Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!

Pets On A Budget!

Last year I went grocery shopping and as I went up the pet isle to get my cat  food I remember seeing a small crowd in front of the canned goods shelf. By crowd, I mean two obviously senior citizens. They were standing right in front of the brand I always buy. I quickly understood why they were looking so upset, the price had gone up! Previously it had been 50 cents a can and it had gone up to 70 cents. Twenty cents may not seem like a lot to some folks but, depending on how much you buy and your budget, especially if it’s on a fixed  income, it does make a difference.

With all of us having to watch our spending these days, our pet expenses definitely factor in as well. However, with some creative thinking we can find some ways to cut some of our costs without sacrificing quality of life.

Food plays a large and constant part in pet care costs. Have you ever checked out the many websites where you can download printable coupons for pet food? Here are a few:

• http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2005/10/pet-coupons.html
• http://www.purina.com/petlover/index.aspx
• http://www.mahalo.com/pet-food-coupons

You may not get hundreds of dollars off but remember that 20 cents increase? If you know someone who does not have access to a computer, print some out for them too. Of course, be sure to check your local weekly newspaper and the fliers that come to your home for coupons.

Medical bills are also a big factor in pet costs. Now is the time to put aside feelings of pride. Hopefully you already have a veterinarian you have come to trust with your pet. Talk to him or her and let them know if money is tight for you right now. If your pet needs medication, they may be able to prescribe a more generic brand or lower cost alternative. At my vets office they have a sign saying Payment Due Upon Service, but you’ll never know if you don’t ask. Maybe your vet would be willing to take payments especially if you have been going to them for years. Today’s economy is not isolated to one group or one region of the country, just be honest and maybe he or she will work with you.

Be sure to pick up a pet newspaper that you might find at the vets office or pet stores, they have a wealth of ongoing information that might help you save some money. Local shelters offer free or no-cost vaccinations as well as spaying and neutering.

Every little bit counts, the money you save will not only help you and your family monetarily but lessens stress and concern.

Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisper suggested in a recent newsletter that if you really can’t afford a pet at this time, consider volunteering at places such as shelters and rescues. Keep “adopting a dog or cat” on your wish list for the time when things turn around for you.

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Dog Parks. What a great idea! Imagine being able to take your buddy to a big, open field and letting him or her safely play and run around with dozens of other dogs. What a great way to provide exercise, especially for those rambunctious, high-energy teenagers that often become destructive and “self-employed” at home when they have nothing else to do. How many of us have come home to torn sofa cushions, shredded plants, neighbors complaining about incessant barking, etc.?

Dog parks can provide a wonderful opportunity for your dog to learn appropriate dog-to-dog behavior with dogs of all ages, sizes and temperaments. In addition to all these benefits, dog parks often offer us humans a chance to get out of the house and spend some time socializing and meeting new friends.

Most people who take their dogs to dog parks are respectful, polite, responsible, and look out not only for their own dog, but for other people’s dogs as well. After all, if one dog gets hurt, everyone is affected. And most dog parks are well maintained, clean and safe. With so many benefits to taking your dog to a dog park, are there any disadvantages?

Not a month goes by that I don’t hear from one of my clients that his dog or his neighbor’s dog was hurt at a dog park. And in 99% of the cases, it all had to do with the attitude of the human. A well-known actor (this is L.A. after-all) brought two of his dogs to a park and as soon as the dogs entered, they zeroed in on a Lab who was resting underneath a picnic table. Within seconds, cries and growls filled the air. People rushed to help the Lab who sustained multiple puncture wounds. When the actor finally arrived at the scene, he simply declared, “Hey, dogs are dogs, they were only playing.”

On another occasion, a woman came directly from a rescue with her new 80 lb dog and wanted to see how he would behave around other dogs. The dog attacked a small, blind Pekinese and caused several thousands of dollars in medical care.

In other cases, dogs are hurt because of how they play: some dogs are much more physical than others, resulting in unintentional injuries. Others never learned appropriate dog etiquette because of the lack of proper socialization when they were young. As a result, their pushy behavior often results in misunderstandings that trigger fights.

In addition, not every dog likes to visit dog parks. Older dogs sometimes care less about being around other dogs and are perfectly content interacting only with their humans. Well-intentioned as some people are, they can facilitate problems because they fail to read their dog’s body language, which is telling them, “Get me out of here!”

So what should you look for? Visit a park before you bring your dog. Talk to people. Safe parks all have one thing in common: a good park is one where people will not put up with aggressive dogs and they look out for one another. Make sure there is a separate area for small dogs. How clean is the park? Is water available? If you find yourself stepping over mounds of feces, it’s a good bet that park isn’t for you and your dog. See if the park has a ranger that oversees activities. This is rare but really says a lot about safety.

Once you’ve chosen a dog park, don’t bring food or your dog’s favorite toys as that often causes problems. Notice how other dogs are behaving and if play becomes to rowdy, interrupt it before a problem arises. If your dog seems fearful, leave the park.

