Erika McGinnis

Posted By Erika on July 19, 2010

Dogs love to chew; it’s a natural and comforting thing to do. Puppies in particular love to chew especially when they are teething, just like babies. Most puppies will stop obsessive chewing when they are about nine months of age and all their teeth have developed, but some dogs continue chewing after the age of a year. If your dog doesn’t stop chewing you should investigate further to see what is causing this destructive behavior.

Dogs chew when they’re bored or anxious and destructive chewing is not only troublesome, it’s also dangerous as your dog may chew on something that can cause him harm. The first step in eliminating this behavior is to catch your dog in the process. Remove valuable or cherished objects from your dog’s reach and offer him acceptable things to chew on such as dog toys and rawhide treats.

If you catch your dog chewing something he shouldn’t be chewing on make it a point that this is unacceptable. Keep your dog under constant supervision during this critical time as the best way to stop your dog from destructive chewing is to correct him the moment he starts chewing. Some time spent in the crate with a favorite toy or chew is another way of helping your dog to understand what is acceptable for chewing and what isn’t.

Provide your dog with a safe area in the house to store his favorite toys and chews and soon enough your dog will learn to go to this spot when he wants to chew on something. Rawhide chews, knucklebones and safe dog toys are good things to give to your dog. Always supervise your dog when he is chewing as he may swallow a piece of rawhide or toy and choke on it.

Be persistent in your training methods so as not to confuse the dog. When you catch him doing something he shouldn’t be doing a sharp “no!” should suffice. Never punish your dog for doing something that comes naturally to him, he won’t understand why he’s being punished. Remove the object from him and offer him an appropriate chew toy and praise him. Doing this consistently will help your dog understand what is required of him.

Never feed your dog chicken or fish bones as they can be lethal to dogs. Only use safe chews and toys specially made for dogs and always make sure you supervise your dog when he’s chewing.

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Posted By Erika on July 14, 2010

For dogs biting is as natural as eating and breathing. They must be taught when it is appropriate and when it isn’t. Puppies learn about such things from their mothers and siblings. The whelp of a sister when the play gets too rough serves to remind the dog to be gentle. A firm nip from the mother will also teach the dog that bites hurt. Unfortunately, often when we bring home a puppy, it hasn’t had time to fully learn these things. Puppies that come from pet stores are likely to have been separated from the mothers too early. It’s going to up to the owner to impart the lessons.

Just because a new puppy seems overly prone to biting, you shouldn’t think that you have found an aggressive dog. This is very common. It just means that the dog will require firm training to teach them correct behavior.
The age of the puppy will determine your exact strategy for training. Young dogs require a different touch than older dogs. Young dogs are easier to teach. If your puppy is less than four months old, the following techniques should be used.

Teach the puppy that licking is preferable to biting. Biting should be addressed with a firm “no” and with your pulling your hand away. Licking should be met with praise. Encourage licking by coating your fingers in something tasty. Get him used to this rather than biting.

If the biting continues, and the dog is not hungry, put him aside with a chew toy for a while. If you are dog crate training the puppy, and you should be, this is when he should be sent to his room. Give the puppy a little time to work things out with the toy and then take him back out. Remember that screaming will do nothing. It might even make the puppy more prone to bite. You certainly don’t want a puppy that learns to associate biting with a feeling of fear. Once he gets older, the fear response could retrigger the biting response and cause serious problems.

The proper response to a puppy bite is a firm “no!” and a firm look into his eye. After a few moments, simply return to the previous task. It might take a few times, but eventually the puppy will learn that his biting doesn’t please you. The puppy wants to please you more than anything and will soon find a behavior you prefer. A sure sign of an experienced dog owner is over-reaction and violence. This teaches the dog nothing and is actually playing to their more primitive world. Dogs need to instead learn what constitutes proper behavior in our world.

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Posted By Erika on July 12, 2010

Most of a dog’s life is spent eating and sleeping, and a dog looks forward to nothing more than a tasty treat. Dogs also don’t have a built in sense of moderation, and they will overeat if you let them. That’s why there is little surprise when dogs become overly excited at the scent of a juicy porkchop frying on a pan.

Most dog owners will think nothing of handing their dogs leftover table scraps. It is pretty hard to resist a dog begging, they seem to know exactly how to elicit pity and make any dog lover’s heart melt. A lot of pet owners though find this practice objectionable, they say it isn’t the best way to ensure your dog gets a balanced meal. Most think the practice is okay in moderation, still there are those who “spoil” their dogs and give them choice pieces of meat, not just leftovers.

There is nothing wrong with giving a dog “people food”. Exceptions would be onions and chocolate. These can actually be harmful to dogs even in moderate quantities. You should also avoid giving your dog bones, particularly fowl bones from chicken and turkey. Thes can splniter and cause serious injury.

There was in fact a time when all dogs ate were table scraps. Mass produced food, made especailly for dogs was unheard of. With today’s supposedly nutritionally balaced dog food though, it seems there are more and more obese dogs. Obesity is every bit as big a health issue with dogs as it is with humans. As a rule, if you can’t feel your dog’s ribs, your dog is way too fat.

Old habits die hard, and while commercial dog foods print exact recommended daily feeding amounts for different sizes of dogs, we tend to overfeed them anyway, because we can’t kick the habit of handing dogs table scraps on top of their regular diets.

There are three ways you can address the issue: First, you can cut scraps off the dog’s diet altoghether, from a nutritional point of view this is best, your dog won’t like this at all though, and let’s be honest, how many dog lovers can indefinitely say no to an adorable begging dog? The second is to lessen the amount of dog food according to the amount of table scraps given. Should you take this aproach, make sure that your dog still gets more dog food, it is more nutricious, and your dog is less likely to get finiky about food. The third is to just go back to scraps altogether. While it is possible to feed your dog a balanced diet this way, the burden of balancing the dog’s diet will fall on your shoulders. In general though, as long as you don’t overfeed or underfeed your dog, you can be sure he or she will stay reasonably healthy.

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Posted By Erika on July 8, 2010

Installing a dog door can simplify a dog owner’s life. Not having to get up every few minutes to let a dog in or out is a great convenience. It also makes the dog’s life easier and gives them more freedom to explore their environment.
Dog doors also work well for people who have dogs that primarily live outdoors. If you have a mudroom or laundry room, even a garage, a dog door will give them access to a warm, dry area during cold weather.

Before you start the process of installing a door, there a few things you must consider. The dog’s size and logistics of the door are the two biggest considerations. If your dog is still a puppy, make sure you plan for his full adult size if you don’t want to repeat the process again in a few months.

If you don’t want the dog to have free access to the entire house, you must decide a location that will allow you to control the access. Remember, dogs are not the only thing that can enter through a dog door, especially if you have a large dog. One way of controlling access is to simply install a latch on the dog door. A simple piece of hardware will keep the dog from using it. If you have a large dog door you need to use a method that will allow you to secure the door from human intruders also. There are doors available that allow you to lock them from access in one direction or another.

If you live in a rural area with a lot of wild animals, it’s a good idea to lock the dog door at night. Many people have woken in the night to hear the commotion that is their pet dog or cat in a fight with a wild animal such as a raccoon taking place in the living room.
The dog door will see a lot of use. Therefore you should invest in the highest quality materials you can afford. Cheap materials will not hold up for long to the constant comings and goings of an active dog. Better materials also allow you to make the door more weatherproof, which will help you save energy. Dog doors can be quite drafty in the winter if not properly constructed and insulated.
If your dog is going to have free reign to the outdoors, make sure that he won’t face dangers once outside alone. If you live in a city or town, this may mean having a secure fence surrounding the house. No one wants to give their pet freedom like this if it means they face the danger of getting hit by a car on the street.

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Posted By Erika on July 7, 2010

Sprawling terraces, verandas and patios can all be converted into a wonderful place for dining. A lot of people find dining outside a truly enjoyable experience. Going out to outdoor cafes and restaurants require you to shell out a lot of money. If you’re only aiming for the ambiance, you can also recreate this in your home.

Buying outdoor furniture need not be expensive. A sure and economical alternative to the usual heavy and highly-priced wrought iron and teak outdoor furniture is to use an outdoor plastic or aluminum folding tables and chairs. They are a lot cheaper but are also well-made to warrant them for outdoor use. These materials are often crafted with premium-grade plastic and aluminum materials that can endure exposure to long and intense daytime heat and sudden downpours.

When it comes to design, they sure wouldn’t come last. There are plenty of stylish and elegantly-designed plastic and aluminum folding tables and chairs that you can choose from. In fact, most outdoor restaurants and cafes use folding tables and chairs in their business establishments. This is so because they are very easy to clear at night for storage and quick to bring out and arrange on their outdoor areas come the next day.

With this inspiration in your mind, you can look for folding tables and chairs furniture that closely resembles your favorite al fresco restaurant. You can recreate its particular style right into your home. Imagine yourself waking up each day and enjoying your morning coffee cup and waffles with the soft rays of the sun touching your skin. At night, you can put candles all around you to create a romantic dinner setting right under the star-filled skies. Pursuing this project wouldn’t take up so much of your time and money. A great thing about this is you can experience a worthwhile time dining al fresco every day.

