Bully Sticks

Favorite Pet Care Products

Pet Expert, Allisa Merlin takes time out to show us her favorite pet care products on this short video.

I love her choices and recommend them them all, however she left out my absolute favorite product, Bully Sticks. These healthy snacks not only help keep your dogs teeth in great condition, but are great for keeping your dog happily occupied.

My dog has more facebook friends than me…

Thanks to a Facebook application called Dogbook, my dog is fast acquiring more online friends and having more virtual dog bones than I get virtual coffees and sheep tosses.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, stop by and visit the Social Networking site phenom, Facebook.com and get a good look at the virtual silliness.

Facebook is not the only place to take your dog in the world of Web 2.0,  Dogster.com and Catster.com are both available for your pet’s personal web space.

Creating a webpage for your pet is quick, easy and free.  It’s a great way to connect with other pet owners to share pictures, stories and favorite places to find those all natural dog treats.

Holiday Pet Warning

Just a quick reminder …. Keep those Turkey scraps away from your dog. Load up on all natural dog treats, dog bones and bully sticks instead.

Too much poultry fat can be dangerous, especially to older dogs or those with pancreatitis.

An another reminder…. Skip the tinsel on the tree. Very dangerous for your pets if ingested.

Wishing a Safe and Healthy Holiday Season to you and your pets.

Training with Dog Treats

“A dog that is trained to obey your commands will be a pleasant companion and a pleasure for everyone to be around”…. That is how this video starts out and that should be one of the first things every dog owner learns.

Training your pet to obey basic commands is your first responsibility as a pet owner, and as this video shows you, it’s starts with having a ready supply of all natural dog treats.

It really is a simple, easy process when you use the positive training methods shown here. Using healthy treats like dog bones and bully sticks is a great way to get and keep your dog’s attention.

“Training your dog is an important part of your relationship with your pet and it is not something to be taken lightly. If you want your dog to be an enjoyable companion, you must take the time to train him properly”.

Remember to use positive reinforcement and your dog will quickly and happily learn to obey your commands.

Adopt a Homeless Christmas Puppy

Each year hundreds of families will be heading to the Pet Store to purchase a new Christmas puppy to play under the tree. The store will tie a big red bow on the cute little tyke and fill up your shopping bags with all kind of supplies and dog bones.

Meanwhile, each year thousands of healthy puppies are euthanized in local shelters around the country. Many people are under the mistaken belief that shelter puppies are all sickly or somehow defective and buying a puppy from a pet store will guarantee a healthy puppy.

If you are looking for breeding dogs or show dogs then it makes sense to go directly to Breeders, put if you are looking for a new friend and family member, stop by your local shelter first then check the Internet for rescue puppies. You’ll be amazed at the quality and variety of dogs available.

Pet Disaster Preparedness Kits

Every Pet owner should have a Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit ready in case of emergency evacuation.  Whether it’s hurricane, tornado, fire or some other emergency, it is your responsibility as a pet owner to insure your pet’s safety.

The first requirement is to know your communities guidelines and whether they will allow your pet in an emergency shelter.  Some communities allow pets only if they are in a sturdy crate or confined.

If you are forced to evacuate inland then be sure to have a designated hotel or motel that allows pets.

When putting together a pet disaster preparedness kit include the following:

• Pet food for up to three days
• Water for three days
• A bowl for water (collapsible bowls are ideal)
• Pet medications
• Copy of Vet records
• Copy of dog license
• Leash and collar
• Crate
• Towel or blanket
• Dog Chews and bully sticks to keep your dog occupied

Having a plan and knowing your options can be the difference between life and death for you pet.

Puppy Piddle Pads

Most of us have seen those Puppy housebreaking pads in our local Walmart or Pet store for years now.  They’re those special square pads that are treated with God knows what to attract a puppy to “piddle” on the pad.  Much easier and less messy than using newspaper.

They are great for training but can sometimes confuse a dog into believing that “going” in the house is the place to go.

It took extra time and not a few all natural dog treats to get my Shih Tzu, Bonkers to agree to “go” outside.  We would walk, and walk, and walk….. he would sniff and sniff and sniff and then as soon as we walked in the door…. off to the piddle pad he’d go.  We even had to take a piddle pad with us when he went to the groomers.

