Sharing the holidays with your pet makes precious memories. Pet stores and Veterinarians host Pictures with Santa. Many times the proceeds are donated to a local animal shelter. A donation to help other pets and a picture worth wagging a tail about! Now that is Holiday Cheer!

During the holidays family and friends come together and celebrate. Don’t forget the family member with four legs. Dogs love Christmas too, and are usually easier to shop for than their owners. A Christmas canine treat will always be a hit. Tiny Tim’s Decadent Doggie Cookie Treat Tray are fabulous treats made of only the finest, all-natural, human-grade ingredients by our Canine Chefs with loving care. Even Scrooge will love these treats! Christmas themed interactive dog toys can keep a dog busy for hours. Christmas IQube will not only keep your pet occupied and eliminate boredom this holiday season, but will also develop your dog’s intelligence and puzzle solving skills.

Everyone wants to look their best for the holidays, including your dog. There are many styles and designs of dog collars, jingle bell dog collars, scrunchie dog collars and dog bandannas as well as holiday themed collars charms that will make your pet look merry. Dog holiday dresses, holiday tee shirts and Santa suits will have your dog looking picture perfect!

While you are sitting down to your Christmas feast, your dog needs to have a feast of their own. The Wonder Bone Dog treat is an all natural Cow Femur Bone for your dog ! This meaty mammoth size bone is a true delight for any dog! Sure to keep your energetic dog occupied, this all-natural cow femur is smoked for extra flavor. In Texas, we just grow em bigger!

Remember to hang a Christmas dog stocking by the fireplace for your dog. Santa will stuff the dog’s stocking with dog toys, dog treats, a new dog collar and leash. If you let Santa know if your dog has been Naughty or Nice … the appropriate dog bone will be left on the hearth. (NAUGHTY & NICE Dog Christmas Gourmet Dog Bones All Natural Dog Treat – 6 Decorated Holiday Bones)

Christmas Dog

by Shel Silverstein

Tonight’s my first night as a watchdog,
And here it is Christmas Eve.
The children are sleeping all cozy upstairs,
While I’m guardin’ the stockin’s and tree.

What’s that now—footsteps on the rooftop?
Could it be a cat or a mouse?
Who’s this down the chimney?
A thief with a beard— And a big sack for robbin’ the house?

I’m barkin’, I’m growlin’, I’m bitin’ his butt.
He howls and jumps back in his sleigh.
I scare his strange horses, they leap in the air.
I’ve frightened the whole bunch away.

Now the house is all peaceful and quiet again.
The stockin’s are safe as can be.
Won’t the kiddies be glad when they wake up tomorrow
And see how I’ve guarded the tree.

The Flu and the Swine Flu have been the hot topic during the last few months. Dogs are not exempt from catching the flu. Canine Influenza is an A H3N8 influenza virus that has been known to exist in horses for more than 40 years. In 2004, however, cases of an unknown respiratory illness in dogs (initially greyhounds) were reported. This virus has spread to dogs and can now spread between dogs.

Because this flu virus is new to dogs, most dogs will not have a natural immunity. The signs of canine flu are similar to kennel cough, with a thick nasal discharge and mild low grade fever.

Canine influenza is spread by airborne discharge and contaminated surfaces. The virus can stay alive on surfaces for up to 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours, and on hands for 12 hours. Therefore kennels, crates, food and water bowls, collars and leashes and people moving between infected and uninfected dogs have ample time to spread the virus.

There are similar respiratory infections that mimic the Dog Flu. Two blood samples can confirm canine influenza. One blood sample is drawn while the dog is sick and the second 2 to 3 weeks later.

There is a Canine Influenza Vaccine, H3N8 which has proven to reduce the occurrence and severity of lung lesions, as well as the duration of coughing and the overall virus. The vaccine is made from inactivated virus and is administered by an injection in two doses, two to four weeks apart. The Canine Flu vaccine may be given to dogs six weeks of age or older and can be given annually for Flu protection. Dog owners should seek advice from with their veterinarian to determine whether the vaccine is appropriate for their dog.

Currently, there is no evidence that humans can catch canine influenza virus from dogs. There are no known cases of humans infected with the canine influenza virus. This virus infects dogs and spreads between dogs.

Just like the Swine Flu and the Seasonal Flu, it is likely that the Dog Flu will continue to spread. Taking precautions and taking proper care of your pet, should keep your dog healthy during this flu season. There is no need for alarm and avoiding dog parks, kennels, grooming or other places you typically take your dog. Reputable Pet Professionals keep their establishments sanitized and are aware of unhealthy symptoms of their clients.

For more information on Canine Influenza, check out these 2 websites: Dr. Cynda Crawford (University of Florida) at www.canineflu.org and information from the American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org.

Everyone loves puppy kisses, but nobody loves puppy breath! A wagging tail, panting and squealing with delight. then, a big, wet dog kiss ! – By now you’ve gotten a whiff of “dog breath”!

Remember this famous Peanuts quote: Auugh! I’ve been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get some hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine! As spoken by none other than Lucy Van Pelt!

Dog breath has a bad reputation! Humans with terrible oral hygiene habits have bad breath too! The first step to help with unpleasant pet breath is to keep your dog’s teeth clean. A yearly professional cleaning by your veterinarian will scrape built on plaque and tarter off your dog’s teeth and along the gum line. If you start oral hygiene when your pet is young, you can train them to tolerate having their teeth brushed by you. This is will help fight tartar and gum disease between yearly veterinarian cleanings.

An easy solution to brushing your dog’s teeth at home is ClearQuest Pet Toothbrush and Toothpaste Set. The double-sided toothbrush has a small and large head for complete cleaning. Tartar-control toothpaste is flavored with vanilla and has tea tree oil for gum health. Non-foaming toothpaste requires no rinsing. Don’t use your toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth. Human toothpaste can be harmful to a dog.

Bad breath could indicate dangerous conditions that need more attention than just giving your dog a breath freshener. Have your veterinarian rule out gum disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or a foreign object trapped in your dog’s mouth. Periodontal disease can lead to heart problems. The bacteria in the tartar can get into the bloodstream through infected gums. Bacteria can attach in the heart and cause a life-threatening disease. It is important to your dog’s health to keep your their teeth and gums clean.

Some groomers recommend giving your dog carrots to help with bad breath. An apple a day also helps for a short period of time. Dog owners can easily make Homemade Dog Breath Mints. It is very simple, only 3 ingredients.

1/4 cup mint leaves
3-5 salt-free crackers or matzo or breadcrumbs
Water

1. Crush crackers
2. Finely chop mint leaves
3. Mix chopped mint with crackers
4. Add water to mint and crackers until mixture is sticks together
5. Form into 1/4 inch balls.
6. Place into freezer on waxed paper
7. Serve to your dogs when needed

One of Jake’s Dog House best selling products is Petkin Liquid Oral Care. Liquid Oral Care provides an easy way to keep your pet’s teeth and gums clean and healthy while freshening their breath. Simply add Liquid Oral Care to your pet’s daily drinking water. The virtually tasteless and colorless formula works invisibly to clean teeth while fighting plaque, gum disease and odor causing germs. A 32oz bottle.retails typically for $12.95

Dog toys help reduce bad dog breath. Nylabone Galileo dog bone has tiny bristle like projections that are raised during normal chewing which help to clean teeth and massage the gums. Rope dog toys act as dental floss to keep rub away plaque and tarter. Tough, solid rubber dog toys like KONG dental stick is made from flexible, durable KONG natural rubber and not only satisfies your dog’s natural urge to chew, but cleans their teeth while your dog plays!

Chase annoying bad breath away with a good dental plan of brushing your dog’s teeth, yearly visits to the Vet, and breath fresheners made for pets! Using oral care products that are especially formulated to help you in taking care of your dog’s oral hygiene will keep your dog healthy and happy and make dog kisses delightful!

Visit Jake’s Dog House for other Dog Breath remedies.

We all want the perfect pet. How about a dog who is house broken and doesn’t have accidents in the house? Some adopted and rescued dogs are already house trained and just need to get acclimated to their new home and routine and some dogs, namely puppies, and a few small breeds need constant attention to teach them to let you know when they need to, “go out”.

Getting a puppy is very exciting! Playing and cuddling with your precious new addition is what puppy love is all about. Teaching your puppy the house rules is another story! The house rule is, No Peeing or Pooping in the House!

