Archive for the ‘Grooming’ Category

Making Bath Time Fun

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013
dog bath
When it comes to bathing your dog, it can either be an exciting and fun event or a stressful and chaotic one. Some dogs really struggle in the tub. They react nervously or lash out in anger. Either way, it’s important to help your dog feel comfortable so you can give him a good scrubbing. Here are a few tips for you to try the next time your dog walks in your house with mud on his paws:

Ease into it: Sometimes your dog reacts negatively in the bathtub because something scares him. If you take it slow, you can figure out what exactly is the problem and then you’ll have a better chance of fixing it.

Make him comfortable: Let your dog play with his favorite toy or chew on a sanitized bone while he’s in the tub. That will help him feel more relaxed and docile.

Watering him down: If your dog is especially uncomfortable when you bathe him, try putting him in the tub with lukewarm water already in it. Let him get used to it a few times and then work your way up to pouring water on him with a cup. If that goes well, you can move on to a washcloth, a hose, or whatever you prefer.

Drying your dog: When your dog is nice and clean, dry him with a soft towel starting from the rear and moving up to the face. Praise your dog while you are doing so to help him feel more comfortable.

Ask a professional: If nothing seems to work, it might be helpful to ask your veterinarian what he recommends.

It may take a while to help your dog feel fully comfortable in the tub, but if you’re patient and willing to put forth the effort, bath time can become an easy and fun activity.

Splashing Around

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Bath time is something that can be a little messy if your pet is splashing around a lot, remember how much of a role bathing plays in your pet staying healthy and clean.  Even though it can be messy it can be fun to, especially when you get to see how gorgeous they look when they’re out of the bath and all dry.

Depending on your pet and the type of hair he or she has, regular baths may be a good idea. Soaking in the tub is something that can help keep their skin healthy and remove excess oils, but be careful.  For some pets soaking can be a little bit too much, so before you let them soak for a long time make sure you chat with your veterinarian. (more…)

Oops, Missed A Spot

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

We spend so much time caring and nurturing our pets. It’s almost always at the top of our to-do list.  We spend hours brushing and bathing to make sure that they are clean and happy.  We spend all this time because we love and cherish our pets and they mean the world to us.  Sometimes though we might be missing a something that is very important to our pet’s care.  That spot we are prone to miss is their ears. (more…)

Easy Does It!

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

We all love our pets and want them to be healthy and happy. We all know how important it is to keep your pet’s coat fresh and clean.  If something gets in their coat it’s usually something that we can visually pick up on.  Sometimes though there are knots or snarls in your pet’s coat that you won’t pick up on with your eyes alone. (more…)

Five ways to make your dog smile this summer!

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Happy dog earthbath summer smiling dog

This smiling dog can’t get enough of summer!

Nothing makes us smile like our dogs when they are obviously happy: there’s nothing quite like a sparkly-eyed, grinning dog to banish the blues! And here are our favorite ways to get our dogs smiling in the summer months… let us know yours in the comments below!

1. Challenge your dog’s mental skills and keep his cognitive functioning sharp! Everyone recognizes the importance of physical exercise for dogs, but it’s equally important to exercise your dog’s brain too, just as it is in humans!  Playing some interactive brain games with your dog is a fun way to bond and do something a little bit different and more challenging than the typical spin around the neighborhood, while building connections in the brain and staving off boredom. There are many different kids of boredom-busting toys that require problem solving on the market, including games that require your dog to solve various “puzzles” to retrieve a toy or treat, or you can come up with some of your own, like hide and seek – one variation on this traditional game is to hide some treats all over your house and play “hide and seek”with the treats… or, of course, you can be the hider and challenge your dog to come find you!  You can also continue to teach your dog different words: one special dog, a border collie named Chaser, christened the “smartest dog in the world” has learned the names of over 1000 different objects. While your dog might not be able to compete at Chaser’s level, you could certainly try to teach him the difference between a couple of his toys or treats and train him to fetch the one you ask for.  Heck, if your dog gets good at this, think of all of the things you could train him to fetch for you: a cognitive game could easily turn your dog into a practical helper around the house!

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