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Dog grooming is more than just maintaining your dog’s cleanliness and good looks. More than keeping your dog looking and smelling fresh, grooming is also about maintaining your dog’s, and even your, physical health. Grooming is a basic essential for dogs, as this may greatly affect the health of dogs.

Grooming also allows you to check for any abnormalities your dog may have, such as ticks and fleas on their skin, eye infections, or any issues with their ears, among many others. When these abnormalities or health issues are detected at an early stage, these may be treated immediately, before they have a greater chance of becoming more serious and problematic.

EYES. Eye infections are big problems that we should prevent as much as possible. Dog eyes must always be kept clean. If you spot a yellowish discharge in the eyes area, consult your veterinarian immediately because this may be a sign of eye infection.

EARS. It is suggested to clean the dog ears at least once a week. Use a cloth dampened with water or oil to get rid to the dirt inside the ears. It is also important to check for redness, inflammation, ticks, and unusual odors, for these may be symptoms of possible complications.

TEETH. As early as possible, while your dogs are still puppies, already introduce teeth brushing as part of their care routine. Regularly brush your dog’s teeth and gums, to avoid common dental problems.

BATH. Start off early in bathing your dog regularly. Regular, however, does not mean every day. A lot of dog owners over bathe their pets. According to Veterinarians, it is recommended to give dogs a bath only once every three months. Dogs that are more active and have long fur, obviously, should bathe more frequently. Over bathing can cause skin irritation and dryness, because the skin might flake and the coat become duller.

HAIR. Regularly brushing your dog’s hair helps you discover anything unusual such as ticks, fleas, or any foreign object on the skin. When brushing, also look closely at the skin, for any cuts or sore spots that must be attended to.

NAILS. Having long nails can be painful for you when dogs accidentally scratch you, and can also make it difficult and painful for your dog to walk. Clip off the tip of your dog’s toenails about every two (2) weeks when dogs are still little pups, and then check and trim, if already too long, nails of adult dogs every month.

Some dogs do not find grooming very enticing, especially when it comes to nail clipping and ear cleaning. Thus, it is better if you begin training your pet dog to endure (and enjoy!) grooming while he is still a little pup. This is particularly more important for long-haired dogs. Their long fur may entail more time to wash, brush, and trim, so it will be really helpful to start early, so they can get used to staying still for a longer period of time, and maybe also liking grooming.

The best dog bed for your pet is when it matches his personality, temperament, physical needs, and preference. It should suit to his lifestyle, age, and size. Just like the dogs’ variety sizes and breeds, there are also different types of dog beds to choose from.

Here is a run-down of dog beds you can choose from:

Standard Dog Beds / Mats and Pads: The standard dog beds are regular dog beds that look like pillows or cushions that do not have rims or edges. They come in different sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and designs. They can be rectangular, square, round, or oval in shape. They may be made from and covered with different materials, such as polyfil, fleece, or faux suede. They may also differ in quality, ranging from basic economy to high-class designer versions.  Standard dog beds are also great for almost all kinds of dogs, except for some dogs and senior dogs who may need extra support for their orthopedic problems.

Nest Dog Beds: The nest dog beds are similar to standard dog beds, except that these have raised edges around. The rims on nest dog beds surround the entire or a portion of the dog bed. The feature of having raised edges make it ideal for dogs to lean on the rims or curl up on the nest dog bed. These dog beds work well for almost all kinds of dogs who like to curl up or lean and rest their heads on a raised edge. A lot of dogs find nest dog beds very comfortable! Because of the security it gives when the dog sinks deep into an edged nest dog bed, these nest dog beds easily become a favorite for dog snugglers.

Donut Dog Beds: Much like nest dog beds, donut beds have edges or rims around the beds. These edges serve as pillow-soft bolsters that also lets dogs curl up, get cozy, and sink in. They are typically round and made of very soft and comfy materials.

Orthopedic Dog Beds: The Orthopedic dog beds are designed to enhance comfort and support ailing or aged joins of senior dogs and dogs who have orthopedic problems. They typically have a firm memory foam or high quality thick foam base, which gives optimum support to joints and provides more ease and comfort for sleeping. These dog beds can also be perfect for any other dog aside from senior ones. Although Orthopedic dog beds may be a little bit more expensive than other dog beds, it is worth it to invest in these, to not just provide maximum comfort for your dogs, but also help in their health.

