Here are some tips on selecting a boarding/daycare facility:

Locate a few facilities that are in convenient location by using:

• Yellow Pages
• Internet
• Recommendations of other dog parents

Interview the facility:

• Ask if the facility can accommodate your dog
• Find out how long they have been in business
• Ask for references
• Find out price, hours,boarding requirements and policies
• If your dog has a special need, ask if they accommodate
• Ask if you can visit the facility before you schedule the boarding

Visit the facility:

• Check the cleanness and smell of the entire place
• Check out the areas your dog spends time (sleeping area, play area, outdoor pen, etc.)
• Check out facility staff and their interaction with dogs
• Find out the daily routine (how often does your dog go out, feeding schedule, etc.)
• Find out the facility’s supervision and safety procedures

Before making a final decision:

• Check references
• Check with Better Business Bureau for any complaints against the facility

Here are some tips on preparing for disasters:

Make a list of safe places to stay in advance:

• Make a list of pet-friendly hotels and motels outside of your immediate area
• Check with your families and friends outside of your immediate area to see if they can accommodate you and/or your pets if a disaster strikes
• Make a list of human societies and animal shelters near you

Prepare emergency supply kits for EACH of your pet:

• Food (dry and/or can), food bowl, and manual can opener
• Water and water bowl
• Medications, if any
• Medical records, vaccination certificates
• Well-ventilated, secure crate or carrier
• Extra set of leash, collar, and ID tag
• Photos and descriptions of your pet, in case of accidental separation during the evacuation
• Name and phone number of your veterinarian
• Cleaning supplies such as paper towels, rags, trash bags, pet-safe disinfectant
• Blanket and toy
• First aid kit

A proper identification is very important at all times!

• Be sure that your dog is wearing up-to-date identification at all times
• Include the alternate phone number (other than your home telephone number) on the identification tag
• Collars can be lost- consider micro-chipping your pets

Notification:

• Place a decal on your front window or door to let the authorities know that there are animals inside in case when you are not home at the time of the disaster

Reactions to dog allergens can include stuffy nose, inflamed eyes, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulties in breathing, asthma, rashes, etc… Healthcare professionals suggest that the best treatment is to avoid contact with dogs, but to many of us, this is not an option. If you are one of those unfortunate ones who are allergic to your own dog, here are some steps you can take to relieve your allergy problems:

• Wash your hands every time after you touch your dog.
• Clean your house frequently and thoroughly, especially carpets and upholstered furniture. Wash walls and baseboards and clean air ducts. Wash draperies and rugs in hot water.
• When vacuuming, wear a dust mask. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter. Bare floors are better than carpeted floors for allergy sufferers, but if you are unable to remove carpets, steam clean them frequently.
• Replace central heating/cooling air filters frequently.
• Use air cleaner with a HEPA filter.
• Do not allow your dog to enter your bedroom. Keep the bedroom door closed at all times.
• Cover central heating/cooling air vents with thin, dense material such as cheesecloth in your bedroom.
• Wash your dog’s bedding and toys frequently in hot water.
• Bathe your dog once a week and brush him/her frequently. Use shampoo that does not dry out your dog’s skin. You may also add a supplement that contains quality essential fatty acids (important building blocks in healthy skin) that helps reduce dry skin and flakes to your dog’s diet.

The easiest and most common way to get a prescription for your dog is to get it from your veterinarian. This works fine for something like antibiotics for infections, but what if your dog needs long term medications like arthritis medication, eye drops for glaucoma treatment, etc? By using an online pet pharmacy, you can often save money and trips to your vet’s office.

How Does Online Pet Pharmacy Work?
Ordering from online pet pharmacy is easy, just like ordering any pet supplies. Only difference is you will need a prescription from your veterinarian. There are usually four different ways to submit the prescription: mail the prescription; fax the prescription; have your veterinarian call the pharmacy; or have the pharmacy call your veterinarian.

How to save money on your dog’s medications:

* Always compare prices of pet medications.

