5 Quick Spring Cleaning Tips for Dogs

    Spring is in the air down here in Texas. It makes me want to open up our windows and clean the house. Living with dogs means before you clean the house, you need to clean the dogs. 

   If yours are anything like mine, the first trick is to catch them. Bentley actually loves grooming and will follow me anywhere if I have his FURminator. Pierre avoids all forms of grooming other than brushing his teeth. If there is an area I don’t want Pierre to go, all I have to do is set his brush down and he’ll avoid it like the plague. Either way, it’s spring and they need to freshen up!

5 Quick Tips for Spring Cleaning Dogs

How to Be a Responsible Dog Owner

   According to the AKC, September is Responsible Dog Ownership Month. We don’t like to use the word “own” when it comes to our dogs, but I guess Dog Parenting is still a term that raises some folks’ hackles. Bentley and Pierre are part of our family. They are part of our tribe. All of our decisions take them into consideration.

   We try our best to be responsible dog parents and as with most things in life, when you know better, you do better. One of the reasons we write Barking from the Bayou is to help you have a better relationship with your dog. Some of that is by showing you our mistakes so you don’t make them.

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• Provide a quality food

It is important to become a label reader when you are selecting a food for your dog or cat. With all of the recalls lately, it is a good idea to do some extra research before buying a particular brand.

Save 10% on Dr. Harvey’s Fine Food for Companion Animals with my Ambassador code BFTB2019

If Your Dog Could Talk

   I say "IF" dogs could talk but we both know that dogs do talk to those who choose to listen. I am re-posting this important list of

 7 Things Your Dog Wants You To Know

7. I am a pack animal and you are my pack. Don’t leave me ignored outdoors. If possible, let me live inside with the rest of my family. I thrive on love and attention.

Your Guide to Becoming the Ultimate Pet Parent

   All pets need the basics of food, water, housing and medical check-ups. Those are the obvious responsibilities that you take on when you add a pet to your family. It doesn’t matter if it has fur, scales, feathers or a shell. If it is alive, it will need those four basic things. But, you don’t want to be a basic kind of pet parent, do you?

Let’s look at ways you can become the

Ultimate Pet Parent

Take Your Pet on Road Trips!

Always make sure they have proper identification. That means a microchip for your cat or dog. Some birds have bands on their legs that can help identify them if they get lost.

After the Hurricane #PetTips

    Hurricane Harvey has left Texas but what remains is a catastrophic mess. There are many dangers lurking in and under the standing flood water. I wanted to share some tips to keep your pets safe to those trying to restore some semblance of normalcy.

   These ideas are good to keep in mind in the event of any water disaster.

Standing Water

• High waters pose a danger to all animals. It is important to make sure your pet is safe. Never leave a pet tied up or in a cage where they can’t get to higher ground.

• Floodwaters may contain toxic chemicals and bacterial disease like Leptospirosis. 

9 Tips for Being a Responsible Pet Parent

   February is not only the month of love; it is also Responsible Pet Owners Month. In the eyes of the law, we own our pets instead of them being part of our family. Since I disagree with that sentiment, I will be referring to it as Responsible Pet Parent Month.

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Tips to Responsible Pet Parenting

A Dog's Ultimate Guide to Training Humans

Bentley: “We know there are thousands of manuals for training puppies and dogs. In reality, we all know that in most cases it is up to us to teach our people to respond to our every desire. The key is to never let them catch on to this fact. That is where Pierre and I can help.”

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Training Humans

• The wake-up call

It is important to wake your humans up early. Always beat their alarm clock to the punch. We find clawing the sheets and thumping our tails on the furniture is a sure-fire way to rouse them out of bed. The key here is not to let them get back to sleep once they open their eyes. Humans can be tricky so you need to stay on them.

It is Time to Walk Your Dog

   January is National Walk Your Dog month and the perfect way to kick off a new year. Exercise is important to both humans and dogs so why not take a walk together? Your pooch will appreciate it and you will feel better too.

