Jan
15
Filed Under (Pets) by Catherine V. Testaratti

There is a common problem among puppies or adult dogs that are submissive and it is spontaneous peeing when excited or scared. We are learning that these problems are easy to fix by following a few of the steps below. Remember to always be consistent when training or working with a dog to rid them of their bad habits.

If your dog is experiencing this disorder that causes unnecessary peeing, then he might suffer from submissive/excitement issues. After a clean bill of health from the vet that there are no other medical problems that might cause this problem, then we can move on to the submissive/excitement peeing issue. Here are some things that you can try with your dog.

If you dog does not pee when you are in the dominant position like looking in its eyes or greeting it face to face, then it’s probably an excitement issue. However if your dog pee’s when it’s in trouble or when you are bending down to greet him in a dominant position, then of course it is submissive. Luckily, we can fix both of these problems.

First of all, never yell at your submissive dog because it leads to insecure behavior. Train your dog to roll over, shake or sit up and reward her with praise and a treat. Submissive dogs need more kit gloves, no yelling, get to their level when engaging and as always pet them by scratching under the chin; never on top of their head.

If there are accidents with the peeing, don’t respond, just clean it up. But remember to praise the dog when they pee in their appropriate spot. Rewards and positive affirmation are always the best medicine.

Puppies are typically known for excitement peeing, especially during the first year. But older dogs are known for this as well. Excited to have visitors or the excitement of your arrival from work can trigger peeing. Just remember that there is no need to respond to the accident, just clean it up and praise the puppy when they are successful.

Puppies are known for peeing while playing. They just can’t contain themselves with all the excitement. Because of this we recommend that you do all your playing outside to eliminate any accidents on your expensive rug.

High energy greetings upon arrival home can also set off the excitement peeing. If you arrive home and the dog is excited and jumping around, we suggest you ignore him until he calms down. Keeping the excitement to a minimum can help correct the peeing problem.

Most dogs greet you at the door with an overwhelming excitement. Do not encourage this behavior, instead ignore the dog and only greet him when he is calm. Therefore you are sending him positive affirmation that calm is better than excited, eliminating the excitement peeing.

Have an Animal that you Love? Visit Catherine’s favorite Pet Supplies for Dogs online store that uses nature’s highest quality ingredients. They have the most wonderful Natural Organic Dog Shampoos on the market.

Jan
09
Filed Under (Pets) by Jim Witt

I’m sure many of you have had a similar experience to the one I had last week. I decided to take my mother-in-law’s dog out for a walk, but ended up spending the majority of the time fighting her dog on the leash to keep her where I wanted her to be. It was frustrating and somewhat embarrassing when others walked by and saw my struggle.

If this sounds familiar to you, there is something that can be done about a dog constantly pulling away from you on their leash. First, check to see that you are using the correct leash or walking equipment. Some leashes are useful for walking dogs, while others are useless.

When a dog pulls on a leash, it normally is because they walk faster than we humans normally do. They may get bored while we stand around visiting with our neighbors. Whatever the reason, most of the time pulling on a leash is a natural dog behavior and will require training for them to stop.

A nylon buckle collar or a Martingale Collar is the best type of collar if you want to train your dog. Don’t try to use a choke collar, since you can actually damage your dog. Find a six-foot dog leash for this training exercise.

If your dog is constantly pulling away from you, a retractable lead will not work well. Body harnesses also are a bad idea if you have a bigger dog. They are not meant to be a leash training tool, so you will most likely find yourself continuing to struggle behind a dog that will go where he wants to go.

The best way to train is to positively reinforce the good times. When they keep slack in the leash let them know they are doing a great job. Training collars can also be a good training device.

Be sure that your dog has very little distractions. It may be good to start training your dog inside. If you can’t do that, find somewhere where your dog will be able to listen to you without being distracted by animals or people walking by.

It is best to start your training with a puppy. If you aren’t that lucky, however, don’t fret. You can still teach old dogs new tricks.

Being walked by your dog as opposed to walking your dog can be very frustrating and sometimes embarrassing. Jim Witt is an expert on dog training supplies. Jim suggests browsing to Country Brook Design for a wide assortment Martingale Training Collars and Dog Leashes.

Jan
06
Filed Under (Pets) by David E. Broadhead

If you suspect that eating reasonably is vital just for human begins; think again. Your pets too need to eat well. So it’s strongly recommended to be carful when out for shopping of food for your dog. Let’s look at some of the critical things to be kept in mind while choosing the best dog food.

