Best Dog Parks in the Nation

I have found the best dog parks in the nation for 2007.

One park in Florida made the list, and it happens to be #2. It is Bark Park at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale Fla.

The list is on dogchannel.com. There are descriptions, names and addresses of the best dog parks in the country.

• 1) Cosmo Dog Park in Gilbert, Arizona.
  
• 2) Bark Park at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  
• 3) Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Dog Park in Richmond, California.
  
• 4) Bear Dog Park in Roseville, California.
  
• 5) Friends Forever Dog Park in Freeport, Illinois.
  
• 6) Alum Creek Dog Park in Lewis Center, Ohio.
  
• 7) Warren G. Magnuson Dog Park in Seattle, Washington.
  
• 8) Kenton Paw Park in Covington, Kentucky.
  
• 9) Cedar Lane Dog Park in Ossining, New York.
  

There are great dog parks everywhere in the U.S. I take Achilles to the Dog Park in Lake Ida in Delray Florida. I find that there are always dogs there, and he has the most fun. I have also taken Achilles to two other parks, but they didn't have as many dogs for him to play with, nor did they have the wash station like Lake Ida does.

I haven't taken Achilles to California with me yet, but I can't wait until I can. I always see people at the beach with their dogs, or walking up and down the boardwalk with their big dogs. This is something that we can't do here in Florida.

If you live in Florida and you want to find a dog park or a pet friendly place you can go to Floridapets.net , it is the best website I have found when it comes to finding places to take Achilles.

Music Your Dog Will Enjoy

Have you ever had your dog listen to music?

My big dog Achilles listens to music all the time. For the most part it's my music, but I recently found a website called  throughadogsear.com  where they sell music especially made for dogs. There is  research  on the website that talks about dogs and the effects of classical music, as well as  samples  of the music.

Some of the research mentioned that Heavy Metal can put a little stress on dogs, and there was more barking, as opposed to the classical music which actually decreased barking.

I also played some of these samples for Achilles, and he automatically went into "relax mode." He was so calm! It was amazing! He's usually a calm dog to begin with, but I noticed the difference on his face. He just wanted to listen to the music and sleep. The funny thing is that when I first put the music on, his eyes were wide open. It was almost as if he were thinking, "wow! What is this??", and his ears were moving, but then the relaxing came.

This music could probably benefit hyperactive dogs like Labradors, and even puppies the most.

I became intrigued with the effects of music on dogs when I saw how much Achilles liked my favorite group  Aventura . Aventura sings Bachata, which is a genre in Latin music that comes from the Dominican Republic.  Every time I take Achilles in the car I put on Aventura and he loves it. However nothing compares to the day I brought him home after his teeth cleaning. (They put the dogs under anesthesia to do the cleaning and they wake up groggy, and in a little bit of pain.) Achilles was laying on my bed and was whining a lot! So I put on Aventura and he automatically stopped whining and fell asleep, it was unbelievable! That day I knew for sure that Achilles loved my favorite group, and the music isn't only for humans.

I'm sure you can find plenty of classical music that can help you and your dog relax on iTunes, but there are also a number of CD's on  Amazon.com  with songs especially for your dogs.

Dogs Are Among The Hurricane Vicitms

A great number of dogs are now homeless after the many hurricanes that have made landfall this season. Many have been rescued, but there are so many that some have to be euthanized because there isn't enough room for them. Dogs in less fortunate countries like Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Cuba do not have the same luck, and are left to fend for themselves.

Happily for many dogs here in the U.S. there are shelters that try to go above and beyond to help them.

According to Sun-Sentinel.com, dogs rescued from hurricane Gustav have been sent to shelters all over the U.S. 

Twelve of those rescued dogs now live in Palm Beach county and are waiting for a good home.

If you are thinking about getting another dog please consider adopting instead of buying one. And if you live in an area that is prone to getting hit by a hurricane please think about your pet. It sickens me to see these poor dogs that get left behind by their selfish owners. How could anyone do that? People like that shouldn't be allowed to have pets, and should go to jail for animal cruelty. 

If you interested in helping or adopting these animals visit www.rescuerehabhome.org

Here is a video of a dog rescue after hurricane Ike by IFAW

Dogs Getting Ready to Trick-or-Treat

I've given you some pretty cool sites to find a costume for your big dogs so hopefully you have been to one or to a store where they have pet costumes and gotten one for your pet. 

The Sun-Sentinel has some really cute pictures of dogs in costumes. Some were really funny.

You can submit your pictures to the site, or enter your dog in a contest. Once I find out more information on contests I will post them for you.

I would also love it if you posted the pictures as comments. I would love to see their costumes!

Dogs Can Show Political Support Too.

The elections are less than 45 days away and just like you can buy a shirt that shows your support for your candidate, you can also get your big dog bandannas, shirts and toys that make a political statement. 

• Check out these chew toys of political figures. Have you dog chew up the ones you hate most.
  
• Have your dog wear a bandana with your candidates name on it.
  
• How about a Dog T-shirt? The females are luckier because they sell really cute ones with rhinestones.
  

-Here are some shirts for Democratic dogs
-Here are some shirts for Republican dogs.

• They also have collars with your political party.

Don't forget to vote in November!

More than Big... They're HUGE!

