How To Find a Dog Groomer

Finding the right dog groomer for your dog is not always easy. So when looking for a new salon for you precious pooch, it pays to take the time to check them out in person first. And here’s why.

I traveled a lot while writing my book and visited many grooming salons. I was shocked when I toured a popular facility. As soon as I entered the place I smelled dog, then as I was brought past the dog grooming room I was surprised to see a layer of hair clippings on the floor that were at least an inch thick. It was obvious that the room had not been swept all day. It would probably be a safe guess that if they couldn’t even take a few minutes to sweep the floor, they probably weren’t giving the doggie clients the attention they deserve.

Here are some tips that should help you with finding the right dog groomer for your four-legged friend.

• Cleanliness. Does the facility smell clean? Are there dog hair trimmings all over the floor?
  
• Cages. Are the cages large enough for your dog? Cages should also be made from a material such as stainless steel that can be cleaned with bleach. Are there enough cages for all dogs, or must dogs share with others?
  
• Are the dog groomers formally trained?
  
• Length of time for grooming. According to most groomers “Four hours is the standard.” And most add, “Be suspect of one-hour in and out service. Your dog is not being handled the way you want.”
  
• Does the dog groomer use good/high quality product? If you bring them a specific product will they use it? Don't be afraid to check up on them.
  
• Does your dog groomer allow you to stay and watch? This policy varies with dog groomers. If your dog groomer does not allow visitors, ask why. Some have very good reasons, others don't.
  

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Home Remedy For Fleas

Darn those horrible fleas. Those nasty wingless parasites that live off the blood of people and pets - dogs, cats, even birds. Fleas are at least annoying. Of course there's the itch. Sometimes, you or your dog might be allergic to them, resulting in swollen bumps and rashes. At worst, fleas can be the carriers of disease. Did you know that fleas were partially responsible for the bubonic plague?

There's nothing worse than watching your beloved dog scratch endlessly because of these creatures - except maybe the horrible feeling of guilt you get when you decide to place harsh chemicals on your pet to get rid of these bloodsuckers. Luckily I have discovered a few natural home remedies for fleas:

Top Home Remedies for preventing fleas:

Garlic - You like garlic on your food don't you? Well so might your pet. Minced raw or lightly fried garlic added to your dog or cat's food not only enhaces the flavor, the garlic will also stave off fleas once it's in your pet's system.

Cedar Chips - Cedar chips added to your pet's sleeping area not only keeps odors away, it also keeps fleas at bay!

Yeast - Do you or any of your friends brew beer at home? If so you might have some brewer's yeast around. Sprinkle a bit on your dog's food. It's healthy and also keeps those fleas away.

Citronella and Eucalyptus oils used around the house can provide a pleasant smell that fleas hate too!

Shampoo your dogs with natural and safe products and brush them regularly. Remove any fleas on site. Regular canine hygiene along with the home remedy for fleas above will help reduce the need to resort to harsh chemicals sprays, flea collars and toxic shampoos.

Disclaimer: Of course, please check with your veterinarian - before starting any course of home remedy. The remedies presented here have been collected from many people and places and are for information purposes only.

Recommended Natural Flea Product

All Natural Flea Control for Dogs & Cats at Only Natural Pet Store

How Your Dog Should Wear A Bandana

Do you know how your dog should wear a bandana? Most people make the mistake of tying them too tight. This can irritate your dog’s neck. Erica Richter owner of Salon Pooch-ini offers these tips to insure the perfect fit for your canine.

1. Hold bandanna on top of dog’s back to determine the right length.

2. Fold the neck side (top) of the bandana underneath until you achieve the correct length. The tip of the bandana should fall 1-2” past your dog’s shoulder blades.

3. Tie bandana loose enough around the neck so that you can pull the bandana over your dog’s head without untying it. Make sure that it is not so loose that it can fall off all by itself.

4. Grab each side of the bandana above the knot and pull away from knot. This tightens the knot and creates more slack around neck.

