Finding the best dog for apartment living.

Recently, my father moved into a condominium from a house, because he wanted to downsize since he is no longer able to take care of a home and cannot get around without the use of a wheelchair.

The problem is that he has a little dog that needs to be walked, or let out to “do her business” and I cannot always be there to do help. She is also an older dog that does not need much exercise, so finding a way for her to relieve herself indoors would help a great deal.

After scouring the internet for indoor dog potties, I think the Porch Potty will help to make the dog’s transition easier, because you can use real grass! The training sod is not like the regular sod you would find in home and garden centers – there is no dirt, so it is much neater.

After she gets used to using the Porch Potty, we can then switch to the artificial turf, but we have not decided on the switch yet. For those who choose to use real grass, you can start a regular shipping schedule.

It comes with a catch basin and a 14 foot drain hose – we will probably just use the catch basin because we do not have any close access to a drain. But if you do, the gravity fed drain hose will allow you to direct the liquid to a nearby patio drain or gutter. This comes in handy if you want to give the grass a good watering. There is also a premium model that features pop-up sprinklers!

I will let you know how it goes, so be sure to check back. Meanwhile if you are looking for more details, please Click here to visit PorchPotty.com.

Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed is important for their health and safety. Untrimmed nails can break, or get caught on carpet or other objects, causing injury. Depending on the type of dog and shape of their nails, untrimmed nails could end up curling back into the dog’s feet. My Bassett Hound is a good example of this problem. Her nails grow so fast, that if not trimmed weekly, the nail gets dangerously close to her pad. Trimming is especially important for apartment dogs, as they usually do not get enough outdoor exercise to wear down the nails naturally.

It’s fairly easy to trim your dog’s nails, especially if they have light colored nails, because you can see where the nerves and blood vessels begin. Dogs with black nails are a bit harder to deal with and should be clipped with extra care.

You should invest in a pair of high quality trimmers that are the appropriate size for your dog. I made the mistake of buying inexpensive clippers and they didn’t last past the first few trimmings. A good pair of nail clippers will last for years. You should also have some Kwik-Stop, or other product on hand to stop the bleeding if you cut too far.

I have a regular routine with my dogs, where they are relaxed and lay quietly while I trim their nails, however it took a long time to work up to where we are now. You have to try and make trimming a pleasant experience. If your dog is not used to having their nails trimmed, start slowly and don’t trim too much the first time. You don’t want to accidentally hurt them and give them something frightening to remember. Just get your dog used to the routine, even if you only cut one nail a day, for a week. Once they become comfortable with your handling their paws, trimming will go easily

You may want to sit on the floor with the dog in your lap, or on the floor in front of you , whichever is most comfortable and easily accessible. Hold your dog’s paw, firmly and using the trimmer, cut the nail below the quick on a 45 degree angle, with the cutting end of the clipper toward the end of the nail. Remember, especially in the beginning, make small clips, instead of one big clip, until you are sure of where the quick is and avoid bleeding. One way to tell (on light nails) is the pink color where the quick ends, and as you cut you can see a blackish dot when you look at the nail straight on. I usually leave plenty of room before getting anywhere near the quick, since I trim so regularly.

If you start a regular trimming routine, it really is not difficult to cut your dog’s nails on your own. If you have a large or hard to handle dog, then you may want to just set up regular appointments with your vet or groomer. Another good thing about trimming your dog’s nails gradually and on a regular basis, is that the quick will regress further up into the nail, which allows you to cut the nails shorter over time.