Series Five. Basic command training for your pup.
Now that your pup has been with you a little while, it is time to start training it in the basic commands. Sit, stay, come and down are the four basic commands you will want to start with. Before beginning, remember that a puppies attention span (106 months old) will be about five minutes, no more. If you are training more than 15 minutes or 3 sessions a day, you will not be helping the cause. Two to three 5 minute sessions ara all you will need daily.
Start by getting nutritious treats to work with. The smaller the treat size the better. Also purchase a training book so that it will familiarize you with some basic terms and processes. Remember, training is to be done when you have one on one time with the pup. Distractions will only hurt the training session as it is hard enough to keep the pups attention as it is.
I always like to start with the “sit ” command as that is generally the easiest to learn. With treat in hand say “sit ” firmly , the dog will most likely stare at you. Say “sit” again and gently push down on the pets back quarters putting it in a sitting position. Then give the treat to the pup with a hug and several “good boy or girls”. Repeat several times (3 to 4x). Remember teach one command at a time. Within a few sessions the pooch will instinctively master that “sit ” command enabling you to move to other, more difficult commands.
In order to teach “come” as a command your dog must learn “stay”. Place your pooch in a sitting position and take a step away with a treat. If the dog follows say “no’ and put them back in the original position. Hold them there, take a step back and say “stay”. After a few tries your dog will pick up this command. Practice these in no certain order for a few days. When they are mastered, we will move on to “come” and “down”. Good luck and let me know if you have questions, Our staff is always happy to help.
Get your small animals a new treat.
Sometimes, with the winter months upon us, we forget to treat our indoor friends to something new. A little xtra toy or a new home can go along way to your pets health. Lets take a look and see what we can do for our small animals.
First of all, lets look at the great prices on cages and new abodes. Treat your turtle to a new amphibia home at a great low price. Give your ferret a little excercise in this new Ferret Ark, or get your hermit crabs into a new Hermit Crab Deluxe Wire Cage Kit. Whatever small animal you have, give them a little treat. This 4 Story Ferret/chinchilla Cage is quite the bargain and this Premium rabbit hutch is a great idea for your outdoor buddy and the cold winter ahead.
Even the smallest change will be appreciated by your small friends. Make your lizard or snake cozy with this 18″ Slimline Reptile Fluorescent Lighting Fixture or change the scenery with any of the many colors of Calci-sand.
Bottom line is that we tend to forget that our furry and scally friends need a change to so lets not forget them either. From animal bedding to food, they rely on you to change the pace a bit. Even something as simple as a new ornament or a new grooming aid can matter. Maybe its time for a new heater with the cold weather coming up. Look at the great deals on these great reptile heaters. Remember, you should change your buddys heater every year. Also on that list is their flourescent bulbs. They will wear out and should be changed at least once every 16-18 months. all this can be done inexpensively and it will make you as well as your buddy feel better.
From vitamins and supplements to animal bedding, there is always an inexpensive way to help break up the monotony and keep your pal healthy. Have a great winter and best of health to you and your friend(s).
Give a great treat for that special pet owner, get a Savvy gift certificate.
Don’t know what to get for that special pet and their owner. Why not do the smart thing and get a gift certificate from www.getpetsavvy.com. What more thoughtful gift can you get someone in this rough economy. You’re guaranteeing a great gift for both owner and pet. Plus you get to choose from thousands of great items as we are constantly updating our stock. Look at the great deals your special friend can get with their certificate.
How about a new collar for their pooch. Check out this Nylon Jewelled Collar in black or this Full Jewel & Studded Collar. Both are priced right and great quality. Want a treat for your little princess, this Majestic jeweled Collar in pink is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Give your kitty a little treat with this Zamora Beige Post With Cave piece of furniture. Hours of fun for your best friend. Have more than one kitty to satisfy, look at this Manresa Cat Tree. So much fun, at a great price. Go ahead and splurge, your furries will love you for it.
How about some new equipment for your aquarium? Been over a year since you changed the air pump? It’s probably only operating at 70% of capacity. Give it a change with this Vibra Flow Air Pump or this Fusion Air Pump 400. Two great pumps at great prices that won’t break the bank. Maybe you want to add a little color to your tank. This freshwater selection of gravel or sand will do that at a great price.
Brighton up your feathered friends view with a new cage. This Scrollwork Tiel Cage is beautiful and available in black or white. Need a tiel or keet combination cage, look at this 18×14 Playtop Keet/tiel Cage. Great price and super look. Lets not forget the pet food, Savvy Packs, pet stain removers and medications. Getpetsavvy.com has many of these products also as well as food, shelters and feeders for your outdoor bird wildlife.
Get someone you care about a gift certificate. You’ll be glad you did! Happy shopping and best of luck to you and your pet.
Pet Dental Care! Is it really important?
Okay, this is one of the most popular questions we get. The answer is yes, very important. Now I know what some of you are thinking. “oh boy, something else to spend money on, as if keeping my pet healthy isn’t expensive enough”! Unfortunately, that is the wrong attitude as if you take care of your pets teeth now you can save yourself huge medical bills in the future. After careful investigation of this concept, the getpetsavvy staff has determined that there are many ailments and problems that poor dental care can cause later on.
