He even asked Henry’s Backyard for a recommendation to help keep his frisky pup off the furniture, so if you have any suggestions, please share them with us and we will test them out in Henry’s Lab - and send some recommendations to Greg.

We also met Pat Lacy, the inventor of a new type of training harness and the owner of Jackson Sage, a line of herbal skin care products currently available at Whole Foods and Ellwood Thompson’s. Both products will be tested in Henry’s Lab so be on the lookout for our results.

And stay tuned for information on where Henry’s Backyard will be next!

‘The new K9Grass was designed especially for dogs by ForeverLawn, which is based in Albuquerque, N.M. ForeverLawn says the grass drains well and can withstand wear and tear. It also has a knitted structure that helps wick away urine and odors .’

It’s not cheap but this park was able to install it with help from the city, county and donations. [ I'm thinking I would like it in my yard!]

But if you’re neighborhood needs a good dog park or your dog park needs some work, you may want to check it out.

Did you know that you can find out what breed your “mutt” is? The Wisdom Panel™ MX test is a comprehensive DNA-based mixed breed test for dogs. It can identify more than 130 AKC-recognized breeds that may be present in mixed breed dogs and will answer that nagging question everyone asks you, “What breed is your dog?”

Visit The Mars Wisdom Panel for all the details and to purchase a testing kit for $125. You’ll need to go to your vet to get a blood sample and have them send it off for you but all that is included in the kit.

Knowing what breed your dog is could be helpful in training, behaviour issues and most importantly, health issues associated with the breed. Now some dogs are truly a ‘Heinz 57′ and I think the test will show just some of the breed history - but it’s would be worth a try if you need to know. It also does not detect ALL breeds but there is a pretty comprehensive list on the site.

If you do try it, please give us a shout and let us know how it goes…Here’s to the mutt!

In the game, you get to be Cesar and help rehabilitate dogs. You are confronted with 40 different common dog issues and, using Cesar Millan’s guidance, learn how to deal with each of them as a dog behavior expert.

“Ubisoft’s team has done an amazing job turning the ‘Power of the Pack’ methodology into an interactive experience,” said Cesar Millan. “The game is easy to play and offers many fun ways to learn rehabilitation techniques that can be applied to dogs in the real world.”

Sounds like great fun and an education. I’ll put out another post when the title has actually launched - I may even purchase a Nintendo DS just to try it out….

Get excited all you Cesar fans - and if you have a Nintendo DS and would like to try it out and provide feedback for Henry’s Backyard, go to the contact us page and shoot me a note and I’ll try to get you a copy.

Please note: the photo is not the actual game cover, just a representation.

According to Susan Meddaugh (Martha’s creator), “Martha the dog is confident, honest, loving, talking and acting before thinking, sometimes wrong but seldom in doubt.” (sounds a lot like my husband). 

The show is meant to help build children’s vocabularies with complex words but also to teach good pet ownership behavior. They hope viewers will come away with an appreciation for the important role dogs play in our lives and to raise awareness for animal shelters and encourage more families to adopt.

The Real Martha
The “real” Martha was a rescue dog who was so out of control, they almost couldn’t keep her. But with training and patience, Martha’s true personality came through. The story premise came from Susan’s daughter who asked the all important question, “if I give Martha alphabet soup, will she talk?” …ahhh a story is born.

Martha Speaks was based on a book series which is being re-released in the fall with new editions and enhancements such as tips for families on building vocabulary. You can find fun and games with Martha at the PBS kids website. Two thumbs up for “Martha the puppy dog” which is what my girls call it.

