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Archive for June, 2009

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If you want your dogs to remain happy and content then you have to feed them with the best dog food. This in turn means that you will have to consider a few things that will help you pick the best foods for your dog, especially when you are planning on buying dry dog food. Though it is quite an possible that your dog(s) might not have any discernment between dry and wet dog foods it still pays to see which type your dog loves the most. In case of most dogs they do tend to be picky and so you have to use trial and error methods to establish which kind your dog loves the best.

Regulate His Diet

It is also a good idea to ensure feeding your dog with regulated diet so that you can choose certain dog foods that the dog will relish and eat happily. It also means avoiding eating him with human food as this can give rise to numerous wellness concerns including ache aches and obesity as too problems with behavior.

Another important consideration related to dog food is that you must command feeding him according to his body weight and for more information you must check the dog food label to see how much of a portion is safe for feeding your dearie dog. Even when starting your pet on a new dog food it pays to start off slowly to ensure that the food goes down well with your dog and does not make him feel sick.

If you want your pet to feed on moist food you can add a little water to his dry dog food and get the desired results though be careful that by adding water to his food, it can spoil the smell of his food. And, after having fed your pet dog it is also necessary that you ensure that he gets his fair share of exercise so that he remains in shape.

It pays to also select dog food that has enough vitamin content as this will help to create a shinier coat and his nails too will grow stronger. When picking his food, you should check the major dog food brands which are well known for having a lot of nutritious content and which also come in many flavors that will appeal to your dog’s senses. Some dog lamb accompanied by rice is OK for your dog.

Choosing the right dog food can often be confusing because of the different ingredients used as too because of the terminology used. There are also foods that are suited for puppies and those that are suited for larger sized dog breeds and you will also come across foods that help control your pet’s weight and there are also wellness dog foods that suit pets that have allergies or some other kind of health problems.

Times have so changed since the source of the 19th century before which dogs broadly subsisted on wheat, bread and barley and rye. Only rarely did dog owners feed their dogs with meat. During the nineteenth century feeding dogs with meat was something that signified the dog owner’s status – that is until the first dog food was introduced in the year 1860 when in England an American called James Spratt founded his own dog food company.

Since then dog food has become big business and of course many changes have taken place in what we can and cannot feed our pets. The fifties saw the advent of dry dog food and today there is much variety in the type of commercially produced dog food that is available on the market.

The bottom line is that you should only feed your dog the correct type and amount of food. For a ten pound dog it is necessary that he gets 850 calories on a daily basis; for a twenty pound dog the number of calories should not exceed 1400 per day while a thirty pound dog must not be fed more than 1800 calories on a daily basis and a fifty pound dog should get at most 2700 calories per day.

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The best time to teach your dog how to behave is when it is a pup. It is a priority when the dog is young to teach it proper manners. Training a puppy is to teach it what is considered proper behavior and what is not.

The earlier you learn how to train your dog, the better the chances that your dog will understand and obey. They can learn relatively fast. When you interact with your dog, you are showing your dog something, so teaching the right manners is up to you.

Not only is training beneficial to the dog, it is also helpful to people. A canine that is not trained can be more dangerous than one that is trained. You are responsible for this.

Dogs have been said to be mans best friend and this friendship goes back centuries as dogs have been domesticated for a very long time. They have been trained probably earlier than any other animal.

How dogs act in the wild is necessary to understand when dealing with your dog. Animals have a lead animal when in packs. This main dog or Alpha dog provides guidance to the other dogs in hunting and survival areas for the pack.

In training for dogs, you are the dogs pack leader. You will be the “Alpha Dog”. Your dog should perceive you as the leader of its pack in order to gain its respect. When you gain this respect and the dog places his trust in you, that is when you’re training will start working. Instead of your dog being fearful of you, having him trust you will cause him to be more comfortable around you and better able be trained.

If your dog is scared of you, he is less likely to be trained properly. Don’t punish the dog when he does something wrong. It is better to just reward him when he is good. Let him decide what to do and then reward him when he does the right thing.

Ask your buddy to jog and if the dog sits still, reward him. If not start over. It will learn going after a jogger is not the right thing to do.

