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Dealing With the “Bad Dog” That Isn’r Really Bad

14 Apr 2010

Owning a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can enjoy. The bond between owner and pet grows over the course of years, and strengthens with time. Many owners consider their dogs a part of their own family. And those who remain single find a lasting companionship with their pooch that is irreplaceable.

That being said, canines can develop bad habits that drive their owners crazy. It’s worth noting that nearly all such issues can be resolved through desensitization training and positive reinforcement of acceptable behaviors. In this article, we’ll provide an overview of 4 common canine problems that can leave you growling in frustration.

Tip 1 – Digging

Your pooch might start digging for many reasons. Boredom can lead to trouble when he begins looking for ways to entertain himself. The bugs and roots he can discover by digging up the dirt will provide him with a distraction. He might also dig if the weather is making him hot and he lacks shade. The uncovered soil feels cool and relaxing to him. And of course, he might dig in order to hide bones and other possessions.

Tip 2 – Soiling

Puppies will urinate and defecate in inappropriate places until they are properly housebroken. That is expected. However, older dogs will occasionally do the same, even after having been successfully housebroken in the past. Sometimes, they do it as a result of feeling anxious. Other times, it’s done to mark territory (acceptable when done outdoors). Still other times, adult canines do it as a submissive trait.

Tip3 – Jumping On People

Jumping is often misinterpreted by owners as an excited greeting their dogs give them. In truth, it can also be seen as an act of dominance.

When your dog was a little puppy, he likely jumped on siblings and mother until he learned from experience that doing so was no longer tolarated. If you adopt your dog a few weeks after he is born and fail to curb the behavior, it can become problematic. If you do not take steps to modify his behavior, he might gradually infer that his place in the pack (i.e. your household) is the same as your own. That makes curbing his jumping even more difficult.

Tip 4 – Excessive Barking

All dogs bark. Aside from whining or howling, it’s the only way they can audibly express their emotions to those surrounding them. However, if barking becomes excessive, it can turn into a problem – for you and your neighbors.

It’s important to understand the reasons your canine barks. He might do it to warn intruders away from his territory. He might do it to get your attention. He might also bark out of sheer boredom, barking give him something to do. While it can be nerve-wracking, excessive barking can be resolved with training and patience.

The companionship you enjoy from your dog will last throughout his life. Even though he may develop behavioral issues that can drive you crazy, those behaviors can be modified with the right approach. And that keeps the friendship you share with one another alive.

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Naming Your New Canine Companion

07 Apr 2010

Puppy naming seems easy enough. There are countless names to choose from. There are even online tools that will help you select the right one based on your pup’s breed, stature, and other criteria. Given that, why is it so difficult to choose a handle that fits the pup?

Many owners agonize over naming their new dogs, trying to avoid saddling their puppies with handles they’ll regret down the road. Below, we’ll offer some advice the promises to make this task easier. If you have recently brought a new canine companion home, the following suggestions will help you choose a name that fits him.

Tip 1 – Avoid Embarrassment

Names that seem cute or witty in the privacy of your home may be embarrassing once you’re forced to call it out in public. Naming your pooch “Dragon Breath” might give you a chuckle, but it will wear thin by the time he has matured into an adult.

If you will not be comfortable calling out your puppy’s name in public, that’s a sign you should give him another. Jake, Jack, Booster, and Sammy are good handles for a pup. There are thousands of others that you won’t be embarrassed to call out.

Tip 2 – Avoid Confusing Your Puppy

Think about the commands you intend to teach your dog. You’ll likely train him to “sit,” “run,” “come,” and “stay.Try to avoid giving him a name that resembles any common commands. For example, don’t call him “Ray.” That sounds similar to “stay.” Likewise, “Pun” sounds like “run.”

At first, the similarity may seem insignificant. Remember, however, the your precious puppy will eventually need to learn the proper response to your commands. He can become confused if his name is too similar to a command.

