Why Does My Dog Bark So Much?

Dog barking can turn into a problem if it continues incessantly.

Clear The Air would like to share some information from the Animals Friends of the Valleys about the various reasons your dog barks and what you can do to stop incessant barking.

The first thing you need to do in order to quiet a chronic barker is to figure out why he’s barking in the first place. Is he lonely or bored? Do you spend enough time with him? Remember that dogs are pack animals and prefer the company of other animals and/or humans.

Most dogs will not be happy sitting by themselves in the backyard with nothing to do (except bark!) Make sure your dog has plenty of toys to occupy his mind and his need to chew. And make sure you spend quality time with him. Take him for walks and bring him inside the house every day for some “family” time. Dogs really love being with their people!

If your dog barks at night, bring him inside the house or garage. Most dogs prefer sleeping inside anyway (remember, dogs are not solitary creatures by nature.)  Relocating your dog away from immediate neighbors to another area of your yard might eliminate barking. Another good solution is to adopt another animal so your dog will have a companion.

Bark collars are a wonderful tool in training your dog not to bark. They can be purchased at pet stores or can be ordered online for a lower price. These new age collars do not hurt your dog in any way, they simply reprimand the bark. This may startle your dog at first but after a few times they associate the reprimand with the bark and learn to do their everyday activities without barking.

In extreme cases, you might consider having your dog “de-barked.” De-barking is a procedure in which the vocal cords are surgically removed. In most cases, the dog will come home the day of the procedure. The barking sound will still be audible but will be more like a whisper. Consult your veterinarian for more information about de-barking.

Barking is the number one cause of neighbor disputes. Remember, it is unlawful to allow your dog to become a public nuisance. Chronic barking is a serious problem but there are many possible solutions. Investing some time, money, and energy to solving the problem will be well worth the effort, for you and your dog

For more information visit Animal Friends of the Valleys website.

Proper Brushing Tips For Dogs

Do you groom your dog?

Clear The Air would like to share some helpful grooming tips from the ASPCA. Does your dog love being brushed?

Article taken from the ASPCA –

Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free. And grooming time’s a great time to check for fleas and flea dirt–those little black specks that indicate your pet is playing host to a flea family.

If your dog has a smooth, short coat (like that of a Chihuahua, boxer or basset hound), you only need to brush once a week:

• First, use a rubber brush to loosen dead skin and dirt.
• Next, use a bristle brush to remove dead hair.
• Now, polish your low-maintenance pooch with a chamois cloth and she’s ready to shine!

If your dog has short, dense fur that’s prone to matting, like that of a retriever, here’s your weekly routine:

• Use a slicker brush to remove tangles.
• Next, catch dead hair with a bristle brush.
• Don’t forget to comb her tail.

If your dog has a long, luxurious coat, such as that of a Yorkshire terrier, she’ll need daily attention:

• Every day you’ll need to remove tangles with a slicker brush.
• Gently tease mats out with a slicker brush.
• Next, brush her coat with a bristle brush.
• If you have a long-haired dog with a coat like a collie’s or an Afghan hound’s, follow the steps above, and also be sure to comb through the fur and trim the hair around the hocks and feet.

It Is Boating Season!

Planning to take your boat out soon?

Unfortunately many foul odors lurk in different areas of boats and are usually tough to eliminate. Clear The Air works great when it comes to foul boat odors.

Boats are typically filled with powerful odors such as bilge odors, mold and mildew odors, fuel odors, head and holding tank odors, galley odors, smoke odors and pet odors. Earth Care will eliminate all these odors.

In the past boat owners have had to use caustic chemicals, expensive detailing, air purifiers and caustic ozone machines to rid their boat of odors. Earth Care Odor Remover Bags can simply be hung in your boat and they will completely eliminate all these odors.

Earth Care draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances. It is made from an all natural mineral, is non toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth. It is also safe around children and pets even if eaten. It does not have to come into contact with odor producer to eliminate the odor. Earth Care does not cover up odors it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean.

Directions To Eliminate Odors From Your Boat or Yacht:

• Hang one bag in each bilge compartment, the head, the galley, the forward cabin and aft cabins. Some air circulation such as an open hatch is needed. Do not put bag directly in standing water.
• All odors are typically eliminated in 24 hours. The bags will continue to eliminate new odors for up to 3 months. Each bag will cover approximately 100 square feet.
• Do not set bag in direct sun.
• If there are strong odors in your boat you may also want to sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpets and Furniture on all upholstery and carpet. Leave down overnight and vacuum. All odors will be completely eliminated.

Selling Your Home? You Need To Read This…

Honestly, does your home smell??

If you are planning to put your home on the market, you may want to get a second opinion on the way your home smells.

Many times we get used to odors in our home…whether it’s cigarette odor, doggy smell or strong food odors. Did you know odors in a home will turn away a buyer in a heartbeat?

