Home » Articles posted by Catherine Cairns-OKeefe

Celebrating Your Dog’s First Year with Your Family: 5 Birthday Tips and Ideas

Vanilla cupcakes topped with chocolate paw prints. That’s one dog-themed dessert we had for our (people) guests at our beagles’ birthday party. The time will come for you too when your dog’s birthday arrives. Will you celebrate? It’s a personal choice. But if you’ve thought of hosting a first birthday party for your dog… or celebrating your adopted dog’s first year with your family… or if the idea is new to you but intrigues you, then, these tips and ideas can help. They’ll help you plan for, and prepare a memorable doggy birthday party. My tips come from hosting our beagle, Rocky’s 10th birthday. Although it was his 10th birthday, it was our first “official” doggy birthday party. Here are five tips and ideas for planning your first doggy birthday party: 1) Pick a calendar date. Spring, summer and autumn are ideal seasons to host a dog birthday party (so your...
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Only 5 Calories Per Dog Treat: A Good Option for Maintaining Your Dog’s Weight

If you like to spoil your new dog with treats… …I can relate and understand. Though, I’ve learned too many calories from dog treats add up and pack on the pounds. This happened to our beagle, Rocky. Rationally, weight gain from too many calories makes sense. But watching calories for dogs? It was a new idea to me at the time. This was a lesson I learned from a vet earlier on in Rocky’s life. When I met Matt (now my husband), he supported my desire to help Rocky get more fit. Rocky has since trimmed down and he celebrated 12 years of age this past summer. His weight still fluctuates a little. But Matt and I have a better understanding on how to help him and our other precious beagle, Daisey. One way to maintain a healthy weight for your dog is to watch how many treats your doggy...
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Review of Two Dog Breath Fresheners: Pedigree’s Breath Buster versus Ol’ Roy’s Fresh Breath Biscuits

“It smells so minty and healthy.” Those were my thoughts when I first opened the package of Pedigree’s Breath Buster product. I really liked the scent. I later learned the “minty smell” is from the eucalyptus oil ingredient. (The University of Maryland Medical Center states, “Eucalyptus oil is rich in cineole, an antiseptic” which fights bacteria that causes bad breath.) I felt really good about giving our beagles, Rocky and Daisey, such a healthy-smelling treat that also helped give them fresher breath. Now that your new doggy is home, I’m sure you’ve caught a little whiff of his or her breath. In most cases, doggy breath can use a little freshening up. We do brush our dog’s teeth. But not as often as we should. It’s easier to give a rawhide or a breath freshener dog biscuit. Which is why I was first interested in Pedigree’s Breath Buster brand. Then, one...
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Better than a Gym Membership: What Energetic Dogs Do to Motivate You to Exercise More

“Take me for a walk, instead.” Those appeared to be the thoughts of my beagle when he sat down in front of my Health Walker Plus machine. He refused to leave. I could not use the walker. If I did, the steps on it would bump into him. So I chose to get off of it for his safety.   After numerous occasions of Rocky repeating this behavior I realized I needed to change my exercise routine. I had to get outdoors more with Rocky. Fast forward 12 years – and although I still have my walking machine – Rocky has continually shown me outdoor walks is more fun. It’s more rewarding too. I mean, just look at this smile: If you’re looking for more motivation to stay fit, choosing an energetic dog breed such as the Siberian Husky, Dalmatian, Border Collie, or Australian Shepherd – will certainly get you outdoors more....
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The “84-Year Old” Sock-Chasing Beagle: How to Maintain Your New Dog’s Health from Puppy Years to Senior Dog

An article by one of our other readers 🙂 “Catherine, look around the corner,” my husband says quietly. I poke my head out from our kitchen entrance. I see our beagle, Rocky, in the hallway. Rocky stands still, staring at me. A sock dangles from his mouth. I step forward. Rocky darts away in the opposite direction. I chase after him to get the sock. This sock chasing routine is one Rocky has enjoyed for years. My husband, Matt, and I often joke he has the energy of a two-year old. But our little guy, Rocky, is 12. (That’s like 84 years old in human years.) I can’t express how wonderful it is to see Rocky grow into a healthy, energetic older dog. I’ve cared for Rocky ever since he was a puppy. I’d like to pass on seven tips that can help you on your new journey with a...
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