Doggone Helpful
We are always getting questions and requests for certain types of information. So we’ve assembled a lot of good stuff to share with you. We hope you find this fun and useful!
Let us know if there’s something you want us to add to this page by emailing us at info@coldnosecompanions.com.
Helpful Information from Cold Nose Companions
- Boredom Busters: toys and puzzles to keep your dog entertained and enhance his or her problem-solving abilities
- Fun & Games with your dog: beat Cabin Fever the fun way!
- Bringing a New Dog Home: for those who have never owned a dog before or for whom it’s been a long time
- House Training Schedule: a tool to help you housetrain your dog
- Canine Body Language: do you know how to read your dog’s non-verbal communication?
- Clicker Training Basics: learn the foundations of using a clicker to train your dog
- Through a Dog’s Ear: a review of the book and science behind music therapy for your sound-sensitive or fearful dog
- Cold Nose Companions blog: posts on timely and relevant pet topics
Safety & Health Topics
- Creating great relationships between dogs and kids (babies and toddlers)
- More on Kids & Dogs
- Dog bite prevention for kids
- More on dog bite prevention
- AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization and Vaccinations
- Radio interview between Don Hanson and Dr. David Cloutier on puppy socialization vs the puppy’s vaccination schedule
- An overview and natural treatment options for car sickness in your dog – Please discuss with your veterinarian
- Microchipping your dog or cat and GPS devices for your dog or cat
- A compliation of research on Bloat
- Information on parasites that can affect your pets. Check out the Parasite Prevalence Maps, in particular
- Tips to keep your dog safe from everyday household hazards
- Wild mushrooms can be deadly to your dog or cat
- A video demonstrating the reality of sitting inside a hot car
- Keeping your pets safe in hot weather
- More hot weather safety tips
- Healthy frozen dog treat recipes to keep your dog cool in the summer
- Keeping your pets safe in cold weather
- Fourth of July pet safety tips
- Halloween pet safety tips
- Halloween safety tips for parents
- Thanksgiving pet safety tips (Note: we would add to this list keeping the string you truss your turkey with well away from your pets — dangerous intestinal blockage hazard!)
- Winter holiday pet safety tips
- Dog nutrition tips and cat nutrition tips
- Pet food ratings from Dog Food Advisor. Sign up for their email alerts for recalls
- Great advice for a good experience at the dog park
- Lose your dog or cat? Here are some good resources:
- Helping Lost Pets
- HSUS Tips
- The Center for Lost Pets (includes tips for cats, as well as what to do if you FIND a dog or cat)
- Fidose of Reality
- PawBoost Lost & Found Pets
- Facebook Pages: Lost Dog Advocates, Lost & Found Ohio Pets, Lost Dogs Ohio, Geauga County Lost and Found Dogs, Lake County Ohio Lost and Found Pets Amber Alert
Supplies, Equipment and Methods
- Positive teaching methods from Cold Nose Companions
- Positive reinforcement training video
- The possibilities of positive reinforcement training
- Muzzle Training instructions from Cold Nose Companions
- Teaching a dog to wear a muzzle video
- Teaching a dog to wear a head collar video
- Mutt Muffs for sound-sensitive dogs
- A discussion and point of view on the use of electronic remote training collars (shock collars) (Hint: we NEVER use them!)
- More information and associated research on the use of shock collars in training dogs
- The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s (AVSAB) position paper on Dominance Theory in behavior modification of animals
- AVSAB’s position paper on the Use of Punishment in behavior modification of animals
- Trouble with cats in your home? Contact Jennifer Mauger of L’Chaim Feline or Tabitha Sias of Chirrups and Chatter
Selecting Your New Best Friend
- Why bring a dog into your life video from Ben Stein
- Dog breed selector from Animal Planet
- Opt to adopt through Petfinder
- Learn about puppy mills, take a closer look at puppy mills, and why you should never buy a dog online
- Tips for finding a good breeder
- More tips for identifying a responsible breeder
- Pet adoption tips, choosing the right dog for you and a Puppy Buying Guide
Useful Websites
- Dogwise is a great resource for books, CDs, DVDs and more on dogs, cats and other pets
- Clicker skills — a fun way to improve your hand-eye coordination
- Clicker skills — another fun way to improve your hand-eye coordination
- Great resource for owning and training a deaf dog
- Another great resource for identifying deafness and working with a deaf dog
- Facebook page for deaf dog owners
- Great resource for owning and training a blind dog
- Articles on deaf and deaf/blind dogs
- Great website to understand canine body language
- One of the best canine body language videos we’ve come across
- Another canine body language video
- Finding Pet Friendly hotels, restaurants and recreation
- Finding a pet sitter through the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters
- Finding a pet sitter through Pet Sitters International
- Through a Dog’s Ear: Music to Calm Your Canine Companion
- Canine Lullabies
- Veterinary care resources for low income pet owners: