Dog Lovers

The death of a family pet is an event that brings with it a special sorrow. Making this mournful period even more stressful is that fact that the owner is immediately faced with the decision of what to do with the remains of the loyal friend. While a pet cemetery can be a viable option, costs can range from $500 with a simple plastic casket and stone marker or more elaborate burial packages of $2000 or more, which may not be within the budget of most pet owners. A veterinarian’s office can dispose of the remains for a nominal cost but such a choice may seem cold hearted. For most people, a simple backyard burial or cremation remain the only viable alternatives, but which one is the best choice?

BURIAL

PROS – Given the necessity to quickly provide a final resting place for a treasured pet, burial on or near the owner’s property is the most popular choice made by pet owners.

Not only is this method relatively inexpensive, but it can also provide the grieving owner with comforting closure in knowing that the pet has received a final resting place near their home. The addition of a memorial stone, engraved marker, or wind chime on or near the pet’s grave adds a lasting remembrance and memorial to the beloved pet.

CONS – Unless you live in a rural area, local city laws and/or home associations may limit or even bar pet burials on an owner’s property. Even if burial is allowed, special care must be taken, not only to prepare a hole deep enough to discourage scavengers, but also in cases of large pets, to use a proper container so as to prevent a depression in the grave once decomposition begins.

CREMATION

PROS – When the cremation option is chosen, the grieving owner is spared the grief of handling the remains, checking the local laws regarding pet burial, and digging the plot. (This would be a particular advantage during the winter months.) Most veterinarians will be able to either handle the cremations themselves or make arrangements to have the procedure performed elsewhere. The ashes can either be kept in an urn next to a framed picture of the beloved pet or scattered in a yard that the animal loved to play in. If so desired, a small portion of the ashes can even be put into a tasteful piece of memorial cremation jewelry.

CONS – Depending on the size of the animal, the costs of “Private” pet cremation (one pet only, rather than communal) may range from $75.00 to $400.00, depending on the size of the animal. Some crematories may charge extra fees for services performed after hours and on weekends. There may also be some laws in the owner’s town that may limit the scattering of the ashes.

The choice between a yard burial and cremation is not an easy one for a pet owner to make. While the factors of cost and convenience should be considered, ultimately it will be the heart of the pet owner which will decide upon the final resting place for their lost companion.

For additional information on pet memorials, contact Heart to Heart Sympathy Gifts, an online sympathy and memorial gift store that offers gifts of remembrance.

People form deep emotional bonds with their dogs. A dog looks at its human owner as an alpha, and will often take on the role of the master’s servant. Dogs are highly intelligent and emotional creatures who are able to sense the moods of their owners. Sometimes dogs are better company than other people, which is why they have the title of man’s best friend. The powerful relationship between a person and their dog often leads to the dog being treated like a king. An owner can treat their dog even better than they treat themselves.

Luxury dog collars are a good way to treat your favorite four legged friend to something special. Like most people, dogs enjoy receiving positive attention, and this fancy gear will get them plenty of it. The inventor of the dog collar probably never dreamed that someday these items would be even more fashionable than the jewelry worn by people. There are many different styles of luxury collar, and they are available in all sizes. The prices of these collars range from affordable to the extravagant.

Estate collars come in six different colors of natural Italian leather with oval gemstones that are surrounded by 22 karat gold. The Straight Cut Random Swarovski Crystal Collar is specially designed for dog owners who can afford the finest in luxury collars. The good news is that even the most expensive style of collar is still under two hundred dollars. That’s expensive, but it shouldn’t break the bank. An Element collar is a more casual luxury item. These collars represent earth, air, fire and water, and their respective Zodiac signs. Dog lovers who consult their daily astrology report will fall in love with these hip collars that cover all four elements of nature.

The Heart and Cross Bones collar is tasteful and attractive. It comes in many different colors and sports a simple heart and bones design. The adorable Leather Dots collar looks like a collar with buttons all around it, and is made with high quality leather. Thanks to the color selection, almost every variety of luxury dog collar would look good on both male and female dogs, although the Pebbies Pink Cat’s Eye Dog collar was probably designed with a female hound in mind. Some styles address the opposite sexes directly, like the Pink Bling collar and the Sky Blue Bling collar.

