2012
09/26

Category:
pet furniture

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Carpet for Pet Owners

If you’re a pet owner, you know how important choosing the right carpet is. There are two important things you want to consider when buying your carpet, design, stain resistance and durability. Just pets walking on the carpet can wear it down, and we all know that pets have accidents that can cause stains.

Pets like wall to wall carpeting because unless you let your pets on your furniture, they’re on the carpet a lot. You may think that just getting floor tile put in. It is true that it’s not as difficult to clean up messes and such, but floor is not comfortable for your pets. The floor is hard so if they sleep on it will be uncomfortable. Also on carpet your pets will not slide around like they would on flooring because floor is slick. There is the fact that when pets walk on floor, they create a lot of sound. You can reduce this sound by choosing a carpet over flooring.People with allergies may be against getting carpeting because they believe it will collect pet dander and dust. It has been proven that wall to wall carpeting traps these allergens so that they can be vacuumed up and not let into the air. Experts recommend wall to wall carpeting as the best choice for people with allergies as long as you regularly vacuum your carpet.

When choosing your carpet, you want to consider the material that it is made of. First, you want to consider whether or not the carpet will match your current furniture, such as a modern bedroom set that only looks good with a certain color. After you determine what will match your furniture, then you can move onto deciding the material.

Carpet made of wool is very soft and luxurious as well as naturally flame-retardant. The disadvantage is that it is more expensive than other types of carpeting and is not as stain resistant as others. So if you own pets, wool carpeting probably isn’t the best option. Nylon-fiber is some of the most popular material for carpeting because it is the most stain resistant, it is very durable, and it is cheaper than most other materials. Polyester is a cheaper alternative, but it is less durable than the nylon-fiber carpet is.There are some carpets that are manufactured specifically for owners that have pets. They are designed to prevent liquids from soaking through the carpet to the carpet padding. This is a major cause of bacteria and mold growth. There is also the option of carpet tiles. By choosing carpet tiles, you can easily repair damaged parts of the carpet without ripping out the whole carpet.

Whichever carpet you decide to purchase, be sure to clean your carpet often. When you have pets, everything always requires more maintenance. If your pet has an accident, be sure to clean it up immediately. By doing these things, you can be sure that your carpet lasts a long time.

2012
03/10

Category:
Dog Care
Travel

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Traveling With Your Pet

Some people feel vacations are a thing of the past once you get a pet. However, with a cat or dog you can easily travel anywhere in the world with your four legged friend. Traveling with a pet takes plenty of preparation to get the animal use to traveling in a vehicle, as well as finding accommodation.

Before heading on your trip, start taking your pet in the car for shorter car trips. If he will be traveling in a cage, put him in the cage with his favorite blanket or toy to ease anxiety. The more often this happens, the more than animal will feel confident in the vehicle. Do not take your pet with you if you must leave him in the car for long, extended periods of time by himself.

Pack a bag full of any necessities you may need with your pet while on the road. This includes a water dish and water bottle, food dish and food, toys and rawhide. Do not forget to pack plastic bags to clean up waste and a leash to let your pet out while on the road. Aside from packing a pet bag, plan your route with enough time to stop and let your pet out of the car. It’s important to let them run around, go to the bathroom and burn off some energy on long journeys.

Next you have to find a hotel that will allow your pet. Most hotels and motels will allow the pet to stay if he is current on shots and is well behaved. Travel with a crate to avoid having to pay for any damages caused by the pet left in your room. Keep in mind that some establishments may require a deposit or fee to allow your pet.

Finally, before you leave visit your vet. Make sure your pet is in tip top shape and can handle the journey. Keep all paperwork on hand in case you run into any problems on your trip.

 

2012
02/23

Category:
Dog Breeds

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Picking the Right Dog Breed For Yourself

When it comes to finding the perfect dog, it’s not something you want to rush into. In fact, searching for the right dog can take several months and a lot of researching beforehand.

Now, in order to make sure you’re happy with your pet, here are some ways to find the right dog breed for yourself:

Lifestyle: One of the most important things to take into consideration is our lifestyle. Now, are we someone that travels all the time, is home all the time or is gone at work all day? In order for our dog to fit into our lifestyle, it must have the same amount of energy we have. For example, getting a dog that loves to run and play all day wouldn’t be a great fit for someone that has a hard time moving on their own.

Size: It’s also important to think about the right sized dog. If you live in a tiny apartment or a large, spacious home, you want to make sure the size of your dog fits comfortably and has enough room to run around. This is also important to think about when we think about the size of our yard.

Temperament: Whether you’re looking for a good hunting companion or a lap dog, it’s important to consider the personality and temperament of the dog. Finding a dog with a good temper is important, especially if the dog is going to be around young children or elderly people. For example, if a family were looking for a good family dog, they may want to consider something like a collie or Golden Retriever, while a hunter may want to consider a Beagle.

Maintenance: Finding a dog that requires practical maintenance is also important. If you have a hard time finding time to let out your dog, you may want to find a larger dog, since smaller dogs have smaller bladders and need to be let out more often. You may also want to think about the health problems certain breeds are known for having and the little things like how often you have to brush the dog’s hair.

As you can see, there are some great things to keep in mind when trying to find the best dog breed. From finding a dog that fits your lifestyle to finding a dog that’s a good size, you can feel better about the decision you make.

 

2012
02/13

Category:
Dog Care

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How You Should Wash Your Dog

Getting a dog for the first time can be thrilling and exciting, but then you have to wash it, and the reality sets in. When the reality sets in, you realize how tough it is to wash your dog. You know you need help on how to wash it, and you can often get pointers from online tutorials and how-to videos. This short article should help tell you what you need to do it on though. It should give you some rough pointers, and keep you prepared for what lays ahead.

First, you have to get your workspace prepared. Get together everything you need like towels, shampoo, and conditioner. Even get a sponge if you need it. Get it all close by so you won’t have to reach for anything once you get started. Just don’t let it be close enough that it could get kicked over or splashed water upon by your dog.

Secondly, give the dog’s coat a thorough brushing through. You want to check for bugs. You want to make sure there are no parasites involved in the coat either.

Thirdly, pick a good shampoo. Decide if the dog is scratching from parasites or bugs. Determine the cause of the scratching. If you can find the cause of the scratching, then you can better prepare for your dog for the right shampoo to get now.

Fourthly, wash your dog’s coat really thoroughly after you give it a bath. Get a good nice hose. Or get an attachment hose.

Fifthly, massage the shampoo nice and neatly in.

Wash the head and face first. Make sure not to get it in your dog’s eyes, nose, ears, mouth, or crevices. Use very warm water to wash your dog. Don’t use cool water either.

These steps should help you wash your dog thoroughly.

How to Save Money on Dog Products

The unconditional love that your dog gives is absolutely priceless. Whether you spend time taking walks, playing at the dog park or just relaxing on the couch, the old adage that a dog is “man’s best friend” certainly seems to be true. However, even the most loving of dogs cost money. From vet visits, to grooming, toys, food and more, paying for dog products can set you back a pretty penny. Here are some tips on how to save money dog and pet supplies.
Reward Programs

Several of the major pet store chains offer reward programs to their customers. Customers rack up points for the money they spend in the store. Then, those points are traded for products such as food or toys. To maximize the reward program, shop with your reward card each time you make a purchase. Additionally, always shop at the same pet store chain so you don’t split your points amongst two different chains.

Coupons

Major pet store chains often send coupons to their customers. If you sign-up for one of their reward programs, you’ll usually automatically receive coupons via email or snail mail. If you aren’t part of their reward programs, visit the website of the pet store chain and sign-up by entering your contact information.

Buy in Bulk

Like with other purchases in life, buying pet products in bulk will save you money. For example, purchasing a small bag of cat food might cost you $1 per ounce. If you opt to purchase a larger bag, then it might only cost you 50 cents per ounce. If you’re worried about dog food or treats becoming stale, then store them in an air-tight plastic bin to seal in the freshness.

Utilize Auction Sites

Auction sites are full of dog products at a discount. Rather than just dealing with one retailer, you’re able to buy from dog product stores throughout the world. Additionally, some items such as dog clothing, dog crates or gates are items that can be re-used. Much like you might shop at a second-hand store for clothing, you can do the same for some dog products.

Tag Sales

Tag sales are ripe for picking-up used dog products for cheap. Many times people no longer have the pet or their pet has outgrown what they are selling. Remember that at a tag sale, you have room to negotiate, so if someone is asking $10 for a dog gate, you might be able to get it for $5.

However you choose to shop for dog products, make sure you shop around to find the best prices. Saving a few dollars on each purchase really adds up!

 

2012
01/02

Category:
Dog Care

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Bringing Pets To Parties

Celebrations are a time where people gather together to be with one another. It is a time for celebrating something special and something that has meaning. One thing that is important to consider when attending a celebration is whether to bring a pet or not.
For many, pets are their lives and are essentially like their kids. They want them around all the time no matter what the occasion is. This often brings some good things as well as bad, but the person with the pet should always ask in advance before they bring them. This allows them to not come of as rude or pretentious.

One of the benefits of bringing a pet to an event is the attention that is garnered by it. People will see you and the pet and they will want to pet it. It will make the person with the pet the center of attention and is great for conversation starters. This is great for shy people who are more reserved in opening up to new people.

