PetSugar

To the Rescue: How to Make Friends With a Friend's Cat

PetSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:40:14 -0700

While my house is feline-free, I've got plenty of friends with kitty housemates. Most of the time, they're pretty receptive to my overtures, but here's an easy tip I've learned the sharp way.

When reaching out to pet a cat, approach with fingers tucked under and fist together. Open hands with spread fingers can look a bit too much like unsheathed claws to some cats, and they could perceive your gentle petting desires to be a sign of aggression and lash out. Ouch. Move slowly - so you're not a moving target - and show the cat your hand first to sniff your scent before reaching in for a rub.

If you've had this problem, or other issues with animals, big and small, share your questions and concerns with our Pet Peeves group - I'm only here to help!

Source: Flickr User FriaLOve

An Earful of Air Makes the Mouth Empty

PetSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:40:41 -0700

Remember that tip I shared for a noseful of air? Well, we've picked up another bit o' advice in those comments. TeamSugar user Yogaforlife recommended an earful next.

If your pooch struggles to learn "Drop it!" and won't let go of a toy, bone, or naughty object he's grabbed in his mouth, gently blow into his ear. For some reason, the wind not only makes the pet jerk his head away, but also makes him open his mouth to let it go, too. Neat trick.

If you have more suggestions, just pop them in the comments below.

A Noseful of Air Makes the Medicine Go Down

PetSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:00:12 -0700

It's funny how dogs who would normally devour any meal seem to know when you try to sneak in some meds. Even the teeny tiniest pill imaginable. True story, it happened to a friend of mine. Concerned that lil Chico wasn't ever going to budge, she tried everything from the popular peanut butter coating to pill pockets, but her pup refused and the daily battle began.

Just when it seemed that her min pin's determination won out, she called the vet, who recommended this simple trick that actually worked: after placing the pill in the dog's open mouth, hold him and lightly blow on his nose. For some reason, this prompts the pet to swallow and helps the medicine go down. It's probably for the best - a spoonful of sugar wouldn't be good for canines anyway.

Source: Flickr User Mark Watson

Winter Walk Time? Grab the Cooking Spray First!

PetSugar — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:00:24 -0800

If your pet's still hesitant about wintertime walks, and not as willing to wear the booties as you'd hope, try the tip I was emailed just this week: Prevent those painful ice balls between paw pads and spritz the paws with a cooking spray before talking that next potty break. You'll still need to wash his feet when he gets back in (which you should be doing anyway because of the possible poisons on the sidewalks), but this will at least combat the pain that makes summertime scampering look more like slinking down the street these days.

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To the Rescue: Pop Goes the Rope Toy in the Microwave

PetSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:00:42 -0700

When I spotted this tip, I wondered why I didn't think of it myself! I know North's sweet plush toy collection can easily become a not-so-sweet breeding ground for all sorts of ickiness, just like your household sponge. I guess the yumyums stuck in your pet's teeth combined with floor dirt and slobber can create quite the coating!Just like people pop sponges into the microwave to kill bacteria, yeast, mold and more, you can actually do the same thing with your pup's favorite rope toy! Find out how when you read more.

Wet the rope toy under the faucet, shake off excess water, and place it on a safe dish in the microwave. Because of wattage variations, monitor the toy when you cook it up for one minute. Be careful when removing the dish and rope because it will be hot and (obviously) let it cool down/dry completely before giving it back to your pooch. Good as new!

Quick Training Tip: Hand Touch

PetSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:15:11 -0700

Even though many of us choose to keep our pets elsewhere during house parties, I think a friendly pup adds a special something to any bash. It's very important to have a well-trained pup in these settings . . . tons of new people, food, and noise can detract those good manners. I attended a birthday party at a friend's house over the weekend and witnessed a refocusing technique performed by their well-behaved pooch, Io. Called a hand touch, the doggie trainer introduced this behavior with a treat in hand, but now the pooch does it all by herself. Learn how to teach it to your pet when you read more.

Start out with a tiny treat held between your thumb and index finger.
Get your dog's attention so she sees/smells the treat and hold your hand out above and a little bit behind her head so she needs to sit and move her snout up – but not jump – to get the snack.
Praise in happy puppy voice . . . and repeat at different times and in different settings. Work your way up to a point where your pup will sit and touch her nose to your fingers whenever you stick your hand out like that even without a treat in your hand. This is a great technique to refocus a pup's attention on you in public.

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Spring Cleaning: DIY Pet Safe Cleaners

PetSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:30:26 -0700

Happy Spring Cleaning! By no means do we neaten up our homes only once a year, but 'tis the season to start fresh. I'm trying to live a greener lifestyle and, as an former English major, I can't even pronounce half the chemicals in several household cleansers. I've done a little research and found that many items I already have at home can do double duty as a pet safe cleaner!

