Caring For The Dog's Coat

Your dog's coat and skin need grooming and conditioning

Besides the obvious benefits of bathing your dog so that he will be clean, there is a whole different benefit most people don't think about. REGULAR coat care allows you to keep track of any skin problems your dog may have. Skin problems can often be the tell tale sign of something else going wrong. Even tiny pimples, for example, can be a sign of advancing skin cancer which can metatasize to the organs of your dog.

Regular grooming should be done not only for the Show dog but for the everyday household or outdoor pet. A grooming table is a great help and can save your back when brushing your dog. It also works well for bathing your dog, just stand your dog on the groomintg table to bathe him. You can read all about the best ways to easily groom your dog in my new TRAINING MANUAL. Although the title is called "Dogshows 101" this is a book which will prove to be of great valur for even the ordinary pet owner, it is chock full or great training tips and covers nearly every aspect of raising and training a great well balanced and happy dog.

Grooming the dog on a regular basis will also provide a bonding activity that you and your dog can share. When you share such an activity with your dog,just you and him, you are providing your dog a chance to bond with you, to learn to trust you, and to respond to you, in other words, to pay attention to you, and allow YOU to become his "pack leader". Even in a one dog family, this is an assest but it is even more important in a multiple dog household. Dogs that are in multiple dog households can suffer somewhat from a lack of individual bonding, especialy if you do not work with one particular dog on a regular basis in any sort of training. Grooming just that one dog allows that one dog to have a happy and pleasant experience with just you, alone. This activity enriches your life and the dog's life as well. Did you know this interesting fact: a person who spends daily tme petting an animal lives 205 longer than one who does not??

WINTER CARE FOR YOUR DOG

Will your dog be comfortable this winter?

Both "outdoor dogs" and "indoor dogs' need special care during the cold winter months.

Dogs who are kept in kennels or outdoor runs need to have a shelter which will protect them from the cold temperatures and winter snows. The shelter should be just large enough for the dog to fit inside comfortabley and should contain bedding so that he can "nest." The closer the area around the dog, the more he will generate body warmth. His "house" is the same thing as a "den" for the dog,

Dogs who are kept inside the home may need to wear extra protection when going outside for a walk. Their coats and their bodies are not used to the cold weather and they will suffer in the same way that you would suffer if you went outside without a coat. Even long coated dogs need or should have foot protection so that the hair between the toes will not collect "ice balls."
Dogs in the winter will need to keep body energy and will eat more than they do in the summer.Outdoor water supplies need to be kept from freezing. Heating units for outdoor waterers may be purchased and the electrical connections should be frequently checked. Dogs can not and should not be expected to "just eat snow" to maintain the water supply for their body.

It is perfectly okay to report dogs that you see are being mistreated during the winter months. Countless numbers do die in the winter because people are not caring for them properly. Nearly all states in the union have state veterinarian services or agricultural departments. Check with your county board of supervisors to find the phone number of your local agricultural extension service and get help for animals who suffer needlessly in the winter.

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Natural Flea Repellents

smells good too!

Remedy #1

Take a BIG fat lemon (the more rind the better) and slice it paper thin. Put in a bowl with a tablespoon of crushed rosemary leaves (or a 6 inch sprig of fresh). Pour over with a quart of hot, near boiling water. Let steep overnight. Strain and put into a large spray bottle. Keep in fridge. Shake well before applying. The d-limeone in this spray along with the rosemary oil will give your dog a beautiful shiny coat and keep fleas and other bugs away including mosquitoes, so you get extra heartworm protection. If your dog has dry skin or allergies add a teaspoon of tea tree oil and a tablespoon of Aloe pulp. Use the spray at least twice a week to keep the scent on the coat to repel bugs, and spray it around your doors and through the carpets. If it's a bad flea time, spray daily on the belly and feet to repel them. No bug will get near this stuff. And, of course, it's all natural!

Remedy #2

Go to any fish aquarium center and purchase a bag of diatomaceous earth (also known as "Diatom dust"). This almost perfect repellent comes in the form of a fine chalky white powder. It is, as it says, mined directly from the earth. It is a silica (sandy) substance which is made up of tiny tiny crystals. When bugs walk through this stuff....they DIE. This is because the tiny crystals slice the exoskeleton of the bug and they can not survive when their skeletons are sliced. Best of all, it is absolutely harmless to your pet,to kids, or any small animal within your household. The only caution is that this fine dust is harmful to birds in your family and since it is also a very fine dust you should probably wear a mask if you are dusting it into the atmosphere of your home. I use this substance in my basement liberally sprinkled around foundations. In the three years that I have lived in this very very old home I have found only two spiders!! I have had diatom dust in my basement since I moved here! I highly recommend this product.Diatom Dust Insect Powder - 5 Pounds