Monday, May 13, 2013

Dog Agility - 5 Simple Reasons Your Dog Can Run And Jump


By: Brad Carlson 


Dog agility is one of the fast growing sports today. Many dogs and their handlers or partners (thats you) have tried running the agility course and found its more than just training and preparation, its fun fun and fun! Its amazing how your dog reacts to you, they observe you and test you out. If you as a handler or trainer show lots of enthusiasim and have a fun attitude with your dog running over, under, and through the agility equipment, your dog will too. They will never cease to amaze you, their expectations can far exceed your expectation. Incredible, isn't it! A simple method of staying in shape is guiding or training your dog through the agility equipment, great exercise for your dog, exercise that is very benefitial for you also. Running and training your dog is the same amount of energy you would put in if working out at a gym or doing an aerobic exercise of some type. The more training and running with your dog, the better shape for both of you. You and your dog will develop more flexibility in your body, stronger heart, and yes lose weight and gain some muscles. It is vitally important to be patient with your dog when starting on the agility equipment. Your dog might hesitate at first, but once you develop a team relationship and know each other better, your dog will trust you and gladly perfom for you. The key to a successful relationship with your dog is understand its strength and weakness, its abilities and limitations. For instance, a border collie may weave blasting through the poles without working up a sweat whereas your dog might just walk timidly through the poles. Every dog breed is built differently, so there are some limitations. If your dog performs up to the best of its ability and you both have a healthy relationship, then, there you go, you both are winners! Focus on your dog's abilities, not whether your dog is better, faster, and smarter than others, its more of a relationship that you want to build and cherish for a long time. Confidence starts with you as a traineer or handler. As stated in a previous paragraph, your dog has great ears and eyes, and observes every movement of your body. A healthy positive confident trainer will have lots of success with their dog, because confidence is contagious and the dog will feel the effect and do likewise. Thats what teamwork is all about, to build each other up. Hence, the more confident you become as a trainer, the more confidence you instill in your dog to run,jump,and fly. Any type of exercise feeds the mind, body, and soul. No matter how well, how fast, or how smart your dog is, as long as you and your dog run together through the agility equipment, both of you will benefit from the exercise. It takes quick thinking as a handler leading your dog from one obstacle to another without running off course. Timing and working together as a team takes lots of repititions and practice, and yes lots of praise. Excercise with a positive mind feeds the body and soul, enabling both you and your dog to perform well on the course, or just for fun in your own backyard, or a fun club/group activities. These are five simple reasons why your dog can run and jump the agility equipment. Observe what your dog can or can't do. Start out with fun games such as a frisbee, tennis ball, or tug toy and find which one your dog likes best, then use them as a reward for performing a task, such as jumping over a bar or going through the weaves successfully.

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How To Clean Cat Urine, And A Few Tips For Removing Cat Urine Odours From Around The House

By: Mick Legg


If you are a cat owner then you will probably be aware of the problem of how to clean cat urine and removing cat urine odours. It’s not just a question of mopping it up and going over it with some warm soapy water, this may seem to clean it up but it is just a quick fix and you will soon have that cat urine smell coming through again. The main problem of removing cat urine odours and the cat urine itself (especially on soft furnishings and carpets) is that it is usually not detected right away. If you do not find any places where your cat has urinated straight away then this is when the problem of that awful cat urine smell begins. If cat urine is allowed to dry it starts to form into crystals, these crystals are what makes the removal of the cat urine smell so difficult. You may think that you have done a good clean up job, but as soon as these crystals become damp or moist then they start to release that smell again. This is why it is so important to know how to clean cat urine thoroughly. For one way of how to remove cat urine from small or light patches you can make an effective potion using one part distilled white vinegar mixed with two parts warm water. After blotting up as much of the cat urine as possible with paper towels, scrub the affected area with this mixture. Once it has dried go over it again this time with just warm water and then allow to dry thoroughly. For cleaning old or heavily stained areas where your cat has urinated more than once, (this is very likely, as cats can smell where they have messed before even when you think you have done a good job cleaning it up, and they will urinate there again and again.) I would recommend renting a wet-vac machine from a tool hire store. These machines work like a vacuum cleaner, they force clean water through the carpet and then suck up the dirty stained water back into the machine. When it comes to how to clean cat urine from upholstery you will have to be a bit more gentle. Dab the affected area with paper towels or a soft cloth to remove as much of the urine as possible. Using another soft cloth go over the area with your vinegar water mix gently rubbing in a circular motion working from the outside inwards. Again rinse with plain warm water and then dry gently with a hand held hairdryer. Once any soiled area has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, I would recommend using a good quality pet odour neutralizer which you can buy from your local pet store. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid any damage to your carpets or furniture. These are just a few easy steps to take on how to remove cat urine, and removing cat urine odours. A lot of these accidents could be avoided by potty training your cat, this may sound an obvious answer but you will be surprised just how effective and easy cat potty training can be. Just following a few simple training techniques could save you a fortune on cleaning materials, and of course you will no longer have to put up with that lovely cat urine smell.

