Tips For Purchasing The Right Dog Collar

So it is time for a new for a dog collar. Great call, as it's an essential accessory for your furry friend but before you buy one, check out these important tips I want to share with you that will help you to purchase not only one that looks good but is appropriate. As the saying goes, collars ain’t collars!

Pet ID: Make sure you have a collar that can have a name tag attached. If ever your doggo goes out for a little adventure on their own, a collar that wont fall off and that you had attached some contact details, will be a god send. First thing is to purchase that collar and then you can easily get a tag later and have it engraved.

Buckle Up: Double-check that the buckle mechanism is well constructed and is secure. You don't want any accidental escapes during playtime or walks. It your doggo does happen to pull, the last thing you want is for the buckle to open. Some will have a lock you can activate and this will further secure the buckle. Here at Pets Palace we make sure that every Dog Collar is going to be secure, whatever the brand. Here’s an example of a collar with a sturdy, well-made buckle. https://www.petspalace.com.au/collections/pet-collars/products/fuzzyard-dinosaur-land-dog-collar

Let’s Keep Clean: What doggo doesn’t get dirty? In fact most doggos are only really clean just after a bath, right? The point is that you want to make sure the collar you purchase is easy to keep clean. Some you can put into the washing machine and others are better to be hand washed. A quality collar will have 'washability' in mind for sure and generally speaking they are made from synthetic material or natural material with some synthetics added.

Longevity: like anything really, we want things to last and investing in a collar that is well made and uses quality manufacturing techniques and materials, is generally going to last longer. A well-made collar will be able to cope with your doggos adventures and general day to day wear and tear.

Comfort: Look for collars made from soft materials to prevent rubbing or digging into the skin. You may prefer a Dog Collar that is padded for that extra softness or a more simple, but soft, design may be your preference. Consider the width of the collar as well. If it’s too thing for your doggo it may ‘cut in’ more and cause irritation.

Sizing: Tips For Purchasing The Right Dog Collar Measure your dog's neck accurately and check out the dimensions of the collar before you purchase. Most are adjustable. The fitting needs to be not to tight and not too loose – you should be able to easily put a couple of fingers between the collar and your doggos neck. The collar needs to be able to rotate around on the neck but not come off when gently pulled over the head. If you are unsure, then I suggest that you practice at home and test the collar and make sure your doggo isn’t going to do a Houdini!
Check this out for more information on fitting a collar: https://sitstay.com/blogs/good-dog-blog/how-tight-should-a-dog-collar-be

Reflective Magic: If you're a fan of evening strolls, a collar with a reflective design may be the way to go. It just gives that extra level of visibility. Now one step further is to consider attaching a light to the collar and this can be done once you have the collar. Most will have a ring or a tag of some sort that you can attach the light.

Style Points: Let's not forget about fashion and style! Collars come in all shapes and designs and we want to have a bit of fun when it comes to dressing up Doggo. Take some time to match up a collar design that suits your doggos personality, or your personality or something send out the vibe you want to create. Also don’t forget about having something that will suit your doggos hair colour - some colours don’t look good on a dog while other colours can be a great match. Just like us right?

Control Freak: If your dog is an enthusiastic puller during walks, consider a harness for better control. They're a bit more gentle on your pup's neck, too. Now having said that, if your doggo is a bit of a puller, you may want to consider some training. Ideally you want your doggo to be well controlled regardless of whether it is a collar or a harness. But generally speaking a good collar is pretty much an essential for any doggos wardrobe.

I hope this blog gives you a few pointers to look out for when purchasing your Dog Collar. Check in store or our online shopping https://www.petspalace.com.au/collections/pet-collars

If you have any questions we’d love to hear from you – as small business, we value our customers and want to help you and your pets as much as we can.

References

Pictures:

1: dog-543078_640. Image by 448271 from Pixabay
https://pixabay.com/users/448271-448271/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=543078

2: dog-2414188_640
https://pixabay.com/users/katrina_s-5565009/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2414188

Are Your Best Friends Your Pets During Covid?

Well some would definitely say YES! During covid including  lock-downs, some of the best friends are your pets - your kitty cats and doggos. And guess what? This is the perfect time to get down and dirty, or down and lazy, with your beloved four-legged companions!

Just because things can be challenging at them moment and looming lock-downs almost seem a way of life, doesn’t mean we have to buy into the negativity of it all. So important to focus on that which is good and stay as positive, as much as we can. (Dog and Cat Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay)

Our Best Friends Can Be Our Pets

We only want to see you getting down and dirty, or damn cozy, with your loved furry friend! How we see it is you get more time to bond, play and walk your dog, or get snugly and cozy with your kitty cats. We know that it can be a challenging time, but one great thing about this is we see so many of us making the most of the small pleasures of life, like taking your pup out for a walk, spending more time playing fun games with Kitty.

