It?s not that only humans suffer from stress and develop stress related illness. Animals too suffer from stress. We often remain oblivious to the fact that pets also suffer from stress. Being extremely sensitive to their surrounding, pets are known to develop emotional bonding with their owners (especially dogs) as well as fellow pets and any change in the environment triggers ?change? related stress in the same ways as it triggers stress in humans.

Stress usually is a response to stimuli involving situations that we consider to be threatening, depressing or out of control. The same is true for your dog. The animals respond by ?fight or flight? method when threatened or frightened. During the flight or fight response, a complex series of chemical reactions and changes occurs in the nervous system of the body.

Sometimes, the ?fight or flight? response doesn’t work, and the animal becomes very irritated or upset, then it may adopt the ?conservation-withdrawal? response. This response is initiated by the hippocampus (part of the brain), which then signals the hypothalamus leading to release of chemicals that stimulate the pituitary gland to produces a compound. This compound in turn activates the adrenal cortex to release corticosteroids which calm the nerves.

Long-term corticosteroid release suppresses the immune system, which makes your pet highly prone to diseases. The stomach is stimulated to release acids by the corticosteroids, which can lead to peptic ulcers. Both the ?fight or flight? response and ?conservation-withdrawal? tend to physically tax the animal leading to disruption of normal metabolism, growth, reproduction, and immune function, and can also cause an animal to self-mutilate. Other physiological events that occur are a decrease in heart rate, sometimes to the point of stopping completely and loss of appetite. Your pet may ultimately die for no apparent reason.

Conditions such as infection, being kenneled, travel, breeding, separation from owner, shifting, addition or loss of a family member or another household pet, can cause stress in animals. In such cases, you dog can become extremely bored or show symptoms of severe stress such as fear, uneasiness and restiveness.

Dogs under stress can become violent, stop eating or overeat, become hypersensitive, bark incessantly, become hyperactive, destroy things or move objects in and around the household and resort to nervous licking or chewing of their own bodies. They can develop diarrhea, lose hair, develop mushrooming parasite populations, and their immune system can just disintegrate. What?s more disturbing is that stress can be a cumulative process. Each stressor by itself may not be significant and may seem apparently harmless, but when they affect your pet sequentially or simultaneously, they may push it over the threshold toward illness or death.

Stress Relieving Medicines

Dogs can be administered Stress Relievers to calm them. Some of these stress relievers claim to promote a sense of calm in animals exhibiting fear, fretting, anxiety or any unwanted behavior. But these medicines can also have certain risks and side effects. They can have toxins and induce drowsiness in your dog. These medicines may make your dog prone to reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects and are considered to be unsafe, inappropriate or completely ineffective.

These stress relievers are only meant to control short-term behavioral stress and anxiety and can be very detrimental to the pet?s health if administered on a long-term basis, even leading to death.

The Ultimate Remedy: PET-MUSIC

It has long been stated that music calms the savage beast and now with research to support that adage, you may be able to overcome stress or anxiety your own pet experiences. There are a variety of remedies to alleviate the stress your pet feels, and none may be more enjoyable for you and your pet than some soothing music. There is pet music to specifically provide a soothing soundtrack to lessen the stress of your pet and increase the positive brainwaves that elicit feelings of well being keeping them in good spirits.

Music therapy has revolutionized the way we can alleviate stress and anxiety in pets. It is safe with absolutely no side effects. This therapy employs music to untangle the knotted and stressed out nerves and brain, relaxing the mind-body as a whole. This music therapy is a method of beneficially recharging the cortex of the brain and distributing the latent energy throughout the nervous system of your pet. Usually, the effect of therapeutic music upon your pet is one of vitalizing, harmonizing and healing at almost every level of being. Music therapy is one of the most preferred techniques for relieving negative effects of stress.

Modern therapeutic science says that music has a massaging effect on our brain. Perhaps, that is the primary reason for widespread usage of music as anti-anxiety and antidepressant therapy and the handiest tool for relaxation when it comes to calming pets. helping ease depression, and aiding recovery from illness.

