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Found in most home garden centers, cocoa mulch is known for its fine texture and the sweet smell the fresh mulch gives off.  But getting past the scent, Family says cocoa mulch can be dangerous if a dog starts eating it.  It contains two key ingredients found in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine.  Similar to eating chocolate, he says a dog that eats just a few ounces of cocoa mulch could starting having stomach problems and it could get worse if it eats more.

"As time goes on they might act restless, excited, it can produce tremors and seizures," Family explained.   "Puppies are very curious animals.  So they're going to be attracted to various things around the yard and [the effect of eating cocoa mulch] seems to be more severe in the small breeds, and it depends on the amount they actually ingest," Family said.

The ASPCA confirms the potential effects of theobromine and caffeine on dogs:

Cocoa beans contain the stimulants caffeine and theobromine. Dogs are highly sensitive to these chemicals, called methylxanthines. In dogs, low doses of methylxanthine can cause mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain); higher doses can cause rapid heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures, and death.

Eaten by a 50-pound dog, about 2 ounces of cocoa bean mulch may cause gastrointestinal upset; about 4.5 ounces, increased heart rate; about 5.3 ounces, seizures; and over 9 ounces, death. (In contrast, a 50-pound dog can eat up to about 7.5 ounces of milk chocolate without gastrointestinal upset and up to about a pound of milk chocolate without increased heart rate.)

I can't begin to tell you how many people have stopped me to tell me what a beautiful dog I have.... it happens so often on some walks that it almost becomes annoying because you can't get anywhere when everybody wants to talk to you about your puppy and give him a scratch between the ears.  Just this morning as I was taking him for his walk a woman driving by yelled out the window, "Can I pet your collie?"  She pulled her car over on the side of the road, got out, and came up on the sidewalk to say hello to Gadget.  It turned out that she had just put down her 13 year old Collie so I guess petting Gadget was a little bit therapeutic for her.

~Chris

Update on Gadget: Herding

Just thought I would give you an update on my Collie buddy Gadget.  We attended the Minnesota Collie Club's herding day last Saturday and Gadget was unofficially tested for herding instinct.  He passed with flying colors, it was amazing to see how he turned on at the sight of the sheep.  One of the dogs tested actually tried to dig its way out under the fence to escape from the sheep!  He would have earned his HIC title if he were just a little bit older.  His results showed that he demonstrated both gathering and driving behavior, had no wearing, a keen interest in the sheep, had adequate power and stamina to handle livestock, worked close, and used a loose eye.  I met the president of the club, Barb Saterbo, who seems to know about you and your dogs.  I've attached a picture of Gadget at the trial.

~Chris

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