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  • Doggie Day Care

    We would all love to say we have all the time we need to take care of ourselves and our dog. But the truth is, your life gets busy and there are days and weeks when you can barely take care of yourself, not to mention your pet. A doggie daycare or boarding facility is the perfect place for your pet during these times. This daycare option could be the ideal choice to make sure your pet has all of its needs met. Here are a few tips on doggie daycares that may be the perfect answer for you and your puppy’s needs.

    1. Information Required 

    To keep the daycares safe, your dog needs to have all of his required vaccinations up to date. These vaccinations include rabies and distemper, and your dog must pass a temperament test. If your dog is over six months old, they must be spayed or neutered. It is a good idea to visit with your dog and see how your dog reacts to the environment.

    2. What Doggie Day Cares Provide

    Early drop off hours, in case you need to get to work for that crucial meeting. Doggie daycares provide exercise, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and lots of companionship. You can provide your dog’s food to the daycare,  so his diet is familiar to him. Dogs get ample playtime or time to lounge around. Nap times are welcome, and lots of treats are provided, and staff of dog lovers always surround your dog with plenty of love. Doggie daycares can be the ultimate place for your dog to spend the day.

    3. Other Benefits of Doggie Day Cares

    You are welcome to use the pet webcams to watch your pet while you are away; it may make you feel more at ease. Dog grooming is available if you have not had the time to get your pet groomed. Doggie daycares don’t need a lot of notice, so sign up online, pack up your puppy, and head to the nearest doggie daycare so your puppy can have some fun!

  • Puppies and Holidays

    It’s time for holiday festivities once again. It’s an exciting time to get together with our families and friends. If your family includes a puppy, make sure they are included in your holiday traditions, from the songs to the holiday meal to pictures and gift-giving. This can be a memorable time for all of your family and furry friends. Here are some tips on how to make sure your puppy and family have a Merry good time they will not soon forget.

    1. Gifts your puppy will love 

    When you’re hanging up those stocking stuffers, don’t forget to buy a stocking for your puppy. Puppies love gifts too. While everyone is opening up their presents on that beautiful Christmas morning, your puppy will be excited to open his. This is the perfect time to make sure your puppy gets their stocking and any other toys or goodies you may have for them. Don’t worry; there is no need to wrap their toys since your puppy will be ready to enjoy them.

    2. A family meal for all. 

    The holiday meal can be an exciting and much anticipated time for all, and perhaps everyone has worked hard to put together this special meal. Before everyone takes their place at the table, make sure your puppy has a special spot and meal preparation. Be sure only to include foods that you know your puppy can digest safely. With a special dog-friendly meal, your puppy won’t be susceptible to dangerous bones or foods that may cause illness..

    3. Family and Puppy Photos 

    When it’s time to take those family photos, tie that big beautiful red bow on your puppy so they can be as festive as everyone else in the picture. Be sure to groom or brush and make them feel comfortable next to the family he loves. These photos will remind you of your cherished holidays with your family and your puppy.

  • Dog Sitting Success for the Holidays

    The holidays may mean travel time for you and your family, and that may not include your pet. It is not difficult to find a sitter, simply prepare in advance and give yourself time to find the perfect dog sitter for your furry friend. It’s easy to set up your dog sitting experience, so it’s a carefree and successful experience. Pets are easy to care for and just want to be loved. Whether your dog sitter is a perfect stranger or your well known next-door neighbor, there are a few things you can do to set your pet and his dog sitter up for success.

    1. Meet With Your Potential Pet Sitter 

    When it comes to finding the right person to care for your pet while you are out of town, it’s essential to choose the person that blends well with your pet. Set up a meeting with your sitter and narrow down the candidate. Once you have narrowed your choice to one or two candidates, set up a time when you, the candidate, and your pet can spend some time together. Go on a walk and observe the interaction between your pet and the potential dog sitter.

    2. Supplies, Supplies, Supplies

    With the right amount of supplies, your dog sitter can focus on caring for your pet. Make a list of dog food and other supplies your pet will need based on the time you will be out of town. Always buy extra supplies in case your trip is unexpectedly extended. Your list should include dog food, an extra collar and leash, gates, dog bed, treats, your pet’s favorite toy, and any special items such as medicine your pet may need.

