If you ever lived in California then you have had to deal with fleas at least once. The most common is called the “Cat” flea. This flea will feed on the blood of most warm-blooded animals, including us as humans. It is ironic that the most prevalent please bugs are dogs is called the “Cat” flea, yet that is what it is called. And the places most infected, besides the yard, are the dog beds.

Fleas are parasites and they feed on blood before she can lay her eggs. The eggs fall from the host animal and collect on the surfaces below. The waste material from the adult flea’s digested blood meals will be found in the pet’s bed. Here it becomes a ready food supply for the larvae of hatched eggs.

The flea’s lifecycle is complete in about 2 weeks when the conditions are right. Once the eggs hatch they feed on the dead skin from your pet as well as any dried blood waste that is left. Then they will go into a cocoon stage and will emerge in about a week.

You need to attack the indoor as well as outdoor fleas by performing a thorough spraying with plenty of water and a pest treatment such as Talstar PL Granule or Talstar One Insecticide or Tengard SFR One-Shot Liquid Termiticide/Insecticide. These chemicals not only kill fleas but they also kill ticks, ants, roaches, spiders and most any other bug. You need to make sure that you spray the dog bed as well as any other place your dog sleeps or rests. You should also pay close attention to any doghouses or dog crates you may have as well as area around them.

The combination of cleanliness and pesticide applications is the best way to control fleets. Although, shampooing your pet with flea shampoo will remove the dried blood and much of the dried skin as well as kill fleas. It does not kill the eggs or the larva. So it is important to thoroughly clean all pet beds and resting areas to get rid of any eggs, larva or food sources to prevent a repopulation of fleas. Applying pest control products to areas where the pets spend much of their time will provide immediate reduction in flea populations. It is usually good to apply an insect growth regulator to impede the development of new flea larvae. I would recommend that you use Precor IGR as the growth regulator.

One key to long-term control of fleas is cleanliness. It becomes even more important when you have more than one pet if you want to keep your home “flea-free”. Even weekly or monthly pet grooming could be a good weapon against fleas.

Are those nasty pests invading your home again? Do you need to get something to stop invasion? Well, I have a very good online source for all of your pest control products, supplies and information, ePest Solutions. Their products are ideal for residential and commercial pest control. Even if it is just those nasty fleas in your yard.

You can easily browse their Website for products of all kinds. They have a wealth of information and you can save on professional pest control products. This thing is, if you cannot find what you are looking for all you need to do is contact their trained professionals. They even have a degree.

They have highly trained entomologists that will assist you in your purchase and answering any questions you may have about any pest or product. They will give you free advice on identification of insects, rodents and recommend treatment and the use of their professional strength products. They will even help you to determine which would be the best product to spray on their pet beds.

Their full line of pest treatments include dates, insecticides, pesticides, termiticides (termite control) and several other helpful professional items to clear your home or business of any number of tasks. They will help clear those annoying fleas out of your yard and your dog crates or doghouses.

ePest Solutions has over 20 years experience in the pest control industry and you can be confident that they will help you in all your needs whether it be free friendly advice for good products. They can and do take the guesswork out of the pest control process. You can find them valuable information on pest control techniques and pest information on a website. They also have extensive information on rodent biology, rodent control solutions and even on how to set your mouse traps as well as flea control and biology. They can help you with subterranean termite control information and biology as well as ant information. They even have organic product comparison charts for you to look at.

You can conceivably save 70% by doing your own pest control whether it is for your home or your business. You also make sure that the job is done right by doing it yourself. ePestSolutions will be there before and after the sale, guaranteed!

They really do offer the highest quality products and service. They have well educated entomologists that are ready to help with understandable information about all aspects of the pest control. Because they want your lifelong business they are not going to worry about a quick sale. They will even tell you if they think that your pest control should be done by a professional because they believe that honesty is the best policy.

They can and do take the guesswork out of the pest control process!

What is the possibility that some animals can forewarn us of events that are about to occur? What about pets that seem to know when their owners are about to have an epileptic seizure? Epilepsy is a kind of temporary short circuit in the victim’s brain, resulting in convulsions, labored breathing and sometimes blackouts. Is it a real premonition the pet is having? Or is it supersensitive to slight muscle tremors, subtle changes in behavior or emitted odors that even the victim is not aware of before a seizure takes hold? Yet, it has been proven that dogs, cats and even rabbits can be sensitive to the event.

Are animals sensitive to other diseases as well? There is evidence that suggest that some pets have warned diabetics when their blood sugar was low as well as pets that seem to know where cancerous spots are on their owners, long before a diagnosis is made.

