Tips From the Trainer - Coming SOON

I am thrilled to announce that, starting this Tuesday, I will be adding a new weekly feature to this blog. Every week my good friend and dog trainer, Gail Green, will be writing a piece we are calling “Tips From the Trainer.” 

Gail has been training companion animals for over 39 years.  She has received certification from a variety of associations including the SF SPCA Dog Training Academy and the nationally recognized Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.  Over the years she has been involved in competition. sport, and behavior problem solving with animals.  was one of the hundreds of volunteers who lent their skills and services during Hurricane Katrina. Currently, her work includes private behavior counseling and conducting group classes, as well as working with animals in shelters and those impacted by natural disasters.  She also provides online and over-the-phone behavior counseling.  She was one of the hundreds of volunteers who lent their skills and services during Hurricane Katrina.  Her book,”Dog Parking It!”, a guide to fenced and designated dog parks throughout the state of California is due out later this year.  She is currently owned by her Border Terrier mix service dog Twyla, and a very bright and silly parakeet named Hatch.  Gail is known by all of us at Petlane as the “dog whisperer” and I am proud to call her a friend and honored to have her as a guest blogger.  To learn more about Gail and the services she offers, please visit her website.

For the month of February, Gail’s series will focus on everything you ever wanted to know about puppies.  We felt this topic was especially timely as many people get puppies over the holidays and around Valentine’s Day - and three days later wonder what they have gotten themselves into!  Gail’s practical advice and incredible information will help turn your puppy monster into a beloved family pet.

If you have specific topics you would like Gail to cover in future postings (Gail can talk knowledgeably about dogs, cats, and birds) please let me know!  I know you will enjoy this new addition to this blog.

Treats for Dogs with Diabetes

A diabetic dog does not have to be exempt from Howl-O-Ween treats! In a prior blog posting, I wrote extensively about the symptoms of diabetes and the treatments available. Since that posting, I have receive a number of inquiries about whether or not it is okay for dogs with diabetes to have treats. The answer is a resounding YES, diabetic dogs can still have treats! However, the treats cannot contain any sugar, such as molasses, fructose, dextrose or maltose (all popular ingredients added to many commercial treats to make them tasty).  Dehydrated meat products (shameless bit of self promotion - Petlane offers Chicken Fillets which consist solely of chicken breast fillet and all-natural seasonings) and low-sugar vegetables (e.g. spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, lettuces, broccoli and cabbage) make good rewards.  To be completely safe however, if your dog has diabetes, I do recommend checking with your veterinarian before offering your dog treats or making changes to your dog’s diet.

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