Things are so bad when you have a friend…even if the friend is just your dog.

Dogs play an important part as kids are growing up. If parents are capable of taking care of a dog, I believe that all kids should have at least one dog as they grow up.

Having a dog teaches the child some responsibility when they are old enough to help with the care of the dog. It also gives them a friend they can sit with and talk, or cry, while the dog nuzzles them with understanding. One who will listen and never judge.

Some kids need that special friend who will listen when they don’t want to confide in their parents because they are afraid they might ridicule or think they are stupid. Dogs always have the time to listen and are happy you shared your most important secrets with them, as they will never reveal them to another single soul. As it is said, “dogs always wag their tails and not their tongues”.

Dogs are always there to share in your happiness or sorrow. You can talk to them when you are afraid or lonely, and when you are in trouble; they are by your side.

You can always count on them for any support with their unwavering loyalty and unconditional love.  One lick from them on your hand or face, eases any pain.

You can have fun with your dog everyday and without even having to work hard at it, exercise your dog and yourself at the same time.

1.   The Park - Take your dog for a walk in the park.
2.    Jogging - Take your dog jogging with you when you go.
3.    Skateboarding - When my kids were younger, they took our male German shepherd with them and he pulled them on their skateboards. It was fun for them and exercise for him. Actually some dogs can learn to ride skateboards themselves.
4.   Swimming - Take your dog along when you go swimming. Almost all dogs love the water. Great fun and exercise for both you and your dog.
5.    Tricks - Teach your dog some tricks. Teach him to “Speak,” “Shake hands,” “Fetch,” “Jump through hoops,” “Kiss,” “Roll over,” etc.
6.    Playtime - Have playtime set up each day so you and your dog can have some fun together. Get out his toys and run and rump with him. This is a great time to play Frisbee in your fenced in backyard, where he can run and play safely.
7.    4-H Groups - Get your dog into a 4-H group.  Learn how to have fun with your dog.
8.   Agility - Try agility with your dog, Good Canine Citizen, fly ball, or obedience.
9.    AKC Shows - If your dog is AKC registered, try showing him in a real show, or Fun match.
10.    Camping – Take your dog camping with you and on your hikes. It’s exercise and protection.

Just remember…you may think your dog is completely fine off leash, but it only takes a minute of distraction at the wrong time; like seeing another dog or cat, and that could be enough for him to start the chase. Your dog could get lost or hurt, (or worse).  It’s much better to keep him on a leash at all times for his safety when you are out and about.

To learn more ways to have fun and keep your dog safe and healthy, check out  www.dogspoiler.com

Here are some examples from my book,   “365 Fun Dog Facts ”

Smoking:  Did you know that your pet could develop skin allergies and asthma from breathing second-hand smoke, just like humans? If you smoke, go outside to smoke and dispose of your cigarette butts in a proper container.    Cigarette butts can be fatal to dogs if they eat them. ~ Research from Colorado State University shows that tobacco smoke has a clear effect on dogs. Cancer causing chemicals can be found in dog’s hair and urine months after exposure to tobacco smoke.

A German Shepherd named Blondi was owed by Adolf Hitler. It was his favorite dog, despite the fact that he tried cyanide capsules on her to see if they worked, and they did. He later used them on himself commit suicide when he saw it worked on Blondi.

The name for the movie  “Indiana Jones,” comes from the name of George Lucas’ dog, Indiana. This dog also served as the inspiration for Chewbacca in “Star Wars” in 1997.

Humphrey Bogart owned a dog named, Zero, which appeared with him in the movie “High Sierra” in 1941.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  http://www.dogspoiler.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you should ever encounter an aggressive dog, do you know what to do? Listed below are some examples of what to do to avoid any potential problems and how to protect yourself in an attack.

• Don’t run or scream when you are confronted with a threatening dog; rather stand and hold your ground. Running only increases your chance of getting attacked. Stand your ground and try telling the dog in a firm but calm voice to, “go home,” “Go away,” or “no.”

• Never look the dog directly in his eyes, as he interprets this as a challenge. Keep the dog in your peripheral vision so you are aware if he makes a move toward you.

