Saucy Pet

Archive for December, 2008

It’s far from uncommon for pet owners to consider their pets as members of the family. And naturally, such pet owners are mindful that they’re totally in charge of their pet’s overall health and well being. Therefore, they need to be prepared to provide all the affection, care and upkeep that’s called for. And that involves taking good care of your furry friend’s grooming needs.

A number of pet owners might be inclined to overlook the significance of their pet’s grooming. This might be due to either money or time constraints. But there’s a fantastic alternative available for people who simply don’t have any time to spare. The solution is as simple as a phone call to a nearby mobile pet grooming service. It’s the perfect way to ensure that your pet receives the tending and maintenance that will keep him healthy and attractive.

Mobile pet services are fast becoming the grooming method of choice among time pressed pet owners. And the reason is that it’s hard to beat the simplicity of contacting your mobile pet grooming service to schedule a house call. Whether you’re busy at home, out of town, or occupied with your job, your pet can get every bit of the care and tending it requires. All you need to do is book an appointment with a mobile grooming service.

You’ll certainly enjoy the convenience of this type of service. But there’s nothing more critical than ensuring that all the grooming personnel that deal directly with your pet hold its health and safety as a priority. When researching your local mobile pet grooming businesses remember to gather adequate information before you leave your pets in their care. Look into how long they’ve been in operation. That way you’ll have an idea of how well they might or might not know their business. And don’t forget to inquire into the training, education and experience of their employees.

Reputable mobile pet grooming companies are happy to guide you through the issues associated with this service. Most companies are genuinely concerned about the well being of their clients’ pets. So the staff will empathize with your worries. There should be no impatience or reluctance to answer your questions.

A session with a mobile pet groomer won’t last that long. However, you need to make certain that it’s a safe and pleasurable event. That way your pet will look forward to future visits.

Greyhounds are excellent animal athletes.  As they race and perform throughout their racing careers, they normally race until they are between 1.5 and 4 years old.  During this time, they become adjusted to being walked and lead on a leash, so upon retirement from their profesional careers, they make great pets!

As a retired athlete, they are intelligent, quiet, calm, clean, gentle, and all around good-natured and ready to adapt to a new home environment.  They react well to positive attention and reinforcement and so they are a joy to train and work with for the new homes they become a part of.

They love attention and while they do want exercise, they do not need as much room to run as many might think.  Inside the home, they prefer to curl up in a corner on a soft rug.  They are quiet creatures and very well behaved inside a home and around people.

Greyhounds spend most of their lives with other dogs, people, and handlers, so they are very sociable animals and get along well with others.  Their personality makes them an wonderful breed to be around kids.  Their intelligence and dedication make them an excellent companion.  And because they are well mannered, they are great around company and in public.

There is certainly a local Greyhound Pets of America club near you.  So think about adopting a former Greyhound racer.  For more information, check out the Tucson Greyhound Park.  Different clubs have different requirements and costs, but all will welcome you to come visit and find out more about whether a Greyhound might be right for you!

You can also help by volunteering your time.  Most local clubs need volunteers to help with funding, vet appointments, and even just shopping for doggie supplies.  Of course, financial donations are also valuable, but your time and love is needed most!

training puppies

Before you start any dog or puppy training program, you need to focus on what you want to achieve, instead of the behavior you want to avoid. When you begin each training session, create a picture in your minds eye of the goal you’re aiming for, and picture it having already happened. Don’t waste any time pondering over what it is that you don’t want to happen.

Without knowing where you’re going, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get there. That’s true of most things in life, especially where basic dog house training also

It’s human nature to think about things that we don’t want to happen to us. This happens a lot with dogs! Not wanting our dog to pee anywhere inside our house is right up there, or chew our shoes, or run away when we call, or bark like maniacs when we have guests or visitors come to stay.

