Dogs And Carpets: 4 Tips To Keep Carpets Clean With Dogs

September 1, 2016 by Fanna Easter

How to Keep Carpets Clean With Dogs

Dogs and carpet can live together peacefully, but I’d recommend a few must-have products to make sure this relationship remains spotless, odorless and easy. Of course, removing carpet is an easy fix, but sometimes that’s not an option, especially if you’re living on a tight budget or renting a home.

I’ll share my secrets on how to keep carpets clean with dogs. These carpet cleaning tips have worked wonderfully for the 10 years I lived with four large dogs and had white carpet. Not to mention we sold our home with that same white carpet within 24 hours in a very difficult housing market in 2009! Let’s just say these secrets work. 🙂

Steam Clean Your Carpet

Think of steam cleaning as the “big gun” of carpet cleaning. I recommend steam cleaning carpet every 4-6 months. While this might seem excessive to most pet owners, steam cleaning is the quickest and easiest way to deep clean large carpeted areas. However, not all carpet steam cleaners and products are alike.

How to Choose a Steam Cleaner

Purchase or Rent

You can either rent or purchase a steam cleaner, depending on your budget. Instead of renting, I waited until the Bissell Big Green Steam Cleaner went on sale and purchased a canister option as we had white-carpeted stairs too. By far, it was the best purchase ever!

My Big Green girl, as she was fondly labeled, lived for 12 maintenance-free years. If renting a steam cleaner is your choice, I would locate a steam cleaner rental that is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute. That way you know it works well and is cleaned in between rentals.

Find a Good Suction

An effective cleaning solution is good, but having great suction power from a good steam cleaning machine is key. For an entire year, I was convinced that squirting more cleaning solution onto carpet would remove more dirt and stains, but I was completely wrong.

After reading an article written by leading asthma experts, I learned suctioning the majority of sprayed cleaning solution out of carpet works better. Don’t get carried away with spraying; lightly mist carpet with cleaning solution, then spend ample time removing sprayed solution from carpet by slowly suctioning up cleaning solution. Not only did this carpet cleaning tip remove tough stains, but our carpet dried within 10 minutes as well.

Find an Effective Cleaning Solution

Once you’ve decided on a steam cleaner, you need an effective steam cleaning solution that will lift new and old stains. It also helps if the carpet cleaning solution you use removes trapped dirt and leaves a lasting clean fragrance. I’ve tried at least 20 different brands until I found one that brightened our white carpet and removed old stains. By far, my favorite is Resolve Pet Steam Clean solution. I add a ½ cup of solution too because it contains enzymes, which removes odor.

Clean Up Messes When They Happen

Accidents will happen; it’s part of sharing our homes with dogs. Cleaning up accidents right when they happen is the best way to keep your carpets clean with dogs, so wipe up debris before spraying any type of cleaner on your carpet. If your dog urinates or vomits on your carpet, wipe and dab up as much liquid as possible before spraying a cleaner.

A quick tip: grab an old towel or paper towels, place on top of the accident, and stand on the towel for a few seconds. Rotate the towel to absorb additional moisture until the towel is dry.

Now, it’s time to clean! Spray the area with an effective carpet spot cleaner and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Scrub the area with a clean towel and clean between carpet piling. By far, Resolve Pet Stain Remover is my favorite spot cleaner for carpet. For big messes, pull out your steam cleaner and really clean your carpet thoroughly. 🙂

Avoid Carpet Deodorizers

Honestly, I find most carpet deodorizers cause more harm than good. Powder carpet deodorizers are usually made of fine powder and contain chemicals. Also, the overwhelming scent and dust particles aggravate my asthma. In addition, I’ve had several dogs develop paw hot spots whenever I’ve used it. If your carpet has an odor, I recommend steam cleaning it instead of using a carpet deodorizer. This will actually remove the odor rather than mask it with deodorizers.

Now, sit back, close your eyes and take in a deep breath. Awwwww, clean!

