When pet owners are asked what items are most significant for their pets, a good dog bed is generally towards the top of the list. A good dog bed for your dog is equally as essential as clean bowls for water and food, a collar along with a leash. Good dog beds will give warmth, support for that back and joints along with a sense of security for your pet. Whenever a dog includes a bed of their own, he’ll appreciate the enhanced comfort and you will be capable of taking advantages of these benefits.

Your dog bed can’t ever be thought to be an optional device. Rather, large dog beds are so important that they should be thought about essential for those big dogs no matter size, age, or breed.

While I was busy with my family in the Halloween preparations last year, we forgot to mention Halloween costumes in our shopping list. A fortnight before the big day, an alarm was raised by my middle school going daughter and we all had creepy looks on our faces. We went to a local store, bearing great hopes in our minds, but all in vain.

Fortunately, a dear friend of mine came to our rescue and suggested this wonderful website to us. As we explored through the website, an impressive database of different costumes welcomed us. It was amazing to watch the collection of costumes for adults as well as children. One can also find some well-designed mascot and pet costumes.

Apart from costumes, various party supplies, masks, wigs, shoes and jewelry items are offered by this website. So, we were able to discover this website, a strong contender in dealing with decorations, props and all other items mentioned above.

We were able to select some exciting costumes for adding value to the Halloween celebrations. And as for this year, we already know the place, from where we can shop not only our costumes, but all other party essentials. Definitely a wonderful place to make your Halloween celebrations memorable for rest of your life!

A spa for dogs – it is the highlight of this website, which is dedicated to offer best dog products to take care of beloved companions of pet owners. The best part of this website is that it provides quality products, along with most desirable information to select the best products for your pet.

Apart from products like dog shampoo and conditioner, there are other categories offering products like elixirs, breath sprays, skin products and so on. You may also purchase these products as gift items for your friends.

The website is an excellent destination in terms of design and functionality. The easy-to-browse features, along with categorized products and information, are enough to hold your attention. You may also consider it as a safe place to order for different products required for your pets.

Registration process is simple and one may search for desirable products with the help of search tools. For instance, you may find products as well as information related to dog itchy skin by entering right phrase in the search box. Another good aspect of this website is that all products are accompanied by detailed descriptions like images, how to use the product and ingredients included in the preparations.

The website has enhanced its importance by integrating blog and news section in its space. Thus, you may get latest information about dog care and dog products from this website. Having said all, we can rate this website with a good score on the basis of its growing popularity amongst dog owners.

Dukepost is indeed one of the few online portals, providing easy-to-access information about pets and pet related products in the form of classifieds. No matter which state you resides in, you may visit this website for earning information regarding puppies for sale, apart from sale of other pets like kittens, horses, birds, fish and reptiles.

Also, it is a useful website for locating online stores in your area, which are dedicated to provide pet supplies like kennels, aquariums, cages and farm supplies. In addition, there are advertisements related to pet services like pet training, veterinary facilities, pet games training and many more. Thus, along with searching boxer puppies for sale, you may also extract information related to other requirements of keeping a pet.

The best part of this website is that it is easy to browse and navigate from one page to another. You may easily search for product or service you are looking for. For instance, if you are looking for beagle puppies for sale, it won’t consume much time to reach the appropriate category listed on the homepage.

Apart from this, you may join the discussion forum and learn efficient pet care from education section. You may also find pet communities to become the part of proud pet owners in your area. Thus, you may bookmark this website in the list of your favorites and recommend it to all pet lovers around you.

Your puppy will be much happier and more confident if you establish a routine for him early on. Knowing when he is going to be fed, when it is playtime, as well as where he is allowed to go in the house, will all help him to feel more secure.

Puppies are quite demanding of your time and attention at first, as are senior dogs, which will need more help as they grow older and less able to cope.

Puppy Routine

Meals: Feed your puppy regularly: breakfast at 7:30 am, lunch at midday, dinner at 4 pm and supper at 8 pm.

Toilet Training: Offer your puppy toilet breaks every hour during the day, after meals and after sleeping.

Play: Schedule in short play sessions throughout the day, preferably not just after he’s eaten.

