• When your pet is outside, he or she always needs access to fresh drinking water.  Animals can dehydrate very quickly which can lead to heat stroke.  If you and your pet are hanging out in your yard, be sure to bring out your dog’s water bowl, and continually re-fill it to be sure your dog never gets dehydrated.  You can also add ice to make sure the water is nice and cold for your pup.

• If you are going for a walk with your dog, bring the Porta Le Bistro Pet Waterer with your.  This is a great portable waterer that has a hook that can attach to your leash, belt loop, or backpack if you are hiking.  You can buy the Porta Le Bistro Pet Waterer in a small or medium size, depending on the length of your outdoor excursions.

• Never, ever, EVER leave your dog in the car in the summer.  A car is like a furnace and can heat up incredibly fast.  Even leaving the windows open does not prevent the car from rapidly heating up.  Not only can leaving your dog in a car dehydrate him to the point of heatstroke, but it can lead to death.

• If you are taking your dog with you on a car ride, be sure to take the Road Refresher Dog Bowl, pictured above.  The Road Refresher Dog Bowl can hold up to 54 ounces of water, but will only allow a small amount of water to be in the reservoir at once.  It is specifically designed to never spill, which will allow your dog to drink water while you are driving.  You won’t ever have to pull over to give your dog water!

• Pay special attention to your dog when he is around pools.  Many dogs are not naturally good swimmers, and falling into a pool can pose problems for your dog.  Never let your dog drink from a pool, the chlorine and chemicals can cause terrible stomach problems for your dog.  Be sure you provide your dog with fresh water to prevent him from drinking from pools.

This is an automatic dog watering system that provides continuous flow of fresh water to your pet. Attach the 3/4″ hose to your garden hose or tap, turn on the tap and the bowl fills to the perfect level for drinking. The automatic float controls the water level. Galvanized.

Directions for Use:

Fasten hose to water supply and turn water on. Wait 15 minutes.
If you desire a different water level, remove the metal float cover(2 screws) and follow step #1 or step #2.
Step #1:  If your pet waterer has a low water level, bend brass rod with float slightly up. (See figure A.) When you find the desired level, replace the metal float cover and fasten.
Step #2:  If your pet waterer has a high water level, bend brass rod with float slightly down. (See figure B.) When you find the desired level, replace the metal float cover and fasten.

Note: Make sure that the water level in steps #1 and #2 are not too high as the float

One of my favorite automatic waterers is the Deluxe Fresh Flow Pet Watererby Petmate.  This automatic waterer is designed to give your pet a constant supply of fresh water, while adding oxygen to the water.  It also naturally cools the water and filters the water to take out pollutants.  The water reservoir holds up to 50 ounces and is translucent, so it is easy to see when it needs to be refilled.  There is an air flow control valve to monitor the amount of air that is in the water and an on/off switch to save on electricity when not being used by your pet. 

Another great automatic waterer for your pet is the Ultra Bubbler Pet Fountain, which is also made by Petmate.  This automatic waterer is made to supply your pet with a constant supply of fresh water without the use of a filter.  It also has an adjustable air valve to control the amount of air in the water and can hold up to 1.5 gallons of water.  The water reservoir is easy to fill up and the base is skid proof.  Just fill up the waterer and let your pet enjoy fresh water all day long.

• If you know that you will be gone for most of the day, it is a good idea to give your dog a big morning meal.  Not only will this help to keep your dog from feeling hunger pains and looking into the garbage can, but only help your dog feel like taking a nap.  Just like people, dogs get tired after eating a big meal and the more your dog sleeps, the less likely he will get bored and get into stuff around your home.  Ethical’s Stainless Steel Double Dog Diner is available in a variety of sizes and makes keeping your dog’s eating area neat easy.  It is slightly elevated and great for larger dogs.
• Make sure your dog has a “dog friendly” place to rest.  A cozy, warm dog bed is great for any size or type of dog and helps to keep your dog warm if you turn down the heat while you are away from your home.  A great dog bed for your dog is the Ortho Thermo-Bed Heated/Orthopedic Dog Bed by K and H.  This comfortable, heated dog bed will keep your dog warm and offers lots of back support for hours of sleeping.  Your dog will love the soothing heat and feel rested after a nap on this dog bed.
• Keep lots of chew toys and treats around for your dog to enjoy and entertain himself with.  Chew toys like the Fun Pack Dog Toys – Rough and Rugged has three tough chew toys for your dog to enjoy for hours.  If your dog likes to chew on bones, the Mammoth Bone Dog Treat is great for bigger dogs and the Stuffed Shin Bone Dog Treat is perfect for entertaining smaller dogs.

Keeping your dog happy and entertained is important when you are away from your home during the holidays.  For a great selection of products for your dog, check out GregRobert Pet Supplies.

