Some funny Pet Pictures

Can Dogs and Cats Co-Habitate?

It was long held that dogs and cats can't live together in the same space. Having both a dog and a cat myself, I can confirm that is not the case. There are, however, several factors to take into consideration.

How you acclimate a dog to a cat is key. Also, introducing these two species at an early age is always better. You should never force the introduction, but there are a few things you can do.

If you have a cat or cats and want to bring home a mature dog, try to find out some history on the dog. Things like whether or not they've been around cats before. If you can't get any history, it's better to be safe than sorry. Keep them separate for awhile and socialize them slowly. Use of a dog leash would be good for this purpose.

Some breeds truly don't get along well with cats. These include your hunting breeds like Dobermans, hounds and others. Also, terriers don't get along well with cats. Please keep the breed in mind when you decide to bring a dog home to a house with cats.

If your new dog does not react much to cats when brought home, don't automatically think all is well. Sometimes, grown dogs will be completely civil when inside, but then attack when outside. So don't leave them unsupervised in the same room until you are sure.

Now, if you bring a new puppy home versus a mature dog, there are some better socialization techniques you can use. Remember, I mentioned earlier the age of the dog makes a difference. You will want to keep them away from each other for a couple of days or so. During that time, let the cats smell the puppy's bed to acclimate to the puppy's scent. Be sure you let the puppy do the same for where the cats typically sleep.

Now it's time for the actual introduction. You should hold onto the puppy in your lap and let the cats come to the puppy. This is their first visual as well as physical encounter. The puppy is secure and the cats are free to approach and withdraw as they please. If the cats stay in the room after this, let the puppy go. If the puppy starts to chase the cats, firmly say "No". This will bear repeating as the puppy learns not to run after the cats.

Before long, the two species will be playing together and be best friends. Many will even become protective of the other. Just take the time to introduce them properly and you'll be one big happy family.

How to Take Your Dog's Picture

Teach your dog a good, solid stay command. This will make the photo shoot go much more smoothly. Check Resources below for a link to my article on teaching your dog the stay command.

Once your dog does a good stay command, find a good place to take the picture. A nice spot in a scenic park, the beach, a room set up with some lighting and a back drop.

Put your dog in a sit, down or stand position and give the command "Stay." This is where some patience on your part comes in. If you put too much pressure on your dog there is a good chance that your dog will start to pick up on your vibes and the whole shot could be much more difficult than it has to be. The best thing to do is relax and have fun with the whole process.

Once you have your dog in the stay position and you're ready to take the photo, say your dog's name. To get a really good photo you want your dog to look at the camera. To get the best shot, say your dog's name and squeak the toy. This will usually get your dog's attention.

If your dog is not interested in the toy or it get your dog to excited wave the treat to get your dog's attention.

Once your dog is looking at you, take the picture. With a little practice you'll start getting great photos of your dog.

The Importance of Healthy Cat Food

If you are a cat owner that truly loves you furry friend than it is imperative that you understand the importance of healthy cat food. Cats have very unique nutritional needs and if they are ignored the results can cause your cat to become sick, or even shorten its life considerably. The good news, is that finding and procuring the best cat food for your beloved pet is now more easy and convenient than ever.

Happy Playful Cats

The main problem is that cats can't talk, so if they are feeling bad due to their diet, they are completely unable to tell their owners about it. This means that right now what you are feeding your cat may be causing it to feel terrible, but you wouldn't even know it. A properly nourished cat is a happy playful cat, so it is also in your best interest to see to it that your cat is being provided the best nutrition possible.

A shocking Discovery

One recent current event that brought the issue of healthy cat food to the attention of cat owners world wide, was the discovery of a certain practice of unscrupulous Chinese pet food manufacturers. What was discovered, has more cat and dog owners around the globe taking a closer look at what they are feeding their pets.

Safe Online Sources

They were found to be adding a dangerous chemical additive to dog and cat food that mimicked the presence of protein. They could have gotten away with this unseemly practice indefinitely, but for one thing. That is, that the chemical that they were using is fatal in some instances. Thats right! Cats and dogs were dying from the food that they were being fed and while the practice has stopped for now it is only a matter of time until they start in again.

