Cattle

Archive for August 2nd, 2009

Why should pooches have to suffer with just a mat or rug on the floor while their owners are cuddling up in a posh bed with fluffy pillows and down-topped mattresses? Doesn’t man’s bet friend deserve some considerations?

Now your pet can sleep in style, as well, with a number of upscale dog beds on the market. What kind of bed you should get for your pooch depends on their needs.

If you have an older dog that’s starting to creak and hurt in his old age, there are upscale dog beds designed to make them a little more comfortable. If you live in a colder climate that is uncomfortable for your pup, you can consider a heated pet bed that will keep their muscles and joint from tightening up. Another great upscale pet bed for older dogs is an orthopedic dog bed. Dogs are like people when it comes to old aching body parts as they age. A dog orthopedic bed has 8 or more inches of supporting foam, with a layer of fleece on the top for comfort, then a headrest pillow, so they can enjoy a great sleep.

If your pet hasn’t gotten to the age where they need that kind of support yet, you may just want to let them show off a bit with fun, upscale dog beds. Some of the simple designs are large cushion or pillow beds that are personalized with the pooch’s name on them. Others have even more style.

Some upscale dog beds are made to look more like people furniture than pet furniture. These upscale dog beds may look like sofas, albeit smaller than the one in your living room. These doggie sofas have cushions and look like the real thing, but have enough space for your dog to stretch out and be supported by thick foam. Additionally, you can select colors of these sofas to match your home in shades from terracotta to cool sky, silver and even Wedgewood.

For some pampered pooches, good upscale dog beds are all about the material. From microvelvet to suede and fleece, there are materials to meet even the most discerning pup’s preferences.

If you have a dog that likes to get away from the public you can let them create their own little world in upscale dog beds that are designed like a pouch. Your pet can crawl inside and feel safe in their own den.

For the traveling hound, there are even upscale dogs beds to make sure they are cozy on the road, with a sleepover travel bed that rolls up and has shoulder straps for easy carrying, by a human. When you roll out the bed, it’s not just some tired sleeping bag, but three layers of fiber filling for comfort, and inner cushions with fleece.

No longer do dogs have to be left with boring beds, the world of upscale dog beds has come a long way and has something for every k-9 taste.

If you are a cat owner, you must have given up on  obedience training at some point in your life. Maybe you thought cat training was similar to a dog’s and you have tried unsuccessfully to train your cat to do a simple task or to recognize your voice but ended up frustrated. You see, teaching cats obedience is vastly different from dog training.

Cats are not obedient by nature and they don’t correlate your words to the action you want them to do. You have to be patient and determined with cats and you have to understand how their thoughts work. If the cat is not in the mood to obey your command or what you’re asking him to do is not in his nature, meting punishment on him will not change anything. Your cat will simply zone out on you and go where he can avoid you. To make cat obedience training a success for you and your cat, here are some tips to try.

The first thing to keep in mind about cat obedience training is that more weight is given to rewarding positive behavior rather than to punishing bad behavior.

• Cats want affection and attention from their owners and speaking to him in a soothing voice and patting him when he does something you approve of is part of cat obedience training.
• Praise him when he gets into the litter box and refrain from scolding him when he doesn’t. Cats also love treats. Always keep some on hand and give him one when he gets into the harness without any resistance. This will make him associate the act with the treat and soon, he will get into the harness without any trouble as he anticipates his treat. Repeat this type of cat obedience training with everything else.
• Reward him for doing what you want but don’t punish him if he doesn’t.
• Stretch your patience and dig your feet in with determination. It won’t be long before you see the effectiveness of your training and you are the proud owner of an obedient pet cat.

In your training program, review the behaviors you are teaching your cat to do. The behaviors you have in mind might be activities that cats don’t consider normal or natural for them. Unlike for dogs, fetching a ball and returning it to you or jumping through hoops are not typical cat behavior and your cat can be obstinate and refuse to do them. Instead of thinking that your cat obedience training is not successful and blaming yourself, stop and think about your cat’s nature. Unreasonable commands are not part of cat obedience training.

Teach him to stay away from houseplants or keep out of high shelves, not to catch a Frisbee or to roll over. Knowing what and how to teach your cat is one way of turning him into the obedient pet he ought to be.