Category: Dog Food / Toys

Boredom Busters: How to Create a Pet Playroom

A bored dog or cat is generally also an unhappy or destructive pet, if this is happening to you, is because they are no good, if they are barking at night. This is a sign that you need to something different, that’s why we brought you this manual of how to stop my dogs from barking at night. Play is an integral part of pet’s lives. Through play, dogs release energy and establish boundaries, while cats get exercise and keep mentally alert.

Depending on their age, size and breed, most dogs require 30 to 60 minutes of exercise per day. Cats, though they may sleep up to 16 hours a day, need physical activity as well, to provide stimulation and reduce anxiety. This activity requirement may be difficult for pet owners who work long hours, or live in an apartment. Designing a playroom with your pet’s needs in mind is a great way to keep them from turning to your furnishings for entertainment.

Basic Playroom Requirements
• An easy-to-clean floor, such as vinyl    
• A secure door or gate
• A play area
• A feeding and watering station (away from the play area)
• Sleeping quarters
• A litter box or piddle-pad corner

For dogs, you can simply lay a sheet of vinyl over your existing floor and add vinyl pads to prevent slipping (take care, some dogs will chew on them). For cats, provide disposable carpeting remnants or doormats for traction and scratching that can easily be replaced if soiled (many carpeting stores sell carpeting remnants; one place to check out is https://nwrugs.com/collections/jaipur).

Whether you have a feline or canine companion, it is important to provide a comfortable interior temperature while you are away. Setting the proper automatic thermostat temperature is key to climate control, while an overhead fan can circulate air. While windows provide ambient lighting, consider installing wooden or woven shades over windows that receive full sun. Make sure the shades are adjusted to keep out of your pet’s reach.

Dogs

Dogs should be provided with a variety of toys.  Use toys like a   treat-filled toy  that will keep them engaged, rather than rawhides.  For long-term chewing fun, Nylabones and hard rubber toys are an option. Some dogs will be content with a favorite tennis ball. If they have a bed or crate, it can be placed in a corner.

Cats

Cats generally like to have a high vantage point to look out into a yard or survey their immediate environment. One of the easiest ways to provide a warm, sunny place, as well as darker, sheltered space is by using a cat furniture.

Provide your cat with plenty of batting balls and catnip toys, and a scratching post with dangling toys. For an inexpensive cat cubby, an old cardboard box with a comfy bed inside will be welcomed. If you have multiple cats, make sure to provide enough hiding spaces so your cats can get away when they want personal time.

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety or noise phobias? CBD has been extensively studied for its effect on stress and anxiety. If your pet is suffering from anxiety, cbd oil for dogs and cats would be a great way to keep him relaxed when he’s uncomfortable.

Safety

Before allowing your pet into the room, remove any potential hazards such as:

  • Electric cords
  • Electronics
  • Chemicals
  • Small or sharp items
  • Anything that could hurt your pet if chewed
  • Any furniture or items that could be tipped over

Puzzles for Your Dog

 

Your pet’s health is important to you.  You feed him well, exercise him, groom him and take him for check ups at the vet.  But is your dog mentally stimulated?  As your puppy grows into an adult and as your adult dog ages it is important to mentally stimulate him. Dog puzzles will not only mentally stimulate your dog, but are also a great cure for boredom.
Dog puzzles are a great way for you to bond with your dog 
and a way for your dog to earn his treats.

The Seek-A-Treat Shuffle Bone is a bone shaped bone that has ten holes for hiding treats. With his paw, your dog slides the treat disk cover and discovers the hiding treats. Of course, when he finds the treat, he gets the treat.   This puzzle can be used by dogs of all sizes. The Seek-A-Treat Shuffle Bone  is 11-1/2″ wide  x 7-5/8″ length x 1″ high.

 

 

Need a Cute Way to Store Your Dog’s Treats?

I have two dogs, which means that I have a huge variety of dog treats at my house!  Because of their significant size difference (one dog is small and one is large), they can not share treats.  This means I have quite a large number of dog goodies at my house.  To store all of these treats, I used to have a big cardboard box where I would just throw all of the bags of treats into.  What an eyesore that was!  The box was always a mess.  If I did not close a treat bag perfectly, the treats would get stale.

Because of this, I went looking for a new way to store all of these dog treats, and I found the Petmate Dog Treat Jars, pictured to the right.

