Grooming isn't just about your pooch looking their best, it's also important for their health and wellbeing. The Dos of Dog Grooming Washing your dog often is totally fine, in fact they'll love it. Just like you, feeling clean will make your dog feel good. Always use a dog shampoo as human shampoo can be harsh on your dog's skin and can cause irritation. Brush your pooch's fur, particularly if it is long as it can easily get matted. Remember to also choose your brush carefully, as there are specific brushes made for different types of fur. Brushing your dog helps to get rid of malting fur. Clip your dogs nails. This can be tough, so if using a dog nail clipper is proving to be too difficult most vets will do it for you for a small fee. Light coloured fur will need protection from the sun as dogs with light fur are prone to skin cancer. Simply pat some sunscreen on your dog to make sure they are protected. The Don'ts of Dog Grooming Do not use hand soap or other types of soap for humans on your dog. If you are going to blow dry your dog's fur, ensure the blow dryer is set to the lowest setting so that you do not burn your dog in the process. When clipping nails ensure you do not clip too much as you can cut into the skin and cause bleeding. Do not put human perfume on your dog, this can cause allergies and skin irritation. If painting your dogs nails ensure it is pet friendly as your pooch may end up chewing the polish off and ingesting it.

Clicker training is an effective way to train your dog. Essentially, clicker training is a science-based way to communicate with your dog. Around since the 1960s, clicker training tells your dog when they've done something correct and is the method favoured by dog trainers.  The clicker is used to reward behaviour. People start out using treats to motivate their dogs, but eventually, the click should become the 'treat'. Clicker training is based on a positive reinforcement reward system and promotes your dog's willingness to please you.  What's great about clicker training is that it's incredibly effective because you're able to reward your dog at the exact moment they do something correct, meaning positve associations and achievements happen quicker! Clicker training promotes dogs to work harder, as they want to please you and it also eliminates the need to implicate force or punishment on your dog (however this is never a good thing to do). To start with, it's recommended you also use treats to provide further incentive for your dog, but eventually you should be able to wean them off the treats and only use the clicker. Reasons why using a clicker is better than treats are: Too many treats lead to obesity. Treats can distract dogs from what they are actually trying to learn. Too many treats can lead to stubbornness where your dog will only perform a task when a treat is produced! Tips for successful clicker training 1. Before you introduce your dog to the clicker, practice alone getting the clicker timing correct. The last thing you want to do is click at the wrong time and confuse your dog. As a rule, clicking whilst your dog is doing the right thing, rather than afterwards is better. 2. Don't worry if your dog becomes startled initially - they will soon become used to the noise. 3. Start your training somewhere your dog feels comfortable and relaxed. 4. To get them viewing the clicker as something positive, click once and then give a treat. Repeat this a few times so your dog learns that the click will lead to a reward. 5. To reduce the amount of food your dog eats, put cut up treats into smaller pieces, or in fact, start training sessions right before meal time, and distribute your dog's meal into small chunks - that way they won't be over eating. 6. If you are teaching a complicated trick, break it down into smaller components and reward them each time they do something correct. And if they do any part of the trick your trying to teach, even incidentally, reward them! This is known as shaping the behaviour. 7. As mentioned, never punish mistakes or bad behaviour, in fact, don't show any emotion during these times. 8. Keep practice sessions short - no more than 15 minutes is adequate. 9. If your dog isn't making progress, it might not be your dog but you clicking at the wrong time. 10. If you notice your dog's becoming frustrated, try adding some games or revert to practicing tricks they already know well. 11. Only ever click once at a time. 12. Always end training sessions on a positive note. 13. When big achievements have been accomplished you can choose to give a large reward (or lots of little ones) to emphasize how well they've done. 14. And always, stay calm and positive. Remember, your dog can be very receptive to your emotions.

