Archive for May 2011
BAXTER, THE BEST THERAPY DOG EVER!
May 26, 2011 | 
Author This is the story of Baxter and his gift to bring love and comfort to Elderly people near the end of their life.
Put a couple Kleenex boxes by your side before watching this amazing story!
I hope Baxter touches your soul, like he did mine.
DOGS NEED SUNSCREEN TOO!
HAVE FUN IN THE SUN WITH YOUR BEST BUDDY THIS SUMMER!
Dogs, especially those with short or white fur, can get sunburn and skin cancer just like you can. Close those shades if your dog is home alone all day, and apply sunscreen to sensitive areas, such as the thin skin on the ears.
** For a terrific Sunscreen for Fido, check out: www.vkrpets.com and www.Pawposse.com:)
Posted in Dog Health Tips, Dog Products!, Dog Safety Tips, Dr. Ferrera says: | 
Tags: sunscreen | 
1 Comment »
4 Tips to Get Your Puppy to Stop Biting!
Puppies are to die for adorable, but they just love to chew on chairs, clothes, and any human apendage (OUCH!) Here are 4 Simple Tips to Help Stop Your Puppy from Chewing on YOU!!!
*REDIRECT: Replace your arm with an appropriate toy to chew on, then praise him when he chews on that.
*PUPPY WHINE: When your dog bites down on you, cry out like a litter-mate would. They know this sound
OUCH!, and is often effective to get them to stop.
*REMOVE YOURSELF FROM PLAY: Our Puppies want to Play with us, so if we remove ourself from play-time
when they clamp down on us, they are no longer getting what they want.
*SPRAY BITTER-APPLE ON SKIN: If your Pup learns that you taste awful, he will be less likely to want to
sink his teeth into you. Be consistent with spraying this on your skin during
play, still do all the other 3 steps above, and be sure to praise your Pup
every time his teeth are not on you! (*** wash your hands before eating:)
PUPPY-POTTY TRAINING TIPS!
If you have embarked on the journey of providing a loving home to a newborn puppy, you know that from the beginning, there is hard work to be done! Potty training is tough and takes consistency. Here are some Doggie-Smyle tips and resources to help you train your new pup. The most important thing to remember is that there WILL be accidents, and CONSISTENCY is the key.
It’s all about the ROUTINE:
Puppies do best on a regular schedule. When a schedule teaches him that there are times to eat, times to play, and times to potty, it provides security necessary for learning. Generally speaking, a puppy can control his bladder one hour for every month of age. So if you’re puppy is two months old, he can hold it for about two hours. If you work outside the home, this means you may have to hire a dog walker to give your puppy his breaks.
This applies to his eating schedule; what goes into a puppy on a schedule comes out of a puppy on a schedule. Depending on their age, puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it more likely that he’ll eliminate at consistent times as well, and that makes housetraining easier for both of you.
Outside, Please!:
It is important to take your puppy outside at least every two hours; immediately after he wakes up, during and after playing, and after eating or drinking.
Pick an Out “House”:
Otherwise known as a designated bathroom spot outside. One helpful hint is to always take your puppy to that spot using a leash. While your puppy is eliminating, use a word or phrase, like “go potty,” that you can eventually use before he eliminates to remind him what to do. Take him out for a longer walk or some playtime only after he has eliminated.
“Good- Job!!”:
Be sure to praise your pup or give him a treat, making sure to do so immediately after he’s finished eliminating, not after he comes back inside the house. This step is vital, because rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is the only way he’ll know what’s expected of him. Before rewarding him, be sure he’s finished eliminating. Puppies are easily distracted. If you praise him too soon, he may forget to finish until he’s back in the house.
Monitor the H20:
Remove your puppy’s water bowl about two and a half hours before bedtime to reduce the likelihood that he’ll need to potty during the night. Most puppies can sleep for approximately seven hours without having to eliminate.
If your puppy does wake you up in the night, don’t make a big deal of it; otherwise, he will think it is time to play and won’t want to go back to sleep. Turn on as few lights as possible, don’t talk to or play with your puppy, take him out to do his business, and return him to his bed.
Supervision:
Don’t give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house; keep an eye on him whenever he’s indoors. During the housetraining process, even your yard should be treated like any other room in your house. Give your puppy some freedom in the house and yard only after he is reliably housetrained.
