Pet Bucket Blog

1. "Ready or not, here I come... Oh, I guess you weren't ready."   image credit   2. Points for creativity!    image credit   3. "Hey buddy, you didn't happen to see a puppy come through here recently?" image credit 4. Rule number one of hiding: be silent and stay very still.   image credit     5. "Hmmm, doesn't look like there's anyone hiding in the bedroom..."     image credit 6. "Can you see me now, how about now?" image credit   7. "Just because you can't see me, doesn't mean I can't see you!"   image credit 8. "Nothing to see here, just a mini horse grazing."   image credit   9. "I didn't remember this bed being so fluffy!"   image credit   10. "That upside-down dog bed is a little suspicious looking!"    image credit   11. I think you're a little too husky to hide in there!   12. "A" for effort.        13. "What do you know! A couch with a tail!"    image credit 14. "Something is different about that one in the middle..." image credit 15. "Okay I give up! You're practically invisible."   image credit

All dogs are gorgeous and lovable but these ones happen to be particularly fetching. 1. Friends call this helpful pup 'Letters'. Sometimes the mail arrives a little slobbery with bite marks but a bit of training and Letters could learn to do that to bills only.     Image credit   2. I know it's in here somewhere. Hey, I found the frisbee.     Image credit   3. Fence? Ha! I chortle in the face of your so-called obstacle.    Image credit 4. I says to Daisy ... oh sorry, here's your ball. Anyway, I says to Daisy, not without chewing you won't.    Image credit 5. I want you to know that I'm doing great without you.     Image credit 6. So I guess I just knock the ball in here and then what? Any moment now ... Wow. BEST. BUCKET-THINGY. EVER.   Image credit   7. The solenoid is from Japan and now the torque is optimised. I adjusted the angle of trajectory, increased the input wattage and voila, I simply fetch the ball.    Image credit   8. I gots it, I gots the ball. Ha ha, I gots water up my muzzle.    Image credit 9. Well, Australia's coastline is bigger than it looks. I might need a minute before you throw my favourite stick again.   Image credit   10. Why won't you throw the stick? I've put it right at your feet so you hardly have to move at all. Please. Oh come on, throw it. PLEASE.   Image credit ? Feature image credit

1. How they think they look frolicking in the snow. "So powerful, so fast and so all-terrain." Image credit How they really look. "Help, I can't feel my whiskers." Image credit   2. How they think they look in close-up. "Hey girl, can I buy you a glass of cream sometime?"   Image credit   How they really look. "Hey girl... hey girl...wait up I want to ask you something... can you hear me?"    Image credit   3. How they think they look climbing trees. "I'll just be here looking wonderful, sniffing these strategically placed flowers that purrfectly complement my fur."   Image credit   How they really look. "Hurry, get help. My claws can't hold on much longer."   Image credit   4. How they think they look lounging around. "Mmmm so cosy and soft. This sofa and I were meant for each other."   Image credit   How they really look. "Does this sofa make my bum look big? I think it's cut the circulation to my tail"   Image credit 5. How they think they look having drinking. "Oops I have managed a few small, delightful drops of milk on my lips that make me look more adorable."    Image credit How they really look. "Don't blame me, the bowl's too big. Ow ow ow - I think some got in my eye."    Image credit 6. How they think they look enjoying the rain. "John Updike once said, 'Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.' Such exquisite words.” Image credit How they really look. "Sing in the rain they said. Go jump some puddles. It will be fun they said."    Image credit Feature image credit

1. Urrrggghhh, I hate Mondays. Image credit   2. Seriously next time you can do your own filing!   Image credit   3. Someone's eaten my liver treats again. I labelled them and everything.  Image credit   4. I can't come in today, my paws feel like lead and I've had that many furballs. I just don't want to spread it around the office.  Image credit 5. Really Michael, this has to be the last time I show you how to order stationery and scratching posts.   Image credit 6. Why is Patch always late? I mean, he's the one who called this meeting.   Image credit 8. Why won't these accounts reconcile? For the love of Garfield whhhyyyyy!!   Image credit 9. I just needed a quiet spot to clear my head for 10 minutes.    Image credit   Feature image credit

Doga is on the rise. What is doga you ask? Pretty much what it sounds like: yoga you can do with your dog.   What started as something people would tilt their heads at the idea of and laugh has become the du jour activity for the upwardly mobile in exclusive New York neighbourhoods. It has also become quite the thing in Japan.   Doga incorporates dogs into simple yoga poses. Stretching and gentle massage is provided for both pet and owner. Sometimes human and dog interact directly, or the dog lies on the floor.   In sun salutation, or ‘Upward Paw Pose’, owners lift their dogs onto their hind legs. In ‘Resting Pose’, a person lays back, legs bent over their dog’s body to relax their spine. In ‘Chaturanga’ dogs raise their front paws in the air whilst their humans provide support.   Image credit  As you might imagine, not all dogs are perfectly behaved in a room full of other dogs and new people. But the antics of the dogs learning doga is all part of the fun and relaxation. Laughing is after all, good for the soul. New Yorker Suzi Teitelman has been cited as one of the forerunners of the doga trend. She was inspired to start classes after she found her Cocker Spaniel Coali continually liked to lie beneath her and interfere when she did yoga around the house. Doga instructors do not have to complete a formalized course to practice, but such is its growing popularity, training seminars now exist in America.   Image credit  Doga is cited as another way aside from ‘walkies’ that dogs are encouraging their owners to exercise. Practitioners often say they enjoy the lighter atmosphere of yoga classes. Traditional yoga classes, whilst rewarding, can sometimes feel too serious for some. Doga is a lighthearted take on the discipline.   Dogs benefit most from the time spent with their owners, say vets. The classes spent up close and personal their masters is often a relaxing and rewarding experience for inner-city dogs, who are the most frequent attendees, who generally spend a lot of time alone while their owners are at work.     Image credit  Feature image credit

Joanna Muir and Sally Osborne had an idea. Dog lovers and knitting aficionados, they decided to see if they could combine their passions. The result – the resoundingly popular ‘Best in Show: Knit Your Dog’ book.   Between them, Sally and Joanna have owned eight poodles, two Afghan hounds, two mongrels, two Lurchers, one Dalmatian, one Whippet, one Greyhound and one Spaniel. They made sure to include a variety of dogs in their much-loved book so it was accessible to all sorts of dog lovers.    Image credit   Image credit   Image credit The book shares twenty-five patterns to bring to life twenty-five different dog breeds in woolly form, including, but not limited to, the Red Setter, Portuguese Water Dog, Siberian Husky, English Bull Terrier, Basset Hound, Pug, Miniature Schnauzer and Cocker Spaniel.   What's more, Sally and Joanna encourage readers to play around with the patterns to create different kinds of dogs or truly mirror their own beloved pet. By combining pedigree dog parts, such as the legs and tail of the Poodle and the Labrador body and head, a fine Labradoodle might be produced. If your pug is pure black rather than black and tan, simply exchange wool colours. If your dog is fatter than average, add more stuffing.    Image credit   Image credit The patterns are designed for inexpert knitters. Using simple purl and loopy stitches all twenty-five dogs can be made.   To get knitters started the Corgi pattern is offered for free download on the Best In Show site.   After the success of their first book Joanna and Sally have followed up with ‘Best In Show: Knit Your Own Cat’, featuring patterns for feline fans. This edition describes how to create cat patterns from tabby to tortoiseshell and fashion breeds as diverse as the Abyssinian, Devon Rex and Turkish Van.    Image credit   Image credit  They recently also penned ‘Best in Show: 25 More Dogs To Knit’ and ‘Knit Your Own Zoo’, so knitters can expand their stuffed animal collection to include bats, giraffes and penguins.   The Best in Show website has an ‘Online Show’ section for proud knitters to display their new knitted pets (and their real life models) to the world. Joanna and Sally enjoy seeing their designs being crafted with love around the world.   They have had the honour of several pieces of their knitwear being included in the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and export their knitted products and books internationally.    Image credit Feature image credit

The Reading with Rover program involves dogs in the quest to help children with reading difficulties improve their literacy.   Dogs in the program visit schools, bookstores and libraries to listen to children read them stories. It has been found children who are nervous to read aloud to peers and adults are calmer when reading to a dog - who never pokes fun or criticises if they have difficulty deciphering a word.    Image credit The program hopes to improve children’s comfort in reading aloud, help them advance to higher reading levels, increase their empathy and social skills and given them greater confidence. Reading with Rover aims above all to help children learn to love the world of books.   The program is community based, with helpful volunteers and owners dedicating their time to helping kids in need. Interested people and their pets must first be evaluated before they are allowed to participate. It is necessary for dogs to be calm, gentle and happy to sit quietly for extended periods of time.    Image credit  Children are generally registered for weekly sessions for around two months to give their skills a chance to develop.   The results of the program are universally glowing. Parents report their children now nag them to take them to the library so they can find more books and read to the visiting dogs. In one group, four in five students doubled the number of words they could read correctly and the entire group showed great improvement in their reading accuracy.    Image credit In one remarkable case a 6-year-old with Asperger’s Syndrome was brought to a Reading with Rover session. Much to her mother’s surprise, her daughter suddenly began reading fluently to a dog in a way she had never shown herself capable of in front of her parents or teachers. When made to feel comfortable by her new dog friend, the girl was able to display her hidden skills for the first time. Her mother was amazed by the change that took place before her eyes.     Image credit Another girl began visiting the Reading with Rover dogs when she was in 3rd grade. At that point, there were strong concerns about her literacy levels as she was deemed almost two grades behind the skill-levels of her peers. Now in 5th grade she has spent two years in the program. Now she is reading at an 8th grade level.    Image credit  Currently the program operates only in the Washington area of America but there is hope it will spread, given its popularity and success. Feature image credit  

If you have a young child (or multiple children) in your house, you might think that getting a cat is not a great idea. However, some cat breeds thrive around children, so it is smart to learn more about these breeds before choosing a pet. Here are some of the cats that are famous for being good with younger members of the family.    1. Ragdoll A Ragdoll is an obvious choice for a family with children, as their name is a reference to the way that they become loose-limbed and floppy when people hold them. They are very relaxed, calm cats who enjoy gentle play, and they appreciate being cuddled. As a bonus, their bright blue eyes are stunning, and they come in a range of dominant colors (from dark brown to pale lilac).   Image credit    2. American Curl Studies on cat behavior suggest that American Curls actually tend to prefer spending time with children rather than adults. Their name comes from their curled ears, and they are muscular, energetic cats who enjoy interactive games. When they become attached to someone, they will often rub their heads against that person's face.   Image credit    3. Maine Coon A Maine Coon can be an ideal companion for a child, as these cats absolutely love being around humans but are also perfectly happy to entertain themselves when company is absent. They are famous for following their owners to different rooms, and they bond equally with all members of a household. Their tufted ears also give them a very striking look, and they come in a wide range of colors.   Image credit    4. Siamese Most people can identify the shining blue eyes and stark points of a Siamese, but their compatibility with children is not common knowledge. These cats will carry on conversations with their owners, and have opinions about everything they see. Like dogs, they can be trained to play fetch with children, and they are also deeply affectionate.   Image credit    5. Bombay With their dark coats and golden eyes, Bombay cats resemble panthers. In terms of personality, you can expect a Bombay to be curious, sociable and very difficult to stress. This latter feeling makes them especially compatible with younger children who may still be learning how to touch cats. Although they love a good game, they are also peaceful lap cats and enjoy close contact.   Image credit    6. Exotic Exotics are flat-faced cats that resemble Persians, but they lack the need for constant grooming (so they are easier to care for if you have a busy life, as parents often do). Exotics are gentle, kind cats with relaxed personalities, and this is another breed that divides its time between enthusiastic play and sleepy cuddling.   Image credit    7. Birman A Birman resembles a Siamese in terms of point colors, and they are particularly good for large families who may want to add other children, cats or even dogs in the future. They are highly adaptable, vocal cats that make friends easily and love being given plenty of attention.   Image credit