Finding Suitable Pet Beds

Pet lovers always take special care for their pets and spend a lot for pet care products. One of the important pet care products is pet bed. It provides your pet a comfortable place for sleeping. Several kinds of beds are available in the market and most of the beds are bought for pets like dogs and cats. Depending on the type and size of your pet, beds can be chosen. Pet beds are available in varieties like small sized beds, large sized beds, out door beds, indoor beds and luxury beds. Look for important factors such as materials used, comfort, luxury, shape and size of the pet bed.

The pet beds should provide comfort while your pet is sleeping and at the same time the bed material used should create a great look for the bed. Pet beds made of micro velvet nylon gives a luxury look to the pet beds and they can also be easily washed. While buying Pet beds, look for the flexibility so that you can carry your pet and the bed during traveling. Pet beds should be frequently washed and so also the covers. Therefore always check whether the bed covers can be removed and replaced. There are various colors available in pet beds and choose a bed that goes attractive with your pet. The bed material should provide style along with comfort to your pet.

Pet bed sizes vary from small to extra large. The pet bed shapes like round, rectangle etc. can be decided depending upon the size and age of your pet. Round shaped beds are normally suggested for pets as they provide them protection. Polyfiber pet beds are easily washable and detachable. The inner cushion of the pet beds should be thick so that your pet gets total comfort while sleeping. There are reversible pet beds available in the market and you have the advantage of using both sides for your pet alternatively. Another popular pet bed variety is doughnut shaped bed. Some pet beds provide crate pad as additional benefit.

Pet beds for cats should protect them from winter and floor. Many of the pet beds for cats provide heating system in the bed so that the bed temperature is controlled and protects the cat from cold. A pet bed provides your pet its own space and your house will also look in an organized way. You can easily buy pet beds by online means. Usually cats sleep for longer duration in a day to a maximum of 16 hours and a dog sleeps less than a cat.

The extreme changes of weather will not affect your pet if you provide a pet bed for it. By selecting a proper bed you can minimize vulnerable health problems that may affect your pet. Pets are normally subjected to various skin problems and always require a smooth and cool sleeping place. The popular types of beds available are Murphy beds, crib bed, brass bed, orthopedic bed, cooled bed and heated bed. Murphy beds use minimum of space in home and also during traveling. Murphy pet beds are produced using many varieties of wood and stains crib pet beds provide protection to puppies while sleeping and playing. Antique lovers buy brass pet beds with brass carvings for providing elegant look to their houses.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/finding-suitable-pet-beds-330518.html

How to Make a Free Dog Bed

Make a dog bed for free from two discarded couch cushions and some stuffing. Fits a small to medium sized dog.

Steps

1. Take two discarded couch cushions.
2. Set aside the best cushion (Cushion #1) for the base.
3. Cut along the seams of Cushion #2 to remove the fabric.
4. Cut this fabric into strips 14 to 16 inches wide.
5. Sew the best three strips end-to-end into one long strip.
6. Lay the strip like a horseshoe around the edges of Cushion #1.
7. Leave an extra 2 inches at each end and cut off the rest.
8. Turn this long strip inside out and fold in half along its length.
9. Sew a seam 1/2 inch from the cut edges to form a tube.
10. Leave two inches unsewn at each end.
11. Turn the tube inside out so the good side faces out.
12. Stuff firmly with soft materials.
13. Neatly sew the ends closed.
14. Pin the tube onto Cushion #1 the way you want it.
15. Sew to Cushion #1 along the back end with double thread.

Tips

• Have your dog lie down on Cushion #1. There needs to be an extra 5 or 6 inches of space on three sides around the dog
• If your strip is not long enough, add more strips as needed
• When sewing the ends, try to get them to match each other
• When arranging the tube on Cushion #1, hide the seam underneath
• The tube will wrinkle when bent. Arrange it so the wrinkles look uniform
• Use thread that matches the fabric to hide imperfections
• The tube can also be sewn along the front end for extra strength
• Add your dog's favorite blanket for a removable, washable cover

Warnings

• Remove all pins before your dog gets into the bed

TRAVELLING WITH YOUR PET

It's that time of year when we hit the roads or fly the "friendly" skies for some fun and relaxation. But what do we do with our furry family members? More places are becoming pet friendly, but there's more to consider.

