Article by: Mike Brown, Publisher of A Dog`s Best Friend
Transcription
Article by: Mike Brown, Publisher of A Dog`s Best Friend
A STOP Your P Jump uppy ing U P! Dogs Best Friend p.20 July 2016 7 1 . P Partner vs Pet Who Would You Choose? CHIHUAHUAS And Pet Stores The SHOCKING truth p. 11 Who’s Pippin? What’s His Tail? lla e t a g Do o n hic d n o L e in Pet C T tima he Ul t Network Your Way To A Successful Pet Sitting Business p. 5 | Exclusive Interview on p. 26 A Dogs Best Really Friend Magazine July 2016p. 23 | What’s Summer Like For |Dogs? Contents Network Your Way To A Successful Petsitting Business 5 Who’s Pippin? What’s His Tail? 8 Why You Should Never Buy A Chihuahua From A Pet Store 11 Dogatella London 14 Partner v Pet 17 Stop Your Puppy Jumping Up 20 Summer Fun With Fido 23 Poes Print - Art And Love For Pets 26 A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 3 Got Wrinkles? Heals & Prevents • skin fold dermatitis • fungal & bacterial infections • no more stinky face! satisfaction quality Get 20% OFF with code BESTFRIEND NaturalDog.com | 888 471 8288 | Bark@NaturalDog.com t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t How To Network Your Way To A Successful Petsitting Business Article by: Josh Cary of PetSittingOlogy Pet sitting businesses have become more visible in recent years, but in some ways, the field is still in its infancy. While many pet owners know what pet sitting is, many have not heard about local pet sitters or their services. How does a sitter who’s just starting out, educate their neighbors about their need for a professional pet sitter? I’ve been in this business for many years, and I’ve learned that the best way to get your name out there is to network. While this may sound like standard business advice, it is especially important for pet sitters, whose customers are primarily local. ‘A great way to network is to make contact with veterinary offices’ My first networking suggestion for new pet sitters is to join a professional organization like Pet Sitters International (PSI) or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). These industry powerhouses offer insights into the field, resources, and networking opportunities. They are member-driven and are essential tools for a well-qualified pet sitter. I then advise pet sitters to have a website that is configured so that they are found in local web searches. This is the way most new clients will find them, so it’s the best marketing tool any business can have. It’s also a great way for your clients to refer you to their friends, so it is important to your networking efforts also. There are many sources for sites these days, but I must offer those provided by my company, PetSittingOlogy. We service the pet care industry specifically and provide very popular sites. Pet sitters should maintain an active social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and / or Instagram. These pages serve as the public face of your business. ‘Petsitters should maintain an active social media presence’ They allow you to educate, enlighten, and entertain your clients (and potential clients!). Good topics for posts include photos of your furry clients, information on pet care, and businesses in your area that provide good service to pet parents. Another great way to network is to make contact with veterinary offices. The staff at these offices are often asked for recommendations for pet care helpers, and by connecting with them, pet sitters are more likely to be the first ones mentioned. Veterinarians, who usually own the facilities, are important to speak with, but their front-desk staff should become primary contacts because they are the ones who answer the phones and deal with clients, so they are your key to being recommended first. Another great way to make your presence A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 5 known through direct contact is to work with local programs, like perhaps a “yappy hour.” These sessions are times when dogs are allowed and encouraged on a business’s premises. Locations usually offer outdoor seating and play areas and their dogs socialize while their owners have a drink or a meal. These are a great places for pet care professionals to show off their skills and friendly personality, all of which The best way for pet sitters to make their presence known in their local areas is by networking. By making contact both online and in person, pet sitters let their neighbors know who they are and what services they provide. Networking is essential, and finding the right outlets is key. Resources: BIO: Josh Cary is the founder of PetSittingOlogy, a full service digital marketing agency for pet professionals. His mission is to equip pet care professionals with effective websites, and the business tools needed to succeed. Josh writes extensively about industry best practices and is a sought after speaker. National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Pet Sitters International PetSittingOlogy Facebook Twitter Instagram A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 7 Who’s Pippin? What’s His Tail? Article by: Mike Brown, Publisher of A Dog’s Best Friend A Dog’s Best Friend magazine wouldn’t be where it is today without the great support of our partners. One such partner is the super informative