Quarantine tanks

So you have decided to create an aquarium for your house.  You can have a professional company build you one or you can either purchase one or build your own.  No matter which choice you make, you need to think about introducing new fish to the existing aquarium.  You will need to have an area in the aquarium that you can quarantine the new fish, so that they become acclimated to the aquarium.  You need to watch them, or check on them, to make sure they are acting in the manner that the species normally acts.  The recommended time to be left in quarantine is two weeks.  If you have a saltwater aquarium, then you need to quarantine any new coral that you plan to add to the tank.  Coral can bring disease or pests into the tank.   There are some species that you may not want to add to the general population of the tank, so you have a quarantine section for them.  Bettas may be one of these species. 

So another reason for having a quarantine tank is to isolate any sick fish from the regular population. So how do you create a quarantine tank?  It should be a separate tank than the main tank that you use to maintain the fish. So what do you need to set up this quarantine tank?  Water from the existing tank because it contains the nutrients that are familiar to the sick fish. A filter that will hang off the back of the aquarium,  but make sure not to use carbon in the filter.  Carbon will remove the medicine from the tank.  If it is a fresh water tank, you need a heater to keep the temperature between 72 and 82 degrees.  An air stone to give the tank plenty of oxygen.  Fish usually like to hide if stressed.  You can use PVC pipe for the hiding spots.  Then you will need the same type of test kits that you use for the main tank.  These test check the quarantine tank for pH level, ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.  The fish net needs to be different than the one that is used in the main tank.  That way you will not infect the main tank with disease from the sick fish.  Because you will be using the water from the main tank there is no need to follow the steps for setting up the water for a new aquarium. 

Also you need to have the quarantine area to move any sick fish so they do not infect the rest of the aquarium.  When treating the sick fish the quarantine tank will be like a hospital.  This will keep any medicine from affecting the other fish in the tank.  Usually the quarantine tank is for the salt water fish because fresh water fish do not get sick as often as salt water fish.

Source for article  Ezinearticles.com

Did You Know That Dogs Suffered From PTSD

                                                                                                                                                                                        

Did you know that animals suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) just like humans do.  When a loved one dies all of the people that were close to them grieve.  The death cause some of the loved ones to suffer from PTSD.  The same is true for your animals.  I know you have seen pictures of dogs lying beside their master grave site for days.  I know of humans that just mope around for days and even weeks when their pet dies.  So the death of a master is one of the causes for the animals to suffer from PTSD.  There are other things that are just as hard on our animals.  Some of them are floods, fires tornados, and earthquakes.  The animals are placed in cages and are removed from their comfortable environment for a period of time.  They are away from the masters in a different facility.  Sometimes they are shipped many miles away to new homes.  They cannot find their way back to familiar surroundings.   Sometimes they are moved around from shelter to shelter, again removing them from their master and their homes.  Even when the animals are rescued the rescue organizations can ship them all over the USA.

So you go to a rescue facility to adopt a furry friend.  You know that their physical condition is great but you may not realize that their emotional state is in a bad place.  Animals suffer emotional issues just like you and me.  It is hard to give specific instructions as to what to do the help with the emotional stress.  Things like give them their own space, or be patient with them until they get use to the environment will help some, but will not heal their emotional stress.  You may want to think about talking with a professional animal communicator.

The communicator has several abilities:

                To sense and or feel the different levels of energy within the animals
                To experience the animals emotionally
                To catch glimpses of the inner emotional state
                To animal communicate with their new human companions

Having a professional communicator does not mean that the animal will be cured of the mental stress.  The animal may open up with their problems because they know that the communicator will listen to them. 

When you are suffering from PTSD, trust is lost.  Once the trust is lost it is hard to gain trust back.  It also takes a long time.  So if you have recently brought a new animal into your life consider using animal communicating and energy healing to help heal any past serious trauma.    

