HOW TO CLEAN PET PEE FROM YOUR CARPET

Photo Courtesy of CB 27

Accidents happen. No matter how well potty trained your dog is, at some point or another your canine is going to relieve themselves somewhere in the house. Since one of the most frustrating things about owning a dog is the inevitable potty mess, we’ve scoured the web for some of the best advice for cleaning up pet stains on carpets.

Sop it Up!

It is very difficult to clean up a urine stain after several hours. You probably already know this from experience and it’s not fun. The sooner you can get to the mess the better, but most times that is just not possible. As soon as you spot the accident, gather paper towels and newspaper and soak up as much of the urine as you can. Make sure you lift up the rug and get to the carpet pad underneath or your dog will still smell the accident and be much more inclined to soil the same area again. Some sources suggest using saran-wrap or plastic over the newspaper as well. Step on the newspaper covered area with all your weight to make sure it is all soaked up. Repeat this until the carpet is only slightly damp.

Photo Courtesy of jessgrr

Rinse and Clean

Next, you want to wash the area with warm water and use an enzymatic cleaning product specifically for pet stains like Nature’s Miracle®. Enzymatic cleaners work by breaking down the molecules of the urine in your carpet fibers. An added bonus is they are non-toxic and safe to use. Let the cleaning solution sit for as long as the instructions specify and use enough solution to penetrate to the carpet pad underneath. Make sure the area is marked off so that no one in your household walks on the solution, especially your dog! Use a baby-gate or close the door to the room and let the enzyme cleaner do its magic.

Smell Nice!

To remove the smell, use a high-quality odor neutralizer. Pet Place recommends making your own by using a natural concoction of 10 to 12 drops of lavender oil with a cup of bicarbonate soda. After sprinkling the odor neutralizer of your choice on the area, let it sit for about an hour and then vacuum.

For Stains that Refuse to Go Away

If you have followed these steps and the stain remains, consider these more drastic solutions.

-Rent an extractor or a wet-vac which you can get from a hardware store. A wet-vac works like a vacuum and pushes out the dirty liquid with clean water. NOTE: Do not mistake a wet-vac for a steamer. The HumaneSociety’s page on removing pet stains makes sure to point out that steamers will only set the stain!

-To further mask the smell, clean it with a solution of one cup of vinegar or one cup of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water. To make sure it won’t bleach your rug, test on a hidden portion of it or a corner.

-Replace your carpet pad.

Share with us what has or has not worked for you!

 

10 REASONS WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR PETS

Thanksgiving Day is a wonderful time to reflect on what you are most thankful for in your life. For pet owners, no doubt your furry friend easily comes to mind. At Morris K9 Campus we made a list of ten things we are most thankful for when it comes to the wonderful dogs in our life.

1. After a tough day at work, there is nothing better than coming home to a wagging tail and slobbery kisses. No matter what you look like, or what mistakes you've made that day, your dog is always happy to see you, even if you were only gone for 5 minutes.

2. Good morning kisses make it much easier to get up. The added bonus is that your pet doesn’t care if you have morning breath because their breath is probably worse than yours!

3. Snuggle time! There is no better snuggler than a soft warm dog.

4. Early morning walks with your furry pal when the sun is rising, the day is new, and it’s just you two!

5. Evening walks as the sun is setting, you take to the road with Fido, clear your head, and relish an easy way to get some quality exercise and bonding time with your buddy.

6. Dogs are like children that never grow up. Though your kids will mature and move out of the house, your pets never will. They will always need and depend on you and it is truly a wonderful feeling, to be needed.

7. It is hard to feel lonely when you have a pet because you are never really alone. Your dog is your loyal shadow that you can tell your problems. They won't judge, or tell you something you don't want to hear.

8. Your pet can make you feel young again! Playing fetch or getting down on all fours to play with a squeaky chew toy can be just as fun for you as it is for your furry friend.

9. It’s nice to have an automatic vacuum cleaner around whenever you drop crumbs on the floor.

10. It is amazing how consistently cute and irresistible dogs are without even trying. It is impossible not to smile or feel your heart melt when you look at that special furball!

What are you most thankful for about the pets in your life?

HOLIDAY PET PHOTO SHOOT

Can you hear those distant sleigh bells and smell the scent of pine needles? Yes, that's right, the holidays are around the corner whether you are ready or not! Take care of your holiday cards early this year by coming to the Morris K9 Campus Holiday Pet Photo Shoot scheduled for this Sunday, November 20th. We have two sitting times available; 10AM-12PM and 12PM-2PM. Call 973-252-5100 to reserve your time. The sitting fee is $10 and includes a 5x7 photo. All proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey. Additional photos can be purchased online from our professional photographer and will be available no later than Monday, December 6, 2011, still in time for holiday orders.  We will provide more information the day of the Holiday Photo Shoot.

