At the moment, we have three German Shepherds—two of our own and a foster. Those giant paws running rapidly from one end of the yard to the other several times a day are tearing it up slowly. But that’s not the big problem…

Hindsight Is 20-20

I’m still working on training all three to relieve themselves in the far-back part of the yard, which is mostly brush and trees.  Not happening as quickly as we’d like.  After a few days, the yellow spots began to appear, followed by  big patches of dead grass and dirt.

About that same time, I noticed an ad for a product that neutralized the high nitrogen content and high ph in dog urine to prevent this problem. I hit the dog-supplies trail and purchased two products—one for the dogs and another to spray on the yellow spots and neutralize everything at the point of contact (which, of course, means I have to watch them while they’re in the yard to see where they go and run outside with the spray bottle, hoping I’ll remember the exact spot where the stream landed. Easier said than done.)  So, right now, it’s hard to tell if it’s working. We wish we’d started them on the edible prevention well before the sod went down.

It’s Not Too Late For YOU!

If you have dogs and you’re planning to install new sod, the easiest protection may be to simply train your dogs to do their business in one spot specially designed for them, filled with either river pebble or Astroturf for easy clean-up. But just in case,  you should know about the different kinds of urine neutralizers. There are products on the market for both dogs and lawns. Ingestible urine neutralizers are available as chewables or liquids/sprays for their food or water.  And you can choose from a number of lawn treatments on the market.  I’m off to do some research on repairing my lawn before the problem gets any worse. Meanwhile, our beloved dogs are enjoying the heck out of their new backyard “digs.”

I love this site! Created for people who treat their pets like family (and that would definitely be me,) it features a health center and an encyclopedia of animals, where you can find out about hundreds of potential pets. There are also forums for all kinds of pets and some fun games.

Mostly, it’s about hooking up socially active pets and their people, encouraging inter-species connections, too. Just because you have a dog or a cat doesn’t mean you can’t “hang” with a fish or a rodent. You’re invited to create a free profile for your best friend, where you can share photos, videos  and information about favorite activities, favorite toys, even the energy level of your pet. The site covers dog breeds extensively, and you’ll be happy to know the many breeds of cats, horses, fish, birds, etc. are given equal time.

Especially touching is Rainbow Bridge–a place on the site where people can memorialize the pets they’ve loved and lost. The page includes the beautiful work of an unknown author who wrote comforting words about where our deceased pets go and the extraordinary moment when we’re reunited with them.

And, of course, there’s a blog–Cindy’s Blog. She’s a former surgical veterinarian technician and education specialist for the Humane Society. Covering everything from ear mites to raising chickens as pets to heartwarming orangutan/dog relationships, Cindy gives great tips for caretakers of precious pets.

Why not head over there and browse awhile? I think you’ll be amazed, not just at the variety of pets people share their homes with, but the deep, enduring love at the heart of those relationships.

Pet food or people food?

When times are tough, it’s a tough choice.  But, with the efforts of the Northland Pet Pantry in Missouri, Central Florida Pantry in Orlando and Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado, that choice doesn’t have to be made.  Although they aren’t collecting other pet supplies, admittedly, food is the most basic need to be met.  So, if you live in those areas or if there is a pet pantry where you are, get your parents to donate.  If not, see if they can send a monetary donation.  Who knows, their donation might just keep a beloved pet at home instead of being taken to a shelter because the family can no longer afford to care for the pet.

Fill their bowls with love!

The National Pet Food Drive ends January 1, 2010, and they need everyone’s help to make this a December to remember.  Their goal is to raise 15,000 pounds of pet food for dogs and cats.   So, let’s raise a paw and help make sure there’s food in their bowls.  For more information or to donate pet food, call 719-217-9528 or visit the participating food banks:

Pikes Peak Pet Pantry in Colorado Springs, Colo.
719-217-9528

Northland Pet Pantry in the Kansas City/Smithville, Mo. area
816-272-8508

Central Florida Pantry in the Orlando, Fla., area
321-252-2327

Maybe if there was a way to make the water in my bowl swirl around and remain at a constant cool temperature, the attraction of toilet water might not be as strong.  I keep telling them to leave the lid down, but sometimes that’s hard for them to remember, and there I am–tempted once again!

Sound the alarm

If you’ve got forgetful parents or kids in the house who don’t remember to put the lid down, your family might find this gadget helpful.  It’s a toilet alarm.  Just place the sensor on the back of the lid, and it will stand guard and alert your folks each time someone or something approaches.  It might not keep you out of the toilet, but at least everyone will know you’re there.  The beeping itself will remind you to stay away.   If you live in a single-parent household or only have a small amount of people in the home, this could be a great solution.  Otherwise, since it can’t tell the difference between a human and an animal, there might just be a lot of beeping going on.

Another solution

On the other hand, a cool dog bowl like one of this margarita-inspired bowls might just do the trick.  I could easily get fascinated with the idea of a lofty water bowl like this, especially since it has a slice of lemon squeeze toy for the perfect Bark-a-rita!

Always on the lookout for helpful pet products,

Max & Mittens

When it’s time to hit the road, be sure that everyone travels safely–including your pet.  Gone are the days when you can just put your dog in the back of a pickup truck and hope for the best.  Having your pet on the inside of the car can pose a problem, as well, if your pet is active and all over the place.  With the speed and distractions most drivers face on the road every day, it behooves everyone to use caution when traveling with pets.  According the the American Automobile Association (AAA), an estimated 30,000 accidents occur each year as a result of pet distractions. Surprisingly, it’s #3 on the list–right behind using cellphones and eating while driving.  Not only can your dog be a distraction, but in the event of an accident, he might just become a flying object.  No matter how you look at it, everyone’s safer when pets are secure.  Protecting your pooch should be job #1, and it’s a lot easier to do with the help of these gadgets.

Seat belts for Pets:  Specially made dog leashes keep your dog from moving all over the car.  With a universal clip, it easily attaches to the seat belt of your car.

Booster Seats: If you need more than a seatbelt clip or if your dog is smaller, this may be the solution for you.  Working similar to a baby car seat, these canine booster seats elevate your pet to see out of the window and keeps him or her secure with a clip inside the special seat that attaches to the dog’s collar.  Some of them even come with a car seat cover to keep down dog hair for people passengers.

Back Seat Dog Run:  If your dog likes to move around a lot while in the car, this dog run will help him do it securely.  Keeping him in the back seat (and not all over the car), the trolley attaches between the seat belts or to the dry cleaning clips and gives your dog freedom to move back and forth.  You can even open the doors to the car without worrying about your pet escaping.

Most of these items can be purchased separately, but some car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda now offer them as optional add-ons.  Clearly putting them ahead of the pack, it makes you wonder if Sport Utility Vehicles are now becoming Dog Utility Vehicles.  What a welcome addition to the pet world!