CBDs the Treatibles Way to Pet Health

     I have written several posts on the use of CBDs in pets. It has been shown to be harmless even when taken in high dosage for extended periods of time. CBDs are also LEGAL in all 50 states for humans and pets. I am a firm believer in the benefits of cannabinoids and that is why I recently became an affiliate for Treatibles®.

Stars and Stripes Forever

   Today we celebrate Flag Day in America. I love the flag and we proudly fly it in front of our home. To me, it stands for all the wonderful things about living in the United States. It flies to represent our freedom and strength as a nation.

Television Has Gone to the Dogs

How Much is Your Pet Worth to You?

   As I was watching television yesterday, there was a video of a man offering people money for their dogs. It was a test to see if anyone would be willing to sell their best friend for a price. He started with $1,000 and continued up to $100,000.

How to Prevent Ear Infections in your Dog

   Bentley spent his first 8 years constantly battling ear infections. We spent a fortune on vet visits where he would get shots, drops, and pills. The infection would go away for maybe a month or two.

   It was obvious when his ears were infected. He would begin with shaking his head and scratching at his ears. When I lifted his long beautiful ears, they would be red and stinky. Our wake-up call came when our veterinarian recommended surgery. We decided to get a second opinion and opted not to have the surgery. After he finished his medications and the vet gave him the all clear, I began a new regiment. It has now been ONE YEAR since he had any ear trouble. Believe me, that is a miracle and a blessing.

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.

The Fifth Paw Receives High Fives

Me: “Have you ever looked at something and wished that you’d thought of it?”

Bentley: “Yeah, I wish that I’d thought of National Dog Treat Day. A day where you do nothing but give me treats.”

Me: “I’m talking about something that fills an unmet need, a thing, not a day. You can’t invent a day; you’re not Hallmark™.”

Bentley: “Which unmet need have you had filled? Is this something that I want to hear?”

Photo Courtesy of The Fifth Paw®

10 Basset Hound Facts You Should Know

   Have you ever seen a Basset Hound puppy? Those big brown eyes and long droopy ears can melt the hardest of hearts. You should be warned once you go Basset, you never go back. Before you make your decision here are 10 Basset Hound facts you should know.

1.  Basset Hounds are deep-thinkers. Okay, you might call it stubborn, but they will never admit it. They do obey and can be trained, but only when it benefits them in some way. #WillWorkForFood

5 Tips to be a Bad Pet Neighbor

   A few weeks ago I shared 5 tips for Being a Good Pet Neighbor. It seemed only fair to give equal time to ways you can become a bad pet neighbor. I could have also titled this post, 5 Ways to Ensure that the Neighbors will Hate You and Your Dog, but that seemed a bit too long. Let's start with #5 so the anticipation can build.

#5 ~ Have overconfidence in your dog’s recall

    If you want to guarantee your neighbors will hate your dog, be one of “those” people that think it is okay to allow your dog in the front yard or on a walk without any type of restraint. Imagine a neighbor walks, jogs or rides a bicycle past your home and your dog decides to run out to join them.  You are confident that calling your dog’s name will immediately have it running into your loving arms. That is until it actually happens. Then you are screaming the dog’s name and “NO! I said come HERE!!” using the high-pitched voice of a lunatic. The dog is barking and nipping at the person’s feet or pedals and they are frantic to get away from you both. Congratulations, now they hate you and your dog.

Baby, It's Cold Outside for Pets

   This is the time of year when warnings about leaving your pet outdoors in the cold weather are everywhere. The temperatures in many parts of the country plunge into the single digits or below. There is a time when it is just too cold for your dog or cat to be out in the elements without proper shelter.

Confessions of A Dog Parent Snob

   Well, it’s happened. I’m not sure how or exactly when, but I’ve become a dog parent snob. Actually, I do know how, but not exactly when. It’s been over the past two years of blogging. I have become a judgmental dog parent snob. Let me explain.

   It hit me like a ton of bricks last week when I had Bentley at the vet. A man came in with his dog on a rope for its leash. It had no collar on, just a rope with a loop on one end that was serving as both collar and leash. I found myself judging this man and what kind of dog parent that he was. It disturbed me that I knew nothing of this guy or his situation but felt I could judge him. Let me tell you, I was very disappointed in myself. After all, he did have the dog at the vet so it was obvious that he cared. I might be able to let it go if this was the first time that I’d been guilty of dog parent snobbery. Unfortunately, it’s not.

   

Dog Poop Happens

 

Courtesy of Sooty Paw Paw

 Let’s talk about dog waste, poo, poop, feces, #2, or crap. No matter what you call it, I think that we can all agree that it happens. When you take a trip with your dogs, you will be making pit stops for them. If you are lucky, they will need a bathroom break about the same time you do. Most interstates have easily accessible rest areas. We stopped at several places along our last trip and the majority were clean and had garbage bins out by the grassy areas. It made it simple to toss a used poop bag away. #ThereIsAnEmojiForPoop

The Dog's Missing

There are three little words that all pet parents dread; “The dog’s missing!” Yet each day those words are repeated in homes across the country. Like all disasters, you need to be prepared in the event it happens.

How to safeguard your pet

·        Never let your dog run loose or unsupervised.

·        Keep a collar on your pet. How many times have you heard, “He isn’t wearing a collar, may we keep him?”