Article Source http//ezinearticles.com/9919496

Bring Home a new cat/kitten

Oh what an exciting day it is when you bring a new kitten or cat into the family.  Make sure to research the different breeds to find the breed that fits your life style and habits.  Many cats live a long time so make sure you will be able to care the feline when your kids go off to school, they move out and cannot take the cat with them.  Where do I look for a cat or kitten?  One place that not only serves as a great source is your local humane society.  By using the local humane society you will give the cat or kitten a new lease on life because their time at the society is limited.

When time comes to actually adopt a cat or kitten, you will need to have these necessitates on hand: food and water bowl, bed,   grooming tools and most importantly, toys to occupy their mind.  You will also need a scratch post and climbing trees for them to do the things that come naturally to them.  This will also save your furniture and curtains. Cats like all other animals need their exercise, so you should have a feather teaser or maybe a laser pointer that you can use to interact with your animal.

Make, sure you can afford them.  Remember you will need to buy food for them.  Also, the veterinarian trips can be costly.  If the animal is a kitten, the trips to the vet may just be once a year for their shots and annual checkup.  If the animal is older, or is sick, then the cost will be greater.  The Vet can also place a microchip under their skin so if the feline gets lost you may be able to be fine them easier.  You should also have the feline neutered or spayed.  The cost of these procedures are usually cover in the cost of adoption.  There is pet insurance that you can purchase to cover some of the expenses that you may have.

It is really important to animal proof your house.  Make sure that any extension cords are put away.  That will be hard to do with lamps on side tables.  Make sure that you have all medicines, chemicals, and cleaning products in an animal proof enclosure.  You may need to use a child proof lock to keep the cabinet closed.  Keep the doors to the dishwasher, washer machine, dryer, and microwave closed.  Prior to using these appliances, open the door to verify that the cat has not curled up inside to take a nap.   This is the same thing you need to do if you have a child.

If a cat or kitty is in your future, have fun with them and enjoy your new family member.

Several Reasons for Aggressive Behavior

A couple of causes for your pets to become aggressive are getting a bath and trimming their nails.  The problem with trimming their nails is that it is easy for you to cut the nails too close and actually cut the blood vessels that are giving the nails their blood supply.  This makes the animal jittery whenever you pick up the nail clippers to trim their nails.  The second most common cause for your pet’s aggression is giving them a bath.  You take your pet to the shower or tub in the house.  Outside you may use a hose and somewhere that your pet will remain clean after you wash them. You are all set to wash them and the pet begins to struggle, so you do what come naturally, that is to restrain them so you can give them a bath.  Now whenever you say the word bath or try to take them to the shower, or tub, they will fight you.

What do you need to do to give your pet a happy experience when it is time to trim their nails or to take a bath?  If it is a puppy, start by showing them the nail clippers.  Rub their paws with the clippers, softly. Include a treat when they will let you rub their paws, with clippers, and not show any aggressive behavior.  Do this for a few times and then move into the next step which is actually trimming the nails.  Again, if they show an aggressive side, stop the trimming.  Go back to the rubbing of the paws with trimmers.   If your pet is an older dog you may have to break the aggressive behavior that the previous owner caused.  Start as if they were a puppy, and before long you should be able to trim their nails and give them a bath.  Make sure that the water is warm, not hot or not cold, when bathing your pets.  This will give them an enjoyable experience.  Follow the nail trimming and bathing with a treat.  Also, brushing their coats, between baths, will also go a long way to make them feel comfortable when it is time to bathe them.

If you are experiencing problems and what you have tried does not settle your pets down, take them to a vet.  Make sure you let the vet know there is a problem so they can work at making your pet comfortable.  There are also businesses that you can take your pet for a bath and trim.  There are even some businesses that will come to your house, instead of you having to take your pet to the groomer or vet.

Good trimming and bathing

Dogs and Their Toys

So it is your dogs birthday or it is some other significate date in the life of your pet, so you go out and buy toys for them to play with and have fun.  Are the toys costly? If the answer is yes or no the next question is do the pets destroy them?  If they do this can be costly to you and it can be dangerous to the pet.  They could ingest pieces of the torn toy.  So without toys to enjoy and chew on, they will turn to other items to chew and enjoy ie: shoes, furniture, and magazines.   What to do? 

