Dog News-A New Dog Magazine and More

It's been awhile since Harley has given you any dog news. She has been staying with my mother lately to keep her company when I'm not there. So I thought I would fill in.

First, there is a new FREE online magazine out there called Total Dog Magazine. It looks like a regular magazine but it all online. I ordered it myself and was very impressed with the articles. If you are interested, sign up here: http://totaldog.co.uk

Another thing I was impressed with. Purina contacted me to let me know about their new pet video series "Do More for Pets". They plan to feature 9 short videos this Spring. 3 are up so far. It stars hunky Jeff Probst of Survivor fame and his cat Zoey and dog Cooper.  If you'd like to watch them, the first one is Hiking and Camping with your Dog http://domoreforpets.yahoo.com/?video=1 .The second one is Nuturing your Cat's Inner Wildcat http://domoreforpets.yahoo.com/?video=2 and the third one is Safely Taking your Dog on a Car Ride http://domoreforpets.yahoo.com/?video=3.

The 3rd thing is not free but I love this idea and thought it was so touching, I had to include it. Pet Memorial Tree Gifts plants a tree in memory of your pet  in U.S. National Forests that have been destroyed by wildfire. What a thoughtful loving way to remember your beloved pup and such a renewal of life! Each Memorial Tree Gift includes the planting of a tree, a card that explains the gift, the pet’s name and optional photo on our pet registry, and access to information about where the tree was planted. Here's the web addy: http://www.treesforachange.com/petmemorials.html

Ok, the next piece of news is for fellow pet bloggers. Have you heard about Blog Paws?It's an organization created for the online  pet community. This April 9th and 10th, they are having their first ever Blog Paws 2010. It's a convention in Columbus Ohio for pet bloggers to get together and learn and network. I really want to go but funds are kind of tight right now. Any pet companies want to help sponser me??? If so write me at doggymom@bloggydoggies.com and we can work something out.

My last note is kind of sad. Our beloved Joey is going into surgery in the morning for a cancerous growth on his leg. They will test him to see if it has spread but is doesn't look good.Yes, he's an old guy, almost 14 but he's still my baby. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Below is a picture I just took of him. He has the collar on because he keeps trying to gnaw at the growth. Yuch.

Ok, that's it for now.

5 Tips for Helping your Blind Dog

Hi, Joey here. No question this week but I do have an article I want to share with you. As an "elderly" gentleman, I am having some trouble losing my hearing and eyesight. So I asked Momma to write an article about how pet parents can help their dogs who are blind.

5 Tips for Helping your Blind Dog

Often as our canine companions age, their eyesight diminishes. Sometimes it can happen at any age due to illness or injury. Just as newly blind people adjust, dogs can too. There are things we can do to help them in their transition.

1 -Have strangers speak to him and avoid physical contact until your dog is comfortable with them and approaches them.  Sudden touches from people who's voices and smell are unfamiliar, can be very frightening to a dog who can not see.

2 -Keep him safe by putting up fences and barriers around dangers such as stairs, pools, ponds, and balconies. This is vital for a dog who's vision has diminished.

3 -Keep him on a leash and close to you in public. You don't want to take the chance of him wandering off and losing you or becoming startled and running out in traffic.

4 -Keep furniture in the same place and don't move things around as it will confuse him. He will become accustomed to where everything is and become quite adept at finding his way around the house.

5 -Keep his personal items (food and water bowls, bed and toys) close together. The fewer areas he has to wander around to find things, the better. It will be less confusing and more comforting.

Bonus Tip-Help him develop his other senses by talking to him and petting him often, give him squeeky toys and scented toys, give him things that are fun to chew on. By stimulating his other senses, you will help him to develop them faster and make his adjustment much easier.

Dog Product Review-Nootie Shampoo and Spritz Duo

Time for another product review. I recvently had the pleasure to try a product with an interesting concept from Nootie. They have a line of moisturizing dog shampoos and spritzs to make your dog smell wonderful. Now, first in the interest of Big Brother, let me claim my FTC disclosure that the only compensation I got for this review was the product itself to try.

Ok, with that out of the way, when I first opened the package, it took me a few seconds to figure out how to open this combo thingie. As you can see in the picture, the Spritz (doggy cologne) is in the bottom part and the shampoo is in the top.  The scent of the Spritz was a little stronger than the scent in the shampoo but both were wonderful. Sara (the Nootie sweetie who sent me the product to try) must have read my mind. She sent my very favorite scent of vanilla. I have vanilla scented perfume and body wash (for me) & vanilla candles and room sprays. So of course it makes sense to have vanilla scented dogs too, right? Actually to clarify this scent is Warm Vanilla Cookie. Even better!

