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5 Things to Look for When Buying a Kennel for Your Dog

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dog in a idyllic garden

Are you planning to buy a kennel for your dog for boarding? If you are, this piece is a “Must Read” for you. Kennels can be a friend of your puppies and dogs if you take proper care and train them well.

Kennels are shelters that people keep their dogs in while training them. An ideal kennel can help your pets to come closer and form an unbreakable bond with their owner.

It is very important that when buying kennels for dog, you must make sure you are getting the right one. You must know what type of kennel your canine friend will love and feel comfortable in. Of course, there are a few tips to buying one. Here are 5 things to look for when buying a kennel for your dog.

1. Size Matters – Even for Kennels

Size should be your top priority. Different breeds of dogs grow differently and to different sizes. Some breeds are small when they’re grown up. And some, though they were small earlier, grow into huge ones. If you already have a pup or a dog, first consider their size.

If you have a pup, you should choose a kennel that will give them enough space to toss and turn. Puppies are more restless than adult dogs so they need a lot of space. You can buy a bigger one when they have grown up. Always make sure there is enough room inside the kennel for the pup/dog, their toys and assorted things. The idea is to prevent over-crowding inside the kennel.

newborn puppy sleeps on cookies sweet dream

2. Sturdiness is the Key – Especially, Early in Dog’s Life

After you have decided the size, look for sturdiness. Kennels today are made with a lot of different materials starting from simple wire, to plastic, metal and both combined. The prices also vary with the materials. The wire kennels are the most commonly used, but the plastic ones are the most preferred.

The wire kennels are light and easy to clean. And they allow maximum air flow, in fact it is all air flow. These kennels don’t provide any cover, so your dog is actually exposed to their surroundings. The plastic ones are also light and hygienic. They allow sufficient air flow, but keep your dog covered and protected.

The wire ones are more durable than the plastic ones, they being made of metal. The main reason some plastic ones fail is that some dogs like to chew their way out. If your dog is like that, I recommend the wire kennels.

texas red heeler pup 11 weeks old.

3. What about the Hygiene?

So now you have decided the size and material. Now let’s see how hygienic the kennels are. Cleanliness is very important for your dog since it keeps them safe from disease and harm. When you are using kennels, you should focus there.

Kennels don’t actually keep themselves clean so you should see which ones are easy for you to clean. Most kennels for dogs can be hosed off, however some are tricky.

For instance, in case of the wire ones, hair and dirt get stuck into the cross-joints, which require thorough cleaning. On the other hand, with plastic ones, you will not face any such difficulty as they can be hosed off and nothing will remain stuck.

golden retriever puppy gets a bath

4. Is it good for Traveling?

Kennels do more than just serve as your dog’s resting place. It is wise to carry your pups and dogs in their kennels when you are in a car. Accidents happen, and when they do, your dog is more prone to harm than you are; if they are in a kennel, their chances of getting hurt gets hugely reduced.

Plus, when you are traveling by air, it is essential for you to use kennels. Since your dog is placed away from you, you can’t ensure constant safety. If the kennel is strong and sturdy, you will not have to worry about their safety.

Along with the safe flight for both of you, there are some hotels which ask you to keep your dogs in kennels when you go leave the room.

dog in the car

5. Can You Store it Conveniently?

Lastly, when you have decided all of that, look for storage convenience. If you have a large dog, you will need a large kennel. Setting it up for use is one thing. What about storing them when you don’t need them?

The plastic kennels are, in this case, the most convenient ones. They can be folded in different ways and to different sizes so you can store them almost anywhere. Plus it also makes it easy to carry them along when traveling. The wire ones can also be folded, but not as easily as plastic.

women hugging a dog and kiss. them playful and happiness.

I hope that you will be able to find the right kennel for your dog or pup with this guide. However in the end, what actually matters is if your dog likes the kennel or not so I also hope the kennel you choose will make your dog happy as you.

 

About the Author:

John Howes is the founder of PetCareUp. 29-year-old, entrepreneur, pet lover and passionate blogger. He loves to write about pets and helps pet owners to choose the best products for their animal companions. Read this latest article on his blog to get the best dog kennels.

7 Ways To Keep Your Dog Well-Behaved This Holiday Season

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Holidays can be super fun, especially when your family and friends visit. But the holiday will be a little less fun if your pooch is rowdy and untrained. Keeping your pets well mannered is key to a calm and peaceful holiday season.

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1. Teach your dog to respond to the “sit” command.

The first thing that you have to consider is teaching your dog the “sit” command. If you have no experience in training dogs or pets in general, then, try using treats to make the training procedure easier for you. Treat the treats as a reward when your dog does the trick well. Do not forget to use verbal encouragement when training your dog because this instills a positive attitude in your dog. Always remember to never give your dog rewards until he does the job well. You can use this “sit” command, so when your guests arrive, you can simply ask your dog to sit instead of his usual greeting of jumping up and down.

2. Involve your family in the training process.

When you teach your dog the “sit” command, or any command, for that matter, you should inform everyone in the house about it to make it easier for you to control your dog when the guests arrive. Tell the family to discourage the dog going up and down when greeting all of you once you get home. On the day of your party, you can also ask your visitors and guests to help out. Simply ask them to command your dog to sit when he greets them at the door. When he sits, ask your guests to give out a treat and lots of hugs and kisses (if possible!) as a reward.

This will also make your dog used to having guests at home so he won’t become too excited in the future.

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3. Put your dog on a leash when the guests arrive.

