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  • Is a dog walker right for you?

    Daily walks are essential to our dog’s happiness and wellbeing. Your dog could require up to 3 walks per day depending on its age, breed, and energy level. With the daily hustle and bustle of work, school, and social activities, making time for your dog’s walk may feel like a difficult act to balance. Recently many cities have seen the introduction of dog walking services who can help bridge the gap for individuals like yourself with busy schedules. How can you determine if a dog walker is right for you?

    1. Your dog is comfortable and friendly with strangers

    If your dog is friendly and greets strangers with enthusiastic energy, then your dog would benefit from dog walking services. If your dog becomes aggressive or territorial around new humans, then you may want to reconsider. Also, keep in mind that your assigned walker could change so your dog may have to adjust to new people on the fly. You know your dog’s temperament best when it comes to strangers. The walking experience should be comfortable for your dog and the walker so don’t force your dog into an uncomfortable experience prematurely. Work with your vet to get advice on how to ease your pup into being more comfortable around strangers. 

    2. Your dog is comfortable and friendly with other dogs

    Dog walkers usually balance a small group of dogs. This can be problematic if one dog is aggressive towards the others. If you notice that your dog barks uncontrollably around other dogs, or attempts to chase after other dogs, you may want to reconsider using a dog walking service. Dogs who are calm and friendly toward other dogs are the best candidates for dog walking services.

    3. Your dog is comfortable with a stranger entering your home

    Since you will most likely be using the service when you aren’t home, it is important that your dog doesn’t become aggressive or territorial when a stranger enters your home. The dog walker will enter your home using the key provided, and you want to be sure that your dog can be easily transitioned from the home to the walk. 

  • 4 Super Helpful Dog Bathing Tips

    Life is crazy enough without wrestling your wet dog in your bathtub, so here are 4 helpful tips you can use right away to help make doggy bath time better at your house:

    Bathing once a month should be enough for most indoor dogs who have normal healthy skin. Do so with dog shampoo or baby shampoo to ensure that no harsh chemicals affect their skin.  

    For dogs who need more than the monthly bath, make sure to reduce the amount of soap or shampoo that you use on them unless it has moisturizing properties. Much like human skin, your dog’s skin can dry up if constantly exposed to soap.

    Unless absolutely necessary, avoid giving your dog a bath multiple times a week. If you’re using a topical treatment to treat your dog from fleas, those work better if your dog’s natural skin oils are present to help speed up their effect.

    To make bath time easier, train your dog to stay calm during baths from the beginning. Allowing them to panic and hide at the slightest indication of a bath would only prove detrimental for both of you in the long run. Instead, make bath time something enjoyable that your dog will love doing.

    The question of how often to bathe a dog can puzzle a lot of pet owners, but luckily the answer’s quite simple. As frequently it is needed. No matter how frequent that is, using our 4 super helpful tips should make bath time better at your house.

  • 4 Things that happy dogs do

    1. Make Eye Contact

    Dogs will focus on things that they like and are interested in. If they are intimidated or scared of something, they won’t want to look at it, much the same as a person may cover their eyes if they were to see something scary!

    Regular eye contact with your dog is a sign that they love and trust you, so hold their gaze from time to time, to show that you love and respect them too.

    2. Snuggling in Your Stuff

    As a dog’s sense of smell is so acute, they use scent to communicate feelings of love and attachment. Dogs who are happy and well-attached to their owners often enjoy snuggling up to the scent of their owner too. This goes a long way in explaining why you may often find your beloved pooch nestling in the dirty laundry or chewing on old shoes.

    3. They Listen to You

    If your dog responds to you when you call, it is a strong sign that they are happy and secure. If your dog obeys your commands and listens when you speak, it shows that they have a strong bond with you.

    4. Engage in Play-time

    A happy dog regularly displays playful behavior. Playful behavior may be shown as jumping and leaping about. Some dogs may also bow to you by stretching out their front legs, receiving a bow from a dog is a sure sign they are happy with you and in a good mood.

    A playful pup may also lean into you, enjoying any attention you give them. It’s also a great sign if your dog pushes into your hand when you go to pet them, or rolls onto their back for you to tickle their tummy.

