Why Do Cats Put Toys in Water? Is This Normal?
Jump to section Why Do Cats Put Toys in Water? Should I Stop My Cat From Putting Toys in Water?
Goldfish Care Sheet
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Hanoverian Horse
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How Do No-Pull Dog Harnesses Work?
Image via iStock.com/Mark Newton By Linda Rodgers “A dog that’s constantly pulling is frustrating for owners who just want to go on a nice, leisurely walk,” says Mary Huntsberry, a certified animal behaviorist and owner of Helping Pets Behave in Gaithersburg, Maryland. If you find yourself being dragged on your daily walks, it might be time to consider your options when it comes to dog walking supplies. A dog harness made specifically to discourage pulling, for example, can help you gain more control on your walk and improve your pup’s dog leash skills. By using a no-pull dog harness, you can help make walks more enjoyable and prevent your dog from hurting herself. Why Leash Pulling Can Be Harmful If your pup is only wearing an ordinary dog collar, she can put a lot of tension on her throat as she strains forward, especially if you grip the leash or yank it back. This kind of pressure can hurt your dog’s neck regardless of her size, but especially if she belongs to a smaller breed. “Little dogs can actually do a lot of damage to their very sensitive throats and trachea if they do excessive pulling,” says Mikkel Becker, certified dog trainer and resident trainer for FearFreeHappyHomes.com. Excessive pulling can also lead to unwanted behaviors. Say your dog pulls whenever she sees another dog. If you hold her back, jerk the leash or drag her away, she begins to associate that unpleasant experience with other dogs. “Dogs make associations with what’s happening in their environment and whatever they’re looking at, so from their perspective, seeing another dog predicts this unpleasant reaction from their owners,” Huntsberry explains. The result: Every time your dog sees another dog, she becomes uneasy and starts barking. A no-pull dog harness helps end the leash battle between you and your dog so that you can have more peaceful walks. How No-Pull Dog Harnesses Work The best no-pull dog harnesses have straps that cross above your pup’s shoulders and can be fastened at center of your dog’s chest and behind her front legs, says Becker. The dog harness will also have a clip in front for the leash. Once you clip the leash to the front ring and begin walking, your dog has to stay by your side in order to keep moving forward. If she does pull, the leash goes off to the side—not straight back—which directs your dog back towards you. That gives you greater ability to control and guide your dog back to your side by applying a little pressure, she adds. Features to Look for in a No-Pull Dog Harness Standard front clip. One dog harness option available is the PetSafe Easy Walk dog harness. Like other front-clip harnesses, it encourages you and your dog to engage in what trainers call loose-leash walking—when your dog walks by your side in a relaxed manner. A front clip and back ring. Dog harnesses that have rings for clipping a leash on the back and front, like the 2 Hounds Freedom no-pull dog harness and leash, can minimize pulling. Becker explains that having a front and back ring means you can increase and decrease control as needed. As your pup becomes more accustomed to loose-leash walking, you can graduate from using both the back and front rings to just the front ring and then just the back ring. Becker says another benefit is that “You can clip the leash to adjust to whatever situation you and your dog find yourselves—for example, a crowded sidewalk versus an open green space.” Wider straps. If straps are thin and flimsy, the material is likely to chafe against your dog’s skin if she does pull toward something, says Huntsberry. “A thicker, wider strap is going to better distribute the pressure” so it doesn’t cut into your dog’s skin. Some dog harnesses even have cushioning, like the Frisco padded front lead dog harness, which has wide straps as well as a front and back ring. Cushioning makes a harness even more comfortable for your dog, especially if you own a breed that doesn’t have much fur.
Holiday Gifts for People With Rescue Dogs
Do you know someone who loves their wine as much as their rescue dogs? If so, this could be the perfect gift to give them this holiday season. These wine glasses made by Susquehanna Glass have “Rescued is my favorite breed” on the front, sand-etched by hand by skilled artists. They come in a set of four, so everyone can raise a glass and say cheers to having the most adorable four-legged rescue dogs to cuddle up with.,It can be hard playing the role of Santa when you’re not sure what to get your loved ones. When you find yourself wondering what they may like, think about what they love (hint: it has four legs!). If you’re shopping for a pet parent of rescue dogs, your search begins and ends here. We’ve created this holiday gift guide especially for all the pet parents you know that have rescue dogs.
Lupoid Onychodystrophy in Dogs
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What’s the Best Dog Food for Weight Gain?
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How Long Can a Bearded Dragon Go Without Food?
Understanding how long a bearded dragon can go without food, and why they might stop eating in the first place, can help you respond appropriately and protect your pet’s health. ,Bearded dragons are hardy reptiles known for their calm temperament and relatively simple care needs. But when your pet bearded dragon suddenly stops eating, it’s natural to worry.
Your Guide to the Best Cat Litter Box for Your Feline Friend
When you get a cat, a litter box is always at the top of your shopping list. To you, it’s nothing special, just a hulking piece of plastic you’ll shove in some out-of-the-way corner of your home. But to your new cat, it’s their bathroom, and cats care about the place they do their business. That’s why you need to keep your kitty’s needs in mind as you search for the best cat litter box. Otherwise, there will be messy consequences. “It is a rare day I don’t examine a kitty not using the litter box, and most of the time, it is a box problem, and not a cat problem,” says Dr. Sandra Mitchell, DVM, DABVP (feline), a cat vet who practices in Maine. You’ll know you’ve got it wrong when your cat takes to doing their business everywhere but the litter box. To avoid these accidents, you’ll need to bone up on some general litter-box basics before you decide on which type to spring for.
What Is Catnip? A Guide to Your Cat’s Favorite Treat
Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a perennial plant that is a part of the mint family. It’s native to central Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and it’s sometimes called catnep, catsworth, or field balm. The word itself comes from “nip,” or “a small quantity of liquor” that intoxicates your cat. The primary ingredient in catnip that causes bizarre, behavior-altering reactions in cats is the compound known as nepetalactone. Catnip leaves are used in human products, too, like herbal teas, calming bath and body products, and even natural bug repellents. Catnip flowers have a long history of medicinal use to relieve coughs, sore throats, and fevers in humans. ,Dilated pupils. High-powered zoomies. Complete, utter bliss. This can only mean one thing: Your cat’s been given catnip. This aromatic herb sends our feline friends into a fun-filled frenzy. But what is catnip, exactly? We spoke with veterinarians to learn more about this green plant and why our cats love it so much.
