This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. With Mothers Day being only one week away, it’s time to start shopping for all the moms who have made an impact on your life-this includes dog moms as well! If you’re stumped on gift …
Who isn’t obsessed with Harry Styles right now? Whether you considered yourself a huge “Directioner” back in the day or are just a fan of the British boys solo music, there’s nobody better to name your pup after. With the release of his new album …
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Amazon is a one stop shop for everything you could ever need. For dogs in particular, they have everything from food and treats to toys to accessories. When it comes to spring time and the warmer months, there are some essentials I need for my dog to keep her happy and healthy. Today, I’m sharing my list of Amazon must haves for my dog this spring.
You can view my full Amazon list of spring must haves for my dog here.
Fleas and ticks go dormant in the winter but as soon as that warm weather starts to creep back up, these nasty pests come back out. When it comes to flea and tick preventatives there are a plethora of options out there and you should always talk to your vet about the best option for your dog.
For my dog, I love Only Natural Pet’s flea and tick tag and essential oil spray. I choose not to use too many harsh chemicals on my pup and I appreciate that these two options are chemical free while still working to prevent flea and tick infestations. They also have a home spray, that can be sprayed on flooring and furniture should you have an outbreak in your house.
If you have a long haired or double coated dog then you are most likely all too familiar with the shedding that comes as soon as the weather gets warm. Having a solid brush or comb is key to keeping the shedding to a minimum. For my Siberian Husky, I’ve found that a wide tooth stainless steel comb works best to loosen and comb out her undercoat.
Unfortunately, shedding can’t be avoided or stopped completely. For removal of fur in my car, on my furniture, and in my carpets, the Lilly brush and ChomChom work miracles to get up stubborn fur. I’ve also found that portable lint removers are great to quickly loosen up dog hair.
Mud is inevitable in the spring. You can’t keep your pup from running, digging, and playing outdoors even when it’s muddy-but brown paw prints all over the house isn’t anyones idea of a good time.
The MudBuster paw cleaner is great for quickly cleaning your dogs paws before allowing them to come inside. It works quickly and efficiently which is key for us busy pet parents!
My 20 foot dog lead is my best friend once March rolls around. I love taking my dog on hikes throughout the spring and summer but her recall isn’t great so having her off leash isn’t safe. To allow her to still have some freedom while staying safe, I use a 20 foot long lead whenever we go to explore new trails, fields, or parks.
Speaking of hiking, portable water bowls are another essential for me and my dog in the spring. She gets thirsty very quickly when it’s hot out-she is a Siberian Husky after all- and letting her drink out of natural bodies of water isn’t always safe. Having a portable water bowl is very handy when we’re on longer adventures during the warm months. Dehydration is a serious spring/summer hazard after all!
Elevated cots are great for keeping your dog cool when they’re outside. Did you know the ground can be 30 to 50 degrees hotter than the air?? Having an elevated cot allows your dog somewhere cool to relax and sunbathe on those super hot days.
Who doesn’t love frozen treat on a hot day? Popsicles are great for humans, and they can be a delicious spring treat for our dogs too! My silicone dog treat molds get plenty of use in the spring and summer as they’re perfect for making frozen dog treats.
You can make frozen dog treats super easily by blending fruit, yogurt, pumpkin, and other ingredients and freezing them in your molds overnight!
Spring time means lots of adventures for me and my dog. Whether we’re going on a hike or for ice cream, my dog finds herself in my car a lot more once the weather gets warm. Having a car seat cover is a must for me with my pup in the car. It protects my seats from her muddy paws and excess fur from her spring coat blowing.
What’s your must have spring essential for your dog?
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Spring has officially sprung and one of my personal favorite parts of this time of year is cleaning, organizing, and refreshing my space. Spring cleaning is the perfect way to clean out the clutter that …
The phrase “bigger is better” isn’t always true, but for a lot of people, it is true when it comes to dog breeds. While some people prefer a small or toy breed, others want a giant canine companion. If you’re hoping to bring home a …
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.
