Flowers Dangerous to Dogs

Spring has come – the grass is green, the trees are budding, and the flowers are blooming. It’s the perfect time to get outside with your pooch and enjoy the fresh air and nature, but before you take your pup outdoors be sure to brush up on important dog safety information, including knowledge of which flowers and plants that are poisonous to canines. Stay safe and enjoy the weather with your faithful friend!

Azalea – These colorful, sweet scented flower shrubs may cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, weakness, coma, and even death if ingested by your furry friend, so admire from a distance.

Cyclamen – These spring flowers are beautiful both outside and in a bouquet, but can create rather ugly symptoms including excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, heart arrhythmias, seizures, and death for a hungry hound.

Daffodil – The various vibrant yellows and oranges, mixed with settling whites make for gorgeous flowers, but the bulbs of Daffodils are toxic if ingested, and dogs may experience vomiting, salivation, diarrhea, convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and heart arrhythmias.

Foxglove – This particular flower may be a lovely sight with its bell flowers and pink hues, but it doesn’t settle well when consumed and can mean heart arrhythmias, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and death for curious canines.Hyacinth – These flowers are also quite colorful and aesthetically pleasing, but are poisonous to pups and include symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and tremors.

Oleander – Be careful around the Oleander flowers. While they look innocent with their tiny petals of pinks and whites, the Oleander should be kept away from canines to avoid vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, shallow breathing, muscle tremors, and cardiac failure.

**If you see or think your dog has consumed a hazardous plant or flower, contact your veterinarian

Dog Digging Habits

If your dog likes to dig, you are not alone. Many owners face dog digging problems that must be corrected. In order to fix your hounds habit you must first determine the motive behind the digging; there are many reasons a dog may be digging a hole. Some dogs simply just love to dig, but there are other purposes behind a digging dog, including attention seekers, dirt lovers, boredom, shelter, hunting, or food storage reasons (to name a few). No matter what your dog’s reason is for digging, it requires patience and consistency to break the routine. If your pooch is digging holes to burn energy off, bring more mental and physical stimulation into your pup’s daily schedule. Bone burying dogs should have their bones replaced with dog chew toys and rawhides. If you notice that your pooch is burying the dog toys and rawhides, make it very clear to your furry friend that the behavior is unacceptable. Don’t ever leave your canine to roam about the yard without supervision; digging is just one disaster that could come about from an unwatched dog. Give Rover praise for good behavior and always provide proper exercise and living conditions. If you have a digging doggie, invest in some balloons and begin corrective training by blowing up the balloons and burying them in your buddy’s favorite digging areas; when your pooch goes to their designated digging spots they will be startled when they reach the balloon and are greeted by a “POP!”. Dogs are not fond of startling noises and will learn to keep out of the ground. If your canine is digging underneath fence area it is suggested to fill all the holes in/under the fence. For digging loving dogs perhaps it is beneficial to encourage your pup to dig in a designated spot; fill an area with soft sand and bury delicious dog treats underneath, your pooch will learn to keep their digging in the allowed space.

2012 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

The 2012 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race made way on March 4th, with sixty-six teams at the start line and twelve teams later scratching. Traditionally the Iditarod begins north of Anchorage, Alaska and ends in Nome, Alaska under the well-known burled-arch finish line. Mushers and their teams of trained sled dogs travel the nearly 1,000-mile race through Alaska, bearing through harsh weather conditions in tough terrains with hopes of being the first team to reach the western Bering Sea coast. The Iditarod gains world-wide news coverage, drawing in journalists and film crews from various countries and is dubbed as “The Last Great Race On Earth” due to its longevity and challenging circumstances. On March 13th the 40th Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race of 2012 unveiled its youngest winner to date, 25-year-old Dallas Seavey, who faced steep competition against all the other talented teams, including two of which were led by Seavey’s father and grandfather. Dallas Seavey began the race on his birthday alongside his talented team of nine sled dogs, five of which were lead dogs; all of them playing their own important role that helped lead them into victory. Seavey recalls losing a few hours near a checkpoint in Rohn to remove sled dog, Guinness’, dog booties for better traction, and although it slowed down the team momentarily, they were still able to pull through on top, winning Seavey $50,400 and a new truck. Dallas Seavey spoke highly of his competitors, stating, “They had phenomenal teams out there. I’m very impressed with those guys and am excited to race with them in future years.”

Your Dog and Toxic Foods

When it comes to food, many dogs are beggars. We love to treat our furry friends with a taste off our plate sometimes. Although, not every food is acceptable for your pup to consume. In fact, some foods are even deadly when gulped down by canine companions. Before you share some table scraps to your buddy, be aware of foods that are toxic to pets.

Chocolate: While chocolate is a human favorite, it can be deadly to dogs. Theobromine is a natural stimulant found in cocoa beans that increases urination and influences the nervous system and heart muscle. Enough chocolate will cause your poor pooch to go into epileptic seizures, and can be fatal. If chocolate is accidently enjoyed by your pup (even white chocolate), contact your veterinarian immediately.

Onions/Garlic: There is a chemical known as thiosulphate lurking in onions and garlic that may not be dangerous to humans, but it can generate anemia within dogs. A large amount of these vegetables could even cause fatality to unsuspecting canines. All forms of these invigorating delights should be kept away from hungry hounds – that includes onion rings, onion/garlic seasonings, and even onion/garlic dips. It doesn’t matter if the onion or garlic is raw, cooked, fresh, or powdered form; the thiosulphate can still be found and is highly toxic. Thiosulphate is even present in chives, so be sure to keep your spices stored safely away.

