Posts Tagged ‘Dog’

Guidelines for Successful Dog Puppy Training

Mon ,28/12/2009

When you decide to keep a dog, you must remember that it isn’t enough to just do the minimum. You have to do more than just feed, provide shelter, and other essentials. It is also important to provide dog puppy training. You don’t have to pay someone to train your dog as you can actually do this yourself at home with just a few techniques. Let see how this works.

Showing physical aggression toward your puppy will not advance your training but as a matter of fact, it will hinder it from progressing. It is recommended for you to show appreciation and respect for your dog and your dog will do the same for you. Showing anything besides respect will lead your dog to fear you and that is not good. Consistent and firm guidelines are a must if you want to get anywhere with training your pet.

Another dog puppy training suggestion is to make sure you give your dog some kind of reward whenever he performs correctly. This can be done by giving him treats and praise in an encouraging tone from your voice. This will give the dog something to look forward to whenever he does something right.

It is very important to treat your dog like a dog and not like a small toy. I have seen many pet owners dress, cuddle and baby their dogs, which is very unhealthy. Many people do this because dogs have a tendency to be cute and cuddly. Our pets are not there for us to smother them with hugs, but they have basic needs that must be met. They all have distinct personalities as well.

The right dog puppy training is key to having a perfect and happy relationship amongst man and dog working together under the same roof.

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Guidelines for Crate Training Puppies

Sun ,27/12/2009

I have owned dogs all my life, and one thing that I have recently learned that crate training puppies can be really helpful, and save a lot of stress when you are housebreaking your puppy.

When you decide you are going to crate train your puppy you need to make sure that you buy the correct size crate – he needs to be able to stand up in it (at adult size) and move around. The metal crates are the best.

One thing that you need to make sure of is that you buy the right size crate for your puppy. He must have enough room to stand up and to move around. The metal crates with a door at one side are the best ones to go for – they are nice and strong.

If you go about crate training puppies in the correct way, they will think of their crate as their own special space and be only too happy to be in it. My dog often goes and lies in her crate for a bit of peace and quiet when the family visit!

Don’t ever leave your dog in the crate for long periods of time, especially when they are puppies – they will not have very much bladder control. Your puppy will not want to make a mess in his crate, so crate training is a really good aid to potty training. But you must not leave him in there so long that he is not able to hold on and makes a mess. He will be very upset and you will set back his crate training.

Now you have started to close the door, you need to increase the time it is closed. The next step is to actually leave the room when he is in the crate, but again only do this for a minute or so the first time. You will be able to build up this time slowly over a few days.

Do this for several days and then you can begin to go out of the room for a few minutes. It will not take him long to get used to being in his crate. You can increase the length of time you are away from him, but make sure when you go back to him, and open the door you should not make any fuss of him, just a small pat. Don’t ever let him out when he is crying, or he will think that this is what he has to do to be let out of his crate.

Over a period of three days or so you will be able to leave for an hour quite happily. As your dog gets a bit older you could leave him for slightly longer than this.

Your puppy will love his crate and feel totally safe and secure in it. An added advantage of having a crate trained puppy is that is you do need to go out you can be sure that he will be relaxed and happy in his crate, so long as he has a blanket or bed and a few toys to amuse him. Often when a puppy is left alone he will become anxious and this is when he is likely to start chewing, barking and making a nuisance of himself. So if you don’t want to come home to a destroyed house (it’s surprising how much damage a small puppy can do when he is stressed), then all of your crate training will be a real asset, as he just will not feel anxious or stressed because he knows you will be coming back to him, as you always do.

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Dog Allergies to Food – Protect Your Dog

Sat ,26/12/2009

Dog allergies to food account for 20% of a dog’s discomfort, which causes them to itch and scratch; and it also accounts for 10% of all dog allergies. We may not understand why dogs have allergic reactions, but we can easily recognize the symptoms, diagnose the actual allergy and treat it by eliminating the source.

Food allergies have sometimes popped up in dogs around the age of 2 and in some, much later than this. These allergies do not discriminate either; many breeds can be affected. But just like ourselves, allergies can be very much related to sinus issues and contact allergens.

Dog allergies to food create hotspots and the itching and scratching of the skin. Food intolerances, however, can cause a dog to have an upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, or vomiting. Getting rid of the food culprit can cure both issues.

The most common food allergies have been known to come from the following: chicken, dairy,  chicken eggs, wheat, corn and soy. All of these ingredients are very common in most dog foods. The symptoms generally produce hair loss in dogs, scratching, biting on skin, ear infections, and skin infections.

Most of the irritation, the itchy feeling, typically occurs around the armpits, anus, forelegs, and paws. You need to consider that there could be many factors that go along with food allergies which are if you are dog actually responds to any steroid treatments or if he doesn’t suffer all year long, then it probably is not a food allergy.

You want to make sure to rule out any dog allergy aggravators such as flea bit allergies or shampoos, etc. Once you rule out any aggravators you can begin testing the food that it eats. Pick one protein and one carbohydrate to test for the next 3 months with nothing but water and no treats. This is the only way, besides going to through expensive veterinarian testing. Once you narrow it down and are able to eliminate it, your dog will be much happier for it.

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Dog Food Ingredients And The B.A.R.F. Philosophy

Sat ,19/12/2009

Pet care involves the constant search for the best foods and diet that provides complete dog food nutrition. A majority of today’s pet owners and animal breeders choose to feed dogs with commercialized pet foods, which are said to contain all a dog’s nutrition needs. However, raw food diets such as the B.A.R.F. diet is gaining significant following. Pet owners who have tried it testify to its effectiveness in keeping their pets healthy and free from diseases.

Dr. Ian Billinghurst came up with the idea of the B.A.R.F. Philosophy diet. He believes that dogs should be fed the natural foods, that as canines, they ate in the wild. That is the feeding of organic and uncooked meats, fat and offal. The main purpose of the B.A.R.F. diet is to provide the dog an almost identical diet similar to what their ancestors ate. Numerous scientific studies have shown that dogs on the B.A.R.F. diet have developed healthier appetites and live healthier, longer lives.

B.A.R.F. diets are made up of bones, muscle meat, fat dairy products, eggs, grain, fruits and vegetables, organ meats and other food products. According to Dr. Billinghurst, this is the most appropriate method of feeding our dogs. This will give them the same nutritional balance found in the foods eaten by their predecessors.

Those who recommend the B.A.R.F. diet insist that the use of these ingredients will not hurt the dog’s digestive systems, since their bodies are naturally suited for them. The diet is specific in their ratio requirements of chicken bones combined with raw meaty bones from beef, pork, venison, rabbit and turkey. But under no circumstances should any of the bones be cooked.

Backers of B.A.R.F. maintain that commercially prepared dog foods lack enzymes and other dietary components needed by dogs. Processed pet foods may even contain dog food ingredients some dogs can get allergic to. They would much rather feed their dogs home-prepared raw meals, with dog food recipes varying each day, making feeding time all the more interesting for their pets.

Dog food nutrition experts who advocate the B.A.R.F. Diet say that it provides the right dog food ingredients for sound dog health. B.A.R.F. tries to imitate wild animals’ type of dietary system. According to backers, dog food recipes that use this type of diet help prevent the need for veterinary intervention in the course of your dog’s lifetime.

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Dog Information – Homemade Dog Food

Sun ,06/12/2009

Dogs are considered to be like best friends to many pet owners. These pet owners might not even think about the quality of the food that they serve their dogs. Many pet owners are confused by the health issues that their dogs face. A lot of times the owners have no idea why the health problems occur.

If you want a healthier dog, and are trying to improve your dog’s energy level and appearance, you should try flint river ranch dog food. Or, you could opt to make your own dog food. This can be done using the same foods you prepare for yourself and your family. For dog information, most people turn to veterinarians.