It is these things that bring us joy in our daily lives. Isn't that one of the reasons we have pets? So we have,focused on our pups, kittys and ourselves and acknowledge the good things about this special relationship - pets can be our best friends. So we just want to give some wonderful woofing advice and tips to help keep everyone focused.

Try some new foods!

Take the time to give your pup & kitty the chance to delve into a whole new world of foods! Usually we are too busy and consider a bowl of dry food and the same brand of canned food, is the only way to go. Well let us suggest to you that this is a great time to broaden your pets palate. Even the finicky ones -see how you can tempt them with something different.

And no, it's not all about out pets! You too can cook to your heart's content and if you have a bit more time at home then perhaps it's time for some new recipes!

Variety In Food Provides Better Nutrition

Nutritionally it can be important to give your pet a variety  of food. Different foods have different nutritional content. Maybe try some raw food, a bone, some different high quality canned food to which you can add your own special ingredients.  Or even try making something at home and adding some essential vitamins for that extra healthy kick. Now is the time to explore and for everyone in the family to eat well! Come visit our store or some inspiration and a check out the high quality foods we have for your pets.

Try Some New Pet Toys!

If you’re going to spend time at the park with your pup or at home, why not make it memorable by trying some new toys? We’ve got in stock specific toys to help keep curious dogs and inquisitive cats to help keep them entertained during covid and any lock-down. Dog puzzles for dogs including treats immersed inside? Check out this fun cool treat toy

There are plenty of fun toys for cats - check out this utterly inciting cat treat dispenser

What about playing laser tag with your kitty? So much fun. Just don't shine it on the ceiling!

Focus On The Positive

This is not a cliché. If it is, then it's a really woofing good one. Our pets can be and indeed are among our best friends. So be inspired and spend that quality time with our pets, get some ideas when you come to visit our stores or checkout our online shop. Stay focused on the positives and this most definitely involves our four-legged friends. They can really benefit from our extra love and care.

Summary: Become Best Friends With Your Pets

1. Use the current circumstances to focus on the care of your pets
2. Enjoy your pets and you play, walk, care for them
3. Try some new toys to help stimulate them and keep them happy and occupied
4. Try different foods, remembering variety will help with nutrition

References

1: Pic: Dog and Cat Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/users/blende12-201217/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2198994

2: Pic: Dog and Bone. Image by user2014 from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/users/user2014-334086/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=889991

Fun Dog Games to Improve Your Pet's IQ

Playing fun games with your dog is not only satisfying and fulfilling as an owner, it also helps with your pet's brain health. Ever wondered how "clever" your pet is? Here are some great games to entertain you and your pet, while developing their ability to learn, remember and to anticipate - all important mental functions for a healthy pet. 

Fun With Dogs - Which Hand?

This is a very simple scent game which helps hone your dog or cat’s sense of smell by placing their favourite treats in the palm of your hands  and moving them around a little and then let them sniff out which hand you’ve placed the treats in. It's a bit like the magic trick where you have to follow the ball under one of three cups! 

Naturally, they have sharp noses, but as our beloved pets, they often do not need to use them. This game helps utilise their natural talent. We carry a fantastic range of healthy and tasty treats that will help make this a successful training game. 

Check them out by clicking here.

TEACH THEM TO HELP

Dogs have been our comrades for centuries, as they love nothing more than being helpful (and the praise they get when they are). Teach them how to fetch your slippers, open doors, etc. There are many people these days that have assistance dogs who are trained to do a whole range of wonderful things to help their owner. 

Teaching Dogs Vocab!

Teach them the names of their toys. On average dogs can learn 165 words which is as much as a 2-year-old child can learn! Some even as much as 250, with a border collie called Chaser learning as many as 1000 (roughly as much as a 3-year-old child). 

Establish A Routine

Try to do some stimulating activity before feeding time. This will make them associate following your commands with the pleasure of food and will help you to remember to test them every day. Mix it up a bit and don’t always get them to sit for example.  Get them to roll over, or perhaps both so that they don't just anticipate what you are going to do. 

NOTE: Remember to clean your pets bowl regularly. Sounds silly saying that but it is really important for health  and hygiene.

Check our blog about cleaning food and water bowls.

Classic Fetch

This stimulates them physically and mentally and can bring so much pleasure to your dog. To add a further dose of adrenalin, get them to wait a bit after you throw the ball or toy you have thrown. Look the range of balls we have to suit all types of dogs.

Check it out here.  

Help With The Tidying Up!

It is possible to teach your dog to put their toys away. Have one place, basket or box where all the toys live. At the end of the play, session get your dog to collect all the toys and place them in the box, for each toy they successfully clean up you can reward them with praise or treats. Hmmmm - I do wonder if I can teach mine do to help with the vacuuming!

