That Pet Blog That Pet Place Pet Blog

Hi Pet Blog readers and bloggers!

If any of you attended BlogPaws in Las Vegas, you’ll know I’m not lying when I tell you we had a BLAST! It was a fun, pet-friendly event that was just perfect for That Fish Place – That Pet Place to attend.

I couldn’t have asked for more. I met with tons of passionate pet bloggers who have a ton of followers and they’re all looking for the best products for their pets. We’re only happy to oblige 🙂 Bonus! I finally got to meet the founders of Tripawds, who were my personal saviors when Barret was going through his cancer diagnosis and surgery. I don’t think it would have been possible for them to be cooler people to spend the week with! I am more passionate than ever about furthering their cause.

The seminars were fantastic resources for bloggers looking to gain an edge, a following and to perfect their art. The dinners and events were fun filled and fantastic opportunities to talk with everyone about their products, pets and passions. The expo hall was filled with great products to try at home and blog about (or even bring in to the store for our customers to try, too).

I was amazed by some of the pets that bloggers brought with them. There were dogs of all sizes, of course, cats, birds, ferrets, rats, even a Capybara! And everyone was dressed to the nines for the red carpet on Saturday night.

The absolute best part was seeing all the donations that the BlogPaws teams presented during the ceremonies; everything from cash donations to armor for Nevada police dog units.

If you’re a pet blogger or have a following on your social media page, I highly suggest you purchase tickets to next year’s event in Nashville. You won’t be sorry you did and hopefully you’ll see us there, too!

Did you go to BlogPaws? What did you think? Share with us in the comments!

As I type this, I’m currently en-route to BlogPaws – the biggest [and best, as far as I am aware] pet blogging and social media conference in the US. I could not be more excited to meet more pet bloggers and community members as dedicated to providing fellow pet owners with valuable information to keep their pets safe, healthy & happy!

I’ll be blogging from the event as often as time allows, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if there are any aspiring pet bloggers out there looking for  a chance to contribute – don’t forget that That Pet Blog accepts guest blog posts, check out our general guidelines here), and we’ve just introduced a partnership opportunity for more established bloggers who wish to write product reviews on their blogs (or guest post on ours). Take a minute to fill out our entry form  for consideration in this program.

So, how did I even hear about BlogPaws? Well, I heard of it a few years back and I remembered hearing about the conference just after last year’s event, but didn’t really dive into the community until a good friend of mine from Tripawds was looking for a sponsor to attend and suggested that it would be a good opportunity for That Pet Place to attend as well. And here we are! I’m attending Blog Paws for the first time and That Pet Place is proud to sponsor Tripawds trip and watch them present at the conference!

Speaking of Tripawds, At the retail store next weekend (May 17, 2014) we’re celebrating the 2^nd Annual Proud Pet Day! I’ll be back in time to attend the event as an official Tripawds representative, with Barret of course!

To thank the wonderful, supportive community there and commemorate some of the awful losses from canine cancer over the last year since I’ve been a member I decided to create a photo album to explain what Tripawds was all about and how dogs of all shapes, ages, sizes and shapes could live and love life on three legs. I think it was a pretty successful venture, but I’ll let you be the judges. Check out the full PDF version here 

Pages can be added at any time and it will travel with the Tribute leash and banner to events or wherever its requested.  I hope that everyone enjoys looking at the photos as much as I enjoyed creating it.

So, if you’re heading to Las Vegas for Blog Paws 2014 – keep an eye open for me, Heather Crotsley, from That Pet Place and introduce yourself!

If you’re going to be in the Lancaster, PA area on May 17, stop by Proud Pet Day and support local animal rescues and organizations (you’ll have a blast, too: live music, games, prizes, food, and more!)

 

**Update: I’ve already met 2 great bloggers and the event hasn’t started yet! Jamie from Thoughts Fur Paws  and Christine from Oh My Shih Tzu were so welcoming and had lots of great tips and got my brain working!

When my husband and I were expecting our first child, part of our preparations included getting Chester (our 6 year old hound dog) ready for the baby. We have all been told to bring something home from the hospital with the baby’s scent on it but did you know there are other ways you can help prepare your dog for their new little brother or sister?

Set Up The Stuff

Babies come with tons, and I mean TONS, of stuff. You can help your dog prepare by slowly putting the new items out. Set up your crib one day and then that fancy new swing or play mat a few days later. Take it slow and let him get used to each item before adding the next. Introducing these items gradually will give your dog a chance to smell and explore each one, and then when your baby arrives he will already be used to those things being in the house.

