As days grow shorter and colder, it may be necessary to keep pets indoors for their safety and comfort. A pet that is used to being outdoors, however, may become stressed and bored inside, which can lead to mood changes, destructive behavior, and poor health. Fortunately, there are great ways to keep dogs and cats happily entertained indoors.

Entertaining Dogs Indoors
Dogs can be rambunctious and energetic, but with the proper toys and activities, they can be easily entertained when they can't be outside. To keep an indoor dog happy and active…

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  Opt for food-dispensing puzzle toys that require the dog to manipulate the toy and work out the puzzle before receiving the treat.

  
  


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If your cat is particularly ornery or you are bringing home a new kitten, here are a few tips for a stress free environment. First, there are plenty of ways to tell if your cat is stressed. A cat will puff out the fur on its tail when it is upset. This is to make it appear bigger and could be a sign of a presumptive attack. A quick flipping motion of the cats tail may also be a sign of anger and this means that the cat wants to be left alone. It would be best to give it space in these situations. Arching of the back with its hair pricked up or hissing is also a bad sign.

An easy way to keep your cat happy is to clean its litter box regularly. Cats are very hygienic animals and they become ...

As the last heat wave of summer fades, bird feeders are disappearing from backyards. Most bird lovers assume that as the weather cools and mass migration sweeps in, their beloved winged friends don't need human assistance in finding food; they can forage for it themselves. Be a wise lover of birds this year; learn how to host diverse flocks at your backyard buffet right up until winter.

Offer High-Calorie Foods

As they prepare to migrate, birds need nutritious foods rich in fat to sustain their energy. Be the best bird feeder on the block by offering high-calorie nibblets for them to find. No, this does not mean you should splurge on a pizza. The best kind of send-off for birds includes the...

Just as important as teaching your dog to come back to you, teaching your dog to sit is an essential skill for your dog to know. Here is how to teach your dog to sit:

Training treats
Make sure that before you start you have some small treats that your pooch really enjoys. These will be very necessary for your training.

Get your dog’s attention
Call your dog’s name and make sure that he has your full attention. Make sure that he is near you and looking right at you before continuing.

Command and treat
Tell your dog the command “sit” and if you want, to bolster the command, point your finger at the ground. As soon as he plants his rump, give him the treat and some praise.

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Vaccinations are essential to protect your pet, but it can be confusing, even overwhelming, to decide which vaccinations are best for your pet and when they should be administered. The more you know about vaccinating your pet, however, the easier you will be able to take the best possible care of every furry family member.

Why Vaccinate?

Vaccines provide your pet with crucial immunity against deadly communicable diseases. While no vaccine is 100 percent effective, the proper vaccines can help your pet resist diseases or recover far more quickly and easily if they do become infected. Vaccines do much more than just protect your pet, however, and even if your pet rarely comes into contact wit...

Summer weather is one of the best times to get outside and be active with your furry friend. However, you should keep in mind that your pet reacts differently to heat than you do. Here are some things to keep an eye out for during hot weather:

Pre-hot weather grooming
Before the hot summer days arrive, you may want to consider grooming your pet. Thought your pet does have the natural defense of shedding as the heat approaches, it never hurts to help things along by giving a quick brushing to get out all the loose hair. This can be true particularly for dogs. Also, if your dog has long hair, you might want to cut it down to an inch long or so. Be sure that you never cut down to your dog&rsqu...