Dogs

Confession time: I will try anything for glowing skin. Similarly, I would do anything to spend more time with my two French Bulldogs, Weston and Fira. Luckily, this doggy-and-me DIY facial lets me accomplish both! Made from blueberries—a superfood, if you didn’t already know—it’s designed to soften your skin and brighten your dog’s fur. Is it just a bit extra? Yup. Is it worthy? Hell yeah. That’s why I’ve whipped up a recipe for blueberry facials for dogs that feature this powerful little berry. And let me tell you: If you’re looking for a fun bonding activity with your dog, plus fresher, softer skin (for you) and fur (for your pupper), THIS. IS. IT.

Amy Burkert recommends the following five tips to make going to a big-time baseball game fun and safe for everyone:,What could be better than going to a baseball game with your best friend? Plenty of dogs love the sights and sounds of being at a baseball stadium, not to mention spending quality time with their people.

In This Article How Long Are Dogs Pregnant? View 8 More +

Spending some time in nature is one of the best ways to unplug and recharge your batteries. But you don’t have to enjoy “roughing it” in order to do so. Forget pitching your own tent and spending hours arranging your sleeping essentials. The latest trend in camping involves simply showing up to a pre-set up luxury tent or a furnished cabin and enjoying a cozy weekend in the woods. And what better way to bond with your pup than by taking him along for the ride?

No matter their age, every dog should learn to be comfortable in a crate. Here are some of the benefits of crate training older dogs: Housetraining: Maybe you’ve adopted an older dog who was never potty trained. Maybe your older dog could use extra encouragement to hold it until they get outside. Crate training lets you keep your dog in a safe space that they won’t want to soil, which helps to reduce potty accidents. (If your older dog was housetrained and is having consistent potty accidents, consult your vet. They could be experiencing a medical issue or age-related incontinence.) Travel: Crate training makes traveling with your dog extra easy. Riding with your dog in a crate that is secured to your car keeps them safe when you’re on the road. Plus, when you arrive at your destination, a crate is a secure and cozy spot for them to hang out in a hotel, vacation rental or friends’ home when they can’t be with you. Vet and Groomer Visits: Animal care specialists like veterinarians and groomers routinely crate dogs before and after they are caring for them. Crate training your adult dog helps ensure your pup will be comfortable in those situations, making their appointment more enjoyable for them and for you. Keeping Your Dog Calm at Home: Your house isn’t always a soothing, serene environment for your dog. Events like house parties and holidays like Halloween can stress your pup out. When you crate train an older dog, you help make sure there is a safe space for them no matter what’s going on.,Jump to section The Benefits of Crate Training for Older Dogs Supplies for Crate Training an Older Dog How to Crate Train an Older Dog: Step-by-Step Instructions What If My Dog Still Won’t Use Their Crate?

Whether you’re at the dog park or a pet-friendly beach, you’re sure to see a Pit Bull dog with an adoring pet parent right behind them. Ask any Pit Bull mom or dad what they love about their pooch, and you’ll probably hear some pretty awesome Pit Bull facts plus how loyal, smart and downright hilarious they are! If you’re looking for a gift for an adoring Pit Bull parent or another dog lover, nothing could be more appropriate than something that pays tribute to this fun, people-loving breed. Here are a few ideas for Pit Bull gifts to get you started.

