HOW TO QUICKLY FIND YOUR LOST DOG

How to find your lost dog is a question no one wants to have a need for. Realizing your dog is missing has got to be one of the most heart-stopping moments in dog ownership. Suddenly, all manner of horrible thoughts go through your mind. Is he hurt? Did someone steal him? Is he afraid? All, understandable, but the most crucial question at the moment is how do you find your lost dog.

Steps to Find Your Lost Dog

First step in finding your lost dog is to gather up recent pictures of your dog. Make quick copies, either on your home printer or at a copy shop.

Go around your neighborhood, knocking on doors and showing your dog’s pictures to see if anyone has seen him. Leave your contact information in case of future sightings. Leave some copies of your pictures and ask the neighbors to share them with others.

Post some of the copied pictures on trees and utility poles in your area. Later, after following some of the other steps, go back and place colorful poster board behind the pictures to help draw attention to them.

Give a copy of the picture to your mail carrier and ask her to keep a lookout. Do the same for UPS and FedEx drivers. These people are all around your area regularly.

Call your microchip company, if your dog is chipped and ask them to make note that your dog is missing.

Call the local animal control, humane society, police department, fire department and veterinarian offices to let them know your dog is missing. Often, if someone picks up a lost dog, they will call or take the dog to one of these places. Take your pictures to these places also.

Visit the animal control and humane society in-person. Mistakes can and do happen. When a dog is brought in or picked up as a stray, the shelter workers will do a “best guess” breed decision on the dog they take in. So, if your dog is a Lab mix and the shelter thinks their new resident is a Pit mix, when you call in you could be mistakenly told that your dog is not there. While there, ask to post a picture of your dog on their bulletin board also.

Post your dog’s picture and information on Social Media sites. Do this on the lost pet group boards as well as your personal pages. Ask your friends on these pages to share on their pages.

Organize a search party. Ask all your friends, both on and off social media to come out and scour the area, starting with the neighborhoods around your house and working out to areas further away. Travel by both car and on foot. Call out your dog’s name and also any words familiar to your lost dog, such as “cookie”, “treat” “bye bye” etc. Taking another dog with you can sometimes help as dogs have a very keen sense of smell and the dog could help locate your lost dog.

Leave some of your familiar smelling clothing, blankets, towels, etc. on your property or in any areas where your lost dog may have been spotted. Often, when a dog is lost, they will gravitate to familiar smells. Check these areas frequently to see if your dog has returned.

Finally, keep up these steps over and over. Don’t give up. Finding a lost dog takes effort and your dog depends on you to be there for him. There have been many reports of lost dogs being found weeks, months and years later. Following these steps to find your lost dog as quickly as possible after he is missing is your best chance of finding your dog and insuring a happy homecoming.

To help prevent your dog from becoming lost, check out these tips.https://mostlymutts.com/2018/03/22/prevent-your-dog-from-getting-lost/

7 Signs Your Dog Has Allergies Making Him Miserable

Signs your dog has allergies can be quite obvious if you are in tune with your dog. While some signs your dog is allergic can be mistaken for ordinary dog behavior, others are unmistakable as a dog allergy symptom.

Signs Your Dog Has Allergies

Sneezing – One or several sneezes are no big deal but repeated sneezing over a period of time, can indicate that your dog has allergies.
Itchy Ears – Often with allergies, dogs will dig at their ears or repeatedly shake their heads.
Red, Watery Eyes – When those soulful brown eyes become red and watery, it may indicate that your dog has allergies.
Itchy, Red or Irritated Skin – All signs your dog has allergies. This sometimes shows up around the ears or at the base of the tail. Irritated skin at the base of the tail may be a symptom of a flea allergy. Even if your dog does not appear to have fleas, there may still be a problem. One flea in a sensitive dog can cause much irritation. Several years ago, our Lab was continuously biting at the spot at the base of his tail. It seemed to literally be driving him crazy. We flea combed him and found no fleas. So, we took him to his Veterinarian to see if there was another issue causing the itchiness. Our Vet found no issues and flea combed him again, finding no fleas. Several days later, we again flea combed him and found one lone flea. Turns out, one tiny elusive flea was wreaking havoc with our poor dog. Once the flea was removed to his afterlife, we treated the skin with a steroid cream and within a few days, our guy was back to his normal, only occasionally itchy self.
Paw Biting/Chewing – If your dog begins to bite or chew obsessively at his paw, it could be a sign your dog has allergies.
Diarrhea/Vomiting – Although these symptoms can be a sign of many problems, some serious, bouts of diarrhea or vomiting may also be a symptom of a food allergy in a dog. Common food allergens are wheat, grains and even chicken. Limited ingredient dog foods may be the answer.
Licking – Similar to biting and chewing, whenever a dog compulsively licks at an area, it may indicate he has an allergic reaction.

