Ways to make your dog happy for life - a short guide

If you’re looking for some new ways to stimulate your dog senses or want to make sure he has a healthy, happy life, here are some tips and trick how to do it.  Remember that happy dog is a friendly and more lovable member of your family.

So here is a list of things that you can do to make your dog happy. Fist of all you can go for a ride in the car together. Dogs love to travel and be all the time with their owners. But remember to keep your dog safe during this trip and buy him special bed designed for car transportation.

Transporter - car bed for dogs

Moreover, try to exercise and play with your dog as much as you can. For example, you can go to the local park and play Frisbee with him. Dogs love it and we all get plenty of exercise.Both of you will feel better and have lots of fun. You can also take a daily walk together.

Furthermore, keep fresh water available for your dog so he has good clean water when thirsty. Keep in mind to change the water daily.

Take care of your dog health by making sure you have scheduled regular checkups in vet office for your dog every 6 months.

What is more, make sure your dog is always safe. This can be with an identification tag snapped on his collar, a microchip for locating him if he became lost or is stolen.

Feed your dog properly and say no to sweets. Even though your dog is part of your family, he does not need his own Easter basket. In fact, desserts such as chocolate can seriously harm dogs. And as we speak about eating - brush your dog teeth. Regular dental care can prevent gum disease, tooth loss, and doggie breath. It can even lengthen your dog's life.

Caring for senior dog - a short guide

As your dog ages, many of his basic needs will begin to change. In this guide we will try help you understand what you need to do to keep your senior dog happy and healthy.

As you may know, dogs are very good at hiding their health problems and as an owner, it’s your responsibility to keep an eye on your senior dog and changes that take place in your pet body.
You need to know that different sized dogs age at varying rates, with larger dogs reaching senior status much sooner than smaller dogs.Most pet become seniors between 7 and 10 years old.

When your pet gets older you need to constantly watch out for his health issues. You and your vet will begin looking for specific issues that become more prevalent as a dog ages. Similar to humans, regular health checkups become increasingly important as dogs grow older. According to experts you should take your dog to a vet at least once every half year. By doing it you will promote your dog’s health and longevity. Have chance to recognize and control your pup’s health risks and detect any illnesses at their earliest stages.

Furthermore it's very important that you keep up with routine preventive care such as parasite prevention, dental care, vaccinations, and nutritional management, because with age your dog’s immune system weakens.

Moreover, when your dog become senior you need to adjust his nutrition. Special foods designed for senior dogs often have less fat, but not lower protein levels. You can always ask your vet which food will be best for your senior dog.

In addition to this, senior dogs can’t regulate their body temperature as well as they could in their younger days. So it is very important to keep your pet warm but at the same time protect them from conditions in which they may overheat.

Dog bed with orthopedic mat.

Older dog very often has arthritis, so he may prefer a ramp instead of walking up the stairs. What is more, you probably need to buy him special bed designed to promote orthopedic health.

Source: e-doggy.co.uk

How to introduce your dog to your baby - a quick guide

Dogs are very in tune with us so they easily mirror our feelings like anticipation before pregnancy but they don't understands what this realy mean to new order in house when baby will be born. Experts recommend that you prepare the family dog before the baby arrives. In order to minimize stress for the dog and reduce the chance of an accident you can make some preparations - here is our guide what to do.

First of all, focus on leadership. These 9 month before baby is born is more than enough time for you and your pet to work through most issues and get rid of unwanted habits.

Moreover try to claim your baby's scent. Bring an item that contains your baby's scent to home before you bringing baby back. Allow pet to sniff this item from a distance, while you are holding it so your dog understand that this is yours and you are giving him premision to sniff. This way you will establish clean boundries and help your dog to respect also your baby.

You should also condition your dog to understand that there is an invisible barrier that he may not cross without your permission. Eventually, you can allow your dog to explore and sniff certain things in the baby's room with your supervision and by doing this you will let your dog know that this room belongs to its pack leader ( you ) and dog must respected it.

When baby will be already in home you need to make propper introduction. Take your dog for a long walk and make sure you drain all of his energy. Before entering the house, your dog will instantly know there is someone new inside it. If you have already introduced the scent of baby, it will be somewhat familiar. Person holding the baby must be in a completely calm state. Then you should allow your dog to sniff the baby, but from respectful distance. During this first meeting, do not bring the baby too close. There will be time for this later.

Learing your dog respect for baby is important but you should alos teach your newborn about your dog. Once your child is in the exploratory state, it is important to supervise all interactions between him and pet. This is a great opportunity to teach your child not to bother the dog, yank his tail, etc.

If you are planning to transport your dog and baby together in car, it would be good idea to buy your dog propper car bed that will separete him from baby seating in his own car seat.

In addition to this, don't forget about your dog. Baby is very time-absorbing and dog does not need any new toys extra attention to feel important but you need to maintain the routine, providing daily walks and leadership.

Soure: e-doggy.co.uk

Why your dog needs bed?

Most of us don't pay to much attention to our own bed as we don't see it as the most cherished possession, but for sure we would not like to live without comfy bed. Our furry pets are just like us and they also need comfy bed - here is a short list why do they need one.

When dog owners ask what items are essential for their pet, a comfy bed is always at the top of the list with things like a collar, leash or food. Dog beds are so important that they aren't optional - they are necessary piece of equipment for all dogs as they have so many benefits to offer.

First of all, dog bed insulate your pet from the floor in winter and summer. During cold winter days, many small dogs love to curl up in a nesting-type bed like our model corner, which provides the warmth needed for both comfort and good health.

Moreover, dog bed provide your pet with his own private space and a sense of security.

Furthermore, comfy bed helps cushioning joints and bones - especially for older, arthritic or overweight dogs. Usually orthopedic dog beds have special foam mat - in our product we use Visco to give your dog extra joint support and comfort.

In addition, if your dog has his own bed you can easily controll the spread of hair and dander by concentrating it in one, easy to clean location.

Dog beds can also help avoid injuries by keeping your dog from jumping up and down from the furniture.

As you may see buying bed for dog is very important. If you spend the time to research and purchase best bed for your dog's individual needs, you will soon find that it is your pet's favorite place to spend time. Keep in mind that low quality beds quickly break down so buy only tested, high quality beds like the ones we offer.

Odd dog sleeping habits and what do they mean

If you are a perceptive person you may notice that dogs have some weird sleeping habits. From napping curled up in a ball to the twitching that some dogs do when they dream.

Below we will try to explain what  these habits mean. So without further ado - let's start.

First we will discouss curling up in a ball. This behavior is very cute and has a fascinating evolutionary basis. Long time agow when dogs sleep in the wild, they often dig a nest and tuck into a ball to conserve body heat and protecct their vulnerable organs from other animals. This ofcourse doesn't necessarily mean that your pet feels unsafe in his bed - he just has the same sleeping preferences as his ancestors.

Another interesting habit is sleeping belly up. According to scientist this sleeping position might signal that your dog feels very relaxed and comfortable in place he is sleeping, so there is no need to protect his organs. On the other hand it could also mean that he's hot and is trying to cool off himself.

Next habit - twitching while asleep. If you see your dog twitching for the first time you may fell a little scared because it's very weird. You need to know that some dogs twitch while they're asleep
and maybe even vocalize a little. Experts thinks that dogs dream during the REM stage of sleep and may act on their dreams by twitching.

Last habit that we try to explain is crawling under the covers. Some dogs do it - others don't. Experts have some theories for this behavior. Some think that it mean dog's need to feel companionship while sleeping with a owner others explain it's evolutionary behavior from when wild dogs raised their puppies in dark dens.

Adding another dog to your household - few tips

We all love dogs and if you’re like most folks who own dogs, sooner or later you may think, that as wonderful as one dog is, having two dogs would be even better. There are many reasons to add another dog as new family member but you should also remember that there are reasons to not have another animal - like more vet bills, more food and toys to buy, etc
However if you decided to have another dog, here are some advice how to introduce him to your current pet.

First of all you should make sure that your first dog is dog-friendly. If you don’t already know that take him to the dog park, find a friend with a very dog-friendly dog and introduce your dog to another dog in a safely fenced neutral territory. If your dog won't be very friendly towards other dog you need to find a good, positive trainer/behavior consultant to help you convince your pet.

Next thing to consider is which dog should you select as a second one. If your current dog is very assertive, adding another similiar breed could be very bad idea. In such situation you need to look for a dog who defers to your first dog. Moreover, size of the new dog needs to be taken into account. If you have a three-pound mini-dog, there are inherent risks in adopting a large-breed dog. Even in play, big dogs can cause serious, sometimes fatal, injuries to toy-size canines.

If you already chose your new pet, you need to script his introductions. Set up your introductions in that safely fenced neutral territory, like on a short walk through your neighborhood, in a nearby park or in a friend’s yard. Have 2 people, one to handle each dog, while keeping the dogs on leashes.
To minimize tension, try to keep the dogs’ leashes loose so that they’re not feeling pressure on their throats.
Don’t force any interaction between the dogs. If the dogs ignore each other at first, or if one dog seems reluctant to interact with the other, that’s okay. Give both dogs time to get comfortable. They’ll interact when they’re ready.

Here are some things you shouldn't do during first introduction - don't introduce a puppy to a grown dog by holding him in your arms. The puppy could feel restrained and vulnerable. Don't let a grown dog walk over, knock down, or bully the puppy. Moreover don't confine dogs together in a crate, automobile, or small room until they are fully at ease with each other and never, ever don't let a fight between two dogs go on.

Last but not least, make sure that both of your dogs have enough toys to go around, food to eat and separate comfy beds located in low-traffic areas of the home.

Tips to keep dogs cool in the heat

Summer is one of the happiest times of year for people and dogs, but if you’re not careful, it can also be a dangerous time for your pet. Here are some tips that will help you and your dog have safe and fun summer.

First of all you need to provide shade to lessen risk of heat exhaustion. As we know summer is the perfect time to enjoy green parks and sandy beaches where you can walk with your dog. Just make sure you protect your dog from the potentially dangerous summer heat.
Unlike people, dogs can’t perspire as efficiently as we do. In order to cool off, they dispel heat by panting and perspire only minimally thru their pads. Unfortunately, this method is less efficient than sweating and your dogs can overheat quickly on a warm day. So make sure that your dog always have access to shade and fresh water.

You should also know what are the signs of heat stroke and what to do when they appeard.
Stay watchfull all the time and look for the following sympthoms: excessive panting, bright red tongue and gums, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, unsteadiness, collapse, and seizures. If any of this happend to your dog, take him immediately to the vet.

You can prevent all that to happend by doing some little things like for example, add a few cubes of ice to your pet water bowls. He’ll enjoy it, and it will help to keep his body temperature down.
If your pet can’t be in an air-conditioned area, consider placing a fan where it will blow on him.
Remember also to exercise your pets only in the early morning or late evening when the temperatures are lower. Try to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Last but not least, freeze some treats and give them to your pet. It will keep him busy for a while and help cool him down.

A dog could be your heart’s best friend

Did you know that a dog could be your heart's best friend? It turns out that having a canine companion may help lower your risk of heart disease.

As you may noticed, studies linking dog ownership to better physical and mental health have been popping up for many years. The findings were usually encouraging to dogs owners, but none of these studies offered conclusive proof. But recently American Heart Association (AHA) has check all the available data and came to conclusion that having a dog lowers the risk of heart disease. Are you courios why?

The evidence reviewed by the AHA indicates that dog owners are more likely to exercise, have a better cholesterol profile and have lower blood pressure. The are also less vulnerable to the physical effects of stress.

The data show that dog owners get more physical activity than people who don’t own dogs, the evidence is pretty convincing that ownership isn’t enough. A study of over 2000  people found that those who owned a dog but didn’t walk it were actually more likely to be obese than people who didn’t own a dog. Dog walkers, on the other hand, were much less likely to be obese.

Another study looked at 48 people with high blood pressure and high-stress jobs who agreed to adopt a dog. Half did, and half year later those who got a dog had significantly lower blood pressure during stresfull moments.

Even if you already have heart disease, you could get a dog to help you. A 1995 study followed people with cardiovascular disease. A 12 months later, those who owned a pet were 4 times less likely to be death than those who didn’t have a dog.

As you see dogs unconsciously take care of your health - you can repay them by buing something nice - like our comfy beds for dogs.

Can all dogs swim?

Dogs, like every other animals are born with strong natural instincts like barking. Some people may also think that swimming is a skill that all dogs naturally have. But swimming isn't necessarily all dogs ability. While many pooches are perfectly amphibious, many dogs tend to sink like a sack of bricks. For these dogs, keeping their heads above water is not an easy thing to do, sometimes even impossible.

