7 tips for for successful dog washing!

Hello Everyone,

I can’t believe that I’m going to talk about one of my least favorite things… bathing! But it is an important part of your dog’s health and well being! And I guess it is not that bad, especially when it’s done, I get to bury my head into a nice fluffy towel and shake for all I’m worth! Of course, there is always the big treat for being good!

1. There really is no rule on how often to bathe your dog. It depends on the weather conditions in your area. Some people bathe their dogs weekly or monthly or somewhere in between! Just remember that frequent baths may dry out your dog’s skin and coat.

2. Brush your dog. This is a step that most people miss! It is even important for short haired dogs. It is best to get rid of all the dead, shedding fur from the coat and undercoat. If your dog has mats it is wise to brush them out, since dirt and shampoo will remain in the mat and make the mat tighter and even harder to work out.

3. Get all your supplies ready before you begin. A couple of towels and dog shampoo. Just about any gentle, tearless shampoo will work unless your dog has specific skin conditions or fleas.

4. Where to bathe your dog depends on his or her size. If you have a small dog, some people bathe them in the kitchen sink. If you have a larger dog you may need help bathing the dog in a tub or walk in shower. Some people have even added special shower units just for washing their dogs. These are usually about three feet tall and have a detachable shower nozzle. If the weather conditions are right, consider bathing your dog outside. Whatever size, you might get a bath, too!

5. It is best to wet the dog well from the neck to the tail, save the head for later. Begin to shampoo the legs, tail and rear end. Next, shampoo the body, belly, chest and front legs. Carefully wet the head and then wash the head being careful not to get soap in the dog’s eyes. Next is rinse time. First rinse the shampoo from the dogs head and then work your way down his back, legs then to his belly. Rinse well and repeat rinsing as a precaution, any residue of shampoo can cause itching, flaking and or skin problems.

6. Next, you need to remove the water from your dog. If you are in an enclosed shower, or outside you can encourage your dog to shake as much as possible to start with. Then wrap the dog in a towel to absorb excess water. Dry each part of the dog starting with the head, body, legs and tail. Drying with a good absorbent towel can save a lot of time in front of a hair dryer, especially if your dog has long hair. Make sure the dryer is set at a cool temperature and not too close to the dog’s skin to prevent burns.

7. Be sure and reward your dog with praise and maybe a special treat for being so good during bath time! Praise goes a long way in making your next bath time a success.


Well until next time, keep it clean!

And the winner is...

Hi everyone,

Congratulations goes out to K-9 Freddy. He is theJanuary winner of our pet photo contest. As you can see from his photo, Freddy is a working dog like me. I think that it is really cool that he has a badge. If you haven't guessed, Freddy is a patrol/narcotics K-9 in the Painesville Police Department and is 3 years old. Freddy is owned by Officer Brenda from Concord Ohio.

If you would like to check out Freddy's competition for the December entries, you can see them all at
dogcandlesandmore.com/petpics

May all your wags be happy!

Love, Fido

Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone,

It's me Fido, and I want to wish you a Happy New Year! How were your holidays? Did you get everything you asked for? I did. I got a new ball and it squeaks too! I just love squeaky toys! Mom told me to settle down a few times this past week, I chase the ball from one end of our home to the other, it sure is a site, but I sure do have fun! I bet you can imagine me with my big floppy ears flying and then I put on the breaks (sometimes I slide into the kitchen cabinet!) But the best gift of all was that I got to spend time with my friends and family. It sure was good to see everyone and to show everyone my new ball! I sure hope you got to visit with your loved ones, too!

It's pretty slow in the factory this time of year. So, I talked it over with mom and dad and they have agreed to my super discount for the month of January. Go to my website, and use the words "FIDO RULES" as a coupon code at checkout, and you will receive a 20% discount on your order! Better hurry, this offer is only good until January 31, 2009. Remember that next month is Valentine's Day! Candles make great gifts, especially a candle with a picture of your best friend!

Now for my joke of the month!

Man to dog trainer: "Every time a bell rings, my dog goes into the corner."
Dog trainer: "That's OK, he is a __________"

Did you guess the breed for January? It is the boxer! Did you know that the boxer was one of the first breeds selected in Germany for police training? Gosh, another working dog just like me! The boxer is also known for standing up on its hind legs and batting at its opponent, appearing to box with its front paws. Now that joke makes sense to me (he-he)! One of the breed's most notable characteristics is its desire for human affection, especially from children. They are patient and spirited, but also protective, making them a popular choice for families. The Boxer requires little grooming, but needs daily exercise. If you would like to see the boxers that we have on our site, click here BOXER

I know we have one boxer that has joined my dog park, but, if you know of any others, please tell them about me and the good things happening on my site! And if you haven't added a photo of your dog to my dog park, please do so today! I always love to make new friends!

May all your wags be happy!

Love, Fido

PS Don't forget about the special offer, it is good until January 31, 2009! Use the words "FIDO RULES" in the coupon code box and receive 20% off your total order!

PPS If you know anyone that would be interested in our newsletter, please forward this to them and ask them to click on the "Sign Up Paw" below. For each new subscription we get in January, we will donate $1 to the Lake County Ohio Animal Shelter!

PPPS Be sure and watch for February's newsletter to find out how I got my name. It is from a famous family!!!!