Airline approved Vari Kennels

GuestPoster | August 27th, 2010 - 7:20 am

Taking pets on planes is becoming more popular each year with air travel becoming more economical and the general population starting to travel more.  Animals are transported in the hold and, if you are leaving the country, you will need a pet passport.  However, there is one consideration that most people are initially unaware of and that is that you can’t just put your dog in any dog kennel for the journey.

To put a dog onto a plane you will need an airline approved kennel.  Vari kennels have this approval and are the most popular approved brand on the market.  The reason that you need a specially approved kennel is that it needs to have specific features which are not necessary in a standard travel kennel.

The most important feature of a vari kennel is that it has air vents on all four walls and the roof.  Also, the walls are at a slight angle so that should the kennel be up against the plane wall air will still be able to circulate.  Because travel on a plane can be quite a rough and bumpy experience the dog cage also needs to be made from particularly sturdy plastic, which won’t break if given a hard knock.

Kennel doors are also important as, not only should they be very secure and lockable, your dogs nose and paws mustn’t be able to poke out of the mesh as this would cause a big risk of injury to the animal.  There have also been specially designed water cups which can be fixed to the inside of the door, making it impossible for your dog to knock over its water in transit and suffer from de-hydration.

A deluxe vari kennel also comes with wheels and a leash so that it can be pulled through the airport rather than you having to lug the kennel around.

Pet Rat Cages for Your Little Friends

GuestPoster | August 25th, 2010 - 12:50 pm

Pet rat cages for your little rodents allow you to provide them with a secure environment. There are several styles of cages available. Be sure to plan your cage purchase by determining how much space is available in the room where the cage will be kept. Place the cage away from areas where the temperature varies a lot or where there are drafts.

You will need a cage that is larger than the typical hamster cage. Rats are more active and need more space than hamsters. Pet rat cages should provide at least two square feet of living space for a single animal. With two or more rats you will more space and perhaps a multilevel cage.

Pet rats love to climb around. For this reason multilevel pet rat cages are always a good choice. If you have a multilevel cage you can add ladders and balconies. A piece of board fastened to the side of the cage can serve as a balcony. Little ladders can be made or bought at a pet store.

A cardboard box can be made into a playhouse with windows and a door. Branches from a tree can provide your rats with something to climb on. However, if you have an older rat or an unhealthy one you may not want to provide climbing materials.

Rats love to dig for food and this provides another possibility for a cage accessory. The addition of a digging box will provide your little animals with more fun. Just a little plastic box will do fine. Fill it with some clean soil. You can add a little more interest by seeding the soil with grass seed. Provide only enough water for seed growth but not enough for encouraging mold. Adding some rocks or tubes to the digging box will give them further entertainment. The soil should be changed from time to time. The digging box can be located inside the cage or outside.

You might also be interested in fish taxidermy prices.

What to Use to Clean Your Kennel Flooring

GuestPoster | August 10th, 2010 - 6:17 pm

Cleaning methods will vary depending on the type of flooring you have installed in your dog kennel.  All flooring should be swept daily and any messes left around by your dog should be scooped up and deposited elsewhere. Failing to do this every day will result in a nasty smelling kennel that is unhygienic and unhealthy for your dogs.

There are different options for disinfecting your kennel floor. Many people like to use a solution of bleach and water. This can be very effective at cleaning and sterilizing a kennel floor, however any bleach left on the floor can damage or hurt your dog’s paws.  If you do use a solution of bleach for cleaning, make sure that you rinse it off well afterwards so that there is not any left on the flooring.

If you have a large sized kennel it may be better to buy a specially prepared animal disinfectant. This will not only help to clean and deodorize your kennel floor but many will also provide protection against known dog diseases such as the parvo virus and other life threatening germs.  It can be quite expensive; $20 for a one gallon container or more if you buy one of the more heavy-duty disinfectants, however if you have several dogs it is in your best interest to use this.

