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Hey, Katie K-9!KatieK9@readthecitizen.comwww.KTK9.com 651-429-5433 |
Hey, Katie K-9!
I try to brush my dog’s teeth and it’s a battle every time. Is there anything else I can do to help keep them clean, any good biscuits or something?
Traya
Hey, Traya!
Biscuits or hard food do not clean dogs’ teeth. The best way to keep them pearly white is by giving them a RAW butcher bone. If your dog has never had one, you have to start out slow. Give him one for half an hour and then throw it away. Do this for a couple of weeks, once each week, until his system can deal with the richness of a raw bone. Then you can just give him one until it is almost gone once a week or every few weeks. Be sure to take it away before the bone gets too small: otherwise, he may choke.
Give it to him in a controlled place so he can’t go and bury it. Never give your dog cooked bones of any kind! When you cook the bone you take the moisture out of it and it becomes dry and brittle. It now can tear the throat going down or rectum as it is coming out.
Do not buy the smoked or sterilized bones. The smoked ones have too much salt and nitrates, the sterilized bones can break teeth. The bigger the raw bone, the better, as it chips off more tar and lasts longer. You can buy butcher bones at Grundhofers Old- Fashion Meats in Hugo.
Here’s to pearly white teeth forever!
Katie K-9!
Hey, Katie K-9!
I just adopted a 2-yearold rescue dog. He is great, but I do not want him on my furniture!
Any suggestions?
Sandi and new buddy, Trigger
Hey, Sandi and Trigger!
First, thanks for adopting a second-hand dog!
When you have made the decision not to have pets on the furniture- that means all of the furniture.
You can not have a couch or chair for the dog and expect him to stay off the “good” furniture. When your back is turned, you will see evidence that he has been on them, too. They like the furniture because it is comfortable.
Make it uncomfortable for them. These do not make fashion statements but it works: place heavy duty aluminum foil on the furniture cushions. Or, get a piece of the plastic runners with the teeth on the bottom that go on carpeted stairs. Cut it to fit where you need it, and then turn it upside down. Cats do not mind these, but dogs hate them.
Be sure each room you spend time in has a rug or pillow for the dog. Teach them to use it.
(FYI—to get pet hair off cushions easily, use a rubber window squeegee with short rubber on it, and all the pet hair will come off easily! Also, a slightly damp cloth works too.)
Happy sitting!
Katie K-9!
Hey, Katie K-9!
I am really getting tired of my little Dexter barking at everything outside. He runs from window to window barking at anything and everything out there. Now that the weather is nice and more people and dogs are out and about, it has gotten worse. I yell and yell and he just tunes me out. HELP!
Ready to glue his mouth shut,
Marsha
Hey, Marsha and Dexter!
It’s good when a dog barks to let you know someone is at the door, but once you see who it is and you give the “quiet” word, your dog should back off.
A couple of things should work for you: first, let him drag a 6-foot nylon leash around when you are home, then get a big spray bottle (these shoot farther), fill it with water, set it on stream.
When Dexter starts up, step on the leash so he can’t run from you, and then blast him in the face with the water and say in a deep, low slow voice, “AHHH, quiet!” When he backs off, calmly say, “Thank you.”
Say and spray the first five times, then say your quiet word and if he does not respond, blast him.
Small dogs are soundsensitive: you can also try a rinsed pop can, with five pennies in it and the top taped shut. When Dexter starts to bark, shake the can and say the quiet word. Keep on top of this and soon all you will need is your voice. Works for dogs barking in cars, too, when you are driving.
Send in your dog questions to “Hey, Katie K-9!” by mailing them to The Citizen, P. O. Box 393, Hugo, MN 55038 or e-mailing them to Katie at KatieK-9@ReadThe Citizen.com. Visit her Web site at www.ktk9.com. The Katie K-9 radio show is on every Sunday afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m. on FM107.1