Developed in 1976, Kong dog toys have been around long enough to become commonplace. Most dogs have a Kong or two buried in their toy box that may have lost its initial excitement factor.

We’ve all seen these durable rubber dog toys with the funny shape but may have passed them by for the new, shiny, toy of the week. I, too, relegated the Kong to the bottom of my list when shopping for toys until a recent visit to the Kong website, kongcompany.com . I know that Kongs provide tough, heavy duty fun for heavy chewers but I did not realize the variety of Kongs available, or the benefits Kongs deliver.

I’d like to share a few facts about Kong that I’ve learned so you can be as excited as I am about this legendary dog toy. Did you know that Kongs are widely recommended by veterinarians, behaviorists and trainers? Behaviors that training with a Kong can address are chewing and separation anxiety, both which can become huge issues if left undeterred. A Kong will also help prevent stress and boredom. The Kong website even includes a training “booklet” about basic training using a Kong.

Kong was invented by a rock eating German Shepherd Dog, Fritz, and his frustrated owner. From that stroke of genius came a line of simple looking yet stimulating and long lasting dog toys.

First the basics: The classic red Kong is very strong and bouncy. Extreme black Kongs are extra hard for power chewers. Both are available in 5 sizes. If in doubt, go up a size. Multiple dog households should buy a Kong sized for the largest breed in the home.

For puppies 7 through 12 weeks, Puppy Kong will help ease teething pain, separation anxiety and boredom, as well as reinforcing and rewarding positive behavior.

Kong Ball, Stuff A Ball, Biscuit Ball and Bounzer Ball build on the foundation of durable, solid rubber toys and add a twist.

Both the Cool Kong and the Sport N Dog training dummy feature the classic Kong shape with a rope for throwing and retrieving and - they float!

Kong Wubbas combine the standard Kong performance with bright colors and trailing tails to tease and tug. Wubbas also come in Puppy, Snugga and Water Wubbas.

Kong’s claim of “World’s Best Dog Toy” at first seems easy to dismiss but further investigation proves the importance of this simple rubber toy. Domestic dogs still have a predatory nature that is not stimulated because they do not have to “hunt” for their food. Filling a Kong with toys and treats before giving it to your dog will challenge him to work to get the food. His reward for the natural dog behavior of chewing is the food within the Kong. Regular use will exercise a dogs jaw and, most importantly, help save your possessions from being chewed!

Here is my favorite recipe from the Kong website:

Frozen Jerky Pops
Set Kong in a muffin tin and smear a small amount of peanut butter over the small hole. Fill with cool water and a pinch of (low sodium) boullion. Place a jerky stick inside the Kong and freeze. Once frozen, the Kong (or several Kongs) can be placed in a children’s size swimming pool for a day of fishing for your pet.

Now is the perfect time to “retrieve” that Kong, or buy one at www.cherrybrook.com, to help your dog become healthy and happy!

Be a Hero! Join Cherrybrook in giving back to our community by donating blood on September 12th at our Broadway, New Jersey store. Miller-Keystone Blood Center will be on site from 10am to 1pm collecting this lifesaving resource.

According to the Miller-Keystone Website, approximately 43,000 units of blood are used each day in the United States. 4.8 million Americans would die each year without life saving blood transfusions. Approximately 450 units of blood are needed every day in the counties served by Miller-Keystone Blood Center. Miller-Keystone Blood Center is the only supplier of blood products to hospitals in Berks, Carbon, Eastern Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton, Southern Luzerne, Upper Bucks and Western Montgomery in Pennsylvania.

In New Jersey, Miller-Keystone is the only supplier to Warren Hospital and Hackettstown Regional Medical Center.

The need for blood is never ending. Until you, or your loved ones, need it, you cannot truly appreciate the generosity of blood donors. When you donate through Miller-Keystone, you are donating to your family, your friends and your neighbors.

Your donation will help save the lives of premature infants, accident victims, cardiac patients, burn victims and people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer or leukemia at the following hospitals:

Hackettstown Regional Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ
Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg, NJ
Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA
Muhlenberg Hospital in Bethlehem, PA
St. Luke’s Hospitals in Bethlehem, Allentown and Quakertown, PA
Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown PA
Easton Hospital in Easton, PA
Westfield Hospital in Allentown, PA
Palmerton Community Hospital in Palmerton, PA
Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Reading, PA
Pottstown Memorial Medical Center in Pottstown, PA
Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital in Lehighton, PA
St Joseph Medical Center in Reading, PA
Greater Hazleton Health Alliance in Hazleton, PA

Only blood donated through Miller-Keystone is transfused at these facilities. No other blood center organization serves these hospitals. It’s up to you to provide this life giving resource

The Donation Process
Most persons who are 17 years of age or older and weigh a minimum of 110 pounds are able to donate blood. The actual blood donation will only take 5 to 10 minutes. Afterwards you will need to spend a few minutes in the refreshment area where volunteers will provide you with some refreshments to replenish the sugar and fluids in your body. All supplies used in this process, including the needle, are sterile and disposable. There is no chance of contracting any disease from the blood donation process.