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Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable, but new dog purchasers often do not realize the commitment they are making when they bring a puppy home. For those want the companionship of Westies dogs, but do not have the knowledge or patience to endure the training process, rescuing an older Westie dog may be the right alternative.

When considering an older West highland terrier dog, the first thing that many people think is that they would be getting a dog with problems, either genetic problems common to Westies, or behavioral problems from improper training. The truth is, many Westie dogs go to shelters for reasons that have nothing to do with the dogs’ inherent qualities. Every year, dog owners die, move to retirement homes, change jobs, get divorced, have new babies, or, unfortunately, simply tire of the responsibility of caring for a dog.

The advantages of older dogs are many. They have already finished teething, and no longer feel the urge to chew holes in your shoes, rugs, and furniture. Westie dogs that are older have grown used to sleeping through the night while their people sleep, as opposed to westie puppies, who wake up and whine. Older pets will have already been housetrained and also should know the meaning of the word ‘no,’ making their continued training that much easier.

When you encounter a Westie puppy, you only have the breed standards to give you an idea of what kind of dog it will grow into. Although Westhighland dogs have a typical personality type, there are variations from dog to dog. The full-grown Westie is a know quantity. The Westie dog you meet is what you will get, and you can quickly determine if it will fit into your home.

It may seem like rescuing an older Westie provides you with an ‘instant dog,’ but that is not the case. At first they might become confused, upon arriving at a new home, and need to be reminded of their basic training. However, even allowing a few weeks of extra special care is easier and less stressful than the rigors of training a puppy.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Good health and happiness

Jeff Cuckson
webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

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Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest
Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie Puppies
You’ve Ever Dreamed Of! Then Click Here NOW!
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Picture the scene: you go out for a nice day with the family. Everyone has fun and when the day is over you come back, only to find the back gate wasn’t completely latched. You go into your backyard and find your beloved pet, Fido, is gone. What do you do? How do you get your best friend back?

Losing a pet is a scary experience. You don’t know what has happened to your friend, or even where to start looking. It can be a daunting time, but if you keep your head and follow a few simple steps, you’ll be closer to finding your pet.

First off, be sure to search the area your pet was last seen in carefully. Are there any places he can hide? Be sure he isn’t stuck under the house, or in a garden shed. You’d be amazed at the places a dog or cat can hide in a backyard or house. If you do find him hiding, don’t try to pull him out. Get a favorite treat for him, and show it to him. Dangle his favorite toy or your car keys if he loves to go for drives. But let him come to you.

If you can’t find your pet in your house or backyard, then go looking through your neighborhood. Walk, or drive, calling your pet’s name. Ask your neighbors if they’ve seen him. Be sure to tell your mailman about your missing friend too. Mailmen are around many different neighborhoods and might notice your pet running around. If you don’t find your pet at this point, then it’s time to widen the search.

1. Make a poster with a good picture of your pet. Put on it the words LOST PET: with a description of your pet. Be sure to list the size, fur color, breed, sex, and any distinguishing marks your animal might have. Also, be sure to put a phone number on the poster, so if someone finds your pet, they can call you. Make copies and hang them in your neighborhood and at major intersections. Also, take copies to local pet stores and veterinary offices. Most times, they are very willing to hang a lost poster up and they will be on the lookout for a pet that is brought in injured.

2. Go to the local animal shelters and ask to see the pets brought in that day. You will have to go more than once, and probably every other day, to be sure you don’t miss your pet. Some humane shelters only keep stray pets for a few days before either making them available for adoption or euthanizing them. Even if you dog has a collar, it might not still be on the pet when the shelter gets them. Also, be sure to leave them a flier of your pet, just in case.

3. Call road services in your area. They can tell you if they found any animals that had been killed by cars. While a horrible thought, knowing what happened to your pet will bring closure for you and your family.

