Mad About Pets!

There are various possibilities for photo printing, and since the digital age it's become increasingly simple and cheap to decorate both home and office space with photos that mean something to you.

There is something about animal pictures that warm our hearts and make us smile, whether it’s your own pet or a random photo of a cat with a funny caption! You needn't be a specialist photographer to take quality pictures of your four-legged friends either. Follow these straightforward tips and anyone can achieve great results.

Photo Credit: macwallpapers.eu

For the best possible photos, your pet ought to be looking great already. There is not any camera on the market that will perform magic, and much like a calculator; a camera is only as good as the person pressing the buttons. Taking a picture of your pet with a dull, dirty-looking coat will appear the same in print form as it does in the viewfinder. Put the maximum amount of care into the appearance of your pet as you would for yourself if you were having your own photo taken. The perfect time to snap away is immediately after a professional grooming session.

Even if you are looking for an everyday casual photo of your pet, you should still take the time to carry out some simple grooming. Brushing by itself makes a huge improvement to the way an animal looks. Your pet will appreciate the attention too! Don't be surprised if the photos you take show a more relaxed side to Fido or Fluffy!

Contrary to what many people believe, it's not tough to get your pet to stay still for a photo shoot. I've developed a proven method through the years. It works like nobody’s business for me and can work for you too!

Once the grooming is out of the way, feed your pet. Most animals are ready to nap after filling their bellies. If it isn't meal time or your pet isn't hungry, spend some time having active fun with your pet instead. The whole purpose here is to promote relaxation. When your pet is all wound down, give a gentle massage from head to tail. Trust me on this one. How do you feel right after a good workout and massage? Relaxed and tired? Exactly!

Photo credit: pet-portraitartist.com

Now that your pet is relaxed and won't want to go anywhere, take care of any final brushing or grooming needs and click away. You'll be blown away at how much cooperation you'll get using this technique. Using voice and motion, encourage your pet to look directly into the camera, slightly off to the side or with their head turned for a side-profile picture. Experiment with lights and props for atmosphere and the general feel of the photo too if you fancy pushing for further professionalism.

And finally, when your pet becomes uninterested and drifts off to sleep, carry on and get some final shots. There is something very adorable about a pet slumbering away comfortably with one leg covered over their favorite toy or their nose nuzzled into a soft blanket!

You're going to be so happy with the results using these tips that you'll most likely take the opportunity to shoot more quality portrait photographs whenever the chance arises!

Whether sitting in special frames on your desk or enlarged into attention-grabbing wall posters, your pet photos are going to drag smiles out of everyone. And the best thing is there are so many options for printing you'll never run out of new ideas!

Mary Dean is an animal lover who has developed various photography skills since marrying her professional photographer husband Gary 6 years ago.

Living in the Madison area, I am fortunate to have access to a number of really great pet food suppliers like Mounds, Bad Dog Frida, Tabby and Jacks, etc. and have no trouble finding high-quality food for my pets. It wasn’t always that easy, though. I used to live in a rural community in northern Wisconsin, where the nearest shopping outlets are at least a 20 minute drive away. Even after embarking on the 20 minute drive, Wal-Mart, grocery stores and other mass merchandisers are really the only convenient places to purchase pet food for residents in that area. That’s where great online retailers like Mr. Chewy come in handy!

I recently had the chance to try out the pet food website Mr.Chewy. They carry pretty much every brand of pet food imaginable, including the many popular holistic, grain-free, and other specialty foods popular with modern pet owners. They also carry other essentials like treats, cat litter and flea and tick medications.

Mr. Chewy makes it easy for people like those in my rural hometown to have access to all of the great pet products we take for granted here in larger communities. The prices on Mr. Chewy are really great, and shipping is free for orders over $49. And shipping is FAST! I received my order 2 days after I placed it. The website is also easy to navigate and order from, so it’s a great option for busy pet owners who don’t always have the time to get to the store.

I’d definitely recommend Mr. Chewy for your pet’s nutritional needs; I had a great experience ordering from them.

Remember that cutesy little rhyme you used to hear before you went to bed, prodding you to “not let the bed bugs bite”? For many people, unfortunately, bed bugs are a reality, affecting not only their homes and loved ones but their pets as well. Since your pets, especially cats and dogs, are probably warm-blooded mammals just like you, they are bound to attract insects such as bed bugs. And while a bed bug will prefer to feed on you, they will happily bite your pets if they get a chance. Here are a few ways that your pets might be affected by the nasty little buggers.

Bed bugs can affect your pets, too!

Your cat or dog probably has a preferred sleeping area that may contain a bed, pillow, or blanket. These are havens for bed bugs, who build their communities where we like to sleep. (It is important to keep in mind that bed bugs, unlike fleas or ticks, don’t actually live on their victims. They live in the environments where their victims reside, though they can easily be transported on clothing, in bags, or on bed-wear as it is carried from place to place. They can also be carried to different locations by riding along in your pet’s fur.)

You might not be able to see the bite marks on your pet if they have been attacked by bed bugs, especially on cats or dogs with long hair, but since the bites usually itch, you should watch to see if your pet is scratching more than usual. Bed bugs are often mistaken for fleas. They can be identified by their wingless reddish-brown bodies that are flat and about one-fifth of an inch long. Though the bites may be difficult to find, you can check to see if they exist on particularly sensitive areas of your pet, such as their stomach.

Once you have identified the problem, you can rid yourself of the infestation by washing and drying anything that your pet has come into contact with, particularly their toys or their bedding. Bed bugs will die when exposed to heat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, so make sure to dry whatever you wash on high heat. Flea and tick baths will not affect bed bug populations, so if you’re going to bathe them, use insect control shampoos that are pyrethrin-based. Be aware that these products may be harmful to cats.

Continue to practice bed bug control even after you believe that you have successfully destroyed the infestation. Even if you see improvement in your pets or in the rest of your home, remember that bed bugs are persistent, and colonies may regenerate if you aren’t careful. Continue to wash and maintain your pet’s living area with extra attention, and routinely vacuum areas frequented by your pet. Look for bed bug signs, such as blood on light-colored areas (like sheets, blankets, or the wall), or little brown specks that are actually bed bug fecal material. Keep an eye out for a bed bug resurgence and your pets (and you will) will sleep more tightly in the future.