John Cosstick

10 Best Park Accessories for Dog Owners

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As a dog owner, you initially do not think that you could own a bunch of accessories to make your life easier. This is a harsh truth that many dog owners can relate to. Whether we are talking about smart collars or various kinds of dispensers, there is plenty to choose from.

These accessories make our lovely little furballs happy as well. Dogs bring happiness and joy to our lives. Not only can they help in ridding us of our anxieties and fears, but they also form an important part of our lives.

Accessories and dog products help us not only when we are playing with our furry friends at home. You can even use these accessories and products in various places such as parks, malls while traveling, and while visiting escape rooms at home.

1. A Dog Harness 

Dog harnesses are an important part of the walking and exercising activities of your canine. A lot of people ignore harnesses and go for collars for attaching their leashes.

However, a harness offers significantly better support for your dog. An excellent quality harness is important for providing the necessary padding and strength when pulling on the leash. 

Going to parks for walks with harnesses also helps you in easily attaching and detaching leashes anytime. Also, harnesses give your dogs a much more fashionable look. Dogs, too, deserve to look their best and wear the best. Thus, always try and buy a harness for your dog.

2. Dog Treat Pouch 

A Dog treat pouch is like a belt bag. Except, a dog treat pouch is often a bit bigger and can carry a lot more items. It is a great accessory to have. A lot of pouches out there need to be able to fit our phones, treats, leashes, and much more. Belt pouches are not built for this purpose. 

Furthermore, a dog treat pouch is great for training your new pups. As an adjustable pouch, you can either strap it on your shoulder or use it as a purse as well as a belt pouch. As a bonus, your dogs will love it because treats come out of it easily. 

3. A Dog Backpack 

While most dogs can be walked or even taken in our cars, not everyone is lucky enough to have a car or a park nearby. Sometimes you might have to use public transport. Crowds can be stressful for your dog as well as inconvenient for people.

An effective way to travel in such situations is to own a dog backpack.  A dog backpack is big enough to hold most moderately sized breeds. Some can even hold larger varieties of dogs.

These dog backpacks are handy since most of them come with side pouches to store additional accessories as well. Moreover, your dog might never want to walk again after being carried in it!

4. Poop Bag & Dispenser 

One of the biggest challenges as a dog owner is to train your dogs where and when to relieve themselves. It can take quite a lot of time as well as effort to make sure that your dog is learning the right spots. Nevertheless, a lot of public parks and properties impose a fine on not collecting disposing of dog poop. 

Carrying around a poop bag and a dispenser will help you easily clean u after your dogs. It will be a great necessary part of your walking toolkit. You will never leave without it. 

5. Dog Jackets and Sweater 

Going out with your dog is not an optional activity. Unless and until extreme conditions prevail, your dog needs regular exercise and activity. However, depending on where you live, the weather can often be a big issue. 

For example, in tropical places, constant rain can affect your dogs’ fur. Some dogs do not like their fur wet and might make a fuss over it. Jackets, in such cases, are a handy accessory to have.

In wintry weather, it is good to have a dog sweater to protect your poodle from the cold. Depending on the weather, these accessories can really help your routine walk in the park. 

6. Portable and Collapsible Dog Bowl 

A portable and collapsible dog bowl is what exactly it sounds like. It is great for carrying around your dog’s favorite bowl. Often you will encounter water springs, but it can often be problematic to drink from them. People often carry treats with them as well as water bottles. But feeding your dog can be a challenge. 

However, with a portable and collapsible dog bowl, this problem is easily solved. These silicon bowls can be quite convenient as they can be carried in your treat pouch or dog backpack easily.

7. Durable Rubber Ball 

A durable rubber ball is a great companion to your dog on its daily walk. It is a wonderful way to train and increase the activities they do.

Dogs love to bite a ball and carry them around. Thus, often these balls can get roughed up easily. Having a durable rubber ball ensures you are not going back and forth to buy one.

8. Doggie Water Bottle 

A doggie water bottle is quite like a collapsible dog bowl. The only main difference is that you do not need a water bowl with a doggie water bottle. You just need to squeeze the bottle as the water can easily reach your dogs. It is easy to carry and quite convenient if you do not plan to buy a dog bowl.

9. A Comfortable Collar 

In earlier days, a collar used to be a way to attach a leash. With the introduction of harnesses, collars become redundant. However, collars serve a greater purpose. They can help owners know which is their dog. Collars can also contain the contact information of the owner in case a dog goes missing. 

10. Dog Brush 

Not a lot of people like to brush their dogs at their homes. And it is easy to see why because dogs can shed a lot of fur. This can give them a messy and untidy look as well. So, if you want to save your home from being covered in fur and want to make sure your dog looks good get yourself a dog brush.

Conclusion 

These ten dog accessories are some of the best ones you can have on your daily dog walk in the park. Make sure you try to evaluate each accessory and see which one fits the best to your routine and style. While the above-mentioned ten are some of the best types of accessories to have, only some of these are compulsory. 