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What to Do to Keep Your Dog Safe Before and During a Flood

August 30, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Flood Preparedness for Dogs

Last week was a tough one. My south Louisiana hometown was completely flooded. I paced all weekend as family and friends feared floodwater would continue rising overnight. Most of my Louisiana friends and family have dogs, and they were extremely concerned about evacuation protocols pertaining to dogs if they were forced to abandon their homes. Several friends and family contacted 911 and were told emergency personnel wouldn’t evacuate dogs and they would only rescue people. Of course, my friends and family refused to leave their dogs behind in their flooded homes.

This article contains real flood survival tips that my family members used during the worst flood in Louisiana history. I hope these pet emergency tips help you in your time of need too.

Real Survival Tips

My best friend, her husband, and my three Godchildren and their four dogs were completely surrounded by waist-deep water. They were unable to leave, as their cars were flooded. A freak storm had formed over south Louisiana and poured more than 24 inches of rain within 25 hours. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a flood warning, which means they weren’t prepared to evacuate.

They were completely stuck in their homes while water was rushing inside and rain poured outside. I sat on the phone, listening to my friend and her husband struggling to put together a plan. They were panicking. Several of their neighbors dialed 911 and were rescued. This wasn’t an option for my friend and her family though because they would’ve been forced to leave their dogs.

As it continued to rain, they made room in their attic. They brought a chainsaw with them in case they needed to cut through the roof to get out. Each adult and child packed a small bag of clothes. They also packed a bag of dog food and fresh water for each dog. They waited inside their flooded home until the storm had passed. Thankfully, floodwaters remained steady and the rain finally stopped around 2:00am, which then the floodwater quickly receded. I don’t think they will ever forget that night and neither will I.

A few other family members were forced out of their homes, so they loaded themselves and their dogs inside of their boats. They floated along for hours until Good Samaritans found them and towed them to dry land. Everyone was soaking wet, but they and their pets were safe.

Pets and Floods Advice

Flash flooding happens within hours and without any warning. With hurricanes, residents are given plenty of time to evacuate if needed, but flash flooding is pretty much like tornadoes in that you never know when or if it will affect you.

I remember living in North Texas where we had been surrounded by several tornadoes. We stood in front of the TV, holding our leashed dogs and emergency bags, looking for an opening to drive through. At least we could have left during that natural disaster, but we wouldn’t have that luxury during a flood. If you share your home with dogs (or any pets), it’s so important to prepare ahead of time with disaster kits and a couple of emergency plans.

Flash flooding is about survival, and preparation will most definitely help.

Before a Flood Occurs

Prepare an evacuation kit for your dog.
Make sure your dog’s ID tags contain your most updated information, including a family member’s cellphone if you’re unable to be reached.
Update your dog’s microchip information within days of moving to a new home. Again, add a close family member’s contact information just in case you’re unable.
Download a pet first aid app for your smartphone; you never know when you’ll need it.
If you haven’t created a pet first aid kit, I advise you to do so or at least purchase one now.

If Your Home Floods

Never leave your dog home alone during a flood. If you evacuate, your dog must go with you. It’s not fair to leave your dog alone to fend for herself; it’s like leaving a small child behind in floodwater.
Your dog will be scared. Everything looks and smells different plus you’re freaking out. Your dog will sense your anxiety and freak out as well.
Don’t crate or tie out your dog. She needs freedom to move away from rising waters.
Block the flooded area with furniture, crates or baby gates. Floodwater is contaminated with sewage. When flooding occurs, sewage backs up and spills out into floodwater. Plus, many biting insects ride along the water’s surface, so it’s vital to keep your dog away from floodwater.
Place clean bowls of fresh water on top of furniture, fireplace stoops and coffee tables.
When bringing your dog out to potty, bring her on leash so long as the floodwater level is safe for your dog’s height.
If floodwater is high in your backyard, or your dog refuses to potty in floodwater, I recommend creating a safe potty area in your home with potty pads. Make sure to place potty pads away from floodwater—even if it’s on a higher surface area.
Make sure your dog is wearing a collar, and keep a leash handy if needed.

