You’ve Heard of a Dog Door, What About a Cat Door
January 17, 2009 by Craig T Lewis · Comments Off
It may be surprising to know all the uses you could put a dog door to, even if you don’t have dogs. If you have a pet cat, the dog door can also be used by that. This is also convenient if you have a small dog or a pup – so the same sized door can be used by both. Usually owners install dog doors for dogs but rarely bother to do the same for cats.
Cats are usually looked at as house pets, or to be precise, lazy house pets that would rather not go out. However, getting your cat to do some exercise is a good idea as most have a tendency to grow fat and lazy very quickly. At such times having a cat door to shoo it out of the house and letting it in when it wants can be a great idea. And if your cat is the outdoor type, it will definitely appreciate the quick access to safety when it gets into trouble.
Dog doors for cats can be replaced by a think film of vinyl or strong plastic that is easy for the cat to push its way through. Cats generally tend to use their claws on anything that might seem like a deterring factor, so it is best to have a flap on the door which will open easily even without any pawing. Otherwise you might find the lovely finish of thermo vinyl or aluminum badly scratched! Another mistake is installing wire mead or a net of any sort. Cats can very easily tear through most.
Dog doors for cats are useful in another way as well. Cats are known to go to extreme lengths to get things they want. A cat wanting to get out of the house will resort to extreme measures in the absence of a dog or cat door. This includes jumping on the kitchen counter or even jumping onto the coffee table in a bid to get to the window. All this jumping and the resulting destruction of (often expensive) property can be put to an end with a cat door.
Dog doors for cats can be installed on all the doors of the house, not just the front or main door. This allows your cat access to all the rooms so it can roam about freely. If you want to keep the cat out of a particular room for some time, just lock the cat door. Dog doors for cats come with a variety of locking systems and you will definitely find one to suit your purpose.
A house is quite large and a cat quite small. Therefore it is quite easy for it to get lost in one of the rooms. Consequently, you might find the idea of having cat doors all over the house a little unnerving. However, the idea is to give your pet freedom. Cats are inquisitive creatures and like to snoop around. Keep them cooped up in a room and they will soon become lazy, fat and very boring. A cat that can roam about the house is far more interesting. If you’re worried about losing it, tie a little bell around its neck. That way you’ll here your cat every time it runs through a cat door.
Barking dogs advice for owners
December 30, 2008 by Jack Pointer · Comments Off
To bark at a stranger is a good service to a dog’s owner. To bark at a falling leaf or the setting of the sun is a nuisance. Usually this incessant, unnecessary barking is because the dog is bored and is being neglected. It is not trained and has been allowed to become a problem.
Most towns have laws against barking dogs. It’s againts the law to allow any animal to disturb the peace and quiet of the town’s neighborhood. If you’re the owner of a barking canine or the neighbor of a barking canine, there are steps you can take to keep your neighborhood peaceful.
If you are the dogs owner, it’s easier to train in a good habit than it is to train out a bad habit. So training your dog early on. If the dog barks, while playing or to protest being confined, command him very firm to be quiet. Tell him “no” and lightly but firmly hold his muzzle shut to show him what you want.
If this doesn’t work for you and the dog is going to continue his bad habits, get close enough to him while he is barking and squirt him in the face with your lawn hose. Don’t use too strong a stream because this could injure the dog. Hopefully he is startled enough, and will give up the barking.
The longer a dog gets away with exercising a bad habit, the harder it is to correct him. So try to give your dog some training time each day. Never leave your dog tied all the time.
Your dog may not like being tied up, and will bark as soon as you leave home. If this happens, tie him up where you want to keep him. You may have to leave your home and drive around the block or park up the street and walk home. If you find the dog barking, startle him with a big noise and command no!
A dog barking while staying in the house can also be a very annoying. If the dog barks in the house, try and make him think you have left. If he begins to bark again, go back end tell him no. You might have to startle him by thumping on the door.
After you have tried this approach, play with the dog outside for a while then bring him back indoors and attempt the procedure again. If your dog stays in kennel or crate, and he barks, you can startle him by hitting the top of the crate. Remember to give the command no immediately after you scare him.
It doesn’t really matter what kind of dog you have. They all can bark if they get bored. Your dog’s bad habits can be changed, however, for a dog will not keep doing something if he has made uncomfortable.
One of the most important things to remember is try and keep your pet from getting a bad habit in the first place. Pay attention and play with them regularly. He is your responsibility to care for, and you must keep him from bothering your neighbors.
