The family dog is a loyal and lovable companion, and by far considered much more a part of the unit than simply a pet. Therefore, it’s natural to want to include your canine friends when you plan vacations, it’s just a matter of knowing where to go and what you can do to ensure everybody-two-footed or four-is happy. Nashville, as a very pet friendly city, offers travelers several choices in activities and accommodations. When you plan a trip of the Southern United States, you won’t have to worry about the dog at all!

Pet Friendly Hotels

As you search Music City for room reservations, you’ll be pleased to know how many have good pet policies in place. You will want to consult the major chains in the area first, like Comfort Inn and La Quinta, but make sure you contact the exact hotel in advance. Most pet-friendly hotels do have restrictions on the pet’s size or weight, and may charge an additional fee per night. Amenities like dog beds and food are less likely, however, so be sure to pack everything your pup needs.

Things to Do with Your Dog

Can a dog have fun in Nashville? You bet! Especially if you are the outdoorsy type, there are plenty of opportunities for recreation.

Local Dog Parks: Nashville is home to three free dog parks, all of which open around 8 AM and close around 8 PM or dusk. Shelby Dog Park (S. 20th Street), Centennial Dog Park (222 25th North Ave.) and Warner Dog Park (50 Vaughn Road) offer wide open spaces for running and play, and time for socialization with local dogs.

Hiking: Want to get back to nature? The Nashville area features many multi-use trails, but the Shelby Bottoms Greenway is best known as an ideal destination for bringing dogs out for some fresh air. Shelby Bottoms is part of the state’s Rails to Trails program, and a great natural attraction for any outdoors enthusiast.

The Dog Store: In Music City, dogs have their own special place to browse and “paws.” The Dog Store is a lovely boutique catering to canines and their companions, with cool gifts to purchase and bring home.

Dog owners interested in Nashville can rest assured their pets won’t feel left out on the trip. Pack a bag for your four-footed friend!

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Nashville.

You Scream I Scream – Dog

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Mad Dogs & Englishmen - Joe Cocker $9.12 Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 10/03/2006...

Do you think dogs are capable of love?

I know the answer seems obvious, but there was an article with quotes from a semi famous dog expert Jon Katz that was in the LA Times. He said dogs are like social parasites and they have evolved into being able to fool us into thinking they love us. It made me a little sad because I love my dog so much and he is so loving to me (maybe it’s a different sort of love but still love)..what are your thoughts?

Dogs “love” much the same way we do which is why we get along with dogs so well. We’re both social animals who form deeper bonds with some members of our packs/social groups than others…some so much that they’re beyond acquaintances….they’re friendships, that’s “love”.

My New Glasses! CLUE Quotes! & Making Out with My Dogs!

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1. What is heat?

Heat is more properly called the estrous cycle. During this cycle, female dogs may get pregnant. It’s equivalent to human menstruation.

2. What are the symptoms?

Females bleed from the vagina sometimes with swelling of the vulva and increased urination. Don’t expect bleeding comparable to a human female.

For small dogs, it’s usually not much and you may need to pay close attention to your puppy to identify her first cycle. Other than the bleeding, the most noticeable symptom may be

male dogs hanging around your house.

3. When does a dog come into heat?

The average female dog has her first cycle about six months of age. A few dogs start earlier and few dogs later, even as late as 14-months.

If you have a new female puppy, you should watch her and note when she has her first cycle. If she’s 14-months old and still hasn’t't been in heat, you should take her to a veterinarian.

4. How long does the heat cycle last?

The average is three weeks or 21-days. In some dogs, it lasts only two weeks while others go four weeks.

5. How often will she be in heat?

Most female dogs have regular cycles usually every six to eight months. It’s quite typical to be in heat twice a year.

6. When can she get pregnant?

She can get pregnant only when in heat. Some breeders

test for progesterone levels to identify the most fertile days but the rule-of-thumb is that the most fertile days are 11-15 of her cycle.

Note – when she’s in heat, the average dog will permit any male

dog to mount her. Few females, however, will accept a male when

they’re not in heat.

7. Can she get pregnant her first cycle?

Yes. However, responsible breeders generally would not breed a dog that early. For one thing, you need to do genetic testing and some serious problems such as hip conditions do not show up until a dog is approximately 2-years of age.

8. Can I take her on walks during this cycle?

Yes with care. She has no problem with the exercise but she’s a walking magnet for male dogs.

Even the best trained and behaved female dog will succumb to hormones. You can’t trust her off a leash or out of your control. Never let her outside by herself even in a fenced yard if there is any possibility of male dogs nearby.

For walks, if there are male dogs in your neighborhood, it’s a good idea to take your dog in your car and drive to a remote area. Take her for the walk there and drive back home. Otherwise, the scent of her urine and vaginal discharge will blaze a trail to your home.

9. When I can have her spayed?

The answer to that one has changed continually over the

25-years I’ve been in the dog business. People used to be told to let their dog go through at least one cycle or let them have one litter.

Today, veterinarians are doing it much earlier. Some vets spay as early as 6-weeks of age! Talk to your veterinarian about your dog and the vet’s preferences. The state of veterinary medicine also is much improved over the past 25-years.

