Dino’s Storage blog – Page 3

Is A Dog’s Age Important??

When comparing a dog’s life span to a human’s life span, we multiply the dog’s age by 7. This calculation is a myth. Figuring out a dog’s life span is more difficult than we thought. Using this calculation doesn’t work because a dog’s size and breed affects their life span. Larger dogs are known to have shorter lives than smaller dogs. For example, Chihuahuas are a toy breed, that ca live up to 15-20 years. They are known to live ‘forever’. But the pug is also part of the toy breed. They only live 12-15 years. This just shows us that we can’t have one calculation to solve all dogs life span.

If you are wanting to compare a dog’s life span to a humans then there is a formula that will help you calculate the difference. The formula would be (human_ age= 16ln (dog_age) +31). But this is a little complicated to figure out on our own. There are calculators that will figure this out for you online. But if you do not want to do either then I would go off of this. The first year of a dog’s life equals to 15 human years. At two years, the dog’s life is equal to about 9 years. After this, every year is about four to five years. You can use this on small, medium, or large dogs. But if they are over 100+ lbs. then the comparison will change.

It is important to know your dog’s age. This is because you will know the estimate of how long the dog will live. Also, if the dog is larger than they start developing illnesses sooner than smaller breeds. There are many signs that a dog is aging. Some of them are teeth turning yellow, fur turning gray, cloudy eyes or poor eyesight, trouble hearing, arthritis, behavioral changes, or activity level change. It is important to look at these changes because care for the dog will start to change. For example- as a dog grows and ages then their diet will start to change. This is because at the different stages, they require different nutrients. Puppies need more food because they are growing. Some puppy chows will cause the dog to grow faster. If you don’t want this then you are able to give them puppy food. Before you buy any brand of dog food, research it beforehand. This is because there are any different types of dog food that can be fed to them. As pet owners, we wouldn’t want to feed the dog’s harmful food. Adult dogs require more carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Senior dogs would need less calories and carbohydrates. If the dogs aren’t able to get what they need then this will affect their health. This is just one reason why it is important to know the dog’s life span and age.

Overall, the myth that one dog year equals to 7 years in human life is false. There is a chart you can find online, that is more accurate about a dog’s life span. Knowing the dog’s breed and size will affect how long they live. It will let you determine when to change how you take care of them. During different parts of their life, taking care of them will change.

Fun Facts About Christmas

“Jingle Bells”

A song that has been played in many households. A song that must be listened to, in the Christmas season. Everyone knows it as ‘Jingle Bells’. But this was not the original name for the song. James Lord Pierpont, the writer of the song, named the song ‘The One Horse Open Sleigh’. This song was not even meant for the Christmas Season. Mr. Pierpont wrote this song for his church, to be played for a Thanksgiving concert. This song was so popular, that it was the first song played in space. Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford boarded Gemini 6. They were meeting Gemini 6. This is the first pre-organized meeting that happened in space. On December 16, they were to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. While this was happening, Schirra and Stafford decide to play a prank on Mission Control. They said that they saw another satellite that was going to reenter the orbit. The ‘satellite’ had a command module and eight smaller modules in the front. The command was wearing a red suit. They then started to play ‘Jingle Bells’ with a harmonica and some small bells. Later on, Schirra and Stafford donated these musical instruments to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are evergreens that can always be found in nature, so what is the big significance to Christmas trees? This all started in Ancient Egypt and Rome. The evergreens had a special meaning for them. They would celebrate it during the Solstice. It was believed that winter came because their sun god would get sick and weak. The evergreens would remind them that green plants would come back after the sun god healed and become strong again. This means that summer would be returning. The ancient Egyptians would decorate their homes with green palm rushes. The Romans would decorate their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. In the 16^th century, Christmas trees came to Germany. It is believed that Martin Luther was the first one to add candles to a tree. He got this idea when he was walking and saw stars singing through the evergreens. But thankfully throughout history, we have started to use electrical lights. They never said, but we could imagine that using real candles could cause some fires. We are also able to use real evergreens or fake ones. (If you use a real evergreen, don’t forget to water it. A dried-out Christmas tree could start a fire.)