Tip 3 – Keep It Short With Room To Grow

Shorter handles are better than longer ones. They’re easier for dogs to understand and respond to immediately. For example, “Jake” is better than “Christopher.”

Also, try to pick a name that ends in a hard consonant rather than a vowel. Your puppy will have an easier time distinguishing the sound, and will know immediately that you are calling him. For instance, “Max” is better than “Alluah.”

Another factor to consider is that some names might seem appropriate for your puppy, but will be less so when your pup matures into an adult. Make sure he can grow into the handle you give him. “Poofy” may be a cute name when he’s a puppy. By the time he’s all grown up, you may feel a little silly calling out to him at a dog park.

The name you choose for your pup will last throughout his life. Once you select it, you should avoid changing it. Make sure you choose a handle that prevents embarrassment in public and confusion for your canine. Moreover, make sure it provides plenty of room from him to grow into it.

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Canine Kennels -Which One Is Right For Rover

02 Apr 2010

When planing a family trip there may be several occasions in which your dog will not be able to travel with you. You might be forced to take a business trip, want to go on vacation with your spouse, or need to visit family in another state. Ideally, you would liek to leave your pooch with a loved one while you’re way from home. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible.

When you have to leave your canine behind, and cannot find someone you trust to care for him in your absence, a kennel may be your best option. Some are good while others are decidedly less so. In this article, we’ll offer a few suggestions to help you identify trustworthy facilities that can make the transition as easy as possible for your pooch.

Tip 1 – Tour The Facility

Before you leave on your trip, invest the time to tour the boarding facility at which you intend to leave your dog. Most kennels will be happy to oblige as long as you make an appointment.

When you visit, take note of the smell. If you become aware of a lingering odor of urine or feces, that can be indicative of a sanitation issue. Also, look at the floors and bowls from which other canines eat and drink. Are they dirty? Do they appear as if they’re not regularly cleaned? Take note of the bedding and crate sizes. How clean are they? Do the other dogs seem comfortable, or are they stressed? These are all subtle indications that a given facility may not be adequate for your canine.

Tip 2 – Speak With The Staff

You’ll learn a lot about the care provided to pets who are boarded at various facilities by speaking with the staff. You might be surprised to discover that the employees who are tasked with feeding and caring for the dogs harbor a disdain for their jobs. It’s hard to hide. If you notice that any of the staff have such an outlook, take your pooch to another facility.

Tip 3 – Ask Questions In Advance

Take a moment to ask the kennel’s manager to explain a normal day for the canine boarders. Ask how many meals they receive, how much time they spend outside their cages, and who works with them. Inquire as to the presence of an on-stie vet, or if the facility works closely with an emergency clinic. You should also double check the vaccination requirements necessary for all pets prior to arrival.

Tip 4 – Pack Special Supplies (If Necessary)

If your dog has special needs, be sure to pack the appropriate supplies for the kennel’s staff. For example, you can ask the facility’s employees to feed your pooch a special diet. You should also provide the kennel with any medications your dog may need. If usually better to bring supplies with you, althought it is possible to call and make arrangements for such requests after dropping your dog off.  You might want to even leave your dog’s favorite brand of dog treats, to remind him of home.

Leaving your dog at a boarding facility can cause him stress, especially if it is his first time. Try to make his stay as comfortable as possible by carefully choosing the right facility.

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Why is My Dog Begging?

31 Mar 2010

Canines learn to beg largely because of the success they’ve enjoyed while doing it in the past. Owners often encourage the behavior unwittingly. Sometimes, they’ll give in when their pet looks longingly at their plate during dinnertime. Sometimes, owners purposefully train their dogs to beg for food because they find it cute. The problem is, doing so reinforces the behavior.

If your pooch is begging to the point that he is beginning to make a nuisance of himself, it is important that you take steps the curb the habit. Failure to do so may cause him to become more aggressive in his approach. While it may being as a little whining and nuding, it can quickly devolve into barking and pawing.

