Microchips for pets have been around for quite a while now. They are considered routine for many breeders. If you purchase a puppy from a pet store your puppy will likely have a microchip already implanted. Many rescue and shelter groups also use microchips in the puppies and dogs they place.

As you probably know, a microchip is a small chip about the size and shape of a grain of rice that is inserted between an animal’s shoulder blades. Its purpose is to provide a marker for information about your pet that can be scanned in case your dog is lost or stolen.

There are some pros and cons about microchips. On the plus side, microchips are a permanent form of identification for your dog. If your dog is ever lost or stolen he can easily be identified if found simply by using a scanner to find his microchip. Collars can be lost or removed and tattoos can fade or stretch, but the vast majority of microchips stay in place. Most microchips can be found by a scanner when used properly. However, the scanner must be used by someone who knows how to use it and it is sometimes necessary to move the scanner wand around to find the microchip.

Microchips must be registered with a database company, such as the AKC’s Companion Animal Recovery service. The database service keeps track of your dog’s (or other pet’s) information — his name, your address, phone numbers, vet information, contact numbers, and so on. When your dog’s microchip is scanned a data code is revealed which tells the person scanning that the dog is registered with the database company. A call to the database company will allow them to contact you, or another one of your contacts, to let you know that your missing dog has been found, no matter where he’s been discovered. Your dog might be found 1000 miles from your home and it wouldn’t make any difference. A couple of phone calls and you would know where your dog was so you could go get him.

According to AKC Companion Animal Recovery, lost pets with microchips are up to 20 times more likely to return home.

If you don’t register your dog’s microchip with a database company then it doesn’t do any good to have the chip implanted. As a form of identification the chip will be useless. It would be like having a telephone in your house but never connecting it.

At one time there were problems with microchips because competing companies used chips that required different kinds of scanners. Animal shelters or vets might not have the right scanner to read your dog’s kind of chip. However, today there are universal scanners which are supposed to be able to read all chips.

There are a few studies which have suggested that there could be health risks associated with the use of microchips. Microchips are being studied more extensively now since they are being used in some cases for humans (in children and the elderly in some countries). However, so far the data suggests that the chances of any health problems, such as tumors at the injection site, occur in a very small number of cases compared with the hundreds of thousands of animals which have been microchipped.

Do you have a micro-chip success story? Tell us about it in the comment section below.

Until next time………..

We often hear stories that claim that pets, including dogs, make people healthier and even help them live longer lives, but are they true? Is there any science to back up these claims? The answer is yes! People with pets do lead healthier lives in many ways.

According to numerous studies, pets provide a wide array of health benefits to people, ranging from lowering blood pressure to helping to fight depression.

· In a study done at the State University of New York (Buffalo), people suffering from high blood pressure were found to have their blood pressure reduced after getting a cat or dog.

· The Centers for Disease Control states that owning a pet can decrease your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels, your triglyceride levels and reduce feelings of loneliness. They also state that owning a pet can increase your opportunities for exercise and other outdoor activities as well as your opportunities for socialization.

· Research suggests that people with pets may be protected from heart disease, according to the National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets. Their rationale is that the companionship of a pet provides an owner with the kind of “psychological stability” that helps to keep people calm and steady.

· Pets have also been found to reduce stress. According to the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the UK, pet owners have been found to be able to handle stressful situations better than non-pet owners. Even walking with your dog can make you feel better and calm you down.

· People with pets go to the doctor less often, according to the National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets.

· Pets are great at helping people fight off depression, especially for seniors. People who are depressed or lonely can greatly benefit from having a pet. Pets keep people active and they offer unconditional love. They provide feelings of security and companionship. They can often give someone an interest in life when they have lost interest in most other things.

· Exercising with your pet is a great way to get exercise yourself. Even if you simply take your dog for a walk it means that you are getting out and about. This can increase muscle tone, heart and cardiovascular fitness and improve your mood. Just a little exercise can help you keep your weight down, too, which can help you live longer.