Travel Dog Beds: Travel dog beds are similar to standard dog beds, but what makes them special is their feature of being extra handy. They can be fold or rolled up, to save space and to be handy for travelling. If you enjoy travelling with your dog best friend, travel dog beds woud be the perfect choice!

The Secret Language of Dogs: Unlocking the Canine Mind for a Happier Pet by Victoria Stilwell

In this book by the star of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog, Victoria Stilwell tackles how to interpret and “speak” the hidden language of dogs. Studies that look into the minds of dogs show that they have also as complex and subtle physical and vocal language likes us humans. In addition, studies also reveal that dogs have a rich social intelligence. Stilwell explores the world of dogs, by looking into their minds through their behaviors and body language.

Indeed, “...the best way to understand your dog is by learning how she thinks and experiences the world and what he body language means” and that is what The Secret Language of Dogs is all about. This book is a guide to understanding your pet dog better, in communicating with her better, in strengthening your bond, and helping her learn more effectively, in order to feel more confident about exploring the world. Filled with colorful and adorable pictures and illustrations, this insightful book will help you “decode” your dog’s secret language.

Puppies for Dummies by Sarah Hodgson

Owning a puppy is exciting and fun, but also means big responsibility. Caring for a puppy is like caring for a new member of the family, which means that you are essentially responsible to keep your puppy healthy, safe, well-mannered, and happy. As your pup grows, you will observe that her behavior, actions, motions, and body language convey that she is communicating with you. And with that, it is important to pay attention and try to interpret the meaning behind his behavior, actions, motions, and body language. This will forge a strong and closer bond between you two. Puppies for dummies gives easy-to-follow and proven techniques and tips about raising and better understanding a pup It tackles communicating with your pup, some lessons for the first month, and so much more exciting things.

How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond by Cesar Millan

National Geographic’s Dog Whisperer star and bestselling author, Cesar Millan, publishes a book that is essential for raising a happy and healthy dog. Dog behavior expert Millan believes that raising the perfect  dog starts with the proper foundation in the early years of the dog’s life. In his book, Millan narrates from his own detailed experience so as you read through his book, you can feel like you are having a personal expert or trainer for your dog. How to Raise the Perfect Dog also touches on how to create the best environment for your dog to avoid behavior problems in the future, appropriate actions to deal with the common behavior problems, quick and easy housebreaking, the essentials for proper and healthy nutrition, unique fun exercises and play, and a lot more.

The Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller

Positive training is the use of positive reinforcement, avoiding the use of punishment, and commitment to understanding the dog’s experience from her point of view. Pat Miller’s The Power of Positive Dog Training explains how and why positive training works best for dogs. The philosophy of positive training, tips, and exercises, are discussed thoroughly in the book. This book is also for dog owners to develop a healthy relationship with the pet dog, which is based on positive reinforcement and friendship, and not on fear and punishment.

Brain Games for Dogs: Training, Tricks, and Activities for Your Dogs by Carrie Nichole

Just like the dogs’ variety sizes and breeds, there are also different types of dog beds to choose from.

Here is part 2 of our run-down of different types of dog beds you can choose from:

Furniture-style or Raised Dog Beds: These beds are designed to look like sofas raised off the floor, just like our own sofas. The frames may be made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal, wicker, or plastic. The furniture-style or raised dog beds keeps your dog a bit of distant with the cold, dirty floor, and insects have a bit farther to go before they infest the dog bed. A lot of dog owners like this type of bed because they add a distinct touch of style, and they can match the furniture-style or raised dog bed to their own sofas at home. This type of bed, however, may not be suitable for senior dogs and those dogs with orthopedic problems, because jumping to and fro the bed lead to discomfort, pain, and harm.

