Maximum’s NYC Tails Untold Personalized Adventure Book- A very pleased purchaser

Yes, I have received my book. I am very pleased with it. You did a super job on it. We laugh every time we look at it. I have shared it with More »

A Happy Fan – Storm’s Tails Untold Personalized Pet Book

Hello Tails Untold, I got the book today.  Thank you so much, it is amazing!   You did a lovely job, thank you, again.  Larissa from Australia. More »

Should I Adopt One Cat or Two?

When it comes to adopting a new cat or kitten, the question often arises is it better to adopt two so they can have companionship when we are not home? There are More »

New Babies and Your Pets

A new baby is on the way and your pets will need to adjust. After all, they were the new babies first. It is a lot like preparing a sibling for a More »

Sebastian is a Celebrity

Tails Untold is very proud to announce that Sebastian, who recently was the Star of a Tails Untold New York City Adventure Book was just featured in an article in the New More »

A very informative Dog Emergency Guide

At Tails Untold, we all want to be prepared should our dog have an emergency.  This guide was sent to us and we are very pleased to share in hopes it helps you be prepared, should your pet, heaven forbid, ever have an emergency situation.

 

How to Stop Your Dog from Chewing ( wonderful advice from Annie Moore)

 

Dog chewing is a destructive and sometimes costly behavior. You need to stop it before you continue losing your valuables to an animal that you love. But, how do you prevent a dog that has had this habit for long? Of course, getting rid of the pet is not an option. At the same time, you can’t opt to punish the dog too severely. Here are some tricks that you can use to stop your dog chewing:

1. Make your house dog-proof

Before you start focusing on changing the dog, start by changing your home. If the canine is used to chewing items in the house, simply dog-proof it. You don’t need tons of sophisticated items to achieve this task.

The first step is to simply hide things that the dog is likely to chew. Some of these items include remotes, pillows, books, and clothes.

When you do this, not only will your dog be able to roam the house without finding anything meaningful to chew. It will also be unable to destroy the products that you buy for it.

The second step is to get heavy duty gear that your dog can’t destroy. If they destroy their crate, then get something indestructible like the ones seen here bestdogcrates.net/escape-proof-cages.

2. Restrict mobility

This is another method that can work well for those problem dogs, especially if you are not always around to monitor your dog’s movements and behavior. All you need is to put them in a dog crate or an empty room.

You should always ensure that the crate is comfortable for the dog. Choose the right size of cage and make sure that it is well-ventilated.

3. Be Reactive

Don’t just sit back and watch your dog embarks on a chewing spree. Be reactive if you see it chewing something other than food. The easiest way is to make some noise that will distract it.

However, you should not be extremely loud to the extent of scaring it. Just let the dog know the message that you are trying to pass across. You can say something like “Stop!” This approach can be considered as a form of dog training, because doing this consistently, will make the dog understand that you are not happy with the chewing habit.

4. Use dog toys

Sometimes dog chewing can be a deep-rooted habit and may be quite difficult for your dog to stop doing it. However, rather than chewing your items, you can give the dog alternatives-chew toys. These are very enticing, and your dog will easily get attracted to them.

You can even make the toy fun by rotating them and stuffing some food items in them, such as peanut butter. Apart from being tasty, the dog will have some fun with the rotating toy and will keep chewing for a long time. In doing so, you will be able to save your other items from any sort of destruction for quite some time.

5. Exercise

In most cases, dogs opt to chew items because they are utterly bored to the core. In such a situation, chewing seems the best way of passing the time.

The best remedy for this problem is to take the dog out for exercise. Some of the activities that you can engage in include jogging, running, Frisbee and even long walks. The aim here is to keep the dog productive in a healthy way.

6. Commercial chew deterrent

This is another effective way of stopping your furry friend from chewing everything that comes in its way. Buy a commercial deterrent.

With such a product, you need to spray it on different items that the dog is likely to chew. A single bite on the item will be enough to send a strong message to the dog, and it won’t make any further attempts to chew the item.

7.   Seek professional help

If the dog chewing habit is due to a compulsive disorder, you should consider getting help from a professional dog behaviorist.   Do not surrender to the destructive dog chewing behavior. The little steps that you take can make a difference. The above are the most recommended solutions that can stop the chewing habit.

