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A Home From a Dog’s Perspective

July 11, 2016

Some of you may know, I am part of the Wayfair Homemakers Program.

Recently, they shared with me some doggy personalities put together by a writer in their office. Each of the personalities below represents a product offered by Wayfair for pets!

This got me thinking…

…what are our homes like from our dogs’ perspectives?

What do they care about the most?

I truly think for Rooney, his crate and bed are the most important to him at this stage in his life. While Rooney loves playtime, he enjoys resting in his cushy crate just as much.

What part of your home do you think is most important to your pet?

Dog Tales Header

Gus: Dog Beds

Daisy: Dog Carriers

Liam: Dog Houses

A lazy pug who does not like to leave the comfort of his bed unless it’s for food.

A Shih Tzu supermodel with her own line of designer dog carriers.

A WWII veteran German Shepherd who enjoys telling stories of his dangerous missions in the elite W.O.O.F. army squad.

Hans: Dog Ramps

Joey: Dog Crates

Ingrid: Barware

A Dachshund who has become well-known around the world for his craftsmanship of dog ramps and stairs.

A teenage bulldog who spent some time in the dog crate after a dog bone heist went wrong.

A St. Bernard you can find serving up signature cocktails to guests at her bar in the Swiss Alps.

Disclaimer: I am part of the Wayfair Homemakers Program. I am occasionally provided with Wayfair products in exchange for my honest opinion. My Kid Has Paws strives to share only products we believe would benefit our readers.

The De-shedding Tool that Will Keep Your Floors Immaculate

May 16, 2016

Day 13 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home is all about the right De-shedding tool! Seeing as Spring is the time when most pets shed their winter coat, I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss the perfect de-shedding tool, and fur-strategy (if you will) so that you can keep your floors looking fur-free as much as possible.

Fur is a constant in our home, and my husband and I do our very best to keep our floors as clean as possible but make no mistake, no one is leaving our home without at least a few Rooney hairs on their clothes. While the shedding doesn’t bother us, I do know that some pet parents find those little “fur tumbleweeds” that make their way across a home to be one of the most frustrating things. Therefore, today I would like to discuss dog breeds that shed the most, the reasons why dogs shed, and a strategy for reducing shedding and cleaning pet hair off your floors.

Dogs that Shed

I want to caution potential pet parents out there. If you aren’t willing to deal with shedding, or you think it might be a point of tension in your home, do your research before adopting a dog! There are definitely breeds that shed more than others.

Here are the Top 10 Heavy Shedders according to Vetstreet.com:

  • Alaskan Malamute
  • Alaskan Husky
  • Labrador Retriever
  • German Shepherd
  • Golden Retriever
  • Siberian Husky
  • Akita
  • Chow Chow
  • Saint Bernard

So if your dog breed is on this list, the following de-shedding tool & clean floor strategy might be the best thing since sliced bread! 

Even though Corgis didn’t make the above list, as a Corgi parent, you will inevitably be dealing with some serious shedding!

Why Dogs Shed

Let’s take a moment to understand more about why dogs shed in the first place!

According to Dr. Becker, there are 3 types of fur that your dog has on their body and 4 reasons your dog might shed.

The 3 types of fur include:

  • Undercoat: provides insulation
  • Outercoat: protects the undercoat from extreme temperatures & water
  • Whiskers: provide sensory stimulation

The 4 reasons your dog might shed include:

  • Regulating body temp
  • Protecting the skin
  • Improve sensory perception
  • If they get nervous or stressed (situational shedding)

The Perfect De-Shedding Tool!

As we have just established, you can’t prevent shedding because it is a natural process for your pet’s body. However, you can use the right grooming tools and strategy to reduce shedding and therefore reduce fur clean up.

The FURminator pet grooming tools have been on the market for quite some time, but last summer they released the FURminator de-shedding tool. The FURminator’s design helps remove the loose hairs that will inevitably shed during a shedding season or throughout the day.

Here are the benefits of the FURminator de-shedding tool according to their website:

  • Reduces shedding up to 90%
  • Keeps your pet’s skin and fur clean and healthy
  • Improves the fur renewal process which reduces skin irritants and allergies
  • Doesn’t cut or damage your dog’s coat due to the unique design
  • Easy to use and ideal for grooming your dog at home

FURminator even improved their product, so it now includes some customization. Their de-shedding tools are specific to the size and hair length of your pet, making it the best possible tool for your pet’s shedding. We have the all hair for medium dogs tool for Rooney.

If your pet doesn’t shed very much (probably because they don’t have an undercoat), this isn’t the tool for you. 

How to Use the FURminator De-shedding Tool:

Petful has some specific tips for improving the use of the FURminator de-shedding tool which I think are great:

  • Make sure your pet’s coat is dry
  • Remove any mats, tangles or foreign objects from your pet’s coat before brushing
  • Check for any bruises or cuts before you start brushing
  • Lastly, use long gentle strokes to brush your pet’s coat evenly
  • Use the correct brush for your dog’s size and coat length

The Clean Floor Strategy

  1. Now that we have established that brushing your dog’s coat regularly can reduce the amount of shedding that occurs, I recommend setting up a time once a week to brush your pet BEFORE you clean your floors.
  2. Spend at least 15 minutes brushing out your pet’s undercoat on a surface that can be easily swept. Because the fur will stick to itself, you will now have a giant pile of fur that can be tossed into the trash can.
  3. Then, I recommend using a Swiffer to gather up the remaining fur tumbleweeds in your home. The Swiffer is the best tool I have used that can gather pet hair and help us quickly clean your floors.

