Selecting Your Pet’s Daycare

Image via Wikipedia

Sending your dog to pet daycare can be as scary of a proposition as sending your own child to a daycare. Horror stories of rampant germ transfer exist, and this can occur in animal care centers. But, rest assured that any quality pet daycare center makes incredible efforts to keep the place clean and as germ free as possible. With sanitizers like bleach being used on common area floors daily, germ spread is kept to an absolute minimum.

As for the benefits of using a pet daycare, just remember that some of them are almost as good as pet spas. The people who work in the care facility tend to love animals, that’s why they’re there in the first place. They’re up on the latest trends in healthy animal behaviors, and will most likely have your dog interacting with other dogs on a daily basis while you vacation. Don’t be surprised if your dogs seem happier when you see them again following your trip, than they were when you dropped them off!

By choosing poorly, you may end up handing your pets over to a daycare that’s more interested in profits than in creating a cheerful environment for your pet. To avoid this case, what you’re looking to avoid is a place where movement and motion aren’t present. Look carefully. Are tails wagging and dogs looking excited when you show up? If all the animals at the daycare look like they’re simultaneously participating in nap time, it’s a bad sign for the overall vitality of the place. Standards may be low, and community exercise time might be a long distant notion. Your pet will be unhappy when it returns from a poorly managed daycare!

Filed Under: Care, Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Get the right dog bed for your pooch

Cats & Dogs

Image via Wikipedia

Owning a dog is a wonderful experience, but you’ve got to ensure that it’s got everything it needs to be happy and healthy. While toys, treats and even fun dog shoes in direct star tv are all well and good, it’s the simple things that really matter. Among the most important items to think about are dog beds, so keep reading to find out more.

You wouldn’t sleep in a bed that’s horrendously uncomfortable, so why would you expect your dog to? Making sure it has somewhere nice and cosy to snuggle up at bed time is paramount because it’ll prevent injury and let your pooch relax and recharge after a hard day of sniffing, barking and tail wagging.

There are loads of different options to consider, but really there are some things you should consider before you buy anything. If you have a big dog, you’re going to need a big bet to accommodate it, so discount anything smaller than XL. Price is a factor, but you should never buy a bed just because it’s cheap- it won’t last more than a week. Another aspect to think about is where the bed will be- if it’s in the kitchen that’s fine but putting it in a lounge area would mean you should consider something with anti smell material.

The most popular type of dog beds are those made of formed plastic. They are hardy and can be very comfortable with the addition of a cushion, pillow or blanket. However there are also wicker beds that offer a bit more style but might not stand up to excessive chewing. Memory foam beds are ideal for dogs with arthritis or back problems as they totally relieve pressure.

So whatever dog you’ve got, there’s a bed out there to accommodate it. Take a look online for some great deals and give your best friend somewhere comfortable to get some well earned rest!

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged:

Is Your Backyard Big Enough for Your Pet?

It’s a collection of rooms, an abundance of corners: your home is where you roam, shuffling from corridor to corridor, and taking advantage of the space that belongs to you.

What waits beyond that space belongs to your pet, however, and its size must be examined.

While a yard may be tailored to your needs (with management HOA companies maintaining a lawn and its beauty), it may fail to please your pet. Different animals require different elements; and it’s vital to recognize those elements to determine if an area is worthwhile.

Useable Footage

It’s an easy assumption: a backyard is thought to be a gathering of sod and wildflowers, the open stretch of a lawn. Too often, however, is that assumption proven wrong – with a space dominated by concrete patios, in-ground pools, play areas, flower gardens and more. The useable footage your pet may have can be tiny compared to the size of the yard itself. It’s imperative that you then understand how much space you can spare. You must know how the area is being utilized and if that can accommodate your dog or cat. The square footage must be enough to compensate.

Size of Animal

Logic is an uncertain word, too often demanding laborious thoughts and complicated statistics. There are times, however, when it’s instead simple: and understanding the worthiness of your backyard is one such time. You must remember only this — a tiny pet needs a tiny space; a large pet needs a large space; and the presence of multiple pets requires an excess of acreage. These are the only rules to recognize.

Remember these suggestions when surveying your lawn.

Filed Under: Care, Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Do People Go Too Far with Spoiling Their Pets?

Croatian Sheepdog Mawlch Gera - on agility 

Image via Wikipedia

It seems like no matter where one looks, there is someone who is going overboard, spoiling their pet to an astonishing extreme. Treating a small dog as if they’re a child, carting them around everywhere, dressing them up, and more. This leads many to ask if pet owners are going overboard with how they treat their pets.

