Kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection in dogs akin to bronchitis in humans.   Recently, it has been officially titled tracheobronchitis. While this disease can be caused by various bacteria or viruses one of it’s most common agents is the bacteria bordetella.

Bordetella is highly contagious.  It can be transfered via infected individuals, or through infected surfaces.  Due to this, it can quickly and easily spread throughout kennels.  Dogs often contract this disease after spending time in  public places like dog parks, boarding, or the groomer’s.  When adopting a dog, be aware that the kennel situation may be conducive to kennel cough.  Be sure to isolate the new dog from the old ones for about a week to prevent a whole household of bordetella if there is a reasonable chance.  A dog that has been there for several weeks would already have been exposed and treated but a dog at the shelter for less than a week may have contracted the disease but is not showing any symptoms.

Symptoms of Kennel cough

After exposure it may take up to a week to show any symptoms.

The most obvious symptom in dogs with kennel cough is the honking cough.  It’s pretty surprising to first hear a dog  have a coughing fit.  It sounds like a duck? A donkey?  Usually it isn’t just one cough but fit that can last nearly a minute.

Dogs may exhibit other symptoms but those are usually secondary in obviousness to the cough.

When checking if that cough is just a tickle or if it is a sign of tracheobronchitis, take two fingers and rub the sides of the dog’s wind pipe.   Usually, in kennel cough cases, this action irritates the throat and induces a coughing fit.  In combination with a history of contact with the dog public, the induced cough is enough to almost guarantee a diagnosis.

Treatment of Kennel cough

First off, prevention is always better than treatment.  If you are planning to bring doggy out and about to grooming, parks, boarding, a dog party, or anywhere they may have contact with other dogs it is prudent to opt for the kennel cough vaccine.  The kennel cough shot is a yearly shot that can be given to help lessen the chances of your dog contracting kennel cough.

After noticing symptoms of kennel cough, doggy should be taken to the vet.  Sometimes dogs need antibiotics to help fight off bordetella.  While this disease can be self limiting and naturally recovered from, it is always better to check with a vet.

As a courtesy to others, if you believe your dog has bordetella or kennel cough please live him at home and wash your hands before handling anyone else’s dog!

Technorati Tags: bordetella, dog infections, kennel cough, tracheobronchitis, vaccines

Hair is amazing at picking up oil.  It isn’t any skin off of our backs to donate our waste clippings.  It was probably going to go into the trash anyway!   This is the coolest recycle/reuse idea.  The organization is also accepting human hair, wool, and nylons which they use to make mats and buoys.  Almost any natural fiber including horse hair, feathers, or other livestock hairs can be donated too.

How to donate

To begin, visit matteroftrust.org and sign up at excessaccess.org.  By signing up they can send you the address of where your donation is most needed depending on where that oil slick is heading.

If you want to donate please send in relatively clean fur.  It can’t hold much oil if it’s already a greasy, nasty mess already right!   Set up a box lined with a plastic bag to hold clippings.  Any type of hair or fur clipping can be added to the box but Matter of Trust asks that nothing foreign (trash, glass, paper etc) be added to the box.  After it is full, tie up the bag and mail it to the given address.  Be sure to mark the contents of the box.

If you would like to donate nylons, wash them and send them separately.

To get the most bag from your buck, try to hook up with some friends who also have hair or fur to donate.  That way one huge donation can be sent instead of many little ones which is more efficient for processing.  It’ll save you on shipping too.

P.S. Matter of Trust asks that you only send “head” hair if you know what I mean

Technorati Tags: donate fur, matter of trust, oil spill

The modern lifestyle: fast paced, convenient, stressful, busy.  As our own lives evolve the lives of our dogs change too.  More and more of our families are what we term “modern”.  The stereotypical traditional family is becoming harder and harder to find.  The amount of free time we spend at home is dwindling and the amount of time our dogs spend alone is growing.

With the advent of the modern family our relationship with our dogs is being redefined.  A whole list of new problems is coming to light.  For instance, if everyone is working all day then who will take the dogs out for a lunch time bathroom break?  What legal implications does owning dogs bring?   Where will our dogs spend the majority of their time?   Do we really have to go for a walk?

Our dogs’ role in our families is also changing.  More often than not dogs are viewed as members of the family.  They are not as functional and more ornamental.  They provide us with much needed affection and comfort rather than practical work like herding or guarding.   In popular culture, dogs have been given the status of surrogate children or even accessories.  With this elevated status, what we are willing to give our dogs and the way we allow them to live create new issues that need to be thought over.

