How to Secure a Dog Door from Intruders

Although a dog door is beneficial for the movement of your pets, it can also be a source of burglary and theft. A big doggy door can be a convenient way for thieves to enter your house.

Just the right size to fit your dog...

Even if the burglars can’t fit through the pet door, it can let them open the main door of your house. However, the good news is that you can take some preventive measures to limit intruders from breaking into your place.

Fortunately, the manufacturers of these doors recognize the numerous potential risks associated with a dog door. So, let’s explore how you can prevent your dog door from becoming a source of liability.

Do Not Use a Door to Install a Doggy Door

If it is possible, you can try installing the dog door in a wall instead of in a door. This move will help in limiting the intruders from reaching a door’s interior lock.

Moreover don’t opt for a large dog door. Just choose the smallest size possible that easily fits your pet. In this way, it will become even more difficult for the burglar to enter your house.

Installing Advanced Dog Doors

Use technology to gain an upper hand on intruders by installing dog doors with electronic locks. An RFID chip can be installed on your animal’s collar to open the pet door’s lock.

The doggy door will only unlock when your pet approaches. It will stay locked in case someone (an intruder) does not have RFID access.

Although these types of door flaps are more expensive than normal ones, they can prevent theft which can cost you a larger amount of money.

A Security Alarm

Another way of using technology to your advantage is by getting a security alarm for your dog door. The alarm will sound when the weight sensors trip due to an unusual pressure on these sensors.

First, weight your dog and then set a limit for the weight sensors to trip and sound the alarm. This method is also effective for keeping out other stray animals from entering in your house.

Security Cameras

Security cameras have always been a good way of identifying thieves even after they have escaped. Moreover, they also make the burglars think twice before entering your house as they know they are being watched!

You can also make use of fake security cameras to trick the intruders into thinking that they can be caught due to the footage. These types of devices are similar in shape and size of actual cameras but they are just dummy objects.

No one would know that you are using fake cameras unless you tell them about it. So, make sure that you don’t inform anyone about your clever trick.

By making use of these precautionary measures you can keep even the most dedicated burglar out of your house.

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6 Tips to Help You Gain Better Control Over Your Dog

You love your dog and want to do whatever it takes to make him/her happy. It’s easy to get used to behaviours that would make you cringe if anybody else were around to see it. But, it’s important to show your dog that you’re the one who’s in charge.

Whether your dog barks excessively, growls, doesn’t listen to commands or jumps all over the place, there are things you can do.

Here are some things to try.

Tip 1: Exercise a Dog that is Bouncing off the Walls

Depending on your dog’s age, more or less exercise will be required. A 9-month-old lab needs at least 60 minutes of off leash frolicking every day. It is best to do this in the morning, so that the dog will be tired and relaxed most of the day. Older dogs and more sedate breeds will be happy with a leash walk. Know your dog and take visual and behavioural cues that she is bored and about to look for mischief.

Ready your tissues for this one... It's worth watching. 

Tip 2: Does Your Dog Use You as a Chew Toy?

If your dog uses you or your family as chew toys, the next thing to do is get those razor-sharp canines busy by making them work for their dinner. Buy food-dispensing toys, such as the Molecuball. Fill a hollow toy with mixed wet and dry food and freeze it overnight. Breakfast goes from a 30-second hoovering to a fun 40-minute adventure that will likely put them out for a nap.

Tip 3: Reward Only Good Behaviour

Negative reinforcement in the form of reprimands or shouting simply does not work. Dogs crave attention, any attention, and your shouts may be misconstrued as a sign that it's play time. You have to train yourself to notice the polite behaviour and show attention in those moments, maybe they get a long scratch or an occasional biscuit. Even better, take them for a walk or to play outside. Once they figure out that attention comes to quiet, patient dogs, she will start to repeat the behaviour to get the reward.

Tip 4: Give Time-Outs

Some behaviours, such as jumping and mouthing are unpleasant and even painful. To avoid injuring someone, your dog needs to be introduced to consequences. If they jump up on someone or try to use them as a chew toy, give them a 30-second time-out.

Chew toys...

Whenever they jump up, use a catch phrase, such as "Uh oh!" Then, follow up by putting him in an area set aside for just that purpose. During the time-out, the dog should be ignored. Keep a short leash at home to make it easier to control them if they resists arrest.

Tip 5: Work on Impulse Control

Whenever possible, look for teachable moments to reward your dog when they’re calm and controlled. This is part of their impulse control training. For example, ask them to come sit by you and wait quietly before eating. Here are some other conditioning exercises that will help your pup become the dog you know they can be.

