Choosing a Proper Dog Chew

     Dog chews are a necessity for your pet. They help your dog meet their instinctive need to chew, can be great occupiers, and can also improve mental health. A dog with nothing to do will often get bored and get into trouble (perhaps in the form of digging or destructive behavior). In order to prevent boredom, provide your dog with the appropriate toys.

Here are a few guidelines:

     1.)  Avoid dog chews and dog bones that are indigestible (check the labels). Beef rawhides, for example, are a no-go! Rawhide swells once it hits the stomach and causes “gummy tummy”. If a large chunk of rawhide is ingested and your pet is unable to pass it, a vet will have to surgically remove it. Not fun, not cheap.

     2.)  Never offer your dog a chew that is smaller then their mouth, it could present a choking hazard.

     3.)  Never leave your dog unattended with dog chews. If they choke, no one is around, and if the chews are eaten too quickly, they may become impacted.

     4.) “Dog proof” everything you offer your pet.  Be sure to remove parts that could be chewed off and swallowed, for example, ribbons, strings or plastic eyes.

Appropriate Chews and Treat Dispensing toys:

• ACTIVE TOYS: Hard rubber toys - good for chewing and carrying around. Both Nylabone and Kong make toys that serve this purpose. Be sure to dispose of a chew when it is small enough to become a choking hazard.

• OCCUPIER TOYS: Rubber Kong toys or “Busy Buddy” (Premier) type toys - come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but all have a hollow section that can be filled with treats, biscuits or even some peanut butter (stick to the stir-in type with only peanuts and salt listed as the ingredients). Your pet has to work for the food/treats which are dispensed in small amounts; these toys may keep them busy for extended periods of time.

• COMFORT TOYS: Soft stuffed toys – serve several purposes, but aren't appropriate for all dogs (especially not aggressive chewers). Some dogs do well with a stuffed toy that is small enough to carry around.  However, note that if you offer many “fluffy” items for your dog to chew on, they might be inclined to search out other fluffy things to chew on, for example: Pillows, towels, dirty laundry, etc. There can also be a choking hazard if the dog ingests the stuffing.

Remember:  Occupier toys should not replace human/pet interaction. Interactive play not only enhances the bond between you and your pet, but it can help to socialize your dog and expel pent-up energy; a tired dog is a good dog! Interaction also reduces stress due to confinement, isolation, and boredom. For young, high-energy, and untrained dogs, this play can help them learn appropriate and inappropriate behavior, such as jumping or nipping.

Helpful Tips:

• Get the most out of toys by rotating them weekly and making only a few toys available at a time. By doing so, old toys seem “new” again. However, if your dog has a favorite, you may want to leave it out all the time.

• Discard toys that are starting to fall apart or break into pieces.

Dock Dogs

You have probably caught, at one time or another, a dock diving competition on ESPN. These high flying pooches are Dock Dogs. Dock dogs are the pure atheletes of the game of fetch. There are several different challenges in Dock Dog competitions.

* Big Air - This is where the dogs compete to see who can jump the farthest. The edge of the pool has measurements and the dog is allowed to run down the dock to gain momentum before the leap. The measurements start from the edge of the dock and ends where the base of the dog's tail hits the water. There are different divisions for different sizes of dogs to compete.  The dog does not have to retrieve a toy to complete this course.

*Extreme Vertical (EV)  - this is how high a dog can jump off of the dock. The dog must jump upwards to retrieve an official DockDogs Flappy toy and land in the water. The toy is suspended and is required to be held out 8" from the dock and the dog must jump and successfully grab the toy for the jump to count.

*Speed Retrieve - This is a timed challenge on who can fetch the toy the quickest. Time starts when the dog leaves the starting line on the dock and ends when the dog retrieves the toy at the end of the pool. **If a dog is released before the start of the competition, a premature release, the dog is disqualified

*Iron Dog - This is the newest addition to Dock Dog competitions and it involves all three areas.



How to get involved

Find a local group to get in contact with and go to practices. http://www.dockdogs.com

You're dog will need to know basic commands before letting the dog off lead during a run. (when not in competition or on a practice jump dogs are kept on a lead)

Not all dogs are confident about jumping off a dock and into a pool of water. The more you and your dog practice the more comfortable your dog becomes.

Equipment

Collar with proper identification

4' lead

Favorite toy that floats (nothing edible allowed)

Crate

(certain groups may call for additional or specific equipment items)



Getting Started

1.Select a pond or lake that is deep enough for your dog to land safely in and is free of obstructions or underwater hazards.


