Frequently Asked Questions

A: Some human behaviors translate poorly into the world of dogs, and they often cause accidents or bites. Here are four things we humans tend to do that dogs in general don't like. Four Things Dogs Don't Like: 1. Misreading the dog's signals A vast majority of dog bites, especially when children are involved, happen because humans misread a dog's body language. Parents can think something is cute, but the dog just wants to get away, even if it knows the child. The follow signs should be put in context, of course, and each sign below is usually accompanied by other signs of stress. Licking nose and lips A stressed dog licking nose and lips looks very different than when you feed your dog a treat. Yawning A stressed dog often yawns repeatedly, with intensity. Some dogs even yawn when they need to go out. Panting Of course dogs pant to cool off, but it is also a common sign of stress. Other common signs include looking away, turning away, pinning back the ears with a tense facial expression, low body posture, leaning backward, and tension. 2. Hugging Hugging is a human phenomenon. Many dogs get used to being hugged by their family members and can even learn to appreciate it, but there are also dogs that never get used to it. Hugging a dog can make them feel threatened or challenged. There are countless news stories where a child has been bit by the neighbor's dog - or even the family's own dog - and the parents say, "It came out of the blue. She was just hugging the dog." This misunderstanding between the species ends with a traumatized child and euthanized dog. 3. Patting on top of the head While most dogs love to be petted, that's not the same as going up to a dog and patting them on the top of the head or on the face. Teach your children not to do this - especially not to dogs they don't know. While most dogs tolerate it, they might not like it, and some perceive it as a threat. They don't like a hand coming at them from above any more than a human would. When you meet a dog, crouch and turn away a little - this means that you're not a threat. When the dog comes up to you, pet it on the side. 4. Staring into a dog's eyes Most dogs are okay with gazing into their owner's eyes. However, don't approach a dog you don't know and stare into their eyes - this is a challenge in doggie language.

A: Holiday decorations are a big part of the season, and lights and cheerful colors spread joy in the winter darkness. Everything new in the house brings new dangers to pets as well, and here are some safety tips for pets on little things that can make a big difference. The tree Whether you use an artificial tree or a reason, make sure it's securely anchored so your pets can't knock it over. Especially cats are tempted to climb into the tree. Also clean up any tree needles regularly - they're sharp and can get stuck in your pet's throat or paws. Tinsel Pets love to play with and eat tinsel and ribbons. These can cause a lot of damage if swallowed, and even require surgery. Keep tinsel and ribbons off the floor. Baubles Many pets, particularly cats, see baubles as irresistible play things. Try to use decorations that won't shatter if they hit the floor, and that aren't too small. You don't want your pet to accidentally swallow a decoration. Power cords Protect cords so your pet can't play with them or chew on them. New house plants Many of the season's house plants are poisonous. Most people think the poinsettia is very dangerous, but it is only mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Pets shouldn't be encouraged to eat it of course, but the poinsettia's reputation is quite exaggerated. Mistletoe, rosemary, and holly can be dangerous to cats and dogs. Keep them out of reach, and contact a veterinarian if you think your pet has ingested any type of holly.

A: The Belgian Malinois is a breed used by police forces all over the world, and they excel at security work, protection, search and rescue, scent detection, and many other things. However, dogs are individuals just like people, and police work isn't for everyone.  Cash is a two year old Belgian Malinois, and he was supposed to join the police force of Cannon Beach, Oregon. While he surely did his best, it was soon clear to the officers that Cash wasn't cut out for the job; the poor dog was afraid of heights, skittish, and maybe even afraid of drugs - he'd bark aggressively instead of sniffing them out. Cash is now returned to his original owner, and will hopefully find a new career. The Belgian Malinois was originally bred to be a herding dog. Many confuse the dogs with German Shepherds, but they are quite different dogs. They are generally quick to learn and eager to please their humans, they have an abundance of energy, and require interaction and exercise.

A: Brazil has undergone large changes during the last few decades, and the quickly urbanizing middle class work more, earn more, and have kids later than previous generations. They also get more and more pets. The population of Brazil is roughly 200 million people. They also have almost 20 million small dogs, and this is more per capita than anywhere else in the world. The total number of dogs in the country is around 36 million, and the average home is more likely to have at least one dog than to be dog-less. Most of these pooches get specialized care - they are blessed by priests, driven in pet taxis, taken for specialized grooming, and bred in dog love motels. The most common breeds are small terriers, shih tzus, and chihuahuas. The top five countries for small dog ownership are: Brazil Portugal Mexico Philippines USA The countries with the least small dogs are: India Turkey Indonesia Egypt Saudi Arabia Egypt only has one small dog for every 5,600 people, and Saudi Arabia one small dog for every 9,400 people.

