This time of year we rarely think about what the salt and dry conditions can do to our dog’s paws. They can become chapped and even get infected if not cared for properly. Thankfully there are a few simple and easy ways to protect your dog’s paws.

Dog Boots

Dog boots are a great way to protect your pet’s paws and there are many different options depending on yourneeds. We’ll go through a few of them now, but for a more in-depth discussion come visit us at the store.

Protex PawZ – Our first option are these rubber booties that provide protection from snow and salt, but are thin enough that your pet can still feel the ground through them. This usually makes your pet more willing to accept them. They are designed to be disposable, but as Rebecca will tell you, they easily last several months of continued use.

Pugz – These boots are for the fashion conscious canine, mimicking the popular Ugg boots for people. They feature a rubber sole, faux suede outer covering with fleece lining and accents. Pugz provide more protection than the rubber booties, and cover more of the foot, keeping it warmer.

Ruffwear – Ruffwear boots are the hiking, snowmobiling, and rock climbing boots of the dog world. They’re designed for extreme conditions and to keep your pet comfortable and safe during tough jobs or rough terrain. All these boots feature vibram soles, a high quality sole material used in human sporting shoes as well.

Paw Wax
Musher’s Secret, originally developed for sled dogs, is a clear wax that creates a protective layer to shield your dog’s pads from the snow or ice.  This is a great option for dogs who simply can’t get used to dog boots.

Paw Balm
Paw balm works just like lip balm for humans, but is made lick-safe for your pet. They are relatively inexpensive, and last quite a long time. Simply apply a thin layer of paw balm as needed to soothe your pet’s paw pads. But be sure to wipe your pet’s paws down with a wet cloth or baby wipe before applying the balm to remove any salt residue that may still be present.

Paw Soaks
For pups who’s paws have already had some damage from winter conditions, a paw soak can help rehydrate their paw pads to speed the healing process. We carry the SPA Bubble Bath Paw Treatment, which is a high quality and simple to use soak. Simply add some of the Bubble Bath to some lukewarm water (dogs are more sensitive to temperature that we are and with chapped paws hot water would be painful), and let them soaked for 5 minutes. To increase the benefits, give your dog a gentle paw massage after they’ve been soaking for a couple minutes. This easy treatment done several times a week will have your dog’s paws feeling great in no time.

If you weren’t able to make the seminar we will give you an overview of what we discussed, and are more than happy to discuss these ideas with you further in the store.

Biologically Appropriate Diets for Dogs & Cats

The theory behind these diets has to do with the ancestral heritage of dogs and cats. Dogs are descended from wolves and, despite the extreme visual difference between them for some breeds, they are are almost genetically identical. Cats are descended from African Wildcats (also known as Desert Cats), and again are nearly genetically the same. Due to these genetic similarities, logic follows that a diet similar to their ancestors would result in a healthy happy pet.

Cats, and their wild ancestors, are object carnivores. This means that they collect the majority of their nutritional needs from meat sources. Included in that majority is most of their water intake since domesticated cats descend from desert cats that did not have the availability to drink water frequently. What this means is that the moisture content in your cat’s diet is very important to their overall health. Wet foods can be one option to increase your cat’s water intake, but there are other options such as freeze dried/ dehydrated foods (that you rehydrate), or raw foods.

Dogs, in contrast, are carnivores. They collect the majority of their nutritional needs from meat sources, with the remainder coming from fruits and vegetables. Wolves have this same nutritional need, and mainly get their non-meat needs met from either the stomach contents of prey animals, or from occasional foraging for plants or berries. What this means for your dog’s diet is that regardless of the type of food you feed, a high content of quality protein is important for the overall health of your dog. This also shows that ingredients such as grains should be kept to a minim as part of a dog’s diet since they have a low nutritional value, and are not necessary to a balanced diet for most dogs.

Relatable articles with simple solutions to common problems.
Many of us have dealt with a dog with some anxiety issues, whether major or minor. In their article “Be Brave“, WDJ offers simple exercises using basic training behaviors to help desensitize a dog to scary stimuli.

Practical information written in an easy to understand format with lots of visual aides.
In their August 2011 issue, WDJ published “A Dictionary of Canine Body Parts“, that included both detailed descriptions of body positioning and photos of these behaviors.

