Question:

Hi Ann,

I’m one of two people behind a new site called Draw the Dog. Each day we post a new dog cartoon inspired by a real dog. The cartoon draws itself – you really have to see it to understand.

We’d love to have your readers’ stories about funny, amazing or heartwarming
things your dogs have done. You can submit them by visiting
http://www.drawthedog.com and clicking on the Make Your Dog Famous tab.

Jim George draws all the cartoons; he’s an ex-Disney animator and is
amazingly talented.

Thanks,
Bruce

ANSWER:

Hi everyone,

We get a lot of requests such as the one above and most of the time I spend some time on their site before hitting the delete button on the site as well as the request.

However, Draw the Dog is amazing! For anyone who loves to draw but sucks at it like me, watching the cartoons develop is an incredible experience! I am not sure about the fine print and of course I have to say that I do not endorse this site…darn legal mumbo jumbo.

Send in your dog stories to these guys and then let us know when they cartoonerize it so we can all see the final product. I will let you know if and when they use my story too!

Ann

Cold weather is easier to appropriately dress for then rain as there are more warm jackets then waterproof jackets available for dogs of all sizes. Winter gear should be warm, comfortable, easy to put on and easy to clean.

Our Hooded Snowman Jacket is made out of thick Polar Fleece with easy fit Velcro closures and is fully machine washable. For wind and cold protection, our Heavy Duty Parka is extremely practical, especially for dogs suffering from hip dysplasia or arthritis in the back and hips as its extra long length covers to the base of the tail on most dogs, keeping these areas warm.

One area to watch when fitting a jacket is whether it restricts natural arm movement. Some breeds have more problems with this then others and if your dog happens to have a deep chest or a high shoulder, it may be best to find a jacket that has short sleeves or a even vest. Our Pom Pom Puffer Jacket has a short sleeve while our Cozy Sherpa Coat has an adjustable chest band as well as bellyband – perfect for dogs that are hard to fit.

Many of us do not think about our dog’s feet in the cold weather until the dog actually begins to complain – lifting one foot and then another and so on. Take my advice, buy well-designed and well-fitted boots before the walk and it will save you both a lot of frustration. Have you ever carried your 35-pound dog two miles in the snow? I have and after we both recovered, we went shopping for boots so we would never be in that position again!

Do you live where the weather changes every five minutes? Our 12 Way Quilted Jumpsuit offers not only the highest degree of cold weather protection but also has removable legs and a hood so if it begins to warm up while out on your walk, you can zip these extra items off to keep your pet comfortable.

Our Guardian Dog Boots are a perfect alternative to chilly feet. They protect against the cold, salt, sharp ice, and on hot days, even prevent toasted pads. They are designed to stay on the feet too with Velcro closures and ribbing around the tops to help them stay snug. Gradually introduce your dog to wearing the boots around the house.

Next week we discuss how to keep your dog comfortable while saving tons on your heating bill!

As some of you may or may not know, I do not usually like the whole doggy dress up thing. I don’t really think that dogs need to wear clothes in the house, bathing suits at the beach, or party dresses at special occasions. To me, a well-behaved dog speaks volumes whereas a well-dressed dog may say as much, but not necessarily what you want the world to know about you.

Where my attitude changes is in practical clothes for dogs – sweaters for the winter, raincoats in rainy weather, and boots for when it is either very cold or very hot! And, well, if I am going to dress my dog in practical clothes to protect them from the elements, I am going to make sure he looks cool.

With winter around the corner, I decided it was time to look through OMDS’ Canine Collection. I found there were three basic criterias: wet weather gear, cold weather outdoor gear, and cozy indoor sweaters. Over the next month, we are going to look at practical winter gear for dogs of all shapes and sizes.

This week – wet weather!

Wet weather can be hard on dogs and owners alike. It can chill the pooch through, especially dogs that have a thin or short-haired coat and nothing is more frustrating than spending an hour walking your long-haired dog only to spend another hour drying them.

For a wet weather jacket, I always look for jackets that cover the abdomen and arms well so body heat stays in as well as keeping the wet away from these sensitive areas. Hoods are great if the dog will tolerate them; do not expect your prick ear dog to like wearing a hood ever. The other thing I look for is the ability to snug the jacket up with elastic cinch chords so that drafts and rain cannot find their way into the jacket, chilling your dog against your best efforts.

For cute and practical, I found our Dots and Ruffles Rain Coat met my criteria and for practical only, our Camo Jacket is waterproof, has a hood, and comes in three colors of camo.

Always watch the fit of any piece of clothing to make sure the arm holes do not bind and the chest is not too tight.

Next week we look at cold weather gear and how best to protect your pet from Old Man Winter!

Picture in your head sleeping on the floor on a thin mat or a bed that has lost it’s loft or puffiness. Dog beds are not something we usually put a lot of thought into – we buy what is the right color for the room at the right price. What about canine comfort? Sleeping on the floor means you are open to a ton of drafts as well as the cold pushing up from below in many concrete or older buildings. Providing a bed that protects from both drafts and the cold is vital for your dog’s good rest.

I recently stumbled upon the Comfy Cove Dog Bed – an amazing invention that I cannot believe no one thought of before now. First, like most beds, it has a soft, cushiony pillow that keeps dogs warm while up and off the ground. The coolest part, however, is the cave made by a well-designed top pouch. It is reminiscent of a pita pocket with your dog posing as the filling. Most dogs like to burrow and instead of providing a blanket on top of the bed for them to nestle into, this bed comes with one built in. Your dog stays as warm as they want with no extra laundry or blankets to pick up every day.

Brilliant idea! I am ordering two, one for each of my boyfriend’s Boxers who seem to think now that the house is a little colder at night, they should be allowed under the covers. I enjoy snuggling with them when they are awake but these two insist on sharing your pillow then continue to snore and drool making for a very bad night’s sleep!

I receive a lot of dog stuff and geek stuff in my inbox each day – name of the game when you work with animals and work off the internet I guess. However, this is one of the first times that my love of dogs and my fascination for technology have collided!

Pet Acoustics has developed an iPhone app that you can make play soothing music for your pet during times of stress toned specifically for the canine ear (or cat or horse depending on which four-legged animal is stressed at the time – there are apps for each).

My interest is how many people we have write in saying their pet is suffering from separation anxiety or fear of thunderstorms and would this music actually help.

Here is what the company says:
“Animals have extremely sensitive hearing that includes different ranges than their human companions. Janet Marlow, composer and the leading authority on music for animals, has created a musical genre that soothes your pet with separation anxieties, for thunderstorm nerves or just for calm in their living environment. Using limited frequencies, non-jarring volumes, and rhythms designed for an animal’s acute hearing, Pet Acoustics fills your pets’ environment with a sense of safety and balance and calm.

The Pet Acoustics App is for you and your pet together! Relaxation Music for My Dog and Me, My Cat and Me, and My Horse and Me will enhance your quality time together anytime, anywhere with the portability of the iPhone and iPod Touch. Play your choice of music for dogs, cats, or horses to put your pet at ease during thunderstorms, alone time, car travel, vet visits, grooming, and training. The Pet Acoustics application is perfect for pet boarding, animal shelters, or to assist our four legged friends as they recover from injury or abuse.

Pet Acoustics Features Include:
• Play your choice of music categorized by pet type and environment
• Multiple timers to set music to play at designated times
• Hearing analysis for each type of animal
• Environment and best use recommendations for each track
• Works with iPhone and iPod Touch

“After my years of research and testing I have learned that music can make a huge difference in the quality of life for dogs, cats and horses. Now, with Pet Acoustics Apple app people and their pets can create a state of relaxation in any environment,” says Pet Acoustics founder and composer Janet Marlow.

Pet Acoustics Application is available for $1.99 through iTunes or by visiting www.PetAcoustics.com.”

Anyone out there want to test this for us and let us know? I do not have an iPhone..yet although this may give me a good excuse to buy one!
Ann

Hi Ann,

I just got done reading your lastest responses. Great answers! You mentioned if anyone had any experience with the non-shedding products to let you know.