You need to train your puppy by using the toys as a positive reinforcement. What does that mean? While training your puppy to follow your commands, and they do what you ask them to do, give them the toy as part of the reward.  As long as they respect the toy and don’t try to tear it apart, let them play with it.  If you observe them being rough with the to, distract them by calling their name or clapping your hands.  Once you have their attention, praise them for being good and give them the toy back. If they continue to play rough with the toy, take it away from them until the next time you have play time. Just remember that you don’t want to punish them, just let them know they need to be nice with their toys.  This will save you money because you will not have to continually purchase toys.  If your dog appears tense or will not bring the toy to you when you ask for it, it may take a professional trainer to help you train the dog.

For new toys, I would suggest that you do not leave your dog alone with them until you feel comfortable that are happy with the toy and will not destroy it while you are away.  Having toys for your dog to play with while you are away will help them not get anxious while you are gone.

Have fun[O1] [O2]  playing with you dogs and their toys

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Training my new puppy with  needed  skills

I have bought a new puppy.  How do I socialize the puppy so it will interact with the family, and public, in a responsible manner?  Depending on how old the puppy is you, you can find a puppy school, if young, or go to an obedience school, if older.  A puppy school is usually found at a veterinarian office.  This sets up a relationship with the Vet, provided you will use this Vet for the wellbeing of your puppy.  The puppy school consists of a group of owners and puppies to teach the new puppies different commands i.e. sit stay come etc.  You want a class with a small number of puppies so that you can do more one on one time with the instructors.  Also, look to see if the school has one instructor and a couple of instructor’s aides. If the puppy is older you can find an obedience school to enroll your puppy.  If going to an obedience school remember you need to enroll yourself for the class with your puppy.  You should also work with your dog, at home, to reinforce what the puppies have learned in class.

Once the pet has graduated from school, you still need to reinforce the training all the time.  Make sure you tell all of your family members that they need not to overwhelm your pet.  Let them eat in private and do not crowd them.  Family members should spend quality time with the pets.  Make sure to walk them to get exercise.  That is a good method to socialize them with other dogs in the neighbor as well as other humans. 

Millions feed our feathery friends

There seems to be hundreds of people that feel the need to help our feather friends by putting feeders in the trees and bushes.  This is to feed both wild birds and domestic birds.  You might ask the question why? Well they do it to bring beauty and song into their lives for relaxation and education.  There are many different feeds that you can purchase.  You can also make many different feeds from all types of material.  Here are some of the feeders you can buy: suet, fruit, liquid, platform, free standing, tube, platform and ground.

Cardinals eat a variety of wild and "feeder" seeds, including sunflower, safflower and most other seeds in basic wild bird seed mixes. In warm seasons they also eat insects and worms and feed their babies mainly an insectivore diet.

The adult cardinal food consists of insects, spiders, wild fruits, berries, and weed seeds. In winter, they eat more seeds and berries since insects are few. Cardinals prefer to perch while eating at bird feeders, so the ideal bird feeder would be is a hopper type.

Cardinals also enjoy ground feeding.   The best wild bird food for cardinals include black oil sunflower, buckwheat, black and gray stripe sunflower, and safflower seeds.  Cardinals usually are the first birds to feed in the morning and the last to feed at night.

There are many species of birds throughout the states and so many regions within each state, that you will have a good opportunity to add bird feeders to your patio or garden any time of the year

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Susanne_Swann/2498578

Things to think about when bringing home a new kitty/cat

Are your kids pestering you to bring a cat into your lives?  You and your significant other have discussed it and agree that it is a good thing to do.  You have to talk to the kids and explain to them serious of bring in a cat or kitten.  They need to know what responsibilities that they will have.  Responsibilities such as making sure they have food and water.   Depending on the age of your children they may also be responsible for clean the litter box.  Since you brought in this new pet because your kids pestered you to do so, let them know that one of the responsibilities will be to play with the new pet  There are few essentials that you will need to purchase to make sure the cat/kitten make a good move into the family.

