PetLvr.com - [The Blog]

Okay, we all know that you can donate a bag of dog food or a cat carrier to the animal shelter, or that you can volunteer or foster, right? But the truth is, shelters can put a variety of items to good use, many of which have nothing to do directly with pets. I’m willing to bet you even have at least one item on this list lying around the house unused.

1. Blankets and Bedding:

If you’ve got an old sheet set from a mattress given away years ago, extra receiving blankets from your nephew’s arrival, or the puke green afghan Aunt Sally gave you for your wedding gathering dust, you’ve got a perfect donation for your favorite animal shelter. Concrete floors are no fun to sleep on, so shelters collect pet beds and blankets for the animals. Baby receiving blankets are perfect for most shelters’ cat cages. Larger blankets will be put in dogs’ runs, where they can sleep on them or play with them, providing enrichment as well as comfort. Crowded municipal shelters are particularly in need of bedding, because most pets won’t have a bed or toys unless some are donated.
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This fall make sure to check out the various pet shows that will be happening in the U.S. and Canada. Not only will your pets appreciate a snout full of fresh air, they will enjoy being a part of the pack.

The 250^th Halifax Kennel Club Dog Show will be held at Exhibition Park in Halifax from Aug. 30 to Sept. 1. The show will include obedience trials and drill team performances. Also pet supply vendors will be there so you can stock up on of your doggy needs.

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Dear PetLvr Mailbag ..

My dog lifts his leg to pee, then poops instead. This may seem like a silly question, but it causes poop to stick to the hair on his hind legs. Yuck!

–Grossed Out

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Spinal degeneration, disc disease and herniated discs are no longer preventing pets from having the ability to walk thanks to Eddie’s Wheels for Pets in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. When pets become disabled, they lose a quality of life just as humans do when they become disabled, and when surgery doesn’t work or isn’t an option, a custom wheelchair is the next best thing.

A Doberman named Buddha who had spinal degeneration and disc disease was the inspiration for Eddie’s Wheels for Pets. Ten-year-old Buddha took to his wheelchair quickly and even waded in the river with it on. Now that Buddha happily lived out his life, a Dachshund named Daisy is now the company’s mascot. She has five wheelchairs including one in pink.

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When you think about it, pet sports are similar to the sports held at the Olympics. For instance, flyball for dogs is like hurdling for the Olympians and freestyle for dogs can be likened to gymnastics. If Olympians can do it, so can their pets. So who are the pets behind the Olympians?

Petside has interviewed various Olympians and compiled profiles of their furry friends who act as road companions, trainers and playmates.

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The poised and behaved 2,347 dogs (153 breeds) at this year’s Canfield Dog Show prepared to be honored with Best In Show this past weekend. Vendors around the rings provided everything a dog owner could ever need: reflective dog coats, purple pooper scoopers, feathered hand fans, metal brushes, leather leashes and gourmet treats. Dogs could even get a massage or reiki treatment while they waited for their show time.

It was quite a spectacle. Pet owners meticulously spritzed water on their dogs and teased their hair like professional hairstylists. I must admit that I felt a little inferior walking into a building full of black and white standard poodles that had attitudes to match their bouffant hairstyles.

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You’ve undoubtedly noticed that your dog is much smaller than a horse. (Well, most are anyway.) Nevertheless, most horses are much more frightened of dogs than the reverse. That creates unique problems - for dog, horse and the person who has to govern both.

In this case, unlike other animal training areas, it helps very little to start the interaction out when both animals are young. Young horses are at least as skittish as older ones, and are often accompanied by a mare. Neither is naturally fond of nor curious about puppies. To a horse, nearly everything but their owners and a few other horses are threats - at least until they’re mature.

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Gas, food and living expenses have increased significantly — so much so that some people are unable to pay their mortgage and are now facing foreclosure. What makes the situation even more heartbreaking is the fact that some people cannot afford to take care of their pets or even take their pets with them to their new home. Moving from a house to an apartment is an adjustment and not all apartment complexes welcome pets. It’s estimated that an approximate 1.4 million additional homeowners will experience foreclosure during 2008. While this is a difficult position for homeowners to be in, there are ways to reduce the stress on the family pet.

Making The Transition

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We talked recently about bad dog breeders, and an owner’s recourse in case of receiving an unhealthy puppy. To balance things out a little bit, I’d like to discuss today a class of people who truly make the dog world go ’round: The elusive Responsive, Reputable Breeder. We’ve talked about RRBs in relation to small animals before; now, let’s talk dogs.

5 Traits of a Good Dog Breeder

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Dear Jelena …

Is it ok for a dog to growl when they have their bone in their dog bed and a child approaches in a manner that the dog views as possible attempt to take the bone away?

What is appropriate behavior by a dog to warn a child that the child is pushing boundaries?

Signed,
Emrld

 
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