Americans loves dogs.  Today, there are more than 74 million dogs across the country.  Dog lovers will tell you canine companions are not only loyal and affectionate, but good for your health too!

1. They Help Us Relax. Research has shown that dogs can help reduce anxiety and stress by providing “the relaxation response”- in other words, a physiological state of deep rest.
2. Boosting the Immune System. Devoted dogs can have positive effect on the immune system by lowering stress levels, and raising antibodies that fight off disease.
3. Extending longevity. People who live a long happy life know about feeling needed – and how a canine companion keeps them going.
4. Opening Communication. Having a four-legged friend around when people visit makes socializing much easier and helps create a friendly atmosphere.
5. Staying Active and Happy. Dog walking is also a great physical activity for you and your best friend; getting regular exercise helps incerase feel-good endorphins.
6. Fighting Heart Disease. Dogs can help us slow down. In doing so, blood pressure is reduced, which in turn, lowers one’s risk of heart attack or stroke.  

Halloween is just around the corner and many people do not realize the haunting dangers around the home during the Halloween season. Here are some tips to keep you and your pet safe for a spooktacular Halloween! 

• It’s hard not to want to share your treats with your pet after an evening of trick or treating, but always remember that chocolate is a threat to the health and lives of dogs. Never feed your dog chocolate. If you want to treat your pet this season, there are plenty of recipes for pet friendly treats, and can easily be decorated or shaped as spooky bats, jolly jack-o-lanterns or wild witches!
• After trick or treating with your kids, make sure to keep all treats out of Fido’s reach. Wrappers and small toys are harmful, sometimes fatal, if swallowed. Always make sure to keep treats and small toys out of reach.
• Try using a glow stick or flameless candle in your Jack-o-lantern or better yet, paint a face on. Dogs have wild tails and curious snouts and can knock over a Jack-o-lantern causing a fire in the home. If you do use a candle, be sure to keep it out of reach of your dog, on a table or outside stand that is heavy enough to withhold a wild tail!
• Be cautious with costumes on your pet. Make sure it is loose fitting so it doesn’t disrupt your pet’s normal movement and behavior or interfere with its breathing. Costumes look great and can be used if they fit appropriately; but often dogs are not as receptive to a costume causing irritability and stress. You can always decorate a leash and collar with festive Halloween colors and decorations
• NEVER leave your pet outside while you are off trick or treating with your family. Halloween sometimes brings out mis-behaving kids and young adults who may be cruel to your dog while he is on a leash waiting for his favorite ghosts and goblins to come home. The constant coming and going of people at your door may also cause stress and anxiety possibly resulting in bites. Always keep your dog inside, away from the door with a comfort item to keep him or her calm while you are away.
• Are you having a Monster Ball or Haunted House at your home this year? It is best to keep your pet in an enclosed area like your bed room, or home office where they will not be bothered. Too many people may make your pet irritable. Also, keeping cats and dogs in an enclosed area where guests will not be helps to prevent your beloved pet from escaping through the front door as it is opened and closed for guests and trick or treaters.
• Are you taking your dog trick or treating with you? Make sure to have a reflector vest or harness and leash to avoid any accidents on the road as well as make other friendly ghosts, goblins, and witches aware of your Fido treat seeker. And don’t forget to take along Bags on Board to pick up after your dog on the road!

 We hope you have found these tips helpful and have a happy and safe Halloween!

Pets make mistakes.  There is no doubt about it.  Although we all know to be patient with our new puppy during the housetraining process, it gets a little old when he still has an accident in the living room when he’s more than middle aged in dog years! Fortunately, it’s a lot easier to forgive and forget your pet’s mistakes when you follow these special tips for pet owners:

Soak it up

The first step to effectively removing a pet stain is to remove any excess liquid or solid waste with a white cloth or paper towel.  Make sure the cloth or paper towel has no prints or colors as the material may transfer ink or dye to your damp carpet. 

When soaking up the excess, start by applying pressure to the outside of the affected area.  This will prevent the stain from spreading. 

