Bringing It All Together

Congratulations! You've got your doggie party theme picked out, the perfect budget for the costumes, food and party supplies, the right time and place for the event, and finally, the entertainment agenda. Now it's time to put it all together and figure how how to get everything done. So let's help you organize:

Step 1: The Invitations

To let people know, you can send them an e-mail, buy invitations at a store or through a website, or even make your own. Consider a quick save-the-date e-mail before sending out the official invitations. Let people know as far in advance as you can to make sure they put the date in their calenders.

Tie in your invitation with your party theme or location. Then include what, where and when. Also note special instructions or requirements that your guests need to know about - bring a leash, BYOB, etc.

Consider adding a date by which you would like your guests to RSVP. Depending on your timing, give your guests at least two weeks to respond. Once the replies start coming in, it's time for the step-by-step event planning - making what you imagined actually happen!

Step 2: Preplanning Time

The key to keeping control of how you are going to do everything is by planning ahead. Start by making a big list of who is coming - dogs and their people. List what food and drinks you are going to serve - for dogs and for people. What are they drinking out of and eating off of? Will forks be enough or do you need spoons for the ice cream? How many plates, cups and napkins? Are you going to do goodie bags for the guests?

Then make a list of what you are going to do at the party - activities that are going to be available for your guests, and what they require. Do you need poop bags? Balls or Frisbees? Include a list of decorations. Will you need to buy party hats and birthday treats for the birthday puppy and his pals?

Step 3: Put All Plans In Motion

Start by including a list of when things need to happen. For example, what needs to get done two weeks before the party? Can you confirm the party space? Order the cake? Buy decorations? What needs to be done two days before or the day before? What has to happen the morning of your party.

Work backwards. Writing down everything you need to do and then marking it off will help keep you on track. Your lists will become so handy that by party day, they will look like your puppy chewed them up!

The day of the party will be busy dealing with last-minute issues, but try to give you and your puppy a little down-time before it starts. Smile at how great it all looks and how fun and crazy it will be when the guests start to arrive. And keep your camera on hand at all times - this will definitely be on of those days you want to remember!

Every pet owner wants to keep his or her beloved cat or dog as safe as possible. You do everything you can do make sure your pet is well cared for and healthy. If you have an indoor pet, you may not think that keeping identification tags is important, but it is. What if your fuzzy feline accidentally slips out of the door at night and you search to no avail? What do you do, especially if your dog or cat has no identification? Placing a collar with an identification tag is important, but collars sometimes become lost. When you consider the fact that many animal shelters only keep dogs and cats for seven days, you want to make sure that your pet is properly identified. That is where the microchip comes in handy. The microchip is the newest way to identify lost pets and helps ensure that your lost pooch or feline finds his or her way back home.

The technology of the microchip has become so popular that most animal clinics and animal shelters have the ability to scan a cat or dog for microchip identification. If you opt for the microchip, you should know that it is a painless procedure for your pet. Your vet will insert a tiny microchip about the size of a grain of rice directly under your pet's skin using a hypodermic needle. The microchip is usually placed behind the neck. The microchip contains special digital number that has been entered on a national microchip database. That information will give the person your contact information. When you pet is lost, a veterinarian or animal shelter can use a special scanner to retrieve the microchip information. It is that easy.

Pet owners love the idea of the microchip because it is permanent. You cannot remove the microchip and unlike a collar or tags, it cannot be lost or destroyed. This is one of the best features of pet microchip, especially for cats. If you place a collar on a cat, more than likely it will be a breakaway collar. If your cat climbs a tree, or is caught on something, the collar breaks off. If your cat does not have a microchip, it will be very difficult to identify your cat if it is found.

There are a few important things to remember about pet microchips. First, if your pet gets lost, you should never just sit back and wait for a call, even if your pet has a microchip. Not all veterinarians and shelters are equipped with this technology. You need to take the time to call around and place "lost pet" flyers around your neighborhood. In addition, you need to make sure you take the time to update your contact information should you move. It does little to no good to have your pet implanted with the microchip if the information on the national database is incorrect. Your veterinarian can give you information on how to update this information.