10. If I don’t have her spayed, will she go through menopause.

No. Her fertility may decline but she will not go through menopause comparable to a human’s. She won’t lose her ability to become pregnant even as a senior so if you don’t want to her to have any (or more) litters, she must be spayed.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and the creator of http://www.ToyBreeds.com, your online resource for Toy breed dogs.

Bree : Do dogs have periods?

Does your dog have food allergies? The signs tend to emerge and intensify over a period of time. Here's what you should look for--and what you can do.(HEALTH): An article from: Dog Watch $9.95 This digital document is an article from Dog Watch, published by Belvoir Media Group, LLC on July 1, 2010. The length of the article is 1258 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.Citation DetailsTitle: Does your dog have food allergies? The sig...

why is it so bad to let your dogs/pets eat table food?

my grandmother, italian, 82, always insists of feeding my dog some pizza or pasta. i say no it’s not good, for his diet and she tells me that when she was little all the dogs she had ate of her plate.
what’s so bad in feeding dogs table food? other than the fact that it can become a bad habit

Because it can cause stomach upset, etc.

It’s ok to give table food such as easily digestible foods like rice, skinless chicken turkey, NO bones

Dogs love their fruits and veggies, too, so feel free to up their vitamin count with traditional canine favorites like carrots, apples and green beans.

Be careful when it comes to fatty meats and spicy foods. These can result in an upset stomach, so it’s best to avoid them.

Absolute no-nos include onions, coffee, tea, chocolate and grapes or raisins, which can be toxic to dogs.

Dog Training Tips : Is Table Food Bad for Dogs?

do dogs see through color or black and white?

okay so everyone (including doctors, supposedly) says that dogs see in black and white and not color. what i am wondering is how anybody ever came to this conlcusion. nobody other than the dog can see through its eyes, what makes doctors so sure that dogs dont see color?

No not everyone claims that dogs can only see in black and white. Only the people who don’t know better claim this.

Dogs have rods and cones the same as humans do. Dogs do see in color but not as sharply as we do.

“Science Fact: Dogs Can Not See Color!”

Image via Wikipedia

Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog.

1. I will not eat the cats’ food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar..
4. The sofa is not a ‘face towel’.
5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad’s underwear when he’s on the toilet.
7. Sticking my nose into someone’s crotch is an unacceptable way of saying hello.
8. I don’t need to suddenly stand straight up when I’m under the coffee table
9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house – not after.
10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.
11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.
12. The cat is not a ’squeaky toy’ so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it’s usually not a good thing.

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signs of a dogs pregnancy from the last three weeks?

what are the signs of a dogs pregnancy from the last three weeks.
three weeks until she would be due I mean.
she’s a mini foxy.

Around six weeks you will see her tummy start to grow. At about seven and a half weeks you will feel slight movements, almost butterfly like. The movement increases until eight and a half to almost nine weeks. At that time you can actually feel little ‘arms’ through the side of the tummy if the uterus is full enough. A few days before labor the udders swell even more and so does the labia. About two days before labor she will lose a large amount of mucous, temp drops, milk forms, and labor follows within 2-3 days. Dogs carry nine weeks.
They usually refuse food the day before labor starts, and they love to nest.

Dog Breeding & Pregnancy : Dog Care: Signs of Pregnancy

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It is easy to create a healthy diet for your dog that is all natural – free of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. This tasty dog chow will have your pooch begging for more.

All Natural Homemade Dog Food Recipe

Yield: About 24 heaping cups

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds ground beef (or meat of your choosing)
• 1/2 cup water
• 8 large baking potatoes
• 3 cups brown rice, cooked
• 4 cups diced zucchini, cooked
• 3 cups oatmeal, uncooked
• 2 tablespoons powdered milk (optional)

Directions:

1. In a LARGE kettle brown meat, adding water as needed if meat sticks to pan. Drain fat. Return meat to kettle.

2. Bake potatoes, cool, peal and discard skins into compost heap or bin. Break potatoes into kettle. Mix.

3. Add rice, zucchini, oatmeal and powdered milk. Mix thoroughly. Divide into serving size portions.

Place each serving into a rinse and reuse container. Refrigerated for up to three days. Remaining portions may be stored in the freezer until needed. Thaw in the refrigerator or microwave for about 1 minute. Please take caution as microwave times vary and check temperature of dog food before serving. Hot dog food could easily burn a dog’s mouth.

Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein (min) 11%, Crude Fat (min) 7%, Crude Fiber (max) 1.5%, Moisture (max) 67%.

! Consult your veterinarian to discuss the proper diet for your dog. Diets vary depending on age, weight, lifestyle and health. This recipe is tailored to Logi – a young, high-energy dog. Older dogs generally require less protein and more fiber.

Rebecca Paliwoda is owner of Natertot Bakery and creator of gourmet dog treats, dog food recipes, and dog related articles and information available online. Her work is dedicated to her love of animals and educating others about the overwhelming number of homeless animals in our communities.

Copyright Rebecca Paliwoda. All Rights Reserved.

