The Right Dog Toys For Your Dog

Dogs like toys and they will make a toy, if you don't give them one. They will chew sticks in the yard or furniture in the house. Your canine friend will race away with your slippers, shoes or a pillow. You can come home to find pillow stuffing scattered around the house. Dog toys keep your dog from being bored when he is home alone and from chewing up your things.

The safety of the toys you give your dog is important and keeping items out of his reach that he could hurt himself with is important too. Strings, ribbons, and children's toys with detachable eyes or parts are examples of items your dog might choke on. Throw away any dog toys that break so he doesn't swallow the pieces.

Rubber bones for puppies and dogs are good choices. Some of these are mint flavored and buoyant. There are sizes good for pups, little dogs, and big dogs. Squeaky rubber toys for puppies are something some puppies really enjoy. Puppy chew toys shaped like fish that come in different sizes are available and teething rings with keys are good for teething pups that definitely chew a lot.

Small dogs need and enjoy toys too. Smaller balls and plush toys are made for small dogs. The plush toys come in various animals like sheep, frogs, ducks, and bears. Be sure that the plush/stuffed toys aren't filled with Styrofoam beads as your dog may swallow or inhale the beads and be harmed. Bouncy, chewy rubber toys for small dogs come in different shapes like chickens, tennis balls, footballs, bones, and turkey legs.

You can give your dog some holiday fun with squeaky chew toys that look like Santa, snowmen, and Christmas trees. Toys with treats in them are popular with dogs. Some of these are rolling cubes and as your dogs plays with it the food comes out. Floatable toys are a favorite of any dog that likes to swim.

Interactive toys for dogs have gained in popularity. They keep your dog interested and entertained for longer periods; puzzles are one kind of interactive dog toy. These toys are a challenge for your dog. Some interactive dog toys let you play with your dog with his toy. Another kind is the motion activated dog toy that use electronics to entertain your dog. These are good when your dog will be at the house by himself.

Some of the interactive toys are plush and some have squeakers or flashing lights. Others float and some have treats in them. Some are balls that have treats in them and you can record a message for your dog. There are toys with removable parts, glowing bones, and motion activated toys. There are even tug toys that are made of fire hose material and they can be used as a fetch toy.

There is a wide assortment of toys for dogs and they are made for puppies, small dogs, and large dogs.

How to Find a Sitter For Your Dog

Whether your dog is old or a just a puppy, there will come a time when you have to out of town for business or a vacation where dogs aren't allowed. Therefore, you will need to leave your prized pet in the care of a pet sitter. Where can you find a pet sitter? What types of pet sitter services are available? How much will it cost to hire a pet sitter? These are some of the many questions that you need to answer before you hire a pet sitter.

You have two main options of where to leave your pet when you are away. You can take them to a boarding kennel or you can hire a pet sitter. By hiring a pet sitter it means that your dog will stay at your home and a pet sitter will visit your home several times per day to take care of your dog. The following questions and answers are geared toward those pet owners that decide to hire a pet sitter to take care of their dog.

Question #1: Where do I find a pet sitter? You can find a pet sitter through a number of means. Consult your veterinarian, groomer, and breeder for recommendations. Often times they know of a reliable pet sitter in your area or they can point you in the direction of pet sitter services. You can also check with your friends and family to see if they can refer you to a pet sitter. Word of mouth referral is a common way to find a pet sitter.

You can also take a trip to your local pet store or a chain pet store such as PETCO. Many pet sitters advertise their services at these places so you can find their contact information. The pet store owners and staff may know of a great pet sitter as well.

Another option is to call Pet Sitters International at (800) 268-SITS or check out their website at http://www.petsit.com/. Pet Sitters International is the world's largest organization of pet sitters. Pet Sitters International is highly respected organization. They offer a multitude of services including finding a pet sitter based on your zip and giving advice on how to prepare your home for the pet sitter.

