Geez I just realized that I am almost out of cranberry pills. Oh Oh I have to make sure I get to the health food store tomorrow and pick up a couple of bottles.

When Roxie first came to live with me she almost immediately started getting a urinary tract infection. I took her to the vet and put her on a round of antibiotics. She cleared up, but a week later started showing signs of it starting again. For any of you who have escaped that girly problem, they will ask to go out constantly, try to go over and over but nothing is there.

I remember my 99 year old Grandma bragging how she never had those kind of problems because she drank cranberry juice every day. Hey I figured “what could it hurt”, so I went out and got cranberry juice and Roxie drank it. Poor little girl, she kind of made a funny face but down it went. Anyway I have since found cranberry pills which are much more palatable, so each morning the girls in the house (including me), have a pill. She has lived with me almost 6 years now and never had another problem. Just goes to show you Grandma really does know best!!!!!!!!

I use lots of treats in my household.  Because I have four dogs that are all involved in dog sports and I am a firm believer in the old adage you get better results with treats than hard corrections, OK maybe that is my adage……..I am always on the lookout for good, healthy snacks.

If we have chicken for dinner, I will squirrel a piece away, cut it into tiny bites, stick it into a baggie and freeze it.  A bit of leftover roast?  Kids didn’t finish all their dinner? , put it away for the canine member of your family. When block cheese goes on sale, I will pick up a number of blocks and keep it available for training sessions.   My dogs love carrots, broccoli, apples, bananas.  Pretty inexpensive and healthy.

One thing I NEVER give my dogs is anything red, you know the treats that they sell for a pretty big price that are red.  Look at the ingredients and do a bit of research on what some of those things are.

I know this may seem like a lot of work and effort, but just like feeding your human family well, you will find a great deal of satisfaction from helping you canine member stay in optimum health.

My first attempt at cutting Max’s nails after bringing him home from the shelter was met by a snarling, snapping whirling dervish.  Never have I had a dog react with such terror.

My neighbor asked me if I would come over and hold her dog so she could cut her nails, Tink absolutely went crazy at nail trimming time.

I was at agility class last night when the owner lamented that he was going up to his house because he had to trim all 3 of his dogs nails.  We all made that face, you know that face you make when you have a distasteful job ahead of you.

Seems to be universal, most dogs really dislike having their nails cut.  More than likely because we have on occasion cut them too short. OUCH…….

I started Max’s nail cutting education by waiting until he was relaxed, took a handful of treats, quickly clipped just the tip off one nail, praised the daylights out of him and gave him lots of treats.  I can, after a very long time, cut all of his nails at the same time.  I still treat him after a few nails and am extremely careful not to cut into the quick.

Tink is also much better about having her nails clipped after her owner tried the one nail, lots of treats method.

If you have a dog that hates manicure day, try this method, it really works!!!!!