Critter Consulting

We wish you many fun-filled, sunny days this summer. We collected some great tips & ideas for family activities you & your pets will enjoy.

• “America’s Best Dog-friendly Hotels” (new!)
• “Conquering Your Pet’s Back-to-school Blues” (new!)
  
• “Back to School for Kids & Pets”
• “Prevent Back-to-school Pet Anxiety”
  
• “Dogs Distract Drivers”
  
• “Camping with Dogs:  What to Know Before You Go”
• “Hiking Safety Tips”
  
• The Dog Run – A site for “runners who love their dogs & dogs who love to run” 
  
• “Picnic Season” – Premium picnic spots in Sonoma County
• “A Doggoned Great Time in Wine Country” – Dog-friendly wineries in Sonoma County
• Dog Park Locator – for anywhere in the country
• “Have a Great Holiday Weekend!” – Our Memorial Day post is packed with summer safety & travel tips.
• “How to Keep Pets Cool Without Air Conditioning“
• “Tips for Safe Summer Travel with Pets” – video
  
• Flying pets? Read these articles before you take off:  
  • “Short-snouted Dogs face Greater Air Travel Risks”
  • “More Airports Create Areas for Pets to Take Care of Business”
• Think it’s not too hot for your pet in your car? Read the ASPCA’s warnings about pets suffering heatstroke in parked cars.  (We love their “Pets In Hot Cars” flyer that you can printout & distribute proactively to friends & neighbors.)  Still not convinced how quickly a hot car can kill a pet?  Check the SCHS’s live, in-car thermometer.  The SCHS advises:

“On a hot day, in just 10 minutes, a car’s temperature can reach 112 degrees, even with the windows partially open. During the summer, veterinarians see many emergency patients suffering from heat exhaustion due to being left in cars. Sadly, not all survive. So next time you need to run some “quick” errands, leave your pets safely at home, not in the car.”

Did you hear about Max, the lab who saved his on life by honking the horn until his owner let him out of a too-hot car?  Lucky dog!  And, don’t forget to check in with Rusty on his new blog.  Find out how he & his friends are keeping cool.  (Remember, summer’s a perfect time for positive pet training.  Kids going back-to-school?  Routine changes make many pets anxious.  We’d love to help!)

© 2010 Critter Consulting

We wish you a nice, sunny Memorial Day weekend with your family & pets!

Get off to a good start with important seasonal info & fun goodies:

• Check our posts for pet-friendly games & products; travel tips; & heat-beating ideas:
  • “Holiday play!”
  • “Summer fun:  Include your furry friends!”
  • “Welcome sweet spring!”
  • “Summer’s here!”
• We updated our resource pages with new articles to help you & your pet with spring/summer wildlife & insect encounters.  (Snakes, skunks, & bees – oh my!)
• Whether you’re traveling with your pets or leaving them home, we have you covered:  Check our resource section for new travel tip articles.   Watch this video:  “Tips for Campers Bringing Pets”.  And we’ve listed pet sitters & day cares we trust.
• Rusty’s Dog Blog has been launched!  Rusty’s a poodle with a lot on his mind….

We love this video because it perfectly captures this holiday’s vibe.  Welcome summer….. doggie-style!

© 2010 Critter Consulting

We’re new dog-parents! About a month ago we adopted Rusty, an adorable, 3-yr-old miniature poodle.  As previous guardians of a boxer and fans of bully breeds, we surprised ourselves by adopting a poodle.  But, he’s a cool dog who happens to be in a poodle suit!  So we’re thrilled & honored to have him in our lives.  If you’re a “fur-mom”, too, this post’s for you.   Enjoy!

