Christmas is definitely one of the most wonderful times of the year. However, being a loud and busy season, it can also pose dangers to pets. To avoid any unwanted happenings, it is best to keep your pets safe at all times. Here are some pet safety tips that you can do to keep your pets away from accidents this Yuletide Season:

1. The food is probably one of the biggest treats during Christmas and pet owners have this tendency to give our pets some goodies without realising that not all foods are good for them. Here are some foods and beverages that you should NEVER give your pets:
   • Chocolate (highly toxic!!!);
   • Chicken or Turkey meat with bones (even cooked bones can splinter or get lodged in your pet’s throat or can cause serious damage by puncturing the intestinal tract!);
   • Coffee
   • Alcoholic beverages
   • Spoiled foods (this can cause diarrhea)
   • Salty foods
2. You should also try to avoid over-feeding your pet during the holidays. If you want your pets to have a treat, purchase a nutritionally balanced pet treat from a pet store or veterinarian instead of giving them table food.
3. If you have a Christmas tree, make sure that it is well secured. As much as possible, avoid using small decorations that your pet could swallow. Do not use tinsel, foil, or artificial snow, because these decorations can severely injure your pet when swallowed. Secure ornaments well and consider displaying fragile or precious ornaments in a less tempting area of the house so that they cannot be reached by curious pets. Cover electric cords and flashing tree lights so that your precious pet cannot play with them or worse, chew them. Moreover, if you use ribbons, keep them out of reach and refrain from putting ribbons to dress up your pets for the holidays because your pets could swallow the ribbons. Also, you should keep candles and lamps well out of reach, as curious pets could burn themselves or start a fire.
4. If you decide to display holiday plants, do not forget that many plants are toxic to pets. For instance, mistletoe, holly, and poinsettia are all very dangerous for animals, so keep these plants out of reach. You should also avoid using tempting edible decorations and ornaments around the house.
5. Try to avoid using chemicals when you celebrate the holidays, as your pets could ingest these substances and become seriously sick. Some examples of things to avoid are fire glow that come in various colours and aerosols such as air fresheners.
6. Loud noise and lots of people can be stressful for pets. Since Christmas holds lots of gatherings with family and friends, it would be best to consider confining your pet in a safe, comfortable place using a pet crate or pet playpen with enough food and water. On the other hand, if you need to travel for the holidays, find a reliable pet sitter rather than taking your pets along. That’s because travel delays and other stresses that are annoying for you can be deadly for animal companions because they are more sensitive to stress and extreme temperature.

Keep these helpful tips in mind and you are sure to make your pets happy and comfortable this Christmas!

Photo courtesy of: wikipedia.org

Scratching is a common behaviour among cats which is why it is really impossible to make them stop doing it. Cats scratch when they want to fight off stress and boredom, when they want to make and mark a territory, and when they want to remove something from their claws like dead nail. So before you consider putting your cat under a declaw surgery to save your furniture, you have a responsibility of training him not to scratch on your precious furniture. It’s really not difficult to do, although it would take some time and patience.

The first thing to do when training a cat is to not punish him for any incorrect behaviour. For example, yelling, hitting him with a stick or other types of punishment will only scare your cat. And worse, your cat will not associate his instinctive scratching on your sofa with the punishment. Keep in mind that scratching is a normal behaviour for any cat so shouting at him will not make him stop doing it. The best thing that you can do is to direct this instinct to a scratching post with a little bit of observation and patience. Here are a few ways on how to train your cat use a cat scratch post:

1. Observe your cat. If he’s scratching your furniture, this will give you an idea of what kind of material he prefers to scratch. Scratching posts are made with many different kinds of material and you will need to experiment to see which kind he will most likely use. For a kitten, buy at least a couple of different kinds to start. Ideally, four or five cat scratch posts in different textures will be best for training. An important reminder in buying a cat scratch post is to ensure that your adult cat will get a good stretch when using it.

2. Observe your cat’s position when he scratches. Does he prefer to scratch the carpet or a vertical surface like furniture or sofa? Choose either a flat or upright/hanging cat scratch post based on your cat’s preference.

3. Place the cat scratch post in areas where your cat likes to scratch the most. You can put it near the arm of the sofa, a certain spot on the floor, the leg of the piano or near the stereo speakers. Whenever the cat scratches on one of those posts, praise and pet him. Give him a treat because he will associate the good stuff with the cat scratch post. Once you’ve got the cat using the cat scratching post, you can gradually move it to a more convenient location.