Here’s a checklist of what you may want to keep in your emergency evacuation dog kit:
1) medications - keep your spare meds here so you always have some ready
2) travel bowls - lots of great collapsable bowls on the market (we’ll be reviewing some in future)
3) travel crate - for comfy carrying and safe car travel
4) favorite toys - a must for boredom and to keep them feeling safe and secure
5) treats - keep a stash with your kit - it won’t be something you think of when you’re in a rush
6) leash - buy a spare to keep in your kit
7) first-aid kit - even just a few necessary items - antiseptic wash and bandages
small bag of food - again, you may not think of when in a rush
9) 3 days supply of fresh water - you can even buy some water jugs to keep near or in your kit
9) vet or animal hospital contact details - just in case you need to get a hold of them
10) list of dog-friendly hotels in the area - again, very handy to have just in case

Sometimes when you are evacuated you may expect to be gone for a few days but it may turn into a few weeks so be prepared for any emergency from earthquakes to hurricanes and flooding.

A little preparedness can go a long way to keeping your pet safe.

They have issued their own recall of the Four Paws Pimple Ball with Bell toys which recently resulted in the the amputation of a dog’s tongue. Due to an apparent design flaw, the second hole in the toy is sometimes missing or covered up resulting in a suction effect and in this case resulted in the amputation of the dog’s tongue.

The company has personally addressed the issue with the dog’s family and the Executive VP is heading to the manufacturing facility to address quality control issues. While Four Paws is under no legal obligation to recall the products, it appears they are being proactive and socially conscious.

If you would like to read more information on the situation here is an article from the Sun Sentinel in South Florida. And here is a link to the Four Paws website with refund information.

If you have this toy - take it away from your pup immediately and return it to Four Paws for a replacement.

1) Cut down on the dog food.
Some overweight dogs, like people, have slow metabolisms - and then again, some are just lazy (and we love them for it!). But cutting down on their food and feeding them weight control dog food can be all it takes to put them back on track. Be sure you measure their dog food each time you serve up. Also, check out the Dog Pause dog bowl reviewed in Henry’s Lab for help in slowing your dog down when he eats.

2) Use vegetables for treats.
My dog, Jess loves carrots. My dog, Henry loves green beans. I didn’t know until Jess was 25 pounds overweight and I offered her carrots and she loves them! They are crunchy, chilled and delicious. Why not?  

3) Take your dog for a walk.
Obvious, but necessary. Dogs don’t usually exercise on their own so you need to help them get going. Go play in the park, take them on a run, or just chase them around the house. You should aim for getting your dog to play for around 30 minutes twice a day (or as much as you can). It’s also good for your health!

4) Don’t feed your dog from the dinner table.
Encourage them to stay in another room with their favorite blanket or toy. You will be less tempted to share and your dog can’t give you those big eyes.

My Jess was 25 pounds overweight and I followed these steps and I’m happy to say she is now at fighting weight! There isn’t always a complicated answer to overweight dog issues - sometimes it’s just a bit of common sense.

And don’t forget to give your dog lots of love - much better than treats.

A few questions to ask a pet sitting service to be sure you find a reputable one:
1) The obvious - are they full licensed, bonded and insured?
2) Ask for a minimum of three recent references - and call them.
3) Are they available 24/7 by phone and email? So you can check in on your babies.
4) Do they run criminal background checks & train all pet sitters? Just to be sure.
5) Do they schedule a meet-and-greet with your pet prior to your vacation to establish a comfort level & familiarity?
6) Will the sitter have any trouble walking, playing, feeding, cleaning and so on according to your instructions?
7) Does the service have emergency procedures? Does the sitter have experience with first-aid training or administering medications?
Do they have a backup plan for your sitter if he/she cannot make it for some reason?
9) Is the service a member of the Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters?

Some questions may seem silly and obvious but you really cannot be too careful who you leave your babies with. So go and enjoy your time away with the peace of mind that your pup is being well looked after.

Have you ever thought it would be a good idea to have a national dog registry? Well, I’m sure there are different kinds but I really liked this one - and it’s apparently the largest one on the internet. It’s called dogdetective.com. You register your dog(s) and for $3.00 you purchase a dog ID tag with the dog’s ID number & the website address. When someone finds your lost dog, they can go to the website and put in your dog’s number and send you a confidential email that they found your dog! I like it. It’s inexpensive and confidential. I think $3.00 is small price to pay for a little doggy security.