How to Remove Dog Urine From Carpet

December 31, 2014 by Fanna Easter

Removing Dog Urine From Carpet

Dog Urine Carpet — Here are the best dog urine remover product recommendations!

If you share your home with a dog, or any pet really, you’ll encounter urine, feces or vomit. It’s part of it. 🙂 Next, you’ll have to find out how to remove dog urine. With so many products out there, which works best? I’ve gathered product recommendations from top dog trainers, breeders and show folks. See what products really work.

Nature’s Miracle

This product has been around for awhile and is highly recommended by top dog trainers. All products contain an effective bio enzyme cleaner, meaning not only will it remove the stain, but the enzymes will also remove odor. This prevents dogs from pottying in the spot again. Personally, I’ve added the Nature’s Miracle Orange Oxy Pet Stain Remover to our carpet cleaning machine, which really removed pet odors and left a clean orange scent behind. And I shared my home with four Bouviers. We have white carpet — what was I thinking?

As for removing old stains, it was okay. It works really well on fresh urine carpet spots, dog crates, dog laundry and messes on hardwood floors.

Biokleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Removal

This is a newer product on the market, but highly recommended by seasoned dog people. So much so, I’m going to give this a try! Bac-Out contains a “blend of natural live enzyme cultures, citrus extracts and plant-based surfactants,” which is effective for removing odor and stains. This product is excellent for removing laundry stains (children or dog made), old urine, blood, vomit and fecal stains quickly.

Fizzion Pet Stain & Odor Remover

With an Amazon rating of 4.7 stars (244 reviews), I would say this is a pretty effective product! Fizzion Pet Stain & Odor Remover is another dog trainer favorite and highly recommended by professional car cleaning businesses. Plus it’s received glowing reviews from cat enthusiasts (now that means something!). This product is definitely worth a try! Not only will this product remove odor (using enzyme-based cleaners), it will also remove really tough cat odors (cat urine is the worst!). Add one tablet to 8 ounces of water. It works great in steam cleaners or on its own.

Folex Instant Carpet Stain Remover

Looking for a scent-free, yet effective stain remover? Try Folex! This product is water-based, “non-toxic, completely non-irritating to normal skin; non-flammable, contains no solvents of any kind; odor-free, no unpleasant chemicals; CFC and Petroleum Free” per Folex’s website. Plus, you can use this product on everything!

What is your favorite product to remove pet stains? The more we share, the less yellow spots we have to live with!

Interactive Dog Toys for Car Rides

December 29, 2014 by Fanna Easter

How to Entertain Your Dog

Children play video games or watch their favorite DVDs during car rides, but how do we keep the family pooch entertained? Road trip puzzle toys! Interactive dog toys are not for home use only. They’re portable so take ’em on the road.

Using Interactive Dog Toys During Car Rides

Dogs get bored and frustrated during long car rides just like children and even adults. You have to give them something to do too. Chews are great, but sometimes they don’t last long enough. Try an interactive dog toy instead.

Smear peanut butter, cream cheese, baby food or a mixture of all three along the sides of an interactive dog toy.
To keep mess to a minimum, freeze overnight. Most dogs will like the smeared mixture for hours.
If your dog is prone to car sickness, smear ginger jelly on the inside of her toy. Ginger is a useful remedy to keep car sickness at bay.

Dog Toys Make Car Rides Fun

Some dogs (and puppies) just don’t like riding in vehicles. This is pretty normal and it’s a weird sensation. By providing interactive dog toys during car rides, your dog will associate yummy food (aka fun) with car rides. The more fun they have during car rides, the more likely they will learn to enjoy them.

Want to make car rides even more fun? Enroll in a group class so your dog has plenty of opportunities to practice her new car riding behavior while arriving at a fun place with lots of treats. Perfect combo! 🙂 My clients have mentioned their dogs love to ride in the car now. They know they’re going to class so they hop in and grin. Add a road trip-worthy interactive toy and you’re both well on your way to becoming road warriors soon!

Check out more tips on traveling with your dog here.

Food Puzzles For Dogs

December 22, 2014 by Fanna Easter

Dog Food Puzzles

Food Puzzles for Dogs — Feed meals from a food puzzle instead of a bowl.

Is your dog eating out of a food bowl still? Try using food puzzles instead. This extends meal times to 15-20 minutes while providing mental stimulation. What does this all mean? A tired dog! 🙂 Give food puzzles for dogs a try. You’ll thank me.

What is a Food Puzzle?

Food puzzles for dogs have become all the rage lately, but why? Food puzzles not only feed and reward dogs, but they also make dogs think, which exercises their brains. We all know how mentally tired we are after solving a complex issue. Well same goes for dogs. Plus, the “use it or lose it”saying applies to dogs’ brains too even for senior dogs.

Every morning, dogs wake up with a full tank of energy. We need to find ways to burn their excessive energy or they will find their own way. Food puzzles work perfectly. Feed morning meals in the bathroom while you’re getting ready for work. Feed evening meals while you’re cooking or eating dinner. Most dogs need a nap afterwards.

