Frequently Asked Questions

A: Thank you for your support in 2014. We hope to see you again in 2015. Happy New Year!

A: Christmas is a holiday of giving, but if you're considering giving away a puppy, kitten, hamster, rabbit, ferret, guinea pig, or other animal, pause and think about it some more. Pets as surprise gifts are rarely a good idea. Pets give immense joy, but they require commitment too, and once the holiday is over shelters all around the country will overflow with abandoned animals. If you really want a pet and everyone in the family is onboard with the idea, you can go to a shelter and adopt one once the holidays are over. For Christmas morning, you can give the kids a stuffed toy as a promise you'll go to the shelter and look. Every pet deserves a good home where they are loved and receive proper care. If you want to surprise your own children with a pet, be aware that you as an adult will have the final responsibility to care for it. This includes ensuring the children respect it and aren't too rough with it. If you want to surprise someone else's child with a pet, discuss with the adults in the family and make sure everyone's on the same page. Christmas morning isn't a good time for new pets Even if all the adults in the family are on the same page, Christmas morning isn't the best time a year to get a new pet. Everyone's tearing into gifts, there are loud toys, potentially dangerous ribbons everywhere, chocolate, and general chaos. A new pet needs to land in calm environment where he or she can feel safe. You don't want a frightened, cowering animal that is overwhelmed by all the sudden attention, children squealing with excitement, and almost battling each other to hold it. Important things to consider before getting a pet: Different animals have different tempers and needs. Research the type of pet you're considering, and make sure the animal is right for your family. If you're getting a dog, research breeds and get a breed that fits your lifestyle. Do you have enough space? Enough money to get the equipment you need? Are you prepared for a lifetime commitment? Even small pets like guinea pigs can live for five years. Dogs can live for fifteen years, and some other types of pets live for decades. If you can't deal with someone being dependent on you every day for that amount of time, don't get a pet. All pets require attention, care, and training. Discuss the pet's schedule with the family. If you're getting a dog, he or she will need walks every day. Puppies need to go out every time they eat, sleep, or play - even if it's raining or in the middle of your favorite TV show. Make a budget. Include food, toys, treats, vet costs, kitty litter, straw, and whatever else your new pet will need. Plan for emergencies. Who can care for your pet if everyone in your family needs to travel somewhere? Create an emergency fund in case something happens and your pet needs urgent care. A child should not be sole caretaker of a pet. As an adult, the pet is your responsibility.

A: We got many wonderful entries to the 2014 PlexiDor dog food contest, and three winners have been drawn from the submissions. Don't lose hope if you didn't win this time - the contest is likely to return in 2015. Third Prize of a $25 Dunkin Donuts gift card goes to: Tiffany Hughes in Arizona. When asked what she thinks about the PlexiDor she answered, "The PlexiDoor sounds incredible and we would love to have one! With the varying temperatures in Southern AZ (very hot during the day and cool at night), it would be great to have a doggie door that helps regulate the internal temperature of the house without letting the outside temperature interfere. Our last plastic doggie door flap at our old house completely broke and though we tried taping it back on with duck tape and plastic tape, it was a futile battle and it ended up as a gaping hole." Second Prize of a $50 Dunkin Donuts gift card goes to: Sean Selman in Texas. When asked what he thinks of the PlexiDor, Sean answered, "Professionally engineered. Quality materials. Quiet. Energy-efficient. Completely secure. Long-lasting. Safe. Easy for pets to use. COOL FACT: Plexidor doggie doors are in Marmaduke. The Plexidor dog door is the door featured in Marmaduke when he moves to California. Last but not least! They are manufactured in the U.S.A.!!!" First Prize of 1,000 pounds of Black Gold Dog Food with delivery goes to: Penny Hamilton in Colorado. When asked what she thinks about the PlexiDor, Penny says, "Our dog and we love the freedom that our pet doors gives. We live in Colorado high mountains so we made an 'airlock' with two pet doors. Our smart dog, rescued from a high kill area, just bounds through 'his' pet doors to our elevated deck with is elevated to keep him safe from mountain lions, bears and other mountain critters."   Congratulations to all the winners, and a warm Thank You to everyone who participated! 