First lets take a look at some of the problems you can avoid by taking care of your pets teeth. Now remember that there are no guarantees because genetics due play a huge roll in disease but vets are linking gum disease to blood disorders, infections, heart problems, and bone problems to name a few. Lets not forget the cost of putting your pet under and scraping their teeth which can cost upwards of $700.00!
That being said, the process is very simple. I have several dogs that line up at night to get their teeth brushed. Its not a miracle, its been done from the day they came into the house. Whether you are brushing a puppy or an adult dogs teeth, the process is the same. First get a quality pet toothpaste like Dental Starter Kit For Puppies or this Dental Care Finger Brush Kit. Apply the paste to your finger and let the dog lick it. tell them “good boy”. After a few times put the paste on your finger and gently rub it on their teeth. Within a week, put paste on a soft finger brush or a regular tooth brush designed for animals. Then place brush in pets mouth and swirl it. After your pal is used to it they will want to chew the brush when its places in their mouth. Hold their skin back and brush, rinsing the brush afterwards and letting them lick the water to rinse. Change out the brush every month or two! They will follow the routine daily and if you make it fun, they will wait for it. It will be a bit more difficult for catsas they are a bit more independent but stay with it and it will work. Your pet will be brushing within 10 days and you will save yourself a bunch of headaches.
Feel free to e mail us with questions. Always happy to help!! Health and happiness to you and your pet!
Comfy Cat and Dog beds that won’t break the bank!
AAh those lazy days of summer. AAh those chilly nights in winter. What do these two statements have in common with each other? That’s right, no matter what the season, your kitty or pooch loves to lounge on their cushy beds. For a small price, you can get your special friend a new bed and treat them to a great relaxing day. Lets take a look at some of the comfort available!
There are many types of Cat beds. You may choose cat furniture or cat pillows. In other words you may like this Omega Lazy Lounger Cat Bed as opposed to this Murcia Cat Tree for your cat. We all know that cats like to relax and play so either one is a great choice. Switching out your cat furniture every 2-3 years is a great idea as it keeps your pets on their toes by not being boring plus after a few years of abuse, the wear and tear starts showing up. Our personal choice as well as our hottest seller is the Cat House Plush 1 Story Condo Beige. This is a great “run and hide ” toy as well as providing a great place to rest. Many also choose the basic washable pillow also.
Now for you dogie pals, let me suggest a few great, well priced items. This Dog Bed in 24inch size is for the decadent minded. I highly recommend it for people who thing their dog deserves an xtra treat. For those of us with modest means, check out this Sheepskin lounger. Old reliable will make your dog love life but of course you could gear up a bit and get them this Vintage 36 inch Day Bed. Then their is Pet Snoozy Cozy Comforter is the way to go for the money.
Either way, get your furry buddy a new resting place, you’ll be the hero and your pal(s) will stay well rested!!
Have a pet question? Getpetsavvy can help!!
www.getpetsavvy.com prides itself on helping its customers and their pets. Started by people who have pets and know how, this is a company who actually cares. Whether you need cat, dog, fish, bird or any small animal supplies they can help but believe it, that’s not all.
Priding themselves on pet knowledge, these people know pets. They help hundreds of people weekly by answering a host of pet questions. From training to foods these people are experts and love to help. In fact they set up a special e mail and a toll free hotline to help. Their pet experts are always willing to help and if they are all helping others, leave a message. They will return your call as they are geared to help clients.
Innovators in the field, these guys started the Savvy Packs that have been selling like hotcakes. The premise is that many of their clients are so busy that they cannot find time to choose items for their pets. These guts have chosen for them. Kind of a one stop shop with everything from kitty and doggie and puppy starter sets to treats for your feathered buddies.Best of all, it is broken down by breed size to make it easier. Can’t find a savvy pack that fits your situation, like a personal shopper, the staff at savvy will build one for you. That’s the dedication level of these folks.
They are about building relationships with their clients and they are serious about what they do. Yes, they have a great selection of pet products this is true, but these guys are always ready to help.. Some of their clients may need help with a type of food, some may have a question about what type of dog collar to use, some just want to look at the great pet videos we post, or just to tell us about their pets, we love the feedback and welcome the input.
Irregardless, this is a company you’ll want to check out if you have a pet! Great products and service. Unsurpassed knowledge as the staff is made up of pet owners, getpetsavvy will get you pet savvy. Bottom line…Check it out!! Best of health to you and your special friend.
In the summer, it’s important to limit algae growth.
Okay people! So many of you are calling saying that your aquariums are building up serious algae problems and you need help. Initially, there are many algae-sides that can help if you have a fresh water or salt water “Fish Only”aquarium. Any anti algae product will upset the natural balance of your aquarium so I will only recommend them as a last resort. One recommendation is to educate yourself on why this is happening. The book “Algae A Problem Solvers Guide” is an excellent, inexpensive tool to help out. Do a 50% water change quickly with water that has been purified. Not water directly from the tap!! There are many good, reasonably priced water conditioners out there such as Amquel Plus and other water stabilizers.
