by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

We are delighted to bring you our 2016 Summer Pet Fun, Finds and things to do with your pets here on Long Island and beyond!  Whether your staying at home, hitting the road, taking pet friendly doggie-daycations – we have a list of items, and as always to get the latest pet events happening weely, click here to subscribe to our Pet Events Newsletter!

If you have always wanted to own your own horse, learn about horse care and help a local horse rescue, this is your summer to get your cowgirl boots on and head to Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue in the Hamptons.  They have just launched a new program at their sanctuary called ‘A Horse Through the Holidays.’  How it works is that from Independence Day to New Year’s Day, you can experience life with a special horse at Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue’s breathtaking sanctuary.  This unique program is open to people of all ages and has a limited enrollment. There is a one time $1500.00 fee, that is actually tax deductible since Amaryllis is a 501 c 3 non-profit animal rescue.  With that $1,500 fee, all expenses are included like the horses food, sheltering, etc.  This is the perfect opportunity for those who want to learn about horses, have hands on experience and enjoy the beauty of nature in the Hamptons. Horse lovers can seize this incredible opportunity to love and be loved by a horse.  Amaryllis also offers additional educational programs available at discounted rates.

Getting out and walking more, is part of summertime and being a dog owner where you can both enjoy the weather and get exercise. You know the saying, a tired dog is a good dog!  If you just adopted a dog or puppy and you have a puller on your hands – it can be a frustrating walk – and even with training your dog may still pull you through the park.  I am sure many of you can relate to this.  A product on the market that will help you tremendously is the Freedom No Pull Harness by
2 Hounds Design. It’s unique design, features a patented control loop on the back of the harness, which tightens gently around your dog’s chest to discourage pulling and makes walking your dog an easy, more enjoyable experience for both of you.  strong enough to hold any size dog, from 14 lbs all the way up to 250+ lbs. The chest strap is lined with Swiss Velvet, which helps prevent rubbing and chaffing sores behind the legs and the straps are all turned out to prevent sores and raw spots along the seams.  This harness will give you better control of your dog and help you enjoy many summer outings with him.

After a long walk, romp at the beach or hike, your dog may be in the need of a bath. Nothing like being able to give your dog a bath outdoors, on your deck, patio or maybe even in your outdoor shower in the summer.  You will want to use a product that is eco friendly, toxin free, with essentials oils and botanicals to cleans, soothe and moisturize your dog’s skin and coat, and naturally repel pests.   My favorite new find is by Eco Dog Care grooming products and have used it several times for my dog Cody.  He is silkly soft and shiny for quite some time after his bath. Our dogs live with us – on chairs, couches and beds, (when they think we’re not looking) – ECO Dog Care designed their products with a light, clean scent so they’re welcome everywhere.  They also have a in-between product Simply Fresh, that you can rub onto your pets coat as a  substitute for a bath and knock out wet dog smells.

In the summer, many dog owners travel to show their dogs in dog show competitions, compete in dog sports and often need to crate them while at these shows in-between competitions.  The 02 Cool 5 inch crate fan will help circulate the air, keep your dog cool of course while you have your dog shaded safely from the sun as well.   With the addition of their crate bracket, your pet can enjoy the same level of comfort from O2COOL’s battery-operated fan when relaxing or traveling.   The fan features a: powerful two-speed 5″ fan offers quiet cooling; it’s easy to install bracket; simply hang on the door or crate side; compact folding design makes it easy to carry and store; fits most crates and carriers and only requires 2-D batteries.   They have additional products that will help keep your pet cool and hydrated, click here to see more.

Summer fun also means the season fleas and ticks are at their worst, especially ticks here on LI. The Evercare line of Pet Lint rollers can assist in this troublesome – and potentially dangerous – situation. When checking pets for fleas and ticks, pet parents can gently brush the lint rollers over their pet’s legs and belly to pick up some pests you may have missed. Keeping a Pet Lint Roller in your car or pet travel bag is a great way to get in the habit of rolling them over your own clothing after a walk in the park, beach or woods with your dog.  You may pick up a tiny tick and don’t see it – but the lint roller will grab it.  You can then fold over the sticky sheet over the bug and dispose of it!

Whether you are going on a camping trip, renting a house for the summer or just looking for a new dog bed, look no further as your dog will love The Dream Sleeper by Tall Tails. This bed is perfect for home, formatted to fit in most crates or kennels and even great for road trips in your car. Luxurious and durable fabrics pamper your pet with comfort.  It’s made out of 4″ thick soft, supportive 100% allergy-free fiberfill that has a reversible design providing adjustable comfort by flipping it over from a luxurious plush fabric to a durable twill.  The plush side provides warmth, while the twill side provides a cooler surface – perfect for warm days. It doesn’t hurt that it looks good too, comes in a few different colors to fit any decor as well.

We hope you have a fabulous summer with your pets and check out the products and events above.  Some products in this post were sponsors.  To learn how to become a sponsor of a post, please contact us at Info@LIPetPlace.com.

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Can you imagine hiking with your dog, your dog doing agility, chasing after a ‘rabbit’ (a plastic bag) during a lure coursing run, swimming with other dogs in a designated doggie pool, ‘Barks and Crafts,’ Yappy hours and much more in the scenic and beautiful Adirondack Mountains.  If you can picture this and you’re thinking about taking a vacation with your dog, there are places that are specificially designed for you and your dog to vacation together, one company run by Janice Costa, is Canine Camp Getaway.  Canine Camp Getaway of NY is held twice a year with the upcoming dates of June 23-27, 2015 and September 18-21, 2015 in Lake George, NY.  If spending a great vacation with your dog and like-minded dog lovers, you have to check out Canine Camp Getaway – and book before they are sold out. For more infomation call 877-592-2674 or click here.

Traveling with your pet in an RV?  Staying on a boat or staying in the city for the summer in a new apartment – and trying to figure out how to get your dog to ‘hold it’ during that 30 floor elevator ride to the ground level or until the boat docks?  Why not make it easy for you and your traveling pet and get a UGODOG Pet Potty where they can take care of business.  UGODOG Pet Potty is an innovative and environmentally-friendly indoor dog potty training system. UGODOG helps keeps dog’s paws dry, your beach rental house, RV or boat clean and your dog healthy, just the way you and your puppy prefer it.  With the easy to clean double grate design, UGODOG Indoor Dog Potty provides all of the benefits of a traditional litter box without any of the mess.  It can also easily slide under a bed or table of your RV or boat if you want it out of sight when guests are over (of course knowing your pet’s potty schedule is recommended if you do store it out of the way). A great option when traveling and your dog may not be able to be taken for a potty break for a while.  It is also the only indoor dog potty awarded 5 Stars and approved by the American Pet Association.

If you’re traveling with a dog that needs to take daily medications – there is a new way that you can give them their meds – Doggables Treats.  The spoon shaped dog scoops are made with 100% human grade, all-natural ingredients that are designed to enhance your dog’s health while on medicine with the best quality ingredients.  You can feed your dog a pill by using the dog scoop as a spoon into peanut butter or their other favorite wet food, and hide the pill in there – while giving them the entire scoop that is a biscuit they can eat. There are no artificial flavors, ingredients, gums, glutons, sugar, etc., and they are made here in the USA.  The dog scoops come in two flavors, Peanut Butter and Pumpkin and large and small sizes. A fantastic idea if you ask me!

Speaking of biscuits, right here on Long Island, Bubbles & Biscuits in Holbrook has many needs you are looking for whether you’re traveling with your pet or need a place to board your pet.  Bubbles & Biscuits have the following services: grooming, training, doggie daycare, boarding, play groups, a self-service dog wash and now a NEW Doggie Fitness Center.  Whether you need your pup groomed before going on vacation, or if you need to board your dog while you’re away, or for a bath after that day-cation at the beach with your pup – Bubbles and Biscuits has a many services that you need this summer. They have a staff of professional animal lovers who’s mission and passion is to work with your four-legged family member to ensure a positive experience.

