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Archive by category "Dog Safety" (Page 2)
I know – you’ve got the best dog in the world and he doesn’t bite. So why should you bother to train him to wear a dog muzzle? Dog muzzles have been used for centuries. The obvious advantage is to decrease the risk of bites or liabilities when you have a dog that might bite. So isn’t this antiquated gadget pretty useless today? I intend to convince you that not only are dog muzzles still useful in today’s world, but that every dog needs to know how to wear one comfortably and that EVERY dog owner should learn how to teach his dog to do things that are a little uncomfortable at first. Here are the top three reasons for teaching your dog to wear a muzzle: 1. The MOST IMPORTANT reason of all – you should be a competent enough trainer that you don’t have to force a dog...
Continue reading » Dog Products, Dog SafetyNo Comment The internet is rife with conflicting opinions as to the safety of Cephalexin use in dogs. Some websites have branded the drug dangerous to pets because of the potential side effects. So is this common antibiotic safe for your dog? The answer is: Maybe yes, maybe no. Cephalexin is not a veterinary developed drug, so it is widely available on the human market. It is typically prescribed in 250 mg or 500 mg capsules. It is also available in a 250 mg tablet that can potentially be split into halves or fourths for smaller children or pets. These pills are not scored and have a thick outer coating so cutting the pills into smaller doses does not guarantee even distribution of the drug throughout the pieces. The therapeutic uses of Cephalexin in dogs are similar to those in humans. Urinary tract infections and wounds/ infections of the skin top the...
Continue reading » Dog Health, Dog SafetyNo Comment A lot’s been written about the benefits of a dog carrier backpack. We’ve seen the evolution from teaching your dogs to heel, to taking them into the supermarket (surreptitiously), to carrying them in baby strollers, to carrying them on your back. Why would a person want to carry a dog like a baby? Besides the obvious reasons of wanting to have your furry companion with you 24/7 for the sheer joy of unconditional love, let’s look at some other possible benefits of a dog carrier or a dog backpack. 1. Your lame dog. If you’ve ever had the experience of caring for a lame dog, you know what it is to suffer disappointment or even heartbreak. I’ll never forget when my dog Bailey started to lose the use of his back legs. He had been a victim of abuse and neglect, and after he served in a court case as...
Continue reading » Dog Product Reviews, Dog Products, Dog SafetyNo Comment There are so many options to decide on for accessories, toys and necessities for your new dog. When you walk into the pet store it can be very overwhelming. During the process of writing this article, my wife had the movie Turner and Hooch on one day. Have you seen it? Tom Hanks, has to take care of this massive dog (Dogue de Bordeaux or French mastiff) and there is a section in the movie where he fills an entire grocery cart with products needed for the dog. In the first part of this article posting I started the list of helpful items on my list. I will continue with a few more that I find essential. Your dog should have a bed of its own. Or a place in the home designed for them in mind. If you practice early and consistent training your dog will learn that that...
Continue reading » Dog Products, Dog Safety, PlanningNo 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 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 Imagine this scenario- you let your dog get into the front seat of your car unrestrained, and head on out. On your way to your destination, you get into an accident. This is where things start to get tricky- depending on the severity of your accident, any number of things could happen. In the best case scenario, nothing happens, and you and your pet are totally fine. Worst case scenario, your pet could become loose on a major highway, become severely injured, or worse be killed. When driving your dog anywhere, you need to be prepared for any scenario as you never know what could happen, and having an unrestrained dog is not safe for you and your pet. First and foremost, your pet should always be in the back seat. Just like with small children, the front seat is the most dangerous place for your dog to be. There...
Continue reading » Dog SafetyNo Comment 
