Category: Pets

There are many benefits to adopting a pet, some of which may not be obvious. These are just a few reasons why you should adopt a pet.

1. You’re saving a life

Adopting an animal from a shelter is a way to give them the chance they need. Many animals were rescued from horrible circumstances, such as neglect or cruelty. Or, their owners became ill or no longer could care for them. Shelter staff works tirelessly to help animals get well, to rehab animals, and to make sure they are ready to move on to a new home. Unfortunately, not all animals are so fortunate. Many animals are left behind by shelters that lack space. You can help stop overpopulation by rehoming an animal you have lost.

2. You’ll save money

Shelters will often microchip, spay/neuter, and vaccinate any animals they take in. You save a lot of money by not having to pay for these procedures. It also ensures that the pet you adopt is healthy. The adoption fees for a shelter pet are usually lower than those charged by breeders.

3. Helping to eradicate puppy farms and pet shops

Puppy farms, also known as mills, are illegal breeding of puppies solely for profit. Puppy farms often force dogs to breed multiple times to their disadvantage and keep them in horrible conditions that don’t provide basic needs.

These people don’t care about producing healthy dogs. Dogs can develop severe health problems over time. Dogs in these places don’t get any veterinary care and are often destroyed when they stop reproducing. Dogs found in pet shops often come from puppy farms. Adopting a shelter will help stop dogs from being abused. You’ll be supporting animal welfare by rehoming your pet from a reputable place.

4. Can improve your health and make you happier

Numerous studies have shown that having a pet can prolong your life and improve your happiness and overall health. People with anxiety, depression, stress, and other conditions can benefit from having a pet. People with depression may find it difficult to cope due to the affectionate and loyal nature that dogs have as pack pets.

You can lower your stress and blood pressure by stroking your pet. Playing with your pet can also increase your body’s production of dopamine and serotonin, which can make you feel more relaxed and calm. Pet owners with anxiety or depression will find a reason to walk their pets. You can also meet other dog walkers. You can help the animal you helped by rehoming.

5. Can benefit children

Pet ownership can teach children valuable life skills, including the importance of ensuring that they take care of their pets. Empathy can also be encouraged by rehoming a pet. Children will think about the ways they helped an animal find a loving home. Children can benefit from pets as they help them to cope with separation anxiety. They also have security knowing that their pet will always be there for them. They can also be a companion and playmate.

6. Many of the animals are housetrained

Animals at shelters have often been housetrained in their previous home, particularly if they are older. This saves you a lot of time and extra effort when training your new pet where to go to the toilet.

When we obtained our very first canine, Kaeto, he was not notably pleasant with other pet dogs. We utilised to stand outdoors the canine park around our home looking at all the pet dogs participate in, wishing we could get Kaeto in. I’m confident we appeared variety of creepy. When we obtained Mauja, she was socialized to go to the canine park when she was outdated plenty of. Exact same goes for Atka. (more…)

I study a whole lot of pet dog instruction boards and belong to a bunch of instruction Fb teams. Normally, they are whole of awesome, handy men and women who appreciate canines and who appreciate supporting canines reside superior life. Occasionally–as with anything at all on the internet–the discussions devolve into bickering or negativity, but pet dog men and women are generally rather interesting with just one an additional.

Just lately, a pet-and-baby guardian posted a problem: What is a great cue I can train my pet dog to cease licking my kid’s sticky, disgusting deal with? I rephrased it a little bit for brevity, but the gist is that young children are yucky and canines appreciate licking yucky points. How can we operate with the pet dog on this?

There had been dozens of replies by the time I observed the submit, and the 1st factor I recognized even though scrolling was… no just one aided her. Not just one particular person. Alternatively? They all judged her.

Your pet dog must by no means be shut sufficient to your baby for a deal with lick.

You require to handle your pet dog superior.

Smaller little ones simply cannot understand how to behave, so you are placing your pet dog in harm’s way.

They require to be divided.

Deep breath. Okay. I have a whole lot to say about this and a ton of means to share, so adhere with me since I hope this submit can be handy to any guardian who’s having difficulties to determine out how to allow their little ones and canines interact and expand together–safely.

OhMyDogBlog.com is a participant in the Amazon Providers LLC Associates Method, an affiliate advertising and marketing plan made to present a suggests for websites to gain advertising and marketing costs by advertising and marketing and linking to amazon.com. 

TL DR Edition

We’ll get into element, and I’ll share our 1st-hand encounter, but in situation you are in a hurry:

1. Know and regard your dog’s persona. If you know he hates, say, loud noises, honor that by delivering a risk-free place when your tiny just one is crying.
2. Educate your child risk-free pet dog manners. This is Enormous and can start off seriously, seriously younger.
3. Use typical perception. It must go with out stating, but as the grownup, you require to use your head. Do not allow your toddler waddle about keeping a peanut butter sandwich and anticipate your pet dog not to snatch it… alongside with your kiddo’s pudgy fingers.

Also, do take note I’m concentrating on tiny kinds, like below 3 or 4. There is a full whole lot additional to be mentioned about major young children, a whole lot of which I protected in this pet dog chunk avoidance submit.

Established Your Canine Up for Achievement Close to Young children

You require to maintain your pet dog from landing in a place the place he or she feels compelled to chunk. Stop of tale. Whatsoever that is differs by pet dog. Some canines can continue to be tremendous chill and laid back again about teams of young children. My mom’s pet dog, Otto, is like that. Emmett was like that. Nevertheless, in equally situations, they’d fortunately snatch food items from an unsuspecting child–nailing a finger unintentionally in the process–so they essential to be divided from these predicaments.

But what about the relaxation of the canines, the bulk of pups who have firmer traces drawn? You require to place their security higher than their momentary joy.

I’ll use my lovey as an case in point: Cooper hates unpredictability in all points. Young children reside on unpredictability. Flailing, screeching, dive-bombing, working, tripping… all these standard baby behaviors send out him into a match. So, when we have young children about who we know behave like that, Coop hangs out in my workplace for the pay a visit to. No, he’s not pleased, but he’s a lot happier than he would be among the loud, boisterous young children, AND he’s risk-free. There will not be any incidents that power him into an not comfortable circumstance.

And, to be fully trustworthy, most kiddos who behave like that about him are young children who never have a pet dog at residence or whose mother and father are not tremendous pet dog savvy. It is my career to maintain him and our company risk-free, and security trumps joy.

Identical factor when we’re out strolling: If a child desires to pet him, I basically explain to them no. Certain, we get some bizarre seems, but I never treatment. His safety–and the kid’s–is additional essential.

View your pet dog. If your pet dog exhibits any signal of anxiety about a kiddo, and that kiddo is not capable to control his or her conduct, then get rid of your pet dog. Infant gates operate excellent. For littles, adhere ’em in a playpen. Use an additional space if required.

If young children are heading to be about at all, whether or not it is the new infant you just introduced residence from the healthcare facility or your nieces and nephews in city for a very long weekend, determine out what will maintain your pet dog risk-free and do that.

Examine additional: What I would like you understood about my reactive pet dog

Educate Your Child How to Behave Close to Pet dogs

This just one obtained me a tiny fired up: Smaller little ones simply cannot understand how to behave, so you are placing your pet dog in harm’s way.

Um. Yeah.

Nope.

Smaller little ones most absolutely can understand how to behave. As early as 8 months outdated, they create an comprehending of lead to and effect–if I do this, then this happens–and empathy begins to kick in about 18 months.

Maybe additional importantly for this dialogue, infants understand social cues–like how to behave about a dog–from what they notice. If you design risk-free, caring conduct with your animals, your young children will understand that. If you increase your voice to yell at your pet dog or drag your pet dog by the collar, your child will feel that is Okay.

The next a infant can attain out for your pup, it is time to start off instructing what is and is not Okay. For occasion, if she reaches out to get a handful of fur, cease her hand and describe why that is not suitable. No, she will not entirely realize what you are stating, but she’ll start off buying data on how to behave about canines.

In accordance to just one of the pet dog trainers in that thread, she alleged that little ones simply cannot cognitively realize that they can harm a pet dog until eventually they are 4.

All the cognitive science evidently exhibits in any other case, and we have observed it 1st-hand with Violet.

She’s two, and she’s a eager observer of human emotion.

“Mama, you pissed off?” “Aunt Lizzy, you unfortunate?” “I. SO. ANGWY.”

She understands entirely when a buddy on the playground will get hurt–whether unintentionally or by her hand–and will establish the upset and consider to determine out how to aid her buddy come to feel superior. Identical with the animals below. I stepped on Ripley’s toe when I was feeding her supper the other evening, and she yowled.

Violet requested, “Is Ripley unfortunate?” I defined that I harm Ripley’s toe by incident.

“Give her a hug, mama.”

Young children get it… IF they are taught.

When I’m speaking about tiny young children in this submit, study additional about pet dog chunk avoidance for larger young children below: Basic safety 1st for young children and animals

Need to you different your pet dog and your infant?

This was the major subject below dialogue in the thread I pointed out. The gist was that most men and women felt that canines must by no means be shut sufficient to lick a little child’s deal with to start with, they must usually be divided, and she was an irresponsible mom for enabling this to take place in the 1st spot.

If you know your pet dog and established your pet dog up for achievement, and if you start off instructing your baby how to behave about canines from the earliest age, you are off to a excellent start off. That mentioned, there is a Ton of nuance to the “separate them” argument well worth addressing.

For just one factor, certainly, by no means go away your infant on your own with an additional animal if you are not correct there. That is basic-and-basic typical perception.

For an additional, never allow your child wander about with food items in the identical place as your pet dog. Also typical perception.

Under no circumstances have your child sit on your pet dog (I imply, occur on, men and women) or pull up on your pet dog or journey your pet dog like a pony or any other numskull behaviors you have most likely observed on social media.

I imply, duh. Correct?

Okay, so all these typical perception caveats apart: Need to you different your pet dog and your infant?

Nicely. It is dependent.

For just one factor, with a remarkably delicate pet dog like Cooper, if I’d retained him fully different from Violet for 4 yrs, he would’ve leaped to some conclusions: Okay, Woman will not allow me in close proximity to the tiny pink monkey, so that tiny pink monkey have to be risky, AND she’s maintaining Woman absent from me, so I hates it.

And it is additional than basically obtaining them applied to every single other’s existence. Cooper essential to understand not to lick her. Violet essential to understand not to pull up on him. I hoped they’d expand up to be great good friends by finding out how to be serene and respectful about every single other. I know Coop within out and usually err on the facet of security, and I have experienced Violet due to the fact the commencing how to be respectful of other animals. Is she excellent? Of program not. She’s two.

{{Amusing sufficient, as an apart: She’s two. She throws tantrums. When just one is brewing, equally cats and Coop appear to be to have discovered triggers even more quickly than I do and skedaddle to hold out out the storm–lucky ducks–even in advance of she begins screaming.}}

They like to be jointly. They like to engage in jointly. In simple fact, they favor to be together–and with me–at nearly all moments, so it is out of requirement that I train them equally how to behave about every single other.

Lifetime transpires. You all reside jointly in the identical residence. There is no way I could maintain them on different sides of gates or playpens until eventually she turned 4 yrs outdated, and placing mother and father up to feel that is the case… it is basically unreasonable.

Pet dogs and infants CAN be excellent good friends!

Use your head. Acquire ideal methods you require to maintain absolutely everyone risk-free. Make investments in some food items puzzles for these moments when you do require to different your pet dog. (We use a normal Kong, a Squirrel Dude, a Tux, and puzzle feeders, but holy moly I feel we require this epic snuffle mat.)

Eventually, discover approaches for them to interact in a risk-free, good way jointly since there is no larger pleasure than seeing your infant and pet dog expand up jointly!

Ooh do I have a deal with in shop for you upcoming 7 days! Nowadays is a sneak peek of what is coming up in an fascinating 7 days extended journey of Do it yourself jobs, useful recommendations and sweet treats all for Mother’s Working day! Whether or not you are a mum wanting to be spoiled, or a fur-mother or father seeking to take pleasure in the working day with their pup, I have received your lined. See you on Monday for all the enjoyable!

