dogIDs "How-to" Dog Blog

Can Acupuncture Help My Dog?
Meet Ody! He’s an office dog here, at dogIDs, and his mom is Keely who works in customer service. Ody is a French Bulldog mix and his favorite thing to do is cuddle up with his momma. Being a French Bulldog makes Ody susceptible to lower back problems, like Disc Disease. Ody was diagnosed with Disc Disease 5 months ago and is now pain-free all thanks to dog acupuncture.What is Disc Disease?Disk Di…
Common House Plants That Are Harmful To Your Dog
Hooray! Spring is here! You know what that means. It is finally nice enough to leave the jacket at home, take your dog for long walks until the sun sets and start planting your garden.If you are thinking of testing out your green thumb, it’s important to remember the family pets before you introduce new plants to your yard or home. Adding some green to our living landscape has many benefits to us…
7 Methods to Exercise Your Dog
Dogs appreciate mental and physical challenges. Some dogs won’t feel tired or relaxed unless their owners find a way to accomplish both. Here are seven great options forExercising your dog:1) “Obedience” walksA walk is one thing, but how about a walk where your dog has to work his mind? Practice commands such as heel, sit, down, stay and come. Use treats if necessary to encourage your dog to pay a…
How to Care for Your Dog’s Paws in Winter Weather
Depending on where you live, you may need to consider extra care for your dog’s paws in winter months. For example, winter weather can cause cracked or dry paws. Plus, some dogs are sensitive to the cold, snow and ice on their feet. For these reasons, I reached out to two veterinarians to get their advice on winter paw care. Should your pup wear dog boots? I wrote a whole post on dog b…
Benefits of Spaying or Neutering your Pet?
February is National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. It's a month where we remind all pet owners that unless you are planning to become a responsible dog breeder, the best option is to spay/neuter your pet. To shed some light on the subject, we created an infographic that shares all of the benefits that come from caring for your pet through a spay or neuter.Spaying or Neutering Your Pet Having…
Dangerous Doggy Doo – Clean Up After Your Pet
You take Fluffy out for an evening stroll, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying your sights and surroundings. Winding sidewalks, big trees, green bushes, squirrels scampering, children playing. Then, all of a sudden, you step on a landmine of doggy doo. Worse yet, Fluffy really wants to investigate these leftovers of another dog’s journey on this same path. I’ve had my fair share of frustr…
Creating the Perfect Garden for You and Your Dog
As gardening season begins, you may have many questions when it comes to planting a dog-friendly garden: What plants are poisonous to my dog? What plants are healthy for my dog? What mulches/fertilizers/pesticides are safe for my dog? What does a dog-friendly garden look like? This article will serve as your guide to creating the perfect garden not only for your backyard, but also for yo…
Pumpkin For Dogs - The Ultimate Guide
At dogIDs we are all about improving the lives of dogs. Because of this, we have many people ask us health questions about their dogs. One of the most common questions that you ask is about healthy superfoods for dogs. Specifically, you ask if your dog can eat pumpkin. The short answer is yes! Pumpkin For Dogs - The Ultimate Pet Superfood Here's the long answer: Pumpkin has many…
What is Dog Bloat and How to Prevent it
Mealtime is probably one of your pup's favorite activities. But did you know that your dog's meal can be dangerous?Here is a quick lesson in dog bloat that could save your pet's life.What is Dog Bloat?According to PetMD.com, dog bloat (or Gastric Dilatation Volvulus - GDV) is caused when your dog's stomach fills with gas, liquid, or food, causing a large amount of pressure on their diaphragm. This…
What to Know About Dog Daycare Best Practices
If you’re considering sending your dog to daycare, there are some things you should consider.Dog daycare is a place for your pup to socialize with other dogs and it gives them ample opportunity to exercise throughout the day, which is especially great if they’re left alone at home for most of the day. However, there can be problems with dog daycares: if your dog is anxious or aggressive around oth…
Did You Know that February is National Pet Dental Month?
Just like us, our canine friends need to have regular checkups to keep their teeth and mouths healthy. Signs of gum disease can appear as early as four years old if your dog doesn’t get proper mouth care. Besides a healthy diet, providing your pooch with plenty of toys and chews can help keep their mouth healthy. National Pet Dental Month The American Society for the…
How To Keep Your Pet Safe From Ticks
From April through September, there’s a common parasite to look out for on your pet: ticks. These bugs are small but mighty and can cause serious problems for your pet if they’re not removed. Pet owners of all types should be well-versed in where their pets can pick up ticks, how to remove them, and how to prevent ticks in the first place. Here are all your tick questions, answered:…
How to Help a Dog Lose Weight – 5 Tips
It’s hard enough for some of us to stick to our own healthy eating and exercise plans, so it’s not surprising so many of our dogs are overweight. Besides the obvious - eat less and exercise more - this post includes some tips on how to help an overweight dog return to a fit and healthy state. I hope you’ll also share some of your own tips in the comments section. How to help a d…
The Top 5 Training Tips From dogIDs
Let's be honest, there are a lot of dog training tips online. It can be difficult to know what's right and wrong, or where to find the last article you were reading. To simplify your training process, we've put our 5 favorite training tips into one blog post. Time to break out the treats and begin!The Top 5 Training Tips From dogIDsHow To Stop Your Dog From Barking When Home AloneLeaving your dog…
Why Dogs Shed and How to Reduce It
Thanks to our guest blogger, Emma Olson, for sharing her experience with shedding in her dog Brownie. Dog Hair About a month ago, I started noticing how often I was sweeping my floors. It wasn’t dirt I was piling into my dustpan, but dog hair. So. Much. Dog. Hair. This can’t be normal, I thought as I watched Brownie, my 7-year-old pointer/lab mix, walk across my clean…