Covered Dog Beds: Designed to look like a little dog home, the covered dog beds provide dogs warmth, comfort, sense of safety and security, and privacy for his needed “me-time.” Covered dog beds are like smaller versions of a dog house, and provide a small plush treat for pet dogs. This type of dog bed is a cute and unique way to give your dog a comfortable space and place of his own. These beds are great for dogs who like to snuggle and keep warm, and also those that are timid and like to hide.

Cooling or Heating Dog Beds: During summer and winter, the floor’s temperature may be a little hotter and colder, respectively, than usual. This may not only be uncomfortable for your dog, but can also cause some health complications. Cooling or heating beds are perfect for these seasons, but are also great any time of the year. Cooling dog beds help your dog stay cool when temperatures skyrocket, while heating beds provide gentle extra warmth to keep your dog cozy. Some dog beds contain special cooling or thermo feature that do not need cords, and there are also some that need electricity.

Outdoor Dog Beds: A dog bed that is flexible, is what describes this type of dog bed. Outdoor dog beds are great for indoors, but are also perfect for patios, decks, camping, travel, and a lot more scenarios outdoors! This type of bed gives your dog a comfortable and cozy spot to call his own, when she needs to take a break, rest, relax, or nap outdoors. Outdoor beds are designed to be sturdy and durable to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Bolster Dog Beds: Bolster dog beds – similar to nest dog beds, but only a little bit bigger – have edges that serve as a resting spot, like a soft pillow, for a dog’s head. This type of bead is perfect for dogs who like sleeping with their head cradled on a pillow.

Choosing the best dog bed for your pet may seem like a pretty simple task and decision to make, but it may be a little bit complicated than one may think. Some dog owners rush into buying a cute dog bed for their pet, and unfortunately end up having their dog still lying anywhere but there.

Dogs have different personalities, temperaments, lifestyle, and sleeping patterns… and just like us humans, dogs may also have different preferences to various things, even when it comes to their beds.

Dog beds are important for your pet because they provide comfort and a sense of security. Dogs also sleep around 14 to 18 hours a day, and because of this, it is really crucial to choose the right and the best dog bed for your pet, to make sure that he has his own spot to rest, relax, and snooze in.

There are so many dog beds to choose from; there are a variety of shapes and sizes available. Let’s admit it, with a lot of options, it can be very overwhelming to choose. Here are a few guidelines to help you narrow down to the best dog beds for your canine companion:

In choosing the best dog for your dog, you should consider your and your dog’s lifestyle. Whether you travel or move from one place to another a lot, or like staying at home more often, will greatly affect your decision. Bulky dog beds are very comfortable to lie on but probably a handy comfortable dog bed is better if you and your dog likes to travel.

Another important consideration to look at is the size of your dog and how large he will grow when he is full-grown.

Observe your dog’s sleeping habits, patterns, and positions before purchasing a dog bed. Do they sprawl and stretch out when sleeping? Or curl up when snoozing? Do they look for the most comfortable and softest cushion they can easily access and find at your home? Or do they sleep anywhere they like, even on hard surfaces like the tiled floor? Do they lay down in the middle of your living room? Or do they tuck themselves in the corner of the room?

Bed fill greatly determines a dog bed’s support capacity. It also plays a large role in the longecity of the dog bed. Most economy dog beds contain polyfil, while top dog bed models contain foam or a combination of foam and polyfil.

Your dog’s needs should also be put into consideration. If your dog is already old or has an orthopedic problem. You might want to

Most would probably disregard this feature, but one must also consider the wash instructions that come with the dog bed. To control dirt, odors, and fleas, it is absolutely important to regularly wash dog beds. A dog bed which is easier to clean and wash may be more convenient to own.

Style; yes we want our dog to not just have the best dog bed, but also a cute dog bed. Choose the style that suits your and your dog’s personality. The dog bed will not only bring comfort to your dog, but also happiness if you both like the design!

Unlike humans, dogs do not have words to express their thoughts and feelings. What dogs have however are their behaviors. They express themselves through motion and body language. Dogs may not have words to, but they are still considered to be very expressive creatures. Through their behaviors, motion, and body language, they are able to express feelings of happiness, sadness, nervousness, fearfulness, anger, among many others.

Behaviors and body language of dogs are a complex and elaborate way of nonverbal communication. Dog behavior and how to understand it has always been challenging, but despite its being sophisticated, dog behavior can be learned to decipher, recognize, and interpret.

