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Tips On Moving House With Pets

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As much as we adore our beloved pets, moving house with them can be stressful. Many people worry about the confusion experienced by pets during the relocation process. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as we might anticipate. There are plenty of ways to make moving house with pets easier, leaving you to focus on packing boxes and communicating with the removalists!


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It is important that your pet is not only micro chipped, but also carries an identification tag, clearly labelled with your new address. Most animals are likely to stay by their owner’s side. However, if a pet does become lost, it is essential that whoever finds him/her is able to contact you easily. While we’re on the subject, don’t forget to change the contact details linked to your pet’s microchip!

Obtain a copy of your pet’s medical record from your current vet, and check that all immunisations are up-to-date. This is especially important in the case of an international relocation, as is checking quarantine laws.

That’s the paper work pretty much taken care of. Now we come to the emotional issues. Some pets might display anxiety as the movers start to visit your home and the relocation date draws near. Animals might not be able to talk with us, but their instincts are well developed when it comes to sensing change. Keep a close eye on your pet’s behaviour. Consider putting him/her in a separate room, where he/she won’t be close to all the hustle and bustle of packing and the lifting and lugging of removalists. Constant reassurance, both verbal and physical, can help to reduce stress.

Try to maintain your pet’s regular routine, particularly in terms of eating and exercise. That might be difficult, considering that your own life will feel as though it is very much out of order, but keeping up expected behaviours can assist in instilling a sense of normality.

When it comes to relocation day, try the following tips:

• Sedatives are useful if your pet is extremely stressed, if the journey is long, and/or if your pet is travelling with the removalist.

• Use comfortable, secure caging and cover it if necessary.

• If relocating by plane, book the most direct route possible, and check on housing and identification requirements for animals.

• If relocating by car, stop as often as possible, to provide your pet with fresh air, exercise, food, water and affection. Don’t let him/her stray too far, though, as he/she might become confused and go for a wander. If you have to stop overnight, ring ahead to find accommodation where pets are accepted and don’t forget to carry a leash.

• Have your pet travel with you, rather than the removalist. If this isn’t an option, book removalists that you trust implicitly, to assure peace of mind.

Once you’ve reached your destination, give your pets a couple of weeks to develop self-confidence. Don’t be too concerned if they’re fretful – that’s to be expected after moving house. Do what you can to reassure them, by providing affection, re-establishing routines, and keeping up food and water schedules. It won’t be long before the movers are gone and you and your pets are starting to feel at home again.

Sam Nathan is a freelance writer. His interests include finance, sports, travel and health.

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Reasons We Love To Dress Up Our Dogs

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Something that was once reserved for cold wintery days and perhaps Christmas-time is now a huge trend seen around the world every day – dressing up your pets.

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Whether it’s a reindeer, a fairy or Katy Perry, there is bound to be a variety of obscene outfits out there for your pooch.

Dogs already come with their own fur coats, so why do we feel the need to dress them up in all sorts of get-ups?

Weather

Winter coats for dogs are completely necessary when the temperatures outside drops extremely low. Although dogs have a layer of fat that adds insulation that is usually sufficient, sometimes they may need that extra bit of help. Each dog’s coat will vary depending on their breed, and it will shed or develop throughout the year.

Dogs that live in sub-zero temperatures, like sledge dogs and huskies, can deal with cold weather because their paws and coats have evolved to deal with it. However, the standard domestic dog cannot withstand very low temperatures, which is why there are coats and jumpers designed to help them.

There’s such a variety out there, including waterproof, knitted, down-filled jackets and actual raincoats.

However, it seems that the functional has now been replaced with the fashionable and the downright comedic at times.

Fashion

Since Paris Hilton was seen carrying her Chihuahua in her tote handbag, small dogs have been one of the must-have fashion accessories. And when the dressing up trend exploded, small dogs were the first ones to get put on the canine catwalk.

Dressing your pooch up in tiaras and jewels, as a cupcake or a cheerleader and having them by your side is the latest in haute couture and the cutest accessory that you’ll love forever.

Comedy

Initially, the odd Santa Claus outfit at Christmas was as funny as it got in terms of doggy dress-up. However, as the trend became more popular, the outfits got funnier and wackier.

You can now dress your dog up as a hamburger, an oompa loompa or a leprechaun to take along to your next fancy dress party with you – and let’s face it, they’ll probably outshine you and be the hit of the party.

Most dog costumes are made ensuring that the dog’s comfort is paramount. However, if you do sense that your dog is uncomfortable in any way, then do take it off them as you do not want an unhappy hound!

Becky loves dressing up her Chihuahua in cute costumes – she also spoils her with luxury dog beds from www.thestylishdogcompany.com

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How To Dog-Proof Your Apartment

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Walt in crate

Are you starting to get puppy fever? If so, you’re not alone. Spring time is one of the most popular times of the year to adopt a pet! While it’s a very exciting time in a person’s life when you can finally take the step to caring for a dog, you have to make sure that you’re 100% prepared for this type of responsibility. After you’ve made the decision, here are 5 steps to follow in order to prepare your apartment for your new furry friend.

Get secure lids for trash cans

One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make after getting their first dog is not ensuring that they have quality garbage cans with secure lids. Dogs love to get into the trash, and if you have a swing garbage can or one without a lid at all, you’re pretty much setting yourself up for disaster. Look for the garbage cans with pop up lids or if your new dog is known for being mischievous, consider buying a lid that you can lock when you’re not home. This way you never have to worry whether or not your dog is going to dig through the garbage!

Buy gates

Gates and crates are essential when you adopt your first pet, but you don’t necessarily need to invest in both. When you first bring your new puppy home, it’s important to consider how often you’re going to be around and whether the environment is more apt for a crate or gates. If you have a full time job and you’re not home most of the day, a crate is probably your best bet. On the other hand, if you have the time to stay home with your dog and train them consistently, then you could probably just handle training with gates.

Tape down cords

One of the most notorious traits of puppies is chewing. Whether it’s on a baseboard, on your favorite pair of shoes or your electrical chords, they will find them on the ground and they will try to chew them. The good news is, you can easily prevent this by taping down chords throughout your house to ensure a puppy can’t get to them.

Move plants

Be aware that while plants help bring life to your living space, they aren’t necessarily good to have around puppies. Not only could the plants be dangerous for your pet to eat, but they could be easily knocked over and can create a mess that you will have to clean up later on. To play it safe, just move plants to higher areas that your pet would not be able to access!

Invest in towels – lots of them

When you think you have enough towels, buy more. If you’re not already aware of this, dogs tend to get pretty dirty, whether it’s from playing outside in the rain, jumping into ponds, or simply just walking through mud. Having ample towels around to clean off your dogs paws will definitely come in handy. Also a good thing to remember is that during potty training, you’re going to be cleaning up a lot of messes. Rather than spending all that extra money on paper towels, re-use towels and wash them between each accident. You won’t only be saving money but you’ll be saving the planet, too!

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Felicia Walkins is a freelance writer and dog lover. After moving into her first apartment with her pet, she has been dedicated to finding dog-friendly communities for others to live in. She looks forward to the Jackson Twenty One community and hopes her and her pup can live there in happiness!

Five Tips To Help Dog Separation Anxiety

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taro shiba:

From puppies to adult dogs, anxiety can be present regardless of age, size, breed and gender. Separation anxiety can happen for a variety of reasons, but luckily for us dog owners, there are a lot of solutions to helping your dog overcome this problem. In order to help a dog feel comfortable being left alone, follow these five tips.

Exercise

Before you leave the house and leave your furry friend behind, make sure he or she has had a good deal of exercise. Whether this means taking a long walk or a short run before leaving your pet at home, exercise will help your pet feel more relaxed when you walk out the door. This is because your pet will have less energy to focus on being left alone and will most likely fall asleep easier when you leave.