It is important to get your pet implanted with the microchip at a young age. Puppies can have the microchip at age six weeks. Even small breeds of dogs can handle this procedure. Kittens can also undergo this procedure at six weeks. The insertion of the microchip is not painful and feels like a regular vaccination shot. You can have your pet implanted with the microchip at your veterinarian office and can expect to pay between $30 and $50 for this service.

Q & A: Bald Spots, Yellow Teeth, Irregular Heat Cycles and More

Question: Bald Spots

"I own a seven-year-old Dachshund. He is unregistered but has a pure bloodline. When he turned four the hair on his tail began to fall out. We thought it would grow back as he was shedding at the time, but it never did. His tail is now about 1/3 covered with fur. Another Dachshund, three, is also having its tail fur fall off. Is this normal?"

Answer:

The experience your dog is having is perfectly normal, and is a condition known as alopecia (baldness), especially with the Dachshund breed. However, you can try to add some lanolin on the bald areas about once or twice per week. Lanolin has been shown to restore hair in many cases, but is not 100% successful in all dogs.

Question: Yellow Teeth & Irregular Heat Cycles

"I have a lovely white Toy Poodle but, unfortunately, I also have a problem. My Poodle, Collette, has very yellow teeth. Now I know she should be taken to a veterinarian to have them cleaned and have any cavities fixed, but we are currently on a tight budget and very strapped for cash to spend on something like teeth cleaning.

I have gotten her milk bones and they helped but Collette eats about two or three of them and it fills her up for the rest of the day. I have tried a damp cloth dipped in salt also, but her teeth are still very yellow. I'm getting very worried. Can you help?

I also had another question. There is something very strange about Collette - she didn't have her first heat until she was over two and one half years old. That was about one year ago. She had her second heat five months ago. Is this abnormal?"

Answer:

When it comes to yellow teeth, some dogs, like people, have yellower teeth than others. This in itself is no problem. Keeping tartar down is more important. Take her to the veterinarian and ask him to show you how to scale teeth. Get an old scaler from your dentist for this purpose.

Dealing with your dog's irregular in-heat sessions, this is also nothing to worry about. Your female may have an erratic heat cycle but many females are not all that regular to being with.

Question: Shaking Head

"Could you please tell me how I can overcome a problem that I am having with my two-year-old dog. She is a cross of some sort, looks like a Border Collie. When she falls asleep she will wake up shaking her head violently about six times. What causes this and what can I do to help her overcome this?"

Answer:

The problem could very well be something logged in your dog's ears. The best advice is to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian and have him or her check the dog's ears. It could be hair or wax in the ears, or worse yet, ear mites.

Battling Dog Urine Stains On Your Green Grass (Part 1)

It never fails, my two dogs - both lovable and protective Rottweilers - seem to enjoy urinating in the same spot of the backyard, day in, day out. Whether it's morning, noon or night, it's down the steps and to the right, donating copious amounts of healthy, adult dog urine in an approximate 4-square-foot area.

The result is a large patch of brown, ugly, burned-out lawn that surrounds the bottom step of the deck. For my nicely landscaped backyard, the large urine burns are rather unsightly.

I realized that unless some serious changes are made (and getting rid of the dogs was NOT an option), then these spots were not going to go away on their own, so I had to start my research and will not share with you what I learned to keep my grass green and my dogs happy.

Why Dog Urine Turns Grass Brown

It's no secret that urine burns grass, as well as many types of shrubs, annual flowers and perennial plants. What causes the burn is nitrogen. When a dog eats a meal, the protein in the food is metabolized. A byproduct of metabolized protein is nitrogen.

The kidneys are responsible for the collection and secretion of many of the body's unwanted excesses, including byproducts of metabolized foods, such as nitrogen. So, if all is going well with the dog's bodily functions then excess nitrogen will be flushed out of the dog's body through his urine.

Here is where things get a bit tricky: Those who work with lawns and plants know that nitrogen is used as fertilizer. So what's so special about the nitrogen in dog urine that causes it to kill everything green it touches? The secret is in the solution, so to speak.

With fertilizers containing nitrogen, a small amount goes a long way. If you're using a rotary spreader (which is used to fertilize the lawn), spilling a pile of fertilizer in one spot would be similar to a pool of urine. The concentration would be too high and would kill the grass below.