Macadamia Nuts: It is said that the high phosphorus content found in these nuts causes dogs to experience bladder stones, weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia. Even though macadamia nuts are not fatal to dogs, they will cause your furry friend much pain and suffering.

When spoiling your pooch’s taste buds, stick to delicious dog treats!

10 Great Items for Under $20

Treat your deserving dog to affordable puppy products!

1. Feisty Fetchers Dog Toy – $12.99 – Our Feisty Fetchers Dog Toys are fun from head to tail! Each toy features a mischievous grin, with a double rubber ball center and a pine needle plush tail that is great for grab and toss.

2. Dog Rain Jacket – $15.99 – $21.99 – Heavy-duty waterproof vinyl Rain Jackets help to keep dogs dry and comfortable in wet weather. This dog rain jacket is available in different colors and has a drawstring hood, leash opening, and a handy back pocket with VELCRO® brand flap closure.

3. Camo Dog Leash – $13.00 – $15.00 – This camouflage leash is both durable and stylish enough for all of your adventures. This leash connects to the seat belt of your vehicle for the safety of your pet.

4. Polo Dog Shirts – $8.99 – $15.99 – Polo Dog Shirts offer a tailored-yet-casual look that’s great for any dogs’ wardrobe. These dog polo shirts are available in new colors will look great year-round.

5. Glittering Heart Dog Charm – $5.99 – Add some sparkle to your fur baby’s collar with one of our collar dog charms! Brilliantly gleaming with dazzling rhinestones, these charms easily clip to the D-ring on your dog’s collar with a lobster claw clasp!

6. Handi-Drink For Dogs – $7.99 – The compact, portable Guardian Gear™ Handi-Drink keeps smaller dogs supplied with fresh water on the go. Ideal for walks, hikes, car rides, camping, and trips to the beach.

7. Good Dog Treat Canisters – $14.99 – Good Dog Treat Canisters are a great way to keep dog treats fresh. This stainless steel canister features an elegant color exterior in two color choices, Sage Green and Ivory, which are sure to match any home decor.

8. Curly Octopus Dog Toys – $14.99 – Rock your store with these plush octopus toys! Each brightly colored toy features a unique swirl plush design and eight curly legs.

9. Color Paw Glitz Nail Polish – $4.99 – Make dog nails more glamorous than ever! Glittering, shimmering dog nail polish is available in a variety of stunning colors. A fast-drying formula with one-coat coverage. Can also be painted over a color nail polish for a layered look.

10. Rawhide Gift Boxes for Dogs – $7.99 – Be Good Treat Company™ Rawhide Gift Boxes consist of tasty rawhide treats that are boxed to make great gifts for dogs. Choose from colored munchy rawhide sticks, natural rawhide twists, natural braided rawhide sticks, and natural pressed rawhide bones.

Dog Life Preservers

Most dogs enjoy a good splash, but no matter if your pooch is an Olympic swimmer or a casual doggie paddler, a dog life preserver is a great investment. For those more timid pups and first-timers, a dog life preserver is very beneficial and will help ease any present anxieties, as well as build confidence in the water. Whether your canine frequents the pool, beach, or lake, it is always safe to keep your furry friend geared up in a dog life preserver; the buoyant materials that make up a dog life preserver help keep your pup afloat. Even if your pup is a confident swimmer there are always dangers of drowning. Every year in the United States alone thousands of drowning dog cases are reported; it isn’t uncommon for canines to get exhausted or frantic and tire themselves out in the water. Daring doggies may also find themselves in waters deeper or faster than they thought and begin to panic. Providing your water baby with a dog life preserver can help them paddle about confidently in safety. A dog life preserver fits snug around your buddy’s body, securing underneath with adjustable, quick-release buckles. Just like dog breeds, dog life preservers vary drastically in size to better suit all canines and are available in many fun colors and patterns to really bring out your buddy’s personality. Dog life preservers are conveniently designed with a D-ring for easy leash attachment and two quick-grab handles in case of an emergency water rescue. Many dog life preservers even have reflective features for swims under the moon. Always keep an eye on your pooch to ensure their safety and don’t forget to sport your pup in a dog life preserver during any swims and boating.

Dogs and Apartments

Living in an apartment with your dog may be cramped, depending on the size of the dog and apartment, but most dogs can survive the apartment life with adequate exercise. Being a dog owner in a smaller living space is more challenging, although it can be done with patience and the correct care. Many apartments do not have much of a backyard, if any, so providing your pooch with daily walks should become an important habit. Invest in a quality dog lead and dog collar for comfortable routine walks. Your pup needs to burn off energy and get out of the apartment to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Taking your pooch out for interactive games and jogs will also stimulate their mind and body. While any dog can happily survive in apartment settings, smaller breed dogs are a better option for apartment residence. Here are some great breeds to consider:

Boston Terrier – Boston Terriers are easily trained and well-mannered. They get to be about 10-25 pounds and do well in an apartment if given a long daily walk, along with some added playtime.

Chihuahua – Chihuahua’s make great companion dogs and their compact size (estimated 2-6 pounds) make smaller living areas an easier situation. Daily walks should help burn off extra energy.

English Toy Spaniel – English Toy Spaniels are happy and gentle dogs who keep well-behaved. Generally they grow to be 9-12 inches and are exceptional apartment dogs. Take your pooch outside for a routine daily walk that will keep them content.

Maltese – Maltese breeds keep a lively spirit and are suited for apartment living. They are typically 6-9 pounds and love their daily walks, along with playtime.

Sleeve Pekingese – A Sleeve Pekingese are the smallest members of the Pekingese family, they are 6 pounds and under and are great companions with lots of affection to share. As with the others, daily walks and playtime will help burn energy.