Last year, we had a very wet summer in the Northeast when most of June was rained out. This year, the temps have been so high, the days have been described as “scorchers” by most meteorologists.  We are truly in the “Dogs Days of Summer,” which according to the Farmer’s Almanac , are “the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11,” meaning we could have yet another three weeks of this hot, humid, Husky un-friendly weather.   During these hot days, a large number of folks run their A/Cs and fans constantly. Please remember to always do a safety check: Are the filters cleaned? Are the cords intact and not frayed or split (or in many canine homes, chewed)? Are the outlets overloaded? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has put out a Home Electrical Safety Check List that is worth reading. And, if your dog is barking, please go check it out. Don’t assume everything is OK. Please don’t yell "be quiet" to your canine without first checking out why he or she is ba...

Back in the mid-80s, Clara Peller used to belt out across the TV airwaves, "Where’s the beef?" in the Wendy’s ads. Well, today, almost 30 years later, my Sibes are barking out across the country asking, "Where’s the pumpkin?"  Pure pumpkin has become an important staple food in our Siberian Husky household. Gibson, my four-year-old, suffered several grand mal seizures a year-and-a-half ago, and has since been medicated for Canine Epilepsy with a combination of AEDs (anti-seizure drugs): Phenobarbital and Potassium Bromide, both have helped him in managing the seizures. Some side effects, however, include lethargy and weight gain. Both of which has affected him, especially the weight gain to the tune of 19 pounds! Yes, my big wooly boy tips the scales at 113 pounds. While he has good checkups from the vet and routine blood panels to monitor his meds, I am concerned with the weight gain for both his hind legs (which are just not long enough to handle the wei...

J uly is National Ice Cream month, and yummm-eee…today is an especially delicious holiday – National Ice Cream Day – as our anipals at Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue pointed out earlier in the day. What a great holiday, don’t you agree??? While you grab yourself some of that cool and creamy tasty treat, don‘t forget our canine pals love it also! So pop open your freezer or jump in the car (or take a walk if it’s not too hot where you live) and surprise your furry pals with a nice special summertime treat in honor of today! As a matter of fact, we have a whole month to enjoy it! At the FiveSibes abode, the fave flavor is vanilla, either a soft-serve vanilla cone from our local drive-through or spoonsful from a carton of all natural vanilla ice cream. Did I mention yummm-eee? Pictured above, Harley and Gibson share a cone at our neighborhood MickyD’s after a nice cool car ride. Hmmmm…no wonder they really enjoy car rides, they know what’s at the end! If you’re wondering wh...

Today is Pet Fire Safety Day, and the purpose is to bring prevention awareness to pet owners. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), ADT Security Services,  and the American Kennel Club have partnered together to bring a fire safety awareness to all pet owners. According to the NVFC, there is “an estimated 500,000 pets affected by home fires each year,” and “nearly 1,000 house fires each year are accidentally started by the homeowners’ pets,” according to the AKC and the NVFC. Here is a list of tips courtesy of NVFC to keep our pets from starting house fires: Extinguish open flames : Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace. Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home.   Remove stove knobs: Be sure to remove stove knobs or protect them with covers before leaving the house – a stove or cook top is the...

Wow…the heatwave has been brutal in the Northeast, with temps hitting scorching triple digits. Definitely not Siberian Husky weather, that’s for sure!  During the brutally humid days, our FiveSibes stay inside in the fan-blowing, A/C roaring, cool house where they rule the kitchen as their own personal domain as they bask, play, and tear up sections of the flooring to keep busy. Occasionally, when big brother Gibson gets tired of the three pups, he will take himself downstairs to the Sibe bedroom, and make himself comfy on the cool waterbed inside his kennel (we keep the door open so he can go to-and-from). Yes, there is A/C in their bedroom too! Naturally, when nature calls, they need to go outside, even when it’s 103F! To make it more fun for them, we fill up the kiddie pool, toss in some water toys, and hook up the hose to one of the deck beams and make a sprinkler just for their cooling pleasure! Pictured here big brother Gibson dives in first, followed by little bro Wolf. F...

With the Fourth of July almost upon us (and our Sibe "Wolf" is all ready for it!) many folks are thinking of picnics, trips to the lake or beach, parties, and fireworks. In the midst of all this fun, it’s important to keep in mind the sensitivities of our beloved pets. Some folks take their dogs along, while others leave them safely at home. With the celebratory fireworks of the season, it is important to keep in mind that some canines are troubled by the loud snap, crackle, and bang. Our late Akita-Shepherd Chelsey, was petrified of fireworks. She would cry and pace and try to hide in the farthest corner of the house. If she was outside when they started, she would try to gain entry into the house by any means she could, including chewing and ripping the aluminum door off the back of the house, along with the surrounding vinyl siding. Naturally, this behavior is not good for the dog or for the house. While the siding and door can always be replaced, the dog cannot be. For...