Training Sessions: Introduce your puppy to new people, noises and experiences. Using rewards, teach him his name and to come when called, as well as the ‘sit’ and ‘down’ commands.

Grooming: Gently brush your puppy and handle him all over, including the mouth and paws. Encourage him to accept eye contact.

Home Alone

Although you want to spend every waking minute with your new puppy, you need to prepare him for those times when he will be left alone. From the beginning, leave him alone in a closed room for short periods. Start with a few minutes and then gradually build up to longer periods. Don’t make a huge fuss either before you leave or when you go back into the room. Aim to make this a normal part of his day, and he will then be happy to be left alone when necessary.

Setting Ground Rules

Ensure that visitors and children abide by your rules for handling the puppy. Here are some you might consider:

• Never allow your puppy to bite under any circumstance, even in play. Simply say ‘No’ and stop playing with him immediately.
• Discourage your puppy from jumping at people, even if they say it’s not a problem.
• Give your puppy his own sleeping quarters separate from your own. Dogs that are over-dependent on their owners can become very unhappy and distressed when left alone.
• Feed your puppy after you have eaten, so that he realizes you are head of the pack in your home.
• Don’t feed him tidbits from the table as this encourages begging and scavenging.
• Be consistent about where you allow him to be, such as on or off the furniture especially the poker chip table, as a hyper dog will send poker chips everywhere and most likely chew on them as well. Don’t allow him to sit on the sofa or entertainment center on the first day and then expect him to know that this area is out of bounds afterwards. A confused puppy is an unhappy one.

Dogs are highly intelligent animals, which is why it is so important to try to keep them mentally stimulated. Bored, unmotivated dogs (particularly working breeds such as the Border Collie or Bearded Collie) will tend to compensate for lack of stimulation by developing their own forms of amusement – many of which are unacceptable to their owners.

An unhappy, understimulated dog may sleep excessively, chew furniture and clothing, whine and bark constantly, chase traffic or livestock, self-harm, pace up and down, exhibit aggression or become over-dependent on his owner.

Do not punish

If your dog shows destructive tendencies or other unwanted behavior, never resort to physical punishment. Shouting or hitting a dog rewards attention-seeking behavior with negative attention, and should be avoided. Try to discover the reason why he is doing something and then take steps to manage and rectify the behavior. In addition, always check with your vet to ensure that there is no underlying physical cause for your dog’s behavior.

12 ways to a happier dog

There are many ways to keep a dog mentally stimulated that don’t involve a huge time commitment: just a few minutes every day will make a huge difference to your dog’s outlook on life. The key is to introduce variety and mental challenges that he will enjoy tackling. Your reward will be a dog that is happier and more alert, and a pleasure to own.

1. Consider a new activity such as agility training or heelwork to music.
2. Try showing him in the fun classes at dog shows, such as the dog with the waggiest tail or best biscuit eater!
3. Teach him some new tricks, such as rollovers or high fives.
4. Enrol in an advanced dog training class.
5. Give your dog’s toys names and teach them to him. Make a game out of asking him to fetch them for you one at a time.
6. Encourage him to think for himself with a new training method, such as clicker training.
7. Make sure of interactive toys that are filled with food and dispense treats as they are moved around during play.
8. Hide treats in the house and garden and encourage your dog to find them.
9. Involve him in family life, such as taking him to the beach or on a picnic.
10. Vary the route of your walks and research new ones for you to enjoy.
11. If your dog enjoys swimming in summer, take him for walks near water or treat him to some hydrotherapy sessions.
12. Go for walks with other dog owners so that your dog has plenty of social contact.

RESEARCH: Dogs require 37 essential nutrients for a complete diet. A diet lacking in just one of these nutrients is considered inadequate. Most dry foods are ‘complete’, as are many wet foods. However, some wet foods need dry biscuit mix added, so always check food labels carefully.

Although your dog will readily wolf down human food, wagging his tail and looking excited when it’s offered to him, such a diet will not provide all the nutrients he needs and may lead to health problems. So, what exactly should you be feeding him?

To keep your dog happy and healthy, he will need different foods during each life stage. His nutritional requirements will change as he grows from a puppy into an adult and then into a senior. Thankfully, it is easy to cater for these changing needs, as retailers stock a huge range of scientifically developed, palatable pet foods. Breed-specific food is also available. If in doubt, ask your vet for detailed advice.

FOOD TYPES

Two broad types of dog foods are available:

Wet foods: Conveniently packaged in cans, packs or pouches, these can contain up to 70 per cent moisture, making this a relatively expensive way to feed. Although dogs usually love these meaty foods, some owners are put off by the smell and appearance, especially in hot weather!

Dry foods: Packaged in plastic cartons or bags, dry food is easy to store and has a longer shelf life than wet. Less messy to use, it generally contains less than 10 per cent moisture and is therefore more economical. On the downside, because dry food is high in calories it is easy to overfeed. Constant access to fresh, clean water is essential.

RAW DEAL

Because dogs are descended from wolves, many people think it is healthier and more natural to feed them a diet of raw meat. There are arguments both for and against this sort of diet, but it is worth noting that many domestic breeds of dog are unable to chew or digest raw food very efficiently and feeding bones is always risky as splinters can pierce the intestines.

Although certain essential nutrients are lost in cooking, the cooking process will reduce the risk of bacteria being present. Because of the intensive farming methods commonly used today and the increased likelihood of contamination, it is safer to give your dog cooked meat or commercially prepared pet food.

Dogs that are fed on meat alone are likely to suffer from calcium and other deficiencies, so to keep your dog well and happy ask your vet’s opinion on feeding him raw meat and the effects this may have on his health.

FOODS TO AVOID

Chocolate: Contains theobromine, which can be fatal to dogs in large quantities. It can cause vomiting, restlessness, palpitations and seizures. Pet chocolate is high in fat, so feed only as a treat.

Raisins and grapes: Can be toxic to dogs and may cause renal failure.

Onions: 5-10 kg (11-22 lbs) of cooked onion per kilo (pound) of bodyweight may cause anaemia.

Garlic: Part of the onion family, and if eaten in large quantities may cause skin problems and asthma. If fed as a natural flea repellent, it may be advisable to feed for five days followed by a two-day break.

Lactose: Found in dairy products, this is not well digested by weaned dogs.

Fruit: High sugar levels and acidity may cause gastric upset.

Potatoes: Cooked potatoes are not poisonous but are not easily digested. Raw green potatoes contain solanum, which is toxic to dogs.

WATER

Dogs cannot store water easily and dehydration can soon be fatal. Around 60 per cent of an adult dog’s body is water, and even a small loss of fluid can be serious. Dogs need about 45-50 ml of water per kilo (1 fl oz per pound) of bodyweight per day, but weather, exercise and diet also influence water intake.

Generally speaking, dogs are real people pleasers and very much want to be involved in our lives. Ensuring that they feel secure, loved and welcome in their ‘pack’ is probably top of a dog’s happiness wish list.

Survival basics

There are four essentials that every dog needs in order to survive:

1. Food – scavenging for scraps or living off human food is unhealthy. Dogs need fresh dog food that contains all the nutrients they require.
2. Water – constant access to fresh, clean drinking water is a must.
3. Exercise – dogs need regular walks and activity to keep them physically healthy and mentally stimulated.
4. Shelter – escape from the cold and refuge from heat are essential.

Happiness essentials

As well as the basics for survival, dogs need some extra commitments from their owners in order to be happy. These include:

1. Companionship – dogs are naturally pack animals, but when they don’t have access to a pack they will substitute their human/s or other family pets.
2. Socializing – behaving well with other dogs and people is essential to prevent a dog becoming anxious, aggressive and isolated.
3. Training – basic training will make everyone’s life much easier. A well-trained dog can be taken anywhere and will be confident and happy.
4. Grooming – some breeds of dog are high maintenance and require more grooming than others, but all dogs will benefit from being brushed, combed and occasionally bathed.
5. Routine – dogs appreciate going out for walks and being fed at set times. This becomes even more important when they enter their senior years.
6. Veterinary care – regular preventative and reactive health care will ensure that a dog has a long and healthy life.