Christmas Decorations

When Christmas comes around, in America, most families go all out on decorating. Stockings are put above the fire place. Christmas wreaths are hung on our entrance doors. The shiny tinsel that is hung on Christmas trees. There are many different Christmas decorations that one can put up. But what is the story behind them? People started to put up stockings because of one of the most popular Saint Nicholas stories. The one with the dad and his three girls. When Saint Nicholas put the money down the chimney, one of the times the money fell into a stocking. This was an accident. The family was drying a stocking over the fireplace and the money fell into it. This is a tradition that many families have continued. The Christmas wreath is supposed to remind us of Jesus Christ. The holly is supposed to represent the thorns that Jesus wore. The red berries are supposed to represent the blood that Jesus shed. This is supposed to remind us what the Christmas season is really about. The shiny tinsel that we use today is different from the time it was invented. Tinsel was invented in Germany, around 1610. It was originally spun from real silver. When it came to America, it was illegal to have tinsel. This was because it would contain poisonous lead. But this is not something we have to worry about anymore. Tinsel is now made out of plastic. But still be careful because it could still be a choking hazard.

The Story of St. Nicholas

We know Santa Claus as a big man, with a big white beard. That wears a red suit with a Christmas hat. He rides on a sled that is pulled around by reindeers. He comes down chimneys, eats cookies and drink milk, and gives out presents. There have been many Christmas movies that have been made about Santa Claus. Most of us have heard about Santa Claus, but what if Santa Claus was nothing like you thought? Here is the real story of how Santa Claus came to be.

Saint Nicholas was born around the year 280 in Patara, Lycia (part of Turkey now). His parents died when he was young and left him an inheritance. Saint Nicholas used his inheritance to help the poor and the sick. He later became a bishop in Myra (known as Demre now). Throughout his life, he was very giving man. He died around the year 343. But his legacy did not end there. There are many stories about him helping the poor and sick, but we are not sure if they are all true.

One of the most popular stories is how Saint Nicholas helped a dad of three girls. The dad didn’t have enough for his daughters dowries. (Dowries are money or property that a bride will bring to the husband, on a wedding day. This was very popular throughout history. It still is practiced in some countries.) The dad got to the point that he even thought about selling his daughters into servitude. Saint Nicholas learned about this and decided to give the dad money. Saint Nicholas dropped a bag of money down the chimney. The dad was thankful and wanted to know who the person was. Saint Nicholas ended up doing this two more times. The third time, the dad decided to hide by the fireplace. When he found out that the man was Saint Nicholas, he started to thank him, but Saint Nicholas wanted to stay anonymous. He told the dad not to tell anyone, but the word got out. This is how the idea of Santa Claus came to be.

In the 16^th century, the traditions and stories started to die out. But people believed that they still needed someone to deliver the presents, to the kids. So, they came up with the idea “Father Christmas”, in the UK. In America, he became known as ‘”Kris Kringle”. This changed when Dutch Settlers came to the USA with the old stories of Saint Nicholas. This is around the time that it came to be known as Santa Claus.

Today, Saint Nicholas day is on December 6^th. On the night of December 5^th, kids will put out their shoes out. This is because they would be filled it presents. But Santa Claus is known throughout the Christmas season, getting ready for Christmas. He has elves that make all the presents that he brings around. Saint Nicholas legacy has lived on for centuries. In 2017, there was a pelvic bone that was found. They believed that it belonged to Saint Nicholas. It was tested and found to belong to an American priest. They tried to match this bone to the other bones that are believed to belong to Saint Nicholas.

Things To Think About When Getting A Dog

Throughout these hard times, people are staying home and getting bored. Many people have picked up new skill sets, to keep them busy. Other people are searching for companionship. There are many people that have turned to pets for companionship. Most people adopt. But there are some people who choose to get their dog from a breeder. This has caused Humane Societies to become a lot emptier. People that are looking for pets lean towards getting little puppies or dogs. These little fury creatures are able to make just about anyone smile.

There are many different puppies or dogs that one can choose from. This would all have to depend on what you are looking for. If you want a little dog (also known as toy dogs), you could get a Japanese Chin, Pomeranian, or Chihuahua. There are many options for these type of dogs, with all different types of personalities. Toy dogs might be small, but they can have a fiery personality. If you are looking for a medium size dog, there are Australian shepherds, boxers, and more. These dogs are loyal and make sure that everyone in your family is safe. They are some of the most loving, loyal dogs. These examples are only a couple of the different options, of dogs. There are many more that one can get. You would have to take time and do your research.

