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It seems that Dog Parks are cropping up everywhere these days! Do you and your furry companion go to dog parks? As with anything there are rules and regulations that need to be followed for everyone's safety. Below is a list of some rules for you and your pet, remember this is to keep everyone safe.
Your dog should be reasonably confident and social. Dogs that are fearful, aggressive, or reactive are not appropriate for dog parks.
Basic good manners are a park pre-requisite. Your dog should not jump on, mark (leg-lift) people in the park, or jump into anyone’s lap without invitation. Your dog should be responsive to some basic cues or commands so you can get control of your dog if necessary.
Barking should be kept to a reasonable level. Occasional barks of joy are acceptable as it shows they are having a good time. Non-stop barking and seriously aggressive barking is not acceptable.
Only healthy dogs should play at dog parks. Obviously, communicable diseases and parasites are unacceptable as these can affect and infect other dogs. They are a high risk factor for causing aggression when a dog is hurt or stressed by the anticipation of being hurt. Puppies under the age of four months should be left at home. Puppies are not fully immunized yet, so are at higher risk for contracting diseases, and vulnerable to being traumatized by another dog's inappropriate behavior
If you are a new park user, visit the park without your dog to observe park culture and practices. Take your dog to the park the first time at non-peak use hours to allow both of you to acquaint yourselves with the environment without the stress and distraction of others around. Obey all posted park rules, even if you disagree with them and find them unfounded.
Do not bring small children to the dog park. Sometimes dogs that are running fast in a chasing game will accidentally run into an adult but you would not want this to happen to a child.
Try to limit your use of toys or food treats to avoid dog on dog conflict. This may vary depending on the amount of dogs at the park during any given visit.
Be extremely realistic about your dog's potential as a park playmate. The dog park is not the appropriate place to work on fixing your dog's behavior problems.
Survey the park for several minutes before you take your dog in to be sure there are no dogs present who are inappropriate play partners for your dog. Supervise your dog's play at all times. This is not the time to read War and Peace. Be prepared to interrupt inappropriate play whether your dog is the victim or the perpetrator.
Not all dogs enjoy playing with other dogs or humans. Be willing to leave if your dog is not having a good time.
Respect and honor posted dog-park hours. These hours are set for a reason and help maintain peace and harmony with nearby neighbors.
Always clean up after your dog both inside and outside the park.
As with any experience, whether it is new or old, we always learn new things. Hopefully this information gave you a little something more to think about. There are a myriad of resources out there if you crave more information. Good luck and happy dog parking! We would love to hear your thoughts or comments on this article.
I wondered what my long haired calico, Gizzie, got into when she was walking around with a dirty chin. Gizzie was a very clean cat, so it was unusual to see her dirty. Besides, she was an indoor cat, so what kind of trouble could she have gotten into to get this dirty?
Well, the dirt didn’t go away, even after taking a warm wash cloth and wiping her chin. So, I took a closer look and believe it or not, my little Gizzie had kitty acne! Who would have thought!
Yes, cats get acne and they don’t like it any better than humans do. The vet said that Gizzie just needed a little extra help cleaning her chin and the acne should go away. After cleaning her chin off with a warm, wet wash cloth the acne went away in a matter of a few days.
Gizzie decided she knew a better way to keep her chin clean. Being the princess of the house, she would go up to her big brother, Tazz, and roll over right in front of him. Tazz then took on the responsibility of keeping Gizzie’s chin clean and she never had another outbreak of acne.
Some cases of acne are harder to clear up and your vet can prescribe the proper medication for the afflicted area.
Here is a nutritious treat for your cat. The Kitty Can Chew is an easy to grow, edible plant that your cat will love.
Grass helps with the digestive system, which is why many cats chew on indoor and outdoor plants, many of which are not good for your cat. The Kitty Can Chew provides you (and your cat) with a cat friendly plant that your cat will enjoy munching on. Simply mix the packets together, soak it, and cover it. Continue watering your cat grass and when it reaches 2 inches tall it is ready for your cat to munch on.
Kitty Can Chew comes in a wide variety of growing containers that you and your family can have fun with.
Click here to get more information about the Kitty Can Chew.
We all know that cat’s like clean litter boxes, but I don’t know anyone who likes doing the litter patrol! There is a new product out that automatically cleans the litter box and disposes of all waste without you ever lifting a finger (or a scoop)!
The Cat Genie does all of the work for you and keeps the litter box clean, just the way your cat (and you) wants it. The Cat Genie is the only automatic cat box that flushes away waste and washes itself. The washable granules are cat-comfy, permanent and never need changing. Liquids are drain and solids get scooped out and liquefied. Then the waste is flushed down the drain or toilet. The Cat Genie thoroughly washes, scrubs, sanitizes and dries the granules and bowl, which eliminates the cat litter odor in your home. You can either pre-set the system to automatically clean at a pre-determined time or you can manually push the start button to start the cleaning process, which leaves you in complete control on when the litter box is cleaned.
The system is easy to set up yourself with a T-connector (included) to the cold water supply in the laundry room or bath room. The Cat Genie is perfect for a home with one to three cats.
Click here to read reviews on the Cat Genie.
Click here for more information on the Cat Genie.
With the cost of groceries going up every day it is a great time to take advantage of coupons to help lower your grocery bill.
Kibbles N Bits Wholesome Medley is a newer product on the market for your dog to enjoy. “Wholesome Medley is made with wholesome quality ingredients that taste great and provide 100% complete and balanced nutrition.” Wholesome Medley is made with the essential ingredients that you know are good for your dog, like poultry meal, brown rice, apples, peas and carrots. It also provides your dog with the vitamins and minerals he needs to keep him healthy. Plus, no wheat gluten, artificial flavors or preservatives are used in Wholesome Medley.
Click here to get your coupon today and start saving!
Your family can enjoy a bird’s eye view into a bird’s life by attaching a “Nest View” birdhouse to your window. From this view you can watch the birds nest, eggs hatch, and watch the first flight of baby birds. How much fun for you and your family! The birdhouse mounts directly to a window in your home. The bird house is 4” x 8” which is perfect for Nuthatches, Chickadees, Wrens and Sparrows.
The biggest concern I have for this type of birdhouse is that the suction cups will not hold the birdhouse securely to the window. I have used a see-through suction bird feeder that attached to the window and it fell down several times, which is the last thing you want to happen to a bird’s nest.
Please share your thoughts or experiences with this type of birdhouse.
The 4th of July can be a challenge for dog owners. Many dogs are terrified of fireworks and spend the entire evening trying to hind and get away from the noise. There are a few things you can do to make the 4th of July less traumatic for your dog.
Bring your dog inside for the night before the fireworks start. If possible, shut the windows and drapes to help reduce the noise level.
Stay with your dog. Your presence will help to calm your dog down.
Make sure your dog has a special area there he can feel safe, whether it is in the kennel or under a bed.
Turn on the TV or put the music on to help distract the dog by adding normal household noises.
Last, but not least, be certain to make sure your dog has some sort of identification. Many times the dog will try to run away from the noise, leaving you with a lost dog. Even if your dog has never shown fear of noises before, it is a good rule of thumb to make sure every pet has their identification on for the 4th of July.
It seems that Dog Parks are cropping up everywhere these days! Do you and your furry companion go to dog parks? As with anything there are rules and regulations that need to be followed for everyone's safety. Below is a list of some rules for you and your pet, remember this is to keep everyone safe.
