Why Use a Cat Barrier?

by Andrei Smith

Like dogs, letting your kitties roam in the neighborhood unattended could cause some disturbances, damages and troubles. To avoid these problems, a cat barrier is the best solution to let your kitty enjoy the great outdoors safely. Depending on what type of cat barrier you choose, you and your cat can benefit a lot from using it. Here are some good reasons for you to buy a barrier for your cat.

  • The primary purpose of using a cat barrier is to keep your kitty safe while being happy and contented. These barriers will keep your cat away from dogs and other stray animals.
  •  Barrier in a form of cat door will provide your kitty a great way to enter and leave the house safely. Cat doors will allow your pet to roam freely whenever he pleases.
  • Cats are territorial by nature. They love to go inside and outside of the house. Cat flaps will give them freedom to go out to enjoy the cool breeze and come inside for warmth and food.
  • Cat doors make your life a bit easier. No need for you to open the main door to let your cat out or in. Therefore, you can have peace of mind knowing that your cat can leave or enter the house in a convenient and safe manner.
  •  Door for windows is a specially designed cat barrier that lets your kitty enjoy the beautiful surroundings in the comfort of your home. With protective screen that keeps your beloved pet safe and sound.
  •  Cat enclosures, on the other hand, are the ideal cat barriers used to contain your kitties outside. This is the perfect way to let your indoor cats enjoy the outdoors.
  • Enclosure for cats is more than a cage. It serves as an outdoor cat barrier where your kitties can play and rest safely while enjoying the scenery.
  • Cat barriers such as cat enclosures keep your pet safe and away from stray animals. In addition, outdoor cat play enclosure is a room for exercise and relaxation of your pet.
  • If you want to contain your cat inside in the house, cat playpens are a great choice. This roomy cat barrier provides a wide space for
    your cat to stretch out, move around and play.
  • Cat playpen is the ideal product to use when you are planning to leave your cat home alone for a short period of time. This will not cause boredom since the space between the wires lets your cat see the view outside.

The author is a dog owner and writer connected to a company that offers a huge selection of effective cat barrier, patio pet door and other pet containment systems at lowest possible prices. 

 


 

Why do pets Run away?

There are many reasons pet run away, Below are just a few reasons:

Reproductive drive: An intact male dog roams when he detects the odor of estrogen on the wind. Why would a neutered male or a female develop reproductive wanderlust? The answer is because sexual urges are generated in the brain, not in the loins. Although castration causes the male hormone testosterone to fall to zero within about 8 hours, a neutered male remains a male, not an “it.” Castration reduces roaming in 90 percent of dogs but for the remaining 10 percent behave as if nothing has changed.

Boredom: Why do dogs climb over and dig under fences? Some say, to get to the other side. People sometimes go to work and leave their dogs tied up or wandering in the yard because they are afraid they will damage the house if left inside. A curious and active dog in a postage-stamp sized backyard is an instant candidate for escape - and thus disaster.

Predatory drive: Another very strong, almost magnetic, force that draws dogs away from their homes is prey drive. Seeking and finding prey is one of the most powerful natural tendencies that dogs possess. The thrills and the sweet victory of the chase are their own intrinsic rewards. Although we provide our dogs all the food they need, this extravagance still does not extinguish the drive to hunt in dogs.

Social reasons: Like wolves, some dogs have secondary homes or dens. Unless physically restrained, they will leave one home and wander over to the other periodically. I once had five clients sitting in front of me during a behavior consultation on one dog. “Which one of you is the owner?” I asked. They looked at each other for a moment or two and then one of them said, “We all are.” Apparently, the dog in question would wake up in one person’s home and wander over to the neighbor’s house for breakfast. It would then go over to a third neighbor’s home for a mid-morning walk and visit yet another neighbor each evening for dinner. This scenario brings to mind so-called “boomerang dogs” that are discarded by one family but keep returning to the original owners’ home.

Physical rewards: Food is a powerful reward for certain dogs. If such dogs learn of a source of food away from their home, they may visit that location whenever they feel a little hungry. One dog discovered that a neighbor always threw out leftover pizza on a Friday night. The dog was always found missing on Fridays.

Thunderstorm phobia: There are some phobic dogs that express their great displeasure by attempting to run away from what ails them. If a dog like this starts to run and run, he will eventually find that the storm abates. The running away behavior is rewarded by so-called negative reinforcement – the frequency of running away during storms increases because it stops something bad from happening (apparently, at least). Thunderstorm phobic dogs sometimes become quite skilled at breakouts, leaping from windows, or clearing high fences in a single bound as if they had superhuman powers.

Fear of owner: Although rare, I have seen this behavior recently in a dysfunctional dog adopted from a pound. The dog loved the lady owner but couldn’t stand her husband. The dog barked at him from the time he set foot into the house in the evening until the time he left for work the next morning. Tragically, the woman died, leaving the dog to either get over his fear of the man or run away. The dog chose the latter approach but was later recaptured and rehabilitated.

In Conclusion: Alway’s try to keep you pet on a a leash. Also, remeber to watch when opening and closing doors in your house. Your pets are valuable to you, take care of them like you would any child.

Some information from petplace.com


 

Pets: Are they really good for your health?

About 60 percent of American Households have one or more pets. Pets can be lovable, amusing, or maddening – but can they also have an impact on health?

 

A variety of medical studies hint that pet ownership may promote good health.

Scientist who have pawed over the relationships between pet and allergies have also produced a split verdict. Animal dander can clearly trigger allergic rhinitis and asthma attacks. Some results suggest that childhood exposure to pets reduces the risk of allergic reactions later in life, but other studies disagree. Similarly, research that has linked pet ownership to a reduced need for medical services and to improved psychosocial well-being has been countered by studies that found no benefit.

 

Findingyourpet.com is taking a survey from normal pet owners to see how they feel about pets and their health. Please leave a comment with your suggestion.

We will continue the rest of this article after the survey has been completed.


 

Caring For Your Cats

by Andrei Smith

All cats, like humans, also need proper attention and nurture. In
fact, these domesticated animals can play an important role in our
everyday life. Cats are highly known for their intelligence and
loyalty that’s why it is also important for us to properly train and
take good care of them.

Cats are also considered as great companions and friends and can
provide us with lots of love and entertainment. But even though most
pet owners know the importance of their cats; only few people know how
to properly train and care for them. And this is where the importance
of responsible pet ownership enters.

If you want to own a cat, you must be responsible in adopting them.
You must realize that developing your pet’s bad habit may not bring
happiness to you and the people around you.

In order to be a responsible pet owner, you have to properly nurture
your pet. Let’s say you own a cat, make sure that you know how to feed
him with quality cat food, provide him a good shelter and give him the
best protection just like the state-of-the-art patio cat doors that we
offer. This will give them freedom to go in and out of the house
without having to scratch your doors.

Similarly, when you have cats at home, you can just give them a clean
litter box, a comfortable home, a bit of your affection and they will
be very satisfied. Pets are like small children who also need to be
treated fairly. So just treat them right while providing their
designated boundaries.

Installing window cat doors would help you train and discipline them
on how to properly go in and out of your house appropriately. With
these wall mount cat doors, you can just leave them at home and just
go back from work without worrying if they have ruined all your home
accessories.

A cat’s proper behavior will also depend on his or her owner. When
they think their owner takes good care of them and knows how to
properly discipline them, they will execute a proper behavior. They
don’t want to be abused nor beaten and they always wanted to be
rewarded and praised. Executing the proper disciplinary action will
make them realize the difference between right and wrong behavior.

Hitting or kicking them while training is ineffective and not a good
way to treat them and may even cause them to attack somebody. So in
order for your pet to respect and obey you or listen to your commands,
you must perform the most proper training. Try it and you will be
amazed how your pet reacts to your proper disciplinary actions.
The author is a pet owner connected to a company that offers a wide selection of cat doors, pet strollers and pet containment systems at lowest possible prices.


 

Choosing The Right Dog For You

by Andrei Smith

Owning a dog needs dedication, time and effort. As you all know, dogs
are domesticated animals that need to be nurtured and loved. So before
you consider owning one, it is very important that you assess and
think about what type of dog you really want.

Choosing the right dog breed should match your needs, lifestyle or
status in life. Are you an active person or a home buddy? Do you like
a good running partner, a dog who can accompany you when you jog
outside? Do you want a little toy dog to match your cute personality?
Or do you want a large dog to guard your house against burglars? These
are just a few questions you should answer in selecting the right dog
for you.