Also spend time researching information about the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters by calling them at (800) 296-PETS. You can peruse their website at www.petsitters.org. Not only can you find a pet sitter based on your zip code, but you can find a "certified" pet sitter. They offer a certification program that ensures a pet sitter is knowledgeable about business management, animal care, and animal health issues. This type of certification can be a comfort in the event that your dog has a health problem.

Question #2: What type of tasks does a pet sitter do for you and your pet? A pet sitter is there to provide comfort, help, and care for your dog while you are away. They will visit your home on a daily basis to feed your dog, take them for walks, and let them out to go the bathroom. They can help your dog with any health ailments or continuing care such as medicines while you are away.

A pet sitter needs to be informed if your dog has any special needs. For example, your dog may be elderly and blind or deaf. Your pet sitter must know this so they can properly help your dog. Or your dog may be just a puppy and require more exercise then most dogs. Let your pet sitter know and they can increase the frequency of visits each day. The pet sitter should be able to work with your needs.

Your pet sitter will also take the responsibility of taking your dog to the vet if an accident occurs or the need arises. You need to let your pet sitter know how you want them to handle these types of situations and how to contact you in the event that this happens.

Question #3: How do I find the “best” pet sitter for my dog? Only you can determine the best pet sitter for your dog. Follow the same procedures you would as if you were hiring a babysitter for your children. Check out their references, interview them, and inquire about past work history. How do they interact with your dog? Speak to former or current clients to determine if they are right for you.

Also make sure the pet sitter has been certified and/or bonded and insured. Your dog's life is priceless so you definitely want a serious professional pet sitter to take care of your pooch.

Question #4: How much does a pet sitter cost? The cost of a pet sitter varies based on their experience, your location, the number of dogs you are leaving, and the level of care you need for the dogs. Some pet sitters charge on a per visit basis while others can work with you to determine a reasonable price. Make sure to have their scope of services and fees in writing. This will safeguard you against any miscommunication.

Question #5: How should I prepare my home and dog for the pet sitter? First of all, your dog needs to meet and get to know the pet sitter before you leave town. Have the pet sitter visit a few times until your dog is comfortable with their presence. You don't want to leave and suddenly have a new person show up to take care of your dog. Your dog may confuse the pet sitter for an unwanted stranger.

Provide emergency numbers of your veterinarian and also a number at which they can reach you. You want to make yourself available by phone in case an emergency pops up. Make sure your home is clean and the dog food bowls are clean. Speak with your pet sitter about feeding, walking and other pet care procedures first, but also leave all the directions in writing. Verify that this is plenty of dog food for the length of time you will be gone.

If you following these tips you will find the best pet sitter for your dog and have a comfortable time on your trip knowing your dog is in good hands.

First Aid For Dogs

First aid training for dogs is a vital skill for a pet owner. Dog owners are some of the most caring people in the world. Many would come close to a nervous breakdown if harm should come to their dog. Unfortunately, part of the tremendous love owners feel for their dogs involves seriously overestimating the dog's ability to understand the risks around it and avoid injury. Even more troublesome, most dog owners would have no clue what to do if their dog becomes injured.

The first step an owner should take to prepare to provide first aid for their dog is to put together a first aid kit and keep it somewhere handy. Among other items this first aid kit should include day and night contact numbers for the dog's veterinarian, directions to the veterinarian's office and the number for the local poison control center. Locating these numbers quickly in the event of an emergency could save your dog's life.

Other items which should be included in the first aid kit mirror much of the contents of a normal kit for humans such as bandages and gauze of different sizes, scissors, tweezers, cotton balls, cotton swabs, a rectal thermometer, and disposable gloves. For dogs, it helps to have a thick towel handy in case you need a stretcher. You should also include a rehydrator such as Pedialyte and a dense high calorie supplement designed for dogs. Medicines you should have available include diphenhydramine hydrochloride (An allergy medicine safe for use in dogs. You should clear the proper dosage with your veterinarian ahead of time), antibiotic ointment, eye and ear wash, sterile saline, hydrogen peroxide, cortisone spray and activated charcoal. Having the tools you need handy can make the difference between an emergency and a tragedy.

