Pet Bucket Blog

Puppies are cute, fluffy, floppy and so much fun! Nobody will need any persuading to play with a puppy, but there are games that will help your young dog develop into a well-behaved and active mature dog. Importance of play Play is important for your puppy’s physical and mental development. Through play and exploration, your puppy learns about the world. It teaches them proper socialisation and acceptable behaviour, eliminates boredom and destructive behaviours and is a fantastic opportunity for you to bond with your pet.  Playtime is also a great time to train your puppy basic obedience.   By three weeks of age, puppies start to exhibit play actions like pouncing, chasing, shaking objects, tugging, play wrestling, fighting and biting.   Social play can be with people and children, other puppies, calm older dogs or other animals. This type of play is important for socialisation and will give your puppy positive experiences and teaches them correct, or incorrect, behaviours. Socialisation is best done during your puppy's first four months. Object play includes games such as fetch, tug-of-war, ball-play and toys.   Image credit   Things to remember Puppies tire easily so limit playtime to short bursts of 10-15 minutes with lots of rest in between. Be gentle with your puppy as their bones, joints and bodies are still developing. Do not force your puppy to run, or chase them. Until their joints are fully formed, your puppy can be injured easily. Play a variety of games for mental stimulation, and provide them with a mix of appropriate toys both pacifier/chew toys and interactive toys like squeaky, puzzle and tug toys.  Reward your puppy’s correct behaviour and success with lots of affection, encouragement and occasional treats. Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. Don’t encourage aggressive behaviour or for your puppy to bite, chew or paw at your clothing, hands, face or any part of your body.  Do not over-excite your puppy and always speak with a firm and calm voice. Play fights and biting are normal behaviour for young puppies. They will also bark and growl. Stop play immediately if aggressive behaviour occurs. Signs of aggression include; long low growling, stiff posture, direct stares, snarling and showing teeth and prolonged biting.  Play ideas for your puppy  It’s the perfect time to begin, or reinforce, basic training and obedience during play. Commands such as sit, stay, come, drop and fetch are perfect to incorporate into games. You can also begin leash and muzzle training at this early stage. Give your puppy a large ball to push around. It’s simple and they will... well, have a ball doing it. Puzzle toys will keep your puppy occupied and provide mind activity.  Make your puppy an outdoor or indoor obstacle course with boxes, pillows, tunnels, ramps, steps and holes to climb over or jump through. Take your puppy for short walks in different locations and environments such as streets, parks, rivers, beaches, friends’ backyards and anywhere local councils allow dogs. This will not only be exciting for your puppy who will love all the new sights and smells, but will also encourage interaction with other people and other dogs. Puppies love to play hide and seek and this game will teach them to use their smell, hearing and hunting skills. If your puppy will sit and stay, you can get them to do so while you hide, or someone else can hold the puppy while you hide. Once hidden, call to the puppy to come. You can also hide a toy or treat for them to seek out. Swimming is a great activity tor your puppy as it teaches confidence in the water and provides exercise with no danger of injuring developing joints. Take them to a pool or calm body of water i.e. nowhere with waves or a current. Use an approved life-vest for your puppy until they learn how to swim and are competent. Get in the water with them and if in a pool, teach them where to safely get in and out. Never leave ANY dog alone in water. Your puppy will love to play fetch. Choose a light toy or ball (don’t use sticks as these can splinter and injure your puppy), throw it a short distance then encourage your puppy to bring it back to you. As time passes, the distance you throw the object should become larger. Pupples enjoy tug-of-war but care needs to be taken when playing tugging games. Do not pull hard as you can hurt your puppy and stop if the game turns rough.    Image credit   Feature image credit

The key to any good owner-dog relationship rests in the hierarchy of the family pack. Dogs are pack animals and rely upon the guidance of an alpha dog to lead the group. In the absence of a dominant character, your dog may assume this mantle and become aggressive. On the other end of the spectrum, dogs that become too submissive may fall in line and listen, but do so at the cost of emotional health.   Is your dog overly submissive? What are the warning signs you can look for, and more importantly, how can you help your submissive dog regain some confidence? The following tips will help you restore balance in your submissive dog's life and create better emotional stability.   