Asha provides many great tips on how to incorporate your pets into your new year’s goals. Here are some of the ideas she proposed:

• Take steps to keep veterinary costs low by keeping your pets up to date on vaccinations and parasite prevention, never missing yearly veterinary exams, and never delaying veterinary attention if your pet needs it.  
• Invest in pet insurance to help avoid financial strain if your pet is sick or injured.
• Include your pet in your exercise program so he or she doesn’t face the health concerns associated with being overweight. Plus, exercise will allow your pet to expend it’s excess energy, and we all know a tired pet is a good pet!
• Spend quality time with your pet to give them the attention and stimulation they need to help prevent destructive behavior. 
• Consider enrolling in a basic training class to ensure your pet is a good community citizen.
• Make sure your pet continues looking his or her best this year by keeping them clean, groomed and flea free.

Did you include any of these pet resolutions this year on your own list? What are your pet goals for the year?

Read the full article here.

Deciding on the best place for your dog to stay while you are away is never easy.  In addition to the stress of travel planning, we worry about where and with whom we should leave our dogs so that he or she is most comfortable.  At times, the possibilities can seem overwhelming.  From kennels and dog spas, to a professional sitter visiting your home, to taking your dog to a neighbor or friend down the street, the available options are diverse in price, experience and convenience.  Let’s take a look at a few of the main categories to help you to understand your available options.

Professional Kennels: Kennels are typically either caged or cage free environments. Run by dog professionals and staffed by technicians with a broad range of experiences and qualifications, kennels should be toured prior to drop off to ensure the environment is as advertised.  Kennels have a standard pricing structure that can normally be found on their websites, and you can easily price compare using the internet or a listing service online.   

Drop in Dog Sitter:  Professional sitters will visit your dog in your own home and take him or her out to use the restroom, as well as feed and change water.  Dog sitters normally charge per visit, but some have the option for an overnight or all day stay.  Choosing this option allows your dog to stay in his or her own home, and reduces hassle for you of moving your dog to a different location.

Private Home Dog Boarding:  For many dog owners, taking your pup to a friend or family member’s home is a familiar option.  The caretaker is often someone you can trust, knowledgeable about dogs, and is free or very inexpensive. However, dog owners who travel often may feel uncomfortable about constantly imposing on friends and family, and may find themselves in a bind if their normal option is unavailable.  A new crop of websites, (including Rover.com!) are working to build communities of in home dog boarding solutions to help dog owners elect this option regularly if that is what works best for you and your dog.   

There are pros and cons to all of the above approaches, and one may work well for some dogs, but not others. For example, kennels may be most appropriate for frequent or last-minute travelers because they are easy to find and often have availability.  However, if you have dogs that are older, fragile, aggressive with other dogs, or non-social, a kennel with many other, potentially unsupervised, dogs could be problematic. In these cases, a private home can provide more individualized attention & and a less stressful/chaotic environment for your best friend – often at cheaper prices than kennels.  In the Seattle area for example, the average price per night of five popular kennels is $40.  The average price for private in home boarding is $25 per night.  Kennels often get booked well in advance during high traffic times, whereas a private home almost always has availability because people choose to board dogs when they are home from work during the holidays. 

As the weather turns colder and we spend more time inside during these wintery months, there is nothing better than curling up with your pup and waiting for spring.  But when those long work days or travel far from home keep you away, we hope that this post helps you pick the boarding option that ensures the safety and comfort of your four-legged pal.

That is one of my favorite pics of our Miss Diva “Regan” in HER favorite lawn chair.  If she gets there first I am out of luck!

Regan has passed her CGN (Canine Good Neighbour) certification and we can now visit the residents of a nursing home.  She will also be participating in a reading program in a local school. The children learning English as a second language have difficulty reading to an adult but will read to one of the dogs.  It is a win/win for both child and dog.

Thanks so much, Dawn! We absolutely love that photo of Regan!

Here is some more information on how to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week.

Image via doggroomingfordummies.com

It’s February, and that means it’s time to step up your pet’s oral hygiene routines because it is National Pet Dental Health Month! Keeping your pet’s teeth clean and healthy is just as important for them as it is for you or me.

Good oral hygiene for pets is as simple as a tube of pet-friendly toothpaste (never use human toothpaste), a pet toothbrush (or even your finger!), and 2 minutes a day. If you’ve got a fussy pet who isn’t quite willing to participate, your veterinarian can help with some suggestions on how to get started.

Here are some other pieces of information from our blog to help you learn more about pet dental health:

• How to brush your pet’s teeth
• 10 facts about pet dental health
• Bad breath may be a sign of poor dental health

Do you brush your pet’s teeth?

Take a look at some of our favorites:

Or if puppies are more your style, check out highlights from the Puppy Bowl! Which one is your favorite?

Also check out the Top 10 Superbowl 2012 Commercials according to Fox Sports.

The 2.1 pound puppy needed surgery to fix her left femur and will be wearing a cast for a little while until it heals.

Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University, in Budapest studied more than 100 dogs and gave them four behavioral exams, one of which was to being able to lie down quietly. Out of those, 37 German Shepherds that possessed a shortened version of the gene connected to the neurotransmitters had trouble controlling their impulsivity.

Ms. Shaw does acknowledge that there are many factors that can affect a dog’s behavior, including:

Age – Puppies have shorter attention spans and increased energy levels that can affect their behavior.
Environment – A dog’s surroundings, including noises, activity, and the presense of other people and dogs can create behavoiral issues.
Physical and Mental State – If a dog is tired or feeling ill, he or she may show a change in behavoir.

The German Shepherd was the breed the study focused on. Do you own a German Shepherd? What is your take on this study? And do you believe that genetics can play a part in the behavior of a dog?

Read the full article on AnnArbor.com here, which links to the original study here.

I’ve had @Trupanion for 2 dogs now (over 8 years). They’ve been great. Hassle-free claims & fast. -@concretefluff

we have Peanut insured with @trupanion – $50 a month – haven’t used it but I guess it’s good peace of mind. -@EmilieO_

I was reading today on the puter while the stupid humans were at work, there was an article on BlogHer about what costs stupid humans will or won’t go to in an effort to save their pet. My lady wanted to remind every bully to please please please get pet insurance if you don’t have it. I have Trupanion Pet Insurance and they have been THE BESTESTEST ever. They even reimbursed my humans for a lousy ears infections. That’s all I have to say, I’m going to go raise holy hell now that those jerks are home – YAHOO! -Lucy the Bulldog

Trupanion, you are the best! From your comprehensive coverage, to super helpful customer service agents. I’m going to tell every pet owner about you! -Jelena R.

I chose Trupanion on the word of my good friend Nandita who knows that Trupanion kept her big guy alive through thick and thin. He sadly passed this week but Trupanion has been nothing but wonderful to her and Kaloo. They stood by her and helped her every every step of the way. There are quite a few companies offering insurance out there and it can get confusing. Knowing Trupanion was there her for her was all I needed to know when I chose insurance for my dogs. -Martha P.

If anyone has a pet & is considering insurance for them, take a look at @Trupanion! They’ve been great and that’s my advertising for the day -@radamsk1

I just wanted to thank Trupanion for letting us take care of our sick little baby. Your insurance coverage makes it so much easier to give her all the help that she needs during this time. Thank you so much for letting us just worry about giving her all the love that we can give. ♥ ♥ ♥ -Celeste D.

Photo by Nelson Chenault, USA Today

For some, it is very difficult to cope with the loss of a pet. You miss seeing your favorite fur-pal wandering around your home every day. But what if you could keep your pet, looking just as cute and happy as ever, even after he passes?

Taxidermy is typically a freeze-drying process that preserves the animal, keeping it in a life-like position so that it can be put on display. As more pet owners choose taxidermy as an option to commemorate their late pets, Animal Planet has been inspired to come out with their new reality TV show, American Stuffers.

How much does it cost? At Xtreme Taxidermy in Romance, Arkansas, the shop featured in Animal Planet’s new show, the basic price starts at $725 for any pet up to 10 pounds and an additional $49 for each extra pound. The process can take up to six months.

So what do you think, would you preserve your pet with taxidermy?

Read the full article on USA Today.