Imagine this if you will, your dog jumps out of his dog bed just as you get out of yours and makes you sit back down as your left arm starts to hurt. You realize you are having a heart attack. Did your pet sense it or cause it?

Some animals display the ability to “know” when an earthquake is about to occur. It has been proven that before an earthquake actually starts that rats and snakes have been seen fleeing their burrows, horses and other farm animals become agitated, and birds fly away from the scene in flocks. This most certainly is a case of supersensitivity to the environment rather than true precognition. Animals can sense subtle vibrations, odors, electric and magnetic emissions resulting from the stresses within the earth.

Incidents in which an animal seems to have no foreknowledge of a disastrous event and there can be no sensory cues to pick up on is even harder to explain. Yet, it does happen.

One such story is that of a dog who tried to stop his owner from leaving the house to go to work. The dog did things that it normally never did at that time the morning. The owner had to put the animal in a dog crate to be able to leave for work. As the owner left the dog could be heard howling. Within two hours of departing the home the owner was in a very bad traffic accident. This accident resulted in fractures in the neck and arm as well as other injuries. The question is, how did the dog know?

Some pet owners go to extremes to provide a pampered environment for their pets when it is time to remodel or make home improvements. They will build in-the-wall cat tunnels, designed outdoor dog runs and much more. Homeowners with pets will drop big bucks to remodel their home just for the comfort of their pets. They will buy pet chairs, dog beds and pet clothing.

According to The Humane Society, almost 4/10 households in the U. S. own at least one dog, and about the same number own cats. HSUS says there are 73 million dogs and 90 million cats living in American homes today.

The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimates higher numbers of pet ownership than HSUS. The APPMA says 6/10 households have a pet and pet owners spend more than $40 billion a year on their pets. This means that there is a huge potential market for pet-friendly home remodels.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University annually publishes research on housing in the United States. Its February 2007 publication, Foundations for Future Growth in the Remodeling Industry, predicts homeowner spending on home improvements will increase 44% in inflation-adjusted terms from 2005-2015.

The bond between humans and their pets runs deep for many pet owners. Their pets fill a need in their lives. People who place a high premium on pet companionship include the following:

• Young single people who move away from family and friends for employment reasons.
• Divorced individuals for companionship.
• Empty nesters after the children are grown and gone.
• Childless couples who have decided against having children or cannot adopt treat pets as a stand-in for kids.
• Families with children.
• Baby-boomers, who are retiring in style.

Our society is infected with I want-ites. When pet owners spot pet-friendly architectural design elements in homes, pet hotels and doggy daycare centers, they want the same creature comforts for their pets at home. They do not worry if it is a cheap dog bed or a luxury dog bed. If their pet likes it, they buy it.

You can buy low-cost dog beds most anyplace, like Pet Dreams. But did you ever consider buying sheets for your dog bed?

Dog bed sheets are not only decorative elements but accessories to any dog bed you have in your home. Just like the passion you have in your bedroom.

They are made of cotton or linen and usually rectangular in shape. Bed sheets vary in size according to your particular needs. Dog bed sheets usually have a center seam that is put between your dog and its bed. The first bed sheets were white. However, with today’s designs, materials and colors of bed sheets have come a long way. They also come in a variety of sizes, so it doesn’t matter whether you have a small dog bed or in large.

Dog bed sheets are bigger than the bed, just like your sheets are, and can be tucked under the mattress to achieve stability. Just like the sheets that humans use the thread count serves as a basis for the material’s quality. It is simply the count of the material’s thread per square inch. As a common rule, the higher the thread count, the softer the bed sheet.

Satin, linen, cotton or other synthetic materials are the usual composition of human bed sheets as well as a design. Again, just like those used by humans, dog bed sheets are either fitted or flat.

There are some things that you should keep in mind when buying sheets for your dog bed.

1. They should be machine washable as well as dryer friendly. You really do not want something that you actually have to hand wash and line dry or something that you have to send to the dry cleaners.
2. They should be versatile and attractive. There are so many to choose from that you may opt for those that complement your dog’s personality. If your companion is fun loving and cheerful, go for the sheets that are bright and cheery. If your friend is adventurous, pick the ones with bold, adventurous ones. Though your dog will never really appreciate it, others probably will.
3. They should be durable and within your budget. You should consider the fabric quality as well as the cost. A set could cost you as little as $15 or as much as $100.

To begin with, you will need to choose a style of dog bed that will match your home and provide your dog with maximum comfort.