It would also depend on how much time you have for the dog that you get. Many people will go looking for puppies because they are adorable. But when picking a puppy, one has to think about when the puppy grows up. Some people get surprised by how big their puppy will become. This could be because they underestimated the dog’s size. Also, when getting a puppy one has to think about training the puppy. There are many things that one has to teach a puppy- not to chew on furniture, to go to the bathroom outside, and tricks. Puppies need a lot of time and attention. If they don’t get the attention that they need, then they could start causing trouble. If you don’t have time for this then you could send the puppy to school. These schools will train the dog for you, but it can be expensive. If this doesn’t work out, then one could adopt a dog that has already been trained.

Exercise is another important point when getting a dog. This is important because there are some dogs that need a lot of exercise and some don’t. If you someone who is busy or don’t like exercise then I would get a dog that requires little amount of exercise. These dogs would be fine with a one or two walks a day. But if you get a dog, that requires more exercise, than it takes more work. They might need more walks or need to play more. If they like running around, then they would require a bigger yard. If these dogs don’t the exercise, then would start acing up and misbehaving. They could start chewing on the furniture, barking, and more.

There are many different dogs, for many different reasons. This only hits the base on what one has to think about when getting a puppy/dog. You have to take your time and find the on that matches you the best. These animals are a life time best friend. These are adorable animals that are always forgiving, but we should not take them for granted. We should try to do what’s best for us and the puppy/dog.

Fun Facts About Self-storage

Storage facilities bigger than McDonalds??

McDonalds has many, many different locations. Most would think that McDonalds has the most amount of buildings, in different locations. But this is wrong. Storage facilities have more buildings around the United Sates than McDonalds. There is around 45,000-60,000 storage facilities all over the United States. McDonalds has around 14,000 buildings. Even if we added the amount of Starbucks buildings, it still isn’t even half of the storage facilities. This was surprising to learn because we would think that McDonalds and Starbucks are more popular. But when it comes to storing personal or extra items, it is more important. It also shows us that Americans require more storage because they have too much stuff.

America- #1 Hoarders?

Americans are the biggest users of storage facilities. They are known to be the #1 hoarders. This does not seem to be too surprising because we do like our items. With being able to store items, we are more likely open to buying more items. Also, there is a possible chance that we might need the item again in the future. There are many people that think like this. They never know if they might need the item again so they are more likely to want to keep the items. If they keep on keeping items, then they’re going to need a space to put all these items. Self-storage makes this easy. People are able to go to self-storage facilities that they can store their own item. Usually, people prefer this way because they have control. They are able to get access to the items when they want (within the companies’ business hours).

Users of Self-storage

Everyone is able to use self-storage. Families use it to store extra items because they need more room. Young couples that have their set of furniture, that are planning on moving in with each other. Someone who is moving into a different space and need a place to store their items, for a short period of time. There are plenty more reasons that one might need to store their items. But did you know that businesses are also able to store their items at a self-storage facility? This is because small businesses or organizations might have extra product that isn’t being used. They could also need a place to store the inventory that hasn’t been sold yet. There are also people who use self-storage to store documents and more. This is because self-storage units try to be as secure as they can. There are many cameras and locks that are used at the self-storage facilities. Some people enjoy auctioning for the units, at the storage facility. This could because they find enjoyment out of it. They could also like to do it because they found an item that they want.

Interesting Items Found In Storage Auctions

Beach Boys’ Documents

When it comes to famous people, their items go for a lot. But what if you found a unit full of their music? The Beach Boys lyrics, contracts, musical arrangements, and royalty checks were found in a storage unit. The reason the documents were in a storage unit was because one of the band member’s relatives put it in there, for safe-keeping. Throughout the years, the relative fell behind on storage payments. This means that the unit is put up for auction. In the early 2000s, a radio station paid hundreds of dollars for a unit. The only thing that they knew about the storage unit was that it contained documents and papers. But to their surprise when they opened the unit, and found documents that belonged to the Beach Boys. When the Beach Boys found out, they brought it to court and tried to get the documents back. But after 8 years, the documents were sold for about 10 million.