Pippintails.com blog. The Dog Website every human needs. The blog was named after Pippin, - the American Eskimo and Shiba mix. We thought we’d sit down with the founder of Pippin Tails and Pippin and find out what really makes Pippin tick…and…what insight or advice the two could share for other dog lovers out there. Q) Hey Kiersten – lets get to it. Tell us a little bit about Pippin and his personality? Well, Pippin is a unique dog, hence why he has his own blog! People have use the words neurotic and eccentric to describe Pippin and they are probably right! He’s a talkative, snuggly pup that enjoys playing with his sister dog Lu Dog and toys and bones galore! He’s very high maintenance and pretty much runs the house on his terms but he is obedient and loves to learn new tricks! Q) He looks to be very much fully grown now, but can you share your experiences of what Pippin was like as a pup? More on Pippin – The Early Years? You’re correct! Pippin just turned 1 years old in Febuary 2016. Pippin as a pup was probably the hardest pup I’ve ever had. He was petrified of crates, woke up every hour or two with business and ended up with a UTI for 12 weeks with multiple medications. Not to mention he got in a lot of trouble! He only weighed a little over 1lb so he could get into a lot of mischief and you wouldn’t even see if you were watching! We learned a lot with him and kept tough non-splinter bones on hand, peanut butter to stuff those bones and kept toys in full stock. Anything to save our shoes, sunglasses and more from destruction. It wasn’t easy raising a puppy that couldn’t be crated but we came up with a lot of strategies and learned to keep a spotless puppy proof home very quickly! Q) Has Pippin been crate trained and what advice would you give? Pippin is now crate trained, though it took the whole year! When he was a puppy he would just scream in the crate all day and caused himself more anxiety. Once we controlled his anxiety (that took a better part of a year) we reintroduced the crate. Even small cars were a problem and he hated to have any door in the house shut! My advice is working through the triggers so we worked on doors being shut, riding in cars and being in smaller spaces. Then we slowly reintroduced the crate and did so by leaving it up and usin treats. We had him enter with the door open, slowly adding shutting door and then quick trips so he learned it wasn’t a death trap. Now he can be crated, but it’s still a 5-10 minute process enters but he lays down calmly inside and waits for us to get home nicely. Some days are harder than others but living with a dog with anxiety has its good and hard days. A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 9 Q) Raising a pup is never easy – have you had any scares and pet visits that have raised your (and Pippin’s) blood pressure? As a more cold weather adapted breed we have a lot more winter excursions than summer but provide a lot of water fun! Oh gosh! The stories! The day Pippin was rescued, he had blue gums. We got him to a vet immediately. At 1.7lbs (now 38lbs) he was very malnourished. It didn’t end there. He wasn’t supposed to be able to chew through puppy chews, but he did. We spent multiple days going back to the vet to check for compaction and intestinal issues. He also has to be treated for consistent vommiting as well. The worst was the UTI. We had him for a few weeks and he apparently was developing a UTI since the day we got him. He was urinating blood and the emergency vet said he’d need seen a puppy with the ability of getting kidney stones but he has so many crystals in his urine it was possible. A few tests, tears and puppy pads later we got the right medication and he got treated without surgery! Q) How about training and socialization? What training methods has Pippin responded to? Q) How is Pippin coping with his Intagram and blog fame? Has be been recognised whilst he’s out and about ? Pippin thinks he’s pretty stellar! I think he loves the limelight! Many people know Pippin and that’s why we started it all so he may have already been a little famous before his Instagram! Q) I’m sure Pippin is lucky is enough to get plenty of sponsored treats being a blogging star, but what’s the one treat that will stop him in his tracks? Well, instantly upon getting him he was out and about with us and Lu Dog. He went to restaurants, bars, parks, dog adoption events, stores and friends houses and cookouts. He met all dogs and we always made sure he was properly socialized. Training was harder for him. Both breeds in him are spitz and they are VERY independent! We had to really work with him and do positive training and corrective training methods to show him the path to follow. Sometimes we say sit and he leaves the room still but training never stops and he’s still quite young. The real key is patience and finding what motivates your pet. Food isn’t his motivator, praise is and we use that a lot more! Q) What about inside the house. Has he been known to wreak havoc at home or is he the model dog? Oh he’s the worst sometimes! We joke he’s Marley & Me all over again. When he was a pup he’d find anything not puppy proofed and it was his. As he’s aged he’s pretty good. As long as we occupy his mind and give him the tools he needs to succeed he can be the model