Search Results for: bed

Where can a dog go to exercise, socialize, sniff to his heart’s content and spend precious bonding time with his owner? The dog park! For most dogs, going to the park is a treat. For some owners it is a place to avoid at all costs. It is the few bad apples who don’t know basic dog park etiquette that have robbed countless dogs’ hours of enjoyment. Age Appropriate Puppies are entertaining to watch and love to explore and play … Read more

Your dog’s skin is the largest organ he has, shouldn’t you make sure it stays healthy? Skin afflictions can be painfully uncomfortable for your dog and cost you hundreds at the vet. There are over 160 skin disorders, some of which are chronic, incurable diseases, while others are preventable. Help prevent what you can by following these tips to keeping your dog’s skin healthy. 1. Sun Protection Just like humans, overexposure to the sun is bad for your dog’s skin. … Read more

There really is not a better job in the world than getting to work and play with dogs every day. It might be one of the few jobs were you get paid to be around something that reduces stress, lengthens your lifespan, keeps you healthy, and doesn’t spread office gossip. But for many of us, the idea is just a pipe dream. If you have the guts to even tell your family, you are met with laughter, criticism and the … Read more

Many dog owners find it easier to feed their dog either once a day or just to free feed them throughout the day—both of these can be dangerous to your dog’s  health. Free feeding can cause a obesities as most dog’s will continually eat if given the choice. In addition, it can be hard to monitor your dog’s health if you are not sure how much or even if he is eating. For example, if you feed your dog a … Read more

They come in all shapes and sizes. Long, short, floppy or cropped; a dog’s ears only need a quick clean every so often. Too much cleaning on normally healthy ears will lead to irritation and may bring on infection because there is no healthy bacteria to fight off the bad bacteria. If there are signs of infection (Acute scratching of the head or ear, foul smell, discharge) consult a vet. Less is More The way the canine ear is designed … Read more

With the recent recalls on dog food and treats, many pet owners are thinking it might be safer to just make their own. It can also save you money and for dogs with allergies, it can be easier than trying to find a commercial treat. But, if you are not a natural chef for a dog nutritionist, you may feel unsure about what ingredients to use or how to bake something for your pet. Here are some simple tips to … Read more

SHARE this important article!   If you’re going on vacation and leaving your dogs in the care of a trusted friend or daycare, you probably give them your veterinarian’s phone number. But what other numbers do you keep on file? We can’t call 9-1-1 when our dogs have an emergency, so who exactly should we call? What are the most important resources we should have on hand to be prepared for anything? This list will help you prepare for any … Read more

For many places, this winter has been harsher than it has been in a long time, and it’s not over yet. Regardless of the weather, though, most dogs want to go outside. In fact, some actually revel in the snow, playing and rolling in it for hours. While it is fun to watch a dog romp in the drifts and try to catch snowflakes, walking when it’s icy and cold can be hazardous to both the dog and human. Follow … Read more

With the number of dog bites that happen each year in the U.S. (more than 4.5 million), the public needs to be better prepared on how to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place. Not only does it cause pain and sometimes costly medical bills, it can cost a dog its life. In most cases, it is not entirely the dog’s fault – oftentimes if the human had done something differently, or had not approached the dog at … Read more

Most of us do not give our dog’s nails much thought. If you take your dog to the vet or groomer’s for bathing, you may never think of them. But, a dog’s nails are more like our toes – if they go bad, it can affect the entire way they walk. In the case of a puppy, it can actually harm their conformation and lead to a host of problems. Allowing a puppy’s nails to grow too long will cause … Read more

Inclement weather can make exercising your dog a chore or even impossible. When your best friend can’t get outside, pent up energy can lead to destructive behaviors like chewing, zooming through the house, getting into the garbage, etc. So how do you tire out your dog when you can’t go outside? Here are a few ideas to help get your dog’s energy out, without destroying your home. 1. Indoor Obstacle Course. Clear out a space in a room (be sure … Read more

Commonly called “doggy breath,” it is something most of us find repugnant. In fact, a lot of owners confess they don’t let their dogs kiss them solely because of the smell from their favorite canine’s mouth. While a dog’s mouth will never smell like roses, there are a few things you can do to fix it…and a very good reason why you shouldn’t ignore it! Symptom of a Disease Dog owners should never ignore bad breath, especially if it is … Read more

It’s not if you will have an emergency with your dog, but when – Are you prepared? Not being ready could cost your canine his life, so be sure you have the proper items on hand and know what needs to be done should you find yourself in an emergency situation. Emergency Information Time is of the essence when it comes to an emergency – one minute could be the difference between saving and losing your beloved pet. Make sure … Read more

