Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Do you brush your dog's teeth. Should you? If so, how often?




WebMD has the following information about keeping your dogs teeth healthy:

http://pets.webmd.com/healthy-dog-teeth-10/dentistry-for-dogs

Camping with Fido

Summer is here and camping season is in full swing. Here are some tips for camping with your dog to make it a pleasurable experience!

1. Don't go naked! Make sure doggy is wearing tags! Bring a leash too.
2. Bring plenty of water for you and your pup. There are some great portable bowls available if you will be doing a lot of hiking.
3. Know the area you will be camping in and make sure that campgrounds allow dogs.
4. Bring prophylactics such as sunscreen and bug spray. I like to put bug spray on bandanas, and then put the bandana on doggy, just to make sure it doesn't irritate anyone's sensitive skin.
5. Consider bringing a few of doggy's toys and a brush. Don't forget their regular dinner! Mmm meat cereal! Always clean up after pup, and make sure food (theirs and yours) is not in a spot where it can lure other creatures into your camp.
6. Know your dog! Some dogs can get very nervous in new surroundings. Give them time to adjust. Sometimes short day trips or nature walks can help ease them into a camping situation.

Have fun camping and be safe!

This blog post is credited to Maria.

Ever Feel Like This

This video really hit home for me this week :-) Enjoy

Smartest Breeds #8, #9 and #10

Coming in at #8 is the Doberman. These dogs were bred less than 150 years ago and have been bred as guard dogs. These dogs were built for speed and endurance.




Next up is the Rotweiller. These dogs were bred to work, protect, and please. Because they have been bread to protect, owners need to be dedicated to training from a very early age.



Let's not forget the Australian Cattle Dog. These dogs are known for their red and blue coats and are great at herding.

Skin Problems in Dogs

I was attending an obedience training class yesterday and the conversation moved to skin problems in dogs (we were actually talking about Maria's puppy Cache, who has a pretty large skin rash on one of his legs).

Skin disorders include conditions that affect a dog's fur and skin. Causes are often related to allergies, parasites, fungus, and even bacteria. Some dogs may develop skin irritations in the summer due to heat and humidity.

Here's some information from WebMD about skin problems in dogs:

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-skin-problems-in-dogs

Smartest Breeds #4, #5, #6 and #7

Coming in at number four . . . the Golden Retriever. I loved this video and learned so much about this beloved dog.How about first ever in AKC obedience. Yes, that would be a goldy.




Number five finds, of course my favorite, the Shetland Sheepdog. This breed, along with the Border Collie was bred for herding and is known for its trademark bark to ward off danger (and of course announce how fun agility is).



Number 6 is a Labrador Retriever. Labs have webbed paws and an otter like tail that makes them excellent swimmers (these dogs were actually bred to swim. These dogs also have a unique ability to learn, so you don't have to be the best trainer to raise a Labrador.



Smartest breed number seven is a Papillon. After watching this last agility trial that was held in Logan, I'm convinced these make excellent agility dogs. This breed is very confident and easy to train.