A number of people will turn to professionals for dog information. Sometimes, the first suggestion will be supplements or pharmaceuticals. However, this may be unnecessary. If you have been feeding your pet grocery store brands, all you may need to do is switch to a premium food. The results will be quickly apparent. Many dog foods contain the scraps and waste left from food processors. It doesn’t sound very appetizing, and is not considered the healthiest type of food.

There are alternatives for those dog owners that are seeking dog information regarding a healthy diet. One option is to make your own dog food. You can use the foods you prepare for yourself and your family. Simply cool the food to room temperature in the refrigerator before feeding it to your pet. However, there are several drawbacks to this arrangement.

The most important one is that unless you are well versed in dog information and nutrition, you will not be able to guarantee that your dog is getting the proper nutrients from your diet. Also, feeding an extra mouth at the table can be expensive and time consuming. It would be far preferable to discover a dog food product made with organic ingredients fit for human consumption. Flint River Ranch manufactures their pet foods under rigorously controlled conditions.

This food is digested easily and contains high degree of important vitamins and minerals. The dog food prepared by Flint River Ranch is of good quality that a person’s dog would enjoy eating. Consider Flint River Ranch pet foodstuff if you want to perk up your dog’s physical condition, liveliness levels and looks. The owners of Flint River Ranch not only offer superior product quality but also have solutions and give support to pet owners who want the most excellent, healthiest existence for their pets.

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Knowing Your Own Dog Health Symptoms Could Save His Life

Fri ,04/12/2009

Nothing is worse than discovering your pet has a serious illness, and finding that if you had gotten attention earlier, it would have been less severe. Sometimes the smallest change in personality or behavior can signal the onset of an illness, so knowing what is and is not normal for your pet can be essential. When you see something abnormal, it can be helpful to know some basic things to watch for.

Being attentive to your dog’s normal behavior can be the best thing you do in discovering symptoms of ill health. The better you know your pet the more likely you will be to see the early signs that he is in trouble. You are the first line of defense for keeping your dog healthy. For instance if you have a well trained pet who never has an accident and suddenly your slippers are soggy in the morning it could be the first indication that you need to seek veterinarian assistance.

Blood in your pets urine or feces is always a serious problem so even though it may seem somewhat gross to inspect it is a good idea to check it every once in awhile. Viruses such as parvo present in bloody stool and bloody urine can indicate kidney disease or failure. When you are talking about these types of illness time is of the essence so do not delay. Your attentiveness and quick action could very well save your pet’s life, get her to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Another common complaint among pet owners is vomiting. Dogs will do this mildly when they have eaten something that does not agree with them. Like the time my mini-pin ate a battery. However if you notice repeated vomiting with fever or pain symptoms it is more than likely a health issue. Nausea and vomiting can be a sign of stomach ulcers or a more serious ailment. No matter the cause, the effect on your pets’ health can be devastating since she could dehydrate very quickly. In severe cases, pets have died from dehydration.

Last but not least never overlook the obvious, your dogs’ hair. A dogs’ coat whether longhaired or short should be thick and relatively glossy. If the coat looks or feels unhealthy then your pet is likely unhealthy also. Examples of an unhealthy coat would be excessive brittleness or coarseness. The only exception would be in the wirehair terrier breed. Bald patches and rashes can point to something as simple as an unbalanced diet or something more serious such as allergies. All of which are treatable when caught before complication arise like secondary infections from scratching irritated skin.

These are only a few basic health problems that your dog might be facing, so take the time to figure out what is normal for your dog and what is not; this is the best way to figure out how healthy he is!

Discover the facts about dog health symptoms and dog information to maintain your dog’s health, go to HealthierDogs.com

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Puppy Training – How To Take The Work Out of Potty Training Your Pup!

Wed ,02/12/2009

Perhaps one of the most important things that you will teach your new puppy is where his potty is – outdoors. Potty training should begin as soon as you have your puppy home. There will be accidents and many moments of frustration; however, you and your puppy can succeed at this necessary life lesson by following some tested and proven tips.

Choose one particular site in your yard as your puppy’s potty. You can put plants or flowers around the area to make it look better. This is a good way to show help your puppy to remember where his own potty is.

First you will teach your puppy the word “outside”. This is called a puppy training command or cue. “Outside” should immediately be said firmly if puppy has an accident inside. Then quickly take your puppy outside to his potty training area. Be sure to give him praise for using his potty.

Puppy training on command will eventually be the result of your time and effort. Your command word must be maintained at all times. Inform friends and other family members of this word too.

Be sure to let anyone who will be walking or watching your dog to use the exact same command word. Always give praise, and let the other people in his life know that they should do the same.

A good thing to do in order to determine exactly when your puppy needs to have potty training is to keep a diary. Here you will record eating, sleeping, and elimination. This will give you a better idea of when to cue puppy that he needs to go outside to use his potty.

Punishment is something that should never be done when puppy training. You will only hurt your puppy; he may even become scared to use his potty outside. Many puppies will begin to eliminate inside when they are punished when puppy training. They may even attempt to hide the evidence, yet they will still keep reacting in this way.

By maintaining consistency, tempered with equal parts firmness and love, you will have succeeded at potty and puppy training before you know it. Your puppy will respond well to your firmness and love. He will endeavor to please you by learning to potty sooner. Then you will have puppy training success.

Puppy Training can have its challenges however if you start off right when puppy first comes home you will have you best chance of success. Visit http://MyPupsPalace.com and see how fast you can train your new pup!

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Puppy Potty Training Like A Pro

Sun ,29/11/2009

Everyone loves a doe-eyed golden-haired puppy, who doesn’t? You bring them home and everyone is vying for the most puppy time. Then after a few weeks when you need to house train the little guy you look around and nobody is there. Yes, it’s time for the less than popular puppy potty training.

Potty training is the beginning of an awesome adventure you can have with your new dog (that’s how I convince myself). Sure it can be a little unappealing at times but it’s a chore much needed for the rest of his life. Here are several puppy training tips to get you started on the right track.

Understand that the young puppy has limitations that are not his fault. One of them is the inability of controlling bodily wastes well for long periods of time. There will be a couple of nights wherein you will need to wake up twice to bring him out to his toilet spot. This may be a little irritating but do not rush the puppy to go when he is not ready yet. What is important is setting of good habits he will carry as he grows older.

Schedule the puppy’s intake of food and water and follow it as closely as possible every day. You want to train his body to remember certain periods in the day when to eat and eliminate. Take him out for a walk and potty first thing in the morning and before you sleep at night. Fifteen minutes after meal times bring him outside in a designated area to do his business. As you walk around the spot keep saying a phrase you want the puppy to associate with toilet urges like ‘go potty’ until he does.

After he finishes eliminating on the right spot and with the right phrase, lavish him with praise. Let the puppy know how pleased you are and that he is the best dog in the whole world. Do the same thing again in an hour just in case another round is in order. Remember, right now the most important aspect of puppy potty training is the establishing of good habits.

Good. Now the puppy knows that going outside is what he needs to do when he wants to discharge. Now it is time to teach him how to ask permission to go out. You will need a rope, a bell and a bag of patience for this. Attach the bell at the end of the rope and hang it by the door. When you take him out for toilet activities, nudge the bell and say go potty out loud. Do this for around two weeks; at the end of this time, go to the door with him after meal times and say go potty and refrain from jingling the bell. If the puppy touches the bell praise him enthusiastically. If not, guide him to push the bell as you say go potty.

Keep doing this after meal times and each time you feel your puppy needs to go out and do his thing. He will understand after a while what you want him to do. Give him plenty of attention and play time when he does. Before long, your puppy will be tapping the bell or scratching the door on his own when he needs to unload.

When done properly and without fail, these puppy training tips will have successfully potty trained the dog. Enjoy this moment”before long its time for another episode of you and your puppys adventure!

Geraldine Dimarco enjoys watching puppy training tips that has helped her tremendously in raising her pets. Learn more about Puppy Potty Training today.

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Five Measures to a Better-Behaved Pet

Sun ,29/11/2009

Want to live a healthier lifestyle? Get a dog.

