Gift baskets – You can make your own Valentine treats at home, or find stores that sale them. There are even places online that sell pet gift baskets that include toys.

Accessories – Collars with hearts, red leashes, Valentine bandanas, and pet clothes.  These are all great gifts, but be sure to check for loose strings that could choke them.

Tags – It is always wise to have updated tags on your pets, and if you have not updated them recently, now is the perfect time.  You can get gold charms of any shape, or plastic ones in any shape or color.  These make great gifts because they not only look great, but they act as your pet’s identification if they ever get lost.

Doggy spa – This is one of the higher end gifts, but so worth it.  Dogs have a lot of stress in their muscles just like we do, and a doggy spa can help release that and make them feel pampered. This is an example of a doggy spa in Arizona:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0h00T8C0mU

Home spa – If you want to pamper your pet, but can’t go to a doggy spa, don’t worry you can create your own at home.  Give them a nice bath, with some extra grooming and attention. Clean out their ears, freshen their breath, brush their coat and give them a nice massage.

Quality time – If your pet really doesn’t need any more gifts, but you want them to have a special Valentine’s Day, just spend some quality time with them. Take them to the park, give them an extra long walk, play fetch, take them on a car ride through the country side, or just cuddle up with them and give a nice belly rub.

These are just a few examples of gifts you can give your pets for Valentine’s Day.  However if you are creative, the possibilities can be endless.  There are so many great things you can do, and give your pets.  Above all other gifts, love is the best and most important of all.  So be sure to give your pets some extra love and affection of Valentine’s Day!

Barking is a natural behavior for dogs; however there are a lot of things that can cause your dog to bark obsessively.  Dogs that are lonely, bored, frustrated, frightened or unbalanced will bark more than dogs that are happy.  If you keep your dog outside most of the day, you may think he is getting exercise, but the truth is all that running in circles, darting around, or pacing is more like fidgeting, or a nervous behavior.  If you provide your dog with fun things to do, like a place to dig, or special toys to play with, then they can get more enjoyment out of being outside.  Here are some things you can do to help your dog to not bark in your yard.

1.      Exercise – This is on the top of the list because a dog that gets good exercise is more likely to sleep most of the day.  They are more balanced and happy.  By exercising, that does not mean letting your dog out in the yard, it means taking them for a long tiring walk or run.

2.      Training – You can always hire a professional dog trainer, or you can buy a book and do it yourself.  Teaching your dog obedience is a great way to establish trust.  If you can get your dog to listen to you and want to learn, then you are becoming the boss, and in the canine world being the boss is the only way to get your dog to respect you.  If you need further guidance there are plenty of shows on TV you can watch.  A few of my favorites are Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisper) on National Geographic, and Victoria Stillwell (It’s me or the dog) on Animal Planet.

3.      Social exercise – A dog that is outside most of the day will need more social involvement from you.  Walks around the neighborhood, and dog parks are a good way to get them out and about. Bring them inside the house when you are home so they can feel a part of your life.  You can also come home and groom them for some one on one time.

4.      Attention – Your dog may be barking to get your attention.  If every time it barks you go over and give it affection, then you are training the dog that barking equals attention.  You can start by letting the dog bark once, and then let him go outside.  When it barks twice let him come back in.  Be consistent and only let the dog in and out when it barks the right amount of times.

5.      Quiet – You can begin to teach your dog a word to keep him quiet.  For instance you can use the word “Hush” or the sound “SHHH”.  When the dog stops barking for three seconds, give him a treat and lots of praise.  Each time that the dog begins to bark, repeat the training.  As you continue to use this exercise, increase the amount of time the dog stays quiet before giving the treat.  Before you know it you will see improvement.  You have to be patient and keep practicing. You may not see results over night, but if you stick with it you should see improvement with in a matter of weeks.

