As we approach Dog Bite Prevention Week, it’s important to remember that both dog owners and friendly people are responsible for preventing dog bites. Any dog can bite when provoked or scared; taking the right steps to make your dog comfortable in different situations begins with you.

Dog Owner Tips:

• Keep your dog from any teasing or threatening environment.

• Spay or neuter your dog – this keeps your dog from wandering and from developing a need to fight with other dogs.

• Use a leash – a leash lets you control how much your dog interacts with people as well as it allows you to easily remove your dog from a situation she or he finds stressful. You can find some great leashes at ShopBarkBarkClub.com

• Fences – while an invisible fence will contain your dog in your yard, it does not keep curious people or other animals out so make sure your dog is well supervised when secured by an invisible fence.

• Dog Classes – Dogs need to learn to socialize with both other dogs and other people, which reduce “stranger danger” for your dog. We have a variety of classes at Bark Bark Club – click HERE for details.

• Playing – Never play “chase” with a dog and teach “drop it” when playing with a toy. This not only keeps your fingers out of your dog’s mouth, but also trains your dog to release an object (or body part) on command.

• Vaccinate – Get a yearly rabies vaccine and keep a copy of the certificate in an easily accessible place.

Friendly People Tips:

• Teach children to always ask permission before petting a dog.

• Never leave small children unsupervised with a dog.

• Do not pet a dog while it is sleeping, eating, or drinking and keep hands away from a dog’s face.

• Check the dog’s body language – does the dog seem happy, scared, or shy?

• If you see an unfamiliar dog wandering without a leash, the American Kennel Club says do not scream or run away from the dog – that could put the dog in “attack mode”. Instead, stand still and look away from the dog (direct eye contact can be seen as a challenge to the dog). If you can, toss an object away from you and the dog to distract the dog as you slowly walk away.

Dog bites are preventable with just a few simple steps. By keeping these in mind, you and your dog can enjoy interacting with all kinds of people.

Remember, this is Chicago so vote early and often!

Note: Voting ends on May 22 so get those votes for Bark Bark Club in now!

Many news organizations have reported about studies that show that pets lower blood pressure, reduce depression and anxiety, keep kids from developing allergies, and raise levels of serotonin and dopamine (the “feel good” chemicals in our bodies). If you Google “benefits of having a pet”, over 21,500 articles appear.

So, instead we asked you, our Bark Bark Club community, about the benefits of having a pet and we loved what we heard!

Nicole on Facebook said pets provide “Great companion, company, protector, joy, comfort, de-stressor, teach responsibility, love, loyalty, fun, happiness!”

Kari shared “It has been proven pets lower blood pressure! They are also an excellent security system! Pets keep things in perspective. As Cyndi Lauper would say “Pets just want to have fun” and everyone should take a minute to enjoy life.”

No surprise, K9 Fit Club tweeted loves “exercising and bonding with your best friend.”

Whether through unconditional love or forced self-improvement (exercising or calling it a night because you have to take care of the dog!), pets make our lives better and complete.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t add that we have lots of goodies to help you take care of your pet at ShopBarkBarkClub.com!

You can find us sharing a booth with One Tail at a Time and we’d love to see you!

When: Saturday, May 4, 2013
Where: Montrose Harbor, Chicago, Illinois
Onsite Registration: 7 a.m.–10 a.m., red tents
Run Steps off: 9:00 a.m. (no dogs, please)
Walk Steps off: 9:15 a.m.
The event usually wraps up around Noon

Have an idea for another Pet Poll?

Tweet us (@BarkBarkClub) or post on our Facebook wall (click HERE for link).

* Expires March 29, 2013. Maximum value: $50. No other promotions or discounts apply.

Unless your veterinarian has prescribed a specific food, choosing the best dog food really varies from dog to dog. Like finding the best food for humans, it comes down to nutrients, taste (your dog’s), and (lack of) food allergies or reactions.

When selecting a food, start with your dog’s stage of life (puppy, adult, or senior) followed by your dog’s size and any weight management issues your dog may have. Next, read the list of ingredients. Like human food, the ingredients are listed by what the food contains most to least. You want a food to have a protein, either meat or fish, as the first ingredient and no or limited fillers like corn or grain by-products.

The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) reviews protein in dog food and the FDA makes sure food meets pet food safety and labeling standards. Look for food that has the AAFCO statement of approval: “Formulated to meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for Puppies/Adults/Senior.” All Natural food does not contain any synthetic ingredients (but could include synthetic vitamins) and both organic and holistic are simply marketing buzz words when it comes to pet food labels so don’t put too much stock in them.

As for the old dry versus wet conundrum, again it comes down to what your dog prefers. Dry food is more nutritionally concentrated so you can feed your dog less of it but wet food tends to be higher in protein and fat. A combination of wet and dry dog food is perfectly acceptable and many dogs thrive on it.

When you introduce a new food, gradually mix it in with your dog’s current food while phasing out the old food over the course of a few weeks. Look for any reactions good (shiny coat, healthy eyes and demeanor) or bad (stools, skin, ear, joint problems).

Of course, we are always happy to talk with you about your dog and help you select the best food for him or her.