Pets can surprise and soothe us with their kindness, warm our hearts and bust our guts. But, let’s admit it, as wonderful and unpredictable as pets can be, they can also be mind-numbingly redundant, something you tend to realize when your Schnauzer barks at a passing car … again.

In fact, one of the things that unites and keeps the pet companion community as tight as it is owes to the fact that we share so many of the same issues, whether they be about grooming, behavior or … Gypsy! Get down from that mailman!

Tell someone your dog’s urine is burning your grass and your bound to hear about their troubles with the local homeowner’s association regarding their “leopard-skinned” lawn.  Relate that your cat is relentless in scratching your furniture and prepare to listen to horror stories from the Ethan Allen crypt.

Hey, we’ve all been there, over and over and over (and over) again. We know because we hear about the same few problems all the time here at Petsguide all the time. It got us to thinking, if pets bring with them some very common issues, could there be pet experts out there ready to supply some very common, and useful, tips for dealing with them? The kind of folks who wouldn’t just nod a compassionate head in regards to your lawn but suggest a dietary supplement or planting a sturdier grass as a solution.

We talked to some of our favorite experts, check out others on the web, and they gave us some great tips on some relatively easy, quick and straight forward solutions to some of the more of the most common problems.

BARKING

This is one of the most common issues dog trainers hear about. But common doesn’t necessarily mean simple. We talked to two excellent trainers, Theresa Botello of Brat Dog (www.bratdog.biz) and Dan Atkinson of Kind of Canines (kindtocanines.com), and they agree that the key to solving the problem lies in understanding its origins.

• “Barking is not a bad behavior,” Botello said. “Dogs bark because they are stressed; you’ve left them alone and they begin to act territorial.”

• She believes the best solution is to “educate yourself and understand crate training. What you accomplish by denning the dog is to calm the dog. If they can’t act when they’re denned, they become submissive, they can’t feel territorial.”

• Atkinson says one of the most common reasons dogs bark is inactivity. “Most dogs, like most people, don’t get enough exercise,” he said. “And it’s not just a matter of taking them for a quick walk. Say you have a Weimaraner, well that dog shouldn’t be walked, it needs to be run. You have to know what your dog requires to physically wear it down.”

• Atkinson says that if you investigate what triggers barking, it’s possible to soothe your pet to their affects. “For instance, if there are kids going by your yard skateboarding and the dog can see it, he’s going to bark. But if you can take your dog to where lots of kids are skating, it will  desensitize it to that stimulus.”

PET PHOTOS

Ever wonder why those photos of dogs and cats, you know the ones you see on the internet and on calendars, look so beautiful and soulful but whenever you try to take a photo of your pet they either look distracted, disinterested or I’m Outta Here!

We asked pet photographer Robert Semrow (thepawtographer.com) for some helpful tips. As usual, as with so many pet issues, Semrow says the biggest issue is not with the photo subject but the camera holder. “The biggest challenge,” he said, “are not with the animals, it’s with the humans.”

• Semrow says the single most important thing a person can do when taking pet picture is have patience. “We’re so quick to want to get that picture, we’re nervous and fidgety and the animals feed of our energy. Now they have this nervous energy and we expect them to just sit there and look natural.”

• Be aware of your surroundings. “You want the dog or cat to stand out. If you take a picture with a bunch of trees or lawn furniture cluttering your picture, your animal is not going to pop the way they should.”

• Don’t be afraid to get dirty. “I want to be down on the same level as the animal,” Semrow said. “I call it full contact photography. I don’t want the animal looking up, I want them looking straight into the lens so I can get that great, full-eye expression. There are such deep emotions in their eyes.”

• Take your dog for a long walk before your photo session. “It burns off nervous energy,” Semrow said. “They come back and lay down and have a real calm and very peaceful look about them.”

• Don’t call out your dog’s name if it is looking somewhere else. “That means come to the dog. They don’t realize the signals. When you go down on one knee, that means come play or let me rub your belly, the dog isn’t thinking ‘Oh, he wants to take my picture.’ ”

CAT SCRATCH FEVER

The most important thing about the cat scratching problem is to remember that there is no cat scratching problem. Cats scratch; it’s what they do. Like men watching football on TV, scratching is in their nature. They do it for pleasure and exercise and to mark their territory, which is pretty the much reasons for guys watching football.

The “problem” is not that cats scratch but what they scratch, i.e. dining room table legs, plush couches, the men sitting on the plush couches for the past nine hours. The key to solving this issue is to make their present scratching areas unattractive while offering an desirable alternative. We consulted the Catscratching.com which, turns out is not a site dedicated to the wit and wisdom of Ted Nugent, but is a great place for answers about this problem.

• Get a scratching post, one that has the kind of rough surface, such as sisal, that cat’s crave.  A good post should be tall enough to allow your cat to stretch its body. It’s extremely important that the post is secure. If it topples once, your cat will likely never return.

• Since scratching is a way for cats to mark territory, it’s important to put the post where your cat already goes to scratch, i.e. by the couch, dining room table, etc. Gradually, you can move the post into a less popular place in the room for humans.

• Feed and play with your cat by the post. You can also rub dried catnip leaves or powder on it to entice them.

• To make your cat’s old scratching objects less desirable, Catscratching.com suggests covering them in aluminum foil or double-sided tape, since neither are very fun to mess with. It also suggests removing your cats scent from those areas with pet odor removers or lemon-scented sprays and/or orange peels. Cats hate citrus.

URINE BURNED LAWNS

It happens, especially if you have a female dog—they tend to squat and deposit their urine in one place—have a large dog—again, more quantity—or tend to fertilize your lawn regularly—the nitrogen in the dog’s urine reacts with nitrogen in the fertilizer. If your lawn has a decidedly polka dotted look to it, here’s a few things you can do.

• Train your dog to urinate in one particular area and cover the ground in that area with something strong and urine resistant. Clover, for instance, or rye or fescue.

• Adjust your dog’s diet. Make sure they are getting all the water they need and think about adding water to food. Also, a high quality diet will help since protein is more digestible and there tends to be less waste products. You may also consider a supplement designed to neutralize nitrogen in the urine. Consult with your veterinarian first.

• If possible, water down the area immediately after your dog urinates.

UNLEASHED

We’ve seen it and we’ve been there. A nice walk out in the fresh air with the dog either turns into a tug-of-war as your pal refuses to be moved or dashes out ahead of you leaving you to desperately hold as if you were George Jetson (kids, ask your parents.) Aside from taking some training classes, which he sincerely wished you would, trainer Dan Atkinson says your problem could also have something to do with the equipment your using.