Studies indicate that pet possession helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure and fends off feelings of loneliness and depression.

While nothing can top the love and companionship of a dog, there are some repellent behaviours that just won’t do – from barking all night to wetting the floor to chewing on your shoes when you are not looking.

If your dog is showing this type of behavior, it may be acting out due to boredom, suppressed aggression or because of lack of training. With particular life-style adjustments and enduring grooming, you’ll be on your way to have a happy, well-behaved pet. The following points will help your furry friend become more obedient:

* Spay or neuter. The Humane Society of the United States of America says that this common procedure can help your dog live longer, be healthier and have less behavior problems.

* Help your pet slacken. Just like individuals, dogs can get , agitated and upset. That is why some veterinarians suggest giving your dog a sedating product, such as Pluto Pet’s Pet Calming Spray, to help relieve hyperactivity.

Made with natural components, Pet Calming Spray acts speedily to alleviate impatience, fearfulness, jitteriness and aggression and helps nervous pets sleep through the night, according to the manufacturer.

* Have a physical exertion routine. Provide your canine fellow with regularly scheduled walks two times in a day. This will help your dog obviate boredom, which can lead to negative behaviour.

* Go to school. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Harshness to Animals, enrolling your dog in an obedience class will instruct you how to hold your dog’s behavior both safely and humanely.

* Be tolerant. Though teaching your furry friend to be more dutiful may take decision on your part, it’s worth it. After all, as man’s best fellow, your dog will value bonding with you during the process.

I have received some huge treats on nearly all dog products, including dog grooming kit, dog medications and even dog grooming kit e-books. Try the website and check out for yourself.

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What Is Crate Training Dogs?

Fri ,27/11/2009

What exactly is crate training dogs? It sounds like something you do to a bad doggie for doing a no-no on the living room carpet. But its not. Crate training is actually based on the principle of the dogs’ innate need for security.

It is said that wolves are the dogs’ ancestors of old. This may or may not be factual but it still stands true that dogs are animals that lived in the open spaces before we adopted them into our homes. In the wild where there are dangers and perils at every turn- these dogs found caves and dens as a shelter and nesting area. This is the foundation of training dogs to use their crates in stressful and overly busy environments

Crate training is highly effective in house training dogs wherein you contain them to a place that you can feel safe leaving them in. The puppies in the crate will not be in danger of inflicting harm on them, other people or furniture in the house. You can go on long trips without much difficulty because your dog is tucked happily away in his crate. Remember, crates are his nesting area so there is no need to worry about feeling inhumane towards the dog.

Not all animals should be crate trained. Some dogs have had serious trauma in homes before and will get hysterical when placed in a confined box. It is advisable to not follow through if this is the case. Other dogs that are large will break the crate they are contained in and hurt themselves in their panic. There are some pet owners who are still uncomfortable, no matter what facts are presented to them, with the thought of putting their living pets inside a box.

Crate training dogs depends largely on how the dog owner feels about the matter at hand. If a dog in a box is distressing to you then don’t push through with this. However, if you feel that you and your dog will be better off having some space and disciple that crate training can give you, then continue reading this article for helpful tips on the best way to go about doing this.

Find a spot that is close to where people would be hanging out often. Ensure that the crate is a comfortable size that can hold the interesting things for the dog to play with. When he is inside, do not close the box just yet. Talk to him and pet him through his crate. Feed him inside. When it seems alright, start closing the door of the crate for several minutes while you are still in the room. If the animal starts to whimper and complain loudly, let him quiet down first before you let him out. This is of course a little frightening for the little pet so do not hurry him this whole process.

Never use this as a form of punishment for the dog. He should associate the crate as a calming and safe place for him to be in. If the animal is not getting upset being left alone in the crate, leave the house in short periods to gauge his reaction. If everything works out, you have accomplished the important task of crate training your dog. This will free you from worrying about your pet all the time. Moreover, you have given your dog his own special space of peace from the world.

Geraldine Dimarco is knowledgable of training dogs. Find expert advice on Crate Training Dogs the best way possible today.

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