Causes of submissive behavior There are numerous factors that can lead your dog to become too submissive. It could be a situational trigger that leads to submission, or it could be an item or individual. Fear of strangers is a common problem in submissive dogs. This is more common, but not unique to, smaller dog breeds. These breeds are naturally shy compared to other breeds, and that shyness can turn to submission with little effort.   Interactions with overly aggressive animals or individuals can also create an extreme state of submission in your dog. Events that trigger this kind of submission include aggressive behavior (growling, showing teeth, etc.) from other dogs or aggressive verbal tones from humans. Physical and verbal abuse from humans can also trigger submission in dogs.   Age is another factor in submissive behavior. As dog's age, they are not able to react as quickly to situations. This can lead to a reflex behavior of submission in an attempt to display a nonaggressive attitude.   Signs of an overly submissive dog There are a number of common signs that show a dog has become too submissive. Many of these signs are noticeable in dogs that are submissive, regardless of the root cause. Whether a dog fears a certain situation or has a fear of people because of physical abuse in its past, the warning signs are the same.   Common warning signs of an overly submissive dog include, but are not limited to, the following: Hiding: An overly submissive dog may choose to hide when faced with a frightening situation. Examples of this include hiding behind you when meeting a new dog, or hiding under furniture in the home when strangers enter the house. Wetting: A common reaction in many submissive dogs is a loss of bladder control. The fear elicited from a certain situation may lead the dog to lose control of its bladder spontaneously. Additionally, when a situation creates fear in a dog it may urinate somewhere it believes it can hide the deed. This action in itself is an attempt to hide the behavior for fear of retaliation for urinating in the home. Body language: Another easily spotted key is body language. Dogs that become too submissive will lower their heads, put their tail between their legs, and/or lie down and try to bury their head as low as possible.   Preventing & coping with submissive behavior The type of submissive behavior your dog exhibits, and the specific triggers that result in that submission, will determine the course of action you should take to help them cope. For example, a dog with a fear of certain places or situations needs a reward-based approach to cope. Slowly allow your dog to adjust to a new or fearful place by playing with it in that space, offering rewards for good behavior and a playful attitude.   Create personal space in your home to offer your dog a place to call its own. This personal space can serve as a coping mechanism as your dog adjusts to its fears. While it is free to venture out and test the waters around new individuals or other animals, it will know it has its own place in the home to retreat to for relaxation or quiet.   Most importantly, always work to socialize your dog with other animals and people from a young age. The more time your dog spends around others, the more likely it is that it will not develop fears in the first place.   Preventing fear and submission in dogs relies on trust and confidence. Take time each day to help your dog adjust to new surroundings, conquer fears, and play with others. This will build trust between you and your pet, and will provide it with the confidence to tackle situations and places that once created a sense of fear. Feature image credit  

Animal lovers that own dogs are often familiar with possessive behavior when it comes to the food dish. Dogs that guard their food dish often have food insecurities and can lash out aggressively at those who come near the food. Cats have similar possessive behaviors. Not only are cats known to guard their food trays, it is also common for cats to guard the litter box.   It may seem silly to imagine a cat guarding a litter box, but in reality it is a resource that the cat is trying to protect. Recognizing this behavior and taking steps to prevent it is particularly important for cat owners with children in the home, as well as other cats. Below you will find some helpful information to tackle this commonly missed behavior.   Why cats guard resources Resource guarding is a natural behavior in all animals. It stems from an insecurity over the availability of necessary items in life, such as food, water, and (in the case of cats) a litter box. Dogs react to other dogs or people approaching their food dish if they fear that it will be taken away or if they view the food as their possession. Cats can react in the same way to a food dish or litter box. However, unlike dogs, the outward signals of litter box guarding may not be so obvious.   Also, keep in mind that with more cats in your home there will be a sense of competition among the animals for resources. This can increase resource guarding or lead to the development of this behavior in cats that have a dominant attitude in the home.   