http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeryway/3033864524/in/photostream/

Although winter is half way over, some of us still get those cold days where we want to walk our dogs but feel they need an extra layer to keep warm. There’s a lot of disagreement among dog owners on whether dogs should wear coats in cold weather.  It depends on the dog and how cold it is outside.  I’d rather err on the side of caution.  I’m in the camp that says “If you need to put a hat and gloves on, your dog should have a coat, especially if he’s small breed.

In general, smaller dogs can’t hold heat as well as larger dogs.  Short hair dogs loose more heat as well.  There are a couple of musts when looking for a jacket for your dog.  Be sure when looking for winter wear that the chest and the base of the tail are covered.  Fleece and wool are the best for cold winter days and anything made out of a water resistant fabric is perfect when there’s wet snow on the ground.

I am a huge fan of Fido Fleece for dogs. The jackets velcro on top covering their chest and tops of legs. Check out their website for lots of colors and sizes. http://www.fidofleece.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/apparel/fidofleece/description

So remember, when you head out to walk this winter, bundle up! A warm dog is a happy dog.

A few months ago, photographer by the name of Seth Casteel was struggling to pay his bills but decided to bite the bullet and purchase a waterproof camera case which would allow him to take pictures under water. As soon as word got out via the internet about his photographs, his “likes” on facebook have skyrocketed.

I had to share these amazing photographs, I know they will make you smile! Enjoy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/underwater-dog-photos-seth-casteel_n_1277404.html?ref=mostpopular#s692345&title=Underwater_Photos_Of

I wanted to post this story about Max, a 3 year old Argentine Mastiff for 2 reasons. One because it’s a feel good story about a dog that was rescued from the freezing waters of the Smith Reservoir and 2 to show that although most dogs are friendly, you always need to take caution when getting too close.

Kyle Dyer an anchor for KUSA Channel 9News in Denver was interviewing the owner and his dog Max in the studio about the rescue that occurred that afternoon. The anchor is petting the dog, who appears to be enjoying the attention but a few minutes into it, he bites her in the face. The video is graphic and anyone viewing this who has a dog might be saying to yourself, “Oh, please be careful, don’t get too close.” Dogs in these and many other situations can still be traumatized from the event that occurred earlier or weeks prior.

The 85 pound Mastiff was off leash doing his business when he saw a coyote running out of a bush. Needless to say, Max was being a typical dog and began running after the coyote both ending up in the freezing waters. Luckily Max was able to paddle and stay afloat in the freezing reservoir for 20 minutes before the Metro Fire Department came to his rescue.

Just like humans, when we or dogs for that matter are traumatized, we need to treat them with kid gloves, and be a bit more cautious when approaching an animal in this state. It seems our first instinct is to pet and hug and even kiss the animal, and perhaps this would not be an issue for the owner however as a stranger, we need to take a step back and think before we act which inevitably could keep you safe and from harm.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/02/08/kyle-dyer-kusa-anchor-bit_n_1263246.html

All of us who own a pet can honestly say we know how beneficial they are to our lives. But do we really know what these wonderful benefits are?

Having never grown up with a pet, when we got our dog I had no idea how he was going to impact my life in so many positive way.

Owning a dog without a doubt will increase your social interaction with people. How many times have you taken your dog out for a walk and someone stops and asks “What kind of a dog do you have?” or “May I pet your dog?” I have met so many amazing people at the park where I walk my dog. Funny thing is I know the dogs name but often forget the owners name! I always say to DJango, “Hey look, there’s Kasey and her mom!”

Exercise exercise and exercise. We all know we need to do it and those of us who have dogs hopefully get it at least 2x a day. I love walking my dog especially on those crisp days. I notice things I would have never noticed before, why, because I wasn’t out walking before. Even if you take your pooch out for a half hour walk, the benefits are great for your dog and for you.

Our dogs provide us with an amazing amount of companionship and we all know, pets in general are very calming. Think how you feel when you pet your dog or scratch them behind the ears. They love it but it also calms us and makes us feel happy.

