Lars gets his teeth brushed three times a week! This may sound a bit excessive to some, but I am pretty sure that I do not care what it sounds like, lol. I want to keep Lars’ chompers nice and healthy so he can use them for as long as he lives and keeping them tarter free is a great way to do just that.

How to Brush a Dog’s Teeth

A. I like to brush Lar’s teeth in the bathroom, because this means I can sit on the toilet seat, put Lars in a sit facing away from me, and have the ability to reach him as well as running water from the sink.

B. I have a little finger brush that I use for Lars’ toothbrush, you know the kind that slides over the end of your finger? If you do not know what I am talking about, look for the finger brushes either at your pet store, or vet office.

C. I use a poultry flavored toothpaste for Lars. Dogs need doggie toothpaste and you should never brush their teeth with human toothpaste.

D. I secure Lars between my knees in a sit, with him facing away from me. Lars is used to the toothbrushing routine now and takes it like a little champ!

E. I wet the toothbrush and put a generous coating of toothpaste on it.

F. With one hand I open Lars’ mouth by gently but firmly pulling down on his lower jaw. Note, a dog can not bite you if you have control of his bottom jaw. I hold Lar’s mouth open by holding his bottom jaw down, with my thumb on one side of his lower jaw, the bottom of his jaw resting on my palm and my other fingers wrapped around the other side of his mouth. Think of how you would hold a tuna salad wrap if you wanted to stop things from coming out the bottom.

G. Personally, I like to begin by cleaning the teeth and gums on the left side of Lars’ mouth. I first brush the front and back of his teeth on that side, both top and bottom and then I brush his gum line as well, also on both the top and bottom, inside and outside.

H. Dogs love the flavor of doggie toothpaste, and they will begin licking right away, and Lars for good measure, loves to drool he loves the poultry flavor so much. Once I’ve spent a minute or so on the left side of his mouth, I wash my hands to get Lars’ slobber off them, reapply toothpaste to his brush and repeat on the right side of his mouth.

I. Once the left and right side are done, I reapply toothpaste to the brush, and finish by brushing the teeth in the front of Lar’s mouth. This is his fav part of the entire operation because his tongue is in prime licking position and he probably gets more of the toothpaste than I get on his teeth.

If you do not brush your dog’s teeth regularly, do a simple internet search for dogs with bad teeth. Maybe the pics that you will find will prove to you what can happen if you neglect doggie dental care!

When it comes to applying Advantage for Dogs, I have listed the steps below. It is a pretty simple process and once you do it for the first time, it will become a snap in the future. One thing you definitely want to keep in mind is that you must insure to keep the product out of your dog’s eyes, nose or mouth. Also, you will want to wash your own hands after applying the ointment to your dog.

How to Apply Advantage to Your Dog

A. Put your dog in a sit, facing away from you and hold him in place with your knees.

B. Part the dog’s hair and place the tip of the applicator against the neck.

C. Here is where things change a little depending on the size of your dog. If your dog is 20lbs or less, squeeze the applicator and apply the entire contents of the tube to the spot right at the base of the neck. If your dog is 20lbs or bigger, apply the contents of the tube to three or four spots starting from the base of the dog’s neck and going down its back, making sure to part the dog’s hair as you go.

Advantage is a safe product to use, as long as you follow the directions on how to use it. Sometimes your dog’s skin can become slightly irritated, but this is really not anything to be alarmed about. I use it on my own dog Lars, and I have never had any problems with it as far as Lars’ skin is concerned and he has never shown any sign of discomfort.

Every time I go to the vet, I remember that ‘file’ I locked away in the back of my mind, the one featuring the good ‘ol pet insurance should I or should I not, and every time this happens, I mentally kick myself hard, very hard for not following up on it. Even as I write this today, I do not have pet insurance for my dog, and yeah I plan on kicking myself good and hard when I am finished writing this. Maybe I should actually kick myself for real, since this mental stuff does not seem to be working out so good.

Pets are expensive, no doubt about it and vet bills can be simply outrageous, but those of you who actually do have pet insurance would most definitely vouch for the fact that you are glad you have it. Similarly to life insurance, car insurance or any other form of insurance you may own, pet insurance premiums are paid each month to the company who offers the plan and in return, your pet dog is covered financially for an array of medical procedures. There are a number of different types of pet insurance plans you can purchase for your pet, with, yup you guessed it, the more expensive ones covering more expensive medical procedures, and the less expensive plans not covering those more expensive procedures.

Before you choose which pet insurance plan is right for you, you definitely want to go over your options, maybe with your vet to insure that you will be in the best position to not have to mortgage your home to pay that vet down the road. Maybe I should take my own advice eh? For example, if you have a Labrador retriever, there is a fairly good chance that at some point during its life that damn dog is gonna eat something he shouldn’t, which will result in a mad dash to the vet office for a good stomach pump! Yeah, you got me, this has happened to me and the subsequent scope set me back $800, which definitely came out of Lars’s allowance!

