Did you know that good oral care can add about 3 to 5 years to the life expectancy of your best friend? It can…it really can.

Here are some fun facts about your dog’s teeth:

1. Puppies have 28 baby teeth and start to get their adult teeth at around 4 months. They will end up with 42 permanent teeth.

2. Dogs can and do get gum disease ~ and it hurts.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Yellow and brown build-up of tartar near the gum line, red and inflamed gums, and yes, stinky (and persistent) bad breath.

And, I’ll let you in on a little secret…the number one myth of pet oral hygiene is that eating a diet of kibble keeps the teeth clean. That is simply not factual. It would be like us thinking eating cereal keeps our teeth clean. Kibble actually leaves a coating on the teeth than needs to be removed.

You can certainly make oral care part of your dog’s grooming or vet visits; however, it is really easy to take steps at home to ensure great oral health as well.

You can use Plaque Off by Proden

and it is as simple as adding a scoop to your dog’s food.

Or, you can try brushing at home with this

The Triple Pet Finger Brush.

Then there is this Breath-less Toothpaste

It’s a chew and a brushless toothpaste.

Any one of these items would be very simple to integrate into your day and really go a long way to help with your dog’s dental health. Never fear, if these items don’t fit into your lifestyle, there are plenty more to choose from. Call or stop by one of our stores today and our helpful team members will be happy to help you find one that fits your needs.

I have 2 two-year old Bordie Collie sisters.  How do I keep them from jumping on people and on the furniture?

Help!

Christie

Dear Christie and the Jumpy Twins,

This is one of the most popular questions that I get asked…how do I keep my dog from jumping on people??  There are a couple of basics that I like to start with first.  Beginning with these and using those to build on will make more advanced training easier on you and your pup.  Having two of them absolutely makes things a little more complicated, so I recommend working with them one on one as much as possible and then combining the training with both at the same time.

–Jumping is the #1 complaint of owners of young dogs that I deal with.  And the easiest way to contend with this is to do…nothing.  You heard me correctly!  Many people choose to push the dog off or knee them in the chest, and that results in a pup that found a great rough-housing game!  So they jump up again, you push them off, its great fun…you get the picture.  I use something called “four on the floor”, meaning all four dog paws must be on the floor in order to get me to give attention, pets, or even eye contact.  Puppies are attention hogs and are all about games, and with this technique they learn fairly soon that by jumping on people they get ignored.  Frankly, that’s no fun.

When the pup jumps up, cross your arms and turn your back to them, and stand there until they have decided it’s not working for them and they are no longer jumping.  Take that opportunity to turn around and calmly ask them to “sit”, followed immediately by a treat.  Rinse and repeat.  And repeat.  And repeat again.  It takes time and consistency, and lots of both.  But with a pup that young, usually within 15 minutes or so they get the drill.  The harder part is getting everyone else to do that consistently, including family members and people visiting your house.

–Same thing goes for furniture jumping, but instead of sitting there ignoring him, stand up and assume the position (arms crossed, back to the pup).  Also keep in mind that allowing the pup on the furniture at ANY TIME gives him the ok to jump up there…so decisions have to be made about where he is and is not allowed, and getting him to stop jumping on people on the couch might be a bit more difficult.

–You can work on some distraction techniques with the pup on a leash in the house and you at the ready with your bag of treats.  Doorbell rings, you ask the pup to sit and pay attention to you (I like the “watch me” command) as people come into the house.  Better yet, once they are in and settled they can join in the fun and ask pup to sit and give treats.  Pup then gets the light bulb over his head that doorbell rings, I sit.  People come over, I sit.  And I get treats!!  How cool is it to be a puppy!!

–I also recommend that if you know there are people coming (or if you are going somewhere as you mentioned for Christmas), TIRE THAT PUPPY OUT.  A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog means happy humans.  Make an effort to do a bit longer walk, or let them run at the park, every day.

–Last but not least, use those treats!!  I tell new puppy families to have treats in their pockets at all times.  Now is the time to take advantage of their little spongy brains and get them off on the right foot.  Reward all those great behaviors that you want to see, and don’t give any reward (no treats, no attention) for those behaviors that you don’t.  Make it a game with the whole family…the pup will not only learn faster, but he will be so busy sitting for everyone in the family he will forget how much fun it was to jump.

