Turn your Pet Gazebo into an awesome dog house

September 29, 2015 / 2 Comments

The Pet Gazebo is already an awesome all weather animal shelter and designed as kennel rather than a dog house, but if you find yourself absolutely loving your Pet Gazebo, but wanting to make it even more versatile than it already is then here are three tricks to help you turn your Pet Gazebo into an awesome dog house.

Adding blankets and Tarps to protect your pet

The Pet Gazebo is designed to be a kennel that allows for total visibility of the pet inside keeping you and it in sight at all times. This helps prevent some separation anxiety since the pet and their pet parent are visible. But if you intend to keep you pet child outside for some of the stormier months then you will need to construct “walls” to protect your pet from the elements. How to protect your pet will vary on your needs. Do you live in a very rainy climate? Then covering the wall panels with tarps or blankets might be your best bet. This will protect your pet from the water that comes streaming out of the sky. The roof does a great job protecting the animals from the water directly over head, but the sides need to prevent any sideways rain there might be. Of course when the rain hits the ground it doesn’t immediately evaporate (unless you are in Las Vegas), so to prevent water from pooling underneath your pup you might need a little platform to for them to sleep on so they, and their beds, don’t get soaked. If you live in an extremely windy area then putting up what amounts to ship sails might not be a great idea, but of course you can (and probably should, anyway) stake your Pet Gazebo to the ground. Now, if you live in an area where frequent rain, wind, tornadoes, flying monkeys and typhoons exist then…I suggest you find a new place to live. That place sounds crazy and that is no sort of environment to put your pet in.

Putting a dog house in the Pet Gazebo

This might seem like an odd idea at first but in practice it is much more practical than you might expect and is certainly the least amount of work. The things you need to consider here are your pet’s size and needs. If the Original Pet Gazebo is too small to fit your dog house in then you may want to look at up-sizing to the Pavilion. The dog house inside a Pet Gazebo solves both of the issues mentioned in the first method. The walls are provided for you as is a raised living area to keep your pet from getting wet from the water that has already reached the ground. The major plus to this idea is that your pet gets, basically, its own home and a property line like yours. Depending on placement of the dog house your pet will have a nice little back and front yard. Can’t you just imagine your pet strolling out of the house in the morning, with a bathrobe on, cup of coffee in hand, to pick up the morning paper and give you a polite wave before heading back in? But if you have the space…

Attaching the Pet Gazebo to make the most awesome dog house

This is probably the best option. If your pet can enter and exit through the Pet Gazebo then you are giving your pet a fully sheltered area to sleep while also allowing room to roam in the Pet Gazebo. Of course, you might have to build a little bit of a transition area to ensure your pet can go from the Pet Gazebo to the dog house without leaving too much of an open space for them to escape out of. If you were to attach more than one Pet Gazebo then your puppy would really have a luxurious and awesome dog house with plenty of space to call their own. This is essentially a dog house with a dog run, and it is guaranteed to make you furry friend happy. The only downside to this is that you might become jealous of your pet’s new living space and you may want to upgrade to a Pet Gazebo yourself! We would be lying if we said hadn’t thought about it…

Pet Safety 101: Finding the Right Tools to Keep Your Pet Safe

September 21, 2015 / No Comments

Whether you own dogs, cats, chickens, or rabbits, it’s important to invest in the right tools to keep your pet safe. For many of us, our pet is like our child and is treated as a part of the family. Wouldn’t you want to invest in a high-quality car seat for your child? Or make sure they are wearing a helmet and every other safety pad when they ride a bike? These days, it’s not much different when considering your pet. So, if you’re concerned about your pet safety in the colder months, in your home, and around disasters, but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place.

Fall/Winter Pet Safety

The leaves are changing and the temperature is dropping. Now that you can finally walk your dog without worrying about his paws burning, there’s a few other things you should put into consideration for pet safety.

Now that you and your dog will be more active in the cooler weather, you may want to feed him a little more to build up the calories. This may or may not apply to you as well when Thanksgiving comes around.
Autumn is the time of year when snakes are preparing for hibernation. They are still out and still very much a threat, so be sure to keep an eye out for slithering creatures who may hurt your pet (and you). (Source)
If you live in an area where it snows, make sure to keep your pet’s paws safe from the salt. After every walk, it’s smart to wipe down their paws so it doesn’t cause irritation.
Just like leaving pets in a hot car, leaving pets in the cold can be dangerous. If you see anyone who has left their pet in the cold, speak out by documenting what you see and contacting local animal control or a sheriff’s office. You could be saving a life! (Source)

Pet-Proofing Home

No matter what season it is, it’s important to always make sure your home is an environment that takes pet safety into consideration. Here’s just some ways you can make sure your pet is safe and happy in your home.

