2015 on Making Life Comfortable For Your Pet

3 Reasons To Leave Your Dog At A Kennel Instead Of Hiring A Pet Sitter

Mon, 16 Nov 2015 08:42:42 +0000

If you are planning a trip away from home and are trying to determine what to do with your dog, you have two main options. You could hire someone to come to your home several times a day to care for it, or you could take the dog to a kennel where it could stay the entire time you are gone. Here are three reasons choosing a dog kennel might be the better choice to make.

Your dog will have constant company

Most dogs prefer being around people and other animals, because they do not usually like being alone. At a dog kennel, your dog will never be alone. It might sleep in a cage by itself, but the cage will be in a room with a lot of other cages that contain dogs.

If your dog is at home alone, it might feel lonely most of the time. The dog sitter may be scheduled to come three times a day to let the dog out and feed it; however, the dog will be alone most of the time while you are on vacation.

It will give your dog more time to socialize and exercise

Most dog kennels operate on schedules, and in the schedule is typically time for exercise and socialization. You can ask a kennel about this before lining up services, but you are likely to find out that the kennel spends time daily:

Taking each of the dogs for a walk on a leash
Letting the dogs play in fenced in areas with other dogs and toys
Caring for its needs, if your dog has any special needs

Your dog will spend its days doing things that are enjoyable, and it will not get as lonely because of this. With a dog sitter, your dog will have a very limited time allowed for socializing and exercising.

You will have access to vet services if an emergency arises

The final thing to consider is the way emergencies will be handled if something happens. If your dog is at a kennel, it will have constant supervision. If the dog gets injured or ill, the kennel owner will either take it to a vet or have a vet come to the kennel. Your dog will get immediate treatment if an emergency arises.

The problem with hiring a dog sitter is that if the sitter finds a problem, it might not get addressed right away. If something happened to the dog while the sitter was not there, the dog may have to wait for hours before seeing a vet.

Dog kennels are great places for dogs, and while your dog might miss you, you can be certain it will be having fun at the kennel. To learn more, contact a dog kennel in your area like Alpha K-9 Kennels today to schedule services.

How to Ensure your Pet is Safe at the Groomer

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 09:06:04 +0000

Just like people enjoy being pampered occasionally, so do pets! It's not uncommon for people to send their pooch to the spa to get groomed. Groomers do everything from trimming nails and giving baths to cutting and shaving your pet's fur. Groomers typically love and truly want to help pets. They have the best interest of your pet in mind when performing their duties.

Unfortunately, the grooming industry is unregulated and does not require groomers to be licensed. Although these employees may have a love of animals, they may not have the training and expertise to properly care for your pet.

There will always be some risk when you leave your pet in the hands of strangers. You can significantly lower that risk by doing the following before choosing a groomer:

Check out the background of the salon. Find out how long they have been in business and what kind of reputation they have in the community.
Speak to the groomers themselves. Find out what their qualifications and backgrounds are. Ask them what kind of training they have in grooming.
Make sure the groomer knows any special needs your pet may have. They should have the name and number of your vet on file in case an emergency does happen.
Visit the salon before you schedule your pet's visit. Look around and form your own opinions. Is the facility clean? Watch how the staff interacts with the pets. Also watch how the staff responds to your presence. While you are there, see if you can have a tour of the facility including any back areas.
Ask any questions you have that are specific to your individual pet and your situation. Don't hold back just because you think a question might be silly. There is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it involves the safety of your best furry friend.
Check out the equipment that the groomer uses. One item that should raise concern with you is the heated dryer. Heated dryers have been thought to have played a part in some pet deaths and are not considered safe.
Make sure that the groomer has an open door policy. If you are not welcome to stop by at any time during your pet's visit, start looking for another groomer.

You should feel comfortable with your choice of groomer. The majority of groomers are good people who run a respectable business and will keep your pet safe. If you have any doubt in your mind, keep searching. If you're looking for a groomer in your area, visit The Pets Place Animal Hospital.

How To Get A Nervous Dog Used To Having Its Nails Clipped

Fri, 31 Jul 2015 08:07:13 +0000

Does your dog become scared or anxious when you try to clip its nails? This is a common issue in dogs who have been in abusive homes in the past, or in those whose claws were allowed to become badly overgrown before being clipped. Luckily, nail clipping does not have to remain an uncomfortable challenge for your dog forever. Follow these tips to get your dog used to having its nails clipped.

Step 1: Playing with the paws.

About one week before you actually plan on clipping your dog's nails, start playing with its paws. Pick the paw up in your hand, press on various areas, and rub between the toes. While you're doing this, talk to your dog in a soothing tone. Make sure you handle all four paws, and give your dog a treat when you're finished. Repeat this exercise twice per day for one week.

Step 2: Introducing the nail clippers.

About three days before you plan on actually cutting your dog's nails, introduce your pet to the nail clippers. You can do this right after your paw playing session. Take the clippers, and let your dog smell them. Rub them all over your dog's body and paws to get it used to the idea of the clippers. You should notice that, by the third day you do this, your dog becomes less nervous around the clippers.

