Month: February 2014

Does having a pet make you healthier? It sounds like that could be the case. We recently surveyed members of our pet adoption community about how they perceive their health and the impact their pets have on it. Well, the results are in and guess what? By and large, most of the pet-owning respondents think they are in good health and all of the respondents say having a pet has had a positive impact on their overall health – yep, that’s 100% of the people who answered the survey! Check out the infographic below that our friends at ZocDoc whipped up and join in the discussion on Facebook.  Tell us, how does your pet contribute to your good health?

 

If you’d like to add this infographic to your own website, here’s our handy-dandy embed code:

<imgsrc=https://www.adoptapet.com/blog/uploads/2014/02/ZocDoc_adoptpet_Animation3.gif>

We’re pleased to announce a new program that makes supporting Adopt-a-Pet.com super easy. All you have to do is stock up on cool stuff for your pet at Pet360.com and they’ll donate $20 to Adopt-a-Pet.com for your first order! Pretty cool, right? So, head over to Pet360.com right now to find all of your pets’ favorites and to discover what’s new. Your pets will love their new goodies and you’ll feel good knowing your purchase is helping homeless pets and your pets.

There’s nothing your dog likes more than spending time with you. Pair that with your dog’s need for exercise, since our pets can be overweight just like humans, and playtime is a great way to bond as well as keep you and your dog in shape. I enjoy taking long walks or jogging around the block or park with my hyper Boxer mix, but sometimes we like to switch things up and do something a little more creative. Here are a few options of different exercises you can do with your pet to stay in shape, and burn your pup’s energy.

Photo credit: sombraala

Play Fetch Games

Channel your dog’s natural energy for chasing things by playing a game of fetch. Whether you’re in your backyard or the local park, you can throw a ball or frisbee. While you’ll be working your arm muscles, your dog will be running around. Mix things up even more by running to another part of the yard with the frisbee before throwing it again for your pooch. Alternatively, if your dog is a breed that loves water, visit a local dog-friendly lake, where you can play fetch with your dog in the water.

 

Amp Up Your Exercise Routine

Do your usual exercise routine, but find ways to include your dog. For one, after you do a set of pushups, take a break and get Fido to do his own set of pushups by giving him the command to “lay down” and then “stand” repeatedly. Take turns until you’re on to your next exercise, such as squats. To do squats, grab one of his favorite toys and ask him to stand in front of you. When you squat, bring the toy down and gently tap him on his head. When you stand up again, lift the toy to get the dog to stand on his hind legs or jump. For smaller breeds, you can also toss the toy in the air as a way to encourage them to jump.

 

Do Doga

Yoga isn’t just for humans anymore. Some studios and instructors are now offering doga, which is yoga for you and your pooch. While a tad controversial, the people who participate love the experience because it’s both an exercise using the natural added weight of the dog, as well as a chance to bond. Massage can also be used, in addition to gentle stretching for both the dog and their owners. After all, isn’t the downward dog pose named after the way many dogs ask to play?

 

Enroll Your Pooch in Agility Training

Any kind of training is good mental stimulation for your dog, but agility training will have them exercising as well. As you and a trainer teach your dog to go through an obstacle course — including running up inclines, winding around poles and jumping over hurdles — you’ll both be getting a high energy workout. Once you have your dog trained on some of these obstacles, you can even create an obstacle course all your own in the backyard. Perhaps put orange cones out for your dog to run around, and used construction equipment toys for your dog to jump over.

 

In addition to agility training, there are other sports that you and your pooch can participate in too. Perhaps enroll your dog in a tracking or herding class. Flyball is also growing in popularity, as it combines obstacle courses with racing.

 

Find Dog-Friendly Events in Your Area

Many cities host events where they encourage you to bring your pets. In Georgia, they host a Run with the Dogs 5K; This event is not only great exercise but a wonderful way to socialize your dog too. Check and see if there are any similar events in your area. Another alternative is to join a local holiday parade and have your dog walk with you, whether he’s wearing a costume or not!

