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While your pet may seem to be in overall good health, there could be underlying issues developing that you are not aware of. These issues may actually stem from the abuse your pet’s muscles and joints suffer on a daily basis.

Many pet owners allow their dog to jump onto and off of furniture such as beds, couches, chairs, etc. These heights may seem insignificant to us, however for a dog, they can incur grave damage over time or immediately through a fall from one of these surfaces.

While small and large dogs are at a particular risk of sustaining bone or joint injury, any size or breed of dog is susceptible to harm through a fall or as a result of prolonged impact over time. Large dogs, like Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, and Labradors, are inclined to developing arthritis later in life, and condoning a large dog to jump onto and off of furniture everyday could cause arthritis to crop up earlier in the dog’s life. As for small dogs, they are more likely to break a bone in a fall or by attempting to leap down from too great a height.

While you could prohibit your pet from getting onto the furniture, this is a drastic measure. It’s natural for a dog to want to be near his owner, and if you don’t mind having him on the furniture, it’s best not to change his routine. The best way to preserve your dog’s health is to obtain a set of pet stairs that will allow him to safety navigate onto and off of furniture.

Carpeted pet steps are very popular as they not only provide cushioning for impact, but they also offer a non-slip surface. Most pet stairs can be categorized into three sizes: small, medium, and large. There are two things that you must consider when purchasing pet steps. The first is the height of the object you want your dog to get onto. For instance, if your primary use for the steps will be to allow your dog to get onto the couch, you will need to make sure that the set of stairs you purchase is tall enough to reach your couch. The second item to consider is the size of your dog. You can follow the guide below to determine what size of steps would be appropriate for your pet.

Small dogs = steps no wider than 12 inches

Medium dogs = 14 inch-wide steps

Large dogs = steps at least 16 inches wide

For more information about choosing and purchasing a set of pet steps, please visit Help Your Pets – Here.

While training a dog can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience, cat training is considerably more difficult. We’re not talking about training your cat to roll over or sit—we’re talking simple things like teaching your cat to use the litter box or a scratching post. It’s important that your goals are realistic so you don’t spend a great deal of time and frustration trying to teach your cat something he simply can’t learn to do.

The first thing you need to understand before you attempt to train your cat is that the mindset of a cat is much different than that of a dog. Where a dog takes a great deal of joy in pleasing his owner, a cat is not so selfless; he won’t do anything that doesn’t please himself. This is a very simple state of psychology, one that you will have to use to your advantage if you are to successfully teach your cat something.

If you want to train your cat to use the litter box, the first thing you’re going to want to do is make it accessible (but not so much that it becomes a nuisance to family members or guests in your home). You also want to keep it clean, but leave just a little soiled litter in the tray—not so much that it reeks, but just enough that your cat can learn to associate the litter box with going to the bathroom. If you catch your kitty going anywhere he isn’t supposed to, pick him up and move him to the litter box. Eventually he will catch on that this is where he should go. When he uses the litter box successfully, give him a nice scratch behind the ears or a pat. Cats are affectionate through touch rather than verbal praise, so you’ll get the best response through this method.

Some pet stairs have hollow areas meant to store your litter box. This helps to keep your little box smell contained as well as to give your cat a quiet place to do his business. If your cat is comfortable in the space his litter box is placed, he will be more likely to use it.

If your concern is your cat’s habit of using your furniture or carpet as a scratching post, then pay attention! All cats have the impulse to scratch; it’s a form of exercise, helps to keep their claws in shape, and is a simple way of marking the things they like. There is an array of cat scratching posts available for you to choose from, but your cat’s personal preference may require you to go through a few before you find one that he likes. If your scratching post doesn’t already have catnip in or on it, try sprinkling or rubbing some along the post. This encourages playful behaviour in cats, so you might even consider attaching one of his favourite toys to the post. Also, consider the position of the post. If your cat spends a great deal of his time in your living room, place the post there where he is most likely to see and use it.

For more great tips on raising your cat or to purchase pet stairs with litter box storage, visit Help Your Pets.