Tips for shopping for Toys for Chihuahuas

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Julie Walton

Since our dog, Blue Belle, is a medium sized dog and not a Chihuahua we recognize that we don’t know much about how to take care of a small puppy. Thanks to this post from Sara, we have learned about the needs of a Chuhuahua puppy. Sara tells us before you go shopping for toys for Chihuahuas, check out this easy guide. You’ll learn everything you need to know about what your Chi needs in a toy.

Guest Post by Sara, Freelance Writer ~ ILoveAll Dogs

What you should consider before buying Toys for Chihuahuas

We all want to give our dogs the best food, treats and toys that money can buy. But sometimes we’re not sure where to start. You might find yourself confused about what the right toys are when you’re a new dog owner. This applies for every breed but in this case, we’re talking about Chihuahuas.

As a parent to a brand new Chihuahua puppy, you want to start spoiling them right away. You want to get the best toys for them so that they can meet all their chewing needs.

But don’t go shopping for toys for your Chihuahua before you learn about the best toys for them. They’re little dogs but as puppies they can chew like any other breed. Here you will find everything you need to know before buying toys for Chihuahuas. All your Chihuahua’s needs and what qualities to look for in a toy are right here.

Teething and Chewing

Chihuahua puppies love to chew but they aren’t the only ones. Even adult Chihuahuas enjoy chewing. Chi puppies start teething at around the age of 4 months. The reason for their need to chew is because they’re gums are itchy. They’re gums itch because they’re baby teeth are getting lose and their adult teeth are coming in.

It’s so important to have adequate toys for your Chi pup to chew on to relieve their discomfort. If you don’t provide good toys for them they’ll turn to chewing everything else in sight. This includes furniture, shoes and anything else they can get their paws on.

Below are some factors to consider before buying, courtesy of Petchidog.com.

Continue reading →

Well-Known Secret Behind Pet Stores

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Julie Walton

Please join me in welcoming a guest blog post by Dayton Uttinger who informs us about the new law being discussed in the New Jersey Legislature. If enacted, it will prevent pet stores from buying animals from “mills”, only from rescue and adoption shelters.

Thank you, Dayton, for your article. – Julie

The Well-Known Secret Behind Pet Stores

By: Dayton Uttinger

There are few things that excite a household more than bringing home a new puppy. Everyone crowds around the new addition to the family. Some are eager for attention, others withdraw into the arms of whoever’s carrying them, but they are all small and fragile, no matter how large they’re destined to grow later. However, depending on the dog’s origin, dangerous health problems can develop with time, especially if it came from a puppy mill.

Puppy mills have long been the bane of animal rights advocates. Although 62% of American households own at least one dog, and we all tend to treat them like family, we don’t always investigate where they’re coming from. We figure that we’ll be giving our pet all the love that they deserve, so really, we’re rescuing an animal from a puppy mill when we buy from a chain store, right?

Continue reading →

How Dogs Improve Your Health

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Julie Walton

When I first heard from a guest poster about this subject of dogs improving my health, I thought of how much our dog has improved our mental, emotional, and physical health by being such an awesome companion and member of our family. But I didn’t realize how much they can improve our health because of a fine blend of human and canine microbes. – Julie

Guest Poster: Katie Connor
APlaceForAnimals.com

Has it ever occurred to you that keeping a dog at home is not just a momentary bliss but a permanent health regimen? A few licks and tail-wagging from your pet can surprisingly change your mood right then and there, and it makes everything a whole lot better, even with the most depressing of circumstance. Truly, their magic never fails to amaze us.

But did you know that dogs can improve our health too? Not only do they make a great companion and become our best friends but new evidence suggests that having a pet dog can’t only decrease stress in their owners but the microbes from dogs may also be aiding the dog owner’s overall physical health and well-being.

Thanks to microbiome – a single celled organism which is present just about everywhere in our environment; they outnumber the cells in our body by 10-1. As science starts to understand the importance of the microbiome, we are starting to realize just how important they are to our general health and well-being.

After all, it’s not just simply about emotional attachment, it does have something to do with how these micro-organisms are wired on the planet. It’s the connection between one living thing to another that drives us all into existence. These organisms may not be visible to the naked eye, but with enough ratio, it can be truly beneficial to everyone. In fact, they are often shared through a dog’s mouth, fur, and its other parts of the body. Science and emotional well-being does have something in common, doesn’t it? Continue reading →

Can You Help This Dog See Again?

