Dog collars are a piece of chain, textile, cloth material etc. that are placed around the neck of your dog. These dog collars functions for controlling, identification, fashion etc. As a form of control, collars are useful as they manually provide a handle for grabbing purposes. It is also beneficial as a useful identification or medical information because, if the dog is lost the person who had found it will easily identify and return the dog to its owner. Furthermore, dog collars are most commonly used for teaching and directing dogs.

Since, Ancient Egypt dog collars are used, this simply implies that since the ancient times man had been used to have dogs as pets and companions. The collars are praised as a work of fine art because of the fact that it is made with creativity and durable materials. Also, the dogs who have collars signifies that the master’s truly value their pets because, dogs before have a lot of great benefits to their masters.

These collars are accessible for both male and female dogs. There are a lot of types of dog collars, each of them are made up of various materials that are suited for various purposes. These materials are Nylon, Leather, Hemp, Polyester and Metal.

Types of Dog Collars

The price of collars depends on its size and its durability. You can also customize your dog collars according to your preference and choice that makes you feels comfortable.

Nylon Collars

These collars are perfect for a dog that likes to go in the water a lot. Nylons, unlike other fabric, are very durable and washable. This nylon collar comes with a variety of bright colors. But it is not recommended if your pet chews aggressively.

Leather Collars

Leather collars last quite a while and are used especially, for special occasions. These collars are also called as classical collars. Rolled leather collars are specially designed leather collars for longhaired breed of dogs because, it keeps the dogs from lying flat against its coat.

Buckle Collars

Buckle collars are specially made collars for fashion; these collars are designed and can be customized with rhinestones and jewelries. These collars are usually made up of nylon webbing, leather, hemp, polyester or metal. It comes with a variety of style and colors, and because of these, buckle collars as regarded as high class collars.

Training Collars

These types of collars are made for training purposes only. Designed to tighten and apply a pressure to serve as punishment when the trainer is implying a correction. This must not be used as an every day’s dog collar and must be use with safety precautions.

Every dog collar has its different use and benefits, and these must be taken with serious considerations. Before buying a dog collar, you must be able to recognize the purpose of your collar so that, your effort will meet your concerns. Lastly, a pet owner’s appreciation and love to its pet is represented in the goodness and appropriateness of his chosen dog collar.

Why does my dog need his own “doggie bed”?

Having a washable dog bed of his own gives your dog his own space where he can feel secure. A dog bed can also save your furniture and help you get a good night sleep by allowing you to have your bed back! Many older or arthritic dogs need a cushiony, firm, supportive bed to relieve pressure on their aching joints. All in all, having his own dog bed will improve the quality of life for your dog. (Of course, he may still enjoy an occasional nap with his person on their bed or couch….)

What size and type of bed do I need for my dog?

To decide what type, shape or size of bed to get for your dog, you first need to pay attention and figure out how he prefers to sleep. Does he like to curl up in a ball? Does he prefer to stretch out in both directions? Does he spend about half of his snooze time stretched out and the other half curled up?

A dog that enjoys napping all curled up would probably prefer a round or oval shaped bed that has lots of cushion. There are several types of beds that are perfect for these “snugglers”! A bolster bed is a bed that has cushion around at least three sides of the bed, providing a more contained environment for your dog. He may feel more secure in this type of bed. There are also snuggle or cuddle beds which resemble a bean bag. These beds allow your dog to “nest” and feel surrounded in cuddly comfort. Some beds even have a tent-like cover on them that allows the dog to burrow inside and be completely covered!

If your dog curls up to sleep, measure him in that position at the longest point, then add 7 inches to each measurement. When shopping, make sure that the dimensions of the bed come close to this number.

If your dog prefers to sleep all stretched out, you may want to think about getting him a rectangular, mattress type bed or pad. These type of large dog beds come in many varieties as well, ranging from a thin foam pad a couple inches thick to a deluxe people-like mattress up to 7 inches thick!

If your dog stretches out to sleep, measure him in the stretched-out position and add 12 inches to that number to ensure the bed is big enough to be comfortable for him.

If your dog likes to sleep both ways, an oval or rectangular pad or mattress type bed may do the trick and allow him to sleep comfortably either way. In this case, measure him as you would a dog who prefers to sleep stretched out!

Other things to consider when choosing the type of dog bed are issues such as the age and health of your dog. If you have an older or arthritic dog, you want to make sure that the bed you choose is easy for him to use or possible heated dog beds. Older and arthritic pets may have trouble getting on and off of a fluffy, snuggly type bed. The firm, supportive mattress-type bed would be more appropriate in these cases. There are many specialty beds available for orthopedic support. These beds are made of a firmer mattress, baffles stuffed with poly-fil for support, or even memory foam. The idea is to not only give your companion a comfortable place to sleep, but also an easy bed to get on or off of.

Can I get a dog bed to match my décor?

You can find a dog bed to match just about any décor. There are many fabrics, styles and colors to choose from. You can even get a dog bed that looks like a little human bed! If your dog prefers to sleep in a crate, there are many types of crate beds and pads that are designed to fit the most common crate sizes. Most places offer personalization for your dog’s bed as well. There’s almost no limit to the choices available.

What other factors do I need to consider?

Most people want a dog bed that is durable, yet easy to clean and care for. If ease of cleaning is especially important, opt for a dog bed that has a removable washable cover. This will allow you to keep your best friend’s bed clean and smelling fresh. Some beds also have an inner lining that can be removed and washed.

If your dog is a chewer, you will want to make sure that the bed can withstand the most aggressive chewer. There are cot-like beds made out of aluminum or pvc pipe that are extremely durable. These beds have a nylon or canvas cot pad that is also durable.

If you are looking for a bed to use outdoors, make sure that the manufacturer has labeled the bed for outdoor use. There are fabrics and fillers that are more appropriate and durable for outdoor use.

Be careful of dog beds that have vinyl covers. Vinyl contains chemicals that are toxic chemicals that are not good for you or your dog! If it has a strong “vinyl” smell, it contains a large amount of phthalates, which are chemicals used to soften the vinyl. In Europe the use of some of these phthalates has been banned in children’s toys. While easy to clean, using vinyl in your dog’s bed may not be worth the possible health risk.

Where should I put my dog’s bed?

If your dog could answer this question, he would most likely say, “In your bedroom, so I can smell you when I’m not with you.” Your dog adores you and wants to be near you. If you decide to provide your pal with more than one bed, you could put another in the family area or outside on the back porch where he likes to lay in the sun.

Your dog will benefit from having a comfortable place to call his own. No doubt, you will find him happily snoozing away on his cherished bed. Even if you prefer to share your bed with your dog, he will enjoy having a comfortable dog bed of his own. After all, don’t we all prefer to get away for some relaxation and solitude from time to time?

We dog care givers are now somewhat protected against misleading dog food labels. That’s because of the oversight, rules, regulations and requirements of AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). But, unless we know what these rules are and how they are applied to the wording on labels they’re of no use to us.

Some dog food manufacturers can be quite devious and will often use very clever nuances in the title and also in arrangement of words on the label that can be very different to what the dog food actually contains. Also, there is an important component to this, these rules relate just to solid material in the dog food and do not address the moisture levels.

It should be noted that pet food labeling is regulated on a federal and state-by-state basis, with only “limited” guidance from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Please be aware of the fact that pet food producers often use terms that are undefined by the regulations to communicate more effectively with consumers and to enhance their product’s image in the market. The AAFCO warns on their website that “it is not rare at all that labeling and marketing information is designed to appeal to the latest trend in marketing human products.”

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR WORDING?

*Chicken for Dogs: If chicken is the first word in this label, and is not combined with any other words like “dinner” or “flavor”, etc.; in order to meet the AAFCO regulations, this product must actually contain at least 95% chicken.

*Turkey and Chicken Dog Food: By labeling it” Turkey and Chicken Dog Food”, and nothing else, you can be relatively certain that this product is made up of 95% turkey and chicken combined, with the chicken content being slightly less than the turkey, since turkey is listed as the first ingredient.

*Chicken Nuggets for Dogs: By using the word “nuggets” (a qualifier that many dog food companies can legally use) and since this name has the word “nuggets” in its title, the chicken in the food is going to be less than 95% of the total ingredients, but must be at least 25%. Some of the other words manufacturers can use to get away with using less meat are “dinner”, “formula”, and “platter”. A food having this name doesn’t even have chicken in the top three ingredients!

*Chicken Flavor Dog Food: The word “flavor” is the key to this one. AAFCO rules require that there must only be enough “chicken” to add an actual flavor to the food. It could be chicken fat, or chicken broth, or chicken by-products, and it could be a very small amount.

*Dog Food with Chicken: A food listed as “with” anything is required to contain only 3% of that ingredient. Dog food “with” chicken, or “with” beef, must contain only 3% of chicken or beef.

Now you can see what a difference the order of words makes!

Your dogs health and longevity greatly depends on feeding him or her a safe and healthy diet. But figuring out how to read and interpret dog food labels can be perplexing. If you adhere to the following guidelines you should be able to read labels and understand them well enough to compare different products with confidence.

* The labeling of all pet food is regulated on a federal and state-by-state basis, with guidance from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, AAFCO provides only minimum requirements. So, be aware that dog food manufacturers often use terms that are not defined by AAFCO regulations so they can make their product more appealing and enhance their brand and or product’s image to consumers. On their website the AAFCO cautions, “it is not rare at all that labeling and marketing information is designed to appeal to the latest trend in marketing human products.”

DOG FOOD LABELS – GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

* The “Guaranteed Analysis” on the dog food label at the back of the bag is a chart that lists the percentages of various ingredients contained in that food (see an example below). The percentages listed for protein, fat, and fiber are measurements of the food in its current state. However, because different foods have varying amounts of moisture, you can only reasonably compare dog foods ”on a dry matter basis”. However, the numbers given in the Guaranteed Analysis are on an “as fed” basis and do not take into account the amount of moisture in that food. To determine the actual amount of an ingredient in a food, or to compare between brands or between wet and dry foods, the numbers need to be converted to what is called Dry Matter (DM) basis.

* Please note that the moisture content can range anywhere from as little as 6% for dry foods to as much as 80% for canned foods. and it’s obvious that canned food contains more moisture than dry kibble. However, ironically, it may not contain as much protein. It’s hard to know which food contains the most protein, fat or fiber before converting both to a dry matter basis.

* Here’s how: First, (using the example below) determine the amount of dry matter by deducting the percentage listed for moisture from 100%. As you see, the moisture accounts for 10% of the food. So, we see that the dry matter content is (100% – 10% = ) 90% of the food.

*Next, convert the protein, fat and fiber percentages to a dry matter basis by dividing the percentage amounts listed on the label by the amount of dry matter (from the previous step). In our example, the 26% protein on the label converts to 28% on a dry matter basis by dividing 26% by 90%. (Notice that in our example the dry matter calculation is only slightly different than the labeled percentage. The reason for this is the moisture level was only 10% per the label. If the moisture level had been, say, 40%, then the dry matter content would have only been 60% and protein on a dry matter basis would have been calculated as (26% divided by 60% =) or 43%.

* Now compare the new protein level of 28% on a dry matter basis to other dog foods after converting the other labels in the same manner. You can also perform comparisons for fat and fiber after converting them to a dry matter basis.

* You should realize that considering only percentages won’t tell the whole story. Your dog food may have 28% protein on a dry matter basis, but what is the source of that protein? Pet food manufacturers can get protein from sources that are NOT good nutritionally for your pet and can even be harmful! BE CAREFUL!

* Next, let’s take a look next at the ingredients list. Pet foods must list ingredients in order of weight and the first five ingredients will usually make up the majority of the pet food formula. Look for meat as one of the first ingredients on a pet food label. Grains, such as corn, corn meal, whole wheat, barley, rice are fillers used to provide energy for the dog and appealing texture to the kibble.

Actually, the AAFCO website admits that “Economics plays a part in any ingredient selection” and “protein is not simply protein. Ingredients providing protein have specific amino acids which may or may not match the amino acid profile required by a dog.” Dog food manufacturers are known to routinely combine multiple protein sources to provide for all the amino acids required for a healthy life.

* You need to be aware that manufacturers can manipulate the information on labels (and some do) e.g. by breaking an ingredient down into components and then listing each one individually so that a recognized undesirable ingredient too near the top of the list is not noticed by the consumer (pretty sneaky, huh!).

* There are more and more dog care givers who are now searching for dog foods that use only human grade ingredients without any animal “by-products”. They steer clear of foods that use any artificial colors, flavors, sugars and chemical preservatives ( BHA and BHT). However, there are some animal by-products like liver and other internal organs are excellent sources of the amino acids and other nutrients that dogs need. Additionally, dry dog foods require preservatives to prevent spoilage and deterioration of essential nutrients.

*Here’s an example of the guaranteed analysis section of a pet food label:

*GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
*Crude Protein, not less than…………..26.0%
*Crude Fat, not less than……………….16.0%
*Crude Fiber, not more than………………4.0%
*Moisture, not more than……………….10.0%

Once you learn how to read a label, you gain a great deal of information about the food you are feeding your dog. You’ll know how to compare one food to another and choose the one best suited for your dog.

