by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

On Sunday, June 12, LI-Dog Owners Group hosted a Pints & Paws Luau BBQ at Off Key Tikki on the water in Patchogue, NY.  LI Dog is a is a non-profit organization that works to create dog parks and increase access to public parkland and beaches for Long Island dog owners and their dogs so they can enjoy Long Island’s beautiful parks and beaches just like other Long Island families.

It is so much fun to be able to go more and more places with our dogs here on Long Island and much of that is due to LI Dog’s years of effort.  From opening more dog friendly beaches, to dog runs, making Nassau County, (nortiously one of the most unfriendly counties in the country to own a dog), becoming more dog friendly by opening up on-leash dog trails within parks in Nassau.  LI Dog has worked tirelessly over the years and their effort continues to pay off for dog owners on Long Island – especially now that dogs are more widely accepted as big parts of our families.

Cody enjoying himself at Off Key Tikki!

This event at Off Key Tikki was a fundraiser for LI Dog where you can come and enjoy the venue with your dog and friends, there were games like ‘Biggest Lap Dog’ (my dog pretty much came in 2nd place!), musical chairs for humans and their dogs, and a few others.  There were also door prizes, raffles and of course the step and repeat.  The staff at Off Key Tikki could not have been nicer and you could tell they loved having the dogs there.

Dogs dressed in their Luau gear of course!

LI Dog has many activities and events throughout the year that you can participate in, Pack Walks in various locations across our isle; beach days at dog friendly beaches; pints and paws where you can bring your dog with you to a local outdoor area of a bar or restaurant (like this one on Sunday); and regular meetings on how you can get involved in helping them continue the good work they do and make LI even more dog friendly.

Mocca! A regular at all dog events on LI!

On a total side note, you have to love all the palm trees at this venue – like we were swept away to a tropical paradise!

Cody and LI-Dog's Ginny Munger Kahn!

For more information on LI-Dog go to their website www.lidog.org and if you want to see many more Pictures – CLICK HERE!

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

In honor of National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Harbor Pet is hosting Long Island’s very first Ugly Christmas Sweater party for dogs (and their owners)!

This funny and festive event encourages pet owners to bring their dogs in their own ugly Christmas sweaters.  Prizes will be awarded for the ugliest sweater, most creative, best owner and dog ugly sweater combo and more!

In addition to the ugly sweaters prancing around, there is a pet food collection for North Fork Animal Welfare league.  Participants can purchase a pet food donation at Harbor Pet and a 10% discount will be given for pet food purchases made for the food drive.  Each pup wearing an ugly holiday sweater will receive a special treat from Life if Grruff and refreshments for humans and dogs alike for added holiday cheer!

A photographer will be on hand to capture pet parents and their pups in all their ugly Christmas sweater glory.  For more information on how you can participate contact Harbor Pets at (631) 477-1518.

Think your dog has the ugliest sweater?

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

As we fall into autumn, our daily pet care can get pushed aside due to our increased busy schedules. Here are some reminders to help you and your pets ease into the new season:
Training:

• Now that your kids are back in school, or your work schedule is more intense – do take the time to do dog training sessions with your dog as a refresher for both of you.  New noises, different schedules, and lack of attention could make your dog anxious and not listen quite as well.

• Make the sessions short and sweet with plenty of praise and/or treats.  Work on ‘stays’ recalls like ‘come’ or ‘home’ if your do knows that command and ‘wait’ for teaching them to wait at the door, (school buses, kids, deliveries, etc.), and wait for when you are arriving at the park – your dog should know he has to ‘wait’ before he can jump out of the car – until you say so!

• It’s important to also do these sessions outside of the home, in the yard, and in a different location altogether – as most dogs may be amazing at home – but get them in a new environment – and that goes out the window!

• If you got a new puppy or adopted a dog over the summer now is the time, before the holidays creep up, to look into a group dog training class to help with doggie socialization and a more structured training environment.

Pet supplies

Did you get your pet a summer collar or perhaps too much swimming in the pool, lake or salt water?  Time to purchase a new collar for the fall and winter – be sure the collar is fitted properly.  If you forgot to take their collar off in the summer while they were swimming, chances are the metal hardware you attach your leash to may be rusted and break.  Or the fabric or leather is not as strong anymore.  Investing in a good collar for the fall and winter is important to keep your pet safe.

If you have a cat that goes outside or gets into things, make sure their collar is a breakaway collar so it can safely come off if they get caught on something.  And if your cat is an indoor-outdoor cat, put a bell on that collar too – to give the birds at your bird feeder chance to hear them coming!

Did your pet loose his or her ID tags? While many pets these days are microchipped, it is still important to have an up to date ID tag with current phone number, (cell phone is best as most people don’t change their cell number), and email address.  One great new product that you can get is the Twigo pet tag. This fun new tag requires no engraving and are instantly personalize-able with a ballpoint pen – simply write, boil and wear. The tags self-attach and are completely silent, ideal for those who dislike the jingling noise and remove their pet’s tags while inside the house.

Clothing – remember when it used to seem crazy to dress our pets?  That notion is a thing of the past as our pets are pampered, live inside with us and are used to AC and heat.  So in the cooler weather, your pet may need a properly fitted coat to go on that walk to go potty.  Last winter was brutally cold here on LI and I had to put two coats on my dog to walk him – his short hair would not have kept him warm for long outside. Raincoats are a great option to – to keep your pup from getting soaked and less time for you to dry them off when you get back inside.

Seasonal allergies

You may be sneezing at ragweed; did you know your pets could also be affected by seasonal allergies?  They can loose their fur, be scratching and chewing themselves raw.  Bring your pet to a good veterinarian who is an expert in allergies and have your pet tested.  It may be food they are allergic to – or it could be seasonal – knowing is the power you will have to properly treat your pet and not play a guessing game.

Pests

This time of year is the perfect time to go for a long walk in the woods with your dog, see the fall foliage – and check for ticks.  Yep, ticks are out until the temperature drops below freezing.  So after that hike, check your dog thoroughly before you go back into the house, bring a flea and tick comb or tick spoon with you so you can remove that tick promptly.  You should also check in-between your pets paw pads, not just for ticks but sticks, stones, splinters, rocks and any cuts or scraps so you can treat them.