Year: 2010

Human Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

Pet ownership has many benefits.

One of the more interesting effects is the health and medical benefits that pets have on humans. There have been numerous studies that have verified positive health and medical effects in a vast array of different areas. Consider for example that studies have shown the following:

  • Senior citizens that own a dog frequent their doctor less than those that do not own a dog. Checkout GregRobert Discount Dog Supplies, today!
  • Daily activity levels of seniors that are not pet owners deteriorated faster than those of pet owners.
  • Pet owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • Children that own pets scored higher on empathy and pro social orientation scales than non-pet owners.
  • Positive self esteem within children is enhanced by pet ownership.
  • Pet owners have higher one year survival rates following coronary heart disease.
  • Pets decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation
  • Taking your dog for a 30 minute walk each day can burn 150 calories per day and help maintain your weight. Pictured above is the Nite Brite Reflective Dog Harness that works well during the fall when dark descends upon us earlier in the evening.

For a more detailed listing of this information and other relevant articles visit the Delta Society which is an organization that promote human health improvement through service and therapy animals.

 As a pet owner myself who has experienced the joy of pet ownership I can say that I am not entirely surprised by these results. It’s well known that our own personal happiness has definite effect on our physical well being. Pets can certainly provide the companionship and love that boost self esteem and psychological well being.

Add Color for the Birds with a RED Tube Feeder

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

In the late fall and winter, heavy snow will bury natural sources of wild bird food.

Most of the vegetation of spring and summer has withered and blown away, and most insect species are either dead or dormant.  I like to place a brightly colored feeder like the one to the right in the fall so it is easier for the birds to see.

Fill your feeders every day in the fall and winter, but put out only a quantity of seed that the birds can eat before sundown, especially where other critters are a problem and steal the seed.

For the fall and winter, consider adding suet feeders. Suet cakes are made of rendered beef fat, seeds and grains. The  high-energy diet of suet cakes is especially important in colder zones where a bird’s metabolism has to work hard to keep warm. 

There are bird feeders designed to hold one or more suet cakes.

Stamp down the snow underneath the feeders to help ground-feeding birds, such as juncos, cardinal and doves.

Keep Your Pet Warm in Style

The days are cooler, the leaves are fallen and soon the fall season will give way to winter.  Now is the time to start thinking about keeping your pet warm this winter.   If you walk  your pet  in the cold
or snow, a pet coat or sweater is a must,
especially for short haired dogs.

There are so many styles to choose from.  The number 1 selling coat at GregRobert Pet Supplies  is the Shearling Faux Suede Dog Coat pictured to the right.  Available in sizes  X-Small to XXX-Large and in a variety of colors fom the pretty pink to the neutral camel, it is a fashion statement ready to be made.  In addition,  the coat is fully lined with sherpa fleece and has a large sherpa collar to keep your pet extra warm.  Any winter walk will be a warm walk in this coat.

While you are visiting GregRobert’s website, be sure to take a check out at all the pet coats in stock for fall of 2010.

Breast Cancer Awareness Thoughts / Gifts at www.RachelsRobin.com

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined.

We have compiled a few products that contribute funds and awareness to the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign:

The Celebrate Life! feeder is a Limited Edition 8 inch Bird Lovers® Sunflower Feeder in Breast Cancer Awareness pink. The attached charm can be easily removed and used as a keychain accessory. Pictured to the right.

We also have the Breast Cancer Awareness Garden 5 piece Gift Tool Set and the Breast Cancer Awareness 4 piece Garden Tool Set

 

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.

Leash Pulling – YOU can stop it!

Our dog starts leash pulling as soon as he sees the leash and knows he’s about to go for a walk. If we don’t stop it at that point, and the walk starts out of control, the precedent is set for the entire walk.

Here are some suggestions to help you get your dog used to walking on a leash WITHOUT alot of pulling and jerking.