Below, we’ll offer several tips you can use to motivate your canine to stop begging. You’ll notice that none of the following suggestions use punishment as a training tool. Instead, the most effective way to modify unacceptable behaviors is to use positive reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors.

Tip 1 – Stop Providing Table Scraps

Consistency is the most important factor when trying to modify any habit in your pooch. To that end, you cannot hope to curb his begging if you reinforce that the behavior is successful. Stop giving him table scraps. When you invite friends over tof dinner, let them know that they must also follow the “no table scraps” rule.

Tip 2 – Scheduling Mealtimes

If your dog receives two meals a day, serve them on an established schedule. If possible, give him his evening meal at the same time you and your family eat dinner (preferably in a different room). Not only will doing so keep him occupied while you’re eating, but he’ll learn that his food comes at specific times. That creates a disconnect between his meals and your own.

Tip 3 – Train Him To Wait

Over the course of the day, take one of your puppy’s favorite treats, making sure he knows it, and hold it in your hand. If he is accustomed to begging, he will begin to do so. Do not give him the treat until he has calmed himself. Wait until he has sat down and stopped whining or barking. Once he has become calm, lower your hand and praise him while he takes the treat.

This process teaches your dog to display patience and good manners. Just as important, he will learn that begging does not yield the results he wants.

Tip 4 – Do Not Give In

One of the worst things you can do while proactively trying to curb your dog’s begging is to give in to the behavior. Many owners rationalize conceding table scraps and other food “just this once” when their canines start to beg. Unfortunately, doing so is counterproductive to all of the behavioral modification training that has taken place up to that point. Stick to your guns and realize that the training is, in some ways, a test of wills. Moreover, giving in makes the task more difficult in the future.

Dogs beg because they learn that in doing so, they can get what they want. Use the suggestions above to gradually shape your pooch’s behavior into something you find more acceptable.

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Bandage Your Injured Dog – To Prevent Further Damage

22 Mar 2010

Having a dog is a big responsibility. Some even compare taking care of a dog to that of a baby. The only advantage having dogs compared to having babies is that they won’t grow older and turn into stressful teenagers. Because dogs are like babies they sometimes also end up in harmful situations. They would sometimes get themselves trapped in a tight place or get hit by something that will injure one of their limbs. When that happens, we should learn how to bandage our dogs to prevent further damage. Here are some basic ways of how to bandage your injured dog.

  1. When your pet has a bandage, it should always be clean and dry. when your dog has a bandage, it’s pretty important to make sure your pet stays inside the house for most of the time. To prevent the bandage from getting wet when the dog goes to pee or poop, a trash bag or plastic covering should cover the bandaged leg. You may use empty bread bags. When your dog has wet or dirtied up the bandage, it would require changing. To make sure that the bandage is always clean and dry you have to check it at least twice a day. Check also for foul odors or discharge and if there is any, call your veterinarian immediately.
  2. After bringing home your dog from the veterinarian, make sure that the bandage is still in place. Your dog might have been irritated by it and has chewed or tried to scratch it off. Look closely at the position and the location of the bandage when you do check. Look at the toes of the pet, the bandage might have slipped up making the toes stick out. Also look at the size, if the bandage has become loose. This should be taken into account when a dog has been bandaged in the abdomen or leg area. This is because one end will be bigger than the other and eventually become narrower. When the bandage telescopes down the limb of the dog it may bunch up and abrade the limb. When that happens, the bandage should be changed as well.
  3. If the dog is bandaged up in the leg make sure it isn’t too tight. Observe how the toes will appear at the bottom of the bandage at least twice a day. This is done to check for sweating, swelling, or pain. Check for skin chaffing, redness, discharge or swelling before and after the bandage has been applied.
  4. To prevent the dog from chewing the bandage because of the bothersome experience it gives, put an Elizabethan collar. If you have observed that the pet is chewing or scratching it excessively, ask the vet if there might be problems.

These are the times that you should already be taking the pet back to the veterinarian:
•    Swelling above or below the bandage
•    Chewing the bandage
•    Bandage becomes wet
•    Bleeding or discharge above, below or through
•    Scheduled bandage changes

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A Dog Truly Is Man’s Best Friend!

