Sometimes I’m amazed at how many people, so close to home, have taken the initiative to do something they love, as a result of their love for their own (and others) pets, AND make a business out of it (like myself).  So, I’ve decided to share a few of these local treasures with the world (listed in no particular order), each with the raving reviews of my very own dogs…Bailey, Timber, Winslow & Glory.

Tillies Tuggies These wonderful, handmade fleece tugs are a big hit in my house.  They are strong enough to withhold the constant tugging of my relentless 2 year old chocolate lab Winslow (pictured on TilliesTuggies site), yet are still soft on my hand.  Additionally, my border collie, Glory, loves the fleece and sheepskin tug, which we use for motivation when training.  Glory also sports one of Tillie’s soft and fashionable fleece collar/lead combos in pink, and gets compliments from everyone that sees her with it.  Added Bonus: A portion of all Tillies Tuggies sales are donated to border collie rescue!

Tillie’s Tuggies

Sit Jump Fetch homemade dog treats are baked fresh with every order.  These wonderful, mouthwatering treats (it’s hard not to want to eat them yourself….but remember, they’re for your dog!) drive my dogs crazy.  Even some of the most finicky dogs that I’ve met at my pet spa, love their Honey Doodles.  Made with all natural, tasty ingredients, including their newest wheat free, corn free selection, you’ll have a hard time finding a variety that your dog doesn’t love!  My dogs’ favorites….Peanut Butter Bites, Honey Doodles, Garlic Cheezers….o.k., my dogs love them ALL!!

Sit Jump Fetch - Peanut Butter & Carob dipped hearts

Dogs at Play is a Dog Daycare conveniently located in the heart of downtown Rochester, right off the expressway.  This is Rochester’s most established (10 years in business, A+ accredited business with BBB) dog daycare in the area, and in the opinion of many, the most experienced and well run.  Dogs at Play owner, Emily Miller, has a great deal of experience and knowledge about dogs and their behavior, and is always willing to share her knowledge with her customers.  My dogs LOVE Dogs and Play and have always come home tired and well exercised.  In addition to dog daycare, Dogs at Play offers Obedience Training Classes with Rochester’s well know Dog Behavior Consultant, Bob Minchella, Agility training and Full Service Grooming.  A dog lovers paradise!!

Dogs at Play dog daycare

*More local Pet Products & Services to be featured soon!

Rochester Dogs & Cats  is excited to announce that the Pet Events calendar for Rochester is now available for viewing!  It can be found on the menu bar, as well as on the left column of the blog.  The calendar will be updated weekly with new events for you and your furry friend.  Please check back often for new listings!

Studies have now proven that playing tug games with dogs will not cause a dog to be aggressive.

This common misconception had survived for a long time, however, we now know that playing tug is a natural game. Dogs play tug for fun, which makes tug games very effective for training.

If your dog has a strong or dominate personality, playing tug can actually reinforce your pack leader status. Follow these two rules.

• End the game on your terms and before the dog is ready to quit.

• Keep possession of the toy when the game is over.

Don’t let the dog win possession as often as you might with a shy or insecure dog. Exhibit your control and strength, by winning possession and keeping the toy. Following these rules will let your dog see your ability to control the toy, the game, and him.

If your dog is a strong tugger get a toy that has a soft and sturdy handle like the Tuff E Nuff tug or one that has two handles like the 2 Handled Fur Force Toy, which will help you hang onto and control the toy.

Written by Linda Martuch

We all know that dogs love cars….whether it’s chasing them (we strongly discourage allowing your dog to do this!), taking a ride in them to the nearest dog park, or just plain hanging out with you in them, for a long drive.  But seriously, how sweet is your dog’s ride?

With the ever evolving options available in today’s vehicles, how important is it to you to accomodate your dog(s)?  When asked this question, several of my friends, clients and fellow dog enthusiasts answered, plain and simply, “important”.  As I think about the parking lot at the dog park, clients that drop their dogs off for grooming, or those that I often meet up with on a dog rescue transport, 9 out of 10 have some form of SUV, van or wagon to specifically accomodate their own, or other, dogs.  Which leads me to the question, which vehicles really do the best job in accomodating our furry, four legged, muddy pawed, friends?

