Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Training a Pet to Love Being Groomed

Dog Grooming
"Dog Being Groomed"
(C) Cleaner Paws
For some dog owners reading the title of this article, your initial reaction may simply be - impossible! We understand, we get it, some dogs, no matter how hard you’ve tried so far just thoroughly dislike being groomed.

Whether this is done by a professional groomer or at home, your dog’s resistance to being groomed often means you stop enjoying the process of having them cleaned and thus the cycle begins with this displeasure multiplying.

The most common piece of advice often handed out is simply start grooming your dog when they are young. If you wash them regularly as a puppy, they should in theory just get used to the practice and accept it over time even if they don’t necessarily enjoy it. However, this isn’t always possible for some owners, what about if you have only recently adopted your pet? Or if you did as everyone seems to advise and frequently groom your puppy only for them to grow up and still not take a liking to it?

If either of these scenarios sounds familiar then this post may be for you. We don't for a second claim to have the one size fits all solution for all pets, we wish we did have but quite frankly I don’t think it exists. Instead we will offer three tips that if followed can make the process of grooming your pet far more enjoyable for both you and your dog.

As we’ve mentioned, none of these tips will be necessarily ground breaking. In fact to some they may be pieces of advice that you’ve already heard elsewhere, or may even seem like plain old common sense. However using our 40+ years of combined professional pet grooming experience (Both me and my Mom) we believe these three easy to follow tips are the best place to start for owners looking to make the whole grooming experience a more pleasurable one.

Improve Your Dog’s Attention Span
Now bear with us for a second here. We know you’re probably thinking to yourself that this is far easier said than done. Especially when you are confronted with a boisterous young puppy who doesn’t want to sit still for longer than 30 seconds. At this stage in their development dogs are easily distracted, and as we all know it doesn’t take much for them to be disturbed and attracted by virtually anything that moves.

"Dog Being Groomed"
(C) Cleaner Paws
This is obviously a groomers worst nightmare (we can confirm this 100%!) and will lead to issues both if you decide to professionally groom your pet or if you carry out the process at home.

The problem with this tip is that it really does take time to see results but when your pet does start to learn this new behavior, boy will you see an improvement in how much easier it is to groom them!

The best way to and improve your dog’s attention span is to work on commands from an early age, once they have a good understanding of these and what it is you want them to do you can then start introducing distractions.

This should hopefully improve their concentration and by getting them to focus on one thing at a time you should find it easier to train them in other areas as well.

Introduce Your Dog to Noisy and Crowded Environments Slowly
This tip relates specifically to having your dog professional groomed. It is not uncommon for a grooming salon to be both noisy and crowded at times and ensuring your pet is comfortable in this type of environment will have a huge impact on their overall enjoyment of the process.

By introducing them to these types of environment slowly you will ensure they avoid experiences that will leave a negative impression and potentially lead to them thinking of these surroundings unfavorably. Although great for grooming, this technique will also help to make your dog more sociable around large groups and show them they have nothing to be afraid of when meeting strangers.

A professional groomer can be just this, a stranger that not only is your pet wary of but also wants them to sit for long periods at a time while they groom them with unusual tools and products.

Familiarizing your pet with surroundings such as these will only help when taking them to be groomed and just by introducing them slowly to shops of this kind and crowded places you will be met with far less resistance when you try to do so in the future.

Use Practice Objects
Although this might sound a little strange at first this is actually our favorite tip to give to pet owners looking to calm the nerves of their anxious dogs before grooming them.

It is quite simple in practice and works along the same lines of familiarizing your pet with a process they aren’t too sure about. Grooming your pet will obviously involve a number of different items being used, from nail clippers to hair dryers.

Not only can these foreign objects frighten your pet if caught off guard but they also come into very close contact with their skin, face and eyes.

You can train your dog to become used to these objects by practicing with ‘safe’ items first. To do this you can literally use anything you have nearby and should begin by running the object around your pet’s face and paws to see how they react.

In most cases it should be absolutely fine, in which case you can progress to using the real thing but if your dog does start to act anxiously you know to slow things down slightly. Not only is this a great way to familiarize your pet with the process but it also means if you do catch or motion too close to them you won’t do any harm at all.

We hope you can take at least one of these tips and implement it effectively to help change your dog’s attitude towards being groomed. As with any pet training practice, patience really is key but the results are definitely worth it.

