One day earlier this year we were in Costco and low and behold they had the Kirkland brand of flea treatment for $20 and even better it included 6 topical vials.  Of course we were skeptical at first but it has worked well for about 80% less than the name brands.  Wow the price is better and it really works; now that’s a winning combination. The only noticeable difference was when we applied it to the 3 recommended spots ; the dog’s nape, mid back and the base of the tail it leaves a funny kind of look to the coat.  The look is similar to putting a very light gel in your hair and after 12 to 24 hours combed or brushed out to give a normal look.  So if you are looking for a good topical flea and tick treatment for your small pooch give Costco’s Kirkland brand a try.  It keeps our 3 small pups flea free and helps their small dog beds as well for only about $10 a month.

Sometime ago we had an all terrain small dog stroller that would hold upwards of 60 lbs comfortably, I believe it was rated for 75 lbs.  The stroller had large tires with the treads similar to those on a mountain bike tire making it easy to traverse a woodsy trail of roots and or rocks.  It had a rain slicker, cup holders (for smooth ground only), excellent space for our pups with strong zippered mesh and nice sized storage area under the stroller compartment.  We purchased this small dog stroller because we liked to get out and walk with our little guys and our 14 year old Mini Doxie just couldn’t go far and he just had to go along with the others because we were family.  If we were going past an area with loose dogs we could quickly and easily load all 3 of our small ones in the stroller for safe keeping and avert any confrontations.

The wonderful thing is small dog strollers are so versatile, we’ve even used it to take items with us to the beach, and the large tires worked well in the sand.  Yes we had beaches for dogs after all it was California!  Anyway it is good to go to people beaches too, a smaller cooler, towels etc fit nicely.  Strollers come in many models to accommodate different sized pups and different uses.  Some are multi use such as a stroller/carrier/car seat which make them an especially great buy.  There are all terrain, jogging, light duty, heavier duty, pretty, practical and economical models to name a few.  So if you have a small or medium sized pooch, an older one, or you just like going further than your small dog can go you’ll love a small dog stroller.  There must be many more uses for your stroller, be creative and happy strolling.

We first started with a classic or standard nylon type small dog harness with ½ to ¾ inch straps.  Then secured the seat belt/shoulder strap and then attached the harness to the belt or shoulder strap with small ½” dog collar.  This worked well and gave our small dogs the freedom to enjoy the sites, the wind or the smells they seek.  When we had just 2 little pups, they each had their own side of the car which they preferred; then they got a new little dog sister which presented a new challenge.  Now we could easily attach her small dog harness to the center belt but then she couldn’t get near all the action like the others.  Our solution was to span a short nylon leash between the two outside belts and connect her harness to it.  Again the collars and a leash were dedicated to vehicle use only.

Figuring there must be an easier method to attach a harness to the seat belt, we found the step in harness which allows for the front legs to step in the harness then connects on the back around or just behind the shoulders. This harness has 2 rings located on either side of the snap in type closure which is normally used to attach a leash.  By using a small carabineer to connect the 2 harness rings around the seat belt/shoulder harness the pups are secured.

Now there are also car seats and carriers which double as or are designed to also act as in vehicle small dog safety devices.  We will delve into them in a later post. Meanwhile the harness you select will serve 2 purposes; it is a great to walk your pup with and can protect your small dog while riding in your vehicle. Visit asmalldogsworld.com today, we have a great selection of small dog harnesses to meet all your pooches needs.

Now you would probably think it is a pain in the neck putting the crate in the car then pulling out again, well you are right it is!  We tried it for a while and our pups sure loved having their crates in the back seat, they made them feel secure.  After using the standard folding metal crates which they slept in, we came to the following conclusions:

The pros – we used the same crates as they slept in and it didn’t cost any extra money.

The cons – we always had to pack them from the house to the vehicle and back, some of the metal parts could snag or cut your seats/covers, and if your dog flew from the back of the crate to the front on a quick stop the metal mesh was hard and could injure your best friend.