4. Place an ad in your local paper in the Lost Pet section. Be sure to check the Found Pets section as well. Be aware that some people don’t know the difference between the breeds. A basset hound might look like a beagle to someone who isn’t familiar with the breed. Answer any ads that might be your pet, but be ready to be disappointed when they aren’t.

5. If you are offering a reward for the return of your pet, don’t say what that reward amount is. There are some dishonest people out there who call the numbers on lost pet signs and claim to have the person’s pet, demanding money to deliver the pet, then never coming up with the animal. Be wary if people calling demand money.

Finally, don’t give up. Keep checking the shelters. Drive your neighborhood each day. Keep trying to find your pet. Remember, there have been cases of pets being gone months and being found. You just have to keep trying.

Dawn Arkin is a writer and animal lover who enjoys spending time with her pets. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums.

The only way to be 100% sure of getting a verified pure breed Maine Coon cat is to buy a pedigree kitten from a breeder. The breeder should be able to present a family tree of your cats pedigree and provide relevant certification.

A recommended place to start a search for a reputable breeder in your local area is the Maine Coon Breed Fanciers Association (www.mcbfa.org) Maine Coon kittens can be instantly recognizable by the long tufty ears and oversized paws, as seen in the classic longhaired American however there is a European strain of Maine Coon, (my own Maine Coon, King Henry comes from a German line) which has a shorter ruff around the neck, and often a fuller, squarer muzzle. The differences are not apparent until the cat is between 12 to 18 months.

In terms of identifying a pure pedigree Maine Coon, youll be relying quite heavily on information the breeder is presenting to you. If you have difficulty finding a reputable breeder, you could try and get a recommendation by talking to individuals at a Maine Coon event or an all breeds Cat show. It is essential you are happy with your breeder – if you are becoming a Maine Coon owner for the first time, you may need to rely on their expert advice.

You can expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $800 for a pure breed Maine Coon. With food, litter, vet bills and cat-sitters for holidays, Maine Coons can be a relatively expensive investment. All Maine Coon owners will agree that they are a truly wonderful breed and will repay you many times over.

IMPORTANT TIP: This could save a lot of heartache, trouble and expense later on; When buying an expensive pet, do not go for the kitten you feel sorry for and looks like it needs help. Any kittens with signs of withdrawal, low energy or general apathy, should really be avoided. Choose an independent, lively, energetic kitten. Pick out kittens that dont necessarily come to you but are, however, interested in their surroundings.

Its best to pick a local breeder and visit them in their home, when youre first making your initial enquiries to check the kittens living conditions, health and welfare of all cats living in the same environment.

Although it sounds like common sense, have questions prepared that will help you to establish whether the breeder can be trusted.

Questions youll definitely want to ask:

1. How much experience does the breeder have? If you need assurance about the breeders ability/expertise ask to speak to someone who has recently purchased a Maine Coon from that breeder.

2. Who are the kittens parents and are they champions? Even if you dont intend to show your cat, youll still want to find out about their pedigree. Thats what you are paying for. If this is just not important, you can sometimes find cheaper Maine Coons that are called pet quality meaning they do not meet the required physical standards for showing. This does not mean they are not perfectly healthy.

3. Does the stud live with the breeder? If not, can the breeder guarantee that the stud has not been subjected to any illnesses e.g. cat flu. Has the breeder bred the stud before?

4. Is there any known heredity illnesses in the ancestral line such as HCM (can cause heart failure) and hip problems?

5. Have any of the other cats suffered from any illnesses for e.g. have any recent litters suffered from any strain of cat flu?

6. If relevant to your situation, ask if the kitten is comfortable around other animals and children?

7. At what point, could the kittens leave their mother (I would be concerned if the breeder allowed the kitten to leave its mother if it is less than 12 weeks).

8. Will a vet check the kittens before leaving the breeders home? How many times? If the Maine Coon becomes ill after it has left the breeder, who is responsible for paying vets fees or could the kitten be returned to the breeder?

