Our Secret Recipe

I had someone ask me last week about our recipes that we use for our dog treats. There is a big part of me that wants to give them some of the key ingredients because they had tried to bake their own treats at home, and their dogs ate them, but they didn't go ballistic over them like they do our treats - and I always want to help out.


First, here is some background on our recipes. Our recipes for our treats are all variants from the same core recipes that are over 15 years old. Without divulging their origins (we've only been open for 2.5 years) I believe they originated from an employee that had begun their career at one of the founding dog bakeries (you know which one) that is out there. Please consider this is mostly speculation, but having spent almost five years thinking about, researching, and living the "dog bakery dream", I have seen over a thousand dog treat recipes from books, online, and other sources. I am sure that the recipes we have and the ones at (you know who) have diverged quite a bit since then, but the original recipes from their book and the ones that we have are pretty darn close. We were not the originators of these recipes, they have been passed down from various people and businesses over the years until we came into their possession.


Something else most people don't know is that in order to work at Bigwag, our employees sign a non-disclosure agreement, which legally prevents them from telling anyone what our recipes are. We've worked hard to protect our assets, and our recipes are one of our most valuable. We also have this secret "bat-cave" safe that opens up out of the floor where we keep the recipe book protected from all manner of intrusions as well as a direct bomb blast that - OK, that part was imaginary, but if I would have had an unlimited build out budget for the store the bat cave safe would have been in the plans - believe me!


We also get a lot of questions about mold. There are a lot of dog treats out there that "I have been told" seem to mold easily after only a few days. This really isn't part of our secret recipe. We don't use any preservatives or mold prohibitors - as do these other guys. When you don't use those, there is always a chance of mold - especially if you don't bake out all of the moisture. Our secret on this subject is that we use a big commercial convection oven so that we can bake out almost all of the moisture without turning them into dark brown burnt crisps. We did have a batch of seasonal treats mold on us once - mostly because we didn't bake them all of the way and they still had some moisture in them. Our soft bites don't have as long of a shelf life as the rest of our treats either, because we don't bake them as hard as the other treats. We want them to be crumbly, not crunchy.


This is mostly employee error, referring to Erin and I, as we rushed something to get in a deadline or we did not factor in humidity in our baking and proofing times, and have learned from this process. But as a rule, we don't expect any mold in our treats. Our treats are crunchy. If anything ever does mold, you should bring them back to our store for an immediate replacement. Do not under any circumstance feed a moldy treat to a dog. This can be dangerous.


Another aspect of our basic recipes is that you won't see any sugar, corn syrup, or salt. Dogs love sweets, and sweet is generally cheap, which is why so many dog treat manufacturers use a form of sugar as one of the top four ingredients. If you really read the ingredients of these other treats - see where the good ingredients are in relation to the sugar or fructose syrup. By law they have to be listed in order of their ratio highest to lowest, but once you get to the fourth or fifth ingredient, you are looking at tablespoons in entire batches. Adding carrots or peas in as the third to the last ingredient right above "Vitamin A" is like adding 5 peas in five pounds of treats. It gets it on the ingredient statement, but what good do five peas do in an five entire pounds of treats - especially when you bake out all of the moisture.


So, our secret ingredient. I wish it were as simple as ground rhino bones imported from Africa, or rose extract from a tropical island. Pet food manufacturers have taken it for granted that most of the time dogs will eat whatever we hand them. They lump third hand ingredients together, add some sugar so there is anything at all enticing to the dogs, and then slap a picture of a cute dog on the label. When you have a huge segment of dogs that are used to this kind of treat, and then you give them a treat that actually has real ingredients in it, it's no wonder that they often don't go back to eating that other preservative laden junk food.

