Books for Dog Lovers

They're cuddly, protective, smart—and they adore us. Here are our picks of  books about our BFFs!

Good Reads

This book explores the relationship between humans and dogs. How would dogs live if they were free? Would they stay with their human friends? As much a love story as a story of independence and partnership, Merle's Door is tender, funny and explores the origins of the human-dog relationship.

 If you've ever wondered what your dog is thinking, this novel offers hits close to home. Enzo is a lab terrier mix plucked from a farm outside Seattle to ride shotgun with race car driver Denny Swift as he pursues success on the track and off. Enzo eventually plays a key role in Denny's child-custody battle with his in-laws — and distills his observations of the human condition in the mantra "that which you manifest is before you".

The Lost Dogs is a truly inspiring story of survival dealing with the aftermath of the nation's most notorious case of animal cruelty. Animal lovers and sports fans were shocked when the story broke about NFL player Michael Vick's brutal dog fighting operation. But what became of the dozens of dogs who survived? As acclaimed Sports Illustrated writer Jim Gorant discovered, their story is the truly newsworthy aspect of this case.

Training Books

 This book begins with a simple premise: "All dogs are brilliant at perceiving the slightest movement that we make, and they assume each tiny movement has meaning." McConnell helps us break down our dogs instinctive behavior with both humor and common sense.

 

This read is a breath of fresh air for anyone who has lived with a shy or fearful dog and been subjected to lots of questionable advice on how to "cure" their pet of its hangups. A extremely easy read and HIGHLY recommended if you have a shy dog.

Coffee Table Books

 

A museum quality, 12” x 12” 468 page hardcover book is an unbelievable tribute to man’s best friend in his many colors, shapes and sizes. With over 400 up-close images in stunning detail, Grant truly captures the unique exteriors of dozens of dogs as well as their diverse personalities and emotions. Nearly all of the dogs featured in Rover once lived in a rescue or shelter.

**This year Grant will be producing a final edition of "Rover" due out November 2011.  He will be hosting approximately 20 Rover Casting Calls events throughout the US to find compelling dogs to feature in the next "Rover" book while bringing awareness to and raising money for local rescues and shelters. Our foster dog Charlie will be at the Rover casting call at the Domain on Saturday June 11th!

Keep your dog happy, cool and pest free this summer!

With summer approaching FAST...here's some tips to keep your dog the happiest and healthiest this summer!

 Bella Mid Groom!

 Bella looks so CUTE with her haircut!

Sweet Luna after a "summer cut" and a Dogtown Bandana

Grooming: Most dog breeds are less heat-tolerant than humans. We sweat, but they don’t have many sweat glands and must pant to lower their body temperature—not nature’s most efficient cooling mechanism. Dogs with heavy double coats or short flat faces suffer even more when the temperature rises. However, any dog can suffer from the effects of heat, sun, and humidity, and any dog  can benefit from a good grooming  to stay healthy and comfortable all summer long.

Baths:
Regular summer baths are the best ways to keep your dog pest-free, odor-free, and beautiful. This important addition to brushing and combing takes pests off your dog in the old-fashioned, chemical-free way: by rinsing them off. It also keeps your dog’s coat in good condition by keeping it clean. A dirty coat not only attracts pests but also won’t protect your dog from sun and heat as well as a clean, shiny coat with good air circulation over healthy skin.

Nail Trims:

All dogs need a nail trim, its a basic necessity. It is very important that nails are kept short. Nails that are left to grow too long are uncomfortable for the dog and it may be painful for him to walk. Dew claws that are left to grow may grow back into the leg of the dog or may catch in things and be ripped out.

                                                                                                             

Our groomer Michelle will be taking extra appointments for grooming every Thursday. If you are interested in getting your dog groomed, please contact grooming@dogtownaustin.com to set up a time to come in. Also make sure to mention if you are interested in a bath or nail trim during your pups daycare or boarding stay! Prices located at: http://www.dogtownaustin.com/otherservices.html

St Patricks Day Fun

I am not sure how fun the dogs thought this project was...but we sure had fun making them wear some costumes and picture time! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and all of your four legged friends from the entire Austin Dogtown Crew!

Hank is not so sure about this costume thing!

