TIP TUESDAY: Summer Pet Safety Tips

As the temperatures rise (or fall, in the winter) so do pet safety concerns.

The sun is shining but don’t let the carefree summer days lead you astray of proper pet safety.

Here are 8 quick safety tips from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

What would you add to the list?

Menno sits comfortably in the cool dirt outside

 8 things you can do to protect your dog in the summer

1. Never, ever leave your dog in the car;
2. Make sure your dog has unlimited access to fresh water;
3. Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside;
4. Take walks during the cooler hours of the day;
5. When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your dog’s paws;
6. If you think it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off;
7. Keep your dog free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet;
8. Consider clipping or shaving dogs with long coats (talk to your veterinarian first to see if it’s appropriate for your pet), and apply sunscreen to your dog’s skin if she or he has a thin coat.

via: https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/summer.aspx

TIP TUESDAY: Poignant Pet Fourth of July Safety Tips

Here are great Fourth of July safety tips from the ASPCA. It includes points we hadn’t thought of previously, making it all the more valuable to share with you.

Fourth of July Safety Tips

For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

---

Source URL: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips

TIP TUESDAY: Hot Off The Presses! Our 2014 Pet Sports, Furniture, and Lifestyle Catalog is Here!

Hot off the presses, our new 2014 catalog is here!

Flip through the new 2014 Dutch Dog Design catalog to explore new products and ways to enjoy quality time with your best fur friend

In this new edition, we feature new items like our latest additions to our leash and collar collections (more van Gogh, and some cool new zigzag/chevron designs!), the Cycleciser dog bike exerciser, and snoozeBase and snoozeBack dog beds.

We know you’re curious, so take a look! Click on the pages to flip each page.

7 Quick Tips for Successfully Traveling With Your Dog

Recently, travel expert Kendra Thornton (@KendraThornton) invited us to share our insight with her on traveling with dogs, as many of us will surely be going on all sorts of vacations in the coming months.

In collaboration with Kendra, here are some of her professional tips on traveling with your dog(s), with our own professional insight added in too.

When I travel with my family and dog, I try to ensure that every two-legged and four-legged family member has everything that they need for a fun, happy, and safe trip. After all, traveling in comfort can make a journey pleasurable and exciting. Interestingly enough, a family will be visiting my family here in Chicago, and they will be bringing their beloved dog. That is fantastic! I am excited to share my best dog travel tips with them, and you.
Before going on the trip, there is a lot to do.

A. Prepare

A trip to the vet to make sure everything health and safety is in order

1. Microchipping: Microchipping a dog is a quick and relatively pain-free process where a vet implants a trackable chip the size of a grain of rice under your dog’s skin.

Getting your dog microchipped before you leave for your trip gives you the peace of mind to know that she can be located should she ever become lost.

2. Vaccinations: Visit your local vet to make sure that all of your dog’s shots are current. Vaccinations give each of us with the peace of mind that we need.

B. On The Go

Small dogs can travel in a crate for safety

3. Crates: Crating a dog is not something that I always like to do. At the same time, a crate can be very beneficial as it keeps a dog safe. Our dog hated to be crated for the first time. As seasons rolled by, she began to like the crate. Today, she prefers a crate, and it gives her a sense of comfort.

4. Food & Water: Pets, like children, may need to take a break during travel. Be ready for a snack break by packing easily accessible food and water for your dog. This can include a bag of treats, or extra kibble, and an extra bottle of water.

Don’t forget that you may need extra food and water bowls when on the go. Consider packing and using collapsible silicone bowls. Be on the lookout for bowls with a carabiner clip, which will allow for the bowl to quickly and easily clip onto a bag if needed.

5. Calming Reassurances: Our dog can get anxious, and we have found ways to calm her. One way is to bring her favorite blanket with on a trip.

If she gets upset, we can comfort her with her blanket, or, give her a deep body massage. Both of these options work well for us.

6. Toys: Sitting in a car or crate for an extended period can be stressful or boring for certain dogs. So, don’t forget to give your dog a favorite plaything or squeaky toy with which to pass the time.

C. Arrival

Some great hotels will provide dog beds, treats, and related pet services for a pleasant stay.

