Kennels is just about like buying a car.  Fill in your personal information, select the mix you want, enter preferred size and color, put in your pick of personalities, and enter shipping details.  There are also fields to enter whether or not it's a surprise (a surprise puppy is always such a good idea!) and whether or not anyone in the house is allergic to dogs.  This particular field, I think, is so that they have proof down the line; just in case you complain that Sally is allergic to her hypoallergenic little designer - factory produced puppy.

    Oh, and make sure, before you submit your puppy reservation, that you send that deposit!

    Then there's the misinformation and discrepancies:

• In their FAQ section, first they say you can't visit puppies because they had one incident where a visitor brought a "virus" (never named) and gave it to a puppy, later on they say that after the puppies are 6 weeks old, they are brought to the shop where visitors can visit them to provide socialization.  Makes absolutely no sense.
• When asked why there are no pictures of their adult dogs, they have cute little responses: "Some of the dogs are just not that happy standing on a grooming table, with a strange, noisy, object shoved in front of their face (the camera, click, buzz, whir ;-) ) How many of you like your photo taken?", and "Taking dog photos is very hard. The person holding the camera can't just reach out and adjust the dog. The person holding the pup can't see what the camera sees. AARRGGHH! Maybe it wouldn't be so hard if we weren't so picky :-)".   Um.  It's just not that hard to take a good picture of a dog.  So what's the real reason there are no pictures?
• I'm still searching for verification of this, in regard to the question "How often do you breed?":  "With the females, a year or two ago, we would have answered that with once a year. Iams has done a study over the past several years, with over 7000 females, and 17,500 litters, that shows that breeding every heat cycle (on average, females cycle every 6-10 months) is far healthier for the female dog and the puppies too."  Can't you just hear them?  "Wooohooo, Lucy!!  We're gonna be twice as rich!!".  I've searched, and e-mailed Iams.  No luck so far.  We'll see.  Standard practice is to give females a rest between cycles.  And really, if you feel your dog owes you something for her upkeep, does she really owe you more than 3 or 4 litters?  Wouldn't it be nice to then spay her and place her in a good home, instead of breeding and breeding until she just doesn't make puppies any more, and than euthanizing or, hopefully, placing her?
• To the question:  "Why do some puppies eyes stray from center?" They respond: "Remember, the pups have had their eyes open for only a few weeks. (my comment:  Generally a puppy's eyes open when they are about 2 weeks old, give or take a day or two.  At 8 weeks, a puppy's eyes have been open for 1 1/2 months) The muscles around the eyes are still weak, so it's common for one or both eyes to stray to the side for a few more weeks yet. Shih Tzu and Pekingese (and their mixes) have the weakest eyes as puppies because they have a rounder skull."  I don't know, maybe this is a common problem.  But I can say that I've seen a lot of puppies, and this is generally not a problem.  Of course, if one or both of the parents has this trait, the puppies are more likely to have it.  That's why reputable breeders would spay or neuter any dog exhibiting this trait.

    There's enough fodder on just this one site to give me ammunition for days.  Are the puppies cute?  Heck yeah!! They're adorable.   Poor things.  Because these people don't care.  If you've got the cash, you've got yourself a puppy.  In fact, that seems to be their only screening method. These are not people who sleep next to the whelping box to make sure everybody is OK, they don't worry about the homes they're going to, if they'll be loved and cared for, what will happen if they have to be re-homed.  A health problem doesn't leave them sleepless for days, wondering where it came from and if they could done anything to prevent it.  These people are a nightmare.  Pumping out as many puppies as possible and not giving a damn what happens to them.  Next time you're at a shelter, take a look.  Maybe you'll see a North Country Kennels dog, just waiting for a new home!

   

Party Games for Dogs

    Planning a birthday party for little Cesar?  Going all out with a cake and treats (just a little plug - we make beautiful birthday cakes, favor boxes, and dog hors d' oeuvres which can be picked up or shipped, just send us an e-mail!)?  Now that you've got the menu set and festive decorations in place, it's time to think about what you'll do while Cesars friends are there.  Here are a few great games to play with your dogs:

