Maria Chisuroeste

If you have an older dog, you will have seen how their movements become more difficult over time.  Dog ramps allow your dog access to areas that they used to reach with ease, even if they suffer from arthritis or other problems.  It is funny how dogs just don’t seem to realize that they are getting older the way people do.  They still want to be in the center of things no matter how old they get.

Dog ramps come in a variety of sizes and materials. If you are concerned about using one in your home; then you can find one that is constructed of wood and uses traction tape.  If you have a hard time moving things around yourself, look at ramps made of foam because they are much lighter.  For the car, there are a number or telescoping ramps that can be stored in your trunk and taken out when needed.

Perhaps, the best aspect of a ramp for a small or older dog is the increased freedom they gain.  If your pet sleeps with you but needs to get up and down during the night, it can be a real nuisance to have to wake up.  Placing a ramp on their side of the bed means they are self-sufficient.  When daylight breaks and you want your dog to stay off the bed, merely move the ramp away and your bed is inaccessible.  The same is true for a couch or any other area you want to make accessible, it is all in your control.

Dog ramps are wonderful inventions.  Flexible, useful and easy to use, they make life better for both you and your pet.

Invisible fence is the name of a line of electric dog fences.  Over time though, the name has come to be associated with any non-visible dog containment solution.  The basics of this system include an underground wire connected to a power source that utilizes a radio frequency received by the animal’s collar.  In the collar is a radio receiver that warns an animal with a noise upon approaching the preset “fence” and then administers a small shock if the pet gets too close.

A period of training is instituted after the fence is installed.  Flags are left over the buried wire to give the dog a visual signal and then the dog is introduced to the system over a period of time that spans from days to weeks, dependant upon their learning curve.  They learn to associate the sound the collar makes with a warning, and wanting to avoid the subsequent shock, learn to back away from areas where they hear the warning noise.

The best of these systems have a number of accessories that work inside the home as well.  You can utilize the same disciplinary method to keep your pet out of certain areas of your home or off the furniture.  The transmitter can be programmed to accommodate your pet’s specific behavior patterns, allowing for great flexibility when training animals of different personalities.

Using invisible fences to help contain dogs is a growing industry.  I suspect we will see a steady increase in families incorporating an invisible fence in comprehensive dog containment plans. My dog showed immediate attention just like he did with his bark collar.