Wednesday

Stopping Dog Aggression

There is always a reason for aggressive behavior in dogs. If you can discover the reason for the aggression, you can usually correct or at least control a dog's aggression. Some breeds of dogs have gotten a really bad reputation of late; pit bulls, rottweilers, and chows, for example. Some breeds are even forbidden in certain communities. This is just sad. Aggressive dogs are MADE and not born. All puppies come into this world completely innocent. They are like blank slates that have yet to be written upon, and they become products of their environment and training, or lack thereof.

There are many breeds of dogs. There are large breed dogs and small breed dogs; long hair dog breeds and short hair dog breeds; but there are simply not aggressive breeds and nonaggressive breeds.

Dog aggression is caused by health issues, environment issues, or training issues. There are, of course, several subheadings under all of these causes for dog aggression.

If you see that your dog is aggressive or is becoming aggressive, the very first thing to do is to take him to see his veterinarian. The vet will examine the dog to see if he has any health issues that are causing him pain or discomfort.

If the dog doesn't have any underlying health issues that are causing his aggressiveness, the next thing to consider is his environment. Is the dog being walked with a gentle lead? Does the dog have a crate that he calls home? An environment that the dog considers unsafe or uncomfortable will often be the cause of his aggressive behavior.

If the dog is healthy and if his environment is good, the next thing to consider is the structure of his pack. You see, dogs are pack animals. They need and expect order. You may have inadvertently put the dog in charge. He thinks that he is the alpha dog and as such is responsible for the pack (the family). Aggression caused by a dog's belief that he is the alpha dog can be easily changed by simply providing obedience training and convincing him that he is NOT the responsible party.

Tuesday

Puppy Training Tips - Dealing With The Shy Pup

how to train a puppy

The shy puppy is truly a problem child, but his problems are at the opposite end of the spectrum from his pack-leader littermate. This puppy seems to react in fear to almost everything - littermates that play too rough, loud noises, strange people, etc. This little guy needs a slight different set of puppy training tips. People who are not aware of what the situation really is are apt to assume that the puppy has been abused, when that is not the case at all.

I can remember one occasion in particular in which I had a shy puppy born to a litter in which all the other puppies had absolutely delightful temperaments. He evidenced this behavior right from the time his eyes first opened and he began walking around the whelping box. His treatment and experiences were no different than those of the other puppies. Try as I might, I was never really able to conquer the puppy's unfounded fears.

Fortunately, I was able to come across kind and sympathetic owners for the pup. They were mature people with no children who understood the temperament difficulties and yet were happy to provide a home for him. They had experience with training puppies and so the puppy was placed with the family under the provision that, in the event a problem arose that the new owner was not able to cope with, the puppy would be returned to us. In this particular case, however, the puppy grew to adulthood as a quiet, devoted pet While he did improve in his shyness, new situations, strange people, or sudden loud noises were a problem throughout his entire life.

Puppy Temperaments

There are a few puppy training tips or techniques that can tell you a great deal about an individual puppy as well. Cradling a puppy in your arms and holding him on his back can tell you how willing the youngster is to comply with what you want him to do. Checking ears and feet can bring a number of different reactions. Some pups will easily comply; others will offer mild resistance.

The puppy to avoid is the one that becomes terrified at the occurrence of something strange or the one that snaps at being intruded upon. No puppy should be anything less than happy, friendly, and reasonably able to cope with your little experiments.

There are more formal tests that behaviorists can give puppies that can reveal significant details in regard to their potential temperament as adults. These tests begin as early as three weeks and continue on up to three months.

Monday

Dog Food Secrets – Are Commercial Dog Food Safe?

Ultimately, one will realize that manufactured canned dog foods are not the best for dogs. Although there are many substantial claims that the formulas used for these dog foods are scientifically tested to meet the required dietary allowance of our beloved pets, one would have to consider that dogs of the ancient times never really had science to back up their diet. With their raw diet of whatever they were given by their masters before, they still managed to survive,

Many people are growing concerned about the commercial dog foods that keep on popping out of store shelves. This includes kibbles, treats, wet dog foods and dry dog foods. So many dog foods of different kinds have been released and there were also product recalls. But really, what is the best food for your dog?

In reality, the best food for your dog is all natural dog food. Dogs are not really scavengers but they can survive on scraps of bread and meat or even vegetables if they have no choice. In reality, the best food for every dog is freshly prepared natural dog food such as chicken, rice, bread and vegetables. This is something that any person in any household can prepare. The most important thing is that the food is clean and free from harmful chemicals that human beings eat.

There are a lot of human foods out there that can be lethal to dogs and other animals. One of these is chocolate. It is also important to know you should not add seasonings such as salt, pepper and sugar to your dog food.

If you want your dog to be healthy, you have to prepare its food yourself. You can use boiled meat or bones so the dog has something to chew. Rice is also healthy for dogs so they have carbohydrates to burn.

If you want to learn what are the best food for your dog, i recommend you read my dog food secrets review and learn why commercial dog food is dangerous for your dog.

Sunday

What to Know for Breeding Labradors

There are some things you should know if you are interested in breeding Labradors.  Especially if you want to breed labradors for a dog show. The goal of breeding Labradors, or any dog, is for the puppy to have the ideal characteristics for which you are looking.  However, you won’t know which dogs to breed if you do not know which characteristics are most favorable in Labrador dogs. Learning these traits will help you to be a successful breeder of Labradors. It could make all the difference in winning that first place ribbon at any dog show.

There are certain variations of the Labrador breed that would be actually be penalized in a dog show. For instance, the Labrador retriever could be one. The retriever is a medium-sized dog with a short coat, small ears, and a short thick tail and is not considered “show” qualities.  Likewise are the weedy, light dogs, the leggy, tall dogs, the low-stationed, long dogs, and the lumbering, cloddy dogs. These will all earn penalties in the dog shows as they are contradictory to the proportionate and sturdy build of the ideal Labrador.

Certain anatomical characteristics are important when breeding Labradors. Ideally, the Labrador’s head should include a broad snout, clean cheeks, powerful muzzle, and, white teeth.The dog's nose color can vary, depending on the dog"s coat color. The nostrils should be wide and open. The eyes should be a slightly triangular-shape and have a kind expression.  Finally, the ears should be short and be triangular in shape and should drop.

The key to breeding Labradors is to look for a favorable temperament.  This will impress any judge at the dog shows.  Labrador retrievers are eager to please and they are also very outgoing and friendly animals.  Labradors are also quite intelligent.  Judges look for these characteristics when evaluating Labradors in a dog show.

Labradors can be black, chocolate, or yellow.  Yellow dogs may vary in shade, and some labs may have a white spot on the chest, though this is not preferred. You might be please to note that the Judges do not give any penalties if a Labrador has white hairs due to aging and scarring.

Judges look for Labradors who are bred to be a specific height and weight. They are looking to see that the height and weight is typical of Labradors.  For male Labradors, the typical height is twenty-two and one-half inches to twenty-four and one-half inches. Male dogs should weigh between sixty-five and eighty pounds.  For female Labradors, the typical height is between twenty-one and one-half and twenty-three and one-half inches.  The ideal weight for female dogs is fifty-five to seventy pounds.

It is important to be aware of dog show criteria when you are breeding Labradors. You want to be able to breed certain characteristics and traits for the best results.  Breeding Labradors can be a challenge, but it can be very rewarding if you are successful and achieve your goals.

Saturday

Dog Show - How to Judge and Get the Winner

Dog show is one of the most interesting show in the dog-lover countries, for instance United States of America and United Kingdom. From the dog show contest, the proprietor of a dog which becomes the winner of the show will not only get much money but also honor and prestige. Related to the situation, usually the fans of dog will do their best in order to achieve the best breed of their dog in order to participate and become the winner of the competition. This situation, factually will also raise the willingness of the dog breeder to mix the breeds of dog to get much better dog breeds. Thus, the show and also the breeding immediatley could lessen the particular breeds of dog from extinction.

The Standards for the Breeds

The dog show winner is determined by the judges who are knowledgeable enough about the breeds of the dog contesting for in the contest. There are several standards which require to be met in order to be the victor of the show. The most important and most basic standard for the breeds is it has to be best fixed to the closest standard based on the conformation list utilized by the judges.

The Judges of the Dog Show

The judges are folk who are incredibly pro about the breed of dog they are judging. Favoritism and even bribery are also believed to exist in the competitions. The dogs compete in various dog shows to accumulates points and get the title of champion. All time a particular dog wins a dog show the dog is rewarded points that go towards winning a championship title. The number of points that a dog collected is determined by the level of the dog show that it was chosen as the champ, the number of dogs that were in the show and whether the dog show was considered to be a principle competition or a minor one.

It can be sum up that the larger the point, the bigger the dog's chance to be the winner of the dog show competition. However, every country will also have its own winning standard or guideline. So, to be the chmap the dog has to meet all the standards selected by the country. So far, being a winner is not the most important thing since from the dog show we can still learn much to get much more essential knowledge, increase our relationship to the others and we can also meet numerous people from many backgrounds of life.

Nevertheless, do you desire to get more than fun? Find anything about dog show secret here, join the show and let your dog compete!

Friday

Online Dog Supplies - Top 6 Benefits

Pet industry already crossed $40 billion mark and it has increased 20% over the past 5 years. This is the fastest growing industries in the United States. More than 80% of American people own at least one dog. Most of the dog owners take extra care of their dogs with pampering them with pet gifts, toys or pet supplies. Dog owners have a number of options when it comes to buying pet supplies.

 

Dog owners most often visit a local pet store to purchases pet supplies for their family dog. Pet stores are so popular because a shopper can physically examine each item before purchasing it. This gives many pet owners the opportunity to study the quality of pet supply before buying it for their dog. 

Online pet store is another choice because it is very convenient for dog owners. You can purchase your much needed pet supplies like dog treats all in a matter of minute’s from online pet stores. People like to purchase from on line pet stores because they do not have to leave their home.

 

Benefits of online pet stores

  1. Purchasing pet supplies online is all about convenience because dog owners need not to visit a pet store regularly.
  2. Purchasing dog supplies online can help you to save money. You can search online to find a store with discounted price.
  3. Traveling to pet store is costly if there is no nearby pet store . It is cheaper to pay shipping cost rather than traveling to a store which could cost a decent amount of money in gasoline. You can also buty from a store who offers free delivery or charge minimum if you allow a week time to deliver the product
  4. Most of the pet shops provides money back guarantee so you are really not risking your money.
  5. I personally think the greatest benefit to purchasing pet supplies online is the selection of products available because like retail stores they are limited by floor space, staff, store etc. It is easy to find a product using on site search engine. 
  6. You can buy cheap products as well as designer products also from an online store.

You can buy dog training ebook, video, collars or dog kennel everything from a pet store.

 

 

 

Thursday

Advice On Dog Training Hand Commands

Along with teaching your dog to respond to verbal commands, one can also teach them to respond by using hand signals.  When it comes to learning, the different types of dog training hand commands these in the beginning will need to be taught in conjunction with the verbal ones as well.  In this article, we take a look at the way in which such commands can be taught to your dog.

Certainly, teaching your dog hand signals is very simple and most dogs will find them very easy to understand.  But in order to get started on training them you will need a few treats, which you can provide to your dog as a reward for getting what, you have asked (signalled) of them right. 

It is important that in the beginning when you are teaching your dog to react to hand commands is that you use the words as well.  Therefore, you will need to decide which hand signals relate to which commands you will be giving to your dog.  Only once you have made a decision on which verbal commands go with which hand signals can you then start your dogs training. 

