Dog Whistles: Herding Dog Whistle Review

August 16, 2013, 2:53 pm

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Dog whistles have been used since the late 1850’s for training dogs for hunting and herding.  Whistle commands are used when working dogs outdoors over long distances where verbal and visual commands are impractical.  Typically these commands are taught after the dog has mastered the related visual or voice commands. 

A variety of styles of whistles are in production, and each has its advantages based on the type of work the dog is performing and environmental conditions.  In this review we will discuss which model whistles are appropriate for herding dog training along with video tutorials of whistle training basics for this venue.

Herding Dog Whistles

If you are adept at whistling, scroll on down for the video on traditional herding whistle commands. For those of us that have a hard time making any sound through pursed lips, Acme makes two models of whistle that, with a little practice, should suit you nicely.

The Shepherd’s Whistle also known as the Shepherd’s Mouth Whistle is used to give directional commands to the sheep dog over long distances, often when the stock and the dog are out of site of the handler.  There are two types of shepherds whistles, the metal and the plastic models.

Nickel Whistle:Typical Price Range: $10.99-13.00

The metal or nickel shepherd’s whistle has a clearer tone and carries over greater distances.  It also has a classic, retro design that ties the 19th century shepherd to 21st century shepherd.  This model is the most popular seller, however, some purchasers were sensitive to the taste of the metal. It is made of nickel and can taste like having a penny in your mouth. Others complained that the machined edges were rough and required a little sanding to make it comfortable.

Plasitc Shepherd's Whistles Price Range $5.99-$9.99

The advantage of the plastic model is that it is less expensive and preferable in cold winter months when temperatures drop to freezing.  Metal whistles can get stuck to the lips when temperatures drop below freezing.  Both whistles require some practice before they can be used effectively.

Typical herding whistle commands include: down, stay, walk up, come by and away to me.

Sheep Dog Training Video Tutorial

This video demonstrates a border collie responding to the given whistle commands.

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Affordable Dog Run Ideas | The Heavy Duty Pet Play Pen Review

October 1, 2013, 2:05 pm

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A fenced yard or dog run makes life with our canine companions much easier, especially when we are running short on time.  After all, dogs enjoy spending time outdoors sniffing the air and taking up the neighborhood news.  And just like people, dogs need sunshine daily to help metabolize certain nutrients as well as maintain nose and ear pigment.

Fencing in a back yard can be an expensive proposition and can obstruct beautiful views.  Portable dog runs allow dog owners to let their dogs outdoors to romp in safe confinement, or to let them roam around in a confined area of the house.

With these solutions you can create a stable 100 square foot run and configure it in a variety of layouts for less than $200.00. Considering a traditional dog kennel of similar size will cost $900 or more, these solutions have been gaining in popularity.

Available at Wags and Whiskers Gifts Starting at $89.99

Heavy Duty Pet Play Pen Advantages:

• Easy tool free setup
• Lightweight steel can easily be assembled and disassembled for backyard parties and get togethers.
• Panels can be removed or added according to changing requirements.
• Connecting pins can be pressed into soft earth to add stability.
• Can be configure in round, oval, square or "L" shape to accommodate backyard limitations
• 8 - 32" wide panels come in 3 heights: 24" 32" and 40"
• Can be used indoors and outdoors
• Folds down to 6 inch depth for storage
• Less obtrusive and more portable then a traditional dog kennel.

Sample configurations

Portable Pet Play Pen Uses:

• Suitable for both indoor and outdoor play pens or dog runs.
• Confine puppies or senior dogs with incontinence issues while you are away.
• Separation of new pet additions while they get to know each other.

Disadvantages:

• The Black coating is not as thick for outdoor use as the Granite Finish, so purchase the Granite finish if you want to use these outdoors.
• Individual panels are not available for purchase. To add on you will need to purchase a second complete unit.
• A very athletic dog can jump out of even the 40" height kennel.
• Dogs weighing over 100 pounds may be able to tip over a large pen. You will want to be sure the pins are securely press in the soil, and watch your dog's behavior in it prior to leaving him unattended.
• Most appropriate for carpet and man made surfaces when used indoors. These can scratch hardwood floors, however rubber feet with adhesive backing can easily be added to maintain a nonslip surface.

The AKC Recognizes 3 New Dog Breeds in 2013 | Meet the Breeds

October 2, 2013, 2:16 pm

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This year the AKC has recognized 3 new dog breeds that will be eligible to compete at the AKC Eukanuba National Championship in 2013 and at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in February 2014.  Another 15 breeds are waiting on deck in the miscellaneous class to become full-fledged AKC recognized dog breeds and eligible to compete in one of the seven groups (working, sporting, non-sporting, hound, terrier, toy and herding).

Meet the New Breeds

Couretsy of AKC.org http://www.akc.org/breeds/chinook/index.cfm

The first of our new AKC recognized breeds is the home grown sled dog, the Chinook.  This breed was developed in 1900 in New Hampshire by the Polar explorer Arthur Treadwell Walden.  The name, Chinook, is derived from an Inuit word which means warm winter wind. Seeking to create a powerful draft dog with intelligence, trainability, speed and agility, the breed was developed by crossing mastiffs (draft dogs) with the Greenland Husky and the Belgian and German shepherds.  The result is a gentle, intelligent dog with speed and excellent drafting power.  These big dogs range in height from 22- 26 inches at the shoulder.

Chinooks have a dense double coat that is tan or tawny in color, which sheds heavily twice a year.  The Gentle Chinooks make excellent family pets, as they were not developed for protection you should not expect them to perform as guard dogs. 

Learn more about the breed at the AKC website.

Courtsy of AKC.org  http://www.akc.org/breeds/portuguese_podengo _pequeno/index.cfm

The Portuguese Podengo Pequeno is a small sight hound, standing 8-12 inches at the shoulder.  While they hunt primarily by sight, they also use scent and sound to track their prey. Used mainly for rabbit hunting, this breed is related to the Pharaoh Hound, Cirneco dell'Etna, The Basenji and the Ibizan hound.  Developed over 3000 years ago in the Iberian Peninsula, the Portuguese  Podengo Pequeno, which is a national dog of Portugal, was just introduced to the United States in the 1990s. 

The Portugeuse Podengo Pequeros come in two coat textures, the smooth coat which is dense and the wire coat which is longer and harsher in texture. They are typically yellow or fawn in color, and may have white markings.  With their erect ears and fawn markings they are reminiscent of their forebears, the Ibizan hound, in miniature.

Intelligent, easy to train and high drive, these dogs make excellent obedience, agility and rally dogs.  Bred to chase all day, they need a job to do and regular exercise.  Be sure to keep them in a fenced yard as their instinct to chase prey can get them into trouble in a suburban or urban environment.

wochmeandmeritail.com/index.asp?ID=6

The third new breed gaining full acceptance this year in the AKC registry is the Rat Terrier. This is another home grown American breed, a multipurpose companion dog that hunts rodents and other vermin both above and below ground.  They course small game as well.

Rat terriers are come in two sizes the miniature (standing 10-13 inches at the shoulder) and the standard (13-18 inches). Their coat is smooth, and comes in any variation of parti-colored patterns made up of large patches of one or more colors (typically black, red, fawn, tan, chocolate, blue or lemon) in combination with white markings.

The breed was developed from a mixture of terrier and hound crosses.  Ancestors of the Rat Terrier include the Fox Terriers, the Manchester Terrier, Old English White Terriers, the Bull Terrier, as well as the Beagle, Toy Fox Terriers, Whippets and Italian Greyhounds added into the breed in more recent times. From 1910 through the dust bowl era of the 1930s, the Rat Terrier was one of the most common American farm dogs, valued for their ability to keep vermin at bay.

They are loyal and playful companions, however they may be aloof with strangers. Intelligent and very active, they make excellent obedience, rally, agility, and earth dogs.  Their smooth coats shed very little and are easy to maintain with a curry comb. Learn more about them at www.AKC.org

The AKC's Miscellaneous Dog Breeds

Breeds awaiting full AKC recognition are placed in the Miscellaneous Class until the AKC sets a date for full recognition.  These breeds that we can expect to see entering the AKC over then next 2 years include:

Azawakh

Belgian Laekenois

Bergamasco

Berger Picard

Boerboel

Cirneco dell'Etna

Coton de Tulear

Dogo Argentino

Lagotto Romagnolo

Miniature American Shepherd

Peruvian Inca Orchid

Pumi

Sloughi

Spanish Water Dog

Wirehaired Vizsla 

Visit www.AKC.org to learn more about each of these lovely dog breed new to the USA!

Chinook Puppies at Nine Weeks and Their Parents

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno Pups Playing

Playful Rat Terriers

Breakthrough In Pain Treatment For Dogs With Osteosarcoma

November 6, 2013, 1:51 pm

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Between 6000-8000 dogs in the United States receive treatment for Osteosarcoma each year.  Typically a disease of large breed dogs, Osteosarcoma can affect breeds of all sizes.  As the disease progresses, it reshapes normal healthy bone tissue and changes it to tumorous bone.  In dogs as in people, this remodeling process becomes increasingly more painful as the disease progresses, impacting activity levels and quality of life.

Dr. Vladimir Osipov Sarcomaimages.com

The Dorothy Cimino Brown, DVM and Kimberly Agnello DVM University of Pennsylvania Study

Seventy dogs suffering from Osteosarcoma participated in this study.  A variety of breeds were represented including Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrieves and various mixed breeds. The average size of the dogs in the study was 90 pounds, and the average age fell between 8 and 9 years.  The study was conducted by splitting the group in half and treating both groups with standard care, while the second group also received a single injection of a Neurotoxin, SP-sap (P-saporin), near the tumor site.

A similar neurotoxin many of us are familiar with is Botox, the anti-wrinkle injection. Botox acts to block signals from the nerves to the muscles, so that the muscles can no longer contract.  When specific muscles cannot contract, the wrinkle appears to soften.

Similarly, SP-sap works by attaching itself to the pain sensing nerves. Once attached, the sap portion kills off the nerve.  The theory is, no more pain sensing nerve then no more pain.

Study Results

Six weeks into the study, 74% of the dogs in the control group (those receiving only standard care) had significant increases in pain levels, and needed to be removed from the control group or "unblinded" in order to have their pain management adjusted.  

In contrast with the control group, only 24% of the dogs in the SP-sap group needed to be "unblinded" for adjustments to their pain management.

Additionally, the dogs in the control group, who were receiving only standard care, experienced a 6% increase in pain severity testing.  The dogs who received the single SP-sap injection experienced no increase in pain severity.

And more encouraging, the dogs in the control group experienced and 8% decreases in how pain interferes with their daily activities, while the SP-sap group had a 5% improvement in their daily activities.

The Implications

As Osteosarcoma afflicts both dogs and people in the same manner, this study is potentially good news for both humans and canines.  Relieving pain is critical to improving the patient's quality of life, response to treatment and the overall patient outcome.  The positive results from this study are likely to spark further investigation into SP-sap and other neurotoxins for pain management of Osteosarcoma as well as other diseases with chronic pain symptoms as well.

To learn more about this study visit: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) (2013, October 23). Chronic pain in dogs with bone cancer relieved with new treatment.

Treating Dog Anxiety | 3 Proven Treatments for Fear of Thunderstorms and Fireworks

July 1, 2014, 11:33 am

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How Prevalent is Dog Anxiety for Thunder

Typical fear stance: ears back, whites of the eyes  are evident, head lowered and back hunched.

A dog anxiety survey of 2000 dog owners found that approximately 13% of dogs suffer from noise phobias. 

Yet of those surveyed, only one third of the respondents whose dogs exhibited  symptoms had sought any treatment or professional advice to manage their dog's condition.

Furthermore the Bristol survey found that 50% of owners did not recognize that behaviors they reported in response to loud noises were in fact fear related symptoms.

Here are three effective treatments for reducing canine anxiety caused by fireworks, gunshots and thunderstorms.

Dog Anxiety Symptoms

Dogs with noise phobias may manifest a variety of dog anxiety symptoms.  Symptoms may be obvious, such as panting, pacing, barking, trembling or shaking, seeking human company or hiding under beds, in bathtubs and behind furniture.

 

Less obvious anxiety symptoms that are often misread include increased salivation, licking, urinating or defecating indoors and in some cases destructive behavior including; carpet and upholstered furniture digging and scratching at doors or walls. In severe cases of noise phobia, dogs may become aggressive resulting growling and biting behavior.

Some breeds, like the gun dogs, (labs and spaniels) tend to have a higher tolerance for loud noises, while other breeds, such as the border collie, have a high incidence of noise phobia, suggesting there is a genetic component to noise sensitivity.  

As dogs age, their sensitivity to noise may increase, and negative experiences such as being outdoors during a thunderstorm can create new phobias where one never before existed.

While we can’t control thunderstorms and fireworks, we can take steps to manage our dog’s reaction to the noise stimuli and reduce their anxiety level.  These steps can include removing the dog from the stimuli, natural anti-anxiety medications and easy massage therapy. Any combination of these approaches can be applied.

Quick Fix: Remove the Dog From The Stimulus

In instances where we can predict the dog will react to a threatening sound, such as Fourth of July fireworks, we can insulate the dog from the sound.  Basements without windows are the best area of the house to contain the dog.  If the room you select does have windows, close the blinds so he can’t see the bursts of fireworks or lightning which he will have already associated with a corresponding explosion. Turn on music loud enough to drown out the sound of fireworks.

This is a short term fix; for a long term solution you will need to employ counter conditioning, teaching the dog to be okay with the noises they fear.

Homeopathic Remedy: Melatonin for Dogs with Fear of Thunder and Loud Noises

Melatonin has produced dramatic results for some dogs with fear of thunder.  Melatonin is available over the counter; it is a naturally occurring neuro-hormone, with a number of veterinary uses because of its sedative properties.

Melatonin has been shown to help regulate sleep disorders for older dogs, and can help dogs adjust to stressful situations including separation anxiety and noise phobias. Dogs treated with melatonin prior to a thunderstorm remain awake, alert and relaxed.  They do not appear to be reacting to the thunderstorm at all. 

Some dogs can actually permanently overcome their noise phobias with treatment on Melatonin.

Proper dosage for a 40-50 pound dog is 3 mg (that is the human adult dose). For small dogs under 30 pounds 1.5 mg and for large dogs over 100 pounds up to 6 mg. These doses may be administered 3 times daily as necessary.

Melatonin Pros:

• Effective anti-anxiety medication for canine separation anxiety and noise phobias
• Antioxidant properties may control free radicals
• May help in controlling epileptic seizures
• May aid in the treatment of Canine Cushings Disease.
• Balances sleep disorders, and allows dogs to sleep through the night

Melatonin Side effects

• May affect female reproductive cycle or make her unreceptive to males
• Possible drug interactions can occur with medications which the dog is already taking such as sedatives, steroids and monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• In rare cases some dogs may become excessively lethargic or increasingly nervous

T Touch Massage and The Thunder Shirt for Anxiety

The Thunder Shirt has been proven to reduce the anxiety of many dogs.  Its technology is based on the work of Linda Tellington-Jones and her T Touch Therapy.

The Tellington TTouch is a method based on circular movements of the fingers and hands on areas all over the dog’s body. The intent of the TTouch is to change the brain waves of the dog by activating “cellular intelligence.”  Additionally, endorphins are believed to be released by the massage technique. Awakening cellular intelligence sounds like hocus pocus, but the therapy does work to help adjust behavioral problems and calm cats, dogs and horses.

According to the TTouch website, “Using a combination of specific touches, lifts, and movement exercises, TTouch helps to release tension and increase body awareness. Allowing the animal to be handled without provoking typical fear responses. The animal can then more easily learn new and more appropriate behaviors.” 

If nothing else, TTouch builds a better rapport between owner and pet, ultimately increasing trust and building self-confidence in the animal.

TTouch can help in cases of:

• Chewing
• Excessive Barking
• Jumping Up
• Leash Pulling
• Extreme Fear or Shyness
• Aggressive Behavior

Here Linda Tellington-Jones demonstrates the TTouch method. It's simple and looks relaxing.

The ThunderShirt

ThunderShirt works by applying gentle pressure to the dog’s body, similar to swaddling an infant. This pressure produces a soothing effect. In fact, the TTouch trainers often use ace bandages wrapped around the dog for an additional calming effect during training sessions.

Some experts believe that ThunderShirt helps the body to naturally release endorphins, and  80% of users report benefits to using ThunderShirt for noise and separation anxiety.

Before using the ThunderShirt, the manufacturer recommends you use the Thundershirt as a placemat for your dog’s food bowl.  Introducing the ThunderShirt in conjunction with food should make the dog more comfortable with the new apparel.  It can be worn all day while you are a work, and is machine washable.

How to put on the ThunderShirt - Easy as 1,2,3

The ThunderShirt does come with a 45 day guarantee. If the shirt does not produce results, you can return it for your full money back.

ThunderShirts can now be purchased in a variety of fashion colors and patterns.  Consider combining them with Melatonin treatments to desensatize your dog to thunderstorms and fireworks.

Find Your Ideal Dog Backpack | 5 Best Dog Backpacks Reviewed

July 16, 2014, 3:30 pm

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Backpacks on dogs are increasingly popular. For neighborhood walks, backpacks provide a sense of purpose, and encourage dogs to focus on the task at hand, expending more energy on their walks than they would without the backpack on.  

Additionally, backpacks can have a calming effect on dogs with fear aggression. They seem to work much the same way the ThunderShirt does, by wrapping the upper body and applying the same soothing pressure to it.

For those who love to camp and bring their best friend along, backpacks allow your dog to carry his own weight.  Water, food, bowls and treats can be easily stored in the saddlebags.  Prepare your dog for long excursions by starting out on short walks with an empty pack, then gradually increase the load.

Whether you are looking for a backpack for light excursions or long treks, there are several features you will want to take into consideration, as the various dog backpacks are not built the same. We have selected 5 of the top selling and top rated dog backpacks and reviewed them with an eye toward comfort, durability and best value.

(Scroll down to the bottom of the article to see videos of these backpacks in action)

Dog Backpacks 101 – The basics

•  A dog should never carry more than 25% of his proper body weight (don’t add more just because he is over weight)
• All packs must be loaded with even weight distribution or they will sag to the over-weighted side
• Adding 1 liter water bottles to the packs is great for increasing the load and your pup’s concentration.  For smaller dogs add weight by adding zip lock bags filled with dry beans or rice.

The Versatile Outward Hound Backpack On sale now at Wags and Whiskers Gifts

Dog Backpack Buyers Guide

Dog owners will have different considerations to take into account depending on the primary intended use of the backpack. In either instance you will want a backpack that fits securely and does not roll with the dogs stride, ultimately causing chaffing or sores.

Hikers will need to consider both the in-town features as well as the long excursion features below.

Important Features for Backpacks Used for Neighborhood Walks

• Fit and Comfort: look for fully adjustable 5 point chest and girth straps. 
• Avoid putting weight on the loin area of the dog.  The weight should be distributed with the greatest weight at the shoulders, then lessening the load on the back as the pack extends to where the rib cage stops. The back pack should not put stress beyond that point on the spine (the loin area).
• Shorter dogs will need shallow saddlebags; they should reach no farther down than 1 inch above the elbow of the dog.
• Your climate determines the proper backpack for your dog. For those in hot climates should look for a backpack with a mesh harness or water bladders to dissipate the heat.
• “Y” designed chest straps help stabilize packs and reduces strain on the neck.
• Reflective tape and bright colors improve visibility for both you and your dog for motorist on rainy days and low light conditions. “Safety Orange” is a popular color for neighborhood walks

Important Features for Extended Hiking Excursions

• Choose a light weight pack at around one pound or less. Your dog will be carrying his supplies and will tire quickly toting a heavy pack in addition to his supplies.
• Look for a sturdy padded handle to help lift your dog through rough terrain and over obstacles.
• Wide, padded girth straps will assist you in comfortably lifting your dog over obstacles.
• Choose a backpack with removable saddlebags, for crossing streams and comfortable rest stops.
• Water resistant material helps preserve food and treats in rain and stream crossings. (Use Ziplock baggies to protect food on overnight hikes)
• Bright color backpacks can aid in rescue should your dog accidentally get separated from you in the wilderness.
• Look for saddlebags that taper towards the rear of the dog as they place the bulk of the weight on the shoulders rather than the spine of the dog.
• Padded harnesses reduce wear on the dog and the possibility of sores or hot spots.
• Select a backpack with tough nylon material or rip stop especially if you will be hiking in an area with rock faces that could tear open the pack.

Outward Hound Backpacks with Removable Saddlebags– The Number 1 Best Selling Backpack

Outward  Hound by Kyjen is renowned from making affordable and durable outdoors gear for dogs of all sizes.  Made from the same material as their life jackets, these backpacks are great for neighborhood walks, but not durable enough for the rigors of trail hiking.

For in-town use, the backpacks are ideally tapered and can easily accommodate 1 liter water bottles to add weight and to help focus to the dog. Treats can be stowed in its pockets, which make the backpack that much more pleasurable to wear.

However, backpackers complained that when heavily loaded, the removable saddlebags did just that.  The packs tended to roll to one side or another if not perfectly balanced, and in some instances slipped off of the Velcro harness attachments entirely.

Pros:

• Affordable starting at $24.95
• Sturdy Construction
• Tapered design keeps weight focused on the shoulders of the dog
• Lightweight material
• Removable Saddlebags
• Bright colors and reflective accents improve visibility on roads.
• Water bottle holders with elastic straps and mesh pockets for treats, ice packs and keys

Cons

• Not Waterproof or particularly water resistant
• Tends to shift easily if load is not perfectly balanced especially on steep inclines and rough terrain.
• Girth Straps are narrow and handle is not padded, so not a great solution for lifting dogs over obstacles.
• No leash attachment on the backpack harness, you will need a collar or another harness under the backpack.
• Material is not made with rip stop.
• Some users experienced buckles snapping in temperatures below freezing.

Recommendation:  This is a great backpack for neighborhood walks, and used in a suburban setting is should last for years.  However, we don’t recommend this for hiking the Appalachian Trail. Those wanting to navigate steep terrain with sharp rock faces will do better with one of the more expensive, heavy duty backpacks (See Reviews below).

Note: Kyjen does make another model, the Kyjen Excursion, with a padded harness and D-ring connector built into the harness.  However, it places much of the weight on the center of the spine and the saddlebags are not removable.  The Excursion is not a model we recommend.

The Kurgo Wander Dog Pack - One Size Fits All

Another popular dog backpack is the unique Kurgo Wander Dog Pack. This has a universal design; one size fits all, as long as your dog is between 30-85 pounds. It seems that is pack is better suited to dogs 35 pounds and up.

The leash ring is situated at the back of the harness nearest to the tail.  This improves control over the dog and comfort of the pack.

The relatively small harness contours to the dog to support the rather small saddlebags. Each bag will hold one 16 ounce bottle of water and another small thing or two such as keys or a cell phone. The small size of the harness provides some ventilation, making this a good warm weather pack.

Pro's:

• Affordable at $26.99
• Side pockets don't hang too low
• Easily Adjustable straps - Universal fit - adjusts to accommodate dogs 30 - 85 lbs
• Lightweight
• Rear mounted leash hook for added control
• Unique ASB (Adjustable Saddle Bag) system achieves a customized fit for your dog
• Saddle bag individual dimensions: 10" long x 6" Height x 3" Deep
• Water resistant

Cons:

• If there are no weights in the pockets it tends to slide to one side
• If you need lots of room in the pockets this pack isn't for you. Total volume: 3.75L = 230 cubic inches = 125oz
• Straps tend to loosen 20 minutes into the walk (which is typical of many packbacks), some users remedied this by sewing the straps in the correct position and cutting off the excess strap material.
• 15% of users have experienced splitting seems early into ownership.  All Kurgo products come with a Lifetime Warranty, so contact the manufacturer if you have an issue.

Recommendation:  This is a nice pack for short hikes and neighborhood walks. Your dog will be able to carry two water bottles on the trip. The saddlebags themselves are too small to carry any meaningful loads for long excursions. Over stuffing the saddlebags is likely to stress the seams and zippers.

Ruffwear Palisades- The Cadillac of DogBackpacks

The Ruffware Pallisades has all of the bells and whistles any serious hiker would like to see appointing their best friend. The saddlebags are positioned in a weight forward design and are easily detached for rests and crossing streams. This pack and the Ruffwear Approach have the best balancing design of any of the packs tested.

Designed for long hikes and camping, the pouches have enough capacity to hold 2 liters of water, food for up to 3 days and collapsible food and water bowls. Keep in mind when loading it up that a dog should not carry more than 25% of his body weight.

The strong padded handle with complementary padded girth straps make this a comfortable pack for both hiker and dog when assistance is required.