So lots of great ideas to get you thinking about ways to keep your pet active, trained and alert. So try out the ones you like and remember, enjoy the time you have with your pet. 

References

Pic:  Dog Fetching Ball: Image Stephen Marc, Pixabay

https://pixabay.com/users/eyeimage-952081/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1642348

Christmas is a time for all the family, but we understand you might not be able to treat your dogs quite as much as, say, your children. Therefore we have hunted down some brilliant present ideas that will reflect your love but not the depth of your pocket.

1. First up Toys: We have a range gift ideas for you loving cats and dogs that start from only$ 4.95. Pets Palace has a range of gifts for your pets and can be found categorised for gifts under $ 10 and gifts under $ 20. You can also have a look at the huge range of quality, fun toys your pets would love, and that will keep your pets entertained for hours. Toys are especially helpful for the holidays when you are relaxing with friends and family and so want to keep your pet happy and relaxed. 

2. Homemade treats: the way to most animal’s hearts is food, so why not make your pets some of these quick and easy treats, so that they can enjoy the festivities too! Click this link here for the recipe.

3. Learn how to give a doggie massage: Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason, they love spending time with you more than anything money can buy, so just dedicate a portion of the day to giving them some one on one time. There are many tutorials on the internet on how to give your dog a massage. Check out this page by Wikihow*.

If you don’t own a pet or are thinking of adopting (another) one, do consider going to your local dog and cat shelters for adoption. Not only would your pet thank you for providing a place called home this Christmas, research also found that there are great benefits for you to owning a pet. Check out our blog on the great benefits of owning a pet.

With the summer well on its way, we know how important it is to protect your pets from the heat. Here we have collated some of the top tips from the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation, to help you keep your pets happy and healthy this summer!

1. WATER – It is important for your pets to have the access to water at any time. It is also worth providing multiple containers just in case one gets knocked over. It would be a good idea to put ice cubes in the containers too. Pop-up pet travel bowls can also be useful if you are on the move.

2. WALKIES – Have you ever stepped on the hot cement or road in bare feet? It hurts right? Our pets’ feet are also very sensitive to this heat so to help them prevent burns, walk them in the early morning when it’s still cool or in the late evening when the ground has had the chance to cool down.

3. EXERCISE – Furry pets are unable to sweat in the same way that humans do, so they have one less mechanism to cool down. Try to limit strenuous exercise, especially during the hottest time of the day and make sure they have plenty of shade and water.

4. UV Protection – Pets with less and lighter fur can suffer from sunburn more easily than pets with thicker coats. Before you go out in the sun with your furry friends, make sure they are well protected with UV Protection Cream or are wearing a Rash Shirt.

5. SWIMMING – Let your pets swim in a paddling pool or in a safe lake. Not only it will help them cool down, they will also get the exercise and fun time they needed. Don’t forget the UV Protection! If it is your pets first time in the water, ask your vet if your pet is ok to swim as some dog breeds cannot swim or are prone to issues when swimming. Pets Palace also sells specially designed life vests for dogs which are great for swimming or when you go boating. Call 02 9519 8777 for more information.

6. FUR TRIM – Just like human wears thinner clothing during summer, our furry friends need to have their fur trimmed down. Do not shave it completely as the fur will protect your pets from the harsh UV sunlight. So a little groom always helps.

For the sake of your pet’s health and wellbeing, their food and water bowls must be cleaned on a daily basis. When left uncleaned for a few days, the bowl could attract a build up of bacteria, disease and mould. Your pets could get very sick from consuming food or water from the dirty bowl. It could even traumatise them from eating and drinking from the same source.

We are often guilty of simply adding water to a near-empty water bowl, instead of washing and refilling the bowl with fresh water. Topping up the water bowl doesn’t rid the bowl of the bacteria and fungus that have been growing in the bowl. 

When it comes to the food bowl, some say you could simply rinse the bowl with warm water when it’s only had dry food in it and wash it with soap at least every few days. When it comes to wet food, you do need to clean the bowl every day.

As inconvenient as it sounds, washing the food and water bowl DAILY with warm soapy water could save you from lots of inconveniences, time, money and stress in the future. Always ensure that the bowls are rinsed thoroughly. Consuming soap residues could upset your pet’s tummy. 

Also remember to clean areas around where the bowls are placed such as the floor and wall around the bowls, the feeding mats, and any placements used in securing the bowls.

At Pets Palace, we have a range of dishwasher-safe bowls. We carry a wide range of stainless steel and silicone bowls – materials widely used for food-safe utensils. Click here to check out our collections.

The few minutes it takes to clean is nothing compared to your happy and healthy furry friend!

You never know what life might decide to throw at you, one day you might have an accident and need to spend a few days in the hospital, and if something like this were to happen, who would look after your pet?