 

Guest Blog post courtesy of Annie Moore    Photo courtesy of Petfinder

Latest & One of the Greatest Testimonials – Liesl’s Book

Just received the book. I love, Love, LOVE IT! You captured Liesl’s sweet, mischievous character; and, you lovingly included Mom in the book, making it very special. Thank you for this keepsake. Dad is surprised and charmed by this beautiful gift. Please continue producing these books as they bring such joy! Thanks again!! -Cheryl

7 Reasons Why Every Family Needs A Dog- A Great Guest Blog by Tim Shank

7 Reasons Why Every Family Needs a Dog

There are many pleasures that we may enjoy life but one that most of us would never live without is having a dog by our side. Not only are they a loyal companion, they provide more love to us than we could ever hope to give back to them. These are the most obvious benefits of having a dog but there are many more reasons why you should have a dog as part of your family. Here are 7 reasons why every family needs a dog in their life:

Dogs Are Always Happy to See You – When you or any member of your family walks through the door, the dog is always going to be the most excited individual in the room. There is nothing quite like coming home after a difficult day and being greeted like you are the best person in the world! After all, you are the best person in their world.

They Protect Your Children (from Allergies) – Most people will automatically assume that dog-related allergies will be a problem in their household. In reality, the opposite may actually be true. According to a study by the Department of Pediatrics at the University Of Wisconsin, children who lived in a home with a dog as newborns were less likely to experience wheezing and eczema by the time they were three years old. Early exposure seems to be a factor and it is thought to be associated with how quickly the immune system develops in a child shortly after birth.

Play Time Is Anytime – It doesn’t matter what you might be going through in your life, you can always count on the fact that you can take a moment out of your day and enjoy some playtime with your dog. This is also something that you will come to love about having a dog around your children as well. There is nothing quite like sitting on the floor with your kids and having some fun time with the dog.

You Will Be Healthier – Dogs provide many benefits to our health, including reducing the risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, dogs provide many benefits to their owners, including engaging in physical activity. In addition, people who had a heart attack were more likely to survive when they own a dog. You can’t argue with the numbers.

You Will Understand “Dog People” – There is a measurable phenomenon that occurs when people own a dog. Suddenly, they become dog people and it seems as if their entire life is surrounded by that beloved pet. Some people may tend to look at them as if they were a bit unusual but once you are a dog person, you will understand.

You Bond with Your Dog over Everything – It doesn’t matter if you are curled up on the sofa with your dog watching TV or if you are taking them to obedience training classes, the bond between the two of you will just continue to grow stronger. Dogs are naturally eager to please but as the bond grows, you will find that it runs in both directions.

Dogs Keep You Safe – There are certain dog breeds that are well known for providing security to the family but regardless of the dog that you have as a family member, they will add to your safety. In part, it is due to the fact that they will hear and see things that might escape your notice. Additionally, dogs keep you safe by providing you with companionship and when you have a dog around, you will never be alone.

For additional information and tips, please check out this website http://www.lovealldogs.com

Tails Untold is very happy to have this great Guest Blog from Tim Shank.   Please consider adopting from a Shelter/Rescue first.  We want every dog, cat and all pets to find loving and forever homes.

 

 

Donations to Animal Rescues/Shelter

We are so happy to donate a portion of the sale of every Tails Untold Personalized Pet Book we create.  Here are some of the latest donations made to help every pet find a loving and fur-ever home!

Pet Finder Foundation  http://www.petfinderfoundation.com/

Animal Haven  http://www.animalHavenShelter.org

ASPCA  https://www.aspca.org/

Best Friends Animal Society   https://bestfriends.org/

Bideawee  https://www.bideawee.org/

Boxer Rescue   https://boxer-rescue-la.com/

 

Holiday Fan Mail re: A Tails Untold Personalized Pet Book Gift

Thank you, Amy:

Hi Susan we just left for the airport.  We read Harry’s book together late last night after the play.   We loved it!   So perfect!

