By Darcy Lockman for The Dog Daily

New York City graduate student Lacey Brown was walking her roommate’s German Shepherd last fall when the dog lunged and bit an elderly neighbor on the wrist. “The dog had been growling at people when we were out together, something he never did when he was with his owner,” she laments. “I should’ve stopped walking him when the growling began.”

Dr. Katy Nelson, an emergency veterinarian in Virginia, concurs: “You have to know your dog and what it’s capable of. This dog probably viewed his owner as the alpha, and the roommate as the beta — the dog was protecting Lacey, whom he considered to be his. You have to make sure your dog knows you’re higher in rank to prevent incidents like this one from happening.”

The Facts on Dog Bites

According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year. Of those, one in five requires medical attention. Additionally, around 31,000 people need reconstructive surgery each year as a result of a dog bite.

Children are most likely to be the victims of dog biting incidents, as are people with multiple canines in their home. To raise awareness and combat dog biting, the American Veterinary Medical Association sponsors National Dog Bite Prevention Week each May.

Protect Yourself and Your Pet

In honor of National Dog Bite Prevention Week, Nelson offers the following advice on protecting yourself and your pet from strange dogs — and protecting strangers from your best friend:

• Don’t make assumptions based on breed. “Sure, pugs and golden retrievers generally have gentle temperaments, but every single breed is going to have an exception to the rule,” emphasizes Nelson. “I’ve seen everything from aggressive pugs to pit bulls who like to roll around on the floor kissing their owners.”
• Ask permission. Never touch a strange dog — or let your own furry friend approach another dog — without first checking with its owner. “It dumbfounds me when people let their kids walk around my waiting room petting the dogs there, but I see it all the time,” says Nelson. Most people will be happy to tell you if their companion is good with strangers in general, and with children and other dogs specifically.
• Proceed with caution. “Just because someone says their dog is great with people and other pets doesn’t mean they’ll be great with you or your pet at that moment,” warns Nelson.
• Be aware of your body language. Dogs are more likely to bite when they are anxious. Approaching them in the wrong way can only exacerbate their anxiety. Nelson recommends sticking your hand out, palm facing up, for the animal to sniff. “If it’s a big dog, I might do this from a standing position,” she says. “With a smaller dog, I crouch down. If you move toward them with a non-aggressive posture, you decrease the likelihood of aggression coming back at you.”

Protecting Others From Your Dog

• Know your dog. Be realistic and honest with other people about what your dog is capable of. If your dog is a biter, it’s up to you to prevent it. Know your pet’s telltale signs of anxiety and aggression: If its ears go back and its hackles go up, the dog is saying it’s uncomfortable and needs to get out of its current situation.
• Teach your dog who’s boss. In her own home, Nelson has made sure her dogs know that her 2-year-old son is alpha to them. “It’s a daily thing in my house, showing them that I’m first, then my son and then them,” she says. Nelson does this by monitoring all dog-child interactions and quickly putting a stop to it if one of the dogs tries to challenge the boy.
• Minimize your furry friend’s anxiety. If you know your dog gets excessively anxious in the presence of strangers or at the dog park, lock it up in your bedroom when friends visit, and don’t take it to the playground. Keeping your dog calm will minimize the chance that it will become aggressive.

Lucky for Lacey Brown, her roommate’s Shepherd only broke her neighbor’s watch — and not his skin. “The man was angry, and I felt horrible, but it could have been worse,” she says. With Nelson’s advice, Brown doesn’t have to worry about the Shepherd’s bad habits any more.

Darcy Lockman is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Dog Daily. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and Rolling Stone. She lives in Brooklyn with the prettiest pug dog in the five boroughs.

Welcome to being a new pet mom!

I’ve often been grossed out by things I see mothers do for their human children. The spit-up after a bottle or wiping the ever gooey nose usually makes me a wee-bit-queasy, and anyone I have ever discussed the matter with has always given me the same answer, “Just wait until you have your own kids. You’ll do the same thing.” They always explain that something inside you changes, and what used to gross you out, just doesn’t any more. I had been rather doubtful that it would ever shift for me, but lately I have been seeing it.

