I wonder what good art really is.

Josh’s grandma paints beautiful landscapes, and when I see them I am almost there – hiking those mountains, crossing those streams. That is good art.

A relative gave me a set of handmade coasters, and her thoughtfulness reminded me I am loved. That is good art.

I take photos of dogs and send them to owners who are away. That, maybe, is good art.

My mom writes about grief and cancer and shares it with those who need hope. That is good art.

I try to write what is real, what hasn’t been done before, what – at the very least – might cause someone to think. That, I hope, is good art.

Sometimes art is so real we don’t even notice it as art.

A mother decorates a room. A dog walks at a tight heel. A neighbor’s maples line the street.

If we don’t look, we might miss it.

A friend’s expression. Crayons stacked in jars. A black dog on a sunny afternoon.

Scout is a very sensitive cat – sensitive to change, picky about his food, fussy about being held, and yes, a princess when it comes to litter-box cleanliness.

I’ve hopefully managed to get Scout’s habits under control by keeping his two litter boxes spotless.

I scoop the boxes twice daily, add a bit of fresh litter each time, change out all the litter weekly, sweep the area around the boxes often, etc.

The solution for us seems to be that simple. Keep the boxes very clean.

By offering Scout several options I figured out that in addition to extreme cleanliness, he prefers a litter box without a lid. We can forget about those covered boxes with the kitty doors – Scout will not use them. So now we have two non-covered litter boxes side by side for our two cats.

If your cat has stopped using the litter box, below are some suggestions that might help you solve the problem or at least figure out what the problem could be.

The main thing is to avoid sudden changes.

I covered some of these issues in a previous post, but I thought the subject was important enough to go into further detail since one of my cats is still having some problems.

How do I get my cat to use his litter box?

1. Ask yourself what has changed recently in your home.

If you can come up with something that has changed at about the same time your cat started having “problems,” you can attempt to help your cat feel more comfortable.

Have you had long-term visitors? Weekend visitors? A new pet? Have you recently moved? Have you changed your cat’s food? Have you moved the box to a different room? Did you get a new washer and dryer? Even a new rug next to the litter box could be enough to scare or confuse a sensitive cat like Scout.

2. If you get a new litter box, keep the old box out temporarily.

All change should be gradual. If you buy a new litter box for any reason, don’t just throw away the old box. Instead, keep them side by side for a few weeks so your cat gets used to the new box. If he’s been using the new box for at least a week, you should be safe to set aside the old box.

3. If you move the box to a new location, temporarily offer two options.

Some kitty litter box problems begin when the owner decides to move the box to a new location.

If your cat has been using the litter box in the same corner of the same room for months or years and you suddenly move it to a different room he might get confused and continue to go to the bathroom where the box used to be. I guess some cats are just a little slow

To avoid this problem, simply add a new litter box where you would like it to be. For two weeks, keep both options available. Once you know your cat has been consistently using the new box, remove the old. You might consider temporarily blocking off access to where the first box was so your cat won’t be tempted to continue using that area as a bathroom. After another week or so you should be fine.

4. If you want to change the type of litter, do so gradually.

If I want to change the type of litter I use for Scout’s litter box, I have to keep one box with the old litter for awhile and one box with the new litter. After a week or two, if the cat is using the new type of litter just fine, it would most likely be fine to switch to that litter.

I have never actually combined the two types of litters into one box, but that might be an option for some as well. Heck, you could even line up three litter boxes – 0ne with the old litter, one with the new and one with mixed litters until the cat seems to adjust to the new litter. I know it sounds a bit nuts, but it beats having a cat that won’t use the box at all.

5. Block off access to “problem” areas.

Unfortunately, we have to keep all our bedroom and bathroom doors shut so Scout doesn’t go into those rooms and pee on rugs, towels, laundry, etc. I don’t know why he started peeing on these type of surfaces in the first place, but he did. Most likely the problem started because he is so picky about having a clean litter box. The rug surfaces became more appealing. If you have a cat that keeps peeing in a certain room, just keep the door to that room closed or find another way to block your cat from that room.

6. If your cat keeps peeing on a certain rug, remove the rug.

Rather than continuing to re-wash or replace certain rugs, sometimes it’s better to just remove the rug temporarily in order to break the habit.

Scout always peed on the mat below Ace’s dog bowls. Don’t ask me why, but he did. We tried replacing the mat, and Scout would just pee on the new mat so eventually we decided to go without a mat. Who needs a mat under a water bowl, anyway?

You can also try switching to a different material. Recently I received a plastic dog mat as a gift, and Scout has left this alone for about three weeks since it’s not “fluffy.” He also tends to leave flatter rugs alone vs. the softer rugs.

