HomeMade Dog Toys

Valuable Resource...

Who Else Thinks Dog Toys are
RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE?

WHY NOT SAVE BIG BUCKS AND JUST MAKE YOUR OWN?

Save money, make your pooch happy and stop lining the pockets of pet store chains!

• Save Big $$ Making Your Own Dog Toys!
• Learn How to Keep It Safe!
• Turn Trash into Hours of Fun!
• Have Fun on a Budget!
• Teach Your Kids the Value of Making Things at Home!

There is nothing like making something with your own two hands. There is a personal feeling of accomplishment, but more importantly, your canine friend will appreciate the effort.

If your dog is anything like mine, a store bought toy may get a bit of attention for a few moments, but then the toy is ignored for more personal items in the home including, but not limited to, shoes, socks, couches, or even tables depending on the dog’s size.

Everyone knows dogs love to run and chew, and this is natural for any dog. Puppies tend to teethe, and just like children, they will put anything in their mouth.

As a pet owner, you get to offer some acceptable solutions to this natural process, hopefully deterring the teething pup away from the more unacceptable items.

Nonetheless, the pup will choose something homemade over something store bought because the smell from store bought items are nowhere near as appealing as items already in the home.

Making HomeMade dog toys is COST-EFFECTIVE, imaginative, and down right fun. Almost anything in the home has the potential to be a dog toy, and believe me, your dog is well aware of this fact.

When bored, your favorite cushion sure will feel good on those teething incisors, and the smell is simply wonderful!

Those curtains hanging there sure do move nicely and make this interesting sound, and your dog will thoroughly enjoy finding out what is making that sound.

Let’s face it – your home is a cornucopia of interesting smells and sounds with everything you hold dear having the potential to be an enormous dog chew.

Instead of allowing your best friend to envision your belongings as a favorite new toy, or an adversary needing to be ripped to shreds, pet owners offer special toys to their dog. This is how a dog learns what is an acceptable opponent, and what is not so acceptable.

Making homemade pet toys is an ideal method of allowing your dog the benefit of personal scents you naturally add to the homemade item instead of the sterile or mixed scents of those store bought items.

It's Also a Great Way to Teach Your Kids the Value of a Dollar and Inspire Them Creatively!

Continued - List of toys you can easily make, plus five BONUS books....

Separation Anxiety in Pets

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

Overview of Pet Separation Anxiety
December 1, 2010

Dogs with separation anxiety destroy objects, urinate, defecate, vomit or salivate when they are left alone. In extreme cases, dogs can be left alone for no longer than 10 or 15 minutes before they panic and exhibit behavior associated with anxiety. Sometimes separation anxiety is caused by a change in schedule that necessitates the dog be left alone for longer that normal. Idiopathic changes in older dogs may also cause sudden separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety may also be associated with a traumatic event such as being in the house during a fire, during a burglary attempt, or while an alarm system sounded. Dogs at risk for separation anxiety include those rescued from humane shelters, laboratory situations, the street, and those that have spent a lot of time in kennels or with a housebound person.

Treatment for Separation Anxiety in Pets

Treatment for separation anxiety teaches the dog that it does not have to be fearful and panic when it is left alone. Most dogs respond to a smaller space where they feel secure, such as a crate. If the dog panics when crated, do not force it. This will make the situation worse.

Behavior modification for dogs with separation anxiety is designed to teach the dogs to "sit," "stay," and "relax" while the owner performs various behaviors, some of which may be upsetting to the dog. The dog is trained to do this exercise with all members of the household, in each room of the house, and outside. Dogs with separation anxiety are usually anxious in various situations and it is important to teach them to relax at every opportunity. Each member of the household should practice training the dog every day.

Next, the dog is left alone for gradually increasing amounts of time. Crate the dog or isolate it in a small, well-lit, temperature-controlled room when you are not at home. Make sure that the room is safe (i.e., no dangling cords, uncovered electrical outlets, open areas of water, such as a toilet) and provide a blanket or bedding, water, toys, and a biscuit. Remove the dog's collar (to prevent strangulation) and remove anything in the room that can be destroyed. Leave the television or radio on and place an additional light on a timer to go on 15 to 20 minutes before you come home. A timer can be used to modify behavior and signal to the dog that you will be returning. If possible, have someone visit the dog during the day.

Separation anxiety can sometimes be relieved if the dog can observe the outside world (e.g., if the crate can be placed by sliding glass doors). Some dogs do better if they are safely and comfortably left outside.

Desensitize the dog to cues that indicate you are about to leave for the day. Pick up your keys, but do not go anywhere; put on makeup and dress up on the weekend; go to work wearing a jogging suit; use a different door than normal; change your daily routine. This helps to reduce the dog's anxiety-based behavior, which may include:

• pacing
• panting
• whining
• pupil dilation
• ear movement
• frequent solicitation of attention
• hiding and
• jumping

Most dogs with separation anxiety require anti-anxiety medication, especially those that experience sudden anxiety caused by trauma. Anti-anxiety medications have limited side effects and tremendous benefits.

http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/separationanxiety/index.shtml
© 2010 Healthcommunities.com, Inc.

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Also, see:
How to Cure Dog Separation Anxiety in 10 Days or Less with Five Super Easy Steps

Fearful Dogs

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

How to Greet Dogs
by Debbie Jacobs

Unfortunately for fearful and aggressive dogs, the manner in which most people introduce themselves to dogs can be threatening to them. While a well socialized dog may tolerate and even enjoy a hand reaching out to them, a face looming over them or eye-to-eye contact, the scared dog often cannot.

The Dog Gone Safe Web site has great information for helping anyone learn more about how to greet and interact with dogs.

