We’re just a few days away from ringing in the new year. Hello, 2021! I always view this week – the days in between Christmas and New Year’s Eve – as a time to pause and reflect. It’s something I do both personally and professionally. This year, as I look back at 2020’s most popular Proud Dog Mom articles and the content you guys seem to enjoy the most, I figured: Why not share these popular reads once again?!
The featured article below starts with our most popular read and then continues down the line. With more than 1.5 million readers this year, I’m so happy to see you’re enjoying the content and look forward to bringing you more in 2021!
1. Red Rocket: Why Is My Dog’s Penis Stuck?
Apparently, in 2020, a lot of male dogs struggled with Paraphimosis (the technical term for a dog’s inability to retract his red rocket after it pops out). I originally wrote and shared this article after a somewhat scary experience with my own Chihuahua. Turns out, this is very common in male dogs and, this year, it was our most-read article (by a landslide).
2. How to Properly Pick up a Dog (& What NOT To Do)
Picking up and carrying your dog may not seem like a complicated task, but a lot of pet parents surprisingly do it wrong. (By “wrong,” I mean they unknowingly put strain and tension on their dog’s muscles and ligaments.) In this article (which ranks #2 for this year’s most popular blog reads), we share a quick video highlighting what to do, and some extra tips for what not to do.
3. Why Do Dogs Vomit Yellow? 5 Common Causes!
Do you ever wake up in the morning and see Fido hunched over, retching, and ready to throw up? Then, all-of-a-sudden, out comes a big puddle of yellow foam vomit. Pet parents are often startled, questioning what the dog could have possibly eaten. Hmmm … nothing yellow that you can remember. And that can be scary!
Rest assured, though, it likely wasn’t from anything he ingested. Actually, it was probably quite the opposite. Read on for answers!
4. Why Do Dogs Sleep Under the Covers?
Every morning, I wake up with two little bumps in the bed. If I lift the cover to expose those “bumps”, you would spot my two little dogs, Diego and Gigi. They love to sleep under the covers and, apparently, they’re not alone! This read ranks #4 on our 2020 most popular articles list. When we catch our dogs slumbering under blankets like any other human member of the family, it often leaves us wondering “Why?” In this article, we share the top theories.
5. Blue and Cloudy Eyes in Dogs: Find Out What It Means
Are your dog’s eyes turning cloudy or blue? While visual changes are common in aging pups, it’s important to monitor, track, and report these changes to your veterinarian. In this resourceful read, I’ve outlined five common conditions that can cause blue or cloudy eyes — while some are benign, others are very serious and can lead to total blindness.
6. Homemade Chicken Jerky Recipe
You guys know I love sharing homemade dog treat recipes with you! Well, my simple, 1-ingredient chicken jerky recipe seems to be the most popular one on my blog year after year. Not only did roughly 50,000 people check out this recipe on the Proud Dog Mom blog, but more than 40,000 people also watched the recipe video on YouTube!
7. Human Foods Dogs Can and Can’t Eat
In 2020, I launched a series called Food Facts Friday. For several months, I highlighted a different “human” food dogs could eat. I also shared feeding tips for the featured foods. You can check out that series HERE.
Along with those posts, I created a complete roundup of the human foods dogs can eat, along with a list of the foods you should keep away from Fido. Each food is paired with an explanation! This is a great page to bookmark and use later, as you wonder: “Can my dog eat that?!”
8. DIY Snuffle Mat
At the beginning of quarantine, I shared a super fun DIY project meant to keep your pup mentally stimulated and engaged. Enter: the snuffle mat.
It’s a popular nose work, brain game that consists of fleece fabric strips tied onto a sturdy backing. You hide dog treats inside the fleece — behind the many folds and even deep inside where the fleece meets the backing — for your dog to sniff out, find, and then eat.
The idea behind this simple yet genius game is to mimic the foraging and hunting activities our dogs’ wild ancestors engaged in on a regular basis. From developing puppies to aging seniors, this enrichment toy is perfect for all dogs!
9. 6 Indoor Dog Activities to Keep Your Pooch Stimulated
Speaking of activities that keep Fido busy, it seems a lot of pet parents in 2020 were looking for ways to keep their pups engaged while stuck indoors. With the quarantine, I totally get why!
10. How to Cut Your Dog’s Nails (Without Being Afraid)
This blog post earns a spot on our most popular reads year after year. And I totally get why! If you clip your pup’s nails at home, this guide is a must-read!
