A dog and a reptile living together in your home sweet home? That would be a dream of many pet lovers! Nonetheless, the thought can be intimidating. Many people are probably worried about how the two will get along.

©Kelsee Bodine Photography

Luckily, it does not take a lot to make sure that they will live in harmony! They might not get along during the first meeting, but with the right approach, they can be friends! Read on as we share some of the best things that you can do.

Know the Characteristics of Your Pets

Thirawatana Phaisalratana via istockphoto

While dogs make the best friends with humans, it is not always the case with other pets. Hence, you should be mindful of the characteristics of the dog that you have. If you have had your dog for a long time, we assume you already know its behaviors. It is more likely to coexist peacefully with reptiles if it is calm and gentle. The same thing is true when a dog is well-trained. Proper training can make a dog friendly.

As for the reptiles, you should also pick the right one. A tortoise is one of the best options, especially because most are gentle. Leopard, Mediterranean Spur-Thighed, and Red-Footed tortoises will make good options.

Meanwhile, if you want a pet turtle that will not be hostile toward dogs, a red-eared slider is one of the best options. It is sociable and friendly, so it is almost unlikely that you will have a problem.

©Kelsee Bodine Photo

If you opt for a lizard as your reptile, on the other hand, you cannot go wrong with a bearded dragon. While they can be territorial and dominant, such is only the case in males housed with other males. If it is in the same household as a dog, chances are, they will live peacefully.

Provide Space for Each Pet

While our goal is for the dog and reptile to live together peacefully, it does not mean that you will just leave them in the same area. Like humans, your pets need privacy. Hence, it is best if they stay in separate rooms or their individual spaces most of the time. Otherwise, there is a higher chance that they will not get along.

Give Your Dog a Crate

While putting a dog in a crate may seem controversial, experts agree that it can deliver many benefits when used correctly. Crate training is a good idea for most dogs. It will limit the dog’s access to the house, especially where the reptile is. It will minimize the chances that the dog will end up chewing random things it sees, including the stuff of your reptile.

It is crucial that you pick the right crate, making sure that your dog is comfortable. Plastic and wire are both good materials. Although, wire is a better option if you want better durability. The most important consideration is the size. The dog must have enough space to stand up and move around the crate. It is inhumane to keep a dog in a crate that is too small for an extended time.

However, even if the dog has a crate, it is still a good idea to put the pets in separate rooms. This way, they will feel that they have their respective spaces, preventing them from being territorial.

Provide an Enclosure for Your Reptile

cynoclub via istockphoto

The choice of an enclosure can vary, depending on the specific reptile that you will bring home. Instead of discussing every possible reptile, we’ll focus on one that is gentle enough and can feasibly live with dogs – the tortoise.

In the same way that your dogs need their home, your tortoise also needs its space. The goal is to create an enclosure that mimics their natural habitats. One of the best options is in an outdoor pen, especially if you live in a place with a climate similar to what tortoises are used to in the wild. Otherwise, if it is extremely hot or cold, they are better kept indoors where the living conditions are easier to control.

If you create a space for your tortoise outside the house, make sure that the enclosure is sturdy enough. According to www.reptileslife.com, tortoises are built like tanks and can burrow or climb out of their enclosures. The Sulcata tortoise can even bulldoze through garden furniture.

A glass tank or an aquarium is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when housing a tortoise. Nonetheless, you might want to avoid that. Even large tanks can be too small for many tortoises. Worse, it may not have proper ventilation.

The best choice is a wooden tortoise table. It is a large box with generous floor space, providing the tortoise with the freedom to move around. The table has short wooden walls and an open top. You should also add accessories that will help you control the environment, such as UV lamps.

Take the Time to Train Your Pets

Proper training is also a must-have to create a harmonious relationship between dogs and reptiles. You won’t see results overnight, but with persistence, your efforts will be worth it!

Training Your Dog

While there are many approaches to teaching your furry pet the habits you want it to embody, one of the most effective is positive reinforcement training. It uses rewards to reinforce desired behaviors. This will be a powerful approach to changing the dog’s attitude, especially when it comes to dealing with reptiles.

