Pawduct of the week... Fridays

Travel cups for Dogs:



Here's a pretty nifty thing to have for your pet. Especially if you travel a lot with them, or for those finicky dogs who don't like drinking for shared water bowls at the dog park.

It's called the Furry Travelers. Available at Doglando for $19.99

Dog Responsibly....University of Doglando

NEWS.... Free Distemper Vaccinations

In a proactive effort to protect the community from the of canine distemper, the SPCA of Central Florida is offering FREE distemper vaccinations at the Orlando location (2727 Conroy Road, Orlando 32839) from Saturday, August 1, 2009 to Wednesday, August 5, 2009 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM each of the five days.

This is the 7 in 1 vaccine which protects against DHLPP-CV, Distemper, Adenovirus, Hepatitis, Leptospira, Parvo Virus, Parainfluenza, and Corona Virus.


Dog Responsibly.... University of Doglando

Training Tip.... Thursdays

This week is pet safety week for us, so lets discuss How to do the Heimlich Maneuver on a dog?

I never thought I would really have to do this on a dog.... but I did.

I was boarding Kepa and his sister Lulu one weekend, and they both eat their food pretty fast. Although their food had never presented an issue before of course it happens when I am boarding them.

My neighbours were over for dinner, and I had just finished feeding Kepa. As I am washing their bowls, we hear Kepa trying to hack up whatever is down his throat. He walked around the room in discomfort, but each time he coughed in an attempt to spit out what was stuck... he would fail at it. My neighbour suggested we give him a more kibble (we gave him Wyatt's kibble since it was bigger) to try and push what was stuck. It didn't work. Then I pushed my fingers gently down this throat attempting to push down what may have been stuck (should be done with a lot of caution) and he only hacked up phlegm.

We knew he was choking, but he was walking around, still able to breath, thank god not as frantic as he could have been. I did the Heimlich on him, and in two pumps he forcefully spat out one kibble! Of course, he went after it to eat it again.... but this could happen to any one of us with pets.... so be prepared.

First and foremost it is important to be very sure your dog is choking. If your dog is frantic, coughing, pawing at his/her face or neck area, demonstarate difficulty in breathing, pacing/running back and forth acting very stressed and nervous etc... your dog could be choking.

I would strongly recommend you do not try this without ever having gone through a Pet First Aid CPR class (we offer them at Doglando).

Here is what you should do:

If your pet is small and you cannot easily remove the object, lift and suspend him with the head pointed down. For larger animals, lift the rear legs so the head is tilted down. This can help dislodge an item stuck in the throat.

Another method is to administer a sharp blow with the palm of your hand between the shoulder blades. This can sometimes dislodge an object. If this does not work, a modified Heimlich maneuver can be attempted.

Grasp the animal around the waist so that the rear is nearest to you, similar to a bear hug.

Place a fist just behind the ribs.

Compress the abdomen several times (usually 3-5 times) with quick pushes.

Check the mouth to see if the foreign object has been removed.

This maneuver can be repeated one to two times but if not successful on the first attempt, make arrangements to immediately take your pet to the nearest veterinary hospital.

Even if you are successful in removing a foreign object, veterinary examination is recommended. Internal injury could have occurred that you may not realize.



Dog Responsibly....University of Doglando

Hump Day Wednesdays..... Guess who's tail?

Last week's guess who's tail it is was: Shelby, a Chocolate Lab.



Ok that was way too easy, here ya go.... who is this?




Dog Responsibly...University of Doglando

Eco Dog.... Tuesdays

How to pack a pet first aid kit:

1. Water proof bag with zipper or plastic box (lunch boxes will do too)
2. A card with your vets contact information and a 24 hr vet hospital phone number
3. Gauze
4. Cotton balls
5. Cotton tipped applicators
6. Low tack adhesive bandage tape
7. Ace bandages
8. Scissors
9. Tweezers
10. Hydrogen peroxide
11. Antibacterial ointment
12. Aloe vera gel
13. Cornstarch (to stop bleeding)
14. Latex gloves
15. Rectal thermometer
16. Towels
17. Blanket
18. Hydrocortisone cream
19. Benadryl

Below are links to websites that sell ready to go Pet First Aid Kits.