These eye pleasing jars come in three different sizes, which is just perfect for storing a variety of treats!  Plus, they have an air tight lid that will keep dog treats fresh.   The Petmate Dog Treat Jars are labeled “SIT,” “STAY,” and “PLAY.”  The two larger jars have a cute dog bone decal in the center.  These jars look darling sitting on my counter top.  I get plenty of compliments on them when people come to my house.  I always recommend these jars to any of my friends with dogs!

The One-Eyed Yeti has hit the shelves at GRpet.com

Quaker (SherpaPet) introduces the YETI Plush Toy.

YETI dog toys features Chew-Guard technology for extreme durability, yet are fun, colorful squeaker toys.

Chew Guard Technology™ is a proprietary manufacturing process that adds a super tough, durable liner to every toy. The Chew Guard lining was specially engineered to withstand the daily rigors of a dog’s play. Dogs are tough but Chew Guard is tougher! All seams are double stitched and reinforced as well. Chew Guard Technology toys should stand up to your toughest chewers.

Pulling strength <30 kg.
Heavy Duty thread to reinforce the seams
Bite Pressure – Extremely high
Funability – Endless

Yeti dog toys are made with Chew Guard™ technology and are specially constructed for heavy duty use.

*Please note: Some dogs will chew through anything including your refrigerator door… Chew Guard Technology™ cannot stop those dogs but it sure can try. We are in pursuit of the toughest soft toy known to dog-kind.

Machine washable!

Mini: 6.5″ x 6.5″ x 2″
Regular: 10″ x 8″ x 3″

Pet Appreciation Week is Here!

It’s the first week of June, which means it’s Pet Appreciation Week.

This week is about going the extra mile and really showing our furry family members how much we love and cherish them.

According to these statistics from Petfinder, we sure do have a lot to appreciate when it comes to our pets:

  • Nine in ten pet owners say they consider their pets to be members of their family.
  • About 50% of pet owners admit they talk to their pets, and 80% of these people stated that on those occasions, the animal seemed to respond by means of sounds, facial expressions, or body language.
  • 80% of dog and cat owners surveyed feel that their pet can sense their moods.
  • Three in four dog owners believe that their dogs try to make them feel better when they are unhappy.
  • 70% of dog owners and 31% of cat owners expect their dog to come rescue them if they are in distress.
  • While a solid majority of American households (57%) currently have dogs, cats, or both pets in residence, virtually everyone—more than nine in ten—would like to have either or both of these animals as household members.

So, how can you celebrate Pet Appreciation Week with your pet?

  • Buy them a special treat.
  • Take them on a special outing—check out a new park or beach, or even just switch up your walking route.
  • More toys!
  • Freshen your pet up with a bath and some grooming.
  • Lots of extra hugs and kisses!

Valued Customers – Please note these Diamond Pet Food Recalls

The health and well-being of you and your pets is very important to us. Recently, pet food manufacturers issued voluntary recalls on several popular brands of pet food for potential Salmonella contamination.  GregRobert Enterprises sells some of these brands on it’s sister website:  www.PetStrut.com 

Diamond Pet Foods has voluntarily recalled some brands of dry dog and cat food that it manufactured in its Gaston, S.C. facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012 due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The brands that were recalled on May 4 have not tested positive for Salmonella.  The company is recalling certain batches of these brands, however, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of customers and their pets. Consumers should check this website for the production codes and best-before dates on the bags of recalled food, and discontinue feeding it. To learn whether or not the brand of dog or cat food you use is included in the recall, please select it from the list below.

Please note: we have issued CORRECTED production codes for all the brands below except for Apex.

Each brand’s page will have the CORRECTED production codes.

Stop Your Dog’s Destructive Behavior When You Are Away

Have you ever left your pet alone and returned home to find your house in shambles? When left alone, the biggest issue for a pet is boredom and/or separation axiety.  Boredom in a pet means you must figure out a way to entertain your pet while you are away. Separation axiety means you must show your pet lots of love before you leave.

Always try to walk your pet before you leave, especially if you will be gone all day.  The exercise is good for both you and your pet.  In addition, your pet will enjoy the bonding and will burn off excess energy and be ready to nap for awhile.  If you don’t have time for a walk, try a quick game of catch or at the very least, give him some added attention before you leave.

Once you are ready to leave, give your pet a treat. I like to  use  some kind of treat dispenser toy.  The brand Kong has a variety of dispenser toys and one is sure to keep your pet entertained..  The well known Kong Classic is available in size small to XXLarge.  Made from a natural rubber formula and chewer friendly, the Kong Classic is unmatched for  durability,  bounce and resilience.   The bounce is unpredictable so your pet receives a  great workout of every muscle and reflex while chasing and chewing the Kong.