Many cat owners don't like the idea of putting their beloved cat into a cage, as they feel they are being cruel and preventing their cat from doing their everyday feline activities. And while, yes, it's cruel to keep your cat in a cage all of the time, there are particular instances where it's perfectly OK - a good idea in fact - to put your kitty behind bars. Here are some of those instances now: Caging kittens and their mothers actually promotes good litter box training. By confining the amount of space they can roam, kittens are left with no choice but to eliminate in the litter box. Keeping the mother in there with them, allows mama cat to lead by example to show her young how it's done. Bear in mind, the cage shouldn't be multi-tiered, so kittens are not exposed to risk of falling from a great height. Cages are great for quarantining new cats in a multi-cat home - particularly if you are unsure whether the new cat has any illnesses.  Cages are so useful if you have more than one cat and are trying to pin-point which one of your cats are ill. Place one cat inside the cage and watch for the symptoms you are suspicious of. Once you are satisfied it's not that particular cat, place your next cat in there until you have found your sick kitty. How hard is it trying to give a cat their medication? So hard! By placing your cat into a cage, it makes the whole squirmy affair so much easier. If you are moving house or introducing your cat to a new environment, a cage can be an invaluable safety net, not just for you but your cat too. Once you have successfully introduced the new place to your cat, leave the cage there with the door open, so if your cat should become spooked they can retreat to somewhere comfortable and safe.  Have you ever considered using a cage as a time-out for naughty cats? If you haven't, you should. If you need to break up a fight, or need to re-train a cat so they can break any bad habits, placing the culprit in a cage for an hour can really enhance your message! If you are someone who breeds cats, or wishes to, placing two potential partners into a cage together can help with the breeding process.  Likewise, a pregnant cat can also benefit from being in a cage from around 2 weeks prior to her due date to keep her safe. Can you think of any other instances where a cage could come in handy? Feature image credit

At Petbucket, like the rest of the Internet, we love cats - especially cute kittens.   Awww! Image credit Sooo cute! Image credit Adorable! Image credit   So if you are lucky enough to be adopting a little feline, you may be wondering about what belongings you'll need to get them for when they first arrive home. It can be extremely overwhelming and all too easy to end up going overboard, buying unnecessary items that your cat will never use, or won't be long-lasting into adulthood. The following items listed are what we think are some some great essentials to have ready for when your cat comes home. Not only are they essential for everyday care but also promote an easy and positive transition for your kitten into everyday life with their new family.  Food and water dishes Litter and litter box Bed Toys Collar Carrier Brush Nail clippers Scratching post Things to do before your kitten comes home Kitten proof your home: for example, make sure electrical cables are away, doors to cupboards, washing machines and toilets are kept shut and that naked flames and chemicals are extinguished and kept out of reach. Check your garden and plants to make sure none of them are toxic for cats. Set up a designated, private room with all your cat's new belongings in there so they can settle in slowly. After a few days, you can slowly start allowing your cat more access around your home. Things to do when they arrive home If possible, continue to feed them the same food they had previously. If you can't or if later on you want to make changes, make sure you introduce new food slowly, to avoid any tummy upsets. In their private sanctuary, make sure your cat's food and water bowls and litter box are kept as far apart as possible. If your kitten has just come from their littermates and mom, you can make the adjustment easier by placing a ticking clock in their bed and/or give them a hot water bottle (not too hot) wrapped in a blanket. If you have other pets or children that you want to introduce your kitten to, make sure it's done slow and steady and at the pace of the animal. Feature image credit