You’ve probably heard more and more pet parents talking about doodle dog breeds. Although this trend started back in the 1980s, the popularity of owning a doodle, an “oodle,” or a “poo” has skyrocketed. Let’s find out exactly what a doodle dog is, where they came from, and what you should keep in mind if you’re interested in adopting one of these mixed breeds. What Is a Doodle Dog? A doodle dog is the result of a Miniature Poodle, Standard Poodle, or Toy Poodle being mixed with another dog breed. Some people consider doodle dogs to be designer dog breeds, while others consider them mixed-breed dogs. The term “designer” is used when a breeder mixes two purebred dogs, hoping to get the best traits from each breed in the new puppy—in this case, a family dog that’s intelligent and good-natured with a low-shedding coat. However, it’s not that clear-cut when it comes to genetics. When you take the genes of two breeds, there is no guarantee on what traits the puppy will have. You risk not only losing the desirable traits of each breed, but also inheriting health issues and undesirable traits. While cross-breeding two dogs may counteract some of the typical hereditary diseases from each parent dog, there’s still no guarantee about which genes your pup will inherit. You could end up with any combination of these conditions. Doodle vs. Oodle vs. Poo  Doodle mixes come with all sorts of crazy names. They all have some part of “Poodle” name by ending in doodle, oodle, or poo and starting with part of the other breed’s name.  Some doodle mixes easily give away what the Poodle breed is mixed with, while others aren’t so obvious. And although it seems that the large dog breeds mixed with a Poodle have the doodle or oodle ending, and small dog breeds use the poo ending, that’s not true 100% of the time.  What Are F1, F1B, F2, and F3 Doodles? You may have seen the terms F1, F1B, F2, or F3 doodles in your search for a new doodle puppy. These terms help define the type of designer dog breeding that has happened. As the trend gains popularity, the doodle mixes become their own new breeds that are sometimes bred together. Below are examples of the parent dog mixtures that would result in each category of a Labradoodle.   Labrador Retriever + Poodle = F1 Labradoodle F1 Labradoodle + Poodle = F1B Labradoodle  F1 Labradoodle + F1 Labradoodle = F2 Labradoodle F2 Labradoodle + F2 Labradoodle = F3 Labradoodle

Dogs use their mouths to explore their world. Testing out a little piece of dirt here and there is pretty normal dog behavior. But actually eating it, especially compulsively or excessively, is not normal. Eating objects that are not food-related is an eating disorder called pica. Pica is typically considered a mental health issue, but it also can be the result of a medical condition or poor nutrition.,Q: I notice that sometimes my dog likes to eat dirt—whether it’s outside while playing or inside from my indoor plants. Why do dogs eat dirt? Is this normal?

Homegating: It’s just like tailgating—AKA a football party that happens ahead of the big game—but instead of taking place in a parking lot, you’re snacking and cheering away in the comfort of your own home. That makes it a best-of-both-worlds scenario, says Daina Falk, chef and founder and CEO of Hungry Fan, a website all about game-day entertaining. “There’s no need to manage the jigsaw puzzle that is packing up the car with vast amounts of tailgate gear, and it’s easier to prep food and drink and keep it appropriately hot or cold.” The best part? While pets typically aren’t allowed inside football stadiums (and sometimes not even in their parking lots), your sweet pets can join in the homegating fun. Get ready to plan a homegate party with your MVP (most valuable pet) in just three steps from Falk and entertaining expert Paul Zahn.

Train Your Dog to “Settle” It’s of benefit to train any dog to lie on a mat quietly while other things are going on. It is especially helpful for hearing-impaired dogs since they may not sense when another dog is getting irritated by their behavior. You, as the owner, must be aware of what is going on in your dog’s environment so that if needed, you can have them go to their mat to avoid unnecessary conflict or danger. You can use a bed, towel, or platform. Start by rewarding your dog for placing a single foot on the object, and then keep requiring your dog to move farther onto the object until she has her whole body on it.,Use Hand Signals You will also have to pair hand signals with behaviors. You can use any signals that you desire. Remember to be consistent and decide on a hand signal before starting to train. Many people use signals from human sign language, but you can also use your own. It’s usually better to use one-handed signals, so that your other hand is free to give rewards. Start by using your hand flash, and reward your dog for offering the behavior (shaping). Then add your signal before the behavior, and reward with a “flash” and treat for the correct performance of the desired behavior.,Deaf dogs are more common than you think—they make up approximately 5-10% of the pet population.   Hearing loss can be congenital (they are born with it) or acquired. Acquired hearing loss can come from injury, drug reactions, or age-related loss. Congenital hearing loss is seen at a young age and is often associated with coat color patterns. No matter the cause of deafness, just because a dog cannot hear, it doesn’t mean they are untrainable. You just need to think outside the box. Tips for Training Deaf Dogs Here are some ways you can modify training to fit the needs of deaf dogs. Teach That Touch Is Good Since the hearing-impaired dog cannot hear when you call them, you need to train that touch is good. Remember to train this as you would any other behavior. The touch is meant to be a way to get attention, just like calling your hearing dog’s name gets their attention. Decide where you will touch your dog to mean, “I want your attention” (for example: shoulder or rump). Pair the touch with positive reinforcement so that your dog understands that you want attention when you tap in that spot. Use a single or double tap, not repetitive tapping, as this is considered to be nagging and may be a bit annoying for the dog. If you desire, you can teach your dog to turn to the side on which you are tapping by only reinforcing when they turn their head to the side of the tap.