The Cute, Friendly Boston Terrier

This cute little dog is intelligent, alert and social.  It is a wonderful family dog and a friendly pet.  Fortunately, he doesn’t need a lot of grooming.  Here are some of the interesting stats for this little pooch:

Statistics

Adult Height:  15”-17”

Weight: 10 lbs – 25 lbs

Life Expectancy:  13-15 years

Coat:  Short and smooth

Color:  Black tones with white on chest, paws, and face

Boston Terriers are a non-sporting dog.  They want to be your companion.  They are comfortable around other animals and good with children. Of course, children need to be respectful of their pet and not hurt them.

American bred, the Boston Terrier was developed by crossing the Bulldog and the English Terrier.  It was first recognized by the AKC in 1893.  He is a very alert dog, a great watch dog, and easy to train. They are easy to maintain because they only need brushing once a week, and have clean habits.  They easily adapt to any living environments because they are small.   They don’t need a lot of space, but they do need to be exercised, and any dog does.

There are 6 health issues to be aware of:

1. Cataracts (at any age)
2. Cherry Eye
3. Deafness
4. Heart Murmur
5. Allergies
6. Back issues

If you do a little more research by asking other owners of Boston Terriers, you may decide this is the pet for you.

We have lots of items that would be just perfect for you little dog.  Check out the cat beds as well as the dog beds categories because of their size at Pawsitive Pamperings.com 

 

Well, summer is almost over and it’s time to get back to posting to our blog.  It’s been a busy summer for me with family and friends, and it has probably been a busy summer for you also.

 

I know I can’t be an expert in all things related to dogs and cats, so I will do a lot of research and share with you my finds.  I will also tell you where I searched for and found the useful, informative and fun facts.  I will also share some pet experiences – the ones with happy endings. Both dogs and cats issues will be discussed.

 

To start, I found an interesting article in Spot Magazine about taking your dog to work.  It says that dogs can reduce the stress for you and your co-workers.  The article states that when dogs were present, the levels of trust and effective collaboration among the co-workers were higher than normal.  No one expressed any concerns over allergies.

 

Even with the studies stated, it may take a lot of convincing at many companies to allow you to bring your dog to work, except on ‘bring your dog to work’ day.

 

Some of the upcoming blog topics will be on volunteering at pet shelters; microchip effectiveness; pet exercise, and pet pre-nups – really!

 

I personally love receiving emails from friends that put captions on pet pictures.  Those captions are quite comical, sensitive, and creative.

 

Check back and see out next blog on volunteers for pets.

Please look at our website: PawsitivePamperings.com for some great products.

 

Dog Obesity Is Unhealthy

This is Chevy again, and I want to talk to pet parents who like to over feed their dogs. Dog obesity is quite common in older dogs, neutered dogs, and dogs that don’t have much exercise. Some pet parents keep feeding their dogs because the dogs keep asking for more food, like me. I’m a Lab, and traditionally, Labs like to eat.

My dog sister likes to run and play, and dog food is not a high priority to her. Dog food, dog treats, human food, any kind of food, is what I like. I like to eat! If it is edible, I will try it. However, I shouldn’t have eaten so much because I soon became over weight.

My pet mom talked with my vet. The vet gave me an exam and found I was healthy and that my dog obesity was due to over eating and not a disease. He told my pet mom to mix my dog food with half canned green beans to help control my dog obesity. I liked it and I began to loose those extra, unwanted pounds. I am no longer obese.

It isn’t good for a pet parent to just cut back on dog food because dogs just wouldn’t understand. We would think we were being punished for some unknown reason, and we could be starving and not getting enough nutrition. Adding the green beans gave me enough to eat and still loose weight. Pet parents can also control dog obesity by adding more fiber or carbs like carrots or apples, or give us low calorie dog food, which we may or may not like. Pet parents need to make sure that we are getting very nutrition dog food also.

Another thing to help curb dog obesity is to take us for a walk, or play with us. We need to start out slowly, if we are too overweight, increasing our exercise a little each week. Some reports say that dog obesity currently ranges from 25% to 40%.

Carrots or apples are also good treats instead of high caloric dog treats. Or you could give us ½ dog biscuit instead of a whole one, we wouldn’t know the difference.

Just please help us not to suffer from dog obesity. We don’t mind if you check with the vet first, we just want to be healthy.

On www.pawsitivepamperings.com there are really good nutritious dog food and dog treats.

Dog Treats for Haley

Hi, my name is Haley. I am a black, short haired, mixed breed. I think I have some pointer genes because I get really excited when I see a squirrel run across the top of the back fence. When I run and hit the fence hard, that scared squirrel really takes off.! My pet parents couldn’t train me with dog treats to stop doing that because I just don’t like dog treats.

I am treated very well in my home, but I have a very strange character trait. Some people may even think it is a flaw in my character, but I really don’t like dog treats. I know that probably sounds a bit weird, but I would rather be praised or have someone to play with me than get a treat.

