It's not too late to register for today's Advice for Adopters & Puppy Parents at 2pm. Register here.
Getting Ready for the Holidays?
Since Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season, we have included holiday hazards, helpful for Thanksgiving but also apt for those early birds who put up holiday decorations and wrap gifts over Thanksgiving. There's also a special treat for you crafters: Thanks to one of our students, we have suggestions for all sorts of doggie gifts you can make yourself. But first, since Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, I want to let you know how you can help Your Dog's Friend on Tuesday, December 1. This year, Giving Tuesday is our ONLY fundraising campaign. So, please remember us that day.
#GivingTuesday
On Tuesday, December 1, people around the world are going to show their support for their favorite nonprofits as part of #GivingTuesday. We hope that you will contribute on December 1 to our ongoing campaign to keep dogs out of shelters by educating and supporting their humans. Every donation counts!
This is our only fundraising campaign in 2020.
We are pleased to announce a $6,000 matching grant from Fitzgerald Auto Malls and another $1,000 from anonymous donors. So, donations up to $7,000 will be doubled on Giving Tuesday! This is going to be a big global event, and everyone will be talking about who they’re supporting. So, we are asking you to help in these ways:
1. Mark December 1 on your calendar and add this link: https://bit.ly/3bacgap
2. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Tell friends and family why you're donating and encourage them to donate too.
Please be our champion. Help us ensure that fewer dogs are given up to shelters.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
December Webinars
All times are Eastern time. Register at https://yourdogsfriend.org/free-workshops/
Sat, Dec 5, 2 - 4pm: Why is My Dog Like This? – past causes, present strategies & future goals for your dog’s behavior
Most of us will never know the backstory of the dogs we bring home. Issues like fear, anxiety, high arousal, and aggression can be products of genetics, prenatal conditions, early socialization or isolation, stress and trauma, experience and learning. We can't turn back the clock and redo what came before. But trainer Karen Baragona, of Eager Beagle Dog Training, will explain that there's plenty we can do to help our dogs cope and thrive.
Dec 13, 2 - 4pm: Advice for Adopters & Puppy Parents
Come hear trainer Marnie Montgomery, of Joyful Dog, discuss dog training and behavior, helpful pet products, and the many common issues that adopters face. There is also time to discuss your individual concerns.
FEATURED ONLINE CLASS
Learn how to get your dog's attention,
and see how easy walks can be!
This class, which starts tomorrow, has received rave reviews.
You can see all of our upcoming classes here.
10 Holiday Pet Hazards
by Dr. Nancy Becker
Dec 16, 2013
Story at-a-glance
- The holidays are a joyous time, but the season does bring its own set of dangers for pets. Keep your furry family member away from these items to ensure a merry holiday for all.
- If you think your pet has been harmed by or consumed one of these items, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) immediately. There is a free mobile app you can download too at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/apcc-mobile-app
1. TABLE SCRAPS: Resist the urge to feed holiday table scraps to your dog or cat, and make sure your pet doesn't gain access to tables or counter tops loaded with edible goodies. Rich, fatty foods can cause everything from mild indigestion to a serious case of pancreatitis in susceptible pets. Turkey bones and any cooked bones are also a no-no because they can splinter or break apart, puncturing or blocking internal organs.
2. CHOCOLATE & BAKED GOODS MADE WITH XYLITOL: The chemical in chocolate that is toxic to dogs and cats is the obromine, a caffeine-like compound. The darker the chocolate, the more the obromine it contains, so be especially careful when using baker's and semi-sweet chocolate. Xylitol, a sugar substitute, is very often used in sugar-free baked goods (in addition to a number of other products). Xylitol is very dangerous for dogs. Even a small amount can cause vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures, and liver failure.
3. HOLIDAY PLANTS: Nothing says Christmas like a beautiful poinsettia or some mistletoe around the house. Unfortunately, there are many holiday plants that are toxic for cats and dogs. So before you pick up that festive holiday greenery at the local market, make sure it's safe for your pet. Visit the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants page to learn which plants to avoid. Or opt for silk or plastic greenery instead.
4. ADULT BEVERAGES: Your pet should never ingest alcoholic beverages. Liquor, beer and wine can make your furry, feathered or finned family member quite ill, causing vomiting, diarrhea, disorientation, lethargy, lack of coordination, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, coma, and even death.
5. TINSEL & RIBBONS: These shiny holiday decorations look wonderful, but they can cause serious health issues for your cat or dog. Never wrap tinsel or ribbon around your pet's neck — it poses a choking hazard. And if swallowed, tinsel, ribbon and other decorations can cut up the digestive tract and cause intestinal obstruction.
6. ELECTRICAL CORDS: Some pets love to chew electrical cords, so all those colorful holiday lights strung up around the house mean additional hazards. Chewed electrical cords can cause burns in and around your dog's or cat's mouth, difficulty breathing, seizures, and cardiac arrest. Place electrical cords, wires and batteries out of your pet's reach to prevent a potentially deadly electrical shock or burns from a punctured battery. To protect pets, turn off lights and unplug them when you aren't home.
