Over the years I have found there are certain items that are must-haves when hiking with dogs. In this post I want to share 5 items I feel are essential to have with me when I go hiking with my pets.

If you read my blog or follow my YouTube Channel, you know I love hiking with my dogs. We live in Arizona and hiking in the Sonoran Desert means we could come across rattlesnakes. So knowing basic rattlesnake bite safety could end up saving my pet’s life. In this blog I want to share with you what I  learned about what to do immediately after a pet is bitten.

A rattlesnake bite is frightening and can be one of the most dangerous situations you may face with your pet. Not only do you need to know what to do in the moments after a bite, but you also need to act fast to save your pet’s life. Being prepared ahead of time may ensure that you act in a way that helps your pet in this emergency.

The list contains the main things veterinarians suggest you do immediately after the bite occurred and also lists some DON'Ts - things that are widely believed to be useful, but that veterinarians do not recommend.

 Right now is the best time in the Valley to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. I love all the wonderful hiking trails we have in the area. I find that a lot of people feel that many of our trails are too challenging. The desert trails are rocky and hard to maneuver for some of my family and friends that come to visit me.
A good example is my 82 year old mother, who comes to visit from Germany. She is still very active and loves to get out into nature but many of the rugged trails in the area are just too much for her. So I set out to find some easier trails in the area. I still wanted them to be in the desert, so my family could experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, but without all the rocky trails and steep inclines.

In this article I would like to share some of my favorite trails to experience the Sonoran Desert. I selected  trails almost anyone can walk and enjoy.

Recently one of my friends ask if they could teach their dog not to pee every time a stranger comes into the home. Since submissive urination is a fearful behavior, I told my friend he needed to recondition the dog so that the dog would associate strangers coming to his home as a positive experience.

A dog that pees when she gets attention is likely a shy dog, that gets excited and/or intimidated when people come into her space. Most of the time people that love dogs want to pet them immediately and give them lots of verbal attention, like: “Oh, you are so cute. Come over here. You don’t have to be afraid, I like dogs!” They keep going after the dog, trying to pet her. Since the dog is in a submissive state and likely excited for all the attention, she will crouch down and squeeze her body to make herself smaller and in the process might pee a little, or even a lot. Now there will likely be some verbal exclamation from either the dog owner or the guest: “Oh no, she peed on the floor!” and some excited hustle about cleaning it up quickly. The dog senses that she has done something wrong and associates this greeting ritual with a state of anxiety and confusion.

Guest Blog by Jackie Lambert

Hi, we are ‘that couple with four dogs,’ otherwise known as Jackie and Mark. We took early retirement to travel when we were made redundant in our early 50s. Once we were no longer slaves to long hours, we decided to get a dog, but ended up with four; our cuddly Cavapoos Kai, Rosie, Ruby and Lani.Our pooches are our constant companions and since one of our passions is skiing, we take our pups on piste; that is, they accompany us for our snowy seasons in Monte Rosa, a hidden gem in the Italian Alps.

I used to mostly share these tips during the 4th of July Holiday, but since fireworks are now sold in many places during December for the New Years celebration, I thought, I share these tips for keeping your pet calm and safe during fireworks now.

For many pets the loud noises and the smell of fireworks are very frightening and statistically there is a 30% increase in lost pets during this time of year. Even pets that usually won't run from your home or yard can get so panicked that they may run away.

Image credit: Flickr

We love our dogs and take them with us wherever we go, whenever possible. I am always looking for more dog-friendly adventures, so you can imagine my excitement, when I saw some pictures of Melissa  rock-climbing with her dog, Hero. I just had to find out more about them!

Melissa embodies the term "if I can't bring my dog, I'm not going." She has found dog-friendly activities that are not only unique but also challenging. Melissa horseback rides, paddle boards and rock-climbs with her dog and both participate in dog events like dog survivals and canicross.

Read more about these unique activities........

We just got some snow in the high country of Arizona and many valley residents are eager to take a day trip to go for a winter hike in the snow. If you like us, this will mean bringing your dogs.

I thought this may be a good time to offer up a few winter travel tips for dog owners. These are mostly related to taking your dogs out during cold winter weather and are meant to help those who will travel into areas with snow and ice.

Apollo is super excited to get these "Chocolate" covered dog biscuits I just made. Of course, they are not dipped in real chocolate, because dogs can't have chocolate. It's one of those forbitten foods for dogs. These homemade dog biscuits are made with carob, a naturally sweet chocolate substitute that is safe for dogs to eat.

Want to make some special treats for your dogs this Thanksgiving? Here is my Thanksgiving treat recipe.

With winter approaching, it is critical that the shelters have an ample supply of blankets and bedding to keep the dogs warm. Mike Casten, owner of Poodini Pet Waste Removal, is organizing his Poodini Pals Toy Drive in November to focus on getting winter supplies for homeless Valley Shelter Dogs.

When we first got our new puppy Apollo he did not like car rides. He would sit there scared, whining and drooling, and after a few minutes he would start chucking up his food. Does your dog love the car? Or is he restless like Apollo? Is he unsettled and whines or drools? Does he get car sick? If your dog does not do well during car rides, the underlying issue is fear. This article will give you a few ways to help your dog get comfortable with the car, help you eliminate his fears, and get him to love traveling by car.
 

I already wrote an article on Pit Bull Awareness this month, as October is officially Pit Bull Awareness month. But I cannot resist sharing the beautiful pictures of Pit Bulls that were sent to me in response to my recent blog post.  You can read the article here.
So in honor of Pit Bull Awareness day, please enjoy these lovely faces and darling pets.

Take your dog with you on bicycle rides, it's a lot of fun and can be a great way to provide exercise for both of you.

When people ask me about skills that I deem important for traveling dogs, I always start with “Potty on Command.” Many people look at me in disbelieve. Really? Why would teaching your dog to do his business on command be such a big deal? But I insist, teaching your dog to potty on command is one of the most needed skills if you like to take your dog with you on day-trips or vacations. Here are my 3 reasons why you should teach your dog to potty on command.

These healthy dog treats are made with organic blueberries, yogurt, oats and fax seed.
Prep Time: 10 Min
Cook Time: 30 Min

While out shopping today, I noticed that the stores are already selling Halloween costumes everywhere. This reminded me to write a post on dressing up your dogs.
There are lots of people who want to make their pets part of the Halloween festivities. I remember as a child I had a small dog that I would dress up in my doll's clothes. The dog didn't mind too much. However, not every dog is as good-natured with playing dress-up as that little dog of my youth.
Here are some things you might want to consider, before you buy that Halloween costume for your dog: