PetSugar

To the Rescue: Jumping Dog Just Won't Quit

PetSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:50:36 -0800

Do you have a jumpy dog? My lil guy definitely tries to leap on strangers (for kisses) and it's something we're constantly working on since he doesn't do this to me. If I have company over, my friends all know the training method I use:

Grabbing his paws! When a dog jumps up on you (or strangers), gently grasp his paws and hold them firmly in place. While at first most pups won't care, when you don't let go, chances are they'll get more uncomfortable, struggle, and try to get away. When this happens, say "off" or "down" (depending on the word you favor) and let go. Immediately follow this by asking him to sit and rewarding when he follows through. Repeat this process every time your dog jumps up.

Learn one more commonly accepted method to limit jumping when you read more.

Stepping on the leash! Simply leave a leash on your pet indoors when company's coming so it drags around behind him. Whenever you notice your pooch ready to jump, place your foot on the leash. Don't stomp so close that he immediately notices your foot, but don't leave enough slack for him to jump all the way up. When he jumps, say "off" or "down," and the leash should help correct him. Follow up with a sit command and reward as above. Please note, this really works best on collared pets – I tried it with North's harness and he was either able to jump or got tangled (and fell sideways) which wasn't too effective on my lil guy!

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Do You Let Pets Jump Up?

PetSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:30:23 -0700

One of my favorite comments from last night's episode of Greatest American Dog came from Laurie's interaction with the other contestants' dogs. While her Maltese, Andrew, is tiny, he's also super mellow and well-behaved. When Presley (Travis's big Boxer) jumped up on her, she seemed shocked and said that wasn't OK with "Auntie Laurie" . . . ha! How do you feel about your pets jumping up on strangers?

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The Scoop: First H1N1 Cat Case Confirmed by AVMA

PetSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:41 -0800

Following last week's case in Oregon where vets confirmed the first H1N1 transmission between a human and a pet ferret, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has confirmed that a 13-year-old, indoor-only cat in Iowa in fact has swine flu.

While it's uncommon for flu viruses (like the H3N8 for dogs) to jump between species, doctors at Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine performed two sets of tests to find the feline was in fact infected. According to her owners, they had been sick with flu-like symptoms before noticing the cat was ill and, until recently, there was no reason to think cats could catch the 2009 swine flu. Kitty symptoms are primarily respiratory, which includes sneezing and teary eyes, as well as any unusual food refusal.

Get the CDC's tips for interacting with all pets (and people) when you read more.

As with humans, the CDC recommends:

Wash your hands frequently.
Cough or sneeze into elbows.
Discard any tissues out of reach of cats.
As hard as this is, be a little less affectionate with your animal (distance-wise) while you're ill.

Source: Flickr User theogeo

Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over Lazy Dog: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:30:27 -0700

The saying comes true for this fox and that dog - Urlesque
Adorable video of black panther cubs frolicking along - Paw Nation
Side-by-side pet insurance chart helps you pick and choose - Dogtime
Pattern and Paw adds 13 new designs - moderncat
Pet Fennec Fox cuddles with his doggie pal - Wag Reflex
Commission a realistic, life-size sculpture of your furry friend? - People Pets
XOXO. Blake and Penny rest on the Gossip Girl set - Celebrity Dog Watcher
Lost dog reappears nine years and 1,200 miles later - Dogster

Dog Anklets: Spoiled Sweet or Spoiled Rotten?

PetSugar — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:00:19 -0700

Sweat, sweat, sweat it out! If your active pooch is into the whole aerobics scene - all that jumping seems rather high-impact - he's gotta keep the sweat from his doggie paws or wipe it from his doggie brow. I'm kidding about the purpose, but let's discuss terrycloth anklets for dogs - one set for $4 makes them only a buck each. Is that still too much for you?

Do Tell: Dog's View of Sprinklers - Time to Attack or Jump Back?

