Pets = Messes

I have found the BEST solution to cleaning up stains! (And no, this company is in NO WAY paying me for this "advertisement" - but they should! Ha ha) It's a product called SIMPLE SOLUTION. I have only been able to find it sold at PetSmart thus far. But this stuff is the BEST! I use it on EVERYTHING. It cleans stains and kills odor like you wouldn't believe. I tell all of my clients about it, so I thought I'd post it for everyone to read. And I don't just use it for pet messes, in fact, I rarely have pet messes but being a mom I CONSTANTLY have kid messes. One of my friends even used it to get some stains out of their mattress that they were selling. It works on carpet, couches, car interior, hard surfaces etc. It comes in a spray bottle or you can buy the gallon size - I have both and just refill my spray bottle as needed.
Okay, that's all the free advertising I'm giving out for this post.

Playin' at the Park

Dog Parks are great. They are a good way to help dogs become socialized with other dogs and other people. But there are a few things you should keep in mind before taking your pooch to the park.

1. Make sure you exercise your dog BEFORE going to the park. A 30 - 45 minute walk before you go to the park is ideal. This helps drain extra energy, especially in high energy breeds and makes your dog more manageable during play time. Dog parks are a great way to have your dog get MORE exercise, but going to the park with too much energy could spell trouble if your dog has a tendency to be dominant towards other dogs.

2. Make sure your dog stays in your sight at all times. One problem I've found at our local dog park is that too many people treat it like doggy day care. Just because they are off the leash does not mean that you're off the hook. Pay attention to your dog and watch for any body language he/she displays that might signal play time is turning to a fight.(Tail straight up, or mounting of other dogs are signs of dominance that can lead to aggression)

3. Don't bring small children to the dog park. Kids LOVE dogs, but it's not always mutual. Young children who are not old enough to understand AND obey the simple rule of DO NOT TOUCH OTHER PEOPLE'S DOGS should not be taken to the dog park. They are at extreme risk of getting bitten or even knocked over by running dogs. My own children do not accompany me to the dog park unless it's completely vacant.

4. Protect your pack members at all times. Part of keeping constant watch on your dogs is also to protect them from other dogs who might hurt them. Our park has two separate sides to it, one for bigger dogs, and one for smaller. Don't let your dog play with dogs that are drastically different in size from him/her. If other dogs attack or start fights, take your dog and leave. You can't control what kind of owners the other dogs have, but you can control keeping your dog away from dangerous situations. If a fight does break out, stay calm while removing your animal, if you're tense it will only add to the negative energy and add to the problem. Screaming at a dog is a wasted endeavor.

Hopefully your visits to the Dog Park will be a fun and rewarding time for both you and your pack.

Pumpkin Puff Pet Treats

With all the baking of Christmas goodies, don't forget to make a holiday treat for the 4 legged members of your pack! Here is a simple recipe I got from the back of the Christmas card that my vet sent to me.

Pumpkin Puff Pet Treats

1 1/2 C. Canned Pumpkin(use the plain pumpkin, not the stuff with other spices in it)
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
3 1/2 C. Oats
1/4 C. Applesauce

Directions:
First, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Drop tablespoons of the mixture onto an ungreased bakink sheet and press flat with a fork. Bake for approximately 15 minutes (if using a baking stone bake for 18-20 minutes) then cool on a rack before serving. Store in an airtight container for maximum freshness.

**If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition, please consult your vet before introducing new food.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Herding Dogs

I LOVE Herding Dogs! Obviously my Favorite is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, but all herding dogs are spectacular!

The Beautiful Border Collie has been scientifically proven to be the smartest breed of dog in existence today.


The Corgi was originally used to herd cattle because they are so low to the ground, and able to turn on a dime, that they were well out of harm's way if the cattle would kick at the dog.


The Australian Shepherds (which are actually an American breed) have agility that is simply amazing, as well as an intelligence that makes them easy to train.


The German Shepherd is one of the most versatile herding dogs. They have been used for many more jobs than just that of their origin in the pastoral group.


One of the many facets that all herding dog breeds have in common is a keen intelligence. They have been bred to be the smartest of all dog groups. The down side of having such an extremely intelligent animal is that they need mental stimulation much more than some other breeds. Just physical exercise, such as walking, is not enough for these breeds. They need a "job" to do, lest they become under stimulated mentally and develop bad behaviors. I have trained Banon, my Corgi, in both agility and fly ball. While she has never competed in either event, the regular training of a more mentally challenging exercise helps keep her well balanced.

Border Collies are not suited to being pets. They need constant stimulation and firm training, otherwise they may become snappy if bored.

Corgis are less likely to snap than Border Collies, but still are not an ideal pet for young children. Yes, that may seem hypocritical, but keep in mind, I am a Behaviorist and Trainer. Also, my dogs and my children are never together unsupervised.


German Shepherds are an extremely loyal breed, but if kept as a pet, they too need firm training and regular exercise.

