How to Care for Your New Dog

Pam
Getting a new dog is sure to be an exciting event for you and your family. However, this excitement can turn into anxiety if you don’t know the right way to care for your new family member. He or she needs more than food and water to keep them happy. It takes a bit of planning and preparation to make sure that your new dog will thrive in their new surroundings. Gather Your Supplies A dog crate is an important tool to have, especially in the beginning. Some people may think the crate to be like a jail cell, but this is a common misconception. A dog enjoys having a… Read More Continue Reading

Cost Of Owning A Puppy – The Puppy Calculator

Pam
Can You Afford The Cost Of Owning A Dog? How Much Does It Really Cost to Own a Dog? There are physical, mental and social advantages of having a dog of your own. Promoting a sense of well-being, dogs help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. A dog will be a great companion for you throughout his or her lifetime. However, before you run out and find the perfect dog for you, take a look at the many costs that are involved in having a dog of your own. When you are finished looking them over, use the calculator at the bottom to help guide you further. Initial… Read More Continue Reading

Bathing Tips For Your Dog

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Whether you are between grooming appointments or on a strict budget, sometimes you need to wash your dog at home. To prepare, assemble your bathing tools: towels, wash cloth, shampoo and bath fresh mist, and comb. It is also helpful to have some treats on hand to reward your dog for good behavior during the grooming session. I like to dilute the shampoo for ease of application – you can use any plastic squeeze bottle. Simply pour the soap that you are going to use in the bottle and add water – a 5:1 dilution works well for me. If you are using heated water (which is always nice!), check… Read More Continue Reading

Children and Obesity – Benefits of a Family Dog

Pam
As we approach summer, the days are getting long and soon it will be high time for children to be active, exploring the outdoors. While it is a well-known fact that children and young people should aim to be active for at least an hour each day to make sure they keep their hearts, bodies and minds healthy, doing so can be difficult in the dead of winter. A British study shows that families with a dog tend to be more active, rain or shine, and help in the fight against childhood obesity. The results, published in the American Journal of Public Health, showed that the children with dogs in… Read More Continue Reading

Surviving the Fourth of July

Pam
America is only a few weeks away from the fourth of July celebrations, and while most Americans love this holiday, the fireworks associated with our midsummer patriotic spectacle is no picnic for pets. If your dog spends late June and early July panicked by fireworks, then this article is for you. Pets are very good at telling you when they are scared. They hide, cower, shake, pant, drool, have dilated pupils, and often seek comfort from you. Some dogs are destructive when they panic: digging, chewing on things or even themselves, or can put themselves in extreme danger by bolting, trying to run away from the sound. To prevent these… Read More Continue Reading

Out-of-the-Box Volunteer Opportunities for Dog Lovers

Pam
For those of us who want to volunteer their time and talents to make the world a better place for companion animals, there are more options and opportunities than ever available to help dogs. While we all know about volunteering at a local shelter or rescue, but here are three out-of-the-box animal volunteer opportunities that you might not have known about. Flight Escort Volunteering Adopted and assistance pets need volunteers to accompany them via flights. The cost of transporting a dog can also be prohibitively expensive, but if accompanied by an escort, on certain airlines the pet’s airfare is free! This helps shelters and rescues save significantly more lives. If… Read More Continue Reading

Doggie Breath can be Bad for Your Dog’s Health

Pam
Bad Doggie Breath isn’t just offensive, it is a serious health problem. Dogs can have the same dental problems as people, such as periodontal disease or broken teeth. Periodontal disease causes inflammation in the pockets which leads to bone loss around the tooth. These pockets become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria. Every time a pet with periodontal disease chews, the infected gums inject bacteria into the bloodstream, which weakens the immune system and puts extra wear and tear on the internal organs, especially the kidneys and heart. The good news is that routine oral care can save your pet unnecessary pain, will save you money, your pet will live longer and… Read More Continue Reading

Welcome to Gator’s Tale!

Pam
Gator is my nearly 14 year old Jack Russell Terrier. My blog is a mix of history, breed information and stories related to Gator and the boisterous breed known as the Jack Russell Terrier. Whether you are the owner of a JRT or another breed, you can appreciate the life and times of living with a dog. Gator’s story begins in a rural Pennsylvania farm town. My now husband decided to surprise me with a birthday gift..a dog; not just any dog, but a Jack Russell Terrier. He told me that he had run into a funny puppy while at work one day and decided we should get one. Bill… Read More Continue Reading

Champion Chewer?

Pam
Chewing is something I am sure we have all come across and is actually a very normal part of a dog’s behavior. If the chewing has become destructive there can be a variety of reasons so the first will be in diagnosing the issue. Puppies are a lot like babies in that until about six months they will still be teething. The chewing helps alleviate some of the soreness in their gums. Just like we give a baby a chew toy this is a great time to start teaching little Fido good chewing habits. Make sure he has plenty of attractive chew toys such as a KONG®, Squirrel Dude™, Twist… Read More Continue Reading