In the beginning as you, say each command to your dog you should also very slowly and deliberately show the hand signal as well.  You will need to repeat the verbal command and the hand signal several times in order for your dog to understand what it is you would like them to do.  Then once they react the first time to you saying the word and doing the hand signal then you can reward them.

As you continually repeat the commands and signals you should very slowly you should start to eliminate the verbal commands.  However, you should still use the rewards of food and praise for your dog when they respond to your hand signals only.  For a while as you begin to slowly eliminate the verbal commands you should when carrying out the training, use them half of the time, and the other half of the time just hand signals. 

Then when you start to notice that your dog is reacting purely to your hand commands only then this is the stage when you start to stop giving them food as a reward.  However, you should never eliminate the rewards immediately from the training and if you want praise, them slightly for doing as commanded instead of offering them food.

When teaching your dog to react to hand signals it is best to start of with the most basic commands that you would normally teach them.  So it is best to start with sit, down and stay.  Then when you feel able to and when you feel that your dog is capable you can move on to much more elaborate ones if you wish.

Actually getting advice on the right way dog training hand commands should be done is easy.  There are plenty of sites on the internet today that can offer lots of practical advice and tips.  Plus there are plenty of books and videos, which can help you with training your dog to respond to such hand signals.

Wednesday

Plasmacluster Ions - The One & Only Reliable Ionic Air Purifier Against Bird Flu Pandemic Fears?

In a dramatic press update on 27 August 2008, Sharp Corporation unveiled its latest technological weapon against bird flu! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in eliminating the bird flu virus known as H5N1.

Every now and then, the press reminds us that bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind's next pandemic. Pandemic does not just sound terrifying. It is. That’s when a highly contagious and deadly virus goes global, in a very negative sense. 50 million people may die in a global pandemic. No way, you say. But its happened before, during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic! That was blamed on the H1N1 virus which was only recently confirmed on 5 October 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a bird flu virus.

PANIC STATIONS! PANIC STATIONS?

Not now. WHO statistics (updated up to 10 Sep 2008) tracing back to 1996 when the H5N1 virus first surfaced in China shows a relatively low death toll of 245. So what’s the fuss? Mutation of the bird flu virus to achieve human-to-human transmission capability is the ultimate horror of the scientific community. As of today, there has been only one probable case of human-to-human transmission recorded in Thailand in September 2004. But if (it seems the virus has not reached the “when” stage) the dreaded virus mutation takes place, you can expect pandemonium on a global scale.

Countries around the globe are conscientiously preparing for the worse (more on this in a later post). At our individual level, we should start doing some homework too.

Ok, so what has the Sharp ionic air purifier to do with all this. Is it not just another ionic air purifier? Yes, because it takes care of the usual pollutants (dust, dirt, smoke, dander, pollen, cuisine odors, pet odors, allergens etc) that contaminate the air that we breathe and live in. But if we can get protection from all these and more in one ionic air purifier, especially one that is a tested defense shield against a potentially deadly virus, why not? And that is precisely what Sharp is telling us; get the whole package with their Plasmacluster Ion Technology.

The next obvious question for the value-conscious, would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? According to Sharp, none at all! Sharp contends that it is cheaper than any other competing ionic air purifier when measured over 5 years. Now, that’s value for money! How is it possible in this nothing-is-for-free world?

In promoting the Plasmacluster Ionic Air Purifier Model FP-N40CX, Sharp contends that it is definitely better value for money as there is no filter replacement costs for the first 5 years. At US$399, the Sharp model compares favourably against a typical competitor's ionic air purifier that may cost US$160 upfront but over 5 years cost a total of US$560 due to annual filter replacement costs of US$100 each.

Since I have only started on this study, I would greatly appreciate any feedback on the numbers quoted by Sharp. Do let me know if you have recent actual data.

Meanwhile, I'm going to scrutinise intently the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Technology. Especially since bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.

Don't let other things in life lead you to procrastinate. Believe me, I have seen it. Like a horror movie, pandemic fears spread across Asia for months. People shunned crowded places like shopping centres, some stayed away from work, others became unofficial health "authorities" passing decrees on hygiene standards. Anyone who sneezed in public without a N95 face mask found himself standing alone in a split second. The year was 2003. SARS was a much dreaded acronym. The SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus started spreading in Asia and infected 8,096 people around the world, resulting in 774 fatalities. Being well prepared is half the battle won.

Watch this space as we track exciting developments in our pursuit of safe, pure and clean air with nothing more than an ionic air purifier.

To easily receive updates on new articles, subscribe to The Ionic Air Purifier Blog today.

Monday

Are Dog Training Products Still Good To Start A Home Business With?

Working in the comfort of your home is something a lot of people would like to do. There are times in your life for example if you are a stay at home parent, or when you are taking care of elderly family members that you are bound to your home but you would like to make some money by working at home. A few years a go I would advise you to start a (micro) business in dog training products but is this still advisable?

It is very popular to try and make a living with starting a small online business and in theory it sounds perfect. But there are a lot of mountains to climb before you earn anything and it is easy to get discouraged. Especially when you want to sell dog training products there is an enormous amount of competition in this niche. There are a lot of dog lovers out there who would like to have a career dog in training but did not have the time and had the same idea about an online business. Some people have indeed sold good amounts of dog training products and earn a good living. But almost all of the successful sites have started early and the ones who have just started and are successful often sell dog training products they have developed them self. Dog training products can be sold with a yahoo or amazon shop, but we advice you to do some research to your competition.

Dog training products are very salable but there are a lot of consumers that only want to buy from the big and reliable sellers. Often consumers buy from the large and well known web shops and not from small shops that all look the same. If you do want to start your own web shop and sell dog training products or something else dog related you need to do some proper research and try to find products that are new, salable, are what they claim to be, and you need to find a good supplier. You also need a website that is eye catching and worth to remember, a site that people trust and where they will return if they want to buy some other dog training products.

