• Brush your dog’s coat at least once a day. Brush head to tail in one direction and then brush in the reverse direction to ensure you get up all of the loose hair.
• Maintain regular haircuts for your dog. A well-groomed haircut keeps your dog’s hair short and shedding hair will be less noticeable.
• Bathe your dog on a regular basis. A clean and healthy dog will have a better, healthier coat.
• Give your dog fatty acid supplements to build a better coat.
• If your dog has allergies and scratches on a regular basis, make sure to give them a supplement to control their allergies, thereby preventing excessive scratching and loosening of their hair.
• Airy Pines Boarding Kennel also recommends two great products – the Furminator De-Shedding Shampoo and De-Shedding Tool. These in combination help to remove loose fur and we believe they are the best products out there for de-shedding.

Keep in mind that shedding is a biological part of a dog’s life and from time-to-time you will have to deal with shedding, but with these tips in mind you can prevent excessive shedding and you won’t be seeing your dog’s hair all over the place anymore!
]]> http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/2011/10/31/dog-shedding-solutions/feed/ 0 http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/2011/10/26/halloween-safety-for-your-dog/ http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/2011/10/26/halloween-safety-for-your-dog/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 20:40:10 +0000 Debi Meehan http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/?p=199 Read more →]]>
Halloween is just around the corner and while it is typically a fun day for family and pets as people dress up to celebrate the holiday, there are many safety tips that you should keep in mind to keep your pet safe this Halloween.

Here are some tips to keep in mind so that as a dog owner you are aware and the only “tricks and treats” are those in your child’s goodie bag!

• Seeing people in costume: Believe it or not, some dogs may get scared or even aggressive seeing strangers in Halloween costumes. Watch for any changes in your dog’s activity and behavior to determine whether or not you need to keep him or her away from the Halloween costume fun.
• Constant doorbell ringing: The constant noise of a doorbell or knocking on your door by trick-or-treaters can actually cause unnecessary stress to your dog. Again, monitor your dog’s behavior and remove them from the stressful situation to a quieter place if necessary.
• Fire safety: Sure that jack-o-lantern looks much spookier with a lit candle in it, but be careful if it is in your dog’s range. A wagging tail can easily knock over that beautifully lit pumpkin and cause more harm than good.
• Tricks: Many kids prefer the “trick” part of trick-or-treat and may try to cause harm to outdoor pets, like dogs and black cats. Keep your dog and pets indoors on Halloween night to prevent any mistreatment by Halloween pranksters.
• Candy: Make sure to warn your children not to share their candy with your dog! Chocolate is definitely toxic to your dog in large amounts and in smaller amounts it can cause severe diarrhea. But chocolate isn’t the only candy you should worry about. Candies, gums, mints, and some baked goods contain the “sugar-free” sweetener called “xylitol” and can be poisonous causing low blood sugar, liver failure, and more. Signs of candy/chocolate toxicity include: tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and nervousness. If you suspect that your dog has ingested any candy or chocolate this Halloween season it’s best to consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.

We hope these tips will keep you and your dog happy and safe this Halloween season.

Happy Halloween from Airy Pines Boarding Kennel!
]]> http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/2011/10/26/halloween-safety-for-your-dog/feed/ 0 http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/2011/10/24/another-one-of-our-furry-friends/ http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/2011/10/24/another-one-of-our-furry-friends/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:10:43 +0000 Debi Meehan http://www.airypinesboardingkennel.com/blog/?p=196

First, if your dog isn’t accustomed to riding in a car, you need to get them acclimated to your car before heading out on a longer excursion. You can start by just sitting in the car with your dog, without the car running. Do this several times, in a calm manner, to teach your dog that riding in the car is not play time; instead it is a time to relax, while either sitting or laying down, and enjoying the ride. Next, once your dog is used to being in the car, turn the car on and remain calm to see if the noise from the engine is startling to your dog at all. Hang out in the car without moving until your dog is calm and relaxed.

