I have alot of questions.

[Gemm]

I feel so dumb for doing this.. but I really wanna know.
Before I start asking questions I just want everyone to know that...
I do not abuse my dogs.. I love them more then anything in the world and I'd never do anything to hurt them.. I just have a ton of questions about some things that no one's ever really given me advice about and I'm hoping to find some answers.

Please keep in mind that both dogs stay outside because they refuse to be separated.


1. My Dog Sheds... ALOT.
I have an Alaskan Red / White Wolf Mix and she's the light of my life.. we have to keep her outside because she got too big for the house and she was chewing up our carpet so the shedding doesn't effect us personally but I was wondering if there was any way that I can help speed up the process of her shedding her coat besides brushing her.. I love brushing Snowball but sometimes it just doesn’t help that much..


2. Brush Your Teeth.
Snowball is a very large dog and I've recently noticed that her teeth have build up on them.. I'd like to brush her teeth but I don’t really know how to go about it the correct way and I don’t want to hurt her.. I'd like to brush Shaggy [my poodle mix] teeth too.. she's a very small dog so I think I could handle her better.. she likes being shaved so I'm thinking she might like her teeth being brushed but if she doesn't like it and Snowball wont let me brush hers.. Is there an alternative to brushing your dogs teeth??


3. Hair..
Shaggy hair gets matted up from time to time because her hair grows wild.. it curls and twists in all different directions.. is there any way I can keep it from getting matted and tangled..


4. Warmth
Like I said before both dogs are outside during all seasons.. Snowball being a larger dog with thicker hair loves to be outside during the winter so I don’t worry about her getting cold because her breed of dog loves that type of weather but Shaggy on the other hand is way smaller and has a thinner coat.. we shaved her down this summer because we were afraid she'd get too hot but her hair hasn't exactly grown back.. I know I have a few months left till fall and winter get here but I'm worried that she'll freeze to death outside.. We cant bring her in because Snowball will be heart broken and Shaggy not house trained and I'd buy her a sweater to wear but I don't think she'd like it.. so what should I do? lol


5. Jealousy
Both dogs are jealous for my attention.. Snowball is way bigger then Shaggy as I've said before so she easily pushes her outta my way when I play with them.. is there any way to fix this?


6. Bones
Is it okay to give Snowball [Alaskan Red / White Wolf] bones? I've read somewhere that I should be really careful about this because of the marrow and stuff that can be found in them.. I’m afraid that she'll start liking them a little to much ya know what I mean? So what should I do?





I know I just asked a tonnn of questions and you guys probably think I'm dumb for asking all the questions but I just wanna take better care of my dogs.. I want them to be happy, healthy, and look nice..

Any answers are appreciated. ;]

[Cassiepeia]

Originally Posted by Gemm

I feel so dumb for doing this.. but I really wanna know.

Don't feel dumb. You're smart for actually asking the questions in the first place. How can you learn if you don't ask, right?

Originally Posted by Gemm

1. My Dog Sheds... ALOT.
I have an Alaskan Red / White Wolf Mix and she's the light of my life.. we have to keep her outside because she got too big for the house and she was chewing up our carpet so the shedding doesn't effect us personally but I was wondering if there was any way that I can help speed up the process of her shedding her coat besides brushing her.. I love brushing Snowball but sometimes it just doesn’t help that much..

I believe washing your dog can help and using a special brush instead of a normal one. A 'de-shedder' or a 'rake' tool is what to look for (as far as I'm aware).

Originally Posted by Gemm

2. Brush Your Teeth.
Snowball is a very large dog and I've recently noticed that her teeth have build up on them.. I'd like to brush her teeth but I don’t really know how to go about it the correct way and I don’t want to hurt her.. I'd like to brush Shaggy [my poodle mix] teeth too.. she's a very small dog so I think I could handle her better.. she likes being shaved so I'm thinking she might like her teeth being brushed but if she doesn't like it and Snowball wont let me brush hers.. Is there an alternative to brushing your dogs teeth??

Raw meaty bones (they actually don't have much meat on them) help keep their teeth clean. That's the best way to do it without brushing their teeth with a doggy toothbrush and paste (available from vets offices as well as pet supply stores).
Just ask your butcher for them.

