Is Your Dog Bored?

If so, here are some excellent ways to put a hop back into their step!

1. Create an Obstacle Course - Dogs LOVE obstacle courses. They love to work, they love to play, and they always love a challenge. Creating an obstacle course in your backyard is a simple, fun, and cheap way to exercise your dog and to put some fun in their lives. Some fun things to put in it: a child's play tunnel, child's play tent, child's plastic slide, hula hoops, traffic cones (legally obtained, I hope!), child's teeter totter... your imagination is the limit! However, please make sure that what you use is safe and correctly put together. Run through the obstacle course with them and you both will have a great time AND a great bonding experience. Don't have the room or the equipment? Go to the park! A playground with no kids and your dog on a leash is a wonderful place for your dog to play and explore. Just make sure that you leave only paw prints in that sand!

2. Get a Sand Box - Let's face it -- dogs are diggers! They love to dig up gardens, lawns, carpet... if their paws can scratch through it, they'll dig! Save yourself (and your dog) the frustration and give them a sand box that will allow them to dig, hide toys, and explore. You can get children's sand boxes from home and hardware stores, toy stores, and second hand from yard sales (or Craigslist, but be careful!) Keep it filled with sand and bury their favorite toys in it... they will spend hours uncovering and reburying them! For everyone's health make sure to keep the sand box clean and closed until it is time to play.

3. Play Hide and Seek - Indoors or outdoors, hide and seek is always fun! Use a Kong filled with treats or their favorite toy and hide it in a random area (don't forget where!) and let them search for it. They'll have a lot of fun searching and in the end there is always a surprise! Throw in even more of a challenge by using multiple treats and toys, or create some competition by having someone else hide them and see if you can find them before your dog -- end with a good chase!

4. Play Catch! - It's simple, fun, and cheap... and it works! Dogs love catching. They love running to catch, jumping, chasing, and keep away is the best! Actively dart around, wiggle your butt, add some twists and turns and both of you will have a great time and get some awesome exercise!

A Doggy Christmas Surprise!

A Gift of Love

As the holidays draw near and our hearts grow 3 sizes larger, we find ourselves giving to our fellow man. Giving donations of money, toys, and food to various humanitarian charities, it's easy to forget our dearest friends with 4 legs.
There are many animal rescues and organizations that are in need of money, gifts, supplies, and even our homes throughout the year, but they especially need the added help during the holidays.

So how can you help? Here is a list of local organizations and charities that could use a little holiday help:

1. CHAKO - Chako is a much deserving organization which rescues pit bulls and educates the community and owners on how to be responsible pit bull owners. While Chako can always use volunteers, they are definitely in need of fosters this season. You can visit them at: http://www.chako.org for more information.
2. Fluff Buddies - These guys hold a special place in my heart. They are very passionate when it comes to cats, rescuing and adopting out as many as they can. Many of the cats that they rescue are nursed back to health with all of the love a person could give. You can donate money, supplies, or volunteer your time with them by visiting them at: http://www.fluffbuddies.org/index.html . You can also find them at the Fair Oaks Petco on Saturdays.
3. Northern California Herpetological Society - It's a little bit easier to remember the dog and cat rescues, but have you thought about the herpetological societies? This organization is another rescue that is near and dear to my heart, having helped me with my own iguana in my time of need. They provide education, they support conservation efforts in California, and they provide rehabilitation and rescue for both native and exotic reptiles. You can find out more information about donating your time or money at: http://reptiles-northern-ca.com/herpetology/
4. City of Sacramento Animal Care Services - Shelters are always overwhelmed and under funded, especially during the holiday season (and in this economy!) By donating time, money, or supplies you can save a life this season. You can find more information here on their website: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/generalservices/animal-care/ . They also have a wishlist here: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/generalservices/animal-care/documents/Wish_List.pdf

So while a few cans of food can help keep your fellow man from starving, and a toy can brighten the holidays for a child; a donation of time, money, and supplies can save the lives of many animals who are often forgotten.
Also, while it isn't recommended that you get a pet as a present for Christmas -- if you do, please give your warm and loving home to a much deserved rescue. They're not brand new, but the undying love and gratitude that you will get from them will keep your heart full and happy for many years to come.

So If You Haven't Noticed

...we've moved our blog onto Blogger! Yay! I've wanted so much to be able to do more with a blog and our website just didn't allow for that.
This blog will be regularly updated and might just have a few treats here and there for the divas that visit it ;)

Holiday Special!

November and December is such a wonderful time filled with get-togethers, food, love, and my favorite... presents! BUT, with this magical season comes added stress. Between work, shopping, and visiting family and friends, who has time for anything else? Spend time doing what you love and let us do the rest. Let us make your house sparkle, groom/bathe your pet, even run your errands and get 20% off of your ENTIRE bill.

*This offer is for new and old clients.

*Cannot be combined with any other specials or discounts.

*Cannot be used for the purchase of a gift certificate.

10 Thanksgiving Foods to Keep Away From Your Dog

by Robert Pregulman 
 
If you are hosting a Thanksgiving fiesta this week or planning to take your dog to someone else’s home for holiday fun, your dog will be around lots of new types of food it would love to try, and you can be sure it will carefully comb the crowd for easy marks to give it a taste. Unfortunately, many holiday foods are toxic to dogs and can either kill them or cause serious health problems. Please take a look at this list and be sure to keep your dog away from these foods. More importantly, be sure to tell your guests, especially kids, not to feed anything to your dog.

Here’s a list of foods to keep away from your dog:

1. Onions or other alliums like garlic, leeks, shallots & scallions. Though small, well-cooked portions of this plant group can be okay when pets are accustomed to them, larger quantities can lead to toxic anemia — especially in dogs. Also, be careful with turkey stuffing. Many stuffing recipes include onions.

2. Xylitol. Most people don’t cook with this sugar substitute, but diabetics often do. Anything with xylitol in it is toxic and absolutely deadly to dogs. Do not keep it in your house (or if you must, keep it safe and secure away from your animal). Sugar-free cupcakes, gums, and mints may also contain this product, so be careful all year round.

3. Walnuts and Macadamia nuts. Within twelve hours of eating these nuts dogs can start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand, ataxia (walking wobbly), depression, vomiting, muscle tremors, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate.

4. Turkey Bones. Turkey bones (and chicken bones) are hollow and will splinter when your dog chews them. The sharp points of splintered bones can cause internal perforations in a dogs throat, stomach, or intestines that can lead to life threatening health problems. The bones can also get lodged in your dog’s throat and cause choking.

5. Chocolate.  Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that can be toxic to pets. Dark, semi-sweet or Baker’s chocolate can be lethal to pets if ingested. Milk chocolate is less dangerous but should still be avoided.

6. Tomatoes, Potatoes and Rhubarb. Parts of these contain oxalates, which can be toxic to dogs.

7. Raisins and Grapes. These can cause kidney failure, even in small amounts.

8. Pits from plums, peaches, cherries or other fruit. Pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. They can also create intestinal blockage.

9. Nutmeg. Can cause seizures and central nervous system damage.

10. Avocados. The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart