Brush Those Teeth!

Brushing your dog's teeth is a wonderful thing to do. It really doesn't take all that much time either. I brush Tilda's teeth everyday. Sure, I've missed some days, but I try to do it. I really think the best time to start is in puppy stage. Even though puppies don't really have dirty teeth, it's a great time to get them used to the brushing and it also keeps them from getting dirty teeth. I should have put more of an effort out to do so when Tilda was a young pup. She handles the situation fine, she is so good about it (although, I wouldn't say she really enjoys it). But, her teeth are a little dirty and maybe that could have been helped had I started brushing sooner and did it more often.

I usually will kneel on the floor when I brush Tilda's teeth and simply put her between my legs. This way I just have to lean over a little, open her mouth and start brushing. It does not need to be done this way. I can imagine this may not really work for a big dog. This is just one way to do teeth brushing. 


Don't use your own tooth paste, it isn't good for dogs. I recently got Tilda a new tube of doggie tooth paste, so far I like it. It's made by NylaBone and is made in the USA. It's also natural peanut flavored. The tooth paste I used before I got this was made in China, something I wasn't crazy about.  


It is best to brush everyday if you can. If you have a puppy, go ahead and start. If you have an older dog, go ahead and start. You may have to build your dog up to doing this, you might not be able to simply get in the mouth and brush. There is nothing wrong with taking time to teach this to your dog. Maybe you'll only be able to touch the brush to the teeth and that's all the dog will take. Take it slow and practice everyday getting more advanced in the brushing as your dog relaxes. Just because your dog doesn't like it, doesn't mean you should give up. Any brushing you can do will be better than not doing anything at all.    

Lil' Tilda

Tilda's 6/8/12 Agility Trial Runs

Excellent A STD

Excellent A JWW

6/8/2012 Trial Results - A Nice Trial

On Friday (6/8/12) we were at an agility trial. Tilda, Buddy, and Gracie all ran in this trial.

Tilda:
In Excellent A Standard we NQ'd. We had 1 refusal, 3 faults (2 fly offs and 1 bar), and 1 table fault. We made time: 60.32 out of 67 seconds was our time.

In Excellent A Jumpers with Weaves we just had 1 fault (a knocked bar), so we NQ'd. I'm happy with the way she ran it though. Time was good: 36.97 out of 48 seconds.

Buddy:
In Excellent B Standard he NQ'd. He knocked a bar and I think he had a wrong course.

In Excellent B Jumpers With Weaves he NQ'd. The NQ might have been because of a refusal.

Gracie:
In Excellent B Standard she NQ'd. Gracie had a wrong course, not sure if there were other problems.

In Excellent B Jumpers With Weaves Gracie also NQ'd.

NQs all around :) It was a nice day and a nice trial. We also crated indoors, so it wasn't as hot for the dogs.

Tilda Playing with a Baby Bird

This little guy was out in the yard last night. I threw Tilda's ball and she ran past the bird. On the way back she noticed him/her in the yard. Poor little thing was probably really scared. She never picked it up though.

Notice her tail :)

6/1/2012 Trial Results- 2 Titles!

Buddy and Gracie were at an agility trial today; I didn't enter Tilda in this trial.

Buddy:
In Excellent A Jumpers with Weaves Buddy Qualified, took First Place, and got his Excellent Agility Jumper title!! 


In Excellent B Standard Buddy NQ'd

Gracie:
In Excellent A Standard she Qualified, took First Place, and got her Agility Excellent title!!!


In Excellent B Jumpers with Weaves Gracie NQ'd.


Congrats to both Buddy and Gracie on the new titles!