I’ve come up with the following information:

Cargo room is a must.  The dogs need their own area to get comfortable, have room to roam and sprawl out in.
Ease of cleaning is important.  Leather seats are easier to wipe the dirt, hair and other less appealing liquids and/or solids (use your imagination here!) off.  The fewer places to vacuum hair out of, the better.
Restraining options are becoming increasingly more popular. Restraints have both your dog’s and your safety in mind.  A place to tether the leash to, easy seat belt extensions for dog car harnesses or room enough for a secured crate is a really nice feature to have.
Easy entry for large dogs is helpful.  Not all large dogs are comfortable jumping into an SUV or higher vehicle, and some simply cannot.  Not to mention that it’s not the best idea for any dog to jump out onto the hard pavement.  Wider back doors or the hatch needs to be able to accommodate a ramp for entry and exit.

When looking  for a vehicle, there are several out there that meet the criteria of the top 4 items listed above and more.  Certainly, other features can be extremely helpful as well, and from the looks of the new Honda Element due out this fall, dogs and their owners alike may have just about everything they need and more.  A few of the features include an elevated and cushioned dog bed in the rear, removable back seat covers for ease of cleaning (the covers match the dog bed, of course) and a built in water bowl!  Now that’s traveling in style.  I’ll be one of the first in line to test drive one of these bad boys (no, not you Timber, I’m talking about the car…it’s just an expression!).  As I was saying, I’ll be looking forward to my test drive this fall!  For more information about the new dog friendly Element, go to http://corporate.honda.com/press/article.aspx?id=4984.

And if you are in the market sooner for a vehicle, or are interested in all of the top choices out there for you and your pooch, check out http://dogcars.com, an information packed site that reviews vehicles specifically for the needs of your dog! 

Have a safe and happy road trip! 

Fun travel tip for the dog park:  Bring a wet (wrung out) towel to wipe the dirt, mud and other debris off of your dog’s fur and feet before allowing them to enter your vehicle.  A dry towel, in addition, is a good idea for the puddle jumping labs out there (no matter how dry it is out, my labs WILL find a puddle to jump in!)  For more ideas, check out the new travel section of the store.

Credit for the information about the Honda Element goes to my old high school pal, Shawn.  Had he not brought it to my attention, I wouldn’t have been able to share it with all of you!  Thanks, Shawn!

As the hours of daylight begin to increase, so does the amount of fur you find OFF your dog.  What most people don’t realize is, that it’s actually the change in daylight hours (longer to shorter & shorter to longer) that triggers your dog’s shedding cycle. 

So what do you do?  There are several things, aside from occasional brushing, that you can do to help remove a lot of that unwanted pet hair before it finds it’s way to your sofa, floor or stuck to your black pants on your way to work.
1. Give your dog a good scrub down in the tub with a good pet shampoo and conditioner.  Bathing your dog is an important part of his health and well being, will help him feel better and will remove much of the hair that has loosened as a result of the natural shedding process.  How often you bath your dog is a personal preference.  More that once weekly is probably not necessary and no less than once every month or two is recommended.
2. Use a blow dryer on a very cool setting to dry your pet.  Again, this is going to help remove loose hair and loosen up any additional hair that is shedding.  If you bathe your dog often, as opposed to bringing him to a professional groomer, I recommend looking into the purchase of a high velocity pet dryer.  They can be purchased for about $100 and are well worth the money, drying dogs quickly and really removing a lot of unwanted hair in the process.
3. Use a slicker brush to brush your dog thoroughly  after the drying process.  Brush in small, even and gentle strokes.  Pay attention not to brush too much in one area, or with too much pressure to avoid skin irritation.
4. Once a week use a shedding bladesuch as the “Furminator”.  There are a few new brands that carry the same type of shedding blade that work just as well.  Although, the Furminator has significantly dropped in price. 

There you have it!  Four simple steps to controlling fur tumbleweeds that roll across the hallway tile.  Of course, there is always the option to use a professional groomer to help, as well.  As a groomer, I personally do not charge my customers extra to fully deshed their pet.  In my book, it’s part of the grooming process, and a very important part.  So be sure to ask your groomer what they charge for “deshedding” or if it’s part of the process. Always know what you’re getting up front.
For more ideas about grooming your dog at home, refer to the grooming section of our store.  Write down the items that you intend to get over time and keep an eye on prices online and at the local pet store. All of the items listed are professional quality brands/products that are used in grooming salons nationwide and come recommended by a professional groomer (That’s Me!)
Happy Grooming!

