How To Apply Dog Flea Treatments Properly

Managing The Stressed Out Dog

Some Basic Dog Training Tips

Reward good behavior.

Never ignore or punish good/desirable behavior!

Never reward bad behavior!

Do not let your dog ignore a command yet do not punish your dog if you call him/her to you.

Correct and show your dog what you want him/her to do in a calm, assertive manner.

If you are not serious in enforcing and showing correct form of a command just do not do it period. Why teach your pup something if you are not going to follow through?

Develop the proper use of timing. If your dog did something bad 20 minutes ago why punish now? The moment it happens the moment you correct. Simple. Make time to train your dog no excuses! If you cannot maybe you should not have a dog?

Do not blame a sick dog for behavioral issues...refer to a veterinarian to rule out medical issues.

If you think your dog has psychological issues such as anxiety, fears, aggression, etc. please refer to a professional dog trainer and always get second, third etc. opinion.
Interupt the behavior you want to change. Peeing on the floor? Put outside immediately. Barking? Telling them immediately to be quiet or whatever training aid you need to correct behavior.

How To Read A Dog Food Label

Feed Your Pet Au Natural

Always check with your veterinarian before starting a new diet for your pet.

Pet Fur/Hair Everywhere!

Furniture

• Remove pet hair from upholstery and fabric with dampened rubber gloves by running your hand over the surface to attract hair. Simply rinse off the glove when it’s covered with hair and repeat as needed. If you don't have rubber gloves handy, try a slightly wet sponge instead. I like this method because it doesn’t use up lots of tape needlessly.
• Or, lightly spray a mix of water and fabric softener onto your upholstered furniture, then wipe off.
• To remove pet hair from wooden furniture, use a soft cloth and furniture polish or anti-static dusting spray. The spray will eliminate the electric charge, making removal easier and lessening the likelihood that the hair will re-stick.

Floors

• For carpet, scrape a pumice stone gently along the surface. Any hair will gather right up (plus your carpet won’t suffer from rough, dry skin this winter). I’ve also used a FURminator on my rugs, which, when used lightly, scrapes up the hair, but doesn’t damage the carpet.
• When vacuuming your carpet, go over areas twice and alternate directions to loosen stubborn hairs.
• On hardwood, laminate or other bare floors, use an electrostatic or microfiber dry mop; vacuums tend to blow hair around versus corral it in one spot.

Clothes

• Keep one of those lint rollers right beside your door, for a quick hair removal session before you leave to meet friends or go to work.
• For larger quantities of hair, try throwing your clothes in the dryer, along with a dryer sheet for 10 minutes. Or, use a dryer ball for a chemical free solution. The movement and softener loosens hair, which winds up in the lint trap. Adding liquid water softener to the washer helps too.

Pets Themselves

• Brushing (or better yet, FURminating) about two days a week dramatically cuts down on the amount of fur tumbleweeds rolling through your living room.
• And then, I’ve never tried this, but I’ve heard that putting a stocking or thin sock over the vacuum hose, and then vacuuming your dog or cat does wonders.

-Apartment Therapy

How To Remove Pet Hair? (Wikihow)

5 Tips for Cleaning Up Pet Hair - HowStuffWorks



Walking Your Dog in Winter Weather

Really.... Craigslist Puppy Posters...Just Stop

$150-$300 for a mutt puppy with no shots, no de-worming, no spay/neuter, no vet care what so ever yet the puppy(s) are still worth this because I had to take care of them, I want to make sure you can afford my puppy or I need the money to get the mother fixed.....

I am getting increasingly irritated and frustrated with people posting puppies for sale (which Craigslist does not allow fyi but people get away with it calling the payment a re-homing fee or adoption fee) and the people supporting this by buying from these greedy people.

The risk of buying these puppies?

The puppy could have or catch parvo, distemper, rabies, etc. and you end up with a $300 dead or sick puppy.

You may well be supporting a puppy mill, dog flipper, backyard breeder, etc.

You do not know the puppy's or the parents' health history and genetic background for all you know it can be riddled with genetic defects or disease.

You are contributing to the pet overpopulation by buying a unfixed puppy.

Sometimes people sell puppies way too young. 6 weeks old is too young! You will mess up a puppy socially and nutritionally doing this. Wait till they are at least 8 weeks old...12 weeks even better.

The puppy seller's thoughts?

None of your business! Yes it is when your selling sick puppies to unsuspecting people, possibly spreading disease, parasites and oh yeah adding to the pet overpopulation.

People keep buying so why not. Maybe you should tell people they are better off actually adopting a puppy from a animal shelter with full veterinary care and a health certificate  and supporting future homeless pets for the same price. If people were told the truth pretty sure they would have second thoughts.

But my mutt puppies have vet care! Sorry a mutt is still a mutt.... even if you just mix two different purebred dogs that are akc registered, etc. a mixed breed dog is just not worth $300.

The shelters charge just as much. At least that money goes to help other animals and not line your pockets you greedy person you ^_^

I need money to fix the momma dog. The most expensive veterinary would not charge much more then $300 for a spay. Let's see a average litter is about 6 puppies... $300 each..... something does not add up here....maybe should if thought about spaying you dog a long time ago....

I want to make sure people can afford to have a puppy. Well if you can't spay/neuter or get proper veterinary for the puppies, your just a hypocrite.

Well maybe I should just give them away for free. No never ever do that especially on Craigslist. Way to many shady people and puppy flippers. There should always be some sort of reasonable re-homing fee and if people ask questions do not lie and be forthcoming about every detail about each puppy i.e. if you took them to a vet have proof of paperwork or if they have absolutely no vet care which is very irresponsible you better tell every single prospective family the circumstances as of why you can't provide basic healthcare for a mutt puppy that the new family is expected to pay $300 for.

That's my rant have a wonderful day and be careful out there.

What to Do If Your Pet is Poisoned

Always be kind.

Rescue the mistreated.

Save the injured.

Love the abandoned.

How to Keep Your Active Dog Busy

Kongs are always fun.

Nylabones are awesome for the chewer.

DIY some food dispensing devices. Socks, rags, balls, cubes, etc. Avoid choking hazards!

Raw marrow bones or knuckle bones are lovely. Outside only, can be messy.

Hide some food stuffs or favorite toys everywhere. Hide and seek ya know.

Kiddie pool filled with water.

Bucket filled with ice on those hot days.

Fetch!

Recall practice.

Let your dog use his/her nose.

Train your dog to respond to whistles.

Obedience training. Lots!

Livestock herding. Safely!

Obstacle courses.

Running, jogging, swimming

Digging. Set up a designated area of course.

Teach them some tricks. Like jump roping?

Tennis balls.

Variety of textures. Dog approved bones, ropes, rubber, etc.

Dog parks.

Hiking trails.

Google more stuff 0_o;

So many things to do to keep your hyper, active dog happy and minimal, controlled destruction.

New Year Resolution: Help Shelter Animals

Make a change.

Make a difference.

Make a impact.

Make the world a better place.

If you can't adopt, foster.

If you can't foster, sponsor.

If you can't sponsor, volunteer.

If you can't volunteer, donate.

If you can't donate, educate.

Don't say I can't, there is always something you can do.

No excuses.

Do something.

Anything.

Make a change. Be the change.

Spread the word.



Dog and Baby Safety: Protect your child and your pet!

Get Rid Of Fleas For Good

House Tips

-Vacuum like crazy. Vacuum twice or more daily no if ands or buts. If you have a disposable bag take that bag out to garbage can immediately after every use. If you have a detachable canister empty that out immediately after every use into a garbage can. Make sure garbage can is situated somewhere outside the home to minimize reinfestation.

-When vacuuming use a flea carpet powder and make sure you read complete directions to use it correctly. For a more natural approach and/or less toxic use things like borax, salt, baking soda or diatomaceous earth (food grade!).

-Use a carpet shampooer/cleaner/steamer a week. Do not dump water in yard which could lead to further reinfestation. Dump water in toilet  and flush instead.

-Clean and vacuum your furniture daily or get new furniture if you know you got rid of fleas completely and for good.

-Use a flea fogger/bomb once or twice a month. Always read full directions.

-Don't leave clothes, bedding, etc. on the floor if you do you better wash that stuff.

-Keep clutter off the floor. Never leave trash lying around period.

-Rip up the carpet put in wood floors or new carpet (avoid thick shaggy carpeting where fleas can hide!) as a last resort.

Yard Tips

-Keep your lawn mowed and bushes/trees trimmed.

-Use a outside flea treatment, once again read and follow directions exactly. For something more natural use diatomaceous earth.

Pet Bedding/Kennel Tips

-Wash fabric pet bedding at least twice or more weekly.

-Use cedar chips to deter fleas in and around pet's kennel/sleeping area.

Pet Tips

-Keep your pets healthy. The healthier your pet the less parasites they get.

-Bathe your pets regularly with a flea treatment (always read directions!) or for something not so toxic use concentrated Dawn dish washing soap and scrub and work it into the fur. Rinse thoroughly.

-Use a flea collar. If you Google you can find plenty of natural ones.

-Use a monthly flea treatment. Always read directions. Check with your veterinarian for best recommendations.

-Do not let your pet sleep on your bed or furniture! That's just asking for trouble in more ways then one.

-Treat all animals in the house. Anything that has fur, give it a bath.

-Dietary supplements like brewer's yeast or garlic show some promise. Ask your veterinarian before ever even thinking about giving your pet a dietary supplement.

Here is some more linkage for tips and tricks to get rid of fleas:

The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Fleas For Good

The Life Cycle Of A Flea





Pets Are Not Gifts

Happy Holidays



Designer Dogs: Pomsky

No that's not how it works -_-;

Must read article first and for most: Designer dogs: Would you purchase a $1500 mutt?

So called breeders keep inventing these designer dogs. For what purpose? Mixing genetics to make a better dog? Make a dog's size, coat more convenient for people's lifestyle? To make a name for themselves? To improve temperament? To better both dog breeds as a whole?

How about a darker reason? Charge people hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a mutt dog. Sorry to burst your bubble but mixing a purebred with another purebred of a different breed is a mutt pure and simple no pun intended. Guess what there is lots of mutts in shelters for a third if not less of the cost for a designer mutt. All I see another mixed breed dog people are going to hype over and then a bunch are just going to end up in the shelter like it always goes. Think twice before getting a designer dog, you might just be getting scammed.

Oh and just a heads up........

More Here: So you think you'd like pomsky?

Be careful out there! Do not support puppy mills and backyard breeders! Don't get scammed. Do yourself a favor adopt from a shelter or reputable breeder (and no just cause a breeder says they are AKC registered does not mean they are a good breeder). Do your research, be vigilant and always report animal abuse.

Pet Safety For The Holidays



DIY Cat Tent

Create a cute hidey-hole for your kitty ^_^ Sweet!

Is Crate Training Your Dog Cruel?

No it is actually very useful for housebreaking, traveling and destructive or anxiety behavior. 

That being said leaving your pet in a crate for less then 4 hours or if that's where they sleep at night is not cruel.

 Now leaving your pet in crate 8+ hours or longer without any supervision or getting checking on can be thought as cruel.

 Leaving a pet in a crate 24/7 is outright animal abuse and should be avoided at all cost no matter what the circumstance.

Thanksgiving Doggy Safety Tips

Check out this lovely site for some awesome and educational advice on keeping you dog safe and content during the Thanksgiving  holiday. (Not to mention your guests and family members as well!) Enjoy and learn a thing or two.

Thanksgiving Dog Dangers and Safety Tips