My Bestfriend

My dogs love to gnaw and chew, and I let them. I buy them chewing toys so they won’t attack the sofa or my shoes! Chewing is actually good for pooches. My friend and dog lover, Shaun Olmstead, says that a dog that loves to chew is a healthy dog! Puppies start chewing around the age of 3 months, when their permanent teeth start coming out. Since nature did not give dogs hands to use, their mouths are their source of exploration; their means to investigate new things, tastes, and it is a basic behavior instilled in dogs since the beginning of time. Chewing helps relieve the pain of teething and it is necessary for a dog’s physical and mental health. For adult dogs, chewing keeps their teeth clean and makes their jaws strong. Gnawing on something for a spell gives them something to do. Your dogs are just probably not into ‘Gossip Girls’ or surfing the Net, but they need something to occupy their mind.

Chewing also means eventual destruction. And replacement. You have to make sure that your buy your pooches chew toys on a regular basis. If they have their own toys to chew, they will not be inclined to chew on your couch leg or that Prada pumps you absent-mindedly left lying around the house. You don’t have to spend a fortune replacing toys, but make sure they are safe, especially if you have a larger dog that can shred the toy quickly.

What are some other causes of chewing? Believe it or not poor nutrition can be a cause. The lack of proper nutrients in a dog’s diet can cause a dog to chew many things in an effort to fulfill its need for certain nutrients. Buying the best food you can afford for your pet will not only save you money in vet bills but will help keep your pet from chewing up valuable items.

Separation anxiety and/or being alone too long can also cause a dog to chew. Chewing is comforting to a dog; it eases its mind. Think about this for a moment, a baby enjoys its pacifier, a youngster enjoys a lollipop and we adults enjoy chewing on a number of things. We find comfort in what we do and so does our dogs.

If you are a devout cat lover like me and my friend Shaun Olmstead, playing with your cats is probably one of the most awaited activities of the day. However, there are some do’s and dont’s to be aware of that will help make playtime more fun for your cat, safer for you, and will help strengthen the bond you share.

• Do engage in interactive playtime with your cat at least twice a day. This can be a wonderful help when dealing with a bored or lonely cat.
• Don’t frustrate your cat by never allowing him to successfully capture the toy periodically throughout the game.
• Do use a fishing pole-type toy during interactive play such as Da Bird or the Cat Dancer, so you can move the toy like prey to get your cat interested. It also keeps a safe distance between your fingers and your cat’s teeth.
• Don’t use your fingers to entice your cat to play. It sends a mixed signal saying that it’s ok to bite skin.
• Do play sessions before meals to simulate a more true-to-life schedule for your cat. In the wild, a cat would have to engage in a hunt before eating.
• Don’t tax your cat’s physical/medical condition. Customize the game to his level of ability.
• Do alternate the toy’s movements between fast and slow to allow kitty to capture it. Hide the toy behind a box or piece of furniture and have it peek out. It’s during this time of non-movement that the cat will be able to inch up to it the way she would do during an actual hunt.
• Don’t leave fishing pole toys out in-between play sessions because the cat may chew on the strings.
• Do leave safe toys hidden around the house for your cat to discover for solo play, such as fuzzy mice and Mylar balls.
• Don’t tease the cat by poking the toy at him or on him. A cat’s play response is triggered by movements going away from or across his field of vision.
• Do double-check all toys to make sure they’re safe. Some toys have poorly glued-on parts that could easily be ingested by a cat.
• Playtime is beneficial to cats in so many ways - mental, physical, and emotional. What’s your cat’s favorite way to play?

How do you know if a person is a cat lover? My friend and cat whisperer, Shaun Olmsted, lists down the sure fire ways to tell if someone is a cat person:

• You select your friends based on how well your cats like them.
• Your desire to collect cats intensify during times of stress.
• You think it’s cute when your cat swings on the drapes or licks the butter.
• You sleep in the same position all night because it annoys your cats when you move.
• You kiss your cat on the lips.
• You feed your cat tidbits from the table with your fork.
• Your cat sit at the table (or ON the table) when you eat.
• Your cat sleep on your head and you like it.
• You watch bad TV because the cat is sleeping on the remote.
• You buy a video tape of fish swimming in an aquarium to entertain your cat.
• You stand at the open door indefinitely in the freezing rain while your cat sniffs the door, deciding whether to go out or come in. You rather spend a night at home with your cat than go out on a bad date.
• You give your cat presents and a stocking at Christmas. You spend more for your cat than you do for your spouse.
• The Christmas cards you send out feature your cat sitting on Santa’s lap. And you make your cat sign the card with his paw print.
• You put off making the bed until the cat gets up.
• You climb out of bed over the headboard or footboard, so you won’t disturb the sleeping cat.
• At the store, you pick up the cat food and kitty litter before you pick out anything for yourself.
• You cook a special turkey dinner for your cat on holidays.
• You have pictures of your cat in your wallet and you bring them out when your friends share pictures of their children.
• When people call to talk to you on the phone, you insist that they say a few words to your cat as well.
• You accept dates only with those who have a cat? If so, you eventually double-date
• with the cats to see how they get along?
• When someone new comes to your house, you introduce your cat, by name, to them?