Before expecting your dog to calmly walk beside you on a dog leash, train her to be calm when you are putting her collar and leash on! Ask her to sit-stay while you are putting on her leash. If she does not stay, delay the walk until she does. Don’t give in or she will learn that it’s OK to be out of control. If your dog doesn’t have a reliable sit-stay, then practice training her to sit-stay without the distraction of the prospect of a walk.

Most dogs learn very quickly that they must sit while the leash is being attached to the collar. If your dog bolts toward the door as soon as the leash is on, dragging you behind, then the situation is out of control. Simply hold onto the leash, stand still and let your dog dance, ricochet and bounce around at the end of the leash. It may take a few minutes or more, but she will soon realize that you are not going anywhere and will begin to calm down.  Try a retractable leash to invoke more control on the situation – pictured to the right, is Flexi’s Giant leash for larger dogs.

When this happens, praise him or her for being good. You may even give her a small dog treat as a reward. After another minute or so, take your first step, but NOT towards the door. Instead, walk your dog around your house, garage or yard to give her a chance to practice her ‘not-pulling’ skills. Every time she pulls, lunges or strains on the leash, simply stand still again. When she calms down, talk to her, praise her calmly and quietly. Try to keep your dog’s attention on yourself instead of the door. When you feel that your dog is in control and she is walking nicely without pulling in your house or yard, then it is time to proceed to the front yard and around the block.

Every time your dog pulls on the dog leash and you continue the walk, you are rewarding her for pulling and lunging. Every time your dog gets out of control it is essential that you instantly stop the walk, stand still and wait for her to calm down before continuing. It is a tremendous effort in patience at first but it will pay off if you persevere.

You may only get to the end of the block or even your driveway on your first outing, but if you give in to your dog’s demands, then she will continue to pull. You can speed up the process by asking her to sit- stay for about 5 to 10 seconds every time she begins to pull.

By being consistent and persistent – walk time will be more enjoyable for both of you.

Cuddle Cube Cat Beds are the Cat’s Meow

It’s not very often a new product gets as much hoopla as these cuddle beds have been getting. 

They are super thick – a full 6 inches of warmth and softness that are irresistible to all breeds of cats.

K and H manufacturing has expanded past the heated pet bed market to embark upon unheated pet beds – and the cubes are the hallmark of it’s success into this market.

There are cuddle cube beds available for dogs in 3 sizes and colors. The cubes designed for dogs are a full foot thick – to allow your dog to sink in and really enjoy a winter afternoon nap.

 The cat cuddle cubespictured to the right come in a tantalizing leopard pattern. They are available in two sizes and the outside berber cover can be removed for easy washing. 

While you’re visiting GregRobert’s website, be sure to take a quick peek at all the new pet beds in stock for fall of 2010.

Protect Your Bird Feeder from the Elements with a Rain Guard

TOP WILD BIRD PRODUCTS

Keeping your bird seed fresh is a concern when the weather is wet. 

Updated:  October 11, 2010 

Two elements that can destroy your bird seed are rain and snow.  These two elements can make it soggy and wet, which can harbor bacteria and mold.  To help prevent your bird seed from becoming ruined, a rain guard on your bird feeder can be very beneficial for protecting the bird seed and keeping it fresh. 

Here are a few feeders that are great for a variety of feeders. Brushed Copper Weather Shield by Aubudon Woodlink. 

This beautiful rain baffle is made of copper that weathers nicely with age. It may be easily attached to the top of your bird feeder for protection from rain and snow.  In addition, it is 18 inches in diameter and that is great for offering birds some shelter from the elements while they eat.  It also looks great with a variety of copper bird feeders for a coordinated look.

Another fun, decorative rain guard that looks great with a variety of bird feeders is the Decorative Bird Feeder Dome 14 in. .  This attractive rain guard is made of a durable polycarbonate that is virtually unbreakable and the dome is 14 inches in diameter to offer birds plenty of shelter when eating from your tube feeder.  The decorative design on the cleardome will instantly add character to any tube bird feeder and it is very easy to install on top of the feeder.