7. CANDLES: Candles are very popular holiday décor, but make sure to never leave lighted candles unattended. Use appropriate holders that prevent candles from being knocked over by curious pets. Take care when using scented candles, especially the food-scented variety, that the smell doesn't encourage your dog or cat to sample the goods.
8. CHRISTMAS TREES: Pet owners should play it safe by securing their Christmas tree. Screw a hook into the wall or ceiling and run string or fishing line around the tree trunk and fasten it to the hook. This will anchor your tree and prevent it from being tipped or pulled over by your cat or dog. This technique will also keep water at the base of the tree from spilling. Stagnant tree water can harbor bacteria, so prevent your pet from drinking it. And don't add fertilizer to the water.
9. HOLIDAY EXCITEMENT: Holiday activities may be exciting for the two-legged members of your family, but the hustle and bustle of the season can be confusing and stressful for your pet. Dogs and especially kitties can become overwhelmed and over-stimulated just as children do. New Year's celebrations can be a special problem, so keep your pet a safe distance from confetti, streamers, noisemakers and other dangers. Make sure your companion has her own safe, quiet space to retreat to in your home. Stock it with fresh water, a few treats and toys, and comfy bedding.
10. LOSS OF DAILY ROUTINE: Around the holidays, when there are a million extra things to do, it's easy to slip out of your daily routine. Meal times change, bedtime changes, daily exercise becomes sporadic or goes out the window altogether. Dogs and cats need a consistent daily routine to keep stress levels down and maintain good health. As much as possible during the holidays, you should try to maintain your pet's normal daily feeding, sleeping and exercise routine.
This article was brought to you by Dr. Mercola.
Join the Mercola healthy pet site to receive Dr. Becker's ree pet updates:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets
Holiday Crafting for Your Dog
by Your Dog’s Friend DogMom
More than ever, folks are thinking about how to make their homes cozy and comfortable for the winter holidays. With many new dog parents out there, you may be wondering about how to include your fur-babies in this season of celebration and festivity. Here are some crafts with various lead times that may help:
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Super-Easy Holiday Ornaments in a Day: You probably remember making bread-dough ornaments as a kid or with your family. However, these old salt dough recipes can be very dangerous to your dog if ingested. The salt can be toxic. An alternative (although again not to be eaten) is a simple baking soda and cornstarch ornament dough that you can bake. They make beautiful snow-white ornaments. You can add food coloring and/or spray seal them. Tip: I like to use a mason jar lid to cut the circles and a straw to help punch the hole for the ribbon. Also, if you use wax paper on the ornament before pressing it against your dog’s paw, it helps get a good impression. Here’s a great recipe on the web from Modern Dog Magazine.
Baking Soda Dough Pawprint Ornament
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Are you a Baker? This is a great dog biscuit recipe from King Arthur Flour that you can make in a day. They also sell a boxed dog biscuit flour that works well too. Again, a simple Mason jar lid works well as a cookie cutter too. Dog-tested and approved.
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/best-of-breed-dog-biscuits-recipe
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Like to Knit? If you want to make a dog sweater and have a little more lead time, this one is super simple and easy to adjust to the size of your pup. I have made it several times for my large rescue to a small Boston Terrier. As an alternative to using a velcro or a button to close it, I bought a heavy duty snap kit (tip: use a small piece of felt against the sweater on the inside to help stabilize the snap). The Lion Brand Scarfie yarn makes a beautiful pattern.
https://cdn.accentuate.io/4679481753693/12378270040157/l50188a-v1589711463365.pdf
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Can you Sew? If so, this is a very clear and simple dog coat pattern. You just need to make sure to get the measurements accurate and have some craft paper to cut the pattern. If you’re super adventurous, you could probably also use an oilcloth/waterproof fabric to make a raincoat.
https://wholefully.com/dog-coat-tutorial/
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Can you Quilt or would you like to learn? If you have some time to watch videos and get materials and have access to a sewing machine, a dog mat/quilt is a great gift. I learned to quilt with Melanie Ham’s fantastic free how-to videos. If you are interested in making a puppy mat quilt, her tutorial on how to make a first quilt can show you how easily.
https://melaniekham.com/your-first-quilt-absolute-beginner-tutorial/>
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Can you Glue? Well, if you can glue paper and have time to let it dry, then you might be interested in making a new enriching toybox for your furchild. Perhaps those toys are everywhere or your large dog just needs a more durable container than a basket? Consider decoupaging! It’s a fancy word for gluing pretty paper to an item and then sealing it (think of all of those jigsaw puzzles you may have put together and sealed with glue as a kid). I used a cheap plastic concrete mixing pan from Lowe’s and gorgeous MacKenzie-Childs napkins to create a giant box for my pup. Modge Podge makes fantastic waterproof sealers that both glue and seal the paper to the item to make it dogproof durable:
Modge Podge Dishwasher Safe Sealer
You can register once for Amazon Smile at https://couponfollow.com/smilematic, a free extension that will automatically turn your Amazon purchases into Amazon Smile donations. Just choose Your Dog's Friend as your favorite charity! We appreciate your support.
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