Chars Dogs and Dog Info

If you are like me who live in the part of the United States that gets snow and ice, you’ve probably got a lot more of that nasty stuff this year than most years. It seems like almost every day, you are hearing about ice or snow coming. And, if you are like me, you don’t want to slip and fall when you walk out to your vehicle, so you spread some de-icer on the sidewalk and driveway. Well that fantastic working de-icer could be a problem for your dogs.

I only put de-icer on my front porch, sidewalks and driveway because my dogs almost never go out the front door. The only time they do is if they have to go to the groomer or vet, but I would definitely not take them if it was bad weather outside anyway. I do not spread the de-icer in the back where they always go out to do their job. 

This de-icer can burn your dog’s paws if they walk over it on your pavement. If you want to buy de-icer, buy either the pet friendly kind or the type that does not contain chloride. This is the ingredient that can burn your doggy’s paws. 

As everyone knows, I am all for adopting a new dog from either a shelter or a rescue group. I feel that should be the first choice in obtaining a new dog for your household. However, if you are bent on getting a specific breed and want to go to a breeder, there are some warnings that should alert you to a puppy mill and not a reputable breeder. 

When you visit with the breeder, here are some red alerts you should look for:

1. The breeder will not give you references.
2. The breeder has puppies that have not seen a vet.
3. The breeder won’t let you see the breeding facility.
4. The breeder doesn’t socialize the puppies with other puppies. 
5. The breeder facility smells badly or does not look clean. 
6. The breeder breeds more than one specific breed of dog.
7. The breeder won’t give you any type of guarantee. 
8. The breeder won’t let you see the puppy’s mom or dad.

If you find any of the above mentioned items or the place looks a puppy mill, stay away!

All of my five dogs, but one, was adopted from shelters or rescue groups. The one puppy that I got from a breeder was Rocky and the breeder he came from was thoroughly checked out before I got him. I did look at the regional shelters and rescues for a miniature schnauzer, but was unable to find one. That is when I decided to go to a breeder. There are some very reputable breeders out there. You just need to find them. 

There has always been a rule for actors and actresses: Never star with an animal or children-they will upstate you. Evidently, Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston didn’t listen to that old adage. They are the parents that adopt Marley, the disorderly Labrador retriever that steals the show in this movie. Marley wiggles his way into the couple’s hearts even though he loves to tear up things like chair cushions, home electronics and pillows. They even try obedience training, but Marley flunks out of that too.  

During assorted scenes in the movie, 18 dogs were used to represent Marley during different states of his life. The American Humane Association (AHA) supervises animals while they work on parts in movies and TV so that they aren’t harmed or misused in any way. AHA always has a safety representative on the set to make certain the animals welfare is taken care of. They will even shut down production if they see that an animal has worked too hard in one day. 

Shelters are where most of the dogs used in films are found. Some dogs were found through breeders, trained to do specific jobs and made certain that the dogs who played a certain role look the same. There are a number of times that crew members fall in love with certain dogs who work on the set and end up adopting them once they are done with their job. 

I think it is fantastic that most of the dogs used on the set of Marley and Me were adopted from shelters. That just means more dogs are saved from uncertain death and are brought to a forever home where they can be loved the rest of their life. 

If you are like me, you always want to keep your pups from safe from harm. The one thing you don’t want to happen is to have someone steal your dog. A couple of years ago, my neighborhood had a rage of dog snatchers. People who left their dogs out in their backyard behind fences had strangers come to the gates and open them and let the dogs out. Some dogs were found, others weren’t. When I heard about this, I put padlocks on my fence gates. There are other ways to avoid getting your dog stolen and I’ll give you a few tips. 

1. Never let your dog alone out in front of a store, in your car or anywhere left unattended.

2. Always keep your dog inside the house when you leave. Never leave your dog outside when you are gone.

3. Your dog needs to be micro chipped and have current identification on their collar. You also need to keep a current photo of your pet on hand in case they do get lost or stolen. 

Hopefully, these tips will help keep your dog safe from harm. 

There is nothing cuter than a little puppy with a big red bow on its collar on Christmas day. However, if you are thinking of giving a puppy as a Christmas gift, please think hard before you do it.

One thing to consider is if the potential new puppy owner actually WANTS a new puppy for Christmas. Dog lovers that we are, think there is nothing more special that owning a dog as a pet. However, not everyone feels this way. This is a pet that someone will be taking care of, feeding, loving and keeping safe for the next 10-15 years. This is a very lengthy time to be responsible for a pet that they might not want. We sure don’t want any more dogs going to shelters because of someone not really thinking about the gift they are giving. 