 Chuckers loves a good costume

 Luby said she will do a good "sit" in her costume!

 Frankers is REALLY enjoying his St. Patrick's day!

 Sweet Molly...she loves a costume

This is Maximus's first St. Patty's Day!!

      Group Shot!

Thank goodness THAT sillyness is over!

Doggie Communication

Those of  who love dogs want to understand how they communicate with each other. Sometimes the signs can be confusing…especially with there are signs such as growls mixed with tail wags! Here are some ways that canines communicate:

Information taken from Amy Shojai and Paw Nation.com  

Barking is used during play and defense -- and to get attention. Barks signal conflicted feelings -- "I like you, but I'm not sure," or "I want to play, but I shouldn't." Barking also serves as a canine alarm to alert the dog's family/pack of anything unusual -- a sound, trespassing squirrel or your wearing a hat. So keep that in mind next time you are picking up your four legged friend from daycare/boarding. Instead of one dog barking a “warning” for the knock on the door- everyone gets to get in on the fun!

Everyone at Dogtown gets excited when a visitor comes to the door!

Whines, whimpers and yelps are nonthreatening communication. These sounds telegraph fear, pain, submission and sometimes frustration. Dogs also whine and whimper to beg attention or treats from humans.

Growls are closed-lipped warnings to keep your distance, and can be soft or loud. Growls are defensive or offensive depending on whether the dog is frightened or hostile. Growls are also used during play, which can be confusing, though looking at other dog body language can help you know that the growls aren't real.

Snarls are growls with teeth displayed and threaten attack.

Howls can express loneliness and are used to call the family together. Dogs also howl in response to sound. One of my dogs triggers a howl every time my cell phone rings!

Body positions can indicate status. Confident dogs stand with erect posture, nearly on tiptoe to impress other dogs. Aggressive dogs lean forward, while fearful dogs lean backward. 

Fluffing the fur along the ridge of his back -- the hackles -- makes a dog look bigger and more impressive. We call these Mohaks! Dogs that are feeling fearful/aggressive raise their hackles.

Ears position indicates mood. When held high and facing forward, the dog is interested or alert. The ears flatten against the head by degrees depending on how fearful or submissive the dog feels.

Chuck looks like he is using his ears to try to fly!

Eyes convey intent. Droopy eyelids indicate pleasure, while alert dogs hold eyes wide open. An unblinking stare is a challenge, while averting the eyes shows canine submission. The pupils of a dog's eyes indicate aggression and imminent attack when they suddenly dilate.

Mouths hide or reveal teeth to communicate. Lifting lips vertically to show the canines -- fang teeth -- is a threat that indicates aggression, defense or fear. Lips pulled back horizontally to show more teeth is a submissive grin used to diffuse threat. A flicking tongue signals intent to lick -- an appeasement gesture if aimed at the face. The relaxed, happy dog's mouth is held half open with lolling tongue.

Tails beckon you closer or warn away. A relaxed tail curves down and back up in a gentle U, and increased interest makes the tail go higher. Dominant and confident dogs hold their tails high, and wag rapidly in tight, sharp arcs. A low-held tail indicates submission, and dogs show deference by wagging in loose, wide, low arcs that often include hip wags. A tail tucked between the legs signals submission and fear and is the doggie equivalent of hiding his face, since it prevents butt sniffing from other dogs.

Urine marking is used by both male and female dogs. It takes very little urine to send a pee-mail. Even when he runs out of urine, a dog may continue to lift his leg as a visual signal to any dogs watching.

 What are these dogs communicating? My guess is...throw the ball please!

Apollo and Charlie- Two very special dogs

Austin Dogtown is thrilled to be fostering two very special dogs. Charlie and Apollo made their journey from a shelter in Gonzales TX. They have been living together in the same run at the shelter for almost a year and are now back together being fostered with us at Austin Dogtown! As you can see from the video and pictures…they are quite a bonded pair. They love to spend the morning with lots of playtime, afternoon napping in the same crate and sleep in side in crates at night. They love to play together and are great at entertaining each other!!