  • 5 Things You Do That Your Puppy Loves

    Dogs are man’s best friend, and this special bond can be strengthened when we go the extra mile to understand the things that our pups love. Here are 5 things that you do that your puppy can’t get enough of.

    1 Touch – Most dogs love to be touched by their human best friends. Whether it’s a scratch behind the ears or a pat on the head touch your pup is a special way to speak your pup’s language of love. Just as babies benefit from skin to skin contact, your puppy connection with you will strengthen simply through regular touch.

    2. Eye contact – Puppies love to study our facial expressions and learn our emotions. Eye contact is important to help your puppy learn your individual facial expression. Don’t be shy about looking your dog in the eyes, you are helping him learn about all the things the human face can do!

    3. Smile – We express happiness through our smiles. Similar to eye contact out smiles help out pups to understand the subtle nuances of human non-verbal communication.

    4. Speak – Just because your pup doesn’t speak English doesn’t mean he can’t understand. Speaking to your pup is a great way to improve his ability to learn commands faster. Repetition is key so practice using the same tone when you use a command to help your puppy learn faster. We recommend that you don’t raise your voice at your dog as this can trigger fear and anxiety.

    5. Exercise – Movement is playing for pups. Your puppy loves when you exercise and wants to join in. Whether it’s a just a walk around the block, or hike up the mountain, exercising with your dog is a great way to make your furry friend happy, and to burn off extra energy. 

  • Uber Pet the newest Rider Option

    Your dog is your best friend and uber is your favorite app, so what do the two have to do with each other? Well, Uber recently introduced its newest travel option, Uber Pet.  Here’s how Uber Pet is changing rideshare.

    Uber Pet allows you to bring a pet on your Uber trip. Before the introduction of Uber Pet, rideshare applications only allowed service animals to accompany riders. A service animal is defined as an animal that is trained to work or perform tasks for an individual. Riders with service animals don’t have to use the Uber Pet option as Uber drivers cannot lawfully deny service to riders with service animals under any circumstance including, allergies, religious objections, or fear of animals. 

    If you don’t have a service animal and decide to use the Uber Pet option, you will need to select the option for Uber Pet after you enter your pick up and drop off location, and only one pet can travel with you per trip. Uber Pet allows small pets such as cats or dogs to travel, but there is no breed or size restriction.

    The Uber Pet option will cost more than the other ride options, and a cleaning fee could be assessed if your pet leaves waste, sheds excess hair, or causes damage to the vehicle. Uber suggests being a small blanket or towel for your pet to sit on while in the car, this can help to minimize or prevent the being assessed the cleaning fee.

    Uber offers a few more tips for Uber Pet tips. They suggest keeping your pet restrained with a leash, harness, or crate. In consideration of the safety and comfort of the driver Uber suggests that you don’t leave your pet unattended and ask the driver if they have a preference of where your pet should sit. 

  • 5 First Tricks for Your New Puppy

    By John Woods. Founder of All Things Dogs– Dog Breeds, Training and Behavior.

    Coming home with a new puppy is one of the most exciting events that could happen in an animal lover’s life. Their excitement and cuteness are infectious with their little paws and a head too big for their body. Between belly rubs and playing with toys, new pet owners will run into a few behavioral issues that might frustrate them if they’re not addressed soon enough. This is where training comes in; it is extremely important to teach manners and begin to establish trust between human and dog.

    Like people, all dogs learn differently. Some are more food motivated, others love getting pets, or their favorite toy as a reward. Finding this motivator is key when training because it will create a positive and exciting experience for the puppy.

    These are five tricks to teach your new puppy in the first month of adoption…

    1. Their Name 

    This is the most important thing for your puppy to learn because it will help you get their attention in several different scenarios, whether it’s trying to find them after they got off leash or having them do a trick for you.

    How-To

    1. Having their favorite thing in hand, say their chosen name as you give them their treat or toy. They will soon associate the name with something you’re going to give them that is very interesting. Repeat for only a couple minutes at a time because puppies do get tired.
    2. When you come back home from work or class, greet them by saying their name over and over. Petting, toys, or treats enhance the positive association they have with their name and owner.
    1. Leave It 

    When you can get your dog’s attention with their name, puppies have a habit of getting themselves into trouble either way. “Leave It” is a simple command that redirects the puppy’s attention towards you instead of something like a frog or electrical cords that they would like to chew up.