 

While your dog will always appreciate a walk around the block, there’s other ways to keep you — and him — motivated while staying fit. Sure some of these ideas, especially ones that involve training, may require a few treats to get him to do what you want, but the exercise he’ll get at the same time will surely outweigh the small amount of calories he’ll be eating.

 

Michelle Rebecca is an aspiring writer, blogger, and new mama to a 1-year-old boxer mix rescue. She has a passion for the Internet, and loves how it connects people across the globe. She loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.

What is a litter box? Do you need to train a cat to use one? What is the best kind of litter box? First-time cat owners usually have a lot of litterbox questions like these! Sometimes us cat experts forget that what to us is a simple innate-feeling understanding of cats and litter boxes is not always readily apparent to new cat adopters. I remember helping a friend adopt his first cat, he was so excited! He was a very smart person and had done lots of research about all aspects of cat care. About a week after he’d adopted his first cat, he was going to be away all day and asked me to check on his cat midday as he hadn’t left him that long before. When I went to be a good friend and do a “courtesy scoop” of his litterbox, which looked well-kept, I was surprised when the litter scoop only went into the litter about 1 inch… turns out, my well-meaning friend had somehow understood to only scooped the poop, and left the rest until the whole box was solid and then would dump it! Not exactly the healthiest or recommended litter cleaning method. So, with that in mind, here are the very basic litter box basics for all you first-time cat owners out there!

A litter box is a plastic box that a cat uses as a toilet. You fill it about half way with cat litter. There are fancy litter systems out there, but most people use a plastic rectangle box. Size, cleanliness, and location are key items for ensuring your cat continues to use his litter box. If you skimp, you may end up with a cat that prefers your laundry basket… or carpet!

1-2-3 litter box keys

1. The best size of litterbox is really big!

2. Litter boxes should be kept very clean: scoop out all feces and urine clumps at least once a day. Every two weeks, super clean: Dump and discard all the litter, sanitize the box with soap and hot water, and replace with brand new litter.

3. Location is critically important: We understand you may not want to look at it, but it is important that the litter box be easy to access. One on each floor. If you want to conceal the box, try putting it behind a screen, not in a dark closet or cabinet. If you do go the closet/cabinet route, make sure there are two large entrance/exits, and plenty of ventilation.

TRAINING

By the time a kitten is old enough to be adopted (>8 weeks old) they usually are already litter trained. You can ask the shelter or rescue if they are, if they’ve had them for more than 1 day they should know! Kittens learn by following mom, or their caretaker will have trained them. If you end up rescuing a super young kitten, you will need to prompt their dig & cover instinct a few times. Using baby kitten safe litter (like non-clumping plain clay litter, or even just plain sand or dirt) in a low-sided tray. Gently place the kitten in the sand, and either dig with your fingers next to them, or move their paws to dig. Repeat that a few times a day – usually that’s all it takes! Depending on the kitten’s age, it can take them some time to get the hang of it, so keep them on a surface (like tile covered with newspaper) that you can totally clean.

FIRST DAY

Newly adopted cats and kittens going in to a new home generally do best if they are at first confined in a smaller room, like a nice big bathroom or other hard-surface-floor room. Get the litterbox setup you open the crate door, and keep your cat in that starter room exclusively for the first day, until you’ve seen them use the box at least twice.

That’s it, you’re now a cat litter box expert – almost! You may also like our articles:

Cats agree: bigger litter is better and How To Fix Your Litterbox Problems.