Bring Babies Around

Have friends with babies? Have them over. If your dog has never been around a baby you may want to see how he reacts to the crying and all the new little movements. Some people have even used those electronic babies you were forced to bring home from health class. Lucky we have lots of family and friends with kids, so Chester has had exposure to children of all ages.

Set Boundaries

Let your dog know what’s okay and what’s not. If he won’t be allowed in the nursery after the baby comes, don’t let him in now. If you let him do things now that you won’t let him do when the baby arrives it’s going to confuse him and he could end up resenting you or your little one.

Tell Him About The Baby

Everyone says that dogs can tell when you are pregnant and I really believe that Chester knew. It might sound silly to a non pet owner, but I talk to Chester like he’s my best friend so naturally I told him all about his little sister before she arrived. I like to think he understood and that helped him prepare.

Stock Up On Treats And Toys

In the weeks after you bring your little one home your front door will be like one of those revolving doors at the mall, people coming in and out all the time. Chester is extremely food motivated, so we stocked up on lots of different types of treats. We got some of his favorite training treats to reward him for good behavior or if we needed to temporarily distract him from the door or other items. We also loaded up on some long lasting treats like Greenies , filled bones, and Indigo chews. These were good to have when he would get a little too excited and we needed to divert his attention for a longer period of time. If you are worried about over treating or your dog is on a diet, toys can also be used to keep your pup occupied.

Have A Plan

This may be common sense but make sure you have a reliable pet sitter on call. Child birth is unpredictable–you can go into labor at any time and be in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. Make sure you have one, if not two, pet sitters that will be able to get your dog within a few hours when the big day comes.

Control The Introduction

Chances are that you haven’t seen your dog for a few days, so he is going to be really happy to see you. Give him a little time to get his excitement out and give you all the kisses he wants before bringing in the baby. What worked for us was to have my mom take Emmalynne into her nursery when my husband brought Chester home. Once he was over the excitement of seeing me he sniffed around at the diaper bag and car seat then we took him in to meet his little sister.

Keep Calm

Your dog can tell if you are nervous and that can make him uneasy, if you stay calm and don’t make a huge deal out of him meeting the little one he won’t either. Remember to take it easy on your pup; this is a huge adjustment for him too. Dog toys and baby toys are surprisingly similar so you can’t really blame him for chewing on one you leave out.

Don’t Forget Your Dog

Make sure your dog gets enough exercise and attention. Try to stick with his normally scheduled feedings and walks; you don’t want to have to deal with accidents just because you didn’t have time to let him out. We take Chester with us everywhere that we are allowed to. So even though it might be easier to leave him home sometimes, we make sure that if we would have taken him before Emmalynne was born, we take him now. I look at it more like; we now have two kids rather than one kid and a dog.

These are some of the things that helped Chester make the transition from only child to older brother. Emmalynne is now two months old and Chester has taken on the role of her protector. When someone new holds her he is watching their every move. He is more alert and curious about abnormal noises. In the mornings when she’s in our room sleeping and I’m getting ready he lays in the doorway where he can keep an eye on both of us. It makes me feel good knowing that he is looking out for her (as all big brothers should). I think he has accepted her as a member of our family and I am excited to see how their relationship grows as she gets older!

 

If you’re anything like me, you’ve seen those ads on Etsy or Pinterest where you can purchase a painting of your pet for hundreds of dollars. You may have even been tempted, like I have been, to buy one or check further into it, only to be deterred by the cost of the artist’s work. As an artist myself, I know that their time is valuable and their work is worth it if you have the money to spare. Many of us don’t have that kind of cash lying around for a treasured piece of art.

If you’re a little cash strapped and you’re looking for an inexpensive alternative for some custom pet artwork, either as a gift or for décor for your own home, look no further. This is the blog post you’re looking for! I have 3 low-cost options that every pet-enthusiast will love!

Waterlouge App

(Available on iTunes – $2.99)

This is my favorite app for watercolor dog paintings and cat paintings. It produces high quality watercolor-like images that you can save and email to yourself, then print at an enlarged size without losing the quality. I’ve used this app for framed pictures of my dog paintings, screensavers of my dogs, photo collages, and even custom greeting cards. At $2.99 you’ll be shocked at how much use you can get out of this app. It’s currently only available on iTunes for iPhone or iPad.
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This past weekend Barret and I visited the American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life in Hummelstown. He had such a great time meeting new people and other dogs! He was such a good boy!