9. Youll also want to find out how often the queen is impregnated; because a queen subjected to too regular pregnancies can be prone to producing weak or sickly kittens.

Other things you may want to check/do:

10. The living conditions of the stud and queens e.g. the cleanliness of the cages/rooms and the health/welfare of the cat etc.

11. Will the cats be litter trained before they move to their new homes?

12. Also, the environment where the mother and kittens are living. Are there toys, clean litter, warmth, food and water?

13. Check the eyes of the kitten to evaluate its health. Never purchase a kitten that has weeping eyes.

14. The breeders contract. Have a read of the written agreement before you commit yourself. Pay particular attention to areas of responsibility should the kitten become unwell soon after youve bought him/her.

15. You should book your new kitten in for an all round check with your own vet almost as soon as youve collected from the breeder. If there are any signs of problems, youll want to know within the first 24 hours.

On the whole, Maine Coon breeders are passionate about their cats and love what they do. Theres not a whole lot of money to be made in breeding Maine Coons, and it is very demanding work.

Unless, your gut feeling tells you otherwise, you can expect to be talking to breeders who are totally dedicated Maine Coon lovers.

Copyright 2006 Sarah Crosier

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We’ve always had dogs around ever since I was a kid, and even when our family was between dogs I adopted next door’s Boxer dog as my own. Despite this, as a family we didn?t have a clue how to correctly train a dog ? as long as it didn’t mess on the floor, chew up our slippers and finally came on the fifth yell of its name we thought things were just fine.

Like many dog owners I didn’t know the first thing about training a dog. Well, we think we do because the dog sits or offers us a paw when we have a treat in our hands but those are just party tricks.

Then I bought my very own dog when I got a place of my own. As she grew she changed from loveable pup into a liability. She wandered off, never came when called and turned into the Tasmanian Devil whenever anybody called around. The final straw came when she tore into the room and scrambled up to sit on the shoulders of a visitor who had come to assess me for a voluntary position. He was not a dog lover and I can still remember the look on his face now…

Trouble was, I had always treated dogs as furry friends, always giving in to those sad-looking eyes and never realizing that the dogs saw me in a totally different way. Dogs are pack animals and as such they are acutely aware of their position in the pack ? and you and your family are its pack, even if there’s just the two of you.

Grasp that little fact of dog psychology and you are well on your way to a happier dog. From now on you are going to make it plain to your dog that you are the Alpha male or leader of the pack and what you say goes. See that furniture? That’s mine. You lie on the floor or in your dog basket. Don’t feed the dog tidbits from the dinner table ? in fact the dog should be in his basket while you eat, and he only gets fed after everybody else has finished.

But isn?t that just being mean and taking all the fun out of owning a dog?

The leader of the dog pack eats first. He sleeps in the best spot. The Alpha male takes no notice of subordinate dogs fussing around him when he returns from the hunt. When you consistently act as leader you are communicating to your dog in a language he understands.

When you come home, ignore your dog’s frantic attempts at attention seeking until he calms down ? then you praise him. It won’t be long before your dog realizes he’s gone down a few notches in the pack hierarchy and acts accordingly. You’ll soon find that your dog greets you quietly and quickly settles down as he’s worked out that is when he receives praise from you.

Still not convinced that training your dog makes him a happier dog? Look at it from the dog’s point of view. He’s living in a human world full of confusing things and behavior he can’t understand. By not teaching your dog his place in your pack he will feel it’s his place to take charge. But this leaves him feeling stressed, resulting in an unruly and confused dog constantly trying to make sense of an overwhelming world he cannot understand.

But when you assume command as leader of the pack, you take that responsibility off his shoulders. Just like a well-trained soldier, he will be happy knowing his place, his role in the pack and what’s expected of him ? and happy to defer to your leadership knowing you’ll take care of the big stuff.

About the author

Mark Davies is a life-long owner of dogs and is currently Alpha male to his three children and Merlin, his seven year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Actually, his wife is the real leader of the pack.