Pet parents love to give us dogs treats when we do something right. They are usually training us to do something and they want to give us a reward. My vet and groomer like to give me dog treats as a reward. I take them politely but I don’t eat them.

One day at the vet’s office, my vet gave me a dog treat. I took it politely, and then I walked over and place it in the corner of his office and left it there. Thanks, but no thanks. The vet laughed.

Another time I was I in the backseat of my pet parent’s car. I saw the pet treats and I thought my pet mom was going to give them to me. I didn’t know they were for my dog sister. Anyway, I got those treats and put them between the car door and the backseat. I then put the seat belt over them, and then anything else I could find I put on top of the car seat. I didn’t want the treats. Thanks, but no thanks. My pet mom laughed.

My pet mom and I were out in the front yard one day. I was being very good so my pet mom gave me a treat. I was polite, I took the treat….then went over and put it behind a rose bush. Thanks, but no thanks. My pet mom laughed again.

The chew bone above, however, I love.  I lay down in the evening and chew and chew.  It is so contenting to be with my pet parents and enjoy this particular treat.

Now, I don’t want to discourage anyone from giving their dogs treats, but make sure they like the treats or you will be wasting money. Some dogs like chews, some like biscuits, some like carrots or apples, some like semi-moist treats, I just don’t particularly care for most treats. I would rather squeak my dog toy or chew on the chew bones above.

If your dog is normal and she likes treats, please visit this website: www.pawsitivepamerings.com. They have lots of good dog treats.

More about Simba to the Vet

Well, good news about our cat Simba.  After all of the tests, he is just fine.  No liver, kidney, cancer, parasites, or thyroid problems.  I am so glad we have kept him inside because I believe that indoor cats lead a healthier life style.

Now he needs to gain some weight.  With the vet’s permission, we have just fed him human food – canned albacore tune and canned chicken that we get at Costco- all week.  What a happy cat!  He ate and ate last week.  Every time I go into the kitchen now, he thinks it is for the sole purpose of giving him something more to eat.  He has lots of energy and only one small bout of vomiting, which is pretty good for him.  He doesn’t like dark meat chicken or turkey, so I know that is why we will need to stick to the albacore tuna.  Okay, we are definitely spoiling our cat more and more each day. He does have plenty of water and 2 kinds of dry food as part of his diet.

Even though it was a large vet bill, at least we know that Simba is healthy.  We are also blessed to know that we don’t have to give him daily medication.  Cats just don’t like to be forced to take medication in any form, pill or liquid.  Actually, they really don’t like to be forced to do anything.

Tomorrow I will talk about bringing a new cat into your home.

Until next time, have a good evening.   Mrs. Paws

P.S.  Thanks for taking your time to view our website for your dog and cat needs – pawsitivepamperings.com.

Our Cat to the Vet

It is inevitable that we need to take our cats to the vet sometime. Our cat is 11-1/2 yrs old and is extremely healthy. Since he is a totally indoor cat, we haven’t been good about getting his feline shots each year, so he hasn’t been to the vet since 2003.

I know most of you are thinking “What kind of a cat parent is this person?” Actually, we love our cat, but we don’t run to the doctor for ourselves very often, unless necessary and I guess we just carried that philosophy over to him.

Well, this last weekend, he developed a vomiting issue accompanied with being lethargic and a bit of diarrhea. This was the time, so we took him in yesterday. After a senior cat series of tests, and a lot of $$$, the vet called and said he has a possibility of a thyroid issue. This issue, because it his thyroid is elevated, it could cause heart problems and stomach irritation. Another test is being taken.

He is feeling a whole lot better, for which we are grateful, but we do want to keep him healthy. So, we will find out what the next step is that we should take by the end of the week.

It just shows that you need to be very aware of your pets so you know when you must have them examined by your vet. We didn’t wait when we knew that there was a possible issue.

Until next time, have a good day. Mrs. Paws

Thanks for looking at our website pawsitivepamperings.com for your dog or cat supplies.

A fun day with Fido

Happy Martin Luther King Day! Maybe it is a holiday for you. If so, why not treat your dog to a holiday and have fun and play with him today? Or maybe you did some of these things last Friday on the 13th? Nothing bad, nothing superstitious – just a fun day to change the perceptive of a Friday the 13th.

Give him that extra time and make this day a special day. You could take your dog for a nice walk. Walks are good for us humans as well as our four legged companions. Great to get some fresh air also.

Dogs love to play with their toys. If you rotate their toys, find one they haven’t played with in a while. Make it an interactive toy so you can play with him. Maybe a gentle tug-o-war or frizzbe toss….you decide.

If you’re confined inside because of the weather, you could take the time to brush and groom him. Many dogs like to be pampered and groomed as you talk oh so nice to them.

All of these activities are bonding time activities. Enjoy the day, and your dog.

Until next time, have a great day! Mrs. Paws

Natural, Organic, or Vegetarian Dog Food Diet?

More About Dog Food

Thanks for coming back.