Certainly there are those who transfer their affections onto their pets as if they were children. And there are those who don’t bother to discipline their pets properly because it might “hurt poopsie’s feelings.” Certainly those types aren’t doing their animals any favors as it encourages nuisance behaviors.

However, there are pets who do just fine despite their owners. They tolerate the attention with extreme patience and are well behaved and pleasant to be around. These pets don’t mind being dressed up, taken to pet daycare and get dolled up, fed fancy foods and more. In return, they give their owners much joy and pleasure, as well as companionship.

And when it comes down to it, any harm done is between the pet and the people that own it. The overall impact on society at large is nominal. There are way more well-adjusted pets and owners out there than there are spoilers. Even those who treat their pets like they’re supposed to aren’t necessarily immune from the occasional urge to make an impulse purchase.

Those who spoil their pets and those who don’t have one thing in common: They care enough for animals to provide them with a loving home for life.

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Can Your Pet Food Be Harmful?

Katzenfutter

Image via Wikipedia

Don’t you love those cans of soft dog or cat food and what’s written on them? It says things like “chicken” or “pork” with bits of “vegetables” and a bunch of other good stuff in it. It’s a veritable smorgasbord of olfactory and papillary goodness all packed into one little can of wet chunks or bag of dry pieces. And we, as humans, look at it as our pets gobble it all up and suffer no hunger pains. But do you ever really wonder what’s in that pet food of yours? Because it sure doesn’t look like “chicken” or “pork.” That’s for sure.

Consult your class action attorneys in Los Angeles, because what your cats and/or dogs might be eating out of those cans and bags are chicken heads, moldy cereals, and cancerous and diseased pieces of meat. We’re talking about scraps here — leftovers — garbage. That’s what your pets are actually eating.

It’s not just bad food people are noticing. Try toxins, too. As in Styrofoam, or metal I.D. tags, or pesticides. Even minced flea collars have been found in pet food. This is what happens when the pet food industry doesn’t take the necessary precautions to instill the best quality process in the making, packing, and distributing of pet food to stores all over the world.

You care about Fido, correct? Good. Do the research and know what’s going into your pet’s bowl. You certainly wouldn’t want to eat Styrofoam all day, would you? No one would — and certainly not Fido.

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Why spoiling your pets is bad for their health

Pets fill an important gap in our lives. The loss of a partner, or even taking the place of children in some cases.  We shower them with gifts  providing only the very best and in return we receive loyalty, love and companionship.

Sometimes we can go a bit far without realizing it and actually harm our furry friends.  Spoiling a pet can lead to illness and a shorter life span.  Below are two great tips to keep your pet happy, healthy and in your life for as long as possible.

  • Limit the treats!  It’s the same for pets as it is for humans, snacking between meals is bad for our health!  If you want to spoil your pet then give them only healthy treats made especially for dogs or cats and ensure you stick to the image courtesy of gemabalbas.blogspot.com/guidelines for feeding.  Over-feeding your pet can lead to your pet becoming overweight, suffering from diabetes, organ failure and a greatly reduced life expectancy.
  • Brush their teeth!  Keep your pets teeth clean by regularly brushing with special pet toothpaste.  It may be a struggle to start with but if you reward your pet and take the time to train them from a young age it should become a pain free exercise.  However, if you have a strong willed pet your vet can help you with regular cleaning and tartar removal.  Purchasing special dental treats and ensuring your pet has hard, crispy biscuits to nibble on will also help keep teeth clean.

The most important thing is to treat your pets body as you would treat your own.  Watch what you eat, exercise regularly and keep your teeth clean!

Filed Under: Care, Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Dog Clothes Range From Practical to Impractical

Dog clothes garner attention. Like people’s clothing, you can select from a wide variety of styles to suit your tastes, or even your night’s outfit. (Sorry, Fido isn’t going to tell you what he or she wants to wear!) That in mind, it’s easy to get pretty creative when dressing up your dog. Whether it’s a cute polka dotted skirt coupled with a bonnet and a festive bow around the neck, or something that more closely resembles animal formal wear, dog clothes can cover the entire range of personality traits that you think best represent your dog.

Of course, clothing for your pet can be practical, too. It need not make your pet draw unnecessary attention at all. On the practical side, there’s the old standby of putting an old tee shirt on your dog to help him or her keep in a bit of warmth during the chilly months of winter. A secondary use of the tee shirt approach is little discussed, but handy regardless. A tee shirt keeps your dog from shedding excessively all over the house! That’s nice at any time, but it’s especially good when you’re anticipating the arrival of guests.