7. Have at least one box per cat.

The rule of thumb seems to be one litter box per cat, and some say to also have one extra. So if you have four cats, you would have five litter boxes. Now, who would want four cats?

We have two cats and generally two litter boxes, sometimes three. That seems to be OK for our cats. Scout’s issues seem to be cleanliness rather than sharing a box. My cats have their pecking order established, and they pretty much do everything together.

I’ve even walked into the litter box area to see this:

Yep, my cats will pee in the same box, together.

8. Don’t scold your cat unless you catch him “in the act.”

If I actually catch Scout peeing on a rug, you bet he will get a firm correction – “Hey! No!” But if I don’t notice until later, there’s no point in scolding him. He’s already a sensitive cat. Scolding him will only make him more cautious.

Good trainers will tell you not to scold a puppy for having an “accident” unless you catch the puppy in the act. The reason for this is because the puppy won’t be able to make the connection between her pee puddle and the reason you are upset. Scolding her will only confuse her, or worse, teach her to be more sneaky about where she pees indoors.

Although most cats seem more intelligent than puppies, I don’t think they are able to make the connection, either. I don’t have any stats or examples to back that up. It’s just my guess. I think you are better off ignoring “accidents” and doing all you can to prevent them.

9. Make sure the box is kept in an attractive area for the cat.

Most cats prefer their litter boxes to be in a quiet, private area of the house, but not in a completely inconvenient area.

For example, keeping the box all the way in the basement may not be the best option if it is cold and damp down there or if you have a steep, slippery staircase.

We keep our cats’ litter boxes in the laundry room, which is a somewhat secluded room on the main level. I know my cats don’t mind the laundry room too much because it’s a room they go to often in order to find a quiet corner for a nap.

10. Make sure your cat’s food and water bowls are not too close to the litter box.

Who wants to eat in their bathroom?

If you can, keep your cat’s food and water in a different room or at least across the room from the litter box.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments.

Have any of your cats stopped using the litter box? How did you solve the problem?

Have you ever re-homed a cat due to litter box issues?

I think, usually, the biggest hurdle in my life is myself.

I am my harshest critic.

It took me a few years to leave my “secure” job because I didn’t think I could maintain my own business. I didn’t think enough people would see the value in me.

It’s difficult for me now to see myself as a writer, to see that value, to accept that others might actually enjoy what I have to say.

It’s difficult, in general, for people to step past a certain comfort zone.

The “pity me” attitude is everywhere. I make a point to ignore it.

Everyone thinks she works harder than everyone else.

Everyone thinks she is more deserving and always right.

There is a lot of anger out there, a lot of judgement.

I try to do the best I can with an open mind and an open heart.

I try to do good.

To give credit to others.

Accept that I am sometimes wrong.

Take responsibility.

Make my own life happen.

That seems to be the hardest part with anything, getting past my own self doubt.

A friend reminded me of an Emerson quote:

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

That seems to be correct.

Not because he’s bad, but because I can’t control what he does.

Cats are cats.

They can’t be good or bad – they are just being cats.

We can’t control them, which is probably why we love them so much. They’ve maintained their wildness.

So I told Beamer I would no longer yell or scold or get angry with him for things I can’t control.

Like when he begs, harasses me, raids the dirty dishes, steals food off the counters, gets into the trash.

I will never be able to control him.

He is just being a cat. A hungry, food-obsessed cat.

“Beamer. Beamer. Beamer.”

I repeated his name. Scratched him behind the ears.

He purred and purred.

I own a dog running and dog walking business in Fargo called Run That Mutt.

If you’ve started your own dog walking or pet sitting business, you may be wondering what the best option is for collecting credit card payments.

If you are serious about your pet business, you should collect payments through a credit card system because it will save you money and time.

Why should my dog walking business accept credit cards?

Your dog walking company should accept credit card payments because it’s convenient for customers, convenient for you, and it will save you valuable time and money.

More than likely your dog walking business is already accepting online credit card payments through PayPal.

Why isn’t PayPal the best option for a dog walking business?

Although PayPal has its place (easy to set up, easy to use), it is not the best option for a dog walking business. Instead, I recommend you switch to a credit card processing company. I’ve been using PayPal for years, and it’s time for my own business to make the switch.

Here’s why:

PayPal has high fees

The main problem with PayPal is its high fees. There are no set-up or membership costs to use a standard PayPal account, however the fees deducted per transaction are high.

For each payment your dog walking business receives through PayPal, a 2.9 percent fee, plus 30 cents will instantly be deducted from that payment.