______________________________

Thank you, Alexa:

“We received Oliver’s book on 12/15, and we absolutely LOVE it!! Prior to purchasing, we looked at several different options and liked yours the best because of the extra personalization … we love that it’s our Oliver pictured in the book (and that you incorporated all of the extra pictures we sent you!) and thought there was a nice balance between fiction and non.
Oliver’s book will be a Christmas gift for our mother, and we know she’ll love it as much as we did!”

______________________________

Thank you, Kate:

“All I can say is FABULOUS. Thank you so much. I can’t wait until Christmas to give them this book. It will bring more smiles than you know!  I will spread the word and show everyone I know!”

Post Christmas:  “They loved it. Made my sisters Christmas. Thank you again!  It is a permanent  fixture on her coffee table.  He is tired from his New York adventure lol.”

Kate & Doogan

 

Tails Untold® Personalized Pet Book Fan Mail for the Holidays

DAWN:  Another wonderful testimonial from a Tails Untold® Personalized Pet Book Customer.

“They [brother and sister-in-law] are THRILLED! My brother’s feedback was that they were thrilled with Taffy’s favorite toys being included and how amazingly well you did the pics of Taffy into the story….which you chose and how well you did it. Amazing, thank you! Cheers!”

KEITH:  We are so excited to receive this wonderful testimonial from another happy Tails Untold® Personalized Pet Book Purchaser.   Trudie’s Book, as all of our books, are always fun to create.  We become friends with the Pet Parent(s) and get to know their petkid(s) in a fun and warm way.  We just had to share.

“Today, I received the book I had made for my fiancée, Amanda and Trudie The French Bulldog. Trudie and I had to wait for ‘Mamma’ to go back to work to look at it and we are thrilled with it!
 
The time and effort Susan took in getting a confessed technophobe like me to source my photos from those I have of Trudie and even one of Amanda and I was astonishing. So patient, helpful and understanding, I was overwhelmed by the care taken and therefore delighted but not surprised by the high quality product that came out of it.
 
The book is wonderful and even the thought of the most special person in my life seeing it makes me smile, such is the way the information gathered has been woven into the book’s content.
 Thank you so much for the hard work. It is a superb product we will enjoy a great deal and one you should be proud of.
 
Love and thanks from Keith, Amanda and Trudie The Dog”

PS:  If you are interested in a Tails Untold® Personalized Pet Book as a gift for the Holidays, please order now to be sure it arrives in time!

Tips for Managing Two Dogs in a House-A Great Guest Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So your favorite pooch looks lonely, or you love them so much that you want to get them a friend, or you come across a stray at a shelter and have got to give them a forever home. Any one of these scenarios, and many more, may make your household go from a one dog home to a two dog home.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, and no one will ever complain about a shelter dog finding a place to call home, but there are some things to consider. Firstly, you may think that as pack animals, dogs would just naturally get along. After all, you are just bringing home a member of the pack, so all should be good, right? Secondly, even in packs out in the wild, there are rules and regulations that apply to all of the dogs that are banded together, and if these rules are not tolerated by single members of the pack, they will be expelled. So, keeping all of this in mind, here are some tips to make sure that you’ll have an easy time managing two dogs in the house.

You are the Alpha of the Pack

Every dog pack or clan has an alpha female or male that lays the groundwork and the rules. In your home clan, you are the alpha dog and what you say goes. You should not play favorites and treat each dog as equals. A stern “NO” will keep either of the two dogs in place, and fighting between dogs is absolutely not allowed. (Of course, play fighting doesn’t count.)

You rule, and you enforce the rules, and if you have to when one misbehaves, send them to the crate or their bed for a few minutes to teach them that what they did is not acceptable.

Feeding Time

A lot of fights and bad manners happen around feeding time, so keeping them separate during feeding is a very wise choice. Always feed the calmest member of the two first, and make sure you keep the other dog’s attention away from the first dogs food.

Fair is Fair

Make sure you divide your time equally between the two dogs, Fair is fair and neither one should feel neglected by you for the other. If one begs for more attention, make sure you reciprocate in kind to the other dog so they both see there are no favorites.

