Reduce Your Dog's Carbon Paw Print - 5 Eco-Friendly Pet Products

The recent article by NewScientist on the eco-pawprints of our four-legged best friends has prompted much debate on the Net. According to the article, a single medium-sized dog has a carbon footprint of 0.84 hectares while a gasoline guzzling SUV's footprint is only 0.41 hectares, less than half that of a medium dog! And that's not all, the land required to feed the dog population for the top ten dog-owning countries in the world is equivalent to the size of six and a half New Zealands! Wow!

Knowing all this, what is a dog lover to do? Well, we could start by using eco-friendly pet products like these to reduce the carbon pawprints of our dogs :

1. Booda Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toy
Made from 100% recycled stuffing on the inside and natural wool on the outside, even the hangtags are recycled paper. Eco-friendly yet lots of fun for your dog.




2. Hueter Toledo Doggie Dooley System Model 3800
Eliminate one of the major causes for pooch's high carbon footprint - doggie poo. The Doggie Dooley System Model use bacteria action to liquify pet waste for ground absorption. Simply shovel stool into tank, close lid and occasionally add water and digester for it to work.



3. West Paw Recycled Fill Bumper Beds L
The fill in this comfy bed is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles that are crushed and grinded down. Even the fabric itself is made from 85% recycled plastic bottles! A perfect match of comfort and environmental friendliness.




4. Fresh Licks Eco-Disposable Bowls - Medium (10 ct)
This disposable bowl is made from 100% bagrasse - the fibrous residue remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices, this biodegradable bowl is perfect for travel, the beach, dog parks - even for use at home.




5. 6 PACK Wag Bags Doggie Clean-up Bags - 108 Count
With stylish colors - yellow, orange and green, a unique mitt-shaped design for easy pick-up, and most importantly biodegradable, the Wag Bags doggie clean-up bag is the perfect eco-friendly product to bring along on walks.




Besides using eco-friendly products, the best way to reduce the pooch's carbon footprint is to think and do "natural" as much as possible, for example, feed foods that do not contain articificial preservatives or additives and try to use only grooming products that do not contain chemicals that will harm the environment. Remember, a little effort goes a long way :-)

Tags: carbon footprint, medium-sized dogs, pet products.

Smartest Medium-sized Dogs

We all know that dogs are very intelligent but which breed is the smartest? Without accurate and scientific ways of measuring a dog's intelligence like our IQ tests, we can only deduce a dog's intelligence based on the observations and experiences of dog trainers and dog owners. Based on research by Stanley Coren, the renowned author of The Intelligence of Dogs,

- the average dog can understand about 165 words, including signs, signals and gestures. They can also count to about 5...
- The smartest dogs, he calls them the "super breeds," are on par with a 2½-year old, recognizing up to 250 words...
More in article.

And what are these "super breeds", the answer below:

1. Border Collie *

2. Poodle *

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever *

5. Doberman Pinscher

6. Shetland Sheepdog

7. Labrador Retriever

8. Papillon

9. Rottweiler

10. Australian Cattle Dog *

* medium dog breeds

Four medium-sized breeds have made it into this list including the No. 1 smartest dog breed of all - the Border Collie. Guess it's good to be medium-sized isn't it :-)

However, dogs that do not make it into the super smart club do not need to be disheartened, some are simply too independent and have too much personality to learn and obey commands readily. And since canine intelligence is typically measured by how easily the dog is able to master commands, it is little wonder that such canines are labelled as "unintelligent", when they are not.

Source:
http://www.petmedsonline.org/top-10-smartest-dogs-in-the-world.html, http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/08/07/smart.dogs/index.html,
http://www.stanleycoren.com/e_intelligence.htm

Tags: smartest dog breeds, medium dogs, medium-sized dogs, intelligence of dogs.

Cool Summer Products For Your Medium-sized Dog

Summer is here in the Northen Hemisphere and summer trips, swimming and keeping cool in the heat are now the in-things. Here are a few products that will make this summer for you and your medium dog even more relaxing and enjoyable.

TRAVEL-tainer (7"H X 5"Diameter)
This handy TRAVEL-tainer (below) will keep your canine pal's food fresh and clean in an an airtight plastic container that can hold 1 gal. capacity of food. Just remove the carry handle and pull off the food/water dishes. Twist off the top and just pour! Perfect for summer trips! Comes in blue and pink colors.




Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket in Yellow (Medium; 14"Length; Yellow)
During the summer months, your dog enjoys swimming and having a fun time by the beach or pool as much as you do. With the Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket, you can make sure that he is safe while in the water. This doggy life jacket is quick draining and drying. The high-contrast colors and reflective strips ensure visibility in low light. A handy handle on top makes it quick and easy to pull your pooch out of the water if needed. The medium size fits Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Border Collies, Welsh Corgies and the large size is ideal for Bulldogs, Collies and Retrievers.



Caddis Black Big Thirst Automatic Waterer for Pets (11"L X 7"W X 12.5"H; Black; No-Tip)
Your dog will need more water in the hot weather. The Caddis Big Thirst Automatic Waterer for Pets makes sure that your dog is never thirsty even when you are not at home. The strong plastic base prevents tipping or spilling. It automatically refills the reservoir bowl without over flowing. Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.




Lixit Dog Waterer (3.5"Length)
If you have an outdoor faucet or garden hose, the Lixit Dog Waterer can turn your faucet or garden hose into a self-waterer that never runs dry or spills! Just attach it to your outdoor faucet or end of garden hose to make it work. It's like a water bottle with an unlimited tank! Your dog simply licks or nudges the lever control and refreshing, clean, sanitary water flows directly into his mouth. Steel nozzle attaches to outdoor faucet without tools. Can be permanently installed in the supply line with a thread adapter.




Mighty Breeze Battery Operated Pet Cage/Kennel Cooling Fan (3"L X 5.5"W X 6.5"H)
Keep your dog cool in his kennel by just hanging this kennel cooling fan on the outside of any cage or kennel. Cools for up to 100 hours on just two D-cell batteries! Feature two speed adjustment for high or low air flow.




Water-LESS Pet Bath Towel - As Seen on TV
Summer months mean more baths for your dog, and now finally.... there is a way to bathe your dog without getting him soaking wet! Just dampen this specially designed premium quality microfiber pet towel then rub down your pet gently and effectively to remove oil, dirt, dust, dander and more. Keep your dog healthy, clean, and happy without the stress of using of harsh shampoos and irritating chemical cleaners. Finish by spraying your pet with a pet deodorizer.



PetZoom Self Cleaning Grooming Brush - As Seen on TV
And besides bathing, a good grooming brush is essential too. This soft, ultra-comfortable brush is so comfortable that it has won numerous awards for its gentle grooming and one-touch cleaning. With just one pass you collect all the loose hair, dirt and dander right into the PetZoom. When finished, get rid of all that unwanted pet hair from your PetZoom with just one touch. Grooming your dog has never been this easy. Perfect for both wet and dry grooming.



Tags: medium dogs, medium-sized dog, summer dog supplies, dog brush, bathing dogs, doggy life jacket, food carrier, waterer.

Take Your Dog To Work Day

The annual Take Your Dog To Work Day will be held on June 26 this year.

This special day was created by Pet Sitters International in 1999 so that employees could bring their pets to their workplace for at least one day in a year and employers can experience the value that pets bring to the workplace. Pet Sitters International hopes that the event will also encourage co-workers who do not have a pet to adopt one when they see how well their colleagues bond with their canine pals.

It's a great cause so spread the word and register your support for this fantastic event here.

Tag: Take Your Dog To Work Day

Hairless Medium-sized Dogs

There are some medium dog breeds that are naturally almost hairless. These make them ideal pets for people who are allergic to fur or dander (Note: No dog is completely 'hypoallergenic'. Do spend time with the dogs to see if there are any allergic reactions before you adopt any of these so-called hypoallergenic dog). Although they have little or no fur, make no mistake, they are just like regular furry dogs, they are just bald! As they do not have fur, they will need more protection from the cold than normal dogs and like us humans, will need sunscreen during sunny days and moisturiser when the weather is dry.

For more information on these unique and rather rare breeds, check out the links below:

Hairless Khala

Peruvian Hairless Dog (or Peruvian Inca Orchid) (picture)

Xoloitzcuintli (or Mexican Hairless Dog)

Tags: hairless dogs, medium dogs, medium-sized dogs, Hairless Khala, Peruvian Hairless Dog, Xoloitzcuintli, Xoloitzcuintle, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Mexican Hairless Dog, hypoallergenic dog breeds, Hairless dog breeds.