Many people tend to choose a dog solely on the way it looks or on the
way it is perceived by the public. But there’s more to the physical
appearance of a dog. You should also consider other important factors
such as breed, age and sex. Bear in mind that dog breeds and their
behavior vary. Some dogs might be a little more aggressive than the
others. There are also dogs that need more training and require more
attention.

In selecting the right dog breed for you, decide first what size of a
dog you desire. Will it be big, medium-sized or small? Different dog
sizes match different needs. If you are the sporty or active type,
then opt for medium-sized or large dogs that would be great companions
on outdoor exercise or running in the park.

For those who are the hippie ones and enjoy the grooming part of dog
ownership, it is best to own a little toy dog that can be brought to
events and parties, and whose fur can be transformed in various
colors.

The age of a dog should also be among the considerations. It is more
enjoyable to nurture a puppy as a pet, but this requires more
supervision and time for potty training and other behavioral issues.
If you don’t have the luxury of time, then go for adult dogs that
don’t have behavioral problems anymore like excessive barking and
chewing things.

You should also choose between male of female dogs. Well, it’s just
matter a personal preference. There are some generalizations and
articles which you can read over the internet and it’s worth the time
to read over them. Some say female dogs can be trained easily than
males and that they more docile. Male dogs, on the other hand, are
more affectionate and tend to long more attention. They are also very
outgoing and motivated by food, treats and toys.


 

One Mistake Most Pet Owners Make

It’s hard to think of anybody who wouldn’t love to have a happy, healthy pet. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that what they are doing to their pets is causing them to suffer needlessly. So to look at pet health problems you must first look at yourself. 

Firstly, what are you feeding your pet that is harmful? Nothing you might say. But look a little closer. Read the ingredients label on your pet food product. If you find any of the following ingredients be alarmed: “by-product”, “corn”, “wheat”, “soy”, “meat and bone meal”, chemicals like “BHA”, “BHT”, or “Ethoxyquin”, or any artificial colors or flavors like “sulfur dioxide”. 

It is important to remember that pet health problems are best solved before they become a problem. After all, prevention is always better than cure, especially when the cure often involves pumping toxic drugs into your pet. This brings me to my second point. 

Immunizing your pet each year means you are pumping large amounts of chemicals into their little bodies. You immunize your pet against diseases, right? But do you realize that by feeding your pet a nutritious diet you can prevent these diseases from talking hold. Once prevented immunization becomes unnecessary. 

The question is not ‘What are my pets’ health problems?’ The question now becomes ‘How can I prevent pet health problems from arising?’. Many people think that contracting a health problem is a matter of dumb luck, but they are mistaken. A body that has the right nutrients in the right proportions can heal itself. Therefore, a healthy body does not get sick! 

You may be thinking, what is this going to cost me? I can’t afford to buy my pet all the natural, nutritious food it needs, what do I do? Well the answer is simple. It costs a lot less than you might think. There are resources out there that can help you develop a healthy meal plan on a budget. 

The truth is, it isn’t that hard to put together a healthy meal for your pet. Check out http://www.onlinenaturalpetcare.com for free advice. 


 

Good Dog’s Bad Hips

 As a Breeder I always believed That we could control Hip Dysplasia in our dogs by just breeding properly. The problem seems to be some breeders think they and their Vet can just look at X-Rays and judge if a dog has good hips NOT SO even the OFA has to have three Vet make that judgement call.I know a breeder who was once my friend Lenga’s German Shepherds I have bought three female pups from her for breeding not one nor two but all three dog by the time they where two years of age had Hip Dysplasia. So I went to her site to read the fine print as it were this is what I found.   

“My name is Helene from Southern California. I breed the very sweet and gentle LARGE boned Shepherds. I breed the black & tan, and black & red colored Shepherds. My #1 priority is PERSONALITY. My dogs are excellent with children. I also train and socialize my puppies, before they go to their new home. I also breed for excellent longevity health, good hips and great temperament which I guarantee 100%.”

This is the letter I received when I sent the OFA report on the last female with Hip Dysplasia.