One of the items is food.  If you bring in a kitten rather then an adult cat, the food is different.  There are ingredients that may be bad for the kitten versus an adult cat.  Kittens need vitamins and balance between fat and protein for the proper development.

Ok so you have food and water for the new cat/kitten and they are settling into a routine that makes you and your kids happy.  But guess, what accidents will happen.  Also male cats urinate to mark their territory.  The cats/kittens may make a mess because they be nervous [O1] or stressed.  Get a good carpet cleaner and stain remover.[O2] 

The carpets are clean and stain free (ha,ha) let keep the pets happy.  Do you want to spend quality time with them?  Then purchase some toys to entertain them.  This also is a way to give them exercise and objects to play with that are not harmful to them.  Make for good bonding time while playing with pets  

Next let’s look at the environment of the animals.  If you are bringing in a kitten and already have adult animals that go outside,  you need to be prepared to fight disease that may be brought into the house from the adult animals.  The kittens may not have the antibodies to fight off the diseases on their own.

Lastly, the kitten will need a place to call their own.  They are semi social and like to hide when over stimulated. You need to have a bed for them to sleep in so get one with a cover.  I know from experience that they will hide in the closet or under the bed. 

Check out Luvforpets.com.  There you will find toys, beds, strollers & furniture, etc. for you cat.

Good luck with the new pet and have fun

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Andrew_Stratton/83489

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Paw Protection

Foot Protection is very important for your pets. Power Paws is the only foot protection solution available in 13 sizes across two different foot shapes. This ensures a great fit for almost all dogs from 6 pounds to 240 pounds. The Advanced version of socks is the only product that I know of that is available to offer a reinforced toe this is useful for dogs with long nails, or those that might involve tapping a toe or dragging a foot. There is also a Power Paws Reinforced Foot version that is  a ruggedized whole foot area. Power Paws is an outdoor solution for protecting the paws from all of the different elements. In the hot summer and early fall they protect paws from blistering pavement and other hot surfaces. In the cold winter, spray Power Paws with a waterproofing solution to keep the paws warm and dry and to protect them from the snow, ice, and salt.  During the spring and fall allergies, Power Paws are the only non-drug answer to dust, dirt, grass, and pollen issues. They also will work to help keep any foot wounds clean while providing air flow for healing. 

Which foot shape do I need? Most dogs will wear Power Paws, but if the pad group on the bottom of the paw is far longer than it is wide choose the Greyhound Edition. More breeds than Greyhounds and Poodles can have hare feet formally called "hare foot". And some dogs, especially the working and herding breeds, may have very different front and back paws.

Why would I choose either the Power Paws Advanced or Power Paws Reinforced Foot? The Advanced Power Paws (with an armored toe) will work well for most dogs. Dogs that do rugged activities outdoors such as camping, hiking, or hunting and those that walk on abrasive surfaces such as sand or pool decks will benefit from the more durable Reinforced Foot product.

How do I know what size to get? The weight and breed guides are a good way to determine size, but they are based on averages. The foot print guide is another check on the size. Unfortunately, some breeds don't follow the guide, and others have different sized and/or shaped front and rear paws. Despite all this, these guides are generally accurate for the majority of dogs. Know that the socks look very small so they can stretch to become the size of the foot, and then the elastic can hold it in place. A good fit is snug, but you can still put a finger in the sock. It will stay in place while playing, walking, or climbing stairs. The sock will be too small if you can’t get it on your dog’s foot. The sock will be too large if it falls off the paw or if it sags.

Suggested breeds depending on their weight and pad dimensions

Extra Extra Small (XXS) Advanced:

·  Weight: less than 12 lbs.