• Read “Rusty’s Dog Blog”.  It’s a new site we’re launching, packed with lots of helpful hints, product reviews & pet peeves – from a poodle’s point-of-view!  Don’t be fooled:  Rusty thinks big & loves to play, so his raves will benefit pups of all sizes.  Just subscribe to our e-newsletter, and we’ll let you know what Rusty’s been up to!
• Feline “moms”:  We certainly haven’t forgotten about you!  As always, our posts and resource section are loaded with goodies for cat & dog lovers.  (As you know, Kitty’s life is easier if your pup is trained & happily tired!)  Contact us anytime if you need help with your favorite feline’s behavior.
• Procrastinators rejoice! If your mom is a pet lover & you forgot the gift, we’ll keep you out of the doghouse.  Check our recommended reading list for dog & cat books.  (Might we suggest Trish King’s “Parenting Your Dog“?)  Or pick up the latest issue of “The Bark” magazine for Mom.  For the philanthropist pet-mom, donate to a local shelter or rescue in her name.  Email Mom a sweet note along with a link to a “Simon’s Cat” film – or – send her a personalized, animated e-card from sloppykisscards.com.  Cute!  Need more ideas?  We’ve got you covered:  Take Mom & her pup to a dog park, or go for a hike/picnic.  Or get in touch with us for gift certificates for dog & cat training.
• Don’t get Mom a surprise pet as a gift! See our last Mother’s Day post….

Have a lovely Mother’s Day!  We’ll leave you with this silly kitten video that we just can’t stop watching:

© 2010 Critter Consulting

We hope you’re enjoying the sunshine!  Explore these eco-friendly goodies from the comfort of home.  (Who wants a big carbon “paw print” anyway, right?)

• ASPCA.org’s “Go Green for Pets” tips.
• Our favorite “green” online petstores: Fetchdog.com, Olivegreendog.com, and Puplife.com.
• We love petside.com’s “Top 10 Green Pet Toys“.  (Many are available @ the sites above, too!)  While you’re there, check out their “Carbon Paw-print Calculator” (for dogs & cats).  We’ll be adding this widget to our site soon…
• Missed this?:  Our “evergreen” spring post.

Take Puglet’s advice for humans:  Get out there and make a difference in the environment everyday!  Watch his video & read his blog, The Daily Puglet. (Pug fans, this one’s for you….  Uber-cute!)

© 2010 Critter Consulting

We look forward to all things spring this year.  And we wish you and your pets lots of fun, sunny days!  Enjoy these tidbits of springy-goodness to get you off to a good start:

• Flea & tick season is upon us, and it’s already a busy one!  Ask your vet about the latest & safest preventatives.  Be sure you use the correct, pet-specific product & dose.  Do not use over-the-counter products; buy them from your vet.  Read more – this could save your pets’ lives!
• Avoiding tick bites (for humans) – a diagram from the CA Dept. of Public Health.
• Easter safety tips from aspca.org.
• “Spring’s here: Get out & play!” Visit our “evergreen” post from last spring.
• There’s an app for that! Aspca.org’s fabulous list of plants (indoor & outdoor) that are safe for pets is now the “Pet Safe” app.  We love it because it’s portable, of course.  But now you can also identify plants by photo if you, like us, can’t name every plant in your yard.
• Cute but smelly:  Keep your pets away from skunks!  Females den now thru May/June when the babies are born.  Cozy skunk cribs include under your deck or in your woodpile.   Block your pets’ access to both now.  Learn more about prevention & solutions if the worst happens to your dog or cat – ugh!  Visit our site for more wildlife how-to’s.  By the way – did you know skunks like peanut butter, too?  Watch!
• Spring cleaning? Be pet friendly – here’s how.
  
• Early puppy & kitten training is the best way to enjoy the rest of the year with your pet.  We can help you start now!

A corny but comedic video-montage wish from us to you:   As you bid a fond farewell to playing in the snow, welcome spring with a happy song in your heart.  Go enjoy a romp in the sun with your pets!

© 2010 Critter Consulting

What do we have in common with our pets?  Our food supply is one and the same!  And, a quality diet is healthier – mentally & physically.  (For our pets, that translates into fewer vet visits, longer lives & better behavior!)  That’s why we mix pet & human diet info in this post series.  Dig into this informative, fun smorgasbord of foodie news!

Recalls

• “Pet treat under investigation” from usatoday.com, 3/12/10.  (Real Ham Bones for Dogs can splinter & block dogs’ intestines.)
• “Salmonella recall spreads quickly to other products” by Mark Huffman, 3/12/10.  (This one’s big, and it affects all of us!  Hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HPV) is widely used in many processed foods.)
• “What’s going on with Walmart’s Special Kitty cat food?” by Susan Thixton, 2/23/10.
• “Nature’s Variety pet food issues recall” by Beacon Journal staff, 2/15/10.  (This recall was expanded on 3/8/10!)
• “FDA warns pet owners of salmonella in (Merrick) beef treats” by Lisa Wade McCormick, 1/16/10
• “Pet Carousel recalls beef hooves and pig ears because of salmonella risk” US Recall News, 12/11/09  (Note:  If you get our e-newsletter, you already know about this one!)