Mark invites you to visit his site: http://www.top-dog-trainer.com

This week my dog Kiera had to go to the vet. Ill spare you the gory details, but I can assure you, there was no doubt in my mind that something was not right with my normally perfect girl.

While I was at the Vet I struck up a conversation with the team there about some of the things they wish people would remember when they bring their pets in for care. As we talked I realized that theres some great information here especially since we shared a few giggles and a few gasps about some pretty rude behavior. Voila! A column on vetiquette.

So, here are some things, courtesy of my hard-working front-desk friends at Del Ray Animal Hospital, to keep in mind to make sure you dont find yourself on the wrong side of the vetiquette police.

1.Youre not the only one with a sick animal who is nervous at the office. Try to take into consideration the fact that every person in the waiting room has a sick animal or at least one thats not necessarily pleased to be there.

2.Remember people go to the vet for different reasons. Some may be getting over a devastating diagnosis while sitting quietly in the waiting room. Some may have just put their companion to rest after battling an illness. Even if you have the cutest puppy in the world, they may not really be in the mood to be reminded of happier times with their own pet.

3.Not everyone is a dog person or a cat person. Dont assume that folks in the waiting room want to play with your pets or appreciate being slobbered, kissed, or purred on by your pride and joy.

4.Vet Clients are entitled to the same privacy as people-doctor clients. When you head to the doctor and youre getting ready to pay, you dont expect to have other patients leaning over the counter, looking at your receipt or listening to your diagnosis, do you? When you leave the examining room, realize that it will take a bit to process your receipt and if the front desk staff is busy with another client, respect their privacy and let them finish before you elbow your way up to the desk. Remember, financial stuff that isnt yours isnt your business.

5.Dont offer treats to pets that dont belong to you. This is a plain petiquette rule. No matter where you are, please dont feed someone elses dog or cat. Even if it is your pets favorite homemade liver treat. Remember, one of the reasons that pet may be at the vets office can be tummy trouble!

6.Keep your cat in the carrier. I thought this was a no-brainer, but Ive been assured that there are lots of people who insist that Pookie just hates the carrier and is perfectly behaved in all situations. Generally this assurance is coming as the owner is proudly watching Pookie walk across the front desk.

7.You are as important as the next person. Meaning, you and your pets needs are of equal importance as those of every other client at the clinic. Speaking rudely, disregarding rules (like cats in the carriers), and pushing other clients paperwork out of your way do not make you a more important pet-owner. In fact, it may make some people utter, theres an attitude only a pet would love!

The staff at every clinic goes out of their way to treat each and every pet with care, attention and tenderness. Sharing that attitude with your fellow vet clients can go a long way to keeping you out of vetiquette jail!

(c) 2006 Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

Peggie Arvidson-Dailey is the owner of Peggie’s Pet Services (one of the Regions BEST pet-care companies, as rated by The Washingtonian Magazine.) She’s also an engaging and lively speaker on topics related to the love affair between dogs and their humans. She’s an advocate for happy and healthy homes for all species and is eager to assist in creating them. If you want a monthly dose of tips and golden nuggets of information on living with and caring for your pet throughout his life, be sure to subscribe to The Care of Pets at http://www.peggiespets.com. Peggie is also a pet-care business advocate and the founder of the Pet Care Business Success University, which can be found at http://www.petcareuniversity.com.

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Recently, in the Florida Everglades, a 13-foot Burmese python and an alligator got into a life and death struggle with each other. At the end, both animals were dead. Everglades and the entire state of Florida, estuaries, and wildlife habitats anywhere are teeming with wild animals that had been pets in homes but were unwanted later. Park rangers and animal trappers are seeing more and more of wild animals that do not belong in their state?s natural environment.

