Be Cool,Not a Doggy Fool

Hey there! On these hot summer days your dog is probably having trouble keeping cool. But no need to fear, I'm here today to help your furry friend stay a "chilly dog". And that's my first tip. Again I call these Chilly Dogs. What you do is takes your dogs favorite treats and cut them up into small pieces. Put them in a cube tray and then fill the tray with water, not too much though, you don't want the treats to fall out. Put the tray in the freezer until the water is frozen (about 2 hours). When they are little ice cubes, you can feed them to your dog as a "cool" treat. Not only is it cold, they have fun trying to get the treat out.

Now this next one isn't really a tip, but AN ORDER. Today as we were waiting in line at the grocery store, we hear over the intercom "If you are parked in the front row and your dog is in the car, please roll down the windows."So when we go back to our car we look at the car next to us, and in it is a sweet collie puppy panting and all the windows are rolled up(THE FORECAST SAID IT WAS 101 DEGREES!). I swear sometimes people really want to push my buttons. If they want to push buttons so bad why not push the buttons to roll down the windows. So whats the lesson from this? NEVER EVER EVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR...NO EXCUSES!!!And I mean it!

Ok moving on. This tip I call "RAGgedy Puppy". What you do is take a rag or a towel, whatever you wanna call it, and get it damp with cold water. Place it on the dogs torso and let it sit for awhile. I write this as my own raggedy puppy lays under the computer desk. Some dogs like it(or lick it), some dogs don't.

If you have concrete or a porch in your backyard where your dog does his ummm...duty, you might want to consider his little feet scurrying across the blazing concrete. If you don't thinks its that bad, try walking across it bare foot on a hot day and see how it feels. I reccomend putting a rug path going to the grass, it might look tacky, but your dog will sure thank you for it.

Another thing your dog is always grateful for is walks. But be sure to take shorter walks in the morning or evening when its not as hot. Afterward, make sure your dog gets plenty of water.

Summers are great, but make sure you keep it safe for not only you, but your dog. Have a great summer and happy tails!

P.S. Check out these hot dogs!



These dogs are staying cool by sitting in the "shady" areas


Car rides can be fun, but remember not to leave your dog in the car!


Welcome to our Ool! Notice it has no p in it, please keep it that way.

That is one hot doggy!

Be the boss

One thing you must keep in mind when training your dog, or if you just have a dog, is BE THE BOSS. Remember dogs are pack animals and there is always a leader of a pack, and right now, that leader is YOU! You must be in control at all times! Or else that dog will try to become the boss and be try to be YOUR LEADER instead. I know how hard it is to be the boss and not the friend. I have such a hard time doing this myself and I too need to keep this in mind. Those cute little faces, as hard as they are to resist, you must ignore it! Now I'm not saying to totally disown your friendship, because that connection is important too, but not as important as having a leader. So leadershhip, then friendship. Dogs want that, when your being the boss and you see that look in their eyes, don't mistake it for hurt, but for respect. And thats exactly what you want from them. You don't want them to treat you like a dog do you? Having a leader can lead to good behavior.Good luck and happy tails!

Why are dachshunds used in examples more than other breeds?

That is a good question. And the answer is I love dachshunds. I mean I really love dachshunds, maybe its there long little bodies I don't know they are just so cute! They are my favorite breed and so I know alot about them and so its easier for me to give examples using dachshunds.

Mutts Or Purebreds?

This is a question many people ask, Do mutts or purebreds make better pets? But there really is no answer. Like people, every dog is different. Personally, I think Aren't all dogs mutts? Because how do you think we got all these breeds we have today? Take dachshunds for example, dachshunds come in 3 different coats, wire-hair, Long-hair, and smooth-hair. Each coat has different personalities. The long-hair dachshund is more laid back and calm than the other 2 coat types, possibly because it got its long-hair from another breed. So doesn't that make it a mutt? Every dog got its characteristics from another dog, so the way I see it, there is no such thing as a purebred. What do you think?

So cute I had to share it....

This is a picture of my dog Mac after he took a W-A-L-K.... Oh yeah... I don't have to spell it hecan't read. Well anyways here it is. Isn't that cute?

Teaching your dog what "click" means

Clicker training was orignally used for marine animlas. Trainers relized that they weren't always able to get the food to the animals right away. So they came up with clicker training. Clicker training is mainly just comunication. And when training your dog comunication is key. To do clicker training first you need a clicker. You can usually find these at any local pet store. Once you have a clicker you want to get your dog to understand that the clicker means a reward is coming. To do this, tell your dog to sit, when he/she does, click, and reward. If they don't know sit you can just click and reward, click and reward. Keep on doing this until you think your dog understands what the "click" means. If you still don't understand, you can ask me questions in a comment. Good luck with clicker training! Happy tails!

Food that can be harmful to your dog

Onions or garlic: Contains Thiosulphate. Onions cause more damage

Chocolate: Contains Theobromine. Can be FATAL to dogs.

Grapes: Contains a unknown substance toxic to dogs. Causes damage to (canine) kidneys.

Raisins:Contains dried grapes. (See above)
Most fruit pits and seeds: Contains Cyanogenic Glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning – though the fruit itself is okay.

Macadamia Nuts: Contains a unknown substance toxic to dogs.

Bones : Can become lodged in ones throat and/or splinter digestive system. Basically a choking hazard. (Especially chicken or turkey bones)

Potato peelings or green potatoes: Contains Oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.

Rhubarb leaves: See above

Broccoli: Is only toxic in large amounts ( I don't blame them! Broccoli is GROSS!)

Green parts of tomatoes: Same reason as green potatoes. See 8.

Yeast Dough:Can produce gas and/or swell in your pets stomach, leading to rupture of the digestive system

Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Tea, and soft drinks : These can all be dangerous because of the caffeine

Moldy or spoiled foods: Do I really have to explain this one?

Human Vitamins: Emphasis on the HUMAN.

Persimmons: Can cause intestinal blockage

Raw eggs and raw fish : Can contain salmonella poisoning.

Salt, Baking soda, Baking powder: Blah blah blah ( a bunch of words no one knows what they mean) causes muscle spasms or congestive heart failure.

Mushrooms : May contain toxins that can cause liver or kidney damage

Sugar-free foods: Sugar-free foods containing Xylitol have been found to cause liver failure in some dogs.

Nutmeg: Can cause seizures and central nervous system damage.

Excessive fatty foods : Can cause Pancreatitis.

Avocado: All parts of the avocado or the avocado tree are toxic to dogs.

Dairy Products : Dairy products aren't usually to toxic but most dairy products contain high amounts of fat and some dogs (like humans) are lactose intolerant. Small amounts of cheese or yogurt are ok.


Remember that all dogs are made different. It depends on the size, breed, and dog on what is toxic to it and what is not. But one thing for sure is that its not worth the risk of losing your furry, 4-legged friend. There are some foods that are good for dogs like a little bit of yogurt (non-flavored) can help the digestive system. Or a few droplets of olive oil mixed in with their dog food can give them a glossier coat. But always consult your vet when introducing a new food to your pet, and watch carefully after feeding it to your pet to make sure there is no allergic reaction. Which could include scratching, biting, chewing or constant licking of the feet, etc. Just watch for unusual behavior. Happy tails! (ha lol)