• Even though your heart may be beating fast, try to appear relaxed. Dogs sense fear.

• If the dog starts to back away, then you can slowly start to back away, but keep glancing at him. If the dog starts to come toward you again, just stop and wait until he starts to move away again, then slowly back away until he’s out of sight.

• If you are riding a bicycle, dismount and stand with the bike between you and the dog. Never try to out run the dog on your bike. It won’t happen. Dogs can run faster than you can pedal your bike, and they love to chase things that move. Hopefully when you dismount your bike, the dog will lose interest since he doesn’t have something to chase.

• To avoid getting bite, never try to pet a stray dog, or attempt to pet a dog that is either sleeping or eating.

• If you are out walking and a stray dog approaches and starts barking at you, never turn your back on him.

• If a stray dog comes up to you, and isn’t acting aggressive, let him sniff you. Just don’t make any fast movements that he may interpret as threatening. Most of the time he will just move on after he realizes that you aren’t a threat to him.

• If you do get attacked, throw something at the dog, like your coat or purse, or what ever you are carrying at the time. This will distract him for a few seconds which should give you time to climb into your car or get inside a store. If he does knock you down before you can get to safety, curl up into a ball and protect your head and neck with your hands and arms. Then seek immediate medical help and report the dog attack to the police.

This is good advice for children especially with dogs they don’t know.

1. Ask permission – Always ask permission to pet a dog. Once it is given, don’t just reach out fast to pet the dogs head, rather let the dog sniff the back of your hand first so you don’t startle the dog and get bite.

2.    Let the dog see you – Never try to pet a dog from behind.  If he feels a hand on his backside, he may bite first and ask questions later. Without him seeing you, this may scare him and will bite for protection.

3.    Never pet a dog that is crated or in a car – This dog could be your neighbors, but when he’s inside his crate or inside his car, or even his own backyard, he is protecting his property or his territory. Never reach in the car window or put your fingers inside the dog crate.

4.     Don’t walk up to a stray dog. You never know if he is friendly or not. If you see one, never run or turn your back on him. Dogs have this natural instinct to chase. Don’t make any fast movements that could be interpreted as a threat to him.  Just let him go on his way.

Another recipe from my book,   “Howling Good Dog Cookies”

½    Cup   Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
½    Cup   Butter
¼    Cup   Carrots  (cooked)
¼    Cup   Peas  (cooked)
1     Cup   Whole Wheat Flour
Milk

Combine the cheese and margarine. Mix in the carrot, peas and flour. Add enough milk to form for a stiff dough ball. Chill dough for 1 hour.   Roll dough out on floured surface to ¼ inch thickness and cut into desired shapes. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until nicely browned.

FYI… In my book, “Howling Good Dog Cookies,”  I have over 200 recipes, which includes dog biscuits,  cookies,  treats, frozen treats, microwave and bread machine recipes, Recipes for the health of your dog, meats and stews, deserts and gravies - plus 6 homemade dog shampoos, 7 hot spots treatments and much more!  Check it out!

Puppies Teeth

The first baby teeth to come in are the canine teeth. These are the longer teeth on each side in the front of their mouth, which erupt around 3 or 4 weeks of age.  The incisors, (tiny teeth in front) and the premolars, (larger side teeth), start coming in about 4 -6 weeks of age. The pups should have all their baby teeth by the age of 8 weeks, which total  28 baby teeth.

As most of you may know, puppy teeth are sharp as little needles when they are young. That is why people will start puppies on a gruel or mushy food about 3 weeks old. It makes life a little easier for the bitch, as the pups teeth will soon become uncomfortable for her. When this food is offered to the pups, it makes weaning the pups easier.

At or about 4 - 5 months old, the pups will begin shedding their baby teeth. By age 7 - 8 months, all the permanent incisors, canines, premolars and molars should be in. Most adult dog breeds have a total of 42 permanent teeth.

Puppy Teething

All puppies love to chew. They chew on things because it eases the discomfort of teething and they chew too, out of boredom. You may have noticed that the pups chew on or “mouth” each other. This is a form of playing with each other. When they are young it is natural for them to chew on things as they explore the new world. That’s just part of being a puppy and will continue as he grows and matures.

Although at a certain point in his life, he must learn, especially with his sharp teeth, that chewing on everything is not acceptable and must be taught to chew only on certain things like his toys and not to “nip” our hands or face. To train your pup to stop “nipping,” you can say the word, “no” in a stern voice and stop playing with him for a minute or two. He will learn over time, that you don’t like this ‘rough playing’ and will stop doing it.

I know that your first thought when the pup nips at your face or hands, would be to slap the pups mouth because it hurt you and you want to let the pup know that it hurt. This will only make matters worse. Hitting or slapping a pup or adult dog could lead to making him aggressive or even become hand shy, (meaning that if you raise your hand toward him, even if it’s to pet him, he will back up or cower down because he is afraid you might hit him).

This is why you need patience, time and love, to raise well-adjusted puppies that will do well when they go out into this big wide world, and not be afraid of anything or anybody.

Tips

For puppy teething, try giving your pup a large carrot to chew on to help relieve sore teething gums, or freeze a wet rope toy, as this would ease the pain of teething with a cooling effect on the gums.  Try freezing beef broth in ice cube trays and giving him one to chew on.  Also, puppy teething toys can be bought in Pet stores.

To help keep the pup (or adult dog), from getting bored, or from chewing on things he is not suppose to, let him have plenty of playtime and exercise.

Give the pup (and adult dog), plenty of safe toys to chew on. Never give him toys that pieces could be chewed off and swallowed. I found the safest toys for my dogs are Kong toys. Kong toys can also be filled with treats that could keep the dogs busy for hours, and they come in all sizes.

Always puppy proof your house. Keep electrical cords out of their reach. Basically - anything that doesn’t belong on the floor or in his reach should be picked up (pens, paperclips, pencils, TV remotes, garbage, medicine bottles, etc.), and use a baby gate  because this will keep him out of any area you don’t want him in.

How many times have your heard that one? It is especially hard to cut toenails if you can’t even hold his paw long enough.

To gain his trust

Start touching and rubbing the dogs feet at a very young age. This way he will be accustom to having his feet touch and you won’t have that problem. I have found that touching and rubbing the dogs feet and between the pads of his feet starting out at a very young age, will help out greatly as he gets older so I could hold his paw while cutting the toenails.

For dogs that are older and are not used to having their feet touched, slowly touch one of his paws and say good boy and give him a treat. Talk to him calmly and reassuringly while you rub his paw and give treats. Do this several times a day, touching only one of his paws. The next day try touching or rubbing another paw, as you give him his treats. This will take time, as it requires a great deal of trust from your dog and plenty of patience on your part.

Cutting nails

After you have gained his trust, you can introduce him to the toenail cutter or dremel. Have treats handy and give him several. Then you can try cutting the toenails on his foot. I suggest that when you start cutting the nails, you do it slowly and just cut a very small amount of nail off, and do it more often. This way you won’t cut to far down. If this happens, the dog remembers the pain associated with it and doesn’t want to cooperate as well. Remember to praise the dog when he holds still after cutting each nail. When you are all finished, make a big deal out of it. Give him hugs and treats and tell him he’s a good boy.

I’ve had many dogs throughout the years. Cutting toenails is one of the things I dislike most, not only because they won’t stand still long enough, but I’m always afraid that I will cut to far down which will hurt them. Toenails bleed ‘forever’ it seems if they get ’nicked’. Then you have to watch out for infection.

I’ve always cut the pups toenails while they are still in the whelping box. I know the mother of these pups appreciates it. Their toenails become sharp as little needles. I use  ‘human’ fingernail clippers while they are still young.

Then as they grow I use a ‘human’ toenail clipper.  As they mature, I had to use a regular toenail cutter designed especially for dogs, as their toenails become to tough to cut otherwise, at least on my large breed of dogs. This is where I have problems cutting the toenail. Since some of my adult dogs haven’t had their toenails cut for a while, they become very thick and hard. Cutting them with regular toenail cutters don’t work as well. I haven’t cut them as often as I should have, their toenails are now really thick and tough to cut through, and if they move or pull their foot away, I sometimes cut to far down.