A: Many use the new year holiday to reflect on the year that has passed, and to look forward on what they want to change. Top new year's resolutions for humans often include to exercise more, lose weight, and stop smoking. The new year can be a fresh start for your pets too.  Here are five ideas for New Year's Resolutions for your pet. 1. Measure your pet's food. Every time Over half of pets living in the USA are overweight. Measure your pet's  food every meal to make sure you're not overfeeding your furry friends. Keeping a healthy weight can decrease the risk of serious diseases and increase the pet's life span. 2. Do something new together It's easy to get stuck in a rut. Try something new - go hiking, take your dog to dogs, or try a dog sport. This is fun, a great way to bond, gives your pet important socialization, and you both get some exercise. 3. Groom your pet and brush their teeth A daily session does more than help your pet look great - it builds the bond between you. Brushing your pet can help alleviate your stress, and show him or her that you love them. Brushing teeth can be more of an ordeal until you both get used to it, but keeping pets' teeth clean is important to their overall health. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste meant for pets. 4. Teach your dog some new tricks Mental stimulation helps keep your pets healthy and happy. Practice tricks your dog already knows, and learn something new. Puzzle feeders and toys are also great to help keep your pet entertained and alert. 5. Check your pet's tags and microchip information When something changes - be it a phone number, an address, or even your name - there's a lot to think about, and the pet's information is often forgotten. If any of your information has changed, update your pet's tags and microchip information.

A: Most pets take to their cat door or dog door quickly. They are eager to be outside, and love the option to go in and out whenever they want to. Some pets are intimidated by the door at first, but with a little patience your cat or dog will learn to use the door. Most pets learn in between five seconds and five days. The PlexiDor is different from traditional cat flaps and dog doors in many ways. The difference most important from the pet's point of view is that your cat or dog can see through the panel. Many cats and dogs like to lie just inside the door and peek out at what's happening outside. Being able to see through also makes it easier for many pets to learn to use the door - they can see the outside, and they want to get there. If the pet doesn’t take to the door, try propping one of the panels open and tempting the pet with a treat. If the pet is reluctant, start with propping both panels up. Never force your cat or dog through the door, and give praise once they do come through. Be patient - they'll get it. For the electronic door, it usually works well to put a treat on the bottom lip of the pet door. The dog or cat approaches to get the treat, and the collar key triggers the door to open. It doesn’t take long for the pets to figure out that the door will open when they come close to it. //youtu.be/bi01-eLGF7s

A: You can install a pet door through a wall. The PlexiDor dog doors and cat door are available for door or wall installation. The door kit makes it easy to install the pet door through a standard house door. A somewhat handy person can do this themselves and it doesn't take long. The house door isn't always the best place for the pet door - sometimes a wall fits better. The PlexiDor wall kits can be installed in cement, stud, brick or block walls up to 12 inches thick. The kits come with an aluminum tunnel to connect the interior and exterior frame. When you install a pet door through a wall it can be trickier than installing through a door - it is more difficult to make a hole in the wall than through a door. (An important tip is cutting from the outside - keep the mess outside the house!) You also need to check if it's a load-bearing wall or not. This video shows how to install a PlexiDor through a door and through different forms of walls. It begins with installing through a door. Wall installations start around 9 minutes in and will go through the installation process through different wall materials. //youtu.be/tf_qvEg8tsw

A: Each year, the website vetstreet.com compiles a list of most popular names for puppies and kittens. The 2014 puppy names lists were recently released.  For female puppies, the top three remains constant. Bella is the number one name, and has kept that position since 2006. The first book in the wildly popular Twilight saga was released in 2005 and the heroines name is Bella. That could be a coincidence, or maybe not... The other names in the top three - Daisy and Lucy - have also held their positions for years. When it comes to the boys, Max has been the number one name for nine years. The second most popular name used to be Buddy, but this name was kicked down to a number four position in 2014. Instead, Charlie and Rocky have filled out the second and third spot. Top 2014 puppy names for girls are: Bella Daisy Lucy Sadie Molly Lola Sophie Zoey Luna Chloe Top names for boy puppies are: Max Charlie Rocky Buddy Cooper Duke Bear Zeus Bentley Toby

