{"id":313,"date":"2018-03-30T15:01:56","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T15:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=313"},"modified":"2018-03-30T15:01:56","modified_gmt":"2018-03-30T15:01:56","slug":"april-2018-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/april-2018-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2018 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a Reason Adoption is the Best Option When it Comes to Pets<\/a>
\nHow to Find the Right Trainer for You and Your Dog<\/a>
\nPuzzles and Games Help Pets Break Free from Boredom or Anxiety<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>There\u2019s a Reason Adoption is the Best Option When it Comes to Pets <\/strong>
\nYou\u2019re ready to get a new pet and bring him into your home. You can adopt a pet from a shelter or local animal rescue, or buy one from a store or breeder. So, what\u2019s best?<\/p>\n

There\u2019s many reasons to adopt instead of buy. Here are some to make you think and help you make the right decision.<\/p>\n

When you adopt a pet, you actually save a life, according to the article, \u201cTop Reasons to Adopt a Pet\u201d at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) website. \u201cEach year, 2.7 million adoptable dogs and cats are euthanized in the United States, simply because too many pets come into shelters and too few people consider adoption when looking for a pet,\u201d the article said. Adoption helps reduce the number of those having to be euthanized.<\/p>\n

According to the HSUS article, other reasons include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Numerous happy and healthy pets are waiting for a great home.
\n\u2022 Adoption costs typically include spay\/neuter, vaccinations and sometimes a microchip.
\n\u2022 Many shelter pets come housetrained.
\n\u2022 You can \u201cfeel proud about helping an animal in need!\u201d the HSUS article said.<\/p>\n

The cost of buying a pet from a breeder or pet store can be pretty high, from \u201c$500 to $1,000 or more,\u201d according to the article, \u201cReasons to Adopt a Pet\u201d at BestFriends.org. Other reasons include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Rescue groups often know some history of the pet, according to the Best Friends article, and can \u201chelp you through the familiarization period because they are invested in providing a good home for that animal.\u201d
\n\u2022 Adoption means you\u2019re saving an actual life.
\n\u2022 When you adopt, you can choose from puppies to seniors or kittens to older cats. There\u2019s an adoptable pet for everyone.<\/p>\n

You will get back tenfold when you adopt a rescue animal who will be forever grateful to you.<\/p>\n

<\/a>How to Find the Right Trainer for You and Your Dog <\/strong>
\nYou have a new puppy who needs some training, or maybe your older dog needs some extra help. You need a professional dog trainer, but how do you find the right one?<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201c8 Tips For Choosing A Good Dog Trainer\u201d at iheartdogs.com, \u201cdog training isn\u2019t cheap and you don\u2019t want to waste your money or your time.\u201d The article offers the following tips:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Check for a trainer\u2019s certification. Although it\u2019s not actually necessary, \u201cit\u2019s best to look for those that have taken the time and money to become a true professional through schooling and\/or certification,\u201d the article said.
\n\u2022 Ensure your chosen trainer is up on the latest techniques.
\n\u2022 Ask about methods used and make sure the trainer explains things clearly.
\n\u2022 Ensure that you feel comfortable with the methods.
\n\u2022 Do your own research about the latest in training techniques.
\n\u2022 Ask the trainer if you can watch a class to assess the work.
\n\u2022 You and your dog should be comfortable with the trainer.<\/p>\n

Additionally, make sure the dogs in a training class are having fun, according to the article, \u201cHow to Find a Good Dog Trainer,\u201d at Petfinder.com. A good training class will welcome family members to attend. Location is important as well. \u201cGates and doors should be latched and closed,\u201d the article said. \u201cThe floors should be free of debris, and supplies should be provided for clean-up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make sure the tools being used include head halters, toys, harnesses, and that the trainer uses lots of praising. \u201cTools you don\u2019t want to see include electronic collars, prong collars, choke collars and flexi-leads,\u201d the Petfinder article said. Also make sure there is no physical punishment whatsoever.<\/p>\n

Remember that the right trainer will always make sure your pet is safe and that your pet\u2019s health comes first.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Puzzles and Games Help Pets Break Free from Boredom or Anxiety <\/strong>
\nAll dogs are not created equal. Just like people, each dog is different with a distinct personality. There also are pets who get bored easily while others suffer from separation anxiety. For these dogs you can help \u2026 with puzzles!<\/p>\n

Some dogs who are bored \u201cinvent their own entertainment,\u201d according to the article, \u201c10 of the Best Interactive Puzzles and Games for Your Bored Dog\u201d at This Dog\u2019s Life. That can sometimes mean dogs chewing things, such as shoes or clothes or getting into the garbage.<\/p>\n

Games and puzzles can help keep your dog out of the garbage and into something stimulating.<\/p>\n

\u201cDifferent personalities and breeds may dictate the most successful puzzle or game choice,\u201d the article said. \u201cWhile some of these are safe for home-alone activity, most toys require supervision while your dog is using them.\u201d The following can help:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Omega Paw Tricky Treat Ball is durable but soft with no sharp openings. \u201cYour dog rolls the ball around, and the treats fall out,\u201d the article said. It\u2019s great for \u201ctough chewers\u201d and is quiet.
\n\u2022 Trixie Activity Flip Board Interactive Dog Toy is two treats in one. It is a treat puzzle and real puzzle. \u201cYour dog has to slide open compartments, flip levers, and lift out cones (they can\u2019t be knocked over) to get at the treats,\u201d the article said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ubiquitous Classic Kong is a great beginner puzzle toy to ease your dog into using their problem-solving skills,\u201d according to the article, \u201c6 Best Puzzle Toys For Dogs: Keep Spot Engaged!\u201d at K9 of Mine. Fill up the Kong with kibble or peanut butter, and be sure to watch over your dog as he plays and gets to the treat inside.<\/p>\n

Remember, it\u2019s always best to supervise your dog with puzzles that might pose a choking hazard.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a Reason Adoption is the Best Option When it Comes to Pets How to Find the Right Trainer for You and Your Dog Puzzles and Games Help Pets Break Free from Boredom or Anxiety There\u2019s a Reason Adoption is the Best Option When it Comes to Pets You\u2019re ready to get a new pet… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":314,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313\/revisions\/314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}