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Indoor Fun With Your Dog

Being trapped indoors means it is time to find some enjoyable indoor activities. Here are some ideas to keep both you and pooch entertained.

Spa Day: Extra time is a great time for grooming. Give your dog a good brush-out, brush their teeth, clean ears and trim/file nails. End with a doggie massage.

Practice obedience skills or learn some new tricks. There are tons of how-to tips online if you need help getting started.

Hide-And-Seek is one of our family favorites. Use a Stay command, or enlist a helper to hold the dog in one room while you hide. Keep calling the dog until he finds you.

Find It is basically the same as above, except using a toy or treat. Some dogs need help. So I'll say "Find it" as we walk near it.

Shell Game: get 2-3 plastic cups and a treat. All cups should be face down on the floor. Put the treat under one of the cups. Mix them up, say "OK" and let your dog find the treat.

Remember, being confined does not mean you have to be bored. Put on your Creativity Cap, experiment and have fun!

Cold Weather Safety

We've finally been dug out from almost 30 inches of snow but still expecting more. I realize I am overdue for my annual cold weather safety reminder for our canine pals.

Here are the highlights:

• Provide adequate shelter; preferably indoors.
• Exercise outdoors only as weather permits. In extreme weather, play some fun indoor games.
• Watch The Feet for irritation from salts and chemicals used on sidewalks and streets. Even just ice alone can damage pads.
• Provide outerwear as required for your dog to protect against precipitation. Remember to never leave a dog unattended in any kind of “clothing”.
• Antifreeze is lethal if ingested.
• Keep dogs on leash to prevent them getting lost or into harmful substances.
• Do NOT leave your dog unattended in a car.
  

The full article can be found on Squidoo. A PDF version, as well as other wellness tips are on the Head-to-Tail under Archives on the left.

Are You Bow-Lingual

And if the bizarre doggie products couldn't get any weirder, I learned about the Bow-Lingual. While it looks like a radio shock collar, it's actually supposed to be a bark translator.

Apparently this was sold on TV. I don't remember seeing it. The As Seen On TV site states, "Bow-Lingual was featured in TIME Magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2002” list and is an “O List” Oprah-recommended product."

Unfortunately, Bow-Lingual is no longer available on the As Seen On TV web site. Gee, I wonder why. But if you're really curious, there are a few being sold on eBay right now.

Hey, if you need help translating your doggie's bark, I can honestly say you'll get a better value hiring ME for 1-hour than buying this thing. And I don't need batteries.

If you happen to have experience with this product, I would LOVE you to leave a comment.

Cyber Pups

Here's another one for my "Seriously?" file: "Mattel takes innovation to the dogs with its Puppy Tweets". Basically, this is a toy that automatically sends tweets to a Twitter account the owner sets up in the dog's name. Really, I think he'd rather go to the dog park.

I can think of at least a dozen better ways dedicated dog owners can spend 30 bucks.

Beware Drunk Dog Walkers?

What is it, you ask? It's a Bark4Beer dog collar bottle opener. I have no comment. Discuss amongst yourselves...

Fear Of Car Rides and Car Sickness

Suzi did not enjoy her first ride home. As she sat in my lap, she barked, whined and even howled the entire 25-minute drive. So two days later when it was time to take her to the vet, 10 minutes away, I decided the safest thing would be to transport her in her crate. While this definitely was a smart move, being confined in the cargo space of our CR-V made her even more fearful. She threw up going and coming home.

The next time we went to the vet I decided to withold food until after the appointment. With our the first puppy I had that had carsickness, this seemed to do the trick. This seemed to work, until the ride home. Drat.

Experience, as well as my vet, reminds me that many puppies simply outgrow car sickness. But when you need to transport your puppy frequently, wait-and-see is not much of an option.

If your puppy or dog hates the car and/or gets car sick, I'll tell you what I tell my clients. "Different remedies work for different dogs."

Desensitization
Whether a dog is afraid of cars or gets sick, making him feel more comfortable is required. The idea is to slowly re-introduce the dog to the car in short sessions, creating positive experiences. Drives are only introduced and lengthened with increased success. Fairly detailed steps on car desensitization can be found in "Help my dog is afraid of car rides! " by Krista Mifflin for About.com.

One aspect of car rides Mifflin's article does not address is restraint. A travel crate may help some dogs feel more secure. But, like people, other dogs may do better if they can look out the window. Window-watchers will need a canine seatbelt harness or, for toy and small breeds, a pet booster seat (a separate harness may be required - check packages carefully).

Don't forget that you will probably need some stress reduction. Even when able to ignore whining or barking, most people get tense during these car rides, too. That is another reason to keep initial practice runs brief. If you stress-out and end up shouting "Shut up!" at your dog, this will not help matters. So put in some ear plugs or put on some soothing classical music to keep yourself calm and in control.


Supplements
There are a number of different things you can try giving your pet. I am a fan of trying natural remedies before medicinal. A number of my clients have sworn by a slice of fresh ginger root. There are also quite a number of herbal car sickness and anti-anxiety concoctions on the market for pets. Whether or not these will help your pet can only be determined by trial and error.

Veterinarians sometimes often recommend a dose of Benedryl or Dramamine. For severe or otherwise appropriate situations, vets prescribe stronger medications.

All these options seem to work best if administered 20-30 minutes before the car ride. Also, please be sure to consult your vet regarding anything you give your dog. Even herbal and natural remedies can cause adverse reactions, or interfere with any medications your dog may be currently taking.

As with most everything in life, there is no quick fix for doggie car issues. As you work through this process keep the following in mind: Be safe; Be comfortable; and carry plenty of towels.