So your kids have been asking for a pet as a gift. As their parent, you’re uncertain whether they’re up for a commitment as big as taking care of a kitten or a puppy. The problem is, their sweet faces are too adorable to resist! How about shifting your focus on the benefits you’ll enjoy once your family starts raising children with pets around?
Your child asking for a pet is more than just wishing for a hot new toy. They see animals, big or small, as a potential best friend, a companion they can cuddle when you’re too busy doing chores. It also helps them have a positive emotional development as they grow up. Discover more of the reasons why it’s beneficial for children to grow up with pets below:
When taking care of an animal in the house, it is normal for them to become dependent on the human they trust the most. Usually that person would be your child. After spending time with each other, your child can’t help but predict the needs of their pets. They would even worry if they notice their rabbit, dog, or cat looks sad.
All these activities will slowly teach your kids the value and beauty of responsibility and empathy. For example, your child has been worrying about your golden retriever scratching nonstop for several days already. They will then start looking for options with you, such as browsing through websites like the Aristopet website for a remedy.
You might not believe it, but child development and relationships with animals are interconnected. So, if you want to enrich your kid’s language skills, having a pet for them to talk to all the time comfortably can help. Animals are so much more than a simple animated toy; they can even be emotional support for your child to rely on when growing up.
Some studies prove exposure to animals has decreased the chances of allergic rhinitis among 7 to 9-year olds and asthma among 12 to 13-year olds. Most children who have had pets growing up also had negative skin tests for outdoor (grass and ragweed) and indoor (dust and pet-mite) allergens.
All these reasons may help you to take the plunge into pet ownership. Whatever you decide, be a responsible pet owner and make sure the pet you choose fits your lifestyle.
Hiking with your adventurous cat or taking your dog for a walk helps encourage your kids to go outside and be more active. In this situation the world has now, children are forced to spend most of their time in online classes, making their physical activities more limited.
But when you allow your child to take care of a pet, they can enjoy all health-related benefits of an active outdoor lifestyle. Just by playing fetch with their dogs, children can get at least 5 hours of physical activity. That’s a big number, considering this remote set-up.
Animals around your house help relationships among family members grow much stronger. As you spend more time with your pets, they tend to become the focus of all your activities, allowing you to have common things to talk about together.
For example, you can drive as a family to have your cat checked in a veterinary clinic. Or, your kids can share responsibilities with feeding, grooming, or playing with the dog. This leads to siblings going along, making them happier and comfortable. Pets can even distract your children from fighting or shouting at each other.
Most kids are often easily bored, which leads them to feel lonelier at the house. Pets are a great companion for kids of all ages. They can play together, snuggle up on the couch, or sleep beside each other. Besides, children often talk to their pets differently as they do with grown-ups.
With imagination as creative as children have, they imagine their cats or dogs talking back to them, making them less lonely, especially now that they don’t get to see other kids their age. At least, having an animal around the house allows them to have a reliable friend to hang out with.
Pets, especially dogs, can help increase your family’s sense of security as they can easily scare off burglars or trespassers just as much as alarm systems. Animals like birds and cats are also sensitive to strange sounds, so they can alert you whenever there’s trouble around the area.
Apart from the treasured moments and memories, animals can give your kids, they can also help in improving their emotional development and physical health. If you’re still hesitant about getting a pet for your child, this can be your sign to adopt or go to the nearest pet store to grab your kid’s dream puppy or kitten.
This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas presented do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.
I cannot remember a time when I did not have a dog. I was born into a family with a beloved Cocker Spaniel who would watch over me like the nanny dog from Peter Pan. Through the years dogs were always part of our family.
When I married and had my own family, it was not long before we added a four-legged family member to our brood. Today we have three dogs who enrich our lives. My daughter, my oldest child lives in NYC. She is a young, single woman working as an executive in Manhattan. She longs to have a dog of her own. However, living in the city, there are some important things to consider before bringing home a puppy.
When choosing to add a canine best friend to your life, you might be daydreaming of a cuddly little puppy. However, you should consider the amount of attention and training a new puppy will need. If you work long hours and your new pup will be left alone, a puppy may not be the right choice.
An adult dog, one already house trained may be a better choice. With an adult dog, you can see their full size, temperament and energy levels clearly. You will also not have to deal with the stages of puppyhood that are not always pleasant.
Is your building pet friendly? This is something you need to make sure of before bringing home a puppy or dog. Just because a building is listed as pet friendly does not mean dog friendly. Some buildings only allow cats while others have strict restrictions on the size and breeds allowed. Make sure you inquire about any restrictions before falling in love with that doggie.
Other things to consider especially if searching for a new pad in NYC for you and your prospective pooch are what type of flooring and if there is any outdoor yard space. There are some great pet-friendly buildings with amazing amenities, designed to make living in NYC with your new best friend, awesome!
If you live in a tiny NYC apartment, a large dog might pose a huge challenge. Sharing a small studio with a huge St. Bernard would probably be uncomfortable for the both of you. This is not to say, you must have a toy breed. Many city dwellers are able to manage mid to large size dogs like labradors quite easily. In fact a well-trained labrador, can be a pleasure to have as your canine companion.
Labradors come in different colors, they are known for their friendly temperament and will bond with all members of the family and are usually social with other dogs. They do love to exercise so, you will want to make sure they get plenty of walks and romps in the park. If you are looking for a running pal, a labrador whether yellow, chocolate or black, in one dog to consider. Get Your Pet is a great resource for finding your new best friend.
Living in NYC, you will find no shortage of dog walkers and doggie daycares. Just because you work during the day, does not mean you cannot have a great life with your dog. Taking steps to make sure your pooch is entertained and exercised during the work day, is essential to your dogs health and happiness.
Find a good veterinarian before you bring your new pal home. If you have friends and family in the area who have a dog, ask them about their vet. Chances are they are using one they like and can give you a recommendation. Keeping up with routine health care can help your dog live a happy and healthy life.
This post is part of a partnership between Nakturnal and Mommy Ramblings. As always, my views and words are 100% my own.
Check out my video below to see all the great features of these collar and leash sets.
We have added collar and leash sets from Neptune & CO. to our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide at Mommy Ramblings.
Neptune & CO. is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky winner will win the collar and leash set in the size and style of their choice (subject to availability)! Thank you Neptune & CO. for the review leash and collar set and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.
Neptune & CO. Collar and Leash Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
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When you are looking for a fish tank, the first choice you need to make, is whether you want glass or acrylic. Acrylic tanks are more expensive than glass tanks, but they do last longer. Glass is more affordable, but it probably will not last as long. If you are not sure what to choose, check out our glass vs acrylic comparison below to decide what is best for you.
Glass tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks. To scratch a glass tank you would need to use something hard with a good deal of force. On the contrary, acrylic tanks can scratch easily. With an acrylic tank, a cleaning pad that has sand or gravel on it, can scratch and blemish your tank walls.
Acrylic tanks may even get scratched during shipping from the manufacture to the store. Acrylic is much more delicate than glass. With an acrylic tank, you need to be careful about the types of cleaning solutions and products you use. Make sure all products are safe for acrylic surfaces.
If you do damage your acrylic tank, the good news is, they are easy to clean and repair. Kits to repair and polish acrylic aquariums are readily available. Never use any abrasive chemicals in an attempt to repair your tank.
The dense nature of glass means that acrylic tanks are much lighter, glass tanks are generally 4 to 10 times heavier than acrylic. If you plan on having to move your tank frequently, you might be better off with an acrylic tank.
An acrylic tank will put less stress on whatever is supporting it. Even though acrylic tanks are lighter, the water and aquarium decorations will add weight. Still, there is no doubt that moving an empty acrylic tank is easier than moving a glass tank.
Since glass is weaker than acrylic, it is more prone to breaks and cracks. If something crashes into the tank with force, it can crack or even worse, break. In most cases, a crack can make the whole tank useless. A leaking tank can damage any electronics stored under the tank as well.
On the other hand, you need much more force to break or crack acrylic. While light impact will not break an acrylic tank, it will probably scratch it.
Since glass is dense and rigid, trying to create non-rectangular tanks is very difficult. Thus, buying a non-rectangular tank, is expensive. Since glass has a different index of refraction than water, light gets bent four times when passing through the tank. This means the image that gets reflected back is distorted. So colors, position and size will not be as true.
Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water. This means, when you look at the fish in an acrylic tank, light has only been bent once or twice. This makes the fish look true to their actual size and color.