I decided to bathe Harley since she is the smelliest of my 4 dogs. She has "skin issues." Here is a picture of Harley getting bathes in the sink. Doesn't she look thrilled? Actually she is such a good girl to bathe. She just sits there and lets me wash her without squirming.

The shampoo touts itself as being moisturizing with sweet almond oil and Vitamin E. Lord knows Harley's skin and hair needs some moisturizing. I gave her a bath in it and she smelled wonderful. I decided not to use the spritz on her until the shampoo smell wore off. Here's a picture of Harley once she was dry. Her hair did look shinier and her skin wasn't nearly as flakey.

The vanilla scent lasted all the next day but 2 days after her bath, I couldn't smell it anymore so I  sprayed her with the Spritz. This stuff is wonderful! Long lasting and smells delicious! Can I make a confession here? I actually tried it on me! Like I said I love vanilla!

So although this stuff is a little on the pricey side, I definitely recommend Nootie Shampoo/Spritz. You get what you pay for.  The only thing I would like to be different is to have a larger Spritz bottle with more of the dog cologne in it. But to be honest, that's probably because I want to use it on me too!

They have 3 more scents besides the Warm Vanilla Cookie including another vanilla, Sweet Pea Vanilla. Also Japanese Cherry Blossom,  and   Cucumber Melon.  You can click on any of the links above or go to www.Nootie.com to check out them out and to order for your dog.

Ask Joey-Does my dog have Epilepsy

Dear Joey,

I'm in 5th grade and my sister Cara is in 7th. We finally got a dog from the dog pound after begging for one forever. Today while playing with Pebbles, She started shaking really bad and foaming at the mouth. After a few minutes, she stopped.

My sister saw it too and said she has Epilepsy. She says she knows cos a kid in her class has it and acts the same way. She said not to tell my parents cos they might make us take the Pebble back to the pound. What should I do?

Randy E.

Dear Randy,

Epilepsy in dogs is something I am quite familiar with since I have it myself! The symptoms you describe do sound like Epilepsy but to be sure, Pebbles really needs to be checked out by a veterinarian.  It is really important for he to be seen by a doctor so they can figure out what is causing her seizures and help her to control them.

If it is Epilepsy, it may or may not need medication, depending on how often she has the seizures and how severe they are.  Really bad seizures can cause brain damage.

I am lucky in that my sezures only happen 3-4 times a year so I don't need to be on medication. My momma's friend has a little Beagle named Livvie who has to have medicine every day or she will have a seizure.

Here's a good article Momma found about Epilepsy in dogs: http://www.dogpro.com/canine-epilepsy.html

So please tell your parents so they can take Pebbles to a vet to get checked out.  Let them know how much you and your sister love Pebbles and how she needs your family's help now.  Good Luck!

Rescue a Doggy-Meet Kimba

Look at this sweet little face. Kimba is definitely a little doll. This shy little girl needs someone who will give her lots of love and cuddling to help her come out of her shell. She is getting along with all the dogs in her foster home but really needs some one-on-one attention so that she can continue to learn to trust. Kimba is spayed, up-to-date on her shots and has been given a clean bill of health. She is fostered in Columbia, PA. If you are approved  (to get approved go here:   http://www.yorkierescueme.com/adoptionapp.asp )   Janice: 717-491-1942 or yorkierescueme@gmail.com.

7 Tips to Housebreaking your Puppy

What do you do when that cute little fur ball leaves little "presents" all around the house. Most people don't know what to do when housebreaking their new puppy. When you are inconsistent in your training techniques and don't have a plan in place, housetraining can take much longer than necessary. Sometimes the dog never gets house trained.  Shelters are full of dogs who have never had proper training and were given up by their owners in exasperation. Below are 7 tips to training your puppy so he won't be one of those statistics.

1. Be consistent. Have set times that you take puppy out. Upon awakening, before going to bed, and after ever meal are good times to start.

2. Always take your dog to the same spot outside to do his business.

3. Have a short easy code word or phrase to use. I always tell my dogs to "go potty". My friend tells hers to "go wee wee". Whatever you pick, use it all the time.

4. When you take your dog out, do not talk or play with him until he does urinate/defecate. Just stand by quietly with him.

5. Once your dog completes the task, praise him quietly. Wait until he is finished though so you don't startle or distract him.

6. If you puppy has an accident, do not clean the area with any products that have ammonia in them. Ammonia is an ingredient in urine, and will only attract the puppy to use that spot again.

7. Do not yell at your puppy or stick his nose in it when he has an accident. It is usually counterproductive.

Bonus Tip: When your dog does urinate in the house, clean the area with a paper towel. Take the soiled paper towel out to the area where you want him to go, and leave it there. It will attract him to that spot the next time you go out.