A: Today is Cat Herders' Day - a whimsical holiday dedicated to all those who feel like they're battling an impossible task. Whether you're literally trying to herd cats - a task that have been attempted by many herding dogs - or you're struggling with something else, today is your day.  For cat people, the day means promoting everyone's efforts to improve the lives of stray and homeless cats and other animals, and to take some time to appreciate the cats in our lives. If you don't have a cat, adopting one and listening to its soothing purr might help alleviate the stress of managing the unmanageable. If you've never seen a herding dog at work, check out this Youtube video of two Border Collies working together to bring in the sheep. Those dogs can run! //youtu.be/8HwwdSKrqEk

A: The PlexiDor Electronic  pet door is a unique solution that works well for both dogs and cats. The door has a composite panel that slides up and down, and the panel is controlled by an RFID key attached to the pet's collar.  When the pet comes close to the door, the panel slides up. The door will only open for pets with the right key. When the door is closed the panel acts as a security door. The collar key is waterproof and lacks moving parts, so it is very sturdy while being small enough not to disturb the pet. See the PlexiDor Electronic dog door and cat door in action in this video: //youtu.be/zxeAnyQhrrI

A: Dog bite force myths need to be debunked. Some people who are afraid of dogs will claim that certain dog breeds can exert over 2,000 pounds of pressure with their jaws. It's an impressive number - and an enormous exaggeration. They bite harder than a human, but not as much harder as one could think. The average human can bite down with a 120 pound force. A grown up man can reach around 150. It's not a lot, but being bit by a human will still hurt and do damage. It is more difficult to measure the exact bite force of dogs, because they won't bite as hard every time, and they will bite harder if they're provoked. The force they can chow down with depends on the shape of the jaw and the size of the dog's head One test measured three dog breeds that often strike fear in those afraid of dogs; American Pit Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers. (If you are afraid of dogs, you should know that all dogs can be good and all dogs can be bad - it depends on the owner and not the breed.) The average dog bite force turned out to be 269 pounds of pressure. The Rottweilers were the strongest and topped with 328 pounds of bite pressure. German Shepherds came in second with a 238 measured dog bite force, and the American Pit Bull Terrier came in third with 235 pounds of pressure. How does that measure compared to cousins in the wild? Dogs are at a disadvantage.  A wolf's normal bite force is around 400 pounds. If it is protecting itself, a large wolf can bite down with over 1,200 pounds of pressure. Large cats are very strong. A Jaguar can reach 700 pounds of pressure, and Siberian Tiger 950. You might not think of Hyenas as strong, but even though they are scavengers they also hunt, and most of the time they chase down their own food. A hyena can bite down with 1100 pounds, and they've been known to chase off lions to claim food. When it comes to our primate cousins, the Gorillas are the largest and strongest. An adult male gorilla can weigh 400 pounds, and bite down with a strength of 1,300 pounds per square inch. Now, that doesn't mean that you should fear gorillas - they are herbivores, peaceful, and shy. Many who visit the south are afraid of alligators, and it is certainly wise to abide by regulations and warning signs. The American Alligator has a bite strength of 2125, sharp teeth, and powerful muscles to hold their prey. This still pales compared to the Nile Crocodile that can close their mouths with a pressure of 5000 pounds. While alligators and crocodiles can run fairly quickly on land,  it's nowhere near what urban myths claim. They can lounge out of water at a fairly high speed, but the land speed record is around 10 mph, and they grow tired quickly when on land. Alligator attacks are extremely rare. The risk of being injured in an unprovoked alligator attack is around one in 2.4 million.