    3. Important Emergency Information 

    Post a list of emergency numbers your sitter can easily access. This list should include the nearest veterinarian or emergency pet hospital, your neighbor or relative, and any alternative number where you can be reached.   

    Now relax and enjoy the holidays, knowing you have chosen the right dog sitter, and your puppy is well taken care of.

  • 3 Steps for Training your Puppy to go to bed

    This is a very easy concept to teach a dog. It’s just a matter of consistency on the owner’s part.

    Step #1: Give the command “go to your bed.”

    If your dog actually does go to her bed, make sure to give her treats and praise. Most likely, she’ll need you to guide her. Once there, place her in a down position and give her treats and praise. Then release her. “Good girl!” Repeat that five times or so and quit.

    At this point, the dog doesn’t stay on the bed for more than a second or so. You’re just encouraging her to go to her bed and giving her rewards for it. Remember to have some sort of word to release your dog from her bed such as “free!” or “ok!

    Step #2: Begin increasing the distance.

    Increase the difficulty very gradually so the dog is successful. At this point, you could tell your dog to go to her bed when she is about six feet away from it. Once she is successful from that distance, work from 10 feet away and then across the room.

    Step #3: Increase the time.

    You’ll most likely be practicing this step along with step two. Basically, you want to teach your dog that “go to your bed” means “go to your bed and stay there until I release you.”

    Ideally your dog would then stay on her bed for up to a half-hour or more while you’re doing something else but you need to gradually work up to that point.

    If your dog knows the command “stay” then it’s OK to use that to encourage your dog to stay. Personally, I don’t like to use “go to your bed” and “stay” because “go to your bed” implies the dog should stay.

    At first, you’ll only expect your dog to remain on her bed for five seconds while you’re sitting right next to her. Give her treats and praise. Then release her with – “free!”

  • How To Make A Dog’s Coat Shine

    1.       Nutrition         

    A Good Quality Feeding Program literally shines out from your dog. Always check that your dog’s daily food is rich in protein (chicken, turkey, beef or lamb). When you check the brand ingredients on the food label protein should be the first on the list. Make sure that the food has a low quantity of grains and preservatives.

    Add Omega 3 Fatty Acids to Your Dog’s Diet To Make Your Dog’s Coat Shine. Add a little oily fish or a supplement to nourish the skin cells and improve dryness or itchy patches. Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory properties that help if your dog has allergies or other skin conditions.

    It is important to only add small quantities of oily fish to start with because it can cause diarrhea.

    Examples of oily fish:

    ·Mackerel

    ·Salmon

    ·Herring

    ·Sardines

    ·Flaxseeds and Cod liver oil is also a great source of Omega 3 Fatty Acid.

    2.       Daily Grooming

    Brushing your dog every day will not only stop the coat from getting matted or tangled, but it will also give the coat a great shine. Use good quality grooming tools specific to the breed and type of coat. If your dog has a long coat use a de-shedding tool to remove all the loose, damaged fur. Check for ticks and fleas so that they can be treated straight away. Look out for abnormalities when you groom your dog. If you spot lumps, rashes and sores on the skin, consult your vet for early diagnosis.

    3.       Bathing

    If you want to achieve a shiny dog coat you may need to bathe your dog less frequently. The reason is that bathing strips the coat of essential oils needed to keep the coat looking healthy. Try to restrict regular baths to just one per month and use good quality dog shampoo and conditioners which are made from natural products. Make sure you rinse the fur really well after bathing. Any residue will leave the coat dull and lifeless. If your dog has itchy skin or allergies an oatmeal bath will soothe the skin and add shine to the coat. Add a final rinse of alcohol-free beer to the fur, leave for five minutes then rinse thoroughly to get the coat to really shine.

  • Crate training made simple

    Crate training is not complex, but if you have never crate trained you might have mixed feelings about using the crate. It’s important to remember that crate training isn’t cruel, it’s actually a great way to create healthy boundaries for you and your pup. Here are a few tips to make crate training simple.