• “A lot of people simply don’t know what the proper training device they should get for their dog,” Atkinson said. “Head halters, no-pull harness, choke chain, pinch collar … It’s very specific to the breed. For example, a bulldog’s pain tolerance is through the roof so if you have a pinch collar or choke chain on them they’re just not going to care. You can pull all you want, it’s not getting through to them and so is not going to have the desired effect.”

• “German Shepherds, on the other hand, have a super low pain threshold. The choke chain will correct the immediately. Actually, the choke chain was originally designed in Germany for German Shepherds.”

• “If you have a hound, a beagle or basset hound, a dog that wants to track with its nose, you’re gonna want a head halter to keep its head, and nose, up and deter pulling.”

JUMP! JUMP!

There may be no more embarrassing moment in regard to your dog as when he jumps on guests. You are immediately put into the role of boxing referee, trying to separate the combatants, assuring your guest that your dog never does that (he does) while yelling out commands to your dog that he doesn’t understand.

According to trainers Botello and Atkinson this problem arises because people tend not to deal with the issue until it is happening. “Everyone wants to address it in the heat of the moment,” said Atkinson. “But that doesn’t work because it’s all too chaotic.”

OK, so take a breath and take in these suggestions.

• “A lot of people fail to understand the benefits of using a leash inside the house,” Botello said. “We think of it as something to be used outdoors, but you shouldn’t be afraid use it and a training collar inside.”

• Botello suggests when you know guests are coming over to coordinate with them. “Have them call you a few minutes before they arrive. That way you have the dog on a leash. Have them knock hard or use the doorbell. You want to desensitize the dog to the sound and be able to provide the proper correction when it is needed.”

• Atkinson says one of his pet peeves are dogs that are allowed to rest and sleep at the front door threshold. “Any dog is going to jump and be agitated if he’s right there.” He suggests creating a buffer zone of about 10 feet and suggests using a different terrain—carpet, if you have hardwood floors—to make the boundary clear.

Q: I keep losing my pets and I can’t understand why? Sure, some people say I’ve been irresponsible because I’m rarely home and allow my pets to roam free around my yard, which has no fence, gate or visible border. But would an irresponsible person go to the trouble of issuing each of their pets a cellphone? I mean, do you know how hard it is to find a phone with a paw-friendly keypad? Anyway, my question is when my pets inevitably go missing, what’s the best way to track them down?

First off and most importantly stay calm. Pets often go to familiar places and respond to familiar things. According to Petharbor.com, a service of the Humane Society, you should first walk around your neighborhood and “call your pet’s name, and bring some items that your pet is familiar with and typically responds to.” These items could be a noise-making toy, car keys, or a collar and leash. As you widen your search you’re going to want to check areas that your pet would be accustomed to: paths and/or parks where they are normally walked, for instance. Enlist as many people as you can to help, preferably people familiar to your pet.

If you can’t find your pet, call your local animal control office (a list of offices is found on page 15) for recent activity in your area, including pick-ups and found pet reports. You should also search www.petharbor.com for listings and pictures of animals brought into shelters, updated hourly. You can register your pet as lost to receive an e-mail when a matching animal is listed by a shelter or registered as found on the site. Be sure to visit www.lostmydoggie.com, they notify your local neighbors and shelters that your pet is missing. You may also want to contact www.amberalertforpets.com and/or www.findtoto.com, some fees may apply. It’s always a good idea to visit local and regional shelters in your area to look for your pet; neighboring cities often contract with different shelters. Visit as often as possible as animals are brought in continuously. If the shelter policy allows, leave your contact information with a recent photo of your pet; shelter staff cannot always provide notification, but most will provide as much assistance as possible (see back inside cover for a list of shelters).

Q: I keep finding pets wandering aimlessly in my neighborhood with no identification except; strangely, a chewed up cellphone attached to their collars. I want to ensure they get back to their owners safe and sound, what’s the best method?

Well, Petharbor.com is a terrific place to start. You can register the pet as “found” on their website where matching descriptions of the pet you’ve found will be e-mailed to owners who have registered their pets as missing. If you choose to, you can take the pet to a shelter where it will be scanned for a microchip ID and logged. Be aware that there are two kinds of facilities: euthanizing and non-euthanizing. Most city shelters perform euthanasia on animals. Animals that are euthanized typically have temperament problems, are unhealthy or have exceeded the capacity of the shelter. Non-euthanizing shelters keep all healthy animals until adopted; however, they do perform euthanasia on pets that are “un-adoptable.” Sometimes these shelters are called pro-humane rather than non-euthanizing, but are similar. There are a few shelters that practice a true non-euthanizing policy—those that do, will turn animals away if their shelter is full. If you have found an animal and need to take it to a shelter, but you are concerned about the life of the animal, ask about the shelter’s policy before you take the animal in. Many adoption and rescue organizations offer advice and/or referrals about found/lost/stray animals (see “Adoption and Rescue” for a list of organizations).

Q: The whole dog license thing, that’s a scam, right? I mean, I don’t actually have to get one, right? Right?

All dogs over the age of four months are required by law to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. The licensing law was implemented as a health issue related to rabies, but it also keeps an updated record of ownership, which comes in handy if your dog is lost. Residents owning or having custody of any dog must license the dog within 15 days after the license becomes due. Applications and fees are usually available on the city’s website and can be obtained in-person or by mail.

Now, there was a time when a dog license was a luxury, one that many local municipalities didn’t rigorously enforce. But the cold reality is that in these tough economic times, virtually every California city is looking for ways to keep revenue coming in and one of those ways is to enforce rules and regulations they used to turn a blind eye to. Take it from someone who received a strongly worded letter from their hometown advising them to either pony up for a license or pony up for a license and a sizeable fine, they are serious about this stuff.

Q: Well, the summer is here and my family is about to make our annual pilgrimage to Regis Philbin’s home. Accounting for the distance and the time we will spend incarcerated for the inevitable “trespassing” charge, I’m concerned how my pets will do without us. Should I have them boarded or have someone come to the house and care for them? What would Regis do?

No doubt, he would yammer on about his days at Notre Dame. You, on the other hand, should make sure not to treat your pet like your packing: i.e. something to be handled the day before setting off. What you want to do is find out what best suits your pet. If you’re interested in boarding them at a facility, take them to a couple and see how they respond. Sherri Loomer of www.youranimalsbestfriend.com says she always discusses with an owner what their dog is like. “The owner is the most likely to know what’s best for their dog; we discuss if the dog is friendly, if it likes being around other dogs. Some dogs are very social, in fact, we have a hard time getting them to leave. But other dogs are not friendly and for them it’s probably best to care for them in familiar surroundings.” If you decide a boarding facility suits your pet you should take a tour of the facility, checking for things like cleanliness; asking if the kennels are cleaned everyday (the answer should be “yes”). Also, ask about their feeding schedule and keep in mind your own pet’s schedule and ask if they will accommodate. Find out about walks and play times and any extra services that may be offered. Also inquire about on-call veterinarians and their procedure in an emergency situation.

