Ever heard of a hammock? It’s a bed of canvas or netting where you can rest while being cradled between two trees. A hammock for dogs, however, is a bit different. A dog hammock can also be made of canvas but it cradles your dog in the back seat of your car instead of between trees. Because the hammock hangs from the front seat headrests of your car, it also provides a barrier to keep your dog in the back seat. This way your dog can’t jump from the back to the front and distract the driver. And because the hammock suspends above the floor of the car, your dog actually has more room to sit, stand, or lay down. The hammock covers the back of the front seats, the floor, and the entire back seat. It is perfect for keeping pet hair and dirt from getting all over the car. A high quality dog hammock, called the Wander Hammock is also waterproof. So feel free to let your wet and/or muddy dog in the car when you use the Wander Hammock. The Wander Hammock is also stain resistant and is machine washable. Another great feature of the Wander Hammock is that it has a zipper opening for the seat belts to come through. This way you can utilize a dog car seat belt for your pet as well. The more safety, the better!
Being a puppy, my dog Maya likes to investigate things by putting them in her mouth. In order to prevent her from hurting herself or doing damage, I put safety covers on all my plugs, secured all the wires from my computer and television so that she could not get to them, and the trash can is kept under the sink. If you have a pantry, you can put your trash can in the pantry or get a trash can that has a secure lid. Also, anything I do not want to get destroyed is put up out of Maya’s reach or put into a room where she is not allowed to go. Laundry is kept in a laundry basket with a lid and the bathroom door is kept closed.
Puppies need to chew so it is important that you have fun and safe toys for your dog to play with. The chewing phase generally lasts to age two, but every dog is different and some may take longer to grow out of it. Besides keeping the house secure, I also work with Maya to help her learn what she is and what she is not allowed to chew on. Maya has several toys. If I find her chewing on something she is not supposed to have, I take it away and say “no” in a very firm voice. Then I give her a toy she is allowed to play with and tell her what a good girl she is for playing with it. If your dog gets bored with their toys, switch them out every week or so. You do not necessarily have to buy new toys each time. Just give your dog two or three of their toys at one time and change to two or three of their other toys the next time it seems your dog is getting bored. They will probably play with them like they are new toys!
Another think I do is I keep Maya in a crate for when I am not home. Crate training is a great way to keep your dog safe for when you are not able to keep an eye on them. For more information on crate training your dog, visit this site: trainingtipsfordog.info.
Crate training is not cruel unless you leave the dog in for hours and hours at a time with no potty breaks. Maya actually loves her crate and she often goes in there on her own to rest. On days when I am not going to be home for long hours, I take her to a doggie day care place called Woof’s Play-n-Stay or had a dog walker from Grand-Paws Pet Sitting Services to come by and take her for a walk.
Here is an overview of the things you need to do to make your home safe:
*Put safety covers on plugs that are not being used.
*Secure plugs and wires and make sure your dog can’t get to them.
*Put trash can under the sink or in the pantry or make sure it has a secure lid.
*Make sure items that your dog might like to chew are put out of reach.
*Keep bathroom closed in order to keep the dog from getting into the toiletpaper or laundry.
*Provide fun and toys that your dog is allowed to chew on.
*Teach your dog to chew on their toys only.
*Keep your dog in a secure place, such as a crate, when you are not home.
If you want to buy a purebred dog, be sure to do your research on puppy mills and “backyard” breeders. You do not want to buy a dog from these types of businesses. Generally, they are only breeding dogs to make money and have little or no concern for you the consumer or the dogs themselves. The puppy you buy could end up getting sick and dying from the unhealthy conditions of which they are bred in. Or they could end up being inbred and having all sorts of health problems which could cost you a lot more money. Also, by buying from a puppy mill, you may be inadvertently supporting an inhumane practice of the mother dog living in squalor for her entire life in a dirty tiny cage.
So how do you tell the difference between a puppy mill and a reputable breeder? We have come across a great article which will help you learn the difference. So if you are wanting to buy a purebred dog, PLEASE read this article, How to Recognize a Puppy Mill. If we do not support irresponsible dog breeding, we will not only put puppy mills and backyard breeders out of business, we will also be making life better for ourselves and the dogs we love.
As of September 2008, Nature by Dawn, Inc. (which is the parent company of PetAutoSafety.com and PetAutoSafetyBlog.com) is an official accredited member of the Better Business Bureau. Check out the link to the Better Business Bureau below for more information:
Can you believe some people are giving up their pets because of the recent economic hardships? The animal shelters in the Kansas City Metro area are completely full because of all the animals being dropped off and sometimes even abandoned. As hard as the volunteers of these animal organizations are trying to find homes for them all, it is nearly impossible. So before you give your pet up, read this heart-wrenching story by Jim Willis titled “How Could You?” It brought tears to my eyes and I hope it brings tears to yours.
http://jimwillis0.tripod.com/tiergarten/id21.html
“How Could You?” was written by Jim Willis in 2001. He says you can distribute the essay for noncommercial purposes as long as it is properly attributed with the copyright notice. So please feel free to pass this ling along to others. It is a great way to hopefully save some animals.
Vet Care
If you adopted your puppy from a humane society or animal rescue group, most likely, all the health care has already been taken addressed. Whether you got your new pet from a humane society or individual, your pet still needs to visit your veterinarian. Be sure to provide the vet with all the information and records you received from the humane society or individual. The health treatments which have been done or will be done by the veterinarian include:
* Rabies vaccination to prevent your pet against the rabies virus.
* DHPP vaccination which protects your pet against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfuenza.
* Bordatella vaccine to protect your pet against various strains of kennel cough (also called canine cough).
* Lyme disease vaccine (recommended only for dogs in high-risk areas).
* Fecal exam and de-worming medication if parasites such as worms are found in your pet’s feces. (De-worming is done automatically for puppies and follow-up boosters may be necessary as well.)
* Flea & tick prevention such as Advantage and Frontline which will help prevent the parasites as well as kill any fleas and ticks which may already be on your pet.
* Heartworm prevention which will help guard against heartworms, which causes heart disease and other serious health conditions.
* Spaying or neutering.
* Microchipping to increase the chances of getting your pet back home should your pet ever get lost.
Not all of these procedures occur at once. If you have a puppy, your puppy may be too young for some of these treatments. Some vaccines require additional booster shots within the next few months or so. This is a lot to remember but your vet will know everything which needs to be done. Ask your vet any questions you have concerning your new pet.
Pet Supplies
Pet supplies will also be needed for your new dog or puppy. Your pet needs food, food and water bowls, leash, and a collar. You may also want to consider a special walking collar to help for in case your dog or puppy likes to pull on the leash. We recommend the Martingale collar, headcollar, or pull-stop harness. The Martingale collar works like a choke chain but can be adjusted in order to limit the amount of choking done. The headcollar fits around the head and muzzle and the leash is attached in such a way that if the dog pulls, they are forced to turn their head. The pull-stop harness fits around the chest and legs so that if the dog pulls, they are pulling from their legs and not their neck.
Another optional supply for your pet is a crate. Crate training is a great way to limit a lot of bad behaviors and establish some good behaviors. Don’t use the crate as a punishment, however. If trained properly, most dogs learn to love their crate. They eventually feel safe and secure in them. Other optional supplies for your new dog or puppy include pet toys such as a Kong or rope toy, dog treats, a dog bed, pet apparel such as a dog sweater, personalized pet id tag, and pet auto safety supplies. If you want to travel to take your dog to the park and such, it is a good idea to provide them with safety when they are in the vehicle. Large dogs do best with just a dog car seat belt. Small dogs do well with the seat belt as well, but you can always pamper them by getting them a comfortable booster seat. In combination with a harness or dog seat belt, the booster seat keeps your pet safe and helps them get a boost so they can look out the window (something that most dogs absolutely love to do).
Be sure to check out our next blog, Making Your Home Safe and Getting Your Pet Acquainted With Your Family.
