Every pet owner should consider which of the styles of dog fences best suit their needs. Fences are available in a number of standard selections. A wooden or chain link fence is the most common type of dog enclosure. A higher tech options is that of an invisible or electric fence. Or even pet gates for ourdoor use.
Electric fences work by placing a wire underground and connecting it to a transmitter. The dog wears a collar containing a specialized receiver that will first warn them with a sound and then either administer a small shock or spray citronella at their face. You set up flags over the buried wire and then train the dog, over a period of days or weeks, not to approach the line of flags. Over time the dog will learn to remain within the boundaries you have set.
For a standard fence you want to make sure you don’t have a digger. If your dog digs you need to take that into consideration and use a complete enclosure, such as a dog run, with the fencing buried below the ground as well. If you do provide a run then remember that length is more important than total square footage; that allows your dog to still run while being fenced in. A slat fence will keep most dogs in your yard and are less expensive as well as being more attractive.
In any case, dog fences are designed to keep your dog safe. Take your dog’s personality into consideration and pick the best fence for your needs. Check out some electric dog fence reviews to see which ststem might suit your dog best.
They say that dogs are man's best friend, but it seems now that they are women’s as well. One needs to look no further than the modern bride and groom and the growing trend of canine companions as members of the wedding party to see evidence of this love. What was once a rare and novel idea is now so popular that canine formal wear is big business. Some simply purchase a fancy collar and leash for the big day while others have dresses and tuxedos fitted for their pets to flaunt down the aisle. In fact, the idea is so popular that couples are hiring professional trainers to prepare their pets for the big day. While dogs in the wedding party can be adorable; the situation can also turn chaotic if things do not go as planned. Here are some do’s and don’ts for you, your dog and your big day.
Do: Start preparing early. Make sure that you practice walking, not jumping, sitting and staying with your dog before the big day. Try to make the situation as close to the big day as possible by creating an isle and inviting some friends over to clap and cheer from the sidelines to simulate wedding day action.
Don’t: Include your dog if he is not properly trained. While you want to share your special day with your best friend things can turn into a nightmare quickly when Fido decides he wants to jump on the guests or pee on the candle opera.
Do: Ask permission. While some churches, reception halls and banquet facilities will make exceptions to their pet policies; others will not. Make sure that you inform the person in charge of the facility to avoid any undue surprises on the big day.
Don’t: Wait until the big day to bring your dog to the wedding location. If you fail to introduce him to the location ahead of time he will likely be more interested than he should be in sniffing and exploring on the day of the wedding.
Do: Make arrangements for someone other than you to take care of oyur dog before, during and after the wedding. Make sure this guest knows that he/she will be responsible for watering, feeding and potty breaks while keeping your pal contained and under control for the duration of the event. If you do not want to burden any of your family or friends there are professional dog sitters or animal handlers available for hire to take care of this very big responsibility. You will be too busy to help on your wedding day so make sure this is taken care of beforehand.
Don’t: Choose floral arrangements for dogs. Wedding flowers often are constructed with wire that could injure the pet. Also, some flowers are poisonous for your pooch and he will likely try to eat them if they are hanging out around his neck or within reach of his teeth.
Do: Check with all the members of your wedding party to see if they are allergic to dogs. Make sure they are aware that your dog will be present and make sure they will be fine with it. While it is your desire to spend your big day with your dog it is best not to alienate a good friend or relative if they are uncontrollably allergic to dogs.
Don’t: Forget the leash! While your dog might be extremely well behaved it is super important that he is on a leash when out in public. Do not forget his leash in your mad dash to get everything ready for the main event.
Article submitted by a site with dog training collars, innotek systems and hidden fences.
Caring for your beloved kitty-cat for life requires a significant time commitment. While the care-giving process is a rewarding one, it can also be lengthy. The life expectancy of an indoor house pet cat is 15 years or longer. Life expectancies have dramatically increased with advancements in Veterinary care and high quality food and health related products. People are also realizing that indoor cats are safer and live longer than their outdoor counterparts so they are living longer due to fewer accidents as well. Because cats are living longer than ever before, they have several life stages to consider which go beyond kitten and adult. Along with each of the following life stages come specific care requirements:
1. Kitten: the kitten stage lasts from birth to 6 months with weaning at 6 to 8 weeks. After weaning occurs kittens require a diet containing twice the energy per pound of body weight as a mature cat. Try feeding your kitten a premium kitten formula cat food with higher percentages of protein and fat. Your kitten will need 4 to 5 small meals a day to maintain energy levels. Some Veterinarians recommend that kittens be spayed or neutered at 4 months of age; however, most people prefer to wait a little longer. It is never too early to start encouraging good behaviors and discouraging bad ones so training is especially important during this stage.
2. Junior: this phase lasts from 7 months to 2 years of age. You should spay or neuter your cat during the early part of this stage and watch for the weight gain that can sometimes occur. During this phase you can move to twice-daily feedings and consider switching to an adult breed cat food after one year. During this stage, cats are particularly susceptible to fighting with other cats over territory and food especially if left outside. It is especially important to keep up with rabies and other vaccinations during this junior or adolescent stage.
3. Prime: this life stage lasts from 3 to 6 years and is still considered youth for the average cat. Adult food should be fed during this time with the possible introduction of a weight loss formula. Cats during this stage are prone to obesity, dental disease, heart disease and intestinal parasites. Dental care regimens and regular weight checks at the Vet’s office are essential during this stage.
4. Mature: this stage lasts from 7 to 10 years and cats are considered older at this point in their lives. You might consider placing your older cat on a senior cat food with possible supplementation of glucosamine and chondroitin for joints. Cats during this stage are less active and may need fewer calories than their younger counterparts. Older cats are prone to diseases including diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure and cancer and regular health screenings are very important for early detection and treatment.
5. Senior: this stage lasts from 11 to 14 years. If not already on a senior formula cat food your cat will need one at this stage. Continue with joint supplements as cats in this stage are extremely prone to joint problems and pain. Senior cats tend to sleep a lot more; sometimes up to 18 hours a day. They are prone to arthritis, which is treatable, and senility or dementia.
6. Geriatric: This stage lasts from 15 years until death. While some cats will still appear youthful, most will appear and feel their years. It is best to try and make your geriatric cat as comfortable as possible and increase the frequency of his check-ups.
Submitted by a site with orthopedic dog beds, elevated dog feeders and dog kennels.
To take care of your cat you must disregard some widely spread and dangerous rumors surrounding them:
1. Cats always land on their feet. This is a dangerous myth in that your cat can sustain serious injury from falls as few as 10 to 12 feet. While cats generally do land on their feet they are still subjected to potentially serious injuries when doing so.
2. Cats can not get rabies. This could not be any further from the truth. Any warm blooded mammal can contract rabies from the bite of an infected animal. Raccoons, squirrels, foxes, bats and other wildlife are common carriers and can spread the disease to humans and their pets alike. Your cat should get an annual rabies vaccination in accordance with local laws to protect her from potential harm.
3. A cat can not balance without whiskers. While whiskers do serve as feelers or probes for a cat; they have no impact on her ability to stand up or balance.
4. Cats smother sleeping babies. Long before people knew what Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) was they often assumed that the family cat was responsible for smothering the infant. Cats love to cuddle up near warm things and were found in the room with dead, yet otherwise healthy infants, and thus the old wives’ tales began.
5. Cats do not need vaccinations. This is absolutely not true, even if your cat is of the in-door variety. Certain germs or parasites can travel in and out of the home on clothing or through the air. No household cat is guaranteed safety from certain diseases because of their in-door status. The only thing that improves their chances of avoiding illness is scheduled vaccinations from your Veterinarian.
6. Cats enjoy a vegetarian diet. Unlike dogs, cats are strict carnivores. While dogs thrive on an omnivores’ diet, their feline friends are what is known as obligate or true carnivores and need to eat meat in order to sustain healthy life.
7. Cats are not happy kept inside. Some people feel that animals are never truly happy unless they are roaming in the wild; however, this is the furthest statement from the truth. While cats who lived their entire lives outside may not tolerate being suddenly locked inside, cats who start out in the home enjoy it very much. Provided they have proper toys, food and perches in which to observe from they have all they need to be happy and thrive.
8. Declawing a cat is like trimming her nails. The inhumane practice of declawing a cat is the surgical amputation of the first joint of each toe of the cat, a procedure which is viewed as mutilation by some. While there is nothing wrong with taking your cat in for a nail trim from time to time, it is abuse to remove their claws entirely. Without claws your cat would never be able to defend herself or get away from danger if she ever escaped or got loose outside of your home.
9. Pregnant women should not own cats. As long as pregnant women stay away from the litter box there is absolutely nothing she should worry about in regards to the family feline. Some cats can spread toxoplasmosis through contact with the litter box. This disease can affect unborn babies; however, if others complete the task there is no danger to the mom or baby.
10. Milk is good for cats. Believe it or not, most cats are lactose intolerant. Cats can get diarrhea as a result of drinking milk which is unfortunate because so many people are under the impression that milk is a treat for cats. While they drink it if you give it to them, a cat on a proper diet will never need a saucer of milk.
Article submitted by megan - find wooden dog crate, dog bowls and raised dog feeders.
Nuisance barking is a term used for pet dogs actions when a pet owner is so clueless what causes the embarrassing ruckus. We must establish that pet dogs are animals and all their actions are led by their instincts. Pet dogs bark to communicate, but their bark translates as noise to us. Isn't that frustrating to your pet?
Some people misunderstand their pets by equating their actions with that of humans. Incidents when a pet dog greets its owner with whimpering and jumping when they arrive. In human interpretation: "aww, the dog is acting like a child excited to see them"…but in dog its more like: "there is something wrong mister!"
For starters, dogs in packs do not greet each other in that way. They just sniff at each other and wag tails. This must again be established, a dog is an animal and it is instinctively motivated in every action it does. In the animal kingdom, 'spur of the moment' does not register.
Anyway, a nuisance barker is trying to tell you something, and being the pet owner it is up to you to truly know your pet by taking agues. A pet dog of mine would be noisy all of a sudden in the middle of the day, we live away from people and its bark was more of a call than of alarm. Looking at how humid it was a guess that she needed more water (it was spilt), she quieted down after getting some water down her throat.
Being a pet owner, it is given that no one talks 'dawg'. But since we are of higher intellect, educated guesses can be made to find out: "What causes the frantic noise?". This is a skill any pet owner signed up for when they picked up their furry critter at the breeders.
Our pet dogs are man's best friend, because of their keen senses and instincts they are capable of preventing and protecting us from danger. Is it too much to ask for your pet to try and just figure out what is riling him? The least you can be is happy that it is looking unto you to solve its plight?
Before jumping the gun, take the time to come to your pet's aid. If you love your dog, a few minutes to guess its needs is all it takes.
About the Author
Article submitted by a pet site with dog tracking collars, dog gates, and invisible fence.
