Having fun with the ball…

While surfing the net I stumbled upon this video. Little Jerry is having a whale of a time air lifting the ball and then pouncing on it with all his might.

Enjoy!

Calendar features pugs in yoga poses...

Come 2010 and you can adorn your living rooms with calendars of your favorite pooches. Thanks to an initiative by Dan and Alejandra Borris who have designed a calendar full of images portraying popular breeds in exquisite yoga poses. This is in fact second in a series of calendars because the couple already has 26 images to their credit for this year.

However, if you think the dogs did all the moves themselves you would be wrong. Dan actually entrusted his wife Alejandra who is a yoga teacher with the responsibility of holding the dogs and coaxing them into interesting positions. The rest was taken care of by Photoshop. Right from golden retrievers, poodles, mongrel, collie, basset hounds, and labrador to weimariner, the calendar has it all.

Dan was inspired into taking up this exciting project after hearing from his friend about her bull terrier, called Otis. His friend who was a yoga practitioner always found Otis by her side while doing the postures. This story stirred Dan into thinking how wonderful it would be if Otis actually did the postures. So, this idea which struck him a couple of years ago actually got him going.

Dan explains that they drew inspiration from various sources. Whenever they saw a funny looking dog walking by with his owner, they stopped the duo and convinced the owner into bringing his pet over for a photo shoot. This actually helped the couple in creating such a wide array of postures with so many different types of breeds.

While some postures are quite simple, others are a tad too intricate, says Dan. However, it is ultimately this variety that tickles our funny bone and lends the calendar a special charm.

Courtesy - Daily Mail

Adorn your buddy this Christmas...

Christmas might be still two months away but people have started gearing up for the shopping spree. So, this year what are you contemplating giving your buddies? Can you do something offbeat this year by getting fashionable outfits for your paw pals along with those beautiful accessories that already make them look too adorable?

Yes of course you can. Haven’t you seen the myriad hues and the pretty cuts the doggy dresses come in? There is a plenty of them flooding the market this year. However, here I am not talking about the brick and mortar retail markets. I am rather focusing on the vibrant online markets that are scaling the popularity charts.

The collections at the online stores are so exquisitely beautiful that you would immediately fall head over heels in love with the items. Moreover, the prices also don’t leave a dent in your pockets. You can choose the fabric of your liking from the wide range of dresses. This winter cute little sweaters, jackets, football jerseys, night suits, bathing robes and gowns specially designed for Christmas are the top draws.

Like our babies we also want our pooches to look their best. My eyes are craving to see my Rover at his sartorial best this Christmas. So, I am going to grab the costumes before they fly off the racks. What about you?

Pet insurance to safeguard your dog’s health...

Every step in your dog's life is full of challenges. Dog diseases are not rare, and there is always a chance of your own pet getting affected by one or more dog disease. The problem becomes more acute as your dog ages and the recurrent hospitalization, surgeries and treatment start dogging big holes in your pocket. And, ultimately there comes a point when it becomes impossible to bear the expenses and you have to let it go. Compromising against someone as precious as your pet could be disheartening. For most pet owner, buying a pet insurance is a convenient option to beat the blues out.

The good thing about dog insurance is that the benefit is available for every dog irrespective of their ages. It covers all kinds of illness or cases of accidental injuries like broken bones, burns, insect bites, lacerations, poisonous infections and the like.

Some of the common illnesses covered by a pet insurance policy include allergies, asthma, cancer, epilepsy, infections, skin problems and issues related to bone joints. It should be noted here that not all illness could be covered by insurance. Diseases that could be prevented by easy methods of vaccination often fall out of the purview of a pet insurance cover. That being the case, if you don't vaccinate your dog at the time when he needs it, the insurance provider refuses to undertake any responsibility with this regard.

The expenses that are typically covered by dog insurance policy include diagnostic tests, veterinary care, medication and hospitalization treatment. A good number of pet owners prefer going for a routine care coverage which cover expenses related to daily care like regular check ups, spaying, neutering and vaccinations. A comprehensive insurance plan undertakes to fulfill most of the obligation related to your dog’s treatment and safeguards the life of your pet.

Easiest ways to potty train your pooch…

Many of you must have had sleepless nights trying to potty train your pooch. I know how frustrating it is when all your efforts go in vain. Some puppies are compliant and easily amenable to potty training but others are not. Sometimes it differs from pet to pet while at other times it varies with the breeds.

So, here’s a quick guide to potty training:

1. Never rush with the training and always be patient with your pet.

2. When you adopt a pup try to buy it from a reliable person who has already initiated him into potty training. This will save you many unwanted hassles.

3. Try to feed him dry food most of the time so that he passes solid poop.

4. If you can’t supervise his movements all the time keep him in a crate and also instruct other family members to follow suit.

5. It’s quite natural for puppies to make mistakes. So, keep him in a room which has washable flooring so that it’s easier for you clean it up.

6. Try to maintain a routine during potty training. His feeding time, bed time and wake-up time should almost be the same everyday.

7. If your puppy is on dry food he would need more water to keep himself hydrated. So what you should do is feed him at least 4 hours before bedtime and then make him urinate 2 hours before going to bed.

8. During the course of potty training take him to potty after every meal especially in the morning and also before going to bed at night. If he falls asleep after an active session of play and then wakes up accompany him to the place demarcated for pooping. This would help him to understand that this is the place where has to come when he wants to poop.

9. Try to give him a feeling that this is serious business. So, unless he’s done don’t play with him. But if he still doesn’t listen, confine him in a crate for sometime and again take him to potty. If he complies this time shower him with praises and also offer rewards. Also, wait for some time because they usually don’t finish in one go. So, give him ample time before you take him into the house.

10. Keep his potty spotlessly clean both for the purpose of hygiene and also because pets are oversensitive to odor.

11. There are certain signals which a pet usually gives when he wants to potty. They include turning in circles, sniffing the floor, or arching his back while walking. So if you notice any of these quickly rush him to the appropriate place.

12. If he tends to dart into the house, discourage him. Rather take him to the designated place immediately.

You can’t expect him to learn things in one go. So, you have to brace yourself up for accidents. Don’t scold him because you have to understand that he didn’t do it deliberately. As because he hasn’t yet been taught where to defecate he’s messing up places you wouldn’t want him to. So, give him some time before he adapts himself to this new habit graciously.

Little nest for your pet...

A good number of pet owners improvise upon buying separate dog houses for their dogs. Normally, the dogs are a bit noisy. They shed a lot of hair, pee anywhere and can be a real mess. Keeping dogs at dog house would help you save these kinds of situations. This does not mean that you would alienate yourself from your pet, but just manage them in a more appropriate way. While the idea of having a dog house may appear appealing at first, there are a couple of points to be considered in this regard.

First and foremost, a dog house should be built keeping in mind the size and stature of your dog. A dog house should be able to accommodate your dog comfortably and should not pose out to be an impediment to his lifestyle.

Secondly it is always better to place your dog house in some shady area beneath trees. It is important to incorporate a ceiling as a part of your plan so as to block scorching sun rays from affecting your pooch. Ideally the base material of the dog house should be made from that of wood. It does not only make the place cooler but also makes it aesthetically beautiful. The appearance of the dog house could range from classic to something of retro fashion.

Last but never the least; a home is an epitome of solace. It is one of the few places in the world that would wrap you with comfort and a kind of coziness that is rare to find. In some way, owning a home is like having a boost in your self identity. If that is so, why should our pets be deprived of having their own homes?

The ravishing dancer...

This doggy would certainly leave you scrambling for words. I have had my share of entertainment. Now its your turn friends.

Watch this cool video and have fun:

ABC’s of dog training...

The saying goes that dog is man's best friend. The authenticity of the statement cannot be over estimated. However, it is our human nature that we try to groom everything and everyone the way we want them to be, the way we feel is comfortable to us. It holds for everything around us including our pets.

You certainly love your dog, but can't let it behave in imprudent ways. For that, you really need to train your dog, groom him properly with etiquettes and make him so much so well behaved that you are not subject to social situations that could be embarrassing.

In order to groom your dog properly, you really need t take care of some essentials. First and foremost, it is absolutely essential to build a relationship with your dog. This is really important as your dog should understand what you communicate and respect you enough to follow your instructions. The relationship should be based on mutual trust and respect. He should have enough confidence and trust that what you suggest is for his benefit.

It is important to completely eradicate the old school of dog training that combined harsh techniques like beating and whipping your dog to train him. This makes him more stubborn and after some point he just refuses to take your orders. Make sure you provide your dog ample opportunity to socialize. Once he mingles with other dogs he gets to learn manners and imitates them. This proves healthy in the long run and your dog gets adequately trained with social culture and norms.