Pet Goddess

Fish  

Fish are also affordable kid friendly pets.  They are easy to maintain and are available in a variety of species.   

The only caveat is that a tank with a proper filtration system is required, which can be rather expesnive. Certain breeds of fish can be as well.  And not all types of fish get along with one another in the tank, so make sure you do you research and ask for advice in the pet store. 

Fish are not only beautiful to look at, but for adults they act as a de-stressor and provide a soothing atmosphere as well. 

They are certainly not as hands on as owning a dog or cat, but they can be a rewarding pet for the whole family.

Posted December 30, 2008 Comments(0)

Cats  

Perhaps you have decided to adopt a cat from a shelter. Or have even found one on the street.  If a kitten or cat is your choice for your family pet, and especially for your kids, keep in mind that although they are very playful and energetic, they will need some training.   

If you choose an adult cat, it’s a good idea to ask the people at the shelter where the cat came from how it interacts with other animals, and its age and overall health.  In either scenario, cats are very kid friendly and yet independent enough to  not be as high-maintenance as a dog. 

Note: Before adopting a cat, ensure that the kids are not allergic to cat dander.

Posted December 28, 2008 Comments(0)

Have your kids been heckling you to buy a pet?   

If so, here are 5 kid friendly pets which are not only interesting to children, but will offer enjoyment to the entire family. 

Dogs 

One of the most lovable of all pets is the dog.  They love children, are very social, loyal, intelligent, offer unconditional love, and provide hours of enjoyment.  

While most dogs are usually kept outdoors, they love the indoors as well.  Care and maintenance of the dog is affordable.  There are many at shelters who could really use a good home. 

If you want to have a puppy of a specific breed, do your research and make sure you are not just basing your decision on looks.  Make sure that the breed of dog you choose will fit in with your family’s lifestyle. 

Ensure that any puppy you might get is acquired through a breeder, however, since most pet shops have puppies that originated from puppy mills. 

If you are purchasing a puppy from a breeder, you can easily trace its lineage online by checking its pedigree, to also make sure it has no health issues. 

If you choose an adult dog, it’s a good idea to ask the people at the shelter where the dog came from how it interacts with other animals, and its overall health. They usually give various behavioral tests which will let you know what to expect long before you take your new friend home with you. 

Dogs make a great family pet, but keep in mind that any dog, young or old, will require time, attention, training, and exercise.

Posted December 26, 2008 Comments(0)

There are also healthy edible bones, and natural rawhide-avoid the colored stuff, and cheap rawhide that comes from South America. 

Puppies are excitable creatures.  This excitement can cause them to chew everything in sight.  To avoid destruction and mayhem, stay calm around your puppy and remember, he will grow out of this sooner or later.   

Some dogs stay puppyish for life, and they chew to relax, but not all dogs remain so playful and high-energy. 

One final word of warning-make sure you NEVER allow puppy to teeth on human body parts. You may not mind it having a go at your finger, but a stranger on the street, or worse still, a child, might think it was a bite. Always give it a chew toy instead.   

Always make sure the dog is supervised as well with bones and balls-choose something large enough in proportion to the dogs mouth that it can’t be swallowed.   

Never play tug of war with your pet. In addition to possible hurting its teeth, if you ‘lose’, it will think it is the boss of the pack, the alpha, and start showing more aggression. 

With a bit of consistency and forethought, training your puppy to only chew on his chew toys will pay off in a happy, healthy dog that is welcome wherever he goes.

Posted December 22, 2008 Comments(0)

Leaving and entering the house showing a lot of emotion (waving wildly at puppy, making a big fuss over him) will get puppy hyped up, or confused.   

Not knowing what to do with his heightened emotional level, he will begin chewing on anything he can find.  Try to keep things low key when you leave the house, and always say the same words, like “I’ll be right back.” 

Then when you get home, don’t immediately make a fuss over the puppy and greet it. Instead, put down your bags, take off your coat, basically get settled, and THEN turn your attention to your puppy for a few minutes of low key attention and bonding.   

Of course, one of the easiest ways to stop your new pup from becoming a one-dog wrecking crew in your house is to give it a chew toy.  There are many safe, well designed chews, some of them durable, some of them edible. 

When he must chew, he will chew on something that is meant to be used for chewing.  Nylafloss is a piece of nylon rope that helps to clean puppy’s teeth while he is releasing his emotional energy.

Posted December 20, 2008 Comments(0)

Of course, never EVER give a puppy a stick to play with, or bones to gnaw on. One single bone chip can literally be the difference between life and death. Store anything you value and don’t want to have chewed in higher places where puppy can’t reach or knock them over.  It is the same thing as child-proofing your home like a responsible parent. 

