Make certain your dog has a collar and identification tags. If you walk your dog or let him out at night, he should be equipped with a lighted collar for added safety.

When traveling, make certain to have all needed items to ensure both your pet’s comfort and safety. Make certain to carry your pet in a proper carrier or safety restraint for the trip to protect both him and you from accident or injuries. Keep pans for food and water handy for travel breaks. Make certain to stop at least every hour or two and let your pet get out of the car and stretch/exercise for a few minutes. It will help him to better tolerate the trip, and wil also help to keep you alert and refreshed while driving.

• Never travel with your dog in the back of a truck.
• Never leave your dog alone in the car, even for a brief moment.
• Watch for chemicals, especially insecticides and anti-freeze which can sicken and even kill your pet.
• On extremely hot summer days, don’t leave your dog outside for extended periods of time.
• Remember to provide plenty of fresh, cool water for “outside”dogs and dogs exercising outside.
• Keep your dog well-groomed for optimum comfort and ability to “cool down” on warm summer days.
• Take extra precautions regarding water safety.

For additional tips on summer dog care, visit the Humane Society website, or the ASPCA.

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Protect You And Your Dog At Night

If you walk your dog at night, you may be putting yourself and your beloved dog at risk. You can avoid injury or potential mishaps by doing a few simple things. READ MORE HERE

Housetraining your dog and teaching him to “go” outside is a process, but one that can be accomplished in a relatively short period of time without unnecessarily stressing your new four-footed friend or yourself. Gone are the days of newpapers strewn all across your home or the messy cleanup that follows.

Puppy training pads are wonderful tools designed to help make housetraining much easier. Place the pads in the areas of your home that are acceptable for your puppy to use when eliminating. As he gets used to using the pads, move them closer to the outside door. Finally, place the pad outside, and your dog will then become used to eliminating outdoors, and the pads can be taken away altogether.

The AKC lists the top ten registered dog breeds for 2008 as Labrador Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Beagles, Boxers, Dachshunds, Bulldogs, Poodles and Shih Tzu. Because these ten are the most popular, we’ll tell you a little bit about each one here. However, if none of these particular dog breeds interest you, there are at least 146 more.

LABRADOR RETRIEVERS are larger dogs, generally have good temperament, are very intelligent and trainable, and generally do equally well as “inside” or “out side” dogs. In general they do well with families and children, which is probably at least one of the reasons that may attribute to their popularity as pets. They are bred in several colors, with the black lab being very popular. To get more detailed information on Labrador Retrievers, go here.

YORKSHIRE TERRIERS are small dogs and popular house pets. “Yorkies” as they’re affectionately called, are very affectionate, and tend to form strong attachments to their owners. They make good companions and travel well.

The Yorkshire Terrier dog breed we’re familiar with today originated in the mid-late 1800’s from the terrier breed in Yorkshire, England. “Yorkies” come from a combination of terriers including the Clydesdale Terrier (blue and tan coloring of the Skye Terrier); the Waterside Terrier and the Old English Terrier (toy rough or broken-haired terrier).

The originating breeds of Yorkshire Terrier are well recorded from approximately 1846. They were larger than the Yorkshire, which was bred smaller and appealed to working class people.

In 1861, the “broken-haired Scotch Terrier made its show debut in England. By 1870, the dog breed became known as the Yorkshire Terrier. The breed has been included in all shows since 1878, with classes for earl y shows separated by weight. In later years, Yorkies were bred to a size range averaging 3 - 7 lbs, resulting in only one show class.

The first recorded Yorkshire Terrier born in the United States came in 1872. 1878 was the first year a Yorkshire Terrier was registered with the American Kennel Club. It was one of the first 25 dog breeds approved by that organization for registration.

Healthy Yorkies typically have life spans of 10 - 15 years. Those that are very small, less than 3 pounds, may have shorter life spans due to increased health issues, and the fact that they can more easily be injured than larger dogs. Common health issues with Yorkshire Terriers include skin allergies and sensitivity to injections (hair loss and/or inflammation) cataracts, bronchitis, keratitis sicca (eye disease caused by decreased tear production also known as “dry eyes”), lymphangiectasia (intestinal disease/chronic diarrhea) , and portosystemic shunt (an abnormal vessel that allows blood to bypass the liver, preventing blood from being cleansed by the liver).

