Build A Stronger Bond with Your Dog #PackedWeekend

November 19, 2020
5 Comments

Bonding with your dog is important because it will diminish miscommunication. When you have a strong bond in place, it is easier for you to understand your dog’s needs.

Establishing a meaningful bond with your dog is how your dog will learn to trust you. Trust is extremely important to form with your dog because it will make them easier to train, which will be mutually beneficial. Also, building trust will make your dog feel safer.

7 Ways to Build A Stronger Bond with Your Dog

Bonding with your dog can be accomplished in many different ways. Below are seven bond builder ideas you can easily implement to help you build a stronger bond with your dog. Keep in mind to adjust each of these ideas to better suit your unique relationship with your dog.
1. Play Together
2. Teach Commands and Tricks
3. Pay Attention to Body Language
4. Praise for Good Behaviors
5. Set-up Rules and Routines
6. Provide Physical Touch
7. Compete Together

1. Play Together
Spending time together and playing fun games strengthen your bond with your dog. “Play is powerful stuff. It influences so many things, including development, motivation, emotions, physiology, communication and behavior.” (from Play Together, Sit Together: Karen London and Patricia McConnell)

2. Teach Commands and Tricks
Training is one of the best ways to build a stronger bond with your dog. Teach your dog basic behavior commands and fun tricks. Be patient with your dog and stay consistent. Engaging your dog in a training session helps boost your dog’s confidence and provides a mental challenge.

3. Pay Attention to Body Language
Understand your dog’s cues for when it might be tired or upset so that you are not putting unnecessary stress or pressure on your dog during training sessions.

4. Praise for Good Behaviors
It is important to acknowledge your dog’s good behavior even if he/she knows all the commands and tricks. Praising your dog simply with verbal praise is a great way for him/her to continue the “good dog” behavior.

5. Set-up Rules and Routines
One way to build trust with your dog is by having consistent rules and routines. However, changing up your dog’s walking route can be fun and stimulating; give it a try.

6. Provide Physical Touch
Various studies have shown that touching your dog, either by petting or grooming, can decrease their stress levels (for both of you). It is important for you to take some time and focus all your attention on your dog when petting him/her.

7. Compete Together
Bring out your dog’s full abilities by adding fun activities. Joining competitive dog sports can strengthen your relationship with your dog.

The Pack Amazon Prime Video

The Amazon Original series The Pack will premiere on November 20th, on Amazon Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and her canine co-host Lucy are the hosts of the series. The series features twelve teams of dogs and their humans compete in different fun challenges around the world while enhancing their bond. It’s going to be a Packed Weekend – Watch The Pack on Amazon Prime Video!

Bonding with your dog is crucial to building trust and maintaining a healthy happy human-animal relationship. Practice often these seven bond builder ideas to build a stronger bond with your dog.

2020 Cutest Dog Halloween Costumes | 5 Tips for Choosing the Right Costume For Your Dog

September 20, 2020
7 Comments

For the past years, Halloween has gone to the dogs. Many dog owners choose to dress up their dogs. Are you dressing up your dog this Halloween? Here are 5 Cutest Dog Halloween Costumes from Target.
1. Popcorn
2. Lobster
3. Stingray
4. Goldfish
5. Box Delivery

2020 Cutest Dog Halloween Costumes from Target

1. Popcorn Halloween Dog

2. Lobster Halloween Dog

3. Stingray Halloween Dog

4. Goldfish Halloween Dog

5. Fragile Box Delivery Halloween Dog

Which one is your favorite?

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Halloween Costumes

1. Size Up!
It is important to choose the right size dog Halloween costume for your dog. Sometimes it’s good to get a larger size to have more room and can move freely.

2. Lightweight Material
Make sure the material of the dog Halloween costume is breathable and doesn’t weigh them down.

3. Not Restricting Dog’s Senses
Nowadays, many dog Halloween costumes consist of a headgear. Lots of these headgears are adorable. Make sure it does not restrict your dog’s eyesight, nose, ears, and mouth.

4. No Embellishments
It’s a good idea to skip dog Halloween costumes with lots of embellishments. These are unnecessary and hazardous for choking.

5. Not For All Dogs!
Dog Halloween costumes are not for all dogs. Make it simple. A Halloween dog neckwear can be an alternative like a dog bandana.

A Reminder to All Dog Parents: Never force your dog to stay in a Halloween costume. If your dog is feeling uncomfortable, immediately remove the costume. Always, watch your dog’s body language and look for any signs of stress. Also, never leave your dog alone in a costume.