When giving rewards, it is not just all about toys or treats. While the latter is effective, you should also learn how to use your words. Praising your dog for a job well done can go a long way in reinforcing the right behaviors.

One of the many things that you should teach your pooch is to stop barking when it sees a reptile. Teach your dog to sit and stay calm. This way, it will be easier to prevent aggression once a reptile is around.

Training Your Reptile

Unlike training dogs, training a reptile is more complicated. Many of them are not as smart as dogs. Hence, if you are keeping a dog and a reptile together in the same house, we suggest that you focus on training the dog.

One of the tricks that you can teach a reptile, especially a tortoise, is to come to you when it is called. This way, it will be easy for the reptile to get out of the area with your dog when you want them to separate. Take note that tortoises have poor hearing. However, they can recognize sound frequencies. So, use the same pitch and frequency in your voice when calling them so that it will be easily recognizable.

Recognize Stress Signals

As a responsible pet owner, you should be familiar with stress signals that the dog and reptile exhibit, especially when they are together in the same room. This will prevent further aggression. You can chime in before hostility takes over.

Hard barking is one of the most common stress signals in dogs. If they are incessantly barking upon seeing a reptile, take it as a sign that it is not comfortable with the presence of the latter. A hard stare is one more thing to watch out for.

Meanwhile, in reptiles, stress signals can exist in different forms. For instance, in a tortoise, a common sign of stress is when it is hiding. When it withdraws into the shell and is not protruding its legs and head, it is a sign that it is uncomfortable. When such happens in the presence of a dog, give the two time apart.

On the other hand, if you have a lizard, signs of stress include being agitated or having unusual movements like bobbing its head a lot. You may also notice it trying to get away, so take that as a signal that it doesn’t feel safe anymore.

Plan the First Meeting Accordingly

First impressions last, even in animals. While you should expect that the first meeting will not go well, you must be prepared. A good first step is to take both to the vet and have them checked. They can have diseases, which can be transferred to the other if you are not careful.

Once you are sure that they are both in a good state of health, it is time to plan their first date! Keep your pooch on a leash. This way, it is easier to pull it from the reptile once it becomes aggressive. The reptile, on the other hand, can be left roaming freely in its housing. If the dog barks or if it shows any aggression, it is best to let them meet another time when your furry pet is more relaxed.

Final Thoughts

Ksenia Raykova via istockphoto

The joy of having pets is incomparable. Nonetheless, it can also be stressful, especially when they do not get along. It is a nightmare to have a dog incessantly barking, turning hostile when it is with a reptile. It is a good thing that you can prevent such interactions.

Start by making sure that you have gentle breeds. Then, invest in building their respective spaces. Take the time to train and understand your pets, including their stress signals. The more you understand your pets, the easier it is to make sure that they will live in harmony.

About Kelsee Bodine Photography:  Based in Rochester, New York, Kelsee specializes in portraits and wedding photography.

The post How to Help Dogs Co-Exist With Reptiles appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

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Pet-friendly Plants * Pet Portrait * Tea Towel * Noble Friends Mug * Bandana * Ava’s Pet Palace Organic Treats * Dog Mom Gift Box * DNA Test * Saw A Dog T-shirt

Pet-friendly Plants

The traditional gift for Mother’s Day is a bouquet of flowers.  And while most moms will love a flower arrangement,  remember that many plants and flowers are toxic to pets.   Even better than a bouquet is a dog-friendly plant that blooms, like a bromeliad or orchid.

Both of these pet-friendly blooming plants can be purchased from The Sill.

You can also buy a pet-friendly monthly subscription.

Pet Portraits

I’m obsessed with these modern pet portraits from Animalist. They have both dog and cat breed-specific portraits in three different styles:  line, form, and abstract.

Tea Towel

I love this colorful tea towel for the mom who loves all the dogs!

Noble Friends Mug

This mug will always be my favorite!  Not only are the portraits adorable, I know some of the dogs personally, including my dog Theo in the top left.

Bandana

I’m a sucker for a dog wearing a bow tie or happy bandana.  The Foggy Dog sells both!