Let's not beat around the bush; cats can be real fusspots! But that makes up a large reason why they are so intriguing and entertaining to their owners. Introducing a cat to a new bed can prove to be a real task that can leave some poor owners tearing their hair out in frustration, wondering why the fresh, plush bed they've purchased is not appealing to their cat. But don't worry, there are some simple, subtle changes you can make that will see your cat change from total dissatisfaction to complete, cozy, bedded bliss! And remember, no matter whether you're introducing a kitten to a bed for the very first time or are trying to change where your adult cat sleeps (in your bed, in the fresh pile of laundry...) the following solutions should work out for you, and your cat. Firstly, please note that most beds will suit most cats, so there's no point constantly returning beds to their point of purchase, hoping that the next bed will do the trick. The reality is, it's unlikely to be the bed's fault! However your cat's mind can always be changed using sublte, subtle persuasion. If your cat's bed is currently being rejected, try and do some detective work to figure out why they may be choosing to sleep where they sleep. It's pretty much guaranteed to be all about location. What is it about their chosen locations that are so desirable? Use their choices as inspiration as to where to place the bed - bearing in mind to carefully consider your cat's own personality, because what's attractive to one cat may not be to another. In saying that, there are some general hot spots that you could pick. Always pick a low traffic area and one that can offer some concealment. So, the middle of the room is definitely out, but on a windowsill, behind a curtain will be a cat's paradise! Next you need to consider the bed's smell. When bringing a new bed into the home for your cat, bear in mind it's absolutely covered in smells your cat won't be used to or like. In order to improve its attractiveness, try covering the bed in an item of your clothing or place some of your kitty's toys inside the bed. This will help make the bed more appealing and familiar. Remember, it may take around 24 hours for your cat to consider sleeping there. If up until this point, neither changing location or smell of the bed has worked then you will have to also instigate a formal introduction. To do this, you will need to make the most of any passing opportunity... When your cat happens to be passing their bed, start making a fuss over and around the bed, even rearranging any of the toys inside it. Hopefully your cat will interested enough to come over and investigate. If they are not interested in the slightest, you will need to then try and call them over. Once your cat has come over, watch to see if they interact at all with the bed. If they do praise them (but don't be too over-the-top about it) and if they show no interest, it's important that you refrain from reacting. Keep trying to formally introduce your cat to their bed, until some positive associations have been made. When you get to the point that your cat is happy to use their bed, you will then be free to move the bed to other places in the home, but remember to always choose cat-approved locations! Feature image credit  

One of the most common stereotypes dog owners are accustomed to is the puppy that chews on shoes. When a dog is portrayed in movies and TV shows, almost every troublesome little puppy is found chewing on an owner's shoe at some point. This behavior, although often stereotyped in popular culture, is a very real occurrence that owners have to deal with on a regular basis.   All puppies have a natural instinct to chew on things, and shoes serves as a great target for that desire to chew and bite because of their location. Unlike remotes, clothes, and other items around the house that might be stored out of reach, your shoes are often left out on the rug. This puts your shoes on your puppy's level, turning them into an easy target. So, how can you stop this behavior in your pup?   Stay calm First and foremost, the worst thing you can do is fly off the handle and get angry with your dog. In the case of puppies, chewing on anything (including shoes) is a result of teething. Your puppy goes through teething at around 11 months, and anything that allows it to relieve the pain in its gums is likely to get chewed on. When you catch your pup chewing on a shoe, take a deep breath and correct the behavior calmly.   Correct your pup with a stern "no," but don't yell at the dog. Remove the shoe from its vision and present it with an acceptable chew toy. Reinforce the idea that the toy is good, and the shoe is bad, by praising it for chewing on the toy.   Correcting the behavior When you go to remove the shoe from your dog, don't simply snatch the shoe from its mouth. If you quickly move to grab the shoe, your puppy might think the shoe is a new toy and that you are looking to play. Instead, use a gentle, yet stern touch on your dog's hindquarters or neck to redirect its focus. With its focus redirected, remove the shoe and introduce the chew toy instead.   Claim your shoes Dogs claim toys and objects around the house. You need to do the same with items that are yours to help teach your dog which items are yours and should not be touched. By remaining calm and using positive energy and body language, you can send a message to your dog that your shoes are strictly yours. Think of it as creating an invisible barrier around objects such as your shoes that tells your puppy "this is mine."   Prevent the problem The best thing you can do to help your dog is to set it up for success, not failure. It can be difficult to establish dominance and ownership of items in the house. These endeavors take time to complete and instill positive behaviors in your dog. While you work on those, take some time to follow extra steps that will help set your dog up for success. Close the door to your bedroom and keep shoes in common areas inside of closets where you dog cannot access them. Make sure to leave plenty of acceptable chew toys out for your dog. This will prevent it from chewing shoes, and reinforce the positive behavior of using chew toys. Feature image credit

