Bringing a new dog into your home is a big decision that’s so exciting but also requires lots of thought and research. It isn’t a question of finding the right dog, but a question of finding the right dog for you and your family and lifestyle. All dogs deserve loving homes, so choosing the one that fits best in your world means other dogs have that same opportunity. Check out these 3 tips for adopting the right dog for your family.

1. Take your home into account

It isn’t uncommon for a person to adopt a dog that simply can’t function well in the size of their home. If you live in a tiny apartment with no outdoor space, it may not be the best idea—or the right time—to adopt a big dog that needs lots of room to play and run.

If you know that you’ll be moving into a larger space in the near future and you know you want a larger, more energetic puppy, consider how often you’ll be able to walk your new dog. Will you be at work all day with barely any time to exercise your new family member? Or can you make time in the morning, at lunch, and in the evening for walks?

Smaller (and sometimes lazier) dogs do great in small spaces. Pugs, French Bulldogs, Bichons, and Shih Tzus are just a handful of breeds that love apartment life.

 

2. Think about your family

If you have kids at home, it’s so important to research breeds that do well when there’s a lot going on around the house. Dogs that are more likely to become aggressive, or dogs that have endured trauma in their lives may not be able to handle small children well. Dog bites are no joke, and it’s important to consider how your new pup will acclimate to your kids, as well as your kids’ friends.

Breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Collies, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles love playtime with kids and are easily trainable.

 

3. Consider how active you are

It’s important to ask yourself what you’re looking for in a companion. Do you want a running buddy or someone to snuggle with on the couch? How active are you, and how much time and energy will you be able to give your new dog?

Siberian Huskies are amazing dogs if you love being active, so it may not be the best fit if you consider yourself more of a couch potato. Because of their thick coat, they’re great for people who live in cold climates but still like to get outside often. Border Collies, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Weimaraners also have tons of energy and love joining their humans on adventures.

Above all else, remember every dog is different.

While breed plays a big role in certain character traits, it’s also about finding that special connection with your potential pup. Spend time with them in the shelter to see how he or she gets along with you and your family before making the commitment. Inviting a new dog into your family is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and the more prepared you are, the smoother the process will be.

 

 

 

 

Everyone knows them; everyone fears them. Lice are one of the most annoying creatures out there, second only to maybe bed bugs and fleas when it comes to household pests. While not technically dangerous to humans, lice are irritating, causing itchiness and pain. They can even lead to infection if you scratch too much.

Even worse, a new variety of lice has emerged in the last few years, which experts have dubbed “Super Lice.” These creatures are basically the same as lice, just stronger and more stubborn — because they’ve evolved to be resistant to traditional treatments.

It’s thought that 98.3% of lice are now Super Lice, and that number could reach 100% as lice continue to get more resistant to traditional treatment methods.

The Facts

Lice carry a false stigma, namely that anyone with lice has lousy hygiene. But anyone can get lice! That’s why they’re so common. In fact, they prefer clean hair.

The best way to keep lice out of your children’s hair, then, is by making sure they understand what the insects are and the dangers of sharing hats or combs.

However, even the most prepared children aren’t immune to Super Lice. If this seems scary, don’t worry. We’re here to help. In this article, we’ll talk about various treatments that don’t work (some of which are even dangerous) as well as the best possible way to treat your lice.

Ineffective Home Remedies

Anyone can get Super Lice, but the most common victims are children, especially those in childcare, elementary schools and camps.

Why?

Once one child has them, it’s difficult to stop them from spreading. Every year, between 6 and 12 million infestations occur among children ages 3 to 11.

Because lice have been a problem in children for, well, centuries, there has been plenty of time for rumors to develop about household remedies. Most of these remedies are ineffective, however. And some are downright ridiculous!

For example, some believe that mayonnaise, olive oil or other dense fats rubbed on the scalp can kill the pesky bugs by drowning/suffocating them. These treatments require the lotion or fat to be on your head for at least 8-12 hours. (Think you can get your child to sit still with mayo on their head for a whole day?)

And, the worst part? They don’t actually get rid of the eggs, just the lice themselves.

Toxic Techniques

Over-the-counter treatments are even worse than some of the sillier at-home methods. Many of these treatments are harmful and dangerous for adults and children alike. These over-the-counter treatments include the ingredients permethrin and pyrethrin, both of which are toxic. They’ve been shown to cause redness, swelling, even more itching and respiratory distress.

Many other shampoos and lotions, even if they don’t contain these chemicals, can cause side effects that no one wants, and some of them are even flammable. (If there’s one thing you don’t want on your head even more than lice, it’s fire…)

You don’t need to panic; just be smart when deciding how to get rid of the pesky bugs. Lice are annoying, but remember, people deal with them every day. Being patient and smart about your treatment will go a long way.

Effective Treatments

Even before Super Lice, these toxic treatments were a bad idea. But they worked, so no one really considered the side effects.

While Super Lice’s immunity towards many common treatments is frustrating, it has had one benefit: we’re reconsidering which treatments we should be using.

There are plenty of treatments your doctor might prescribe to your children, but the unfortunate truth is that, even though many of these are effective against Super Lice, they still have some irritating and even painful side effects.

And the longer we use these treatments, the more immune Super Lice get.

The Best Way

If at-home remedies only solve part of the problem, over-the-counter treatments are toxic and prescription solutions are sometimes flammable and itchy, what are we supposed to do? Give up and let the lice take over our kids’ heads? Absolutely not.

The best way to defeat lice once and for all is by using an electric lice comb, such as the RobiComb. The RobiComb uses MicroCharge technology to electrocute and eliminate the lice with such a small charge that you and your children can barely feel it. It’s painless, you won’t have to worry about any toxic shampoos or itchy lotions and it simultaneously kills the lice and removes the nits that stick to hair follicles.

As a bonus, there’s no odor or mess to clean up once you’re done; simply rinse your hair to make sure you get all the remains out, and you’re home free. The RobiComb even includes a guard so that your scalp remains unblemished. Use RobiComb for a safe, effective treatment so your scalp can be lice-free in a matter of hours.

 

 

 

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Inbal Gabrieli has 20 years of management experience in project management and operations. She’s passionate about business execution, innovations and making things happen. Inbal holds an MBA with honors and a bachelor’s degree in statistics and human resources. Inbal is currently running Operations for LiceGuard LLC. When not working, Inbal enjoys cooking international food and spending time with her family.