Gnawing on a dried, smoked pigs ear may seem pretty gross to you and me—but, to Fido it is a delicious dinner. My German short hair pointer, Barney, loves nothing better than to spend a rainy day chewing on a pig’s ear. Many times, I have even given Barney a pig’s ear to calm his excitement when I have guests over. I have taken Barney on long road trips and a pig’s ear really keeps him busy.

My friend owns a Labradoodle that barks constantly. My friend has tried everything from dog training classes, to canine anxiety medication. But the classes only made the barking worse, and the medication made the poor pup act like a zombie. I suggested he give his dog a pig’s ear to quiet his barking. And, guess what? It worked. The neighbors are no longer complaining and the car rides are no longer intolerable.

Chew or a Toy? What's The Difference?

Believe it or not there is a difference between a chew and a toy when it comes to a dog. Toys satisfy your dogs need to play, run, chase, tug, frolic and generally act like a perpetual puppy. Playing with toys is one of the best times of interaction between you and your dog. They also keep your dog active and healthy.

Toys should be played with then put away. Even the toughest toys will be destroyed if left alone with your dog for hours. Additionally, toys that are put away and brought-out for play are received with great enthusiasm, your dog will act like a kid with a new toy every time.

Although dogs play with chews, chews are designed to be chewed! Chews are pacifiers that satisfy your dogs need to crunch, chomp, and chew. In most cases, you can leave your pet with chews for hours and days. As the chew becomes more mangled the greater the dog seems to enjoy the chew. As time goes on dogs will wear down the chew normally making it smaller and before it becomes a choking hazard should be taken away and discarded.

With all dogs satisfying their need to play and chew is an endless battle so be ready to continue to add to your pup's play-things.

Scratching? Suggestions to Help Your Dog Stop.

Scratching can be caused by a number of variables including age, breed, and size but the most common cause is boredom. If a dog is bored than he will find something to entertain himself and scratching a sofa just might be the cure to boredom.

When customers would come into my store with similar bad habits I would first ask them what kind of toys do they have for their dog. And just about every time they would say, "Oh, he has plenty of toys he just doesn't play with them." With that answer I would have something to work with.

Dogs can be picky, they might have twenty toys sitting in front of them but there is usually one or two that are their favorites and they'll go right for those before going after any of the others. The key isn't quantity it's quality.

Try introducing two or three different toys one at a time. Let your dog play with it for a week or so and then introduce one of the other toys while taking the original one away. After another couple of weeks reintroduce of the the old toys again. This will give you dog the feeling he's receiving a new toy every couple of weeks. This should really help him avoid getting bored.

If it's not the toys it could be that he's just cooped up too much. Many of my customers had the problem of working all day while their dogs are at home. Then, when they come home, they will play with their dogs for a while and then it's off to making dinner, watching television, surfing the web, etc. So during the entire day their dogs would be at home all alone then their owners would come home spend about 30 minutes playing and it's off to sleep for the night. Next day comes around, same routine. So in reality their dogs would only be getting about 30 minutes of exercise and activity with their owners. If this is a routine your find yourself in with your pup try to dedicate more time to interact with him.

One more thing that could be causing the problem could be a scent that is on the sofa itself. If juice or something else you dog finds tantalizing that could be the reason for the scratching. You might want to try having the sofa deep cleaned and once that is done think about applying a repellent to a paper towel and setting it on the spot. That will train your dog to avoid that part of the sofa altogether.

The Keys to Quick Potty Training

The key to potty training dogs is repetition. Keep this in mind at all times:

When dogs are done playing, they have to go to the bathroom.
When dogs are done eating, they have to go to the bathroom.
When dogs are done sleeping, they have to go to the bathroom.

Basically, when your dog is finished doing anything he's going to want to go to the bathroom so be sure you take him to where you want him to go right away.

The Wee Wee Pads are a great way to help with potty training mainly because they're slightly scented so puppies know where to go. However, you have to remember your dog has only been alive for eight weeks and during those eight weeks he's encountered a different world at every stop which adds to the confusion. Being able to navigate your home in which he isn't too familiar with might take some time.