dog. Pet parenting is the key here! Oh gosh that’s hard! He loves the pumpkin flavored treats a whole lot but his favorite is the meatier the better!! The one ingredient or limited ingredient meat treats will get his attention better than any biscuit! Q) From the awesome pics on the blog it looks like Pippin is far from being camera shy and looks to enjoy being a celebrity dog. Are there any plans to launch some Pippin Tail products and increase his profile even more? Q) We’re in the holiday season now. What outside activities does Pippin love? Not sure what the future holds for him just yet but I will say that he inspires us everyday and we would love to expand on Pippin Tails in the future. We’ve talked about a few different directions we may take Pippin Tails and everyone will have to stay tuned to find out!! Pippin just learned to play in his pool! That’s probably his favorite summer activity! He also like to try and eat the hose while we fill it! About Kiersten Relyea ©COPE PHOTOGRAPHY Kiersten is the owner and writer for Pippin Tails. Pippin Tails is a blog made to target everything that dog lovers like! This includes product reviews, book and movie plug ins, fun articles and posts about Pippin and his life. To read more from Kiersten Relyea stay tuned here at A Dog’s Best Friend as well as check out Pippin at www.PippinTails.com EST. 2016 Pippin Tails Everything Dog PT Meet Our Mutts Pippin & LU Dog SNIFFING OUT THE GOOD STUFF The Dog Website Every Human Needs. www.pippintails.com Find us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram! A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 Why You Should Never Buy A Chihuahua From A Pet Store Article by: Nadia Alterio of famouschihuahua.com Puppies sold at pet stores come from puppy mills. That’s right, we all know about the horrific conditions of puppy mills and how they are the homes of unregulated dog breeding owned by shady breeders, but many people who actually support banishing puppy mills and people who simply want to purchase a Chihuahua don’t even know that most pet store puppies come from puppy mills! If you are reading this and you bought your Chihuahua from a pet store, don’t fret. Feel good that you saved a life and consider yourself an amazing person, but please keep the following points in mind if you are going to buy another. Health problems Now that you know pet store puppies can come from puppy mills, it’s no surprise that these Chihuahuas are going to have health issues. Pet store Chihuahuas are poorly cared for and their parents are not screened for genetic diseases that can be passed onto their offspring. Common health related issues that can occur include eye problems, teeth problems, genetic deformities, neuro- logical problems and blood disorders. Behavioral problems Due to a lack of care and thoughtless breeding practices, behavioral problems are inevitable. Puppy mill breeders don’t take the time to ensure potential behavioral issues are weeded out and the staff at pet stores is not trained to deal with behavioral issues. Housebreaking havoc Chihuahua puppies that are always kept in cages never learn to go to the bathroom away from their food or bed. This can make housebreaking them very challenging and burdensome. Good Chihuahua breeders make a point of keeping their pups in a space that’s hygienic and is also providing of a separate area for fecal waste elimination. Poor socialization Puppies that are not handled by people at around three weeks of age do not socialize well. Puppy mill breeders usually sell their pups to pet stores when they are far too young, often at only four or five weeks old. Reputable Chihuahua breeders wait until their puppies are at least 10 weeks old giving them plenty of time to socialize with other siblings in their litter. Breaking the standard What you see isn’t necessarily what you get. Pet stores ignore AKC Chihuahua breed standards, the guidelines that describe the ideal characteristics, temperament and color and markings of the Chihuahua breed. You might think you’re paying for a genuine purebred Chihuahua puppy with AKC papers, but even if the papers are legitimate, the puppy could still be a flawed representative of its breed. As the puppy grows, you might be surprised to discover your Chihuahua has a little bit of Terrier, Poodle or Jack Russell in it. “If you see a cute Chihuahua puppy in a pet store window, don’t buy it!” Shortage of information A good Chihuahua breeder is full of information and can tell you all about your pup’s family ancestry and specifics like: if your pup is an apple head or deerhead Chihuahua, a blue Chihuahua or even a merle Chihuahua. Pet stores give you very little information regarding family ancestry, potential behavioral issues or health problems. Little value for what you pay Pet store Chihuahuas can range anywhere from $200 to $3,000 without after purchase support. There are no laws to protect your purchase from a pet store, but a reputable Chihuahua breeder will guarantee you after care support. This is very helpful for many new Chihuahua owners. Euthanization If you bring back a pet store Chihuahua, they are likely to be euthanized. Reputable Chihuahua breeders care about each of their pup’s futures and will be concerned about their welfare, so if a problem occurs where the