Obtaining a big breed potential customers to quite a few special difficulties as a pet dog proprietor. Obtaining a big breed puppy dog is even additional demanding. Did you know that big breeds commonly really don’t experienced until eventually at the very least three yrs of age? There is a indicating which is affiliated with Bernese Mountain Canines, but quite a few other big breeds comply with it as very well.

Mauja and Atka are nonetheless in the ‘young dog’ section at two and a single yrs of age, respectively. Hunting at them, you would not believe they are nonetheless puppies as they each and every have triple digit weights. Even so they nonetheless have ‘puppy brain’, which smaller to medium sized canine outgrow all around the a single calendar year stage.

However, quite a few persons believe that that mainly because of a big breed’s dimensions, pressure is a important coaching element. I lately go through on a good pet dog coaching team that the trainer “had to use pressure on a four thirty day period previous St. Bernard puppy dog mainly because of his size”. Sigh. Have I explained to you about the time I was kicked out of a coaching course for not working with a prong collar or choke chain on a five thirty day period previous Atka? That is a tale for one more working day.

Most big breeds are very delicate canine and this is definitely genuine for Wonderful Pyrenees. Atka has been with us considering that eight months of age and experienced a amazing start out to lifestyle, but any speedy motion or gesture towards his collar helps make him cower. He’s just a really delicate boy. Can you consider how he would be if I experienced utilized a prong collar on him as a puppy dog?

Pressure-centered coaching is in no way requirement and a dog’s dimensions is undoubtedly no exception.

Very last 7 days, as we walked laps close to our preferred park, 1 of the social personnel from our adoption company known as John. They experienced a expert photographer lined up for Saturday to snap some pics to beautify their places of work. Had been we interested… oh, and carry your pet!

We explained certainly! Of program!

And then we started out to believe by the logistics of getting Cooper.

He will get anxious heading to new locations. His tail tucks, and he quakes like a tiny leaf in a windstorm every time we acquire him to a various park.

He can be strike or miss out on when conference strangers out in general public. Apparently, he’s fully fantastic with any person who we have above to the property. It is the out-and-about that triggers him anxiousness.

He listens nearly properly at property, but when he’s terrified (see: new area, new individuals), he can dissolve into a neurotic, bouncing, barking mess who simply cannot concentration.

So, in mild of these quirks, we started out to program: We experienced tiers of treats ranging from minimal worth (freeze-dried salmon) to his most valued (squeeze cheese). We made a decision to get to the park early to stroll him close to and enable him get his wiggles out, go to the rest room, and commence to operate some fast cues like sit and down so that he experienced time to get in the appropriate frame of mind. In the end, we made a decision to park near to the place so that, worst-situation state of affairs, we could set him in the auto and depart it operating with the AC on, audio enjoying, a drinking water dish, and his mattress.

The punchline, which you almost certainly guessed from the headline, is that he behaved properly. (The pic underneath is a candid snap I bought on my cell phone in the course of the formal shoot!)

Like, if you did not know him at all–which the social employee and photographer didn’t–you’d believe he was just a great, pleased, nicely-behaved, usual pup–which is what they considered!

He growled at two individuals equally startled him as they emerged from locations in his blind-places.

Or else, he was legit ideal.

He posed. He stayed. He sat. He seemed at the digicam. He wagged and approved tons of animals from equally females and even permitted the social employee to keep his leash whilst the photographer snapped a couple of pictures of individuals only.

Honestly?

I actually essential this reminder. (Once more.)

We get the job done with Cooper in some capacity–whether it is attentiveness education in the park or impulse manage at property, trick education in the dwelling area, or extended stays in the yard, and so on–every solitary working day. From time to time it is a couple of minutes in this article and there often it is concerted, concentrated education classes.

I know you men know, but doing work with reactive pet dogs can be so annoying. It feels like 1 move ahead, two actions back again so substantially of the time. Random new factors crop up unexpectedly that depart you questioning if your get the job done is generating a variance.

