Pet Blog By Bocci @ Bocci's Beefs: Living with your pet tips

Showing posts with label Living with your pet tips. Show all posts

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop (No More!)...Plus: Dogs Welcoming Home Soldiers—Petsami Compilation

Note: The Saturday pet Blogger Hop is no more, but we thought we'd publish this terrific video anyway!
Stay tuned for:
1. A post later today that will announce a very special giveaway: One lucky reader can win a hardback copy of Chaser, Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words; and
2. Week # 80 in our series of "Living With Your Pet" Tips!

Since it's still Veterans Day month, we're offering this montage of soldiers and their dogs.

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?! We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And we're NOT giving up on Timmy and Lassie! Stay tuned...We will return!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: The Ten Top Dog Sports

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

Wanna get active with your dog? Thanks to the good folks at Better Homes and Gardens for providing this description of the 10 top dog sports that both you and your pet will enjoy. The list includes the usual suspects, like agility, dock diving and sheep dog trials for the herding breeds, but includes some activities we've not heard of: obedience competition, flying disc, earthdog and terrier trials, to name a few. Why not check out these sports to see if they're a good fit for you and your pooch? What we particularly like is that each of these competitions is both mentally and physically stimulating-a daily necessity for all dogs, but particularly for high energy and powerful breeds-and even for us mutts!

Today for example, Parental Unit and I are going to walk (about a block or two down the street) and watch the marathoners run by-woo hoo! That's mental and physical stimulation for ya!

P.S. Don't forget that tomorrow (at 8:00 pm EST) is the last day to enter to win a trio of fabulous prizes from Purina! We'll be announcing the lucky winner at sometime after 8:00 tomorrow evening. Good luck to all!

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop Plus...Cat And Banana Peel Don't Mix!

Now on to this week's Pet Blogger Hop!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?! We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And we're officially giving up on Timmy!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

Here are just a few, easy-to-follow rules for joining this hop:

Use the Linky tool provided to sign up. Note: if your blog is not pet-related it will be removed from the list.

Follow the three hosts at the top of the list (and while you're at it, follow us-we'd appreciate it!)

__ Peruse these fabulous blogs and follow and comment as you desire.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for Week # 64 of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered for the pet lover in all of us.

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop, Plus...

This five minute video of Ted Kerasote and his dog, Pukka's, summer adventures makes us long for endless summers in the west...And the accompanying music is terrific-enjoy!

And don't forget that you have till this evening at 8:00pm EST to enter to win a copy of Pukka's Promise: The Quest for Longer-Lived Dogs by Ted Kerasote!

Now on to the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?!

We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And we're officially giving up on Timmy!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

Here are just a few, easy-to-follow rules for joining this hop:

__ Use the Linky tool provided to sign up. Note: if your blog is not pet-related it will be removed from the list.

__Follow the three hosts at the top of the list (and while you're at it, follow us-we'd appreciate it!)

__ Peruse these fabulous blogs and follow and comment as you desire.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for Week # 52 of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered for the pet lover in all of us.

"Living With Your Pet" Tips: Three Commands That Could Save Your Dog's Life

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

We think there are lots of great reasons to spend time training your dog, which really shouldn't end when your pooch leaves the puppy stage: It's quality time spent with your dog, it engages your dog's mind and body; it helps you and your dog form a stronger bond...feel free to add more!

But these training tips from our friends at Pet 360 are vital because they focus on the three commands that could save your dog's life: Come; Leave it; and Wait.

Of course, feeling confident that your canine companion will respond appropriately to each of these commands all the time and under all circumstances is the difficult part. Parental Unit admits that I don't respond immediately and completely to the "come" and "wait" commands, and usually when she tells me to "leave it" and we're in the house, I run upstairs and under the bed (my man cave) with the prize-although I do "leave it' there when I become bored with it. Does that count?

Another problem is when all members of the household, or even occasional caretakers, are not on board with this training program-we dogs demand consistency from you humans!

Parental Unit vows to work with me for short periods every day on these three vital commands...how about you?

P.S. Check back later today when we announce the winner of the ASPCA Gift Pack!

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we dogs go hoppin' right away?!

We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And we're officially giving up on Timmy!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

And...don't forget to check back tomorrow for Week # 38 of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered for the pet lover in all of us.

P.S. Please check out our current giveaway of a bountiful Iams Gift Basket-you could be the winner!

Contest ends this Wednesday, December 12, at 8:00 EST

We've got lots more giveaways coming up, so stay tuned!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet Tips"

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

We thought we'd bring you two different pieces of pet information today. First, for all you folks owned by cats out there, check out these cool holiday (or any day) gifts for your feline friend from Found Animals.org. From a scratching post shaped like a dog (heh, heh, heh) , to a plethora of toys and beds, this is a gift list worthy of all good kitties. (Are there any good kitties? Just askin'!)