Outdoor Safety

Gun Dog Supply

Pet First Aid Kit Company

CPR Savers


The Ugly Dog Company

Dog Responsibly... University of Doglando

Start your week off on the right paw... Mondays

University of Doglando

We’re for dogs.

Some people are for the whales.
Some are for the trees.
We’re for dogs.

The big ones and the little ones.
The guardians and the comedians.
The pure breeds and the mutts.

We’re for walks, runs and romps.
Digging, scratching, sniffing and fetching.
We’re for dog parks, dog doors and dog days.

If there were an international holiday
for dogs, on which all dogs were universally
recognized for their contribution to the quality
of life on earth, we’d be for that too.

Because we’re for dogs.

DOGS RULE!
Life Dog-ing!

Doggie News

Wolf Massacre: Alaska
Alaska officials have tried to stop us from exposing these shocking photos with copyright claims, but we believe the public has a right to know the truth about Alaska’s brutal aerial wolf-killing program.

Help us expose the truth about Alaska’s terrible wolf slaughter. View the shocking photos and support our efforts to pass the Protect America’s Wildlife (PAW) Act and end the brutal aerial killing of Alaska’s wolves.

WARNING: These photos show the raw, horrible aftermath of Alaska’s out-of-control aerial wolf-killing program. If you would prefer to support our efforts without watching the slide show, please click here.

On Saturday, March 14, 2009, Alaska wildlife officials took to the skies using helicopters and spotter planes to carry out Governor Sarah Palin’s escalating wolf-killing program near the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.

It was a massacre that claimed the lives of 84 wolves by state officials. The killing only stopped when officials couldn't’t find any more wolves to kill in the area..

The terrible photos we've obtained show the aftermath of the wolf slaughter in which some wolves were chased down for nearly ten miles from the air -- then gunned down, according to audio recordings of the killings.

To read more click here.

Live Responsibly....University of Doglando

Training tips.... Thursdays

My dog eats in 2.2 seconds.... maybe even faster.... what do I do?

Is your dog a Lab? That would be my first question lol. It seems that no matter how much you feed these guys its just never plentiful.

Here are 5 ways possible solutions to slow your dog down when eating;

1. Toss the kibble in a scattered pile on the floor. Trust me, this is the easiest, most convenient and fastest way to handle this problem. Many pet owners cringe when I say this (its the whole idea of eating off the floor that is bothersome I guess). But, it works.

2. Feed out of the Eat Better Dog Bowl. The raised inner wishbone like structure, does not all dogs to pound at the food or lap it up swiftly preventing them from acting like Hoover or Kirby (No offense to Doglando's Hoover and Kirby.... two labs).

Available at Doglando for $20.00

3. Hand feed your dog. Although time consuming, this is a great way to also build a strong relationship with your dog. You can choose to give them a kibble at a time, but if that had to be me with Wyatt or Dax (my two GSD's) I think it would be an all day event. I would recommend you feed them a fist full at a time, but at the same time teaching them to be gentle, and patient.

4. Make them work for their food. Instead of feeding them from a bowl, make him/her work for their food.... tell them to sit and stay, walk away to another room, then call him/her Or have the lie down, then place a trail of kibble in a horizontal line in front of the dog, then release the dog and let him collect it up.

5. Wet the food. Prior to feeding your pup, soak the food in a bit of hot water and allow the kibble to soften. I personally would not choose this option for an adult dog, but works very well for puppies.

If you have tried any of the above with great success.... or have other ideas, please share them with us by commenting on this post.

