Dogs are cuddly, cute and best of all, loyal! The only thing they love more than their owner is treats. But not all store-bought treats are good for them.
Personal Creations sent over 7 homemade dog treat ideas for your beloved best friend. They all contain fruit, veggies or a good source of vitamin D and protein. The next time you see a tail wag, hand over some pupcakes or doogie donuts and let them know how much you love them!
There are few things in life as rewarding as adopting a dog, but it’s a commitment of 10 to 15 years and many factors come into play. Scores of dogs end up in shelters every year because pet parents didn’t fully consider factors such as money, time commitments and other family members. We’ve asked some experts to help devise a pre-adoption checklist to find out — are you really ready to adopt a dog?
A dog relaxing on a gray couch. Photography by adogslifephoto/Thinkstock.
1. Do you know what it costs to adopt a dog?
Beyond the adoption fees, which can run anywhere from $5 to $500, there’s the yearly cost of caring for a dog — which is an estimated $650. This includes food, heart worm prevention and flea and tick medications. That figure doesn’t account for dog walkers, pet-sitting services or emergency vet visits.
Dr. Justin Molnar, medical director at Shinnecock Animal Hospital says, “I recommend that new dog owners have at least $1,000 available to them in case of medical emergencies. Of course, it varies from area to area, but a serious injury is expensive regardless of where you live.”
2. Do you actually have enough time to commit to a dog?
Are you looking at the bigger picture and ready to take the time to adjust your latest charge to his new digs? Whether you’re adopting a rambunctious puppy or a sweet senior, every dog needs training — from a young pup who requires complete housetraining to an older canine who just doesn’t know your routine yet. And, depending on the dog, walks will range from 10 minutes to multiple hours per day.
From training to exercise, every new dog is a serious time commitment. Jean Keating, executive director of Lucas County Pit Crew, says, “People have to understand that dogs do not come with the knowledge of how to successfully live in a family home. Those skills have to be taught to them through the building of a relationship and relationships take time.”
3. Is there any chance you’ll have to move or change jobs?
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said, “change is the only constant in life.” From antiquity to modern times, this statement holds true. Your work and home life might be stable now, but a dog is a 10-to-15-year commitment. Your entire life can be greatly altered with one career change.
Are you ready to take your dog with you if you have to move? And what happens if your career gets demanding and you have to hire a dog walker — are you willing and able to pay extra for pet care?
4. Is there any potential for people or other pets to develop an issue with the new dog?
Take a good long look at your circumstances. Who else will be sharing the space with your dog? Has that person — or pet — lived peacefully and healthfully with other dogs before?
Michele Forrester, senior director of operations of Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, says, “Sometimes [dogs are returned] after they are in the home for a while and a family member finds that they have developed allergies to the pet and they don’t take the proper steps to manage the situation. Or [they’re returned] when a food guarding or a toy issue that wasn’t evident during our mandatory meet and greet with their existing pet occurs.” If you are certain you have the ways and means to handle any unexpected issues, then you’re ready to adopt a dog.
5. Are you ready to be selfless?
It’s easy to walk your dog on a sunny Saturday afternoon. But what about at 3 a.m. on a snowy Wednesday night? Dogs are demanding of your time and resources, even when you don’t feel like it. They’re a big responsibility and sometimes an inconvenient one, especially when all your friends are road-tripping for the weekend and your pet sitter is out of town.
For potential first-time dog guardians, if you can pass up some of your previous lifestyle choices because you’ve got a new full-time dependent, then you’re ready to adopt a dog. For those not 100 percent sure, fostering a dog is a good way to learn if you’re ready.
There’s so much more to dog guardianship than unconditional patience and love. If you’ve answered “yes” to the questions in the checklist above, you are ready to adopt a dog. Now all that’s left is finding the right dog for you!
Bullmastiffs are the perfect example of a gentle giant in the dog world: muscular and powerful, yet faithful and kind unless provoked. He is an English creation that has found a loyal following in this country. Here are 9 fun factoids about the strong and silent Bullmastiff.
A close up of a Bullmastiff. Photography by DNSPhotography/Thinkstock.
1. Bullmastiffs were developed for a need
What we know of the Bullmastiff’s history dates back to mid-19th century England. Gamekeepers needed a dog that would help them rid the large estates and game preserves of poachers; one that could cover ground quietly and pin the trespassers without harming them. Breeders crossed the Mastiff with the now-extinct Old English Bulldog to ultimately come up with the Bullmastiff.
2. They’re a blend of Mastiffs and Bulldogs perfect recipe
The Bullmastiff represents an ideal blend of 60 percent Mastiff and 40 percent Bulldog. The gamekeepers’ goal was to create a dog that was faster and more aggressive than the Mastiff, yet bigger and less ferocious than the Old English Bulldog.
3. Bullmastiffs are very adaptable
This is a sizeable breed, with adult males reaching a height of 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighing 110 to 130 pounds; females reaching a height of 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weighing 100 to 120 pounds. Yet Bullmastiffs are mellow and laid-back, not requiring much grooming or exercise, and they make wonderful companions for urban owners, adapting well even to apartment living. They are quiet dogs and rarely bark.
4. They’ve got great temperaments
The breed standard for the Bullmastiff describes its temperament as “fearless and confident yet docile. The dog combines the reliability, intelligence and willingness to please required in a dependable family companion and protector.” They are a lovely companion to live with, gentle with the smallest child yet exuding an air of protective authority.
A Bullmastiff sizes up against a young girl. Photography by Eduard Ly Senko/Thinkstock.
5. Bullmastiffs are very easy to train
Bullmastiffs are powerful dogs, yet sensitive. Given the breed’s strength and inclination to be independent, early socialization and training are essential. Bullmastiffs are natural guardians of their people and property. No guard training is necessary; a Bullmastiff will respond appropriately if its family is threatened.
6. They come in a few different colors
The most common color seen in Bullmastiffs is fawn with a black face mask. Bullmastiffs also come in darker red shades. Brindle Bullmastiffs have black stripes over a fawn or red background. Although they are less often seen today, the dark brindles were preferred by the gamekeepers who created the breed. The stripes provided the dogs with better camouflage, particularly at night, hence the breed’s nickname of Gamekeeper’s Night Dog.
7. Bullmastiffs have shorter life spans
For all the Bullmastiff’s virtues as a devoted companion and guardian, he shares with many other large- and giant-sized breeds the heartbreak of a shorter life span. While there are exceptions, a Bullmastiff typically lives for 7 to 8 years.
8. The Rocky movies popularized Bullmastiffs
Many dog-loving movie fans got their first look at a Bullmastiff in Sylvester Stallone’s original Rocky. The down-and-out boxer had a Bullmastiff sidekick. Interestingly, it was Sly Stallone’s own dog, Butkus.
9. Other celebrity Bullmastiffs
Singer and songwriter Bob Dylan owned a Bullmastiff, Brutus, who appeared regularly with him. In the reality TV series Little People Big World, the Roloff family owned a Bullmastiff named Rocky. And in the world of sports, the Cleveland Browns football team has a Bullmastiff named Swagger as its live mascot.
Allan Reznik is a journalist, editor and broadcaster who specializes in dog-related subjects. He is the editor-in-chief of Dogs in Review and the former editor of Dog Fancy magazine. A city dweller all his life, on both coasts, he now enjoys the rural South with his Afghan Hounds, Tibetan Spaniels and assorted rescues.
Do you know what to do about a dog bee sting? Find out what happens, what is normal and when you need to seek veterinary attention.
Dogs dressed as bees are cute – but dogs stung by bees sure aren’t! Photography by John Mcallister/Thinkstock.
Some swelling is normal.
With bee stings, dogs typically have some swelling at the site of the sting, but it’s rarely life threatening.
True allergic reactions are not common, but they can be life threatening.
If you know your dog was stung by a bee, keep a close eye on him for a few hours. “Facial swelling, hives and generalized itching would be considered an emergency,” says Jamie Mays, DVM, the medical director of VCA Pets First in Richmond, Virginia. “If a dog has a history of life-threatening reactions, we can prescribe EpiPens so owners have some at-home emergency care they can do.”
Dogs are most commonly stung by bees on the face or feet.
Dogs are frequently stung when they step on a bee or when they sniff at a bee to investigate. Pups who are unfamiliar with bees (and don’t know that they can sting) might even try to bite a bee as it buzzes around. “Occasionally you’ll see dogs that bite at them and they’ll have stings to the inside of their mouth, which can be really uncomfortable and the swelling can potentially interfere with their airways,” Dr. Mays explains. “For those guys, I would probably bring them in sooner rather than later.”
Multiple bee stings cause more problems.
The swelling can be more concerning when dogs get more than one sting. “If they get into a hive and they have lots of stings, especially to the face, the swelling is the thing that’s the most concerning,” Mays says. “We can arrest a lot of the swelling with an antihistamine injection. It kicks in in about 20 minutes, so it’s really fast and effective.”
You might not even realize your dog has been stung by a bee.
If you don’t see the bee and your dog doesn’t yelp, you might not realize he was stung unless you notice swelling. See facial swelling or notice your dog breaking out in hives? Rush your pup to the veterinarian immediately.
Some treatments for a dog bee sting provide quick relief.
Whether your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction, or is just uncomfortable due to swelling at the sting site, your vet can help. “Depending on the level of the reaction, they probably would be administered an injectable antihistamine and possibly a steroid,” Dr. Mays says. “Typically, we have the owner and the dog stay in the hospital for the next 30 minutes to an hour until the reaction starts to reverse and the swelling starts to recede. After that, it’s usually at-home care with Benadryl tablets to keep it under control for a couple of days.”
If you see the stinger still lodged in your dog’s skin, don’t pull it out with tweezers.
This can squeeze more venom into your dog. Scrape the stinger with the edge of a credit card to pop it out instead.
