Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
Why Do Dogs Need Toys?
Why Dogs Need Toys?
Toys are mentally and physically stimulating and help fulfill a dog’s emotional and physical needs. Although dogs today are primarily bred as companion animals, they still need a "job." Without something to occupy their time and fulfill their chewing needs, they may choose inappropriate things, such as your couch, pillows, shoes, or anything they find around the house. This is why it is important to provide them with appropriate outlets.
Dogs, similar to children may get bored with their toys quickly. When this happens, the value of the toy as a mental and physical outlet is lost. Many trainers suggest choosing six to eight toys for each dog ensuring that each is different in texture, size, and shape. The toys should be given out a few at a time, then rotated every few days so you always have something different to play with.
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Is Your Dog A Heavy Chewer?
Is your dog a heavy chewer? Mine is! Most toys last my dog about 20 minutes before he has a hole in it and half the stuffing out. Keeping toys in the house has become expensive and a challenge until we discovered the Super Chewers box. And if your dog isn't a super chewer, they have those boxes too!
So not only are these toys tough, durable, and made for heavy chewers BUT the Super Chewer box has a 100% Happy Guarantee: If a toy isn't tough enough, it will be replaced. 100% free of charge. No proof is needed. No time limits. No questions asked.
Super Durable Toys
Each toy is designed by us and tested by our dogs to stand up to the toughest chewers. Made with strong rubber and nylon, these toys were made for chompin’.
Toys Help Your Dog Relax
Chew bones, elk or deer antlers, hooves, and other long-duration chew products promote relaxation and focused chewing. Dogs will lie down with these products (the behavior we like) and be content chewing for long periods of time.
Every Dog Needs A Kong
A Kong is a rubber beehive-shaped toy that can be filled with soft foods like cheese, peanut butter, yogurt, and much more. Your dog has to figure out how to get the food out with his tongue. Fill a Kong with canned dog food, plain white yogurt, pumpkin, sweet potato, or any other soft healthy food and freeze it. They freeze completely in about 45 minutes.
When You Have Something To Do, Give Your Dog Something To Do
If you don’t want to be distracted by your dog while you are on an important call or Zoom meeting? Send your dog to his bed or other quiet place and give him the Kong.
Kongs come in multiple sizes and can be stored in the freezer so they are always available when you want one.
A Few Important Warnings About Dog Toys
Dogs interact with their toys very differently and their interaction can change over time. A plush toy that was safe for a 10-week old puppy might not be a good choice as your dog gets older and is de-stuffing toys and swallowing the squeakers! Always supervise your dog when he is playing with a new toy and monitor the dog’s interaction with the toy regularly to ensure that the toy continues to be a safe choice.
Interactive toys are meant to be used as a team…you and your dog. These toys should only be available to your dog when you are playing together and put away when done.
Be mindful of what you give your dog as a toy. If you give your pet socks, old slippers, or articles of clothing to play with, they will see all socks, shoes, and clothing as their playthings. Dogs cannot distinguish which of your socks and shoes are okay to play with and which are not. It’s best to keep your things separate from their toys to eliminate any possible confusion.
Every Box Comes With:
- 2 TOUGH TOYS: always fluff-free
- 2 FULL-SIZE BAGS OF TREATS: customizable for allergy and diet preferences
- 2 MEATY CHEWS: always natural
Vetster: On-Demand Online Vet Appointments
If you purchase something after clicking on this link I’ll probably earn a few bucks from it at no extra cost to you.
As pet parents, our fur babies' health is always a priority but sometimes determining whether your pet needs to be seen by a vet is not clear. Everything is an emergency when our pets aren't feeling well but does that "emergency" require immediate care? We have all been faced with those situations. Vetster is an option for those times.
In the age of Covid, telemedicine has become more common place. Did you know that this option is also available for your pets?
What is veterinary telemedicine?
Veterinary telemedicine is the provision of veterinary medicine online, whether through video, voice or text chat. While it can’t replace the need to see your veterinarian in-person, it can provide peace of mind from the comfort of your own home. Telemedicine offers an accessible, affordable way to “see” the vet anytime day or night in the most efficient way.
Vetster connects pet owners to thousands of licensed veterinarians ready to provide the best online vet services through video chat appointments 24/7.
