Going on a Walk

Going on a walk can be very fun for dogs and their owners as well as have health benefits. Humans and pets alike benefit from regular exercise, which walking provides. Walking with your pets also helps you bond with your pet. Lastly, walking with your pet allows you to teach them obedience and proper behavior when walking and interacting in public with other animals and people.

When you are on a walk with your pet, you can stick to your neighborhood or venture out as well as take longer or shorter walks depending on your pets needs. Pets with injuries or weak hips or joints as well as smaller dogs will most likely not be able to go on long walks like big healthy dogs full of energy. A dog may get anxious if they are not in their familiar environment so sticking close to the neighborhood or local park is a good idea at first until you are more experienced.

Some pets may also need harnesses instead of collars while on walks, which I personally recommend. This helps for dogs who may not be perfectly trained walkers yet and tend to pull and walk ahead of their owner. When they pull ahead, their collar tends to pull at their neck causing them to be uncomfortable and choke. A harness is secured around a dog’s chest or body and is centered so the dog is not harmed when walking ahead of their owner. This may even prolong the time you can walk as it eliminates the unpleasant feeling.

Make sure when you take your dog out that it is not too hot. If you are going to take your dog on concrete remember that the pads on their feet/paws can be burned by hot concrete or asphalt. Any time you are going on a walk, especially on hot days, it is important to bring enough water for your dog, they get dehydrated just like us. Even if you give your dog water while on a walk, it is a good idea to always set a bowl of fresh water out for your dog when you get home. Though it may seem like a good idea to put ice in your dog’s bowl to cool them down faster on a hot day, it is not recommended in most cases. Again, just like us, going from extremely hot temperatures to extremely cold temperatures can put their bodies into shock. It is better to just let them cool off on their own with panting and cold water with no ice.

Lastly, remember your dog walking etiquette. Bring some sort of plastic bag or way to dispose of your dogs waste. You can purchase a roll of disposable bags with a container that attaches to your dog’s leash at a pet supply store. Another piece of walking etiquette includes controlling your animal in interactions with other people and animals. Keep an appropriate amount of space between you and your animal and other animals if possible. If you do approach another pet and their owner, make sure your dog will behave properly. If you don’t feel you can control your dog, try to avoid these interactions.

Walking with your dog takes a lot of work and things to remember but it is very healthy and fun for you and your dog. be very fun for dogs and their owners as well as have health benefits.

Should Our Furry Friends Sleep in our Beds?

Should Our Pets Sleep in the Bed with Us?

We all love our pets deeply so a lot of us want to let our pets cuddle up with us in bed at night. Some people say it’s going to far and others say it can even be bad for our health, still, a lot of us do it. So is it worth it?

Personally, I let my dog sleep in my bed with me. By no means does it allow me the perfect night’s sleep, but one gives up a lot for their dog’s happiness. Others who also let their pets sleep with them might make arguments such as “it’s just always been that way”, “they don’t take up much room”, “it’s comforting”, or “my dog gets whatever they want”. Cuddling up with your pet at the end of a long day can be relaxing and stress-releasing. It’s not perfect, though. Though a dog may only take up a small portion of the bed, as long as they are on top of the covers, they make it impossible for the covers to move.

Other people set boundaries for their pets. Things like setting kennels in the bedroom or even give them their own room. Some people value their sleep too much to let their pets encroach on their sleeping area. Some might even make a case that having pets sleeping in kennels/crates and altogether separately gives the pets boundaries and routines that are good for regulating behavior.

The argument has been made that this habit might be bad for our health because it forces you to lose sleep to make a lot of adjustments. These are things such as adding another “person” to the bed, sharing covers, and having to deal with making sure your pet behaves in bed and stays in bed. The only health “risk” is losing sleep, but most of us already don’t get enough sleep so what’s another hour a night lost to our pets?

Finally, the question comes to mind: Stress-reducing or stress-inducing? Being with your pets at night can be great for reducing stress as that is one of the many benefits of having a pet. On the other hand, one must ask themselves what they love more… their pets or their sleep.

for a case of a dog owner in dilemma and the expert's solution click here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/21/dog-in-bed-sleep-bedroom_n_1957972.html

My First DIY

We all remember out firsts in life. Our first bike, our first kiss, our first, pet... And of course our first DIY. My first DIY was a project for my stepmother's birthday. It is a lamp that I made out of an old wine bottle. The great thing about giving DIY projects as gifts is that they can be very personal. My stepmom likes to be sentimental, herself, so every time she opens a bottle of wine, she writes on the cork what the occasion was when she drank it.
    For her birthday, I turned the bottle of wine she drank with my dad on their anniversary into a cute, fully functional lamp. My supplies included a wine bottle, some opaque colored glass pebbles (the kind you find in fish bowls), a hot glue gun along wih plenty of glue sticks, and a strand of lights. The process was quite easy, though painstakingly tidious.
   All there was to do was to put a dot of glue on a pebble and arrange the pebble onto the bottle. You would do this until the bottle is completely covered with the pebbles. One fun aspect of this project is you can pick your own color scheme of how you want your piece to look based on what color pebbles you pick. You can also create patterns and designs. I picked a sea themed color scheme and opted for a randomized look of the colored pebbles. This sort of gave it a disco ball look when the lamp was on in the dark. To get to the point of lighting up your lamp, you need lights in it. An old strand of Christmas lights worked well for me. A hole must be drilled into the bottle so the cord can come out to be plugged in after you place the strand of lights inside. The last step is to plug the lamp in and turn the lights off while you stare at your beautiful and thrifty creation.

Honing Your Skills

This week marks the beginning of making a commitment to do something new. It doesn't just mean you have to buy a bulk supply of craft glue. It means if you want to be a successful DIYer you need to see projects out until the end otherwise you just end up with a jumbled up mess.  DIY projects take a lot of work and commitment and maybe that's why my house isn't covered in tie-dyed throw pillows. Being able to focus and see something are just as essential tools to crafters as stick-on gems. This week, I'm committing to not only challenging myself to spice up my life with creativity but to also teach myself some valuable life skills.

 Some people may think of DIYing as only a girly pastime rather than a true hobby that reaps success. I for one, do not see it that way. Your benefit is not just the obvious end product like a bracelet, it’s something much more. A person can learn skills in patience and perseverance as well as little tips and tricks they learn along the way like weaving techniques or better glue brands. Finally, one day, as you work your way up the glitter covered latter, you can hopefully one day sell your items for a physical cash benefit. This can be one of the best parts of DIYing. Every crafter’s dream; it allows them to sustain their hobby and gives them a sense of pride in their work. I hope reading this may give you some insight as to what DIYing is beyond the surface.