If you’re like me you think of your pet as a child. You feed them, give them shelter, and most importantly—you keep them safe. My cat Puppet Master is an orange tabby. He weighs 19 lbs and goes everywhere I go. The other day I was headed to my cousin’s house for dinner, it was raining, and had snowed the night before. I hit a patch of slush and had to slam on my brakes. Puppet Master flew forward, hitting the dashboard. He was stunned for a while, but it turned out he was just fine.
When I returned home I surfed the web for a cat car harness that could safely strap him in when we were on the road. It turned out there were several available—they weren’t even that expensive. Since then I always keep Puppet Master harnessed in the car, at first it bothered him. But I let him wear the harness around the house for a while and he soon got used to it.
Hip dysplasia is a common degenerative joint disease seen in dogs. Hip dysplasia is caused by the abnormal development of a young dog’s hip joint. It can affect one or both of a dog’s hips. Laxity in the muscles, connective tissue and ligaments forms an unstable support for the hip, and over time that lack of support can result in dysplasia.
A dog suffering from hip dysplasia may show discomfort or pain during and after intense exercise. Eventually, the condition will worsen to the point at which everyday activities become painful. If the condition persists without intervention for more than a couple of years the dog could lose the ability to walk.
Treatments for hip dysplasia include; corrective surgery, weight management, physician-specified exercise, massage and physical therapy. Dogs suffering from this condition tend to have trouble getting up stairs. Pet ramps work well to help a dog navigate his way up or down stairs.
Humane Societies/Animal Shelters
Once you have an idea of the breed you want and once you are certain that you can provide a quality home for your new dog or puppy, the next step is to actually find the right one. The best place to start is at your local humane society and animal shelters - even if you want a purebred. Believe it or not, shelters and humane societies often have purebred dogs and puppies available. If they don’t have the breed or breed mix you want, ask them to call you when they do. Or you can make regular visits until you find the right dog. Going to the humane society or animal shelter gives you the choice between many dogs and you get them at a very reasonable cost which includes all their shots and the spaying or neutering.
Breed Rescue Groups
You can also check with rescue groups. If you are wanting a basset hound, for example, check with a basset hound rescue group. They specialize in the breed and they can tell you about a specific dog’s personality as well as a lot about the breed itself. They will also most likely provide the animal’s shots and spaying and neutering.
Individuals and/or Breeders
You can also get a puppy from individuals by looking in classified ads in the newspaper or online. Craig’s List is an example of an online classified where you can find pets from individuals. Be careful, however, if you are buying a purebred puppy from an individual. If an individual is breeding purebred dogs for the sake of making money, they could inadvertently be spreading the genetic diseases and health problems associated with that breed. Make sure this individual has done testing for these diseases and make them show you the vet records. Doing your research on breeds will help you know what to look for. Also, make sure that if you get a purebred from an individual that you visit the individual’s home. This is to make sure you are not getting a dog from a puppy mill. We strongly urge you not to get a dog from a breeder who breeds several dogs just for the sake of making money and we strongly urge you not to buy a puppy from pet stores. This is because pet stores usually get their dogs from those kind of people who only breed dogs to make money.
Remember, you don’t have to get a purebred. Mutts are great dogs too. The main benefit is they don’t usually have all the health problems associated with the genetic degeneration of pure-breeds. A downfall would be that you may not be sure of the breed mixes, so therefore, you aren’t certain as to what to expect behavior and personality-wise from your dog. But discovering your dog’s breed mix and personality can be a fun experience. With time, patience, and lots of training, any dog can be a great dog!
Check our blog later for information on what to do once you get your new pet. Future blogs in this series includes getting pet supplies, potty training, grooming, and more!
I used to give my dogs rawhide bones all the time because they absolutely loved them and I thought it was good for their teeth. But when they ate the whole bone within a matter of minutes, I worried. Should they be eating that much at one time? Even though it is good for their teeth, is it good for their bodies? Rawhide is made from the hide of animals. I couldn’t imagine that it had much nutritional value.
We came across an article recently that spells out the truth about rawhide bones and why you probably should not give them to your dog. Check out this great article by Jon Dakins:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Rawhide-Toys—Treat-Or-Trouble?&id=1492142
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