Febraury 2023 edition
Top Story
Improve life with a dog
Most dog lovers know that life is better with a dog. Unconditional love, constant entertainment, companionship, and a built in best friend are just a few of the benefits. However, did you know there is actually scientific evidence to back this up?
Spending time with canine companions does wonders for your wellbeing. Recent research shows that owning a dog is good for you physically and emotionally. Dogs make us happier, healthier, and help us cope with a crisis—and can even help you get a date.
1. Dogs Are Good for Our Health
Owning a dog can help you live longer. Various studies have been published that suggest dog owners have lower blood pressure levels and improved responses to stress. Dog owners also have a much higher rate of recovery from illness and generally a stronger immune system with less visits to the doctor than non-dog owners. Children who grow up with dogs have lower risk of developing eczema and fewer pet allergies.
2. Dogs Are Good Companions
Owning a dog reduces loneliness and feelings of isolation. Dogs offer unconditional love and emotional support. It is almost impossible to feel lonely with a dog by your side.
3. Dogs Help Relieve Stress
Scientist at Washington State University discovered that just 10 minutes petting a dog could alleviate stress and anxiety. Playing with a dog increases your brain’s levels of dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with pleasure and tranquility.
4. Dogs Encourage Physical Activity
A 2019 British study discovered dog owners are 4 times more likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity. It may be difficult to motivate ourselves to go for a walk alone. When we know our dog needs exercise, we are more likely to get out and move!
5. Dogs Increase Social Activity
Social interaction is easier with a dog. Puppy play dates and visits to the dog park are great opportunities to meet new friends. People with dogs are easier to approach and strike up a conversation.
6. Dogs Make Us Laugh
A study published in the Journal Society and Animals found that people who owned dogs, cats or both recorded laughing more each day than non-pet owners.
7. Dogs Give Us a Sense of Purpose
This applies to everyone, but especially the elderly. Elderly individuals who owned dogs reported feeling more satisfied with their social, physical and emotional well-being. Owning a dog gives an elderly person a sense of purpose and provides companionship.
8. Dogs Teach Children Responsibility
A family dog will help children learn what is necessary to care for another living thing. The daily feeding, exercising, grooming, and affection that all dogs require (and deserve) can teach children the importance of obligation and consistency, as well as an appreciation for the rewards that accompany responsible pet ownership. Children have the opportunity to practice patience and respect with pet ownership. In addition, while the kids are learning about responsibility, they are missing less school. Research has shown that children from dog-owning families have better school attendance due to better overall health.
9. Dogs Help Ease Suffering
Dogs help ease the pain of depression and anxiety, and give people struggling with these conditions a tangible reason to harness positive energy into caring for something. They offer a sense of need and urgency — they need to be fed, they need to be walked — and most of all, as mentioned above: they make people feel needed, necessary, and important. This simple fact — being needed — is a powerful way to re-anchor a person’s place in the world if they have been blown off course by the effects of depression, anxiety, or stress. Whether that is caring for one’s one dog or watching someone else’s pup, people can find purpose in the four-pawed approach.
10. Dogs Are A Best Friend
Dogs are extremely intelligent and loyal. They form strong bonds with their humans. They can sense human body language, emotions and feelings. Dogs see their human owners as fellow members of their pack. They form the same close bond with their owners as with their canine brothers and sisters.
Pawsitively Weird Facts
The Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’ has a frequency only dogs can hear.
In an interview in 2013, Paul McCartney said that he added a frequency only dogs can hear to the end of the Beatles song ‘A Day in the Life’. So watch your dog when you play the song! How is that for an amazing dog fact?
Canine Cooking
Happy Valentine’s Day Dog Treats.
Your dog will love these healthy treats.
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
Dash of cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium mixing bowl, add both flours, applesauce, peanut butter, egg and cinnamon. Mix well until combined. Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out heart shapes. Bake 15-20 minutes.
Chic Pawz- Pet Fashion
If your canine friend is your # 1 Valentine this year, check out the Etsy shop FitFrenchie for matching outfits. You can find matching shirts, sweaters, pajamas and more. You will be the best dressed at the dog park for sure.
Travel Tail Wagging
Top Dog Friendly Hotels
According to Nina Ruggiero from Travel and Leisure, the following hotels get top pick for their dog friendly amenities and atmosphere.
L’Auberge de Sedona: Sedona, AZ
L'Auberge de Sedona's stunning grounds on Oak Creek, surrounded by Red Rock country, are a destination in their own right. The hotel provides dog beds, bowls, leashes, and a goodie bag with a toy, treats, clean-up bags, and a map of nearby walking trails. The spacious and private cottages have open-air showers, ideal for a rinse should your pet get dirty on the beach below.
To book: lauberge.com
Dream Hollywood: Hollywood, CA
The Dream Hollywood team enthusiastically greets guests with canine travel companions, whether they're putting out a Dream-branded pet bed or helping to dress a pet in a luxurious miniature bathrobe for a ridiculously cute photo shoot. Hollywood's star-studded sights are all within walking distance, and you can admire the surrounding hilltop homes from your bed — or shower — thanks to plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows. The Hollywood sign is directly in view from the rooftop Highlight Room grill and bar, just beyond the cabana-lined pool.
To book: dreamhotels.com/hollywood
Cyprus Inn: Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Late Hollywood icon and animal activist Doris Day was a co-owner of Northern California's Cyprus Inn, and she reportedly agreed to purchase the 1929 Spanish-Moroccan landmark only if it allowed dogs. Today, the Cyprus Inn, which still embodies that Golden Age of Hollywood mystique, carries on her dog-loving legacy, offering blankets and bowls, a glamorous patio to hang out on, and an outdoor shower just for rinsing off those four sandy legs after a romp at the beach.
To book: cypress-inn.com
Montage Palmetto Bluff: Bluffton, SC
Between Savannah, GA, and Hilton Head Island, SC, Montage Palmetto Bluff sits on 20,000 acres of fiercely preserved Lowcountry land, making it the perfect place to get outside with your pet. Inn rooms, cottages, guesthouses, suites, Village Homes, and Signature Montage Residences are all dog-friendly, and dog beds, homemade treats (like sweet potato chews and minty oat cookies), and bowls are provided to all of the "preferred pups." Deep soaking tubs will keep your pup put if you need to clean up after time in the woods. Nearby restaurants are not the most pet-friendly, but all the more reason to order in! You and your furry friend can enjoy room service, as the hotel has a full gourmet in-room dining menu just for pets.
To book: montagehotels.com/palmettobluff
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
A peaceful retreat for owners of small dogs (25 pounds or less) on Brickell Key, the Mandarin Oriental is a slice of luxury with a quiet community feel. Relax on a lounge chair with your pet overlooking the infinity pool and the bay, and take a stroll to Brickell City Centre, where you can shop together. Dog bowls and beds are provided, and guests can contact the hotel if you are interested in learning about any pet packages, which have included dog trainer and butler services.
Pendry, San Diego
Located in the lively Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, the pup-loving Pendry has plenty to do within walking distance. Petco Park, home of the Padres and one of the most dog-friendly stadiums in Major League Baseball thanks to its Barkyard seating option, is steps away, as are breweries and picturesque Seaport Village. While in town, be sure to hit Coronado Dog Beach, and if you are both up for an adventure, you can even take your dog paddleboarding with Aqua Adventures. Then, head back to the Pendry where a dog bed and bowls will be waiting.
To book: pendry.com/san-diego
Fitness with Bruiser
Physical activity is just as important for a dog as it is for people. If you own a dog, you have probably found yourself wondering, “How much exercise does a dog need every day?” Depending on your schedule, that question might sometimes sound more like “How much exercise does a dog really need every day?”
As with people, the answer varies from dog to dog and is dependent on age, health, and breed.
If your dog needs a little more exercise during the day, try out a dog treadmill.
The dogPACER™ dog treadmill was designed with careful precision. It can hold dogs from one to 179lbs and it has patented folding technology making it extremely light and portable. A great way for your puppy to get needed exercise every day.
Dear Scooby- advice column
Dear Scooby,
Why does my dog stare at me?
Just as humans stare into the eyes of someone they adore, dogs will stare at their owners to express affection. In fact, mutual staring between humans and dogs releases oxytocin, known as the love hormone. This chemical plays an important role in bonding and boosts feelings of love and trust.
DIY Pet Projects with Chew Barka
Crown Knot Denim Dog Toy
Got an old pair of blue jeans laying around? Do not throw them away. Use them to make dog toys. Sew Historically has a great tutorial for making use of those old jeans. Cut four denim strips and hold them together at the top with a rubber band. Tie a series of crown knots until you get to the end of the strips. You can make it as long as you want, depending on the size of your dog.
Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pull the ends through the toy and trim so they are hidden.
Safety Tip of the Month
Tips For flying with Your Pet
If you plan on flying with your pet, the ASPCA recommends the following safety tips:
1. Make an appointment with your pet's veterinarian for a check-up. You will want to be sure your pet is healthy before you go. You will also want to make sure vaccinations are up-to-date. You may need to carry a health certificate with vaccination information from your veterinarian on the trip.
2. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and an identification tag that includes destination information. Breakaway collars are best for cats. In addition, your pet should have a microchip.
3. Book a direct flight whenever possible. This can lessen the chances that your pet is left on the tarmac between connecting flights or mishandled by baggage personnel.
4. Purchase a USDA-approved shipping crate. It should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, and turn around in comfortably. You can find these shipping crates for sale at many pet stores or through the airline.
5. Write the words "Live Animal" in letters at least 1-inch tall on the top and one or more sides of the crate. Use arrows to indicate the upright position of the crate prominently. On the top of the crate, write the name, address, and telephone number of your pet's destination point and whether you will be accompanying them or if someone else is picking them up.
6. Make sure the carrier door is securely closed but not locked so that airline personnel can open it in case of an emergency. Line the crate bottom with some type of soft bedding—shredded paper or towels—to absorb potty accidents.
7. Affix a current photo of your pet to the top of the crate for identification purposes. Should your pet get out of the carrier, this could be a lifesaver. You should also have a picture of your pet on your phone or in your wallet.
8. The night before you leave, freeze a small dish or tray of water for your pet. This way, it cannot spill during loading, and it will melt by the time they are thirsty. Tape a small pouch, preferably cloth, of dried food outside the crate. Airline personnel will be able to feed your pet in case they get hungry on long-distance flights or a layover.
9. Tell every airline employee you encounter on your journey that you are traveling with a pet in the cargo hold. This way, they will be ready if any additional considerations or attention is needed.
10. If the plane is delayed, or if you have any concerns about the welfare of your pet, ask that airline personnel check on your pet whenever feasible. You may need to have your pet brought out of the cargo hold in certain situations.
Around the Fire Hydrant Gossip
Breed of the Month
Alaskan Malamute
An immensely strong, heavy-duty worker of spitz type, the Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, loyal, and playful but dignified dog recognizable by his well-furred plumed tail carried over the back, erect ears, and substantial bone. The Alaskan Malamute stands 23 to 25 inches at the shoulder and weighs 75 to 85 pounds. Everything about Mals suggests their origin as an arctic sled dog: The heavy bone, deep chest, powerful shoulders, and dense, weatherproof coat all scream, 'I work hard for a living!' But their almond-shaped brown eyes have an affectionate sparkle, suggesting Mals enjoy snuggling with their humans when the workday is done. Mals are pack animals. And in your family 'pack,' the leader must be you. If a Mal doesn't respect you, he will wind up owning you instead of the other way around. Firm but loving training should begin in early puppyhood. That said, a well-behaved Mal is a joy to be with'¿playful, gentle, friendly, and great with kids.
Dog Horoscope- Pet Astrology
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
You know what is said about humans in Aquarius: they are either geniuses or madmen. So are these dogs.
Aquarius dogs are the ones that will learn every single trick you teach them and will be able to do them all perfectly.
On the other hand, they will also be the ones that will chase their own tails for hours or bark at literally nothing.
They are unpredictable, mischievous, and eager for attention, but do not call them crazy when you see them running around the house with a bag over their head. They are just expressing their unique personality!
Moreover, they are the friendliest of all dogs and will get along with everyone, from other dogs to cats to humans—but not squirrels!