Tips In Choosing A Rodent As A Pet

There are some rodents that can be chosen for pets like gerbils, rats, hamsters and guinea pigs that provide a wide choice in pets. While these are small in size, children can hold and feel the too. These can be put in any corner of the house and they do not need any high maintenance also. If you take good care of them, you will avoid problems created by their biting and chewing that they do when disturbed. Being energetic at nights, you will have to be sure as at that time your kid will be asleep.

Hamsters are rodents which have been domesticated and which are common to the Middle East and the western parts of Europe. These types of animals are easy to have in captivity and are usually treated as household pets or as laboratory specimens.

Hamsters as pets can be kept in commercial cages or terrariums. Homemade dwellings are also options for keeping hamsters. If commercial cages are considered as an option the advantages would be that cages are portable enough to be transferred from place to place. Its bars can be used by the hamsters for exercise purposes since these mammals are fond of climbing obstacles and so. An ideal floor space for these active rodents would be at least two square feet and high tops to encourage climbing activities.

Some pets can be complicated to keep and hence we require the help of the collectors to explain all about them and how to take care of them once they are delivered to our homes. To the amazement of many people, there are rats that are kept at home as pets, but it needs a lot of carefulness when choosing the right variety so that you can learn how to handle them.

A thorough research is good so that you can understand everything to do with rat types, so that when you get to the market you will not have a hard time purchasing the pet you want.

The Color
Pet rat types are distinguished by the color of their fur, although some of them are discriminated due to their dark pigmentation that resembles that of the wild rats. They however have remarkable shades of eye color that make them cute little animals.

How to Tell the Pet Rats Apart
Breeders or attendants at the pet rat stores grade the breeds according to their markings. Grading is based on specific principles. The gradation can be whole white body, patches of white on different areas or white that fades into different colors on areas around the eyes, nose, ears and feet. The markings are done on pet rat types that have been put in a contest to check if the breeder has adhered to all the norms that regard pet rat breeding.

Breed Selection
The act of selection of the breed depends on the reason for the grading. The first one may be for competition purposes where the best rat will be selected after meeting all or most of the requirements. If your reason for selection is purely for keeping the rats as pets, then you can take any breed that attracts you and is easy to maintain.

Guinea pigs likes to be alone in the day since most of them are inactive during daytime but still can survive for as long as they are with another guinea pig companion. Guinea pigs can survive in both indoors and outdoors for as long as you keep them in cages with several rooms. Unlike other pet rodents, guinea pigs require more sensitive care. Also, the materials used in caring guinea pigs are quite expensive. But, they can live more years compared to other pet rodents. 

What makes guinea pigs popular among all rodents today is that they have a unique character that every pet owner will enjoy. They are also sweet, require care less often, attractive and they often come in variety of colors. They are sociable and playful also that is why it is best if they will come in pair if you plan on taming this rodent. 

Choosing a pet can be tough for many reasons. Even though you're excited, take the time to consider all the details that will make this a positive experience for all. Don't make a quick decision that may prove to be costly or a huge waste of time and energy. 

Be sure to take the time to consider all viable options, and consider both the costs and the consequences of the action. If you know what you're getting into and you're ready for it, your pet will bring joy and companionship to your family for years.

Simple Pet Health Tips

A lot of pet owners want to know more about pet health and things like that. They love their pets and want to give them the best possible life quality. Food is very important in the life of your dog, and you need to know more about it. 

Good Diet
Your dog should consume a good diet at all times, and you need to go above and beyond to meet the wants of your doggy. Your pet`s food should be both well-balanced and of a high quality including treats. 

High-quality food should be your pet`s most important source of nutrition. Take a look at the food label of a particular product paying close attention to the ingredients listed since these ingredients just make up most of the food. The food should have veggies and meat as the food`s first ingredients. 

You can also find grains and meat by-products at the bottom of the list.

There are many filler ingredients out there that might harm the health of your dog over time, and you have to avoid them as soon as possible. If your dog shows signs of food sensitivity, your vet will help you out right away.

