Happy New Year
“A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk.”
Walk Your Pet Month
“A dog is one of the remaining reasons why some people can be persuaded to go for a walk.”
- Orlando Aloysius Battista
Happy 2020, folks! It is exciting to start a new year with new goals in mind. The most famous if not redundant new year’s resolution is health-focused — weight loss and overall self-care. If the title of this blog hasn’t already suggested it, you can incorporate your goals while doing something you already have to do— walk your dog! Yup, it’s Walk Your Pet Month and it comes at a perfect time.
As much as I LOVE to give tips on this subject, there are a plethora of blogs out there that will give you tons of information. Nonetheless, let me just say this: enjoy your walks with your dog. I know what you are thinking, “Dani, I don’t have time.” True, we live in a world where minutes matter but doesn’t a ‘new year, new me’ come into play here? Don’t you want to change something from last year? This is your chance. As minute as this change can be, it can catapult into bigger and better changes in your overall lifestyle. Stop and enjoy the roses, my friends. Don’t rush!
One of our goals this year is to connect our community with pet entrepreneurs/businesses in our area. It is my personal motto that the sun shines for everyone; so I would like to share some of the businesses that might just be something you are looking for you or your pet. If you live in northern New Jersey, check out the following. (The names are in alphabetical order)
Anything For Seleneas - Jessica is a dog handler/walker/sitter
Special Offer: schedule any service and the 10th service you get 50% OFF
Be Happy Dog - Grooming salon in Hoboken
Boogie N Pals - Licensed, bonded, and insured walking company for NoHu
They are currently hiring! They are looking for serious, responsible, animal lovers ready to boogie.
Disciplined Dog Walker - Dog walking company providing basic and puppy training
Special Offer: Book 1 FREE 30-minute walk
Dog Life Hoboken - Certified dog trainer located in Hoboken
Classes Coming Up: AKC Puppy Training starting January 7th and 8th. Vera offers these classes year-round so if you miss this one don’t freak out. She’ll announce more soon.
Furever Friends - Dog Walking Service
North Bergen Pet Sitter LLC - Pet-sitting/ dog walking/ and home visit services available
Patchwork Paws Co. - Bandanas, bow ties, teepees, and more for your pet! 100% eco-friendly vegan products.
PawMania - Affordable Pet Sitting Services located in Jersey City serving Hudson, Bergen, and Union county.
Supreme K9 Training - Certified dog trainer and behavior specialist. Provides private lessons or board&training programs.
Walking The Pack - Dog walker and pet sitting services.
Non-pet related businesses:
Drea’s Closet - Clothing boutique always carrying a cutest latest styles
Dynamic Rapid Systems LLC - Structured Wiring, CCTV, Voice, Data, Low Voltage Wiring, A/V services
Poseidon Expediting & Consulting Services - Class 2 code and zoning representative
Cheers!
It is our hope that all these businesses continue to grow and expand in this new decade. We hope to continue to meet entrepreneurs like us and bring the community closer. Cheers to 2020!
6 Common Washing Mistakes
Do you know the common mistakes made when washing your dog? We have in a way humanized our pets to the point that the most common mistakes are often overlooked and/or ignored. Not intentionally, of course, but it’s done.
Whether you’ve had Fido for a couple of hours or a couple years chances are that you’ve taken the time to wash him/her at home or used a DIY shop in your area. This isn’t an easy task. It is one that requires patience and strategic planning — should you comb him/her before or after the bath? How many people will you need to help you, or even, how will you lure them into the bathroom? All these questions are just as valid as this one: Do you know the common mistakes made when washing your dog?
We have in a way humanized our pets to the point that the most common mistakes are often overlooked and/or ignored. Not intentionally, of course, but it’s done. We tend to forget that our pets are just that, pets. I call my bullies my babies, my children, my world. I admit it proudly. However, it is extremely important to remember they are animals and don’t have a conscious like us (humans) nor can they communicate with us by talking. Here are a few common mistakes that we can catch and correct.
Water Temperature
LUKEWARM! The water shouldn’t be too cold or hot. If your dog is shaking in the tub, it’s not because they are cold and you crank up the hot water. Their skin is more sensitive than ours. Test the water on your forearm first, the area of skin is more sensitive to temperature than your hands.