Author Bio: Sophia Scott is a content creator at escape rooms.. She’s a passionate young woman, mother to an amazing nine-year-old, and an avid reader. Over the years, writing has helped her explore and understand the world as well as her own self. She loves to travel, meet new people, and spend quality time with her daughter. You can find her on LinkedIn.


Is Your Dog Barking Excessively And Annoying Your Neighbours?

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Dog Barking Excessively

Your dog is your responsibility. It is up to you to make sure that he is not causing any annoyance to your neighbors. Even if they are dog lovers themselves and are ready to accommodate a reasonable amount of disturbance from your dog’s barking, it can become really taxing if it continues day in and day out.

You may have come to accept constant barking by your dog as part of the deal and may have become oblivious to the annoyance it is causing others. The best way to find out whether your dog is causing any trouble is to ask your neighbors directly. If anything, it shows that you care about them.

Almost all dogs will bark when they see a strange person or an unusual happening. But if your dog is barking continuously, even when you are at home to check out the matter, it is undesirable behavior. You can reasonably assume that the same behavior continues when you are away from home during the day. This can be troublesome for the neighbors.

You can try to curb excessive barking with patient training. Also, when you go out, you can avoid leaving the dog in the yard because many outside distractions can trigger more barking episodes. The dog barking from inside the house will be muted and less annoying to the neighbors.

Some dogs do not have a problem when the owners are at home, but they may bark incessantly when they are left alone. If your neighbors are complaining about your otherwise angelic dog, you can assume that the dog is barking due to anxiety. Sometimes, extra attention from you and more outings to the park may help normalize the dog.

If the dog continues barking due to the anxiety of being left alone, you can arrange for someone to walk your dog once or twice during your absence. You can consider the option of keeping him in a dog daycare facility as well.

Dog barking excessively

Be attentive to your neighbors’ complaints, and do everything you can to curb excessive barking, but avoid being defensive. As a matter of fact, neighbors of families with troublesome dogs are known to invest in ultrasonic dog control devices more often than dog owners.


As a responsible dog owner and a person with concern for neighbors, you can even seek their suggestions as to how you can make things better for them. Getting your neighbors involved is the key to avoiding misunderstandings with them.

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How to Help an Overweight Dog

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Dog owners often fail to notice when their dogs are becoming overweight because the pounds can be put on them very gradually. Becoming exhausted after a short workout or a brisk walk may be the first signs that alert you to the weight problem of your dog.

You might feel guilty for having neglected this part of dog care responsibilities, but do not fret. There are simple, practical solutions to tackle this problem.

The most important thing is that you love the dog enough to do what it takes to bring the overweight dog back to normal weight. His health depends on it, since dogs can develop the same obesity-related problems that people suffer from.

However, treating a dog as we treat a person is a mistake we tend to commit. We may feel that an older dog should be given plenty of rest and should have a reprieve from exercise routines. In fact, when many older dogs show a reluctance to go for regular walks, their owners should not let them have their way.

Dogs need to remain active to stay healthy. Unless your dog has a specific health condition that makes it dangerous for him to exercise, you should insist on daily walks and exercise. Do not feel bad about it.

Find the Right Food for Your Dog

While every dog requires a nutritious diet, your dog’s diet should be adjusted to his size, age, and activity level. Adult dogs may not need high energy foods that fast-growing puppies require.

A pregnant or lactating dog requires more food than a male dog of the same age. You should discuss the nutritional needs of your dog with your veterinarian and select a dog food that is right for him.

Portion Control

Smaller dogs need only a small quantity of food. Even larger dogs should not be fed too much if they are leading a sedentary life. Some dogs look larger than they really are because of their thick furry coat, but their stomach may be small. When they are fed too much food, the excess gets stored as fat.

Do not go by the suggestions given on the dog food packaging. They only give a general idea and are meant for maintaining weight, not for affecting weight loss.  When you want to help the dog lose weight, you should get the veterinarian to prescribe the number of calories the dog needs and plan the meals accordingly. Exercise strict portion control, counting in the special treats you offer him from time to time. 

Interval Feeding

Interval Feeding

Some dog owners are under the impression that food should always be made available to the dogs so that they can eat at will. A dog in the wild does not have fixed mealtimes, but that does not mean that food is always available. Wild dogs must spend a lot of time hunting to keep themselves reasonably fed and often go hungry for long periods. So, it is not wrong to feed your dog at fixed intervals.

If the food is left out, many dogs eat just to occupy themselves just like people snacking mindlessly when they are bored. This should be avoided when you want to help the dog lose weight. If you are not around to feed the dog fixed portions at fixed times, you can invest in an automatic feeder.

