My Puppy Can Find Me-Book Reviews 2019

Wow, what nice reviews for my latest book!!!

11/20/2019
My Puppy Can Find Me children's book

Review #1:
Review Rating:
5 Stars -

Reviewed By Amy Raines for Readers’ Favorite

My Puppy Can Find Me is written by Amber Higgins and illustrated by Helen “Scotty” King.

In this educational picture book, a child can learn how to utilize the family dog’s innate intelligence in a crisis situation. Dogs are naturally loyal to their humans, which makes it easy to teach children to use their pet's obedience training to help them during emergency situations. Each page of My Puppy Can Find Me reinforces the key points of a dog’s obedience in a fun way so that kids will easily remember that their furry friend can be a genuine hero. It is very difficult to think that the unthinkable could happen but children do sometimes get separated from their families. This picture book can help a child learn to keep calm, use their dog’s training, and wait for help to come.

I recommend My Puppy Can Find Me by Amber Higgins to anyone who has children and a family dog. Every page easily explains how important it is for a child to remain calm during a crisis because their dog can help them. I love how Higgins provided 'fill in the blanks' for a family dog’s name so that a child can clearly see that their dog can save them if they use the training exercises. The beautiful illustrations by Helen “Scotty” King are fun and interactive as they reinforce life-saving concepts of their pet’s ability to help them. What I loved the most about My Puppy Can Save Me is how Higgins made the story easy for early readers to comprehend.

Review #2:
Review Rating:
5 Stars -

Review by Anastasia

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!! It is the perfect book for children and their family to learn how the family dog can be their own real life Lassie hero dog! I love that it opens a deep level of trust between children and their dog by the child learning how special their dog is. Another great part is gives them a FUN and INTERACTIVE education on how to work together with their dog in the event of being scared, lost, or other emergencies, so it’s an enjoyable learning experience for children and their families!

Wonderful size book, BEAUTIFUL illustrations, and written so fun and easy to read!

Love love love!! You are an inspiration to us Amber Higgins!


See the Review Page HERE

Click to see reviews for Family Disaster Dogs book on Amazon 

My Puppy Can Find Me book was published by Waldorf Publishing in Nov 2019 and discontinued Jan 2021 due to the Covid19 virus which put a stop to in-person book signing events, dog training events and closed book stores etc. You can email me (the author) via the contact page in the menu above if you would like a copy. 

Why Does A Dog Bite?

There are a lot of scary stories about dogs attacking people these days. But the reality is that dog bites are a lot more common than you might think - it’s just the serious, terrible, and disastrous incidents we hear or read about in the news. In fact, there are over 4.5 million dog bites that occur every year, most of which are mild accidents - and almost all of them can be avoided.


The key to understanding how not to get bitten is to learn why dogs bite. Having covered what to do to avoid and deal with a bite from a dog, we thought it was time to explore the reasons why it happens so much. Let’s take a closer look.

Pic via pexels

Why do dogs bite?

The first thing to understand is that any dog can bite. Sure, there are aggressive strains and personalities out there in the world, but even a timid dog will snap at you in fear if you close off their escape route. Big, small, male, female, young, old, cuddly, scary: any dog will try to protect themselves the best way they know how when they find themselves in a stressful situation.

‘Stressful’ is the key word to understand, here. Almost every dog bite will occur as a reaction to something - they don’t just do it for the sake of it. It could be to protect something, or to ward you off from its territory. It might be because they feel threatened - or even that someone or something is threatening you. They can even bite when they feel unwell and just want to be left alone. But the key thing to remember is that in almost every scenario, it’s because your dog is stressed.

Understanding the issue

The trouble is that too few owners understand the signs that their dog is stressed. And unless you learn those signs yourself - as a dog owner or otherwise - it could spell trouble. For example, if you have a small child who loves pooches and sees one on the street, can you be sure that the dog they go up to and try and stroke isn’t afraid? And can you guarantee they will not bite? Educating yourself and your kids on how to approach - or not - any animal is wise.

That said, if you do ever receive a bite from someone else’s dog, it is the owner’s fault. Contact a lawyer to file a claim for canine bites and make sure you get the relevant medical attention - every owner has a responsibility to look after their animals. And if you know your dog is stressed, make sure you have full control over them and let the approaching party know to keep a good distance away.

 
What about play?

In their natural environment, dogs will play with other dogs - and they tend to nip at each other for fun. The trouble is that they nip and bite during play with humans, too. And while it’s fun for them, it’s dangerous for you - and especially for your kids.

You can avoid getting bitten by not wrestling with them, or playing tug-of-war. Ultimately, these are games that will overexcited your dog and accidents are more likely to occur.

Your Dog Is A Family Member Too !

Pexels

It can be essentially important to regard your dog as part of the family, not just a pet. This doesn’t mean you need to throw a birthday party for them each year, or take them on every vacation you might be interested in. However, it can simply be a much more welcoming environment for an animal (and fun for you too!) if you simply regard them as such. 

After all, why else bring an animal into your home if you can’t enjoy the connection and love you will share, even in the first instance? 

With the following tips in mind, you can be sure to regard your dog as someone important and essential to your household:


Personalize Belongings

Your dog might not own any belongings. However, they might be gifted some fun items to be treated to. For example, custom dog bowls proudly displaying your pets name can be a fun method of differentiating between your pets feeding plates. 

It could also be that you have a personalized collar made, detailing the name they respond to, and all of your contact information. This means if the dog is lost, they will sooner rather than later come into contact with someone willing to reach out to you and return the pet. While your pet likely cannot read English, it can still be a fun thing to brand their items for them. Consider it a quirky activity us humans enjoy doing in the effort to name everything around us.


Own Space

Your pet deserves their own space. Of course, they don’t pay rent, so there’s likely no need to give them their own room. However, allowing them a large bed in a space considerable for their own relaxing at night can help them sleep more easily, and can help them understand where to go at certain times. 

The same could be said for where they eat - a regular place is always better. Sleeping in a certain room can also prevent them from coming to sleep on your bed, or jumping on the sofa - which is both either unhygienic or damaging to your property. If your pet becomes defensive of territorial of their space in your family home, that behavior needs to be quickly discouraged. However, a peaceful dog should be afforded a sense of comfort and regularity in where their areas of relaxation, sleep and feeding are.

Training

A dog might not come with the utmost best behavior. For this reason, ensuring you invest in their training will help them adapt to the family better, and become more tepid or relaxed around your family members. This can be especially important if they are around children, they frighten easily, or you hope for them to act as a form of guard dog. No matter what you choose, it’s important to know just how beneficial this can be to the life of your entire home.


With these simple efforts to make your dog part of your family, they will become less of a pet and more of a cherished companion. That’s what all dogs deserve to be.

5 Reasons Why Your Dog Has A Bad Appetite

Like humans, dogs too suffer eating disorders, which can be extremely distressing if you are a new pet owner. Generally, dogs are insatiable animals with a healthy appetite for food. And in most cases, they'll feed on basically anything you serve. For this reason, a dog that won't eat raises a lot of concern. There are several reasons for poor appetite in dogs. Knowing what might be the cause for that can help you remedy the situation. So, what are the main reasons why your dog won't eat?

Image Source

1. Medical Conditions

Poor appetite in dogs is a possible sign of an underlying health issue. Although this may not indicate what the problem is precisely, it's important to watch out for other symptoms.

Conditions and illnesses such as fungal infections, kidney failure, heartworm and lyme disease as well as cancer can cause dogs to avert eating. Not only will it impact on your dog's weight, but also its overall health. Take your dog for a checkup and inform your vet doctor on the symptoms you've noted.

2. Dental problems

If you've ever suffered a toothache then you probably understand how it feels trying to chomp something. Similarly, dogs with dental disease have difficult time eating, dry food in particular. But unlike humans, dogs cannot show pain. Hence the conditions usually go unnoticed.

Common dental issues in dogs include broken teeth, swollen gums, periodontal disease and gingivitis. To know if your dog has a tooth infection, check out for signs such as foul-smelling saliva, the presence of tooth abscess red gums among others.

3. Medication

Although vaccination is vital in managing diseases and ensuring your dog stays healthy, some drugs have undesirable side effects.

One usual side effect is lack of appetite, which is a temporary condition that should wear off after a few hours. If the condition persists, check with your vet for solutions. He or she will recommend effective medications for your furry friend. Be sure to learn more about the medications and their effects. For example, you want to read Advantix for dogs reviews to know other pet owners’ opinions.

4. Quality of food

While dogs occasionally become picky in what they eat, the quality of food they feed on also matter. If your dog is used to eat foods that are rich in protein, serving  it something different can cause them to avert eating altogether.

Go for quality dog food that has the special ingredients your canine is used to. If you are thinking of introducing a different food, feed it in small amounts until it develops a taste for it. Another reason why your dog might be avoiding food it's because the food is spoiled. So, when shopping for pet food, ensure it hasn't spoiled. Foods that have stayed long on the shelf tend to develop a different taste and smell. And dogs easily detect lousy food.

5. Unusual Surroundings and Routine

A new environment can make your dog not to eat. This is because unfamiliar places make dogs feel insecure and develop nervousness, which can hinder them from eating.

In some cases, changing your dog's feeding time or moving their feeding bowl to a different location can make them avert food, at least temporarily. Dogs are sensitive to their surroundings, and they thrive in familiar places. Until a dog feels secure again, that's when they'll eat.

A dog that has stopped eating is like a toddler refusing milk. It's worrisome and stressful to their owners. By noting abnormal signs and seeking expert advice, you can effectively handle the situation and get your dog back to healthy eating habits.

Poor Paws! Health care Tips for Your Pup’s Feet

Your dog's feet and paws are pretty important, but they can be sensitive and delicate too. That is why you have to make an effort to take care of them properly for your pooch. So read on to find out all about their paws and how to look after them and keep them in tip-top condition.

Picture link

Foreign bodies

Your dog's paws are pretty sensitive compared to the rest of their body. That means a responsible owner you need to be on the lookout for things that could harm them that your pup may not be aware of themselves.

This includes things like shards of glass, metal filing, and even some types of grass seed that can get logged in their pads. Something that can be painful and cause infection if not removed and treated by a veterinary clinic professional. Remember your pooch is basically walking around barefoot, so if you would think twice about taking your shoes and socks off in a place, it's best to take extra care when walking them there.

Image here

Hot pavement

Another big problem with dogs and their paws is that they can get burnt by walking on hot sidewalks. Some pavements can get up to 140 degrees plus in the summer on a sunny day, and it's all too easy for us to forget that our pups have to walk on these with no protection.

One way of dealing with this is to avoid walking them around noon and only take them out in the early morning and late evening when it's cooler. Alternatively, you can get protective shoes for your dog, that stop their pads having direct contact with the ground when it's warm. Find out more about these here.

Cleanliness

Now, if you have ever noticed a popcorn type smell coming from your dog's paws, you might be alarmed to find out that this is, in fact the odor of their sweat! Dog's sweat exclusively from their paws and this encourage the growth of bacteria. Something that in turn gives off that distinctive smell.

Picture

Add to this the fact they can pick up all sort of pollutants when walking such as rotting food and chemicals and it makes it a great idea to always wash your dog's feet once you return. Use wipe to do this, or if possible get them in the shower to ensure that their paws are spick and span.

Ingrowing toenails

Last, of all, a real paw issue can be that of an ingrowing toenail. This is where a nail or claw grows into the pad causing pain and infection. The cause of this condition can include bad nail clipping, as well as some genetic issues that affect the posting of the nail.

To avoid ingrowing toenails ensure that you trim your pup’s nails regularly following this guide.

If you think that your dog has got an ingrown toenail problem, don't deal with it yourself, though, as you can end up making them way worse. Take pooch to the vet for proper treatment instead.

Book Release Family Disaster Dogs

Get the book! 

Pre-Release Special

Click Here to buy a Limited Number and Signed Copy from the Author for only $9.99

Please allow 4 weeks for shipping from the publisher to author to you! Thank you! Be Safe!

 (2018) Available on Amazon see a free preview below

visit Family Disaster Dogs   for more lessons and articles