Summer fun in Austin!

June 11th, 2010

It’s good to be a dog in Austin Texas!

The social calendars of our furry friends are jam packed with events as the summer kicks off in ATX. All week long dogs living in Austin get to enjoy things like the 9th Street “Yappy Hour” in the park on Thursdays, Sunday’s are fun days when you hang out with locals and their pets at Freddies, and any day is a good day to lap up a cocktail at the Dog and Duck Pub. A great way to beat the heat is a big bowl of shaved ice at the Frigid Frog on South Congress. They make special Doggie bowls of shaved ice, brilliant! And the parks!! THE PARKS!!! Dog walking has never been so fun! So take time this summer to hike through Zilker, let the pooch swim at Redbud, or have a ball at Town Lake or any one of these other dog friendly parks http://www.dogplaces.com/parks.htm. If your tongue isn’t dragging the floor yet and Fido is still rearing to go be sure to check out these upcoming events as well:

Dogadillo “Yappy Hour” Tuesday June 8th, 2010
Snout by Snoutwest! Sunday June 13, 2010
Paws of Austin “Evening of Elegance & Giving” Tuesday June 22, 2010
Austin Dog Alliance “Fetching Art” Event Thursday June 24, 2010

For more fun than you can shake a stick at check out this months Austin Pets Directory for all your furry needs.

Chewing with dogs

January 26th, 2010

Chewing is always a difficult problem with puppies, and it’s one that needs to be resolved for your pet to be a part of your household.
The good news is that most dogs do grow out of their chewing behavior. The bad news is that they can do quite a lot of damage before they do. Here are some ways to train your puppy:

Crate training – Crate-training is the most feasible option for many people, and it can keep your puppy feeling safe and secure when you’re away.

Reward conditioning – When you are around, watch him like a hawk. When you see him grabbing onto your leather loafers or a chair leg, distract him with some other, more attractive option. When he takes the rawhide chew or nylon bone or whatever “good” toy you want him to chew, give him lots of praise and petting.

A variety of chew toys – You may have to switch his toys around to keep him interested.

Preventing chewing – If your puppy tends to chew on a surface that is color safe and won’t be damaged (like your fingers), you can coat the surface in white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. The smell and taste will make the object much less tempting.

Don’t give up on your puppy – It can be hard to retrain an instinctive behavior like chewing, but it’s well worth it to have a happy, well-adjusted dog.