Avoid contact

As much as you want to tell your dog you love them as you’re leaving and pet them, making a big deal about your departure is only going to make it more difficult. By being casual when you’re leaving your pet behind, it’ll seem less serious and won’t make them think that the world is ending as you shut the door. When you return after your departure, it’s also important not to overreact when you see your pet again. Remaining calm will help the dog feel relaxed and will make them realize you leaving and returning isn’t that big of a deal.

Say goodbye early

It’s always a good idea to prepare for your departure a little early so that your pet has time to cope with the situation. Just like you should be avoiding eye contact, you also should be avoiding showing any sort of affection right before you leave. Whether you’re putting your dog in a crate or you are simply shutting the door behind you, don’t say goodbye and don’t act like you’re leaving forever.

Be calm

Never feel guilty about leaving your pet, ever. Instead, show your pet that everything is going to be okay by showing confidence and positive energy. Being calm and assertive can help ease any feelings of separation anxiety in dogs and will help you break this habit faster.

Start small and grow gradually

The first step to breaking this habit from your dog is to start small. This could mean doing little things like only leaving your dog alone for five minutes or using one tip at a time until you can handle all five. The most important thing is to do things gradually so that it’s not a shock when you pay less attention to your dog as you’re leaving the house. Eventually over time, you will see that both you as the owner and your pet will be less stressed and hopefully anxiety free!

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Jessica McNeal is a freelance writer and dog lover. Because she loves animals, she loves to make sure they’re safe from harm and are protected with pet ID tags. She buys her animals ID tags from Ketchum Mfg. Co. and is always satisfied with their products.

Pros And Cons Of Invisible Dog Fences

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Pet owners use invisible fences as a way to keep their dogs safe. It is especially welcomed by pet owners who might not have the special permits required to erect physical fences in their backyards. If you’re thinking about installing an invisible or electronic fence, you’ll naturally want to learn about the pros and cons. Only then you can completely decide if it is a good solution for you. The pros and cons of invisible fences are described below.

Pro of Wireless Dog Fences

  1. Wireless dog fences are much cheaper that their more traditional counterparts. They are also easier to maintain as you won’t need to patch holes or fill up dirt that your dog dug up in a bid to escape.
  2. You won’t have to deal with complaints from neighbors about an unsightly fence. The fence is buried underground or wireless so there will be no unsightly structures in your backyard.
  3. You can easily adjust the areas where you want your dog to wander. It’s simple to reduce or add more wire for in-ground structures and it is even easier with wireless systems using the controller.
  4. A switch on the dog’s collar can be used to adjust the voltage applied when the dog crosses the boundary. This is essential if your dog is getting pain or burns from the system.

Cons of Invisible Dog Fences

  1. It’s true that some dogs will not respond well to this type of training to keep them within a defined boundary, so discontinue use of the fence if your dog is not responding.
  2. Some dogs are intelligent enough to find their way around a wireless fence. For instance, large dogs might do vertical jumps over the upper limits of the fence and won’t receive shocks outside this region.
  3. The wireless fence will keep your dog within a confined area, but it will not keep other animals outs. This is something to take note off if you live in an area where there is threat of wolves, coyotes, raccoons and other intruders. It also will not stop someone looking to steal your dog.
  4. Rats can dig up and chew on the wires and reduce the barrier. When this happens it might be difficult to locate the area where the damage has been done.
  5. Some dogs could be reckless and charge outside the boundary when there are other pets in the area. After the excitement abates the dog, remembering the shock, might not want to go back into the confined area.
  6. The final disadvantage comes in the form of neighbors and other passersby. If you have a particularly ferocious dog, they might be wary or fearful of the dog that is seemingly free to roam wherever he wants. To combat this you can install a sign to indicate that the dog is confined within an invisible fence.

About Author

Crystal is a passionate blogger who loves to write on various lifestyle topics. Recently she got a electronic dog fence from flexpetz.com for her pet dog that had a habit of running away into the neighbors.

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