If you have a problem with odor in your kennel due to urine soaking into the flooring you can also buy special kennel odor eliminator. Again, you may not need this if you just have one or two dogs, but if you have several dogs you may want to invest in some so that you can clean your outdoor dog kennel flooring with this every so often. You do not need to use it every time you wash your kennel floor but it is great to use it occasionally.  This is especially  helpful if you have nearby neighbors who may be offended or displeased with odors wafting over the fence from your kennels.

While it may be expensive to invest in a special animal disinfectant, it is worthwhile if you have several dogs, a dog that is about to whelp or you have had problems with virus or other infections amongst your dogs.

Dog Barking Collars Are Great

GuestPoster | July 26th, 2010 - 1:11 pm

Dog Barking Collars are designed to reduce or eliminate excessive barking. They work by delivering an unpleasant sensation whenever the dog barks. Barking dog collars are available that deliver an electric shock, release a dose of citronella spray or emit ultrasonic noises.

Electric shock collars, which are also known as static correction collars, deliver a mild shock when the collar senses the dog barking. The power of the electric shock can be adjusted by the owner so that the lowest effective shock level is used. Many of the static correction collars are also equipped with a warning beep. This allows the dog to be conditioned to the beep and stop barking before the shock is emitted.

Spray collars, which release a small dose of citronella spray, can also be used and are considered quite effective, and perhaps a little more humane, by many dog owners. When the dog barks, a small amount of citronella spray is released near the dog’s snout. Many dog owners report that their dogs stopped barking within a day or two.

Ultrasonic collars work by emitting a sound when the dog begins to bark. As soon as the barking ceases, the collar stops emitting sounds. You can choose to have the sound audible to both you and your dog or only to the dog. Some ultrasonic collars emit a warning sound before delivering the more unpleasant sound meant to deter barking. There are ultrasonic devices available that do not use a collar. Instead, there is a control unit that emits an unpleasant sound when the dog begins to bark, but these devices can be triggered by other dogs barking which can prevent your dog from associating the sound with their own barking.

Most dog barking collars have come a long way in recent years. With the increased use of miniature electronics, the collars have become much smaller and more lightweight than they used to be.

Dog Bed Considerations

GuestPoster | February 22nd, 2010 - 9:03 am
Dog Bed Considerations

Owning a dog can be quite fan because you can play football or run through the park, but when you get home you will like to sit on your couch or seat. Because dogs tend to scratch sofa’s you probably don’t want him to sit next to you. But just like you, your dog will [...]

How purchasing a dog kennel saved my life!

GuestPoster | February 1st, 2010 - 10:32 pm

These days having an indoor animal such as a dog can cause major monetary damage to one’s pocket. Be prepared to pay a pet deposit that 99% of all apartment complexes charge. This fee normally ranges from 100 to 500 dollars and is non-refundable. Once you and your new found best friend move in get ready for an adventure. House training is far too often a more than difficult task. You will more than likely be making a bi-weekly trip to the store to purchase dog supplies such as potty pads and odor remover unless you wise up like I did and purchase a dog kennel.

Crate training your new companion is very simple. In the wild, canines normally live in small caves that they utilize as their den. So once you have your new portable dog kennel set up, your pup will more than likely scope it out immediately to claim as his or her ‘den’. I suggest throwing a sheet over the top when you first start leaving your animal in the crate while you are away from home. This seems to calm the pet down. Don’t worry about your animal urinating or defecating in his or her new home. Animals will not use the bathroom where they sleep. So as long as you come home with 6 – 8 hours to walk him or her you will see no accidents. Make sure to adjust your feeding schedule to help out with this.

My dog was safely house trained by the use of a dog kennel. Not only did this method teach my pet not to urinate inside my home, it also ensured the safety of my carpet and furniture while he was going through his puppy stages and teething! Feel free to try other methods but I’m betting you will find that this method is by far the best.

How to Properly Care for Your Goldfish

GuestPoster | January 10th, 2010 - 5:01 am

Goldfish are fairly easy pets to take care of and not very time-consuming. Even so, they still need proper care to survive and thrive in your home. Learning how to care for goldfish is a pretty simple task – it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort. This is a good thing since many people who own goldfish do so because they are easy pets to own.

