The decision to add a new addition to your family is always a big choice. Although you may be excited about the possibility of getting a second dog, it is important to first understand if it is right for your current situation. Many people choose to get a second dog before figuring out if it is right for their current situation, if they can afford a second dog and if they have time for exercise and training. Sadly, in many situations when consideration is not put into the thought of getting a second dog, the owners come to realise that they can no longer take care of their second pet. The following are just a few things to consider before getting your second dog, to make sure that it is the right decision for you.

Can you Afford a Second Dog?

Having another mouth to feed in the home can put strain on anyone’s budget. Before deciding to get a second dog, ensure that your budget will cover not only your pets’ food, but also costs of dog training, vaccinations, regular worming and unexpected veterinary bills. The costs of owning a pet can be quite substantial and so it is important to decide whether or not your budget can handle the extra costs of having a second dog.

Will you be able to Provide Adequate Care?

Dependant on the dog breed you are wanting, most dogs require daily care and exercise. Exercise times for dogs can vary from minimal exercise, right through to 1-2 hours per day for more active dogs. When making the decision to get a second dog, be sure to consider your current schedule and if you would have the time to provide your dog with the exercise it needs to be healthy.

Is your Home big enough for another Family Member?

Sure, right now you have a large back yard for your dog to run around in, but add a second dog and the space seems to dwindle rapidly. When choosing to get a second dog, make sure that your home and yard is large enough for both your current dog and your new addition.

Will getting a Second Dog upset my First Dog?

Some breeds of dogs are known to be incredibly territorial and protective of their owners. When introducing a new dog to your household it is important to know whether or not your current dog will be accepting of this, or become aggressive. As a pet owner, you know your dog the best, so just be sure to consider the facts and decide whether or not your dog is ready for a new friend in their territory.

Decide whether you want to get a Puppy or a Mature Dog

It is important to understand that introducing a puppy into your family when your current dog is more mature, may not be a viable situation. Introducing a boisterous puppy into the home of an elderly dog often won’t work. When making the decision to get a second dog, always consider the option of getting an age appropriate dog to suit your current household.

Trent is a local dog trainer and RSPCA volunteer from Sydney, Australia. He started his dog training school 21 years ago and had only three clients. He is now the most popular trainer in Sydney and has more than 100 clients at any given time.  

http://petsitting.tv/bark-soup-episode-02/

Here are the details:

• All licensee applicants between May 15^th and July 15^th 2012 will be eligible for the contest.

• One licensee will be given the first six months of their license royalty-free.   Entry winner will be picked at random.

• All other applicants that apply between May 15^th and July 15^th 2012 will qualify for a reduced royalty rate of $49/month (regularly $79) during the first 6 months.

• In order to be eligible, approved licensees will be required to sign the Sleepy Paws Pet Care standard licensing agreement.

• Territories are first-come, first-serve.  Territories are not available in all 50 states; please see www.sleepypawspetcare.com for geographical restrictions and online application.

Here are the details:

• All licensee applicants between May 15^th and July 15^th 2012 will be eligible for the contest.

• One licensee will be given the first six months of their license royalty-free.   Entry winner will be picked at random.

• All other applicants that apply between May 15^th and July 15^th 2012 will qualify for a reduced royalty rate of $49/month (regularly $79) during the first 6 months.

• In order to be eligible, approved licensees will be required to sign the Sleepy Paws Pet Care standard licensing agreement.

• Territories are first-come, first-serve.  Territories are not available in all 50 states; please see www.sleepypawspetcare.com for geographical restrictions and online application.

Why Puppy Train?

Puppies do not know what is expected of them unless they are trained. They do not know it is impolite to pee on the floor. Since the puppy’s only experience with life is with his litter, he does not know much. That is why it is up to the families that choose puppies as a pet to teach or guide the puppy to a beneficial co-existence. Puppy training is best begun as soon as you get a puppy.

The best way to get your puppy acclimated to the family is to first potty train him. Puppies generally are growing and developing fast and will eat more food and eliminate constantly because they have not developed bladder or bowel control.

Puppy training is a lot like having a young rambunctious child who needs time and patience. Never talk loud or scold when puppy training and always pay attention when the puppy does what you want him to do by giving him a treat and a pet.

With potty training, it can take puppies up to six months or more to become fully housebroken. If the puppy is sleeping in the house and not in a bed or crate, someone should be watching constantly so you know what he is doing.

Feed the puppy on a regular schedule because what goes in regularly––will come out regularly. Do not leave food out for the puppy unless advised to do so by a vet for medical reasons, but always keep a water bowl filled.

One of the best ways to begin potty training a puppy is to leave him to a room on his own such as a bathroom or enclosed exercise pen, especially when you will be gone all day. Place newspapers all around the room or commercial wee pads. Ensure the puppy has enough toys to play with.

Because a puppy has little control over his bladder and bowels, when you are home, provide fast transportation for him when potty training by picking him up and taking him to the bathroom place, usually outside. This is a good way of showing him where his bathroom is. Although it is virtually impossible to tell when your puppy might want to ‘go’, take him to the bathroom area as soon as he wakes, after he his finished eating and after excited play. Generally try for every 45 minutes at first. Puppy will soon get the idea.

This way the puppy will develop a type of ‘den instinct’ and learn that he does not eliminate in his den. With a little due diligence on the family, your puppy will grow into the loving companion and friend you wanted him to be.

Puppy trainings can be challenging, but the rewards are priceless. Let your puppies be trained by Bark Busters in Home Dog Training Toronto, ON (416) 988-3169 +1 866-418-4584. Dog trainings Calgary experts are also available.

Most people love pets but find that unless proper precautions are taken, those same loved pets can destroy doors, décor and furnishings in the home.

If you have pets then you need to find ways of limiting the damage that they might cause. Below are some top tips for pet proofing your home and making life a bit less worrisome.

Tip 1 Protect Your Sofa

It doesn’t matter how much we tell ourselves and our pets that animals have no place on furniture but should remain on the dog shelf – the floor – it is more likely that they will get their way.

You can protect sofas and chairs with ordinary throws or better still, with loose covers that are easily washed. Cats are a particular threat to soft furnishings as they like to exercise their claws on the back or side of a sofa.

Get your cat a scratching post and make it appear more attractive with a bit of catnip as most cats are attracted by the herb. Again loose covers will protect your furniture from the shredding that occurs when a cat gets at it with its claws.

Tip 2. Shatterproof Doors

Both dogs and cats can damage your internal and external doors. If you have solid oak doors at the back or front of your home then some scratchproof paint will help to protect them from claw related damage.

Fit a cat flap to the exterior rear door so that your cat has easy access and will not scratch and claw at the back door in an effort to escape outside.

Solid wooden doors are also good inside the house if you have an exuberant dog as he is less likely to do any damage if he runs into them. Scratch proof paint on both doors and walls will ensure that your home stays looking good even though you are living with pets. There are plenty of brands of paint around and what you choose is purely personal, just make sure that the tin says that the paint is scratch proof.

Paint is always a good choice as it is easily washed or painted over should it be damaged by your pets.

Tip 3 Protecting Glass Panel Doors

If you have glass panel doors in your home then choose those with panels on the upper part of the door as this is usually below the reach of heavy paws. Make sure that panels are made from shatter proof glass when you have pets as this will greatly reduce any chance of an accident.

Tip 4 Pets and Floors

If you have pets then you will have hairs. Carpets are often not practical if you have a cat or a dog and wooden floors are by far the more practical option. Cats in particular have a problem with hair balls and may often cough them up onto your floor so it is much more practical to have something that is easy to clean.

Living with pets can be a lot of fun providing you take some precautions to limit the damage that they can do to your home.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of UK Oak Doors who can provide beautiful doors that will take everything your pet can throw at them. To find out more about glass panel doors click here, to find out more about solid oak doors please follow this link. Photos: Thee Erin, Overdrive_CZ

1. Dogs don’t dwell on the past.

A dog’s memory is pretty short. This is why when you yell at him for chewing your shoe, he continues to chew your shoe the next day. But this short memory allows them to forgive and forget, even if it’s because they don’t have much of a choice.
As humans, we often play the “what if” game. We regret doing or not doing too many things, and we often wonder what our life would be like had we chose the road not taken. Acting this way makes us forget about the great life in front of us. Instead of living our current life to the fullest and being happy with what we have, we dwell on our past, and doing this can ruin our future.
2. Dogs don’t care about image.

If you think about it, your dog has been naked his whole life, and he couldn’t care less. Even through awful grooming, your dog still remains happy and confident.
We don’t do this. We let fashion and beauty and diets rule our lives, and we obsess over every detail. We worry that the wrong outfit won’t get us liked by the right people. We care too much if we don’t have the latest and greatest, and we are constantly using makeup, hair products and even plastic surgery to change our appearance and become more “acceptable”. This is such an unhealthy way to live our life. We need to stop worrying about what others have to say about our image and look how we want to look for ourselves.
3. Dogs are always there for you, no matter what.

You and your dog have been through thick and thin. There are days you love him, and there are days you threaten to take him to the pound for eating your shoes. But instead of holding a grudge against you for the one time you were mean to him, he wakes up every day knowing you are his best friend and willing to be there for you.
We often let fights and silly mistakes ruin long-term friendships. Instead of harboring spite for years, be like your dog and be there for your friends, no matter what they do and no matter what silly fight you got into. Life is too short to fight with the people who mean the world to you.
You may not have known it, but your dog is more than a great companion. He is actually a full-fledged scholar in how to live a healthier life. You need to learn from your dog and start living your life for you. When you do, you will be much happier, just like your dog.

Ashley Cole is a stay at home mother and animal loves who enjoys writing about her passions. She doesn’t ever write without the help of a grammar checker as she needs help proofing her work to ensure it is free of mistakes. She can’t always remember grammar rules and doesn’t know what she would do without the help of proofing software.

There are a vast range of reasons why people get a dog. It may be as company for someone living alone, a gift and companion for a child growing up or another reason. Unfortunately, many dogs end up in rescue or adoption centres as all too many people don’t do their homework first on the costs of dog care. This is one of the most frequent reasons as to why people end up giving up their pets.

What Does A Dog Really Cost?

Obviously first and foremost are the immediate considerations, which are going to be the pet itself and associated purchases, such as a “dog bed”, kennel, and toys from the pet store in order to ensure you can give a high level of dog care right from the off. Consider where you’re getting the pet from too, as if you’re buying from an article in the newspaper you’re going to want an immediate vet visit, although hopefully the seller takes care of that.

Vet fees and pet insurance are other high costs; however they can kind of go hand in hand. Be sure to check out the most competitive pet insurance deals and pay particular attention to what level of vet fees you’re insured for. In the immediate future, there will be the things such as injections, which will likely also be an on-going cost throughout the dog’s lifetime.

There are certain circumstances in which you can benefit from reduced vet fees and insurance, however it’s best to check with individual companies first.

A Dog Is For Life

We’ve all heard the sad “A dog is for life…….” story, and as a pet owner you really do need to consider whether it’s a purchase of novelty, which will likely wear off in the near future, or whether you’re going to remain fully committed to caring for the dog.

A key consideration which is often overlooked is how the purchase of a dog can impact on things such as a weekly shop. Before getting a pet, have you looked at the cost of dog food, how much the breed you want to get eats and what he will cost on a weekly basis?

As well as the cost, a key aspect of dog care in terms of its behavioural development comes in spending time with the dog, taking it for walks and the like.

These are all important aspects that must be considered carefully before committing to getting a new pet.

Videojug is one of the world’s leading video websites with over 50,000 professionally produced videos on every conceivable subject including dog care.

Finding a suitable apartment that meets all of your wants and needs is not easy. It is a process that takes a lot of time, research, and footwork. However, when you have a pet, that process can be even that much more difficult. That is because many landlords do not allow pets in their buildings . . . or if they do, they have some pretty stringent guidelines as far as what type of pets they will allow. If you must find a home for both you and your furry friend, then here are some pointers for finding apartments that accept pets:

Identifying pet-friendly apartments. If you are searching online classifieds, websites, and print ads for available apartment housing, then it is likely that most advertisements you read will clearly state whether or not pets are allowed. If you find that you are interested in an apartment and can’t find that information in writing, then all you have to do is call the property manager and ask. Don’t even bother to explore apartments that explicitly do not allow pets.

Being honest, from the beginning. It is important that you are completely honest and open about your pet(s) with potential landlords from the beginning. To keep your pet a secret is to risk being evicted when your landlord inevitably finds out the truth.

Pet restrictions. Even when you do find apartments that accept pets, you may find that your particular pet is a no-go. Many landlords restrict the type and size of pets that are allowed. Generally speaking, any small pet that you keep in a cage is allowable (think gerbils, lizards, turtles, etc.), regardless of any existing pet policies. For the most part, you only have to worry about pet restrictions when you have a dog or a cat (there are exceptions, so be sure to inquire about your specific pet). Furthermore, you may find that your landlord will allow your furry friend to dwell in the apartment only if it weighs under a certain amount – the thought being that larger pets are more likely to cause damage to the apartment.

Pet deposits. If you find that your landlord will allow your pet, then you may also find that the privilege comes at a cost. Most landlords who make pet exceptions only do so upon receipt of a pet deposit. This is separate from your security deposit, and is usually only a fraction of your rent.

If you have a pet, you can certainly find an apartment to house you both. Just be aware that it may take some extra effort. Follow these tips to get into the perfect apartment for you and your furry friend.

About the Author: Jackson Weyler works for a short term housing group that specializes in helping individuals with pets find homes. It is often less stressful for an individual to keep a pet than to have to give him away or find him a foster home. Jackson’s goal is to keep happy families together!

The financial side

Obviously the key concern that owners have over pet insurance is how much the premiums will cost them.  Whilst this can vary dependant on animal and breed, cat insurance can be found for as little as $6 per month.  The cost tends to be slightly more for dogs.  So for less than $75 a year you can have the security of knowing that you won’t be hit with any expensive vet bills in the event that your cat becomes sick or has an accident.  To understand just how much this could save you, here is a rough estimate on a range of cat treatments:

• A consultation alone can cost $65
• Dental treatment on cats tends to average around $375
• If you cat has been hit by a car you could be looking at charges in the region of $800

Of course, there is no guarantee that you will ever need to rely on your insurance and then you may feel out of pocket.  The question you have to ask yourself is whether you notice the monthly premium going out of your bank account.  You will certainly notice a vet’s bill of $500!  In some cases it may even be that you simply don’t have the money at hand to pay for life saving surgery and must opt to have your pet put down.  How would you feel about this?

Considering genetics

If you are still unsure as to whether pet insurance is the right move for you, consider the specific breed of your animal.  Certain breeds of cats, dogs and other creatures have genetic issues that commonly cause health problems.  Take some time to research your specific pet breed and find out if this is the case for them.  If your pet is susceptible to breed-specific conditions then taking out some insurance is a wise move.

Choosing a policy

When choosing a pet insurance policy, do some shopping around and comparing to make sure that you find the one most suitable for you.  There are a few important details that you should check to make sure that you find an appropriate policy:

• If the policy covers breed-specific disorders
• What the level of excess is
• What maximum individual and annul payouts are
• If ongoing health issues, such as arthritis, are covered
• If there is a maximum pet age

Once you are satisfied with the answers to these issues, you should then take some time to research the companies left on your list and check for online reviews.  There is nothing more frustrating than dealing with an awkward insurance company, when all you want to do is focus your energy into pet health care.

For free advice on pet health care visit www.pethealthinfo.org.uk.