   Here are a few things to keep in mind before beginning an exercise program with your dog.

Know your dog’s level and don’t set out on a long journey. It is best to start small and add more distance as your dog becomes more comfortable.

Rocco & Roxie's Stain & Odor Eliminator Rocks

   Gone are the days of Bentley and Pierre having accidents in the house. I must say that I don’t miss that one iota. Unfortunately, Pierre does get an occasional upset tummy. This usually happens in the middle of the night. I spring out of the bed as if it were on fire and run into the living room to take him outside. It is always too late. He throws up bile which stains immediately. I clean up the mess and head back to bed. I know it would be better to stay awake and tackle the stain but as the saying goes, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” I love and treasure my sleep. That means the next morning, I have to pull out the steam cleaner and shampoo the carpet.

   My laundry room cabinets have a plethora of stain fighting sprays. None of them have ever eliminated Pierre’s stains on the first try. Pierre has gone months without getting sick at his tummy. That is until last night. This morning I tried a spray we received at this year’s BlogPaws™ conference.

Let me introduce you to Rocco & Roxie’s Professional Strength Stain & Odor Eliminator. I met the owner of the company at the event and explained about the trouble that I’ve had with those stubborn vomit stains. He told me that his product should work so he gave me a bottle and asked that I let him know if I have a problem. It worked like a miracle! 

How To Care For Your Senior Pet

   November is National Senior Pet Month and since Bentley is considered a senior, I thought I’d let him share some important tips.

Bentley: “Thanks, Mom. I became what is a senior dog two years ago. It doesn’t seem possible that 7 years old should be considered senior but that is what ‘they’ say. On December 3^rd, I will be 9 years old and while I still feel great, I need a little more attention than I did as a pup. Here are a few ideas to help an older dog.

Dog Halloween Safety Tips and Fun

  Halloween has gone to the dogs. Literally. Each year there are more costume contests, more dog-friendly events and an assortment of spooky dog treats that have the Bayou Boys drooling. While we love to let them dress up for the camera, we don’t take them out on Halloween. Our neighborhood streets are crammed with ghosts, ghouls, and superheroes in all shapes and sizes. Bentley and Pierre would lose their minds if they saw them. We haven’t participated in trick or treating for the past few years for personal reasons, but I am not exaggerating when I tell you that we have had hundreds of visitors to our door in the past. Several years ago there was a Domino’s Pizza truck selling pizza slices on the corner! That was when we knew that we had more than our fair share of trick or treaters.

   Our Golden Retriever used to love Halloween. Tucker would dress up and sit out front with us to hand out candy. The kids loved him and he loved the attention. That was then and this is now. Bentley and Pierre don’t like all of the excitement and are not sure of all the strangers on their street. We turn our lights on low and our television on high to drown out the foot traffic. They aren’t allowed in the office so they can’t look out the window and bark. It is a perfect night to enjoy a good movie and get some extra snuggles.

   I know many of you look forward to sharing a fun evening of trick or treating with your best friends. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Safe Halloween Tips

• Make sure your dog is comfortable in their costume. Never force them to dress-up if they don’t enjoy it.

• Keep all candy, chocolates, gum, and raisins out of reach of your dogs and cats.

• Safeguard the door so there are no great escapes when trick or treaters knock.

•Make sure your pets are safe and sound inside your home. Remember not all monsters wear masks.

• Do not allow candles anywhere near your pets.

• Watch for electrical cords and decorations that pets could become entangled in causing injury.

The Morning After

   The problem with living a popular neighborhood at Halloween is that most of the people who visit are brought into the area. They don’t care if they drop wrappers, bottles, and other trash as they go from house to house. That makes walking the boys on November 1^st like walking through a landmine. There is chocolate melting, empty wrappers, and pieces of those orange & black candies (because nobody eats that stuff!) on the street and in the yards. Bentley’s nose hits the ground and he is in search for the forbidden goodies. Pierre wants to sniff and pee on every single thing he finds. We have to watch each step they take until everyone picks up in front of their houses. #NotCool

   I realize I am preaching to the choir, but if you have little humans to take trick or treating, please remind them not to litter. It is not only bad for the environment but it can be very dangerous to our four-footed friends.