A: Ulric is Britain's fattest cat and weighs as much as an average three year old child. The Norwegian forest cat has been placed on strict diets and even entered a pet slimming competition where everything he ate was weighed. He still didn't lose any weight.  When his owner realized Ulric was quite good at stealing his sister's food she tried to take him for walks to lose some weight, but he refused to go along with that. What is a cat lover to do? Uric's owner enrolled help from a dog. Dennis is a five month old pug-cross who has turned into Ulric's personal trainer. The puppy chases the cat around the yard, plays, and wrestles, and after three months with the dog, Ulric has lost more weight than in 16 months of dieting. //youtu.be/iJYgo1a-rhc

A: If you have an energetic dog that loves balls, Flyball might be an ideal sport. It's a team sport, and a form of controlled chaos that involves a lot of running and jumping. The dog needs to be able to focus around distractions and in good enough shape to run and jump. Flyball is played in teams with four dogs in each team. One end of the course holds a starting line, and the other a specialized box where the dog will release and catch a tennis ball that is to be carried back to the starting line. In between are four jumps. Each dog in the team must complete the course. That is, run over the jumps, trigger the box to release a ball, catch the ball, and return with it, going over all four jumps. The next dog in line can't cross the line before the dog currently on the course returns. If a dog would run on the side of a jump, or return without the ball, he or she must run the course again. The height of the jumps are based on the team's shortest dog, so everyone wants to have a small dog on the team. Flyball is one of the most athletic dog sports. At a flyball tournament, a team might run between 18 and 24 heats in a day. Add in reruns for starting too early, missing a jump, or some other error, and a dog can easily run 40 times during a weekend. To start training, your dog needs to get used to noisy and busy places. At a competition there will be dogs running around, barking, people running back and forth, balls, and other distractions. Train to stay calm around distractions, and train recall with distractions. You can also train jumping, chasing you, tugging, and building the dog's general strength through swimming and jogging. Search for a club and classes in your area. This is a great sport with a lot of fun, and an opportunity for both humans and dogs to make friends.

A: There are many stray dogs in Ecuador, and up until recently, Arthur was one of them. No home, no family, no name. That is, until he ran into Team Peak Performance - a Swedish team competing in Adventure Racing World Championship.  One of the theme members gave Arthur a meatball. Being a smart pooch, Arthur figure out that if there's one meatball there are probably many, and he decided to tag along on the team's trek. To start with the team tried to shoo him away, because a 430 mile endurance race in the rainforest is not for the faint of heart, and it is no place for a dog. Arthur didn't give up. He followed the team all the way to the finish line. Sweden is located on a peninsula and free from many animal diseases that plague other countries. There is a strong legislation meant to keep harmful diseases away, and bringing an animal there is easier said than done. Luckily for Arthur, his loyalty moved his new teammate into falling in love with him, and they arranged for him to travel to Sweden. Miraculously, the vets gave him a clean bill of health, and he can now enjoy the spoils of Scandinavia.

A: The big eating holiday is finally here, and odds are tempting smells are pulling both humans and pets towards the kitchen. Yesterday we shared some tips of Thanksgiving foods that are okay for dogs and cats to eat, and some they shouldn't have. Today we'll share some recipes of special Thanksgiving foods for dogs. If you really want to share the holiday spirit and make your furry friends something special, we have a couple of ideas. Pumpkin Smoothie for dogs This is really easy to make, and most dogs love it. Mix equal parts plain nonfat yogurt and canned pumpkin puree. (Make sure it's not pie filling - the cans look quiet similar.) Serve as  a liquid, or freeze for handy, cool treats. Turkey Meatballs for dogs 6 ounces ground turkey 0.5 cup finely chopped carrots 0.5 cup quinoa or oatmeal A pinch of kelp powder Place the carrots and turkey in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add quinoa/oatmeal and the kelp powder and blend some more. Roll into meatballs (it's easier if you wet your hands with cold water) and bake in 400 F on a non-stick cookie sheet. They need around 15 minutes in the oven.

A: Dog owners know their pooches understand language, and past research has shown that dogs respond to different parts of human speech, making a difference between content and emotional tone. New research shows that dogs process speech in a way similar to humans. Naturally, this doesn't mean that all dogs understand all human words. Dogs must learn our language, and different individuals can retain different amounts of words. The study shows that dogs process words with the brain's left hemisphere - just like humans do. This part of the brain processes syntax and words. Dogs and humans both process emotional tone with the brain's right hemisphere. Does this matter? It helps explain how dogs became man's best friend - they can truly tell the difference between meaningless sounds and words that are important to them. They love us back, see us as their family, listen to what we say, and understand.

A: When working with a load-bearing wall, it is important not to compromise the structural integrity of the wall. You can still install a PlexiDor through a loading bearing wall, but the way to do it will differ with the pet door size. PlexiDor sizes up to and including the large door will fit between the studs in a wall, so the framing structure won't change. Just removing insulation will not weaken your wall. If you're installing an Extra Large PlexiDor, it's wider than the space between studs and you you will need to cut one. Add a cross member support to the framing to even the load - this will ensure the weight is still distributed evenly. If you have any questions, call our customer service at 1-800-749-9609.