My Friendly Pets

One of the dog grooming tasks I have always dreaded and disliked was the trimming of my dog’s nails. In fact, it was a chore that I always left to my husband or I would let the vet do it when we went for our check-up. I would always be concerned about trimming too close to the “quick” and once I remember that happening, and our poor dog yelped in pain. I felt awful. That was when I gave up even assisting in that task. Yes, I am a chicken and I hate to think the dog will be uncomfortable or hurt at all.

However, I was watching t.v. this afternoon (like I didn’t have anything else to do) and they introduced a new product called peticure. It is a nail file for pets, especially dogs that, supposedly leaves them with no discomfort at all. The product can be seen at www.peticure.com

It doesn’t look hard to use, but rather a safe way to insure your dog’s nails are filed, but not harshly. The device is not large. The advertisement demonstrates the difference between cutting and filing and shows that filing the nail and enamel can be removed in very small pieces. Most of the time when we have to cut the dog’s nails, especially if the nails are dark, it is a guessing game. This tool has an abrasive (like sand paper or the material on the drug store nail files) material within a plastic shell. The plastic shell has various sized holes that allow you to adjust it for the size of the dog’s nail. It locks in with a guard when you decide on the appropriate size. The filing should be done for a maximum of 3 -5 seconds per nail and it is advised that the nail be examined after each filing. If you are comfortable performing this task with this new tool, you will appear more confident to your dog. The hesitation and fear of this task may disappear for your dog if he/she senses your comfort and it works to be a painless experience.

Before I used any new product on my dog, including this one, I would suggest contacting your vet and getting his opinion on the device. For more information about dog grooming tips, check out one of my prior entries by clicking here.

Where I reside in the northeast; New York to be precise, we have been “blessed” with an extension of summer that lasted right through the first week in October. In fact, yesterday we had record breaking temperatures in the 80’s. However, the weather is changing and reality is setting in. Our temperatures tomorrow won’t get out of the 60’s and it is a cold (yes, that is a pun) reminder of the season yet to come.

When the change of seasons arrive, many of us prepare by purchasing season appropriate clothing and things we know that will keep us warm and free from the elements of winter. It is important to realize that our dogs need protection from these elements as well and that preparing them for the season of snow and ice is just as important. It may be even more so. We don’t generally cover our dogs from head to toe, because we believe that nature gave them a coat that protects them from the elements. But remember, dogs are domesticated animals and have gotten used to the warmth and comfort of inside a home and are not meant to spend long periods of time in very cold temperatures or in ice and snow.

Here are some great tips to preparing your home and your pet for the winter months.

1. Coats and booties can keep your dog warm. Short haired and older dogs are especially vulnerable to the cold temperatures. Protecting their bodies and their paws from frostbite and other “winter chemicals” is critical.

Remember, a lot of people are utilizing more anti-freeze and ice removing products this time of year and the remnants of which fall to the ground. Many of these products are toxic. A dog walking through these chemicals and licking their paws may be setting themselves up for disaster. The salt that is used to melt the ice on roadways can also sting and irritate a dog’s paws.

2. If you don’t use doggie booties, (of which there are some great products on the web), make sure you wipe of your dogs paws, legs and underbelly to remove clumps of snow and ice. Rubbing your dog down with a warm cloth will get these ice and snow clumps off gently without tearing at their fur and could help to prevent frostbite.

3. It is advised to keep your dog on a leash, especially during winter months. Dogs can lose their scent in the winter and they can become lost more quickly. Unknown to me, there are more dogs reported lost in the winter than in any other season. Snow and ice storms can distort a dogs sense of location and with a chance of weaker scents available, it is easy for them to become confused and disoriented. Always keep proper identification on your dog.

4. In terms of fur and skin care, it is important that you brush your dog often. Their winter coat of fur tends to be thicker and coarser to protect them from the elements, but it also has the potential of becoming matted, if not properly cared for. Also, the dryness of indoor heating systems can deplete moisture from the dog’s skin, similar to what the dry heat does to us. Brushing their fur will help to maintain a healthy, shiny coat and increase circulation and moisture to the dog’s skin.

There is some great outerwear for dogs available on many websites. The jackets above are from www.handsnpaws.com. Take a look, they have some great stuff!!!

Winter is a good time to hibernate. Its also a great time to catch up on all the shows we missed when we were outside enjoying the summer sun. For some great inside info on sitcoms check out http://www.watchingsitcoms.com/

Sometimes we have to stop worrying about behavior issues, proper nutrition, health concerns and just do something fun for our dogs and what could be more fun than shopping for them!!! They have some great looking gear and accessories for pooches today. To be honest, my dogs were never into the fancy apparel and mostly would just bite it off, but we did always try and get them good looking collars and wait until you see what I have “in store” for you!!!!

The pics from above are from the dog web shops,

www.terrificpets.com and www.thepuppyshop.com

The pictures below are from www.2houndsdesign.com where they have some awesome collars and the logo is from an online shop called www.snobbydogs.com. I had to check that one out because the name was so cool.

I hope you have some fun shopping for your pups. They deserve the best because we love them so much!!! Enjoy!

I first want to say thanks to those supporting this blog. I have received some great ideas from you all and I’ll be using them in my posts…everything from original dog food recipes, to picking out a dog for someone who has never had a pet. Again, thank you.