Articles are written by industry experts as archival information.
This isn’t a disposable magazine! All articles are written to be kept as long term reference materials on many different subjects. Dr. Randy Kidd’s article “Understanding Canine Allergies” from August of 2004 still has incredible value to anyone wanting to learn more about why and how allergies happen, as well as effective treatments.

WDJ is free of advertising or sponsors allowing for unbiased opinions and advice.
Unlike other magazines in its genre, WDJ does not receive any money from advertisers or sponsors. This allows the expert writing staff to expression their opinions freely and give you unbiased advice about which products preform best. One excellent example of this is WDJ’s yearly review of both wet and dry dog foods.

If you’re interested in picking up a copy of The Whole Dog Journal, stop on in. We have the current month’s issue available on hand!

Dogs, like many people, are creatures of habit and a consistent routine helps keep them happy and balanced. Sudden changes in that routine can be very upsetting to a dog, and result in unintended behavioral problems. But with appropriate transitioning, exercise, and mentally engaging activities you can help your dog adjust easily to your new schedule.

Here are some of our top tips to keeping those back to school blues at bay:

1. Start getting your dog used to your absence in small intervals.
If the whole family is going to be gone for several hours in the day, and all summer your dog has had someone home with him, this is a big change. Start by taking the whole family out of the house for an hour or two, and slowly build up the time until your dog reacts to your absence as normal. This will leave your dog confident that you all will eventually return and avoid negative coping responses such as inappropriate chewing.

2. Keep your dog tired.
Making sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise can be tough when more of your day is booking up, but keeping your dog’s energy level low through regular exercise will keep you both happier. If you know you won’t be able to meet your dog’s exercise needs during your work week, consider options like dog walkers or doggy daycare.

West Paw Tux, Dura Doggie Nebo, and Premier Busy Buddy treat dispensing toys

3. A busy mind won’t be destructive.
Keep your dog mentally engaged with toys that make him or her think. Treat dispensing toys (which can also be used to feed meals), give your dog a mental workout as he or she figures out how to get those delicious edibles out of all sorts of interesting contraptions. There are options for dogs who do better kenneled during the day, and those that get free roam of the house. Pictured here are just a few of the treat dispensing toys we have available at the store. Come on in and talk to us about how we can help you keep your dog’s mind busy while you’re away.

Since I joined the Katzenbarkers family, Zeke has had the ability to try, and be picky about, a lot more foods. I was sure that at least one of the wonderful foods we offer would get Zeke excited about food. What I didn’t expect was to get a dog so excited about his meals that my “velcro dog” would completely ignore me in favor of  staring at the bowl, with its contents soaking, on the counter! For that, I have Sojos and Honest Kitchen to thank.

After trying out several kibbles that Zeke quickly lost interest in, I decided to give the new dehydrated foods a try.  These foods, made by Sojos and Honest Kitchen, use dehydrated meat, fruit and vegetables to create a healthy balanced meal for your dog. Many of these ingredients are human grade and can be visibly identified in the dog bowl. To prepare a meal you simply add water and let the contents re-hydrate. Sojos calls for their food to re-hydrate for at least one hour, but preferably overnight in the fridge, while Honest Kitchen requests warm water and only needs 5 to 10 minutes to soak.

The varieties I first tried out with Zeke were Honest Kitchen’s Keen and Sojos Complete Turkey formula. I took photos of each of these foods dry and after soaking the recommended amount of time to show the consistency of each food. While the Sojos looked much more like food you and I would eat, Zeke seemed a bit more enthusiastic about the Honest Kitchen despite it’s oatmeal-like texture. Even with that difference my little picky eater wolfed down each bowl within 5 minutes of receiving them!

My picky poodle is picky no more! After Zeke’s zealous consumption of both foods, we started trying different flavors of Honest Kitchen and I am happy to report Zeke has yet to find one he doesn’t love.

Honest Kitchen's Keen sample before re-hydration

Sojo's COMPLETE Turkey formula sample before adding water

Honest Kitchen's "Keen" sample package re-hydrated with 1/2 cup of warm water and soaked for 10 minutes

Sojo's COMPLETE Turkey formula sample re-hydrated with 1/2 cup of water and soaked over night in the fridge

Zeke inhaling his Honest Kitchen “Keen”

Zeke enjoying the Sojo's COMPLETE Turkey formula. He finished his entire bowl in less than 5 minutes!

Just what are dehydrated dog foods?
Dehydrated dog foods, such as the ones available from Sojos and Honest Kitchen, contain raw meat, vegetables, and fruits that have the moisture completely removed from them through a gentle dehydration process. This process increases the shelf life of all of the ingredients without sacrificing the quality of the nutrients or the addition of chemical preservatives.

What are the benefits of dehydrated dogs foods?
Other than preserving more of the nutrients in each ingredient, the dehydration process allows you to feed your pet raw meat without the concerns of food born pathogens. While you get these nutritional benefits, there is also the peace of mind that all of the complete meals are AAFCO certified.

To learn more about what Sojos and Honest Kitchen have to offer your pet, come visit us at the store to talk with our knowledgeable staff!

• Puppy food
  Good health starts with good nutrition.
• Food and water dishes
• Training treats
  You only need a treat the size of a raisin for training.
• Treats
  Something a little bigger than a training treat is great for big accomplishments.
• Dog bed or pad
• Pet name tag
• Collar
  You may want to consider a martingale collar if you have an escape artist.
• Harness
  A harness may be easier for you to teach your puppy how to walk without pulling, and will take the pressure of the puppy’s throat.
• Leash
• Doggy pick-up bags
  Don’t forget to pick up after your pup on walks.
• Safe and appropriate chews
  Frozen raw bones will be good for the puppy’s teeth, soothing to gums when frozen, and a good way to introduce raw.
• Puppy toys
• Toy with treat spot
  Try stuffing the treat spot with a good canned dog food then freezing it. It is a longer lasting treat and soothing to your pup’s gums.
• Treat releasing toy, or more interactive toy for development
  It is important to give your puppy a challenge early on for good mental development.

You may also want to consider:

• Crate for crate training
  Crates can be a very good training tool, but make sure that your puppy’s crate is used as a safe and comfortable place and not as a place for punishment.
• Potty training pads
• Grooming wipes or puppy shampoo for accidents
• Pet stain and odor eliminator spray
  It’s better to be safe than sorry!
• A vet
  Establishing your puppy with a vet that fits your lifestyle will bring you peace of mind.
• Puppy training class
  Puppy class can be a good way to socialize your dog and can give you the tools for training after the class is over.
• Socialize! Socialize! Socialize!
  It’s very important to expose your new puppy to all walks of life: other dogs, animals and people of all ages.

Recently Alaska Naturals came out with two new salmon oil products. One has added probiotics, the digestive enzymes that help normal gut flora, like in yogurt. Probiotics help with digestion and keep the good bacteria normally found in the gut balanced. The second is salmon oil with added glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to aid in bone and joint health.

All of the Alaska Naturals items are located in our refrigerator in the back of the store.

Just as humans at times your pet can be “gassy” but there are a few things you can try to over come the frequency of your pet’s episodes. Many times the reason behind the gas is due to your pet swallowing too much air at mealtime. You can try to split up your pet’s meals into a few smaller ones, and/or you can try a special pet food bowl. We sell bowls called Brakefast. They are designed to make your pet eat slower by having them eat around these cone shaped protuberances in the bowl.

You can also try switching the protein your pet is eating. Every pet’s body chemistry is different and reacts to different proteins in a variety of ways. You can also try giving your dog prebiotics, probiotics, or digestive enzymes that help promote the growth of friendly bacteria like yogurt does. We have a couple of products with the digestive enzymes the first is called Gentle Digest by Ark Naturals. Not only does it help with gas, but is beneficial with a plethora of things. The second product we have with digestive enzymes is a treat called Fart Busters.

Finally it is good for your pet to have a lot of exercise. Not only will they be letting it out outdoors, but exercise also helps to promote digestion and gets gas to move through the system instead of building up. These are some things you can try, but please check with your vet and make sure that there is not an underlying problem with your pet.