Dog Food Recipes

Dogswell Happy Hips for Dogs, Chicken & Sweet Potato Stew Recipe, 13-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12) $24.00 Dogswell Happy Hips for helps Maintain Healthy Hips & Joints with Glucosamine & Chondroitin...

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Wellness CORE Grain-free Dry Dog Food, Original Recipe, 26-Pound Bag $56.41 Wellness CORE Original Dry Dog Food is a Thoughtful Alternative in Grain-Free, Protein-Focused Nutrition ..with Nothing in EXCESS, and everything in BALANCE. * No Meat By-Products * No Wheat or Wheat Gluten * No Soy * No Dairy * No Corn or Corn Gluten * No Artificial Colors, Flavors or Preservatives....

Recipe $18.99 ...

Dog owners often like to treat their dogs to a taste of our favourite foods but did you know that some foods that we enjoy can actually be poisonous to dogs and be fatal? Many people have asked me ‘Can Dogs Eat Grapes?’ so I want to share with you the dangers associated with feeding grapes to dogs.

WHY ARE GRAPES BAD FOR DOGS?
Grapes (and raisins) have been found to be toxic to dogs. Test results have been inconclusive so the exact reason is still relatively unknown. Pesticides that are used on grapes, heavy metals and fungal contaminants have been ruled out as being the cause of the problem.

It makes no difference whether the grapes are bought from the supermarket or from an organic farm shop, the effects on your dog would be entirely the same.

It is also thought that as few as 7 grapes can be fatal to a dog but as with other poisonous foods, the smaller the dog, the fewer grapes they would have to eat for it to be a serious problem.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF MY DOG EATS GRAPES?
Although we don’t know the full reason why dogs can’t eat grapes, the outcome tends to be the same. The first signs of a problem will be vomiting and the end result is usually acute kidney failure. This means that your dog would not be able to pass urine and therefore would be unable to perform the essential task of filtering the toxins out of their system.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY DOG EATS GRAPES?
There are some steps you can follow if you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes or raisins. Firstly, you should try to induce vomiting if your dog hasn’t already vomited.

You should then administer activated charcoal (or this should be the first thing you do if your dog has already vomited). You can make your own activated coal by toasting a slice of bread until it’s totally charred and it crumbles easily.

You’ve now done what you can to to help your dog so you now you should visit your vet. He will probably put your dog on intravenous fluids and monitor his blood daily. If your dog’s blood returns to normal after 3 days, he should be fine.

Grapes and raisins are not the only foods that are harmful to dogs.

Visit A DOG’S DIET to find out more about what human foods dogs can and cannot eat and get your FREE 6 Day Dog Training Course.

Discover how a woman with no qualifications learned how to confidently self-diagnose her pet and saved hundreds in unnecessary vet bills by clicking HERE

Good Luck!

Dog Grapes

I think my dog is truly a beautiful sight. Through the years I’ve studied and practiced the best ways to get a memorable picture of my canine companion. Here are a few pointers to help you take good pictures of your dog.

You want your dog to be relaxed and at ease. Try to take the picture with him in his favorite hangout. This can be his favorite chair, his place under the shady tree in the backyard, or the porch. You will know the place that I am talking about. It’s his special spot and he loves it there.

Try to tell a story with the shot. You have seen pictures of dogs looking out the window. We can imagine a story behind this photo. It doesn’t have to be a long story. For example, you might be trying to take a photo of your dog and in walks your toddler with an ice cream cone and your dog knocks it out of his hands. The end result will be a fantastic story, albeit one that is a little upsetting for your youngster. It would be a good idea to have your camera at hand so you can get to it quickly when you see a good story.

Be prepared for movement. Dogs are unpredictable. Some dogs jump at the sound of the shutter click so try to set your camera accordingly.

Follow your dog’s thought process. In other words, eat, sleep and play. Simplify the set. If it is indoors, get rid of the clutter. If outdoors, watch out for lawn furniture, stray toys, etc. Delete things that distract and do not add to the story.

Try to fill your frame with your furry subject. Place the camera at the same level at your dog. By seeing your subject’s point of view, it can give you extra creativity that leads to better photographs. Remember that you are not after the scenery; your dog should be the center of attention.

Remember the treats! If your dog has a weakness for peanut butter, biscuits, or stinky cheese, use them to take that perfect shot. This works great when photographing people with dogs. Try to have the person and the dog to look in the same direction. Make sure all parties in the picture are comfortable with one another.

Study your dog prior to the photography session to see what sets him apart from other animals. If you want to take a special photograph, behavior is the key. What do they do to entertain themselves? Do they have the same habits as their owners?

Another approach to dog photography is to take the shot when your dog isn’t looking. Some of the best photographs are taken when the dog is oblivious to the camera. It is during these times when you catch that certain expression or when he almost looks human.

Last but not least, exercise your dog prior to the event. A walk or some play time will do wonders for your dog’s temperament and adaptability for the photo session. Following these tips should help you to get that perfect photograph of your loyal and true furry friend.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Photography

Funny Animal Pictures of Dogs, Cats, and More #4 CUTE!

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