Sources: American Kennel Club AKC.org; Wikipedia.org; Jacque Lynn Schultz, “The Terrier Tyke With a Big Attitude” (2004); , Robert L. Linville, “Breed Predisposition to Disease and Congenital Conditions” (2006)

Dogs go through a teething stage just as human babies do, that lasts for about 6 months. Chewing helps the dog’s teething process, and works to aleviate the pain and discomfort of their gums while they’re teething. Puppies aren’t particular about what they chew, and almost anything little dogs can sink their little teeth into is fair game.

You need to be vigilant about what you leave lying around that your puppy can access. This is not only so favorite possessions are not ruined, but because some things are not good for dogs to chew. Parts of toys that can break off when a dog chews them can be a choking hazard or cause an abdominal obstruction if swallowed.

Keep trash and refuse out of puppy’s reach. Dispose of trash appropriately, making certain that trash indoors is stored in securely covered containers, and trash outdoors is also secured until it can be hauled away.

Do NOT give your puppy old socks, shoes, clothing etc. to chew on. By doing so, you are teaching him the very behaviors you’ll be trying to break him from later on. If you have small children, teach them to pick up and put away toys, shoes, clothing and other objects that might prove atttractive to your puppy.

Provide your puppy with plenty of appropriate chew toys, and praise him when he uses them.

If your puppy chews on furniture or other inappropriate household items, try coating them with deterrents made for that specific purpose. These are substances that are safe for your dog, but will contain either taste or smells that will be unappealing to her, and thus deter her bad chewing behavior.

Monitor your puppy’s behavior to train him to act appropriately in his chewing behaviors. Provide a variety of chewing toys, allow plenty of time and opportunities to interact with him, and make certain he gets plenty attention, stimulation and appropriate excercise and any chewing problems should be minimized.

Make certain your dog has a collar and identification tags. If you walk your dog or let him out at night, he should be equipped with a lighted collar for added safety.

When traveling, make certain to have all needed items to ensure both your pet’s comfort and safety. Make certain to carry your pet in a proper carrier or safety restraint for the trip to protect both him and you from accident or injuries. Keep pans for food and water handy for travel breaks. Make certain to stop at least every hour or two and let your pet get out of the car and stretch/exercise for a few minutes. It will help him to better tolerate the trip, and wil also help to keep you alert and refreshed while driving.

• Never travel with your dog in the back of a truck.
• Never leave your dog alone in the car, even for a brief moment.
• Watch for chemicals, especially insecticides and anti-freeze which can sicken and even kill your pet.
• On extremely hot summer days, don’t leave your dog outside for extended periods of time.
• Remember to provide plenty of fresh, cool water for “outside”dogs and dogs exercising outside.
• Keep your dog well-groomed for optimum comfort and ability to “cool down” on warm summer days.
• Take extra precautions regarding water safety.

For additional tips on summer dog care, visit the Humane Society website, or the ASPCA.

Dogs In The News

Woman’s Dogs Euthanized Within Minutes of Being Dropped at KY Humane Society

How to Choose a Reputable Dog Breeder and Avoid a Puppy Mill

Protect You And Your Dog At Night

If you walk your dog at night, you may be putting yourself and your beloved dog at risk. You can avoid injury or potential mishaps by doing a few simple things. READ MORE HERE

First, be certain to use a lighted dog dollar. A dog collar that is reflective or has a light is a great way of keeping both you and your pet safe.

Lighted dog collars provide an extra layer of safety precaution and protection for both you and your dog. By using a safety lighted dog collar, cars and other vehicles you may encounter can see you and your dog from a distance. A lighted collar also provides lighting that helps you and your dog to see better, especially if you have an older dog who may have limited or poor vision.

Make certain that when you walk at night, whether or not you’re with your precious pup, that you wear bright-colored clothing and/or use reflectors on your outer clothing, including your shoes.

Carry a flashlight. It may come in handy in helping you to see your way in dimly lit areas, or helping someone to see you. But even if you wear reflective clothing on your nightly walk, drivers still may be unable to see your dog. Even if your puppy is on a leash, he/she may be lower than a car bumper, and difficult for a driver to see. If you’re walking your dog on a leash along a roadway, keep your pet to the “inside”; nearest the sidewalk or curb, and away from traffic. And, make certain to equip him/her with a collar light.

Click the banner below to get the best lighted collar for your dog, and provide added protection for your precious pup!