Simple, easy-to-use care solution from the comfort of your home
Using Vetster will save you time and money while helping to keep your pets more comfortable at home.
Vetster is like having your own on call online vet. It's not meant to replace regular vet care but great for questions and less serious issues such as:
- Skin issues such as rashes, itchiness and redness
- Gastrointestinal, vomiting and diarrhea
- Behavioural concerns, aggression, litter box issues
- Minor cuts and wounds
- Dietary concerns, weight loss, nutritional advice
- Puppy and kitten wellness and training
-
General pet health and wellness concerns
Convenience for when you have a pet health concern
If you are unable or if visiting your local clinic is challenging for you, we're here for all your pet health concerns, big or small.
Here when you need us with 24/7 online veterinary appointments
Vetster has online vets available 24/7, when you need it, which helps you avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room.
If you purchase something after clicking on this link I’ll probably earn a few bucks from it at no extra cost to you.
5 Simple Ways to Get Your Dog to Pay Attention
Do you find yourself trying hopelessly to get your dog’s attention? Does “in one ear and out the other” sound familiar?
Or does your dog find it easy to listen to you until he sees the dreaded mail carrier?
Whatever the case, it’s important that we owners are able to capture and hold our dog’s attention. Just imagine the consequences if our dog ran onto a busy road and was not able to listen to us calling him back.
Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
In this article we cover 5 simple tips you can apply immediately to help your dog become more attentive.
Brain Training
Brain training is a super effective way to increase your dog’s ability to pay attention to you!
Many of the games in the Brain Training for Dogs course are designed to improve your dog’s attentiveness. One of my favorites is The Airplane Game, which you can access for free.
In this simple game your dog will learn the following important skills:
- How to pay attention to you on command.
- How to maintain focus on you despite distractions – unlocking the pathway to super obedience.
- How to use his hidden intelligence to figure out puzzles.
Enter your e-mail to instantly receive your free e-book of The Airplane Game, which you can start playing with your dog right away!
The Smacking Sound
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a noise we could make at any time to get our dog to immediately pay attention to us? Well, fortunately for us there is, and it’s called the “smacking sound”! But before we can harness its power, we need to teach our dog that this particular sound = food.
To do this, with your dog in a quiet room, make a smacking sound as though you were kissing the air, then immediately give him a treat. It doesn’t matter what he’s doing when you give him the treat (so long as he’s not doing anything bad like tearing up the sofa), the idea is simply to show him that whenever he hears the sound, he gets treats. After doing this for a while, you should notice that your dog looks at you for his treat whenever you make the sound. With continued practice, you can start using the smacking sound in everyday life when you want to grab your dog’s attention!
Keep in mind, however, that the smacking sound may be less effective at times when your dog is too worked up. For example, if he has seen something outside that he reacts strongly to, your sound may go unnoticed. One remedy for this is the Look at That game found in the Brain Training for Dogs course. In Look at That, you will work specifically on teaching your dog to pay attention to the smacking sound despite strong distractions.
Note: Don’t like using the smacking sound? No problem! You can replace the smacking sound with any other sound you like, such as a whistle or a pop. Just make sure the sound you choose is loud enough to be heard in busier environments, and that it is a sound you can make yourself.
The Importance of Incentives
How would you feel about the idea of working without getting paid? This is exactly how our dogs may feel when we ask them to perform mundane tasks without rewarding them for their efforts! That is why incentives are so important in dog training.
There are many different types of incentive, but food rewards are the most common. These rewards are given to a dog whenever he successfully performs a certain action. So let’s say we just started teaching our dog to “sit” for the first time. When he sits successfully, we would reward his effort by slipping him a doggy biscuit or piece of kibble. Now, the next time we ask him to sit, he will be eager to do so because he knows that he will get something tasty in return!
Note: Slices of plain cooked chicken are high-value treats. They can be used during particularly challenging training sessions.
In the Brain Training for Dogs program you will learn techniques which allow you to stop giving your dog a treat every time he successfully performs a certain action, and also introduce other forms of reward.