The more things you do with your dog, the more you can improve your health. If your health permits, check out some fun activities that dogs and people can do together such as water sports (many dogs love to swim); flyball; playing frisbee; dog dancing — obedience routines set to music. There are also favorites such as obedience training, agility, rally and sports geared to your dog’s background, such as herding, hunting, tracking, earthdog activities and the like.

So, from a health point of view, it’s absolutely true that owning a pet, including a dog, can make you healthier. Take a moment to give your dog a hug and thank him for making you a healthier person.

Do you feel your dog makes you healthier? Tell us how in the comment section below.

Until next time……..

At Home or On the Road, the New “Dog Park Finder” iPhone App Does Just That

As a dog owner, you’re already familiar with most of the advantages of taking your dog to the local dog park. By going to the dog park,

Your Dog:

- socializes with other dogs

-gets much-needed exercise

-is let off his leash

-is less likely to bark, be aggressive, or be destructive

-is safe from cars and other neighborhood hazards

You:

-socialize with other dog owners

-can get exercise by playing with your dog

-avoid hefty leash-law violation fines

-allow your dog to exercise if you’re elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to be active with him

With all of the benefits a dog park provides you and your best four-legged friend, it’s no surprise that many dog owners take their dogs to a local dog park up to four times a week and regularly drive up to 30 miles to find a good off-leash area. Do you know every dog park within a 30-mile radius of your home? Chances are you don’t.

Dog and Dog Park Facts

According to the Humane Society, there are 77.5 million owned dogs in the United States. That’s up from 68 million in 2000 (USA Today) – a growth rate of nearly 1 million owned dogs each year. All of these dogs, especially those in urban areas, need a place to exercise, socialize, and be safe off-leash. Enter the dog park. The first dog park was established in California in 1979. Mirroring the growth in dog ownership, the number of dog parks has ballooned rapidly since then. There are currently thousands of dog parks spanning across every state in the U.S.

Find the Best Dog Parks

DogParkUSA.com and the Dog Park Finder iPhone App (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dog-park-finder/id362002678?mt=8) have teamed up to index and map all the dog parks in the U.S. and, most importantly, make them accessible to you online and via your mobile device. Dog Park Finder has leveraged the information that DogParkUSA.com has compiled and vetted since it began in 2007. Together DogParkUSA.com and Dog Park Finder bring users detailed, accurate information on over 2,000 dog parks and over 3,000 reviews and pictures of individual dog parks across the country.

The Dog Park Finder application features hand placed map markers that give the exact locations of each dog park; finds local dog parks nearby your current location; lets you read user ratings, reviews, and comments on the dog parks you find; allows you to search dog parks by city, state, and zip code; and provides detailed information about each park, including park fees, hours of operation, fencing information, doggy amenities (such as swimming areas), and other important notes about the park.

Once you’ve used Dog Park Finder to locate and visit all the dog parks in your area, you can rave about your favorite dog parks on DogParkUSA.com. Rate your local dog parks, write a glowing review or critiques, upload pictures, and email the dog park information to a friend. These features are also available, or will be soon, on Dog Park Finder.

On the Road with your Dog

Don’t limit yourself to dog parks in your neighborhood. Use DogParkUSA.com to find dog-friendly hotels around the country and take a vacation with your dog! Keep in mind that “dog-friendly” doesn’t mean “off-leash”. Your pooch will still need to run around at a local dog park for exercise. The Airline Transportation Association estimates that more than 500,000 animals travel by plane each year, which means that far more travel by car. Since dogs are the most common pet to take on a vacation, bringing Dog Park Finder on the road is a great option. Instead of pulling in at a truck stop on your road trip, use Dog Park Finder to get directions to the closest dog park and let your dog stretch her legs too.

Whether you’re on a road trip across the country, a weekend drive, or a stroll through your neighborhood, your dog needs to run off-leash. Let Dog Park Finder and DogParkUSA.com help you find the best dog park near you…wherever you are!

Resources:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dog-park-finder/id362002678?mt=8

http://www.dogparkusa.com/iphone/dog-park-finder

I hope this helps you find all the dog parks you ever wanted!

Until next time…..

