Ok, so I am definitely not ready to admit that it's almost September, which means.....it's almost Fall. I LOVE summer and try to hold on to it as long as I can. Especially now that we are in the south and OH MY are these sunsets and lightning bugs and heat just ahhhhmazing! But being from the Seattle area until recently, I definitely know just what fall brings. Rain, and puddles, and mud. Here are some tips I learned to keep my house clean of muddy paws, wet dog smell and keep my dogs comfortable as they dash out into the fall weather to play, relieve themselves or just to chase the random thing they made up in their minds. Instead of putting your dog in a rain jacket, doggie boots or a plastic bubble, I'll letcha know what works at our house. So 1st off I'm gonna let you know that those little products that you dip the paw into to "clean' off the mud and muck, yeah don't waste your money! It may work on the first paw....but then even if you change out the water, all those little nubby things on the sides that are supposed to scrape the mud off are now covered with mud and you literally have to WASH the contraption completely after EVERY paw so your not just spreading the mud from one paw to another. Unless you want to buy 4 of them. Not to mention your dogs feet are now most likely more wet than when they originally came through the door... The easiest steps I have found for my pack (3 dogs, two of them being terriers who love to dig and one Golden Retriever puppy) are making sure the paw pads are shaved out. This is easily done at your dog's grooming appointment. Every 4-6 weeks your pets paws are being trimmed up, the pads shaved out and the nails being trimmed and sanded short is the easiest way to ensure that you can keep the feet clean during muddy season at home. Keep a towel by the door to wipe off their feet as they come in. I keep good door mats on the outside AND inside so when the pets come in they are wiping their feet across the outside mat and then standing on the inside one while we wipe their paws off. I've used (sensitive skin) baby wipes which work well too, but they are not environmentally conscious and the cost will add up. So using a towel and popping it in the wash is easiest. Having pavers, rocks or even sand as a "barrier" in between the mud/grass and the door they come in helps. Now if your dog is a true mud magnet, Having a shallow pan or tub of water by the door may be in your best interest. Have your pet walk through the tub of water and wipe/dry off paws as they come out. Depending on just how much fun your pet had in the mud, your may want two towels. One for wiping excess muck and then one to follow up and dry. (I DO NOT RECCOMEND WASHING PAWS WITH SOAP EVERYTIME THEY COME IN!!! It will cause irritations and the skin to dry out and pads crack by being washed too much! Water will work just fine.) Now for the WET DOG smell. There are some awesome rinse free shampoo's out there incase your dogs bellies or feathering gets muddy too! Simply spray on (I like the smell and ease of the TropiClean products) and brush through and wipe with your towel, easy peasy. There are also an array of doggy spray on scents out there, pick your flavor, just remember that less is more, and you still have to remove the muck and dry the dog first or your just adding a perfume to a wet dog annnd you're still gonna smell it! Never forget the magical power of a BRUSH! Seriously though, it will remove not only loose hair but dander and dirt as well. a good quality brush is like a magic wand. (My absolute favorite brushes are Chris Christensen brand, YES expensive but extremely worth it and last forever vs a $5 amazon brush that the pins will break and bend.) brushing your dog before letting them go out reduces the amount of hair that stuff can get stuck on too! so take the 5 mins to brush your dog, you will never regret it! Remember that your dog, is a dog! As much as the next fabulous person thinks and treats their dogs as a child, they are a canine. They were literally built to dig, sniff, run and have fun OUTDOORS. As irritating as it can be for them to dig in your flower bed and such, and look as happy as can be while doing so, dogs follow their noses. The catch a sent and have to explore so reprimanding or expecting your dog to stay clean while going out to play or a potty break is seriously insane. Part of owning a dog (or being owned by one) is maintenance, so just keep up on the grooming, start a routine as they come in from the great outdoors every time and soon it will be easy to just wipe off the paws as they wait patiently at the door. Thanks for reading and remember, "Have a Pawfect day!"