Good Luck!

Mel

Vickyʼs favorite thing about working at Two Bostons? “The team. We work great together,” she says, “and always help each other out.” When sheʼs not at Two Bostons, Vicky is usually at school, or the gym. Which is normal since sheʼs studying kinesiology. She finds a lot in common with the Apatosaurus, both have gentle dispositions and huge appetites.

Pete plays dad to Cash the Boxer, Diesal the Min Pin (spelled that way on purpose- Diesal prefers it), Subie the Chihuahua, and Frank (the tank) black cat. Pete loves giving his guys Himalayan Dog Chews, and they love playing with the Hide A Squirrel. Peteʼs favorite thing about working at Two Bostons is, “How rewarding my job is. How I get to help improve petʼs lives daily. And work with really cool people.” He knows that the DC universe of comics is far superior to Marvel, but if it came down to it, Superman would win in a fight against Batman.

Jenʼs ideal dinner party guests would include NASCAR legend Terry Labonte, Confederate general Robert E. Lee, and actor/beautiful man in general Ryan Gosling. And (no surprise) her favorite movie is ʻThe Notebook.ʼ Next time you are at our Springbrook store be sure to say hi!

Walking. It sounds so simple. And most of us do it on a daily basis.

But, we know that when it comes to walking your dog, a large number of you have, shall we say “challenges”.

Sometimes they pull, and sniff, and chase squirrels.

You like to walk straight.

Right.

Like any good relationship, walking your dog involves a bit of preparation, a bit of of compromise, and a bit of perseverance.

Here’s how you start:

1. Start out by finding the right collar and leash for our pooch.

You want a collar that is an appropriate width for size of your dog. You also want a leash that is easy for you to hold on to and handle. Retractable leashes are viewed by many as giving more control; however, they often do the opposite. If your leash isn’t locked, your dog may startle you by taking off after one of those squirrels I mentioned before. You should invest in a sturdy standard leash. You will have better control.

If your dog is a large dog, or one that pulls, you may wish to consider a harness.

I use the Sporn Harness for Diesel (that’s the harness, but not my dog) which has allowed for his walks to be led by my 8-year-old son who weighs approximately 40 pounds less than Diesel. If you have a puller, you really want to check this out. Saved my walks.

2.The next thing you are going to want to do is prepare your dog for the weather.

There is snow on the ground right now. Where there is snow, there is usually salt. You really have to protect your dog’s paws from the salt. There are a number of really easy ways to do that. Boots are a great option. Musher’s Secret or Muttluks Pawstick work really well too. Both of these products are a balm that you put on your dog’s paw pads prior to going outside. Cocotherapy is another great option as you can use that on paw pads too.

You also want to make certain you dog is protected from the wind and cold with a warm coat…especially if you have a toy breed or one without a thick coat.

Yes, it’s true that dogs and wolves have lived for a very long time without wearing coats; however, the breeds of today do not necessarily have the same type of fur coats their ancestors possessed. It’s safe to say that if you are anticipating spending time outdoors with your pet, you should consider investing in a warm winter coat.

3. Next, you’ll want to consider a portable water bottle.

Hydration is key…people normally equate the need during the warmer months; however, it is just as important in winter to stay hydrated.

4. Finally, the last thing you need to consider is poop bags.

Because, let’s face it, it’s just the right thing to do. Nothing puts a damper on a day like an unexpected pile of… well, you know.

I’m going to be showing you some really great options for all of the items I’ve mentioned over the next couple of posts. Feel free to stop by either of our stores and have a team member help you out if you need the information sooner.

Now you are ready to open the door and head out on your first of many walks.

This time of the year is often a time to reflect upon what we’ve accomplished and what we’d like to improve upon. According to a recent question we posted on our Facebook page, the most popular New Year’s resolution (at least among those who answered) is to lose weight or get in better shape. This thought extends to our pets as well. So, in that vein, my next series here is going to be one on fitness and health for your favorite pooch.

