A dog, like a two-year-old, understands about 165-250 words, depending on the intelligence of the dog (or human) in question.
When it comes to social intelligence, dogs are more advanced than the average toddler because their lives are slightly more complex - closer to that of a teenager. According to Live Science, dogs are mainly interested in social status (who’s the head of the pack) and mating (who’s sleeping with who). Sound familiar?
Learn more here! https://www.livescience.com/5613-dogs-smart-2-year-kids.html]]>Did you know that there are over 8 million homeless pets in North America?
August 17 is International Homeless Animals Day, where people around the world come together in support of homeless animals. Put on by the International Society for Animal Rights, this day is dedicated to raising awareness for pet overpopulation and spaying/neutering.
In support, we’re dedicating this newsletter to a really cool program called Adopt A Shelter, which allows the shelter of your choice to earn money every time you shop on hundreds of different websites.
We wanted to feature this platform because it’s an easy way to help animals in need with money you’re already spending. Plus, you can handpick the shelters in your community, or a community who really needs some help.
Cherry Beach
Cherry St & Waterfront (Toronto)
One of the most beautiful beaches in Toronto with a quiet shoreline and dozens of acres of running space. Plus, lots of parking.
Etobicoke Valley Park
Horner Ave & Browns Line (Etobicoke)
A huge off-leash area with a majestic creek for your dog to splash around in. Bonus: free parking.
Humber Bay Shores Park
Lakeshore Blvd W & Marine Parade Dr (Toronto)
A famous spot for dog walkers! It’s a bit secluded from the rest of the park at the tip of the peninsula, with big boulders lining the water. If you have a larger dog, this is the spot to hang.
High Park
Parkside Dr & High Park Blvd (Toronto)
One of the largest inner-city parks, with off leash trails and rivers and ponds.
Monarch Park
Coxwell Ave & Danforth Ave (Toronto)
A 12 acre community park with off-leash and small dog zones, featuring lovely trees and rolling hills.
Jack Darling Memorial Park
Lorne Park Rd & Lakeshore Rd W (Oakville)
One of the biggest fully fenced parks in all of Ontario! During the week, this huge leafy space is off-leash friendly.
Don Valley Brick Works
Bayview Ave & Pottery Rd (Toronto)
A playdate with a view! This park includes historic buildings, a beautiful panoramic lookout, and a wetland conservation habitat.
Kew Gardens
Lee Ave & Waterfront (Toronto)
Often called the “Beaches Park,” Kew Gardens stretches across the water front. You’ll find it across from an ice cream and snack stand, so you can both cool off at once.
King Road Dog Park
King Rd & North Service Road (Burlington)
Best fenced-in dog park in the Burlington area! Lots of shade to keep you humans cool, and a small dog zone to keep the little ones safe.
Riverdale Park West
River St & Bayview Ave (Toronto)
Can’t beat the city views you’ll find in this beautiful valley following the Don River. Features an off-leash dog park near the lower playing fields.
Okay, okay - here’s a few extra for good measure:
Thomson Memorial Park
Brimley Rd & Dorcot Ave (Scarborough)
For the East Enders - with both a big dog and little dog zone, with lots of seating so you can snap pics of your pup making friends.
Sunnybrook Park
Eglinton Ave E & Leslie St (Toronto)
Beautiful walking trails with an off-leash section.
So there you are! Don’t forget to bring fresh water for you pup, and enjoy summer 2019!
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We’re finally putting cold behind us as a summer heatwave is approaching, so we’re here to give you a couple of tips on how to keep your pet safe and healthy through the hot weather months.
So there you have it! By following these guidelines and keeping these points in mind, you can keep your pet safe and happy.
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Between one unspayed female dog, her mate and their puppies … they could produce 67,000 puppies in six years.
SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND homeless puppies.
Now, book that appointment and spay/neuter your pet.
Read more here:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet]]>Are you in search of a new vet? Maybe you’re thinking of adopting a pet - or recently did!? If you google “vet” you’ll probably find a ton of options at your fingertips. Choosing the right one is a little harder. So, we thought we’d share with you a little about the process of finding the right veterinarian for your pet.
The best way to assess the suitability of a vet or vet clinic for your pet is by going there yourself. Bring your pet so they can get a feel for the place, and for them to meet their potential new veterinarian. Below are the five things you should consider when choosing a veterinarian for your pet:
1. Environment
From the first call you make to book an appointment to when you and your pet walk in the door, feel out the environment. Start with reading online reviews of the facility - and then use your own judgment. Are the staff friendly? Informed? Professional? Does your pet get stressed meeting strangers? Consider how calm or boisterous the staff is. Is the vibe right for your pet?
2. Philosophy
There are some touchy subjects when it comes to pet health that can set people on edge, like euthanasia, chronic disease planning, to spaying and neutering. It’s important to make sure your philosophies are in sync, or you’re willing to hear altering perspectives. Asking your vet questions about these things can be difficult, but are a necessary part of choosing the right vet for your pet.
3. Availability
While a quiet clinic may mean free openings for all, it might not be a good sign. Empty clinics can suggest poor quality of care - so we’d opt for a busier clinic with a strong reputation. Usually, busy clinics have extra staff on-call for emergencies, so your pet won’t be unable to get care - it just means planning ahead for general check-ups or scheduling procedures.
4. Pricing
While every pet deserves the best care, not all of us can afford exuberant pricing. Ask your vet for general pricing or a price list, and inquire about payment plans. Of course, always be sure to purchase pet insurance in case of an emergency.
5. Your Pet
Don’t forget the most important consideration: does your pet like this vet? Introduce them and let them hang out for a little bit. Pets are usually a great judge of whether this new human is right for them or not. If they get along and meet the criteria above, you may just have found the person who’s going to help you keep them happy and healthy for the rest of their life.
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Speaking of ears, have you heard puppies are born deaf? They don’t gain the ability to hear until they’re about three weeks old.
Read more here!
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It’s finally March which means it’s nearly spring and we’ve survived another long winter. At this time of year, a lot of people start “spring cleaning,” which means emptying out the garage and taking a scrub brush to the deep corners of our homes. Speaking of cleaning, March is Pet Poison Prevention Month and you know what is very dangerous for your pets? Cleaning products.
Pet Poison Prevention month is dedicated to keeping our furry friends safe - a time when vets and animal organizations remind us it's our job to keep our pets safe - and without making your home puppy proof, your pet could end up very sick or worse.
At Bullwrinkles we take pet prevention month very seriously because thousands of dogs are hospitalized each year by accidentally ingesting household poisons. Educating yourself is the best way you can keep your pet safe. The Pet Poison Helpline is a really helpful resource for both helping you keep your pet safe and also helps you recognize signs if your pet may have ingested something dangerous. Check them out here: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
Here are a few things that are very dangerous for your pet:
For a full list talk to your Vet or check out the pet poison list here: https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/_
In honor of Pet Dental Health Month, we’ve put together some things you should know to keep your furry friends’ teeth clean and healthy.
1. Did you know full grown dogs have 42 teeth? All the more to love you with! But with many teeth comes many potential problems. A mouth that is full of plaque and tartar can lead to unhealthy teeth with a build-up of bacteria that can actually enter the bloodstream and hurt your dog's heart and liver.
2. Take your dog to the vet to check out their teeth at least once a year. When you plan your own dental check-up, think of your best friend’s too.
3. If your vet recommends a professional dental cleaning, it should include cleaning, any adjustments and potentially fillings or extraction if required. Get it done as soon as possible. Just remember your pet probably won’t complain about their teeth until it's far too late.
4. Between checkups, you can help keep your dog ’s teeth healthy with treats and bones designed to help clean like Bullwrinkles Pork Flossers.
5. If you ever smell anything rotten in your dog's mouth, schedule a dental checkup right away.
If you take care of your pet’s teeth, they’ll keep smiling. Well, as much as dogs can smile. :)
Here are a few reasons why you SHOULD put the time and effort into basic training:
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Sleeping and playing are pretty straightforward, but a feeding schedule is something that has a few variables.
Typically, adult dogs are fed twice daily; once in the morning and once at dinner time. This usually correlates with most people’s work schedules and keeps an adult dog full throughout the day.
If you are the lucky one to be bringing a puppy home – congrats! Since puppies’ metabolisms are much higher than an adult dog and they have LOTS of growing to do, it is ideal for them to be fed 3x daily. In the morning, afternoon and dinnertime. With a working family, some choose to feed in the morning, after they get home from work, and closer to bedtime. This way their nutrients are split evenly throughout the day. (This is also a great way to feed a highly active dog as well!)
Some dogs aren’t big eaters and will pick at a bowl of food throughout the day. This is fine as long as their daily amount is measured out each day and the food is changed frequently to avoid it getting stale.
Meal feeding is helpful for digestion. The key here is that your dog’s DAILY amount of food DOES NOT change, it just is split into however many meals they will need. Lastly, be sure to provide fresh water at all times for your furry friend!
]]>Dog ownership is amazing; the bonds that are created, and all the snuggles imaginable! There are also a lot of responsibilities of owning a dog, including making sure they receive enough exercise each day.
They are high energy animals for the most part, and even those breeds that don’t quite look like they should be running a marathon, (Bulldogs I’m looking at you!) they still need to get out and exercise their joints and lungs each and every day.
It is recommended that dogs get an average of 1 hour of exercise a day. This could be leash walking, taking your dog to the dog park, or going for a swim.
Most people enjoy walking their dogs. It’s a relaxing thing to do, usually in the mornings and evenings; a way to unwind with your furry friend. Hiking through the woods, beach walks or just walking on the sidewalk, it’s good for all of us.
Where do you like to walk your dog??
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This day focuses on raising awareness and educating people on the importance of rabies prevention.
Check out https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day for more great info!
]]>I'm sure more than a few people can agree with this!
]]>Many would say we are in the "Dog Days Of Summer", but do you actually know the meaning of that saying?
The "dog days of summer" is actually the dates from July 3-August 11 in which the "dog star" Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major, rises with the sun and is the brightest star in the sky.
Some feel that the combination of the brightest luminary in the day (the sun), and the brightest star in the night (Sirius) is responsible for the extreme heat that we feel during the height of the summer.
AWESOME!
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Your dog is no different, and if anything, is even more susceptible to the effects of the hot sun.
Could you imagine wearing a winter coat all summer?! Dogs also can’t sweat like people do to reduce body temperature. They have sweat pads on their feet, but otherwise, they use panting as a way to let heat evaporate through their tongues.
Here are some tips to help keep your pup cool so you both can have fun in the sun!
*If you have a brachycephalic dog (short-faced dog), try and keep them out of the heat altogether. These dogs have an increased risk of breathing issues on a regular day, so a short walk on a hot day can be detrimental. Lying around in the A/C is best for these squishy pups.
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All that hustle and bustle can be distracting for your pup and can cause your walks to be wrought with leash pulling. Teaching your dog how to properly walk on a leash is something that will benefit you (and your arm), your dog, and the people around you.
Here are some tips to help teach your dog to have good leash manners on those busy streets:
Keep training fun!
Your dog thrives on interaction with you and this is a great opportunity to bond and learn something new together. If you get frustrated or things just aren’t going great one day, take a break and try again another time. ❤️
]]>Did you know that dogs have the same type of sleep as us? They have SWS (slow wave sleep) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep just like us, and dream like us too! When you look at your pup twitching or "running" in their sleep it's true that they are dreaming! 😍🌙⭐
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Potty training a puppy is something we all dread, and to make matters worse, living in the city means that most people don’t have an accessible yard.
How are you going to do it?! You have to get over the obstacles of having to know when your dog needs to go, race them down the elevator, through the lobby and outside, hopefully to find a minuscule patch of grass.
The trick is TIMING IS EVERYTHING. In the beginning you can start out by training on pee pads, or splurge on a lovely piece of “fake grass” for your balcony. This trick often works for small dogs as we can all imagine, their “business” is just as small as they are and easy to clean.
If you’re a large dog lover though, this isn’t the most practical method. When they are little it is acceptable to pee pad train IN CONJUNCTION with training to go outside. But as they grow, you won’t want those giant messes in your building.
Start tracking your puppies habits. Get a journal and write down when they usually eat, drink, play and need to go out (or have accidents). This will give you a decent timeline of when you should try and take them out.
Most puppies need to go to the bathroom shortly after eating, drinking, and sleeping so those are good times to take them down to the streets. Some dogs will need training to go on concrete, and others grass if you have it nearby. Take them to your ideal spot and give command words such as “Go pee!” or “Do your business!”. When they do go, give LOTS of praise and training treats to reward the positive behavior.
Try and catch them before they start whining when they are indoors. Usually, by the time you pack them up and try and get them out, it’s too late. As your puppy gets older you can start spacing out the time between walks as their bladders will become stronger. An adult dog though will still need a walk to go to the bathroom at least 3-4 times a day. Plenty of exercise for the both of you!
Bullwrinkles Tenderchips or Liver Lovers are a great option to use as training treats. They are easily broken into small pieces which is great for having to give multiple treats throughout the day. They also smell AMAZING (to dogs of course).
As a tip, don’t end your walk right after your pup has done their business. If you do this, they may start to hold their bladders and bowels to get more walk time in. Tricky!
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Click the link below to read about why making sure your pet has some form of ID on them is so important
]]>Grooming your dog is an important part of pet wellness. Whether you have a short or long-haired furry friend they all need some sort of maintenance. With this warm weather coming, it’s the perfect time to trim things up and brush things out!
Short Haired Dogs:
Fairly low maintenance, but these dogs still have dander and shed those small, prickly hairs. Give them a good conditioning bath, and brush them out with a rubber curry comb or shedding blade to help to loosen up any dead hair and skin left behind by the dry winter air. Trimming nails and making sure their ears are clean is also an important part of general grooming as well for all pets.
Medium/Long Haired Dogs:
These dogs are a bit more work when it comes to their coat, and it will differ between breeds on how much maintenance they will need. Springtime is usually when most dogs start a big shed and so getting them to a groomer for a thorough bath and cut is essential in keeping those hairy tumbleweeds at bay. Giving your dog that much-needed haircut will also help to keep them cool in the warmer weather and reduce the likelihood of mats and tangles that tend to happen from outdoor activities in the spring and summer.]]>Read this heartwarming story here --> http://bit.ly/2HkRndm
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Did you know a Bloodhound can trace a scent that is over 300 hours old?! That's one good sniffer! 😍
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Did you know "brachycephalic" dogs like the bulldog and pug are more prone to dental disease?! This is because their teeth are the same size as a large dog, but put into a small, crowded mouth! There's not much room between all those teeth, so bacteria tends to get trapped causing a build-up of plaque and tartar.
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You wouldn't know it with all the drooling going on when you're fixin' a home cooked meal, but dogs only have about 1700 tastebuds! Sounds like a lot, but humans have over 9000!
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