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Honey, you know I dont like it when you lick my ears.
Umm It wasnt me. Wait, wheres the dog?

Studies show that about half of the people who own dogs allow them on the bed. Most dog owners I know account for the half that do. If you are one of them, heres a few things to keep in mind.

* You should not let puppies or untrained dogs ON the bed, let alone sleeping on it. Their early training is the time when you establish your dominance and their boundaries. Only adult dogs should earn this privilege.

* Also puppies run the risk of house training accidents. Beds are difficult to clean, and the fact that they can preserve the scent means that your dog will want to be a repeat offender.

* Above all, puppies are small. Letting them sleep in the bed is extremely unsafe.

* For dominant and Alpha dogs, avoid letting them sleep in your spot (with you in it or not). This suggests to them that they are in direct competition with you as pack leader.

* Dont ever let your dog on your bed without inviting them first. This is often communicated more with body language, such as a quick succession of pats on the area of the bed youre asking them to go to.

* Have a command for them to get off the bed too (if they are being restless and disruptive this can save a good nights sleep, and it beats shoving them off). If your dog ignores you when you ask them to get Off, youve got a bit of obedience work to do. If your dog growls at you at all, even when you attempt to adjust their position, then youve got some work to do (NOTE: dont confuse a tired moan with a growl. It can sound similar, but a moan will occur without any aggressive posturing, for example, their mouth will be shut and lips not curled, and they wont be making eye contact - their eyes might even be closed!)

* Dont ever let your dog wedge itself in between you and your partner. This can be an expression of both jealously and attempted dominance, and can escalate into more severe behaviors. They need to know that they rank lower than both of you in the pack hierarchy.

* Its best to allow your dog to sleep at the bottom end of the bed, and above the blankets.

* Some dogs like to burrow under the blankets, which is a risk not only because they can get squished, especially if theyre smaller than you, but they can also potentially suffocate under there. If you allow this, adjust the blankets after they settle in to be sure that they can easily stick their head out. Because they generate a lot of heat too, these burrowers will likely move when they get too warm anyway.

So take some care and avoid reinforcing unwanted dog behaviors. If you do, your dog will always be good in bed - so to speak.

Martin Olliver is a proud member of the Kingdom of Pets team (http://www.kingdomofpets.com). For more great articles about dogs on furniture, visit: http://kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/articles/dog_jumping_up.php

Placing animals in cages is generally considered to be a cruel thing, but many people who do not own pets do not know that some animals do not suffer as a direct result of living in a cage, or spending most of its time in a cage. Pet lovers everywhere are looking for better ways to provide a home for their beloved pets, it is the pet owner that is the party which is most interested in its pets comfort and will also go through many difficulties in supplying the best home he can find, build or buy.

This is mostly true when talking about owners of pets who are generally considered dangerous, like snakes and other reptiles, these are animals that you would want to keep away from your living room and on the same time some people love these kind of animals and enjoy watching them grow and live their lives. The solution is a pet cage that will provide security for the pet owner and his family and in the same time give the animal a spacious place to live and spend most of its time.

The pet cages are just a modern version of the animal cage that humans used many years ago to hold their wild animals, after a while these became the domesticated animals and most of them were released out of the cages because of the relationship between the animals and the humans, dogs and cats are an excellent example of animals who were first placed in cages and afterwards granted the freedom of movement which relayed heavily on the connection between pet and owner.

Some pet owners will tell you that some pets like to have a place of their own, a well placed cage can take care of the natural need for a secure space, and the pet cage can also work well in many cases in which the owner needs to transfer the pet to some other location, sometime to a visit to the veterinarian, a flight or while moving to a different house. The great advantage in having a pet that is used to its pet cage is that no matter where you place the pet it will always feel at home if it has the cage nearby.