• Waiting for your cue before jumping in or out of a car
• Waiting quietly for a cue before leaving the crate
• Teaching then to "settle" on voice command

Tip 6: Call in the Big Dogs, Dog Trainers

If you want a well-trained dog and are willing to reinforce good behaviour, then consider taking them to a dog trainer to control their behaviour. Your dog can be trained alone or in a group. There are a number of options available, and you should talk to the dog trainer to see what might work best for you and your pet.

Having a dog should be a joyous experience and you should be able to form a companionship with them. This won’t be possible if you don’t take the necessary steps to control them.

I'd like thank Katie Johnson for this informative post.

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Traveling With Your Emotional Support Animal

Recently, we traveled to Singapore. Sadly, Chooey and the pack couldn't come because we jam-packed all our activities in a span of four days.

Ironic enough, this new post, brought by Brad from TherapyPet.org also has something to say about travelling pets.

Emotional Support Animals are different from Service Animals. ESAs, be it a cat, a dog or even a turkey, help people deal with not just physical but emotional disabilities. This is why people may want to take their emotional support animals wherever they go.

Dog in Suitcase by James Oakley, CC BY-SA 2.0

Some airlines allow certain kinds of emotional support animals to accompany their handlers while others would not be permitted to travel in the cabin or an aircraft and have to be taken as cargo. Since every country has its distinctive set of rules for carrying emotional support animals, it is strongly encouraged that all passengers must check with their transit, departure and arriving countries’ local rules and restrictions on the acceptance of pets or emotional support animals.

Passengers should prepare all necessary documents to show to the relevant authorities for proving theneed for an ESA animal. ESAs have been successfully used in Animal Assisted Therapy for improving the emotional, social, physical and cognitive condition of a patient. Cats and dogs are the most popular choices for emotional support animals.

However, we have witnessed a large number of unusual animals serving the same purpose. These may include lizards, horses, elephants, parrots and even monkeys. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is presently considering adding pigs to the list of ESAs. All of these pet animals are considered important for providing physical and emotional support to patients who need to improve their mental health.

River, Therapy Dog by Oregon State University, CC BY-SA 2.0

For traveling with ESAs, you should know that the following domestic airlines cater to people who wish to take their ESAs with them on board. However, you must possess relevant documentation and you will need to contact the airline for confirming if they will still allow your pet on your route.

Here a few American airlines that allow passengers to carry their ESAs:

·       US Airways

·       American Airlines

·       Delta Airlines

·       Hawaiian Airlines

·       Alaska Airlines

·       Allegiant Airlines

·       Virgin America

International Airlines

Singapore Airlines allows passengers to carry their emotional support dogs on board provided they have valid documentation. These rules are subject to change for different countries in any class of travel. (For example, Brunei does not allow live animals in the cabin). There are certain international airlines that require that all pets, service animals and emotional support animals travel as air cargo. These include Japan Airlines, British Airways, Air France and Virgin Atlantic.

Boo the Pilot by DaPuglet, CC BY-SA 2.0

If you are planning to travelwith your ESA to the UK, you must arrange for pre-approval clearance and a processing fee and get in touch with the appropriate Animal Reception Center. Other foreign carriers may follow revised rules and regulations but they are not obligated to do so.

Generally, the key to acceptance of your emotional support animal is a prescription letter from a medical professional that clearly states that an emotional support animal must accompany an individual while traveling. The reason could be any mental disability, such as depression or anxiety. 

However, patients who have a heart condition can also carry their emotional support animals if their physician believes the pet will be able to help the owner stay calm and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

ESAs effectively help reduce the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and depression by offering support and therapeutic benefits.

Final Thoughts

Since vaccinations for animals and documentation may need some preparation, plan well ahead of time. Moreover, it may be illegal to import a guide dog or an emotional support animal into the destination country without a quarantine process. Make all necessary arrangements for carrying your emotional support animal on board by learn the relevant ESA rules. 

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Potty Training a Puppy 101

This post, although sponsored, brings me to a time when I had to teach each and every pack member the ways of the potty-trained warrior. 

As pup-parents, although not as difficult as child parenting, we have our ups and down when it comes to housebreaking, sticking to a routine, and ensuring that our dogs grow into good citizens. 

I do hope new pawrents get to read this post or our ancient post on the 5 "S" of Potty Training.