* Search online coupons for the merchant you are using.

* Most online pet pharmacies also sell non-prescription items as well. So you can add these items to your prescription order. You may qualify for multiple order discounts or any special offer (such as free shipping) they may have.

This is my dog, Keela

Here are some dog photography tips!

Preparation:
Unclutter the area that you are taking pictures of your dog in. Keep backgrounds as plain as possible. Have treats and/or your dog’s favorite toys handy. They are great attention getters.

Choosing a right environment:
Take pictures where your dog can relax and be himself. Avoid an unfamiliar environment or place with distractions, such as a park with many people and other dogs. Try to take pictures outside so that you can avoid using flash. When outside, make sure your dog is not under direct sunlight or he will be squinting his eyes! Choose lighter color background for dark color dog and vise versa.

Eye-to-eye contact:
Avoid taking pictures from your eye level. Kneel or sit (or even lie down) and hold the camera at the dog’s eye level to capture his sweet, innocent or even mischievous expressions. Nobody can resist those big, droopy puppy eyes!

Practice makes it perfect:
Taking a lot of pictures will increase your chance of capturing the perfect moment. Try both vertical and horizontal shots and different angles to create different effects.

Be patient:
Do not force your dog to pose or act in a certain way. Just wait for your dog to situate himself for the photo session and be himself. Dogs have short attention spans, so try to keep the photo session short.

Make all supplies within your reach:
Everything you need should be within your reach so that you don’t have to leave your dog in a tub while trying to get something you need. If you leave the area, your dog will probably try to jump out of the tub: this can be potentially dangerous.

Protect your dog’s ears:
Place one or two cotton balls in each ear to avoid water accidentally get in the ear canal.

Water temperature:
Water temperature should be lukewarm, not hot and not too cool.

Wetting your dog:
Soak your dog’s coat completely. Start with the hindquarters and work towards the front of your dog, head as being last. Slightly lift the face so that the water runs down the back of the head instead of into the eyes or nose.

Shampooing:
Always use a shampoo made for dogs and follow manufacturer’s directions. Choose a type of shampoo that is suitable for your coat and skin condition. Start with the hindquarters and work your way to the front of your dog. The head and face should be the last. Use a tearless shampoo for the face. Avoid shampoo to get into eyes. Make sure you work the shampoo well down into the coat and into the skin. A rubber brush can be helpful for this task.

Rinsing:
Start with the head and hand rinse the soap from the face. Continue to rinse the rest of your dog, using your free hand to knead the soap out of the coat. Rinse thoroughly because soap residue can cause a skin irritation.

Drying:
Using your hands, squeeze the excess water out of the coat. Blot the excess moisture from the coat with a towel. Remove the cotton balls from the ears and use the clean cotton balls to absorb any moisture in the ear. A blow dryer can be used on the low setting on the body, but avoid blowing into your dog’s face.

Grooming is a good opportunity for you to check your dog for a sign of any problems. While brushing, examine the skin for signs of fleas and ticks, skin irritations, hair loss or lumps. While cleaning ears look for any unusual problems such as inflammation, foul odor and excessive ear wax buildups. Paying special attention to your dog’s body helps early detection of potentially serious problems. If any problems are found, consult with your veterinarian.

Coat:
Brushing allows the natural oils to circulate to the coat and promotes a shiny healthy coat. Brush in the direction of hair growth, starting at the head and working your way towards the tail and down the legs. Long haired, heavy coated dogs may need daily brushing session while short haired dog may only need to be brushed two to three times a week.

Nails:
Use a nail clipper that is specially designed for dogs. Different sizes of clippers are available for different sizes of dogs. Hold the dog’s paw firmly and clip the tip of the nail. Be very careful to avoid cutting the quick (pink line inside the nail), the area of the nail that contains blood vessel and nerve. If you are not comfortable with the task, have the veterinarian do it for you.

