Author Archive
Introducing a new cat or dog to the family – Karen Phillips
Every Monday night I answer questions on the Better Pets and Gardens Facebook page and an interesting one that I received recently was how to teach dogs to accept a new cat in the house and have them co-exist happily. I have had to introduce cats to my household of dogs in the past and, […]
Brighten up the summer garden – Sue McDougall
As the weather warms up, the focus of our gardening efforts turns to the patio, verandah or alfresco area. Healthy potted plants add something special to an outdoor entertaining area and it’s not hard to keep them looking perfect. Ensure the potting mix doesn’t become water repellent. Potted soil has the potential to dry out […]
Escape to the garden at Christmas – Sue McDougall
Adding colour to the garden with instant potted colour is a quick job that will reward you with flowers through summer. Quality potting mix and large pots scattered around the garden, verandah or patio area filled with instant colour is a good afternoon’s work. Remember to apply liquid fertiliser fortnightly and trim off any dead […]
Taking the fear out of the dog wash – Karen Phillips
One of my favourite things in a Better Pets and Gardens store is the “do it yourself” dog wash facilities. It’s easy to use and I don’t get soaked while washing my dogs! Plus, it only costs $10 for 10 minutes! Unfortunately some dogs aren’t quite as thrilled about using the dog wash as my […]
Stop your dog jumping on everyone – Karen Phillips
Over the last few weeks I’ve been receiving regular Facebook posts from people asking how to stop their dogs from jumping up on everybody, including visitors. The good news is that stopping this is fairly straight forward but it does require the help of some tasty treats and some planning. In a nutshell, dogs jump […]
Warm November Days – Sue McDougall
Warm November days remind us that summer is just around the corner and a little work at the beginning of this month will ensure your garden thrives through the warmer months. A garden that’s strong and healthy will perform brilliantly regardless of the weather. The use of organic fertilisers and a focus on improving and […]
Spring has finally sprung! Sue McDougall
October is the month when roses are at their best. Strong, dark green foliage contrasts very well with their delicate flowers. Once a year flowering varieties are pruned after flowering as this will encourage strong flowering for next season. A teaspoon of sulphate of potash sprinkled around the root system will help the plants build […]
Is your dog a guts? Karen Phillips
Recently I’ve had lots of questions on Facebook about how to stop dogs from eating their food too quickly. For some dogs, eating too fast makes them to vomit their meals back up. But far worse is the possibility of bloat, a serious condition caused by the dog swallowing too much air when eating. This […]
Barking up the right tree
One of the regular dog training questions we receive on Facebook is how to prevent excessive barking. Dogs bark for lots of reasons and it’s a perfectly normal and natural thing for them to do. Barking has a lot of positives including protection of us and our homes but when it becomes excessive it can […]
Get Garden Inspired – Sue McDougall
September is the best time to visit gardens and become inspired. Garden owners are such generous people and get so excited when they have an audience to share their stories with. Take a visit to your local open gardens this month. They are a great example of what can be achieved in your area, and […]