4. In instances where your cat may not scratch on the post, what you can do is to rub the scratch posts with catnip to get your cat’s attention.

5. Play with your cat at the cat scratch post. Make it a happy place. Run a toy up and down the post so the cat gets the feel of its claws on it. Encourage your cat to climb up the post by putting a favourite toy at the top. Reinforcement is very important.

Change will not happen overnight, especially if your cat is used to scratching on your furniture. You will need to be patient and most of all, consistent. Always praise your cat when he uses the cat scratch post. After a few weeks, you will probably have a cat that doesn’t think of the furniture as a good place to scratch. Then, all you have to do is keep his claws clipped regularly.

It can be very difficult and scary for you if your dog pulls towards other dogs and barks at them while you are out on a walk. The other dog may be walking towards you or may be behind a fence. You may think your dog is going to attack the other dog and you may pull back hard on his lead. Unfortunately, this will inevitably make the problem worse.

Instead of reprimanding your dog and yanking on his lead, you should aim to teach him to do a substitute behaviour (focusing on you) when triggered by the presence of another dog. As soon as he does the desired behaviour (focus on you) you should reward him heavily. He will eventually learn to associate the presence of another dog with the happy event of getting a treat and will turn to you for his treat instead of barking at the other dog.

To train this new behaviour, take a bum bag full of smelly, high value dog treats (i.e. his favourite food, such as sausage or cheese) with you on your walks. If your dog is more motivated by toys than food then take his favourite toy instead. Your walks should be the only time when he gets his favourite treat or toy, at least until his behaviour improves.

When you see another dog approaching, or you are approaching the yard of a dog which normally triggers your dog, you need to immediately distract your dog with the treats or toy while the other dog is passing by. You must start doing this before your dog notices the other dog. Try to keep his focus on you and not the other dog as much as possible. If your dog goes mental then stop treating and try to get him away from the situation as quickly as possible. Stand between you and the other dog so he doesn’t see him. Slowly, after a lot of practice, he should start looking to you for treats when he sees another dog instead of getting overly excited. It will take a while but it really does works…eventually. You just have to be patient and keep working at it consistently. Remember to start distracting and rewarding your dog before he gets sees the other dog and keep rewarding him as long as he is focused on you.

Guest Author: After a long career in IT, Terri now divides her time between bookkeeping for the family business and volunteer work with Dog Rescue Newcastle.

Petitude, in partnership with Dog Rescue Newcastle, will publish pet care guide and pet adoption articles until end of 2010. To learn more about Petitude’s new advocacy campaign and what you can do to help our less fortunate furry pals while doing your online shopping, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Winter is not just for us human to enjoy. Even pet cats can enjoy the outdoors provided that they are dressed for the season. Here are some winter activities that you can enjoy with your pet cat:

Take him for a walk – since the weather in July offers a slightly warm temperature in some parts of the country, your precious cat can really enjoy the nice breeze.

Just don’t forget to put his favourite winter cat clothes on to ensure that he is always protected from the cool wind especially in the morning and afternoon. If you’re in Sydney, here are some of the attractions that you can visit: The Rocks, the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Australian Museum, Hyde Park, Chinatown and Darling Harbour.

Let him play in your yard – cats are always fascinated with balls, especially those that have bright colours. What you can do is to buy some of these and let him chase after them. This also a great form of exercise for your feline buddy. Just make sure that he does not go over the fence to avoid any accident.

Take him to your family vacation – one of the best ways of bonding with your beloved feline buddy is to take him with you on a vacation. For example, if your family is planning to visit a ski resort this winter, take him with you. Just make sure he has enough food, he is dressed with winter cat clothes and you bring his cat toys with you to keep him active and busy during the trip.

As always, winter should not bore you and your precious cat, so make sure you have different outdoor fun activities lined up for the rest of the season.

Just because it’s winter, it doesn’t mean that you and your pet dog have to stay indoors all the time. In fact, winter is the best time to enjoy the outdoors especially in July because it offers a mild winter temperature that would allow you to enjoy and make the most out of this season. It is also a great time for you to give your dog a good exercise, which is very important to keep him healthy.

Here are the fun winter activities that you and your dog will surely love:

Skijoring – this activity is a cross country skiing combined with dog mushing / racing. You just need to secure a special and durable dog harness for your dog and a belt for yourself in order to enjoy this activity.  You can do this activity in the snowy mountains of New South Wales or the Alpine regions of Victoria. This activity can truly bring absolute fun for humans and any dog over 30 lbs.

