The folks at D.A.P (Dog Appeasing Pheremone) are encouraging dog owners to help calm their dogs from the thunderstorms and fireworks this weekend. D.AP., made by Ceva Animal Health, is a synthetic pheromone-based product that helps soothe noise induced stress in pooches, and can help fear, anxiety, and erratic and unwanted behaviors like panting, cowering, hiding and house destruction.
“By replicating the comforting pheromones of a mother dog, D.A.P. helps alleviate fear and stress-related behaviors to calm our dogs,” said Dr. Debra Horwitz, a leading veterinarian and authority on canine behavior. “Research has shown that the appeasing pheromone can be very effective in providing simple, effective treatment for dogs with stress and fear-related conditions.”
Available at vet clinics in three convenient forms, the D.A.P. products include:
- D.A.P. Diffuser: an easy-to-use, electric plug-in diffuser that comes with a 48 ml bottle of D.A.P. For up to one month, the diffuser releases the active ingredient into any environment that dogs may seek refuge in during noisy events. Refill bottles are available.
- D.A.P. Spray: a 75 ml spray bottle that can be applied directly on comfort surfaces for dogs (crates, bedding, etc.) in conjunction with the diffuser.
- D.A.P. Collar: stays with your dog, providing pheromone therapy during loud events that can cause fear and stress. Each collar lasts up to one month.
Dr. Horwitz also offers up some other tips on managing dogs’ fear and stress through storms and fireworks:
- Sweet Distractions: try to distract the dog with playful activities, or training with food during the noisy event.
- Lighten the mood: be careful not to reward negative behaviors by petting and reassuring the dog as it acts out; this will make the dog feel even more so like there is something to fear. Instead of a sympathetic voice, use a happy or playful voice. This will lend the dog confidence.
- Shelter from the Storm: avoid keeping the dog enclosed in a particular room, and instead provide them with a safe and comfortable area, such as their crate in a quiet room or familiar resting place.
- Volume of Confidence: try familiarizing the dog to a particular noise by playing audio from thunderstorms or fireworks softly, gradually increasing the volume as the dog gets used to it.
- Treating the source: use a pheromone therapy, such as Ceva’s D.A.P. to work in conjunction with these tips as well as a larger behavior modification program. Unlike medications that sedate the dog or can cause other negative side effects, D.A.P. provides a sound and gentle solution, mimicking the natural pheromone released by a mother dog to calm her pups.
To order D.A.P. products, click here. Have a happy July 4th everyone, and good luck during this thunderstorm season!
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This July, ThoughtsFurPaws.com is having another photo contest, except this time, we want dog photos! Whether he/she is sleeping, playing, chewing or just being plain old silly, send us your best dog photos and three lucky winners will receive a prize package worth $50 with new dog toys… chewies, stuffies, and more!
Email me your best dog photos at thoughtsfurpaws@gmail.com by July 27th. Winners will be announced July 28th. Good luck!
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Sweet girl Lily
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According to the Humane Society of the United States, the group has gathered even more evidence that Petland is still selling puppy mill dogs, some coming from the worst of the worst for-profit breeders in the country…
Wayne Pacelle, on his blog A Humane Nation, yesterday posted the new evidence.
“And today, The HSUS released a second batch of evidence that confirms again that Petland is engaging in doublespeak when it claims it is not selling dogs from puppy mills. Our records analysis revealed that more than 95 percent of Petland’s stores do buy from puppy mills, either directly from the facilities themselves, or indirectly through massive out-of-state brokers (middleman dealers) who traffic in thousands of puppies a year. In fact, more than 80 of Petland’s outlets were found buying from the Hunte Corporation alone, a massive Missouri broker that traffics in approximately 80,000 puppies a year.”
To read the rest of the news, click here.
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We all love capturing the wild and whacky ways of our pets on film. Who doesn’t have their favorite fur baby’s picture framed somewhere around the house? The constant antics of our pets are so much fun to capture on a camera and keep forever. Now there’s a whole new world of options out there, new pet photo projects and pet lover gifts you can make with your favorite pet pictures. Bethca’ didn’t know these even existed…So grab the camera, snap some cute shots of Fido, and go to town with these fun pet photo projects! All of these make excellent pet lover gifts for holidays and birthdays, too!
Pet Photo Books
Perhaps one of the coolest things you can do with your favorite pet pictures is create a hard-bound record of your pet’s life by making a pet photo book. Professionally printed and bound, and available in hard or soft cover, pet photo books feature your pet’s picture on every glossy page like a real book! Plus, you can customize the back cover with your dog or cat’s name, breed, favorite toy, cutest trickm, etc!
Pet Photo Calendars
For something to look at and enjoy the whole year through, create a pet photo calendar with a different pet photo for each month. You can add captions and custom dates to the pet photo calendar, choose your own start month, and even design your own cover!
Pet Photo Mugs
For the consummate coffee drinker who also cherishes his/her dear pet, there are pet photo mugs. With a variety of sizes, styles and colors to choose from, pick one or a few pet pictures to feature on this pet lover gift.
Pet Photo Journals
Keep a constant reminder of the love of your life, your pet, with a pet photo journal. Whether you use it daily or a couple times a week or month, this journal can be uniquely yours. Select from multiple cover layouts to design your journal cover, and customize the front cover inside!
Pet Photo Mouse Pads
Perhaps one of the most popular items to customize is a pet photo mouse pad. If you’re constantly at your computer, keep a little reminder of who loves you the most – your pet! Pet photo mouse pads come with different layout options so you can customize away!
Pet Photo Address Book
A neat twist on an everyday necessity, the 6.5″ by 8.75″ pet photo address book is a must-have. Select from multiple cover layout options to design your own address book cover, plus the front cover inside is customizable!
Pet Photo Puzzle
Take a close up shot of your pet or have him pose for the camera, then turn his picture into a jigsaw puzzle! An inventive pet photo gift, the photo puzzle is made of 252 glossy pieces and makes for a great weekend activity. When you’re done with your pet photo puzzle, throw on some puzzle glue and put it in a frame!
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I was able to get some early summer photos of the crew a couple weeks back… of course Sasha escaped the flashy box and wouldn’t let me snap her, but here are the boys and their cousin and Theodore, who all love the camera…
Benson
Gibson
Theodore
Our cousin Henry
Newest Family Member
My New Niece
Posted on June 23rd, 2009 in
Canine Corner,
DogsYou may not know, but Take Your Dog to Work Day is coming up on June 26th. How many of you take your dog in to the office this day? I participated last year and it was so much fun, but I got absolutely no work done that day…! My company, American Greetings, has tons of activities centered around pooches for the day, and even has a bake sale and auction!
If you are celebrating Take Your Dog to Work Day this year, send this cute pets ecard celebrating the date.
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Posted on June 23rd, 2009 in
Canine Corner,
DogsWe wanted to fill everyone in on Benson and Dad’s progress. Benny is doing just “okay.” He has been vomiting for about 24 hours now and doesn’t seem to be digesting food but finally last night he kept his dinner in. If he keeps throwing up though, it’s back to the vet. Keep your paws crossed for Benny!
Dad on the other hand is making astonishing progress in therapy. He gets occupational, physical and speech therapy and has been getting 100% on everything since Saturday. They might even let him come home on Friday! Hooray!
Thanks for all your prayers and best wishes everyone. I’ll keep you updated on Benson for sure 
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Not sure if you all remember my sister’s first foster Basset Hound, Yeager, he was only with us for a few weeks before he got adopted out to a wonderful home in Michigan. Recently his new owners sent a pupdate to tell us how “Luther” (they renamed him) is doing. Here is the pupdate and two pictures. We love happy endings and there are so many to tell about in fostering! Hooray for Luther/Yeager, and hooray for my sister for getting him adopted out to a wonderful furever home!
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“Luther is doing great. Chris and I just adore him! It did take quite alot of work to get him housetrained and to stop marking his territory inside the house. I think he’s finally understanding what’s right and wrong. I knew to use alot of patience. I can see from scolding him, he lays on the ground and rolls over extremely scared. Someone must have beat him in the past. We do not train that way! When I see him that scared I put my arms around him and hold him telling him he’s a good boy. We have found he’s very afraid of loud noises. Probably associated with the beatings from a previous owner trying to scare him into doing right. During thunderstorms he is so frightened. 
I started to use the natural calming holistic Naturvet products. They seem to be working to ease him. All of this brings me closer to him. I want to protect him and give him a happy carefree life.
He makes us laugh at all the silly things he does and gets into. When he walks, his front feet are so big making him clumsy sometimes. His howl is so unique that we laugh at that all the time. He stills jumps up onto the counters and us when we sit at the table. This will take some time but eventually he should know to sit and behave along with his brothers.
His brothers love him! They play constantly. He loves to play chase all afternoon in the yard with both brothers. They get a little carried away sometimes with the play wrestling so we have to jump in and settle them down but then it’s off and playing again. He loves to be my shadow and follow me all 
around. When I sit on my swing in the front yard, Luther comes running, jumps up and lays down next to me. He loves to swing with me. When Chris gets home from work, Luther pretty much knocks him down with excitement.
Chris and the three boys love play wrestling and playing chase.
I’ve attached a couple more pics. Luther’s body is really filling out nice from eating regular good meals everyday. He’s a beautiful dog!”
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