Next you should try a few short rides with your dog. Like a trip around the block or a trip to your neighbor’s house. After you see that your dog is ok with the motion of the car and the whole car experience, then you should be able to take some longer trips with them. Try to make your destination a fun one – like to the park or to another dog friend’s house for some group play time or even to Airy Pines for Doggie Day Care!!

While these steps are good to get your dog acclimated to riding in the car with you, you should decide on what means of containment you plan on using while your dog is in the car. Some options include a crate, a dog harness or a barrier. It’s best to only introduce one new riding factor at a time, so as not to confuse your dog.

Safety is also important when traveling with your dog. Some safety points to remember include:

• Restrain your dog – just like babies and children need to be restrained in their car seats, your dog’s safety is completely contingent upon making sure that they are restrained at all times.
• Put your dog’s leash on before opening the door – you wouldn’t want to open the door and have your dog run into a busy roadway or parking lot, so it’s best to make sure that you have your dog’s leash on properly before opening the car door.
• Make sure your dog’s collar and tags are on – should your dog get lost away from home while you are out traveling with them it’s best to make sure they are collared and tagged properly. Another good idea is to include your cell phone number and/or the number where you will be staying on your dog’s collar, too. That way if you and your dog are separated for a period of time, the person who finds your dog can easily get in touch with you.
• Never leave your dog alone in the car – it’s really never acceptable to leave your dog in a car. The interior temperature of a car can rise in a few short minutes, so it’s best to not even take that chance.
• Do not let your dog sit in the front seat if you have air bags – dogs do not fit the parameters designed with air bag protection and they can be seriously injured or even killed if the air bag deploys.
• Keep on hand water, portable water bowl, clean up bags and a first aid kit – it’s better to be prepared for anything when traveling with your dog.
• Stop frequently – your dog needs to stretch and go to the bathroom even more than you do, so make sure you take the time to stop and let them relieve themselves and stretch a little before you continue on any lengthy trip.

Safe travels to you and your dog!!

1. Basset Hound
2. Chihuahua
3. Greyhound
4. Shih Tzu
5. Poodle
6. Pug
7. Bulldog
8. Dalmatian
9. Cocker Spaniel
10. Golden Retriever

Here are some toxic foods and the results they have on our dogs:

• Chocolate, coffee, tea and other food items containing caffeine – can be toxic as the caffeine affects the heart and nervous system.
• Grapes and raisins – contain an unknown toxin that can cause kidney damage.
• Macadamia nuts – can affect the digestive system, nervous system and muscles.
• Milk and other dairy products – can cause diarrhea.
• Mushrooms – contain an unknown toxin that can affect multiple systems in the body, causing shock and resulting in death.
• Onions and garlic – contains sulfides that can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
• Alcoholic beverages – can cause intoxication, coma and even death.

While these are only a few items that can be harmful to your dog if eaten, it’s best to check with your veterinarian or do some research on your own to make sure that nothing happens to your precious pet.

• Dogs have sweat glands between their paws.
• Dogs have three eyelids.
• A dog’s shoulder blades are unattached to the rest of the skeleton to allow greater flexibility when running.
• The shape of a dog’s face suggests how long it will live.
• Dalmatians are completely white at birth.
• A puppy is born blind, deaf, and toothless.
• A dog can locate the source of a sound in 1/600 of a second and can hear sounds four times farther away than a human can.
• Touch is the first sense a dog develops.
• Eighteen muscles or more can move a dog’s ear.
• Dog nose prints are as unique as human finger prints and can be used to identify them.
• Dogs can see in color, though they most likely see colors similar to a color-blind human.
• Dogs can see better when the light is low.
• Petting dogs is proven to lower the blood pressure of dog owners.
• The average dog can run 19 mph.
• Dogs have a wet nose to collect more of the tiny droplets of smelling chemicals in the air.