Contemplate this for a minute. Lets imagine you’re about to pick up a new puppy. Are you actually considering spending the next eight to fourteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, “No no no”? Isn’t it easier and more satisfying to teach your dog correct behavior from the beginning?

A perfect example is when you think, “I really do not want the dog to chew the furniture,” try, “I want my dog to chew his toys.” Rather than, “I hate it when the dog harasses and jumps up on people who visit the house,” change it to, “My dog should greet and welcome my guests controlled and quietly.”

By focusing on the positive aspects of your training goals, you’ll better appreciate how to achieve what you want. That’s a great way to start your training journey.

Reward Her When She Behaves Well

A crucially important area that people have finally realized in housetraining puppies just recently is a move in focus from highlighting corrective action, or penalties, to emphasizing rewards.

Using rewards is a whole lot smarter for most trainers – especially for puppy toilet training. One of the critical reasons for this is that whenever you scald you dog for making a mistake, the results may be irreversible. If your dog is of a particular temperament, he could become frightened or even aggressive in response to the punishment. Other dogs shut down. They seem to lose their sense of adventure. Some may simply curl up and shy away all the time.

You also get a better sense of accomplishment and enlightenment when using reward training techniques. Heaping praise and treats on your dog gives a powerful sense of achievement.

But regardless of how good it makes you feel, rewards based training actually works. That’s because rewards help to nurture and strengthen behaviors we want in our dogs. If a behavior is rewarding, your dog will associate one with the other and learn to repeat the behavior when called upon. With regular practice of the best way to use this technique, you will be able to use this method for pretty much any training goal you want to achieve.

A stern test of you and your dog's friendship will be the chewing problem

Dogs carry out destructive chewing for three main reasons, they are simply bored, they find it pleasurable to do so, or they find it helps get them through emotional times. The nearest human equivalent for which might be to consume a bar of chocolate!

Anything that gets in the way of this chewing normally ends up in poor state. If you think about it there are lots of sharp, pointed teeth in your dog's mouth and they generally get the better of anything put in their way.

Chewing is only acceptable of your dog's toys, never let her have a go at your own possessions.

How To Avoid Your Possessions Being Destroyed

The first tip for dog behavior training is to not place valuable objects in the way of temptation. New mothers will know all about preparing a house for a curious newcomer. Do you really need to tempt fate.

In addition, when hiding things be aware of just how agile your dog is. Your dog can reach a surprising height when on its hind legs?

Consider that common targets in the home include books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.

I am sure you do not need telling that food needs putting away securely. Storing food with a dog around is a problem that is best solved by placing some items up high and making use of strong containers.

The phrase prevention is better than cure applies to dog behaviour training too, if your dog is not given the opportunity to discover the delights of chewing a forbidden item then it is a lot easier for her to learn your house rules.

Letting your dog go back some some old bad habits only undermines your training efforts. Once she has the taste do not be surprised to find shoes you care about being treated to the same destructive chewing.

Why not buy some doggy toys to show your pet what it is she can play with. Take a look around your local pet store for tough items such as rubber bones and balls etc. Buy a few and rotate their use as a way to keep your dog behaviour training interesting.

Some final advice on dog behaviour, when you catch your dog chewing something inappropriate be sure to interrupt her immediately and provide a suitable alternative and give lavish praise when this is accepted as a way of reinforcing good behaviour.

It is always so exciting to bring home your new puppy. However, to be a responsible owner, there are a lot of responsibility that comes with having a dog. You have to feed her, groom her, provide her with proper health care, and give her a safe place to call home.

But one of the most important things you can do for your new dog or puppy is to provide essential dog training.

Discipline and Behavior

Owning a dog that is constantly behaving badly is not some that you want. They can an be an embarrassment and in worst cases, they can be dangerous.

Training requires lots of time and patience, but in the end you will have a well behaved dog that you can be proud of. Training will also strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Let your dog know what is considered appropriate behavior by taking the time to train her. Start as early as possible for the best results.

