- PetIdForMe.com
As all my readers may know I am a huge advocate for pet identification. This includes ID tags microchip in and registering your pet. But what about a new concept of a ID tag are you as the owner? The concept was brought to my attention by www.petIDforme.com. So when the people@petIDforme.com offered to send me a sample I couldn't resist. I followed their very simple instructions, uploaded a picture of my puppy Charlie and my location identification and sent it off via their website.
In two days I received the most adorable miniature replication of a New York state driver's license, but with a picture of my puppy Charlie. Also in the package were to refrigerator magnets approximately the size of a business card. My friends just love these drivers licenses were a hoot.
What sets these tags apart from others is that they are a soft laminate, so there's no abraision against your dog's skin and they surely capture the attention of whoever sees attack. I used my tags as a zipper pull for my new parka. They are cute and stylish.
I strongly suggest that you check out the www.petIDforme.com website. The cost for a magnet and tag set completely customized with your pet's picture is only $20.
If you have a product you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an e-mail to SecretShopperBlog@Gmail.com.
© photo copyright Carrie Boyko 2009Tanner Created a Porch Doggie Door
through a Hole in the Screen
I've written before about Tanner's natural ability to open doors, latches and locks. He must have made a habit of watching us use these devices, and then duplicates the movement with his snout. He is able to open our front door, open my bedroom door, unlock the child-guard latch on the gate, open the gate on the chain link fence at parks, unlatch Oliver's crate, and can turn on the water fountain at the dog park. Amazing! You can read more about this at my earlier post, Tanner, Our Houdini.
Tanner's latest conquest is to open the pocket door (with a cat door installed) that separates my cat's food and litter from the dogs.You're probably thinking, "Oh, opening a pocket door is not that difficult." Think again. This one has a lock on it--a tiny little turning latch--that used to keep this door secure.
Now we're in training AGAIN. "No Tanner. Leave It!" I have started having him sit outside that door while I work in the room; it's the laundry room. Basically, I'm teaching Tanner that the laundry room is off limits. I put him in a STAY position and he watches me fold laundry or collect cleaning supplies. He's getting the idea, although he clearly does not like being told he cannot check out the cat dish or see if the kitty is napping in there. What's fun about that?, he's probably thinking. Poor Tanner.
I won't be swayed, though. It is my intention for him to know that I'm the boss. That means what I say goes. Period. No questions asked and no sad brown eyes.
He's getting the idea. Sometimes he follows me toward the laundry room and then does a double take at the door and backs up. It's kind of cute, like a kid stopping before he takes a cookie out of the jar. Good boy, Tanner.
Wednesday, August 26 is National Dog Day. I made those words Tanner-colored in his honor. I gave some consideration to running a photo slide show in today's post, but decided that my site has plenty of those. Better to dedicate this post to my latest doggie success story--Tanner learning to leave the cat food dish alone. That's a big deal at my house. Sounds boring, huh? Actually, I'm beaming with pride.
I hope you, too, can celebrate something endearing about your dog today. Give him a special treat and an extra belly rub. It's good for you too.
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AmberPetAlert.com Helping Lost Pets Find The Way Home
There's nothing scarier for a pet owner than the idea of a lost dog or cat. Fortunately, there's a new way to get the word out quickly about your lost dog or cat - so you can bring them back home. AmberPetAlert.com is a new technology/service to help pet owners find their lost pets.
(PRWEB) August 7, 2009 -- There's nothing scarier for a pet owner than the idea of a lost dog or cat. Fortunately, there's a new way to get the word out quickly about your lost dog or cat - so you can bring them back home. AmberPetAlert.com is a new technology/service to help pet owners find their lost pets.
An AmberPetAlert will broadcast photos, description and details instantly to Veterinarians, Animal Shelters, Groomers, Animal Control, Police Stations, Media Outlets, Pet Stores and "Neighborhood Watch Volunteers" - all within a 50 to 200 mile radius of where your pet was last seen. Every person's lost pet situation is analyzed on a case-by-case basis by the staff for the most successful pet return.
Sadly, most Shelter/Veterinarian alerting services are not very effective because they are sent only through e-mail. Some of these alerts will be caught by SPAM or Junk Mail filters and never be printed or posted by staff. All AmberPetAlert's are physical posters sent via FedEx Express directly into the hands of recipients. AmberPetAlerts are sent via overnight delivery, tracked online and require a signature upon delivery.
AmberPetAlert.com has two offices in the United States. For speedy delivery, your posters will ship from one of these locations. If you are located in the Western half of the United States, posters will ship from our West Coast office located in Los Angeles, California. If you are located on the East Coast of the United States, posters will ship from our East Coast office located in New York City.
At AmberPetAlert.com pet owners can receive a free copy of our Lost Pet Recovery Guide. The Lost Pet Recovery Guide includes step-by-step instructions and actions to take to maximize your pet's chances of coming home safely. Our unique pet recovery guide gives advice for specific types of pets and the time period you are currently in with a lost pet situation.