If you plan on feeding your puppy human food, you need to be truly careful about this. 

You need to know that some human food will kill or hurt your dog, so you need to be truly careful about this. Your dog should be away from chocolates, grapes, raisins, nuts, garlic, sugar-free gum, and chives.

Proper Weight
Your dog should keep his ideal body weight. An obese dog will increase his risks for diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other health issues. Your vet will give you information about the ideal weight for your dog so you can feed your puppy accordingly. 

Your dog will become obese when he does not get enough exercise eating a lot of food down the road. Read the food package so you can know the right amount of food that you need to give your dog. This will allow you to keep Fido at his ideal weight.

Giving your dog healthy treats is always a good idea, and you should give him a homemade treat. Store-bought treats might not be too good for your per down the road too. 

Your dog should eat low-calorie treats such as canned green beans, baby carrots, and cooked sweet potatoes. Remember also that your dog should get tons of fresh water at all times, as this will allow your puppy to digest food properly over time too. 

Changing the water once a day will keep the liquid fresh and clean, so you have to clean your water bucket as soon as you can.

Grooming
Your dog should be groomed properly. To keep your puppy`s coat healthy and shiny, brush it on a regular basis as this will encourage the proper circulation of blood in your dog. 

Check any cyst, bump, or lump on the skin of your dog. If you found some, you need to let your vet know about this as soon as you can. This will allow you to avoid tons of headaches in the future too. Your vet should also address your dog`s itchy skin, redness, and scabs. 

Grooming is a wonderful time to check for any skin condition on your dog`s fur such as mites, ticks, and fleas.

Clipping your puppy`s nails is also a great idea. Though this might make your dog uncomfortable, make sure that your dog will get used to this over time. This will allow your dog to live a better life over time too. You should avoid cutting the dog`s “quick,” which is a sensitive part of the dog`s nail that contains nerves and blood vessels. If you don’t know how to clip your dog`s nail, your vet can show you how in no time too. And you need to brush your dog`s teeth each and every day.

Now that you know more ways of keeping your dog healthy, you have just to take bold action. This will allow you to have more fun with your dog over time. Your dog`s diet should be balanced, and your vet will allow you to know more about this topic over time too. 

Remember also that you need to check the weight of your dog over time if you want to keep your dog`s body health over time too.

Reptile Care for Beginners

When it comes to owning reptiles, they sometimes require some special attention. Though they hardly differ from cats and dogs when it comes to loyalty, reptiles are a bit different in terms of care. 

Here are some ideas to get started when you finally have your first reptile:

1. Get adequate space and ventilation

Unlike dogs and cats, most reptiles need a certain ambiance and atmosphere in order for them to feel really at home. Not only this, some of them require a lot of space and air so that they will be able to breathe properly. It is suitable for your critter to be able to live in a glass box or something similar with holes at the top or at the bottom, but just big enough so they won’t escape.

2. Clean safe water

Reptiles have a special need for water, as they are not like dogs and cats that can sweat their bodily heat away.  Appropriate substrate water is a must for your reptile’s domain as it will help them cool off when the heat comes. Not only this, this will help them calm themselves and make them feel more at ease.

3. Quality lighting

For some reptiles, UV lighting is a must. Reptiles such as snakes don’t really need UV lighting, but for others it is needed. It is because they are dependent on skin-manufactured Vitamin D3 and such a vitamin cannot be obtained from the food that they eat, as the name implies. Thus, in order to keep your reptile happy and healthy, give them some UV lights to bask in.

4. Vitamins and mineral supplements

Many reptiles are not able to get the vitamins they need from their food alone. Thus, to keep them in tip-top shape, it is best if you provide them with vitamins and supplements that will help enrich their diet.

5. Secure latches and lids

Of course, your prized pet does not need to roam the house freely unless you want it to be stomped on and bite your family. This is why latches, locks and lids are important. Not only is this for your own safety, but also for the reptile’s.

6. Appropriate environment

Certain reptiles need a certain environment that mimics their natural environment so they can thrive. Simply having them live at room temperature when the temperature is way beyond their bodily capacities might just kill them, so controlled temperatures are ideal for such creatures.

7. Learn your reptile’s diet

Not all reptiles have the same diet. It may be a tedious task, but knowing what your reptile eats is crucial for its survival. If you were in the reptile’s shoes and you were forced to eat what you don’t eat, you wouldn’t like that as well, right? Not only that, giving the reptile the wrong food could spell disaster for its health.

8. Learning if your reptile is tamable

It would be nice if your reptile knows how to do tricks just like the ones you see on television or online, but you have to first learn if your reptile is even fit to be tamed or not. Even if it isn’t, however, you shouldn’t throw away your reptile just yet as the reason why you chose it as your pet in the first place is because you like it and want to make it a part of your family, and not to make it a circus act.

9. Knowing your reptile’s life span and other basic stuff

Okay, so this may be rather easy to do, but keep in mind that captive reptiles generally have a longer lifespan than wild reptiles as long as they are given enough love and care. Before purchasing a reptile, you should first know the basics of your chosen pet and what they do, what they eat and how to tell if they are healthy.

10. Avoiding the temptation to release your reptile

This is very hard if you don’t want your reptile anymore, and don’t know anyone who can keep your reptile for you. Releasing your reptile into the wild will not only disturb the local ecosystem, it might even potentially kill your reptile as it has grown in captivity and does not know the skills on how to survive in the wild. In instances like these, you should probably go to the nearest zoo or pet shop and sell or have them adopt your reptile for you.

Now that you know the basics of keeping a reptile, you should now be all set. 

Pets and Pet Care

A pet is an animal kept primarily for a person’s company, protection or entertainment rather than a working animal or livestock animal. Most pests are often noted for their attractive appearance and their playful responsibilities. 

Pets can give companionship to elderly adults who do not have enough social interaction with people. Pets can also provide their owners with emotional and physical benefits such as walking a dog can simply supply the pet and the owner with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction. 

The most popular pets are cats and dogs. Some people also keep rabbits, rodents such as hamsters, some fancy rats, gerbils, chinchillas, and guinea pigs. There are also avian pets such as parrots, chickens, canaries and parakeets. Also, there are reptile pets which include snakes, turtles, and lizards.

In some instances, there are aquatic pets which normally include frogs, tropical fish, and goldfish.

In order for pets to survive and live happily, the pet owners/ pet sitters must always take care of the pets and always check their nutritional and health care at all times.

Pet Care

Pet care is all about taking care of your pet starting from food and safety, nourishment, exercise to medical attention. Apart from this, grooming, training and providing complete wellness to your pet is also a part of pet care. If you treat your pet like a friend then it means that you are doing your bit to ensure their overall well-being and that is what pet care is all about. Healthier pets are usually happy pets. When it comes to pet’s health it is recommendable that prevention is always better than cure. 

Many people have discovered the beneficial effects of pet care but the fact remains that quite a number of the population are allergic to pets. This may be caused by touching or inhaling allergens which lead to reactions in allergic persons. Symptoms may include; sneezing, sore throat, coughing, itchy eyes, itchy skin and breathing difficulties. The most common pet allergen are proteins found in their saliva, urine, and sebaceous cells. 

Ways of preventing allergies in Pets

1. Installing an air purifier – Through this fresh air is let in regularly allowing the already polluted air out of the room.

2. Create an allergen free room

3. Limit fabrics

4. Use anti-allergen room sprays

5. Dust the room regularly

6. Clean the litter box frequently

7. Invest in washable pet bedding

8. Bathe your pet at least once a week

9. Brush or comb your pet frequently.

10. Wash your hands

11. Find a physician

Pet care can in animals is quite important since the owner gets to know when to feed the pet and when to clean its place of sleep. We are going to look at how pet owners take care of their pets.

Caring for Your cat

To keep your cat happy and healthy, you need to know the best ways of pet care.

· Consider the medical concerns of the cat.

· Consider the amount of time you have for the cat.

· House trains the cat.