Exercise

Exercise

The importance of exercise cannot be stressed enough. If your dog is leading a sedentary life, introduce exercises and activities gradually, but if he is already active, increase their frequency or duration to help the dog lose weight. Do not be worried that you are being too hard on the dog; it is for his health and wellbeing.

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Three Important Tips When You Adopt a Dog

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You can always buy a puppy from a pet shop or a breeder, but there is nothing more noble and rewarding than adopting a dog who is in dire need of a loving home.  Animal centers are crowded with such needy dogs, so it may not be too difficult to find a dog right for you.

But there are a few things you should keep in mind to make adoption of an adult dog as great an experience as it should be. Many dog owners forget them and start the relationship on a wrong foot, finally ending up frustrated and regretting their decision to adopt.

Here are three important tips to help you make a success of adopting a dog:

Teach the Dog What He is Expected to Do

Housetraining is not just for puppies. When you bring any new dog into your home, remember that the dog is perplexed by the new surroundings and new people.

No matter how lovingly everyone treats him, he feels like a stranger until you teach him exactly what he should and should not do in your home. That includes showing them where to do his potty and where to sleep, the places he is not allowed to use, how to behave with young children etc.

Do not expect him to know all these things intuitively or to learn them overnight. A confused dog tends to be fearful and destructive, so misbehaviour on the dog’s part should be viewed as a need for more training.

Use Positive Methods to Reinforce Good Behaviour

Punishment should not be your tool to train the adopted dog. Remember that he is ill at ease and confused in the new surroundings. Most destructive actions and refusal to obey stem from this. Do not add to his confusion by handing out punishments.

Be patient as you housetrain him and be generous with praise and rewards when he does get something right. This will tell him what he should do to get the same reaction from you.

On the other hand, when you punish a dog, you are not telling him what to do. Dogs do not understand why you are punishing him unless you do it right when he is engaged in an undesirable act. There is no good and bad behavior in the dog’s book. He just desires to please you by repeating actions that are sure to earn praise and rewards from you.

Be Consistent in Your Responses

If you react differently at different times to the same action, the dog will get confused. Make sure that every member of the family knows the house rules for the dog and strictly maintains it.

If the dog is not allowed on the sofa, but one person cuddles up with him there, it sends mixed signals to the dog. It is ideal if there is an understanding about who handles the dog care chores such as feeding him at regular times, taking him for potty, giving him a bath etc.


Maintaining a regular and consistent routine helps the dog feel at home and behave the way you want him to and pave the way to a rewarding relationship.

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What You Should Do To Become a Responsible Dog Owner

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When you become a proud owner of a dog, a number of responsibilities come with it. A good dog owner is not a person that pampers the dog all the time, but who discharges the essential dog care duties responsibly. Let us see what you should do to be a responsible dog owner.

Keep His Medical Records Straight and Up to Date

Your dog’s health should be given the importance it deserves. Vaccinations and regular medical check-ups should be done at the right time, and their records should be saved for future reference. Establishing a rapport with a veterinarian is also part of the game.

Dog- Healthy Diet

Provide a Healthy Diet

Do not assume that what is good for you is good for the dog. Many things that we eat may be unhealthy for the dog, especially fast food. Do not feed your dog from the table.

Give him good quality dog food that provides him a balanced diet containing all the necessary nutrients in the right proportion. It is difficult to achieve this balance in home-cooked food, so commercial dog food is your best bet.

Give Your Dog Outdoor Time

Give Your Dog Outdoor Time

Whether your dog seems to be content to stay inside the home or not, you should take him out for regular walks and for a game or two. The natural world is the real home of dogs although many breeds have become acclimatized to indoor life.

The fresh air and the sights and sounds of the great outdoors stimulate and invigorate the dog physically and mentally. High-energy dogs find a good outlet for their pent-up energy when they spend time outside. This helps them to be calmer inside the house.

Socialize The Dog

Socialization from a very early age is important in developing a wholesome personality. Socialize the dog by taking him out to parks, other people’s homes, and on public transport.

It teaches your dog how to behave in different situations and in the presence of strange dogs and people. If the dog is unsocialized, he may behave aggressively when he feels threatened in a new situation. Even small, homebound dogs need to have opportunities to socialize.

Respect Your Dog

Your dog is not a cuddly toy or your child. Dogs are pack animals. The position of the dog in your family is more akin to his place in the pack. You should ensure that every member of the family, including children, is above the dog in the hierarchy, but his position in the hierarchy should be respected as well.


Do not treat him like an evergreen baby; it spoils him and encourages him to misbehave. You do not want your children to misbehave, so how can you promote such behavior in the dog? As you can see very well, all the above things are quite practical, so, being a responsible dog owner is not such a difficult task. 

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How To Avoid Dog Heatstroke

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Avoiding dog heatstroke is important for every dog owner during hot summer days. Dogs are warm-blooded animals just like us humans, but their heat-regulating mechanism is not as efficient as ours. Conservation of body heat is more important to dogs when they are out in the wild, so they are poor at releasing heat from their body. Consequently, they are more prone to heatstroke in hot weather.  

It is important for a dog owner to know the situations that put the dog at risk of heatstroke to avoid them. Recognizing the symptoms of heatstroke is important as well because it can progress to a life-threatening condition if remedial steps are not taken. 

Check the Atmospheric Conditions

You should keep track of the outdoor temperature. Having a good idea about it will alert you to the possibility of heatstroke and help you decide whether allow your dog out of the house. Sometimes, the sun may he beating down on the yard even if the general temperature is not extremely high. This again can put the dog at risk if ample shade is not available. 

Check the Activity Level of The Dog

When external conditions are likely to put the dog at risk of getting overheated, you should watch him closely for early signs of heatstroke. Level of activity is a good indicator, although not a reliable one.

Your dog may be overactive to begin with, but the heat will zap his energy and he will start to become lethargic. Reporting these changes will help the veterinarian make the correct diagnosis in case of an emergency.

Check the Dog’s Temperature

When it is hot outside or when the dog seems to be exhausted, it is a good idea to check his temperature often. The normal rectal temperature reading for a dog is between 99.50 F to 102.50F. If it is above 1030F, you can take it that the dog is overheated and is at risk of heatstroke.

You should take immediate steps to bring down the temperature and watch out for worsening symptoms. If you find your dog to be running 1050F or more, he is suffering from a life-threatening heatstroke. Rush him to the veterinarian immediately.  

Relieving Heatstroke in Dogs

If you spot the early signs of heatstroke, you should take immediate steps to relieve the condition. Move the dog to a cooler location, preferably to the air-conditioned interiors of your home.

If you are in an outdoor setting, take him to a shaded area or create shade with an umbrella or whatever material is available. Fan him and give him cold water to drink. This will help cool his body.

But allow only small amounts of water at a time because a dehydrated dog may drink greedily, resulting in water intoxication. Restrict the movement of the dog, but do not cover him with anything or crowd around him.


Good airflow is important to help carry the heat away from the dog’s body. Watch out for dangerous symptoms of heatstroke such as breathing difficulty or unresponsiveness in the dog. They necessitate immediate medical intervention.

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How to Avoid Traumatizing Your Dog When You Move

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How avoid traumatizing your dog when moving to a new house is important because moving to a new house is stressful to every member of the family, and that includes your dog.

We assume children are the most affected because they are apprehensive about leaving their friends and worry whether they would be able to make new friends in the new place. Similar feelings of unsettlement and insecurity affect dogs too, but they cannot voice their concerns and we cannot explain things to them.

Dogs Take Time to Settle in a New Environment

We can only imagine how the dog views the world around him. He must be having certain places in the house and the yard he loves more than the others. There may be many people in the neighbourhood that he is friendly with.

He must have established an unspoken hierarchy among the dogs and other animals in the neighbourhood. When he is taken to a new place, an entirely new set of sights and smells greet him. Many familiar faces like that of the mailman and the milkman would be replaced by new ones.

His routines may have become disrupted if you have been lax in dog care responsibilities due to unpacking, and cleaning chores. 

Stress Symptoms in Dogs

It is not rare to find dogs developing physical problems such as loss of appetite, diarrhoea or vomiting when their family is moving. It may not be due to any stomach bug, but just stress symptoms in the dog.

If he makes a mess, it will be extra work for you, but try to understand that the dog cannot help it. Talk kindly to him as you clean up the mess and cuddle him reassuringly. 

Your dog may show his anxiety by behavioural changes too, but you should not be impatient with him. He may start doing potty on the carpet or try to tear apart your furniture.

He is not doing it out of spite. He is simply confused and unsettled because his schedule has gone haywire. You cannot assure him verbally that everything will be fine, but you can try to make his schedule as regular as possible.

Unpack his things and some of his favorite items like the couch or the rug first. Arrange these essentials after removing all clutter from some part of the house.

Take Care When Walking Your Dog

You can give a miss to bathing and grooming rituals for a while but continue with other dog care responsibilities as usual. Get a member of the family to give extra attention to the dog while others are busy unpacking things.

Take the dog out for walks frequently, but always have a tight grip on the leash. If something unfamiliar scares him and causes him to take off, he may not be able to find his way back to your new home.

Your Local Vet Can Help Your Dog Calm Down With Medication

If the stress symptoms in the dog do not get resolved within a few days, you can take him to the vet to rule out any physical problem. He may prescribe some calming tablets that would help your dog feel better.


But, more than anything, what your dog wants is your reassuring presence and show of affection. Your dog will eventually settle down as the household returns to normalcy.

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How a Dog Microchip Works

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Pets are precious companions for their owners. The same applies to pet breeders. We all take great care of our beloved pets. Though it’s a dog, cat, or any other animal.

Taking care of them every day, grooming them, washing them, playing with them, and spending money on them is a great refreshment and fun aspect of our lives.