What Causes Dog Allergies

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Common causes of allergies in dogs are grain/wheat/soy/chicken – These common dog allergens typically manifest in skin issues, such as: itching, redness and irritation. They also can cause stomach upset with diarrhea and vomiting. These ingredients are commonly used in dog foods.
Household Products, such as: detergents, cleaners, air fresheners, candles and fabric softeners can be causes of dog allergies. Itchiness and skin irritations are common symptoms your dog may be experiencing an allergic reaction. Try switching to products that are less likely to produce an allergic reaction in your dog.
The Honest Company – Effective Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent – 70 oz Puracy Natural All Purpose Cleaner, THE BEST Household Multi Surface Spray, Streak Free on Glass and Stainless Steel, Child and Pet Safe, Green Tea and Lime, 25 Ounce Bottle, (Pack of 2)Allergy Asthma Clean Whole Home Allergy Kit (fragrance free, hypoallergenic) 101.4oz
Molds, Pollens and Grasses can cause a dog to be allergic. Just as people experience seasonal allergies to these culprits, dogs can suffer the same allergic misery, manifesting as: itchy, watery, red eyes, sneezing and runny nose.

Find Out How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies

How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies For A Happier, Healthier Dog

How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies

How to treat a dog’s allergies is usually a desperation question when your dog is deeply miserable with allergy symptoms. With the exception of a few allergies, the best treatment for your dog’s allergies is actually prevention. For seasonal allergies such as pollen and grasses, your veterinarian can test and provide medication to help relieve your dog’s allergy symptoms, such as: itchy skin, sneezing, red, itchy eyes and drippy nose.

Most allergies that plague your dog can be prevented by a careful evaluation of the products you use on your dog and in your household, as well as the dog food you feed your dog.

How To Treat A Dog’s Allergies By Preventing Them

- Try to clean your home with all natural products, free of as many artificial chemicals as possible.
- Use mild detergents, preferably hypoallergenic when you wash your dogs bedding and forgo the fabric softener.

- When bathing your dog, stick to gentle, hypoallergenic shampoos and do not use shampoo meant for humans.
  
  Pro Pet Works Hypoallergenic Organic Oatmeal and Aloe Cat and Dog Shampoo and Conditioner For Allergies and Pets With Sensitive Itchy dry Skin 17oz Burt’s Bees for Dogs Hypoallergenic Shampoo Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Shampoo, Vanilla & Almond, 16 Ounce

- Keep your home as dust-free as possible (I know, not easy when you have a dog.) I use a vacuum with a hepa filter built in. An air purifier is also a big help for your dog as well as the humans in the home.
  
  Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover, 465 sq. Ft, HPA300 Honeywell Bluetooth Smart True HEPA Allergen Remover Hamilton Beach TrueAir Allergen-Reducing Ultra Quiet Air Cleaner Purifier with Permanent HEPA Filter and Specialized Odor Reducing Filter for Pets (04384)

- Flea-Free – Keep those little buggers as far away from your dog as possible. Check out the natural solutions to keep the fleas at bay.

How To Protect Dog Paws In Winter For Soft Healthy Feet

Learning how to protect dog paws in Winter is a very important part of caring for your dog properly. Just as our skin can become dry and irritated during the cold weather, so can your dog’s paws. Without the right care, your dog’s tootsies can begin to crack and bleed. Dogs also have the added hazard of sidewalk salt to deal with, which can further wreak havoc to their tender paw pads. But, with a little knowledge and some tender loving attention, your dog can enjoy soft, supple paws and happy feet.

How To Protect Dog Paws In Winter – Washing and Softening Is The Answer

1. Do not leave your dog outside for extended periods during extremely cold weather. Some dogs may really enjoy being outside but we need to show the common sense they don’t seem to possess. My Lab would stay out all day if I let him, but during really cold weather, I play the bad guy and make him come in.
2. After being out, especially if walking on surfaces treated with salt, wash your dog’s feet to remove all the salt and chemicals. There are several options for doing this.

I started by washing my dog’s feet with a washcloth, dipped in warm water, repeating several times with each foot. If you start doing this when your dog is young, they don’t seem to mind.

Another option is to fill a small plastic pan with warm water and dip your dog’s feet, one at a time, in the warm water, then dry thoroughly. The final options and ones I am liking a lot are the Paw Wash or Dog Paw Cleaner. Both are great at cleaning dog paws.

The Dog Paw Wash is a self-contained dog paw washing station. It holds warm water, to which you can add a bit of an antibacterial wash solution if you like. You can place it beside the door your dog enters and clean his feet before he comes into the room. The dog’s foot is inserted into the opening. There is a cleaning pad in the bottom with soft, flexible fingers that cleans the dog’s feet.