And wanna know if your city makes the "top ten" of pet friendly cities in the U.S.? Check out this top ten list courtesy of Dog Time Media, and find out what cities (hint: from Austin to Seattle) make the cut and why. Hey, why not get together with your dog-loving friends and discuss what you all can do to elevate your community to a top ten town for dog owners?!

P.S. We wanted to take a minute today and thank all of you who have taken the time to participate in our giveaways. We have one going on right now (a gift basket from Iams!), and have lots more in the works before the end of the year. We politely request that those who choose to enter follow the simple requirements and check back on the date that particular giveaway ends to see if you've won. Most retailers want to ship out your presents ASAP, so the sooner you send us your address, the sooner you'll receive your prize-thanks!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet Tips": Web MD's Top 10 Pet Care Tips

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

We thought you might find these tips from the veterinary staff at WebMD as helpful as we did. Although some of them sound like no-brainers (make sure your pets get regular veterinary check-ups, prevent fleas and other parasites, spay and neuter), it doesn't hurt to be reminded of the basics. And some folks, as we know, don't manage to do those. But keep reading...how many of us just put Fido in the car without the proper restraint, or provide regular "mental stimulation" for both our canines and felines?

Our motto is: What we don't know can (at least sometimes) harm our pets! Parental Unit claims to have learned soooo much over the last three years that we've been writing this blog about pets and proper pet care, that she's down right embarrassed. So we hope that you all will keep learning right along with us (I mean, Parental Unit-I already knew it all).

And speaking of fabulous giveaways...we've decided to extend the deadline for both giveaways (The $50 gift card to Pet Food Direct with free shipping, and the TWO Disney Santa Paws 2 DVD's) until tomorrow night, Monday, November 26th at 8:00pm EST.

Technically, we're only extending the Pet Food Direct Gift card giveaway, so now they'll both expire together and we'll announce the winner for both contests tomorrow evening after 8:00 pm. Thanks and spread the good word to your friends and family-these are great prizes!

Here are both links!

___Pet Food Direct $50 Gift Card: www.boccibeefs.com/2012/11/experience-pet-foods-direct-with-50.html

__ Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups-win one of two DVD's: www.boccibeefs.com/2012/11/the-santa-pups-are-comingcourtesy-of.html

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet Tips": Take Your Dog Camping!

Fabulous photo of me by John Clark of Clark Creative

What a perfect time to go hiking and (even) camping in the woods with your best friend-the leaves are turning color, the skies are sunny and the air has a bit of a brisk chill...invigorating isn't it?

But as with most every adventure, some preparation helps, so we (with a little help from Parental Unit's cousin) culled these tips for getting the most out of a camping trip with your dog. We think they work just as well for a day hike in the woods, which Parental Unit seems to favor. Don't tell her I said this, but she's more "indoorsy" that the outdoorsy type...

Photo courtesy of Pet Food Direct...Will this ever be me?

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet Tips": When Your Aging Dog Loses His Eyesight Or Hearing...

Actually, it doesn't have to be an aging dog who lose his or her sight or hearing, it's just more common-and more expected-just like it is with humans. Take Parental Unit for example: She's already wearing reading glasses over her bifocal contacts and can't hear a word her students say in class...but I digress from the important tips offered in this article from Cesar's Way.

It not only lays out the typical symptoms of both eyesight and hearing loss in canines, it also provides numerous thoughtful, gentle ways to help your pooch cope as these senses diminish. It fact, with the proper care and help transitioning, most dogs with even significant eyesight and hearing loss can enjoy their normal routines...with a bit of help and caring from their Parental Units.

We hope you enjoy these tips and your Sunday!

"Living With Your Pet" Tips: Canine Water Safety

Pool Party! Since we've all been trying to cool off this summer, I bet you've taken Fido to a pool, maybe right in your own back yard, or even to a beach, with the ocean or lake beckoning you both. But as fun as swimming with your pooch may be, there's some routine safety precautions to take around water with your dog. We've culled these excellent tips from Dog Channel (Dog Fancy's online presence), for your summer safety.

Photo courtesy of Dog Channel

From "starting small" -why not let your pooch splash around in a kiddie pool to get used to his body in water before taking a bigger plunge, to investing in a life jacket for open bodies of water, and a Giardia vaccination for swimming in lakes and rivers, to showering off after a pool swim to remove chlorine residue, these tips appear to cover the gamut for canine water safety.

Just so you know...I'm not much of a swimmer and avoid water at all costs-I even jump over puddles because I don't like my paws wet! So with any luck, neither I nor Parental Unit will need these tips, but for you swimmers out there...read on!

P.S. Stay tuned later this evening for details about a very special book and Pinterest photo contest!

"Living With Your Pet Tips:10 Top Dog Training Mistakes

No, it's not still Sunday...but since we posted yesterday about the Bloggers Challenge, and we had some great dog training tips from the folks at Modern Dog, we just couldn't wait until next Sunday to share them with you!

Is your canine friend perfectly trained to come on command, stay (for more than two seconds), drop whatever and whenever you say, walk by your side with or without a leash? If so, then you are already a solid pack leader with a perfect dog, so read no further. What's that you say? Not only did you see Spot run, you saw him run away from you as you screamed his name? O.K. then, these dog training tips are for you-they're not just what to do but what not to do when training your dog.

Here's a few examples from these tips that we think are worth emphasizing: Don't repeat commands-once is all that should be needed for your pooch to obey; train for shorter periods of time and more frequently-work training into your day, like sitting for food and waiting at the door; train to your specific dog-observe his or her attention span, energy level, etc. and gear your training to those levels; you are inconsistent and/or not confident, you rely to heavily on food rewards-more often than not, the reward should be pleasing you...

What we particularly like about these tips is that they aren't just short blurbs like we've outlined here-the author takes the time to explain how to go about changing your behavior to better help you dog. And we all know that it's important to take the time to train your dog, at least in the basic commands, because listening to you could one day save your best friend's life. Besides that, dogs need mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise to keep them in peak condition, so...go for it!

P.S. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for our review of another great (and delicious) pet product from our friends at Mr. Chewy!

"Living With Your Pet Tips": Don't Let Your Dog Become a July 4th Statistic!

Don't make your pooch have to "phone home" on July 4th!

Did you know that animal control services across the country see a 30-60% increase in lost pets between July 4 and July 6 each year? And unfortunately, according to nationwide statistics, only 14% of lost pets are returned to their owners.

First, let's address the "why" of these startling statistics:

__Dogs don't keep a calendar, so they don't know that it's July 4th and that we typically celebrate our country's independence with fireworks (aka really loud noises). They don't plan for it or expect it like we do.

__Our dogs' hearing is sooooo much better than ours that the typical fireworks sound like an air raid to our four-legged friends, making these unexpected "booms' and "crackles" nearly eardrum-splitting.

So what can we do from July 3rd to July 6th or so to make this time easier for our canine pals and to lesson the chance that they'll take off for parts unknown? We particularly liked these tips from DogGeek.com, that range from taking measures ahead of time to keep your dog calm, like ensuring that they've had plenty of exercise, and even going the extra mile, so to speak, and providing drawn curtains or blinds and a bit of aromatherapy (a touch of lavendar oil rubbed on their pillow or bed is supposed to help calm even the wildest beast), to not letting them out to "do their business", even in a fenced yard, after dark. Better yet, if they have to go out after the racket (I mean celebratory fireworks) is over, take your pooch out with a leash, even in your own yard. And whether your home with your dog or not, it's recommended that you leave all lights on, draw the drapes and turn on the TV or radio to help drown out the outside noise.

Here's to a safe and enjoyable July 4th holiday - kaboom!

Sunday's "Living With Your Pet" Tips: Top 10 Dog (And Cat) Poisons!

This list of common household items, including some foods, can be extremely hazardous, if not deadly to your canine (and your feline, too!). The list was generously compiled by the Pet Poison Helpline. These represent the 10 most frequently reported dog poison emergencies in 2011, according to the Helpline's veterinary staff.

One basic precaution all pet owners should take is to "dog and cat proof" your home, similar to what you'd do for a baby or toddler. Specifically, make sure your trash has a tight-fitting lid or is stored in a locked cabinet. According to a recent survey of veterinary professionals, many of the dogs brought in for emergency veterinary care in the last year simply had gotten into the trash-and what ensued often was not pretty...and costly!

This list of poisons range from the usual suspects, like chocolate and raisins, to antidepressant human drugs, fertilizers, pest control products, and even veterinary pain relievers, if given incorrectly or for an extended period of time. And did you know that "a single acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) tablet can be fatal to a cat"?

What we especially liked about this list is that includes a number of other, more specific links, like what to do if your dog eats rat poison, and a list of plants poisonous to canines. As you know, we here at Bocci's Beefs believe that preparation and prevention are the two best medicines, so why not bookmark this site and post this number to the 24/7 Animal Poison Control Center right along with your other emergency numbers: 1-800 -213-6680.

And speaking of eating...but only good-for-you things like, oh, shortbread cookies, you have until 8:00 EST tonight to enter to win this adorable gift tin of Walkers "Scottie Dog" shortbread cookies! why not take a few minutes to enter now: www.boccibeefs.com/2012/05/walkers-shortbread-scotties-delicious.html.

