dogIDs "How-To" Dog Blog

Why Is My Dog Eating Grass and is it OK?
The other day, my dog, Peanut, and I were on our daily stroll through the park. Instead of trying to chase down the squirrels or sniff every park bench like he usually does, he was obsessed with eating the grass. I’ve seen Peanut eat a few blades of grass before, but this time I could barely pull him away from mowing down the lawn. This got me thinking… Is my dog sick? Is eating grass bad for h…
How to Clean Dog Ears and Keep Them Clean
Clean dog ears are very important. If your dog is pawing at his ears or shaking his head more than usual, he may have an ear infection. Or, maybe he just needs his ears cleaned. This post will go over some basic ear care tips you can follow for your dog. It will also help you decide when you might want to seek help from a veterinarian. At-home tips for keeping your dog’s ears clean Kather…
6 Tips for Introducing a Puppy to Your Adult Dog
So you’re planning on adopting a puppy or younger dog, but how will your current dog react? You may need a bit of help before introducing a puppy to an older dog. Maybe she generally loves other dogs, but you’re worried she’ll be jealous or that a puppy will be too playful for her. How can you help the introduction go as smoothly as possible? The following are some ideas that should help…
Is Tug of War a Safe Game to Play With Your Dog?
Tug of War is a fun game between dogs or between a person and a dog. I play tug with my Lab mix Ace almost every day. He loves it! But, my dog also growls and shakes the toy and gets overly excited at times, so I can see why some people might think tug encourages a little too much aggression. You may have even heard some people say you should always make sure to “win.” I asked a few others…
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…
Going Green: Tips for Pet Owners
Sure, you might recycle your cans and use CFL lightbulbs, but have you “greened” your life for your pooch? There are several things pet owners can do to be more environmentally conscious. Here’s a roundup of some of things you can add to your own routine to be a bit more green. Going GreenFor Dogs -Pick up their poop. As we shared in a past blog post, pet waste is actually conside…
Your Dog Got Skunked! Now What?
Has your dog ever been “skunked”? If so, you know how difficult it is (nearly impossible) to get rid of the strong skunk odor. In this post, we’re sharing some tips on what to do if your dog gets sprayed by a skunk and how you can attempt to remove the odor from her coat and collar. If your dog has ever been skunked, we’d love to hear what you did. What worked and what didn’t?What to…
How To Care For Your Nylon Dog Collar
Nylon collars are a great option for your pet. With a variety of colors to pick from, you can match your pup's personality. But what happens when your nylon collar starts to show wear and tear?Here are the dogIDs tips for caring for your nylon dog collar.Nylon Collar CareHow to Set the Color of Your Nylon CollarIt's always exciting to order a new collar for your best friend. dogIDs offers a variet…
How to Stop a Dog From Counter Surfing - 4 Tips
You set a bag of rolls on the counter and then head out to your car to carry in another grocery bag. You’re gone a whole 30 seconds and … the rolls are gone! Raise your hand if your dog is guilty of this! Do any of you have dogs that like to steal food off the counters? Not only is this frustrating, but it can even be dangerous if the dog takes something that could be harmful, like ch…
How to Prepare Your Dog for a New Baby
If you’re expecting a baby, you might be wondering how the heck your dog will react to the new family member. You’re probably also thinking about what you can do ahead for planning that introduction.The following are some tips and tricks from parents who've been there.How to introduce your dog to your newborn baby1. Change up the routine before the baby arrives.Obviously, once the baby arrives you…
How to Get a Puppy Used to Walking on a Leash
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…
Harness vs Collar: Which Is Best For Your Dog?
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 m…
How to Stop Your Dog From Barking When Home Alone
When I first adopted my dog Ace, he would bark for 20 minutes every time I left for work (those high-pitched, annoying yips!). This was stressful for me, because I lived in an apartment at the time and didn’t want my new dog to cause problems with my neighbors. I remember asking a friend what I should do, and she said not to worry. She believed my dog would adjust just fine to my ro…
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 your f…
4 Tips to Stop a Dog From Jumping
Dogs love to greet their dog friends by jumping on one another. It's a way for them to show affection. However, this is not exactly a polite way for dogs to greet people.If you have a dog with a jumping habit, the following tips should help teach your dog a more appropriate way to greet his human friends.Tips to stop a dog’s jumping1. Don’t engage with a dog who’s jumping.It’s best not to res…