Autumn Lists

The summer is almost over!  Where will you take your dog when the warm weather and the cloudless days are gone? Most swimming holes will close, the sunny skies will be behind us, the water will turn cold and the air will become chilly..... Never fear, Shoreline Dog is here!  Warm weather isn't the only thing you need to take your dog swimming, hiking, and other activities your pooch adores.  Autumn is a chance to explore new places, try new things, and adventure further into the realm of nature with your beloved hound.  No, the weather may not be as warm, but... the weather won't be as boiling HOT as it is in the summer, right?  This provides an opportunity to do more active outdoor activities without overheating (especially for your pup, I mean just think about wearing those thick fuzzy coats all summer).  So, we came up with places to go, activities to do, and more suggestions that will make this Autumn the best Autumn ever for you and your pooch.  With our brand new, (temporary) tab, Autumn Lists, you can access these references anytime you want.  Have a great rest of the summer, and an even better Autumn!!

Heads up! -Every season comes with different surprises - and different safety hazards.  To avoid this season's dangers for your pet, read our Autumn Safety Hazards List, listed on the new Autumn Lists Page.

Good To Know #14

Good To Know #14 - Don't waste time and money on breath freshening mist and bones! Instead, use apple slices, which help to clean residue off a dog's teeth and freshen their breath.  Apples are also a good source of vitamin A, fiber, and vitamin C. But to avoid chooking hazards, be sure to remove the seeds and core before feeding to your pooch. There's no need for bad tasting, minty breath fresheners for your pup when instead they can enjoy a healthy - and yummy - snack!

Be sure to cut into slices or cut out stem, core, and seeds

Tip: Put some peanut butter on an apple and give it to your dogs as a yummy toy!

Good To Know #13

Good To Know #13 - It's a myth that a dog's dry nose means a fever.  For starters, most of the time a dog will lick continually lick his nose, and, as a result, his nose is almost always wet.  But, when dogs aren't feeling 100% (this could mean exhaustion, thirst, hunger, etc) they tend not to lick their noses, and therefore the noses become dry.  If your dog's nose is constantly dry, talk to your vet, but otherwise don't worry too much.

Changing Your New Dog's Name

You just brought your new dog home! Yay!! You love him - his personality, looks - but not his name. But don't worry - this is a very common situation, especially when adopting older dogs.  A dog of any age can learn a completely different name within days.  If you want to change you new dog's name, follow these easy steps and before you know it, Fluffy will respond to Rover.

• Decide on a new name for your pet.  It can be totally dissimilar, anything will work. But, once you start training your dog with that name, there's no going back.  Changing a dog's name once is easy, but twice is another story.
• While you are spending time with your new pooch, carry a few training treats with you - Not those crazy unhealthy jumbo-peanut-chicken-pork-chunky-chewy-yummy-bones!  Use small ones, that can fit easily in your pocket.  Chances are, you'll be feeding your pup many of them in the next few days, and you don't want to have to give him one of those big beauties every time he does something good.
• Call out the new name to your dog, and then smile and give him lots of praise, along with a training treat. Do this even if he barely blinks at the new name.

Once you do this enough, he will begin to learn that hearing this word means a treat and praise, and will respond to it.  Soon, he will recognize the name as his own!

Good To Know #12

Good To Know #12  - Dogs chase their tail for a variety of reasons: exercise, anxiety, curiosity, and predatory instinct.  Sometimes, watching your dog chase his tail is hilarious!  However, if your dog is chasing his tail excessively, he might have fleas.  If you notice your pooch acting strange and always chasing his tail, talk to your vet.  Fleas are NOT fun - for you or your pet.

Fleas cause a LOT of itching!

Birthdays

It's your pooch's birthday!  You give him a bone, maybe buy a new toy... but now you can bake him a cake!  Here are some  drool-worthy birthday cake recipe for hounds on their special day:

For a peanut flavored cake with a darker, richer taste:

Carob Chip Bundt Cake:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup honey (optional)
• 1 egg
• *1/2 cup carob chips

Directions:

Mix the flour and the baking soda together.  Add the remaining ingredients and mix quickly.  Bake in a greased ring mold a 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Melt the carob chips and drizzle over the cake when cooled.  *Carob is a chocolate substitute.  If you cannot find carob chips, do NOT use chocolate chips! See Good To Know #7.  You do NOT have to put carob chips in this recipe, as it is included mostly for decoration purposes.  This recipe serves 16-20 dogs, so I would recommend dividing up the recipe if you aren't expecting a party of more than 10 hungry hounds.