Blog Posts

Transatlantic Cruising with Dogs

12/18/2014

Ideally, a vacation with us dogs would stay on land, however, there are some alternatives for those sea going pups. Unless you are lucky enough to be a guide dog or a special assist, the number of cruises you can go on with dogs is limited. For service dogs, those guys have their services rewarded by being allowed many places us regular guys are not. Currently there is only one cruise line that lets you bring your pet. Cunard's Transatlantic Cruise.

According to their website "The service is only offered on scheduled Transatlantic Crossings between New York and Southampton or Hamburg. The Cunard Kennel service is ideal for guests who are moving to or from the United Kingdom or Europe, as the Kennel allows you to make the process of pet quarantine more comfortable. Very strict regulations apply and you must start preparations at least six months before departure to ensure you have all steps, including implanting of a chip and rabies shots, completed. The limited number of kennels makes it essential that you reserve far in advance."

Check out their dog blog @ http://wearecunard.com/2010/02/it%E2%80%99s-a-dogs-life-on-the-north-atlantic/

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Hospital Visiting Dogs

12/4/2014

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Do you have a dog that is even-tempered, calm, and likes hanging out with people? If so, maybe you want to consider training him/her to become a visiting dog. This is not for every dog, since some can be skittish around wheelchairs and canes, but those dogs who are sweet and cuddly could sure bring some smiles to people in need of some canine therapy. There are quite a few of these organizations around and each one has their own criteria, but I have seen these working dogs in action and they really help the people that they visit.

Gabriel's Angels- An organization in Arizona that provides pet therapy to "at-risk children, nurturing their emotional development and enhancing the quality of their lives forever." They currently have over 150 volunteers and deliver therapy to over 100 agencies. If you want to know if your pet is a good fit for their program, you can take a short survey on their website. The dogs must be predictable and able to handle hugs and have an affection for children.
http://www.gabrielsangels.org/index.php you can also check out their YouTube video @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpCyEUdJQmI

Pet Partner Therapy Team is an organization that helps to bridge Therapy Dogs with the right volunteer location and support. You can check them out at http://www.petpartners.org/page.aspx?pid=183

You can also view http://www.therapydogs.com/ for an overview of Therapy Dogs.

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Barrel Oak Winery Tour with your Dog

11/20/2014

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If you are going to be anywhere near Delaplane, VA, and enjoy fine wine, the Barrel Oak Winery allows you to bring your dog with you on your wine tasting. How cool is that? They are actually known as the #1 wineries for families, which means you can bring your non furry kids as well.

The 26-acre farmstead was planted in 2006. The owners Sharon and Brian Roeder have been committed to provide premium Virginia grown wine, as are their own four dogs who are seen roaming the grounds and g reeting wine lovers and families alike. Barrel Oak make 24,000 gallons of wine right on site. They have activities every weekend and a calendar right on their website of some upcoming events that you won't want to miss.

According to their website:
"Q. May we bring our dogs?
A. Absolutely! We just ask that they remain on a leash and the other end of that leash is attached to a human. :) (Dogs in a good mood, and good health tend to enjoy their visit to wine country more than those with a case of the cranky-pantses)"

http://www.barreloak.com

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Water Dogs

11/6/2014

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If you have a dog that loves water, and you love competition, the Splash Dog events could be just what you are looking for. These events are held all over the US and take place most months of the year. Sure, there will be traveling involved if you want to rank up, but they are a great way to bond with your own best friend and you can take along your human family members. As a Hairless Terrier, I can't swim. I know, so sad right? But I do appreciate the members of my brethren that compete at these tournaments. They have individual rankings as well as multi-level titling so you can participate at only one and still see your name in bright lights. (Actually just on their website. But you can spin it anyway you want when you tell your other dog friends).

Even if your canine is not interested in competing, you might enjoy just like I did, the cool photos of the dogs on their website. They certainly all look like they are having a great time. Make sure and check them out!

http://www.splashdogs.com/

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Thunder Shirt

10/27/2014

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Have you heard of these canine contraptions called Thunder Shirts? Well, for those of you pups who get a little spooked by noise or actually anything that is different, this shirt really helped calm my little cousin Guinness. It is not that she is skittish, but she is not real fond of sudden movement. Her human uses it when they travel and it makes life so much easier for both of them. It is quick to slip on and keeps her nice and snug, sort of like a great big hug for her. According to their website "80% of dogs show improvement." They also have these for your feline friends as well, but I don't know too much about that. What I do know is that everyone likes an extra hug now and then!

http://www.thundershirt.com/

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Treating Dog's Insect Bites and Stings

10/10/2014

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I would normally post a picture of me with this write-up, but I am a bit embarrassed that my face is so swollen. My ruggedly-handsome face has one heck of a bite or sting on it and it is making it hard for me to take a decent picture. Since I am so vain, I posted a cute dog picture instead to make you smile. I hope you like it.

Back to me... I mean, my topic on stings and bites. This is pretty common for all animals since we love to chase things that move and pick them up with our mouths. My bite is right on my nose. Ouch! So, my worried human parents did what every good dog friend does and called my favorite Vet. They were told that Benadryl was OK for me since I tend to have allergic reactions to insect bites. Make sure and check with your own Vet for advice and dosages. After two rounds of Benadryl, there was still not much luck with the swelling and I had developed a lump in my neck. So, off to the vet I went. My Doc is an awesome guy and he knows just how to handle me. I'm a bit of an Alpha, so he handles me with kindness, but is firm so I know he is the Alpha.

