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Grooming your dog can be challenging, but it's a vital part of his overall care. Regular grooming not only makes your dog look and smell better, but it contributes to his overall health and well-being. Bathing your dog is probably one of the bigger challenges of grooming. Many people prefer to avoid the task by making an appointment with the local groomer. The truth is, it's really not that hard to give your dog a bath at home and save yourself some cash. A few simple tips will ensure this goes smoothing both before and after your dog's bath.

5 tips for bathing your dog:

1. Prepare all your tools beforehand.

Why would this make a difference? Once you've started bathing your pet dog, you don't want to leave him unattended. Should you forget the conditioning spray or a brush, you will likely have a wet runaway to handle.  By preparing ahead of time, your pup will be safe and it also means that you won't have a very wet sudsy pet tracking water and soap all around your house.

2. Use shampoos or conditioner which has been made specifically for dogs.

This is important because the pH level of dog's skin differs from that of humans. Dog shampoos and conditioners are formulated to be gentle on your dog's skin and coat, where human soaps may be too harsh, causing dryness and irritation.

3. Make sure you rinse your puppy off thoroughly after soaping him up

You'll want to make sure you've rinsed off every bit of shampoo out of your dog's fur. The main reason for this is that residual shampoo might cause irritation on your dog's skin. This can lead to an itchy, uncomfortable dog. Furthermore, if your dog is scratching himself repeatedly, it can result in further problems, including dermatitis and other skin infections.

4. Towel dry your dog before letting him out of the tub

Using a towel, blot off any excess water off of your dog before letting him leave the tub. And just why's this a good idea? Having the excess water off your furry friend before allowing him out of your bathroom will lessen some of the "water spray" you're going to see when bath time is over! And - I assure you - you will have water spray :-) The dryer you can get him, the less "damage" he's going to do.

5. Don't bathe your canine more often than once a month.

Your dog's coat has naturally protective oils that keep his skin lubricated. Excessive shampooing can rob his skin of these precious oils and lead to scratching and infection. It's never fun having an itchy, uncomfortable dog.

Just carefully stick to the 5 tips above and you'll have an easier go of it in in terms of your dog's bath time.

For more detailed information about dog grooming, read our article:  Basic Dog Grooming Tips

There are several things to consider when choosing the right dog food. You'll want to take into consideration his age, activity level, breed and overall health. For example, puppies have different nutritional needs than older dogs and dogs that are less active won't require the same caloric and fat intake that a more active dog will.

You will want to make sure to choose a food that will provide your dog's nutritional needs, while maintaining a healthy weight. The best place place to start when researching the best dog food is with your veterinarian. They two most popular types of food are dry dog food and a raw food diet.

Dry dog food is the most popular choice of food. It generally comes in small kibble form and price can range from very inexpensive to very expensive. Pay careful attention to the ingredients label on the food. Not all foods, generally the cheaper brands, use high quality natural ingredients. There are a few things to be looking for:

• Preservatives, Artificial Color and Flavor - Just like with humans, anything artificially added to food isn't going to be healthy for your dog. While these additives probably aren't going to harm your dog, finding a food without a lot of extras is the best. You should especially avoid foods that are labeled with chemical additives as a source of flavor. Many of these foods contain very little, if any, meat at all. Your dog needs protein and real meat is the best way for him to get it.
• Color of the Food - Natural food is going to be dull in color, with natural earthtones. Food that has noticably colored kibble is often from the addition of chemicals to add color. The more natural the food is, the better it's going to be for your dog.
• Type of Meat - Many dog food contain what's called meat by-products. By-products can be any part of the animal. You're going to want to look for food that contains "meal". Natural foods will have Chicken Meal, Lamb or Liver listed as one of the main ingredients.

Raw dog food is another type of diet to consider for your dog. Raw food is actually the healthiest food for your dog. It's what dogs eat in the wild, and it provides the best nutritional value for your dog, as well. A healthy raw dog food diets contains only natural and unprocessed ingredients. The proportions for a raw diet are typically 40% meat, 30% fiber and 30% starch. In addition to raw liver, beef, chicken or lamb, you'll want to include some vegetables and starch. Some vegetables that are a good source of fiber and starch are broccoli, carrots and yams.

In addition to these general types of dog foods, that are also special types of food for different life stages and problems. There are dog foods for older dogs, puppies, active and less active dogs, as well as weight control and organic foods. You will want to speak with your veterinarian about the best diet for your dog and choose your dog's food based on his individual nutritional needs.

