We cannot stop sqeeing over these adorable photos of a boy and his dog. We love the photography, we love the boy, we love the dog, we love the props – we could not love these anymore!

“Anybody who doesn’t know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.” ~Franklin P. Jones

If you have a dog that develops a thick coat during the winter and when spring comes sheds significantly, so that the furniture and floors begin to resemble your canine companion, you are not alone.

From a scientific perspective, according to Dr.Danny W. Scott, professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell, the reduction in sunlight and temperature during the winter trigger hormonal responses that grow additional fur, and the spring triggers the growth to stop and shedding begins. Therefore, indoor dogs experience less shedding compared with those that spend a significant amount of time in the outdoors.

Brushing a dog routinely is the most important method for handling shedding because it removes excess fur repeatedly so that less of it accumulates on the dog and the floor, furniture, clothing and all other surfaces it inhabits during the dreaded season. Regular bathing may also help to remove excess fur and condition the skin.

An effective stainless steel comb that can remove the undercoat effectively when the groomer exerts a normal amount of effort is the Furminator, which is a comb product specifically designed to help with shedding. The price is approximately $39, and many experts and customers advocate for its effectiveness online.

Some dogs shed more than others. A dog with a heavy overcoat, such as a Newfoundland or Malamute sheds heavily. A Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier shed less because the hair shaft lasts longer in these breeds, or the Bichon and Shih Tzu has minimal undercoat.

Cleaning dog hair from furniture may be an simple as vacuuming or brushing a damp cloth across the surface. Other tips include using a clean rubber glove to gather the fur.

A healthy diet may minimize shedding. According to the host of “Ask Marc, The Petkeeper” on Martha Steward Living Radio, Marc Morrone, feeding a dog healthy pet food can regulate the shedding, sometimes reducing it or easing the transition. It supports the dog’s body systems and encourages easing the transition from furry to fur-less. A healthy dog food lists meat as the first ingredient and may also include flax seed oil and other natural additives, but no foreign sounding terms that may cause allergies or otherwise complicate your pet’s body’s functions.

 

Happy Easter! We hope you have a great day!

Her name was Sarah and she was a German shepherd mix rescued from the pound. Sarah, my significant other, and I all lived in a rather crowded walkup that was simply unequal to the task of keeping Sarah exercised despite the long hardwood hallway, the length of which was perfect for tossing her ball down. Sarah, and our downstairs neighbor, was thrilled at the prospect of finding the perfect doggy playground for her to stretch her legs. Finding the perfect dog park however, is as much about trial and error as any other factor. These three tips should help you narrow down your search considerable in the hunt for an outdoor play space.

Know Your Dog…

Dog parks, like people parks, have their hours of peak attendance, and if your dog stresses out easily, or shows aggressive characteristics, you should consider bringing them to the park when few other dogs are there. Unfortunately, on our first sojourn to the local dog park, our previously mild-mannered pup identified the largest dog in the bunch before making a beeline towards him and started attacking him. My wife and I dragged Sarah off him, and hauled her back to the car along the path of shame, before vowing to find deserted times for her to get exercise.

Know Your Neighbors…

When we talk of neighbors, we are speaking of our human neighbors at the dog park, not the disgruntled ones living below. Engaged owners who are playing with their furry family members and not merely leaving them to their own devices, so you should be able to identify which pooch goes with which parent. We accept that dogs will be dogs, and that is why we love them, but when an animal’s owners abrogate responsibility for their pet’s behavior, it ruins the fun for everyone.

Know Your Facilities…

When assessing the merits of a park’s amenities, look more for what will benefit the dog than the owner. Rather that scouting for picnic tables and benches, you should make sure that there are adequate water sources, secured fencing, clean, and separate play areas so the little guys can have just as much fun as the big dogs whether they choose to stay on or off the metaphorical porch.

 

Taking Fido to the beach can seal your status as the best pet parent ever in their eyes. The shear array of exotic scents and sounds can send them into a sensory overload of canine joy. To make sure that the experience is as safe for them as it is exhilarating, pet parents need to be cogent of a few basic safety facts and learn to recognize warning signs overheating and exhaustion.

Sun and Heat…

The message is getting out concerning the dangers of leaving a dog inside a locked car in hot weather, and many of the same dangers of that environment exist for your dog at the beach as well. Ensuring a fun, safe day requires that pet parents are aware of all aspects of their furry friend’s beach activity. Light colored dogs, short-coated breeds, and those with pink noses or hairless are particularly susceptible to sunburn just as humans are. Prior to your summer outing, you should check with your vet about getting some doggy safety approved sunscreen. Additionally, you will want to have copious quantities of fresh water for your pup and a shady place for them to rest in between bouts of frenzied activity.

Warning Signs of Overheating…

As your pet frolics in the surf or burrows down to the nether regions of Middle Earth, keep your eyes open for signs of overheating of heat exhaustion in your animal. Specifically, take note of the following symptoms of overheating:

• Coordination issues
• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Collapse

The moment your canine companion hits the beach, he will be on sensory overload, so it is up to you to make sure that is body can keep up with that excitement and remain safe.

When he HAS to come to you EVERYTIME…

As mentioned, the smells, sights, sounds, and distractions will play havoc on your dog’s ability to stay focused on your commands, and for his safety, that is the worst possible time for her to be forgetting her basic obedience skills. Since it will be far too late to work on those recall commands as your dog hurls himself towards the edge of the cliff, it’s imperative that you practice your recall commands, so that regardless of what’s going on around him, your dog will come to you when called 100% of the time.