Then search the Internet for information on the following:

* Dog Beds
* Dog Blankets
* Dog Crate Mats
* Dog Cuddlers
* Dog Pillows
* Doghouses And Doors
* Heated Dog Beds
* Orthopedic Dog Beds

This search will give you a good understanding of what is available, where you can get it as well as how much it will cost you. If you will take the following steps your dog will be extremely happy and comfortable

Step 1: You will need to consider the size, health and needs of your dog. There are special orthopedic beds are available for old, arthritic and ill dogs.

Step 2: Dog beds come in many styles, sizes and colors. Think about what type of bed your dog would be most comfortable in. You can also purchase pillows, mats, rugs and cuddlers for your doll. Pillows are just big cushions. Mats are thinner than pillows and rugs are even thinner. A cuddler is like a pillow with sides. A cuddler will allow your dog to curl up and be supported on three sides. If your dog is not allowed on the couch and get him his own. These are also expensive, but they are like small human sofas and made especially for dogs.

Step 3: Make sure you know what the bed is filled with. They can be filled with all or even cedar which repels fleas. If you choose a cedar-filled bed make sure that it is refillable. Also make sure that neither you nor your dog is allergic to cedar. Make sure that the covering on the bed is removable and washable because it will get dirty.

Step 4: If you are coordinating the colors with your home you will need to try to match the colors of the bed to the area it will be in. If you are buying a bed for a dog’s crate or doghouse, the color may not be a great concern. A simple crate mat will work best in this instance.

Step 5: How big is your dog? You will need a bed that is the right size for your dog. The dog should be able to lie flat, completely stretched out on his side, without hanging off the bed.

Step 6: Realize that you can also purchase heated beds, which are excellent for older or arthritic dogs or beds that are made to be cooler in hot weather. Remember, a dog’s tongue is its only cooling mechanism and his fur is the only thing that keeps him warm.

Step 7: The prices for dog beds can range greatly. A simple fleece rug can be found for $10 or less. Pillows and cuddlers run $20-150 or more.

Your training area should be set up first before you begin training your dog. A small, confined space such as the bathroom or garage works best as a training area. This method of training differs from crate training. Dog crates are great for training puppies and small dogs, but larger dogs may find a crate too confining.

It is important for you to spend as much time in the training area with your dog as possible. You will need to play with the dog in the training area, and to let the dog eat and sleep in that area as well to begin with. The dog should be provided with a special dog bed in this training area. Dogs are instinctively very clean. They can also develop habits regarding where they like to urinate and defecate.

Unfortunately, dogs would rather not soil the areas where they sleep and eat. So, your dog may eliminate in this area at first, but once the dog has recognized it as its own space, it may be reluctant to soil it.

After the dog has gotten used to sleeping on/in the pet bed, you can move it around the house, relocating it from room to room. But always keep access to the training area open. When you leave your dog alone, it should be confined to the training area. This will help to reinforce that area as a place that it should urinate and defecate and not in your house. Remember, puppies, just like toddlers, have accidents. They forget where they need to go.

Make sure your dog has access to this place every time it needs to eliminate. It is very important for you to accompany the dog each time until it gets into the habit of eliminating in the area. This will accomplish two things, the dog uses the correct area and it understands it is all right to urinate and defecate there and not elsewhere in the house.

You can make the house training process a lot easier for both you and your dog by giving them a feeding schedule. Having a regular schedule will avoid you having dog problems. Once on a regular feeding schedule your dog will develop, like humans do, a regular schedule for toilet habits. When you have learned when your dog is likely need to eliminate, it will be simple to guide your dog to his area.

Now that your dog has been trained to its bed, it is very important to give the dog access to the toilet area at all times. This training process could take weeks or months to complete. But the training area will become the dogs’ toilet area. During this time period, you have trained your dog to a bed for crate, but you have successfully trained them to a specific toilet area.

Congratulations!

Our pets may not be fluent in human languages, but they can usually get their points across pretty clearly and sometimes painfully. Keeping the lines of communications open sometimes requires a bit of ingenuity from both parties, but the conversation is usually worth the effort.

Much of our pets’ communication is an expression of their emotional connection with us. When we are sick pets can exhibit strange behavior when we are recovering. Sometimes things they have never done before - like bringing dead animals to you and laying them at your feet. Usually when we are back to good health these special deliveries will stop. This is one of their ways of showing they are concerned about us.

Of course, most of the time our pets’ messages are purely pragmatic. Both cats and dogs have awakened their owners to alert them that intruders were breaking into the home or just that they are hungry.

Highly sensitive service dogs who work with epileptics can sense when a seizure is imminent. One trained by Support Dogs alerts his owner and fetches a phone to get help as much as 30 minutes before the seizure occurs. But most of our companions do not have anything so dramatic to communicate. When things are really slow, they may have to manufacture their own drama.

I have a cat that spends her evenings wandering through the house meowing carrying one of my slippers in her mouth and “talking to herself.” Is she delusional? Who knows? But maybe, like many humans, some animals just enjoy the sound of their own voices.

Ways to Communicate With Your Pets

1. Start noticing what your pet is paying attention to. What interests them and what’s their reaction. Do they look directly into your eyes, trying to communicate some special message to you?

2. Start noticing your pet’s facial expressions when you are talking to them. Relate that to what you have learned about reading other’s faces to see what they are saying in their expressions. Do they whimper, or whine? Do they smile, grin or even make sounds when you are petting them. This is the beginning of communication.

3. When responding to your pets call speak the first thing that comes into your mind. Then see what your pets’ reaction is. You might be surprised at their facial or vocal answer. Many times the animal will have a specific way of answering you such as lunging happily at you or licking your face to acknowledge that you have hit on the right information and answer to what they want or are talking about.

4. Allow them their independence. No one likes to feel that their thoughts are constantly listened to, or that someone is trying to intrude into their space. This is the very same in human communication through telepathy. Have permission and don’t abuse the connection.

What is your dog trying to tell to you?

Barking is an important way for your dog to communicate their needs and wants. Barking can relieve stress, boredom, can be an attention getter, and can be territorial. A dog’s body language is also a way for them to communicate. The following is a general guideline and is meant to help you learn how to interpret what your dog is trying to tell you. Keep in mind some dogs do not follow the “norm”.

Tail Pointing - Interested and looking for something

Tail Down (between legs) - Scared, defensive, being dominated

Tail Up - Happy

Tail Wag - Excited

Arched Back, Tail High, Hair Raised - Aggression

High Pitched Short Repetitive Bark - Wants attention, play

Normal Short Bark - Hello

Barks and turns away - Follow me

Low Deep Short Bark - Announcing a stranger

Low Deep Repetitive Bark - Defensive protection

Growling - Warning, frightened, aggressive. Keep in mind some dogs growl during play and this is considered to be an instinct showing dominance not aggression. It should still not be allowed.

Whining or Yelping - Stress or pain

What is your cat trying to tell to you?

Cats use their meow to signal they need something but use their body language to convey a message. Below is a general guideline to follow but it is suggest you study your cat’s behavior because each cat can be very different.

Repetitive Meow - Feed me, let me outside, pay attention to me, wants something

Quick Meow - Hello

Howling - In season or searching

Purring - Content, soothing itself, or even frightened

Short Repetitive Meow with Hissing - Warning

Low Deep Growl - Aggression

Rubbing Head, Mouth and Body - Marking territory, pet me, wants something

Tail Swat Fast - Mad

Tail Swat Jerky - Stalking, pounce

Tail Swat Slow - Happy

Lap Sitting - Territorial, attention

Tail Up Shaking (Unneutered Males and Some Females) - Spraying territories. This should not be allowed.

Imagine if you will, one of the many stories that have been written from a pet’s point of view. Whether that be a cat or dog makes no difference. When the pets communicate with each other their main concern is about training the humans. Or they are trying to figure out why humans want so much comfort. Maybe they discuss getting those humans to share that comfort.

“It sure would be nice,” said George the German Shepherd, “to have a nice wonderful pet bed like that! I get on theirs all the time when they’re not home.”

“I know what you mean,” replied Juan the Chihuahua. “My owner has this wonderful lounge chair in the living room that I use as a bed. Only problem is I blend into the chair.”

Or

“Remember, the pillow is where we sleep.” said Cali the calico cat to her young protégé.

“But why the pillow?” asked the tabby kitten, Tiger. “Why don’t they just get us our own cat bed?”

“Because, young one,” Cali replied as she sauntered out of the bedroom. “Humans do not know any better. That is why we have to train them properly.”

Dogs are very important to their owners and that is why they should be treated the way you would any other member of the family. Aside from their regular feeding, vet visits and provision of all the vitamins and nutrients that they need for growth, your dog also deserves to be pampered once in a while. There are companies such as Pet Dreams that continue to provide all the items that you would possibly need to make your dog feel like the king of his own dog house. Dogs have often been referred to as “man’s best friend”. Why would anyone want to let their “best friend” sleep on the floor when he could be resting on a dog bed? Dog beds are made to provide your dogs and pets with a level of comfort during naptime in the home or in their dog house as well as when you take along on your travels in their pet carriers.

When a dog uses a pet bed such as this, one would find that it caters for your dog’s nap time during both summer and winter. A dog bed is reversible and it keeps them cool during the hotter months and warm during the winter.