   In the spirit of the holiday, please enjoy our story The Night Before Halloween and this fun JibJab video featuring the characters from my book series, The Returns.

As we do every Friday, we are co-hosting the Pet Parade with these friends; Rascal and Rocco, Basil the Bionic Cat, Love is being owned by a Husky.  Link up your favorite blog of the week and gain social media followers and shares!

get the InLinkz code

How to Keep Your Basset Hound Healthy

   October is National Pet Wellness Month so we wanted to share some tips on keeping your Basset Hound or any breed healthy.

Find a veterinarian that you trust.

Selecting your puppy’s veterinarian is one of your most important responsibilities. Ask friends and family who they use, read reviews, and look for the AAHA logo. You have to trust your pet’s doctor and be able to talk to them openly about any concerns that you have.

5 Tips to a Safe Football Season with Your Dog

   Here on the Bayou, we enjoy four seasons; winter, spring, summer, and football. People even tailgate at our high school games. We take our teams and winning seriously. This was made all too obvious earlier this week with the firing of our L.S.U. Tigers’ football coach, Les Miles. On a personal note, I think he is one of the nicest, most genuine coaches on the college sidelines. But nice doesn’t win games and winning is what brings the thousands of fans to Death Valley on Saturday nights. We are keeping our fingers crossed that a new coach can put the roar back in our favorite Tigers.

   Enjoying a football game whether it is college or pro means delicious food. Bentley and Pierre know it’s game day when the food hits the table. That is when they try their darnedest to cause a finger food fumble. The problem is that football fare is not ideal for their doggy tummies.  

5 Tips on National Good Neighbor Day for Pets

   In celebration of National Good Neighbor Day, we are rerunning one of our most popular posts on being a good neighbor. Enjoy!

Are you a good pet neighbor? There are a few common courtesies that will keep you from being “that person with the dogs/cats.”

•       Do not let your pet roam free. Pets that are loose risk being injured/killed by a car or angry neighbor.

•        If your dog takes care of its business in the neighbor’s yard, you must pick it up. This is a major complaint in neighborhoods and apartment complexes.

•        Don’t allow your cat to use the neighbor’s garden as its litter box.

•        Even if your dog’s voice is music to your ears, the neighbors don’t share the joy. Do not allow incessant barking.

•        Never assume that other dog/cat walkers want their pet to mingle with yours. Don’t let your pet approach another animal without the owner’s permission.

   We are all ambassadors for our four-legged friends. If they are frowned upon by the neighbors, it is ultimately our own fault. By following the “Big 5” your pet will be a welcomed addition to any neighborhood.

 What is your pet peeve with neighbor’s animals? Leave a comment!

We are joining our BlogPaws™ friends for

Wordless Wednesday's blog hop. If you haven't checked out the NEW BlogPaws SLC, click here to get started.

7 Things Your Dog Wants You 2 Know

7. I am a pack animal and you are my pack. Don’t leave me to be ignored in the yard. If possible, let me live inside with the rest of my family. I thrive on love and attention.

5 Beauty Routines That Have Gone To The Dogs

   I cannot remember a time when I didn’t talk to my dogs and imagine them as humans trapped in dog’s body. It seems that they know more than they let on and it is some kind of universal canine joke on humans. Anthropomorphizing your pet can also make life a lot of fun. While we enjoy imagining Bentley and Pierre doing things considered strictly human, there are many things we actually do the same. That shouldn't be a surprise considering we share 84% of our DNA. Source:http://education.seattlepi.com/animals-share-human-dna-sequences-6693.html

Here are 5 beauty routines I share my dogs:

1.  We all use the same shower. 

*Not at the same time, that'd be weird.