Pet insurance plans have a wide range when it comes to those pesky monthly premiums with some starting as low as $10 and others going as high as $45 and up. Personally if I were to purchase pet insurance for Lars, I would go with a mid of the pack premium option, as it is this kind of pet insurance plan that would provide the type of coverage I would need. If you opt for basic pet insurance, you are covered for things that are considered to be basic vet procedures, which can range from nail clipping which is actually performed by a vet tech not your vet, to diagnosing of an ear infection, to maybe even your dog’s annual vaccine bill. If you choose a basic pet insurance plan and your dog eventually needs surgery, good luck as you are out in the cold on this one, which is exactly why I would not go cheap when it comes to coverage. Yeah I would opt to pay like $35 a month for coverage which works out to $420 a year but that 420 would not only cover Lars’ trips to the vet for basic stuff, but it would also cover expensive veterinary procedures such as stomach pumping, or in Lars’ case, his recent TPLO on his rear left leg, that luckily for me was graciously covered by Guide Dogs For The Blind, the amazing school where I got the Bar.

I drink a lot of coffee, far too much coffee actually and more often than not, I find myself at Timothy’s, our local coffee shop that my brother and I seem to have adopted as our home away from home. If I had to guess, I have paid for many years of pet insurance coverage over the years in liquid gold, otherwise known as coffee. This is my way of saying that if I can throw money away on overpriced coffee on a daily, sometimes bi-daily basis, then revamping my budget should allow me to pay for pet insurance without me breaking my bank to do it. Stop and think for a second, about something that you buy on a daily basis, something that you know damn well that you spend too much money on. Maybe its coffee, maybe it’s a pack of cigarettes. I myself will not do this because I know that I spend too much money on coffee and would be much richer if I did not drink the damn stuff.

Having good pet insurance is like having an ace in the hole, everybody would love to have it! You may pay for pet insurance each month and in the end, never need to fully use it but knowing what I know now, it would make me feel a lot better knowing that I, and Bar were covered. The next time you are at your vet, take a look on an end table or counter top for you will surely find a stack of pet insurance pamphlets that will detail some of the more popular pet insurance plans that are out there. Ask a lot of questions to make sure you are well aware of what you are signing up for, and remember, no question is a stupid question.

Many people who see a service dog and handler at work often have the opinion that the poor dog is on the clock 24 hours a day, a fact that could not be further from the truth! Service dogs, whether they be guide dogs, dogs for the hearing impaired or dogs trained to assist people in wheelchairs do take their jobs very seriously, but when they are off the clock, they are just that, off the clock and they need to be treated as such.

Lars loves his work and he is very good at it, but when his harness comes off, he turns into a four year old Labrador, full of an abundant supply of energy that I do my best to quell. He loves running and before he ran into a year’s worth of knee trouble he was an avid runner, logging up to 35 miles a week with me. I also spoil him terribly with an abundance of toys, ranging from nylabones to tug ropes, all of which Bar thoroughly enjoys playing with, whether it be with me, or just by himself.

Would you ever think that the dog in this video was a well trained service dog? For your information, this is Bar, off harness. Enjoy!

So I mentioned that I do not pump my dog Lars full of dog treats, but that does not mean that I do not give him treats. Lars is a spoiled dog and gets ‘treats’ on a regular basis, just not the kind that come in a box! Lars is a fan of any food that I offer him, and because he is a Lab this may contribute to this fact. He will eat anything I offer him, and he does not care that it is healthy. He will munch on carrots, blue berries, extra kibble that I have in my pocket, and even enjoys a lick of honey from time to time.

Lars is a working dog, so I need to keep him in working condition if you will but even if he was not a working dog I would still make sure to monitor his food intake to keep him lean and mean. Labs tend to put on weight by simply looking at food and in my case because of Lars’ high activity level I do have to make sure that I feed him enough, while not overdoing it.

Dog treats can come in very handy and are great to have around at all times because they are one of the best ways, if not the best way of gaining your dog’s full attention. Lars will do anything for a ‘healthy’ treat and your dog will too, and once he/she is onboard with your generous treat giving upon their obedience then training them will be a snap!