Also, if you are like me, you want to be able to pick out your furry friend yourself. I know when I went to look at my dogs for the first time; I was able to know that the dog was for me. I could just feel it. Don’t take that special first connection away from a person. 

If you really know that this person wants a puppy, give them a card with a note written inside, that this card entitles the person to a puppy. That way, you can go with your friend to pick out their forever puppy after the holidays. It will be a much calmer time and your friend will have ample time to train and get used to the new puppy. This would be fantastic for all concerned. 

There are a lot of dog owners who feel that if they don’t take their dogs with them on a vacation, it isn’t worth going. If you are taking your pup with you, you do need to plan ahead. Here are some tips to make the trip safe and happier.

1. Call ahead for motel reservations to make sure they are pet friendly. Never leave your dog in your vehicle overnight.

2. Make sure your dog had proper identification tags on him. You don’t want your dog to jump out of the car and get lost in a strange area and not able to be indentified if found.

3. Take your dog’s health records with you. In case Fido gets sick and has to see a vet, it will help if the vet can look at your dog’s health records.

4. Be ready in case of an emergency like having car trouble or being stranded. Have dog food and water and extra dishes with you just in case.  

5. Aim to keep your dog on his regular schedule. Feed him at the normal times and let him out for some exercise also.

These are just a few tips to make your holiday travel with your pet safer and easier for everyone.

We all know Christmas is coming upon us very quickly. We don’t want to leave our furry kids out of our Christmas gift giving, but in this poor economic time, some of us might want to be more frugal in our doggy gift giving.

I have come up with some ideas for handmade gifts that our dogs will love and won’t cost you much of anything.

How about making Fido a great Christmas bandana? You can find fabric that doesn’t cost very much, it is easy to do and you can use any design you want. Here is a url that shows you how to make one. Click here.

Pick up a cheap Frisbee and have fun with your dog and let him get some good exercise with the Frisbee. Larger dogs may enjoy the famous tennis ball. They last quite awhile with most dogs and you can just bounce them and most dogs will jump up with glee to catch them.

Do you have some clean spare rope lying around? Just get a long string of rope, tie knots in it and it can make a great tug toy. Check it every once in awhile to make sure it doesn’t unravel. You don’t want your pup to ingest any of it.

Those are just a few ideas for Christmas gift giving and make him happy too! 

Do you have it set up in your will what will happen to your dogs in case of your untimely death? It sure is something to think about. If you die unexpectedly, unless you have something specifically set up, your pups will probably go to the pound. If you are like me, you don’t want that to happen to your precious dogs.

I have it set up in my will, that if something happens to my husband and me, my dogs are to go to a good friend of mine. I know that by doing this, my pups will be loved and taken care of like I would want them to be. Many people make wills to make sure their wishes are carried out with regards to their possessions and money. Why not do the same for your beloved pets?

Did you know that the breed of dog you have reveals a little something about you? 

Do you have a beagle? If you do, you are probably a type of person who is faithful to your friends, pretty tough on people you don’t like and awful stubborn. The beagle breed is all the time questioning things. 

People that own cocker spaniels are affectionate, nurturing and your life probably revolves around your family. Cocker spaniels are a great breed for young kids. They are playful and very sweet. 

Golden retriever owners are usually a sociable type of people who like to be in group settings with a lot of other people around.

Just like the dog itself, Chihuahua parents are frequently trouble makers and are full of energy and spunk.

Owners of poodles are usually particular about certain things and value traditions and art. 

I have no idea what I am like. Since I have two Australian shepherds, two miniature schnauzers and a black lab, I guess I’m just different. 

I found this real neat website called Zootoo.com that I’m sure every pet lover will love to go to and join. You can click on the logo above to get to it. (No I don’t receive any money for this) On this site, if you join, which is free, you can upload your pet’s information, upload photos and videos of them, keep a journal and meet lots of other people who love animals like we do.
There are other things you can do. There is tons of information about all kinds of animals. You can rate, review and buy pet products. You can write questions and get advice. You can also join and create different groups and share pet information. Another neat thing is that you can get points which will be beneficial to animal shelters and animal rescue groups which really need our help right now.

All this for free. I joined and you can too. Just click above or click on this link: Zootoo.com