For more tips, or to find out what to do if accidents happen (and they will!) click Here
(Resource: Humane Society of The United States)
Posted in Dog Training Tips, Have YOU Smooched YOUR Pooch Today?! | Tags: consistency, designate, monitor, praises, puppy-potty training, schedule, supervision | 1 Comment »
Pet Safety Summer Tips
Fellow Phoenicians, it’s that time of year again! As you prepare for summer by stripping layers of clothing and turning on the AC, you may be wondering about how you can help your four legged friends stay cool and signs that they have had too much.
Water, please. Leave your pets with plenty of access to clean, cool water. Of course water is a no-brainer for pet ownership, but is especially important to keep it replenished during the hot months!
Scratchy- scratch! Fleas, ticks and other pests are becoming more active during these seasons. Do your dog a favor by taking the proper precautions to keep these disease carrying pests away from your pet. Bathing your pet regularly and by administering medication by a special collar or chewable tablet can be helpful.
A doggie sunburn? Yes fur helps protect our friends, but your pet CAN get sunburned, particularly if she has light skin and hair. Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it can cause in people, including pain, peeling, and skin cancer. Help prevent this burden by keeping your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and when you do go out, rub a bit of sunblock on unprotected areas like the tips of her ears, the skin around her lips, and the tip of her nose.
The sensitive pups… Some dogs are better able to handle the heat than others. Elderly, very young, and ill animals have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so make sure they stay cool and out of the sun on steamy summer days. Dogs with snub noses, such as Pekingese, pugs, and bulldogs, have a hard time staying cool because they can’t pant efficiently, so they also need to stay out of the heat. Overweight dogs are also more prone to overheating, because their extra layers of fat act as insulation, which traps heat in their bodies and restricts their breathing capabilities.
When the heat is too much:
How much is too much? A heatstroke in animals is a serious medical emergency. Call for medical attention immediately if your dogs seems to be experiencing a negative reaction to the heat including the following signs of heatstroke: Panting, staring, anxious expression, atypical refusal to obey commands, warm, dry skin, high fever, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, collapse .
The Rainbow-Bridge
This is dedicated to all of the pets we have loved and lost. Though they are gone from sight, they will always remain in our hearts….until the one day we get to see them again at The Rainbow Bridge!!!
Doggie-Smyle Clients we Loved and Lost, R.I.P: Jake, Max, Calihan, Simba, Rocky, Mojo, Boo, Flynn.
-X0X0
Is Your Dog Itchy?
4 Simple Things You Can Do to Help Your Dog’s Itchy-Scratching:
1) Only feed your dog food that contains ingredients that help to promote healthy skin: *avocado,* flax-seed, & *Fish-Oil.
2). Give your Dog frequent baths with a shampoo that promotes healthy skin/coat. Bathing with the right shampoo will help to reduce the pollen and dust that your dog gets in his fur, and will help to soothe his skin at the same time.
3). Give your Dog a Fish Oil Supplement daily
4). When you have done all 3 of the above, and your Poor Pooch keeps on scratching, use Benadryl (the human kind): 1-2mg/lb. of your dog’s body weight.
Posted in Dog Health Tips | Tags: benadryl, nutrients, Promotes healthy skin, supplements | No Comments »
Do You Put Pads on Your Pup’s Paws in The Summertime?
Poor Ellie is having a little difficulty adjusting to her new shoes, but she sure does have the right attitude!
Living in the HOT desert of Phoeniz, AZ. it’s a MUST do unless you want to risk serious burns on your poor puppies paws!
At Doggiesmyle, more than half of our business is our Dog Walking Packages, and mid-day walks/runs. During the Scorching Summer Months of June, July, August, and even September, we will NOT walk a dog after 9am, unless they have Paw-Pads! Thankfully, Most dogs do adjust to their new silly summer shoes if it means going for a walk! Pads for your Pups paws like these can be found at Petsmart, online (Pawposse.com) etc. and at several local dog boutiques such as: Oh My Dog! or Mackies Parlour in Scottsdale, AZ.
“Petey Hates To Say Good-Bye!”
“Petey”, a Gorgeous Golden Retriever Therapy Dog with Gabriel’s Angels, always stops and stares at his Mom, Connie, as if asking Pleeeeease let me stay with the kids just a little while longer!
Rhino Likes To Eat Feet!
Rhino, the Bull-Dog, likes to try to eat the boys feet as they bounce up & down on the trampoline. I don’t know who’s having more fun, Rhino, or the Boys?!