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Best iPhone Apps For Dog Owners

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:04:47 -0600

If you have a dog and an iPhone, then you will definitely want to check out these totally cool iPhone apps that pertain to dogs.

Some are FREE. And some are nearly free -- only $.99 to $1.99), so they're still very affordable.

The best part: they all really unique, so dog owners should find them interesting.

Following are my top picks for the best dog-related iPhone apps. Plus, you'll also find the top picks from several other dog owners, as well!

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Throw Toy Thursday: Win a FREE Eco-Friendly Gourdo Toy from Ruff Wear

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:40:37 -0600

I don't know about you, but I've become ever-increasingly aware of what my dogs' toys are made with.

I mean hey, we are more watchful of what we put on and in our bodies...don't our four-legged family members deserve the same?

Of course they do!

If you're looking for a new toy for fido to enjoy, look no further than the Gourdo from Ruff Wear.

If you haven't figured it out quite yet, we're giving one away right here! Read on for the details...

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How To Stop Puppy Biting, Mouthing And Nipping

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:48:37 -0600

We recently adopted a puppy. From day one, he's had a mouthing and biting problem.

Of course we know that when puppies play, they bite. Puppies use their mouths to explore the world. It is as normal for them to bite as it is for them to eat or sleep.

It is through puppy play, which includes nipping, mouthing and biting that they eventually learn to control their biting instinct. However, allowing a puppy to bite anything other than a toy or his food, is asking for trouble with a capital T!

A puppy that bites will grow into an adult dog that bites and that will become a nightmare for both you and your adult dog.

Here are some tips for controlling nipping and biting while your puppy is still young...

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Tips For Adopting Your Dog From A Breeder vs From A Shelter

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:45:51 -0600

After you have determined the type of dog you're looking for, the next question you should ask is "Where do I go to get my dog?"

First and foremost, do not get your puppy from a pet shop. Often those puppies do not come from reputable breeders.

You don't want to start your brand new relationship with your puppy having to deal with socialization issues and other kinds of trauma that puppies in sub-par facilities often experience.

You want your first days with your new dog to be joyful and fun. And most important of all... you want a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted dog, not a sick or traumatized one.

Following are some tips for choosing between a breeder or a shelter...

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How To Ask The Right Questions When Choosing A Dog

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:48:41 -0600

You have decided to get a dog, now the question is:

"What kind of dog am I looking for?

There are so many choices:

A puppy from a breeder

A puppy from a private person, the Internet, a newspaper ad

A shelter dog

An older dog

A mutt

A tiny, small, medium or large dog?

A wire haired, short haired, medium or long haired dog?

The list goes on and on... so how do you decide? What is the best choice for your situation?

Here are my best tips for determining the "right" dog for you...

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Chihuahua Adoption Tips: The Pros And Cons Of Owning A Chihuahua

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:23:24 -0600

Chihuahuas are one of the cutest dog breeds around! Any owner of a Chihuahua will attest to this.

In the 1990s, Taco Bell used a cute little Chihuahua as its mascot, and that helped to raise the interest in this wonderful little dog.

The origins of the Chihuahua are clouded in mystery, and no one seems to know for sure where they originally came from. Some of the theories are:

Chihuahuas came from Asia via Native Americans and the Bering Strait.

The Chihuahua is indigenous to the Americas and descended from a breed of dog owned by the Toltecs called the Techichi.

Chihuahuas came over to the Americas with the conquistadores.

Whatever their origin, Chihuahuas have stolen the hearts of dog owners and enthusiasts everywhere!

Despite their cuteness, owning a Chihuahua is a big responsibility. It's important to understand the pros and cons of owning a Chihuahua before you bring one into your home.

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What It's Like Living With An Old Blind And Deaf Dog

Sat, 30 May 2009 09:37:28 -0600

When it comes to problems experienced by aging dogs, our dog Rascal has most of them.

Though he is still in reasonably good health and not suffering from many aches and pains, his navigational skills have been reduced to what he can smell.

With doggie cataracts and hearing loss that has eliminated most of our ability to communicate with him, Rascal still seems to get around the house with little trouble.

He definitely relies on his nose a lot more now. He uses smells to reassure himself that he's on the correct or intended path.

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Nervous Dogs - Is Your Dog Fearful Around Strangers In Public?

Wed, 20 May 2009 10:14:28 -0600

The following question is in reference to our post about nervous dogs inside the home -- dogs that bark like crazy whenever strangers come to the door or enter the house.

What can you do if you are out in public? my dog is very nervous around anyone and will not turn his back on anyone. We have tried having the stranger give him treats but that doesn't work and he won't let anyone touch him either. -- Pat

Dear Pat -

Having the stranger give your dog treats is a good idea -- and before that, some other things need to be looked at.

