Advice on Pets, Life, Love: Holiday Special!
By Monica Collins
"Ask Dog Lady" is not shy about dispensing advice for caring for our dogs. You ask like crazy, but, really, our dogs ask for nothing-except food, regular walks and old moldy tennis balls. In their simplicity, dogs leave so much to our imagination about how else we can pamper these beloved innocent animals.
The holidays provide the ideal excuse to bestow gifts-above and beyond the daily walk and bowl of kibble. If Dog Lady could be Santa to dogs (and their humans), here are perfect presents-from the practical to whimsical-she would stuff down the chimney. What you will not find on this list are coats and clothes as Dog Lady is still an old-fashioned girl and believes all dogs - even those with short-haired coats - are happy nudists. If you have any question about your dog in the cold, make sure to ask your veterinarian:
Fabulous Beds. Every dog has its day and its bed. Sure, an old blanket thrown on the floor will suffice but you should create a comfy niche for your pack animal. Well-behaved dogs need their space - as much as they want to share yours.
During this era of canine indulgence, every purveyor of pooch products sells dog beds but nobody does dog beds like Orvis, the country lifestyle catalogue. Bolster, chew-resistant, therapeutic, monogrammed, nest, corner, and folding beds-Orvis' "The Dog Book" is full of luxe lounges in all sizes and colors.
Prices start at $75 for small "ToughChew" nests and go up to $589 for extra-large memory foam loungers. Visit www.orvis.com or call 866-531-6188.
Bow (Wow) Clown Collar. Your dog does not want to dress up as Santa, the elf or a reindeer for the holiday party. Dogs are miserable in funny hats and clothing. If you must dude up your darling, choose a holiday-colored collar because neckwear doesn't bother them. Your angel could be a harlequin in a stretchy elastic jester's collar with tiny bells. A neat red and green harlequin collar festooned with jingle bells is available at www.entirelypets.com for the sale price of $3.99.
Classic Collar. The real deal in dog collars is one embroidered with the dog's name and phone number so you can dispense with the jangling hard-to-read tags (of course, you can keep the license readily available). Dog Lady's dog wears a personalized collar and his life has been saved because of it. Can't recommend these highly enough even though there are those who say a dog's name shouldn't be easily displayed. Still, when everybody knows your dog's name and number, your pet is a lot safer. Prices start at $18.95 at www.dogidcollar.com.
Healthy Grub. Poisoned pet food scares and regular recalls heighten awareness about dog food ingredients. Many of us don't want to serve the same old slop, which means boutique brands, such as Evanger's, have thrived. The Polka Dog Bakery, the best purveyor of pet products in the Boston area, carries Evanger's canned dinners, game meats and organic chicken. Polka Dog also carries Lotus canned, hand-packed dog stews.
Prices start at $1.50 and change. Polka Dog Bakery's flagship store is in the South End at 256 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, 617-338-5155. Other locations are in Jamaica Plain, Chestnut Hill, Lynnfield; a new Polka Dog just opened in the North End at 61 Salem Street.
Cleanliness Is Next To Dogliness. After a winter walk in snow and ice, wash off your dog's salty, dirty paws in tepid water one paw at a time. Keep an old pot filled by the door. Dry off darling with a highly absorbent microfiber "dirty dog shammy" ($14.99 at www.entirelypets.com).
Treat Di Tutti Treats. Dog Lady's bribes of choice are freeze-dried liver chunks. Trainers propel these tidbits into the mouths of champions. This all-natural goody will coax your recalcitrant rover to sit up and pay attention. Dog Lady trained her puppy to go potty outside in a week with liver chunks. A bucket of them will last a long time, especially if you cut each chunk into tiny pieces. Stewart (used to be Gimborn) is the best known brand. These are pricey but worth the investment. Available widely at Petco, Petsmart, Amazon.com.
Accidents Will Happen. When they mess - as they will because they're dogs not robots - you can clean up with Nature's Miracle, the enzymatic solvent that cleanses away all scents so they won't return to the scene of the grime. Nature's Miracle (Simple Solution is another brand name) is non- toxic, non-flammable, non-caustic and a "must" for wiping away bad memories in any pet home. Give yourself a gallon.
Visit askdoglady.com and read the new blogs, "Shorty Knows" and "The Dexter Diaries."