6 Common Washing Mistakes

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.

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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Dogs get cold too!

I log into Facebook and start scrolling through my feed. I find myself enjoying all these videos that paw-parents upload, from the husky playing in the snow to the dachshund trying to catch snowflakes. You giggle and awe at the cuteness and start thinking about your own dogs. Happens to me all the time.

Then there are other videos of careless nonsense that basically ruins the moment. I came upon such video. A short-hair chihuahua being walked in the snow without a coat on. The poor thing was shaking all over the place. It was torture to watch, to say the least. As much as I wanted to contact this person and tell them off (sorry, not sorry) I stopped myself. I began brainstorming ideas on how to conspicuously advise —not just this parent but all parents— on the dangers of frigid temperatures. The internet has a plethora of websites dedicated to this subject. I narrowed down the most common and important tips so you won’t have to.

Winter Safety Tips For Dogs

Proper Paw Care

• Humans won’t go outside without their shoes, so why would it be different for dogs? The booties are a great way to keep your dog's paws from cracking and/or getting injured. Most have brushed booties as a ‘ridiculous’ dog trend but the fact is, they are a preventative tool to keep your dog safe.

• If you opt-out of the booties, make sure that play-time isn’t longer than an hour (if playing in the snow). Know their limit! Take breaks in-between play time. Clean off any excess ice from the paws, legs, and belly.

• The hair on the feet of long-haired dogs can form ice balls between pads and toes. Keep them well-trimmed, cutting the hair so that it is even with the surface of the foot. Most groomers have “express” services where you can book for just this particular request.

• Invest in a good, natural, organic balm. The combination of dry air and streets coated with de-icing substances can cause painful and cracked paw pads.

Layering

• COATS! Breeds like the Huskies and the Akitas don’t really need this type of protection from cold temperatures. But short-haired breeds do actually get cold despite what most parents think. Invest in a thick warm coat that wraps the neck and covers the belly.

• Fully dry your dog when coming back from a walk. Moisture in the fur when not dried properly can cause odor and create knots.

Beware of ANTIFREEZE

• The sweet smell of the toxic substance can lure your pet and cause them to lick it off the street. A small amount ingested can be life-threatening. Be very vigilant when walking your dogs. Be alert to the signs that your dog has swallowed some of it, which include drooling, vomiting, seizures, excessive thirst, panting, lethargy and a drunken appearance. If you think your dog has ingested antifreeze, it’s important to get to a vet as soon as possible. 

Leashed and Seen

• Daylight savings often means walking our dogs in the dark. Wear reflective gear and keep your dog close when walking in the street.

• There is a higher percentage of dogs getting lost in the winter time due to the snow covering up familiar scents. Often this causes dogs (even the most trusted ones) to panic and run away. Strong recommendation to microchip your pooch!