Author: rgoessel

Here Are the 5 Best Dog Blogs You Need To Check Out

Learning about dogs is really such a fascinating subject and you can be sure there is a whole lot to be learned. Certain dog blogs are dedicated to creating useful content that would provide you with comprehensive information. Here are the best 5 of these blogs: 

The Bark Magazine 

The Bark focuses on need-to-know content for dog owners, especially in the area of pet upkeep. You would find real-life dog-friendly stories about various happenings to dogs. They also highlight issues that might affect your pet’s health, both apparent and non-apparent, and discuss treatment options. 

Dogtopia 

Dogtopia might be known for their dog spa services and others, however, their blog is filled with so much goodness! You would find anything from puppy socialization to ensuring dogs in apartments are happy to getting rid of separation anxiety. These tips come in very useful. 

Whole Dog Journal 

Whole Dog Journal provides you with a slew of information from dog care to in-depth reviews on various dog products. They also feature teaching training methods that are positive in nature. The blog always offers something worthwhile to read and the website boasts lots of useful pet care information. 

iHeartdogs.com

iHeartdogs.com blog is massive and mainly focuses on four areas; Lifestyle, Behavior, Healthy Pups, and Pup Stories. Each category offers something in the way of excellent information or entertainment. The blog covers the needs of dog owners such as care of dogs with various ailments as well as recommending useful products. 

Pawleaks 

Pawleaks is great because of just how comprehensive it can be when guiding dog owners through each stage of their dog’s life. They are also heavy on health-related advice, solutions to problems in your dog’s behavior, as well as in-depth puppy training tips. 

Conclusion 

These websites provide golden information and you should definitely check them out.

Activities To Do At Your Local Dog Park

Playing outdoors with their favorite human in the world is definitely one of the best things that pups love. Maybe other dogs and humans may add a bit of spice. So, if you’re out at the dog park with your pup, here are some activities you can try out:

Races and Training 

A tired pup is a happy one, and you can always achieve this by allowing your pup to race. You could raise him or simply toss a ball and play fetch. For some mental stimulation, you could also include some training exercises, and what better place to do this than one with distractions. 

Agility Courses 

Jumping over bars and clearing hurdles might not be your best definition of fun. However, this is something your pet would definitely love. Explore the agility courses available and encourage your dog to surmount these obstacles. For a true boost, wait for them at the other end.  

Doggy Play Dates 

A picnic sounds like fun and your pup would definitely love that doggo cake or ice cream. To amp up the fun, organize a doggy date for one or some of your dog’s buddies and watch them have maximum fun. You could have some fun too with other dog parents. 

Photography 

What’s cooler than your pet donning sunglasses and maybe a muffler and posing for an incredible picture? You could be grooming a future model and photography sure is so much fun as well. An incredible natural and improved background like the dog park would make for a great backdrop for the pictures. Be sure that your dog strikes fun poses!

Conclusion 

There is a vast range of activities that you could do for fun at the dog park and be sure to add some more to this list. 

Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

Tail wags are commonly associated with excitement or happiness. However, dogs wag their tails for a range of reasons, and this article covers the various wagging you may notice and what they might mean. 

What Is the Role of the Tail 

Your puppy’s tail is mainly a communicative tool and she would typically use it to pass across a range of information. You can regard it as a barometer for her mood. Knowledge of tail position, as well as the proper interpretation of further canine body language, can help you understand how your pup feels per time. 

Here are some general reactions and interpretations:

  • A lowered tail stuck between the legs could indicate anxiety, submission, or fear 
  • A higher than usual tail could indicate alertness, such as when something piqued her interest
  • A side to side wag probably accompanied by licks or a play bow could indicate a friendly greeting
  • A vertical tail could indicate aggression 

Before entirely concluding, be sure to look out for other factors. 

The Research 

According to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, dogs use the motion and position of their tails to communicate their present emotional state.

In 2007, researchers found that the wag pattern contains clues as well. For instance, wagging to the left implies negative emotions while wagging to the right was indicative of positive emotions. 

Research showed that the right hemisphere of the brain in some animals was associated with negative-avoidance feelings while the right hemisphere could be linked with positive-approach feelings. 

Since the brain’s right hemisphere controls the left part of the body and vice versa, the phenomenon would hold. 

A 2013 study also showed that canines understood these motions themselves. A left-wagging tail made other canines stressed while a right tail wagging helped them relax. 

Conclusion 

The tail wag pattern could be a pretty good way to ascertain how your pup is reacting to a situation. However, that’s not all there can be, be sure to look out for other signs. 

Why Do We Love Dogs So Much?

For the longest time, dogs have been tagged man’s best friend as a result of the love and fierce loyalty that they display to their humans. So, why exactly is there so much love between the canine and human? 

Humans started keeping dogs as pets since ancient days prior to civilization. This implies that this fierce love and unbreakable bond between humans and dogs has been repeated multiple times all through history. 