Never to be underestimated, choosing the right house for your dog is incredibly important. A good dog house will provide comfort and shelter as well as being a retreat for your dog. And if your pooch is strictly an outdoor dog- then getting their house right is even more important because your dog will need to be protected in extreme weather conditions. All dogs should have a place to call their own, but if your dog is an outdoor only pooch, then a house really is an absolute must. If you choose wisely, a dog house should last for many, many, many years - so getting it right in the first place will really pay off for you in the long run. A good dog house will be safe, quiet and small. Yes, small. When it comes to dog houses, bigger is definitely not better as smaller houses offer the most protection and keeps heat in. To make sure you buy the correct size, here is how you measure up. Measure from the ground to the top of your dog's back. The entrance should be slightly larger than their back.  When inside their house, your dog should be able to turn around completely. To achieve this, measure from your dog's chest to the back of their behind. The house should be 25% bigger than this measurement. Next, measure from the ground to the top of your dog's head. The highest point of the house should be no more than 25% taller. What you are trying to achieve is for your dog to be able to stand up and turn around completely inside their home, but stoop on their way in and out. Before committing to a purchase, you could make a mock up version out of cardboard and see if your proposed measurements are going to be the right ones for your dog. Things to consider: If your dog's home is too big, too much body heat will escape. If your dog's home is too small, it just won't be comfortable. Despite being a sturdy structure, raising your dog's home off the ground will add further protection from rain, moisture, snow and insects. This in turn, also adds to the longevity of the home. Plastic and wood are the two most common materials used for dog homes. These are some points to consider before choosing what material you want to buy: Plastic: Lighter Less expensive Easy to transport Easy to clean Wood: Usually available in more design options Better protection from the elements Better insulation When choosing a dog home, always consider your lifestyle and how and when your dog will use their home.

Warning: what you're about to read may be distressing for some cat owners... Cats have a reputation for being solitary creatures that don't enjoy socializing with other animals and sometimes, even their owners! It's no secret that it's difficult to get inside the head of any animal, (if only they could talk!) however, animal behavior specialists will say that it is possible to get a general idea of a cat's mood based upon behavior, but will this reveal if your cat actually dislikes you?   To some, the idea alone is completely preposterous while for others, they may be genuinely worried that their feline friend doesn't want to be their friend at all! Now, animal behavior specialists believe that it is possible for cats to dislike their owners.   Voice recognition with indifference A study published in the Animal Cognition Journal in July 2013 found that cats can in fact recognize their owner's voice. On top of that, cats showed an ability to differentiate their owner's voice from that of a stranger. You may think that surely your cat loves you if it can recognize your voice, right? Unfortunately, the vast majority of cats actually ignore the call of their owners because they simply are indifferent to their owner's very existence!   The study followed 20 domesticated house cats for eight months. During this time, the researchers found that roughly 70% of the cats in the study acknowledged the sound of their owner's voice. However, just 10% responded to their owner's call. Even then, the only recognition owners got was a meow or tail wag.   Rubbing and grooming For those who believe their cat loves them because it rubs up against them and loves to cuddle, it might be time to rethink that. Cats who rub up against their owner are not seeking affection or showing love, but rather, are staking their claim in the house. When your cat rubs up against you, it is telling everyone else in the room that it owns you.   And what about cuddling? Researchers at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom have found that petting can actually lead to stress in some cats. The study found that a cat living in a home with other cats was more likely to remain calm because the stress of petting and cuddling was spread out over all pets in the home, allowing it to avoid many interactions. On top of that, have you ever noticed your cat grooming itself after cuddling with you? That is your cat cleaning its body and getting the "human smell" off its body.   Your cat hates you Daniel Mills, a professor of veterinary behavior medicine in the United Kingdom, has found that many cats simply do not like their owners. Mills found that most cats have an anxious avoidance style of attachment. Whereas dogs and children have "love" for their owners/parents and feel better when they're around, most cats do not feel that same attachment.   Many cats couldn't care less if their owners are in the room or not. In fact, cats with anxious avoidance feel more stress when you are around than they do when they are alone in the home. The presence of an owner does not help promote emotional stability or provide a soothing presence in their life. We're not entirely convinced by these findings - because we know some cats that are incredibly loving and seem to find a lot of happiness in human company. Or they're very good actors... What do you think? Feature image credit

