DinkyDogClub Small Dog Blog

The first week of October is National Walk Your Dog Week. Here's a few tips to make your dog walks more fun and relaxing. 

When it's time for a walk, some dog owners excitedly say something like, "Ready for a walk?" The reaction, usually very cute, is a dog that's really excited to get moving. In fact, the dog may be so excited, he or she is practically pulling their owner out the door.

If you find yourself in this situation, try following these steps next time you walk your little dog:

• Grab your dog's leash without saying anything to your pup. 
• Have your dog sit while you calmly connect your leash to your pup's collar or harness. If your dog won't sit while you put the leash on, don't be afraid to use treats to reward him or her for performing this command. 
• When you're ready to walk, have your dog sit and stay while you calmly walk out first. Again, if this is something your dog isn't used to, you may have to train your pup for this part. 
• Quietly call your dog and head out on your walk.

By following these steps, you'll set your dog up - and yourself  - for a more relaxing and peaceful dog walk. You can also use these calming tips before car rides and trips to the vet or groomer. 

AIRBNB- Marnie the Dog from DKC PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Did you know Airbnb has over 600,000 pet-friendly listings? To point that out, the company enlisted the help of the oh so cute Marnie The Dog, an adorable Shih Tzu found on the streets of Connecticut when she was about 10 years old. Thankfully this sweet little gal was rescued and is now living the pampered life she deserves, splitting her time between NYC and LA. We love hearing stories about older dogs being rescued. As a bonus, Airbnb made a donation to Muttville, a San Francisco-based charity dedicated to bettering the lives of older dogs through rescue, foster care, adoption and hospice services. 

Are you tired of being on your knees, hunched over the bath tub while you wash your small dog? The Bathe & Go Grooming Tub might be just what you need. This durable plastic tub stands three feet tall and fits inside a standard bathtub, elevating your doggy to a much more comfortable height for washing. Along with standing taller, this tub keeps little doggy confined to a smaller area, making bath time go a little faster. 

The tub sits atop steel legs that have rubber, adjustable feet. It has a drain that empties into your bathtub, a drain stopper, two built-in shampoo bottle holders and a soap dish. 

Embossed paw prints on the bottom of the Bathe & Go Grooming Tub help prevent your furry friend from slipping in the tub. 

The Bathe & Go Grooming Tub is easy to assemble. The only tool required is the included hex wrench, which is used to secure the legs to the tub. Once assembled, set the Bathe & Go inside your bathtub and you're ready to go. Note that you will need a tub with a shower wand in order to use this product. 

Considering how long you'll have your small doggy, we think the Bathe & Go Grooming Tub is one accessory that will make bath time much more comfortable for you. 

The Bathe & Go Grooming Tub is $149.99. Click to order yours today.

Beneath The Fur from National Dog Day on Vimeo.

National Dog Day was started in 2004 to raise awareness of the need for homes for shelter dogs. Along with raising awareness for just home many dogs need homes, National Dog Day is also meant to celebrate dogs of all breeds, especially working dogs - police dogs and other dogs that put their lives on the line to keep humans safe. 

One great way to celebrate National Dog Day is to make a donation - financial or dropping off something from their wish list - to a local shelter or rescue organization. 

For all of you out there who have welcomed a dog (or multiple dogs) into your life, give yourself a pat on the back and your furbaby some extra lovin'. 

Visit the National Dog Day website to discover more about this important day. 

We're proud to now offer the RC Pets Cirque small dog harness. Available in fun colors and patterns, including red and green plaid, lime, teal, pitter-patter pink and the fun Vogue pattern. 

The comfortable Cirque harness is made from soft, breathable airmesh fabric. Soft neckline and adjustable waist provide a great fit. Other features include nickel-plated hardware, two D-rings, a reflective RC Pets label on the front. When your pup's Cirque harness gets dirty, toss it in the wash. Available in XXS, XS and S sizes. Order your new Cirque Harness here.

Talk about bravery. When three men saw a car sinking in the Baton Rouge flood waters, they sprang into action to rescue a woman, and her small dog. As you'll see in the video, the car is completely submerged when the woman is pulled out of the car. The rescuer went right back under the water to save the woman's little white dog. An amazing act of kindness.  

We're super excited to now carry Royal Ramps Pet Ramps and Stairs. Theses high-quality, made in the USA ramps are designed to help your little dog reach higher places, like your sofa or bed. Both the ramps and stairs are made in the USA with high density foam. Ramps are sturdy, stable and at 3 to 16 lbs., very light.

Each ramp and stair is covered with an upholstery-grade suede fabric that is impermeable to stains. Pet stains and spills can be wiped off. Zippered covers can be removed for machine washing. 

Pet ramps are great to have for dogs too small to jump up on your sofa or bed, and for senior dogs that don't quite have that spring in their step. Pet ramps and steps can also help prevent back injuries in dogs caused by jumping off beds or furniture.

Ramps and stairs are available in several sizes. Color options are Chocolate Suede or Oyster Suede. Learn more about Royal Ramps right here.  

The United States is in the grips of a massive heat wave, which means it's important to limit your little dog's time outside, especially small breeds with thick coats or dogs with short muzzles, including Shih Tzus, Pugs, French Bulldogs and Pekingese. Plan on early morning and late evening walks. You already know this - never leave a dog inside a hot car. 

Also be wary of hot pavement so you don't burn your little pup's paws. 

If you notice excessive panting and think your dog is overheating, get you pup indoors and a bathtub or sink and run cool water over your pup. You can find more information about heatstroke in dogs at PetMD. 

Special thanks to K9 of Mine for this helpful infographic. 

Does your little doggy inhale his or her food, sometimes throwing up from eating too fast? We tested a slow-feed bowl with DJ, our resident food guzzler. DJ has always been a fast eater. He devours his food in hopes of getting a little extra from the bowls of our other two dogs. So we tested a slow-feed bowl to see if it would slow this little gobbler down. 

When DJ ate from his normal stainless steel bowl, he finished his kibble, which a little bit of wet food in 52-seconds flat. After letting him get used to the slow-feed bowl for one week, we timed him and it took him 2 minutes and 15 seconds to finish the same amount of food. 

So the slow-feed bowl really did slow DJ's eating speed. We now have them in-stock and ready to go. These small stainless steel bowls have three stanchions your pup has to work around to eat. Bowl also has a rubber non-skip grip on the bottom to keep it from sliding around. It's 6-inches across the top, 2-inches tall and holds two cups of food, which is more than enough for pint-size pooches.

The stainless-steel slow-feed bowl for small dog is $15.99. You can order yours here:http://bit.ly/1XoMn9v 

If you're planning to give your small dog a taste of your Thanksgiving feast, a little bit of white turkey meat is the safest food to share. Some Thanksgiving foods to avoid giving to your lil pup are: 

Turkey: A little white meat is okay. Avoid giving your dog too dark mean and skin. 

Stuffing: Stuffing often contains some of the following: onions, garlic or raisins, all of which can be toxic for dogs, especially the little ones. 

Mashed Potatoes: Go easy on mashed potatoes, especially if they're loaded with butter and sour cream. 

Green bean casserole: Avoid if the casserole has onions. 

Bread: Buttery garlic bread is a no-non. 

Remember, little dogs have little tummies. If you do share your turkey day meal with your pup, only share a tiny bit. Also remember to remind your family and guests to avoid overfeeding (or not sharing any) table foods with your pup.