Pets
How Archie Moved Into His New Home
I knew that Archie would have a hard time moving to our new home. Archie is my sweet little adopted mutt. He loves routine and our family. He is a little baby that loves constant cuddling. Because of my chronic medical problems, I spend hours each day resting. Archie loves to rest in the recliner with me. Over the months that I spent packing our belongings, Archie was anxious around the packing materials. Any time that I make any changes in his environment I can sense and see that his response is negative. As moving day approached, he became accustomed to the mess. As long as he was getting enough cuddle time he felt safe. Our move was half-way across the country and we spent 3 days making the journey. We rented a moving truck and loaded all our belongings. Unfortunately, I wasn’t physically up to driving our car. We towed it behind the truck and all rode in the cab. Have you ever been in a 26 foot moving truck? The two steps leading up to the door were very far off the ground. I used all the hand rails to help pull me up into the truck. Archie certainly wouldn’t go up the stairs by himself. We lifted him into the truck and he started shaking. He shakes in any auto ride in the first few hours. A few hours after the drive began, he started to calm down. He took turns sitting in my lap or sitting between my son and I. We spent a lot of time talking to him and reassuring him that everything was fine. As soon as we arrived in our new home, Archie was happy to get out of the moving truck. He wouldn’t leave my side and looked very scared. He followed me around and has stayed under foot now for the last few days. I’ve tried to comfort him with the tone of my voice and give him special attention. The first thing I did was to set out his usual food and water bowl in a spot and showed him where it was. He was happy to recognize his usual dishes. He wanted to sniff everything in the new home, and I put out his normal blanket and toys quickly. We brought plenty of his usual dog treats and offered them frequently. It’s also important to take care of Archie’s health needs. I don’t want to wait until he needs some type of treatment to find his new vet. I’ll be contacting a new vet immediately for a check-up. All of Archie’s records will be sent to the new vet so that he’ll know all of his health history. This ensures that nothing will be missed. Here are some of my favorite tips to help Archie with the move: Keep up his routine, as much as possible Bring along his favorite treats and toys Keep his bedding with him, don’t make any changes Speak calmly and reassure him often Share lots of love and cuddles with him Archie will soon be back to his normal anxiety level. I’ll enjoy the time spent with him, because who doesn’t love extra cuddles? @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman
Saving On Your Pet’s Needs
Disclosure: affiliate link is included. Are you an animal lover? You may have one or more pets and you know how expensive owning a pet can be. When I wanted to get a small dog, I wasn’t sure what type of dog I wanted. But, I knew that adoption was the best option for me. When searching for a pet, it’s good to do your research. Since I hadn’t had a dog before, I wanted to learn about breeds. We live in a community that limits pet size and breed. This limited my choices, but I really wanted a small dog anyway. I found a wonderful website, Petfinder, that allowed me to search for adoptable pets in my region. This site was really great, in that they gave a picture and all types of information on the pet. I browsed the site for weeks, looking for a quiet, small dog that needed lots of cuddles. With my allergies, I wanted a dog that didn’t shed too much. There was a funny looking little dog that I kept coming back to on the site. He had a goofy little grin, but the description was what I loved, “Quiet little baby that loves to cuddle”. Wasn’t this exactly what I needed? Yes. So, I set up an appointment to meet the pup at the foster home. He came right to me and let me hold him like a baby. He didn’t bark at all, but just loved being petted. I told the foster mom that I would love to have him. We came back after all the paperwork went through to take Archie home. Buying him through the local humane society was wonderful and saved us a lot of money. The adoption covered his puppy shots, neutering, and micro-chip costs. Archie was perfect from the get-go. Because he was 9 months old and had lived with a family, he was house trained and crate trained. This was marvelous. He has proven to be the best pet I could have ever wanted! Owning a pet isn’t just for a week or two. They need us for their entire life, and there are many needs to attend to. Here are some of the ways I’ve learned to save on pet-care costs: Veterinary Costs – Pets need to be treated by vets for many different reasons. They need preventative care, vaccinations, and possibly emergency care. It’s important to shop around for good, quality care, but at a cost you can