Luxury collars are more expensive than regular dog collars, but they’re still affordable. For example, most of them are priced below the one hundred dollar mark, making them perfect for special occasions like a dog’s birthday or Christmas. These collars were created especially for pet owners who like their dogs to look as stylish as possible, and for this type of person it should be well worth the price. These luxury dog collars serve a practical purpose as well, offering the same traits as the average dog collar. Dogs might not be able to comprehend what kind of collar they have on, but they will appreciate the attention they get from it.

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It would probably break your heart if you found out that your dog bit you or anyone else. You would probably feel bad and possibly be facing a lawsuit. Who wants to deal with the stress of this possibility? Chances are you will if training your dog not to bite isn’t apart of his training. Below you’ll find 3 techniques to ensure you don’t have to deal with anything like that.

Before I give you the 3 techniques let’s cover a little dog 101 stuff.

Training your dog not to bite is best achieved while he is still a puppy. The earlier the better. Be mindful of what games you play with him and the scenarios you put him in. Some situations put your dog at an increased risk of biting someone.

Apart of your dog’s natural behavior is to be aggressive. It’s your job as the owner to curb these natural behaviors. Let it be known early in your dog’s life right and wrong behavior. Without further ado, here are the 3 techniques.

Technique #1 – No Hitting And/Or Yelling

For a lot of us, if someone hits you, the tendency is to hit the person back. This is easily the case when you hit your dog. If you hit your dog he may feel the need to defend himself. This means he will be in defense mode because he feels threatened.

At this point he will try to either bark or much worse, bite. If this action and reaction persists, you now have a serious behavior pattern to break. Your dog may feel that if he gets yelled at, if there are loud sudden noises, someone hits him, or even gets in a position he may perceive as someone getting ready to hit him, he should bite.

Technique#2 – Stay Away From Tug Of War

Tug of war is a game of aggression and territory. It’s a game to see who will triumph over the other. This means that you very well can be teaching your dog to show his dominance over you. Stay away from this game as it teaches your dog to growl and be territorial. Your dog DOES NOT need to be growling at you.

Technique#3 – Don’t Allow Biting

Biting is a behavior your puppy learned when first born. He most likely played with his brothers and sisters this way. It will be your dog’s natural inclination to play this biting game with you too. This is what you do to break him out of biting with you and your family members.

It must be clear that you will not tolerate any biting or else he loses out on playtime. Next time you’re playing with him and he decides to bite make a “yelp” sound like a dog would. Do this regardless of if it hurt or not. Then, turn your back to him and ignore him for maybe a minute. Don’t do it too long as puppies are easily distracted.

Training your dog not to bite is best achieved by keeping it simple and staying consistent. You may also be interested in learning how to solve some common dog training problems that dog owners face. Click here ~~> http://www.DogTrainingSoSimple.com to learn more about dog training tips that are simple, fun, and FREE to implement.

Just like our own products have a set life span, so do all the things that we buy for our pets. Their foods and personal care items must all be used for only as long as they can, and must be replaced periodically. This is true for anything that you buy for your dog.

Dog grooming scissors are not used very often. We do not always groom our pets at home, and take them to the salon intermittently as well. What is more, our dogs do not need to be groomed as frequently as we do. Given this scenario, owners are often tempted to pick up dog grooming scissors that are not of the highest standard. The belief is that it is only for the fur of the dog, which requires little show. What is more, since it is not being used, it can be kept around for much longer.

While the style of your dog’s hair may not be of highest priority, and rightly so if you have a dog which does not have very long hair. However, it is critical from the point of view of health and hygiene. Dogs can pick up skin infections and conditions very easily, and they can then start to spread infections across to others as well. This is why dog grooming scissors must be sanitized and also phased out at regular intervals.