About six months ago, my husband and I spotted a small iguana on the front lawn of a hotel in Fort Lauderdale. When we alerted the hotel clerk, he told us there were loose iguanas all over the place, because people from the northern states brought their unwanted exotic pets and dumped them here since they thought the pet would survive on its own in a subtropical climate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Animals belong to several different habitats, even when the weather conditions are similar.

Wild animal babies are attractive and lovable. We all adore an irresistibly cute and cuddly ocelot, bobcat, monkey, or a bear while a baby, but these babies grow up in no time and, if they are kept as pets, they become a nuisance and danger to themselves and to their surroundings.

Another point to consider is that care of wild animals eventually becomes very difficult, or better said, impossible. Their appropriate care demands expertise of the species, tailor-made facilities, and indefatigable dedication lifelong. When the babies become older and are impossible to handle, they are usually put away or passed from owner to owner. Worse yet, wild animals that are declawed or changed in some way to fit into a home are not accepted into the zoos. So, at times, they are let loose in an environment where their survival is, at best, iffy.

What is more, these animals are social creatures and they need and deserve the company of their own kind. Even when their physical health is taken care of, they grow up with behavior problems and act unpredictably because they are out of their natural environment.

Wild animals also may come with unknown viruses and make other pets and people in a household ill. For example, lizards are famous for carrying the salmonella virus as some primates are for Herpes B. Other animals may bring rabies or still unknown and undetected diseases, and if we can take these animals back to their initial environment, it is probable that they will transport diseases from domestic cats and dogs to the wild.

Nobody benefits from keeping wild animals as pets, except for their breeders and sellers who exploit wildlife for huge financial gains. These people take animal babies away from their mothers at too young an age and transport them under deplorable conditions to the markets to be sold as pets.

During the transportation, many of the babies die in outrageous numbers; 90% of the reptiles and 95% of the birds are dead, long before reaching their prospective owners. In addition, as the result of the wild animal trade, natural habitats are disturbed and quite a few species become extinct, as in the case of several West Indies species of Macaws.

Owning a wild animal is not a status symbol. The actress or singer with a python, boa, or an anaconda wrapped around her (or his) body is neither being adventurous nor sexy. Moreover, she is advertising to the entire world that her artistic talent amounts to zero and she can be sure that people who feel like I do will boycott her work as long as she stays in the public eye.

Sometimes wild animal merchants crossbreed wild and domestic species. This too is an appalling practice because it makes the animals inapt to survive both in the wild and in a household with other pets and young children.

Also, the rainforests of Central and South America are diminishing in size daily. In Florida, migrating birds are running out of places to stop and rest. If the wild animal pet owner really cared about animals, instead of imprisoning his pet under intolerable conditions, he would work toward keeping natural habitats, estuaries, jungles, and desert environments intact.

Several states ban the sale and keeping of wild animals as pets. Still, this ban is not enforced or the wild animal owners manage to fall through the cracks. Pet shops are not inspected daily, and if they are inspected, the inspectors may not be well versed in wild animals to detect or separate the wild species from the tame ones. Even if some of those animals may be orphaned or injured and then found by a person and brought to the pet shop, they still belong in the wild.

The sale of wild animals does not involve the pet stores only. It has taken hold of a sizable piece of the internet. This is scary, since internet has little control over itself.

These facts point to one important certainty: if we truly care for animals, we have to control our behavior. If we really want a pet that will be a positive addition to our homes, our local animal shelter is waiting for us to adopt a kitten, a puppy, or any tame pet, and if we find an orphaned or injured wild animal, our state?s wildlife officials or a professional wildlife expert are there to help the animal.

We are a nation of animal lovers. Most of us strongly feel that animal welfare is our responsibility. I can understand the wild pet owner?s feelings in wanting to get close to an animal, but we have to respect the way nature works. So, please, let?s not encourage the wild animal trade.

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/ which is a site for Pet Forums. Joy Cagil is an author on a site for writers (http://www.writing.com). Her education is in foreign languages and linguistics. She is an animal lover.