Some of the most common pet injuries involve insect bites - Stings from bees, hornets, yellow jackets or fire ants. Dogs can not tell us how badly a bite may be bothering them so we have to be vigilant when the dog has been anywhere a bite might have occurred. A reaction to a sting normally happens within 20 minutes. Any dog that has a strong reaction to a sting should be monitored closely for the next 24 hours. There is a danger of anaphylactic shock.

If you notice your pet start scratching excessively, or biting at a particular area you should check for an insect sting. You should give the dog first aid as soon as possible. Find the location of the sting and attempt to locate the stinger. Insect stingers often break off and remain attached to the victim. Pulling these stingers out with tweezers often causes more venom to inject into the sting so you should gently scrape with a credit card, driver's license or some similar piece of plastic to dislodge the stinger. A paste of baking soda and water can be applied for quick relief. If that does not work, diphenhydramine may need to be administered in the proper dose.

Another major source of pet injury is chocolate poisoning. Dogs love getting into chocolate, yet a dose as small as 1 oz. of milk chocolate or .1 oz of baker's chocolate per pound of bodyweight could easily be toxic. At the least, lower doses can cause difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, vomiting, diarrhea and increased body temperature. If you suspect that your pet has ingested a large quantity of chocolate, you should induce vomiting by administering 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with a syringe and get the dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

These are just a couple of potential dog emergencies in which preparation can make the difference between recovery and death. Knowing the right action to take in case of an injury to your dog can save you a world of unnecessary grief.

Why Your Dog Needs Toys

So you're getting ready to bring home a new puppy or dog and you want to make sure you have everything your new pal will need. You have picked out the perfect collar and chosen the right kind of leash. You have a crate and a bed for the pup, and his own special bowls. The only other thing your pooch will need is toys. How do you know what to buy? What is best for puppies? Should you get hard chew toys or soft, squeaky toys? If you've been in the local pet store, you'll know there are tons of things to choose from. This may not seem like a very important decision, but in fact having toys for your puppy or dog is crucial to his health and development.

Toys and chews provide a puppy or dog the ability to enjoy something that is natural for them. Make sure your pup knows which things are his to chew on, or he will go look for something on his own. Toys and bones provide an outlet for a dog to release pent up energy or relieve boredom. Chewing is good for their teeth and jaws, as well as being a good stress reliever.

The types of toys you will need to buy will depend several things. Puppies are teething and as their permanent teeth come in, they will lose the puppy teeth. Toys for a small or medium breed puppy or a small breed dog need to be small enough for the dog to carry around and small enough for them to get their mouth on it. A large breed puppy can be bigger than a small breed full grown. There are toys and chew designed specifically for puppies or small breeds and toys for large breed, powerful chewers.

Another thing to consider is what type of toys will your dog need. Should you buy bones, or balls or rawhide or squeaky toys? Once you decide what is the best size for your puppy or dog, consider how he or she will play with the toys. You should provide a variety of toys. A ball or a tug toy is great for playing with your dog. An appropriate size bone is good for your dog to keep himself occupied. Most dog experts recommend some type of puzzle toy where the pup has to figure out and work the toy to get a treat stashed inside. Many puppies, and even older dogs like to have a soft, stuffed animal toy. It becomes a comforting toy and they will not chew it or tear it up. My 3 Dobermans and probably other large breeds, like to tear apart anything like that, so we have no stuffed toys in my house!

Always keep an eye on your pup and his toys. Be aware if they are broken or torn in pieces and throw them out as needed, to prevent him or her from swallowing something that could obstruct the esophogus or intestines. Rawhides and certain other chews can cause problems for some puppies and dogs so always ask your veterinarian for his advice and recommendation.