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It is well known that dogs are intelligent creatures, and are more aware about their surroundings as compared to humans. According to some people, dogs can even sense some paranormal activity (they see dead people) and can predict when someone is about to die. It's crazy how accurate some dogs can be at "sensing" when something is changing or about to happen, and then try to give us the heads up. (But, ehhem DOGS where was the "Head's-up" for 2020?!?!) For instance, Dogs are capable of detecting bad weather. Owner's have noticed that their dog starts to bark or cuddle in their lap before we witness bad weather. Whether it is a storm or thunder, even tornados, dogs are masters at predicting the terrible weather. "Dogs are able to use all of their senses to predict when a tornado and storm are coming. Your dog can detect small changes in barometric pressure, which changes and charges when a storm is approaching a location - this is what alerts the dog that there is something changing with the pressure in the air." (quote Published by wagwalking dot com) Apart from this, dogs are also good at hearing sounds of thunder of storm before we can hear them. 'Dogs can detect earthquakes,' the belief has been around for hundreds of years. Although no one has been able to prove this to this date, it has been said dogs can reliably predict the arrival of an earthquake, (there is some science that supports the fact that dogs can forecast an earthquake. According to seismologists, dogs can sense the electrical signal which is produced by the movement of rocks beneath the earth.) When earthquake occurred in Japan in early 2011, people witnessed some crazy behavior from dogs, elephants and other animals before the earthquake. In similar example from China in 1975, people reported strange behaviors from animals before the earthquake which killed about 2,000 persons. When it comes to situations like this, I REALLY wish some one would actually invent those collars that the guy from the Disney "UP" movie had on his dogs that translated his dogs barks into actual voices so they could tell us " DUDE get to safety like NOW" cuz that would save a whole lot of lives. Dogs are highly sensitive of pheromones which we are not aware of. This is the reason dogs can predict possible danger. They can get to know about the intention of a person we meet by sensing their subtle facial expressions and body language. (Which is also why I not only trust my dogs more than most humans... but if a dog doesn't like a person, I usually follow their lead as they are normally right in sniffing out weirdo's) Not only dogs can make you aware about any danger from a person, they are also good at detecting bombs, drugs etc. If your dog shows unusual dislike towards someone, he is making you aware about the potential threat that person can present to you. Dogs are capable of detecting cancer, even when it is at stage zero. Researches have found that cancer tissue release particular chemical that is different to normal tissue, and dogs are surprisingly good at recognizing the difference between malignant tissue and normal tissue. A woman from California noticed that her dog used to lick her right breast, and when she went to doctor she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In a research, a trained Labrador retriever was able to successfully detect colon cancer in people with more than 90 % accuracy rate.Not only cancer, your dog can alarm you when you have low blood sugar and seizures. Which is why so many dogs are being used as Service animals for SO many different medical reasons, I have a friend who is training her dog to be her service dog for her Diabetes, it'll be able to help her keep her sugars and insulin levels in check. Although, there is no concrete scientific evidence that proves that dogs are capable of sensing pregnancy, so many examples prove it. Dog's ability to read human body language, smell, and behavior helps him to detect pregnancy. Certain changes happen in the odor, body shape, body language, mood and behavior of pregnant woman which dog can read easily. Dogs DEFINETLY act different around their owners when they are preggers! I've seen it, I've experienced it. My dog Kayleigh was SUPER attentive the whole time I was pregnant with my son, and when he was born he was part of HER pack and was like HER baby. SO, the next time your doggo is acting a little....OFF, run down your mental list. 1. Preggers? ( seriously, EVERY woman is gonna start with that at the top!) 2. Serious weather warning in the forcast? 3. When was the last time you had a full medical check up and are you feeling ok? 4. Are you hanging around a new person(s) or place and your dogs giving them the side-eye? 5. Were you just dancing too hard or did the ground ACTUALLY move??? 6. Are we just all over paranoid about every last thing because let's face it, 2020 has been one hell of a shitshow and really nothing is gonna phase any of us at this point! Thanks for reading and catch y'all soon! Why Grooming Your Dog Is Important
With our increasingly busy lives, sometimes a mundane activity like dog grooming can seem like a chore. You may even assume that grooming your furball isn’t that important—after all, his coat looks to be in okay shape, so why bother? But grooming is so much more than a quick swipe with a brush; grooming is about looking after your dog’s skin, eyes, ears, nails, teeth, and yes, coat. Grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog. APPEARANCE First of all, grooming makes your dog look nice. While this may seem like a superficial reason, in actuality it can have a psychological effect on the people with whom he comes in contact. People and children may be afraid or suspicious of an unkempt dog. But a dog who looks well cared for will invite more people to interact with him, thereby giving him more opportunities to socialize. HEALTH CHECK Grooming is a chance to give your dog’s body a good once-over. When you are brushing him, this is the time you are most likely to find any suspicious bumps or lumps that might be hidden by his coat. You’ll also find any mats that may be causing him pain. When you are cleaning his teeth, you might discover sore or bleeding gums and bad breath that may indicate a health problem. All of these potential issues will come to light when you are consistent with your grooming. Think of it as a weekly health check. The sooner you discover a problem, the more likely your veterinarian will be able to help your dog. HOUSEHOLD CLEANLINESS Grooming will help with the general sanitation of your house. The more you brush and comb your dog, the less hair and dander will shed inside your home (and on your curtains, couches, and rugs!). Plus, if someone in your family is prone to allergies, regularly brushing and bathing your dog can help tame some of the dander that causes flare-ups. BONDING TIME The last, and probably most fun reason to keep on top of your grooming duties, is that it’s a great way to bond with your dog. Too often we take our companions for granted, and grooming gives us the chance to slow down and pay some quality attention to our dogs. If you look at each task as a chance to give your dog some love and attention, then suddenly brushing doesn’t seem like such a chore! |
BethanyI've been a groomer for almost 20 years. After working for big corporations and veterinary hospitals I have found the peace of working for myself and at home. Here are some of the things that happen, and tips on how to care for your pet. Archives
October 2020
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