A nervous dog often times is a very sensitive dog, which means that he picks up all of your thoughts, feelings and emotions as well as anyone around him.

So, the first thing you will want to do is to be calm and confident when you go in public with him. You have to look at it this way: You know how to be around other people out there in the world, and it's up to you to guide him through that experience. He needs to learn from you how to be!

Here's how to make a nervous dog more comfortable around strangers in public...

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Treat Me Tuesday: Win a FREE Overnight Stay at PetSmart's PetsHotel!

Tue, 19 May 2009 08:00:11 -0600

Summer is knocking at the door and everyone knows that means it's time to drag out the luggage and go on vacation!

But what do you do with your beloved dog while you travel?

I don't know about you, but I'm as picky about where I board my dogs as I am with the hotel I stay at.

Well it seems like PetSmart has you covered. I don't know that you could get much better accommodations for your beloved Sophie, Fido, or Wolfgang than PetSmart's PetsHotel!

...and just to prove it, we are giving away a free overnight stay at PetSmart's PetsHotel, doggy daycamp, and treat time voucher (a $60 total value!) to one lucky reader!

What are you waiting for? Read on to find out how simple it is to enter...

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Nervous Dogs - Try This If Your Dog Is Fearful Around People

Sat, 16 May 2009 14:54:06 -0600

For years, our dog Tenor would bark uncontrollably and become quite nervous around strangers and people that we would allow inside our home.

Now, he's 3 years old, and it's been getting progressively worse.

That is, until we asked for help from our personal dog trainer, Suzy Godsey.

For us, the act of getting our dog to feel completely comfortable with guests inside our home was a 2-step process.

Step #1: Stop the barking

Step #2: Get our dog to sit calmly around strangers

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Rent A Dog? The Pros & Cons Of Renting Dogs

Tue, 12 May 2009 16:40:45 -0600

If you love dogs but for some reason cannot have one, you may want to consider renting a dog... or should you?

Is it humane to rent a dog? Advocates say you could be helping give abandoned dogs a new home. Nay-sayers squawk that it's inhumane and emotionally distressing for the dogs being rented. What do you think?

Let's explore some pros and cons together below...

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Some Dogs Dream While Asleep... Others Sleepwalk!

Tue, 05 May 2009 20:25:15 -0600

Many times my dog Rascal a Yorkie/Pomeranian mix would become restless while he was sleeping. Often yipping and twitching and occasionally even moving his little legs like he was trying to run.

My wife and I would laugh as we always thought he was dreaming of his youth when his favorite past time was chasing squirrels in our back yard.

...but try as he might they always out-witted him.

It's probably nothing more than a dream if you've ever seen a dog seemingly try to run in its sleep (as in the video below), but every now and then it could be something more serious.

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Moving With Your Dog? Here's How To Help Your Dog Adjust Before, During & After The Move

Sat, 02 May 2009 14:07:31 -0600

Jim and I will be moving into a new house soon. I've asked Suzy Godsey (who helped us train our dog Tenor to stop barking at strangers and the doorbell) for some tips to help us get Tenor through the move, with the least amount of stress. These are her tips for moving with your dog...

Are you moving to a new home and not sure how to get your dog acquainted with the situation?

The biggest mistake I see people make is feeling guilty towards the dog and interpreting the dog's behavior into human emotions.

First, the feeling guilty part puts you in an unstable emotional mindset from the dog's point-of-view. The dog does not know guilt as an emotion and does not understand that, so all he perceives is this certain instability.

So whether you are feeling guilty because moving time usually allows less walking time, disrupts the routine of the day, or puts your pet into a new environment, your #1 task is to not feel that way.

Besides, if you are willing to assist your dog into adjusting to the new environment, what is there to feel guilty about?

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Celebrity Pet Food Lines Which Feature Organic & Natural Products For Dogs

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:08:19 -0600

You may have seen commercials on TV lately advertising some new celebrity pet food lines.

Does your favorite Hollywood celeb have a line of dog food products?

Are these foods actually different (or better) than other commercial dog foods?

Here are some of the top celebrity pet foods which specifically have products for dogs...

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Allergic Dogs: 10 Signs That Your Dog Has Allergies

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:17:40 -0600

Believe it or not, your dog is just as susceptible to allergies as you are.

Just like humans, sometimes a dog's immune system mistakes a perfectly ordinary, innocent food item or part of nature (such as mold, dust, dirt, pollen) and decides that the item is a threat to the dog. As such, the dog's immune system attacks the offending item.

People are no strangers to having their immune systems thinking the local flora and fauna is actually an attack on the body, and your dog's immune system behaves just the same!

In fact, some dog breeds are more prone to allergies than others:

Following are 10 signs that your dog is suffering from allergies...

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