Everything you need to know about pet grooming

Grooming is the general cleaning of an animal and should be done on a regular basis, sometimes even daily, depending on the breed and condition of the pet. Here are several reasons to have your pet groomed regularly:

• To keep a check on the pets general health
  
• To make your animal look better
  
• To check for any scrapes or cuts that might be hiding under the hair.
  
• Check for mats or lumps that you might want to tell your vet about
  
• Reduces any infestation of fleas, ticks or other pests on the animal
  
• Helps with the bonding between animal and owner; relaxes the animal
  
• Overall cleanliness of the animal, it makes them smell better
  
• It’s healthier for the pet owner to get rid of dried and hanging hair, as it keeps the pet dander down which helps with allergies

Whether you take your animal to a groomer or you do it yourself, in order to have a healthy pet it needs to be groomed. Some of the tools that are used in grooming are:

• A comb with small teeth to remove any lumps or tangles in the fur.
  
• Bristle brush
  
• Clippers, shears or scissors for removing any tangles or mats that resist brushing or combing
  
• Shampoos and conditioners, a bucket or tub to hold water for bathing and rinsing
  
• Flea powder, spray or other type of pest control product
  
• Nail trimmers made for pet grooming. Note: there are several types of clippers obtainable

You want your dog or cat to be healthy and happy, and keeping them clean and free from pests is one way of doing that. Pet grooming gives your pet energy and makes them happy. Remember, a clean pet is a happy pet.  Another aspect of grooming is the teeth and ears. The teeth and ears should be inspected along with everything else.  Make sure there are no hidden problems, loose or broken teeth and no ear infections.

How often should you groom your pet? That depends on the pet. If you have a long-haired dog they may require grooming more often, whereas a short haired animal only needs grooming once in a while. If they live outside, chances are that they will need more attention than one living indoors.  Pet grooming is important to both you and your pet; it is part of being a responsible pet owner.

All you need to know about a pet sitter

There are many reasons you may need a pet sitter, including:

• Long work hours those keep you away from your pet, resulting in little to no interaction.
• Guilt feelings when leaving your pet alone during the day.
• Frequent and sporadic travel, leaving you little time to plan pet care.

Whatever your reason may be, if you realize you’re not home enough to care properly for your pet during the day, it may be desirable to hire a pet sitter. It may seem like a foreign idea to you, but ask yourself: would you leave your child unattended for long periods of time? Hopefully, the answer is no. A pet, although unable to communicate their needs all the time, requires regular attention and interaction, just like a child.

What does a pet sitter do?

A pet sitter to a pet is what a baby sitter is to a child. Pet sitters watch over the pet to ensure that they are safe, walked, and interacted with. Unlike dog walkers, pet sitters will usually dedicate individual attention to your pet and spend a good portion of the day with them. By having someone interact and play with your pet while you are away, your pet will usually be well-behaved by the time you arrive home at the end of the day. Because your pet has received attention all day, they will not feel the need to seek attention from you as aggressively as they would if they were alone all day.

How do I find a reliable pet sitter?

First, ask your friends or family members if they use pet sitters in your area. If no one you know uses one, it is still useful to ask as they may have friends that who use pet sitters.

If you are new to the area, the internet is a great research tool. We suggest visiting www.info4pets.com to help find a reliable pet sitter in your area. This site allows you to see reviews and recommendations from local pet owners, which can make the process of finding the right pet sitter easier and faster.

What qualities should I look for in a pet sitter?

A reliable pet sitter should foremost be knowledgeable about your pet. Some sitters specifically watch either dogs or cats because they are more familiar with their behavior. It is important to choose a sitter that is comfortable with your particular pet, so be sure to have an introductory session before hiring them. This session will give you added peace of mind that your pet is safe and comfortable with the person you are choosing as a pet sitter. Previous experience is important, therefore be sure to ask for letters of recommendations to ensure that they are reliable and regarded highly by other employers.

