Cleaning Dog Bowls

I read an article over the weekend that's a great reminder for why it's important to clean your dog bowls everyday.

Even though your dog makes sure he licks his bowl clean, it's not clean enough to use again without washing. Letting dishes go for more than a day without washing can cause algae to form and that's just gross.

At the very least, scrub and wash your dog's food and water bowls in hot water and soap at least once a day.

But the best way to keep your dog's bowls clean and sterilized is to run them through hottest cycle of the dishwasher. Stainless steel are really the best for frequent cleaning and will last for years.

New Dog Products Added To SpoilYourDog.com

Hope you and your dog are having a great day! Several new pages have been added to SpoilYourDog.com, including dog travel supplies. Check it out!

Dog Barking and Wanda

My parents have been visiting for the past week and taking care of the gang while I'm at work. They were confused why as soon as Wanda would run out the door, she would bark.

I explained that she is just saying "hello." Yes it really is a type of barking called self-identification barking.

If you're not familiar with it "Self-identification barking is what you may be hearing when your dog seems to be answering other dogs he hears barking in the neighborhood. It is his way of saying, "I am over here."

And that's my Wanda never wanting to be left out.

May is Dog Health Awareness Month

May is Dog Health Awareness Month at Pup Life

A healthy dog is a happy dog! Pup Life, a leading online retailer of healthy products for dogs, is doing its share to promote healthy lifestyles with its month long Dog Health Awareness campaign. Pup Life will be featuring dog care tips and articles advocating all aspects of healthy living including nutrition, grooming, exercise and training throughout the month, as well as offering special discounts on healthy products. Check them out.

Woman's best friends: Dogs more spoiled than partners?

Being a woman dog owner I can relate to the following article:


LOS ANGELES — Pampered pets are becoming women's priority vs. their partners, according to a study of 901 pet owners by BizRate Research for Shopzilla, a shopping-search site on the Web, which has seen an increase in luxury-pet-product searches.

It's no wonder that women are spoiling their pets. More than half of women (56 percent) feel that their pets are more affectionate than their partners (vs. 41 percent of men), and 45 percent of women think their pets are cuter than their partners (vs. 24 percent of men).

In the study, women said they had a deeper emotional connection with their pets than men did. Nearly all women respondents (99 percent) reported that they frequently talked to their pets (vs. 95 percent of men) and an astonishing 93 percent of women think that their pets communicate with them (vs. 87 percent of men).

"The most loving thing we can do for our pets is to understand them better and learn their language," said Jackie Hakim, founder of Healing Arts Dog Training. "Our furry friends come wired in a certain way and being considerate of that can be the building block to a successful relationship."


Puppy Love

Further, 73 percent of female pet owners report they are more inclined to date or marry someone who also has a pet (compared with 50 percent of men reporting as such). Approximately 7 in 10 (68 percent) pet owners report their pets make them happier than their jobs. Women are significantly more likely to feel this way (72 percent vs. 60 percent of men).

Pet owners are spending big bucks on all-natural dog food, sweaters, diamond-studded collars, booties, doggy day care, dog ophthalmologists, spas, and endless other goods and services. Women are inclined to spend about $50-$100 a month — somewhat more than men are willing to spend.

One-third (34 percent) of pet owners would consider taking their pet to a pet psychic, groomer or therapist. Female pet owners are more inclined to do so (39 percent of women report "yes" vs. 27 percent of men).

On a sadder note, almost one-third (31 percent) will consider a pet funeral. Again, women are more inclined to conduct such an activity to deepen their relationship to their pet (37 percent) compared with men (21 percent).

"While the majority of my clients are women, more pet owners are seeking deeper relationships with their animals," said pet psychic Patrice Ryan of Celestial Crystals. "The difference is, men come to me for more critical situations such as a lost or sick pet. Women want to know if their pet is happy and comfortable."


Pampered pooches

With more and more "dog-friendly" establishments, the survey saw that one-third (33 percent) of owners take their pets along with them to run errands such as shopping or going to the hair salon. Women are more inclined to do so (36 percent) compared with men (27 percent).

More than half (61 percent) of pet owners feel that their pets reflect their personality "very much" or "moderately." Women are more likely to feel this way (70 percent) compared with men.

According to Shopzilla, most of its online searches are dog-related, with the majority (52 percent) of pet owners reporting to spend about $50 a month on their dog.

The most-searched-for pet products include dog houses, dog fences and dog clothes. But even the most pampering pooch owners can find latest luxury pet goods:

• Pet nail polish

• Designer dog carriers

• Gourmet dog treats

• Dog clothing

• Dog beds (check out http://www.1dogbeds.com

• Pet jewelry

• Luxury dog collars

• Dog strollers

• Dog deodorant

source: BusinessWire.com