Reward Voluntary Check-Ins
When you are out in the yard with your dog, how often does he pay attention to you? Most likely, not very much, as he’s far too busy exploring the world with his powerful sniffer. Maybe it’s time for a little change…
Make it a habit when you are out in the yard to bring along some high-value treats (e.g. plain cooked chicken slices). Keep these treats handy in a pocket or treat bag. Now every time your dog happens to walk within arm’s reach of you, praise him and extend your hand to offer him a treat. If you do this often enough, positive reinforcement will work its magic and you’ll soon notice your dog checking in with you more and more. This is great news, because it means he is learning that you are worthy of his attention!
Right Place, Right Time
Choosing to begin training sessions at the right place and time can play a big role in whether or not your dog is able to pay attention.
It’s best to avoid training your dog when you first come home from work and he is all eager and excited to greet you, or when he’s all hyped up and bouncing off the walls after mealtime. Instead, wait until your dog is calmer and more capable of focusing, and use these times to your advantage.
You may also want to avoid training a new behavior in an environment where there are lots of distracting sights, sounds, and smells (e.g. the yard), as this makes it harder for your dog to stay focused on you. Instead, try training in a quiet room at first. It’s also a good idea to avoid rooms with windows if your dog is easily distracted by things he sees outside.
Once your dog gets good at performing a new behavior, you can try taking him to a more distracting location for an added challenge. By teaching your dog to perform the behavior despite the added distractions, it will become more reliable.
Happy training! And don't forget to check out the Brain Training Program for more training tips and games that you can do with your dog!
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Dog Training: Starting With The Basics
There are many reasons for people to want a calm, obedient and happy dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to have issues with people or other dogs.
Also, many communities expect dogs living in their neighborhoods be manageable and trained at a minimal level.
This is especially true for many breeds thought to have aggression and behavior problems. Unfortunately some breeds have been stereotyped and are (unfairly) held to a different standard.
And of course, training your dog will also make him a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children.
Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down on the number of dog bites and other behavior problems encountered by dog owning households.
When considering training your own dog, or having someone else help you train, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered 'truly' trained.
Basic Dog Commands
These basic commands include:
- Heel: it is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind.
- Respond to the word No: the word no is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble. (We use "off" but the meaning is the same.)
- Sit: training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.
- Stay: a well trained dog should remain where his owner commands and is essential to training.
- Down: lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.
Benefits of Training
Training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between you and your dog.
Dogs are pack animals, and they look to you, as the pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader. Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any dog owner to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so could lead to many behavior problems.
A properly trained dog will respond to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.
In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of the dog’s own needs, including the need for exercise, the security that comes with knowing what is expected of him, a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with his family/pack. Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.
Every Dog Needs A Job
Giving your dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.
Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, provide your dog with an important job to do. This is especially important for high energy breeds. Training sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves
Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.
This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Let's face it, many of our dogs are not the best behaved. Finding a good trainer can be difficult or out of your budget. Check out this free training workshop for basic training tips to get you started. You don't need a lot of time or experience AND it works!
Disabilities And Dog Owners
Just because you are dealing with a disability does not mean you can’t have a dog in your life. Studies indicate doing so will benefit you and the dog. There are some things you can do to make the experience easier.
If you need help giving your dog medicine, fluids, or shots, ask your veterinarian if he or she knows of anyone who will make home visits. If not, contact local pet-sitters to find ones who will assist you. Many pet-sitters are trained to perform these functions for the sick pet for owners who cannot perform them for themselves or for owners when they are away.
To play with your dog, use flashlights or laser pointers. Dogs love chasing the light, and you won't have to make a move. An alternative is a remote control car for him to chase. He gets exercise and you do not get over-exhausted.
If you have difficulty performing basic functions for yourself, investigate the use of a service or assistance dog. Assistance dogs are trained to help people with physical limitations perform their everyday functions. Assistance dogs are accepted in public places just as guide dogs and hearing dogs are.
Divide large bags of food into smaller containers to help with lifting and filling dishes. If you get large dishes, you will spend less time and energy filling them. There are dog food stands that raise the bowls above floor so you won’t have to bend as much when you fill them.
Walking a dog when you are disabled can be difficult. Consider hiring a neighborhood teen to do this or have a pet sitter come in and walk your dog each day. Fenced-in yards are another alternative to consider.