· Encourage the cat to use a litter box – Place the box in a quiet place where the cat won’t be bothered by people or dogs. Keep the litter box clean and provide enough litter boxes for more than one cat.

· Make the litter box a comfortable place

· Provide the cat with a scratching post

· Discourage the cat from exploring forbidden surfaces

· Define the type of food to feed the cat.

· Keep the pet healthy at all times.

· Pet care in cats also involves checking their skin regularly to check for parasites, lumps, bumps and other skin problems.

· Visit pet care institutions regularly for check-ups.

Caring for your Dog

Pet care in dogs is quite simple as the cat. Before bringing a dog into your home you should know how to provide for its needs both physical and emotional. Pet care also revolves around providing ample playing time, plenty of exercises and its mind stimulation. Other pet care ways in a dog include; feeding the dog, giving the dog water, Taking care of its health and on a regular basis, Get the dog undergo a vaccination to prevent some allergens to humans and other animals as well, groom the dog. Doing this will provide the best pest care in the dog among others.

Caring for fish

Fish are one of the best creatures to have as a pet. Fish pet care is easy to establish and achieve.

The steps are quite easy to get as they include; decide on what type of fish you want, decide on the amount of fish you want, get an appropriate tank, set up the tank and cycle it, put the fish in, perform partial water changes weekly, test the water regularly, feed the fish and monitor them. 

After achieving this you would be the best pet care of your generation.

Pet Food

Although this is a rather generic title, anyone who has or has ever had a pet knows that finding the right food for him is important on so many levels. Remember when our grandmas would give their dogs leftovers from the table? Today that is a complete no-no. And now, vets even recommend healthy food formulas to counteract certain maladies our pets suffer.

Knowing what's right for your furry or feathered friend is paramount for you to have a BFF who sticks around for a long while and feels good day in and day out. So, let's talk about what we should be feeding our most beloved pets to assure they're healthy and blissfully happy.

Dogs

Several factors play into which type of food we feed out canine friends. Let's discuss what an average, healthy 20-pound dog of about four-years-old should be eating daily.

Usually, veterinarians recommend dry food for canines. It helps keep their teeth relatively clean, and they like the chewing. As with humans, it is a bad thing to feed your dogs overly processed foods. But getting food that is "clean" at a price you can afford may be a challenge. Here are three dog foods that are good for your side-kick and won't break the bank.

· Barking at the Moon (Solid Gold) - It's AAFCO-friendly with fish (ocean fish "meal") as its main ingredient which causes it to have 300% more protein than just plain fish. It's a little expensive but worth every penny. And you can get it on Amazon.

· Taste of the Wild has a five-star rating on DogFoodAdvisor, which you should check out, by the way. It's grain-free, suitable for all ages, and has roasted bison and roasted venison in it. It's less expensive than Barking at the Moon. You can buy it online at PetFoodDirect.

· Wellness Core's price comes right between the first two we discussed, but it has increased protein, almost average fat, and below-average carbs compared to typical dry food for doggies.

To be sure, ask your vet.

Never feed dogs chocolate, garlic, onions, gum ( more importantly the ingredient xylitol found in sweets, baked goods, and peanut butter), grapes or raisins.

Cats

Cats, on the other hand, should never be given dry food because it has too many carbs. The average cat should consume roughly 200 calories a day, but ask your vet about your feline friend.

The top three healthy cat foods that contain what is best for your cat include, according to reviews.com:

· ACANA Grasslands Regional Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat and Kitten Food & ACANA's Pacifica and Wild Prairie - An exception to the dry food rule because the first five ingredients in each of these ACANA foods are variations of this formula: boneless lamb, lamb meal, boneless duck, Pollock meal, and duck fat. It is not too expensive.

· Addiction Grain-Free Black Forest Rabbit and Blueberries Entree Canned Cat Food (and all Addiction's other formulas) which contains rabbit, water, sweet potatoes, liver, and blueberries is expensive.

· Adirondack Kitten Protein-Rich contains chicken meal, brown rice, ground grain, sorghum, chicken, fat. It is not expensive at all.