The 1st and the basic step in this direction is to keep a look out for the ingredients of the dog food. For this it is vital that you completely go through the list of ingredient as discussed on the product package. Make sure that the product is unfettered by any kind of constituents that might prove detrimental to your pet’s health. Remember that any dog food that has chicken by-product, bone meal, poultry by-product and meat spinoff as the initial few ingredients on the list; then such dog food is a complete no-no.

Apart from the ingredients, you must also make a project to take note of other nutritional aspects of the food you choose. For example, you check the quantity of calories in a particular food item. If the food item is extraordinarily high on calories then you may try to skip using the product all together. Also, check if the product contains all the nutrient elements in sufficient quantities.

The dog food needs to be selected in accordance to the nutritive duty of your dog. This criterion of selection is imperative because different breeds of dogs have the nutritive duty of nutrition. It has been noted the smaller dogs are more in need of carbohydrates. On the other hand the dogs which are huge in size need more of minerals and vitamins quantity. So first update yourself about the nutritional needs of you dogs. Only then purchase a dog food which is able to meet the desired nutritional need.

In the process of choosing dog food, you’ll also watch out about the preservatives used in the dog food. There were cases of companies selling dog food with preservatives which are damaging for your dog. The usual suspects here are BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin. It is mostly suggested that you select dog food that has Vitamin C as preservative.

An APHIS certification is the stamp of top quality dog food. APHIS certificated dog food is not just much safer you will rely on it to be highly nutritive. The ratification is only given to those products which are made using ingredients fit for human consumption. You may be guaranteed assured that APHIS certified food shall never cause any harm to your pet.

It’s imperative that you choose the dog food for your pet with extraordinary care. This is so because any wrong selection of dog food can negatively affect the health of your pet. However, if you choose the right dog food; it can contribute significantly to your dog’s sound health. So make the right decision, after all it’s your pet.

To know more about Dog Training and Dog Products visit: http://www.dogs-help.com

Jan
04
Filed Under (Pets) by John Gaddy

Shopping for a large dog bed for your canine companion can be difficult. Sure, it sounds easy enough, but walk into the pet store and you’ll quickly see that it isnt as simple of a task as you first thought. Dog beds come in many different shapes and sizes, and choosing the best bed for your dog can be confusing.

All dog beds come in some several basic styles and types. Pillow-type beds are the most common, and most often are either circular or rectangular shaped. Such beds usually come with a removable cover that can be washed, with the inside “fluff” of the bed consisting of standard stuffing, foam, or cedar. While any padding provide excellent comfort, cedar is especially useful for use outdoors, as it serves as a natural flea repellent, and provides a pleasant, natural scent. Dogs that like to sleep stretched out tend to like these beds, as they allow them to spread out fully while sleeping and resting.

Doughnut style dog beds are very common for small dogs, but many large dog beds also available in this style. Such beds can come in two sections, such as a low-sided basket with a flat bed inside, or an all fabric design where the outer portion is padded and the doughnut hole is less padded, giving the dog a nest to cuddle into. Some dogs prefer these beds to others, especially dogs who like to nest to feel secure. Many a large dog has tried rather comically to fit into doughnut beds for their much smaller animal siblings. If your dog is a “nester” it will appreciate a doughnut bed in the right size!

Elevated dog beds are a newer type of bed, with many types of construction and design, from miniature couches to suspended hammock-type beds. The idea of these types of beds are to keep older dogs above the cold ground and drafty floor level, also allowing them to get up from laying down more easily, as they are not all the way on the ground. Dogs who have not grown up with this type of bed may take some convincing at first that its a safe place for a dog to sleep, but after an introduction, most dogs decide that the strange look is worth the comfort!

Orthopedic dog beds are another variation of large dog bed that can be especially useful for large breed dogs. All dogs, but especially bigger dogs tend to develop arthritis as they age, and often experience stiffness or even difficulty getting off the floor. Orthopedic dog beds can help to alleviate that stiffness and make it easier for an older dog to get up and around after resting. Orthopedic dog beds come in many common styles of beds that are already available, but utilize more modern types of padding for increased comfort, such as orthopedic mattress foam, gel-foam and even built-in heating elements to increase comfort and circulation within the joints.

Choosing the best dog bed for a large breed dog can be confusing at first, but if you carefully match the needs of your dog with his or her preferences and your needs, finding the selecting the right bed for your home can be done easily.

Before purchasing your next dog bed, be sure to visit dog-beds.com for helpful large dog bed purchasing advice.

Jan
04
Filed Under (Pets) by Dylan Brodderick

Have you ever been plagued by dog fleas? Or to be more precise, has your dog ever been plagued with dog fleas? Let me tell you, it’s no fun for either of you. There are a number of things that you must do in order to get rid of the fleas and keep them from coming back. Here’s a step-by-step method to getting rid of the pesky little critters.

In order to rid your house of fleas and prevent them from coming back, you need to understand that the adult fleas on your dog make up only about 5% of the flea infestation - the other 95% in various stages are living in your house and yard. Therefore it is very important to do a total treatment (at the same time!) of all possible flea locations, and get rid of the fleas, flea eggs, larvae and pupae.

1 - Get rid of the fleas in your house - get as many fleas out of the house as possible, which means removing your dog while you are treating your house. Fleas live on and around the floors, in cracks and crevices, and on objects that your pet has been in contact with. Pick up any objects that can be washed, and launder these items using the hot cycle. This will include your pet toys, dog bedding, throw out any dog food that is in or around the dog bowl, your clothing, bedding, cushions etc. Any where it is possible for fleas to live, or lay eggs, needs to be cleaned.

Vacuum the whole house and any upholstered items REALLY WELL! Make sure to get underneath the bed. Vacuum out your car if your dog has been in the car. Then throw out the vacuum bag once you are finished, or flea eggs and larvae will hatch and re-infest. Clean your hard surface flooring with soap and water. Clean the floors in your garage, basement or patio if your dog has been in contact with those surfaces. Finally, with all animals and people out of the house, arrange to have a house flea treatment.

2 - Kill the fleas in your yard - at the same time that you have your house treated with an insecticide and IGR (Insect Growth Regulator) combination, you should have your yard and any other area your dog frequents treated as well. Fleas like heat and humidity, but don’t like bright light, so make sure to get under decks and in cracks and crevices where they like to hide.

3 - Kill the fleas on your dog - give your dog a bath with dog shampoo. Once they have dried off use a flea comb to check for any fleas that you have missed.

4 - Kill fleas for the next 2 weeks to prevent re-infection - 2 weeks after the initial treatment, any fleas in the larvae stage which were impervious to the chemical treatment will now hatch and reinfest your home. After the initial treatment, make sure to follow up with vacuuming, floor washing, laundering and pet bathing regularly over the next two weeks, and your chances of catching young fleas before they have a chance to re-infest will be greatly increased.

Please visit this Getting Rid Of Fleas site, or find more information by clicking here.

Jan
03
Filed Under (Pets) by Catherine V. Testaratti

As many of us probably already know from experience, there is a common bone and arthritic condition that larger and giant dogs are prone to. This condition can present itself early in a pup’s life, especially between the ages of 4 to 10 months. This abnormal growth of bone, cells or tissue can be managed but it requires a vet’s intervention.

The Dysplasia abnormality can lead to your dog becoming lame if not treated. There is a type of condition similar to this that affects males more than females. Typically this condition is found in the larger breeds like Labs, Rottiweilers, Chows and other giant breeds.

The specific type that affects more males than females is when you find a bone fragment in the inner surface of the upper ulna. The ulna bone is just below the elbow joint in the foreleg. This would be the only situation where there would be a gender difference for this condition.

Not all large dogs will show symptoms when they are young even if they are affected. If your dog shows signs of forelimb lameness that can also be irritated by exercise, which then turns to stiffness, this could be a sign of elbow Dysplasia. Also, when the dog extends or flexes his elbow or the dog will hold the affected limb away from his body.

The cause of this condition is not only genetic but can be caused by nutritional or developmental issues. It is important for you to get your pup to the vet for a medical examination. The vet will be able to make a diagnosis after a series of tests to eliminate other causes for the symptoms.

Initially your vet will want to take a variety of tests to determine if your dog is actually suffering from Dysplasia. The symptoms that are associated with Dysplasia can also indicate a variety of other ailments; therefore x-rays and other tests will be completed prior to making a diagnosis. There is a good chance that surgery will be needed if the diagnosis is Dysplasia.

After surgery, keep the dog’s limb iced down throughout the recover process to avoid excessive swelling. Control your dogs weight, keep him from being very active in the beginning but remember to encourage some mobility. Also, the possibility of medications might be involved in your dog’s recovery.

If you monitor your dogs diet you can help prevent the onset of Dysplasia. Keeping them from rapidly growing by managing their diet can help. If you have a dog that has been diagnosed with Dysplasia, it’s best that you do not breed them.

Large dogs are prone to this condition so it’s not anything to be overly worried about. However, if you purchased your dog from a breeder, better to let them know about the condition. Dogs with Dysplasia can live long happy lives; just remember to keep up with their yearly checkups.

Have a Pet that you Love? Visit Catherine’s favorite Pet Supplies for Dogs online store that uses nature’s highest quality ingredients. They have the most amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos available.

Jan
03
Filed Under (Pets) by Catherine V. Testaratti

Many new dog owners are totally unaware of the needs of their pet. They feel like they need to feed them, let them out in the yard and give them a little love and that’s all. Well, there is a lot more to it then that.

We humans forget that we can not treat our dogs like people, and most of the time this is what is causing our problems with our dogs. We get a new puppy; they are so cute so we let them sleep with us like a baby. This creates the first of many problems.

As we try and put the cute puppy that’s growing and taking over the bed out of the bed and room, we are now faced with whining and scratching the door. Now another problem is created and no one in the house is sleeping. Well except your husband and kids because we know they can sleep through anything.

Sometimes these dogs that bark continuously when they are not with you are suffering from separation anxiety. One easy solution is to put the dog’s bed in the room with you or a family member. Moving the dog’s bed or crate into a room where he is sleeping with a family member should fix the problem.

As we mentioned above, crating a dog is a solution for sleeping problems. Dogs do feel safe when crated and you will be surprised how fast this works. Some owners feel bad for the dog, but don’t.

If you have a dog that you just can’t cure of the separation anxiety issues, some vets suggest getting the dog a friend. Getting another dog can give the anxious dog a companion and tends to help relieve the separation issues. They will play during the day while you are at work and tire themselves out.

Exercise is a key part of a dog’s day and should not be avoided even if they have a yard to run in. Walking the dogs for about 30 minutes and give them some socialization which they enjoy, just as we do. Hyper dogs really do need to be worn out and playing with them in the park is a good way to do this.

During the day while you are at work, your dog is usually home sleeping. Then when you return home for the evening, the dog is wired for sound. Keeping your dog active is the key to a peaceful nights sleep.

Younger more active dogs are in definite need of exercising. As dogs get older, they will slow down but you still need to take them out for walks and socialization. Being a responsible pet owner will provide your dog with a happy and healthy life and afford you a good night’s sleep!

Have a Pet that you Care For? Visit Catherine’s favorite Pet Supplies for Dogs online store that uses nature’s best ingredients. They have the most amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos available.

Even though a dog is a part your family, there are times that it makes more sense not to take the pet on a trip. If you do not take the pet on the trip you will need to make other arrangements for its care. While you might choose a kennel, you will find that Atlanta dog sitting services: A great value in a bad economy.

Kennels can be a bad hassle. They are often expensive, especially when you have to be out of town for more than a day or two. Kennels are often stressful for dogs and even when you choose the best kennel, your pet may come home ill. Add to that the time to get your pet delivered to the kennel and you may conclude that there has got to be something better.

Perhaps you have considered calling a pet sitting service, but are afraid that the service would be too expensive. Most people find that they can actually save money by hiring a pet sitting service instead of boarding their pet. Most people will save one-third to one half of the cost of boarding a pet by hiring the pet sitter instead of boarding the pet.

Using a dog sitter means that your precious pet gets to stay in his own home while you are gone. This is a much less stressful environment for most pets than spending a night or a week in a kennel cage.

Pet sitters are professionals that are normally insured and bonded. In addition, they will provide references of other customers who are very satisfied with their work. They also love animals. If they did not love animals, there are other businesses where they would be working.

In case of emergency, the dog sitter will get your pet to the vet and contact you immediately.

Sometimes we decide that we can just take the pet with us, however, this is often not the best choice for the dog. Remember to think about how the dog will react to this trip.

Even a long car trip is stressful for your pet. There are all the potty breaks in unfamiliar areas that are stressful. If the trip is by plane, the pet has to travel in an unheated cargo area of the plane. This can also be stressful for the pet.

In addition, you must make sure that you are in a pet friendly hotel. The additional cost for your pet to stay in the room with you are often even more than you would pay at the kennel and your pet cannot be left unattended in the room. With that in mind, what will your dog do during the times that you are stuck in a meeting, going out to eat in a restaurant or need to be in another place where your dog is not welcome.

Remember, Atlanta Dog sitting services are a great value in a bad economy. If your pet needs to stay behind when you travel, it is often best and the most economical choice.

You can go on vacation knowing that your pet is secure and safe with atlanta dog sitting. When you put your pet in the hands of Atlanta Pet Sitting, their every need will be attended to.