Having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the companionship of a dog. It takes just a little adjusting for you both to be happy.
OMG – If there is a mistake that you can make, then I’ve made it!
No pretty pictures with this post but just a story ....
I recently started in affiliate marketing and love it! BUT it's been a learning experience and I guess I'm a pro at learning the hard way.
I use Click Funnels and it's great, BUT I "accidentally" redirected my current web site hosted with Go Daddy to Click Funnels and a funnel I made. When I went to my site (here - pawsitivelywell.dog) it was re-directed to my click funnels page and funnel - ooops.
I am guessing my web site was redirected to Click Funnels for about a week. This weekend when I tried to update my site, I noticed it was WRONG (LOL to say the least!). I called Go Daddy and they fixed it! (only took 2 hours on the phone on the eve of New Year's Eve)
In the process ... when my site was redirected to Click Funnels, I lost my SSL certificate. So when it was redirected back to Go Daddy, after 2 calls (on New Year's Eve), I got my SSL certificate back. Then ... I discovered my funnels on Click Funnels NO longer worked. Ugh.
I started to create a sub-domain on my site (pawsitivelywell.dog) but that proved complicated because of needing to create the sub domain, redirect it to Click Funnels and get an SSL (the support person at Go Daddy said I would need a "wilcard" SSL costing $1400 - Yikes!) ....
So back to Click Banks ... I bought a new domain through them ... pawzitivelywell.com ... had to go in and update all my funnels AND got them working ... YAY! Progress ...
I had 1 ad running on Facebook - so I went in and shut that down - since my funnel was broken - no leads were generated and I paid for clicks that took prospects to an "error" page and was basically me throwing cash out the window.
I created a new Facebook ad with the updated info THEN got an email I was charged $50 - for the ad that was turned off yesterday and another that was rejected for not meeting community standard ... (that's another story). I deleted the ads that were generating charges that shouldn't have been ... maybe a mistake on my part ... I don't know yet but it was the quickest solution I could think of to stop the charges ... LOL Facebook charged me $50 for the day, running ads that shouldn't be running.
So now, after reaching out to Facebook, they are "looking into" the charges and it will be 24-48 hours ... but they reassured me, I only have 1 ad running now ... LOL, which is good, since I deleted the others.
Anyway, the lesson learned ... starting your own business and making your dreams come true is not easy ... but if you want it bad enough, you'll roll with the punches, figure it out, fix it and keep charging full steam ahead.
Don't let anything get in your way when you want it bad enough! There are solutions, you just have to find them. And try not to make stupid mistakes, they may cost you money you don't have but if you make those mistakes, chalk it up as a lesson learned and proceed full charge ahead.
Just saying ... my mistakes, my lessons and my story.
A Basic Introduction To Cat Eye Care
The eyes of your feline friends have often been used on horror films. But if you are a pet owner, you will know that the cat's stare is really the opposite of what's being portrayed on films. That is why you have to know the importance of cat eye care.
I Love You
How do cats say these words? Through their eyes, of course. That is why you shouldn't be frightened by that gaze. How does this work? First, the cat stares at you for a long while. And after that, it blinks its eyes slowly. Some people tag this as a cat's kiss. But you can also say that this is your cat's way of saying that it loves you.
But how do you return the favor? Easy, just follow your cat's lead. Stare at it for a long time and then slowly blink your eyes. See? Cats' eyes can also be used as elements for romantic films.
Not a Third Eye
Don't believe the horror films you see. Cats don't have a third eye. Their eyesight is really sharper than with humans. Instead of a third eye, what cats have is a third eyelid. This is called a nictitating membrane.
This inner eyelid protects the eyes of the cats from harm and also from dryness. You will notice that when a cat is sick, this membrane will somewhat close. This should alarm you to call the vet or get your cat to them fast.
But this third eyelid will also show once a cat is happy. So you will know what mood your cat is in just by looking at the membrane.
The Pupil
Your feline friend's pupil of the eyes should also be observed. A change in size of one pupil can be an indication of an inflammation. It can also be a sign of a kind of a disorder in neurologic called Horner's Syndrome. Or worse, it can also indicate tumors or injuries in the central nervous system.
The Nocturnal Vision
Do not believe what others say that cats are color blind. They see some. They may not see as clear as humans do, but it's not like that they cannot see any colors at all.
Cats can also see clearly from afar. It's very different from people. They find it blurry to be looking at things that are so close to them.
Yes, cats have the nocturnal vision. But they can't see in complete darkness. Do you see the muscles on their iris that surround the pupils of their eyes? They are constructed in a way that it narrows into a vertical split when they are exposed in the bright lights. And it opens fully when the acts are in a quite dim light.
This feature of the cats may be traced back to their roots. They can use such to hunt for food during the night if they were left out in the jungle or left with no one to care for them.
So forget about the horror flicks. You've already got the thrills. Not it's time to put some effort into cat eye care. Do not let a minor thing worsen. Call the vet immediately when something's amiss. You don't want your cat to lose their sight or even lose their lives. It is always better to be safe than blind.
15 Day Challenge: Turn Your Breakdowns Into Breakthroughs
NOTE: This "challenge" is a marketing workshop that can be applied to almost any business model. This is NOT an MLM. The information learned in the workshop can be applied to an MLM business model, as well as affiliate marketing, other online businesses and brick and mortar businesses. Learn marketing strategies that can work with any business model.
For anyone who wants to start an online business but doesn’t know where to begin...
Here’s the online marketing expectation:
- Start a business.
- Share your link on social media.
- Make a million dollars.
Here’s the REALITY:
- Start a business.
- Share your link on social media.
- Launch to crickets and tumbleweeds.
Your business is up and running and now what? Any of these sound familiar?
- Freak out
- Consume 29k hours of YT videos
- Decide laundry doesn’t matter because your imaginary followers can’t smell you anyway
- Download 20,000 freebies
- Open none of them
- Now you’re subscribed to 20,000 new email lists
- Take 50 online courses
- Get 2 modules in before your A.D.D. squirrel brain kicks in
- Realize you haven’t eaten, peed, or talked to a human being in 3 days
- Early mornings
- Late nights
- More coffee
- Try to do all things and be all things to all people
- Realize you’re making it way harder than it needs to be
- Finally find your thing
- Break through!
Sound familiar? Except for the part where you “find your thing?” And “break through?”
Right?
However…
Success has probably been ‘right under your nose’ the whole time…
Sorta like..
When you are looking for your sunglasses And they were on your head…The entire time.
So what if, in just 15 days…
You can put to rest all the sleepless nights and learn from a 7-figure online biz legend who's...
- Been featured in Forbes & Entrepreneur
- Endorsed by Shark, Kevin Harrington
- Sold over $220m of my his own products online
And…
You finally turn your breakdowns into breakthroughs?
Well, here's a proposition. Actually… It’s a challenge.
Press "Learn More" to see what I mean...
Caring For Your Older Dog
Once your dog becomes older it is time to take some preventative steps in order for them remain healthy, happy and active. Have your vet examine your pet annually or more often, if necessary.
As in humans, keep your dog's weight within the proper or optimum range. An overweight dog has far more health problems such as joint problems, arthritis, diabetes and liver or kidney malfunctions.
Cut down on the amount of treats given to your pet. It is hard to resist their soulful eyes but always remember that it is for their own good. You do not want to kill your pet by thinking you are being kind to them.
Feed your pet once a day or smaller amounts twice a day but remove the food if there is any left. If you have children, explain to them why they should not sneak food to the family pet.
As with dogs of any age, make sure there is always fresh, cool water available. Some older dogs have problems getting to the water bowl so either take the water to them or place bowls of water in several different places so they do not have to go far for a drink.
If possible take your dog for a short walk daily. This helps the dog's blood circulation and provides some new sights and smells to stimulate him and it gives you quality time to spend with your pet. He may be older but still curious.
You may need to switch from dry food to a moist or canned food as your dog ages. His teeth may not be able to handle the hardness of dry kibbles. Looking after your older dog and taking him to the vet regularly helps keep your dog healthy and happy longer.
Check out some of these Pawsome products for your dogs!
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Providing The Best For Your Four Pawed Friends (And You!)
Looking for a unique gift or animal related item for you or your dog or cat (or other furry, feathered and scaley friends) then you will want to check out our links to some amazing items and deals!
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
