Choosing A Dog House

Dog Houses come in all shapes, sizes and designs. They can be constructed out of wood, metal or plastic. You can buy or make dog houses to look really nice, but the important thing is whether your dog will use it. It is important to consider the climate where you live. If your dog will be exposed to a lot of cold weather and rain, you want to choose a dog house that is insulated and waterproof. If your dog will be out in the heat, you want to make sure that the house is well ventilated.
You will also want to think about whether your dog is an older dog or a younger dog. An older dog might have some arthritis issues that need to be addressed in the design of the dog house. You will want to think about how he prefers to lay and what would be the most comfortable design for him.
Before building or buying a dog house, you will want to measure your dog. The dog house should not be too big or too small. It should be easy to clean. Some dog houses come apart so that they can be cleaned to keep your dog from getting sick. The door size should be about ¾ of the dog’s ground to shoulder measurement. The length of the house should be the same as the width of the house. The height should be 25-50% taller than your dog’s head. Make sure to consider the measurements so your dog will not be too cold in a dog house that is too big for him or too warm in a dog house that is too small. For more information, click here!

Buying a Dog Bed

There are many different types of dog beds. When buying a dog bed for your dog, you will need to consider the size and health of your dog as well as the way he likes to lay. Does your dog like to sprawl out or does he prefer to curl up in a ball? Does your dog like to hang is head over the arm of the couch? Then he might prefer a bolster bed that has sides to it. Do you have an older, arthritic dog? You might want to think about a memory foam dog bed.
We found this out the hard way. We bought a fluffy bolster bed for our boxer, Zoe. Due to a bad leg, she was unable to get out of it, once she was in it. We returned the bed and exchanged it for a memory foam with a bolster pillow around the back of it. It has worked out quite nicely. Zoe loves it. For more information, go here!

Best Dog Breeds for Elderly

Most of us are well aware of the benefits of having a dog for a companion. But how do I know which breed is best for my elderly parents? After assessing the health of your aging parents, you can help them decide how much care they are able to give a dog. There is one large breed that I would recommend for an elderly person; a Greyhound. Because of their gentle nature and low energy, these dogs would make a good pet for the person that prefers a larger dog. But most of the time, the smaller breeds are easier for an elder person to take care of. Some of the preferable smaller breeds are Chihuahuas, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, French Bull Dogs, Miniature Poodles, Shih Tzu’s, Yorkshire Terriers Pekingese and Pug, to name a few. Typically, a dog that is a year and a half to two years old is a good age. At this age, they are past many of the puppy stages of potty training, etc. and yet they are still young enough to not have too many health issues.
A smaller dog breed is easier to cuddle and hold on your lap. A larger breed could very easily knock someone over. It is also important to consider how much energy is going to be too much. If the dog is rambunctious and requires a lot of walking, it is important to decide if this is something that an elderly person will be able to do. Many small breeds are high strung and tend to be noisy. Some people prefer to have a barking dog that will alert them when someone is around. These are all factors that must be considered when adopting a dog. For more information, go here!

Dangerous Gardens for Dogs

As many of us have planted summer vegetable gardens and are starting to enjoy the fruits of our labor, we need to be aware that many of these fruits and plants are harmful to our dogs. For instance, apples, apricots, peaches, wild cherries, plums, balsam pears, prunes and other similar fruit can cause diarrhea and vomiting. This includes the stems, seeds and leaves. The seeds of most fruits have cyanide in them that is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. Avocados, broccoli, almonds and macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs as well. Many garden plants such as corn plants, onions, grapes and tomato plants can also be very dangerous to your four-legged friend. These fruits and plants can make your dog very ill. As we enjoy our gardens, we need to make sure we have proper barriers to keep our dogs out. This will help to prevent fatal consequences. For more information
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Is All Dog Food Created Equally?

Zoe was just a puppy when she began to develop large bumps around her neck. She scratched and scratched at them until they became infected. Our veterinarian put her on antibiotics and steroids which took care of the problem temporarily. It wasn’t long before we noticed a pattern. We began questioning the ingredients of the dog food we were feeding her. We discovered the food we were feeding her had corn in it. Zoe was allergic to corn based dog food. We started using a holistic dog food that has no corn or fillers in it called Canidae. It made a big difference. The out of pocket price is a little more, but it meant less visits to the vet. All dog foods are not created equally. To find out more, Click Here!

Stop Dog Biting

If you have a dog that bites, this can be a very serious liability. A dog that is in pain, hungry or very stressed can end up biting someone. It is important to get this behavior under control immediately. You can start by earning his trust. Start spending time working with your dog and letting him take a treat out of your hand. It is crucial that you display confidence around your dog, so that he does not sense that you are afraid. While he is taking a treat from your hand, gently pet his face. Do this a couple of times a day, but only a few minutes at a time. You can eventually begin to increase the amount of time you are petting him while you give him a treat. If your dog tries to bite you, give him a firm “no” and leave him in the room alone for a minute to let him know that this is unacceptable behavior.
You also want your dog comfortable with other people. Put up a gate in another room and let your dog stay in that room while guests enter the house. Have your guests ignore him at first. One by one, have each guest get up and walk by the gate and acknowledge your dog as they toss him a treat. Do not let them linger near the gate. Using dog training to change behaviors takes baby steps. If you are persistent, he will warm up to you and your guests and be less likely to bite. To learn more Click Here!

Therapy Dog

Dogs are wonderful therapy and great stress relievers. They can make you laugh when your sad. They show you affection when you need it most without any expectations from you. My faithful friend waits for me to come home from work everyday. She waits right by the door. As soon as I acknowledge her, she begins to wag her stubby tail. It is not long before the stress of my day is a faint memory and I have turned my focus to my loyal sidekick.

There have been studies done about the calming affect of petting a dog. Dogs can be trained to visit convalescent homes and sick children. Dogs trained as therapy dogs are known as comfort animals. Comfort animals improve physical and emotional function in many patients while reducing loneliness. Petting and stroking an animal allows the patient physical touch and companionship. Therapy dogs frequently come in contact with people in wheelchairs or hospital related equipment. These dogs must be comfortable being around equipment especially if it makes unusual sounds. A therapy dog is trained to offer comfort to hospital patients and those in nursing homes and mental facilities. Therapy dogs change tears to smiles. Dogs offer unconditional love and a level of patience that no human could ever possibly give. Therapy dogs can give a great deal of comfort and companionship to the hurt and lonely. For more information, go here!