Australian Shepherds have a more even disposition and are well adapted to family life. However they are by no means exempt from the firm training necessity.



Owning a herding dog, whether pure bred or mixed, is a great joy. They are fun, energetic, loyal, and protective. The trick is to make certain, before getting a herding dog, that you, as the pack leader, have plenty of time to train and exercise the dog.

There are many herding breeds to choose from. I only listed four of the more commonly owned for the sake of time. Here is a short list of other breeds to consider and research if you are interested in getting a herding dog.
Australian Cattle Dog
Bearded Collie
Belgian Shepherd
Briard
Rough Collie
Smooth Collie
Kelpie
Old English Sheepdog (often confused with the Bearded Collie)
Great Pyrenees
Samoyed
Shetland Sheepdog

Kids and Dogs

"Would you ask your third grader to drive to the store and pick up a few groceries for you? Or perhaps get dinner ready for the family by six o'clock? Why not? After all, your child has ridden in the car and accompanied you to the supermarket many times and knows all about buying groceries. He/She certainly has watched you prepare and serve hundreds of meals on a defined time schedule. But of course, your child does not possess the maturity, focus, or judgment required to drive a car, shop responsibly, or pull a timely meal together."*

Training a dog or puppy to be a well adjusted, balanced member of your pack requires lots of mature thought, planning, focus, and judgment - attributes most commonly found in adults. Although kids benefit from the companionship of a well-trained dog, the job of producing such a dog belongs to grown-ups.
**
A well-trained and properly supervised dog brings joy to adult and young family members alike. Even toy breeds should not be handled by young children. Just because they are "toy sized" does not make them TOYS.




*Quoted from The Siberian Husky by Lorie Long
**Thanks to Kevin for this pic of his darling girl and their dog!

Rub-A-Dub-Dog

I was an apprentice to a dog groomer for a short time a few years ago. One thing I noticed during that time was that people either had their dogs groomed too often, or not often enough. Very few dog owners had the balance down for how often a dog NEEDS to be groomed.

First off, grooming does not always entail getting their fur trimmed, or shaved. That depends more on the breed and how long or short the owners prefer their dog's fur to be "styled". A good example of this is the Yorkshire Terrier, many owners prefer to keep the fur short, but there are some who appreciate that this is a long haired breed and maintain the long glossy coat. Both are cute! It is strictly owner's preference.

However, all dog breeds should have regular bathing. Dogs don't need to be bathed as often as humans, thank goodness! The best rule of thumb is twice a month in the summer, and once a month in the winter. This helps with shedding, as well as maintaining good health. You should brush your dog at least once a week, for short haired breeds, and twice a week for long haired breeds. When you bathe/groom your dog too often it depletes their coats of natural oils that they need for healthy skin and fur. If neglected and not done often enough they are at risk of a variety of parasites and skin disease. Also, don't forget to trim their nails regularly! Over grown nails hurt your dog and can even prevent them from walking normal.

You don't have to spend a fortune to bath/groom your dog. Most dog shampoos are pretty cost effective at your local Target or Wal-Mart. Make sure you use DOG SHAMPOO, not human! Dog shampoo is specially formulated for dogs skin and coats. For dogs that are mostly or all white you can buy a special shampoo (that is actually blue in color) that really brings out the brightness of their fur.

Don't forget to make sure you thoroughly dry your dog's coat before letting them go outside in cold weather!

If your dog has a skin condition or parasites, see your vet immediately. Failing to do so only prolongs your dog's suffering, the problem becomes worse and more expensive to treat, and it is also a form of CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE!

Regular grooming is just as important as food, water, and exercise for your healthy, HAPPY dog!

The BEST Breed?

A reader of my blog recently asked which breed of dog she and her family should get. They have children under 5 and wanted to know which breed would be best suited for such an age group. I have two children - both under the age of 5 - and while I own a Welsh Corgi and a Siberian Husky, I would not recommend those breeds in most cases of where young children are involved in the equation. My dogs are great! Don't get me wrong, but I'm also a trainer, and my children have minimal interaction with my dogs.

For a family with young children, I would highly recommend a Labrador or a Retriever. Those are the most tolerant and patient breeds I've come across yet. Though many breeds can do just fine with children, these two stand out to me as the BEST.

Keep in mind though, that the Labs and Retrievers do not fully MENTALLY mature until they are about 5 years old. I would not recommend getting a puppy of either of these breeds unless you have lots of time, and patience yourself. But the animal shelters are always full, and most of them have a variety of Labs or Retrievers to adopt.

Most people think it is easier to adopt a puppy than an adult dog, but it's really not. Regardless of it's past any dog (at any age) can be taught new things and adapt quickly to a new family.

The best chance of success lies with the owner who regularly walks their dog(s). Daily exercise helps drain energy that could become destructive energy if not properly channeled, and helps establish a bond between the Pack Leader (which SHOULD be the OWNER) and the rest of the pack.