The Seattle Rain Guard for Bird Feeders is a simple and easy-to-install rain guard that looks great any tube bird feeder.  It is designed to easily slip on a variety of Droll Yankee bird feeders or other tube bird feeders that are two and a half inches in diameter. The UV stabilized polycarbonate dome is resistant to breaking and won’t become discolored from exposure from the sun.  Not only is it great protection from your bird seed, but also protects the birds from rain and snow.

Bad breath might be harming your dog!

Eliminate odor and give your dog a healthy smile with Dental Fresh.

Did you know that your dogs bad breath isn’t just unpleasant, it’s a result of odor-producing bacteria build-up.

By using Dental Fresh or a similar product daily for your pet from an early age, pet owners can help prevent bacteria build-up, plaque, tartar and ultimately, periodontal disease – the most common disease found in dogs.

As a matter of fact,  according to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 85% of dogs have periodontal disease by the time they are 5 years old. With only 1 in 3 pet owners purchasing oral health products each year, the makers of Dental Fresh are focused on promoting the awareness of medical dangers associated with poor dog oral health care and urging pet owners to care for their pets dental wellbeing on a daily basis.

Pet owners should know that surgical veterinarian visits continue as the greatest expense incurred by dog owners, resulting from problems such as periodontal disease.

Dental Fresh is a “Toothbrush in a Bottle™” – without the toothbrush or the mess. For maximum effectiveness, simply add one teaspoon of Dental Fresh for every 8 oz. of drinking water in the dog or cats water bowl, or follow your veterinarian’s directions. Dental Fresh is tasteless and colorless when dispersed into the water bowl so it does not prevent the pet from drinking.

Dental Fresh is veterinarian recommended and proven to eliminate dog bad breath while removing built-up tartar and plaque.

Cat Eye Infections – What are the signs?

How can I tell if my cat has an eye infection?

If there is redness or swelling in your cats eye, or if your cat squints or you see a discharge of mucus, these may be indications of an eye infection.            

  • Keep your cat’s eyes clear of mucus at all times. Eye infections are often caused by bacteria that overgrow on mucus. Use a sterile eyewash and/or eye wipes to keep the eye area clean. This is especially important in young kittens that may have considerable eye discharge resulting from upper respiratory infections. 
  • Vetericyn Pink Eye Spray is a  steroid-free, antibiotic-free, no-rinse solution is non-toxic and speeds healing.
  • Keep all hair out of your cat’s eyes since scratches to the cornea (the clear membrane across the surface of the eye) can result from contact with hair.
  • Tear staining is a common problem with particular breeds of cats, in particular Persians. 
  • Normally, tears flow across the surface of the eye and quickly drain through the tear duct. Normal tears that spill out and lay on the surrounding hair cause this discoloration at the corners of the eyes.  Use a remedy such as Tear Clear pads for pets.
  • For breeds that tend to have tear stains, you should clean hair in affected areas at least weekly with a tear stain remover product.   Eye Clear® Eye Drops and Eye Pads helps eliminate eye stains without harmful bleaching.  The formula washes eyes, cleans stains and breaks down debris.

Kudos to Pond Owners across the Country

One Pond Makes a Difference

One pond in one backyard may not seem very important, but when you have a thousand similar backyard ecosystems functioning simultaneously, there truly is a positive impact being made on the environment.  These water features help provide an oasis for creatures whose natural habitats have been replaced by development – birds, frogs, toads, newts and salamanders, and many others whose numbers have been declining sharply for many years now.

Featured to the right is the Pondmaster 24 LED light ring and fountainhead – a beautiful addition to any pond.  Use coupon: freeship at www.BackyardStyle.com or www.GRpet.com to purchase this product and ship for free.

So at a grassroots level, as the hobby of water gardening grows, there are additional habitats and diversity being added to our stressed suburban environments.

If you are a wild bird enthusiast, go pat your neighbor on the back – the one that has the beautiful pond or water garden in his or her backyard.  We are all working together to keep the beauty of our world in tact.

Happy Ponding to all!