puppy must be returned, rest assured; it will go back to a loving and caring environment. So if you see an adorable Chihuahua puppy in the window of a pet store, remember that you are probably supporting the horrible practice of puppy mills if you buy it and it’s likely health or behavioral issues will result. Instead, lead by example and support the anti-puppy mill movement. Find a reputable Chihuahua breeder or consider saving a life and adopting your Chihuahua from a local shelter, Chihuahua-specific rescue association or from a credible puppy mill rescue organization such as The National Mill Dog Rescue. Photos courtesy of Harley, A Little Dog with a Big Dream Nadia Alterio - Biography Nadia is the Founder and Editor of FamousChihuahua.com, a site dedicated to the Chihuahua breed that features Chihuahuas from around the globe, offers affordable Chihuahua Clothing and Accessories as well as a wealth of Chihuahua information and facts. She is also a former Professional Athlete, a Graduate of Psychology and has accomplished great success with her online endeavors. Nadia lives in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, where she is the loving mother of a beautiful boy. A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 13 Dogatella London – Impeccable British Craftmanship Combined With Effortless Style Because your pooch deserves the very best. Article by: Mike Brown, Publisher of A Dog’s Best Friend A Dog’s Best Friend likes to think we recognise quality when we see it. And quality is certainly at the heart of an exciting new brand straight out of London, England. Dogatella London has burst onto the scene offering undeniable workmanship, providing collars and leads of the highest quality. We thought we’d catch up with the brains behind the eye catching designs, Bahar, the founder of Dogatella London and learn all about her chic collection of pet accessories. to detail in our London-based manufactory. Quality, durability and pet safety are core elements of our creations and due to our artisans’ long-standing expertise in leather craftsmanship each individual Dogatella piece is the expression of uncompromised quality made in England. Q) Hi Bahar. Thank you for taking time out to speak to A Dog’s Best Friend Magazine today. Let’s start with the basics - What do you offer pet owners and their pooches at Dogatella London? Our brand philosophy is to be the premier destination for on-trend leather goods for dogs and dog lovers who value design and quality. With devotion and love for what we do, Dogatella celebrates the impeccable interplay of dog collars, leads and matching bracelets, combining traditional leather craftsmanship, style and functionality. Dogatella London offers leather dog collars, leads and matching bracelets for the style conscious pet owner, celebrating the special bond between dogs and their owners. Our selected range of unique designs and colours are handmade from the finest materials for the perfect blend of effortless style and British craftsmanship. Today our pets truly are an extension of our own personal style and Dogatella products reflect this as a luxurious addition to everyday essentials. Q Where are your collars and products made? Q) Tell me a little about your companies philosophy? Q) Do your collars cater for all sizes of dogs from the Jack Russell to the German Shepherd? Yes, our dog collars and leads are adjustable and available in all sizes for all dog breeds to ensure a secure and comfortable fit. All our products are handmade with careful precision and attention A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 15 Q) What is your best seller(s) and why? Currently we offer 3 different collections through our online shop dogatella.com including our Glow Collection, Metallic Collection and Classic Collection. Each collection is unique and the feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s so rewarding to see that people love our products, especially the Glow Collection is in high demand and has become this season’s canine must-have, featuring vibrant neon colours and high shine gold-plated details. Q) Tell me a little about the background to the formation of Dogatella London? How did it all start? own dog collar, lead and matching bracelet. My friend loved each piece we made and the unique concept behind it. More and more people started to ask her where she got it from and that’s how Dogatella London was born. Q) What does the future hold for Dogatella London? We are constantly looking for new inspirations and bring our ideas to life with a great team of creative minds and artisans. We are currently working on the launch of our next collection, which we are very excited about! It all started last year when my close friend got her adorable French Bulldog puppy Lola. I wanted to give her and Lola a special gift but could not find anything to my taste that combined quality and style. I felt that there was a gap to fill and so I designed my first Check out the fantastic range of luxury pet accessories for your pooch – just click the logo below A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 Partner V Pet. Who Would You Choose? Article by: Mike Brown, Publisher, A Dog’s Best Friend Article based on research conducted for Poo- Tina Vidal, President and Head of the Pack at ch Perks, a pet subscription service. Pooch Perks, offered some insight ‘Our dogs are more than just pets. They are companiPoll : 91% of Americans say they would ons who provide emotional support and joy end a new relationship if their new partin our lives – much in the way a spouse is ner could not get along with their dog. meant to.’ In a news release Tina goes onto comment,’So the fact that so many AmeThat’s just one of the revealing statistics ricans would choose their dog over their from a recent survey of 1000 dog owners. partner may not come as a surprise to those of us who would do anything for our pup.’ We always knew that our pets held a special place in our heart, but research now shows The survey also discovered that 47% of pet that if a new significant other could not get owners equally trust their partner and their along with your dog, it would be your partdog... ner that would be shown the door – NOT your dog. and...94% of dog owners also think it’s important that their dog gets on with their Proving that if we we forced to make a partner. choice nothing comes between us and our favourite pet. Like Tina mentions, for the pet lovers amongst us the conclusions reached by the A survey conducted for Pooch Perks also re- study should come as no real surprise. veals that 38% of dog owners love their pet more than their partner. None the less the article and the conclusions made for an interest debate here in our offiThe emotional fallout and impact of a misce...so...we thought we’d catch up with the sing dog is also more significant that a brea- person who created such a hot topic – Tina kup. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being utterly Vidal of Pooch Perks. dstraught, a lost dog averages 9.1 against 8.8 for a breakup. Q) Hi Tina. Thank you for taking time out and getting together today with A Dog’s Best Friend. Let’s get this show on the road. Tell the readers a little bit about Pooch Perks and how it all works? Pooch Perks is the fastest growing monthly dog box on the market, providing pet parents with a monthly themed box of carefully curated good for the pampered pooch. The process is easy! Visit poochperks.com, select “Get a Box” (for renewable options) or “Give a Box” (for non-renewable options), select the size of your pooch, the package you want (we offer 4) and you’re all set! Q) And do you cater for all dog sizes from the Chihuahaha to the Great Dane? We offer two different size packages, dogs under 35 lbs and dogs over 35 lbs. We are adding a toy size category in the near future as well. We own 6 dogs from a miniature pinscher to a great dane so as we test our products we make sure they work for dogs of various sizes. Q) What if I want to send a Gift Box to a friend? How do I go about that? That is one of our favorite features! When you visit poochperks.com, select the “Give a Box” link in the toolbar. That feature will allow you to send a 1, 3, 6, or 12 month gift that won’t auto renew so you don’t have to worry about canceling! There sure is. Most of our boxes have a retail value $5 to $10 above the price you pay, plus the majority of our boxes include free shipping which is another $8-$10 savings on top of that. You can save upwards of $20 on some of our boxes! Q) There are a few Gift Box brands on the market right now. What do you think Pooch Perks do differently, or better, than the other brands out there? Q) Have you got any testimonials from happy pet parents whose pups enjoyed a Pooch Perks box? There are a lot of pop up boxes that have entered the market over the past 18 months. But, at Pooch Perks we do things very differently. First and most importantly, we only source completely all natural treats that are 100% Made in the USA, guaranteed. So you can ensure what you are putting in your dogs mouth is safe and meets USA standards. Second, all of our treats and toys are tested by 6 dogs of different breeds and sizes and by our Pooch Perks product experts. Also, we offer a 100% guarantee- if you’re not happy, we’ll make it right! Q) If I’m feeling peckish, could I even try one of the treats myself? You can! We do. They are all natural, made with human grade ingredients. Q) If customers were big supporters of buying 100% made in the USA products, is Pooch Perks the brand for them? We definitely are! We offer a Patriotic Pooch package for $45 that includes Made in the USA treats and toys. Q) Is there a typical saving to made when ordering a Pooch Perks box compared to buying all the products separately? Tons. All you have to do is checkout our homepage for customer testimonials and reviews. Eva Longoria has even tried our boxes and her dogs love them! Q) You have a lot of great toys for pooches to enjoy. But are the toys safe and tested like child toys are? We hold our toys to rigorous standards and ensure they come from safe factories that are held to the same standards as children’s toys. That means extra testing to ensure no needles have broken off in the stitching process and the components included in the toys are 100% safe. Q) Pooch Perks looks be a growing and thriving company in a competitive market place? What are the future plans at Pooch Perks to ensure customers come back for more? Are there any interesting developments in the pipeline that our readers may want to know about? We