Originally Posted by Gemm

3. Hair..
Shaggy hair gets matted up from time to time because her hair grows wild.. it curls and twists in all different directions.. is there any way I can keep it from getting matted and tangled..

I know it's obvious, but brushing every single day will work. Do a search on 'grooming a poodle' and you'll find sites that will let you know the best tools to use (what combs/brushes etc...). Poodles require a lot of grooming, so you'll just have to deal with it on a daily basis to stop the matts from starting in the first place. I believe you can also buy a de-tangler spray that will help with grooming.

Originally Posted by Gemm

4. Warmth
Like I said before both dogs are outside during all seasons.. Snowball being a larger dog with thicker hair loves to be outside during the winter so I don’t worry about her getting cold because her breed of dog loves that type of weather but Shaggy on the other hand is way smaller and has a thinner coat.. we shaved her down this summer because we were afraid she'd get too hot but her hair hasn't exactly grown back.. I know I have a few months left till fall and winter get here but I'm worried that she'll freeze to death outside.. We cant bring her in because Snowball will be heart broken and Shaggy not house trained and I'd buy her a sweater to wear but I don't think she'd like it.. so what should I do? lol

Get a very warm kennel & bed and get a dog jacket. Honestly, if we're talking 'snow weather' I'd risk the Snowball's loneliness and bring Shaggy inside. House training is easy and should be done anyway regardless of whether she lives outside or not.

Originally Posted by Gemm

5. Jealousy
Both dogs are jealous for my attention.. Snowball is way bigger then Shaggy as I've said before so she easily pushes her outta my way when I play with them.. is there any way to fix this?

You're the boss. You decide who gets your attention and you should not allow it to be any other way. IF Snowball starts to get bossy, ignore her completely. When she's playing fair again, give your attention back to her.
You have to let them both know that "being polite = attention" and "being bossy = no attention". It will take time and commitment but it will work. Remember....YOU are the boss and YOU decide the rules.

Originally Posted by Gemm

6. Bones
Is it okay to give Snowball [Alaskan Red / White Wolf] bones? I've read somewhere that I should be really careful about this because of the marrow and stuff that can be found in them.. I’m afraid that she'll start liking them a little to much ya know what I mean? So what should I do?

It's fantastic and wonderful to give dogs bones. But the bones should be raw not cooked (cooking dries the bones out and makes them more brittle and they splinter which is dangerous...pork bones shouldn't be fed either as, even when raw, tend to splinter apparently).
Supervise your dog/s with the bones too. Especially if you're worried about anything. As for her liking them too much. Well, you control the food so you're the boss. If she gets possessive over them, she no longer gets them. Simple as that.


Hope that helps a little.
And you should let your dogs inside. The chewing on the carpet could be a sign of bordem. I'd recommend more exercise and more things to occupy her mind. Try some training (google "clicker training" it's a fantastic method to use).

Cass.

[Rivsky]

Originally Posted by Gemm

1. My Dog Sheds... ALOT.
I have an Alaskan Red / White Wolf Mix and she's the light of my life.. we have to keep her outside because she got too big for the house and she was chewing up our carpet so the shedding doesn't effect us personally but I was wondering if there was any way that I can help speed up the process of her shedding her coat besides brushing her.. I love brushing Snowball but sometimes it just doesn’t help that much..

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

I believe washing your dog can help and using a special brush instead of a normal one. A 'de-shedder' or a 'rake' tool is what to look for (as far as I'm aware).

It's fantastic and wonderful to give dogs bones. But the bones should be raw not cooked (cooking dries the bones out and makes them more brittle and they splinter which is dangerous...pork bones shouldn't be fed either as, even when raw, tend to splinter apparently).
Supervise your dog/s with the bones too. Especially if you're worried about anything. As for her liking them too much. Well, you control the food so you're the boss. If she gets possessive over them, she no longer gets them. Simple as that.

Also look at what type of food you are feeding. I know the type of dog you have is going to shed an awful lot as well but a lot of people notice their dogs shed a lot less if they feed a high quality diet (not saying that you aren't but could be another factor to look at).

