Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog’s reach.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Symptoms of toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. Make sure to keep your antifreeze out of your dog’s reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

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This post on dog food blog is about a complex technology (which I won’t dig into) and it amazes me that this technology is used ‘just’ to get dogs to say ‘mmmm… boss, that food you bought smells really nice‘ and at the same time I think this is so interesting and exiting. It makes me curious as to where dog food is going these days. Perhaps you recall my posts in July 2007 about K-9 Genetics and dog food in the age of the genome. I’ve heard ‘down to earth’ people say these developments are over the top, but I just love progression and fine tuning.

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Truth about Caring for Dogs that are Hypoallergenic for Humans

Hypoallergenic dog breeds have special needs because they are usually smaller in size and have temperaments that may be difficult to handle sometimes. When you first bring your new dog home, you should allow it to roam around to get an idea of its surroundings. If you have other pets, you should put them in another room while the dog is investigating the area. Depending on the breed of dog, they may be very scared at first. They may not want much human contact, so you should be careful about handling them too much during the first few days they are in your home.

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Sometimes a dog’s behavior and actions can leave us completely baffled. This is especially true for new dog owners. So, here is a little guide to help you figure out why your dog might be doing the weird things that he does.

1. Why does my dog keep eating the cat’s poop out of the litter box?

While this particular dog behavior seems to be among the most bizarre, there really is a simple explanation for it. Your cat’s diet consists mostly of protein, so his stool has a high protein content as well. Many dogs simply crave the protein located there. Try using a litter box with a cover or one that automatically scoops litter after each use.

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Huddled under my umbrella the other day, I was dodging raindrops and puddles as I walked the three blocks from the parking garage to my office. As I was passing an apartment building, I saw an elderly woman standing near the entrance holding an umbrella over her little white poodle dog. Unfortunately, the umbrella wasn’t large enough to cover both her and the dog, so she was getting soaked. Unable to withhold comment, I said, “Do you think he’ll melt if he gets wet?” She responded, “Well, he’s sweet enough to melt, but the truth is that if I don’t hold the umbrella for him he gets angry and pouts and won’t eat his lunch.” And, by dinner time he’s an absolute bear! Welcome to the world of the pampered pet.

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Each year, more than 10 million pets are lost. It can easily happen, no matter how much we all try to prevent it. When your pet is lost and if they do not have a collar or their collar gets lost, it can be very difficult for them to find their way home. According to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their owners. Nearly 20 million pets are euthanized each year because their owners cannot be located. If your pet is microchipped, there is a much greater chance that they will return to you safely. Microchips will last for your pet’s lifetime as there are no moving parts and nothing to replace.

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When one designs a new product one should always have the customer or consumer in mind. This is perhaps lesson 1 in doing business. But several dog food manufacturers seem to think YOU are their target audience, the consumer! Why else would they come up with dog food names such as:

Irish Stew with BeefChinese Takeout with Vegetables and ChickenSouthern Style Dumpling With ChickenHobo Chili With Chicken

Dogs can’t read, can they?Looks like this food is designed especially for you! These four examples are the recalled types of Natural Balance Eatables that are being recalled because of the botulism fear.

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Kyle from the USA posted the following question to ‘Best Dog Food Guide‘:

“I’ve been told dry dog food is good for my dogs teeth. Is putting water in his food bowl all the time going to take away from this?”

Well, the short answer is a plain ‘no’. I’m assuming Kyle is worried about his dog’s teeth and gums. The best thing to do is brush your dog’s teeth and you don’t actually need tooth paste; water alone will be fine. Throw him an occasional bone or raw hide to chew on.

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If any of the following 5 statements ring true, you should re-examine your reasons for wanting a dog and your ability to properly care for one.

1. You’re Always Really Busy with Work and Don’t Have Much Downtime

In order for your new dog or puppy to bond with you and properly acclimate to its new surroundings, you’ll need to set a lot of time aside just for him. You can’t just pick out a puppy, bring it home, play with it for a while and then forget it. You need to spend quality time with your new family member. This means lots of playtime (especially for puppies), two or more walks outside every day and obedience training. If you don’t spend time with your pet, you’re just asking for trouble. Often, neglected pets will act out by engaging in destructive behavior. Furthermore, if your pet is alone too much, he will not be properly socialized. This may result in his being unduly fearful of strangers and other animals which, in turn, may cause him to become aggressively defensive towards them. If you are too busy to spend quality time with a pet, then wait until your life is a little less hectic before you adopt one.

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A dog or a puppy absolutely thrives on consistency. This is true all the way from finding and sticking to the right kibble to deciding what is and what isn’t acceptable behavior. Consistency makes a pup very, very much happier and more secure than the bouncy kind of life many of us humans prefer.

Maybe you’ll have to have periodic family councils to hammer out just what kinds of canine behavior are and are not acceptable to various members of the clan. By all means get it straight among the human members of the family; otherwise, if you are unpredictable and all pulling in different directions, the puppy will end up a confused mess, and it will be your fault. Once you have agreed on what goes, enforce the rules. “Oh, let her do it just this once,” is a sure way to wreck the training program and confuse the pup.

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