7. Pet-Friendly Hotels: Pet travel-focused sites such as BringFido.com give travelers plenty of options of great places to stay in various locales, including Chicago! In my past experiences, one hotel has recommended places to walk and dog parks to visit. Another wonderful hotel offered breakfast for our favorite canine.

It matters to my children to have snacks, video games, movies, magazines and other sources of entertainment while on the road. I use this same mindset with our dog as well. She needs to be at ease when we are on the road. A great way to serve children and a dog is to stick to a familiar routine. Both like what they know, and that can make our journey, and yours, incredibly pleasant.

Learn more about Kendra at her website www.thorntonpr.com, or follow her on Twitter at @KendraThornton.

Follow us, Dutch Dog Design online, along with our brand lines to keep in touch!
DoggyRide on Facebook

DoggySnooze on Facebook

Twitter: @doggyride, @doggysnooze and @dutchdogdesign

We all wish you safe, happy, successful travels!

TIP TUESDAY: Cracking a Window is Not Enough for Pets

Cracking a window for your dog in a hot car is not enough. Leaving your dog in a car, even with windows open is not a good idea in these hot summer months.

The infographic below, via our Facebook friends, Bainbridge Island Barkery, via the Kitsap County Humane Society, discusses how to keep pets safe during hot days, and watch for heat stroke and overheating in pets.

Keeping your pets safe during hot summer months

 

Logan the Chocolate Lab Represents Carnation, WA!

Recently, a lovely coordinator from dogvacay.com reached out to us asking us to simply share more information about lovable Logan; so, for all dogvacay.com fans and lovable chocolate Labrador retriever fans, below is a bit more about our pal Logan.

Logan the chocolate Labrador Retriever, all smiles.

Lovable Logan is a 3-year old chocolate lab who lives with his family in Carnation, WA, in the eastern suburbs of Seattle. He lives with his human mom, human dad, and human baby sister. Oh they adventures they all have together!

Logan and his gal pal both get a kick out of relaxing in the Novel jogger-stroller

One of Logan’s favorite activities is an exciting game of ChuckIt! with his pals. More recently, Logan was also working on becoming a certified search and rescue dog, but unfortunately, he had to stop the training process due to his heart condition. Now to not tired out too quickly, Logan enjoys rides in his DoggyRide Novel jogger-stroller, allowing him to still be outdoors and enjoy many adventures, yet be able to take a rest when needed.

Logan the chocolate lab leads the pack, riding in his DoggyRide Novel jogger-stroller

Other times, he enjoys heading out to doggy events in and our Seattle with his family. He had a wonderful time with team DoggyRide at the Petco 5K9 Run/Walk at Seattle’s Magnuson Park in early October.

A boy and his dog. Logan the chocolate lab is all smiles at the Petco 5K9 walk at Magnuson Park in Seattle.

If looking for a qualified pet sitter in eastern King County, in and around Carnation, click the following link to check out dog sitters near Carnation, WA courtesy of dogvacay.com.

A Case of Dog Heart Disease (CDC) Won’t Keep This Chocolate Lab Down

Hello DoggyRide friends and followers; we would like to share a story about one of our very own that has fallen on hard times.

Meet Logan, a three-year old chocolate Labrador retriever in the prime of his life who, until very recently, had the world by the tail.

Logan happily sits inside the comfort of his Novel dog jogger-stroller

Logan was a superior athlete with boundless energy, loved running with his best friend Adam, and had a deep passion for the game of Chuckit! Logan and Adam were also in the last stages of earning their search and rescue certificate with the King County Sheriff’s Department. Many hours had been dedicated to the idea that one day Logan could possibly save the lives of a missing person or persons.

Logan was a spirited puppy with a playful disposition, and intelligence to boot, but nobody could imagine what would happen next.