Choosing a Food Puzzle

Food puzzles range from plastic to wooden, and both have their pros and cons. Plastic is super easy to clean; wooden food puzzle toys work best for dogs with sensitivities to plastic.

As a general rule, choose an easy food puzzle for novice puzzle solvers. If it’s too hard, most dogs will give up. My favorites are Kyjen Dog Feeder and Green Interactive Feeder by Northmate. Again, as with anything, each has its pros and cons. Kyjen works great if your dog eats a raw diet. It’s easy to clean with less nooks and crannies for bacteria to grow. Also, this toy works really great for impatient eaters, as dogs are less likely to tip over the toy. Green Interactive Feeders work great for dogs with medium to long muzzles, are super easy to sprinkle kibble between the grass blades and are easy to clean.

For food puzzle wizards, give Nina Ottosson’s puzzle games a try. They vary in difficulty depending on your dog’s experience. Some of her food puzzles can hold a dog’s entire meal while others need to be refilled as needed. Either way, your dog will have a blast!

Does your dog inhale his food? Try food puzzles!

WATCH: Feeding Your Dog With Food Puzzles

You may also like: Kong Dog Toys

Dog Recipes for Food Stuffed Toys

December 18, 2014 by Fanna Easter

Food Stuffed Toy Recipes for Dogs

Food stuffed toys are awesome for all dogs! As a dog trainer, I’m constantly recommending food stuffed toys and decided to share my favorite and easy recipes. Choose from grain-free, raw food, sensitive tummy, waist-watchers style and prescription food ideas!

Grain-Free

Baked chicken (cut into small chunks)
Peas (cooked)
Blueberries (raw)

Place chicken chunks at the bottom of the food stuffed toy and layer with peas and blueberries. By adding the chicken at the bottom, you ensure your pooch eats his veggies first. 🙂

For food stuffed toy pros, seal the opening with honey or cream cheese and freeze overnight. For newbies, a few pieces of food spilling out is very encouraging and fun.

Raw Food

Ground beef
Raw honey
Cottage cheese (full fat)

Stuff ground beef (or preferred meat) first (bottom of toy). Then, alternate layers of cottage cheese and raw honey. If honey is too thin and oozes out of openings, substitute organic blackstrap molasses, as it’s a bit thicker.

Tip: Pack your dog’s regular meal into a puzzle. Voila!

Sensitive Tummy

Fiber and low-fat ingredients are best for sensitive tummies. I don’t recommend freezing before serving, as cold food can cause or aggravate digestive issues.

Canned pumpkin (or cooked fresh pumpkin)
Oatmeal (soaked overnight or cooked not instant)
Low or non-fat yogurt

Alternate between layers with pumpkin, oatmeal and yogurt. Seal openings with oatmeal (acts like glue).

Prescription Dog Food — Prescription food ideas.

Prescription Food

Purchase a few cans of your dog’s prescription diet. Using a butter knife, spread ½ can of food along the sides of food stuffed toy (Kongs work best for this recipe). The amount depends on size and weight of dog.

Check out Kong Wobbler for additional details, using puzzles for prescription food ideas.

Waist Watchers

Ground turkey (cooked and drained)
Cooked carrots (canned works well too, just rinse well to remove excess sodium)
Green beans (cooked or canned, rinsed and drained)

Alternate layers by hiding turkey within veggies so they’re not ignored. 🙂 If veggies are ignored, layer with a bit of non-fat yogurt.

Share your favorite food stuffed toys or puzzle recipes!

READ ALSO: Homemade Diets for Dogs

Calming Music for Dogs

December 8, 2014 by Fanna Easter

Dog Calming Classical Music

Dog Calming Music — Classical music works for dogs too!

As a dog trainer, I’m always looking for new things to calm anxious dogs, and I found a good one! My number fourth calming tip is to play classical music.

Why Classical Music?

I’m an old punk rock girl, and if you told me I would be listening to classical music 30 years ago, I’d scream, “I’ll never conform!” While, I maintain my anti-conformity streak, my mind craves classical music. Let me explain why.

Most classical music is rhythmic, meaning it has structure and you can predict the next beat. The most relaxing classical music has two or less instruments, which is easy for our brains to calmly follow. High pitched, miscellaneous drum or symbol beats can be unsettling. It’s sudden and jarring at times, which does not promote relaxation. Don’t believe me? Try meditating to rock, punk rock or jazz music instead of unwinding. You’ll be energized!

People are different. Some will respond to different types of classical music depending on instruments played. While I enjoy new age music, the piercing sounds of flutes will send me over the edge and will cause my dogs to howl. 🙂

Yes, classical music works for dogs!

Rhythmic classical music is relaxing for dogs also. I’ve seen it firsthand. During consults with anxious dogs, I’ll play classical music on my iPhone and watch both the dog and pet parents instantly calm.

When, How and at What Volume?

Play classical music when dogs are left alone. It’ll drown out sirens, barking dogs or construction sounds.
If your dog is anxious during car rides, you’ll see a decrease in your stress as well. 🙂
Be careful with the volume. Dogs’ hearing is much more pronounced than ours. Set at a low setting.

Check out my favorite dog classical music CD!

Which song or CD instantly calms you and your dog?