Deciding on what kind of pet cage you want is sometimes the hardest decision, it is naturally dependent on the kind of pet you have or want to keep in the cage, from rabbits for iguanas, the sort of cage, material and build is completely different. When looking for a pet cage to buy you should always talk to a veterinarian first, and make sure you know what kind of space the animal needs and what will be the health issues you will need to address.

If you are building your pet cage you will probably need to look for good design plans and talk to owners of pets that use all kinds of different cages, you will be amazed at how much information is available on the internet and how much help some people will be willing to offer, all you need to do is try and contact your fellow pet owners.

Simon Oldmann is an avid pet lover, now living in the countryside he setup a dog kennel for his dogs and other features for his many pets, Simon currently writes tips and advice on http://petcage.advice-tips.com.

Mans best friend is living longer than ever. This is due to our beloved canines increased status as family member and families becoming conscientious about providing their dogs appropriate veterinary care. As a result, we are faced with a variety of health care issues as they age. No matter which health issue you and your elderly dog may be dealing with, there are several components of good pet care you may wish keep in mind.

The first is to make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise and is not overweight. Much like humans, an overweight elderly dog will not cope as well with conditions common in older pets such as arthritis.

The second is to provide proper nutrition for the elderly dog. Older dogs do not need the same amount of calories as a younger dog. The older dog slows down a bit and, therefore, should consume fewer calories per day. Depending upon the specific issues facing your elderly dog, you may need to add some supplements to your dogs meals. Supplements such as glucosamine can be very helpful for elderly dogs with sore joints.

Third, be aware of changes in your dogs behavior. These may include variations in food and water intake and elimination, as well as emotional changes such as lethargy. You are the expert on your pet and know best how (s)he behaves when (s)he is feeling good. Make note of subtle events as such as walking into a room and realizing Spanky doesnt seem to hear you as well as she did; this could be the start of hearing loss. This is common for dogs, as is some diminished sight capacity. Your challenge as the dog owner is to figure out how to best accommodate your dogs reduced sensory capabilities. Do you need to change your environment to make sure your dog is safe? For the sight impaired dog, a baby gate over a stairway would prevent an accident. For the hearing impaired dog, many simple commands such as sit, stay, and stop have sign language equivalents which will be helpful for them to learn.

Fourth, note that old dogs can and should learn new tricks! Keeping your elderly dog engaged mentally stimulates them and provides another outlet for their spirit as their physical abilities decline. As a dog owner, you are most familiar with your dogs strengths. You are able to create games and tricks which help them use their strengths and challenge them in areas where they are not as strong. For ideas, the internet is a vast resource!

Fifth, veterinarians now recommend that elderly dogs receive checkups every six months. Keep rigorously to this schedule and you will be better able to handle any health issues which may arise. If you do suspect something is wrong with your pet, do not delay in acting. No matter what the health issue, the earlier your pet is seen by the vet, the better chance of proper diagnosis and treatment.

Sixth, be resourceful. Be aware of not only traditional veterinary solutions for your pet, but also investigate possible holistic alternatives such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Do make sure any professional practicing these techniques has been appropriately licensed and accredited. If you choose to combine traditional veterinary solutions and holistic solutions for treatment of your pet, make sure each veterinarian with whom you are working understands what the other is doing. Traditional medicine and holistic medicine treatments may not always complement each other. Full disclosure with each vet is very important.

Seventh, make sure your pet as comfortable as possible. As the aging pet has become a new demographic among pet supply stores, there are more products available to help owners keep their pets comfortable. Items range from ramps for those dogs not able to use stairs to special orthopedic beds for dogs with arthritis.

Ultimately, there will come a time when your pet is no longer comfortable. It is the final responsibility of the owner to decide when your pets quality of life has declined to a point where pet euthanasia is absolutely the right thing to do. This decision is difficult and it is the time our pets need us the most. This is not an easy decision to make, but owners should be comforted by the fact they are acting humanely and in the best interest of their pet.

Joanna Garbarini Callahan has been a dog owner and trainer for over 25 years.