Q: I love my dog but, oh, how to put this gently … His breath has started to set off my home’s smoke alarms. Is there anything I can do about that?

Perhaps because we hear all the time that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s we figure that they don’t need regular dental cleaning. But pet’s eat and, like us, their teeth hold onto food which can in turn cause bacteria and decay which in turn can cause serious infections and medical problems. “Infection and bacteria in the mouth can lead to problems with organs that have the highest blood flow. We’re talking such critical organs such as the brain and heart,” said Ken Kurtz who runs Animal Dental Care, based out of Newport Beach. Kurtz’s company does cleanings in about 300 local veterinarians’ offices. He also says he can teach the same hold to pet owners so they can practice brushing their pets’ teeth, and ideally, brushing every day. Kurtz says he prefers regular pet tooth paste for your pet, and recommends the brand CET. Yes, he says, he knows of the gravy and meat flavored tooth paste available at pet stores, but asks “how are you going to get a good fresh, clean smell with beef gravy?”

Q: I’m looking to move into a rental property. Will I be able to take my pet, and if I can, can I get my pet to kick in for half of the utilities?

You’re in luck—not with the utilities, pets are notoriously tight-pawed—Southern California is a very pet-friendly place when it comes to rentals. Here’s a couple tips on moving in with your pet: 1) When doing a walk through with the landlord, bring your camera and/or a notebook and record any damage that is already there. 2) Get your pets new tags with the new address before moving day. 3) Know your rights as a tenant. You can download the booklet at www.dca.ca.gov, go to “Publications,” then “Legal Guides,” scroll down to Tenant-Landlord.

Q: It’s gotten to the point that I find I’m spending more money out of pocket on my pet’s health than my children’s. I think it’s time to consider pet insurance. How do I go about selecting a company?

When comparing insurance companies and their policies, there are some main points to consider: 1) How much coverage is needed? Coverage ranges from accidental injuries to preventative care, such as vaccines. 2) For puppies and kittens, consider a policy that covers vaccinations, spaying/neutering, deworming and microchips. 3) Consider how much you spend on medications and look for a policy that may cover that cost. 4) For senior pets, consider a policy that covers dental, medications, and tests such as blood work, EKGs and X-rays. 5) Consider your pet’s chronic or recurring conditions. Look for a policy that covers pre-existing conditions and hereditary or congenital defects that may occur in specific breeds. 6) Consider alternative medicine and look for a policy that covers acupuncture, chiropractic work, and/or holistic medicine. 7) Also ask about available discounts. Be sure to talk to your vet about their experiences with different providers and policies. There are also these sites that are helpful: www.petinsurancecomparison.org and www.petinsurancereview.com.

Q: My dog has been crying out incessantly for a couple days. At first I thought it was because he didn’t care for what was going on with this season’s “The Bachelorette” but I think now it’s something more.

Your dog probably is trying to tell you he’s not feeling well. Any time a dog displays behavior that isn’t typical there’s a strong possibility he’s sick. Here’s a couple of tell-“tail” signs (see what we did there?): 1) Diarrhea for more than a day or two. 2) Wounds; if it looks like your cat or dog got into a fight, it may have been with a wild animal that had rabies or another disease. 3) Discolored gums; if your pet’s gums are not the normal pink, take them in as white or blue gums can indicate breathing or circulation problems or even shock, and yellow gums show possible liver problems. 4) And, in your case, unusual behavior such as crying out incessantly when there are no visible symptoms, excessive coughing or sneezing, lethargy, seizures and/or any behavior that just isn’t “normal” for your pet.

Q: How can I tell the difference between a normal health issue for my pet that can be handled by my veterinarian and an emergency situation?

Here are a few “need-to-go-to-the-emergency-room-now” signs: 1) Difficulty or abnormal breathing. 2) Loss of consciousness or collapse. 3) Weak, rapid pulse, pale gums, cool limbs, low body temperature. 4) Drooling and swollen abdomen. 5) Extreme anxiety which may present itself in pacing or attempting to vomit or defecate unsuccessfully. 6) Seizures. 7) Profuse, repeated vomiting or diarrhea. 8) Lethargy, weakness, running/bumping into things. 9) Near-drowning. 10) Electric shock. Whenever possible, call ahead before transporting so the emergency clinic can be prepared.

Q: Over the last few months, my dog has gotten big. I mean really BIG. Like so big that I’ve had inquiries to rent him out for rides at parties … and these are not “kid” parties. Is it possible that my pet is overweight?

Very. Now, I could be all glib and say you know your pet is overweight when he is assigned his own zip code but that would be wrong. As in humans, excess weight can lead to numerous health issues for pets. So, to check if your pet has packed on a few, or many, extra pounds go over this check list: 1) Can you feel their ribs? 2) Is there a visible waistline below the ribs and above the hips when looking from above? 3) Is there is a visible “tuck” where the fullness of the chest tapers to the waist when looking from the side. If you’ve answered “no” to any of these you should probably consult your veterinarian for a weight-loss program.

Cats? Well, a 10-year-old cat figures out to about 53 in human years and in two years the same cat will be roughly equivalent to a 61-year-old.

So our pets can start slowing down fast. We’re not really concerned about explaining why this happens any more than we feel the need to explain why you keep looking for those reading glasses that are so clearly resting on top of your head. What we’d like to do is show you how you can make the senior years as great as the days that preceded them. And the good news is that things have gotten better to make the best of it, including new products, therapies as well as advances in veterinarian medicine. All of which means that our dogs and cats can enjoy a quality of life in the senior years that can be just as fun and fulfilling and, in many ways, even more so.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love young pets,” said Sharon Olson, owner of Fur Their Sake (furtheirsake.com), a pet-sitting business specializing in senior and special needs pets. “But the older ones, I just feel like you can connect with them better. The younger ones are just so hungry for attention, they’re kind of all over the place. The older ones are not so frenetic so you can really make a bond with them.

With that in mind, we offer half-a-dozen things you can do, and a few nots—back away from the bacon-flavored treat—to increase the chances of making your pet’s golden years, well, golden.

WATCH & LEARN

One of the most dangerous things that can happen to pets as they age is that they become invisible. That cute little kitty who used to like to settle on your chest, that cute little pup who incessantly demanded your attention, have grown up and now have settled into their own corners of the home. This may sound comfortable but can also lead to unintended neglect.

“There’s a real danger that as our pets get older they start to take second place to what else is going on in the house,” said Dr. Gary Tatayama of Yorba Regional Animal Hospital. “They can become part of the furniture, we know they are there we just don’t pay much attention to them. That’s when you start to run into problems.”

Tatayama says you should start looking for changes in behavior: is your pet eating less? Drinking more water? Are there changes in their urination or defecation routine? Are they shedding more than usual? Has their coat lost its luster?

Cats are more likely to retreat if they feel poorly to the point where they can virtually disappear. It’s a good idea to keep tabs on them around the litter box; are there more clumps than usual? Do you notice signs of diarrhea? Does your cat linger in the box?

“It’s important to remember that our pets are not like us,” Tatayama said. “We’re wimps. I’ve had dogs walk into the office with broken legs their owners didn’t know they had. I once examined a dog with 75 percent of his chest filled with fluid and he was wagging his tail. They’re really good at hiding if they’re hurt.”

INCONTINENCE

Tom Bagamane is founder of Seniorpetproducts.com which has literally thousands of items designed specifically for older pets. Need a doggie toothbrush? He’s got them. How about a hairball remedy? Got them too.

And yet Bagamane doesn’t hesitate to name his hottest seller these days: dog diapers.

Bagamane’s site has numerous types of diapers, disposal and washable, single and in packs. They range in price from about under $10 to more than $20 and come in various colors and styles and sizes.

The reason is simple. When a dog gets older and begins to experience incontinence in the house it’s rarely because the dog has suddenly forgot its training. More than likely, the dog is experiencing some kind of medical condition that may, or may not, be treatable.

Since incontinence is one of the top reasons pets are put to sleep, a device that minimizes the problem seems invaluable, which is why Bagamane says that diapers are selling like “wildfire” all over the place, including orders from Europe and Japan.

WALK ON

One thing that doesn’t change as our dogs get older is the importance of daily walks. It not only provides critical exercise but stimulation for their brains. A dog left inside or in the yard all day can not only have his muscles but mind atrophy from little to no use.

Of course, as dogs get older, it becomes a little more complicated than just grabbing a leash and heading out the door. You may have to adjust your speed or your usual route as your dog ages.

“Hey, they’re going to get slower,” said Leslie McMahon, physical therapist from Two Hands Four Paws. “That’s not the puppy you brought home years ago. It may take an hour for them to make the walk that used to take 15 minutes. You have to pay attention and adjust accordingly. It may be that you’ll have to take walks in the morning and evening. You may need to budget more time.”

Olson agrees.

“I think the most important thing as our pets get older is learning to adapt to what they can do,” she said. “As with people when they get old, dogs are going to have good and bad days. There are going to be days when your dog is going to want to walk around the block, and days when he’ll just want to go to the next tree. What’s ‘normal’ isn’t the same every day for them.”

MOBILITY

One of the reasons dogs walk less, and cats retreat to secluded parts of the home, is that they begin to feel the loss of a significant amount of mobility usually related to issues in their hips and/or joints.

Experts say you should be on the alert not only for any grunting or groaning coming from your pet, but any changes in behavior.

“If you have a cat that used to jump onto the couch and now that same cat steps onto the couch, you might have an issue,” Tatayama said.

Tatayama says that one great way to encourage movement with dogs is hydrotherapy. But it can be hard to get a dog in a pool. That’s why people go to Leslie McMahon whose Los Angeles-based practice includes massage and swim therapy.

She says that while people ask her for tips on exercises and stretches to do with dogs no one who hasn’t studied the method should attempt therapy without first being taught. “People tend to do too much with the dog and that can do more harm than good.”

Still, there are things you can do. Tatayama suggests one of the easiest, and best, is putting surfaces down around the house that make it easier and more comfortable for your dog and cat to walk on: carpeting, rugs and floor mats. All of which make it easier for them to grip and are easier on the pads of their paws.

You can do the same for your dog when they are out of the house with canine shoes and boots which, Bagamane says are becoming increasingly popular. While providing the aforementioned grip and comfort they also can be critical in preventing the spread of parvo since one way that dogs get the usually fatal disease is by being infected when stepping in infected feces with pads that are cracked.

“There are so many reasons, whether it’s prevention of disease, the disgusting stuff you find on the streets or dog parks, or just how hot a sidewalk can be on a summer day,” said Bagamane, whose website also features other products that help with mobility including wheelchairs, harnesses and ramps. “If we walked on our hands, you can bet we wouldn’t think this was some kind of luxury item.”

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

It is likely there is nothing that poses more problems to a dog or cat than being overweight. It presents problems with mobility, cardiovascular issues as well as the likelihood of diabetes. And if this sounds like our pets are mirroring our own overweight problems, McMahon says, that’s easy to figure out.

“Our pets are fat because we are fat,” McMahon said. “We’re far less active so our pets are far less active.”

This is critical because every extra pound on a dog is equal to five extra pounds on a human. So, while it might not seem a big deal if your dog is five pounds overweight, the fact is, that is equivalent to being 25 pounds overweight. As a dog or cat ages, excess weight puts an increasingly heavy load on joints and hips.

Besides issues of activity, dogs and cats are many times overweight simply because they eat too much, and many times because what they eat is no good. Sound familiar? It should because, unfortunately, much of what makes us fat, makes our pets fat.

“One thing people should consider is that people are working longer hours and they come home later,” McMahon said. “Many times the last thing they want to do is deal with their pet, or maybe they feel guilty about not spending enough time. So they over feed them or, out of guilt, they give them treat after treat.”

Gabe Martinez, general manager at Seniorpetproducts.com, says it’s important for people to read the serving size instructions on their chosen cat and dog food, that “just filling up the bowl” is the last thing you want to do.

Generally, older dogs need about 20 percent fewer calories than they needed in their prime, and those calories should include more digestible protein, vitamins and minerals.

As far as discerning what exactly is in the food, he offers this simple method: “Make sure there aren’t a lot of long names that you’ve never heard of. You want to make sure there’s stuff in there you recognize like fish oil or vitamin C, you want to make sure the food hasn’t been manufactured to the ‘nth degree. Then it’s just man-made junk food.”

HAVE A PLAN

Experts say the time to start planning for your pet’s senior years is before they arrive.

“Meet with your veterinarian and make sure they know your pet is getting older,” said Bagamane. “Make your veterinarian your partner, and plan for the future. Just like with people, we’re seeing a shift in focus away from disease-based care to one that is more proactive when it comes to prevention.”

It’s important to get started early because pets age six and seven times faster than we do. A matter of six months might seem short to us, but to a dog or cat, it’s a significant amount of time. To wait until problems actually arise, is to tempt fate.

“We’re a nation of reactors, we wait until something is wrong instead of employing some prevention,” said McMahon. “Most people don’t think about coming to us until it’s too late. I’ve had some very sad cases where, if I had seen the dog six months earlier, I could have done something for them. But there comes a point when things are irreversible.”

“The biggest thing is to have routine exams, annual exams especially,” said Tatayama. “You want to have a baseline that you can compare against as the animal gets older and, for many problems, blood work is the only way we can find out about things.”

