MAKE A SPLASH INTO SPRING!

RUFF WEAR's K9 FLOAT COAT 

SPRING IS HERE...IT IS TIME TO PREPARE FOR SWIMMING & BOATING!

WE PULLED INFO FROM GREAT RUFFWEAR POSTS ON LIFE JACKETS & HAVE REPOSTED IT  BELOW.  IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT H20 SAFETY!

 

Think buoyancy is the only safety factor to look for in a dog's lifejacket?
True, buoyancy is a key factor in water safety, 
but buoyancy without proper fit and features is just no good!

Here are a few features to consider when buying a canine lifejacket:

1.  Fit. A properly-fitted lifejacket prevents a swimming dog from being bogged down by extra bulk and friction.  Following the fit instructions carefully and choosing a size that fits snugly around your dog will prevent the coat from limiting mobility of the dog’s tail, hind legs, and front legs.  Sometimes, getting the right fit means the belly panels and neck pieces do not touch even though the straps close–that’s okay.  It is better to have a gap between the belly panels than to size up and have the coat be too big.

2.  Visibility. While you may love “Ocean Teal”, keep in mind that some colors are more difficult to see in the water.  Given a dog’s low profile position while swimming in the water, bright colors are ideal for visibility.  In addition, reflective trim on the top and sides of your dog’s flotation device keeps them safe from other boating and paddling traffic, and helps you spot them in low light.

3. Flotation. More buoyancy does not equate to better flotation.  Good flotation will work with the dog’s natural swim ability; maximizing, rather than hindering, their mobility in the water.  Too much flotation, or flotation in the wrong areas may cause the dog to flip over, or put them in an un-swimable position.  Ruff Wear’s lifejackets were designed with more than 12 years of research and development time invested in finding a good balance of fit and flotation on the belly, sides, and back–maximizing comfort and floating them in a natural swim position.

4.  Handle. A heavy-duty, reinforced handle is a must for any float coat.  Handles make it easy to lift the dog up and out of the water, especially in an emergency scenario where the dog is unable to help itself out the water.

5. Low Profile. At first glance, pockets, zippers, leash attachments, and other accessories may seem like a blessing, but they are all things that could get caught on rocks or floating debris.  Low profile handles, strap keepers, and hidden leash attachment points (Ruff Wear’s leash attachment is located on the underside of the the handle) help keep everything in its place, avoiding potential snags.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE...SOME SELL GOOD PRODUCTS, BUT MANY DO NOT!  BUYER BEWARE - OTHER FLOTATION DEVICES CAN LIMIT MOBILITY, WEIGHT A DOG DOWN, CAUSE THEM TO FLIP & POOR CONSTRUCTION CAN LEAD TO THE PDF CATCHING ON OBJECTS IN THE WATER!

SAFTEY FIRST!

OTHER LIFEJACKETS FROM OTHER COMPANIES.

RECALL UPDATES

PLEASE CHECK THIS UPDATED LIST IF YOU FEED ANY DIAMOND PET FOOD:
Diamond Pet Foods has expanded their list of recalled dry dog foods—due to possible Salmonella contamination—to now include nine different kinds.

Included products:

* Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
* Country Value
* Diamond
* Diamond Naturals
* Premium Edge
... * Professional
* 4Health
* Taste of the Wild

The Kirkland Signature products included in the recall are:

* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula
* Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula
* Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs

Other dog foods currently recalled for possible Salmonella contamination:

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc.

* Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food
* Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food

Wellpet LLC

* Wellness Complete Health Super5mix Large Breed Puppy

Canidae Pet Foods

* Canidae Dog, All Life Stages
* Canidae Dog, Chicken Meal & Rice
* Canidae Dog, Lamb Meal & Rice
* Canidae Dog, Platinum

Apex Pet Foods

* Apex Chicken and Rice Dog, 20lb and 40lb bags

Natural Balance Pet Foods

* Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog
* Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog
* Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog
* Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog
* Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites
* Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites

For more details, and to stay up-to-date on all pet food recalls,

visit the FDA’s Recall & Withdrawals website.

GIVEAWAYS, ENTER A DOG TO WIN

DAWGDOM GIVEAWAY - COATS TO DESERVING DOGS!

1x Large  Girth: 32-40 Weight: 65-85

1x XLarge Girth: 35-48 Weight: 80-135

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ENTRIES!  

ENTRIES OF A DOG WHO NEEDS A COAT & HAS A STORY!

