The Perfect Collar for Your Dog

Dogs come in many different sizes and so do their collars. The perfect collar for your dog is one that fits properly. You can buy a designer collar, preppy collar, or even a cool collar, but if it is not the right size, then it is not the perfect collar for your dog. A collar that is too small will cause your dog to be uncomfortable and one that is too big may put him in danger.

To find the perfect collar for your dog, measure his neck where the collar would sit with a soft tape measure. If you do not have one, use a piece of string and simply measure the string. Once you have measured around your dog's neck, add two inches, you now have your dog's neck size.

Check your new collar by trying it on your dog. It should be snug, but there should be room for you to slide two fingers between your dog's neck and the collar. Your dog should be comfortable wearing his collar and at no time should it be too tight or too loose.

Most dogs wear one of four sized collars;  Small, Medium, Large or X-Large. Puppies may go through a few sizes as they grow, especially large breed puppies. Your dog may gain or lose weight over time and it is up to you to see that he is wearing the perfect dog collar.

Dog Paws

Dogs grow hair between their toes and foot pads. The softer coated dogs are more likely to form mats in the foot area. This mat is a clump of hair that gets stuck together and can trap in dirt. It can be very uncomfortable for your furry friend to walk with a mat between his toes. It would be like walking with a rock in your shoe.

You want to keep the hair around the foot area trimmed and you can do this with hair scissors. Simply, trim just a bit at a time. Hold the paw out in front and trim the hair you see sticking out between the pad. You do not need to trim all the way down, nor do you need to do all four paws at one time.

If you find mats while checking your dog's paws, I would have them removed by your groomer.

Frozen Dog Treats with Two Ingredients

It was going to be a warm weekend so I made my dog, Murphy, a frozen treat with Greek yogurt and bananas.

I used two bananas and two 5.3 oz containers of Greek yogurt. After mashing the bananas I added the yogurt, mixed and dropped spoonfuls of the mixture into a silicone ice cube tray. The tray I bought makes smaller cubes than normal. It also allows you to "pop" out the yogurt cubes. They are the perfect size for a small dog or a large one.

He loved them and so did my niece, Hannah! She was over and wanted to give Mr. Murphy (that is what she calls him) a treat. Before I knew it she was asking if she could try one. It was only frozen yogurt and bananas, so I thought....Sure go ahead! She must have enjoyed it because she asked for another one.

It is a quick, low fat and inexpensive treat for all!

Walk, Wags and Wine Wednesday

Some people call it Hump Day....but we like to call it Walk and Wine Wednesday.

Meet Murphy and his girlfriend, Summer. Tonight we took the dogs for a walk and while we got our exercise, so did they. 30 minutes of walking followed up with some wagging around the yard equals a glass of wine and girl talk.

Pick one night a week to get together for a walk. It is a great way to socialize your dog and catch up with your friends. Walking is a great way for you and your dog to exercise together!

Wag along.....tomorrow is Thursday! My favorite day of the week.

Life With A New Furry Friend

Congratulations on your new puppy or adopted new friend! They sure are cute, but they require a lot of your time and are sure to keep you busy

This is Murphy when he was a puppy

I bet you find yourself asking, "How do I get my housework done without using the crate all the time?" You need to run your errands and clean the house without allowing your dog too much unsupervised freedom. Whether your new furry friend is a puppy or an adopted dog, he is still in a new environment and will require supervision to avoid accidents and mischief.

I found the best way to give my puppy attention while I was cleaning the house was to keep him close to me! How did I do that? I used a leash. He was able to explore a bit and I was able to easily keep an eye on him. The leash I have is 6 feet long and has a handle that you can slip over your wrist. You could also attach the leash to your belt if you like. I was able to get my work done, the puppy was safe and I did not feel guilty about putting him in his crate.

Treat Your Dog

What do you think of when you hear dog treat? I think of a cookie or bone that my dog loves. Every dog owner gives their dog some sort of treat and even has their own unique name for dog treats. Dogs love special food that is made just for them and we enjoy watching them eat yummy, healthy dog treats.

We can also treat our dogs in ways without food; such as, a trip to the dog park or walking around the neighborhood. This is a great time to spend with your dog and develop a special bond. He is able to socialize with other people and dogs, which is a real treat for him.

Hugs and praise are another great treat for your dog. He loves when you are super happy and only wants more of this affection so he will continue to do what he was doing to receive your attention.

Schedule a playtime with your dog every day even if it is only 15 minutes. Give your dog a real treat with your full attention on him for that 15 minutes. He will love it! Dogs sure do love treats....how will you treat your dog today?

The Best Dog Poop Bag

I love to walk my dog, but I hate carrying the bag of dog poop, so I came up with the Do-G-Bag! Now I can walk my dog and not worry about shoving my keys, dog poop bags, and cell phone in my pocket. This bag is hanging in my garage with fresh dog bags inside and on my way out I grab it and off we go! I have used this bag when running to the store. It is a cute accessory and my hands are free when shopping. 

The Do-G-Bag is a special designed bag by LiveLoveAndBark.com that is used while walking your dog. It holds your used dog poop bag as well as your unused bags, cell phone, keys and dog treats.

It keeps you walking in style even with that awful bag of dog poop that no one wants to carry. The Do-G-Bag is a cute cross-body style purse with a waterproof pocket (for the bag of dog poop) and an extra outer pocket for keys, treats, money, etc. Finally, a bag designed to safely hold your dog poop so you don't have to!!

This quilted bag is designed just like a cross-body bag. Made of high quality quilted fabric on the outside with a 100% waterproof liner on the inside. Insert your bag of dog waste into the pocket and seal with the velcro closure. There is plenty of room in the outer pocket for extra dog poop bags, cell phone, car keys, money and dog treats. This dog bag is a must have for all dog walkers and dog lovers!

The Do-G-Bag measures 8" x 10" with a strap of 52 inches long to fit across your body. You can easily wipe the inside down or place in the washing machine. (Lay flat to dry) Fabric is hand selected and each bag is hand made in Buffalo, New York! 

Walk your dog in style and never carry a bag of dog poop again.