“It’s in their genes to hide any weakness since it’s the sick who get picked off in the wild. They don’t want to tell you when they’re sick so, as they get older, it’s our job to keep closer tabs on them and be observant. We owe them that.”

We repeated this like a million, maybe a trillion (low zillion?) times. It allowed Tug and I to have quality time together, just the two of us, which made it worth the irreparable damage to my right shoulder.

Yeah, good times, but good times in the early ‘90s, back when a good time with your friend was pretty much limited to throwing the ball and walking them on the leash. Sure, there were other, more adventurous activities you could do with your dog, but these were pretty much limited to people who preferred sandals to shoes and dogs who wore bandanas instead of collars.

The same can’t be said of today, when the adventurous and creative, not to mention the culinary, have gone mainstream and given us numerous things to do with our dogs, things that range from sporty to shapely to fun and everything in between, and yes, that does include a nice glass of wine.

Not only do these activities offer variety and the chance to perform squat thrusts with your buddy by your side, but, experts say, they present the opportunity to connect with your dog on a different, deeper and, ultimately, healthier level.

“A lot of people take their dog for a walk a few times a week and they think that’s enough,” said trainer Dan Atkinson of Kind to Canines. “The fact is, the more activities you do with your dog, the better rounded your dog is going to be mentally and socially.”

With that in my mind, we’ve made it our business to show you some of the different directions and opportunities you can take with your dog. Of course, what’s presented here is just a fraction of what’s available throughout the pages of Petsguide, so give it a read, then explore a little. It’s all good. Of course, before we talk about any of that, we have to talk about something a little serious. I’m speaking of …

SOCIALISM!

Or is socialization?

Oh well, I say “Tomato” you say “Karl Marx,” the point is virtually none of the terrific things we’re going to present for your dog to do are possible unless the animal is comfortable being around other dogs and/or people.

Jill Bowers, who runs Thank Dog Bootcamp where owners and pets workout together, says she “can’t let anyone in that can’t control their dog. An unruly dog, one with no socialization skills, it just won’t work.”

Training expert Dan Atkinson says the process of socialization should begin when your dog is a pup. And he’s not just talking about walks.

“If all you do is walk your dog, chances are the dog is going to be anti-social,” said Atkinson who runs Kind to Canines Obedience Training (www.kindtocanines.com). “Let’s say we’re talking about a two-year-old dog, so basically a teenager who’s been home-schooled since he gets walked a few times a week. All of a sudden your child has a Little League game and you take the dog and the dog freaks out because he’s not used to being out of its element. That’s when I get a phone call.”

Exposing them to new things is actually simple. Atkinson recommends taking them in a car through a drive-thru food window or to the pet store to get some food. Simple things, but things that “get them out, get them exposed to see and hear things so that it’s not such a shocker for them to be outside the house or yard.”

Atkinson assures that all is not lost if you haven’t socialized. There are ways to get them socialized. One is to walk them with other dogs. Also introduce them into areas (like a dog park) with dogs that are comfortable being around other dogs.

“What I try to do with dogs like that is get them acclimated by having them learn from other dogs that are mentally sound, dogs that are confident outside the home. You can build a dog’s confidence that way. But I think it’s a combination of doing things with your dog and the dog having some form of discipline. A dog must listen to you: the most unhappy dog in the world is one that doesn’t have structure and rules.”

Fortunately, there are a lot of places you can take your dog to get that structure. Many, many cities offer dog training at local parks (see page 26). Then there are heavy hitters like Atkinson who can personalize training to fit the need of your dog.

May we also suggest …SHEEP HERDING!
If structure and discipline is what you and your dog crave, then check out All Breed Herding Training. Jerome Stewart has been teaching herding classes since 1988, and currently teaches three classes per week in Long Beach, Anaheim and Perris. Classes are available year-round to teach all breeds of dogs how to herd sheep. Each class is two-and-a-half hours for $30; pre-registration is not required. No previous experience necessary. You can find more information at home1.gte.net/jerstew or e-mail Jerome at jerstew@verizon.net.

One of our favorites is Thank Dog Bootcamp (www.thankdogbootcamp.com) which allows owners and dogs to workout together. The brainchild of Jill Bowers, a dog trainer who had a very hyper Doberman and couldn’t find the time to keep both her dog and her body in shape.

“It allows you to save time and the dog helps you from the aspect of working out,” she said. “Dogs are routine-based animals, they start to know when it’s work out time. A person can not, not go.”

Bowers says the workouts, which are performed in parks in Long Beach and Orange County, are designed for people and pets of all fitness levels. There are circuit, weight and cardio workouts. To make sure that you and your pet get the most of it, dogs have to be well-trained, something Bowers and her staff can help with in an initial training session that will ensure you both get the most out of your workout.

For workouts that are more dog-centered, you might think about agility classes that are offered by many cities (see “Recreation, Parks, Trails & Beaches” for a list) as well as organizations, such as the South Coast Agility Team (www.southcoastagilityteam.com) which has regular practice sessions, mentoring programs and annual AKC and CPE competitions.

May we also suggest … Jump Start Dog Sports!
Located in Yorba Linda, this outfit offers classes not only to get your dog fit and in shape, but also competitions to show off your dog’s skills. And we’re talking fun stuff such as disc and a little something called musical freestyle, which either means your pooch will catch a disc to musical accompaniment or will soon be opening for Kanye. For more information, call (714) 985-1555 or go to www.jumpstartdogsports.com.

SPORTS!

Now that you and your dog are in great shape you’ll want to be doing something with that. You’re in luck, there are a lot of options.

One that you’re probably very familiar with is disc, you know, Frisbee. This activity has been around a long time and even got so big in the ‘70s that they had disc dog competitions held in the Rose Bowl.

You don’t have to go that big to get involved. In fact, an organization known as Disc Dogs in Southern California (www.d2isc.com) will let you go at whatever pace you want. D2ISC organizes a series of informal play days and clinics throughout the year where members and prospective members can exchange training ideas. They also plan several competitions and a variety of shows throughout the year for dog-related charities, humane societies, sporting events and schools. Members include regional, national and world competition finalists. Clinic dates, event schedules and contact information are available on their Web site.

You might also check out a sport called flyball which seems to be picking up lots of very enthusiastic adherents. Flyball races match teams of dogs against each other. They race side-by-side over a 51-foot-long course with each dog required to run in relay fashion over jumps, trigger a flyball box that releases a ball, retrieve the ball, and return over the jumps.

Pretty cool, huh? You can find more information at the North American Flyball Association (www.flyball.org) or through local clubs such as Orange Crush Flyball Club (www.ocflyball.org).

