Making sure your dog is not overweight means you have to keep control of the portions of pet food he eats and exercise your pet.

Obese dogs can lose weight easily by following a stricter pet diet and exercise plan.

A dog weight management plan can be adapted to fit in with your working day.

Take your pet to your local veterinary surgeon who will let you know the ideal pet weight for your breed of dog.

Feed your dog a premium dog food. Choose a food which has quality meat and vitamins listed on their labels.

Pet dog food for a puppy, adult and senior dogs have the correct amount of meat, proteins and carbohydrates added to them to keep dogs healthy at different stages of their lives.

Dog products at Ideas-4-Pets are aimed at keeping your dog healthy and comfortable.

As your dog grows older he or she may need a different dog bed. One of the popular dog beds we provide for dogs who have aching joints is an orthopaedic dog bed.

We have heated dog beds and of course a huge range of dog beds in different sizes and materials to suit all breeds.

Other dog products are available for your pet including dog grooming products and dog bedding.

At Ideas-4-Pets we are open seven days a week and our staff will help you to choose the correct dog product for your pet.

We at Ideas-4-Pets pride ourselves in being able to supply everything from dog beds, dog bedding and dog products.

One essential item for your puppy is a dog bed or dog cage. A dog cage is an item which is portable and can be used as a den for your puppy and has a training toll.

If you are taking your puppy in a car you can use the dog cage to keep him safe, and this is especially useful on long journeys. Dog bedding is available for dog cages to keep your puppy comfortable

Dog beds come in different materials, patterns and sizes to accommodate all breeds of dogs.

When your puppy comes home he will require a variety of dog products, including food and water bowls. Food bowls and water bowls should be heavy so your puppy will not be able to spill the contents all over the floor.

Other dog products your new pet will need are a puppy collar, puppy lead, comb, brush and puppy shampoo.

At Ideas-4-Pets, we have a wide range of dog training products and dog training tools for all breeds of dogs.

Our staff at Ideas-4-Pets are trained to give advice and answer any questions you may have regarding the care of your new pet.

Comfort, safety and minimal stress

Small pet carriers are essentials for travelling with pets. Not all pets are happy to travel and they become nervous and stressed. Even a trip to the vet may distress your pet so it is best to have your small pet carrier ready and everything inside it that your specific pet will need. People often refer to small pet carriers as portable pet kennels because of their functional design.

Also, small pet carriers are useful for confining a cat or small dog during transportation, so they are incredibly versatile. A small pet carrier is a non-negotiable item when preparing to travel by air with your small pet.

We have a specially designed carriers for airline travelling that houses your pet in comfort for the journey. It is important to know that you are not harming your pet or being unkind when you put them inside a small pet carrier when you travel anywhere with your pet. In fact you are keeping your pet safe from harm and in a comfortable environment.

It’s generally thought that most dogs feel sick due to stress rather than because of the movement of the car and in fact I read somewhere that a dog’s most powerful memory is that of a car taking it away from its mother and siblings and so from a very young age, a dog may feel very vulnerable, unhappy and insecure when travelling.  I don’t know how true this is and it’s not to say that some dogs don’t genuinely suffer from car sickness and motion sickness.

If you want to help prevent your dog from feeling car sick, it’s really important that your dog starts to associate car journeys with positive, happy things rather than unhappy and scary things.  To do this, you will have to acclimatise your dog to car travel slowly.

Start off by putting him in the car but don’t take him anywhere - he needs to first get used to the idea of just being in the car.  Make sure that the car is well ventilated and leave him in there for short periods of time, gradually increasing the time he is left there for up to about 30 minutes.

If you intend to put your dog in the back of the car when he’s travelling, then purchase a good quality dog guard before you start the exercise so that he is used to travelling in this particular part of the vehicle.  It is of course safer for both you and your dog if you can put him behind a dog guard as this ensures he is safe and secure and also prevents him from being sick all over your seats !! 

Ensure your dog is comfortable - a good idea is to place his favourite dog bed and maybe some toys into the area so that he has a place to rest or sleep during this period.  Treats to eat aren’t a good idea for a dog who tends to feel sick !! 

After about a week of putting him in the car for short periods, start to take your dog on very short journeys of about 5-10 minutes and at the end of the journey reward him with either an exciting walk or a ball game or a treat of some kind.

Gradually lengthen the time of your journeys up to about half an hour and if your dog is sick during this time, then reduce the length of the journey so that it ends before they are sick and start to build the journey times up again.  If you can take a friend or relative in the car with you, then get them to talk to your dog so that you can concentrate on your driving and they can gently talk to your dog to reassure him and help him feel calm and secure.

When you are confident that your dog is able to do a 30 minute car journey without stress, anxiety or sickness, then you are ready to embark on longer car journeys.

A good tip is to make sure that your dog has an empty stomach before you place him in the car.  Make sure he doesn’t eat anything for 3 to 4 hours prior to to the journey.  Some vets also recommend limiting your dog’s water intake just before travelling, but in any case, make sure that he empties his bladder before you set off.
 
If your dog is still prone to some car sickness, take it slowly and carefully round bends and up and down hills as this could exacerbate the problem for him.
 
Fresh air does wonders for animals that have a tendency to get car sick so open the window a bit so that he can breathe this in.  Remember as well that dogs can’t regulate their body temperatures as efficiently as we can, so make sure it isn’t too hot or too cold in the car. Some dogs are find looking out of the window, but others can feel sick when they realise the car is moving, so you might want to consider keeping your dog safe and secure in a car dog cage or a dog carrier.  Just make sure that if the dog carrier is very enclosed, that your dog doesn’t overheat – a good dog carrier will have good ventilation in it so shouldn’t pose a problem.