    How-To

    1. Let the puppy see you have a reward in your hand, preferably something small so when you make a fist it is completely covered. This works best with treats.
    2. Before they can snatch it up, close your hand and say “leave it”
    3. The puppy will try to gnaw and paw at your hand for the reward, but stay strong.
    4. Once the puppy looks away or loses interest, reward them with the treat and repeat.
    5. Once they get the hang of that, drop the treat on the ground, say “leave it,” and quickly cover it with your hand.
    6. Repeat step 4 with this new variation.
    1. Come 

    The “come” command is pretty simple because it reiterates the same steps like teaching them their name, just at a distance.

    How-To

    1. When your pup is out of arm’s reach, get their attention with their favorite reward.
    2. As they trot towards you, say “come” and reward them with the treat, toy, and/or lots of love.
    3. When they are preoccupied with something else, call out their name and “come.” Reward them handsomely when they do run over to you, expecting something fun or tasty for them to have.
    1. Sit

    Having a puppy sit might seem impossible because of all their wiggles, but rest assured, it is possible. With a little bit of incentives, your pup is sure to follow suit.

    How-To

    1. Have your puppy’s attention with their reward while they are on leash.
    2. With the reward in hand, hold it above their head and move it slowly towards them, parallel with their back.
    3. Your puppy will want to back up, but having a hold on their leash keeps them from moving and ultimately tricking them into sitting down.
    4. Just before their butt hits the ground, say “sit” and reward them. Repeat until you can do this without the leash.
    1. Down

    This will be the hardest command out of the others, especially with stubborn puppies. Laying down means that the dog is giving up control, forcing them to be in a relaxed, vulnerable position with their new owner on command. It takes a lot of trust, but you should have a strong bond with your pup by doing the aforementioned tricks.

    How-To

    1. Your puppy should be in a sitting position to make it easier for them to transition into laying down.
    2. Hold a reward at their face, not allowing them to get it, and slowly lower your hand towards the ground.
    3. If your puppy gets up out of sit, have them sit again and repeat the process.
    4. Before their elbows hit the ground, say “down” and reward them when they do go into a down position. Repeat.

    For more tips, tricks and all things dog- head to allthingsdogs.com 

  • How To Choose The Right Crate

    Crate training appeals to your pup’s natural instinct to seek shelter in a den-like environment. Crate training also helps to minimize damage to your home when you aren’t there. So how do you choose the right crate for your dog? Here’s our guide to choosing a crate.

    Size:

    You’ll want to consider your dog’s size when choosing a crate.

    Extra small dogs – 18-22 inch crate: Best for breeds like Yorkshire, Terriers, Malesa, Papillons, and other toy breeds

    Small dogs – 24-inch crate: Best for small dogs like Pugs, Shih Tzus, Miniature Dachshunds, and other small or miniature breeds

    Medium Dogs – 30-inch crate: Best for medium-sized dogs like French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Scottish Terriers, and other medium breeds

    Intermediate – 36-inch crate: Best for intermediate dogs like bulldogs, bull terriers, beagles, cattle dogs, and other intermediate breeds

    Large – 42-inch crate: For large dogs like boxers, border collies, Dalmatians, poodles, retrievers, and other larger breeds.

    Extra Large – 48 Inch crate: For extra-large breeds like Akitas, Rottweiler, Huskies, Collies, Malamutes, and other extra-large breeds.

    Type:

    Wire – the traditional wire crate is the common choice for dog owners. Most are fully collapsible and come with a removable pan for easy transport and cleaning.

    Plastic – These are a great option for frequent travelers and most airlines accept hard plastic crates.

    Soft crates – Best for small breeds as these can be treated as a carry on travel item.

    Do’s and Don’ts of using a crate:

    • Do place the crate in a warm and inviting place
    • Do place treats and toys in the crate
    • Don’t use a crate as punishment for bad behavior
    • Don’t leave your puppy in the crate for more than 3 hours

  • Road trip tips – How to travel with your dogs

    Spring is a great time to take a road trip. If you plan on bringing your pup with you, here are a few tips for a successful road trip.

