Check the outdoor furniture departments at the stores. There are some really nice wooden sets now. I saw a set just yesterday at our local grocery store, believe it or not. It was a gorgeous dark coffee brown color. I remember thinking "that's way too pretty to put outside in the elements". But I should think most of the big home improvement stores have some nice "outdoor sets," too, in their garden departments.
We used to have an awful time keeping stray cats out of my garden, and doing their business there, so I sprinkled ceyenne pepper in all my garden areas. To keep them from yowling and fighting around my house, we bought a Water Blaster, one of those SUPER SQUIRTGUNS. It only took a few times getting a shower to keep them away. But with a dog you wouldn't want to use the ceyenne pepper. And getting up out of bed at all hours to squirt cats is probably not too enticing to you, so I think the sprinkler with a motion censor is a great idea.
Have you tried Oxyclean? I had some ink marks on white kid leather recliners and tried everything to get the ink off. Nothing worked! Finally, I tried making a paste of powdered Oxyclean and water, dabbed some on the chair, and let it stay on till it dried and I could flake it off. To my amazement, the ink was gone. It would be even easier to vacuum it off of a rug after it dried well. Might be worth a try.
Krylon paints now makes spray paint for plastics, and I think it's GREAT. I've painted everything plastic with it, including flower pots, plastic lawn furniture, even the parts of my birdbath/fountain. It covers well and holds up to wear and tear as well as the elemants of nature, and comes in several colors.
I don't know if they are still being made, but there used to be a product made specificly for use under the legs of furniture that looked like miniature saucers made of a piece of saucer shaped metal with carpet on the bottom side. They don't slide onto the legs, they sit under the legs. You could buy them in various sizes depending on the size of your furniture legs. My Mother used them to prevent furniture from sliding on carpet and to keep furniture from damaging linoleum floors. They worked great. You may be able to find them at home improvement and old fashioned "hardware stores".
Many, many years ago, you used to get glasses like those in "soap powder", now known as "laundry detergent". If so, they are quite collectible, not only because of their age, but the mere fact that they have survived all these years. There used to be a lot of products in addition to soap powder that tucked nice freebies in with their products. We used to be able to collect entire sets of dinnerware and flatware. But as I said, that was many, many years ago.
Breeding a dog is only done by reputable breeders for the betterment of the breed. Dog shows are regularly held in most countries, sponsored and sanctioned by the National Kennel Clubs. Here in the US The American Kennel Club has shows in all 50 states and Specialty clubs also hold shows for their respective breeds.
Breeders and owners show their dogs hoping to prove that their dog is as close to the written standard (definition) of the breed as possible and that their dog can contribute something to better the breed. Their puppies that don't turn out as well as expected are normally sold as "pet quality" and the new owners are required by contract with the breeder to spay or newter the puppy.
I strongly believe in the AKC and what they are trying to do. I feel strongly that all puppy mills should be shut down as well as "backyard breeders".
If you are thinking of breeding your dog because you think it "would have such cute puppies", PLEASE DON'T. If you are thinking of breeding your dog because someone said "I'd like to have a dog just like that", PLEASE DON'T. If you want to breed your dog because you think it would improve the breed, then go to an AKC Sanctioned dog show, learn how to show dogs, and let your dog prove that he/she will improve it's breed.
There are already so many dogs and cats in the world that will be euthanized this year, and breeding your dog just to make money, or whatever the reason, just does not make sense. Please get your dog spayed or neutered an enjoy it's companionship. Pat T in NV ... View related article.
Two words...cayenne pepper. Dogs always sniff first and then hike their leg, usually to mark the territory as theirs, or because another dog has urinated there and they want to re-mark it as their territory. Cayenne pepper stops that, even keeps cats from digging in your nice soft uncompacted garden soil. Believe me I know all about other people's pets. Just sprinkle the ground cayenne pepper all around where ever the animals are using it for a toilet. Pretty soon the pet owners will get the idea, too. But buy a LOT of cayenne pepper to cover all the areas or they will just move over and do it anyway.
I suggest EBay or Craigslist, and look for a quality set of clippers at a reasonable price. I'm sure you'll find something on either site. Pat T in Nevada ... View related article.
