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Help Your Dog Make the Best of Social Distancing

Beth — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 21:10:14 +0000

This post is not intended to dispute any medical or veterinary experts. It contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase through the link, I’ll earn a small fee.

Help Your Dog Cope With Social Distancing

Due to the pandemic spread of COVID 19, more communities are asking people to stay home. While it is a scary time, at least we can understand why our lives are being disrupted.

If you live in an area that is asking (or ordering) social distancing, here are some tips to help your dog from going stir crazy. (Please note, this post is intended for people who are feeling healthy.)

First, take the situation seriously.

While it might be tempting to think of social distancing as a mini-vacation, follow the suggested measures to keep this disease from spreading. If you are taking your dog out for a walk, be sure to follow your local guidelines, including wearing a mask and maintaining a minimum of six feet distance between other people.

©Noble Friends Shop

Second, remain calm and try to look for the things you can do, instead of dwelling on the things you cannot do.

I asked my Instagram friend Stella the Springer, who lives in Italy for some information. “Here, people can walk their dogs, but they mustn’t meet other dog owners. Furthermore, dog parks are closed, so dogs aren’t able to socialize with other dogs. Walks aren’t allowed in crowded places so the countryside is perfect.”

If your dog is used to going for doggie play dates or to the dog park, she might not understand why those have stopped. Now is the time to strengthen your bond with extra playtime, cuddles on the couch, and baking special treats.

Play Games

One of the simplest forms of entertainment is to have a treasure hunt. We hide small pieces of kibble around the house. Our dogs get really excited when they sniff a piece of kibble out of an unusual spot.

You could also hide a favorite toy or ball. Reward your dog with a game of fetch (roll the ball if you live in an apartment or condo) or a game of tug. Make time for your pup especially if she is used to an active lifestyle.

©Alice G Patterson Photography

Theo is a big fan of tug-of-war and loves our DIY tug toys as well as our DIY treat dispenser.

Other great ways to burn off energy are puzzles, as well as plush toys, and chew toys.

Teach Your Dog A New Trick

A great way to keep your pet mentally stimulating is to teach her a new trick. Here’s a list of 52 tricks to teach your dog. Positive reinforcement training is best!

Bake Something

Check our DIY tab for treat recipes as well as some fun DIY projects.

©Alice G Patterson Photography

These banana beet treats are easy to make. If you don’t have beets, you can just make banana treats!

©Alice G Patterson Photography

Chances are you have all the ingredients for these vegan carrot pupcakes already.

Adopt Or Foster A Dog (or Cat)

Social distancing permits more time to help a new pet adjust to your lifestyle. Before visiting a shelter, call and see if they are open! Unfortunately, there may be an increase in animals entering the shelters. If you can foster a pet at this time, it would make a big difference to the animal you foster as well as make room for another pet. As an added bonus: maybe you’ll discover the pet you foster is a perfect family member.

Hang Out On The Couch

My dogs love to hang out on the sofa when I watch TV or my kids play video games. They don’t really seem to care what I watch, they just want to snuggle. Some people report that their dogs really love DogTV.

Support Small Businesses On Etsy

Check out some of our favorite ideas to make staying home a little bit easier via Etsy.

Other Considerations

If you are in the continental United States and are unable to take your dog out to do her business, you might want to consider getting Doggie Lawn.

©Doggie Lawn

Doggie Lawn is a subscription service that delivers real grass to your home. I think it would be especially useful if you aren’t feeling well, have a senior dog or puppy, or live in a high-rise building.

Limit non-essential vet appointments. (If you aren’t sure, call your vet.)

Groom your dog at home.

Make sure you have enough food and medication for your pet.

Follow the old adage “better safe than sorry” and make a plan for someone to take care of your pet in case you get sick. A pet-sitter checklist will increase the chances that your pup is properly cared for while you are recovering.

During this time of social distancing, many small businesses are taking a big hit financially. Consider buying a gift certificate from them now to use at a later date.

From the Experts

The World Health Organization currently advises that there is no evidence to suggest that dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus.

From the American Veterinary Medical Association:

“Infectious disease experts and multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations agree there is no evidence at this point to indicate that pets become ill with COVID-19 or that they spread it to other animals, including people.
If you are not ill with COVID-19, you can interact with your pet as you normally would, including walking, feeding, and playing. You should continue to practice good hygiene during those interactions (e.g., wash hands before and after interacting with your pet; keep your pet well-groomed; regularly clean your pet’s food and water bowls, bedding material, and toys).
Out of an abundance of caution, it is recommended that those ill with COVID-19 limit contact with animals until more information is known about the virus. Have another member of your household take care of walking, feeding, and playing with your pet. If you have a service animal or you must care for your pet, then wear a facemask; don’t share food, kiss, or hug them; and wash your hands before and after any contact with them.”