It is best not to assume that any dog you encounter is a dog that is comfortable greeting a stranger. Even the most stable dog can be stressed in some situations and prefer to be left alone. Unless you consider yourself an expert on dog body language it's best to let a dog initiate an interaction with you, rather than you moving toward them.

Even a dog that approaches you for a sniff may not be saying, 'Hi! Pet me!' My own scared dog will frequently move toward people to get a sniff, but will bolt away should they move or look at him. He is trying to see what he's dealing with, not trying to deal with it.

Children are often taught to put their hand out for a dog to sniff. Again, not a problem for a 'happy to see you' kind of dog, but for a fearful dog that hand can be scary and for a dog that is aggressive, biting that hand may seem like the thing they need to do to protect themselves from it.

I'm sorry to say that the people who consider themselves to 'good with dogs' or people who would say that 'dogs like them' are often the worst when it comes to dealing with fearful dogs. They just cannot accept or believe that a dog would not warm up to them or enjoy their company. A fearful dog's behavior should not be taken personally. My dog Sunny is an equal opportunity fearful dog, as are many dogs like him.

Below are a few guidelines to follow when meeting new dogs.

• Do not approach a dog, especially if it is tied up or on leash.
• Ask the owner if it is OK for you to interact with their dog before you do it.
• Stand still if a dog approaches you for a sniff; leave your hands by your side and glance away from the dog.
• Squat down instead of bending over to talk to or pet a dog; avoid staring at them, putting your face near theirs or hugging them.
• Do not reach over a dog's head to pet it, instead offer chin scratches or chest rubs.
• Do not touch a dog that has rolled over.
• Ignore a dog that shows any indication of being timid or upset; baby talk, reaching out with treats, or any attempt to connect with the dog can backfire and cause the dog to react fearfully or aggressively.
• Do not feel like every dog you meet needs to be handled; watch a dog's behavior and body language carefully. Learn about calming signals and other ways that dogs communicate their feelings; a dog that is not obviously happy to see you (open mouth, waggy tail and body) is telling you a lot about how they feel. If a dog is not inviting you to handle or interact with them, don't.

Source: http://fearfuldogs.com/how-to-greet-dogs

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Also, see:

• Book: A Guide to Living with & Training a Fearful Dog by Debbie Jacobs.
  This book was a finalist in the 2008 Dog Writers of America competition!
  
  
• FearfulDogs.com
  Resources to help fearful, shy & anxious dogs.
  
  
• Fostering or Adopting a Shy, Fearful Dog
  
  
• The Dog Gone Safe Web site
  

A View from the Inside...

Here's an incredible letter I want to share...you may need some tissues! –Kim

An Open Letter from a Shelter Manager
December 16, 2008

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you...a view from the inside, if you will.

First off, you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter where it's going to be dumped? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are: "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving that doesn't allow pets? Or they say: "The dog got bigger than we thought it would." How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her." Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard." How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me: "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her; we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog."

Odds are your pet won't get adopted, and how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you! Your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes, a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it.

If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc.), it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how "sweet" or "well behaved" they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough and of a desirable enough breed, it may get a stay of execution, but not for long. Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles, chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed, because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little Euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down."

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails...until they get to "The Room." Every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there – it's strange, but it happens with every one of them.

Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep," sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that you are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head that I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job; I hate that it exists and I hate that it will always be there, unless you make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters, and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can, but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this: DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say: "I saw this and it made me want to adopt." THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT!

Source: http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/aus/960931196.html

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• CLICK HERE to see the detailed list of No-kill shelters at the bottom of this blog!
• Also, see: Top 10 Reasons Dogs are Dumped at Shelters

DANGERS of Pet Vaccines!

Valuable Resource...

Pet Vaccines to AVOID
by Dr. Andrew Jones

Your dog or cat are at risk of serious health risks IF you are giving these vaccines....

Dr. Andrew Jones reveals what vaccines you should be giving to your pet in this Free Video here:

http://www.theonlinevet.com/cmd.php?af=981818

Dr. Jones recently RESIGNED as a practicing Veterinarian, because he was revealing 'secrets' that they DON'T want you to know....

In this video, find out:

• WHAT vaccines you should NEVER give to your dog or cat.
  
  
• Dr. Jones' ADVISED Vaccine schedule.
  
  
• WHAT you can do to naturally boost your pet's immune system to PREVENT disease.
  
  
• HOW to AVOID Vaccine reactions by giving these HOLISTIC remedies after vaccines.

Your free VIDEO is here:

http://www.theonlinevet.com/cmd.php?af=981818

P.S. Dr. Jones is leaving this information up for ONLY a short period of time. KNOWING what vaccines to give and WHAT to avoid can really make a difference in the health of your pet.

Get it NOW while you have the chance:

http://www.theonlinevet.com/cmd.php?af=981818

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Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM has been a practicing Veterinarian for almost 20 years. He is a strong advocate of Natural Pet Health Care, and knows that the most important way to heal our pets and prevent disease is through proper nutrition. He developed Ultimate Canine to give our dogs that extra advantage – something that will provide them with everything they need to develop stronger immune systems to fight disease, heal sore or stiff joints, and help them live longer, happier lives. Dr. Andrew Jones' main focus is on alternative, non-traditional remedies for pets. His interest in alternative pet medicine culminated in the writing of his book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

There are No Bad Dogs...

Here are two great videos that I thought I would pass on...very moving! –Kim

...There are Only Bad Owners!

This is the story of Edie, who classified as "unadoptable." She was rescued barely one hour before being put to death by a kill shelter.

This is the story of Chase, also classified as "unadoptable." Chase was rescued on his last day before he was to be euthanized.

No, there are NO bad dogs!