• "What will your dog eat?" - simply set a variety of dog safe (but not necessarily dog-loved) foods on paper plates.  Each dog and owner team makes the round, trying to get their dog to eat what's on the plate.  Whoever has the most indiscriminating palate wins!  Some foods to try?  Pickles, sliced orange, bell pepper strips, celery, pitted olives, raw broccoli or cauliflower, sliced mushrooms; the list is endless.  Just make sure they are dog safe.  It's very important to intersperse your "yuck, I'm not eating that!" treats with some most dog's love - cheese, treats, cooked liver or chicken breast.  Again, the list is endless.  Labs almost always win this game!!
• Bobbing for hot dogs - first, most dogs prefer cooked hot dogs, so that's what I'd use here, cut each one into several pieces.  This game requires a small plastic tub or two.  Fill them with water, then float pieces of hot dog on the top.  Some dog's catch onto this right away, some need a little encouragement.  If your dog is getting frustrated, give him a break - hold the hot dog so he can grab it.  What fun is a game if you never win? 
• Spoon and potato race - for this little gem, set up 2 chairs about 20' away from the starting line (you can set them farther away, then the game just becomes more challenging).  Each handler is given a spoon, which must be held in the same hand as the leash.  Into the spoon is placed a potato.  Handler and dog must move down and around the chair, coming back to the starting line. Dropped potatoes must be picked up and put back in the spoon.  This game is a riot.
• Hot dog relay - Divide dogs and handlers up into 2 teams.  Place 2 hot dogs about 10' away (if you have small dogs, cut them in half).  A dog and handler from each team race to the hot dog.  The goal is for the dog to grab the hot dog, at which point dog and handler race back to the finish line, where the dog gives whatever is left of the hot dog to the handler; meanwhile, a new piece of hot dog is put down for the next dog.  The second pair in the team can't start until the first dog relinquishes his treasure.  This game is a lot of fun for both dogs and their owners, even if the "win" is garnered from one tiny little piece of uneaten hot dog!
• "Paw Painting" - This is lots of fun, and everybody goes home with something to stick up on their fridge.  It's definitely an outside activity!  Using dog friendly homemade "paw paint", put down sheets of freezer paper (available at your friendly neighborhood grocery), shiny side up.  Using a sponge, apply paint to dog's paws, then have him walk over sheet or hold his paw and "paint".  When done, wipe or hose feet off, and let dog's play for awhile.  The recipe for the paint follows
• • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 6 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups cold water
  • food coloring

                In a large saucepan, mix dry ingredients together.  Gradually add water.  Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until thickened and smooth.  Divide into storage containers, add food coloring until desired shade is reached.

    Disposable camera's are a great invention, and perfect for a party like this. Just leave a couple out and invite guests to snap away.  Who knows, you might just get a great shot!

You Need a License to Fish

as my friend Wendy says, but anyone can own a dog.

Case in point:

    This appeared on my local craigslist the other day:

2 yr old male (neutered) Au Ca/German Shep in need of new home

(Stockbridge. MI)

Reply to:
Date: 2008-07-03,  9:19PM EDT

Free to a good and loving home. Not recommended for younger children. Up to date vacinations. must have fenced, large yard. He is strong willed and needs a firm hand and obediance training.

Location: Stockbridge. MI

    OK, just in case I can't hold your attention for very long, let's start with why no one should consider adopting this dog unless they've got a ton of training experience, an impenetrable fence, no children or friends, and very, very good homeowners insurance.

• I'm a dog lover.  Show me a well bred dog of any breed, and I'll covet it.  Australian Cattle Dogs and German Shepherds are both great dogs.  They are smart and brazen.  The desire to boss other beings around goes right to their bones.  It's supposed to.  They're a herding breed.
• Keeping this in mind, the rest of the ad tells the story:
  • 2 years old - the age when many dogs come into their own.
  • Free - aka "Just get him the heck out of here, quick"
  • Not recommended for younger children
  • Strong willed
  • Needs firm hand
  • Needs training

    And this is from someone who's trying to make the dog sound good!

    This is typical of so many "Needs Good Home" ads you see.  Jack and Jill want a puppy, so they look in their local paper, or a friend has a litter, or maybe they're driving down the road and see a "free puppies" sign.  Who knows. All I know is that at that moment, everybody's life just went to hell. 

    That adorable fuzzy puppy, who came when they called, wiggled and wagged and gave them kisses, slowly turned into a willful, bossy dog with way too much attitude.  Now he's about to pay for something that is not his fault.

    This was a dog who needed education, exercise, an outlet for his inquisitive mind. Instead, who knows? He raised himself, took control when no one else would?  Drove himself crazy on a chain or all alone in a backyard?  At least he's neutered (an intact male dog is, statistically, the dog most likely to bite) and vaccinated (cuts down on the lawsuits).

    When they should have called a trainer, bought a book, used some plain old deductive reasoning - "Hey, honey, maybe we should take him for a walk tomorrow, maybe teach him to sit", what happened?  Did they throw him out into the yard?  Stick him in a crate?  Did, one fateful day, little Jimmy innocently try to take his toy, and did Buddy then use his teeth to tell him "no"?  Or maybe Buddy here just sits in the back yard and barks. 

    My biggest fear is that this dog will get dumped at the shelter or even on the street, be adopted by some poor, unwitting, good hearted but inexperienced family.  And that someone will be scarred for life.

    Really, my heart breaks for this dog.  He deserves a chance.  Someone to give him some peace of mind by taking over the leadership role. Who can teach him that good training leaves both of you happy. Someone who understands his itch to run and stretch himself, physically and mentally. There just aren't that many homes like this available.  Most of them are already busy, like I am, cleaning up someone else's mess.

