DogTails

Spring is finally here, and we are excited! At DogWatch Hidden Fences headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, we are enjoying the warmer weather, longer days and, of course, the absence of snow. Yet even if you didn’t just emerge from a long, cold, snowy winter, we still think spring is a time to celebrate. And who better to celebrate with than your dog! Our suggestions: pencil in some extra playtime in the backyard, take your dog to a nearby park or waterfront, schedule a doggie playdate, or try one of our yummy dog treat recipes, featuring fresh spring ingredients!

A Strawberry Smoothie for Spot?

A dog smoothie? Won’t that be messy? Not if you try Doggy Dessert Chef’s appealing recipe, which takes all of the irresistible and healthy goodness of this warm-weather treat and packs it into biscuit form. Strawberries are typically in season in late spring/early summer, so now is the time to try this out. Plus, bananas are another healthy, safe fruit for dogs. Pair these with a smoothie of your own, and you’ve got a relaxing treat for the both of you to enjoy!

The recipe can be found here. Cooking time is 15-20 minutes, and you’ll need a blender. (Note: these treats contains milk, so they are not suitable for lactose intolerant dogs.)

Give Peas a Chance!

Fresh peas – from English to snow to sugar snap – are also in season. Peas are healthy for dogs, providing them with a good source of the B vitamin Thiamin, phosphorous, and potassium. Plus, many dogs love them! Peas make a good treat for training because of their small size. For a more filling snack, you can try this easy-to-make “salad” recipe from CrazyCrumb-Dog-Treats, featuring peas, apples, broccoli, carrots, chicken and more. All you need to do is chop and serve – making this the perfect recipe for busy or cooking-phobic dog owners. This treat is also gluten-free, making it a great option for dogs that are allergic to wheat.

Is Your’s Dog’s Breath in Mint Condition?

Did you know mint is also in season in spring? The popular herb is also a great ingredient for dog treats, since it adds flavor while also helping freshen your dog’s often-stinky breath. We found two recipes featuring mint that we are looking forward to trying out. The simpler recipe, from the blog The Daily Bark, needs only three ingredients: fresh mint, water and unsalted crushed crackers. After mixing these ingredients together, pop them in the freezer until frozen and voila, a quick, cool snack for your pup!

The second recipe, found on eHow.com, is a bit more complex, and requires one unusual ingredient – activated charcoal. This ingredient is found at most drugstores, in tablet or powder form. Other than this unusual additive, these treats are easy to make, will last up to six weeks, and your dog will love them. Try the recipe out here, and tell us if it works!

Do you have any favorite homemade dog treat recipes? We’d love to try them out. Share them in the comments below, or via Facebook or Twitter. We wish you all good luck in the kitchen, and a happy spring to you and your dog!

Strawberry image: jcmar.net via Flickr.

Pea image: timlewisnm via Flickr.

Mint image: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr.

The tragedy of last month’s Japanese tsunami reminded us yet again that disasters can strike at any time. After all of the devastating footage, we were relieved to see any good news. This video of an owner reunited with her beloved dog affected all of us.

This story also made us think about our own pets. Is there anything we as pet owners can do to prepare for extreme weather or other unexpected events? We’ve researched this important issue, and compiled some key steps that you can take to keep your pets safe.

ID Your Pet
ID tags are always a good idea, even in everyday situations. Should your pet become separated from you, an ID tag with the pet’s name, your name and your contact information will help rescuers find you as soon as possible. If your pet has any urgent medical needs or conditions, it should also be explained on the pet’s tags.

Microchips offer a more permanent tagging solution for pet owners. These chips, implanted under the animals skin, contain registration numbers that can be obtained via a handheld scanner. Shelters and animals hospitals across the country can then contact a registry, and uncover owner contact information and pet medical information. Microchipping is increasingly popular among pet owners, and the process of inserting the chip is quick and does not even require anesthesia. If you are interested in learning more about microchips, contact your veterinarian.

Pet Alert Sticker
In addition to tagging your pet, you can also tag your home. Pet stores, as well as the ASPCA, offer Rescue Alert Stickers (like the one shown at the right) that you can place on your window to alert rescue workers to the animals in the house and the contact information for your vet. To order a sticker from the ASPCA, fill out the form found here.

Pet Emergency Kit
Another important preparedness tip is to create an pet emergency kit that you can quickly grab in the event of an evacuation or other emergency. The website Pet and Animal World has put together a detailed list of items to be included. The entire list can be found here. The ASPCA has a similar list found here. Some of the key items to include, according to these and other experts, are:

Bottled water
A week’s worth of food (canned and/or dry)
Portable food and water dishes
Travel crate or carrier, or sturdy leash for bigger pets
Litter and disposable litter boxes – aluminium roast pans will work (cats only)
Current photos of your pet(s)
Toys and blankets, to help keep the pet calm in new environments
Medical records
Extra supply of any medications

We encourage you to visit the ASCPA’s website to learn more about disaster preparedness tips, especially for those of you with birds or smaller animals (gerbils, hamsters, etc.) who want additional information about those pets. We also value your feedback on this issue. Have you been through an evacuation or other extreme situation? What steps did you take to protect your pets? Do you have any advice for your fellow pet owners? Tell us in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.

This week on Dog Tails, we want to bring to your attention a recent controversial decision concerning electronic radio collars (e-collars) for dogs and cats. These radio collars (often mistakenly referred to as ‘electric’ collars) are widely used worldwide for pet training and containment. None-the-less, all e-collars have been banned for any purpose in Wales (see map), including for use with hidden underground fences. In addition to voicing our objection to such a blanket ban, we want to alert you to the possibility of this ban spreading to England, Wales’ neighbor to the east.

What was a debate between individual dog owners about whether to use electronic collars became political when the Welsh Assembly – supported by several animal rights groups – banned the collars outright. The ban went into effect one week ago (March 24, 2010). Punishments for noncompliance include fines of up to 20,000 pounds (approximately $32,000) and six months in prison. There is now talk of introducing a similar ban in England.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), who support the ban, argue that there is “no place for shock collars in modern animal training and recommended the use of reward-based methods instead.” Opponents argue that the ban will have a negative effects on a large portion of the dog and cat populations. (There were roughly 20,000 e-collars in use in Wales prior to the ban.) They point to the animals whose lives have been saved by pet containment systems, and aggressive dogs who benefited from e-collar training and as a result, kept their homes or found new ones. In passing the ban in Wales, the legislature seems to have largely ignored the positive aspects of e-collars, the safety features and the lack of evidence that e-collars cause either pain or harm when properly used.

As a company that specializes in pet containment systems, DogWatch Hidden Fences has a clear stake in this debate. Yet in addition to being professionals, we are also pet owners and pet lovers ourselves. We believe that electronic radio collars are a valuable and effective tool to help you keep your dog or cat safe, healthy and happy for life. Our hidden fence collars are designed not to inflict pain, but rather to protect pets from potentially life-threatening injuries caused by automobiles and other dangers when they leave their yards. Hidden fences allow your pet to run and play outdoors as they were born to do. We like nothing better than to see a dog or cat enjoying the freedom of roaming free in their backyard, sniffing and digging and rolling around to their heart’s content. Banning e-collars, especially for pet containment systems, will cause more harm than good.

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We’ve had movies on the mind at DogWatch headquarters ever since the Oscars were given out last month in Los Angeles. In addition to catching up on last year’s award winners, the DogWatch Hidden Fences team have been coming up with our list of favorites. Sticking with what we know best, Dog Tails presents the results of our survey of the best dog movies. These 11 films cover a wide range, but all feature unforgettable dogs who have touched our hearts and tickled our funny bones.

The Classics

Lassie Come Home (1943) [G]

Film’s most famous dog made her movie debut in this MGM classic. This version, based on the 1940 novel, takes place in Depression-era rural England. Having fallen on hard times, the Carraclough family is forced to sell their beloved rough collie to a Duke. The family’s young son Joe (Roddy McDowall) is determined to retrieve Lassie, and enlists the help of the Duke’s young niece Priscilla (eleven year-old Elizabeth Taylor). Lassie is played by Pal, the first in a long line of canine actors to portray this loyal family pet. Lassie Come Home is an historic dog film, and one that will still delight the whole family.

101 Dalmatians (1961 and 1996) [G]

Disney has introduced numerous dog characters, but one film stands alone for the sheer number of canine cast members. This film also features the unforgettable villain Cruella De Vil, who wants to steal the titular pups to make a fur coat. Viewers can choose between the 1961 animated classic, or the 1996 live-action version, featuring Glenn Close as De Vil. Either way, you’re bound to enjoy watching these famous spotted dogs outsmart the devilish fashionista and steal your heart in the process.

Old Yeller (1957) [G]

Based on the 1956 book by Fred Gipson, this movie is a classic tear-jerker centering on a boy and his beloved Labrador retriever/mastiff mix. Parents will remember this movie from their childhood, and children seeing it for the first time will never forget it.

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