Just remember to reward your pet when they have done well and rather than having to drag your pet to be groomed they may even start to remind you.

About the Author:

As well as being a full time pet groomer, Jenny Nolan enjoys splitting her time between looking after her lovable dogs and a little too much time shopping online for pet supplies! As well as that she contributes to family run blog Cleaner Paws along with Mom Sue.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

#GivingTuesday 2017! Dog Adoption, Cat Adoption



WOOF! Today is #GivingTuesday! A day fueled by the power of social media and collaboration of many humans! WOOF! Bark!

#GivingTuesday is celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the crazy Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days.#GivingTuesday was founded in 2012 and in its fifth year!

The day reminds humans to give and begin the pawsome season of giving when many will focus on doing so during Christmas. Barkingly, it is a good reminder that is is “better to give than receive” and for Year-End giving! Arf.

Barkingly, of course, I support the idea of #GivingTuesday and am sharing a list of the dog and cat rescues which do pawsome jobs in their efforts to rescue, care for and love on many dogs and cats throughout the year.

Donations are tax-deductible! WOOF!

- Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART) -

(C) Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)

(C) Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART)

Donate to Homeless Animals Rescue Team (HART) here:


- The Humane Society of Loudoun County -




Donate to The Humane Society of Loudoun County here: Humane Loudoun - GivingTuesday, Donate!





- Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc. -



Donate to Lab Rescue here: Lab Rescue - GivingTuesday, Donate!




- Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League -


Donate to The Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League here: 


- Operation Paws for Homes -

(C) Operation Paws for Homes

Donate to Operation Paws for Homes here: 


- PetConnect Rescue - 

(C) PetConnect Rescue

Donate to PetConnect Rescue here: 



Friday, November 24, 2017

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

WOOF! Happy Friday! I am pawleased to catch up with my friend "Lab Lady" who seems to have gotten a lot of chocolate or into a lot of chocolate over the Thanksgiving holiday! Barkingly, she brought a pawsome Chocolate Labrador Retriever for you to meet! Meet Maggie!

"Maggie"
(C) Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.
Maggie is looking for a "Forever Home" in a single-family home located in a rural or suburban setting! She wants a fenced yard!

If you are looking for a gentle, quiet Labrador, Maggie isn't the gal for you! Please check a few other Labradors at Lab Rescue!

Maggie is 6-years-old and one pawsome gal! She loves to play and play hard! She loves to retrieve and will bring the ball back to you! She will play ALL DAY and collapses at night for a good nights rest! Though she likes to be outside, she enjoys time inside with her humans too.
"Maggie"
(C) Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

Maggie enjoys going for walks and likes to be by her human. She does really well on a leash. She is friendly with the dogs she meets on walks! She knows some basic commands, "sit," "down," and "come." She is house and crate trained.

Maggie enjoys meeting new humans too. When she does, she has lady-like manners of friendly and calm.

Maggie will take treats gently.

Maggie will make a pawsome addition to an active family.

Maggie is good with other dogs and has lived with one.  She has no cat history. She is recommended for mini-humans ages 10 and older.

Watch Maggie at: Maggie Playing!.

If you would like to meet or apply to adopt this pawsome Chocolate Labrador Retriever, pawlease complete the Lab Rescue Dog Adoption Application.

"Maggie"
(C) Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.






Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Operation Paws for Homes

Labrador Retriever Mix
"Elska"
(C) Operation Paws for Homes
WOOF! Happy FRIDAY!  Weekends are much better with a dog to take for long hikes or walks! My friends from Operation Paws for Homes brought by a really cool girl for you to meet- Elska!

Elska, a beautiful Labrador mix around 2-years-old, is looking for her "Forever Home" in a quiet area with no city noises. She will not do well in an apartment or heavy traffic location.
Labrador Retriever Mix
"Elska"
(C) Operation Paws for Homes

Elska is a happy, loving and energetic dog who loves to go on outdoor adventures! She enjoys going on car rides and will hop right into the car and get comfy! She will make a pawsome companion to an active family or an individual!

She is smart, intelligent, quick-learner. She has learned leash-training and some basic commands!

Elska enjoys meeting new humans and even mini-humans! WOOFs!

Elska has lived with two other dogs and get along with them!

Elska tested positive for Heartworm and will be treated by the rescue before she heads to her "Forever Home!" Operation Paws for Homes will answer any questions about this and will provide adopters with detailed information.

