Picking the best harness for your dog

"Dogs are better than human beings because they know but do not tell."—Emily Dickinson

Understanding which type of harness to purchase for your dog can be a bit overwhelming.  There are many different colors, fabrics, ones with padding, different fits, and so on.  There are two types of harnesses that I am going to talk about. One that is great for dogs that do not pull, and one that is great for those of us, such as myself, that have strong dogs that like to play tug-of-war with me and the leash.  

The first harness that I’m going to discuss is the type that latches onto a leash from the back, such as the picture below-  

These types of harnesses are very commonly seen on dogs. However, they are not the best option for walking your dog.  The reason for this is because if your dog tends to pull on the leash, they will continue to do so with this harness. Having the clasp on the back only encourages the dog to continue to pull, causing your dog to struggle and pull harder on the leash;not the best option if you want to keep your arm in it’s socket.  

 The harness that I would recommend is one that fastens in the front center of their chest, such as the one below-

This is called the front-hook harness.  I use this type on my dog since she is very strong and loves to pull me along while trying to chase anything that moves. This was recommended to me by a dog trainer, and it has worked wonders.  The reason this type of harness is so effective is because this puts pressure on the dog’s chest causing them to react by slowing down.    

Why do dogs eat grass?

Properly trained, a man can be a dogs best friend. ~Corey Ford

Here's Ava happily munching on some grass at the park yesterday. 

My dog loves eating grass. She eats it once in a while, and she happily licks her big black lips while she gulps down each blade of grass.  So what’s the deal?  Why do dogs like to eat grass?  With the expensive dog food that Ava (my dog) gets, one would think that she wouldn’t be craving boring old grass.  Yet, she continues to eat grass here and there. 

Where does this behavior come from?  Well, this started back when dogs were wild and not domesticated.  When wolfs ate their prey, they would eat every last bite including their organs.  Their prey’s bellies and intestines typically contained grass and other plants.  As time has evolved dogs still continue to ingest grass, however not in such a way as wolves.  They get the easy route; eating from our lawns. 

It is thought that eating grass provides aid with digestion.  However, only when ingesting in moderation. Some believe that when a dog ingests a large amount of grass it is because they are trying to induce vomiting.  It is believed that a dog will sense that it does not feel well, so they will force themselves to become sick.  Therefore, keep a close eye on what your dog is doing.  If they are becoming sick you may want to bring them to see the vet for any possible problems.

Ice is nice

The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. ~Ambrose Bierce


The past few days have been pretty hot.  I took my dog out on a walk, and before long she was hot.  I brought her back into the house, and even with the air conditioner blasting she was still burning up.  So my fiancé gave her a couple ice cubes.  Instantly I took the ice cubes away from her.  I always heard that ice cubes could result in stomach problems.

Quickly I researched if dogs can eat ice cubes.  All of the websites said that it was ok for a few reasons.  First, ice cubes are good for cleaning your dog’s teeth.  Next, it is a quick way to cool your dog down.  My dog loved eating them immediately.  She thought of them as treats.

A couple days later I took her on another walk and again she was very hot by the time we returned to the house.  I went into the freezer and popped out a couple cubes, and gave them to my dog.  Only a few minutes after she ate them she threw up. 

Again, I went online to find out what happened.  I found out that when you give an overheated dog ice, it shocks their system causing them to vomit.  The only time it is appropriate to give a dog ice is when they have been indoors and their body temperature is regulated. 

Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the ice cube.  Dogs can choke on ice if the cube is too large.  Make sure the cubes are an appropriate size for your dog. Also, be aware if your dog has dental issues. Not all dogs have the ability to chew the cubes.

Here's a few pictures of my dog, Ava chewing on an ice cube. She's loving it!