Helpful Hints for Dogs | Sandy Kubillus - Author

Ice Melts are not regulated – What is Safe for your Pet?

January 30, 2018

We used to call it road salt or just salt. That was when the only thing available was rock salt (sodium chloride). Now, there are so many formulations, many of which say “Environmentally Friendly,” or “Safe for Pets.” But are they? My elderly mom used to put down loads of rock salt between her back … Read more

4 Tips for Walking Your Dog in the Snow

January 24, 2018January 23, 2018

Halfway through your walk around the block, your dog lifts up his paw and hobbles on three legs. Then he stops and licks his paw. You coax him to move forward. After twenty feet of walking in fresh snow, he stops limping. Then the cycle repeats after the next salted sidewalk. Why is your dog … Read more

Why Winter is the Perfect Time to Train Your Dog

January 16, 2018

It’s snowing, it’s cold out. The last thing you want to do is get in a cold car and drive to a dog obedience class—right? But look at your furry friend. He’s jumping on you, bringing you toys, barking. He’s going nuts stuck in the house all day. He needs exercise and attention. What better … Read more

How to Play with a Dog with Limited Vision from Glaucoma

January 9, 2018

Buffy, my 8-year-old cocker spaniel has glaucoma. She cannot see things right in front of her or at a distance. Somehow she manages to not bump into furniture or people. When she does that, then I know she is blind. It has happened before, but we have been lucky at bringing her eye pressure down. … Read more

Protect your dog’s paws—Bootie Up in the Cold!

January 3, 2018

This past week it has been colder than it has been in a long time in the Chicago area. Last night it was -7°. It’s been years since we had an extended period with low temperatures below zero. Buffy, my cocker spaniel, does not like the cold or the snow. I usually put a coat … Read more

Enviro-Friendly Dog Poop Bags

November 21, 2017November 7, 2017

After writing several blogs about dog poop this summer, I knew I had to “practice what I preach,”—or at least try it. The first article was about the environmental hazards of dog poop.

I pick up, so that wasn’t the concern.

My Senior Dog has more Energy than Last Year

September 13, 2017September 4, 2017

Buffy & Chipper with Welly Tails Senior Dog Care product — Buffy (left) and Chipper (right) with their Senior Dog Care product.

Chipper, my twelve year-old cocker spaniel, has more energy when we go for walks than he did

this spring. He often leads the way as we walk around our neighborhood (as long as interesting scents don’t distract him), and he now chases squirrels—something he hasn’t done in years.

After You Scoop—Where Do You Drop the Poop?

August 5, 2017July 25, 2017

Do you throw your dog’s waste in the nearest trash can? I actually plan my dog walks to go past several garbage cans so that I don’t have to carry the poop bag very far. Do you do this?

Do you take your dog to parks where they provide bags so you don’t have to bring your own?

Is Dog Poop Environmentally Friendly?

July 27, 2017July 18, 2017

Do you pick up your dog’s poop using a plastic bag and then throw it in the trash?

Do you even pick up your dog’s poop?

When I was a kid, we didn’t pick up our dog’s poop. I’d take Chipper (the brown cocker I had back then) for a walk and nervously look around to see if anyone was watching while he pooped in someone’s yard.