RUFFWEAR'S OVERCOAT'S KEY FEATURES:

• Recycled fleece insulating liner enclosed in a durable, recycled polyester shell
• Elastic stay-fit webbing and autolock buckles adjust for a custom fit
• Integrated chest panel insulates the belly and keeps the coat in place while your four-legged friend is in motion
• 3M Scotchlite reflective trim for enhanced visibility

ENTRIES CAN BE ENTERED BY:

POSTING ON DAWGDOM'S FB PAGE or EMAILED TO: info@dawgdom.com

*MUST INCLUDE A PHOTO*

(please only size appropriate dogs)

WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN MARCH 15TH

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Our talented friend at HEATHER BOHM-TALLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY 

has partnered with  

Smile For A Cure to help raise funds for The National Canine Cancer Foundation. 

For any doggy session that takes place between 2/13 - 3/13

100% of the session fees will be donated to the NCCF!
In order to participate the sessions MUST BE BOOKED BY FEB 29th 2012.
Please contact HBT Photo and book your session today!

IT IS A GREAT CAUSE & A GREAT OPPORTUNITY!

AND THE WINNER IS!

DAWGDOM FB Gift Certificate Giveaway has arrived!

$25 GC, every month, all year long!

We will be announcing a new fb fan winner at the beginning of every month via blog and fb!

Tell your friends to Fan DAWGDOM for their chance to win!

And May's winner is....Christianne Smith!!

Come on down to the store and pick it up and while your at it shop and redeem it!

Congrats and enjoy!

CHEEEEZ PLEASE!

          PIP HIGH ON HIS CHEESE...WATCH AND SEE

FEEDING FRED

Fred here,  I'm on a diet right now and thought I would blog about nutrition since food is on my mind pretty much all the time!  Here is An intro to Dog Food, What should be in it, What shouldn’t:

Understanding dog food labels and using that information wisely can make the difference between choosing a good quality dog food or settling for a dud.

MAIN RULES TO FOLLOW:

1. 1st Ingredient must be a Specific Meat.

2. NO Wheat, Corn or Soy. Preferably No Grain at All.

2. No Mystery Meat (Unidentified “meat”)

4. No Unnatural dye

How to Really Read Dog Food Labels:

Dog food packaging usually includes three sets of information: the front panel, the guaranteed analysis, and the list of ingredients.

A typical guaranteed analysis provides information about crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, and moisture. You will sometimes see guarantees for other nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, omega fatty acids, or glucosamine. Knowing these other nutrient guarantees can help you compare foods or find a food that meets your dog’s specific needs. The guaranteed analysis, however, does not address the quality or digestibility of the ingredients. To get a sense of the quality of the food, you need to look at the list of ingredients. In the United States ingredients are listed in order based on weight, so items at the top of the list are the main ingredients. A good-quality dog food will have meat listed as the first ingredient.

Another way that ingredient lists can be deceptive is through the practice of “splitting.” If an ingredient list read “Rice, meat, etc.” you would know immediately that there is more rice than meat in the food. However, if the rice content is split into several ingredients, the company can legitimately list meat as the top ingredient, thus: “Meat, ground rice, rice flour, rice bran, etc.” When added together, these grains may actually be present at levels that are higher than the meat.

Other items to note when reading the ingredient list: food dyes, flavorings, and preservatives.

Remember that higher levels of nutrients aren’t always better; there is an optimal percentage depending on your dog’s requirements and lifestage. Most dog foods are formulated to slightly exceed your dog’s nutrient requirements. When choosing an adult dog food, pick a food that has at least 18-28% protein as listed on the label, unless your dog has other specific requirements.

Both canned and dry dog foods are designed to provide a complete and balanced diet for your dog. One 421mL can (13 oz) of dog food has approximately the same caloric content as 1 cup of kibble. Canned dog food must contain about 80 percent water to allow for proper canning, so you will often find water or broth as the second or third ingredient on a can of food. The process of canning preserves the food, so there is no need to have preservatives in canned dog food. However, the high moisture content in canned food also means you are feeding (and paying for) a lot of water. When choosing a dog food, look for one that has a whole meat listed as its first ingredient (e.g. deboned chicken) to ensure adequate protein levels.

Stay away from “mystery” meat (e.g., unidentified-species meat and meal). An ingredient list should always state the species of meat (e.g., chicken, turkey, trout, etc.). If it doesn’t, it is using a mixed source of meat, which can be of questionable origin. Plus, the mixed source will not be consistent from batch to batch and this may upset your dog’s stomach.

Coloring is there to make the product more marketable to you—the dog owner. Choose foods that do not have a lot of dye in them.