The next time you go away, whether it’s for business or pleasure, you might want to consider hiring a pet sitter to come into your home to care for your pets. Employing the services of a professional pet sitter will allow your pet to stay comfortable in his own home, gives you peace of mind knowing he’s safe and in capable hands, and frees you from having to rely on friends or relatives. Before you hand over your keys and wave goodbye to Rover and Fluffy though, take time to educate yourself about pet sitters and the services they provide. Interview a few pet sitters, get to know them a bit, and ask questions. Find out about their experience, how frequently they’ll visit your pets, how long visits last, what they’ll do while with your pets, how they’ll handle emergencies, and fees. In addition to general information about their services, you’ll want to cover a few very important points, as listed below.

Insurance and/or bonding: This won’t prevent accidents from happening but it will protect you and the pet sitter to a certain extent should a mishap occur. Most sole proprietors are insured, and most services that employ pet sitters are bonded and insured. It’s a good idea to ask for proof of insurance.

Pet emergency provisions: If your pet becomes ill when you’re away, it’ll be important for your pet sitter to know what measures to take if you cannot be reached. He or she should have your vet’s contact information, and the type of treatment and/or amounts you authorize if you cannot be contacted.

Pet sitter emergency procedures: Ask what measures will be taken if your pet sitter becomes ill and is unable to care for your pets, if he or she is unable to get to your home due to inclement weather, or in the event of a natural disaster.

Key security: Ask how the key will be identified and stored. Keys should not be attached to anything with your name or address on it, and when not in use, ideally they should be kept secure in a locked safe or other secure enclosure. Most pet sitting businesses will also offer to keep your key for future pet sitting assignments.

Contracts and other forms: Be sure that your pet sitter provides you with a written contract detailing such things as dates, times, services agreed upon, emergency procedures, key security, rates, etc.

References: Ask for names and contact information for a few clients. Take time to talk to these people and ask about their experiences and whether or not they’d hire that particular pet sitter again. Many pet sitters are also happy to give references from other pet care professionals such as veterinarians, groomers, or trainers.

Pet issues: Inform your prospective pet sitter of any health problems, behavioral issues, or other important factors regarding your pets. Giving your pet sitter as much information as you can about your pet will enable her to give the best care possible.

Home issues: As with pet issues, be sure to inform your pet sitter of any oddities about your home that may arise in your absence (toilet that overflows, doors that don’t lock properly, security alarms, etc.).

Because pet sitting is a personal service, you and your pet need to be comfortable with the person you invite into your home. Look for a sense of professionalism with a personal touch, be sure to take into account your gut feeling, and observe your pet’s reaction to the pet sitter you interview. With a little bit of preparation and investigation, your pet will be able to stay safely in his own home while you’re away, and will be there to eagerly greet you with love and affection when you return.

To locate a pet sitter, dog walker, or dog daycare in your area, or to learn more about the services they provide, go to http://www.petsitusa.com.

2005 PetsitUSA.com All rights reserved.

Therese Kopiwoda is a professional pet sitter and the owner of PetsitUSA.com. Founded in 2003, PetsitUSA.com allows pet owners to locate professional pet sitters, dog walkers, and dog daycares, and learn about the services they provide. For more information, go to http://www.petsitusa.com.

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Man’s best friend loves us but also loves to play so it is up to the owners to supply them with great, safe toys. They need a variety of toys so they have some they play with alone and others that are fun for them and yourself. Because they are such social animals many dogs hate to be alone even for a few hours. Sometimes, having a special toy brought out only when you will be away for a bit can relieve a little of your pets stress.

The most important factor when selecting a dog toy is your pets? safety. Make sure that any toys you purchase are large enough, so they are not choking hazards. Durable toys that hold up to biting, pulling and chewing are necessary. Never give a dog stuffed animals made for children as they are easy to tear apart and can injure your pet. Shopping for a dog toy is often confusing because there are so many choices. There are rope toys, chew toys, rawhide bones, rubber balls, stuffed animals, talking toys, treat filled toys and dental toys. These are only a few of hundreds of toys available. Picking an appropriate toy that your will love and play can be difficult.