Having a dog trained to only go on a piddle pad does have it’s advantages.  My 75 year old Mom has hip problems and is unable to take her tiny little Baby for a walk and leaving Baby outside alone could be dangerous, so with a little encouragement we trained Baby to use the piddle pad.   Makes for a much happier Mom and Baby…

Because of the “scent” of the pads, it’s very easy to train your pooch to be attracted to the pad as their new “Go to” area.  I found that placing the pad in a quiet area of the laundry room or near the back door, gives dogs the privacy they need.  Also, by confining a new puppy to a small area with a piddle pad until they have better bladder control they will quickly associate that area as the proper place to “do their business”.

Whether you use Piddle pads as a first step training method or as a more permanent solution, remember that your dog does need fresh air and time to play outside.

Home Treatments for Dog Diarrhea

I once made the grave mistake of leaving my Chinese Kao Pao Spicy Chicken dish in the reach of my fast action Shih Tzu, Bonkers. It didn’t take him long to get a fiery mouthful, and it also didn’t take long before it came out the other end.

I had never seen a dog poop so much. The ensuing diarrhea convinced me to never make the mistake of leaving spicy food anywhere if the vicinity of Bonkers. He now knows to wait for his bully stick.

Dr. Andrew Jones gives us some quick at home tips that we can use to help our dogs through the trauma of diarrhea.

Wish he also had tips on how to get the mess out of my suede couch.

Natural Ways to treat Dog Ear Infections

It never fails. Two weeks after I take my Shih Tzu for a haircut and bath, he gets an ear infection. My Vet gave me some drops to put in his ear to keep them dry, but they irratate his ears.

In this video, Dr Andrew Jones shows you several Natural Methods you can use to treat your dogs ear infections with the help of his faithful pet, Louis. I think Louis deserves a few all natural dog treats, don’t you?

4 Tips For Giving Your Dog A Bath

Dogs love to be clean, even if they seem to do everything in their power to resist a bath. When you properly clean and groom your dog, you’re actually providing several benefits. You’re giving him attention that he loves, making him feel and look clean, and preventing hygiene issues from causing problems in the future. That said, giving your dog a bath can be challenging. After all, he may not be predisposed to allowing you to clean him. Below, we’ll give you 4 useful tips for giving a bath to your dog while minimizing the struggle.

Tip #1: Mind The Temperature

Just because your dog has a coat doesn’t mean he enjoys standing patiently while you drench him with cold water. At best, he’ll shiver. At worst, he’ll resist getting a bath as much as possible. If you’re bathing your dog outside using water from your garden hose, mind the temperature. The water can become cold quickly.

Tip #2: Buy A Raised Bath

Millions of owners intimately know the frustration of wrestling their dog to keep him in a small tub (or within a confined area) during the bath. Consider buying a raised bath. Not only will it save your back from the discomfort of kneeling over, but it will also keep your dog from escaping. As an added benefit, many of these baths have a valve that allows you to keep the water warm.

Tip #3: Come Prepared

A bottle of shampoo and a garden hose may seem like a complete dog-bathing arsenal at first, but it’s hardly exhaustive. One of the keys to making your dog comfortable – and yourself less frustrated – is planning ahead so you won’t waste time. Bring cotton balls to plug his ears, so water doesn’t get into them. Have a dog shampoo ready that is formulated for his skin (i.e. dry, itchy, flea-infested, etc.). Also, have towels, brushes, and a pet dryer on hand to complete the job.

Tip #4: Start With The Head

Not only is starting at the head useful when your dog has fleas, but it trains him to become accustomed to the bathing process. If your dog is uneasy, gently massage the shampoo into his scalp. Doing so will calm him and keep him settled during the remainder of the bath.

Making Your Dog Comfortable

Even though your dog may initially put up a struggle, there’s plenty you can do to make him more comfortable. Mind the water’s temperature, used a raised bath, have all of the required supplies on hand, and start with his head. In time, he’ll become accustomed to the process, enjoy the attention you’re giving him, and remain calm throughout. Plus, his shiny coat will make him noticeably happier.

Make sure to give your dog(s) plenty of all natural dog treats after their baths to keep them happy!