Sometimes this is easier said than done. A puppy needs to learn that the appropriate location to “go potty” is outside. Many pet owners use Nature’s Miracle Puppy Training Pads to assist in the training process. The training pads are treated with a fresh grass scent to train dogs to “go” outside faster! A dog attractant “Go Here” pheromones scent is detected only by dogs which attracts them to the pads. The training pads absorb up to 100 times its volume in liquid, making it one of the most absorbent pads and also eliminates the toughest pet odors. Placing these highly absorbent pads near the door makes housetraining your puppy quicker and easier.

Once your dog knows to go near the door when they have to go to the bathroom, eliminate the whining, barking or waiting by the door! Poochie-Bells have a 95% success rate and are easy to use to quickly train your pooch to ring the bells when he needs to go outside. The reinforced bells are extra smooth, snapped & looped safely into place so that they won’t be pulled or fall off the heavy duty designer durable grosgrain ribbon. The bells are strategically placed for training small and large breeds. Poochie Bells are recommended by professional trainers.

All good dogs deserve a reward. When your dog gets the hang of letting you know it is time to go out – a dog treat is necessary to reinforce the good behavior. One of Jake’s favorite dog training treats are 100% Pure Dehydrated Pork Liver Treats. Even the most fussy dogs love the bite sized, all natural dog snack. Jakes Teddy Training Dog Treats contain no fillers, additives or preservatives. An all around great reward!

During the housebreaking process, accidents will happen. Dog owners get frustrated when you just took your puppy outside and as soon as you get back inside he pees on the carpet. UGH! One of the best-known enzymatic stain and odor removers on the market is Advanced Formula Natures Miracle Pet Odor Stain Remover. It eliminates urine odors completely with no perfume cover-up odor. It is safe for use around children and pets and on colors because it’s non-toxic, non-flammable, non-caustic and non-acid.

Love and Patience are essential for house breaking your dog. The ideal puppy is sleeping in your lap and looking adorable and in a few weeks will communicate with you when they need to go out to do their business. House breaking is just the beginning to teaching a dog to respect you and your home.

The days are getting chilly. Time to pull out the coats and sweaters and turn on the heater! Even though dogs come with their own coats, they could use extra warmth provided by a dog coat or dog sweater.

Dog owners enjoy dressing up small dogs. Smaller breed dogs have hair rather than fur and are sensitive to chilly weather. They need the warmth of dog clothes if they are outside for any length of time. Dog breeds such as: Yorkshire Terriers, Silky Terriers, Chinese Crested Dogs, Dachshunds and Maltese truly benefit from wearing a dog sweater or coat. Little dogs don’t like the feel of the cold or rain and are happiest warm and dry.

Smaller/Medium size dogs such as Pugs and Welsh Corgis have shorthair, but a more muscular build than teacup and small dogs. But wouldn’t a Welsh Corgi just be so righteous in a Velour Prince or Princess Royalty Hoodie? If they are spending the day with the Queen a plaid trench coat would be perfect. How about a pug in a Faux Brown Leather Bomber Jacket? Sometimes it is just about looking good! Even though Boxers are muscular they don’t fare well in extreme temperatures. Couldn’t you see a Boxer wearing a Corduroy Dog Jacket?

Short haired breeds, like a Basenji, Italian Greyhound, Greyhound, Weimaraner and Vizsla have a thin build and need to exercise outdoors. They do not fare well with the extreme cold. During cold temperatures a barn jacket is easy to Velcro onto an active dog. A Barn Coat helps to keep outdoor dogs comfortable in cold weather. The Polyester side helps repel wind and water to keep dogs dry and safe from the elements, while the soft fleece side traps body heat to provide a den of snuggly comfort.

Some dog breeds don’t need to wear a coat. For example, the Alaskan Malamute has a dense and wooly undercoat that enables them to be exposed to the frigid cold weather without wearing a coat. The Samoyed has a double coat that consists of a soft, thick undercoat and a harsh outer coat. Cold temperature breeds also have a ruff of hair around their neck for extra insulation. Some DO like it cold!

Aging dogs need a bit of extra comfort and warmth in their old age. A fleece lined dog coat will keep an older dog more comfortable. Especially on days when a dog feels arthritic, a dog sweater or coat will offer aid to keep their bodies at ease. Dogs not in tip top health can benefit from a therapeutic dog coat. Using heat, cold and magnetic therapy, veterinarians recommend therapeutic dog coats for rehabilitation and pain relief.