Apollo is a sweet, gentle, beautiful boy with a soft golden coat and the sweetest eyes ever! Apollo is a very calm dog for his young age, but also loves playing with toys and especially other dog friends! So far he is doing great with his housetraining and does just fine in his crate as long as Charlie is nearby. He's really great on a leash, and would be just as happy with daily neighborhood walks as he would with longer walks/runs. He is great with all other dogs, both big and small.

Charlie is a small hound/cattle dog mix that is full of sweetness!! He loves playing with all other dogs- and likes 2 legged friends too. He can be a bit tentative when meeting new people or when coming across loud noises/occurrences- but recovers quickly!  He is potty trained and loves having his peanut butter kong each night in his crate.

We know it is not always possible for two dogs to be placed together, but we are believing in that outcome for the two of them. So if you're looking to add 2 dogs to your home, there are no two dogs that would love it or be more grateful than Apollo and Charlie! Plus, you would be getting TWO fabulous dogs that you already know love each other. They can’t wait to find that special home to call their own! If you are interested in meeting them, please contact us or Austin Dog Rescue (http://www.austindog.org/).

After hearing Apollo and Charlies story- one of our awesome customers who also adopted a dog (Brody)from Austin Dog Rescue has offered to donate one of their adoption fee if adopted together! 

Brody was a very special dog who needed to be matched with a home with another dog to be happy. He met Luna (who is a daycare regular) while he was being fostered at Austin Dogtown last spring and Luna's mom decided to adopt him. Luna and Brody LOVE each other and Brody is the happiest dog in the world...and Luna loves having a brother. They are quite a bonded pair :) 

So if Apollo and Charlie are lucky enough to find a home together- their TOTAL adoption fee will be just $165!Two awesome dogs for the price of one...and a built in playmate :)

Food For Thought

Our dogs add so much to our lives and we want to make sure and feed them the healthiest food possible, but with all the choices out there- how do you know which food is best?

No food is best for every dog- they are individuals just like people, you could feed a brand of very good food to a group of dogs and find that most of them do great on it, some not as well, and it may upset some of their tummies.

Here are some things to consider when picking a dog food:

1.Consider your dog's stage of life- When it comes to nutrition, one size does not fit all
A puppy eating an adult food will not get the higher amounts of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals he needs for proper growth. An adult dog eating puppy food is likely to become overweight. An older dog may need a senior food that is more easily digested.

2.Select a food type – Look at the ingredients

High-quality ingredients are essential for a healthy food. Some economy brands of dog food are made from inexpensive ingredients that are not easily digested, and therefore, do not provide the best nutrition. While they may technically meet the legal specifications for percentages of protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc., these foods have lower energy values and lower-grade proteins. Because of this, many health-building nutrients may pass right through your dog's system without being absorbed. One rule of thumb to go on is to never buy dog food that you can get from a regular grocery store.

Looking at the list of ingredients on the back of the bag is a good place to start. Pet labels (by law) must list their ingredients by weight. Look for meat, fish, egg, or some type of meat meal or fish meal as the first or second ingredient. These all all have a high biological value, which means they have a high percentage of protein in the form of digestible, usable amino acids.

3.Compare the Guaranteed Analysis 

The “Guaranteed Analysis” is a chart that lists the percentages of various ingredients contained in that food. However, the numbers given in the Guaranteed Analysis are on an "as fed" basis and do not take into account the amount of moisture in that food. All pet foods have different levels of moisture; canned foods can have up to 80%, and dry foods can have as little as 6%. To determine the actual amount of an ingredient in a food, or to compare between brands or between wet and dry foods, the numbers need to be converted to what is called Dry Matter (DM) basis.

Rate your dog food here-http://www.playdogexcellent.com/DogFood.htm 

Some have already been rated, and you may surprised with the results! 

4. Take your time in switching foods- Make sure the transition is gradual
Once you pick out your new food, make sure you allow ample time for your dog to make the transition from his current food to the new one. A sudden change in food makes it harder for food to be digested which can lead to upset tummies. To avoid this, switch to a new food slowly, over the course of at least 7-10 days. Start by mixing 25% new and 75% old food, and feed that for at least 3 days. If all goes well, go to 50% of each type of food for 3 days, then 75% new and 25% old for 3 days. By now, they should be ready to eat only the new food.