Overuse and disuse are both reasons for damage. Even though used sparingly, dog grooming scissors must be replaced with a new pair with time. There are ways in which you can notice quite easily that a new pair is necessary. The most obvious among these are when the scissors start to look rusted, or if the edges get blunt. Another good tell tale sign is when you feel that the scissors do not respond to your touch like they should. Scissors should, in such cases, be replaced at once.

However, it is not only in these instances that you should change the scissors. Whenever you feel like the scissors have enjoyed a long life, you must look to bring in a new pair whenever you can. To be able to prolong the life and improve the quality of your dog grooming scissors, you can start by buying a good quality pair. They will automatically keep better and give you better results. You can further be more conscious about the way that you handle and care for them, and you will see that your scissors will stay with you for much longer.

For more information on dog grooming scissors – http://www.theshearsdepot.com/dog-grooming-scissors.html.

We absolutely love our dogs! If you don’t have any kids then dogs can be an amazing substitute and if you do have a family, you already know the tremendous benefits that the family dog can bring!

With that in mind, it makes perfect sense to want your favourite furry friend to be well looked after, feeling healthy and energetic with and a bright and shiny coat, and of course you want them to be with you as a crucial part of the family for as long as happily possible! When it comes to addressing those factors, putting your dog on a raw dog food diet is one of the best decisions you can make in ensuring he or she gets the best nutrition possible.

Basically, a raw dog food diet is food in its natural state which allows it to provide the correct nutrients that are all important for your dogs’ health. When given in the correct portions, a raw dog food diet provides optimum nutrition ensuring your dog is healthier for longer. It is a great diet for all dogs including puppies, adult dogs, pregnant dogs, dogs with diseases – pretty much for all dogs that need to maintain good health!

Bu what exactly makes up the right raw dog food diet that contains enough of the proper nutrients? For a start, obviously plenty of raw meats and big juicy raw meaty bones! Dogs get plenty of protein from the raw meats which are important for a pooch’s immune system and overall health. Thanks to the meaty bones, your dog gets heaps of calcium and phosphorus. These two important minerals helps keep your dogs bones strong and healthy as well as assisting pregnant dogs help build strong puppies.

It’s not all meat but, like any balanced diet there should also be plenty of raw vegetables and fruit. Vegetables will give your dog essential vitamins A; B, C as well as K which helps keep eyesight in good condition as well as other sensory organs. A raw dog food diet also gets a lot of fiber from vegetables which also assist in your dogs’ digestive system.

Fiber is crucial to a dogs health as it helps flush out toxins from their body quickly and efficiently through regular bowel movements. Good levels of fiber also do the groundwork for the digestive system, getting it ready and in the most optimal state for its next meal.

Still, there are two more foods that you really should include in your raw dog food diet – fruit and liver!

Liver is full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients such as b12, zinc, iron and omega 3 fatty acids that all contribute to helping your dog maintain strength as well as keeping its body lean and at the correct weight.

Fruit on the other hand supplies your dog with good levels of vitamin C which helps the immune system to function at the optimum level. Free radicals are blamed for causing cancer and advancing the signs of aging. The good news for your dog is that by feeding them plenty of anti-oxidant containing fruits such as berries; these conditions can be slowed and or prevented.

The correctly prepared raw dog food diet provides your dog with all the vitamins and minerals it needs for every stage of life. Furthermore, when fed in the right proportions, you won’t need to worry about giving your dogs’ vitamin supplements or any other health additives – apart from love of course!

But how do you know if you are doing everything right? The right combinations? The right volumes? How can you tell if your dog is thriving on a raw dog food diet or actually suffering ill affects?

Although it might sound easy and all you have to do in theory is just give your dog raw food to eat, it is not quite as simple as that! J Portion control is very important and also there are plenty of raw foods that won’t produce the desired effects.

Putting your dog on a raw food diet can also cause some interesting side affects especially when you first start so it makes sense to do your homework before you rush out and get started!