For more information on your dog's nutritional needs, see our article: Choosing the Best Dog Food

This article explains how your dog's needs change throughout his life, from puppy to adulthood.

So, you've decided you want to become a pet owner. If you're trying to decide between a dog or a cat, there are some differences that you should be aware of. Hopefully, this post will help you decide which pet will fit into your lifestyle best.

Dogs are naturally servants. A dog feels respect, even admiration, for his owner. Dogs are like a faithful friend that enjoy the camaraderie with their owner, and they'll go to great lengths to please and protect their masters. They can be trained to do all kinds of tricks and tasks, and will go about performing them with enthusiasm.

Cats? Well, not so much. Cats serve no one - willingly or unknowingly. Cats are instinctively hunters - and that is what they live for, the hunt. They teach themselves to hunt from a young age with no intervention from their owners. I have yet to know anyone that has trained a cat for some human benefit. Ever see a cat retrieve the daily newspaper from a porch? Exactly. Most cats won't even come when being called - unless she feels like it.

Dogs are incredibly reliant on their human masters. They actively seek out our companionship; they want to play and they need to be cared for. Dogs are naturally pack animals. They learn their place in the pack and enjoy their role in it.

Cats are pretty self-sufficient. You never really need to entertain your cat. She'll do it herself. That doesn't mean that they don't enjoy playful interaction, or that watching them isn't entertaining in and of itself. It's just that cats tend to keep pretty full schedules. In their world, they have lots of things to do. They don't need you to keep them occupied. Cats prefer independence, and this makes them in many ways, an easier pet to take care of.

Choosing between owning a dog or cat will depend a lot on your own personality. If you tend to be independent and you don't want to be tied down worrying about entertaining a pet or taking them "out", a cat is your best bet. If you like being in charge, a cat probably isn't your best choice, as she isn't going to stand for that. Looking for companionship and undying loyalty? A dog will provide you years of both. That's not to say that cats aren't affectionate and that they don't provide companionship - they certainly do. It's just that they have their own way of doing things, and will never really be dependent on you.

Regardless of what type of pet you choose, you'll be blessed with many years of love and companionship.

Is your cat driving you nuts? Mine has been lately with her latest behavior, er philosophy. She believes dogs are bad, very bad. Particularly our dog. She will literally lay in wait for poor Essyx, hiding behind a curtain or around the corner of the couch. When Essie walks in the room, Toonces will barrel across the room, hissing and with both front paws in the air. Essyx doesn't need to do anything to provoke this. It just seems like Toonces gets some enjoyment from it. This has made our dog terrified of the cat. Of course, she's terrified of just about everything, but I digress.

Cat behavioral issues aren't all that uncommon. It's definitely easier to nip bad behavior in the bud immediately, or prevent it from happening in the first place, rather than try to fix a problem that has already become a bad habit. Changing a bad behavior in your cat can be done, but it will take a lot of patience and consistency on your part. A couple of cat problems that are common are urinating in the house and acting aggressively towards people or other animals - like my dear Toonces.

By correcting these problems, not only will you be happier and have a happier household, but your cat may be happier as well. Sometimes behavioral issues stem from underlying problems that you can help to eliminate.

Urinating and aggressive behavior can often be associated with your cat feeling insecure about himself and/or his surroundings. Are there other cats or pets that your cat is viewing as a threat? Is there a particular person that your cat feels threatened by? Try to see if you can eliminate, or lessen the perceived threat, if possible. Simply separating your pets, or allowing your cat a safe means of "escape" may be enough to curb or stop the problem. Often eliminating any threat towards your cat (real or imagined) will result in your pet being comfortable with his surroundings. His aggression or need to mark his territory may be abated.

Cats may also react out of jealousy in a home where there is more than one pet. They crave attention, just like dogs, and may feel as though they're not getting enough. Cats and dogs seem to be like children in a lot of ways. The more you ignore them, the more they will try to get your attention - and often in not so positive ways. Make sure to spend some time with your cat, letting him know that he's just as important as your other pets.

A change in location, or separation from an owner, can also cause your cat to be stressed and act out. Just like people feel stress when moving to a new home or changing jobs, cats are sensitive to changes in their environment and it can have a marked effect on how they act. Lots of love and attention is needed whenever there is a major change in your cat's environment. In time, he'll begin to feel more secure.

For more information on cat behavior problems, read my article: Understanding Your Cat's Behavior

The article takes a more in depth look at what causes cat behavior problems and a few simple things you can do to change unwanted behaviors.

Did you know that dogs get bored just like people? Boredom can result in some pretty bad behavior for your dog. A bored dog can become aggressive and/or become very anxious. This can result in destructive behavior, such as chewing on things and nuisance barking.

I'm lucky in that I get to be with my dog 24 hours a day, for the most part. She sleeps under my desk during the day, sits on the couch with me in the evening, and sleeps in her dog bed on the floor next to me every night. I wouldn't say she never gets bored, but at least I'm around if she wants to play or needs to go out. Obviously, for most people this just isn't an option. So what can you do to help alleviate boredom?

Get into a routine of spending some quality time with your dog. If your dog knows that at the end of every day he'll get to spend some time with you, be it taking a walk or a run, or just playing fetch for a few minutes, he'll actually look forward to it. I'm not kidding! Dogs are like people, they get used to routines, and once one has been established, they'll expect it.

Not only will that few minutes of play time get some extra energy out of your dog, it helps promote a healthier and happier dog. Play time also strengthens the bond that exists between you and your dog. Having a dog is just like having a relationship, you need to invest in that relationship to create long term happiness.

For those times when you can't be around, provide your dog with toys that will keep him busy mentally and physically. Kong toys are great for this. Many of them can be filled with small treats or flavored pastes, and it becomes a game for your dog to get to the treat. Get a couple of these and I promise your dog will be entertained for awhile.

Keeping your dog from experiencing boredom will have some great side effects. He will be more obedient, and less prone to misbehaving. Happier dogs are healthier dogs. Healthier dogs live longer and will be around for years for you to enjoy.

Did you know that you may be overlooking one of the most important aspects of your cat's health? Many people spend a lot of time and money on cat toys, vet visits, litter boxes and the like, but never stop to consider what they're feeding their cat. Your cat's food is a very important factor in his overall health and quality of life. Providing a diet that is high in carbohydrates, and with not enough protein, is not only an unhealthy choice, but could have dangerous consequences, as well.

To figure out what your cat needs most from his cat food, we can look at their wild counterparts. Wild cats eat mice, birds and other sources of protein, as well as drinking lots of water. This type of high protein diet is essential for your cat as well. And no, you don't need to start feeding mice to your cats - there are many quality cat foods that provide a sufficient amount of protein, as well as carbohydrates and fats, which are also necessary in your cat's diet.

Something very important to remember is that while carbohydrates are important in your cat's food, a high carbohydrate diet can actually cause serious health issues for him. Cats can become diabetic when given a high carb diet for a prolonged period of time. A constant intake of carbs can cause him to become insulin resistant, which in turn will interfere with his blood glucose levels, just like in humans.

Common signs of diabetes in a cat are drinking excessive amounts of water and eating considerably more than normal. A cat's back legs may also become weakened as diabetes progresses, causing him to wobble when he walks. The only way to rule out diabetes is with a blood test that your veterinarian can perform.

If your cat is diabetic, it is sometimes possible for the diabetes to go into remission by altering their diet. This means seriously limiting the amount of carbs your cat ingests, and increasing his protein intake. Increased protein helps to stabilize blood glucose levels.

When choosing a cat food, you should take some time to read labels, and even speak with your veterinarian to find the best choice for your cat. A high protein diet that has limited carbohydrates is the best choice for any domestic cat, just as it's the preferred diet of his wild counterparts.

For more information on cat nutrition and cat foods, read our article: Choosing the Healthiest Cat Food for Your Cat

The article provides a more detailed look at cats' nutritional needs as well as explaining what you should look for in choosing your cat's food.

For many dog owners, it never occurs to them that there is a distinct pecking order in their household that includes their pets. Of course, we know as parents that our job is to be the "pack leader" so to speak. But, did you know that it's important to your dog that you're acting as his pack leader as well? In this article, we'll take a look at this instinctive dog behavior, and talk about a couple of very simple steps you can take  to establish your role as the "Alpha Dog" in your home.

Read the article: Become Your Dog's Pack Leader

So, your dog is driving you nuts with all of the unnecessary barking, and you don't know what to do. Bark control collars can be very effective in curbing unwanted and problem barking. In my newest article, I've answered a few of the common questions people ask me when they're thinking about buying a dog bark collar.

Read: Bark Control Collar FAQ

While litter box training kittens is generally an easy thing to do, many people don't realize that it's really not natural for cats to use a litter box. KT Pet Supply's article on litter box training your new kitten gives some tips and ideas for successful training.

Read: Litter Box Training for Your New Kitten