Once grass is dead from nitrogen burn there's not much you can do to revive it. If you want healthy green grass, you're going to have to replant this area. You'll need to rake up the dead grass and plant new seed.

Replanting dead areas, however, is somewhat of a "band-aid" approach. If you don't get to the root of the problem (dog urine), you're likely to wind up with more dead patches of grass all over the lawn.

Question: Raw Eggs For Dogs

"I have been wondering if it were healthy to give my dog raw eggs mixed in his food. Somewhere I read that this was a great way to supplement his diet with extra protein, but recently I have read more reports online that dogs cannot actually digest the white part of a raw egg."

"My question is, what if you give a dog a partially cooked egg? Since you have actually started the digestion process by cooking, can they complete this process? I own two dogs, an Irish Setter and a Brittany Spaniel, they both love fried eggs with slice of crisp bacon. Will this harm them in any way?"

Answer:

First of all let me tell you that you are to be commended on your high level of care and attention to your dogs' diets. Second, it is still not advisable to give your dogs partially cooked eggs. Raw beef is another story, but raw eggs, whether partially cooked or not, may cause problems with diarrhea and possibly give your dog salmonella.

Question: Defiant Dog

"I have a Beagle named Boots. Boots has a mind of her own. She knows that she is not supposed to get on the couch, or even leave the kitchen, but she does anyway. She is one year old, and is quite stubborn. How can I teach her to stay in the kitchen?"

"When Boots leaves the kitchen we yell at her, and when she is on the couch, and somebody sees her there, she rolls over on her back. When my father saw Boots on the couch, my father smacked her and she ran into the kitchen."

Answer:

Unfortunately, the way you are handling the situation is not the best choice. For starters, I personally feel that any family that truly wants a dog should allow the dog to be a member of the family. This includes allowing her to share the home - all of it - including the living room.

Keeping the dog off the furniture would be no problem simply by changing the tone of the voice. A sharp and firm "NO!" each time the dog attempted to jump on the sofa, followed by a rewarding pat on the head and a "good dog" will get the point across provided you are consistent.

Striking the dog has caused a behavior change - of course. But not the behavior change you wanted. Now the dog fears father, and rolls on her back in total and complete submission. Striking a dog for such misdemeanors simply creates more problems than it solves.

Question: A Timid German Shepherd

"I have an 11-month-old German Shepherd. We got him from a private breeder at the age of 8 weeks. He was a very happy puppy, and to this day he has never been beaten (at least that I know of). But now, he's such an introvert that it's pitiful! He's scared to death of everybody except for my family and myself. We live on a carnation ranch so he shouldn't really be too bashful - there are always people around; but still, he's scared. Can you tell me what to do, and why he does this?"

Answer:

The reason is primarily due to a lack of proper socialization as a puppy. You live on a carnation ranch, and even though you say there are "always people around," that in itself wasn't enough. To ensure optimum emotional development, puppies should be played with, talked to, fondled, petted, etc., by a wide range of people - not just members of the family.

The puppy should have been taken with you on trips to town between the age of 8 and 16 weeks, and not confined to the general vicinity of the carnation ranch. At 11 months of age, the damage is probably permanent with too much hope for improvement. The possibility exists, however, that by taking your dog to formal obedience training classes in your area, you will be able to build the dog's confidence in himself and in other people.

Question: What Is The UKC?

"Could you please tell me what the UKC is and whether or not it is affiliated with the AKC? If so, then does a dog registered with the UKC automatically qualify for registration with the AKC?"

Answer:

The UKC has become the second-largest office for the registration of purebred dogs in the United States. It does business with breeders and owners in Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Africa and, in fact, all around the world. It is not affiliated with the AKC, and actually registers dogs not even recognized by the AKC; but it allows registration of some dogs not even recognized and registered.

A list of breeds recognized and registered by the UKC would be too lengthy to include here, but just to give you an idea of their broad scope, here are a few: Bluetick coonhound, American black and tan coonhound, Plott hound, English shepherd - as well as Collies, Boxers, German Shepherds and other more well-known breeds.

If a dog qualifies for registration with the AKC, it does not necessarily mean that it qualifies for registration with the UKC. Each entity has its own requirements for registration.

