PetSugar

I Need Your Help . . . Must Two Dogs Equal Two Leashes?

PetSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:00:27 -0700

Whether it's double trouble or two times the fun, two pups definitely provide twice the tangles when being walked together. I'm a fan of tandem leashes (like this one) in theory, but I've never had to hook North up with another furry friend.

Community Member Kelli Ann asks:

This is our second dog and we want to try out a dual leash. The pups are about 25 lbs each and are both good on a leash. Any insight/tips/recommendations would be much appreciated because two separate leashes can be a little tricky!

All of you multiple pet owners or generous dog walkers share any advice to not get your dogs' signals, and your leashes, crossed. (And, as always, feel free to private message me or post questions in our Pet Peeves group and we'll help you out ASAP.)

I Need Your Help . . . Help Name This Puppy!

PetSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:00:43 -0700

Calling all creatives, SexyAndy needs our help! Well, see this cute face? He needs a name. The soon-to-be doggie mom can finally pick up the three-month-old pup from the shelter on Saturday but would love to hear from us:

Please give me your ideas on what to name him, I want a strong name because he's so small!

If you've got ideas for this Min Pin/ Shih Tzu mix, leave them in the comments below!

I Need Your Help . . . Cat Eats Every Fabric Scrap Found!

PetSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:00:32 -0700

Now it's one thing if your feline fixates on one particular item you can keep out of reach (for a pal, it's their sponge), but what do you do if a pet seems to want to eat every cut of cloth he gets his claws into?! Community Member Flack explains:

Our little guy, Malachi, is eating everything and has been doing so for over a year. We can't have curtains, we hide our cushions and dish towels, we keep our towels out of the bathroom and make sure to keep our bedroom and all closets closed. But still, he manages to find the one thing we've forgotten (a sock, a cardigan on the back of a chair, a fleece blanket peeking out of the linen closet). He was a special rescue, and we love him to bits, but we can't spend the next 15 years hiding every scrap of fabric - please tell me you have some sort of idea how to fix this!

She turned up a few mentions of Pica - referring to animals craving and eating non-food items - through research, but can't very well douse her entire home with bitter apple spray and really needs tips on how to get her precious pal to turn his nose up at non-edible, non-treats. Offer your suggestions in the comments below and remember if you have questions to be answered, either send me a private message or simply post to the Pet Peeves group - we're all here to help!

I Need Your Help . . . Ear Protection From Rain?

PetSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Rainy days go away! Not only does the wet stuff totally annoy some pets, it can be harmful, too. Check out this message about a three-year-old blue American Pitbull:

We rescued Diva at seven months old, and she had already had her ears clipped. It was a chop job to say the least - the problem now is that she is getting gunk in her ears when we walk, especially in the rain. I am looking for something to protect her ears and not block her hearing.

To see my advice, and offer your own, read more.

First off, I'd check with a vet to confirm that build up isn't coming from an infection. To keep ears clean, pick up a safe cleanser with Almond or Macadamia nut oils to repel water and soften stubborn wax. Anyone else have any suggestions to make walk time less sticky and less waterlogged?

(Remember if you have questions to be answered, either send me a private message or simply post to the Pet Peeves group - we're all here to help!)

I Need Your Help . . . Share Tips For At-Home Coat Clipping!

PetSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:15:04 -0700

Temps are heating up and for long-haired pups, Summer means time for a new 'do. For long-haired breeds, shedding is year-round battle, and frequent baths and trims can help the problem . . . but costs add up. TeamSugar user Lynne writes in about her Golden Retriever:

Since I'm not an expert, can you provide any insight and tips on the best products, methods, and stylings to accomplish reducing his fur coat during the Summer? I already have a Furminator, but that takes a lot of time and I don't want to irritate his (pale) skin with too many strokes. I'm hoping I can use the clippers with a 1-2 inch guard but would like some further advice.

Several companies make at-home trimmer kits with DVDs, but I've never used any on my short-haired pup. Can anyone offer up some tips or product suggestions to help Lynne and Sonny out?

I Need Your Help . . . How to Deal With "Happy Pee"

PetSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:00:26 -0700

Over the weekend, I met a Maltese with a bit of a pee-pee problem. The owner scooped her up, apologized profusely when I wanted into the apartment, and admitted she had no idea how to predict or stop this.