One last thing, always be prepared in case your dog does get queasy in the car. Bring plenty of paper towels and bags and don’t play your music too loudly.  If he is sick, be patient with him – shouting at him will only stress him further and put your efforts back to square one. 

For very long journeys, it’s wise to give yourself and your dog a break every two or three hours and take him for a walk in the fresh air.  To avoid him dehydrating, take a good travel dog bowl with you so that he can have a drink of cool water during the break.

Make sure you purchase the correct airline approved pet carrier a good while prior to your journey as your pet will need to get used to the pet carrier well before his journey.

ideas-4-pets recommend the vari kennel as a suitable airline approved pet carrier as it is IATA approved.

Most airlines require a health certificate for any animal they are transporting, whether in the cabin or as an unaccompanied shipment.

Remember that only small dogs and cats can go in the cabin and some airlines may not even allow them in and will transport them as special baggage in a heated and ventilated hold.

Don’t worry, cats and dogs actually travel better this way because it’s quieter and they will rest in a darkened environment.

Contact the airline you have selected to confirm that they accept your pet on the day and flight that you prefer. Some airlines restrict the number of animals on a flight so the more advance notice you give them the better it is. Reconfirm at least 48 hours before departure.

Find out how soon before the flight you have to check in as pets become stressed with all the hustle and bustle at an airport.  Tey to keep waiting time to a minimum. If your pet is allowed in the cabin, check in as late as possible. If it is going in the hold, check in early so that it can go to the baggage area and be put somewhere quiet and dimly lit in order to relax.

IN order to prepare your pet for the journey, reduce the amount of food you feed him the day before but give him enough water; take your dog for a walk before leaving for the airport and again before check-in. A light meal 2 hours before tendering the animal to the carrier will help to calm it and is a legal requirement in the United States. 

If you ship your pet as air freight, check with the airline to ensure the air freight facility is open so your pet may be claimed by the consignee. Note that it is preferable to ship your pet on weekdays as all staff are working and liaison is easier all along the route.

The transport of snub nosed dogs such as boxers, pugs, bulldogs and Pekinese, in hot season, is not recommended as these dogs have difficulty in maintaining a normal body temperature in hot weather.

There are reports of dogs falling out of their owner’s handbags and shoppomg bags – why don’t these owners invest in a proper dog carrier to ensure their pets are safe and secure? Some dogs suffered minor injuries whilst others ended up with broken bones.

Other pets suffered the indignity and pain of being trodden on by their owners or children, with the dog being the most likely pet to be stepped on.  We all know that dogs are curious and love to be at our heels most of the time, but if you have enthusiastic children running around or guests in the house, why not either put your dog in a dog cage or maybe his favourite dog bed in a quiet room so that he is well out of harm’s way.

A small chihuahua was being cradled in the arms of an over-indulgent friend of the owner, when he was dropped from this great height and broke a leg in the fall – apparently he nearly died but was thankfully saved by having a plate and pin put in his leg.  This owner learned the lesson the hard way and has vowed not to let her little dog be picked up again.

Most dog owners will admit to accidentally falling over or treading on their dogs but luckily most dogs see the danger coming and will quickly move before you step on them.  Cats are pretty quick to move when they see you coming, but can be sat on if they are curled up in the corner of an armchair.   Again, perhaps a warm, cozy cat bed is the answer to this dilemma.

Accidental poisoning was another threat and this was mainly giving pets things that could potentially kill them eg. chocolate to dogs, avocados to parrots and various human medications to our pets thinking that it was OK to do this and not realising that what cures us can have very different results in our pets.

One in five pets are injured by running in front of cars – a dog run or cat run allows your pet the freedom of the outdoors but also ensures their safety !!

Thakfully, we owners are not entirely to blame for injuries to our beloved pets.  Dogs will continue to eat things they shouldn’t and the survey reported that one third of injuries to dogs was caused by them jumping off furniture or out of cars.  This last one is always a problem and can cause injury to a dog’s joints.  Investing in a dog ramp is a great idea and dogs can be encouraged to use one of these by placing a few treats on the ramp until your dog feels more secure using it.  Dog ramps also help us owners a great deal as they take all that weight and struggling dog out of out arms and our back !!

Other things reported were a cat who got too close to a lit candle and burnst her whiskers off one side of her head and numerous guinea pigs who were dropped by over-affectionate owners.

Basically, it’s a 3-in-one mobile pet bed system which ensures that your pet feels safe and secure wherever he is.  Used at home, your pet will get used  to the Sleepypod as a cat bed or dog bed and will love the feel of the soft, furry lining which is washable to can be kept clean and fresh. 

If you have to travel with your pet then the Sleepypod allows your pet to travel safely in the comfort of his own bed which is a great stress-reliever for both dogs and cats and even rabbits.  Because the bed has shock absorbing foam walls and a luggage grade ballistic nylon outer shell it is strong and becuase it is supplied with a carrying strap it is easy to transport.

You just wrap your car’s seat belt around the outer shell of the pet carrier & through the top handle and this secures  it safely to the car seat, making it  ideal for alleviating stress when travelling to the vet or visiting friends or even when on holiday.

The pet-safe, non-abrasive mesh top allows your pet to see out (unlike some travelling boxes with limited visibility) so again, he or she will feel much more secure whilst travelling or whilst in the waiting room at the vet’s.

The Sleepypod is available in 6 exciting colours so you’re bound to find one that suits the eye.  It’s not cheap, but it’s a quality product that should last for years to come.  It even has the option of a warmer unit which fits in the bottom of the pod and warms the bed up to keep your pet comfortable and cozy wherever he is !!