How to Find the Right Dog Shampoo For Your Dog's Bath

Part of being a responsible pet owner is ensuring that your animals are clean and healthy. In the case of dogs, one of the easiest ways to make sure they’re well-groomed is by bathing them regularly, and with the right dog shampoo.

First things first - Is there a right way to give your dog a bath? I suppose there is, as you will want to ensure that your dog gets properly cleaned, plus you and your dog have an enjoyable experience.

Generally, most dogs tend to 'hate' having a bath but this need not be the case. The video above goes over how to properly bathe your dog, whether it's a puppy or a dog who already hates getting a bath. This method involves reading your dog and giving them a choice in the matter.  

Do watch the video above as there are some good tips in it.

Not washing your dog will lead to the dog getting fleas, having an unpleasant odor, and discomfort. Washing should be done monthly, but don’t take it as a chore. Washing your dog strengthens the bond between you and your pet.

It can even benefit you by having less dirt and allergens in the house carried in from outside or on the floor. However, with so many options available for dog shampoo, it can be difficult even deciding where to start.

Now, just a quick note - you might have the temptation to use your own shampoo for your dog but it is not advisable. This is because dog's pH and human pH is far different. Watch the video below to find out more on why human shampoo is not suitable for your dog.

➤ Use A Puppy Specific Shampoo
When your dog is only a puppy, it’s very important that you stay away from artificial ingredients.

While it’s best to stay away from those ingredients in general, puppy shampoos that have artificial ingredients are less harsh than ones for fully grown dogs.

So, if you must use artificial ingredients, use puppy-specific shampoo. No matter how old your dog is, artificial ingredients and chemicals can cause itching, dry skin, and even hair loss.

Puppies are much more susceptible to these side effects, because their skin is more sensitive than that of older dogs.

➤ Instead, opt for shampoos that are certified organic. 

This means that the USDA has certified that all ingredients in the shampoo are grown on a farm that doesn’t use chemicals to grow their ingredients.

These shampoos are almost guaranteed not to cause your dog any itching or skin problems.

>>Click Here For A Choice Of Organic Dog Shampoos At Amazon<<

Organic shampoos can be used on dogs of all ages, from puppies to senior. Organic shampoos use natural fragrances, such as honey and lavender, to make sure your dog still smells fresh after a bath.

There are plenty of different kinds of dog shampoo for every situation. Some shampoos help with excessive shedding, while others are made with Aloe Vera to help with dry skin.

Some can be useful in treating mange and similar parasitic infections. 

It’s important that you begin washing the dog from a very early age. They might be scared at first, but with some coaxing, you’ll get them to love it. After a few months of fun baths, they’ll be excited to have a bath just like they would be happy to go on a walk or get a treat.

Do You Worry About Your Dog Home Alone?

Do you often worry about your dog when it is home alone?

Watch as Lucy gets into a 325 degree oven to retrieve some chicken nuggets 😁😁

Well, it seems that dog parents need no longer worry about their dog when it is left home alone. A team from India has developed an App - just for it.

Dog parents will now be able to track and monitor their dog's activities, as well as the location of their dog on their mobile phones, using their App. Guess what it's called - Wagr. 😀

Talk to any dog parent and they will tell you that leaving their dog home alone when they have to be away, or at work is a huge cause of stress and worry for them.

However now, thanks to three young men from India, dog parents will be soon able to relax, knowing that their loving pooch is safe and healthy.

It consists of a smart doggie wearable device which is attached to the collar. This device will relay your dog's movements instantly to the App.  You will need a mobile application that will allow dog parents to track their dog’s movements and activities in real time, on their mobile devices.

This App will track to monitor if the dog is sleeping, walking or eating. If he leaves your designated 'safe zone' you will receive a alert.

On top of all this it even records the amount of sleep your dog has had and whether he is getting enough exercise. Sounds like a 'must have' 😉

More information can be obtained for this article's source linked -  >Click Here<

Dog Rashes and How to Care for Them

Many dog parents have faced this issue before - you’re petting your dog, when suddenly, you notice a patch of rash covered skin. You’re not sure what these dog rashes are and if you need to take your dog to the vet - if you need to have it treated urgently - if it’s life threatening, or what caused these rashes.

However, there are tell-tale signs such as color, texture, and location that can help you identify what your dog is afflicted with, what to do next, and how you can prevent it from happening again.

If you notice that your dog has dandruff flakes on them that could be from a few things.

➤ One common ailment is Seborrhea.
Seborrhea is primarily genetic, and the dandruff flakes will begin to form when the dog is just a puppy, lasting the rest of their lives. Seborrhea is nothing to worry about, medically speaking. You can buy seborrhea shampoo that will make your dog feel better and reduce the scaling.