First, let me list one major DON’T in feeding your dog. Don’t give your dog any chocolate, or place chocolate where he can get into it. Chocolate can be fatal to dogs! I have a friend whose dog got into a box of chocolate candy while there were gone. Their dog had to have his stomach pumped!

Also not good for dogs is Junk Food, which is probably good advice for each of us also. It gives them little nutrition and often breeds obesity. If they have any stomach problems, junk foods will probably aggravate the issue.

Now, on with more information about dog food. The best dog food to buy is sometimes a trial and error process. The dog food you select is often determined by what your dog will eat. For you to make a decision depends on your dog’s health, and your philosophy of food for yourself.

A ‘natural’ dog food is without artificial colorings, no preservatives, and no artificial flavorings.
An ‘organic’ dog food has meat, vegetables and grains that were grown without pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics. Animals are sometimes raised free range, such as chickens.
The only real way to determine if your selected dog food meets these requirements is to call the manufacture. I wish they would but that information on their labels.
‘Vegetarian’ diets are preferred generally because the dog owner is vegetarian. The only danger with this dog food diet is that dogs require a high grade of protein, and grains and vegetables don’t have this high grade of protein. Even though grains and vegetables have protein, the quality is not as good as meat.
Never force a dog to eat their food. He may sense the food contains toxins or mold that you do not see. Often, dry dog food is stored in a non-climate controlled environment and toxins and mold spores can grow in these conditions before they get to the store. Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean that it is not there.
If your dog has some allergies or ailments such as stomach or elimination problems, your vet may prescribe a particular food for him.
Always keep the health of your dog in mind when selecting his food, just like you would when selecting food for yourself. Unfortunately, the best dog food for him may be expensive, but realize it could cost less than vet bills.
In future blogs will cover more on meat proteins and dog food supplements.
Have a great day! From, Mrs. Paws
Thanks for checking the high quality dog food we offer on pawsitivepamperings.com.

Scat Mat is a Training Mat for Dogs and Cats

Today, I want to share information about a product I have just seen that I thought might be helpful to you.

Have you ever said to your dog or cat, “Get off of that chair!”, or “Stay away from those plants!”. I recently saw a training item that would be great to help you train your dog or cat not to get on furniture, counters, around the Christmas tree (too late this year), or near plants. How would you like to keep animals away from your garbage cans. It is a training mat called Scat Mat.

We don’t have any plants in our home that are accessible to our cat because we have hanging plants. One time, though, my parents had a cat that found nice soft dirt in a planter that divided 2 rooms. The planter was about waist high and the kitty had no problem jumping up and using it as a potty box. Bad Kitty!

Another idea is to use a strip of the training mat on the floor in front of an area you don’t want your dog or cat near. Maybe you have a special room, like a formal living area that you don’t want your pets to go into, or a baby’s room. These strips would work fine across the entrance.

There are several uses for these training mats. They emit a very low-power electronic pulse, sort of like static electricity, and your pet’s paws will be sensitive to this pulse if they step on it… and they don’t like it.

One of the things I like about these training mats is that they won’t hurt your dog or cat in anyway. If you don’t have an outlet near the area you want pet-free, that is no problem, because these mats are battery operated. It sounds to me like these mats are designed so you can place them anywhere you want.

If you want more information about these training mats, please check out our website at www.pawsitivepamperings.com. They are a featured item on the home page.

Thanks.  Mrs. Paw

Dog Food Brands – Which One Is Best?

As we approach this topic, realize that there will be many different opinions even among vets. The answer is: the right food is the one that your dog receives the best health. Give the food a 2-month trial, and then examine your dog for a shiny coat, normal stool, non-flaky skin, no excessive itching, no vomiting, etc. and you have a good food for your dog.

Now you’re wondering about brands either for canned or dry? Once again, there are 3 choices also:

1. Generic or store brands, the least expensive – and may be the least nutritious
2. A name brand like one you see advertised often and you recognize the name, medium priced, but check for quality.
3. Premium brands of dog food that is generally purchased in pet stores or online. They are the most pricy and they have the best nutrition.

Mixing a good quality canned with a good quality dry is a great combination. It is kind of the best of both worlds.

Dogs need meat in their diet for protein, but make sure it says ‘chicken’, ‘beef’, ‘turkey’, etc. If it just says “meat”, that doesn’t tell you what kind of meat that is in the product. For instance, rodents are considered meat, but that would not be a good meat source. Also, ‘by-products’ are not human grade quality. They could include beaks, feet, etc. There is a lot you can read on the web to narrow your choices when considering the best quality for your dog to maintain a good healthy life style – which eliminates vet bills.

Tomorrow, I will discuss the quality of meat to look for, and a look at the terms “natural”, “organic”, “homemade”, and “vegetarian” diets. I will also discuss supplements your dog may need for good health.

Thanks for visiting our blog. I hope this little bit of information is helpful to you.

Until tomorrow, have a great day! Mrs. Paws

See our dog food category on pawsitivepamperings.com.