Dog Care 101

It's time to talk turkey! Be fair warned that the tantalizing aroma of turkey, stuffing & pumpkin pie will cause drooling at the mouth. With turkey paw lifting on the rise, even the most behaved and well-trained dog have been known to help themselves to a drumstick or two. However, it is important to remember that some of our Thanksgiving food favorites are toxic to pets and can cause death or illness, they should be avoided. When feasting & filling your hungry belly on the Thanksgiving bounty that you slaved feverishly in the kitchen to prepare. Please keep these holiday pet safety tips in mind. Taking a few precautions will help keep your pet safe and the holidays full of bliss.

1. Keep pets on normal diet. Feeding turkey & sides to your dog or cat can cause him or her unwanted abdominal pain, vomiting or diarrhea. Not to mention can add a few unhealthy & unnecessary pounds to your pets waistline.

2. No Table Scraps Please! Do not give in to your pets pleading eyes & begging whines. Make sure to inform visiting guest and family to not indulge your pets with table scraps or sweets. Food high in sodium and other fatty foods like poultry skin, beef or port fat should not be on your dogs feasting menu. These foods, although tasty can cause an inflammation of pancreas. Pancreatitis is potentially life-threatening condition.

So what are some foods for your pet to avoid? Turkey skin, macadamia nuts, turkey bones, sage, chocolate, onions, nutmeg, grapes, raisins, sweets and the list goes on. So before the holidays arrive, be aware of what human foods are toxic to dogs and cats and keep the ASPCA pet poison control center number (888-426-4435) handy on the fridge.

3. Safely discard turkey string that tied the legs. Make sure to properly dispose of used aluminum foil, turkey pop ups, skewers, string, oven bags, whole lead seasonings plastic wrap, and wax paper that has been nicely flavored with turkey juice and all the fixing. Your pet will be tempted to lick and swallow which can lead to choking or  intestinal obstruction. One trick  is to put them in a sheet of unused foil as you prepare your dishes then wrap them up and place in the garbage that has a tight fitting lid. The foil will minimize the smell.

4. Secure the garbage can perimeter. If you haven't already realized pets are scavengers and will wolf down anything that appears to be edible eye candy, especially if it smells good enough to eat or chew. Dogs are infamous for trash can tipping and dumpster diving. As an unsuspecting loving pet owner preoccupied with entertaining guest you may not realize that your dog has just sneaked off to his quiet spot to munch on a deadly snack.

5. Death by Chocolate. Although one of life simple pleasures chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine which is toxic to pets health resulting in rapid breathing and hyperactivity.

6. Don't give your dog the wish bone as a chew toy or treat. Turkey, duck, geese & bird bones are dangerous for pets because they can easily become brittle, sharp, and splinter. If chewed can lodge in the esophagus or cause  stomach irritation or intestinal obstruction & trauma. Bones can puncture dogs intestine and cause fatal internal bleeding.

7. Minimize pets stress levels with daily routine. It is important that you maintain your pets regular schedule for feeding and exercise even in the midst of preparing frantically for the Holiday's. It is so easy to neglect pets during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and for pets to become insecure. make sure you set aside quality time to spend with your pet.

8. Stay home & watch the parade. Large crowds & parades can be stressful for pets or can become lost in the crowd. Consider letting your pet enjoy the Macy's Day Parade & holiday festivities from the comforts of home, the best seat in the house.

9. Check Water Supply. Make sure your paw pal has fresh water and a clean water bowl at all times. With relatives and children running around your pets water dish is bound to spill over.

10. Provide a quiet refuge for your animal. It is important that your pet has a quite place to get a time out or take a nap away from holiday guest, friends & family. Perhaps, your dog has a crate or you place your dog or cat bed in his own personal suite with a sign that says “Do Not Disturb”.

11. Wear ID! In the awful event your dog or cat becomes lost, it is important to keep current registration and identification tags on you pet. With guests coming in and out of your home, it is very easy for a door to be left ajar and for your animal to wander off after kids or to the neighbors for a bite to eat.

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A barking or biting Fido is definately a no-no and can seriously give you a headache if you don't know what to do. Aggression is the most common and most serious behavior problem in dogs. It’s also the number-one reason why pet parents seek professional help from behaviorists, trainers and veterinarians.

So rather your dog is showing their teeth, snarling, snapping or lunging  - knowing how to curb this behavior is key.

First you must understand why your dog is being aggressive. Aggression can be defined many ways and be caused by many things.

Typically dogs display the following types of aggression.

• Dominant Aggression
• Territorial Aggression
• Fear Aggression
• Prey or Predatorial Aggression

It is important to identify the type of aggression your dog is showing and handle it quickly and smoothly as well as reassure your dog to set them at ease.