·  Foot Pad Width: 1.25" - 1.38"

·  Foot Pad Length: 1.25" - 1.38"

·  Typical breeds: Chihuahua, Maltese, MinPin

Extra Small (XS) Advanced:

·  Weight: 12 - 25 lbs

·  Foot Pad Width: 1.38" - 1.75"

·  Foot Pad Length: 1.38" x 1.75"

·  Typical breeds: Yorkie, Silkie, small Terriers

Extra Large (XL) Advanced:

·  Weight: 95 - 130 lbs

·  Foot Pad Width: 2.75" - 3.125"

·  Foot Pad Length: 2.75" - 3.125"

·  Typical breeds: Shepherds, Rottweiler, Basset hounds

Extra Extra Large (XXL) Advanced:

·  Weight: 130 - 180 lbs

·  Foot Pad Width: 3.125" - 3.5"

·  Foot Pad Length: 3.125" - 3.5"

·  Typical breeds: Danes, Mastiffs, St. Bernards

Extra Extra Extra Large (XXXL) Advanced:

·  Weight: over 180 lbs

·  Foot Pad Width: 3.5" - 3.88"

·  Foot Pad Length: 3.5" - 3.88"

·  Typical breeds: Wolfhounds, Largest of Giant Breeds

Life jackets and vest for your Dogs

                                  

Summer has started, and you will be taking your puppies out on the water , into a river or lake to swim.  They will also use your home pool to swim.  You need to think about water safety for you dog. If you have ever questioned if a life jacket is really a necessity for your dog, the answer is a resounding YES. Unfortunately thousands of dogs drown each year in home swimming pools accordingly to PET PLACE COM.  This number does not reflect the number of drowning accidents in rivers, lakes and oceans. Life jackets for dogs are imperative, no matter how good a swimmer you think your pet is.

Countless people believe all dogs are good swimmers, but that is not essentially true. While some breeds are better swimmers than others, there are some breeds like Bulldogs and other dogs with short heads, such as Pugs and Boston Terriers that do not do as well in water. Because they have heavy heads and chests, they fatigue easily and could sink to the bottom. For the mentioned breeds and others that are not good swimmers, it is important to get them a proper fitting life jacket.

 No matter if your dog is a great swimmer or not, they should wear a life jacket for the same reason people do when they are in open water or their swimming pools. Dogs are like us, they cannot swim all day. Choking on water or getting tired are really dangers to a dog in water, so give your pets the additional security of wearing a life jacket or vest that will keep them from drowning.  

A doggie life vest also helps to make your dog more visible in open water. Most life vests have reflective tape and you should get the life jacket or vest with the most reflective area that you can.

Making your pet comfortable and healthy in the heat of summer

I know it is hard to believe that the summer heat is just around the corner when the temperature outside is still in the forties.  But in a couple of weeks, the sun will be out and the heat and humidity will be rising. Most animals like to be outside to play and run no matter the temperature.  Now is the time to be thinking about your pets because it is up to you to make sure your pet is safe and cool.  You know they wear a fur coat all the time and in all types of weather, so when the temperature rises so does the temperature of your pet.  They do not have sweat glands like humans but loose heat by panting and through their foot pads. 

Here are some ways to help your pets cool off in the heat of summer.

A.   Clean, Cool Water

It is important that you have clean, cool water available for your pets all times. When the temperature rises this is even more essential. Make sure the water dish is in a shady spot and change the water often. To keep fresh water available outdoors all the time, think about installing a system that hooks up to a faucet. These systems are designed to provide water as needed and are usually triggered by motion or a specific action.

In addition to clean, fresh water, you can give your dog some delicious cool treats like frosty paws or look on the internet for recipes that you can make your own home made treats. 

B.    Shelter from the Sun

Being in the sun for a long period of time can lead to heat exhaustion and may cause sunburn.
The best thing for you to do is to offer shelter. Shade from trees is nice, but not perfect.  At luvforpets there are a number of beds and cooling pads to help make your pets life more comfortable in the heat by giving them shelter.  These items work for your pets either inside the house or outside the house.  Just to name a few of the items you can find on our web site: cooling pads, pet cots with a canopy , to a cooler that has a pump to pump cold water through to a comfortable cushioned pad

A dog house is better to provide the pet with shade. Make sure it is large enough and well-ventilated. Maybe install a fan to help cool things down. Try to place the shelter in a shady area to help keep it extra-cool. Of course, the ideal shelter is your home unless your garage is very hot. If your garage is cooler then the outside install a doggie door to allow indoor access.  You can also install a doggie door to the inside so your pets can enjoy the air conditioning with you

C.    Dog Pools for Cooling

If your pet loves the water, then a large tub or kiddie pool (not an inflatable pool) could be a way to give your dog some cooling. You can find tubs or pools at most big box stores or your neighbor hardware stores. Also, keep the pool in a shady spot and change the water frequently. Do not leave water in the pool after you are finish with it, as it may attract mosquitos.

There are other products that are designed to cool your pet. Some work better than others.  If you decide to try one of these products, just remember that nothing substitutes for fresh water and shade. No dog should go for long without plenty of both.

Remember that dogs cool themselves by panting and sweating through their pads, so cool air is the best way to prevent overheating. No matter what you do to keep your pet cool, check on them frequently to make sure they are alright. Be sure to contact your vet immediately if you notice signs of heat stroke from the Spruce web site

Pet Friendly Vacations

 

Summer time is fast approaching.  Now is the time to start thinking about where you want to go on vacation and make the reservations.  In reality it may be too late to be able to get the places you really want to go.  One of the major things you need to look at, if you have pets, is where are the pet friendly resorts.  More and more families have pets, due to the children moving out on their own because of college and/or work.   Owners who allow renters are looking to be helpful to the vacationer with pets by allowing pets to stay on their property.  The property owners have invested a considerable amount of time and money, especially when they are providing them as vacation rentals.  Some owners  allow pets in the property with the understanding that they will not be left to themselves and/or the pet owner will be with them at all times and put in a cage at night to sleep.  The hardest request is to not allow the pet on the furniture especially the bed.   Most of the rules are followed but then there are the pet’s owners that do not follow the rules and this messes it up for everyone.  Now what happens?  The home owner must spend more ti me andmoney having the cleaning company vacuuming and washing everything in the unit.  Because of the extended time for cleaning the unit may not be available for the next renter.  If you are planning a vacation use a web site that lets you filter your searches with the words “pet friendly”

Just some friendly comments to the renters about your pets:

If your pet must accompany you on the vacation trip, ask the question – is your space pet friendly.  They may say yes and then tell you there is a nightly fee for the pet.  They may also tell you the there is an extra cleaning fee.

Take special attention to keep your pets off the furniture, especially the bed

Ask if there is broom or vacuum available so you can pick up the hair daily.  See if they have extra bags for the vacuum so you can empty the vacuum before you leave.  Ask about extra bags for the trash so you can remove the trash bags too.  The unit owners may have allergies to pets.

And never leave your pet in the unit by themselves as they may have an anxiety attack and cause damage to the unit

By respecting what the unit owners have asked of you hopefully more units being opened to “Pet Friendly”.

One more thing, as always, clean up after your pet when they leave a “deposit” on the lawn (or elsewhere).

By following these simple rules hopefully the unit owners will allow you to return next year for a happy vacation with your pet

Our Pets and Vacation

Are you planning your vacation for the upcoming vacation season?  There is one member of your family that usually does not get to have a voice in the planning – your pets.  As you make your reservations for your hotels call your kennel to make your pets reservation also.  Make sure to check out the kennel  that you chose.  Is it clean.  Do they a run for the pet can get outside and get sme exercise? Do they have a dedicated play time for your pets?   Is that an extra charge?  Is the overall condition of the environment clean and in good shape?  Now if you are planning on taking your pet on  the road with you that has a different set of questions and concerns.  Are you going on a road trip in your vehicle and need places to stay overnight?  Make sure when you make reservation that the hotel or motel or time share allows for you to have your pet with you.

 Make sure you have a nice place for your pet to ride in your car.  There are crates with nice soft and comfortable pads that fit inside the crate that allows for your pet to have an enjoyable ride. If you are traveling in a SUV there are cargo covers that can be placed in the back cargo section for your pet to ride.

When you stop to stretch your legs and get something to drink, your pet needs to  do the same thing.  Carry water and some type of bowl to allow for your pet to get hydrated.  Also, make sure they get the adequate amount of exercise during your stop.  Clean up after your dog, before you leave.

Beds for your dog and/or cat

A good bed provides many comforts not only to us humans but also to all sizes of dogs and cats.  Most importantly it provides insulation from the cold and heat from laying on the floor, support for their spines and joints, and for our furry friends a feeling of security.

When pet owners ask what items they need to buy for their dog or cat, a decent bed is at the top of the list - along with a collar, leash, food, and feeding dishes. Beds are extremely important; in fact, we consider a bed essential for all dogs and cats regardless of size, breed, or age.  A cage with a pad will substitute for a bed and you can use the cage for traveling.

When a dog or cat has a bed of their own, the following benefits are derived along with benefits that we don’t see.

Padding for their bones and joints
You can purchase an ORTHO BOLSTER SLEEPER from Luvforpets.com.  This will keep your pets off the floor and warm especially in the winter.

Safety
KITTYWALK GAZEBO YARD & GARDEN PET ENCLOSURE.  They will love having places to call their very own in the house or out in the garden.

Protection for their joints
SUPERIOR ORTHOPEDIC BED SMALL GRAY PAW BONE. Orthopedic Dog and cat beds are designed specifically for dogs and cats who need extra joint support and comfort. They also come in larger sizes.

Prevention of Injuries
KITTYWALK KABANA.   This item will give your pet a place to go to when tired and keep them from jumping up and down from high pieces of furniture like your king size bed or shelves and dressers. There are also reflective dog collars and some with even LED lights to keep your pets safe when out at night walking with you.

Choose the best bed you can afford for your budget to give your animals the best life they can have while you enjoy their company. 

Did you just get a new member to your family?  Whether the pet is a rescue animal or one you purchased from a reputable breeder you need to decide, as a family, what your newest family member is allowed to do, and what methods you will use to teach them everyday manners.  In order for the pet to know what to do and when to do it, everyone in the family has be consistent. 

So what type of training do you get for the dog?  There are two thoughts on the training.  First thought is to use training aids at home and everyone pitch in with the training on a daily basis.  The second thought is to use a professional trainer with the main handler of the animal going to school with them.  In between the classes the family needs to work with the dog, at least daily, to reinforce the lessons that have been taught.    

Make sure that everyone uses the same commands for correcting and praising your animal.  There are a lot of areas that need to be explained to the entire family such as where the pet will sleep, where the puppy will eat  and who will  be responsible for feeding, cleaning up after them, and who will exercise the puppy.  Do not let the dog have free range of the house.  When someone in the family is with your dog, let them roam to different rooms.  Make sure you give them feedback on how they are acting both positive and negative.

Taking your new puppy to Obedience School is a great way for the dog to get proper training.  They also get to socialize with other dogs, which is great additional training for them.

Make sure that when house breaking your dog, you do it every several hours, making sure that after they do their “job”,  that they get rewarded with either praise (good boy/girl) and/or a small treat. This can be done by going outside or using training pads, inside, at a predetermined location.

Did you know the biggest problem with the puppy’s behavior is the owner?  They usually think the puppy should know right from wrong from day one.  The new pet will get everything wrong until they are trained with the house rules of living with you and your family.  Remember that it is only normal for a puppy to get into trouble.

The first day you bring your pet home you need to start the training even before you decide which method of training you are going to go to use.  Never use force with your pet either by yelling and using a newspaper to swatch them for doing something wrong.  Remember kindness will work much better then with brute force.