The right fit is important for comfort and warmth. Using a tape measure to figure out what size coat your dog will need can be accomplished in 3 easy steps.

1. Measure your dog’s girth. The girth is the dog’s chest behind the front legs.
2. Measure your dog’s neck. This is an important for hooded dog apparel.
3. Measure the length of your dog from the base of their neck to the base of their tail.

Yes, dogs come with their own coats, but depending upon the breed, the size, and the weather a dog coat can add an extra bit of warm for cold and damp days.

The month of October is synonymous with autumn, fall foliage and best of all Halloween!  Halloween decorations, candy and costumes highlight the excitement of the holiday. There is no age limit on who can enjoy Halloween, nor is there a exclusion on who can participate.    Adults, children and pets can all be active participants in the festivities.

As Halloween draws near, millions of families across America will be searching for the perfect costume for themselves, children and pets.  Pet Lovers include their dogs and cats in Halloween festivities from Halloween parties, handing out candy to trick-or-treating.

There are fun and amusing Halloween dog toys, costumes, shirts, collars, bandannas and delicious dog treats available to include your dog in the spooky celebrations.

Candy Corn has always been a Halloween and Thanksgiving favorite.  Every trick-or-treater gets a few bags of candy corn in their goodie bags.  Jake wanted candy corn too, so Tailbangers Dog Bakery made All Natural Halloween Canine Candy Corn Yogurt Covered Peanut Butter Dog Treats.  Now dogs can enjoy some Canine Candy Corn during the autumn season.  There is even a candy corn dog toy!  Squeaky Halloween Candy Corn Halloween Dog Toy is sized just right for tossing, chewing, and fetching, with a squeaker inside for extra playtime thrills.

Halloween decorations and toys can be fun as well as educational.  If you can’t bring your dog to the corn maze, they can learn puzzle solving skills with a Halloween Puzzle Dog Toy.  Hide three miniature dog toys inside the pumpkin for a puzzlingly fun game of fetch and seek!  Dogs learn to think in order to complete the task. The ghost and bones squeak.  One of Jake’s favorite toys … the lil Yelper is dressed up for Halloween! The soft plush toy has lots of parts for dogs to grab and chew a squeaker inside for fur-tingling fun!  Your home will be filled with the sights and sounds of Halloween fun!

Pet Halloween costumes can range from a seasonal dog collar or bandanna to a full costume.  Dog collars and bandannas with pumpkins, black cats and harvest themes is a great holiday accent that can be worn daily.  Trick or Treat Spooky Halloween Scrunchie Dog Collar is an elegantly yet scary scrunchie featuring a spellbinding combination of black, orange, and iridescent orange ribbon, with decorative bat accents at the tips.

Pet Apparel such as t-shirts, sweaters and coats are very common.  Therefore dressing your dogs up for Halloween is just another must have outfit.    Make your pet the center of attention with a black tee shirt with skull and crossbones that glows in the dark!   Popular Pet Halloween costumes include:  Prison Pooch, Spirit Paws Cheerleader, Glow Bones Skeleton, Hot Dog with Mustard, Hot Dog with Ketchup, Piggy Pooch, Lil Stinker, Dogzilla, K-9 Cop, Pumpkin Pooch and ER Doctor Hospital Scrubs!

Spooky Seasonal gear is a great way to include pets in Halloween activities.   Perfect for parties or photo opportunities!  The dog owner and dog will bond over candy corn, ghosts, goblins and maybe even a BLACK CAT!

A dog collar serves the purpose of holding a dog id tag and something to attach a leash to. The bare essentials of a dog collar offers safety and convenience for the dog and responsible dog owner.

There are numerous reasons to choose a dog collar. Training and behavior modification, and of course fashion are key components in selecting the dog collar that perfectly suits you and your pet. The decision can be overwhelming since there are several styles like choke and martingale dog collars and fashion/everyday dog collars. Dog collars also are made in a variety of materials like leather, nylon, bling/rhinestones, ribbon, cotton, plastic and cloth.

