Showing posts with label Dog. Show all posts

I'm going to start off this post with a little disclaimer: my dog is a psycho. She has an insane amount of energy and an insane amount of quirks, so this may not apply to all dogs. A few years ago when I was training for my half marathon, Andi trained for the entire thing with me. That's right, Andi ran up to 11 miles- afterwards she would sprint a few laps in the backyard, take a poo, then pass out on the couch for 10 hours. It was amazing! Here are things I learned running with my dog (keep in mind I'm not a professional at all- vet OR runner- these are just my own pieces of advice).


  1. Talk to Your Vet First: Different breeds have different needs. When I asked my vet about running with Andi he said if the temperature is above 70 degrees, she shouldn't run any more than one mile because of her breathing and the risk of heat stroke.
  2. Know the Signs of Heat Stroke: Some dogs are at higher risk for heat stroke than others, plus running makes US hot so imagine how much it sucks for dogs who can't sweat! Some symptoms include heavy panting, excessive thirst, vommitting/diahrrea, bright or dark red teeth/gums, staggering, excessive drooling, and more. If your dog's behaviors even start to concern you while you're running, DON'T risk it!
  3. Be Patient: Remember the first time you ran the mile in gym class? Did you sprint as hard as you could for the first 400 then almost die for the rest? Dogs know nothing about pacing, and Andi just wanted to go at 1000% as soon as we started running. They also get incredibly distracted which is super frustrating when you're just trying to get your workout in. It took a lot of practice and getting used to for us to get in sync with running. In the beginning I would take Andi with me for the first mile or 2, then drop her off at home and finish my long runs. Eventually we were in sync with each other and the best running buddies.
  4. Stick to a Route: The same route is pretty exciting every day for dogs, but for Andi every single smell, bush, tree and blade of grass wasn't quite as exciting after 2 weeks of passing it every single day. Sticking with the same route helps with those distractions. Speaking of distractions- don't be embarrassed to talk to your dog while you're running. For some reason, and maybe this was in my head, whenever I gave Andi positive praise she would kick it up a notch.
  5. Pay Attention to Your Dog: Watch out for limps or anything out of the ordinary for your dog. Sometimes I had my music turned up loud and was in the zone and didn't even notice little Andi was limping alongside me! It turned out she's just getting old and needed some glucosamine vitamins to oil up her joints, but I felt terrible!


Do you run with your dog? Do you have any advice?

Linking up today at TWIT with Kateri VonSteel and Little Friday!

Wednesday Workout: Tips for Running With Your Dog

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Ok so it really seems like last week Andi and I were cuddled under a million blankets watching snow storm #5000000 come through DC, anyone else? We have officially said hasta la vista the el polar vortex (I shudder just typing "polar vortex") and are welcoming highs in the upper 80s with approximately one million percent humidity. And you know what that means- besides spending money on dresses and sandals it's time to spend money on the pups! These are my summer must-have for Andi in the summer (plus they are affordable and awesome).


Ethical Pet Handi Drink: Whoever thought of this deserves a medal. My friend Meaza brought it on our hiking trip for Andi and it was a lifesaver. It's just a water bottle with a folding attachment that serves as a dog bowl. It easily fits into a small hiking bag.




Arctic Freeze Dog Toy: Fill it with water, freeze it, boom. Your dog can cool off.



Cooling Dog Bed: Just look how much that dog loves that bed. I die. You don't have to fill this with water or freeze it yourself becayse it's weight activated! Awesome right?


Kool Collar: Honestly this is so basic and I'm pissed at myself for not thinking of this. It comes with a "kool tube" that you keep in the freezer, you put it into the collar, put the collar on the dog, as it melts it acts as fake sweat which cools them off. 




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Kiddie Pool: My golden retriever growing up LOVED this but Andi is terrified of water. You can find cheap ones at Wal-Mart but I like this one from Target because you can deflate it for easy storage.