James Bond’s Car

A man spent around a $100 on a unit, in 1989. This was considerably cheap for what the item was. The man and his brother went to go cut the lock. At first glance, it was nothing exciting. They found a beat up white car in the unit. The car didn’t have any wheels and had a dented roof. As this man was driving, onlookers were telling him that this car was in a James Bond movie. But the man never seen a James Bond movie. So, he went out and checked out a James Bond movie. He figured out that there were eight different versions of the car. But the people only knew were 7 of the cars were. He had the eighth car, that couldn’t be found. The car that this man won was used for promotions. Later on, this man put the car up for auction. It was bought for around $1 million. The buyer was no other than the founder of Tesla, Elon Musk.

Jackson Pollock’s Paintings

In 2018, a couple were opening up a thrift store. This caused them to purchase a storage unit, for $45. When they opened up the storage unit, they had found 26 paintings. Most of them were signed “Jackson Pollock”. But the couple’s excitement did not last long. They searched up the collection and saw articles that were saying that there were fake paintings that were being shared. It was not disclosed if the paintings were real or not. There was another time that Pollock’s paintings were found. There was a man that was cleaning out his mother’s storage unit. When he was cleaning it, he found 32 paintings. It did not go into detail about if the paintings were real or not. If they were real, then the value of the paintings could be around $10 million.

What Happens To Abandoned Units?

The simple definition of self-storage is a place that people can go, to store their own items. People will come to the facilities and pick out a unit. This is important because there are a few different sizes that one can pick from. Then they would put all their items in the unit. But self-storage isn’t free. There are monthly payments that one needs to make. But what happens if you aren’t able to make those payments anymore or a unit is abandoned? Usually, the storage facilities will put up the unit up for auction. This could be because the items are taking up a unit that a future tenant could be using. Also, this is another way to pay off the tenant’s unpaid balance. Some storage facilities do the auctions in person. Others are able to do the auctions online. At Dino’s Storage, the auction is done online.

The first step is to market the storage unit. This is a very important step to take because it’s trying to get people’s attention and let them know that there is a unit up for auction. At Dino’s, once we gain some interest, the next step would be the bidding part. There is a bidding part because storage facilities want to sell it at the best price. Once there is a winner, they have to make two payments. The first one is the winning bid amount. The second one would be the cleaning deposit. This one would make sure that the units are cleaned out. After the payments are made, the winner would need to contact Dino’s Storage. This is to make an appointment to get access to the unit that was purchased.

After scheduling an appointment, the person has 72 hours to empty the unit. This is to make sure that the winner comes in and take the items. When the unit is cleaned out, there is an inspection of the unit. This would be to make sure that the unit is cleaned out properly. If the unit is cleaned out properly, then the winner is able to get the cleaning deposit back. There are many different things that you can find in a unit. It could be furniture, books, movies, documents, and other miscellaneous items.

These auctions are supposed to be light-hearted events. Some people bid for storage units because they find its one of their hobbies. They find enjoyment from it. Others like the mystery behind the auctions. When the unit is put up for auction, there might be a lack of information about what’s in the unit. This could get people curious about it and start bidding. At Dino’s Storage, we do ask the winners to return any items that might be private information, pictures, or keepsakes. This is so we can try to get these private items back to the original tenant.

Bullmastiff- the dog of Dino’s

Bullmastiff are not from America, but from England. But John D. Rockefeller imported Bullmastiffs to protect his estate. They were originally bred to help the gamekeepers, on huge estates. This is what Bullmastiff were bred to do. On these huge estates, they had problems trust-passing. The people weren’t able to catch the trust-passers, so they bred a dog that could. They did this by breeding a Bulldog with a Mastiff. It would be 60% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog. A dog that has a balance between aggression and speed. They weren’t bred to be violent dogs. Also, they aren’t known to bark or bite. This is because the owners wanted the Bullmastiff to scare intruders, but shouldn’t cause harm to them. The Bullmastiff would usually do this by tracking the man. They would be very quiet about it, until they were close enough to jump the man. When they were close enough, the dog would jump on top of the man and hold them down. The Bullmastiff would then wait for the owner to come.

