Wag Reflex

Biotene Water Additive

Ever wish there was a product you could use on your pets that would help keep their teeth clean and their breath fresh without brushing? Well, guess what....now there is!

Biotene Drinking Water Additive is one of may favorite things. It's a colorless, flavorless liquid that you mix with your pet’s water. This product contains a patented enzyme system that inhibits and reduces plaque formation. It also stops the growth of odor causing microorganisms and will leave your pet with fresh breath and a healthy mouth.

It is recommended to start this product with a clean mouth. So you should begin it’s use when the pet is young or after the teeth have been cleaned thoroughly under anesthesia.

Biotene Drinking Water Additive can be purchased here.

--Dr. Hinson
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Dr. Hinson is a mixed animal veterinarian in Tampa, FL and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information   

Active Dogs

Most American dogs have a pretty casual life style. Their days consist of eating, sleeping, interacting with the family and (hopefully) a daily walk. While this is a pretty good life, one I envy frequently, there is actually SO much more a dog can do. Have you considered becoming more active with your dog? It’s a great way for your family to enjoy a new hobby with your treasured pet.  From helping others to helping yourself, there are a variety of activities to consider for you and your dog.

Therapy Dog Enrollment
If you have a well-mannered dog that responds to basic obedience sufficient to bring them into new environments, making your pup a therapy dog could be a perfect fit. These dogs are used to enrich the lives of those who would benefit from the physical contact and unconditional love a dog can provide. Nursing homes, hospitals and schools commonly utilize therapy dogs for various programs and situations where enrichment is  needed.

Search and Rescue
Training a dog to do search and rescue requires dedication and sometimes years of training. Most people find it to be a very rewarding hobby and active dogs often enjoy the work. There are many books and Web sites available on training a dog for search and rescue, as well as local training groups. 

Fly-Ball
If your dog LOVES to run and play ball this is a perfect fit. Flyball is played as a team where each dog has to run down an alley and over hurdles towards a box with a tennis ball in it. Once they grab the ball, they have to run back to the starting line so the next dog can start. This is a race against the clock and teams compete side -by -side. It’s a high energy sport and the dogs I’ve seen do it LOVE it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=131pmVXZga8

Weight Pull
Does your dogs like to pull on its leash? This is a sport where you can actually harness that drive. In this sport dogs wear a special harness and learn to pull various weights. Before getting started in this sport be sure that your dogs is full -grown and does not have any orthopedic problems. Start slow and keep in mind that injuries are possible. 

Carting
Many large breed dogs were once used to pull carts that contained either people or cargo as part of their daily ‘jobs’ as working dogs. Breeds such as Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs and other working breed dogs have traditionally been used for carting, however, now people are even training small dogs to pull little carts.

Earthdog
This activity is for small breed dogs such as Dachshunds and small terriers originally bred to hunt rodents. During earth dog activities, dogs get the opportunity to dig and maneuver through manmade tunnels while following the scent of vermin. This activity allows dogs an outlet for their hunting instincts.

Canicross
This is cross country running with your dog, which is tied to you and aids in pulling you up hill.

Agility, Obedience and Rally
These events are now becoming available through the AKC for mix breed dogs.

These are just a few of the activities you can do with your dog. Take some time to explore all the possibilities out there and get more details on the web. Life is short play hard. Enjoy your dog to the fullest because some people can’t do all this fun stuff…poor cat people.

--Dr. Hamilton
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Dr. Hamilton is an oncology resident at Michigan State's Animal Cancer Care Clinic and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information   

Doga--Yoga with Your Dog

About three years ago a good friend of mine, Brenda Bryan, was doing dog massage for a Seattle Humane Society event at the Hotel Monaco. It was a doggie fashion show, using shelter dogs as models. Brenda's job was to offer massage to the models to calm them before walking the runway. The director of The Seattle Humane Society began asking her questions about the work she was doing and Brenda mentioned that in addition to being a licensed massage therapist, she is also a yoga instructor. The director asked Brenda if she would be interested in developing a human and dog yoga class. “I said yes without giving it a second thought,” Brenda recalls. It was then and there that Barking Buddha Doga was born.

Barking Buddha Doga takes classic yoga poses and adapts them to include your dog, or "dogi" as they're referred to in "doga-speak." The poses benefit dogs in the same way they benefit humans - through stretches and massage. Massage and stretching for our dogs increases circulation and range of motion and encourages relaxation. When we learn to do these things in doga, we get to know our dogs well physically, and they learn to trust us as we stretch, lift and massage them.    
When Brenda first began developing the class, she didn’t think much beyond a fun activity to do with dogs. But then she began to notice some changes in the way she interacted with her dogs, Honey and Gus. “I began to feel more in tune with them,” Brenda remembers. “I had always loved them and felt close to them, and was a good dog parent, but ow it seems as though our connection has deepened. I am more present with them. I notice more about their needs, personalities, how their bodies work, and how they interact with others.”
 
Brenda has also noticed some physical benefits from the practice. Her big dog, Honey, has stopped limping after long walks. “She’s 11 ½, and when I got her six years ago, her former owner told me she had an issue with her right leg and would limp if she overused it,” says Brenda. After three years of teaching her class, she says she can’t recall the last time Honey had an issue with her right leg. Students have also begun to report back that their dogs are noticeably calmer after the classes, that they feel closer to their dogs, and that some of the older dogis seem to be less stiff or sore after the class.

“As a doga teacher, the dogs have taught me to go with the flow, to be patient, and not to cling to how things should be,” says Brenda.

Brenda Bryan’s new book, Barking Buddha Doga: Simple Soul Stretches for Yogi and Dogi, can be purchased on Amazon.com.

Photography by Seattle pet photographer Jen Flynn. Cover image courtesy of Mountaineers Books.

--Brandie Ahlgren, CityDog Magazine
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Brandie Ahlgren is the publisher of CityDog Magazine and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Subscribe to CityDog Magazine here.

Pet Airways Takes Off

Let's say you like traveling long distances with your Doberman and have plenty of extra cash. Since he doesn't fit under a standard airplane seat and you don't want him in the cargo hold, you've been out of luck. All that is about to change. On July 14, your pooch will be able to fly on Pet Airways, the only airline that caters to exclusively to pets. In fact it's so exclusive that you're not welcome on board. You'll have to find your own flight.

Here's their commercial.

Via the Huffington Post.

--Spanno

WETNoz Introduces High-End Design for Pets

If you have even a marginally modern kitchen, those cheap ceramic bowls you got a PetSmart a few years ago probably stand out like an NBA player in Tokyo. I'm not knocking the bowls--up until recently you didn't have much of choice and they did the job. Heck, even I have them. But now we have a choice. We can replace that mismatched set with some contemporary design.

A new brand of pet products called WETNoz is shaking up the look of bowls, dishes, and even treat jars. The designs are an eye-catching mix of ergonomics and aesthetics. They're like little pieces of art.

Everything is a tad pricey but, really, what did you expect for something that looks this good? The real shock is when you realize that your dog eats out of a nicer bowl than you.

--Spanno

Bo Obama's New Water Bowl

Here's a first look at Bo Obama's fancy new water bowl from Mail Online. It's a slightly modified Road Refresher (available here), specifically made for the First Pup by inventor Natalie Ellis.

--Spanno

Wag Reflex Sweepstakes Ends Tomorrow

Here's your last chance to win that Fatboy Doggielounge! Our contest ends at noon PST tomorrow. Enter here.

Already getting the daily Wag Reflex digest, but didn't enter the sweepstakes yet? Don't worry, you can still sign up for the sweepstakes by filling out the entry form. Just make sure to use the same e-mail address in the form as you used when you signed up previously for the digest.

Want to know more about the Fatboy Doggielounge? Here are a few key features:

• Color: Orange
• Size: Small
• Fade, water, and stain resistant
• Cover is machine washable
• Filled with soft polystyrene beads

Read more about the Fatboy Doggielounge.

Sign up and read the official sweepstakes rules. No purchase necessary. Enter by 11:59:59 a.m. (PT) May 29, 2009. See official rules for details.

See you in your inbox!

--Spanno

Rough and Tumble--Balls That Last

Toys get hard use in my home and balls in particular get thoroughly tested. Not only are the toys Lab tested, but they are also terrier tested, German Shepherd Dog tested and Jaws-of-Death Doodle tested. You want to know what toys go the distance? These do:

Orbee Balls
Sure, they are cute, but they are tough, too. Left outside through a long, cold New Hampshire winter, mowed with our lawn tractor and abused by numerous dogs our Orbees still just fine. Not usually a favorite toy, Pip has recently taken a shine to their “Snowball,” adding it to this week’s golluming pile.

Everlasting Fun Balls
Add these to the list of great food dispensing toys. Soft yet hard wearing, ours have seen daily use here for many months with no noticeable wear. We’ll always have a few of these around. My only criticism is that opening where the food comes out is the same in all three sizes, meaning that toy-breed sized mini kibble simply falls out.

Fantastic Foam Balls
These make no sense to me at all. When I got my first one, I laughed. This will last a few minutes, I thought as I tossed it to PJ, an experienced toy destroyer. But it has lasted for nine or so months now with only one small nick out of it. Amazing.

Jolly Ball Tug-n-Toss
Okay, Jolly balls aren’t durable but they are, apparently, just as fun flattened, chewed, and handle-less as they are fresh out of the box. We have one “Jolly Chunk” that’s been around for several years now. It is no longer even remotely “ball” shaped but it remains a favorite toy among our gang.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.

Wag Reflex Sweepstakes: Win a Fatboy Doggielounge

If you haven't already signed up to receive Wag Reflex posts daily in your e-mail inbox, you'll want to do it now because we're giving away a Fatboy Doggielounge, valued at $99.99.

Already getting the daily Wag Reflex digest, but didn't enter the sweepstakes yet? Don't worry, you can still sign up for the sweepstakes by filling out the entry form. Just make sure to use the same e-mail address in the form as you used when you signed up previously for the digest.

Want to know more about the Fatboy Doggielounge? Here are a few key features:

• Color: Orange
• Size: Small
• Fade, water, and stain resistant
• Cover is machine washable
• Filled with soft polystyrene beads

Read more about the Fatboy Doggielounge.

Sign up and read the official sweepstakes rules. No purchase necessary. Enter by 11:59:59 a.m. (PT) May 29, 2009. See official rules for details.

See you in your inbox!

--Spanno

Train with Less Gain

Need some training treats? Concerned about your dog’s weight? Try these. Both products are small (relative to most dog) and the dogs I have consulted ate them eagerly. If your dog won’t train for just a few bits of his dry food or if you really like giving your dog something a little special but want to keep him a healthy size, consider these:

Zuke’s Mini Naturals

• Available in chicken, salmon and peanut butter flavor
• 2 calories per treat

Grizzly Nu-Treats for Dogs

• No strong fishy smell
• Simple ingredients, so a good bet for dogs with food sensitivities
• Grain-free

I’d let you try some of mine but I am all out at the moment--again.

--Sarah Wilson, MySmartPuppy.com
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Sarah Wilson is a pet behavior specialist, author, media personality, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex. Sarah's books include, "Dogology", "My Smart Puppy", and "Tails from the Barkside", all available now.