For the majority of dogs, the correct way to size a dog collar is to measure the dog’s neck and add two inches. When a dog is wearing a collar you should be able to fit two fingers between the dog’s neck and the dog collar. A proper fit is important for safety and comfort.

Dog owners usually use a choke chain dog collar to train a medium to large dog. The choke dog collar teaches a dog to walk on a leash and to heel. A dog is corrected with a quick tug-and-release on the dog leash, which tightens the choke collar, then releases the pressure on the dogs neck.

A martingale collar is used for dogs that bow their heads and try to slip the collar off, known as backing out of the dog collar! The martingale dog collar is similar to a choke dog collar, except that the collar won’t continue to tighten and a dog cannot wriggle out of the dog collar.

Fashion dog collars come in abundant styles. Jake’s Dog House, houses dog collars for every pet and pet owner’s wants and needs. For example: Get your dog in the game! Put your favorite, college, NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL dog collar on your best buddy. NASCAR, seasonal designs, hobbies and trendy designs, there is a dog collar for every occasion! These dog collars are for everyday wear or changed frequently to celebrate holidays like Christmas, Jewish Holidays and Easter. Top designers have even created dog collars for the pup that has it all! Colors and widths vary for fashion and comfort.

Dog collars are a fun pet accessory to express your dog’s personality. They also are excellent for dog training. Be sure your dog’s collar has an id tag with your up to date contact information.

Do you talk to your dog? Carry a picture of your dog in your wallet or have dog pictures in your cell phone? Do you tell tales of what your dogs have done or plan to do? Is the first thing you do when you walk into your home is pet and hug your dog? The passionate relationship between a dog person and their dog is similar to a parent/child/best friend relationship. Who are dog people?

They are not just dog owners; they are people who understand dogs and can’t imagine a world without a dog as part of it. Jeane Stein, President of Jake’s Dog House is a hard core dog person. Every dog she encounters throughout her day receives a genuine warm greeting. Dogs react to her voice with tail wagging excitement! Friends and Family member’s pets actually squeal with delight as their car pulls into Jeane’s driveway! Jeane often bathes the dogs in Jake’s Dog House Groom Room, so she can get to know Jake’s client’s pets.

Dogs can sense a dog person. Security, boundaries, and the basic needs of food and shelter are the responsibilities of a dog owner. A dog person adds loyalty and a friendship and unconditional love to the package. Affection in the form of petting, talking to your dog, taking them along in the car and including them in your day to day activities creates a strong bond.

The dog person’s dog does not reside in a backyard doghouse. They sleep in the master bedroom. Some sleep in the king sized bed or have a bed of their own. Lazy Paws builds Canopy Dog Beds with soft bumper pads to protect the pet and even provide a soft resting place for their heads at the front door. It is a dog bed made for pampered pet!

A dog person’s home depicts their love of canines. Family pictures and handprints tell the story of the generations of family members. A mahogany pawprint frame allows loving pet owners to create an impression of their pets paw, and then elegantly display it alongside a picture of your dog for years to come.

Dog owners: take the next step and go beyond the essentials of caring for your pet. Experience the rewarding relationship that is created when you reach out to a dog and really get to know them. The end result is not only gratifying for you, but studies have shown it can have health advantages. Let those canine companions enrich your life to the fullest! Be a DOG PERSON!

Traditionally, summer is over when the school year begins. The morning rush to get everyone out on time can leave your pet feeling neglected. On school mornings, a greeting may only be a pat on the head, when all summer long your dog received a belly rub before breakfast. Are you tripping over your dog, trying to gather school books, lunches and locating shoes? Dogs notice these changes and want their customary attention.

A great way to include your dog in a back to school morning routine is a walk to the bus stop or walk your dog all or part way to school with your child. Not only will your dog enjoy the long walk, but the other walkers and friends at the bus stop can pet the dog. If you drive your children to school, your dog will enjoy the car ride to school. A routine that involves your attention will make your dog so happy!

Dogs sleep a lot during the day. They also can get bored and be destructive. Interactive dog toys like Hide-A-Bee Puzzle is a plush dog toy in the shape of a bee hive with three 2-1/2″ diameter holes in it. It comes with three squeaker bees (about 5″ long) that you hide inside the hive. Your dog’s mission–and we think he’ll decide to accept it–is to stalk those buzzy bees and pull them out of the holes in the hive.

