Monday, 25 May 2015

Is it possible to keep a clean house with dog? Few tips for you!

Living with a dog or dogs doesn’t mean your house has to look and smell bad. Perhaps you don't want to spend entire day cleaning. Here are some tips how to clean up in the quickest way possible and how to prevent a mess.



First of all, manage your dog hair. One of the most persistent issues pet owners face is animal hair. They are everywhere - on floors, furniture, and clothing. Place an old towel or sheet wherever your puppy likes to rest, and periodically shake it outside to remove most of the hair before tossing it in the washing machine.



If you need to get rid of hair in a hurry, go for the vacuum.
It works tons better than a broom. These little cloths grab hair, dirt, and dust, and other dirt quick, and you just throw away the cloth when you’re done.

For hair on your clothing, it is best to use a tape roller. Loop a ribbon through the handle and hang one from the doorknob inside closets throughout the house so they're always available to use. For furniture, use the hand vacuum.

Keeping your dog paws clean
Stop muddy paws at the door. Place mats at both the outside and inside of every door. They really help cut the dirt down. Be sure to get a washable mat.



Another way to keep the mud out - pet wipes. It only takes a few seconds and you’ll be amazed to see how much dirt comes off your dog’s paws when they come in. Most dogs don’t seem to mind the routine.

Work quickly on stains
When accidents happen, clean them up as soon as they happen. If you leave a mess, it will spread, stain, and smell. Also your dog will want to come back to that spot and use it again thinking that’s his toilet.



Moreover -buy right furniture. For furniture that repels hair, resists tearing, and can be cleaned easily, look for top-grain, semi-aniline leathers. Scratches are disguised on such pieces because the hide is dyed through and then treated for additional protection and color consistency. You can also buy your dog one of our easy to clean and hygenic beds or pillows to make cleaning much easier task.


Monday, 18 May 2015

How long do dogs sleep?

Almost every time you look at your dog, he is asleep. Have you wonder how much dogs sleep every single day ? Let's find out.



To understand dogs sleeping habits, we must first understand that their sleeping patterns are much different to those of us. Moreover their sleep requirements vary depending on their breed and size as well.
As a bonus we will check out what dog sleeping position means.

Sleeping time
The average amount of time for a dog to sleep in a day is between 12 and 18 hours. However, there are some different factors listed below that could affect your dog’s sleeping patterns. Even though every breed and even every dog is different. Have you ever noticed that when you are home, your dog may only be awake a few hours a day, but then when you take him to the car, buckle up him in his car bed and bring him on a trip somewhere, he can run and play all day without stopping?



The reason for such an unusual behavior is because dogs don’t have a regular sleeping pattern. There are 2 main stages of sleep in dogs. First - Slow-wave sleep (SWS), which is a lighter type of sleep with less brain activity and the second one - rapid eye movement (REM), which is a deeper type of sleep with higher brain activity.

Dogs spend between 8 and 12% of their sleep time in the so called REM while humans 20 to 25 %.



Similar to us, dogs have a favorite sleeping position. There are 4 typical sleeping positions.

Side sleeping – when a dog is sleeping on his side or belly with all four paws stuck out. Usually, this position is only for napping, but occasionally they will sleep like this for longer periods of time. This is the most common and comfortable position for a dog.

Next, back sleeping. One of the funniest positions to see. There could be two reasons for back sleeping of dog. The first possible reason dogs do this is to expose their belly. Place on a dog with little to no hair. Exposing it is one of the fastest ways to cool off. The second reason is because in back sleeping position all of the dog’s muscles are able to relax completely.



Curled in a ball – very common napping position. In order to hold this position, your dog must use his muscles. This is not a relaxed position by any means. But dogs can get up and begin move very quickly when sleeping in this position.



And the last one back to back or touching – either their owner or another dog – while sleeping shows attachment and affection to that person / animal.

Monday, 11 May 2015

Biggest myths about dogs

Dog myths have been around since the domestication of dogs, and some of them stick around even today. Which ones are true and which ones are not? Here are the most ridiculous dog myths we see time and time again.



Dogs eat grass only if they are sick

Dog's ancestors such as wolves ate an entire animal — stomach contents included. Small prey animals usually fed off of grasses and berries, and that’s most likely where the taste for grass originated. Most recent research indicates that quite simply put, dogs just like to eat grass. If the grass is treated with chemicals then it could be hazardous to your pet. Some vets do believe that dogs will intentionally consume large amounts of grass to induce vomiting if they feel unwell.




A dog will be fine in the car as long as you crack the windows

Remember to never, ever do this, even if you think you are only running out for a minute. Even in cool temperatures the heat inside a vehicle can rise quickly, and this is even more dangerous in warmer temperatures. Leaving your dog inside the vehicle is as bad as placing your dog in an oven and turning up the heat. Remember also to make sure that your dog has comfortable conditions inside the car ( buy him one of our comfy carbeds ).



Dogs are colorblind

The canine retina indicates that dogs can see some colors, primarily blues, yellows, greens and shades of gray.



A wagging tail is a sign of a happy dog



False. Tail wagging can also be a sign of fear, anxiety or impending aggression. The tail may wag slower, erratically or while inverted on a dog’s back.

Monday, 4 May 2015

Is your dog afraid of car rides?

People like to travel and they usually do it by using car. It can be disheartening for dog owner to discover that the dog is terrified of riding with him in the car. Such fear is a very common dog phobia. Fortunately, most people are able to overcome this fear by gradually introducing the dog to riding in the car using lots of positive reinforcement.




So what causes the fear of car rides? There are several reasons:

First - car sickness. Just like people, some dogs may feel nauseous or even vomit on car rides.
Secon, the fear of the unfamiliar feeling. Dogs who aren't used to going on car rides may be disturbed by the odd feeling of riding in the car. Cars usually have their own smell, and there is also the sound of the engine, the vibrations of the floor, and seeing everything whizzing past at a fast speed.
Next one - association with negative experiences. For many dogs, the only time they set paw in a car is for a trip to the veterinarian. If your dog has negative feelings about going to the vet, he may transfer that feeling to car rides.



Now, that we knew what causes the fear, let's see how it could be overcome.

Begin by luring your dog to the car rather than forcing him to approach it. Many dogs with a fear of car rides put on the breaks as soon as the car comes into view. Instead of dragging your dog to the car, slowly lure him closer using lots of treats and praise.



Continue using positive reinforcement to get him inside. Once your dog is comfortable with approaching the car, you can begin to lure him inside. Start by opening up all the doors so your dog won't feel like he'll be trapped once he gets inside. Use treats and praise to coax your dog into the car.

Have some special bonding time with your dog inside the car. Don't rush to slam the doors shut and start the engine the minute your dog finally hops inside the car. Instead, leave the doors open, and spend some time snuggling with your dog in the car.



Start your engine. When your dog has become fairly comfortable hanging out with you in the car, you can start the engine. As soon as the car is started, give your dog some treats and talk to him in a happy tone of voice. Remember to make sure that your will travel in comfy conditions, it is a good idea to buy him special carbed.


Start off with small trips. Don't make your dog's first car ride a long road trip. The first few times out of the driveway, you should probably drive no farther than around the block, giving your dog treats the whole way. Gradually work your way up to going longer distances.