Choosing the Right Puppy Bed for Your New Dog

Filed under dog bed, puppies by admin on March 20, 2011 at 8:42 pm {2 comments}

This is our golden retriever who found a spot on her sister's dog bed after a tiring game of fetch.

One of the first purchases most new dog owners make is a puppy bed for their new puppy. Think about it – if you don’t provide a puppy bed for the newest member of your family, your new puppy will have to look elsewhere for somewhere to make his puppy bed. In our case, that meant our puppy helped herself to our couch, which had to be replaced just a couple years after we bought it. So to help make sure you purchase the right puppy bed, keep these tips in mind:

- Remember your puppy will become a dog: One of my favorite pictures is of our sweet little lab puppy in a giant bed we bought. But it wasn’t long that she grew into it. Save yourself some money and buy a puppy bed that your new puppy can grow into.

- Buy a puppy bed with a removable cover: This is an important one if your puppy isn’t housebroken just yet. It’s much easier to throw a cover in the wash rather than try and clean up a puppy bed. Replaceable covers will also come in handy if your puppy chews a hole in his new puppy bed.

- Shop around: There are some great websites online that have quality puppy beds as will most of your local pet superstores. One of the best dog beds we ever bought was at Costco when we were grocery shopping. Thankfully it only came in a pack of one.

Do you own a fat dog? Signs your dog is obese

Filed under Dog Health by admin on March 11, 2011 at 4:43 am {2 comments}

This picture may have been enhanced by PhotoShop but there's nothing healthy about a fat dog. Is your dog obsese? These tips may help.

Here’s a moment of full disclosure: We have always been a little self-conscience as to whether our dogs have been a little overweight. We can’t resist but give our dogs a few table scraps or a few extra dog treats now and then. But you can’t help but wonder: Is my dog fat? The last thing we want to do as dog owners is create a fat dog. Daily exercise can help, but here are some tips to detect whether or not you own a fat dog:

- Did you overfeed your dog as a puppy? The realty is, overfed puppies tend to become fat dogs.

- The best sign to get an indication to whether or not your dog is overweight is to check the ribcage. Give your dog a pat on the side and check whether or not you can feel your dog’s ribs. There should be a thin layer of fat over the ribs, but if you can’t detect the ribs at all, that’s a sign your dog may be on the heavy side, if not obese.

- Look down. If there’s not a narrowing at the waist of your dog, chances are that dog is overweight. If the waist is extremely noticeable your dog may be too thin.

If you are concerned at all that you may be the owner of an obese dog, the most important thing you can do is consult your vet. Every dog is different and it’s important to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle for your dog. They will reward your with their unconditional love and loyalty.

How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

Filed under Dog Health, Uncategorized by admin on February 26, 2011 at 3:18 pm {4 comments}

Daily brushing of your dog's teeth can improve your dog's smile. But it's hard to top this one!

February is dental health month and it’s important to remember that dental hygiene is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Here are some tips on how to brush the teeth of your favorite dog:

1. Don’t use human toothpaste when brushing your dog’s teeth: The toothpaste that works great for us can cause problems with your dog’s stomach. Make sure you buy a dog appropriate toothpaste. We use chicken flavor on our dog, which may not sound good to us but she loves it. Getting a good flavored dog toothpaste makes brushing your dogs teeth a little easier.

2. Ease into brushing your dog’s teeth: Your dog may not appreciate it if you jump right in with a toothbrush and start scrubbing. First, give the dog a taste of the toothpaste and then gently use your finger to ease into the process of brushing your dog’s teeth. When the dog is ready, start brushing.

3. Reward your dog while brushing: It’s an uncomfortable process for the dogs at times, so make sure after a minute or two of brushing you reward your dog. It may just be simple praise, or maybe a treat. The key is making it fun for the dog.

Why is it important? Consider these words from Dr. Ray Cahill in a story from wickedlocal.com:

Just like with humans, bacteria and plaque accumulate on our pets’ teeth and needs to be removed to prevent disease. Letting a pet walk around with dental disease puts a stress on the immune system and allows bacteria to get a foothold, which can then spread elsewhere in the body to trigger other serious health issues. As for how often to brush a pet’s teeth, research suggests at least twice a week to get the best results.

Brushing –– primarily for cats and dogs –– can be a positive and rewarding experience. You can introduce it as part of your daily routine and even link it to events like walking and feeding. Here are some helpful tips to get you up and running.

BONUS: Many products made for dogs help improve their dental hygiene. There are dental toys that are great for your dog’s teeth and the dog won’t know the difference. Check with your vet about purchasing dental chews that control tartar buildup. Too much human food isn’t good for your dog’s teeth either.

Study Finds That Many Dogs Are Obese and Overweight

Filed under Dog Health by admin on February 24, 2011 at 4:14 am {2 comments}

A study finds that more dogs are heavier than recommended body weight.

Maybe the reason many dogs are obese and overweight is because owners have less time to exercise or maybe dogs are fat because they aren’t being fed properly. But according to the Chicago Tribune, the Association for Pet Obese Prevention reported that one-fifth of our dogs and cats are obese. For a dog to be obese, it must be over 30 percent the recommended body weight for the dog.

The result? Many dogs suffer from dog arthritis, dog diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.

 

 

Five Tips for Buying the Perfect Dog Gift Basket

Filed under Dog Gifts by admin on February 23, 2011 at 11:05 pm {no comments}
New Puppy Gift Basket

New Puppy Gift Basket

For years, Doggie Deliveries specialized in sending dog gift baskets all over the country, so we learned what dogs (and their owners) liked to receive. Here are five tips when sending a dog gift basket:

1. Keep the size of the dog in mind: A dog gift basket is a great gift until a little tiny dog receives a giant rawhide bone intended for a 100-pound lab. Make sure all the gifts inside the dog gift basket are size appropriate.

2. Look local: If you’re in a hurry but don’t want to pay extra for shipping, find a dog gift basket company near you. It won’t take as long to ship and you will save you money. A local company may be more willing to help you personalize the dog gift basket.

3. Allergies are an issue: Many dogs are allergic to wheat, some are allergic to chicken or peanut butter. Unless it’s a surprise, you might want to check with the owner of the dog before buying any food-related items. Remember that dogs can’t have chocolate, so make sure chocolate-like treats are actually carob.

4. Remember the dog’s age: A 15-year-old golden retriever probably isn’t looking for a squeaky chew toy. Many dog gift basket companies have baskets designed specifically for puppies, including training dog treats.

5. Don’t forget the dog owner: Some of the best dog gift baskets include gifts for the owner of the dog, which always goes over great.

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