Why guard the litter box? Your cat may guard the litter box for the same reason that animals guard their food. That litter box belongs to it and it does not want to share that litter box with other cats. Your cat won't likely sit in the litter box to guard it, in a way that dogs would hover over their bowl while eating to guard the food. Instead, cats will stand guard somewhere near by to deter would-be intruders from using their litter box. While this may not seem like a threat to humans, it can in fact prove dangerous for children and adults in the home. For example, with a litter box in the laundry room and an on-guard cat, you may suffer the wrath of the cat if you make your way to the room to switch loads.   The cat isn't afraid of you doing the laundry, but it does associate your movement to the room as a threat to its resource.   Identifying and preventing resource guarding As just mentioned, the most common resource guarding sign is a cat that stands guard. Litter boxes are commonly placed in laundry rooms in many homes. Cats don't necessarily hang out in the room all day, but they will lounge in the hallway that leads to the room. This subtle sign is meant to show intruders (humans or other cats) that the litter box belongs to them and it will be guarded.   If you have multiple cats in your home, the best thing you can do to avoid litter box guarding is to use multiple litter boxes. Asking multiple cats to share one litter box is likely to create resource guarding and tension. However, placing multiple litter boxes in the same room still creates a potential problem. If that room has just one narrow access point, such as a long hallway, the dominant cat can still guard the room by lounging in the hallway.   Place multiple litter boxes around your home so that one cat cannot guard all of the litter boxes. If you have a one-cat home and still have an issue with litter box guarding, consider placing the litter box in an area of the home the cat cannot so easily guard. This means placing the box in an area that isn't accessible only through one doorway and/or a narrow hallway. Feature image credit

Anyone that grew up during the 1980s is familiar with the feature film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The hilarious seasonal comedy contains an infamous scene during which a cat drags the lights off the Christmas tree and under a couch. The cat eventually chews the wire, cutting power in the house for a moment, and electrocuting itself.   This may have been a movie, but in reality cats are known to chew through wires. This not only puts the cat at risk, but puts everyone in the house at risk should a short circuit cause a fire in the home. As a responsible cat owner, it is important to prevent your cat from chewing on wires. What is the best way to prevent this behavior in your cat?   1. Conceal cords Many new parents are obsessed with baby proofing a new home. The same could be said of bringing home pets. The most obvious solution to this problem is to hide the object of obsession. Electronics retailers and home-improvement stores sell hollow tubing that you can use to cover cords. Many of these products are made of hard plastic and will deter your cats from chewing on wires in the first place. If your cat already has this obsession, the tubing will remove it from sight, and hopefully from its mind.   It is a good idea to keep an eye on the situation if your cat already has the habit though, just to ensure that it isn't chewing through the tubing and continuing to chew wires. This could not only cause damage to the wires, but also your cat's teeth.   2. Redirect chewing energy The average cat toy available today is designed to prevent boredom and deter scratching habits that can damage furniture and fixtures in the home. Dogs, on the other hand, are often provided with toys to relieve chewing obsessions and help with excessive chewing energy. Some of these dog toys may actually help your cat by redirecting its chewing obsession onto something other than wires.   One good example is a rubber chew bone. There are multiple examples available from retailers, but any rubber chew toy with nubs on it should do the trick. The nubs give your cat a physical sensation from chewing, without the destructive results of a chewing on wires. Additionally, the nubs can help clean its teeth. One note though: purchase a small chew toy. Your cat's mouth is not as large as the average dog. Purchase a small enough chew toy for your cat to actually chew on.   3. Prevent boredom Another obvious solution is to prevent boredom by purchasing toys for your cat that are enjoyable to play with. Chewing on wires is often a sign of boredom. Prevent this by buying your cat a new climbing house and scratching post to give it a fun place to roam.   4. Visit your vet It is not common, but your cat could be chewing on wires because it has a health condition with its teeth or gums. Cats will seek out anything to chew on, including wires, when they are suffering from an issue with a tooth or gum discomfort such as that created by gingivitis.   5. DO NOT use sprays A common solution to chewing issues with dogs includes the use of bitter sprays. While this could be a solution for cat, you need to exercise caution in using sprays. The idea is to create a negative association with chewing on cords, but many bitter apply sprays contain herbal extracts that pose a health risk to your cat. It would take a lot of the spray to negatively impact your cat's health, but stubborn cats that fight through the taste could suffer as a result. Feature image credit