have a ton of things in the works for the rest of 2016. We are launching new 1-time product boxes that we think our customers are going to love and we are adding a lot of new customization options making it even easier to pamper your pooch. So it’s clear that Pooch Perks are doing some amazing things for dog owners and their pooches. Just imagine how convenient it would be to have a bunch of awesome pet treats delivered straight to your door-step every month. No fuss and no bother – just instant fun for you and your pooch - straight out of the box. Click the Pooch Perks Pic below to be taken straight to the Pooch Perks site and treat your fur baby today. A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 Stop Your Puppy Jumping Up Article by: Doggy Dan The Online Dog Trainer Learning how to stop a puppy from jumping up is something you need to get onto straight away. Puppies jumping up are a very natural thing that they do when they are little to get attention and in the wild to get fed by licking the Mother’s face to encourage food to be regurgitated. Showing your puppy that it does not get attention when it jumps is something that you should encourage from a very early age. Often it can seem like fun when a puppy is very small but when your dog grows to 35kg and can jump 5 foot high it is not so funny. If you do not stop the jumping when your puppy is little then when your puppy turns into a larger dog it soon turns into a more dominant display of demanding your attention! If your puppy is jumping up, simply turn and walk away. Ignore your puppy, no eye contact, no speaking and no touching. Continue to ignore and then after your puppy has calmed down, wait for 5 minutes and then call your puppy to you. If your puppy does not stop then isolate your puppy by either leaving the room or by putting the puppy in another room. Puppy jumping up on visitors: Put the leash down and wait for 10 minutes or until your puppy is calm, then try again. This is important and although you are keen to go for a walk you should not rush it! Important concepts: It is really important not to speak, to stay calm and not say a word when your puppy jumps up. Remember your puppy is an attention-seeking machine! Your puppy’s jumping up and space invading is not its way of saying I love you!! Space is very important to a dog and if she can invade yours whenever she wants then she will lose respect for you. How would you feel if a human constantly invaded your space! It is more similar than you think!! Start as you mean to go on. When your puppy is calm then you can call her and pick her up for a cuddle When you are ignoring your puppy keep your arms folded and walk past the puppy confidently and assertively. The two most common mistakes: Inconsistency - sometimes puppy jumping up is given attention! People make eye contact...This invites your puppy over, so do not make eye contact, focus on something else. Another trick that will help is to train your puppy to sit for everything! If you can get your puppy to practise lots of “sits” then her default behaviour will simply be to sit when you call her, and not jump! For more information on puppy training then check The Online Dog Trainer it is a great source of fascinating information that covers off everything you need to know about raising a happy puppy using videos. CLICK HERE A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 Fun In The Sun With Fido What Is Summer Really Like For Dogs? Article by: Kiersten Relyea of Pippin Tails It’s official, all over the US we are breaking records for heat waves. So for many of us that means hitting the beaches, getting sun by the pool and cookouts. Well, it doesn’t mean that for our pups. For dogs high heats can mean adventures with their human counterparts but often they don’t enjoy summer like we do. Summer means scorching pavement on delicate paw pads, inadequate water supplies in and around the home as well as on adventures, poolside and ocean dangers and antifreeze is bountiful. Oh yeah and how many more stories will we hear of animals left in cars and outside?! Too many, and they don’t end well. So, let’s go through some serious summer concerns but we will finish off with some fun in the sun you can have with Fido too! Let’s start with the everyday struggles of dog life, which normally isn’t very hard. Let’s be honest, they lounge and eat pretty much most of their lives. BUT when Fido does go out for their walks, it can be downright painful on their little paws. So there are a few tips we have for you! So let’s talk water. They say we need 8 glasses of water a day as humans. I’ve even heard we should take our weight, divide by 2 and then how ever many pounds that equals is how many ounces of water we need to drink. Well for your pup you can use a similar equation. For every 10lbs of dog your pup should drink between 8-10oz of water. That’s not including hot weather or activity level. Just a base line. Now, I won’t harp on you if you see hiking and think Fido can drink from the stream. But, if you’ve ever watched even one episode of those survivor shows you’ve probably seen that the water flowing in that river, is probably not so drinkable. If your packing water in for you, pack it in for Fido too. Poolside, lakeside and ocean dangers seem to be pretty obvious