Competition


The next and the most hard thing is that people need to be able to find your website. Because there is such a enormous amount of competition and the competition is trained to build high traffic websites, and they know exactly how to attract traffic to their website this is your biggest challenge. Your site and products need to be found in search engines by the people who are looking for dog training products. But because there is so much competition that will be very hard. The key to your success as a online dog training products shop will depend on the amount of research and time you put in internet marketing not in your knowledge about dog training products.

The last but certainly not least tip we want to give you, if you still want to start a internet business in dog training products is that you should not invest large amounts of money into your shop if you can not spear it. Paying a lot of money for building a website or for internet marketing does not guarantee that you will earn your investment back with dog training products in a reasonable amount of time.

Sunday

Here's A Quick Way To Potty Train Your Puppy

When you bring a new puppy home, you can't help but notice that he is just so adorable in his new surroundings! Beside enjoying your little pal, you also want to protect your home so your furnishings and carpets aren't ruined. What should you do now?

By teaching your puppy where to relieve himself, you'll also be protecting your home. Do you know what to do now?

Grab your free dog training course and learn more about how to house puppy train.

Dogs act mainly from habits that have been developed over a period of time and that fact can help you as a dog owner. As the dog owner, you need to install the habits of your choice. Don't let your pet create his own habits that you might not appreciate. Be sure to be aware of limitations that puppies have. Your puppy's bladder is very small, so he can't wait very long before having to urinate. Understanding and patience will help you deal with your puppy's limitations.

Don't scream at your puppy when he has an accident. You need to keep in mind that patience is critical while training your new pal. If your puppy has an accident on the living room carpet, be gentle with him. Tell him "no" in a gentle way. Then pick him up and place him where you do want him to go potty. Then tell him to go potty in that place in your own words.

Dogs don't want to soil their beds, so if you use a crate for him to sleep in, that will help your puppy potty training efforts. A dog playpen can also be used for training purposes.

There are times when your new puppy is more likely to go potty. Right after waking up in the morning is when your puppy will want to go potty. Eating activates your puppy's elimination process, so he'll probably want to relieve himself after any meal he eats. Be sure to take your puppy to his designated toilet area before he goes to bed at night. Play time will probably activate your puppy's urge to relieve himself.

Your new pet needs close supervision. If he goes potty on his own outside, be sure to praise him immediately. If he should go potty inside the house, you need to gently but sternly let him know that isn't the right place to go. Be sure to praise your puppy when he does go in the correct place. He really needs your approval.

Your puppy will often let you know when he's about to relieve himself. Wandering off, sniffing and circling are signs that your puppy is ready to relieve himself. Maybe he'll go and stand at the door.

Patience and kindness goes a long way in dog training. Be sure to spend time training your new pal to urinate or deficate where you have chosen for him to go. The time and effort you put into training your new pal will be worth it when he knows the right time and place to relieve himself.

Watch free dog training video plus learn how to potty train puppy to go potty where you want your pal to go.

Saturday

Discover Poodle Puppies

Poodle Puppy

They're cute, curly, and cuddly, and you could be going home with one today! Poodle puppies make great pets, and you'll need to know just what they need in order to be most comfortable in your home, so here are some for being a great poodle owner.

Whatever poodle breed you decide to buy, you have to be aware that some poodle breeds tend to be somewhat reclusive or anti-social, and can be very unfriendly around strangers, unless of course they are trained. You will have to train your puppies and socialize the poodle puppy by keeping them in an environment that has people around often, this way they won;t be overwhelmed when you take them out or if you have other people around.

One of the things you need to do is to ensure that your poodle puppies are taken to vet often for their checkups, this is because poodles generally have vision problems quite often, Their eyes need to look alert and should be shiny. If you start noticing film around the eyes, or even if your poodle puppy's are often running, it is a possibility of the onset of a cataract. being able to treat this condition in it's early stages is an important factor, and you should take them immediately to your vet should you notice that your poodles vision seem cloudy. Poodle puppies tend to also be prone to ear infections, so you have to ensure that your puppy's ears are check out by your vet also. Having a hearing test for your poodle puppy should also be done and don't forget that the proper medication is given to them as directed by your vet.

Poodle's tend to have sensitive skin and you may notice this often, so you have to make sure that some grooming products would not be used for grooming your poodle. It is common to see poodle owners dye their dog's hair in different colors, or shampoo the fur with expensive shampoos. Be aware however, that the chemicals in some these products could be harmful to your poodle puppies, and this could cause skin irritations and rashes. Further your poodle might develop allergies with such products, so should notice that your poodle is sluggish, or is perhaps often sneezing, then you should leave the grooming to professionals or have them do it in your home.

Friday

Three Basic Rules of Dog Obedience Training

Dog obedience training requires the use of some principles which differentiate effective training from training without results. Most dog training and dog behavior schools use these rules. They are the following:

Principle One:Consistency. You must be consistent in the use of words, the tone of your voice and your actions, that go with your command. During the beginning of the training, the trainer or the dog owner must decide what should be the parameters of training- what you are trying to teach the dog and how to do it. Words do not make sense to a dog. Your dog does not understand our language, nor does he understand or think, the way we do.

So to make the training understandable, you should use the command in a very consistent manner such that the dog will learn to associate the word with the meaning you attach with it. If you are using the word 'come' make sure everyone is. If you are using this command make it a point that you would not do actions that would make the command confusing for the dog. If your dog does not come to you instantly, do not punish him when he does. Your dog would attribute the command with the punishment.

What could you expect next?He would not follow the same command since this leads to punishment. Consistency also covers the use of the same command by all people. For example, if you use the words 'come' make sure everyone in your family uses that word also, not 'come here'.

Principle Two: Keep training sessions short. Remember that the attention span of dogs is extremely short so it is almost impossible to keep them engaged in the one activity. Combining children with your puppy obedience training is an example of keeping your training sessions short as they would lose interest very quickly, so it is best to move on to the next thing.

Your dog becomes easily bored and their interest at the beginning soon fades. Training should be kept to ten to fifteen minutes and set at regular times.

