Animal Farm Foundation

The Animal Farm Foundation is located in Dutchess County of New York State. The  link will take you to a Foundation that is well known for their work with Pit-Bull type dogs. The links on the home page will show the work they do which includes rescue, training, and re-homing the Pit Bull dogs to loving homes. Working hard to match the dogs with the right owners to create a lasting relationship keeps their adoption rates high. By adding videos of the dogs along with attractive pictures under the available dogs link is a creative idea. Under the about us section the Foundation tells a story where they receive their dogs from. Some of the dogs come from abuse cases and shelters. Under the about us and home page they have narratives that explain how they work training the dogs by taking them out into the community and having volunteers take the dogs home. This helps the dogs experience life as it would be with an active owner. Under the education link, the Foundation showcases their work in our communities to educate people on responsible dog ownership and dispel myths on Pit-Bulls. They even offer free classes to the community of Pit-Bull owners in our area. They work feverishly with other shelters and professionals on Pit-Bull adoption strategies, public relations, and dog training. Under the grants tab they have a list of grant programs for low cost spay and neuter for Pits as well as AKC Good Citizen incentives. The Foundation offers training to Pit-Bulls for becoming service dogs to help people in need. Media has long painted the Pit-Bull as a demon breed and one organization that leads the charge in the Hudson Valley to change the Pit-Bull image is the Animal Farm Foundation. They have an organized website with a portal to like them on Facebook. Amazingly, they have over 14,000 likes to their community page.

Easy Homemade Treats

Treating your dogs to a special homemade treat is not only a way to show your love and devotion, but a way to show that you care about their well being. With so many processed treats on the market, it is hard to keep track of ingredients. Plus, all natural treats can be very pricey. Taking time to make your own treats will make your four legged companion happy and save you some money.

Making homemade treats is an experiment, and like every experiment there is trial and error. My advice is to start with something easy like frozen yogurt pops. Try to build off of what your dog likes already and slowly add new ingredients as you get more comfortable with the recipes. For Mischa, she loves peanut butter, so I made her some homemade peanut butter dog biscuits, which were very easy to make. They even create great gifts for people that have dogs around holidays and doggy birthdays. There are many great recipes on the Internet for dog treats. Just remember to watch sugar and sodium levels. If you don't cook or bake don't worry. There are many treats for dogs you can make that do not require an oven. One of my favorite things to make in the summer time is flavored ice cubes. They are easy to make and are a refreshing treat for your dog. Making them takes five minutes. Flavor some water with low sodium chicken or beef broth and throw it in the freezer. Mischa even likes plain ice cubes if I don't have any on hand. You can purchase a bright colored ice tray so your family knows that there is something special in the freezer for your dog.  

Trimming Nails

Mischa's nails grow fairly rapidly and taking her to the groomer every two weeks is no longer in my budget and I have decided to practice nail trimming with her. I quickly found that this is not easy or fun to do. It requires a boat load of patience and determination. First, I make sure she is calm and lying down. Taking her for a long walk or having a play date will drain the dogs energy. Second, I present the clippers to her letting her smell them and check them out. Using the standard clippers works fine and they are widely available at all pet stores. Third, about 15 minutes later I return to her with the clippers and some treats. After I present the clippers, I give her a treat to reinforce that the clippers are a positive thing and when they come out she gets a treat. Fourth, about 15 minutes later I return to her with the clippers and treats repeating step three. Then I proceed to start with her back paws and only clipped one nail. Then I praised her and gave her a treat, then walked away.

Below I have included a short video on proper nail trimming and locating the quick.

The next day, I repeated steps one through three and at step four was able to cut ten nails before she started to fuss too much. I am always careful not to cut too much nail or hit the quick, which is a vein in the nail. If your dog has black nails it is best to trim more frequently and only take a little at a time off. Just snipping a little at the end of the nail will work. Working with your dog will create trust and in the end it will prove to be time well spent. Some dogs will not need this much reinforcement but it is always good practice to introduce new equipment to them with something positive. Remember, lots of praise and a reward for your brave companion.

Finding the Right Dog Trainer

Looking for the right trainer for your dog can be a tough task. I found that asking other dog owners for recommendations is a good start. Often they have a good sense of the trainer and can tell you what they liked and disliked about the training techniques. This is a place to start thinking about what your goals are with your dog and match up the strengths with the trainer. Many people offer basic training or obedience classes for dogs. I personally have wasted money on these classes finding that they really do not understand dogs and most of all I get the feeling that the trainers feel most dog owners are inexperienced. The most you get out of some of the classes are basic training like sit, stay, lay down and some socialization around other dogs.

Dogs are somehow all different and learn differently. Even their personalities and traits are not the same and may require more work in some areas. Training that is helpful in the home like crate training, barking issues, chewing issues, and coming when called are rarely taught in the basic classes. However, we still waste our money because we feel it is something to do with our dogs. For example, I have found the technique used in these classes by bribing the dog with a treat does not work. Eventually your dog will figure out when you have a treat and when you don’t and choose to listen when they feel you are carrying an award. This is why you should do more research into what the trainers offer and the various techniques they use. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and find out if they are for you and your four legged companion. A good trainer is transparent and will welcome any questions you should have and address your concerns. They would even let you attend a class or training session to observe their techniques. Individual attention is important when training your dog. If you decide to go to a class, make sure the classes are small so the trainer can try different techniques with your dog, if needed. Most of all, a good trainer should make training practical to everyday life for you and your dog. Learning to communicate and work with your dogs natural instincts is important. Take your time looking for the right trainer to help your dog to become a valued and trusted member of your community.

5 Must Haves When Taking Your Dog to Work

More and more workplaces are allowing our four legged friends to join us at the office or in our cubicles. The dog friendly workplace helps boost morale and can make the office a happier place. Clients and employees enjoy being greeted by our friends. The following are five must haves when taking your dog to work. Get ready to pack your bag!


1. Make sure you bring comfortable bedding like a bed or blankets from home. This will ensure they have a place to rest and calm down from all the excitement. Plus, they will have something familiar from home and a safe place to call their own.


2. Bring lots of treats with you for your dog and his/her friends at the workplace. A small container full of soft yummy treats will make you the hit of the office. Remember to reward good behavior and not the bad.


3. Food and water are the basic essentials to bring with you. Usually, there is water available so remember to bring a bowl. Food can be more creative by freezing rice and meat mixture with some soft canned food in an over sized Kong toy. This will make feeding time fun and keep your dog busy while you complete that next task.

4. Remember to bring leashes with you both long and short. Depending where you work a fun romp outside on a long leash is a nice time to get some exercise. If needed, you can put your dog on the long leash to keep them next to you in your cubicle. A short leash can be used to go to and from meetings or between buildings.  

5. Toys will complete this list and create some play time with you and your dog. Tug toys, chew bones, balls, and Kong's work well in the office space. Usually, if you bring a small basket it can serve as a toy repository and at the end of the day you have a place to put the collected toys if you do not plan on taking them home.

Bone Marrow for Dogs

Mischa loves to chew on marrow bones which offer many hours of chew time and most of all, a fun treat. I give her raw cow shin bones which you can find at your grocery store or local butcher shop. They come in large sizes or the butcher can slice them thin for smaller dogs. The reason I give them to her raw is to keep the nutrients in the marrow. When the bones are cooked they can break and splinter. They taste better to the dog if they are raw as well. When buying a pack at the store they usually go for about $1.00 a pound. A pack of two large bones is about three dollars, which is fairly cheap considering the price of dog treats. Since the marrow is rich in fats, I only give Mischa one bone a week. During the summer I put them in the freezer. This allows the dogs to have a yummy frozen treat and they last a lot longer in the freezer than in the fridge. If your dog has any type of discomfort or pain associated with their teeth, this may not be the treat for them.  Please make sure to monitor your dogs with the bones and after a day they should be thrown away. If your dog is a master at cleaning the bones you can pack them with treats and soft dog food and refreeze for more yummy treats or a meal on the go.

Sporn Mesh Control Harness

Like many dogs, Mischa had the problem of leash pulling. I notice this especially when she was excited or could not wait to greet another dog, or even chase squirrels. I spoke with many pit-bull owners about the pulling and recieved some feedback on ideas that I was not crazy about. Some of the ideas for the behavior were the choke chain, pinch collar, and noise makers attached to the leash. One owner recommended the sporn mesh control harness, which sounded more humane than the other options. I decided to give it a try and instantly fell in love.  

This harness can be found at a variety of pet supply stores and even at Wal-Mart. It has a simple design and your dog will find this comfortable to wear. The mesh harness is made out of a breathable nylon fabric and has extra padded support under the front legs. This harness gives you more contol over dog and provides less stress for you when on walks. When your dog goes to pull, pressure is applied to the rear of their front legs which is uncomfortable for the dog. This harness worked magic for my 85lb strong, young dog. Paired with a retractable leash, it makes for a great time when on the trail or at the park. As soon as I stop, she stops immediatly. I no longer feel like my arm is going to detach from the socket when she pulls and this allows us to enjoy our walks together.