Dear Tabby: My mother has a poodle and he constantly bites & chews on his feet and scratches his ears. He is about 12 years old & very over weight too, is there a way to fix the biting?
Answer: It sounds like he may have an allergy problem. A medicated shampoo will help, also a lamb and rice diet is recommended for skin and coat problems. Do not feed table scraps they may be a contributing factor to an allergy issue. Your veteranarian also may prescribe a cortasone injection to help with the itching.

Dear Tabby: Now that Spring is approaching and many people will be landscaping in their back yards, is there anything we should avoid if we have pets? Are there any Insecticides that are dangerous to dogs?
Answer: There is a wide variety of plants and chemicals that can be harmfull and possibly fatal to your pet. A search on the internet offers sites that will list all the plants and chemicals you need to be aware of.

Dear Tabby: "My dog goes nuts in the car, barking at everything we pass on the street- especially bikers. He's fine on the interstate but is always overexcited in residential areas. What can we do to help calm him down?"
Answer: One suggestion would be to purchase a pet safety sitter. This is a doggie seat belt. By restricting his ability to dart from window to window barking excessively he should settle down.

Dear Tabby: Spencer (11 years old) seems to be more needy or attention-seeking these days... especially now that there's a new baby in our house. Is this just the normal adjustment to a new addition and for how long?
Answer: It is a normal reaction when a new baby takes away Spencer's time with his family. Depending on Spencer depends on how long the adjustment may take.Try to involve Spencer in your daily routine as much as possible and any extra attention you can give will cut down on the
stress he is experiencing.

Dear Tabby: We have a healthy, seven year old chocolate lab who my husband insists can stay outdoors on cold days. I feel sorry for him (he is the baby of the family) and I always let him back inside. Is there a temperature that is too cold even for dogs? And how many hours can they be outside without getting cold?
Answer: Your dog's ability to withstand cold weather really depends on what he is conditioned to. In cold climates dogs can tolerate lower temperatures because they're used to it. In Atlanta we don't get really cold weather most of the year. When the temperature drops below freezing it's a good idea to provide shelter for your pet. If your pet is left outside when it's cold provide him with a dog house that is insulated to keep his body heat inside.

Dear Tabby: How do I control my dog when the door bell rings and she wants to attack the person, before even knowing who it is?
Answer: My first recommendation, especially for aggressive behavior, is obedience training. Aggression can be very costly if she happens to get out the door and bite someone. Obedience training can develop a line of communication between you and your dog. She can learn if given a command to stop the barking. You may also try a soda can with 15 pennies inside, tape the lid shut and keep it close by. When someone comes to the door and she begins to bark, command her to stop. If she continues barking take the can and shake as loud as you can close by her. The noise should startle her and tell her "NO stop". Repeat this exercise when people come to the door and soon she should stop the barking on command.

Dear Tabby:  "How often should I bathe my dog?  He likes to dig and gets dirty almost every day, but I'm not sure if I should bathe him that often."
Answer:  "It is not recommended to bath your pet daily, this can cause dry skin,flaking, and itching. Once a week is acceptable. When bathing your petmore frequently, an oatmeal shampoo is ideal because it aids inmoisturizing the skin, which will protect against flaking and itching.There are also products such as doggie wipes that can be used to do spot cleaning on your pet."

Dear Tabby: I have a 7 month old bull terrier and some times I catch him eating his feces.  I heard it was from a lack of vitamins.  Is that true?
Answer: There are no conclusive reasons why dogs and puppies eat their own or other dogs feces. The theory of a lack of vitamins may play a part, but if your pet is on a good diet this should not be a factor. Pet stores and vet clinics carry products that can be placed on your pets food to deter them from eating their stools.

Dear Tabby: What shampoo should be use as I use oatmeal shampoo and a conditioner for his coat. Is that okay?
Answer: An oatmeal shampoo is a good product to use for your particular breed. Oatmeal shampoo is beneficial in aiding against dry skin and it helps keep the coat soft and smooth.

Dear Tabby: What makes a puppy lose some of his coat hair? He goes to a very good vet and has all of his shots and vaccinations.
Answer: There are several reasons why your pet sheds. Diet and stress play a big part in shedding. A lamb and rice diet is formulated for helping coat conditioning which can aid in shedding. Also there are great supplements such as linatone that are added to your pet’s diet that also aid in shedding, and they really do work! I recommend a lamb and rice diet and my brand of preference is called Eukanuba.

Dear Tabby: "At what age should you start training your dog?"
Answer: Man's Best Friend will start working with your dog as
early as 10 weeks; the sooner, the better.
READ THE MAN’S BEST FRIEND NEWS LETTER ON LINE AT:
http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/

 
IN THE NEWS

* Top 10 Canine Breeds http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news01_12.asp 
* Top 10 Pet Names  http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news02_12.asp
* Help your dog stay calm through the holidays http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news04_12.asp
* Winterizing Your Pet http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news05_12.asp 
* Cost of Owning a Pet Skyrockets http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news06_12.asp
* A Puppy For Christmas?  Not Quite... http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news07_12.asp
* Where to Buy a Puppy http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news08_12.asp 
* Avoid surprise factor when giving a pet http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news09_12.asp

________________________________________________________
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Cat and Kitten Boarding
Man's Best Friend is embarking on a new adventure! We are now offering Cat and
Kitten Boarding!  We have designed new rooms at all of our locations to house your
furry felines in comfortable climate controlled suites!....Read 
http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/daycare-cat.asp More
 
________________________________________________________
 
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - EUKANUBA has unleashed a multi-platform marketing
campaign to educate consumers about the unique nutritional needs of....Read 
http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/news03_12.asp More
________________________________________________________
 
BREED OF THE MONTH - English Bulldog
The perfect Bulldog must be of medium size and smooth coat; with heavy,
thick-set....Complete  http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/breed.asp Profile
________________________________________________________
 
PET TRICK - Shutting Doors
Have you ever wanted your dog to shut the door when you're sick
or just don't feel like getting up to shut the door?
Get The  http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/ Details
________________________________________________________
 
COUPONS!!
$50.00 / $100.00 Off Training!
Take $50.00 off any Obedience program or $100.00
off any Protection training program
.... Print Your Coupon http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/
 
Free Doggie Daycare!
One free day of doggie daycare with the purchase of one
week or longer. .... Print Your  http://www.mansbf.com/newsletter/ Coupon
________________________________________________________
 
BEST WISHES AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT
MAN'S BEST FRIEND
1290 West Pioneer Parkway
Grand Prairie, Texas
972-988-0991