In partnership with
Hello everyone! Welcome to this issue of Mighty Mutts!
Would you know what to do if your dog was choking? I had a scary incident happen a few days ago, and I admit, I panicked. So I thought I would share some tips on what to do if you ever find yourself in the same situation.
And, if you have a new pup or are thinking of getting one, crate training might be something you want to include in your overall training regimen. We’ve got some tips on how to make it simple and fun for your pup, from the American Kennel Club and the Humane World for Animals.
And of course, Pablo has some things to tell his furry friends.
-Enjoy!
Don’t keep us a secret – share this with another large breed dog owner: mightymutts.beehiiv.com
Pablo’s Ponderings
As much as I love the snow, I’m ready for Spring!
Good morning my furry friends! Hope you’re all doing well. What’s the weather like where you are? It’s typical spring here in Bruce County! One day it’s nice and warm and sunny, and the next it’s snowing! Mom says it’s time to put ol’ man winter to bed! I agree, I can’t wait for the warmer weather to finally come so I can sit outside on the patio with mom. I love being outside, don’t you? And my human, Brandon has been taking me on walks more often, which I LOVE!!!
Mom took a video of me doing my happy circles while waiting for Brandon to get ready to go. Oh, and some other exciting news - it’s Brandon’s birthday on Friday! He won’t be here, he has a hockey tournament to go to, but we’ll celebrate when he gets back. Mom always makes him his favourite dinner, and that means I’ll get some too! And maybe some cake. I’m so excited!
I guess that’s it for this week, friends. Send me pics of you and your hooman, I’d love to see them! Oh one more thing, I almost forgot - mom created my instagram account, but she’s having ‘technical’ issues.. Stay tuned she’ll have it figured out soon!
--Pablo
Live in or near Kincardine, ON? Subscribe to Kincardine Spotlight and get all the area’s events delivered right to your inbox 3x a week! It’s FREE kincardine-spotlight.beehiiv.com
Your Dog is Choking - Do You Know What to Do?
So something really scary happened this week. Pablo was enjoying his weekly (ok sometimes twice a week) treat. Dingos, which I can I seem to find at No Frills or Amazon, are one of this favourite treats and it keeps him busy for at least 10-15 minutes. Anyway, as he was finishing up the last bit, he seemed to be choking… and of course I panicked. He managed to dislodge the piece himself, but I thought, what would I do if he was actually choking? I realized I had no idea. Not good..Not only does that make me unprepared but it makes me a terrible dog parent. First aid is not just important for humans, it’s important for our pets too. So I decided to do a little research:
Turns out, there are lots of courses out there for doggie first aid. You can find lots of information online, from youtube videos to tips from the Canadian and American Red Cross, etc. This is a good first step, of course, but having hands-on in-person learning is even better.
Canine Health Canada provides courses across Canada so you will be prepared.
In the meantime, here are some tips on what to watch out for, and what to do if your dog is choking:
Dogs are natural chewers, and the most common items they choke on are balls, rawhides and chew toys with small, breakable pieces. This includes the ‘squeaky ball’ inside of squeaky toys (we never give those to Pablo; they are meant for smaller dogs who can’t rip the toy apart in 5 minutes)
Signs your Dog is Choking
Aside from coughing and choking sounds, your dog may exhibit other signs such as: excessive drooking, pawing at the mouth, pacing, or difficulty breathing.
Stay calm, don’t panic - harder said than done, but crucial to helping your dog
If you can see the obstruction you can try to clear the airway yourself
If youc an’t see the obstruction or can’t dislodge it try the heimlich maneuver
The Heimlich Maneuver for Dogs
Locate Position: Locate the soft spot under the ribs.
Apply Thrusts: Place a fist against this area and grab it with your other hand. Push upwards and forwards (towards the chest) 5 times.
Repeat: If the object remains, repeat the process
Once your dog stops choking the first step is to take a few minutes to calm down (humans and animals alike). Then, call your vet right away and have your dog evaluated to make sure that the airway is truly clear and that there is no permanent injury/damage.
Crate Training Tips
Ok, full disclosure - I’m not a fan of crates - for any dog. When I had my cleaning business many years ago, I used to have clients who owned the cutest little mutt, I don’t know what breed, but he was cute and fluffy and playful. His name was Tibbs. And Tibbs’ owners worked all day, so Tibbs would be curled up in his crate (he didn’t have room to stretch out). He was in the crate when I arrived to clean, and wouldn’t make a sound. But he’d look at me with those sad eyes as if to say, ‘will you please let me out and play with me? :( The owners wouldn’t come home until late afternoon. Poor Tibbs! I still think of him to this day, looking sad and lonely.
Now, Pablo is 126 pounds and I can’t imagine ever trying to put him in a crate. He has the full run of the house whether we are there or not. We’re lucky because although he does have some separation anxiety, he isn’t destructive :) But I wouldn’t test that theory by leaving the garbage out either lol
So, all that to say crate training is popular with some owners and if done properly, is a great way to keep you dog safe while you’re away. . The key is to start training them as pups.
So if you have a new puppy or are thinking of getting one, here are some tips on how crate training can make both of your lives easier :)
Introduction: Leave the door open and toss high-value treats near and then inside the crate. Let your dog explore at their own pace without forcing them in.
Feeding Meals: Start feeding your dog's regular meals inside the crate. Initially, keep the door open. Once they are comfortable, try closing the door while they eat, opening it immediately after they finish.
Increasing Duration: Command them to enter ("Crate" or "Kennel") and reward them. Close the door and stay nearby for 5–10 minutes. Gradually increase this time and begin stepping out of the room for short bursts.
Crating When Away: Once they can stay calmly for 30 minutes, you can begin crating them when you leave the house for short periods. Keep departures and arrivals low-key to avoid triggering anxiety.
Handling Whining & Barking
Ignore Attention-Seeking: If your dog whines for attention, ignore it. Letting them out while they are making noise teaches them that vocalizing works.
Check Basic Needs: If whining persists, they may need to go potty. Take them outside on a leash for a boring, "business-only" trip, then immediately return them to the crate.
Provide Mental Enrichment: Use long-lasting chews or a frozen KONG toy stuffed with peanut butter to keep them occupied and calm while inside
Important Safety Guidelines
Time Limits: Puppies under 6 months should not be crated for more than 3–4 hours at a time during the day due to bladder capacity.
Remove Collars: Always remove your dog's collar or harness before crating to prevent accidental strangulation if it gets caught on the bars.
Separation Anxiety: If your dog shows signs of extreme panic (drooling, frantic digging, or self-injury), the crate may not be suitable. Consult a professional via the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
For more information visit these websites:
Now it all makes sense!
Dr. Alexa Diaz, PhD, one of the instructors of the workshop
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.
• How service dogs are trained to never bark out of excitement
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.
• How service dogs are trained to ALWAYS come when called
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!
Mighty Mutts Kitchen
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients
2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
2 large eggs
½ cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons peanut butter
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon water, or more if necessary (Optional)
Directions
Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Combine flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl; stir with a spatula until combined.
Transfer mixture to a work surface and work it with your hands until mixture starts to come together. Add 1 teaspoon water at a time (only if needed) to help make the dough workable, but don't add too much as it should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough to a thickness of 1/2 inch.
Cut into 1/2-inch pieces and transfer to a baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven until dog treats are golden brown and crunchy, about 40 minutes. Let cool before serving to your dog.
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
Arnold Schwarzenegger has a newsletter.
Yeah. That Arnold Schwarzenegger.
So do Codie Sanchez, Scott Galloway, Colin & Samir, Shaan Puri, and Jay Shetty. And none of them are doing it for fun. They're doing it because a list you own compounds in ways that social media never will.
beehiiv is where they built it. You can start yours for 30% off your first 3 months with code PLATFORM30. Start building today.