“Oh my G-D! I can’t believe it. I was so sure Puppup had good hips, or at

least fair hips. I’m so very sorry, Knowing you are a breeder, it was always my intention to sell you puppies with good hips, but at that young age, we never know………………..Do we ? The great news is that your future puppy’s Sire, Patron is OFA Excellent, and his Dam, Champion Jan Lorien’s Ice Castles is also OFA Excellent, so I feel that your special puppy’s hips will be good. I can’t do better than that for you. I want to make sure all the puppies have good hips, if that is possible. I paid an arm and a leg to do this breeding with this Champion. By the way, Keira has one hip that is excellent and the other that is very good, so it looks good that her puppies will also be good.”

Notice no mention of Keira being OFAed just how much it cost to have her bred to a champion.

Sounds good doesn’t but go to her site and read on her litter page this.

Champion Lorien’s Patron and Lenga’s Keira Von Ars De Kona

“Champion Patron and Lenga’s Keira had a successful breeding. Patron is already an American Champion, and now he is going for his Canadian Championship. Patron and Keira will make beautiful and healthy puppies together. Patron is outgoing, friendly, and has a confident personality. Patron is OFA Excellent, and Keira was evaluated by my vet as Excellent, too. Keira is lovable, affectionate and a very confident female. These will be Show Quality puppies. They will be fully guaranteed, including personality. Each puppy will be trained and socialized, and come to you well behaved and well mannered. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Keira is very loyal and protective of her family, and Patron is very socialized with people and other dogs, being he has been to so many dog shows. Their puppies are due: July 17th. and will be ready to go: September 4, 2008.

Stop the presses what part of that is OFAed???

My response to her email was.

” Helene,

I have been going over our six year relationship with dogs I have spent over five thousand dollars ($5000.00) in direct cost buying dogs from you. Another Twelve Hundred ($1200.00) getting dogs OFAed not to mention feed and vet cost which comes to another Thirty Eight Hundred ($3800.00).

Also it has been six years and after Ten Thousand Dollars I still have not

one puppy from any of the dogs I bought from you so thanks but no-thanks I do not want one of your pups. As far as I can figure this is all because you will not OFA your dogs your vet is not the OFA so all the pups you have but out in the last six years have all had bad hips but since no one bothered to OFA their dogs they don’t know about it.”

The problem as stated by the OFA is low number of dogs radiographed and evaluated by the OFA not the breeder and his or her vet.

It can be very difficult to get hip information on siblings and previous offspring due to the overall low number of dogs radiographed in a given litter (most dogs in a litter end up in pet homes). This is the slowest method of reducing the incidence of an undesirable trait or increasing the incidence of a desirable trait. The use of preliminary radiographs as early as 4 months of age can be used by breeders to add valuable information on the hip status of dogs they choose to use in a breeding program.

Hip dysplasia appears to be perpetuated by breeder imposed breeding practices, but when breeders and their breed clubs recognize HD as a problem and establish reduction of HD as a priority, improvement of the hip status can be accomplished without jeopardizing other desirable traits. Prospective buyers should check pedigrees and/or verify health issues with the breeder. If suitable documentation is not available, assume the worst until proven otherwise.

Do not ignore the dog with a fair hip evaluation. The dog is still within normal limits. For example; a dog with fair hips but with a strong hip background and over 75% of its brothers and sisters being normal is a good breeding prospect. A dog with excellent hips, but with a weak family background and less than 75% of its brothers and sisters being normal is a poor breeding prospect.

OFA’s Recommended Breeding Principals

* Breed normals to normals

* Breed normals with normal ancestry

* Breed normals from litters (brothers/sisters) with a low incidence of HD

* Select a sire that produces a low incidence of HD

* Replace dogs with dogs that are better than the breed average

I have had customers wait as long as two years for one of my pups because I pulled a dog out of my breeding program for having bad hips when I had them OFAed if I can do it so can other breeders.

Bottom Line too many breeders are in this for the money and the quality of the German Shepherds goes out the window.

www.ASuperiorGSD.com

Lane’s House Of Shepherds - Old Fashion Large German Shepherds

Intelligent, Noble, Dignified, Sensitive, Loyal. Sound in mind and body.

LanesShepherds@Gmail.com

http://userla64.bravejournal.com/

 


 

Pet Strollers: Luxury or Necessity?

by Andrei Smith

 Is buying a stroller for your canine pet a luxury or a necessity? Some may think that putting your dog inside a stroller while walking in the park or hanging around the mall is ridiculous, but they are absolutely wrong. It is never silly to think about your pet’s safety and welfare.

With the use of pet strollers, you can bring your dog with you.wherever you go while enjoying a more secure and safe travel experience.

All dog owners should consider buying pet strollers to protect their dogs from possible dangers inside and outside your home. It is also necessary especially for dogs with disabilities and have anxiety problems. Buying this product will truly bring a lot of benefits to you and your beloved pet.

The use of pet strollers is highly recommended for dogs suffering from separation anxiety. If you are worried about your dog getting away or lost when you’re walking in the streets, a pet stroller will be a very good solution to prevent such situation from happening. Walking outdoor will be more enjoyable, easier and worry-free for dog owners with the help of a pet stroller.

Senior dogs and those with disabilities will feel more pampered and comfortable whenever you put them in a stroller. In such cases, we can say that dog strollers are no longer a luxury but a necessity in transporting physically challenged canines.

Nobody wants to carry a medium-sized or large dog with a fractured leg. It is difficult and at the same time risky for the condition of your dog. Caring for your disabled pet will be more manageable with the use this specially-designed carrier.

Dog strollers are also practical especially if you own two or more dogs. Transporting your pet will become easier and safer. Using this equipment will let you bring and stroll all your pets at the same time without the usual hassles of monitoring them.


 

Tips On Puppy Housebreaking

Housebreaking your dog takes a lot of time and patience so it is
advised that you begin to train your pet during his puppy years or as
soon as you bring him inside your house. Though it’s a bit
frustrating, it is worth the effort! Such training will prevent the
many hassles of puppy urinating on the floor or defecating inside your
house.

There are various ways to housebreak your pet but whichever method you
decide, what is only essential is to understand the behavior of your
dog. Dogs, like humans, have habits that every dog owner should
comprehend.

Many experts say that puppies should be trained to relieve themselves
atleast 6 times per day. Remember that dogs usually evacuate his
bowels or dog poop in the morning, after every meal, or 3 hours after
each meal. During such times, you can now make a schedule for your
pup.

Bear in mind that puppies, unless they are a month old or so, don’t
have the ability to control their bowel movement. One good trick to
train your puppy is to take him out immediately after each meal.

House breaking your dog is all about timing to create a desirable
routine. Repetition is the key here. For instance, you can bring your
puppy outside to potty before he sleeps in the evening. Or when you
wake up in the morning, bring your pup immediately outside.

The first thing that most puppies dog in the morning is to relieve.
Bring your pet to the same location each time and stay with him for a
few minutes. Do this again and again and your pet will learn the rules
and be trained to do this routine. Throughout the course of his
training, close supervision is a must. You need to supervise the
actions of your young dog at all times.


 

Dog Clothes - An Amazingly Simple Way To Keep Your Dog Healthy

Everything from pet vitamins to pet health insurance and pet cough mixtures are thrown at us by animal pharmaceutical marketers to help us improve the health of and extend the life our beloved dogs.

They know how to get our attention and to make us sit up, listen and buy what they have to offer. They know that to many of us our dogs are our children and who wouldn’t do what they could to look after their own child!

Yet so often in this technological and information age, we forget some of the simple basics of living healthy.

Just like humans, the body temperature of our dog will drop when as the atmospheric temperature drops also. We humans prevent our body temperature reducing as reduction in body temperature increases the risk of infection and illness.

We need to help our dogs in the same way by putting clothes on them when we take them out for a walk in the colder weather. Yes, that’s right. We need to dress our dogs in dog clothes.

More dogs get sick every year because of the cold weather than for any other reason. Just like use, dogs get colds. Travel, stress and close contact with other dogs can all be contributing factors to your dog contracting a cold. However, just like a human cold they can often be treated with supportive therapy. Naturally, if your dog is showing no signs of improvement or their symptoms seem severe, a trip to a vet would be a good idea.

There are a large range of dog clothes available today so there is no excuse for even the average dog owner to have at least one outfit for their dog when they go out on those cold winter days.

There are even ranges of Designer Dog Clothes available which will make your dog, well, the best dressed dog in the street. There are girl dog clothes and boy dog clothes.

There are dog clothes for bed and designer dog bath robes. There are formal evening wear for your dog and dog clothes for just around the house.
Check out www.web-pet-reporter.com for some great places to find that perfect outfit for your own beloved doggy friend.