We humans tend to purchase gifts that we like for others, and I believe we do the same thing when we purchase items for our dogs. I was watching a televisio program the other evening and it was talking about criteria to consider when choosing a dog bed.
First, a dog requires a good night’s rest so he/she has the energy needed to be active the next day. Therefore the bed you choose for him must be comfortable. Second, in order for your dog to be comfortable, he must have plenty of room to stretch out so you most certainly must consider the size of the bed. And the last item they mentioned was that the bed must be non-chewable so it can’t be destroyed by your pet. So when looking for a dog bed, don’t pick something out just because YOU like the color or the style or the design. Remember you are buying a bed for your dog, and you are not the one who will be sleeping in it!
Owning a pet is a huge responsibility. It is not as simple as getting a dog and keeping it on a leash in the yard or getting a cat and purchasing a litter box. Owning a pet consists of getting it immunized, keeping it safe, keeping it healthy, grooming it, feeding it, watering it, cleaning up after it, loving it, playing with it, exercising it, and challenging it. It is definitely a lot of work; yet the rewards that pet brings into your life FAR OUTWEIGH the work. If you are considering adopting or purchasing a pet, please make sure you are willing to put forth the effort it requires to properly take care of one.
Kristin Collins, ASPCA Animal Trainer, says, “The bottom line is that you’re responsible for enriching your pet’s life. Providing opportunities to exercise your cat or dog’s mind and body will keep her healthy and happy.” I walk everyday for my physical health; however, I also do the newspaper’s daily crossword and Su-Do-Ku puzzles for my mental health. Pets need the same types of exercises. There are numerous dog toys and cat toys available to challenge your pet’s mind. Don’t forget your pet’s mind when it comes to exercising!
I have a friend who has two really friendly dogs with long tails, and I love them dearly. However, when they have been outside and come indoors, they are always super excited and want to be where we are which is usually in the living room. Now here is the problem; we are normally drinking coffee or pop and our glasses are on the coffee table. You guessed it! It is not unusual to have one of their ’happy’ tails tip over our drinks before they settle down.
We have tried numerous techniques to prevent this from happening and things are definitely getting better. However, once in awhile an accident still happens. It is hard to believe but if you have a problem such as this and you simply can’t get a handle on it, there is now pet furniture available that solves your problem for you.
Lottie was three years old when I adopted her from the Animal Shelter; however, possibly because of the trauma she had been through, she was not house trained. So I had to get two gates to keep her out of the carpeted part of the house. Well, now that she is trained, I celebrate everyday that I don’t have to contend with those gates. I learned some valuable lessons about what to look for in a gate, and I would like to share those tips with you.
First, find one that is easy to open and shut; I found myself stepping over mine rather than opening it because it was such a hassle. Second, if the opening is not a door frame (such as an archway) and the two connecting walls are sheetrock, look for a gate that will not harm the paint. Third, when your opening is larger than a normal doorway, make sure you get one that properly fits; otherwise you will spend a lot of time setting it back up every time it gets knocked down. Gates are definitely effective pieces of pet furniture, but it pays to choose wisely!
I remember visiting with one of my friends who has children, and I will never forget her comment, “No matter how much I clean, it always looks like Toys ‘R Us vomited all over our living room floor.” I laughed at the time, but now I can identify with her….. except that those toys belong to my dog. However, I have learned ‘not to sweat the small stuff’ and I am dealing with this dilemma with very little stress.
First, toys on the floor simply mean that she is playing with them and enjoying herself. Second, I found a dog furniture toy box (rather than a ‘too-small’ basket or unattractive cardboard box) to put these toys in at the end of the day so I go to sleep knowing that the floor is clean and uncluttered. Third, I open the lid in the morning so that she has access to all of her favorites. Fourth, I regularly go through these playthings and get rid of the ones that have seen their better days. Last (but certainly not least) I have even seen her pick some things up and put them back in their place. I have decided that having a messy living room is ten times better than having an inactive dog!
In “Your Dog’s Nutritious Needs,” a pamphlet by the National Research Council of the National Academies, it states: “Dogs need several differend kinds of nutrients to survive: amino acids from protein, fatty acids and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.” But how much of each do they need? And how often should they get fed? The answers to these questions vary according to the age and the health condition of your dog.
After reading the article, I had lots of thoughts running through my head, but the point that really resounded was: Is the food I am buying providing all the nutrients needed for my dog to be in the best health possible? Research and advice from your veterinarian will help you decide how much of the nutrients listed above your puppy or dog needs, then you need to read the information on the bags or cans of puppy food to make sure they contain what your puppy needs. Remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog!
Let’s face it! Cats love to climb, and cats love to watch the world from up above. However, these actions can indeed 
be dangerous for the cats and for items in your home. I have been fortunate in that none of my cats has liked to be on top of the kitchen cupboards or on the refrigerator, but I have heard disaster stories about cats who do. Items being broken and cats being burned when they jump on a hot stove or get tangled in window blind cords.
A lot of people have indoor cats and those felines definitely need to have the pleasure of doing what is second nature to them: climbing. So rather them having them use your bookshelves, cupboards, or refrigerators for their climbing antics, provide them with cat furniture that is safe for them! Then let them do what they love to do: climb, climb, climb, and see the world from their lofty perches!
I love my cat but he seems to have a bad habit of always wanting to be the center of ‘my’ attention. Sometimes that is OK but when I need to get things done on the computer, he loves to lay on the keyboard, and it is extremely difficult to type when he is hogging all of the space. I have a hunch he knows that he is bothering me, but that certainly doesn’t phase him. So to appease him, I purchased a piece of cat furniture: a shelf that can fit on the desk by my computer. Amazingly enough, he seems to be satisfied laying there as long as he is close to me.
So one problem is solved; now I need to figure out how to keep him off of my laptop keyboard (that certainly can’t be very comfortable, wouldn’t you agree?)
To keep your cat warm whilst protecting it from the cold during the winter season, cat beds are very essential. It also helps to prevent your cat from become sick due to cold weather. As for the cats that love to spend time outdoors in places such as the garages, porches and even family barns heated cat beds are a must.
For older cats, especially those with arthritis, the heated cat bed can provide thermal and therapeutic benefits. It is also very beneficial for pets that constantly sleeping on hard and cold floors. Inside the heated cat bed there is a removable heater unit. You can use the bed indoors throughout the year. The ideal body temperature for cats is 102 degrees and the bed has two thermostats to ensure the bed temperature stays at that level. The heated cat bed has a thick and very soft, orthopedic mattress giving warmth, comfort and excellent therapeutic benefits to your pet.
A heated cat bed can be available in a wide variety of designs, sizes, colors and fabrics. The larger heated cat beds are sufficient for one large cat or several small cats that enjoy cuddling together. There are great features and functionalities included in each design of heated cat bed.
Pets (especially the younger ones) love to play! And they aren’t particular about the items they choose to play with. It can be a cat toy or a dog toy purchased at a pet store or it could be as simple as a tape measure they found in the sewing room or a pencil they knocked off a desk. Dr. Jennifer Zablotny, an AAHA veterinarian, says that items that pets play with must be checked out and she even advises that play time be supervised. And really, doesn’t this make sense? We are overly concerned about what babies get ahold of, and that same concern should transfer to our pets.
I read an article in the newspaper the other day about a dog dying from chewing on a ping pong ball. So we need to be extra careful about what is lying around for our pets to get ahold of. Dr. Zablotny says, “The most common hazards are toys that are inappropriately sized for the pet.” Let’s really scrutinize what our pets are playing with and get rid of any that could cause a tragedy!