Did you know mental stimulation is just as important for your dogs health as physical exercise? When dogs are left with nothing to do, they get bored, just like humans! Interactive dog toys are great boredom busters for our furry friends, but they can get …
What’s better than a day full of shopping? Shopping with your dog of course! You may be surprised that there are many chain stores across the United States that are dog friendly! If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity for you and your pup, …
Moms don’t only have to have human kids! Dog moms are just as important as human moms, and they deserve to be spoiled this Mother’s Day as well. Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 9. This year spoil that dog mom in your life with one of these 10 Mother’s Day gifts for dog moms.
What dog mom doesn’t want to proudly display their status on a cute t-shirt or hat? Houndandthistle on Etsy has the cutest dog mom gear from breed specific hats to dog mom t-shirts!
She sent me a couple of her shirts, including one that says Husky Mom (*heart eyes*) and a sticker that lets me share my husky mom status on my laptop or water bottle. The shirts are so soft and comfortable and the sticker could not be cuter.
If you know a dog mom that would love to share their love for their pup on a shirt, pillow, mug, apron, and more, then houndandthistle on Etsy is the place to go!
Megan from houndandthistle was so kind to send me some gear to review on my blog. All opinions are my own!
I think I speak for most dog moms when I say that we’re obsessed with our pups. If the dog mom in your life is anything like me, they hate the idea of leaving Fido home alone.
Take some of the stress of leaving the dog at home off their shoulders with a Furbo dog camera. This camera allows you to view your dog from an app on your phone so you’ll have the comfort of knowing they’re safe and happy.
Furbo dog cameras also give you the ability to speak to your furry friend through a microphone on the camera! You also have the ability to toss them a treat no matter how far away you are!
Know a proud dog mom of a rescue dog? This Mother’s Day, gift them with a dog DNA test! The Wisdom Panel DNA test gives you the makeup of your dog out of 350 breeds! It also traces their bloodline back as far as their great-grandparents.
The Wisdom Panel test can even give you your dogs genetic makeup, tell you what health conditions your dog may experience, and give you your pups ideal weight!
Help your dog mom keep their home clean with a cute dog storage bin for toys and bones!
Get a photo of her dog printed onto a mug, cup, or wine glass for some extra joy while they drink their morning cup of coffee or having wine not with the girls.
What dog mom doesn’t enjoy spoiling their pup? For Mothers Day this year, get that dog mom in your life some paw print or bone shaped silicone baking molds. These molds are perfect for frozen dog treats or dog cakes!
The ultimate dog mom would jump at the chance to match with their fur baby. A matching dog and mom collar and bracelet set is one of the perfect Mother’s Day gifts for dog moms.
A canvas portrait of a dog mom and her pup is a great gift for Mother’s Day! They’ll love the personal touch it adds to their home.
Every girl loves a cute, dainty necklace they can wear every day. A necklace that says “dog mom” or has a paw print charm is a great idea for a dog mom gift this Mother’s Day.
If the dog mom in your life has a small dog, gift them a dog carrier! They’ll love the option to bring their dog everywhere with them whether it be running errands or traveling on a plane.
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Trimming your dogs nails is an important, yet difficult task. Despite being a painless procedure, many dogs are not a fan of having their nails trimmed. Nail trimming should be implemented from day one of bringing your new puppy home. The sooner you start nail …
Did you know that a lot of human foods actually have vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial for your dog as well? Summertime brings lots of delicious fruits that people enjoy throughout the warm months. This summer, your dog can enjoy a sweet, fruity treat …
Wouldn’t life be so much easier if our dogs could speak to us? Being able to ask them what they want or how they feel would make dog ownership a breeze. Unfortunately, dogs aren’t able to talk, at least not with their voice. However, by understanding dog body language, you’ll be able to communicate with them quite well! Dogs tell us a lot just by their body position. Today I’m going over the key signs to look for when learning about your dogs body language.
A dogs posture will tell you more about their emotions than anything else. There are three main emotions that can be easily understood through your dogs posture.
A happy dog will have a relaxed body posture. Their tail will be held in a neutral position and will be wagging back and forth. You won’t notice any stiffness in a happy and relaxed pup!
When dogs are happy and playful they’ll often play bow. This is when they put their front feet forward and lift their back end up in the air. This is usually a signal to other dogs that they’re ready to play!
Nervous and fearful dogs tend to make themselves as small as possible. A nervous dog will cower and hunch towards the ground, often with their tail tucked. This is the dogs way of telling anyone around him that he’s not a threat.
Nervous dogs occasionally roll onto their back and expose their belly. This is a submissive pose, and is another way to say “I mean no harm!”.
Aggressive dogs will stand with a stiff body posture. They’ll push their chest forward to seem bigger and will wag their tail in a fast, twitch like motion. If you notice your dog in this position, especially if they’re facing an animal or person, it’s time to move them away from the situation.
There’s a common misconception that dogs wag their tails when they’re happy or excited. While this is occasionally true, it’s not always the case. Dogs wag their tail when they are emotionally aroused, whether that’s negatively or positively.
A happy, relaxed dog will wag their tail in a calm motion back and forth. This is commonly how dogs react to greeting their owner or waiting for a treat.
A hard and fast tail wag is more often associated with a dog who is experiencing a negative emotion. Fast tail wags are typically reserved for dogs who are on high alert.
A dog who is holding their tail down or between their legs is fearful or stressed. If your dog is holding their tail up and stiff they’re feeling confident or possibly aggressive. Because different dog breeds hold their tails in different positions, it’s important to pay attention to how your dog naturally holds their tail. A large part of understanding dog body language is paying attention to your dogs body language.
Understanding your dogs body language means paying attention to their facial expressions as well!
Unlike humans, who yawn when we are tired or bored, dogs yawn when they are stressed. Yawning is a way for a dog to provide comfort to themselves in stressful situations such as going to the vet. Lip licking is another cue that your dog is feeling stressed or anxious.
Smiling in dogs can have two very different meanings, but luckily it’s easy to spot the difference. Dogs who lift their lips to display all of their teeth are being aggressive. Baring their teeth in this manner is usually done as a warning and is most often accompanied with a low growl.
A dog who is smiling with an open mouth, just showing their front teeth, is a happy and relaxed dog. This is known as a submissive grin and typically just means the dog is content.
You can understand a lot about your dogs emotions by looking at their eyes.
A hard, cold stare is an indication that your dog is feeling aggressive. They may be guarding a toy or letting another animal know they are a threat. When two dogs stare at each other, the first one to look away is the submissive dog. This dog is backing off, and letting the other dog know they are not a threat.
When dogs avoid eye contact that is a sign that they are uncomfortable or stressed. You’ll often notice your dog avoiding eye contact after doing something bad such as stealing food.
“Whale eye” or “moon eye” is when the dog shows the whites of their eye. This is another sign of stress in a dog, and can serve as a warning that a dog is about to snap.
Like humans, all dogs are different. It’s important to fully understand your dog so that you’ll easily notice a switch in their body language. What might be a nervous cue for one dog could mean aggression for another one. Study your dogs facial expressions and body posture daily. Learn how they react to a trip to the vet or a long walk outdoors. The better you know your dog, the easier understanding dog body language will be.
It’s that time of year where we need to keep an eye on our furry friends for parasites such as fleas and ticks. Ticks are parasites that feed off the blood of other animals, and unfortunately our dogs are a popular choice. While removing a …
Getting a new puppy can be an exciting time. Unfortunately, it can also be filled with unwanted opinions and “advice” from friends and family. Many people follow “adopt, don’t shop” and will try to talk you out of purchasing a puppy from a breeder. In …
Teaching your new puppy to sit should be the first command you teach them upon bringing them home. “Sit” is one of the most basic commands that all dogs should know. It’s the basis for many other tricks such as “stay” and “shake”. Teaching your dog “sit” is quite easy, and most dogs catch on easily even at a young age. These 5 simple steps will show you how to teach your dog “sit” with ease.
The first step in how to teach your dog to sit is to have them in front of you in a standing position. At this point you’ll want to take a training treat and hold it to their nose to catch their interest.
Once your dog is interested in the treat, pull it up and over their head, while keeping it in your dogs line of vision. As they look up to follow the treat, their rear end should naturally drop to the ground.
As soon as their bottom hits the ground say the verbal cue, “sit” while keeping the treat above their head.
While your dog is sitting, give them the treat and some verbal praise. Ensure your dog is still in a sitting position when you reward them. If your dog stands back up, make them sit again before giving the treat. This is a key step in how to teach your dog “sit”.
Once your dog is consistently sitting using the treat method, take away the treat. Hold your hand in the same position you were using to hold the treat. At this point your dog should respond to just the hand signal and verbal cue “sit” on its own.
This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
What is more fun than having a box full of goodies sent right to your front door every month? Subscription boxes have rose to popularity over the last several years and are marketed as a great gift option or fun way to treat yourself. There …