Dog Training Tools You Should Use
December 11, 2008 by Don Pedro · Comments Off
You cannot execute the perfect dog training session without some dog training tools. Dog training tools are basically designed to enhance the learning pace of a dog. Part of the things that you will be learning as a dog owner during a dog training session is the type of tool that best fit your dog and the correct way to use those tools. The following are some dog training tools and their uses:
A clicker is one of the many dog training toosl you can use to train your dog. This is a tool that is used to pass instructions to your dog during training session. It is a plastic box with a metal tongue inside of it. When you press the metal tongue, it produces a series of clicking noises that is meant to catch the attention of your dog. A clicker is often used to let your dog knw that it getting an instruction. Also, it can be used in a recall instruction.
Another tool that you can use during dog training sessions is a choke collar. This is a long chain with a large ciruclar ring at both ends. The chain passes through one of the rings and is slipped to the head of a dog. This tool is mainly used to call your dog to order. When your dog behaves abnormally or unaceeptably, the tool is tugged and tightens around the dog’s neck as a warning sign.
- Prong collar: The prong collar is constituted by metal links that fit together by interconnecting through long teeth that curve upwards. It consists of a loop of main links that pull the collar tight when it is pulled. It is a correctional dog-training tool that pokes the dog’s neck when it is pulled. The prong collar is used predominantly in traditional dog training sessions.
One of the dog training tools that has been misunderstood by many dog owners and animal acitivists is the lectronic collar. Unlike the other collars we have looked into, this is a collar that releases small currents of electrical impulses to the dog’s neck. It is mostly used to bring a dog to order when it is doing something you don;t approve of or like. The electrical impulses is controled by you, the dog owner. You can make the impulse mild or intense depnding on what you want to pass across to your dog. Contrary to what you may be thinking, the impulse is never harmful to dogs. Even if the impulse in intense, it can never harm the dog. Electronic collar is a dog trainng tool that has helped dog owners and trainers to achive success during training sessions.
I want you to know that all the dog training tools mentioned in this article is not exhaustive. There are quite many others out there that you can use in order to train your dog succesfully. Simply look for them on the web or related magazine and make sure you use them as instructed in order to achieve desired result.
In conclusion, this is not an exhaustive list of dog training tools. There are quite many out there. You just have to ask other dog owners around you for useful tips that can help you. Also, you should visit the web to meet other dog owners that are succeeding in dog training.
Reasons for Aggressive Behavior in Dogs
November 24, 2008 by Jason Roddick · Comments Off
Although we have already seen the symptoms of dog aggression such as bared teeth, growling and biting, we still do not understand the reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs. The first step in understanding is also knowing the primary reasons for this behavior. A cheerful dog means it is well-bred, and so we have to understand the nature and reason of this violent behavior for your dog’s welfare.
Dominance Aggression
The need to establish supremacy is one of the reasons for a dog’s aggression. Dogs are pack animals with a strict hierarchy and it is their nature to seek dominance in a certain pack. Dogs normally assume that people are part of their pack so they take the alpha dog post.
Territorial Aggression
A dog’s territorial nature is also to be blamed for its aggression aside from dominance. Dogs are territorial so anything that they feel they own, they will protect. When dogs feel that someone is claiming anything that they own, or threatening any of their property or family, they will exhibit violent behavior. This kind of behavior although typical of dogs is still not acceptable to and compatible with human lifestyle.
Fright Aggression
Fear is another reason for aggression amongst dogs. There are few definite signals that a dog afraid and those signs are to be taken with caution because fear is one of the most neglected reasons for aggression in dogs. A frightened dog will normally lash out because it feels threatened. Your dog will normally show signs like growling, ears pulled back, and its tail between its legs. When a dog lashes out because it is terrified, the behavior most of the time is mistaken for direct aggressiveness rather than a reaction to the stimulus.
Predatory Nature
Most animals are predatory in nature including dogs. While other dogs are afraid, most dogs love to hunt, chase and prey on smaller dogs, animals and even kids.
Redirected Aggression
Some dogs instead of lashing out at the attacker will attack other dogs and not the actual cause of their fear or anger. Redirected aggression is another reason that is sometimes hard to comprehend because there is no definite way to tell where the aggression comes from. Sometimes you would see dogs in the yard and an individual suddenly appears out of nowhere. The dogs instead of attacking the trespasser would attack each other instead.
Medical Reasons for Aggression
Lastly, there might be medical reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs that have been diagnosed. Although most dogs can be trained to not be aggressive if its something behavioral, on few occasions, there is an underlying medical condition that needs to be treated. Moreover, some females are very violent when they are pregnant or nursing, same as maternal protectiveness is very common in many nursing females, and aggressive behavior can be restrained through good training as early as they are still a puppy.
In most cases, the severity of aggressive behavior can be reduced but not completely eliminated. The first step to prevent dog aggression is to be aware of and to understand the reasons for these types of behavior so that it can be controlled and prevented in the future. There are training methods to treat and restrain different types of aggression. Knowing what triggers aggressive behavior can determine what training method is most effective.
Feed Your Dog With All Natural Dog Food To Keep Them Healthier
November 13, 2008 by G D WILLIAMS · Comments Off
Pets are members of your family what is more, they need special attention in the matter of food. There are numerous advantages of feeding natural foods to dogs. All natural dog food is very rich in vitamin E and C, which is very important for their body.
Vitamin E keeps their coat healthy and vitamin C is good for their bone strength. All these vitamins have the same effect on your pet as they do to the human body. Vitamins such as, beta-carotene are a great help to remove toxins commonly known as free radicals, from their body.
Animals ordinarily eat meat, thus their body gains lots of toxic material and the if toxic material is not removed from their body, then there are lots of chances of them getting infected with diseases of the lungs and heart. It is good to give supplements of all natural dog food day-to-day to keep their metabolic system free from infection and diseases.
All natural dog foods are high in fiber and antioxidants. Natural foods also contain manganese, phosphorous, calcium and potassium all these vitamins and minerals are required for a healthy diet. There are numerous vegetables available to you that are rich in antioxidants, such as, dark leafy greens. By feeding your pet a diet of natural dog food, you are cutting down on health problems and veterinarians bills.
There is lots of proprietary natural food available in market for your pet. Yet, it is better to confer with your Vet before feeding canned natural food. The advice of a veterinarian is essential before going for a experimentation because some canned food is filled with bread.
Every pet owner feels his pet should have good breath, brilliant coat sheen, clean teeth, bright clear eyes and be healthy all the time. For this entire thing, the pet should have good quality of all natural dog food, because a complete diet can only bring this affect to your love able pet. One should take care about the health of their dog so that your pet will also live a longer life.
If your pets are properly fed with rich nutrition, then it will help prevent against common diseases. It is always advised that your veterinarian recommends a holistic food diet or a home made food diet, thus, this will keep your pet away from artificial ingredients.
Particular foods should be avoided, these are foods containing a high amount of oil and low budget food supplements. Feed this type of food will lead to digestive problems and could lead to hair loss as well.
Feeding all natural dog food has many advantages and when you visit your vet to ask for advice, you will find they will say it is advisable to give natural food to your dog. By using natural food as a diet you will be rewarded with a positive effect on your dogs behaviour. Such as, you will find they become more active and playful, and if your dog is quite aggressive, you may find it assists to calm them.
So feed your dogs with all natural dog food to keep them healthier.
Why Choose An Orthopedic Dog Bed
November 9, 2008 by Johnathan Livingston · Comments Off
Many people don’t think animals need beds, especially not orthopedic dog beds. Whether they’re animals lovers who think that “animals are people, too” or someone who’s never owned an animal, it’s easy to see why they might not think Fido needs a special sleeping spot of his own. They seem to be able to sleep anywhere-on the hard kitchen floor, in a chair, on a sidewalk, or outside in the grass. They hardly seem picky. Special resting spots don’t seem like necessary supplies for them, but experts know that the proper place to sleep is as important for them as it is for humans.
Not only do beds offer comfort, they offer security. Never again will your pup be abruptly woken and shooed from a chair couch so someone else can sit down. We’d be a little nervous if someone came and shook us and told us to get up just they could sit there. A special spot of his own will make him feel more safe, secure and calm within the household.
They’re also designed for warmth. Orthopedic pet beds keep your pup from sleeping on the cold floor. Your animal gets a different more comfortable surface to sleep on. Some are fluffy and cushy and practically envelope him. While some are made specifically to offer extra warmth for tiny pups, and extra room for the not-so-tiny breeds.
Orthopedic dog beds are perfect for older animals. Animals fall ill to the same conditions as humans when they age. Their joints become stiff, they can develop arthritis, and have trouble moving around, especially in damp weather and when they first wake up. Orthopedic dog beds help with this by cushioning them from the hard floor. They’re designed to provide the right amount of cushioning for the pet’s bones and joints, to relieve pressure and make your pooch as comfortable as possible.
Larger breeds should always have orthopedic dog beds, because their large frames tend to make their joints wear out much quicker than smaller breeds. Fat animals or those who’ve had injuries or surgeries in their history can benefit greatly from orthopedic dog beds, as well. Some orthopedic dog beds are even heated, because the added heat can help greatly with join pain and stiffness.
Orthopedic dog beds can help you, too. If your four-legged friend likes to sleep in chairs and on couches and beds, chances are he leaves dirt and hair behind a lot. With his own sleeping spot, the mess will be confined mostly to that one spot. And most have washable strain resistant covers made of easy to clean material to make getting rid of the dirt and hair mess much easier.
An important consideration for older animals and any animals that already have good reason to need orthopedic dog beds, having their own spot can prevent further injury. And not just because it provides cushioning. If they regularly sleep in chairs, on couches, or beds they have to jump down after waking. Orthopedic dog beds keep them from having to do that, so the chance of your pup becoming injured while jumping down from furniture is lessened.
Orthopedic dog beds are even more important for animals who spend lots of time outside. Many pups spend hours outside, where the weather can change quickly and cause even more joint pain. A bed keeps your animal off the cool and damp ground, giving him a dry place to snuggle up and snooze. Many beds are designed to be used both indoors and outdoors, and can easily move back and forth with your pooch.
Orthopedic dog beds can help with joint pain and stiffness in any animal, and maybe put off or prevent altogether those problems in and older animal. And your four-legged family member will feel loved and secure in that comfortable spot all his own.
Discover The Easy Dog Training Method That Actually Works!
November 8, 2008 by Greg McNaughton · Comments Off
Being able to train your dog on your own is one of the most rewarding experiences any dog owner can have. Not only will you get your dog to be the “good boy” (or girl) you want, but you will also strengthen the bond between you and your pooch.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when training their dog is that they try to teach their dog instead of directing him. Remember that you are the one in charge – you want to you’re your dog the appropriate behavior and then reinforce it.
Who’s the best person to train your dog? You of course! It’s a great way to strengthen your bond and make your pup the best behaved dog on the block.
You need to enter your dog training with a mapped out plan. We included a link for you at the bottom of this article with full details on a couple programs you can use at home. In the meantime, here are a couple of tips you can use when training your pup.
The first thing to always keep in mind is that you want your dog to be in the right frame of mind before you start any “training session”. Make sure they have gone to the washroom so they aren’t distracted. You also shouldn’t start training right after they have ate – it’s easy to get sleepy after eating.
Why do this? So that your dog isn’t distracted during your training. You want him or her to be completely comfortable.
It’s also a good idea to have a quick “play time” directly before your training. It’s a great way to relax your dog and make him comfortable with you.
You should also have some treats for your dog ready to go. It’s important to reward him so he knows the type of behavior your are looking for. Just make sure you aren’t giving out too many – you don’t want to confuse him!
You may find that your dog runs off at some point in a session. Don’t chase after him. Just use an authoritative voice and call him back. When you have his attention reissue the comand you were working on and keep moving forward.
There are going to be times where it just looks like your pooch is absolutely clueless about what you are expecting of them. This is normal and you can’t let yourself get annoyed or mad at them. Instead, find ways to better communicate with your dog so you get the most out of your future training sessions.
There are times you are going to have to take him and physically demonstrate what you want him to do. Just keep at it and I guarantee over time he will start to understand you better and better.
Training your dog should be the first step you take in forming a strong relationship between you and your pooch. Whether it’s a new dog or one that you have had as a friend for a while now, there’s no better person than you to train your pup and make him the “good” boy or girl you want them to be. All the best!
Odor Removal For Dog Urine And Cat Urine Odors
November 8, 2008 by Gary Homesetter · Comments Off
Having a pet is an incredible feeling. We love their unique characteristics and personalities. Sometimes pets even start to look like their owners. One of the reasons that some people get themselves a pet is because they can be like children. For others they are companions. For the handicapped or housebound, a pet can help get you through the day.
But what about the pet training process? Sometimes our patience runs thin, doesn’t it?
Your new kitten has its own personality and way of life. So does that new puppy. And all our pets have to become housebroken sooner or later.
If you’ve ever taken a young puppy home, you will understand that pet urine removal is a must or else your home will smell terrible. Training the puppy to use the rest room outside must be focused on first. As always there are going to be little accidents on the carpet while you’re training your new puppy to go potty outside. That’s why it is always good to plan a certain time in the mornings and afternoons to take Rover for a walk. What you really want to do is get on a schedule where the puppy will know when it is time to go and will be expecting to be walked. Hey, after a bit of training some puppies will actually ask you to take them for a walk when they know they have to go.
Even though your puppy may be house broken there is always that time where you will need a good pet urine remover to clean up a little mess. Hey, nobody is perfect and neither are our pets.
It is not just the mess of the puppy tearing up the garbage bag to get to the bones but the messes that will happen after this old food give the little guy a tummy ache. All you have to do is plan that if you do not do something about the garbage you will be cleaning it up off the floor later on that day.
A clever preventive thing you can do is to hide your trash can in a pantry closet or somewhere up high where the puppy can’t get to it. This is going to save you a lot of time cleaning up your floor of all the table scraps from the other night.
This will also keep the puppy from getting sick and messing on the carpet or tile as well. No one wants to spend time cleaning their home up after a puppy. Knowing how to prevent the puppy from having accidents will help you in the long run and save you tons of time with the pet urine removal process.