Also on the practical side of dog clothing, are wintertime booties. These may be overkill in some climates, but in the very cold northern reaches of the country, where subzero temperatures are the norm, they can be very practical. They keep your dog’s foot pads off the very cold snow surface, creating an insulating layer that can be vital to maintaining a toy small dog’s health. Forget pet pampering, dog booties can be as important as your own boots!

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

A Dog Collar and Leash in One

One of the coolest innovations to come out since the original dog collar – which allows identification of a ‘lost’ dog – pertains to the collar, but adds a necessary feature. Since before the first dog collar was ever put around a dog’s neck, leashes have been used to help keep dogs in check. Whether that’s to keep them from running off as in the case of an untrained animal, or merely to keep rival dogs from attacking one another, leashes are a necessity. And that’s where the collar that contains its own retractable leash comes into the picture. It solves two problems simultaneously, without creating a third – the ever present question of, ‘Honey, where’s the leash?’

The collar identifies your pet if it should wander off and be found by strangers. It also provides a handy place to grab your dog authoritatively should the need arise, such as if it’s about to walk out into oncoming traffic. The beauty of a retractable leash built into a permanently attached collar is easy to see. There are no more misplaced leashes. A leash is always available, not just when you’ve remembered to get one. And there’s no tangled leash to deal with after every dog walking session.

Considering its ease of use, it’s surprising that a retractable dog collar hasn’t been invented long before now. With two separate, short cables that keep your dog close by your side, there aren’t any ropes, leashes or other obstacles to trip over. Further, the pairing of cables keeps the leash from tangling, which is handy when it’s time to retract the leash and let your dog run free. With its relatively light weight and low profile design, a collar and leash in one unit is the ideal solution to keeping your pet experience as simple as possible. It’s even fully adjustable to accommodate for different sizes of dogs!

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Choosing Between a Large or a Small Dog

After you’ve decided that you’d like to pick up a dog to keep as a pet, the next decision usually involves choosing the breed of dog that you’re going to own for the foreseeable future. There is one main choice, and it revolves around size. Do you want a large dog that you can curl up with on cold evenings and that will help to keep you, and your feet, warm? Or would you like a tiny dog that’s closer to cat sized, that you can take with you as you go from the grocery store to the coffee shop, and then to the mall?

The distinctions aren’t subtle. A large dog requires very different things than a tiny dog. Great Danes, German Shepherds, and other large dogs will require vast amounts of food, for starters. Think of fifty pound bags of dry food disappearing in less than a month, and you’re getting the idea. Hefting those heavy bags of food from the retailer to your home is no small chore, especially if you live on the third floor! Larger dogs also can tend to be more territorial, so when you’re out walking your fuzzy pet, encounters of a snarling nature are bound to happen. Some people tend to shy away from violence and teeth baring encounters, so consider that aspect before getting a larger dog.

Tiny dogs such as Toy Pomeranians or Toy Poodles won’t do nearly as much to raise your monthly food bill. Medical expenses will be commensurate with larger dogs, though, so don’t expect substantial overall savings. Having a pet costs money and requires dedication and discipline whether the pet is palm sized or couch sized! However, with a toy sized dog, there is one definite advantage: you can bring Fido along with you virtually anywhere, which lends an air of constant companionship to your ownership experience.

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,

Moderate the Affection Shown for Your Pet

It can be as natural to want to spoil your pet as to spoil your children. After all, it’s a demonstration of the depth of your love and affection that has you showering abundance upon your furry, four legged creature. As a dog or cat becomes as close as a child, interacting with you each day, they can fulfill a need which makes you feel good – that of constant companion. Unlike a child that might voice its thoughts and offer up verbal displeasure at any action that you’ve taken, a pet can appear to always be happy with your decisions. That can make a pet owner feel good. And that’s something that pets do exceedingly well – make the people whose lives they touch, feel good.

As a reward for that good feeling created, some people tend to overcompensate by being excessively interested in their pet. This leads to pet owners having conversations with their pets, feeding them lavishly and frequently – often to the point of excessive weight gain – and taking them along to any place that they visit. While the owner is used to this behavior and obviously approves of it, others may find it trite. Spoiling a pet is an indulgence, and should be more carefully considered. While it may appear to be a loving act, it simultaneously creates a level of dependence that may be considered unhealthy.

Both the pet and the owner may become unhealthily attached to the other in cases where they spend too much time next to one another. The pet is dependent for food and other necessary living requirements, but the human owner may find that they become dependent upon the fuzzy creature for solace and companionship. This can occur to such an extent that interpersonal relationships with other people take on a secondary importance. Instead of spoiling your pet, try to moderate your affections.

Filed Under: Pets | Tagged: Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts