PRODUCT REVIEW: Deluxe Self-Warming Bolster Bed

My Service Dog, Mickey, prefers to sleep on the hardwood floor beside my bed, even though he's welcome to sleep with me. So I had been searching for just the right bed for him. When I saw Drs. Foster and Smith's Deluxe Self-Warming Bolster Bed, I knew I had to have it.

At $89.99-$109.99, it is a bit pricey, but I had high hopes that it would be worth the price. Since Mickey weighs fifty pounds and likes to sleep curled in a ball, I chose the medium size, which is 36" x 26". If I had it to do over, I would order the large size (45" x 32"). The medium is much better suited to smaller dogs, such as my 24-pound Pug, Winston, or my eleven-pound Chihuahua, Mo. (See photos below that illustrate the bed as I received it.)

When the bed arrived, I was a bit disappointed in the amount of filling it contained. The description of the bed promises an "overstuffed bolster" and a "generously stuffed" base; the bed I was shipped didn't met either of those descriptions. I easily remedied those problems by adding a second cushion from another dog bed to the base and wrapping old blankets around the bolster-filling.

All three of my dogs, however, L-O-V-E-D the bed from the first moment they lay on it. The sleeping area is super plush, but the light color would be difficult to keep clean, a problem I avoided by Scotchgarding it. Apparently, the thermal layer lives up to expectations. My heat-seeking Chihuahua curls up on it at every opportunity. So, despite the fixes I had to employ, I would definitely purchase another one.

What Can You Stuff in a Kong?

In my opinion, Kong's stuffable toys are the best thing around for keeping a dog occupied when you can't give him the attention he craves. I recommend that all of my clients keep at least one on-hand; multiple Kongs make it easier to make sure you always have one ready. I've been asked on a regular basis what to put in them. I'm glad to say that the options are nearly limitless and many are very low in calories.

All of my recipes start by plugging the small end of the Kong with mashed banana or peanut butter, then freezing the Kong for a couple of hours; the goal is for the plug to be frozen solid enough to keep liquid inside the Kong.

Step two is to fill the Kong approximately 1/2 full of solid ingredients. Here are some of my dogs' favorites, which can be used in any combination you like:

Shredded or diced cooked beef, chicken, or pork
Mashed or diced hard-boiled eggs
Frozen vegetables: peas and carrots, green beans, squash, zucchini, spinach or collard greens
Plain mashed sweet potatoes
Sliced fruit: apples, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, blueberries, pears, or peaches
Cooked oatmeal, rice, barley, or quinoa
Plain non-fat yogurt
Cottage cheese
Applesauce
Peanut butter
Kibble
Canned dog food
Bite-sized dog treats

Step three is to add enough liquid to fill the Kong about 3/4 full. Most often, I use homemade, sodium-free chicken broth. At this point, you will need to place the Kong in the freezer (large end up) for 4-6 hours to allow the liquid to freeze completely solid.

Step four is to plug the large end of the Kong with mashed banana or peanut butter, then freeze until solid.

If you choose to give your dog a “heavy” Kong, filled with kibble, canned dog food, or other high-calorie ingredients, please remember to reduce the amount of your dog's next meal to avoid overfeeding; obesity is a serious medical issue in dogs that can lower both the length and the quality of their lives.

Please check with your veterinarian to make sure that your dog's digestive system can handle the ingredients you place in the Kong, as some dogs have delicate stomachs. If your dog is on a special diet for a medical issue, feeding their meals in a Kong may increase their interest in the food.

Additionally, many foods are not safe for dogs. Most notable among these are chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, and garlic. The ASPCA web-site has a great list of foods to avoid.

Book Your Private Training Sessions for February-March-April Now!

Due to a full schedule of private training clients, I am unable to take on any new clients until the week of February 13, 2011.

Please be aware that priority scheduling is always given to current clients who wish to continue their training sessions with me.

New bookings are filling up fast, so if you are interested in becoming a private training client, please contact me at your earliest convenience.

Group classes will resume in late spring once the weather is fair enough to resume outdoor sessions.

Tip of the Day from 01/06/12: Musher's Secret

Keep snow & ice balls from forming in the fur between your dog's pads during those long winter walks by using Musher's Secret. It works great even on dogs with super-long, thick fur. If your dog's pads are rough, it will also soften them in a heartbeat.

How to Walk a Dog During an Ohio Winter

Being lucky enough to have a very athletic German Shepherd/Beagle mix, I don't often get out of the task of dog-walking. Mickey doesn't care if it's 90 degrees or -20. He is up for an outing any time one is offered. And, living in Ohio, we routinely have temperatures at both extremes.

For those of you who aren't acquainted with the joys of taking a winter's walk in Ohio, I thought I'd explain what it is like:

1) Check The Weather Channel to see how many layers of clothing I need. Today it was 20 degrees--but felt like 14!--at 12:30 PM.
2) Put on one pair of thermal underwear.
3) Add a pair of yoga pants on top of the thermals.
4) Put a pair of lined nylon running pants on top of the yoga pants.
5) Put on a long-sleeved tee-shirt
6) Put a short-sleeved shirt on top of the first.
7) Put on a pair of thick woolen hunting socks.
8) Lace up my waterproof, faux-fur lined dog walking boots.
9) Work a generous amount of Musher's Secret into the fur between the pads of Mickey's feet to prevent snow and ice from building up.
10) Dress Mickey in his waterproof nylon, fleece-lined dog coat.
11) Wind scarf around neck.
12) Put on heavy Carhartt jacket.
13) Put on lip protectant.
14) Put on ski hat.
15) Put on ear muffs.
16) Put on gloves, making sure they're tucked firmly into my sleeves.
17) Put on sunglasses to block the glare of sunlight on snow and ice.
18) Pull scarf up over the bottom half of my face.
19) Put Mickey's leash on.
20) And off we go... for a walk that might last as long as it took me to get ready.

Promotion for National Train Your Dog Month

This is one of the promo baskets that I'll be distributing around the Saint Marys, OH area. These include packets with homemade dog treats (ingredients listed) and my business card to encourage new clients to participate in National Train Your Dog Month in January 2012.

Why I Am Excited about "National Train Your Dog Month"

In case you haven't already heard, The Association of Pet Dog Trainers has declared January to be "National Train Your Dog Month" and I'm pretty excited about it for several reasons!

Training your dog is F-U-N! There's nothing like teaching him a new trick and witnessing that moment when he GETS it for the very first time.

Training your dog means you are spending time with him. And there's nothing he likes better.

Training your dog how to be a well-mannered member of the family means they get to interact with visitors in your home instead of being locked away from the action in another part of your home.

Training your dog is a confidence booster for both of you. I dare you to teach your dog a new behavior and not feel proud of yourself.

Training your puppy means he is much less likely to end up being surrendered at an animal shelter during his life time.

Training your dog to walk politely on-leash means more enjoyable--and hopefully more frequent--walks for both of you!

Training your dog encourages social relationships. Making friends with other "dog people" is much easier when your dog plays nicely with others.

Training your dog can lead to great new hobbies like competitive Agility, Frisbee, Obedience, Rally, or Freestyle.

Training your dog means that he is more likely to be invited to the homes of friends and family.

Training your dog means more time in the sunshine and fresh air... Well, maybe not in Ohio in January LOL

These reasons are just the tip of the iceberg. Spend some time training your dog and find out how much it benefits you both. If you aren't confident about going it alone, be sure to ask for help from your local APDT trainer. Not sure who that is? Check out APDT's Trainer Search.