If your dog is left alone or confined for long periods of time without supervision, it’s more likely to bark. Dogs get anxious and sad when they are alone, much like a child does.  If you are gone during the day be sure to give the dog a lot of exercise before you leave for work that morning.  If you stay persistent, you are bound to see a difference.

As much as we’d like to spend most of days at home with our pets, sometimes busy schedules, long work hours, and travel mean that our beloved pets are home alone for a majority of the day. Thank goodness for pet-sitters, who come to our homes to spend time with our pets, feed and walk them, and take care of house-sitting duties like taking out the trash, bringing in our mail and watering our plants. While there are many pet-sitting services available throughout the Metroplex, the Mid-Cities is lucky enough to have a company who is not only dedicated to providing you with quality pet care, but also helps other pet-sitting businesses to become better and more successful.

Protecting MaxTM is operated by Danielle Chonody and her husband Todd. Originally “Claws, Paws, and Jaws Professional Pet Sitters,” Protecting Max has been in business since 2003, when Danielle and Todd were first introduced to pet sitting. They saw a need in their community for quality, in-home pet care and decided to turn their love of animals into a family business. Their background in engineering provides the Chonodys with a unique skill set (attention to detail, dedication to customer service, and organizational skills) which they apply to their business every day. Danielle is so committed to quality animal care that she also runs a Pet Sitting Business blog (http://workingwithpets.com) that provides other pet-sitters with information to improve and grow their business.

Protecting MaxTM will care for almost any type of pet, including dogs, cats, hamsters, reptiles and guinea pigs. They are members of Pet Sitters International and National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, and have completed the PSI Pet Sitting Accreditation program and adhere to PSI’s Quality Standards for Excellence in Pet Sitting. (Click here for a PDF file of PSI’s Recommended Quality Standards. It is a great tool to help you evaluate any pet-sitting service.)

Clients of Protecting MaxTM have many service options to choose from. In-home pet sitting is available at two levels. The Standard Visit ($18 for 30 minutes) includes feeding and watering of pets, litter box cleaning, dog walking or playing in the yard, personal attention, and administering medicine. They will also water a limited number of household and outdoor plants and put out trash or collection bins as time allows. (Additional fees may apply for watering a large number of plants, extensive grooming requirements, and administration of certain medicines.) The Platinum Visit ($30 for 1 hour) includes everything in the Basic Visit but extends the personal attention and dog-walking time and includes daily updates via email or phone. Another great perk of this flat rate is that these prices apply to 1-3 pets and the cost for additional pets is only $2 per visit. Usually, pet-sitting prices apply for up to two pets and then extra fees apply. If you don’t need any house-sitting services and only want your dogs walked, you should choose the 30 Minute Dog Walking Visit ($18). This service includes a 30 minute walk for up to two dogs. Each additional dog is only $2 extra per visit. The best thing about this service is that training reinforcement is included. This means that if your dog is already being trained to walk at your side, the dog walker will continue with this training and not allow your dog to pull him or her wherever your dog wishes to go. Anyone who has spent a great deal of time training their dog will appreciate the consistency that this extra level of service provides.

In addition to pet-sitting, Protecting MaxTM provides their clients and potential clients with other resources via their website, ProtectingMax.com. Their blog offers informative articles for pet owners, such as caring for your senior pet, potty training tips, recipes, and more. You can also sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter and receive a Northeast Tarrant County Pet Services Guide and our Pre-Travel Checklist. Protecting Max is also offering a four-hour pet first aid class on Saturday, December 12 from 8am to 12pm at the Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce in Haltom City for the discounted cost of $50 per person for DallasDogLife readers. Please call or email Danielle ( cpjpets@gmail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to register and mention this article for the discount.

For more information about Protecting MaxTM or to schedule a free in-home interview, please visit the ProtectingMax website or call Danielle at (817) 692-4404. To learn more about the pet-sitting business, you’ll definitely want to subscribe to Danielle’s Working With Pets weekly newsletter, which is full of great information for pet-sitters or any other individual in the pet care industry. Whether you’re a pet owner or a pet industry professional, Danielle Chonody has compiled two informative websites that you’ll want to refer to again and again. Be sure to check them out!

