Downtown Dog Austin

Take Care of Your Dog on the Fourth of July

ch — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:48:30 +0000

The 4th of July is a momentous day for a dog. This is the day (and night) when dogs all over America are freaking out while people blow off fireworks at neighborhood barbecues, and cities have spectacular displays over their downtown while dogs cower under furniture at home from the loud explosions.

Avoid taking your dog to fireworks displays.

Even if you attend a family or neighborhood picnic, its best to leave your dog at home. People may set off fireworks at these events too, and you don’t want Fido to run out into the street or off down the block.

If you must leave your doggie alone on the 4th, put them in a safe place and leave some soothing music playing.

DogFriendly.com’s Top 10 Dog-Friendly Cities in the US

ch — Mon, 17 May 2010 22:12:16 +0000

Want to find the best cities to visit with a dog for vacation? Here are DogFriendly.com’s best cities for vacationers with dogs to visit this year. DogFriendly.com (http://www.dogfriendly.com) released its 2010 list of the Top 10 dog-friendly destination cities in the United States. The rankings are based on the quality of dog-friendly accommodations, beaches, parks, transportation, attractions, stores, dining and other things to do with your dog.

1. San Diego – The best dog beaches anywhere. Boutique hotels. Many trails and parks to hike and great weather year-round for outdoor dining.

2. Portland (OR)- Enjoy the famous rose gardens and the parks. Have food and drink at the Lucky Lab. This town is dog-friendly inside and out.

3. Austin – Dine in outdoor cafes. Visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens and take a walking or carriage tour. Enjoy many off-leash parks.

4. Northern Virginia – Visit outdoor monuments in Virginia and Washington, take a cruise just for dogs and dine or go to yappy hour in dog-friendly Old Town Alexandria.

5. San Francisco – Many off-leash beaches and areas. Shop and dine in many parts of town. Ride the cable car, walk the Golden Gate.

6. Boston – Tour Boston by boat or take the subway. Follow the Freedom Trail and visit nearby historic sites. Stay at many pet-friendly hotels.

7. Orlando – Glamorous pet-friendly resorts. Boat tour, shop Winter Park or Celebration. Dine at Sam Snead’s. Attend concerts in Lake Eola Park.

8. Salt Lake City – View downtown from Ensign Peak. Ride the Temple Square Carriages and walk the downtown area. Visit an amusement park and many historical parks.

9. Charleston (SC) – Visit the beach or a number of plantations. Take a ghost tour or an eco tour.

10. New York – Great luxury hotels, famous shopping and outdoor dining. Watch a morning show, enjoy Central Park on leash and off.

Your Dog Wants to Help You Quit Smoking

ch — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:43:50 +0000

More people would attempt to quit smoking for the sake of their dog than for themselves or their own children? (Seriously?!) This from Dogster.com blog http://bit.ly/6gt826 Nearly 30% of pet owners who smoke would try to quit if they learned that secondhand smoke could harm their pets (which it does, by the way).

Enlist your dog’s help in quitting smoking. Make them your exercise partner. It will keep you busy, relieve stress, lessen depression and make you want to stay focused on getting healthy. Simple walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Your dog lives for walks! He will be the most willing partner you have to take a quick jaunt around the neighborhood.

If you smoke a pack a day, you’ll save nearly $1,500 per year if you quit. That could pay for some nice trips to the spa – for both of you.

Why Do Dogs Bark?

ch — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:42:05 +0000

From Dogster.com, some insight into dogs and their barking. We like to communicate, well so do our dogs. However, we sure don’t appreciate them vocalizing excessively. Though your dogs doesn’t know that. Consider a few reasons for your dog’s barking, and that might help you recognize why she is, and therefore quell the barking. Dogs bark for communication, of course. Here are a few reasons:

Attention-getting – “Hey! Play with me! Pay attention to me!”

Boredom – Not getting enough social stimulation and play

Frustration – Your signals are unclear

Separation distress/anxiety – How long are you leaving your dog alone?

Defensive – Trying to ward off potential conflict

Alert – Something is going on and they want to make sure you know

Can I stop my dog from barking? No. Dogs bark. You can, however, train your dog to stop excessive barking behavior if you listen to why she barks and respond appropriately with effective, positive training.