If you would like to learn more about dog adoption, pawlease visit Operation Paws for Homes Dog Adoption Guide.

Interested in meeting Elska or applying to adopt her? Pawlease complete the Operation Paws for Homes Adoption Application.



Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, PetConnect Rescue

Black Cat
"Dalia"
(C) PetConnect Rescue
Just look at the pawsomely beautiful and adorable face! My friend "Miss C" from PetConnect Rescue from by Dalia for you to meet on this "Black Friday!" Is she a beautiful black cat?

Dalia was rescued from a shelter in South Carolina and is about 14-weeks-old!  Her beautiful shiny black coat with a tuft of white on her chest makes her a specially unique kitty!

Dalia is the pawfect kitten to curl up on your chest. If she's not sleeping on you, she'll be snuggled up next to you! Purr! Be ready to share your bed!

Dalia likes to spend her days playing tag and napping with her siblings Dominic and Digby- her "adopted" brother friend.

She enjoys time with her humans and mini-humans around the house. She loves attention and belly rubs!  She'll let you know with pawsome purrs!

Dalia would love to be adopted with one of her siblings. Meows!

If you would like to learn more about cat adoption, pawlease visit the PetCeonnect Rescue Adoption Guide.

Interested in meeting Dalia or applying to adopt her? Pawlease complete the PetConnect Rescue Cat Adoption Application.


Friday's Friend! Cat Adoption, PetConnect Rescue

Cat
"Flower"
(C) PetConnect Rescue 
WOOFs! And MEOW!! Hope you had a pawsome Thanksgiving! My friend from PetConnect Rescue "Cat Lady" stopped by this week with a purringly grand cat for you to meet, Flower!

Don't let the name fool you, Flower s a male kitty who is a bit shy when you first meet him! He might hide or cling when to his foster mother when he first meets you. Meowingly, he may try to hide when new humans come in your house. Purrs, with patient, love, wet food, treats and play time, you'll win his heart over.

Flower is looking for a "Forever Home" with plenty of treats and toys and pawsssibly one of his brothers, Lumiere or Figaro! If you already have a cat, that's pawsome too! WOOF! er, Meows!

A note from my friends at PetConnect Rescue: Please note that cats adopted through PetConnect Rescue must be indoor only, and may not be declawed (unless already declawed at the time of rescue). The adoption fee for this kitten is $135, which helps with the cost of routine vet care.

The first step in PetConnect Rescue's approving adoption applicants is to complete a vet check. Vetting of current and past pets is very important so they will be speaking with the vet(s) listed on your application to ensure that your current and previous pet(s) are kept up to date on vaccines (including rabies), spayed or neutered and examined annually by your Veterinarian.

If you would like to learn more about cat adoption, pawlease visit PetConnect Rescue Adoption Guide.

Interested in meeting Flower or applying to adopt him? Pawlease complete the PetConnect Rescue Cat Adoption Application.



Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving!

(C) StoryBlocks, Used by Permission

I am thankful for so much pawsomeness in my life! Barkingly, I am thankful for my humans who love and care for me, clean and fresh water, delicious food and treats, long walks, trips to pawsome places, my railfan friends, curling up with my humans, my dog friends, squeaky toys, rope toys, warm dog beds and the many times I have jumped into my human's bed at 2 or 3 a.m. wanting to be petted and he does it!

What barkingly pawsome blessings are you thankful for?

Wishing you a day full of pawsome blessings 
with your family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

What Does Your Dog Say About You?

Dog Breeds
Photo Credit: Pixaby
Pet magazines and websites are filled with articles like “How to choose the right pet?” or tests to help you decide what kind of animal to take as a companion. If you really want a dog, what breed would suit you best? Rather funny than useful, these “pet-matches” have, however, started more recently to be studied also from a scientific perspective. Psychologists have started to study this issue, wondering if there really is a correspondence between the personality of a human being and the companion pet who chooses it intuitively. And there are some interesting and exciting discoveries.

Dog persons tend to be more active, dynamic and inclined to follow the rules. But things can be much more interesting. Choosing a certain dog breed of the hundreds of species can say something about a person’s personality. Of course, when you think of having a dog, you balance the time you have to take care of him, last but not least the financial aspects, from case to case. There are some objective criteria, but there might be some subjective criteria that come into the game unconsciously when you decide to have a certain type of dog.

