Thursday, December 4, 2014

It’s that time of year again - time for eggnog, crackling fires, mittens, and twinkling lights.  It’s also time for most of us to contribute to the estimated 210 million dollar industry of Christmas gifts for our pets.  That’s right.  20 million people buying gifts for their pet or someone else’s pet.  Doesn’t that make you feel downright American?  Let’s get with the holiday spirit, shall we?

If you are buying a gift for a dog or a dog lover this Christmas, allow me to suggest 10 of my favorites.  If you’re not buying a gift for a dog or dog lover, allow me to send you my address so you can remedy that.  Archie says he’s been a good boy this year, but I think that might be stretching the truth.

Click on the headings to be directed immediately to a place that wants your credit card information.

 $5 - $40

Archie enjoys the Ultra Ball like a pacifier!
ChuckIt is a classic for the fetch aficionado.  ChuckIt ball launchers are a durable, lightweight way to get more distance in your throw and get your enthusiastic fetcher the exercise he needs!  The company has now expanded to a wide variety of balls, throwers, and toys.   The Ultra Ball is the favorite of our extremely strong chewer, who destroys regular tennis balls in minutes.   The bright orange and blue color of this missile is easy to spot in a field, and as an added bonus, they float!
 










$5 - $40
Any challenge a dog overcomes successfully increases his confidence, so a food puzzle or slow feeder can help your pooch feel better about himself in two ways.  The puzzle slows down the voracious eaters who inhale their foods, which is better for digestion, and dogs enjoy the reward that come from working for their food.  We use this one, the DogTornado, from Nina Ottoson, at The Dog House.  Our own dogs and guests really love to solve this puzzle.





Price varies widely

When I asked folks about this on Facebook, I was absolutely flooded with names of artists and photos of artwork.  A couple of beautiful pieces of art even showed up at my door!  All of this activity tells me that people LOVE to see their pooches immortalized on canvas.  A simple Google search will land you a bunch of options, and give you an opportunity to see samples of the artist’s work.  Caveats:  allow plenty of time for ordering this gift, and be sure you have a clear agreement with the artist.



The Paw Wash $28.95
This ingenious device makes muddy paws almost easy to deal with.  You fill the tube with water, snap the top on, and dip your dog’s paws into the chamber.  A few swishes later, you have rinsed feet that are ready to be dried.  Here at The Dog House, we can be wiping up to 24 feet every time the dogs go out, so we really appreciate this gadget.  A terrific gift for the dog who goes in and out frequently.




$25 - $80
Speaking of wet paws, it seems you can endlessly wipe feet, and the minute those paws hit the clean floor, they’ve miraculously tracked in more mud, right?  Or is that just me?  I have one of these outside the back door and a larger one inside.  These mats claim to hold seven times their weight in mud and water, and I believe it!  Once the rug is dry, a quick shake outside restores the fluffiness.  The dogs like to sleep on it, making it another dual-purpose gift.  It comes in three colors so you can find a rug to match any decor.



$20 - $40
From the smart folks who brought you the Furminator, this cozy blanket wraps wet pups in plush terry cloth comfort while protecting furniture and carpets from that pervasive wet dog smell.  The easy-to-fit “robe” goes on in a snap and has adjustable velcro closures for a custom fit.  We use this on Puma, whose coat stays wet for hours after a dip in the creek.  When we remove the blanket, her fur is dry and soft.  She seems to love it, no?


Tile 

$15 - $25

Holy cow, where was this app when my kids were little and we were at the mall?  A tiny little tile attaches to whatever you like - for instance, your dog’s collar.  You can find it with a smartphone app that directs you right to the item.  If your item (or dog) moves out of range of the tile, any other Tile users’ phones can pick up the signal and alert the nice folks at Tile to send you a message.  Imagine if you could track your lost pup that easily.  A perfect gift for owners of runners and door dashers.  


$35 

If you have or know a dog who is a strong puller, a great solution is a no-pull harness.  Using a harness is a good way to reduce strain on the human and the dog, and can make walking a more pleasant, less stressful experience for both!  Victoria Stillwell, of “It’s Me or the Dog” fame has created an enterprise around her positive-only training methods.  She has developed this no-pull harness as well as head halters, and her website provides lots of information to make the right choice.  




$149
Developed by renowned animal behaviorist Dr. Sophia Yin, the Treat&Train  works extremely well for tons of applications as part of a positive-reinforcement training protocol.  A remote allows you to control the precise timing of treat delivery, helping your pooch learn very quickly what is expected of her, from staying in place when guests arrive to shaping new behaviors.  If you know someone who owns a doggie day care and boarding business and works with dogs all the time, I just know I’d - er, she’d - LOVE to have this!  


$19 - $29 monthly

Finally, the ultimate pampered pet gift.  A monthly fee sends your favorite pooch a new box of goodies every month.  Four or more prizes, from treats to toys to to hygiene products, arrive at the pup’s door.  The more boxes you order, the lower the price, so if you want to send a monthly BarkBox to more than one deserving dog, you can save money while you’re doing it!


I hope you can find lots of ways here to part with your hard-earned money and to remember your favorite four-legged friends (and their owners!) at 

Does your pet get Christmas prizes?  Tell us below what you're getting or what you've received!

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Welcome to The Dog House Blog.

The Dog House is where I care for dogs of various shapes, sizes, and flavors.  They come to me for day care or boarding, and I offer their owners stories, tips, tricks,  and advice to help improve the dog/human relationship. Here is where I will pass on what has worked (and not worked) for me and for my clients.  

Watch this space for weekly posts about common (and uncommon) problems people face with their pooches.  Maybe you'll find some help here.  Maybe you'll like it and pass it on and make The Dog House (even more) famous!

I'm not a professional trainer, but I have lots of practice.  I believe strongly in positive training, and I believe that even the toughest issues can be resolved with positive methods.  You'll find lots of links to videos, other bloggers, trainers, and sometimes just cute stuff. Nothing here is terribly original or innovative.  You just have to do it!

Until the advice starts pouring in, here are some adorable dog pictures to whet your appetite.  To find The Dog House on the internets, click here.  If you wanna come play with us on Facebook, go here.  Like us while you're there, won't you?