If Your Dog is Separated From You

Send out an urgent “my dog is lost” message on social media. Post a current description of your dog, last seen location, your current contact information, a friend’s contact information and picture of your dog on all your social media channels. Make sure to change the setting to public, so your story can be shared over and over again.
Search through Twitter and Facebook for local “lost pets” pages, and post your dog’s information along with your current contact information. Contact Animal Control and local makeshift shelters. Their phone lines will be busy, but keep calling.
Don’t stop looking: Animal shelters are packed with lost animals during floods, so keep checking and let everyone know your story.

If you weren’t affected by the flood, it’s important to jump into action and help your neighbors. I’m convinced that if it weren’t for Good Samaritans, or “The Cajun Navy,” many two and four-legged lives would’ve been lost. These kind souls literally launched their personal boats into flooded water and searched house to house for people and pets in need.

Go Cajun Navy. I can’t thank you enough!!!

The Hidden Danger Behind Dog Collars

August 26, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Dog Strangulation By Collar is Real

We probably both agree that dogs should always wear their collars with a current ID tag, but wearing dog collars in certain situations can be hazardous. For years, I firmly believed dogs should always wear collars until one day when my dog’s ID tag got caught between the wires of his crate.

Now, understand, I didn’t leave him in his crate with a collar on. He chose to lie next to his crate when his ID tag became entangled within the wires of his crate. When it happened, he freaked out! Thank goodness we were home to hear his panicked screams and frantic sounds from pulling against his crate; he was choking himself. It took two people to free him from his collar; my husband and I had to cut the collar off of him. From that day forward, he never walked into that room again—ever.

Dog Collar Accidents are More Common Than You Think

Freak accidents happen or so I thought. After this incident, I needed to find out if dogs strangled by collars was common or if they were just freak accidents. Well, we found out we weren’t alone.

It seems dog collars get caught in many things, and strangulation by collar has even caused some dogs to lose their lives. Dog collars getting caught or stuck happens so often that large pet retail companies created break-away collars to prevent this from happening. One thing I know for sure is large companies won’t spend thousands of dollars creating a new item unless it fills a buying niche. Their research was certainly alarming.

Please understand: I’m not saying your dog will strangle himself from wearing a collar; I’m saying it’s possible your dog can become strangled by his collar and taking a few steps to make sure it doesn’t happen to your dog is worth its weight in gold.

15% of My Clients Have Experienced Dog Strangulation by Collar

As a dog trainer, I speak with clients about their dogs every day and I’ve found dog strangulation by collar does happen. On average, I would say 15% of my clients had a similar incident with a dog collar getting caught on the wires of their dogs’ crate, fence, furniture, and even while playing with another dog.

Dog Accidentally Strangled By Collar During Playtime

The first time I heard of a dog being strangled by a collar, it was 20 years ago and happened while two dogs were playing together. Both dogs were wearing collars when one dog playfully pulled on the other dog’s collar. Her muzzle suddenly became tangled in the other dog’s collar. Well, the tangled dog panicked and started pulling away, which caused the other dog (the one wearing the tangled collar around his neck) to choke. His collar was strangling him. Thankfully, someone nearby had a pocket knife and cut the tangled collar, which freed both dogs. What a horrifying situation.

Strict Collar Removal Policies Set

Many pet-related businesses have strict rules on removing collars in certain situations. While working as a veterinary technician, it was mandatory to remove all collars from any patient kenneled—even during a hospital stay. Large retail grooming chains also have strict polices requiring dog collars to be removed before dogs are placed in their kennels. Their collars are then placed in a plastic sleeve outside of the dogs’ crates. While working in the pet grooming industry, I saw many grooming employees terminated when they failed to follow this policy. Needless to say there certainly is a trend in dog collar accidents.

When Should Dogs Wear Collars?

Dogs should wear a collar under supervision only. That means you should take your dog’s collar off whenever he’s crated, playing with another dog or left unsupervised in your home. It’s just not worth the risk.

If You Must, Use a Break-Away Collar

If you’re not comfortable with your dog running around naked (i.e. no collar), there are a couple of break-away collars on the market. Break-away collars look and feel just like regular flat buckle collars and feature a spot for ID tags too. The difference is break-away collars will unsnap and free your dog when it snags onto something.