It goes without saying that beyond their simple angelic existence, dogs provide their owners with benefits ranging from emotional and mental to physical as well. Dogs are very useful and can be trained to hone their special attributes like their strong sense of smell or hearing for various uses.  

For instance, they are members of various important units in the society such as the firefighter departments, K9, search and rescue, as well as sniffer dogs at airports. The services that they provide have constantly saved the lives of humans time and time again. 

Dogs are also regarded as immediate family members and treated as fur babies. Dog owners commonly claim to be in a better mental space after having a dog relative to before they had one. In addition, people dealing with various traumas get support dogs who constantly comfort and keep them stable. 

In essence, the benefits that dogs offer humans as a result of their presence in our lives cannot be quantified. 

Conclusion 

Discussing the reasons why we love dogs so much could extend so much with each individual having their own personal reasons. However, the bottomline is that they very much deserve this love and even more. 

What are the Benefits of Owning a Dog?

The only downside to owning a dog is that those gooey eyes would charm you anytime, anyway. That said, there are loads of benefits to owning a dog; emotional, physical, mental, social, basically loads. This article highlights some of these benefits: 

Companionship 

If you’ve been battling loneliness for a while, owning a dog is precisely what you need. There is no feeling lonely when you have a pup that constantly craves your attention and worships you. It’s no wonder then that dogs are known as man’s best friend. 

Uplifts Your Mood 

There’s no feeling depressed around your dog. Pups are generally lively and full of energy and are ready to play at every turn. Their antics are bound to crack you up and you would find yourself bursting into laughter now and again. Dogs make humans happy.

Longevity 

People with pets have generally been shown to live longer. This is especially true for seniors. Having to care for a pet extends their lifespans and this applies to middle aged individuals too. 

Teaches Vital Lessons 

Owning a pet teaches vital life lessons like caring for other people besides ourselves. Knowing that a vulnerable pet totally depends on you teaches responsibility especially to kids at a young age. It improves social skills too. 

Improved Mental Health 

People battling depression and other mental health issues are often assigned support dogs to help them through. This is because having a dog that adores you stimulates feelings of hope and happiness. 

Conclusion 

There’s really nothing as blissful as owning and caring for a dog. In addition to the benefits outlined above, the daily walks are beneficial to physical health too while providing good bonding time with your pup. 

Should I Crate Train My Dog?

Crate training is the process of introducing your dog to view and accept a dog crate as a personal safe space. There are various benefits that crate training offers particularly for your pet. Here are the most profound ones: 

Provides a Familiar, Safe Space 

Sometimes, your pet needs a place to retire, particularly if they encounter something new. For instance, some dogs are not great at getting used to strangers and would rather stay away. A crate provides a form of escape for your pup and allows them to retreat from new, disturbing changes until they can eventually adapt. 

Provides a Den Feeling 

Many advocates point to the fact that dogs are den animals and a crate can serve as a substitute for a den. Daisy’s den is where she reigns supreme and feels like her own personal kingdom. This space serves as a sanctuary and your dog feels very secure in that space. 

Helps With Potty Training 

Dogs generally keep their sleeping areas clean as a matter of instinct. Providing your pup with a crate would help them learn to hold and this in turn strengthens bladder and bowel muscles. They inadvertently learn housebreaking on their own. 

Makes Life Easier Generally 

Crates generally make yours and your pet’s life easier. Transporting Daisy is safer using a crate whether by road for long distance trips or air trips. It results in less distractions for the driver and you would be able to have your dog with you whenever you travel.  

Conclusion 

Crate training your pup offers too many benefits for you to pass it up. During the process, ensure that you’re patient and reward with treats for good behavior. 

Top 5 Springtime Recipes for Your Dog

It’s spring and time to make some homemade foods and treats! Here are some recipes you can explore: 

Frozen Watermelon Treats 

Watermelon is a staple for both spring and summer. It contains lots of fluid, aiding hydration, has a natural sweetness and is perfect for cooking in the warm temperature. Making this treat is super simple and all you need is some watermelon and coconut milk. You might have to wait a while for the treats to freeze up, but it’s worth the wait. 

Yogurt Peanut Butter Banana Treats

Dogs love peanut butter all year round and to make this recipe even healthier, yogurt does an excellent job. These treats are typically brought out in the stifling heat of summer, but it wouldn’t hurt to give your dog some in spring too!

Cranberry Cookies 

You want to show your dog some extra love? Bake these cookies heart-shaped. Ingredients include some almond flour and coconut flour, and of course, cranberries. Ensure to make a whole lot because your dog would definitely love them!

Turkey, Rice and Veggie Mix 

This low-fat, low-calorie recipe is particularly ideal if you’re looking to stop your fur baby from gaining excess weight. It boasts lean animal protein, veggies, and healthy carbs. You can get up to 12 cups from a single preparation and they stay in perfect condition for up to 5 days when refrigerated. 

Beef Stew, Doggie Style

This homemade food can be frozen and lasts the entire week. It had loads of iron from fresh protein and requires only about a pound of beef stew meat, one small sweet potato, half cups of diced carrots, diced green beans, flour and water, and finally, a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Watch your dog lap this up in no time!