➤ Another flaky rash is dermatitis, which is usually brought on by allergies.

It will appear red on the skin, with light flakes around the fur. Talk to your vet about allergies and find out what’s causing this rash to prevent it from further harm. One of the scabbier, more serious rashes is mange.

➤ Mange is a serious skin condition brought on by mites. 
There are two types of mange: Sarcoptic and Demodectic. The main difference between the two is that Sarcoptic mange is contagious, while Demodectic mange is not.

Both cause red, itchy skin, hair loss, and sores, but Demodectic mange causes scabbing. Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to humans, but the mites won’t actually survive on humans.

In both cases, you should take the dog to see a vet, so they can apply a scabicide to the area. This will kill off any embedded parasites, and may up to six weeks to be complete. Rashes can also be brought on by other parasites, most notably fleas and ticks.

Flea treatments are readily available, and can be given to the dog orally or through an ointment. Owners should also be sure to make their homes and yards flea-free, so the problem doesn’t come back.

➤ Ticks can carry Lyme Disease
Ticks aren’t as infections, but they can be more dangerous. Ticks can carry Lyme disease and cause some nasty infections if not treated. When removing a tick, be very careful, because improper removal could leave the tick’s head burrowed in the dog’s body, causing further infection.

Use a pair of tweezers to grab the tick close to the dog’s skin, and pull up slowly to remove them, you can then put them in a glass of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide overnight to kill them.

How To Treat Your Dog's Enviromental Allergies

There are generally 2 types of allergies that your dog could be suffering from -

Food allergies
For more on Dog Food Allergies - Read - 'How to Find Out And Control Your Dog's Food' 

 Environmental allergies
The causes of  allergic reactions with your dog will fall into one of those two categories.

Just like us humans, dogs can be allergic to any type of food or ingredient as well as they can also be allergic to a numerous number of irritants that can be found in their environment. And not just things like ragweed, grasses, pollens, molds and dust mites, but also materials like wool or cotton, and chemicals like those found in cleaning products.


Watch the video above where proactive veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses pet's environmental allergies and how to treat it with natural remedies for more information.

The Best Way to Socialize Your Dog

It is important to ensure that your dog is socialized because it will help him get accustomed to different situations, other dogs and animals and most importantly other people.

When a dog is socialized, he’ll be more friendly, less fearful and aggressive. 

 Socializing your puppy to be around other dogs and people will help ensure they grow up to be comfortable and confident. In the video above, Victoria Stilwell shows you some positive techniques for introducing your puppy to other dogs, so they can have rewarding social experiences.

A puppy needs to be socialized - and you can do that by having him be with other puppies, but he needs to be around other humans and children besides just those in his owner’s family.

Take Your Puppy With You - Broaden His Horizon
This teaches him about positive interactions. Take your puppy with you when you go out of the house. Take him to the park and to any stores where puppies are allowed to be inside.

Get him used to different environments. He needs to be exposed to quiet places and noisy places. He needs to be able to run around in a city area as well as in a rural setting.

By giving the puppy these new adventures, you broaden his horizon. It teaches him how to act and how to interact in different settings and among different people. Though puppies are the easiest to socialize, that doesn’t mean that you can’t train an adult dog.

Socializing Adult Dogs Positively
Some adult dogs aren’t properly socialized because they weren’t around other dogs or pets, weren’t around children or many other adults. The only situation and setting they know is their owner’s place and that limits a dog’s ability to be social.

In the video below, professional dog trainers describe various techniques to help you train your dog and to help you acquire leadership skills.

You will learn a variety of topics including how to use your training equipment effectively, how to establish yourself as the pack leader, how to teach your dog basic obedience commands, how to introduce your dog to another dog without altercation, how to socialize the unsocial dog and how to introduce your dog to strangers.

If you have an adult dog in need of socialization, you need to introduce it in a positive manner. If it’s a negative experience, the dog will be reluctant or even aggressive toward other pets and people.

• Start by slowly letting your dog get used to other people and pets. 
• You can take him on a leash and go to the park. 
• Keep your distance from other people and pets to start out with.
• Just take him to the outside of the area where other people are. 
• Let him sit or stand and simply observe. 
• Don’t do it for long periods of time. You don’t want to tire him out. 
• Let him become familiar with a place or with a person, and then slowly increase the places he goes and the people he interacts with.

Don't Overwhelm Your Senior Dog - Gradually Expand His World
You can’t overwhelm an adult dog with sudden new situations. By gradually expanding his world, he’ll grow used to the changes. Always give him something to look forward to when he’s going somewhere - such as taking a treat with you and giving it to him every time you arrive at that same place.

