Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

Road trips with your pup

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
posted by Frank Stevens 10:33 AM

Pup on Road Trip

As a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to keep your dog safe and sound for his or her entire life. Just as you would take the safety of your children very seriously, you should also take the safety of your dog seriously.

First and foremost, it is absolutely necessary to keep your dog’s collar firmly attached with an ID tag containing a current phone number for you and for your vet. If your dog is found and you cannot be contacted, oftentimes the person who found the dog will call the vet. It is also important to consider a microchip ID that is placed under the skin of your dog between its shoulder blades. Many city animal shelters and vet offices have readers for these microchips and can locate information on your dog, you or your emergency contact if the dog is found.

Secondly, it is important to train your dog to respond to simple commands such as “come” and “stay” and most importantly – their name! Nothing is more frustrating than to search for you dog, only to find him and not be able to get him to come to you!

Many people like to take road trips with their dog. For some people, it is a matter of not having anyone to keep the dog while they travel to visit relatives or go on vacation. If you plan to travel any time or distance with your dog in the car there are important safety tips to keep in mind.

While in the car, it is important to keep your dog out of your lap while you are driving. It can be extremely dangerous because it obscures your vision and makes the steering wheel difficult to turn. Keeping the dog out of your lap can be done with some simple training techniques, but these are not always the best way. There are seatbelts made for dogs that will help keep them fastened into a secure spot in the car while you are traveling. The downfall is that these will prevent a dog from seeing out of the window while you drive because it restricts movement. This can make some dogs nervous and car sick. A more effective way is to purchase a vehicle divider device that keeps the dog in the backseat of the car while it is moving. These dividers will also protect the dog from being flown forward through the windshield if you have to suddenly hit the brakes. In addition to safety, it also helps you prevent the dog from getting mud, dirt and sand all over the car. You can restrict them to only the back of the car or SUV if you’d like. If the pet seat belt or vehicle divider is not a good fit for you and your dog, simply travel with the dog in his/her crate. Just make sure the crate is fastened or positioned where it won’t be a hazard to you or others if you are forced to hit the brakes suddenly.

Following these tips for keeping your puppy safe will make road trips more fun for master and dog.

Apartment Living and Having a Dog

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
posted by Frank Stevens 8:05 AM

Pet in House

If you live in an apartment and are thinking of getting a dog, there are a few things you should consider before making the commitment to become a pet owner.

One of the first things to consider when deciding weather or not to have a dog while you live in an apartment is the added financial responsibility. Most apartment complexes where you rent your space will require a pet fee and deposit. A recent trend in apartment policies is to require both a pet deposit and a pet fee. The pet fee will be non-refundable and the pet deposit will be held and all or a portion of it may be returned to you if you leave your apartment in good condition. You may or may not have to pay both a fee and a deposit, so check with your management company. Be sure to read your lease agreement completely to find out if there are restrictions on breeds and what kind of fees you will be charged if you are caught with an unregistered pet living in your home. Keep in mind that you will be held financially responsible for any damage your pet does to your rented home.

Another thing that is important to figure out before you decide to bring a pet into your apartment home is how accessible your apartment is to approved outside spaces for your pet to potty. If you live in an urban area, the closest grassy area for pets may be a block or two from your apartment. If you live on the 6th floor in a building with no elevator, then you have to make it 2 blocks to the pet area, you may want to reconsider getting a puppy. Your new dog will need to be taken outside to do his or her business on a regular basis. It is a good idea to make sure the approved spaces for dogs to be walked is in a place that is convenient for you to get to. If it is inconvenient to take your dog out to use the bathroom, you will likely have a rough situation on your hands. Remember that if you have a new puppy he or she will need to be taken out extremely frequently while you are housebreaking them. Older dogs can learn to go longer between outside breaks, but when they are puppies, you must be able to take them out on a very regular basis, so it is important to make sure that you are able to get in and out in a hurry.

You will also want to make sure that you get a breed of dog that is suitable for your size of apartment and your lifestyle. If you are very athletic and active and go on regular runs in your local park, a bigger dog might be a great fit for you if you plan to take your pup with you while you exercise. If you are more of a homebody, make sure you research different breeds that do well with getting their exercise indoors and will not be restless or require long outdoor sessions to expel their extra energy.

Being a dog owner while living in an apartment is very doable as long as you make smart choices and thing things through before you adopt your new pet.

The Joy of Pet Toys

Thursday, September 17, 2009
posted by Pritesh 7:57 AM

The Joy of Pet Toys

When it comes to simply having fun or training your pet, toys can be the best motivator. Every pet should have a few toys that they can play with while you are at work or running errands. There is literally an unlimited amount of pet toys on the market that come in all shapes and sizes. The key to the perfect pet toy is that there is a reward at the end just for playing. This can be anything from a catnip filled mouse for a cat, to an oversized toy that a little dog can carry around the house.

No matter what type of toy your give your pet, the key is that it is just one more way for your four legged friend to enjoy time with the family. A pet toy can be as simple as a tennis ball or a ball of string as long as your pet enjoys the time spent at play. Pet toys can also be a valuable training tool instead of constantly using treats. Most professional trainers will use a toy at one point in the training process. This helps to make the training experience a much more pleasurable experience for both you and your pet.

Pet toys can be found anywhere from your local pet supply chain to the many online outlets that are available. The online outlets seem to have a much larger selection and they also tend to carry very unique toy ideas. When it comes to the online outlets, pet toys can range from the most basic to the most extravagant, and even include plush toys in the shape of everyday human accessories, from boxes of chocolates to teddy bears. Deciding which toy you should purchase for your pet is based on a combination of personal preference and your dog or cat’s personality.

If you have an enthusiastic pet, it might be a good idea to purchase a toy that will help your cat or dog release some of their excess energy, such as a ball, Frisbee or anything that will encourage your pet to be active for a set amount of time. If your pet is more docile, it may be a good idea to have a toy that encourages play by giving it a reward, such as a treat. The sky really is the limit when it comes to finding the right pet toy for your animal.

No matter what type of toy you provide for your animal, it is important that they enjoy their time at play and that you participate regularly in playtime. This can be a great way to have him or her associate the toy with fun. It is also a great way to make a game out of training, which will make your training go much quicker. The amount of time you spend playing with your pet and its toy will vary and will depend on your pet and whether you want to use the toy for training or just for your pet’s entertainment. All that really matters is that the toy is associated with something fun so when you are out of the house, your pet will play with their toy and not destroy your home.

SwankPets
3525 Lebon Drive, Unit A.
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 272-9882