As with human food labels, dog food labels are strictly regulated by the federal government, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture, and must follow stringent guidelines. Dog food labels are typically divided into several separate sections: the principal product display and information about the food.

DOG FOOD LABELS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS

Principal Product Display – Dog Food Product Name

This area of the label includes the brand name of the food along with the specific food or formula contained in the bag or can. It names the meat or protein that is essentially used in the food and may also state the age group the particular food is formulated for ie: puppy, adult, senior, etc. The actual weight is also listed as is the species of animal the formula is geared toward.

Just how the contents are listed on the label is strictly regulated. In order to be able to call a product “Beef Dog Food,” at least 95 percent must be the named meat, not counting the moisture content. If the moisture content is counted, then at least 70 percent must be the meat listed. If the food’s name has a combination of meats, such as “Beef and Lamb,” the two products together must be 95 percent of the product with the first ingredient listed more plentiful.

If the quantity of the meat is over 25 percent but less than 95 percent, a modification to the name must be added. The word “Meal” is a frequently added modifier but platter, entree, dinner, nuggets and formula are also used frequently. Simply because this product name says “beef dinner”, it doesn’t mean lamb or chicken are not added. You need to check the ingredient list to find out what other meats are also included.

Dog food product names now have a newly approved rule; they can use the word “with” in the food names ie: “Dog Food with Chicken,” since the word “chicken” is followed with the word “with,” that particular food must have at least three percent of the ingredients as chicken. This wording can fool some people. “Chicken Dog Food” is completely different than “Dog Food with Chicken.” The first name has to have at least 95 percent chicken and the second only needs three percent chicken.

Information Section Of Dog Food Labels

Also, plus the display of the the product name, brand name, weight and intended species, the label must contain an area that’s difficult for care givers to understand. This area includes a list of the ingredients, guaranteed analysis, feeding instructions and the nutritional claim. This section of the label is the most important when you compare different dog foods analyze and decide what nutrients are in the food.

Dog Food Ingredients

These must be listed in descending order. Meaning, the predominant component of the food is listed at the top and then each ingredient is named in consecutive order by it’s weight. If your dog needs a diet low in protein, look for a product having carbohydrates listed in the top four or five ingredients. Alternatively, if your dog requires a diet that’s high in protein, look for a food with the first two ingredients as meat products.

Guaranteed Analysis

Listed in this area of the label are the amounts of each ingredient that’s contained in the food. The minimum amounts of the ingredients is normally listed and is not always the exact amount. When comparing one dog food to another, you must consider “moisture content”. All of the ingredients should be compared on a dry matter basis. This means that if 80 percent moisture is present in the food, the remaining items comprise 20 percent of the diet. The minimum values listed for each ingredient, excluding water, should be divided by 0.20 to get a dry matter amount. Once you do that, two different foods can be compared side by side, equally to determine which one is best for your dog.

Feeding Instructions

The product will list how much of the food to feed daily. It is up to each care giver to decide whether to feed that amount as one meal or to divide it into a few meals throughout the day. These feeding instructions should be considered only as suggestions and not hard rules. There are a variety of factors that will decide whether your dog requires more or less food.

Nutritional Adequacy Claim

This area lists the particular life stage that the food is made for, ie: “for maintenance,” “for growth” or “for all life stages.” If the dog food follows the guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the label will include a section stating that the food provides complete and balanced nutrition for a particular life stage. Also, it will state whether the food is meant as a treat or a supplement and whether it should be fed in combination with other foods.

Note: Dog Food Labels Can Be Misleading

Because of this, we hope the above information has been helpful to you and that it clarifies much of the confusing and misleading manufacturers advertising claims. Our goal is to provide answers to some of the questions you may have had regarding how to read dog food labels, so that you can provide the most nutritious commercial dog food diet for your best friend.

I love my pet, but I hate the high cost of pet supplies.

Can you relate to the constant drain on your wallet?

One of the problems with the cost of pet supplies has become the increasing cost these past few years. It can add up fast. In my house we actually have a line item in our monthly budget because we actually have 3 pets (2 dogs and a cat). In this article I hope to help everyone who loves pets but would like to save money on pet supplies.

Most of us are genuine pet lovers. We love to keep animals as pets for our enjoyment and companionship. Over time, these pets become a regular part of the family. Our pets deserve the very best care just as anyone in the family would. Because of our love and commitment to care for our pets, We’re constantly looking for little nick knacks we can buy while shopping..