Jan
01
Filed Under (Pets) by Charles Mackey

Dogs are one of the animals that are considered as clean animals. Dogs have natural tendency not to soil the area where they eat and sleep. Dogs also have the habit to relieve on grass or on dirt rather on concrete. With this natural habit of a dog, dogs can be train successfully at your own home.

To start training your dog, you need to set up a few things in your house. One, you will need to have an established living area for your dog. It can be a bathroom, a part of the kitchen or a garage. You will also need to spend time with your dog in its area. It should also be able to play, eat and sleep in this area. And make sure that you have a special bed placed in his den. It can be an open crate or a large cardboard box. Do not get frustrated if your dog eliminates in its area. It will only do this in the beginning, but once he figure out that this is its own space, it will avoid dirtying the place.

When the time comes that your dog gets comfortable with his own bed, you can now move his bed anywhere you want inside the house. As owner, you can also strap your dog in the house so it will follow you where you want to go. Thus you can recognize his habits.

Second, you need to establish a toilet area for your dog. Make sure that the area can be access by your dog. In the beginning you need to accompany your dog while he eliminates until he develops a strong habit to eliminate at this area. And to make it easier for you and your dog, make a regular feeding schedule. Thus, if you know that your dog needs to eliminate, then you can take her to her toilet area. Usually a healthy adult dog can control his bladder and bowels for 8 hours.

One thing you shouldn’t do is to lock up your dog without giving him access to his toilet. Be warned, that when your dog soiled his room or his bed, it would be hard for you to train your dog and he can have a habit on soiling in his den.

One way to speed up the natural house training process is to praise and reward your dog every time he eliminates in his toilet area. It is also important not to shout at your dog for accidents and mistakes. This usually confuses a dog and can slow down house training process.

You must also make sure that his den is a bit smaller as larger dens can make your dog eliminate in that area. You can also take it frequently to its toilet area. You can also limit the frequency of your dog needing to relieve itself by limiting his water and giving him activities that won’t bore him. If this does not work, maybe you will need to visit the vet as your dog might have some medical conditions or urinary problems that can cause it to dirty his bed while he sleeps. So make sure that your dog is enjoying his den and that the dog is properly introduced to your dog. Because if not, it might feel imprisoned and will show signs of anxiety like barking, chewing and whining.

If you want some more good tips on home dog training, then head on over to directdogtraining.com for some good dog training tricks.

Jan
01
Filed Under (Pets) by Catherine V. Testaratti

As pet owners, our primary responsibility to make sure we are doing our part to keep our pets healthy. Sometimes that is not such an easy task. Diet is a main source of their health but with so many different types of food available, how do we know what’s best for our pet?

With our pets now being part of our family, we are more concerned about getting their needs met. With diet being a major factor in that, we will share some good facts to know. Of course, some dogs might require special diets so check with your vet for their opinion.

Something that we don’t think about is that dog food for dogs have certain requirements. Being the carnivores that they are, we forget that they also need vegetables and grasses as part of their diet. Get familiar with what your dog’s dietary needs are to make sure that they are being fed a healthy diet.

Back in the days before us humans got involved with prepackaged dog food, a dog’s diet left up to their own devices would consist of something a lot different. They would be eating their own catch of prey, uncooked of course with a little grass and some seasonal fruits and berries. Today we scream and holler if they even remotely look like they are heading out for the kill.

Within society today, it is intolerable for dogs to hunt for their fresh prey to eat. We have domesticated them to a point where they are dependent on their owners for their food. We certainly do not see our sweet little dogs as the hunter’s they were originally born to be.

Another thing to consider when choosing a dogs diet is the breed of your dog. In addition to breed, the function of the dog in regards to working can influence the nourishment your dog needs. Lap dogs have a different dietary need than a working farm dog or a dog breed that is from the North Pole.

There are commercial brand foods that are good for dog but be sure you buy the premium top brands. These brands are tested on dogs and they are monitored throughout various stages of their lifetime. The important thing is that they are manufactured with the right dietary needs for dogs.

Some of the downsides to commercial processed foods are that they do contain preservatives that will break down some of the nutritional value of the food. Additives are usually added to meet certain nutritional requirements as well. If you are uncertain about the food, your vet will usually carry good premium brands so check with them.

Just remember that you must supplement your dogs diet with meats and vegetables if you are only feeding them dry food. Whatever you decide to do about your dogs diet, make sure that you couple that with exercise and lots of love. Dogs are truly man’s best friend and they deserve to live happy healthy lives as well.

Have an Animal that you Love? Check out Catherine’s favorite Pet Supplies for Dogs online store that uses nature’s best ingredients. They have the most amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos on the market.