Seat belts...not just for humans.

Of the many products you see in pet stores, one that stands out, are dog seat belts. Almost everybody who has taken a dog for a car ride, has experienced him bouncing around in the car getting a look out the window. When you turn or stop, he goes crashing into the front seat. In either, and many other situations, a dog seat belt would be helpful. Dog seat belts are available in many colors, styles, and sizes to suit any dog and his master. Average prices range from $10 to $30 dollars depending if you want a harness, mesh harness, or tether that just hooks to his collar (ideal for dogs that dislike harnesses). Seat belts, especially the harnesses, restrain the dog in a comfortable sitting position, keeping him secure in the case of a accident. Another option, if you own a very small breed, is to purchase a dog booster seat. These, for smaller dogs, keep him more secure than a plain belt, and also give him a view out the window. Before purchasing a seat belt or booster seat, measure your dog to make sure it will fit him, and be sure you pick the right one to insure he's comfortable. Also see if your dog will tolerate a seat belt, keeping in mind that small breeds will probably be less tolerant. A proper fitting seat belt will make sure your canine friend is safe, secure, and comfortable, the next time you go for a ride.

Fresh clean water for your pet...all the time!

Have you ever came home on a hot day in summer, to find your pets water bowl empty, warm, or floating with kibbles? Dogs and cats enjoy cool, fresh water, which is hard to provide, especially if you are gone for hours on end. For active or outdoor dogs, this can be dangerous, giving them dehydration. The fact is,dogs and cats like cool running water, but once again, this is hard to provide. The solution to this problem is a pet water fountain.. Pet water fountains provide fresh,cool, flowing water, stored in a reservoir and dispensed by a electric pump. When your pet is sensed next to it it turns on, or in some models it just runs continually. In some cases, these fountains cure toilet bowl drinkers, giving them the alternative they want. Make sure you have a plug nearby, but if you don't, some run off battery power, but these types are hard to find. Depending on how much you want to spend, and the availability in your area, there are many choices of fountains. Some fountains cool your pets water using the same technology as a water cooler, and most filter and clean the water, keeping your pets bowl free from contaminants. If you have a tap nearby, some fountains connect to a water supply, providing endless water to your pet. There are also many different types of dispensers. Some look like a conventional dog fountain you might see at a park, shooting a small stream of water a few inches in the air. Others may drip, pour, or run down a slide. Most fountains for dogs have a small bowl, where the water pools up, ideal for dogs that like to lap. Cats always lap water, so make sure you buy a cat fountain for your cat, providing a steady stream which runs down a slide into a small pool of water, perfect for cats. A good quality fountain (for a very good price) is a PetMate Fresh Flow Fountain available for dogs or cats, for $24.99 at PetEdge.com. Fountains include two charcoal filters, replacement filters sell for $1.50 each. These fountains contain a slide, pool, 50-108 oz reservoir, an adjustable stream, and are powered by a wall outlet. They come in almond, black, and three sizes for dogs or cats. For those who dislike internet shopping, this fountain should be available at your local PETCO. Remember to stay hydrated!

Constant pulling on the leash? Helpfull products are here!

Leash pulling, almost all dogs do it. For some dogs, its an easily stopped habit, with a little training, he never pulls again. For others (including my dog) daily walks are needed to keep him trained. But for some stubborn dogs, it seems like nothing will stop him from taking his owner for a walk. So for this month, I am going to review a few great anti-pull products, some which will work better for certain dogs than for others. I will also provide the basic costs for each product, keep in mind though, these are only estimates and depend on the quality of the product. 1.The most simple type of anti-pull device is the choke chain. Though debated whether cruel or not, it works great on aggressive dogs, which will probably ignore other methods when aggressing other dogs. Choke chains, which can also be made out of rope, nylon, etc. constrict on a dogs neck when he pulls, causing "choking" until the dog stops pulling. ($1.00-10.00) 2. A more gentle approach to pulling is a Head collar or Non pulling harness. The Head collar fits over a dogs muzzle, and gently redirects the dogs muzzle when he pulls or jerks, causing him to simply redirect his attention. These are said to work great on softer willed breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Spaniels, and dog of those origins. Non pulling harnesses are about the same concept, except they constrict over a dogs breastbone, merely causing a temporary discomfort until the dog ceases his behavior. ($10.00 &$15.00) 3. This one-of-a-kind anti-pull device is taking Europe by storm. The Patento Pet® Dog-e-Walk is a high quality German designed product getting great results everywhere. The Dog-e-walk connects to your dogs leash, and then to your dogs collar. When it senses your dog pulling, it emits varying degrees of ultra sonic sounds (depending on how hard your dog is pulling), that are inaudible to human ears. Dogs dislike the sound, and promptly stop the behavior. If you purchase Dog-e-Walk premium, it can also be used as a handheld transmitter, allowing quick, effective corrections anywhere. One word of caution, may be to purchase the Dog-e-Walk at a nearby store, or a internet seller that allows returns. The reason I advise you to do this is because some dogs, especially older dogs with hearing problems, may completely ignore ultrasonic sounds, rendering the product ineffective. If you've used ultra sonic products on your dog before, and he has responded, then there shouldn't be any reason why he wouldn't respond to the Dog-e-Walk. (Basic $31.99, Premium $50.00) These products are available at PetEdge.com, in their monthly catalog, or should be available at your local PETCO or Petsmart. The Dog-e-Walk can also be ordered directly from www.dog-e-walk.com. Enjoy your walk!

Ticks are over--or are they?

With summer almost over, many people stop worrying about ticks. But in reality, September is one of their peak seasons, more animals/people getting ticks then any other month, and with that, more diseases like Lyme disease, being spread. Often, pet owners turn to Frontline, or another type of chemical killer. These work great for animals that are highly exposed to ticks, or dogs and cats with very long fur. The problem with these chemical killers is that they can take hours to kill the tick, AFTER the tick bites, and when they do die, they fall off in your house. Some people report finding dead ticks in their carpets and beds. Chemicals can also cause allergic reactions in some pets, causing itching, sores, vomiting, welts, and all sorts of unique complications. So naturally, people who have dogs or cats that aren't normally exposed to ticks, decide they will just find the ticks, and take them off with tweezers. But anybody who has had a tick on their dog, cat or themselves, know they bore in, and can be very hard to get out. Looking for a solution, our family came across Tic-Off. (www.tic-off.com) Tic-Off is a non-allergenic, pesticide free,, environmentally friendly, non-toxic, FDA registered medical spray. When used correctly, it immobilizes the tick instantly, allowing for easy removal and prevents the transmission of any on board diseases. Methods like cigarettes, nail polish, rubbing alcohol, etc. cause the tick to "spit" back the blood and infectious diseases into it's host. Our own experiences with Tic-Off have been great, we've used it on our dog, ourselves, friend's pets, and have had wonderful results. The ticks just lift off with tweezers. Every 1.5 oz bottle sprays many, many times.Tic-Off can also be used on leeches, great gift for hunters, hikers, and outdoors-men. Tic-Off includes a special tweezers, and retails for $12.95 + $4.95 for shipping and handling on www.Tic-Off.com. Visit their site to learn more about ticks, the tick bite, and to order Tic-Off. Have a great end of summer!