Newsletter

http://inlandsmalldogrescuenewsletter.blogspot.com/

We are now doing a weekly newsletter on a blog.

Petfinder.com

Petfinder has barely been working for nearly a month.  Please use www.AdoptAPet.com too.  And please alert your friends as well.  This has been very difficult for rescues as most folks looking to adopt go to petfinder, which only works occasionally lately, thus adoptions are down all over the place.  Thank you!

When you adopt a new dog, keep your dog in a fenced yard, or on a leash at all times! So many go missing, yes, you guessed it, on their way home. It takes a dog a while, a month or more, to know where their new home is. Please don’t give them a chance to escape. Make your adoption a successful one.

 

If you do loose your dog, please refer to the blog below.

Finding Lost Pets
 

Live up to what your dog needs

ID your dog ASAP

Most often if you get a dog from a shelter, or rescue, it will be Microchipped.  Some feel it is an invaluable tool.  We have never taken a dog to a vet and had them scan it automatically, to see if it is even our dog.

Here is a site to consider.  Chip Me Not
And this just came to my desk today.
Pet Owners Misled on chips

If your dog is chipped, be sure to register the chip number with the maufacturer of the chip ASAP.  Also here is a national free chip registry.

www.FreePetChipRegistry.com

They say it is:

It is the mission of www.FreePetChipRegistry.com that all micro-chipped pets are properly registered into a database. That's why FreePetChipRegistry.com is completely FREE for LIFE and OPEN for all pets with any manufacturer's microchip ID. There is never a fee to makes changes to a pet registration and no registrant will ever be solicited for anything!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at any time.

This email is being sent to every known animal shelter and rescue in the United States (over 13,800).

Kindest Regards,

FreePetChipRegistry.com

22845 Hialeah Way, Suite 104
Chatsworth, CA 91311
fax: (818) 341-8528
phone: (818) 445-3022

The next ID is a Tattoo.

Tattoo

Some suggest not marking the ear, for obvious reasons.

The next and always suggested type of ID is a tag.  They can be purchased on site in many pet stores including Petsmart and Petco, and even Wal-Mart.

Always, always have a tag on your dog.  If you choose to add another ID it is your choice, Microchip or Tattoo.  When we use tags, we have a last name, phone number and zip code on the small ID tags, if they are large enough, the entire address.   Most dogs picked up by animal control have no ID at all.

If you loose your dog, here is a blog with tips on recovering your pet ASAP.

Finding Lost Pets/Blog

© 2011

Vaccines

 

 

 

 

Vaccination Protocol 

 

Vaccine Protocol.  ML = Modified Live

Do not ever let your dog get vaccinated with Fort Dodge Vaccine. Rabies should be every 3 years, and basically once they have had two shots of it, they are good for life, according to some. 

You can also do titers.

Titer Tests

It shows if they have antibodies, if they do, they don’t need to be subjected to shots.

Some vets believe that rabies vaccines are given to often.  Check out the Rabies Challange Fund.

Rabies Challange Fund



A must read on rabies vaccines.
Must Read on Rabies
The science of vaccine damage.
Vaccine Damage

Dr. Dodds on the relationship between vaccines and thyroid problems.  Also on vaccinosis.

(

And more:
Rabies Exemptions in some states

and  these which every dog or cat owner should know! 
Vaccine Induced Disease 2011 why Vets support Vaccine  Injury Compensation Act. 
Vaccines: Immune System &  DNA
Genetic Impact of Vaccines
  2011 P. Jordan,  DVM 
Vaccinosis  In Over-Vaccinated Pets

Vaccinosis
   April 2011 Disease symptoms and 
prevention, by Drs. Bloomer and Thomason.

Here are the latest American Animal Hospital Association vaccination guidelines (2011 recommendations):

https://www.aahanet.Vaccine Guidelines

Here is Richard Ford's vaccination guidelines. Note that he is an expert in communicable diseases (pets and people, including bioterrorism weapon diseases), isn't owned by a vaccine company, and was one of the first to call for extended vaccination schedules long before it hit the news. He took a lot of heat from the profession, but he turned out to be correct.

