Pampered Dog Blog

One way to keep your dogs or livestock within your area is through physical fences. There are supposed to prevent animals from entering and leaving the specified area. Some fences are equipped to release a current when touched. If you’re worried your dog may never come home again from his neighbourhood strolls, such a pet containment system is available. Many dog owners claim that this pet containment system tends to be more cost effective over time. In areas where it’s prohibited to erect physical fences, electronic dog fences are preferred.

A fence without a fence? How does that work?

The aim is clear – for your dog to remain inside your area. An electronic dog fence is essentially an area bound by buried wires instead of erected fences. There are usually marker flags visible, and planted at intervals – these flags are small, unobtrusive ones. The dog wears a collar that emits a warning sound when it nears the boundaries. The collar sends out a mild shock every time he leaves the boundaries. With some training, the dog realizes that he is not to go beyond the area wherein he hears the warning sound.

So even though there are no physically erected fences publicly visible, there might as well be, since the dog will keep inside the area marked by the flags. Naturally, any other animal (human beings included) who does not wear the collar, are unaffected by the virtual fence. Because of the space retain, or reclaimed, some dog owners choose an electronic dog fence to physical fences.

The same principle but using other means

There are alternative ways to this pet containment system’s set up. Marking the boundaries of the area, in an alternate set up, makes use of radio signals broadcast from a central device. When the dog walks outside a certain radius, the warning sound, and later, a corrective shock activates. Another set up uses the Global Positioning System to mark boundaries and track the dog’s movement. Should the dog try to ignore the warning sound, the static correction sets in – this is the same condition that applies for all three sets ups: the buried wire, the radio signal set up, and the GPRS system.

You can adjust or increase the intensity of the static correction the dog receives when it tries to get past the marker flags, and ignore the warning sounds. It must be emphasized that the dog takes some time getting used to interpreting the warning signal, hence the dog must be trained to and rewarded when he decides to remain inside the electronic dog fence.

Dog owners who are considering a doggie door in their house not only want for their dog some freedom, but some relief from having to walk the dog out every time it wants to. The most common type of doggie door is the door mounted type. When buying, consider the materials used for the flaps, whether some weather sealing is available, extensions for the tunnel, sizes (as some are designed for only small dogs), how easy the installation is, and whether you want an always open or automatic door. Dog doors can also be locked, so your pets won’t be able to get out at night.

There are videos online detailing how easy it is to install a pet door on your door, what’s not common are some concerns of home owners who don’t want their doors touched, after all the time they spent choosing it. Sometimes, it’s a shame to saw through a beautiful door. If you live in areas where there are strong winds, installing a patio dog door facing the wind might be a bad idea. This could also be a potential heat loss source. That’s the reason there are variants, such as the wall-mounted doggie door.

You want to install your wall-mounted pet door in an area of your house where the dog is least likely to bump into or knock over anything. This is crucial, so that your pet will not injure itself.

With a properly mounted doggie door, owners no longer have to get up from what they’re doing to attend to their dogs who want to get out of the house. Since dogs can do this on their own, without the need to be supervises, this situation frees you from the need to drop whatever you were doing just to walk the dog out; it also spares the dog from negative emotions, like resentment.

Having doggie doors actually contribute to having a healthier relationship with your dogs. Not all dog owners have enough time to consistently play with their pets. Any pet would love some measure of freedom, to roam around as it likes. Also, being kept inside the house for too long can actually create some problems. Dogs that are not socialized properly might get too excited when they sense other dogs, ending up in scratched furniture or knocked over lamps and other breakable items.

Sometimes you may need to spend some time away from your house – a vacation, a visit to another country, a sabbatical – and whoever will babysit your dog might not understand the nuances in its behaviour the way you can. You don’t want your dog getting stressed out. A reliable and easy to install doggie door can solve these problems.

If you’ve grown annoyed of having to let your cat out when it wants to, then you should think about getting a cat door. You may have seen most cat doors, or cat flaps – they’re just flaps of light plastic, unless weighed down. Of course, there are flaps of harder but lighter materials – but the point is the same: to accustom your cat to leave and come home when it wants to. Knocked over items, scratched furniture, potty accidents – these are some of the problems cat owners avoid when they have cat doors installed in their homes.

Unless you own many pets of varying size – big dogs and cats – you only need a cat door that’s right for your cat’s size.
Both animals can use the flap, it’s not a problem. They just have to push the flap open.
Now, there are lock settings on flaps, such as towards the inside of your house, or outside it. It’s one thing to put up a smaller point of entry into your house, and a completely other thing to assume animals of roughly the same size won’t try to get in via the same new point of entry. For that, you’re going to need a snappier, most sophisticated cat door.

If you want to avoid having stray cats or dogs or other intruders – including small kids and thieves – you should look into automatic or electronic cat doors. The same principle is used in automatic dog doors, which makes use of a devices in the cat’s collar and in the door, which “interact.” Only your cat and walk in and out of your house – it should wear a special collar that the electronic doors recognises and opens the flap upon sensing. Some pet owners are annoyed to find racoons, feral cats, and neighbour’s intrusive cats inside their homes – and you want none of that. The door opens (slides up in some models with electric motors) or unlocks upon “sensing” an infrared, radio, or magnetic device on your cat’s collar.

Now, just because you’ve put in a door just for your cat means the cat immediately understands your intentions; far from it, you might need to train your cat to use the flap. Take your cat close to the flap and show it how the flap opens, and that it opens to the world outside. If you installed a full-automatic cat door, you must make sure your cat wears the special collar that activates the doors. Your cat has to get used to the event – of the door’s opening – as linked to his vicinity to it. You can use treats to entice the cat to the door if it’s still shy.

Don’t you just find small dogs cute?
It’s not surprising that small dogs are popular.
But those familiar only with their cute factor might not know how annoying these little darlings can be when they bark non-stop. That’s when some discipline should come along in the form of a bark collar. One question you have to deal with is how to find the right one for your dog. A citronella collar is what many small dog owners recommened.

Different brands of bark collars differ in the quality of their build and design. To get some info, you could talk to your vet about getting a collar for your small dog, so you can be informed about your options. You could conduct an online search for bark collars as well.

Just the same, your choice your cover which deterrent system or type of collar to buy, as well as the right size.
An ultrasonic collar disrupts your dog’s barking with a high-pitched sound only dog’s can hear. A static collar sends out a low-voltage shock, perfectly safe, instead of the sound. A spray releases a chemical harmless but is annoying to the dog. This type is where the citronella spray belongs.

The citronella spray is also reported to fend off flies and mosquitoes, according to many anecdotal reports from owners.
It also comes across as a gentler approach, one that does away with electrical shocks.

Your online search will undoubtedly send you to customer review pages, which may mirror your experience and tell you how effective the collar they bought were. You could get lucky and stumble on discounts online.

Once you settle down on the collar type, you’ll want to spend time with your small dog and be perfectly consistent with its training. That means keeping his collar on up to a time when its barking is reduced.

Small dogs are miniscule, soft, and even handy, that owner want to bring them along wherever they go – except of course when they bark non-stop. Before you entertain thoughts about replacing your pet, you may want to get a citronella collar first. After a few days of getting used to the collar, your small dog won’t be as barking mad as before. You deserve to get some peace back in your home.

Many owner are worried when their dog leaves and they are forced to look for it. Some dogs dog come back at the end of the day, but they do so with wounds. Some of them don’t come back at all. It’s time to seriously think about how to keep your dog at home – via a dog fence. Contrary to what some dog owners may think, this pet containment system is actually worth the money, as you will see.

The fence is not visible to the naked eye

The idea behind an electronic dog fence is for your pet to be deterred from leaving a specific area. The same effect of keeping the dog inside boundaries is also possible with the traditional physical fence. You would have to have the fences themselves installed in the surrounding area. Even if you set it up to be electrically charged, that’s impractical in urban settings – not to mention dangerous.

The practical alternative is for electronic fences. There are several ways in which this set up works. Most installations involve burying wires in a “boundary” designated around a specified area. The dog wears a collar that sends out a warning tone when the dog gets near the boundaries. If the dog ignores the warning and continues to move past the boundaries, it receives a corrective shock. So, over time, even though there’s no physical barrier fencing it in, the dog learns to stay in the designated area.

At least two other dog containment system works in the same manner. One set up involves the use of radio signals broadcast from a central source. The dog, similar to the warning/shock conditions in the buried wire set up, still receives a warning/shock when it tries to leave the radius of the signal. The other set up uses the Global Positioning System to both mark off the boundaries and the dog’s movements. Both methods avoid having to bury wires around a designated area.

The aesthetic benefits of the electronic dog fence

For some people who are only renting, putting up physical fences may not be allowed. And then there are area where ordinances prevent the same installation. The work-around, to protect your dog, is to install electronic dog fences. Clear benefits include not having to ruin the landscape and not making it seem that your dog is in prison behind physical fences. Your dog is free to roam your area, but not outside it.

An dog fence effectively deters your dog from leaving your premises.

If you’re looking for a pet dog door, you should know how that installation can affect the security of your home. Dog doors of the traditional variety, often just a frame under a door or on a wall, are often just plastic flaps. Supposing sturdier materials are used in higher quality flaps, it’s still an extra egress for you to worry about. Any responsible dog owner should take the following seriously when choosing a pet dog door.

Size is crucial. Don’t just get any doggie door, there’s a height to consider. One problem with having big dogs is the corresponding dog door size – if it fits them, it will also fit a smaller person. That smaller person could be your child, someone else’s, or a thief. You don’t want your children or someone else’s to get stuck, and possibly injured that way. You will also have to worry about other animals coming in and out of your home – via that dog door. If you can at least restrict the height to that of your dog, you can probably limit intruders.

Where to place it. Installing your dog door on your front door might sound convenient, especially when it opens into a fenced front yard – but that also risks announcing to passersby that there’s a smaller door that might be explored by thieves. Many dog owners choose to install their pet doors on their backdoor, which usually leads to a secure backyard. Or to any other house door beside your front entrance. The last thing you want is to give thieves a clue on where to start testing entry.

The type of pet door your need. Traditional flap-type doors come also in versions where the door is made of harder plastic. There are also several lock settings to choose from. The door can be set to swing open, outwards, or inwards; or just one direction, and then gets locked. One side setting means when your dog gets in, or out, that’s it. This lock setting could lock your pet inside or outside your home – your pet will be safe inside, but oversights happen and it could be left outside, in the cold, overnight. Although an electronic /automatic pet dog door is an effective answer, it is more expensive. Your dog wears a specially equipped collar, one that the door senses when the dog is near; the door, consequently, opens only when the dog is near. Having a doggie door is a great benefit for both owner and pet – you won’t have to worry about accidental potty incidents (should your dog be kept inside the house for too long), and the dog can feel free to come and go as it pleases.

The myth is that only male cats spray inside the house. Unfortunately it is only that, a myth. In many instances males and females alike spray inside. They spray for many different reasons.

Unfortunately there is not much we as cat owners can do to prevent it. It is definitely considered a territorial instinct with cats.

One main reason cats spray is to “mark their territory”. The dominant male cat sees it as a alert to other cats that they are in charge and are the ruler of their domain. You may find male cats are likely to spray directly in front of others, felines and humans alike with no discretion. When a male cat sprays it is a very thick, sticky and obnoxious spray.

Another reason why cats spray is when there is a new cat added to the family. Whether it be a kitten or an adult cat the original cat will take that as a threat. As the spraying starts you will need to be prepared to disinfect and retrain your feline with each and every spray.

A more plausible reason to feline spraying is the introduction of new furniture, accessories or people. As this is a difficult one to avoid, since our lives are ever-changing and getting better, the cats have a harder time dealing with change. When you introduce new furniture it may have the smell of the factory on it and they feel threatened by it.

There are three things to keep in mind as a simple solution to ridding your home of the dreaded smell of spraying done by your cats. White vinegar and water, baking soda and water and hydrogen peroxide (no water). These are all three home remedies that have been proven over the years to work. Now you can enjoy your home with your feline friends even more than before.

James Winsoar is the Managing Director of Microchip Cat Flaps Ltd a company that offers the Pet Porte range of microchip activated cat flaps. He also writes cat care articles to help cat lovers with cat care issues.

Thousands of proud dog owners attest to how much they love their dogs, when they’re behaving nicely, and not causing a racket. Wally, a five year old Labrador is usually behaved, quiet, and knows when to keep to himself when, Evelyn, his owner is having a bad day. Except when he senses that other dogs are near the front gate. This is the moment the quiet, well-behaved Wally goes somewhere else, and a barking-mad Wally takes over. This is Wally’s bad side. Evelyn was to discover for herself how quickly this behaviour could be controlled using electronic collars.

Evelyn understands that barking is the usual way dogs express themselves. But his barking can’t be controlled, Evelyn realized, especially when it’s so early in the morning; she gets migraines because of this. There are nights when Evelyn is awakened from sleep, abruptly, by wild barking. Some owners resort to yelling, angrily, at their dog, or worse, to violence. For a while, spending time with Wally, showering him with attention, and giving him treats worked. But the dog, over time, simply kept barking anyway. She had to keep apologizing to her neighbours.