Place all chemicals far out of pet’s reach like on a high shelf
Keep trash cans covered and inside of a locked cabinet
Place all dangling wires out of reach and out of chewing range
In fact, make sure all small, chew-able items are out of your pet’s reach
If your pet is outside, make sure he has protection from the elements (Hint: The Pet Gazebo works great for that)
If it’s extremely cold or hot outside, don’t leave your pet out for long periods of time (Source)

Image via Torrey Wiley

Disaster Safety

Disasters can be hard to prepare for because of their unpredictability and because they aren’t very common. However, it’s still crucial to have a contingency plan just in case something happens, because you won’t have time to worry about pet safety. There’s a few things to consider when preparing for a disaster.

Research evacuation locations for your pet ahead of time so that in the event something were to happen, you already know where your pet will be safe
Be sure to keep all microchip, ID tags and license registrations up-to-date so you and your pet will be reunited if you get separated
Prepare an emergency kit for you and your pet. Some things it can include are: a leash, collar, extra ID tags, food and water, and any important documents including proof of ownership and health records.
Be sure to have large enough carriers for your pet set aside in an easy-to-grab location (Source)

Additional Tips and Tools for Pet Safety

If you’re looking to invest some extra money for your pet safety, here’s a few things you can look into.

Microchip – Placing a microchip under your pet’s skin is an easy and wallet-friendly way to making sure you don’t lose your pet. If your pet runs away, local shelters will be able to find and contact you in order to reunite you and your pet.
GPS Collar – It’s the 21st century, so it only makes sense we are able to put a GPS system in your pet’s collar. With this handy device, you’ll be able to locate your pet wherever he is located so he won’t be gone too long without you.
Underground fence – If your pet is one for escaping, you may want to look into installing an underground fence. You can create a perimeter which will give your pet a small shock through their collar should they try to cross it. (Source)

Image via womansday.com

For additional pet safety information, connect with us on Facebook for daily articles and updates which may pertain to keeping your pet safe. Additionally, you can take a look at some of our products on our website which are all designed to keep your loved one safe and comfortable no matter where you are.

Finding the Best Outdoor Dog Kennel for Your Pet

September 14, 2015 / 1 Comment

No matter what kind of dog you have there are times that they have to be secured outside. Whether it’s at home just for fresh air, or out on the road with your pup, you need to have a way to keep them safe and secure. Today we’re going to help you find the best outdoor dog kennel for your pet.

What is the best outdoor dog kennel for you?

There are a lot of options to consider when you’re building your dog’s kennel. You’ll need to think about the size, the placement, how it’s going to look. But before you get to that you need to make the most basic decision. Do you want your kennel to be…

Portable…

Do you take your pet with you everywhere you go? Work, the park, and even on the road? Then you want to look for a portable kennel. Most pet stores are carrying more and more portable kennels, and they can be useful for everything from holding a pup in place for a few minutes, to your pet’s own pup tent when you’re out camping. There are a few important factors to keep in mind to have the best portable dog kennel possible.

Ease of Set Up – Keep in mind that until you get this set up your pet is going to have to be tied to something or in the car, so you need to be able to set it up quickly and easily.
Weight – You’re going to be lugging this around, so you want something that doesn’t weigh too much for you to lift on your own.
Security – The whole point here is to keep Fido from running off and getting into things she shouldn’t. You’ll want a kennel that can be latched closed, and if your pup is a jumper you’ll want some sort of roof or cover.

…Or Permanent?

If your needs are just at home your options are a lot wider, but the cost can be a lot higher too. Your options are going to range from a total D.I.Y. job like this…

to buying pre-fabricated kennel panels that allow you to set up a permanent kennel in not much more time than a portable kennel like these.

