My two cats are always rubbing up against my legs. Sometimes they will even trip me. One time, I was getting ready for work and my older cat kept rubbing against my legs and as I was rushing to get out the door. I tripped and fell flat on the floor. Why do our little friends do this? It’s because cats have scent glands along their tail and on the side of their heads.  They even have them on each side of their head, on their lips, base of their tail, chin, near their sex organs, and between their front paws. The reason why they’re rubbing up against you is to mark their territory. They are claiming you as “theirs.” They’re marking you with their scent and picking up your scent as well.  Cats rub up against furniture, doorways and other objects for the same reason. You could say that it’s sort of an act of affection so don’t take offense when she rubs on you. Just make sure that you brush off her hair from those pants that you just had dry cleaned.

Remember, your pets count!

Meals that are eaten by a wild cat contain very few carbohydrates, less than 5% of the total calories consumed. That carbohydrate combination works because the cat is able to convert protein into fuel for energy.  However, a  house cat can use utilize carbs as a fuel source as well, especially if they break down easily and are easy to digest. Cereal grains such as rice, corn and wheat are some of the most highly digestible carbohydrates which is why they are one of the main ingredients in commercial cat food.  They are relatively cheap, especially when compared to higher cost proteins.  It’s thanks to the carbs in your cats diet that she get sufficient energy and you can keep her well fed without spending a fortune. Always look for the amount of protein and carbs in any new cat food that you may try.

Remember, your pets count!

Long haired dogs can be very high maintenance when it comes to grooming. If you have a short haired dog, it will need much less time and attention but to keep his skin and hair in good condition, you should groom him at least once a week. Start with a rubber brush to get dead skin , loosened hair and dirt off.  Then brush against the hair to look for fleas and ticks.  Follow up with a natural bristle brush to distribute his natural oils throughout his coat.  Then use a shammy cloth to shine him up. Now you’re done!  Now you may want to take a minute to check his ears, look inside his mouth, rub his paws and look for anything that seems unusual. When you check him out, he’ll feel like he’s getting a mini massage.

Remember, your pets count!

Would you want to live with a guiding eye stud or brood dog and be part of an important part of guide dog development? You may have the right stuff to be a foster volunteer.  First, you should live fairly close to Paterson, New York so you can take your dog to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Development Center for breeding and health care related visits. You’ll also be asked to walk your breed dog three miles a day. Make sure that you keep it on a leash at all times when outdoors. Give it a loving home and agree to be trained in dog handling, care and obedience. The upside of all of your efforts is that when the dog is retired from all of its brood or stud duties, you can adopt it and give this wonderful animal a great home.

Remember, your pets count!

A future seeing eye dog spends 18 months to  two years of it’s life with a puppy raiser. He teaches the pup basic obedience. Following this period, he’s introduced to a certified trainer. The trainer first reviews the dogs basic skills, then goes on to teach the three important commands a seeing eye dog must know.

• forward
• left
• right

In the formal training phase, the dog learns other important skills such as how to manage curbs, how to maneuver around objects and how to deal with street noise and traffic. Once he’s master these skills, the dog is paired up with someone who’s blind. With the help of the trainer, the seeing eye dog and his new blind friend learn to navigate the world together.

Remember, your pets count!

Does your small dog “rule the roost?”  Does she jump up on you when you come home from work, bite at your sleeves, snap at you when you try to trim her nails?  Does she bark and growl at strangers? Your pet thinks she’s in charge. Your cute little dog thinks that she’s the boss. Dog owners often let small dogs get away with things that they would never tolerate in a large dog. They let them sleep in their beds, beg for treats, jump into their laps and more. You should refuse to tolerate her bad behavior.  Be calm, but insist on good manners, be patient and consistent and watch that small dog syndrome disappear.

Remember, your pets count!

A dog park should be an open, neutral territory where your dog can play and run around off of his leash. He can get lots of exercise and play with other dogs that are well behaved.  For your best friend, it’s a change of pace and a welcome change of scene. In order for this to work, owners need to follow park rules and keep a close eye on their pets. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. In the worst case scenario, owners bring dogs that are not well socialized nor well behaved and then they’ll leave them unsupervised. Fights can break out and dogs can get badly hurt. A dog park can be a positive experience for you and your dog if the people who used them had everyone’s best interest at heart.

Remember, your pets count!

Walking is “hard wired” into a dog’s brain.  When dogs were in the wild, they walked to form a pack, hunted for food and followed the decisions of the pack leader.  The top dog is called the alpha dog, it takes charge and leads the way.  By following a similar ritual with your dog, you can establish and maintain your position as the leader of your small pack.  In order to accomplish this effectively, you have to assert yourself as a calm leader and ask your dog to follow.  You must also keep him safe at all times, in order to maintain his trust. By taking daily walks with your dog, you’ll stimulate his natural instinct to get out side and get moving. You’ll also make him go safe and secure and form a strong and loving bond as well as  provide, good, healthy exercise.

Remember, your pets count!

When choosing a doggie day care, take as much time and care as you would if you were choosing a day care center for your child.  Call and ask questions like “what services does the daycare provide.”  How much do they cost? Is there a certified dog trainer on hand at all times?  What kind of training do staff members have?  Your dog will be screened for behavior so be sure and ask about that process. Find out about the staff to dog ratio.  There should be no more than 10 to 15 dogs for each staff member.  How many people are on duty? In case of an emergency, there should be at least two at all times. Make sure that you pay the a visit before you sign up.  Is the facility clean? Do the dogs have ample room to play?  If you do the research ahead of time you’ll find the right daycare for your dog and also avoid lots of problems.

Remember, your pets count!

Does your cat appear to be a little grumpy lately? You could be causing your cats behavior. Your cats body language could be telling you that something is upsetting him. One pet peeve of cats is dirty kitty litter.  Does his letter smell like a portable toilet?  Cats hate dirty, stinky litter boxes.  They may even be driven to seek a substitute toilet.  It could be the carpet or even your bed!  The solution, make sure that you keep your kitty’s litter clean. Scoop every day and change the entire litter once a week. I’m sure that your cat will appreciate you for it!

Remember, your pets count!