Potty training your dog or pup can be extremely stressful if you have trouble with persistence or are unsure how to properly go through the training process. This article aims to provide you with a few helpful tips to ease the stress of dog potty training.
Most dogs are housebroken as puppies, so let’s start with talking about potty training a new puppy. First, it is important to know that puppies do have limited bladder control, so accidents are going to happen. The first thing you need to do is introduce your puppy to a crate, a place that is his own and where he can be confined when you are unable to watch him. This is one of the best ways to prevent your puppy from soiling areas around the house. There are housebreaking pads available at pet stores that you can place in your puppy’s crate for him to go on while you are away.
One of the best things you can do for your puppy (and your sanity!) is to develop a regular routine as soon as you can. Try to feed him, take him outside, and put him down for bed around the same time every day. This will get his “body clock” set to the routine and he will eventually learn to rely upon this, as long as you follow through on your part and keep the routine as constant as possible, at least until your pup gets a bit older and develops more bladder control and adaptability.
Hitting your puppy when he has an accident is not correcting the problem. This can, in fact, make your puppy develop a nervous tendency in which he loses control of his bladder any time he feels he has upset you. Try your very best to take him out about 15 – 20 minutes after meal time, as puppies have very small stomachs and will be ready for the potty soon after eating. Try to keep your eye on your pup, so that if he does have an accident, you can correct him during the act and he will quickly understand the link between the word “No!” and going potty inside.
Potty training your puppy can be a trying time, but a bit of patience and determination will see you through the process. Just remember: develop a routine and take your puppy outside about 15 minutes after meal time. Soon, you will find that training becomes even easier, at which point you’ll want to start training him not only for obedience, but also for using items such as pet stairs instead of jumping onto furniture. Pet steps are much better for your dog’s joints and reduces the likelihood of your dog developing arthritis or sustaining an injury from falling off of high furniture.
Cat Stairs: Could They Save Your Kitty From A Broken Bone, Or Worse?
Date: Thursday July 30, 2009Posted in: CATS
A cat can be a terrific pet and companion. From their playful antics to lazy cat naps, cat furniture, as well as cat steps, can play an important part in your feline friend’s routine.
Whether you have one cat or multiple cats as your pets, having some furniture for them to enjoy keeps them purring and happy all the time. Some cats enjoy beds to sleep in as this comforts them at night and keeps them cozy and warm. A favorite past-time for cat owners who have more than one cat are the cat towers or cat scratching furniture.
Cats can also benefit from cat steps in the home. Many people are under the impression that cats can land any way from a fall and not hurt themselves. This is a myth. The truth is that your cat can get hurt by jumping from a bed or couch to the floor just like a dog.
Cat steps let your pet get from one level to another safely and enjoyable. Cats often love to climb and these steps are the perfect solution to their love of moving up and down from high to low and back again. Adjustable height steps are an excellent solution for the kitten who is still growing.
Every year many cats are treated for injuries that result from falls which could have been prevented. There are many different retailers who offer pet stairs and other types of furniture for your cat. Whether you’re looking for a cat tunnel for friends to play in or other types of ways to pamper your pet, there are a variety of choices on the market.
Just make sure that your pet is safe when playing or using the steps by keeping toys free of debris and steps clear of obstacles that might cause them to stumble.
The health of your pet is very important to you, right? You worry about their teeth, their diet, and make sure that they get adequate exercise. If you are like many people, you consider them a natural extension of your family. If this fits your feelings toward your pet, then there are three big reasons to consider bed pet steps a necessity, not a luxury.
It is often assumed that pet steps are particularly for sick or old pets that are no longer capable of jumping up onto the bed on their own. While it is entirely true that older pets will need steps to protect their joints and muscles, this is true of younger pets as well. The stress of constantly jumping up and down can put pressure on your pet’s body with time.
It is quite common for injuries to pets as well as owners to happen when a pet has to jump up and down from a high bed. To avoid broken bones or collisions with your pet, you will need steps so they can crawl up in a more safer manner.
Have you ever been jarred awake by the pounce of your pet on or off your bed? This is especially an issue if you have a larger dog who is probably not as graceful as you would like. By placing a pet step near your bed, you minimize any excess movement from your pet.
The disturbance a pet can wreak is very similar to the ways another human being can continually wake you up during the night. You likely spent some time shopping for a mattress that would reduce that motion transfer from a partner, so why would you not give the same courtesy for your pet?
You can understand the amount of stress your pet’s joints go through to absorb the shock from jumping. Pet steps are a healthier, safer alternative to jumping on a bed. When searching for pet steps, you can choose from a variety of designs and styles, such as wooden pet steps and carpeted pet steps.
Choosing a cat breed can be a bit daunting, especially if you don’t know very much about cats! When considering a cat, you must be sure to choose a breed that will best suit your lifestyle. Some breeds require more physical activity than others, and some require much more grooming. Listed below, you will see the most popular cat breeds. Each breed has different personality types and grooming responsibilities that will be pointed out in this article.