It started with Emma’s eye boogers. The night I brought her home, I found myself wiping her eyes and pulling the crusties out of the corners whenever she woke up. One day, it just hit me. This is one of those gross things I would usually have found disgusting. My how a puppy will really change your disposition!!

A few other issues have followed this trend, but I have overcome and love Emma just the same:

1. Worms: A few days after I had Emma, I noticed a few white strands in her waste. I quickly recognized the little moving noodles as worms. When I came to this realization, I squirmed almost as much as they did. A quick trip to the vet with a fecal sample confirmed my initial diagnosis. Worms in dogs are common, especially with puppies, and some medicine quickly cleared them up. That’s not to say I wasn’t checking Emma’s behind a few times a day for any more. I never knew I would be so tight with her back side.

2. Potty training: Everyone knows puppies lead to messes, and I knew this but I know it even more now. And, one thing is for sure, everyone wants to hold, pet, and treat your new sweet puppy but no one else wants to clean up after her. I guess it is a true tale of love when you will pick up another living being’s waste (and dig through it for worms). Ick!

3. Chew toys: Puppies really are more like toddlers. Anything they find goes straight into their mouth. With human children, you at least have a few seconds notice of them holding it in their hands first. With puppies, it goes straight back. I can’t count the times I’ve pulled the (strangest) things from the back of Emma’s throat. Paper clips, furniture stoppers, and plastic wrappers from outside have all been pulled from her mouth before it crossed the threshold into her tummy. Puppies really will chew anything!

The beautiful thing about being a mom, either to a human child or a pet, is that you easily look past the gross things to the beautiful eyes, sweet smile, and fun-loving personality that make it all worth it.

What things do you do for your pet that you never thought you would find yourself willingly doing? What advice can you offer about handling the “dirty jobs” of pet ownership?

ABOUT NATALIE

As the PetSafe Brand Marketing Specialist, Natalie manages The Paw Print blog and generates other brand related content including public relations and promotions. Before PetSafe, Natalie worked in the local media covering politics, education, and religion. Natalie’s puppy, Emma, spends almost as much time in the office as she does.

Natalie makes sure Emma eats a balanced puppy diet.

As a pet owner, the easiest way to show your pet how much you love them is to provide a balanced diet in healthy portions on a regularly timed schedule. More than likely, if your dog or cat is anything like Emma, there is really only one thing that may come before you in their life and that’s food.

You often hear human dieticians and health professionals recommend eating 5 to 6 smaller meals each day, instead of 3 large ones. And the same is true for your pet, whether they could benefit from a little weight loss or simply need weight management. So, just be sure to be at home every two to three hours throughout the day to give your pet a healthy snack. Because you have time for that, right?

I’m sure you’re already laughing. Who can be home every two to three hours during the day?! Someone, after all, has to hold down a steady job to pay the water bill and buy the food for the pets at home right? How on earth can you manage this feeding schedule and still work 8 hours, take the kids to soccer and ballet, feed your family, and get to the gym? Luckily, we have three quick tips that can make sure Fido and Felix’s meals are provided regardless of what else your days hold.

1. Consider incorporating a Drinkwell Fountain into your pet’s lifestyle. Not only do the fountains provide a constant source of water, the pump systems also include charcoal filters that remove chlorine, odor, and small unwanted particles, like fur or food sediments. The water tastes better, and the movement of the water increases your pet’s natural instinct to drink more water.

2. Pre-measure your pet’s meals so you have one less step in feeding them. You don’t want to over feed your pet and lead them into obesity. Overweight dogs and cats face a number of health problems and can benefit from portion control. So, if you measure out your pet’s meals for the week on the weekend, you can quickly refill their food bowl on the go.

3. If you can’t get home in the day and find yourself increasingly busier in the evenings as well, a timed pet feeder may be exactly what you and your pet need. You can choose between the Two-Meal or Five-Meal versions. The Two-Meal Timed Pet Feeder can be programmed up to 48 hours in advance. And the Five-Meal Timed Pet Feeder gives your pet five one-cup snacks throughout the day. Which one works best for your pet?

No one likes to be hungry and neither does your pet. As the weather heats up, hydration becomes more and more important as well. How do you juggle your pet’s schedule with your own?

