TOP DOG BLOG
Ah, springtime. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and your yard is a minefield of dog poop. The Poop Scoopin Boogie is real and it's waiting for you outside the back door. Yes, our furry friends bring us joy and love, but they also bring their fair share of messes. Don't worry though, I've got some ideas to help you get your yard in tip-top shape and have a few laughs along the way.
First things first, let's talk about the elephant in the room (or the poop on your lawn): cleaning up after your dog. It's not a glamorous job, but someone's gotta do it. Make sure you're equipped with plenty of poop bags and a strong stomach, lift with the legs, and go easy on your back. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you could even invest in a poop scooper or rake . This video on the Little Stinker poop rake has some quality tips and bad jokes on making your cleanup easier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG9y-zznvYE&t=9s
I'm sure we don't have to say it, but please make sure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, or you'll be the one smelling like dog poop for the rest of the day.
Next up, let's tackle those pesky urine burns in the grass. If your dog is anything like mine, they like to mark their territory in the most inconvenient places. Luckily, there are a few ways to help prevent and treat those yellow patches in your lawn. If you would like to teach your pup to go in one spot or area, check this video about the Pee Post, a weird product that might be a very good solution to protect your lawn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v_zItTAp3Q
If your grass is getting damaged you can try watering the area immediately after they go to help dilute the urine, or check out this video about Dog Rocks, another kind of strange product that works really well to protect your dad lawn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytn7rmRCe-k&t=10s.
If you already have urine burns, you can try patching the grass with a grass seed mixture specifically designed for high traffic areas. And if all else fails, you can always embrace the dead grass and turn it into a modern art installation.
Cleaning up after our furry friends can be a dirty job, but with a little humor and some helpful tips, it doesn't have to be a chore. Just remember to stay positive, take breaks when you need to, and don't be afraid to ask for help. After all, a clean yard is a happy yard (and a happy nose).
Check out all of our poop cleanup products at our online store - https://thetopdogstore.etailpet.com/products/list/?search=poop or drop by for a visit.
YOUR FAMILY HAS EXPANDED BY FOUR FEET!
Tips for Making Puppy's Adjustment to a New Home Easy as 1-2-3.
1. Let puppy REST!
Bringing home a puppy is like having a new baby in the home.
Lots of rest will help to lower puppy’s stress level (and yours!).
Give puppy time to adjust to sleeping in their kennel in your home.
Puppy needs to learn to sleep alone in their kennel – it will help to instill confidence and reduce the chance of developing separation anxiety.
Puppy’s kennel should be in an area away from other family members, so as not to be disturbed during the night.
2. Try to ensure that puppy eats regularly, and in appropriate amounts.
Small puppies will often be fussy or picky in the first few days, and need encouragement to eat.
Letting puppy forage (“hunt & peck”) for food rather than feeding in a bowl will keep puppy more interested, and will let puppy eat slower, so as not to vomit after eating too fast.
Limit treats and consumable chews in the first 7-10 days.
Puppy tummies can be sensitive, and it is better not to introduce too many new foods or treats.
3. Kennel training will help to housebreak puppy – the key is consistency!
Puppy should NOT have the “run of the house” in the first 2 weeks.
They need to earn their freedom.
If it is not possible to directly supervise puppy, they should only have access to a small area, with their pee pads, toys, water/food, and kennel.
If you are able to directly supervise puppy in the house, you can attach puppy to your waist by a leash, and then puppy goes where you go.
When you see puppy looking for a place to pee, then you can quickly scoop them up and go outside or to an appropriate area.
Feel free to use a command (such as “Go pee”) and reward puppy if they urinate correctly. Only reward behavior you want!
Again, consistency is the key in successful housetraining.
THAT WASN'T ME! IT WAS MY DOG!
Having a pet with a gas problem may sound funny, but in reality a flatulating dog or cat can easily clear a room ... and, there is a good chance you will get blamed for it.
Once, when I was single and had a date to my house, my dog broke wind then promptly left the room leaving me to try explain that the sudden, intrusive and noxious odour did not come from me! "No! it was the dog! Really! Ummmmm, I just switched him to a new food, and ummm, wait, no, no, don’t go, it was the dog, no really, you don’t understand, I have a letter from my vet, don’t leave, please….."
If you find yourself in this position, there is help. Even though gas is a normal by-product of digestion, there are ways to minimize its negative effect on your social life.
Getting your pet out for some exercise will often help to work the gas through your pet's system. A good walk or play session first thing in the morning, and around an hour after eating will give your pet (and you) a chance to download in a safe, well ventilated area. Remember to always have a scoop-it bag handy, because gas won’t be the only thing cleared out during these times.
Many people don’t realize that both dogs and cats are pretty lactose intolerant, so milk and other dairy products often cause all kinds of digestive turbulence, including gas, diarrhea, and vomiting. If your pet's diet includes dairy and they are stinky, stop for a week or so and see if things improve. Yogurt is one exception to this rule, since it contains fairly high levels of beneficial bacteria that can aid digestion and thereby reduce flatulence. Most pets like the taste and don’t have any problems digesting the lactose in yogurt.
Some pet foods contain high levels of soybeans as a source of protein, which is usually okay but can be difficult for some pets to metabolize and turn them into wind bags. Check the ingredients label on the package, if soy is one of the first three of four ingredients listed, you may want to consider changing to a premium brand of pet food like Nutrience, Science Diet, or Nutro - all of which we carry at the Top Dog Store. These foods are all easily digested and provide optimum nutrition for your pet. Changing food should be done gradually by mixing more and more of the new food with less and less of the old one.
Be prepared for some significant digestive turmoil if your pet gets into something he shouldn’t. My cat ate a whole bag of cat treats I accidentally left out and I dealt with toxic fumes and bright green diarrhea for days. If your dog gets into the trash you can expect some back-end fireworks. While you are cleaning up the garbage, check to make sure there isn’t anything poisonous your pet may have ingested. If your pet starts acting weird, get him checked out by your vet.
Over-eating can cause flatulence because there is too much food in the stomach to digest properly. Don’t let your pet eat too fast or eat too much - it's better to feed smaller amounts more frequently. You might want to try giving dogs charcoal flavoured biscuits which can help to neutralize an overly acidic stomach, or try Breath-Eze, with is a product that manufacturers guarantee will improve your dog’s odor at both ends.
If your pet is a food wolfer, then he’s probably gulping a lot of air as well. Slow his eating by scattering his food over a small area of the floor, or try putting a large object like a rock in his bowl so he has to work around it to get to his food.
Hagen Pet Products has raised dog dishes available so that your dog doesn’t have to bend down to eat off the floor. These dishes are supposed to reduce air gulping and are also good for senior dogs.