Never feed your kitties raw meat or a vegetarian diet. Check with your vet about other things that might hurt your kitty.

Hamsters

Hamsters need to eat once a day whether it's morning or evening. Your little buddy only needs a tablespoon of food a day. It's great to feed your hamster his treats, like raw fruit, raw vegetables, even a few pieces of hard-boiled egg for some extra protein. But follow these rules when feeding your pet:

· No seed or pits of vegetables or fruit as they could be poisonous.

· Feed some treats to your hamster by hand so he can feel comfortable with you and know you're there to take care of him

· Remove spoiled food from his cage and remove fresh food not eaten in a few hours from the time given to your hamster.

Make sure the seed food you give your pet has ingredients along with sunflower seeds. 

Your hamster loves sunflower seeds, but a diet solely of this seed will not give your pet all the nutrients your hamster needs.

Your little friend would also like to chew on hard treats you can get at the pet store. They keep his teeth healthy and can provide additional nutrients and activity.

Never feed hamsters: kidney beans, citrus fruits, onion, potato, rhubarb, or tomato leaves. Ask your vet if there are other dangers.

Take good care of your pets, and you will have years to love and play with them. Here's to our furry friends!

Dog – A man’s best friend

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself” – Josh Billings

Yes indeed. A dog is much more than the guardian of your house. He/she considers you to be a member of his/her pack. Having a dog as your pet can be one of the most profound experiences of your life. Learning about their needs and taking good care of your dog gives a great experience for both you and your pet. 

Dogs accept you for what you are and are known to protect you with all their might. In fact Brutus, the 7 year old golden retriever, became a national sensation when he took on the deadly coral snake head on as the snake approached a young child. Although he did receive a deadly bite, he never gave up. He was flown to Los Angeles to receive the 

National Hero Dog Award’. A five pound Chihuahua named Zoey rescued a one year old child from a 3 foot rattle snake as the snake got too close for comfort. 

A black Labrador named Katrina had rescued a man from drowning the storm Katrina hit the US shores. The 2008 dog of the year named Maya saved her owner from a vicious male attacker, when he had tried to assault her owner. 

The rivalry between dogs and cats can be put into question as this idea of hating cats’ failed to exist in Napoleon’s mind, who swamp deep out into a lake to rescue burlap sack having 6 kittens in them. The 2001 dog of the year named Blue had saved her 85 year old owner from an alligator attack in her own back yard. These amazing stories doesn’t end here. There was an unbelievable story of a beagle that had bit the digits 911 of their phone after his diabetic owner had collapsed from a seizure. 

A golden retriever named Toby had rescued his owner from chocking on a morsel. And who could ever forget the famous Japanese Akita dog named Hachiko. The famous story behind Hachiko is the degree to which the dog remained loyal to his owner Hidesaburō Ueno. Hachiko always greeted his owner at the Shibuya railway station, as he returned from work every day. Sadly, even after his owner had passed away, Hachiko still continued to visit the railway station every day for 9 years. Hachiko eventually died of natural causes and a bronze statue was erected at the Shibuya Station in April of 1934. 

There are countless examples to show the deepness to which a dog bonds with a human. Owning a dog is a huge responsibility as well. The owner must make sure that the dog is well trained, regularly fed and frequently hydrated. Proper pet care even includes vaccinations, regular flea treatments and daily grooming is crucial in keeping your dog happy and healthy. You must take your dog to the vet on a regular basis. 

You must take your dog to the vet in order to:

1) Identify any illness as early as possible. Unlike humans, dogs don’t have the verbal ability to convey any discomforts that it faces. Regular checkups to the vet helps to identify any sickness right at the early stages before it becomes too late for treatment. 

2) The dog’s mental wellbeing as important as its physical wellbeing. Regular checkups to the vet can also help you to discuss the behavior of your dog and also help to devise a plan if necessary, to bring the dog into a calm submissive state. 

3) Regular visits to the vet may seem to be initially expensive but in the long run, it helps you to identify any disease right at its beginning stage so that you would be able to avoid expensive treatments that you may have to incur, if the disease was not recognized at its beginning stage. This saves your pet years of life that they could have lost to illness.

From pets to sporting companions to service dogs, canines are an integral part of a human’s world. They can be a viable source of comfort and have known to have a therapeutic effect as well. It helps relieve stress and the sense of happiness, that a human gets from the mere company of a dog, generates the serotonin hormone that keeps our mind in the happy and healthy state. 

Bird Care

A pet bird is a wonderful companion that can give you and your family years of joy. However, there are things to look out for Bird care. First, make sure you are selecting a healthy bird. Avoid picking a sick or badly treated bird unless you have much experience with the species and its health problems. 

Sick birds may seem fluffy or ruffled. They may seem unresponsive, withdrawn, tired, or tend to hide their heads under their wings. Birds should not sneeze or have droppings on or around their tail feathers, and there should be no sign of discharge near the nostrils.

A pet bird that only sits at the bottom of its cage is seriously ill. These are all big warning symptoms. Birds in good health will have bright eyes, clean feathers with a quality sheen, a healthy appetite and a lot of-of energy.

The level to which your pet has been handled will also be important, as a poorly socialized or poorly treated bird won't be a good pet. Look for birds that are friendly and curious, not those that shy away from careful handling. Remember that you should let the professionals show you how to hold and touch your bird. However - most need relatively gentle care.

Reputable stores and breeders are the best places to look for a healthy, happy pet bird. Don't Use chain pet stores or any place that looks like a bargain. Remember - you're purchasing a living creature, not a decoration.

Once you've found a bird you know you want, you should take him or her to a vet who knows birds well to get the first checkup. You should be allowed to return a bird which is sick or in poor health to any good pet store. It also helps your vet learn what your pet is like when he or she is in good health and lets you build a relationship with them.

Your vet can tell you a lot about what to feed your new pet, how to care for him or her, what medical needs are likely and what training is appropriate. This may be different from what you were told at the store - trust the vet, as he or she has more training.

Your bird's new housing should be the largest you can manage in your home, but with bar spacing that your new pet can't fit through. It's fine to try and find cheap bird cages, but don't cut corners when it comes to your new pet. There are plenty of bird cages for sale at very reasonable prices.

The perch should be made of natural wood branches when possible, and out of safe woods. Keep in mind to clean any branches gathered from outside. Also, quarantine your new pet from other birds before introducing them, to prevent the spread of any problems you may not know about. Follow the veterinarian recommended diet closely, and don't try substituting cheaper foods or different percentages, as this can make your bird ill.

Likewise, avoid pine bedding, cedar, and walnut shell bedding, as all can be dangerous for your pet bird. Change bedding frequently, and remember to socialize with your pet on a daily basis. Big birds like parrots need quite a bit of socialization, so think carefully about the one you get. 

Essential Needs of Pet Birds 

Many birds require consideration and communication. It's great to place them in ranges in your home where your and your family remain much of the time as the kitchen or lounge room. Likewise, picking the correct confine for your pet will guard them, sound, and secure. 

Lodging 

Buy confines that are non-poisonous because most birds will bite on their enclosures. You likewise need to pick a confine that has adequate space for your birds to move around. Select an enclosure that is more than three times the length of their wingspan. If you have more than one pet, pick a greater enclosure to give enough space to each bird. Birds tend to feel discouraged when they are kept in little pens with insufficient space for play and development. Consider these components while choosing a bird to confine for your new pets. 

Veterinary Care 

Bird pets require therapeutic care, as well. It's great to counsel your neighborhood veterinarian for any proposals, rules, and regulations for birds. You should likewise designate a financial plan for crisis medicinal care and reach points of interest of an adjacent veterinary center for crisis cases. That is for bird pet proprietors, as well as every single pet proprietor from canines, felines, reptiles, and that's only the tip of the iceberg. 

Learning more about nurturing your pet is a piece of being a capable proprietor so you can best give the care that they require.