Spray Nozzle Misuse
I have seen it a million times, the parents grab the spray nozzle and immediately spray the dog in the face or feet at full force. Without realizing, they have created a negative stimulus on their dog. Always test the nozzle pressure by the corners of the tub away from the dog. This will not only give the dog time to adjust to his/her surroundings but it will allow the parent to get a handle on the water pressure.
One way to introduce the water jet is by letting the water hit the back of your hand first over their body. This sense of comfort creates a positive experience and the dog will associate bath time as bonding time with you.
Self-reflecting negative reaction
Did you know that water amplifies sound and dogs can hear up to 4xs better than humans? Mix the two and your dog’s hearing magnifies bringing his/her sensitivity level to an uncomfortable degree. This is where your PATIENCE comes into play. If you scream or physically shove your pet around, they will register bath time as a time of feeling uncomfortable and confused.
I may sound like a broken record to my followers and clients but I will not stop saying this: Your pet picks up on your energy! If you are screaming, get nervous and/or anxious, Fido will become vocal, nervous, and/or anxious. Stay calm. This may not be easy but patience is a virtue.
Improper use of at home dyer
A crucial part in the whole bathing process is drying. In order to prevent the “wet dog smell” or any skin bacteria from developing, you MUST dry your dog. “My dog hates the blow-dyer, Dani” is often the answer when I ask parents about the last phase of bathing. Two factors play a role in this, our negative reaction about drying the dog and the fact the dryer was probably introduced right at bath time and not de-sensitized prior. In other words, we didn’t train our dogs. Don’t get confused when I say train. You don’t have to hire a dog trainer to get your dog to like bath time. But how? Commitment. The same way you practice a habit everyday you should do the same when introducing something to your dog. Practice running the water faucet for a few minutes while your dog is in the bathroom with you. As they are observing and listening give them treats and/or praise them- make this experience positive. Practice this everyday — especially if your dog is terrified of water. Once they have come accustomed to the sound go to the next step. Grab a wash cloth, wet it, and slowly and gently massage the wash cloth on your dog’s chest area all the way to the crown of their heads. Reward them every time they let you.
Imagine this scenario: you are in the bathroom with your dog, you turn on the dryer and you fan the dryer on your dog’s face. You see their reaction and giggle. As funny or adorable it may seem to you, the dog has now associated a negative experience with the dryer and will hate it every time.
Substituting dog shampoo for human shampoo
Human shampoo IS NOT the same as dog shampoo. We’ve seen a few parents use human shampoo and we try to advise them to try dog shampoo next time. So whats the difference? pH, the levels of acidity. Fur-everloved.com gives such a great explanation:
“The dog’s skin is the most alkaline [basic] of all species making it a perfect breeding ground for bacteria (aka skin infections) if the pH is disrupted. If this happens, inflammation and infection can occur due to over-drying and eroding of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin). A dog’s epidermis is only 8-10 cell layers thick, whereas human’s are 18-20 cell layers thick! The dog’s skin is thicker overall, but the epidermis is very thin and susceptible to bacteria if it is stripped away with improper ingredients that are not pH balanced for their skin.”
Let’s prevent on irritating your dog’s skin and start using the proper products. Now that you are, lets focus on the actual lathering and scrubbing part. A simple rub down of the shampoo isn’t enough. You need to agitate the shampoo to trap the grime. Which means? A good scrub-down NEEDS to happen - don’t get lazy on this part! It should be at least 3-5 minutes long. YUP! You read that right. When washing it away make sure the water runs clear of suds before you finish.
Grooming
Regardless of the type of breed you have, grooming is extremely important for your dog’s well being. Maintaining a solid bathing regimen will build your dog’s confidence in turn cooperating with you during bath time. If you wash your pet once in a while, chances are that he/she will not collaborate with you and become restless. It’s an ugly cycle if you let it.
Washing your dog isn’t a 5 minute event nor should it be a whole day show. If the proper grooming maintenance is done on a daily, this will greatly reduce the amount of time you spend washing your dog.
