Lisa Podwirny – Page 10

March 4, 2014December 10, 2018

A Cats Meow. Understanding The Feline.

thinking cat

We all know that your furry feline has a mind of it’s own, but how smart is it exactly? A cat’s intelligence is determined by its ability to learn, solve, and adapt to its environment. It might be safe to say, if you can understand the cat’s brain and how it works, you might be able to better understand your furry friend and all of their antics.

The Cats Brain

A cat’s brain is separated into different areas that each performs specialized tasks. Feline’s are smart because each area is interconnected and can rapidly share information. Every part of their brain is working together quickly which enables your cat to quickly think on its feet. In most cases, this allows them to manipulate the situation so that it favors them the most.

Memory:

Cats have the ability to store both short and long term memory. In their world, practice makes perfect and they learn best by observation. Have you noticed that after so many times, your cat will just start to open up doors and cupboards? It’s not a coincidence… they are secretly watching your every move. As a kitten, they pick up tips and tricks from their mother. As they mature into cat status it is all about trial and error.

Cats are not motivated in the same way dogs are. Dogs have been trained to guard, protect, herd and assist. Cats, being the opportunists they are, slowly take their time to investigate every alley and blind corner. Who knows where their prey might be hiding in the real world?

Similar to dogs, different types of breeds have different type of personalities. The only difference is, most people don’t ask “what type of cat is that” because to us, they are all the same. Here are a few of my favorites and some traits to be aware of.

Maine Coon:
Also known as the American Longhair, the Maine coon is the second largest breed of domestic cat. Commonly known as the “gentle giants” these beautiful creatures can be spotted with long elegant fur. They are extremely personable, easily trained, and just like being in the company of a human. Although not your typical lap-cat, they are more considered your best bud.

Bengal:
These little leopard creatures are so stunningly beautiful, but they also have a mind of their own. Before you go ahead and adopt or purchase one of these guys there are a couple things to keep in mind. They might cuddle, when it’s convenient for them. Their idea of a good time is climbing, chasing, and investigating. Think rambunctious when considering this type of breed.

Siberian:
Oh my goodness, can these sweet little munchkins get any cuter? Seriously? I can’t even take it sometimes. Incredibly intelligent, these adorable kitties will test your skills. They love to jump, and are pretty good at it considering their long legs. The Siberian kitty will also find ways to talk to you. A purring machine when it feels loved and a chirping noise to exchange in a quick convo.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+

Ketchum Manufacturing provides Cat Tags & Cat Id Tags to help in the event that your cat gets lost.

Share this:

February 25, 2014February 27, 2014

How to Housebreak a New Puppy

dog-potty-training-tips So, you’ve recently added a new addition to your family. Now what? It’s time to potty train your four-legged pal! Housebreaking a new dog can be frustrating. But with a little persistence, you can make potty-training your dog a cinch!

1. Be consistent

When it comes to housebreaking a dog, it’s important to be consistent. The idea is to develop a routine for your pet. This way, he will know exactly when it’s time to eat, exercise or go to the bathroom. Puppies need to go out often. As a good rule of thumb is however old the puppy is in months, he or she can hold it for that number of hours plus one. For example, a three-month-old puppy can only hold it for four hours. Therefore, it’s important to be consistent with potty breaks!

2. Use the “potty” cue

The most common method of housebreaking is teaching your dog to go potty outside of the house. Look for pre-potty signs, such as walking in circles or sniffing the floor and take your dog out immediately. The easiest thing to do is pick the puppy up and take him outside. This step is important so that the puppy doesn’t have any accidents on the way. After you place the puppy outside, give your “go potty” verbal cue. When the puppy goes to the bathroom, praise him with a happy voice or treats.

3. Stay calm

Remember, puppies have accidents! Rather than scolding your puppy for making a mistake, try to remain calm and assertive. This will allow you to teach your puppy the “right way,” rather than displaying negativity. If your puppy happens to go to the bathroom inside, simply distract him with a light touch or sound, pick him up and take him outdoors immediately. Punishing your pet can lead to instability and behavioral problems.

4. Crate train

Many pet owners are weary of crate training. However, it’s very natural. In the wild, wolves live in dens. The den is their home where they sleep, raise families and hide from danger. They also do not go to the bathroom in their dens. Similarly, puppies view their crates as their “dens” and do not soil them. During crate training, puppies should be placed inside their crates when their owner cannot watch over them. This could be while the owner is at work or out of the house. An important rule when crate training is to always take the puppy to the bathroom before and after they go in their crate. Also, no food or water is necessary in the crate. A blanket and chew toy will suffice just fine.

