Pets | devo digest

How to Avoid Bad Advice on Pet Training Forums!

On 06.15.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

There are plenty of great places to find pet training tips on the Internet and community forums are definitely one of them. It can be extremely enlightening to swap stories and hear some encouragement from other dog owners every once in a while. Unfortunately, forums can do just as much harm as good if you pick up on the wrong advice – and bad advice seems to be everywhere these days.

Choosing a Great Community

It is just an absolute shame to see so many dog behavior and training related questions on websites like Yahoo Answers. Listen – these catch-all websites are not the place to ask for advice about your living, breathing companion! You want to go where other likeminded owners and experts hang out. If you must seek the advice of amateurs, make sure to at least sniff out a few quality forums that are focused on dog training and nothing else.

Look for community forums that are heavily moderated, but not over-moderated. Check out the website’s rules – are members allowed to mention when another member has given bad advice? Are there any licensed positive dog trainers on staff? Are there helpful FAQs and informational “stickies” for new members to read? Can you quickly spot threads related to positive reinforcement, marker and clicker training? These are all qualities of a potentially decent training forum community.

Avoid forum websites that restrict discussion to just one pet training technique – especially if that technique is based on a single trainer’s book series, a television show, or a consumer product. These websites are usually nothing more than a glorified fan club.

Doing Your Homework

Don’t assume that a community member knows what he or she is talking about just because they have a lot of posts or “reputation”. The same can be said for self-proclaimed dog training experts – after all, there are already a ton of unqualified authors publishing real pet training books filled with terrible advice, so why wouldn’t these same strange characters appear on online forums as well?

When a forum member answers a question that you have asked, make sure to browse through their recent threads and posts. If this person is constantly complaining about his or her own pet’s behavior you can pretty much go ahead and throw that piece of advice in the proverbial garbage can. Avoid those who insist on treating symptoms – good advice givers focus on identifying underlying causes by asking lots of questions.

Always do thorough research into any pet training advice you receive, no matter where you read it – don’t trust a stranger with your dog’s life and wellbeing.

Choosing the Best Dog Run – What to Keep in Mind

On 06.08.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

If you have a dog that spends some of its time outdoors you are probably interested in purchasing or building an outdoor dog kennel and run. While it is fairly simple to construct your own dog run you may not have either the time or the skills necessary to do so. Fortunately, there are plenty of high quality, yet moderately priced dog runs available both online and at most pet stores.

There are several things to keep in mind when looking at dog runs for sale. You will, naturally, want something that will keep your dog both comfortable and safe while outdoors. It should be well constructed and sturdy enough to constrain your pet. Ease of entry is important as is being able to easily clean the interior of the dog kennel and run. Finally you will want to opt for something that is simple to assemble and that is not too costly.

Covering: If your dog will be spending a fair amount of time in a dog pen, opt for either a pen that comes complete with a cover or that has covers that can be bought separately. This will provide both shade and shelter from light to moderate rain. While snap on covers are easy to put on, you may want to look at covers that come with ties instead as they tend to stay in place much better. Lucky Dog and Kennel Logic both have a range of pens with covers for sale.

Material: The material the pen is made from is also important to note. Although sometimes slightly more expensive, those made from welded wire are much sturdier and long lasting than those made from regular mesh fencing. The material should be rust-proofed and watch out for nasty metal edges or pieces of mesh or wire sticking out–it can harm your dog.

Security: Another key in keeping your pet safe while in his pen is making sure the door latches properly and does not leave a crack when it is pushed against from the inside. Dogs are usually quite smart when it comes to finding a way out of their pen! Some models, such as the Precision Pet Kennel has a gate that opens up only the top two thirds of the metal panel it is built into. If you have a dog that tries to rush out between your legs whenever you open the gate this will be a real plus.

Ease of Assembly: Finally, opt for something that is easy to assemble unless you are content to spend an afternoon erecting your dog run. This is especially important if you travel with your dog and you are looking for a somewhat portable option. The best ship as panels that simply clip together. The worst are those that are shipped with a role of wire mesh that you need to attach to posts.

Choosing the best suited dog pen is important. Something that is fairly inexpensive may not be as safe or as easy to assemble as one that is slightly more expensive. Weigh all options and decide on what is best for you and your pet.

Tagged with: dog run

How to Clean Indoor Sugar Glider Cages Effectively and Cheap

On 06.01.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

Sugar gliders can be messy creatures, and they like to mark their territory, which produce strong and unpleasant odors. It’s important to keep their cage clean to keep their good health, and to avoid these odors. In the following paragraphs we’ll be discussing the proper way to clean sugar glider cages, and important tips you should know.

General cleaning measures

Water bottles and food dishes should be cleaned daily. Simply wash them with hot water and soap. We recommend that you wipe down the wires of the cage every other day, and change the bedding (newspaper or otherwise) about every three days. Accessories and toys should be disinfected every once in while, and rinsed extremely well.

Cleaning up the cage

It’s useful to have an extra cage to place your pet in while you clean the other one. If not, your sugar glider should be fine if you keep it in a bounding pouch until the cage is ready. We recommend taking the cage outside, apply disinfectant and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, you should rinse it thoroughly with a hose, and let it dry under the sun for a couple of hours.

Important sugar glider cages maintenance tips

Don’t clean everything at the same time – Sugar gliders use their sense of smell to recognize their home. If you clean up their territorial markings all at once, they will make an extra effort to make it smell like it used to. It’s best to divide different sections and clean them separately over time
An affordable and safe cleaning solution – We suggest keeping equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. It’s great to clean up and deodorize, and it’s also safe for your pet. In case there’s any residue on the cage, it won’t hurt your sugar glider
Careful with chemicals – Using a disinfectant, such as bleach, every once or twice a month is recommended, but it’s very important that you rinse it off entirely. Any residue can be deadly for your pet. In addition, leave the cage under sunlight for several hours to make sure the disinfectant decomposes
Control the odor between washings – We recommend using an odor eliminator. You could spray it on a daily basis on the cage and any other area with a strong smell. It will keep the unpleasant smells under control
About wood shavings – If you choose to use wood shavings for bedding, avoid cedar, pine or aspen. They’re known to be harmful for sugar gliders.

A question that may arise is how often you should clean sugar glider cages. First of all, you should be sure the size of the cage is appropriate (3 feet for width, height and length). We encourage you to avoid cheap indoor rabbit cages or fish tanks, as there are not suitable for sugar gliders. Secondly, it depends on how many pets you have in the cage. Keeping a clean sugar glider cage will be beneficial for your pet as well as yourself. Remember to spread out the areas to clean, and you will be fine. It shouldn’t take very long to provide proper maintenance to your sugar glider cage, and remember the importance of removing any disinfectant residue thoroughly.

Why You Should Choose Homemade Dog Treats

On 04.07.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

Knowing your choices when it comes to dog treats is an important aspect to learn about being a dog owner. This is because even the smallest treats can affect a dog’s health. Whether you give these treats as rewards during training, or as simple snacks after a long day, you should learn how to healthily feed your dog.

Whatever you give your dog, make sure it’s chewable and it should encourage your pet to use its complete set of teeth. This way, they will be cleaning their teeth. Good treats you can give are rawhide (similar to beef jerky) that takes a lot of chewing. You can also get bones fresh or in snack form from your local pet stores. With these, you can ensure that your dog has clean, well-maintained teeth!

Make sure that you give your dog nutritious treats. They should contain a hefty amount of protein since dogs are naturally meat eaters. Vitamins and minerals should also be present in these treats. Typically, you will see these nutritious foods in strip, nugget or biscuit forms. Timeberwolf dog food can give you all these nutritious stuff so check them out.

When choosing food for your dog, don’t be deceived by the marketing of every brand. Dog food comes in variety forms and brands, and everything will have pros and cons. Just make sure that you take a look at the ingredients of each brand you find in the store. Do away with the ones having a lot of chemicals. Better yet, go natural. Homemade dog treats are by far the greater alternatives to the commercial brands which may even cost a lot.

A rule of thumb: homemade dog treats should be well rounded. So make sure they contain 40 percent meat, 30 percent vegetables and 30 percent starch. This will ensure that your dog gets a balanced meal, making it healthy and happy at the same time. However when you need your dog to go vegetarian for some reason, it would be better to consult your veterinarian to make sure that your dog gets the needed nutrition in the absence of meat.

There you go! As a final tip, whatever you give your dog, whether commercial or homemade, make sure they are happy and healthy. This will undoubtedly give you a sense of fulfilment as a dog owner!

Tagged with: homemade dog treats

Benefits of Non-Skid Dog Socks

On 03.20.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

Dogs are said to be man’s best friend and they make great pets. That’s why it is important that we take good care of them and one such way is by purchasing non-skid dog socks for them. These socks can be worn both indoors and outdoors and can make life a little easier for both the dogs and their owners.

If your floors have hardwood or tiles then you know that these surfaces can be quite challenging for dogs as they are very slippery. No matter what age your dog is or what type of dog you have these surfaces will cause the dogs to skid. These dog socks will give them more confidence to move around on these surfaces and therefore improve their quality of life. For aging dogs the socks will provide traction allowing them to be better able to control their movements.

When worn indoors non-skid dog socks will protect your hardwood floors from getting scratched by the dog’s nails. Socks should be worn on all four feet to derive the maximum benefit. Hardwood floors take quite a bit of time and expense to maintain and purchasing these socks will save you that time and money. Not only do the socks offer protection to your floors but they also offer protection to the dog if he gets a wound on his paw. You can put a sock on the injured foot to get him to leave the wound alone thereby preventing further injury.

When non-skid dog socks are worn outdoors they can protect your dog against burns from the hot pavement in the summer heat and against snow and ice in winter conditions. Some dogs have allergies and the socks help to block allergens that may otherwise affect your dog e.g. dust, grass. The dog does not need to lick its feet while wearing the socks and so it does not ingest these allergens. When the socks are removed to be washed all the allergens are removed in the socks.

Non slip socks are therefore definitely worth considering. The benefits that can be derived from buying them for your dog makes it money well spent. However if your dog does not need them for any other reason you can buy them as a fashion statement to dress up your dog and make him look good.

Tagged with: dog socks

Using Preventative Care to Keep Pets Healthy

On 03.15.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

Owning a dog is a big responsibility that requires attention on a daily basis. While dogs are great playmates and companions they also need appropriate care to help keep them healthy and active throughout their lives. This requires routine visits to the vet as well as some types of in-home care. Dogs love to spend time outside and often their owners will take them for walks or even on overnight camping trips. If your pet is the type who likes being outside a lot you want to make sure they are properly protected against the pests that can lodge in their fur and on their skin.

You can purchase cheap frontline plus for dogs through several online websites to help keep the cost of treating your pet down. This particular treatment comes in liquid form and has a handy drop applicator filled with a single dose. The package will contain several doses that will last for a period of time. When buying these products you need to check the label for the size of animal the doses are made to treat. If you use a small dog’s application on a larger one it may not be effective enough to keep it protected.

In addition to these liquid drops there are collars designed with a special substance that keeps fleas from getting onto your pet’s skin. You can also purchase flea and tick shampoo products as well as other traditional grooming items for large and small dogs. It might not seem as though these small pests could cause a lot of damage, but if left untreated your beloved pet can begin to lose fur and have open sores on the surface of their skin. The best way to keep your pet happy and healthy is by using preventive care so they never have a pest problem to begin with.

Dog Poop Bags – the Right Way Forward

On 03.03.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

In recent years a lot of awareness and education has gone into teaching people the importance of keeping our environment clean and healthy. Of late there have been increased levels of pollution in the air, and with an ever expanding population, the burden on our ecosystem is increasing every day. One of the steps taken up for keeping our streets clean is advocating the use of dog poop bags among dog owners.

Previously dog owners would use plastic bags, newspapers or Ziploc bags to clean the poop of their loved pets. In general dog owners would be faced with the sudden predicament of cleaning their dog poop when they take their dog out for a stroll. With ad hoc mechanism of cleaning the dog poop, they would at times spoil their own hands also and would need to wash up, and this could become a difficult task when out in the park etc. Nowadays dog owners have taken to the use of biodegradable poop bags for collecting and disposing the dog poop.

The use of biodegradable poop bags not only helps in keeping the environment clean but also it prevents further burdening of the ecosystem as the final disposal is eco friendly, with the contents of the biodegradable poop bag decomposing into the natural elements when exposed to sun, air , water or combinations of above factors.

Nowadays dog poop bags have become a common place item and are available almost everywhere and can also be ordered online. Further dog poop bags are available in several colors and some of them even have designs on them or some caricature done on the dog poop bag. There are various dog poop dispensers available at open public places such as garden, recreation grounds etc, for easy disposal of the dog poop bags. These amenities have allowed dog owners to their part for our environment and keep it clean and healthy.

Tagged with: biodegradable poop bags • dog poop bags

Dog Pens For Outside

On 02.28.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

Keeping your dog safe outside can be a challenge and having a dedicated and secure area for play or exercise can help to achieve this goal. One other difficulty can arise if you have two or more dogs that don’t get along and need to be kept separated. There are various dog pens and kennels that are designed to contain a dog in comfort and safety and will allow you to leave the animal in there even for extended periods of time. If you are shopping around for the right pen, and even if you are looking for cheap dog kennels there are some things to consider.

Safety

Apart from the comfort of your dog, safety is one of your most important concerns and dog pens for outside provide a secure environment to keep your pet away from children and other visitors. The pen should not be used as a permanent home for your dog, but it should be large enough to contain him or her for an extended period of time and large enough to contain water, food and perhaps a favorite toy. That way, your dog can be safely placed in the pen while you are having a cookout, a children’s birthday party or other outdoor event.

Size

Of course, the size of your dog will determine the size of pen that you need and it is important that your dog has enough space to freely move around. There should also be room for food and water to be placed inside the pen. A good buy for a larger box kennel is the PetSafe, which provides 84 square feet of outdoor space, plenty of room for even a larger animal. A smaller kennel can be quite cramped and small, especially if your dog is spending a long period of time inside it. Most of these larger pens or kennels have a full sized door or gate, making it easy for you to enter and leave and spend time with your pet. A smaller dog is quite comfortable in a smaller kennel that can be fitted with a blanket or rug, for extra comfort.

If you need to have one or more dogs together in an outdoor pen, you will definitely need one of the larger outdoor dog pens. Try to choose one that gives the animals plenty of room to move about and have their own space, to avoid frustration and conflict.

Dog Pens and Partitions

It is easy to partition off sections of your yard with dog pens and kennels, to provide a space for a dog to play and exercise; these can also be used effectively indoors. The height can be adjusted, depending on the size of your dog and by using extension kits, a standard pen can be made to provide more space. Regardless of the size of your dog or your outdoor space, outdoor pens are a great way to keep both you and your pet safe and comfortable.

Tagged with: dog pens

Attractive, Odor Eliminating And Convenient Litter Box Furniture: Cheap Litter Box Furniture For Cats

On 01.08.11, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

If you enjoy having cats, but detest the unattractive appearance and odor that comes from litter boxes, you might wish to search for feline products like litter box furniture. Getting furniture for your feline to do his or her business can help, as you can put the box closer to where you are, and eliminate the sight of it and odors that come from it. This kind of furniture is fashionable and can mix in with existing décor within your house. You can locate numerous choices for bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, family lounge areas and any other kind of area within your home where you would place a litter box. No one will even know the box for your cat is there.

When you start searching for cat furniture for the home, to conceal your kitty’s litter box, you might be surprised at the price ranges you will see. These particular products can be high-priced, some starting at $85 all the way up to $100. You can begin looking at local pet stores; however, the nearby stores do not always offer as many choices and the ones they do offer are high-priced.

Your search might be more beneficial if you were to perform it on the Internet. Many online cat furniture retailers offer cheap litter box furniture prices. You will definitely find more choices online too. If you are looking for a litter box cover that consists of wooden materials and holds an appearance of an end table, you will find numerous types like that as well. A few auction web pages have these kinds of pet furniture as well. A cat owner who does not have a feline at home anymore often sells the items online, as they do not want the products anymore and do not plan to get another cat. Therefore, they offer cheap little box furniture prices. People who have multiple cats will buy used cat furniture at discounted prices, because their cats are accustomed to other felines and the new scents from another one will not bother them. People save a lot of money by purchasing litter box furniture online.

Additionally, a few Internet businesses that focus solely on providing consumers with products obtainable for cheap prices do so, because they have surplus inventory and need to make room for different items. It is kind of like a clearance sale online. You can look at online cat furniture sites for cheap litter box furniture as well.

Tagged with: cat litter • cheap litter box furniture • litter box furniture

The Advantages and Drawbacks of Different Puppy Collars

On 12.31.10, In Pets, By Stevie Wonder

A puppy collar has many uses, options, types and different benefits. So how do you know if the collar you’ve chosen is the best one for
our dear pet? Let’s take a look at the types of collars and their advantages or drawbacks.

Nylon Dog Collar – This is the most popular type of pet collar. The advantages of using it includes ease of use, affordability, varied colors to select from and endurance for long-term use. A minor disadvantage may occur if there’s a particular purpose required other than its regular use.

Leather Dog Collar – This type is deemed to give a very pleasant look to pets that are huge or tough because the material embodies toughness itself. It also softens from the moist that comes from the dog’s skin so over time and length of use, the material will not be that tough any more. It is similarly designed as nylon collars are.

Dog Harnesses – Dog harnesses have varied benefits. One advantage is that it’s difficult to take off not only for puppies but also for bigger dogs. It’s also pet-friendly and won’t choke the pet while being worn. Puppies are easier to hold or control with harnesses than regular puppy collars. The latter just fastens around the neck while harnesses go around the pet’s body so it can’t easily pull away. One disadvantage is that it’s easy for dogs to gnaw at or chew on a harness so you’ll need constant replacement if the dog gets to it.

Dog Halter – This type of collar is not meant for constant wearing but can be used at times when walking the dog. It is a bit similar to nylon dog collars except that it has a nose loop. The purpose of the nose loop is to make the pet stop from pulling away or moving too much. Although it annoys the dog and makes the pet halt it doesn’t inflict any pain.

Choosing a collar mainly depends on the function you require for your pet. However, it is also very important to keep size in mind when deciding which pet collar to buy. Select collars that are not too tight or too loose but fit just right enough. This will help make pets comfortable and easily adapt to the collar while keeping them safe. Once used, make sure the collars are regularly inspected to replace worn down or incorrectly-sized collars.

Tagged with: Dog Halter • puppy collar

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