Smaller spaces are key. The bladder control of an eight week old puppy isn't long and the legs of an eight week old Bichon are pretty short so if those Wee Wee Pads are on the other side of the house when he has to go pee don't expect your new puppy to find them in time.

If your dog does have an accident on the carpet you will want to get a good stain and odor remover to get rid of the smell. If your dog smells the urine, just like on the puppy pads, he'll want to pee on the same spot. (Wee Wee Stain & Odor Remover by Four Paws is a good one but there are a ton of them available).

Dogs are very trainable animals so make sure you stick to a routine. Varying the routine at this age will make potty training a tenuous task. Some puppies pick it up in a couple of weeks and some take their whole lives to learn. The advice I gave my customers was stick to the routine early or be prepared to be potty training your puppy for years.

Hope this helps, John from fun4pets.com.

ZuPreem Newest Member to fun4pets.com Family

Always looking to add new products and variety to fun4pets.com President John Cummings green lights ZuPreem bird food and treat line.

Q. Why bird products?
A. "Up to this point we have really focused on dogs and cats but until recently we have begun to expand our inventory to include reptiles, small animals, and now birds. Dogs and cats are the most popular pets out there but that is only two-sixths of pet owners out there. I didn't want fun4pets.com to forget about the small animal, reptile, fish, and birds."

Q. With so many bird products to choose from why ZuPreem?
A. "There is a huge variety of birds manufacturers out there but I wanted to focus on a product line that has a reputation of being an industry leader and Zupreem fits that mold. In addition ZuPreem has that brand recognition that customers can rely on."

Q. What individual product are you most excited about?
A. "With ZuPreem there are a lot of products to be excited about but if I had to choose one I'll go with the Avian Entrees Wild & Spicy. The ZuPreem bird food on it's own is already a great product but with the new flavor it gets even better."

Q. fun4pets.com was started as a dog and cat treat site, where is fun4pets.com going?
A. "fun4pets.com is continuing to grow as an e-tailer and my main goal is to reach out to every pet owner out there and that means more than dogs and cats. In the near future fun4pets.com is going to add more and more small animal and reptile products and of course fish and bird products."

Q. On fun4pets.com you have a Shop by Brand page. Why?
A. "I know that many of our customers take pride in shopping for their pets and knowing where their pet products are coming from is very important to them. Many times pet shoppers will find a product that their dog likes or a product they can trust and will associate that products with a company logo. I know I do that personally. That is one reason why ZuPreem was added to fun4pets.com. We added the ZuPreem Monitor Diet to fun4pets.com because I knew that monitor owners know this product and trust this product, that's what we want our customers to expect."

New MagNaturals Painting the Town Red

Painting the town Mojave Red that is. New from Pet-Tech are the Mojave Red Rock ledges, available in Small, Medium, and Large sizes, "It doesn't matter what type of reptile you have the MagNaturals will work for you. And they create more space inside your terrarium," says John Cummings, President of fun4pets.com.


The concept behind the MagNaturals is to allow for Herp owners to maximize the space in their terrariums. With the MagNaturals Rock Ledges adhere to the glass of any terrarium by using the power of magnets. By using magnets instead of glue or Velcro the MagNaturals are easily cleaned or relocated if desired.

"I'm a reptile owner myself and for years the problem has always been how to create a basking area for my Bearded Dragon without having to fill half my terrarium with rocks, the MagNaturals allow me to do that," Cummings says.

Cummings isn't the only fan either. The MagNaturals have been the best selling reptile product on fun4pets.com since they were added to the site, "The only problem with the MagNaturals is keeping up with the demand," says Cummings.

Fun4pets.com is a web-based pet store and has been offering pet products to the public since 2004.

Treats, Treats, Treats...fun4pets.com Adds Even More

Treats galore! Dogs Rejoice! Fun4pets.com has just increased their inventory to include the entire Savory Prime Rawhide treats line. With almost 60 new rawhide treats to choose from, your just a click away from spoiling your dog to the fullest. More variety is just part of the vision President of fun4pets.com John Cummings is looking for, "I want fun4pets.com to stay ahead of all the other pet e-tailers out there and Savory Prime was just another way to do it," says Cummings.