If your dog is very energetic and needs an hour or more of play daily, with or without their owners, they need toys that stand up to a lot of abuse. Hard rubber toys and balls, that you throw to your pet or play soccer with, are great for burning off energy. Ropes are good for fetching and tugging on. If your dog likes to chew, then nylon bones and pigs ears are fantastic for keeping your pet busy. Tough, thick, study toys are perfect for busy, lively dogs. Other dogs play hard for about five or ten minutes and then need to take a rest or nap. Often these are the smaller breeds of dog. Dog safe stuffed animals, squeaky toys or their own blanket to tug on or sleep with, are great choices. For the dogs that fit between extremely energetic and low energy try toys such as rope toys, rubber balls and treat toys. If your dog loves water and you spend a lot of time at the beach or lake, there are floating dog toys made specifically for throwing and fetching.

All dogs have their own distinct personality and just like children and what we think they will like is not necessarily what they want. Many pet stores allow owners to bring their pets shopping along with them. Not only is this fun for both but you might be amazed at what toys your dog really prefers, that you would not usually consider. You may find that your Great Dane is terrified of squeaky toys or that your toy poodle wants a soccer ball to push around. It can be a very interesting experience seeing what color, size or shape toys attract your pets.

The bottom line is that no matter what great dog toys you end up purchasing for your pet, make sure it is safe for them.

Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at Oh My Dog Supplies – where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.

There?s a hole in your life that only a dog can fill. You want a special dog, perhaps just a full-grown adult. Maybe your code of ethics calls for saving a dog?s life ? not buying an expensive purebred.

I?m not a veterinarian or a dog trainer, but I?ve enjoyed two successful adoptions. Here are some tips I?ve picked up along the way.

(1) Clarify your requirements ahead of time.

Once you?re standing in front of a cage, it?s easy to say, ?Well, he?s a lot bigger than I expected, and I really wanted a female, but oh he?s SO cute!? No amount of love or training will help if your dog needs more exercise than you can provide.

(2) Know the difference between shelter and rescue groups.

Most cities have humane societies where you can view dogs and make a choice. Rescue groups typically hold animals in foster care ? which is good, because you can ask the foster mom all sorts of questions. For example, they can say, ?This dog lived with two cats so you know you can trust her.?

(3) Be prepared to pay.

Shelter animals are not free, but you do get value for money. Expect to pay a fee that may include spay/neuter costs, licensing, and/or veterinarian visits.

(4) Consider an older dog.

By the time a dog has turned three or four, she?s as big as she?s going to get. No surprises! You?ll also have clues regarding his temperament.

(5) Plan to confine the dog during a period of transition.

Your new dog doesn?t get it. She was in a loving home (or left alone in a yard all day or even abused). Then she spent a few weeks in a cage, feeling lonely and isolated. Maybe she?s been passed around to multiple homes.

Bottom line, she?s stressed. She may chew, dig, bark, or even lose her house training at first.

Crating the dog prevents destructive behavior. My dogs both looked visibly relieved as they retreated to their crates every day. ?Time to relax,? they seemed to say.

(6) Invest in training.

Most dogs are turned over to the shelter because of behavior problems. If you?re new to the world of dog behavior, take a class or hire a professional. Most behavior can be corrected, even among older dogs. But if you?re not sure, ask a professional. Some behaviors can?t be ?fixed.?

(7) Incorporate large doses of exercise and walks into your day.

Walking together builds your bond and a tired dog is a good dog. Begin the exercise program immediately so you can gain a sense of how much exercise the dog needs ? an important factor in the dog?s adjustment ? and start training for the basics on the way home from the shelter.

Dog Fanatic Cathy Goodwin wrote Arf! Dog Health Comes Home: Tips and resources to care for your sick, injured and senior dogs. Download your copy at http://www.dog-health.org