Is bringing your pet along what's best for your pet? Of course, if you're actually moving, you'll bring your pet no question. However, if it's for a long weekend or a week long vacation, is it best to bring your pet with you even though you want to? Be sure to take into consideration how your pet does with travel. Do they ride well in dog crates, dog carriers, or cat carriers as the case may be or are they anxious? Are they in good health? How old are they? Where will you be staying? Are you going into any extreme weather changes? Sometimes answering these questions will cause you to reconsider bringing your pet with you, for their sake.

If you do decide to bring your pet with you after asking the questions above, do your preparations so the trip is enjoyable for all. The worst thing is for your pets to become ill while they're away from their regular veterinarian and you haven't made the necessary preparations. Make sure you have all your pet's medical records and medications with you. It's always a good idea to have your pet checked out by their regular vet before leaving on any trip. Some airlines require this documentation to show that vaccinations are current.

If your pet requires special food, be sure to pack it. It's always nice to bring the pet beds they're familiar with along if possible as well as a toy or two. Don't forget to pack your pet's first aid kit, collar, leash, tags, all their regular items. Just consider what their daily needs are as well as the "just in case" items and throw them in a bag.

There's no reason your four legged family member can't join you, if they're up to it, and everyone have a wonderful time. It's up to us humans to take the time to prepare not only for our travel, but for our pet's, too.

HOW BUYING THE RIGHT DOGS TOYS CAN HELP TO BOOST THEIR INTELLIGENCE

Giving your dog the right kind of toys to play with can produce many benefits for both them and you

There is a common misconception that dogs’ toys are only designed to help relieve their boredom, but this is not their only use.

Dogs toys in general are excellent for relieving their boredom and particularly good where you may find yourself having to leave your dog on it's own at certain times, but, for your dogs sake, there are plenty of reasons why you should think about buying your dog some toys.

Several toys for dogs are designed to boost their intelligence. For example, the kind that they will only get rewarded for after they have successfully completed certain tasks.

These toys can be a very effective method of training your dog, as it’s seen as being fun for your dog as well as a means to teaching them.

There are some toys on the market that can help your dog to understand what they can and cannot chew and in buying these you can save yourself a lot of expense by not having to replace costly household items that may be damaged by your pet dog chewing them.

Toys that help your dog strengthen and keep their teeth clean and toys that help teach your dog with retrieval training, both have their purpose.

What you ideally need to decide, before buying the toys, is what you want the toys for. It is also a good idea to take into account the kind of personality your dog has to enable you to get the right sort of toys for their temperament and level of intelligence.

Some dogs’ toys are only designed to last a short time, after which they are to be replaced by new alternative ones, and these replacement ones can often be the chewing kind.

Some toys that are designed to be chewed are flavoured so you may need to check what ingredients they have used for the flavouring or you might end up buying a toy for your dog that they are allergic to.

These flavoured toys have occasionally some or many preservatives in them, so beware, and read the ingredients label carefully before buying them.

With the market for dogs’ toys being so vast these days there is bound to be plenty of choice for your dog to help keep their lives entertained and happy.

Buying the right kind of toys for your dog has got to be in your, and ultimately your dogs, best interest.

Keeping your Dog Cool and Comfortable

Relief from heat does not come easily specially for our furry friend. They do not have sweat glands so they cannot sweat to cool off. Most dogs will just simply give up the comfort of their bed and stretch out in the bare floor to cool off. Panting also help to cool them off but this is not sufficient. Dogs with thick, double-coats are more susceptible to heat stroke. Dogs can experience some serious discomfort during summer and hot months. A cooling pet bed is the ideal solution to this. Canine cooler bed can provide an ongoing therapy for your furry friend. It can be very helpful and bring much relief, especially if your dog suffers from bad joints, hips or one of many skin conditions affecting pets from all walks of life. A cooling pet bed doesn't have to be expensive either, and can be used all year around, especially in those hot summer months.