Instagram friend Ludovica Pellccioni reminds us: “We (dogs) are not carriers of the coronavirus. We take care of you always and in all circumstances. Don’t abandon us, we will never do it.“

Do you have tips for helping pets and their people cope with social distancing during the COVID 19 outbreak?

You might also want to read Stay Home, Stay Healthy: Covid Guide for Dog Lovers.

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Happy Howl-O-Ween!

Beth — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:54:34 +0000

Happy Howl-O-Ween! I’ll be the first to admit, we don’t really celebrate Howl-O-Ween at my house, we celebrate Halloween! My dogs don’t wear costumes and they stay in their crates while my kids and husband dress up and try to scare the trick or treaters. My husband builds animatronics for fun and we are “that house” in our neighborhood. I would never venture down the long dark driveway with my own kids if I didn’t know what surprises lay ahead. (We are not gory or threatening, but usually have lots of surprises.) However, I love dogs that happily wear costumes like Miss M and Mr. B and I thought I’d share a couple of Howl-O-Ween sessions today. Marlin the Labrador/Sebastian the crab and his girl were photographed by Marianne Barta from Black Box Photography.

From Marianne: “Marlin is a 2 year old chocolate lab that likes to dress up. This year he and his mom decided to recreate the Little Mermaid, with mom being the mermaid and Marlin Sebastian the crab. It was a beautiful day on the shores of Lake Erie to create the perfect backdrop just for this type of shoot. Marlin was pretty cooperative considering all the distractions. And the outcome was just what we wanted, a little Halloween fun!”

About Black Box Photography: Based in Northeast Ohio, Black Box Photography specializes in wedding photography.

Spud is a Cairn Terrier that is a regular at ME Photo & Design.

From Megan: “Spud is an amazing Cairn Terrier that we have had the absolute honor of photographing for his mom, Laura. Spud is currently around 8 years old and every time he is in the studio he has another fantastic costume. From superhero to knight to a bowler, Spud is always playful and energetic. His mommy has taught him well.

About ME Photo & Design: ME Photo & Design LLC is a boutique photography and design studio specializing in creative portraiture, documentary wedding photography and eclectic art.

For more Howl-O-Ween ideas, check out our Howl-O-Ween Pinterest board.

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Paw Pageant 2013

Beth — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 18:29:02 +0000

I had never heard of the Paw Pageant until Amber Allen, the London phoDographer, sent me these photos, but oh, how I wish I could have been there!

From Amber: “The Paw Pageant, organised by Love My Dog in support of Britain’s beloved Battersea Dogs Home, is probably London’s most important fashion-centric dog event of the year. Everyone who was anyone in the London canine world was there – and so were we! We turned up bright and early in order to browse the market stalls, which featured everything from adorable bandannas to seriously stunning wooden puzzles for dogs to free microchipping by Battersea themselves. And there were dogs of literally every shape and size, from my own breathtaking Dane clients Bellamy and Baruch, who were modelling on the catwalk, to a myriad of Dachshunds, tiny Chihuahuas, an impossibly delicate Italian Greyhound, and of course a wealth of delightful mongrels.”

About the London Phodographer: Based in London, UK, Amber Allen specializes in modern pet photography. She also serves Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex. She has several rescued pets of her own and regularly volunteers to help shelter animals.

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And the Nominees Are…

Beth — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:43:55 +0000

Inspired by the Dogscar cartoons by Off the Leash, I thought it would be fun to categorize some of the dogs I’ve been fortunate to feature. Please note this was a last minute idea and although every dog is awesome, I could only choose a few. Many dogs could fit into more than one category, but I tried to keep things simple. As I am getting ready to hit “publish” I realize that I unintentionally excluded a few of my favorites. Please accept my apologies if I missed your favorites!

Most Adorable Puppy

1. Addie – Alice G Patterson Photography * 2. Ginger – Ama Photography * 3. Ronin – Chic Sprinkles *

4. Rosie – ZA Designz * 5. Little Black – Dana Cubbage Photography * 6 Bokeh – Jodi Miller Photography

Best Canine Good Citizen All of the nominees are therapy and/or service dogs!