As stated above, acrylic tanks cost more and are easier to scratch, but they don’t chip, crack and break like glass tanks. Glass tanks are more resistant to scratching but are heavier and have more distortion than acrylic.
You need to carefully weigh the pros and cons when comparing glass and acrylic tanks. While both tanks can create a beautiful aquarium, your own needs should help you decide between glass vs acrylic aquariums.
Regardless of which construction you choose, be sure you create the best possible environment for you fish to help them thrive. Tanks require regular cleaning, proper filtration and water testing. Fish and other aquatic creatures need proper nutrition and a healthy habitat. With some planning and research, your new aquarium can add beauty and tranquility to your life.
This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.
Dog Days is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners and their beloved fluffy pals.
Check out the official trailer below:
Dog Days is directed by Ken Marino, stars Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, Finn Wolfahard and more!
Enter below for your chance to win a Dog Days Gift Pack.
Dog Days Giveaway includes:
I am working with a PR company representing LD Entertainment and they are sponsoring this giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. As always my words and views are 100% my own.
We were thrilled to take part in the Pup Star World Tour Cuisine Contest to celebrate the release of Pup Star: World Tour on Netflix and Digital HD May 5th. Air Bud Entertainment’s PUP STAR is back, with an all-new movie that takes the popular singing dogs on trip around the world, where Tiny and friends find fantastic new songs and meet exciting new canine singers that prove music really is the universal language!
If you missed our video we made of our unboxing of the great Pup Star: World Tour Suitcase Goodie Box we received, you can check it out below:
In that box we found a recipe booklet filled with fun human recipes we could make to enjoy while we watch Pup Star: World Tour on Netflix. We just love all the Air Bud and Air Buddies movies, so we were super excited to make Chinese Almond Cookies and share them with you.
Check out our recipe tutorial video below for step by step instructions on how to make these great cookies.
We altered the recipe a little because it mentioned baking soda but there was no baking soda in the recipe and so I added 1.5 tsp. We also found that 1 cup of sliced almonds was much more than what is needed. A half cup of sliced almonds is more than enough. You can find the recipe with my tweaks below.
Ingredients
Instructions
Air Bud Entertainment, the proud creators of beloved family entertainment, including ‘Air Bud’ and ‘Disney Air Buddies,’ announces the biggest doggone adventure of the year, with an exciting all-new addition to the hugely popular PUP STAR live-action film franchise — PUP STAR: WORLD TOUR. Debuting on NETFLIX and Digital HD, May 5, 2018, the fantastic family film takes audiences around the world, as the action-packed spin on popular TV singing competitions goes global when ‘Tiny,’ the adorable singing Yorkie pup, packs her bags for far-away places from Africa to India and beyond. Along the way, Tiny and her fellow judges find a rich tapestry of fantastic new songs and meet exciting new canine singers, including ‘Julio, a Mexican heart-throb who’s not all he appears to be, but ultimately helps them discover that music really is the universal language that brings us all together as one pack, one voice, singing in harmony!
Featuring a soundtrack of paw-tapping new songs, PUP STAR: WORLD TOUR is the newest feature-length addition to the popular dog-filled PUP STAR family film franchise. The franchise launched in 2016 with overwhelming hit PUP STAR and continued in 2017 with PUP STAR: BETTER 2GETHER, which recently (3/23/18) had its world broadcast premiere on Disney Channel. Both films are currently available on NETFLIX.
The PUP STAR: WORLD TOUR global adventure reunites the film’s live-action cast including Makenzie Moss (Steve Jobs) as Tiny’s owner, Lou; David Deluise (The Wizards of Waverly Place) as her father, Denisse Ojeda as the family’s loyal nanny ‘Ida’; Reggie De Leon (Disney’s stage version of Aladdin) as her manager ‘Shep;’ and features the return of Jed Rees (Deadpool) as the delightfully bad ‘Roland.’
A tail-waggin selection of talent returns to provide voices for the film’s canine stars, including top music icon Ziggy Marley (as ‘Dog Gnarly’); John Ratzenberger voices ‘Grandpa Growl; YouTube sensation Mackenzie Sol (The X-Factor) returns as ‘P.U.P’; and 13-year old singing sensation Kaitlyn Maher (America’s Got Talent) returns as the voice of Tiny and sister Scrappy. The film also returns the voices of George Newbern, Diedrich Bader, Nikki Blonsky, Steve Valentine, Brian Hull and Jonathan Mangum. Exciting new vocal talents include Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock) as ‘Raji,’ the slumdog crooner from India; and Jorge Diaz (Disney’s Elena Of Avalor) as ‘Julio,’ the Mexican heart-throb.
PUP STAR: WORLD TOUR is produced by Air Bud Entertainment, the creative force behind the #1 live-action, direct-to-home movies in the family category. The film is directed by “Air Bud” and “Disney Air Buddies” veteran Robert Vince, produced by Anna McRoberts and written by Robert Vince.
About Air Bud Entertainment
Air Bud Entertainment is the premium brand for live action family movies and TV series. The Company has created over 22 family movies and five movie franchises that are licensed around the globe including the five Air Bud movies; seven Air Buddies movies with two Santa Paws movies in partnership with Disney, along with the new four movie Pup Star franchise for Netflix. ABE also recently announced its new series Puppy Prep Academy with Disney Channel in the U.S.
Stay In The Loop with AirBud On Social Media with the links below:
Website: Airbud.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/AirBudOfficial
Twitter: @AIRBUD and @PupStarMovie
Instagram: @AirBudOfficial
YouTube: Youtube.com/channel/UCHAL_UurzMKDyrpddriiuXA
Let me know if you try these cookies and what you think of Pup Star: World Tour on Netflix.
We partnered with a PR Company for this post and entering the recipe contest we hope to be a winner of a 7 day trip to Florida for our family!!!
I was excited to learn about, NurishPet Natural Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil Supplement Chews. These heart-shaped salmon oil chews are gluten-free and contain ingredients that benefit your dog’s health and wellness, enhancing your dog’s immune system, metabolism, brain functions and thyroid function. Best of all, they taste great and dogs love them. After all, what good is a supplement if your dog won’t eat it?
The supplements are heart-shaped which reminds me that they are made with heart healthy, all natural ingredients. These delicious dog chews are rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 and contain fatty acids as well as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Kelp.
All of the ingredients work together to improve your dog’s heart health, benefit skin and coat conditions, reduce hip and joint problems along with inflammation and protect your dog against free radicals.
You will love how they work to reduce shedding and improve coat quality. The Omega 3 and Omega 6 work to restore softness and brilliant shine to your four-legged friend’s coat. Supplements work well on all sizes of dogs from small to extra-large!
The soft chewable supplements are perfect for young or older dogs. Supplements are safe for teeth and gums and the no-heat manufacturing process means that your dog will get the full nutritional value of the raw ingredients.
Best of all, these supplements are made in the USA and come with a 100% no questions, money back guarantee. What have you got to lose? Enter below for you chance to win a canister of these great supplements for your dog.
What if you could clone your dog? Would you do it?
Barbra Streisand did just that! Not only did she do it once, she did it twice! When her beloved Samantha, a Coton du Tulear died at age 14 in 2017, she had cells taken from the dog’s stomach and mouth. From those cells. she has two new puppies, Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett. Even though they are cloned from Samantha, they have different personalities. Streisand says she is waiting for them to get older, so she can see if they have Samantha’s brown eyes or seriousness. Besides the two cloned pooches, Streisand also has a third puppy who is a distant cousin of Samantha’s.
Photo Source; Instagram
A little research tells me that cloning your dog costs about $50,000, while cloning your cat is a bargain at only $25,000. Beyond cost, I have some concerns about cloning animals.
Dolly, the infamous cloned sheep, developed crippling knee arthritis at age five, and died at the age of 6 from lung disease and other health issues. Some speculated that it was because she was cloned from an animal that was nearly 7 years old, that caused her to develop these conditions so early. The normal life expectancy of a Finn-Dorset sheep is about 11-12 years.
I personally would not do this, I don’t think it is worth the risk of bringing an animal into the world who may suffer and have a poor quality of life. There are so many dogs that need homes, and in this case, she already had a new puppy that was a distant cousin of her beloved Samantha. I imagine Babs could have bought 2 more puppies from that same breeder, if she wanted dogs that would be related to Samantha.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
We were very upset. I did a great deal of research and started her on an antihistamine until her surgery. Antihistamines are recommended for Mast Cell Tumors, because it can help stop them from spreading.