ABOUT NATALIE

As the PetSafe Brand Marketing Specialist, Natalie manages The Paw Print blog and generates other brand related content including public relations and promotions. Before PetSafe, Natalie worked in the local media covering politics, education, and religion. Natalie’s puppy, Emma, spends almost as much time in the office as she does.

Sometimes there are areas of your home or yard that aren’t safe for your pet, like the trash can in your kitchen, the pool out back, or the landscaping in front of your house that you already spent hours on.

You love your pet and you want her to enjoy your home and yard as much as you do, but you also want to keep her safe.

Check out this video, as well as the Pawz Away Indoor Pet Barrier and the Pawz Away Outdoor Pet Barrier, for information on how to pet-proof your home.

Where do you use a pet barrier in your home or yard?

ABOUT ANDRICK

Andrick is originally a native of Memphis, TN and serves as PetSafe’s Video Coordinator. He is currently studying Video Production at Pellissippi State Community College. At PetSafe, Andrick is responsible for coordinating all of our videos ranging from products to philanthropic efforts. His job at PetSafe has played a bigger role in Andrick’s life than he expected. A Chihuahua-Corgi mix named Faith introduced him to her owner and another PetSafe associate, Sara. Now, Andrick has adopted Faith as his own furry child and married Sara! PetSafe can now add finding love to our long list of accomplishments.

By Elizabeth Wasserman for The Dog Daily

In the White House, they play howl to the chief.

They are presidential dogs — the most common presidential pets.

Throughout history, U.S. presidents have had faithful companions living with them at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. White House dogs have comforted their owners in times of great national stress, entertained the American public with their antics and done all of the things a normal dog will do — often in the media spotlight.

“Every president that has a pet seems to be better-liked by the public,” says Claire McLean, founder of the Presidential Pet Museum, which contains a collection of photographs and memorabilia located at Presidents Park in Williamsburg, Va. “The dog-loving public seems to feel that they are much more real and down-to-earth if they have the same type of behavior as the average family.” That includes having to take the dog for a walk.

While most presidential dogs have been deemed a political asset, others have left a legacy of misbehavior. Pet owners nationwide may take comfort in knowing that even first families sometimes have pets with behavior problems, or unknowingly pick the wrong breed for their lifestyle. Some presidential dogs have even been put out to pasture, by being returned to their previous owners or sent to spend the waning days of the administration on the presidential ranch.

Here are some stories about presidential pet misdeeds and what experts advise if you encounter similar behavior:

Grits: The Dog That Snapped at People When Jimmy Carter moved his family from Georgia to Washington, D.C., after his election in 1976, his young daughter Amy was given a mixed breed dog by her former teacher. Amy named the dog Grits, after her father’s campaign slogan, referring to himself and Vice President Walter “Fritz” Mondale as “Grits and Fritz.” “It was a very belligerent dog,” McLean says. “It snapped at people and wasn’t very friendly.” Grits followed a long line of biting dogs in the White House, which included one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s terriers, Meggie, who once bit a senator. Pete, a bull terrier belonging to the other Roosevelt who occupied the White House — Teddy — nearly caused an international incident when he ripped off the French ambassador’s slacks during a function. Grits ended up in the doghouse, too, figuratively speaking, and was returned. The Carters then adopted a cat.

What You Can Do Aggressive behavior, such as snapping, biting or snarling, is hard for dog owners to tolerate. There are many reasons why canines exhibit such aggressive behavior — in response to fear, to protect territory or as a result of a change in the dog’s social status. The Humane Society of the U.S. advises that pet owners get help from an animal behavior specialist to deal with aggression. Socialization is also key. “The best thing to do is start early. A lot of these dogs are received as puppies,” says Trish McMillan, director of animal behavior. “You only have the first four months of a puppy’s life, for the window of socialization, to introduce them to new things. I’m betting that some of these presidents’ dogs were not socialized enough as puppies.”

