Keeping your Pet’s Content

Many new puppies and kittens were no doubt left under Christmas trees this past December, and those cute and cuddly fur balls are now a little bigger and lot more active. Shoes, drapes, couches and landscaping are all innocent victims of our pet’s boredom. So what to do? Crating a pet for 8-10 hours while we are at work isn’t the answer, and letting them use your house as their personal chew toy won’t work either. Not to worry, a pet owner has several options to keep the house, and their sanity intact.

Toys, toys, toys. Every dog and cat has their favorite toy, and no, the cat is not a good substitute for a chew toy. Soft plush toys are better for teething puppies and senior dogs that don’t have the aggressive chewing tendencies that other dogs have. Most soft toys have squeakers and grunt tubes to entice your dog chew. A new line of toys has been coming into the pet market, the stuffless toy. These toys have the same soft outer shell as their stuffed counterparts, minus the inner “guts”. Soft cat toys filled with a little catnip can send your tabby or main coon into a feline nirvana for hours.

Durable plastic toys are a better alternative to the easily ripped apart plush toys for tougher chewers. The most popular plastic toys usually come in ball shapes and some dispense treats when your dog rolls the ball. Hard rubber toy, like Kongs, have been a chew staple for years. Kongs come in many rubber densities and can be filled with treats to make them even more inviting. Hard chew bones such as bully sticks, frozen bones, even deer antlers, are also common dog boredom fighters. But always watch your dog with bones as you never want to leave your dog unattended with a bone.
Cats usually prefer textured toys; crinkle toys that mimic foil or paper are the most popular. Available at www.tailsbythelake.com.

How many kittens like playing with the wrapping paper and not the present? And the aforementioned catnip is always a great choice for kitties too. Don’t forget those cat claws. Sisal rope or carpeted scratchers are a necessity in any cat household. If you don’t think so take a look at the corners of your couches. Available at www.tailsbythelake.com.

Puzzle toys are also a good alternative to the often quickly deconstructed toy. Several manufactures make a wide variety of toys to stimulate a dog’s brain. The toys range from simple to complex. The premise is the same; the dog has to figure how to remove the top piece the reveal the hidden treat. The more advanced toys require the dog to slide a piece the puzzle with their paw and then manipulate the top piece. Think goofy Lab versus brainy Border Collie!

The best way to burn some of that energy off is with a long dog walk. Several dog walkers in the area can take your pooch out for an hour, or longer. Not only does your pet get to burn off that energy, but they get to socialize with other canines. An exercised tired dog is a happy content dog. Contact your local pet store for references.

Written by Owners of Tailsbythelake.com

Why Do Dogs Do That?

Tails chasing, tail wagging, grass eating, turning around three times in bed. All great mysteries of the world, not to be solved here, but maybe explained a little bit better.

First is one of the more bizarre dog behaviors, tail chasing. The self inflicted merry-go-round our pets put themselves through can seem amusing, puzzling and even compulsive at times. The suspected causes can range from boredom to physical discomfort, to lack of attention.

While not as fast as a squirrel or a rabbit, a dogs’ tail is just as elusive to them. If a dog is not being stimulated by toys, chew treats, or other dogs, then their tail can provide an outlet for a dull day. IF a dog sees movement then it can trigger a chase response. A quick way to find out if it is lack of stimulation is to simply play with your dog, which you should be doing anyway. A long lasting chew toy and oven a fun treat ball that dispenses a tasty nugget when your dogs’ rolls in around the floor can occupy a pet for hours.

Physical discomfort can also lead to tail chasing. Fleas at the base of the tail or an abrasion can occur on the tip of the tail can cause a dog relieve whatever pain they are in. A quick tail inspection can uncover any underlying issues. If you can’t physically see anything abnormal in your dogs’ tail but still suspect he or she is in pain then a trip to the vet would be the best way to rule out any medical problems. One set of veterinarians in Turkey tried to link tail chasing to high cholesterol in dogs.

Often we respond to our dogs’ strange antics by laughing, in a sense condoning the behavior. They chase their tail, you laugh and call them cute, they keep spinning around and around and you keep paying attention. Dogs respond to our positive emotions and if they think they can do something to trigger that response then they will repeat it.
A dogs’ tail can tell as much about what they are feeling as any part of their body. Submission, anxiety, dominance, joy, any one of these emotion can cause a dog to wag its’ tail. Most dogs wag their tail when you bring out the leash for a walk or a bag of treats for a reward. But in the dog park are they wagging for a different reason? A high raised tail could mean aggression, a tail tucked between their legs could mean fear. A study of wolves found that puppies coming in to feed would wag their tails at their mother, and that the mother would wag hers as well. Maybe they had a happy family. Some studies have shown that dogs that are alone will not wag their tails, indicating that tail wagging is used more for communicating in packs, and not necessary when they are by themselves.

Do you like the smell of freshly cut grass? Does your dog like it just as much? Theories on pets eating grass range from nutrient deficiencies to clearing the stomach of bile before a meal. Feeding your dog a high quality food can keep the right amount of fiber and greens in their diet so they may not look to the lawn as a diet supplement.
Some studies suggest that dogs need to clear the excess bile in their stomach before they eat. The gallbladder produces bile that is excreted into the stomach .Too much bile on an empty stomach can lead to acid build up. One way to get rid of the acid, binge and purge and woof down a bowl full of kibble.

A small amount of grass eating shouldn’t be discouraged, but keep in mind the fertilizer, pesticides and weed killers might also be ingested by your dog.