You all have heard about the microchip that can be surgically put into your pet, in case they are lost or stolen. Then if taken to a vet or shelter, they have a way to read the microchip to see who the true owner of the pet is and other important information.

Well, technology has taken a step further. My uncle sent me an article from the New York Times called “Think Your Dog is Smart?..Its Collar May Be Even Smarter”. A company called Garmin, who manufactures GPS equipment has developed a two piece GPS system. One part attaches to the collar of your pooch, while the other part is a hand held GPS system. If the dog runs, the owner will be able to locate the animal for miles.

They system is called the Astro and goes for $599.00. It seems like a lot considering all the money we spend on our pooches, but if you have a dog that likes to run, wander or is easily distracted, this might be just the tool your looking for.

There are several other new age gadgets made just for the dogs we love. They will monitor their exercise in the house and light them up so that we see them in the dark, with new light technology based on light emitting diodes.

If you are interested in more information, see the article by copying and pasting the address below into your url browser!!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/05/business/yourmoney/05novel.html?ex=1186977600&en=2fe5922db4862a3a&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Traveling with pets can be frustrating, to say the least. Aside from the usual hurdles when it comes to traveling with pets, dogs and small cars don’t usually mix well. Lucky for you, fellow dog lovers, I’ve found a website (actually a blog) that reviews cars, mostly SUV’s according to their usefulness as “dogmobiles.” I have never bought a vehicle according to how many dogs I can fit into it comfortably, but with three dogs in the family now, it’s not sounding like such a bad idea!

dogs, pets, animals, car reviews, dog mobile, travel

It’s a side-table, it’s a dog crate, or is
it both? The Haus Dog Crate is the stylish way to crate your pup. This is such a great idea, since dog crates are usually made of ugly metal and plastic, which don’t do much for your living room decor. Fashion meets function!

These doggie sunglasses are called ‘Doggles’. I’m probably getting carried away at this point, but they do seem like a great idea for dogs who like sticking their heads out of windows, or doggies on boat rides. You can get them in any color, shape, or size. Doggles are priced from $14-$20.

This one is definitely over the top, but it looks really cute. It’s called the ‘Puppy Purse’. If you don’t really like the idea of your dog as a purse, you can undo the straps and use it as a leash. While it looks appealing, at $70 each, I would have to say it’s a bit over priced.

The “Lookout” car seat is a great way to keep your dog in the back seat, instead of on your lap. It looks comfortable and has an attachment for food and water bowls. The Lookout seat also comes in several sizes and for multiple dogs. I always have trouble with my dogs in the car, so I would love to have one of these. They range in price from around $60-$170.

dogs, pets, animals, dog beds, dog supplies, fun dog stuff, puppy purse, dog car seats, crates

Wouldn’t you love to have a hand drawn picture of your pets to hang on your wall? I know, it sounds expensive, but check out this website. You can have your baby’s picture drawn in charcoal, color pencil, or pastel. Prices range from $25 and up, depending on what size you prefer. If you have a sense of humor, they will even do a caricature for you!

dogs, pets, animals, portraits, art, dog, art

My dogs love getting treats, but with the recent food recalls it’s hard to feel comfortable giving them just any ol’ bag of treats from the grocery store. Thus, my babies only get natural or organic food, as well as treats. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night knowing all those pups out there aren’t getting any treats because their pet-parents are scared of what might be in them. So, below is a list of some all-natural dog treats (NOT affected by the recall) which you can feel good about giving to your precious pups!

Bully Sticks - completely digestible chew sticks made from beef muscle, similar to rawhide. Bully Sticks will keep your dog chewing for hours.

Wellness Pure Rewards - an alternative to recalled beef jerky treats. Grain free, wheat free, and 100% natural.

Newman’s Own Organics - these treats come in chicken flavor, peanut butter, cheese, and vegetable. You can find them at common places like grocery stores and PetCo / PetSmart. My dogs love these!

Merrick Puppy Nibbles - pork chew treats for your puppy. All natural, of course.

Merrick GrandPaws - for your senior dog. All natural beef hide treats which are a little softer than regular chew treats.

dogs, pets, animals, recall, food, treats, natural, organic, wellness, merrick, newmans

Ahhh Springtime. The trees are budding, flowers are blooming, and the fleas are ready to conquer your dog. It’s best to stay one-step ahead on this one. Lucky for us, there are topical products like Frontline, K9 Advantix, and Advantage to keep those fleas from ever reaching Fido in the first place. Other methods of flea control are the pill forms, such as Capstar and Program. It may be necessary to treat your yard as well. Spectricide and Bengal have products available to kill fleas in your yard.

The downside to these products is that they can be expensive. The lowest prices I came across were at Dog.com. They also have a comparison chart of the popular brands.

A natural alternative is to feed your dog small amounts of garlic. Although I have yet to try this method, I hear garlic is a natural flea repellant.

dogs, pets, animals, fleas, frontline, flea preventative, garlic

I suppose the Pet-A-Potty is like the dog-version of a litter box. I think these things are great! It’s basically a box with a piece of sod in it. You can place it indoors or on your balcony for your dog to use when you can’t take him for a walk. Why didn’t I think of that?! You can replace the sod as often as you’d like by ordering a new piece from the company. The potty comes in three sizes, and two or more of them can be placed together for extra large dogs.

PETaPOTTY website

dogs, pets, animals, house breaking, petapotty, pet potty, training