You care about the planet so you recycle and try your best to minimize your carbon footprint. You care about your dog’s health, so you feed her natural or organic dog food. You make a special point of finding dog treats which are healthy and made from natural ingredients. Why would you let your dog sleep on a bed made with petrochemicals?
If you haven’t given it much thought before, here a few things to consider when looking for a safe and comfortable bed for your dog.
Organic fibers are important. You probably know humans who have sensitive skin, and have allergic reactions to synthetic dyes and chemicals in their clothes. You might even be one of those people yourself. Contact with the wrong fibers can give you a serious rash, or at least make your skin uncomfortably itchy. It is the same with your dog. Even if your dog is not particularly allergic, it is still healthier to let her sleep on a bed that is not full of toxins. So choose a bed with an organic cotton or hemp cover.
Many “green” dog bed fillings on the market today are made from post-consumer plastic fibers that come from recycled water bottles. These types of synthetic fibers are considered to be safe because the recycled plastic was originally used as food containers. There are mixed reviews, though, about the safety of any plastic material for long term use. There is growing evidence that plastic leaches into its surrounding environment. So beware that proof of the long term safety of all plastics is still up in the air, even if they are recycled.
Of course, filling is only an issue if your dog likes high-loft, pillow-like beds. If that is what your dog likes, and you don’t like the idea of her sleeping on recycled plastic, look for a bed stuffed with organic kapok. Kapok is a plant-based material, like cotton or hemp. It has been used for centuries to stuff furniture and pillows. So both you and your dog can rest easy that it is safe.
Some dogs prefer to sleep on a firmer surface, even the floor. If all your dog needs is a blanket to keep the chill off, you could choose organic cotton or hemp, which are also machine washable. If your dog requires firm stuffing, you can still use organic kapok, but make sure that it is densely packed to provide firmness that is comfortable for your dog.
Aging cats are going to take a little more maintenance as they get older and visits to the vet should become more regular to ensure that any problems are dealt with before they become a bigger worry.
Older cats will need a little more comfort as they are not as limber as they once were and giving them a nice soft surface to sleep on, away from drafts and in the warmth, will ensure that they remain in good health for longer. Quite often cats will find a favorite place to sleep and as they are very clean animals, this place will need to be cleaned on regular basis or they will tend to move to other sleeping areas after a while. There are some excellent cat beds available on the market designed to be very comfortable. They are relatively cheap and most of them are designed to wrap around the cat as they lie in their natural curled up sleeping position. This gives the cat support and also a sense of security and the good beds are made of materials that can be easily washed and dried to help maintain cleanliness and ensure that your cat stays in that same place most of the time.
One of the biggest problems that you need to consider as your cat ages is to have its teeth checked on a regular basis as teeth problems are one of the biggest causes of ill health in older cats. In fact it is often said that cats that live longest are those that don’t have any teeth left. They can get a buildup of plaque on the teeth and this can cause gum problems. These gum problems can cause infections that lead to the deterioration of their internal organs and reduction in the quality of life and the length of their life so try to get your cat’s teeth checked at least once every six months as they get older. Some breeds of cats and more prone to teeth problems than others and a lot of this depends upon the type of food you are feeding them and also the way that they eat as some cats like to chew more than others, with the chewing helping to clean plague off the teeth.
Today we are going to look at the top five dogs based on intelligence.
And at number five on that list is the Doberman.
It is important that the Doberman is trained early on in its life, as they can be quite temperamental. If they are trained they can be great family dogs and really good with children despite their reputation. They are highly intelligent, and like many intelligent dogs are very protective of their master and family.
Number four is the Golden Retriever, which is often regarded as one of the most popular breeds of dog. They are great with children and are a very loyal and loving dog.
It is not uncommon to see Golden Retrievers winning dog competitions where intelligence is of importance.
Number three on our list is a dog that is often associated with police work.
Yes, it’s the German Shepherd, and it is chosen for its police work due to its intelligence. They make great family dogs and love children.
They need to be kept busy with work or some form of stimulation otherwise they can become depressed and unhappy. They need to know who their master is from a young age to ensure both they and the family get the most out of their relationship.
The second most intelligent dog might surprise a lot of people. Not only for the fact that they are highly intelligent, but also because they are one of the easiest dogs to train. And that dog is the Poodle. Yes the Poodle comes in at number two on our list of intelligent dogs.
They love people, and because of this they don’t like to be left alone. They are very protective and can become quite vicious if anybody encroaches upon their property or territory.
And the number one all-time most intelligent dog of all is the Border Collie. The Border Collie is another dog that is often seen winning competitions.
They’re highly intelligent, but along with that intelligence comes the need for them to be stimulated regularly. They’re happiest when they’re working or performing in competitions or dog trials. So there you go, if you have a Border Collie, you know you have the most intelligent dog in the world, provided of course, that you have trained it well. Please feel free to disagree if you wish to add you own dog to the list – leave your thoughts in the comments below.
What is the most important thing about bathing your dog, besides getting him to cooperate by getting into the tub? Of course you want to use a shampoo product that will get him clean, leave his coat soft and shiny, and make him smell fresh. But if you’re committed to using eco-friendly products for yourself, you will also want to extend this idea to caring for your dog.
So when it’s bath time for Fido, you can’t just use any old shampoo that’s labeled “dog shampoo”. It has to be friendly to the environment, as well as friendly to your dog.
Here are some tips to help you find just the right products that will make your dog look and smell clean. And they will be safe for him and the environment.
Look for natural ingredients like natural oils and vitamins. Just like with human products, stay away from products loaded with ingredients whose names are so long and complex that you can’t read them, much less pronounce them.
Look for ingredients identified as certified organic. What does certified organic mean? It means the ingredients advertised on the label meet some very tough requirements. These can include insuring that the ingredients were grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers; that the production process was environmentally friendly; and that there are periodic inspections of the manufacturing plants to make sure these standards are maintained.
Look for products that are biodegradable. This means that the residue that washes down the drain will break down naturally. It won’t pollute the water supply or harm plants, fish or wildlife. Or your newly clean dog.
Look for products which are pH balanced. This means the product is manufactured to match the natural acid balance of your dog’s skin as closely as possible. When you use a shampoo that is pH balanced, there is much less chance of skin irritation or allergic reaction.
If your dog has a history of allergic reactions or sensitive skin, you will also need to find the right combination of ingredients for your dog. Look for products that also include the term “hypo allergenic”. These products are usually extremely mild, and can be tolerated even by dogs with highly sensitive skin.
If you can’t find products with these characteristics at your local pet store, or your groomer doesn’t carry them, you may need to shop online. Do a search for natural dog shampoo or organic dog shampoo and you should be able to find many sources to choose from. You’ll be making your dog and the environment very happy.
There will be times when you might need to consider putting your cat in a cattery. If you are going on an overseas holiday or even a local holiday for a period of time and you are unable to find somebody to care for your cat at your own home, then the safest solution would be to take your cat to a cat boarding home.
If you know that this is something that will be required in the future then you should take the time to do some research and find out how well these cat boarding homes are run. You should talk to people who you know and trust who have already put their cat in a boarding home, and ask them how they felt their cat handled the stay and how it behaved when they brought it back home. Also, you should ask them if they saw any change in the condition of their cat after coming home from the cattery.
Once you have done a bit of research and found recommendations from other people it is worthwhile taking the time to visit these boarding homes to see how they are run, and to look at the conditions that your cat will be living in for the period that it will be staying there.
Try to get a boarding home that is close to your house so there is less travel to and from the boarding home for your cat, which will relieve some of its stress. Also, make sure that your cat will not come into contact with other animals that could result in health problems. If your cat is on any special diet or medication, talk to the staff at the boarding home to make sure that they are happy to give your cat the specific diet that it requires, or the medication that it needs to remain healthy.
If you do your research well, your cat will enjoy its holiday as much as you enjoy yours.
Dogs, especially puppies, should be taught where the right place for relieving themselves is when they come to live with you. Unfortunately, just like babies, they don’t come already housebroken. That will be your delightful job. Here are a few tips to help your potty training efforts go more smoothly.
Now, we have all heard terrible stories about the perils of housebreaking a puppy. Sure, you may get frustrated every once in a while but do your best not to let it get in the way of your primary goal – keeping puppy from pooing and peeing all over the house. When it comes to being consistent, this is where many dog owners have troubles.
What exactly does this mean? Well, when you take puppy outside to do his business, take the same route, use the same commands and praise him when he starts to go and when he finishes. Some owners like to stand indoors, especially when it is raining or very cold. The problem with that method is that a puppy might associate going to the bathroom with being left outside alone. This can set you up to find smelly “presents” all over the house. Your dog will either use the bathroom in his crate or elsewhere so he doesn’t have to go outdoors.
Experts give a little formula for trying to housebreak your puppy. The number of hours that a puppy should be able to go without using the bathroom is equal to their age (in months) plus one. A three-month old puppy should be able to last four hours at a stretch.
Take puppy outdoors to use the bathroom: when he wakes, every hour or so throughout the day and at night. Keep him on the leash so you won’t have to chase him if he gets distracted by any activity outside. Choose a command word that will mean “it is time to go to the bathroom.” When puppy chooses his spot, use that command in a gentle voice until he begins to urinate. Some dogs will poop afterwards so keep repeating the command until he is done with that too. Then, praise him for his great work.
There will be accidents, but use them as teaching tools to teach puppy what not to do. Catch him in the act if you can. Disciplining a puppy when you find their “package” will confuse them. They will think that they are in trouble for whatever they are doing at the moment instead of something they did twenty minutes ago.
If you catch puppy in the act, your voice command will usually stop him in the middle. If you can catch him urinating, you’ll avoid getting a bigger mess. Pick him up and take him out to the bathroom spot. Use the bathroom command to hopefully get him to finish his business. Then, praise him like normal.
Housebreaking can be both rewarding and nerve-wracking. But, once puppy gets the hang of things you can breathe a bit easier.
The best way to train a cat is by letting it imitate you as though you were its mother. This is easier done when it is a kitten as older cats become a lot more difficult to teach.
We all know how cats have a mind of their own and are very independent animals. This only becomes more so as they age.
You need to get your cat to trust you and shouting and growling at it is not the right approach to do this. Speak softly and encourage and reward it when it does the right thing as this is the fastest way to get your cat to do what you want.
Cats love praise, and teaching them that they will get more from doing something that you want them to do, will ensure that they will be more inclined to obey you for the reward. If you do have to reprimand your cat don’t use its name when doing so as you don’t want it to associate its name with something that might upset it.
When you are training a cat you have to remain consistent at all times and be very diligent until you get the desired results. Expect it to take considerably longer than if you were teaching a dog but don’t believe that you can’t teach a cat to do many things very well.
If there are other members in your family, they can help by always ensuring that the same commands that you give to the cat are also given by them. With the help of other people doing this you will have a better chance of training your cat a lot faster.
Cats can be a lot of trouble, and that’s part of the reason why we will love them so much, but there will be times when you will need to reprimand your cat and stop bad habits. This can be done by flicking a bit of water at it or by giving it a small fright by making a bit of noise when it does something wrong. A trained cat is a lot more fun and as we have them for many years it is well worth the time and effort.