If training is not going well for you, there is still a chance! You can consider putting your dog on leash. Do this before people start to come to your house. There may be guests that are not quite fond of dogs so this method is good for them. On the other hand, if you have guests that want to pet your dog, tell them that he is still on training, and they have to approach your pet dog gently so as not to startle him. Try out the “sit” command you are training him for, and when he does it, give him a treat, and tell the guests that they can pet him already.

Note: This is best for dogs who are more of outdoor pups.

4. Keep your dog in another room where guests won’t be coming in.

If your dog is more of an indoor pup, you can keep him in one of the rooms where you know guests won’t come in. Just make sure to put his bowl with food and water in there just in case he gets hungry or thirsty. Also lay out newspapers in case he pees or defecates. So he won’t get too bored, bring his favorite toy with him in there.

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5. As much as possible, don’t let guests feed your pet.

Aside from the fact that they may feed him something that he shouldn’t eat, this will also give your dog the impression that it is okay to ask for food.

6. Make sure your dog is in a quiet place.

Parties can be quite loud, and this leads to nervous dogs, and we don’t want that. So prepare a place, only for your dog, that would be quiet. Prepare something like a safe zone for your little dog. We don’t want to stress him out, don’t we?

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7. Teach only one command a time.

Just like us in school, the teacher can’t teach us 10 lessons at once, right? Dogs are the same. Make sure to teach them only one command at a time to avoid confusing them, and to bring out their full potential.

In the end, keeping your dog well-behaved this holiday season will be quite a tedious chore, and will require some amount of time and effort. But worry not, just give it a little patience, and your pup will be a well-trained and educated dog in no time. Happy holidays, everyone!

 

Author Bio: My name is Lauren. I am the founder of lovablepawsandclaws.com. I’m  a young woman with a true passion for animals. I have kept many pets over the years and has intimate knowledge of their needs both emotionally and physically. I love that her dogs keep her so active and satisfy her desire to spend lots of time in nature.

Why do dogs love antlers?

Why Your Dog Loves Antlers

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Dogs can't get enough elk antlers. Delicious and nutritious antler treats.

Dogs can’t get enough elk antlers. Delicious and nutritious antler treats. The elk asks the dogs to wait until we shed them first.

“Why would my dog like antlers? They are hard and smell flavorless.”

This is what a lot of dog parents think when they first hear about antlers for dogs.  However, dogs LVE chewing on antlers.  Still confused?  We were.

Here are some quick reasons dogs like antlers:

  • Chewing: Antlers are long-lasting and satisfy the dog’s need to chew.  Whole antlers last longer than center-cut antlers (cut in half with marrow exposed).
  • Highly Nutritious: High Protein, Calcium Phosphorous.  Low in fat.  Also include plenty of Magnesium, Sodium, Copper, Zinc, and Iron.  Left on the ground in the wilderness, mice and other animals consume antlers for their nutritional value.
    Elk Example Nutrition:
    Protein........ 45%
    Calcium........ 22%
    Phosphorous.... 11%
    Fat............  1%
  • Safe: Events of accidents from chewing deer antlers compared to pig bones or cow bones is very low. Still, no dog should be left unattended when chewing antlers.  Sharp edges can occur and may need to be sanded down to prevent injury.
  • A Variety of Shapes, Sizes, and Texture: No two antlers are alike, your dog will enjoy the variety. Be sure to choose the right size for your dog.  When it antler gets small enough to become a choking hazard.  It’s time to take it away and get them a new one.

Why people like antlers:

  • Humane and sustainable: Animals (Elk and Deer) aren’t harmed for their antlers.  They are shed naturally each season, picked up, cleaned and ready for chewing.
  • Clean: Elk and Deer antlers don’t smell or stain. Both dogs and people enjoy them.

What is the difference between Deer, Elk and Moose?  Deer antlers are dense and hard. Elk antlers are softer and more spongy on the inside. Moose antlers are flat and don’t make for an ideal dog chew.

If the antler has dried out and lost it’s flavor, soak it in broth, smear some canned food or even coconut oil can spark their interest again.

Don’t let your dog chew more than ½ inch per day.  Too much at once can cause stomach upset. Always supervise! Antlers have had reports of causing crown fractures and large splinters can break off (although rare) and be hazardous.  Other hard items to watch for; bones, hard-pressed rawhide, hard nylon bones, bully sticks. Bully horns from water buffalo can be concerning as they splinter in thick chunks.

Antlers begin as cartilage and grow fast! Faster than any other bone grows. Growing as much as an inch per day during the summer! As antlers start to grow, they are still soft, blood flows through veins and the cartilage antlers are covered in velvet (a thin skin of fur).  When fully grown, these antlers begin to harden and the velvet dries and is rubbed off (usually on trees). In the winter the cartilage mineralizes into hard bone and then fall off.

Antlers are amazing natural structures. Scientists are studying them to unlock the secrets of fast cell regeneration and dogs are enjoying them for health and fun!

Written by Jesse a HealthyPets staff member who loves all animals and is a licensed falconer, you can follow him and his animals on his Instagram & Falconry Site.

BONUS: Where do these antlers come from?

Antler Hunting or Shed Hunting can be illegal where you live. Some states have seasons for it.  Check your state’s department of fish and game/wildlife.  The antlers that are sold through healthypets.com are purchased legally through antler auctions. Many times it is boy scouts that pickup antlers to be auctioned helping with their fundraising as well as a neat, fun activity. Still, the easiest way is to let HealthyPets.com ship them to you.