May we also suggest …URBAN MUSHING!
The Southern California Working Snow Dogs is a group of humans and their canine companions who indulge in different fun dog-powered activities not all of which require snow. We’re talking about urban activities such as dog scootering, carting, bikejoring, canicross, skijoring, weight-pulling and, yes, dogsledding. Clinics and meetings offered. For more information, go to www.urbanmushing.com.

SOMEONE ELSE!

OK, let’s face it. As much as we’d like to spend plenty of quality time with our buddy, things do come up. Things take us away from our dog, you know important things like work and watching the entire first season of Real Housewives of New Jersey on DVD.

But why should our dogs suffer because we can’t make it? Fortunately, there are plenty of people who are willing, you know, for a price, to be your pups surrogate mom or dad. One of the best and most popular is Neal Ward who runs BeachHounds.com Dog Beach Adventures (www.beachhounds.com). Ward’s company will actually come to your house, pick up your dog and take them to Huntington Beach’s Dog Beach where they can run, frolic and generally exhaust themselves.

“It’s funny, when we’re on our way, they’re happy and wagging their tails,” says Ward, who takes the dogs in a van. “But on the way back, it’s a completely different atmosphere. Much more mellow. Some of them snore.”

Ward’s service is so easy that you don’t even have to be home for him to pick up your pooch. If authorized, he’ll let himself in.

“When they hear the van, they know where they’re going and they get so excited,” he said. “You can see it. It’s like they’re going to Disneyland.”

Well, kinda. Huntington Beach’s 1.2 mile stretch of sand for dogs was recently voted the nation’s best dog beach, outperforming the likes of similar beaches in Del Mar and Carmel.

May we also suggest…UGLY DOG ADVENTURES!
This unique pet sitter really isn’t a sitter at all, in that there’s very little sitting going on and much more in the way of one-on-one dog adventures, cart and trike rides as well as pack activities such as play dates and pack hikes that range from easy to advanced. For more information, call (714) 585-3868 or go to www.uglydogadventures.com.

PAMPER!

And, hey, do we always have to be in such a rush to improve ourselves? I mean, a boot camp here, a little skijoring there, is all very well and good, very good. But there comes a time when a person, and their dog, just wants to chill. Take some valuable “them” time.

For that, you might think of heading over to Chewsy Dog in Long Beach. Owner Eva Kuncewicki offers a variety of products and services to pamper your pup. Perhaps our favorite is Doga which is, you guessed it, yoga you do with your dog.

“It’s kind of like having a partner for yoga,” said Kuncewicki. “It’s a wonderful bonding experience with your dog. Through the movements, they come to trust you more.”

Chewsy (4107 Viking Way, Long Beach; 562-354-6040. www.chewsydogonline.com) also offers times when owners can come down and just have their dogs meet up with other dogs—a terrific opportunity to continue the work of socialization. Or, throw a themed party at the shop for your pup: celebrate a puppy shower, barkday party, adoption event, or bark mitzvah!

There are other local shops that offer similar products and services. Chateau Le Pooch (860 W. Imperial Hwy, Suite M, Brea; 714-842-0454. www.chateaulepooch.com) offers parties and party supplies, including made-to-order goodie bags and barkday cakes, plus regularly scheduled “Yappy Hours” (see “Calendar”).

Pussy and Pooch (4818 E. Second St., Long Beach; 562-434-7700. www.pussyandpooch.com) offers an interactive social setting that is designed for you and your pooch to enjoy together. Your furry friend can feast on made-to-order meaty pet meals at the Pawbar®! Or the two of you can attend a number of pet-centric activities, such as charity events, Mutt Mingles, and nutrition seminars.

Or try taking socialization to the next level with online networking through meetup.com, dogster.com, mydogspace.com, datemypet.com and facedog.com.

“A tired dog is a happy dog!”

The smiles slowly faded. We turned to one another. Our brows knitted, our panic rising. Without saying a word, we were saying to each other: “Um, what do we do now?”

Pets are a lot like babies—though they do have superior potty habits. We bring them home, all cute and cuddly, and place them in our homes with rarely a thought to their everyday care. Why would we? We’ve seen them all our lives, read and heard about them, and figure that taking care of a pet is just an instinctual part of our being. And then … “When do I feed them? And how much?” “A bath? How often?” “Why won’t Muffin stop chewing on that table leg, especially after I repeatedly asked her, in plain English?”

In this episode of Petsguide, in this time of our country and economy, we thought it a good idea to get back to basics. How to wash a dog. How to brush their teeth. How to take care of this and that. As you’ve come to expect, we talk to experts, but also know that there are experts throughout the magazine who can help you with all of the things we’re talking about and many more. We couldn’t cover everything or talk to everyone, of course, but we think you’ll find the information helpful, even do-it-yourself-ful (trademark pending.)

So have a look and take what you need. Oh, and say hi to Muffin for us.

HOW TO… give your pet a bath

As Lindell Zieg, who runs Celebrity Paw Spa and the OC Academy of Pet Styling, says grooming your pet provides “special time together that can bring gorgeous results and a well-trained pet that enjoys being touched and pampered.” Just like with humans, it’s important to remember that good grooming is not only aesthetic but has a very real and important effect on a pet’s health and outlook.

“It’s not just beautification,” Zieg said, “but is necessary for health and hygienic reasons.”

So, to begin with, you’re going to want to deal with your pet’s hair. But do you comb or do you brush? The answer is: yes.

“Combing gets down to separate the undercoat and brushing loosens and removes dead top coat,” said Zieg, who said that you should always remember to comb and brush your pet before bathing. Now, when it comes to bathing, Zieg graciously agreed to walk us through it. To wit …

“First, thoroughly wet coat with water and then massage the shampoo down to the skin. Be careful to avoid getting soap and water in eyes and ear canals. Pets may need two or more washes to ensure cleanliness. For long and thick coat types a conditioner may be applied as directed as a final step to the bathing process. Be sure to rinse your pet well leaving no soap residue behind. Clean ears with pet ear wash then wipe them out with a cotton ball removing debris and leaving a clean, dry ear canal. Towel dry most of the water off your pet then blow-dry the rest. Brush and comb pet again after fully dried.”

Even if you choose to wash your dog yourself, Zieg strongly recommends taking your pet to the groomer every four to six weeks. There they can get procedures that are a bit dicey, such as nail trimming, taking care of while also receiving a hairstyle that best serves you and your pet’s lifestyle.

HOW TO… remove pet hair from furniture

(courtesy Wikihow.com)

Lightly dampen the palm of your hand. Wipe the pet hair off in a downward motion. The hair will ball up and stick to your damp hand. Barely dampen a clean, regular kitchen sponge (or sponge mop if you’re removing pet hair from a low-pile carpet, in which case the floor should be thoroughly vacuumed first). Rub the fabric, upholstery, or carpet with the sponge. The fur should roll up into clumps that you can pick off by hand. Put on a latex glove. Rub the surface with it on. The pet hair should stick to your glove. This also works with rubber gloves or cloth gardening gloves with a rubber coating on the palm. A rubber bristle push broom can work in the same way on floors. Dampen the glove or rubber section of the glove for increased effectiveness.