If you have any questions about your eligibility to donate, visit the General Community Donor Eligibility Guidelines for more information.

Your Donation May Win You a Vacation!
Everyone who donates blood can enter to win a $500 Gift Certificate to the Glasbern Country Inn in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania. The Glasbern Country Inn is a rustic bed and breakfast, restaurant, spa and event location, set on a 100 acre historic farm in the Lehigh Valley.

The gift of blood is the gift of life. There is NO substitute for human blood. Please donate to save a life today.

Call our Broadway store at 800-524-0820 and press 4 to sign up today!

Summertime is the perfect time to spend outdoors with your pet. Whether you are planning to take your pet on vacation, trips to the park or lake, or just hanging out in your yard, outdoor play offers important exercise, fresh air and valuable bonding time for both you and your pet. It's important to be a responsible pet owner and monitor your pets when spending time outdoors. Dogs, especially, can become overheated. If your dog begins panting excessively or acts fatigued or wobbly, they need to cool down. Give them plenty of fresh water and get them to a cool place to rest

In the summer, dangers to dogs increase due to their spending more time outdoors. As we dog lovers prepare for potential danger we often overlook the sun. Illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion increase along with the air temperature. Dogs can develop heat stroke or exhaustion from any activity that raises their body temperature – even swimming!

Dogs pant to cool their body but they only sweat from their paw pads. Dogs with short muzzles such as Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Pugs and Boxers are more susceptible to heat stroke and their owners should be extra cautious.

Signs of heat stroke include excessive panting and heavy breathing, excessive salivation followed by sticky dry mouth, loss of balance and a lack of response or refusal to obey commands. Rectal temperature rises and the dog may vomit, collapse, go into shock or have a seizure.

Heat exhaustion is caused by too much exercise on hot days. The signs of heat exhaustion are similar to heat stroke. A dog with heat exhaustion may vomit, stagger or fall, or have muscle cramps but will not necessarily have a rise in temperature. Move the dog to a cool area and keep him calm while offering water.

Heat stroke, or Hyperthermia, is caused when a dog’s body temperature rises above the normal 100 to 102.5 degrees (94 to 97 degrees for puppies under 4 weeks). This rise in temperature can be caused by exercise or excitement and can develop in just a few minutes.

Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated immediately but you must take steps to cool the dog before transporting to the veterinarian. To treat heat stroke remove the dog from the heat and into air conditioning if possible. Begin cooling the dog immediately using cool – not cold – water. Cold water or ice should not be used because it can decrease circulation and actually delay cooling.

Bathe or rinse the dog with cool water for a few minutes. Cold packs can be applied to the groin or armpits, and paws can be sprayed or wiped with water. Place the dog in front of a fan, the cool breeze will help speed the cooling process. Check the dog’s temperature every ten minutes until it is below 103 degrees, at which point the cooling process should be stopped so that the dog does not develop hypothermia.

Hyperthermia can result in death in a short amount of time so getting your dog to the veterinarian quickly is of utmost importance. Kidney failure, irregular heartbeat and seizures can result from heat stroke, sometimes showing up hours, or even days, later. Even if your dog appears completely recovered he should be examined by a vet.

Dogs play their hardest with no thought to the outside temperature. It is up to us, their human caretakers, to take the steps necessary to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Never leave your dog in a closed car during warm weather. Not even in the shade. Temperature rises quickly in cars and can reach lethal temperatures in minutes.

Do not pen your dog on concrete or asphalt surfaces as they absorb and reflect heat back to the dog, making the surface temperature hotter than the air.

Always provide lots of fresh water and a shaded area if your dog is outside. Be sure that the shade will cover your dog throughout the whole day as the sun moves across the sky. If natural shade is not available use a Silvershade Mesh cover for your exercise pen or kennel. Silvershade Mesh is highly reflective; it blocks 60% of the sun’s rays and still allows air flow.

Exercise your dog early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the heat of midday. If your dog is not accustomed to strenuous exercise, start with small amounts of activity in the coolest part of the day so he doesn’t overexert himself.

The obvious concern in the warm weather is for outside dogs but even inside dogs can overheat if they become too excited on a hot day. In addition to giving your inside dog plenty of water you might consider a Chilly Bone or Chilly Cone to cool your dog while he chews. If your house is closed up, be sure to provide your dog a cool place indoors with a fan or air conditioning.