Over a period of time we found the collapsible soft nylon type small dog crate, which we purchased and dedicated to only vehicle use. Additionally we can easily take them out of the vehicle for use at the park or in a friend’s back yard and have the added luxury of folding up nicely then fitting behind the back seats of our truck when not in use. We hold our small dog crates in place by moving the seats forward and/or back to wedge them snuggly between the seats; this has protected our pooches on more than one occasion during an unexpected stop. We’ve found these small dog crates to give during a sudden stop unlike the metal mesh type crates, thus protecting our pups from serious injury. Our family believes these crates ensure our little pals safety when traveling in any vehicle and the convenience and ease of use is well worth the expense of a second set of crates.

Measure your little pals neck with a tape measure of some sort; a sewing cloth type works the best or a string in a pinch. Keep in mind puppies grow fairly quickly and it is important to always check their collar for tightness. When measuring the neck insert 2 fingers under the tape or string to allow for proper fit. If a string is used mark the length with a sharpie. You can now measure it with a ruler, yard stick or a tape measure. As a rule of thumb the 2 fingers between the collar and the pup’s neck is the right fit. Everyone has their own way and you can usually tell when it is getting to tight. For example some dogs scratch and/or wiggle their head much more than normal as it gets too tight.

Okay now you’ve got the length measurement and it is time to select your pup’s collar; there are so many choices! Probably the 2 most popular styles are leather and nylon. Next you have to select the width of the small dog collar.  They typically are available in 3/8” for very small dogs like teacups, ½”, 5/8” or 1 “ widths. Some come with a quick release buckle others utilize the standard belt buckle type. If the collar length with a standard belt type buckle is: 8-10” = 10” from the center of the buckle to the farthest hole and 8” to the closet hole.  In other words is the range of adjustability. Different manufacturers vary a bit with sizing charts but these are at least a starting point. XS = 6-12”, S = 9-15” and M = 12-18” is an example. Sometimes you will even read up to this weight this size etc but that can definitely vary by dog breed. It is your choice. Most dog owners use the collar around the neck of a dog for control, identification, or other purposes. Identification, licenses and medical information is often placed on small dog collars. Collars are also useful for controlling the dog, as they provide a handle for grabbing.  We like having a separate ID tag with name and phone information to go along with our license tag which jingles nicely and allows us to know where our pup is located, especially in the dark. Some owners prefer other jingling devices like bells, especially with small puppies that can easily be stepped upon or accidently kicked.

The collar you select will ultimately keep your new puppy safe and comfortable.  A Small Dog’s World has a great selection of small dog collars to meet all your puppies needs.

After 8 years of city life we moved to the country in the mountain foothills. For the next 15 years we had 3 mini Doxies and 2 Jack Russell Terriers. They still enjoyed their bolster dog beds and mats on the tile floor. Now they got to experience temperatures from just below freezing to a desert midday of well over 100 F.  In the winter time they preferred their bolster small dog beds with sheep fleece type blankets in their crates at night and pillow type with covers if needed during the daytime. We bought many different styles and materials like a donut, pouch, rectangular, square, cotton, fleece, micro suede you name it we tried it.  We always ended up with a bolster of some shape because our best friends showed they enjoyed them and used them the most. The smallest Doxie also loved the pouch variety because he could easily bury himself under the covers with ease.

Now we live in the hot and humid Southeast where the mosquitoes are plentiful. Here we have just 2 Jack Russell Terriers and they still enjoy their bolster type small dog beds.  When it gets just to warm for them they lay on the floor by the air conditioner vent on a thin mat. Again we’ve tried several different styles small dog beds but have always returned to a plush and puffy bolster bed because it is what our pooches enjoy the most. If you’re not sure what style to get, try several different types and your best friend will let you know which they prefer. Above all most everyone prefers a machine washable model because dogs will always be dogs and get dirty; at least ours do.