Inflate a balloon and rub it across the surface that has pet hair on it. The static on the balloon’s surface will attract the hair (works on yours, too) which you can collect and then re-use the balloon to get more hair.

Apply fabric softener. A fabric softener sheet that normally goes in the dryer can be used to pick up pet hair. You can also mist the surface with a mixture of fabric softener and water to “prep” the area before removing the pet hair using any of the other methods.

HOW TO… give your pet a pill

One of the most frustrating things with a pet is the inability to give them medicine they vitally need. We’ll tell you of a few methods/tricks you can use, but the truth is, you should start preparing your pet to take pills when they aren’t sick.

See, the most common way to get a pet to take a pill is to hide it in a treat. So, if from a young age, you teach your pet to relish special treats that they only get on special occasions, it will make it easier to get them to take the pill/treat concoction. The best treats to use are moist ones such as cheese, cream cheese, tuna or hot dog chunks, treats that will allow you to easily hide smashed pills and popped gel caps.

Now, there are some differences between giving a pill to a dog or cat.

So if you have a dog …

You’ll want to put the pill in a treat, but be sure and give the dog a couple of pill-free treats first before you throw in the one with the pill. Now, some dogs are pretty sharp so that even having been fed pill-free treats, they’ll sense the medicine in the key treat and eat around it. If that happens you’ll have to employ more direct methods.

Take your dog firmly, open his mouth and drop the pills as far back in their mouth as you can. Now clamp your dog’s mouth shut and hold until you see or feel them swallow. It shouldn’t take more than 10 seconds. Here’s a tip: if your dog licks his nose, it usually means he’s swallowed the pill.

If you have a cat, feeding a pill-infused treat may be best done by putting it in a bit of cream cheese and letting your cat lick it off your finger. You might just put it in their food dish. Since cats usually eat less than dogs, you may have to put the pill in several treats and spread the dosage out.

HOW TO… make your pet a special treat

(courtesy Rick Ketcham, OC Doggie Dinners)

A big thank you to Rick Ketcham, who runs OC Doggie Dinners, for providing this recipe for a yummy treat. And yes, I said yummy.

Ketcham knows all about pleasing the pallets of pets, his company makes pet food with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Those who use his meals see their pets more active, their coats shinier within a few months. The food is also wheat- and corn-free since those are the most common allergies in pets. OC Doggie Dinners delivers in Orange County, you can find them at www.ocdoggiedinners.com.

And now …

Peanut Butter Bones
Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups rice flour
1 cup potato flour
Directions:
– Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
– Gradually beat in oil and water into peanut butter until well-mixed.
– In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine flours.
– Add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture and blend well to form a dough.
– Roll out the dough to approx. 1/4″ thickness and cut into shapes, or slice them into squares if you don’t have cookie cutters.
– Place on lightly greased cookie sheet, leaving about 1/2 inch between biscuits. Bake for 20 minutes until browned. Turn off oven, but leave the biscuits inside to “crisp.” Store the remaining biscuits in an airtight container in refrigerator.

HOW TO… brush your pet’s teeth

Many people, perhaps confused about that business about a pet’s mouth being cleaner than a human’s— especially if that human is on a reality show—figure that a pet doesn’t need regular dental cleaning. But pet’s eat and, like us, their teeth hold onto food which can in turn cause bacteria and decay, which in turn can cause serious infections and medical problems.

“Infection and bacteria in the mouth can lead to problems with organs that have the highest blood flow. We’re talking critical organs such as the brain and heart,” said Ken Kurtz who runs Animal Dental Care, based out of Newport Beach.

Kurtz’s company does cleanings in about 300 local veterinarians offices. The key is that they do so without anesthesia which always poses a risk to a pet’s well-being. In fact, Kurtz started the business after a pet died while getting its teeth cleaned under anesthesia. Kurtz has developed a technique to hold a pet while cleaning its teeth, a technique he says that is comfortable for the pet and allows his technicians to do a thorough cleaning. But he also says he can teach the same hold to pet owners so they can practice daily dental cleanings with their pets.

“Well, ideally you should brush your pet’s teeth every day,” he said. “I mean, we tell people they should bring the pet to us every six months for a deep clean, but the pet shouldn’t have to wait six months just to get their teeth brushed.”

Kurtz says he prefers a soft bristle human tooth brush and recommends brushing your pet’s teeth from one to two minutes with a pet-safe toothpaste.

HOW TO… clean your pet’s ear

Use a pet-specific ear wash (available at most pet stores and veterinary clinics).

Soak a cotton pad with the wash.

Hold the earflap (“pinna”) up and gently wipe away dirt, wax and debris from the nooks and crannies.

IMPORTANT: only clean what you can see. Never insert anything into the ear canal. Your pet will shake out excess moisture or you can use an ear-drying agent.

Offer a treat to your brave, clean-eared pal.

HOW TO… clean pet vomit off the carpet

Time is of the essence. Yeah, it’s gross and yeah, nobody wants to do it, but the fact is the longer vomit, with its stomach acids inside, is allowed to stay on a carpet, the greater the chance it will discolor it.

Now, do not try to scrub or wipe the puke up, that’ll only serve to push it deeper into the rug fibers. What you want to do is get a spoon, or a very flat butter knife, and scoop the stuff up, perhaps onto a paper towel.

Once you’ve gotten as much as you can up, douse the area with baking soda to absorb what’s left. Wait for that to dry completely and then vacuum it up thoroughly. But wait, you’re not done. Mix up a concoction of a half a cup of salt and two quarts of water. Blot that onto the spot with a sponge, rinsing the sponge thoroughly between blottings. After blotting, apply a carpet spot remover. Finally, rinse with cool water, blot with a towel, and allow the area to dry completely.

Now go take a two-hour shower.

HOW TO… remove a tick

(courtesy K9web.com)

When you find a tick, use tweezers to pick up the body and pull s-l-o-w-l-y and gently, and the mouthparts will release.

You should see a small crater in your dog’s skin; if you see what looks like black lines, you’ve left the head of the tick in. At this point, if your dog is mellow enough, you should try and pick it out. Otherwise, you may need to take your pet into the vet, as the head parts will lead to an infection.

Ticks carry a lot of rickettsial diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, so you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling a tick.

Now, go take a three-hour shower.

HOW TO… train a dog

Patty Beach, who runs Star Dog Training, see’s it all the time: dogs that habitually do the wrong thing.

She’s seen the effect it has on a family, kids who won’t go out into a yard because they’re afraid of the pet, people who can’t leave the house with any confidence that their possessions, or food supply, will be intact when they return.