Dr. Fords Guidelines

Vaccines and pets:
Dr. Becker on Vaccines

This is what is on our adoption contract regarding vaccines at this time.
I will take the dog for annual checkups at a licensed veterinarian, at which time all appropriate shots and tests will be given and/or performed. A rabies shot need only be given every three years, there are specific vaccinations that are available and I will use those, not all clinics have them. They are called Continuum vaccines that are good for three years. One covers Parvo, the other Distemper and Adenovirus. Make sure the clinic you are using has these vaccines. Indian Trail Vet Clinic in Spokane is one that does and they like to do a rotation so your dog will only get one type of vaccine once a year. I will ask my vet to give this vaccine when vaccinations are due.

© 2011

How much of this med can I give my dog

Medication Coversion

This came through a blog a long time ago, so am sharing.

Animal Dosages for Supplements
Supplement  Dosage  Comments
CoQ-10 30mg caps    Toy breeds/cats= ½½ cap
Med./large Sized dogs= ½½ cap
Giant Breed = 1cap  Once daily with meal. Cardiovascular aid and production
of necessary enzyme ADP for every cell metabolism.

Chondroitin Sulfate 250mg caps  Toy Breed dogs = 250 mg
Med/large/Giant sized dogs= 500 up to 2500 mg daily as needed   Beneficial in
Arthritis and joint disease. Thought to repair damaged joint cartilage.

Glucosamine 500mg and 1000 mg capsules  All size dogs= start with 500mg,
daily then work up to 1500mg if needed. Give daily in divided doses with
meals. As symptoms subside, decrease to 500 or 1000mg daily Beneficial in
arthritis, naturally present in all joints. May help repair, lubricate and
prevent further joint damage.
MSM 500mg caps  All sized animals: Give daily 500mg up to 2000 mg in divided
doses with meals. Safe and well tolerated.  Natural sulfur compound necessary
for collagen formation for joints and connective tissue, and relieves pain.

EsterC 1000mg tab bound to Calcium +flavonoids and antioxidants Toy Dogs= 250
mg daily
Medium sized dogs= 500mg
Large sized dogs= 1000mg.
Giant Breeds 1500+mg. Best dosage in all sized dogs is to give to bowel
tolerance then back down to previous day''s dose without diarrhea.  Ester C
bound to calcium stays effective in body 4 x greater than regular Vit C.
Effective in all tissue repair, treatment of arthritis and Hip Dysplasia(HD).
Vit C has been used to prevent HD puppies in HD positive breeding parents.
Not recommended in cats.

Super Anti-Oxidant- Soft Gel=Vit E,Beta Carotene,Selenium Vit C Toy dogs= ½½
cap daily
Medium Dogs=1 cap
Large/Giant breeds= 2 caps  Thought to prevent anti-aging, tumors and cancer.


Advanced Digestive Enzymes  Toy dogs/cats= 1 cap with meals
Medium dog=2 caps
Large=2-3 caps  Replacement digestive enzymes for proper assimilation of
carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Adjunct to diarrhea treatment and for
geriatric , +/or pancreatitis .

Kyodophilus caps    Adult Dogs and Cats= -1-3 caps with meals 2-3 wks as
needed
Puppies and Kittens- 1/2 cap with meals/ or mix with milk formula 2-3 wks as
needed  For replacement normal digestive gut bacteria killed by antibiotic
administration. Necessary for proper digestion of foods.



Aerobic o7- 70 ml. liquid concentrate (needs dilution-never give concentrated
form)   Toy dogs/cats=5 drops diluted in 1 cup water.
Medium dog(up to 30#)=10 drops
Large (31-50#)-15 drops
Giant Breed Dogs and horses= 25 drops
People= 15 drops
Acute illness give 3-6 x daily
Chronic or maintenance dose for preventation of illness= give 1-2 times daily  
Promotes increased tissue oxygenation. Improvements in Congestive Heart and
Lung Conditions. Parasites and infective organisms cannot live in high oxygen
environment. Bacteriocidal, Viracidal, and Fungicidal, prevents tumor/cancer
cells from growing.. Known to reduce epileptic seizures. Literature cites
improvements in many Alzheimer patients.

Pet-Tinic oral liquid for dogs and cats ½½ teasp/25 lbs. bdy wt. 2x
daily-separate 1 hour from food, Life Extension Dog , or vitamin
minerals(calcium) supplements.  For anema: iron, copper and B cx vitamins

Please email us with suggestions.