What dog Halloween costumes you plan to dress-up your dog?

Dog Travel Car Essentials for a Safe and Happy Trip

August 24, 2020
5 Comments

This post is sponsored by Autotrader; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own and Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Every time we hit the road with Koru Bear, whether we are going to run errands or just going to the park or on a long road trip, we want to make sure we have a good time and are always prepared and packed with these dog travel car essentials. Autotrader is our go-to resource for advice on making sure that our car is pup-approved!

Dog Travel Car Essentials for a Safe and Happy Trip

1
Seat Protector
A dog car seat cover is a must-have car essential especially if you have a big dog that sheds a lot. It also helps to keep your car seats clean from dirt and muddy paws. We opt for a hammock style car seat cover.

2
Safety Restraint
To ensure Koru Bear’s safety, we use a travel harness. It is important to keep him secure and to reduce the potential for driving distractions. Also, a safety restraint can help keep him safe if an accident occurs.

3
Travel Dog Mat + Towels (Blanket)
For extra comfort, we always bring a multi-purpose travel mat and towels, which are especially handy when KORU BEAR’s paws get wet and muddy.

To ensure that we always have KORU BEAR’s travel car essentials, we pack all of his dog care items in a travel bag. It’s easy to carry, especially if we use a different vehicle on our trip.

4
Dog First Aid Kit
We are always prepared as you never know when something unfortunate can happen. Having the basic supplies in KORU BEAR’s first aid kit has come in handy on our previous travels. We also include his veterinarian information in the kit.

5
Waste Bags
Be a responsible dog owner, bring poop bags and scoop that poop!

6
Treats / Food
Treating Koru Bear with his favorite treats during car rides helps him settle down. For longer trips, we always pack his food and make sure to stay on his regular diet to avoid an upset stomach or allergies.

7
Water / Portable Bowls
We make sure to keep a water bottle handy for Koru Bear. For long car rides, we offer water at least every couple of hours to prevent dehydration.

8
Dog Wipes / Paw Sanitizers
Pet-friendly wipes/spray are must-have on Koru Bear’s car rides and dog travel. It is important to keep him smelling good and fresh. Keeping his paws clean alleviates any licking or allergy reactions.

9
Extra Harness / Leash / Collar + ID Tag
It’s handy that Koru Bear’s harness is versatile; it’s an everyday harness and a car safety restraint. However, you never know when his harness, leash, or collar might break or get lost, so having an extra in the event of an emergency is essential.

10
Toys
Bringing one of Koru Bear’s favorite stuffed toys to cuddle during the car ride helps him settle down. A stuffie toy also provides him comfort especially if he is anxious about our final destination. We always pack a fetch toy to use on our stops where we engage in fetch play with Koru Bear to help him regain his energy.

These dog travel car essentials are pup-approved by Koru Bear. How about our vehicles? For short travels, Koru Bear enjoys and is comfortable riding in a sedan. For long travels, Koru Bear enjoys the extra space of an SUV.

Are you looking for a new vehicle to travel with your furry co-pilot? We invite you to celebrate National Dog Day by checking out Dogtrader.com as a resource for pup-approved cars for dog lovers.

If you are looking for a new furry best friend, you can also search for local adoptable pups in your area and help get homeless dogs out of the shelter at Dogtrader.com. This is the real mission of National Dog Day!

When traveling with your dog to celebrate National Dog Day, be safe, have fun, and don’t forget these dog travel essentials.

How To Hang A Hammock For Your Dog

July 1, 2020
4 Comments

Just For FUN! Due to the current state, we are unable to travel and spending lots of time outdoors. KORU BEAR loves to chill and watch nature. He always Woofs when I’m in a hammock … so we decided to modify on how to hang a hammock for him to enjoy.

5 Simple TIPS: How To Hang A Hammock For Your Dog

1
Finding the pawfect location to hang a hammock is so important. Choosing a tree to hang a hammock is a big deal. You want to select two sturdy trees that can also provide shade.

2
Keep in mind the distance and height.

3.
Make sure the trees can handle your dog’s weight (one reason #1 is so important).

4
A hammock should be low in the center and high near the ends. Use a safe rope or straps to secure the hammock.

5
Make sure to hang the hammock in the most comfortable position for your dog.

Having a hammock is a pawfect outdoor accessory that both provides fun and comfort for you and your dog.

5 Dog Care Routines to Keep Your Dog Healthy All Year Round

April 14, 2020
4 Comments

Providing a healthy lifestyle is just as important for your dog as it is for you. One reason it is essential to establish dog care routines to keep your dog happy and healthy all year round.