Image credit While you might think it's harmless to slip your cat a little piece of your dinner or to feed them some of your food as part of one of their meals, the shocking truth is that many human foods are dangerous to cats. Here are eight foods that you should never let your cat eat.    1. Garlic and onion They are common ingredients found in many sauces, soups and many other dishes, but pieces of garlic or onion can cause serious damage if ingested by a cat. They both have an adverse influence on the cat's blood cells, and can lead to the development of anemia (which, in turn, causes weight loss, reduced interest in food, and widespread weakness). Whether fresh or powdered, garlic and onion should be kept far away from your pet.   2. Raw fish If your cat manages to get hold of a morsel of raw fish, there will probably be no serious consequences. However, if this happens on a regular basis then your pet can develop a vitamin B deficiency that causes weight loss and an increased (but unproductive) appetite. Fish should always be cooked before it reaches a cat's mouth.   Image credit    3. Chocolate Unlike dogs, most cats are not at all interested in eating any chocolate. However, a cat may show interest in a cookie or piece of cake that contains chocolate, and your pet should never be allowed to ingest anything that has chocolate as an ingredient. Chocolate is a source of a chemical called theobromine that is toxic to cats, causing seizures, heart rhythm disorders and even death.    4. Dairy foods Most cats are very interested in lapping up milk or munching cheese, but (contrary to the stereotype) many of them are actually lactose intolerant. If your cat cannot digest dairy foods, painful episodes of vomiting and diarrhea may follow.   Image credit    5. Grapes and raisins You may have heard that grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs, and it is vital to be aware that the same is true for cats. While the mechanism of action is as yet unclear, there have been many cases in which cats that have ingested grapes or raisins have developed acute kidney failure. In some cases, this condition can be fatal.    6. Mushrooms Some cats will tolerate them without problems. However, there is no way of predicting your pet's reaction, and the toxicity of mushrooms can be life-threatening for some cats.   Image credit    7. Tomatoes Ripe tomatoes are unlikely to cause huge problems for a cat, but unripe or green tomatoes can cause abdominal cramps, episodes of diarrhea, and even heart problems. The safest move is therefore to prevent your cat from ingesting any tomato.    8. Caffeine Finally, some cats will show interest in licking the rim of a cup that contains tea, coffee, or an energy drink (like Red Bull or Relentless). Unfortunately, caffeine can be very dangerous to your cat, even in very small amounts. It has been known to cause breathing difficulties, and abnormal heart rhythm and fits.

Image credit Leash training is a part of life for just about every puppy. By the time the puppy is a few months old, it is happily walking on a lead and learning basic commands. The same training rarely takes place with cats, however, a small number of cats are trained to accept a leash or walk on a lead.    Training your cat to walk on a lead has a number of important advantages, even if you never plan to take your kitty for a stroll around the neighborhood. Teaching your cat to walk on a leash will make every trip to the vet easier to manage and less stressful. If your cat knows how to behave on a lead, you will be able to manage it more effectively when at the vet, and there will be far less chance of an escape or mishap during the office visit.   Image credit    Leash training your cat will also allow you to go out an about with your pet without worry. Many pet stores encourage owners to bring their animals along when they shop; if your cat can walk on a leash you can enjoy a leisurely shopping trip and let your pet pick out its favorite treats.    Teaching a cat to walk on a leash can be much more difficult than leash training a dog, but it can be done. Cats may not take to the leash as naturally as dogs, but they can learn to accept a harness or collar and even be taught to walk calmly on a leash.    You can start by introducing your cat to a collar or harness as early as possible. There are many great kitten collars and harnesses on the market, and they can be sized to even the smallest kitten. At the beginning, simply let the cat wear the collar or harness around the house, and give lots of praise while it is wearing the device.   Image credit    A harness is a particularly good choice for leash training, since it is safer than a traditional collar. Using a harness is important if you will be taking your cat outside; a collar is easy to slip on and off, but the design of a harness is very secure.    Once your cat is comfortable wearing the harness, attach the leash and just let your cat roam around the house. Do not attempt to direct the cat at this point; simply let your cat go where it wants and follow it around as it explores. The goal of this part of the training is just to get your cat used to the experience of wearing the leash and harness.    After the cat is comfortable with the leash attached, you can start trying to direct its movements. This part will take time and patience, and frequent short sessions will accomplish more than longer training periods.   Image credit    You can use treats to direct your cat and start introducing the concept of walking on a leash. Attach the leash and place a favorite treat just out of reach. Allow your cat to walk to the treat while you follow, and continue the process until your cat is actually walking on the leash. This training will take some time, but making it fun for your cat will also make it more effective. Playing with your cat, scratching it behind the ears and giving it lots of attention will all help reinforce the idea that the leash is the greatest thing in the world. That will make leash training more fun for you and your cat.