7. Smiley – Happy Tails Pet Photography * 8. Little Dog Linus– McGraw Photography * 9. Theo–Eardog Productions 10. Grizzly– Erin Kroll Photography

Fluffiest Dog

11. Ernie & Elmo – Nicole Begley Photography * 12. Ben – La Caniche Fou * 13. Jackson– Alice G Patterson Photography * 14. Charlie – Dana Cubbage Photography * 15. Chester – Posh Pets Photography * 16. Lana – Jaimee C. Photography

Best Ride

17. Dee Dee – Purple Pet Collar Photography * 18. Gus – Orange Girl * 19. Jake, Jackie, Bailey – McGraw Photography * 20. Barkley – McGraw Photography * 21. Milo the Small – Milo the Small * 22. Parker and Lily – Britt Croft Photography * 23. Kiya – Dana Cubbage Pet Photography

Best Stuntdog

24. Harper – Skyy Blue Photography * 25. Pepper – Megan Dailor Photography * 26. Badger & Wyatt – Chocolate Moose Images * 27. Dusty – McGraw Photography * 28. Jack – Gooch Too Photography * 29. Maddie – Charlotte Reeves Photography

Most Dynamic Duo

30. Maggie & Chloe– Nuance Pet Photography * 31. Enzo & Hughie– Meredith Perdue Photography * 32. Lexi & Riley– Britt Croft Photography * 33. Oscar & Ruffian– Lindsay Docherty * 34. Millie & Ruben– Studio Fido Photography * 35. Ross & Rusty– Lacey Rablais Photography * 36. Mabel & Leroy– Orange Girl * 37. Guiness & Little Man– Alice G. Patterson Photography

Biggest Scene Stealer

38. Bella – BG Productions * 39. Elvis– Lucy Munoz Photography * 40. Dixie– Melissa Jill Photography * 41. Kaylee– Allison Shamrell Photography * 42. Granny Giggles– Erin McNulty Photography * 43. Biscuit– Sarah Der Photography * 44. Dexter– Murray Photography * 45. Rowdy– Jen Madigen Photography * 46. Bennet– Katelyn James Photography * 47. Wilco – Sarah Der Photography * 48 – Jack– Tiff Photography

Most Suspenseful: Ready for Adoption Representing millions of homeless dogs, these 6 nominees are living a life of suspense, waiting to find out who will adopt them.

49. Gaia– BrindleBerry Photography * 50. Lila– Eardog Productions * 51-53 Mum, Casey, Tom– Magnolia Design Photography * 54. Charlie– Chocolate Moose Images

Most Gorgeous Girl

55. Sprinkles – Black Box Photography * 56. Sophie– Ayres Photography * 57. Indiana– Two Birds Photography * 58. Tana– Purple Collar Pet Photography * 59. Paris–Emilee Fuss Photography * 60. Riley– Charlotte Reeves Photography

Most Handsome Dog

61. Buddy– Emilee Fuss Photography * 62. Porter– StudioFido Photography 63. Red– Charlotte Reeves Photography * 64. Charge– Charlotte Reeves Photography * 65- WolfCub– Wolf Shadow Photography * 66. Charlie– Wolf Shadow Photography

Golden Oldies

67. Buzz–FidoJournalism * 68. Skooder– Misty Moo Studio * 69. Bella– Kira DeDecker Photography * 70. Gatsby– Alice G Patterson Photography

Who would you have nominated? And could you pick a winner? Should I run a contest for fun and ask people to vote? I’d love to hear what you think.

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Pawstively Pampered Dog Wash

Beth — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:03:53 +0000

You might remember I mentioned that people are pretty amazing when I featured Gaia earlier this week. Here’s some more photographic evidence of that. Keshia Kastl and her husband of Photos by Keshia spent a day in September documenting a sudsy event in Yukon, OK. The event, Pawsitively Pampered Dog Wash and Craft Fair was a successful fundraiser for a local no kill shelter, Pets and People. People and their dogs showed up for a good old-fashioned dog wash, complete with wading pools, lots of soap, hoses, and a whole lot of fun.

It is great to see a community come together and work for a common cause! You can see more of Keshia’s work on her Facebook page.

About Photos by Keshia: Based in Oklahoma City, Keshia is a wedding and portrait photographer. She specializes in on-location photography and loves to show her subjects being themselves in a beautiful way.

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