She’s seen it and she knows who to blame: you.

“Basically, the biggest problem is that a lot of people think dogs are people,” Beach said. “And, actually, dogs assume that people are dogs. Dogs are very elementary, people think they are these complex characters when, in fact, dogs go right to basics. They are naturally pack animals so, for them, there must be a leader. If you’re not going take that role, they will.”

Beach is the trainer featured in the 2007 release “Dog Training Made Easy.” It’s a DVD that in, about 30 minutes, goes through all the basics of training that will make you, and your dog, very happy. Basics such as sitting, staying, leash pulling and barking.

Now, space doesn’t allow us to go all through the basics of training, but Beach did fill us in on some overriding principles.

• Dogs understand tone of voice; they are sensitive creatures and they can read your mood through your presence.

• You can teach old dogs new tricks. The key is to teach them what is appropriate with the right approach for that age.

• The size of the dog does not necessarily correspond to its willfulness. Many times it can be smaller breeds that pose more of a challenge.

Beach says she and producer Ray Ramirez made the DVD so that it could be watched again and again.

“I think it would be hard to remember everything on the DVD,” she said. “So I think it’s a good idea to watch it, go practice with your dog and then come back and watch again.”

“Dog Training Made Easy” is available at many pet stores and through www.dogtrainingmadeeasydvd.com.

The holidays are a time to bask in the pleasures of good company and good food, and to reflect on the blessings we reaped over the year.

Before you and your family go on your merrymaking way, remember that yuletide celebrations bring with them potential hazards to your pet.

Luckily, you won’t have to worry as long as you keep the following tips in mind:

Keep them feisty by refraining from sharing your feast. Sometimes, we can’t resist spoiling our pets with a teeny bite of our dinner table bounty. The Safe Dog Handbook cautions against this, as certain foods are actually harmful to dogs. Among them: turkey skin; cooked turkey bones and ham bones; chocolates and raisins; and sweets that contain xylitol (a popular sweetener poisonous to dogs). Keep alcoholic beverages out of Fido’s reach, too.

Pretty lights, not-so-pretty dangers. Tree lights and colorful ornaments are holiday staples. Keep your home pretty and pet-safe by keeping loose cords bundled or discretely taped up to the wall. This extra precaution will help prevent electric shock accidents for curious cats and dogs tempted to chew on a cord.

Wrap up after wrapping. Materials such as ribbons, bows, tape, glittery tinsel and foil can pose choking hazards to animals, so be sure to clean carefully when you finish wrapping your presents.

Hey, that’s my spot! Avoid placing your tree at Fido’s favorite window or at Fifi’s favorite sunning spot. A tree can be knocked over by an overeager critter, said Handbook author Melanie Monteiro.

What’s all the commotion? Like us, our pets also get overwhelmed by the gaiety. If your cat or dog is shy around strangers, alleviate their anxieties by keeping them in a quiet, safe room while you entertain guests at your home.

Pet expert Arden Moore reminds owners to that the little things still make a big difference in the personal well-being of pet and pet-owner. Here are some simple tips from her latest books “Happy Dog, Happy You” and “Happy Cat, Happy You.”

1. Give your favorite furball a head-to-tail checkup weekly.
For Fido About 80 percent of dogs lacking dental care develop gum and teeth problems by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. Inspect your dog’s mouth regularly for signs of deterioration and see your vet if you note bleeding or pale gums, persistent foul breath, tartar build-up, decay sores, or broken or missing teeth.

For Fluffy Devote a petting session to scrutinize your cat’s entire body, checking for lumps, bumps, sore spots or changes in fur or skin. Don’t forget to check her eyes, ear and mouth. Your observations may help catch a medical problem in its early stages.

2. Fresh water does a body good.
For Fido It goes without saying – provide fresh water daily. Because dogs slobber saliva when they slurp, bacteria can build up inside bowls containing water that is more than two days old.

For Fluffy Cats love pure, aerated water. Provide a little oasis for your cat by purchasing a special bowl that provide continous drip of fresh water or a large-capacity pet fountain.

3. Keep a pet first aid kit at hand. (You can buy or make one.)
For Fido For dog-gone emergencies: cold packs; nonstick sterile gauze pads; lightweight adhesive tape, cotton balls and cotton-tipped ear swabs; antiseptic wipes; surgical scissors; antibiotic ointment; hydrogen peroxide; styptic powder to stop minor bleeding; a clean white cotton sock to wrap an injured paw or limb; diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for bites and stings; coated buffered aspirin; and activated charcoal.

For Fluffy Be ready for a cat-astrophe with: triple antibiotic ointment; hydrogen peroxide; hydrocortizone cream; antiseptic wipes, bandages and gauze sqaures; cloth tape; stretchy vet wrap; bandage scissors; styptic powder or pencil; cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs; oral syringe; lubricating jelly; tweezers; and a metal or digital thermometer.

Book images courtesy of Storey Publishing.

The cajoling, the firm commands to “Sit!” and the toy-waggling – anything to make your pet hold that pose while you maneuver your camera to capture the perfect shot! If you’re a pet owner, you know how challenging it can be to get a beloved pet to sit still when their mind is on anything but obliging you. So, how do you do it?

We received some professional insights from Chicago-based pet photographer David Sutton, whose studio is donating 10,000 of his 2010 Dog Days calendars to animal welfare groups nationwide. These organizations get to keep 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of the calendar, which feature 13 artistically shot black-and-white canine portraits.

This year’s sales are estimated bring in $100,000. And this isn’t the first time Sutton has helped, either: over the last 10 years, Sutton’s calendars have helped animal organizations raise some $1 million.

So, how did he do it? Sutton Studios has the follow tips:

Get Low and Close. Get on your pet’s eye level, and as close to them as possible. Try to fill up the frame with their image.

Pay Attention to Background. Try to minimize the amount of clutter in the background to ensure your pet is the sole subject of the photo.

Avoid Flash Photography. Animals have a highly reflective membrane behind their retina that help them see well at night, but makes it impossible to take flash pictures of them without their eyes glowing.

Mind Lighting. Try to photograph outdoors if possible. When indoors, try to use natural light and have the light behind you or to the side.

Be Engaging. It’s important to capture your pet’s attention when photographing them. Cats respond to things fluttering or moving. Dogs respond to sounds such as clicking, squeaking, or tapping noises. And don’t forget the treats!

Take Lots of Photos. The more photos you take, the better chances you’ll have a really good picture.

Exercise Your Pet Beforehand. Exercise will tire out your pet so that it’s calmer before a photo shoot.

For information about the 2010 Dog Days calendar or David Sutton himself, log on to www.suttonstudios.com.

Image courtesy of David Sutton, Sutton Studios.