Doggie Life Vest: Again Andi is terrified of water so this is totally unnecessary for us, but it's so stinkin adorable I had to include it. Also funny/scary story re: doggy life vests: at my friend's Memorial Day cookout a few years ago Bruce the Bulldog had had it with everyone and made a jump into the pool. Yall Bruce didn't even try, all 90 lbs of that guy sunk to the bottom like a brick. We jumped in, got him out, he threw up and was totally fine but from then on all dogs have to wear life vests when they're around the pool! 

Don't forget, our pups can't sweat and the heat can be really hard on them! They shouldn't stay in the car when it's hot outside, and make sure they have plenty of water and shade if they stay outside. 

Heat tires out the dogs which is the way I like Andi most:

Can't even make it into the bed. Pathetic. And yes she sleeps in a bed for small dogs and loves it (when she can get to it)



What are your summer puppy must-haves?? 

Linking up today at Little Friday, TWIT


Summer Pet Products: Must-Haves to Keep Your Pets Cool

Thursday, June 5, 2014

A few weeks ago I posted a plea on facebook for advice re: Andi’s sudden fear of wind. Yes, wind. Any kind of breeze, any noise caused by wind, any creaking caused by the slight sway of branches causes her to completely lose her mind and do insane things including but not limited to: attempting to dig out of the apartment (see: scratched wood floors), chewing the LOCK OFF THE FRONT DOOR (see: no security deposit return), chugging water until she throws up, running around the house panting and shaking, pacing for hours (again, wood floors + dog pacing = no sleep for anyone). Here is the advice I got and tried:

1. The Thundershirt: I ordered this for Andi and my review is so-so. She calms down a little bit for awhile when she has it on and is definitely a little more subdued. When I came home from work on a particularly windy day last week the balcony door had been left open, meaning there was wind in the apartment (Andi’s worst nightmare), and there was no visible damage to the apartment. She always shakes when I leave for work, so I have been trying it out for that but she still shakes. If you’re ordering a Thundershirt for your dog I definitely suggest ordering through their website because they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back, so if it doesn’t work you get a full refund.




2. Lavender Oil or Spray: My friend told me they put lavender oil on their dog’s food, on her fur and on her bed and it has a great calming affect. I even read that vets sometimes diffuse lavender oil in their offices and waiting rooms to calm dogs. It also comes in a spray that you can pretty much use anywhere.






3. EXERCISE: I check weather.com every day to see if there is any possibility of wind. When there is, I take Andi out the night before for an extra long walk or run (usually 2-3 miles) and take her to a field where she can kick it into 5th gear. The goal is to get her so tired that she sleeps through the wind. This doesn’t work 100%, but it definitely helps.



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4. Doggy Day Care: Same idea as a #3, dogs can get so worn out at doggy daycare that they don’t have the energy to be scared. Doggy Daycare isn’t in my budget this year, but definitely keeping it in mind for the future. In DC? Here's what I found for DC doggy day cares





5. Desensitizing: I did some reading on desensitizing dogs to the things that scare them. This article from WebMD has some good tips. This is a tough one to do with wind, I guess I could bring in a huge fan for a day and work on this haha? The video above shows a vacuum cleaner example with tips. PS youtube has tons of dog training resources- I'm going to try this for leash pulling and this for separation anxiety (I know she's a mess. Really it's not her it's me).  



This is Andi at the vet. Look at that mean mug. #dramaqueen
6. Get Checked for Ear Infections: If dogs suddenly become scared of noises that didn’t bother them before, it could be an ear infection or something else that is easily solved by the vet. Definitely worth looking into, plus the vet could have some good ideas for your dog and breed. See the picture above for how much Andi loves going to the vet.
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7. Meds: This is my last resort. If we get into the new house and Andi’s situation doesn’t improve (I’m hoping not being on the 7th floor of an old building will make wind less scary?), we are going to try this out. I have a lot of friends whose dogs take Valium and other anti-anxiety meds so it is indeed a thing.

What do you do for your dog's anxiety? Have you heard of anything that works??

And a bonus: DOG GIFS!