Dog Responsibly..... University of Doglando

Pawduct of the week.... Fridays

This summer Hot Spots (and battling ticks) have been two major concerns for pet owners. I recently came across another awesome product called the K9 Klear Up.

I am quite skeptical to try new things on my own dogs, especially when I have found something that works well on them... but when I found about the K9 Klear Up, I ordered a sample and kept it on hand to give it a shot.

Dax, as you all know suffers from major skin issues induced by the environment. We keep the allergies controlled by feeding him Orijen, keep him well groomed on a weekly basis, and I recently started his first Detox for this year.

Three weeks ago we went to the vets because Dax's skin, especially on his belly took a toll on him. It was probably the worst I have ever seen it, and for the first time his skin issues spread around his eyes causing hair loss. Allow me to cut the long story short.... we get there and the vet tells us we have to get him a prednisone shot, and lists a whole bunch of other things I needed to have done. The estimate was well over $800. Now, I don't mind the cost, but according to our conversation that may not get me the answer I am looking for .... what the heck is the cause of this? Even if we did the allergy testing!

I opted not to go with the prednisone shot and all else she wanted to prescribe, because I knew how to get rid of it in a more kinder way to his body... I just did not know how to prevent it.

I got home and thought I would take this chance to try the K9 Klear up, especially for around his eyes. Withing four applications (twice a day) the redness around his eyes was gone, he was not itching them any more, and you could see tiny hair follicles pushing their way up around his eyes. I then tried the K9 Klear Up on his arm pits, which was the worst part of his body... and with in days it all started disappearing.

Today, I have Dax still going through Detox, but I must tell you all.... you have got to order this product and keep it handy. It is awesome, easy to use, leaves no mess, and works! If Dax could talk, I am sure he would vouch of it too!

Hump Day Wednesdays..... Guess who's tail?

Dog lovers, Dog Enthusiasts, Doglando Family, Doglando Blog Visitors,

Here's a fun test...... guess who's tail this is? For those of you who don't know the Doglando Dogs, guess the breed, or breed mix. I will reveal the dog's full photo next week.



Go at it....

If you have a dog with a fun tail, and would like our blogsters to guess what kind of dog he/she is, email us.

Doggy News

Palm Beach County Passes New "DANGEROUS DOG" rule.

Pet owners be aware..... this is what our Nation is progressing towards. Instead of holding individuals accountable for their irresponsible actions, lack of understanding of the type of animal they have or required obedience training for all dogs etc....it seems to be easier to implement laws and ordinances against the animals in an attempt to attain responsible pet ownership practices.

I find it quite frustrating when I hear of rules like this for many reasons, but most importantly because we have no respect for the "animal" or understanding of that "animal." Dogs will ALWAYS have the potential to bite.... they are dogs, they are animals... and no matter what that is always a risk of having them as pets.

I think it is imperative we fasten up on our laws regarding the people/individual involved and not necessarily the animal. It would make better sense to me to restrict individuals from dog ownership, than banning breeds and have such rules. It would also make better sense to me to create rules that require pet owners to exercises their dogs, have every dog complete a basic obedience class (regardless of how many dogs a family may have or has owned previously), follow a set or rules under which it is harder to be a pet owner, than to ultimately act revengeful on the animal.

Here is how I see this.... not too long ago; you may have heard about an incident at Sea world. One of their whales so called "attacked" their trainer.... with out giving you any information on this story, what business do we have using these animals for entertainment, and second if we are going to do so, why is it that we should be able to without any risk? Ultimately, why should the animal be punished for human intrusion and involvement with true understanding.

Okay here is my second example: Also not too long ago, you may have heard or read on our blog about the Police K9 that bit his handler..... again, without any more information on this, do you really think, the dog just turned onto his handler? I did not. The real truth was, the dog got hit by a car, and broke his leg and hip, and was in so much pain.