My Space, Your Space, Everyone’s Space

Unless there are dedicated bedding spaces for each dog, or dedicated crates, then all the space around the house should be shared equally. If one dog lays on the bed the other should be allowed that luxury too. If one likes to sleep on the couch, then let the other one sleep there as well. Obviously, if they have

their own beds that’s something else, but then just make sure they each have their own bed. If you can make them feel equal, you won’t have to worry about one or the other trying to take control.

Play Time

Playful dog fighting is common, and biting necks, tails, jumping and mouthing each other is all a part of the game. But make sure to watch them for the first several times they play together. If one tries to assert dominance and turn a play into genuine rough housing, you have got to be able to nip that behavior in the bud. If you don’t, you’ll have all kinds of trouble down the road.

Treats

Dogs love treats and you probably love to give them treats as much as they like getting them. But never tease one or the other and never ever show a preference for one getting a treat while the other just watches and gets nothing. If one gets a treat they both get a treat, and that way there will never be any animosity towards each other

Twice as Nice

If you use the tips above, both of your dogs will become great friends, they will respect you as a leader, and they will both do their best to please you any which way they can. That’s twice as nice for everyone.

About Author

A special thanks to Mary Nielsen who is a passionate dog lover, blogger, and part-time music teacher. She started MySweetPuppy  to share her ups and downs of being a pet parent to a bunch of adorable mutts. When she is not playing with them or teaching, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen.  Here is the link to Mary’s website website:  http://mysweetpuppy.net

Tick Season is here-help protect your dog from Lyme Disease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lyme Disease is a tick-borne illness and it can be debilitating in humans, but also in dogs..

In humans, often, but not always, one can tell if they have been infected if there appears a “bull’s-eye” rash at the site of the bite.  This does not happen with dogs.  So what are the common symptoms found in dogs with Lyme Disease?

  1. Fever
  2. Swelling in joints or lameness
  3. Swollen lymph nodes
  4. Lethargy
  5. Loss of appetite

It can be a difficult disease to recognize.  Dogs can have Lyme disease organisms for over a year, without showing any symptoms, and when the symptoms appear, the Lyme disease can have spread throughout the entire dog’s body.

What should you do to help prevent your pet from getting Lyme Disease?

  1.  Of course, the obvious is stay away from grassy, wooded, sandy areas.  This does not seem fair to your dog, as most love the out of doors.  In addition,  they can also be found in urban parks and dog parks.  You can do a little research to learn about the ticks and diseases in your area.
  2. If your dog has been outdoors in any of these areas, check thoroughly for ticks.  They are not always easy to find, as they can be as tiny as the head of a pin.  If the tick is moving, that is good as it has not fed yet and easy to remove.
  3. There is a safe and effective vaccine.  It is given twice, at two or three week intervals. You must repeat this vaccination  every year to be effective.
  4. During an annual checkup, you can include a vector-borne disease screening.
  5. Use a tick control product, often it is combined with a flea control. Be sure and read the labels or consult your Vet as some of these applications can be concentrated.  They come in many forms:
  • Spot-on medications
  • Pills that are given once a month
  • Shampoos (a process that needs to be repeated every 2 weeks)
  • Tick Dips
  • Tick Collars.

Even though these can be very effective, it is still important to check your dog after being outdoors, especially if you have been in a woody, grassy or sandy area.

If you do find a tick, protect your fingers and remove with a tick remover or a pair of tweezers.  You must be sure and get the entire tick out, so pull straight, do not twist.

Treatments for your Dog if infected with Lyme-Disease

There are several antibiotics that are available and they are quite effective, especially if caught in the early stages.  The response time to the antibiotic can be within a week.

Educating yourself about ticks and Lyme disease is a great step in keeping your dog healthy so you can both enjoy the great outdoors.

A very moving and lovely fan letter

[To daughter, Jane, from her mom.  Jane gave the book to her mom after her Maltese, Chippy, had recently gone to the Rainbow Bridge.]

“I love the book so much and read it every night. Since I got it I am sleeping better than I have in a long time. It is a very special gift. I feel like you and Chippy are telling me a nighttime story. Love you Mom???”

“I showed it to 2 friends today and they thought it was incredible ????”