Sustainable Tails

Welcome back into another exciting edition of Sustainable Tails! Join us as we dive into the wonderful world of pets and explore topics that get those tails waggin’. Keeping your dog calm during home renovations, Americas newest favorite dog breed, and dog raincoat fitting, among other fun topics, we’re here to celebrate the joy, quirks, and sustainability of our beloved furry friends. Let’s jump right into it!

Keeping Your Dog Calm During Home Renovations

Home renovations can be exciting for humans, but the noise, unfamiliar activity, and changes in routine can be distressing for our furry friends. Keeping your dog calm during a home renovation requires thoughtful planning and consideration.

Firstly, designate a safe haven for your dog away from the renovation zone. Create a quiet, comfortable space with familiar items like their bed, toys, and water bowl. This provides them with a retreat where they can feel secure. Maintaining a consistent routine is crucial. Dogs thrive on routine, so try to stick to their regular feeding, walking, and playtime schedule. This stability helps alleviate anxiety in the midst of chaos.

Introduce your dog to the renovation changes gradually. Allow them to explore the altered environment at their own pace, helping them adjust to new sights and scents. You can use positive reinforcement by offering treats and praise when they exhibit calm behavior.

Consider using calming products such as pheromone diffusers or sprays to create a soothing atmosphere. Background noise, like calming music or white noise, can also help drown out construction sounds and create a more serene environment. If the renovation involves extensive noise and disruptions, exploring alternatives like doggy daycare or temporary boarding may provide your pet with a stress-free environment until the work is complete.

Ultimately, your presence and reassurance play a vital role. Spend quality time with your dog, offering comfort and affection during this transitional period. By implementing these strategies, you can help ensure your dog remains calm and content throughout the home renovation process.

Cat Fact Corner

Siamese cats boast a heat-sensitive enzyme called tyrosinase. This unique enzyme reacts to temperature, influencing their fur color. Cooler areas, like the ears, paws, and tail, activate tyrosinase, resulting in darker pigmentation. This extraordinary adaptation gives Siamese cats their signature point coloration, a beautiful interplay of warmth and hue.

Think You Know Americas Favorite Dog Breed?

The American Kennel Club has had the Labrador Retriever as the #1 most favorite dog breed in the US. Well, after holding that position for three decades, Labradors must now relinquish this top spot to the French Bulldog. That’s right, Frenchies, as they are affectionately called, have skyrocketed in popularity over the past 10 years.

French Bulldogs, beloved for their charming personalities, compact size, and distinctive bat-like ears, boast numerous good qualities. They are affectionate, making them excellent companions, and their adaptable nature suits various living situations. Frenchies are known for minimal barking, making them ideal for apartment living. Their low exercise needs accommodate less active owners.

However, French Bulldogs also have some poor qualities to consider. Their distinctive pushed-in faces can lead to respiratory issues and difficulty regulating body temperature. They may be stubborn during training, requiring patient and consistent guidance. Additionally, their compact size can result in vulnerability to joint problems.

Prospective owners should be aware of these considerations and provide appropriate care to ensure the health and happiness of these delightful companions. As with any new addition to your pet family, making sure you are prepared to take on the good with the bad that your beloved fur baby can give to you will ensure the most harmonious loving and happy relationship in your family.

Pet Poem Place

Abby and Ray

By Megan, Age 10, Tennessee USA

I have two brand new dogs
named Abby and Ray.
They play and play all day.
They’re too cute.
I love them very much.
They have lots of toys and such.
I just want to brag on these two special pets,
Because I love them very much!
They are Yorkshire puppies who are only ten weeks old. The youngest one is Abby and the oldest one is the hyper one, Ray.

Fitting Your Dog To A Raincoat

Equipping your pup with a rain jacket offers various benefits, providing protection from the elements and keeping them dry and comfortable during wet weather walks. Introducing your dog to the rain jacket involves a gradual process. Begin by placing the jacket near them during positive activities, allowing them to associate it with pleasant experiences. Gradually progress to draping the jacket over their back, rewarding calm behavior.

When your dog is at ease, proceed to the fitting. Guide their front legs through the openings and secure the jacket snugly but not too tight. Ensure it covers their back and stomach adequately without hindering movement. Consistent positive reinforcement, treats, and praise during this process help create a positive association with the rain jacket.

Wearing a rain jacket not only shields your furry friend from rain but also minimizes post-walk cleanup. By following these steps, you make the experience enjoyable, ensuring your pup stays dry and content during damp weather excursions.

Pet Of The Week - Jessie

Meet Jessie, our delightful Pet of the Week in this edition of Sustainable Tails! At the wise age of 9 ½ years, Jessie has witnessed many of her family’s milestones – a move to a nearby community, the excitement of adolescence, graduation and college, and all the love and joy the holidays bring year after year. Being a seasoned furball, she brings a paw-sitive presence to the household, always ready for a cozy cuddle while looking at you with her irresistible puppy dog eyes.

Jessie's secret to a sustainable tail-wagging life? Unconditional love, endless treats, and the occasional bark at the neighborhood squirrels. She is a living testament to the enduring joy our pets bring to the ever-evolving tapestry of family life! Thank you to some dear friends of Sustainable Tails for submitting this adorable photo of Jessie.

Easy Homemade Cat Treats

Chicken, corn meal, and egg. How does that sound for simplicity? These simple to make cat treats will really have Whiskers tail twitching…We all know that most everything in the snack department is not very healthy, not only for us humans, but for our furry friends, as well. We stumbled upon this yummy looking (and healthier, too!) treat and wanted to pass it along to our subscribers.

• 5oz Canned Chicken in water

• 1/3 Cup Yellow Corn Meal

• 1 Egg

Empty the chicken along with the liquid in the can into a mixing bowl. Mash the chicken as finely as you can. Add in the yellow corn meal and the egg and mix together with the chicken. Once all ingredients are mixed, place the cat treat mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet or round cake pan to about ¼” thickness. Score the treats using a knife to roughly the size of a penny. Place into a 350 degree pre-heated oven and bake for 4 minutes. Remove the treats and cut the treats at the score marks. Bake for an additional 2 minutes, making sure not to brown the treats or overcook. Remove treats from oven and slide parchment paper onto a cooling rack. Let treats cool completely. Once cool, they are ready to serve up to your cat for a yummy, homemade treat. You can easily store the remainder of the treats in the refrigerator and/or freezer.

Love Is All Around Us

Well, that’s a wrap for this week. Please be sure to share this growing community of pet lovers from around the world with your friends and family. We send you an unobtrusive email once a week right to your mailbox. That’s all there is to it! We welcome any and all input from all of our subscribers. Send us topics you’d love to know more about, or just drop a line to say hello. There are exciting things coming as Sustainable Tails grows in popularity!

Sustainable Tails is dedicated to helping you create a harmonious and eco-friendly life for you and your pets. By embracing zero-waste and pet-friendly grooming products and sustainably exploring the outdoors together, you're not only enhancing the well-being of your furry companions but also contributing to a healthier planet.

Thank you for joining us on this weeks adventure. Continue to spread the word on what we are doing here, and always know your comments and participation in our community are welcomed with open paws. We’ll see you right here next week, so continue making sustainable choices and cherishing each and every day with your beloved pets!

Joshua McCarty

Founder, Sustainable Tails

P.S. Have a topic you’d like us to cover in our next newsletter? Share your ideas and questions with us. We’d love to hear from you!

P.P.S. Take a peek over at our partner website for an ever growing list of sustainable and eco-friendly pet supplies and accessories, as well as many other pet friendly products!

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