Finding the Right Pet Boarding Option for Your Pet

If you are a pet owner with a busy work or social schedule, you have probably considered dog or cat boarding. Pet boarding is a service offered by some veterinarian, and pet boarding kennels. These businesses allow owners to drop their dog(s) or cat(s) off for a set amount of time. Unlike pet sitters or pet hotels, pet boarding is usually less expensive and offers interaction with other boarders, medical attention, and many other accommodations.

While boarding, pets are fed, walked, and cared for by a knowledgeable staff. A basic pet boarding service will offer regular feeding, a lot of exercise, and monitoring for emergent medical problems. However, it is important to make sure that your pet is well-cared for in such a facility as some of these facilities aren’t clean and may not offer an interactive experience for your pet. Other, more expensive pet boarding facilities offer camp-like environments where pets are able to interact with each other in an active setting.

If you are leaving your pet for the first time in a pet boarding facility, it is important that you follow certain steps that are often enforced by the facilities. For instance, the facility will verify vaccines such as Rabies, DHHP, and Bordetella with the pet’s veterinarian. Some establishments may require further vaccination. Also, a flea-check will be performed once the pet comes in and if fleas are found, the dog or cat will be required to have a flea bath.

It is also recommended to have a walk-through with your pet to make sure that he or she is happy in their new, temporary surroundings. Bringing familiar toys or blankets can help your pet adjust to the pet boarding facility faster. Some high-quality establishments may require a temperament test to ensure that your pet can get along with other boarders. Temperament testing is for the benefit of the facility as well as your pet.

So where can a pet owner find a reliable pet boarding facility? There are several resources available for locating reliable pet boarding establishments in your area. We suggest visiting www.info4pets.com, which is a free tool for pet owners to find local pet boarding, supplies, vets, etc. What separates www.info4pets.com from most other services is the ability for the pet owner to submit their own posts and to read reviews and suggestions from other pet owners. These posts can greatly assist you as you explore pet boarding facilities.

Things You Must Know If You Leave You Dear Dog To Dog Daycares!

When responsible dog owners find themselves away from their pet for an extended amount of time during the day, they find dog daycares or doggy daycares as they are commonly known. Dog daycares are establishments that allow for dogs to interact and play with each other in a safe environment. While there are many of these centers, finding a reliable one that fits you and your dog’s needs can be difficult. This article will give you ideas on how to find a dog daycare and what to look for when picking the right one for your pet.

First, it is important to remember that not every dog will be a fit for dog daycare. For this reason among many others, most reputable daycare facilities will schedule a trial visit to make sure that your pet is compatible with their environment and their dogs. Most of the time, it will only take 15 to 30 minutes to determine if your pet is suited for the facility. Some good signs include friendly interaction with other dogs and the attendants, and moving freely about the area.

Nonetheless, if your pet is showing hesitation such as hiding behind objects or snapping at other dogs or attendants, he or she may just be overwhelmed by the number of dogs. In that case, an attendant will usually take your pet into an area with fewer dogs and slowly introduce him or her to the group.

Remember, if your pet completely refuses to adapt to the group atmosphere, do not force them. If you make them go to a dog daycare, incidents may happen where your pet is hurt or is hurting another dog due to their lack of comfort in the atmosphere. Instead, hire a private pet sitter so that the dog may stay in the comfort of his or her own home.

If your pet is enjoying their dog daycare facility, you can expect a few changes. Primarily, you will see that your dog is exhausted at the end of the day. This is a great sign! Like children, pets love to run around with their buds at daycare. By the time you pick them up, they will be happy to see you, but tired – too tired to be a menace. Other things you may notice are scratches and possibly even bites.
Understandably, you may be disturbed at first, but remember, children come home with scratches from daycare too due to rough-housing with their friends.
Nonetheless, if you have an uneasy feeling about your pet, ask the attendants at your dog daycare about the marks you see on your pet. Most reputable establishments have cameras and will gladly show you if your pet is just playing or has been involved in a serious incident.

Now that you are aware of what to expect, you can start looking for one. Primarily, ask your friends and relatives. Even with the best recommendations, be sure that the dog daycare they recommend is well-suited for your pet in particular. If you are new in the area or do not know of anyone who has previously used a doggy daycare, visit www.info4pets.com. This online community allows you to not only find a daycare in your area, but to see other pet owners’ comments and suggestions as well.