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    Dog Anxiety Remedies

    Thursday, May 1, 2014

    Let me start this off with a little story, the moment that started my [desperate] search for dog walking resources for dogs like Andi who are so sweet and gentle yet have the strength of Arnold Schwarzzenegger. So picture this:

    The sun is finally out after a night of pouring rain. Lindsay and Andi (a beautiful lovely 50-lb pit mix) have been cooped up in the house all night and cannot wait to get outside! It's 8:30 a.m. aka rush hour, and Lindsay and Andi live on an extremely busy street in their city. They walk onto the wet grassy median where all the dogs go to use the restroom. Suddenly Andi sees a squirrel and completely loses her sh*t!! Because there are only TEN MILLION SQUIRRELS LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Before Lindsay knows it she is essentially water skiing down the median with Andi as her speedboat, pulling her along, Lindsay holding onto the leash for dear life. Finally Lindsay eats it, falling face first into the muddy wet grass. Does this stop Andi? Of course not. Lindsay continues to be dragged. On her face. In front of traffic

    This story has not even been dramatized in the slightest. Did I mention I was completely dressed for work? So this was when I decided it was time to do something. I researched training which at $300 for a few weeks of training sessions (where we would have to be around other dogs which are more exciting to Andi than squirrels) Andi and I would both be traumatized and neither of us would have money to eat. So I researched and tried out some different dog walking tools. These are my review of the harnesses, halters and leashes we have tried out- they all have pros and cons but they all HELP, and are ASPCA approved!


    The Gentle Leader
    • How it works: The Gentle Leader places gentle pressure on the back of the dog's neck which prevents her from tugging at the leash. The nose loop directs the head in the direction you want to go.
    • Pros: It really DOES work (I could hold onto Andi's leash with one finger while walking her on this), a lot of times dogs don't need additional walking training, no choking the dog
    • Cons: Can rub away at the fur on dog's nose leading to raw exposed skin, takes some time to get used to (for dog and owner), must be fitted exactly right (you've got to watch the DVD that comes with it) which makes it hard to have others walk the dog (aka parents, dog sitters, etc), also I'm really defensive about my dog and HATED when people would say "oh did your pit bite someone so you have to keep a muzzle on it?" This is in no way a muzzle but I hated that we could be stirring up these "nasty pit" thoughts in people's heads.




    Front Clip Harnesses
    • How it works: Straps go over their back and under their arms so that when they pull their front legs out from under them- kind of like they're trying to swim but there's no water. 
    • Pros: The webbing and adjustments make it great for girthy/wide-shouldered dogs (like pits), 6 different sizes ensure great fit, takes no time to get used to (you can use it right away), really effective. You really really have to measure you dog to make sure you get the right size.
    • Cons: Can cause rubbing/chaffing for the dogs, and it snaps awkwardly under their arms which makes it easy to accidentally pinch that super sensitive skin down there and virtually impossible to strap on without harm after a few cocktails. This is why I got rid of it...maybe now that I've cut back on drinking I can get back on it because this was my favorite.




    Regular Harness
    • How it works: Straps around the dog, leash attaches to a ring at the top.
    • Pros: Good for dogs with throat or trachea issues, maybe it's good for small dogs?
    • Cons: This actually seemed to make pulling worse for Andi. My theory is that it was like a "hug" on her and got her all excited, or it was more fun to pull with a jacket around her.





    Sporn Training Halter™ 
    • How it works: Similar to the Front Clip Harness, but work as more of a pulley system. Sherpa sleeves cover the cords so they don't cause chaffing under the dogs' arms.
    • Pros: The sherpa sleeves reduce chaffing, it really did stop Andi's pulling
    • Cons: Looks like the dog is being strapped in for a space flight (the sherpa sleeves are huge), broad shouldered dogs (like Andi) can easily step out of the restraints.


    I have been emailing with a trainer who suggested Washington Animal Rescue League , Spot on Dog Training DC, and FREE workshops at Your Dog's Friend. She also forwarded me the ASPCA's Training Guide for Leash Reactive Dogs. Andi and I are definitely going to try the neutral-dog training technique!