Over the last 15 years, break-away collars have vastly improved. Back in the day, the break-away mechanism was super sensitive. If a dog sneezed while wearing this collar, his collar would unsnap. As of today, break-away collars are a great safety option. Most are versatile and have two D-rings that can be used during leash walks, which disables the break-away option. Once the leash is removed, the break-away collar option is in place.

Get Your Dog Microchipped

The main reason dogs wear a collar is to carry ID tags with their pet owners’ contact information. If our dog should become lost, we hope a good Samaritan will find our dog and contact us using the information on our dog’s ID tags. Collars and ID tags work, but it’s not a bulletproof option, so please microchip your dog. Collars can be taken off and ID tags can be lost, but a microchip is underneath your dog’s skin. It can’t be removed. I can’t say enough good things about microchips; they’re absolutely invaluable.

Have you had a scary dog collar accident? Please share your story below, so we can all learn together!

Can Dog Collars Cause Neck Injuries? Yes, They Can

August 24, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Prevent Dog Neck Injuries With the Right Equipment

Dog collars can cause neck injury. Dog neck injuries occur when dogs pull against their collars. While we assume this only happens to large dogs, it can happen to any dog regardless of size. If your dog pulls against his collar, it’s time to change up his equipment for walks around the neighborhood and visits to the vet’s office. The equipment I’m about to tell you should be used until your dog is taught how to walk politely on leash. 🙂

Why Dogs Pull Against Their Collars

Dogs pull against their collars because it works for them. Dogs will pull against restraints, such as tight collars, because these forward movements will inevitability move them and their pet owners to where they want to go. It sounds overly simplistic, but that’s why dogs pull. I see it happen every day. When a dog pulls his neck against a collar, both the pet owner and the dog move forward—or the pet owner’s arm will grow three inches longer—but something has to give.

Dog Neck Injuries are Common

It’s very common for dogs to experience a neck injury or throat damage from pulling their collars. When dogs pull against their collars, the front of their necks sustains the most amount of trauma. It’s important to understand that a dog’s trachea (windpipe) is located in the front part of his neck, which is why your dog chokes, gasps and coughs when he pulls against his collar. Other areas are affected too.

For example, a dog’s spine can easily be damaged from collar pressure, his delicate thyroid can be damaged because it sits right where a collar digs into a dog’s neck and his eye pressure can increase. Collar pressure can also cause glaucoma. A 2006 study conducted by a veterinary ophthalmologist “showed an increase in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in dogs while pulling on a collar, confirming a correlation between glaucoma and collar stress” (Tremayne, 2006). In addition, a dog’s eye pressure can increase after just one collar-pulling incident. I mean when you think about it, all that forward pressure has to go somewhere.

Best Collar for Dogs That Pull

Of course, I don’t recommend pinch or choke collars. Those types of dog collars are the main causes of neck injuries and throat damage. Somehow, pinch collar enthusiasts feel that pinch collars won’t choke a dog, but they think it’s OK for its metal spikes to dig into fleshy and fragile neck areas. I would rather base my dog training methods on facts by leading veterinary behaviorists instead of feelings.

Research shows that pinch collars do cause damage and dogs will pull against them too. Do know that flat buckle collars and Martingale collars can still cause dogs neck injury if the dogs are constantly pulling against them. If your dog pulls against his collar, regardless if he weighs 5 pounds or 150 pounds, stop this behavior before your dog gets hurt.

For strong-pulling dogs, I recommend a front clip harness. For this type of dog harness, you clip the leash in front of your dog’s chest and back. Yup, instead of putting all the force in one area of your dog’s body, this harness evenly distributes the force onto the front and back of your dog’s chest. Plus, you have more control over your dog’s forward movements because you’re controlling your dog’s body and not just his neck.

Dogs will pull against collars, it’s going to happen, so it’s important you have the right dog training equipment to keep your dog safe and prevent you from being pulled toward another dog or moving car. Plus, this harness is an excellent dog training tool to positively teach your dog how to walk politely on leash.

But What About Your Dog’s Collar?

Flat buckle collars should be worn for ID tags only. If your dog pulls, give a front clip harness a try. It’s a new piece of equipment that works amazingly and it keeps your dog’s neck injury-free.

