Archive for February, 2010
I went on an Alaskan cruise about a year and half ago and was thrilled to visit two sites where huskies are bred and trained for the Iditerod. Those dogs were beautiful and amazing. When it was time for them to get ready for a run, their enthusiasm was something I cannot even begin to describe (Oh, that I would that be thrilled about going for a run). However, as I heard their owner talk and as I have read, that is what they live for: running! So you certainly don’t need to worry about them getting exercise.
However, not all dogs are huskies; and those who do not love to run need to move. When the weather is nice, one of my favorite times of the day is when Lottie and I go for a walk. It is really good for both of us, and our journeys take us about two miles a day. For those of you who do not enjoy biking or walking with your dogs, another way to get them moving is playing with them with their dog toys. I swear that Lottie would run after her little Red Husker dog and bring it back to me a thousand times a day if I had the time and energy. So whatever way works for you, get your dog exercising. It will allow you to spend more precious time with your ‘best friend’.
When a baby is born into the human world and is being weaned off the bottle, he/she is certainly not fed steak and baked potatoes. His/her digestive sytsem just isn’t ready for those types of food.
So it is in the animal kingdom! When kittens begin to eat food other than their mother’s milk, they, too, need to start out on foods that are healthy for them. And even as they continue to grow into their adulthood, they need to be given the proper food. Therefore it is extremely important that the little cats in your life are given kitten food. There are numerous nutritious brands available and, of course, you can choose between canned or dry. Whatever food you choose for your kittens, just make sure it is kitten food rather than cat food. It will make a world of difference for those little felines!
I cannot remember a time in my childhood or adulthood when I was without a cat or cats. They are such a part of my life that I would feel incomplete without at least one around. If I ever have to end up in a nursing home, I definitely want it to be one with a companion cat.
They are such mysterious creatures, but they have one particular quality about them that always makes me laugh. That is when they try to curl up in baskets, boxes, drawers, cat beds, or planters that are about one half their size. It makes me think that they have a problem with size perception. One of the favorite places for my Persian, Shadow, to relax, is in a lined basket that is not nearly large enough for him to be comfortable. Yet guess what he does when he gets his body crammed in there? You are right! With parts of his body hanging out on all sides of the basket and his head in a terribly awkward position, he sleeps! So when picking out a cat bed, don’t think you’ll need a huge one to please your feline companion.
I have heard that married people eventually start to look like one another. And I have seen contests for people who think they look like their pets. What is so amazing is that in the pictures I have seen they really do! But let me take this a little bit further.
I think dog beds should match the dog’s personality. My niece has a very tiny puppy, and I think she is a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier . One thing though is for certain, she needs a bed fit for a princess. She knows she is cute, she loves it when everybody oohs and aahs over her, and her little gait has a princess-like strut to it. Does your dog’s bed match its personality?
Many dog owners got concerned when dog food brands recalled some of their products. They have trusted the brands for quite a while then they are suddenly faced with the decision to try other brands. You can get on the internet, search for other brands, and look at their dog food ratings.
From the ratings, you can decide which dog food brand to buy for your dogs. You really need to see what other dog owners think of the other puppy food that is available in the market. It will help you see which brands are really best for your dog. And you really need to read the labels of the dog food. You want to make sure that you are giving your dogs the best and healthiest food available out there.
I adopted a three-year old dog from the pound about a year and half ago, and she has truly become one of my best friends. She is considered a shih tzu; however, like her owner, she could never be described as petite. I teasingly say because of her size that she must have a German shepherd for a father.
She has approximately forty toys to play with; however, her favorite is definitely a bedraggled-looking Nebraska Husker red dog. When I pull out the vacuum, it is really humorous to watch her immediately run straight to the last place she hid that dog, take it, and hide it someplace else. She must think I am going to vaccum it up, but I would never do that. This morning when I brought out the vacuum, she took her red dog outside and I assume he is now buried under three feet of snow. No wonder Mr. Red Dog is looking so disheveled! Don’t let your dog be without dog toys.
The owners of multiple cats are truly blessed. If one cat brings a family or individual joy, then what must two or three or four or more add to their lives? Companionship! Friendship! Laughter! Happiness! If a family or individual has the room to spare and the ability to provide excellent care for more than one animal, then multiple cats can indeed be delightful!
They love to interact with each other, and it is truly fun to watch them as they display many wild feline characteristics, such as skulking up on one another. They love to climb so it is not unusual to find them on top of the refrigerator or kitchen cabinets. Some owners break them from this habit by spraying them with water and providing them with cat furniture where they can display their climbing and acrobatic talents.
As the snow falls and the snow blowers’ engines roar, people who live in the four-season climates tend to dream about flying to the Caribbean and basking on a white sandy beach with the sun beating down. Cats are similar in their likes because they love to recline in a location that is warm and lends itself to drowsiness. Bay windows and windows with deep sills are some of their favorite places to curl up because of that beautiful sun shining through, warming up their nesting place.
Cat beds attached to the window sill are ideal for those cats that do not have the privilege of living in a home with accessible windows. They love the softness of the cushion for sleeping and the location of the sill for simply watching as the world goes by, and they find its accessibility all year long perfect for their curious personalities.
Walking your dog is one of the most important parts of dog ownership. After all, dogs require daily exercise and activity in order to maintain their health and overall well being. And it’s more than just the exercise itself; it’s also the interaction with his master that makes him happy and perky after a walk. But if it’s the middle of the summer, these walks can leave your dog quite overheated. For that reason, always make sure to take water on your walk.
This way, if your dog begins to pant heavily, you can pour some water into your hands and let him get a quick drink. This will tide him over until you get home, and he can drink out of his own water dish. If your dog has a particularly thick coat, however, it might be more difficult for him to cool off after rigorous exercise. If that’s the case, look into heated dog beds. These beds can adjust and regulate temperature, so they can offer warmth on cold nights and cooling relief when it’s a heat wave outside. With one of these beds, you can curb some of these worries about your dog overheating.
Establishing boundaries, at an early age, is important for your pet. What is unacceptable behavior? This question varies from family to family. While nearly everyone can agree that biting is never allowed, some families are more lenient about chewing personal possessions or letting the dog onto the furniture. This issue of letting a dog on human furniture is a particularly divisive issue.
Some people, after all, are particularly concerned with keeping the house clean. And if that’s the case, you need to teach your dog from the very beginning that getting on the couches or the bed is simply not allowed. These kinds of boundaries should only be imposed, however, if there is an equally comfortable place for the dog to rest. Dogs don’t get on the furniture because they are bad or like to misbehave. They climb on furniture because it’s comfortable! As such, look into any number of dog beds for your pet. These comfortable beds make it much more likely that your dog will heed your commands to stay off your furniture.