Inside and outside dogs will benefit from a Cool Bed III. Fill this unique cooling bed with water and it will lower your dog’s body temperature while he lays on it. No electricity needed!

The Kool Dogz ice treat maker will keep dogs cool and hydrated while they lick their way to their favorite toys and treats. If you can make ice cubes you can make this custom frozen treat for your outside dog.

Cherrybrook offers a variety of products to make your dog’s summer cool and safe, from Cooling Beds, Cooling Systems and Kennel Covers to Travel Water Dishes. With some common sense and a visit to www.cherrybrook.com, your dog can be healthy, happy and cool this summer.

When it comes to our dog's digestive health we hear the words “Probiotics” and “Prebiotics” often. What are Probiotics and Prebiotics? The simplest answer is that Probiotics are live cultures of “good” bacteria that help the digestive system work efficiently. These friendly floras include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Probiotics do much more than just aid digestion. They also are beneficial in inhibiting the growth of yeast (Candida), increasing energy levels, absorbing nutrients, detoxifying, reducing food intolerance and inflammation.

Stress, antibiotics, environmental changes and pollutants are just a few of the things that can deplete or diminish the healthy bacteria in your dog’s intestinal tract. Supplementing with Probiotics and Prebiotics will assist in increasing the friendly bacteria and inhibiting the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Dogs with large amounts of “good” bacteria are better able to remain healthy in times of stress or environmental changes or when exposed to the toxins we all face in every day life.

Phrases such as “you are what you eat” and “go with your gut” are based on the truth that a healthy digestive system enables the body to defend against illness and improve general health and well being.

Prebiotics nourish the existing probiotics in the gut. Simply put – Prebiotics feed Probiotics. Prebiotics are functional foods that pass through the digestive system such as artichokes, whole grains, or herbs such as chicory root or dandelion root. While there are many foods and herbs that function as Prebiotics; Chicory root and Inulin are the most commonly added to dog food and treats.

Now that you know the benefits of Probiotics and Prebiotics for your dog’s health; how do you make sure to get them into his diet?

The two fold approach of adding Probiotics to increase the levels of beneficial bacteria and Prebiotics to feed the existing healthy bacteria is becoming more common in premium dry dog foods. Merrick, Wellness Super5 Mix, Dogswell Shape Up and Go Natural are just a few dog foods that contain both.

If you are looking for Probiotics to add to pet food, Wholistic Pet Digest-All Plus is a supplement that contains Probiotics, as well as a host of digestive enzymes to contribute to a healthy intestinal tract. Or if you just want to increase the amount of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract, Wholistic Pet Acidophilus contains pure Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures.

NaturVet Enzymes & Probiotics contain a concentrated enzyme blend derived from vegetable sources and live Lactobacillus Acidophilus to help support a healthy digestive tract.

Now Grain Free Dog Treats and Eagle Pack Holistix Holistic Biscuits for Dogs are two treats with both Prebiotics and Probiotics.

The addition of Probiotics and Prebiotics to your dog’s food will assist him in remaining healthy and active throughout his life.

A mutt is a mutt is a mutt…or is it? Mixed breed dogs can feature a larger number of contributing breeds than meets the eye. The dog that looks like a German Shepherd mix can be a Heeler-Chocolate Lab, or the fluffy puppy that you are sure has some sheepdog in him can be a Husky and a Schnauzer mix. Does it matter? Yes and No. You will still love your mixed breed dog no matter what his ancestors were, but knowing which breeds he is made up of may help you to know what health and behavior issues to be alert for. Dog breed DNA testing is an accurate way to determine breed makeup.

DNA, or genetic code, is passed from the sire and dam to the offspring. DNA determines the color of eyes, hair color, size, inherited disease and many other traits. Each cell within a dog contains a complete sample of DNA which is identical to every other cell within that dog and contains all the information about that dog. Because DNA code is unique to that individual, it can be used to distinguish one dog from others.

The AKC has used dog DNA testing to verify parentage of AKC dogs and for genetic identity purposes. The AKC has DNA testing requirements for stud dogs and recommends dog DNA testing for litters in certain cases.

Breed Identification
The DNA Breed Identification Kit uses DNA analysis to determine which dog breeds are present in your mixed breed dog. Knowing which breeds are in the mix will allow you a greater understanding of your dog’s behavior and potential health risks. Dog breed DNA testing is a simple way to increase your knowledge of your dog’s health and habits to ensure you have a long and rewarding relationship with your dog.