Fetch – indeed, playing fetch can also be fun even if the weather is cold. You can throw a ball and wait for your dog to return the ball to you. Just use a brightly colour ball or Frisbee so you can find it in case it gets lost.

Walk / Run – just like during the warm season, walking or running is a great way to exercise yourself and your dog. In fact, they can enjoy the weather more during the winter season because the temperature is more forgiving than during summer. Just don’t forget to gear your dog up with winter dog clothes and dog shoes to prevent him from chilling.

The winter season is definitely a great time to bond with your pet dog. However, spending both of your time indoors would only let you both miss out on the great fun that you can experience outside. So, the best thing to do is to plan for the different outdoor activities that you can do for each day to mark a memorable winter season this year.

Cats that are used to the outdoors may find the winter season a very stressful part of the year because they will have less time to enjoy outdoor activities. If  you have a cat that enjoys the outdoors so much, the best way to help him enjoy the cold season is to create an “outdoor environment” indoors.  Here’s how:

No matter how much she meows and yowls, do not give in. If you do, he will learn that all he has to do to force his will on you is to make enough noise. Instead, try to get him away from the door by distracting him with a food treat followed by a play session.

During the play session, make your house appealing and provide your pet cat with fun, outdoor-like activities. You can start with interactive play sessions that can simulate his senses like hunting or hide and seek. In this activity, you can buy him a cat tunnel where he could use as his hiding ground. You can also buy him a cat scratching post to allow him to relieve some of his stress by letting him mark his domain. Cats always find comfort every time they climb higher grounds so a nice cat tree will allow him to be happy and contented even when confined indoors.

Just like you, your precious cat also needs to enjoy the winter season. By preparing different indoor activities for him and getting toys and furniture to keep him busy and occupied, he will surely enjoy the cold months the way you want him to.

It’s long weekend once again and who doesn’t want to go on a picnic? Even dogs will enjoy a nice and cool time with the rest of the family during a picnic on your local park. But how do you make sure that your furry pal does not ruin this happy occasion? We all know that dogs can sometimes have the tendency to be unruly especially when they are excited or agitated. Here are some tips on how to keep your dog in his best behaviour when you take him to a picnic this long weekend:

• Start the day right by giving your dog a nice bath.
• Do not forget to bring him his own picnic treats — dog food! It is only fair that you prepare him a hearty meal for the picnic in the same way that you prepare delectable food for the rest of the family. This way your dog will have his eyes glued on his own yummy goodies and will be less inclined to eat people food that you prepared.

• Look for the best spot for your best buddy. Pick a shady spot far enough from the grill, picnic tables and main activities so that your dog may not get in the way. Put a dog blanket or old sheet so that he will know that this is where he should lay down and relax. Also, put a few chew toys and treats around the blanket and place a water bowl near it.
• Make sure that your dog is familiar with all the people in your picnic area. This is especially important if you have invited other relatives and friends to join your family picnic. It would help ease any tension if your dog is familiar with these “new” faces especially with “new” kids on certain occasions that they may be close to his area or dog zone.
• Make sure that you eat together with your four-legged buddy. Once the steaming ribs, corn and chilled potato salad is on the table, put some of the special dog picnic treats in your dog’s bowl so that he can eat with you. This would ensure that he will not feel compelled to sit around and bark while you eat your delicious picnic meal.
• Play with your dog. Part of the picnic fun is playing some outdoor activities. In this case, it would be nice if you include Fido in it. Play fetch, chase and other agility games that can make you and your dog enjoy and make the most of out of your picnic day. Include everyone if necessary so that you can have more fun and enjoyment.
• Make sure that your dog is dressed for the season and occasion. Don’t forget to dress your pet for the cold weather. Dog clothes and dog shoes will not only make him cute and fashionable, but protected from the elements as well.  Dog vitamins will also keep him protected from the inside.
• Make sure that your pet is always safe and secured. If you plan on taking him for a walk, a dog harness will be very helpful.  Pet crates, on the other hand, will make it easy for your pet to take a nap or if you want to keep him from the crowd, especially when there are too many people around.

Letting your dog enjoy every picnic activity of the family is not that difficult to do. Just make sure that you follow these helpful tips and you’re sure off to create the most amazing picnic day for you and your dog.