Many owners are lucky enough to have a dog that simply adores them; however, sometimes these dogs have the notion that no one else should love their owner. Jealous dogs can act out in some alarming ways when they watch their owner getting attention from someone else. Their jealousy may be coupled with feelings of territoriality. It can be difficult for owners to help their dog get over negative feelings of jealousy, but there are some ways to deal with the situation.     Jealousy and dogs It's first important for dog owners to realize that jealousy is a genuine emotion for dogs. In fact, U.S. researchers recently determined that dogs do get jealous; at least, their behavior can certainly alter-much like babies and toddlers-when their owner is getting attention from or giving attention to something or someone else. Apparently, jealousy isn't breed-specific either. The study examined jealousy responses in breeds like chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers, and even mixed breeds. In fact, researchers preferred to work with smaller breeds as they were easier to subdue than large breeds displaying jealous tendencies.   How do jealous dogs react? Many jealous dogs will growl, bark, or even bite when their jealousy is triggered. Dogs may jump and try to get between the owner and the offending party. Sometimes dogs' reactions can be quite dangerous. On the other hand, sometimes the dog merely tries to encourage attention for itself by rubbing up against the owner's hands or trying to displace the other object of their owner's affection. Some dogs may even show signs of depression because of their feelings of jealousy.   Dealing with a jealous dog Experts suggest that it's important for owners to recognize if their dog is merely being territorial or truly jealous. The dog may actually feel like it's protecting its owner-which is not quite the same thing as jealousy. Understanding the dog's motivation (as best as is humanly possible) can better help dog owners solve this behavioral problem.   If you invite company to your home and your dog begins to show signs of jealousy, it's a good idea to leave the room with your dog. Reassure it with some petting and attention, but you certainly don't want to risk your dog nipping at your guest. Once your dog calms down, you might reintroduce it to the situation; however, you need to carefully gauge your dog's response to company and its level of discomfort. Some dogs may merely be caught off guard initially when a guest arrives, however, if the dog continues to be perturbed by company, it may be better to let the dog cool off outside.   Once company leaves, owners can reassure their dog by spending some quality time with their pet. Of course, owners should not tolerate negative behaviors in dogs like jealousy. By removing the dog from the situation, you reinforce the idea that its behavior is not going to be tolerated. It may take some training, but it is possible to curb this tendency.     Jealousy, like aggression, can be a difficult trait for owners to cope with so obedience training may help. If you can't manage with your dog's jealous streak yourself or it disrupts life in your home, consult your veterinarian or an obedience trainer for more specific help for your pet. Feature image credit

When it comes to cats and babies, there are lots of opinions. The fact is there are also many variables. For instance, it sometimes makes a difference which comes into the home first-the cat or the baby. The age of the cat may influence the relationship between the cat and baby and, of course, the overall temperament of the cat. Introducing any animal to a small child must be accompanied by adult supervision at all times. If you are contemplating life with a baby and a cat, the following information can help you navigate the ensuing relationship.   Understanding the risks The most common fear associated with cats and babies is that the cat may smother the infant if allowed within the baby's crib. Fortunately, this is not something that occurs often, with barely any cases of this happening reported. However, the fact is, it's not sanitary for a cat to sleep with an infant and a cat that wants to cozy up to an infant could, in theory, snuggle up too closely to the baby's face. Still, it seems that cats don't pose any more risk to an infant than a dog or even another young sibling.   Reducing the risks The main way to reduce any risk that a cat may harm an infant is to keep both under adult supervision and to prevent the cat from sleeping in the baby's room. Many parents, particularly when their infant is newly born, purchase crib nets for their baby's crib to prevent cats from hopping into it. For more lively cats, other measures may be useful. For instance, parents might want to remove the door to the baby's bedroom and replace it with a screen door. This allows parents to listen for the baby while still maintaining a barrier for the cat. In addition, parents can keep cats claws trimmed; although, it's rare for cats to scratch babies.   If your baby is approaching the crawling stage, be sure to keep the cat's food, water, and litter away from the baby's reach. Your cat may not appreciate your baby's fingers rummaging through its food and the litter tray is, of course, completely unsanitary and should be removed from the baby's reach.   