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5 Life Lessons Only Pet Ownership Can Teach
Pets are cute and fun. Often, people don’t think past these two things when adopting a pet. But there are many life lessons pets can teach us, and this goes for people of all ages. A few items like pet doors can make pet ownership more convenient, but caring for a pet means self-sacrifice and a willingness to give of ourselves for the sake of another.
1. Selflessness
When a pet is hungry or sick or in danger, it doesn’t matter what the owner had planned—the needs of the pet come first. This teaches the valuable lesson of sacrificing one’s own desires for the needs or wants of another. Selflessness is a valuable quality that’s often lost in today’s society.
2. Patience
Baby puppies and kitties simply aren’t...
read moreThe Top Things to Consider When Buying Items for Your New Pet
Fur or feathers, fins or scales, your new pet has needs. Naturally, you’ll buy dishes to feed them, secure adequate shelter for them, and invest in tags for identification. But there are a few things to consider that not every pet owner considers when selecting these items. Here is your guide to bowls and houses, pet doors, collars, and grooming items.
Know What to Look for in Food & Water Dishes
The first consideration is size. Will the dishes hold enough to sustain your pet during long work or school days? Next, look for dishes that are hard to turn over by uncoordinated, curious babies. If the water is spilled, your pet will go thirsty until you come home. Finally, get your vet’s advice on what...
read morePet Doors: Your Buying Guide
So, you’ve decided to make an investment in comfort and convenience for you and your pet. Now, how can you select the perfect pet door for your pet and the home? Here is your buying guide.
Choose the Right Location
The ideal place for a pet door is somewhere convenient, yet out of the way. You can choose to put it in a people door, sliding glass door, or even a wall. Choose a spot out of direct sunlight (which can damage the plastic), and somewhere not likely to get blocked accidentally.
Select the Mounting Type
With your location in mind, you can choose the type of door you need. Wall-mount, door-mount, and glass-mount pet doors are all available. Also, choose whether you will do it yourself, or hire an installer to put in the...
read more4 Reasons You & Your Pet Need a Pet Door
According to legend, the pet door was invented by none other than Sir Isaac Newton, who designed it so his cat could roam at will. Whether that is true or not, it was indeed a smart thinker who solved numerous problems for people and the animals they love. Here are four reasons you and your pet need a pet door soon!
1. Your Pet Won’t Have to Disturb You to Go Outside
Is there anything more annoying than having to get up and let the pet out when you’re trying to catch a game on the telly or get some needed sleep? With a pet door, none of your activities are bothered when he or she needs to go outside, which greatly lessens the stress of owning a pet.
2. Your Pet Won’t...
read moreSome Fun Facts about Cats’ Behaviour
Cats are interesting animals with a variety of behaviours that leave most pet parents wondering what is their cat is trying to tell them, or why their cat is acting in a certain manner. Often the cat is simply doing what comes naturally. To avoid unwanted behaviours, provide the right stimulation and play environments.
- Attempting to Break the Sound Barrier: Cats can run at speeds as fast as 50 kph (31 mph). Cats have lots of stored energy and, when they need to burn it off, they will bolt through the house, bounce off furniture, and leap through the air.
- Biting Their Nails: Your cat either has a nervous habit, much like humans, or is telling you she wants her nails trimmed and groomed.
- Sprawling Out on the Floor or Sofa:... read more
Tips for Effectively Training Your Puppy
Bringing a new puppy home is exciting for the pet parent and the young pet. Your new puppy requires lots of love and attention, as well as training. Taking the time to work with your puppy and train it, now, helps to prevent behaviour problems when they get older.
- Reward Positive Responses: As you are training your puppy, remember to reinforce positive responses and behaviours by giving treats or belly rubs.
- Withhold Rewards for Negative Behaviours: Avoid reinforcing undesired results with positive reinforcement. Use a firm command, like “No” or “Bad” along with the puppy’s name. Remember your puppy is still young, so a little patience is often necessary.
- Perform Training in One Location: Initially, train your... read more
How Pets Can Help with Daily Tasks
Dogs are trained to perform daily tasks to help their human companions more often than any other animal because of their intelligence and their innate desire to please us. Here is a brief look at a few of the many things they can learn to do for us.
Make Daily Life Easier for the Disabled
Specially trained dogs can pick up dropped items, press buttons on elevators, and even help to pay for purchases, increasing their owner’s ability to function normally in the outside world.
At home, the dog can assist with opening or closing doors and dressers. They can get clothing out of drawers and deliver them to their owner. The simple task of opening a door allows their owners to access their clothes dryers, closets, even the refrigerator. A trained assistance...
read moreDifferent Pets for Different Personalities
Matching your pet to your personality and lifestyle will help both of you to bond and be happy. When choosing a pet, consider some of these traits.
Which Cat Personality Suits You?
- Alphas are intelligent, energetic, and respond to gentle persuasion. If you are energetic and like to spend time interacting with your cat, this is a good match.
- Betas come when called, love to sit in your lap, are friendly to your guests and make good greeters. If you are easy-going, you have your match.
- Gammas are shy and need to ease into the relationship. They depend less upon human company to be happy and will let themselves out through... read more
Top Cat Breeds Australians Choose as Pets
Cats are the second most popular choice of family pet in Australia, after dogs, with around thirty percent of people having at least one cat in their homes. There are several different breeds of cat to choose from when selecting a cat for a pet. Unlike dogs, cats often exhibit a strong sense of independence and are more active during the evening hours. Cats like to be able to wander freely both indoors and outdoors. Many Australian households install cat doors so they do not have to get up in the middle of the night to let “Fluffy” in and out.
Some of the top cat breeds found in Australian homes include:
- Domestic Shorthair: Millions of Australian homes keep domestic shorthair cats as pets, because they come in a variety of colours, patterns, shapes, and... read more
Well-Known Intelligent Dog Breeds in Australia
Dogs are a popular choice among people for pets and for work in Australia. When people look for a new dog, one characteristic they desire is intelligence. Intelligent dog breeds are in high demand. Selecting the right breed is important, depending on where you live. For instance, border collies are the number-one intelligent breed.
However, they require homes with active lifestyles, or large properties, since collies are very full of energy. Many homes with collies install pet doors to give their pet the option to enter and leave the house any time they want to go outside and run around. If you keep a collie in an urban area, it is recommended to fence in a section of the yard to keep the dog on your property.
Poodles are...
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