And there are simpler or more demanding studies (at a scientific level) that reveal interesting correlations between certain characteristics of dog owners and their dog breeds. Here are two examples:

Recently, a study with 200 dog owners revealed the following:
  • Those owning a Yorkshire Terrier described themselves as the happiest, claiming to laugh, on average, 10 times a day
  • Those owning a Golden Retriever generally had a higher level of education, a quarter of them having a master’s degree or even a doctorate
  • Those owning a Chihuahua said they spend most of their time with their puppies – 16 hours a day on average
  • Dalmatian owners tend to spoil their dogs, spending more money a week on dog treats and toys, compared to average spending by owners of other breeds. Also, Dalmatian owners were more likely to have a sports car.
  • Those owning a Bulldog described themselves as “the biggest rockers” and had the most marked tendency to say that their pet knows what they think. They also frequently declared they are involved in a relationship, but they want to end it.
  • In the case of Labrador owners, it was more likely that these people would be single (not involved in a relationship)
  • Those owning Pugs most often said they had happy marriages and they also declared the highest earnings among those surveyed
At a higher level of scientific rigor, the connection between humans and their dogs have also concerned psychology specialists. An interesting study was taken among 1000 dog owners. With the help of a questionnaire, the five great features of the human personality (the “Big Five”) were evaluated.
  1. Openness – to new experiences, emotions, adventures; curiosity and imagination.
  2. Conscientiousness – self-discipline, compliance, purpose-orientation; tendency towards organization rather than spontaneity.
  3. Extraversion – energy and positive emotions; social.
  4. Agreeableness – the tendency to be empathetic and cooperative.
  5. Neuroticism – the tendency to easily feel negative emotions such as anger, worry, feeling vulnerable
And that is what psychologists Lance Workman and Jo Fearon found out when they looked for connections between certain personality traits and the possession of a certain dog breed:

  • People with a Chihuahua dog had high scores on Openness (and the ones with little dogs, from breeds generally called “Toy dogs”)
  • The owners of particularly friendly dogs, such as Labradors, had the most Agreeable personalities
  • Those who had German Shepherds, Collies, and Bull Dogs were the most Extraverted
  • The most emotionally stable people tended to have hunting dogs such as Beagles.
While it may not always be true that dogs and their owners resemble one another in a physical sense, there is certainly a great deal that people can learn about us by looking at our dogs. For good or for bad, our dogs and the way we treat them reflects our personalities, our preferences, and our lifestyles.

So, what does your doggie mirror say about you?

About the Author:
John Stuart works on behalf of petsbyplane.com in outreach and content creation. He creates engaging content that help businesses connect with their audience and stand out from the crowd.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

Happy Friday! I love catching up with my friend "Lab Lady" from Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc. She always has a Labrador Retriever with her who is looking for humans to love and their "Forever Home!"  Meet Brownie!

Black Labrador Retriever
"Brownie"
(C) Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

"Brownie"
(C) Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.
Brownie is a 2-year-old Black Labrador Retriever who is looking for a single-family home is a rural or suburban setting.  He has no fence requirement! He is looking for a home with humans who will welcome all the love and affection he has to give! BARK!

Humans who meet this guy say he is just the most pawsome, barkingly sweet and gentle fella!

Brownie looks forward to his trips to the dog park with his buddies! He has pawsome leash manners too!

Brownie is doing great adjusting to his foster home. He loves romping and playing with the resident Labrador and meeting new friends at the dog park.

Brownie is crate and house trained. He prefers to sleep on his dog bed in his fosters room at night. He doesn't mind being crated during the workday.  He has learned some basic commands and will let you know when he needs to go out!

No cats for Brownie. He has no mini-human history so he approved for ages 10 and older.

If you would like to learn more about dog adoption, apply to meet or adopt Brownie, please complete the Lab Rescue Dog Adoption Application!

"Brownie"
(C) Lab Rescue of L.R.C.P., Inc.

Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Operation Paws for Homes

American Bulldog Adoption
"Yoyoma"
(C) Operation Paws for Homes
When my friend at Operation Paws for Homes told me that she was bringing Yoyoma to meet me, my human got all excited! At first, I was sure what to paws with him- he gets a bit weird sometimes.  He was thinking the pawsome, and one of his favorites, cellist, Yo Yo Ma. Barks, it is one pawsome dog who stopped by. Barks!  To me, he is more fun though! woof!