Follow these steps and your dog will always be in style.

Games To Play With Your Dog

Playing games with your dog is a great way to have fun, bond, and even get in a little training. These are some great games to play with your dog.

Hide and Seek

When you were growing up, you probably loved playing hide and seek. The best part about playing the game with your dog is that he is always 'it.' If you have not played this game with your dog it?s definitely worth trying. The game is a favorite with Berry, Wanda, and Dresden (Robin always used to cheat). It is a great game to practice the 'stay' command with your dog. It is also a great game to teach your dog to perform a search of the house.

Here's how you play. Put your dog in the 'stay' command. Then go hide somewhere in the house. Since your dog can not count to 20 and bark "Ready or not here I come," you will have to call him when you are ready. If your dog seems to be having difficulty finding you, call to him again. When your canine companion finally finds you he will be thrilled. Be sure to reward your furry friend with lots of praise and maybe even a treat.


Find the...

Find the treat is a game many dogs love. It's best to start off easy. Tell your dog to "stay" and then let him watch you hide the treat. Then come back to your dog and tell him to "find the treat." Each time make the treat a little more difficult to find until he can find the treat in even the most obscure places like the kitchen sink or your bedroom closet. Remember to give your dog lots of praise when he finds it.

Eventually you can teach your canine to find other things like toys or even your house keys. This dog game is really a great one to teach if you are one of those people who is always misplacing her keys.


Fetch

Fetch is probably the all-time doggie favorite. The nice part about the game is that you can lie back in a lawn chair and relax, while your dog does all of the work. Provided that your dog is game.

Some dogs are naturals at fetch, like Wanda, Dresden, and Sarah. Others like Robin could really care less - too much work. And then there are dogs like Berry.

Originally playing a game of fetch with Berry consisted of my throwing the ball and his catching it and running off with it. Real exciting game, huh? It also defeated the purpose of exercising him. I tried the advice of dog trainers, which called for:

- Rewarding him for every step he took toward me with the ball.
- Showing no interest when he tried to play keep away.
- Rewarding him when he would make a step to bring it back.


However this approach just did not work for Berry. Frustrated, I finally devised a trick to help keep the game going beyond our usual one throw. I used two balls. I would keep one in my hand and throw the other one. Once Berry retrieved the first ball I would show him the second one. Of course the second ball was the one he now wanted. He soon learned that in order to get the second ball he would have to return with the first one. Then, I would throw the second ball and so forth. Soon we actually got to play a real game of fetch.

Robin's Long Lost Dog Collar

Today I found Robin's long lost Moody Collar. Kind of made me sad and reminded me how much we all miss her. But I couldn't resist trying it on Dresden. As I expected, the stones turned dark blue. So what's that mean? Well here's an article I wrote about the Moody Dog Collar a few years back. To this day, I am still amazed at how well this dog collar works.

Now your dog can have his mood and wear it! The Moody Collar is an easy way to know whether Rover wants to kiss you or bite your head off. Just like the mood rings from the 70’s this collar lets you know just how your dog is feeling. The patent-pending leather collars are studded with stones that change color with body temperature to help you interpret your dog’s moods. They also come in a sleek silver tin for a cool presentation. With your dog’s collar comes with a “handy mood chart.” For example when the stones turn dark blue your dog is in a “fun-loving, perky, frolicsome, sassy, tickled pink, ecstatic” mood. The chart is also quick to point out that every color, except black, also means “pet me, feed me, take me for a walk.” I think that about covers it.

Do they really work? Well I tried the collar on Robin. After about an hour I checked the stones and they were a blue-green. After consulting the chart I discovered that it meant Robin was “relaxed and cool.” Well if you know Robin, she is one relaxed and cool dog. It didn’t hurt that the red crocodile leather finish looked really great against her golden coat.