Do not scrub or brush the carpet.  This may cause damage and fraying of the carpet fibers.  Simply apply pressure by patting the area with your hand or foot.

Select a good cleaner

There are many choices when it comes to carpet cleaners, but keep in mind the following the next time you’re shopping. 

•  Use cleaners that are specifically formulated for pet stains and odors.  Pet urine has a unique molecular structure that is different from typical household messes, so venture to the pet section to find a formula that’s right for you. 
• Natural formulas with both enzymes and beneficial bacteria have been proven to work best on organic pet stains.  Look at the ingredients for natural enzymes and non-pathogenic bacteria.
• Make sure the product is safe for pets and carpets.  Some of the most effective products will have a seal of approval from the Carpet & Rug Institute that certifies that the formula completely removes residue without harmful effects to your carpets.  You can learn more at www.carpet-rug.org. 

 Saturate the stain

Always test for colorfastness when using a new cleaner in your home.  Test in an inconspicuous area, such as behind a door or in a closet. 

Natural enzyme and beneficial bacteria formulas work great on all kinds of pet stains, but they need time to work.  Make sure to penetrate the area with the formula and let it dry naturally for 24-48 hours.  The formula isn’t harmful to pets, so it’s not necessary to block off the area while drying. 

To completely remove the stain and odor, it’s important to note that the stain is typically 2x the surface size underneath your carpet.  So, apply the product liberally to the stain you can see as well as the surrounding area.             

Even if the stain and odor seem to have disappeared or our human noses can no longer smell the odor, a dog will repeatedly return to the same spot if he can smell his own scent.  So, follow the steps and tips to help prevent your dog from re-soiling the area you worked hard to clean!  

Remember that you should never punish your dog for having an accident in the house.  If you see him in the process of eliminating, firmly but gently say “NO” then immediately lead him to his training pad or outdoors. If you do not catch him in the act, clean up the accident with no comment. Yelling, hitting or rubbing his nose in the elimination will not communicate the appropriate behavior. This will only scare your dog and may lead to aggressive behavior.

Simple Solution® Pet Stain and Odor Remover uses an advanced enzyme and bacteria technology along with mild cleanser to completely eliminate new and old pet stain and odors.  The formula is also safe to use on carpets and around pets.  Simple Solution® Pet Stain and Odor Remover also works on red wine, food, dirt and grass stains on any water-safe surface in your home.

Ever walked into a room or a friend’s home and smelled a stench so powerful that you gasp for fresh air? Often, we become so immune to the smell of our own home that we don’t notice odors that may be offensive to others.  Pet owners are particularly susceptible to having malodor in the home and detecting pet odors is no easy task.

When a pet has an accident on carpet, you may be just cleaning the surface stain, but the residue remains beneath the surface.  Pet urine contains glue-like proteins that are very difficult to remove.  To make matters worse, urine can spread up to 6 times its size, down to the sub-floor.  As a good rule of thumb, treat the visible stain with a bacterial enzyme product like Simple Solution Stain and Odor Remover and then saturate the area making sure that the product penetrates through the carpet padding and backing.

For successful pet odor removal, use Simple Solution Spot Spotter.  This product will illuminate pet urine that isn’t detectable to the human eye.

Here’s a few suggestions for detecting pet odors using the Simple Solution Spot Spotter:

• Ask a trusted friend or family member if your home has a noticeable odor.  Try to identify the room or area in your house that has the most prominent smell.
• Assemble the necessities before you get started – masking tape to mark the spot, your black-light urine detector and your pet stain and odor remover.
• Make the room as dark as possible, so shad the windows and turn off all the lights.
• When you turn on the black-light urine detector, look for the yellowish-white spots (dry pet urine) or blue-white spots (fresh pet urine).  NOTE: On occasion, you will find other fluorescent material that will show up under the black-light.  Optical bleaches found in most detergents and soaps fluoresce a brilliant blue-white.  Lubricant oils and greases fluoresce green-white to blue-white or brown.  Pet urine will appear as a weaker fluorescence compared to most of these other materials.
• Mark the urine spot with the masking tape, so you can find it later when you’re ready to treat the stain.