Thanks and have a fun Sunday!

Easy Like Sunday..."Living With Your Pet Tips": Why You Should Microchip Your Pet

You know, Parental Unit was a bit "iffy" on microchips because she was worried that they might cause skin irritation or worse, based on some of the articles she'd read. But she had no choice in the matter when she got me-I came from the local shelter and the good folks there neutered and micro chipped me before they let me go to my new home (whew-glad that's over!). But the more she's read about microchips in the last four years, she's come to believe that there's no reason to worry-and that at the very least, the benefits outweigh any risks.

We learned today from our friends at Found Animals Foundation that May is "Microchip Your Dog Month"-who knew? And then we read this article from Cesar's Way where the Dog Whisperer discusses his reasons in favor of micro chipping your dog-in fact, he advocates as do some other countries and a few U.S. communities, the mandatory micro chipping of all dogs.

Photo of Cesar Millan and Junior courtesy of Cesar's Way

Here are some of the reasons that the Dog Whisperer advocates mandatory micro chipping, besides the fact that you're more likely to find your dog if he or she is lost or even stolen:

__ It likely will discourage the abandonment of dogs-removing the dog's collar and tags wouldn't be enough to avoid tracing the dog back to the offending owners-and perhaps people might not abandon their dogs if they thought the dog and the crime of dog abandonment or endangerment could be tracked back to them.

__It also will likely discourage those who "buy dogs to use as weapons"-dogs who are trained using incredibly cruel techniques to harm other dogs or people. "If the dog was micro chipped, just like a gun with a serial number, it could be traced back to the owner."

And the bottom line is that micro chipping reduces the number of strays, shelter-overcrowding and euthanasia rates-problems that unfortunately, are still not under control.

By the way, Found Animals Foundation has a free resource to register your dog's micro chip that you can check out right here: www.foundanimals.org/pet-identification/pet-microchipping?utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=dog_club_5_20_12.
And it is important that you make sure that your pet's micro chip number and your contact information are registered together. We're not sure if mine is correctly registered so we're off to check right now.

Is your pet micro chipped? Do you think it should be mandatory? Let us know!

Easy Like Sunday..."Living With Your Pet Tips" How To Beat The Heat!

We've culled these seven savvy tips, complete with slideshow to help your pets thrive (not just survive) a hot summer, from our friends at Mother Nature Networks. They run the gamut from the basic: make sure your pet always has access to plenty of cold, fresh water to how to successfully navigate a dog park and keep those pesky pests (fleas, ticks and mosquitoes) at bay.

We hope you enjoy reading and learning from them-our twin missions here at Bocci' Beefs. And if you have any of your own tips to add, please take the time to share them with us on this easygoing Sunday...so we can all learn more about how we can help our pets be healthy and comfortable this summer.

As always, we appreciate your support!

"Living With Your Pet" Tips: What You Must Know Before Your Pet "Goes Under"

If you're planning to have a procedure that requires your beloved pet to "go under" anesthesia (which can be as simple as a routine dental cleaning) or heaven forbid, your pet has an accident requiring him or her to have surgery, you'll want to prepare by reading this article by Dr. Karen Becker. As usual, Dr. Becker doesn't just skim the surface-she goes into great detail about the new dog and cat anesthesia guidelines published by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), and the "phases of the anesthesia process", that include: a pre-anesthetic evaluation, patient preparation, preparation of an individualized anesthetic plan, administering pre-anesthetic pain medications, if necessary, and the recovery period.

We hope you find this article as helpful, and as reassuring as we did.

Saturday Pet Blogger Hop And "Timmy's Weekly Disaster" Contest!

Happy Saturday to everyone-and whadayasay we go hoppin' right away?!

We'll meet at the Old Elm Tree, chase some squirrels, and then visit everyones' blogs together-how does that sound? And if Timmy is really in trouble with his grades at school because he's been obssesively watching sports and has been grounded by his loving parents, so be it! We're chasing squirrels and blog hopping!

Photo by www.rachellaurenphotography.com

A hearty congrats to our Week 54 winner! And don't forget to enter our "Timmy's Weekly Disaster Contest" next week. Here's the initial write-up of the contest to get you started: boccibeefs.blogspot.com/2011/03/announcing-fun-contest.html.
We had a hard time choosing among all of the excellent (and hilarious) submissions-thanks! Just click on Timmy's red text above and congratulate the winner yourself! (Notice anything suspicious here?) Feel free to enter on our Facebook page-it's easy and fun: www.facebook.com/pages/Boccis-Beefs/190090017696328.

P.S. Don't forget to check back later today to learn all about the latest techniques for extending your precious pet's life and tune in tomorow for our fifth week of "Living with Your Pet" tips gathered with love for the pet lover in all of us.