Fun4pets.com has taken strides to offer everything you would find in a brick-and-mortar pet store but with even more variety. Cummings says that Savory Prime Rawhide is just a sample of what is to come in the near future, "We added the Savory Prime Rawhide to the site and we know just about every pet e-tailer has rawhide but it's the variety of choices we offer our customers, that's the real difference." As an example of the variety Savory Prime Rawhide offers, fun4pets.com added the Beef Rawhide Chips and Chicken Rawhide Chips as well as the original Natural Rawhide Chips, something many brick-and-mortar stores just cannot do. "They run out of space, with our warehouse we have almost an unlimited potential as to what we can offer to our customers."

There is much more on the horizon as well for fun4pets.com. Cummings says that there are plans to add to the Zilla product line as well as the Pet-Tech product line. "Reptiles have always been overlooked in the pet industry. We know there are many reptile owners out there and for them, sometimes finding products are difficult. We want that to change."

Fun4pets.com is a web-based pet store and has been offering pet products to the public since 2004.

Staying Creative fun4pets.com Adds Beefeaters to Website

Being ahead of the curve, fun4pets.com adds Beefeaters treat line to website to the delight of their customers, "We have a great reputation of listening to our customers so if they ask for something we do are best to give it to them," says President John Cummings.

Customers love to try new products and will do just about anything to spoil their pets. Now that fun4pets.com has another 17 Beefeaters treats its seems they have found a perfect match. Almost every dog loves rawhide and Chicken Breast Strips and with the new Chicken Top Compressed Rawhide Bone pets can have the best of both worlds. Beefeaters have done something no other treat company has done before, they created a tasty natural treat with chicken on the outside and rawhide that offers a long, satisfying chew.

To keep the creative juices going fun4pets.com also added the new Piggy Rope Bones by Beefeaters. The Piggy Rope Bones are truly a unique product and Beefeaters have taken a flavor that dogs love and put it in the shape of knotted bones, figure-8's, and donuts, "This is the creativity ours customers have been looking for in a dog treat," says Cummings.


And not to be left out of the bully stick market Beefeaters put their own twist on the popular treat. The Swizzles Pizzles take center stage with an irresistible flavor dogs love. It's unique shape lets dogs hold and play with it while they enjoy the great taste. Swizzles for aggressive chewers aids in dental health by scraping tartar from your dogs teeth with they chew.

Spoiling your pets has never been easier, and fun4pets.com makes it all that much more fun.

fun4pets.com is a web-based pet store and has been offering pet producst to the public since 2004.

Redbarn and fun4pets.com Offer Up Variety

New to fun4pets.com, many Redbarn treats and chews. Arguably the treats that sets Redbarn apart from all the other treat companies are the Flavor Filled Bones and Rawhide Filled Treats.


Available in a 3 inch size and a 6 inch size with a variety of flavors to choose from you can't go wrong. The Beef and Peanut Butter filled bones are probably the most popular but the Bacon & Cheese, Chicken, and Lamb Filled bones are catching on quickly.

Along with the unique Flavored Filled Bones Redbarn also offers a quality line of Bully Stick Treats. Available in multiple sizes, shapes, and twists the Bully Sticks offered by Redbarn on fun4pets.com are a show stopper.

When asked about adding the Redbarn product line to fun4pets.com President John Cummings says variety was the key, "When we look to add product lines to fun4pets.com we want them to offer more to our customers. The great aspect of the Redbarn product line is it satisfies a wide spectrum of appetites. From Biscuits to Bully Sticks to Mammoth Bones, Redbarn pretty much has spoiling your dog down to a science."

fun4pets.com is a web-based pet store and has been offering pet products to the public since 2004.

Pet-Tech's Brand New MagNaturals hits fun4pets.com

Pet-Tech's Brand New MagNaturals

The single one product that is revolutionizing reptile
terrarium decoration. New from Pet-Tech the
MagNaturals line create a new
dimension in terrarium design. The secret is in the powerful magnets that
attach to the outside of your terrarium. Once the MagNaturals are
connected a secure realistic ledge is created.

