WE LOVE TO SLEEP WITH OUR PETS

I can’t remember the last time I slept without having one of my pets in bed with me. I’ve always felt my pets in bed with me were very comforting.

Did you hear about this new study by the Sealy Mattress Company?
They found that almost sixty-seven percent of the people they polled like to sleep with their pets and most of them actually enjoyed dozing with their pets rather than their regular bed companions.

Thirty-eight percent said that their pets disturbed their sleep time, while fifty-five percent of women complained that their men are more likely to take up most of the space at night.

Fourteen percent of men didn’t know which was more likely to keep them awake their woman or their pet.

How do you feel about pets in bed?

Here’s the BIG QUESTION-IF YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER SAID TO YOU!
HONEY IT’S ME OR THE PET IN THE BED. WHO WOULD BE SLEEPING ON THE COUCH?

Let’s make it a year of Animal compassion

As we begin 2006, my hopes are for a year where all of the animals that cannot speak for themselves, will be spoken for.

Over the last 30 years, as an animal behaviorist, pet shrink, pet therapist, animal social worker (choose whatever title you want), it has always been my main objective to improve the already wonderful relationship we have with our pets. I’ve never felt the need to have the perfect pet -- how boring would that be. I like negotiating with my pets and even enjoy the times they look up and say, “Warren Are You talking to me?” Here’s my point: we have such a short time to enjoy living with our pets -- why do so many focus on their pets’ negative behavior when there are so many more positive aspects we can appreciate..

I recently received an email from a listener to The Pet Show, who volunteered at a local mobile adoption for the city shelter. She felt that because of the way the pets showed -- with some barking, some growling or hissing -- that many people got the wrong impression of the true temperament and personality of these homeless pets. Therefore, many of these pets were passed up because of their behavior. I explained that many of these reactions on the part of the pets was normal, given the circumstances and location and have volunteered to educate the wonderful humane workers on how to show the pet in it’s best light and avoid some of the negative behaviors. And most importantly, how to explain this to potential adopters.

I’m looking for you my friends and pet lovers to let me know of pets you adopted in situations like the above and how different the pet was when you really got to know them. These stories and anecdotes may be helpful for future pet owners and, after all, our goal is to find as many homes as there are homeless pets.

Till Next Time
Hugs and Kisses
Warren Eckstein

Red Rock Fever

Well, it’s been awhile I must admit, but the last few weeks have been hectic around here at www.the pet show.com
I’ve been on the road -- first to Dallas, and now I’m sitting at the computer at my home in stunning Sedona, Arizona with my good buddy Skyler. It’s early in Arizona and Cisco is sleeping in.

I’m actually working on a very exciting project that, hopefully, I will be able to share with you by February. It’s something I’ve been working on for years and finally think I’ve put it together.

When I first came to Sedona, I was told that it’s a very mystical place -- a spiritual magnet for many interesting people, some a little strange I have to admit. It’s home to New Age crystals and alternative healing; and being from Long Island, to me aromatherapy was Lysol, so I was a little skeptical at first, but then I started watching my guys Cisco and Skyler and how they mellowed out when we left L.A and arrived at our new home in Sedona. They seemed to enjoy the surroundings as much as we did; I actually caught Skyler staring at the Red Rocks, rolling in the dirt and smelling all the flowers. It made me think of what have I learned from all of my years working with animals, and I found out that it’s no different than what my Romanian grandmother Molly used to tell me…“Warren, stop and smell the roses.”

So watch your pets carefully and let me know what they have taught you

Cats Are Great

CATS ARE GREAT-- BUT SOMETIMES THEIR OWNERS COULD USE MORE CATNIP!


I spent last weekend in New York City, broadcasting both my Los Angeles and my National Radio Show from the Cat Fanciers Association’s major cat show at Madison Square Garden. There were hundreds of amazing cats and the majority of the people were having a great time and enjoying the cats.

When I first walked into the Garden, I was greeted by hundreds of people who watch and listen to my Pet Show and, ego aside, most of the comments were thanking me for the advice that I have given them over the years; they enjoy their relationship with their pets even better, now that they understood them.

But there are always one or two people whose whiskers are out of joint. They felt that the speaker from my radio show was bothering their cats -- the ironic part is that these very same people with their cats had appeared on the TODAY Show as well as other National television shows with me! In fact, one time I actually judged one of their cats and gave it 1st place. I was amazed how much they complained about the noise of my radio show; conversely at the television studios, which were much more chaotic with robotic cameras, they and their cats were not bothered!

