As I mentioned in a previous blog, dressing up dogs is a practice many of us enjoy. I will admit that the only embarrassment I have ever placed on my golden retrievers are antlers during the holidays. I think my goldens look cute. They look miserable. I still think they look cute.Owners can be super imaginative when it comes to costumes. Here are just a few. What do you think? Clever? Silly?Is the...

Is your pup ready for Halloween? Many of us dress up our dogs in costumes and I think if they could, our dogs would tell us how embarrassed they are by our antics. But it's all in good fun. Our dogs dress up but don't even get the candy that kids get.Be sure you don't give your dog some of the favorite treats of kids. Most of us have heard that chocolate is not in good taste for dogs even though i...

My son gave me the opportunity to take my first trip to Europe last month, visiting 5 countries and staying 3 weeks. What an exciting adventure!Throughout the trip, I couldn't help but notice dogs, since I missed my four dogs waiting for me at home, so I began to really pay attention to where and when I saw dogs in Europe.In the Czech Republic and Hungary, I saw very few dogs. A few on leashes wal...

You can tell when your exercise or fun activity is getting to be too much for you: you sweat. Some of us sweat quite a bit while others not too much. We all know ways to cool ourselves off.Do you know how to keep your dog cool? Can you tell when exhaustion is setting in? Your dog does not have sweat glands like we do. He does have some in the pads of his feet but they aren't as efficient as our ow...

Now is the perfect time to enjoy our dogs outside. Whether on a leash or running free near you, this is what your dog lives for and loves.Keep your dog healthy this summer. Be sure your dog gets his heart worm pill every month. I have my dogs vaccinated against lyme disease. You need to gauge the chance of your dog getting this dreaded disease. If you live in the city, you can probably forego this...

Wolves are the ancestors of dogs. Dogs came into being, so to speak, when people turned to wolves for mating. Your pet is now a dog but still holds some memory of where he came from. It's his instinct. I have four dogs, three are golden retrievers. Goldens are known for being gentle, appropriate for a house with small children, and all around wonderful dogs. I agree. That's why I own them....

There seem to be thousands of types, sizes, shapes, colors, and designs of dog collars. You can spend hours in a pet store trying to decide which one to purchase. I have a friend who has at least 12 different collars for her dog. The dog has her own wardrobe. I'm good for two, maybe three collars per dog. Always an extra in case one gets wet or muddy. But what's the best collar to purchase...

Start being a courteous citizen of our Earth, if you aren't already. One easy way to start is on your walks with your dog. Carry four plastic bags with you. First, more about plastic bags. You don't have to go to the pet store and purchase the bags made especially for poo. You can use grocery store plastic bags or used zip-loc bags (rinsed). The first bag is to pick-up whatever your dog p...

We all know that dogs tend to be fascinated with toilet bowls, probably because it always has very cold water that is usually moving. Although your intention is to always keep the lid down on your toilet, someone in the family might forget or a visitor may not even think about it. It's vital that you do not use automatic dispensing toilet bowl cleaners or long-acting disinfectants! Regardl...

Well, not literally but figuratively speaking, is your dog fascinated by moving objects that appear outside? Rollerbladers, skateboarders, and bicyclists are just a few of the moving items that may get your dog into an uproar with an irresistible urge to chase them. That's your dog's prey instinct showing itself. He sees these moving "things" as something he should chase and catch. Years ...

To ensure success when you have your dog out for an afternoon of fun and freedom, set yourself and your dog up for success. Whether it's a dog park or a state park, warm up yourself and your dog using the leash. Keep your dog on leash to ensure that he is being receptive to your commands and paying attention to you first and his environment second. On-leash time will help calm your dog if he...

This title probably sounds a bit silly but it really is a good idea. When you help your dog name each one of his toys and consistently call the toy by the chosen name, you dog will associate that word with just that one toy. Sure, it won't happen overnight but it will happen. You and your dog can do parlor tricks for friends. My daughter-in-law has her two dogs put away their toys every ev...

Dogs are smart. You know that. Dogs are very observant. You know that too. It's the combination of intelligence and paying attention to detail that can paint an owner into a corner when it comes to your dog's behavior. Your dog knows your habits better than you do. You might give away that you are going outside or in the car simply by picking up keys or checking yourself in the mirror. Your ...

Most of the time, you probably enjoy having your dog close to you, maybe sitting on your lap or next to you. You may allow your dog to paw at you as well as other behaviors. But sometimes having the dog close to you or pawing at you is not what you want. You don't want your dog to paw or lean against you if you are wearing shorts or carrying hot coffee. Teach your dog the command "Get O...

The incidence of dog bites is on the rise. And in my opinion, that is usually not the fault of the dogs. Dogs need training, reinforcement, and reminders. Dogs need to know the owner is the alpha dog. Dogs need to follow commands and should never run loose (not even in an enclosed yard) if the owner does not have control of the dog's behavior. I have observed occasions when people have ins...

Although most of us owners think our dogs just love when we give them a big hug, that's really not the case. We might enjoy a hug, sometimes feel we even need one. But dogs instinctively shy away from hugs because a hug makes a dog feel he is being dominated and restrained. In spite of this, you should still hug your dog, maybe starting out slow and working your way up to a bear hug. Hugg...

When you are taking your dog on a trip he has gone on before and he likes, he probably gets overly excited as you get close to the location. He recognizes the sights, sounds, and smells and can't wait for the car to stop. When you do take your dog out of the car, he is already over-stimulated before he has done anything or interacted with anyone. Solve this little problem by surprising your ...

