It's hard to leave your beloved pets at home when you had to be out and about. It's harder when they are bored, inactive and counting every minutes before you will get home. We want to share some tips to keep your dog occupied with plenty of fun distractions and activities.

• Freeze cubes of peanut butter or broth and put them in a plastic bottle with some holes in (put tape on edges so that they aren’t hard)
  
  
• Build them their own digging box, bury toys in sand this can keep some dogs busy for hours and helps localise their digging desires.

• Potentially hire a dog owner. Most destructive behaviour occurs from boredom, ensuring that your dog is not left alone all day will help ensure they stay calm and well behaved.

• Studies suggest dogs get bored of toys after a certain time. Some dogs will stay interested for a lot longer than others but it is always exciting for them to receive a new toy. Try to mix things up every now and then, when you introduce a new toy you can take one of the old ones a way for a while and then reintroduce it a couple of weeks/days later to have the same affect. You may even want to swap toys with a friend or neighbour as the new scent will add an extra layer of intrigue.

• Something as simple as a nice view can really make a difference. Being able to watch people on the street or birds in the yard can interest dogs and cats for long periods of time. While basking in the sun in front of the window is many pets favourite place for a nap.

• Chew toys are always a safe bet

Click Here to check out Pets Palace latest collection of toys your Dogs and Puppies would love!

With every new puppy comes so much excitement and happiness but as any new dog owner knows, whether intentional or by learning, mistakes are bound to happen around the home.

But never fear, Pet Palace is here to make toilet training as easy as possible. With just a couple of simple steps we can help get your puppy started in toilet training using our extensive puppy pads range. Not only do puppy pads offer a short term solution to the indoor mess but they also offer a long term plan to help move this mess outside. Have a look at these training instructions to see how easy it is! 

Training Instructions

1. Place a pad in a space that’s small area your puppy is most likely to urinate in for a few days, for instance the lounge room. Dogs do not like to go to the toilet where they sleep, so move the pad away from their bed.

2. Place your puppy on the pad and give him or her a command to potty. Leave your puppy alone for a few minutes while she does her business.

3. Reward him or her with a few treats when she gets it right!

4. Continue doing this until your puppy starts using the pad on their own.

5. Of course there may still be some accidents so when this happens place your puppy on the pad and quietly clear up the mess they made. There is no need to punish them, they are already starting to learn not to poop on the floor.

6. Gradually move the pad toward the door and then outside to complete the training process.

Now that the stinky business is over you can concentrate on having fun! Pop down to our store or continue exploring our website to find other exciting products to make looking after your furry friends that bit easier.

We carry a wide range of products to help with your puppy’s training, from odour removal  to urination deterrents. Have a look at our online store to see how we can help!

We stock one of Bupa’s “Best Pet Products of 2016”, Our Zippy Burrow Monkey 'n Banana set!

Bupa, the insurance company, has commended the product for its ability to get your pup monkeying around with glee. We also have plenty more in our collection where that came from – pop in with your pet for a free treat and a look at our other fun gifts.http://www.bupa.com.au/pet-insurance/2016-best-pet-products

Christmas is just around the corner and everybody is preparing what gifts to get for who and it’s a race to the finish line! Of course we can’t forget a Christmas present for our four-legged friends. But what is the best gift for them? We don’t have to think about it for too long because we know our dogs love nothing more than food, toys and treats! During Christmas time, we humans like to indulge in a treat or two as well but there are some things to be mindful of when setting up our Xmas lunches and parties full of chocolate temptations, Xmas puddings and all the yummy things we love to eat.

The favourite Christmas sweet for the most of us is probably chocolate. But for our trusty four-legged furry friends it can be really dangerous: Chocolate contains the methyl xanthine “theobromine” which is similar to caffeine and used medicinally as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, and a smooth muscle relaxant. Theobromine can be poisonous to dogs and result in severe clinical signs, such as vomiting, increased thirst, restlessness, a racing heart rate and occasionally seizures.

So during Christmas (or at any time of the year) don’t feed your dog’s chocolate (and don’t forget to keep chocolate well hidden - like in the fridge) and up high as sneaky little noses and paws can reach up high without notice!  To help you share in the Xmas treat fun with your pets we have found a terrific recipe that you can bake and share with your dogs this festive season.