• He’ll learn to associate the socialization event with a reward.  
• Remember not to overwhelm a dog with new places and people too fast. 
• Slowly increase his social circle of places, people and pets.
• Senior dogs can be socialized as long as you’re supervising them. 
• Teach him that new people and places are a good thing by praising him and giving him treats. 
• Take him out different places.
• Arrange visits with family or friends who have a gentle dog and let your pet meet that dog. 

Take it slow and give your senior dog a new social event on a regular basis. At least once or twice a week will quickly help socialize your dog.

How to Make the Best Homemade Dog Treats

So many dogs have problems with mass produced dog treats that people are looking into alternative options. While you can certainly buy organic treats, not only are those expensive, but sometimes the taste isn’t one that most dogs like.

Now, before we fill you in with tips on how to make your own healthy dog treats, we understand that for some of you, time and environmental issues may not permit you making your own treats. So why not check out the link below for high quality dog treats available at Amazon.

>>Click Here For - Organic Dog Treats - Made in USA<<

Still, your dog deserves treats. Plus, they’re one of the best ways to train a dog to encourage good behavior and put a stop to poor habits.

One of the best ways that you can have delicious, nutritious treats for your puppy, adult or senior dog is to make them yourself.

By making treats at home, you can help senior dogs who might be experiencing weight issues. You can help adult dogs with their oral hygiene when you have homemade treats on hand.

Puppies need homemade dog treats because their immune systems aren’t yet on the same level as adult or older dogs.

By making their treats at home, you can eliminate many of the common allergies triggered by mass produced dog treats.

Making Dog Treats Is Easy

Making dog treats at home is easy because you don’t have to have all those fillers and other items used in store bought treats that offer your dog nothing nutritious. You can mix food or create one particular food in a dog treat.

There’s no limit to what you can make for your pet. Many human foods are just as nutritious for dogs to have as treats and are better for them than what you can buy from the dog food aisle.

Not only that, but in the end, you’ll save money, too. When you make homemade treats, you want to focus on baking with natural ingredients.

➤ You can create jerky treats from chicken.
All you have to do is cut thin chicken strips, and as an optional step you can spice it up with 'dog friendly' herbs like thyme, rosemary or parsley - then bake them on a low temperature until the meat has the texture of jerky.

➤ You can also make treats from vegetables like sweet potatoes.
Just put the thinly sliced potatoes in your dehydrator until they’re chewy or crispy whichever your dog likes the best.

➤ Liver Treats - Your Dog Will Love Them
Another treat that you can make for your dog using your dehydrator or oven is liver treats. Just put thinly sliced pieces of beef or another type of liver in your oven or dehydrator and cook until it’s done. You’ll usually have to change cooking times based on the thickness of the meat slices.

➤ Lots More - Bananas, Tuna, Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Dogs also like banana slices that have been dried out or tuna chunks. Some pet owners make peanut butter treats for dogs using flour, baking soda, salt, peanut butter and honey or molasses.

 Easy Peasy Peanut Butter Dog Treats. - Watch the video below
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this easy dog treats for your dog!

But you have to be careful because some dogs have allergies to peanut butter or flour. You’d want to make sure you knew if he had those allergies before giving him such a treat.

2017 World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Check Them Out

Something you might want to check out - this year's ugliest dog contestants 😀
They might look 'ugly' to many - but I bet they are 'cute' to their loving dog parents 😍

 Image via Daily Mail

These mangy mutts are set to battle it out in a very peculiar beauty contest for the coveted title of the world's ugliest dog.

The annual event brings together the most unattractive hounds from all over the world and this year's contest is no different.

Some of the entrants include those with permanently jutting-out tongues, squashed faces, and issues with their fur or drool.

But no matter their appearance, the dogs are all still much beloved by their owners.

You can read more - plus lots more images of the 2017 Ugliest Dog Contestants at the link below.

Content via the Daily Mail - >Click Here to Read More<


UPDATE

 Martha Crowned World's Ugliest Dog 2017

Martha, a Neapolitan mastiff, has been named this year's World's Ugliest Dog. 

Read more @BBC News - >Click Here<

 

How to Find Out And Control Your Dog's Food Allergies

Just like us humans, your dog can be allergic to one or more foods that you might be feeding him.
Preventing and managing food allergies with your dog can be a problem that is faced by many pet parents.

In the video below, an integrative wellness veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker discusses about food allergies in pets and how to avoid it.

 So What Do You Mean by Dog Food Allergy?

You can say that a food allergy occurs when your dog’s immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food ingredient in his dog food as hazardous. His body then reacts and begins to create defensive antibodies to 'fight off' this enemy - being ingredient in the food.

Sometimes, it can be just one ingredient in the food you are feeding your dog - that’s made up of a mixture of other foods. However, even if it is just that one item, it can cause your dog to become ill and feel pretty miserable.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms To Look For?
Allergies in dogs can start when they’re puppies, so it’s critical that you pay attention to how your puppy behaves after you’ve fed him.

One of the most common signs of food allergies in puppies is dry or itchy skin.

He may start to scratch so much that he develops raw spots on his skin. If your puppy has a thick coat of fur and he’s itching, you’ll have to spread his fur backward to be able to see his skin.

Adult Dogs Prone To Ear Infections
Adult dogs can also have the itchy skin and rashes, but they’re also prone to getting ear infections when they’re allergic to the foods that they eat. You may notice an odor coming from their ear and there may also be swelling.

If the allergy persists or is severe, you’ll see a discharge coming from one or both ears. Senior dogs with food allergies can experience throwing up after eating as well as loose stools or diarrhea.

All dogs can experience a mix of any of the common symptoms associated with food allergies. Most puppy and adult dog foods contain items that can trigger these allergies. Look for things like fillers or dyes.

Among the most common dog food ingredients that may spark an allergic reaction in your dog are: Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Fish, Corn, Dairy, Wheat and Soy. At times, it could be contaminants that may have found its way into the dog food during processing or storage.

➤ Do An Elimination Diet
One way that you can check to see if your dog is allergic to the food that he’s eating is to do an elimination diet. Look at the ingredients list on whatever food you’ve been feeding your pet.

Buy other foods that don’t contain that item. For instance, if there’s dairy in the food that you’ve been feeding him, then buy one that’s dairy free.

If you give him the dairy free dog food and his allergies clear up, then you know you’ve found his allergy trigger.

Do the elimination diet with each food on whatever you’ve originally been giving him so that you can narrow it down to what’s causing his reaction. You’ll need to feed him the food without the suspected allergen for about five days to a week to see if there’s any change.


➤ Try Organic Dog Food
If you’re using regular dog food, then you can change brands and you can also look for food that’s organic. Organic dog food doesn’t contain the common allergy foods that regular dog food does, such as fillers.

If you feed your dog organic dog food and it still doesn’t help, then you may need to cook whole meats for him. If that doesn’t work, then you need to take your dog to the vet to have him tested for allergies.

Are You Feeding Your Dog Too Much Human Food?

Are you a dog owner that's feeding leftovers and table scraps to your furry friend?. 😊

Are you feeding your dog too much human food? 

And, can dogs eat certain foods that were actually meant for us humans?

Watch the video below....

Can Dogs Consume Human Food or Not?

There are two separate mindsets when it comes to feeding your dog human food and in what amounts. One group believes that dogs should never consume human food, while another group believes anything goes and dogs can eat foods just like a human does.

The truth is that dogs can eat human foods, but should avoid certain types. 

It’s also true that too much of a good thing can be bad for your dog. As with anything, there has to be a healthy balance.

Puppies are Notorious 😀

Puppies are notorious for not knowing boundaries. If you have something to eat, they’re going to do their best to get some of it.

But if you give your puppy a bite of food every time that you’re eating, then you’re probably giving him too much.


He can develop an appetite for human food and turn his nose up at his own food.

➤ Adult Dogs Know You Have Tasty Food
Adult dogs have mastered the pitiful look whenever you’re eating something and it’s easy to toss them a bite or several bites when they put on that long face.

You train your dog to eat with you every time you give him a bite of what you’re having.

Senior dogs have discovered that humans have tasty foods. When they hear you moving around in the kitchen, opening a cabinet or the refrigerator, they’re going to come and check it out to see what you’re having.

If your senior dog is overweight, that could be a sign that you’re giving him too much human food - especially if you know that he’s eating all of his dog food as well.

➤ Is Your Dog Leaving Food in his Dish?
One clear sign that you’re giving your dog too much human food is if he’s leaving food in his dish, but he’s still running to you when he knows that you’re eating something.

It’s okay to give your dog certain bits of human food such as lean meats or vegetables. You’ll find those in many of the top quality dog foods.

But giving your dog junk food and other items is not only a sure way for him to add on extra pounds, but it can also make him very ill.

➤ Avoid High Salt Content Food
The human food that you give him shouldn’t have a high salt content like potato chips because salt isn’t good for dogs. You should also refrain from giving him chocolate or onions or certain types of nuts.

➤ Garlic Is Toxic To Dogs
You should avoid giving garlic coated human food items to dogs because it’s toxic to them. A good way to tell if you’re giving your dog too much human food or not is to pay attention to how much food he’s supposed to be eating.

Then track the human food that you’ve been feeding him.

Giving him some food won’t hurt him and certain human foods are good for dogs, but overdoing it can make him miss out on some of the nutritional value he needs from his own food.

Just keep a log of how much human food you’re giving him and balance that with how much food he’s supposed to have for the entire day.