Some things to consider when you’re building the best outdoor dog kennel for your pet:

Flooring – What sort of ground are you going to set up your kennel on? Graded concrete, pea gravel, dirt, or grass? The ground you build your kennel on will determine how you secure the kennel to the ground. This will also determine just how permanent you can make your kennel.
Materials – There are plenty of materials that you can build, from wooden fencing, to chain link, to welded wire panels. Each material has pluses and minuses, and you’ll need to decide which best suits your needs.
Length of Time – How long is your dog going to be in the kennel? If it’s just going to be a few minutes or an hour at a time, you’ll need a lot less to go with it. If it’s going to be hours or the whole day, you’ll need to consider things like covers that protect from the elements, food and water bowls, and misters to keep your dog cool when it’s hot.
Appearance – This is going to be a permanent (or at least semi permanent) part of your yard. What do you want it to look like? How do you want it to work with the rest of your furniture back there? These are all things you’ll need to consider before you start buying the parts to build your kennel.

The Pet Gazebo is a great option as either a portable or permanent kennel.

There are plenty of boxed kennels on the market, or you can build one from scratch, with materials from a local building supply store. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll end up with the best outdoor dog kennel.

10 Cool Dog Houses that Will Make You Jealous of your Pet

September 7, 2015 / 2 Comments

Let’s face it, we love to pamper our pets. We comment and joke about how our dogs live better than we do, but in reality we like to live vicariously through our pup’s pampered lives. Sometimes that isn’t always the case and we like to imagine our pets as mini versions of ourselves.

1. Just ask Paris Hilton…

…She had a replica of her house built for her dogs complete with light fixtures and designer pillows. This might actually be one of the only dog houses that won’t make the pet parent jealous-as it is basically the same house that the pet parent owns. (source)

2. City Living

OK, so now that I have already made my list null and void, let’s continue on shall we? If your pooch is looking for something a little more along the lines of city living then look no further than this DIY Brooklyn Brownstone made by artist Bruce Tunis. This two story brownstone comes complete with working street light and of course the stoop that makes this style home so distinctive. (source)

3. Mediterranean Mansion

If the close quarters of an urban brownstone town-home aren’t really your style then this Mediterranean mansion should do the trick. This bad boy will cost you a pretty penny and was apparently designed for a Hollywood celebrity. Who is that celeb? No clue, but we can probably rule out Paris Hilton as her pooch palace is featured above. (source)

4. Crown Jewel

Speaking of palaces; how about a palace inspired dog house? Hmm-any palaces immediately come to mind? Of course, obviously the Taj Mahal! The “crown of palaces” (thank you Wikipedia) inspired doghouse is a marvel of Mughal architecture and can be had for a measly $40,000.00. If this home doesn’t make you jealous then I don’t know what will. (source)

5. Brick Colonial Manor

Not really into the exotic curves of the domed Taj Mahal? Looking for something a little more stately? Then check out this brick, colonial styled and fully loaded dog house! The amenities offered include: air conditioning, running water, heat and lighting! Stately and stylish. (source)

6.Cute Cottage

Looking for something equally attractive but a little more understated? Check out Advantek’s Garden Cottage dog house. This adorable dog house comes with a garden box, vented window, food and toy storage box, as well as a set of bowls for food and water. And yes, the tiny adorable porch is included. (source)

7. As fun as a Barrel full of dog

Want something even more understated than a cottage? Do you like your barkers barrel aged? Then you are in luck! This DIY dog house is the perfect way to add some homey warmth to your household and it comes with the added bonus of being able to brag to your friends that you drank that barrel empty yourself! (source)

8. Thatch is how you do it

You like the cottage idea but want something that more closely resembles your favorite author and playwright’s home from the 16^th century? The Shakespearean, Stratford-Upon-Avon inspired dog house actually more closely resembles the farmhouse of Shakespeare’s wife Anne Hathaway (no, not the award winning actress from Les Misérables). Anyway, be sure to dress up your pup in the poofy white collar thing to keep the wardrobe time period appropriate. (source)

9. Regal Beagle

So, you like the English styling, but want something a little more regal? Then you should see this Queen Anne style dog house. The house borders on ostentatious but the colors, unlike the actual Queen Anne style homes, which are generally bright red with dark trimmings, are much more muted, but include a stunning turret roof which is a real eye catcher and typifies homes of the era. Not included: blurry dog. (source)

10. The Wright Dog House For you

Now this one is really cool. This Frank Lloyd Wright designed dog home is guaranteed to make you jealous of your pet, because chances are you don’t live in a home designed by the man who the American Institute of Architects dubbed as “the greatest American architect of all time.” The dog house might not look like much on its own, but the story and history makes this one undeniably jealousy inspiring. (source)

11. Bonus!

Speaking of famous architects…(source)