I’m a dog lover, and currently own two dogs, Maya and Chief. Maya is almost 4.5 and Chief is 2.5 years old. I had Maya for 2 years before deciding to get Chief, and it was not an easy decision. I put a lot of work into Maya to make her an extremely well behaved, obedient dog, and I didn’t want to mess up a good thing by bringing another dog into the picture.

In the end, I decided to get another dog and it has been absolutely amazing. The two dogs are crazy about each other, are best friends and playmates and you really couldn’t ask for a better situation. Still, there are few things I can share from my experience that you should definitely look out for and consider before getting another canine.

Is Your First Dog Well Behaved?

Before you get a second dog, be sure that you have done a solid job training your first one. One important reason is that your second dog will learn from your first dog, and if your first dog has bad habits and is poorly trained, you’re asking for a bad experience. A second dog should never be a “make-up” for the first dog you didn’t put enough effort into. Spend more time with your first dog and prove that you can be a good dog trainer before getting a second. While the two dogs may play together, it certainly is not a fix to go out and get a second dog that will tire your other dog out.

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Connecting with nature is great. It can bring calm to a person. It can also provide an opportunity to stop the daily chaos and enjoy life. However, sometimes not so pleasant things can interrupt your enjoyment, especially when you find maggots in your bird feeder. This post is here to help, offering up solutions to five common birding problems so you can get back to enjoying nature. 

1 – My bird feeder has maggots

Chances are your birdseed was infested before you ever put it into the feeder. Start by trashing your remaining birdseed, if you have any. Then make sure you’re storing it correctly. Store your birdseed in an airtight container, so it isn’t exposed to rodents, flies or other harmful creatures. Ensuring your birdseed is kept dry is also very important. Damp birdseed can grow mold, which can cause respiratory issues in birds.

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In many homes, pets are considered family. People call their pets their children, but don’t remember one of the most important responsibilities of owning a pet: taking care of their teeth! Just like kids, dogs and cats can develop gum disease, cavities and plaque build up. Dental care for pets is often underestimated but is something that should not be ignored.

The first step in taking care of a pet’s teeth is brushing them at home at least three times a week. It is best to begin brushing their teeth at a young age and changing the technique as they get older. When they are young, it is common for it to take a while for them to get used to their teeth being brushed.

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I had been treating my dog, Scout, for ear infections for a few years until my vet shed light on the underlying problem. He has allergies. All his life I just thought Scout was prone to ear infections, and had a few odd habits, but they were all signs that he had allergies. If your dog has been exhibiting the following behaviors he/she may have allergies too, and it’s important to discuss it with your vet.

The biggest sign is frequent ear infections that are usually seasonal. Of course I noticed that Scout had more ear infections in the summer however I assumed it was related to all the swimming he does. After I spoke to my vet he explained that the water doesn’t cause ear infections but it can make them worse.

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With so much evidence pointing to the benefits of living naturally, a lot of us have started to wonder about how to best treat their pets. We try to avoid processed junk food and carefully read the labels of the boxes and bags we find at the grocery store. Shouldn’t we be giving the same consideration to the diets of our dogs? 

The answer is yes. A diet of processed kibble and commercial food containing fillers and chemicals does the same thing to a dog as a diet of packaged chips and cookies would do to us. These are foods that are not found in nature, foods that bodies were not designed to digest. 

What’s in commercial dog food? 

The first clue about what’s really in commercial dog food is in the ownership of the dog food companies. Most dog food producers are subsidiaries of corporations that make human food, and many of the products we feed our pets are actually the cast-offs from the slaughterhouses and factories that these corporations run. Any food, from offal to grain, that is deemed unfit for human consumption can find its way into dog food.

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