2. Toss her favorite toy in a couple of times and watch to assure she goes in after it with joy and enthusiasm. A dog that enjoys the water will be much more successful in dock diving than one who doesn’t.


3. Find a toy that your dog is absolutely crazy about. (needs to float)


4. Get the dog excited about the toy (it needs to be the best thing ever!) Then toss it in and encourage her to go after it.


5. Call your dog back to you and repeat the exercise until your dog is consistently jumping in after the toy with enthusiasm. Your dog will need to stay excited and motivated in order to achieve the most distance from his jumps.


6. Introduce your dog to the dock or ramp when he is consistently diving in after his toy. In competition the dog will dive from a raised platform into the water, so associating your dog with the raised platform early in training will avoid problems later.


7. Work with your dog on confidence before focusing on speed and distance. The dog should never hesitate.

8. once the dog is comfortable continue building your dog’s speed to the end of the dock until she is running at his maximum speed when she jumps into the water. Make sure she is jumping from the end with enough speed that she is getting good distance before she enters the water.

9. Always keep practice session short, sweet and frequent!


Great toys for Dock Dogs

Hunting dummies

Bumpers

Dock Dogs Official Gear (Flappy)

West Paws  Hurley

Kong Water Wubba

Chuck-it Amphibious

Choosing a Grooming Brush

     Specific grooming brushes are designed for specific coats.  There are a ton to choose from and we want to help you pick the one that is perfect for your pup.

Brushes

     1.)  Bristle Brushes can be used on all coat types and vary according to the spacing between bristles and the length of the bristles.  The longer the coat, the more widely spaced and longer the bristles should be. The coarser the hair, the stiffer those bristles need to be.

     2.)  Wire-pin brushes (with or without rubber-tipped ends) are best for pets with medium to long hair as well as those with curly or woolly coats.

     3.)  Slicker brushes have fine wire bristles and are especially useful for removing mats and tangles.  They are used mostly on dogs with dense undercoat, and not on smooth coated breeds.

Combs

     1.)  Fine tooth combs work best for soft and silky coats. 

     2.)  Medium tooth combs are all-purpose.

     3.)  Wide tooth combs are ideal for heavy coats, and sometimes de-matting tasks.

     4.)  Rubber curry combs are effective at massaging the skin and removing dead hair from short-haired breeds, they also can be used to lather shampoo.  

De-Matting Tools

     1.)  Mat splitters break the mat up into smaller pieces which are then more easily removed with brush and comb action. Be sure to obtain instruction in the proper use of this tool for the safety of pets.

     2.)  Grooming Rakes or Mattbreakers are great for removing any mats.  

Type of Hair Coat	Recommended Brush Type	Brushing Direction
Short, smooth coats (most Retrievers, Hounds, Chihuahuas, etc.)	Soft to medium bristle brush with short, closely spaced bristles	With the coat's grain
Short, wiry coats (Terriers, etc.)	Firm bristle brush with short, closely spaced bristles; and a slicker brush	With the coat's grain
Medium to long flowing coats (Golden Retrievers, Spaniels, Setters, Lhasa Apso, etc.)	Soft to medium bristle brush with long, medium- to wide-spaced bristles; a wire-pin brush; and a slicker brush for mats and tangles	With the coat's grain
Harsh, outer coats with soft, woolly undercoats (Sheepdogs, Collies, Shepherds, Chows, Pomeranians, etc.)	Firm bristle brush with long, wide-spaced bristles; a wire-pin brush; and a slicker brush for tangles and mats	With the grain -- outer coat; Against the grain--under coat
Thin, delicate coats (Yorkies, Maltese, etc.)	Wire-pin brush; and a soft slicker brush for tangles and mats	With and against the coat's grain

Table Information excerpted from Guide to Home Pet Grooming by Dr. Chris C. Pinney, D.V.M.

TIP:  Desensitize your pet to the grooming process.  How?  With snackage!  Have loads of tasty treats and tidbits around when it comes time to conquer that coat.  If you always offer rewards while brushing (combing, washing, clipping, etc.), your pooch will learn to look forward to this procedure.

A great trick I learned was to stick my pup in the bath tub and smear a little peanut butter on the tile in front of his nose.  He would lick it off while I washed him, and it is super easy clean up!

Start slow, start young and be patient. It should feel good to be brushed and have the skin massaged; if you tug and pull too much through mats and snarls, your dog might not be such a fan of the procedure next time.  