Lucky: The Dog That Pulled After Ronald Reagan’s first term as president, a March of Dimes poster girl gave his wife, Nancy, a small puppy. The first lady named the dog — which was a Bouvier des Flanders, or Belgian Cattle dog — Lucky. “She was just a little bundle of fur when I got her,” Mrs. Reagan wrote in her autobiography, “but she grew to be the size of a pony.” Lucky developed poor leash walking habits. The dog “used to pull them both around the White House,” McLean says. The final straw came after a White House visit by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, when President Reagan was photographed being pulled across the White House lawn — an undignified image for the leader of the free world. Lucky was sent to live on the Reagan ranch in California, leaving Rex, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, as the only pup in the White House.

What You Can Do Pulling on the leash may be indicative of other problems, such as a dog that is not getting enough exercise. That is especially true of dogs that are bred for herding, farm work, or other activities. The Reagans may have erred in thinking that Lucky could adapt to the more sedate lifestyle in the White House, but clearly found a better environment for the dog on a ranch later in life. If you don’t have a spare ranch, experts advise two options. First, you can train the dog. “The easiest way is to feed the dog meals on the walk,” McMillan says. “Have a bag of kibble in your pocket. Every time they pull on the leash, turn to your left when they’re on your right. But every time they walk nicely, keep the kibble coming.” Another option is to try one of a variety of new training devices, such as harnesses or halter apparatuses that will prevent the dog from pulling.

Buddy: The Dog That Chased Cats After the start of his second term as president, Bill Clinton decided to get a puppy. Buddy, a chocolate Labrador retriever, moved into the White House to join the Clintons’ other pet, a cat named Socks. But Buddy and Socks didn’t see eye to eye. “They never got along,” McLean says. “A lot of times you’d see them sparing on the lawn or running through the White House. The media loved to write about that.” The two pets were eventually kept in separate rooms in the presidential residence, and after the Clintons moved to Chappaqua, N.Y., Buddy went with them, but Socks moved in with Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie.

What You Can Do The key to getting two or more pets to make nice under the same roof — even if that roof is that of the White House — is socialization. McMillan says that critical socialization period is when pups should be introduced not only to people, but to cats, dogs and other animals as well. If you’re introducing more mature pets, “The most important thing is to do a slow introduction,” says McMillan. “Have your dog on a leash, then bring the cat into the room.” Associate good things with the cat, such as treats. If the dog starts to chase, give it a “time out,” restraining it on the leash in a room by itself.

One thing that presidents have learned over the years is that a canine companion can help soften their image. President Herbert Hoover, who presided over the federal government during the Great Depression, had a German shepherd that was noted to be sullen and was often sulking around the White House. McLean says, “When they took a picture of Hoover with the dog, it made Hoover seem like a nice guy, when he actually had a cold demeanor.”

Elizabeth Wasserman a Washington, D.C., area-based freelancer, has been writing about pets, among other topics, for more than 15 years. Her love of dogs, in particular, was handed down through the generations from her great-grandfather, Eric Knight, who wrote the book Lassie Come Home in the 1930s.

I grew up in the South where heat and humidity are a way of life. Back in those days, many cars came equipped with snazzy vinyl upholstery. It looked good (at the time!) and was highly functional for a family vehicle where spills were commonplace. However, on a hot summer day, those seats turned into veritable griddles that could sear the skin on exposed thighs.

What is the moral of this story? Sorry…nothing too terribly profound…just a reminder that cars get HOT. Really, really hot! According to The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the temperature inside of a car on a MILD, sunny day can rise quickly to 120 degrees or greater. And, because dogs don’t perspire in the same way humans do, they are even more susceptible to rapid overheating. This can quickly lead to heatstroke, suffering and death.

Cars can quickly heat up to 120 degrees in the summer. Be sure you are protecting your pets from the heat.

The best way to avoid heatstroke in your pets involves car travel safety and plain old common sense. If you won’t be able to take Fido or Fluffy with you when you stop your vehicle, leave him at home. As much as we all love to keep our best friends with us constantly, there is a very real possibility of killing them with kindness if you leave your dog in a car.

Heatstroke can impact your pets even if they aren’t kept in a car on a warm day. Outdoor dogs with no avenue for escaping the heat of the sun are most susceptible. Prevention is the real key to keeping your pets happy and healthy. Provide ample shade and ventilation. Cool, fresh water must be available throughout the day to give dogs the ability to cool themselves. And, when the heat is extreme, dogs should be taken indoors to benefit from the air conditioning!