Upon receipt of the samples at the BioPet testing site, the samples are analyzed, resulting in a rapid and accurate determination of the breeds that have contributed to the makeup of your dog. You will receive an Ancestry Analysis Certificate with the levels of each breed that have been detected.

BioPet Vet Labs state that they “believe that 92.5% of the mixed breed dog population in the USA is covered by the 63 validated breeds”. The validated Breeds are based on breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Proof of Parentage
The DNA Proof of Parentage Kit uses swabs for the sire and dam, as well as the puppy, to determine the puppy’s parentage. Once a dog is tested, simply retain the DN numbers to include them in any future parentage analysis. Once your dogs' profile is entered, you never have to re-enter that information. The only way to be sure of your dog’s genetic makeup is dog DNA testing.

Dog breeders give careful consideration to the choice of parents before breeding. The DNA Proof of Parentage Kit gives peace of mind that the resulting puppies are the product of the intended lineage.

While some dog DNA tests require blood to be drawn, the DNA Breed Identification and DNA Proof of Parentage tests from BioPet Vet Labs do not. The collection of cells containing DNA is painless for your dog. The inside of the dog’s mouth and cheek are brushed with a cotton swab. Return the swab in the prepaid envelope and results will be analyzed and mailed within 2 weeks.

Both simple, easy to use dog DNA test kits can be purchased at Cherrybrook.com or in one of our retail stores.

We are very pleased to report that our Grand Opening the weekend of April 24th was a huge success! There was a lot going on but the most memorable moment occurred on Saturday when members of the Cherrybrook Premium Pet Supplies Little League Team came by for our ceremonial ribbon cutting. The party atmosphere continued throughout the weekend.

Roy Cobb from Tar Heel Kennels was very busy giving free nail clippings to all the dogs that signed up and even those who just showed up.

Several of our dog food vendors were also present to give out free samples and coupons for future purchases. They were answering customer questions and providing great information on proper pet nutrition. We hope you had a chance to talk with some of them. The food representatives will be back from time to time so you will have a chance to meet with them in the future as well.

It was great to hear the positive comments most everyone made about the store and their wishes for our success. We are off to a good start and look forward to getting to know you and your pets even better as we plan more events down the road.

Thank you for your support during our grand opening and especially your repeat visits to our store.

We are here to help answer your questions and give you support in raising your happy and healthy pets!

by Claudia Loomis

One of the best gifts a dog owner can give is the gift of training your pet. Good training can help build a special relationship with your dog that will last his entire lifetime. A professional dog trainer can help with many valuable pointers and offer an insight into how your dog's mind works. A good dog trainer can show you how to clearly present your objectives to your dog in a way that the dog can understand. Your dog will learn to trust you and will be eager to please.

Dedicated to our mission to provide pet owners with the tools to help their pets lead a long, healthy and happy life, Cherrybrook is pleased to host several dog training classes at our Broadway, NJ store beginning July 11, 2009. Sheila Lobel, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer), is a highly trained, nationally accredited professional. Accredited by the American Kennel Club as a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator, Sheila is constantly expanding her knowledge by attending workshops and enrichment seminars to learn the latest breakthroughs in handling, psychology, motivation, behavior modification and personal skill improvement.

There are three class offerings to fit the needs of various stages of training. Classes are held every Saturday starting July 11, 2009 (no classes July 18th).

The Puppy Obedience and Manners class will provide a strong foundation while your dog learns socialization skills, basic commands such as Sit, Down, Stay and Come, Leave It, and how to walk on the leash. Designed for puppies 8 weeks to 4 1/2 months. This class runs from 10:30 - 11:30am for 6 consecutive Saturdays beginning July 11, 2009 (no class on July 18th).

Basic Obedience and Manners teaches your dog good manners and phases out undesirable behaviors such as barking and jumping. Dogs will learn Sit, Down, Stay, Wait, Come, Leash Walking and more! Hand signals too! Designed for dogs over 4 1/2 months. This class runs from 9:15 - 10:15am for 6 consecutive Saturdays beginning July 11, 2009 (no class on July 18th).

The Outdoor Adventures class is for graduates of group and private training lessons. Building on the success of your previous training, you and your dog will now learn to build focus skills, obedience and manners in unfamiliar places such as stores, parks and other public areas. This class runs from 11:45 - 12:45pm for 5 consecutive Saturdays beginning July 11, 2009 (no class on July 18th).

Classes will be held at the Broadway Cherrybrook Store, 2257 Route 57, Broadway, NJ 08808. Each class has limited space. Registrations will be given on a first come-first serve basis. Please call Sheila Lobel at 908-475-8882 to register or for more information. Proof of rabies and DHP vaccinations are required for all training classes. Week 1 of each class is for humans only, family members are welcome. Dogs come the second week.