Yoyoma is a 2-year-old adorable American Bulldog mix who enjoys having belly rubs, bacon, going for car rides, chew toys, humans and helping a litter of puppies who came to the shelter with no momma!
American Bulldog Adoption
"Yoyoma"
(C) Operation Paws for Homes

She has met some mini-humans who were pawsome and respectful- they gave her belly rubs too! Barks!

She has been friendly with dogs she's met, except growly obnoxious ones-  can't blame her there! WOOF! 

She has a prey drive so she can't go home with a family who has small birds and cats as they would be too tempting for her!

She wants to let you know, she tested positive for heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is transmitted to a dog through a bite from an infected mosquito producing a positive test in six months. Operation Paws for Homes will treat her and provide two weeks’ recovery time prior to adoption. Potential adopters will receive detailed information on the disease and their role in completing the recovery process from the Operation Paws for Homes Heartworm Coordinator. With monthly preventatives, the disease is completely preventable. Read about heartworm disease here: Heartworm Society: Pet Owner Resources, Heartworm Basics.

Interested in a dog who has some basic training and loves to hang out with humans, Yoyoma's the girl for you!

If you would like to learn more about dog adoption, pawlease visit Operation Paws for Homes Dog Adoption Guide.

If you would like to apply to adopt Yoyoma, please complete the Operation Paws for Homes Dog Adoption Application.

American Bulldog Adoption
"Yoyoma"
(C) Operation Paws for Homes





Friday's Friend! Cat Adoption, Prince William Humane Society

Cat Adoption
"Tiger Lily"
(C) Prince William Humane Society

BARKS! er, Meow, sorry- two of my cat friends at the Prince William Humane Society came by this week to meet you.  They are looking for humans to love and their "Forever Home!"

Meet Tiger Lily, a 3-year-old lady who is friendly, a little shy though, healthy, good with mini-humans and dogs. She is little box-trained, spayed and microchipped.  She is up-to-date on shots.

"Hokie"
(C) Prince William Humane Society
Meet my buddy Hokie!  She is between 10- and 15-years old. She is friendly and litter-box trained.

She is looking forward to laying around with her human on the couch and enjoying the day! MEOW!

Hokie is spayed, microchipped and up-to-date on shots.

If you have questions about these two cat friends of mine or would like to apply to adopt, please contact the Prince William Humane Society at www.pwhumane.org, Phone:  703-634-0880.



Friday's Friend! Dog Adoption, Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League

Harlequin Great Dane Adoption
"Harvey"
(C) Allen Pearson
WOOF! BARK!! This is my buddy and friend and "OH MY... WHAT A BIG GUY!" Harvey! I got the pawsome oppawtunity to meet Harvey at a photo shoot with my human a few weeks ago. Kind of odd to be the smaller dog in the party, but he's so cool it was good!

Harvey is a 2-year-old, Harlequin male Great Dane with natural ears.  He was surrendered to a shelter in pretty rough shape! His human stated he could no longer care for him.

Harvey has an amazing personality- and what fun he was when I met him! Woof! He is grateful for the pawsome love of his foster human who is teaching him how to manage in a loving home.  Barkingly, he currently lives with a male Boxer and a female Dane! He plays well with them and often initiates playtime! He loves tug-of-war! WOOF! His older sister is teaching him how to behave! He will do best in a "Forever Home" with an older dog to show him the ropes. He has not been in contact with dogs smaller than 70lbs. but his human thinks he'll be fine if the dog was accustomed to large dog play.
Harlequin Great Dane Adoption
"Harvey"
(C) Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League

He has not met a human he doesn't love. Barkingly, he isn't a fan of strange humans, as in he doesn't know them, getting in his face!

Harvey is learning to like baths.  Since he isn't used to them, it's had to be a slow process but he's learning personal hygiene is barkingly impawtant. It will not take much to get him into a routine!

Barkingly, Harvey likes to nuzzle his head into your belly for rubs and is a pawsomely huge Dane leaner!  He is quiet inside the home. Outside, he will occasionally bark at humans walking by.  He shows no prey drive in the yard!  WOOF!

Paws, Harvey is a really sweet Dane! He is currently on a "medical hold" and will be adopted with a training contract!

WOOF! If you would like to learn the process to adopt and a Great Dane and possibly adopt Harvey, pawlease visit Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League Adoption Guidelines.