1. First, start off with some durable and sturdy shelter for your dog.  A wooden dog house works great for protecting your dog from the elements.  One of my favorite dog houses is the Premium + Aframe Doghouse that is made of natural wood.  This dog house is designed to safely protect your dog from rain, snow, and other elements.  It also has a clear plastic door that is sold separately for keeping wind, rain, and snow out.  By adding a dog house to your yard, your dog will have a place to go if he gets too cold or the weather is unbearable.
2. Another piece to creating a warm outdoor space for your dog is a heated pad.   The Lectro-Soft Outdoor Heated Pet Bed is ideal for keeping your dog warm when outdoors.  The pad may be used inside the dog house or in another type of sheltered area.  This pad is great because it offers a soft, warm place for your pet to rest, may be easily cleaned with the wipe of a damp cloth, and has a chew resistant cord.
3. If you plan on keeping your dog for a longer period of time, it is a good idea to offer your dog a dish of heated water.  The warm water will help to warm your dog inside and make his stay outside more comfortable.  Choose a heated dog dish like the Heated Pet Water Bowl by Farm Innovators.  This dog dish is thermostatically controlled to keep your dog’s water at a constant temperature and holds one and a half gallons of water.

Your dog will be able to stay outdoors longer if you create a warm and cozy outdoor living space for your dogs.  By using a dog house, a heated dog pad, and a heated dog dish, you can easily create a warm place for your dog to enjoy throughout the fall and winter. 

Here is a nice article about the heated cat beds that GregRobert donated this week.

Heated Pet Bowls are a “Must Have” if your pet stays outdoors when it is cold out.

NOTE: Feel free to comment on this post – but remember, I am not the humane society. Whenever I write about leaving dogs outside in the cold, I get a flood of very good people that comment on how inhumane that is. My dog stays inside. Some owners have real reasons to have dogs stay outside. Unfotunately, I cannot respond to debates on whether dogs should be outdoors for any length of time in the winter.

Heated Dog Bowls are excellent for winter. Dogs and cats that spend time outdoors in cold weather need heated pet bowls so thier water doesn’t freeze. Hydration is especially important in cold weather (and of course in very warm weather).  A heated pet dish works using coils and electicity. Plug the dish in and the coils warm the bottom and sides of the dish which keeps the water at a temperature that prevents freezing.

A heated pet water dish normally comes with a thermostat and an electric cord. The thermostat will let you know how much heat the container is generating to keep its contents warm.  The dish only works when it is plugged into an electric outlet, unless it comes with an automatic shut-off switch.  Many models have the shut-off switch, now.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Plastic Heated Water Bowl for Pets – Keeps water ice free! This low wattage heated pet bowl has a capacity of …

Heated Pet Bowl with Hutch Mount –This stainless steel Bowl will keep drinking water ice-free even in sub-zero weather .

Heated Pet Bowl 6 Qt. – Blue – This 6-quart heated water bowl allows you to supply your pet with fresh …

Heated Pet Bowl 3 Qt. – Blue – This 3-quart heated water bowl allows you to supply your pet with fresh …

Heated Plastic Pet Bowl 6 qt. – This 6-quart heated water bowl allows you to supply your pet with fresh …

One of our recent customer questions:

I just purchased a heated water bowl for a dog. It says not to use an extension cord with it, but the nearest oulet requires one. Will it really hurt to use an extension cord with this product?

ANSWER: The manufacturers and retailers must say that for liability reasons.. HOWEVER. I would recommend that if you MUST use an extension cord, use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord designed to carry the electrical load used by the water bowl.

ALSO make sure that the cord is not laying in water or wet areas. you can also buy different tapes to cover the plug into the extension cord. Make sure you are using a quality extension cord designed to be used outside.

Many people use elevated dog feeders and cat feeders for the physical benefits to their pet. They can also be
ornate and attractive in the design making the feeding area look more pleasing to us humans.

A number of physical benefits are associated with elevated feeders:

• Comfort for dogs and cats with neck or back arthritic conditions. This is especially true with older pets. We do not our pets to associate eating and drinking with discomfort. The elevated feeder keeps the head and neck in a more upright condition preventing the need for stooping thus keeping the proper posture.
• There is also less stress through the front legs.
• Easier swallowing due to the head being in a more upright position. This is advantage to all pets but can be more important with pets that have eating disorders such as megaesophagus. This is a condition of the weakening of the esophagus that causes food to collect in the esophagus (not making it to the stomach). This can cause vomiting. By keeping the head in a more upright position the elevated feeder uses gravity to help the food make it into the stomach more easily.

Another advantage is a cleaner feeding area.

Some pets (especially dogs) can be a bit messy when they eat or drink. By placing the bowls closer to their natural position of the mouth there is less head movement away from the bowls and therefore less food and water outside of the bowl. Most importantly, less clean-up for us pet owners!

How do I size an elevated feeder?

The feeder should be about four to six inches below a dogs mouth. Four inches is more appropriate for smaller dogs while six inches can be used for larger dogs. Cats would obviously use a four inch or smaller guideline.

If the above information applies to yourself or your pet consider using an elevated feeder. There are many styles available from basic to ornate.