Wednesday, August 21, 2013

When nature calls...

My Golden Lab, Sophie, has a propensity for chasing squirrels in our backyard.  She'll sprint the length of our backyard, chasing after a squirrel from one Evergreen to the next across our rickety old fence in hopes of catching the ever elusive squirrel.  I will say with much relief she's never caught one.  Typically the chases end up in a standoff with the squirrel perched high up in the tree while Sophie stares up in frustration.

It's a funny scene but there is a serious point to consider.  Whether we're in our neighborhood parks or hiking up mountain trails, we need to be conscience of the environment our dogs play.  It may seem kinda cute to see your dog chase after a duck or a prairie dog but the results of a potential confrontation could be devastating to your dog as well as wildlife.  Wild animals have no idea your dog may be playing and will very likely lash out violently if they feel threatened.  Keep in mind, too, that many wild animals carry infectious diseases and one little scratch could make your dog sick or worse.

It's great to go for walks or to hike with your dog off leash but if you're still working on obedience with your dog make sure you keep them on a leash when you're out in nature.  For the most part my Sophie is a very well behaved dog but we've had a couple of incidents where she's bolted after a rabbit and she was not about to listen to our commands to return.  Even the best trained dog will still have the instinct to chase after another animal so always be ready.  Whether you have a puppy or an older dog, training is essential.  Check out your local obedience or puppy training schools.  With good, consistent training your dog will learn to respect their environment and leave other animals alone.

Parks are great places to play for our dogs.  Let's make sure we keep it safe for them and the other animals.



Wednesday, August 14, 2013

An exercise in futility...


They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results.  I guess you might call me insane every time I give Sophie a single treat, expecting that to be enough for her and the begging would cease.   Leave it to me to think a dog might have the capacity to reason and exercise restraint.  Why not?  They have the capacity to show affection, compassion and playfulness.  They also have the uncanny ability to sense when we're hurting and will remain by our side until we're better.  Trust me when they stare at you with those big, brown eyes they are TOTALLY playing on your emotions in order to get what they want.  That would account for why Sophie can crawl up on our bed every night without objection from me.  So why shouldn't they have the capacity to think "hey, I don't want any more of those delicious Smartdog Jerky treats, just toss me that old bone."  Perhaps in a perfect world that situation might play out.  In the meantime, I'll continue to succumb to those big, brown eyes and pass the bag of Smartdog Jerky!

http://www.smartdogjerky.com


Monday, August 12, 2013

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Order Turkey Jerky

Our leanest meat!  This is such a great new product that is low in fat and all natural.  Great for dogs with weight problems or that are non active.  Call and order today! 





Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Rare dog breeds

We are all used to seeing Golden Retrievers, Poodles and such around, but there are some really unique dog breeds out there.  Check them out by clicking the link below.

24 of the rarest dog breeds

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Game meats for dogs


Game meats are becoming more popular as a food and treat choice for dogs.   The benefits of these "free range" meats are great and a smart choice for your dog.  With many dog foods and treats being full of antibiotics, hormones, fillers, wheat products and more, it is no wonder so many dogs have allergies these days.  The best type of meat to give a dog with allergies is game meat.  

Benefits of Game Meats

Antibiotic free
Hormone free
 Free range animal
 Great protein source
Naturally rich in vitamins 
 Low in fat
Grass fed