When your dog is outdoors roaming around off-leash, are you the type of owner that thinks your dog wouldn't think of eating or drinking something that isn't good for them? Or do you realize that that theory is a total myth and any dog has no idea what is harmful or poisonous, they just eat what tastes good. The bright side to this is that dogs have quicker vomiting reflexes than humans and can expel rotten or toxic substances more quickly than we can. So the poisonous substance has less time to stay in the system and create ill effects.

Most dog owners know that anti-freeze is poisonous. Just a small amount, a teaspoon, is enough to kill small dogs, so keep your chin puppy away from it. Dogs love the sweet taste of anti-freeze, even to the point where they chew through the plastic containers. Store your anti-freeze in an area where your dog can't reach it. When you're out on the street, watch for it and DON'T let your dog lick anything before you look at it. You'll have to be especially careful in the late fall and winter.

The toxic chemical in anti-freeze is ethylene glycol. If your dog has ingested even a very small amount call your vet immediately. The good news is that there is an effective drug for anti-freeze poisoning. Give your dog some bread to absorb the anti-freeze and then give him hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. The rule is one tablespoon per 30 pounds of your dog's body weight, so for you Japanese chin you would only give one teaspoon. (Chins are usually only 10 pounds, if even that, at full size.) Get the hydrogen peroxide into your dog by squirting the liquid into his mouth with a syringe.

If for some reason you can't get to a vet, and you need to go if at ALL possible, you can use the following procedure. After you have induced vomiting, give your chin a Bloody Mary- a shot of vodka and tomato juice. Anything alcoholic will do, gin, vodka, Bloody Mary, the alcohol ties up the ethylene glycol so it doesn't precipitate into the kidneys. For your small dog use half a shot of alcohol and give them one mixed drink an hour until you can get to the vet's office. Remember, this should only be done if you can't get to the vet. And don't give your dog alcohol for any other reason than anti-freeze poisoning.

Anti-Inflammatory drugs such as Advil or Tylenol work great for people but are toxic for your dog. They will run a wreaking machine on his digestive tract so keep them out of reach.

Do you frequently go to work looking like your dog crawled all over you? Do your guests discreetly brush dog hair off their clothes after sitting on your furniture? Dog hair clinging to our clothes, furniture, and stuck in the food proclaims "I have a dog!" very loudly. And Japanese chins shed. Very much. Wearing dark colored clothes hides the hair better, but if you don't want to look like you're in mourning all the time follow these handy tips on reducing hair without dragging out the vacuum cleaner.

1. Keep a spray bottle filled with water and spray your mop or broom before cleaning hardwood or vinyl floors.

2. If you're thinking about replacing your carpeting with hardwood floors, consider this, carpeting holds hair down more than vinyl or hardwood floors do.

3. Clean attached hair off upholstered furniture with dampened rubber gloves or a damp sponge.

4. Use washable sticky rollers to take dog hair off fabrics and upholstery.

5. Keep a washable Furniture Magnet Pet Hair Remover under your furniture cushions for easy access and to quickly wipe hair off clothing, furniture or pillows.

6. To pick up dog hair from your carpet, use a window squeegee.

7. Buy furniture made from leather, faux leather, or fabric that dog hair won't cling to as easily.

8. If your dog has a favorite sleeping spot other than his bed, cover it with a washable towel or blanket. Consider draping a blanket over the back of your sofa because Japanese chins like to crawl up on furniture.

9. If your chin likes to crawl up on your furniture to watch the world go by use washable window coverings to eliminate hair.

10. Heavy texture draperies attract a lot of hair. So if you're going to be buying new curtains purchase ones made of smooth fabrics.

11. Place a lint brush near your favorite chair so you can roll off the hair before you get up. Lint rollers are also handy to keep in your car or purse so you can clean off any hair you see at the last minute.

12. Remove deposited hair between mini-blind slats with a feather duster.

13. Furnace and air conditioner filters need to be changed often during shedding season to prevent blockage.

Yes it's finally time to admit that summer is over and winter is coming. With it will come additional responsibilities to make sure your dog is properly taken care of. If your pet lives outside, their dog house needs to have proper bedding and should be the right size. When it comes to dog houses bigger is not better, just make sure your pup has enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. A small house will trap heat better and be much warmer than a large one. The best bedding for your dog is straw or hay. They retain warmth, allow moisture to evaporate and are biodegradable. They are also inexpensive at only a few dollars a bale. You can find straw or hay anywhere- farm supply and feed stores, local farmers and stables are a few places you can buy them.

Place the dog house on either the east or south side of your house to take advantage of the sun. Keep it out of drafty places, a good way to keep drafts out of your dog house is putting a heavy flap over the opening. If you can, put it on a low platform to keep it off the frozen ground. Fresh water is very important and you need some way to keep their water from icing over. A bird bath de-icer or a heated water bowl work great, but beware of a chewing dog.

If you take your chin out for a daily walk in the winter your puppy may get cracked pads from the salt on the roads. Rubbing baby oil on and between the pads will keep them soft and eliminate dry and cracked pads. Also you should thoroughly wash and dry the pads after walks to get the salt off. Balls of ice between the toes can also be a serious problem and is very easily taken care off by keeping the hair on their feet trimmed and also the toe nails.

Most dogs adapt to the weather easily, except for most small breed dogs, they should be kept inside. If your pet lives outside, follow the few guidelines I mentioned above and you and your dog should have a very enjoyable winter.