Cool Summer Products For Your Medium-sized Dog

Summer is here in the Northen Hemisphere and summer trips, swimming and keeping cool in the heat are now the in-things. Here are a few products that will make this summer for you and your medium dog even more relaxing and enjoyable.

TRAVEL-tainer (7"H X 5"Diameter)
This handy TRAVEL-tainer (below) will keep your canine pal's food fresh and clean in an an airtight plastic container that can hold 1 gal. capacity of food. Just remove the carry handle and pull off the food/water dishes. Twist off the top and just pour! Perfect for summer trips! Comes in blue and pink colors.




Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket in Yellow (Medium; 14"Length; Yellow)
During the summer months, your dog enjoys swimming and having a fun time by the beach or pool as much as you do. With the Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket, you can make sure that he is safe while in the water. This doggy life jacket is quick draining and drying. The high-contrast colors and reflective strips ensure visibility in low light. A handy handle on top makes it quick and easy to pull your pooch out of the water if needed. The medium size fits Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Border Collies, Welsh Corgies and the large size is ideal for Bulldogs, Collies and Retrievers.



Caddis Black Big Thirst Automatic Waterer for Pets (11"L X 7"W X 12.5"H; Black; No-Tip)
Your dog will need more water in the hot weather. The Caddis Big Thirst Automatic Waterer for Pets makes sure that your dog is never thirsty even when you are not at home. The strong plastic base prevents tipping or spilling. It automatically refills the reservoir bowl without over flowing. Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.




Lixit Dog Waterer (3.5"Length)
If you have an outdoor faucet or garden hose, the Lixit Dog Waterer can turn your faucet or garden hose into a self-waterer that never runs dry or spills! Just attach it to your outdoor faucet or end of garden hose to make it work. It's like a water bottle with an unlimited tank! Your dog simply licks or nudges the lever control and refreshing, clean, sanitary water flows directly into his mouth. Steel nozzle attaches to outdoor faucet without tools. Can be permanently installed in the supply line with a thread adapter.




Mighty Breeze Battery Operated Pet Cage/Kennel Cooling Fan (3"L X 5.5"W X 6.5"H)
Keep your dog cool in his kennel by just hanging this kennel cooling fan on the outside of any cage or kennel. Cools for up to 100 hours on just two D-cell batteries! Feature two speed adjustment for high or low air flow.




Water-LESS Pet Bath Towel - As Seen on TV
Summer months mean more baths for your dog, and now finally.... there is a way to bathe your dog without getting him soaking wet! Just dampen this specially designed premium quality microfiber pet towel then rub down your pet gently and effectively to remove oil, dirt, dust, dander and more. Keep your dog healthy, clean, and happy without the stress of using of harsh shampoos and irritating chemical cleaners. Finish by spraying your pet with a pet deodorizer.



PetZoom Self Cleaning Grooming Brush - As Seen on TV
And besides bathing, a good grooming brush is essential too. This soft, ultra-comfortable brush is so comfortable that it has won numerous awards for its gentle grooming and one-touch cleaning. With just one pass you collect all the loose hair, dirt and dander right into the PetZoom. When finished, get rid of all that unwanted pet hair from your PetZoom with just one touch. Grooming your dog has never been this easy. Perfect for both wet and dry grooming.



Tags: medium dogs, medium-sized dog, summer dog supplies, dog brush, bathing dogs, doggy life jacket, food carrier, waterer.

Great Air Travel Tips For Dogs

This article has some great information on how to make that plane trip as comfortable and safe for your canine pal as possible. Here are some especially useful tips:

• If you are flying during the summer and your pet is traveling in cargo, try and schedule the flight in the early morning or evening, when temperatures are lowest. If you're heading out in the winter, aim for a midday flight. Because the temperature in the cargo areas can be extreme, most carriers only allow pets on board if the air temperature is greater than 45 degrees or less than 85. That excludes a lot of the peak summer and winter travel season, so it's best to keep an eye on the forecast before going to the airport.


• Don't feed your pet two hours before departure to ensure it will be comfortable with the lack of potty breaks ahead. Try freezing water in a dish to fit in the carrier, so it will melt gradually during flight and avoid spillage.


• Exercise with your pet a couple hours before flight to tire them out and help them relax. Adam Goldfarb, Director of Pets at Risk program at the Humane Society, recommends against the use of sedatives because the pet won't be able to protect itself if the carrier shifts during flight. Pets can also have reactions to the sedatives that may not be caught during flight. Sedation can be especially dangerous for those breeds already prone to breathing problems.

Check out the article for more great tips. The article also provides some of the latest rates that airlines are charging for in cabin traveling and cargo traveling.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_12309700

Tags: travel with dogs, air travel for dogs, fly with pets, travel tips for dogs.

