Do you have an elderly dog?

Does Fido prefer to curl up in the sun and snooze rather than running for miles?

Is your pooch sporting a few more grey hairs around their muzzle?

All three of my dogs are on the elderly side of the equation.  The Shih Tzu cross is almost 10, the Corgi is turning 11 in September and my rescue Cocker spaniel is somewhere between 12 and 13.

Other than the Cocker spaniel’s sore shoulders & elbows, none of the dogs act the stereotypical “old dog”.  Why not?   Because there are lots of things you can do to keep dogs happy and healthy well into old age!

• Talk to your vet about adding a joint supplement to your dog’s diet.  My dogs get a daily dose of two human-grade supplements and it’s made a world of difference to their comfort.
• Is your dog getting the right food?  Again - this is another subject to talk to your vet about.  Senior dog foods are lower in protein and fat, which is thought to be easier on elderly dogs kidneys.  But did you know that not all older dogs benefit from a reduced-calorie diet?  My spaniel will get too skinny on a low-cal diet, which isn’t good either.
• Does your dog have a warm, soft place to sleep?  Sleeping on a dog bed can help to ease sore muscles and joints.  There are lots of fancy beds on the market, but even a spare bed pillow can make your pooch more comfortable.
• How about a nice massage?  A gentle massage in the morning, or before a walk can help to get your dog’s muscles warmed up and ready to work.

There is a new poll over on the sidebar - let me know how old your dog is!

image: Stock.xchg

It seems that people just want to share everything with their dogs  - even at New York Fashion Week!

Designer Lela Rose brought her treasured pooch to her runway collection:

Aubrey O’Day (former member of Danity Kane) shared the spotlight on the red carpet with her pooch:

And of course, actor Mickey Rourke won’t even go for dinner without his Chihuahua

images: PicApp

b5media’s pet bloggers definitely want to share Valentine’s Day with our furry friends!  Check out some of these great Valentine’s Day ideas for your dog, cat or other pet

• The Kitty Blog has some great ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts for the cat person in your life.
• Also from The Kitty Blog, some handy reminders for keeping your pet safe for Valentine’s Day.
• Single?  Pet owner?  Check out The Food Bowl’s great ideas for finding love - and someone who loves your pet as much as you do!
• The Food Bowl has another fun idea for a Valentine’s Day gift - personalized calenders - with a dog or cat theme.
• Couture Critter has found an adorable gift basket filled with all kinds of Valentine’s Day goodies for your pooch.
• I’ve got some baking tips on The Doggy Blog for making your dog tasty treats for Valentine’s Day.

image: Stock.xchg

Valentine’s Day isn’t a very dog-friendly holiday.  There’s lots of chocolate - and romantic restaurants don’t generally let your furry friend in to enjoy the steak

Luckily, there are fun ways to include your dog - how about making Fido their own Valentine’s Day dog treats?

This site has some great ideas and recipes for creating your own dog-safe treats for the holidays!  They even have a special Valentine’s Day section.

Here are a few basic tips for creating your own special treats for your dog:

• White chocolate, carob and white confectioner’s coating are all dog-safe.
• Milk, dark, sweet or bittersweet chocolate are not dog-safe - and can even be deadly if your dog eats enough.
• Dogs don’t really need a whole lot of sugar, so why not use apple sauce or cottage cheese to “ice” cookies or treats?
• Same thing with salt - if a recipe calls for lots of salt or even soup stock or bouillon mix, you can reduce it.
• Does your dog have food allergies?  Make sure to not use anything in the cookies that could upset their stomach.

image: Best Dog Treat Recipes

Westminster Kennel Club dog show begins today in Madison Square Garden in New York City.  The dogs are being groomed, the handlers are prepping themselves and the red carpet has been unrolled for the canine superstars!

The first videos from the breed competitions are being posted online.  You can watch the first four groups (Hound, Terrier, Herding & Non-Sporting) compete tonight on various channels.

So who are you cheering for?

Want to see a dog who truly loves their job?

I honestly start to tear up watching it - yes, I’m a sucker for a happy dog working with their human

Etsy is one of my favorite places to find unique accessories & jewelry, but did you know that they also have an extensive pet section too?

Let’s say you want to find a unique collar for your dog…  Check out this cool leather dog collar, embellished with leather flowers from The Cool Puppy!

image: The Cool Puppy

How about a snuggly, eco-friendly fleece dog bed?  Annie’s Sweatshop makes one that fits over one of your own old pillows:

image: Annies Sweatshop

Want to treat your dog to a special treat for Valentine’s Day?  3 Dogs & A Chick makes these personalized dog treats from peanut butter and oats and then decorates them with dog-safe white chocolate.

image: 3 Dogs & A Chick

Does your dog like to chew on soft vinyl dog toys?  You might want to think twice about letting them do that!

Check out this article from The Holistic Option - it’s definitely eye-opening:

“Dog toys, they come in all colors, sized and textures, they squeak, they squish, they bounce, you can stuff them with treats or let your dog tear the stuffing out of them. Your dogs chew on them, shake them, suck on them, and love tearing them to pieces (literally).

Sounds like fun right? However, did you know there is really no totally SAFE dog toy? Some toys if ingested even in small amounts can cause cancer and liver damage! Vinyl and plastic dog toys contain a chemical compound that has been under investigation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) due to possible cancer risks to humans.

The chemical in question is DINP (di-isononyl phthalate), used to make hard PVC plastic soft and pliable. In 1998 Health Canada issued an advisory warning about the dangers of mouthing soft plastic toys by small children, and some countries, such as Sweden, Germany, and Italy, have already phased out DINP for use in children’s toys. But, for some reason no one is talking about the effects DINP may have on our dog’s health.”

There are lots of safe toy options out there - but you’ve got to do your research!  What do my dogs chew on?  I give my precious pooches Nylabones, Kongs, firm squeaky balls and as special occasion treats, soft fabric toys under supervision.

Remember that any toy can be a choking hazard - so buy the right size for your dog and keep an eye on your dog while they play.

I love to watch the Westminster Kennel Club dog show every year.  I curl up on the couch with my dogs and watch the amazing competition.

But did you know that there is a series of dog shows before the “big” show?

You can now catch them all online - as well as expert commentaries, direct from the judges and more.  Everything starts on Thursday, February 5th and runs through the weekend.  Westminster begins on Monday the 9th, so you can enjoy six full days of dog shows!

Westminster Weekend dog show videos are available online here.

Do you ever wonder what your dogs get up to when you’re at work?

Do they sleep all day?

Amuse themselves by chanting “wasabi wasabi wasabi” into the goldfish bowl?

Can they do more with the remote control than just chew on it?

Well - now you can find out!

The nifty little “Pet’s Eye View” digital camera attaches to your dog’s collar.  Just set it to take photos once a minute, every 5 minutes or every 15 minutes.  When you get home, just hook it up via a USB cable (comes with the camera) and presto!  You’ve got a record of how Fido spent his day.

image: Fred Flare