The Scoop on Poop

 I know, I know, this is not exactly a glamorous post. Nobody likes to talk about poop, unless you are my children! But recently, I got into a discussion with a friend on why it is important for doggy daycares to clean up dog waste (including urine) immediately. Contrary to popular belief, dog poop is not a natural fertilizer. Quite the opposite, it is one of the top contributors to water pollution. The EPA has deemed that dog poop can be as toxic to the environment as chemical and oil spills. Our waste water treatment systems are not designed to filter dog waste and 1 gram of dog feces is estimated to have 23 million fecal bacteria. This includes:

• Campylobacteriosis (symptoms: fever, vomiting and swollen lymphnodes.)
• Salmonellosis (symptoms: fever, shock, lethargy, dehydration and more.)
• Toxocarisis...aka.. roundworms (symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea and worms in feces.)
• Coccidia (symptoms: bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration.)
• Cysticerosis (symptoms: anemia and anorexia.)
• E-coli, Giardia and Parvo (symptoms: diarrhea and vomiting.)

These bacteria can contaminate our beaches, lakes, streams and drinking water by seeping into the soil. It is recommended that dog owners clean their own yards every 1-7 days in order to keep bacteria at bay. Our natural ecosystem can handle about 2 dogs per square mile. A daycare has WAY more dogs than that and cross contamination can occur very easily. Dogs can step in it, roll in it.... EAT it.  In fact, if fecal matter is not properly taken care of it can linger in the soil for years. Then humans can come in contact with it through gardening, walking barefoot in the yard, playing sports, ect... This kicks off a harmful cycle that can affect your human family and pets.

Let's face it, no one likes to pick up dog waste. It's gross. And in the winter, it is easy to just let your dog outside to do business while you stay warm inside. But, then it snows..and freezes... and snows again... and you can't find your dog poop. In the spring you have a big toxic wasteland. That's REALLY gross. When looking for a doggy daycare, check the cleanliness of their yard and ask about their dog waste policy. If you notice piles of dog poop everywhere or urine all over the floor, this is a big red flag for the facility. In addition, all yards should have snow shoveled on a regular basis. Lastly, all yards should have a proper drainage system installed underneath the turf. Turf SHOULD NOT just be laying directly on top of the ground without proper drainage. To read more about that, please click here.

Let's all do our part to keep ourselves, pets and environment healthy!

8 DIY Enrichment Games for the Canine Mind

As winter continues on, we all try to ward off the winter blues by taking our handful of vitamin D daily and watching endless hours of Netflix. Sometimes, we take hikes in the winter wonderland...or there is skiing...or ice climbing.  But let's face it, winter is a time of hibernation and cabin fever can take it's toll. A dog's mental health can suffer. While you can go skiing and ice climbing, a dog can't. They get bored when mental and physical exercise are not consistent. And a bored dog equals a mischievous dog. Luckily, humans are also a creative species and below I have found a bunch of DIY enrichment games for dogs. So start crafting away the winter canine blues!

What you see above is a "snuffle pad". You can purchase these or make them. The picture above is a snuffle pad from an Etsy store: FleeceBeWithYou. The price of these mats vary depending upon size and weight ($9.00- $50.00) Snuffle pads are also fairly easy to make, but can be time consuming. Just gather all your materials and hit "play" on that favorite Netflix movie as you make this. You can find the instructions here at The Wolfdog Blog. Once your snuffle pad is made, you hide little dog treats in the the rug and let your dog sniff them out.

 This one is a feeder tube and can be used on cats as well! The instructions can be found on the blog, The Dogtipper. Basically, you drill holes in a PVC pipe, seal the ends and let your dog try to get the kibble out by rolling it around (or shaking it). This kind of feeder is great for animals that like to "scarf and barf" as well.

 This toy is for blind dogs! The idea comes from the now defunct website Slim Doggy. Just make sure that you monitor your dog's play with this one so they do not swallow the jingle bell.

 This one is called a "Flirt Pole" and the instructions are found on Almost A Real Thing. A flirt pole is an excellent choice for dogs with a lot of pent up energy or a high prey drive. Basically, you swing this baby around and let your dog chase after the toy on the end. You can also run around the house dragging it behind you. Good exercise for you and the dog!

 A good ol' frozen sock for the big time chewers. Plus, you can find a use for all those socks without a pair! I found this idea on Instructables. 

I have to admit, there is something so satisfying about catapulting stuff. Here is a catapult you can make, again off of Instructables. As an extra challenge for your dog, catapult a ball up some stairs and let Fido get in some stair climbing!

 This one is great for the dog that likes "crinkly" sounds. And, it's simple to make: just wrap a water bottle up in some fabric. You can even get fancy and braid some of the fabric at the bottom to make a rope chew at the end. You can find the instructions at Ammo The Daschund. 

I think I have blogged about this one before, so it must be one of my favorites. This toy was found on the blog, Leopold's Crate and is great for dogs that like to shred things. You simply stuff a bunch of strips of fabric inside the ball. In the middle of the strips of fabric, a favorite treat is hidden.

Happy crafting everyone and may the force be with you for the remainder of the winter. Be sure to share your Netlix account information with a friend that is suffering the winter blues. 😉

4 DIY Dog Shampoo Recipes

For the month of February we are running a Winter Skin Care Special!!! Schedule your dog for a bath or groom in the month of February, and for just an additional $10 you can upgrade them to the skin care special. With this upgrade they will receive a bath in our soothing Lavender and Chamomile shampoo, a soothing paw treatment to help moisturize their feet after the all the mud and snow and spritzed with a olive oil leave in conditioner to help make their fur look extra shiny. They will also receive a stylish bandana to wear around town. This is only a "While supplies last" situation,  so make sure you don’t wait to long. 

 Dogs have sensitive skin and should only be bathed at most once a month. Over washing your dog can dry out the skin and remove too many natural oils, which will eventually cause more skin problems. One solution to over-washing your dog is to use a dry shampoo in between washings. I have included a dry shampoo recipe at the bottom of this list.

Please remember, you should never apply shampoo to your dog's face. Wash Fido's face gently with a wash cloth, not by dumping water on the head. Your four-legged family member will be forever thankful.

Last but not least, here is a link on "Winter Proofing Your Dogs Paws" which included a paw butter recipe. Your dog's paws will thank you! 🐾