Have you ever felt guilt about your dog? Have you figured out why? Guilt is an interesting thing in that once you’ve alleviated it, you feel relief.

A second dog, Blue (an older puppy), came into my life a couple years ago, and I expected him to maintain the same schedule as my older dog, mainly because I didn’t want my first dog to feel jealousy. It has taken me this couple of years to realize that Blue needs different treatment than my trusty older dog. “Fair” isn’t treating them both identically.

Blue so far is untrained, though very trainable; doesn’t get to walk far enough, even though he’d like to keep going; and hasn’t been played with according to his needs. Basically since he wouldn’t fetch, I figured he didn’t much want to play. He wasn’t very interested in toys, so I didn’t bother him with them. Lately I’ve noticed him running in the house with my other dog’s toys, throwing them up in the air, chasing after them, etc. Maybe he’s not a fetcher, maybe we need to play differently—he’s definitely trying to get my attention. Just last week when I was training my other dog to use a pet ramp to get in the SUV, Blue immediately took the ramp over, racing up and down it, hoping for that treat even though he can comfortably jump in and out. Does my dog need a job?? A different form of play?? Training??

Having multiple dogs is it’s own challenge. There are tricks to training and living with multiple dogs.

Now don’t shed any tears for Blue, he has been loved, kissed, fed, and on the furniture since day one. But starting today, I’m going to attempt to meet his needs on a daily basis—recognize that he is his own dog—and improve his quality of life. I plan to use Online Dog Coach training tips, teach him new dog tricks, and take him walking (just Blue and me) until he is ready to turn back. Ahhhhh, I’m already feeling better!

care, Dog Training Tips, dogs, multiple dogs Hide

In comparing the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair with the Scotch FurFighter Hair Remover, I find that both are comfortable to use, and work quite well on flat surfaces of furniture upholstery and cotton blend furniture covers for both long-haired and short-haired dogs. The Fur Fighter works best on curves, creases, and corners.

The Pledge Fabric Sweeper has rollers at the bottom and a non-removable compartment at the top to hold the fur. You brush one way with small passes, which pulls the fur up, then brush the other way to pull fur into the storage compartment. When the compartment is full and the rollers don’t work satisfactorily anymore, it is time to throw it away and purchase a new one. It cannot be used on vinyl, leather, or wet surfaces. A single Pledge Fabric Sweeper costs about $5.

The Scotch FurFighter Hair Remover (indoor upholstery) is a curved plastic base and handle with a pad that adheres to it. The pad curves up around the base so that it can pull hair from corners. It has little rubber teeth that grab on to the fur and hold it to the pad. When the pad is full, it is pulled off and discarded, then replaced with a new one. There is also one for automotive upholstery–the main difference being the shape of the base and handle which have bristles and a storage compartment for the pads. The initial Scotch Fur Fighter Hair Remover with 5 refill pads costs about $8 and refill pads (8 to a package) are around $6.

My personal preference is the Scotch FurFighter. I find that it gets into corners and small places better, and that the pad fills on one usage and I can throw it away and put away a fur-free device. Keep in mind that I have really big dogs that have an abundance of fur that they leave behind. If I had a small dog that didn’t fill the Scotch pad in one use, I would possibly prefer the Pledge Fabric Sweeper since the fur is tucked safely away in the storage compartment.

cleaning dog fur, pet hair removers, Pledge Fabric Sweeper, review, Scotch FurFighter, supplies Hide