With all of the recalls on pet food and treats, I was left wondering, “what in the world is safe for them to eat?”  As the days and months have passed by, numerous “holistic”, “natural” and “organic” treats and pet foods have emerged….many, I’m certain, for the sheer profit that can be made from the throngs of well intentioned pet owners, in the wake of all this pet food controversy and frenzy.  So what is safe for them to eat? 

Like any human product, any dog product can be recalled regardless of how safe and healthy it may seem.  So I have made it a point to look for products that are made in the USA with USA ingredients.  It is my personal preference to support manufactures in my country, and in addition, find the products that are made with quality in mind.   Not all packages reveal that.  So I am constantly researching….and at times still find myself disappointed with a product I thought was locally made, only to realize it was shipped to China or another country for processing and then shipped back after packaging.  It blows my mind.

So, what do I use?  Carrots are a great, healthy treat, not to mention a great support to local farmers…especially in summer here in NY.   I personally use the bags of organic baby cut carrots from the grocery store, which is clearly marked “product of the USA” and “certified USDA organic”.  Or, I visit the farmers markets when in season.   Aside from carrots, I also treat them occasionally with bits of fresh cut banana and apple.  All healthy, wholesome treats that I have around for my own use as well.

While all of those things are wholesome and healthy, they aren’t always convenient to toss into my pocket for a training session or a run at the park.  So in those instances, my first choice for treats are Sojos by Sojourner Farms.  They are made with the simplest ingredients, are wheat and corn free for those dogs that have allergies or are intolerant and my dogs love them.  They offer a huge variety of flavors and sizes for every dog.  I personally love the Good Dog treats, which are tiny bone shaped treats in yummy flavors like Peanut Butter & Jelly, Apple Dumpling and Chicken Pot Pie, and Blueberry Cobbler.  (You can try a variety 4 pack from our store here).  These are great  training treats for big dogs and great everyday treats for little dogs.  My personal favorite….Apple Dumpling.

So in the end, choose treats with quality ingredients in mind.  I’ve found there aren’t many at the big pet store chains, but there are A LOT out there.  Check your local pet boutique or specialty store or visit the treat section of our store for more ideas. (I purchase locally from TLC on Alexander Street…HUGE selection of natural dog treats and food)  Read the label and check the manufacturer’s website or call their customer service for additional information if you are unsure or have questions.  And always check with your vet if your dog has special needs or shows unusual signs after trying something new.  For more information about nutrition and pet food, please read the information packed, extremely informative book Pet Food Politics by Marion Nestle.  I also recommend subscribing to The Whole Dog Journal, a monthly guide to natural dog care and training.

As I have prepared to put this blog together, I’ve thought and thought about what to write in my first post.  Should I talk about one of the many products or services that I have tried and love and can’t wait to share with others? Do I talk about my dogs and some of the amazing adventures that we’ve shared….or maybe talk about Hannah, my sweet border collie girl that has given me so much inspiration for this dog adventure that I’ve embarked on, and whom I sadly and suddenly lost to a severe cluster of seizures in February.  And then there’s all of those wonderful people and their dogs, that I’ve met through my experiences with dog training, grooming and dog park romps…should I share some of the fun stories that I’ve heard and have been fortunate enough to be a part of?  So many wonderful and fascinating lives!  And as my mind races with ideas, I can only touch the tip of the iceberg for what I’d like to share.  

Yesterday, on my birthday, my mother-in-law dropped by with a gift for me.  Inside the pretty pink bag was my favorite lotion from Bath and Body Works, and a Book.  As I read the title of the book, it summed up what I’ve been thinking about…even as I wrote the “about” page yesterday.  It’s amazing how things come together so perfectly when we’re following our passions!  The title?  “Animals Make Us Human”  by Temple Gradin.  So simple, yet so profound. 

So I’ll keep this first post simple and here’s to hoping that as I dig deeply into my own experiences and the experiences of others that love their dogs, I can truly offer the visitors and regulars to this blog some insight about how we can create the best life for our dogs…(which just happened to be the subtitle of my new book).  Every day, in every way, let’s offer our furry, four (or three…sometimes even two) legged companions the very best that we can afford them.  They are so very worthy of it.