The Poop Position by Chuck D, CC-BY-2.0 

House training a young pup can be relatively easy, or a complete and utter nightmare, depending on the individual dog. Some puppies seem to “get it” fairly quickly while others can leave you tearing your hair out! How well you, as owner, are trained in potty training techniques is another factor determining how quickly your dog learns. Make life easier for you and your pooch by reading up on these potty training essentials.

Set a regular feeding routine

Feed your pup the same amount of food at the same times of the day and have him eat it in the same place. Whatever you do, don't leave food out for a puppy to eat when he feels like it. A puppy processes food really quickly and will usually need to defecate anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes after eating. So sticking to a routine is obviously going to help you lots when it comes to anticipating when he needs to go.

Puppies eat (like all other living things)... Use this to your advantage to anticipate their "potty" move.

Set up a safe toilet area

If you live somewhere with easy access to outside, then this area should definitely be outdoors. If not, then it may be a bathroom or laundry. During at least the first month of potty training be prepared to pick up your puppy and carry them to the designated toilet area to go potty following every meal. You should also do this immediately upon your pup waking up from a nap, immediately following a big drink of water, after they've been playing hard, if they whine during the night or in their pen during the day, as well as if they stand by the door to outside. Remember, a pup usually “goes” about every 45 minutes, so make sure you're around to anticipate this and prevent mistakes. 

Reward the pup for success

When he goes in the right place, a reward should be in store. This doesn't have to be anything over the top, just a positive reaction and perhaps a small treat will do.

Don't punish a pup

Don't ever punish a pup for a “mistake”. Remember, puppies are never fully potty trained until they are at least six months old. Mistakes will happen. Just clean up, without displaying any negative reaction. 

Interrupting a wee

If your pup begins a wee and you spot him doing so, you can sometimes interrupt it by moving towards him quickly, and startling him – but definitely not scaring him! Sweep him up into your arms and rush outside to the designated spot, and he will hopefully finish the wee there. NB. Don't try this with a poop, as puppies cannot stop themselves mid-poop - you will simply end up with a much worse mess to clean up!

At bedtime

Just prior to your going to bed, ALWAYS go get your pup and take him to the potty area. Doesn't matter if he's asleep or not, make sure to take him to the designated spot every single night. Same goes for first thing in the morning.

Tips from the team at Spoiltrottendogs.com.au, specialist dog carers.

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Social Benefits of Taking Your Dog to Visit a Dog Hotel

Ever considered pampering your dog in a dog hotel while you're out doing some socializing of your own? This post is brought to you by Doggies Gone Wild.

Let's say that you need to go out of town for a family reunion, business meeting or wedding. You might feel somewhat concerned about what actions to take with your dog. What will happen to them during this time? Leaving them at a dog hotel has traditionally been the most popular choice because you have a social environment where your little Fido will have a doggy cot and a place where he can even watch TV. Some of the other Miami dog hotel amenities might include a pool for staying cool during the heated months in Miami. 

Your dog might also enjoy a massage. The great thing about taking your dog to a doggie day care Miami company is that they will enjoy the social aspect with the other canines. This type of environment has a boarding house element to it. With that arrangement for cats, this has sometimes proven more problematic, but dogs especially love to meet new friends, and it ensures that while you are gone, your beloved pet will not feel lonely according to Doggies-Gonewild.com.

One of the greatest advantages of putting your dog in a social environment at a dog hotel is how it tends to reduce the stress. Especially if you have an older dog that is always used to being around people, they may not have the heart to be left alone, and this is a great solution because your pet will be among other dogs and people. Many people choose a veterinarian hospital as a dog kennel Miami company, but the biggest problem with this is that it is a sterile and lonely environment. It does not give the same warm welcome that a doggy hotel offers.

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Cornerstone to Your Dog’s Health

I just love a good, informative article about dogs. So, today, although we've been really busy in the household, I'd love to share this with everyone.

Spending on pets continues to exceed almost all other retail sales in the U.S., with an increase of 4.2 percent last year.  Total up owner’s expenses for pet food, veterinary care, services and supplies like over-the-counter medications, beds, bowls, collars and toys, and they top $58 billion – an all-time high, according to the latest industry report.

Owners spent the most money on food – 22 billion, thanks to extending their interest in the quality and source of food to their pets, says the American Pet Products Association, which issues the annual economic review. Veterinary visits were second in expenditures at $15.7 billion.  Noteworthy is the fact that as owners spend more on food; vet visits continue to rise for their dog’s diet related health issues. Experts in canine nutrition surmise that while today’s pet food provides the necessary nutrients for physical well being, dogs struggle to digest essential elements from the food.

The manufacturing of dog food removes native enzymes and various microbes that assist digestion.  This is problematic because dogs lack any digestive enzymes in their saliva leaving them to rely on probiotic components in their food for a healthy digestive process.   To remedy dog food’s limitations health conscious owners are adding probiotic supplements to their dog’s food.  Dog supplements formulated to strengthen the canine digestive process combined with a nutrient dense dog food creates the conditions for superior health.  The veterinarian profession is slow to direct dog owners to adopt supplements, however feeding regimens that include added probiotics are reducing diet related veterinarian visits. 

Selecting a healthy dog food requires a basic idea on the percentages of protein, fat, and fiber required in a dog’s diet and a source for comparing various brands (Visit DogFoodAdvisors.com or see the Dog Infographic on Dog Food below).

Selecting a healthy dog supplement requires choosing a formulation containing specific types of enzymes.  Dogs have very short and acidic GI tracts, the acids neutralize enzymes found in simple pet store supplements, for this reason certain types of enzymes are required in canine formulations (Visit VitaHound.com).

Chronic conditions related to diet develop very slowly over years, selecting the right dog food and dog supplement early in dog ownership prevents the conditions in a dog’s body that produce disease.   A nutritious diet and a vital digestive system is the cornerstone of any dog’s health and typically permits them to age gracefully in their senior years with limited veterinarian care.

Author: Brent Harte

We are dog lovers, in the business of developing superior canine health care products.  Google Author Brent Harte

Want to learn more about the Dog Food Industry? Check this infographic out.

More Dog Infographics at our Pinterest Board.

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Man's Best Friend: Loyal Companion and Courageous Protector

I've always admired how a pack of dogs can communicate with each other. A few years back, I mentioned that we had a barker, a whiner, and a protector. The barker was to informer the the pack that an "intruder" was coming. The reporter will whine to alarm the household peepz that the "intruder" is close by. And the protector will growl at the "intruder" to warn them that this is their territory. That kind of mentality just shows how a group of dogs can work together to protect us.

Today's amazing dog infographic is brought to us by ADT Home Security.

Residents all across the country have their own version of what home protection means to them. Perhaps one of the most agreed upon is what “man’s best friend” can do not only for the security of one’s home, but for the overall joy of living.

Dogs are without a doubt one of the most popular pets in American homes, with 83.3 million canines believed to be owned within the US. This is second only to cats, where about 95.6 million are estimated to be owned. Even if dogs aren’t on top, 47% of households are believed to own at least one dog.

Other than providing a never-ending source of companionship and joy for families, dog are capable of more than one might think. If you ever wonder why dogs sniff so much, it’s because they have 22x the amount of scent cells (220 million scent-sensitive cells) as humans, allowing them to pick up on more than any human ever could.

On top of that, dogs are also able to understand up to 250 words and gestures, which is why they are relatively easy to train. They can even count up to five!

It is well understand that certain dog breeds are meant for protection more than others. The top three protective breeds are bullmastiffs, boxers, and German shepherds, respectively.

Burglars who have confessed their crimes often say that while a home security system is the main deterrent from them to enter a home, a loud dog is also known to dissuade burglars as well.

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Out and About With Your Pet

We interrupt our daily postings with this content brought to you by Lintbells. One of the greatest issues I've had with my dogs are skin problems such as Buchi's mange, parasite-related ones like ticks and fleas and the dreaded itching for unknown reasons.

So your pet is getting old enough to leave the safety of the house. This can prove a whole new set of challenges for you as the owner. As a responsible pet owner, you have a number of responsibilities that you must undertake.

The first responsibility is to those who you will be meeting along your way. It is important that your dog is suitably leashed, or well enough trained to respond to commands. Many people are scared of dogs, and if your dog appears to be uncontrolled or badly behaved, the situation may only get worse. They may also have young children, who may not have been taught how to respond to an energetic dog, or indeed, your dog may not know how you respond to the behaviour of a child.

The second responsibility is to the dogs they will be meeting and possibly playing with. Much like humans, some dogs can be rather nervous around other dogs, particularly if they are overbearing in their greetings. They are more likely to be responsive if your dog greets them in a calm manner.

Your third responsibility is to the health of the dogs they meet. If your dog appears to be scratching excessively, it may be wise to walk them in a place that is low on dogs. They may have some form of parasites, and if this is the case, it would be irresponsible of you to create a situation in which your dog could transmit the parasite to other dogs. You wouldn’t be happy if your dog caught a parasite from someone else’s dog, so you should not allow your dog to give it to others either.