• So, the real secret to our treats, as much as I can divulge, out here for the first time -
  Don't skimp on the ingredients. Use real food. If you need to even look at palatablilty enhancers, then you are missing the game. Most dogs can tell the difference.
• Feed fresh treats. Our dogs won't eat treats that are even half of what their shelf life really is. We don't have treats in our store that old, as they move pretty fast, but on occasion we find a bag in our pantry at home that could be 3 months old, and they begrudgingly take them or spit them out. Guess how old M!(KBONES are...
• Bake out all of the moisture. This makes them crunchy, but mold can be harmful to dogs, and we want them to last longer than a week.
• Use ingredients dogs like - peanut butter, honey, pumpkin, cream cheese, carob, bacon, liver, beets, cheese, cinnamon, and egg.
• Use ingredients that are good for dogs - veggies, pumpkin, spinach, whole wheat flour, canola oil, rolled oats, beets, and real bacon. Don't add any extra sugar or salt, or MSG, or Propylene Glycol.
• Use ingredients people like - mint, mint oil, and fresh mint (good for all of those face lickers and sweet kissers). Did I mention mint? Keeps the breath fresh!

Bigwag Introduces Yappie Hour

Hey Everyone!

Bigwag Dog Bakery is proud to announce the arrival of Yappie Hour in Northwest Arkansas! Starting Tuesday, February 17th, we will host Yappie Hour every Tuesday from 5pm-7pm. It's a great chance to socialize your dog or just get out of the house for a few hours and hang out with other people who love dogs. We'll have free goodies for you and your dog each week, plus there will be great specials, so bring your dog by and hang out for a little while.

Closed Due to Bad Weather

Hey Everyone!

It's cold outside and the roads are slick, so I hope you and your family (including all the furry members) are home, warm and safe. Hannah, Sam and I closed the store at 4pm today so that none of our employees would have to drive in the dangerous conditions. As a general rule, Bigwag closes when the Rogers Schools do, so if they are closed or close early, we will close also. Hopefully that keeps everyone from driving to the store only to find it closed.

If you are in need of treats, our website is always open, so you can order warmth and comfort of your own home! And as a special bonus, enter the coupon code SNOWDAY09 and get 10% off your order through the end of the month!

Peanut Recall

Hey Everyone!

As you know, there have been many voluntary recalls related to peanut paste. These recalls are now including PetsMart, who has voluntarily recalled some of their products, as you can read below.

I just wanted to assure everyone that our treats made with peanut are safe. This means your dogs can still enjoy our Peanut Barkers, Peanut Butter Softbites and Allergy Treats! We do NOT use peanut paste in our treats, and the peanut that we do use is NOT from Peanut Corporation of America.

Hope that helps everyone feel a little safer this morning.

PHOENIX, AZ, January 20, 2009 — PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility.

Although PetSmart is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has removed these products from its store shelves and website and is conducting the recall as a precautionary measure.

The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009:

• Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900
• Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601
• Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605
• Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755
• Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638
• Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779
• Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766

Valentine's Treats

Okay, so I admit, I'm not usually very partial to Valentine's Day. And it usually irritates me that stores put out Valentine's candy on the day after Christmas. After all, that means my chocolate will be stale by Valentine's day, right?

But for some reason, this year I am actually enjoying preparing for Valentine's Day. Which might be one reason that Bigwag is bathed in red and pink hearts from top to bottom. (I apologize in advance to everyone who detests Valentine's as much as I usually do.)

I am most excited about our Valentine's Treats this year. Terresa, Brandi and Anna have outdone themselves making beautiful treats that your dogs will love. We have our Conversation Hearts, Dipped Hearts, Hugs and Kisses and Twoofles returning again this year, along with Valentine's pupcakes. But our dipped pretzels have a new twist this year -pun intended :p Instead of being traditional pretzel shaped, they're heart shaped, dipped in carob and drizzled in yogurt. I think they're really beautiful, and I'm pretty sure if I'd left them out on the counter much longer, Cary would have eaten one. You'll understand when you stop by!

If you can't making it by, they're available at New Hope Boarding and Grooming, Rose Animal Clinic, Oak View Animal Clinic, and Canine Connection. Plus you can alway order online (remember shipping is free in Arkansas) Here's hoping that you and your furry Valentine enjoy them as much as I do!

New Credit Card Scam

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information,
except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it.
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA &
MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to
protect your self.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA ', and I was called
on Thursday from 'Master Card'. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is
(name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VI SA. My
Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase
pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which
was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device
for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona ?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a
credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the
charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that
flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to
(gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes '. The calle r continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud
investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number
listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Securi ty.'

