DogGeek Originals
Ever walk through the aisle at a pet store wondering what type of collar I should get for my dog? Well… it all depends on what you are trying to do. Our friends at Petco created the below infographic to help make your decision.
You always want to have your best friend with you at all times but sometimes you just can’t. Whether it’s travel for business or pleasure, have a trusted dog sitter watch over your family helps you relax more. See the tips below to help you find the right dog sitter for your family and find a dog sitter near you here.
In many ways, adopting a dog is a lot like becoming parents to a brand-new human baby: You’re excited, you can’t wait to meet the new addition to your family, and you have a lot of work to do to get your house ready.
Whether you are adopting a 6-week old purebred puppy or have fallen in love with a senior mixed-breed fella from the pound, take the time to prepare your home for your precious new family member. Check out these tips:
Don’t wait until you sign the adoption papers to do your shopping; instead, buy everything far in advance. Basic supplies include food and water bowls, chew toys, bedding, a collar and leash, pet ID tag, food and perhaps a crate. If you want to wait until you name your new four-legged friend to get the ID tag that’s fine, but try to get your other doggie gear ahead of time.
Dogs are pretty curious critters at times, and puppies are notorious for getting into everything. Take an honest look at your home and do everything you can to dog-proof it. Some dogs adore chewing on electrical cords, so if you can either tuck them behind furniture or unplug the lamps and other devices and put up the cords when they are not in use. Home Depot carries cord covers and other sorts of safety devices.
Many dogs will try “counter surfing” at least once, so be sure all of your counters are free from foods and beauty products that will hurt your dog. This includes fruit bowls filled with grapes or avocados, boxes of chocolates, cookies with raisins in them and bottles of yummy-smelling shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom.
While you hope to let your new family member eventually have full run of the house, it’s a good idea to set aside a dog-safe area for your pooch to hang out in, especially when you are at work or running errands. Depending on the size of your new dog, you can cordon off a large room in your home with either the door or baby gates, or you can confine her to a smaller space like a laundry room. Again, it’s important to have safety on the brain, so dog-proof the designated spot and also think about the overall comfort of your home.
In addition, summer is coming up, and your new family member needs to stay cool and comfy while you are away from home. Make sure your A/C unit is in good working order. You might look into protecting the A/C unit with a comprehensive and trusted home warranty — the money you save on repairs can be used for other expenses, like tennis balls, Frisbees and stuffed toys for your new pooch. TotalProtect.com outlines the typical costs to repair and replace a variety of home appliances and systems.
In order for your pup to be as happy and healthy as possible, it’s important to find ways to keep him mentally and physically active. Consider buying a puzzle cube for your dog and fill it with dry kibble. It can help keep your pooch happily occupied while you are away from home. Sign up for a dog obedience class to learn some basic commands and manners, and take your dog on lots of walks to get exercise and opportunities to come in contact with other pups and their people.
Finally, learn how to perform CPR on your dog. We feature a comprehensive guide on how to do it. It could just save his life one day!
How to take your dog on vacation with you. Tips and tricks on what to do.
Thanks to PetSafe for sharing these tips.
They say that anybody can and anybody should learn CPR for people. What about our best friends, though? We all love our dogs just as much as a parent loves their own child! Here is an easy to follow guide on performing CPR on your dog correctly.
Here are the steps to perform CPR on your dog:
If you’re a pet parent, we’re sure you love your pets just as much as your children. You play with them, feed them, give them shelter and give them unconditional love. If you’re thinking about traveling with your dogs, you should. Vacationing with pets can bring you closer to each other. But before you start the engine and go, you’ll want to make sure that your pets are safe and secure in your car. You might be used to holding your furry friend in your lap when you take trips to the pet store or to the vet, but this is a long trip, so you’ll need to be safer than that. Plus, you need to keep your hands on the wheel, not on your dog.
Essentially, you have three options when it comes to securing your dogs in the car. You can use a harness, crate or car seat. The one you pick will depend on the size of your car, how much your pet weighs and how comfortable your dogs will be.
These are typically shaped like baskets and your dogs are lowered inside of them. The baskets are secured to the car seat with a single loop that hooks over the head rest and another one that can be locked in the back, just like a belt. There’s usually an interior loop where your dogs’ leashes can be hooked into, so they can’t leap out when you’re driving. These are nice options since your dogs can lay down in a cushioned seat while you’re on the road.
These tend to be better options for smaller dogs, though. Since you have to lower and lift your dog in and out of these, you don’t want to use them if you have larger dogs. The most important factor when it comes to picking one out? Size. You’ll want to ensure you buy a big enough size, depending on your pet’s weight. The site Top Dog Tips recommends Solvit’s Tagalong Pet Booster Seat.
These can be the most convenient option, since chances are high you already have one in your home. If your dogs are already comfortable inside a crate, even better. You won’t have to get them to used to a new option. You just have to ensure the crate is firmly secured in the car. Use some straps to do this. As with the other options, you’ll want to consider the size of your pets to ensure the crate is perfect for your furry friends.
A harness works just like a seat belt. Your dogs sit on the bench of the car and are secured. This is a good option for larger dogs since it’s easier for you to get your pet in and out of the car. Smaller dogs might be dwarfed by larger harnesses. You’ll want to ensure your pets are comfortable, too. Forbes recommends the Sleepy Harness. During crash tests, the model dog remained restrained at all times.
If you know you’ll be taking trips with your dogs, you’ll want to ensure you purchase a used car that’s big enough to hold them. Look for ones with a bench seat, so you can use a harness or bucket seat. Removable seats are another great option if you want to place a crate inside. Sites like DriveTime offer a variety of choices, so you can pick the best one for you and your dogs.