However, after all this care there comes the security concern. How are we going to protect them? What precautionary measures should we take to keep them away from getting harmed or getting lost?

I think that the “Getting Lost” part is scarier. In older times, it was almost impossible to recover a lost dog. The owners were worried sick about the thoughts of their dear pet getting lost. Worst case scenario is they might be injured somewhere or may have died.

Due to the boost in technology, the modern era has made it extremely easy for dog owners like you and I to track our dogs. Because pet breeders and researchers have built pet or dog microchips to track your dog’s ownership details.

And in today’s pet session, we are going to discuss “how does a dog microchip work?”

Dog Microchip Work: –

The Interesting Truth

The amazing truth is that these chips are grain-sized and directly injected into the dog’s body. Now, this tiny chip can identify your dog’s whether it is in your local community or in some other city.

Before we proceed, let me tell you that overall, the chip installation and scanning procedure is quite simple and efficient for tracing your lost friend. So, let’s begin…

Pet microchipping is an anesthetic-free procedure that takes only a few seconds to complete. A microchip contains a few electronics components that are integrated within a tiny capsule of bio-glass. They are injected beneath your animal’s skin between the shoulder blades.

When the microchip scanner is passed by the pet’s shoulder blades, it emits a radio frequency signal that activates the chip. In return, the chip sends back a unique identification number or pet identification code to the scanner. That code or number is compared against the pet recovery database to retrieve the animal’s owner information.

Microchip, scanner, and database, all these elements make up a triangle for the effective microchip system. Each element has its own job to do to make the system work.

The chip should be inserted in the right place for proper detection and scanning. While the database that is associated with the chip code needs to be accurate and up-to-date as well.

Chips can be undetected because of improper scanning, matted hairs, excessive fat in the body, or due to the metallic collar closer to the microchip. One should be careful of these minor level precautions to avoid any malfunction of the chip.

Types of Microchips

Yes, different types mean the microchip companies use a wide range of frequencies to communicate with the scanner. Recently, there has been developed a universal scanner to read a range of frequencies.

You might face the situation when your pet had a microchip, but a scanner may malfunction and not detect the microchip. The universal scanner sorts out such issues and helps you to locate your pet’s microchip easily.

The microchip manufacturers usually provide universal scanners to the animal shelters and animal control agencies to track the lost pets.

Different Communication Frequencies

The pet microchips come up with a variety of frequencies. In general, the frequencies of 125 kHz, 128 kHz, and 134.2 kHz are used.

125 kHz chip was the most operational frequency in the U.S. A huge number of scanners in the U.S can read this frequency used by the microchips. However, from 2004 onwards, it is replaced by the 134 kHz chip that meets global standards developed by the International Standard Organization (ISO).

Initially, this frequency was adopted by Europe but now manufacturers in the U.S also started developing chips of the same frequency complying with the ISO standard.

Lifespan of Microchips

A question might arise in your mind that how long will the chip remain functional after its placement in the pet.

According to Wikipedia, the average aging of different breeds of dogs ranges from 6 to 16 years. Keeping this in mind, the microchips are engineered to work for over 20 years. So, there is nothing to worry about, the duration of expiry of the chip is far more than the life expectancy of most dogs.

Is Microchipping Safe and Secure?

Anyone can access your information if your pet gets lost. In case of a missing pet that is found and taken by someone to the animal shelter or vet clinic, it will be scanned for a unique identification number associated with it.

And you will be contacted at the registered telephone number by the pet recovery service. It is therefore recommended to keep your information up to date.

How to Adopt Pets Who Are Already Microchipped?

If you adopt a pet that has an implanted microchip, you must look for the corresponding registration to update it. A trip to your local vet to have the dog scanned to locate the registration details is required.  You can then arrange for the registration details to be updated.

What If I Move From One Location To Another?

Whenever you want to move from your registered location, you need to consult the chip registration company to update your profile. The microchip registration company will have your wrong contact details otherwise.

And of course, there are normally minor fee charges for processing and updating your contact information.

How Are Microchips Placed? Will It Hurt?

The microchip insertion is a quick and safe process with an intravenous needle at any veterinarian’s office. This will not hurt your pet. The procedure is as simple as administrating a vaccine.

What About Microchip Placement?

Microchips, as the name micro, depicts that they are tiny electronic devices, not much bigger than a grain of rice. They are implanted beneath the pet’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades.

Is There Any Chance of Misplacing a Chip Inside a Pet?

There is very little chance that a chip could get lost or misplaced. The chip is strongly bonded to the pet’s subcutaneous tissue that heals quickly. This powerful natural adhesion from correct placement normally prevents the chip from migrating to another part of the pet’s body.

Author’s Bio: Hassan Kurd is a cool-headed, optimistic guy and the Founder of Tool Miner

On his online journey for half a decade, he has racked up skills in helping others finding solutions to solve their E-commerce, marketing, blog, and content writing problems.