Kitty litter. URGH! One of the least appealing aspects of pet care has to be cleaning up after them, right? Right. If you have an indoor cat you will be all too familiar with the joys of the litter box and all the perils that come along with using them - but there are ways to make your life easier which will in fact lessen the amount of time you have to spend scooping poop. If you are struggling against the smell that is omitted from your cat's litter box then there is one simple, inexpensive, yet very effective solution out there: odor eliminators. Odor eliminators are great because they disguise and eliminate unwanted smells and work to break down residue which is the main cause of smelly odors. Best of all, it activates every time your cat uses the litter box so they are a great tool to be relied on. If you really can't stand cleaning up your cat's litter box, or perhaps you work long hours and don't like returning home to a smelly place that's been closed up for long periods of time, then maybe it's time you considered treating you and your cat to a SELF-SCOOPING LITTER BOX. It sounds like a dream doesn't it? A self-scooping litter box may not be a dream, but it sure is a dream to use- it's so easy to use and maintain. A sensor triggers when a cleaning cycle needs to begin and best news of all, it's compatible with any clumping litter, so you don't need to shop for any special varieties. If you're of a queasy disposition then coming face to face with your cat's droppings is probably not a match made in heaven. If that's not the case then perhaps you just don't like the idea of your cat's waste being out on display for all to see (and we suspect your cat is maybe feeling the same thing!) So why not try out a litter box cover. Litter box covers are available in many materials and can match with a variety of stylish furnishings. They don't absorb any fluids, are sturdy and can be easily cleaned. You'll be glad to hide away kitty's waste and they'll appreciate the privacy! For a quick and easy way to remove waste, why not consider buying a Scoop-N-Sift. A very handy weapon in the fight against kitty litter, a Scoop-N-Sift reduces the amount of waste that kitty litters can provide. To be used with clumping litter, these great little devices allows you to sift the clumps of waste from the remaining litter, making the overall process much, much easier.  

Introducing a new pet into your family is always a step that should be carefully considered. A new pet can certainly enhance your home, but it can also wreak havoc. Potential difficult situations can be avoided by keeping the following tips in mind. Remember, a multi-dog home can be a delightful one, but be sure to take your time and consider the following before inviting a new dog into your home.   1. Research the breed Some dog breeds are known for their ability to easily mix with other breeds. Of course, there's no guarantee that any one dog or two will take kindly to a third. However, by choosing breeds that are known for their easy-going demeanor, you can avoid aggression among the dogs and, ideally, enjoy a more peaceful home.   2. Consider the expense If you have two dogs, you'll already know that costs for vet care, food, and grooming are double the price. Three dogs will ramp up your costs considerably. If you can afford an extra mouth to feed, then you probably won't mind the added expense when caring for a thrid dog- however remember that some breeds can be more expensive than others for a variety of reasons, from healthcare, food and grooming.   3. Positive introductions When you bring a new dog home, you'll want to try your best to conceal any fearful or worried emotions you might have as dogs are able to pick up on these negative emotions. Remember to stay in command of the situation- but you can expect the dogs to sniff each other and investigate. You'll also want to be sure all introductions stay positive. If you are at all concerned about your dogs and their particular breed, consider inviting a trainer over to coach you during the encounter.   4. Stay present For an initial period of time, you may not want to leave the dogs alone together. Supervise their meetings around the home and try to give them time to get to know each other. You don't need to step in unless one of the dogs begins to show signs of aggression. Once you're comfortable that they won't fight, you can leave them together in the yard to see how things progress.   5. Separate food bowls and stations Meal times can be tricky, especially if one of the dogs is aggressive and decides that its food portion isn't enough. By feeding dogs separately and with their own bowls, you can ensure that they get the nourishment they need and, hopefully, avoid any conflicts between the dogs.   6. Be fair It's important to be fair with the dogs, particularly when it comes to your attention. Be sure to spend time interacting with each dog so that they all feel secure in your affections. Also, be sure each dog has their own treats and toys. While they may wind up sharing, it's always a good idea to make sure that each has something to play with or gnaw in order to avoid any trouble.   Going from two dogs to three is an exciting experience as it can bring great joy to your home. By following the above tips, and excersing care and attention introducing a third dog is bound to be a great success! We'd love to hear about your experiences when you've introduced a third (or more) dog into your home!