This full photoshoot practical experience proved to me that all that get the job done pays off. That often we’ll get off keep track of, or we’ll practical experience a setback, but in the end we’re relocating ahead. Absolutely sure, it is at a glacial speed, but it is ahead development irrespective.

Let us chat about nuts puppies, shall we?

You fellas know me, so you know I say “crazy” with huge really like in my coronary heart.

I’m chatting about puppies like Cooper: higher-strength puppies, clever puppies, innovative puppies who arrive up with their owns procedures of enjoyment when they are underneath-exercised or underneath-stimulated…

Cooper operates. A whole lot. He does gradual community wogs (stroll + jog) with me, and he does prolonged marathon-education operates with John. Yet… he wallops the cats, skitters all over the home furniture, barks his encounter off out the window, goes bonkers with his toys, and so on IF we skip a working day.

And, truthfully, from time to time we have to skip a working day mainly because, very well, existence.

Preserving a higher-strength pet dog hectic can be a actual obstacle, and it turns into even a lot more tough in chilly, wet, or snowy times when you just simply cannot get outside the house. With that period all over the corner (Alright, essentially, it need to be here… it is December… why is it 60? #thanksclimatechange), I have revisited some earlier posts about indoor actions and imagined it was time for a refresh.

When the temperature does not cooperate with outside enjoyable, below are 5 Do it yourself enrichment suggestions you and your pet dog can do… indoors… to support retain that strength at bay!

OhMyDogBlog.com is a participant in the Amazon Solutions LLC Associates Plan, an affiliate promotion system created to present a indicates for websites to receive promotion service fees by promotion and linking to amazon.com. If you make a invest in on an Amazon backlink, it will not value you a penny a lot more, but this website will receive a tiny fee that assists retain our online jogging. Thank you!

Muffin tin sport

Fill the slots of a muffin tin with treats or your dog’s kibble. Spot a tennis ball on leading of the treats in just about every slot. Trace: Some energetic pups promptly understand to suggestion about the total tray. If that happens–and you really don’t want to clean up up the mess just about every time–try the following sport rather.

Paper towel tube puzzle

Things a handle in an vacant paper towel tube. Crimp down the finishes to lure the handle. Permit your pet dog tear, shred, and pounce on the tube to get the handle. Trace: This a single is excellent for cats, as well.

Will function for foods

Transform the way you feed your pet dog breakfast. Have interaction his thoughts very first point in the early morning! Instead than plunk it down in a bowl, make him function. If you have time, provide him a single chunk at a time in trade for behaviors like sit or higher 5. If you really don’t have time, divide the foods amid 5 or 6 bowls, and cover them all over the property in advance of you go away for function in the early morning.

Nose function

Puppies really like to use their noses. Disguise treats all over the property, very first in clear areas, then with rising issues. Make mealtime a task by combining it with nose function cover your dog’s meal all over the property, and permit him hunt his food (variety of like higher than but with no the caches in bowls… distribute the parts wayyyyy more). Or, use a snuffle mat like the Wooly pictured higher than!

Obedience rally

Get your pet dog imagining by jogging obedience cues all over the property. Have him hold out in a single space, then contact him from yet another. Observe sits and downs on the mattress or function on prolonged stays with interruptions. Reward together the way! For puppies who require to blow off additional steam, operate the drills up and down the stairs. Just one family members member sits at the leading and phone calls your pup. Inquire for a primary cue, like sit, then yet another family members member at the base phone calls and asks for yet another cue. The actual physical exercise of jogging stairs, merged with the psychological exercise of obedience tires out even the rowdiest hound.

Recall, if you are new at these sorts of video games, your pet dog will require a minor steering and assist at very first. Support your pup as essential, and give a lot of praise (and treats!) to inspire his attempts.

I experienced this great thought for tonight although Violet will get her bath–we’re likely to blend two for an epic put on-out session: Even though I’m bathing her upstairs and John’s cooking meal downstairs, we’re likely to feed him his meal by possessing him do obedience rally back again and forth involving us in trade for bits of kibble. My guess? He’ll be asleep in advance of Violet tonight.