    What do YOU do for your strong or reactive dog? Training advice? Dog tools?



    Linking up today:
    The Grits Blog

    Collars, Halters, Harnesses and Leashes for Strong Dogs + Reactive Dog Training Resources

    Thursday, March 13, 2014


    Ok so these are essentially beef flavored cookies and I am pretty sure Harrison would enjoy these just as much as the dog (for the record- he refused to try them. If you are successful in tricking a human to eat these please let me know).

    Anyway I couldn't help but laugh while I was making these for two reasons:
    1. This 3 ingredient recipe is pretty much clean. Hey if I'm gonna have a bougie diet so is my dog. 
    2. These are laughably easy to make. And cheaper than spending $15 on dog treats that picky dogs like Andi may or may not like. 

    So here it is, the world's easiest clean eating beef flavored cookie:

    Servings: 12 medium sized biscuits (of varying sizes. Next time I'm going to try to make them the exact size to fit into the Kong. Def spent a few minutes weighing the possibility of actually baking a treat into the Kong. I mean...)
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 25 mins

    Ingredients


    Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix together 2 Cups of oats and the egg. Next mix in the broth. Once it is all mixed together add another 1/2 cup of oats. Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes. Make your dough into any shapes you want on a non-stick baking sheet and heat for 25 minutes.

    These treats don't have any preservatives so remember to keep them refrigerated in a bag or tupperware.

    And that's it. Yep, that easy.


    Linking up today- check them out!

    Little Friday

    Easy Homemade Dog Treats

    Thursday, February 27, 2014


    I have shopped far and wide for the most durable dog chew toys out there for my beloved pittie who has jaws so strong she once chewed a door knob off of a door trying to protect our house from the lawn mower man (anyone else out there have a pit with the most irrational fears? Ceiling fans, lawn mowers, bicycles..). Not much is worse than that feeling when you spend $30 on a top-of-the-line chew toy only to watch your dog completely destroy it in 20 minutes or less, followed by hours of picking splintered dog toy out of the carpet, followed by cleaning dog throw up off of everything because they ate an entire toy in 20 minutes that was meant to endure 6 months of dog chewing. My at-length research has led me to these top 4 products, all Ok'd by my vet, as long as you get the proper sizes and monitor the chewing.

    1. Nylabone:
    • Pros: Flavoring keeps dogs occupied for hours, come in different flavors, they LOVE the textures, bristles on the bones clean dog's teeth, don't splinter much as long as you get the right durability (they have 3 levels of hardness and recommend purchasing a size up if you aren't sure which kind to get your dog)
    • Cons: If you get one that isn't strong enough for your dog they do splinter which makes for difficult clean up
    • Notes: Make SURE to pay attention to the chewing strength (on every package and/or on-line description)
    • Where to buy: PetCo, PetSmart, Target, Amazon (best price)

    2. Hoof
    • Pros: Super cheap, the smell/taste keep dogs entertained for hours, long-lasting for the price
    • Cons: Super splintery- you have to be really careful with these because of this. When Andi uses them I let her chew it for 30 minutes/day to make sure the splinters don't hurt her stomach. 
    • Notes: Can really hurt a dog's stomach if they get too splintered
    • Where  to buy: Petco, Petsmart (has stuffed hooves!), Amazon, Ebay

    3. Kong

    4. The Antler
    • Pros: Durable, natural, naturally shed, don't splinter, taste that keeps dogs interested, clean dog's teeth, packed with nutrients like calcium. 
    • Cons: More expensive
    • Note: Moose and Reindeer are stronger than elk which is stronger than deer (but the deer has more marrow inside which is what keeps the dogs occupied). Yeah yall, the antler business is serious! ALSO: apparently there is a market for fake antlers, so read up on the reviews and make sure you're getting what you order.
    • Where to buy: Natural food stores (best price),  ebay, Amazon



    Friday Favs: Dog Toys for Strong Chewers

    Friday, January 3, 2014

    It's the most wonderful time of the year!! There's an excuse to dress up the dog in ridiculous outfits! Why should humans get to have all the fun at tacky sweater parties right? Well that's a joke since Andi hates being dressed up, but I just love it sooo much- can dogs have psychological damage?
    Here are my favs:



