12 Mar 2010

Canines have been counterpart of people for a long period of time.  Man’s best ally has been used for security, for seeking out game and for herding.  Our affection for dogs have evolved as our society has evolved. Dogs continue their position to protect our families, hunt game, and work with their masters, but the family dog or the fashion statement dog is more of what we see today. 

It doesn’t matter if you are a wealthy person who totes their dog in expensive satchels or if you are an average Joe, your dog means a lot to you.  These four-legged friends are a part of your life and people go to great lengths to take care of their dogs. The different types of dog and puppy provisions are numerous to fulfill the dog owners’ wishes. One accessory that is absolutely needed, and is fairly inexpensive, is the dog leash. Maintaining control while walking a dog is one of the primary tasks of a nylon dog leash. The leash is also used as a training device as it allows the master to teach their dog who is dominant in the relationship, as well as basic commands, such as heel, sit, and stay. Among others, people seem to like East Side Collection seaside ribbon stylish nylon dog leads.

Nylon dog leashes come in different lengths, colors, and styles. For the trend setter, a lead with jewels embedded in it or display of a clever saying may express that pet owner’s tastes. For the owner with numerous dogs, a split leash can accommodate two or more dogs. For the dog that is a little willful and ends up walking their owner, elasticized nylon leashes are an option to prevent jarring of both participants on either end of the leash. Retractable halters are another good choice for allowing the dog freedom of movement while giving the owner control of the length of the leash.  Of these, stylish large medium and small deluxe retractable dog training leashes have proven to be a frequently selected design. Nylon or micro fiber harnesses are also very popular, and come in styles and colors that can match the dog leash perfectly.  After studying sales data stylish large medium and small deluxe leather dog training leashes were found to be a frequent selection.

Being with your canine companion while running errands or for exercise can be more enjoyable when they are behaving. Keep them close and keep them safe by keeping dogs haltered. 

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Some Things You Should Understand about Dog Grooming Books

26 Feb 2010

Dog grooming books are a great learning material for people who want to groom their pets at home without having to regularly pay for professional services. Moreover, dog grooming books represent a good course support for anyone who takes classes or attends a training program to get certification and licensing. The number of publications is very large, and you may have difficulties choosing. The best idea is to check for reviews, author’s recognition and then order the material on eBay. E-guides are very easy to access dog grooming books because they can be downloaded directly from a web page. Here are a few tips to make selection easier.

First of all, why are you looking for dog grooming books? Do you you want to learn how to take care of your pet or do you plan to open a business? In case you are making plans to start a dog grooming business, you have to get special qualifications and training in accredited institutions; dog grooming books alone will not do for the matter. Then, check the list of contents! Most books are general in the approach, because most books apply to different dog breeds. Try to identify the grooming element that raises most challenges for you: nail trimming, coat brushing, hair cutting or ear cleaning.

Dog grooming books can be more or less details on the topic that interests you. You may not need a few paragraphs but whole chapters dedicated to various topics or subtopics. Depending on the objective of the book and the author’s intention, some materials will focus on equipment and supplies, others on grooming techniques while many have a general content. Don’t neglect the importance of specialized books, individual publications that tackle with one topic alone definitely match professional requirements.

There are dog grooming books that focus on short-haired breeds only, while others cover medium and long-haired breeds. Moreover, very professional materials will describe hair cut options available for dogs with heavy coats, but this kind of dog grooming books target professional groomers first and foremost. Last but not least, certain breeds have physiological peculiarities that require special grooming. This is the case with dog breeds that have hair in the eyes. Someone inexperienced may feel inclined to cut it so as to improve vision, but this could be really detrimental for the dog’s eye health. Good dog grooming books teach you how not to make such blunders!