Valentine’s Day is upon us and you remember what that means, don’t you? It’s time to show the world just how loving and wonderful adoptable shelter pets are! Join us on this Friday, February 14th for Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Second Annual Pooch Smooch and Kitty Kiss. Here’s how you can join: Pull out your camera phone and snap a photo or two (or ten!) of your adopted pet in the midst of doing what she does best – showing you love and affection! Post your favorite Pooch Smooch and Kitty Kiss photos to Adopt-a-Pet.com’s Facebook page on Friday, February 14th and be a part of the kiss felt around the world. You can also share those photos all over the social web with the hash tags #PoochSmooch and #KittyKiss. Be sure to tag @AdoptaPetcom! Let’s show potential pet adopters what they’re missing and why they should adopt!

Today’s Happy Beginnings story with it’s snowy photos will make you smile and see how much fun winter can be for a newly adopted dog! Nothing warms us like a sunny day than a story of how Adopt-a-Pet.com helped a homeless pet find a new loving home. (We’d love to hear yours too, and would be happy to consider it for a future blog post too! Send your Happy Beginnings story to info@cms.adoptapet.com with a photo or two.)  This week’s story is from Dennis and Pam. They write, “Here are a few pictures of Bernie who we adopted from Eye on the Sparrow, after you alerted us that he was available.  We have been without a dog for about 3 years after our Peke died . She was 16 years old and we had adopted her when she was 5 wks old.  Bernie is just a love.  He is learning trust and love everyday and is generous with his love.  Thank you for all you do we are so lucky that he is a member of our family.  He will get all the love and care that we can give him.”

Coming home

Snow Dog

Resting after a hard day of play

Our Faux St. Bernard loves the snow

One of the concerns we hear the most often from people looking to adopt from a shelter or rescue is: “How do you know what you’re getting when you adopt a pet?”  The truth is, no matter where you get a pet from, there is always an element of uncertainty. Pets aren’t cars with standard features that can be guaranteed to be found in every model — even within purebred pets from the same litter, personalities can make a big difference in each of those sibling pets! Of course, most people don’t want to adopt a total unknown. But not to worry, adopting a pet is nothing like agreeing to marry a blind date! Shelter and rescue volunteers and staff who are professional adoption counselors, and pet trainers and behaviorists can get to know a pet very quickly in a shelter or foster home, and can tell you a lot about the pet you’re interested in adopting. Below are some examples what you can look for to know more about what you’re getting when you adopt a pet.

– FRIENDLY? You can tell if a pet is friendly with you and other people he/she meets. Even if you can’t take a pet out of his/her cage, you can spend time in front of the cage watching how they interact with people and any other pets that may pass by. In rescues, many pets are in foster homes, where they will know a lot about the pet’s personality. Some shelters do behavior testing which can reveal a lot about a pet’s friendliness towards people too.

– GOOD WITH KIDS? Many rescues have pets in foster homes with children. This is a great way to know if the pet will be good with kids! Even in a shelter, if you are an experienced pet owner and are able to have your kids interact with the pet in a play yard or meeting room,  especially if you can have a professional trainer/behaviorist come with you for an expert opinion, you can get a good idea of how the pet interacts with your kids.

– GOOD WITH OTHER PETS? This can be a bit more of challenge, as chemistry between individual pets varies greatly. If the pet is in a foster home with other pets, that’s one great way to get a good indication. Some shelters let or even require dogs be introduced, and more and more have community cat rooms where cat-friendly cats get to live together freely, which means they are more likely to get along with your cat too.

– HEALTHY? You can see if a pet appears to be healthy right now. The most common (and usually easily treatable) illnesses have easy-to-recognize symptoms like goopy eyes, sneezing, or coughing. In addition, many shelters give pets a basic health check exam and vaccinations. Many rescues get extensive vet work done too. You can’t possibly know if a pet will stay healthy, no matter if you adopt the pet from a shelter, buy them from a pet store or breeder.

– ENERGY LEVEL? If you are looking at baby pets like puppies and kittens, you won’t know what their energy level will be like as an adult. In a shelter setting, this can be a little hard to know at first glance. The longer you can spend with a pet, the better you’ll get a chance to see their energy level. Dogs especially can be frantic or depressed in a kennel, so if you can take them out for a long walk, you’ll get a more realistic energy level assessment.