The MagNaturals were designed to be easy to clean and move
around the terrarium. Simply remove the MagNaturals with a twist and
you're all set. Perfect for all Terrariums, Reptiles, and Amphibians.

Now you can design your terrarium in 3D with more than just grapevine and
bedding. Introducing Pet-Tech' MagNatural background.

With MagNatural backgrounds you can design very realistic and life-like
environments for any reptile or amphibians. The terrarium shown here was
designed for Poison Dart Frogs and created to an exact match to their natural
environment.

The MagNatural backgrounds are available in

10 Gallon and

20 Gallon sizes.

What's New from Pet 'n Shape

Brand new from

Pet 'n Shape are the Chicken 'n Fish Sticks and Chips for cats
and kittens.




These unique cat treats combine the delicious taste and nutritional benefits of
Chicken and Fish with the playful shapes cats love.



Pet 'n Shape natural chicken and fish treats are made with 100% natural chicken
and fish meat. Each highly nutritious treat provides your cat with a natural and
healthy snack. They have NO artificial colors or flavors. Each treat is
carefully roasted to ensure the ultimate quality and flavor. They'll get your
Pet 'n Shape! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee - We guarantee you and your pet will
be 100% satisfied.

Always available for your furry friends at
fun4pets.com

Dog Chew vs. Dog Toy

How many times have you thrown down your cold hard cash on dog toys from the pet store only to have your furry friend destroy it in less than ten minutes? Odds are this scenario has played itself out on more than one occasion to many pet owners out there. We are spending $5-$10 per toy just to have our dogs destroy them faster than rise of gas prices. This problem has plagued many that own a four legged companion but don’t worry, we have the answer, or at least some tips that might curve the cost of spoiling your pup.

As any male that grew up in the 1980’s we know from watching G.I. Joe cartoons every Saturday morning: Knowing is half the battle. Knowing and understanding your dogs chewing habits will help you choose the right toy. Every dog has a different level of aggression when it comes to chewing. Some dogs can disappear with a plush snowman toy and two days later be found with the same toy still intact. Other dogs can be given a 15 inch rawhide bone and have it devoured in less than ten minutes. A responsible dog owner will notice and then choose their dogs’ toys accordingly. As a pet owner you must know the difference between a chew and a toy and what each of them is designed to provide for you dog.

Toys satisfy your dogs need to play, run, chase, tug, and frolic and generally be a perpetual puppy. Toys are designed to be used as one of the best times of interaction between you and your dog. They also keep your dog active and healthy. Take for example our 24inch Super Tug. This durable toy is made with extra thick rope and handle that can take the best of beatings. But this toy is designed to be used with you and your puppy. Play tug-o-war and let them chase the super tug to keep them in shape. And when you are finished playing put the rope toy away. Do not let your dog continue to chew on the rope toy because constant gnawing the rope toy will begin to come apart.

Chews, on the other hand, are pacifiers that satisfy your dogs need to crunch, chomp, and gnaw. In most cases, you can leave your pet with chews for hours and days and they will continue to enjoy their treat. Dog owners must understand all dogs have a desire to chew and this desire is ongoing for the life of the dog.

With that said the real question still remains: How can we prevent our dogs from destroying their toys in ten minutes? Well we know now not to give our dogs toys when they really need a chew so now we must look at the proper chews.

Rawhides have always been a popular all-natural treat and for many years the one and only chew. However, over the course of time and the advancements in technology there are now some chews that will give you a little bang for your buck. The Kong Company have taken great strides in providing a product in which will outlast even the toughest chewers.

The Original Kong Dental toy will give your pup a chance to quench their desire to chew and at the same time give your wallet a break. This particular toy is more than a simple chew. The inside of the exclusive, super-bouncy, red, natural rubber compound is completely hollow and perfect for a hidden treat or two. With the Original Kong dogs will chomp down on the chew and they will also knock it around to try to retrieve the hidden treat inside. In turn the Kong will tend to last longer.

Another toy, with a similar design, is made by Canine Genius and is simply called the Leo. The idea of the Leo is comparable in concept to the Kong and, in addition, Canine Genius has created a Leo for the Tougher Chewers.