Some of the best dog parks that are located in the United States can be found in both small rural communities, as well as large major cities such as New York, California, and Florida.

Cedar Lane Dog Park: Best Dog Park For Hosting Social Events

All dog parks have a wonderful atmosphere, but the Cedar Lane Dog Park is specifically noted for its wonderful social setting. While the dogs are busy playing and running around, their owners can be found sitting amongst themselves, chatting and sipping on hot coffee, tea, and muffins, which are all provided by the facility.

You'll even find dozens of devoted regulars of the dog park enjoying the crisp winter air on a frosty Christmas morning. Now that is what I call devotion! And there are plenty of other social events which are scheduled throughout each month. There is an annual dog-swimming contest in addition to plenty of games and competitions for all you dog owners to participate in as well. You can find Cedar Lane Park located at 235 Cedar Lane, Ossining, N.Y.

Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Dog Park: Noted For Best Amenities For Dog Owners

If you are ever traveling through California with your dog, be sure to take a day and head to the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Dog Park. This amazing facility is not only prestigious for its dog attractions, but also noted as having the best amenities for dog owners of all of the parks throughout the nation.

After a day of romping through the mud and getting wet in the water, your dog can be taken to the local dog washing center to clean off, which is located on the grounds area. Looking to buy some new dog equipment or treats? Why not visit the doggie store and retail shop which is also located inside the park area.

Need a snack after being outside all day, watching your dog have fun? Point Isabel also has plenty of food and drink for your enjoyment at the Mudpuppy's Sit & Stay Cafe. And don't worry about your dog, the cafe also caters to making dishes that your pet can gobble up which is both satisfying and healthy. You can find the Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Dog Park located at 1 Isabel St., Richmond California.

Bark Park, Located Inside Snyder Park: Best Safety In Mind For Troubled Times

Of the 700+ dog parks located in the United States, we found one special facility that makes safety the #1 priority over the other parks. Dogs will be dogs, and scuffles are bound to break out in any park area between two or more dominant canines.

It happens when you least expect it. The owners rush to the fight scene and do their best to tear their dogs away. Unfortunately, not only do scuffles like this mark the end of the day's playtime activities for the dogs, someone could also get hurt.

But what if there was a dog park that had on-site attendance whose only job was to monitor each dog and be on alert for bad behavior? Such a service has been created and can be found at the Bark Park, inside of Snyder Park, in the state of Florida. The costs for such a safety measure is paid for by a small annual fee that each owner pays. Bark Park can be found at 졣 S.W. 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Dog Cologne: Want Your Dog To Smell Better? Try A New Approach

Dogs have become a huge part of our lives. They are with us more than ever, whether we are going to the store, spending a day at the park, or just snuggling in the couch. We treat them like our kids, taking them wherever we go, which is why it is important for them to smell as fresh and clean as much as possible.

Nobody likes a smelly dog and if your canine companion is going to be accompanying you everywhere you go, keeping him clean and odor-free is just good etiquette, especially around other people.

Instead Of Doggie Clothes, Try A Little Perfume - For Dogs Of Course!

It's no wonder that for many dog owners, dog perfumes and sprays have gone beyond grooming and accessorizing. In fact, they have become more of a necessity. Unlike a fancy collar or a shirt, dog perfume is a way of pampering your dog without going overboard on accessories. It is also something that doesn't go out of style and will not get chewed up by your pet.

Spraying a little spritz on your dog keeps him smelling fresh and clean in between baths, thereby giving you, the busy owner, an extra day or two to bathe him. Some sprays even come with a special formula that literally repels dirt, so your dog will not only smell good, but will stay cleaner until his next bath.

Dog Scents Are Also Healthy

In addition to the appealing smell, dog sprays also offer benefits for your canine friend. They have ingredients that moisturize your dog's coat and skin and prevent matting. There is also a spray that offers a touch of shimmer on your dog's coat while giving it a pleasant smell at the same time. There is even a spray that comes with glitter to add additional sparkle to his coat.

Dabbing a little perfume on your dog also gives you the opportunity to get closer to him. When your dog smells fresh and clean, you are more likely to pick him up, play with him, and spend more time with him. You can have your dog on your lap or the couch and not worry about that "doggie smell."

