Summertime is the season for dog owners and their four-legged friends to spend quality time playing in the park, hiking through the woods or just playing fetch in the backyard. It is indeed the perfect season for bonding with your best canine friend.

Unfortunately summertime is also the season for flea infestations. Fleas are an almost unavoidable problem for most dogs, and during the warmer months it is almost certain you will do battle with these bothersome pests. Your pet need not stay outside for long periods of time to come in contact with fleas. As a matter of fact, your pet can pick up fleas from visiting another dog owner’s home.

It really makes no difference where your pet picks up these little critters, what matters is getting rid of them to keep your dog healthy. Some pet owners like to use powders, while others will prefer dips or sprays in an attempt to repel fleas. These methods invariably leave the pets covered in one type of toxic chemical or another. These chemicals which can be quite harsh or even harmful to the pet or the people who are exposed to them are the exact reason that some individuals have opted to go another in another direction in the war on fleas. This direction is the natural path to flea control.

Natural flea control not only works against fleas, it also works with the environment by not adding any toxins to our already toxic laden world. By using natural elements already found in the world around us, you can effectively control fleas without adding to the environmental damage being done, as well as not expose your beloved pet to harmful chemicals and fumes.

One of the first things that you should do is to actually give your pet a good flea inspection on a regular basis. Start by rubbing the fur back using either a flea comb, or you can use your hands. The tell tale signs of fleas will be evident by the actual sighting of the fleas, or by the discovery of small black specks, which are flea droppings. By doing visual flea inspections, you can determine when an infestation is evident, and to what extent it has occurred.

You can create an all natural flea spray to use on your dog which is quite effective by combining a few drops of lemon essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil with a cup of water in a spray bottle. When you spray your dog, be certain that you get some of the frequently missed areas such as the arm pits, the base of the dog’s tail and behind the dog’s ears.

For flea prevention around your dog’s outside pen or kennel, you can use cedar shaving mulch around the perimeter. You can also use the cedar mulch around your yard in order to reduce and repel the number of fleas in your yard.

Commercial dog collars have pesticide in them which releases slowly into the dog’s skin. These collars also tend to release toxic fumes which can actually make your pet sick. To keep the added protection that a dog collar can give while not adding toxins to your pet, you can make your very own natural flea collars. Natural flea collars will not make your dog sick, and are easy to make.

To make your own natural flea collar, start by choosing the material you’d like to use as the collar. You can use a bandana, a cloth collar or even a length of rope will do. Just be certain that the material you use is something made of natural fibers so it will hold the natural flea repellants.

Now that you have your collar, sprinkle it with one or a combination of the following: tea tree essential oil, citronella essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, geranium essential oil or lavender essential oil. Please take note that you must use essential oils, and not scented oils as there is a difference. You should apply the essential oils to the collar once every week for maximum benefit.

You can also use your dog’s diet to combat fleas. One such way is to purchase brewer’s yeast tablets from your veterinarian or local pet store and add it to your dog’s daily diet regimen. Brewer’s yeast and baker’s yeast are not interchangeable, so be certain you get the correct yeast.

Did you know that you can fight fleas from your pet’s drinking bowl by adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to his water? You certainly can! The vinegar is acidic and is excreted through the skin, which fleas do not like. Your dog will not notice the slight addition of the apple cider vinegar if you don’t over do it.

If you have never considered using natural flea control for your dog, you may want to give it a try. It is an easy to do practice which is not only good for your dog’s health, but it’s good for you and the environment as well.

***CAUTION: Certain essential oils are hazardous to cats ***

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.

The only sure way to make certain your dog eats healthy foods, made from the best, safest ingredients is to make your own food and treats at home. There are many great recipes for dog treats and dog food that can be found all over the Internet, and in this article, we will list a few of our favorites for you. When making your own doggie treats, you should keep in mind that there are certain ingredients that really aren’t safe for dogs, and keep in mind as well your own dog’s particular digestive system, as well as any allergies he may have. Gather your ingredients, print off some of these recipes, and have fun!

Yummy Apple Treats

What You Will Need:

• 2 cups of whole wheat flour
• ½ cup of unbleached flour
• ½ cup cornmeal
• 1 apple, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 smoothly beaten egg
• 1/3 cup pure vegetable oil
• 1 packed tablespoon of brown sugar
• 3/8 cup of water

Once you have gathered your ingredients, you will start heating up your oven. For this recipe, it should be set at 350 degrees, and you will need to allow it to pre-heat. Find a cookie sheet, and lightly spray it with a vegetable baking spray, so your treats won’t stick. Next, in a large bowl, blend your flours and cornmeal together. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix them well.
Flour your counter, table, or cutting board, and roll out your dough until it is approximately 7/8 of an inch in thickness. You can use cookie cutters, or anything round, to cut out your treats with, and then put them on your cookie sheet so that they don’t touch each other.
Leave them in the over for about 40 minutes, and then turn the oven off, but leave the door closed, so that the treats will get crispy. This usually takes about an hour.
This recipe will make about 24 treats.