Members who issue an Amber Pet Alert and follow the steps in our Pet Recovery Guide will safely recover their pet 75% of the time. The Amber Pet Alert program is your lost pet's best chance of coming home safely and quickly. Amber Pet Alert also has a Neighborhood Watch Program, where anyone can sign up to look for lost pets in their neighborhood.
Visit AmberPetAlert.com or call The Amber Pet Alert hotline - 1-888-808-PETS (7387).
Pet Products Review - Benner's Best Friend Fence
If you have a dog and a yard you can't help but always have that nagging thought in the back of your head, is my dog secure, is my dog safe, could he possible run away and escape. Quite simply if you have a dog, any size dog, and a yard you need a fence. Personally, I think it should be a law.
Well this past weekend I was at my parents house in New Jersey, and noticed that they had installed a very unique fence system. Not so much to keep the dog in, as we no longer have a family dog, but to keep the deer off the property. The fence was along the back of the tall hemlocks where the the deer usually enter was high, about 7 feet. But in the most visible areas, such as in the front and back of the house my father explained he used the shorter 5' fencing made for dogs. He told me that he ordered Benner's Best Freind Fencing at the recommendation of his landscaper who also has a dog run made of the same fence material.
What I like about Benner's Best Friend Fencing, is that it is virtually invisible. Especially when hidden by folliage you can barely detect it is there. And at the points where the fence is fully exposed, well... you hardly notice those areas too.
But just because its subtle in visibility doesn't mean it is not strong. Benner’s Best Friend Fence is a high-strength, weather resistant polypropylene mesh grid, super easy to install on wood or metal poles and even trees without changing the aesthetics of your property. Now Benner's has an excellent website that will help you design exactly the dog run or dog park just perfectly suited to your pooch. The prices are great and packages start at only $289 and that includes free shipping. Go to this page for ideas: http://www.bestfriendfence.com/prod_fence_kits.asp and should you need assistance call toll free at 800-753-4880.
If you've got a product you think will pass the Secret Shopper Test, send an email to SecretShopperBlog@gmail.com
An Un-Happy Celebration
My poor hound-mutt, Eddie (short for Edward J. Snuggle-Bottom Pants-Man, III) is already having a terrible 4th of July weekend. To be fair, Eddie is an extreme case; he's a rescue and x-rays have confirmed that he was shot several times. The bullets are buried deep in his backside, but his fragile mental state is plainly obvious.
Like many fears Eddie's "consistent concern" with noises has grown to include any loud noises. A big gust of wind is enough to put him on high alert, but fireworks are the worst and I pay special attention to Eddie each year as the Fourth of July nears.
The climate of San Francisco is virtually thunder-storm free, but if it were not I would likely consult with Eddie's veterinarian and begin the process of finding him the right anti-anxiety medication. As it is, the incidents are fairly isolated and we have gotten by with the following routine:
Like many sound-phobic dogs Eddie is prone to pacing. While confinement can exacerbate the panic response (they feel stuck), many dogs do well having access to a small den in a dark room. Eddie does best when confined to the back of the house in a small room with little light and his crate open and available to him. Some dogs also enjoy a small fan or a radio.
In the days leading up to the Fourth of July there are often single firecrackers that go off. For each of these Eddie gets a huge surprise delivery of broiled chicken (about 1/2 cup of 1" pieces). In fact I often don't feed him much in the days preceding the 4th except his a light kong (his usual meal stuffed into a rubber toy and frozen) and the "Noisy-Snacks!" Eddie gets these "room-service" style, meaning: he doesn't have to do anything for them, I bring them to him.
While it is tempting to hold, pet and sooth my terrified dog with sweet words, this has never helped. In fact it actually seems to make things worse. So I must put aside my urge to comfort as a human being and just do my best to make him believe that noises bring snacks. Incidentally these "Noisy-Snacks" are special to this time of year and that seems to really help. As does getting an early start.
In preparation for the big celebration, Eddie fasts all day (with the exception of a few pieces of chicken for the early booms, whizzes and pops). that evening I usually give Eddie a nice big frozen Kong stuffed with rice and hamburger and cheese and small chunks of pig's ears. This is all carefully layered into Eddie's Extra-Large Kong and frozen that morning. At the first pop that evening I deliver Eddie his Kong into the crate and turn on some music -(Eddie likes Johnny Cash & Patsy Cline). I deliver additional Noisy-Snacks for outstanding sounds, but otherwise I leave Eddie alone.
He usually has some soft stool the next day (either from the stress of the food, I'm not sure) and is on-edge for about a week. Still that's a small price to pay. If your dog panics because of loud noises, please plan to spend some time to make arrangements to help them cope with the fireworks. Take special care to make sure they are safe indoors. Too many dogs are hurt and injured each year when they panic and try to escape the scary storm of booming, popping, whizzing noises. In particularly bad cases, anti-anxiety medication can usually be prescribed by your veterinarian.
HOPEFUL FOR A HAPPY FOURTH