Pumpkin Brownies

Brownie Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable shortning

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups unbleached flower

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup pureed pumpkin

3/4 cup milk

Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup vegetable shortening

Directions:

Brownies: 

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly grease a 9×9 x2 inch baking pan.  In a large bowl, cream the shortening. Beat in the eggs.  In a medium bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add pumpkin and milk. Mix thoroughly. Add the pumpkin mixture to the shortening mixture and blend well. Pour into greased pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Frosting:

Cream shortening and beat in cream cheese. Spread frosting over cooled brownies. Cut into squares. Cool and store in a sealed container in refrigerator.

Yield: 40 to 44 brownies.

Recipie from “The Good Treats Cookbook for Dogs” by Barbara Burg

You just got a puppy and you are so excited, but now what?  If you start training your puppy from the moment it comes home, then you can bypass a lot of bad behaviors.   I feel the main problem dog owners face is when the puppy gets in the habit of going in the house.  Once the habit is started, it makes house breaking more difficult.  It is important to not let your puppy get into that habit.  Below are nine ways that you can potty train your puppy.

1)      Consistency – It’s essential to take your puppy out routinely.  Keep it on a schedule so it can learn to hold it until the next potty break.  If you can stay consistent with your routine then that is the first step.  Puppies younger than four months may need at least twelve or fourteen potty breaks a day.  Make a schedule and stick to it.  Best times are first thing in the morning, after you puppy gets up from a nap, about five minutes after eating or drinking, and anytime you see the puppy sniffing the floor.

2)      Words – Once the puppy is outside doing its business, repeat the same words each time.  For example you can say “Go Potty” or “Potty time”.   Saying this every time will teach them what those words mean, so later you can say “Go Potty” and they will know it’s time to go.  You must remember to use the same words each time so the puppy will not get confused.

3)      Play time – Remember that potty time is not play time, so once the puppy goes potty; you must bring it back inside right away.  There is a time to play, and during bathroom breaks is not it.  The puppy needs to learn the purpose of going outside, and that is to use the bathroom only.

4)      Crate training – Everyone has a different opinion on crate training.  However I have found that crate training has worked the best.  Crates create a safe haven for dogs, and it taps into the natural instincts of keeping its den clean.  Dogs do not like using the bathroom in there crate, so this is why crate training has proved to work.  A crate is also seen as a safe, comforting place for your dog to come and relax.  Once you take your dog outside, and it does not do its business, put it in the crate for thirty minutes, and try it again.  Repeat until the puppy has gone potty outside.

5)      Scents – Dogs rely on their scents of smell, so the best way to continue to have your dog go potty outside is by taking it to the same spot each time.  Once it smells it’s urine from the last potty break, it will most likely go there again and again.  This is why it’s so important to clean the accident areas in your house very good, or this could cause an issue with the puppy wanting to use the potty in the house instead of outside.

6)      Make a schedule – First potty break should always be in the morning when the puppy wakes up. Having a new puppy is a round the clock reasonability and the puppy will need to learn your schedule.  It is not reasonable to expect a puppy to hold its urine or feces until you get home from work, so you will have to work out a schedule that will work for you and your puppy both. Once you get a schedule that works, stick to it.  Remember consistency is the key!

7)      Signs – Learning what signs to look for, will help you know when your puppy needs to go out. Keep an eye on it at all times, and look for cues.  Sniffing the carpet, circling, wiggling, or squatting are all sure signs that your puppy needs to be taken outside NOW!

      Have patience – Every dog is different, just because your best friend potty trained her dog in a month, does not mean it will be the same for you.  It could take you longer, or less time to house break your puppy.  You cannot housebreak any dog over night, and you must be prepared to clean up some accidents.  If you just stay persistent, then you can try to eliminate those accidents all together.  Once your puppy does not have an accident in the house for one month, you can proudly say your pup is now potty trained.

9)     Potty time – Once your puppy is potty trained, and learns to associate outside with potty, they will begin to show you when it’s time to go.  Some dogs may stand by the door, waiting to be taken out.  Others may bark at the door or leash.  Some may even beg or whine.  It’s your job to learn the signs that your dog needs to go out.  Once you do, accidents should be few and far between.

If you have some more tips of your own - please share them by leaving a comment.

2009 Pug-O-Ween
SATURDAY
October 24, 2009
2 to 5 pm
 
Meadowbrook Recreation Center
1400 Dugan Street
Arlington, TX 76010
 
2 to 2:30 pm - Register your pug(s) for the costume contests
 
2:30 pm - Rescue Pug Parade
 
2:45 pm - Foster Pug Parade
 
3:00 pm - Costume Contests
 
Batty Babies - 8 wks to 3 yrs
Mid-Aged Monsters - 4 yrs to 9 yrs
Scary Seniors - 10 yrs and up
Ghoulish Groups - 2+ pugs of any age
 
4:00 pm - Grand Champion Costume Contest
The 1st place winner from each contest to compete
 
4:15 Winners announced - Must be present to win
4:30 Winners announced for silent auction
Admission $7 per person, cash check or charge

Halloween can be a stressful time for your pets. Strangers dressed up in costumes knocking on the door, yelling Trick or treat can really cause your pets to get stressed out. Here are some things you can do to keep your pets safe this Halloween.

·         Pet Halloween Costumes – Yes they are adorable to look at, but they can be extremely hazardous. Be sure to watch out for any outfits that have rubber bands on them, because they can cause gastrointestinal blockage if digested. Also be careful of costumes with bandanas, or anything that ties around your pet’s neck in case of choking. Try to avoid ribbons and bows as they also can cause chocking, and can be very dangerous if swallowed. There are many pet Halloween costumes to choose from, so keep your pets safe by examining the outfit you choose. Do not buy an outfit with zippers, because you can catch skin and fur, and badly injure your pet. Just because it looks cute on the shelf, does not mean it will be safe for your pet. Examine it and be sure it’s 100% safe before purchasing your pets Halloween costume. If you have sewing talent, the best way to avoid dangerous materials is to make your own pet Halloween costume. This way you will know exactly what to put on it to keep it as safe as possible.

·          Keep your pets inside on Mischief night and Halloween – The day before Halloween is known as Mischief night. This is the night where kids play tricks, make trouble, and roam the streets. This goes along with the history of Halloween and how some people use animal sacrifices on this night. It is always best to keep your pets indoors on these nights just in case someone wants to cause trouble. Halloween night is also an important night to keep your pets indoors. You have ghost, and goblins roaming the streets looking for candy, and a child may give your pet some, just trying to be nice. In reality, this could be fatal to your pet, not to mention all the screaming kids will scare them. Keep your animals in a safe room where they will feel comfortable.

·      Halloween Candy – Dogs are not designed to eat the same foods that we do. During Halloween it’s absolutely critical that you keep your pets away from candy and especially chocolate. Dogs love the taste of sweet things, and they will go out of their way to find and eat large quantities of candy without regard as to the effects. The hazardous material in chocolate is called “Theobromine”. This chemical causes vomiting, diarrhea, fast breathing, seizures, and can even cause death. Even in small quantities chocolate can be lethal. This is why it is important for you to keep your Halloween candy up high, and when trick or treaters come, put your dog in another room. This way if a child drops some candy on the floor, the dog will not be the first to find it. Putting them in another room can also help them to not get to hyper when kids ring your door bell.

If you are cautious of potential dangers, then Halloween can be fun for you and your pets. Look at your pets Halloween costumes to be sure there is no danger, keep your pets inside on Mischief and Halloween night, and please beware of candy that your pets can get into. If you avoid these things, then you are sure to have a stress free pet for Halloween.