Pet Bucket Blog

Winter is fast approaching. Here are some great ways to keep your dog and cat warm in the colder weather to come!   Pet socks   Image credit   Come winter human feet get cold – and so do paws! Pet socks such as those by Muttluks and Top Paw keep pet toes warm in winter. The best come with grips or plastic bases on the bottom to keep your pet from sliding on tiles or wooden floors.   Image credit These socks are great for older dogs, not only for keeping them warm, but also for helping them get around without tripping on slippery floors.  Doggy Jackets    Matilda Faux-Leather Jacket by Charliescloset  Jackets are the go-to choice for keeping dogs warm – but don’t settle! A number of options are now on the market that are super-stylish as well as warming.  The Beau Geste wool hand-knitted by Doggie Warmers   Cosi Kilt Dog Coat by Highland Dog  Cozy Cushion   Image credit  Cozy Cushion is a cat bed that heats without electricity. Beneath the faux-fur exterior is a thermo-reflective material that uses your cat’s body heat to make the entire cushion toasty as a heated blanket. Not having in cords, when soiled, the bed can just be thrown into the washing machine.  K&H Thermal-Bowl    Image credit  We worry about our pet’s having enough bedding and shelter in winter – but what about your pet’s lips? The K&H Thermal-Bowl heats up water to a comfortable temperature so your pet’s tongue is kept cosy in the cooler months. It is also great for ensuring water is always accessible in areas prone to snow and ice. The bowl is self-heating with the temperature monitored by the bowl to ensure it stays at the correct level.    Cuddles!  Snuggle up to your pet and heat each other up with hugs!    Image credit    Image credit    Feature image credit

What's this little guy dreaming about? Playtime? Puppy school? Treats? Or maybe that eerie looking dressed up doll beside him? Whatever it is, his little woofs and whines are guaranteed to melt your heart. We love puppy dreaming videos! Be sure to SHARE this video and bring some adorable into someone else's day!

The end of the world is nigh – but don’t worry! This little guy is doing a great job praying for humankind’s salvation. Love how happy he looks with his big eyes and well groomed coat – such a great look for a Pomeranian. What cool tricks can your dog do? And be sure to SHARE if this pup brought a smile to your face!

1. The "look how smart I look in glasses" selfie. Image credit   2. The pretend caught off guard selfie.   Image credit   3. The suns out guns out selfie.   Image credit 4. The #nomakeup, #nofilter" selfie.   Image credit   5. The "I wear my sunglasses at night" selfie. Image credit   6. The outdoorsy selfie. Image credit   7. The "I love my boyfriend" selfie.   Image credit 7. The classic bathroom mirror selfie.   Image credit   8. The "I'm sooo tired" selfie.   Image credit 9. The Miley Cyrus selfie. Image credit   9. The "aren't you jealous I'm on vacation?" selfie. Image credit 10. The "I woke up like this" selfie. Image credit 11. The "me and my main dog" selfie.   Image credit 12. The photobomb selfie.  Image credit   13. The common #ootd (outfit of the day) selfie.  Image credit   14. The birthday boy selfie.  Image credit   15. And lastly, the all time favorite #selfiesunday selfie.   Image credit    

Image credit There have been amazing advances in the field of veterinary medicine, including many new medications to treat both chronic and acute illnesses. One thing has not changed, however, and that is the difficulty many pet owners face when trying to get their dogs to take a pill.    Dogs are very food-oriented, but they are also very cautious. That caution helped protect their canine ancestors, who needed to remain alert for poisons and other harmful substances. In the modern world, however, that natural caution often stands in the way and prevents our canine companions from getting the medication they need to get well and stay well.    If you have recently come home from the veterinarian with a prescription or a vial of pills, you will need to think about how best to get that medication into your dog. There are a number of tricks you can use to get your dog to take its medication, and you may need to do some experimenting to see which method works the best.    No matter which method you use, you will need to watch and make sure your dog really does swallow the pill you give it. Dogs are sneaky, and they often appear to take their medication, only to drop it off in a hidden corner of the room. Taking a quick survey of the room and looking for lost pills will help make sure your dog gets the medicine it needs.    The Lunchmeat Trick One of the simplest ways to get your dog to take its pill is to wrap it in a piece of lunchmeat. This trick is well known to many dog owners, and it can work surprisingly well. The lunchmeat trick is best suited to dogs who are very food-oriented. If your dog tends to gulp its food and eat very quickly, wrapping the pill in a favorite treat can be very effective.    Pill Pockets The pill pocket is a variation on the old lunchmeat trick, and it can work very well for dogs who have caught on to the older trick. Pill pockets are specially designed to disguise the pill so that dogs cannot sense either its size or shape. Pill pockets are available at many pet stores, and it is a good idea for dog owners to keep a few on hand. If your dog loves to eat, you should be able to get it to take its pill with a pill pocket.    Pill Gun If you cannot sneak a pill to your dog by hiding it in food, a pill gun may be a better solution. With a pill gun, you simply place the medication in the device, place the end of the pill gun in the dog's mouth and press a plunger. The pill gun essentially shoots the pill down your dog's throat, making it easier to get the medication into your dog. It can take some practice to learn how to use the gun, and you will need to watch to make sure the dog does indeed swallow the pill.    Paste Medications If none of the above options work, you may need to look for another solution. Many popular pet medications, including antibiotics and anti-inflammatory treatments, are available in paste form. Paste medications are often easier for your dog to take. Some are even flavored to make them more enticing. Since the paste is sticky, your dog will not be able to spit it out or avoid it. If your dog is reluctant to take pills, you can ask your vet if the medication is available in paste form instead.

Image credit If you have just added a new cat or kitten to your home, you may be wondering how to make the cat feel comfortable and happy. Here are five tips that will help you to create a strong, stable bond with your new pet.    1. Take charge of feeding your cat If you want your cat to view you as the most important person in the house, one smart trick is to make sure that you are the one who is responsible for providing food. If you establish a reliable, sensible feeding schedule, you will teach your new companion that you are providing care and can be trusted. You can also use cat treats to your advantage, but avoid dispensing too much of these (as they tend to be high in salt and fat). In addition, stick to food designed for cats, as many human foods can be very dangerous to a cat's body.    2. Focus on the cat's sweet spots All cats have subtly different preferences when it comes to being petted, but there are some approaches that seem to please almost all cats. In particular, try scratching the cat behind the ears, under the chin, and down the back (in the direction of the hair rather than against the grain). After a while, you can also try to administer gentle tummy rubs, though most cats will not reveal the stomach area until they are already in a close relationship with a human.    3. Pay attention to body language When you are petting your cat, look out for cues that indicate enjoyment or dislike. When cats are happy, they often push up against your hand, knead their paws (as they would when suckling from a mother cat), and purr. In contrast, cats that feel defensive will often flatten their ears, crouch low to the ground and rapidly move their tails from side to side. Of course, hissing, growling and biting are also negative signs, but hopefully you won't see these from your cat in normal circumstances.    4. Don't punish your cat If your cat ruins a piece of furniture or does something else that you deem unacceptable, you may feel the instinct to shout or even smack the cat. However, studies on cat behavior show that these methods only frighten cats and create further behavioral problems. If you want to teach a cat to stop doing something, ignoring the pet usually proves to be a more useful approach.    5. Engage in play Playing with your cat also sends out strong signals that you can be seen as a trusted friend and companion. There are plenty of fun toys out there, ranging from squeaky toys that you can throw to long pieces of material that hang from a stick. You might need to try a wide range before you learn the information required to pick out your cat's favorites, but you will be in for hours of fun once you figure it out.     

Image credit One of the biggest and most important decisions any pet owner needs to make is which veterinarian to choose. Medical care for your pet is an essential part of keeping it happy and healthy, and getting the right veterinary care can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.    So how do you choose the right veterinarian for the four-legged friend in your life? There are a number of criteria you can use, depending on the type of animal you have, where you live and where your priorities lie.   Image credit    Breed-Specific Experience If you have or are adopting a specific breed of cat or dog, it is important to seek out a veterinarian who has practical experience with that particular breed. There is an enormous amount of specialization in cats and dogs these days and every breed has its own specific health issues.    If your veterinarian is unfamiliar with a breed-specific health condition, your pet could be misdiagnosed or important signals could be missed. This could lead to serious health consequences down the line, but someone with the right experience could help you avoid that. Unless you have a more common breed like a Labrador, Golden Retriever or German Shepherd, it is important to ask the potential vet about his or her experience with your chosen cat or dog.   Image credit    Available Technology Veterinary technology is nearly as impressive as medical technology these days. It is not unusual for today's veterinarians to work with MRI machines, CAT scans and similar technology. Choosing a vet who is familiar with the latest medical technology and keeps up with current trends can help ensure your pet will get the best care possible if something serious arises.    Your veterinary office does not necessarily need to have an MRI and CAT scanner on site, but they should know how to use one and where to find it. In many parts of the country, there are clinics that house this high-end equipment, and area vets refer their patients to those locations when they need specialized care.   Image credit    Location and Emergency Hours The location of the veterinary office can be a major factor, especially if your pet already has a complicated medical history. The ability to get your cat or dog to the clinic in a matter of minutes can be very important, especially in an emergency. Location should not be the deciding factor, of course, but it can be an important consideration.    The emergency policy of the veterinary clinic is even more important than its location. You want to know that your vet will be available to treat your pet even after the clinic closes its doors for the night, so be sure to ask about emergency procedures up front. Some vets will happily go to the office to see a sick pet in the middle of the night, while others will refer clients to an emergency clinic or alternate veterinarian. It is important to know the philosophy of your vet before your pet becomes a patient.   Image credit    Reputation A quality veterinary clinic will develop a stellar reputation in the community over time, and you can learn a lot by asking others about local clinics. If you adopt your pet from a local rescue, you can ask the group for recommendations and advice. If your friends and work colleagues have pets, you should ask them which vets they use.    Word-of-mouth advertising is very important for service-oriented businesses like veterinary offices, so you should take their reputation very seriously. People who have had bad experiences with vets are often willing to share their thoughts, so do not be afraid to ask for the good and the bad. Choosing the right veterinarian is important, and you do not want to leave this important decision to chance.   Image credit         

Image credit Proper training is important for every dog, and in the end the dog owner needs to act as the trainer. Even if you spend money on puppy kindergarten and expensive training classes, you will need to reinforce the lessons the professional trainer teaches your dog. If you fail to provide that reinforcement, your dog will quickly revert to its old ways, and all the money you spent on training will have been wasted.    There are some common mistakes that dog owners tend to make when they train their dogs or reinforce the training professionals have provided. Whether you hire an outside trainer or work with your dog on your own, these common blunders could undo all your hard work.   Expecting Too Much Too Soon Expecting too much progress too soon is one of the most common mistakes dog owners make. It's easy to see why so many dog owners make this blunder; we see dogs on TV and in the movies every day, and they always seem to behave perfectly. It is only natural to want your own dog to do the same.   Keep in mind, however, that those canine movie and TV stars are the product of years of careful training by professionals. You cannot expect your own dog to master the same tricks or display the same level of competence with part-time training. So cut your dog some slack and give it time. Your dog will master the basics and then move on to more advanced training.   Image credit   Not Rewarding Your Dog for Trying Positive reinforcement is the key to success when training your dog. As the owner, you will need to recognize when your dog is trying hard to please you and understand what you want. Rewarding your dog for trying to do what you ask is one of the best ways to get results.    Keep an assortment of treats with you as you train your dog, and be ready to provide a reward when your dog understands what you want and attempts to do it. Reward the try, even if the result are not as perfect as you might like. The positive reinforcement you provide will keep your dog motivated and moving forward.   Sending Mixed Messages   This is a big one, especially in big families. Sending mixed messages will derail even the most comprehensive training strategy and could set your dog's progress back weeks or even months.    If you want your dog to stop jumping on people, your friends and family are not doing you any favors if they allow the behavior. Be clear about what you are trying to achieve with your dog, and make sure everyone - family members, friends and visitors - knows to enforce the same level of discipline.    Avoiding these common mistakes is one of the best ways to keep your dog moving forward in its training. Dogs are pack animals, and they seek strong leadership. As the dog owner, you need to be the pack leader, and that means providing consistency and authority as well as love and affection.     

Image credit Breeds go in and out of fashion – and sometimes they fade entirely. The Salish Wool Dog is an extinct breed that was a true ‘sheep dog’ farmed by Native Americans for its valuable fur.   The Salish Coast tribe inhabited what is now Washington State and British Columbia. They carefully cultivated a population of dogs with white, long hair which they would shear like sheep in May or June for wool.   The Salish Wool Dog is considered the only prehistoric North American dog breed created by true animal husbandry, which is to say, it was selectively and purposefully bred to create traits useful for the community. Other dogs in the tribe were not cultivated intentionally and developed traits through chance and natural selection. Salish Wool Dogs were segregated from other dogs in the area, on islands and gated caves in packs of about twelve to twenty individuals.   Wool Dogs were fed a diet of raw and cooked salmon. Today fish oil is used by the dog showing community as it is well-known to improve coat quality and lustre.     Image credit The Salish tribe lacked access to sheep and mountain goat wool which was hazardous to gather, hence the substitution of dog fur.   The explorer Captain George Vancouver reported the Salish Wool Dog’s coat was so thick when sheared one could pick up a corner and the whole fleece would hold together. The “Salish blankets” made by the tribe from the fur were prized by Native American tribes, being almost as valuable as slaves.   In order to improve the yarn quality and extend supply of the valuable fur, dog hair was mixed with other local materials, such as mountain goat wool, feathers and plant fibres.   Image credit   The arrival of Europeans in North America was the beginning of the end for the Salish Wool Dog. Increased access to sheep, Hudson bay blankets and the destruction of the Native American population itself due to disease and conflict lead to a disruption of traditional cultivation methods. The Salish Wool Dog began to interbreed with other varieties of dog and lose the traits that made it so distinct. By the mid-19th century the Salish Wool Dog was understood as extinct as a separate breed. In 1940 the last known descendent of the Wool dogs passed away.   Doubters who claimed the Salish Wool Dog was nothing but folklore have been disproven by recent DNA analysis, which has proven dog hair is a component of a number of surviving examples of Salish weavers’ works.   Image credit Today, the Salish Wool Dog lives on in the oral history of the Salish Coast tribe and ceremonial blankets preserved in museum collections. There is also a pelt that was re-discovered in a drawer of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. of a dog fittingly dubbed ‘Mutton’ who once belonged to a scientist who studied the tribes of the Pacific Northwest.   

Image credit   1. “It’s a shame we didn’t learn anything else besides Cat’s In the Cradle.”   Image credit   2. “Who let the dog’s out!”   Image credit   3. "Eat your heart out Liberace!"   Image credit   4. “This is not the kind of scratching I’m used to.”   Image credit   5. “It's like a jungle sometimes. It makes me wonder how I keep from goin' under under.”   Image credit   6. “Ebony and ivory… live together in purrfect harmony.”   Image credit   7. “Money for nothing and your licks for free.”   Image credit   8. “They don't call cats cool for nothing.”   Image credit   9. “Put your paw in the air and wave it like you just don’t care!”