This is a guest post by Hassan Kurd

How to Get Rid of Fleas on Your Dog

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Dogs are adorable creatures that bring a lot of joy to families with small children, and not only them. They are great friends and come in all kinds of sizes, which means they can thrive perfectly in apartments just as much as in houses with gardens.

However, having a furry friend in the house also has many shortcomings, in particular when you go out for a walk and collide with nature.

Especially with smaller breeds, being close to the ground makes them an easy target to all kinds of pests, like fleas and ticks, as well as different weeds that can get caught up in their fur, making it a nightmare to remove.

And even though ticks and grass stuck to the coat are easy to notice, fleas are microscopic and undetectable by the naked eye. This is why you need to pay extra attention to your pet. Here are a few simple steps to follow:

How to Remove Fleas on Your Dog

How to Remove Fleas on Your Dog

If you notice that your pooch scratches way too often than it should, chances are it has fleas building an empire inside the fur. It’s important to proceed with the removal as fast as possible, to avoid dermatitis and all kinds of other nasty diseases the creepy crawlies bring.

Here are the 4 simple steps you need to follow:

What do you need:

  • Flea comb
  • Flea shampoo
  • Vacuum cleaner

And here’s how to proceed to remove the fleas from your dog and surroundings:

  1. Give your pet a bath using lukewarm water and the flea shampoo. First, wash the body and allow the fleas to gather on the head. Then shampoo the head as well, killing the remaining survivors.
  2. Use the flea comb to inspect your dog’s fur and remove any remaining eggs and flea poop (also known as “flea dirt”). Flea combs have very closely located teeth, so they let hair pass through, but everything else will get caught.
  3. Wash all your pet’s beddings and toys. This way you will eliminate any fleas and eggs that your dog left behind.

Clean the entire house thoroughly. Your dog walks all around the house, so there’s a chance of fleas hiding in the couch, bed, carpet, or any other furnished or cluttered area. Vacuum clean everything, mop and wipe all common surfaces and get rid of any unnecessary clutter.

How to Prevent Fleas From Choosing Your Dog

Fleas love dogs just like kids love ice cream. This is why you need to be vigilant at all times when you have dogs at home. By following these simple guidelines, you’ll be able to prevent fleas on your dogs on time and without risking a huge flea infestation in your house:

inspect the dog’s fur daily

1. Inspect the Dog’s Fur Daily

It’s important to check your dog for fleas at least once a day, preferably after a walk. Observe closely for jumping fleas or small black dots, which are flea faeces or eggs. Red itchy spots are also a telltale sign that the little nasties may have settled in. Place the dog on your lap and gently start moving the fur aside, so you can examine the skin underneath it. Focus on the most common places fleas like to attack, like the head, the back and the stomach.

2. Regular Baths Are Also Important

Bathing your dog weekly is a must if you want to prevent a flea infestation. A quick washing of the paws may be enough after a walk, but your pooch also needs to refresh its fur regularly. Give your dog weekly baths using a shampoo formula specialized for killing fleas and ticks.

There are many chemical and organic options out there, ask your veterinarian which is the best one for your furry friend. Some gentle brands of dishwashing detergents can also work, but you need to read the labels carefully.

Saturate the fur with water, then scrub the shampoo in starting from the head, then work your way through the back and legs, and finish at the stomach and tail.

Don’t miss any spots, because flea eggs are extremely resilient and they need to be treated with the product directly. Leave the shampoo to work for the recommended amount of time, then rinse your pooch with water and dry it as usual.

Brush Your Dog Regularly

3. Brush Your Dog Regularly

Regular brushing is mandatory when you have a longhaired pet, and advisably all dogs . Veterinarians recommend using a flea comb on your dog at least three times a week. It will not only help you detect the fleas but also remove them on time if you find any.

Just like with the bathing, start combing at the head and work your way to the back and the legs. Leave the belly for last, as this is the place fleas usually run off to when they feel endangered.

Stroke the fur a few times, then place the comb into a bowl of soapy water and push on the prongs to release any caught fleas. They will quickly drown and won’t cause any more discomfort to your pet.

4. Provide a Clean Surrounding

Except for regular bathing, your dog will also need a clean environment to prevent any future flea infestations. This means the bedding it sleeps in needs to be laundered regularly – a few times a week is more than enough to kill any fleas and eggs that haven’t hatched yet. Regular washing of all the toys and dog clothes is also pivotal to avoid a re-infestation.

Regular vacuuming and keeping the entire house clean also helps prevent any pests from nesting in there, including fleas. Once they arrive on your dog they can also easily hide in carpeted surfaces and upholstered furniture, so you need to take regular care of these too.

After each vacuuming, remember to get rid of the filter bag or disinfect the container with hot soapy water to kill any potential eggs.