Then finally, I’ve started using a dremel. It sure is a lifesaver for me. I’ve found one that is cordless and super quite. Because the dremel is quick and easy to use, it makes it so much easier to trim the nails. If I ‘cut’ to far down, the heat from this dremel seals the “nicked” part so it does not bleed. In my opinion, the dremel is the best way to cut nails, at least on the larger breed of dogs.

2   Med.   Bananas  (ripe but not rotten)
4   Cup     Plain Yogurt
2   tsp       Honey

Slice banana, place in blender.  Add yogurt and honey.   Blend smooth & freeze in plastic ice cube tray or small paper cups.

Since this recipe is made with ingredients that is also good for us, you and your dog can sit down and share these treats together.

Taken from my book, “Howling Good Dog Cookies”

My dog has arthritis, so what can I do for him to help relieve the pain from his sore and stiff joints? Can I give him over-the-counter drugs? Should I stop taking him for walks? You have lots of questions – we have lots of answers…

Arthritis is a general term for abnormal changes in a joint and it is common in dogs, especially if they are aging and over weight. Dogs that are over weight have more trouble with arthritis because it affects their joints. With the extra weigh, more pressure is placed on the already sore and stiff joints, thus causing further pain.

To help find a drug treatment that will help ease your dogs pain for arthritis, talk to your Veterinarian and follow his advise. He may prescribe an over-the-counter drug that may help decrease the dogs pain and its progression. Never give your dog any medication that is meant for a human without first checking with you Veterinarian. Certain medications can be toxic to dogs. Especially medications such as: acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Let your Veterinarian help you make the correct and safest choice on what to give your dog.

Some of the signs of arthritis in dogs

•  Dogs that seem to have stiff or sore joints
•  Not wanting to play as much
•  Trouble sitting or standing
•  Not wanting to jump up on you
•  Having trouble climbing stairs
•  Favoring a limb
•  Weight gain
•  Sleeping more

If you dog starts to show these symptoms, it’s time to take him to the Veterinarian for a check up. The Veterinarian might also want X-rays for a better diagnosis. This way if the dog has arthritis, you can start treating him right away.

Treatments

The Veterinarian will want you to put your dog on a healthy diet rich in proteins, fiber and minerals and an exercise program that is designed for his condition at that time. By having regular check ups, your veterinarian can adjust the exercise program and medications as needed.

› Over-the-counter pills or food that contain either or both, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements, will reduce the swelling and pain from the arthritis.

› Omega fatty acids in the dogs diet can help alleviate the inflammation and discomfort of an arthritic dog. Flax and flax oil are good sources of Omega 3.  Cold-pressed flax oil is another excellent choice, but should be kept in the refrigerator because it has a short shelf life.

› Oils such as cod liver oil derived from cold-water fish are also an excellent source of Omega 3.

› Vitamin E has help in some cases, as it is said to have moderate anti-inflammatory properties. What I’ve been told by my Veterinarian is 2000IU a day for dogs over 50 lbs.  Although the veterinarian would start dogs out on a lower dose at first and build the dose up over time. Always ask your Veterinarian on how much is appropriate for your dog.

› I found that a product called Arthramine works well for my 12 year old. Arthramine is for healthy joints and bones. It contains: Glucosamine HCI - Vitamin C – Manganese – Omega-3 fatty acids.  This can be bought over-the-counter at pet stores; but is much cheaper when bought in a mail-order catalog, such as: Omaha Vaccine Company.

Food to avoid

Try to avoid food that contains grains, which are said to cause inflammation. Some veterinarians think this might aggravate the pain of arthritis even more.

Ways to help relieve the pain of arthritis

« Try giving your dog a massage to help relieve the sore, stiff muscles and joints.

« Keep him warm and off cold or damp surfaces. Try placing blankets, or extra rugs for him to lie on.

« Keep his weight under control so there is less stress to his joints.

« Give him some exercise, in moderation of course. It’s better to let him walk outside with you everyday, than to take him on a long walk one day and forget about him for the next several days.

Remember, dogs do better if they know that someone cares about them. Give them lots of love and attention.

The above material is just a guideline of  information on arthritis. Always consult your Vet  first before starting your dog on any treatment.