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Your dog is your best friend!
So, naturally, you want the best for your dog: the best foods, treats, and medical care. But there are SO many choices available that it's really hard to make the right decision--especially if you're an FTCP (first-time canine parent)! Buster and his 'mom' (me) can help you sift through all the information that's out there. We've got first-hand experience in feeding holistic foods and treats, and information on what NOT to feed your CBF (canine best friend). We've 'test-driven' some of the most popular toys and accessories, so we know what 'canine kids' prefer--and what toys aren't worth the time. We'll also give you tips on holistic vet care, nutritional supplements, games and exercise, grooming, safety tips, pet-friendly vacation ideas--everything you'll need to enjoy life with your furry pal.
Yappy New Year!! (Sorry, couldn't resist...) Buster hopes you had a crazy, fun, and blessed holiday season. Now it's time to take down all the holiday decorations (if you haven't already done so) and move onto 2014. Resolutions Have you made any yet? Are they those of the 'same old, same old' variety? You know, like losing weight, getting in shape, getting a better job (which may be tough in this economy), being nicer to others...most people end up breaking their resolutions within a month of making them. (Sad but true.) Here's a resolution that will benefit both you and your CBF: Spend more time playing together. Depending on what size and breed your dog is, more playtime could mean something as simple as throwing toys for him to fetch--or it could mean trying a new sport involving both of you. For example, if you live in an area that gets snow in the winter (like here in Michigan), you could try skijoring, which is kind of a mash-up of cross-country skiing and dog-sledding. If you prefer indoor activities, you might try learning agility, flyball, or freestyle. Check out our pages on these fun indoor sports to learn more. If you live in a warmer climate, just hitting the trails with your CBF is a great way for the two of you to blow those cobwebs out of your brains and grab some fresh air and exercise. A Word to the Wise If you and your dog are headed outdoors for some winter fun, make sure both of you are dressed for the elements. If you have a smaller, thinner, or short-coated pup, he should wear a sweater or coat if the temps are below 40 degrees. Also, it's a good idea to invest in some booties for your pet. I know they don't like to wear them, but these will protect their paws from sharp ice shards and road salt--and the added benefit of keeping their little doggie toes toasty. There are several brands on the market, but we like Muttluks Dog Booties Dressing for the weather leads me to the next point... EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!!!! Much of the northern and northeastern parts of the United States have experienced extremely harsh temperatures in the past several days. Here in the Metro Detroit area, the temperature got down to -14F on January 7th--and that's the actual temperature. We also had 30 mph winds which brought the 'real feel' (windchill) down to -35F. And parts of the country (like North Dakota) were even colder. Exposure to these temperatures is very dangerous not only for humans but also for their pets. PLEASE KEEP YOUR DOG INDOORS IN THIS EXTREME COLD WEATHER.. I CANNOT emphasize this enough. An insulated dog house is NOT adequate protection in temperatures which can cause frostbite in less than 5 minutes. Your dog will freeze to death if left outside in this weather. Also, if you're running errands, don't leave your dog in the car. Vehicles are not insulated (if you've noticed, the interior loses heat very rapidly when the engine is turned off) and the car becomes a refrigerator. We at Buster's Dog House hope you have a fun and safe winter!
Going Bye-Bye? Taking a trip with your CBF? Check out our Travel Tips page for a list of the top 10 pet-friendly resorts in the United States.
Words of Wisdom If you live in a warm climate, your dog should be getting heartworm preventive year-round. Also keep giving flea and tick preventives. There are some species of tick that survive year-round even in cold climates. Great Discovery! Is your CBF afraid of thunderstorms or other loud noises like fireworks? Of course, both of these are very common in the summer (in my neighborhood in the metro Detroit area, Fourth of July starts sometime in April and ends sometime in October), and many dogs become somewhat unglued during this time. Or maybe you're in the process of moving to a new home, and your dog is exhibiting a higher anxiety level. If you're looking for something to help your dog feel more calm and secure, we recommend the Thundershirt
Still Big on Our List of Faves! We recently wrote about a FABULOUS new healthy frozen treat from one of our favorite companies, The Honest Kitchen. They're called Ice Pups and they're a terrific alternative to the 'doggie ice cream' in your supermarket's freezer. Made with yummy (and healthy) ingredients like dehydrated chicken, turkey, dandelion, watercress, parsley, and asparagus (yes, asparagus) with a little honey to add sweetness, Ice Pups are super-easy to make. You just pour a packet into an 8-ounce mug and fill with warm water. Stir or whisk (this actually works better) until blended, pour into ice cube trays, and freeze. Give a couple of these to your CBF as a treat (dessert maybe?) and he'll forget all about that other unhealthy treat. BTW--Ice Pups are much less fattening than that other stuff and can also be served as a warm liquid. We're trying to win over our Chocolate Lab friend Hunter's mom with Ice Pups since Hunter has gained almost 10 lbs. from eating the 'other' frozen treat. Another good thing about Ice Pups? Since they're a dehydrated powder, they're packed in convenient foil pouches--no refrigeration necessary until you've made them. The REALLY cool thing about Ice Pups?? They're just as terrific served as a warm brothy treat! Just follow the directions as above, but instead of freezing them in an ice cube tray, simply pour into your CBF's dish and watch him enjoy. What a great way to warm up his tummy after playing out in the snow!
Cosmo's Corner Okay, I guess I was wrong...I DID get Christmas presents. I guess Santa decided that I was still cute even though my little sister Tara the Terror begs to differ. But I got the BEST Christmas present after the holidays: SNOW!! I LOVE snow. I like to tunnel in it, roll in it, make snow angels, eat it...I think you get the picture. We've had two big snowstorms since New Year's Day and now there's almost two feet of the fluffy white stuff for me to enjoy. And my heavy double coat keeps me nice and warm. Playing in the snow is MY time. Tara has short fur and gets cold easily, so she doesn't want to stay outdoors. Man, is she missing out! Until next time... Cosmo the Golden Retriever
Great Website! The Animal Rescue Site (https://theanimalrescuesite.com) is a website devoted to the feeding and caring for shelter animals. When you visit the site, be sure to click on the big purple button (it's free) to donate food for shelter pets. You can click every day if you like. This website also has TONS of really cool products, such as clothing and jewelry, for both humans and animals. The best thing? Every purchase you make helps shelter animals. Make sure you visit the website daily to click and help shelter animals!
Click on any of the links below or the buttons on the left side of the page to check out our other pages.
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