5 Ways to Help Your Dog Beat the Summer Heat

   It is hot on the Bayou. Triple digit hot. And humid. It’s the kind of weather that would make the devil sweat. We have learned ways to beat the Louisiana summer heat. It is probably hot where you are too, so here are some tips that we find helpful.

1.  Stay indoors and play with your toys. This is also a good excuse to buy new summer toys that are marked down to make room for Halloween costumes.

Figo for Fido #PetInsurance

*We are being compensated for helping to spread the news about Figo Pet Insurance and Figo Pet Cloud. Barking from the Bayou, LLC only shares information that we feel will benefit our readers. Figo Pet Insurance is not responsible for the content of this article.

   Do you have an insurance policy for your pets? It is something that I have hem-hawed over for years. I know there are so many reasons to insure my dogs, but I have still hesitated. I remind myself that I don’t like bills, it has always been easier to bite the bullet and pay my veterinarian for services rendered at the time and there are so many choices of pet insurance that it is intimidating for me. A policy for both the boys is expensive but not when I put it in perspective. It seems the more advanced veterinary science gets, the higher those vet visits cost. It only takes one diagnosis to wipe out your savings.

How To Protect Your Dog's Paws This Summer

   As summer gets into full swing, it is important to remember that your dog’s paws can burn on hot pavement, asphalt, concrete, sand or metal surfaces. All of these can absorb heat from the sun during the day and they won’t cool down for several hours after the sun has gone.

   We took a road trip from the Bayou to Phoenix, Arizona and it was HOT! I won two packages of Pawz® (medium & small) from Wag n Woof’s giveaway a few months ago, so we let the boys get used to wearing them prior to the trip. They took to them right away. Bentley needed the large size so PetSmart gave me two sample pairs. Pawz provided them for everyone at the BlogPaws conference. I was not asked to write about Pawz, but I really love using them and think you might like them too. 

The Arizona weather forecast called for hot and hotter temperatures. Even my Coke® knew that it was getting hot in here.

Bentley and Pierre are all smiles with their paws protected while standing on the corner in a certain small Arizona town. 

I wasn’t petrified they would burn their paws at the Petrified Forest. The Pawz are easy to slip on and off. *Pierre does occasionally lose his left rear bootie by "pealing out" when he takes off running.

We heard comments from most of the people that we passed at the Grand Canyon. It was a lot of, “What a great idea.” “I didn’t think about their paws getting hot.” “Look, it’s a Basset wearing shoes. Can I pet him?” “Awww, the little Westie is wearing shoes. Can we pet him?” “If that isn’t the cutest thing!”

In other words, Pawz are attention getters that serve a greater purpose. We were able to share the importance of paw protection in extreme temperatures to curious travelers.

Be sure to take breaks during the heat of the day. Always have fresh water available on your walks. Heatstroke can be deadly for your dog.

Don’t get burnt this summer. Protect the paws. Check for excessive heat by holding the back of your hand on the street/pavement for 5 seconds. If you can’t do it, the ground is too hot for your dog’s unprotected pads. Use Pawz or your favorite dog bootie to prevent a painful paw injury. Bentley says all of the cool dogs are wearing shoes!

A video posted by M. K. Clinton (@mkclinton) on Jun 18, 2016 at 8:16am PDT

Sources:

The Dodo 

Banfield® Pet Hospital 

It is Thoughtless Thursday’s blog hop with Ruckus the Eskie, Love is  being owned by a Husky and me. The rules are, there are no rules!

5 Tips for a Dog Friendly Summer

   Summer is a great time for families to enjoy backyard cookouts, camping and traveling. I’m sure it’s one of our dog’s favorite times of the year too. They get to spend time with their people! Can’t you just picture the perfect Norman Rockwell image of 4^th of July celebrations, barbecues, and parades? That is the summer that Barking from the Bayou wishes for you and your pets.

   Here are 5 tips from PetPlan pet insurance that will help ensure your great time doesn’t end up at the vet’s office.