A Loved Dog is a Holiday Treat
A LOVED DOG IS A HOLIDAY TREAT!

Los Angeles CA, July 2006  The holiday season is a time of celebration and decoration -and of life-threatening dangers for dogs, according to Tamar Geller, an internationally recognized Life Coach for Dogs and Their People whose highly anticipated book "The Loved Dog: The Playful Nonaggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior" (Simon and Schuster) and DVD "Celebrate Your Dog! The Loved Dog Way of Training by Tamar Geller," promise to transform the pet industry when released Spring 2007.

Preferring the term “life coach” to “dog trainer” and “well-mannered” to “obedient,” Geller provides insight to millions of dog enthusiasts nationwide as resident dog expert on “The Today Show.” Geller has also appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (while training Oprah’s three golden retriever puppies), “Animal Planet’s Who Gets the Dog,” CNN, CBS, ABC, Fox, “Good Morning Britain,” as well as in the pages of USA Today, Newsweek, US Weekly, the Los Angeles Times and Self magazine, among others. A founding member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Geller is the go-to trainer for celebrities such as Ben Affleck, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Nicollette Sheridan, Owen Wilson and the Osbourne family, among others.

“More and more, Americans consider their pets to be part of the family,” Geller explains. “But they aren’t trained to recognize the dangers of bringing animals into these holiday family celebrations. Each year, dogs are rushed to the vet with intestinal maladies, burns, cuts and more—all of which can be easily avoided if you’re aware of how to protect your pets.”

For holiday pet safety, Geller recommends that you:

Avoid “treating” with rich fatty foods such as turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, yams and stuffing, which can cause stomach problems and pancreatitis in dogs.

Keep your dog away from caffeinated foods such as chocolate (the darker it is, the more harmful for your dog), coffee, tea and cola, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors and even seizures.

Don’t “give a dog a bone” as food bones, especially those of poultry, can splinter and puncture the stomach or intestines; instead, give your dog a bone or treat designed for dogs.

Keep raisins and grapes out of reach—even a small amount can lead to kidney failure in dogs.

Avoid giving dogs foods made with onions, which contain thiosulphate that can cause anemia in dogs—even after consuming only a single serving.

Store leftovers immediately following a meal and make sure your wastebasket is pet-proof—dogs love the challenge of getting into the garbage, and spoiled and moldy food of any variety can make them sick.

Keep lit candles and fireplaces out of reach of dogs—especially of their tails.

Just a few mistletoe berries can be fatal to dogs, and poinsettia and holly are extremely toxic, so keep these decorations out of reach of dogs.

Put breakable glass ornaments, hooks and tinsel out of reach; tinsel in particular can require surgical removal if ingested.

Take a moment to count your blessings this holiday season, and appreciate the unconditional love and yearlong friendship your pet gives to you!

An active philanthropist, Geller has an uncanny ability to give a voice to dogs, serving as an advisor to the Humane Society of the United States and Best Friends Animal Society. She also supports Covenant House, where she created, sponsors and teaches the “Passionate Pups” program, bringing homeless youth and homeless dogs together. On the political front, Geller works with key politicians to promote legislation that will improve the quality of life for dogs; her long-term goal is to develop a national program in which homeless dogs work with prison inmates to be trained as service dogs.

Geller’s extraordinary vision led her to open The Loved Dog™, Southern California’s first cage-free doggie daycare and boarding facility, in 1996. Two years later, “Good Morning America” tapped The Loved Dog as the “Best of the Best;” Los Angeles magazine named it “Best in Los Angeles” in 1999 and 2000.

“Raising the Loved Dog with Tamar Geller” will be sold as a multi-disc presentation featuring over two hours of content at TamarGeller.com and TheLovedDog.com. For specific holiday pet safety questions, readers can contact Tamar.