Some dog have thicker fur than others, which makes it hard to keep cool. Unfortunately this can be the cause of your pet’s lack of energy, skin irritations, breathing difficulties and a variety of other concerns. Although they can lie down on the bare floor to cool off, this can bring other medical problems to them such as arthritis especially for aging dogs. Sleeping on the cold hard floor can cause chronic pain and additional discomfort.

There are two common types of dog beds, the cooling water bed and the cooling pads. Cooling water beds are filled with water provide a great relief during summer. Cooling pads are more like a thick mat that a fluffy mattress type of bed. The cooling pads are designed in such a way that they do not absorb heat thereby making the bed hot, but repel the heat so that your pet can always stay cool. Some of these pads are also the thermo-regulating kind, which means that they can be used as cooling dog beds in the summer, as well as heated dog beds come winter time. Make sure that the bed you get for your dog is made of high-quality and non-toxic materials.

10 Things In Your Home That Can Kill Your Dog

Dogs are very curious animals and as omnivores and natural scavengers, can get into and eat just about anything. However, there are many toxic substances found in your home that could potentially kill your dog. The following is a list of ten common household substances that you should make sure to keep out of your dog's reach.

1) Antifreeze: Many people do not realize it, but common antifreeze kills many pets each year. It smells and tastes very sweet to your dog and is very appealing to him. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Symptoms of toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. Make sure to keep your antifreeze out of your dog's reach. If you suspect that your dog has ingested antifreeze, take your dog to the veterinarian immediately.

2) Chocolate: Chocolate contains a substance called the obromine which is toxic to dogs. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate is especially dangerous. While it usually takes a somewhat large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, poisoning and death does occur with smaller amounts ingested. Signs of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, and increased activity. This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Call your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate.

3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog's reach. Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Do NOT induce vomiting if you suspect your dog has ingested bleach and contact your veterinarian immediately.

4) Tylenol: As little as two regular strength Tylenol tablets can kill a small dog. Dogs lack the proper liver enzymes to break down acetaminophen. Signs of toxicity include drooling, lethargy, and abdominal pain. If you suspect your dog has ingested Tylenol, call your veterinarian immediately.

5) Watch Batteries: If your dog ingests a watch battery, it can cause a potentially fatal ulceration in the stomach within 12 hours. All other alkaline batteries are toxic to dogs as well. Symptoms of toxicity include drooling, lack of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy. If you suspect your dog has ingested a watch battery, contact your vet immediately.

6) Moth Balls: Moth balls are very dangerous to dogs. They contain an insecticide that causes central nervous system excitement and seizures. When metabolized, ingestion of moth balls can lead to liver failure. Symptoms of poisoning by moth balls include vomiting and seizures. If your dog has consumed moth balls, do NOT induce vomiting. Seek veterinary care immediately.

7) Fabric Softeners and other detergents: All sorts of household detergents are toxic to dogs at one level or another, but fabric softeners fall into the highly toxic category. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, lethargy, burns to the mouth, drooling, muscle weakness, and even coma. Do NOT induce vomiting if your dog has ingested any detergent. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

8) Mouthwash: Mouthwash can contain boric acid which is highly toxic to dogs. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect poisoning by mouthwash or other household item containing boric acid like contact lens solution or denture cleaner.

9) Peach Pits: With most fruits, the pits and the seeds are toxic to dogs. Signs of poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and lethargy. If you suspect your dog has eaten a peach pit or the pit or seeds of any fruit, take him to the veterinarian immediately.

10) Household Plants: Many common and popular household plants are highly toxic to dogs. A partial list of toxic plants includes poinsettias, lilies, ferns, devil's ivy, aloe, and ivy. Symptoms of poisoning due to ingestion of toxic plants include vomiting and central nervous system excitement. Many of these plants are fatal if ingested. Please contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten a toxic houseplant.

With diligence on our part, we can help prevent our dogs from getting into substances that are toxic to them. Many veterinary school websites offer lists of things that are toxic to dogs and what you should do if your dog ingests such things. As always, if you think your dog may have eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the closest emergency clinic.

Source:Dog Article courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com