The American Kennel Club’s® (AKC®) Canine Good Citizen® (CGC®) test was created in 1989 to recognize dogs that are well mannered both in the home and out in society. The idea is to create a standard for responsible pet ownership and outline the basic behaviors every dog should have. Each dog that passes the test is eligible for the AKC CGC title and will receive a passing certificate from the Kennel Club. The test contains 10 elements: 1. Accepting a … Read more

Training your dog can be a fun, rewarding experience. It can also be a frustrating situation for both you and your dog. Top trainers know how to get the most of their training session and, by extension, their dog. Beginners often struggle with things like how to keep their dog engaged, what happens when a session goes wrong, and why their dog will listen to them at home, but nowhere else The following tips will let you in on some … Read more

Losing your best friend is always difficult. Our dogs bring love, happiness, and companionship to our lives without asking for much in return. As such, their own lives are just not long enough.  After they’re gone, we all work hard to preserve the memories we have of them. Below are some unique ways to honor your faithful companion and remember them forever.  1. Sponsor a Dog Park A great way to keep your best friend in the hearts of everyone … Read more

Houseguests are both a blessing and a curse. It is wonderful to visit, hang out, and reconnect. However, the preparation before the guest arrives can be stressful, even downright exhausting. More so if the guest is allergic to dogs and the hosts resides with one. With a little planning and a lot of elbow grease, it is possible to have a memorable visit, in a good way. The one word to keep in mind… CLEAN. Clean everything, and then clean … Read more

What does one look for in a guard dog? Do they want a dog to attack on command? Or merely bark excessively to scare off would be robbers? There are certain breeds that would lick someone into submission. Of course enthusiastic tail wagging has been known to cause serious injury. It is possible to train almost any dog to be an effective protector, but certain breeds were genetically designed to be protective and downright scary. Here is a list of … Read more

You’ve probably walked in on this scenario more than once, and you may have reacted with the utmost disgust and discomfort. The slobbery lips, the big puppy smile, and that cool, porcelain bowl…that’s right, we’re talking about toilet water. If you’ve had dogs, you’ve likely realized they can’t get enough of it. We know you’re probably feeling a little better now that we’re all sharing the disdain together. But it’s not just that drinking toilet water seems inherently distasteful, it’s … Read more

This will melt your heart, make you smile, and make you cry all at once. SO GOOD! If only more casual pet owners would follow #1, we’d put a lot of animal shelters out of business! And the last line of #10 is so true, isn’t it? The ten commandments was written by ©Stan Rawlinson (The Original Doglistener). A professional full time Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer. You can visit his website at www.doglistener.co.uk for more articles and training information. … Read more

Most of us have been experiencing a cold front in some form or another by this time, and it can be particularly bad in certain areas. Wherever you are, your inside dogs probably aren’t very acclimated to the falling temperatures outside. It might seem that dogs are more resistant to cold with all of that fur, and some breeds may be more than others, but all dogs are generally as susceptible to cold weather ailments as we are. Frostbite and … Read more

How would you feel if animal control came knocking on your door, forced you to give up your best friend, only to have him be euthanized? It’s something so unfair, something so horrific and painful that you probably can’t imagine it in your worst nightmares. But for some, this tragic tale is a reality. Some people live in areas with breed specific legislation, that hold bans on certain dog breeds and breed mixes. Breed specific legislation, or BSL, is a … Read more

We have all heard the stories of dogs protecting their owners in the sign of imminent danger, and we’d probably all love to think that ours would do the same for us. However, it generally takes a properly trained dog to handle such courageous acts, and also to know when the time is right to take action. But how many of you have been visiting a friend or relative only to be approached aggressively by their seemingly friendly pet? Perhaps … Read more

Most new dog owners are aware of one of the most important aspects of raising a puppy – socialization. However, most of them don’t understand what socialization means and why it needs to be done. A common misconception is that the puppy needs to actually socialize with other people and other dogs – but this is actually pretty far from the truth. Socialization should really be called by a more accurate term – neutralization. What exactly does neutralization means? Neutralization … Read more

Look at that face. I mean can anyone really say no? We all know that table scraps are typically bad for our four-legged friends, but isn’t there something we can share? Much to our luck, there is! In fact, there are a few people treats we can pass over to our pups. But remember, all of the items on this list are without any extras – no butter, no salt, no sugar. They are as is, and believe it or … Read more