    I just don't see a good outcome in this situation.  I hope I'm wrong.  But it just seems like a case where, once again, the dog pays for human stupidity.  By being relatively cheap and easy to come by, and just as easily disposed of if she doesn't fit in, you can screw a good dog up royally and then just dump her.  Someone else will take care of her, right?

    When you take a dog into your life, it's yours.  So you picked the wrong dog.  Amend your ways to accommodate him.  Learn what you need to do, because, believe me, people aren't waiting in line to fix your mistake, at least not for free and heaven forbid you should buckle down and pay someone for their time and experience. Have a little backbone. It's time we took care of our own messes.

    

Geriatric Dogs

Fig wandered into a friend's house one day many years ago.  Unable to find her a home, she became Fritz and Bonnie's dog by default.  It was probably the luckiest thing that ever happened to her!  As you can see, despite being at least 12 years old, Fig's eyes are still bright and clear.  That's a good thing, because you could bang pans together vigorously 3 inches from her ears, and she wouldn't flinch.  As the day wears on, especially if she's been active, she begins to limp on one front leg.  Pain medication twice a day keeps that in check.  Although Bonnie left us a couple of years ago (a very great loss), the sight of Fritz puts joy in her step and a wag in her tail, she eagerly leaps into his truck with absolutely no hesitation when she goes home after a few days with me.  Her teeth are clean, her mouth is healthy, and her coat is full and shiny.    Fig is the picture of a dog aging gracefully. 

Part of this is due to luck and hybrid vigor.  Part of it is due to vigilance and a willingness to go the extra mile for a beloved family pet.  During clement weather, Fig goes swimming almost every day.  She is taken for walks, fed good food (most of it, I'll admit, from Fritz's plate), groomed, and taken to the vet regularly.  All of this contributes to her wonderful life.  Good health care, and, in my opinion, good dental care, are incredibly important to keeping your dog with you as long as possible.

"Old age" in dogs comes at widely varying times.  If you have a small dog, they may be 12 or 13 before you notice any signs.  If you have a giant, you may see signs at 5 or 6 years of age. There are many things you can do to keep your dog aging as gracefully as Fig. 

• As I've already mentioned, keep up on your dog's oral hygiene.  A healthy mouth helps create a healthy dog.  Start young and never give up.
• Routine lab work.  No one likes to see their dog getting stuck by a needle, but yearly lab work, once your dog hits middle age, is the best way to keep track of what's going on inside.  Internal organs are engineering marvels.  You generally don't see signs until the damage is fairly severe.  So get that blood work done and make sure your dog's liver, kidneys, pancreas, and other organs are functioning normally.  The sooner you find out there's a problem, the easier it is to control, generally, and the better the chance of your dog living a long life.
• Lumps and bumps - don't dilly-dally.  Get them checked.  Maybe it's nothing.  Maybe not.  A small cancerous growth is easier to remove, less traumatic for your dog, and easier on your bank account.  Plus, the sooner it's removed, the better the prognosis.  Plus, it's just one more chance for your vet to take a listen to that old heart. 
• Don't fall back on that old saw about your dog being too old to undergo anesthesia.  Yes.  RARELY there may be a problem.  But anesthetics these days are very safe, and the dog's are monitored very closely.  There's less risk from the anesthetic than there is from letting a problem go untreated.
• Provide the very best diet you can afford, keep your dog at a good weight and regularly  exercised, remembering that old bones tire more quickly.
• As your dog ages, cell turnover becomes slower, coat and skin change.  Keep you dog clean and brushed.  Since your dog may be less active, make sure toe nails are kept trimmed.

    Now is also the time to start being just a little more careful in your dog's day-to-day life.  This is all about keeping your dog safe, both physically and emotionally.   It's also about keeping  other people, especially children, safe.  Fluffy may be the sweetest thing on four legs, but pain, or the anticipation of it, can change a dog.  So:

• Dogs who are losing hearing and vision become more easily startled.  Keep that in mind, and handle your dog accordingly.  Don't allow children (or anyone else) to come up suddenly on your dog. A startled dog is a bite waiting to happen.  Don't put your dog in that position.
• Let sleeping dogs lie.  Unless the house is on fire, let Buddy nap.  If you have visitors or children around, make it a rule.  Until he's up and at 'em, just leave him be.
• Just like an elderly person, your old dog is less physically able to handle stairs and slippery surfaces.  As she ages, you may need baby gates or some other means to prevent falls.
• Don't embarrass your dog - even if Fluffy seemed to be all bladder and able to go for hours as a youngster, age may change this.  Don't force your old dog to lose her housebreaking.  If it takes getting someone to come in and let her out in the middle of the day, do it!
• And finally, don't leave your dog outside unattended for long periods, especially if you don't have a fenced yard.  Aging bodies don't have the greatest thermostats, your dog may overheat or become chilled more quickly, and she may not even realize it.  Defunct hearing and/or vision can leave your dog feeling lost and alone. 

    Your dog has been there for you his whole life. Now is the time to return the favor, no excuses. Think Fig, and help your dog age as gracefully as possible.