poop

If you've got a male dog, I'm betting you notice his gravitation to certain spots to do his business – North has his favorite hydrant and lamp posts in our neighborhood. I knew about the reasoning behind marking, but a new study takes that one step further. It explains that dogs aren't just choosing the same spots, they pick prominent urban landscape features that "maximize visual impact and odor distribution."Not to get too graphic here, but this study is the first to examine the poop side, looking at fecal marking of wild wolves to see how choices can tell others about territory control, mating status, and more. If you're not to queasy from poop talk, read more

Pressed for time, I rushed home from work to switch my bag for a purse and head out for an interview. But in between the shuffling, my two-year-old, who is potty training, tore off his diaper and dashed in the bathroom. "I did it!" he exclaimed, before I heard the toilet paper roll, the sound of a flush and the rush of faucet water. He ran in the room and jumped up on me, his bare bottom resting on my arm as we did the dance of joy down the hallway. Then, I put him in a fresh diaper and he was off.

Moments later, I glanced toward my forearm and realized that he hadn't peed or perfected wiping. Within two seconds, the sink was filled with soapy bubbles and my arms were submerged. A quick mom fix before I headed out the door. Once you have kids, you don't freak out about bodily fluids — you just figure out the quickest way to clean up the mess.

Source

Snow keeps falling around much of the country, but here's a product that can prove useful whether your surroundings include snow, grass, or sand. Back when we talked about wintry bathroom breaks that some pets would prefer to avoid, I spotted this item mentioned in the comments (thanks, flyingroo).

Pups with problems deciding where to go, meet Potty Rock ($15). Since it's used for potty training, the stone has a special odor that makes dogs want to go. This means not only can you help fight urine spots and protect the lawn, you can also help a pet hone in on one spot by just clearing that area away and placing it there. Sounds like a win-win for your pets and your plants, too.

Even if you're toting the same Bags on Board container as everyone else (Naomi and Amanda included), create your own design starring your famous furball on the front. Add text, clip art, photos, borders, and frames to make a one-of-a-kind holder at MyBagsOnBoard.com (and, trust me, this can be addictive). The Design Your Own Dispenser ($7.25) comes with two printable, pre-cut skins or you can create and cut out as many as you want at home! I'm thinking my pastel creation would look fab with Thurman's purple poop bags, right? Being responsible has never looked so good.

Fancy. I bet lil Annabelle would totally approve of these metallic, jewel-toned eggs – stylishly untraditional bag holders won't be seen on just any leash around town. The Kwigy-Bo plastic dispensers ($17.50) have a flip top to fit standard-sized bag rolls and use the hanging clip to attach (and detach) from your pet's leash. How can I choose just one?!

One of the ickiest, but most important, parts of a dog's annual checkup is the stool sample. Usually we scoop poop several times a day, but it goes straight into the trash without a second thought. However, most vets require and request this very deposit to check for worms and other diseases. For first time visitors, the logistics (How much? How fresh?) can be baffling. Here's a simple how-to for this doodoo must do:

1. Mark a freezer-style resealable plastic bag with your pet's name, your name and collection date.
2. Turn this bag inside out being careful to have the sealing part safely covered.
3. After your dog's most recent meal before the doc's visit, bring this bag along with your normal scooper of choice.
4. Collect a small deposit (like one poop) – they actually don't test much more than a tablespoon – and seal up the bag taking care not to smush it.

It's as easy as that! Labeling helps make certain your pup's sample is correctly matched – remember, less is more, and fresh is best.

Source

Let's say you're bringing Fido to get fit but shoving your wallet, keys, and cell phone in your workout clothes just won't work . . . what's a sporty gal to do? Grab this Bucchi Bag Convertible Dog Leash ($15) that's what. With a pouch big enough to fit all the above items (and pooch's poop bags, too), it snaps to the included leash on all sides, which makes it feel like an extension of your hand and causes less bag bouncing if you pick up the pace.

Then, if you decide to stop for a postrun snack, detach the lead to bring your valuables onto the table and loop the leash around a fixed object when you sit down.