Rub-a-Dub

The summer has been speeding by and I missed last week’s blog… soooo sorry! This week’s tip is about baths… something I don’t like but have learned to tolerate. Mom and dad have started spelling “bath” so I don’t know what they’re saying. When spending time indoors with us, keeping us clean is a priority. But how do you bathe us at home to avoid the dreaded trips to the groomer or do-it-yourself dog-wash without the mess of juggling super-size cups or buckets to rinse in the sink, bathtub or shower?

Bath time doesn’t have to be unpleasant for you or us. Bathing us at home can be easy if you know when and how to do it and have a few key items available. How often do we need a bath? It depends on our lifestyle and breed. Bathing too often can be irritating to our skin so a good guideline is to bathe us only when our coat gets dirty or begins smelling “doggy” (who me?!).

Begin by having the following items on hand before you start: brush, comb or rake; shampoo, conditioner, shampoo mitt, bathing tether, bath mat, drain strainer and cover, spray hose, towel and possibly a hairdryer.

 Gather all the things you need without us present (to reduce anxiety).
 Place a bath mat at the bottom of the sink, tub or shower so we won’t slip and the surface will be protected from nail scratches.
 Place a screened cover over the drain to catch pet hair before it goes down the drain.
 Brush or comb our entire coat. Remove mats and tangles (some areas may need to be trimmed with clippers or scissors).
 Bring us to the sink, tub or shower and attach a bathing tether to our collar to hold us in place and minimize movement.
 Use a spray hose and hold it close to our coat to allow water to saturate the coat and skin. Avoid spraying water into our eyes, nose and ears.
 Apply shampoo to a shampoo mitt and work the lather deep down to the skin. Rinse thoroughly with spray hose until water runs clear. If you think you’ve rinsed enough… rinse some more! Shampoo or conditioner residue left on the skin may cause irritation.
 Let us shake off the excess water. Then squeeze out excess water by running your hands over us.
 Finish by towel drying. There are towels available that soak up 10 times their weight in water. You may want to use a hairdryer, set on low, to speed up drying time. Keep us indoors and away from drafts until out coat is completely dry.
 Gather all the bathing and grooming items and place them in a caddy for convenient storage and ease of use at the next bath.

Remember to bathe us on a regular basis and start early. If you get your puppy used to a bath, you won’t have any problems when they are older.

My pups have grown so fast, where has the time gone? They’re four weeks old, wobbling around and ready to begin eating real food. I’m so happy about that because they have worn me out! These puppies have been the most voracious eaters of all my pups. They are aware of each other and beginning to play… chew on each other. Here are their most recent pictures:



See ya next week!

ON THE ROAD

Though I’m not a world traveler, I have been on numerous road trips. I do like riding around the island with the window down, my head out (with eye protection) and ears blowing in the breeze. Once we leave the island and the car is going much faster I settle down on the car seat or floor. It would be safest for me to have a pet restraint seat; however, mom hasn’t purchased one yet. No matter how cute we are or how much we beg, PLEASE don’t let us sit in your lap while you’re driving… scary!

While you’re planning the trip, you might want to check whether your final destination is pet friendly and if you may need a pet sitter. It will be sad for you and us if we can’t participate in all the activities and have no where to stay. Even if we have a microchip, an ID tag is important in case you get lost. A copy of our shot record and a first aid kit should be included in our travel supplies.

Depending on our tummies, we may need a small meal a few hours prior to travel. Some of us travel better on an empty stomach. It’s a good idea to take some short drives to see how we react to being in a vehicle prior to planning a long trip. If we demonstrate great anxiety, our vet can provide something to calm us down for the trip. After driving a couple hours, we enjoy stopping for a potty break. Even though we can probably go for many hours without one, it’s good for our caregivers as well as us to stretch our legs. Please remember if you visit a rest stop or just the side of the road be sure to pick up after us. It is unsanitary and disrespectful of others to leave our waste for others to deal with. Don’t forget a litter box for our cat friends. Its also important for us to have fresh water to drink during our breaks, so don’t forget to bring a bowl and water. We will also need food, toys and a bed/crate for our travels but mostly when we reach our final destination. We love spending time with you and can be such fun to travel with… let’s roll!

The pups are just over two weeks old and all but one pup have decided they’re interested in seeing the world. They continue to grow at an amazing rate and are getting nice and chubby. I don’t spend as much time in their bed, usually just at feeding time and for clean-up afterward. I do stay close by and observe but allow them room to sleep and drag themselves around the bed. Their legs are not strong enough to wobble around with yet... probably another week or so for that. Feeding time...



See ya next week!

LET'S PLAY!

Whew,…last week sure was very busy for everyone! The ponies swam, there was an auction and carnival, I had puppies and the ponies swam back. This week has been even busier … caring for new babies and having many four-legged visitors.

This week’s tip is about play. It doesn’t matter if you have two legs or four, play is very important. Personally, I find that play helps keep me young. I love chasing a flying disk, ball, squeaky toy… can do it for hours. I don’t care much for the fetch and return, but chasing is sheer joy. All pets need playtime with their caregivers. As well as being vital for our good health, it’s essential for bonding. Play is also great for reducing stress. Everyone is busy. However, taking 15-20 minutes a day to play with us will make both you and us much calmer and happier. It will remind us why we love each other so much.

Remember - It’s not that you get too old to play it’s you play NOT to get old.

Pup update: Here is a picture of my brood at one week. You’ll notice there are only six…unfortunately. Everyone's eyes and ears are still closed. They are growing like weeds...doubling in size since birth! When not busy eating, they move around their box and end up in either one big pile or multiple mini piles. We expect them to be peeking out at the world over the next few days. They won’t be ready to play for another couple of weeks or so but when they are…!!




See ya next week!