sleeping dog

Why do Dogs Sleep so much?

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Does your dog spend a good deal of the day with his head on a pillow? Dogs tend to spend 50 percent of the day snoozing, 30 percent awake but lying around, and 20 percent being active.

Dog’s Age and Size

On average, dogs spend about 12-to-14 hours of the 24-hour cycle sleeping. Older dogs need significant amounts of sleep simply because, as they age, living becomes more difficult. Puppies, like babies, spend a lot of time exhausting energy while playing and exploring their new surroundings. Because of this, they might need as much as 18-to-20 hours of sleep but it tends to be the bigger breeds that are known for constant dozing.

Breed Activity Level

The amount of sleep dogs need also depends on what they are bred to do. For instance, it’s necessary for working dogs to stay awake because of the physical and mental demands they face each day. Dogs that lead more sedentary lifestyles, however, will spend most of the day doing whatever they want (i.e. sleeping).

Life Changes in Your Dog

As is the case for humans, if dogs experience any sudden life changes, they are likely to react. Because dogs adapt so well to their original environments, any shift in their usual experiences may affect them. For example, if they experience the death of a companion or a big move. Understandably, dogs may need extra sleep to get their mood and energy level back to normal.

Health

However, if you find that there is a dramatic change in your dog’s sleeping habits or something seems a little off, you might want to consult your veterinarian. Excessive sleep has been linked to conditions such as canine depression, diabetes, and hypothyroidism.

What are Dogs’ Sleeping Patterns?

Dogs’ sleeping patterns are pretty similar to our own. They start out in the slow wave of sleep, during which breathing slows, blood pressure drops, and heart rate decreases. After about 10 minutes, they enter the rapid eye movement (REM) phase and their body might react to dreams. The main difference between our sleep and theirs is the amount of time spent in this stage.

Humans spend up to 25 percent of sleep in REM. Dogs, on the other hand, are only in REM for about 10 percent of their sleep time because of inconsistent sleep schedules.

beautiful kittens

How to be a better Cat Owner

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  1. Choose a good veterinarian and cat sitter.

One of the first things you’ll have to do is find a great veterinarian for your cat, preferably nearby. Ask your cat-owning friends for their local vet recommendations or check vet websites.

Line up a local, loving pet sitter to watch your kitty while you’re away. You can also find an experienced cat sitter to do quick drop-in visits with your new pet, which is especially helpful if you work long hours.

  1. Get your cat’s room ready.

Cats typically need time to warm up to new people and environments so having a space set aside for your new feline family member is important, especially if you have other pets or children in your household.

  1. Be prepared to groom your cat constantly.

You’re going to start seeing cat hair everywhere. All cats need grooming to some extent, so invest in reliable grooming tools.

  1. Clean out their litter box every day.

Litter boxes are convenient, but they can get messy if you don’t clean them out. A simple daily spot cleaning will do the trick and many litter formulas make it easy to scoop and flush any waste down the toilet.

  1. Invest in a scratching post.

Cats need an outlet for their scratching urges, so it’s smart to provide a scratching post. It’s also a great way for cats to exercise and get their daily stretches in.

  1. Know the ingredients in your cat’s food.

Before being enticed to buy the cat, food featured in adorable commercials, take a moment to read the ingredients list. Many of these massive consumer branded cat foods include preservatives, like BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin, and filler ingredients, like meat by-products, meat meal, and cornmeal.

  1. Remember, you can train your cat.

Positive reinforcement is the ideal way to train your cat, and you’d be surprised to find how much they can learn! Don’t punish them for bad behaviour, instead, reward them for behaviour that you want to encourage.

If your cat seems stressed, visit your veterinarian to make sure nothing is wrong medically.

  1. Get your cat some fun toys.

Cats love playing with toys! From little felt mice to balls with tiny bells on them, there are plenty of toys out there. They’ll enjoy it just as much you will.

 

 

 

 

naughty cat

Top tips to be a better Cat Owner

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  1. Choose a good veterinarian and cat sitter.

One of the first things you’ll have to do is find a great veterinarian for your cat, preferably nearby. Ask your cat-owning friends for their local vet recommendations or check vet websites.

Line up a local, loving pet sitter to watch your kitty while you’re away. You can also find an experienced cat sitter to do quick drop-in visits with your new pet, which is especially helpful if you work long hours.

  1. Get your cat’s room ready.

Cats typically need time to warm up to new people and environments so having a space set aside for your new feline family member is important, especially if you have other pets or children in your household.

  1. Be prepared to groom your cat constantly.

You’re going to start seeing cat hair everywhere. All cats need grooming to some extent, so invest in reliable grooming tools.

  1. Clean out their litter box every day.

Litter boxes are convenient, but they can get messy if you don’t clean them out. A simple daily spot cleaning will do the trick and many litter formulas make it easy to scoop and flush any waste down the toilet.