This new way of living is really conducive to behavioral problems with dogs.   Dogs left to their own devices can be a disaster waiting to happen.  This combined with our belief that dogs should be allowed in the house as part of the family can be awful.   Bored, under exercised, and unsupervised dogs are household menaces.

If this is the case and there is little chance of going back to a one income family, slow paced, non dog-centric lifestyles we as owners have to work out new ways to easily allow us to coexist with our beloved pets.  In my own meandering way, Holistic for dogs is a site dedicated to not only the improved health and well being of dogs but to the new modern dog lifestyle.  In my own life, I have limited time and resources to dedicate to my dogs and I’ve had to work tirelessly to conquer one problem after another, whether it’s those crappy puppy pads, crazy dogs, or their poor health.  I also hope that I can share all of this with others who may be facing similar problems.

I just wanted to point out that we now have a little amazon store.  If you kindly look up in the top bar you will notice shopping for dogs!  Unfortunately, due to this and that technical doodad we are having trouble placing our store directly in the frame.  If you “click here” the store will open in another window where you can browse.

I don’t know about you guys, but I have only recently discovered amazon and it has changed my life.  Not only do I love bulk purchasing, but many online products are significantly cheaper than their in-store counter parts.  And not to mention I don’t have to make a trip to three different stores to get what I need.

In the store, we’ve given a good deal of thought as to what products we want to support as well as finding the best deals.  Shipping to Hawaii is monstrous, so I’ve tried to include as many items with minimal to no shipping costs to benefit everyone.  I’ve also chosen products that I personally have bought or will buy.

So take a look!  Hopefully there is something you like!

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While the most common cause of diarrhea in dogs is dietary changes, diarrhea can also be caused by bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections.

Bacterial causes

Like humans, dogs can suffer from food poisoning.  Eating food contaminated with bacteria like e. coli or salmonella can lead to dangerous diarrhea.  Often doggy food poisoning causes diarrhea, fever, vomiting, lethargy.

During an acute attack of bacterial diarrhea, if the dog is acting severely ill it is important to take them to the vet for antibiotics.  Just like children, mild diarrhea is often easily treated at home with some pedialyte and rest but if diarrhea is uncontrolled, persistent and worrying it is time to go to emergency.

Mild diarrhea can be at home similarly to diarrhea caused by dietary change.  Withhold normal feedings and offer small amounts of bland foods like cottage cheese or rice and chicken.  Provide plenty of water and opportunities to go the restroom.  Diarrhea is an attempt of the body to purge the offending substances in the gut.  Unless it is extreme, it is preferable to allow the body to do its thing and empty out.

Worms!

A common cause of bloody diarrhea is a worm infestation.  Hookworms, whip worms and other parasites can cause bloody diarrhea.  In incredibly bad cases, worm bits may even be observed in the feces.  While there are specific differences between worm lifestyle and certain symptoms, bloody diarrhea is common between all.  Worms can be diagnosed by fecal test and will require worming medication and a thorough cleaning of the home.

Many worms that infest dogs can be transmitted to humans.  If one really wanted to lose weight, I suppose one could wait until he or she hits their weight goal before getting wormed themselves!  However, that is somewhat distasteful.  Worms can be easily acquired by eating infected animals (birds, lizards, rats), ingesting tainted dirt, swallowing fleas, poop eating.  Accidentally coming into contact with the infected feces of our dogs and transferring that to our mouths leaves owners vulnerable to infection.  Exposure to worms may happen as simply as petting our dogs then eating something with our fingers.

Worming may take several treatments to remove a bad case.  After the initial worming, it is important to clean up the house.  Wash all of the dog’s dishes; mop all of the floors; wash the dogs themselves.  Try to remove all of the old offending poops from the yard.  After the worming, make sure all the worms are gone by having a vet rechecking a fecal test.

Worms are not uncommon and shouldn’t be looked upon as being caused by poor care.  They are easily transmitted between animals and could be picked up while on a daily walk.  It is important to do regular fecal tests during vet check ups to rid our dogs of worms if they happen to have acquired them.

Viral Diarrhea

Viral diarrhea is probably the most dangerous cause of diarrhea in dogs.  Diarrhea is a prominent symptom of dangerous diseases like parvo and distemper.  Both of these diseases are part of the recommended vaccinations for puppies meaning they are better avoided than treated.  Puppies that have not completed their recommended series of vaccinations are most at risk for contracting these diseases.

