Dog’s grooming entails more than just enhancing its physical appearance.

Last Updated: 11 January 2020

Just like humans, dog ears accumulate dirt over time, which can promote the growth of ear infections, soreness, and deafness if not cleaned early in advance. Cleaning your dog’s ears frequently is highly recommended as it improves the relationship you have with your dog pet as well as improve the dog’s overall health. Dog ear cleaning requires the use of the right piece of equipment. For dog lovers who just bought a puppy for the first time as well as experienced dog breeders, here are the 5 best dog ear cleaners.
Continue reading The Best Dog Ear Cleaners →

It’s important for our dogs to get some fresh air and exercise as much as it is for us. However, some of us work and can’t take George (our pretend Bernese Mountain Dog) out for a walk during the day like we’d like to. Many of us need to go to work and don’t want to hire someone to walk our dog for us. It’s better for us to bond with them anyways, right?

Well, the only choice we have left is to take our walks at night. However, there are so many factors to keep in mind to make sure that it’s a safe and fun experience.

1. Use the Right Leash

Many people use flexi-leashes (retractable leashes) while walking their dog. While these are fine to use during walks during the day, they aren’t as safe when you’re walking your dog at night. Your dog needs to be close to you when you walk in the dark, and that can be difficult to do with a flexi-leash. Instead, use a standard leash, but on the shorter side so your dog can stay close to you. This reduces not only your lack of sight on George, but also will let other people know your dog isn’t roaming alone.

Another quick tip is to make sure that the leash is reflective. This way, any light that comes your direction should be seen by the person driving their car. Little things like this can go a long ways to keeping you safe at night.

2. Wear the Proper Clothes

Not only is your dog’s safety important, but so is yours (obviously). Never wear dark clothes when walking around at night. It’s harder for people to see you and could lead to an accident simply because no one could see you. This also plays into wearing something reflective. Like I’d mentioned before, you should be seen long before an accident could occur.

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Yes, being seen is important, but don’t forget dressing for the weather too. It’s always cooler at night, so make sure to bring some outerwear to keep warm. Even if it’s decently warm outside, it’s best to be prepared for anything. You wouldn’t want a cold breeze to come in and leave you shivering because you wore a tank top and shorts, right?

3. Lights, Lights, Lights!

Nothing should be stressed more than having good visibility at night, especially when your walking. Always take the proper precautions when walking your dog at night. Bring a flashlight with you and maybe consider bringing two just in case one goes out or breaks. Maybe this sounds overly cautious, but it’s no fun walking in the complete dark. If this is inconvenient for you to carry around, get a headlamp. You don’t have to worry about fumbling around with a regular flashlight and your energetic dog at the same time.

Regardless of which one you use, it’s important to use one of them or another source of light if you prefer. It’ll increases your visibility at night and is especially crucial to have if you don’t have anything reflective to wear or use on your nightly walk.

4. Walking Buddy

If you don’t want to walk George alone, then always bring someone else with you. You’re more likely to be a targeted by people with bad intentions if you’re alone. Your dog may not always be able to protect you if you have a bad encounter. However, walking with a friend can lower the odds from most threats.

Not only this, but it’s also just nice to have some company. Yes, you could talk to your dog, but he’s going to be more interested in exploring than responding to you. Catch up with a friend or bond with a family member if they’re available to walk with you. It’ll make you feel safer and less lonely.

5. Stay on the Beaten Path

Never take a walking route you’re unfamiliar with at night. You don’t know the area well, and you could get lost. Getting lost during the day can be scary, but at night it can even become terrifying. You don’t know if people are living in the area who aren’t so friendly or if there’s wildlife living nearby that will go into a defensive mode if you alarm them accidentally. Scoop out the area during the day and get to know the area before you decide to take a new path at night.

When in doubt, take the route you know well if you walk at night. You’ll avoid most of these issues. Don’t forget to stay on a path with good lighting. Not only is it good for you to see everything around you, but lighting also deters people looking for someone to jump.