Part of our visit was to see how he is going to do when he is an ambassador for Tripawds at The Pet Pantry’s Proud Pet Day on May 17th, 2014 at That Fish Place – That Pet Place. He’s going to be a delight! The only embarrassing thing he did was swim in the baby pool intended as a water dish for the other dogs. Oops!

One of the booths we stopped at had a local Pet Communicator or Psychic, Cynthia, doing readings. I thought, what the heck! Why not?

I thought I’d share my experience with you and I’d love to hear if any of you have ever spoken with a pet communicator. If you have, leave a comment and let me know what you took away from the experience.

The first thing she said to me when I sat down with Barret was that he had the youngest most innocent spirit she had ever met. He knows no pain, no anger, no sorrow. I have to say this is pretty spot on for my Barret. He is so trustful of almost everyone and just happy all the time. Even at five years old and down to only three legs, he bounces around like a twelve week old pup! He does not have an off-switch. She could tell that I was very attached to him and that his amputation had made us very close. This is totally true, and any other Tripawd mom will agree. There is no bond that can compare.

I didn’t have any specific questions for him, so I asked if she could sense anything about my pets at home. Amazingly, without me giving her any additional information she asked if I had a Brown dog only a little bit bigger than Barret. I said yes (Gatsby). She said that he’s vocal and appears aggressive towards other dogs sometimes. That’s kind-of true. It’s actually more true of Sara, who is also brown and white. I would be curious to know if she had Sara and Gatsby switched around. Everything she said about Gatsby seemed to fit Sara more than Gatsby.

She said that the brown dog was attacked when very young. He acts up to protect himself. It’s possible, He was 16 weeks when he came to our home. Sara could have been attacked in her previous home with all the other dogs in the home and the poor care she was receiving. She had some desensitization suggestions for this “Aggressive” dog (who I still think more fits Sara than Gatsby).
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So you’ve decided to start crate training your dog. Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step towards creating a safe haven in your home where your dog can have a place to rest and feel safe during uncertain times or when they are unsupervised.

The first obvious step to crate training is to purchase a dog crate, however there are so many choices on the market, where do you start? The first thing you’ll want to consider is the adult size of your dog. Sometimes you won’t know the adult size of your dog, say if you have adopted a mutt. In this case you’ll have to make your best guess at the adult size you think your dog will grow to be (I’ve been wrong all three times, good luck!). If you have a purebred, they’re all generally the same size range, so choosing the right size crate is simpler.
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Hi Pet Blog Readers,

We’ve made it to the middle of the week.  If you are having trouble battling Hump Day, we’ve got a great guest blog from Hartz that should help you get through the day and also gain some valuable knowledge on flea prevention.  Fleas can be troublesome and expensive to treat, so it’s a good idea to get ahead of the game and try to stop them before they start.  Hartz has some great information and tips that will help.  If you have any questions or comments, please let us know in the comments section below.  Thanks!

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The weather is finally turning and that means it’s a great time to think about springtime flea prevention for your dog or cat. It may come as a surprise, but fleas are active year-round, which means those pests that survive the winter are just as ready for the spring as your four-legged friend.

Before your dog or cat stands at the door, ready to get back to enjoying the warm air and fresh grass of the outside world, there are a few steps you need to take to ensure that your pet is safe from those bloodsucking pests.

Examine your pet

It is not uncommon for dogs or cats to pick up fleas during the winter, so you should inspect your furry friend for any signs of fleas or their eggs. Use a fine-toothed flea comb to check your pet for flea droppings, which are small black or dark brown specks that generally clump together at the base of your pet’s fur, or tiny white dots. If your pet has this residue clinging to his coat, then he has been infested with fleas and will need treatment before venturing outside. Fortunately, there are a few ways to instantly eliminate fleas. Your pet’s health care provider can prescribe a pill that will kill all the adult fleas present on your pet within 24 hours. In addition to medication, a bath using special flea shampoo can clean your dog or cat of any flea eggs or larvae.

Consider your pet’s lifestyle

There are so many flea-repelling products on the market that choosing just one can overwhelm pet owners. To get a better idea of what type of flea prevention care your furry friend needs, you need to take into account his outdoor surroundings and activities. For example: Does your dog like to explore wooden areas? Does your cat have a habit of climbing trees? Are there streams and other sources of water nearby? Do you and your pet live by the beach? All of these factors can increase your four-legged friend’s likelihood of contracting fleas, so you’ll need to answer these questions to better determine which flea prevention treatment is right for your pet.