These viral diseases are serious and present with severe diarrhea and vomiting.  Puppies can quickly succumb to these disease.  Both diseases are highly contagious and if suspected the dog will only be seen in the isolation ward of the vet.  Parvo has been known to devastate whole litters or kennels of puppies in a matter of days to weeks.

If parvo or distemper are suspected call the vet immediately.  Any case of severe vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, especially those with spotty vaccination records or puppies too young to have their full immunity, will be treated as though they have the disease until it is decided otherwise.  Infected dogs will mostly be provided with supportive care and antibiotics to prevent secondary infection.  It will be up to puppy to pull through!

Technorati Tags: diarrhea, distemper, food poisoning, parvo, viral infections, worms

Dogs just like humans suffer from various stomach ills.  Common amongst us is diarrhea.   Diarrhea is usually a symptom of an underlying problem with the dogs’ health or lifestyle.  It may be caused by diet, infection or infestation, or a more uncommon disease.

Diarrhea presents itself as a change in bowel movement frequency, firmness, and amount.  Bowel movements may become watery and change colors.  Owners may also see mucus or blood in stools.  When blood is digested it may appear as black and tarry.  If blood is observed, it may be a sign of infection that needs to be treated by a vet.

A common concern for dogs suffering from diarrhea is dehydration.  Because they are losing larger volumes of water through their back ends, it is important to offer plenty of water to offset the loss.

In severe cases of diarrhea, veterinary care may be needed.  Dogs that become severely dehydrated may need intravenous fluids and other supportive care.   Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, doggy may need to be wormed or given antibiotics.  During times when diarrhea is uncontrollable and is accompanied by vomiting, blood, apparent or severe pain, lethargy noticeable weight loss, or dehydration bring the dog to the vet.

So why is my dog suffering from diarrhea?  The most common answer is that the dog has eaten something that didn’t agree with him.

Abrupt Dietary Changes

Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by simple dietary changes.  Switching from one kibble to another or feeding them unusual foods from our own plates can cause bouts of diarrhea.  While unpleasant and stinky, there is little cause for concern if this is the case.  The dog’s stomach just needs some time to become accustomed to new foods.  Switching from dry foods to wet or a raw dog food diet can be particularly challenging and it may take a while for the dog to have firm bowel movements.

To prevent diarrhea due to dietary changes, always change over to a new diet gradually.  Begin by mixing the old food and new food substituting a little more of the new food to doggy’s diet every day until only the new food is being fed.  This is particularly important for rich canned dog foods.  Often dogs are also exposed to interesting foods from the trash can unwittingly.  It is important to keep all “non-dog foods” out of reach and keep trash covered.

When switching to a home cooked diet, I had a real diarrhea problem.   Not only was the canned food and cooked food too watery but I also faced food intolerance problems.  To avoid my mistakes begin by feeding only one new food to the dogs at a time.  Beginning with a simple combination, substitute the fresh meat and rice or potatoes for the dogs old food.  Watch for any adverse reactions to these new foods and do not feed anything too rich or fatty.  If there are no reactions then it is safe to begin testing other new foods to add to their daily meal.  Wait roughly a week between adding new foods or risk not only stomach aches but itching and barfing!  If there is a reaction to one of the foods in the new diet test them by removing one and looking for an increase or decrease in reaction.  Most fruits and veggies usually do not cause diarrhea.

If it is too late to prevent diarrhea, a short 12 hour fast may help to ease it.  This time allows the stomach to settle as well as reduce the amount of waste that can come out.  After fasting, it is recommended to feed a bland diet of  50/50 boiled low fat protein and rice or potatoes.  Plain yogurt in small amounts can also aid a sore stomach.   If an owner is struggling to get everything to firm up, the last at home trick is  to add a few spoonfuls of plain mashed pumpkin to dinner.  This is readily available at the grocery store in the canned food isle.

Technorati Tags: diarrhea, diet

In many ways it is ironic that the majority of people feed their dogs commercial dog food and believe it is the healthiest option when as a society processed human foods are seen as akin to slow suicide.   I’ve heard frequently “Oh I don’t feed my dog human food.  That’s so bad!”  and I think to myself that most kibble is like eating ramen noodles every night for one’s whole life.  It has everything you need right?  Protein sauce base, a little bit of green onion for veggies and of course the starchy noodles!  Except, of course, there’s nothing fresh in them!  It’s all baked and processed to who knows what extent.