Yummy Dog Xmas Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
• 1 banana, mashed
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/8 cup milled flax seed
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup of a mix of chopped raw pumpkin seeds, roasted almonds, dry roasted pecans, dry roasted peanuts, dried cranberries, dried pineapple and dried banana chips

 Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F (180 celcius)
2. In a large bowl, vigorously whisk olive oil and brown sugar until smooth.
3. Stir in peanut butter and blend well.
4. Mix in banana and egg white.
5. Add flour, milled flax seed, cinnamon and baking powder and stir (preferable with a sturdy wooden spoon) until well combined.
6. Add oatmeal and stir until a dough forms.
7. Combine nuts and fruits together in a small bowl.
8. Stir homemade trail mix into the batter.
9. Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray.
10. Roll dough out onto a floured surface and use a biscuit cutter in form of a bone or a dog head for example.
11. Transfer cookies to the sheet.
12. Bake for 8 minutes.
13. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Heartworms can be very harmful to your dog. It can cause permanent damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. 

It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to cause heartworm disease in your dog.

1. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes

Mosquitoes carry larvae and when your dog is bitten, they become the host. So when the larvae grow up, they are living in your dog's heart, lungs and blood vessels. 

2. Heartworm Disease is not contagious

Rest assured, heartworm is not contagious, but is still very serious.

3. Symptoms to look out for

There are 4 stages of symptoms. 

Stage 1 & 2 can look like:  

• Coughing
• Tiring easily with exercise
• Lethargy or general tiredness
• Loss of appetite & weight loss
• An enlarged or swollen abdomen
• Bleeding from nose 

Stage 3 will include loss of body condition, coughs, tiredness, trouble in brething and signs of heart failure. An x-ray of their chest area will reveal any changes to the heart and lungs.

Stage 4 which is also known as Caval Syndrome, is a critical stage. This is because the blood is now physically blocked by a large mass of worms and cannot travel to the heart. The only treatment option available is immediate surgical removal.

NOTE: This is a very risky surgery, that does not have a high rate of survival success. In addition, not all heartworm disease will necessarily turn into Caval Syndrome, but it will leave permanent damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. 

4. Treating heartworm Disease can be risky and expensive

Treatments can be toxic to your dog and have been known to cause life-threatening blood clots. In addition, while placing a price on your dog is impossible, the amount of visits to the vet, bloodwork, x-rays, hospitalisation, and all the injections will be very expensive 

5. PREVENTION is the best treatment

The worst thing about heartworm is that as you've probably seen from the list of the symptoms, by the time you notice, it may be too late. Fortunately, there are lots of options to prevent heartworm disease, and they all require a prescription from a vet. 

Most products are given as a monthly tablet or topical liquid. Another type of product is an injection that is put in every 6 months or even a year by your vet. 

Please talk to your vet to find out which prevention treatment is best for your dog. 

We have a range of heartworm treatments, but before you consider purchasing, please check with your vet, your dog is most important!!

6. Knowing the types of heartworm disease tests 

The most common test is called an antigen test. This detects for heartworms that are at least 6-7 months old, but can't detect anything less than 5 months. 

There are other tests to discover larvae and other stages of the heartworm to indicate that adult heartworms are present in your dogs bloodstream. 

7. Giving heartworm preventatives to an infected heartworms can be deadly

 PLEASE NOTE: puppies under 6 months can start prevention without a heartworm test. 

However, if your dog is older than 6 months, they MUST get tested for heartworms before you start a prevention program for them. If a dog is given heartworm prevention while they have heartworms in their system, it can kill the heartworms but it will cause a shock to the dog's body which can even cause death, so please check with your vet before taking prevention measures. 

As always, prevention can be done by a simple annual trip to the vet for prevention who can provide yearlong protection to guarantee your dogs happiness and health which is important to the whole family. 

Please don't hesitate and speak to your vet today if you haven't done so recently. 

Information Source: News Mail

THE PET OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER IS MONTY! 

We've had an overwhelming response in our email inbox so thank you to everyone who submitted their entries! Your pet will still be in the draw for the following months.

About Monty

Monty is Vivian's best friend and (very cute) shadow. They do everything together, even wear matching outfits!

(You can see Monty posing below looking super bad and just plain super!) 



Monty and Vivian first met when Monty was 9 weeks old and she truly believes that he has changed her life for the better. Through the toughest times of her life, Vivian believes that Monty may have even been the one to have saved her life. (*sniff*)

Monty fit right into the family when he arrived, as he met Ahri and Momo, Vivian's two cats.

He has a warm heart, cheek at times, smart and a well-behaved fellow. In fact he knows over 20 tricks at only 9 months old! (Care to teach us a few tricks on training Vivian?) Monty's favourite activities are going to the dog beach to meet other furries, eating snacks and playing in the kiddie pool when it's hot! (Sounds like the life!) He also loves his baths and has been known to fall asleep under the water!  

We think Monty's quite hard not to love! No wonder Vivian snuggles with him every night, and the fact that they are so attached to one another is one thing she wouldn't change for the world!