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Posted By Erika on July 2, 2010

As you plan to put up your own day care center, you have to think first everything that is needed from essential daycare supplies and equipment to the day care staff. You also need to make sure the location of your day care center is convenient for the kids. You need to make your day care center as an effective source for learning and fun for children to become successful not just because of the income you receive but the trusts that parents give to you. This can be done by providing the essential and appropriate cubby storage and proper training of your staff. Books and other learning materials such as flash cards, and art materials are very helpful in child’s mind development. Books can help children read words; identify numbers, colors, and animals. Still they can enhance those learning by giving them the appropriate guidance and teaching. Teaching staff are important to elaborate children’s learning. Aside from books, a child can also gain knowledge in some toys and other activity materials. Choose toys that can give not just learning but also fun. Colorful toys and toys of different shapes and sizes are very essential for children. These can help them identify colors and shapes and able to compare the sizes for them to be taught of opposites. Entertainment is also one factor that helps support children’s mind enhancement. Audio visual equipments such as television and cassettes are also essential in day care center. These can help children to be entertained and at the same time to gain knowledge by playing some VCD’s and DVD’s educational shows. Playing kiddie rhymes and music much more with numbers and ABC’s repeatedly can help children learn words, count numbers which they heard over and over again. It is also important to let the children do what they have heard or seen by encouraging them to sing a long with the song or interpreting the actions mentioned in the song or in the VCD’s and DVD’s. Day care staff plays the most important role in day care centers for which they are the one who manage and take good care of the children. It is their responsibility to handle the kids with proper care. Staffs must be well-trained and have the patients needed dealing with children because we all know how sensitive and naughty they are.

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Posted By Erika on June 30, 2010

Does your dog bark way too much? If you’ve owned dogs for some time, chances are you have encountered a dog that barks at his own shadow and that you simply can’t get to stop.  When a dog barks at strangers when they knock on your door or go near your house it’s fine, but some dogs bark at anything that moves, and simply don’t stop.  This can be especially troublesome if you have neighbors who complain about it.  While it really isn’t possible to lessen your dog’s barking over night, it is possible over time to correct your dog’s tendency to bark too much.

Before you can address the excessive barking, you need to know exactly what it is that makes your dog bark so much.  Most dogs who are secure and content will not bark excessively, when a dog barks too much the chances are something is making the dog insecure.

Barking has been found to be a self soothing behavior in dogs.  If a dog gets too bored he will often bark literally to entertain himself.  If you need to leave your dog alone for long periods of time, don’t keep him tied or crated, and leave a lot of playthings.  This should go a long way towards minimizing your dog’s tendency to bark too much.

Another reason dogs bark is to get attention.  A common mistake a lot of people make is to yell at dogs who bark too much.  This is one of the worst things you can do.  When you yell at your dog, your dog thinks you are barking back, and will simply keep barking.  The best thing to do with a dog who barks for attention is to ignore him.  At some point the dog will realize that barking doesn’t work for that purpose.  When the dog actually stops barking, that’s when you should give the dog your attention.  This will show your dog that not making excessive noise is the more desirable behavior.

Negative reinforcement also works for dogs that bark too much, a humane way to do negative reinforcement is with a squirt gun.  Every time your dog barks too much, squirt him in the face, eventually, your dog will figure out the correlation between the excessive barking and the squirts in the face. Many people try dog training collars and usually, a dog learns that when their collar makes a certain sound, they are not to continue barking.

Distraction is another effective method, a set of jingling keys or a can with some coins in it should do the trick.  Every time your dog barks too much, shake your keys or the can till the dog stops.

A lot of exercise is one of the best ways to mitigate your dog’s excessive barking.  A dog that is taken for daily walks and the regular game of fetch is far less likely to be bored enough to resort to barking or to have the excess energy to bark.

Don’t try to get your dog to stop barking altogether.  Barking is dog’s way of communicating, so don’t suppress it too much.  You just don’t want your dog to bark too much.

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Posted By Erika on June 28, 2010

It would be nice to be able to extend your swimming season for a few more months or to start it ahead of everybody else, right? Well that is not so impossible, not if you have the right swimming pool supplies at hand. What pray tell is this wonderful and handy supply? It’s just your simple swimming pool heater, that’s what it is. This allows you to have more time swimming and enjoying you pool and any fitness activities you have can be done even on those colder months.