If puppy gets a hold of marbles, coins, or small kid’s toys, he could choke while chewing on them, so be sure these small things are picked up and out of puppy’s reach at all times. Puppies chew when they are excited.  It is a way of releasing pent up energy.   

He also doesn’t know that he has done anything wrong unless you tell him so. You have to educate him firmly.   If puppy does chew on stuff in the house, don’t spank him.  He may be responding to your behavior and chewing even more out of defiance.

Posted December 18, 2008 Comments(0)

Then we have the suddenly less lovable puppy because it is your Italian leather couch he is munching on.  It is puppy’s instinct to chew, but he needs to be taught what is his and what isn’t. A lot of the expense incurred by pet owners comes as a result of chewing.  Puppies chew the most when you either aren’t home or aren’t looking. They are bored, sad, or just plain teething. It also calms them to be able to chew, especially if they are hungry and there is no dinner available. 

The first step to curbing the chewing habit is to puppy proof your home.  Keep puppy confined to areas of the house where you have no valuables.    Don’t leave your puppy alone even when you are in the house.  When puppy is in the room with you, use a baby gate to prevent him from wandering around, or make sure he is in his crate.   Use a curio cabinet for collectibles and other trinkets.  Coffee tables need to be free of vases, flowers, and other things that can be potentially dangerous to puppy. Many flowers are poisonous. So can plants and things like Christmas trees, and even the water in the stand if you have a fresh tree.

Posted December 16, 2008 Comments(0)

Puppies love to chew – on anything.  However, chewing can cost you thousands of dollars in vet’s bills, not to mention damaged furniture and household goods.   Follow a few simple tips to keep puppy’s teeth free of your valuables, and healthy and happy. 

Puppies are so lovable.  People are entertained when puppy chews on a sock as if it were a snake in the bushes.  He will wag his tail at it, pounce, and then chew until it’s shredded on the floor. The trouble is, eating things that he is not supposed to can get his stomach and digestive tract into all sorts of trouble, which could potentially ever require surgery.   

Your children, for example, may have many toys all over the place. Most of these are not made or durable puppy chew-proof rubber.  They can chew a ball or toy to pieces in no time.  Some dogs even love to eat metal. All of these bits can result in puppy indigestion, diarrhea, which can be fatal in pups, or intestinal blockages, also potentially fatal.

Posted December 14, 2008 Comments(0)

Leaving dogs alone too long can result in behavioral problems, including chewing and inappropriate toilet habits.   

Our dog used to look at us angrily and ‘pee wrathfully’ whenever she was particularly displeased, which fortunately was not too often! 

Housetraining puppy or new dog can be trying at times, and patience is a virtue in this case.  As you continue with the routine, your hard work will pay off with a well trained puppy or dog. 

One final piece of advice is that there is such a thing as doggie diapers.  There are belly bands for the male and bloomers for the female, which do double duty as sanitary bloomers if you have not spayed your pet. These are good if you are really houseproud, or want to travel with your dog and are afraid of accidents. 

They are ideal for the older dog who might have some leakage problems-after all, they make Poise pads and Depends diapers for adult humans, don’t they? 

So again, patience and tolerance are the watch words. Your pet will more than make up for the inconvenience with love and affection.  

Posted December 12, 2008 Comments(0)

If your dog soils in the house, wait until puppy is somewhere else in the room and then clean up his mistake.  Continue with your housetraining routine as before.   

Cleaning up all of the mess keeps puppy from coming back to that spot later.  He is little, but he will learn.  

There is a wide variety of cleaners on the market now that will help clean up in no time, and also discourage puppy from going there again. 

If you are really houseproud, a puppy might not be the right pet for you, and an older dog or a cat might be a better option.  Toilet training takes time and effort on your part, so it is no good blaming the puppy if you are not training it right. 

A crate will also help with toilet training. Dogs are animals, and will never want to soil in their own house, so when you let them out, they will get a signal to go potty.  Now just make sure you get them out of your house too, and they will soon get the hang of it.  

Remember, puppies are always eager to please, so lavish praise on them, and a doggy treat or two, and you will have a well trained pet in no time. 

Being prepared is key when you have a new pet.  Be observant.  Watch for tell-tale signs that puppy is ready to go to the bathroom.  He may whine, scratch at the floor or the door, or wiggle.   

Don’t trust puppy to make it outside by himself.  If he starts to go in the house, scoot him outside quickly to the bathroom area so he can finish. 

Don’t blame the puppy if you are not fast enough off the mark. And don’t expect a pup or dog to hold it for hours.  How often do you go to the bathroom yourself each day? 

The same is true of adopting an adult dog. If you work long hours, make sure you arrange for a dog walker or doggie daycare. They hate being left alone, especially people-oriented breeds, and they detest soiling their own house.

Posted December 10, 2008 Comments(0)