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Now that autumn is upon us and winter is coming, you may have noticed your fur child is shedding more and more; I know I’ve been picking up a ton of little fur bunnies around my house. All breeds have different types of coats that shed at different times of the year. Snoop is half Australian shepherd and half corgi, so his coat is very, very thick. Like an Aussie, he has fluffy fur that sheds all year round. However, he also has a thick corgi undercoat that sheds more than usual now that it's autumn. I have to brush Snoop 2-3 times a week, if not more when his shedding increases. I like using the Furminator brush; its comb is specialized to grab a ton Snoop’s long, fluffy fur. in just a few strokes. Washing him in warm water weekly also helps to loosen up fur that is ready to shed. Do a little research on your dog’s breed and coat. There may be a certain time of year, like autumn or spring, when their coat needs a little extra attention. With all of the joys that being a dog mom brings, it also brings hard times... It has now been about a year since I lost my first fur child, Bax. Baxie Boy was the sassiest miniature Australian shepherd I've ever met. He was the king of the house and he ran the show. He had my entire family, obviously myself included, wrapped around his little paw. When I lost Bax, I couldn't leave the house for weeks. I was completely devastated; I didn't know how to continue life without my best friend by my side. Pets are like family and we don't realize how much impact they have on our lives until we don't have them in it anymore. Though losing Bax was the hardest obstacle I've ever tackled, I learned very valuable lessons because of it.
If you have ever been through this or are currently going through this, I feel for you and, from the bottom of my heart, I am and sincerely sorry for your loss. Take whatever time is necessary to grieve the loss of your friend. And always remember, getting a new fur child doesn't mean replacing the one you lost. Pet parents have SO much love to give and there are so many sweet animals born every day that need all the love and attention they can get. If and when you feel up to it, it is 100% OK to focus your love an energy on a new pet. Your old friend will never forget what You did for them and they'll be patiently waiting to meet you again someday. When I first adopted Snoop, I had to decide how and where I would train him to use the bathroom. I chose to let him go potty outside whenever he needs. The easiest way for him to let me know he needs to go: he just rings a bell! When he was just a puppy I tied a rope string around a large jingle bell that's glued to a cork. I either tied the string around the door knob/handle or just tied in on a hook next to the door. Before each bathroom trip, I would ring the bell so that he associated the sound of the bell with going outside to potty. By practicing this simple step, I had Snoop bell trained within a just few months. Now when we he needs to go, all he has to do is ring the bell and I am trained to open the door. To all of the parents who have children that make themselves more than comfortable in your bed, I feel your pain! My mom said I used to sleep exactly like this, snuggled up on her with my head in her neck or back. I think it's precious that he gets this from me. He may get close to pushing me off the bed, but I'll put up with anything for those sweet puppy cuddles!
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AuthorJust a girl and her dog in South Louisiana. Archives
November 2017
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