If you're wondering what kind of mood your dog is in, you can check it out at:
SpoilYourDog.com/MoodyDogCollar.html

The Best Dog Toy Ever - The Kong Toy

Kong Toys are an alltime favorite in our house, keeping the gang busy for hours at a time. Probably most of you are familiar with Kong Toys, but I am always surprised at the number of people who aren't familiar with what my Wanda thinks is the greatest toy invention ever. Plus Wanda would never forgive me if I left the Kong Toy out of this site. I know that she will be thrilled to learn I am beginning with her favorite toy.

For those of you who don't know what all the fuss is about. The Kong Toy is a puncture resistant, super bouncy, conical-shaped rubber toy. The fun part about the toy is that you never know which way the toy is going to bounce once it hits the ground. But my favorite feature is that they are nearly indestructible. I have never heard of a dog destroying one. This is good news for those whose dogs feel their mission is to destroy all new dog toys.

I have never seen a dog love a toy as much as Wanda loves her Kong Toy. The toy provides her with hours of entertainment. She has a collection that she keeps stashed throughout the house - she even keeps a few spares in her crate and bed.

As soon as someone sits in the "Kong seat" at our home Wanda comes running over with her Kong for the person to throw to her. She will not go for a walk or a ride in the car without bringing a Kong along. She even brings it to the veterinarian's office as her "security blanket." One time Wanda dropped her Kong on one of our walks at her favorite park. A little while later she started crying, and I noticed that her toy was gone. We turned around and looked for it but could not find her beloved toy. On our walk the next day the park ranger, who knows Wanda well, sought us out to make sure Wanda got her Kong back.

The best known Kong is the original Red Kong. But the line includes so much more. And Wanda hasn't met a Kong she hasn't liked.

You can check out the various Kong Toys at http://www.spoilyourdog.com/kongtoys.html

Our Favorite Dog Biscuit Recipe

The other day Dresden's breath was so awful that she nearly knocked me over. I later went to check in on a friend's puppy, Buckshot, to find that his breath was worse than Dresden's. Since both dogs just love giving kisses, I realized it was time to pull out my dog's favorite dog biscuit recipes.

This dog biscuit recipe contains fresh mint so it is a great breath freshener. And it really, works. It's also a great project for you and your kids on a rainy afternoon.

Berry's Favorite Breath-Mint Biscuits
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon charcoal (available at your local health food store)
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup chopped parsley
1/3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2/3 cup skim milk


Preheat oven to 400° F. Combine flour, salt, and charcoal. In a medium bowl, combine egg, oil, parsley, and mint; mix well. Slowly, stir in the flour mixture; then add enough milk to make a cookie dough consistency. Drop heaping tablespoons of dough about 1 inch apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake 15 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned. Store cooled biscuits in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. Makes about 24 biscuits.

Our Dogs - What Wouldn't You Do For Your Best Friend?

No matter what the situation -- your boss yelled at you in front of a room full of people, your significant other left you for someone younger or richer, all these bad things go away when you finally get home and your best firend greets you at the door with a smiling face and his tail wagging. He is so excited to see you; he doesnt't care what anyone else thinks about you. You are his hero. Your dog loves you unconditionally. What wouldn't you do for a friend like that?

Today we are doing nearly everthing for our dogs. Our dogs have been promoted from "the family dog" to a full family member. With their rise in social status our dogs are enjoying a multitude of perks. We cook for them; we buy them designer collars and outfits; we travel with them; we put them into doggie daycare so they don't get lonely; and we do whatever it takes to keep our dogs healthy.

I am lucky to have three German Shepherds, Berry, Wanda, and Dresden, as "best friends." They serve as inspiration to me and they helped me out of a very sad and deep depression. To thank them I started looking for new, unique, and fun things for them. Everyone started asking me questions like, "Where did you find that?" "How in the world did you know that?" "Which one do you think is better?"

And so here we are. This blog is devoted to helping you not only spoil your dog but to taking the best care of your dog possible.

Health and happiness to you and your pet,

Margaret Svete