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As man’s best friend, and a member of your family, finding the right neck collar and flea and tick control collar for your dog should be a top priority.

It is important for all dog collars to be comfortable and fit correctly.Your dogs collar should not be so tight as to cause coughing or restrict breathing. It is important to check the collar size frequently on growing puppies. It’s not simply a case of going to your local pet store and picking up the best looking collar. Today there are so many types you need to be knowledgeable about what to look for and how to use it.  Traditional dog collars are available in a variety of materials, and are typically buckle-type collars, with a buckle similar to a belt buckle, or the quick-release kind.  Fashion should be secondary after safety and convenience when it comes to the collar you place on your dog.

Do you keep your dogs collar on him or her all the time? It is a very good idea to keep your dogs collar on him all the time except when giving your dog a bath. You just never know what could happen, your dog could get out  and roam to far and get lost.

There is a far greater chance that your lost dog will be returned if he or she is wearing  a dog collar with a pet ID tag. A microchip is also a very good idea.

  A correctly fitted dog collar is used for control, identification, fashion, identification tags and medical information.An alternative to dog collars are dog harnesses, best used with the smaller breeds often in car travel or out in public.  It’s imperative that a telephone number and address be on the ID tag and not the dog’s name. Having your dogs name on his id tag can give a wrongdoer an advantage with your dog.

As a member of our family, we all strive to keep our dogs  healthy and happy.  Using flea & tick collars as the best way to prevent flea and tick exposure when your dog  is in the out-of-doors.

There are many products available in the market to keep fleas and ticks away from your pets. You can also choose collars that are available in many sizes, colors and patterns. These collars are specially designed in such a way that fleas will not come close to your pets at all. They also have the capacity to kill the germs that could cause Lyme disease. The better flea and tick collars out there tend to be more long lasting, but not all of them are. That would depend on the product you buy. Most offer approximately eight months of protection, but a few others may offer more or less.

The benefit of using a flea and tick collar is that it would entirely kill the fleas and ticks that exist on your pet’s body. Normally when you use lotions and shampoos, the effects will only be short-lived. Using just lotions and shampoos the eggs of the fleas would not die but using a flea and tick collar you can be sure that the cycle would be broken. This ensures that your pets are free from such insects. 

It is very important to read the ingredients carefully and check the chemicals for safety on flea and tick collars.  According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC), ingredients on some flea collars are carcinogens, neurotoxins, or both.

 An effective and natural collar can be prepared using repellent essential oils. One way this can be done is by choosing an absorbent collar for your pet, such as the commonly available heavy-duty woven nylon collars. The collar will absorb essential oils, and no additional collar is needed. Essential oils that wort off fleas and ticks include rosemary, citronella and rose geranium. Buy 100 percent pure essential oils should be purchased with an eyedropper just put one or two drops on the collar. Each week repeat. Some animals are very sensitive to the strong smell of essential oils, so start with just one drop and increase to two if they seem to tolerate the smell. If ticks are the principal problem, use rose geranium; for fleas choose citronella if for a dog, but not for cats.

 

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Probably one of the biggest headaches involved in having dogs for pets is potty training puppies. They do not have a button you can push to have them do their business and they cannot comprehend any verbal command unless they were trained to do so. Getting a puppy to do its business where and when you want it to does not involve rocket science. The only major requirement one needs to pull this feat off is a generous amount of patience. As long as you are consistent in training your puppies then you will have no trouble potty training a puppy.

Having them heed the call of nature by understanding their nature

Animals act instinctively and they don't consider the pros or cons of a situation before deciding about it. Knowing this can assist to a great degree in knowing how to potty train pups. Puppies are like blank slates, they posses the instincts but they're still in the trial and error phase of discovering how to satisify certain drives. Urinating and defecating is a drive but, contrary to what most people think, puppies don't just stop whatever they are doing and do their business. Try to observe them when they get the urge, they often run around looking a bit agitated first sniffing and fumbling about until they find a good spot and then assume the position.

This is where the training in potty training puppies comes in. You'll have to teach them to pick a specific spot to go potty so every time they feel the need they go exactly where you want them to. You do it this way? You'll need an item with a musky or earthy scent, something distinctive that, when they smell it, they can easily equate it with either urinating or defecating. There are commercially manufactured potty training sprays that you can purchase in pet stores or you can go hands on and try to get a small amount of your pet's urine in a spray bottle when it does its business.

