Saturday, June 21, 2008

Doggie Washes

Summertime and the frisking is fun! Ohhh, we doggies
just love summer. Summer means more time in the park,
more time at the beach, more time trail walking. It also
means that we doggies get into a lot more “stuff” and need
to be groomed more frequently so that we are at our best
all the time, so it’s doggie wash time!

Good grooming is as important for your precious pet as it is
for humans and its not just for good looks. We pooches like
to get down and dirty and play with things close to the ground, scurry
around on the beach, dash off into the brush when trail walking
and what that means is that we are a welcome home for pesky
parasites that like to hide in our fur and feed on us. A good
brushing after any outdoor activity is both welcome, invigorating
and relaxing … gosh! Can I suggest a daily brush?

... but, brushing alone will not get rid of dirt, sand, smells,
and those blood sucking parasites. It is time for a doggie bath.
As more and more pets live in apartment homes, a doggie bath at
home is a bit of a challenge … what with having to walk through
the house, perhaps jumping on to one of our favorite chairs --- you
know, the ones we are not supposed to sit on? And then, but of course!
it takes time to dry! Never fear, Doggie Wash is here!

Dog washes are showing up in every major city and they seem to
be either a self serve or an automatic dog wash.

Now I am not too sure about these automatic dog washes. Yes,
they do the job with the least amount of effort. What I am not
keen on is that the doggie is put into a shower like chamber
by himself and then, just as with an automatic car wash, the
water starts to pour, then the shampoo, then more water, then
the drying. To some dogs this creates anxiety in that they are
crated and may feel trapped. There are no soothing human hands on
their bodies to make them feel good or to massage the sore spots;
and, the dryer blows hot air which while doing a quick job of
drying the coat, promotes dry and scaley skin, which of course
becomes itchy and skin problems may develop.


Oh no! Take me to the “do it yourself” doggie wash anytime!
Here the pet parent is with her furry friend throughout the wash.
The facility is usually equipped with a step up tub,one that is
easy and fun to scurry up and get into; a choice of
shampoos, conditioners, and a cool dryer … and a good sized
apron for mommie to wear. This may take longer but you
can be assured that your pet’s anxieties are laid aside. The
hand scrunching on the back feels soooo barking good, and
relaxes your puppy. Before you know, puppy is clean and happy.

When done, be sure to reward your best friend with a yummy natural treat
or two…some dog washes have a little doggie deli attached but
if not, there surely is a dog cafe close by! Woof! Go for it!

Hmmm hmmm.... soooo good to be clean.... BooBoo Barkley!

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Honda for You and Puppy Too!


Get this, according to an article
in the Vancouver Sun, Honda has designed a car with your doggie
in mind. Ohh, I like this!

When barking around with my furry buds, one of our human peeves
is that it’s a bit of a challenge to get into our parent’s cars, especially
if they happen to be SUVs because they are so high off the ground.
OK… the little guys get carried in but what about the rest of us? While
young and agile a quick skip, hop and jump is easy for the Labs, Shepherds,
Weimaraners and other long legged canines. but for the Bull Mastiffs,
Rottweilers and others of us who are more “solid” in build, we often need
a bit of a push from the behind to help us get on board. And the giant
breeds have even more of a challenge --- think of the English Mastiff!
Its positively hard on the back and the gentle “push” from behind,
gets more and more difficult for the pet parent to maneuver.

Lots of pet parents with SUVs and cars with hatchbacks have bought
portable ramps which make the “walk on” much easier for every
dog, even for the fleet of foot as they get older. But now Honda has designed
a car with us pooches in mind. Take a look at this photo with the corgi,
one of our shortest legged cousins --- look at how low to the ground the
car is, how easy it is for any dog to just step in. Woof! For long trips,
add a doggie bed and we’re good to the next stop!
My Zimbio
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