Bella's Best ~ Bella & Ava's Recommended Things to Know
Animal Wellness Magazine ~ 866-764-1212/ www.animalwellnessmagazine.com A wonderful publication devoted to the natural health of animals. It's a terrific resource guide you'll use for the long, healthy life of your pet! Searching for a holistic/integrative vet in your area? Their website can help you. Start your subscription today!
Pet Buddies Food Pantry ~ 678-310-9858 / www.petbuddiesfoodpantry.org Helping to feed pets in need & keeping pets with their families & out of shelters!
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation ~ 888-459-4376/
www.searchdogfoundation.org The mission of the Search Dog Foundation is to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The job of these teams is to find people buried alive in the wreckage of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. To create these teams, SDF recruits rescued dogs from shelters and breed rescue groups, gives them professional training, and partners them with firefighters and other first responders at no cost to their departments. We ensure lifetime care for every dog in our program: once rescued, these dogs will never need to be rescued again. SDF receives no government funding, and relies on our supporters throughout the country to provide these services. Visit their site to learn more about becoming a volunteer, handler, or to make a donation. The search starts with you!
Noah's Wish ~ 530-622-9313/ www.noahswish.org Rescuing and Sheltering Animals in Disasters! Noah's Wish is a not-for-profit, animal welfare organization, with a straightforward mission. We exist to keep animals alive during disasters. That's it. Noah's Wish came into existence in March 2002, not to duplicate existing efforts to help animals during earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, but rather to expand on what's already in place. No other organization has made the commitment though to just focus on disaster relief work for animals. That's the void we are filling.
Adopting a pet is a serious, lifetime commitment!
Here are a few ways that you could help save an animal’s life…
- Enroll your dog in an obedience class. Remember dogs are children in fur coats! Your child goes to school…your dog should too!
- Make sure your pet wears an identification tag with your current phone number.
- Prepare for disasters ~ make sure you have a plan for your pet in the event of a fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado.
- Remember that animal shelters and rescue groups are good places to adopt a pet.
- Plan for your pet’s future ~ make sure to identify who will provide care for your beloved pet when you die and your pet still lives.
- Report animal cruelty and neglect to your local animal “no kill” animal shelter and/or your Animal Control Officer.
- Avoid purchasing products that were tested on animals.
- Donate food, blankets, toys, towels, and/or your time to your local “no kill” animal shelter.
- Contact your elected representatives and urge them to sponsor strong laws to protect animals from cruelty. Bella and I are proud to support People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)/ www.peta.org and the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF)/ www.aldf.org ~ ALDF’s slogan ~ Abuse An Animal…Go To Jail!).
- Share your love for animals and how to care for them with children…you’ll leave the legacy of a more animal friendly world!
Recommended Reading
All the books I recommend are listed below and are available on www.Amazon.com. (Just click on the link and Amazon will open in another tab. Order your books today and have them sent directly to your home!)
Here are some of our (me, Bella, and Ava) favorite books...
The Good, the Bad, and the Furry: Choosing the Dog That's Right for You - Sam Stall
The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs - Patricia b. McConnell
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats - Richard H. Pitcaim, DVM, PhD
Veterinary Secrets: Natural Health for Dogs and Cats - Andrew T. Jones, DVM
Brain Games for Dogs: Fun Ways to Build a Strong Bond with Your Dog and Provide It with Vital Mental Stimulation - Caire Arrowsmith
Healing Touch for Dogs: The Proven Massage Program - Michael W. Fox
On Talking Terms With Dogs: Calming Signals - Turid Rugaas
Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates - Gary Kurz
Special Training Tips
-Always leave a light on in your home for your pet.
-Make sure your pet eats and drinks from ergonomically correct raised bowls that are the perfect height from the floor for your pet to promote healthy eating. They come in a variety of materials. Bella eats and drinks from All Clad stainless steel mixing bowls that sit in wrought iron stands that are the perfect height for her.
-Leave instrumental music playing while your gone. Bella and Ava love their CD’s by Through a Dog's Ear! Order a set for your dog from Amazon. Research supports and promotes the beneficial effect of music on pet behavior. There are also great pet music options available on YouTube.
One of Bella and Ava's favorite toys is their Tricky Treat Ball!
-When giving a command, say your pet’s name and the command ONCE! Each command should be for a specific behavior. Ex: Bella sit!
-Always practice positive reinforcement when training. Praise and reward your dog when he/she does the right thing (ex: sitting when told), ignore behaviors that you don’t want repeated (barking at you to keep playing ball). When necessary, give a firm, quick correction when you want to make sure they never behave that way again (eating kitty or goose poop or jumping on people). The timing on your reward, ignore, and/or correction is extremely important so make sure you do it when it happens. Dogs live in the NOW!
-Be sure to bring water along for your dog when you are walking. Ava loves her pop up water bowl!
Bella and Ava love driniing water from their portable collapsible travel bowl when we go on walks and adventures!
-Be sure to bring all your dogs needs with you on a walk on to the dog park in your eco-friendly and stylish Pranzo Dog Park/Dog Walk Bag!
-Learn what motivates your dog and use it as a reward ~ toys, food, belly rubs, car rides, etc.
-Brush your dog’s teeth. Bella loves her electric toothbrush and her Tom’s natural grape fluoride-free toothpaste for children.
-The best way to clean your dog’s ears…apply some Aubrey’s organic aloe and Yogi organic green tea on a cotton pad. Remember to reward your pet when you are finished.
-Make sure to have a Pet First Aid Kit. Bella’s contains traditional medical and homeopathic options.
-Make sure your pet has a wellness exam every year. In Georgia, rabies vaccines can be given every three years.
-If your dog stresses before a thunderstorm arrives, try a drop or two of Rescue Remedy in your dog’s mouth or in its water bowl. These flower essences made by Bach work wonders! Order yours today on Amazon!
The Rules of Sevens…
By the time a puppy is 7 weeks old, it should have:
-Been on 7 different surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, wood chips, newspapers, etc.
-Played with 7 different types of objects: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy balls, squeaky toy, metal items, wooden items, paper/cardboard items, plastic water bottles, milk/water jugs, etc.
-Been in 7 different locations: front yard, back yard, basement, kitchen, car, garage, laundry room, bathroom, crate, etc.
-Been exposed to 7 challenges: climbed on a box, climbed off a box, gone through a tunnel, climbed up steps, climbed down steps, climbed over an obstacle, played hide and seek, gone in and out of a doorway with a step, inc.
-Eaten from 7 different containers: metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, china, pie plate, glass, ceramic, etc.
-Eaten in 7 different locations: crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, x-pen, porch/deck, etc.
-Met and played with 7 new people: including children and the elderly.
Important Requests For You from Me, your beloved pet
-My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
-Give me time to understand what you want of me.
-Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
-Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment.
-You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I have only you.
-Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
-Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
-Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you. Please do not hurt me!
-Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
-Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
-On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
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Here's a list of pet-friendly hotels, vacation rentals, timeshares, campgrounds and RV parks, restaurants and bars, attractions and activities...
Enjoy!
Here you'll discover the things that Bella and Ava
think you need to know as a new or existing
member of Dog-World!
