The Omlet Blog Archives: September 2020

Ten Tips for a Successful Doggy Playdate

Two dogs running side by side
Photos by Alvan Nee on Unsplash

Playdates for dogs are an increasingly popular calendar staple for dog owners. The fact that the most sociable of animals like to socialize should not come as a big surprise. But there is, of course, far more to a successful get-together than simply unleashing a kennel full of canines into your backyard!

Our ten tips will help ensure that your pooch party goes with a woof rather than a snarl.

1. Do Not Invite Enemies!

The guest list is possibly the most obvious party-success factor of them all, but it is one that often gets ignored. For example, your friend might have a Jack Russell that your Labradoodle simply hates. However, inviting your friends and their dogs is an obvious thing to do when arranging a doggy date. A territorial or bad-tempered dog that does not get along with your pet is not going to be the heart and soul of your doggy date. Of course, your own dog needs to be a sociable hound host, too.

2.  Avoid Inconsistencies in Age and Size of Breed

Dogs tend to play best with friends of their own size and of a similar age. An older dog does not want to be harassed by a bunch of excitable puppies, and a small terrier does not always want to be stalked by an enthusiastic pack of Retrievers. An overweight or arthritic dog may suffer, too – they may want to keep up with the others, so as not to miss out on the fun, which may result in more harm than good.

The exception to the rule is when dogs already know each other. If you know they are friends already, invite them – although you still need to watch out for the reactions of the other guests.

3. Keep the Numbers Down

The difference between a happy group of dogs and a rowdy pack is a fine line. As a rule of thumb, keep the number of dogs to six or below on a doggy date, to keep things under control.

4. Invite Humans too!Two Miniature Schnauzer dogs playing together

A doggy date is not an excuse for owners to leave their dogs in a doggy daycare for a couple of hours. It only works if the owners are present; and an owner who brings more than one dog should, ideally, bring more than one human too.

5. Make Sure There is Plenty of Space 

There are all kinds of places you can hold a doggy playdate, whether indoors or outdoors, and the guest list should match the space. Six Huskies in a kitchen is not going to work, and open gates or gaps in a fence are just asking for trouble. You will also need to dog-proof the room or the backyard, removing access to anything that is fragile, toxic, edible, or out-of-bounds for whatever reason. The host dog and its guests should not have their own toys or bones lying around, either – all available toys should be neutral. If the host dog is very territorial, it simply is not going to work unless you arrange the playdate in a neutral space.

6. Meet and Greet

The dogs should all be formally introduced before the doggy date begins, even if they have met before. Owners should have their pets on a leash, and the dogs should be made to sit in a semicircle so they can all see each other. They can then mingle on loose leashes. Only when everything is looking sociable should the dogs be let off the leash completely. Any dissenters will have to be kept on a leash until they get into the spirit of the party. If, for whatever reason, one of the doggy guests falls out with another, it should be led quietly away on a leash until the situation has calmed down.

7. Allow Downtime

Some dogs have more energy, patience, or bravery than others. On a doggy date, it always helps to have a hideaway where a dog that needs to catch its breath can take time out. For smaller dogs, this can be the owner’s arms. Larger dogs will need a quiet corner, indoors or out. In a larger backyard, they will be able to find their own space to chill. Dogs are very good at body language, and the others will recognize that the resting dog is doing just that, and not playing hide and seek.

8. Provide Refreshments

Busy dogs will need to drink, so one or more drinking bowls is essential. A supply of treats will keep the edge off their appetites too.

9. Play Some Party Games

Games of fetch, hide and seek, sit and wait, agility tests, or obstacle courses are all great ways to keep the party happy and active. Treats can be used as prizes!

10. Avoid Too Much Sun

If it is a really hot day, an outdoor doggy date will need a lot of shade, a lot of water, and should involve only the very fittest dogs. Heat can be a health hazard for weaker animals. Remember – you can always postpone.