As a Chihuahua mother, I know there are tons of myths and stereotypes when it arrives to Chihuahuas. Chihuahuas are unpleasant, they are ankle biters, signify, and Chihuahuas are yappy are just some of the typical myths. In this publish, I’m likely to debunk these myths and spill some truths about the beloved Chihuahua breed with you.  Make positive to also test out our Ultimate Guidebook to Chihuahua Suggestions.

Chihuahuas are Unsightly

Fantasy. Definitely. Chihuahuas are plainly the cutest, most irresistible canine on the world. How could everyone get in touch with these minor bundles of cuteness unpleasant? I have under no circumstances experienced everyone get in touch with Chuy unpleasant but we have read some absurd points when on walks.

• Seem a traveling squirrel!
• It is a cat on a leash!
• Yo quiero Taco Bell.
• A huge rat!
• Oh and there is the developed males that favored to make barking noises at us…but only when my spouse is not there. Ugh.

You can acquire all of your insults and suck on a canine bone. Chihuahuas are NOT unpleasant! I signify just glance at that minor experience!

Chihuahuas are Generally Yappy

Fantasy!  Chuy under no circumstances barks unless of course he hears somebody or one thing outdoors. Which is it. Very well, alright the occasional bark at a weird male that attempts to method him. While, in that scenario I never blame him for acquiring stranger risk. There are a great deal of instances on walks the place other canine bark at him and he just minds his individual organization.  Chihuahuas that have not experienced appropriate education and socialization can turn into yappy…but it is a lot more of a protection system since they are terrified. That is worry that merely wants a lot more education and socialization.

Chihuahuas Shake

Real.  It is considered that a typical trait of Chihuahuas is that they shake all the time. Although it is correct that they do shake a lot more than other breeds, there is a cause it is taking place and you require to handle it. It is commonly possibly because of to worry/tension or sensation chilly.  In my private expertise, Chuy only shakes when we are at the vet since he’s anxious and when he’s seriously chilly. Given that this breed is so modest, they have a tough time regulating their physique temperature. Make positive that you offer them with a heat snuggly mattress and blanket and a canine jacket when out for walks.

Chihuahuas Really don’t Like Young children

Fantasy! Expressing that Chihuahuas never like children is a wide sweeping assumption that just is not correct for the complete breed. We experienced Chuy all to ourselves for 7 a long time just before Catalina (my daughter) was born. I was so anxious that it was likely to rock his earth in a detrimental way. But, I did my research and manufactured positive that we ended up well prepared to introduce our canine to a new child little one. Now? They are BFFs! She is ridiculously obsessed with him and Chuy is these a fantastic activity with her. Even when that implies she’s placing stickers on him or making an attempt to gown him up in doll clothing. It arrives down to education, placing boundaries, and instructing your children how to handle animals.

Chihuahuas Are not Excellent Enjoy Pet dogs

Fantasy! Keep in mind how I stated that Chuy only barks when he hears somebody outdoors of our property? He is tremendous inform and hears points that I under no circumstances do. Certain plenty of, I’ll glance outdoors and there is somebody strolling on the sidewalk or coming up the driveway.  When we purchase foodstuff, I have to set him in the other space since he is NOT delighted about strangers standing in our doorway. Now, if one thing terrible in fact took place, my religion in Chuy’s capability to combat off an intruder is not so excellent. LOL.

Chihuahuas are Not Outside Pet dogs

Fantasy! Chihuahuas could be modest but they are mighty and decided minor creatures. Indeed, Chuy is spoiled further than perception at house. He basically has a canine mattress in each solitary space of our property but at night time he sleeps in our king dimension mattress. He is taken treatment of just like a little one and is not just a dog…he is a family members member. That does not signify he does not enjoy to go outdoor on adventures. I Adore using Chuy with us to go on walks, hikes, highway visits, and even kayaking.  Chihuahuas may be modest but they are even now canine! They require physical exercise, stimulation, and enjoyable!

These are just a number of of the most typical myths about Chihuahuas. What other myths have you read? Enable us know in the remarks part.