The pack comes with two collapsible plastic water bladders that are positioned to protect the dog from the gear and work as a cooling system.

Pros

• Removable saddlebags for rest stops or water crossings
• A modified Web Master™ Harness frame with four attachment points provides load stability and weight distribution
• 1680 denier ballistic nylon
• Collapsible, BPA-free water bottles, 2 included, each with a 1L capacity
• Load compression system secures the load
• Padded assistance handle makes it easy to help dogs up and over obstacles
• Padded Girth Straps
• Trail-ready details: stash pockets and external gear loops
• Single-piece, anodized aluminum V-ring leash attachment provides a secure leash attachment point
• Low-light visibility with reflective trim

Cons

Interesting one price fits all pricing scheme. No matter your size you will pay one price and a stiff price point at that, ranging from $129.00 – $149.00.

Recommendation: This is a great pack for any situation, neighborhoods, trails warm or cool weather.  If you are camping consider purchasing this pack or its little brother, the Ruffwear Approach reviewed below.

Ruff Wear Approach– Highest in Customer Satisfaction

Customers can’t think of anything negative to say about this pack, unless they are used to removable saddlebags.  That is the single drawback we can find with this dog pack.

The Ruffwear Approach is a slightly scaled back version of the Palisades, and if money is a consideration the Approach will amply provide the most bang for your buck. It does not come with the collapsible water bladders that the Palisades comes with, and as we mentioned the saddlebags are sewn to the harness.

Like its big brother, the Approach is made with ultra durable 1680 denier ballistic nylon with solid stitching on the seams. Well tailored, this pack fits most dogs securely. Again the packs hold a lot of goodies, so be careful not to overload your dog.  25% of his body weight is the most he should carry.

Pros:

• Attached saddlebags feature an efficient weight forward design
• The Web Master Harness frame provides load ventilation as well as stability and weight distribution
• Padded assistance handle and girth straps make it easy to help dogs up and over obstacles
• Trail-ready details such as stash pockets, coated zippers and external gear loops
• Y-breast strap and 5 different adjustments to fit your dog.
• Soft padding in sensitive areas.
• Great handle and sturdy leash hook.

Cons:

• Still an expensive pack starting at $79.95
• NOT waterproof, so put things in plastic bags when hiking.
• Saddlebags are NOT detachable

Granite Gear Alpha Dog Pack - Best Pack for Dogs with Small Torsos

The low profile bags of the Granite Gear Alpha Dog Pack make this pack ideal for dogs with a short distance from the shoulder to the elbow. Heavy duty, this backpack is appropriate for city streets as well as the Rocky Mountains!

The zippers on this pack are large and sturdy, and are easy to operate with gloves on.

Pros:

• Weight forward and ergonomically designed to fit the contours of your dog
• Padded for comfort
• Adjustable for a custom fit
• Dual-side interior zipper pockets for organization, each side can hold 2 1- liter water bottles
• Leash hook on the rear of the pack
• Large reflective accents for visibility from all directions
• Saddlebags hold a lot of stuff, be careful not to over load your dog:
• Size Small Volume: 8 liters / 488 cubic inches
• Size Medium Volume: 12 liters / 732 cubic inches
• Size Large Volume: 16 liters / 976 cubic inches

Cons:

• Saddlebags are Not detachable
• Handle on top is not well padded

Recommendation: This pack tends to run large, so if your dog is near the sizing break point, go down to the smaller size.  This pack is comparable in price and quality to the Ruffwear Approach pack.  Choose between them based on your personal style preference and the build of your dog.

The each of the packs reviewed is examined in the videos below. The packs are turned inside out so you can find the one that suits your needs best. Many of them look quite different fully loaded on the dog.

The Outward Hound Dog Backpack Examined

The Granite Gear Alpha Dog Pack Revealed

The Ruffwear Palisades Dog Pack Inside and Out!

Ruffwear Approach Pack in Action

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August 1, 2014, 4:04 pm

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The 10 Best Puppy Chew Toys for Teething Puppies

August 9, 2014, 8:39 am

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Once puppy teething starts, it seems as though some object must constantly be in your puppy’s mouth. And if it’s not, your window sill or stair risers or your shoes and socks will make delicious teething objects as well.  Save yourself some heartbreak and expense by starting your puppy off right with these durable and safe teething toys. 

At all costs, avoid cute puppy toys that look like objects you don’t want chewed up; rubber squeaky shoes and cell phones are toys that teach your puppy some of the worst lessons.

Note: When comparing our puppy play results to user reviews, we found that many people with negative opinions were giving puppy chew toys to adult dogs, often with unfortunate consequences.

Keep in mind that many of these toys are made for small, soft deciduous puppy teeth.  Some of these chew toys are not appropriate for a heavy chewer’s adult teeth. Watch for wear patterns on them, and remove or discard toys if look like they are getting worn to a point where they are likely to break or rupture.

On Sale Now at Wags and Whiskers

Our Number 1 pick: The Chilly Bone by Multipet

This is our favorite of the puppy chew toys for teething puppies.  This toy seems to calm the teething frenzy, making puppies easier to live with. Puppies with this toy settle into a calm, almost hypnotic chewing state.

It comes in two sizes, medium at 5.5 inches, for small to medium sized breeds, and large at 7 inches for large and giant puppy breeds.  The canvas bone is filled with a nontoxic gel that freezes quickly when placed in the freezer. The bones stay cold for a fairly long time, 1-2 hours which is great for soothing your puppy’s sore gums.

Once it warms up, rinse the bone after use, and just place the wet bone back into the freezer for later use.  Overnight freezing will keep the bone frozen one to two hours.  2 hours in the freezer should get you 20-30 minutes soothing playtime.

#1 in Customer Satisfaction the Benebone Peanut Butter Flavored Wishbone Chew Toy (also comes in Bacon Flavor too).

The Benebone chews have an interesting curve up design.  This allows dogs to put their paw on it and chew easily on their toy.  Brilliant, why didn’t someone think of this sooner?  Benebone says they now have a patent on this design.  As an added bonus, this toy is made in the USA, for these factors alone we give this a very close second to the chilly bone. Additionally, each sale supports Animal Welfare, although how that is accomplished and to what extent is somewhat unclear.

Teething Rings by Nylabone

Nylabone makes a variety of shapes and sizes of these durable, hard plastic teething rings.  Their popularity with the puppies was surprising.  

These durable plastic key rings and pacifiers have no scent infused into them, but they seem to be just good fun to puppies. Our puppies tossed and pounced on them, then held them tightly in their paws for a fanatical chew fest.  They also made good puppy on puppy tug toys. 

Nylabone Durable Dental Dinosaur Chew Toy

This toy is designed for both teething puppies and moderate adult chewers, so it is possible for it to last into adulthood, given your particular puppy’s chew capacity.  It is described by Nylabone as a toy for heavy chewers, but we don’t think that this would be appropriate for an adult heavy chewer over 30 pounds, based on our test results.

The Nylabone chew toys are designed to develop raised edges to facilitate dental cleaning under the gum line.  And as a bonus, they are a delight to see around the house for those of us still enthralled by dinosaurs!

The Puppy Kong by The Kong Company

This scaled down version of their classic red and black Kong toys, comes in pink and blue.  Made with a slightly softer rubber for teething puppies, just load it up with treats and toss across the room. The Kong jumps in unpredictable ways when it lands, providing endless delight to puppies that like to bat at and pounce on toys.  Great for crate training, when loaded with treats the Kong toys act as puzzle toys for young and old dogs alike.

Note: If you have a large breed puppy, go ahead and size up to the red Kong chew toys. 

Nylabone Puppy Teething Star Chew Toy, Chicken Flavored

This durable chicken flavored toy has different textures on the various star points for added interest for puppies. This is a toy that held many puppies’ interest and was a favorite toy for 2 of them. Puppies seem to prefer one particular “nubby” pattern of the star, and those star points get the most chewing.

This flexible chew toy is designed specifically for puppy teeth, and is not appropriate for puppies once their adult teeth have come in.

West Paw Design Zogoflex Dog Toy, Tux

Like the Kong stuffable toy, the West Paw Tux toy provides hours of entertainment. This toy is rubber, latex and toxin free and recyclable.  Better yet, it is made in the USA. The pliable Tux toy also bounces erratically to provide added interest for puppies.

The zogoflex has proven to be amazingly strong.  Weeks of heavy chewing have no produced any damage to the exterior. Some puppies became infatuated with it, sleeping with the toy and carrying it around the house.

Pumpkin Ring by Nylabone 

Tasty and healthy, the Pumpkin jerky in this teething treat is surprisingly tough.  This ring comes in chicken flavor too, however we prefer the pumpkin and sweet potato as they are incredibly nutritious for people and pets alike.  As an added bonus, pumpkin aids in digestive health, for those of you who may be changing puppy foods on your new pup.

4 Puppies in our test took turns chewing and tugging on it, and it lasted for 3 days!  These teething treats are low fat, gluten free and a good source for DHA.

The puppies loved the taste and the light weight of it made it fun and easy to carry around during games of chase.  However, big dogs with adult teeth will make short work of this teething ring; it lasted about 45 minutes with an adult dog.

Ingredients: Rice Flour, Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Cellulose, Calcium Carbonate, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Natural Pumpkin Flavor, Citric Acid, Brewers Yeast, Cinnamon, Fennel, Tuna Oil (natural source of DHA)

Naturally Shed Antlers

Both deer and elk antlers are naturally high in calcium, manganese, potassium and zinc, and are incredibly palatable to all breeds of dogs.  Dogs tend to chew on them from the side of their mouth, effectively cleaning tartar from under the gum line. This is a chew toy that they should only be allowed to enjoy for approximately one hour each day, and it should be discarded once it wears down to a size the dog could easily swallow.

Nylabone Puppystix Chew Toy

This toy comes in two sizes, the small is appropriate for dogs up to 25 pounds, and the large is good for puppies 26 pounds and up. Chewing on this toy, as with many of the Nylabone products, raises bristles on it to help clean tartar from teeth and adds chewing satisfaction to the toy. This toy can be frozen to help sooth inflamed gums, although it will not stay cold as long as the Chilly Bone. Be aware that this is one chew toy made with two colors, not two in one package.

This is another toy designed specifically for puppies, and is not to be given to dogs with adult teeth.

For more information on Puppy Teething visit 10 Puppy Teething Survival Tips!

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Top Educational Toys | Award Winning Kids Toy, Canine Cardz, Offers 8 Games in One Package

September 26, 2014, 10:07 am

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Looking for an novel toy for your young dog lover that does not involve electronics?   Canine Cardz, by Zazzy Pals, is 8 games in one package, that combines children's three favorite activities.

Awarded the 2014 "Best New Game of the Year" by Creative Child Magazine, the games are gender neutral and can be played alone or with up to 5 players.  All pieces come in a 5 x 9" carrying case, so it's ideal for holiday travel.

The Package Includes:

• A Deck of 54 Unique "Dog" Playing Cards
• 12 Color Pencils
• 1 Sketch Pad
• 4 Large Colored Rubber Bones
• Instructions
• Lessons on Learning How to Draw Dogs

Buy Now

The 8 games were developed by Randi Bienniek, a child psychologist, self taught artist and the mother of triplets!  Randi spent 20 years working as a school psychologist for elementary, middle and high school children, and brings her remarkable insights into child development and creativity to each of the activities.

The games are designed to develop visual memory, matching skills, reading skills and fine motor skills for young children, but are fun for all ages to play. Speech pathologists and early literacy educators have been using the toys in their therapy sessions to promote discussion of the dog characters and to develop reading skills. The cards that many of the games revolve around are based on real life dogs, and include their unusual canine stories and careers.

Sample Game Card

 8 Kids Games to Play

• Match the Mutt
• Go Fetch
• Pass The Pooch
• Stay
• Dog Catcher
• Woof
• Zazzy 3's
• Stay

Each of the games is based on classic play patterns and is designed to last approximately 15 minutes, providing hours of quiet as well as high action entertainment. 

The rules are easy for children to understand, and the games are fun for the whole family to enjoy together.

The cards are durable and come in their own plastic carrying case that is easy for little hands to open and close. The lid to the package is attached by the handle, a heavy duty ribbon, so pieces are more likely to stay together.

This is a truly well designed kids toy, we agree with Creative Child magazine, this is the best new game of the year.

