Why your Pet must have a Bed of his own?

Snuggling with our dogs can be comforting and most of us would not mind letting our furry babies curl up on our soft and comfy beds in the night and during the day. Pet owners still feel that a dog bed is not a necessity but a luxury that they can easily do without. This is far from the truth and our dogs like us deserve a bed of their own. A dog bed can benefit you and your pooch in many ways. Here are some of the reasons why you must consider getting your pooch a bed, if he does not have one already.

Good Health and Good Sleep

According to a report in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases” out of the 250 known infectious diseases that can be transmitted between humans and animals; more than 100 are derived from domestic pets. The risk of your pet making you sick is relatively small though, and according to WebMD sleeping with a pet can be problematic only for those who suffer from pet allergies or asthma. However, there are other reasons why your doggie must not be sleeping on your bed.  A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center found that about half the patients who complained of insomnia in the study had a dog or cat, and 53% of those pet owners said their pets disturbed their sleep in some way every night. Even if your dog is not disturbing your sleep, you could be upsetting his sleep unknowingly. By having your dog sleep in his own bed, you’ll ensure that both you and your pooch get a good sleep every day.

Cleaner House

Dogs tend to shed a lot in the places where they sleep. You’ll have a tough time cleaning your house, if you let your pet sleep on your bed or the couch in the living room. Dog beds, on the other hand, are easier to clean and maintain. Some beds even come with machine washable covers and cushions that allow for easy cleaning and washing.

More Place to Sleep

Dogs run, quiver, twist and turn in their sleep. By sleeping on his own bed, your pooch will have enough space to move around without getting hurt or hurting anyone else in the process. Keep your dog’s size in mind while you buy him a bed and always get a bed that is slightly larger than the space your dog occupies when he is curled up in a sleeping position.

More Personal Space

Your dog deserves a personal space of his own in the house and a dog bed would provide him with that. If you have two dogs in your house, then it necessary that both of them have separate beds that they can claim as their own and retreat to during the day, else they might end up fighting with each other over the bed.

A Happier Pooch

A good night’s sleep will keep your pooch healthy and happy. Made of soft cotton fabric and foam, dog beds offer firm support for your pooch’s back and limbs and prevent body pain. A good bed will contribute to your dog’s overall health.

Check out Woofilicious’s collection of dog/cat beds here. You can also shop for dog blankets here.

Image Courtesy: Doggonesmartbed

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Why your Pet must wear an ID Tag?

You find your dog munching on your slippers in the garden. You go inside to get his food and when you step out into the garden again, he’s not there. “Ah! His usual hide and seek game,” you think, and start searching for him inside the house, under the bed, inside the cupboard, in all his favourite hiding spots. But, he is nowhere to be seen. Just then you notice that the garden gate is open! You run around the streets calling out your doggie’s name and asking your neighbours if they have seen your little one around. Helpless, heart-broken and unable to find your dog after hours of desperate search, you retreat back into your home, and just hope that your pooch would be back soon.

Losing a beloved pet is every pet parent’s nightmare. Ensuring that your pet always wears an ID Tag on the collar is the single most important thing that you can do to keep him safe outside, and increase his chances of returning home, if he ever went missing! A 2011 research conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that while 80 percent of pet owners believed that it is important for their pets to wear ID tags, only 33 percent of them had ID tags on their pets! The study adds that ID tags personalized with the owners’ contact details make it possible for people who find tagged strays to return the animals directly to their owners without involving a shelter or animal control agency to solve the problem. If your dog or cat does not have an ID Tag yet then it’s high time that you get him one.

You can find Dog/Cat ID Tags at many of the bigger pet stores. You can also buy them online on Woofilicious.com. Take a look at our collection of Pet Tags here. Each of these tags can be engraved(on both sides) with your dog’s name and your contact number. Just email us the information you want to be engraved on the tag while placing an order on the site and it will be delivered to your home!
Attaching an ID Tag to your pet’s collar is not enough. It’s also important to check the tag every couple of months to ensure that the information is valid and legible. Have you changed your phone number? Then it’s time to get your dog a new ID with a valid phone number. Dogs also lose tags more often than you think. So, it’s better to stock up on ID Tags and carry extra tags with you whenever you are travelling with your pooch!