The Oriental is one of the most popular cat breeds around. This breed tends to develop very deep bonds with its family, and is very loyal and bright. It has large, pointed ears, and although its body is very sleek, it is still quite a muscular breed.
One of the most popular cat breeds for a family is the American Shorthair. The American shorthair originally was a working breed, mostly for mouse hunting, which explains the agile muscular structure and short hair. They do need a little exercise, but most are quite content being a lap cat.
The Birman breed is thought to have originated from Burma. It is perhaps best recognized by its blue eyes, white body, and smoky-brown face, ears, legs, and tail. Birmans possess a long, sturdy body structure with extensive, mat-resistant hair. They love to play and are quite gentle. While they enjoy affection, they are not a “needy” breed.
If you’re looking for a very affectionate, cuddly cat, then a Sphynx may be the breed for you. Although they appear to have no fur, they actually have a suede-like fur all over their body. As they don’t have much hair to protect their skin, they should strictly be kept indoors. As this breed lacks the lush coat of most other cats, they can easily become cold.
The Ragdoll breed got its name due to its tendency to fully relax when picked up–similar to a floppy ragdoll. If you love a cat that accompanies you from room to room, this breed would likely be a wonderful match for you. They are very careful not to use teeth or claws when playing around, so they would also make an excellent cat for children.
Now that you have a better idea about the most popular, yet very different, cat breeds out there, hopefully you find choosing a cat to be a little less daunting than before. Be sure to remember that lifestyles are important factors to consider; so if you aren’t very active, you probably shouldn’t choose a cat that requires a lot of activity, and vice versa.
It is equally important that you have the proper supplies to raise a cat. Whether your cat is exclusively an indoor pet or not, a piece of cat furniture or pet steps are a great way to ensure that your cat gets the exercise he needs to remain fit.
There are a number of products on the shelves which cater to the pet cat population. One very popular product is the ‘cat litter’ product, or simply cat litter. It is a material that is placed inside a litter box to catch the pet cat’s droppings. The material prevents the box from getting soiled by absorbing the urine and trapping the solid dropping. The cat litter is very similar to ordinary dirt, to take advantage of the cat’s natural predilection to cover up its droppings. The cat owner removes and refreshes the cat litter from the box every day. The used litter is disposed off in the garbage. There is just one problem – as long as the box is inside the house, there is a terrible stench that pervades the house! The odor goes only when the cat litter goes. This is a serious sore point with cat owners. Now a very enterprising producer has come up with a novel idea – pine cat litter! His litter is made up of pine pellets. The natural odor of pine masks the smell of the cat’s droppings remarkably well.
You may be put off by the fact that it is twice as costly as the normal clumping type. The pine cat litter is made of pine pellets, which disintegrate to form sawdust. The pellets and the resultant sawdust absorb much more liquid than the ordinary clumping does. So the usage cost works out to be around that of the cat litter that is usually used.
The acceptance of pine cat litter is still an issue, not by the owners but by the cat itself. Cats are reluctant to use the pine cat litter because the ‘feel’ is unnatural. The pellets tend to be a little rough on the cat’s paws. The cat’s acceptance or rejection of pine cat litter will be the sole deciding factor in the success of pine cat litter in the market.
My suggestion is to introduce the pine cat litter in a gradual fashion. Mix a little pine cat litter with the normal stuff. Let the cat use it and get used to the mix. It may take a day or two for the cat to get comfortable with the mix. Then increase the dose of pine litter and reduce the amount of the ordinary litter. Let the cat get used to the increasing amounts of pine cat litter gradually. Finally, you will have a 100% pine cat litter in the litter box, and 100% freedom from that very strong odor! That is if your cat decides to play ball and adjust to pine litter. If your cat resists, and even refuses to visit the litter box, then it’s back to the good old clumping and the bad old smell!
Or, you can do what some ingenious cat owners are doing: they use 90% pine pellet litter and then sprinkle the top 10% with the usual litter. This way they get the advantage of pine, and the cat gets the surface it likes.
But what works for us appears to go against Tabby’s disposition. Cats show a degree of discomfort to the smell of pine. So there are many instances of cats refusing to use the litter box when it is filled with pine pellets. Your cat can’t stand the odor of pine, you can’t stand the odor of cat’s mess! Any guesses who’ll win the stand off? Oh well, we humans pride ourselves on being understanding! In case you’re wondering, the pine pellets are completely detoxified and are absolutely harmless to cats.
There is an environmental advantage in using pine cat litter. It can be composted once the cat’s solid waste is removed. The composted litter can be put to use as manure for gardens, instead of adding to the ever-growing landfill of garbage.
The ball really is in your cat’s court… depending on whether it likes the pine litter or not! If it does, then you’re looking at a home that’s free from that very distinct odor, that too at negligible cost. If not, then you’d better get a nose mask while you replenish the litter box with the litter that Mr.Tibbs favors!