Organic Treats

The way to any dog lover’s heart is through her dog.  And the way to most dogs’ hearts is through their stomachs.  My dogs are crazy for the USDA Certified Organic treats from Ava’s Pet Palace! The treats check a lot of boxes for me.  They are organic, don’t have wheat, soy, or corn, and are made in the United States.  Equally important, Ava’s Pet Palace also donates a portion of the sales each month to a special organization.  She is even open to suggestions for which rescue organizations to help.

Ava is amazing.   She officially started her business in 2016 when she was only eight years old!  You can read more about Ava on her website.

Dog Mom Box

Help Mom stay organized with this great Dog Mom Box from Annie Taylor Designs.

The Dog Lovers Gift Box includes:

• 1- 8×10 print “Who let the dogs out?”
• 1- 8×10 print “All you need is love & and dogs”
• 2- “Dogs are the best medicine” folded greeting cards
• 1- Pet Sitter Checklist notepad
• 1- Paw Print “Thank You” notecard set with envelopes

 DNA Test

A dog DNA test may be considered a splurge, but not only is it fun to learn about a dog’s family tree, but it can also give you valuable information about a dog’s health.

T-Shirt

Depending on the occasion, being late ranges from a minor inconvenience to a serious transgression.  However, wearing this “I Saw A Dog,” is a great preemptive explanation!

All of these items fall under the broad “self-care” category, so don’t hesitate to shop for yourself too!

The post Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Dog Lovers appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

Not only does is Louis adorable, but I love all the accessories, including a dog-friendly cake from The R&B Treatlist.

Sara (the photographer at Vanility) named her studio after her Labrador Retriever, Vanilla.

From Sara:  “There aren’t many places, except for dog parks, where you can take your pets to play and enjoy together. The Vanility Studio has been specifically designed for pets and their parents in mind, making the perfect place to spend time out together as a family, creating hilarious and loving memories out of moments. 

We have lots of fun design props and clothing props for humans and pets.  Shannen (The R&B Treatlist) is our go-to for Barkday cakes for Vanility Photoshoots.

From Liah:  “Louis is a social butterfly with paws. He exhibits the most friendly and likable personality. Many people told me that this characteristic would be diluted once he is out of the puppy phase. However, that has not happened in the slightest. Being our first family dog, we were quite nervous at the beginning about how to transition into a pet-friendly home.

We soon found that Louis has been the best source of happiness in our lives as he continually elevates our mood on a daily basis and unknowingly helped our mental health while we were struggling. Every single morning he greets our family members as if it is the first time he has seen them. Whenever Louis encounters new people or any animals – he starts to grin widely and moves his tail uncontrollably. He cannot contain his excitement, and he jumps up and down and around in circles with happiness. It is impossible not to fall in love with him at first sight. Both friends and family members (and sometimes strangers on the street) tell me that they became animal lovers upon meeting Louis. His warmth radiates out of him. He loves every race, gender, age, human, or animal. We should all strive to be like Louis.

We decided to join Vanility Pet Photography Studio for a Barkday Shoot simply because we wanted a bright and happy place to commemorate Louis’s first birthday. Upon doing a brief research on social media and pet photography portfolios on many different pet photographers in Toronto, we truly believe that Vanility captured Louis’s warm personality based on the above-mentioned characteristics he possesses. Vanility promised and delivered on such expectations, and we were blown away by the results.”

Follow Vanility on Instagram.

Find a pet-friendly photographer near you.

Check out this dog cake recipe if you don’t have a dog bakery near you.

About Vanility Photography:  Based in Toronto, Ontario, Sara specializes in studio photography.

The post Barkday Pet Photography Session | Toronto, ON appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

This post is sponsored by TruDog and contains affiliate links.  If you purchase something through one of these links, I’ll earn a small fee.  However, there is no additional cost to you.  As always, we only review products that we’ve tried and can recommend wholeheartedly. #TruDogPartner

Benefits of a Raw Diet

Improved digestion

Healthier skin and coat

Stronger immune system

Increased longevity

Healthy gums and teeth

Fewer visits to the vet

Smaller stools

Potential Drawbacks of a Raw Diet

A raw diet is not perfect for every dog.