And Remember, in order to prevent problem mats and tangles from developing, be sure to brush your pet often!

D.I.Y. - Mean Green Kennel Cleaners

 BY: THE FIT DOG

Being eco-friendly and having a clean, smell free kennel or dog run is actually a pretty easy feat. Many commercial kennel cleaners have harsh chemicals that you can't actually use around your pet. You either have to let it completely dry or you have to do a second rinse before allowing your dog back into the area. It's kind of scary thinking that we use something that could potentially hurt our pets so I've complied a few kennel cleaner recipes that will clean, disinfect and deodorize!

How do natural cleaners work?

Well, in most natural cleaners you use basically the same ingredients and the big one is natural acids like Lemon and Vinegar. Acids break down materials and naturally kill bacteria. Baking soda is also often used for deodorizing. Castile soap is frequently used which is a vegetable based detergent.

#1.  Cement Kennels/Gravel Dog Runs

     1 part distilled white vinegar
     1 part water
     Baking Soda
Directions:  Sprinkle baking soda throughout the dog run. Mix water and vinegar. You can either spray down the dog run or use a hard bristle brush for cement kennels to spread vinegar and water mixture. The vinegar and baking soda will react and start to foam. The foaming action will bring up dirt and soil while the acid in the vinegar eats away at urine and germs. The baking soda will work on odor. Once the foam has done down just rinse away.

#2. Hard Surface Kennel Soft Scrub
        2 cups baking soda
        ½ cup liquid castile soap
         5 drops peppermint oil

Mix all ingredients together for a naturally disinfecting and deodorizing scrub for many hard surfaces.

#3.  Lawn Rinse

       1/2 cup baking soda
        10 drops peppermint oil & rosemary
       Add distilled water and spray down your lawn to safely get rid of pet odors. Peppermint and rosemary are a natural antibacterial keeping this formula acid free for delicate plants and finishes.

#4.   Lemon Rinse
        1 cup Lemon juice
        1/2 cup baking soda

   Dilute with water and spray down. No need to rinse away. Can be used on many surfaces.

#5   Acid Wash

        Un-diluted distilled white vinegar or lemon juice. (you can ruin certain finished if left un-rinsed)

Sailing with your Dog

Sailing is a wonderful activity for anybody willing to work the lines, learn the lingo and understand navigation.  Many sailors do have their furry companions accompany them on their voyages, actually 62% of sailors do. I mean how fun can sailing the seven seas be without Rover by your side? How do you get your dog use to sailing and what preparations should you have?

First of all you want your dog to be housebroken or learn to use training pads or a special potty patch for long trips.  Also you need to have at least basic commands down. Having a dog run and jump across deck or get into things they shouldn’t can make any trip (on sea or on land) very difficult.

ALWAYS have proper identification on your dog at all times.

Equipment you should have on board:
Potty pads/potty patch
Pet Stain and Odor cleaner (accidents happen and you don’t want your boat smelling of puppy wee)
Small supply of dog food
Portable Bowls for food and water
Doggy Lifejacket
First Aid kit (you should have one on deck anyway)
Tums (yup…for seasick puppy tummys)
Water safe toys to keep your dog from chewing on boat equipment

Getting your dog use to it’s sea legs

The first thing is to introduce your dog to the dock. Many dogs do not care for the unstable wobble of the boat docking areas and should have their confidence built. Use treats and praise to raise your dogs trust. Don’t put your dog on the boat until they are completely comfortable walking around the marina.

Be very careful loading your dog into and of of the boat. Once the dog is in your boat let them get their bearings of the area. If your dog seems stressed or continually tries jumping out of the boat you’ll want to introduce your pup’s favorite treat and show them that the boat is a good thing and that there is nothing to be scared of. You don’t want to go sailing with an erratic dog on board….this can be very dangerous.

Once you and your pooch are comfortable, hoist the sails!

Reminders -

*Dogs can overheat quickly so always make sure they have plenty of fresh water and a cool place to lay
*Training your dog to use a ramp or stiff ladder will make things much easier if your dog enjoys jumping in the water for a quick swim
*For sailing trips have your dog wear a nylon collar for quick drying (leather can be ruined and shrink as it dries and fabric collars stay soppy wet for hours.
*Keep a copy of your dogs shot records on board in case of emergencies.
*Please be respectful of other sailors and marina rules even when docking at marinas other than yours.
*Dispose of pet waste properly
*Trim your dogs nails to keep a proper length. Long dog nails can scratch surfaces on your boat.