Dog perfumes come in different varieties and are specially designed to have a pleasing smell for both the owner and his dog. Some are made of the delicate blend of the sweetest flowers while others contain essential oils as their main ingredients. Lavender and chamomile offer a soothing scent, while rose and jasmine create an extra boost of fragrance. Peppermint makes your dog's coat shine and lemongrass makes an excellent deodorizer.

Knowing the right way to approach a strange dog will go a long way toward ensuring your safety, and the safety of those around you. At the same token, knowing how not to approach one can do the same. Children should also be educated of the correct procedure. Some of their little innocent ways can trigger an otherwise well-behaved dog into aggressiveness and worse, biting.

Dogs normally bite for one of three reasons: Indiscriminate biting, fear biting, and protective biting.

Indiscriminate Biting

Knowing which type of biter you are confronted with depends on the situation you are in at the time. For instance, if you are walking along the sidewalk in a residential street, minding your own business, and a dog suddenly leaves his yard, runs directly at you and bites, this is indiscriminate biting. This is a spoiled dog that is probably the dictator in his household. He is the type of dog that merely allows his family to co-exist with him in the house. It could be any breed, from a Toy Chihuahua to a Giant Schnauzer.

Fortunately, dogs that fall into this category are in the minority and are usually confined and restricted because the owners are fully aware of the their bad behavior. Undoubtedly, they probably have been the recipients of occasional bites from their own dogs whenever the animals didn't get their way.

Fear Biting

The fear biter falls into another category because his demeanor could be genetically inherited, or he could be a product of under-socialization with different types of people and situations when he was a puppy. He could be in a panic-stricken mind at the time of the bite.

A friendly but injured dog, he could suddenly become a fear biter depending on the circumstances. If you stop on the highway to rescue a dog that has been struck by a car, the dog may think that you are the one who hit him, rather than understand that you are there to rescue him.

Protective Biting

Finally, a protective biter is one that's unable to reason any farther than the fact that he feels the need to protect someone or something. Usually, the protective biter is in the group known as the working breeds. That is, dogs whose ancestors were originally bred to herd livestock or to protect properties and real estate. Most dogs have this protective instinct but it seems to manifest more predominantly within the working group.

Dogs that are trained professionally as attack dogs, guard dogs, and patrol dogs, are trained to see through a person's disguise. In other words, a burglar who puts up an aura of fearlessness and confidence, thinking that he can dazzle a trained guard dog into believing the burglar is "Mr. Nice Guy" will be in for a surprise! For a well-trained dog, all the sweetness, fearlessness, and confidence in the world won't win past his professionally trained senses.

Most household dogs are not professionally trained and act on instinct alone. It is this instinct that will eventually allow you to pass through, or stop you in your tracks. If you are approaching a house to visit friends, sell a product, deliver mail, read a meter, or anything else that's considered legitimate, the protective biter will be able to sense that you are legitimate if you take the time to allow him to study you. The secret is in allowing the dog time to get acquainted.

Do not expect the dog to not bite just because his owners said so. Many dog owners have been mistaken at this assumption, leaving visitors injured by ignoring the dog's warnings at the door. Even if your host insists that the dog is very friendly and has never bitten anyone, take the time to establish a connection with him.

Keep in mind that the host knows you're an invited guest, but to the dog, you are an intruder in his home, his lair, his domain. Let the dog be the judge and give him time to make his judgment. Meet him on his level, talk to him, and give him the satisfaction of scent discrimination.

Approaching The Injured Dog

The Good Samaritan attempting to capture an obviously strayed, lost, starving, or homeless dog or a person trying to rescue an injured dog, often has his confidence crushed when he is bitten by the very dog he is trying to save. A dog does not trust a situation which he doesn't understand. If he's been hit by a car, he doesn't understand why. He only knows that he's hurt. Chances are that his only remaining defense is his mouth.

Talking friendly and softly to an injured dog while slowly securing his mouth shut will shift the odds in your favor. A belt, a piece of rope, or a strip of rag will suffice, immobilizing the dog's mouth so that you can safely remove him to a safe location and administer first-aid treatment.

Keep in mind that, in an injured state, making friends is the farthest thing from a dog's mind. His main thought is to survive and ward off any potential attackers that come in his way, including you, even though you are there to help.