On July 5, 2013 while on vacation in Coeur d’Alene, ID, Logan awoke to a deep cough and troubled breathing. He was rushed to a local veterinary clinic nearby as it was thought he may have eaten something poisonous earlier that evening. Although the veterinarian was unsure of the diagnosis, he recommended that Logan get an MRI scan on his chest cavity to be certain of a cause. Logan and his parents made the trip to Washington State University and their renowned vet school, some two hours away, to meet with a leading animal cardiologist. After receiving the results of the MRI scan, Logan was diagnosed with Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy or CDC (http://www.2ndchance.info/dogdilcardiomyopathy.htm).

For the majority of dogs afflicted with this condition, heart failure will be caused by the enlarging of the heart thus creating the inability for the heart to pump the necessary amounts of blood through the body. The life expectancy for canines diagnosed with this condition is short, and in Logan’s case is six-12 months. This was a shock to Logan’s family and would immediately change Logan’s life and the activities he loved so very much.

Since Logan’s diagnosis, he was forced to retire from the King County search and rescue program and can no longer play Chuckit! to the extent which he once did. His long runs have been cut back to short walks and his athleticism has been curbed due to his early signs of fatigue. The puppy that once had the world by the tail is now fighting to live a little bit longer.

Logan the chocolate lab leads the pack, riding in his DoggyRide Novel jogger-stroller

When speaking with Logan’s family, they have mentioned that they live by the philosophy of “quality over quantity” and allow Logan to be Logan as much as they can without Logan over exerting himself.

We hope that every dog owner and puppy enjoy life to the fullest, each and every day; because it is fleeting and you never know, like Logan, when it will all be taken away. Here’s to you, buddy!

Logan teaches us to live life to the fullest.

We continue to thank you for being a loyal part of our DoggyRide family.

Many happy tail wags from our family to yours,

DoggyRide

How You Can Design A Healthy And Stylish Bed For Your Dog [INFOGRAPHIC]

 

Have you been wondering what makes elevated dog beds, particularly DoggySnooze beds, so unique, and how to go about designing the best one for you and your dog? Well check out our infographic to learn about the benefits of elevated dog beds and how DoggySnooze can meet your needs.

Learn how to design the right elevated DoggySnooze dog bed to best meet the needs of you and your dog

Keeping Busy with Animal Events Galore!

Time flies when we’re keeping busy!

Recently, in May, Dutch Dog Design owner and designer, Matthys van Leeuwen attended the Interzoo trade show in Nuremberg, Germany with a colleague from our Netherlands office.

This trade show was a great way for half of our team to interact and form new relationships with the international pet product buying community, as well as receive feedback on new products and changes which are waiting for début.

Dutch Dog Design products galore. Including dog bike trailers, strollers, elevated dog beds and eco-friendly dog leashes and collars.

Overall, this is a great experience in which all of us at Dutch Dog Design learned a lot about the community who uses our products as well as better serving our customers and innovating for the future.

We’re always willing to listen and love to hear what you’ve got to share. Your insights are important. They help us make even better products in the future.

More recently and locally in Monroe, WA, we attended Seattle Pug Rescue’s Pug Gala 2012. It was pug-errific! It was so great to see so much pug passion in one room! We enjoyed watching the Pug Parade, the Pug Races and meeting many cute visitors. It was great to chat with some many pug-loving visitors and learn about their pugs’ needs and how they could use our dog bike trailers, dog strollers, or other products such as our elevated dog beds and collars and leashes for further benefit. We learned that harnesses are much more popular than collars, given pug neck sizes in relation to head sizes. We don’t have harnesses yet, but hopefully, inspired by these precious pugs, we will have them available one day in the future.

We met some pug-tastic friends at Pug Gala! Hello, lovelies!

These are just a few things that have kept us busy and on our toes!

Up next, in September, is Seattle Humane Society’s Walk for the Animals 2012.

Hooray!

Dutch Dog Design Outdoors & Lifestyle catalog, hot off the presses!

Dutch Dog Design Outdoors & Lifestyle catalog

We’ve kept very busy lately! We’ve worked very hard to complete our new Outdoors & Lifestyle catalog and it is now finished! We hope this provides everyone with plenty of information on our DoggyRide dog bike trailers and dog strollers, DoggySnooze elevated dog beds, Dutch Dog Amsterdam eco-friendly collars and leashes, our values and mission, and more!

Please take a look and share your thoughts.

Thank you!