Lemon Juice Lemons are sour, acidic, and generally unappealing to pets. Using a dilution, this can be added to things you don't want pets to chew (electronic cords or plants) as well as actually cleaning many surfaces on its own. The acid in lemons can neutralize hard water stains, eat away at gummy buildup and tarnish, and even remove dirt from wood floors.
White Vinegar You'll remember I suggested vinegar as a deterrent for those countertop-loving cats but d'ya know that it also works well as a cleaner by itself? If a pet has an accident on the floor, it not just controls the smell but also discourages a pup from revisiting his old marking grounds. Plus, you can use it to clean out a kitty's litter pan. Just be certain to rinse it out well afterwards and add a layer of one of our other DIY safe cleaners. What is it?

Find out when you read more.

Baking Soda Known for its odor absorption, this has to be one of my favorite kitchen items. The unsung hero of many a home . . . and many a household product – not only do I use it to bake up a treat, but it's in my deodorant, toothpaste, detergent, and even in a box in my fridge! Thinking a bit more carefully about it, why should I be surprised that (when added with water), it eliminates perspiration odors, will whiten and clean my teeth, and can be added straight to my laundry?! Sprinkled on a damp sponge, it becomes a gentle non-abrasive cleanser for kitchen counter tops, sinks, bathtubs, ovens, linoleum floors, tile, and fiberglass items – I'd rather use this to clean out my tub in case my pet decides to take a dip!

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Pet Peeves: Keep Away From My Food!

PetSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:00:09 -0800

Q: My cat is food-obsessed! I know that it can be a metabolic issue, diabetes, or a dislike of his dry food . . . but my kitty has none of these issues. How do you discipline a cat when he steals food and breaks dishes?!

A: That's one problem with kitties – they're so agile, they can often hop and climb onto places we'd rather not have them (read: countertops) leaving things we'd rather not have (read: cat hair in our food)! My first recommendation would be to try to keep the food as far away from your pet as possible. If you've got a cat that can get into a cabinet or the fridge, consider securing the doors of temptation with duct tape or looping handles together with a string before you leave the house. It's an extra step but, if your cat's as wily as I'm imagining, it may be your best bet. Now keeping your kitty off the counter to begin with is a different story altogether so read more.

Attach duct tape sticky side up or double-sided tape to the counters. Place three or four long strips onto your cat's favorite tabletop areas about three inches apart (for duct tape, add a perpendicular strip to hold those down). When his paws reach the stickiness, he should be diverted.
Tape sheets of aluminum foil to the edges and tops of the surface. Many cats don't like the crinkly sound when they land on the silvery surface, and the tape secures and deters them from thinking it's a toy.
Consider spraying counter tops with a mixture of either lemon juice and water or vinegar and water – the smell alone can keep them away . . . but possibly you, too!

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Quick Training Tip: Bring It in Public

PetSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:00:54 -0800

You've made great strides in pooch's training, so let's test his knowledge in the great outdoors. After all, as well as he may listen to you inside the house all alone, how will he fare with birds, grass, and other people around? Once your pup has mastered the words and you've varied the amount of treats and commands, begin seeing how quickly he'll sit without you saying anything or if he can hold his sit for a couple of seconds before a reward. It may sound difficult but, when you've taught your leashed pup to sit for his food, for example, he'll begin doing it as soon as you grab that dish...all on his own!

Next, see if you can get your dog to sit and stay as you back away from him while holding his leash in your backyard. If you're asking him to hold a sit, give him a treat halfway through and before he's supposed to get up. When you're ready to move on, say the release command you've chosen – that way he knows it's time to stop performing that task. If at any point you lose his attention, try it again with fewer diversions. When he's ready, take it outdoors in a busier environment like a park. I think the trickiest part of training is to hold your pup's attention in public and off lead. It's hard for most pups not to get a tad distracted in the beginning, and don't give up if it doesn't happen right away. Try to work this practice into your daily walks or jaunts to the dog run – it'll take time, but the promise of having a well-trained pooch is well worth that investment!

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Quick Training Tip: Switch It Up

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:00:07 -0800

Next up, hold your pup's attention with regular, short sessions! Make training part of your daily routine – even just 10 minutes before breakfast or dinner can go a long way. Once your pup has mastered several commands (at least 85 percent of the time), gradually decrease the treats. Start by rewarding two times out of three, then every third time, until snacks are only handed out occasionally. When you switch up the rewards, you assure that your pet is not just performing for the food, but that he understands and will continue his response minus the yums! Even when not offering a savory morsel, speak in a crisp, cheerful manner and offer immediate praise in that good puppy voice. If you continue to get the desired reaction from your pup without the food, congratulations! You've mastered key commands in a "closed environment" – now tomorrow's training tip will teach you how to take it outside!

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