Disclaimer: there are, however times when I let my guard down when it comes to the treat department, those times being of the doggie birthday variety! On these very special days, all my rules and regulations for doggie treats magically fly out the window and I provide my dog with a plethora of unhealthy goodies that normally would make me cringe! My first guide dog Luther, who left us just over two years ago was the fortunate recipient of many an unhealthy b-day treat, ranging from a McDonalds Big Mac and fries, to a full English breakfast! I am not going to lie when I say that there was an immense sense of pride watching my Lu hammer that full English, which consisted of three strips of bacon, three eggs done over easy, hash browns, two sausages, baked beans and two pieces of toast. When it comes to Lars, I have been a little more unforgiving when it comes to his b-day treats, opting to go the new bone or chew toy route instead of letting him gorge himself on human delicacies. Why am I more rigid with Lars than I was with Lu? Good question, I have no idea…

Frontline means business and when applied to your dog’s back, it gets right to work killing fleas. Within twelve hours of application, all living fleas and ticks on your dog’s body are killed, thanks to the active ingredient fipronil, which is a slow acting poison that works by disrupting the nervous system of fleas and ticks. Although toxic to critters, this product is very safe for Fido, as long as you do not get any in their eyes or nose! A little bit of skin irritation can sometimes be observed in some dogs given this medication, but this is nothing to be alarmed about. Unlike Advantix, Frontline is safe to use in cats as well, which makes it in many cases a better alternative for households home to both dogs and cats. Like Advantix, Frontline is waterproof, which means that even if your dog or cat gets wet, the medication will still work.

Frontline for dogs is applied in a similar method to how Advantix is applied to dogs. Put your dog in a stand, facing away from you and hold him or her in place with your knees on either side of them. Then open the applicator tube and part the dog’s hair just below the base of the neck to show the skin and apply the entire tube to the area. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after you apply the ointment to your dog as if you get any of this stuff in your eyes, you will regret it!

When you purchase Frontline for dogs, it will come in little tubes, one tube for each month. You only need to apply one tube for 30 days of protection from fleas and ticks, and anybody owning a dog should definitely include this, or any other quality topical preventative in their monthly dog care budget!

Canine Advantix is a topical solution, which means it comes in liquid form. It is an all in one defender of all that is evil, protecting dogs for up to one month at a time from fleas, ticks, chewing lice and mosquitoes. Advantix contains the active ingredients imidacloprid and permethrin both of which are safe for your dog. Dogs treated with Advantix are also protected from developing Lyme disease and the medication is even water proof, meaning that even when your dog gets wet either from rain or jumping into a lake or river, it will still work.

Applying Advantix is very easy and only takes a minute, and I’m sure we can all find one minute once a month to protect our dogs from critters that can make their lives, and your own a living nightmare! When I say a minute, for me personally it takes a little longer because it takes me a minute to get the damn applicator tube open, because I am determined to do it without the use of scissors,, only relying on finger nails which I have a horrible habit of biting.

Applying Advantix

Follow the below steps to successfully apply Advantix to your dog:

A. Put your dog in a stand, facing away from you with your knees on either side of his back end.

B. Open the applicator tube and part your dog’s hair at the bottom of its neck until skin shows, then put the open end of the tube against the dog’s skin.

C. For dogs up to 20 pounds, apply the entire contents of the tube by squeezing it, covering two to three spots down the dog’s back, keeping in mind to part the hair to show skin as you go.

D. For dogs over 20 pounds the procedure is the same, but instead of a few generous squirts of the tube, you want four or five of them to insure that you cover as much of the dog’s back as possible.

E. It might be a good idea to have somebody help you, if for no other reason than to hold your dog in place while you apply the Advantix.

Advantix is a great all in one product and it works very well at protecting dogs, but it is a canine product only and can not be used on cats! In fact, cats are unable to metabolize the ingredients found in Advantix and coming into contact with it can be very dangerous indeed for them. Dogs that are treated with Advantix should be done so away from cats and for the first 24 hours, if you have a cat you should definitely keep it away from your dog.

…

‘I may look al cute and black,
But i can bark da smack.
When I need to defend ma back,
Yo fu watch for the Bar attack.

Keep dose hands to yourself,
Or I’ll bite off your little ‘elf!’
You can look at me from afar,
or while driving past me in ya ghetto car.
But when I’m workin dose streets with dad,
You dont wanna get this black beast mad

PEACE’

Wow it is sure nice to know that my guide dog is as serious about his duties as he is! I am in good paws, uh hands.

On the second day of Christmas my daddy gave to me
two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the third day of Christmas my daddy gave to me
Three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
Four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the fifth day of Christmas my daddy gave to me
A five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
Six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
Seven minutes on the couch, six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
Eight big kisses on my face, seven minutes on the couch, six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
Nine minutes of Facebook time, eight big kisses on my face, seven minutes on the couch, six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
Ten minutes of off leash running with my best friend, nine minutes of Facebook time, eight big kisses on my face, seven minutes on the couch, six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the 11th day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
11 minutes on daddy’s bed, ten minutes of off leash running with my best friend, nine minutes of Facebook time, eight big kisses on my face, seven minutes on the couch, six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.

On the 12th day of Christmas, my daddy gave to me
12 minutes with my little sister, 11 minutes on daddy’s bed, ten minutes of off leash running with my best friend, nine minutes of Facebook time, eight big kisses on my face, seven minutes on the couch, six Greenie dog treats, a five minute ear rub, four baby carrots, three Hurshey Kisses, two bowls of kibble, and glucosamine for my surgically repaired knee.