If your pet does spend much time outdoors, you should be mindful of the signs of heatstroke in dogs which include:

• Panting
• Staring
• Anxious expression
• Refusal to obey commands
• Warm, dry skin
• High fever
• Rapid heartbeat
• Vomiting
• Collapse

Remember that heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you have reason to believe your pet is suffering from heatstroke, contact your veterinarian immediately. Apply towels soaked in cool water to the hairless parts of an animal’s body to lower their body temperature. Then get the animal to your veterinarian quickly for additional cooling and other treatments.

With a little effort and good judgment, it is relatively simple to avoid heatstroke in your dog or cat. If it’s too hot for you, it’s definitely too hot for them. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is leave them home to crash on the cool floor stretched out in front of their OTHER best friend…the air conditioner!

ABOUT JIM

Jim Tedford serves as PetSafe’s Director of Animal Affairs and Alliances. Working on the front line of animal welfare for over 20 years, Jim has served as CEO for organizations in New York, Louisiana and Tennessee. Prior to joining PetSafe, Jim provided marketing and fundraising services to animal welfare organizations nationwide. Jim holds a degree in animal science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Jim and his wife Ann share their “empty nest” in the Smoky Mountains with adopted dogs Bodie, Sam, and Lila and a formerly homeless macaw, Gipper.

Roslyn and her kitty, Lily.By Roslyn Ayers, PetSafe Web Content Specialist

By Roslyn Ayers, PetSafe Web Content Specialist

As a pet parent, you’ve taken on the wonderful responsibility of caring for your pet for all of their days. Even when they have an accident in the house or cough up a hairball on your new shoes, you still love them. You would still love your dog if she lost a leg, or if your cat lost his sight, right? ‘Of course,’ most of us would say. But would you have the courage to open your home to a disabled or “differently abled” pet?

That’s just what my mother chose to do. Meet Winston. Winston is a 10 year old Chihuahua mix with three legs. He was taken to Brooke’s Haven Animal Rescue in Bluffton, S.C. When cancerous lumps developed in his leg and eyelid, the vet made the decision to remove his leg and eyelid along with the tumors. One week later, he was up and moving, getting around as if nothing had changed. Soon after his recovery, my mom decided to adopt him.

Winston’s such a calm, happy guy. He doesn’t even seem to miss his leg.

Now cancer-free, Winston lives a normal, active life despite his handicap. His balance isn’t perfect (his nickname is “Tripod”), and sometimes his joints are a bit stiff when he first gets up, but soon he’s up and running like any other dog, even faster than some. When Winston and Eugene, my mom’s other dog, go for walks, Winston blows past Eugene. He’s a peg-legged powerhouse, especially when food is involved! Winston is a perfectly happy, normal dog who doesn’t let his disability get him down, proving that you don’t need four legs to be a great pet.

Eugene and Winston just chilling at home.

Animals with disabilities cope much better than people do, but sometimes we don’t give our pets enough credit. For example, many blind cats and dogs are euthanized because it’s felt to be more humane, or because people are scared to adopt them. Yet pets can get along just fine without 20/20 vision. The Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary puts it well: “Blind cats are cats that just happen to not be able to see. They have no idea they are blind; they know they are cats, they act like cats.”

After watching videos like Fiona the blind dog and reading books like Homer’s Odyssey, it becomes clear that blind pets can enjoy lives that are just as full, just as happy, and just as full of love as their full-sighted housemates.

Oskar the blind kitten playing with toys for the first time.

How you can help

Leave your prejudices at the pound door. If you have the room, consider adopting or fostering a pet with special needs. You’ll save a life, and the gratitude you can feel in those furry hugs and wet kisses is more than worth it. Pets don’t need four legs to play and give hugs, and they don’t need perfect vision to smile at you or purr. They can love you just fine just the way they are.

Do you have a special needs pet? Would you consider bringing one into your home?