Through education, and requiring pet owners to take obedience classes and instruction on "how to be responsible pet owners" I think we can drastically reduce the number of "dangerous dogs" around. Dangerous dogs are created by people.... even in the most unintentional manner. An example of this would be pet owners who raise their dogs like children, and dogs who don't learn to respect humans, respect handling, respect boundaries, dogs that lack exercise, dogs that don't understand limitations, dogs that can not walk properly on a leash, dogs that do not display socially appropriate behaviors and on and on. All these dogs are at risk of being "dangerous dogs" by no fault of theirs.... just lack of guidance and improper training.

It is sad to hear of these rules, and if you live in an area that has not yet been effected by such rules.... it's not going to be much longer. Things like this catch on fire rapidly amongst Counties and States.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this, in the mean time Doglando Family and Friends, and visitors.... Dog Responsibly.

Hump Day Wednesdays

Here are some fun photos of Doglando Dogs.... to help you get through Hump Day.

ECO DOG Tuesdays....... Goats milk wipes

My dogs and I have been outside a lot this summer. Whether their days are happily spent at Doglando or home supervising my gardening, the humidity very quickly causes moisture to build up under Wyatt and Dax's thick coats locking up the smell. Even Tag, our lizard hunter Dachshund, who mind you, gets his stink from many other things, has also found many joys of being outdoors this summer.... thanks to the wipes and not having to bathe him as frequently.

Before entering the house, we use the Canus Goats Milk Wipes to keep them clean, smelling fresh, and most importantly to wipe off all the bacteria, toxins and dirt that may be on them.

The thick, spongy towel wipes are pre-moistened with fresh goat’s milk and conditioners. Soft and soothing, they make it easy to clean mucky bellies, chests, legs and haunches. They’re also gentle enough to use on hot spots, cracked pads or anywhere your dog needs a little skin rescue. 70 wipes per resealable foil pack lasts a whole month of “How did you get so dirty?”

Try these wipes on dogs suffering from environmental allergies as well... you will be surprised to see how much less they tend to lick, scratch and itch themselves after being outdoors.

Natuers Goat Milk Wipes are available at Doglando for $12.99

Dog Responsibly... University of Doglando

Start your week off on the right paw

Hope everyone had a tail wagging weekend.

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912


Dog Responsibly.... University of Doglando

Winner Announcement..... from the idea challenge

Dear U of D Family, Friends and Fans,

Thank you all so much for all your great ideas for the home of the... idea challenge. We received so many great ideas, most of them based on how happy the Doglando Dogs look, such as Home of the Happy Hounds, and Home of the Happy Barks, and Home of the Happy Tail Wags.... and although we will be using all of the mentioned, our winner is ..............................

University of Doglando...... Home of the Scholars with Collars, submitted by Eileen (who by the way, is a dear friend of mine and Doglando's web designer.... go figure... the creativity huh!)

Thank you for all your participation.

Dog Responsibly...... University of Doglando

Training tips.... Thursdays

Last week marked the graduation of University of Doglando's first graduating class of our PRE K9 puppy class. The Doglando team is so excited about our new puppy training class, and to our surprise it has taken off on the right paw already. With so many new puppy parents interested in this program, we had to schedule the start of our second one within a week of completing the first..... this is quite good!

Check it out.... here are some glimpses of our PRE K9 puppy training class.




For years I contemplated on the idea of a PRE K9 class... and through all my research, I could not find a similar class being taught anywhere else in the Nation. I kept putting it on the back burner thinking there had to be a reason for this.... and then we decided to just go for it and see how it goes. I will tell you know..... I know for darn sure.... as a companion dog trainer, I myself, will not teach another puppy class with out the puppy PRE K9 lessons incorporated into it.

These dogs learnt so much and it was so much fun to teach the all and watch them flourish as the course went on.

Thank you Parents of the first graduating Pre K9 class, you guys did awesome and so did the pups.

Teena and Jessica (Trainer & Coach)


Dog Responsibly.... University of Doglando

Eco dog Tuesdays

Turmeric in Dogs

Native to India, Turmeric has been used to treat and heal animals for many many years. Being Indian, and eating all the Indian food I do, I wish all the turmeric in it would count as a benefit to my health.... of course its in its raw form that it is medicinally effective. For the first time, this morning I mixed a tablespoon of turmeric in my juice.... and although it wasn't unbearable..... I don't know that I can keep it up. My brother has it in his OJ daily.... and does not seem to mind it at all.

Herbie, one of our Doglando daycare dogs, gets turmeric in his food twice a day for colitis. Prior to that he was on a lot of different meds and medicated diets which didn't seem to have any effect on his health. Now he is back to eating a healthy dog food, Taste of the Wild and enjoys a table spoon of Tiki Dog on it daily.

The medicinally active compounds in turmeric are known as curcumins. These compounds have been found to have strong antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties.

Here are five different ways in which Turmeric can be used to heal pets:

1. Ever clipped your dogs' nail too short to make it bleed profusely? Dab his/her nail in turmeric.

2. Does your pet have sore, oozy boils or wounds on his/her skin? Turmeric paste can be applied to alleviate the infection rather quickly.

3. If coughs and colds just don't leave your pets alone, mix a quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder along with a pinch of pepper powder, then add honey or jaggery. Take the mixture and feed it to your pet. Do this twice a day and watch your pet get better within hours.

4. If you pet has suffered or is suffering from malignancies and has been operated upon.... feed your dog turmeric daily. Add a quarter teaspoon of turmeric to your pets food daily and the chances of the malignancies not reappearing are very very very great:)

5. Any pet suffering from hepatitis can be bounced back to health with a does of turmeric mixed with honey twice a day. The yellows will fade right out and with a proper diet (cut out the oils and fats).... there's a good chance of your pet returning to optimal health.


There are so many benefits to turmeric, ask your holistic veterinarian for other uses.

Dog Responsibly..... University of Doglando

Start your week off on the right paw

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will --- George Bernard Shaw

I love this quote!

Dog Responsibly.... University of Doglando

A very cool video

Ha! Check out the puppy ABCD's..... how cute!


ABCD Puppies - Celebrity bloopers here

Dog Responsibly....University of Doglando

Hump Day Wednesday.... heres more to the fun!

Here's a more upbeat post for today.










Enjoy!

Hump Day Wednesday....

So instead of lumping it all into one post, I will create two posts for today.

Technically hump days are meant to help all you dog lovers get through to the end of the week, so our goal is keep things exciting and fun today. However, one of our loyal readers sent me a couple links to share with you all.

1st one: Very Very Disappointing, Disheartening, and Ridiculous to say the very least..... here it is

Fire Fighter Kills His Two Dogs ...... prior his cruise vacation.

Of course, our first reaction to these kinds of things is.... the same should be done to him.... unrealistic right? How about at least a penalty that counts! This is crazy! Absolutely ridiculous..... how do you guys feel?

2nd one: Alright all you Paula Abdul Fans, here's your chance to some of her possessions.... a cause for the paws as well.

Paula Abdul Charity Auction to Support the Paws..


Thanks for sharing this with us April (Heidi's Mum).

Dog Responsibly.... University of Doglando

Our Success Stories

As part of our Dog Responsibly philosophy, Doglando has made it a priority to assist dog's in need of forever homes. Most of you are familiar with our work and efforts regarding Max's Fund, but from time to time (ok, fine.... more frequently than we would really like to hear), we get emails from individuals who can no longer care for their dogs and are looking for homes for them.

Sometimes these stories are really sad and aggravating, other times its just a stinky situation for both the dogs and their owners.

But today, we are going to celebrate three of Doglando's most recent success stories. But, before I introduce the dogs and their new families, I must thank all Doglando Families, as we feel we have the best clients ever! Every Doglando Family is has always been so supportive of everything we do, and their passion for dogs extend beyond just their own four legged kids. A special thanks to Jaine (Lexie's mum) and Astrid (Lilo and Joy's) mum.... for taking the Max's Fund Project under their wings.