Articles & posts of interest

• “Most store-bought chicken contains harmful bacteria” by James Limbach, 12/1/09.
• The truth about Kibbles ‘n Bits dog food and Pup-peroni & Milkbone dog treats:  Read Darcy’s 2/9/10 post on why you shouldn’t fall for manufacturers’ emotion-based advertising.  Get good @ reading ingredient lists on food packaging!  Check our site for more info.
• “Food allergy may be causing feline cystitis” by Dr. Michael Fox, 2/14/10.  (Note:  Another case against corn.  Contact us if your pet house soils!)
• “Fish oil supplements contain PCBs, so eat fish?“  by Deborah Mitchell, 3/3/10.  (Note:  There are healthy fish oil supplements that can benefit you & your pet.  Read on, and, as always, consult your vet.)
• “Feline feeding ‘faux paws’” by Amelia Glynn, 3/1/10  (Note:  We are as skeptical as the author is about 9Lives being a spokes-company for “wholesome” & “highly nutritious” cat food.  But read on….)
• “FDA concerned about substance in food packaging” by Denise Grady 2/15/10.  (Note:  The latest on BPA in food/beverage containers.)

Tasty & safe

• New FDA widget! A glimmer of hope from the FDA comes in the form of their new “Pet Health & Safety” widget, designed to update you on the latest news on pet food, including recalls.  Find it on our homepage:  Scroll to the bottom of our sidebar.  Check back often, as it self-updates!
• We love “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual” by Michael Pollan.  Read or watch interviews with the author about his new, quick-read book on human food safety.  Follow his simple rules to easily choose healthy, natural (single-ingredient) foods over what Pollan calls “edible, food-like substances” (processed foods in the modern, Western diet).   Example:  Rule #2 from the book is “Don’t eat anything your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.”  Good advice that applies to your pets, too!
• Did you know this is National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month? Odds are your pup knows!  Here’s a recipe for Peanut Butter Cups to help Fido celebrate, courtesy of threedog.com.  Dogs-with-thumbs will love eatingwell.com’s Peanut Energy Bars.  Yum!
• Easter safety for pets

Video-goodness

Three of our favorite foodie flicks: Slow-motion dogs catching treats.  (A sweet video, but we don’t recommend Pedigree products.)  Joris eating dinner.  (Good for a belly laugh.)  And, in the spirit of spring & Easter, Baby bunny eats tiny flower.  (Kids will love this one!)

Information provided on this site is not a substitute for veterinary care. See your vet before you begin a complementary health care or exercise plan. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Center for Veterinary Medicine, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

© 2010 Critter Consulting

Everyday should be Valentine’s Day:  Give a gift from the heart, and you’ll brighten someone’s day, as well as your own!  We listed a few ideas to get you started, along with some heartwarming heroics to watch….

• Help others locally: Donate time, money or supplies to shelters & rescues.  Offer to walk or care for the pets of a neighbor-in-need.  Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue, or foster a pet until it finds its forever-home.  (We can help your adoption or foster go smoothly.)
• Help others globally: Donate to trustworthy organizations working in Haiti, as they continue to need funds.  Visit American Red Cross‘ site to aid the people of Haiti.  Read their blog for progress updates.  Or, join the ASPCA in supporting ARCH (Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti).  Stay updated via ASPCA’s ongoing field reports & slide shows on the animal relief efforts in Haiti.

Do what you can to make a difference in others’ lives, and it will be returned to you ten-fold.  Need more inspiration?  Watch these amazing animal rescue videos.  (Nail-biters, we know.  But they all have happy endings!)