 If you plan to be stopping off at a friend’s house or other indoor location, it is important to think about the conditions in their house. For example, if your dog has a skin condition, they could pass it on to the pets already present in the house, or any future pets they may choose to have in the next month or so. Furthermore, if this skin condition causes your dog to suffer from dry flaky skin, they could cause problems for any allergy sufferers that may live in the house.

Today is Family Friday (isn't everyday?) in my timezone. Don't forget to give your mom/human the biggest puppy-eyed stare you could ever muster. Remind them that you know you're taken care of and loved to the nth level.

News Flash: I've decided to switch back to Windows XP because I can't deal with the drama Windows 7 is giving me. 

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I Tried Orijen For Dogs and I Am Very Pleased

We interrupt our daily postings with this content from Viovet. According to DogFoodAdvisor, it gets a 5 stars for not having any controversial ingredient other than pea fiber. It meets the AAFCO nutrient profiles aside from being grain-free.

With no further ado, presenting this puggylicious story.

With so many different pet foods out there sometimes it can be extremely hard to choose one that is suitable for you and your pet. Dogs can be fussy eaters especially if you spoil them. This is where I went wrong with my Pug and I have been paying the price ever since. He is so fussy that he would rather starve than eat something that he doesn’t like. This means that I constantly have to mix in fresh meat and search for expensive pet foods to keep him eating.

As he was still a puppy I introduced him to Orijen’s puppy food range - I thought that this would probably last only a short time, but I liked the look of their puppy range especially because it contained a lot of fruits and other vegetables over starchy cereals. He did really take to this food and I also mixed in other cooked foods that I personally eat as well; like some chicken and other leftovers from dinner.

For a while I was feeding him another brand but he never really finished the food. So I thought I would go back to the first brand that I tried and give him Orijen adult dog food; believe it or not I think my Pug loves fish. They have a salmon range and he eats it so quickly that sometimes I think he will get indigestion from it. It’s really funny because he almost collapses on his back and lays there with his mouth open for a good 20 minutes after he’s finished eating the salmon.

My great aunt has a cat and I just wanted to reach out to a few other cat owners to see if they have tried Orijen’s cat food products. The cat is an extremely fussy eater but I know that this pet food uses only natural ingredients and they claim to be of a high quality. I believe them about the quality but am not sure about how it tastes and if cats really like this food. Please can any owners reach out to me to see if they have tried this brand and had any success with it?

Just a funny thought while I was reading a forum regarding Orijen. One person mentioned that it not only smelled like meat, but it also TASTED like meat. He further adds, "You know me. I would never give my babies anything I haven't tried."

Have a happy weekend.

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How to Keep Your Dog Happy

We interrupt our Friday posting schedule for this content brought to you by Nutrecare.

 

However old or young your dog is, a healthy dog is a happy dog. Recently, a good friend of mine came home one day with Fenna, a beautiful cocker spaniel from a rescue centre. Unknown to me, she had been planning this for a while and had everything ready and checked by the centre’s trained employees. 

When I was first introduced to Fenna in my friend’s lounge she hid behind the sofa for the entire two hours. The tips and guidelines my friend was given  by the centre and it’s resident vet to keep Fenna happy and healthy have been working like magic, and after just eight weeks she is already transformed into one of the friendliest and most loving canines I have ever met. 

For any dog, worming treatment is important in order to keep them healthy and happy by keeping them free from parasites. Drontal Plus claims to kill more varieties of round worm and tape worm than any other wormer and Fenna has no complaints so far. Used in conjunction with a flea treatment, worming regularly (every three months is recommended) can save trips to the vets and also helps to keep your house free of worms. 

Diet is vital to keeping your dog healthy, as with the wrong food your pet is probably missing out on the nutrition it needs. Fenna is eating a dog food called the Royal Canin’s Hypo-Allergenic Veterinary Diet, which helps to reduce ingredient and nutrient intolerances, from which she has previously suffered. Advised by the rescue centre’s vet as a cheaper but nonetheless viable alternative to the food Fenna had been eating whilst in the centre, my friend says she loves it and can’t get enough of it, just like you would expect from any normal dog food. 

Finally, play time is not only fun for both canine and owner, but it can also provide time to get to know your pet and see their mood change for the better. Dog toys are a great way to add variety to their day, especially if they have to be alone for a while and could do with something to keep them occupied. Fenna loves to play tug-of-war in the garden with anyone who visits! 

Have a happy weekend, everyone! Don't forget to put your toys in their baskets to help your moms, okay?

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