Snaggle Foot Round Lake Receives 2017 Best of Round Lake Award

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Snaggle Foot Round Lake Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers Receives 2017 Best of Round Lake Award

Round Lake Award Program Honors the Achievement

ROUND LAKE May 5, 2017 -- Snaggle Foot Round Lake Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers has been selected for the 2017 Best of Round Lake Award in the Pet Sitter category by the Round Lake Award Program.

Each year, the Round Lake Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Round Lake area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2017 Round Lake Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Round Lake Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Round Lake Award Program

The Round Lake Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Round Lake area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Round Lake Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

How To Choose a Dog Toy

The best dog toy is one that keeps your dog active and interested. A dog who is bored or doesn't exercise enough is likely to chew your furniture, stain your rug, and engage in other forms of bad behavior. He will get even with you one way or another!

We all know that dogs love to play. Running, jumping, chasing, mouthing, chewing, wrestling, biting, and yes even riding your leg are all normal forms of play. You might want to discourage that last one, though, if you want to avoid public embarrassment.

Whatever your dog likes to use as a toy, make sure its safe.

It should be large enough that she can't swallow it or choke on it and hard enough so that chewing wont cause pieces to be bitten off and swallowed. If toys have holes or openings in them, be sure your pet cant get his tongue or jaw stuck in the opening. The tongue can get stuck when it seals the only opening in the dog toy, creating suction. (One way around this is to punch another small hole at the opposite end.) Its always best to supervise you dog for his first few days with a new toy, just to be sure he can play safely.

Dogs prefer to play with people or other dogs, but will play alone if there is no one around to entertain them. If you leave him alone for long periods of time, be sure your dog has a favorite toy to keep him busy.

Food Dispensing Toys

Dog toys designed to dispense food can provide hours of fun for the dog who's left alone. These toys require your dog to chew, push, roll and bat the toy around to get at the goodies inside. Great fun! If your dog tends to use her paws a lot in play to stop or hold a ball, sh will enjoy the one she has to push around. If not, the chew types work best. This dog toy should be properly designed for safety, so make sure you get one tough enough that your dog wont chew the toy to pieces (a choking hazard). Also be sure she cant get her jaw or tongue stuck in the opening (see above).

The treats are typically dry and in small pieces, e.g. kibble, small biscuits, small cubes of hard cheese. Long thin bits which are easier to load then to dispense back out, like pieces of beef jerky (dog or human style) about 1/4 inch wide and an inch long, work great too. There is even a vitamin-enriched paste made specifically for this type of dog toy.

Chase and Fetch Toys

Dogs love to run and chase, and some of their favorite games are tug, fetch, and Frisbee. As always, safety is your first consideration. Make sure the dog toy is large enough for safety, but not so large or heavy that its tough for your pet to handle. Avoid toys with parts that she can chew off and swallow, or toys small enough that she can actually swallow the toy itself.

This type of play is a great way to keep your dog fit and work out stress or anxiety. We all know that a tired dog is a good dog! But be careful not to overdo it at first. Before starting any vigorous exercise program, a dog should get a clean bill of health from the vet just as you would from your physician.

Some good toys for chasing and fetching are durable rubber balls, and rings, oversized tennis balls, plastic Frisbees and throwing discs.

Chase and fetch are normally not solitary sports, but there is a way to set up a solitary chase game for your dog when hes alone. You can set up a ramp (a larger one for outdoors, or small for inside) that hell learn to use for rolling a ball. I don't know of any commercially available, but you can make one by building a wooden cube about 2 feet to a side, then putting a ramp up one side and down the other. For indoors, a baby slide about two feet high works just as well.

Its worth spending some time checking out the different categories of fetch toys. Among them are Tennis Ball toys (toys made with tennis balls and tennis ball materials), Giggly Wiggly toys (they make fun noises when your dog plays with them), and Water Toys (all of them float, for good aquatic dog toy fun!).

Chew and Tug Toys

I probably don't need to tell you that dogs love to chew, especially if you own a puppy. Dogs also love to wrestle and use their mouths, so tug-of-war games come naturally for them. Just be careful that your dog doesn't have too much pent up energy or get too carried away. Dogs playing with other dogs will wrestle and mouth each other without causing any harm. When they do this with you it can be quite another story!

A dog toy that's especially popular for tugging is the knotted rope variety. You should resist making your own, since there is a danger of them coming un-knotted and frayed. Frayed pieces can be swallowed and cause obstructions in the intestines. Commercially made rope toys of good quality will resist unraveling and fraying. Keep an eye on things to be on the safe side.

Chew toys should be made of durable materials for the similar reasons. You don't want your friend to choke on little pieces. Fortunately, there are some great ones available, made in a variety of sturdy materials.

Thank you to our guest writer Kevin Davies for this great article. If you would like to read more of his blog please go to:  https://petloverguy.com

Taking Care Of Your Puppy: Best Practice

It’s so easy to get caught up in all of the excitement when you get a new puppy and completely ignore your gorgeous new pets basic needs in the process - no one could blame you either, they’re so energetic and playful that they seem to have an endless abundance of energy ready to deploy at a moment’s notice any time of the day.

Don’t be deceived though, these little guys are prone to illness and they’re literally placing their life in your hands. Whether your new family member is a personal pet or a little friend for your child - it’s important that you make their health and safety a priority from the moment they enter your life if you want to have nothing but happy memories as they develop into a fully grown adult.

We’re going to share some of the best tips out there for ensuring that your miniature canine companion develops as soundly and safely as they should.

Secure a vet

This probably seems a little obvious but this step is likely the most important - you really do need to ensure that you find not only the best vet you can afford to take care of your puppy’s health, but also one that is in close proximity in case of an emergency.

Any potentially stressful situation you may face with a new pet is almost definitely going to involve a visit to the vets - that’s why you need to ensure you get the right one. Look into the customer testimonials for the veterinary practices in your area and hone in on the most positive. You should never search purely on price alone.

Don’t buy junk food

Believe it or not, some of the leading canine food brands produce nutrition products for dogs that are actually the equivalent of a human eating McDonalds for every meal - we’re pretty sure you wouldn’t be comfortable with your kids eating like this, so it’s important that you apply the same logic to your puppy too.

Look for the highest grade dog food you can find relevant to your chosen breed and age - again reading through testimonials and looking for products that have been backed by veterinary practices will almost always guarantee safety.

Establish strong foundations

It’s important that you lay down some ground rules from day one to ensure that your little friend doesn’t develop any negative behavioural traits that could soon turn ugly as they continue to grow.

If you’re not confident training your puppy on your own, it would be a great idea to enlist the help of a dog trainer to help bring out the best in your canine companion - the financial outlay will more than pay for itself over time when you’re not having to replace broken furniture and throw out dirty carpets.

Engage, play and enjoy!

Just like human children, puppy’s need mental and physical stimulus to ensure their overall happiness - their energetic nature needs to be nurtured in order to keep them wholly satisfied and you’re going to play a vital part in the sustainment of that activity!

Regular walks are a must, but equally as important is playing with them and allowing them to benefit from new experiences as often as possible. They love seeing, doing and smelling new things - open the world up to them and you’ll find that it’s also easier to control their behaviour as they get used to the world around them.

Look out for early warning signs

It’s quite normal for a puppy to temporarily go off their food due to over excitement and sometimes nervousness (after all, everything is completely new to them) but this lack of appetite and any other slightly “off” behaviour you notice should only ever be temporary.

If you see strange behaviour for a period of more than a couple of days at the most then it’s important that you take your furry little friend for a visit to the vets to see what the problem might be. It’s probably going to be nothing, but it’s always better to be safe.

These five points are by no means an all encompassing list of elements to incorporate if you want to ensure that your puppy lives the happiest life possible, but they certainly form the cornerstones of the vital foundations needed to develop a happy life for your puppy.

Should you adhere to these steps, you’re going to create infinite happy memories with your new companion as it grows from being an adorably cute bundle of excitement into a well formed, well behaved and genuinely lovable adult.