Dog Obedience Training

Obedience training is also an important part of your dog’s overall training program. There are different levels of obedience training – from very basic training to advanced training.

You should at least provide basic training for your dog or puppy. Basic training includes house training, leash training, and basic commands like sit, stay, and come.

Of course, you can always progress to a more advanced level. For a well behaved dog make sure to provide more training. You can include training to prevent destructive behaviors like barking, digging, chewing, and aggressive behaviors. Just find a program that meets your needs and provides a results such as Sit, Stay, Fetch.

Puppy Training

Start training your puppy from she is very young. Some people wait too long to start training their puppies and it makes it a little more difficult and frustrating. It is a myth that a puppy younger than six months cannot be trained.

Although a puppy has limitations to what she can learn that should not prevent you from teaching her the basic commands from the start. Just do some research to make sure you follow the proper techniques.

There are many different sources of information available – dog training books, ebooks, websites, and even complete training programs. Something else you could do it enroll in group training. If you can afford to you may want to consider hiring an experience dog traininer.

Dog Group Training

Pet stores like PetsMart offer regular training classes. Because they are in a group setting they are also usually cheaper as well. You can also ask around as your local area animal shelter or other animal groups may offer free or discounted group training classes.

One added advantage of group training, in my opinion, is that it gives your dog the added benefit of socializing with other dogs and their owners.

Experienced Trainers

The benefit of a professional trainer is the one on one training that they will provide. Just be sure to ask around for recommendations so that you can find a trainer who is know to provide results.

You should hire an experienced dog trainer for big problems such as aggression in your dog. Do not attempt to try and handle this on your own.

Conclusion

It is a huge responsibility when you own a dog. It is also our job as responsible dog owners to make sure that we have well behaved dogs. Just be sure that you go into any training program with an open mind and the right attitude and you will find that it is a rewarding experience.

And remember, you can always search for more information about dogs.

Virtually everybody had an indoor cat knows what a mission it is, to frequently take care of a litter box. And many owners of indoor cats also know what an even more unnerving task it is if the cat doesn’t use the litter box! For sure there are those among us who dream of higher things and do not care to settle for litter box cleaning. For these kitty owners, there is good news now. Yes, believe it or not, cats can be trained, to use an actual toilet. When you are toilet training your cat, you will teach it in the process to move from using a litter box to using a toilet. If this sounds too good to be true, don’t be disappointed when you recognise that you still have to press the toilet flush button for your cat.

1. Changing the Place of Your Kitty’s Litter Box

Just in case that your cat’s litter box is not yet in the bathroom, you have to move it there. The cat box should be close to the toilet on the ground for several days. After a couple of days you can put the litter box up a few inches using something very stable to sit under it. In case you have no appropriate furniture to secure the box, you can use books if they are arranged in a stable fashion. Of course it is the goal, to arrive at the point where the rim of the litter box and the toilet bowl are even. After that you should install a sturdy aluminum pan over the toilet bowl in a manner that will allow it to support your cat without wobbling as you start the toilet training with your cat. Limit the amount of kitty litter at this time to less than an inch across the bottom of the pan.

2. How to Get your Cat Used to the new Toilet Seat

Once you have removed the litter box and have the cat using only the pan, you are prepared to start with the last part of toilet training of your cat. You can begin the training by poking some holes in the surface of one side of your aluminum pan. Of course, you better reduce the cat litter so it doesn’t leave through the toilet. Plus, you should consider using flushable kitty litter at this time. The holes are supposed to direct the kitty to stand with its front paws on the toilet seat when it needs to potty. When your cat has been doing this for some days, you can put holes on the other side of the pan so that the kitty will stand completely on the toilet seat. The critical part of the toilet training is that after your cat has been doing this with success for a a while, you have to completely remove the pan. If you have been successful with the cat toilet training, your kitty should now use the bathroom toilet!

One Last Info on Toilet Training your Cat

These two lessons could take as long as two to three months with a narrow minded, senior cat. So be patient with your little friend. Remember a wet environment isn’t something cats are innately comfortable with. Don’t give up if your cat doesn’t use the toilet a couple of times in a row. Just keep your pan in case your cat is resistant or is momentarily not in the mood using the toilet. Put the pan back on the toilet and the cat can re-learn to take the toilet again pretty quickly. The benefits of toilet training your cat are many.

Healthy Cats

There are many surprises to new cat owners, including that of the numerous health problems that are very common among most cats.

No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about.  With any breed certain problems are to be expected. Some may be hereditary, while others can easily be prevented. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.

Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. Cats who have problems gaining weight, problems with fleas, or if you find white specks in his stool, you should have your vet test him for worms. Although they can be treated with medicine, worms can prove to be fatal if they are left untreated.

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. All cats groom themselves on a daily basis, normally swallowing the loose hair that comes from their coats. Sometims the stray hair will become a large ball and get caught in the cat’s digestive tract instead of passing through the stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball – as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Although it can be rather disgusting in the end, most cats can dislodge hairballs without any problems. Hairballs may occasionally move through a cats intestine and block food from getting past.

Blockages should be taken very seriously, as they can be fatal if not treated promptly. If your cat becomes constipated, isnt eating properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take him to the vet immediately.

You can prevent hairballs and blockages by brushing your cat 2 3 times a week to remove loose hair. You can also feed him food that is designed to control hairballs as well. Urinary tract infection is also a common health problem with cats.

Pee hole infections happen more with boy cats that haven’t been fixed, but girl cats can have it too. This problem is usually the culprit when your cat(s) suddenly stops going to their litter box. If a cat’s urine smells unusually strong, the cat may have a urinary tract infection and should be taken to the vet. Your veterinarian can prescribe medicine to treat the problem, and can give you advice on avoiding the problem in the future.

Nowadays, vaccines are available to treat the disease, feline leukemia, which used to be the greatest cause of death in cats in the past. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don’t have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can’t be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.

You know all the benefits of switching to an organic diet for a healthier and longer life-time. But are you aware that your pet can benefit from feeding nutritious organic dog food, as well? By switching your dog to an organic dieting, you can assist to ascertain that he or she lives a longer, healthier life; with fewer travels to the veterinarian, more vigour, and stronger general health.

You might even be able to save a ton of your money by making your personal brand of organic dog food right in your own kitchen. Not only does this give you the piece of mind of knowing that you’re giving your dog a chance for a more appreciable life, but also the peace of mind that comes from recognizing you’ve saved a bunch of money in the procedure.

A Success Formula

One of the foremost things that you need to have obtainable when you go to fix your individual organic dog food is an airtight container to store the finished food in. Do-it-yourself dog food should only be stored for a few days, no more than four or five, so make certain not to fix any more than your dog can finish in that time. Organic dog food should be given in practically the corresponding style as commercial dog food; for instance, if your dog currently eats a cup of dry food per day, so the corresponding quantity of your homemade food should be enough.

The consecutive most critical component of your organic dog food are the components you use. Pick Out solely the cleanest ground beef, turkey, or chicken that you would give your family, and you will help to guarantee that your pet friend eats as safe as you. Fix the meat you choose thoroughly, and blend it into a pure ground in your blender or food processor.

Picking Out veggies for your organic dog food is also essential. Dogs want beta carotene as much as humans do for positive eyesight, so we commend grinding various carrots (three or four) through your blender into a fresh pulp. Mix both meat and vegetables together and add various cups of well cooked, brown rice to bind it all together. This should later be stored in an air-tight container in your refrigerator, and fed to your dog on a regular basis.

As you can realise, cooking your personalized nutritious organic dog food is easy as pie, and it merely appends a few bucks to your foodstuff budget each week. If you have a breed of dogs that calls for nutritional add-on, you will learn that they can be easily combined with your organic and healthy dog food concoction, in order to take the hassle out of giving them to your dog.

Today’s domesticated cat has become the companion animal of choice for huge number of people around the world. In the United States alone, more than 30 million domestic pet cats now outnumber the dog population by several million, with the gap increasing each day. For what reason has the domestic cat become so popular? What is it about this puzzling creature that appeals to so many of us?

The answer to this definitely has to be the inscrutable personality of the cat. Extremely intelligent, it possess an arresting combination of personality traits not found in other domestic pets. Beguiling and quiet, self-sufficent amd poised, athletic and fastidious, the domestic cat is seldom needy. It appreciates company but is also content to spend time alone for hours at a stretch, making it the perfect pet for single people especially, let alone a family.

This independent streak, a result of cats in nature living alone by themselves, gives the household cat a slightly cavalier attitude for life; for them, the sun does not rise and fall around people, although they appreciate what we have to offer, thank you very much.

The capability with which cats survive, with or without the help of humans may just be one of the main reasons why we like them so much. Emotionally needy pets (or people) tend to become increasingly irritating after a time; cats are charming egocentric creatures. This, combined with their beauty, grace, dignity, and ease of care, always makes them dsireable.

Humans also love cats because they say, ” we are your roommate, not your servant,” and for their ability to recognize the value in taking a nap. And who does not appreciate the cat’s clean, fastidious nature and built-in toilet training? Try getting a Schnauzer puppy to use a litter tray!

There’s no doubt that cats enjoy all the consideration we humans give to them, though they will, given the chance, deny it. They are perfectly happy to stay with us because we love them and provide for them, but if we vanished from the planet anytime soon, it#s more than likely that the cat would mourn somewaht, meow some, and then get on with the business of finding a furry little meal – all the while mocking the millions of rudderless, grief-stricken pooches aimlessly wandering about, wondering what to do next.

If my life experience is anything to go by, closer bonds have been developed with a cat when an owner enables the cat to decide for itself when and where it wants affection from its owner. As my grandmother used to say: “You’ll never own a cat but one may choose to live with you”.

They’re good looking, popular and occasionally questionable. They come mass made and some with designer labels. They also make unbelievably high priced chew toys for some puppies and dogs. They’re leather dog collars, once the norm for dog gear and now a luxury piece. Is a leather dog collars right for your pet?

Benefits

Some of the advantages of getting leather dog collars are that they last a long time provided you are willing to take care of them properly. Although they cost more initially than other collars, they can sometimes last longer than the life of your dog. A lot owners of dogs who get good and muddy prefer to use leather dog collars and leashes than of other materials because it is so sturdy.

One of the other advatages is that leather always goes with your pet’s coat, whether it is brown leather or black leather. Leather has an undeniably timeless look and a great smell, if you take care of the leather properly. There are now a wide variety of leather dog collars in different patterns, colors, with rhinestones or other additions. There are even widely known designers of people fashions who are getting into doggie fashions.

Drawbacks

The main disadvantage of leather dog collars is that it’s made out of very tasty animal hide. At least, your dog thinks it’s tasty. You can’t tell your dog that it’s not okay to chew on the $100 rolled leather dog collar but it is acceptable to chew on rawhide treats. They are made of nearly the same stuff. Dogs will chew on leather, but with patience and persistence, they can be trained not to.

Another disadvantage is having to clean and condition the leather dog collar and leash. You dont have these worries with nylon or rayon collars and leashes. You can throw them in the bath along with the dog. But prolonged exposure to soaking water will destroy leather. You need to get special soaps and conditioners for them. You might need to have the leather collars worn only on special occasions.

If you are a vegetarian or vegan, than you are already trying to cut out all animal-based products from your life. The thought of killing cows for dog collars might not sit well in your mind. But there are elegant imitation leather dog collars that are almost as tough as leather on the market. As an added bonus, they don’t have the strong smell that attracts dogs looking for a quick treat.