Don’t worry, because we’ve outlined our best recommendations below to make sure that, if accidents do happen, you won’t need to worry about your pet being in the best hands when you can’t be there. Here are our top tips for preparing for an emergency. 

Family

It can always be a safe contingency plan to rely on your family in an emergency, asking your children, nephews/nieces, grand children or brothers/sisters to assist when an emergency comes up can be great to help ease your pet’s fears. Make sure that your family members know how to feed your dog, any medication or special treatments it might require and make sure your dog is familiar with the new carer. Not only will your dog appreciate it, they'll also think of it as a little vacation, and you will only need to worry about the emergency at hand.

Neighbours and Community Programs

There are some fantastic resources available out there for seniors when emergencies do strike. Get involved with your local community to learn what kind of supports the local community clubs and businesses offer to senior citizens.

If your dog is very low maintenance, consider setting up an emergency plan with your neighbours. If you can’t be home for any reason, educate them on how to take care of your dog by visiting and feeding your pet while you’re away.

Boarding Services

Have you ever considered boarding your pet? Professional boarding services take your pet into a stress-free environment and can take care of your beloved pet until you’re feeling better. If a family member or neighbour is unable to look after your pet, they may be able to assist in getting your pet booked into a professional pet boarding company.

Start a Manual for Your Pet

If your pet has an emergency you can’t attend to, it will be extremely helpful for friends and family to know how to support your pet in the best way possible. Here is the information we recommend preparing and storing somewhere easily found (such as on the refrigerator):

• Pet’s name
• Age
• Local Vet
• Food preference
• Feeding times
• Favourite toys
• Daily play or walk schedule
• Medication

Planning for a holiday could be dilemmatic at times! Here at Pets Palace we know it’s hard to leave your furry friends when you go away. So we’ve outlined some tips to make holidaying with your pet as smooth as possible.

TRAVEL

Whether by air, water or road you need to consider the safety and comfort of your pet. Firstly, check out our travel and accessories page to get some ideas of the equipment you might need, for example, seat belts. 

If you are using public transport, ferries or planes, make sure you have checked with the company to see what their restrictions are. Many flights offer pet travel options (especially on domestic flights) but have specific requirements for the crates used to hold the pet. The good news is that these can be rented instead of buying one and only using it once.

ACCOMMODATION

There are plenty of pet-friendly places to stay, especially in Australia. Airbnb and smaller B&Bs are probably your best bet, but it is always worth ringing first to check; even if you’ve stayed there before double check that the rules have not changed. 

PET SITTERS

There is always the chance that you might want to enjoy some time without your beloved pet, so enquire with your accommodation or search the internet for local companies that offer pet sitting services as well as dog and cat boarding.

PET HEALTH

New areas will introduce all kinds of new bacteria and threats so talk to your vet before travelling to ensure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and ensure that if they are on any medication, you have enough to last the whole holiday. Additionally, do a quick search before travelling so that you know where your closest vet is and have any documents you may need to present to the new vet if the worst does arise. 

FINALLY, HAVE FUN!

Whether you are looking for relaxation, excitement, culture or scenery, we know you and your pet is going to have the best holiday, enjoy!

Bringing New Feline Home

There is nothing more exciting than bringing your new feline home, and it can be challenging to introduce your cat to the pets you may have at home already. When bringing a new cat home, you need to have a realistic expectation that not all cats get along. Many cats are territorial and will put out a fight with other pets to make sure no one enters it or takes their territory. This can be very distressing for our beloved felines, so it is important we take precaution when deciding to bring a new cat back home.

The importance of scent

To appreciate how cats communicate, we must understand the importance of scent. It’s incredible how well they use their scent to communicate. Every time you see your cat rubbing its cheek along an object, it is marking its scent. When cats rub each other, they are exchanging scents. Exchanging scents mean the cats are creating peace between each. It also allows them to create a familiar scent which enables security between the two felines.

New Cat/Kitten Tips

1. Keep your cat separated at first you can do this by setting up an isolation room for your new cat/kitten.
2. Ensure that your cats are still able to smell and hear each other, you can do this by feeding both cats on the other side of the door
3. After 2 to 3 days switch their locations so they can get used to each other’s distinct smells
4. You can also rub there smells against each other using the same material to mix their scents
5. Cats also love the smell of catnip, purchase some catnip from pet’s palace and place it where your introduced cat is staying. This will help your other cat be distracted from the new cat smell. Click Here to check out some catnip we have in stock.
6. You can start slowly introducing the cats to each other, don’t let them be too close to each other, bring them slowly closer every time you let them meet.
7. Reward good and positive behaviours with treats. You can purchase a whole range of treats from our Pets Place store – Click Here.
8. When you feel that your cats are ready to interact with each other place them in a room together in where they can see each other face to face and walk away
9. Watch them from a distance away, they may hiss at each, growl this is normal, however, if they get aggressive take them away and try again later.