Let’s talk about water temperature. In the summer your home temperature naturally rises and it is important to keep the aquarium temperature as close to its normal temp. as possible. Two or more degrees upward will cause an “algae Bloom” or an explosion of growth that can potentially be deadly for your inhabitants. There are ways to prevent this from happening. Also important is keeping nitrates down. There are some easy things you can do to prevent Algae build up. Lets take a look.
1. Is your aquarium light on for more than eight hours per day. Cut back a few hours during the day and keep the water temperature stable. Six hours is plenty and a good quality timer can take care of that job.
2. Have you changed your heater in the last year? It could be malfunctioning and this inexpensive fix can do wonders.
3. Change your light bulbs once a year. As bulbs ware, they have a tendency to go toward the light spectrum that grows algae.
4. Shade your aquarium. A clear glass back or side can let in too much light in months where it is getting hit with direct or indirect sun. Put a backing on your aquarium as it will aid in keeping algae in check.
5. Put some ice in a zip lock freezer bag and keep it handily frozen. Should your water temperature rise more than a degree, float the ice on top in the bag. This will keep the temperature down.
6.Get a quality thermometer. They are inexpensive and very useful.
7. Do not overfeed. Twice a day and only what is consumed within a minute. Use quality food that is high in nutrition and low in nitrates like Spirulina Flakes or a good Marine Flake. This will cut down on algae growing.
8. Change your water every month!! Making a 20% water change will go along way in keeping algae from growing. When you take out the tank water, use a good Siphon Kleen and an algae scraper.
Following these suggestions will help in fighting algae problems. Hopefully, this helps. If not, shoot me an email and I will do my best to help you out. Enjoy!!
Walking more than one dog at once takes practice.
Last week, a customer called extremely frustrated. She has been walking neighborhood dogs for some side money and she was having trouble walking more than one dog at a time. I explained to her that their are many variables to mastering this art but that we would be glad to help her. After all that is what the experts at www.getpetsavvy.com do. Remember the dog walker you see in the city who takes four or five doggies for a stroll at once. She is experienced and has a combination of the right dog personalities along with right equipment.
Lets take a look at dog personalities for a minute. Although you may always have an ” Alpha” or dominant dog, you cannot have an aggressive animal who will not allow other dogs near them. You will have to walk the aggressive pooch by itself as it would be very difficult to attempt to train the ” aggressiveness” out of them. i would recommend a professional trainer for that. Sometimes it is better to let the professionals do their job.
Now lets talk about equipment. you can walk two dogs the traditional way , each on their own leads. Make sure you choose a strong nylon or leather lead that is no more than ten ft lond and no shorter than six feet long. This will ensure control.
Now choose a strong collar that is a choke or prong training collar. This will ensure a response to any negative behavior. Remember, you are the alpha and you need to control the pack which you can do easily by pulling back on either type of collar with no injury to your furry friends. A common mistake that owners make is using an identification collar as the basis to hook up their dogs leads. A big mistake as you get no control to correct dangerous or bad behavior. This collar is not designed for that purpose and you dog can slip out of it very easily.
Lastly, pick a strong couplet. My suggestion is to walk no more than three dogs on one couplet or per lead. Hopefully this helps. Best of luck to you and your furry friends!
Aquarium testing is a must but nothing beats prevention.
So many of our clients ask us questions regarding their pets. The staff at getpetsavvy is always willing to help. This week let’s talk about regularly testing your aquarium water. This can be done with a basic test kit for either salt or fresh water.
I am a firm believer in testing once a week. Try to create a day or certain time to test every week. This will ensure that your fish and or corals will be kept healthy and happy. Also as important is observing behaviour and doing things to prevent problems. Prevention will save you headaches in the long run.
I suggest getting used to the behavior of your tank inhabitants. remember, you have an aquarium for decorative and relaxing purposes. Don’t forget to just relax and enjoy it. All fish have patterns and they will display them as soon as they get comfortable in their environment. Stop and look at your aquarium, once you get used to the natural fish behavior it will make it easy to spot problems before they get out of hand.
I also keep 30% of my aquarium water volume stored so that it is ready for emergency. If I should notice a rise in amonia level, I can make a water change and dilute the problem quickly. You should regularly be changing 20% of your entire water volume a month anyway! What many people do not realize is that overfeeding can cause a whole host of problems. On the other hand, you don’t want to starve you fish. Twice a day is what I recommend and keep the food down to what can be eaten within 2 minutes. Also, use a good quality food and vary the types you give. This will build your fishes immune system helping them to fight off disease. Turn your water flow off when you feed, this will keep food where your fish can see it and not at the bottom.
Vacuum the bottom of your fresh water tank once a month. There are plenty of cleaning and maintenance aids to assist you. This will ensure that waste will be kept at a minimum. That in turn will keep your ammonia down.
There are many ways to prevent problems, be observant and you will save yourself many problems in the future. Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions .
