You think you are fond of footing it and enjoying the great outdoors, but it’s equally likely that your four-legged furry friend enjoys the clean, crisp outside air too where he gets a chance to avail your company as well as tour the neighborhood, visit the dog park near your home and scamper about with more of his kind! Yes, here’s where you can explore the outdoor terrain with your pet in tow and have him commune with nature as excitedly as you do. The joy of meeting up with old and new buddies is not restricted to humans alone and your doggy too can benefit from an outdoor trip – even a vacation to a national park, if you let him trail around with his own knapsack to share the load!

When dogs were first domesticated, the dog backpack came into prevalence so is an ages-old idea, but has long-since been stylized from the basic kind, which served to help human-kind carry their load, (groceries or camping gear and the like) but on the back on the doggy pal. A dog backpack is thus not an invention of the modern times but an old-recycled idea that has more takers today with its hipper, cooler designs and variations for taking pets along on hiking and camping trips, proving a worthy addition to fundamental outdoor equipment.

A few tips to keep in mind before buying your dog backpack are given below: ensure your furry friend keeps good health as only medically fit and healthy dogs should be allowed to help carry loads on outdoor outings. You may also want to wait till your dog is fully grown and have him undergo a fitness level test to ensure his being healthy before allowing him to carry up to one quarter of his body weight in the dog backpack. (The dog backpack load can be ascertained for bigger dogs as a load equaling 15 or 20 pounds).

Also ensure the chosen dog backpack has a good grip on your dog because as a human who has had a chance to carry a backpack before, you’d be a good judge of how off-putting and uncomfortable an ill-fitting backpack can be; so check straps and loops etc. for a good fit. Check to see that the dog backpack fits securely around your pet’s body, leaving enough space for you to slide in a finger between the strap and Fido’s body. Instruct your dog to lie down, stand and sit so you can check the fitting of the dog backpack when he’s in varied positions and can tell if the product is any good.

Some dogs take longer to get accustomed to carrying a dog backpack, but consistent and regular training to keep it on while relating the wearing of the dog backpack with enjoyable activities can go a long way in adapting the pet to wearing one. Training should be imparted for wearing the dog backpack in a happy tone; placing a towel/blanket or on the dog’s back to begin with (to help him adjust to the idea of carrying some weight) and then allowing for the dog to wear an empty backpack are smart and easy ways to begin. Add on small, light-weight water-bottles to the dog backpack and slowly lead your pet to wearing a full load!

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Thousands of pet owners who will be traveling this holiday season will be boarding their pets at vet’s offices and boarding kennels. But with so much traffic going in and out of these kennels, the chance of your dog catching kennel cough greatly increases.

Kennel cough, or Tracheobronchitis, is caused by a highly contagious airborne virus, and is a type of upper respiratory infection in dogs. The symptoms are dry, hacking cough that may sound as if the dog has a bone caught in his throat. Even though kennel cough is rarely deadly, it can be very expensive for your vet to treat.

If you are boarding your dog this holiday season, there are a few tips you could use that could keep man’s best friend from coming home with kennel cough.

- Make sure the kennel has an effective, daily clean-up process and follows a strict schedule of disinfecting with the proper chemicals.

- Make sure the kennel provides clean, individual water and feeding bowls for each animal.

- Make sure the kennel requires the proper immunization requirements to help prevent from other dogs infecting your dog.

- Make sure that the kennel has proper climate control and that the animals are protected from all elements. Cold temperatures can increase the chances of your dog contracting kennel cough.

- Clean all your pet’s toys, bedding, and other supplies that you supply both before and after boarding.

- Check to see if the kennel or boarding facility is a member of the American Boarding Kennels Association.

Another way to ensure that your dog will not suffer from kennel cough is to treat them with K-9 Cough (www.k9cough.com) after returning from the kennel. K-9 Cough is a potent and successful treatment for your pet’s kennel cough. K-9 Cough uses the very best ingredients to ensure that your dog has first-rate treatment to guarantee a complete and quick recovery from kennel cough.

K-9 Cough is safe, effective, and easy to administer. K-9 Cough works for all breeds and all sizes of dogs. Since the symptoms of kennel cough do not appear for 3 – 5 days after exposure, by treating your dog immediately after returning from the boarding facility will ensure that your furry best friend will never have to suffer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Copyright (c) 2007 Jennifer Koretsky

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching! While you’re busy decorating and preparing your home for guests, here are a few important tips to keep your dog safe this season.

