May you all have a wonderful holiday with family and friends (both human and furry). We’ll be back after New Year’s with more Good Dog Ideas!

Is holiday stress getting to you? My prescription is a nice long walk with your dog. Or maybe just a good laugh. Diana kindly shared these agility blooper videos with us:

Funniest Dog Agility Bloopers
Mickey’s Cone Madness

I love this idea. Clarissa has taught her dog Anny to turn on the Christmas tree lights.

Do you have a special gift just begging for dog-themed wrapping? For small gifts, you can buy 12″ x 12” sheets of scrapbook paper printed with canine designs. Check your local craft or scrapbooking stores. I found more than a dozen different patterns at one local shop for 69 cents per sheet. These stores also have dog-themed ribbon and embellishments if you really want to do it up big.

My next few ideas may be short and sweet. I’ve had a little accident (dog-related) and have been reduced to working only with my left hand.

I really need to teach Dash to type.

Consider your dog’s contact with the world. He walks barefoot across streets and parking lots through antifreeze, lead, and a variety of toxins. He walks on, plays in, and grazes in lawns that may have been treated with chemicals. He licks and chews on his well-traveled paws. He’s steeped in things we would consider downright dirty.

Who would not go in and wash their hands after such contact? Toxins in the environment can accumulate in our dogs’ tissues and contribute to disease. Don’t go overboard, but why not lessen exposure to toxins when we can?

Why not…

• Periodically wash your dog’s paws
• Use protective boots when needed (there will be an adjustment period)
• Avoid chemically treated lawns
• Don’t let your dog swim in water you wouldn’t swim in
• Use pet-safer antifreeze (brands like Sierra)
• Use pet-safer snow and ice melt (brands like Safe Paw Ice Melter)
• Leave your shoes at the door when you come home. Shoes can introduce lead, other pollutants and irritants into your home.

It may seem silly to have your dog’s photo taken with Santa, but did you know that rescue groups or shelters often benefit from these events? Check with your local humane society, animal shelter, PetsMart, PetCo, Three Dog Bakery, or other canine specialty shop to find a Photos with Santa event in your area. A reservation is sometimes required.

Can’t make the photo sitting? Why not play Santa and put something in a shelter or rescue group’s stocking? Pull up your favorite shelter or dog rescue group’s website. Most publish their wish lists, and often you can make donations online. Below are a few examples of donation pages from several rescue groups:

• Faery Tails Corgi Rescue
• Corgi Aid
• Stray Rescue of St. Louis
• Virginia German Shepherd Rescue
• NCA Newf Rescue Fund

Donations of any size will always be gratefully accepted.

It’s bitterly cold in St. Louis, and more than 200,000 homes are without power after a recent ice storm. The governor has declared a state of emergency, the National Guard has been called in to help, and utility crews are here from across the country.

What about our pets? The Humane Society of Missouri has opened an Emergency Heating Center in St. Louis for pets whose owners are without power and do not have safe and warm lodging for their pets.

Five months ago, the Humane Society of Missouri opened a Cooling Center for pets. Temperatures soared to more than 100 degrees F and over 500,000 homes, many with pets, were without power.

These emergency shelters allow residents to take care of themselves as well. Many residents stated they would not go to a shelter unless their pets were taken care of.

If you need to take your pet to an emergency shelter:

• You may need proof of vaccinations. If you cannot locate these records, don’t give up. Ask the emergency shelter if your vet can fax the records or confirm vaccination over the phone. 
• Your pet should have a collar with current identification.
• Ask the shelter if they would like you to bring your pet’s crate. They may be very short on kennel space. 

What can you do to help?

• Encourage your area shelters to open similar emergency shelters if the need arises. Propose the idea now, before a crisis arises.
• Volunteer to assist shelter workers. They will need help to clean runs and walk dogs.
• Help get the word out to people and dogs in need.
• Are you in a dog club? Why not set up a program to take care of members’ pets if an emergency occurs? Those who are unaffected could house pets for members who are in need. 

Here are some cold weather pet tips from the Humane Society of Missouri.

Are you looking for just the right gift card or certificate for your favorite dog person? Here are some ideas:

• Dog massage. This is especially great for performance dogs or senior dogs, with veterinary okay. Ask for references from your veterinarian, performance dog owners, or human massage/physical therapists.
• Pet first aid class at your local Red Cross.
• Puppy, obedience, rally, or agility class.
• Playday at doggy day care.
• Set up a credit for your recipient at his or her veterinarian.
• A sitting with a pet photographer

Gift cards or certificates from the services below are always appreciated: 

• Petsmart or Petco
• Dog supply catalogs, such as Sit Stay.com and Foster and Smith.
• Local dog bakeries and boutiques
• Favorite dog groomer or kennel