Enjoy refreshments and cider! It is sure to be a jolly time! Below are photos from our previous Holiday Photo Shoots.

OFF-LEASH TRAINING

Recall is one of the most important skills a dog can learn. It is absolutely vital to teach your canine companion to come when you call for them. There are many situations you may find yourself in where it is essential and possibly life-saving for your dog to have perfect recall; if the door of your house is left open and Fido bolts, at the park when a squirrel walks by, or if your leash snaps and breaks and there goes your dog! Here are a few, very simple tips to help you perfect your dog’s recall.

 

Tone is Key

If you are in the habit of screaming and yelling your dog’s name whenever you want them to come to you, your anger and raised voice may scare them away. They may associate you with this emotion and that is not a good thing. If you let your dog off-leash in the backyard, your dog has the wonderful opportunity to run around, free and unburdened by the restraint of a leash, sniffing and smelling the world around them. This is indeed a fun and liberating time for your dog. If you call your pup with anger and a loud voice, you are giving Fido no reason to come to you! Your raised voice pales in comparison to playing in the backyard!

Provide a Reason

When you call your dog to come to you, use a firm, but happy voice. Make it clear to your fuzzy friend that you are in a good mood. Provide a little treat, praise and gentle hugs and pats. This will encourage your dog to come to you in the future. If you teach Fido that coming to you will result in loving attention and a treat, why wouldn’t your dog come running? Practice this over and over again in your backyard. Make sure to use small bits of treats or little carrot sticks as a reward so that Fido doesn’t pack on the pounds. Throw in more and more distractions to enforce this skill to the point of perfection.

Why let the fun stop outside? Leave a Kong filled with yummy peanut butter waiting by the door inside or grab your dog's favorite toy and start a quick play session to keep the fun going. This way your dog will be more willing to come inside. The key to great recall is practice and patience. If you keep working with your dog on their recall by using these tips, you will have a dog that wants to return to you time and time again! If this problem continues to plague you, try our training program at Morris K9 Campus and we will help you nail down your recall so that it becomes second nature.

PUPPIES AND SEPARATION ANXIETY

Separation anxiety can be more difficult to cure in older dogs since it is a learned behavior. Last week we provided some tips to help cure this problem in older or mature dogs even after it has already developed. When it comes to puppies, it is possible to avert this problem altogether. Prevention is key and it is up to you, the pet owner, to ensure your puppy does not develop this behavior later in life. If you have a puppy, here are some steps you can take to prevent this issue from developing.

Alone Time
Though this may be extremely difficult, like resisting free samples of chocolate, it is important to limit the amount of time you spend with your puppy. It is not necessary to be by your puppy’s side 24/7. When your puppy is sleeping, let him or her be, don’t hover. If you need to clean your basement, do it. If you need to buy more milk, run out to the store. You don’t need to call a puppy sitter to come for a half-hour or an hour. Leave your pup periodically and they will adjust to this alone time in no time!

Create a Comfy Nook

Again, it is vital to designate an area for your puppy while you are gone. It can be the laundry room, the kitchen or a crate. This will ensure your puppy does not soil the fancy Persian rug or start chewing on sockets and wires as though they were rawhide. Deck your puppy playroom with comfy blankets, toys and a treat or two! Have your puppy spend time in this designated area when you are home as well, so that he or she can adjust to it and not associate the crate with your absence.

Condition

As soon as you get a puppy, it is crucial to acclimate him or her to alone time. This takes a certain amount of conditioning that goes as follows: Put your puppy in their crate and sit close by in the room with them. Read a book or spend time on your laptop. Ignore your puppy if she or he gets anxious, squirms, or tries to get out of the puppy playroom. Praise your pup with sweet words, a treat, and attention when calm. After a while, move back further and continue the same thing; praise for calm behavior, the cold shoulder for fussing. Continue until you are able to move about the room without your puppy creating a scene. After an hour, give your pup a potty break. Next, leave the room. Enter when you pup is settled. Increase the amount of time you are out of the room from five minutes to 10 minutes to 15 minutes and so on. This will show your playful pup that you will return. Progress with this routine until you can step outside the house and even hop in the car and drive around the block or to the local supermarket. Take it slowly and don’t jump ahead until your puppy gets used to each step of the conditioning process and no longer creates a commotion. If you follow these steps your puppy will develop into a confident, self-assured dog that understands when you leave, you will always return to them.