• “Baltic” the dog rescued from atop an ice floe 15 miles from land in the Baltic Sea.  Read & watch!
• “Spikey” the dog rescued from the raging L.A. River.  Watch the rescue.  (Yes, Spikey was so terrified he bit the firefighter who rescued him, but everyone’s fine, and all is forgiven.  Watch the interview with the rescuers & the follow-up report.)
• “Sky” the cat rescued by Kay Leclaire.  Sky’s one lucky kitten:  Kay just happens to a champion climber who scaled Mt. Everest @ age 60!  Read & watch.

Happy Valentine’s Day – every day!

© 2010 Critter Consulting

How are your New Year’s resolutions holding up?  If you’ve let them go already, don’t despair – you’re not alone. A new British university study shows that less then 25% of people who make resolutions keep them.  Successful folks have a plan & help themselves stick to it.  They break their ultimate goal into smaller steps, and reward themselves after achieving each step.  (Wow – sounds like pet training!)  They are accountable to themselves & their friends along the way because they journal their efforts & tell friends about their goals.  If you’re in the majority who’ve blown it already, don’t give up.  Renew your resolve with a plan that will benefit you & your pet!

Two of the most popular resolutions are losing weight & improving relationships.  Accomplish two of your goals @ once:  Get out & get moving with your dog! You’ll bond with Rover while you both get healthier, mentally & physically.  (For Rover, that translates into better behavior!)  Make it a priority:  Put it on your calendar & schedule around it.  Invite friends to go with you.  Go even if you don’t feel like going.  Soon you’ll find it’s the best part of your day!

We gathered some articles to inspire you to reach your goals:

• Lose Your Holiday Weight: Walk Your Dog – from petplace.com
• The Best Walking Partner: Man vs. Dog – from nytimes.com
• Walking Your Dog ‘Better than a Gym Membership’ – from newser.com
• Getting Off on a Fresh Paw in 2010 – from upi.com
• Spend Quality Time with Your Dog – from dogchannel.com
• New Year’s Resolutions for Your Pet – from aspca.org
• 11 Ways to Get Moving with Your Pet (Kitty, too!) – from dogtime.com
• 21 Ways to Boost Energy – from webmd.com (Hint:  Your pets can help you with @ least 3 tips on this list!)
• The Hidden Benefits of Exercise – from online.wsj.com

Contact us to improve Rover’s leash manners & behavior, or if you need help with Kitty.  We wish you & your pets a happy, healthy 2010.  Remember, any day is a good day to make and keep a resolution!

© 2010 Critter Consulting

This year, we found the holiday spirit captured in a lovely video sent to us by a client.  A gift to us, passed along to you.

• If, like us, you find yourself thoroughly charmed by Ricochet (aka Rip Curl Ricki) & her “mom”/trainer’s insight, visit their website.  Or follow Ricochet on Facebook!
• Put that holiday spirit to use locally.  Donate what you can (goods, time, money) to local shelters & rescues.  Your generosity helps homeless pets find their bliss, too!
• For more seasonal fun & important tips, visit our posts:  “Happy Howlidays!” (2008) and “Seasonal Stress”.

Warmest Christmas wishes to you & your family: humans, canines & felines, alike!

© 2009 Critter Consulting

Enjoy these turkey-time tips:

• Thanksgiving safety tips – from aspca.org
• Soothe seasonal stress
• “Talking turkey with your dog”
• “People-food” for dogs – Read about safe portions & treats for Fido.  (Avoid fat, salt & sugar.  Our holiday foods are loaded with these, but they can make pets sick.  For example, fatty Thanksgiving table scraps can give Pup pancreatitis.)
• Turkey & sweet potato recipe for Fido
• “Is Your Pet Ready to Greet Holiday Guests?”

Speaking of greetings, we are absolutely charmed by Gracie! Watch Gracie welcome her “dad”, Captain Andrew Schmidt, back from service in Afghanistan.  Andy says, “Gracie is half golden retriever, half corgi.  We rescued her from the pound in 2004.  She’s six now.   She was found neglected in a pen in West Virginia …. She is a hell of a good friend.  She is six now and still gets a ton of attention even now that my wife and I have a young son …… I can promise you that she doesn’t do this every time I come home, LOL.  This was a first.”  Watch Andy & his wife interviewed on the Today Show.

Warmest Thanksgiving wishes to you & your family: humans, canines & felines, alike!

© 2009 Critter Consulting