dogIDs "How-To" Dog Blog

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. If you don’t have a first-aid kit for your dog at home, now is the perfect time to put one together. You can either buy a first-aid kit for dogs or put one together yourself. I reached out to a couple of professionals for advice on the best items to include in a first-aid kit specifically for dogs. Here’s what they had to say. Items to include in your dog’s first-aid kit For the most part, you can just use a first-aid kit designe …

Leaving your dog while you travel can be difficult *cue In the Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLachlan* but with proper planning to accommodate your dog’s needs, you can both have a fun getaway... but just what do you do with your dog when you travel?The best thing about traveling is getting to come home to our dogs. The first time they see you after a weekend, week-long, or even month-long trip is the best feeling in the world. You missed your pup, and they missed you. You’re finally reunited! So y …

Healthy fur makes for a happy dog. But when your dog grows a thick coat in the winter, keeping it groomed and tangle-free isn’t always easy. That’s why spring is an important time to give your dog a good grooming.Follow these three grooming tips to prepare your dog for spring:1. Brush your dog regularly. Whether your dog is short-haired or long-haired, repeated brushing removes loose hair from their winter coat and keeps it healthy and shiny. Choose brushes or combs that are gentle on your …

Oct. 1 to 7 is National Walk Your Dog Week, so this week is a great opportunity to encourage other dog lovers to get out and walk more with their dogs. For this post, I thought I’d focus on puppies and when to start teaching them appropriate leash manners. If you've recently adopted a puppy, you're probably already teaching her the basics such as “sit.” But at what point should you start teaching your puppy to walk nicely on a leash? I reached out to a professional dog trainer and as …

Some dogs will naturally take treats gently from a person’s hand, while others can be quite careless! If you have a dog that snaps at your hand in a frantic attempt to get a treat, the following are some tips you can use to teach him to be more patient and gentle. These are also good tips to try if you recently adopted a puppy. It's much easier to start out by teaching good manners than it is to try correcting a problem later on.Tips to get a dog to take treats nicely Melissa Viera i …

It's devastating to think of losing your beloved fur-baby, but there will come a time when you'll wonder about the most fulfilling ways to memorialize a pet. September 13 is National Pet Memorial Day, but grief never restricts itself to a single day. My family’s dog, Katie, a black Australian kelpie and greyhound mix, passed away in April. Every time I go to my parents’ home, I feel like I can hear the jangle of her tags and wish she could sleep with me for one more night. We had so many g …

Looking for a way to include your pet in the holiday festivities? Let them add their touch to some cute decorations.There are so many adorable items you can create with your dog’s paw print. Here are a few examples you can try out. When painting a dog’s paw, make sure to use a non-toxic paint and thoroughly clean off when finished.Paw Print Holiday CraftsPaw and Handprint Tree PaintingCollaborate with your pup to create a festive, hand-made piece of art. Paint your hand and create a pyramid of h …

I’m a dog walker, so I use a variety of available tools for walking different types of dogs. One of those options is a leash and harness. The following are some reasons why you may want to consider a harness for your dog. Reasons to Use a Harness A harness is more difficult to slip out of. Some dogs are able to slip out of their collars more easily than others. For safety reasons, you may be more comfortable walking your dog on a harness so she is more secure. Yo …

My Lab mix Ace is a gross dog. He drools and sheds more than most, which means there is often crusty hair and drool stuck to his collar. He’s always dirty and loves to dive head first into any source of open mud or water. Of course, I love my dog anyway, and one of our favorite things to do together is go to the beach so he can retrieve a tennis ball from the lake or ocean. Over the years, we have ruined several nylon collars due to this habit. They just never seem to get clean again afte …

As a pet parent, you might wonder if a collar or a harness is a better choice for your everyday use with your dog. You may hear opinions on both, but there are no definite answers as to which pet product is best. It depends on the kind of activities you will be doing with your dog as well as other factors.Here are three questions you should ask when picking between a collar or harness. What are my dog’s needs?What are my dog’s attitudes and behaviors?Which product will benefit my dog the most?W …