    Doggy Style: Tacky Christmas Sweater Edition

    Friday, November 29, 2013


    The Gods of Groupon Goods are hearing Andi's and my prayers with this deal today:
    In the last 6 months Andi has developed a kind of car anxiety where as soon as the car goes into drive she shakes profusely and sheds approximately 2-5 lbs of hair (depending on how far the drive is)- I mean in reality it is probably for attention and probably because she has discovered it earns her a seat in my lap if I'm not driving. But she's almost 60 pounds and front seats are just not build for 2. Enter: AKC Car Seat Covers from Groupon Goods. As soon as this hit my inbox I ordered- $12 + $2 shipping and handling- yes please! When I researched these at the onset of Andi's car-anxiety I couldn't find anything under $50.
    Just look how happy this dog is in the car, No anxiety anywhere.
    Apparently most people get this to keep dog hair off their seats not necessarily as a barrier to the front seat. You say potato and say pota(h)to. Whatever.

    I may or may not have strayed over to the "customers like you also liked this" page and purchased this LED leash (hey Christmas is coming!)


    Ok ok ok and an LED collar..Andi will be so safe!  And the coolest dog on the block in our new neighborhood! (more on that later)




    Dogcessories: The $12 Doggie Car Seat

    Wednesday, November 20, 2013

    I subscribe to BarkPost which is pretty much the most useful/happiest newsletter on earth for dog owners. Today they published a list of 17 Life Hacks Every Dog Parent Should Know which includes HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN DOG SHAMPOO!!! With things from around the house!! Do you know how much money I have spent on doggie shampoo? #LifeChanging .

    Lifehack #4: Make your own shampoo.

    With 1 cup of dish soap, 1 cup of vinegar, and 1 quart of warm water, you can have a simple, natural shampoo for your pup! (Info source, Image source.)
    fleashampoo




    My other favorite that I will be using this winter:

     

    Lifehack #17: Protect your pup’s paws in the winter with Vaseline.

    Oof. Can you imagine what it would feel like to walk around on those salty + snowy sidewalks in the winter? Protect your pup’s paws from chapping and cracking by applying a bit of Vaseline to them before you go out each time. After your walk, you can just rinse the paws in warm water to get rid of any salt or chemicals your four-legged ruv might’ve picked up. (Info from ASPCA.)
    funny-gif-picture-dog-slides-in-snow



    Homemade Doggie Shampoo

    Friday, October 18, 2013

    It's the most wonderful time of the year! That is, the time of year when it's socially acceptable to dress the dog in costumes!! And, can we just talk about how TARGET HAS DOG-HUMAN MATCHING COSTUMES?? Yeah yall.

    A word of caution from experience: last year Andi was a yellow submarine and it had a periscope on the top. She crawled under the porch table, the periscope (which was attached to Andi) got caught on the table which spooked her and she dragged this table halfway down the block. Kind of a buzzkill at the Halloween party...

     These are Andi's options this year:

    Martha Stewart Alligator Costume at PetSmart $15.99


    Cowboy Rider Pet Costume $14.00 at Target. Would not recommend this costume if the dog likes to crawl under things

    Grreat Choice Pet Halloween Costume: Shark Fin from PetSmart $6.00

    Pet Costume, Hotdog Brown from Target $10.00 
    Let's just talk about how we CAN MATCH AT HALLOWEEN (thanks TARGET!)
    Adult Lightweight hotdog costume: $19.99 at Target

    Doggie Style: Halloween Costumes

    Wednesday, October 9, 2013

    Don't forget to stretch


    Do some yoga or pilates

     Mix it up a little- do some exploring like hiking or running trails- if you get bored with your workouts, workouts get...well..boring. And harder to do. 


    Enjoy some healthy snacks


    And take a reallllllyyyy good nap (after H Street Festival of course)

    Weekend Workout Wisdom from Andi

    Friday, September 20, 2013

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