Did you bring home a whole pile of doggie toys, treats and accessories along with your new four-legged friend? My wife and I have definitely bought our fair share of doggy products over the years. In Canada, half the households have pets according to an article from The Globe and Mail news site. In 2012 alone Canadians spent 6.5 billion dollars on our pets. I have seen very cool products from one trade show; engraved dog bowls, pet gates, staircases for small or older dogs to get up on the bed. Now there are even tear proof dog beds. I have even seen doggie strollers. It seems there are more dog toys out on the market then children’s toys when I was growing up. What should you bring home as a new dog owner? The simple answer is whatever you can reasonably afford for your new friend. There is excitement...
Continue reading » Dog Products, Planning2 Comments If you have or have had a dog, you have probably been through the dreaded pulling stage (or maybe you are one of those unlucky ones whose dog never actually left the pulling stage). You know what I’m talking about- dog is super-duper excitable, can’t control said excitement, and practically pulls your arm out of its socket when on the leash. You may have tried every type of collar from chain/choker style to pronged collars, harnesses and everything in between with no luck. Or you may THINK you have tried every type of collar- have you heard of the Gentle Leader? No? Then if you want your pups pulling to end, read on! The Gentle Leader is an adjustable head collar that works similarly to horse reigns- while a regular neck collar or body harness is used on the most powerful parts of the dog’s body (the neck and the...
Continue reading » Dog Product Reviews, Dog Products, TrainingNo Comment If it’s time to travel by air flying with your dog may be the only choice, or perhaps your perferred choice to get from point A to point B. Preparation will help you to fly safely and mindfully with your best canine friend. If you take the right steps you can have an easy transition from one location to another with minimal problems. Traveling is already stressful for both you and your dog, so make sure you can minimize that as much as possible with these 6 easy steps. Step 1: Within 10 days prior to traveling, take your dog to your local veterinarian for a wellness check and an update on his rabies vaccination if you are flying within the US. If you are flying outside of the country, further vaccinations may be required depending on where you are headed. Make sure you know all the health requires for...
Continue reading » Planning, Randon StuffNo Comment You have brought your new little or big friend home and he or she is getting settled in. One of the first things now that you need to do is consider feeding times. There is no set plan that works for all dogs or breeds. You may know friends and family that always leave food out for their dog. The other option is meal time feeding. What is best? There are some considerations when deciding. The terms for the two options are, free-choice feeding and timed feeding. I personally believe in timed feeding, having two times a day and giving a portioned sized meal. This belief and practice comes from our little Beagles, Rocky and Daisey. They are very aggressive eaters which is probably not the best thing. It is like a competition who can eat faster. Free-choice feeding is more suited to a laid back dog or less active...
Continue reading » Food/Treats, PlanningNo Comment “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....
Continue reading » Behavior, Dog HealthNo Comment 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...
Continue reading » Dog HealthNo Comment Dog trainers hate them, pet lovers can’t imagine life without them. The retractable leash has been a hot topic of debate among dog owners for quite some time. When this product was first released into the market, the idea was to provide a way for dogs to gain a little more freedom and exercise while on a typical walk with their human family. The top brand names in the pet industry were releasing their own versions of the item, and while many owners love giving their dog that ability to walk off the trail to get a sniff that they would not have been able to on a normal flat leash, some people and pets have been greatly injured by these items. The Pros The original idea of the retractable leash still provides the benefits it was meant to give owners and their dogs. An easy to hold plastic, or...
Continue reading » Dog Products, Dog Safety, PlanningNo Comment Does your dog chew on everything including his dog bed? Welcome to the party! Our puppy does the same thing along with a lot of other peoples. Before we talk about chew proof dog beds, you might want to take a look at my article called “So Your Dog Chews Everything, Ways to Stop it“. But make sure to come back and read this. Some dogs are big chewers, they will chew on anything, including their bed. Besides being very annoying, it can get expensive buying new dog beds all the time. Believe it or not, chew proof dog beds are actually made for people just like us! They come in different styles to match just about any room. Here we are going to go over some of our options. I hope you find one that works for your situation. If you’re reading this, you probably love your dog like...
Continue reading » Dog Product ReviewsNo Comment You have gone and picked out your newest member of your family, congratulations! Now your puppy or mature dog will need some essentials before you pick them up for your journey home. The basics of bringing home a loyal four-legged friend: collar, leash and food bowl. No, I have not forgotten dog food either. That topic alone could have its own series of articles. As a dog owner, I would like to encourage anyone who has a small to medium sized breed to consider a harness in place of or in addition to a collar. There are a number of dog breeds that a collar is sufficient to hold them securely. Then there are some dogs that can slip a collar on occasion when they get excited and start wiggling around. For these dogs, I recommend a harness arrangement. My wife and I have found that our Beagles have adapted...
Continue reading » Dog Products, Dog SafetyNo Comment Is your dog constantly itching, scratching, and digging into his ears with his paws? Or shaking his head? If so, your dog may have an ear infection. Ear infections are one of the most common ailments that pet owners will see. Some breeds are more prone to them than others such as Golden/Labrador Retrievers, Bassett Hounds, and English Bulldogs, but any dog can get them. The most common type of ear infection is called otitis externa, which is inflammation of the external ear canal. Most dogs with this type of infection experience itchiness, brown/yellow/ bloody discharge, redness, swelling, and you may notice an odor that could be describe as moldy bread if you get too close to your dogs head (this type of smell is most commonly caused by a yeast infection, which is the most common type of infection found in the ear). Your dog’s behavior might be off...
Continue reading » Dog HealthNo Comment Page 26 of 32« Prev 1 … 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 … 32 Next » 