For additional travel tips and advice, you have to watch the 2 video’s below – both have excellent and different information that any savvy pet traveler should know!

Traveling on a plane with your pet?  Watch Dana’s video below:

Pet Friendly vacations require some homework and pre-planning.  Watch Kathleen’s video below:

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

While the summer winds down, kids go back to school, and the air changes – we look back this summer to some great ‘Summer Pets’ pictures submitted by their owners.  I personally love September and the gorgeous weather it usually offers.  It is a great month to get out there with your pets and enjoy the many events it has to offer.  So if you have had a busy summer, and your two-legged kids are back in their schedules – it’s time to spend quality time with your pets!  Thanks to everyone who submitted photo’s – see below and check our Facebook page to see more.  Happy September!

This is Lotus Flower, a rescued pitbull. She absolutely loves to swim, her nickname is the pitfish! This is of Lotus with her box turtle friend at the pond behind my house in Jamesport, NY. Photograph by Devon Shepherd.

"The boys are always ready for a swim...lol" Owned and photographed by Lourdes Lebron

This is Penny-Lane Russo & she just adores butterflies! Her mom, Rose Russo who took this lovely picture, planted this butterfly bush for her birthday, how sweet!

This was a senior terrier mix we met who scaled the 128 steps down to the beach on the North Fork to go swimming! Taken by LIPetPlace.com

the lovely Bocker Labradoodle! When Bocker is not out doing tons of Pet Therapy work or attending many different pet events with his mom Marie, he is hanging out and relaxing in Hampton Bays, NY! Photo taken by his mom Marie!

Titus couldn't wait to get off the Ferry and explore Ocean Beach, Fire Island, NY! So much fun with Titus & Hailey that day! Photo by LIPetPlace.com

This beautiful parrot was at a pet fair with the Long Island Parrot Society! Taken by LIPetPlace.com

This donkey who was lucky enough to be adopted - was with his donkey sibling and human mom at the Pony Swim on the North Fork! Photo by LIPetPlace.com

Many more Summer Pets PHOTOS here!

Enjoy! And thanks to their pet parents for giving them such fun filled lives!

My Max, at 12 years old he still loves a dip in the bay! Photo by LIPetPlace.com

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com, Cover Photo of Igor the Bulldog by the pool by Carol Price (Igor’s mom!)

In the summer it is super important to keep our cats and dogs cool and comfy.  Dogs can easily overheat if they are playing too much in the heat of the day, have gone for a long walk or just sitting in the hot sun too long.

Lucky for us pet owners there are a lot of cool pet products that do just that, help keep your pets cool!  Whether you are traveling with your pup, just going to the beach, on the boat or hanging by the pool in the backyard, here are some pet products to consider:

Frostybowlz – this stainless steel bowl has a core inside that you can freeze, put back under the top of the bowl and it helps keep your pet’s water cold for up to 10 hours.

MyKoolDog – invented by a native Nassau County pet lover who now lives on the North Fork of LI.  This made in the USA bowl has a unique concept – with two compartments and lids.  In the bottom

compartment you put water in and freeze it, or fill with ice cubes.  In the other compartment you put fresh water and head out for the day with your pup.

Perfect for a day at the beach with your dog, a long walk or the dog park.  When your dog finishes the water in the top compartment, you flip the bowl over and the melted ice, which is now water, fills into the top compartment through interior channels so your pet once again has fresh and cold water. How cool is that?

It is so important to keep our pets hydrated and out of the heat as a pet can over heat easily in warm and humid temperatures.  Speaking with Dr. Michel A. Selmer of Advanced Animal Care Center in Huntington Station, I asked him for warning signs if your pet is overheating:

“Sweating and panting are two mechanisms for regulating body temperature. When sweat evaporates it cools the skin and panting releases heat through the mouth. Since dogs and cats only have sweat glands in their paws and paws have too little surface area to do much cooling your pet needs alternative ways to stay cool and therefore the primary means of cooling themselves off is by panting,” stated Dr. Selmer. He gave me this information on signs pet owners should look for when a pet is beginning to over heat:

• Restless behavior as your pet tries to find a cool spot
• Panting, sweaty feet, drooling, excessive grooming in an effort to cool off
• Rectal temperature is usually normal to slightly elevated

Then, as your pet’s body temperature begins to rise, signs of heat exhaustion become evident, including:

• Rapid pulse and breathing
• Redness of the tongue and mouth
• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Stumbling, staggering gait
• Rectal temperature is over 105° F

Eventually the body temperature will be high enough to cause the pet to collapse and have seizures or slip into a coma.  Dr. Selmer said if you see any signs that your pet is overheating bring your pet immediately to your veterinarian.