I guess when the focus was not on them they felt slighted. Thank goodness, they ultimately moved, and the rest of the broadcast was great. Perhaps they should have had a little catnip before they came to the show. What were they thinking: Serenity at Madison Square Garden? And, by the way, Bono and U2 were practicing next door, but that did not seem to bother them. GREAT CATS STRANGE PEOPLE.

If you have never been to a cat show, it’s a must -- not just for the magnificent cats, but I promise after an hour you’ll never go back to reality TV.

What do you think about Dog Shows and Cat Shows -- are they really for the pet or the ego of the pet owner?

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CALLED ECCENTRIC BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU TREAT YOUR PETS?

I have always been an animal fanatic, ever since I can remember. I’ve always felt most comfortable when surrounded by my furry, feathered and finned friends. However, this type of behavior doesn’t come without some consequences. I have been called crazy by people who have never had the opportunity to really understand that special relationship that some people have with their pets. For example, during the recent disasters, we saw people refusing to leave without their pets. Some humans just don’t realize -- that to someone like myself or many of my listeners -- these are not just pets, but part of our family. So the question is: are we crazy, or are we merely more in tune with respecting and loving all of God’s creations?

TV PET QUIZ

NAME THAT SHOWBIZ PET

Just last evening I was sitting around watching the news on television when all of a sudden it struck me, that what I need more than anything at this very moment is a laugh, a memory of gentler times, and so I put a little quiz together for today’s blog. Let’s see how good your memory is and if you really paid attention during those important TV watching days.

1. What was the name of Commander Data’s cat on Star Trek: The Next Generation?

2. The dog on Mad About You?

3. What was the name of Mounty Benson Fraser’s deaf wolf on the TV series Due South?

4. Martin Crane’s dog on Frasier?

5. Time Magazine once labeled this darkly handsome furball the Feline Burt Reynolds?

6. The Jetson’s dog was?

7. The name of the talking dolphin who was a crew member on SeaQuest DSV?

8. What was the name of Luther Van Dam’s basset hound on the sitcom Coach?

9. What is the family dog’s name on the Simpsons?

10. What name was shared by the family dog on Full House and Brisco’s horse on The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.?

11. What was the name of Tony Baretta’s cockatoo on Baretta?

ANSWERS: EDDIE, ASTRO, MORRIS, QUINCY, SANTA’S LITTLE HELPER, SPOT, DIEFENBAKER, MURRAY, FRED, DARWIN, COMET.

***THE CORRECT ANSWERS NEXT BLOG!

WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR PET BEHIND?

The images coming out of the Gulf Coast are absolutely devastating; the suffering of the people cannot even be imagined and yet they go on with life hoping and dreaming of the life they once lived. Like most Americans, I made my donations and helped raise lots of money for many different Animal Rescue and Relief organizations; but I could not fathom the decision most storm victims had to make: leaving home without their pets. I was watching many of the news anchors making statements about the fact that people come first and should be forced to leave their homes with or without their beloved pets. All of them prefaced their statements by saying that they had pets and loved them -- but they are still animals and human life comes first. By the way, is that written anywhere?

Having been in the world of pets professionally for over 30 years, I can honestly say that the majority of the pet owners that I speak to each month (approximately 10 million) consider their pets as part of the family, not just the family pet, and would no sooner leave them behind than any other family member. I am aware that many of the people out there may think that I’m a little eccentric when it comes to my beliefs, but I would not leave my pets behind. What I would have done is made previous arrangements for the care of my pets with family members or friends.

So, my fellow Pet Bloggers -- What would you do, would you evacuate without your pets?

Our pets depend on us, and leaving them behind would be the ultimate betrayal because in their hearts they know that you would always come for them and I, for one, could not betray that trust.

There are many Pet organizations asking for donations to help with the rescue and care of the pets that are lost or have no homes, and I urge you to donate -- just check them out to make sure your money is really going directly to the pets in need.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATORS: ARE THEY REAL?

Every day, Public Relations firms contact my office to see if I would interview their clients on my radio shows, almost all of them representing themselves as “animal communicators” -- a phenomenon in the last few years. Over the years I have worked with animals on almost every continent and have actually had the opportunity to meet and work with people that I believe were really capable of communicating with pets, using thoughts only. Maybe it’s something in the kibble, but it seems that all of a sudden, thousands of people are now claiming that they are capable of talking and listening to animals and are more than willing to tell you what your pet is thinking about. As I stated earlier, I have worked with animal psychics and have even been called an animal psychic myself, but I feel that my abilities strictly lie in my understanding animals mentally and physiologically from their perspective.

What do you think? Are there legitimate pet psychics, and if so, what should they be using their talents to accomplish? Do you think many pet owners, with their need to believe, are being ripped off because of some charlatans?