jetpets Archives - Page 8 of 15

A New Puppy or Kitten for your Family

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Jetpets

The arrival of a new puppy or kitten into your household is an exciting time for you and your whole family, however it’s important to carefully plan and prepare to ensure the experience is a positive, enjoyable one.

Read our top tips for welcoming a new animal into your home.

Stock up on supplies:

Make sure you are prepared for just about anything by stocking up on essential supplies in advance, including things like kitty litter, food, water and feeding bowl, a bed, scratching post, toys and more so that you don’t have any unwanted stress when bringing your new furry friend home.

If you have time, you can even set up their feeding area with fresh water and food so they feel right at home as soon as they arrive!

Determine your house rules:

Kittens and puppies learn from a young age, so it’s important to start training them from the beginning. Make sure you’ve discussed with your family or partner what the house rules are for your new pet so you can implement them straight away. House rules can be anything from determining whether they are allowed to sit on the bed or couch to who is in charge of feeding.

Stay at home:

Puppies and kittens are similar to newborn babies in that they require a fair amount of attention and supervision during the first few months! Make sure you have some time off work or bring your animal home over a long weekend so you can spend plenty of time bonding and looking after your pet. This is an important part of the training process as well, as you can start to teach them the house rules and how to listen to your commands.

Supervise children:

Some puppies and kittens are a bit cheeky when they are young and untrained, so make sure you watch your new pet when it’s around children to avoid any biting or scratching. This is also a great time to teach your children about looking after pets including how to pat them, feed them and hold them.

Organise training:

Book your puppy into puppy preschool so they can start learning to listen to instructions from an early age. Make sure you use positive reinforcement when implementing these rules at home, by rewarding them with praise, treats or chews for any good behaviour.

Plan fun activities:

Regardless if you’ve just brought home a new puppy or kitten, it’s always great to plan fun activities so you can bond with them and start having a great time.

After your animals have had their full vaccinations, take them for walk at the park or play fetch with the ball. For cats, have some fun by using a toy to play with them, or simply let them curl up on your lap while you relax and watch a movie.

Consider other pets:

If you have other pets already, it’s important to carefully plan their introduction. If your pets are particularly anxious, consider having a spare room for your new puppy or kitten to play in while your pets get used to their presence. Then just introduce them for small periods of time until they get used to each other. Make sure you always supervise your pets, reward them for good behavior and be patient – sometimes it takes time!

Are you planning on welcoming a new furry addition to your household in the near future? Here at Jetpets we can help transport your puppy or kitten right to your door, making the whole experience simple and easy – just ask us how!

Fun ways to mix up your exercise routine with your animals

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Jetpets

One of our favourite ways to motivate ourselves to exercise is to take our pets with us, but sometimes even that can get a little dull when walking the same path, or running around the same oval, day after day!

This year, make a resolution to mix up your exercise routine with your animals so you both can have some fun bonding and reaping the health benefits of physical exercise.

Here are some great ideas:

Try somewhere new:

Perhaps one of the most simplest and easiest ways to have fun when you exercise with your pets is to try a new location. This could be taking your dogs to the beach, on a hike, or to a new park you’ve been dying to find the time to go to.

Let your dog guide you:

Instead of leading your animal, let your dog do all the steering and see where you end up. If you are in a secure location and your dog is highly responsive when called, let them off the leash and see where they wander. Otherwise, just hold the leash a little looser and let them wander at their free will. You may be surprised where you go!

Go running:

Most dogs love to run, so why not get fit and have them join in too. It doesn’t matter where you go, or if you choose a long distance run or some fast sprints across the oval. They will love to chase you and will push you to run harder and faster! If you do choose sprinting, make sure your pet follows you by giving them a treat and showing them the second treat to encourage them to chase you. We guarantee they will follow you!

Play a game:

We all know dogs love to chase the ball at the park, so why not chase it with them? Throw the ball at a large distance and try and sprint to beat them to the ball. Do that 10 times and you’ve added a great high intensity workout into your routine for both you and your pet.

Climb stairs:

This killer exercise is so great! Stair climbing gets your heart beating while working your legs and glutes. This exercise is also great for high-energy dog breeds who don’t get satisfied at the park. Why not choose stairs near a beach so you can work out, and then both of you can cool down in the ocean afterwards?

Go swimming:

As the hot weather is well and truly here, going swimming will exercise you and your pet and cool you down as well. You can play fetch in the water, or bring along a friend and play piggy in the middle with your dog who will love to chase the ball!

What kind of exercise do you do with your pets? Share your favourite activity with us on Facebook!

What a year!

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jetpets

What a year we’ve had at Jetpets! From moving all creatures great and small across the country and the globe, to working with our friends at the RSPCA, Pet Rescue and Australian Working Dog Rescue to transport countless rescue pets to their ‘furever’ homes, and this month expanding into New Zealand, we’ve definitely packed plenty of exciting times into 2015!

