Gracie's Bark | Pet Friendly Resource

Gracie Practices Good Dog Etiquette, Does Your Dog?

Gracie and I have been enjoying dog friendly hangouts since 2007. The mission of Gracie's Bark is to learn, educate, and share stories about and with the dog community.

Gracie and I have noticed lately that quite a few dog owners have not been practicing good dog etiquette at some of the pet friendly places we blog about. Even though it is winter time, we still need to be responsible for our dogs.

Leashing your dog

Keeping your dog on a leash (unless otherwise specified) in a pet friendly area is the most effective way to keep your dog safe and enjoy your pet friendly adventure.  I admit, there are times I take Gracie off the leash in certain areas to run and enjoy herself. But, I am always on high alert and make sure that I can see everything around me so she remains safe and under my verbal control. 

We've all heard the excuses of I'll watch my dog, my dog is friendly, my dog likes other dogs, or nothing has ever happened before. It is important to remember no matter how well your dog has behaved in the past, your dog can be unpredictable. It is in their nature to follow their natural instincts whatever they may be.

Don't allow your dog to socialize or play with another dog unless it is safe to do so. It is always a good idea to walk along side another dog for a while to allow the dogs to become comfortable with each other and to build a level of trust with one another.

Clean Up

Please carry poop clean up bags at all times! Gracie and I cannot emphasize this enough. Keeping our pet friendly places clean is very important to us. We want to make sure we have a safe and clean environment for all the animals, wild and domestic, to enjoy. 

Dogs in Training

Be mindful of people trying to train their dog. Not all dogs are approachable. If you notice someone working with their dog, give them some room if possible by walking around or away from them. 

Keep in mind that it is a privilege to bring your dog to a designated pet friendly location. Practicing good dog etiquette will promote a healthy and fun environment for dogs and their owners to enjoy.

The next time you are out and about with your dog, make sure you've remembered to bring Gracie's  3  ⁴ essential good dog etiquette items:

• Poop clean up bags
• Water and bowl for your dog
• Dog treats
• And, if you're a true Gracie's Bark fan, bring your camera to take photos of you and your dog enjoying a pet friendly place or activity and share them with us on our Facebook Page!

We would love to hear about your pet friendly adventures too! If you are looking for a pet friendly place to bring your dog, check out Gracie's Dog Friendly Activities. 

Can my dog really be a source of heat and light?

As conscientious pet owners we all know that cleaning up after our dogs can be a dirty job. We love our dogs… so we take on that responsibility of keeping our yards, parks and sidewalks clean. 

That being said, our dog’s waste CAN really be a source of heat and light. The first-ever Park Spark project was installed in Cambridge, Massachusetts., on Tudor Street, between Sidney Street and Brookline Street, a few blocks from MIT, on Massachusetts Avenue. This invention transforms dog waste into energy. That energy converted becomes methane, which can be piped into a gas-burning lamppost. 

Here’s out it works:

First the dog owner drops a bag of dog waste into the Park Spark. Then the dog owner turns the manual hand-crank to stir the mixture inside and create the methane gas. 

This invention is amazing and extremely beneficial to the environment. Gracie is on board with trying to get one down in the SouthCoast area. We have contacted the Park Spark Project to see how we can get involved! 

www.parksparkproject.com

Looking for someone to talk to? Try your pet!

If you are looking for someone to talk to who never talks back, listens to a problem without trying to create a solution for it, and never gives you the wrong opinion, then turn to your furry 4 legged friend!

I know when I’m angry or even just down and out, I turn to Gracie. She always has that special way of just listening patiently and then bringing me a toy or providing me with a lick to the face.

I came across this interesting article that I wanted to share with all of you.  Feeling down? It may be better to talk to the dog

Asking Your Veterinarian Questions & Seeking a Second Opinion

Recently I was approached by a relative of mine who was having some health issues with her dog Molly who had gone to the Veterinarian for a small infection on an area of her skin. The infection was treated and Molly needed some minor stitches because that area had to be drained. A short time later her stitches were removed and in the same visit she received her immunizations. That night Molly began panting, pacing and shaking for quite a few hours. Along with these symptoms, she was whimpering and would yelp if someone touched her. She was also unable to go up and down the stairs. 

Molly was brought back to the Veterinarian and seemed to appear fine. The Veterinarian suggested that dementia might have settled in. Molly is what we would consider an "senior" puppy. She is a Shih Tzu that was adopted and her exact age is unknown. Molly's owners did not think it was coincidental that her dementia settled in the same night she received her immunizations. 

Finally after going back and forth to the Veterinarian, they determined that her c4 & c5 vertebrae were displaced and that was what had been causing her pain and bizarre behavior. Molly was placed on pain and anxiety medication and was finally able to sleep through the night. 

 

She is now receiving laser treatment and seems to be doing better. Molly may need to go for acupuncture if the laser treatment does not help. Hopefully, at least she is now on the road to recovery. 

I wanted to pass this story on because we should always be aware of what our Veterinarians are prescribing for our pets. And, if we are not happy with their diagnosis, then we should seek a second opinion, even if it is just a matter of involving another veterinarian from the same practice. 

I have found an informational 10-question checklist to ask your veterinarian when prescribing medication. I thought it might be helpful for everyone to read.  10 Questions to Ask Your Vet

And don’t forget to always look up any medication on the Internet that is prescribed for your pet. We now have unlimited access to all sorts of pet-related information at our fingertips on-line. 

Gracie's Hope for a No-Kill World

It may seem impossible to hope for a world where every dog (pet) is given the opportunity to live a safe, long and healthy life, but I think in recent years we are able to be more optimistic about this dream.

The majority of shelters involved in tracking data, in the United States including the Humane Society, are now estimating that the number of animals killed in shelters on an annual basis has decreased dramatically since the 1970s. 25 Million to 4 Million today!

Even though 4 million is still a staggering amount, we can hope to change this figure as we develop programs that will help sustain good care and promote adoption.  Taking preventative measures such as trap/neuter/return of feral cats, low-cost or free spay/neuter services, and comprehensive foster home and rescue associations are all detrimental to decreasing the amount of animals killed in shelters each year.

I would like everyone to really think about the 4 million figure for just a minute and realize how important adoption really is. Adopting a pet can be the most rewarding activity you do in your life.

At Gracie’s Bark, we encourage you to please think about adoption first when planning on getting a new pet!

Dog on a Budget

As we all may know taking care of a dog can be quite expensive.  If you are thinking of getting a new dog for yourself and/or your family there are many expenses to take into consideration. 

Most of the time many people do not think of how much this dog is going to cost me, they just fall in love with the idea of having a new dog or puppy.  Which, of course, is easy to do once you have come in contact or spent time with your cute and lovable new friend.

Some expenses to think about:

• Supplies: Leashes, Collars, Food/Water Dishes
  
• Dog Food, Dog Treats
  
• Annual Vet Bills (First year for a new puppy can be very expensive: more frequent visits to the vet)

And these are just to name a few.  Most people just think of these 3 items and not everything else. What about training? The actual cost can be staggering.

We’ve found a great article that puts a lot into perspective for a new dog owner or just someone looking to get a dog. Click here for article  But don't panic, this article helps you with useful tips to keep some of these costs down!

We really want to encourage anyone considering a dog to be aware and prepared for all that the cute puppy entails.  You will be responsible for him or her for their entire life!

Does anyone have any additional tips for new dog owners? 

Please comment and share your thoughts with us!