Hello everyone! Welcome to this issue of Mighty Mutts!

This week’s issue talks about what to do if your dog gets skunked! I know I know - it’s something no dog owner wants to think about.. but it’s good to be prepared just in case. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t (hint: tomato juice is a myth!)

And for those dogs who turn into Gordon Ramsay when you try and give them a pill hidden in their favourite food? You’ll discover some ways to ‘outwit’ your dog into finally swallowing that pill instead of leaving it on the ground untouched (well.. mostly).

And of course, Pablo has some things to tell his furry friends - give him some extra love this week, he’s not feeling well :(

-Enjoy!

Don’t keep us a secret – share this with another large breed dog owner: mightymutts.beehiiv.com

Pablo’s Ponderings

Hello all of my furry friends out there! I hope you’re all doing well. I went to the V-E-T a week or so ago for my split nail and the nice lady just pulled out my nail . It didn’t even hurt. AND I got a ton of liver treats! They weighed me like they always do. I’m 126 pounds. That doesn’t sound like a lot to me, but the V-E-T said I really need to lose weight.

Apparently mom is on a diet too, so I haven’t had any bacon or potato chips for awhile. Tragic! I still get some meat though - dad’s been BBQ’ing a lot so I’ve been getting some pork chops and sausage and burgers. Shhhh - don’t tell my V-E-T ok? Let’s just keep it our secret! Besides, I’ve been going on walks almost every day so I’m working it off 🙂

That’s it for me, send me some pics I’d love to see them! See you next week!

-Pablo

If you've ever been jolted awake at 2 a.m. by a smell that can only be described as "burnt rubber mixed with rotten garlic and regret," chances are your dog has been skunked.

For large breed dog owners, a skunk encounter can be particularly memorable. After all, it's one thing when a 15-pound terrier gets sprayed. It's quite another when your 100-pound Labrador, Great Dane, or Rottweiler decides to bring that smell directly into your house, onto your couch, and somehow onto every soft surface within a three-kilometre radius.

The good news? It happens to the best of us. The bad news? Tomato juice probably isn't going to save you.

Most dogs don't understand skunk etiquette.

A skunk's warning signs are actually pretty obvious: stomping its feet, raising its tail, and turning its back end toward the threat. Unfortunately, many dogs interpret these signals as an invitation to investigate further.

Large breeds can be especially vulnerable because they tend to be confident, curious, and not particularly concerned about personal space. By the time they realize they've made a terrible mistake, the skunk has already fired.

Usually, no.

In most cases, skunk spray is more offensive than dangerous. However, you should contact your veterinarian if:

Skunk spray can cause eye irritation and, in rare cases, more serious reactions. If you're concerned, a quick call to your vet is always worthwhile.

Let's address the giant red elephant in the room.

No, tomato juice does not magically remove skunk smell.

This remedy has been passed down through generations of dog owners, but experts now know that tomato juice mostly masks the odour temporarily. Once your dog gets wet again, that unmistakable skunk aroma often returns for an encore performance.

The result? You end up with a dog that smells like skunk-flavoured pasta sauce.

Over the years, dog owners have tried some truly creative solutions:

While vinegar can help neutralize some odours, it rarely eliminates skunk spray completely.

Adding fragrance on top of skunk spray simply creates a new scent category that nobody asked for.

Sure - in about three months.

Skunk oils are stubborn. One shampoo session usually isn't enough.

The most effective homemade solution is:

Mix fresh and use immediately.

Wearing gloves, work the solution into your dog's coat while avoiding their eyes. Let it sit for five to ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

You may need to repeat the process.

There are also several commercial skunk-odour removers specifically designed for pets, which can be very effective and are often easier than playing amateur chemist in your driveway.

While no prevention method is foolproof, you can reduce your chances:

Skunks are most active during the evening and early morning hours.

A quick flashlight sweep can save you hours of scrubbing later.

Pet food, bird seed, fallen fruit, and overflowing garbage cans can attract skunks.

A strong "come" command can stop your dog from investigating a suspicious black-and-white visitor.

Many skunks prefer dark, quiet areas and may avoid brightly lit spaces.

As miserable as being skunked can be, it often becomes one of those stories dog owners laugh about later.

At some point, nearly every large breed owner experiences that moment of opening the back door and immediately wondering why the entire neighbourhood suddenly smells like a tire fire.

The important thing is to stay calm, act quickly, and remember: your dog probably thought they were making a new friend.

The skunk simply had other plans.

And if nothing else, you'll have a story that every dog owner can relate to—along with a newfound appreciation for outdoor hoses, rubber gloves, and the fact that couches can, in fact, be professionally cleaned.

(Luckily Pablo has escaped this nasty scenario .. so far. But just in case, I want to be prepared!)

Giving medication to a large breed dog sounds simple enough.

You hide a pill in a piece of cheese, hand it over, and everyone goes about their day.

At least that's how it works in the movies.

In reality, many large breed dogs possess a remarkable talent: the ability to detect a tiny pill hidden inside a mountain of delicious food. Somehow they can inhale an entire spoonful of peanut butter, swallow the treat, and leave the pill sitting neatly on the floor as if to say, "Nice try, human."

If you're the proud owner of a dog who treats medication time like an Olympic sport, you're not alone.

Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors in their noses. Humans have about six million.

In other words, your dog can probably smell that pill before you've even opened the bottle.

Large breeds can be especially challenging because they're often intelligent, confident, and big enough to resist if they don't want to cooperate. Many have learned through experience that anything hidden in food deserves a thorough investigation.

Most owners start with the usual suspects:

For many dogs, these methods work beautifully.

Then there are the canine detectives.

These are the dogs who carefully eat around the medication, spit the pill onto the floor, and look at you with an expression that says, "Did you really think that was going to work?"

If your dog has become suspicious of all things edible, try the "triple-treat" approach.

Offer three identical treats in quick succession:

Many dogs become so focused on getting the next treat that they swallow the middle one without investigating too closely.

Think of it as creating a canine version of a magic trick.

When medication is required, this is not the time to be counting calories.

A small amount of roast chicken, liverwurst, cream cheese, or canned food can be much more enticing than dry treats.

The goal isn't nutrition. It's successful medication delivery.

Your veterinarian will generally agree that one tiny piece of roast chicken is preferable to wrestling a 120-pound dog around the kitchen for twenty minutes.

Some dogs simply refuse every disguise.

In these cases, you may need to administer the pill directly.

If your veterinarian has shown you how, place one hand over your dog's muzzle, gently tilt their head upward, open the lower jaw, place the pill as far back on the tongue as possible, then close their mouth and encourage swallowing.

Immediately follow with praise and a favourite treat.

Most dogs quickly learn that while medication itself isn't exciting, good things happen afterward.

If administering pills has become a daily battle, talk to your veterinarian.

Many medications are available in different forms, including:

Some dogs who refuse pills will happily accept a chicken-flavoured chew as if it were a gourmet snack.

Your dog weighs 100 pounds and has unlimited free time. You will not win a negotiation.

The moment your dog sees you holding a pill, suspicion levels rise dramatically.

Many dogs succeed simply because they realize their owners are easier to train than they are.

Dogs pick up on our emotions. If medication time becomes stressful, they'll often become even more resistant.

At some point, every large breed owner experiences the humbling moment of finding an expensive medication neatly deposited on the floor after their dog appeared to swallow it.

You may discover pills hidden under the couch, behind food bowls, or mysteriously returned to your hand covered in saliva.

It's all part of life with intelligent dogs.

The key is patience, creativity, and a sense of humour. Because while your dog may occasionally outsmart you at medication time, remember that this is also the same animal that barks at a vacuum cleaner and occasionally forgets where their own tail is.

Stay persistent, reward cooperation, and don't be afraid to ask your veterinarian for alternatives if medication time becomes a daily struggle.

After all, caring for a large breed dog isn't always easy—but it does provide plenty of opportunities to sharpen your problem-solving skills.

Transform Your Dog Using the Same Secrets Used to Train Service Dogs!

(you’ll also learn all about potty training and fixing 11 common dog behavioral problems)

A small sample of what you’ll get in this free workshop

•          The secret methods that service dog trainers use to housebreak dogs

So that your dog never has accidents inside your house ever again.

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Contrary to what many people believe, you CAN’T stop a dog from letting you know that someone has come to your front door – they are simply hard wired for it. Instead, find out the “QUIET WAY” that you can teach your dog so that it still gets to alert you to strangers – without barking even once.

•          Why service dogs behave so well when walking on the leash without pulling

So that you can leash train your dog just like a service dog.

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So that your dog too will come back to you the moment you say its name in the dog park or anywhere else (no matter what it might have been doing at that time).

Grab your seat here!

https://k9ti.org/r/Gizmobb01/free-workshop/

That’s it for this issue. See you next week! Feel free to share this with other dog owners!

--Maryanne and the Mighty Mutts team