Know your dog. If your dog displays aggression or fearfulness, don’t take your dog to a dog park. You can work on behavioral problems with a trainer but in the meantime, you can take your dog for walks or jogs, play fetch, hide-and-go seek and “find-it.”

There are wonderful dog parks out there that benefit both people and dogs. To find them, do a little investigation, use your good common sense, be responsible and keep a watchful eye. You and your dog can have a lot of fun!

Paul Owens is the author of “The Dog Whisperer” DVD and the book, “The Dog Whisperer, A Compassionate Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training“. He has been Certified by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers and Endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. Paul is the Director of Raise with Praise, Inc. Dog training. For more information, visit http://www.DogWhispererDVD.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Owens

Since people  and dogs have been hanging out together they have been big on sharing. We’ve been sharing housing, sharing work, sharing hunting and also sharing food. Cat domestication has also brought about a lot of sharing. Cats have shared the fire and the hearth since they were gods back in Egypt, made so because they were such great mousers. All this sharing has a good news/bad news component. The good news is the wonderful bond we have with our pets. I recently heard someone say that they, the animals could probably do nicely without us but we surely could not do without them!  The bad news is that we share many of the same afflictions such as arthritis, cancer, and kidney problems just to name a few.

We’ve been talking about the problem of pets being overweight. That’s a fact that can’t be denied, proper feeding and exercise is the remedy for that. The question is what should we be feeding them? Let’s look at our own eating issues first and we might get a clue. Back a few generations, Mom stayed home and cooked hardy home-made meals. People had three squares a day plus desert but weight was not such a problem as it is today. People ate healthy food probably grown locally and they moved a lot more and by doing so got more exercise. Pets were fed table scraps from the same healthy food the family was eating and were out running around with the kids.

During WWII a phenomenon called K-rations came about. K-rations were canned foods that the soldiers could eat while in the field. When Mom went to work by necessity during WWII she had less time for cooking. In order to feed the family she started turning to fast, convenient foods that came in a can from the grocery store. Before canned goods people used to “can” fresh fruits and vegetables in Mason jars.

Since that time we have been relying on and eating more and more convenience foods. Today it has been recognized that there is a necessity to take the time and eat healthier. We saved a lot of time in the past but at a great expense to our bodies. The true damage has yet to be determined. Today we have choices such natural food and organic food to add to the menu.

Organic foods are foods which are grown without the use of pesticides and chemicals is taking us back to those days of healthy eating. Recently my favorite grocery store did a remodel and they are now prominently displaying organic food.

Unfortunately we took our pets on that fast food ride with us. Commercial pet foods today are as full of preservatives as ours. In 2007 there was a widespread pet food recall, quite a few dogs and cats died as a result of food they had been fed. Trusted brands like Eubanka, Iams, Nutro Ultra and Master Choice were quickly taken off the shelves and people were understandably worried. This was a time for us to step back and take a close look at what’s out there. There are basically three choices:

•    Regular pet food: You get it at the grocery store or pet store. It’s readily available and convenient.
•    Natural Food: The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines natural food. Natural foods are basically foods which contain vitamins C and E as preservatives not chemicals such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate. They also have in them meats such as chicken, lamb or beef instead of unspecified by-products of various animals.
•    Organic Pet Food: The National Organic Program of the US Department of Agriculture Organic (NOPA) defined organic pet food in 2002. It is defined as pet foods manufactured by “certified organic” companies. These are free of pesticides, synthetic chemicals, antibiotics and additives. “All Natural” pet food usually embodies these traits, but are not regulated by this certification. Meats found in organic pet food are grown free range, or are considered “organic” given their lack of antibiotics.

The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is an independent, third party agency. Their label assures you that a product is organic and has passed specific labeling and manufacturing requirements, this takes the guess work out of it.

What are the benefits of feeding your dog or cat organic food?

•    Healthier coats
•    Allergy Protection
•    Reduced skin ailments
•    Better health
•    Improved physical condition
•    Longer lifespan

You can just look at a healthy person and see their skin glow, their eyes bright and pep in their step. You can also look at a healthy cat or dog and see their coats shine, a gleam in their eyes and their tails wagging. They are more active and full of life because their bodies aren’t at war with all the junk in their bodies.

Here is a challenge for you, take the organic test for yourself. After eating organic food and adopting an overall healthy lifestyle for a while see if you don’t feel better. Next do the same for your pet and watch them enjoy life too!

Photo by alfonso benayas Released under Creative Commons

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"I really need to get in shape."

It’ easy enough to say that we need to exercise our dogs more and watch what they eat in order to keep them at a good weight and therefore healthy. This is the same principle we humans should follow. Long walks and lots of play will usually take care of the exercise part. Watch as Cesar Millan has a dog walking on a treadmill , most of us will probably not be doing this however this pretty amazing. Besides most of us can use the nice walk outside!

• Choose a dog food that has a high meat content, be sure it is the first ingredient listed. The can may say meat meal which is meat with the moisture removed. It’s even better if it has meat as two or three out of five top-listed ingredients.
• Grain will also be listed, you want to see the high quality ones such as Oatmeal, Brown Rice and Barley. There should also be vegetables, maybe even fruit.