Principle Three: Do not use force and punishment to hurt your dog when training. Also, never force the dog to follow the command if he is not prepared for it or punish a dog for something he did. Whilst training the animal don't push too hard.

Your dog has no understanding of your impatience for his lack of learning speed. All he knows is that you are mad. So do not use force as this does not communicate your meaning properly, instead use negative reinforcement. If he knows that he is praised when he does something right, then he should not feel praised when he does not follow a command.

You have to be understanding and patient, especially during your dog obedience training sessions. The outcome will be a very responsive and well trained dog.

Thursday

Helping Your Dog When It Has Had A Stroke

It may come as a shock to you to find out that your dog has suffered from a stroke. Unlike humans, when a dog has a stroke, he often won't become paralyzed or display any of the human signs of stroke. In fact, with the right care and attention, chances are he will bounce right back within a short period after suffering from a stroke, especially if he has a little help.

How To Tell Your Dog Has Had A Stroke?
Often, there are a few signs that will tell you that your dog is suffering from a stroke. These usually include loss of sight, falling over, and tilting and turning of the head. If you notice your dog displaying these symptoms, you should take him to the vet to rule out other serious health problems such as brain disease, which may be the underlying cause of the symptoms.

Often, pet owners are not aware that their dog has suffered from a stroke.  If your pet is advanced in years, seems off color, or acting strangely, he may have suffered a stroke. The best way to find out for sure is to take him to the vet for an examination. Once there, the vet will put your dog under anesthesia, and run some tests to find out what is causing your dog to act strangely.

My Dog Has Had A Stroke, What Should I Do?
If your dog has had a stroke, it is important to remember that dogs don’t suffer as badly from strokes as humans do, and they will recover faster than humans. Once your dog has had a stroke, there is not a lot that your vet can do for him. In most cases, there is no magical cure, or special pill, all your vet will do is confirm that it was a stroke, and rule out the dangerous diseases that may be causing your dog to suffer from the strokes.

However, there are some things that you, the owner of your dog, can do to help with his recovery. Because you share a close owner-pet bond, your dog will recover faster if you are around to care for him, and cheer him on as he starts getting better. Make sure that he has a warm cozy place to rest, and plenty of encouragement, and love from you, to remind him of why he wants to get better.

You may also need to encourage your pet to eat, and drink soon after he has suffered from a stroke, and help him onto his feet, and encourage him to take bathroom breaks outside. Exercise, especially strenuous exercise, should be avoided. Once your dog is feeling well enough, he will soon tell you when he is ready to start going on walks again. After a matter of weeks, he will be starting to get back to his old self.

Don’t forget that once your dog has recovered, he will still need plenty of love, and encouragement, and may not be as agile as he was before the stroke. Strokes can keep reoccurring in dogs, so keep a close eye on him.


To find out more about pet health visit Natures Healthy Pet

Wednesday

Dog Training: Deterring Poor Habits and Promoting Great Ones

Dogs have a lot of loveable natural qualities, but they also have some not-so-cute behaviors. Digging is one of the latter, but it can persist as they bury bones, create impromptu shelters, and just feel the dirt between their paws.

This natural behavior can wreak havoc on your yard and garden if it goes unchecked. What is the best way to curb the digging impulse?

The first step in stopping your dog from digging is to determine why he is doing it in the first place. Some dogs just love it.

Some dogs do enjoy the act of digging, but others use it to communicate with you. They may be crying out for attention or more exercise. They may need a shelter to stay warm or cool. They may be burying food. If you've recently put down fertilizer or dug in your garden, your dog may be responding to the scents.

If you have determined that your dog needs more stimulation and is digging as a way of getting attention, you can attack the problem by offering him more opportunities for exercise and interaction. Dog obedience training can be a good technique for solving the problem.

If this doesn't help, you can give one of the following techniques a try:

1. Find the spots your dog usually digs and bury a balloon that has been inflated. If your dog digs, he'll pop the balloon. This unpleasant reaction to his digging can deter him from continuing.

2. When you refill the holes, add in some of your dog's own feces. The next time he digs there, he will be repelled by it. This may not be a fun way for you to teach your dog, but it is effective and humane.

3. Chicken wire is another thing you can bury in your yard to deter your dog from digging. He'll hate the feeling of his claws against the wire and will be prompted to stop.

4. When you catch your dog digging, give him a spray from a water bottle or hose. They hate this (but it is not harmful). They will learn to associate the punishment with the crime. Only do this when you catch him digging or he will not connect the behavior with the consequence.

Digging doesn’t have to be a part of your dog’s normal routine. With a little work and training, you can get past this behavior and have a hole-free yard. Just like with puppy potty training, mischievous habits can be corrected.

Another Great Way to Modify Your Dogs Behaviour - Training With Clickers

As people look for gentle ways to discipline and train their dogs, the use of clickers has become more prominent. Your dog will learn to repeat behavior that is desirable in a safe, humane way.

Operant conditioning is the repetition of a behavior when a reward is given. This is the premise behind clicker training. How does it work?

You will need a clicker. This is simply a handheld plastic box. A metal strip is attached. Depressing the strip causes a sharp click.

Ask your dog to perform a command, such as sit, stay, heel, etc. When he does, click right away and give your dog a treat. You are pairing the clicking sound with the treat.

The dog learns to associate the click with the behavior and the click with the treat, which makes it more likely that he’ll repeat it. Soon, just the click will be enough, and eventually, it can be phased out altogether.

You can often train dogs with clickers faster and more effectively than with other means. Clicking is immediate, so your dog quickly learns that his behavior is producing the treat. This encourages repetition of the desired behaviors.

Your dog really wants to make you proud. Using the clicker method is a great way to teach your dog in an effective and humane manner.

Get the information you need to take good care of your pet with dog obedience training.

Tuesday

Cedar Dog Houses – Find Cedar Doghouse Plans Or Buy Pre-built Doghouse

I'm not sure whether dogs like cedar dog houses but most doghouses are made of wood. Small dogs usually live indoors so there is no need to buy a doghouse. However, larger sized dogs will need their own place and most families usually put their dogs outside, therefore a wooden doghouse is needed.

Finding a large doghouse that can accommodate their dogs is often a problem. You can get find cedar doghouse plans online and construct your own doghouse. That way, you can customized the dog house to whatever you want.

However, if you want to save the hassle, you can always buy a cedar doghouse online or get someone to build it for you. Where To Put The Dog House Most people usually place their doghouse at the rear of the house.

It is not a very good spot because not only is it inconvenient for you, most dogs don't like to be located far from people. Dogs are sociable animals and prefer places where people congregate. Therefore, it is best to place your doghouse at the side of your house or the front porch.

If possible, the cedar doghouse should be lifted up off the ground with small blocks neighbouring the foundation. This provides a pocket of airspace that can help in insulation. To keep the doghouse warm in winter, you need to have a flap in front of the doghouse.

Regular maintenance is essential and it is important to keep the area around the doghouse clean. If not, you will find your dog not wanting to sleep in the doghouse. If you can build a dog runway, that would be ideal and it allows your dog to run and still be restrained at the same time.

Whether you choose to build your own doghouse or buy existing pre-built doghouses, be sure that your dog can live and move comfortably inside it.

Learn more about why cedar dog houses are the best. Check out whether to buy cheap wooden doghouse online.

Monday

Washable Dog Bed or Cozy Cave Dog Bed – Which One You Should Buy

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A dog should have a bed for napping during the day and sleeping in at night. A bed gives warmth and comfort to your dog. A proper dog bed supports arthritic joints, prevent calluses, gives comfort and a sense of security to your dog.

Are you wondering how to select a best dog bed and blanket for your pet?

You need to do some research on your dog sleeping habits and try to find answer to following questions.

1.Does your dog hang his head over the edge?

2.Does he like to be able to rest his head with a view of the entire surroundings?

3.Does your puppy sprawl and stretch out completely?

4.Does he like to stay warm under the blankets?

5.Does your dog shed or have any other disorder that will cause the bed to need constant cleaning?

6.Does he avoid the bed because he needs to cool off? In this case, you should buy cooling dog bed

Several varieties of dog beds are available. Your selection depends on your choice, budget and availability of space in your apartment. You can use your old pillow or fancy wrought-iron frame with a lace canopy.

Top dog bed styles

1. Inexpensive flat pads or mats

2. Doughnut-shaped beds are circular bolsters with a removable center pillow.

3. Waterproof beds are good for outdoor use.

4. Cot style raised dog bed is good for old and large dog

What are the features you should have for an old or ill dog bed?

  • You should buy orthopedic bed with medical-grade foam and/or box-spring construction for old or very large dog.
  • You can use heated bed which helps to maintain body warmth

Why you should have a washable dog blanket?

You also should use washable dog bed cover and blankets because it can keep your dog warm and you can wash it whenever it is necessary. Personally I like modern dog bed like memory foam dog bed.

You can visit online pet supply to find the best dog bed and blanket for your dog. Online shopping is also a good way to get all your other dog supplies as well from other dog furniture like dog houses to dog supplies, including treat and shampoo, and you can even purchase dog clothes and collars as well.

 

Sunday

Dog Insurance Safeguards Pets As Well As Budgets

Pet Insurance - Pet Tips from HSN & Prince Lorenzo Borghese

Aside from the fact that there has been dog insurance available for almost twenty years, there are still a good number of dog owners who aren't aware of pet health insurance coverage. For those who consider their beloved pets to be an integral part of their family, learning about the availability of health insurance for their dogs is very much welcomed news.

Anyone can relate to this sentiment of relief, if they have ever been faced with having to either clean out their savings account or run up their credit card balance in order to take care of an unexpected emergency. Having a pet plan can help to lighten the burden of the expenses related to a surgical procedure, long-term care for serious conditions, such as cancer and other types of diseases or emergency care due to injury or accident. Without insurance, some dog owners are faced with the awful decision of having to put their pet to sleep because the cost of proper health care is just too much for the family budget.

Regrettably, when the budget it stretched to the point of having to choose between life-saving veterinary pet aid and maintaining the requirements for family care, sometimes the pet owners are pushed into the harrowing decision of having to put their beloved pet down. It is scenarios such as this that help to illustrate how having dog insurance is much more than simply financial protection, but can also protect the family from emotional trauma.

Just as with other health care expenses, the costs associated with veterinarian care for pets is also rising with each passing year. This fact has made the idea of acquiring pet insurance to cover the animal welfare and health concerns a more attractive option. It has also made pet health insurance a more financially smart move for families. It is much easier to work a small insurance premium for dog health insurance into the household budget than it is to try to come up with hundreds, or even thousands of dollars if an emergency arises.

If you own more than one dog, then insurance coverage for all of them makes even more sense. Just making sure that each dog has received the vaccinations, health screenings and booster shots on an annual basis can stretch a budget to the breaking point. This situation can lead pet owners to decide to skip the routine health care steps that should be taken to prevent illness and diseases.

In most cases, a comprehensive pet insurance policy will also cover wellness and preventative care procedures. Fortunately, most the pet insurance company policies seem to support the approach of taking preventive measures, with regard to animal welfare. It has been well-documented over an extended period fo time that taking preventative steps as well as supportive wellmess care will lower the possibility for serious health problems for the pet further down the road.

For this reason, seeking out companies that offer insurance coverage that includes preventative care is a prudent course of action. The fact that a pet insurance company offers such coverage speaks to their commitment and philosophy about prevention of pet disease and the importance of animal welfare in general.

However, it should be noted that this kind of dog insurance coverage is also more expensive. It may be that you will choose to only select pet health insurance that covers major medical expenses instead of routine veterinarian visits. This choice can reduce your monthly premium and is a good choice if you feel you can afford the wellness care your dog needs. However, dealing with a pet insurance company that also offers coverage for wellness care is a good indicator of the quality of the company and their commitment to pet health in general.