Ears:
Clean your dog’s ears with cotton balls or pre moistened dog ear wipes. Cotton balls can be moistened with mineral oil or ear cleaning solution. Hold open the ear and gently clean inside. Be sure to use clean piece for each ear. Never use Q-tips to clean a dog’s ear.

Dental:
Brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week or more (preferably daily) with a toothbrush and toothpaste especially made for dogs. Do not use human toothpaste. It can upset your dog’s digestive system.

Bathing:
Brush your dog’s coat thoroughly prior to bathing. Choose a shampoo suitable for your dog’s needs. Always follow manufacturer’s directions. Avoid soap in the eyes and water in the ears. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. Shampoo residue can cause skin irritation. See Dog Bath Tips for more information on giving your dog a bath.

When should I look for a veterinarian?
If you are thinking about getting a dog, it is better to look for a veterinarian before you actually acquire a dog, so that you will have more time for your new dog later. Moreover, the veterinarian may be able to give you advice on selecting/finding your new dog.

If you have a dog and just happened to move to a new area, begin searching for a new veterinarian immediately. Do not wait until your dog actually needs one. Ask your current veterinarian for a recommendation. Be sure to transfer medical history from your previous veterinarian to your new veterinarian.

How do I find the right veterinarian?
One of the easiest and most trustworthy ways to find the right veterinarian is to ask people who are responsible pet care givers; your friends, family members, neighbors, local humane society workers, groomers, breeders, etc. Ask them specific reasons why they recommend that particular veterinarian to see if their recommendations meet what you expect from the veterinarian.

You may also use the internet to look up veterinarians. Use credible sources such as national or state based veterinary medical association web sites.

You may want to select several veterinarians. Once you’ve narrowed your selection, visit with each veterinarian to make sure what he/she offers meet your expectation. While you are visiting, consider asking/checking following:

• Location

Is the location convenient to you? It is close enough to get to quickly in case of an emergency?

• Hours

Does hours fit your schedule?

• Facility

Is it clean and well-organized? Do you notice unpleasant odors?

• Staff

How many veterinarians are in the practice? Who covers the practice when your veterinarian is not available? Are technicians and assistants friendly, caring, courteous, etc…? Do they dress and act professionally?

• Fees

Are fees in your budget? What method of payment do they accept? If you have pet health insurance, do they take it?

• Services

What is the range of services? Do they provide non-medical services you may want to use (such as boarding and grooming)? Do they have an emergency service?

Here are some things to consider…

• Your Lifestyle

Selecting a dog that matches your life style is very important. For instance, if you are living in a small apartment, a dog that is large and high energy is not the best choice. However, if you are active/athletic and have a large yard, this type of dog can be the best match for you.

• Dog’s Age – Puppy or Adult?

You must admit – it is hard to resist those cute cuddly puppies with droopy eyes. However, puppies usually require much more attention than older dogs. You will need a lot of time and patience – housetraining and correcting unwanted behaviors such as chewing and jumping. The advantage of getting a puppy is that you can be sure that he/she receives proper care during puppy hood, such as proper nutrition and socialization.

Getting a more mature dog can bring as much joy as getting a puppy. The major advantage of getting an older dog is that the dog is usually already housebroken and passed the destructive chewing phase. Some dogs may take a little longer to adjust to new surroundings at first, but with just a little patience, he/she will soon become a wonderful part of your family.

• Purebred or Mixed Breed?

If you are planning to compete in dog shows or looking for a breed with specific characteristic, you would probably want to find a reputable breeder or contact a purebred rescue group for that breed. Animal shelters also have many purebreds. The American Kennel Club is an excellent source of finding out about purebreds. All purebreds have specific breed standards. Therefore, if you get a purebred puppy, you will have a good idea on his/her size, appearance and temperament.

Mixed breeds are combinations of different breeds, so if you can tell the predominant breed of a mixed-breed puppy, you can still predict his/her physical and behavioral traits. Mixed breeds have combined traits of different breeds, thus they are more likely to be free from breed specific health problems.