A Helping Paw: How a Pet Can Improve Mental Health Image via Pixabay Pets may be the closest thing to magic this world has. These cute, lovable companions can help turn a bad day around and they can literally reduce stress in humans. And while there’s no magic cure for mental illness, adopting a furry friend may just help you improve your mental health. Here’s how… Pets teach you to be mindful. You know how dogs act like they are never going to see them again when their human leaves the house? Okay, it’s a sad visual, but it’s a pretty good illustration of how pets truly live in the moment (as in, they can’t even comprehend that their human will be back in the future). Pets teach us to live in the now. Mindfulness teaches us to deal with thoughts and feelings in a more healthy, productive way. And pets serve as more than a good example-- they help you practice mindfulness as well. Spending a few minutes watching your dog act like a doofus or marveling at how pretty your kitty is can take your mind of the things that bog you down. Pets are the best listeners. Often, people struggling with mental illness feel the need to verbally express how they’re feeling but are afraid to open up to people because they don’t want to be judged or bum anyone out. With a pet, you can sit down and vent all your insecurities and frustrations and they will just sit there and listen. They don’t judge you and as long as they’re spending time with their human, they aren’t going to be bummed out. However, if you go on a particularly long express fest, it wouldn’t hurt to give them a little treat to show your gratitude. Pets get you moving. Exercise can seriously help improve your mental health. It helps you let off steam and increases feel-good endorphins in the brain. Having a dog helps motivate you to get off the couch and get outside for a walk. Or if you are a cat person, maybe break out the mat for a session of kitty yoga in the living room (yes, it’s a real thing!). Whatever your activity, make it a habit as physical activity makes you less susceptible to mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and addiction. Pets make you less lonely. They don’t call dogs “man’s best friend” for nothing. And despite stereotypes, a study published by Oregon State University states that your cat would rather spend time with you than anything else. Suffice to say, adding a pet to your home can reduce the feelings of loneliness that often accompany mental health issues. And it’s not just at home-- having pets can help you become more social with people as well. Taking your pup to the park gives you the chance to meet and chat with other dog lovers. And somehow cat people always find each other in social situations. Soon you could be one of those people obsessively pulling out your phone to show pictures of your furry friend to that stranger you just met… it’s quite the ice breaker! When dealing with mental illness, it’s important to talk to your doctor and follow their professional, medical advice. However, if you’re already on the road to recovery but you are looking for a little boost to help you out, adopting a pet is a great idea. Pets help you live in the moment and are the perfect set of ears to vent your worries to. They help you become more physically active, which is proven to improve mental health as well. Finally, they are your constant companion that make you less lonely at home and help facilitate outside socialization as well.
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Yorkie Fresh & Fly Shampoo - Yorkshire Terrier Shampoo- Best Yorkie Shampoo!
Specifically balanced for Yorkie terriers. Suitable for grooming the Yorkie coat, especially those that tend to have long coats like Yorkies, which is essential to their well-being
Grooming Tips for Yorkie
Yorkshire Terrier Grooming By taking your dog to a groomer regularly you will keep him/her looking and feeling great. You can also learn Yorkie grooming techniques at home. Remember, practice makes perfect and you will notice every time you groom it gets easier for both you and your Yorkie. Grooming is a good bonding time for both your Yorkie and you. Grooming Basics Shampoo & Conditioner:Use a high quality shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for dogs. Yorkshire Terriers have only a single coat of hair, whereas many breeds have both outer and under coat. In this respect, a Yorkie’s coat is similar to a human’s hair. Despite this, do not use shampoo meant for humans on your Yorkie. Human shampoo can result in dry, flaky skin creating dandruff on your Yorkie. I never brush my Yorkie’s coat when it is completely dry unless the coat is clean like after a bath, since it could damage the coat. Keep a spray bottle on hand with a mixture of water and conditioner and lightly spray the coat before you brush or comb. (Order Shampoo) Bathing:Bathing bi-weekly will prevent odor and preserve the coat. Be sure to work out the tangles since they can and will get worse with each passing day. Wet the hair tangle with warm water and work it out with your fingers as you bathe. Putting a small amount of conditioner on the hair tangle will help loosen the tangle. I bathe my Yorkie in the kitchen sink. Be careful when bathing in the sink. If they do not feel safe and secure, they may attempt to jump out of the sink. A bath tub can also be used. Be sure to completely rinse your Yorkie’s hair after shampooing and conditioning. Male Yorkies may dribble urine on themselves in the course of doing their business. You may wash this area daily with a damp cloth and warm water, or use an unscented baby wipe. Depending on the length of your Yorkie’s coat, you may wish to blow dry the coat. If so, be sure to watch the heat as you can easily burn your Yorkie with the hot air. Make sure all tangles are out of the coat. Comb through the coat after drying and brushing with the metal comb. This will eliminate most of the tangles, knots, and mats. A flea comb may be used on a daily basis. Daily face washing and ear checks, teeth brushing, nail trims and bi-weekly baths is recommended. Hair trimming: Trim the hair under the pads of the feet. It is traditional to trim the top 1/3 of the ear; shaven for a cleaner ear, and will also make them look smaller The hair around the anus should be trimmed very short on a regular basis for cleanliness. Brushing the coat will vary with texture and coat length. Many people choose to keep their Yorkie’s coat trimmed in a short puppy cut year round. This can be done with a pair of scissors or with a set of electric clippers. Necessities: Comb – Metal comb with long teeth. Brush – There are many choices, but we recommend a pin brush with a rubber back. Natural bristle brushes are less likely to damage the coat than synthetics such as nylon. Scissors – Basic hair-cut trim scissors Ear Trimmer – Wahl’s mustache trimmer; its cordless and rechargeable (available at Wal-Mart). Nail Trimmer – Human nail clipper while they are a puppy. As they age, use the dog nail clippers; sometimes it will be necessary to use a nail file to file the sharp edges of the nail after clipping. Stop Bleed is a must. If you cut too short, the nail will bleed. Dab the Stop Bleed on the affected area immediately. Stop Bleed – Available at most Pet Stores. Ear Cleaner – There are many choices. I use NutraVet ear wash with tea oil and q-tips. Author: Mario Coronado Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mario_Coronado http://EzineArticles.com/?Yorkshire-Terrier-Grooming&id=6735835 More Tips @http://www.wikihow.com/Groom-a-Yorkshire-Terrier |
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