She came home from work one afternoon with some thing new to try out. The no-bark collar, a shock type, fit Wally’s neck nicely. What was needed was to keep watch on Wally until he got used to wearing the collar. Obedience collars fall generally into two categories – those that activate automatically, and those that can be activated remotely. The sensor sends out a low-voltage shock when it senses, in combination, a loud sound (Wally’s bark) and vibration coming from the dog’s throat. This is the kind of obedience collar Evelyn wanted to try out first, on Wally.

On the very evening the collar was bought and placed on Wally, neighbour’s dogs walked past the front gate, as per their walking schedule. Wally tried to bark loudly, but something was off. Wally showed a startled look on his face. Evelyn observed as his dog kept trying to bark, so see if he could work around the shocks and keep barking anyway. Evelyn, based on customer comments she read, wasn’t surprised to see Wally trying out other ways to bark, to get past the shocks. The succeeding weeks brought a welcome quiet at home.

Wally’s barking stopped, even though Evelyn could see that her dog still senses other dogs outside their house. But the barking mad behaviour was gone, thanks to electronic collars.

If your your child has been petitioning for a pet or you and your spouse feel the time is right to add animal companionship to your home, you should carefully consider your choices. In some cases, a pet finds its way into your home. A stray may need a place to live or a friend may offer you a young pet. However, commiting to a new pet is a huge decision and should take some time. Different animals require different things and not all families can provide what they need. If you are ready to bring a pet into the family, consider things like Dog training Minneapolis-St. Paul. To make sure your pet is not disruptive, you may need to provide it with some behavioral help. dog trainers Minneapolis- St. Paul can provide you with tips for helping your pet fit into your home. This will help everyone lead a happy, healthy life.

If a canine is not for you and your family, you may want to choose a cat. Cats suit some families better because they need less attention. When you go on vacation, a cat can be left alone. While, they require attention and affection, cats are self-sufficient and can go a few days with enough food and water to be on their own. Cats are great at amusing themselves and finding things to play with without having human attention. Even without needing constant affection, they are still great companion animals.

In some cases, families have limited options because of allergies or finances. If you find yourself looking for an animal based on allergies or health, you have a few choices. Those with fur allergies can choose a reptile. Kids love these kinds of pets because they are creepy and crawly. Larger animals can find large pets overwhelming, but animals in cages or terrariums might be just the solution.

If creepy crawlies make you quiver, consider a hamster or gerbil. These animals are soft and cuddly enough to amuse the children, but small enough to let adults feel as if they are relatively maintenance free. While the cage may need to be cleaned, you will not need to hire a pet sitter to care for a hamster or gerbil during a few days away.

Finally, consider not making a long term commitment to any animal. There are foster programs that allow you to help animals while others are finding permanent homes for them. It can be tough getting attached to an animal that you must let go, but it is rewarding to know that you are providing the animal with a comfortable, safe home while they await their forever home. And if you do find yourself not wanting to give up a certain animal, you can always make them a permanent part of your home.

To comprehend why our darling cats scratch we first need to understand what their sharp claws are for. They do not intentionally scratch furniture to annoy us or to cause damage. In fact cats have retractable claws so that they can balance, turn, run, climb, jump and defend themselves with sheer precision.

An alternative to declawing or re-homing your favorite friend is simply teaching them the house rules. There are a few simple techniques that are tried and tested to work in relation to this ongoing problem.

First, invest in multiple cat scratching posts or cat activity centres covered in either rope or carpet. Once you have got the posts or houses place a bit of catnip on them to lure your cat to them so they will know it is ok to use them. You may even want to take their paw and do a scratching motion or scratch on it yourself to teach them how to use it. When they go back to the furniture, which at first they will, pick them up and take them back to the post.

Secondly, try double sided tape. It may sound unusual, but it does seem to work. Cats hate anything tacky on the pads of their feet. When they go to claw the furniture and feel the tape they will instinctively stop. However, you will need to replace the tape as it is pulled down from time to time.

Thirdly, if both of the above fail is to utilize a small squirty gun filled with water. When your cat attacks the furniture, simply say ‘No’ in an masterful voice and squirt them once on the tail end with the water gun. Do not spray them in the face as it is very easy for a kitty to lose their breath for a second if this is done.

If done with consistency and authority your new scratching friend will soon be a non-scratcher in no time. The key is not giving up! It will not happen overnight, but it can be taught. Good Luck!