First Story:





Remember Ruby?
Well this little gem has been adopted by Jayden and Nellz' parents. Ruby, now Roxy; was an animal abuse investigation confiscation, and at three months old was on her last day of life, before Jaine saw her and adopted her through Max's Fund. She was so ugly but so damn cute... I remember when Jaine and Astrid brought her to Doglando straight from the shelter, my first reactions was "oh geez! I don't even want to touch her she looks so horrible!" Well of course I did hold her. Mistaken for a hairless Chihuahua or a Chinese Crested Hairless, this poor dog suffered from a really bad case of demodex mange. Just three weeks of treatment and a daily massage using the epi pet spray, Roxy has almost recovered. She has developed a thick, deep red coat all over her body (with still some more to go) and a white patch on her chest.... she is a true gem. Miss Independent, is the proud new kid of Holly and Corby.

Second Story:



Just a couple days of having Roxy, Jaine calls me with another three month old pup. This gorgeous girl, surrendered to Doglando due to a divorce, very quickly called Doglando her home. Lilly, a three month old Yorkshire Terrier, now second doggy kid of the Craigns and sister to dog Romo (Doglando Dog), has her entire family wrapped around her tiny self. She is full of life, a bully to Romo, and a trouble maker, but who cares, cos she to is so cute!

This is how this story went down.....Susan (Mum) tells me she would one day like a dog she can carry around. She may have said that with little intent of actually getting another dog, but I just kept it at the back of my mind. Well, what do you know, three or four days after that comment arrives Lilly. I called Susan immediately and said "remember......... I have your dog, will you be picking her up tonight?" This story was not supposed to be made public, so at least keep it from her husband Dell.....lol!

Third Story:

Jeanne (a vet tech that helps out at our low cost vaccines) knows about my love for GSD's. She received an email from an acquaintance of hers, asking for help in finding her two dogs a new home. We posted this story on the blog a couple weeks ago... the one and half year old German Shepherd girl, and her sister (mix, black).

One of our blog readers posted the link on her facebook page.... and what do you know we had our first meet and greet through that! Although that did not lead to an adoption, again... another one of our Doglando Families quickly jumped at the opportunity to meet these two lovely girls. Sam (GSD) and Zoey (mutt) were officially adopted this past Sunday, by Baris and Kerri.... Zen and Belles' parents. I helped Baris and Kerri introduce the new addition to their family this past weekend, and it was just awesome how they all got along so well (even Zen Dawg)...... very very cool ending! Literally..... just before I left all the paws were in the pool.

Thanks Doglando Family and Friends for helping us Dog Responsibly.

EcO DOG Tuesdays

Have you ever accidentally clipped your dog's nails too short and made them bleed profusely? I feel much more comfortable using a dremmel on dogs, but for those who don't...

If you don't have a bottle of quick stop handy, here are a couple alternatives to stop the bleeding:

1. Cornstarch
2. Turmeric

Believe it or not, both clot blood and stop the nail from bleeding.

If you are nervous about cutting your dogs nails, you can always bring them to Doglando. If you would like to learn how to cut your dogs nails safely, you may contact us to schedule a tutorial lesson on nail clipping for dogs.


Dog Responsibly.... University of Doglando.

Start your week off on the right paw

Happy Monday!

Here is a quote submitted to us by one of our blog readers:

"To Be Awake, is to Be Alive" --- H.D. Thoreau

Dog Responsibly... .University of Doglando

Hump Day Wednesday.... heres more to the fun!

Thank you Jack! For an awesome doggy jungle gym............. here it is completed!

The dogs did not wait for it all to go up though... they took it as it came.

We are rocking and rolling, hope you are having a great day too.







Dog Responsibly......... University of Doglando