One of the funniest stories about Monty was when he was a baby, he scared off a full grown German Shepherd! Monty had good intentions and only wanted to play with the German Shepherd but I guess Monty was too much to handle!  

Finally, one of Vivian's most memorable moments with Monty was when they went to the world's first ever Pug Wedding Melbourne. It was a charity event for Pug Rescue and Adoption Victoria. They had so much fun seeing pugs, Jasper and Jasmine, become wedded for a great cause, to raise funds and awareness of rescue groups. 

Thanks Vivian, Monty, Ahri and Momo for sharing your stories, we loved every photo and moment you shared with us :) 

For other pet mums and dads who would like their story shared online for them to send around to friends and family: Please send us photos and stories that you share with your pet(s) either to ourFacebook page or email: daniel@petspalace.com.au.  

The Pet of the month for September is Hugo! 

We've had an overwhelming response in our email inbox so thank you to everyone who submitted their entries! Your pet will still be in the draw for the following months. 

ABOUT HUGO

Hugo's mum, Bliss, sent us so many adorable photos it has been tough trying to choose the order of how to showcase him! 

Hugo is a 6-month-old boy that has brought so much happiness to his mum's life, and we can see why!

Hugo is a very loving pup who is so affectionate he loves enjoying movies on the couch with mum and especially cuddling up with mum at night time.

Hugo enjoys his daily walks at the dog park, where he meets other dogs. But he also enjoys chewing on a good ole' stick every now and then.

Finally, Hugo loves to express his love to mum at the beach by paddling in the water to fetch her some fresh seaweed (Which we think is absolutely adorable!) 

Thanks Hugo and Bliss for sending us your photos and sharing your lovely memories! We're honoured to share and feel like we are a part of them :)

The Team at Pets Palace

For other pet mums and dads who would like their story shared online for them to send around to friends and family: Please send us photos and stories that you share with your pet(s) either to our Facebook page or email: daniel@petspalace.com.au.  

1. How to Approach a Dog

Children should never approach a dog without the permission of the dog's owner and a responsible adult. It is quite often that we see too a child run towards a dog without the owner's permission and get shocked when the dog is not so accommodating. It is not the dog or the owner's fault when such an incident occurs, we need to ensure the safety of our children but we must also respect the dog and its owner. 

2. How to Approach a Restrained Dog

Just because a dog is tied up or confined, it does not mean they are safe to approach. In fact, it is more likely to be the opposite. Teasing or reaching out to a dog that cannot move away can definitely lead to a bite. Our children need to understand that it is unsafe for them to do so.

3.  How to to deal with Stray Dogs

Stray dogs appear every now and then, and while they may seem harmless, but because you never know what might happen, it is best to seek the help of a responsible adult. The adult will be able to see if they can locate the dog's home but also ensure the safety of the child. 

4. Basics of a Dogs' Body Language

If children are able to understand the basics of a dogs' body language it can be a heavy load off your back. In general, children seem to have an endless supply of energy, and they let it be known by their excitement and loud noise.  That's why this type of excited behaviour in front of a new dog can be potentially very troublesome. In situations like these, certain dogs can become agitated, confused or even threatened, leading to dangerous situations where harm or trauma can occur. 

Children should learn to remain quiet and still to allow for the dog to approach them when they feel comfortable. It is never a wise choice to allow your child to chase a dog or corner it. 

The best place for a child to be in relation to a dog is alongside the dog, rather than face to face which can seem threatening.

Finally, when touching the dog, stroking the cheek or under the chin is advisable, rather than reaching out directly for the face or on top of their head.

We hope that this list will be a helpful resource for your family as you interact with the family dog or dogs in the neighbourhood! 

Information Source: BarkPost

The pet of the month for August is Muppet! 

We love hearing from our customers, especially when they're this cute!

Muppet's mum, Jessie, sent us some beautiful pics of Muppet to share with you all :)

Muppet has been with his mum for around 7 weeks now and as you can see, is a very handsome boy. 

Muppet enjoys sleeping in mum's handbag, happily chewing on treats and playing with mum when it's time for a walk.

Right now he's learning different ways to show how much he loves mum and learning new tricks. Recently he slept for the first time ever, the entire night without a toilet break and can now 'stay' even when mum is in a different room. 

The trick that he's working on learning now is 'shake'.

We can't wait to see how cute and smart Muppet grows! 

Thanks Jessie and Muppet for sharing your beautiful story with us! 

If you'd like to be featured on our blog and Facebook page as the pet of the month, please email daniel@petspalace.com.au with photos and your story with your pet :) Things like what you do regularly, things they do that melt your heart and how you met are some ideas! 

Hope you enjoyed Muppet's story!