Be sure to have cool, clean water for your pet at all times, the products mentioned earlier can help with that! For an additional treat your dogs can enjoy Frosty Paws found in most pet supply stores (or even grocery stores) in the frozen food section.   Also, Honest Kitchen has a great product called Ice Pups™ that I just made for my dog Max, and he loves it! It is a packet of make-at-home grain free treats for dogs and cats. You mix the packet with water, and pour into a ice cube tray, freeze and when frozen give one cube to your pup.  But of course monitor you dog while chomping on that ice cube!  Or you can make your own frozen doggie yogurt – using the best low fat and sugar free human grade yogurt possible.  Many recipes for this are available on the internet, but make sure this is something your pup can eat and doesn’t have any allergies too the ingredients.

And of course never, ever leave your pet in the car in the warm spring, summer and fall months.  It is illegal and could kill your pet very quickly.  If you see a dog left in the car during a warm day, call your police department immediately!  You could be saving his life.

Here’s a good tip, program your smart phone with your local animal control office number or animal shelter number so you have it immediately if you need to call an AC officer along with the police for a pet locked in a hot car.

Most of all, have fun with your pet this summer, but always be aware of his limits during the heat!

Dobby loving the cool water in the stream!

Max loving the beach!

Igor by the pool! Photo by Carol Price (Igor’s mom!)

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Now that spring is here and many of us humans are planning summer vacations, but what about our dogs?  Are you the type of person who hates to leave your dog behind and wish you could take him with you for a getaway?  These days many dog owners don’t want to leave their beloved four legged family member behind, and luckily now you don’t have to.  Thanks to a locally run business, Canine Camp Getaway, they offer a five day fun and activity filled vacation for you and your dog.  Recently I spoke with Janice Costa the Owner and Founder of Canine Camp Getaway to find out more about the doggie vacations:

Q.  What made you decide to launch a dog vacation business?

Janice: “I have two large dogs who love to go places. Whenever I pulled out my suitcases for a business trip, they would drop their toys and bones inside, or even try to lie down in it (as if I might somehow not notice a 100-pound dog lying in the center of my suitcase trying to stow away!). They do NOT like being left behind. And honestly, I don’t like being without them, either! I work long hours, and spending time with them is one of my greatest pleasures, so it seems wrong somehow that when I get a week off to do what I love, they wouldn’t get to be a part of that.

Unfortunately, so many places aren’t dog friendly, and even the ones that claim to be dog friendly often don’t take large dogs, or don’t have anything for you to do with your dog when you get there. And why drag my dog’s hours away from home if they’re just going to be stuck in the hotel room with nothing to do?

My one dog loves swimming pools, and the other loves all dog sports…and I thought, wouldn’t it be great if there was a vacation where I could relax and have fun, and my dogs could also do their favorite things, like swimming, lure coursing, agility, etc.? I also loved the idea of having a vacation where I could meet other like minded dog people. And I was pretty sure I wasn’t the only one who felt this way — I know so many dog lovers who also view their dogs as an important part of their family, and can’t imagine leaving them behind to go on vacation.

So I thought about the things I love to do and the things my dogs love to do and created a vacation that we all could enjoy together. Canine Camp Getaway of NY is as much their vision as mine, and I’m delighted that so many other dogs and dog lovers enjoy it as much as we do!”