Add your dog's name AND your phone number on their collar.

The Dog Clothes Dilemma

   There are two sides on dressing your dog in clothes.  You either love it or hate it.  Most people have an opinion and aren’t afraid to voice it.  I think if your dog doesn’t mind or enjoys it, more power to you.  If your dog thinks it’s stupid, you should respect that and not put them in incredibly cute pajamas. 

   I have a dog clothes dilemma.  Let me explain.

   The pet clothing industry is a booming business and it is gaining in popularity every year.  You can find incredible doggie duds from some famous designers.  I love looking at dog clothes and I really want to buy some.  Why don’t I?  If you thought the sizes were wonky for women’s fashions, you should try to follow the sizes in canine couture.

Let's Make a Difference

   Is there anyone that enjoys seeing photos of abused or neglected dogs?  We have all seen the ones that I’m talking about today.  They are used for shock value and they must work or they wouldn’t keep printing them.  I don’t like that type of “in your face” campaigns.  I know horrible things are going on in the world.  I know that here in the United States 5,500 shelter dogs are going to be killed today.  It boggles my mind that in a country as incredible as ours, we allow this to happen.

*Prepare for rant…

A Letter to my Dog

Dear Bentley,

   I wanted to write you a letter to say thanks for being such an awesome pal.  You always seem to know exactly when I need a hug, a big slobbery kiss, and just a friend to sit with me.  I’ve never lied to you about the other dogs.  There were six of them before you came dragging your long ears and big feet into my heart.  You have touched a part of my soul that I never knew existed.  I can actually feel the love for you bubbling up inside.  What is it about you that is so special?  I could write a book about it.  No, wait…  I DID write a book about it!

   Every morning begins with your nose pushing my covers back, so that you can give me kisses.  I open my eyes to your grin and there isn’t a better way to start my day.  As I stumble out of bed, you roll over for some belly scratches.  I lay down on the floor and you put your head on my shoulder while I scratch that always itchy belly of yours.  It is one of my favorite parts of the day.

Do Our Dogs Communicate With Us?

 

"Hello?  Hello?  It's me, Bentley."

 How many times a day do you have this conversation?  Your spouse/child: “Did you say something?”  You: “I was talking to the dog.”  I am not ashamed to say that this scenario is played out between Bentley, Pierre, my husband Skipper, and me several times a day.  We both talk to the dogs just like we talk to each other.  No squeaky voices, no baby words.  We simply speak to them as we would any other member of the family.  Does that make us weird?  I don’t think so, but then again, I’m the one carrying on conversations with a Basset Hound and a Westie.  The question is, “Do our dogs communicate with us?”  We offer the following proof.

Is It Better To Have 2 Dogs?

   Is it better to have two dogs?  This is a question that many people ponder at one time or the other.  It is always a personal decision based on your time, space, and if you can afford another mouth to feed.  This is not a decision to make lightly or impulsively.  We are going to be a one-dog home when Pierre moves home.  I know that Bentley is going to miss him as much or more than we will.  They are buddies.  My first impulse is “SQUEEEAL!!  Let’s get a new Basset Hound puppy…a little girl that I can dress in cute clothes.”  Sometimes, it is best to make a list of pros and cons of a two-dog family.

Pro: Two dogs can play together and keep each other company.

Con: Two dogs can get into twice the mischief.

Pro: Double the doggy love.

Con: Double the doggy poo.

Pro: Twice the dog guards.

Con: Twice the barking

Pro: Walks are more fun with a friend.

Con: Friends become tangled in each other’s leash, then wrap around you.

Pro: It is very impressive to have two obedient dogs.

Con: It is very embarrassing to have two disobedient dogs.

Hot Cars Are Not Cool

            If your email box is anything like mine, you are approached to sign petitions almost every single day.  I am very particular of the causes that I support.  I received one the other day that moved me to sign and to share with you here today.  Marianna Morris from PetPlan USA Pet Insurance sent me a letter asking me to help spread the word on a major problem.

            Leaving your pet in a hot car is not cool.  Each year, without fail, innocent pets die in cars due to heat stroke.  If you are lucky enough to live where you are getting temperatures in the low 70’s, the temperature in your car can rise to 106˚ in as little as thirty minutes.  That is about the time it takes to run into the store to pick up a few items or a restaurant for a quick bite.  If you live in a warmer climate, the heat in your car becomes a deathtrap in even less time.

Jealousy in Dogs

   A recent study was published last week in PLOS ONE in an attempt to show something that dog owners have known for years.  Our dogs get jealous when we share our attention.  The study observed 36 dogs as their owners ignored them and interacted with three different objects.  In one study, they used a stuffed dog that could briefly bark, whine, and wag its tail, a jack-o-lantern pail, and a pop-up storybook.  

   When the dog's owner gave all of their attention to the stuffed dog, their dog tried to push itself in between the stuffed dog and/or touch its owner.  A small percentage showed jealousy when the owner talked to the jack-o-lantern.  They showed little concern to the pop-up storybook.

   Researchers state this is not definitive proof that our dogs have the ability to feel jealousy.  It is sometimes hard for scientific minds to accept the fact that dogs have real feelings.  From a dog mom’s point of view, I have zero doubt that Bentley and Pierre both feel and display jealousy.

This is our experiment below.

Happy Fourth of July