Step 3: Clipping one nail.

When the day to start clipping arrives, do your normal paw playing routine, and rub the clippers all over your dog' body. Then, when the dog appears relaxed and comfortable, take one paw gently in your hand, and clip one nail. Immediately afterwards, give your dog plenty of praise and a treat. Even if your dog does not appear nervous, only clip that one nail today.

Step 4: Clipping the remaining nails.

The next day, repeat your normal paw playing routine, and then clip a couple of more nails. Some dogs will be completely over the nervousness at this point and will now let you clip all of their nails without struggle. Others will still be a bit nervous, so you'll want to clip just a couple more nails and come back again tomorrow (and maybe the next day) to slowly clip a few more. Again, give your dog praise and treats afterwards.

By following the steps above, you slowly ease your dog into the nail clipping routine and train it to associate nail clipping with treats and praise. The next time you clip the nails, it should go much more smoothly -- you'll likely be able to do it in one sitting. If you'd rather have a professional do your dog's grooming, or if you have questions, visit Daily Wag.

Persian Cat Grooming: 2 Hairstyles To Keep Your Kitty Cool This Summer

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:59:48 +0000

You may have fallen in love with your Persian cat's long, lustrous fur, but remember that cats with long hair can become too warm during the summer, just like you would feel warm when wearing a fur coat. Persian cats are also more prone to hairballs than short-haired cats, and a short haircut can help minimize this potentially dangerous problem. Summer is a purr-fect time to have your Persian cat thoroughly groomed, and one of the following hairstyles can keep your kitty cool without sacrificing her unique beauty.

1. Persian Lion Cut

The lion cut is a great cut for Persian cats, as it involves clipping much of their hair very short to keep them cool while keeping fur long in some areas to showcase that beautiful fur you love. It is a misconception that a tiger cut always involves shaving your pet. While the shorter sections of this cut can be fully shaved, they can instead just be trimmed very short.

A lion cut typically involves keeping the hair on the head, feet, and the tip of your cat's tail longer, while cutting the hair on her back, belly, and legs short. It truly does make your cat resemble a fierce lion even when she is just a kitten at heart.

While you can attempt this cut at home if you are skilled with clippers and general cat grooming if you want to save cash, it is best to have a professional groomer perform the first cut, so you then only have to follow the lines the groomer created when giving kitty "touch-ups."

2. Persian Kitten Clip

Your cat does not have to be a kitten to get a Persian kitten clip, because this style is named a "kitten clip" only because it often makes adult Persian cats look like kittens in appearance. This cut is very simple, and it involves clipping kitty's fur all-one-length at about one-inch long.

This cut is easy to maintain and may be best for cats that are prone to hairballs. Unlike with the lion cut, no hair is kept long, so no long hair can be swallowed while kitty is grooming herself. Of course she may still swallow a bit of her new shorter hair, but 10 short hairs swallowed leads to less hair in kitty's belly than 10 very long hairs.

No matter what hairstyle you choose to keep your Persian cat cool this summer, remember to brush her every day to eliminate tangles that can quickly lead to matting. Also, ask the groomer to clean her tear ducts and ears and then clean them yourself on a regular basis to keep your cat beautiful and healthy.

For professional grooming, contact a company such as Town & Country Kennel Inc.

How To Prevent Separation Anxiety In Your Dog

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 10:56:34 +0000

Your furry buddy loves getting your attention when you're home from work or when the kids are home from school. You may even notice that he acts a little different when you go to leave for work, or when the kids leave to go to school. Your dog may do things he wouldn't normally do, such as chew things he shouldn't or potty in the house to show his unhappiness. If you notice any of these things, your dog could be feeling separation anxiety. There are ways to prevent separation anxiety for your dog. See below for some helpful tips.

1. Ignore

By ignoring your dog when he follows you around the house, you will not only help to prevent separation anxiety, you are helping to correct other behaviors as well. Your dog is following you around to get your attention, he may even jump at you for attention. Ignoring him will help these bad habits. Try not to pay attention to your dog if he tries to prevent you from leaving the house when it's time to leave as well.

2. Don't Give Any Hints

Don't make a big deal out of leaving the house. Giving your dog a long goodbye may make you feel better, but it won't make your furry friend happy. Try not to give your dog any cues that you are leaving. Sometimes a dog can associate things you do with you leaving. Such as turning off the lights in the house, grabbing your lunch box, or even simply putting on your shoes. Try to hide those cues from your dog or just vary your routine.

3. Use The Crate

Place your dog in his crate a few minutes before you leave. This way your dog won't see you leave through the door or the window. It also keeps him from following you to the door. Give your dog a treat or a special bone to make going into the crate fun, rather than making your dog feel like he's in trouble. Place your dog in his crate sometimes in the evening for a few minutes at a time with a special treat too. This way he won't always associate the crate with you leaving. Your dog's crate should feel more like his home or his bed, rather than a place for punishment.

Your dog's separation anxiety will get better with time, but you have to be patient with your furry friend.

To treat your pet to professional boarding, contact a company such as The Pet Spot Pet Resort.