To look for other dogs in your area check out Petfinder.com.
7/31/10
Adoptable!
To look for other dogs in your area check out Petfinder.com.
7/30/10
Doggie DIY Week: Day 5
Flirt pole! A flirt pole is basically a stick with a rope hanging from one end with something fun tied on the end. A very simple version you can make with stuff around the house uses a broomstick, rope/string, and a toy. Tie one end of the rope securely to the broomstick and the other end securely to your dog's toy. Use the broom stick to move the toy across the ground/air (preferably in a large space) and watch your dog enjoy chasing it, just make sure to let him catch it once in a while ;).
If you can spend a few dollars, try using a length of pvc pipe (or something similar), some rope and a toy. Thread the rope through the pipe and tie a knot at one end and tie a toy to the other. With this version you can control the stick part, and you can pull the rope as well making it more difficult to catch the toy.
If you can spend a few dollars, try using a length of pvc pipe (or something similar), some rope and a toy. Thread the rope through the pipe and tie a knot at one end and tie a toy to the other. With this version you can control the stick part, and you can pull the rope as well making it more difficult to catch the toy.
7/29/10
Doggie DIY Week: Day 4
Keeping cool in the summer heat can be tricky, to help your dog cool off after a walk try a frozen treat! Some dogs like to munch on plain ice cubes (Toby thinks its a special treat, don't tell him it is water), but other dogs have no interest in flavorless treats. So why not spice things up a little! I like to get a plastic cup, put a little water in it, add some kibble/treats/meats/veggies, freeze it, then do another layer. I like to do layers because all the food bits tend to sink/float to the same place so layers get the food into the middle too. Once the last layer is frozen I run warm water over the cup until the icy treat pops out. In the end Toby gets a big ice cube with layers of yummy treats that looks something like this:
To make it more enticing try making a light broth by adding a bouillon cube to a pot of warm water to use when make your treats, just make sure its not too strong so there isn't a lot of added salt in each ice treat. For smaller dogs, or for quick treats, use an old ice cube tray or for longer lasting treats use a bowl! Add anything your dog likes for a refreshing and tasty doggy popsicle!
To make it more enticing try making a light broth by adding a bouillon cube to a pot of warm water to use when make your treats, just make sure its not too strong so there isn't a lot of added salt in each ice treat. For smaller dogs, or for quick treats, use an old ice cube tray or for longer lasting treats use a bowl! Add anything your dog likes for a refreshing and tasty doggy popsicle!
7/28/10
Doggie DIY Week: Day 3
Since day one with Toby I have been trying to find new ways to keep him from inhaling his meals! I bought a ball that dispenses kibble as he rolls it around but I had to refill it four times to use it for a meal. Not wanting to spend more money on a larger version, but also wanting to be able to fill it only once, I started looking for alternatives. An idea came to me when my uncle was visiting and mentioned that his son's dog loved to play with plastic water bottles when they were empty, as he tossed the one in his hand toward Toby. Toby mouthed it a little, decided it wasn't food and picked it up to have someone throw it again. He played with it for quite a while with out damaging it, so I decided to try cutting a couple small holes in it and filling it with his food. I got out a utility knife and cut a hole slightly larger than a piece of kibble. I ran my finger along the edge of the hole, testing it for sharp spots and found none. I cut another hole and checked it for sharp edges too. Then I put a handful of kibble in, and replaced the lid. Toby eagerly took the bottle when I offered it, set it on the ground and sniffed at it. He saw and smelled the kibble inside and set about getting it out! He soon discovered that if he pushed it around with his nose, kibble popped out! He emptied it and brought it back proudly. The next one I made, I only cut one hole so that it would keep him busy longer.
If you make your own kibble bottle be sure to check it frequently for damage and sharp edges. For stronger chewers I recommend a Vitamin Water bottle or a similar, thicker bottle.
7/27/10
Doggie DIY Week: Day 2
Yesterday's project had some leftovers, two sweatshirt sleeves. To save money I have taken to buying Toby's stuffed toys at yard sales, and I have saved a lot but when I had these two sweatshirt sleeves left over I knew there had to be a way to make them into free stuffed toys. Most dogs LOVE stuffed toys, unfortunately most stuffed toys don't stand a chance against those teeth! So we doting owners buy toy after toy to keep our pups happy. I couldn't pass up this free stuffed toy opportunity. The hard part was figuring out what to stuff them with without spending money. The idea came to me while folding laundry one day! I don't know about you but I always have mismatched socks lying around. Whether the match was thrown out because of a hole or it disappeared into the abyss of the unknown, it is definitely gone for good. Rather than throw out these matchless or hole filled socks, I figured, why not use them as stuffing, that way it would be machine washable and free! So I sewed one end of the sleeve shut, stuffed it full of no-match socks, and sewed off the other end and passed it off to Toby for the test run...
He approved!
Action shot!
With the other sleeve, I think I will stuff it fuller, and maybe wait until he destroys his current squeaky toy so that I can put the squeaker in the new toy.
Action shot!With the other sleeve, I think I will stuff it fuller, and maybe wait until he destroys his current squeaky toy so that I can put the squeaker in the new toy.
7/26/10
Doggie DIY Week: Day 1
This Monday - Friday I will post a simple, money saving, eco-friendly project that you and your dog will enjoy! Try them out, and let us know how you like them!
I am starting today with a bath robe!
If you bathe your dog at home you know how difficult it can be to keep your house dry once the bath is over. Most dogs love to shake, rub, and drip water all over the house after a bath. To cut down the amount of water Toby spreads in his wild after-bath antics I made a simple bath robe out of an old sweatshirt.
At first I just put the sweatshirt on with no adjustments, but it wasn't too long before Toby was tripping all over himself in it! So first I cut off the sleeves (and saved them for another DIY project). That helped quite a bit but even my small sweatshirt was baggy around Toby's tiny waist, so I put a button on it. With a button on the side near his shoulder and a button hole on the waistband, I can slip it on easily then wrap it up and button it for a better fit. Pictures below (warning: I am by no means a tailor, my sewing is completely basic, I'm not good at it!):
Toby modeling the finished product! That face is not because of the shirt its because he has to hold still. The hood is optional, I usually turn it inside out to keep it off his eyes.
Figuring out where the button and hole should go.
Where the button and hole are (and my lovely sewing skills on the button hole!)
TIPS: When you first try something on your dog take small steps and encourage him/her to tolerate it. Once it is on the first time, praise your dog then take it off and try again later, leaving the clothing on a little longer each time, always praising! If your dog is afraid of or does not like wearing clothes do NOT make them wear it! Always supervise your dog when they are wearing clothes!
I am starting today with a bath robe!
If you bathe your dog at home you know how difficult it can be to keep your house dry once the bath is over. Most dogs love to shake, rub, and drip water all over the house after a bath. To cut down the amount of water Toby spreads in his wild after-bath antics I made a simple bath robe out of an old sweatshirt.
At first I just put the sweatshirt on with no adjustments, but it wasn't too long before Toby was tripping all over himself in it! So first I cut off the sleeves (and saved them for another DIY project). That helped quite a bit but even my small sweatshirt was baggy around Toby's tiny waist, so I put a button on it. With a button on the side near his shoulder and a button hole on the waistband, I can slip it on easily then wrap it up and button it for a better fit. Pictures below (warning: I am by no means a tailor, my sewing is completely basic, I'm not good at it!):
Toby modeling the finished product! That face is not because of the shirt its because he has to hold still. The hood is optional, I usually turn it inside out to keep it off his eyes.
Figuring out where the button and hole should go.
Where the button and hole are (and my lovely sewing skills on the button hole!)
TIPS: When you first try something on your dog take small steps and encourage him/her to tolerate it. Once it is on the first time, praise your dog then take it off and try again later, leaving the clothing on a little longer each time, always praising! If your dog is afraid of or does not like wearing clothes do NOT make them wear it! Always supervise your dog when they are wearing clothes!
7/23/10
Adoptable!
This is Kolo! Kolo is a 7/8 month old Chow Chow mix available for adoption at the Idaho Humane Society! He is trained and ready to find a home!
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