Dog foods, like people foods, will spoil over time. To prevent this, preservatives are added to kibble to allow for a longer shelf life. BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are synthetic preservatives and vitamin E (tocopherol), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are natural preservatives. Multiple studies have shown that consumption of preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are not associated with cancer. In fact, some studies have indicated that they may, in fact, be protective against cancer. However, there has been concern that some dogs may develop allergies to synthetic preservatives. If you are concerned about your dog consuming synthetic preservatives, choose foods that have been preserved with vitamin E or C.

If you are choosing to feed a commercial dog food, one of the best ways to improve your dog’s health and well-being is to feed an appropriate amount of a good-quality dog food. With a good diet, your dog will live a longer, healthier life.

Here are two dog foods we stand behind.  There are other good ones out there, but many more aweful ones so be aware and make smart decisions with what you feed your Fred!

ORIJEN DOG FOODS

BY NATURE, DOGS OF ALL BREEDS AND SIZES ARE EVOLVED AS CARNIVORES — BIOLOGICALLY ADAPTED FOR A DIET RICH AND VARIED IN FRESH MEATS, WITH SMALLER AMOUNTS OF FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND GRASSES.

Formulated to match your dog’s natural diet, ORIJEN ADULT is loaded with the protein-packed meat ingredients (80%) that Mother Nature intended all dogs to eat — including free-run chicken and turkey, whole eggs and wild-caught fish that are farmed or fished within their region of Canada by people we know and trust.

SOJOS NATURAL DOG FOOD

Simply water to one of their natural pet food mixes and you have a fresh, homemade pet food in minutes. Some mixes require the addition of a protein.

Sojos foods offer the superior nutrition of naturally- occurring vitamins, minerals and enzymes that you cannot get from a cooked, processed food. No preservatives. Nothing artificial. Just natural, human-quality ingredients.

MORE QUESTIONS?

GIVE US A CALL @ DAWGDOM

518.306.6600



USPS Supports Rescue!

Hi everyone. Pipsqueak here.
I've been very busy patrolling the yard for squirrels and birds as well as rolling in stinky things, but I wanted to take a second out of my busy schedule to let you know of a great product from the US Postal Service. They have a new series of stamps especially for shelter pets!

The Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet commemorative stamps feature photographs of five cats and five dogs taken by veteran stamp photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce. The animlas featured on the stamps are actual shelter animals. I'm happy to report that all ten of them were adopted from a shelter in New Milford, CT at the USPS's Adopt-a-thon event held recently.

So go out and buy some stamps (if you still use stamps). We second-handers can use all the help we can get.
Now back to my important work!
Cheerio!

-pip

"Knot-Me-Not" DOGGIE BANDANAS

DAWGDOM Sweatshop is back in business and hard at work. We started making Doggie Bandanas to help raise money for our local animal shelter and sales have exceeded our expectations so far!

Here is one of our first ones hot off the assembly line:

With the help of our crafty friend Jewels, we came up with a reversable, slip through the collar bandana in 3 sizes (Tiny, Small/Med, Large). We have made em in a bunch of patterns to fit everyone's style...Saratoga horsie patterns coming soon! They are $7/8/10 and $1 of each sale will go to Saratoga Animal Shelter!

We will have limited patterns offered for all Major Holidays...Come in and take a look!

RESCUE DOG MODEL SEARCH

Have your dog featured in our calendar!

Dawgdom, Heather Bohm-Tallman Photography and Lis Designs are teaming up to produce a calendar of local shelter dogs! Proceeds from calendar sales will be donated to Local Animal Shelters and Rescue Organizations.

THE MODEL SEARCH IS ON!

We're looking for dogs who reside within Saratoga (and surrounding counties) and who were adopted from a shelter or rescue organization. The shelter or rescue group the dog was adopted from can be located anywhere within the U.S.

To be considered for the calendar, schedule a session with
Heather Bohm Tallman Photography.

Session fees will be 1/2 off for any shelter/rescue group dog who would like to be considered for the calendar, and includes a free 8 X 10 print! Please contact Heather Bohm-Tallman Photography at hbt@hbtphoto.com for more details. Write "dog model search" in the subject heading and please let us know which shelter or rescue group you adopted your dog from.

*This special is for Dog Sessions Only.
*Weekday Session Dates are preferred.
*Weekend dates are very limited.

While we love all doggies, not everyone will make it into the calendar.

The calendar will be available for sale in late November - Just in time for the Holidays!

Great Blog Post about Dog Puke

So, this a blog post borrowed from another blog bark-n-blog. Considering how much Bodily Dog Function I see at the store I found this wonderfully amusing. I hope all you dog lovers do to!