Image Courtesy: Yourdictionary.com

 

Tips on introducing your pooch to a new dog at home

As dog lovers we are often tempted to get home a new dog and share our lives with more than one four-legged friend. Getting home a new dog will no doubt make your life more fun and provide your current dog with companionship, especially if he/she ends up spending too much time alone at home. While some dogs are quite comfortable sharing the house with another dog, others are not very welcoming towards a new canine. As responsible pet parents we must be cautious while getting home a new dog and   provide our dog with time to get used to the change. Here are few tips to help you introduce your pet to a new dog:

• Acquaint your pooch with the new dog before you decide on bringing him/her home. Make sure you introduce the two dogs on a neutral territory like a dog park, rather than a your home or yard. Keep them both on leashes and have one person handling each dog.
• Observe how they interact with each other. Don’t force the interaction. Give them both time to come out of their comfort zones and prepare themselves to socialize with each other.
• Your dogs’ body language will help you understand whether he/she likes the other dog. Playful behaviour with loose body movements and relaxed posture says that the two dogs get along well. Teeth-baring, growling, prolonged staring and other aggressive behaviour indicates that the two dogs are not quite comfortable in each other’s company. Don’t give up yet. Introduce the two again and see if there is any change in the behavior  Keep the interactions brief initially to avoid putting too much pressure on the dogs.
• If things go smoothly between your dog and the new dog after those initial meetings outside the house, then you can consider bringing the new dog home. Your dog’s territorial instincts may cause him to act differently and less friendly towards the new canine So, make sure your keep a constant eye on the two to prevent them from getting into fights.
• Before you bring home the new dog, remove bowls, toys, beds and anything that your dog might be possessive about. When the two dogs are just starting to form a relationship, it’s better to keep them away from things that might lead to rivalry and provoke fights. You can reintroduce the items after a couple of weeks, when the dogs have developed a good rapport. Until then provide each dog with his/her own bowl, bed and toys.
• Do not confine the dogs together in small spaces, before they are completely comfortable with each other. Feed them in different areas and let them to sleep in different rooms.
• While you make effort to make the new dog comfortable in your home, do not ignore the needs of your old dog. Keep his/her mealtime, bedtime, play and exercise routines the same as before, and make sure he/she does not feel unloved.
• Be prepared for the responsibilities of having more than one dog at home. Make sure your shower each dog with your love and attention. It’s important that the two dogs bond with each other, but it’s equally important for them to bond with you. Do spend some time alone with each of them.

Image Courtesy: Diamondintheruff.com

 

Tips to keep your Dog’s coat healthy

Is your doggie’s skin dull and lifeless? Does your pooch have more bad hair days than you? To get that enviable shiny coat your dog doesn’t need expensive spa treatments. A healthy diet and regular grooming can go a long way in adding a shine to your dog’s coat and staving off common skin problems.

Pampering your pooch in a spa is great, but make sure you get the basics right to maintain the long-term health of his coat. Here are few tips to help you get started:

Diet rich in Protein and Omega oils

Dry coat and excessively shedding fur are often an indication of unhealthy diet lacking in vital nutrients. Feed your dog high-quality pet food to provide him with the essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.  A diet rich in protein and omega oils(omega-6 and omega-3) can help add luster to your dog’s coat and ward off  skin problems such as itching, shedding and allergies. Different breeds of dogs have different nutritional needs. So, do some research to gather info on your dog’s diet requirements and consult your vet if you feel the need to fortify it further with supplements.

Regular Exercise

We all know about the role of exercise in keeping our skin and hair healthy. Dogs’ skin and hair are no different. Exercise stimulates the supply of nutrients to their coat, giving it a healthy sheen. So, walking or playing with your dog has double benefits – it’ll keep both you and your pooch looking great.

Bathing and Shampooing

Bathe your dog regularly with a mild shampoo and treat the coat with a conditioner to moisturize it and make it smoother. For dogs with a sensitive skin it’s often recommended to use shampoos comprising of oatmeal and other natural cleansers. Bathing is necessary to keep your dog’s skin clean, but do not overdo it. Excessive washing is likely to deplete the skin of healthy oils and cause more scratching and irritation due to dryness. The frequency of bathing depends on your dog’s skin, the length of coat etc. For dogs with normal skin, bathing once a month is considered enough, however, dogs with skin allergies and infections may need more frequent washing. Do consult your groomer or vet if you are unsure about your dog’s bathing needs.

To avoid over-shampooing and to keep your dog’s coat fresh and odour-free between baths you can use waterless spray shampoo, dog deodorizing spray or pet wipes. Take at look at dog shampoos, conditioners and sprays here.

Brushing

Regular brushing stimulates the hair follicles, and promotes the production of natural skin oils that make your dog’s coat shiny. Brush your dog’s fur at least once every day, to remove the tangles and to enhance the secretion and distribution of natural oil across the skin.  Shop for brushes and other grooming accessories here.

Regular visits to the vet

Keep your dog vaccinated and go for regular veterinary checkups. This would help detect skin problems such as fleas, ticks, worms and skin allergies early and take the necessary treatment to cure the problem.

Image Courtesy: Ourworldofdogs.com