  1. Invest in a scratching post.

Cats need an outlet for their scratching urges, so it’s smart to provide a scratching post. It’s also a great way for cats to exercise and get their daily stretches in.

 

 

  1. Know the ingredients in your cat’s food.

Before being enticed to buy the cat, food featured in adorable commercials, take a moment to read the ingredients list. Many of these massive consumer branded cat foods include preservatives, like BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin, and filler ingredients, like meat by-products, meat meal, and cornmeal.

  1. Remember, you can train your cat.

Positive reinforcement is the ideal way to train your cat, and you’d be surprised to find how much they can learn! Don’t punish them for bad behaviour, instead, reward them for behaviour that you want to encourage.

If your cat seems stressed, visit your veterinarian to make sure nothing is wrong medically.

  1. Get your cat some fun toys.

Cats love playing with toys! From little felt mice to balls with tiny bells on them, there are plenty of toys out there. They’ll enjoy it just as much you will.

 

 

 

huskie dog

Top Tips to be a better Dog Owner

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Tip 1: Pick the right dog

Start off your great dog owner’s journey by picking a canine that best fits you and your lifestyle.

Never buy a dog on an impulse. Evaluate pros and cons, and examine your lifestyle, work and personal commitments, daily physical activity, and, of course, finances.

Tip 2: Never hit them

From the training perspective as well as humane perspective, this is never an appropriate thing to do.

Regardless of how irritated you get at your dog, hitting will never solve your problem. What you will get out of this is a dog who’s afraid of you. Instead, teach them and train them while simultaneously practicing patience and compassion.

Tip 3: Play more with them

Don’t be a couch potato yourself and take them out for a fun game of fetch.

Remember that even older dogs want to have some decent quality time with their owner, kill three birds with one stone by combining longer walks, playing games, and meeting other dog owners into one 1-hour session a couple of times a week.

Tip 4: Supply better dog food

Be honest when evaluating the kind of dog food you give to your pal and if possible, don’t skimp on it.

Is your dog getting all the nutrients s/he needs from the kibble or canned food you provide?  If it’s the super cheap stuff and you cannot afford anything more expensive on a daily basis, maybe treat them to a premium quality food on certain occasions. And don’t forget about healthy dog treats.

Tip 5: Give them their own space

Dogs love to have their own place.

The great thing about dogs is that they won’t mind sleeping anywhere and they don’t complain. Dogs really like to know there’s always something that belongs to them: it could be just a small mat in the corner of your living room. Anything will do.

Tip 6: Brush their teeth

80% of dogs develop oral diseases by the time they’re 3 years old.

If a dog develops any kind of oral disease as a result of poor dental hygiene, there’s a chance that your dog’s heart, kidneys, and liver might also become seriously affected. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly and giving good quality chew bones is extremely beneficial.

 

 

Brought to you by Carl & Patricia Cautley

Affordable Super Premium Pet Food

Tel. 089-602 6096

www.hussed15.ie

carl@hussed15.ie

patricia@hussed15.ie

cute puppy

Top 5 Tips to teach your Puppy

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Tip 1 – Aloneness:

Dogs are natural social animals and if left in the wild they would form packs with hierarchy and intensive interaction. To avoid separation or isolation anxiety in your pup, introduce them to “aloneness” gradually. When at home, create a bed for them as a safe space. Slowly increase your distance and the length of time you leave them alone, until they are calm and relaxed on their own.

Tip 2 – House-training:

Puppies need to go to the toilet more often than adult dogs; 0 to 2 months 2-3 hours, every additional month add 1 hour and 6 months + 6 – 8 hours. Always take your puppy out for potty time after the following events: 1. Right after a meal 2. Immediately after sleep and after a playtime session. Always praise them for going to the toilet outside and never punish for a potty accident.

Tip 3 – Chewing:

Puppy’s love to chew but before you give them the freedom of the house, they must learn what is allowed and what is not. Have plenty of chewable items at hand until you discover what they like. Endorse toy play and gently chastise house items that are completely out of bounds.

Tip 4 – Learning should be fun:

The best way to train your puppy is to make the process fun and positive. Along with treats, incorporate happy tones and toys. Your pup’s eyes should light up with joy when you tell them it is training time.

Tip 5 – Fast recall:

Teaching your puppy to come when called is probably the single most important behaviour you can teach your dog. A dog who has a solid recall can be given more freedom to run and play in areas where dogs are allowed off the lead.

The key is to a use a recall cue that always means “something good”, such as a chance to play or a high value activity. Conversely, never use the cue to do something they don’t love, like giving them a pill, treating their ears or putting them in a carry cage.

A positive approach is the “run-away, come” technique. Call the dog and then run away fast, so the dog comes galloping and romping after you and gets to celebrate with treats and/or toys when they catch up with you. The puppy learns that the  come” is an irresistible invitation to play the chase game.

Brought to you by Carl & Patricia Cautley

Affordable Super Premium Pet Food
Tel. 089-602 6096
carl@hussed15.ie
patricia@hussed15.ie