Trouble getting your cat into their carrier?

Here's a great little video from the Catalyst Council on training your cat to love (yes, love) their cat carrier.

Have you heard of Patch.com?

There is a cool hyper-local online community publication called www.Patch.com. Hyperlocal because the news and features focus on what is going on, literally, in your neck of the woods. Owned by AOL, who are putting their considerable power behind it, it is growing quickly and seems to be catching on in a “best-kept-secret” vibey way.

I was asked to write a bi-weekly pet column for our Encino Patch, and have been doing so since the September launch. Thought I’d share a few of the articles — you’ll see they are punchy, fun, and very specific to my area. They are also all about dogs because of my other life, that of running a very busy, also hyper-local pet services business!

Hope you enjoy these few short samples, and check out if there is a Patch for your community!

Man’s Best Friend
New Year’s Resolutions
Holiday Hazards

Puppy play group in Encino

The weather has cooled down and I'm pleased to announce that starting Tuesday, November 2nd Pooch Buddies will be running a Puppy play group, the Puppy Koffee Klatch, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday morning of the month.

Space is limited, and reservations are taken on first-reserved basis.

What: Puppy play group -- in a lovely Encino garden, fully gated, controlled and limited to puppies from 4 - 12 months only. Your puppy must be fully vaccinated, and licensed. A fantastic way to get your dog socialized in a safe environment with other young dogs.

When: The first and third Tuesday morning of each month, from 9:30 - 10:30

Cost: $10/session (includes home brewed fresh ground coffee, homemade baked goods, and a worry-free hour to enjoy watching your puppy socialize & some free basic puppy training tips.) Pay at the door.

RSVP: info@PoochBuddies.com

Include the date you are attending in the subject line. You will receive a confirmation email. Please print out and bring with you.

Pooch Buddies reserves the right to refuse any puppy/owner.

Watering the dogs

Ahhh...it's midsummer and it is seriously hot in the San Fernando Valley. I usually take a water bottle along with me as I'm walking and am now on a deliberate search for the best dog water bottle out there. A client gifted me the Pet Trek walker, a clear water bottle with a snap on bowl for the pups. One of our dog clients is a vigorous little guy who needs a long, long walk...heat or no...just to slow him down a bit. But in the heat, he really needs hydration throughout the walk and our lame homemade versions of a doggie water bottle leave a lot to be desired. Of course, we were VERY excited about the Pet Trek. I gave it to the assigned walker and as she started to use it for the very first time, the bottle fell on the hard floor...and cracked.

I've sent a note to the manufacturer to see what they have to say...you'd think a dog water bottle would stand up to a dog-like environment. I'll let you know what they say. In the meantime, I'm still in search mode, but I'll share what I find that I like.

Getting skunked!

At some point in the life of your and your dog, you may discover what getting skunked is all about. I have had a dog get porcupine quills in his nose, I've known a dog that ate someone's pet chicken, experienced dogs with thorns,bee stings, spider bites and had run-ins with brambles. But, until this past week, I'd not had the experience of a dog skunking.

I was out walking two gorgeous dogs, when they took off, like a shot, ran into some nearby hedges, where I heard this sound...."PFFFFFFFFT". The dogs ran out of the hedges and started rolling around in the grass, shaking their heads. The odor was unmistakeable. Skunk.

After I got them home (in the garden, NOT the house), I knew that the old remedy of a tomato juice bath would NOT do the trick. So I moved to step 2. There is a mixture that you can create from products in your home that gives an amazing result. A chemist, Paul Krebaum, came up with the formula in 1994 and after an article was written in the Chicago Tribune, the remedy caught on like wildfire. The article explains the science behind the formula. And the formula mixes hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, which creates an oxygen wash that completely neutralizes the odor. A bit of liquid dish soap is added to the mix to break down the oil from the secretion so that the oxygen can blast it away.

In a bowl mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (I only had 1/2 quart and it was sufficient for 2 dogs), 1/4 cup baking soda and a couple of teaspoons of liquid dish soap (I used Dawn, known for its grease-cutting ability.) You slather this all over your dog...wherever the skunk oil is attached. It is very important to avoid the eyes (you can put in a few drops of vegetable or mineral oil in your dog's eyes to help prevent any burning sensations), nose and mouth. Of course, the dogs in my story got the spray full face, so pretty tricky work to avoid the eyes.

You leave it on your dog 3-7 minutes (different times on different websites) and then rinse off thoroughly with water. You can follow up with dog shampoo. Then let your pet dry completely. If there is still any smell after your pet is dry, give a good sniff and identify the exact area and repeat the process on that area.

It absolutely worked. There was one spot on my patio that smelled like skunk from where one of the dogs was lying and the solution worked on that as well! Just make sure not to cover the mixture or try to seal it in a bottle for later use. You will have a small explosion from the gas buildup.

Final note -- when the dogs were first sprayed, they didn't actually smell as bad as a little later. I'm guessing that as the oil heats up on the dog's body, the smell increases! So make sure to wash your dog off quickly!!

Summer tips

Well, summer is here -- which means dealing with different dangers to your pet. The most dangerous of all is extreme heat, which can result in sunburn, dehydration, and even death for your pets. Here is good summer overview from the Humane Society website: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/summer_care_tips_for_you_and_your_pets/

Stay cool.

Pet travel redefined

Have you read about Pet Airways? Now your pets can travel in style. Flying between quite a few major US cities, your dogs fly, owner-free, crated in cabins rather than in cargo. Here's the "how it works" page. From drop-off at the pet lounge, to potty break pre-flight, to drop-off at the pet lounge on arrival, sounds like a nifty travel experience for Fido. No snack or beverage service, and I'm still trying to find out what the movie is...

If you are sending your dog and need pickup service in LA, feel free to get in touch. You know Pooch Buddies will help!