    1.       What to pack – While on your road trip, you’ll want to try to keep your pet’s daily routine as regular as possible. This won’t be easy since you’ll be focused on the road, but be sure to pack his favorite treats, toys and his normal pet food.

    2.       Car Safety – While the car is moving, we suggest keeping your dog crated. If you feel this isn’t a viable option, you may want to consider a pet harness. Keeping your dog secured in the car will prevent them from posing a hazard while you are driving.

    3.       Plan your stops – You’ll want to map your stops and make sure no more than 3 hours go by without stopping and allowing your pup to relieve himself and stretch his legs. It’s not uncommon that during these breaks, your pup won’t go. New environment can often cause anxiety.

    4.       Pet friendly hotels – Be sure to plan overnight stops at per friendly hotels. When you arrive at the hotel, you will surely be tired, but your pup will have some energy that will need to be released. Go for a long walk to help your dog tire out. You’ll always want to scan the hotel the room and remove any hazards

    5.       Relax – During a long road trip, the last thing you’ll want to do is worry about the dog. Your dog can sense your energy so remain calm and enjoy the ride. Take your time, take lots of photos and enjoy the beautiful scenery. 

  • Weekend activities with your Pup

    If you work full time then you know it can be hard to squeeze in quality time during the week. Weekends were created to give the full-time workers the opportunity to catch up with family. Since our pets are part of our families its important to make time for your dog during the weekend. Here are a few ideas.

    Keep it simple

    Dogs are not complicated, they simply want your love and affection. You can simply spend one on one time with your dog on the weekend to show him that you care. Let him ride along as you run errands, or make the morning walk an extra 15 minutes on weekend. These are all simple ways to spend time with your pup this weekend.

    Check out a dog park

    Dog parks are the most exciting place for dogs. Find a local dog park and allow your pup to bond and hang out with fellow canines. Be sure to keep your eyes on your pup as he explores at the dog park. You will see a new side of your dog as he engages and makes friends.

    Teach a new trick

    Teaching your dog a new trick is fun and rewarding. Start with a simple trick such as shake and be sure to have lots of treats handy. Your dog will enjoy the challenge of earning treats in exchange for showing off his new skills.

    Buy her favorite treat

    Make the weekend special by buying her favorite treat. Dogs love rawhide bone and Antler ears!

    Visit the vet

    If you are too busy to go during the week, make a weekend appointment to visit the vet. Nothing shows you love your dog more than doing your part in keeping her healthy!

  • Choose The Best Dog Food

    If you could help your dog to live a long and fruitful life would you do it.? The answer for most pet owners is “of course”. Well, the great news for you is that you can. Helping your dog live a long and quality life isn’t rocket science, it’s actually quite simple. Read on to learn the simple steps you can take.

    Choose high-quality food

    Not all dog foods are created equal and your dog deserves the best. Visit your vet to get a recommendation for the best quality food for your dog’s specific dietary needs. You may pay more for your dog’s food but health is wealth. Feeding your dog high-quality food now can help you save money in the future on the vet bill as your dog ages.

    Avoid obesity

    Obesity is the gateway to illness in dogs. A lean dog is more likely to live a long and quality life. Be sure to not underfeed your dog in a fear of making him obese. Your vet can help to recommend the correct portion size and frequency of meals for your pup.

    Visit the Vet regularly

    When it comes to vetting visits is best to stay on track. Missing milestone appointments can compromise your dog’s health. Mark your calendar or create a reminder on your phone so that you can always attend your vet appointments. Your pup will be very grateful.

    Make Dental Health a priority

    Healthy teeth and gums can help your dog live longer. If you notice tooth decay, bad breath, or tooth loss speak to your vet about options for improving your dog’s dental health.  The sooner you act the better when it comes to oral health.

    Monitor his outdoor time

    Outdoor time is your dog’s chance to run free and wild, but it’s your job to ensure he isn’t hurt. Always assess areas that your dog plays in and ensure they are safe and free from sharp objects or dangerous hazards. This will help playtime be carefree and fun.