When it comes to swimming, we can split canines into 3 categories. There are dogs that can swim, dogs that can be taught to swim and dogs that should steer clear of all aqueous environments. Water spaniels, golden retrievers and English setters fall into the first category. They are excellent swimmers. It's because of their strong limbs and some genes. Many were bred specifically for things like water rescue.

And we have also some others breeds like bulldogs and boxers. There simply isn't enough thrust from their short legs to keep them afloat. Breeds that have short faces, such as the pug, also have a very hard time swimming since they fatigue easily.

Furthermore, some dogs may have the physical tools to swim, but have some kind of a mortal fear of the water. These animals tend to panic when submerged. For a dog in water, panic quickly leads to fatigue, and that makes drowning much more likely.

Remember that if your furry friend isn't a dog version of gold medal swimmer, don't despair. You can still enjoy fun with a land-loving lapdog. Instead take him to you car, put in safe carbed and go for a trip somewhere where are no lakes and rivers ;)

Help your dog survive hot summer

You may think you feel hot on a summer day, but you should consider a heat wave from your dog's perspective. Dogs have no more layers to take off and are still stuck in a fur coat. This could not only be uncomfortable, but also very dangerous.

If your dog is very active animals, your biggest summer concern could be the threat of heat stroke. Unlike human, dogs are not capable of sweating profusely to regulate their body temperatures. Moreover, temperatures close to the ground can be a few degrees hotter than what is officially recorded. That way, small dogs are at a high risk for heat exhaustion.

So make sure your dog has plenty of shade and fresh drinking water. A place for cooling down is always appreciated by dogs. Most importantly - do not leave pet alone in the car.You should also remember that not all dogs respond to the heat the same way. For example, older dogs and puppies have a harder time regulating their body temperature.

Keep your pet wet
Water is a dog's best friend during hot summer days. By getting your dog wet you will have great solution to minor overheating. Afterward, let your pet rest in the shade or in air conditioning. For more serious overheating, wet him down and don't hesitate to get him to a vet immediately.

Rearange your walking schedule
Your dog may loves lunchtime walks during winter or autumn, but not so much during the summer. So during the sammer you should walk your dog early or late in the day, when the weather has cooled off.

How to really clean a dog

Do you know what a stinky dog, an itchy dog and a muddy dog all have in common? 

The fact that they need to be washed! Time to round up the dog shampoo, towels, comb and brush and clean your dog really good - here are some tips how to do it properly.

When we talk about getting a dog clean, we think about 3 things: that he smell clean, that his fur look clean and he appear to be well kept. As you may guess, this is harder to achieve with some breeds than others. 

Firtst o all - brushing

Brushing is any dog owner's first line of defense in the battle to keep a dog clean. You should brush your dog at least once a week or few times a week if your dog belongs to long-coated breed.

Brushing removes loose fur, prevents matting, gets rid of existing mats, and helps eliminate dirt. And remember that brushing is essential before giving your dog a bath.

Next - ear cleaning

Dirty ears can cause odors and lead to infections. Some owners prefer to clean out a dog's ears prior to a full bath, but you can always take care of this task after bathing.

Hoolywood smile or tooth brushing

You can choose to use doggie toothpaste or simply use water. Start at the back teeth and gently work the brush against the teeth in a circular motion, taking care to clean the gum line especially well. 

Bathing

As you know bathing is the single most important step in cleaning your dog. It's honestly better to forego the tub full of suds in favor of a sprayer set up. It will be easier to see if you're really getting your dog clean when he's not submerged.

Time for drying

Many people prefer to skip the drying, however, blow drying does give the coat a finished look, and is required for long coats in order to keep your dog from becoming chilled. It also makes it easier to brush out mats.

Pediciure / maniciure or just nail clipping

Once your dog is clean and dry, it's time to carry out any clipping he might need.

First, examine your dog's nails to see if they need to be trimmed. Only trim the nails up to the pink just barely visible through the nail. If you go any further the nails will bleed. 

Last but not least - fur trimming

Some extra trimming may be necessary to help your dog stay clean. Check his pads to determine if the hair between them needs to be trimmed a bit. Excessive pad hair can become matted and also trap debris.

Easy to clean sofa for dogs

Now when your dog is clean and smells good you can easily let him take a nap in his favourite bed or pillow. Even when he gets a little dirty it won't be problem - if he uses one of our products - you can clean them easily.