For a lot more informational value go here: Best Pet Insurance and certainly try Exotic Pet Insurance similarly Best Pet Insurance Policy

Saturday

Labrador Retriever Dog: A Great Family Favorite

For anyone who is thinking about keeping a pet dog, it would be a good idea for you to keep a Labrador Retriever dog for a pet. The popularity of this breed is on the increase and there are several great reasons for this including this breed’s very friendly nature. Besides their very likeable nature, the Labrador Retriever dog is also very well adjusted to being around children, who in any case would love this particular breed, especially as they are quite gentle towards them.

Fast Learners

Another endearing quality of the Labrador Retriever dog is their ability to be trained easily, they will readily learn the basic rules of the home, and additionally, they are able to learn a few tricks to boot. There are no doubts that the Labrador Retriever dog picks up things very fast, and they are also a very obedient animal that will always serve their master faithfully. With such wonderful qualities, the Labrador Retriever dog is a great joy – both in the company of adults as well as with children.

As the proud owner of a Labrador Retriever dog you will, no doubt,undoubtedly, be required to assume a fair amount of duties regarding the maintenance and well being of your pet. In fact, keeping a Labrador Retriever dog at home also provides you a good occasion to impart a sense of responsibility in your children who must be taught how to correctly own as well as care for their pet.

You should make sure that your Labrador Retriever dog is given plenty of exercise as they have a lot of energy and thus will need to drain their energy in a useful way. They must also be given a lot of space to run about and also to be taken for walks regularly. In addition, the Labrador Retriever dog demands and should be given a great deal of affection and you must do your best, as their owner, to give them love and make them feel like they are your friend and not just an acquisition to the home.

It is in their character to yearn for companionship from humans, and so it is never wise to leave them on their own. If you are getting ready for a vacation, be sure to leave them with someone capable who will provide them with attention and care for them properly. Concerning a Labrador rescue dog, you need to be extra careful about how you keep them and you should be sure that they are given a lot of love and care, and they should be made to feel wanted at all times as well.

Overall, bringing home a Labrador Retriever dog will without a doubt be a boon for you and your loved ones who will soon fall in love with this lovable, smart and amazing pet Labrador.

Friday

Case Study on a Barking Dog

Teacup, a two-year-old mixed breed dog, has anxiety problems and incessantly barks every time her owner Tom, is away at work. Tom recently transferred into a new house with a spacious fenced-in backyard. At this time, as Teacup would normally do while Tom is away, she would not stop from barking. The dog barking progressed so badly that neighbors in his apartment building regularly complained; forcing Tom to find a new place of his own. However, Teacup continues to bark and Tom is apprehensive about the complaints of his new neighbors. Teacup does not bark while Tom is home, so he must look for a way to stop the dog barking while he is at work.

Since Tom recently moved, he pointed out that the hindrance is from an outside source causing Teacup to become aggravated and to bark. With Teacup's current condition , frustration is not an option, Tom has spoken to his neighbors and no person or animal provokes Teacup from over her fence. Furthermore , since the change of surroundings has changed the placement of things, Tom can be sure there is nothing that would cause Teacup to bark. Water bucket, and toys are all well within the dog’s reach.

Tom brought Teacup to his veterinarian’s clinic and any medical condition that may cause Teacup to bark has already been ruled out. Since Tom is always away from home every morning while he was still in his previous home, Teacup's veterinarian suggest that Tom look at the idea of boredom barking. Since the odd seems to make sense, Tom starts looking into this idea of keeping Teacup entertained during the day.

At the beginning, Tom calls a local pet sitting business that specializes in taking care of dogs during the day while their owners are at work. The staffs in this institution were very professional, they promise to visit Teacup twice a day for one-half hour at a fixed schedule. During Teacup's visitation, a person would walk the dog around the park and play with her most of the time. Though Teacup did not bark as much before and this situation worked out well, the dog still barked.

Tom decided to enroll Teacup in the “doggy daycare” provided by a local kennel to stop the incessant dog barking . Basically, this class acts as a dog version of conventional daycare and to prevent boredom, the employees let the dogs play together. Tom drops Teacup off on the dog daycare center on his way to the office and picks her up on the way home. This setup makes the dog and the owner happy, it works perfectly well for both Teacup and Tom. Even though the fees for the “doggy daycare” are more than leaving Teacup at home during the day or even hiring a dog sitter, Tom feels the amount is well justified when he sees how happy Teacup is at the end of the day and the reality that his neighbor’s complaints have ceased. Moreover, since Teacup was otherwise an only dog, this "doggy daycare" lets her to socialize with other dogs, ensuring she is well developed socially and emotionally.

Thursday

Walking on a Leash and Staying: Two Important Commands

Dog Training Tips

Many dogs have an aggressive side, and you often see this when they are on leashes. Dogs that are normally well-behaved can lunge and snarl at other dogs and people as you walk down the street. While he needs exercise, you do not want to put others at risk. What can you do about leash aggression?

Exercise is essential for all dogs, and there are ways you can correct your dog's behavior so you can both get out and enjoy the fresh air. Walks don't need to be dreaded, just handled in a careful and consistent manner.

If your dog seems like he is about to become aggressive, divert him with a command like sit or down. This will keep him occupied and should reroute his attention.

If you are about to pass another dog, don’t tense up or pull the least taut. Your pet will be able to tell and he will think that you are scared, so aggression is much more likely. Animals pick up on our signals – just remain calm and relaxed.

Try using a muzzle or a gentle leader when walking your dog. This should only be a temporary measure but if you are concerned your dog may lunge or bite, these can be very helpful.

At this point, if the leash aggression isn’t being eliminated, you might consider a trainer. It can become very dangerous to other people and dogs in your neighborhood.

