Giving Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful four-legged friends. You teach me so much everyday and I'm so incredibly thankful that I get to spend each and every day with such amazing animals. Have a wonderful day with your humans. They're pretty special too!

Dog's Best Friend's Turkey Tips

Dog's Best Friend's Turkey Tips ~
Thanksgiving is here, one of the happiest times of the
year, for humans and pups alike. But
Turkey Day can be stressful and even dangerous for our rascals, if
we're not careful and don't take the appropriate precautions.
With a little bit of smarts and good planning, you can help your pup make
it through the day, happy and safe!

Here are a few Turkey Tips~

Bone Up on your Pups' Obedience Skills –
Take the time to remind your pup of
his/her manners. Practice Sit, Down, Go To Your Spot, Recall and
their Boundaries. Impress your family with a well mannered dog and
keep your dog safe at the same time.

Give Them a Safe/Quiet Place To Hang-out -
Most dogs love the family and friends that visit
during the holidays, but just like children, dogs can become
overwhelmed. Pay close attention to your dogs' behavior and make
sure they have a safe, quiet place to hang-out when it just gets to
be too much. Set up their bed/crate in a comfy, quiet room, soft
music playing, a worn t-shirt of yours for them to snuggle up to and
a yummy bone (something special) for them to gnaw on. Make it
happy! This is not a punishment. This is their special place to
relax. Make sure all the kids in the house know this and ask them
to give their buddy some space for a little while. He can come out and play
later.

Don't overdue the Turkey – It's probably unrealistic to say, “Don't give your dogs turkey.” They love it and what the heck, it's just once a year. But do it in
moderation, just a little bit goes a long way. Make sure it's a lean piece and that there are no bones. Give it to them away from
the table, so they don't learn to beg. Have them sit nicely, then
give them their Thanksgiving treat. *No turkey for pups that are
allergic to poultry though and ask your guests not to feed your dog
from the table. If they really want to join in the giving, have
them ask your dog to sit and give him/her the Turkey away from the
dinner table.

No Sweets -
What is Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie and other luscious desserts? Us
humans love 'em, but they can be deadly to dogs. So keep those pies
up and don't feed anything with sugar to your pup. The last thing
you want to be doing is rushing to the ER with a sick pup on
Thanksgiving night.

Assign a Door Cop – One
of the greatest hazards of the holiday season is the possibility of
losing your pup, watching them dash out as the door flies open
because a guest forgets to close it properly. So
assign a responsible adult to keep an eye on the door. Ask
them to let all the guests in/out and to be in charge of
“security,” making sure your pup never has the chance to bolt
out the door. Everyone likes to feel needed, so find a
family/friend who loves to help. Have a little thank you gift ready
for them at the end of the night. People like Rewards too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Be thankful for those Furry Tails and Fluffy Feet!

They make the Holidays extra special!

Dog's Best Friend's Daily Training Tip ~ November 22

Dog's Best Friend's Daily Training Tip

It's not just important to exercise your dog's body, it's also important to
exercise his mind.

Instead of just handing him a bone to keep him busy, consider a
"Thinking Toy." There are several companies that make wonderful toys
that challenge your dog by hiding treats/kibble in alcoves, compartments
and/or crevices. Your dog will have a great time figuring out the toy and digging
out the yummy reward! Premier and Nina Ottosson are some of our favorites
(thanks, Tami Z, for introducing us to Nina toys).

Premier Toys available at www.premier.com. Nina Ottosson available at www.poochieheaven.com.

Order now, and your pups' new toy will arrive in time to give on Hanukkah or
Christmas morning (below Toby plays with his Dog Turbo by Nina Ottosson).

Dog's Best Friend's Daily Training Tip ~ November 19

Dog's Best Friend's Daily Training Tip

Don't train the Dog out of your dog! One of my rascals, Toby, who is a dashing nine year old senior, turns into a joyful puppy whenever I say, "Let's get in the car." He dances and prances like a young stallion, full of life and spirit! Some would say, "hey, that's not very ...obedient, why do you let him do that? Train your dog." Well, I could. He knows his manners and I could have him sit nicely and be "proper," before we walk out the door, but here's the thing, why would I want to? Toby is nine years old, and he's not gonna be with me forever. These moments of "puppy" make my day...and his. He's a DOG, not a robot, not a subservient, he's got a soul, he's got LIFE. Embrace and enjoy those moments of "disobedience." When your beloved companion is gone, those are the ones that will live on forever!

Four Ways to Make your Pup's Life More Fun - One for each Paw!

If we are lucky, we have our pups, 10 maybe 15 years. The truly blessed have their rascals for as many as 16-17 years. Either way, that's not much time to enjoy our furry kids, the rascals that make our lives so much sweeter, and lots more fun.

So let's do our best to make THEIR lives more fun. Here are just a few ways to do it:

1) Make time for Silly Time. Time to wrestle, snuggle, chase, bark, jump, play bow, you name it (well, they name it). Time to just be a dog. No rules. Happy is the name of the game. Let your dog indulge in pure joy!

2) Take them on Special Adventures. For some, it's a trip to the beach, others a ride to a new neighborhood with fun smells, others some off leash time running in an empty field (must know recall first). Whatever it is, schedule some one on one time for them to just let it all out. No cell phones, laptops or work. This time is for them. Let them have a ball!

3) Have a Puppy Party! No, they don't literally have to be a puppy, any age will do. Invite your friends over and make your dog the center of attention. Plan a few games (Hide-n-Seek is fun) and teach them a new trick or two. They'll have a great time learning it, and the attention they get when they show off their new skill will make them oh-so-happy! You'll look good too. Oh, and by the way, a dog is never too old to work on socialization!

4) Schedule snuggle time. Dogs love the one on one attention they get from cuddling with you. Turn off the TV, close the door, and simply focus on them. Give them a belly rub, and relax. Be present and let them enjoy being with you, and for a moment, being the most important thing in the world.

Dogs bring so much to our lives, let's give something back to them, and help make their worlds a better place, they make ours better every single day!