This spirited little guy took me for a 90 minute walk

ch — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 01:57:56 +0000

Christmas Plants and Decorations and Your Dog’s Holiday Safety

ch — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:49:15 +0000

Be aware of seasonal plants around your home during the holidays, a number of them are poisonous to your dog if they are eaten. Ivy, mistletoe, poinsettias, holly, and hibiscus are on that list. Also Christmas greenery including cedar, balsam, juniper, pine, and fir could be harmful to your dog. Make sure your dog can’t get to Christmas ornaments on the tree, or the gifts under it. Don’t hang ornaments with anything edible in them (i.e., chocolates) on low-hanging branches. You might want to skip the tinsel on the tree, and be extra careful with all the gift wrappings and ribbons after the presents have been opened. Dogs are curious and will find themselves all sorts of little amusements with these items.

Trailer Park Eatery – bring your dog!

ch — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:37:34 +0000

Torchy’s Tacos http://www.torchystacos.com is a regular lunch spot for me. Not only do they have the best tacos in Austin (highly recommend the Green Chili Pork and the Baja shrimp) – but they are dog friendly! There is a great outdoor eating area with picnic tables and a swing, fenced off from the street. So I can bring Dax and he can hang around and visit people, or sit on table as such:

Trailer Park Eatery

The day we were there was kind of cold, but they had a big old bonfire going in the firebowl and there were still plenty of people there enjoying Trailer Park’s food – other trailers include Holy Cacao and Man Bites Dog.

Homemade Dog Biscuit Recipe

ch — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:50:38 +0000

A recipe we got from Modern Dog Magazine.

Tender Tummy Biscuits

Great for recovering from holiday over-indulgence (or just plain old general overindulgence, for that matter). Use free-range chicken if at all possible.

Recipe:

1 cup brewed chamomile tea
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup cooked white rice
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup chicken, skinned, boiled, and chopped to 1/2-inch cubes

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Brew a cup of chamomile tea, and allow it to cool to room temperature. (It’s never a good idea to use hot liquids when mixing dough.)
3. Place the flours, rice, and parsley in a large bowl, using your hands or a wire whisk to gently mix the dry ingredients.
4. Add the cottage cheese and brewed tea to the dry ingredients, stirring with a sturdy spoon until the dough becomes pliable. Add the diced chicken cubes and stir until they are evenly mixed into the dough, taking care not to over mix.
5. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out or pat down to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Using a pizza cutter, make horizontal and vertical slices through the dough to form cube shapes. The size of the cubes will be determined by the size of your dog’s jaw.
6. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet or pan covered with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tip:Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when working with meat: 1. Always add the diced chicken to the dough last so that you don’t puree the pieces during the mixing and makeup process;
2. Don’t forget to store the finished biscuits in the refrigerator or freezer until your pet has finished them off.

ChamomileThis flower has long been celebrated for its soothing properties. It’s thought to calm upset stomachs and promote drowsiness. In fact, chamomile tea is sometimes called nighty-night tea or sleepy tea because of its sleep-inducing ability. Experts say chamomile tea can also boost the immune system and fight infections associated with colds.

Recipe from K-9 Nation Biscuit Book: Baking for Your Best Friend by Klecko.

A dog at Thanksgiving

ch — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:06:39 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Remember to keep your dog’s wellbeing in mind when preparing your home for holiday guests. Don’t let your dinner guests feed your dog food from the table. Make sure they know the rules, especially children. They might not understand the seriousness of feeding your dog table scraps. Dogs are sensitive to spicy foods. And chocolate and chewing gum can be fatal to your dog. Cooked chicken and turkey bones can splinter and hurt your dog. If you have a dog who likes to forage in the trashcan, make sure that your food scraps are securely locked away. Holidays can be disruptive for dogs, make sure your dog can escape the company and go to a safe, quiet place in the house.

Dogs are smarter than we thought

ch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:12:06 +0000

Well, that’s probably not news to dog owners and dog lovers. We’ve always suspected that dogs know the scoop (so to speak) and just because they can’t talk, doesn’t mean that they’re not savvy to what’s going on. This New York Times piece points out that dogs can help their owners with all sorts of medical conditions, with alarmingly prescient accuracy. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/01/weekinreview/01kershaw.html

Dogs can assist people with epilepsy, phobias, hypoglycemia, and panic attacks. Dogs are deeply sensitive to their humans.