The Christmas Tree

Tinsel, small ornaments, and ornament hooks are major choking hazards for dogs. It’s best to avoid tinsel altogether and keep small ornaments high on the tree, out of the dog’s reach. Also, make sure there are no stray ornament hooks on the floor!

If your family has a real tree (as opposed to an artificial tree), it’s best to block off the area around the tree with a screen or gate. Many dogs become ill from drinking tree water and ingesting pine needles. Vacuum the area around the tree regularly.

Holiday Guests

It’s exciting to have family and friends over during the holidayseven for your dog! But there are certain precautions you should take when having company over.

Dogs can easily slip out the door when people are continuously going in and out. Make sure your dog is wearing an identification tag with your phone number, even if he is micro-chipped. Not everyone who finds a lost dog knows to have him checked for a micro-chip.

Your guests may adore your dog, but don’t let them give your dog any food without asking. Children especially may want to give the dog a treat hand them a safe treat and supervise while they give it to the dog. Under no circumstances should your dog be given turkey or chicken bones. They are too small and are a serious choking hazard. As an alternative, buy a marrow bone at the grocery store as a special holiday treat.

Why You Shouldn’t Give Dogs as Gifts

Bringing a new dog into the family is a wonderful thing, especially if you adopt a dog from a shelter. However, giving a dog as a Christmas gift is never a good idea. Regardless of whether the dog is a puppy or an adult, his first few days in your home should be all about him. The holidays, for most families, are too chaotic and busy for a dog to get used to his new environment, and he may become anxious or frightened.

A great idea for families who want to give their children a dog for Christmas is to gift wrap a dog bone. When the child opens it, tell them it’s for the new dog that you’ll be getting in a few weeks. Or you can leave a note from Santa explaining that he didn’t have enough room on his sleigh and will be coming back with the dog. Animal shelters are flooded every January with dogs who were given as Christmas gifts so January is a great time to adopt a dog who needs a home.

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to have your vet’s phone number posted in a visible spot. Your vet’s office should have someone answering the phone 24/7.

The most important thing to remember, amidst all the chaos of the holidays, is to always know where your dog is and what he’s up to. That way everyone in your home, including the four-legged family members, can have a Merry Christmas.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Remember the old Halloween day? When adults escort their children door to door with the children dressed up in cute, scary and funny costumes. Halloween is no longer limited to small children with big imaginations. Even their furry friends (dogs) can also dress up for Halloween.

The demand for Halloween dog clothes has grown in the past number of years. Some families like to have their dog with them while trick-or-treating for security purposes; how about dressing your buddy up for Halloween and allow him to have fun too. Some dogs like getting dressed up and the attention they get. However, those which are not party animals may become stressed. Nothing to worry about it, here are some tips that may get your best friend in the mood.

First of all it’s not needed to wait until Halloween day. Start a couple of weeks before to get the dog clothes for your pet. Allow your dog sniff around the costume, lay it over him for a minute, praise him and give him a treat. Do this several times. Every day follow this procedure, leaving the costume on longer each time. Then loosely put the costume on your doggy and repeat what you have done in the instructions above. A minute at first and then gradually take longer increments. Accompany this with many of treats and much praise. If your dog gets nervous and agitated, and does not liking the costume idea, forget it. Get an alternative dog cloth that your buddy feels comfortable with.

For you dog to feel comfortable with the costume that you select, some important factors should be noted. The correct fit is important. The dog clothes should not be too tight or constricting. Remember that the dog clothes should not cause overheating. The costume should be checked for things that may be poisonous or that may choke your doggy. Your dog needs the most care when it wears a costume. A dog should not at any time be left unattended when wearing a costume.

Now, where will you get dog clothes that perfectly fit your pooch? Buying dog clothes is much easier than ever before. The introduction of online websites makes dog cloth shopping a breeze. If you are confused with the wide variety of dog clothes that’s available in the market today, you can also seek expert’s advice in these websites. So what are you waiting for? Get your pooch some clothes and let’s have a safe and happy Halloween.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com