Doggie Cakes

What You Will Need:

• 2 ¾ cups of water
• ¼ cup pure, unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 egg
• 1/8 teaspoon of vanilla extract, for flavor
• 4 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup of fruit, preferably dried
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder, for fluffy cakes

Your oven should be allowed to heat up to 350 degrees for this recipe. Start by blending your applesauce, water, vanilla, honey, and egg together. Then add your flour, fruit, and baking powder, again mixing well. Once everything is blended together, you will want to spray your muffin pan with non-stick baking spray, and then put the mixture into the cups, just as you would if you were making cupcakes. The cakes will need to bake for about 1 hour and fifteen minutes.
This recipe will make about 14 doggie cakes.

Meaty Stick Treats

What You Will Need:

• 3 ½ cups of flour
• 1 cup of cornmeal
• 1 pack of non-flavored gelatin
• ¼ cup of milk, whole is best
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup of pure corn oil
• 1 jar of meaty baby food, pureed beef
• 1 cube of beef bouillon
• ¾ cup of beef stock, or boiling water

Take your beef bouillon cube and allow it to completely dissolve in water. Using a sifter and large bowl, mix your dry ingredients together, until thoroughly mixed. Next, add in your egg, milk, beef, bouillon, and oil. Mix completely. Flour your counter or cutting board and roll the mixture out flat using your rolling pin. Cut this into approximate 3 inch sticks, and twist a few times so they stay together well. Heat your oven to about 400 degrees, grease a cookie sheet, place the sticks on the sheet, and allow to bake for about 40 minutes. Removed baked sticks and place in the fridge to cool before giving them to your canine pal!

Irresistible Puppy Cookies

What You Will Need:

• 2 cups of rye flour, sifted please
• ½ cup of pure vegetable oil
• ½ white flour, also sifted
• 2/3 cup heated water
• ¼ cup of cornmeal

Blend all ingredients together well in a large bowl. You may add vanilla or some other extract for flavoring if you wish. Flour your work surface, and roll your dough out onto it. Cut out the cookies with your favorite cutter, and place them onto a sparingly greased cookie sheet. Your oven will need to heat to 350, and the cookies will bake for about 30 minutes. Allow them to cool before giving them to your pup!

Hot Day Treats

What You Will Need:

Approximately 32 ounces of plain, vanilla yogurt
1cup or so of peanut butter, creamy or crunchy

In a glass bowl, melt the peanut butter in the microwave, so you can blend it with the yogurt well. When the peanut butter is completely melted, add in the yogurt, and blend together. Pour the mixture into an empty ice cube tray, or other freezer container, and allow to freeze. When your puppy needs to cool off on a hot day, whip one out as a special treat!

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.

If you’ve been thinking of adopting a new dog into your life, you may have some needs which can only be met by adopting a dog of a certain breed. You will be much happier, as will your new canine companion, if the two of you make a compatible couple from the start. You can pretty much insure that you pick the perfect pup by asking what your needs are, and what limitations will be placed upon the pet.

Unequivocally, the first thing you should ask yourself is what purpose the dog will serve in your life. Do you want a dog as companionship, as in cuddled up on the couch sharing evening movies, or do you want a strong companion which will also do double duty as protection for your home and family? This question will certainly give you an idea of the size of the dog you’ll need. This will focus you in on a selection of breeds to choose from.

Next you should consider how much physical space that you have to allocate to your new pet. If you live in a small apartment, you surely wouldn’t want to bring home a large breed of dog. Always ask the breeder or shop owner how much space the dog would require to be comfortable. Some larger breeds of dogs are not really all that active, and would be quite comfortable in a smaller area, provided he is taken on regular walks and given the regular exercise he needs. Of course if you live on a large ranch, space may not be an issue, but it is a consideration which must be addressed when adopting your new dog.

Speaking of regular exercise, this is another consideration that plays a vital role in choosing a new dog. You should enquire about exactly how much exercise the dog will need. Your new friend will need regular exercise to stay healthy, so if your schedule does not allow for much time for regular exercise, then you may need to opt for one of the less active breeds.

Grooming your dog is a necessity which must be performed on a regular basis. If you are not looking forward to dealing with frequent trips to the dog groomer, you may want to steer clear of the long haired breeds. It would also be wise to consider that all dogs will shed, however some are more prone to shedding than others. Be sure to ask the breeder or owner how much the dog sheds before you decide to bring him home.

If you already have pets at home, you will need to find out how the breed usually looks on other dogs before introducing him into your home. This is also a good time to find out how well the particular breed you are considering has historically gotten along with children, if you have children in or about your home. Some breeds of dogs have historically been a good match for children, and some are not tempered well for the antics of a child.

If you have a particular breed of dog you are already interested in, then you should start with that breed and compare it against the aforementioned points. If the dog fails to meet the required criteria, then you should ask for a recommendation from a respected dog breeder. Adopting a new dog is something that you have to get right the first time, because it’s not only your life that is impacted by the adoption, it’s the dog’s life also. Get it right the first time, and you’ll both be much happier for it!

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.