Two tips to help you handle aggressive dogs are to socialize them and have them attend a basic obedience class. (We recommend obedience first and then after training has taken hold slowly introduce your dog to other dogs slowly and one at a time before introducing to groups of dogs.)

Utilizing an obedience technique you should have your dog sit and wait when people or pets approach that way a soft welcome can be achieved.

If you don't trust your dog around adults, children or other dogs spend some more one on one time and continue practicing obedience until you feel confident in your dog. The last thing you need is you pup taking a bite out of your neighbor.

*Know that some breeds can be more aggressive than others so please consider this and do your research. You need to be realistic about your lifestyle and how much time you can invest in your pup....because if you ignore your pet....well they may become aggressive to you. So be sure to invest a lot of time, love and treats of course.

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Comment below and share your aggressive dog stories

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Well it's the time of the year again. For fido with those nonstop doorbell rings we call it...Bark-o-ween. As much as we may enjoy this holiday, Halloween can be confusing and scary for our four legged friends. Here are some more safety tips and things to consider to ensure a successful Halloween with your dog:

1. Ding Dong - CANDY PLEASE! If your dog is nervous and reacts to the sound of a door bell, this can be a good time to practice and train fido if you have someone helping you. Have one person pass out the candy and you can practice obedience with your dog. If you are just starting out, you can keep your dog on a leash for this training exercise. Every time the door bell rings and your dog acts appropriately (perhaps a bark and then quickly calms down), he gets his own doggy approved treat. Start out several feet away from the door. By the end of the night, he might not even care who is ringing your door bell because he is already ready for that treat! This is an excellent desensitization exercise if done properly. If you know this simply won't work perhaps consider boarding or leaving your pup with a loved one.

2. Boo-Hiss-Woo! Scary sights and sounds. The door training may be too much for your dog and he may feel more comfortable in his own safe space. It is perfectly ok if your dog would rather be in another area happily chewing on a treat/bone instead. Please observe your dog’s comfort level here and crate, or move him if necessary.

Children who are loud and excited in costume may scare your dog. Gauge how your dog responds and act accordingly. If your dog is showing signs of stress, remove him from that situation. If your dog is already nervous around children, this would NOT be a good time to try and socialize him around kids. The last thing you need is your dog scaring your unfriendly neighbor's child. On the other hand this might be a great time to make new friends and even potential play pals for your pup.

3. Hot Dog! Costumes for Dogs. If you are dressing up your dog for Halloween, please make sure your dog can still properly see, hear and move comfortably. Other dogs may react poorly when they see dogs in costume. This isn’t out of the norm, so just be aware and observant. And please dress creatively or ironically.

4. Not a treat! Chocolate and other goodies. After the kids bring home their stash, it is very common for dogs to find their way into the candy. Encourage your kids to keep all candy away and properly stored, so your dog cannot access it. Here are some treats that your pup can have.

Have a safe Halloween from your friends at Best Bully Sticks! Woof Woof!

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With Halloween fast approaching everyone is stocking up on candy galore. Although chocolate and candy is hazardous to your pets health that doesn’t mean they have to miss out entirely on Halloween. We came across some wonderful healthy fall treat ideas that are great for pets and howling good!

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is not just for carving fun jack-o-lanterns they are also a great source of fiber to help regulate and maintain a digestive tract. They are also a good source of beta carotene (a source of vitamin A).  You could make your pets a no-sugar-added pumpkin dog treat with fresh pumpkin or canned pumpkin. You can cut a whole pumpkin into fourths and bake it in the oven. Scoop out the flesh, allow it to cool, and serve it plain with no seeds with or without kibble.

Popcorn

Since dogs cannot have candy or sweets...air popped, unbuttered, unsalted popcorn is a tasty low calorie treat for your dog. Popcorn contains potassium as well as the bone-building minerals phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium.

Peanut Butter

Pets can’t eat chocolate peanut butter cups, but there’s no reason they can’t have peanut butter. Peanut Butter is a healthy, high-protein treat for dogs. Spread a dog biscuit with a thin layer of peanut butter for a special holiday treat. You could even make your own peanut butter cups by stuffing dog treats with peanut butter.

If you do suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Halloween is the perfect opportunity to dress up in a costume - but it's not a holiday just for humans. Many pets love to join in on the spooky Halloween festivities. Dressing your pet up for Halloween always makes for fun memories. When it comes to making a Halloween costume for your pet, consider the following tips to keep them safe and happy.

2.  The neckline shouldn't be too tight. Signs that the costume is too tight will include chewing, pawing or other signs of discomfort.