Whether you opt for the commercial spray or the hands on approach, the training or conditioning phase remains the same: when your puppy shows signs of the urge to commune with nature prepare a liberal stack of newspapers and restrict your puppy within the confines of the newspaper. Spray a small amount of the scent agent on the news paper. Allow the puppy to move around the location and get comfortable. Once the puppy has finished its business, gently guide its head to the spot you sprayed the agent so it's close enough for the puppy to sniff the scent. Duplicate this for about 12 weeks each and every time the dog needs to do its business.

Doing the steps talked about already can get you either two results or both. The puppy can equate going potty to a newspaper or the scent which means that whenever the puppy needs to go, it will either look for a newspaper or sniff around to find that scent, either result will lead to a properly potty trained pup and care free maintenance for you.

As mentioned earlier potty training puppies requires a generous amount of patience but aside from that it is actually a pretty easy thing to do.

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There are few things in life that are cuter than a beagle puppy, with his floppy ears, inquisitive eyes and a tail that always seems to be in motion. Those cute pups can be quite a handful however, so it is important to arm yourself with information about proper beagle puppy training before you bring your new addition home. Fortunately, there are many great resources that can give you the basics of beagle puppy care, from your veterinarian to your local library, and even on the Internet.

Beagles originated somewhere around 200 AD, when they were bred in Great Britain for hunting small animals. They were brought over to the United States shortly after this nation was founded, and the first beagles to set paws in this country came from some of the finest hunting packs in England. These dogs come in a variety of shades and patterns, with black, tan and white being the most common color combination. However, you might also see beagles in shades of grey, red or even blue hues.

Beagle Puppy Care Basics

Beagles are natural born “chasers” so it is important as part of your beagle puppy care to have a fenced back yard that will keep your pup safely confined. When your dog is out of his yard, it is very important for him to be on a leash at all times so he does not take off on you. Beagles are social creatures by nature, so another part of your beagle puppy care will be to play with your pup frequently, and offer plenty of attention and affection. If you train your beagle pup right from the beginning, he will most likely become an excellent family dog that will get along with children and other dogs alike.

Beagles are fairly intelligent dogs, and will house train as easily as most other breeds. The key to successful dog training will mainly lie with you, and will require consistency and patience until your puppy gets the hang of knowing where to potty. Crate training is a good place to start with many dogs, since this tool will give your pup a secure place to sleep at night, as well as the opportunity for you to help him develop gradual bladder control.

Many veterinarians and breeders will recommend obedience classes as part of your beagle puppy care. These courses will teach you how to train your dog to be an obedient and acceptable member of your family. You can find obedience classes through your veterinarian, breeder or local pet store.

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Since ancient times, the dog has been always regarded as the man’s best friend. There are a lot of stories that speak of the dog’s faithfulness and courage in defending their masters. In taking care of your dog, it is necessary to obtain him/her a room of his/her own which is the dog crate. If you think that putting your beloved pet dog into a dog crate is cruel or inhuman, you must think again Dogs think differently from humans; the dog crate will be regarded by him/her as a personal space. Dog crates are perfectly humane if they are the right size. When choosing a dog crate, you should shop to a dependable dog supplies store because they’ve got a wide range of size and design to choose from. With a crate for your dog, you will feel relaxed because both your belongings and your dog is secure. You can feel calm because in addition to that, the dog can also be properly trained less the bad habits he/she may acquire. In selecting the best crate for your dog, always see to it that it is made up of wires and not plastic Plastic may be lighter but there can be a tendency that it can be easily destroyed because your dog may chew it up Always make sure that it has a floor pan that can be easily removed when needed to make sure that your pet will not retain foul odors. In selecting the crate, make sure that it has the right size that allows your dog to have more space for a truly relaxing sleep and rest You should also place a plastic toy inside so that your dog will have something to chew and play with while taking a rest inside If he/she is still a puppy, the crate must be portable so that it will be convenient to bring him/her wherever you want to go