While be a loving dog owner is important, you also need to be a knowledgeable dog owner as well. By not knowing how to properly feed your dog, you could be risking not only his health, but even his life. In this article, you will find out more information about some of the foods that you definitely should NOT feed your dog, so that you can be better informed on how to care for your precious pet.

All of us at one time or another have been guilty of feeding our dogs “people” food, and have most likely done so without harming our pet, that we know of. If you feel that you should feed your dog “people” food, then you should talk with your veterinarian to see what foods are okay for your particular type of dog. The foods listed in this article are typically bad for almost all dogs, so it is a good idea to ban them completely from your dog’s diet.

Even though you may enjoy the occasional beer, you should never allow your dog to have alcohol. Some people think it is funny to watch their dog stagger around inebriated, but little do they know, that the alcohol that is creating this funny show could actually cause their beloved dog to go into a coma, or even die! So, number one on your list of foods to never give your dog: alcohol.

While your dog may love to chew on the leftover bones of your Thanksgiving turkey, it really isn’t a good idea to allow him to do so, or any kind of leftover bones for that matter. These bones could cause severe damage to the dog’s mouth, the lining of his throat, esophagus, and digestive system, or could even become lodged inside the dog, which could result in surgery, or even death. If you want your canine friend to have bones to chew, then you should purchase safe rawhide bones from your local pet supply store.

Caffeine is bad for us humans, but is doubly bad for dogs. The effects, due to their smaller size, and much greater in dogs than in humans, so if drinking a cup of soda makes you hyper, just think of what it will do to your dog! If you allow your dog to have caffeine, you should know that you could be unknowingly causing irrevocable damage to his heart and nervous system, which could not only cause his health to deteriorate, but could even kill him!

Chocolate has much the same dangers as caffeine, affecting the heart and nervous system as well. Dark chocolate is the most likely to cause fatal symptoms, but is a good idea to make it a general rule to never allow your dog to eat any kind of chocolate, at all! Think twice before you allow your dog’s begging for that brownie to get to you, remember, you are the one responsible for his care!

Also, on the restricted list, onions and garlic, in any form, including powders that may be used as seasoning in foods. You have to learn to read labels carefully, on any food product that you give your dog, as these two foods could be very hazardous to your dog, and has even caused many dogs to die. This is more common in feline pets than in dogs, but it is still something that you should be aware of, especially if you intend to feed your dog table-food.

Many diet foods meant for human consumption contain an ingredient known as Xylitol, as a sugar substitute. In dogs, this ingredient can cause a rapid drop in glucose levels, which could lead to seizures and even death if not treated in time.

These are only a few of the dangerous foods that we eat everyday, that are not safe for our dogs to eat. To be certain you aren’t feeding your dog something that could compromise his health, or put his life at risk, seek and follow your veterinarian’s advice, and make sure that others who come into contact with the dog do the same. You should remember that while you may know what foods are safe for your dog, others who are around him may not, so it is your job to educate them, to make certain your dog stays healthy and safe.

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.

Most of us automatically assume that as long as we purchase commercially prepared food for our dogs, and stay away from table food and scraps, that we are doing the right thing, but how do we really know what ingredients that dog food has been made from? Sure, you read the label, but do really understand what the information on the label means? In this article, you will find information that will help you learn how to read those dog food labels, so that you will be able to make better food choices for your dog in the future.

The first thing you should know when you look at the list of ingredients on a package of dog food is that the ingredients are listed according to their bulk amount. For example, if meat is listed first on the label, then you know that this dog food contains primarily meat. Not to say that is necessarily the one you should choose, but it isn’t a bad start. You can usually judge the quality of a commercial dog food by the first four ingredients listed on the label, but again, you shouldn’t skip over the remaining ingredients, just in case your dog has any allergies to dyes or preservatives. Since dogs are primarily carnivores, their bodies need plenty of protein, so a dog food that lists meat as the first ingredient is definitely one to pay attention to. If a dog food lists meat as one of the first four main ingredients, you know that it has been made from organs, meat, fat, and skin of an animal, and it should tell you on the label what type of animal that meat came from.

Any dog food that is made from animal by-products, listed in the first few ingredients on the label, has been made from using hair, feathers, hooves, teeth, or horns of animals, and provides your dog with very little nutritional value. Most vets and breeders will tell you to stay away from any commercial dog food that has animal by-products listed anywhere on the label.

Dog food that has meal listed as one of the main ingredients doesn’t offer much for your dog either. It may be more filling than some of the other options, but it isn’t very nutritional. Meal is produced by taking leftover animal products, boiling them in a big vat, drying them out, and then using a grinder to turn them into a fine powder. The process helps destroy any possible bacteria that may be on the meat, but it also takes away much of the nutritional value as well. While this dog food is better for your dog than that made from by-products, it still isn’t a great choice.

Many commercial dog foods today are not made with your dog’s best interests in mind, so as a loving dog owner, you owe it to your pet to take the time to learn how to read labels, and look for the best ingredients for your dog. Even if the food is a little more expensive, it is still well worth it if it means your dog will be healthier and happier, isn’t it?

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

This article may be reprinted as long as it’s reprinted in its entirety including the signature line.