So let’s begin with the basics. We all know that exercise and diet are very important to physical fitness. And a great exercise for both you and your pet is walking. All you really need is a leash and you’re off…well, almost. One crucial, and often overlooked necessary piece of equipment is this:

The dog ID tag.

What? The dog ID tag? Yes, the dog ID tag.

Why? No one likes to think about their beloved pet getting away from them; however, it is a reality that we should all be prepared for.

And, It’s simple really. Your dog can’t talk. This tag will do the talking for him.

Even if your pooch is micro-chipped it is wise to invest in one of these. In my experience, I find it easier to approach a stray dog wearing a tag because my automatic assumption is that he is someone’s family pet.  Also, I’ve always been able to return the dogs I’ve found who have been wearing an ID tag. It is a simple matter of calling the owner’s number on the tag and waiting for them to come pick up their lost pet. Microchips are wonderful to have; however, ID tags should not be overlooked as a simple and cost effective way of ensuring your pet’s safe return should a separation occur.

Head on over to this page here and check out all the fun designs. There is sure to be one that matches your dog’s personality. It can often be the overlooked items that can aid in success. So here’s to starting the new year off on the right foot. Happy walking!

What Brittani loves the most about working at Two Bostons is, “the fact that I can share my love of dogs with other people who feel the exact same way.” One of Toby’s favorite Two Bostons’ product’s it the Dragon by Go Dog. He has a green one named Henry and a blue one named Franklin. (Yes, Toby’s toys are named…ALL of them.)

When sheʼs not at Two Bostons, you can find Brittani in the classroom, working on her Bachelorʼs degree in Psychology. Being as busy as she is, Brittani appreciates “me” time and often indulges with a good manicure. She can often be found going out for dinner & drinks with her family and boyfriend too.

A child of the 80′s (yes, she calls that decade old school) she loves the old Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys music…BUT she hates Michael Jacksonʼs music (sorry MJ fans).  She’s seen the Sex and the City movie more than seven times, and knows that Batman would obviously kick Supermanʼs butt in a fight.

Next time you’re at our Springbrook store be sure to say “hi”!

What is this particular type of food? Well, it is green beef tripe. No, it isn’t the color green…it just means that the tripe is pure and unbleached. Tripett contains the highest quality human grade sources of tripe and, honestly, if your pet was a wild animal, this is what he or she would instinctively want to feed on.

What are the benefits to feeding your pet Tripett?

1. Cleaner teeth
2. Better digestive system
3. Healthy skin & coat
4. Improved eating habits
5. Rejuvenation of older dogs
6. Healthy & nutritious for growing puppies
7. Solution for sensitive stomachs.

I’m going to be completely honest here, the scent of this particular canned food is NOT for the faint of heart. AdreAnne warned me, and boy oh boy, she was not kidding. There is a strong and distinctive aroma to this particular food. That being said, Diesel WENT WILD when he got a whiff of it and I almost couldn’t finish taking pictures because he kept trying to get the food.

It’s also not the prettiest food I’ve shown you. It is certainly a solid consistency and easy to break apart; however, you will want to do that quickly and walk away. But, it does have my favored pull top tab opener, so at least opening the can was a snap.

One of the most amazing things to me about this product was that I couldn’t even get an action shot of Diesel eating it. By the time I adjusted my camera, he had licked the bowl clean. So, in terms of the aroma, at least is was very short lived in my house.

Although this could certainly be mixed with kibble, it wasn’t as wet of a gravy as some of the other cans I’ve opened for you. It was solid enough to feed as a stand alone, and clearly from his reaction, I am going to have to rotate it into his diet.

I certainly hope this series has been informative for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to either post them here or stop by either of our Two Bostons locations and our team members can get your dog on the right food path.

LuLu and Hunter both love anything that Stella & Chewy’s make, first playing with it and then devouring it.

About working at Two Bostons, Chelsea says, “I am very passionate about animals, and so is everyone who works at Two Bostons.” When not munching on puppy kisses for herself (no joke!), Chelsea is a full time student at College of DuPage.

She loves ice cream, but not the gross flavors like pistachio, and she secretly dreams of being a transformer. Next time you’re at our downtown store be sure to say hey.