Originally Posted by Gemm

2. Brush Your Teeth.
Snowball is a very large dog and I've recently noticed that her teeth have build up on them.. I'd like to brush her teeth but I don’t really know how to go about it the correct way and I don’t want to hurt her.. I'd like to brush Shaggy [my poodle mix] teeth too.. she's a very small dog so I think I could handle her better.. she likes being shaved so I'm thinking she might like her teeth being brushed but if she doesn't like it and Snowball wont let me brush hers.. Is there an alternative to brushing your dogs teeth??

Originally Posted by Cassiepeia

Raw meaty bones (they actually don't have much meat on them) help keep their teeth clean. That's the best way to do it without brushing their teeth with a doggy toothbrush and paste (available from vets offices as well as pet supply stores).
Just ask your butcher for them.

You can actually get raw meaty bones. If you are looking at bones with not a lot of meat on them they cannot be properly called RMBs and in fact can be teeth breakers as they're actually all bone and no meat. A lot of people with large dogs feed picnic roasts (that's the sort of meat to bone ratio you're after) and the tearing involved in eating those helps clean the teeth. Whole chickens and turkeys are also another option - you could perhaps divide it up and give a smaller section to your poodle and the rest to the larger dog. About the only non-meaty bones I feed my dog are chicken frames/backs and ribs on occasion.

I've personally had no problem feeding pork bones to my dog (and know others that do the same with no adverse affects) but with bones it's up to you to decide what you're comfortable feeding and like Cass said you should ALWAYS supervise them when eating.

[Swiftwind]

I was ready to answer your questions but I see Cass beat me to it! She's given you some great advice.

In regards to the excessive shedding, it really helps to use the right type of brush to get rid of dead fur. I suggest you use a shedder (aka shedding blade) such as this: http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/...258312509B.jpg

or a stainless steel shedder like this one:
http://www.psaffordable.com/shedder.jpg

which you should be able to pick up from any pet supplies shop.

[Cassiepeia]

You can actually get raw meaty bones. If you are looking at bones with not a lot of meat on them they cannot be properly called RMBs and in fact can be teeth breakers as they're actually all bone and no meat. A lot of people with large dogs feed picnic roasts (that's the sort of meat to bone ratio you're after) and the tearing involved in eating those helps clean the teeth.

Ididn't mean bones with no meat on at all, I just didn't realise people fed whole picnic roasts to dogs (dogs that already eat a commercial diet I mean). I meant bones with just a little meat on them so the dog has to work at getting the remaining meat of it...as opposed to actually feeding the dog a whole meal of raw meat. If that makes sense? Butchers have a good supply of them.
I've heard too many bad things about how soft pork bones are to ever feed them to a dog, but as long as they're supervised it's purely personal.
But you're right, a bone with meat on it is absolutely better.

And the shedding is due more to the fact that her dog is double coated and blows its coat several times a year as apposed to regular shedding. Unless I've read it wrong.

Cass.

[IceyBlueSibes]

And the shedding is due more to the fact that her dog is double coated and blows its coat several times a year as apposed to regular shedding. Unless I've read it wrong.

This is true, but the diet DOES have a lot to do with it. From my post about feeding the SD, that was where we noticed the difference. They were shedding like crazy... it was terrible. Once we got them back onto a better food, the shedding has decreased.

Bathing them does increase the shedding, but you still have to brush in order to get the undercoat out. I know it's a pain... try doing 4 huskies! Hahaha, but anyways. If you can get a hold of one, and if your dog will tolerate it, using a commercial blow dryer after a bath does WONDERS for getting the undercoat out!
K-9 III Dog Blower/Dryer, The power you need for Fastest Drying. Select from 9 Colors, Free Shipping!!, ( UPS Ground, Continental US Only) - K-9 III

I take my dogs to work when they get their yearly bath (or if they are REALLY filthy), and use this to blow their coat out. I often come out looking like a monster because the hair settles all over me... lol

I don't think I can really add anything else to what Cass and Riv have already answered. The bones are a great idea for teeth cleaning. If you have access to a Publix, they often sell the shank bones where the other meats are. They range from $1.50 - $2.50. Some stores sell them pre-cut and you'll have to ask the butcher to order you some sold whole. If you can't find them, just ask if they have any in the back. Winn Dixie sells them to, but you have to ask for them and they are a little more expensive (I think they charge like $2.50/lb).