afford. We chose a vet that wasn’t too far from our home. It was easy to go online and find all the vets in our area. Most were up front about costs and benefits. You should look for services, hours, emergency hours, discounts on medications, and location. Pet food – There are huge choices in pet food today. It’s up to the pet owner to decide what to spend on pet food. Get the best quality that you can afford. We shop around for the best price on our pet’s food. Compare prices on: grocery stores, Sam’s or Costco, and pet chain stores. Now, you can even get your pet food delivered at home. Some websites offer discounts and free shipping. I found Sam’s Club the cheapest per pound for my dog. Pet supplies: There are many purchases you’ll need for your pet. Do they need a crate or pen? They’ll need food and water bowls, combs or brushes, shampoo, blankets and toys, and more. Shopping around for good quality and cheap prices can take a little time, but it will be worth it. All these things really add up. The best thing to do is to make a list of your pet’s needs, and then compare prices online. I found prices ranging from $1.68 to $49.99 for one bowl! I chose bowls similar to this and they’ve worked well these last two years. Pet medications – 1800 Pet Meds is a site that offers 25% off of pet medications. My vet offers me the cheapest price, after a rebate that I have to send in. When my vet was giving Archie his medications, he told me the price range that I could choose from. He said the ones he recommended all worked the same, but had various prices. I was able to select the lower price. Grooming – All groomers in my area have the same price, which I can’t afford. I bought a set of grooming tools ($25) and do everything at home. My little mutt may not look perfect, but I keep him neat and tangle free. Keeping your pet clean (body, ears, teeth, and nails) and trimmed is the most important thing. We have had him professionally groomed a few times and gotten his anal glands cleaned. Watch Youtube videos to learn how to do many chores at home. Exercise is free and helps to keep your pet healthy and at a healthy weight. A pet who gets regular exercise will also be happier, calmer, and sleep better. If you don’t have a yard for pet play, locate a local dog park. The most important thing is that you and your pet are happy. Pets bring so much joy to our lives! Enjoy your pet and take great care of them. But, don’t overspend when you don’t need to. @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman
Let Furhaven Fill Your Stocking
Affiliate link included. Does your dog’s bed look worn out? Archie really “loved” his bed when he was a younger pup. He loved it to death. He’s also outgrown his soft little bed. I think Christmas might be the perfect time to give him a new bed! Furhaven Pet Products, Inc. I’m thrilled to find the choices at FurHaven Pet Products. The prices look reasonable and I love that they offer so many things for pet owners. The choices in beds is huge: Sofa beds, waterproof beds, Orthopedic beds, Memory Top beds, beds that fit in crates…..What to choose? Pet Bed Sale! 20% off Limited time only using code “Pet20” The Memory Top Comfy Couch with Faux Fur looks perfect for Archie! He loves soft things and he can cuddle up to the “arm rests” surrounding the couch. Wow! Which bed would suit your dog? Does your dog or cat like to snuggle under the covers? They would love the Snuggery Burrow Bed! It has removable/washable covers and comes in different colors. It also comes in sizes for large or small pets. Some pets like to snuggle with blankets and would like the hood effect. Others would prefer the hood up. The beds come with a plastic hoop to add, if your pet likes the hood up. FurHaven has really thought of everything. Now, if you have a cat and would like to keep them busy, you might select a cat house. FurHaven has so many cat houses to select. They have cat hammocks, cat playgrounds, scratchers, and window-perches. Check out the Deluxe Playground for Cats with IQ Busy Box! Here’s the Hammock I love the accessories at Furhaven. The Safety LED Light-Up Collar is just one of my new favorites. The collar will be great for winter months, when it gets dark so early. The Collar comes in four different colors and four different sizes! You’ll find one for any dog. Another product that would be helpful for traveling or any time, is the Water Bottle with Dish. I would love to have this in the car when Archie gets thirsty. No more spills with this Water bottle. It comes in four great colors, too. Do you use plastic fencing to block certain rooms from your pet? Why not upgrade with beautiful fencing that extends to 48″ and really improves your home decor. There are two choices: pecan or mahogany. There are so many wonderful products for your pets at FurHaven. See if there’s something that you want to put in your pet’s stocking this Christmas. Shop Here – Furhaven Pet Products, Inc. Save 20% on all Pet Beds for a limited time with Code: Pet20 @2017, copyright Lisa Ehrman