11. Easy & Effective DIY Ear Cleaner for Dogs
If your dog has ever suffered from an ear infection then you know how devastating it can be. As they sit there scratching away at a red, inflamed, and stinky ear, you just want to provide them some relief. While it’s important to tackle the root issue (perhaps seasonal allergies, ungroomed hair, or moisture trapped in the ear), it’s also important to keep your pup’s ears clean. While a variety of ear cleaners are available at your local pet store or vet’s office, if you’re looking to ditch the chemicals and create a vet-approved, all-natural solution then this article is for you.
12. Puppy Teething 101: Phases and How to Survive the Biting
Both of my dogs are fully grown now, but when I think back to the teething stage, I can still remember the feeling of razorblade-sharp puppy teeth biting into my hand. OUCH! As a puppy loses those sharp baby teeth and his adult teeth start coming in, they’ll bite down on practically anything they can fit their mouth around. I’m not just talking about dog toys and bones. That “anything” also includes your hands, feet, shoes, furniture, wall molding, etc.
If you’ve just entered the teething stage then you’re likely wondering, “How long is this going to last?!” In this post, you’ll discover a puppy teeth timeline and tips to survive the teething phase.
13. How to Ween Dogs off Pee Pads
If your furbaby is already trained to pee pads when you bring him home, and you intend on moving his potty to the backyard, your job is to re-train. Here are some tips to help make the process easier.
14. Why Does My Dog Smell Like Fish?
A lot of people tend to overlook their pup’s odors, shrugging them off with the excuse: “Hey, he’s a dog. What do you expect?” But, here’s the thing: Healthy and regularly washed dogs don’t smell bad. Sure, if you stick your nose deep into their fur then you’ll notice a slight aroma. But it shouldn’t be unpleasant. If you’re noticing a putrid, fish-like smell coming from your pup’s bottom then chances are he’s dealing with anal gland issues.
15. 8 Simple DIY Dog Puzzles to make Right Now
I’ve been a big fan of interactive dog toys for years. But, since quarantine started, I’ve been pretty obsessed with them. They’re a great way to keep our pups entertained and mentally stimulated (which really comes in handy when we’re on work-from-home conference calls!). Just like we get tired of the same old thing after a while, though, so do our dogs. So, to keep things fresh, why not make some homemade toys and rotate them?!
16. Pumpkin Sweet Potato Fork Cookie Dog Treats
While I originally created this dog treat recipe as a tail-wagging good fall snack, our Proud Dog Mom readers seems to love this one all year round! These gluten-free bites are made with just a few simple ingredients and easy to throw together.
17. How to Crate Train Your Puppy (In 5 Simple Steps)
One of the best things new puppy parents can do is invest in a dog crate. Crates offer a safe and controlled setting when your full attention can’t be on little Fido. And get this: Since dogs are naturally den animals, they actually like confined spaces. So, when introduced properly, the crate will become a secure place for your pooch to rest and relax. A few benefits of crate training your dog:
- Get your puppy into a routine
- Help speed up the potty training phase
- Help keep bad habits from forming, like chewing the furniture
- Get your puppy comfortable with alone time, ultimately reducing risk of developing separation anxiety
- Gives your puppy a safe haven during stressful times
- Prepares pets for travel
In this post written for new dog parents, I share my crate buying and training advice!
18. Why is My Dog Constantly Biting His Paws?
Have you noticed your dog constantly biting and licking his paws? If so, you’re not alone. It’s typically a sign of seasonal allergies and this year seemed to be particularly harsh for our pups. Along with an overview of allergies, this article features a list of natural treatment/prevention advice!
19. Coconut Delight Dog Biscuits
In a world where so many of us are going co-co-nutty for coconut everything, I figured we’ve gotta have a coconut-flavored dog biscuit. Enter: This naturally gluten-free and semi-sweet treat that’s bound to make your pup’s tail wag. It calls for 5 simple and healthy ingredients (1 being water) that you likely have in your kitchen right now!
20. Banana Bread Soft Chew Dog Treats
This healthy dog treat recipe has been a favorite among the Proud Dog Mom pack for years. Not only is it featured here on my blog, but it’s also in my dog treat cookbook, Proud Dog Chef: Tail-Wagging Good Treat Recipes.
Unlike a traditional crunchy biscuit, these bites which taste just like banana bread are soft! That means they’re perfect for puppies and aging dogs with dental issues.
