It's a Dog's World : The Savvy Guide to Four-Legged Living

by Diamond, Wendy

• ISBN13: 9780345514455
• ISBN10: 0345514459
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-02-09
• Publisher: Ballantine Books

Summary

Letrs"s face it, fellow dog lover: Your pets are like your children (with fur). Pets bring endless joy to our lives: When wers"re down, they lift our spirits. When theyrs"re sick, wers"re sick at heart. We let them have the run of the house and sleep on our beds-but the unconditional love and loyalty they give back is so wonderful that we want them to have the best of everything. Now Wendy Diamond, pet-lifestyle expert and avid animal rescue advocate, has written a sassy yet practical guide to help you and your four-legged family member live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life together. Written with her beloved Maltese, Lucky, Itrs"s a Dogrs"s World shows dog moms and dog dads how to get their precious pooches from shaggy to chic and offers savvy breed-specific advice on a variety of topics you may never have considered for your pet, including: bull; puppercise-keep Fido fit with fun puppy exercises, from the traditional to the more modern ("doga," anyone?), that are tailored for each breedrs"s unique needs bull; doggie diet tips-the lowdown on the dog chow that packs the biggest nutritional punch, the trick on organic treats, foods to avoid, and such yummy (in your dogrs"s opinion) recipes as doggie meatloaf bull; home, sweet dog home-smart choices for flooring and furniture, avoiding hidden household hazards, litter training, and a few tools that keep everyday pet messes to a minimum bull; travel tips-including the ideal dog carriers, paw-blic transportation, the most accommodating airlines, hotel petiquette, and the best destinations bull; paw-ty with your pooch-having fun with other furry friends at Mutt Makeovers and bark mitzvahs, plus hosting your own Yappy Hour with signature puptails (to benefit your local Humane Society) bull; choosing Mr. (or Ms.) Ruff-finding a dog well suited to you and your family, from spunky sporting dogs to hypoallergenic hounds bull; here comes the groom-bathing secrets, pawdicures, and dental health bull; fashion sense-keep it classy and comfortable, from fetching couture trends and snazzy doggie bags to casual dog-park wear for you and your pooch bull; and of course the pet lifestyle is about much more than just designer doggie duds-learn what you need to know about helping other dogs in need through fostering, donating, or adopting Complete with "Dear Lucky" letters from other dogs and tips for humans from the doggie perspective, this fun and entertaining guide is for anyone whose life has blissfully gone to the dogs.

Author Biography

 
Wendy Diamond (pictured here with her Maltese and coauthor, Lucky) is the author of How to Understand Men Through Their Dogs and How to Understand Women Through Their Cats and the chief pet officer of Animal Fair magazine and website. She is a pet-lifestyle expert on the Today show, CBS’s Greatest American Dog, and many other television shows. She lives in New York City, where she is a tireless advocate for animal rescue and welfare.

Excerpts

Puppercise


One day last spring, as I picked Lucky up to put her in her doggie bag, I realized two things: First, her hair was too shaggy for the coming summer months, and second, she felt a little heavy. Obviously, her extra locks were weighing her down. But when I picked her up from the groomer later that afternoon looking oh-so-cool in her puppy cut, I realized she was still heavier than usual. With a gulp, I realized the truth: The excess poundage was not because of her excess hair after all, but because little Lucky was actually a little overweight. Now, an extra pound or two may not sound like a big deal, but when you're only six or seven pounds it's like adding 15 to 30 percent to your body mass. Needless to say, immediately I put Lucky on a new diet and exercise regimen; after some thought, I went on one too (only to keep her company, you understand, not because I needed it, because I absolutely didn't).

If you and your dog want to live in harmony for a long, long time, you cannot be couch potatoes. Of course, you can still enjoy time together on the couch, even eating the occasional potato chip—none for the dog—but if that butt-shaped groove on your comfy couch is getting a little too groovy, it's high time you and your best friend get some puppercise. In this chapter, Lucky and I will discuss pet (and human) obesity and offer tips on how to prevent your dog from packing on the ounces. We'll also share advice on how to encourage your dog's inner athlete, help you decide which foods and treats are best for your buddy (somehow steak always ends up higher on Lucky's list than on mine), and give you some tips for finding a veterinarian to keep your dog in tip-top shape.

Obesity—the Good, the Bad,

and the Ugly—for Humans and Pets

Let's get the bad news out of the way first. Thirty-three percent of American humans and 40 percent of American pets are obese. Obesity, whether human or animal, can lead to heart disease, diabetes, decreased life expectancy, and less effective flirting--all things you probably want to avoid. You and your dog need to be around to give each other love for many years to come!

Let's Get Physical:

Exercising with Your Pet

When your dog is bored, he'll eat, because there's not a whole lot else for him to do—like you when you're watching TV and throwing back a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia or eating an entire bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, just to keep yourself occupied. I mean, I wouldn't know; I never do that, but I've heard about people who do. In any case, the best way to keep your dog occupied is to exercise with him!

There's no "recommended daily dose" of puppercise, but your vet can give you some guidelines, and you can also read up on your dog's breed. A Yorkshire terrier will have different workout needs from a golden retriever—but every pooch needs exercise!

Oldies but Goodies—Walking, Running,

and Swimming

WALKING

My friend Max always tells me, "Wendy, you gotta walk before you can run." Usually he's referring to relationships (so of course I ignore him, because it's obvious that the best approach to take with those is to sprint as fast as Jackie Joyner-Kersee), but he's got it right when it comes to exercise. Walking your dog is free, easy, and fun.

Just because you're doing something simple like walking doesn't mean you have to walk the same old route every day. Variety is the spice of dog life too. Take

mini-adventures, go hiking, check out the park by the water, or meet up with a friend

in another neighborhood for a doggie

date.

RUNNING

If you and your Dalmatian are ready to go for the gold (London 2012, here you come!) and begin a running program, go for it. But start slowly. Don't try to run a half marathon your first day out the door. Your best friend could seriously injure himself, a

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Excerpted from It's a Dog's World: The Savvy Guide to Four-Legged Living by Wendy Diamond
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.