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6
digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, 'I
need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn
your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4
are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that
verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you
sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The
caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller
the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the
card has not been lost or s tolen, and that you still have your card. Do you
have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and
states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card
number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20
minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security
Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase
of $497 .99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA
account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the
3-digit PIN number on the back of the card Don't give it to them. Instead,
tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their
conversation. The real VISA told u s that they will never ask for anything
on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card!
If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving
a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for
purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more
difficult to actua lly file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a
'Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA
scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police
report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of
these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this
scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other,
we protect each other.

ARKANSAS Considers Adopting 3 Year Rabies Protocol

The State of Arkansas is considering adoption of a 3-year rabies protocol. Below is a copy of my letter on behalf of The Rabies Challenge Fund to the Arkansas Governor and Attorney General.

Health Department Discusses Change In Pet Vaccination Law The Morning News November 22, 2008 http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/11/22/news/112308lrpetvaccinations.txt

"LITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas and Alabama are the only states that still require annual rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats, but that could change in the 2009 session."

What You Can Do to Help:

Contact the Arkansas Legislature http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/

(full e-mail list at the bottom of this message) and ask them to pass the 3 year rabies legislation when it is introduced and request that a medical exemption clause for sick animals be included.

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST

October 5, 2008

Governor Mike Beebe Attorney General Dustin McDaniel

Governor’s Office Office of the Attorney General

State Capitol Room 250 323 Center Street, Suite 200

Little Rock, AR 72201 Little Rock, AR 72201

RE: ARKANSAS RABIES IMMUNIZATION PROTOCOL

The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust has been made aware that the State of Arkansas is considering adoption of the 3-year rabies immunization protocol recommended by the Center for Disease Control’s National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association[1] to replace the State’s current annual requirement. Not only does The Rabies Challenge Fund endorse adoption of the national 3-year standard, but we strongly encourage Arkansas to include a medical exemption clause for sick animals, for which vaccination is medically contraindicated.

It is recognized that most, if not all, currently licensed annual rabies vaccines given annually are actually the 3-year vaccine relabeled for annual use -- Colorado State University's Small Animal Vaccination Protocol for its veterinary teaching hospital states: “Even with rabies vaccines, the label may be misleading in that a three year duration of immunity product may also be labeled and sold as a one year duration of immunity product.” According to Dr. Ronald Schultz of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, whose canine vaccine studies form a large part of the scientific base for the 2003 and 2006 American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) Canine Vaccine Guidelines as well as the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s (WSAVA) 2007 Vaccine Guidelines, “There is no benefit from annual rabies vaccination and most one year rabies products are similar or identical to the 3-year products with regard to duration of immunity and effectiveness.”[2]

Section 20-19-202 of Arkansas’ Rabies Law requiring annual rabies boosters may have been intended to achieve enhanced immunity to rabies virus by giving the vaccine more often than the federal 3-year licensening standard. But, more frequent vaccination than is required to fully immunize an animal will not achieve further disease protection. Redundant annual rabies shots needlessly expose dogs and cats to the risk of adverse effects while obligating residents to pay unnecessary veterinary medical fees. The American Veterinary Medical Association's 2001 Principles of Vaccination state that “Unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance, and may increase the risk of adverse post-vaccination events.” The law, as it currently reads, may violate Arkansas Consumer Protection Laws 4-88-107 and 4-88-108 by requiring pet owners to pay for a yearly veterinary medical procedure from which their animals derive no benefit and may be harmed. The fact that the rabies vaccine confers a minimum duration of immunity of 3 years is “concealed” or “omitted” from consumers (pet owners). Compliance with Section 20-19-202 of the Rabies Law places veterinarians in the uneasy position of “Over-treating patients” -- an apparent violation of Section 17-101-305 (a)(17) of the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Practice Act.

Immunologically, the rabies vaccine is the most potent of the veterinary vaccines and associated with significant adverse reactions such as polyneuropathy “resulting in muscular atrophy, inhibition or interruption of neuronal control of tissue and organ function, incoordination, and weakness,”[3] auto-immune hemolytic anemia,[4] autoimmune diseases affecting the thyroid, joints, blood, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel and central nervous system; anaphylactic shock; aggression; seizures; epilepsy; and fibrosarcomas at injection sites are all linked to the rabies vaccine.[5] [6] It is medically unsound for this vaccine to be given more often than is necessary to maintain immunity.

