Spend Time Teaching your Dog

Dogs love to help in the garden. Teach your dog to respect your plants by using fencing and verbal instructions. Be kind to your dog. Dogs respond to positive reinforcement. Provide an opportunity for your dog to exercise every day. Spend time with your dog in the garden and teach your dog not to destroy your plants.

Teaching Your Dog What Down Means

There are several ways to teach your dog what down means. Start with your dog in a seated position. You can gently grasp the dog's elbows and slide the dog into a down position while saying "down". This works well for small dogs and puppies.

To teach a large or resistant dog the down command, you can use the foot on the leash method. You start with your dog sitting at your left side. Make a loop with your leash to step on with your left foot. The pressure of your foot on the leash will pull your dog to the ground. You may need to hold the pressure for a little while until the dog moves into the down position. Reward your dog for moving into the down position.

Some people wait until they see their dog getting ready to lie down. They say "down" while the dog is in motion. Then, they praise the dog like crazy. This is the way dogs learn words like park, walk, food, and leash. Dogs learn a lot by listening to people.

Dog Friendly Beaches in Orange County

Summer is here. There are some nice beaches in Orange County that you and your dog can enjoy together. Huntington Dog Beach is a great off leash dog beach. There are also a few other beaches that allow leashed dogs in the early morning and late afternoon.

Corona Del Mar State Beach, Newport Beach, and Balboa Beach allow leashed dogs before 9 AM and after 5PM. Dog bag dispensers are located near the signs that list the beach rules. Tickets are issued to off leash dogs.

Grooming

Regular grooming gives your dog healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Adopt a Dog From The Pound

When you adopt a dog from the pound you are saving a life. You can find some unique looking mixed breed dogs at the pound, like this St. Bernard/Australian Shepherd mix.

Huntington Beach Dog Park

The dog park in Huntington Beach Central Park has a separate area for small dogs. These dogs enjoy the big dog area of the dog park. Their owner says they do not think they are little dogs. They like to run with the big dogs.

Mulch in the Dog Park

Mulch is used to cover the ground in some dog parks. Grass can be difficult to grow in a dog park.

Orange County Dog Parks

Costa Mesa Bark Park-located in Tewinkle Park at the corner of Arlington and Newport Blvd. The park is open from dawn to dusk Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesday for maintenance.
Huntington Beach Dog Park-located in Huntington Central Park on Edwards Street, west of Huntington Lake. This park has a separate area for small dogs. Open 5AM to 10PM everyday, but the parking lot is closed at 8 PM.
Irvine Dog Park-located at 6405 Central Oak in Irvine. Open 6:30 AM to 9 PM - Closed Wednesday for maintenance
Laguna Beach Dog Park-located on Laguna Canyon Road south of El Toro Road - Open Dawn to Dusk - Closed Wednesday
Laguna Niguel Pooch Park - located on Golden Lantern near Chapparosa Park - Open noon to dusk on Monday and Friday, 8 AM to dusk on Sunday, and dawn to dusk the rest of the week.
Orange Dog Park-located at 190 South Yorba in Yorba Park near Chapman and the 55 FWY. Open 7 AM to dusk - closed Wednesday.
City of San Clemente Dog Park-located at 301 Ave La Pata in San Clemente. Closed until 1 PM on Tuesday for maintenance. Open other days, if it is not raining.
Seal Beach Arbor Park-located between Valley View and Los Alamitos Blvd. The dog park is behind the West Ed building located at 4665 Lampson Avenue in Los Alamitos. Open dawn to dusk. Closed until noon on Thursday for maintenance.

Dog Park Etiquette

The purpose of the dog park is for dogs to exercise and socialize in a safe place. Dogs do not wear leashes at the dog park. Here are some dog park etiquette tips that will help you and your dogs make friends at the dog park.

1. Entering the dog park - Most dog parks are double gated, so the dogs do not get out. Open the first gate and close it behind you. Remove the leash. Open the second gate and enter the park. Remember to close the gate behind you.

2. Avoid fights - Do not bring food. If the dogs start to fight, distract them with a ball or a toy. Remove aggressive dogs from the dog park.

3. Do not bring a bitch in heat to the dog park.

4. Watch your dog at all times.

5. Do not bring more dogs than you can handle.

6. Clean up after your dog everywhere. Dogs are banned from beaches and parks when owners do not pick up the poop. Be a responsible dog owner. No one likes flies or stepping in poop.

Dog parks are a great place to meet people and get exercise. Dogs run and play until they are exhausted.

The most important thing to remember when you are at the dog park is to treat the other park users the way you would like to be treated.

Greatest American Dog

A new reality show will focus on dogs. CBS plans to introduce the new show on Thursday July 10th at 9PM Pacific Time. Dogs will be competing for a $250,000 prize. We will probably see a few talented dogs from Orange County on this show.

Sadie is a Lucky Little Dog

Sadie is a lucky little dog. She survived getting run over by two cars on the freeway on ramp. She ended up pinned under the right front tire of the third car. She was saved by a dog lover who made cars back up in order to free her.

Her collar was off, because she was bathed. The pool man left the gate open. She was in heat. The family inherited the dog from their grandmother who never registered the microchip. This is a recipe for disaster.

The family posted signs and prayed to find their dog. The dog lover who found Sadie was praying for Saint Anthony, the patron Saint of lost articles, to find the lost owners. The dog lover drove around for a few days looking for lost dog signs. Today, Sadie was reunited with her family after the dog lover saw a lost dog sign.

This time, the story has a happy ending.

Pet Beds

Every pet needs a warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep. Some people share their own beds with their pets. Others like to provide their pets with their own special place.

Beds for pets can be very expensive at pet supply stores. We purchase beds for our pets at Costco and Sam's Club. Today, we purchased a bed, large enough for a 100 pound dog, for less than twenty dollars at Costco. The cover is washable and the cedar smell is wonderful.

Dresses for Dogs

Be careful putting clothes on your pets. They can get tangled in the clothes or eat the clothes and choke.

Labradoodle Retriever

Max is a labradoodle that loves to retrieve. He will retrieve for hours.