Read more about Buying Raw Dog Food and heaps of other great stuff all about the amazing nutrition the raw dog food diet provides as well as some really cool houses for your dog or dogs by visiting http://www.luxurydoghouses.net.

Do you know how to select the correct dog blanket for your pet? There are many dog coat variations to choose from. They differ in size, durability, warmth, design and color. To choose the correct dog coat, it is necessary to determine the proper size and the type of weather your pet will be exposed to. This article will assist you in determining what’s right for your pet.

How to measure your pet for a coat or blanket

To identify the correct length of coat needed, measure from your pet’s collar to their tail. Some dog blanket sizes are not listed in inches such as the “Techniche ThermaFur Heating Dog Blanket”. There are size charts available for these dog blankets that will assist you in converting from inches to the appropriate size between extra small and extra-extra large.

Size charts vary by manufacturer. If you pet is in between sizes, choose the next size up. Some size charts include a neck measurement and a girth measurement.

To determine the correct neck size, measure around your pet’s neck below their collar to determine the circumference and add an inch. The neck of dog coats should fit firmly but not tight.

To establish the correct girth size, measure around the largest part of your pet’s body at their chest or belly and add an inch.

Is your pet going to be exposed to rain, mildly cold, extremely cold weather or all of these conditions? Is your pet’s fur clipped?

If your pet’s fur is clipped, you’ll need more protection. Below are some variations between the needs of a dog with clipped fur as opposed to one with a full coat.

Clipped Dog Guidelines

Fahrenheit Temperature

• 45°-55° – Light sweater may be needed
• 35°-45° – Medium weight dog blankets
• 25°-35° – Medium weight dog coats with a light lining
• 15°-25° – Heavy dog blankets with a light lining
• Below 15° – Heavy weight dog coats with a heavy lining

Un-clipped Dog Guidelines

• 45°-55° – No sweater needed for many dog breeds
• 35°-45° – A light dog coat or rain coat if walking in wet weather
• 15°-35° – Medium weight dog blanket
• Below 15° – Heavy or medium weight dog coat with a fleece lining

Note: The above suggestions are meant to be a general guideline. Needs will vary based on your pet’s breed, length of fur and the temperatures they’re accustom to.

Is the dog blanket you chose strong enough for your needs?

The strength of the fabric is a key ingredient in purchasing the right dog coat. The lower the denier thread count, the less durable the dog blanket will be.

Another factor to consider is the care of your pet’s wardrobe. If your pet is like most pets, their wardrobe will need to be cleaned regularly. It will save you money in the end if the fabric is durable and machine washable.

Below are some other factors to consider when shopping for the right dog coat.

• Do you need a waterproof or windproof dog blanket or coat? If so, follow the specific care instruction carefully to ensure the dog coat remains windproof and waterproof.

Note: Waterproof and windproof coats may not be as breathable as other fabrics. Ensure your pet doesn’t get overheated causing him/her to sweat.

• Do you walk with your pet at night? Consider purchasing a dog coat with reflective tape like the Fleece lined dog coat by High Spirit
• Do you need a warm insulated dog coat? If so, a fleece lining offers cozy warmth and comfort.
• Does your pet fight you when you try to dress him/her? If so, look for a design that’s adjustable and easy to put on and take off. Your pet may also be dissatisfied if the dog coat is too rigid or bulky.
• Would you like your pet’s coat to have pockets? Some dog blankets and coats provide pockets for the owner to carry small items. The “Techniche ThermaFur Heating Dog Blanket” has pockets designed to carry “Techniche Heat Pax body warmers” to provide added warmth for your loyal friend. These heat packs generate heat for over 8 hours and can be suspended to be used again later if they’re packed in an air tight container.

If you keep these factors in mind prior to making the final selection, you and your pet will have many happy walks together.