All goldfish basically require in terms of care is a clean tank with tepid water, and regular daily feedings. People tend to not think of goldfish as needing space, love or attention like other pets. Fish tend to become part of the home decor like a piece of artwork or furniture. Even though they are very easy going and need very little care, there are some things that goldfish require to do well in your home.

First off, goldfish need a proper size tank or bowl that gives them sufficient room to swim. If there are multiple fish in the tank, then the tank’s size needs to grow accordingly. It doesn’t normally occur to people that fish would need space, but just like any other animal you keep, it needs space to roam.

If you have too many fish living in a small tank, it won’t take long for the water to get polluted with their feces and waste. If the bowl is not cleaned regularly it can cause illness or even death. Goldfish bowl cleaning is fairly easy so it’s important that you do it regularly to keep your fish around longer. If you add aquarium plants to your bowl, they can help keep the water clean.

It’s also important to not over-feed your fish. If you do, it can make them sick. On the other hand, don’t forget to feed your fish every day, as you don’t want them to starve.

Large Chinchilla Cage

GuestPoster | December 23rd, 2009 - 6:44 pm

A large chinchilla cage made from high grade materials such as steel or cast aluminum can become even larger by adding on extended accessories or cages. Chinchillas are larger sized rodents, so providing a larger living space makes sense; however, adding extra accessories and other cage parts would be unnecessary if the pet or owner does not have use for the features. Providing a large chinchilla cage for multiple smaller sized chinchilla’s works as well. When a cage becomes too small for a chinchilla, poor grooming and eating habits may occur; a small crammed cage does not allow a full sized chinchilla to live a proper life.

The purpose of a large chinchilla cage is to provide a reasonable living space for the pet. The owner should also gain benefits from a larger cage as well, such as easier cleaning and maintenance. Small cages may not offer enough room for the owner to perform proper maintenance. Buying large cages from the internet through online retailers offers customers with multiple customizable options, though not being able to actually see and feel the cage may be a problem. A large chinchilla cage purchased from the pet store allows the customer to realize all of the features offered, along with the actual size of the cage too, which may be the most important factor after all. A large cage should be purchased to meet the needs of the pet. A proper fitted living space ensures that the chinchilla will be able to live a healthy life. One large chinchilla cage may provide enough space for multiple pets, which can be a huge price saver. The investment put into a custom cage goes a long way when ensuring that the pet receives proper room to eat, sleep and carry out other necessary living functions.

Dog As Best Friend, Not As Pack Leader

admin | October 18th, 2009 - 8:43 am

A dog is a man’s best friend, loyal through the hard times and always there to give you a smile. They are kind and affectionate, and don’t ask for much in return. They lie lazily all day and are relatively simple creatures. Yes, we all love our dogs, but we need to also make sure that they are obedient and know who is their master. Dogs have a pack mentality, you must always remain the “alpha dog” to your pet, because if you don’t they aren’t likely to listen. Don’t let your dog walk all over you, if they are in your seat, make them get off! this will make your dog remember that you are the one in charge, not them. However, we do love our cuddly little pets, so remember to give them a treat if you trained them to do something for you.

Are you the leader of your pack? In not, then maybe it’s time for some obedience classes. To learn more, visit DogTipsDaily.com today.

Kitten Care – The Early Stages Are Important

admin | October 2nd, 2009 - 3:02 pm

New kittens are vulnerable to so many things. As they get to twelve weeks or so they start to seem more indestructible the way they run, play, jump and fall off of things as they are developing their muscles and motor skills. But their little bodies are not so unlike that of a young child. They are more susceptible to illnesses, their bodies are growing and developing and this is the time in their life when they start to develop habits.

Good kitten care is incredibly important and it will have an impact on your kitten as she grows to adulthood. Kittens need to eat often and it’s important they have a healthy diet for their growing bodies. They also need to play a lot because they are developing their skills and their muscles. If they don’t have playmate it’s important to play with them multiple times a day.

They also need vet visits to make sure they don’t have worms or other common feline illnesses and of course they need to be vaccinated. Kittens can reach sexual maturity sooner than you may think so they should also be spayed or neutered by six months of age.