Does your dog spin like a top before going to bed? Three times around before they lie down? Some theories suggest that genetics play a role in this behavior. Dog in the wild trample down grass before catching a few winks, possibly because trampling the ground below will smooth out any rocks or sticks they will lay down on. Other theories suggest that turning around several times establishes territory within the sleeping pack. In other words, this is my spot, you find your own.
Other people have observer wolves forming a tight circle at night, conserving body heat by getting close to each other and providing protection. Other wolves have been observed digging away the top layer of dirt on to expose a cool layer underneath, again turning and digging before they laid down.

So what does it all mean? Why do these seemingly simple creatures have so many complex character habits? Are these great mysteries of the world solvable? How about we take our dogs out for a long spring walk and let them decide which mysteries they will reveal to us.

www.tailsbythelake.com

Choosing a Pet Food that is Right for your Pet

Choosing the best food for your pet can, but shouldn’t be, an overwhelming process. As more and more dog and cat owners become aware of the benefits of holistic and natural pet foods, the search for the perfect blend of proteins, vegetables and minerals becomes a quest for the Holy Grail of pet nutrition.
To start, consider a few factors about your pet; age, breed, size, and energy requirements all play a factor in determining which food will add healthy years to your pet’s life. A six month old Newfoundland will have different nutritional requirements than a fourteen year old Dachshund. Are you running with your dog or are you typing away on the computer while they sleep at your feet?

Is there one food that has it all? They all claim to, with stylized commercials having farm fresh ingredients falling across the screen with dogs donning radiant coats gliding across grassy fields that would lead you to believe Fido will live forever on brand X. Beware of the ads. The single most important thing you can do is turn the food bag over and read the label. If you aren’t sure what a certain ingredient is, ask. Ask your local pet food store or you can even call most pet food manufacturers directly and talk to someone.
Some ingredients to look for in pets foods are first, meat, be it chicken, lamb, beef, or another source. Make sure corn, wheat or meat by-product isn’t listed in the top of the list, or anywhere if possible. A high quality food based on meat or fish with fruits, vegetables and minerals will actually be easier for your pet to digest as opposed to a low end food filled with inexpensive proteins and fillers.

Dry, wet, or raw? Three different food types with three different schools of thought…

Traditionally dry pet food, or kibble, was the most convenient and cost effective way to feed our pets. Most pets do well on a wholesome all natural kibble diet. Changing dry foods can help to ensure that no nutritional deficiencies or excesses build up over time. If you ate chicken every day, you would definitely get bored but you would also not receive all the nutrients you require. So why would your pet be any different? Changing foods ideally should be done over a period of time, three to five days, slowly including the new food in with the old.

Wet food can be an excellent addition to dry as well as a good alternative for senior dogs and cats that have difficulty chewing hard kibble. With wet food you have the added moisture and in some studies this has been found to help reduce the incidents of bloat.

Raw foods are having a stronger presence in the pet food market, especially since the pet food scares from few years back. Most raw foods contain organic meats and vegetables and can be thawed out in the refrigerator to be portioned out through the week. Raw food disciples swear by its benefits. Your dog or cat will certainly benefit if you supplement their diet with a delicious raw morsel every now and then.
Observation really is the key. Coats, energy level, weight; all these can be easily checked and if you think there is a problem then a change in foods might be in order. And don’t be afraid to ask questions.

For more information visit www.tailsbythelake.com

Dear Dogs and Cats….

Dear Dogs and Cats:

The dog dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn’t help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort, however. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It Is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years – canine/feline attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell the other dog or cat’s butt. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in fairness, dear pets, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don’t.

(2) If you don’t want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That’s why they call it ‘fur’-niture.

(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don’t speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:

(1) eat less,

(2) don’t ask for money all the time,

(3) are easier to train,

(4) normally come when called,

(5) never ask to drive the car,

(6) don’t hang out with drug-using people;

(7) don’t smoke or drink,

(8) don’t want to wear your clothes,

(9) don’t have to buy the latest fashions,

(10) don’t need a gazillion dollars for college

www.tailsbythelake.com

A Pet’s Ten Commandments

A PET’S TEN COMMANDMENTS………

1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me

3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being..

4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.

10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.

~Tails by the Lake

Tail Waggin’ Travels

Tail Waggin Travels is a cool Pet Adventure Travel Show. Deni the Golden Mix and Rob travel across the United States finding great places to stay, eat and have fun with your pet.

Segment 1: Rob & Deni the Golden Mix visit Tahoma Meadows B&B in Lake Tahoe.
Tails Waggin’ Travels to See Video!

Glass Dog Breed Ornaments for Christmas

Deni the Golden Mix here to remind you to order early for Christmas – our glass breed ornaments  at  sell out fast so order today.  Everything from Airedale to Yorkie!  Or make a custom pet ornament from a photo of your own pet.  This are hand blown glass and truly a special gift for the holidays.

Doggie Hot Dog Costume

Turn any dog into a hot dog with Casual Canine™ Hot Diggity Dog costumes. Two plump, plush poppy seed buns surround the dog, with a zig-zag of either ketchup or mustard along the back. Adjustable, elasticized Velcro® straps make these adorable costumes easy to put on and take off, for a secure and comfortable fit on any dog.  Find it at www.tailsbythelake.com

Is your Dog a Devil?

Hi Deni the Golden Mix here – are you a mischievious dog like me?  I think I am going to be a Devil for Halloween because my mom says it fits my personality! Check out the devil costume and win your local pet costume contest.

Doggie Halloween

Hi to all my furry friends…

Deni the Golden/Mix here..

 

 Halloween is almost here so order early for your favorite costume at www.tailsbythelake.com and win your local contest!