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Julie Walton

Please Help Boston Terrier Get Cataract Surgery

When any of our dogs have had health problems, we of course want to do whatever we can to give them the very best medical care. Can you imagine how you would feel if you learned your dog was going blind? Sadly, Our friends Brett and Hillary are dealing with this heartbreaking ordeal in their family. We have known Hillary since she was a young girl and were thrilled to see her get married to her loving husband and bring into their family two cute little Boston Terrier Dogs, Gin and Tonic. We recently heard that 3 year old Gin needs cataract surgery. Poor little Gin wants to play with her brother, Tonic, like she used to before her eyes developed severe cataracts.

We are reaching out to our readers to ask for your help. Hillary and Brett have set up a GoFundMe page to help with the expense of the cataract surgery. Please consider a small donation. I know every little bit will help.

Julie, Murry, and Blue Belle – DogBlog – A Dog’s Eye View

Can You Join Our Family and Help Gin See Again?

GoFundMe Page: https://www.gofundme.com/helpginseeagain

Please pass it on to your followers. Gin and Tonic will love you for your compassion. Blue Belle thinks it will be cool too!

Greenies Dental Dog Treats – Review

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Julie Walton

February is #NationalPetOralHealthCareMonth. We all know how important it is to help our fur buddies keep their teeth in good health, in fact, it should be a year-long activity.

Today Blue Belle is testing Greenies. This is not our first test. She absolutely loves them. Our dentist has told us Blue Belle’s teeth are in good shape. I can’t say if this is because of the Greenies, especially since she tends to gobble them up so quickly. She does seem to have good breath.

If you would like to purchase some Greenies for your best bud, we received our sample from Chewy.com. Blue Belle and our family are dog bloggers. #ChewyInfluencer!

Product Description

Complete oral care is important for your dog’s total body health and can add years to their lifespan. Greenies Freshmint Canine Dental Chews are proven to clean dogs’ teeth by fighting both plaque and tartar buildup, freshening breath, and maintaining healthier teeth and gums. These low-fat dental chews contain dried spearmint for a natural mint flavor, and are perfect for daily treating.

Key Benefits

They’re the #1 vet-recommended dental chew
Provides a total oral-health solution
Safe and easy to digest
Highly palatable and have an irresistible taste
Regular chew for dogs 25-50 pounds
Made in the USA

Ingredients

Wheat flour, wheat protein isolate, glycerin, gelatin, oat fiber, water, lecithin, natural poultry flavor, minerals (dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, magnesium amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, potassium iodide), choline chloride, dried apple pomace, fruit juice color, vitamins ( dl-alpha tocopherol acetate [source of vitamin E], vitamin B12 supplement, d-calcium pantothenate [vitamin B5], niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement [vitamin B2], vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], thiamine mononitrate [vitamin B1], folic acid), turmeric color

Dogs and Hardwood Floors – DogBlog

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Julie Walton

Guest Post by: Aedan Kiernan
Digital Marketing Executive
Wood Finishes Direct
Folkestone, Kent, UK

For many home owners, who are also dog owners, hardwood flooring is but a dream. Dogs claws, vomit, urine and dirty paws are all things that can cause havoc to a hardwood floor. However this doesn’t mean hardwood floors are out of the picture. Providing you choose the right wood, finish, sheen and cleaning products, your dog and floor can coexist in relative harmony. Although there is no way to stop damage altogether, you can reduce and limit the damage.

Wood – Choosing the wood will be the first thing you do, and there are so many woods available, oak, pine, walnut, ash, cherry, maple, the list goes on, but which one is best. The key to choosing wood flooring for a home with dogs is finding one which is strong and light in colour. You want it to be strong so it stands up well to your dogs claws and light in colour so any damage is less visible. This sums up oak perfectly as it is one of the strongest woods available, is naturally light in colour, and it is affordable. Although you could try an aged or distressed looking wood so any damage look like it is intentional.

Finish – Now that you have chosen the wood, now the question looms, what finish should I choose? Your new hardwood floor needs a finish to protect it from dirt and wear, otherwise it will quickly become damaged and eventually ruined. There are two main finishes on the market for floors and these are oils and varnishes. Oils are very popular as they offer a natural look and feel, but they are not suited to standing up to the wear caused by dogs. For this reason a floor varnish is the best choice of finish to provide the resilience you need. A varnish offers a hard and durable protective coating on top of the wood, helping to prevent damage and protecting the wood. The great thing with a varnish is multiple layers can be built up to increase protection. Make sure you use a specific “floor varnish” as these are made for floors and have increased protection to other generic varnishes. You can find a range of floor varnishes at Wood Finishes Direct. Continue reading →

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A Blog for Dogs and People Who Love Them