I find that the trick to keeping the Kong Classic interesting is to stuff it with food.  This will keep your dog busy for hours while trying lick out the tasty treat.  It is easy to stuff the hole in the Kong with plain peanut butter or mix peanut butter and dry dog kibbles together.  You can put the Kong in the freezer overnight. This will make the treat last longer.

Another easy recipe is to put  a small amount of peanut butter into a Kong to seal the small hole at the bottom.  Mix a banana that is cut into slices with some plain yogurt (do NOT use yogurt with artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to dogs).  Add the banana mixture to the Kong, then seal with more peanut butter.  This can be served immediately or frozen.

There are a variety of Kong dispenser toys available. Of course, you can stuff anything into any Kong dispenser toy  that your dog enjoys.  Just be careful about adding food that will stain carpeting, if your pet eats on a carpeted area.

Remember your pet will be less likely to try getting attention in negative ways, if you have taken the time to give him something special before leaving.  Some dogs will even welcome the owner leaving knowing a special treat waits him.

 

Pet Weight Control

Pet weight control is a common issue pet owners face. Just as obesity creates many health issues in humans it likewise has similar effects on our pets. Health risks include diabetes, liver problems, joint issues (especially in older pets) as well as other problems.

Obesity is a simple matter of energy intake exceeding the energy requirements of the animal. Excess energy is stored as fat which leads to weight gain. The typical cause is a combination of overfeeding (don’t forget to include the treats when you think about this) combined with a lack of proper exercise.

Keep in mind that a pets internal energy consumption will fall as they age and become less active (sound familiar?).

If you and your veterinarian determine your pet is overweight then there needs to be adjustment in both the pet and the owners behavior/activities. Typically all areas must be addressed in order to be successful. Yunnan Baiyao and their famous guidelines remind us that, although important, simply lessening your pets food amount will not likely give the desired results.

Diet: This includes food and treats.  Giving a few high calorie treats throughout the day can add up. Fortunately, the problem is common enough with dogs that manufacturers have developed many low calorie dog treats .

Paragon makes a potato based low fat dog treat called Veggie Ear Dog Treats that is a healthy alternative. While it is unfortunate that the same selection is not available for cats you can consult with your veterinarian of appropriate treat changes, such as using popcorn, that may meet your pets needs. Keep in mind you (and everybody in the household) need to count the calories and treats given on a daily basis for this to work.

Determine the appropriate amount of food to give your pet with your veterinarian. If necessary, change to a low fat dog food. Calculate the amount that should be given and measure it out for every feeding. Consistency is very important in executing a plan to reduce your pets calories intake

Exercise: Regular exercise is important to your pets health in many ways. Not only does it burn calories while your pet is exercising but regular activity raises the resting metabolic rate allowing for increased calorie burn at rest. If this is not a current part of your schedule you may need to think about how this can be part of your daily regimen. It is usually not easy for us to change what we do day to day so some serious thought needs to be given to how to effectively include some pet exercise time in our families day.

This is also a great bonding experience with your pet and they will look forward to your attention.

Get your Dog Ready for March Madness

With “Selection Sunday” just three days away – all you “dog-ownin-basketball-buffs” are probably getting pretty excited to see the brackets. You and your dog are in for 67 games of lounging around watching some great basketball – and maybe even winning a few bucks in work-place or family basketball pools.

I am sure your best friend is getting quite excited too, because he KNOWS that you will get him a brand-spankin-new basketball dog toy to busy himself with while you are busying yourself in front of the TV.

Luckily, GregRobert Pet Supplies has numerous new dog basketball toys ready to ship – JUST IN TIME.

Vinyl Basketball Dog Toy 3 in.

Durable and fun vinyl dog toy in the shape of a basketball. Squeaker inside the basketball for added fun. Use this perfect size ball for fetch and interactive play with your puppy or dog.

Plush Basketball Dog Toy 4 inch

Your dog can play defense while you shoot some 3-pointers with this awesome plush basketball dog toy. Perhaps your pup is the next slam-dunk champion, find out and play some hoops with your best friend

Stuffed Latex Basketball Dumbell Dog Toy

This Stuffed Latex Basketball Dumbell by Ethical is longer lasting than regular latex because inside of the bumpy latex shell it has fiber stuffing. Great for hours of playing fetch or for chewing. Available in assorted bright colors.

Rough & Rugged Basketball Dog Tug – 2.75 in.

Made with the highest grade of rubber and filled with unique polymers to give extra bounce. Each ball is 2.75 inches and has a 14 inch long strap for hours of fun.