Paw Boss Paw Wash for Dogs (With Paw Print Vinyl Skin)Dexas Petware MudBuster Portable Dog Paw Cleaner, Medium, Blue

The dog paw cleaner is a simpler version of a dog paw washing device. The cup holds warm water and the flexible fingers on the side will clean your dog’s paw as you slide it in.

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Actually, in any weather, these paw washers are great ideas. Just think, your dog comes in from outside, jumps on your bed and his paws that had just been running happily through dirt, mud and bodily droppings, are now depositing the same on your clean linens. Ewww, Yuck and Gross! Wash those paws!!!

How to protect dog paws in winter would not be complete without mentioning conditioning of your dog’s paws after washing. Applying a dog paw softening cream will help prevent dry, cracked dog paws. I also use these creams on my dog’s dry, cracked nose which is a real problem for him in winter.

Pet Head Oatmeal Natural Paw Butter 2oz 4-Legger Certified Organic Nose and Paw Pad Healing Balm for Dry Chapped Cracked Skin with Hemp Oil and Shea Butter – Made in USA – 1 each – 1.9 oz Dog Healing Balm for Paws and Snout – 2 oz Jar + .5 oz Stick – All Natural – Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil

The ultimate protection for your dog’s paws is a nice pair of doggie boots. Some dogs will wear them and some dogs seem to think they are definition of torture. If your dog will wear dog boots, they will provide great protection against the cold winter weather.

URBEST®Detachable Closure Puppy Dog Shoes Booties Boots Brown 2 Pairs (xxs)Waterproof Dog shoes, Dog Boots for Labrador Retriever, Keep Warm in Winter, 4pcs Pesp® Puppy Dogs Candy Colors Anti-slip Waterproof Rubber Rain Shoes Boots Paws Cover (Rose Red, Small)

Best Gifts For A Dog Lover Woman In Your Life

The Best Gifts For A Dog Lover are, of course ones they will love. The great thing about dog lovers is they will likely love any gift that relates to their love of dogs.

There are many choices of best gifts for a dog lover depending upon the recipient’s other interests:

Gifts For Dog Lovers Who Cook

Jewelry Gifts For Dog Lovers

Purses For Dog Lovers

Art For Dog Lovers

Clothing For Dog Lovers

Finding the best gifts for a dog lover is easy. Narrowing down the choices of dog lover gifts is the hard part. Impress that special person and buy several! If she loves dogs, she deserves the world!

Stop Dogs From Eating Poop

How do you stop dogs from eating poop? This is a question that has been asked by many dog lovers. Does your dog’s big, sloppy kisses have an aroma similar to his farts? Chances are, he’s a poop eater. And, why is it that the biggest kissers seem to be the most avid poop lovers?

There are several types of dog poop eaters:

Dogs that eat their own poop
Dogs that eat other dog’s poop
Dogs that eat all poop

Why Do Dogs Eat Dog Poop?

Your dog could be gaining attention from eating poop. If you yell at him, he may see that as attention and it reinforces the behavior.
Puppies may eat poop because they see their mothers doing it when she cleans them. Sometimes this behavior is then carried on into adulthood.
Dogs may be imitating their owners when they see them cleaning up the poop in the yard.
Dogs sometimes eat the poop of other, more dominant dogs in hopes of gaining some of that dominance themselves.
Dogs may either be not getting enough food or not getting enough nutrition in their food.
As much as we don’t understand the thought, some dogs may simply like the taste.

How To Stop Dogs From Eating Poop

- Some dog owners try putting hot sauce on the dog poop in hopes of creating a negative deterrent that will last.
- Try changing to a high quality food with good nutritional value.
- If you only feed once a day, switch to feeding several times a day to keep the dog’s belly full.
- There are supplements available to help discourage poop eating.
  Naturvet Coprophagia Deterrent Plus Breath Aid Soft Chew (Jar)Only Natural Pet Stool Eating Deterrent Nutri-Vet Nasty Habit Chewables, 120 Count

Finally, keep an eye on your dog when he is outside and pick up any poop immediately before he notices the delightful aroma.

Learning how to stop dogs from eating poop will help in your journey to stop the bad habit. A little perseverance and you can once again enjoy your dog’s big, sloppy. wet kisses. Or, not! But, at least the kisses will smell better.

Clean Up Dog Poop In The Yard

“Clean Up Dog Poop In The Yard” As a dog owner, we can get that command from our neighborhood association. Hopefully we will just realize the need to clean up dog poop in the yard before that happens. It’s a smelly chore that no one is anxious to do.

Here are some helpful tips to help clean up dog poop in the yard:

Keep up with it! Do not allow the situation (and poop) to pile up. Each time after your dog goes out, clean up any mess he has left behind.
Dog Poop Bags are often used to pick up the dog poop. I prefer the ones that are biodegradable and include a holder to clip to your belt. Some great choices are:
Use a Poop Scooper to make the job easier and save your back. These poop scoops kind of act like a pair of tongs. There are two sides that come together when you pull up on the handle. Some have one side that has a rake type end to grab the dog poop and hold in the scoop. After picking up, you can either use the bags for disposal or bury in a hole in the yard.
Nature’s Miracle Jaw Scoop, Jumbo (P-6008)Dogit Jawz Waste Scoop, Grass GoGo Stik, The Totally Clean Pooper Scooper. Save & Use Any Bag – Scoop & Collect till Bag Fills!
There is an auto dog pooper picker upper now on the market. I have not tried this and it seems to be mostly recommended for small to medium dogs. Might be worth a try.

Though no one wants to clean up dog poop in the yard, or anywhere else for that matter, it is part of responsible dog ownership. Fortunately we do have some helpful tools to make the job of picking up poop easier. By keeping up with it, you will have a clean, smell-free area for your dog and kids to play. And, if you have neither the time or desire to clean up the dog poop, there are businesses that do that for you. Yep, it’s now a thing!

Brush Your Dog’s Teeth to Promote Good Health

Brush your dog’s teeth daily to help keep your dog healthy. The health of your dog’s teeth is a strong contributing factor to your dog’s overall health picture. Poor dental health can lead to a multitude of illnesses. Learning how to brush your dog’s teeth properly will help to assure this doesn’t happen.

First gather the needed tools to brush your dog’s teeth:

Finger toothbrush. These are rubber with small nubs. They do not have a handle but fit over your finger and sometimes are more acceptable to your dog.
Dental sponges or pads are soft and pliable, come with a handle and are disposable. Again, some dogs accept these easier than a toothbrush. Gauze pads may also be used.
Pet Toothpaste. Do not use human toothpaste as they contain foaming agents that can cause vomiting in dogs. Pet toothpastes also contain enzymes that help to clean the dog’s teeth better. And the most important thing to your dog – they come in flavors appealing to him, such as beef and chicken.
Here is a great kit that includes a double head toothbrush, finger toothbrush and flavored dog toothpaste.

Now that you have the proper tools, let’s continue on to the steps in how to brush your dog’s teeth:

Begin by placing a small amount of toothpaste on your finger and allowing your dog to lick it off.
Next, apply another small dab of toothpaste to your finger and place the finger on the surface of one of your dog’s front teeth. Massage gently in a circular motion. Your dog will probably be licking at your finger as you do this but that’s okay; he’s getting used to having his tooth massaged.
After your dog is used to having something in his mouth, it is time to introduce him to the toothbrush. Place some toothpaste on the brush and allow him to lick it off. Next, reapply more toothpaste, place the head of the toothbrush in your dog’s mouth and allow him to taste and lick at it. Don’t actually try to brush his teeth at this point. This step is simply to allow him to get used to having the brush in his mouth. After he’s comfortable with having the brush in his mouth, you can try placing the brush against his tooth (whichever tooth is easier to get to and he is most comfortable with) and moving it gently in a circular motion. You may need to repeat these steps for several days, until your dog is completely comfortable with the ritual. With luck, he will begin to look forward to the ritual. Now you are ready to move on to the actual brushing process.
Wet the toothbrush or other item of your choice and apply a small dab of toothpaste to it. A dog normally has 42 teeth. Begin by brushing the outside surfaces (closest to the lip) of the fangs and the first large teeth in the back of the mouth on each side. These four teeth accumulate the most tartar. If these are the only teeth that you are able to brush, it will still be a major step toward improving your dog’s dental health.
Brush gently in a circular motion, concentrating on the gum line. Spend at least five seconds on each tooth. Finish the fangs first, then proceed to the back teeth. Once the dog and you are comfortable with brushing the fangs and back teeth, you can expand your efforts to include the outer surfaces of the other teeth.
Praise your dog often during and after the brushing. A treat following the process will go a long way towards turning this ritual into a much anticipated event.

Sometimes you will notice a small amount of blood when brushing your dog’s teeth. Lighten up on the pressure somewhat but do not stop the brushing. Your dog’s gums and mouth will only continue to get healthier with repeated brushings.

Learning how to brush your dog’s teeth requires some patience on your part but it is well worth the effort. With practice, you will be able to complete the brushing process within a couple minutes. Keep your focus on the gum line since this area accumulates the most plaque and tartar.

Make brushing your dog’s teeth a daily ritual. He will most likely look forward to it and especially spending that extra bonding time with you. And the practice will reward you with better health for your dog.