Great Sites for Dog Products
If you’re looking for virtually anything for your dog, visit our friends at the following sites. We’ve purchased quite a number of items for Daisy from each of these companies, and they’re both awesome!
Daisy Goes to Big Bear
On her initial outing of the summer, Daisy made her first trip to California. We rented a house in Big Bear, and she took to being a mountain dog right away. Here she is checking out her new digs:
favorite napping place
Here she is navigating her new surroundings. The mountains are so much fun.
These are just a few of the many beautiful scenes Daisy got to experience:
Taking Mom for a walk:
We think this one has Christmas card potential:
Hopefully, Daisy will get at least one more outing this summer to share with everyone. Check back to find out where she goes. Daisy, Mom, and Dad say so long for now.
Taking Your Dog on a Camping Trip? Don’t Go Without One of These.
- Who doesn’t want to spoil the family pet? That’s what you have one for. If you combine your ownership of Fido with a love of camping, then you really need to invest in the Coleman Hibernation Sleeping Bag for Dogs. It looks just like a normal sleeping bag, just a fraction of the size. Our beagle has one, and she absolutely loves it.
- It’s actually quite a bit nicer than I was expecting, with heavy duty zippers, a tough outer bag, and a softer interior section. Everything has been gnawed on and has held up. I like the zipper plow that refuses to catch
- material and snag the zipper. That’s a really great feature.
- ThermoLock insulation keeps your pet warm and cozy, while Coleman’s ComfortSmart technology takes care of all the details, like making sure the insulation stays in place and the zipper glides smoothly. The Hibernation bag even comes with a compression strap for dogs on the go.
- It features design elements that ensure convenient operation while preventing heat loss, Zipper Glide for easier zipping, and a water-resistant bottom, sturdy cotton, and cozy fleece.
- A few other significant features of the Hibernation bag include the Comfort Smart coil system that molds to your pet’s body, the Comfort Cuff which gives your pooch a soft place to rest his head, and a compression strap that makes the bag truly portable. Plus, the bag opens up completely, so it has the added feature of protecting your car seats and your furniture.
- Whether you’re a camper or not, or whether you live in a consistently cold climate or not, the Hibernation bag is ideal for your dog. Just make sure you select the style suited for your dog’s weight. He or she will thank you for it.
The Weary Beagle
See. I told you she lays on it.
Who’s Spoiled?
Daisy is. Who else? She's the best!! She's a beagle!!
Creature Comforts
Daisy's "other" bed
Okay, here’s the story with this handy little device. Daisy likes to lie down and look out the window (and bark at things she sees. . .or doesn’t see. . .and hears. . .or thinks she hears). We have a small ottoman which had outgrown its usefulness. We were forced to buy one that has a dual purpose — ottoman and storage container. We wanted a place to store our DVDs so that they would be out of sight. So we decided to pass on to our beloved beagle the single-purpose, less-functional ottoman and let let her recline on that.
Well, as it turns out, our DVD collection has grown significantly; too large, in fact, for the current location. We needed something to handle the overload. Lisa and I are good at milling around and wasting time on the weekends, so we happened to be at Target where we came across this lovely wicker life-saver. (Yes, it’s as large as it looks).
We couldn’t let our poor, little hound rest her weary bones on wicker, so we ambled off to PetSmart where we happened to find a pad with the exact dimensions as the basket. I knew that unless it was secured to the top, both Daisy and the pad would go flying off the first time she jumped on it. So Lisa sewed six small rings to the bottom edges of the pad, and I passed a tie strap through each hole and fastened it to the lid of the basket.
Ta-da!! Instant doggie bed/DVD container all in one. She does actually lie down on it quite a bit. I’ll get a picture to prove it. As much as she seems to like it, there’s one place that seems to suit her sleeping/resting/relaxing needs much better. And that place is. . .
You guessed it:
Mom and Dad's bed
Talk to you all again soon. Happy Easter!!
