Protecting Dog Paws Whether you live in the frigid cold or sweltering heat, you may be asking, “Are dog shoes necessary for my large dog?”  WE wear shoes to protect OUR feet. Shouldn’t they wear dog shoes to protect their paws?  Depending on where you live, the answer may be an emphatic YES, or a NO, save your money.  By the end of this post, you will learn: Why snow and ice in the winter pose a danger to your dog 5 tips for protecting your dog’s paws in winter How to condition your dog to wear dog shoes And our full unbiased review of the Kurgo Blaze Cross Dog Shoes for large ..read more

Is this Interactive Dog Toy for YOUR Large Dog? Many large dog owners have asked me, “How can I help my dog lose weight?” And for those whose dogs are at a proper weight, I hear, “How can I keep my dog fit and healthy?”  Whether it is losing weight or maintaining it, all of us want our dogs to be fit and healthy.  The trick is finding the right balance of food and exercise for each individual dog to make that a reality.  In this post (and video), we will concentrate on the exercise component of health and fitness for dogs.  Over the last month, we have been testing out the ..read more

Best Gifts for Big Dogs If you are looking for the ultimate gift guide for large dogs (and their owners) and wondering what to buy your dog this Christmas, you are in the right place! I have compiled our absolute favorite products of the year – some you may have seen before, many you have not.  Every product on this list is something that I use, and that neither I nor my Mastiffs could live without.   They have been fully vetted to ensure durability and maximal enjoyment for every large dog and its owner.  And, while I may receive a tiny commission if you use some of the af ..read more

Can Dogs Have Bone Broth?  Absolutely!  Bone broth, especially when homemade like the bone broth recipe below, is extremely beneficial for your dog.  But you may be asking, “What is bone broth?”  At its most basic, bone broth is a nutrient-rich gelatinous broth made from slow-cooking animal bones in a solution of water and apple cider vinegar.  It is not only completely safe for your dog, but also incredibly nutritious! In this post, you will learn: The benefits of feeding bone broth to dogs, How to make bone broth using a simple slow cooker recipe,  What you can ..read more

Dog Probiotics – My Interview With FullBucket Health Co-Founder If you have ever pondered, “What are probiotics?” or “Should I feed my dog a probiotic with an antibiotic?” you will love this interview with Dr. Rob Franklin, DVM, DACVIM, co-Founder of FullBucket Health.  I had the unique pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Franklin to pick his brain about all things probiotics for dogs.  To get answers to your top frequently asked questions – from treating dog diarrhea to optimizing your dog’s health! Dr. Franklin is a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist by the Ameri ..read more

Dog Hair Everywhere?  How many times have you been dressed up, headed out the door, only to realize you are covered in the glistening decor of dog hair?  You desperately hunt for a pet hair remover that will restore your “clean” clothes to their former glory, only to come up short.  Without a pet hair removal tool, we instinctively brush the dog hair off with our hands, increasing its magnetism to our clothes.   Sigh. Tis the life of a big dog owner.  Until now! In this post (and VIDEO), I am putting the 7 most popular dog hair removal tools to the test. &nb ..read more

Healthy Dog Treats You Can Make at Home Dogs love treats.  Even picky dogs love treats.  And for most dogs, homemade dog treats are superior in every way.   The following are just a few of the benefits of making your dog’s treats at home: More nutritious Less expensive  No preservatives (or natural ones) Better taste Easy to make Tailored to your individual dog’s health needs Since transitioning Junior and Sulley back to their raw diet this year, I have made it one of my goals to develop some new recipes for homemade dog treats.   Why would I go to the tre ..read more

What To Do If Your Dog Won’t Eat There are few things more frustrating than painstakingly preparing a bowl of food for your dog only to have him turn up his nose and walk the other way.  While a dog not eating can be a sign of an underlying health issue, which we will discuss in a moment, often it’s not.   Today we will spend the bulk of our time on generally healthy, but picky dogs.  In this post you will learn:  Health reasons a dog may lose his appetite, How long can dogs go without eating,  Why your dog is not eating his food but will eat treats, The best dog ..read more

Raw Dog Food for Beginners Can dogs eat raw meat?  What about raw bones for dogs?  And when we combine the added complexity of dog size to these questions, the answers become even murkier.   If you are considering transitioning your large breed dog to a raw food diet, and are wondering how exactly to do that, you have come to the right place.   In this post, you will learn… How to properly balance a raw diet for your large or giant breed dog, Which raw meaty bones you should and SHOULD NOT feed and why,  The difference between a BARF diet and prey model raw ..read more

Finding the best car travel bed for your big dog(s), or at the very least, a comfortable dog bed or liner that your large dogs can lay on when you travel, is not easy.   Some car travel dog beds are too thick.  Some are too thin.  Some SUV dog beds don’t cover your car’s cargo area, while others cover too much.   This is the journey we have been on the last few years – trying to find just the right dog bed for our Navigator that will be easy to clean and maintain while providing maximum support and safety for my Mastiffs.  In this post (and video), I will sh ..read more