And they provide meaning in your life. Before we got our dog my life was carefree. As soon as we got our dog, I realized this furry little guy is looking at me to take care of his every need. Being responsible for another life adds purpose to yours. My goal is to provide the best possible life for my dog while he is here on this earth.

Now we all know those people out there who say “Oh please, why do you do all these things for your dog, you realize he’s just a dog!” And for those people I say “No, he’s not just a dog, he’s another living thing to love and how wonderful is that!”

It’s Friday! Or as I would like to refer to it from now on Furry Friday! ,
Starting today, and every day please send me your favorite pictures of your dog. I will post the pictures every Friday so that everyone can see why your dog is so special to you. Feel free to ad a comment or two along with the picture.

I’ve decided to start this Furry Friday by posting a picture of my furry dog Django. Can’t wait to see yours!

If your dogs bowls are kind of grimmy mix equal parts vinegar and water, let this sit for 5-10 minutes and then wash thoroughly. You should be washing your dogs bowl with soap and water on a daily basis. If you use a sponge to clean your dogs bowls as well and get kind of grossed out at the thought of co-mingling the sponge with your dishes get a colored sponge for the dogs stuff. That way you know blue if for Fido and yellow is for the household kitchen items.

Need to take a pee sample to the vet, easier when your dogs big but for those of us with small dogs it can be extremely difficult. What to do? I have a designated ladle marked for dog use only. When my dog goes out to pee, I stick the ladle underneath and catch the pee. Transfer the pee to a jar which I have with me outside and then the ladle goes straight to the dishwasher.

Flushable wipes are the best invention ever for us and yes, our pets. I always clean under the hood with wipes. They get rid of anything left behind and the best part, they are flushable!

Dog hair on the furniture is a common problem. You could get out the ole masking tape or lint brush but a much easier method is to remove the hair with a pair of rubber gloves. Get an old bucket, fill it with water, wet the gloves in the bucket, shake off any excess water and wipe down the furniture. Rinse in the bucket and repeat. It really works.

As I am sitting here working on my blogs with the TV on, the news just alerted us that there’s another winter storm warning with potential power outages due to ice and strong winds. I am thinking about what I would do should the power go down. When the temperature is a high of 19 degrees, you now it’s only going to get colder at night. Having lived in a city where winter hits on a regular basis I am always prepared to evacuate my home should the need arise. But am I really prepared? I know where I will go for the night (hotel) and what to bring but more importantly, am I prepared to bring my dog along with me?

The answer right now is no. But I will be after I post this blog. Just like we have our list of things to do and bring in case of an emergency, there should also be a list for our dogs (and any pets in our home.) It’s important to have items prepared for yourself and your pets should you need to leave the house quickly.

I will have a bag in my pantry with the following: Several cans of dog food. Check the expiration date periodically. Be sure to throw a few lids and if the cans aren’t self-opening, pack a can opener.

Kibble: have an extra bag on hand. Again, check the expiration date periodically.

If your dog is like mine and requires a lot of medication, have a list taped to the outside of the bag. That way, you can see what you need to throw in the bag before evacuating.

Bag of treats, a toy, extra leash, a bowl for food and water and a fleece jacket or blanket.

I know it sounds like a lot, and it is, that’s why you need to be prepared ahead of time so that when the power goes out, your and your dogs things are packed and ready to go.

I don’t even know where to begin with this story. It’s tragic on so many levels but also hopeful for not only the survivor but the dog. On a side note, I’ve also blogged in the past about the importance of collars AND tags for your dog. Please, please put tags on your dogs and don’t rely solely on chipping.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/video-dog-rescued-gulf-mexico-had-just-survived-213513061.html

One more thing to be thankful for this 2011!

I am always trying to post helpful information about our dogs, how to bathe them, feed them, best car seat, etc. etc. but never did I think I would be posting about how to keep your dog safe from burglars! I’ve attached a link to a story about just that. I think sometimes we assume if we have a dog in our home we are safe from all crimes. Our dog will bark their head off and the perpetrator will run away. Not always the case. Before you head out be sure to lock up your home. It would be awful if someone broke in and stole your computer however it would be devastating if they took the dog as well.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/christmas-burglars-steal-dog-morgan-hill.html