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Pet Luxury With Designer Dog Beds

24 Feb 2010

It might be your guilty pleasure, and one you don’t admit to in public. You may go in for designer dog beds for your pampered pooch, and not let people know, for fear of having them roll their eyes dismissively at you. But why not do it if you really love your little canine friend? If you deserve to pamper yourself sometimes, then how can someone else decide that your dog doesn’t deserve the pampering of luxurious dog beds? And while you’re at it, you can choose a style of bed that suits your own home design.

If you’re into chic furniture, then you won’t lack matching options among designer dog beds. Just have a look at Oh My Dog Supplies (www.ohmydogsupplies.com) and you’ll see this right away. Take the “Pet Euro Couch,” for example, with its low back and elegantly up-curving arms on the sides. The website itself describes this bed as having, “the look of a modern European upholstered chair.” This is truly chic dog bed furniture, and would make your dog appear so cosmopolitan.

However, you may prefer to go with casual comfort in designer doggie beds, or even choose a sportier look. You can find these too, with a little hunting. At Oh My Dog Supplies (www.ohmydogsupplies.com), you’ll find the “Casual Dog Couch,” which looks like a big overstuffed arm chair, complete with thick cushion, rounded arms and a curved back. Or perhaps you’d prefer dog beds like the “Furcedes Benz” from the Fetchdog website (www.fetchdog.com). It’s probably no surprise that the bed is shaped like a car, with wheels of cloth, windshield and headlights.

You don’t even need to pamper your dog all that much to have one of these designer dog beds. If you’re buying a dog bed at all, you’re not likely to spend very much less than what you’d spend for one of these. As long as you’ve got enough warmth and padding, and can wash the cushions and other parts of the bed, then these custom dog beds might be fun. After all, if the rest of your place is done in a particular style, it certainly won’t hurt to buy a dog bed that matches the rest of your design.

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Correct Dog Food Is The Key To A Healthy Pet

22 Feb 2010

Everyone wants their pet to be healthy. The diet of your pet dog plays a crucial role in keeping it healthy and happy. It is vital that you be extremely careful in picking the dog food for your pet. Read on for some considerations and suggestions about choosing dog food.

Checking the ingredient list is the first step in choosing the right dog food. Before you purchase any dog food, make sure that you go through the list of ingredients carefully. Check if the product includes any ingredients that would be harmful for your dog’s health. Also, if the product includes meat by-product, chicken derivative, birds derivative beef and bone meal in the first five ingredients, then you must refrain from the product.

Besides ingredients; another thing to be observed out for is the nutritive value of dog food. It’s necessary the product must have adequate quantity of all the essenatial nutrients. In addition to checking the nutritional value; it is suggested that you should always check the share of calories as present in a dog food. If a specific dog food is observed to be running high on the calorie content; it’s better to refrain from purchasing such dog food.

It is critical that your dog food meets the nutrient wants of your pet. Obviously, depending on its breed, your dog may require anywhere between moderate to highly nutritive food. Small and accessory dogs need carbs, a lot of carbohydrates. Bigger breeds need a huge quantity of carbs together with heavy levels of minerals and vitamins. Again, the nourishment chart prepared by a vet will do the job.

In the procedure of selecting dog food, you’ll also watch out about the preservatives employed in the dog food. There have been cases of firms selling dog food with chemicals which are harmful for your dog. The common suspects here are BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. It is usually recommended that you select dog food which has Vitamin C as preservative.

Always opt for safer dog foods. For this it is essential that you always go in for foods that are APHIS approved. It’s been revealed that the foodstuff which have APHIS certification are high on safety level in comparison to the required that have no such certification. This is foods that are APHIS approved foods have human grade ingredients in them. Such foods thus give authorization are not harmful for your pet. A visit to a vet can also prove very helpful as he / she may suggest the food brand that can work for you pet in the right demeanour.

Be truly carful when you are picking the dog food. In truth, be as careful as you would be when you are be when you’re selecting food for your baby. Remember that your dog also experiences discomfort but unlike you, it cannot tell you when it is suffering pain. So it’s best to avoid any possibility of pain in the first place by ensuring the best diet.

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