The pet supply and pet product industry has grown quite a bit over the past decade. Thus a large number of new pet stores have opened up all through out the country. There are many pet products and pet supplies outlets available in the market today including where you live or at least over the Internet. As a Pet lover, you can buy these products from discount pet stores or order online from the comfort of your home of office.

The goal is sorting through these new shopping options in search for the true values, the genuine best and Lowest discounted prices available. In terms of pet supply inventory, this too has increased dramatically over the past decade. Today there are virtually endless products and pet food options available. Most of the discount pet supply stores have a large assortment of these different products that offers a variety of sizes. In addition they carry a growing selection of pet supplies and pet gifts.

There are a wide variety of online and local discount pet stores for you to choose from. Both online and traditional discount pet supply stores offer a growing selection of items for the pets that you love. The online pet discount stores carries a wider range of product for your pet because their not limited to physical shelf space. These online discount pet stores are a great resource for checking out a discount pet supplies and price comparisons without the need to actually visit stores in your area. Online stores are easy to use as they are easier and more convenient to order from. When purchasing anything online including pet supplies or pet foods you can save money by not having to pay sales taxes in most cases. In addition, you can have many online pet supplies stores offer free shipping to first time buyers or in many cases for a specific period of time of if your order exceeds a certain dollar amount.

Most of the pet supply discount pet stores are pet friendly. They are designed to provide a nice comfortable place for the pet owner and your pet while your buying pet supplies. Some of these discount stores offer many additional benefits and services in addition to the normal services you’ve come to expect. Some of these extra services include pet grooming services, pet photography and veterinary services, Community services such as obedience classes, pet adoption clinics and seminars on pet care are also offered.

Well I hope this article has helped you and I hope it has shed some light on the challenge of saving money on your pets supplies regardless whether you use a local regular pet supply store or an online store. This may take a little research and price comparison on your part but the savings will be well worth it.

Sometimes, you become so impulsive that you would right there and then purchase a gliding possum as if you are in a grocery store buying a bottle of water. However, before you get yourself a gliding possum for a pet, you should ask yourself if buying a gliding possum would be a good idea. If you find yourself doubting that it is, then perhaps you should stop to think about it carefully.

Although it may seem that nothing could get in the way of you walking into that sugar glider pet shop to purchase the glider, there are several important facts that you need to deal with. If money was never really an issue, then you should move on to evaluating yourself if you are ready to keep a pet. It is especially important that before you make the decision, you should learn more about gliding possums and how they are as pets. You need to be equipped with the knowledge of the things that they need as well as the things that would make their lives with you a little bit more comfortable. It is through this that you could evaluate yourself whether or not having them as pets could fit in your lifestyle. If you read more about sugar glider pet shops, you might just discover more information about gliding possums. Through this, you would be able to manage your expectations.

There may be a lot of sugar glider shops out there, but only a few of them have legal rights to sell exotic animals such as gliding possums. Since several of these so-called sugar glider pet shops are online, you could never really say if they are telling you the truth unless you visit the shop itself. However, online sugar glider pet shops might make things very convenient for you because you no longer need to leave the house to get the gliders that you want. Instead, they would offer to deliver the gliders to you free of charge. Several people have been tricked and if you don’t want it to happen to you, it is best to check out the pet shop so that you could see the animal before you buy it. You should make a final decision only after you have visited the sugar glider pet shop and you have seen the animal.

Before you go to visit the pet shop, there are several things that you have to look for a legitimate sugar glider pet shop before you trust them. Here are some of the things that you need to be aware of.

• These breeders are interested in having all their pet animals sold so try not to be carried away with all the sweet talk that they would do. Remember that it is their job to convince you so make it really difficult for them. Look into the gliding possum that they are selling. The physical features of the pet would also tell you if these breeders are good or not.

• Second, try to ask them questions about the in breeding of their gliders. Once you have asked them questions that would make them think, the way they answer would reflect if they have indeed bred the gliding possums. Their familiarity of the animals will give you an idea of the animal that you are buying.

• Look into the sugar glider pet shop. Make sure that the place is clean. Only those who are legit sellers can keep their place clean. If their sugar glider pet shop is not clean, then perhaps you might want to seek other breeders.

These may be very simple things that a sugar glider pet shop should be able to provide and if they don’t sadly, you should be involved in any of them.