Owning a dog is expensive and you probably don’t want to spend another $20 on a dog toy that will only be ripped up hours later.
It’s likely that you have some common items lying around the house that you can make a dog toy out of.
Be creative! Look for items that can store treats, items that make noise or items that give your dog a bit of a challenge.
More DIY Dog Toys
#1 Sock Kong
Don’t have a Kong? No problem! Make one out of a clean sock, some of your dog’s favourite treats and a few elastics. Take a clean sock and stuff some treats inside. Then roll the sock up and wrap elastics around it, your dog will work to break the sock and get the goods! Sure, it’s not as durable, but it’s a quick fix to keep a pup entertained.
#2 Container Kong
You can also hide treats in containers, such as a clean butter container. Your dog will be able to smell the treats, but won’t be able to get to them easily. This fun game will have him entertained for quite some time!
#3 Sock Bottle
Another quick toy you can make with a sock includes a water bottle. Stuff an empty water bottle inside a large, clean sock. Tie the end of the sock and give it to your dog. He will love the sound of chewing through the sock to an empty bottle (kind of like a squeaky toy!).
#4 Tug of War T-Shirt
You can make a super quick tug of war toy by tying an old t-shirt into a knot. Grab one end and have your pup bite the other!
5 #Pupscile
Your kids aren’t the only ones who enjoy a nice cold popsicle on a hot summer day! You can freeze dog treats inside an ice cube tray full of water. Some dogs already enjoy chewing on ice and will love this treat even more. Other dogs will have a fun time trying to get to the prize!
Buying a dog can be a risk: Are you supporting a knowledgeable breeder, or are you supporting an abusive puppy mill?
Many times people choose to purchase dogs online on websites such as Craigslist. Here you can find the puppies for cheap, so it looks like a great deal. And the puppy you bring home might be great, too. But without knowing it, you could be supporting the breeding of puppies by abusive owners.
What are Puppy Mills?
Puppy mills are a place where puppies are overbred in inhumane conditions. To breeders, profit is more important than dogs and their tiny puppies. In this way, dogs are viewed as products and not living animals. Puppy mills can be overcrowded and unsanitary with a lack of care, food and water.
Good breeders know that puppies need to be kept with their mother for a certain amount of time after birth. For breeders, more puppies equal more profits. For this reason, they will sell puppies as young as six weeks to make room for new puppies. Because they leave their mother so young, many of these dogs will grow up with anxiety issues.
These puppies are then sold (often for cheap prices) on websites, such as Craigslist, in newspaper ads and even in pet stores. It’s estimated that 90% of pet store puppies come from puppy mills. Since retailers can get puppies at wholesale prices from breeders, this is, unfortunately, a popular option.
Female breeding dogs are given little, if any, recovery time in between litters.
When female breeding dogs can no longer breed, they no longer have a purpose to the puppy mill breeder and are often then killed.
Issues with Puppies Bred at Puppy Mills
As mentioned above, it’s extremely common for puppy mill puppies to show signs of anxiety. Often a puppy will be afraid of loud noises or when someone raises their hand. This is a sign that the puppy has been abused before he became part of your family. Puppies can suffer from health issues such as infections, scabs, fleas, puss-filled eyes and dirty fur and other injuries.
It’s also likely that they will have behavioral issues and a trouble during obedience training. This may stem from separation anxiety. A key sign of this is if your dog poops in the house every time you leave, even though you let him out right before. It’s likely that these dogs bark excessively and are destructive.
Since puppies bred in puppy mills do not get adequate socialization, they may not have the skills necessary to be good companions who play well with other dogs and children.
What You Can Do
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that there could be around 10,000 puppy mills in the United States. But, since breeders operate without oversight, it is impossible to know. For this reason, the ASPCA encourages those looking for a puppy to consider adoption as a first option.
“Pet adoption is a rewarding experience both for the adopter and for the pet. We encourage anyone seeking a new pet to consider adoption,” says Sara Kent, Director of Shelter Outreach at PetFinder, an online dog adoption website.
On PetFinder.com, shelters post ads for their dogs and those looking to adopt are invited to apply. Potentials owners are screened and adoption fees vary per shelter. Many of the pets on the website have already been spayed and neutered and are up to date on vaccinations, which cut costs for future owners.
How to Distinguish a Reputable Breeder
If you want a specific dog breed, purchasing may be your only option. There are a few tips you can follow to know that you’re buying from a reputable breeder:
Reputable breeders will likely ask many questions to understand if you’re the right fit for that breed. They care about their dogs, so they don’t want the puppies to go to just any home, they want them to go to the right home.
Since reputable breeders give the female breeding dogs recovery time between each litter, they won’t have dogs ready each week or each month. They won’t operate like a factory. It’s likely that you’ll have to be put on a waiting list.
Reputable breeders don’t have anything to hide, so they will be okay if you look around their facility. Ask if you can visit and check out the conditions of the dogs. Puppy mill breeders will often give excuses and will not allow you to see the dogs.
Reputable breeders will not sell their puppy at 6 weeks old. Unlike puppy mills, they understand that puppies need to stay in their mother’s care.
Since reputable breeders make a career out of breeding a specific breed, they will likely know a lot of information about that breed. Ask them questions about their dogs and about proper care. If they seem enthusiastic to provide even more information then you asked for, it’s likely they’re reputable.
In the video above, a man goes into a lake and holds his breath underwater for an extended period of time. Noticing this, his dog not only jumps in, but pulls him out with his owner’s hand in the dog’s mouth.
We think this is a brilliant thing to train your dog. It could save lives.
The number one thing to do with your dog is to take walks or take him to the park; he loves it! But what do you do on rainy days? Your pooch will get bored sitting inside all day, but you don’t want to let him out. Cleaning up muddy paw prints and your dog shaking off the rain or rubbing against the sofa to dry himself isn’t exactly ideal. Here are some ideas to excite your pup on a rainy day:
Treat-Dispensing Toys
The good ol’ Kong always comes in handy when your dog is bored and needs a little excitement! Simply stuff some healthy treats inside and let your dog work to get them out. If you don’t have a Kong, you can make a simple DIY one. Take a clean sock and stuff some treats inside. Then roll the sock up and wrap elastics around it, your dog will work to break the sock and get the goods! Sure, it’s not as durable, but it’s a quick fix to keep a pup entertained for a bit.
Teach a new Trick
Whether you have a new pup and he’s just learning how to sit on command, or whether you have an older dog, a rainy day is the perfect time to teach your dog new tricks. Remember, your dog not only needs physical exercise, but mental exercise too! Our suggestion? Purchase a cheap and quick online dog trick course, and attempt to teach your dog!
Play Date
It’s not just your pup that will be bored on a rainy day, it’s every dog in your neighbourhood! Call up a friend or a neighbor and get them to bring over their pooch. Make sure to have some fun toys ready!
Tug of War
Maybe your house or apartment isn’t big enough to play fetch, but there are sure some other games that you can still play indoors. One of the best options is to play tug of war. Your dog will love that he’s getting playtime even when it’s raining outside!
Cuddle
There’s no better time to curl up on the sofa and watch a great movie than a rainy day. Grab your favorite blanket and snuggle on the sofa with your pup. If he’s not allowed on furniture, maybe make an exception just this one day! You could always use some good ol’ puppy loving!
Hide & Seek
This game works particularly well if your dog knows the “sit and stay” trick. Tell your dog to sit and stay and then venture off to find a great hiding spot. When you’ve found one, call your dog’s name. He will go crazy trying to find out why he can hear, but not see you! If it takes him a bit and he starts barking, keep calling his name so he can follow your voice.
“A lovely lady came into our store today and stood near our adoptable kitten Mama. When I asked how I could help, she said she was just looking and then proceeded to tell me of the heartache she is going through.
She was able to grab her family and her dogs but was forced to leave her cats. She is very worried about their wellbeing and unsure if they are OK. I told her that she was welcome to hold Mama. With tears rolling down her cheeks she gave her a good snuggle and I let her know she is welcome to come by anytime to see Mama again. She left with lighter spirits. It is amazing how a little cuddle from an animal can change your feelings. Even more amazing to witness.”
-Alicia, Pet Valu St. Albert
The raging wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta has destroyed many houses and has left many pets stranded. To aid the people and pets affected by the fire Pet Valu immediately donated $100,000. Now, franchisees, stores and customers have topped that amount, bringing the total donation to over $200,000.
According to the company’s press release, 100% of donations collected in store are being donated to the Red Cross and the SPCA. Pet Valu’s Alberta teams have been mobilizing trucks of food to help families and pets of all kinds in need.
“Pet Valu has been working to get product donations where they are needed the most. The company has transported pet food, treats, and crates, litter, toys and other accessories to where they are needed,” says Tom McNeely, CEO.
Over half of people internationally have at least one pet, according to a recent study conducted by GfK.
WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE THE MOST PETS?
11111????Owning a pet is most popular in Argentina and Mexico, with 80% owning at least one
11111????70% of Americans own a pet
11111????People living in Asian countries were the least likely to have a pet. In South Korea, only 31% had a pet companion.
11111????That percentage rose to 35% in Hong Kong and 36% in Japan.
“Although the Asian countries come lower in this list, these countries comprise a significant and growing share of the global pet market. This is due to the overall size and growth rate of their human population,” said Pushan Tagore, vice president of pet care research at GfK.
WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE THE MOST DOGS?
11111????A third of the online population has dogs
11111????Dogs are the most popular in Argentina (66% of people are dog owners)
11111????64% of people in Mexico are dog owners
11111????58% of people in Brazil are dog owners
11111????Russians purrrfurr cats, with only 29% having a dog
11111????In the US, dog owners outnumber cat owners, with 50% owning a pooch
DO WOMEN OR MEN HAVE THE MOST PETS?
11111????Women have slightly more cats and dogs living with them (34% VS. 32% for dogs and 25% VS. 22% for cats)
11111????Men are more likely to own a pet fish (14% VS. 11%)
The online survey questioned over 27,000 people in 22 countries
Every now and then we love to feature YOUR dogs on our blog. Dogs are special and they need a little recognition and praise. This week we’re featuring three of the cutest doggies sent in by our readers.
Want your cute dog photos featured? Tweet, message or email us. Make sure to share a few details about what makes your dog cool!
Buster
Cathy sent in a picture of her animal companion Buster. He looks very worn out and is taking a nice long nap (probably to recover from his intense day at the dog park!). The animal lover also has 5 other pooches!
Cosita
Monica’s 2-year-old pup is pictured here jumping up on the table. Little Cosita is probably trying to get a sip of the delicious drink before her.
Pipi
Kim’s little pup Pipi loves staring outdoors and getting a little bit of sunshine!
Summertime is approaching; some would say it’s already here! While you’re getting ready to take your pup out on a fun adventure to the park, you should consider the risks and safety precautions you should take.
Nationwide, a company who provides pet insurance, released the most common pet injuries that occur in parks. Last year, members spent over $10 million on medical conditions associated with park time play.
Here are the most common injuries and the costs associated with them:
The most common injury, soft tissue injuries or sprains, affected about 24,000 insured dogs last year. Head trauma from crashing into objects or other dogs while playing was the most expensive medical condition.
Nationwide has released these tips to make sure your dog’s park play time is safe:
11111????Obey all posted rules and regulations.
11111????Pay attention to your dog at all times and ensure that playtime remains friendly. If your dog or another dog is playing too rough, it’s best to remove your dog from the situation.
11111????Many dog parks have designated areas for large and small dogs. No matter your dog’s stature, be sure to keep them in the area allocated for their size.
11111????Don’t bring a puppy younger than four months old.
11111????Make sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations.
11111????Keep a collar on your dog with proper identification tags that include contact information (microchipping is also recommended).
11111????On warm days, avoid the dog park during peak temperature hours.
11111????Bring water and a bowl for your dog to drink out of.
11111????Look for signs of overheating; including profuse and rapid panting, a bright red tongue, thick drooling saliva, glassy eyes and lack of coordination. If this occurs, take your dog to a veterinarian immediately.