She came through the surgery fine and came home with an inflatable donut on her neck. About a week later we got better news than we could imagine. Mast Cell Tumors are classified in different grades and by their mitotic index. A grade 1 or a grade 2 with a mitotic index that is less than 5 can behave like benign tumors. Delilah’s came back with as a grade 2 and a mitotic index of 0. That was fabulous news, especially since the vet had thought it was a very aggressive, high-grade Mast Cell Tumor.
This meant Delilah did not need additional treatment and the average life expectancy before a recurrence was 5 years. Since our sweetheart is 7, this was great news to us. Of course, we want her to have more than 5 years, but considering what we thought we were dealing with, we are ecstatic.
The cancer diagnosis got us thinking about all of our dogs ( we have a Westie and Maltese too!) and keeping them as healthy as possible. In speaking with my vet and other pet owners, it seems cancer is so very common these days. When I see that, it makes me think that it is coming from what we are feeding our pets. With so many pet foods on the market, it can be a challenge to know which are best.
I found a dog food I really like, and wanted to share it with you. Petcurean is a family owned Canadian company that manufactures premium-quality pet food recipes; Go!, Now Fresh, Gather and Spike Treats for dogs and cats. They took the time to speak with me and recommend the best food based on our pets’ needs.
Every Petcurean recipe is created using the highest quality, healthiest and most flavorful ingredients available, selected through a trusted network of farmers, ranchers and producers, who must meet or exceed very stringent health, safety and quality criteria. All ingredients are sourced from North America, New Zealand and Australia. Petcurean does not use by-products, un-named meat or any ingredients from China in their pet food or treats.
Petcurean pet foods are sold exclusively through pet specialty retailers in the United States, Canada and more than 20 countries internationally.
If you would like to try Petcurean Pet Recipes for you pets, we have an exclusive $5 coupon code for Mommy Ramblings’ readers. Just click HERE and enter code PS105ZW997 to get your $5 coupon.
We ordered the GO! DAILY DEFENCE Whole Body Preventative Care for Life. The GO! DAILY DEFENCE recipes are nutrient packed and nutritionist-recommended to give our dogs the preventative care they need to stay strong. All 3 love the chicken flavor and we love that they have healthy food we feel good about.
Even the bag is different and has a very nice resealable strip that keeps their food nice and fresh.
Petcurean has many different pet food recipes and treats. With the wide selection of premium-quality food for dogs and cats, you are sure to find something that addresses your pet’s’ needs.
Please enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below. Good Luck!!!
“This post was made possible by iConnect and Petcurean. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.“
A recent Consumer Reports study rates the Miele AirClean Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog Upright Vacuum at the top of their list. This powerful AirClean pet vacuum features a unique electrobrush that follows the contours of your floor, automatically adjusting for different carpet depths and surface coverings. This vacuum provides even, constant suction and gentle cleaning. Accessories include a mini turbo brush, integrated dusting brush, upholstery tool and crevice nozzle.
The Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet Friendly CrossOver Canister Vacuum also earned high marks from Consumer Reports as a canister vacuum. From carpeting on stairs to your hardwood floors and even the space behind your fridge, this vacuum easily takes on your weekly floor chores. Stubborn pet hair and even the fluffiest dust bunnies, are no match for this powerful vacuum. Vacuum attachments like the Pet PowerMate and a 2 motor system that creates some serious suction, making vacuuming a breeze. The swiveling 8 ft. hose makes it simple to suck up cobwebs from your ceiling. If you like this model, you can purchase it from Sears.
The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light TruePet Deluxe Vacuum features a pet brush attachment, hard floor attachment and microfiber pad. The versatile design converts to a handheld vacuum for use in small spaces like vehicles and stairs. The lightweight stick design makes it effortless to use. I have this vacuum and I love it, it has great suction, is effortless to push and does an amazing job no matter what type of flooring I am using it on.
The Dyson V8 Absolute Vacuum Cleaner is one I personally own, and it works great! It has a rechargeable 21.6 volt Lithium ion battery and comes with a second bare floor brush roller as well as, a small motorized brush. There is a turbo mode for when you need extra power and a dirt cup that empties in one easy step. The cord free design allows you to vacuum anywhere. Get this vacuum on Amazon and live in harmony with your pets. This is another vacuum I own, and I love it. It has no cord so you can take it anywhere. It has great suction and works on all areas of my home.