Dogs and the 4th of July

Murphy is ready with his cool bamboo collar and ID tags.

Did you know more dogs are lost on the 4th of July than any other day of the year? According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

If you think about this statement, it makes perfect sense. The night of 4th of July must be one of the worst days for a dog that does not like loud noises. Do not take your puppy to a fireworks show. If he does not like loud noises or firecrackers now, he may have a hard time recovering from what he hears.

My dog is 2 years old and fireworks have started to go off in our neighborhood and I noticed he tries to find a place close to me or tries to lay in-between pieces of furniture to feel safe. He did not act this way last year so we may have a change of plans this year. I will not feel comfortable leaving him home alone so we will be home when it starts to get dark or we will need to find a sitter!

This holiday weekend you will want to make sure your dog has his collar on with a current ID tag.

Happy 4th of July!!

Sharing Your Bed with Your Dog

This is Murphy in his Big Barker Dog Bed

Bed sharing with your dog does allow for warmth, comfort, security and bonding. It also comes with dog hair in your bed, muddy paws on your sheets and blankets and safety issues for you and your dog.

Your dog should be respectful when he is in your bed. Do not allow him to push you over or even out of your own bed. He needs to understand that when you give him the word....he needs to get out.

As much as I love when my dog jumps in bed to snuggle, I am so glad he loves his own space. When he has had enough or if it is time for me to go to bed, he will jump down and head to his bed. Maybe he just needs a few minutes of bonding or he really loves his Big Barker Bed. I have tried it and it sure is comfy!

Where your dog sleeps has to be decided by you and your family. Each owner and dog is different. If having your dog in bed each night works for you, then go ahead and share your bed with your furry friend. If you like your space and a good night of sleep, then buy your dog his own comfy dog bed.

Which Brush Is Best for Your Dog?

There are various brushes and combs available for brushing your dog's hair and you will see they vary in price too. Don't be cheap, a good dog brush is an investment. Which one is the best? It all depends on your dog's hair. I have a Goldendoodle with soft wavy hair and I have found a comb works best for keeping his hair from matting.

I started with a pin brush and when I took him in for grooming I was shown all the mats I missed close to his skin. The pin brush was going over the matted hair and not through it. A pin brush is used to smooth a curly coat and can be used on dogs with long coats, just make sure to get a brush with longer pins.

A rake works well on dogs with thick coats. It will smooth and detangle a coat with its strong teeth.

The Furminator is a popular deshedding tool and if you use it often you will eliminate dog hair around the house. It works by removing your dog's loose undercoat.

A comb will help with tanlges, matting and loosen the undercoat.

When you brush your dog, be gentle and take your time. This is a great time to bond with your four legged furry friend. Brushing your dog often will prevent matting and tangles. Happy Brushing!

Take Your Dog to Work Day - 6/21/13

     Are you one of the lucky people that are able to take your dog to the office on June 21st? If so, here are a few tips so the both of you have a great day at work.

1.  Don't forget a leash. Keep your dog on a leash unless in your office.
2. Bring a bowl for water, treats, and a chew toy to keep him busy.
3. Take potty breaks to avoid accidents.
4. Set up a gate if you would like to leave your office door open. This way your dog can see what is going on without wandering.
5. Keep the lunch room pet free, do not bring your dog to lunch.
6. Be sure to have a back up plan in case things do not work out and you need to take your dog home. 

Hope everyone has a fun day at work with their dog!

Tips for Brushing Your Dog

Do you brush your dog often? I do. I have a Goldendoodle that is very wavy. I like to comb him  to prevent matting. Here are a few tips for keeping your dog's coat in good shape.

* Brush your dog good before you wash him because brushing a wet dog can break and damage his coat.

* Allow his coat to air dry and then brush again.

* If you notice matting, brush your dog good before bathing. Wet, matted hair just gets tighter as it drys.

My Dog Calls Me to Play Outside?

Murphy loves to play outside and does the most bizarre thing, he will bark to get me to come outside. I did not pick up on this behavior at first, but now I know how this game works. It goes a little something like this.

I usually let him outside to do his thing and when he is ready to come in he barks one time at the front door and I let him in. This time I hear him bark so I go to let him in and he grabs his toy and runs back on the front lawn. I figured he changed his mind so I turn around and leave him outside. As soon as I get  into the kitchen I hear him bark again. So I head back to the front of the house to let him in. I see he grabs his chicken toy and heads back down the stairs. This happens yet again and finally I walk out on the porch to figure out what is going on. When I sit down he brings his chicken to me and wants to play fetch. Now I know what he was doing...he was calling me to play outside with him!

There are times where we play this game and he will just lay on the front lawn. As soon as I go back in the house he is on the porch and lets out his bark again. He just wants me to sit on the porch while he sits on the lawn? Is this possible? I would have said it is not, but after doing this a few times, I realized that he just wants someone around. After 10-15 minutes he is content and I can go back to doing what I was doing.


Has anyone experienced anything like this with their dog?

Walking Your Dog with A Harness

Do you use a harness when walking your dog? I sure do. Each and every time we go out for a walk I slip his harness on. It allows me to have more control of him should he begin to pull at the sight of a rabbit or another dog.There is no worry about him slipping out of his collar either.

 A harness is just a safer way of walking your dog. It eliminates pressure from your dogs neck and prevents trachea damage should you need to pull him away or if he begins to pull you after something he finds interesting.

If you begin to use a harness at an early age you will teach your puppy not to pull because the pressure from the harness is evenly distributed around the dog's body. She may require a treat in the beginning to get her familiar with the feeling of the harness on her body. Soon enough she will associate the harness with a fun trip to the dog park or a walk around the block.

Harnesses are now a bit of a fashion statement with so many different styles to choose from. Pick up a cute harness today and safely walk your dog in style.

Does Your Dog Have Emotions?

Murphy is happy to sit outside! 

Does your dog have emotions? I don't know about you but I think they sure do.

All I need to do is say the word "walk" and my dog suddenly becomes excited. An excited, happy dog is what I see. Tail wags and dancing at the door shows me that he knows something fun is going to happen. I can almost hear him say, "Let's go! I want to go see my friends."

If you spend a lot of time with your dog you should see a variety of emotions. When I was sick, my dog sat at my feet all day while I was on the couch. He did not bring me toys or gesture to go outside often. He knew I wasn't feeling like myself that day. If he takes something he is not suppose to have and I say, "Who took my stuff?" He puts his head down and slithers away slowly. He knows he is wrong and that is his way of saying, "It was me, I did it."

Scientists have debated this topic for years and I believe dogs are a lot like us. Some dogs are very outgoing while others are more subdued. Either way, dogs have a way of being happy. Just like humans, dogs seem to have their own personalities. Every dog owner can agree there is no better way to be happy than to live life with a dog. Live, Love and Bark with your dog today.