Dog transport

I won’t go into detail about the basics of dog transport, the importance of proper ID tags, up-to-date shots, and keeping everybody on leashes. Probably you already know this. In our case traveling has an extra wrinkle because one of our dogs, our lab/pit mix, CurlyQ, has travel anxiety. When it gets too bad, we sedate her with children’s Benedryl, but she loves us, and wouldn’t want to be left behind. Our beagle, Una, has no such fear, but she gets cold easily, and hates being wet. Maine in October is mostly cold and wet. We packed two pet sweaters per dog, and when Una refused to hike in the rain, I carried her. After a few minutes she was ready to go again.

The thing that makes dog camping rewarding is the same thing that makes it difficult; you have to take care of your dogs, because they can’t take care of themselves. They don’t think to carry water, so you have to. They don’t know how long a hike is, so it’s up to make sure they can make it. They can’t say they’re cold, so you have to keep an eye on them. I made nests for our dogs using pet sweaters and our jackets. We should have brought more pet sweaters, because theirs got wet. It’s hard to be self-absorbed with a dog to care for. Their needs will open up your mind and heart. Anyway, being able to say my little beagle climbed Cadillac Mountain is just a delight.

A word of warning; dogs don’t understand Leave No Trace, so it’s up to you to pack out or burry their waste and to make sure they don’t chase wildlife, or step on sensitive vegetation or lichens.

Photo © zimbio

CurlyQ herself is, of course, diluted with friendly Lab genes. As a half-and-half, she will wade but not swim, and growl but not bite. She’s a smart and crafty trouble-maker, with a sweet doggy smile. No real surprises there. But last year I got to live with a full-blooded Staffordshire terrier, one of the pitbull breeds, rescued as a puppy from a real dog-fighter. In him I saw CurlQ’s hard edge sharpened, but I also saw her sensitivity clarified. It’s true that Patchy’s favorite game is to “kill” his stuffed animals. He carries the slimy, tattered things to any and all guests, hoping you will hold them for him as he rips viciously into their stuffing. It’s also true that he cannot be trusted around other dogs, though he’s gentle with the household cats. It’s true that his body is strong and hard, his mouth large and toothy. But he’s the sweetest, most affectionate dog I’ve ever met, well-behaved and obedient. This is what I always hear about pitbull terriers from people who actually know individual animals; unless they’ve been trained to fight, and sometimes even if they’ve been fought, they’re lovers.

It’s not that pitbull breeds are exactly like other dogs, but what makes them distinctive is precisely that sweetness. And if you think about it, that makes sense. If you wanted to make a dog that would kill, what better way to do it than to breed an intensely social, sensitive animal, one that would feel most keenly whatever abuse a trainer could throw at it? All dogs have the capacity to be violent, but the very traits that make pitbull terriers unusually good at violence under some conditions also make them fantastically loyal pets when treated simply like a normal dog.

Photo © paulidin

Pet cat insurance could have made our lives much easier. You can also buy dog insurance, because insurance is available for dogs too, though not always for all breeds; pitbull breeds, for example, may not be accepted. But if you have several pets, getting pet cat insurance and getting dogs of other breeds insured can help make sure you have room in your budget for your pitbull breeds when they get sick.

Pets become part of our families, and we owe it to our families to provide for their care. Health insurance for pets doesn’t have to be expensive; depending on the age and breed of your animal, insurance might cost less per month than food. You can’t say that about your own care!

Pet cat health insurance, like insurance for dogs and other animals, is not just about loving your pets; it’s also about caring for yourself. Like me, you’re probably willing to do without to care for your pets. After all, they can’t choose how they live, so we owe it to them to give them the best quality of life we can. But if I’d had insurance for my cat, maybe I could have been able to go to the doctor more often, too.

Cats and dogs don’t live as long as we do. It’s sad, but that cute puppy or kitten will not remain healthy forever. Even if we do everything right for them, eventually our animals get old and need special care, and accidents can happen at any time and any age. We have to be ready.

Medicines are available to help our animal friends age gracefully and with dignity. Prompt veterinary care after a fall or a fight can mean the difference between death and many more happy years. How terrible to lose an animal who could have been saved because you couldn’t pay the vet. Insurance is a way to stay prepared for the unexpected.

Photo © Yukari

The large loop goes around the neck and the smaller loop is what tightens the collar around the dog’s neck. Many say they are more humane than a dog choke collar. There are many thoughts on a this type of collar, but one bit of advice seems to be agreed on by most — never leave the Martingale dog collar on your dog when he is not being walked. Because of the extra loop, your dog can choke to death.