Leash aggression isn’t uncommon, but it is a potentially big problem. Start taking measures to cure your dog of this bad habit before bigger fixes are needed.

People are always impressed with well-trained dogs. Beyond impressing your friends and neighbors, teaching your dog the stay command can be extremely useful. Treats and lots of praise will make the learning process much easier, faster, and fun. For most complete results consider dog obedience training.

If your dog knows the sit or lie commands, he can learn to stay. Begin by commanding him to sit. Then, extend your hand with your palm facing your dog. Using a calm voice, tell him to "Stay."

When your dog stays, praise him immediately. Likely your dog will only be able to stay for a second or two at first. This is great; it's a terrific beginning, and he will be able to do it for longer periods as he practices.

As he progressses, teach him when it is time to move. Many people say "Come" or "Ok" to release their dogs. Again, make sure to praise him and give him a reward - this makes the training operation much easier and quicker.puppy training works especially well when accompanied by praise and goodies.

As you work on the stay command, demand that your dog stay for longer periods of time. Don't give him his treat until he performs to your satisfcation. Have him do a little more each time.

Optimal training should last about five to ten minutes at a time. Any more than that will strain your dog's attention span and counteract your efforts.

Another way that dogs are like children is that they have short attention spans! If you require him to train for longer than ten minutes, he is likely to become obstinate and disobedient. Also keep in mind that he'll have to have a lot of practice in order to perfect the command. Repeat "Stay" several times and be prepared to reteach him the command a few times.

As you continue training, your dog will be able to stay longer, even when you are not in the room. You will not always have to provide a treat, but do always praise your dog and his accomplishments.

See more about puppy training tips.

Wednesday

SitStayFetch Review – How To Stop Bad Dog Behaviour

Dogs particularly from young should be trained to stop bad dog behaviour. I recommend SitStayfetch by Daniel Stevens if you want to learn how to train your dog fast and effectively.

Dogs are loyal companions though sometimes they can misbehave especially young puppies. This may be in the form of barking non-stop, biting things around the house, or digging holes in the back yard. No pet owner wants to have to deal with bad dog behaviors like this. It´s not only frustrating, but it´s time consuming as well, if you don´t know how to effectively correct the problem.

Adopting an animal when it is very young usually helps to initiate a lasting bond. Once a small puppy is taken from its mother, it relies on its owner for direction. It is at this stage that you want to start reinforcing certain things.

One of the most troublesome bad dog behaviors is playing with items the animal shouldn´t be. Typically this is slippers, or small kids´ toys, it can even be expensive purses or shoes. The dog has no idea what is and isn´t a toy, so it just assumes everything is.

The owner should be mindful of what it left within the dog´s reach and if he or she notices the dog picking up something it shouldn´t be, a firm "no" always helps. Repetition is often necessary to ensure the dog understands the rule and to correct this type of dog behavior problems.

Accidents in the home sometimes occur and if they aren´t dealt with swiftly, the problem can be a persistent one. Many puppies relieve themselves wherever and whenever the mood strikes them. This is one of the bad dog behaviors that can really impact your life. It´s important for the owner to take the dog outside at regular intervals when it is young so it becomes accustomed to not going inside the house. If that´s not possible, you can paper train the dog, which is also very helpful.

Biting is another issue that some dog owners find themselves facing. Typically it´s not that the dog is meaning to bite anyone. It´s more that the dog is playing and nips at the person. This is especially troubling if you have young children in the home. Correcting bad dog behaviors like this is really important. You don´t want to end up having a dog that bites people who are at your home visiting. This could have very serious results so you need to work with the dog, by scolding it when it does attempt to play in this fashion.

It´s so nice to have a pet for the entire family to enjoy. With a little work and commitment you can train your dog to be a wonderful and loving companion for years to come. Dog behavior problems can always be corrected if you take the right approach.

I highly recommend SitStayFetch by Daniel Stevens if you want to put a stop to your dog bad behavior. It is one of the best dog training course I have brought.

Monday

Help For Making A Purchase Of A Dog Training Collar

When you are making a purchase of a dog training collar, the myriad differences in the specific brands and the choices of collars inside each brand can be overwhelming.  Sometime manufacturers tout their differences from the competitors and its difficult to tell how much is real and how much is advertising.  One of the ways to determine the real differences is to find and a read dog training collar review.  There are several such dog training collar reviews on the internet.

There are other resources to tap to help in making this choice. One of the resources is a local vet, could help you with their opinion.  They can give you a view of which choices you should most definitely not make, as not all collars are right for all dogs.  Also, many obedience class instructors have and use many of the dog training collars and could give you their opinion or allow you to try the different choices during a training class.  Each of these individuals could give you an opinion on the dog training collar review information that you obtained.

All dog training collar review information is not equal, as some are sponsored by the manufactures of the different collars.  Once you have your dog training collar reviews, read through consumer reports and customer’s comments on the products you are considering.  Amazon.com provides sales of an amazing amount of items, and they keep customer review and many of them, trying visiting their site to check.

Discount any collars which are clearly out of your price range.  Do not feel bad about this, there is absolutely no sense in spending more than you can afford when the simple collars can provide what you need.  Unless you have a disability that requires you to choice a very high-end choice, you can consider the dog training collar reviews inexpensive choices that may require a little more work on your part.

Check with a local vet or a local obedience trainer and see if they agree with the choice you made.  The most likely have experience with the products.

Don’t Do’s In Purchasing

Don’t buy the first dog training collar you see in a store, no matter what the store expert tells you.  Always do research in the information they provide, and don’t assume that you got all the salient facts.  Even if a dog training collar review agrees with the store expert, spend just a little more time.  Store experts may get a commission for certain manufacturers and a dog training collar review may be sponsored by a company.

A last note, if you have a smaller dog make sure what you are looking at is a small dog training collar.  You need it positioned correctly on a small dog.

 

Gasen Redeye is the webmaster of My Dog Collars where you will get more Dog Training Collar information.