AKC Recognizes 2 New Dog Breeds in 2014

September 27, 2014, 11:31 am

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Learn more about the Coton De Tulear

This year the American Kennel Club has allowed two new breeds to join their roster of pure bred dogs.  The Wirehaired Vizsla has joined the Sporting Group while the darling Coton De Tulear has entered the Non-Sporting Group.

The Coton De Tulear

This tiny fluffy dog is the national dog of Madagascar, where the breed originated. Named for its cottony white coat, "Coton" and the Port of Madagascar, Tulear, these charming dogs have graced Madagascar's
national stamps.

The breed standard calls for a gay and light-hearted dog that is never demanding. The tail is carried happily over the back and the proportions of the dog are slightly longer that tall.  

The expression of the Coton is a smiling one that expresses "joie de vivre." The temperament of the breed is marked by a unique sympathy to the emotions of those around them. They are also known for their unique vocalizations which may include unusual grunts and growls.  Bred purely as companion dogs, the Coton listens well when spoken to and often tries to answer.

Overall the coat is dense, dry and cottony, never harsh. It should be white, with occasional light tan or grey shading on the ears or back.  On the body, the light color should not cover more than 5% of the dog.

The Wirehaired Viszla 

Learn more about the Wirehaired Vizsla

Developed in the 1940's in Hungary from the standard Hungarian Viszla, hunters were seeking a sturdier dog with a coat that could stand up to the harsh Hungarian winters. They possess a dense wiry coat with bearded facial furnishings and "eyebrows." 

The wirehaired vizsla has an excellent sense of smell and is a great tracker of things made of fur or feathers. Sturdily built, these dogs cover ground easily in all terrains.

The wirehaired vizsla is biddable and easy to train and handle.  As sensitive dogs, they do not respond well to heavy-handed treatment.   Lively and gentle, they make excellent companions. 

With these two additions to their rooster, the AKC now recognizes 180 pure breeds.

10 Most Hilarious Dog Halloween Costumes Ever!

September 30, 2014, 11:38 am

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These ten hilarious Halloween costumes for dogs will make even the most hardened criminals roll on the floor with laughter. Delight your trick-or-treaters with these hysterical dog costumes.

All of them are affordable, although some are better suited to particular body or head shapes.

The Triceratops Dog Costume

Animal planet makes several of the more adorable dog costumes available this year.  The triceratops head piece comes in four sizes. However, even the smallest size is still rather large. In fact the size small is large enough for an adult female human to wear as a costume. Made from lightweight printed foam, this is a costume best worn by dogs with blocky heads, such as the bulldogs or rottweilers. This little cutie costs under $7.00

Zack and Zoey's Grr-antula Costume

Fans of The Lord of The Rings will recognize this giant spider!  Fitted with Velcro straps, it should fit fairly snugly.  However, the wire in the legs of this costume is not very strong, and the legs tend to droop on the floor when the dog is walking around.  Still this costume gets plenty of compliments.  The Grr-antula comes in 4 sizes Small - X-Large, and runs $20.00 with shipping.

Zacy and Zoeys Jockey Harness 

 

Zack and Zoey hit another home-run with the jockey costume which comes in two styles and 4 sizes.  The costume includes a D ring to attach a leach two, so it doubles as a harness.The neck and belly straps are adjustable with buckle closures for a secure fit.

X-Large Fits Chests 30-38 Inches & Necks 18-26 Inches

Large Fits Chests 24-32 Inches & Necks 14-20 Inches

Medium Fits Chests 18-26 Inches and Neck 10-16 Inches

Small Fits Chests 12-16 Inches & Neck 8-12 Inches

The Woolly Mammoth

Highest in customer satisfaction, Animal Planet's Woolly Mammoth costume is a very well built outfit. The plush material holds its shape, however the legs tend to be a little on the short side. A large fits a 62 pound bulldog well.  Dog with longer legs relative to their body girth will have their feet sticking out of the bottom, but that may just add to the hilarious effect.

The Lions Mane

Turn your golden retriever or yellow lab into the pet lion you have always secretly wanted, ever since you saw Born Free!  Several companies manufacture a lions mane costume; we like the one made by Urparcel best.  It is appropriately priced at $9.00 with free shipping. 

This plush wig hat comes in 3 sizes and is held on by an adjustable elastic chin strap.

The Raptor Dog Costume

Also made by Animal Planet the Raptor costume is suitable for all shapes and sizes.  Both the headpiece and body are made from the same lightweight foam as the Triceratops head piece. The headpiece is separate with a chin strap to hold it on.  These tend to run a little on the large side so here is a sizing chart to guide you.

LARGE fits up to: 20" length, 24-28" chest, 16-20" neck. Breeds: Boxer, Labrador Retriever,Golden Retriever

MEDIUM fits up to: 16" length, 20-24" chest, 14-16" neck. Breeds: Beagle, Dachshund, Lhasa-Apso, Pug

SMALL fits up to: 12" length, 16-20" chest, 12-14" neck. Breeds: Norfolk Terrier, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle

X-SMALL fits up to: 8" length, 12-16" chest, 10-12" neck. Breeds: Maltese, Miniature Pincher, Papillion

Star Wars Ewok Costume

Rubies has a full line of officially licensed Star Wars dog costumes and all of them are adorable.  Unfortunately many of them don't run true to their sizing.  The Ewok costume tends to run larger than their sizing suggests.

The Hammerhead Shark Dog Costume by Animal Planet

Your dog can enjoy wearing this costume for both Halloween and Shark Week! The headpiece on this costume tends to weigh heavily on the ears, so dogs with prick ears may find it uncomfortable.  This is another costume that best fits dogs with block skulls. Sizing is the same as the Raptor dog costume above. Both costumes run around $20.00 with shipping. 

The Star Wars Bantha Costume

While the Ewok costume tends to run large, this one tends to run quite small.  That's a sheltie pictured here not a collie, therefore we recommend this costume to dog owners with dog under 25 pounds.

Pup-A-Razzi's White Starlet Dress

Pup-A-Razi's white starlet dress is not a particularly well made costume, but it wins the prize for the most ridiculously hideous dog outfit! 

Bonus Costume! The Holy Hound

We stumbled across this outfit, and thought it was too funny to miss this list. The Holy Hound by California Costumes can be worn year round, and will surely exorcise any unwanted spirits in your home.  

4 Best Dog Houses For Outdoors | Dog House Review

October 12, 2014, 4:00 pm

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Fanciful Dog House at Ightham Mote Image Courtesy of Oast House Archive [CC-BY-SA-2.0(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Dog houses have long graced the backyards of homes as well as various institutions requiring outdoor kenneling of dogs employed in protection of property.  While we do not advocate keeping dogs outdoor twenty for hours a day, some dogs do prefer resting outdoors during the daylight hours, where they can keep an eye on the neighborhood activities and teach invading squirrels a lesson.  Outdoor dog houses can provide quick shelter during the sudden rainstorm or a cozy den area for afternoon napping.

Tips For Purchasing the Right Dog House for Your Dog

• For a weatherproof dog house, choose one with a roof that overhangs the entrance to prevent rain from pouring in.
• Vinyl flaps can be installed on most dog houses for added protection in the winter, however they restrict the flow of air during warm months.  
• To prevent flooding of the interior, select a dog house that has feet to raise it off of the ground or plan to put a pallet underneath it.
• Plastic dog houses are easier to keep sanitary, however they are much lighter weight and should be anchored to prevent them from flying off during high wind storms.
• Select a dog house that is slightly larger (4 inches each way) than the room that is necessary for him to stand up and turn around.  Dogs like a cozy den area, however if the space is too small or too vast, he is unlikely to use the dog house.

If you are constructing one of the large dog houses, build it outdoors, as it probably will not fit through your doorways once it is put together.

Adding cedar chips to the bottom of your dog house will discourage pest and insects from entering the house.

Highest in Customer Satisfaction | Petmate Indigo Dog House with Microban

Dogloo Plastic Insulated Dog House

The Petmate Indigo dog house or Dogloo is designed on the principles of the Inuit igloos of the North.  The front door is offset to keep warm air in during winter months and cool air in on warm days.  The roof contains a vent that allows air to circulate and keep it from becoming stale in the igloo living area.

The Dogloo is in use by many outdoor professional kennels because of its durability and exceptional insulation qualities.

Features:

• Made with Microban which discourages the growth of odor causing germs, bacteria, mold and mildew.
• Offset doorway offers protection from wind and rain.
• Built-in structural foam adds to the insulating benefits of the design.
• Tool Free Installation
• Easy to open an clean when required.
• Most durable outdoor dog house on the market.
• Heavyweight (30 pounds for the large size) does not require anchoring the dog house.
• Door flap and self heating pad are available options.

Cons:

• Not as decorative as other dog houses on the market.
• Sizing runs small: Large accommodates up to 70 pound dogs. (They say 70-90 pounds).
• One of the more expensive dog houses, but also one of the best values.
• If you have a stout dog, be sure to check the dimensions of the doorway to be sure your dog and fit into it.
• If you purchase the wrong size online, it will cost you a fortune to return it.  Shipping on the large can run as much as $100.00.
• Latches frequently arrive broken, so be sure to purchase from a seller with a solid return policy.

Rain and snow can get into this dog house.  You can add their custom flaps add-ons to the door way, or as a less expensive option, you can drape a large rubber/carpeted garage mat over the igloo entrance to extend a makeshift "porch" covering to the entrance.

Petmate Indigo Dog House with Microban, Medium, Taupe Top, Black Bottom

The Best Selling Dog House | Suncast 

Suncast Plastic Dog House DH350 accommodates to a 100 pounds of dog.

Suncast makes two models of their dog house, which are essentially the same house with minor cosmetic differences between them. Together they are the most popular dog house on the market.

These dog houses snap together easily, but will also snap apart easily with any amount of rough-housing.  

These houses are made from thin plastic sheets that acquire rigidity through their attachment to the other pieces. As the parts are snapped together, they gain their strength from their neighboring  If a dog stands on one of them, it is likely to collapse.

The Suncast DH250 is the medium size model accommodating up to 70 pounds of dog.

The flaps to keep rain out are located on the inside of the doorway.  Therefore when rain hits them, they guide the water into the dog house.

Features:

• Tool-free assembly, snaps together easily in minutes.
• Includes door flaps that are easily removed and added back to the unit.
• Includes letters you can add on to the front to personalize with your dog's name.
• Sturdy enough for a laid back dog or a senior dog.
• Inexpensive relative to other houses on the market.

Cons:

• Does not provide much insulation; you will need to add a self heating pad for cold winter days.
• Not raised off the ground.
• The thin floor easily allows water in, and has a snap together seam to it.  You will want to attach this to a raised board or pallet to prevent flooding or liftoff in a storm.

See More on the Suncast DH250 Dog House

Best Dog House for Cold Weather Conditions | ASL Dog Palace

ASL Dog Palace - Plastic windows are removable for ventilation

The ASL Insulated Dog Palace is insulated with up to 4 inches of foam/EPS insulation. Meaning that the temperature inside when dogs are in it can be as much as 30 degrees warmer than the outside temperature. Expect this dog house to keep dogs warm in temperatures as low as 25 degrees.

The clever trap door design keeps out wind and water, and the windows can be removed for improved air flow during the warmer months.

At 50 pounds you can expect this house to stay put in most foul weather conditions. Should any water make it into the dog house, the floor is sloped to a drain hole to whisk away and liquids. 

The durable plastic is resistant to sun rot.

Features:

• Easy Tool-free assembly.
• Sloped floor and drain hole to remove any liquid that seeps in or runs off of your dog.
• Insulation inside of the plastic walls
• Raised floor prevents flooding.
• Durable, expect it to last 4 years or more with normal usage.
• Attractive barn design

Cons:

• Dogs may be wary of the self closing doors. You may need to tape open the door until your dog becomes comfortable with the dog house, and then train him to use the door.

ASL Solutions Foam (Styro/EPS) Insulated Dog Palace

Best Built Wooden Dog House | Trixie Pet Products Rustic Dog House

While many of the wooden dog houses are made from inferior wood that splinters as you screw it together, the Trixie Rustic Dog House is made from  tongue and groove wooden boards. This construction makes it resistant to drafts and rain.  

The ample overhang in front of the doorway keeps rain out, and gives dogs a shady place to sit and look out on the world on warm days. A plastic dog door is available separately for improving insulation on winter days.

Easy to clean with removable floor and locking arm to keep the dog house roof open.

Features:

• Raised floor with adjustable feet for leveling.
• Roof lifts up with locking arm for cleaning and maintenance.
• Solid wooden construction keeps out drafts and the elements.
• Porch offers a shape resting spot for dogs.
• The floor is removable for easy cleaning.
• Durable shingle roof.

Cons:

• You will need to invest a half day assembling this product.
• Put it together where you want it as it weighs 100 pounds.
• Dragging it around the yard can cause the dog house to weaken or fall apart.

TRIXIE Pet Products Rustic Dog House, Large

Grooming Fluffy Dogs | How to Care for the Double Coated Dog

October 24, 2014, 2:17 pm

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Grooming not only keeps your dog's coat in good health, it reduces the amount of hair shed in your home and provides an opportunity to bond more closely with your dog. Whether you are wanting to keep your dog's coat in show condition or are just looking to keep it free of mats, these tips on caring for your fluffy dog will make short work of keeping your dog healthy looking and your home free of unwanted dog hair.

Grooming Basics 101

• Before brushing your dog, always mist him lightly with a little water from a spray bottle. The water will eliminate static electricity and provide elasticity to the coat to prevent breakage of hair the shafts.
• If you can hear the brush as it is pulling through the coat, you are brushing too hard or using the wrong style brush on the coat.
• Always brush out your dog and remove any mats before bathing him.  Washing a dog with loose hair or mats will only aggravate the situation, causing the mats to grow in size and become more tightly matted.
• Grooming gives you an opportunity to detect wounds, lumps or changes in the skin and coat condition that may help you detect a serious condition early on.
• Clean coat grows coat; dirt on coats breaks hair shafts leaving unwanted hair around the house.
• Double coated dogs shed their undercoats twice a year.  Dead and loose undercoat that remains on the dog will quickly generate difficult to remove mats.
• Most dogs enjoy the attention of grooming when it is done regularly.
• 10 minutes a week is all that is necessary to keep the average fluffy dog coat in good condition.

Grooming Tools for the Double Coated Dog

The cost of all of these grooming tools together is less than one visit to a professional groomer, and they are well worth having on hand.

Pin Brush by #1 All Systems

The Pin Brush

The pin brush is the essential brush that you will use for weekly maintenance of your dog's double coat.  It should slide easily through the coat without making any rough scraping or tearing sounds. 

Pin brushes come in two style, those with nobs on the ends of the pins, and those with a straight pin that is gently rounded on the tips.  Never use the style with nobs on the ends.  These are designed to remove coat, however they pull and tear at healthy coat, making the grooming experience unpleasant and even painful for dogs.

The Poodle Comb

Master Groomer Poodle Comb

This wide toothed comb is used as a finishing comb for double coated dogs, once the dog's coat is free of any mats or loose hair. The teeth of the poodle comb are spaced at 1/4 inch distance from each other.

The comb is used to detect any small mats and clumps of loose hair that were missed in the brush-out of the dog.  If the comb sticks, you need to investigate that area of the dogs coat more carefully; this is how you prevent small tangles from becoming large mats over the course of the week.

The Slicker Brush

Slicker Brush

The Slicker brush is used for mat removal and grooming the furnishings (feathers on the front legs, pants and hair on the hocks and behind the ears).

We will discuss its use in mat removal further down in this article.

Mat Breakers

There are two styles of mat breakers. The one with the longer teeth is best used for cutting apart large, fist sized mats.  The one with the shorter teeth is good for stripping out and thinning under coat. 

As undercoat sheds and remains nestled in with the healthy hairs, it 

Short Blade Mat Breaker By Safari

begins to form a loose mat. The short blades are good for stripping out those loose mats, as the longer bladed mat remover will simple glide through the loose tangles.

Removing undercoat can help cool the double coated dog in the summer months, and is also done on show dogs to help sculpt the dog's outline.  Dogs with an over abundance of hair on the loins and rear can look "high in the rear."  Removing excess undercoat reveals the dog's true structure.

Long Tooth Dematting Comb for Large Mats

Rolling the Coat on a Double Coated Dog

Rolling the coat removes dead and loose hair, encourages new hair growth and distributes the dog's natural oils along the hair shafts. This should be performed once a week, and will reduce the amount of shedding around your home considerably. Rolling the coat should only take about 5 minutes per side of the dog when done on a weekly basis.

To roll the coat, mist your dog with water from a spray bottle before beginning.  Have your dog lie down on his side, and using a pin brush without nobs on the ends of the pins, begin back brushing the coat at the shoulder.  Back brushing means that you will brush a small amount of hair in the reverse direction of how the hair naturally grows and lays. 

Hold the coat towards the front of your dog gently down as you brush the hair back towards the head of the dog, creating a part in the coat. Continue back brushing 2 inches of coat with each stroke moving down the side of the dog towards the tail. Brushing in the opposite direction of how the hair lays allows you to get to the base of each hair shaft and remove all dead or loose hairs on the dog.  

Once you have back brushed all the hairs from the shoulder to the pants in the opposite direction of its growth pattern, brush the hairs gently back to the direction it normally lays. Turn the dog over, mist again and repeat on the opposite side.

After rolling the coat, you should be able to easily pull a wide toothed comb, or Poodle comb, easily through the dog's coat.  Any places where the comb sticks, should be investigated for small tangles or mats. This is all that is required to keep a double coated dog's coat in good condition when he is not in a shedding phase.

The Double Coated Dog's Shedding Phase

Shedding Rake

Twice a year double coated dogs will "blow coat." This is when they shed most of their undercoat and the remaining guard hairs may become dry and brittle looking.  It may take up to three weeks for a dog to fully blow their coat.  This is the time that most mats are formed if dead hairs are allowed to remain without regularly being brushed out.

Brushing with a pin brush will take forever to remove all of the loose hairs, however a shedding rake will make quick work of removing dead and loose hairs.  With a few passes over the back and sides of your dog, you can remove the majority of dead hair in a few minutes.

Mat Removal

If you have a double coated dog, it is inevitable that a mat will eventually form on your dog. Favorite mat sites are behind the ears, the pants and under the forearms where the arm and body rub together.  Some dogs lose coat during their shed in tufts, making it easy to spot that the time for the shedding rake has arrived.  Other coats tend to hold in the loose hairs, creating a dense mass of hair along the rump and pants of the dog hiding beneath the guard hairs.

Depending on the type of mats you are dealing with, there are several techniques to help you easily and painlessly remove the mats and preserve healthy coat.

Removing Small Mats in Delicate Areas

Small mats behind the ears can be removed with scissors.  Using thinning shears near the base of the mat will make the removal of the mat less noticeable.

Use the narrow tines to tease apart small or loose mats.

For small mats on delicate areas, you can tease out the mat with a finishing comb. Begin with the hairs farthest away from the dogs skin, and gently try to separate the hairs from each other.  You may need to use a short blade mat remover to encourage the hairs to separate.

When using any mat remover with blades, angle the blade ends away from the dog's body with the sharp sides of the blades facing away from the dogs body.  In this video, they use a Coat King type undercoat rake to tease out the mat. Mars make the Coat King, however Oster makes a similar tool (pictured here) that works equally well for half of the price.

• Here the groomer uses a slicker brush with its fine tines to identify mats. 
• Then he uses a finishing comb to tease apart small mats.
• Hold the fur at the base of the mat when teasing the mat apart, to keep from pulling on the dogs skin.  
• More stubborn mats on the ear are teased apart with the short blades of the Oster undercoat rake.
• The last of the loose hairs is removed by the fine teeth of the finishing comb. If you don't have a finishing comb, use the slicker brush to remove the final loose hairs.

Removing Large Mats and Densely Packed Fur Over Large Areas

For Large Mats: You may wish to spray the mat first with a detangler designed for dog coats. Best Shot makes a good detangler; our favorite is the Isle of Dogs Detangler #63. We love this detangler because it can be left in without attracting dirt, which creates new mats, plus it smells like honeysuckles! 

When using a detangler, spray it on the matted area, working it into the matted area with your fingers, then wait 3-5 minutes before grooming out the mat.

Use the long blade mat comb to slice through tightly knitted mats. Using a sawing action, start at the loose end of the mat stroking away from the dog, working towards the base of the knot in successive strokes. This is performed with a gentle but firm sawing with blades facing away from the dog's skin (this action is demonstrated in the video below). 

Make several passes until it easily glides through the knot.  Using a slicker brush, gently remove the loose hairs in short strokes on the hairs at end of the knot, working in towards the body of the dog. 

Finish by running a comb over the area to ensure all tangles and loose hair have been removed.

Here the groomer demonstrates the sawing action required to break the mat, 

then follows up with a slicker brush and finishing comb.

                                  

Removing Dead Densely Packed Undercoat

If a large area of the dog is tightly packed with dead hair, it can make it difficult to even feel the dogs skin beneath the coat.  Begin by spraying liberally with a coat detangler, then allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes.

Starting at the base of the matted area or above the tail of the dog. Press the coat back towards the head, and begin teasing the coat towards the tail with a slicker brush, a little at a time.  If the coat is stubborn, use the mat remover with short blades to separate and cut the tangled hairs.

As the hairs loosen, repeat brushing with the slicker brush.  Continue going back and forth between the mat remover and the slicker brush until the area is mat free, going over it a final time with a comb with coarse tine spacing.  See the demonstration below on this dog's matted pants. Note she starts at the bottom of the tangled area to tease out the tangles in his coat.

As hair is loosened and removed, she reapplies detangler to speed the process.

Quickly Removing Hair from Matted Pants

Dog Behavior: What's Behind the Guilty Dog Look?

December 31, 2014, 6:50 am

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Did he do it?

Does this dog look guilty to you?

Is it a mistake to confer human emotions and motives on our dogs? Are dogs really more human than some want to believe? 

Dogs have become the new darlings of cognitive science, and research is mounting at an exponential rate exploring the range of canine emotions and cognitive abilities.

Among the many human characteristics attributed to dogs is the concept of guilt. It’s not unusual for a dog owner to state, “I knew he had done something; he had that ‘guilty look.’” We all know that doleful, guilty dog expression, but does it really demonstrate a dog’s guilt? If not, what’s behind it? Researchers at University Barnard College in New York set out to answer a few of these questions.

The Guilty Dog Experiement

In a study by Alexandra Horowitz, Assistant Professor from Barnard College, dogs were placed in a controlled environment where they and their owners were setup to make guilty dogs appear innocent and vice versa. Dogs were ordered by their owners to leave a tasty treat alone, then the owner left the room.

After the owners left the room some dogs were offered the forbidden treat by the researchers, which they ate, while others obediently awaited their master’s return. What the researchers told the owners about their pet’s behavior often did not correlate with the events that had transpired in their absence.

Owners who were told truthfully that their dog had disobeyed them by eating the treat, and who then scolded their dogs, received a guilty look from the dog. However, when researchers falsely stated that the dog had eaten the treat in their owner’s absence, the innocent dogs that were scolded for eating a treat they had not consumed, demonstrated the guiltiest look of all dogs in the experiment.

This suggests that the guilty look stems from a reaction to the scolding and not to the dog’s true guilt or innocence. However, further research indicates there may be more to the guilty look that what we gather from this experiment at first blush. 

So what are the dogs really responding to; what do dogs think and feel with regard to their human caregivers?

The Dog Genius

According to Brian Hare co author ofThe Genius of Dogs: How Dogs are Smarter than You Think, “The genius of dogs is that they use probably the most powerful tool on Earth to solve problems—humans. At one point in wolf evolution, a group of wolves decided to take advantage of humans, and they have been really successful because of it.”

By hitching themselves to humans, dogs have become one of the most successful species on the planet. Dogs domesticated themselves in a process where the most tolerant, attentive and least aggressive dogs did best with their new companions. In an 18,000 year process, the brain and sensitivities of the dog have been refined to better coexist with man. It seems that dogs have developed many of the coping skills that we observe in young human children.

Our Canine "Kids"

The Bassett Hound always wears  a bit of a remorseful expression.

Many dog owners refer to their dogs as their “canine kids.” But are adult dogs really like human kids? Researchers Lisa Horn, Ludwig Huber, Friederike Range at The Clever Dog Lab sought to determine if dogs, like human children, display a “secure base effect.” Essentially the secure base effect in young children refers to an attachment bond where the child refers back to the caregiver for reassurance while exploring the world. The presence of the caregiver provides a sense of security, the secure base.

In human tests, children perform better on cognitive tests when their caregiver is present in the testing environment. The researchers for this canine experiment set up four conditions using a problem solving dog toy that dispenses treats as the model for the cognitive test. Dogs were left with the toy in one of four scenarios: alone without a human presence, with a stranger, and with their owner actively encouraging the dog to interact with the toy as well as with their owner in an inattentive state.

Dogs left alone with the toy had minimal interaction with it. Dogs left with strangers interacted slightly more with the toy. And those with their owners present interacted significantly more with the toy whether the owner was attentive to the game or not. This demonstrates a remarkable secure base effect with their caregiver; one that adult dogs retain throughout their lives, yet one which normal human children eventually out grow.

It appears that this parent/child bonding is mutual. Ocytocin is a neurotransmitter that is essential in the bonding process across all mammalian species. It is essential for the parent/child bond as well as the paring bond in mating processes.

In an experiment, pet owners were asked to complete a questionnaire that described the bond they felt with their dog. They were asked to pee in a cup, and then play with their dog for 30 minutes. Following their play session, they again peed in a cup. The analysis of the before and after samples showed that those with strong bonds to their pets also had increased levels of oxytocin in their urine samples following the play session with their dog. The increased levels of ocytocin correlated with their level of attachment to their pet. We appear to be biologically bonded with our dogs.

Working agility at a distance based on handler' body language.

Source: By Ron Armstrong from Helena, MT, USA (HMKC Spring 2007 Agility Trial) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativeco

Dogs Are More Like Us Than Other Primates

Research over the last 10 years is turning up some surprising facts about dogs. Their ability to follow a gesture or a human gaze is unparalleled among other species, including the chimpanzee. If we fix our attention on an object, by pointing or looking at it, the dog will also fix his attention the object. If I point at an object, a cat or primate will look at my finger, however the dog will follow the gesture to the object I am pointing at.

This unique ability to understand visual and auditory commands and correlate them to our desired actions allows dogs to herd stock, retrieve and run agility courses with split second responses to our commands or, in some instances, simply to our field of focus. Top agility handlers guide their dogs across the course by aiming their body at the next obstacle. Handler error occurs when the handler accidentally pulls the dog off course by aiming his body at the wrong obstacle.

Dogs are also the only species that has demonstrated the ability to learn words on the same level as two year old human children; with the average dog being able to learn between 150-250 words.

Even more remarkable, dogs use an inferential strategy that employs the principle of exclusion. Dogs taught words for specific objects can infer, by excluding the known sound/object associations, that a new sound belongs to a new object that has been added to the mix of objects to be retrieved. Only human children have demonstrated this ability so far.

And beyond that, two border collies have demonstrated the capacity for iconicity. These dogs can be shown a two dimensional representation of an object, and then retrieve that object based on the symbol or icon represented in the image.

Is this puppy laughing?

Source: By Naomi Ibuki (dog smile) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia C

Do Dogs Have Human Feelings?

Laughter: We know dogs can bark for joy, but can they laugh too? Researcher Patricia Simonet from Sierra Nevada College and her team discovered that “certain breathy, excited exhalations” could be the canine version of laughter. Her team recorded the sounds made by dogs at play at a local park. They discovered a unique exhalation that was different from normal panting. When the team played these sound recordings for other dogs, they began to play too when the “laughing pant” was audible. Additionally, they found that the laughing pant helped to calm shelter dogs under stress.

Do Dogs Grieve?

Researchers have found in multiple experiments, that dogs do experience grief when a member of the household passes away. Dogs experience lethargy, loss of appetite and sleep disturbances, just as people do, for the loss of human or pet family members. Typically these manifestations of grief will last 2 weeks, but may be extended as long as six months.

Canine Jealousy and Their Sense of Fair Play

Dogs taught to shake hands for intermittent rewards will stop shaking hands if they see that another dog is receiving rewards for every hand shake. This demonstrates a sense of fair play as well as a sense of injustice. Dogs do become jealous when they feel another animal is being treated better than they are.

Dogs can empathize and feel jealousy.

Can Dogs Experience Empathy?

Empathy, the ability to experience the thoughts and feelings of others has long been considered a unique trait among the higher level primates. Can dogs experience our emotions?

Yawning is not only contagious among humans, it is between humans and dogs too. A study by Teresa Romero and colleagues from the University of Tokyo found that dogs yawned when both strangers and their owners yawned. However, they responded with reciprocal yawns more frequently to their owner’s yawns than to those of strangers. The dogs also responded much less frequently to faked yawns.

Yawning is important as it demonstrates the capacity for empathy, and has been shown to correlate with the level of social attachment in several primate species. The fact that dogs differentiate between real and faked yawns and respond accordingly is intriguing. Dogs empathize with the genuine human act, and the faked one is largely ignored.

So, Do Dogs Feel Guilt?

Conventional wisdom says dogs cannot feel higher emotions such as shame or guilt. These guilty expressions are generally attributed to fear and confusion.

However in a survey, 74% of dog owners believed that their dogs experienced guilt when the knew they had transgressed. And 60% of these dog owners said that the guilty expression resulted in less scolding of the dog.

We know from the previous experiment that scolding elicits a guilty expression. Apparently, that guilty expression is useful to dogs to alleviate some of the scolding; it is an adaptive behavior. But do dogs act guilty when they know they have transgressed, yet their owner has not yet discovered the crime?

The full answer to that question has not been proven in an experiment, however one preliminary test shows that there is a guilt response in truly guilty dogs.

In an experiment led by Julie Hecht at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, researchers found again that all dogs act guilty when scolded for stealing forbidden food regardless of their guilt or innocence. However, when owners greeted their dogs a second time, after the dog had had the opportunity to transgress and had been scolded, only the dogs guilty of stealing a treat continued to act guilty. The innocent dogs had forgotten the scolding incident and greeted their owners normally.

It stands to reason that animals so attuned to us and with such an incredible capacity to learn and desire to please would be able to anticipate our displeasure upon discovery of their crime. The Hecht research group is working on a new experiment to remove some of the confounding variables introduced in the lab setting. We expect that they will find further evidence that dogs do feel guilt along with the many other human emotions they can experience.

Citations

Horowitz A (2009). Disambiguating the “guilty look”: salient prompts to a familiar dog behaviour. Behavioural processes, 81 (3), 447-52 PMID: 19520245

Public Library of Science. "Dogs yawn more often in response to owners' yawns than strangers." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 August 2013. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130807204847.htm>.

Citation: Horn L, Huber L, Range F (2013) The Importance of the Secure Base Effect for Domestic Dogs – Evidence from a Manipulative Problem-Solving Task. PLoS ONE 8(5): e65296. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065296

Hecht, J., et al., Behavioral assessment and owner perceptions of behaviors associated with guilt in dogs. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. (2012),doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2012.02.015

Truly Guilty Dogs and Their Crimes

The Hypoallergenic Dog Breed Myth | The Surprising Study Results

April 23, 2015, 8:25 am

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The AKC lists 19 breeds as having hypoallergenic qualities. Do the dog breeds on this list really produce less dander and allergens? The short answer is "No," and here is the proof.

The Coton De Tulear, a low shed dog and recent addition to the AKC registry.  Image by CVF-pfs

The breeds listed below have been touted as being hypoallergenic, because they shed substantially less than other dog breeds.  However hair itself is not allergenic; it's the dander attached to it that causes the sniffles and asthma attacks.

The assumption has been, less hair in the air means less dander floating around. As a result, an industry of mixed breeds claiming hypoallergenic status has flooded the dog market. Americans are prepared to spend big dollars ($1500-$5000) on purportedly low allergy mutts.

The AKC's "Hypoallergenic" Dog Breeds List:

• Afghan Hound
• Bedlington Terrier
•  Bichon Frise
•  Chinese Crested
• Coton De Tulear
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Maltese
• Poodle
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Standard Schnauzer
• Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier
• Zoloitzuintli (Mexican Hairless)
• American Hairless Terrier
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Spanish Water Dog
• Peruvian Inca Orchid (Hairless) 

Mexican Hairless Dogs. You might expect them to be as free from allergens as they are from hair.

Designer Mixes Claiming Hypoallergenic Qualities:

• Goldendoodle - Golden Retrieve and Poodle cross
• Maltipoos - Maltese Poodle mix
• Maltichon - Maltese and Bichon mix
• Mauxi - Dachshund - Maltese mix 
• Anything else mixed with Poodle or Maltese

Despite the public interest in hypoallergenic pets, no one had ever tested the theory by testing the allergen levels in dog owner's homes.  Then came the study, published in The Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, that attempted to prove or disprove the hypoallergenic breed theory. 

The Allergen Results From the Study of 190 Detroit Homes 

The study[1], based in Detroit, selected participants from a pool of expectant mothers in their third trimester of pregnancy. 190 Expectant mothers who reported having dogs as pets that where allowed in their homes were asked: the breed of their dog, how much time it spent in the home and if it would be allowed into the nursery. Researchers then went to their homes, one month postpartum, to collect dust samples by vacuum in the nurseries and then measure the levels of allergens present.

Homes with pure breed, hypoallergenic breeds and hypoallergenic mixes were tested and the results were categorized into four test schemes. 

Scheme A compared allergen levels from pure breed "Hypoallergenic" dog homes and other pure breed dogs as identified by the AKC. 

Scheme B compared pure breed dogs with mixed breed dogs where at least one parent was considered hypoallergenic. 

Scheme C compared purebred dogs, mixed breed dogs with one hypoallergenic parent and mixed breed dogs with no hypoallergenic component in their lineage.

Scheme D Compared only AKC listed purebred Hypoallergenic dogs to all other dog breeds.

The Results: there was no statistically significant difference between the allergen levels of Hypoallergenic pure bred dog, designer hypoallergenic dogs and all other dog homes. 

In fact the hypoallergenic dogs consistently produced more allergens, although the increased level did not rise high enough to meet the statistically significant standard deviation.

3 Tips to Keeping Dog Dander and Pet Allergens Down in Your Home

What might be the cause of these low shedding dogs putting off more dander that those that shed regularly? It may be that those shedding coat are also dropping off their dander on lost hairs outdoors as well as indoors, while the non-shed coat retains much of the dander clinging to their dense coats.

Regular brushing and monthly baths using both shampoo and coat conditioner, can substantially reduce allergens.  As master stylist, Les Bouska of Atlanta Hair Studio explains, "Shampoo causes the hair follicle to open, allowing it to release the dirt and dander attached to the shaft. The conditioner then seals the shaft back closed, making it more difficult for dirt and dander to cling to each hair shaft. Skipping the conditioner leaves the shaft open to quickly collect more allergens." However, he warns, bathing too often with cheap shampoos can actually cause dry skin conditions that can actually increase the allergen levels in your home.

Adding antioxidants such as fish oil and dog probiotics to your dog's diet can also help alleviate any skin conditions that result in excess dander being generated.

Dogs like to have their own personal space, so provide your dog with his own special bedding that can easily be washed. We like the dog beds whose fill is made from spun threads from recycled plastic bottles. These dry quickly and do not retain dander or pet odors after a quick cycle in the washing machine.

Citations:

[1] Dog allergen levels in homes with hypoallergenic compared with nonhypoallergenic dogs

Charlotte E. Nicholas, Ganesa R. Wegienka, Suzanne L. Havstad, Edward M. Zoratti, Dennis R. Ownby, Christine Cole Johnson

Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2011 Jul-Aug; 25(4): 252–256. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2011.25.3606

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15 Warning Signs of Cancer in Dogs

March 31, 2013, 1:51 pm

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Courtesy of PDPics.com

Cancer is increasingly common in pet animals, and as pets age, the likelihood of contracting some form of the disease increases substantially.  In fact, cancer accounts for almost half of the deaths of pets over 10 years of age. 

In breeds like the golden retriever it is estimated that between 60 and 80% will contract a form of cancer. But cancer is not restricted to geriatric canines, dogs as young as 4 years old may be diagnosed with it.

While dogs in general contract cancer at approximately the same rate as humans; cats tend to get fewer cancers, perhaps owing to their nine lives. Some cancers such as Hemangiosarcom and Oesteosarcoma have a higher rate of occurrence within certain breeds, suggesting a genetic component is probably at work.

If your dog’s breed has a propensity for developing a specific type of cancer, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the early warning symptoms of the onset of the disease.  Awareness of the signs of cancer in dogs combined with early detection and quick action can significantly improve the outcome for your pet.

Common Warning Signs of Cancer in Dogs

If you suspect a combination of the following symptoms in your pet, consult your veterinarian promptly; when it comes to the health of your pet, it is always better to be safe now than sorry later.

