PetSugar

Dog, Meet Baby: The All-Important First Introduction

Lisa Horten — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:04:33 PDT

You've done everything you can to prep your pup for that major life event on the horizon. Now all that's left is to play your role as mediator during the crucial first meeting of your beloved canine child and your newborn. A baby who's just a few days old is unlikely to have any reaction to his new four-legged sibling, but the dog? That's another story. To ensure that the first introduction goes as smoothly as possible, follow these easy guidelines from the one and only dog whisperer, Cesar Millan.

Get Rid of Excess Energy: Take your dog on a long walk to use up energy before bringing him or her in to meet the new baby. Before returning to the house, wait at the doorstep for a minute, and make sure the dog's mood is calm and submissive.
Scent-sational: Give your pup a minute to sniff around. He'll instantly recognize the new scent in the house, and if you've introduced an item of the baby's beforehand, then the dog will already be accustomed to it.
It's Go Time: When the actual introduction occurs, Mom or Dad should be holding the baby. It's important that the parents' state be calm yet assertive. Allow the dog to sniff the baby, becoming familiar with him or her from a distance.
Earn Their Trust: During the first meeting, keeping a respectful distance between the dog and newborn is important. Gradually, however, the dog can be allowed closer and closer to the baby. Using this method establishes the baby as another "pack leader" to your pup.
Then What? As the baby becomes more active and interested in his or her surroundings, it's crucial that all interactions be supervised by a parent. Just as the dog needs to maintain a respectful distance from the baby, it's equally imperative that the baby know not to bother the dog, pull on its tail, poke its eyes, and the like. But do your best to make sure that your dog still receives plenty of attention and affection. Try to maintain the daily routine of walks, praise, and regular feeding times. This will ensure that your dog feels secure as part of the newly expanded family.

Source: Hanna Mac

Etsy Finds: A Dozen Ways to Tell Your Pet I Love You

Elka Karl — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:46:50 PDT

In honor of National Pet Day, let's take a moment to salute our favorite furry, feathered, and finned friends. Whether you want a custom pillow or a smart new tea towel, we've found ways to celebrate your pet in the process. Keep clicking to take a peek at our favorite finds!

Website of the Day: Dog Vacay

Kelly Schwarze — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:09:08 PST

As dog owners know, the hardest part of traveling is the stress of leaving a beloved pooch at a kennel filled with strange dogs and confined spaces. To save the day is Dog Vacay, an Airbnb for the four-legged set. With a design interface strikingly similar to the human vacation site, seasoned travelers will feel like they've used the site before.

Believing that home dog boarding is the best experience for canines, Dog Vacay matches your pup with a "qualified host" based on the dog's needs and your target price. The hosts are often professional sitters or plain dog enthusiasts and are vetted in an interview process and background check before being listed on the site.

Like Airbnb, your credit card is only charged once you book a reservation and your host accepts. Understandably, meeting who will take care of your favorite friend ahead of time is a concern, so Dog Vacay allows hosts and travelers to arrange an in-person meeting to check out where the dog will vacation before the big day.

Dog Vacay is currently only available in Los Angeles and San Francisco, with over 300 hosts total in the two cities. Insurance, emergency support, and a 24-hour customer line are at customers' disposals for feeling confident their pets are safe and sound.

Would you use Dog Vacay if the service was in your city?

5 Things to Do Before Introducing Pup to Your New Baby

Nicole Abbott — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:08:23 PST

Adjusting to life with a new baby at home can be hard on everyone - especially your pet, if he isn't prepared for all of the changes that come with an infant in the house. Mama-to-be may be worried about how to make the transition as smooth as possible for her canine baby - and there's lots she can do to help.

Click through to check out this list of five things to do before introducing your dog and new baby to ensure a stress-free start to a lifetime friendship!

Last-Minute Gifts For Your Faithful Companion

Kelly Schwarze — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:24:05 PST

Hold it! Before you reward yourself with a sweet treat for checking off every name from your shopping list, have you found something for the cuddliest on the list? Don't forget the pets that made you smile all year. These tech choices for pets are eligible for speedy shipping so Whiskers and Fluffy won't miss out on the present action.

Geeky Costumes For Your Dog

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:18:16 PDT

Halloween may be the time to get all dolled up and head out with your pals for a night of debauchery, but what about your four-legged BFF? No need to leave your dog at home - there are a number of costumes for pets that will show off your geeky side and send tails wagging as you trick-or-treat. No elaborate AT-AT crafting required.

Do You Let Your Pet Sleep in Your Bed?

Leta Shy — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:25:10 PDT

Pets are part of the family, but does that mean they should be able to sleep in your bed? While some people may not have a problem with it, others get slightly grossed out by the thought.

There's good reason. Letting your pet sleep in your bed can worsen your allergies, since they'll be shedding pet dander and dust mites, not to mention the fact that they can track dirt and bacteria into your bed. And then there's the problem of fleas. Summer is prime-time flea season, and if you aren't careful, your cat or dog can introduce those little pests into your bedroom before you know it.

I have to admit, though, that I let my cat sleep at the foot of my bed, although I am having second thoughts about whether I should. What about you; do you let your pets sleep with you?

Do You Have a Pet in Your Household?

Julia Millay Walsh — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:35:00 PDT

I am not a pet person by any means. I can appreciate the cuteness of puppies and kittens, but I am adamantly against letting them live in my house. I can't even have "an outdoor dog"; I can't handle the shedding, the slobbering, or the kitty litter in my daily life. That said, it baffles me when people have exotic pets like this monkey, which we'll see in the cast of The Hangover Part II, out Friday, or pigs. I once met a girl with her very own Wilbur living in her suburban home - not a farm, just a three-bedroom on a half-acre of land. That's just a whole other ball game to me.

Do you own any pets - exotic or otherwise?

Outtakes: Baby Cracks Up When Dog Chases Bubbles

LilSugar — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:01:18 PDT

In show business, they tell actors to steer clear of kids and pets because they steal the show. Well, that's certainly the case here! The only thing that could make a baby giggling nonstop any cuter is an adorable dog trying to eat soap bubbles. This video is all kinds of adorable!

Do You Think Your Pet Is Self-Conscious?

Tara Block — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:00:00 PST

By self-conscious I don't mean your dog refusing to go outside after you've dressed him in a leprechaun costume for fear the neighborhood pups will make fun of him. The debate stems from a scientific test that's used on people and animals to determine if they are self-aware. The test includes marking the baby or animal and then seeing if he notices the marking in his reflection. Apparently, dogs don't pass. One dog enthusiast felt this was an unfair test for sniff-centric doggies, so he tried to prove that pups are self-aware with his own scent-based experiment, resulting in less-than-concrete findings. Until we know for sure, I'm curious, do you think your pet has a sense of self?

Source: Flickr User janet goulden