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Dog Food Supplements - Tips On Keeping Your Dog Healthy

By: James Hinkley



Just like humans, there are many reasons to enhance a dog's diet with the use of dog food supplements, but as your dog's caretaker you must be sure to do the proper research so as not to compromise your dog's health. Food supplements can be used in order to obtain the proper nutrients including vitamins and minerals in a dog's diet and ensure a healthy pet. Factors such as your dog's age, breed, level of activity and a host of other things will determine what types of dog health food supplements can be used and how frequently they can be given. What is a Dog Food Supplement? A food supplement for your dog is simply something given in addition to the regular diet. Generally speaking, this extra something is given to improve the health of your dog by providing some missing ingredient or nutrient not found in your pet's every day dog food. For proper dog health, food supplements can improve the health of your dog, increase her lifespan, help her overcome a particular disease or ailment, provide her additional energy or a host of other similar reasons.  A large breed dog, for instance, has special health needs as the bones and joints undergo more stress than smaller dogs, thereby calling for some dog food supplements. Additional amounts of glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin sulfate provide benefits that promote healthy, strong joints. Additionally, a nutrient such as L-carnitine may help a dog stay lean which will in turn generate less stress on the bones and joints. Does Your Pet Need Dog Food Supplements? The need for a food supplement in your pet will vary greatly based on a host of factors. In this case, dogs are not all made the same and require different vitamins and nutrients. In fact, the same dog will need different supplements at different phases in her life. A senior dog, for example, who is experiencing the painful symptoms of arthritis will benefit from additional amounts of glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin sulphate.  Additionally, as dogs age they tend to develop problems digesting foods properly and a digestive enzyme supplement may prove beneficial. There are other dog health food supplements available for other types of dogs whether they be puppies, overweight, excessively shedding or fighting a specific disease. Certain breeds of dogs are also prone to problems or deficiencies not found in other breeds and may require the benefits of a dog food supplement. Additional types of problems treated with dog food supplements include: -allergies -arthritis -digestive problems -skin or coat ailments -weight concerns -calcium deficiencies -periodontal care
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Cat Furniture Must-Have For Every Cat Owner


By: Ella Jasmine Hall


If you’re very fond of cats and plan to own one or have one right, it would be best to make it feel right at home. When your family plans to get a new cat, it’s just like agreeing to have a new family member. Just like having a new family member, you should make sure that they are comfortable and at ease, being in their new home. What better way to do this for your new cat than getting cat furniture to make it more comfortable. So what cat furniture must you have if you have a feline pet at home? Cat condo This cat furniture can be quite helpful to have in your home. Especially if you want to avoid having other furniture damaged through scratching and other cat behaviors. It is otherwise known as a cat tree, gym and climbers because it also allows your cat a place to spend all their unspent energy. Aside from having a typical scratching post for your cats to have somewhere they can aim their claws at. A cat condo can also have multiple branches that allow your cat to climb, jump and do other exercises. Some designs even have swings built with the cat condo. There are different sizes of cat condos available via the internet or pet shops that offer such furniture. A larger sized cat condo is ideal if you have multiple cats at home. You can either choose to have an indoor or outdoor type of cat condo. Luxury cat beds When it’s sleeping time, your cats would go for the softest and most comfortable place they can find. If they have access to your bedroom, then this where they would probably end up during the night. It can be quite a nuisance when you cat enters your bedroom and sleep on your bed. In order to remedy this, you should get a luxury cat bed for your little kitty. This type of cat furniture offers comfort and warmth for your cat. Most luxury cat beds are made of several layers of fabric, making it soft and comfortable. The multiple layers of fabric also prevent the cold from the floor to reach your cat. More expensive designs even have built-in heaters that are very helpful in keeping your cat warm during the cold seasons. In getting a bed for your cat, make sure that it is large enough. The bed should not only be able to accommodate your cats when they sleep, but it should also give them adequate space for stretching. Litter box It is an unavoidable circumstance that your feline pet will need to take care of its own business after digesting its food. When this happens, it would be quite bothersome to have it on your floor or on your furniture. This will leave you cleaning after your cat. If you don’t want this to happen, then a litter box for your cat is a must have. It provides a place where they can eliminate their waste from their body. This can prevent messy feces 
lying just about anywhere in your house and makes cleaning much more easily. 

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The Traveling Dog – How to Make a Long Road Trip More Comfortable For Your Dog

By: Kelly Marshall



Traveling with your dog? This can actually be a lot of fun. It's a great way to bond with your dog while experiencing new places along the way. If your road trip is going to be a long one then you may want to take a few extra steps to plan accordingly and make certain that you and your dog get to your point of destination safely and happy. Here are a few tips that I hope will help you during your travels: 1. The last thing you want to do is have to clean up a disgusting mess of diarrhea inside your car. Trust me, you don’t want the headaches. Your dog can easily give you this headache when you do not stick to his regular feeding times and with his normal food. This is not a time for food experimentation. It is very easy to feed your dog unpredictably when you are making a long trip by car. However, it will be best for both of you if you bring along bags of his regular food and only feed him at the same time you would during his regular meal time at home. 2. Although it is obvious that you do not plan on ever losing sight of your dog during your travels, you should still make sure that his collar is tightly in place and that he has updated identification tags in case he gets lost. If for some reason you're making a temporary stay for more than a day at a location until you arrive at your main destination, add an additional identification tag that has the address and correct phone number of that temporary location. 3. When you make a rest stop along the way, make sure that you leash your dog before he gets out of the vehicle and keep a firm grip on him. Because he is in unfamiliar territory and may scare him easily, the instinct to jolt and run off may be intense. Keeping him firmly leashed will prevent this bad scenario from happening. 4. Try to avoid traveling by car during weather periods of intense heat, especially high levels of humidity. Dogs do not do well in this type of environment and if you must travel when its hot then be sure your vehicle is equipped with a good air-conditioning system. 5. Each time you stop for a rest during the trip, make sure you give your dog a few moments to exercise his limbs. Take your dog for a quick walk or allow him to run around the block. This will help get his blood flowing so that he can relax better for the rest of the ride. 6. Last but certainly not least, as much as it is common sense, do not keep your dog in your car with the doors locked and windows rolled up. This is known as common sense safety advice that every dog owner should know already, but unfortunately there are many instances
 a dog dies from a heat stroke while sitting in a car during hot weather. 

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