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Not only does a dog’s curiosity lead him to places he should not be, but his tendency to want to follow you everywhere can also lead him to off-limit areas.  If you have ever left a window open or a door cracked, then you may have had to go searching for a curious pooch.  You can always work on your forgetfulness to close the door, and you can also work on your pooch’s willingness to run out the door at every opportunity.  Teaching your dog to stay inside not only helps with obedience, it also helps keep him out of danger.

It is normally easier to start training with a puppy.  However, I recommend starting this training once the puppy is potty trained and has a basic understanding of “sit” and “stay.”  My reasoning for this is that the dog will have to sit and wait at the door until you allow him to leave.  A puppy that does not know how or why he should not “hold it” is likely to pee in your floor.  But, it’s up to you to start the training when you feel it is necessary.  For this training, you will need your pooch, a handful of treats, and a door that leads outside.  You may also need a leash in the beginning stages of training, and a helper in the later stages.  Remember to keep the sessions under fifteen minutes.

If your pooch likes to follow you out the door, then you won’t need to use the leash.  However, if your pooch is preoccupied or isn’t too concerned with you leaving the home, then go ahead and place him on the leash.  Walk toward the door.  Visually mark a place a couple of feet in front of the door as the “stop zone.”  It will help if you stop at this spot, and have your pooch stop at the spot, every time you head out the door.  When you get to the spot, tell your pooch to “stop.”  He probably won’t understand the command yet, so you should follow “stop” with “sit.”  Open the door and close it.  You don’t have to go outside, but the action of the door opening will help his associate the behavior.  Give him a treat, a little praise, and repeat.  Do this several times until your pet understands what you want him to do.

Now, have your pet “stop” and “sit.”  This time, tell him to “stay” as you open the door.  Walk out the door (to where your pooch can’t see you), and then immediately return.  Give him a treat for staying.  You may have to remind him to “stay” as you walk away.  Once he stays without following you, begin to walk out farther and stay out a little longer.  Now, when you exit, turn back toward your pooch and release him.  You can release him by saying “release,” “okay,” or whatever you prefer.  Give him a treat for coming to you.  If you think your pooch has the “stay” part of the training down, then grab a helper.  It’s time for the next part.

Have the helper head to the door, and make sure your dog is following.  The helper may need to grab the dog’s favorite toy or another item to get his attention.  You should be somewhere near the door where your dog can see you.  Once the helper approaches the door, tell your pooch to “stop” and “sit.”  Repeat the training from the beginning, having the helper exit and return.  Once the helper makes it outside a few times, then start releasing your dog.  Since you are the one training, it is important that you are the one giving the commands until your pooch gets the hang of things.  Eventually, your pooch will learn to “stop,” so “sit” and “stay” may not have to be used.

If your dog darts outside at every opportunity, then it’s a good idea to teach him to wait on your approval.  A loose dog can endanger himself and others.  Training your dog not to go until you command him to will make him less likely to dart out the door without your permission, keeping him out of trouble!

Article provided by Jessica Taylor from pet-super-store.com a website featuring aluminum dog crates, dog doors and dog beds.

You know your dog best. Take a moment to consider if your dog will truly enjoy the boating experience. Not all dogs will enjoy being out on the water. Once you’ve determined that your dog will love the water as much as you do, follow these steps to ensure a safe boating adventure. 

Step 1: Check the guidelines of the body of water you like to boat on. Are there any restrictions pertaining to having a dog in the water at this location? Is there a leash law in effect that will determine which shorelines you’ll be able to visit? The last thing you want to do on a hot summer day is receive a citation from ocean or lake patrol.

Step 2: Make sure your dog has proper identification and vaccination tags secured to his collar. Invest in a Personal Flotation Device for your dog. These can be purchased at many boating supply stores and you will find the right fit for your dog by knowing his weight. Not only will a life jacket keep your dog safe from drowning, it will also be handy in getting your dog out of the water after a swim; dog life jackets come equipped with a handle on top so that you can easily lift your dog out of the water.

Step 3: Before you leave the dock, make sure there is plenty of water and food available for the duration of the trip. It’s also wise to make sure there is a shady spot on the boat so that your dog can get some reprieve from the hot sun.

Step 4: Keep in mind that a heavy coated dog will experience a higher body temperature than a shorthaired dog. Keep an eye on your dog for signs of being overheated. When it comes to shorthaired dogs, you’ll need to keep an eye on areas where their hair is thin as these areas can be prone to sunburn. If your dog will wear them, you might even want to invest in some dog sunglasses to keep his eyes safe from UV rays as well.

Step 5: Once you get underway, be sensitive to the fact that your dog might take some time to get his “sea legs”. Allow time for him to adjust to being onboard and adjust your speed accordingly. It would be helpful if you have a piece of carpet or a rubber mat that your dog can stand on. Oftentimes the fiberglass of a boat can be slippery for a dog who isn’t wearing boat shoes! This will also protect your pup’s paws from the heat that emanates from the fiberglass.

Step 6: After a day out on the water, rinse your dog off with fresh water and clean out his ears to avoid infection.

Boat and dog owners can safely combine their best hobby with their best friend by adhering to these tips each time they hit the open water. This article was provided by pet super store an online pet store carrying: aluminum dog crates, orthopedic pet beds and pet carriers.

If you live in an area where there are stray cats, you do not need to take the point of view that they are a problem;  instead, you can come to see them as the delightful animals that they are.  One of the best ways to do this is begin by actively participating in the care of feral cats.