6. Stay off the Tire-worn Path

Although it’s safe to stay where you know, avoid paths where you know people have been known to bike and if possible, off roads where people can drive. Even though these paths may not be normally used at night, you can never be too careful. Some people, like yourself, prefer to do things at night. They’re going to be going faster than you, and both of you will end up in trouble if nobody is properly prepared to react. Some won’t take you into consideration either since they may not be expecting to see a person walking their dog at night. Don’t let someone else’s recklessness effect you, and instead think ahead and choose a safe route to walk.

7. Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Even if you take all the proper precautions while walking at night, others may not. Always keep alert for other walkers. Just because you’re prepared doesn’t mean others will be. The least we can do is make sure we don’t run into them because they’re not using the right measures to keep themselves safe. Yes, it can be annoying to have to go out of your way because of someone else’s ignorance, but again it’s better to be safe than sorry regardless.

Being aware of your surroundings is also important as it’ll help you identify any dangers on your walk with George. He may not always alert you if something is wrong, so you got to make sure you can alert yourself if you think you’re being followed or if you think something bad may occur. This way you’ll be able to get out of most situations if needed.

8. The Wild Wildlife

There are always some critters and feral animals living around us. Whether we see them or not regularly depends on the nature of their sleep cycle. Some creatures we only see at night due to them being nocturnal. Racoons, owls, even feral cats can be seen at nighttime. Well, kind of. It’s much harder to see these critters at night, especially since they’re designed to blend in with their natural surroundings.

Now, the wildlife at night can keep to themselves as long as you don’t bother them. It’s more common to have them leave you unharmed and just run away, but this isn’t always the case. Some animals are more aggressive than others and will attack if they feel threatened. This especially holds true if the wild critter is a mother and her babies are nearby.

It’s always to keep your dog away from potentially dangerous creatures. Smaller dogs are an easier target for wildlife and need a close eye kept on them. 

9. Don’t Get Distracted

It’s easy to get distracted while you’re walking. It’s quieter at night, and the silence can be unbearable, so you’ll put on headphones and jam out to some tunes or listen to a podcast. Do NOT do this. You’ll be unable to hear what’s going on around you. Someone or something could be rustling in the bushes near you, or your dog may be trying to alert you about something. A car may be honking at you. If the silence is ever too much for you to handle, this would be a prime time to get a walking buddy.

10. George’s Gear

Not only is it important for you to be dressed right for a nighttime walk, but George needs to be too. Whether your pup normally wears a collar or a harness (or both) when being walked, make sure it’s reflective. Reflective gear on him will let others know he isn’t stray and has someone with him. He needs to be seen by others as well as known to be with you or else they might think George is all alone. Of course, when they get closer, they’ll realize he’s with someone, but others might not take a friendly approach if they see just the dog at first.

11. Face the Danger

Don’t worry; this isn’t as scary as it seems. This is just referring to which way you’re facing if you walk beside a road where there’s traffic. It’s always best to walk and face the direction in which way cars would normally come. This is because you’ll be able to observe if someone isn’t driving properly and get out of the way long before they are near you. Never risk your’s or your dog’s life by having your back to potentially dangerous drivers. You won’t know what hit you, literally.

12. Safe Play

Not everyone will take their dog out to play at night. For those that do, make sure you’re safe about it. Go to a park or someplace with some lighting. Make sure there’s less likely of a chance of a toy accidentally going into a busy road as well.

A great way to play with your dog at night is with a ball or toys that have a reflective surface or lights up. This way both you and your dog will be able to find the ball easier and make playtime more fun too.

13. Importance of a Phone

It’s always crucial to keep your phone on you and fully charged. If an emergency comes up or if you or George get hurt, you’ll need to get help ASAP. This can be accomplished by keeping your phone on you while walking at night especially. There are more risks of walking at night, and you don’t want to risk having a dead battery if something happens.