PetSugar — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:00:58 -0700

It's fun to get wet and wild, but not unsupervised! Some dogs will run up to sprinklers and drink 'til their lil mouths are content . . . which usually causes some of that liquid to come back up later on, if you get my drift. Nevertheless, it's fun to watch a furball attack the sprinkler - I guess the big "water monster" does look pretty threatening. How do your pets react to these high-powered hoses?

Do Tell: What's the Pet-Friendliest City?

PetSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:00:14 -0700

NYC jumps straight to my mind as the pet-friendliest city with the sheer number of boutiques, high-end services, and dog runs, but, after that, what's next? Now a couple months back I rounded up a list of cat-friendly places, but Rent.com recently released a list of the Top 10 Pet-Friendly Cities, and I've gotta say I was surprised not to see a few of my faves on it. At first I was bristling about San Francisco's low placement, but then I remembered how hard it was for me to find a pet-friendly place here . . . and I'm inclined to agree that it's far from number one considering rental industry data.

Check out their list and share your favorite cities for animal lovers and pet owners when you read more.

New York, NY
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
Houston, TX
San Francisco, CA
Austin, TX
Washington, DC/ Alexandria, VA
Portland, OR
Charleston, SC
Ann Arbor, MI

Tune In: New Documentary Explores the "Cat Ladies" Concept

PetSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:10:25 -0700

Misunderstood like no other, "crazy cat lady" is a cultural stereotype that plagues women of a certain age with a few too many feline companions. My single pals with kitties often confess they don't share this fact with prospective beaus off the bat, just in case he jumps to an unfair conclusion.

Enter a new documentary, Cat Ladies - it shows four unique situations where women have "lives and self-worth have become intractably linked to cats" and aims to bring awareness to this phenomenon. We've just got the trailer for now but, when it's released, will you tune in?

Rachel Bilson's Jump to the Big Screen

PopSugar — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:10:08 -0700

Rachel Bilson was carrying her Thurman Murman again around L.A. yesterday, but it looks like she eventually got the hang of that leash. We've been pretty obvious about gushing over Rachel's upcoming appearance on Chuck, but now we've got even more to look forward to. Buzz has your first look at Jumper, the movie that made Rachel and Hayden Christensen fast friends and maybe more. The trailer looks pretty futuristic and Hayden-centered, but we love to promote cute Rachel, even in a supporting role.

More of Rachel and her doggie about town so just read more

View 10 Photos ›

Flynet

Nontraditional Products to Help Destroy Doggie's Bad Breath

PetSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:00:59 -0700

Is doggie's mouth not so fresh and clean? If so, Fido isn't alone. More than half of PetSugar readers say their dogs have stinky mouth odor. Like humans, grody animal breath may be an aftereffect of a smelly treat, diet or body chemistry. You can take prevention steps by routinely brushing with meant-for-doggies toothbrush and toothpaste. Sadly, it can also be a symptom of greater health problems such as inflammation of soft tissue in the mouth, regurgitation or wart virus, so ask your vet to sniff out possible health concerns if you notice a certain stench.

Vets recommend that you routinely rinse or brush your dog's mouth out to kill major bacteria, but it's not an activity that makes doggie jump for joy. Check out some nontraditional products that will help keep your best friend's breath fresh between standard cleanings when you read more.

Tartar-Reducing Flossies: If doggie hates when you brush his teeth, try Flossies ($7 each). Think of these bones as beefy gum. The tendons make your dog lick his chops as he chews and create a friction to help clean his teeth.
Dental Swipes: Fast and Fresh Dental Swipes ($16) sounds great . . . kinda like a disinfecting wipe for your pets' teeth. The pre-moistened pads have an all-natural combo of peppermint, parsley, and baking soda to fight plaque and bacteria and promote healthy gums and teeth.
Chomper toys: Hard, rubbery toys with ridges and bumps stimulate gums, clean teeth, and keep him rather busy in the process. Braided floss products remove food debris, reduce plaque and tartar build up, and add in fluoride and mint to freshen breath, too.
Pop a breath mint: If you've tried everything (including a check up with the vet), and still don't think your pet is ready for a kissing scene, you might consider stocking up on some breath mints.

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