Jun 01 2006

Don't Get Lost

You know how it is.  One minute, Fido is sitting at your feet and the next minute he's MIA.  You search and search but you can't find him anywhere.  After several hours you probably gave up and waited for him to return or for someone to call to say they found him. 

Don't suffer the stress of a lost pet again.  GlobalPetFinder has created a GPS just for your dog.  This lightweight, well-designed GPS unit will alert you via cell phone, pda or computer if your dog is outside of it's programmed allowable area.  It is very simple to use and is a must if you own an escape artist pooch like we do.  Our three dogs can climb fences, dig under fences and eat their way through fences, sometimes disappearing for days.  With GlobalPetFinder you will know within minutes that FiFi has escaped and exactly where she can be found.

May 31 2006

Meet The Breed - Neapolitan Mastiff

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a formidable dog, with many weighing in at nearly 200 lbs.  This dog is considered a very good guard dog and an exceptionally loyal and loving family dog.  These dogs are often referred to as an Italian Mastiff or Italian Bulldog.  Check out Neapolitan.com for great information and pictures of different colors of this breed.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a large, ancient breed of dog that can be traced back to about 100 BC.  The ancestral form of the Mastino was a favorite breed of Alexander the Great, who was given a pair by the defeated Asian king, King Porus, in northern India in the year 326BC.

Neapolitan Mastiff's have been in some movies you may have seen.  The most notable was Fang in the movie Harry Potter and Alan in the movie Babe, Pig in the City.

Head over to Wikipedia for great in-depth info about the traits and temperament of this ancient breed.

May 30 2006

How To Teach Your Dog To Whoa

You've seen them and perhaps your own one. Those dogs who get away from their people and won't come back are putting themselves in harms way. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get your dog to Whoa or stop dead in their tracks on command?

Check out WikiHow.com and learn how to teach your dog to stop when you give the command or blow a whistle.

""Whoa" means stop and stand still -- a very handy command for any dog to become familiar with. Learning to whoa could save your dog's life by stopping him from dangerous activities, like running in front of traffic, for example."

May 26 2006

Memorial Day for US War Dogs

Did you know that thousands of dogs have served in our military?  Memorial Day is a day to honor the dogs and their handlers who fought in our wars. 

The United States War Dogs Association's amazing website at USWarDogs.org is a dedicated to honoring our nations war dogs.  Their site is packed full of information and pictures including a slide show featuring US Military K-9 teams from the Vietnam war 1964 - 1975 and current K-9 teams serving in the military now. 

On Saturday, June 10, 2006, there will be a dedication ceremony for the United States War Dog Memorial at the New Jersey Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey.  Go to the US War Dogs site for more information.

Please visit their site, make a donation if you wish, and remember those who served.

May 25 2006

The Real Reasons Dogs Sniff

Okay, you know the drill. You are dressed to the nines and you go to pick up your date and here comes her dog with one goal in mind, sniffing where he shouldn't. Why do dogs do this?

Head over to the Iams website for a very informative article on the subject. 

According to Bash Dibra, noted animal behaviorist and author of DogSpeak, "A dog's sense of smell is so acute because dogs have at least 25 times more olfactory [smell] receptors than humans."

Wow, if you could learn everything about someone just by smelling them, what a wonderful world it would be.

May 25 2006

Jog That Flab Away

Most of us here at Black Dog Blog have a little extra weigh we need to loose.  Our people don't have time to take us for walks everyday so we found the next best thing. 

JogADog.com has a great solution for your lack of exercise.  Jog A Dog's canine treadmill is a great way for your pooch to shape up.  It has side rails to keep your dog safe, comes in three different sizes and features an adjustable sloped ramp for that extra burn.

JogADog.com also has videos so you can see the treadmill being used by different dogs.  Now there is no excuse not to exercise even when it is raining, snowing or just too hot to go outside.

May 24 2006

Banish The Bloat

The Black Dog eats every meal like it may be his last.  A bowl of food which consists of 2 cups of dry kibble is usually gone in a minute or less. If your dog inhales it's food like the black dog, Brake-Fast.net has the solution for you. 

Brake-Fast has created a round dog dish with three pillars molded into the base of the bowl.  These pillars make it so your speed eater has to do a little work to get at the food instead of inhaling it like a Hoover. 

Their website has a video with a side by side comparison of a very eager Doberman eating it's food.  The Brake-Fast food bowl certainly slowed this pup down.  Now, if it only came in a non-skid model....

May 24 2006

Summer Vacation with Your Dog

We all love summer and going on a trip with your furry friend just seems natural. Where can you take your favorite pet that is pet friendly?

DogFriendly.com is a great website to find accommodations in the United States and Canada that love dogs. Whether you are traveling to the next town or the next state you will find a place to go together. DogFriendly.com has info on beaches, campgrounds, hotels and even rental cars.

Pack your toys and get out of town.

May 23 2006

Homemade Dog Biscuits from your Microwave

Dogs love treats and making homemade treats will bring you closer together as well as knowing that what your dog is eating is healthy.

SeeFido.com has great recipes for homemade dog cookies but I really like the recipe that you can make in your microwave.  No heating up the entire kitchen to give your pup a snack.  The recipe is easy and you probably already have all of the ingredients right in your cupboard.  Just mix up the dough, microwave for 5 minutes and you have a tasty treat.

Don't wait for a rainy day, bake up a batch of microwave dog treats tonight!  Your dog will love you for it.

May 23 2006

A Pedicure for Your Pooch

Your dog's toenails are always growing and unless you keep them trimmed, they can cause problems.  Nails that are excessively long can cause your pooch to have difficulty walking.  The other hazard with those long claws is them getting them caught in the carpet or breaking off above the "quick" or blood vessel in the foot.  If your dog has ever broken off a nail too short, you know how much blood there is.  Prevention is the name of the game. 

Washington State University has a great website with full photo instructions on how to clip your dog's nails.  The site shows step by step exactly what to do.

Before you begin that pooch pedicure, make sure to have a styptic pencil containing silver nitrate to stop blood flow in case you clip a bit to short.  In a pinch, you can also use Corn Starch from your kitchen.

Some people are squeamish about cutting their dog's nails and who can blame them.  If you are nervous, your dog will be nervous.  The best bet for you is to take your dog to the vet or to a groomer to have nails trimmed.  It only takes a few minutes and your dogs tootsies will thank you.