As a responsible dog owner, it is highly advisable that you know how to keep your dog in shape. You must never forget that dogs need a good dose of daily exercise so that they could stay healthy and strong. Daily exercise for dogs is very essential for their physical and mental well-being. It can also add some years in their life expectancy if they’re always fit and strong. The best outdoor activity for your dog that will also be good for you is a daily walk in your neighbourhood. Daily walks can strengthen his stamina while giving him extra time to bond with you regularly. You may also try running with your dogs at some times because this is a good exercise for his legs and paws. You can also try playing fetch with your dog at a safe area in your local park.

Moreover, if your dog finds swimming an interesting and fun activity, you can let him swim provided that you can secure his safety in the water by giving him a dog life-vest. Also, you can give him floating waterproof dog toys to make his swimming activity more fun and enjoyable. Just be sure to watch over your dog during the entire time that he is doing his swimming activity so that you can better secure his safety.

Finally, if you’re worried that your dog would not be safe if you bring him to your local park or if you let him swim outdoors, you can still let him enjoy a good outdoor activity within the confines of your own yard. You can play tug of war with him and with the other members of your household or you can do some bring me activities.

Summer is the best time to enjoy lots of activities outdoors. Just like you, your pet dog also wants to make the most out of this season. There are actually a lot of outdoor activities that you can share with your dog this summer season. You may not know this but many dogs actually love the water. So swimming with your dog can be a nice bonding experience. You can let your favorite pooch swim on the pool or you can take her/him to the nearest lake to play fetch or to swim. Just be sure to watch over your dog when he/she swims. Excessive head shaking and ear scratching can be a sign of an ear infection so when this happens, make sure that your dog gets out of the water immediately.

Another great summer activity that you can share with your dog is hiking. This is especially fun if you have an athletic dog that is up for this kind of activity. Just be aware that trails can be a burden on your dog’s paws and overall physical abilities. So try short hikes at first, and gradually lengthen your treks. Remember to stop for rest and water frequently. Ticks carry diseases, so talk to your veterinarian about appropriate ways to prevent them from biting your dog before you head off with your hike.

Finally, if you do not have that much money to spend for outdoor activities and outing, you can just make the summer season an enjoyable time for you and your pet in your yard. You can plan a picnic or a barbeque get together then play fetch with your dog. Just make sure that you clean your yard very well to avoid any possible danger for you and your dog. A dirty yard can only attract insects and other possible illness. So always keep your surrounding clean so that you can make the most out of the summer season.

A day at the beach with your dog is definitely a superb experience as both of you take pleasure from the sight of the pristine water and the cool breeze. Certainly, your dogs will be on their playful mood and spend hours catching the waves and playing in the sand. But is saltwater safe for them?

However, these precious moments will turn out as a shocking remembrance when you found out that your dog has drunk so much salt water from the beach which caused him to have beach diarrhea. You have to bear in mind that dogs should never drink salt water. The drinking of salt water especially on dogs must be avoided as it can produce several problems with the digestive system and cardiovascular system of the dog’s body. Making your dogs drink or even lick salt water is definitely a no-no.

Salt water contains sand that can irritate the intestinal tract which may cause worse consequences on your dogs. Salt water may also be full of microorganisms, toxins, algae and other harmful bacteria that can cause additional health damages on your dog. It may even become the reason for further dehydration of your dog since salt water has an osmotic effect which pulls liquid into your dog’s intestines. And this starts the beach diarrhea.

It is not only during too much drinking of salt water that the effects of beach diarrhea can be realized. Beach diarrhea can actually happen when your dog has drunk or licked smaller amounts of salt water from a tennis ball, or any salt water-soaked balls. Repeated ingestion of small amounts of salted water when the dog’s mouth is open will just make your dog succumb to the observable effects of beach diarrhea.

Consequently, you should discourage your dog from drinking salt water by offering him fresh water regularly while you are on the beach.  You can carry with you a small bowl or any collapsible dish or container especially made for dog drinking purposes.

Your dog should also have a break from his exercise activities while on the beach. As much as possible, take him into the shade and have him sit or lie down. Also make sure that you give him fresh water to drink. The more frequent you offer him fresh water, the more likely he will not drink salt water. This means you could have fewer chances of dealing with beach diarrhea.

Beach diarrhea, though it is a short term case, can still become an unpleasant and a difficult experience for you and your dog. That is why early prevention is needed. But if you have done everything and your dog does not get better and turns out sluggish, vet consultation is highly-recommended.