What to pack for a day's outing

So we’re off to the beach, or the park. When getting ready to go don’t forget to pack a few items for us, your furry friends. Some toys would be nice, but they should be the rubber type which are easy to keep clean and won’t carry any sand or nasty parasites home. Frisbee’s and balls are great for chasing, but please not the tennis ball – it really isn't good for our gums. Lots of beaches have bits of wood or sticks for the picking, but if not, then take along something that can be thrown into the water for retrieving --- when its hot its not only our water cousins who like to go splashing in the water!

Choose to go to a place that will have trees close by for shade. In spite of “mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun” I don’t think Noel Coward really got it right as given the choice, we would rather rest under the shade of a leafy tree. Our noses are sensitive too, especially the lighter noses, so bring something to put on the nose to keep it from burning.

Bring a collapsible bowl to fill with water. Yes, we get dehydrated too and can have a nasty turn of events without water. If there is no running tap water available at the destination, bring some from home.

Last but not least, a few light treats will be just yummy and tide us over until we get home for dins. If on the way you should happen to be driving past a doggie wash a quick stop will ensure that we are clean, groomed and smelling nice as we come home.

Woof! Lets bark it up and have some summertime fun!

"BooBoo" Barkley

Dog Days of Summer

Woof! I love getting emails from my readers ... thank you for all your
kind words. Every so often a get a question and this week's inbox had
a really cool question.

Dear BooBoo,
"I am confused. What exactly do my humans mean when they talk about the 'dog days of summer' ... somehow, I don’t feel it is very complimentary."
signed: Checkers, Winnipeg MN.

Oh my dear Checkers! There is nothing unkind in the saying “dog days of summer.” What our humans are saying is that the days are very, very hot and it is darn right woofing as to how that saying came about. It goes back to a time long ago, back when the Egyptians and the Romans ruled the land and it has to do with the formation of the stars in the sky.

Checkers dear, next time you are out in the backyard in the dark, look up at the sky. Ancient Egyptian and Roman humans did not have TVs to watch so to entertain themselves they would sit outside and look at the stars in the sky. They began to play games of connecting the stars to make a picture in the dark. You could say that it is star art in the sky. Today your mommie and mine would refer to this art as constellations and each has a different name, you know like the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper.

One of those star formations is Canis Major, or the Greater Dog, because, well, errr…when the stars were “connected” they formed the shape of a dog (yes, there is also a Lesser or Smaller Dog). The brightest star in that formation is called Sirius and ok, let me get this straight, you know how the earth tilts and moves up and down and is in different positions to the sun at different times of the year, and at a certain time of the year the star Sirius and the sun rise in conjunction and it is a sign that hot days are just around the corner. The ancients believed that it was because the hottest day star the sun, and the brightest star in the Greater Dog constellation, the Sirius --- and therefore probably the hottest star of the dog constellation --- appeared to be so close together, that it was the heat of the two so close together that made the earth so hot. That is why they call the hot days of summer, the dog days of summer. We are experiencing those days now.

Now ... I do wonder about “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun” ... woof! Lets not go there.

barkfully yours....
BooBoo Barkley - Chief Barker BooBoo Speaks! The Newsletter

Summertime - Fun for Dog and You

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy … fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high….”

I might add
“… parks are green and the doggies are playing.”

Woof! There is a reason I did not go into songwriting! My apologies to George Gershwin! But just think of it, this is a wonderful time to be outdoors with your precious pooch. We doggies just love romping out in the open air, and get super excited when our parents pack outdoor dog toys when going to the park. Fetch ball and frisbee catch just some of the activities that give us hours of pleasure. Running and jumping are a fun way for us to use and strengthen all our muscles and to develop athletic ability – even the short legged pooches benefit.

Another good pastime is to simply go walking – if you live by the ocean and can get to a beach the effort of walking and running on sand uses a different set of muscles as your and your furry friend’s feet have to work different muscles just to walk. And swimming ... ohh, ohh, ohh. If anywhere near a decent patch of water you won't be able to keep your Labs and Retrievers from splashing into the blue to repeatedly fetch a stick. Other breeds may not be so willing to swim back and forth quite so much but I can tell you they will enjoy the coolness of the water on their bodies too! Swimming is especially good for senior dogs as it gives them a good workout without putting stress on their joints.

Hiking is probably best for the bigger dogs unless you have a carrier that you can sling over your shoulders for your Yorkie or Min Pin. Now I know how my smaller cousins love to be spoiled, but a small warning: even a few additional pounds can become a heavy burden after several miles. A good option would be short trails within the city’s boundaries – often these trails are pet friendly and you can let your precious pooch do some exploring. As you know, we doggies love to sniff, and the woods and trails are full of new intoxicating smells in the summer which is a whole new adventure for us. No, no. We will not wander off ... if we wander off track just call us back because we really do not like getting lost and do not like to be too far away from you.

Also, check out the off leash dog parks in your city. We love to socialize with other furry pals. You know, when dogs are off leash we tend to be less aggressive, I don't know why, after all I do not have a doggie psychology degree, but it might have something to do with not having to protect our turf and our pet parent when off leash. But you know, all we doggies wanna do is have fun while, err… dogging around!

Lets all go have a barking good time!
BooBoo Barkley
Chief Barker BooBoo Speaks!

Pet Insurance

Now I need not tell you dear prescious pet parent, how far back a small accident or
health issue can set you back financially and as summer brings on more outdoor activity, the chances that your pooch may step on a sharp obstacle and cut her paw increases. Or, perhaps your furry pal ate something that did not agree with her. Off to the vet you go and hope that your visa can take the bill.

There is a better option and more and more, pet parents are choosing to buy Pet Insurance. As with human insurance, there are so many options that are available, not the least of which is liability. Here are some things to consider when shopping for pet insurance:

- look for a company with a good reputation
- do you want a policy that is for the life of your pet or for a specific period of time
- choose a policy that offers both regular and accidental coverage
- condition specific
– hereditary and genetic conditions

A good thing is to get several quotes and then take the quotes to your vet so that he can help you assess and select the best one for your and your puppy's needs. It’s always good to check with the professionals who deal most with what you are looking for.

BooBoo Recommends: Pet Insurance for You. There is lots of good information on what to look for and several insurance
companies listed.

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!

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!

UNO - regal beagle crowned Best of Show at Madison Square Gardens

Woof! The dog world is agog! Uno, a beagle, has won the coveted top prize at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show which just ended Tuesday this week at Madison Square Gardens in New York! This is the first time in the Show’s 132-year history that a beagle has won Best in Show! Arf! We are so proud!

Uno who is still a pup is no slouch when it comes to show biz but he is a true veteran when it comes to sashaying down the green carpet. With 32 Best of Breed titles under his haunches, Uno shamelessly played to the crowd and the judges.

Barking and baying at every chance, this spunky little cousin stayed true to his breed’s nature. Cute and sassy, Uno shamelessly cavorted down the green with plenty of “lets be friends” tail wagging and downright flirting with those golden-brown eyes. I must say that even I was taken in by this charming and handsome young lad!

Tuesday was the day of crowning. From the time he entered the rink, it was clear that Uno was the crowd favorite. Cheers and loud applause greeted him on arrival. He took it all in and loved it. I think he is a natural ham. You know, I almost expected the crowd to break out with the Star Spangled Banner as this most beloved American breed took top honors. Somewhere up in the sky, Snoopy is dancing a jig with Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts Gang to the chant of ”Uno, you do us proud!”