The Daily Bark

Are you starting to notice that your dog is a wee bit smelly? Then it is time to treat your best friend to one bark worthy “spaw” day! Everyone loves those nice relaxing spa days and your dog is no different. Here at PawLux we’ve put together some simple steps for making one dogtastic “spaw” day!

The “Spaw” Day Guide

1. Aromatherapy Time- Start by spraying some Happytails Aromatic Spritzer from their Celebrity Collection for soothing scents that will create a calming environment. Simply crushing up some lavender and placing it in hot water works as well. Just remember, dogs have extremely powerful noses so don’t overdo it on the spray.
2. Doggie Tunes- Putting some music will also help set a nice mood for you and your dog. There is even music out there specifically for your dog. It’s just a quick internet search away. We suggest a more classical variety that won’t have your dog howling along to it.
3. OohLaLa Massage Your dog will certainly enjoy a nice massage while being shampooed and will love all the attention from his favorite friend! PawLux offers a variety of all natural shampoos for you to choose from, like Cain & Able Lavender Shampoo.
4. De-tangle Those Knots! Get rid of all those tangles and give a healthy shine to your dog’s coat by massaging conditioner into his coat. Look at PawLux.com for some great smelling and all natural conditioners. like Fuzz Yard’s Organic Conditioner.
5. Towel Time- Time to towel dry! Have a towel on hand throughout the “spaw” time since dogs like to show their appreciation by shaking all the water from their fur. The towel is a great way to embrace his ‘thanks’. Once your dog is all dry brush his fur until there is a nice smooth shine.
   

   Happytails Sparkle & Shine Shimmering Mist

6. Hassle free bath option!- If you don’t want the hassle of a full shampoo and condition, use Cain & Able Between Bath Spray to keep your pet clean and healthy. It also helps repel those pesky insects your dog hates!
7. Star Treatment- We know Fido needs to see everyone who stops to admire him, so take a few minutes to trim extra hair away from your dog’s face.
8. Paw-dicure- Keeping your dog’s nails trim is important to keep him (and your floors) happy. Check out our blog about Paw-dicures to learn more.
9. Shining Star!- For an extra bit of sparkle and shine add a bit of glitz with the Happytails Shimmering Mist!

Now your dog is all ready to show off. So go for a nice walk to show off your shiny and clean dog. Just watch out for all those big fun mud puddles dogs are great at finding. Or just curl up beside your happy and good smelling dog and relax the rest of the night!

Does your dog need a paw-dicure? Well, right about now your hard wood floors are probably screaming “YES!” No one can resist a pedicure. Just like humans, dogs need to have their nails clipped on a regular basis (once to twice month) to prevent ingrown, split nails & breakage. Not to mention it makes the nail clipping process much easier for both parties (you & your dog). Dogs are active creatures and if nails are left untended can make it difficult for your dog to walk and be mobile.

Every month you should check to see if your dog nails are getting to long. A good time to check it is during your dogs grooming & spa day session. A general rule of thumb is that your dogs toe nails should never touch the ground, if they do then they need clipped. Does the thought of clipping your dogs toe nails make you a little queasy or uneasy? Well, no worries! If you are uncomfortable and your anxious dog is hesitant about the nail clipping process you can let your vet or groomer do it for you. Hey, remember these are the good guys and have your dogs best interest at heart. Besides, if you need someone to demonstrate the “how to’s” they are great people to call on.

For all you DIYer’s here are some easy & simple instructions on how to clip your dog’s nail without the blood, sweat & tears.

1. Get the right tools! No you can’t use your hedge clippers for the job. Be sure to use nail clippers designed for a dog. Human nail clippers are designed to clip flat nails. A dog’s rounded nails require circular clippers that clip straight through the nail.

2. Proper Exam-First things first is to examine your dogs nail to determine if and where it should be clipped. Inspecting your dog’s nail will allow you to see if there are any cracked nails that need special attention or TLC.

So what is the quick? The quick is the end portion of the vein, and should not be cut. Cut the nail that grows past the quick. If the dog’s nail is white or light-to-medium brown, the quick will be easy to spot. If the nails are black, you will likely not be able to see the quick; make smaller cuts and advance carefully to avoid cutting through the quick. The diagram will help you better understand your dogs paw anatomy, knowing this will make the clipping process easier.

3. Get comfortable-Before clipping, position yourself with your dog in front of you. If possible, have a second person take this position, which can allow you to have full use of both your hands. If a second person is not available, use your body weight to maintain control of your dog.

4. Have a firm grip-Grasp your dog’s paw firmly. Maintaining complete control over your dog’s paw prevents jerking movements that can cause the clippers to slip and cause injury to your dog.

5. Clip away Slowly- Place one nail through the center portion of the clippers. The side of the clippers with screws and a movable arm should face your dog. Clip each nail at a 45 degree angle, leaving about 2 mm of the nail past the quick.

Remember to trim the dewclaw nail, on the inside of the leg. Since it doesn’t touch the ground, it wears down less rapidly than the others.

6. Ready, Set, Squeeze! Squeeze the movable arm of the clippers to clip the nail. If the nail is black, repeat the process, if needed.

It is important that to ease your dog into his first nail-clipping session. Clip a few nails at a time, praise your dog with treats & words and take rest breaks. If you cut the quick, don’t panic. After wiping the blood away, apply a small pinch of styptic powder (an anti-clotting agent) to the area and apply pressure for 60 seconds. If you don’t have any you can use corn starch, baby powder or cotton balls as a substitute to stop the bleeding.

You see, now that was painless!! In the end keeping your cool is key to making sure your dog remains calm in any situation, even a much anticipated and needed paw-dicure

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Providing Bark-tastic Customer Service!! Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & organic goodies for your new furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !

Unfortunately dogs are not allowed in theaters. But lucky for you & Fido you can rent & bring those box office hits home. You can get the best of both worlds relax & stretch out in the best seat in the house, your sofa and surround sound. Nothing beats lounging on the coach alongside your dog watching a summer movie flick with a bowl of pup-corn. Hollywood has truly gone to the dogs and dog lovers can’t resist a good movie with a four legged leading characters. Here are our top summer picks for the best dog movies which are great for the entire family.

Hotel for Dogs (2009)- Animals are strictly forbidden at Andi and her little brother Bruce’s foster home. But for Friday, the adorable dog they secretly care for, they’re ready to risk everything. They finally find him an ideal shelter, a huge abandoned hotel that Bruce transforms thanks to his engineering genius. In what has become an incredible paradise for dogs, Friday is soon joined by all kinds of furry friends, so many in fact that their barks alert the neighbors…and the local pound, who can’t understand the disappearance of all the stray dogs. Andi and Bruce will have to call on all their friends and all their imagination to stop the hotel’s secret from being discovered

Benji (1974) - This movie is about a scruffy stray dog mixed-breed dog that wins the hearts of a family and ends up saving the kids from kidnappers. The lovable Benji was played by a dog named Higgins who was fifteen years old when he made the movie. Surprisingly for such an old dog, he did all of his own stunts in the movie.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) – A pampered Beverly Hills chihuahua named Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore) who, while on vacation in Mexico with her owner Viv’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) niece, Rachel (Piper Perabo), gets lost and must rely on her friends to help her get back home before she is caught by a dognapper who wants to ransom her. In the meantime, Papi (voiced by George Lopez), a male chihuahua who is in love with her is in pursuit of her. Papi’s master (Manolo Cardona), a handsome young gardener for Viv, slowly develops a romantic interest in Rachel. Chloe befriends a lonely German Shepherd (voiced by Andy Garcia) who travels with her to protect her from the evil Doberman (voiced by Edward James Olmos) who wants to return her and her diamond collar to the dognapper.

Lassie Come Home (1943) – This dog movie inspired a slew of sequels and remakes, but none are as good as the original, starring Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. The movie is about a lovable and bright collie who is sold by her impoverished family. The dog loves her family so much that she escapes from her new owner and makes the long trip from Scotland back to her home in Yorkshire.

Old Yeller (1957) - This Walt Disney Productions feature film is based upon the 1956 Newberry Honor-winning book of the same name written by Fred Gipson. It tells the story of Travis Coats and a stray dog in post-Civil War Texas.

101 Dalmatians (1967) - The original Disney animated version of this film was the highest grossing movie of it’s time. With one of the most memorable villainesses ever, Cruella De Vil, this movie follows the story of her plan to make a fur coat from the fur of kidnapped Dalmatian puppies.

Cats & Dogs (2001) – This a spy movie with a canine twist. The world’s dogs are on a top-secret, high-tech mission to protect an important scientist and his attempts to save humans from dog allergies. The evil Mr. Tinkles is the dogs’ feline nemesis.

Marley and Me (2008) – The most recent heart-touching dog film is based on the best-selling autobiographical book by John Grogan. The movie tells the story of an adorable but high-strung yellow lad named Marley, and how he helps his family learn some valuable life lessons.

Turner & Hooch (1989) – Starring Tom Hanks and Craig T. Nelson, this movie tells the story of Hooch, a large and drooling Dogue de Bordeaux, who is the only witness to a murder.

Best in Show (2000) - This dog movie is a comedy about competing in a national dog show. Not your typical dog movie, this documentary-style film is just hilarious. The dogs are beautiful and their owners are colorful, obsessive, and absolutely hysterical.

Lady and the Tramp (1955) – This animated feature film produced by Walt Disney tells the story of pampered cocker spaniel Lady, and her West Side Story-type romance with stray dog Tramp. This is a great one to watch with the rest of the family.

Beethoven (1992) – This dog film is the first in a series of Beethoven movies. It tells the story of a lovable but destructive Saint Bernard named Beethoven who gets dognapped for animal testing., but his family is determined to find and rescue their family dog.

So thanks all you celebri-dogs for making the dog days of summer even better. And the Oscar Bone goes to…..

What’s your favorite dog flick to watch w/ a big buttery bowl of popcorn or shall we say “pupcorn”? Show your love for Lassie, Benji & Old Yeller. Bark out your choices & reason why by leaving a comment below.

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Don’t forget to shop www.pawlux.com for your doggie summer staples. We offer eco-friendly, all natural and organic goodies for your deserving furry family member. We carry a great selection of Odor Free Bully Sticks / Dog Treats / and Dog Toys !