Other risks Parents have to be vigilant about their cats-especially outdoor cats. It's not sanitary for cats to bring home their prey from the outside and drop it where baby's crawl. On the other hand, indoor cats that are clean, flea-free, and de-wormed pose less health risks for small children. Also, parents need to choose cat care products that are safe for babies. By keeping your cat healthy and regularly checked out by a veterinarian, you can cut down on risks for both your cat and baby.   Cats and babies can co-exist quite happily and many babies are quite charmed by the antics of their feline friends. Also, children are also less likely to develop pet allergies when they live with pets during their first year of life. If you have any other concerns about cats and your baby, talk to your doctor and veterinarian. Feature image credit  

Whenever there are two or more cats in a household, there’s always potential for fighting. Cat fights can occur for several reasons, but the most common is due to poor socialization or a lack of positive experiences with other cats. Here are some tips on how to prevent your cats from fighting:   When There's A New Cat In Town   Cats are very territorial animals, so it makes sense that a new cat coming in to your home could be seen as a threat. The best way to prevent your resident cat and the newcomer from fighting is to take things slow. You should keep the new cat segregated at first, and make sure he has his own litter box, toys, food and water bowl. During this time the resident cat can observe the newcomer and eventually learn to trust them like you do.   Other Reasons For Fighting   Just like humans take their anger out on those who may not deserve it, cats do the same to their housemates. For example, your cat could spot something outside through the window. Territorial and unable to investigate, your cat becomes irritated and may attack the cat closest to them. This redirected aggression is considered typical, so pay attention to what irritates your cat and find ways to prevent it.   Illness   Cats hide illness very well and aggression towards other cats could be a sign they're not feeling too hot. No one likes to be bothered when they’re sick right? If you think this could be the case, it’s time for a trip to the vet.   How To Break Up A Fight   If a fight’s already begun the best way to end it is with a distraction. Never try to break up the fight by getting in the middle of it or you could end up with some battle wounds yourself. Instead you should interrupt them by making a loud sound, like a loud clap or a bang on a pan. The noise will send your cats running and hopefully in opposite directions.   Other Tips To Prevent Fighting   Neuter male cats Reduce competition between cats by providing them with their own things Have multiple cat towers so they can each have their own space Reward your cats when they’re friendly with eachother

You’ve spent hours scanning pet store shelves and searching online until finally you found it – the perfect bed for you dog. It is soft and snuggly, yet tough enough to be able to withstand rough dog claws. It is the right size and shape for your pet and it matches your décor perfectly. The problem – you dog doesn’t want to sleep in it!   Instead, they pine for their old, dirty, chewed bed, and when you take it off them they curl up on the hardwood floor of your bedroom rather than their luxurious new pillow.   Image Credit   The issue stems from the dog’s nature as a territorial animal. Have you ever noticed your dog circling for about a minute on their bed before they decide to lay down? Dogs do this to spread their scent and send the clear message to other dogs ‘This bed is mine!” When a new bed is introduced, a dog may be suspicious and hope their old bed, or ‘territory’ will return soon. They may also retreat into areas that smell strongly of their ‘pack’, such as the room you sleep.     Whilst you can’t make the new dog bed look exactly the same as the old, you can make it smell familiar. A popular solution is to place old clothes you have worn onto the bed to encourage your dog to identify it with you and safety. Blankets and toys that smell of your dog can also convince your dog the bed is not quite so foreign after all.   Image Credit   Another clever idea is to place a sheet over the old bed. Allow you dog to sleep on it as normal, allowing the smell of the bed and your dog to seep into the fibres. After a time, bring out the new bed and put away the old. Place the same sheet over the new bed, disguising it in terms of smell and appearance from your pup. Gradually fold back the sheet more and more until it covers only a fraction of the new bed – then take it away entirely. Voila! Your dog will be sound asleep on their new mattress in no time.   Image Credit   Feature Image Credit