This post is sponsored by bluestem^TM. I am being compensated to increase awareness of and share my experiences with the bluestem^TM oral care products, but Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

5 Dog Care Routines to Keep Your Dog Healthy All Year Round

1.Vet Visit
In helping your dog to live a long and healthy life, a yearly veterinary wellness exam is essential. Why? A vet exam can determine and diagnose a disease, preventing them from worsening and save you vet bills.

2. Check Your Dog
To stay on top of keeping your dog healthy all year round, give your dog a quick monthly home exam between scheduled veterinary visits. Some of the areas you can check are: plaque and tartar on teeth, excessive odorous wax in ears, and any abnormal lumps under their coat. Early detection is key and increases the chances of successful treatment.

3. Proper Diet
Your dog’s diet plays a vital role in its overall health. Understand the different dog food options especially if your dog has sensitive digestion like KORU BEAR. Always consult your veterinarian and do your own research.

4.Grooming + Dental Care
A well-groomed dog is a healthier and happier dog. Taking care of your dog’s teeth must be part of your daily grooming routine.

It is important to start a dental care routine as early as possible in your dog’s life and you need to stick with it. When we adopted KORU BEAR, we made sure to create a daily dental routine especially since his teeth were not in optimal condition at 6 months old. It took a lot of patience managing KORU BEAR’s dental health but it was worth it. We (and our vet too) are happy with the results. In conjunction with using bluestem^TM Water Additive on a daily basis, we also brush KORU BEAR’s teeth 4x times a week with bluestem^TM Toothpaste and use bluestem^TM Oral Spray on alternate days.

bluestem^TM Oral Dog Care for Dogs
There are several dental pet products on the market. Based on our previous experience caring for SUGAR’s dental health, we choose to use bluestem^TM. Only bluestem^TM oral care products contain coactiv+^TM technology, a unique formulation scientifically formulated to help breakdown plaque where harmful bacteria multiply.

Simplest Way to Prevent Bad Dog Breath

We started using bluestem^TM Water Additive. It’s a simple way to aid your dog’s dental health; improves breath and can help to decrease the chances of plaque biofilm in your dog’s mouth. bluestem^TM Water Additive is convenient to use; simply add 2 capfuls to 2.5 cups of your drinking water. Definitely, this first process eliminated KORU BEAR’s stress and it was very convenient to start his at-home oral care routine.

Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

Daily brushing is an ideal way to care for your dog’s dental health. Teaching KORU BEAR to accept brushing took several months. Having him getting accustomed to opening his mouth, the toothbrush texture and toothpaste taste was a process.

It is important to use a dog-safe oral care product like bluestem^TM Toothpaste. Brushing KORU BEAR’s teeth is getting easier. It took a while but it eliminated most of the plaque and tartar.

KORU BEAR’s Favorite At-Home Oral Care

For better results, we also use oral spray and dental chews to care for KORU BEAR’s dental health. The no-startle nozzle on bluestem^TM Oral Spray is a convenient option to freshen breath and reduce plaque. KORU BEAR can’t resist bluestem^TM dental chews. The texture and shape of these dental chews are designed to scrape against and in between dog’s teeth all the way up to the gum line.

Basic at-home dental care for your dog is important.
Create a dog care dental routine that works for you.

5. Exercise – PLAY
Having a dog gives you a great excuse to get out and exercise. A regular exercise routine provides your dog with mental stimulation. Play with your dog. Play is powerful as it influences your dog’s development, motivation, emotions, physiology, and behavior.

Keeping up with your dog care routine is so worthwhile. The more time you spend making sure your dog is healthy all year round means the more time you get to spend bonding; the best part of being a dog parent.

For your dog dental care, learn more about bluestem^TM oral care pet products
at bluestempets.com. Be informed about bluestem^TM oral care on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can find bluestem^TM pet oral care products on Amazon and check your local pet retailers.

Build A Stronger Bond with Your Dog #PackedWeekend

7 Ways to Build A Stronger Bond with Your Dog

The Pack Amazon Prime Video

2020 Cutest Dog Halloween Costumes | 5 Tips for Choosing the Right Costume For Your Dog

2020 Cutest Dog Halloween Costumes from Target

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Halloween Costumes

Dog Travel Car Essentials for a Safe and Happy Trip

Dog Travel Car Essentials for a Safe and Happy Trip

How To Hang A Hammock For Your Dog

5 Dog Care Routines to Keep Your Dog Healthy All Year Round