Once you start making this a part of your weekly routine, you should start to see a decrease in your pet’s shedding, AND you will see fewer fur tumbleweeds around your house.

The De-shedding Tool that will Help Keep Your Floors Immaculate

Why You Shouldn’t Shave Your Dog

You may be thinking to yourself, Rachel this is great info, but can’t I just shave my dog in the summer? The answer is no, and here is why:

Your dog’s coat is like the insulation in your home that keeps the house from getting too cold in the winter, and too hot in the summer. Your dog’s coat does the same thing – it works not only to keep her warm in cold weather, but also to protect her from the effects of too much sun. – Dr. Becker

So there it is, the best de-shedding tool, and my clean floor strategy. What do you think?

Disclaimer: I was compensated for my opinion previously by Swiffer. Additionally, I was provided with a FURminator de-shedding tool and Swiffer in a previous campaign. However, My Kid Has Paws only includes products that I believe will provide benefit to my readers. 

Rearrange Your Furniture to Suit Your Pet’s Needs

May 10, 2016

On Day 12 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home, we will discuss rearranging our furniture to suit our pet’s needs. In our home, Rooney’s comfort and needs definitely supersede our own, and we know we are not alone. As much as we love a Rooney approved solution, we also want furniture that fits our needs and blends in well with our decor.

Since Rooney is a Corgi and falls under the “low-rider” category, I’ll discuss the needs of a low-rider dog. A low-rider dog is one that is long and has short legs. Think Dachshund, Corgi, Sussex Spaniel, or Basset Hound. These breeds of dog need their backs protected and their furniture easily accessible. Our couch is nice and low, so our big concern is our bed.

In our home, Rooney's comfort and needs definitely supersede our own, and we know we are not alone. As much as we love a Rooney approved solution, we also want furniture that fits our needs and blends in well with our decor.

Ottomans & Bench Seats

I recently found this great bench seat and my husband had the brilliant idea to put it at the end of our bed so that Rooney can easily jump on and off our bed without risking injury to his back.

See, sometimes our low-riders just need a little extra help, and ottomans and bench seats are a perfect solution to keeping continuity and functionality in your decor while also providing your pet with the exact support they need.

Pet Stairs

In addition to the ottomans and bench seats, there are a few more decor-friendly solutions. Most importantly there are pet stairs like these from Wayfair.

Pet stairs are a great item to train your dog to use early so that they never learn to jump on and off of furniture. We are still working on Rooney’s affinity (or lack there of) for pet stairs.

PupStep Wood 4 Step Pet Stair

PupStep Wood 4 Step Pet Stair

Regular Price:$107.69

See More Dog Ramps & Stairs

Cats

Don’t think I forgot about the cats. Cats also need dedicated space within our homes, unless you want to pay the price and get woken up in the middle of the night by a chorus of meows because there was nowhere perfect for lying down.

While I am sure there are plenty of places in your home to put a cat bed, there are a lot of new styles of cat beds that can provide your cat with the coziest place, and fit in well with your decor.

Does your furniture suit your pet’s needs? Do any of your furniture pieces double as a pet bench or bed?

In our home, Rooney's comfort and needs definitely supersede our own, and we know we are not alone. As much as we love a Rooney approved solution, we also want furniture that fits our needs and blends in well with our decor.

REGARDING THE CHALLENGE: I must ask for forgiveness from my readers. I promises you 30 posts in April, and I bit off more than I could chew. We only got through 11 :(. As disappointed as I am in my lack of posting, I promise to make it up to you. So the April Challenge will continue! Don’t worry, May’s Safety Preparedness Challenge will not be overlooked. Stick with me and I promise to get you all of the blog posts you deserve!

Disclaimer: I am part of the Wayfair Homemakers Program. I am occasionally provided with Wayfair products in exchange for my honest opinion. My Kid Has Paws strives to share only products we believe would benefit our readers.

Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness: Keeping Your Pet’s Bowl Clean

April 27, 2016

Day 11 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home is focused on cleaning your pet’s bowls & the easiest pet bowls to keep clean.

If you are anything like me, you are a really busy pet parent. You try to keep the house as clean as you can, but sometimes it’s really hard to keep up with all of your chores. Additionally, I will always choose to take Rooney for a walk over doing my laundry, which means that I am often behind on my daily chores. Therefore, when the weekend rolls around, and we are busy cleaning up our kitchens and backyards, we might forget that it’s also time to clean the pet bowls. But that has to change.

Last week, we shared some important information about proper pet food storage. In many of the articles that discussed pet food storage, authors also mentioned that regular cleaning of your pet’s bowls is just as important as proper pet food storage for preventing your pet from consuming unwanted bacteria. As a matter of fact, according to the Huffington Post, the NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) International rated pet bowls as the 4th dirtiest spot in our homes.