    1. Not Making it Comfortable

    You want your dog to have positive associations with the crate. Step 1 in that goal is to make sure that the crate is comfortable for your dog. Make sure the crate is large enough so that your dog can stand up and turn around. Make it homey with a comfy bed and whatever else your pooch digs.

    2. Giving In and Letting Out

    This can be critical. You know the drill. Your dog starts that pathetic little whimper and gives you that look. You know, that look.

    Anyway, you just can’t resist and you just give in and let your dog out of the crate. The problem is that your dog learns that whimpering and whining will eventually get her out. Stay strong!

    3. Not Feeding in the Crate

    Dogs love food. The easiest way to create positive vibes around the crate is to feed your puppy in the crate. It also establishes a good routine. By not feeding in the crate, you are missing out on the most powerful positive association.

    4. Forcing Your Dog Into the Crate

    Don’t force your dog into the crate. Use your brain to figure out a way to get your doggy in without force. Or just steal these ideas: use food or a toy.

    5. Crating Your Dog for Too Long

    Crating a dog is not a long term option. By long term, I mean that you shouldn’t crate your dog for 8 hours straight while you are at work. 

  • Tips for Caring for Older Dogs

    If you have an older dog, you may not want to leave them in a kennel when you’re away from home. Instead, you might want to look at some of your options for elderly dog care. Here’s how you can make sure your senior dog receives the level of care that it needs.

    1.       Search For Care Providers That Specialize In Senior Dog Care

    While some dog kennels just provide basic care, there are providers that offer more specialized services. If you find a provider that specifically offers care for elder dogs, you can assume that they’ll be able to properly care for your pet. Take the time to see if there are options like this near you. You may also want to call dog kennels and ask them about their experience with elderly dogs.

    2.       Look At In-Home Care Services

    Your dog may not be comfortable staying in a kennel, especially if you’re going to be gone for an extended period of time. Thankfully, there are care providers that will take care of your dog in your own home. Your dog will be able to stay in a comfortable environment while still getting care from a professional.

    3.       Read Plenty Of Reviews

    You should always be careful when you’re leaving your pet in someone else’s care, but you should be especially cautious if your dog is older. Take the time to read through a number of reviews so that you can see what people have to say about various local care providers. Try to find some of the best options in your area.

    Focus on finding the best options for elderly dog care. Senior dogs are more prone to health problems, which means they need more from a care provider. Your pet is an important part of your life, and you should make sure your animal is properly cared for when you aren’t there.

  • How to keep working breeds active and happy

    While some dogs are content to sit on your lap and look cute, working breeds have a different agenda. These are the dogs that are bred to hunt, herd, retrieve, and detect. They were born with an urge to work, and when they’re bored they tend to be mischievous and destructive. Working dogs like Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Border Collies, Newfoundlands, and all the others thrive on farms and ranches where there’s never a shortage of things to do. But what about the dogs that live in the suburbs or city? Their families have 9-5 jobs; they’re not farmers or ranchers.  So what’s an average dog to do? If your active dog is getting bored of life not on the farm, try these simple jobs for working breeds that they can do almost anywhere.

    1. Scent Games

    Your dog doesn’t need to be a professionally trained scent detection dog to put his powerful sniffer to good use. K9 Nose Work is a dog sport based on the same training those drug-busting and ivory-finding working dogs undergo. But instead of sniffing out illegal objects, you teach your dog to recognize and detect the smell of birch, anise, and clove. There are competitions where dogs earn titles and awards, but you and your pup can enjoy the game right in your home, in the yard, or on the trail. It works your dog’s mind and body while giving him a satisfying job.

    2. Find it Games

    In addition to scent, dogs use all their senses to track down items and even people. Think of search and rescue dogs but without all the peril. Teaching the “find” or “go get” cue will be your first step. Once your dog understands the basis of the game, you can teach him to find and fetch all kinds of useful objects. Teach him to bring you your shoes before a walk or carry over his own leash. You can even teach him to seek out specific people and pets. Retrieving breeds love this game because it’s based on their natural instinct to find things and bring them back.

    3 Trick Training

    Once your dog has mastered basic obedience, it’s time to move on to trick training. It’s not one of the most useful jobs for working breed dogs, but learning and performing tricks gives a dog a purpose and sense of accomplishment. The best part is, tricks are fun for both ends of the leash. There’s no end to the list of potential tricks you can teach your dog. Start with the easy stuff, like roll over and spin. With these types of tricks, you can lead your dog into it by luring him with a treat. From there, try teaching him to open and close the kitchen cabinets, weave through your legs, or jump through a hoop. Once he has a nice repertoire of impressive tricks, put them all together to make a routine that’ll impress all your friends and family.

  • 3 Facts about Huskies

    If you’re thinking of buying a Siberian Husky then you need to think long and hard about what exactly you’re getting into. The Husky is unlike the majority of dog breeds and you would be setting yourself up for failure if you don’t have the facts beforehand. This is not a breed for an owner who doesn’t know what they are doing and if owning dogs was a computer game, the Siberian Husky level would be ‘advanced’! There are many positives however to living with a Husky, here a few.

    1) The Husky is Very Playful

    Don’t think that their playful nature will end as soon as they stop being a puppy. Actually, I don’t think they ever stop being a puppy, at least mentally! The Siberian Husky has a lot of energy and there’s simply no way you will be able to use that up during your daily walks. The only way for you to achieve that would be to practically live outside and let them pull you around on a sled all day! As most of us need to go to work to pay for boring things like houses and education, unfortunately, we have to do the next best thing – which is to play with them inside.

    2) The Husky Loves Exercise and Being Outside

    The outside world is the Siberian Husky’s natural habitat and they are at their happiest when running around outside. The Husky needs a lot of exercises and unless you are in a position to be able to provide this then they probably aren’t the breed of dog for you! They will need to be exercised at least twice a day and for a good hour of solid exercise each time. Without enough exercise, your Husky could become anxious which can lead to a destructive personality, and you won’t want that!

    3) The Husky Is Very Affectionate

    Many owners are surprised by how affectionate the Siberian Husky actually is. The Husky will want to spend all of its time in your company. Well, let me re-phrase that. Whilst you’re inside they will want to spend all of their time in your company. When you venture outside they will try and escape whatever restrictions they are being put under and run away. However, that’s another subject.

  • Winter Freeze Warning for Your Pups

    Winter is just around the corner and sadly, that means it’s our responsibility to ensure that no pets are left out in the cold.  This article will discuss the reasons that we do not recommend keeping any pets outdoors in the winter months.

    Whether your dog spends 10 minutes or 10 hours outside, there are things that you need to take into consideration. Before you plan any outside time for Fido, you need to think about the temperature outside, the weather conditions and whether or not your dog is physically able to spend long periods of time outdoors in these conditions.

    If your canine companion is a senior, a small or teacup breed, hairless or has a very thin coat or they have a medical condition that makes them more susceptible to the cold, they should not be outdoors any more than necessary. The cold temperatures force the body to work harder to stay warm and can take a toll on your dog’s circulatory and immune system. Elderly, young, or immune-compromised dogs are particularly at risk for developing an illness as a result of exposure to the cold.

    Frigid temps can cause dogs to act in desperation 

    Dogs are living, sentient beings and it is not beyond them to do anything it takes to survive. Out of desperation to seek out warmth and companionship, keeping dogs outside in winter may cause them to break out of their yard and hurt themselves or others. Avoid this happening by treating your dog as a member of the family and keeping them indoors!

    Unhappy Dogs Will Vocalize

    Have you ever heard that “annoying” barking dog in the neighborhood? That’s what happens when a dog becomes bored, lonely, or in need. Leaving your dog outside in winter will result in your dog becoming one of those “annoying dogs” too. Your dog will vocalize for exercise and stimulation, but they will also vocalize because they are uncomfortable and cold and because they are LONELY! Keep your dog indoors with you and stop that nuisance barking that’s driving your neighbor’s crazy.

    It is Possible for Your Dog to Freeze to Death

    Keeping dogs outside in winter can lead to frostbite and hypothermia, but more importantly, they can freeze to death. Depending on if your dog has access to a well-insulated shelter and just how cold it is outdoors, and whether your dress up the pup in proper dog winter clothes, most dogs can freeze to death in minutes without protection.