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This entry was posted in Dogs on September 23rd, 2020 by linnearask


Which is The Best Type of Hamster for You?

Boy handing hamster, Omlet Qute Hamster and Gerbil CageThere are five hamster species commonly kept as pets. They are all similar in their needs, but with one or two important differences between species.

The most familiar is the Golden, or Syrian hamster, which is also the largest of the five. The others are all in the group known as Dwarf hamsters – Campbell’s, Roborovski, Chinese and Winter White.

Looking After a Golden Hamster

An estimated 75% of pet hamsters are Syrians, largely because they have been popular for many years, and are therefore widely available. This species 6–7 inches long, and is relatively slow moving (compared to the much nippier Dwarf species). This makes them easy to handle, and that is one of the keys to their popularity. A nervous owner will find handling very easy (i.e. the hamster is not going to run up your sleeve or make a bolt for the door before you can stop it!)

The Golden is a loner, and that means its owner will be its only companion – which is great for forming owner–pet bonds. The hamster will usually live for 2 to 2 ½ years, and can be hand-tamed from a very early age, so you will usually have a long and satisfying friendship with these little bundles of fun.

There are different types of Golden hamster. One of the most popular is the long-haired ‘Teddy Bear’. There are also different color varieties, with mixtures of gold, brown, russet, yellow, grey, black, and white.

IDEAL FOR: first time hamster owners looking for a single, easy-going pet that is easy to handle.

Looking After a Chinese Hamster

The Chinese – also known as the Striped, Grey or Rat-tailed – is the least common of the hamsters in the pet trade, although its popularity is growing all the time. There is a lot to love in these little characters – they are very gentle, and once hand-tamed they will love their daily human interaction.

This species grows to a length of between 4–5 inches and, and is dark grey with a darker stripe running down the back. It has a long tail, by hamster standards, hence the ‘Rat-tailed’ tag label. It tends to live a little longer than the Golden hamster, with a lifespan of 2 ½ to 3 years, and like the Golden it likes to live alone. This makes it bond very easily with a human companion.

IDEAL FOR: first time owners, or owners looking for something a little less common than the Golden, but with a similar personality.

Looking After a Roborovski Hamster 

This is a lively little pet, and likes to live with at least one other fellow Roborovski – in a same-sex pair or small group. Single animals will do just fine, though, as long as they get lots of human company and handling. They are 10 cm (4 inches) long, and are endlessly curious about the world around them. When handling, you need to be alert, as these are fast movers.

Roborovskis are long-lived, by hamster standards, generally lasting between 3 and 3 ½ years. Being keen climbers and explorers, they will need a cage large enough to accommodate their endless expeditions, so space is sometimes an issue for would-be owners. They also have a rather strong smell, so they need cleaning out very regularly.

IDEAL FOR: owners who want to keep more than one hamster at a time, and have space for a larger cage.

Looking After a Winter White Hamster

This species is also called the Siberian, due to its wonderful color change during the Winter. It is grey-brown for much of the year, with a handsome black stripe down its back. In Winter the fur becomes white, but the black stripe remains.

This little creature reaches just over 4 inches in length, and can live alone very happily, making it a good pet for someone who has lots of time to handle and bond with their pet, and who is not nervous handling a fast-moving, small animal. Winter Whites only live 1 ½ to 2 years, and this makes them less popular than some of the other species.

IDEAL FOR: hamster lovers looking for a change from the commoner species, and who cannot wait to see that wonderful change to wintry white!

Looking After a Campbell’s Hamster

This is another short-lived hamster, with a lifespan of 1 ½ to 2 years. They are usually kept in same-sex pairs or groups, but can thrive alone as long as they get a lot of handling and attention from their owner. Their small size makes them tricky to handle, being both swift and fragile, so they are not suitable for young or nervous owners.

IDEAL FOR: owners who want to keep a group of hamsters together in a larger cage.

Two dwarf hamster eating a snack

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This entry was posted in Hamsters on September 23rd, 2020 by linnearask