The Four Types of Dog Vomit

1. YELLOW URKA-GURKAS

Dog runs around the house and hides under furniture while making a prolonged “uurka-guurka, uurka-guurka” noise (the only noise guaranteed to wake up a dog lover who is hungover from a 3:30am post-dog-show celebration). After a mad scramble to capture the dog and drag him outside, the episode ends with an indelible line of slimy yellow froth from the living room rug to the back door.

BLAP DISEASE

Dog exercises hard and

a) eats large mouthfuls of snow (winter blap disease) or
b) drinks a bucket of water (summer blap disease).

Within two minutes of returning inside the dog spews out large amounts of clear, slimy liquid, making a distinctive “blap” sound and sharp percussive noise as it hits the linoleum.

GARKS

Dog suddenly clears his throat with loud and dramatic “gggark, gggark” noises, followed by a prolonged “iiksss” and then loud, satisfied smacking noises. There is nothing on the rug. Don’t investigate, you don’t want to know.

RALFS

Apropos of nothing, the dog strolls into the dining room and waits ’til the innocent dinner guests are all watching him. Then, with a single deep gut-wrenching “raaaallff”, disgorges the entire week’s contents of his
stomach on the rug. Variation: he eats it.

In all of the above events, the dog is entirely healthy and indeed, deeply pleased with himself.

~ Author unknown

Pictures are in!

Some humans on Long Island, NY sent in the first set of pictures of shelter blankets being made. The pics really show how easy it is and they look like they had lots of fun!


Here the two fabrics are placed together. The pretty sides go on the outside.


Then, the fabric is lined up so all the edges are close together.


Next they cut out the corners (they used 4" Squares on a large blanket)


Next the strips are cut around all sides.



Then the they made the ties.

Viola! A completed blanket!


Wow! They made a whole pile!!!

Hope you have as much fun making yours as they did!! That's Lex, Lar, Drew and Matt. Their fingers don't even look tired :)

Don't forget to send in your pics of completed blankets! We can't wait to see them!

Tis the season for giving!

Hi dawgs! An Occassional Dog Blogger here with some news your humans can use.

We'd like them to join us in a giving project for dawgs waiting for great new homes at shelters all over the dawg world. Dawgdom is sponsoring a shelter-blanket project that young and old can do quickly and easily.

This project is designed for people of all ages and is great to do as a family project. The blanket is made of fleece and requires no sewing skills. Make one, or many, and bring them in to Dawgdom at 441A Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY.

If you don’t happen to live nearby, you can bring your blanket(s) in to a shelter in your town that accepts blankets (not all shelters have the facilities to wash them so call ahead and ask). Google “Animal Shelters” or “Humane Society” to find one near you.

Dawgdom would love to share your good work to inspire others, so take a picture

• while making the blanket
• of the finished masterpiece
• and/or of you dropping if off at the shelter.

Then send your pics and story to us! Post on our Dawgdom Facebook page, email us at info@dawgdom.com OR comment here on the blog and attach a link to your story.


Supplies Needed:

• A pair of good scissors (If your scissors are dull, it will take a lot longer to complete!) OR rotary cutter and mat
• Ruler or tape measure
• Two coordinating pieces of any fleece . . . Xsmall 17” x 17”; Small 21” x 21”; Medium 27” x 27”; Large 36” x 36”

Directions:

1. Cut off rough selvage edge on both sides. (This is the side that is machine finished, not cut.) Trim only as much as necessary, usually not more than 2 inches on each side. At this point, make sure that your cut sides are relatively straight.


2. Lay your fleece wrong sides together, with edges matching up. (Often times with fleece, it's hard to tell which side is the wrong side and it often doesn't matter which side you use as the front or back.)


3. Cut a 3”x”3 square out of each corner (through both layers of fleece) and discard


4. Make 3" cuts into fleece at 1" intervals around all four sides. (no need to be exact, but if you’d like you can use a tape measure placed above the 3 inch cutting area.)


5. Tie overhand knot close to blanket edge by using one strip from the front and one strip from the back to create finished fringe edge - then tie again. Tie every other set of strips around all 4 sides. Then flip the blanket over and tie the remaining sets of strips. Make sure you make two tight, overhand knots for your fringe.

Happy blanket making. We are thankful for a great community of followers who are always working to make a dawg's day!

WAGGIN' TAILS PET RESCUE

ADOPT A DOG!

Hey, this is Fred and I am the newest pack member in the DAWGDOM household. I joined the group a few months ago and thought, now that I am settled in that I should tell you about the great rescue group I came from. Amy Ranucci, a nice lady, runs Waggin' Tails Pet Rescue out of Schenectady. They have great foster homes from Albany to Saratoga and work really hard to make us safe and comfortable while we are trying to find our forever homes. I started out in a Penn. Shelter and ended up being fostered in Saratoga. My foster mom and sisters kept bringing me into DAWGDOM. Finally, Dave and Sara agreed to bring me home. Waggin' Tails is a great place to adopt a dog. There are adoption clinics at DAWGDOM and boy do those bring the crowds - Cute Loving Dogs, what more could you ask for? Check out Waggin' Tails Website for Available Dogs and more!

Sadie's Product Pick

Mom brought home our new Inital ID Tags and they are unbelievable! They're really fun on the front with an initial surrounded by almost any color you want, but the best part is the quality. The back of the tag is impressed and then filled with an epoxy. Do you know what that means? It means the engraving won't wear off - Amazing! My Tag is Purple Sparkle with an S for Sadie.
They are made of lead-free pewter and handcrafted in the United States. They come in a ton of colors and 3 sizes. They come in Small: $18; Medium: $20; Large: $22 and ship straight to your house.
Call the store for more info!

HOPE fundraiser @ DAWGDOM

Hi everyone.
Pip the Dog here. I know I have been out of the loop lately. I had a bit of a setback in my behavior and have been working with Miss Justine on being a better boy. Maybe I will post more about that later. Anyway, I haven't been downtown in a few months (forever in dog time!). Mum told me about the fundraiser that HOPE did last weekend at the store. They brought in super cute kittens and raised some money for their rescue. Click here to see the mention in the Saratogian.

HOPE is going to be at DAWGDOM again this weekend for the big Travers Festival. Stop by and see the kitties and throw some quarters in the pot while you're at it. If you would like find out more about HOPE click here.

This is Pip, signing off!

Avoid Getting a Puppy Mill Dog

Here is a great Set of Tips that the Humane Society has put together to help people avoid Puppy Mill Dogs. The only way to put these awful facilities OUT OF BUSINESS is to STOP BUYING THEIR DOGS!

1. Consider adoption first when getting a pet. Animal shelters are filled with dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes who need and deserve loving homes. Nationwide, approximately 25 percent of the dogs in shelters are purebreds.

2. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises in person to see how the parent dogs are living and the conditions in which the puppy was raised. Responsible breeders house their dogs as members of the family and do not keep them confined to cages.


3. Don't be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Good breeders do not sell to pet stores because they want to meet the families who are taking home their puppies.


4. Don't be swayed by a great website or ad; many of the puppy mills The HSUS has raided in recent years hid behind beautiful and deceiving websites promising "family raised" puppies.5. Avoid the temptation to "rescue" a puppy mill puppy by buying him; your purchase will only help perpetuate a cruel industry and another dog will quickly fill his cage.

If you are set on Purchasing a Puppy, please:
Download our "How to Identify a Good Dog Breeder" [PDF] checklist and take it with you as you visit different breeders. If the breeder you're working with doesn't meet all of the minimum criteria listed, The Humane Society of the United States advises you to walk away. Remember, your dog will likely live 12 to 20 years, so it's well worth investing some time now to be sure you're working with a reputable breeder who breeds healthy, happy dogs.

For more information on how to get a puppy from a shelter or a responsible breeder, go to
http://www.humanesociety.org/puppy

CANINI WINNER - CHASE DECKER

CONGRATULATIONS CHASE!

Chase and his people came in on Sunday and picked out a large green "Verve" Canini Collar (worth $50) for winning our July Giveaway! He seemed like a very happy boy!

Chase is a 2 year old yellow lab who has been such a gift to his new family. The Deckers adopted him from another family who decided they couldn't care for him as he deserved. He is described by everybody as "loving and mellow." He loves car rides and going for long walks.

"We are so excited. Thank you! I discovered that Chase looks like the store's mascot Maverick! He looks good in the simple red collar we brought him home but it will be nice to change it up every once in awhile after a swim! THANK YOU FROM CHASE AND HIS FAMILY!"

- Karen Decker

Canini Winner to Be Announced!

WE HAVE A WINNER!
We are waiting for them to get back to us with all their info and we will let everyone know.
We will soon be announcing a new Contest so stay tuned!

LOCALLY DESIGNED LEATHER COLLAR GIVEAWAY

DAWGDOM is giving a beautiful CANINI leather collar away! These collars are locally designed and absolutely beautiful. Bright Spring colors for dogs of all sizes. The winner will pick a size and they'll get it FREE! Two ways to enter - Leave a comment on this blog with your email OR email us at info@dawgdom.com with your info (just make sure to write "Canini Giveaway" in the subject field). Winner picked July 31st!