HAVE A GREAT HALLOWEEN!

Author: petlady
October 26, 2009

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FIRST RATE PETS WISHES EVERYONE AND THEIR PETS  A SPOOKY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!

Training Your Pooch

Author: DogsBestFriend
October 8, 2009

Retractable Dog LeashesMy friend Stacey adopted a rescue dog, the cutest little English bulldog you’ve ever seen, a few months ago. The poor thing had been found on the side of I-315 in a half rotted cardboard box. It just breaks my heart to think about. Anyway, her new four-legged friend, whom she named Sandy, is quite adorable, yet stubborn. Because Sandy was about 2 years old when she found him, he had unfortunately grown up with a few bad habits of his own.

 

Sandy was a shoe chewer and he loved to go dashing off into the woods whenever she’d take him to the dog park. A little frustrated and concerned for Sandy’s safety, Stacey was desperate for a way to tech her pooch how to respect her commands. She turned to her friend Molly, who owned three dogs of her own, and she lent Stacey one of her retractable dog leashes. She told Stacey it was the best way to teach her dog to respect your authority.

PET GROOMING BASICS

Author: BettyAnn
September 26, 2009

Pet Grooming Supplies  

The dog owner can do much to help a dog’s haircoat achieve its full potential and to keep it in good condition: feed a good quality nutritionally complete and balanced dog food; keep the dog free of internal and external parasites and maintain a regular grooming schedule with the appropriate pet grooming equipment.

Grooming your dog not only helps him/her look their best at all times, but also helps keep them clean and healthy.

Grooming sessions are an excellent time to assess your dog’s health. Learn what is normal for your dog, what characteristics distinguish him. Changes in appearance or behavior may be signs of illness. If a dog displays constant problems such as itching, sudden loss of hair, inflamed areas, any signs of tenderness or lumps under the skin, a veterinarian should be consulted.

A dog who is accustomed to grooming will be more at ease when he is examined or treated by a veterinarian.

The kind of grooming routine you establish for your dog will depend on how much time the dog spends outside, weather conditions and whether the dog is a longhaired or shorthaired breed.

Shorthaired breeds should be groomed two to three times a week. Longhaired breeds require daily grooming. Many terrier breeds require periodic plucking to remove dead hairs and to give them a trim appearance with careful brushing and combing between pluckings.

If your dog’s haircoat requires complicated grooming, you may want to have it done professionally. However, trips to the groomer’s are not adequate to maintain a healthy, handsome haircoat. Your dog still needs to be brushed and combed regularly between professional grooming sessions.

September 26, 2009

Shampoos for Dogs and Puppies

BathingDogs should be bathed when they look dirty and/or have a strong doggy odor. Puppies or small dogs can be bathed in sinks and tubs while large breeds may require bathtubs. (After bathing your dog, be sure to scrub and disinfect the area prior to human use.) If the weather is warm, a child’s wading pool and garden hose may be used. Have your dog’s shampoo or soap, brush and comb and towels nearby before you begin. Place the dog in the tub and soak the dog through to the skin. Use a shampoo that is pH balanced for dogs. If your dog has a special skin problem, ask your veterinarian to recommend a shampoo. Two shampoos ( the first shampoo to loosen dirt and the second shampoo to remove it), each followed by a thorough rinsing with warm water, not hot water, should be sufficient to get your dog clean. Let the dog “drip dry” for a few minutes as you squeeze the excess water out of the coat. Put him on the ground or on a table, cover with a dry towel and squeeze the coat until most of the water has been absorbed. Begin to brush dry. A hair dryer may be held about 12 inches away from the coat to aid in the drying process. Move the dryer and the brush over the entire surface of the dog so the coat dries evenly. Never let a wet dog outside in cold weather or expose him to drafts. Keep him away from areas where he can get dirty before he dries completely.

September 26, 2009

Dog Toys to Play Fetch

Playing “fetch” games provides some good exercise for your puppy. It also provides a good way to get those toys back so you don’t end up getting all the exercise. In the beginning, roll the fetch toy away from the puppy and let him get it. When he picks it up, say, “Fetch!” so he begins to associate the command with the action. Then praise him with an excited voice.As he gets older, throw the toy a little farther. When he brings it back, give lots of praise and let your puppy play with the toy for a few minutes so he gains some benefit from his effort of retrieving it. If he doesn’t bring it back, use a long lead attached to his collar. Gently reel your puppy in with the toy and praise him for coming back. Touch him, but avoid his head so he doesn’t think you’re going to immediately take the toy from him. Some puppies enjoy the chase of the toy and retrieving it and want you to throw it back immediately. Others want the toy with less chasing and retrieving.Once he’s had a minute or so to play with the toy, puppy may drop it on his own. If he does, say ‘Drop’ to reinforce the behavior. If he doesn’t drop it on his own, get a light grip on the toy and give the command to drop. Praise him when he lets go of it and throw it again.

September 26, 2009
  • Dog and Puppy Toys

Prevent puppy from chewing and destroying your house and belongings by providing proper training and chew toys. Afterall, chewing and playtime are part of normal puppy growth and development.

DO

-Provide several of a variety of toys for your puppy. -Teach your puppy to play with these toys.-Praise puppy every time you see him chewing or playing with his toys on his own.-Teach your puppy to get a toy to greet you. Each time your pup runs up to greet you or anyone else, encourage him to find and get a toy. All humans, especially the owners should always be greeted by a dog with toy in mouth.-Any area that the pup has access to must be kept clear and clean. Put out of puppy’s reach anything you don’t want him to chew or destroy, such as trash, shoes, hazards, etc. Your dog does not know what is valuable or dangerous and what is not.-If you find your puppy with your best shoe in mouth, distract him away from it and replace the shoe with one of his toys. Praise him for chewing his toy. Do not reprimand him for chewing your shoe. Reprimand yourself for leaving it out where he could find it.-Booby traps items and articles to show your puppy that these things are no fun to chew, in fact, they are an annoyance even to touch.

DON’T

-Do not allow unsupervised access to ‘unchewables.’-Do not chase the puppy in an attempt to take something away. -Do not reprimand excessively. A verbal warning should be enough. A loud startling noise is even better. It gets the puppy’s attention without the puppy associating it with you. As soon as the puppy is distracted, show him what to chew and praise him for chewing it.

Guiding Your Pooch to Potty Training

Author: DogsBestFriend
September 24, 2009

Dog LeadsDeciding to adopt or purchase a puppy for the very first time is a joyous experience that comes hand in hand with a lot of hard work. Although cute and cuddly, puppies are just like human babies in that they require constant care and attention. Prepare yourself for the yipping and whining as a wet nose pokes you in the middle of the night. And don’t forget about the fact that a puppy needs to be walked every hour as he learns to control his bladder.

 

When you do take your pup for a walk, you’ll want to make sure that you have purchased one of the many available dog leads. Also like children, puppies don’t know not to run out in the street or simply not to run off at all. By keeping your dog under your control he will begin to understand that you are his master. Pretty soon you’ll have him trained to pick up his leash in his mouth and sit by the door when he wants to go for a walk. Imagine that!

September 11, 2009

Dog Blanket Coats and Dog Jackets

There are so many different coats, jackets, and hoodies that are a must for keeping your beloved dog or puppy warm in cold or wet weather.  You have many options bcause there is a wide variety of colors, styles, and sizes that are available.  You can go classic college style sweaters, vintage 60’s, camo, knit, or anything you can think of for all types of dog apparel.  Boots protect your pet’s paws from not only the elements, but from salt, stones, and rough terrain.  There are raincoats, hoodies, and tee shirts for all tastes and all sizes of dogs and puppies.  All pet parents want their pets to be safe and protected from the elements when they go outside for whatever reason and you can find any kind of dog apparel to fit your needs and your pet’s needs at First Rate Pets where you can shop and get friendly expert advice about pets at anytime.

September 11, 2009

Pink Camo Dog JacktCamo Dog Hoodie

Camo or Camouflage apparel has always been popular with people and now you can get them for your dog!  When you think of camo colors, you normally think of green, but did you know you can also find camo prints in pink for the girl dogs?  You can get just about any type of apparel for your dogs in camo pink or green including hats, hoodies, coats and jackets, tee shirts, collars and leashes, and even boots!  If you love that outdoor look, then you really should check out all of the camo gear for your dog so you both can enjoy the great outdoors in style!

Dress You up in my Love

Author: DogsBestFriend
September 8, 2009
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Can you even begin to count how many tee shirts you own? This staple to any wardrobe has crossed over as a popular entity for dogs. Comfy and casual, tee shirts are a canvas for self expression for you, and your pet. As a dog owner you’ll be the brains behind any fashion purchase for your pooch, so ask yourself: how would my four-legged friend express himself?From the hipster tie-dye look to a fun floral print, it’s certain that you’ll find the perfect style for your pooch. Maybe you’re the type of person who enjoys a matching ensemble between you and your pet. Sports teams are a terrific way to show your spirit and an ever-so-popular selection for a dog tee shirt. Go Buckeyes!