The collar is favored among Greyhound owners, although the collar has gained in popularity among owners of other breeds.

If you adjust the collar properly, the collar will not choke like the dog choke collar – when the tension is released, the collar loosens. These collars are good for dogs that have learned to back out of their collar. Unlike the Martingale collar, the dog choke collar can stay on the dog when not in training. When the choke collar is used care must be taken to use the collar properly.

The Martingale collar does not choke the dog’s neck, whereas with the choke collar the dog can pull hard enough to injure itself. While both types of collars will work when training your dog, nothing takes the place of the trainers themselves. Always check any collar on your pet and make sure you have a proper fit.

Photo © lindyi

However, you should never ignore your pet’s character when deciding on this or that gift.

For example, my dog likes bottles very much. Perhaps it’s because of the shapes of bottles,  or simply because I forbid him to play with them — I am afraid he will get hurt. I know he will feel very sad if he sees me opening a bottle, as he will think am playing with it, but at the same time forbid him to do the same.

But I have found a good solution to this problem. I decided to buy pet dog toys that will have a bottle shape. I bought a toy named Silly Squeakers Bottle Pet Toy. It’s elastic, colorful and is designed for hours of active fun. It cost me $39.50, a little expensive but I was ready to spend that amount of money for my dog’s happiness. He really liked it.

But dogs are not the only pets that deserve gifts. I have also found a very nice pet cat toy for your cat and a hamster for your sweet hamster.

For example, the Kitty City Hideaway (costs $15.99) can be a wonderful gift for your cat. It’s not a secret that cats like pouncing, playing, scratching, jumping, climbing and hiding. Very often, as a result of these activities, you have torn furniture, broken glasses or mirrors. This “kitty city” consists of different cubes, each of which is designed for the activities I mentioned above. This funny and very beautiful city will not only entertain your cat, but also keep your furniture safe.

Super Pet CritterTrail X Habitat — this would be a very extraordinary and unique gift for a pet rat or a hamster. This colorful and extreme activity center for small animals will cost you only $29.50. I call it “a deluxe accommodation” — it includes all the necessary things — water bottle, food dish, a wheel, spiral slide where the animal can exercise, and many rooms and toys, which will entertain it all day long.

Pamper your pet with gifts. It is the smallest thing you can give in return for their love.

Photos © Aislinn Ritchie, Janet 59

In this last post I am not going to tell you how to train your puppy, cat or parrot birds. Take your dog toys and go to the park with your four legged friend and run, play until you get tired. Believe this is the tiredness you and your pet have dreamed about. Just be crazy, let the animal instinct wake inside you, as New Year is the time when you can do everything.

Begin this New Year in a very special way with your friends, family and, of course, four legged friends!

Photo © faith goble

Being Arctic dogs by birth, they have a somewhat icy and cold character. However, love and consistency can work wonders.

Husky adjusts to “apartmental” conditions with great difficulty, and you will hardly ever be able to train a Husky in your apartment. So  if you have made up your mind for Husky training, take pet training supplies, and fulfill your Husky training in a large yard with a high fence, and a wire buried at its base, as Siberian Husky pets are “Stars of Prison Break.”

As I have already mentioned, Siberian Husky pets get bored easily if they are not kept busy. It is important that your pet training supplies include not only pet training collars and dog brushes, but also things that will keep your strong-willed and intelligent Husky mentally and physically occupied.

Never forget that Husky is a pack animal and will struggle for its dominance. If you don’t want to turn Husky training into “Husky walking all over you,” then show your beloved pet that you are the ” leader” at home. Using food rewards will also help in Husky training.

Pet training collars will help only if you try Husky training in a park. But pet training collar prevents Husky from romping, jumping and running — things that are extremely meaningful for this free-spirit animal. Tying it in pet training collars will be a mistake also because of its being an escape artist.

Husky training should be done in cool climate. But if it is hot you should provide your Husky with shade and air conditioner.

Husky training takes lots of energy and time, but if you really love this animal you won’t feel tired or distressed. Just have faith in yourself, and good luck in your Husky training!

Photo © randihausken

Pet dog clothes grew in popularity especially in the 21st century. Although our professor of French History once told us that French king Louis 15 also liked to see his favorite dog dressed in a coat much alike his own royal coat. Presently there are many high-end designer boutiques, where you can find pets pajamas, hats, suits, carrier clothing, and even small pet clothes. There are even special podiums designed for only “dog models.” A place where pretty ladies of 90.60.90 size are not welcome.

To tell the truth I will not dress my dog in one of these so called “high-fashion” clothes, because the animals used for the advertisement don’t look happy and pampered at all. Besides, these pet dog clothes seem ridiculous to me. For example, one can find authentic mink fur coat at 725 dollars or diamond coat at 5.084 dollars. What will the dog do with the fur if he already has a fur himself? Or what will he do with diamonds? Will he be the envy of his next door dog friend?

My dog Amber, for example, hates his pet dog clothes.

The only time he wore clothes was on  Christmas. I had dressed him like Santa Claus then. He was a great conversation piece at the party. However, he didn’t like his clothes, and for the first hour he did his best to take them off. Seeing that my dog was suffering I decided to take his pet dog clothes off. But my brother convinced me not to. All night my poor dog felt himself very nervous, and sometimes even behaved extremely inappropriately. He would bark at the guests, look at them angrily, and did his best to tear his clothes. It was awful for me. He even fell down the stairs as he had put his small paws on the clothes. Since that day I have never dressed him in  pet dog clothes. Actually I have thrown away all his pet clothes.

However, pet clothes are sometimes really very cute, and they look even cuter when your pet feels comfortable in them, if not, don’t make them upset, don’t forget that their hair and fur are far better clothes for them than any other pet cloth.

Photo © prudencebrown121

Siberian Huskies are extremely playful. They are very beautiful with ice blue, brown or amber eyes, with a black, black in gray, tan or white double coat, erect ears set high up on the head, and of course their sickle curved tail. They also have very large paws with fur between their toes to keep them from freezing. This makes them look menacing. But in reality they are very affectionate with people. Maybe that’s why they are not used as guard dogs.

Be sure if you walk with your Siberian Husky and people start comparing you with your dogs (it is an accepted knowledge that pets usually look like their owners) you will always feel proud, and never offended.

Another interesting thing about Siberian Husky pets is that they don’t bark but howl, and being hyperactive and sled dogs by birth they get bored easily. The only thing to do is to make sure that you have pet training supplies, and can keep your dogs busy almost all day long. Siberian Husky pets are the best jogging companions but when you have pet training collars on them.

Siberian huskies have a thick double coat, which allows them to stand even extremely low temperatures — from -58 to -76 degrees F. However, hot weather can damage their health. Dog baths are the best solutions. Only remember that bathing often will harm your dog. Do not force them to bath, let them decide themselves.

Dog baths are very important for Siberian Husky pets if you want your dogs to be healthy. You will start enjoying dog baths yourself when you see how your Siberian Husky pets try “to bite” water or pull you into the swimming pool.

It may sound strange but Siberian Huskies are thrifty eaters compared with how much energy they waste.

Siberian Husky pets are invaluable companions for people who are ready to give most of their time and energy to these intelligent and wonderful creatures.

photo © Jeffrey Beall

So not only humans but dogs are also prone to automatic or instinctive imitation. Moreover, dogs are learning people by imitating and it’s a form of flattery. Dogs even imitate the yawns which is simply striking. And the most surprising is that even if they don’t intend to copy, they automatically do so without any special pets training.

The recent studies of Austrian researcher Dr. Friederike Range and her team discovered amazing truth with a door-opening test. She and her colleagues built a box with sliding door which could be easily opened with a knob.

Then they divided the dogs into two groups. The owners showed how to open the door both with the help of hand and the mouth. When they opened it with hand, the dog did the same with the paw and got the reward, when they opened the door with mouth, the dog followed their example and got the reward again.

The second group of the dogs had to do vice versa, in other words when the owner opened the door with hand he should have done the same with mouth. This supposed some dog pet training.

But the dogs in the second group followed humans again. It means that dogs learned the second task harder and this shows that dogs have predisposition to imitate movement of humans automatically, so you basically don’t need to get dog training DVDs to develop your pet obedience. Although it is a fact that  dogs develop more when being trained.

Dogs’ imitation of humans is really great but as the animal develops he learns more of human behavior, which according to Dr. Range carries some risks as well.

Still, it should be very interesting and funny to watch your pet dog performing the same tasks. Enjoy the company of your smart dog and remember that if your pets imitate you, it means that they refer to you as their best pet trainers.

Photo © Kelly West Mars