1. Foul Odors from the Mouth or Other Orifices: Foul Odors from the Mouth: If you detect offensive odors emanating from your dog’s mouth, and there has been no change in diet, you should have it checked out. Halitosis combined with excessive drooling, difficulty eating or swallowing can be a sign of oral cancer.   Bloody saliva indicates a prompt visit to the vet is in order. Bad odors from the ears, anal area or any other part of your pet’s body, should be checked out as well.  While food allergies, mites, impacted anal glands, infections from bites or scrapes or yeast infections can cause foul odors, it is best to seek veterinary advice to clear up any of these conditions and check for the underlying cause of the odor.
2. Nasal discharge. This can be a sign of allergies, or especially if discolored or bloody, a symptom of cancer of the nasal and sinus cavities.
3. Excessive Drooling and Difficulty Eating or Swallowing.  Excessive drooling, especially combined with a strong halitosis merits further investigation.  Anytime a dog has difficulty eating or swallowing you should consult a veterinarian immediately.  
4. Difficulty Breathing and Coughing. Dogs having difficulty breathing  should be examined immediately.  For both humans and dogs, shortness of breath is a critical symptom.  Heart disease, lung cancer and hemangiosarcoma are potential underlying causes of breathing difficulties.  Early detection of any of these diseases can improve your dog’s prognosis.
5. Excessive Panting. It is normal for dogs to pant following exercise (for 20-30 minutes) or in extremely warm conditions.  Prolonged panting however may be a symptom of a severe injury or chronic illness such as heart failure, Cushing's syndrome, pneumonia or lung tumors.  
6. Loss of Appetite. Dogs usually do not stop eating without a cause.  If your dog suddenly loses his appetite and there has been no change in diet, you should consider a trip to the vet, particularly if it is combined with some of the other symptoms on this list.  While this may not be a symptom of cancer, it could be a symptom of another serious issue where early intervention is beneficial.
7. Lethargy. Lack of stamina or fatigue developing over a relatively short time frame can be symptoms of cancer.  Beyond normal aging, a dog that over a period of weeks or months that exhibits a noticeable decrease in activity levels should be seen by your veterinarian.  Other possible causes of lethargy and lack of appetite can include parasites such as tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, conditions that you will also want to address quickly.
8. Depression.  You can’t put your finger on it, but Rover just doesn't seem to be himself.  Depressed dogs don’t seem to take pleasure in their usual activities; they tend to lie down away from the family activities exhibiting a decreased interest in their surroundings.  This can be a symptom of a change in the family dynamic or environment, but if there have been no changes to the family routine, depression combined with a several other symptoms on this list should be noted when discussing your dog’s health with your veterinarian.
9. Changes in Bathroom Habits. A dog that is normally well house trained begins soiling the house (and there have been no changes in the household dynamics to upset him) or the consistency of the bowel movement is unusual.  This symptom combined with depression were our first clues that something was wrong with our dog Kebe, prior to her being diagnosed with a branching cancerous tumor. Additionally, difficulty using the bathroom, frequent bathroom use or blood in urine or stool are all symptoms indicating a prompt visit to your vet is in order.
10. Abdominal Distention. If your dog’s abdomen becomes bloated or distended it could be a sign of an accumulation of abnormal discharge within the body. Accumulation of fluids can be indicative of congestive heart failure and cardiac hemangiosarcoma.
11. Lameness or Difficulty Walking.  Sudden onset of lameness or pain during exercise, when the dog has not engaged in any extreme physical activities can be indicative of arthritis or bone cancer (osteosarcoma).
12. Weight Loss:  Just as in humans, cancer can cause its victims to lose weight dramatically.  If your pet has experienced weight loss, and you have not adjusted caloric intake or increased activity levels of your pet, then a trip to the vet is indicated.  If you notice sudden weight loss in your dog, along with other signs from this list (especially weight loss combined with decreased activity levels), be sure to mention it to your veterinarian.
13. Vomiting or Diarrhea.  Vomiting and/or excessive diarrhea that continue for more than a day should be checked out by a vet.  At the very least, the dog may become dehydrated, a condition easily remedied by administration of fluids.  Prolonged vomiting or the inablility to hold down fluids and solids can indicate pancreatitis, kidney disease or digestive cancer.
14. Lumps That are Unresolved or Growing. Not all lumps on or under your dog’s skin will be cancerous, but they are a cause for concern.  If the lump is growing rapidly, is ulcerated or bleeding, warm or painful to the touch you should consult your veterinarian. While it may just be a cyst, your vet can perform a needle biopsy and a veterinary pathologist can determine if the cells are cancerous or not.
15. Sores That Don’t Heal. If your pet has wounds or sores that are not healing, it could be a sign of infection, skin disease, diabetes or cancer.

While many items on this list, when exhibited individually, are not cause for concern, an accumulation of 3 or more of these symptoms is reason to visit your veterinarian.

As your pet ages, it is a good idea to routinely examine him by stroking and petting his entire body. Tummy rubs and scratching around the ears and neck can aid in detecting any unusually bumps, and your dog will enjoy it too.  An annual physical examination along with annual laboratory analysis (for elderly pets) can be useful in early detection of a variety of disorders including those that affect the kidney, liver, heart or bowel.

Which is the Best Doggy Boat Ladder? Paws Aboard or Pawz Pet Products Dog Boat Ladders

July 2, 2015, 9:57 am

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The Paws Aboard Doggy Boat Ladder has been the gold standard for dog water safety when boating on lakes and other large bodies of water.  Now a newcomer has arrived, Pawz Pet Products Doggy Boat Ladder. We wanted to know, what's the difference and which is better?

The Paws Aboard Doggy Boat Ladder in Action

We checked with several distributors and the manufacturers of both products.  It appears that the owners of Paws Aboard decided to go their separate ways.  As a result, both owners enjoyed the intellectual property rights to the Paws Aboard boat ladder patent. This spawned a new company, Pawz Pet Products, producing exactly the same product, possibly even being produced at the same factory.  The only difference right now is the lettering on the side of the ladder.

The Pawz Pet Products Doggy Boat Ladder at Work.

As you can see they attach in exactly the same manner and look almost alike, right down the dog modeling its ease of use and his tug toy.  We understand that future runs of the Pawz Pet Products boat ladder will be in in white, and not the bright safety yellow of the current production.

So, Which Boat Ladder Should You Choose?

Right now, whichever ladder is cheaper is our recommendation. While Pawz Pet Products is trying to make a name for itself, there are some good deals to be had on their boat and dock stairs. We found it on sale at Wags and Whiskers Gifts with free shipping for $179.00.

During this divorce of ownership, Paws Aboard had experienced some delays in production, causing a number of distributors to jump ship, and signup with their new competitor, Pawz Pet Products.  It will be interesting to see who wins this battle in a relatively small market. Pawz Pet Products also has their own line of dog life jackets, similar in construction the the Paws Aboard line, but with different patterns. Their is even a Pawz all-American flag life jacket for patriotic dog owners.

Either ladder can be attached to a dock to create a permanent set of stairs for your dog to easily climb out of the water.

Helping A Rescue Dog Adjust | 5 Tips to Quickly Build a Bond with Your New Dog

July 29, 2015, 11:18 am

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Sad Lucy on her first day home from the shelter, hiding under the coffee table. Photo by Tim Dawson

Helping Rescue Dogs Adjust to Their New Families

While many rescue and shelter dogs are ready to adjust to their new family lives, others can be anxious or fearful of their new environment and family members. The constant changes in their circumstances leading up to adoption are often bewildering, and can make an otherwise laid-back and eager-to-please dog, cautious or even suspicious of its new surroundings.

These tips from top obedience trainers can help ease your new canine family member's transition into his new lifestyle, and quickly build bonds of trust between you and your new best friend.

How to Approach Your Rescue Dog When Petting Him

Research shows that dogs that are highly stimuli-reactive and those with fear aggression are most likely to bite their owners if startled when they are approached.  Before petting your new dog, first say his name, and be sure you have his attention.  Approach him by petting first under the jaw, then gently stroking the side of his face, gradually moving upwards, until you can pet the top of his head.

Petting by starting on the top of the head is a dominant act.  Until you have established a bond with your dog, you will want approach him from the side in a more deferential manner.

Watch his body language for signs of distress or discomfort.  Are his ears relaxed; is his tail wagging? If his ears are pinned back, if his tail is rigid or if you can see the whites of his eyes and he moves up on his shoulder, it is time for you to back off, and maintain a nonchalant attitude by focusing your attention elsewhere.

Limiting Your New Shelter Dog's Access to Your Home

One obedience trick used by top trainers for quickly building trust and a bond with their new dog is to tie his lead to your belt as you go about simple household chores.  Leave 5-6 feet slack on the lead so he can freely adjust to your movements.

You don't want to engage in activities that may frighten or over stimulate him, such as vacuuming. Choose chores such as washing dishes, putting away dishes, prepping food in the kitchen or putting away household items. This allows the dog to explore the home with you while he learns to read and adjust to your movements. As you go about your chores, occasionally call him to you and pet and treat him. Then return your focus to the task at hand.

When he is off lead, you will want to limit access to the entire home until you are sure of a good recall as well as his level of potty training.  You don't want to end up trying to corner the dog that won't yet come reliably when called. Child gates work well in traditional home floor plans.

However the recent trend towards open floor plans can present problems in limiting your new dog's freedom. Heavy duty playpens like the one pictured below can also be used as gates or indoor pens to limit access to areas when you can't keep an eye on his activities.

Heavy duty playpens can be used as gates or corals to keep you new dog safe and secure indoors and outdoors.

Quickly Build a Bond With Your Rescue By Hand Feeding

Another obedience trick for quick bond building is hand feeding your dog her meals.  Measure out her meal portion, and offer her a handful of food cupped in your hand.  If she is too nervous to take it from your hand, place the food in front of her a couple of feet away from you.  Place each succeeding handful a little closer to you until she is eating her food near your foot.

Some dogs have never been given treats, so it may take some time to get her to eat out of your hand. Once she does, she will be engaging in an act of high-level trust.  If you are short on time, you can hand feed half of the food, and then give her the rest of her meal in her bowl.

Crate Training Gives Your Rescue Dog His Own "Safe Place"

Most dogs enjoy having an area to call their own, and crates can become a den-like area where they can go to rest or get away from the children. To learn more about creating a den atmosphere for your dog read Crate Training - Easy as 1 2 3. Once your dog is crate trained, you can leave the door to it open, and he will seek it out when he is ready for a nap or in times of stress such as fireworks and thunderstorms.

Learning "Watch Me" helps focus the dog on you in stressful situations.

Basic Obedience To Establish Your Relationship With Your New Adoption

Learning basic obedience commands teaches the dog not only a new trick, but more importantly how to please you.  Knowing how to be "right" with their new owner builds self confidence in rescue dogs. Engage in several 5-10 minute training sessions beginning with "watch me." Watch me teaches the dog to make and maintain eye contact with you, another high-level trust activity.

Hold a treat in your hand and point to your eye with that hand saying, "Watch me." Once the dog makes eye contact with you, praise her and treat her. Extend each period of eye contact before treating.  Once you have watch me down, you can move on to sit, down and stay.

Watch me can be used in situations where the dog is reacting negatively to stimuli in the environment. For example, it can be used on walks to distract your dog from another dog you may encounter that elicits a fear or aggression response from your dog.

Every dog is different and will progress and sometimes backslide at his own pace.  Be patient, and watch his body language for signs of joy or discomfort. with these training tips, your new best friend should be bonded to you within the span of a week if not sooner.

Osteosarcoma in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes

April 17, 2013, 12:45 pm

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Great Dane and Chihuahua Skeletons Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

While Osteosarcoma represents just 5% of all canine tumors, it is estimated that between 6000 and 8000 new cases will be diagnosed this year in the United States. As the most common type of bone cancer in dogs, Osteosarcoma accounts for approximately 85% of canine tumors that originate in the skeletal system. This is an aggressive cancer where malignant tumors develop deep within the bone; from there they destroy healthy bone and remodel it with tumorous bone from the inside out.  The tumerous bone becomes increasingly painful and is not as strong as healthy bone, potentially causing the bone to break easily with minor injury.

Risk Factors Associated With Development of Osteosarcoma In Dogs

Osteosarcoma is generally a disease of large breed dogs, and although any size dog may develop the disease, it is estimated that large breeds such as the Scottish Deerhound are 200 times more likely to develop the disease than are toy breeds. High risk breeds include Rottweilers, Deerhounds, Greyhounds, Great Pyrenees and Mastiffs as well as other large breed dogs.  Typical age of onset is 7-10 years of age, however large breeds may develop the disease earlier, in fact there have been large breed cases with diagnosis as early as under one year of age.

Factors that are suspected in increasing risk of developing the disease in addition to breed size include puppy diets that promote rapid puppy growth, spay and neuter, genetics and environmental factors:

• As tumors are frequently found near growth plates, factors that affect the growth rate and promote rapid growth are suspected in increasing likelihood of developing this cancer. 
• One long term historical study of Rottweilers showed that the earlier that a puppy was spayed or neutered the more likely it was to develop Osteosarcoma. Casterated males are 65% more likely to develop this cancer than intact males, and spayed females are 35% more likely to develop the disease than intact females.
• As certain lines of dogs within breeds have an increased propensity for developing this cancer, a genetic component is suspected as well.
• Fluoridation of drinking water has been linked to the development of Osteosarcoma in studies of both rats and young men in the North Eastern United States.

Diagnosis of Oesteosarcoma

Symptoms of Osteosarcoma will vary based on the location of the primary tumor. As the tumor grows, the affected area becomes increasingly painful. Swelling eventually develops around the tumor and the area is painful to the touch. 

• Development of a tumor in a leg bone may cause sudden onset lameness or intermittent lameness over a period of several weeks.
• Dog with tumors in their jaw bones may exhibit difficulty swallowing and/or excessive drooling. 
• Dogs with cranial or spinal tumors may present with neurologic deficits. 
• Dogs with pelvic tumors may exhibit difficulty defecating as their primary symptom.

It is important to see a veterinarian as soon as you suspect the disease, as it progresses very rapidly.  In most instances once a diagnosis of Osteosarcoma has been made, it has already micrometastasized to other areas of the body including the lungs and other bones.  Additionally, as the tumorous bone is weaker than normal bone, it can fracture easily.  Pathological fractures resulting from Osteosarcoma will not heal, so it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Diagnosis is initially made by x-ray.  Once a bone tumor is suspected, the veterinarian should take x-rays of the lungs as well to see if the tumor has metastasized to that area.  Prognosis and treatment options will vary greatly if metastasis is evident in the lungs.  The tumor will also be aspirated with a small needle to obtain a sample of the tumor for further analysis and determination of the nature of the tumor.  This procedure does carry a small risk that the aspiration of the tumor could fracture the already weakened bone.

Additionally, the vet may aspirate the lymph nodes or any skin masses, do a full blood panel and perform an abdominal ultrasound in order to determine the spread of the cancer and overall health of the dog.  A bone scan may be performed in order to determine the spread of the disease to other bones and the extent of the tumor in the primary location.

Treatment For Osteosarcoma

The standard of care for the treatment of Osteosarcoma requires that the tumor be removed to prevent further spread of the disease.  In most instances, this means amputation of the affected limb.  Dogs typically respond well to this treatment, however overweight dogs, arthritic dogs or elderly dogs may not be good candidates for amputation. 

If the tumor has not progressed too far, a limb sparing procedure may be attempted.  The most successful procedures are performed where the tumor is on the bone just above the wrist of the dog and the tumor is still relatively small in size. Generally in these procedures, the removed bone must be replaced with bone from another site on the dog or from a bone bank.  Since there is a high complication rate with this procedure and a longer, more involved recovery than an amputation, amputation may eventually be necessary anyway.

In cases where neither amputation nor limb sparing procedures can be performed, the dog may be treated with palliative radiation therapy.  While radiation will not extend the life of the dog, it can be an effective pain management tool to improve the quality of the remaining life of the dog. This treatment provides relief to approximately 75% of the dogs that receive this therapy.  Radiation doses are given 1 to 4 times and are usually administered at one week intervals.

Follow-up to surgical removal of the tumor or limb includes chemotherapy.  In most instances the tumor has already micrometastisized at the time of diagnosis.  Chemotherapy, while not effective in treating tumors with visible signs of existence, is effective at destroying the microscopic disease.

Updated 11/5/13: Breakthrough in Pain Management for Dogs Suffering with Osteosarcoma

Prognosis After Treatment For Osteosarcoma

Following surgery, dogs that do not receive chemotherapy can expect an average life span of an additional 3 months post surgery.  Those treated with chemotherapy may enjoy a median lifespan of one year.  Approximately 50% treated with both surgery and chemotherapy will survive 1 year, less than 30% will survive two years and 10% will make it to 3 years.  While these statistics sound discouraging, it is important to keep in mind that in dog years, and especially in large breeds with shorter life expectancies, an additional year represents between 10-13% of a dog’s total expected life span.

Improving Your Dogs Odds In Preventing Development Of Osteosarcoma

If you have a large breed dog, or are aware that this issue has developed within your dog’s lines, there are some precautions you can take to improve his odds at heading-off or delaying the onset of the disease.

• Feed your puppy an “all life stages” dog food, and not a specially formulated puppy food that will accelerate growth.
• Wait until your dog is at least one year old before spaying or neutering him or her.  Leave males intact if you have a well fenced yard and no intact females in the home.
• Provide spring water for drinking water for your dog; carbon based filters such as PUR and Brita do not remove fluoride.
• Regularly examine your dog while petting for lumps and sensitive areas as he ages.

20 Homemade Dog Snacks: Turn Kitchen Scraps into Easy, Healthy Dog Treats

August 25, 2015, 10:28 am

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Supplementing Your Dog's Diet

Is your dog enjoying a well balanced diet? If he eats the same dry food, day in and day out, year after year, chances are he’s missing out on a few things. Despite most manufacturer’s claims to the contrary, no one really knows exactly what constitutes a complete canine diet.

The FDA, AAFCO and many vets recommend regularly rotating your dog’s diet between several brands to help maintain a balanced diet. However, changing your dog’s diet from one brand to another can result in unpleasant stomach upset and digestive issues.

Here are some healthy, homemade ingredients you can add to your dog’s daily intake, without any extra effort, that will add variety and help fill in the nutritional gaps. And better yet, they won’t impact your wallet. As with any food, portion control is the key to healthy dog snacking.

Kitchen Scraps That Make Healthy Dog Snacks

Romaine Lettuce: Romaine lettuce is low in calories, high in protein (in fact it’s 17% protein), Calcium, Omega-3s, Vitamin C (one head of Romaine has more Vitamin C than an orange), Vitamin A, Iron and is rich in B-vitamins and minerals.

When your cleaning your Romaine lettuce, set aside the tough leathery pieces and the hard pale cores that you might normally put down the disposal. Most dogs enjoy the dark leafy pieces as well as the crunchy cores. A snack of leftover romaine lettuce scraps will add fresh fiber and almost no calories to his diet. Butter, green leaf and red leaf lettuces are good choices too, iron rich Spinach is also readily enjoyed.

Potato Peels: Peeling potatoes for French fries or mashed potatoes? Those potato skins are packed with Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Phosphorous, Potasium, Copper, Manganese and Magnesium. In its raw state, potato skins contain approximately 16 calories per ounce. You can safely add two ounces of raw potato skins per 20 pounds of dog weight without significantly impacting his calorie intake.

Sweet potatoes are tremendously nutritious.  Rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin A, feel free to indulge your dog with left over baked sweet potatoes or peelings from them. Just make sure they don't have any added butter, sugar or marshmallows.

Carrot Peelings: When peeling and trimming carrots, put those scraps to the side for Fido. Carrots are high in fiber, anti-inflammatory and are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B Vitamins, Vitamin K and Potassium. A quarter cup of raw carrots is only 15 calories and makes a nice fresh addition to a bowl of kibble.

Healthy Fruit Snacks for Dogs

When cleaning fruit, you may discover an unappetizing piece of fruit that your dog will enjoy. We are not advocating giving rotten fruit to your pet, but a bruised piece of banana or strawberry will add fresh nutrients and antioxidants to your dog’s diet.

Bananas: High in Fiber, Vitamin C, The B Vitamins and of course potassium. Bananas in small quantities make a nice occasional treat. A one inch piece is a healthy portion for a 25 pound dog.

Blueberries: Many of the Organic and Holistic pet foods are adding blueberries to their formulas, however processing removes a good bit of their nutritive value. Blueberries are an excellent source of antioxidants, selenium, zinc and iron. And like many of the fruits on this list they are high in Vitamins C, E, A and B complex. 2 or 3 blueberries a day makes a good treat or addition to his kibble.

Melons: Watermelon and Cantaloupe: Both are high in antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A, B complex, C; cantaloupe has the additional benefits of beta-carotene, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid and folic acid. Be careful not to feed your dog the seeds. Two one inch cubes of either type of melon makes a healthy size dog snack.

Strawberries: An excellent source of fiber, Potassium, Magnesium, Iodine, Folic acid, Omega-3 fats and Vitamins C, K, B1 and B6. A single medium sized strawberry makes a healthy treat, however if they are exceptionally tart, your dog may not know what to do with it. Keep an eye on it to prevent staining on the carpet if he rejects it as a treat.

Leftovers – Cooked Vegetables That Make Healthy Snack and Supplements

Your meal is over and a few scraps of leftover vegetables are on their way to the trash. Wait! The following vegetables can be added to your dog’s dinner or given as a health snack. When feeding your dog leftover vegetables from the table, be sure to rinse them first to remove any salt, pepper, butter or sauce.

Asparagus – Steamed, Grilled or Baked – For those of you who only like to eat the tips, Fido will enjoy the leftover asparagus. Be sure not to feed him the fibrous ends of the stems. Rich in fiber asparagus spears are a great source of Vitamin K and contain good levels of Vitamins A, B1, B2, C and E, Folate, Iron Copper, Manganese and Potassium.

Broccoli Florets – Steamed or Baked – Dark Green Broccoli florets are a rich source of Vitamins C and K as well as Vitamin A, folate, manganese and fiber. Serve one floret per 20 lbs of body weight.

Collards – Cooked, Fresh or Frozen - If your preparing fresh collards, and are stripping out the fibrous stems, set those aside for your dog. They are crunchy and packed with Vitamin K, A, C, Folate and Calcium. Add frozen raw or cooked collards to your dogs kibble, serving size is approximately one tablespoon per 20 lbs. Everyone of our dogs loves the stems.

Green Beans – Cooked, Canned or Frozen – they make a great low calorie treat for any dog, and are especially valuable to dogs on a diet. If you need to reduce your dog’s calorie intake, but want him to feel full after his meal, green beans in any form make addition to kibble.

Sweet Potato – Boiled, Baked or Raw – Whether you are peeling them or have skins leftover after dinner, these potatoes are high in nutrients and fiber. Sweet potatoes and Yams are a great source of vitamin A and beta-carotene in addition to Vitamins C, B6 and B5, Manganese and Potassium.

Baked Potato Skins – Cooking concentrates the number of calories per ounce, so while baked potato skins still have the nutrients of their raw counterparts, one ounce contains 32 calories. Be sure to give your dog only plain baked potato; scrape away and sour cream or butter before sharing the skin with your dog. A quarter of a potato skin makes a nice snack for a 25 lb dog.

Peas - English peas must be shelled, however Snow and Sugar Snap Pea shells are edible. Peas may be boiled, steamed or sautéed. Low in calories, peas are an excellent source of Vitamins K, C, and the B Complex, in that order, as well as Manganese, fiber, folate, protein, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, potassium. Dog treat portion size: Two sugar snap or snow peas, or for English peas, 1 tablespoon – for each 20 lbs the dog weighs.

Pumpkin - The Miracle Dog Food

Canned Pumpkin – It's the healthiest vegetable you or your dog can eat! It’s high on the anti-inflammatory index, high in fiber, Vitamins A, C, K, B complex, Iron, Potassium, Manganese and Omegas 3 and 6. It also helps with both constipation and diarrhea. One tablespoon per 20 pounds dog weight added to your dog’s kibble will keep his coat and intestines healthy. Be sure to buy plain canned pumpkin and not the pie filling which has been sweetened and spiced.

Tip: If your dog has an upset stomach, boil white rice and add 2 tablespoons of pumpkin to it. Your dog will love it; it’s easy on the digestion and will help calm a bout of diarrhea.

Grapes and raisins, even in small quantities, can be toxic to dogs.

Foods NOT to Give Your Dog

Onions and Garlic should never be given as a treat to a dog. If you have a leftover that was cooked with these ingredients, pass it be as a snack for your dog.

Grapes and Raisins can be toxic, even in small quantities.

Never feed your dog any variety of White, Milk or Dark Chocolate.

And while many commercial dog foods vaunt Avocados as ingredients, they can cause digestive upset in their raw form.