With dogs continually wanting to satisfy their desire to chew we, as pet owners, are always looking for the toy that will put up a fight. As hard as we look we must also understand that no toy or chew is completely indestructible.

Holiday Pets and How to Keep Them Happy

With the holidays just around the corner buying or receiving a new puppy has become a very popular gift. Here are a few things to remember when that new member of the family comes home:

• New Pets Need Attention Too! With all the commotion of the holidays many times your new pup or kitty can get overlooked so be sure to keep them busy chewing on stuff they're supposed to chew on and not your brand new shoes. Nylabone, inc. has a number of completely digestible products to keep your new pup distracted and out of trouble.
  
  For the new kitties in the home you will want to make sure they have something of their own to play with. Many times pet owners will use their hands to play with their new kitty. This method of playing will many times make your cat trained to think of your hands as a toy and not the petting machines they're supposed to be. Avoid getting scratched and bitten by giving your kitten something to dig their claws into. Our new Sisal Balls are a perfect fit with the rattle inside and the durable sisal rope on the outside each toy will give your newest family member hours of fun!
  
• New Pets Need Training! It's true, when puppies and kittens come home they don't have any bad habits because they haven't been taught them yet, but on the other hand they don't have any good habits either. Bladder control for puppies is about 4-6 hours so giving them a place to go while you're eating that holiday turkey is a great training aide. Four Paws has developed the aptly name Wee Wee Pads which are scented pads that help guide your pup to right areas instead of on your carpet. And if they happen to accidentally go on the carpet use Four Paws Wee Wee Stain & Odor Remover to completely eliminate the habit of your pup going in the same spot again.
  
• Dogs & Cats Can Be Jealous! Getting a new pet when there is already an existing pet at home can lead to some jealous behavior. If the new pet is given the existing pet's favorite toy to play with you might see some jealous behavior like attacking and swatting so be sure to provide your cats with plenty of fuzzy mice and your puppies with plenty of plush toys. With new pets and old pets there is always a "breaking in" period and you can help ease the transition by making sure everybody has something to play with.

5th Anniversary for fun4pets.com

fun4pets.com is the online pet store to visit. It was created back in 2004 and has been growing ever since. President John Cummings has been there from the beginning and has been the driving force behind the success of fun4pets.com, "From the start we wanted to provide the same care and one-on-one service customers would get at a brick and mortar store but transpose that care to an online website, and I think we've accomplished that vision." fun4pets.com began as a dog and cat toy website in 2004 and has quickly grown to a full line online pet store because of the customer demand for more. "From the beginning we received emails everyday asking if we had this product or that product and then we realized we need to offer more than just toys," says Cummings.

Many e-commerce websites tend to have the same tired old mission statements claiming customer service is number one but the team at fun4pets.com up the ante. Before coming on board with fun4pets.com Cummings owned and operated a pet store for over ten years so he has a firm grasp on what pet people are looking for when shopping for their pets, "We have a knowledgeable staff answering questions from our customers. Our team has been around pets their entire lives and everyone of them have animals of their own."


With the big block stores they only have so much space to put products so the variety of toys tends to be limited, not so with an online pet store, "The great aspect with working with an online website is we can offer just about every product out there. Have you been into a big block pet store recently? The variety of toys and treats have been squeezed down to one aisle." With fun4pets.com the product lines are constantly being expanded and with the recent addition of the brand new Pet-Tech line of reptile decorations known as MagNaturals they are staying ahead of the competition. "We strive to add products to fun4pets.com that people are going to like. Any website can claim to have a huge online inventory but if nothing appeals to the customers it doesn't do any good. The products we put up on the site people are going to love," says Cummings.

The MagNaturals reptile line is just one example of how fun4pets.com is carving their own niche into the online community but they still have a lot of work ahead of them and Cummings is intent on continuing the journey, "Oh there is much more to do and we're just getting started. We're only five years into a 20 year plan." Cummings is optimistic for the future of fun4pets.com and if the first four years is any indication, the future of fun4pets.com seems to be very bright.