Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits Dog's Health

I am sure you have heard of using apple cider vinegar for natural remedies in people, but have you heard of using it for your dog's health? Apple cider vinegar can help with digestion, gas, constipation, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections. It is used to deter insects such as mosquitoes, fleas and tics. It can relieve skin conditions, and even take away the odor of skunk.

Many herbalists recommend the use of vinegar. It is recommended that you buy vinegar made from cold pressed, organically grown whole apples to get the benefit of the naturally occurring enzymes.

In it's natural form apple cider vinegar is a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, and deodorant. It helps to remove tooth tartar; prevents tooth decay and hair loss (even mange), prevents and heals gum disease.

Have I listed enough benefits to using apple cider vinegar, yet?

There are many other benefits to using apple cider vinegar. It is known to reduce common infections, aid whelping, improve stamina, prevent muscle fatigue after exercise, increase resistance to disease, and protect against food poisoning. Cider vinegar is rich in the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements found in apples, especially potassium; it normalizes acid levels in the stomach, improves digestion and the assimilation of nutrients, reduces intestinal gas and fecal odors, helps cure constipation, alleviates some of the symptoms of arthritis and helps prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections.

You can feed apple cider vinegar daily to your dog to keep him healthy. Add to the food or water. You may need to gradually increase the amount. Start with a few drops and slowly increase each day until reaching the recommended daily dose below.

The approximate amounts recommended : 1 teaspoon - dogs up to 14 pounds
2 teaspoon - medium dogs -15 to 34 pounds
1Tablespoon - large dogs-35 to 84 pounds

By mixing in the food or water of your dog, apple cider vinegar will restore the acid/alkaline balance of his digestive tract, getting rid of the brown spots in the lawn. A correct PH balance also helps keep away the fleas, black flies, ticks, and other external parasites. Your dog will have less chance of getting ringworm, staph infections, streptococcus, and mange. If your dog already has these problems sponge your dog's skin with a mixture of equal parts of apple cider vinegar with equal amounts of warm water. If you prefer, you can use this mixture in a spray bottle to thoroughly wet your dog.

A NOTE OF CAUTION: Do not use apple cider vinegar if your dog is sensitive or allergic to yeast or if he has a chronic yeast infection. Also, do not give to dogs with irritated intestines.

Karen has been training dogs for over 35 years. She's also helped others learn to train their own dogs. Karen manages several dog web sites to benefit dog owners. Go to 4theLuvofDogs.com for more like this.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Chrisman

The History of Dog Clothes

I wasn't sure that dog clothes actually had a history to them until I started researching the topic and was pleasantly surprised to find that there was more information than I expected. The History of dog clothes starts around 520 B.C when medieval men going to battle would dress their horses and war dogs in garments to protect the animals skin in the time of war. This is what led to the manufacturing of dog apparel and modern day clothing for dogs. Today we carry on the tradition of using apparel to protect our working dogs and pets.

What would happen to police K9's who didn't wear their bullet proof vests? Or our beloved service dogs who guide the blind and wear their vests as helpful signs to let the public know they are doing their job?

Some of our small dogs and pets of today need an extra layer in the cold winter months. The hairless dog breeds appreciate the warmth and comfort of modern dog apparel. There are many forms of dog clothes including Doggy Raincoats, Knitted Sweaters, Costumes for Holidays, Comfortable Harnesses for dogs who can't wear collars and soft Cotton Dog T-shirts for any breed to either amuse their owners and guests with their funny designs or warn the public not to feed a working therapy dog.

In owning a Therapy Dog, I have discovered that patients in hospitals and nursing home residents all seem to light up with joy when my dog is either wearing a silly costume or wearing a funny hat. Hats have become a popular accessory to dog clothes and are used in therapy work to lift the spirit of the patient. After all, what is the purpose of therapy work if you can't make a difference in someone's life and change their mood to help them heal!

For whatever reason you dress your dog, dog clothes started out with a purpose and have a long tradition of protecting the canine from harm. So don't feel silly if you have a seperate closet of doggie apparel for your pooch. It is a necessary tradition!

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The Art of The Dog

Toms River painter uses canine muses as her inspiration

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/15/07
BY ZACH PATBERGTOMS RIVER BUREAU

TOMS RIVER — Laura Barbosa is an aspiring philanthropist for dog welfare. The problem is she has no money.

So she paints.

"I started realizing that the only way I was going to help dogs and show what good they can do for people is through art," said the Toms River artist. "It bothers me to the point where I can't sit around and wait for enough money to come in."

Yet, a living must be made. Though her paintings bring in some income, Barbosa's bread and butter comes from printing computer-generated graphics onto items and selling them on her Web site.

"Give me your photos and I'll put them on a T-shirt, pillow, whatever," Barbosa said.
Her top grosser is a canine muscle-T anchored by a skull-and-crossbones depicted on the front. Her display table inside the small studio adjacent to the garage features her merchandise — such as Chihuahua Choppers apparel (featuring the tiny dogs as bikers), animal-shelter bumper stickers and "Love is the Best Therapy" mouse pads depicting cats. Her customers range from dog lovers to pet companies in need of a logo.

Barbosa's driving passions are her own dogs, 2-year-old Henna, a Dogue de Bordeaux, and Hubble, a year-old pug. Barbosa, 39, leased the two rooms in a house she shares with two others because they gave her access to a yard for her dogs, not because of the indoor amenities for her.
Her home includes a wall of acrylic animal paintings, which she sells at various art festivals around New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her start-up cash for her graphic-arts business came from selling a $650 dog portrait a couple years ago.