And speaking of going out, it is wise to let him/her wear “doggles” a term which is the combination of the words “dog” and “goggles” Dog Goggles are not just for old dogs that have trouble with their eyes; any dog can use them. Dog goggles are perfect out-of-door gears when your dog will be exposed to the merciless sunlight heat or to misty and sandy places like the bay side. Goggles for dogs are much preferred over the sunglasses because it can provide more protection due to its flexibility and head-fitting frames. It also contain shatterproof and UV-coated lens to protect your dog’s eyes from harmful elements in the environment Your dog should wear goggles all the time while outdoors if his or her eyes is sensitive to light. Veterinarians always recommend goggles for dogs that are blind or have light sensitivity.Just make sure that you obtain this from a reliable dog supplies store in order not to get poor quality yet expensive ones You can get all of the supplies described here from any reputable online dog supplies company.

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Many people have a wonderful time traveling with their dogs. While many people may be excited about the chance to travel with their dog they may not have what they need to make it enjoyable. The restrictions in various locations can make traveling challenging. Luckily there is a wide array of dog carriers and totes you can chose from to travel safely with our dog.
 
Some people will be overwhelmed when they consider what it will take to travel with their dog. In many homes the dog is a part of the family and we don’t want to leave them behind. There are several different types of pet carrier strollers out there so you can choose the one that best meets your needs. 
 
There are so many different sizes, styles, and shapes that it should be easy to find something that you like. A dog carrier stroller is one of the most convenient types of pet carriers. They are similar in appearance to a stroller used for a baby but are designed to hold your dog safetly. They are the perfect solution for those pet owners who have small dogs that are not capable of taking long walks. They make taking your dog for a walk easy since you can wheel him home in the stroller if he gets tired. 
 
A dog carrier backpack is a great option for small dogs. They are worn just as you would a traditional backpack except they are designed to safely carry your dog. The most commonly used type of dog carrier is the dog travel carrier. They are what you will need for travel on an airplane. If you are planning to fly make sure you purchase a dog carrier which is approved by the airline you will be using. They are usually made from plastic and other lightweight materials. You want one large enough to allow your dog to lie down comfortably.

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Does your dog or even worse yet, your neighbor’s dog bark all the bloody time?
If so it’s pretty darn easy to reach your whit’s end rather quickly.

After a while you really don’t care why the little nincompoops doing it, you just want to make the barking stop. Does that sound about right to you?

Trust me, I understand what you’re going through all too well.
How would I know these feelings of frustration so very intimately?

Simple, my wife got a small Poodle and the little begger absolutely would not stay quiet for 10 minutes. I swear, if an ant walked across the road he would carry on for 20 minutes non stop. I was just about out of my mind with the little loudspeaker.

Now, please don’t get me wrong, I really love animals and I especially love dogs. I don’t know about you personally, but I like well behaved dogs. 
So, not really wanting to incur my wife’s wrath for suggesting Fido be relocated several States away just to make the barking stop, I started researching to really find a solution or at least find some other options and find them fast.

Here are a couple of the things to stop the dog barking that I discovered:

All the books said “You should find out why the dogs barking in the first place”. And I’m thinkin yeah, right, sure! I don’t care why the little dim bulb’s carrying on like a broken record, just make him stop.

But I do have to agree with them, there is good barking and bad barking. So when training your dog it is important to teach your dog the difference between nuisance barking and good barking (like if it’s 2 am and I’m snoring keep a lid on it, but if you see a guy with a mask and a sack, Bark!).

As it turns out there is actually a lot of different kinds of barking, there’s reactive, territorial, separation anxiety, fear and warning barking. And without becoming a Sigmund Freud for Animal Planet tm I really couldn’t tell you which was which.

I did find a few things that actually worked really well. What the heck it only took 5 hours of reading & video’s and it cost more than the dog did to buy all the books to find one that worked.

But here’s one of the tips that it said that worked pretty good. Every time the dog barks give it a piece of bacon with 1/2 a Prozac stuck into it (ok, ok, so that was my solution and not exactly what the book said, but the dog liked it!) Just kidding!

No really, what the book said was give the dog another outlet. And because it might truly take me an hour and a half to watch the Television show 60 Minutes, I’m thinking, alternate outlet, WHAT! they want me to plug the little bugger into a wall socket?