Flashback to a childhood friend of mine: we knew to knock on her door and immediately step back so her pooch would come outside to greet us . . . and thus pee on the steps, not in the foyer. This accidental piddling often occurs around new voices and people in the home - some believe it's a nervous reaction that comes from fear, while others term it "happy pee" since it often happens around strangers/excitement. If you've experienced this submissive behavior, share your thoughts on it, and how to deal, in the comments below!

Source

I Need Your Help . . . Potty Time on Cross Country Cat Drives?

PetSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:22 -0700

Most kitties are not lining up to take a car ride like the cutely curious cat pictured. Leaving the house way less frequently than canine counterparts, home is definitely where their hearts stay.Relocating with a pet that hates cars is not easy but I've never stopped to consider the litter problem for trips including several days of driving. When advising about what to do with pets and movers on Thursday, I spotted this bathroom break question in the comments - peep it when you read more.

TeamSugar user Jabbadoo says:

I'm moving cross country by driving my car out over three or four days. I'm concerned about the logistics with two cats - they yowl like I'm torturing them on the way to the vet one mile away so how will they do for hours in a car? Yes, they have a big crate but do I put the litter box in there, too? It's not like a dog where I can pull over at a rest stop and let them out to run around a little so if anyone has any tips on this, please let me know!

Since I've never driven long distances with a feline friend, I'd love to hear your suggestions or solutions to the all-important potty problem in the comments below.

Source

I Need Your Help . . . Has a Groomer Ever Injured Your Dog?

PetSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:55:40 -0700

Ouch! My friend's puppy made a recent trip to the groomer . . . and left with these battle scars. As you can see from the pictures, the lil pooch had some visible scrapes and cuts in a newly shorn coat. The facility came highly recommended, but she was admittedly concerned beforehand when they wouldn't let her stay to watch his first haircut. Now I've definitely heard of that practice – especially with young pups who may get overly excited by mom and dad's presence and for liability issues with other dogs around but I can relate to her anger, seeing her pooch with bow-owwies afterward.I've never brought my short-haired pup in for a trim so it's up to you to share your experiences. Have you ever returned to a groomer to see unexpected injuries and what would you do in this situation?

I Need Your Help . . . Barking Dog in Neighbor's Backyard!

PetSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:00:33 -0700

Now we've tackled barking issues on the site in the past, but my new pal, TrèsSugar came to me with one noisy dilemma. Turns out a neighbor has two dogs kept in the backyard at night. However, the two pups don't seem to care for this set-up as they bark or, as she says, one barks and the Pug sounds more like coughing or choking as it tries to chime in. Even though the woman occasionally sticks her head out the window to yell at them, the problem's keeping Très up at night.

I understand we live in the (fairly) temperate San Francisco, yet I'd never dream of leaving a dog outside, especially a smooshy! It's another case of who to call or what to do – I've got a couple ideas in mind but I'm curious how you would handle this sad, sleepless situation so let's hear it in the comments below!

Source

I Need Your Help . . . Co-worker Won't Stop Breed Stereotyping!

PetSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:15:26 -0700

This insanely adoro pooch is named Harley – personally, I don't see how could you not love her cute face?! Well, seems her owner BloodyFuFu faces the problem that (sadly) many pittie owners see: people who want nothing to do with this breed based on things they've "heard."

Since they're in a pet-friendly office, several people bring dogs and she's worked with several co-workers to help them see how sweet her pooch is . . . but one has been scared of Harley since the pup was rescued two years ago and passed that fear on to her own dog. BloodyFuFu shares in the Pet Peeves group:

I can tell my dog's intentions from the pitch of her bark to her movements to her posture and I know that Harley sees this other dog as a potential playmate. The problem is really that due to fear, this woman sees Harley as a threat, her dog sees Harley as a threat, and she doesn't see when her dog is the aggressor or make any attempts to control her dog. I feel bad for trying to correct my dog for wanting to play, but I don't know what else to do. This woman also recently moved offices so now she is right next door and it seems like this will be a major issue. What can I do about someone that is unwilling to look past stereotypes and be comfortable with my dog? I don't want constant tension between the dogs, but if the owner is unwilling the dog is unwilling.

Please offer any advice below!