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Study Shows Why You Picked Your Dog

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Ever wonder why you tend to lean toward a certain type of dog? Or why people tend to look like their dog? Well… turns out there’s a reason for that. According to the Natural Balance Canine Personality Study—a survey of 1,015 U.S. dog parents conducted by Natural Balance Pet Foods in conjunction with Learndipity Data Insights—Americans love dogs who are often just like them.

66% of people who have extroverted dogs are extroverted people. There’s a 65% chance that an introverted dog will have an introverted parent. If you are a lifelong learner there’s a 72% chance that your dog will be good at learning new tricks.

See that and other fun information below.

Adopt a dog like you at a dog rescue.

October 28, 2015 | DogGeek

Prepare for the Newest Member of Your Family

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The announcements have all been sent out. The nursery’s complete. And you just got back from the babymoon. You’re both excited to bring home the little one. It’s going to be a life-changing experience, but you couldn’t be readier or happier for this next step.

Sure, the “nursery” may be a crate set up in the kitchen with a comfy blanket and an oversized pillow bed in the living room corner. But let’s face it, your new pup is essentially your baby. That being said, here are four must-do’s for new puppy parents who are preparing to welcome the newest member of the family.

The Basics

Water, food, a collar and a leash are among the basics necessities you need at home to take care of your new dog. Follow this checklist to ensure you’re fully prepped for your four-legged companion’s homecoming:

Food and water bowls
Chew toys
Crate and bedding
Grooming supplies
Registered ID tag and/or microchip
Gate (to create boundaries)
Puppy pads, carpet cleaner and odor neutralizer for house training

Health Essentials

Spayed or neutered dogs tend to live longer, be healthier and have fewer behavioral problems, according to the Humane Society. Aside from those benefits, you also prevent future puppies (and overpopulation). For maximum health, you may also want to provide you furry friend with the following:

Heartworm medication (monthly pills, monthly topicals or even a six-month injection) to prevent heartworm disease caused by an infected mosquito.
Flea and tick control or preventative treatments to protect your pet from fleas, flea eggs or larvae, ticks and chewing lice. For a more nontoxic and natural approach, give your pup black walnut or vitamin-B flea treats, use a a fine-toothed flea comb, vacuum frequently, use herbal shampoo or apply a homemade natural insect repellent recommended by PETA.
Regular veterinarian check-ups or even training classes to provide your pet with optimal health and discipline.

Calming Space

Dogs are loyal, loving animals and enjoy snuggling up at your side. But, they also want to resort to a safe space when they feel threatened or nervous, such as during a thunderstorm. Instinctively, dogs prefer to be in a den-like space, which serves as shelter away from the storm, according to Daily Puppy.

Darken a space with roller blinds, which are a safer alternative than long window dressings. Keep in mind that your pup also could damage vertical or mini blinds as a way to deal with his or her nervousness. Also, place a blanket, pillow and toys to comfort your dog during the storm, and create positive associations with the space.

High-Tech Care

Unfortunately, many pups are left at home during most the day, and babysitters or doggie daycare can be expensive. Instead, equip your home with iCPooch, which is an interactive care system for your dog. With iCPooch, you can video chat or deliver a treat over the Internet and lovingly keep in touch with your furry friend while away from home. The all-in-one pet treat dispenser and computer connects you and your pet at all times, whether you’re at work or on vacation.

Welcome-Home Party

Introduce the newest member of your family by planning a welcome-home party for friends, family and their dogs. Provide refreshments and bake biscuit-shaped sugar cookies for friends and family. Homemade healthy recipes like frozen peanut butter yogurt dog treats or apple crunch pupcakes are for the four-legged guests to enjoy.

Set up a fun obstacle course, or plan a “Go Fetch” dog-themed scavenger hunt, challenging owners and their pets to win a prize by finding hidden items, such as rawhide bones, a pair of slippers or chew toys. Don’t forget to create goodie bags filled with treats and toys to give your guests and their furry sidekicks as thank you’s for when they leave.

May 23, 2015 | DogGeek

For the Busy Pet Parent: How to Balance Life With Your Pets

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Pets truly enrich our lives with unconditional love and loyalty. Though we do our best to keep their tails wagging, balancing work, family and household responsibilities can leave your furry family members wanting more attention. Of course, nothing replaces giving your pet your undivided attention but, for times when multi-tasking is a must, you can still entertain Fido while getting things done around the house. Combine your daily tasks and your pets’ play time with the help of these innovative games and toys:

Laundr-O-Mutt

There’s something about a freshly stacked pile of clothes that just begs to be burrowed in—at least, your dog seems to think so. When your pup just can’t wait to rub his fur all over your crisp, clean clothes, distract him with something far more enticing, like an automatic fetch toy like iFetch. The device enables pet owners to train their fetch-loving friends to play on their own. The device works by loading it with a tennis-like ball that then shoots out up to 30 feet. Trained dogs can fetch and reload the ball for hours of fun; or, you can help your pet out by loading it for him.

Will Work for Kibble

Working from home has many advantages: no more sitting in traffic, clothes are optional, and best of all, no more office distractions. Or so you thought. Sure, your co-workers aren’t around to interrupt your flow, but your four-legged colleagues can prove far more demanding. Pets seem to find the most inopportune times to make their needs known. Perhaps they’re putting in their two cents during an important client call or jumping on your lap to join a virtual meeting. When the distractions become overwhelming, its time to set some boundaries. Since you’re now home to monitor your pet’s behavior, invest in some interactive toys that can keep them occupied while you work. For instance, a food puzzle game or treat dispenser will keep your pooch mentally stimulated while you tend to work matters.

Game Time

You’ve had a long day at work, the kids are occupied playing video games and Fido is begging for attention. Make your two-legged and four-legged kiddos happy with hands-free gaming that allows them to interact with their furry siblings while still allowing for some virtual fun. The hands-free capabilities of gaming consoles like Xbox One enable users to enjoy their virtual experience while multi-tasking real-world duties, like playing with Fido.

Dinner Table Antics

Whether you’re making dinner or eating it, your pup will likely be standing guard. It’s never pleasant trying to eat with a pair of puppy dog eyes on you. Some pets take it to the next level and implement whining and scratching to get what they want. Giving in only encourages bad behavior. Treat-stuffed toys offer a great way to keep your pet both occupied and satisfied. Next meal time, try using a treat game like a Kong Classic that enables your pet to chase and chew his wobbly toy in search for treats.

November 7, 2014 | DogGeek

What is a rescue dog?

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A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker

If you’ve ever heard the term “rescue dog” and had images of a canine dragging a human out of a burning building, you’re not wrong. If your neighbor with the cute little pure-bred shitzu proudly reminds you every time you see her that her dog is a rescue dog, you might be a little confused. Actually, both examples are correct.

While there are many heartwarming stories about service dogs all over the world who provide therapy, search and rescue services, and physical aid to humans with disabilities, the type of “rescue dog” we are referring to in this article is a little different.

In simplest terms, a rescue dog is a dog who needs a new home. Dogs who are adopted from shelters or rescue organizations are referred to as rescue dogs. They run the entire spectrum of age, breed, personality and level of health. A rescue dog is a canine who needs a human to give it a second chance.

Currently, all over the country, there are many types and breeds of dogs that end up in animal control shelters just waiting to be euthanized. Almost all of them are in this awful position as a result of humans being selfish. People make hasty decisions about getting a dog and then don’t follow through on the many years of commitment that getting a dog requires. The numbers are staggering, and a sign of a true epedemic.

So what can you do about it?

The most important action you can take is to really think through the decision and consequences (good and bad) of adding a dog to your life. If everyone took just a little time for thoughtful reflection on the impact of caring for a dog for many years ahead, we could save thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Another important action is to always spay or neuter your canine loved one. There are more puppies in this country than people willing to take care of them, and accidental pregnancies add to the problem.

Finally, if you’ve heavily weighed the pros and cons of adding a dog to your family and the answer is ‘yes’, then absolutely ADOPT! Take your time and don’t let your excitement rush you into any decisions. Check out our checklist of considerations before you go out looking because once you look into those big eyes, all reason could fly out the window.

There are hundreds of breed-specific dog rescues all over the country. If you find yourself partial to Boston Terriers, for example, with memories of your childhood companion, a quick google search will reveal that there are many others who are also passionate about Boston Terriers. You might find breed-specific rescues in your town, state, or region but don’t let distance deter you! Breed-loving humans volunteer to make sure that the dogs they foster find good homes. Often, they will drive dogs across states, fly them across the country, or do whatever they need to place their foster dogs in the right home. There’s nothing like the friendship between people who love dogs enough to make huge sacrifices for their well-being.

Rescue dogs are the best breed on Earth! You will have many years of heart-felt joy knowing that you were the caring person who gave your dog a second chance on life.

Find an animal shelter or dog rescue near you >>

March 15, 2014 | DogGeek

A Case for the Big Black Dog (or BBD)

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A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker

It’s a well known fact in the animal shelter community that black-coated medium to large dogs are the hardest to adopt. They are also the first to be euthanized in animal shelters, where they are assumed “unadoptable.” As the mother of 2 Big Black Dogs (BBDs), this is disturbing news. Whether it is due to superstition, misplaced fear, negative association or otherwise, the only cure for this malady (called Black Dog Syndrome) is education!

Mahatma Ghandi said, “Gentleness, Self-Sacrifice, and Generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.” and that goes for dogs, too!

A dog’s temperament has absolutely nothing to do with the color of its fur. Dogs become aggressive as a result of abuse, neglect, and improper training, all usually a result of human error. Every dog, no matter its color, is a product of its environment, just like humans. Sure, there may be a slight genetic predisposition for certain personality-types (think: the crazy-hyper Dalmation) but dogs are highly intelligent beings and very trainable. Take, for example, my 2 BBDs. Completely different personalities! One is a black collie mix (a girl, Trixie) who is smarter, faster, stronger and more agile than her BBD brother (Briley, named after the freeway I found him on) who is half her age. Briley is a complete mush, snuggle bug, and wants to be lounging or playing fetch at all times. They were both raised in the same environment, but have distinctly different personalities.

“Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition.” ~Isaac Asimov

A black dog is no more a representative of the devil than a white dog is of an angel! From British folklore to symbolizing mental illness, black dogs have historically been used to conjure images of negativity and darkness. Winston Churchill frequently referenced his manic depression, which he referred to as his “black dog” in his writings. Even Led Zeppelin referenced the black dog folklore of the British Isles with the lyrics “Eyes that shine burning red” in a song that was innocently titled after a nameless black lab roaming the recording studio. It’s time to break the cycle of using these lovely animals as a symbol of darkness and deamons. Black is beautiful!

Healthy black dogs have beautiful shining coats that glisten in the sunshine. Their fur also hides dirt well and can be accessorized with any colored collar. Black isn’t just black, there’s various hues within black. I’ve recently noticed that Trixie has a distinct purple-black hue, while Briley is a black and tan. Also, BBDs are often adopted for a smaller fee than other dogs (sad) due to the abundant lack of interest by families looking to adopt. Often, if you adopt a black dog, you can become part of a black dog-lovers club, and might even get a free t-shirt!

Now that you have the information, it’s up to you to choose how you use it. If you are fortunate enough to have a BBD in your family, hug them extra close today. If you see someone walking a BBD, stop to tell them how handsome or beautiful his or her dog is. And, if you’re thinking about adopting a rescue dog, go for the under-underdog….a BBD from a shelter!

Find an animal shelter or dog rescue near you >>

March 10, 2014 | DogGeek