Currently, some therapy dog programs do not let their dogs eat a natural diet. This restriction is due to an increased risk of bacterial contamination to humans, especially young children, people with compromised immune systems, and the elderly associated with a raw diet.  However, with proper handling (wash hands after feeding your dog, wash their bowls after they eat, the risk  decreases.)

It may not be appropriate for dogs with certain health conditions

Raw diets are generally more expensive than kibble

Malnourishment due to an unbalanced diet that does not meet AAFCO  (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards

A homemade raw diet can be time-consuming and require a lot of equipment

DIY Raw Food Diet

Many websites and books offer recipes to include in your dog’s raw food diet.  Unfortunately, some people make up their dog’s diet as they go along, which may not be nutritionally balanced.   If you choose to make your dog food, you may need to spend a lot of time researching the recipes and preparing the food.   Whenever you are handling raw meat, be sure to wash your hands and equipment thoroughly before and after preparing the food!

Commercially Prepared Raw Food

If you’re like me, the thought of preparing all of your dog’s meals (including possibly grinding the meat) can be overwhelming. I’m also particularly squeamish when it comes to handling (or looking at) raw meat. When I see bowls of raw meat with chicken feet, pig snouts, etc., I feel a little queasy. You may need to store the food in your freezer or refrigerator, and it can be challenging to travel with commercially prepared raw food.

Luckily, there are shelf-stable raw foods readily available in several different forms from TruDog.

Toppers

If you’ve decided to see if raw food might be suitable for your dog, TruDog’s toppers are a great way to start. The “Boost Me” toppers are great for beginning to transition to raw feeding or simply giving an extra nutritional boost to the food you’re currently feeding your dog.  My dogs love the whitefish topper, consisting of Whitefish, Herring Oil, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), and Vitamin E Supplement.

Dehydrated Raw Food

We found TruDog Rawgo to be very convenient, especially for traveling, since it is dehydrated.   It takes up less space than kibble and is doesn’t need refrigeration.  We have some in our emergency evacuation bag too.    (You will need to add water to it, so be sure to bring some water if you won’t have access to clean drinking water.)  My dogs LOVE the taste and don’t seem to mind the reconstituted texture.

Freeze-Dried Food

Freeze-Dried raw dog food is easy to digest and made for dogs of all ages.  While kibble is processed at high heat, destroying many nutrients, TruDog “Feed Me” is freeze-dried to lock in all the nutrients.

All of the freeze-dried food and topper varieties are processed in the United States, the dehydrated Rawgo by TruDog is processed in New Zealand, and all are shelf-stable, which sure beats having an extra freezer for dog food!

The post Benefits of Feeding a Raw Diet to Your Dog appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.

I commissioned Courtney to create this family portrait of my daughter, daughter-in-law, and their pets, Roxy the dog and Marshall the cat.  We love the final product so much!  Although Courn’s turn-around time is fast for custom art, you might want extra time to have the portrait printed and framed!

Courtney offers various styles of portraits, but she only accepts commissions a few times a year.  I think that she will be taking some orders in October but email her directly to be sure.

 

 

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I’ve always enjoyed supporting small businesses, but now,  more than ever,  it is important that my purchases reflect my values too.  I don’t just love Courtney’s artwork. I love her messaging too.  Since this was a gift for two people I love very much, I wanted to choose an artist that shared their values.  As soon as I saw Courtney’s Instagram I knew that I found the right artist for their portrait.

 

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Courn also wrote and illustrated a little book about activism. I bought a copy for my son’s daughter, and I know she’ll love it.  I want to order a copy for her school too.

Follow Courtney Ahn Design on Instagram! I think you will appreciate her work as much as I do.  Her colorful art is refreshing, informative, and helps make the world a better place for everyone.   I  hope that everyone will raise their voice and speak up for human rights.  

 

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Personalized portraits, especially those that include the family pet, are always a big hit.  I am in love with Courn’s style and could not be happier with this portrait.  If you are looking to give a gift that will last a lifetime, consider a custom portrait!  Check out some of our other gift ideas for dog lovers!

About Courtney Ahn Design:  Based in Portland, Oregon, Courtney is a graphic designer who offers custom portraits as well as illustration services for brands. 

The post Gift Idea: Family Portrait from Courtney Ahn Design appeared first on Daily Dog Tag.