Guide to Naming Your Puppy

Naming Your Puppy

As pet parents, one of the first things we do is pick out puppy's name. There are several things to consider when doing this.

Dogs are a lot like people in the fact that they each have their own personality. Take that into consideration, a long with any special physical characteristics when choosing a name.

Of course, your dog does not really care what you name him or her. The main thing to consider for your dog is to make the name easy to pronounce with preferably one or two syllables, three at the most. Do not make the name too similar to a family member's name. For example, my name is Cathy. When I was a child, we had a dog named Candy. Way too similar. Candy came when called by her own name or mine. Come to think of it, so did I.

If you have children, get their input when naming your puppy. They may want to name the dog after a favorite cartoon character or story book character. Helping with the naming of your puppy will help family members bond with it.

To help get you started with ideas on what to name your puppy, here is a list of the top 50 male and female dog names:

1. Max

2. Buddy

3. Rocky

4. Bailey

5. Jake

6. Charlie

7. Jack

8. Toby

9. Cody

10. Buster

11. Duke

12. Cooper

13. Riley

14. Harley

15. Bear

16. Tucker

17. Murphy

18. Lucky

19. Oliver

20. Sam

21. Oscar

22. Teddy

23. Winston

24. Sammy

25. Rusty

26. Shadow

27. Gizmo

28. Bentley

29. Zeus

30. Jackson

31. Baxter

32. Bandit

33. Gus

34. Samson

35. Milo

36. Rudy

37. Louie

38. Hunter

39. Casey

40. Rocco

41. Sparky

42. Joey

43. Bruno

44. Beau

45. Dakota

46. Maximus

47. Romeo

48. Boomer

49. Luke

50. Henry

Top female dog names

1. Bella

2. Molly

3. Lucy

4. Maggie

5. Daisy

6. Sophie

7. Sadie

8. Chloe

9. Bailey

10. Lola

11. Zoe

12. Abby

13. Ginger

14. Roxy

15. Gracie

16. Coco

17. Sasha

18. Lily

19. Angel

20. Princess

21. Emma

22. Annie

23. Rosie

24. Ruby

25. Lady

26. Missy

27. Lilly

28. Mia

29. Katie

30. Zoey

31. Madison

32. Stella

33. Penny

34. Belle

35. Casey

36. Samantha

37. Holly

38. Lexi

39. Lulu

40. Brandy

41. Jasmine

42. Shelby

43. Sandy

44. Roxie

45. Pepper

46. Heidi

47. Luna

48. Dixie

49. Honey

50. Dakota

Your puppy will not understand his name at first but it won't be long before he understands. You can help him do this by saying his name until you catch his attention. When he looks at you, immediately praise him. Sometimes include a little dog treat. This positive reinforcement will help your dog learn his name.

Once your puppy learns her name; you can train her in other areas. Try not to use her name when reprimending her. You want her to associate her name with good things so that she will come to you when called.

Winter Dog Collars from Dublin Dog

Winter Dog Collars from Dublin Dog

I wanted to share with you the gorgeous  new Snowflake dog collars from Dublin Dog. I still love the cool skull collar they sent me at Halloween (read about it here: Halloween Dog Collar) but now that the seasons have changed, I'm feeling the urge to change my collar too!  Of course, I have to convince Momma to buy it for me. I really like the collar pictured above. It's called  Frostbite but they also have 2 other colors too. Mistletoe comes in red and green and is more for the Christmas holiday season. Pink Ice comes is pink and black. Momma might go for that one since her favorite color is pink.

The sizes for these dog collars are Small, Medium and Large and they range in price from $22 to $26, depending on the size. The price is well worth it. My collar has held up very well and still looks like a brand new collar. Best of all, it stays clean and doesn't get that doggy smell some collars get after a while.

P.S. Momma wants me to tell you that we are NOT being compensated in anyway for this post. We just like the collars!

Rescue a Doggy-Meet Bowie

Bowie

Female , 5 years , 15 lbs

Bowie is a sweet girl who was dropped off at the shelter when her owner no longer wanted her. She had clearly had puppies in the recent past and had been ill-treated by some human, possibly a child. She is so happy to be out of that shelter and in a loving foster home where she is getting all the love she needs. Bowie will be spayed and have her teeth cleaned on 9/16 after which time she'll be actively looking for her forever family. A quiet home with no children would be best for her so if that's you, apply today! If you are approved contact Jen: 717-491-1942 or yorkierescueme@gmail.com.

Dog Tip-Dry Itchy skin remedy

Does your Dog have itchy, dry skin?

One remedy you can try is to mix 1 part water, with 3 parts Aloe Vera gel. Add a teaspoon of baby shampoo to this mixture and bathe your dog with it.  Massage it into her skin for several minutes before rinsing. Ahhh….

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