Weigh the options

Once you’ve considered your pet’s lifestyle, it’s time to choose the best flea treatment for your furry friend. Most pet owners narrow the options down to the flea collar versus flea drops. Flea collars are worn around the neck and work in two ways: some emit a gas that repels fleas, while others release medication that’s absorbed into your dog’s or cat’s subcutaneous fat layer. Once absorbed, it repels and eliminates adult fleas and larvae from infesting your animal’s coat. Flea collars can typically work for several months, with some newer designs lasting for up to eight months, making it a great option for pets that are always on the go or living in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, flea drops are a topical treatment that is applied between the shoulder blades of your dog or cat. These treatments attack fleas and their eggs, immobilizing and eventually eliminating them. However, flea drops only last for one month, so they require diligence and consistency from pet owners.

Don’t forget the indoors

Flea prevention isn’t just for the outdoors. Fleas can hide in the nooks and crannies of your home, while flea eggs can lie dormant in your carpets or upholstered furniture for months on end. To ensure that your four-legged friend is safe from fleas, vacuum your home at least once a week, including your furniture, tough-to-reach corners and any bedding your pet touches. Studies have shown that vacuuming eliminates 96 percent of adult fleas and nearly 100 percent of young fleas.

I love my mutts – I don’t think there is any better breed out there than a good mutt! A lot of people have misconceptions about mutts or think they’re somehow inferior to purebreds. It might be interesting to dig a little deeper into the world of non-purebred pups. The terms “mutt” and “mongrel” get thrown around pretty loosely these days, and they often come with a derogatory air. But anyone who owns a mixed dog knows that they have just as many, if not more wonderful qualities than purebred pets! The stigma that has followed mixed breed dogs is losing it’s grip, which is a great thing. Let’s talk about mutts so you can see why they can be just right for you!

Mixed Terms

First let’s get the terminology right. Mutt. Mix. Mongrel. Bitsa. Potcake. Heinz 57. These are all terms that denote a dog of more than one breed origin. The true definition of mutt and mongrel is an individual resulting from the interbreeding of diverse breeds or strains; especially:  one of unknown ancestry.  In the case of canines, these are individuals of unknown ancestry that belong to no single organizationally recognized breed and are not the result of selective breeding. Today, much of the terminology has become blurred with “designer breeds” rising in popularity.  Designer Dogs are selectively bred hybrids, specialized mixes of 2 or more purebred dogs intentionally bred to retain specific traits of those breeds. The term “mixed breed” encompasses dogs of mixed, untraced ancestry, though it is often used in reference to hybrids as well to make everything nice and confusing.
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Hi Pet Bloggers,

Hope you enjoyed your weekend!  Dealing with pet accidents and messes can be frustrating, time consuming and even expensive.  Today, guest blogger Keith Benton joins us with some neat ideas for cleaning up and preventing messes that save time and money.  As always, if you have any questions, comments, or cleaning tricks of your own that you would like to share, please let us know in the comments section below.  Thanks!

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If you’re like me, not much infuriates you more than a pet who continues to make a messy on the clean carpet. Pets are a joy to have around; they provide companionship, give us a low-maintenance responsibility, and are simply fun to cuddle up with under a warm fleece on a rainy Saturday afternoon. But they are not as trainable when it comes to potty duties. They will occasionally use your carpet or floor as a toilet. It is generally too expensive to call in the carpet cleaners or to replace a carpet each time it occurs, so let’s go over some of the precautions and solutions to dealing with pet mess.

Walk the Walk

Never forget to take your pets on walks. Dogs especially, but cats as well. Do it on a regular schedule so your pet knows exactly when it is about to be taken outside. If you’re a city dweller be sure to keep the neighborhood clean and pick up after your pet does the duty. I use two plastic grocery bags I get from WinCo or Walmart, put it over my hand like a glove, grab the droppings, and pull it inside out so that it doesn’t get on my hands and I’ve got a disposable way to collect pet waste. This works great outside but also can be used as a cleanup tactic in the house. That way you can snatch it up and throw it into the outside bin immediately.

Iron/Paper Towel Combo

A friend led me on to this one. When a pet urinates on the carpet, using Lysol or Resolve to scrub up the mess works but there is always just that little bit of waste imbedded in the carpet. A great way to lift those tough to get particles from the carpet is using a hot iron and some paper towels. Get the iron hot, place a paper towel on the carpet, then slowly move the iron across the paper towel in circular motions. The urine will begin to soak into the paper towel. I always use a couple paper towels to make sure most of the waste is lifted.

Apple Bitter Deterrent

Grannick’s Apple Bitter is a great product that can be used for all sorts of pet training. If a pet makes a mess, spray some Apple Bitter on the end of a towel. Take the pet to the area in which it made the mess and put the Apple Bitter towel up to the pet’s nose. Dogs are generally pretty smart about knowing what they did wrong, but I don’t have the experience with cats. Your animal will soon associate the bad action with the unpleasant bitterness. I was able to train my Labrador after only two Apple Bitter exercises.

Pet Crate

Pet crates can be used to house the animal during long days at the office. While not allowing them the freedom to roam about, pet crates are a way to eliminate a pet’s contact with your floor or carpet. Pets will also not leave waste in the crate.

When all else fails and the mess becomes too much for the carpet, a solid carpet cleaning service for your home might be tough to avoid. While it might be tough to come to terms with, this may be the best option. Be sure to take all the inexpensive precautionary steps so you can save money in dealing with pet waste. If you’re smart about the situation, you can prevent pet mess before it even occurs in addition to train the pet that using your home as a restroom is an unfavorable action.

Hi Pet Blog Readers,

Please welcome guest blogger Lilly Sheperd!  Today she has a post that asks us to be proactive in regard to the health of our friendly felines.  She covers how important preventative maintenance can be for your cat and how crucial it is for them to engage in exercise and activity while also enjoying a good diet.  If you have any questions, comments or tips of your own for keeping your cats healthy please let us know in the comments section.  Thanks!

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Cats are extremely agile and active pets known for their curiosity. For this reason, many humans find they are easily humored by the feline species’ innate sense of independence, and enjoy spending time with these furry little beholders of big personalities.

 

It is no wonder, then, that cat owners want to do whatever it takes to help their animal companions live long and healthy lives. Promoting longevity in your pet is not achieved by any miracle cure, but rather results from consistent effort throughout an entire cat’s life. By combining a well-rounded preventative care regimen, an increase in the amount of exercise your pet experiences, and a boost to the nutritional value of your cat’s diet, you may be able to carry your pet through over a decade of play, laughter, and fun.

 

Preventative Care Starts Early: Preparing Your Pet for a Long and Healthy Life

One of the most important aspects of health maintenance for your cat is preventative medicine – and prevention begins the moment that a cat is born. Staying up-to-date on regular vaccinations, anti-parasitic medications, and other preventative treatments can severely reduce the risk of your beloved pet developing illnesses and diseases. Since regulations regarding what medicines are required of domesticated animals often change, consultation with your veterinarian on an annual basis is necessary to help you ensure that you stay in compliance with policy.

 

Another key facet of preventative care for cats is maintenence of your pet’s dental hygiene – though it is often overlooked by pet owners. The process of taking care of your cat’s teeth and gums is relatively simple: with a small toothbrush and a pea-sized drop of toothpaste that is specially formulated for your cat’s mouth, gently massage the teeth and gum areas to remove plaque and any other buildup. Cats that are more finicky about the process of having their teeth brushed often can substitute crunchy dental health treats, designed to remove plaque as cats eat, for their brushing routine. Frequently serving crunchy dry food to your cat can also reduce the risk of buildup forming inside its mouth.

 

Achieving Regular Activity: Both Play and Exercise Are Critical to Cat Health

It is very important for cats to have access to toys and enough space for adequate play each day. Surely, stereotypes tell us that cats are fat, lazy, and lounge around all day – and veterinarians agree that it is healthy for cats to have relaxation time as well. However, play can help build the strength of your pet’s muscles, and staying active can prevent troubles with your cat’s joints and ligaments over time. It is far easier for active cats to maintain a healthy weight through engagement in exercise than simply through calorie restriction.

 

A Nutritious Diet: A Central Part of a Cat’s Healthy Lifestyle

Perhaps the most important part of a pet’s preventative care routine is the maintenance of a healthy, balanced diet. A cat should have a daily diet of healthy cat food. The ideal cat food brand has a high level of animal proteins, and is chock-full of vitamins and minerals that promote your cat’s health. Look for trusted brands that, unlike generic brands, have certification stamps of their safety, and use meats, carbohydrates, and other ingredients that are natural and of high quality. Access to a fresh bowl of clean water is also a key part of maintaining bodily health for a cat.

 

Did you know that over 54% of the cat population in the United States is overweight? Veterinarians warn that extra weight is an early indicator of disease, and can lead to kidney failures, heart disease, and other kitty illnesses over time. Weight management is based in part on portion control, but also depends upon the food’s nutritional quality. For more information about what your pet’s particular dietary needs are, consult your veterinarian.

 

 

This is a guest post by Lilly Sheperd. She is freelance writer, occasional guest blogger and pet lover.