Tag Archives: dog resources

Use all the dog resources

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Your dog is unique and special. That’s absolutely true. But it’s also true that anything you and your dog go through, somebody’s been there before. And we’re so very lucky to have, in the palm of our hands, access all the dog resources you’ll ever need.

Check your community

We’re not talking about using either search engines or social media for diagnoses or treatments. And certainly not for emergencies. Where internet resources excel (aside from shopping at Golly Gear!) is figuring out the life style options that are best for you and your dog.

Picture of a gray miniature Poodle to illustrate "dog resources."

For instance, we got a call from someone who was looking for a groomer for her Miniature Poodle. We’re not groomers, but she was trying to find a recommendation. She was having some difficulty finding anyone in the area who does a traditional Poodle cut. We asked if she belonged to any Poodle groups on social media. That’s a perfect use of social media. Ask “Does anyone in my area know a good Poodle groomer?” 

Anything you need or want

With our dog training site, we’ve become even more interested in things like fear-free veterinary care, as well as dog fitness and conditioning. And found boatloads of information online, as well as social media groups. When you find something you find intriguing, you can ask people like you if they’ve tried it, how it works, if their dog liked it, etc.

Don’t just dive into anything because someone you know said so. Get all the information you can, then ask other people, including pet professionals you trust. We know someone who, on the single opinion of her dog walker, switched her dogs to a different food. Her dogs gained weight rapidly, and lost conditioning. Only when our friend noticed the changes did she get other opinions, and found out the “recommended” food was, in fact, a poor choice for her active dogs. 

Ask too much

In college, Hope was a journalism major. One of the best pieces of advice a professor gave is true not only for writing news stories, but for life in general. Always ask another question, even if it ruins the story. 

That’s the way you get the complete picture, the best advice. If you’re not sure about something with your dog, from food, to grooming, to dog parks, classes, veterinary care – ask! And if opinions vary, consider the credentials of the people giving the advice. 

We all want what’s best for our dogs. And we understand that there it’s hard to choose with so very many options available today. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Call on your community, both local and online, for help. 

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Get all your dog questions answered

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Social media is great! You can get all your dog questions answered – usually in just a couple of hours! How accurate, or reliable those answers are is another question.

Use it as a resource

We belong to lots and lots of dog groups on social media and off. Groups about different breeds, behavior, training, dog sports, rescue, feeding dogs, dog illnesses, etc. There’s probably a group for any dog interest you have. One of our favorites is a group that just posts pictures of puppies. It’s not really useful, but it does make us smile.

How you use those groups is what matters. All too often we see someone post a picture of something nasty going on with their dog and asking the group what to do. The right answer is always “call your veterinarian!”

Social media best practices

On the other hand, if your dog has already been diagnosed by a veterinary professional, it’s a good idea to seek out others on social media going through the same thing. There are other people trying to regulate their dog’s diabetes. Or pancreatitis. Dogs in mobility carts have several groups devoted to their care.

Illustration of dog questions

It can be a terrific relief to know you’re not alone. That if your dog is having a particular issue, there are other people going through the same thing. And some have managed to get through it and can share their successful methods for dealing with it.

If your dog has a particular allergy, or tummy trouble, somebody out there in internet-land has the same problem. Even if they haven’t resolved it, you can connect with someone who knows what you’re going through.

Helpful resources

We’re not saying that when Jane Doe from Erewhon suggests a diet supplement that you dash out and get it. What we are saying is that, if it works for Jane Doe’s dog, it may be worth checking out. If you think it may be a good idea, print out a copy of the ingredients and ask your vet next time you see her. 

A great idea in social media groups is to ask for recommendations. If you need a good groomer, ask in your local neighborhood groups. Most groomers these days are booked far in advance, so start asking at least a month before your dog needs an appointment. When you get some ideas, check out the reviews, read what other customers say. 

Word of mouth

In the olden days before the internet, the resources we had available were almost entirely local. There was no way to connect with people across the country and discuss a common interest. People relied on the advice of their friends, neighbors, and relatives to find the resources needed for everything. 

While there is lots of nonsense on social media, there’s also a lot of good. We’ve seen people find lost dogs,  network to connect suddenly-orphaned pups to a nursing surrogate mom, share triumphs and tragedies with other like-minded dog people. If you have dog questions, there are answers at your fingertips.