Once dog behavior is correctly “read” and understood, a new world of communication with dogs bloom. The feelings, thoughts, and motivations of dogs can be somehow known, and it is more likely to predict what it is likely to do.

Dog behavior books are great instruments in getting to know your dog better. Many dog behavior books in the market give information about dog behaviors -- their manifestations, possible explanations, and suggested ways to prevent or deal with them.

Some dog behavior books look into  the different components that comprise dog body language. Breaking down these components is a crucial foundation in building skills on observation and interpretation. Dogs use their entire body - from the face all the way to the tail, so it is very much helpful in better understanding dog behavior.

Other dog behavior books discuss the observation of the entire dog, and of course, the context it is in. In these kinds of books, presented are some particular body languages, motion, and behaviors that dogs exhibit when they are feeling happy, playful, excited, fearful, anxious, aggressive, and so on.

Some dog behavior books discuss the genetically inherited behaviors. There have been a lot of controversies on how much of dog behavior is inherited, and these kinds of books thoroughly elaborate on how the genetically inherited behavior affect the overall dog behavior, and which genetic behaviors are carried by certain dog breeds.

On the other hand, other dog behavior books focus on the environmental impact on a dog’s behavior. Every creature has been shaped by environment they live and grew up in. For instance, fostering puppies in homes with nurturing and responsible owners will likely result to happy and playful dog behaviors. On the other hand, a puppy who grew up in a traumatizing environment with very less interaction with other dogs and humans, these will likely result to different dog behaviors than the other scenario.

There are a lot of different kinds of dog behavior books available to help you understand your dog better. Dog behaviors, their motion and their body language, may be subtle ways of communicating messages. However, with careful attention and observation, and with the great help of very useful dog behavior books, people learn to decipher, recognize, and interpret the meanings of dog behaviors, thus better understanding your dog. Listen to your dog! When the messages a dog conveys are correctly “read,” interaction with him becomes safer and more meaningful.

Good Reads!!

Dog Training: 50 Interesting Dog Behaviours Explained

Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and Unwanted Ones

The last piece of furniture most of us probably would not want to ever live without is a comfortable bed. Most of us most likely cannot live without a cozy bed where we can crash at the end of a long tiring day or can stay and snuggle at on lazy days. Let’s admit it, our bed is one furniture in our home that we consider as our cherished possession.

No wonder, because our bed provides us insulation, warmth, and support for our body - our backs and joints. It also gives us a certain feelings of comfort, safety, and security.

When your pet has a dog bed of his own, he gets all of the same benefits we receive, and some other more. Dog beds are very important. Regardless of your pet’s size, age, or breed, a dog bed is considered to be an essential for all dogs. Yes, your dog may sprawl out on the floor or curl up in a rag. Yes, there are so many options where your dog may sleep. However, while your dog may sleep anywhere, that does not automatically mean that he should. As responsible pet owners, it is our duty to provide our pet with the best dog bed of his own, where he can nap in throughout the day and sleep soundly on at night.

Here are some reasons why your pet needs a dog bed:

Warmth and insulation: Dog beds keeps dogs off the cold floor, especially during winter season. When the weather is cold, a lot of dogs love to curl up like curling up in a round cuddler dog bed which provides them not just comfort, but also keeps them warm. During summer time when it is hot and humid, a dog bed can provide insulation by serving as the protective layer between the hot ground.

Cushioning for bones and joints: A dog bed does not only give the feeling of comfort to your pet… It can also provide your dog with a soft place to lay and rest his bones and joints, especially after exercising. This particularly becomes increasingly crucial as your dog ages and his bones and joints become a little bit weak. It is also important for dogs with orthopedic problems (orthopedic dog bed) and dogs who are overweight.

Feeling of safety and security -- own space for privacy: Much like how we feel safe, protected, relaxed, and private in our own cozy beds, dogs feel the same way. Dog beds give your pet just-for-me place in your home where he can retreat to for a “me time” whenever necessary. Your dog will surely love a place he can call his own space, and he will feel that he is truly valued in your household.