© 2011

Some of our favorite products

If you have a dog with itchy ears, look for Zymox Otic. Some vets carry it, also, entirleypets.com drugstore.com and amazon.com.

"My labrador's ears are highly prone to infection. I try to "nip it in the bud", but often the infection gets out of control and I must resort to antibiotics. Vet bills mount. Meanwhile the poor dog suffers.

I read about Zymox and was skeptical but decided it couldn't hurt to give it a try. To my amazement, it worked! Barely one week after a bloody mess of an ear, he is completely better. I think Zymox is FASTER than antibiotics! Great product."

We have been trying Plaque Off with fairly good results, again, it can be bought many places online.

Plaque Off

For inflamed gums try Maxiguard Oral Gel.

Maxi Guard

And of course we love Dermagic Products. www.dermagic.com for all kinds of skin irritations.

http://www.kaygeeco.com/home.html

We use the dilution of five parts of water to one shampoo.

For cleaning the head we use Nature's Miracle Puppy Shampoo, it is NOT made in China!  We found it at Petsmart.

	New Product - Elk Velvet
	ELK VELVET ELK VELVET ANTLER SHAMPOO CONCENTRATE Available in both 16 ounce and 128 ounce sizes. Elk Velvet is harvested on an Elk farm in Idaho at precisely the optimum stage of velvet antler growth. Elk Velvet contains Growth Hormones, Collagen, Glucosamine Chondroitin and natural Anti-inflammatory properties. Blended into an all natural, Coconut Oil based shampoo concentrate, this product not only gently cleans and conditions the coat, and it acts as a catalyst to deliver the Elk Velvet Antler into the animal’s skin where it can be absorbed. Great for older animals and those with joint problems. DIRECTIONS: Dilutes up to 15:1 with warm water. Apply liberally to wet coat, and massage into lather. Let sit for 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water. You may repeat process if necessary. Testimonial: From: Certified Master Groomer (37 years experience) Virginia H. Austin, Vir-Del Kennels When I heard of the Anti-inflammatory properties of this natural shampoo, I wanted to get some for my standard poodle who has a pin in her hip since age 6 months. I have had her on natural glucossamine shark cartilage treats for years, but after her first shampoo and 10 min. soak & massage while soaking, she exhibited an exuberance I had not seen before. She ran around the yard & even “small” jumped around. She is 8 ½ years old, and acts like a puppy. I have used it since on an old German Shepard and older small breeds, and while grooming they seemed to be less sensitive to lifting the back legs for feet & grooming. I will definitely continue this shampoo on my own dogs and shop clients, and put it on my retail shelves so our senior pets as well as joint challenged pets can get some relief to their joints stiffness.

Anyway, this product is not listed on their site, WE LOVE IT! You can get it private label, we ask our adopters to get it, but, it is nowhere to be found unless one wants to order a gallon at a time. They tell me that mostly groomers use it. Toll free 800 752 3241 . l spoke with a guy named John, to find out if it would be worth our time to drive to Rathdrum, it wasn’t. Great product, unique and hard to find, the only place I can find that sells it online is in Canada.

Love2pet ear cleaner:
Love 2 Pet

And of course   Alleys Treats for smoked cow hooves and bully sticks.
 

Good things to have in your medicine cabinet for dogs is liquid Benadryl, Cat Hairball Remedy and Nutrical.  Just in case.

It is available online by just searching for the best deal.

Our dogs love these SAFE car seats which can be found onine.

Snoozer car seats for dogs.

Sprain, sore mucles, arthritis?   This is a good natural anti-inflamatory.

SOD with Boswellia for NatraVet.

Effective combination for arthritic pets. S.O.D. & Boswellia is a safe alternative to aspirin or NSAIDS. It is a great addition to any joint supplement. S.O.D. (Superoxide Dismutase) is considered by many naturopaths to be one of the world’s best antioxidants.

Find it online.


Bumps, brusies, trains?  Keep these in mind.

Dog that is anxious?

Thundershirts are online or at your local pet retailers.

• THEY WORK!

Music for your dog?

YES.

Online, to buy a CD or download.  This one is great for a dog that needs to calm down or rest.

 

 

Another one we play for the dogs when we leave is Happy Music, and they really love it.

 

 

                      We found it on Amazon.com

 

 

 We were buying these beds at Costco, they dogs LOVE them.  We went to by more, and they discontinued them, the good news is, we found the maufacturer, who will sell them for the same price we paid for them before.  About 20 dollars, made in the USA, washable, and comfy.

The ones we use are the 22 inch ones, the middle squishes down and all our dogs totally love them.

Contact info:  Hidden Valley Products 
Hidden Valley Products
 

 © 2011

Skunked Dog?

You might want to have products onhand for this issue, one never expects it!

You might want to have this onhand.

1 Qt 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tsp. liquid soap (and it needs to be Dawn - to break down the oils....)

Thank you Barb B. for this tip!

Or this product.

http://www.orangeapeel.com/deskunking.html

© 2011

How kids should and should not interact with dogs.

How old is my dog?

We always here that a dogs age is the same as seven human years.  Not so, depending on the dogs size and breed.  This chart may help.

CPR for pets

Have a disaster evecuation plan

Experts recommend packing a 72-hour “go-bag” before an emergency occurs. This bag should contain everything you need to survive for three days without assistance. Consider making one for your pet as well and include the following:

1. Copies of veterinary records – If you need to visit an out-of-town vet, having these records will save time, frustration and possibly your pet’s life. You may also be required to present vaccination records if you have to board your pet while you’re evacuated.
2. Collar, tag and leash – This should be a separate set from the ones you normally use. In the event of a true emergency, you may have only seconds to put your pet in the car and go. Engrave the tag with your cell phone number and/or the number of a close friend or relative.
3. Medications – In addition to a 72-hour supply, make a list of your pet’s medications in case they need to be refilled while you’re out of your home.
4. A crate or carrier – This will help ensure that your pet is safe and secure in an unfamiliar environment.
5. Food and water – Again, pack enough for at least three days and don’t forget to include bowls.
6. A photo of your pet – In the confusion of an emergency, frightened pets may flee. A recent, clear photo of your pet will help you in your search.
Finally, plan where you will go once you have evacuated. Will you stay with a friend, check into a hotel or go to an emergency shelter? Will your pet be welcome there or will you need to arrange for boarding? Does your local animal shelter have provisions in place to house displaced pets?
Hopefully, you will never need to put your plan into action. However, spending a few minutes now to prepare – just in case – could make all the difference for both you and your pet should the unthinkable occur.
Amber Carlton is a freelance blogger and business writer specializing in the pet industry. Owned by two dogs and two cats, she is affectionately (?) known as the crazy pet-lady amongst her friends and family. Connect with her at Comma Hound Copywriting, on Twitter or at Mayzie’s Dog Blog.

When your dog is near the water, you do you have a life jacket for them?

And forbid a fire, lot's of water, a getway plan, and of course the items listed above to care for your beloved pets.

 

© 2011

So you have kids, how should they interact with dogs?

Because children's minds are not always on the same page as adults, and some kids are so young they don't know the difference between real and pretend, please, always watch your children and how they interact with your pets.  Here are some tips.  Do's and Do Not's.

Thank you Dr. Yin for the graphics.

Here is a youtube video from Dr. Yin to further show you to to make interaction a postive one.

 

Making your own dog treats

In November 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued a cautionary warning regarding chicken jerky products made in China after receiving about 1,000 reports of illness associated with consumption of the product.

The treats have been linked to pet illnesses and even deaths across the United States and Canada. Despite exhaustive testing, the FDA has not found a contaminant causing illnesses. Although several brands of jerky treats were recalled in January after New York state agriculture officials found unapproved antibiotics in them, the antibiotics are not likely linked to the reported illnesses.

If you choose to feed your pet jerky treats, one option is to dry your own treats using a food dehydrator or your oven. This allows you to buy local, high-quality meats, giving you peace of mind about the safety of the ingredients.

The basics

Dehydration preserves foods by removing moisture, which inhibits the growth of microorganisms. You can dehydrate most raw meats, such as slices of beef, chicken, turkey, fish, or liver, as well as many fruits and vegetables, such as sliced apples, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Several brands of small dehydrators are reasonably priced and easy to use. These machines have stacked or slide-out trays that hold the food to be dehydrated. A motor provides heat and powers a fan that blows hot air over the food. A tray at the bottom catches excess moisture. You can also dry foods in your oven — on a cookie sheet — if it can be set at a low enough temperature. The lowest temperature for many ovens is 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and that’s fine. Prop the oven door open a few inches with a towel so hot air laden with moisture can escape. This works well, but because your oven is also heating the air in the kitchen, it uses more energy than a food dehydrator would.

Store dehydrated foods in airtight containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Protect these foods from moisture and humidity, or they will spoil.

The American Veterinary Medical Association advises pet owners who feed jerky treats to do so in small quantities and only on occasion, especially with small-breed dogs.

Chicken Jerky Strips

The thinner you slice the meat, the less time it takes to dry. Popping the meat into the freezer for about 15 minutes beforehand makes it easier to slice thinly.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast tenders, sliced into strips about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Rinse off chicken breast and remove any fat. Fat slows down the dehydrating process and makes your jerky spoil faster. Slice the chicken with the grain. This will help make the jerky even chewier.
2. Lightly coat the chicken slices with vegetable oil to prevent sticking.
3. Place the chicken breast strips evenly on the tray, leaving space between them and making sure they do not touch each other.
4. Once they are all in the dehydrator, turn it on and set the temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. The jerky will probably take between three and 12 hours to fully dry, depending on how thick you cut your slices. Start checking it once every hour after the first hour. To check it, open up the tray and take one slice out. Cut it open with a sharp knife and examine the inside. You should see no moisture at all, and it should be the same color throughout. If it’s not finished, put it back in for another hour. Once it gets close, check every half hour.
6. Once your jerky is done, store it in airtight containers. Write the date you made it on them. Out of the refrigerator, the treats last about 10 days in an airtight container. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for approximately three weeks. They can also be frozen for up to eight months.

 From a fellow dog lover!


***I tried to dehyrate salmon....it was a disaster and the smell was awful....I don't suggest dehyrating fish

I have 2 dehydrators made by Excalibur, a 9 & 5 tray. I did a lot of research and all the forums kept mentioning the Excalibur as the "hunter's choice". The Excalibur dehydrators are square in shape, which gives you more overall square footage. The heater/fan is mounted in teh back of the unit for even dehydrating. I have never had to rotate the trays. They come with and without timers. If you don't get a timer, you can always purchase one at any drugstore or hardware store for about $10.00. One of my dehydrators has a timer and one does not. After I use my dehydrators, I put the trays in the lower portion of my diswasher and the tray screens in the upper rack. I run a cycle and all I do is wipe them dry. I use Clorox hard surface cleaner to wipe down the outside and inside of the dehydrator. I have paraflex sheets that I use for fruit roll ups...I use them to line the bottom of the dehydrator. You can also use some parchement paper. Even though the inside stays pretty clean...I just like to line the bottom. Excalibur Dehydrators are more expensive than most home use units, but the money you save by dehyrating your pets treats, will pay for the unit in no time. They make a very affordable 4 tray unit, great for 1-2 dogs. Of course, any dehydrator you get is fine. There are many on Amazon.

Dehydrator

With anything I dehydrate, I take the product from the dehydrator and put it into a large bowl. I put the bowl into the refrigerator, uncovered, for several hours or the day. This quick cooling down process will "draw" out any heat and keep your product from getting soggy from the humidity in the air.

Storage: Any product I dehydrate gets stored in the freezer or refrigerator. If I store in the freezer, I use my FoodSaver vacuum sealer to seal the bags. With the chicken tenders, I do not vacuum out all the air because the ends of the tenders will puncture the bag. I also leave some air in the bag for Turkey Jerky and fruit, which are not hard and might squish together, if the bag was completely vacuum sealed. I never leave any dehydrated product stored at room temperature. If you dehydrate any product and will not be freezing it, just store in the refrigerator, in a sealed container.

***As with any pet treat, always supervise until your pet has finished.

Chicken Tenders for your dog
Boneless chicken breats (do not add any seasoning): Freeze the breasts for about 2 hours. This will make slicing them easier. I cut the breasts into 1/4" strips as your chicken will loose 3/4 of its weight. If you slice the strips too thin, they come out like chicken crackers....and it will take seconds for your dog to eat it. Lay the strips evenly on your dehydrator screens, not overlapping them. I start to dehydrate the chicken tenders at about 3-4 pm and let them dehydrate overnight. In the morning they should be done. Inspect each piece and if you see any white, squishy spots....flip those pieces over and let them dehyrate longer. The tenders might feel a little oily, but they should be a nice transluscent golden color..and they should be hard. Put all the tenders into an open bowl (do not cover). Put the bowl into the refrigerator, uncovered, for several hours or for the day. This will "draw" out the heat and completly dry any surface oil up. I then use my FoodSaver vacuum sealer to package the tenders that will be frozen into packages. With the chicken tenders, I do not vacuum out all the air because the ends of the tenders will puncture the bag. Whatever my dogs will be eating, I keep in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator. These tenders are full of natural juices. I only give my dogs 1 a day as a treat. They are not to be given as a meal. As with any pet treat, always supervise until done.

Turkey Jerky for your dog (cats like them too)
Ground Turkey (do not add any seasoning): You will need a Jerky Shooter/Gun to make your jerky. I have a Jerky Shooter from Gander Mountain, but you can find them on Amazon as well.
Jerky Shooter


My Jerkey Shooter comes with 2 tips...a wide flat one and a round one (like a slim jim). I like to use the wide flat tip. Fill the shooter with ground turkey. Shoot the turkey onto your dehydrator screens in a long a strip as you can. Do not overlap the strips. Dehydrating varies..about 8 hours. The jerky should be dark brown, not pink. When you break a test piece..it should be brown on the inside. The strip will be firm but flexible. Take a pair of kitchen scissors and cut the strips into bite size pieces, into a large bowl. Put the bowl, uncovered into the refrigertor for several hours or the day. Follow the storage instructions above.

***for a variation...bake and puree sweet potato to mix with the raw ground turkey

***I use a bottle brush to clean out the Jerky Shooter.

Cinamon Apples for pets and people
Any type sweet apple, peeled and cored: Dehydrated apples can be sliced in rings or in wedges. For the dogs, I like to use one of those apple slicers that will core and wedge the apple into 8 wedges when you push it down onto the apple. I then cut each apple wedge in half...so you will have 16 wedges per apple. Put all the apple wedges into a large bowl and dust with cinamon. Place apple wedges on your dehydrator screens. Apples contain a lot of moisture, so dehyrating times vary, about 8-10 hours...but it will take all day. Or, you can put them in early evening and let them dehydrate all night and check in the morning. The inside should not be mushy. While still warm, they will feel a little rubbery. When you feel they are done, once again, put them into a large bowl and coold down in the refrigerator.They will get firm when cold. Follow the storage instructions above.

Banana Chips with or without cinamon
Peeled Bananas: cut into pieces 1/4" to 1/2" max...make all pieces consistant in size. Lay pieces on your dehydrator screens. If you want to use cinamon, sprinkle on the banana slices while they are on the screens, before you put into your dehydrator. Bananas also contain a lot of moisture and will take time to dry out, about 8-10 hours. Taste one to make sure it's done to your liking. If you feel the inside is mushy (thicker pieces)...just dehydrate longer. They will also be rubbery when warm. Transfer all the pieces into an open bowl, cool down in the refrigerator to cool down. They will harden up when cold. Follow the storage instructions above. Here is a link to a great banana slicer if you make a large quantity like I do.
Banana Slicer



A link to fantastic Fast & Easy Dehydrator Recipes from Excalibur..click on the "Bone" icon for a few pet treats

Recipes

© 2011

How to free a dog from a trap.

Give me shelter

After two winters of digging out potty trenches through the snow, we got inventive.  We purchased a used dog run, and improvised. First a picture of how it was.

Then the brainstorm came.  Improvise a dog run for a winter potty place.

We bought hardware to tilt the roof, which was one side of the dog run.

We then assembled the run on pea gravel, where the ramp from our dog door comes down.

You can see the ramp here.

Next we covered the edges with old sheets to protect the tarp from sharp edges.

Next step, tarping.   We bought the big tarps at Coscto and they wintered well.

Next we secured the tarp with bungee cords.

As you can see we have the overhang so the dogs can go down the ramp, and walk into the dog run without snow. Pea gravel is the best litter box material for dogs in the winter we have found.

Here we are, done!

This spring we put some small greenhouses inside for sprouting seeds, this summer we will remove the tarp and only tarp the roof to provide extra shade.   This winter was much easier with our dogs.   Hope someone can use some of these ideas.

Here is a great idea if you have a patio, ground level or deck level door.

Right up against the dog door, makes a visual of a dog house, not an entry point.

 © 2011