Kong Original Rubber Dog Toy filled with dog treats is a safe way to keep your pet busy. “Kong enrichment devices are the anecdote for boredom and bad diets, which are the plague of modern dogs. Pursuit play and safe mastication are powerful and necessary canine behaviors which only Kong natural rubber and their shapes satisfy. Not just another dog toy, Kongs are reliable tools to prevent serious behavior problems and simply to deliver happiness to dogs.” (Dr. Roger Mugford. Company of Animals)

Once everyone is gone for the day, prevent separation anxiety by leaving a worn t-shirt or pillowcase near your dog’s bed. Your scent will make them feel secure when the family is not home. Even though it might seem like your day goes fast, your dog might be feeling lonely.

When you come home from school and work spend some time playing with your dog. Cute back to school plush dog toys include a Back To School Friends School Bus Dog Toy and Back To School Friends Crossing Guard Dog Toy. Fun-shaped school related squeaker dog toys are amusing twist on the Back to school routine.

Reading your school work out loud will help you study and your dog will enjoy hearing the sound of your voice. You will be surprised how quickly History and English reading assignments are finished with your best friend at your side! A dog t-shirt, I’m Smarter than Your Honor Student is a Trendy cool gray t-shirt that speaks a pet’s mind. Very deserving after all you taught “THE DOG” all there is to know!

Looking for something fun to do after a grueling week at work?  Enjoy an afternoon of fun playing with your dog.  There are many fun things to do with your dog.  A local dog park encourages off leash socializing for dogs as well as socializing for pet owners.  Dog Parks are also great areas for playing a game of catch and fetch.  The fenced in area creates boundaries and other dogs in the park generate a little fetching competition

Going to a community park where dogs are permitted is perfect for dog fun.  Play Frisbee with a flying disc in an open field.  Flying Squirrel flying disc is one squirrel who won’t mind being chased down. Just grab him by a paw and throw like a flying disk. Remember to snap your wrist while throwing to give him a good spin. His spinning feet create visual excitement for you and your pet, and the raised sides make him easy to pick up. The flying squirrel has raised sides for easy pick up, durable Rubber Feet, and also floats in water.

Many townships have bike trails.  In my town the bike trail follows the power lines with corn fields and small shrubbery along the perimeter of the trail.  From beginning to end the trail is 5 miles, so running, hiking, and rollerblading end to end is a doable distance for most dog owners and their dogs.   On the lighter side, play follow the leader and off trail hide and seek in the shrubbery.   Before you go, make sure your dog is healthy enough and fit enough to enjoy your planned activities.

Games of find the treat are a fun way to Challenge and Entertain Dog for hours.  A treat can be hidden in a contained area or in a dog toy.   Giggle Peek-A-Treat Ball challenges dogs to get the dog treats out of the toy.   Hiding dog treats and or placing them in a dog toy provides a great way to ease boredom, alleviate stress and keep dogs mentally stimulated and challenged.  Adjust the game to your dog’s age and make it easier or harder for dogs to retrieve treats.

Toys for bored dogs like Hide a Bird Plush Animal Puzzles are designed after nature’s own puzzles. Only this time, your dog can catch that pesky Bird! Hide a Bird will keep your pet occupied and eliminate boredom, but it and also develop a dog’s intelligence and puzzle-solving skills.  Interactive dog toys develop and strengthen eye-paw coordination skills as your pet discovers how to remove the squeaker birds from inside the Hide a Bird.

After an active afternoon of fun and games your dog might need a good brushing.  Grooming your own dog creates a special bonding.  The Shedding Slicker Brush provides double action – long & short pins work at two levels so dog owners get better results with no extra effort.   The Slicker brush is designed to remove all dead hair and other debris that landed on your dog during your day of fun.  For all coat types: long-haired; wire & course-hair; short & smooth-hair breeds.

For a quick clean up, Natural Grooming Wipes Hypo-Allergenic & Fragrance Free wipes are for our beloved furry friends who need a good cleansing, but may have sensitive skin, allergies, or who just don’t want to smell like anything but themselves. Mild cleansers freshen and deodorize, while succulent leave-in conditioners impart a healthy shine and leave a supple coat. Your best friend will look and smell better than ever before.

Enjoy your dog days!