Conclusion 

Now, bring out your inner chef and get to whipping up these delicacies!

Is Doggy Daycare Worth It?

Apart from getting a sitter, doggy daycare is the other alternative for ensuring that your dog is cared for when you can’t be available. However, is doggy daycare really worth it? Should you consider signing your dog up? Here are some pros and cons to help your decision along. 

Pros of Doggy Daycare 

Doggy daycare does offer a significant number of benefits, and here are some prominent ones:

  • Physical exercise and constant mental stimulation all through the day
  • Helps your dog ward off loneliness
  • Reduces the chance of destructive behavior
  • Reduction in barking  
  • You get a restful night since your dog would likely come home mentally exhausted and go to sleep
  • Helps if you’re unable to walk your dog that day
  • Letting your dog out midday would no longer be necessary 
  • Great way to get your pet socialized 
  • Provides enough fun activity and exercise in case you’re unable to provide that for the day 

Cons of Doggy Daycare 

  • Might be overly exciting and overwhelming for your dog 
  • Possible mental exhaustion as a result of stress or fear on the part of you dog
  • Your dog could pick up bad behavior from other dogs or while relating with them 
  • Possible bullying or injury scenario 
  • Costs eventually rack up (average daycare cost is $25+ per day) 
  • You don’t have control over the behavior of other dogs or the staff 
  • Vaccinations are demanded and required by doggy daycares, however, there might be a chance of your dog picking up an illness like kennel cough or getting fleas from other dogs 

Conclusion 

Doggy daycare has some pretty great advantages as well as some somewhat discouraging downsides. However, overall, most daycares try to avoid the cons that they can on their end, so, you should definitely consider this care option.

What Info Should My Dog Have On Its ID Tag?

Tags are a legal requirement on dogs when they are in public places. Dog tags typically feature the following basic information: 

  • The name of the owner
  • Owner’s complete home address 
  • Home phone number and alternative phone number(s)
  • Email address 
  • Medical needs such as deafness, blindness, or any such disability 
  • Other information that you consider relevant such as allergies or extra information to find you 

Ideally, you should get a dog tag as soon as your dog gets comfortable wearing a leash.  

Types of Dog Tags

There are various types of dog tags, but these are the major ones mostly used by dog owners:

Slide-On Dog Tag

The main perk of this collar is the fact that they don’t hang or jangle and therefore don’t get caught in anything. Esther, these tags come with slits along which the collar slides, keeping the tags flat against the collar. They only work for certain collars and information can only be written on one side. 

Rivet-On Dog Tag

These tags are riveted to the collar and are more sturdy. Like slide-on tags, only the front can be engraved. 

Hanging ID Tag 

This is the most common choice for an ID tag mainly because it allows for inscription on both sides. They also work for any collar type. They may however be quite noisy or get caught in branches. 

Benefits of Having an ID Tag

Here are some of the benefits of having an ID tag:

Cheap 

ID tags are relatively cheap to procure compared to other forms of identification. 

Easy to Customize 

Customizing an ID tag is a lot easier especially since it comes in various shapes, forms, sizes, and is made out of various materials. 

Easy to Read

ID tags can be easily read if your dog goes missing. Since they allow for sufficient space to fill in the necessary information, you can be certain that your pet would be safely returned once they have been found.

Non-invasive 

Unlike microchips and trackers, this hangs outside the body making it a non-invasive way of keeping your pet tracked. 

Conclusion 

Having a dog tag is a great way to keep your dog safe and ensure that if they wander off, they can safely return home. 

Does Your Dog Have an Instagram?

Social media has done a great deal by way of connecting the whole world via various platforms. Over the years, huge stars have emerged for various reasons ranging from creative to downright hilarious. 

However, this social media stardom phenomenon isn’t located to humans alone. Dogs and pups all over the world have become viral sensations and amassed large followings for their antics or simply because of how lovely they look.  If you’re still at odds as to why your dog should have an Instagram, here are some reasons:  

It’s the Latest Trend 

Yes, trends come and go, but this one has definitely come to stay. Recording adventures together, cute actions and reactions, their hilarious quirks, and sharing with the rest of the world can be quite exciting, to say the least. 

Money Making Avenue

Who says dogs cannot pay their own bills? In recent times, we now have dogs who are strong influencers and alongside their pet parents, rake in loads of cash.  There are even awards for dogs now! This might be an opportunity for Daisy to become an internet sensation and be loved by fans all over the world. 

Memory Bank

Posting on Instagram is a great way to save memories that you can always go back to relive whenever you want.  An upside is that Instagram posts usually have a date and time stamp so you can see that and be transported into the very moment.   Additionally, you can access the account at any time too, even years to come.

Conclusion 

In a world where dogs become superstar celebrities and viral sensations, an Instagram account for your pet is definitely a good start. And who knows, Daisy might just get a chance at stardom.