In the corner, an easel sits supporting a partially finished work of art. The golden retriever depicted on the canvas is a therapy dog named Malibu that visits nursing homes in the area. She is one of several dogs that the Kindred Souls Canine Center in Howell sent pictures of, so Barbosa could create a mural to be auctioned as a fundraiser.

Christian Lehmann, a trainer at Kindred Souls, said he began collaborating with Barbosa on the mural after she made a canine vest for his classes that read: "Working Therapy Dogs, Do Not Feed."

"She's really a great person for wanting to do all this," he said of Barbosa, whom he met when she brought her dogs in for training.

The former veterinary technician, who became a full-time artist a year and a half ago when she moved here from Virginia, Barbosa said her next goal is to do a similar mural for the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The objective, she said, is to show that dogs have value as more than pets.
"I'm trying to get that across to people so they won't throw them away so easily when they're done," she said, emphasizing that even older dogs are useful in therapy situations.
"She's not only an artist but such a caring person," said Ursula Goetz, the SPCA's executive director. "I hope she is successful because she has such a good heart."

Barbosa has felt a kinship with dogs since she grew up with a poodle in Cranford and watched her pair of bull mastiffs die of cancer two years ago. Now, more than a decade after her art teacher at Pennsylvania's Slippery Rock University told her she had no talent, Barbosa has succeeded in becoming a professional canine artist — sort of.

"I'm always playing catch-up," she said of her finances.

But as the breadth of her pro-bono work shows, that's not the point.

Zach Patberg: (732) 557-5739 or zpatberg@app.com

New Dolphin T-Shirts

Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog Fundraiser

Local Artist: Laura Barbosa has big plans in store for the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. Not too far down the road, an Original Acrylic Painting of some of the "Therapy Dogs" will be created by Laura in an attempt to raise funds for this much needed Organization. (100% sales, proceeds goes directly to B and B.)Laura is a Professional Fine Artist whom Specializes in Pet Portraiture and likes to work with bright, vibrant Acrylic Colors on large canvas. Her paintings are fun and inspiring, capturing the animals soul and expression, giving a feeling of joy to all Pet Owners. Her paintings start at $650 for 18" x 24" and go up from there.The first Work Of Art will contain 10 to 12 Therapy Dogs that visit our local Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Schools and more. The painting will be created on three large Panels. The Asbury Park Press will be doing the story on her special piece and Custom Pet Photo- T-Shirt-Gift Business. We will also be shooting for a spot on the channel 12 news so many people can see the paintings in hopes of selling this work of art to help The Bright and Beautiful Organization. Whomever acquires these paintings will receive great humanitarian press and recognition.Why do you want to do this?"All my life I wanted to find a way to promote the good that dogs can do and what a special and most needed part they play in our society and our daily lives. Since then I have developed my talent to where I can use my art to raise funds for our wonderful Organizations that make special things happen for needy people in our community!...One person CAN make a difference!"When will they be completed?"The painting has been started, but...They will be finished when they are finished"If you are interested in helping by displaying these paintings for sale in your Hospital, Business, Public Library or Restaurant, please e-mail the Artist.Ocean County, New Jersey

Kindred Souls Canine Center

Kindred Souls "Canine Solutions" was founded in response to the disturbing fact that 70% of all dogs in shelters are there due to behavior issues. We believe most of these issues are preventable or solvable with early training and socialization.

We offer a variety of services in a country home-like environment, designed to enhance the relationship between people and their dogs. Our goal is to help establish a lasting bond between dog and owner by increasing their ability to effectively communicate with each other. All of our methods are positive and individually tailored to suit the dog's personality and the specific needs of the owner. We produce well mannered and, more importantly, Reliable dogs. The safety of pets can often depend on the reliability of their response to a command. Whether it is our doggy day care, puppy kindergarten or obedience class, our main focus is to provide people with the pet they desire.

Kindred Souls was founded by trainer Peter Campione. Mr. Campione has been training dogs and their owners for 15 years. He is certified & endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. He is assisted by his Australian Shepherd "Jake". He was named 1996 "Great American Dog" by Ralston Purina.

Co-Owner and Associate trainer Maria Yepello has been training with us for 5 years now. She has spearheaded our musical freestyle class. Her innovation in bringing this new sport to the forefront has been quite exciting for us. She also runs our Beginner Intermediate and Beginner Agility class and is producing some real winners with her instincts and attention to detail. Maria's dog training dates back to her first Great Pyrenees puppy, . She is very active in all causes including rescue and fundraising

The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs

The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
80 Powder Mill Road, Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Phone: (973)292-3316
Fax: (973)292-9559
Toll-Free (888)PET-5770

The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. is a non-profit organization which evaluates, tests, qualifies and supports therapy dogs for the purpose of giving loving and empathic support in nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric wards and other facilities where emotional service dogs are indispensable.

We understand how strong the love and bond with a dog can be, and the unequaled pleasure that comes from volunteering with one’s own dog as a team to help others. Our aim is to help owners and handlers of well-behaved dogs share the special love and attention their pets give to them, with other less fortunate individuals.

Reactions to therapy dogs are unmistakable and amazing. Although not every dog possesses the very special temperament that is necessary to become a therapy dog, if a dog has this potential, we can help it develop. We offer training for both dog and handler for successful and safe therapy dog visits. At no time do we ever try to intimidate or humiliate our handlers; we want to help them succeed and achieve their goals.

We welcome interaction with potential handlers and support our teams completely. Once they are members of The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc., our pet therapists benefit from our many benefits, including primary accident and liability insurance, therapy dog equipment and guidelines, as well as innovative group visits that help train both handler and dog for satisfying volunteer visits.

We’ve been using our unique formula for a long time and it’s one for success!