ABOUT ROSLYN

At PetSafe’s Knoxville headquarters, Roslyn Ayers is the Web Content Specialist. Roslyn comes from a family of animal lovers and has a B.A. in Writing/Communications from Maryville College. She has volunteered with various animal rescues in Tennessee and South Carolina. Roslyn currently shares her home with four cats.

Many years ago, a friend and colleague in animal welfare shared with me information on a promotional campaign encouraging pet owners to put identification on their pets. I don’t recall all the details, but I do remember that one of the key phrases in the campaign said something to the effect of “When you send your child to summer camp, you put your name on his underwear. Why not put identification on your best friend?” The idea that we make sure we put ID on everything from our luggage to our bicycles indicates that we plan carefully so as not to lose those things we hold dear. Yet, relatively few people put any sort of ID on their pets. And, all too often, even when a pet does wear a tag (or carry an implanted microchip), the information is not kept up-to-date and is untraceable.

Giving your pets an id tag is an important task, but it is one many pet owners ignore. No one wants to think about losing their pet, but it's always good to have an id just in case!

When it comes to identification, dog owners are a bit superior to cat owners. During my years as CEO of various sheltering facilities, I recall very few instances of cats showing up with any form of ID. In fact, at my last shelter, I decreed we would call a news conference the next time a cat arrived bearing any sort of ID. It never happened. Lest you dog owners start to gloat, you aren’t THAT superior. The frustration of finding a dog with an obvious owner is repeated daily in the sheltering world. They show up well-fed, apparently healthy, sometimes wearing expensive collars – but with no ID tags or microchips. Shelters often find themselves in the position of having no choice but to sit and wait…and hope.

So, what can you do? This one is so simple.

1. Put a rabies vaccination tag (sequentially numbered and easily traceable) and an ID tag that contains your CURRENT contact information on your pets’ collars. This applies to dogs and cats alike. ID tags are available from all major pet retailers – in fact, many have automated engravers which are pretty cool to operate. If you don’t have access to a store, there are plenty of websites where tags can be purchased. They come in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colors to suit your pet’s individual tastes.

2. Consider having your pet implanted with an identifying microchip. While a bit pricier than a tag, chips are not easily removed and are considered an effective permanent form of identification. It would be wise to poll veterinarians and animal shelters in your area to determine which type/brand of microchip they recommend. While there are universal scanners that detect various types of chips, many vets and shelters have scanners designed specifically to read the types of chips they sell. So, you will want to implant the chip most common to your area.

Jim with Bodie and Sam - you can be sure these dogs have proper identification. Jim wouldn't know what to do without them so he isn't taking any chances.

If cost is a major concern, you can simply use a permanent marker to write your telephone number directly on your pet’s collar. Print large enough that the number can be easily spotted and read. And, keep an eye on it for fading.

Regardless of the identification method(s) you choose, do not forget to keep your information updated. When you change your address with the post office, change your pet’s ID information, as well.

Nobody wants to think of losing our pets, but it happens to the best of us. I have been around hundreds of thousands of dogs in my lifetime and have never run across one who can tell me his name or phone number or address. If your best friend is at least as important to you as your child’s underwear, make sure he wears every form of identification you can get. It might just be his ticket home.

ABOUT JIM

Jim Tedford serves as PetSafe’s Director of Animal Affairs and Alliances. Working on the front line of animal welfare for over 20 years, Jim has served as CEO for organizations in New York, Louisiana and Tennessee. Prior to joining PetSafe, Jim provided marketing and fundraising services to animal welfare organizations nationwide. Jim holds a degree in animal science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Jim and his wife Ann share their “empty nest” in the Smoky Mountains with adopted dogs Bodie, Sam, and Lila and a formerly homeless macaw, Gipper.

When you become a pet owner, your number one priority becomes keeping your pet safe and sometimes pets can come under the most harm in our own back yards. That was definitely the case for Josh and Steve with their Basset Hound, Charlie.

For the first years of his life, Charlie lived in a two bedroom apartment with Steve. But, when Steve decided to move in with his friend, Josh, Charlie graduated to a house with a yard. The pair had build Charlie a pen but he kept getting out.

Watch this video to hear how a containment system enhanced their relationship with Charlie.

Do you have a containment system success story? Share it with us in the comment section below! We would love to hear it.

ABOUT ANDRICK

Andrick is originally a native of Memphis, TN and serves as PetSafe’s Video Coordinator. He is currently studying Video Production at Pellissippi State Community College. At PetSafe, Andrick is responsible for coordinating all of our videos ranging from products to philanthropic efforts. His job at PetSafe has played a bigger role in Andrick’s life than he expected. A Chihuahua-Corgi mix named Faith introduced him to her owner and another PetSafe associate, Sara. Now, Andrick has adopted Faith as his own furry child and married Sara! PetSafe can now add finding love to our long list of accomplishments.

We often hear great success stories about our containment products from dog owners. They were, after all, our company’s first product nearly 21 years ago. However, some consumers aren’t always aware we make a great in-ground fence for cats, too. We recently heard from Rochelle on our Facebook page about how much Yeti loves his system.

Yeti loves enjoying his backyard with his PetSafe Deluxe In-Ground Cat Continament System.

Here is her story:

We have been using the PetSafe In-Ground system for our dogs for quite a few years. We are breeders of Anatolian Shepherd dogs for livestock protection. The breed has the tendency to roam in order to expand their protection area and in the small rural community that we live in, that’s unacceptable. With the success of the system, it was a natural decision to investigate whether the system for cats would be a viable option.

We feel that all animals are happier and healthier if they are allowed to enjoy the outside environment, however there are inherent dangers whether it’s in a rural setting or the suburbs. In our situation, we have many predators that roam and hunt so keeping Yeti contained is the only choice. The only concern was whether or not Yeti would respond negatively to the collar. With dogs it is a proven and safe method of training but I wasn’t able to find anyone who had worked with cats before so it was sort of going at it blind. You can read the instructions and execute a proper method but until he gets his first little correction, you can’t know what his response is going to be and if it is going to have long term negative effects. We bought the system at the beginning of last summer when Yeti was only a year old.

Even if we had no experience, the installation is extremely simple and it would have been a piece of cake. Cats are so much more nimble than dogs so climbing is the biggest issue so we attached Yeti’s system to an existing fence to prevent him from going vertical. We currently have a yard area of approximately 1/4 an acre. We had to make quite a few adjustments on the placement of the wire to accommodate different areas that he was able to jump or climb. It was purely trial and error but once he got the idea of where the boundary, along with a proper zone width, he settled in quite well.

It took him no time at all to learn what the correction was all about. He also knows that if we leave a gate open he can run through it. It was all a matter of trial and error but all in all very simple.

It’s nice to have Yeti in the backyard while I’m gardening without the fear of him running off. It’s fun to watch him enjoy being a cat chasing butterflies and just having fun outside.

As I said before, it’s in any animal’s best interest to go and enjoy the outside environment. It’s easy to take a dog for a walk to the dog park but inside cats are just that – inside. Also one of the big complaints I hear in the suburbs is people that have outside cats and roam the neighborhood are seen as a nuisance in the eyes of their neighbors. It’s really super simple to attach that wire to a fence and keep your cat on your own property.

We also just adopted Odin, who is an F2 Savannah meaning he is over 25% African Serval. The wild nature inherent in his genetics might make it more difficult to train him. We will use the same methods but keep a close eye on his demeanor. He is 7 months old now so I think he’s ready for training. And, I can certainly tell you that if Yeti could talk he would have a lot to say about how much he loves his system!

As for me, being woken up at 5 in the morning on a Sunday because he wants to go play can be a little less than ideal. But that just makes it more the fun because we know that he is having a great time outside and more importantly he’s SAFE!

The Petsafe systems for both the cats and the dogs are an invaluable asset to our pet ownership. We could not keep our animals safe without it!

Has any other cat owner had a similar experience with the fence? Why does your cat love it so much?

ABOUT NATALIE

As the PetSafe Brand Marketing Specialist, Natalie manages The Paw Print blog and generates other brand related content including public relations and promotions. Before PetSafe, Natalie worked in the local media covering politics, education, and religion. Natalie’s puppy, Emma, spends almost as much time in the office as she does.