Dog Trainer

Do you need a dog trainer but you are not sure where to find one or whom to trust? This article will give you suggestions as to how to handle both problems.
When you first acquire a dog, you are looking forward to the calm, organized walks you will be taking with them. You are also looking forward to taking your pet to the dog park to interact with the other dogs. Unfortunately, in some cases, these positive interactions don’t happen. Instead, when you take your pet to the dog park you end up being the one interacting with the other dogs while trying to break up fights that your dog initiated. Don’t despair – all you need is a good dog trainer.

Your first instinct may be to train the dog yourself. However, sometimes it is not the dog that is the problem, but the owner. It is much more difficult to find fault in yourself than it is in your dog. For instance, if you are a nervous individual, your dog can feel that and they will begin to feel nervous and anxious. When you combine that nervousness with the interaction with other dogs, it can become an unpleasant meeting. As you become more nervous about your pet’s behavior they too become more nervous and agitated, as well.

If you are able to fix certain habits in yourself right away, you may see a change in your pet’s behavior. However, most people are incapable of doing so without first having a third party point out the behavior that needs to be modified. Therefore, it is better to involve a third, impartial and professional party – the dog trainer.

OK, so you decide you need a dog trainer. How do you find one?

There are several ways of finding a good, reliable dog trainer in your area. Most people ask their friends first, which is a great way of finding someone you can trust. If you are referred to a dog trainer by a friend, make sure that you check on their background and experience, regardless of the referral source. Some dog trainers specialize in certain breeds and may not be as helpful for your situation. In this case, it is important to remember that different breeds have different characteristics that must be approached uniquely.

Just like with anything else, it is important to shop around for a dog trainer. A great online resource is www.info4pets.com. It is a website hosting all sorts of useful information for pet owners nationwide – from dog breeders, adoption shelters, groomers, and of course, dog trainers. This site is especially important because you will be able to view fellow pet owners’ reviews and comments.

Adoption Shelters

Unfortunately, there are many loving pets that are in abusive situations or are abandoned when their owner can no longer properly care for them. However, there can be a happy resolution for these pets. Adoption shelters nationwide care medically for animals that are found on the streets or are removed from dangerous situations. These rescue animals are kept for a certain amount of time, usually one month, with the hope that a qualified person will adopt them. Seriously ill animals are frequently euthanized, especially if the animal is in pain.

To adopt a rescue pet, you will need to follow the procedures established by the adoption shelter. First, you will fill out an application form so that the adoption shelter can verify that you are a fit ‘parent’ for the pet. If you are deemed fit to adopt a pet, most shelters allow you to spend some one-on-one time with the chosen animal to ensure that he or she will adapt well to your family.

After you have chosen the pet for your family, you will have to fill out an additional adoption form. The counselor will then go over several lifestyle ‘check-points’ to ensure that your chosen pet will be safe. There may be lifestyle issues you will have to change such as fencing off your backyard. Another important step that is required by some adoption shelters is that all family members must meet the pet to ensure compatibility. If you already have an existing pet at home, you will need to bring your pet to the shelter to make sure that they too are compatible.

To complete the adoption, adoption fees will be due to the adoption shelter. The adoption fees usually include spaying and/or neutering, microchip insertion, complete physical exam by a veterinarian, updating vaccinations, parasite testing and treatment, testing for feline leukemia or FIV in cats, and testing for heartworm in dogs. Usually, it is cheaper to get all of the medical testing through an adoption shelter rather than a private veterinarian, but you may prefer to have your trusted veterinarian check out your new family member.
Once everything has been sorted and approved, the final step is to schedule a pickup date and time.

Before you adopt, make sure that you are able to provide long-term care for the animal you are adopting. Most of these animals are at the shelter due to a traumatic event and it would be tragic for them to have a second tragic experience.

In order to have a successful adoption remember to treat your new pet as you would treat a family member. To find a reliable adoption shelter near you, visit www.info4pets.com