I have 4 Pugs. Lots and lots of hair as you can imagine. I use a product called Mrs. Allen’s Shed Stop. I think the product is terrific and have had great results. If I run out and go a few weeks not using it I can definitely tell a difference. My dogs coats are soft and shiny and while it certainly does not eliminate all shedding it does reduce it to a manageable level. I would recommend this product to any people with dogs that shed. My dogs love the taste and and all it takes is 1 tablespoon on top of their food.

Pamela M. Coyle

Thank you, Pam! Great information!

Gobbling food is a really common problem with puppies and young dogs as the dynamics within the litter are too eat as fast and as much as you can before your littermates eat it all up on you. Puppies come into homes where there is no longer a power struggle for dinner and outgrow the tendency to gobble their dinner. However, some don’t.

There are times I like to spend the time to retrain my dog but in this case, I don’t mind the quick fix and the Brake Fast Bowl is the quickest of all fixes. Like the blurb says, the bowl looks like the latest edition to your kid’s Lego collection with three big knobs in the center. However, those knobs work to slow down your dog’s gobbling by basically being in his way. They work great and with time, your dog will slow down even in a regular bowl as they learn that there is no competition for the food.

I have heard of people making their own cheap rendition of the Brake Fast Bowls by adding a big rock in the center of the dish. This would work too but I have some concerns about the food getting trapped underneath the rock. I don’t know about you, but I can see my dog either picking up the rock and dropping it on the floor or getting her tongue stuck underneath it as she tries to sweep the food out of its hiding spot. I like the idea of the knobs being a part of the dish – no rocks on my floor, no rattling around as the dog moves it about, and no weird tongue injuries that are hard to explain to your vet!

I got to thinking after yesterdays question about the dog that no longer wants to sleep on the owner’s bed. I talk a lot about crate training and using crates as a safe, secure place where your dog to can ‘chill’ but I never say much about their comfort.

Have a look at the bottom of a crate and you will often see Lego like forms to aid stability when the crates are stacked in stores or in planes. This is great for traveling but for the dog that has to sleep in there, these lumps mean total discomfort by the end of the night. And the trusty towel or old blanket is not enough to cushion your pup, you have to look at something that has some substance to it.

Crate pads are just like they sound – padding for your dog when he is in his crate. These pads vary in thickness, material, stuffing, and comfort levels. For puppies, pads that are easily laundered make sense such as our environmentally friendly EVO ECO Mats. For older dogs or dogs that have mobility issues but still enjoy the comfort and security of a crate, our Super Pad Crate Cushion is the only way to go!

There are two weeks left to Halloween – time to think about what your dog is going to dress up as this year!

I am not always someone to dress my dog. In fact, unless it is darn cold outside, I do not see the point in putting clothes on dogs. Doggy dresses, pants, shorts, bikinis…(yes, you heard me right), all seems a little strange to me. Dogs have fur, why do they need clothes?

However, I get a kick out of Halloween costumes for dogs as long as the dog doesn’t mind, the costumes are designed with comfort in mind, and they are removed immediately if the dog begins to fuss. I know an adorable black Staffie terrier that dons a bee costume every year and each Christmas I get a kick out of my sister-in-law’s cat in her Elf costume.

My favorite dog shop, Oh My Dog Supplies, has a wide selection of canine costumes, something for everyone no matter how difficult they are to please.

At the very least, the pictures are worth a giggle or two – especially the look on the Cheerleader’s face and the lobster costume…who would have thought to dress a dog as a lobster!

I am new to football coming from the country of snow, ice, and frozen black rubber pucks but the more that I am in the US, the more I am learning to enjoy game. Maybe it lacks a bit in speed but it definitely makes up for it when there is some action on the field. And with the football season now in full force, it seems only fitting to showcase our exclusive NFL team jerseys designed with our canine pals in mind!

For the four-legged football fan, we offer 32 team jerseys in four sizes. Dress your dog in the jersey of your team or they make the perfect gift for a dog-loving, football fan!