It isn’t a stretch to assume that most people would prefer to eat fresh foods and so would the family dog.

However, as many people don’t have the knowledge or desire to cook for their dogs it is important to be able to do a dog food comparison when deciding between brands.

First off, if the first ingredient on the bag reads “corn” or any variation of that including maize or anything throw it all out.  The corn that is contained in commercial animal foods is feed corn which is not the same as the sweet corn that comes in green giant cans.  It’s the same stuff that they make high fructose corn syrup out of.  It is inedible unless processed.  Corn simply isn’t a natural food for dogs.  Obviously they don’t have thumbs so it isn’t a food they have access to.  And just as with humans, corn isn’t easily digested by dogs.  (You know what I mean!)  It is a convenient filler that provides cheap bulk.

Remember to do all of your research!

When comparing dog foods, the next place to look is whether or not the first ingredient is meat. If the first ingredient is chicken, beef, fish, or bison then it’s reasonable to say that you are looking at a fairly good brand.  If it says “fish meal” or “chicken meal” or a anything like that, it is most likely byproduct.   At least 2 out of the first five ingredients should be an identifiable meat product in quality commercial dog food.

Personally, I prefer to only buy completely grain free dog foods when supplementing my dog’s home cooked meals.  Most grain free foods are advertised as such.  I choose this route because I believe that dogs are not supposed to eat all that much grain and because it may cause allergy flair-ups in my dogs.  Grains are a common allergy culprit.  Many grain free brands offer a type of potato in lieu of rice or wheat.

I do choose to supplement my dog’s diet with some soft food.  The variety of foods in a can are more than I can easily manage in a regular meal.  I would end up cooking enough food for ten dogs if I added all of the ingredients present in some of the higher end foods.  If there are no reasons not to supplement with high quality commercial food then I recommend doing it.  It is a huge commitment to cook every night for the animals and some nights owners might be too tired to cook for whatever reasons.  Kibble is also more calorie dense than home cooked food and if the dog is having trouble keeping on weight then offering some kibble could shore up the diet.

Keep in mind that there are hundreds of millions of dollars being poured in the research and development of these dog foods.  Quality foods represent a lot of careful thought and decision.  But in the end, they are all businesses and are looking after their bottom line.  Expect to pay more for quality dog food when comparing.  Because if you weren’t willing to pay for quality, then know that the company wasn’t either.  Always remember that you must do your research.

Technorati Tags: commercial dog food, dog food comparison

Anyone who has had a pet subject to a flea attack can imagine just how horrible it can be.  Anyone who lets their dog in and out of the house knows how horrible it can be.  Fleas and pets are not synonymous.  Having a pet does not have to mean a constant battle with fleas and the accompanying itchy bites that fleas inflict.

Here is a little bit about the flea.  There are several different species of fleas that can infest our homes.  Dog fleas, cat fleas?  Who cares they all are out for blood!  But common to all fleas is their life cycle.  They begin life like many other insects as eggs that morph into larva, then pupa, then finally into adult fleas.  That unfortunately means that the visible fleas are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a flea infestation.

Unlike in ages past where fleas were known to pass around plague, they are not as likely to be deadly disease vectors but they still can give dogs tape worms or anemia.  Dogs get tapeworms from ingesting fleas that are harboring the tapeworm eggs.  And as for anemia, with enough of them the little vampires can literally suck a small animal dry.

During an infestation, removing the adult fleas is only a bandaid on the issue but it is still important to remove the adult fleas from pets.  Adult fleas can lay multitudes of eggs that will cause a population explosion in a few days.  But more pressing is removing the adults because that’s the stage that’s biting everyone including us humans.  Even one flea can result in a dog scratching itself raw all over.  Begin by washing all pets with a flea killing soap.    But know that this is only a quick fix to reduce the discomfort.

How to conquer the acute flea menace

When removing fleas from a home, keep in mind that removal should be performed as simultaneously as possible.  The fleas will keep coming back if they are only neutralized on the dogs or in the carpet.  They will continue to appear after hatching or to be tracked in from the yard.

1. Vacuum all carpets.

Vacuum every nook and cranny including corners, stairs, under furniture, anywhere the animals frequent.  A hepa filter vacuum is particularly efficient at vacuuming up not only eggs but larva and pupa.