I found this video on metacafe.com and I have to admit I have watched this video over and over and tried to figure out if these pictures are real. If they are, it's INSANE! I am having a really hard time believing that dogs can get this big... they look more like bears or ponies.

See for yourselves. 

Really BIG Dogs - Watch the best video clips here

Traveling with your Pet

Isn't it so much harder to travel with a big dog than it is a little one? I always have to leave Achilles with my mom when I travel out of state because it's such a hassle to check him in, pay extra for him to travel, find a hotel that will take him... and the list goes on. 

But... Don't worry! I have found great ways to work around that.

I have found the perfect site you can go to when planning an international trip with your big dog.

The best thing is that it has important forms you will need for your pet and more and airlines such as American Airlines who offer easy pet travel. However if you plan on traveling by air with your pet it is best if you make arrangements ahead of time to make sure there is availability. 

If you plan on taking a road trip with your pet things could be a little easier but you will still need to make sure you book a pet friendly hotel. 

If the road trip is long make sure that your pet has the following:

• A leash.
  
• A pet carrier for the ride.
  

-Make sure he/she can stand up and turn in the carrier.

• If you don't have or want a pet carrier they do sell dog seat belts.
  
• Make sure you have your pets documents and a recent picture.
  
• Take a toy or two for the ride.
  
• Have fresh water.
  

Banfield Pet Hospital also has great tips on their website.

You can also see if theme parks have kennels close by where you can leave your pet for the day. Disney has a one which is conveniently located close to the parks entrances.

So don't let the fact that you have a big dog spoil your vacations, here are great ideas which are even better than leaving your pet at home with a dog sitter or in a kennel for days.

Represent Your Team With Your Dog

This is the time of the year where every sport is either already in action, slowing down the action, or just about to get into action. All you big sport fans probably already have your jerseys, but what about your dogs? I found the perfect site where I plan on getting a couple of jerseys and bandannas for my "Big Dog" Achilles. It's called Doggienation.com and let me just say that it is already on my favorites. 

I won't get a collar for my dog because he has long hair so the collar won't show much, but I do like the bandannas and I have found that he doesn't really mind those. I really like the jerseys. Even if he doesn't wear them, I can't resist. I don't think I'll be getting my moneys worth considering I live in sunny South Florida; he would probably get a heat stroke if I took him out for a walk in one.

Can you imagine having a get together at your house for the big game... you and your friends are wearing your jerseys, and here comes your dog representing the team too! That's what I'm going to do! Especially this year if my baseball team goes to the MLB World Series (baseball).

Have Fun With Your Dog!

Playing with your dog is very important, not only because dogs should do activities constantly, but because it will play a huge role in building a bond between the two of you. 

I have tried playing a couple of games with my dog Achilles and it's really is funny to see the expressions on his face when he's trying to them figure out.

Activities you can do with your Big Doggies are:

1. Searching Games: Have them find something you've hidden through scent.
   
2. Go to the beach or pool with your pet (This one I can't do because my dog hates the water).
   
3. Go hiking of backpacking with your pet.
   
4. Going for a walk or run with your pet. 
   
5. Taking your pet to the dog park.
   
6. and so much more

All of these are great activities that will not only be fun for both you and your Big Dogs but it will make two closer. 

If you don't know where the nearest dog park is you can always look it up. Most cities have a site where the list not only dog parks but other dog friendly places.

Try this over the weekend! I guarantee you will have a blast!

Dogs Dressing Up

With Halloween just around the corner you might be scrambling for a costume for yourself, but while you are at it, why don't you get one for you pet too? For years I have been wanting to get my dog a cool costume, and the only time he dressed up was a puppy. He was a clown! This year though, I am determined to dress him up. I'm sure he won't be too happy about that but he'll live. It's only for one night anyway!

Here are some ideas for your pet and even some where you and your dog can dress up as a dynamic duo:

• The Joker- Have your dog dress up like Heath Ledger from The Dark Knight.
  
• You can be a Police Officer and your dog can be a Prisoner.
  
• You and your dog can be a firefighter.
  
• You can be a football player and your dog can be a cheerleader.
  
• If you have a few dogs you can make them match, have one be Spiderman, another Batman, and another can be Superman. 
  
• Or a Bride and a Groom.

All these are ideas that I have had for my dog. I'm still debating whether he's going to be The Joker or Batman, but I still have some time, although I know it will fly by. 

Remember to get the costumes ahead of time because you never know how long it will take for them to come in the mail.  Also make sure you get the right size, most websites have a table with measurements that will help you pick the right size for your pet.

Hello!

Hey everyone! I want to introduce you all to my new blog named "The Big Dog Blog." I've decided to blog about large dogs because of my baby Achilles. He's a four year old German Shepherd mix which I got from a wonderful lady who rescued the litter. I actually found him online and drove all the way to the most north eastern tip of Georgia from South Florida just for him. 

Not many people understand what it is like to have a bond with your pet, especially people who don't have any, but I'm sure all you dog owners will understand exactly where I'm coming from when I say things like "I swear my dog thinks he's human", "My dog is like my child" or "My pet and I communicate". I have to admit, it does sound a little crazy but I also have to say It's very true. 

So I hope you all enjoy this blog, I promise to give my 100% not only for you the reader but also for my "Big Dog" Achilles.