5. Exercise often

Loving your dog goes beyond the hugs and kisses. You can show your dog love by giving him plenty of exercise. Puppies especially have a lot of energy. If they don’t get the chance to burn it off, they can demonstrate negative behavior. On average, most dogs need between 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. Therefore, a walk around the block won’t cut it! Allow your puppy to exercise both their mental and physical muscles. Hiking, playing Frisbee and long walks are great exercises to do with your new dog.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+

Share this:

February 18, 2014

The Importance of a Regular Grooming Routine

No body wants to be the owner of a smelly dog or kitty. However, bathing your four-legged friend can be both a time consuming and difficult process. With these reasons, many people overlook the chore of daily grooming. I have noticed it is not until extreme odors pop up do pet owners take the responsibility of bathing their pet. I urge you not to wait. Dog grooming can be fun for both owner and pet. Here are some tips to help make it more enjoyable.

Take a Walk

Never try and groom a dog when it has a lot of energy. There is a good chance your dog does not like bath time. If he has a lot of pent up energy, He will wiggle and wobble and run, and be very hard to handle. Take the dog for a walk before hand, or bring it to the local dog park to run around. A tired pup will be more likely to cooperate.

Keep Treats Nearby

Give your dog treats and praise them while you work. By doing this, you will help create a more positive experience. The more enjoyable the activity, the more likely they will be willing to participate in the future!

Brush Before Bathing

Don’t be tempted to skip this step. While daily brushing is important, brushing before a bath is more important. I like to think that when I am brushing out a dog, I am giving it a nice little massage with the bristles of the brush. Depending on your dog breed, certain brushes work better than others. Experiment with the different variations and see what works best for you and pup. A thorough brush out will remove dust, dirt, and will also loosen tangles. If you come across a mat that just cannot be untangled, cut it out! Wet tangles are mush worse to brush out than dry ones. So get them out now while you can!   Brushing Guide:

Long Haired Dogs: Brushed Daily
Short Haired Dogs: Brushed Weekly

Splish Splash Time For a Bath

Most dogs should be bathed at least once a month. Depending on activity and dirtiness, more bath time would be appropriate. Cover your grounds ahead of time and make sure you are stacked with towels, escape routes have been blocked out, and your are dressed in either a waterproof apron, or raggedy scrap painting-like clothes. When bathing, be sure to use plenty of warm water. Start from top and work your way to the bottom. Massage the soapsuds into the skin and fur. Pay attention to the neck region where your dog wears his collar. When the water starts running clear, you are nearing the end. Grab one of those towels and blot your pup down to soak in excess water. You may need a couple towels, but regardless of your attempts it is safe to say that epic water shake down will occur. Be ready for it.

It’s up to you whether or not you want to air dry or blow dry your pups fur. If you do choose to blow dry, make sure it is on the lowest or coolest setting. Grooming your pup is more than just a show and smell. A clean dog is a comfortable dog, and comfortable dogs are happier.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+

Share this:

February 11, 2014

Homemade Dog Treats for Valentine’s Day

treats

Giving your canine companion a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day is simply out of the question. How about spoiling your dog with a tasty and healthy homemade treat? Here are five easy recipes made with all-natural ingredients!

Mini Heart Dog Cakes

Show your pup how much you love him or her by making these delicious mini heart cakes!

The Ingredients:
For the cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup butter (or 1/4 cup vegetable oil)
1/4 cup all-natural peanut butter
1 cup shredded carrots
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 tablespoons all-natural honey
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk

For the frosting:

8 ounces of low-fat cream cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray mini heart cake pan with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.
Mix the flour and baking soda. Add the peanut butter, vanilla, honey, and oil/butter and stir. Add the buttermilk, 1/4 cup at a time. Stir in carrots.
Spoon the mixture into the mini heart cavities, filling each one about three-quarters full.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until cookies turn golden brown.
While the cakes cook, prepare frosting by beating the cream cheese, vanilla and cinnamon together. Once the cakes have cooled completely, frost.

Tip: Drizzle melted peanut butter on top of mini cakes and add shredded carrots for extra sweetness!

Cinnamon Honey Hearts Dog Biscuits

With a touch of honey and cinnamon, this sweet treat has just the right blend of sugar and spice for your favorite doggy!

The Ingredients:

1/4 Cup Water
1/4 Cup pureed Banana
1/2 Cup plain Yogurt
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Tablespoon Canola Oil
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Oat Flour
1/4 Cup Rice Flour
1 Cup Wheat Flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Mix the cinnamon, oat flour, rice flour, and ½ cup of wheat flour. In a separate bowl combine water, banana, yogurt, honey, and canola oil with an electric mixer. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.
Place on a floured surface and roll to desired thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes from the dough.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until cookies turn golden brown.

Tip: Turn off oven and leave biscuits in for a couple hours to make sure they are completely dry and crunchy.

Carob Doggie Delights

These doggie delights are baked and hand decorated, with love, to ensure a beautiful and delicious snack for your Valentine!

The Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Wheat Flour
1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1/4 Cup Carob Powder
1 Tablespoon ground Flax Seed (Optional)
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Water
1 Tablespoon Honey

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Mix the wheat flour, rolled oats, carob, flax seed, and baking powder. In a separate bowl combine egg, water and honey. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended, forming a stiff dough.
Place on a floured surface and roll to desired thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes from the dough.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until cookies turn golden brown.

Tip: Make this Valentine’s Day extra special by melting carob chips in the microwave or double boiler and drizzling over treats.

Banana Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits

Bananas are packed full of amino acids, electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals, making for a perfectly healthy Valentine’s Day treat!

The Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup peanut butter
1-2 mashed bananas
1/2 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mash bananas and mix in the whole-wheat flour and peanut butter.
Stir in water until the batter is mixed well. The dough should be dense and a little dry. Add extra water or flour as needed.
Place on a floured surface and roll to desired thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes from the dough.
Place onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, about 1 inch apart.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cookies turn golden brown.

Tip: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, or you can freeze extras and defrost them as needed.

Beefy Heart Dog Treats

Your four-legged friend will appreciate the idea of adding a little meat in their cookies!

The Ingredients:

Vegetable oil, for cooking
1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup beef stock, tomato juice or water
1/4 cup canola or olive oil, plus extra for cooking
1 large egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Add vegetable oil to skillet and cook the beef with garlic over medium heat until no traces of pink remain. Set aside to cool.
Mix together the whole wheat flour and cornmeal. Stir in beef. In a separate bowl, whisk together the beef stock, oil and egg. Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.
Place on a floured surface and roll to desired thickness. Use cookie cutters to create shapes from the dough. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until cookies are springy to touch

Tip: Use unsalted or low sodium beef broth for the healthiest treat for your pet.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+

Share this:

February 4, 2014February 4, 2014

Health Benefits of Dog Walking

dog walking

We can all agree that it is both important and beneficial to let the little guy out for a stretch and expose them to the fresh air. However, regular dog walking actually holds more health benefits than you might first initially think.

Energy Release:

You might not think about the living constraints of your house from a dog’s point of view. With the set walls, rooms, and furniture mazes… there is very little room for a dog to explore and let loose. A bored dog is more likely to behave poorly than an exercised tired pup. Dealing with a misbehaved dog on a regular basis can be stressful. Up your daily walks and see the transformation.

Exercise:

The most obvious benefit to dog walking is the exercise factor that both owner and pup get to reap. I am sure you have heard it from your doctors before, but daily exercise can help significantly reduce the chances of cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Not only will exercise help reduce your risks of illness, but they also do the same for your four-legged friend. Walking your dog makes them stronger. Stronger dogs live longer lives. If you look at it that way, it’s a total win-win.

Social Skills:

Socializing is one of the key ingredients to helping your dog develop into a well-rounded pet. Regular exercise and daily walks helps expose them to new people, pooches and surroundings. These new experiences will help them learn and grow. Think about it, if you were locked up in a house all day do you think you would be the person you are today? If walking isn’t your thing, try bringing your pup to a park. Let him run around and interact with other dogs while you interact with other dog owners.

If you can get into a healthy routine, walking your dog won’t be so dreadful. Don’t get me wrong; I know we all have those exhausting days where when we get home the only thing calling your name is the couch. But owning a dog makes being selfish a bit more difficult. try taking it week by week and set personal goals. Try new trails! Be adventurous! The more fun you have with it the better it will be for both parties.

Lisa Podwirny is the owner of Ketchum Mfg. Connect with her on Google+

Share this: