Bark Control Collars

Bark control collars are designed to reduce barking in dogs. However, these collars have no effect on the underlying cause of the behavior. Thus, there is still a need for pet owners to identify what is causing their dogs’ persistent or excessive barking. The most common bark control collars include spray collars, ultrasonic collars, and shock collars.

Spray collars

Spray collars are designed to release some citronella in response to a dog’s barking. Catching a whiff of citronella can interrupt and discourage a dog from barking. However, spray collars don’t respond to high-pitched barks, thus they are not fool-proof answers to barking problems in dogs. It is not advisable to let your dog wear a spray collar when around other dogs because the bark of another dog may trigger the collar to release citronella.

Shock collars

Barking triggers a shock collar to give the dog a mild electrical shock. This is often considered the least humane of all bite control collars.

Ultrasonic collars

Ultrasonic collars are designed to interrupt a dog’s bark with an ultra-high frequency sound that only dogs can hear.

Know more about your pet's needs during your pet’s next visit to your Ellicott City, MD veterinary clinic.

Change In Routine Can Stress Pet Cats

A sudden change in the daily routine of the household can be an important stressor for cats, considering that they are creatures of habit.

l  As much as possible, make gradual changes and give your kitty lots of physical and mental stimulation to keep him busy as he adjusts to the new routine.

l  If there are changes to your daily schedule, help your kitty adjust by gradually changing to the new schedule beforehand. If the change is short-term, such as a weekend guest, it is best to go back to the old routine as soon as possible once the guests have left.

l  If the change is a long-term one, consistency should be maintained so it will be easier for your furball to adjust to the changes.

Bring your kitty to your veterinarian Columbia, MD for regular wellness checks. Click here to know more.

How Long Should A Puppy Stays In His Crate During Housetraining?

Crate-training feeds a dog’s denning instinct. A dog should view his crate as a place of comfort, security, and privacy. And how can this be achieved? Of course, with proper training and lots of positive reinforcement. Crate training should be a positive experience for dogs.

During housetraining, the time spent by a puppy inside his crate will teach him to hold it in until he is brought to the potty spot outside in the yard. Puppies that are younger than 3 months old can stay inside the crate for 2 hours, gradually increasing the time when the expected behavior is displayed. if he starts whining, you can give your puppy some chew toys to distract him. When you take him outdoors to the potty spot, be quick to offer positive reinforcement when he does his thing in the potty spot. Letting your puppy spend some time outside his crate to play is also an opportunity for physical and mental stimulation. But if the trip to the potty spot was not successful, return the puppy inside the crate and try again in 10 minutes until he does his thing.  

Know more about your pet’s needs by visiting your vet clinic Jacksonville, FL.

Tips To Keep Your Cat Off Furniture and Counter Tops

Cats instinctively seek elevated places to rest and be able to keep an eye on what’s going on in their surroundings. Thus, one way to provide opportunities for your furball to engage in natural behaviors is to provide vertical spaces where he can climb, rest, survey, and be safe. This is also a good way to keep cats off furniture, kitchen counters, and other places where they are not allowed.

If your kitty loves to venture into places that are prohibited around the home, here are simple ways to discourage him:

l  Don’t make these places attractive to your kitty by removing any food.

l  Provide various places where your cat can climb and spend time in. A cat tree, a window perch, a kitty condo, a space on the bookshelf, or desk are better alternatives.  At first, you may have to leave some of your pet’s favorite treats in these spots to entice your pet and make these positive places to stay in.

Know more about your cat's needs by visiting your veterinarian Jacksonville, FL.

How often should you brush your dog’s fur?

Your dog is an excellent companion and you want to make sure you are there to offer him the care he needs. This will sometimes mean brushing your pet to make sure his coat stays in top shape. How often should you be doing this?


There is no set brushing frequency that would work for each and every dog, as they are all quite different. However, you will likely be able to find something that works for your pet if you are vigilant. You will need to take into account your pet’s lifestyle and fur type to determine what would be ideal, then make sure to have the best brush to meet his needs. You may find that your pet needs to be brushed sporadically due to the activities he takes part in or that you are able to stick to a schedule as he is a creature of habit. For additional information, please contact your local vet Pleasanton, CA.

Picking Up After Your Cat

Do you take your cats on walks? If so, you might want to think about picking up after your cat when out walking. You can use doggie bags to pick up your cat’s poop. Pet potty bags can be found in pet stores, commercial chain stores, some grocery stores, and some veterinarian offices. You can even find baggie holders that will attach to your cat’s leash so you don’t have to carry them around. Even if your cat doesn’t make that big of a mess if you are outside and you see that your cat has pooped in your own yard or your neighbor’s yard use the baggies to pick it up. It can prevent future messes such as accidentally stepping in it. If your cat doesn’t go outdoors, check the litter box often and keep it scooped clean. This will help the box stay fresh longer. For more tips, talk with your veterinarian Omaha, NE.

Teaching your feathery friend the ‘step up’ command

Your bird is a wonderful companion and it’s important to you that she is able to interact with you in a meaningful way. You feel that training would help with this and the ‘step up’ command is where you would like to start. How can you teach your pet what this means?

Your pet needs you to understand that training is likely foreign to her and will take a little while to get the hang of. To help her, state the command when she naturally steps onto you from her perch or back onto something placed in front of her from your body. In time, she will grow to expect these words when she performs this action and will think of the two as going hand in hand. This will allow you to say the words and have the actions be brought to mind. For additional information, please contact your local vet Fox Lake, IL.