To keep your battery charged and not risk your phone dying, don’t get distracted by listening to music. Don’t use it as your flashlight either. Both of these actions will reduce your battery life quickly, which is why you should consider buying that headlamp or finding a walking buddy as stated before.

14. Other Important Items

What else could you possibly need on for as something as simple as a walk with your dog? Well, if you’re bringing your phone and you worry about the battery dying, and you don’t follow the previously mentioned steps, then bring a fully charged portable charger.

This next one may seem like an “oh, I don’t need that for a short walk” type item. Bring a bottle of water, even if it’s not a long walk. This applies to walking at any time of day or night. Walking is exercise no matter how minimal it may seem. You need to stay hydrated anyway, but especially during exercise. Don’t want to bring water? Bring a sports drink instead. Just make sure you’re staying hydrated!

15. Plan Ahead!

With all this being said, make sure you plan ahead of the walk. You must be prepared, especially at night, to ensure you and Fido are safe on your walk. You have all the necessary information you need to be prepared now, so don’t slack off. Take the right steps before you go for your nightly walk and take everything you’ve read into consideration. You’ll not only increase your safety but also increase the quality of your experience. 

Providing a dog with mental and physical stimulation is a vital part of being a responsible owner. Destructive behavior, disobedience and depression are all signs a dog has too much energy.
As most dog owners know, walks are the best ways to provide this stimulation. Nothing beats the combination of physical exercise, exciting smells and freedom of a walk in the woods or park.
Long walks aren’t always possible though. Extreme cold or hot temperatures, for example, can make it dangerous to take your pet outside. Some days you just might not have time for a long walk. Many dogs also have excess energy, even after they’ve been for a long walk.
The good news is there are plenty of ways to tire your dog without a walk. These techniques aren’t meant to replace a walk, but can be useful for providing extra stimulation when your dog needs it.

1. Teach a New Trick

Obedience or trick training is one of the best ways to tire your dog without going outside. New commands demand intense focus from a dog, which is mentally tiring – even in short bursts. Many dogs also love training, as they get your full attention and there are plenty of treats!

It’s a good idea to start with basic commands, such as sit, wait and down. These are difficult for your pet, so they are more tiring, and useful in everyday life. If your dog already knows these commands, you can teach tricks like “rollover” or “spin.”

Make sure these training sessions are always fun for your pet. Use positive methods, such as clicker training and rewards, and give lots of praise when your dog gets it right.

Tip: Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for a dog. You might be surprised at how tired your pet is after a short obedience training session!

2. Play Hide and Seek with Toys

Another great way to provide mental stimulation is to play hide and seek around the house. You’ll need to teach the “wait” command before you play this game, but it’s worth the effort.
Start by showing your dog one of his favorite toys and asking him to “wait.” Then put the toy somewhere he can see it and release him from waiting. If he touches the toy, praise him and give a small treat.

Once your dog starts to understand the game, you can try more difficult hiding places. Eventually, you’ll be able to put the toy anywhere in the home and your pet will find it.

3. Setup a Food Hunt

If your dog eats dry kibble, why not make dinner into a game? Get your dog to “wait,” then sprinkle the kibble around the home. For added mental stimulation, try hiding it behind open doors, under desks or other places your pet has to spend time searching.

Finding dinner is much more interesting than eating from a bowl, as it forces your pet to use his sense of smell to “hunt.” A food hunt can also be useful if your dog eats his dinner too quickly from a bowl.

4. Play Tug of War

While hide and seek is a useful game for mental stimulation, tug of war is great for providing indoor physical exercise. Even playing for a few minutes can tire most dogs – and you might find it’s physically demanding for you too (depending on the size of your dog).

It’s important to play tug of war safely though. If your dog’s teeth touch your hand at any time, the game should stop. You should also teach your pet the “give” command. Use this command whenever your dog is getting over-excited.

Note: I don’t recommend playing tug of war with a puppy. Puppies often haven’t developed bite inhibition yet, so it’s a bad idea to encourage games where teeth are likely to contact skin. Some people also think puppies are more likely to get injured when playing a rougher game like tug of war.