If you have a dog then you probably have some photos of your favorite pooch. You may also know how difficult it can be to get a good picture of your dog. As soon as you haul out the camera it seems like some dogs start turning their backsides to you. Other dogs start walking toward the camera to investigate which means all of your pictures are close-ups of their noses. And some owners only seem to get pictures of their dogs sprinting through the background. Don’t despair! Here are some tips for getting good photos of your dog.

1. Plan ahead. In order to get some good pictures of your dog you need to do a little strategic planning. That means letting your dog get used to the camera. If you only bring out your camera a minute before you want to take a picture your dog is going to walk straight to the camera to investigate it. Instead, take your camera out and let your dog get used to it. Take the camera out often. Wear it a while. That way your dog will be used to it and will act naturally. You should also consider some other factors before you take pictures. Is your dog wound up and zooming around? Then be in position for his action shots. Is he being lazy and mellow? Get in the best spots to take those shots.

2. Take lots of pictures. If you take just a few pictures of your dog you may get lucky and get a great picture but you’re much more likely to get good pictures if you set aside some time and take lots of photos. You can catch your dog doing all kinds of cool things and his personality will really come out in the pictures.

3. Consider the angle. Some of the best dog pictures are usually taken at your dog’s level. Many people take pictures standing up, looking down at their dogs but if you really want to get good pictures of your dog then get right down on the floor with him.

4. Look at your surroundings. You can take great pictures anywhere but it certainly helps to have good surroundings, free of clutter. Simple surroundings can help focus attention on your dog. A clean, sandy beach or green trees will make your dog look great. Watch for things growing out of your dog’s head like telephone poles. And try to keep some contrast in the background. If you have a black dog stay away from black backgrounds; stay away from light backgrounds for light-colored dogs, and so on.

5. Have fun. Don’t be afraid to have fun with your dog. Remember that you don’t have to make every photo look the same. Mix them up a little! Have some close-ups. Do some body shots. Take a head shot. Use different angles. And ask a friend to help. Sometimes having a friend playing with your dog can help, especially if your friend has a squeaky toy. Professional photographers often use squeaky toys to get a great facial expression from a dog.

Follow these tips and you should be able to get some great pictures of your dog. It’s all for fun so go out and have a great time with your dog and your camera.

Until next time……

Although you’ve heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” in fact you can teach an old dog just about anything! It’s never too late to train a dog.

Whether you are bringing home an older dog from a shelter or rescue or you’d like to work with your own older dog, there’s no reason to delay doing some training with an older dog.

There are actually some advantages to working with an older dog. Older dogs may already know some commands. They have a much longer attention span than puppies. They can understand very quickly what you want them to do because they already know a lot of human words. And, older dogs already know how to learn. They know the routine of learning things that humans want to teach them.

Even if you are starting from scratch with an older dog and he doesn’t know any commands, chances are that he knows at least a few basic words such as “good dog” and “no.” He understands certain basic training concepts that you have to spend time teaching to a younger dog.

Older dogs are often eager to please, too. They may have seen a lot but they appreciate it when you spend time with them.

You do have to make some allowances for older dogs. An older dog may not be as active or as spry as a younger dog. Depending on the dog’s age he may have some health issues to take note of when you train.

For instance, if your older dog has some arthritis, then give him time when he sits and gets up and down repeatedly. This action may cause him a little pain. If you are doing training that requires your dog to do things quickly then give him some extra time. So, if your training requires strenuous physical activity for your dog, do make allowances for his age.

If your older dog has had some previous training you may need to “unteach” him any lessons that hinder your current training. If he’s had any bad experiences you will need to carefully re-train him around those experiences.

Even if you are interested in training an older dog for some kinds of specialized training, such as hunting or herding, many older dogs are able to pick up these jobs and excel. If they have a natural instinct and they enjoy the work they are even more likely to love the training and learn fast.

However, on the whole, there is no reason why you can’t train an older dog. You should find that their intelligence and their ability to focus is very great. They have often gained a great deal of wisdom in the course of their lives and they can apply this to the training you are giving them.

It’s never too late to train a dog. Spend time training your older dog and watch him come alive again. He may spring to life like a puppy all over again, enjoying his work and loving spending time with you.