Daisy and Her Yard
Daisy says hello and Happy Easter to all her friends. Well, here she is milling around her favorite hangout. . .the back yard.
Daisy will check back with you soon. She misses all her friends. If she looks like she has a little of the wind out of her sails, that’s because she had a trip to the vet today and got two shots. Plus, she’s on medication for allergies. Poor thing. Spring around here is a bear for dogs.
Coming soon. . .Friends of Daisy. Submit a photo of you and/or your pooch, and become a lifelong Friend of Daisy. I know she’d appreciate it.
Want to Keep Your Dog From Pulling on a Walk? Try This.
Picture this. You take your best friend for a walk on a nice Saturday afternoon,
but it turns into a fiasco. He or she is excited to begin with, but when you venture
out, the dog pulls so hard, it’s actually walking on two legs instead of four.
Sound familiar? If so, you might want to give this a try.
I have a beagle who fits this exact description. We finally came across a product
that now makes walks almost enjoyable. It cut down on the pulling from the first
time we used it. It’s the Yuppie Puppy Anti-Pull harness from Orrco,
Incorporated, and it’s the best device for a number of reasons.
First, it’s the only device endorsed by the American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals. We’ve tried a number of harnesses, and this is the only
one that reduced the pulling from walk number one.
Second, it’s quick and easy to put on and off. Some harnesses require a
blueprint. Not this one.
Third, it is guaranteed to control pulling without choking. The only downside
is that there’s a buckle that rubs against the chest. You may notice that it
causes a little irritation, but it’s not a big deal.
Fourth, there are padded sherpa sleeves that fit under the legs. Most other
harnesses are unpadded and cause chafing, especially for a dog that pulls excessively.
This one provides added comfort.
Fifth, you can choose from more than one color. If this is important to you,
you can pick black or red. Not a big deal, but the option is available to you
if that’s a significant factor.
We have a beagle, you now know her as Daisy, that’s always eager for a walk. We’re still working with her
on her walking techniques, but this harness has helped from day one. I
recommend it highly.
Training Your Beagle? These Six Factors Are a Must.
Anyone who owns a beagle knows it can be extremely headstrong. But that doesn’t always have to be the case. They are an extremely loving breed. Good training is the key to a loyal, well-behaved dog, especially one so motivated by smell. Here are six things to consider when training any dog in general, but a beagle in particular:
1. Start early. From the time he or she is a puppy, training can begin. Put the dog on a feeding schedule to assure it eats at the same times each day. It’s never too early to get your dog used to strict schedules. Also, if you begin to reward good behavior early, the greater the likelihood your dog will develop fewer bad habits.
2. Begin with basic commands. Early on, even things as simple as “sit,” “stay,” and “come” are important commands to learn. Besides instilling some discipline, it establishes the pecking order and lets your dog know who’s in charge.
3. Keep the training sessions short. Even 5 to 10 minutes a couple times a day can work wonders. Anyone who’s ever owned a beagle knows they’re scent-motivated and can lose focus easily. Keep the sessions short but entertaining.
4. Never use physical punishment. Face it. We all get frustrated from time to time. But using any kind of force on your beagle (or any animal) will have the reverse effect. All it will do is instill fear in the dog, and there’s a big difference between fear and respect.
5. Use positive reinforcement. Dogs like treats, and they especially like to know they’re being rewarded for making you happy. And, being a hound, the beagle is motivated by food. The key here, though, is to not let your dog see the reward before you give a command. The dog will see it as a form of bribery and will obey only when the reward is in view.
6. Use training methods that are appropriate to beagles. Again, a beagle is a scent hound, so anything involving the nose, such as uncovering buried objects, would be very beneficial. Since beagles are bred to hunt, anything involving running and retrieving also would be quite useful.
Can beagles be difficult? Of course they can, just as other breeds can. But if you stick with these basic guidelines, you’ll find that it can be an enjoyable experience for both of you, and you’ll get a well-behaved beagle out of it at the same time.