Keep Your Dog Healthy

5. Keep Your Dog Healthy

Keep your dog healthy with a proper diet, adequate water intake and plenty of exercises. Most pests like to attack and feed on sickly pets. Active and fit dogs discourage fleas from infesting it. So, by making sure your pooch is healthy and happy, you are providing it with its best chance against the invaders.

6. Invest in a Pest-repellent Collar

Veterinarians sell all kinds of products that repel fleas and ticks and will keep your dog safe during walks. They usually come in two forms – a collar infused with a pest-repellent chemical, or drops that you have to place on the back of your dog. Both products have their pros and cons, and they usually provide between 3-6 months of protection.

Author bio: My name is Alexander Crawley and I’m an entomology consultant for Fantastic Pest Control. As a psychology graduate, I got bored after years of studying humans and found my true fascination – bugs. In my spare time, I like to read and write about insects, help people solve their pest problems.

San Diego Dog Park Safety Tips, Training, and Dog Accessories

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There is no denying that a dog is a man’s best friend. We love playing with dogs, just like they do with us. Whenever the weather is lovely, nothing can stop you from stepping outside the house with your dog and letting him play in a dog park and make other canine friends. However, there are certain things you must keep in mind to ensure the safety of your dog while he is out and about running in the dog park.

There are many parks in San Diego that allow dogs inside, but only if they are on a leash. Therefore, you must make sure your dog is kept on a leash while you are in such a park, going on a trail, or even just sitting down.

Dog parks usually have a boundary within which you can take the leash off your dog. This is to ensure your safety along with your pet’s safety as the boundaries help keep the dogs away from traffic, sharp objects that could potentially injure them, and much more. The city of San Diego has many areas that are designated as off-leash dog parks for this reason.

Different dog parks throughout the City of San Diego come with different rules and regulations. These rules usually are there to keep your dog safe from any unwelcomed injuries and to keep them healthy and happy.

Here are some San Diego dog park safety tips:

1. Make Sure Your Dog Has All Its Required Vaccinations

It would be best if you vaccinated your dog to prevent him from catching any illnesses. Vaccinations help you avoid spending a lot of money on diseases that can be prevented, such as rabies and distemper. Therefore, many parks in San Diego require certain vaccinations for your dogs.

2. Make Sure Your Dog Wears a Current License Tag

You must make sure your dog is wearing a license tag from the San Diego Humane Society. If your dog ever goes missing, a license tag helps you find him faster, and the person who finds him can contact you immediately. It is also proof of your dog being vaccinated against rabies, which is required by the law.

3. Please Wait Until Your Dog Is at Least Four Months Old Before Bringing Him to San Diego Parks

This is simply to ensure your dog is protected from diseases that can be vaccinated. Vaccinations for puppies, also known as “Puppy shots,” do not begin until they are 6 to 8 weeks old. Therefore, you must only take them out to San Diego dog parks once they have all their puppy shots!

4. Keep Your Dog on a Leash Until You Are Actually in the Dog Park

This is again just to ensure your dog stays safe. Dog parks usually have boundaries in the form of fences that help you keep your dog safe when off leash. These boundaries ensure your dog stays safe from traffic and high-risk objects.

5. Know When to Restrain Your Dog

This is incredibly important. Dogs are usually friendly, and they love making new friends at dog parks. However, San Diego dog parks have the rule of restraining your dog in case a brawl breaks out. The dogs must be supervised to make sure no one gets hurt.

6. Refrain From Bringing Children to Dog Parks

Who does not like dogs? As a kid, I am sure all of us stopped whenever we saw a dog nearby to pet him. You probably still do. But many dog parks advise you not to bring children to the parks. Not every dog likes to be chased or petted, and many children do not realize this. Also, because it is a dog park, many come there just to walk their dogs and not have other children pestering their pets.

Some more safety tips that could help you keep your dog and yourself safe are not used in every San Diego dog park, but they could create a safe space for your dog and other dogs to play if observed by you.

7. Consider Whether You Should Bring Toys or Not

Many dog behaviorists advise not to bring toys to dog parks, as they could disrupt other dogs too. Therefore, if you decide to bring toys, make sure you get extra toys to maintain peace amongst the dogs in the park.

8. Visit the Dog Park When It Is Not Peak Time

If you visit the dog park when it is not peak time, there will be fewer dogs, which could turn out to be more enjoyable for your dog, and you could avoid bad behaviour from the dogs.

9. Learn Your Dog’s Body Language

You must notice your dog’s body language and realize when he is displaying non-desirable behaviour. Some warning signs are staring, crouching, and other tense body languages. Notice if other dogs are upsetting your dog and vice versa.

10. Do Not Overstay Your Time

Make sure to stay no longer than an hour at a dog park. Just like kids, dogs can run out of energy, and you do not want to deal with an overly sensitive dog! Rather than over-tiring your dog, make sure you go home so he can get rest.

11. Pick Up Poop

This is important to keep in mind! Your dog’s waste could end up under someone’s shoes or on another dog’s paws, which could track faeces into cars and homes. Poop can also transmit diseases. A responsible dog owner always picks up their pet’s waste.

If you see someone not picking up their dog’s poop, offer them one of your poop bags, or pick it up yourself to ensure everyone does not suffer because of one person’s irresponsible attitude. Also, it could turn into good karma for you!

12. Training

Many prefer reward-based training methods, where the dog gets rewarded for every time, he shows good behaviour or succeeds at something. This type of training could also enhance your relationship with the dog. You could reward your dog in the form of tasty food or verbal praise such as “good dog!” with a pleasant tone.

Because this sort of training involves ignoring bad behaviour, the dog is not rewarded when he misbehaves, so he knows what to avoid doing. This way, your dog is trained to understand how he should behave in a dog park amongst other dogs and people.

Many other dog owners recommend booking your puppy into puppy school classes, through which your puppy can socialize with other dogs and learn good behaviour. Your dog can practise these behaviours when meeting other dogs at parks.

To further ensure your dogs’ safety and those around him, there are dog accessories you must buy for your pet. These are some accessories you must get for your dog when going to a dog park:

13. A Collar and a Leash for Your Dog

Both accessories are vital for your dog’s safety and security. The collar helps you out with ensuring your dog always has a tag on him.

Always make sure that the collar is according to your dog’s size and never too tight or too loose, so your dog is always comfortable. Also, when purchasing a leash for the first time, make sure it is long so your dog can get used to it.

14. A Dog Tag

A dog tag helps others other people identify your dog in case he goes missing. Our advice would be to engrave your phone number, your dog’s name, and your address on your dog’s tag. This can save you a lot of distress and help you find your dog quickly if it is lost.

15. Treats

Treats come in handy when training your dog. If your dog has good behavior when out at the dog park, reward him with his favorite treats, so he keeps it up! This will make them happy and your visit to the park with them much more manageable!

16. Poop Bags

This one is obvious, but an accessory forgotten by many dog owners! Let us be honest, you will have to pick up your dog’s poop when you are at the park some time or the other.

You could get a poop bag dispenser that has multiple poop bags in it, so you have extra on you.

17. Travel Bowl

Playing at the park can get tiring for the dog, just like it can for our kids. Therefore, they can get dehydrated quite quickly if they do not drink enough water. So, bringing a travel bowl can encourage your dog to drink water more frequently throughout their time at the dog park.

You could also have a separate travel bowl for food. However, you must be careful about other dogs or other wildlife when you take it out. It is not just your dog who is hungry for doggy treats!

18. Car Seat Cover

When your dog plays at the dog park he is likely to get dirty. He might step in the dirt, water, and mud. Because of this, when you are on your way back home, your car could get messy. You can prevent this if you have car seat covers that are stain-resistant and machine washable, so you can put them in your vehicle every time you visit a dog park!

Do’s and Don’ts to Remember

Now that we have mentioned all the essential things you must keep in mind, let us have a recap. It is necessary to follow the dog park safety tips because every San Diego dog park requires you to keep them in mind!

Your first priority is to have your dog vaccinated. Make sure your puppy is of age when you take them to the park, as you do not want them catching any diseases, and this way, he will be able to play with other dogs his age!

Dogs are a very joyful addition to every man’s life. They are loyal, and their pure joy is what makes us love them even more. So, to make sure you have a long-lasting, happy, and loving relationship with your dog, you must understand their needs and their body language.

Therefore, it is crucial to train your dog. Along with a closer relationship, you will get a dog that is mentally and physically stronger. Through proper training, you can also avoid potential behavioral problems regarding your dog.

Lastly, having certain accessories is essential when you go to the park with your dog. We take care of our pets just like our children, and these accessories are for their betterment. Having a dog collar can be of tremendous help if your dog were to go missing.

You can have all the vital information imprinted on the tag on the collar, and it makes finding your dog easier. Just like that, a leash, some treats, a poop bag, a food bowl, and all the other accessories mentioned above are significant to take with you when visiting a dog park.

Conclusion

There are many dog parks in San Diego. The residents in the city love taking their dogs to these parks. After all, your dog deserves to have some fun, too, right? Most public spaces in San Diego require that dogs be on a leash that is not more than 8 feet in length. San Diego dog parks are city-sanctioned; they include beaches, grassy parks, hillsides, dunes, and dirt and mulch spaces.

Most of these dog parks are completely fenced, so your dog can run freely but not run outside of the park. Your dog’s safety should be of the utmost importance when you take him out. Therefore, all the safety tips, training tips, and accessories mentioned above should be kept in mind by all dog owners!

We would advise you to research more San Diego dog park safety tips and how to train your dog, and what accessories you require before making a trip to the dog park with your pet. Your dog should be allowed to have fun, but with all safety precautions in place.

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