[Gemm]

thank you guys so much for all the great advice.
I'm deff. going to look into all this stuff and give both my dogs everything they need to be happy and healthy!

thanks!

[Shmee]

Weighing in on the teeth cleaning issues here....
Something else to try when trying to get the dogs to stay still for teeth brushing would be to start with a water/bakingsoda/garlic powder mixture. I would go heavy on the garlic powder because you want the dogs to develop something positive to associate the experience with. Once they realize that they will enjoy the taste, they will relish the experience. I would use very gentle strokes the first few attempts and not make them sit still for the process for more than a minute or 2. I would gradually increase the time and energy as the dog would let me. Once you confirm a behavior with a negative experience, it's very difficult to make the dog see it any other way. So, keep it all positve!! Use baby talk and let the animal know you're not hurting it and tell him/her how much you luv them and how much of a goodboy or girl they are for getting the "teefy's brushed"

I've never tried the over-the-counter canine toothpastes, but im sure there are reputable brands outthere. Essentially, the baking soda will do the job and an old toothbrush (the stiffer the better) should make the chomper's looking like mirrors in no time.

Goodluck,
-Shmee

[Punkygirl0101]

I wanted to second the bringing both your dogs inside. Take the time to properly train them ("They chew the carpet" and "They are not housebroken" are not good excuses..dogs should be trained no matter what to have manners and to not go in the house. I have 11 dogs, 7 of which are dachshunds which is one of the top breeds of dogs known to be extremely stubborn and hard to housebreak and I took the time to housebreak them so that they could live happily indoors and not have to deal with the weather!Though,even if they were not housebroken I wouldn't keep them outside.). Even if you can't bring the husky mix inside, atleast bring the poodle. Such a small dog outside 24/7 during all seasons..thats just not fair to small companion dogs. (Unlike huskies who can tolerate cold weather...though, in the summer time BOTH should be inside during the day/hot times of the day.If it gets nearly as hot as I hear it does where you live in the summertime...then I can't imagine! It gets really, really hot here..and I live in central California.It was 110f today, and I couldn't imagine making my dogs be outside during that heat..I don't want to be outside during that heat ).

Sorry, I am just a strong believer of inside dogs unless they are working dogs doing their job.

If they are chewing on flooring, crate training and tons and tons of mental stimulation and exercise is needed (Huskies are working dogs, and need a LOT of exercise and mental stimulation whether they are indoors or outdoors..and if you add "wolf" to the mix, thats even more reason to make sure he gets TONS of exercise.). Bored dogs=Destructive dogs!

[Doglover1988]

I agree with Punky! Dogs don't belong outside. I know my Husky x Lab mix HATES the heat. She gets overheated easily and always wants to be inside. It doesn't take long to teach a dog manners. If they are chewing on the carpet give them a bone to replace that. Crate train them. Do some research online on housetraining. IMO adult dogs can be housetrained much faster than puppies so your dogs shouldn't take long to housebreak. My dog Gabby lived outside for years without ever coming indoors and she was completely housebroken in just a week. Give them a chance. I don't think any dog is too big for the house unless it's not trained properly.

[Dangels]

I'm going to agree that the dogs should be brought indoors, and you should really take the time to get them housebroken. It really is not all that hard to housetrain even an adult dog, and I don't believe in keeping dogs outside at all times.

However, if you aren't willing to bring Snowball in.... you should bring Shaggy inside, at least during the winter. Poodles are not outdoor dogs, and if you live in an area where the winters are very cold with lots of snow, there is a high risk of Shaggy freezing to death.

I believe if you really love your dogs as much as you say that you do, you will take the advice of the other forum members.... and bring the dogs indoors to work with them. I wish you the very best of luck!

[rottielover]

Just on the bone aspect, BE VERY CAREFUL. if you are giving bones, an they are in the same area, one or the other can and most likely become possessive, which can be very deadly for your little guy.
If you are giving the bones, separate them.