There are some downsides/cons to having a pet at a party/event. One of the major downsides is that they may urinate or poop at the event. The owners will then have to clean up after them, which can be very annoying and embarrassing. Another con is the pet may make a lot of noise. This can be distracting and very annoying for the owner. The pets may also get loose and this can be frustrating for the owner. Some pets are more docile than others so bringing them to the party may depend on the breed.

Again, owners should contact the people ahead of time to make sure it is okay to bring a pet. Some pets are better than others so this might make a difference as well.

 

2011
12/12

Category:
Gifts

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Great Gifts to Give Dog Owners!

Dog lovers are always pleased when someone acknowledges their pet with a gift. Whether it’s for a holiday, birthday or to welcome a new puppy into a family, a thoughtful gift will delight the dog owner and the dog.
Treats

Today you can find many gourmet dog treats made with fresh ingredients that are both healthful and tasty. Homemade dog cookies, jerky and other canine, gourmet delights make a wonderful gift. Just chose a pretty jar, pour in the dog treats and top it with a bow, and you have created an attractive gift for the dog owner.

Collar and leash sets

If you know the size of the dog you can buy a collar and leash set. There are many beautiful dog leash sets with matching collars. Leash sets come in pink suede dotted with rhinestones, tartan plaids, black with white skull and bones or many other trendy and adorable motifs. If the pooch is a miniature breed, you may opt to purchase a harness and leash set as harnesses are usually recommended for smaller dogs.

Toys

Dogs love toys like balls, stuffed animals with squeakers, chew toys and tug-of-war toys made out of hard rubber. You can purchase furry dog toys without stuffing which dogs seem to favor. Even a canister of tennis balls can be a great gift. This way if one ball becomes lost in the yard, the dog owner has two or three more on hand.

Specific dog-breed items

If the dog owner loves black labs, dachshunds or any particular breed, he or she will certainly enjoy a ball cap, t-shirts or sweatshirt that contains a photo or drawing of the breed they love the most. Other dog-themed items like book ends, pillows, throws or framed artwork can also be a great gift to a devoted dog-breed lover. A book on the history of the breed is also a thoughtful gift.

Gift certificates

If you’re not sure what the dog owner would like, it’s always good to give a gift certificate to a local pet store. Gift certificates allow dog owners to select the items that are most needed or wanted. Pet stores carry a wide variety of dog related items from brushes, nail clippers and doggy shampoo to bedding, pet gates and veterinarian approved dog bones.

 

2011
12/06

Category:
Dog Care

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Walking Your Dogs in the Winter

In the winter, when the weather is cold, you often feel like you want to hibernate and not brave the elements. As a dog owner, however, you have an obligation to make sure your pet gets the vital exercise he needs. So you wrap up warm, grab the leash and head out for a daily walk, but you must also remember that your dog may need protection from the elements too.

Wrap Them Up Warm
It depends on the breed of dog as to how much you have to do to protect your furry friend on winter walks. Hardy, cold-weather breeds such as huskies, Bernese mountain dogs and the bearded collie can usually cope fine without extra insulation. Short-haired, less robust dogs such as greyhounds, pugs and smaller breeds tend to need extra protection from the cold. This is usually provided in the form of dog coats. Breeds with sensitive paws may also require flexible boots to protect against the ice and snow. Also watch out for the tips of the ears and tails, as dogs can be at risk to frost bite in these areas.

Watch Out for Chemicals
It’s not just the cold itself that can be dangerous to the dogs, sometimes the chemicals we use to deal with the cold can pose a risk. Rock salt that is used to clear sidewalks can be damaging to a dog’s paws, and if they do not wear boots during walks, their paws should be cleaned and dried thoroughly when they get home. Antifreeze has a particularly alluring smell to dogs, so watch out during walks. If the dog stops to try and drink from a puddle, don’t allow it. If the water is not frozen, it may have spilled antifreeze in it.

Keep Them Healthy
It can be a huge strain on the body to walk in cold conditions for both humans and dogs. Hydration is important, as walking in cold conditions can cause dogs to become dehydrated. A dog should be given a drink before and after a walk. The body also uses more energy walking in adverse conditions, so the daily calorie count should be increased a little to ensure your dog has plenty of energy. Simply by giving your pet a little more food each day they will maintain body fat and energy levels for the harsh weather.

There are times when you feel it is too cold to go walk your dog. Finding a dog walking service is helpful because they can do it for you and they know how to keep a dog safe during the cold winter times. A quick search for example “dog walker san francisco” can help you find a well trained dog walker that will know how to keep your dog safe from the winter elements.

In conclusion, it is important to keep the dog protected from the cold if he does not have natural insulation. You should also make sure he is in good health before making him go outside, and do not allow him to eat anything off the ground. Preparation, vigilance and common sense will make a winter walk safe for both owner and pet.