but well, not always. You can’t count on Fido to always be the perfect trained little angel that they normally are. So, what does that mean? Life vests. Short and simple. If you’re planning on being near any body of water you’d worry about a 2-3 year old child near (so probably not my kiddie pool) then strap on a vest. Why? Well anything can happen! Dogs don’t always know how to get out of a pool they got in. A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 25 They also won’t always stay on the pier or in a boat while on the lake. Don’t you know the ducks in the lake must be scared off? And the ocean is a wide and vast place. You can read the story about the pup rescued in the ocean due to his life vest! Just be safe and not sorry. Also, there’s cute vests out there too now. So go ahead and order a fun vest with your fun doggy booties this summer! Let’s talk about antifreeze. It keeps us cool. We love it. But, dogs don’t. Well, actually they do. But what they don’t know, is it can kill them. You probably know this BUT let’s talk about why antifreeze is so bad. It contains ethelyne glycole which dogs can drink quite a bit of before becoming repulsed. This can come from radiators, AC units and if you do your own work on these devices – your garage. (It’s also found in brake fluid and coolant.) Antifreeze poisoning manifests itself in what I refer to as “the antifreeze drunk”. The pet will become wobbly with excessive urination, diarrhea, vomiting, and rapid heart rate. It can then escalate to seizures, fainting and coma. If you think your pet has come in contact with antifreeze get them to the vet immediately. Without treatment kidney failure will set in. Do not induce vomiting until confirmed by your vet, due to the fact other poisons can be more harmful coming up, if it is not in fact antifreeze poisoning but another chemical. with them while we are out. Just something fun! (We don’t leave them with stuffed kongs or plastics as we monitor that usage. A little over protective but ya know.) 5. Get a plastic kiddie pool. So we did this. It’s going well, not as we expected. It’s turned into the big water dish. But we are working on it. We have our fish from our Pooch Perks box that Pippin loves and we throw that in for him! We also are trying to show him it’s not bath time! It’s fun time! So time will tell but we feel good about it! (Again, Lu dog will never go in!) The summer is a great time to enjoy some fun in the sun. Just remember: fun in the sun is different for Fido. We love our pups and whether at home or on a summer trip make sure to think of them while everything is going on. Also, if you’re having a BBQ like we are today, make your pup a tiny burger (no spices/cheese or bread for health) just for them. They are a part of the party too! Have a great summer and we can’t wait to share our summer at Pippin Tails with everyone! Yikes! Sometimes these posts make us nervous about the world around our pups. Taking proper precautions and using forethought will protect our fur babies in the summer! That also means this should go without saying but: DO NOT leave your dog in the car without full AC running and doors locked. That means keypad entry or a spare key. Make sure window lock is on. When I do need to take my dogs with me I have a quick go to: I keep my college grad tassel on my rear mirrors so people can see the AC blowing. I am considering a sign, but we normally don’t leave them in the car. Though some days, you leave in the AM for a nice park jog and by the time you get done the pavement is too hot to walk Fido in and out of errands. Some people also have dogs that have such bad anxiety they can’t be left at home. I won’t judge you for leaving your dog in the car as long as the AC is full blast and you’re on a quick errand nearby. DO NOT leave Fido outside while you’re at work, on the patio for any given amount of time that you are not home or anywhere other than in doors while you are not home. If you’re home, you can monitor your dog while they are outside. If you’re not home Fido should be inside or with you. Okay, let’s add some fun. 1. Get a sprinkler, put it in the yard and see if Pippin loses his mind. Lu dog we know won’t go near it but he loves to “eat” moving water so this should be fun and a good cool down! 2. Make doggie ice cream! Plain and simple. And then we will eat ice cream too! 3. Make doggie ice cubes and Popsicles. So there’s so many cool recipes. Pippin is a little over peanut butter right now so we might try some yogurt recipes. Maybe make it super appetizing and add bacon. Because bacon and yogurt sounds good right? 4. Frozen everything! That’s the trend right now! We’ve found some bones that are similar to esphogas bones and heard you can freeze and stuff them! I love this idea because we can leave them home About the Author Kiersten is the owner and writer for Pippin Tails. Pippin Tails is a blog made to target everything that dog lovers like! This includes product reviews, book and movie plug ins, fun articles and posts about Pippin and his life. To read more from Kiersten Relyea stay tuned here at A Dog’s Best Friend as well as check out Pippin Tails at www.PippinTails.com A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 Poes Print - The Perfect Fusion Of Art And A Genuine Love For Pets Article by: Mike Brown, Publisher, A Dog’s Best Friend We’re all familiar with Instagram and the huge array of pet pictures and images to be found there. However, whilst browsing the news feed one day, a brand that really stood out from the rest… and …offered something a little different was Poes Print. Specialising in capturing and recreating owners pets in a unique and distinctively charming manner, Poes Print is something we had to find out more about… …and had to make sure that you found about them as well. To give you every opportunity to get a unique custom made portrait of your pooch delivered straight to your door step. We sat down one morning with Eva, over a welcome cup of coffee and found out a little more about what she can bring pet lovers just like you… Q) Hi Eva, lets get this rolling. Can you tell the readers a little about Poes Print and what you offer pet lovers? Poes print is a company who offers luxury portraits of your own pet. It’s printed on the highest quality paper that last a lifetime without loss of color. It’s also very thick paper what make it feel very nice. Q) What’s the normal turn around time for a custom made portrait? It depends. In busy times it can take me about four weeks to finish your print because there is a waiting list. Then to the printer to get it printed takes a few days and then the shipping. Shipping depends on what shipping methods you choose and where you live. I have customers all over the world so let’s say to Europe the time for shipping is one to four weeks and for America it’s a few days to three weeks. Q) What was the inspiration for Poes? How did it all start? I went to school for graphic design, that’s where I learned to work with the programs I use. I really liked doing it and I love animals so I thought to combine the two! I started making portraits about a year ago and got a lot of very positive reactions. That’s when I decided to really make something of it. So I did and it is going great! I love doing my work and I love seeing everyone’s pet. Q) Can we hear any testimonials or feedback from other pet parents, who’ve been really pleased with your custom made portraits? Yes sure! There are a lot Instagram dogs who have a portrait and are really happy with it like @kelly_bove her dogs, @juniperfox, @aquacorg and the list goes on haha! So pretty big names. On my website are a few reviews about what some people have to say about the portrait I made for them. Most people are just really happy and say that I really captured their pets personality. Here are just a few examples of what other happy Poes Print customers had to say: for sale in west Hollywood! Also on my website. I’m planning on even more products to make but it’s not done yet so stay tuned to know! printer based in Los Angeles and then it will go to your home! Q) It’s really important that we all give back somehow. Are Poes involved with any charity work? Just imagine having a timeless piece of unique artwork of your fur baby on your living wall. Perfectly capturing the personality and individual character of your pet. Or maybe to give as a present to a family member or friend - how happy would you make them? Yes we do. 15% off all profits goes to non profit animal charity or local shelters. I really love giving some money, or sometimes I buy stuff that the shelter needs, because they are always so happy with it! And it’s not that hard to give a little help. I try to do it every month, but sometimes I don’t have time to go somewhere and then it’s just a little bit more money for the next month. But in the end it’s always the 15% of everything. So people, what are you waiting for? You would be GUARANTEED to be giving a gift that can’t be bought anywhere else on the internet - lovingly crafted art combined with a genuine passion for pets. CL IC Q) So if I want a custom made portrait of my pooch, how do I go about this? You can just send me an email! Then we will have a chat about what you want like size, color, white border or not and some more options. You have to send me some pictures of your lovely pet, I’ll send an invoice and as soon as that’s paid I can get started! When I’m done you will get a picture of the portrait as approval. You can tell me if anything has to be changed and I will change it! Then when you’re happy with it I’ll send it to the ‘I ordered a digital drawing, and I lovethe drawing Eva made for me! It really represent my puppy Lucien. It’s very original and her drawing was a big succes on my account! I will order an other one with pleasure. She also send me the portrait very quick, that was nice.’ @lucien. france on Instagram ‘Eva did an amazing and proffesional job of Rufio. I just love the image she created!’ @livingthatgoldenlife on Instagram Q) Do you offer any other products or services that dog lovers may be interested in? Yes! Recently I started a series of greeting cards. I picked a few models (dogs) to be on the cards, and put a small sentence above it. That also went really great, because they are A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016 K! A DOG ’ S BE S T F R I E N D MAGAZINE Get Your Next Issue For Free At: www.MyBestDogMag.com Feedback? Is there anything you would like to see in this magazine? Email us at: mybestdogmag@gmail.com A Dogs Best Friend Magazine | July 2016