20 Halloween Tips for Dog Owners

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

courtesy S. Gilbert

During our #Coupaween Twitter Party, I shared a good many Halloween safety tips, alongside Arden Moore's expert tips. I've combined some of our tips to make this a quicker read that is even more helpful.

If you missed the party, or simply found it tough to keep up, I hope the following tips will get put to good use on Halloween evening or if you have a themed party. Feel free to leave your additional thoughts in comments below.

1. Avoid K9 bolters by keeping dogs on leashes or in a closed room when you green trick-or-treaters.
2. Make sure your pet sports a reflective collar for visibility with ID tags, name, your cell phone number and microchip.
3. When opting for costume wear, check for fit and comfort. Do a dress rehearsal a few days early to allow time for modifications.
4. Have important numbers available: vet, ER vet, ASPCA poison control hotline.
5. Making your pet's costume yourself? Avoid buttons or small items that can be swallowed.
6. Consider pet's visibility when selecting costumes. Dogs may be more easily frightened when they cannot see well.
7. When checking for fit, also look at body language. Nothing too tight?
8. Simple, yet stylish goes a long way. Velcro bow ties or pleated tuxedos on male dogs is very dapper.
9. When taking Fido out to trick-or-treat, choose light-colored costumes for best visibility by others.
10. Black costumes are very hard to see in the dark AND difficult to recognize when worn on a black dog. Choose contrasting color to your dog's fur.
11. Dogs will often hang their head when extremely unhappy with costume. Consider removing headpiece or footwear.
12. Be sure costumes are made of breathable fabric and are fire retardant.
13. Help your dog become more comfortable with costume by daily practice with treats and praise. Go slow!
14. Reduce stress by treating your dog to a brisk walk before sundown on Halloween eve.
15. Associate costume with pleasurable activity by letting Fido wear it while eating.
16. Dogs who won't wear costumes will often tolerate a bandana, reflective collar or collar light.
17. ONLY take well-socialized dogs on house to house trick-or-treating.
18. Candy and wrappers all out of reach!
19. Candles are dangerous. Choose battery-operated versions for safety.
20. Simplify costumes by using only the key components. Example: Wizard of Oz's Dorothy's red slippers can be easily made to slip over dog's paws without being slippers. Think out of the box!

Happy Halloween,

Tips for Tent Camping with Your Dog

by guest writer Kelley Denz of Critter Minute

© copyright on file

Retrievers Love a Good Romp

 in Nearly Any Water Available

I love going camping, and every year I try to go camping at least once. I always take my dogs, Sadie and Rusty with me. They love all the new smells, sights, and sounds. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you go camping with your dog.

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date with a phone call to your vet. Take a first aid kit for you and your dog. Make sure to include sun-block.

You may want to apply flea and tick preventive on your dog. Fleas and ticks can be anywhere, but are more prevalent in the woods. Using a preventative product could help to keep you from bringing fleas back to your home and yard.

Be sure to have an updated ID tag and/or microchip on your dog, just in case your dog gets lost. If you're staying at one campsite for any number of days stop by your local Wal-mart/Petsmart and create a dog tag with the name, location of your campsite and a phone number where you can be reached. Bring an extra leash in case something happens to your regular leash.

Make sure your destination allows dogs; most campgrounds are dog friendly but some national parks like Yosemite allow dogs only in certain campsites. Verify the trails around your chosen campsite allow dogs. You can go to www.GoPetFriendly.com to find an extensive list of pet friendly campsites. www.hikewithyourdog.com offers a listing of trails in the United States and Canada that welcome dogs.

When picking out your campsite try to get one that offers your dog some shade. Camping near a stream or lake is also a good idea. It will provide your dog with an easy source of water.

Pack enough dog food and water for your pooch. I always bring collapsible bowls for their food and water. I prefer the convenience of collapsible bowls because they are lightweight, and you can easily pack them in a backpack if you decide to go hiking. After feeding, empty your dog’s food dish of any leftover food. You do not want to attract any unwanted insects or wildlife.

Bring your dog’s brush with you to remove stickers, fox tails and other things caught in their fur. I have found using a small black men’s comb will remove most stickers from dog hair fairly easily.

I prefer to sleep with my dogs while camping. This way I am alerted by Sadie and Rusty if anything enters the camp area. They also help to keep me warm during the night. However, if you prefer, there are tents made for dogs, and you could bring along Fido's dog bed.  Keep in mind if you leave your dog outside all night he/she could get sprayed by a skunk or be vulnerable to dangerous wild animals such as bears.

Make sure you are aware of other animals that may be in the area. Many people take their dogs camping with them, so other dogs in the area are likely. There could be people on horseback, squirrels, rabbits, coyotes, the list is endless. Be prepared to have some adventures. Enjoy!

Kelley Denz is the author of Critter Minute, a website and blog about natural dog products and fun, helpful tips for dog lovers. Like her post? Leave a comment at the link below to show your appreciation.

Related Reading:

Camping with Your Dogs: Part I

Camping with Your Dogs: Part II

Camping with Your Dogs: Part III--Strategies for Happy Dogs and Happy Families at the Campground

Camping with Your Dogs: Part IV—Success is in the Details

Dog Safety During the Holidays

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Even Costumes Have their Dangers

It seems as though not a year goes by that I don't hear a horror story that involves an ER visit with Fido. Don't let this happen to you and your dog. If your pup wears clothing willingly, that's all good. But remember that adding a hat or other accessory can take his tolerance over the top. While this photo of Oliver may be cute, I will never leave him alone wearing the hat. It may end up in either his or Tanner's belly, potentially causing a blockage. 

I say that with plenty of resistance as neither one of them are chewers. But often those stories I hear come from owners who tell me their dogs were not power chewers either. So play it safe and keep tabs of your dog when he's got anything new, whether it be a toy, clothing item, or new chewy toy.

If you'll be hosting family Fidos, you may wish to protect their safety by dog proofing your house further. Just the same, if you're moving during the holidays, do take time to dog proof your new home. Here are my dog proofing tips.

All of us here at the All Things Dog Blog wish you and yours a happy holiday, no matter what holiday you choose to celebrate. For us, family is first. We'll be spending some quality time bonding and will return after the New Year to bring you our fifth annual Super Dog Sunday™.

Meanwhile, #FidosFreebieFriday continues 24/7/365. Each Thursday by 4 PM ET you'll find a new edition of this #giveaway event with all your favorite blogs joining in. Be sure to visit several times a week to see what's new. Best wishes to you all!

Three Winners Named for Visibility Vests

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Visibility Vests Make Hiking Safer

Looks like we have a lot of hikers out there; good for you! With so much in the news about obesity problems among both humans and dogs, you're on the right track. Today we're going to name the three winners who will receive a Visibility Vest to make their hiking expeditions infinitely more safe for their dogs. Let's face it, when Fido is wearing a bright yellow vest, he's easily visible against the deep green leaves--or brown during a drought--throughout the forest.

If you're running through babbling brooks, romping in the surf, or trekking in a rain or snowstorm the same thing applies. Bright yellow will make your pet stand out against the background, assuring he is visible to any hunters, vehicles, fishermen or others that could accidentally cause harm.

Thanks for all of your enthusiastic participation in our giveaway, sponsored by Gold Paw Series. If you missed it, please read our review and visit the Gold Paw Series webpage to learn more. If you find yourself itching to buy one for your dog, you can use this Store Locator.

Without adieu, let's name our winners: B. Jaroudi, H. Bridson, and M. Core. Congratulations, ladies!  You'll be hearing from me via AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com. Watch your inbox AND your spam file. I'll need to hear back from you with your dog's size selection, your name and street address for shipping. Please use the information on the webpage to select your size. If your dog is borderline, I recommend going up to the next size. The vests are not large, and they do have adequate adjustability to tighten them up when needed.

Please let our sponsor know you've enjoyed this promotion by giving them a thank you on their Facebook page. Once again, we thank you for joining in on this event.

Happy tails,

While we did receive samples of the Visiblity Vest for review, we have included only our own opinions in this article. No compensation was accepted for this review and giveaway.

Kurgo Winners Grab First Aid on the Go

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Take Care While Hiking

Thanks to all of you who showed your interest in and support for making sure your pets are well cared for when they need first aid while out and about with you. Many of you indicated a need to add a first aid kit to your car as well as to have one for outings like Fall hikes. 

Just today we finally had a slight reduction in the usual Florida heat. It's 81 degrees and glorious. After work we'll be taking an extra long walk just to celebrate this spectacular weather. Hallelujah!

I'm excited to announce the winners of our 5 Kurgo first aid kits that strap onto your belt or backpack for easy, hands-free carrying while you're out walking or hiking. Congratulations to Megan S., Abby C., Bryn N., Brynn D., and Joann S. It's wonderful to see familiar names that have stuck around, and also grand to hear new names that have just joined out readership. Welcome aboard!

I'll be in touch with our winners via my AllThingsDogBlog@gmail.com email account.

courtesy Kurgo.com

Watch your inboxes and your spam files to assure you don't miss your email. I'll need your correct full name and a shipping address. Feel free to email me directly if you prefer not to wait. 

For those of you who are not on the winners' list this time, I encourage you to soak up the review and the information at the giveaway post. Perhaps then you'll want to order yourself one on the Kurgo website to make sure you're prepared. Thanks again for joining us.

Happy tails,

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway.

Giveaway: Visibility Vests for Dog Hikes

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

(c) AllThingsDogBlog.com
Visible During a Hiking Break

The lightweight visibility vests I've reviewed and am now going to give away, have proven to be cool enough for warm weather hikes like the one photographed here. It was 86 degrees outside and even Tanner, my always loving chilly weather dog, was feeling chipper and enjoying the hike. That was a great sign that the vest was not overdone. It's just large enough to make him visible, but not so imposing as to turn him into a billboard. Perfect!

Now that we've enjoyed sharing our thoughts, we've been cleared to give away 3 vests to our readers. Calling all hikers; it's time to rally for the safety of your pups.Tell your club members and friends that we've got this safety event going on and our goal is to find homes for 3 visibility vests.

The Rafflecopter entry form will be open for your entries through midnight Thursday, October 23. I'll announce the winners on Friday afternoon, October 24. Prizes will be shipped to our winners after I receive shipping details from each.

One last detail. The Rafflecopter entry form could use a Visibility Vest! Sometimes it's hiding, so here's a tip on how to find it: click the post title above. That's it, and the Rafflecopter will pop to attention and allow you to select your entries of choice.

(c) AllThingsDogBlog.com
Oliver Loves His Bright Vest

Remember to keep it fun, using only those entry methods that you love doing.

What's my favorite entry method to see on this end? It's always fun to watch the Tweets coming through. Gold Paw needs a little coaxing to get onto Twitter, so you get to help. This time I'm going to give you a chance to share your dog's hiking photos in this giveaway, so grab your cameras and have some fun.

Not into entering giveaways? No problem. You can order your vest online at Gold Paw or find a store near you at this link.

Good luck!

While we did receive samples of the Visiblity Vest for review, we have included only our own opinions in this article. No compensation was accepted for this review and giveaway.

Safely Enjoy Fall Colors With Fido

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Visibility Vests are Comfortable Enough
 for a Whole Day Hike

Our recent trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway took us on many a beautiful hike through dark, damp woods. We had lots of dirty paws, plenty of wipes to clean them up, and more importantly, we had safety vests to assure that our dogs were easily seen.

With the peak of Fall colors coming soon, many of you may be contemplating a hike to view the explosion of Mother Nature in the trees and forests near you. Please be sure you're hiking in areas that are not open to hunters, and as an added safety measure, we recommend use of a safety vest to give your dog a standout look that no one will mistake for a wild animal.

We like the Gold Paw Series that includes a great selection of eco-friendly (made from recycled poly knit with low-impact dyes) sports coats for dogs. For hiking, we chose the Visibility Vest shown in these photos. You won't need lights since the glow in the dark trim needs no light source to glow. These USA-made vests are dayglow yellow and include an emergency information card to add your pet's important facts--health facts, name, contact info.

If you'll be hiking on a chilly day, you may wish to consider a stretch fleece under the vest to keep your dog warm. All Gold Paw wearables are machine washable in the gentle cycle. The Visibility Vest may also be rinsed off and hung to dry. Easy peasy!

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Enjoying a Break

Clear pockets make room for storage of a few waste bags and a whistle is attached with a lanyard for the owner, just in case you risk an off-leash session in a safely guarded area. To be sure, this is not something I would recommend while hiking in the woods, but an enclosed area could appear in an abandoned farm, so it's a nice touch that could be useful.

While the Visibility Vest comes in 5 sizes to assure the perfect fit for your hiking buddy, we love the adjustable elastic, no-clip front to keep the vest snug again Fido's chest so as not to catch on underbrush. A good fit is important to keep your pup from getting snagged. 

Got a hiking club? Gold Paw can help with bulk orders. Visit their Visibility Vest page here. You'll also find a Store Locator on their website so you can visit and view products to feel their tremendous quality. There's more to learn on their Facebook page, so be sure to "Like" Gold Paw on Facebook and tell them I sent you!

Of course you know what's coming up next--a giveaway. Three winners will get to select the size needed for their dog and Gold Paw will custom make the perfect Visibility Vest for their next hike. Watch for the giveaway post to open soon.

Happy tails,

While we did receive samples of the Visiblity Vest for review, we have included only our own opinions in this article. No compensation was accepted for this review.

Win a Kurgo First Aid Kit for Your Dog

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© AllThingsDogBlog.com
Kurgo's 1st Aid Kit Tags Along on My Belt

Enjoying nature with your dog can be a wonderful way to see things that you may never have noticed--viewing them through the eyes of your dog as he sniffs the bushes, rocks and trees along the path. The problem is that some of those curious sniffs can end badly. Snake bites, sharp rocks and sticks, bug bites and other surprises can await when you venture into the woods. That's why you must always go prepared to deal with the most urgent of matters.

The Kurgo first aid kit straps onto your belt or backpack quite easily, and honestly, I hardly knew it was there when this photo was snapped by a friend. Despite the 50 pieces of first aid necessities inside, it weighs almost nothing. You can read more about this at my first aid kit review.

Now it's time to get on with the fun. I'm going to be giving away 5 of these handy pet first aid kits, to assure that at least a few of you will be prepared to head off with proper supplies.

If you're more of a sure-thing sort, you can purchase a kit at the Kurgo website, where they also sell refills when you use up supplies.

Keep One In Your Car Too!

As you use the Rafflecopter entry form, keep in mind that giveaways are supposed to be fun. Enter using only those methods you find enjoyable, and pace yourself. Finally, be aware that the entry form is a bit persnickety sometimes. If it's hiding in the woods and out of sight, simply click on the post title to get it to reappear in the meadow to play. 

Entries will be open through midnight on Thursday, October 16. I'll announce the winners on Friday, October 17. Good luck!

A Kurgo First Aid Kit was provided to us for review and trial. The comments above are completely my own observations. I was not paid to provide this review or the giveaway that will follow.