A “killed” vaccine, the rabies vaccine contains adjuvants to enhance the immunological response. In 1999, the World Health Organization " classified veterinary vaccine adjuvants as Class III/IV carcinogens with Class IV being the highest risk," [7] and the results of a study published in the August 2003 Journal of Veterinary Medicine documenting fibrosarcomas at the presumed injection sites of rabies vaccines stated, “In both dogs and cats, the development of necrotizing panniculitis at sites of rabies vaccine administration was first observed by Hendrick & Dunagan (1992).” [8] According to the 2003 AAHA Guidelines, "...killed vaccines are much more likely to cause hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., immune-mediated disease)."

The labels on rabies vaccines state that they are for “the vaccination of healthy cats, dogs…,” and there are medical conditions for which vaccination can jeopardize the life or well-being of an animal. A medical exemption clause inserted into the new 3 year Rabies Law being considered would allow veterinarians to write waivers for animals for whom medical conditions preclude vaccination. The State of Maine inserted such an exemption into the 3 year rabies protocol, 7 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3922(3), it adopted in 2004 as follows:

A. A letter of exemption from vaccination may be submitted for licensure, if a medical reason exists that precludes the vaccination of the dog. Qualifying letters must be in the form of a written statement, signed by a licensed veterinarian, that includes a description of the dog, and the medical reason that precludes vaccination. If the medical reason is temporary, the letter shall indicate a time of expiration of the exemption.

B. A dog exempted under the provisions of paragraph 5 A, above, shall be considered unvaccinated, for the purposes of 10-144 C.M.R. Ch.251, Section 7(B)(1), (Rules Governing Rabies Management) in the case of said dog’s exposure to a confirmed or suspect rabid animal.

The Rabies Challenge Fund strongly supports a change in the Arkansas Rabies Law to conform to the 3-year national standard and respectfully requests that medical exemption language be inserted into the law.

Sincerely,

Kris L. Christine

Founder, Co-Trustee

THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND

www.RabiesChallengeFund.org

The End of Solid Gold

When we first decided to carry a premium dog food at Bigwag Dog Bakery, we naturally chose Solid Gold for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was that our sister store had been carrying Solid Gold for years and loved it, not to mention it was very popular in Illinois. Our journey with Solid Gold is a storied one, one that will shortly be coming to an end.

The very first challenge we faced was that there was not a distributor for Solid Gold anywhere in the area, they expected us to UPS the product from the closest location, which would have cost more than the small profit margin it afforded in the first place. We were determined, so we pressed on and found a distributor that would deliver it with a minimum order and thus Bigwag became a carrier of holistic dog food.

We didn't sell much of it, despite giving away hundreds of dollars in free samples. It didn't have a very big following in NWA, but we still believed in it and wanted to make a go of it. We fed our dogs a lot of SG that was close to expiring, but kept on with the belief that our customers deserved to be able to feed a high quality food.

With further research, we began expanded our line of high quality foods by adding Taste of the Wild and, more recently, expanding our Canidae selection. If anyone was at our birthday party last year, there was a good chance you won some premium food from us -Taste of the Wild and Canidae, because Solid Gold would not provide product for promotional events like this. In fact, by this time we had even stopped recieving samples.

The other foods we started carrying have been much more popular. Taste of the Wild is a great grain free food that is cheaper than Solid Gold. (Most Solid Gold is not grain free.) Plus, the results we have seen in our dogs have far exceeded those we saw with Solid Gold. Especially in Sam, who has very sensitive digestive track and often produced noxious clouds of nastiness when we weren't looking, something we haven't had a problem with since switching to Taste of the Wild.

We continued to carry SG, mainly at specific request, with our customers dwindling away and leaving us holding the bag (pun intended) of un-purchased dog food. Now, our the last regular SG customer has decided to purchace from Petco. Apparently SG has sold it's soul to Petco, and since SG has never been very easy to work with from a small business perspective, I wish them good luck.

You see, once a company like that goes to the big box retailers, it's impossible to get out. Soon the retailers start flexing their muscle (based on volume sales) to get better deals, better margins, lower prices. Before you know it, the manufacture starts skimping on ingredients, production methods and testing, and then blink - that product is marginally better than the mass produced, ingredients from China dog foods.

I think this will be a slow death for the Solid Gold company. They are basically thumbing their noses at the small retailers that they built their company on. We can't compete with Petco on price, so we aim to offer superior quality products you can't get anywhere else. We choose products like the chews made in the USA from animals raised in the USA - because we can feel confident selling them, because they're a product we can believe in. That's the whole premise of our store, really.

I think this degradation in quality standards on SGs part is already evident with the various recalls they have had on their canned foods and treats recently. Hopefully I'm wrong, and SG will remain a quality food that people can feel good feeding their dogs. But ultimately I believe the path they have chosen will become one of "not much better than average" but way more expensive.

Resolving to Go Green in 2009

Our Green Products Display In the Middle of the Store

Hey Everyone!

Many of you have already been in the store since the beginning of the year, so you know that we have made a resolution to be more green in 2009! I am excited about this, and I know that Brandi, Anna and Terresa are as well.

For those of you who haven't made it in yet, one of the biggest ways we're going green is by selling re-usable totes for your treats. We all love the clear bags with the cute paw prints, but truth is, they aren't very eco-friendly. We'll still use them if you like, but as an alternative you can buy a re-usable tote (or two if you'd like) They cost a dollar, but the great part is that each time you bring your bag back into the store, you save a dollar. So it pays for itself in its very first use! Because we're switching over to these totes, we will no longer be accepting the clear bags back for a discount after the end of January. But if you have some you want to bring in before the end of January, you can exchange them for a free tote!

In addition to the totes, we're carrying more eco-friendly toys:

We have added toys from Jax & Bones, which uses natural dyes and fabrics in their adorable rope toys. I love Ted Turtle, he's so cute :) Plus a portion of the proceeds from Jax & Bones toys goes to Rescue Train, an organization dedicated to helping homeless animals. Which means buying these toys helps not only the Earth, but also dogs and cats in need.

We also have a line of eco-friendly Zanies toy that are made from natural cotton and twine without dyes. We even have natural mice for you cat lovers!

One of my favorite new toys are the Water Bottle Crunchers. While they aren't made from eco-friendly materials, they do provide you with a great way to re-use your empty water bottles. You just slip them inside these guys (they hold up to a 20oz bottle) and let your dog play! If Hannah and Sam are any indication, dogs love crunching on empty water bottles, and this provides a safe way for them to do that! Not to mention that because there's no fill and no squeaker, just a crunchy water bottle, there's nothing to shred all over your living room! That means when the water bottle gets crunched out, you can put in a new bottle, recycle the old bottle, and it's like having a brand new toy all over again!

Plus, we are proud to carry toys from West Paw Designs. West Paw is an amazing company out of Montana that creates fantastic toys using recycled plastic bottles! Their IntelliLoft™ fiber fill diverts over 200 tons of plastic bottles from landfills every year! Plus they create fabric using 85% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. But don't let that fool you, these toys are still incredibly soft! And their zogoflex toys, the Huck, Hurley, Zisc and Tux, are made of recycled materials, and are soooo durable. Hannah has a Tux, and it doesn't even have a scratch on it, which for Hannah is AMAZING! And these West Paw products are all made in the U.S.A., which means you can expect high quality, safe toys.

If you're interested in knowing more about any of these products, you can visit the Green Products section of our website, or of course you can always e-mail or call!

So, we hope you'll join us this year in our resolution to make 2009 a greener, for all of us!

Cold Weather Safety for Pets

Hey Everyone!

Hope you're staying warm today. I love waking up to snow, even if I don't get snow days anymore. There's just something about it that makes me feel six for a few moments... before it kicks in that I'm going to have to drive in that mess :p

Hannah and Sam love the snow too, at least in small doses. The first winter we had Hannah, Cary taught her to eat snow by eating some himself and then sharing it with her until she realized she could eat it straight off the ground herself. She passed this trick along to Sam the first time he saw snow. As a result, my dogs act like snow is manna from heaven, a special treat that covers the yard! The gulp it down as fast as possible when they first go out in the morning, seemingly thinking that if they're to slow, the other one will gobble it down before they get a chance. Really, it's quite hysterical, and it probably adds to my joy at seeing snow on the ground now.

But with all the cold weather that's sweeping the nation, I got to thinking that now would be a great time to post some tips on keeping your pet safe this winter. Some of these are common sense, but others might surprise you.

From the ASPCA:

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.

3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.

4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.

6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.

7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.

9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.

10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.

From the University of Minnesota:

1. Most urban pets spend the majority of their time indoors, and don't have tolerance for extremely cold weather. Do not leave your pets outdoors unattended when the temperature gets below freezing! Pets must build up a thicker coat and get their footpads toughened for snow and ice. Pets that get too chilled could develop hypothermia or even frostbite. Ear tips are especially susceptible to frostbite.

2. Paw care Many dogs need boots in cold weather, regardless of coat length. If your dog frequently lifts up his paws, whines or stops on his walks, his feet are uncomfortably cold. Be sure to get your dog used to wearing boots before cold weather sets in. Another frequently seen foot problem is the formation of iceballs between the pads and toes of the feet, especially in dogs with long fur. Once iceballs form, they are very painful, much like walking on rocks. When dogs get these, they often whine, stop walking and start chewing at the bottoms of their feet to remove the painful iceballs. To help prevent iceballs, trim hair around your dog's feet. Apply a small amount of Vaseline, cooking oil, or PAM spray to your dog's feet before taking him for a walk. Make sure you use oil that can be eaten; most dogs lick at their paws. If your pet walks on salted sidewalks or streets, be sure to wash his paws after your walk. Salt is very irritating to footpads. Many dogs will quickly start whining and biting at their feet after just a few steps on salted roads. Gently rub the bottom of the feet to remove the salt as soon as your dog is off the road.

3. Outdoor Pets If your pet spends a lot of time outdoors, let him get acclimated gradually to dropping temperatures. Once a pet is acclimated to either warm or cold, a long dose of the other extreme is hard to take. Outdoor pets need a sheltered place that is well bedded with DRY straw, shavings, blanket strips or other insulating material that traps warm air. Also, remember that animals drag a lot of moisture into their bedding areas from snow, rain and mud. Check it often and change it whenever it is wet, or your pets can't keep themselves warm.

4. Indoor Pets The rest of the pet population generally gets less active in winter. Consequently, cut back a bit on what you feed your animals, or your vet will be nagging you in spring about your portly pets.

Update on the Bentonville Bark Park

Hey Everyone!

This article about the Bentonville Bark Park ran on Tuesday in the Benton County Record section of the Democrat Gazette. I thought dog owners might be interested to know where the progress of the Bark Park stands, so I'm re-posting it here. If you'd like to see the story from it's original source, you can visit http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/69697/

We are looking forward to being able to use the Bark Park and attend events there. As we get more information we'll post it here!

Daily Record photograph by Charles Fowler
Adam Kile and his dog Scamp were not able to enter the Bentonville Bark Park off North Walton Boulevard on Monday afternoon. The gates are locked as city officials wait for the grass to grow in the fenced area.

No dogs allowed : Bark Park remains unfinished; under lock and key until spring

By Eleanor Evans Staff Writer - eleanore@nwanews.com

BENTONVILLE - The Bentonville Bark Park is being kept locked up for the time being, but that hasn't stopped dogs - and their owners - from jumping the fence.

But Bentonville Parks and Recreation Director David Wright said it's not time to open the park yet - at least not until the grass in the new park space can grow.

Dog owners have been "excited, but perhaps a little too anxious," Wright said, and the city has locked the gates to the fenced-in park pending its completion.

Wright said the fence and the entrance to the dog park have been completed, but the city must still construct a sidewalk up to the entry of the park.

"There's also an agility course that needs to be installed," Wright said.

But most importantly, the grass needs to grow in to avoid erosion in the next couple of months.

"We've got to have really good turf coverage. If we don't, eventually it will become a maintenance nightmare," Wright said.

But he promises that if owners are patient, there will be a grand opening in the spring at which the park will be unlocked and opened to the public.

"We know you're excited, and so are we, but please respect the facility for a couple more months," Wright said.

Plans for the park include the following:

· 1.3 acres of fenced lawns, trees and benches;

· One large-dog park and one small-dog park;

· An agility course; and

· Relief, water and waste stations.

For more information, visit www.bentonvillear.com and click on the "Bark Park in Progress" link from the right-side menu, or call 254-0833.