2. Do the Laundry

It is important to wash all bedding, whether one’s own or the dogs.  A dryer is a sure way to destroy larva.  Wash all laundry that could hold fleas.  Wash all plush dog toys.

3. Insecticide.

Buy a flea spray or powder that can be placed around the property.  Follow the directions on the bottle and include outside areas like the dog house, perimeter of the house, any gravelly areas or any areas where the dogs frequent.  Depending on the circumstances a flea bomb may be an ideal way to remove fleas inside of the home if it is simply unbearable.

4.  Visit a local vet to see what types of flea control they have available for pets.

There are many products that can be given to pets that control fleas.  Topical products are applied between the shoulder blades and help to kill fleas on the animal.  Other products can be given orally that do not kill adult fleas but make them sterile effectively destroying the flea cycle.  I use a combination product that stops fleas from reproducing while also providing protection against heart worms.

5.  Work in tandem with other neighborhood pet owners to conquer fleas.

If there are animals that roam about the neighborhood they can be flea reservoirs.   Outdoor cats with fleas can easily continue to kindly drop them off in the yard.  One delinquent pet owner can provide a flea reserve that allows for fleas to maintain a foot hold in the neighborhood.  All animals allowed on the property should be flea free.

Once the immediate flea infestation has passed keep in mind that there may be remaining pupa or eggs that have continued to develop.  Remain vigilant and continue to vacuum daily and search for fleas on the animals.  If infestation reoccurs then repeat the steps above.  Using a small amount of garlic in the dog’s food may also help reduce fleas (see the article on garlic).

Even outdoor pets should not by necessity be flea bitten.  My outdoor cat has no fleas which I still find amazing.  I strongly recommend using a product provided by a vet that leaves fleas sterile because even if the dogs bring a few fleas home they will not be able to leave behind viable eggs for a second generation.

Technorati Tags: fleas, pest control

Small dogs are notoriously difficult to housebreak compared to larger dogs.  Puppies and small dogs have smaller bladders than big dogs and can’t hold it as long.  While some dogs go only 3 times a day, I can’t imagine that it is good for the dogs’ urinary track/kidney health or the carpet.  I strongly recommend teaching dogs to use the toilet out doors rather than on puppy pads unless there are compelling reasons not to.  The grass would be the best solution but if not grass,  some type of doggy toilet would then be needed if an owner works a full day and can’t take the dog out to the bathroom.

I will admit that I used puppy pads for my dogs as puppies and also still use them when I know I will be gone all day.  Puppy pads are basically baby diapers.  They hold poop and pee and are not biodegradable just like diapers.  Not good for the environment at all!  Even if there were biodegradable puppy pads, they wouldn’t degrade in the landfill where they would end up.  Just like diapers, there is a large market for various products that provide convenient toilet options, while also being good for the environment.

Washable puppy pads

Similar to cloth diapers, dogs with toilet needs could be taught to use washable, cloth, puppy pads.  These are also called or considered whelping pads.  Usually they consist of a top cloth, an absorbent layer and a leakproof plastic layer.   Washable pads are less expensive than a box of puppy pads and can easily be washed instead of thrown away.  I’m sure many people will wonder if these are any more eco-friendly than disposable (just like the cloth v. disposable diaper debate) but this is a viable option for those with landfill guilt.

I bet my dog would want to sleep on it though.

If you are interested in washable puppy pads check out our store here!

Commercial dog toilets

I bought a Ugodog for my dogs a while ago but to be honest, I could never convince my dogs to use it.  The Ugodog is a plastic tray covered by grating that allows for clean dog feet and collection of urine in the tray below.  I wish I had known about this product when my dogs were small as retraining now is more time consuming than I care for.  I would recommend this product to anyone who has a new puppy as it contains nasties and can be used with or without paper in the tray.   It is also large enough that a larger dog/puppy could use it if needed.

There are also numerous dog toilets sold online and on tv that have artificial grass.

The only downside to these products in my opinion is that in terms of cleaning, they are no more pleasant that picking up used puppy pads.  Some of them have trays that need to be emptied (possible spillage?)  or have actual puppy pads/newspaper in them!  In some of the deeper boxes, maybe cat litter (non-clumping/not clay)  could be more convenient to remove dog messes.