For example, if a customer pays you $120, PayPal will take 2.9 percent of that ($3.48) plus another 30 cents, leaving you with $116.22. That’s not enough to break the bank, but it does add up over the month and over the year.

I end up losing about $50 per month to PayPal in fees. I could add a 3% charge for anyone who chooses to pay through PayPal, but that’s not being fair to my customers.

The more money you collect through PayPal, the more you will pay in fees. So the more your business grows, the more sense it makes to switch to a better option. If you expect to collect more than $500 per month in credit card payments, it’s time to switch over to a processing company.

PayPal can block your access to your own money

PayPal has the ability to freeze accounts due to petty misunderstandings or disputes. Because PayPal is such a large company, it is nearly impossible to speak to a real person over the phone and resolve these issues. Josh and I have a friend who had his PayPal account frozen for months, meaning he had no access to the $3,000 in his account at the time. Why risk this?

What credit card processing company should I use for my dog walking business?

The credit card processing company my dog walking business will use is called BNG Holdings. It is just as easy to use as PayPal, but it gives you more options.

To get started with BNG Holdings, simply click on this link and fill out the form on the right.

Why should a dog walking businesses use a credit card processing company?

We want to get paid on time!

Every dog walker has a customer who “forgets” to pay on time. I’m sure you’re stuck waiting on at least one check every month or waiting for someone to sign into PayPal. Why not automate those payments?

Set up automatic payments for your dog walking business

With BNG Holdings, you can set up automatic payments so the payment is deducted from the customer’s account on time, every time. For some customers, that amount might be the same every month and for others you would manually enter in the amount due.

We all have these types of automatic payments. My health insurance and gym membership fees are automatically deducted from my checking account each month, for example.

You have the option of setting up recurring payments

With a credit card processing company, you will be able to set up monthly (or weekly) recurring payments for your dog walking customers. If someone hires you for the same number of walks every week or every month, then you know her bill will typically be the same each time. You could even decide to require payments up front, before the service takes place.

You don’t have to set up recurring or automatic payments. It’s just nice to have the option.

You can still set up a “pay now” button on your web site

If you and your customers are used to a “pay now” type button embedded into your web site, you can still use that option through BNG Holdings. You will still have the ability to allow your customers to pay by clicking the button at their convenience, entering in the amount due, and so on.

It would look something like this:

It’s not convenient for most people to pay with checks

Can you really blame someone for not getting a check to you on time? You need to make it easy for your customers to pay you! Tracking down a checkbook, writing a check and mailing a check is not easy. Most people prefer automatic payments.

Initial setup is easy

Getting set up with the credit card processing company will not be much different than setting up a PayPal account. Don’t be afraid to make the switch because you think it will be a big hassle.

Likewise, the customer’s experience won’t change a whole lot. I’m sure you’ve paid for products or services online without using PayPal. Chances are, you typically don’t pay much attention to whether or not PayPal is an option.

You will save money on fees (compared to PayPal)

For most businesses, the credit card processing company’s fees will be a lot less than they would be through PayPal.

For businesses similar to mine, BNG Holdings charges a flat monthly fee (roughly $35), plus a few pennies per transaction. I’ve been losing more than $35 per month in PayPal fees for years, so switching over will automatically save my business money.

It saves the dog walker time!

What is your time worth? I charge $28 per hour to walk a dog. Do I really want to spend hours per month working on invoices? Definitely not.

Once you have everything set up through the credit card processing company, you can save and automate as much as you would like. You won’t have to re-enter the same information more than once. Anything that eliminates stress is a plus!

Best of all, you will have more time to focus on providing the best service.

Customers want to earn rewards with their credit cards

Lots of people prefer to pay through credit/debit cards in order to earn benefits such as mileage points. They don’t have that option when they pay by check or through a PayPal account.

Should I keep PayPal as an option for my dog walking business?

If your dog walking customers are already paying you through PayPal, you could keep it as an option in addition to the credit card processing company. Lots of companies do offer both options for the customer’s convenience. Eventually, you could decide to drop PayPal.

More about BNG Holdings

BNG understands dog walking businesses, and I have met the CEO (I could give you his direct cell number). He and the president of the company are very reachable, patient guys, eager to answer any questions we dog walkers might have.

BNG provides processing services all over the country, and it is one of the fastest growing merchant services companies in the upper Midwest, according to its web site.

To get started with BNG, fill out the form on the right side of this page. Or contact the company at 701.526.3539 and tell them That Mutt sent you!

What it comes down to is you are a serious business owner, and you should use the service that makes the best sense for your business. Maybe the best option is PayPal, but more than likely your dog walking business could benefit from switching to a credit card processing company.

I wish you continued success with your dog walking or pet sitting business!

We thought we had the “situation” under control.

We were wrong.

This can be one of the most frustrating behavioral problems for cat owners.

A deal breaker, even.

Stay tuned for more on our attempts to solve the problem and other ideas we have in mind.

Some people say black Labs are ordinary, that black lab mixes are “a dime a dozen.”

Well, maybe some dogs are ordinary – not black lab mixes.

I, for example, have white markings on my chest and feet.

“Oh, lots of dogs have white feet,” you might say. “There’s nothing special about that.”

But … how many dogs have white feet with black spots?

See?

There’s no such thing as an ordinary black lab mix. No such thing as an ordinary dog.

Still, even if “big, black dogs” seem to be my favorites, sometimes a dog surprises me.

Although it’s easy to get set on a certain type of dog, sometimes the “perfect” dog is something other than what we imagine.

The American Eskimo I fostered for five months last year was the complete opposite of my “perfect” dog.

Cosmo hated kids, snapped at people and dogs, hated the water, bit me about five times and didn’t much care for affection.

He pulled like a maniac on walks, growled at everyone we passed and marked everything, always kicking up grass afterwards.

He was a dog I would never, ever be able to trust off leash because he would definitely run away (and probably bite someone). I believe more than once I used the phrase “complete asshole” to describe Cosmo.

Still, I would take Cosmo in a heartbeat if he ever ended up back in the rescue. I wouldn’t just foster him. He would have a home with me for good.

So, it is important to consider different dogs, not just a certain type. Not a certain breed, color, age or size.

Heck, before I adopted Ace I was looking for a light-colored, long-haired dog. I’m glad I picked a black dog instead.

Ace was the complete opposite in appearance of what I thought I wanted.

And I ended up with my soul dog.

Do you tend to adopt/buy different kinds of dogs?

That’s what a friend said on That Mutt’s Facebook wall last week.

I’ve been thinking about that, and I think she’s right.

I’m excited to get a second dog this fall, and I’m looking forward to the process of finding that dog.

I’m trying to be open to all possibilities, a wide variety of dogs and the different ways to obtain a dog. Friends have already expressed their disapproval in the possibility of me even considering a breeder. That is going to have to be their problem, not mine.

When I come across purebred dogs I admire, I make a point to ask the owners where they got their dogs. In the next few months, I hope to contact some of these breeders and meet some of their dogs and puppies.

I’m usually interested in sporting breeds such as black labs and pointers. Josh is interested in Rottweilers and shepherds, breeds that excel at shutzhund and protection training. We’ve both always loved German shepherds, but do we have the energy for one? I’m not so sure we do. I’m not so sure I can handle a pointer, either.

When I really think about the characteristics in dogs that are most important to me, I realize I am describing the “black lab mix” at my feet.

What I want most in a dog is a dog I can take anywhere. A dog I can trust around children. A dog I could take into nursing homes and hospitals. A dog that will tolerate rude behavior from other dogs such as head-on greetings.

I want a dog that loves the water, a dog that will retrieve, a dog I can trust off leash. A dog that will go for an 8-mile run or nap for 8 hours while I write at my desk.

I’m not exactly describing a shepherd or a pointer.

I’ve never really thought of myself as a Lab person. Black Labs are just so … ordinary. Yet when I look for a dog on rescue sites Labs are the types of dogs that get me to pause.

And as much as I would love to obtain a puppy from a breeder of working Labradors, what I really want is another companion. And there are just so many black-lab types available in rescues that could be just that – a good pet and a good friend.

And so, while I want to be open to the possibility of different breeds and obtaining a dog from a breeder, I always find myself considering black-lab type rescue dogs most of all.

If I have a “heart breed” I guess it’s the “big, black lab mix.”

I can’t wait to see who we find.

Do you have a “heart breed”?

For the next few Saturdays I get to hang out with a Doberman mix named Marvin. He and I will be attending the beginning obedience class at Red River North Dog Obedience Club here in Fargo.

Last Saturday was Marvin’s first class, and he was the best behaved dog out of the whole bunch! Like, way better!

It’s not that Marvin knew more commands than the other dogs, but Marvin was very calm and focused.

That’s pretty impressive considering all the other dogs are living in homes with their families, and Marvin does not even have a foster home. He is up for adoption with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue and currently lives at a boarding kennel while he waits for someone to foster or adopt him.

Marvin will be so much fun to work with over the next seven weeks. What a good boy he is!

What will my dog and I learn at dog obedience classes?

I’ve written about why you should take your puppy to obedience classes, but these classes are important for adult dogs, too.

1. Your dog will learn to be calm around new people and dogs.

The majority of the 12 or so dogs at class on Saturday were very stressed from being in a new environment. That is completely normal, and it just shows how important it is to get your dog out and about in new environments.

These classes help our dogs learn to be calm and focused around other dogs and people, too.

The beginning classes at Red River North can be a bit slow paced, especially on the first class. I know many of the owners get bored and want to be doing something immediately. So, they stop paying attention to the trainer and begin fidgeting or chatting.

Likewise, their dogs are unable to sit still and focus. They dart here and there, pace or whine. Some dogs become fixated on other dogs and strain on the leash, pant frantically or bark.

When the trainer is explaining a concept to the class, I use the opportunity to teach my dog to sit and wait calmly.

So whenever Marvin was sitting, I popped food into his mouth. “What a good boy!” If he started to stare at another dog, I whispered, “Marvin! Watch!” and held a treat in front of his nose, guiding his attention back to me.

Marvin knew to sit quietly, watching me in order to get treats. He also showed a normal amount of curiosity in his surroundings without being obnoxious or dominant.

I’m in love with Marvin.

2. You can work up to more advanced levels of training with your dog.

Many dog owners think they can train a dog on their own because they already know “everything” about how to train a dog. That may be true, but how many of them actually do train their dogs on their own? Not many.

Obedience classes are beneficial to almost any dog/owner pair, regardless of experience. I’ve had my dog Ace for more than five years and we still attend a class at least once a year.

We don’t go to training classes because my dog is not trained or because I don’t know how to train him. We go because Ace loves it! We are in a more advanced class these days, and most of the people in the class either show their dogs or teach training classes themselves.

Even professional dog trainers take their dogs to obedience classes.

The best trainers know there is always more to learn. They are always looking for ways to work with their dogs. (And if you are a dog owner, you should also consider yourself a dog trainer.)

3. You will learn how to control your dog.

Photo: 4LuvofDog.org

I’ve been though and taught enough obedience classes to know the first class is always chaotic. The dogs are scared and excited. The owners are overwhelmed, and many do not know how to control their dogs.

I notice most dog owners arrive at class gripping the very end of their leashes, giving the dogs all kinds of slack and opportunities to make mistakes. People need to be taught how to properly hold a leash.

I also notice when dogs growl or bark, the owners typically pet their dogs and say things like “Shhh. Honey, no. It’s OK. It’s OK.” Some of the owners of small dogs will pick up their dogs and hug them or hold them really close. “Shh. Honey, no. Shhh.”

Obviously the above behaviors are actually rewarding the dogs for barking or growling, even though that’s not what the owners intended. It’s not that these people are bad dog owners. It’s just that they don’t know any better. That’s why they are there – to learn.

The fact that every single beginning obedience class starts out this way – with anxious, excited dogs and clueless owners – tells me the general population of dog owners know very little about basic dog handling. Although beginning obedience classes may seem very basic to some of us, they are very important for teaching these much-needed handling skills.

And for people who “know everything” about handling a dog – these first classes are a great opportunity to work on controlling your dog with all kinds of distractions! The first week of class is the best time to work on teaching your dog to focus because there are so many new dogs around!

4. You will learn how to use the right dog training collars.

The majority of dog owners come to the first class without any type of training collar at all. They use nylon or leather buckle collars around the lower, stronger part of the dog’s neck.

A flat collar will work just fine for some dogs, but not for most. A trainer will help you pick the best tool for your individual dog whether that tool happens to be a choke collar, a prong collar or a martingale collar.

Some classes might encourage you to use a Gentle Leader or a Halti or an EasyWalk harness. That’s OK, too.

What’s not OK is when a “trainer” tells everyone they have to use a certain type of collar. I work with a variety of different dog owners and dogs, and there is no collar that will work well for everyone. A good trainer recognizes that.

On Saturday I used a prong collar with Marvin so I would have maximum control. Keep in mind, he and I met for the first time about 30 minute before the class started. I did not know what to expect! For next week’s class, I now know a martingale collar will work just fine for him.

Do you take your dog to obedience classes? Why or why not?

Click here for more info on training at Red River North Dog Obedience Club.

Look how cute Marvin is!

If you would like to foster Marvin, the first step is to fill out a foster home application with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue.

If you are interested in adopting Marvin, fill out  a pre-adoption application with the rescue. The cost to adopt Marvin is $150. References and a home visit are required prior to adopting. Marvin is neutered, up to date on vaccinations and getting a head start on training!

Photo: 4LuvofDog.org