– ALREADY TRAINED? One of the great things about adopting an adult pet is there is a good chance they are already trained! If you can’t take the pet out of their cage at the shelter, you can see if a dog responds to the most universal command “sit”, and cats you can see if they are litter box trained. If you can take the dog out for a walk, you’ll know within 10 minutes if they are leash trained and what other manners they have been taught, like not to jump up or mouth you. If you are looking for an already-trained dog, if they already know sit, walk well on leash, and are polite, chances are they have been trained already in other areas too.

– HOUSEBROKEN? Many potential dog owners want a pet that is already housebroken. While housebreaking a dog is usually one of the easiest things you can train a pet to do, some people know that their busy schedules will make it hard for them to take a pet out on a regular schedule and want a pet that is too big to pee-pad train. Fostered dogs will likely be known to be housebroken or not, and owner-surrendered dogs at shelters may have that information too.

– PUREBRED? Shelters offer a huge range of animals to select from including both mixed and purebreds. Studies show about 20% of dogs and cats who end up in shelters or with rescue groups are purebred. That means millions of purebred pets are available for adoption each year!

So you see, you can know (most of) what you’re getting when you adopt a pet!

How deep does your love for your pets run? St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, but we’d like to adopt Saint Valentine for all the pet lovers out there too! February 14th may be the official day to send valentines and gifts to your loved ones, but you know how some people celebrate their birthday all month long? We like to celebrate our love for our pets all year long! Let’s declare the the entire month of February the Love Your Pets with All Your Heart month, shall we? They might not appreciate a greeting card, but how about some heart shaped treats, or just a big daily hug or extra few minutes of snuggling or belly rubbing this month? Share your love of pets and pet adoption by sharing this graphic, and happy pet Valentine’s month to you and your furry loved ones too!

One of the great mysteries of life – why do cats love catnip? I am being a bit silly, of course, but so are most cats on catnip! In the photo you’ll see one of my  foster kittens who happily jumped up on to the table to help me get an appropriate image to go along with this article. He’s just 6 months old but already he’s quite the catnip affectionado! He and his brother have loved catnip since I got them a couple of months ago, but sometimes kittens aren’t interested until they are older. They will even bat around the tin that it’s stored in to keep it safe from their curious paws! Other foster kittens and cats I’ve cared for have ranged from totally disinterested in cat nip, to one who got so wild from the “catnip crazies” even from just an old catnip-stuffed toy that he would first attack the toy, then try to attack anything else that moved near by! (He was put on a permanent nip hiatus.) In my experience, most cats either get slightly more playful then take a nap – or go right to the nap! Some like to eat the leaves, some roll around in it, and some do both.  So what is it about catnip that affects cats behavior?

Catnip is simply a dried herb. You can grow catnip yourself from seeds, purchase a potted plant version of it, or buy it already dried. The dried form comes in three primary forms: either still on the stem in dried clumped-together buds, loose whole leaves, or loose crushed leaves. The fresh live catnip plant doesn’t seem to have any affect on cats. It’s only after it’s been dried that the smell of it starts to have an effect on felines. I’ve read that it a natural chemical within the catnip, called nepetalactone, that is what they are reacting to. Because they often eat it and the certainly are smelling it, I prefer organic catnip, which is usually readily available in most retail outlets.

Can cats overdose on catnip? Technically, a cat could eat too much catnip, just like they could eat or drink too much of anything, and get sick from it. I’ve read could more easily happen if you have a cat that likes to eat fresh catnip. My vet says catnip overdose would be really rare – especially with the dried versions, cats will self-regulate – its not like a can of cat food where they will eat the whole thing! To be safe, you can give your cat a pinch or two once a day. It is not harmful to their health, and I think the amusement and stress relief they get from playing or napping adds some nice variety to their kitty lives.