We have shared this before but since it is coming into the season to buy and sell homes, Clear The Air thought it would be appropriate to share this article from Coldwell Banker again.

One of the top mistakes a home seller makes when trying to sell their home:

A recent survey of real estate agents by ActiveRain has confirmed that there are certain things a seller should avoid if they are trying to get their home sold for the best price in the least amount of time. Out of 1000 real estate agents interviewed by ActiveRain, 28% said Unpleasant Odors are the number one turn off to a potential home buyer. (Coldwell Banker’s recent article)

Here’s what they had to say:

Unpleasant Odors in the House – “Mr and Mrs. Seller, your house stinks!”

Most agents aren’t going to be this blunt. But in some cases they wish they could be. They’ll take a more tactical approach and say something like…..’during the time your house is on the market, it might be a good idea to smoke outside’.

But what they know is that nothing will stop a potential buyer in their tracks faster than a strong odor of any sort. In some cases this could just be the left over smell from last night’s dinner. In more extreme cases, agents tell horror stories of entering homes that have a bad smell of pet urine or smoking.

The main concern for the buyer is, of course, “is the house going to smell like this once we move in?” Real Estate agents confirm that many a buyer has passed on a home after coming to their own conclusion on that answer.

Your agent isn’t suggesting a fresh coat of paint and new carpet because they don’t like how things look. They are making this suggestion because they realize that the smoke odor in your home is going to be a major turn off for anyone thinking about buying your home.

Sweet Dog Looking For A Home

Mutt Monday’s pick of the week.

The San Diego Humane Society is featuring Luda, a sweet dog looking for her forever home. Find out why Luda is an employee pick:

A beloved Canine Companion who has been volunteering at our North Campus for quite some time, Dana O., simply loves Luda! And she has selected this adorable pooch as her volunteer pick:

What do you like best about your pick’s personality? “She is very laid back, smart and affectionate.”

What first drew you to your pick? “Her wiggly butt greeting!”

Is there something special about the way your pick looks? “She has a white hourglass-shaped pattern from her nose to the back of her head.”

What is your pick’s coolest/silliest/most fun trait? “After a game of fetch she likes to come and sit on the bench with me (sometimes in my lap) and watch the world go by.”

Anything else? “She is super smart and willing to learn anything you want to teach her.  She knows all the basic commands with shake and roll over thrown in for good measure.”

Pet: Luda (132249)

Volunteer: Dana O.

Do You Smell Cigar Or Cigarette Smoke?

Cigarette and cigar smoke is powerful!

If you have ever bought a car or home where the previous owner smoked, it is usually quite obvious by the odor.

Clear The Air eliminates cigarette and cigar odor from pretty much anywhere.

The truth is that cigarette smoke permeates into our furniture, carpets, walls, windows, and just about every other nook and cranny in our homes, making it particularly difficult to eliminate. Earth Care’s Clear The Air Odor Eliminators will pull the smoke odors out of carpets, drapes, furniture, clothing, and bedding without coming into contact them. It works just as well in your car, pulling the odors from the carpet and upholstery.

Simple to use and inexpensive Earth Care is the answer to your cigarette or cigar odors. This unique form of Earth Care Products Mineral does not have to come into contact with the odor producer; it will pull the odors from the entire area. Clear The Air draws in odors like a powerful magnet. The odors are adsorbed, and neutralized without any fragrances.

Clear The Air does not cover up odors; it literally “clears the air” leaving the air fresh and clean. Clear The Air is made from an all-natural mineral, is non-toxic and biodegradable and safe for Planet Earth.

Clear the Air is simple to use and is an inexpensive solution to odor elimination.  Here are the directions to removing cigarette smoke odor out of your home:

• Hang 1-2 Earth Care Odor Eliminator Bags in each room that smells like cigarette smoke. One bag will cover 50-100 square feet. Odor will be eliminated in 24 hours.
• A Bag will last 1-2 months, if room is heavily permeated with smoke odor the bag may need to be changed more often at first.
• If odors are particularly strong or room has been smoked in for years sprinkle Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture granules on carpets and furniture. Leave down 24 hours and vacuum. Odors will be completely eliminated.
• One canister of Clear The Air Odor Eliminator for Carpet and Furniture covers 100 square feet; one bucket covers 900 square feet.
• Granules can also be placed in ashtrays and cigarette butt receptacles.

Of course, if you have any questions on removing cigarette smoke odor, please do not hesitate to call our helpful Customer Service Agent, Pat, at (800) 611-1611 or (760) 941-5302 or via email: pmolina@cleartheair.com

Meet Hercules At The San Diego Humane Society

Hercules…a Dog of Mythical Proportions!!

We love sharing stories about animals looking for their forever homes. Today we would like to share a story for Mutt Monday about Hercules. Do you have it in your heart to give him a forever loving home?