So, I want to pass on some of his advice if you find yourself in the same situation. Call your veterinarian first, as some of us dogs can have a pretty bad reaction. Ask them for advice on Benadryl and if they feel you should give it. My humans put ice on my bite, and I did not mind it since I really did not feel that well. I decided to check into a few websites that offer advice on pet emergencies so you can have it on hand in case of your own emergency. I also found an awesome app on pet first aid that you can download directly to your phone.

Dog symptom checker app: Itunes has a great app called dog-symptoms you can download.

Online vet questions: Check out http://web-dvm.net/askthevet.html They do charge for services, but they are upfront about the individual question asked and answered costs.

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Potomac River Boat Cruise with your Dog

9/26/2014

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If you plan on being anywhere near the Alexandria Seaport in Virginia with your pup, the Potomac Riverboat Company is dog-friendly! They have an hour long cruise to some of the great sites around that area. I keep imagining a day on the water, the wind blowing through my hair, except I don't have hair, and hanging with my humans. What an adventure that would be.

There are some rules, and some limited times that are available, but they like us, they really like us! In fact so much so that us dogs ride for FREE! You can join them for an hour long cruise or if you will be nearby on Halloween they have a costumed canine trip called "Bark or Treat" with treats just for us and a photographer on board to snap us wearing that adorable costume you chased us around to put on.

Lets go over their rules...
Dogs must be on a 6 ft flat leash at all times.
Advanced ticket purchases are strongly recommended. You would hate to show up there all excited to go and find out that they have no tickets left, now would you?

http://www.potomacriverboatco.com/canine-cruise.php

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ASPCA Pet Care App

9/11/2014

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The ASPCA has launched their pet care and disaster-preparedness iTunes app! I have been waiting for this to go live for a while and kept checking back with them, so I am so excited it is finally available.

It offers things like making a flyer digitally for a missing pet, critical advice on what to do with your pet during or after a big storm, they even came up with an easy way to manage our health records. For the kids in the family, they can enjoy the cute pet pictures on the site.

If you have a dog that is a wanderer or an escape artist, this is a must-have app. The quicker you can get the information out about your pet's last location with a detailed physical description, the best chance you have for a good outcome. We may act all tough heading out the door like we can take on the world, but once we are actually out there, we get scared and realize that we are not the wild, untamed beasts we pretend to be in our own minds.

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/aspca-launches-mobile-app-pet-parents

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Camp List for Dogs #2

8/8/2014

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As promised, I have the camp for dogs list #2. All I can say is WOW!

North Carolina:
Camps Unleashed has 4-day weekend retreats for you and your dog in the countryside. They are a highly-rated camp from those pups in the know. It's a little far for me to check out right now but, hopefully some day soon, I will be able to make the trip. This will be another idea to put it on my bucket list. It is located in Ashville, NC. They have hiking, swimming, off-leash activities, scent games, and even doggy-diving. There are just too many great activities to mention, so it is best to check out their website.

Lebanon, New Jersey:
Barking Hill Country Club gets two paws up by a lot of reviewers. I can see why, with their large list of fun activities. I love their motto: "Where every human must be accompanied by a dog." They have canine freestyle, carting, and Treibball amongst other activities. They even have a dog blog right on their website that you can check out to see if it's a place you would like to go. I vote yes!

If you are looking for an activity that allows both you and your canine to get in shape, check out the Thank Dog Workout website! Such a clever idea.
There are several programs across the USA:
OK, now this one is very different from the other camps. It is an obedience boot camp for dogs and their human parents receive a regular workout and cardio training. Talk about multi-tasking. It's called the Thank Dog Workout and there are currently five locations across the US with more on the way. I am certain my human and I will be checking this out if there is one that starts near us.

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Bark in the Park- Arizona- Sept 14, 2014

7/18/2014

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Don't forget to get your tickets to this year's Bark in the Park taking place in Arizona at the Chase Field Park on September 14th, 2014 at 1:10 p.m. For accuracy, we are directly quoting the website from which you can buy tickets as to their rules. This is a wonderful opportunity to help support your local Animal Welfare League and Shelter & SPCA- The first No kill shelter in Arizona. Make sure and show up early to participate in the pre-game puppy parade!
If you do not live in Arizona and will not be coming through to catch a game, there are a few others around that you may want to check out! They have them in Chicago as well as a few other locations.

Website info:

"Tickets are available for you and your dog in the following location:
Picnic Pavilion: $28 per person & $28 per dog
Bleachers: $18 per person & $18 per dog

Register Now

Check-in will take place outside Gate J, underneath the shaded confines of the 7th Street Bridge. You must arrive by 12 p.m. to participate in the Parade. Water will be provided for your pet during the event, but owners should provide their own dog food.
Please Note:
Dogs must be at least 6 months old.
Owners must include a copy of current vaccinations from a licensed veterinarian.
Dog license required for you to bring your dog to this event.
The Arizona Diamondbacks reserve the right to reject any dog for any reason.
Tickets ordered after Monday, September 8 will be e-mailed to you. Tickets must be printed out and brought to Gate J for check in on Sunday, September 14. This is the only entrance available for you and your dog. All participants are required to register in advance and execute a Release and Waiver. There will be no walk-ups permitted. "

http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/ticketing/bark_park.jsp

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Tank has been posting about his adventures and recommendations for a few years now. As a senior dog his explorations are now limited.
We asked him to post once more about his battle with Canine Cognative Disorder. (post will be coming soon) For those who are his fans, know that he is doing well and is happy, just a bit more distracted with home life. We will take what we can get. Make sure to browse Tank's extensive archives for tons of ideas to enjoy with your best freind.

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