Just as children try to pretend they just cannot hear you at times you want them to do something, so too with dogs.When training your dog, be careful not to get into the habit of giving a command more than once.For instance, if you have to tell your dog to sit three times, your dog already knows he can take his good old time responding to you. If he doesn't do it the first time, he'll get to it th...

If your dog has a special friend he likes to play with, why not invite that dog over to your house for a sleepover?The two dogs will tire themselves out playing together. When distributing party favors such as toys or chews, be sure to first separate the dogs. Friendship only goes so far with dogs.And what a gift you're giving to the other pet owner. They have a whole evening free, don't have to t...

Try not to give your dog generic praise such as "Good dog" or "Great job".Be specific with your praise. Start practicing being specific with praise. Your dog will learn more quickly and increase his vocabulary if you label the exact behavior that you are praising. Teach yourself to tell your dog "Good sit", "Nice paw", "Great stay."Just like children need specific praise and don't do well with gen...

When you and your dog are visiting friends, the dog park, or anywhere he is permitted to run free, he must return when you call him. Does he play the game of keep away so you cannot catch him and put him on his leash to go home.Solve this problem by training your dog that the leash does not necessarily mean the fun is over.Try calling your dog to you. When he comes, give him a treat and let him go...

When you purchase toys and chews for your dog, be sure that the treat is double the size of what you might think is appropriate. Are you looking at treats to fit into your dog's mouth? Do you have a small dog so you want small treats? Pet Stores often advertise puppy treats and chews. These are much too small for a puppy.It is always safer to buy a too-big toy or chew than one that is too small. S...

Happy New Year to all our visitors! I enjoy the holidays and what and who comes with it,But the end of the holidays just reminds me that it's still winter, the snow will fall and the wind will blow. The end of the holidays is like a big period at the end of the sentence, or the occasion, of holidays. Friends and sometimes family members experience different depths of depression, including me. We m...

I'm sure most of you already know that poultry bones are extremely dangerous to your dogs and so you throw them away carefully wrapped in lots of newspaper or or inside a milk carton to help keep the dogs away from the garbage. But the next step is to remove the garbage to a location where the dogs never go. Don't trust even your most well-behaved dog not to follow his nose right to that bag of ga...

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We live in a small house in the woods. Our great room is the heart of our home, where everything except cooking and bathing is done. The room is so large that my husband and I have our offices, our tv and conversation area, and yes, our bed. When my husband suggested that, I thought he had lost his mind. Now I love it. And all four dogs spend their time in this room too, where their food, water, a...

Continuing with my current approval of the automatic water bowl I bought recently, I took some photos of my dogs enjoying the fountain.Our youngest, a standard poodle puppy about eight months old, loves this item as much as I do. Once when it was empty and I had not realized it, I heard a strange, repeating noise. I looked at the fountain and there was our pup, with her huge paws -- much too big f...

A few of my friends have shared with me their common concern about their dogs. It seems the dogs occasionally vomit, and it's always just clear liquid.I asked the owners questions about how their dog drank from their water bowl. First, I found out that the water bowls were not elevated. This is important. It's not just a fad or a trick to get you to spend money on a different water dish. Your dogs...

The choice of making your dog's food or going to the store and buying it can be tough. The most important part of the decision is your pet’s health. If owners are willing to spend an excessive amount of money on preventing ailments, then why not feed their pets healthily? Many dogs are overweight and suffer from obesity by not getting enough exercise or eating unhealthy food, just like humans. ...

Organic dog food may be more expensive, but dog owners report healthier animals as a result of this diet, which results in fewer vet visits. Currently, organic dog food can be purchased in commercial markets and has ingredients free of pesticides and  toxins. The labeling of this food still isn’t regulated so pay attention to the labeling and ingredient list to ensure you're buying good qua...

When the excitement of bringing a new puppy home wears off, the reality sets in that the puppy needs to be housebroken. If not properly supervised, a puppy will just do its business anywhere in the house. It is up to the adult, or master, to take control. The key to efficient housebreaking is patience. The puppy must be led outdoors to an area designated as the "potty" and allowed to inves...

The new trend sweeping across America is feeding the family dog a raw diet. Most people feed their dog processed, dry or canned food from the supermarket. Raw diets are supposed to be more healthy for the dog. Dogs who are fed raw diets tend to have healthier skin, fresher breath and cleaner teeth along with less digestion problems, fewer allergy symptoms, decreased shedding, increased s...

Over 85% of our pets live inside our home and most people want pets to be house broken. House breaking does not have to be a struggle; it takes time, patience and a little love. Being consistent and patient will help make house training very short and easy. There are simple rules to help train your puppy in the house. The first rule is if you don't see your pet defecate or urinate, then you c...

When it comes to obedience training, there is everything from dog boot camps to in your own home training available. Selecting what fits your lifestyle as well as the proper training methods for the age and breed of dog you are training is very important. Many specialty classes are available by breed and age. In addition, there are general community education classes which teach you how to train y...

You may not know that dogs have much of the same health problems as humans. Obese dogs, like humans, are at higher risk of experiencing many other health problems, such as high blood sugar, diabetes, arthritis, and hip dysplasia. Extra weight can put wear and tear on your pet’s joints and cause them to develop arthritis. If you suspect obesity in your pet, it is very important that you ask your ve...

Dogs, like any other animal, have their own food needs and likes.  When dogs were wild they lived on any other animal they could prey on, but some plants were also eaten.Before you begin making your own dog food it is best to do a study of the breed of dog you own and the nutritional needs they require for good health.  Slowly introduce a different diet so as not to upset the dog's diges...