For most, the name “Hercules” brings to mind images of a certain Greek god.

…Well, around here, the name “Hercules” instead brings to mind images of a certainly Great dog!

Yes, my friends, it’s true. Be it the mythical or canine Hercules to whom you are referring, either way – the subject is indisputably divine! And, like his namesake, the 1 & 1/2-year old American Pit Bull Terrier is a pillar of strength and has a most adventurous spirit!

Always at the ready should he hear the cry of a damsel in distress, Hercules is eager for action! His enthusiasm knows no bounds!

His playfulness? Contagious!

His spirit? Courageous!

His athleticism? Outrageous!

It’s true, this energetic doggie is full of the kind of personality, handsomeness, and charm that myths are made of!! All who encounter this canine king are quick to see that they are indeed in the presence of greatness.

Are you looking for a strapping young dog with whom you can pursue outdoor adventures?? Well, look no further!!

Are you ready for a pooch who is full of life and, I daresay, gusto?? Ummm…look to the photos on the right and just try to tell me that Hercules doesn’t fit the bill!!

He’s handsome, he’s energetic, he’s just so darn lovable, …he’s Hercules! And he is ready to become the hero of YOUR story!

To meet this awesome guy, give us a call at (619) 299-7012 to arrange an introduction!

Happy Customers’ Testimonials

Why do you love Clear The Air?

Clear The Air loves our happy reviews! Our product truly works when it comes to eliminating bad odors! Don’t take our word for it, find out what consumers have to say:

I have 3 cats who used by bedroom as their personal litter box. I sprinkled the product on my carpet and the next day the odor was gone completely and my carpet looks wonderful. Now I don’t have to replace it. ~Kacee

We have a problem with cats peeing on our carpet in our bedroom. We tried everything I’d found before to get rid of the smell or discourage them from doing it again. I put this powder all over the room and the next day ran the vacuum and all the smell was gone! I highly recommend it. ~Cat

This made a HUGE difference in my carpeted stairs. The dog smell is gone. ~Soobie

3 cats, 2 dogs. Accidents happen. Works great. Even use it in the litter box to get rid of odors. ~Baxter

St. Patrick’s Day Safety For Your Pets

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone!

How are you celebrating this holiday? Are you wearing green? We hope so!

This is a fun holiday filled with lots of food and drink but it is important to make sure your pets stay safe during all the festivities. Take a moment to read the following St. Patrick’s Day safety tips:

• Don’t give or let your pets have access to alcohol. It is toxic for your pets and it can make them extremely sick.
• Dress your pet up in green! If you dye your pet green, make sure to use all natural, non-toxic vegetable dye. If you dress your pet up in cute green clothing, make sure it is not too tight and does not constrict any areas of their body.
• If you are bringing your pet around town or participating in a parade, make sure your dog is not too frightened or overwhelmed and make sure to always have plenty of water available for him or her.
• If you plan to throw a party, make sure to confine your pet to a smaller area if he or she does not like big crowds.
• Don’t let your pets get into any party treats or favors. Chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs and can kill them. Make sure to put all snacks up high so animals cannot reach them.

Testimonial Tuesday for Clear The Air!

We love hearing happy customers let us know how Clear The Air worked for them!

Every Tuesday we like to share testimonials of our product and how it worked for our customers. Check out some of the latest reviews on Clear The Air below:

I’ve tried EVERYTHING to get the smell of cat urine out of my mattress from when my cat had a UTI. I bought all the top recommended neutralizers, all sprays or liquids of some kind, and nothing worked. Nearly at my wit’s end, I looked up more products online and did some more research. It finally made sense to use a non-liquid to remove the smell. I bought this product as a last resort and sure enough, it worked on the mattress! Don’t waste your time with liquids; this is the stuff! ~M

I cannot believe that I have FINALLY found a product that actually works to take out the smell of cat urine from my carpet! I was gone on vacation for over two weeks and the person that was coming in to feed my two male cats did not put them back into the basement for the night. She let them roam the house and they urinated on my carpet. The smell was horrendous and I thought that I was going to have to remove the carpet. This product actually works! THANK YOU! ~Antonia

My 15 year old cat used my carpet as his litter box for several months when he was sick. I spent tons of money and tried countless products with little to no success in removing the smell that had soaked in. I thought I was going to have to live with the smell until I could afford to replace all the carpet, but decided to try one last product – this one. WOW! I followed the directions on the can and it really did get the smell out! I am getting ready to order more now so I can do the whole house. Much less expensive than replacing the carpet (not to mention much less stressful). Highly recommend this product! ~F

I have never been so impressed with a product! We were sure we would have to replace our carpet after our elderly dog lay down and died on it. But one application of Clear the Air removed all traces of odor. There’s no fragrance. Our house just smells normal again. ~Dean