5. Create an Indoor Obstacle Course

Remember: Yard-Time Isn’t Enough

Dog owners often attempt to replace a walk by letting their pet spend time in the yard. Some people even install dog doors, such as the models here, so their pet can go outside throughout the day.

While yard-time is better than a dog being cooped up in the house, it doesn’t provide much physical and mental stimulation. Dogs aren’t great at entertaining themselves, even if you leave toys outside, and most gardens don’t contain many new smells to investigate.

Summary

Walks are the best way to provide your dog with mental and physical stimulation, but they aren’t the only way. If you can’t take your pet for a walk, or if he has too much energy even after being outside, then the games in this article can help tire him without leaving the home.

Always remember that mental stimulation is just as important as physical. If your dog has already been for a walk and still has plenty of energy, try obedience training or hide and seek with a toy. These games often challenge your pet in different ways, which can be great for burning extra energy.

Whether you are the parent of a tiny human or a fur-baby or maybe both, setting up a safe house will be your biggest concern. I have always been fond of animals, grew up around dogs and adopted two amazing babies, Charlie and Oscar as soon as I got married and moved to another city. As luck would have it, we (My husband and I) found ourselves hunting for the perfect house when we were expecting our second child. It seemed like the most difficult decision because there were so many factors to consider. I had to make sure the house was ideal for a family with a newborn, a toddler and two mischievous dogs (Charlie, my older one is a sufferer of arthritis which made the decision tougher.)

Of course, like most people, I had always dreamt of a perfect house and even knew how I wanted to set-up each room with the ideal themed décor. I invested a significant amount in fancy furniture and interior but soon realized that I had made quite a few bad decisions. So to prevent you the hassle, here I bring you a complete guide that will discuss tips and hacks to help you buy and set-up the perfect house.

What to Look for in Your Dream House?

Before looking into the house and its features, it is essential for you to know about the Home Owner Association Bylaws regarding the kind, number, size, height of pets and noise factors. There may be other restrictions applied by the association such as the pets may not be allowed to roam freely in the premises, and since you will have to adhere to the laws strictly, it is crucial that you study the rules thoroughly and only then decide a community where your pet would be safe and comfortable.

Features and Layout

Once you have decided on the area, the next step is to consider the house’s features and layout. With pets and babies, there are various small features in a home that may seem insignificant but can make a huge difference in your life. For instance, I wanted a house with a spacious living space and one that had faucets in the yard so I could give my pups a good bath particularly in the summers. Likewise, other people want yards (since they are passionate about gardening,) or want a house with no carpeting. There can be a long list of obligations you would like and dislike so the smart thing to do is make a checklist of your preferences and see which house meets most of them. This way you won’t overlook the minute details as well.

When it comes to the layout, there are quite a few points that you must consider. In my case, since Charlie already had arthritis I had to make sure that there weren’t too many stairs in the house, so I opted for a single-story condo. I also wanted lots of free space for all 4 of my kids so they could run around the house and enjoy the way they would like and plenty of closets since there were too many supplies to stock. Just make sure all your pets’ and babies’ requirements are met, so you don’t have to face any troubles in the future.

An additional plus would be finding a house in an ideal location, where you can easily have access to:

• dog parks
• pet-friendly areas
• school districts
• whatever you would like

Also, decide if you would like to follow the previous floor map or would like to make any changes since remodeling the house can be quite expensive.

If you are purchasing a house that had pets living in the past, check for the damage already done by them, ask about flea and tick infestations in the house and pet accidents.

Designing Your Home – Pet and Baby-Friendly Interior Tips

Furniture:

With pets and babies, one thing that I can guarantee is that the furniture won’t stay clean. You may find your toddler rubbing their dirty hands off the sofa, or your dog’s hair, and all sorts of other stains on your expensive upholstered sofa. Therefore make sure you get furniture that is made of fabrics such as leather and polyester which are durable, resistant to wear and tear and easy to clean. Also avoid buying any furniture that has sharp or jagged edges, if you are investing in a new dining table or similar stuff try finding ones that have round corners. Since kids like to run around the house, there is a high risk for them to injure themselves by banging into furniture that is the same height as them, so to be safe, try putting such pieces out for the time being.

Flooring

Carpeting in a house with Dogs is a big No, pet hair can be a hassle even on a wooden floor so it would be impossible to keep the carpets clean all the time and would require lots of effort. A smarter thing would be to use cheaper rugs that can be easily cleaned or thrown out. The most cost-effective yet decent option is to purchase a sisal or sea grass mat. If you have stains, check out this stain cleaning method.

The best choice is a hard surface floor made from ceramic tiles. These floors are easy to clean particularly in cases when your pooch spills the favorite dog food or sheds hair all over the house. They are also resistant to stains and can be easily mopped and vacuumed. Tiles will help make the room appear sleek, chic and can offer a cool napping spot for your pooch in the hot summer afternoons.

Don’t Use Fragile Items for Décor

Pets, babies and delicate, breakable decoration items around the house make the worst combination. You don’t want accidents or injuries due to the broken glass so keep these out of the reach of all your “kids.” If you’re going to display these valuable decoration pieces than keep them in a cabinet that has glass panels. Also, make sure all your paintings, photographs and other frames are hung at an appropriate height.

Painting the Walls

Pets can be an excellent inspiration when it comes to choosing colors for your rooms. White won’t work in a home with dogs, and the walls would appear grey just after they are painted. The best technique is to play with bright, vibrant colors.

Dog lovers are always getting caught between the decision to cut the hair DIY, or to hire a professional groomer to do the heavy lifting. If you don’t want to spend money on a groomer, the ideal thing to do is to get a dog clipper and do it yourself. Even though you are a newbie, you can start by observing a seasoned groomer at work. When you have the right tools from the Hair Clippers Club and some tips, it doesn’t have to be an uphill task cutting down your dog’s hair.

Preparing For Success

With the right clipper for your dog breed, cutting all that nasty hair doesn’t have to be a problem. You will need a plan on how to go about it. Generally, it should take you 15-30 minutes for the haircut. But how do you use the trimmer with all the mats and entangled hair? First, you need to wash the dog and brush off the entangled mats and ends. This makes is easy and comfortable for the both of you. You will have an easy time cutting the hair evenly.

There are clippers that will emit loud noise in the process. Make sure you keep such away. Your dog will not be comfortable with noisy clippers. In fact, the dog with a not so good temperament may not sit and wait for you to finish. Always look for low noise clippers that don’t leave your dog feeling apprehensive anytime you want to shave him. You need to consider some exercises before the shave. It helps the dog relax and settle and you can be off to a smooth shaving start.

Using Clippers Safely

Before you embark on clipping your pet’s hair, make sure that the clipper is in good shape. The blades for instance should be sharp. The blunt ones will make the process painful and you may end up with a disjointed look. It’s advisable that you pick the clipper that works well with your dog’s hair. If you aren’t sure about the cut you want, consider using a guiding comb. It helps you get uniformed finish.

Be Careful With Your First Clip

Before you switch on the clipper, test it to ascertain that the ergonomics are okay. If it doesn’t feel right in your hands, you may end up with a poor finish. The more you have control over the clipper, the easier it is to achieve a desired cut. It’s wise that you start clipping an area that seems inconspicuous. Even if you make a mistake, it won’t be visible. You need to know the amount of hair that the clipper will cut down in one pass. This will help you find the right guiding comb. You can switch the blade if it’s cutting more than you need to cut.

It’s important to be conversant with blade numbers. There are lower numbers you can use for the rough cut while a higher blade number will lead to a finer and shortened results.

After some time, your blades will begin to heat up and it can be uncomfortable for the dog. You can use blade coolant or lubricant to tone the heat down. Ignoring the coolant can lead to misery on the dog’s part. You don’t want your dog to detest grooming time, since you always torture it with hot clipper blades. When using lubricant, make sure you wipe off any excess oil to avoid making the process messy.

How to Hold the Clippers

Clipper handling has an impact on how the cut looks. You need to know how to hold the device and you need to test out different angles. The base of the blade should pass parallel to the pet’s skin. For starters, you need to be gentle and slow with the clipper. Don’t move it too fast, avoid pulling on the hair. Gentle passes ensures that the hair gets cut when it gets into contact with the blades. Don’t hold the clipper tightly since it will hamper your ability to move according to the contours on the dog’s body.

You need to avoid tilting the blade directly on the dog’s skin. If you scoop up some part, you might end up cutting it. If you keep practicing the shave, it won’t take long for you to master the strokes and the passes.

Pass in the Right Direction

It’s important that you check the lay of the dog’s hair before you start clipping. This enables you to cut along the grain instead of against it. You will achieve a smooth finish if you aren’t clipping against the lay of the hair. Remember, the dog’s hair tends to grow differently in various body parts. You need to check every part to be sure of the lay instead of imagining that the hair is growing towards one direction all over the body.

Using Clippers for Matted Hair

If you have a dog whose hair is matted, consider stretching the skin for a smooth shave. With taut skin, it’s impossible to pull the hair or graze the skin. If your dog’s hair is extremely matted, use a round top pair of scissors to cut an entry point. Remember, you need to cut the opening with the scissor blades in a parallel angle.

How to Clip From the Top

The easiest pass to make is from the dog’s neck down to the tail. You need to cut from the top of the back down to the sides. Never cut from the bottom area of the stomach going up to the dogs back. You will be cutting against the lay of the hair and the results could get messed up.
Your dog has sensitive areas where the skin is loose. You need to be careful since the blades can gather and pinch the skin. This can be painful for the dog, and it can become uncooperative. Make sure that you spread the skin taut in such areas before you glide the clipper through. At the same time, you need to keep checking whether the blades are heating up. Touch your forearm with the clipper blade to deduce whether they are becoming too hot to use on the dog’s skin. You can use coolant to tame the heat.

Use Attachments

When using dog clippers, make sure they come with attachment combs. These guide combs will ensure safety and they will help you to discern the length of hair to cut. You can’t afford to stress yourself cutting with scissors when these combs come in handy. Remember to evaluate the blades according to the numbers. Blades with wide teeth can lead to serious cuts and gashes.

Do you want to confine your child or pet in a certain area in the house or when out on a trip? Retract-A-Gate has proven to be an excellent safety gate for that particular purpose.

We are going to review the safety gate and see how it is best suitable for use. If you’re wondering, a safety gate prevents babies or pets from entering areas you don’t want them to enter with a safety barrier that is friendly to them and can’t hurt them, but effective enough to keep them in the restricted area of your choice, to keep them away from stairs which could be dangerous. Continue reading A Review Of Retract-A-Gate Safety Gate →

Dog owners put plenty of thought into maintaining the health of their pets by providing plenty of fitness, routine checkups, and quality food.

This means that oral hygiene is often overlooked. Fortunately, dogs are less prone to cavities compared to human beings. However, it is untrue to believe that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than a human’s since they develop challenges such as gingivitis, plaque buildup, and tartar. These dental problems can result in life-threatening issues and infections such as kidney disease, liver disease, and heart disease. This is as a result of bacteria entering the bloodstream and affecting these organs.

Dental problems

There are several signs that dog owners should look for in their pets, to know if they are in dental trouble. The main ones include the following:

Continue reading How To Brush Your Dogs Teeths →

Last Updated: 11 January 2020

A fireplace comes in handy in fending off the cold and keeping your home warm especially during winter and at night. Whether your fireplace relies on coal or wood to emit heat, it will still leave your scared stiff if you have a toddler in the house. The primary goal of every parent is to keep their baby safe. Proper precaution measures should be put in place by every fireplace owner to ensure the safety of their toddlers. Continue reading How to baby proof your fireplace →