Litter box train your dog

For some reason Emmala always wants to EAT litter not poop in it so I don’t feel like this is a viable option for my pups.  Eating clumping litter is a real danger to a dog so don’t use it if you are going to litter box train your dog.  Of all of the above options this is my favorite.

There are several biodegradable litters that could be used for a dog.  Feline pine is made of.. pine.  Clumping litters could cause obstructions so I wouldn’t recommend them.  There are also actual litters designed for dogs available for purchase along with specially designed dog trays.

My ultimate goal was always to litter train my dogs and buy a cat genie!!!!  But alas..

Always observe the dog carefully if using litter as it may be considered tasty not appealing for pooping.

Actual toilets

The human toilet may be an option for the novelty dog trainer.  Just like cats a few special dogs have managed to learn to go in the human toilet.  I don’t know if they flush too but it’s a start!

For those who are the most handy, or dedicated to dog toilet.  You could actually make and install a urinal type dog toilet or buy a “pet potty”.  As I can’t brandish my drill and hammer with any skill, I don’t have a dog toilet.  :(  It would be really cool though!

Technorati Tags: dog litterbox, dog toilets, holistic puppy pads, housebreaking, puppy pads, ugodog

It isn’t something that many people mention to their friends but many people inadvertently allow their house to go to the dogs.   Because of our busy lifestyles, training and maintenance of dogs can become a burden.  Whether it’s housebreaking problems or simply puppy mischief, dogs can ruin a person’s life and they can ruin relationships and peaceful households.

Most people have no idea what I’m talking about right?  Wrong!  With the popularity of inside dogs and dog children, many people don’t know how to control the dog situation in their homes.

While dogs range in their levels of innate naughtiness, it is always the owner’s job to rein it in and make living together possible.  Moms really shouldn’t expect the kids to do (any of) the cleaning.  Face it when we were eight, we all said we’d take care of the puppy but did you really mean it?

The best way to keep the house livable for humans is to confine the dogs and limit the areas they have access to when home alone.

Housebreaking

Dogs pooping and peeing in the house is a huge problem.  If dogs are completely confined to the house for 10 hours, how can it be expected to hold it?  And when the dog finally gives up and goes, that spot becomes the designated ok to poop in spot.  And there the battle is lost.  Doggy will think of that spot as a good spot to go in until he is corrected.

The easiest way to prevent doggy from deciding to hell with housebreaking is to come home early and take doggy out at lunch.  As most people, myself included, can’t do this it becomes a real challenge to completely housebreak a dog when leading a busy lifestyle with no accessible yard.  In my life, being busy often leads to inconsistency, which leads to problems with my dogs which then leads to everyone hating me.

If puppy needs to be left unattended for an extended period of time, he should be confined to an appropriate area with access to water, shade, and a bathroom.  Appropriate areas may include an outdoor dog run, a securely enclosed yard, the kitchen (if you’re willing to clean), a patio, a dog pen or anywhere that is easy to clean, safe, and ok to get dirty.   A puppy pad or toilet can help to confine mess that makes life unbearable but frankly those get old.

When the humans come home, dogs can come out and play but when they are unsupervised they need to be in an area that is puppy proof and easily cleaned.  The dogs will be safe and for our sake only allowed to destroy their own space.

100% of poop being made outside is of course the ideal but if that isn’t looking possible right now, the easiest thing to do is to quarantine it.

Naughty dogs

As I’ve written before, Eppie is a naughty and curious dog.  And while I am endeared to her because of that, it also creates a lot of messes.  She likes to open things and spread things everywhere!  My dog are allowed free reign down stairs and I always move everything that I do not want destroyed or eaten at least five feet off the ground.

Ideally, when a naughty dog is left alone it should be confined to a sparsely furnished room with easy to clean floors. In my home, grout is my worst enemy as is the carpet!  Leave only dog items in the room that are allowed to be chewed, scratched, or otherwise maimed.  Let me be the first to tell you that leaving cardboard, a crocheted blanket, human food, or anything else fun in the room will most likely result in a tornado.  Don’t leave the dog in the garage if the garage is the designated storage area!

I suppose after all of that my message is that some people have problems living with their dogs.  The true goal of co-habitating is to set your dog up for success by limiting their ability to wreck the whole house.  Remove all valuables and food from reach and make a designated pet potty if needed.  It isn’t the dog’s fault that there was so much to be played with!

Technorati Tags: bad dogs, confinement, dog lifestyle, dog messes, dog training, housebreaking