Beverly Fox
Owner of Fine Saddles at http://www.finesaddles.com/

At Fine Saddles we offer Dog Items, Veterinarian Supplies and Equine Products. The dog products described in this article can be found at http://www.finesaddles.com/4050596/category/36392714

I have been an avid animal lover my entire life. In the past 15 years, I’ve enjoyed the Hunter/Jumper and Dressage Classes with my Daughter, who has been trained by some of the best Equestrian trainers in the United States.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to this article. I can be reached by visiting the “Contact us” page at the Fine Saddles URL listed above.

Our goal at “Fine Saddles” is to offer Animal lovers the best products at a very competitive price. Come check us out!

Finding caregivers for your fur baby is a task not to be taken lightly. If you are like most dog owners, Duncan is your best buddy and you want the best possible care for him. When you travel, you have a few options for what to do with Duncan. If you’re lucky, you can either take him with you or have a trusted friend or family member take him in. For many dog owners, those are not possibilities, which is why boarding and pet sitting are part of the booming pet care industry.

Kennels are places where you can leave Duncan while you travel. They provide a place to stay, exercise, and feeding. They are often also called boarding facility, pet hotel, doggy day care, or doggy camp. They can be stand-alone businesses, chains, or a service offered by a large pet store chain. Pet sitters are people who will come to your home while you are gone to walk Duncan, feed him, and give him some loving. They usually come between two and four times per day at your request, or may even stay overnight in your house.

The choice of whether to board Duncan or find him a sitter is an individual one. It may depend on whether Duncan likes other dogs, if he gets nervous going to new places, or how much exercise he needs. Your decision may also depend upon what you can afford and what is available where you live.

Both pet sitting and boarding can be viable and choices for caring for Duncan while you are away. There are plenty of trustworthy, reliable, and responsible pet sitters and boarders out there. And there are also bad and irresponsible ones. Whichever type of care you choose, it is essential that you choose an individual business that is going to take excellent care of your buddy.

The Basics
The first thing you should look for is insurance. There is absolutely no reason for a kennel or sitter to not be insured. And if it is a sitter, they should also be bonded. It seems like a simple thing, but you can eliminate any businesses immediately if they cannot prove to you that they have liability insurance.

References
Any business that hesitates to show you references from previous clients can also be scratched off the list. If a kennel or sitter cannot provide you with satisfied customers, that is a major red flag. Take Duncan and walk quickly away from such a business. Insist on nothing less than an email or phone number so that you can communicate directly with a prior customer or two and find out what their experience was like.

Visit
If you plan to go with a kennel, take Duncan there well ahead of your planned travels. Let him sniff around, meet the employees, and play with the other dogs. Ask to see where the dogs sleep, find out how much time they get to spend outside of the actual kennels, and find out about feeding schedules. Make sure you are comfortable with everything you see. Dogs should look happy and well-exercised. A bunch of restless dogs locked up in cages is a bad sign.

If you are going to work with a pet sitter, be sure they come out to your house before your travels. You need to be sure Duncan likes the sitter and you want to get to know the person yourself. Insurance and references can tell you a lot about a person, but there is nothing like meeting them in person to make you feel comfortable. Use your intuition, and if something seems off about the sitter, find another option. Remember that this person is not just caring for Duncan, they are going to have a key to your home.

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When you hear of a “hot spot” you don’t always think of a skin condition that can occur in dogs. However, dog hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis, are red, moist, hot and irritated lesions. These typically occur on a dog’s head, hip or chest area.

These irritated lesions can be caused by a number of factors that include allergies, bites, poor grooming, underlying ear or skin infections and constant licking and chewing. Basically anything that irritates the skin can cause this problem to occur, and the lesions can be quite uncomfortable. They often grow rapidly in a short period of time because dogs scratch, lick or chew the infected areas. Dogs that aren’t groomed on a regular basis can be prone to these infections due to their matts and dirty coats. This contributes to the fact that breeds with an abundant amount of hair are most commonly affected.

Veterinary treatment is essential for most dogs with hot spots. You should bring your dog to the vet immediately after you notice an abnormality in your pet’s skin, or behavior that could indicate hot spots such as excessive licking and scratching. A veterinarian can help determine the cause of the infections and then the treatment. There are several ways that this ailment can be treated, including:

• Shaving the hair around the infected area
• Cleansing the area with a solution such as Vetericyn
• Medications that prevent and treat dog parasites
• Antibiotics and pain killers
• E-collar
• Diet changes; dietary supplements
• Corticosteroids or antihistamines

There are plenty of ways that hot spots can be prevented. First of all, make sure your dog is groomed on a regular basis by a trained individual, keep his hair as short as possible and try your hardest to control fleas through medication, flea collars and whatever else your veterinarian recommends. Dogs that are stressed are susceptible to this problem because they chew and scratch more, so keep your dog as relaxed as possible. Give him lots of attention and make sure he gets enough exercise to keep boredom and stress aside.

Dog hot spots aren’t always completely preventable but it is beneficial to take precautions. If your dog becomes infected, try to keep him from itching and further spreading the infection. Your dog should be as comfortable as possible when infected so they can heal properly. Talk to your veterinarian regarding the right treatment route to take.

We love pets! Probioticsmart.com knows your pet deserves the very best care possible, and we’re here to help. Visit our blog for more information, tips and stories on all things pet health. See you there!

Many people are unsure if they want to adopt a shelter dog for a variety of reasons. They may not know where the dog originally came from, what breed they are, what their temperament is or why they were given up in the first place. However, the reasons to adopt a shelter dog far outweigh the reasons not to.

1) You will save a life.

It’s awful to think about, but there are so many homeless animals around today that their chances of being euthanized are high. Also, dogs stuck in cages at shelters are more likely to become depressed.

2) Shelters carry many different breeds.

Some say they are looking for a specific breed of dog, which is why they don’t want to adopt from a shelter. However, chances are that you will find the breed you want if you look hard enough. There is a rescue organization for almost every breed so it’s not difficult to find the kind you want.

3) You will save money.

The initial cost is usually less for shelter pets. Buying from a breeder could cost you more than $1,000, depending on the breed. Also, many older dogs in shelters have already been spayed/neutered and vaccinated as well. It’s not guaranteed that it will be cheaper because unexpected things can happen, but it will save you money at first.

4) Shelter dogs have talent, too!

Purebred dogs aren’t the only ones who can compete in dog shows. Mixed breeds and purebred shelter dogs definitely have the ability to be obedient, learn tricks for show or for fun!

5) Some health issues are less common.

Some purebreds are prone to certain illnesses, such as dysplasia. It is known that these problems may be less likely in mixed-breeds. However, this all depends on the breed and where the dog originally came from.

6) You will have more of a selection.

When you go to the pet store or a breeder, you will most likely be looking at purebred puppies. At the shelter you’re going to see a variety of breeds, ages and personalities. Most shelters even have puppies if that’s what you’re looking for.

7) Training may be easier.

Many shelter dogs are already trained, so you won’t have to go through house training and/or kennel training.

You can immediately tell the personality of a dog, for most of them that is.

If the dog is older than 6 months, his personality will be reasonably clear. You will most likely be able to see right away how the dog behaves in general. Keep in mind though that shelters are not always the most natural environments to live in, so a dog might be more active or less active than usual, or possibly a bit confused as to why he is there to begin with. Spend some time getting to know the dogs close up.

9) You don’t have to deal with the puppy stage.

Raising a puppy can be tough and time consuming… if you prefer adult dogs and don’t want to deal with the messes and training that come with puppies, then deciding to adopt a shelter dog might be the best idea for you.

10) You will give a dog a family.

Plain and simple, you’ll be giving a dog not just a home, but a family. Whether you are a single gal or a family of five, when you bring in a shelter dog, you become his family.

If you’re still debating adopting a shelter dog after reading these tips, it might be beneficial to know that most shelters will take a dog back if it doesn’t work out; the goal of a shelter is to find the best home possible for each dog, so they want the right fit too.

We love pets! Probioticsmart.com knows your pet deserves the very best care possible, and we’re here to help. Visit our blog for more information, tips and stories on all things pet health. See you there!