With the stress you’re under and all the issues you must deal with, a valuable member of your family is neglected - Your pet!

You still provide the basic necessities, but you probably don’t realize that divorce affects them as well.

You are their world. They watch you closely and they feel the tension and upset of the household. The crying, arguing, loud noises affect them deeply, making them frightened and insecure.

While your pet’s stress level is increasing, the attention you give them is decreasing. At a time when the last thing you need is more problems your pet gives them to you.

Behavior problems vary in decree such as chewing, barking, digging, soiling in the house, perhaps even snapping from the nervousness they feel. Any previous bad behavior problem will most likely be exaggerated. Not understanding the problem, you get angry and yell at them, making matters worse.

You need to take your pets feelings into consideration. Be gentle and give them the extra attention they need.

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Even if you haven’t had a run-in involving your pet of late, pet insurance has probably crossed your mind. And if you have, the bill for any non-routine care may have cost you anywhere from a cool couple hundred to nearly a grand.

You might have wondered why people have health insurance and most pets don’t, when the medical costs seem practically the same! And yet, navigating through the underbrush of fine print involved in pet insurance may have put you off. Is it worth the money? What do insurers really cover? And why do some plans cost the moon while others seem much more affordable? We’ll try to clear a path through the paper jungle.

Tip #1 Get Them in Young

Ideally, you’ll want to identify right pet insurance plan for you, and get your pet in young while she’s still quite healthy. The reason is, should your pet develop a long-term health issue such as a thyroid problem, she won’t be eligible for many programs, having a “pre-existing condition.” If you stick with one quality program, though, you’ll probably be fine.

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The lights, the ring, the glamour! Ever think you might like to become involved with showing dogs? If so, then starting with “toy” or small dogs can offer a great way to enter into this hobby with fewer demands on your time and space than a larger breed might involve.

The purpose of a dog show is to compare all entered dogs of a specific breed against a pre-established, written breed standard of perfection. The winners, or Best of Breed dogs, then compete against each other for Best in Group within one of the seven basic groups to which their breed has been assigned (the Herding Group, Hound Group, Non-Sporting Group, Sporting Group, Terrier Group, Toy Group or Working Group). The winner of each group then goes on to compete for the coveted Best In Show title and hopefully, earn more points toward a Championship.

As a new entrant to the world of dog shows, you’ll find there are advantages to showing small dogs over larger dogs.

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In the rush and excitement before leaving for a trip, it’s so easy to forget something. And when you’re a pet owner, it’s even more of a challenge — not only are you packing for yourself, but you’re packing for your pet, too!

[It doesn’t help when Fido runs around wildly with excitement, poking his nose into piles of clothing… while Fluffy daintily picks her way through each and every suitcase!]

Here’s a quick list of things to prepare for your pet before you leave:

* Medications. Before you leave, consult with your vet. Pick up refills of any medications your pet will need while you are away … and find out whether or not there are any health concerns about the area to which you are traveling — for example, fleas and ticks are common concerns which can be alleviated with certain medications. Talk to your vet.

* Kennel or carrier. Some places ask that you kennel your pet if you are going out and leaving him in the room. The kennel is also a safe way for your pet to travel; please don’t let your dog ride loose in the back of a pickup truck; he could fall out and suffer serious injuries. If your pet is prone to jumping out of the car unexpectedly (i.e.. while at a rest stop, or when the doors are opened), the kennel will keep him safe.

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Did you know that dog toys are actually good for your dog, and not just an indulgence on the part of the owner?

There are all kinds of uses for different types of toys. First, starting as puppies, toys give your dog a distraction from other would-be toys like your couch or your favorite pair of shoes.

My dogs all love ropes. Every single one of them that has ever had one played with them until they were tiny pieces of thread. Ropes serve a couple of great purposes, in addition to keeping your dog from chewing your house up like termites.

First, it’s great bonding for you and the dog if you engage in a good game of tug-o-war. It also helps them exercise. Our dog Sadie is one big mass of muscles. When we play with the rope, she uses her entire body to try to get it away and you can just see all of her muscles flexing. She’s a Black Lab and has the most beautiful, sleek black coat.

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When your best friend gets lost: Tips in finding your dog

“The dog is man’s best friend,” so the saying goes. Dogs have proven to be loving and loyal companions of people. From pit bulls to dachshunds to terriers, dogs are a part of daily life.

But what happens when your pet dog gets lost? What if, one day, while you are strolling across a park quite far from home with your Labrador and your pet suddenly gets lost? Do not resort to panic, as this will not help solve the situation.

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Motor homes usually have a driver, a passenger, maybe a few kids and at least one dog. It’s a prerequisite that to own a motor home you need at least one dog. Don’t be surprised when you see RV dealers matching a breed to a particular model in the future.

Taking a RV trip with your pooch should and will be pleasant if you:

Keep your dog safe; put his leash on before you open the door. Dogs are excited as soon as their home on the road stops and they want out! But not every place you stop will be safe; on coming traffic, glass on the side of the road, and other dogs near by could cause your dog to run on to the road.

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Dogs have a wonderful sense of humor. The moment you turn on your camera - they stop doing whatever made you reach for it. Great pet pictures do happen, just not as often as we’d like.

The keys to great pictures of your dog are planning and patience. Fortunately, with digital cameras, we no longer have to worry about the expenses of film and developing. We can take dozens of pictures and only print the perfect shot - no one has to know how long it took to take!

In order to take great candid pictures of your dog, the first step is to get Sparky accustomed to the sound of the camera. If you just turn it on randomly, without taking any pictures, it will become “background noise” that your Fluffy ignores. If Spot only sees a camera occasionally, it’s going to be something new and different he has to investigate. What dog owner doesn’t have a gorgeous close-up of canine nostrils in the back of the picture box?

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Advice

-Pet products that are useful, fun and enjoyable will make the pet and owner equally happy, thus taking the time to search for the right products are important.

-Treats are a good way to relieve stress and fight boredom during long periods of sitting and waiting around inside a small dog carrier.

-Weather conditions are very important to consider for any sized pet traveling in a small dog carrier.

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We have all grown up with at least one hero in our life, but how many people can call their hero Duke or Spot? The answer- anyone who has had their life saved by a rescue dog.

Whether it is a house fire, tornado rubble, leftovers from an earthquake, or flowing water behind a hurricane front, these specially trained rescue dogs rush in with no concerns for their own welfare, pulling out victims, some dead and some still alive. They do this time and time again.

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