Easter is in just a few days and if you’ve just realized that you left Fido out when putting together Easter baskets for your kids, don’t panic! Dogs deserve to be in on the Easter festivities too and luckily it’s super easy to throw together a last minute basket for the pup. Today, I’m sharing the essentials for a last minute DIY Easter basket for your dog.
Honestly, how would we survive without last minute shipping? When it comes to holidays, it’s easy to forget an item or two. Amazon and Chewy are my favorite places to go for last minute gifts and necessities for my dog. Both sites have so many fun and adorable options with 1-2 day shipping making them the perfect stop for your last minute Easter basket building.
Unfortunately, the chocolate bunnies have to be left out of your dogs easter basket (since chocolate is toxic to dogs). However, there are plenty of festive options out there that your dog will enjoy receiving on Easter morning! The best Easter baskets include a variety of toys and treats and between Amazon and Chewy your options are endless.
Treats
What’s an Easter basket without some candy?? Real candy should never make it’s way into your pups Easter basket unless you want to spend Easter Sunday in the doggy ER (you don’t, trust me). Luckily, there are plenty of dog treats that make the perfect replacement for real candy.
Bocce’s Bakery makes fun, dessert flavored treats that your dog is sure to love. From mint cookie crunch to unicorn shake, there are plenty of sweet treat options to include in your dogs Easter basket. These tiny treats are great for training and are made with minimal ingredients so that you can feel good about feeding them to your pup.
Three Dog Bakery is great if you’re looking for some cookies to surprise your dog on Easter morning! Their sandwich cookies largely resemble golden Oreos and are a fun option to spice things up from the traditional dog biscuit.
If you have a super fancy pup, Bonne et Filou homemade macarons are sure to be an Easter basket hit! These fancy treats are made with human grade ingredients and come in a variety of fun flavors!
And if you come from a family of marshmallow Peep lovers, then Mutt Mallows dog treats by The Lazy Dog Cookie Co are the perfect treat to include your dog on the marshmallow fun.
Toys
Frisco by Chewy has the largest collection of Easter themed toys imaginable. Whether your dog is into stuffed toys or rope toys there’s sure to be something they’ll love from this collection.
Zippy Paws is another great company with a variety of Easter themed toys. Their burrow puzzle toys are the adorable enrichment toy you and your dog have been missing!
Accessories
Everyone needs a new outfit for Easter Sunday, your dog included! Add an Easter themed bandana, collar, or bowtie to your pups basket so that they can look their Sunday best along with the rest of the family.
Putting together a last minute DIY Easter basket for your dog is simple. You can find baskets anywhere from the dollar store or even Amazon. If your pup is in need of a new toy bin, a new one will make a perfect Easter basket!
Fill the basket with a dog safe Easter grass replacement. Easter grass is considered a huge threat to both dogs and cats if ingested. It’s not digestible and can cause blockage if swallowed. If your dog is known to swallow things they shouldn’t, ditch the Easter grass in their basket for some tissue paper or crinkle paper.
Fill plastic Easter eggs with the treats! Filling plastic eggs with your dogs treats creates a fun challenge as they sniff them out and attempt to open them. Be sure to monitor your dog closely during this activity so that none of the plastic is swallowed. You can also include your dog on the Easter egg hunt this year by filling some eggs with dog treats and letting them find them in the yard!
Stuff the basket full of all the goodies and let your pup go to town pulling out new toys and treats. It’s sure to make for a memorable Easter morning and the cutest photo op as well.
Do you make an Easter basket for your dog?
This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. It’s no secret that dogs can have really bad breath. Let’s face it, our dogs are not the cleanest animals. Many of them lick their butts or eat dead rodents and they most definitely aren’t …
Let’s be honest, we love it when our dogs are obsessed with us. Following us around is one way that dogs show loyalty to their humans. However, as fun as it is to have your own little shadow, it’s important that your dog learns how …
As of March 30, 2022 there are 197 dog breeds recognized by the AKC. That’s a lot of breeds! With so many choices, choosing the perfect dog breed to fit your lifestyle can be tricky. There is a lot to consider from size, to temperament, to activity level to determine which breed of dog will be the right fit. Today, I’m sharing 5 things you need to consider when choosing the right dog breed for you.
Dogs range in size from 3 pounds to 250 pounds so the possibilities are (basically) endless when it comes to picking a dog breed based on size. When choosing what size dog will best suit your lifestyle, it’s important to consider how much dog you can really handle.
Contrary to popular belief, smaller dogs don’t necessarily need less space. In fact, some of the best “apartment dogs” are Great Danes, which is a giant breed! Meanwhile, the rat terrier, which rarely gets above 25 pounds, needs a lot of exercise and room to run around.
Things to consider when choosing a dog breed based off of size is how much money you want to spend feeding (the bigger the dog, the more money spent on food) and whether or not you’ll be able to control a large dog breed on a leash.
Think about your travel habits. Do you plan to fly with your dog a lot? Then a small breed will likely be the better choice. But if you want a dog who will make you feel safe when you’re alone at night, a larger breed is the way to go.
This one should be pretty obvious but it is unfortunately frequently overlooked. Working in the veterinary field, I often times see people adopting active dog breeds because they’re “pretty” but then neglecting to exercise them at all. These dogs then suffer and are often rehomed for being “too crazy”.
Activity level is one of the most important characteristics of a breed that you should research before adopting or buying a dog. It’s unfair to an active dog to be forced to live in a home with no yard or any other form of exercise.
If you’re really into hiking, want to get into dog sports, or plan on taking your pup on lots of adventures then an active breed such as an Australian Shepherd would make a great choice! However, if you just want a dog to snuggle on the couch with and go on the occasional neighborhood stroll, choose a low energy dog such as an English Bulldog.
One of my least favorite phrases in the dog world is “no bad dogs, just bad owners”. The term “bad” is subjective, however, there are dog breeds that are genetically going to be reactive, stubborn, or even aggressive regardless of how they were raised.
Genetics play a huge role in a dogs behavior and therefore behavior characteristics of dog breeds should be heavily researched before you get a dog. If you are not prepared to handle a dog reactive dog, then a Pit Bull probably isn’t your best choice. If you don’t want a dog that barks a ton, stay away from Beagles. And if you want a dog who’s easy to train and eager to please, trust me when I say a Siberian Husky is not going to be your breed.
Basic grooming such as nail trims and baths are going to be necessary for all dogs, regardless of breed. However, certain dog breeds require much more frequent and detailed grooming than others.
Before choosing a dog breed consider these grooming requirements:
If you aren’t prepared to shell out hundreds of dollars every month for trips to the groomer then don’t get a Poodle and if you don’t want to spend any amount of time brushing your dog then choose a short coated pup.
You’ll also need to plan for shedding as all dog breeds shed at least a little bit. Hypoallergenic dog breeds such as the Bichon Frise and Basenji are going to shed a lot less than a Labrador retriever or a Great Pyrenees.
And dental health is a huge grooming expense that you’ll need to consider. Dog dental disease is one of the most common diseases in the canine world. Brushing your dogs teeth, feeding them a good diet, and giving them bones to chew are great ways to keep their teeth in good shape. However, smaller dog breeds are prone to bad dental health and are going to need more frequent professional dental cleanings than a large dog.
Just like a dogs breed genetics will play into their temperament, genetics also play into a dogs health. All dog breeds have different health issues that they’re prone to based on their genes. Before settling on a breed, research the health issues that come along with them so that you are prepared should your pup be affected later on.
Some of the most popular dog breeds and their health concerns include:
Regardless of what breed your dog is, they’re at risk of at least one health issue. For some of these breeds these health issues can be controlled (labs and obesity for example can be controlled with diet and exercise) but for others they’re out of our control (boxers and cancer).
Be sure you’re well aware of any major health concerns with your dogs breed and have money saved or pet insurance so that you’ll be prepared to deal with it when/if the time comes.
There are pros and cons to every dog breed but luckily with so many to choose from, there’s a good fit for everyone. What are some things you considered when choosing a dog breed?
Most parents are aware that when you send your kid off to school, they’re likely going to pick up some illnesses along the way. But did you know the same goes for your dog? Canine cough, more commonly known as kennel cough, is a highly …