You would imagine that these dogs would need a lot of exercise. This would be because they need to stay built, for protecting. But to the contrary believes, these dogs are low maintenance when it comes to exercising. They would be okay with a couple walks throughout the day. This affects where they live. They would be better in a suburbs. This is because there would be neighborhoods to walk around in. If the dogs aren’t able to get some energy out, then they will usually start to act up. This would be because they aren’t able to use the energy that. If Bullmastiffs are taken out on walks, then they are able to live in apartments. But Bullmastiffs size also affects where you can live.

Bullmastiffs are bigger dogs. They could weigh between 110- 130 pounds, being 24-27 inches. These dogs are on the bigger side. This makes it harder for the dogs to be in small areas. If you want a Bullmastiff, I would suggest having a house before you get one. They would be able to move around more. But if you really have your eyes on the city, then I would suggest moving a few miles out. This is because in small apartments, it would be hard for the dog to move around. These are animals, but should be treated correctly. Another problem would be is that these dogs are known to slobber. If you don’t mind having some slobber on your clothes and furniture then these are the dogs for you. They are loyal dogs, that were bred to protect.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Dino’s Storage logo is designed after a Bullmastiff? Yes, the dog that is seen around town, driving down roads, is actually designed after the owner’s dog. This Bullmastiff’s name was Porter.

Where did self-storage come from?

Throughout life, we are collecting items. Some collect sentimental items. Others hoard the items because they will never know when they might the item again. But at the end of the day, we all need a place to put these items. That is why there are companies that provide self-storage, like Dino’s Storage. But where did this idea of self-storage come from??

Would you believe if I told you that self-storage came from Ancient China? They would have huge clay pots and put their items in those parts. Then they would take these clay pots and put them underground. They added guards to these areas. This was so they could watch over the pots and make sure that no one was stealing the pots. The only people that were allowed to enter where the people that owned the pots.

The next people that adapted self-storage was the British. Even though they adapted self-storage, it still is nothing like it is now. The British did self-storage through banking. People would go to the bank and ask them to store their personal items. Eventually the banks ran out room, so they opened up the first warehouse. This warehouse was not only used for personal items. People started to store household items in this warehouse.

Later on, self-storage was brought to the United States. In the beginning, they had people go around on horse-drawn carriages. The people would collect the items and store them in the carriages. But the first self-storage company was founded in Omaha, Nebraska. Instead of horse-drawn carriages, they used motor trucks. Self-storage became more popular in the late 1900s.

In the 1960s, rent rates where 15 cents per square foot a month. In 1985, the rent rate raised to 60 cents a month. By the 190s, the rent rate average was around a dollar a month. This was per square feet. Today, the rent rate could average from $1.40-$4 a month. This would change over time because of the market.

Self-storage has changed a lot throughout time. Now, self-storage does not only supply areas to store the item; they also offer trucks to transport the items. They have different size storage areas. There are climate controlled units. If you are looking for self-storage, you will be able to find a company that matches your preferences.

Dino’s Storage offers tips on organizing your storage unit!

One too many times I have seen tenants open their storage units and their belongings start falling out or half their unit is out on the driveway while they are looking for that one special box. Here are some tips to save you a lot of time and energy in the future when accessing your unit.

First, when picking boxes make sure they are all the same size. Medium is recommended. This will help in stacking and accessibility. Make sure your boxes are labeled for storing in the correct area of your unit.

You will need to divide your storage contents into categories based on accessibility, visibility, and out of sight storage. Accessible items would be located in the front of the unit and out of sight in the back. Within those three categories, you can organize your unit based on lawn and garden, hardware, sports and recreation, seasonal items, etc..

Determine how your unit will best be designed. You will want to take measurements and sketch a plan to determine the components needed. If you are adding shelves, they can be purchased at any big box store or you can build your own. Shelving kits will require some assembly with basic tools. Be sure your shelving is free standing and you are not putting any pressure on the unit walls or ceiling.

We also recommend you leave a path in the middle so you can access the whole unit easily. Organizing your unit eliminates clutter, allows you to efficiently pack away your belongings, and create more functional space.

Cindy Sampson

Property Manager

411 Brick Street

Bondurant, Iowa

515-967-9346