June marks the start of hurricane here in Florida. While Central Florida has been relatively lucky in avoiding major hurricane damage over the last few years, we know from past experience that pets often get left behind when disaster strikes. That’s why June has been decreed National Pet Preparedness Month, in hopes that animal abandonment in serious emergencies declines thanks to education and preparation.

When you’re getting your home and family ready for the hurricanes, don’t forget to have a plan in place for your dog, as well! Here are three things to keep in mind as you create your emergency preparedness plan for your pets:

1. Make sure your pets are microchipped. This should be a given in any season, not just during hurricane season! If you haven’t already microchipped your dogs, now is the time. In the event that your dog gets spooked and runs away in the middle of the storm, their microchip will allow whoever finds them to identify you as their owner and return them safely home. It’s also a good idea to give them an ID tag with your name and contact info.

2. Find a pet-friendly shelter or hotel ahead of time. Your dog is your family - make sure he has a place to stay when you leave your home in the case of an evacuation. Some evacuation shelters don’t accept dogs for safety or other reasons, but leaving your dog behind isn’t an option. Visit www.pet-friendly-hotels.net to find some of the best pet friendly spots in your area, and book in advance if it looks like an evacuation is required.

3. The buddy system works. Make sure you share your pet’s information with a neighbor, family member, or friend who lives nearby. Doing so will help you ensure that someone will be able to carry out your pet evacuation plan in the unfortunate case that you’re caught outside evacuation lines when the order is issued. You’ll want to give your buddy a copy of your house key, a copy of your evac plan, and detailed notes on where your pet’s necessary supplies are kept.

Hurricanes can make anyone nervous, including your dogs! But helping your pet stay safe and happy during a natural disaster doesn’t have to be difficult when you come prepared. Red Rover has a handy checklist so you can make sure you’ve taken care of the most important pet evacuation tasks before the storm rolls through.

This month, we’re offering 10% off all orders over $50 so you can stock up on food and broth ahead of time. There’s no code required at checkout, so get shopping! Click here to view our current products.

It’s already getting pretty hot outside! We love the summer months here in Florida as they give us lots of opportunities to take our dogs to the park or the beach for an afternoon of fun. But when you’re outside for a long time, you probably notice that you’re sweating a lot and need plenty of water to maintain your fluid levels. Even though your dog doesn’t sweat, he or she needs just as much water as you to stay hydrated and happy!

Dehydration in dogs can cause some serious health issues, including lethargy and shock. It can be easy to lose track of time when you’re playing fetch in the hot sun, but make sure you include plenty of water breaks during play time. Here are some tips to help you keep your dog hydrated this summer:

• Keep a clean water bowl on hand at all times. Cleaning your dog’s bowl daily is a necessity, especially during the summer when they’ll be drinking a lot. Sometimes, when bacteria and other buildup remains in the water bowl, your dog won’t want to drink from it. We like to clean our dogs’ water bowls every morning when we give them fresh water. You can also keep collapsible travel bowls on hand for park and beach visits.

• Don’t let your dog drink too much water too quickly. Gulping down a lot of water may seem like the right solution to dehydration, but doing so can cause stomach upset and cause your dog to vomit. Vomiting and other stomach upsets can leave your dog even more dehydrated than they were to begin with. It’s best to offer small amounts of water at regular intervals to keep their fluids up.

• Especially if you’re not home during the day, provide your dog with a bowl that he can’t knock over and is suitable for his face shape. Tall bowls are great for dogs with long ears, like basset hounds, to help prevent ear infections. However, a bowl that’s too tall for a small dog can leave them unable to drink all the way to the bottom. Make sure your active dog has a bowl with a weighted bottom so it can stand up to any roughhousing and play time.

When you give your dog outside time this summer, never leave him or her chained or tied up to a tree or post. Their ties can get wrapped around the post and prevent them from being able to reach their water sources. Always make sure you supervise play time and intersperse rest and water intervals to keep them safe and healthy. To learn more, send us an email today!

Beyond basic potty training, socializing your dog is one of the most important things you can do for them as a puppy. Proper socialization will give your dog opportunities to play with other dogs, to be calm and cool around new people, and to adapt to new environments without stress or upset. But there’s more to socializing than simply introducing your dog to a situation and letting them do their thing.

Socializing an older dog is more difficult than socializing a puppy, so we recommend you take care of socialization earlier on in your pet’s life. However, sometimes in the case of rescues or extenuating circumstances, you’re unable to take care of these tasks in puppyhood. In any case, making sure your dog is socialized will help reduce fear and aggression, eliminate excitability, and make playtime, walks, and new circumstances more pleasant for both you and your dog. Here are some tips on socializing your dog the right way:

• Make sure you include lots of things your dog loves, like treats and toys. Socializing is stressful by nature - you’re exposing your dog to common stressors so they can get over them easily! Any time you go out for a socializing mission, bring plenty of your dog’s favorite treats and toys to reward them for positive behavior. Any time they get off track, readjust their behavior and reward them when they respond in the intended way.

• Don’t be afraid to use a muzzle. Cesar Chavez, who you may know as The Dog Whisperer, has recommended using a muzzle while socializing for the benefit of humans as well as dogs. Your dog can pick up on your emotions and the emotions of humans around him, so by putting other humans at ease, you’re making the environment less stressful.

• Don’t jump into any situation too quickly. We don’t recommend going into the dog park right off the bat. Instead, take your dog past the dog park a few times, letting them absorb the sights, sounds, and smells. Stay at a distance, working your way up to letting your dog sniff other dogs at the gates. If your dog reacts negatively, regain that distance and work your way back up. Socializing takes time.

As we mentioned before, try your hardest to take care of socialization tasks while your dog is a puppy instead of leaving him stressed out into adulthood. Be patient with your dog and let him feel what he’s feeling. He will set the schedule based on his comfort levels. Want to get your dog the tastiest treats for your socializing trips? Browse through our store today!

2019 Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL

If you’re a dog lover like us, it probably comes as no surprise that the pet industry is big business. All around the world, people love pampering their pups and treating them like members of the family. According to the APPA, the pet industry in the U.S. is expected to bring in over $75 billion in 2019 - up from $72 billion in 2018. The highest percentage of that income is expected to go toward food.

As with any other industry, the pet industry is rapidly changing, thanks in part to technology as well as to more ethical food production practices. Here are a few of the “next big things” when it comes to pet care:

• Home delivery service for dog food. Over the last few years or so, home meal delivery kits from companies like Blue Apron and Plated have enabled people to cook wholesome meals at home without drudging through the grocery store. Similar services are becoming available for dogs, especially when it comes to natural, human grade dog food and kits. As a friendly reminder, Pawsitively Pure offers free home delivery for pet owners within 50 miles of Orlando!

• CBD supplements for dogs. You’ve probably seen CBD treats popping up at your local pet supply store. According to the AKC, CBD has been noted to treat inflammation in dogs, as well as to help stimulate appetite and reduce anxiety. A word of caution, however: there has been no formal study on the effects of CBD on dogs, so administer supplements sparingly and under supervision if you decide to do so.

• Palliative care and end of life services. More people are paying attention to the needs of senior dogs as they approach the ends of their lives to help them live out their remaining days comfortably. There has also been an increase in cremation and burial services available. Companies like Gentle Goodbyes in Groveland offer aquamation for a water-based cremation service as a more gentle, eco-friendly alternative to cremation.

While the “next big thing” can often be too trendy to last long, one trend that will stay is the movement toward natural, human-grade dog food over kibble. Dogs on a natural diet show higher energy levels and healthier skin and coat than their dry-food counterparts. Shop for your dog food today, or contact us for more information!

Picture this: Your best friend has been on the latest fad diet for a few months now, and it’s really showing some great results for them. Eager to see the same for yourself, you ask them for all their tips and steps to succeed on the same diet. You follow everything to the letter and...nothing happens. It’s frustrating, but every body is built differently and reacts differently to a variety of nutrients, ingredients, and eating practices. In much the same way, every dog will react differently to different types of food.

Your veterinarian is the best first point of contact when it comes to developing a diet for your dog. If you’ve taken their recommendations into consideration, here are a few of our tips for finding the perfect food for your pup:

1. Consider any food allergies your dog might have. The telltale signs of food allergies include excessive paw licking, itchy skin, and red, smelly ears, among others. To diagnose your dog’s food allergies, most vets recommend starting with an elimination diet, which involves feeding them a very simple diet and slowly reintroducing other proteins and components to find out which items they can tolerate. The diet you build for your dog will need to eliminate any ingredients that irritate them.

2. Check the wording on the food packaging. Believe it or not, the wording on your dog’s food packaging can tell you a lot about the amount of protein they’re getting. A bag that says “chicken for dogs” means that the protein comprises 95% of the product, not including water content. “Chicken dinner,” on the other hand, usually means that the protein only comprises about 25% of the product. Finally, “chicken flavor” means the product includes a minimal amount of the protein - just enough for taste.

3. Do your research on your chosen brands. If everything looks ok on the ingredients label, do your due diligence and research your chosen dog food brands to make sure they use sustainable production practices and source their proteins ethically. This is the information that’s not required to be on the label, so a few hours of research is a good idea for you and your pup!

You want to make sure your dog is on a diet that keeps them happy and energized. If your dog is picky about their food, we offer delicious, sustainably sourced bone broth to make any meal a little more appetizing. Click here to get some for your pup, or browse through our store for more treats and foods!