There aren’t the perfect pawrents (parents) out there. We are all learning as we go. As long as we can acknowledge and become aware of our mistakes, we can pick up from where we last left off and try again. Washing your pet should be recognized as a bonding experience with your dog rather than thinking it is a chore. After all, aren’t we always complaining we never have time for Fido? These are the moments you’ll want to remember with him/her.
DIY Dental Treats, Mouth Wash, and Toothpaste (Tutorial)
A huge THANK YOU to My Mountain Husky Channel in Youtube for filming this video/DIY Tutorial. The receipes are so easy to make that it inspired me to head to the market and pick up the ingredients to try on my bullies. The fact that these ingredients are all organic and natural makes me feel good about sharing this on the blog. Let us know if you decide to try these at home. Love to hear from you guys!
Dental Health Month Continues: 3 Buying Tips for Dental Chews/Treats
Do you ever get overwhelmed by the amount of products available for your pet? I certainly do - it drives me nuts! I’ll start with one product and then somehow end up in a blackhole of reviews, comparisons, and just overall doubt on everything pet. I have gone so far to ‘X’ out of the page completely to forget about the item only to start my research once again (ugly cycle).
Like most pawrents, I just want products to be safe, effective, ‘natural’ (we’ll post on another day why I quote the word natural) and did I mention safe? Trial and error seems to be the name of the game.
Initially, I was going to post the top 5 best dental chews and I quickly realized that this was completely impossible. Not because I couldn’t but because it wouldn’t be fair to my pawrents who read this blog. Every pet is different. Not two are alike - even in the same breed category, not one. No argument when talking about characteristics, its the same but it is different when talking about their health concerns/issues. Most of this is based on the pawrents life style. Instead i was curious to know what they (pawrents) thought. The researcher in me had to compare what other pawrents were saying. Naturally, I went on Amazon.com and started reading reviews. Fair to say that some pawrents had similar thoughts as I did on the several products. (I am not a crazy dog-mom after all, yay!)
All of this to say here are the top 3 tips to help you choose the right dental chews/treats for your pet.
Select the right size of the dental chews. This is an obvious (not so obvious) tip. Many pawrents will buy in bulk extra large or small chews to save a few extra dollars. Yet, you do not want to jeopardize your pet’s health for a few bucks. Most companies do supply pawrents with a measuring/size charts that will guide you to select the correct treat for your pet. This will help you in knowing the amount of treats your dog should get in a day without compromising their health.
Select digestible ingredients. No matter how many reviews a product receives, it shouldn’t be the definitive factor in purchasing the product. As mentioned earlier, not all pets are the same. Knowing what ingredients are in each treat, should be an indication on how your pet will react.
Look out for VOHC Seal of Acceptance. The Veterinary Oral Health Council “exists to recognize products that meet pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats. Products are awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance following review of data from trails conducted according to VOHC protocols. The VOHC does not test products itself.” For a full list of accepted products click here.
Regardless of what product you decide to purchase for your pet, make sure to keep an eye on the reaction it gives him/her. If it helps, write down the ingredients of the particular product for future reference. You are the best investigator/researcher for your pet.
Happy National Pet Dental Month
Ah, February, the month of ‘love’. Most of us are either celebrating or just trying to miss it completely. But one thing is for sure, your pet will be your biggest cheerleader or your shoulder to cry on. Our pets are the only beings on this earth who are loyal AF! Let's face it (pun intended), they’ll lick (kiss) you if you're happy and they'll lick (kiss) you if you're sad. Don’t brush them off if their breath is kicking rather pay attention as this could be a sign of health issues down the road.
It’s a perfect coincidence if you ask me that February is also celebrating pet dental awareness. Don’t get me wrong, cleaning your pet’s teeth is vital in a healthy lifestyle and should be done year-round. But we don’t mind a few extra, fresh kisses.
Did you know that by the age of 3, your pet is more likely to develop periodontal disease? If effective preventive measures aren’t taken this could worsen as your pet ages. The AVMA sponsors National Pet Dental Month and they have created a short quiz to test your knowledge in this subject. So, how well do you know your pet’s dental health? Take this quiz to find out!
Dental health is important to the overall well-being of your pet because it affects the health of the heart, lungs, and kidneys which is why it is imperative you give your pet the proper daily dental care before there is a problem. Here are a few tips to help you start getting in the habit of brushing your pet's teeth. Remember it takes practice and patience to get a routine.
DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE. It contains detergent and we (humans) are conscious to rinse and spit it out. Your pets, not so much. Many different pet health platforms carry tons of flavored toothpaste for your pet.
Introduce brushing your pet's teeth gently and gradually. This is not a race and must be done consistently.
Purchasing dental chews is a great addition to your pets dental hygiene. They aim to mechanically and chemically remove/reduce any tartar build-up.
Keep in mind that mouth-wash for pets can help prolong ‘the beneficial effect of professional dental scaling’. So ask your veterinarian first before purchasing.
Last but definitely not least, make your own toothpaste. Pinterest alone can give you so many recipes and hacks to help you. When it comes to DIYs (and we are experts on this) DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Please read up and get educated on the effects of different ingredients and how they can affect your pet.
Stay tuned for more tips throughout the month of February. Up next, the top dental products everyone is raving about.
Thanksgiving Dinner for your Pets
‘It’s-so-good-you-have-to-lick-your-plate’ kind of dinner.
Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful and thankful for all the good (&bad) we’ve experience this year. It has sort of become the ‘unofficial’ ‘official’ holiday season kick-starter. It gives us permission to set up the Christmas tree and many other decorations — not just at home but everywhere! I am sure you’re listening to Christmas radio non-stop.
As grateful as you are, I am sure you want to “treat” your dog to a good Thanksgiving dinner. Though, there are a couple of DON’Ts you should be aware of, here are few items that can be plated to serve your loving dog:
Turkey’s white meat. Avoid the skin (too much seasoning can upset his/her stomach) & bones.
Cranberry Sauce. If too sweet, dilute the sauce with a bit of water.
Pumpkin. Not pumpkin-pie. Just the plain & pure kind.
Veggies. Anything steamed and plain. No casseroles please.
Yams + sweet potatoes. Again, the plain & pure kind.
Mash Potatoes. This is before you add in the butter and any other ingredient.
Gravy. Mix chicken broth + and pure pumpkin.
A few cautious steps can avoid an emergency room visit, so please take the time to consider your furry children. Expect a couple of wet kisses afterwards. Your furry child will thank you and appreciate the ‘extra’ love at dinner time.
!HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Pet safety tips to ensure a safe and fun halloween
A few tips to keep your dog safe and stress-free this Halloween.
Our three bullies hate to dress up for Halloween.
We tried the first few years since they became part of our family but failed miserably (You’ve seen it, they get on their backs rubbing the fabric on the floor in protest or give you the death stare).
Consciously we stopped and knew we were stressing them out for our sheer entertainment. (You live and learn!) However, my friend’s cocker spaniel, Stitch, LOVES to dress up. This year he is a lion and last year he was a taco (so cute).
I figured let me share a few tips for the parents who will be strolling around with their four legged children tomorrow, Halloween.
Keep your dog stress-free with these tips:
Sorry, NO CANDY, for your baby!
Avoid placing the candy bowel in reach of your pet. Most sugar-free candies have an artificial sweetener called Xylitol. It is very dangerous for your pet, so beware!
Candy wrappers, Tin foil, cellophane and party supplies
If your pet swallows it can be life-threatening. Keep out of reach.
Decorative and/or candle-lit Pumpkins and Corn
Although pumpkin is great for your pup, additives can produce a very upset stomach. Fire hazardous for anything candle-lit that can be tipped over.
PROPER ID A MUST
Spooked pets can get lost. Please make sure your pet is microchipped and tagged
Wires and Cords from Decorative lights
Self-explanatory!
Trick-or-treat greeters
Unless your dog is SUPER friendly, keep them in a separate, quite room away from the chaos. Too many strangers can overwhelm your dog and cause them to be unusually protective or aggressive.
Costumes ARE Optional
If you dress your dog in costume make sure it’s safe and try it on a few days before Halloween and/or related event. It should not constrict breathing or barking, impede hearing, vision or movement. Beware of small dangling pieces of material (choking-hazard!) and watch for signs of allergic reactions to costumes.
Alright my friends, I am super excited to see you and your pup show off your costumes. Please be safe and beware as you make your rounds. (Source: ASPCA.org)