Some of our highlights this year have included:

Do you have a favourite Jetpets highlight of 2015? Let us know on Facebook.

Fun Ways To Include Your Pets In Christmas Celebrations

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Jetpets

Christmas is a great time to have fun with the whole family and that includes our pets! No matter what your plans are for the festive season, it’s important to involve your pets in the Christmas celebrations to ensure they have a memorable holiday as well!

Read below for some great ideas on how you can include your pets in Christmas celebrations:

Take Photos With Them:

This has to be one of our favourite ideas! Ask a friend to be your photographer (or hire one if you like!) and take a family portrait with all your of furry friends. Add a Santa hat to the top of your dog’s head or tie a cute (but loose) red bow around your cat. Have one of your family members hold the animals and smile!

Dress Them Up in Holiday Outfits:

There are plenty of Christmas themed holiday outfits or cute accessories you can put on your animals to get them in the holiday mood! A Christmas sweater (if the weather isn’t too hot) is a great idea, or you could even tie a red, gold or green ribbon around their neck (just make sure it is loose enough). If you want your own mini Santa Claus (or Santa Paws), a Santa Hat looks great on dogs, just purchase a kid-sized hat for smaller animals. Another fun idea is to dress your animals up as a present by decorating a red or green t-shirt with ribbons and glitter. Make sure you cut a big enough hole on the neck and the arms so it is not too tight.

Buy Them Gifts:

Gifts shouldn’t just be for humans! Pets are part of your family too so treat them to a special gift you know they will just love. Get a stocking or wrap up a few presents and place them under the tree for you to open with them on Christmas morning. Gift ideas could be toys, treats or snacks or even a new outfit! If you want to, you can splurge on something big that your pet needs or ‘wants’, like a new kennel or comfortable bed to welcome the New Year in.

Make Them A Delicious Treat:

A huge part of the Christmas season is sharing delicious food with family and friends. Include your pets in this tradition by cooking up some pet friendly treats they will be thrilled to eat. Cheesy bites, tuna treats or cookies are fun options, so they can feast while you do too! Make sure you cook animal friendly recipes to ensure you don’t feed them anything they shouldn’t be eating.

Try these tuna treats for your cat:

Ingredients:

1 can of tuna
1 cup at flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon oats

Directions:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Combine all ingredients into a bowl and mix together thoroughly.
Roll into small balls and place on the baking paper. Press one finger down the centre to slightly flatten.
Bake for 7 minutes or until golden brown. You may need to flip the treats to ensure they are cooked throughout.
Remove from oven and let the treats cool.
Once cool, break any larger pieces into a bite-sized pieces and serve to your cat.
These cookies last when stored in airtight container in refrigerator for a few more treats throughout the Christmas period!

Do you have any holiday or Christmas traditions that involve your pets? Pop over to our Facebook page and let us know!

New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Jetpets

The New Year is a great time as a pet owner, to make resolutions to improve the health and happiness of your pets. From simple things like grooming and measuring your pet’s food, to mixing up your exercise and play time with your pet, there are many ways you can improve the time you spend with your animals in 2016.

If you’re stuck for ideas on how to make some great changes for your pets, here are some tips below:

Measure Your Pet’s Food:

Measuring your pet’s food is vital to ensure that your pets are getting the adequate nutrition they need (as well as not being overfed.) If you’re unsure of how much you should be feeding your pets, the back of the bags or cans of food will have a recommended feeding guide that will help you.

Try A New Activity With Your Pet:

It’s easy to get stuck going to the same park at the same time each week when the craziness of our lives kicks in throughout the year! However, why not make a resolution to try a new park, walk, location or even game at least once a month to keep your pet happy and engaged. Trying a new activity with a pet is a great way to bond, and you will both reap the rewards of getting physical and exercising while having some fun!

See Your Vet:

Our schedules can get demanding so sometimes it’s difficult to find time to fit in a visit to the vet, especially when nothing is noticeably wrong with your animals. However you should always see your vet at least once a year for annual vaccinations, health checks and to ask any pressing questions about behavioural issues, food, weight and more.

Daily Grooming:

Depending on the breed, daily grooming is essential to remove excess fur and to keep your animal’s coat looking healthy and shiny. Grooming is also a great bonding activity between you and your pet and is a good time for you to share some cuddles as well!

What are your New Year’s resolutions for your pets? Is there something you’ve been meaning to try? Let us know on Facebook!

Trigger’s Big Trek – Proud to be supported by Jetpets

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Jetpets

The following is a guest post by Royce Hardman.

