Best Life K9s
Helping pet parents and their K9 companions live their best life together.
FAQ
You've got questions? We have answers!
Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about canine health, dog training, safety, breeds, and more!
Dog Breeds
Any breed can become a service dog, as long as it fills a handful of requirements that cater to the task at hand. The best breeds for service dogs harbor important traits that help them to be successful in carrying out their tasks while assisting owners.
Certain breeds tend to handle these kinds of challenges better than others and are therefore a more popular choice, such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Poodles, Border Collies, and others. Read our full blog post for more details.
People with allergies to dogs who still want to adopt (or just be around canines!) should look at hypoallergenic dogs who shed very little to none. Some popular hypogenic dog breed choices are the Bichon Frise, West Highland Terrier, Havanese, Giant Schnauzer, Goldendoodle, and more!
A dog’s temperament, size, and energy levels are all factors to consider when deciding on a dog breed for your family that is good with children. Top breeds that make great family dogs include Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Irish Setters, Bull Terriers, Beagles, Dachshunds, and Bulldogs.
Similarly to considering dog breeds for a family with children, elderly pet parents will also want to think about the breed temperament, size, and energy level. Elderly adopters should look at Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Corgis,
Bichon Frisé, Yorkshire Terriers, and Boston Terriers.
For active pet parents looking to adopt adventurous energetic dogs you’ll want to consider the following breeds that can keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle: Australian Shepherd, Vizsla, Siberian Huskies, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherds, and Weimaraners
Dog Health & Grooming
Since dogs don’t have sweat glands as humans do, they control their body temperature by panting. When a dog pants, the evaporation of moisture from its mouth and tongue cools their bodies.
Unless your dog has gotten really dirty or stinky, you should really only need to bathe them once every month or two – possibly even longer in the winter if your pup isn’t as active.
Female dogs are spayed (removal of the dog’s ovaries and uterus) and male dogs are neutered (removal of the dog’s testicles). Learn more about the procedures and recovery times.
Yes, veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth multiple times a week to remove plaque and prevent tartar buildup. There are also dog gear and treats available you can give your dog to chew on, which provide dental hygiene benefits.
Pet insurance isn’t as costly as a lot of people think. In fact, having a dog insurance plan can save you thousands of dollars in unexpected vet bills. It’s important to understand the difference between pet insurance and wellness plans, as well as alternatives to dog pet insurance, before making any decisions.
A pre-existing condition is a condition in your dog that developed before his or her policy start date, or prior to the end of the waiting period. Unfortunately, there are no pet insurance providers that cover pre-existing conditions.
Dogs with allergies often experience one or more symptoms including itchy skin, skin rashes, biting at paws or skin, head shaking, scratching, or obsessive licking. It’s best to get your pup checked out by its veterinarian to help you determine the cause of allergies and develop a game plan of how to address the issue.
Dog Safety
Sleeping with your dog can create feelings of calmness and security. Some people say it improves their sleep, while others don’t sleep as well.
However, there are other factors to be taken into consideration like your dog’s health. If you have a senior dog with arthritis, letting him or her sleep on their own memory foam dog bed may be best for them.
If a dog has not been protected against fleas and ticks, there’s a chance they could bring those issues into your bed as well.
Knowing these factors, amongst others not listed here, sleeping with your dog is an individual pet parent decision.
First, call local shelters and animal control centers to let them know your pet is missing, give them your dog’s description, and provide them with your contact details.
Next, print flyers with your pet’s photo and your contact info to hang around your neighborhood and surrounding areas. Also, post them in local businesses that allow for that and take a few to the same shelters and animal control centers you previously called.
Finally, post the details and photos of your dog in local Facebook groups asking for people to keep an eye out for your loved one.
There are many indoor and outdoor home security cameras available to help you keep an eye on your pets while you’re away from home. Most of them have smartphone apps with video and sound capabilities, letting you see and hear (and sometimes even talk to!) your dog. There are also some pricier versions available that will let you toss treats to your pup via the camera. Amazon is a great place to start your search.
From road trips to airplane travel, there are dog crates available for all kinds of travel. You can choose from soft crates, collapsible crates, wire crates, crates made to withstand accident impacts, and more. If you are preparing for a flight with your dog, be sure to understand airline regulations and crate requirements to help you make the best purchase decision.
An easy way to tell if a pavement is too hot for your pup’s paws is to place the back of your hand on the pavement for seven seconds. If it’s painful to you, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, when the outside air temperature is 86 degrees, the pavement temp registers at 135 degrees.
Dog Training
You can begin training your dog at the age of 7-8 weeks old. But keep in mind puppies may not yet be fully vaccinated at that age, so group classes may not be an option. Training the pup yourself or signing up for 1-on-1 private lessons would be appropriate.
Service dogs have tasks and jobs to do, while therapy and emotional support dogs provide comfort and affection for people who may be faced with negative circumstances.
Service dogs are protected by the ADA and FHA. They work for one person, whereas a therapy dog is training to comfort to multiple people.
Service dogs are allowed public and airplane access, but therapy and emotional support dogs typically are not.
Board and train programs for dogs are known by several names: dog training camp, boot camp, and boarding school.
In board and trains, your dog stays with a trainer for the duration of its training program (1-8 weeks, or longer, depending on the type of program).
Costs for board and trains for dogs typically range from $2,500 – $5,000 or higher if behavior modification is needed (usually for aggressive dogs)
Clicker training is a dog training method using conditioned reinforcers – a tool used by a trainer to make a clicking sound to positively reinforce a dog’s behavior. Eventually, the dog relates the sound with the desired behavior. The more your dog is “clicked” and rewarded for a specific behavior, the more often it will execute that behavior.
Crate training your dog is one of the most important things you can teach your dog. It will become their safe place, a place to rest or sleep, as well as a place to keep your pup safely contained while you are away from home.
In addition to making the crate an enjoyable, positive place for your dog, there are a few methods and schedules available to help you train your pup to be calm in its crate.