You may think that muzzles are only needed for aggressive dogs but sometimes it is mandatory for dogs of certain sizes or breeds to be muzzled in public places, camping grounds, hotels or boarding kennels. There are many reasons why it’s a good idea to train your dog to wear a muzzle.   Reason to use muzzles   Socialisation training: Young dogs or new dogs can react unexpectedly with other dogs and people. As a precautionary measure, a muzzle will keep others safe and can help when introducing your dog to other dogs, animals, children and people.   Stereotyped breeds: Certain breeds, whether justified or not, are associated with aggressive behavior. The same goes for large breeds – whatever their temperament, some people will feel uneasy around them.   Aggressive behaviours: Muzzles are useful when training dogs that have aggression issues although they are not a solution. It’s also important to remember that even the calmest dogs can become aggressive due to incomplete socialisation, illness, pain and fear. Dogs are also experts at sensing people’s nerves and stress, which, in turn, makes them nervous and stressed and may cause them become aggressive.   Indiscriminate eaters: Some dogs love to sniff and eat almost anything they come across on a walk, even dangerous items.    Grooming and vet appointments: If a dog feels stressed, is in pain or uncomfortable they may snarl and bite. Muzzles are also helpful to stop dogs biting or licking wounds.   Types of muzzles There is a range of muzzles available. You need to make sure that the muzzle you buy will fit your dog’s snout and that it suits the situation. A basket muzzle which has good airflow and allows the dog to pant and drink is safest. Wire and plastic basket muzzles are recommended for most situations and can be worn for longer periods of time.   Wire basket muzzle Image credit   Other types of muzzles that completely close a dog’s mouth and do not allow them to pant or drink should only be used when for short periods, under supervision and for emergency situations where there is a risk of biting.   Image credit Training No dog will want to wear a muzzle at first and they will need to have a positive association with the muzzle. Training them to wear it will take some time and many sessions.   First you should allow them to become familiar with the muzzle by smelling it. Using treats as a reward and for tempting your dog into the muzzle will help. Put a treat behind the muzzle so that your dog needs to put their snout into the muzzle. Then you can begin attaching the muzzle for very short periods, gradually having them wear it for longer periods as time goes on. The ASPCA has more detailed information on muzzle training.   Feature image credit

Every dog barks – but some dogs seem to never stop! An overly vocal dog can not only give you a pounding headache but also get you in strife with your neighbours whose quiet time is disrupted.   Dogs bark for a number of reasons. Barking can be a warning to other members of the pack, a demand for attention, a fear response or a challenge to objects or scenarios the dog finds frightening. From the dog’s perspective, barking is appropriate and even necessary to counteract the situation. They may even feel barking is helping you out by defending the house from the dangers of the outside world (such as motorbikes and deliverymen).   Image Credit   How you respond to barking depends on what appears to be the root cause.   If your dog thinks it needs to bark to keep the home, you and itself safe, then the fundamental problem is a sense of insecurity pervading your dog’s mind. Introducing new, calming elements to the environment can, in this scenario, be a likely solution. Image Credit   More time spent with you playing or being petted can reinforce the dog is not alone in the world and does not need to take on the burden of defending his or her territory alone, decreasing the drive to bark. The addition of a kennel or hideout with comfortable bedding that functions as a ‘den’ to retreat from the fears of the outside world can also minimise canine stress. Increased exercise, which improves mental and physical health, can further reduce pup nerves. Your dog is more likely to spend hours snoring rather than barking after a long run!    Image Credit   If your dog is barking for attention, toys and increased play are the most likely solutions. Beware of shouting at your dog if you suspect this motivation as they may perceive any attention from you, even if you are yelling, as a sort of reward – or they may even think you are joining in! Waiting out the noise and only interacting when your dog is silent is a better way to encourage peace and quiet.   It may seem counterintuitive but dog trainers suggest, regardless of your dog’s precise reasons for barking, teaching your dog to speak on command as a useful anti-bark strategy.   Image Credit   First, encourage your dog to vocalise by making a barking noise, ringing a bell or any other stimulus you can think of to get them to make some noise. Say ‘speak!’ as soon as they do so and reward with a treat. Once they have learnt ‘speak’ on command, it is time for the all important ‘quiet’. Ask your dog to speak then say ‘quiet’. Wait for a break in the barking, give them a treat and repeat. By gaining control of your dog’s voice box, uncontrollable barking can become a thing of the past.    Image Credit   However, if you are at your wit’s end and nothing else seems to work, an anti-bark collar is a purchase to consider. These collars detect barking and, depending on the brand and make, emit a blast of citronella, a small electric pulse or an unpleasant noise to deter your dog from the behaviour. This can be a solution in itself or a useful back up when you leave the house and cannot be present to continue to carry out your anti-bark campaign.   Feature Image Credit