Serious Dog Urine Cleaning Products from a Surprising Source

Nobody enjoys thinking about dog urine stains and odor, but it happens. Even older dogs have accidents. (And let's also admit that dogs sometimes do it on purpose in order to mark their territory - no accident involved).

I'm thinking about this unpleasant subject at the moment because I just moved, and a very distinctive stain showed that a medium-sized dog recently lifted his leg on my new porch. To prevent my own dog from re-marking the house when I moved him to his new home, I had to find a good dog urine cleaning product, and fast.

With the help of my local pet store owner, (who also runs a house cleaning service), I found a great product - but not at her pet store.

So where did my friendly pet store owner take me to find a serious dog urine cleaning product? She led me next door, to the auto supply house. She asked the proprietor to search his shelves for a product that would be good enough to remove the smell and stain from my porch wall, but which would not be so strong that it would remove the paint. The product he had in stock was called Unbelievable!, from CORE Products Co., Inc., (but the man at the auto parts store said there are other brands that work as well).

The product was developed for professional cleaners, and works to remove pet and food stains (and odors) from a car's upholstery and carpet. The product costs far less than the enzyme product I recently purchased from a veterinarian, and it worked immediately. I just sprayed it on the siding where the dog lifted his leg, and the stain disappeared instantly, along with the smell. I'll be trying it on that suspicious spot on the carpet in a few minutes.

The first product that most people turn in these situations is enzyme-based cleaning products that can be purchased at grocery and pet stores. I recently had an opportunity to use an enzyme product on a borrowed cat carrier that had been sprayed by the owner's cat, and most of the odor did go away, eventually.

However, the enzyme product, which I purchased from a veterinarian, was expensive. It also took a long time to work, and my cats could still tell that the carrier had been sprayed, even though my own human nose could no longer detect it.

The product I purchased from the auto parts store worked better, and faster. And it cost less. So, the next time you have a need for a dog urine cleaner, don't head for the pet store - go to the auto supply store, and ask for a product that works on urine stains and odors. You'll save money by not buying an expensive enzyme product from the pet store or vet's, and you'll be happier with the results.

Copyright 2006 Jonni Good

Jonni Good is the owner of a large and popular website that is totally devoted to helping you adopt an older dog at your local humane society. You'll find a list of local animal shelters, and many articles about selecting exactly the right dog for your family. http://www.older-dog.com

Why Crate Train My Dog

Why Crate Train My Dog?

A few years ago, before I decided to stay home with my kids, I worked as a veterinarian technician in an animal hospital. While at that job I saw so many clients who would bring in their dog and be upset because they had eaten something in the house, other than food, and were now sick. One client brought in her chocolate lab that had gotten into her sewing box and eaten a pincushion, pins and all!!! Off to surgery the dog went and the owner was out about $1,500. Case number two was a giant poodle that, while the owner was away, got into her closet and ate a pair of panty hose. Unfortunately this dog did not make it through surgery. The pantyhose got wrapped around its intestines and the doctor was not able to save the dog.

The above stories are a couple of really good reasons why you should crate train your puppy or dog, especially if you have a dog who likes to chew or eat things they should not be eating.

By putting your puppy or dog in a crate you are giving them a sense of security and a place they can call their own. Dogs actually like having a den to cuddle up in. By putting the dog in a crate while you are gone it will also give you peace of mind knowing that they are in a safe place, away from harm, and not doing any damage to your belongings or themselves.

Crate training will also help with potty training. Make sure you put your pet on a regular schedule for potty breaks and use the crate when you are gone or need your pet to rest. Dogs will typically not go in their home. They like to keep it clean and will hold it until you can take them outside to eliminate. Remember to always praise your pet when he eliminates in the area you want him to outside.

Puppies have very small bladders so they cannot physically hold it for very long. I would suggest that you take the puppy out every two hours. As puppies get older, naturally they will gain the bladder control and be able to hold it longer. Eventually this time should increase to 8 hours or more.

Another thing to consider when purchasing a crate is to make sure that you buy a crate big enough to accommodate the full growth of your pet. When your pet is a puppy and you are crate training, make sure that the crate has a divider panel. You can adjust the placement of the divider panel so that the puppy does not have full use of the crate thus creating the den feeling that will make your dog feel comfortable and cozy. In this situation the dog will not want to go in its den and will keep the area clean. If you give the puppy the full area of the crate it may be too large and the dog will make one area of the crate his potty area and the other area as his sleeping area. Adjust the divider panel so that the dog has enough area to get up and stretch but not enough room to eliminate.

Crate training your puppy or dog is just a smart thing to do for you and your pet. It will give you the sense of security and peace knowing that your pet is not getting in harms way while you are away.

Jenny Saylor
http://CratesPlus.com

Jenny Saylor is the owner of http://CratesPlus.com, specializing in quality dog crates, pet carriers, accessories, and more.

The Risks Involved In Making Money From Home

Making money from home is definitely a dream many of us share. Why work for someone else when you can work for yourself, set your own hours, and call all the shots?

The trouble is that dream-seekers like this often jump into a "make money from home" program without thinking about all the risks involved. For example, do you have a good enough skill base for the business you are considering?

Are you getting into a home business just for some quick money without enjoying the work that's involved in that business?

There are risks involved when starting a home money making business, and if you are aware of these risks, then with careful planning, you can avoid some problems you may encounter along the way.

Your ability to succeed at your business and start making real money from home is directly related to your ability to prepare yourself according to your talents as well as your business needs for any situation that may arise.

Doing something you are both good at and love to do is so important because when you try to start making money from home, it doesn't happen magically as much as we'd like it to.

The risk is that it takes time, effort, energy, and a little money to sustain a business over time. You have to be prepared to be in it for the long haul if you wish to succeed, and it will be so much easier to stick with something that you love to work at.

Another risk in owning a business and making money from home is where you are situated. Would you rather work at home, for example, or would you rather buy or rent a separate building or space for your business and choose an appropriate area? You have to consider your life circumstances and also where you will get the most business.

It's also wise to think about what you are giving up when you leave the rat race. You can get some decent benefits in the workplace, and it's a bit of a risk to lose those when trying to make money from home.

Because of this risk, it's a good idea to think about insuring your business in as many ways as you can, and knowing who will take over when you can no longer run your business. Be prepared by knowing who also loves doing what you are doing and will succeed like you can.

Most things in life worth having involve some kind of risk. The trick is to plan and be prepared by setting goals. This will give you confidence and a positive attitude that will carry you through to success when making money from home.

Don't forget too that it's important to take a breather every now and then and step away from the business to re-evaluate things and get a clear view of your progress and if you are really making money from home, or losing too much.

Then, when things are going wrong, you can make some changes to make things work again. If things still aren't working, then maybe it's time to educate yourself about things you haven't been doing and know little about that could help you make money from home.

You can learn a lot on your own, but it's also wise to seek help from those who are already in the position you want to be in their businesses. A little guidance from a pro can go a long way.

Starting a business and making money from home can be a scary and intimidating thing, but with a little elbow grease and organization, you can conquer your fears about all the risks involved and have a good chance at success.

Liane Bate owns a Plug-in Profit Site web business, and is a member of the International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs (IAHBE).