Who wouldn’t love to swim at any time of the year with warm and comfy pool temperature, I know I would. Contrary to what most think, pool heaters are not that much expensive and when considered as a luxury before, now it is an essential swimming pool supply and your investment will eventually be all worth it in the end.

To get the maximum proficiency out of your pool heater you need to find a heater that also suits the size of your pool and your pool pump. You have several choices when it comes to heating your pool, there’s the gas fired heater which can heat your water quickly regardless of the environmental temperature. This is great if you have vacation retreat where you do not often use your pool but when you do you need to heat it up swiftly.

Electric heaters on the other hand heats up your water less quickly compared to gas powered heater but is considered to be energy efficient. Solar heater is considered to be the best when it comes to energy efficiency as well as the cost among all the heaters, which uses the renewable energy from the sun to heat up the water with the aid of your pool pump.

Some swimming pool heaters might be considered extravagant but when you look at it a little more closely why would you invest in a pool and then not take good care of it properly and if you do a little research you will find so many of these supplies available on the internet and not only that they sell these equipments at a lower cost and this makes it more convenient for everyone really.

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Posted By Erika on June 25, 2010

Anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that they go through mood changes just like humans do. One day they may be full of energy and playful while the next is spent in a lethargic state of inactivity. It is not uncommon for dogs to suffer bouts of depression, which in many cases can be even more serious than the condition in humans.

When looking for signs that your dog may be depressed, you can often use the same warning signs that humans display. Is he or she spending too much time in his or her dog bed? Among the most common indications of depression are loss of appetite, low energy levels and general lack of enthusiasm for anything. Since your dog can’t come to you and speak honestly about the condition, you have to be on the lookout for the problem.
The reasons for depression in dogs can be numerous and sometimes hard to pin down. If there is a change in the household such as a child moving away, this can often bring on the condition. The loss of another pet is also a frequent cause. Also, like in humans, the depression may have no trigger whatsoever other than a chemical imbalance in the brain.

If your pet is showing signs of serious depression you must act quickly to avoid the situation becoming worse. Try to spend as much time as possible with the dog. Engage him in activities that he enjoys whether it be chasing a ball or simply walking through the park. If your dog spends a lot of time alone while you are working, consider hiring a walker or putting the dog into a kennel a few days a week to give him some companionship. Being alone is one of the greatest causes of depression in dogs.

Don’t expect a single day spent with your dog to instantly cure the problem. It could take days or even weeks to get them out of their sullen mood. Be patient and caring and eventually your dog should be fine.

If you are doing everything possible and after a few weeks things haven’t improved, you should get the animal checked by a vet. There may be a more serious underlying health condition affecting your dog. In cases of severe depression, the vet might even prescribe an anti depressant to help with a chemically caused condition.
Remember that dogs often mimic the moods of their owners. If you are depressed your dog will easily sense it and will be affected. If you notice your dog acting differently, don’t forget to consider your own actions. Perhaps you have been experiencing a mood change that you haven’t noticed yourself, but is very obvious to a sensitive dog. By livening up your own outlook, it may take care of any problem your pet is experiencing and you will both be better for it.

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Posted By Erika on June 24, 2010

The living room is where most of our time is spent when we are in our house. This is where family gathers to have some recreational activity, chat with each other and even snack time with guests is sometimes done in this area. Most people find living room as a place to relax whenever they stay at their house. What more you can do to make your living room a place of comfort? Decoration and furniture is a step to ensure a cozy and comfortable living room.

If you plan to have your house renovated and want to have new living room furniture, think many times as you can of the things you need to know before you purchase furniture. To make your living room more welcoming not just to your family but also to the visitors, have some laid plans on how to perfectly decorate the room. You can do this with the help of an interior designer or just yourself. Reading magazines about home improvements and decoration is a big help too. You can get tips from this on what kind of furniture to be used to match the walls and the overall design of the room.

Spacious living room is much more comfortable than those with limited space. Small houses can have a spacious living room by putting the furniture properly. Colors and vividness of the room is also important for it may reflect the ambiance of the room. Painting and wall hangings can be an additional decoration for your living room. Lights are also essential in living room.

Designs of the living room may be because of your personality. Always include yourself in any plan you are going to make for your house to attain your desired design and arrangement. Durability for your living room furniture is a must though it may cost you big amount of money but it should not be your main concern but the satisfaction of your family. It doesn’t matter how expensive or cheap your furniture and decorations for your living room is, it is still the proper care and the comfort that you, your family and your guests can get from it that matters.

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