Find Dog Parks On The Internet

Thinking of taking your medium dog to a natural habitat where he is welcome to enjoy a good run without anyone complaining or giving you the evil eye ;-) Well, then you have to check out these great sites that let you find the nearest dog park as easily as clicking on a link :-)

Sites That List Dog Parks in the United States

Find the nearest dog park with this interactive map:
http://animal.discovery.com/features/dogpark/map/map.html

Find the nearest dog park by state and zip code:
http://www.animalshelter.org/dogparks/states.asp

Print out a list of dog parks in a handy PDF format:
http://www.dogpark.com/content/Dogpark.com_USA_2006.pdf


Sites That List Dog Parks in Canada

Find the nearest dog park using this interactive map or by state:
http://www.pets.ca/index-dogparks.htm

Another good site:
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/clubs/parks.htm

In PDF format:
http://www.dogpark.com/content/Dogpark.com_USA_2006.pdf


And here are some info on dog parks in other parts of the world that we found on the Net:

Dog Parks In Europe:
United Kingdom - London:
http://www.cintads.com/ldoa/maps.htm
France:
http://www.intransit-international.com/moving_france_pets.html
Italy:
http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy_regions/liguria_emilia_romagna/2007/lifestyle/genoas-beach-for-all-pets/

Dog Exercise Areas In Australia & New Zealand:
Gold Coast:
http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=7011
Melbourne:
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=25&pg=630
Sydney:
http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Residents/Animals/OffLeashAreas.asp
Perth:
http://www.gooddog.info/
New Zealand:
http://www.dogstuff.co.nz/dog-services/christchurch/dog-parks/halswell-quary-dog-park/


Dog Parks In Asia
Singapore:
http://www.timeout.com/sg/en/aroundtown/feature/run-spot-run
Taiwan:
http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?categid=11&recordid=90424
China - Beijing:
http://english.cri.cn/811/2006/05/02/272@84246.htm
Hong Kong:
http://thechinascoop.cn/20070818/Special_dog_park_opens_on_April_1_in_HK_1951.html


Although being at the dog park with your dog is great fun, you have to remember that there are a lot of other dogs there too, so good "doggy" etiquette is very important to have a safe and fun time at the dog park... And a good way to find out how ready you are to take your medium-sized dog to the dog park is to take this fun informative quiz:
http://animal.discovery.com/features/dogpark/etquiz/etquiz.html

Until next time ;-)

Technorati tags: dog park, dog parks in the U.S., dog parks in Canada, dog parks in Australia, dog parks in New Zealand, dog parks in Asia, list of dog parks.

Tips On Choosing A Good Boarding Kennel

Came across this blog post on Cesar Millan's blog on choosing a kennel or pet sitter for your medium dog if you are not able to bring your pet with you when you need to leave home for vacation or for work for a few days. Some of the points that he made which I think are especially important are:

Make sure and ask the staff questions that concern you -- what is their idea of "discipline," for example? How do they handle conflict between dogs? What is the procedure if a dog takes ill? If you are able to take the time, ask to be a silent, "invisible" observer at the facility for half a day, to get a sense of their style and philosophy.

Above all, trust your instincts. If something just doesn't feel right, find another venue.

Great advice. And here are some other tips for choosing the most comfortable temporary home for your pet:

1. Try to start your selection process as early as possible and book in advance as many kennels are often fully booked during the popular vacation periods.
   
2. Ask what vaccinations are needed before your dog can be boarded at the kennels you are keen on and make sure that all the necessary vaccinations are completed beforehand.
3. Visit the kennel first. Make sure that the entire kennel area is clean and tidy, including the exercise areas, bedding, food and water bowls.
   
4. Check the food preparation area as well, and ensure that the area is clean and neat.
5. Check that the place is airy and well-ventilated with no stale musty smells.
6. Ensure that the indoor temperature is kept at a comfortable level at all times.
   
7. Observe how the staff interact with the dogs there. Staff should be confident in handling the dogs and be caring and attentive to the dogs' needs.
8. Check the feeding, grooming and exercise schedules of the kennel and make sure that it meets your dog's needs.
9. Inform the kennel of any special needs or medical care that your pet requires.
10. In addition to leaving your own contact number, its advisable to provide your vet's number and a contact number of a friend or relative to the boarding kennel just in case.

And last but not least, the site below has more information on how to choose a good boarding kennel or pet-sitter:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/choosing_a_boarding_kennel.html

Taking the time and effort to choose a good kennel for your dog won't make you miss your dog less but at least it will give you peace of mind that your dog is well taken care of while you are out of town :-)

Till next time...

Tags: choosing a kennel, boarding kennels, pet-sitter, pet accommodation.

Dog Friendly Hotels

Thinking of going on an overseas trip and bringing your medium dog along for the summer holidays? Then check out these sites below that list hotels that welcome dogs on their premises.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/world/world.shtml
Just click on the country/city name and dog friendly hotels in that vicinity will be displayed. This site also has a fantastic list of dog friendly hotels and dog friendly accommodation in the United States.

http://www.petfriendlyholidays.com/
This site has a detailed list of hotels that welcome pets in Europe.

http://www.wotif.com/hotels/pet-friendly-accommodation-australia.html
List of pet friendly accommodation in Australia

http://www.doginmysuitcase.com/index.html
Just enter the city and country you are going to and a list of hotels that accept pets in that country / city is dsplayed.

However as hotel policies change from time to time, it is important to personally check with the hotel that you are interested in staying at on whether they currently still welcome dogs on their premises before making any reservations.

And don't forget to check out our points-to-note on travelling with your dog on Medium Dog Guide for a safe and fun trip :-)

Bon Voyage!