Does your dog pull like a freight train?

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How to Get Your Puppy Used to a Collar

August 22, 2016 by Fanna Easter

Training a Puppy to Wear a Collar in One Week

Puppy Doesn't Like His Collar — ChrisLeRoy/iStock

Puppies aren’t born wearing collars, so when a collar is first fastened around a puppy’s little neck, it can feel strange for her. Most puppies will bite, scratch, turn circles or refuse to walk while wearing a collar. This is totally normal behavior. As pet owners, it’s our job to train a puppy to wear a collar.

How to Teach Your Puppy to Wear a Collar

Once your puppy is home, it’s time to teach her that wearing a puppy training collar makes good things happen. Move slowly and reward your puppy often while she’s wearing a collar.

Choose the Right Puppy Collar

Puppies should wear an expandable flat buckle collar without tags at first. ID tags can be a bit distracting, as most puppies will mouth or paw at the dangling bits of metal clanging under their chins. They’re simply too distracting for an inquisitive puppy. After a week of your puppy successfully wearing her collar, then you can add ID tags.

Puppies, or all dogs really, shouldn’t wear choke chains, cloth slip collars or prong collars. They need a flat buckle collar. Harnesses are OK too, but make sure the straps don’t rub against your puppy’s skin, apply pressure to your puppy’s neck or restrict her movement.

Give Her a Food Stuffed Toy

Before introducing a collar or harness to your puppy, fill a toy with food and freeze overnight. Now, fasten your puppy’s collar in place and immediately give her the food stuffed toy to enjoy while she’s wearing her collar.

Once she’s emptied all the food from the toy, remove her collar and toy and place both up high, so she can’t reach it. Practice this several times a day. Feel free to stuff your puppy’s regular meals inside of a food toy for additional practice sessions. By pairing good things with the sensation of wearing a collar, your puppy learns that collars are harmless and pretty darn fun.

Puppy Doesn’t Like Her Collar?

If your puppy starts pawing or scratching her collar, distract her by playing a 1-2 minute game of “touch.” Distracting her without saying “stop” or “no” gives your puppy something else to do instead of worrying about the collar on her neck.

Learn how to teach the “touch” behavior in the video below. This dog training game is easy to teach and extremely useful in many different situations. The “touch” behavior is vital—so much so that it’s the first behavior I teach during dog training classes or private lessons.

WATCH: Teach Your Puppy the “Touch” Cue

https://youtu.be/d-spTywRXEo

Teach Collar Pressure = Treats

Once your puppy is completely comfortable with the sensation of a collar, it’s time to teach her that collar pressure makes treats happen. Collar pressure can cause a puppy to freak out because she may not be used to feeling pressure against her neck, which limits her movement.

Collars can scare puppies so much that they will usually hop, buck, or “pancake” on the ground and refuse to move forward. If this happens, immediately stop the pressure by walking over to your puppy or letting go of her collar, and practice the collar pressure game.

When teaching collar pressure, you’re not pulling against your puppy. Instead, you’re holding your puppy’s collar in place while your puppy pulls against it. The moment your puppy stops pulling against the collar, you click and reward your puppy.

Pulling against pressure is a natural reaction to restraint; it’s called opposition reflex. Your goal is to teach your puppy to move with pressure. This is the first step when teaching loose leashing walking and teaching your dog to walk with you while touching her collar. Plus, every time your puppy pulls against her collar, it increases her chances of injury in her neck area.

Practice this dog training behavior several times a day with super yummy treats. If your puppy balks when you reach for her collar, take a step back and teach her that collar touches are a good thing.

WATCH: Dog Training Tip: Teach Collar Pressure

https://youtu.be/I39BE4xOnLY

Attach a Leash

Always teach your puppy how to wear a collar first, then master the collar pressure game before attaching a leash to her collar. On average, it takes about a week for a puppy to feel comfortable wearing a collar and respond well to collar pressure. Attaching a leash to your puppy’s collar is a completely different lesson. Check out this article on teaching a puppy to walk on leash for additional details.

Puppies are tiny little sponges. Take advantage and teach them that the world is full of fun!