Q. What, exactly, does one do on a ‘dog vacation?’

Dogs swimming at Camp pool

Janice: “Our guests tell us that Canine Camp Getaway of NY is like a ‘Club Med for dogs,’ with a wide variety of activities and classes (since different dogs like different things). We have a dog-friendly swimming pool, which our Labs and Goldens seem especially fond of, and then we offer dog sport classes, including agility, Frisbee, flyball, hiking, canine freestyle dancing, lure coursing, scent detection, doggie skateboarding, rally obedience and more. I’m also a big believer in education, so we incorporate many educational activities as well, such as Canine CPR, Therapy Dog and Canine Good Citizen preparation and testing, seminars by veterinarians and dog nutrition experts, etc. For our human guests, we have horseback riding, zumba classes, karaoke, Vendor Day, country line dancing, nightly Yappy Hour in the dog-friendly bar, and even an on-site spa! Best of all, dogs are welcome everywhere — even in the dog-friendly section of the dining room or the lounge at night, so you really can “hang out with your dog” without sacrificing a fun vacation!”

Lure Coursing

Q.  So, why or what does a dog need vacation from anyway?

Janice: “Everyone jokes about how great it is to be a dog. Someone else pays for the kibble, no mortgage payments to worry about, and you can sleep all day, right? But dogs get stressed out just like people do. Dogs pick up on our moods, and when we’re stressed, they feel it, too. Dogs are also natural wanderers, so being inside a house all day long (and without thumbs to be able to control the TV remote!) can sometimes leave your pup bored, lonely or just lacking in stimulation. It’s a proven fact that dogs live longer, healthier lives when they have mental and physical stimulation (and this also leads to happier, better behaved and more relaxed dogs!). And, of course, everyone is so busy that half the time, even beloved dogs have to share their human’s attention with a job, family obligations, household chores, TV, computer time and everything else.

But a vacation…well, that opens a dog’s life up to new sights, new scents, new experiences, physical and intellectual stimulation and a chance to spend ‘fun vacation’ time with THEIR best friend…you! Just as you crave a chance to totally relax, have fun and leave life’s stresses behind, so, too, do dogs love to be the center of their owner’s universe for a week, rather than competing with ‘real life’ — jobs, bills, chores and all those other responsibilities. And a vacation with your dog is a chance for you to both do things you might not otherwise do — explore nature, meet new people and dogs, try new activities and just rediscover why the human-canine bond is so very powerful! Plus, it’s just plain fun!”

Q. Where is your vacation held?

Janice: “We hold our Getaway at the Roaring Brook Ranch in Lake George, NY. We love the location because of the stunning mountain views, scenic hiking trails and proximity to the lake. Plus, the hotel has nearly 300-acres, so there’s plenty of space for the dogs to explore! The town itself is just a few minutes away, with great outlet shopping, boating, fishing and plenty of dog-friendly shops perfect for browsing with our canine BFF.”

Q.  Is this vacation primarily for couples, or do people come by themselves?

Janice: “Both, actually! We generally get about one third couples and two thirds singles, with many people attending who don’t know anyone at all when they get there. But dog lovers are such a friendly group, and the dogs tend to make friends pretty quickly as well, so even if you attend alone, you and your dog are likely to have plenty of new friends before you leave!”

Q. Do dogs need special training to attend Canine Camp Getway?

Janice: “We have dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds. Generally, we get roughly half large dogs and half small dogs, and a good mix of pure breeds and mixed breeds ranging in age from four-month-old puppies to senior dogs. We don’t require obedience training to attend, but dogs must be good with both people and other dogs, due to the social nature of the vacation experience.”

Q.  What if someone attending has never done any of the dog activities offered? Is that a problem?

Janice: “We have a full staff of talented and highly experienced instructors, so whether their dog is new to dog sports or a seasoned pro, they can still participate in the activities. In fact, many times our human guests are surprised to find that their dogs have many hidden talents! What’s also nice is that there are so many different activities, you can try a little bit of everything and see what your dog likes best.”

So if this sounds like the type of vacation you and your dog are drooling over, for more information or an application, check out the Canine Camp Getaway website. Or you can email Janice directly at Janice@caninecampgetaway.com or call at 877-592-2674. And for updates check out their Facebook page too.