Well, turns out I was wrong, they meant every time it starts yapping give him a soft toy and toss it around for a second so he gets the idea to play with it. This way when the dog begins feeling anxiety, nervousness or separation it will search for the toy and find comfort in it.

There are a ton more tips that I got at => http://stopdogbark.tripleyourinfo.com/

But I sure hope this one helps, it worked for me even better than the Prozac and at a buck a pill that stuff gets kinda spendy after a bit.

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Dog and barking are a natural behavior. It’s instinctive. But, many owners become frustrated when their dogs won’t stop barking. Understanding why your dog barks will help in your training it to curb that behavior. Dogs usually bark as a warning to others. They may be warning you or another animal. Unfortunately, dogs often don’t receive the assurance that their warning has been understood. So, they continue barking. Below, we’ll show you how you can train your dog to stop barking excessively.

Consistent Reactions

Develop a consistent routine when your dog barks. If you’ve acknowledged the reason for its barking, communicate that. Say, “good dog” or something similar. This is an acknowledgement to your dog that you understand their warning. It knows that its job has been fulfilled. Often, owners fail to communicate that to their dogs. As a result, the dog doesn’t know if it should stop. You can teach your dog to stop barking by saying the same thing each time (”good dog”).

Sometimes, dogs bark because they’re lonely or bored. Again, consistency is the solution. Show your dog that you won’t tolerate unnecessary barking. Don’t send your dog mixed signals. If it’s lonely or bored, spend time with your dog. Help it get some exercise so it exhausts some of its energy. The key is to be consistent in your reactions to your dog’s barking.

Role-Playing

A lot of owners have unwittingly trained their dogs to bark when they leave the house. The dog experiences feelings of abandonment. Pretend you’re leaving your home. Tell your dog “watch the house.” Then, leave your house in a way that your dog clearly sees. If it begins barking, storm back into your house and be firm with a quick “No!” Over time, your dog will learn that you consider its barking when you leave unacceptable behavior. It will conform to your wishes.

Enjoying The Peace

Dogs that bark excessively can be frustrating for their owners. Unfortunately, many owners simply throw up their hands in desperation without taking action. Consistent behavior in your training methods is how you get your dog to stop barking. Take the time to train your dog. The investment will help you enjoy peace in the future. Remember to treat your dog for good  behavior, a odor free bully stick or other dog treat is a nice and comforting reward.

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Puppyhood is the “formative” period for your dog. What you teach him during this time will most likely stick with him the rest of his life. One of the most imperative things to get started is to train dogs to potty outside.

Probably the most helpful tip to ease both your pup’s stress and your own is to develop a routine as soon as your puppy begins living with you. You can begin by accustoming your puppy to sleep/eat/potty routine. Try feeding your puppy around the same time every day, making for frequent trips outside afterward. He will soon adjust his body to the routine.

If you can admit straight away that accidents will happen when it comes to your puppy, then you just may save a bit of sanity while dog potty training! You can help lessen accidents by storing some newspaper in a constant spot so that your pup can at least familiarize himself with going in one area if he can’t make it outside. This works particularly well if you don’t have a “doggy door” and your puppy relies on you to let him out.

The sooner you get to know your puppy’s “eat/potty” schedule, the easier potty-training will become. The most easy rule to go by is to remember that by the time you’ve fed or watered your pup, he will be ready to potty roughly 15 - 20 minutes later. If you can, try to have your puppy outside at this time so he will familiarize himself with the proper “potty surroundings”.

It is important that you are careful to separate “potty time” from “play time.” Puppies love to explore–it’s natural and should be encouraged, but only when it’s the appropriate time. It can be extremely stressful to wait outside while your puppy plays, only to have an accident as soon as you bring him inside.

This period in your puppy’s life is a great one to start administering praise and discipline techniques. a lot of people prefer the terms “good boy/girl” and “no,” which can be still be used when your dog is older. Although puppies need a lot of repetition, routine, and firmness, remember that your pup will soon grow up, so enjoy his young, eager activity while you can!

Get more great tips like this at HelpYourPets.com - Puppy Steps and while you are training your puppy learn how to protect him from injury also.

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