All animals deserve the concern and care of humans.  Feral cats are no exception.  In addition to making sure they have enough food and water, you can help them to be safe, protected, and comfortable with feral cat houses. 

Regardless of the specific type of climate in which you live, feral cat house will make the most appropriate shelter for homeless cats.  When stray cats have nowhere to go during rain storms, snow, strong winds, or extreme cold, it is not only uncomfortable for them, but can actually put their lives in danger.  Appropriately-placed feral cat houses will eliminate this problem.

Feral cats are also vulnerable to other animals.  When they are attacked, it can result in life-threatening injuries and even death.  Wild animals, and even some domesticated animals when they are without supervision, can present a very real threat to these stray cats.  A feral cat house is precisely the kind of safe refuge that they need in order to lessen their risk of harm.

Whether you are already a natural cat-fancier or not, feral cat houses will also help you to appreciate felines of all types even more!  When you see that all stray cats need is “tender loving care,” you will begin to feel as if they belong to you.  Even if the feral cats do not end up becoming your house pets, you will feel that they are indeed yours!  You will be pleasantly surprised when you see how even the cats who  have been homeless for a long period of time respond to your ongoing care and interest.  You will also be pleasantly surprised to see that these cats are not only beautiful, but are also lively and fun. 

Acquiring a pet is not necessarily the best way to look at the subject, as many feral cats will continue to resist human attention.  Instead, simply doing something nice for homeless animals who do not have anyone to look after them should be the priority.  If you are lucky, you may gain a new feline friend–  but saving their lives is the most important factor.

Giving appropriate help to stray cats is not very difficult.  When you are concerned enough to provide them with nutrition and a safe refuge, you are making a world of difference in their lives.  Without your help, many of these cats would not survive at all;  and of those that would survive, their everyday lives would make them vulnerable to starvation, attacks from other animals, and becoming ill from the weather elements.  Even if you do nothing more than provide these essential basics, you will be making a positive, life-saving difference!

When you are thinking about purchasing a cat house for your special pet, one type which you should consider is a cedar cat house.  Although there are many kinds of cat houses, cedar cat houses are without a doubt extra-special!

Cedar cat houses are not merely a luxurious place for your pet to sleep, they are also very practical.  While the fine, quality worksmanship means that a cedar cat house is one of the most well-made types of cat houses currently available, the practical nature of this kind of cat house is not limited to its wonderful craftsmanship.  Even though they are one of the most long-lasting styles that you can find, the quality of cedar makes this special cat house a very healthful place for him to spend his time. 

A cedar outdoor cat house is not only pleasant, but it will also be much more long-lasting than the more standard types of cat houses.  The moisture-resistant nature will keep your pet's home in the very best condition for the longest period of time.  As it does not need to be treated with any kind of potentially-harmful varnishes or other types of protection against the elements, a cedar cat house has the added benefit of being an all-natural product.  The absence of paint, stains, and other colorings are additional features of this product's all-around safety.  This all-natural feature will make a cedar cat house one of the safest environments which your cat can be in, even if he is the type of cat who loves to scratch, claw, and chew on his surroundings!

Although all of these factors will make it obvious that a wood cat house is exactly what your special pet should have, you may also be interested to learn that cedar cat houses are amongst the most attractive types of pet homes, too!  When you select one of these nice little structures, you will not only be giving your pet the absolute best, but you will also be treating yourself to a very attractive furnishing that is quite nice to look at! 

Whether you plan to place your cat's new home inside of your house or apartment, on your patio, or out in your yard, you will not have to deal with the kinds of unsightly structures that you may have seen before, for a cedar cat house is something which you will be proud to have on display!  No matter where you decide that your cat's cedar cat house should be located, you will agree that it is a very attractive addition to either the inside of your home or your outdoor living area!  There are not many products designed for pets that can honestly make the claim of being as nice for you to look at as it is functional for your special cat! 

When you think about all of the great features which you will find in a cedar cat house, you will surely not want anything less than the finest for your pet! 

Traditions have adjusted to accommodate today's society, expenses such as the wedding ceremony and feast were usually provided by the bride's family. A low 27% of brides family claim totally this traditional practice. Today, it's discussed upon who foot the bill or who contributes what or will it go 'Dutch'. Instead of Mothers and Daughters discussing the matter, the bride and groom have their hand very much in it, more like their first attempt in working as a team.

The protocol of who wear what was signaled by the Mother of the Groom before the Mother of the Bride gets to pick. Now as a matter of fairness, bothe bothers can pick a dres suitable for them but ideally within the color palette of the motif. Mothers should have open communication about what they'd wear and not bother their children with intricacies or petty chit-chat.

Bridal gowns used to be pristine white that symbolizes virginity. Now they're still white or off white or a crème version, whatever reason it up to you to imagine…

Bouquets were white or almost white. Today they can be of the most vibrant colors and combination. The flowers are part of the wedding magic-unless the bride , groom or any guest is allergic. Don't be surprised if the bridal registry would not have the design of cutlery or bone china…since some marriages have gone through the trial living together stage, they do have household things to their name. The couple can ask guests to chip in for their dream car, a vacation cruise or a part of their house payments. Never consider this as tasteless since wedding guests are obliged to wish the couple well and help anyway they can to strengthen their union. Nothing strengthens union like having less money problems to talk about.

As much as traditions change, some don't…Always send and expect 'Thank You' cards when you've gone to a wedding. This does symbolize their happiness in having you witness their ceremony and their first official act as Mr. & Mrs. Something.

Most important: Never upstage the Bride! It's her wedding and the last thing she'd like to remember is someone stealing the thunder.