Are there real dangers lurking in my pet’s bowl?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. If you haven’t cleaned your pet’s food or water bowl in a while, you might be surprised to learn that there are a variety of potential health hazards lurking in their bowl. Here are 5 threats just to give you an idea:

  1. Serrate Marcescens “Pink Stuff”
  2. Yeast
  3. Mold
  4. Coliform (same family as E.Coli and Salmonella)
  5. Insects

So the question is, what is the recommended frequency for washing your dog or cat’s bowls?

Every day.

That’s right. Dr. Marty Becker’s co-author and pet professional, Gina Spadafori, recommends washing both the food and water bowls every day. Additionally, she recommends washing them in the hottest cycle of the dishwasher to make sure they are thoroughly sterilized (Vetstreet).

What should we use to wash the dishes?

Hot water and soap if you are washing the dishes every day. There are a few articles out there that suggest using bleach, but I wouldn’t use bleach. Bleach can be so harmful if not properly rinsed.

Cleanliness is Next to Dogliness: Keeping Your Pet's Bowl Clean

If you are at all concerned about harsh chemicals in your dish or dishwasher soap, you can always switch over to a more natural alternative. I really like Meyer’s Dish Soaps. Not only do they smell great (their lavender household cleaner smells awesome!), but they are free of the following chemicals:

  • Phthalates
  • Glycol Solvents
  • Chlorine
  • Formaldehyde
  • Artificial Colors
  • Parabens
  • Animal Derived Ingredients
  • MEA
  • DEA

What are the best types of bowls?

Several different sources stated that stainless steel or ceramic bowls are best for cleaning. Here are a few of my favorites!


 

As a result of my research, I will be washing Rooney’s bowls daily, and placing them in the dishwasher with each available cycle. What changes will you make?

Proper Pet Food Storage

April 22, 2016

Day 10 of our 30 Days to the Best Pet Home will be focused on proper pet food storage. Pet food storage may seem like a minor thing to consider. However, as a pet parent, it is vital to make sure that your pet’s food is stored appropriately to ensure quality AND is stored somewhere where they won’t overfeed themselves while you are away.

Why is proper pet food storage necessary?

  • Dog food can lose nutritional value if it is stored inappropriately
  • Moisture can cause your dog food to become moldy. Mold can cause stomach upset, or cause an allergic reaction if your dog is allergic to mold (WholeDogJournal)
  • Proper food storage can keep vermin and bugs out of your pet’s food.

Proper pet food storage is also dependent on the kind of food you feed your dog; dry food or canned food.

Dry Food

  1. Dry food should be stored in a cool and dry place off of the ground. This will prevent vermin, mold, or bugs from contaminating your pet’s food. According to Petcurean, avoid places like basements where temperature changes can create condensation.
  2. Food should also be consumed by the “Best Before Date” which is typically located on the back of the food bag.
  3. The storage container should be a food-grade storage container with an airtight seal. When using a storage container, you can do one of two things. You can leave the food in the bag and store the bag in the container, or you can pour the food directly into the container. However, if you pour the food into the container, you will need to wash the container between bags because the oils from the food can cause the plastic to become rancid.
  4. Always keep your bag! The dates and codes on pet food bags have valuable tracking information that can help you in the event of a recall.
  5. Dry food can be frozen in an airtight bag, but only for a limited time.

Canned Food

  1. Food should also be consumed by the “Best Before Date” which is typically located on the bottom of the food can.
  2. Once canned food is opened, it should be covered with the appropriate seal and placed in the refrigerator.
  3. Do not serve your pet canned food that is more than 3-5 days old. When I worked at the veterinary hospital, we would write the open date on the can to ensure we never served old food.
  4. If wet food is served (either canned or dry food with water), it should be eaten immediately or refrigerated.
  5. Canned food can be frozen, but it needs to be stored in an appropriate freezer container, like an ice cube tray.

What container should I buy?

Well, the criteria for the container is stated above; food-grade, plastic airtight container. The size of the container should be large enough to store your entire bag of food. Therefore, you may need to buy a larger container if you have a larger pet.

Even when you think you buy the right container…

When you are considering your pet food storage, please make sure that the container is stored in a place where your pet cannot help themselves. I have seen a few pets visit the veterinary hospital due to food bloat. I even knew a dog and cat team that worked together to get the food container open! If you don’t believe me, watch this video of a Border Collie helping herself to seconds.

I want to thank Petcurean for providing us with excellent information and resources for proper pet food storage. In addition to their amazing resources, they are also providing one of my lucky readers with 2, 25lb bags of their Go or Now Fresh Dog food!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I am a Petcurean Blogger Advocate. I have been compensated in exchange for providing my opinion. However, My Kid Has Paws only discusses products I truly believe in. In fact, I feed Petcurean to Rooney every day.

Also, if you are participating in our home challenge, I want to apologize for falling behind on the blog post schedule. I am doing my best and I feel it is more important to provide you with quality posts rather than rush them. Thank you for your patience.

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