My name is Royce Hardman. I’m a 26 year old former Australian soldier who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from my service in Afghanistan in 2009. Towards the end of 2014, I attempted to take my own life after years of isolation, alcohol abuse and suffering with untreated PTSD. My life was literally saved by my American Blue Staffordshire Terrier and best mate, Trigger.

It was at this moment that I decided to do something “big” to raise awareness of PTSD and address the appalling rate of veteran suicides due to PTSD-related issues. I decided that the biggest thing I could do was walk around Australia, solo and unsupported, with Trigger – and so was born Trigger’s Big Trek.

Trigger and I set off from Rockingham on 27 October 2015 and I expect to return there some time in 2017. I’m hoping to raise at least $250,000 for registered charity organisation Soldier On, who care for wounded and mentally ill veterans.

I’m very proud to be supported by Jetpets, who recently covered transportation costs to have Trigger attend the Remembrance day service in Canberra, and will continue to provide support as Trigger’s Big Trek continues. I can’t thank Jetpets enough as they have given me peace of mind knowing that my best mate is in very safe hands.

Photos, videos and frequent updates will be posted by Royce and Trigger on the Trigger’s Big Trek Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Afghanistanveteranwalkingforothers

Donations to Soldier On can be made on Trigger’s Big Trek campaign page by clicking here.

Trigger meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a Remembrance Day Commemoration.

Trigger & Royce meeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a Remembrance Day Commemoration.

Trigger meeting Prince Charles at a Remembrance Day Commemoration.

Trigger & Royce meeting Prince Charles at a Remembrance Day Commemoration.

Dress your pet up for Halloween!

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Jetpets

With October 31^st just around the corner, it’s time to get excited about Halloween because who doesn’t love the chance to have some spooky fun and get dressed up?

Not only for kids, Halloween is a great time for the whole family (including our pets) to don their favourite costumes, enjoy some treats and have some fun.

Whether you choose to opt for a matching family costume, or show off your own individual style, read on below for some great tips on how your pet can join in on the fun too!

Costumes:

One of the best parts about Halloween is getting dressed up, whether you choose your favourite character from a scary movie or book, or opt for something a little more classic like a witch or a vampire. But it’s not just for humans! Now your pets can wear their Halloween costumes as well, and we have a few great DIY ideas that will make them stand out from the crowd.

The Mummy Dog:

This one is too easy. Simply purchase a white dog hoodie or a white childs tee (modified to fit) and glue cotton gauze or stick multiple bandages on it. Once your creation has dried, put it on your dog for a scary ‘mummy’ look.

The Black Cat Dog:

There’s something undeniably cute about dressing your dog up as a cat and we can’t think of a better costume idea than a ‘black cat’ dog!

All you need is a child’s black top (again, modified to fit,) for the body of a cat. Next get some black felt, cut into two medium sized triangles and glue them to an elastic headband that will comfortably fit on your pet’s head. And there you have it, a ‘Black Cat’ costume for your dog!

The Groom Dog:

This animal costume is one of our favourites and is easy to make at home. Again, use a child’s black t-shirt as a base. Head to your local arts and craft store and buy some white fabric paint to paint a tuxedo shape onto the front of the tee. Next pop it on your pet (once the paint has dried of course) and tie a black ribbon into a bow around your dog’s neck. Make sure it is loose enough so your pet can breathe easily.

The Mexican Cat:

Cats can join in on the fun as well! While they may not be as happy to get dressed up as dogs, there are a few things you can do to get them in the Halloween spirit. Try easy costumes like a ‘Mexican Cat’ that only requires a red printed bandanna. Simply fold it into a triangle and tie it around your cat’s neck (loose enough so it can still breathe perfectly). Too cute!

Treats:

A big part of Halloween is the treats and your pets don’t have to miss out! Delicious pet treats could include liver treats, milk chews or dental treats that you can purchase at any pet store. Just remember: keep chocolates and lollies away from your pets as consumption can lead to some serious health problems! Keep in mind that while we love to spoil our pets, only feed them treats in moderation.

Behind The Scenes At The Airport

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Jetpets

Did you know…

The experience your pet has while flying is actually very similar to the one we have as humans (except in a travel crate our pets actually have much more leg room than us!). The air temperature is controlled and pressurised, and the lights are dimly light, making for a relaxing travel journey…

Have you often wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the airport?

Our animal ambassador Sahara is here to show you in the video below.

Moving Overseas With Your Pet

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Jetpets

Have you just made the decision to move overseas? There is no doubt a lot to organise, without even thinking about how you can take your pet or pets along with you. But, at a time when everything in your life might be changing, having your furry friends with you will help you settle into your new home a lot quicker.

Here at Jetpets, we have the expertise to ensure your pet is transported seamlessly, either domestically or across the globe. Our Pet Travel Consultants can guide you through the entire process, and put your mind at ease.

Can we help you with an overseas move? Contact us today to get the process started.