FRISKY DOG

Why Dogs Sniff the Ground

2006-12-13T17:06:00.000-08:00

Dogs need to sniff the ground; it's how they keep abreast of current events. The ground is a giant dog newspaper, containing all kinds of late-breaking dog news items, which, if they are especially urgent, are often continued in the next yard." ~ Dave Barry

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How to Combat Separation Anxiety In Dogs

2006-12-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

You leave and he howls. Not just for a moment, but seemingly forever. When the howling finally abates, it is replaced by a whine. When you return, you find your home a mess—he has engaged in destructive behavior that is completely out of character. Your dog has a real problem: separation anxiety.

Dogs love their owners and develop a very close relationship with them. Sometimes the closeness of that relationship can leave them confused and frightened when the owner is gone. Thy dog may seem confused, angry or sullen when the owner leaves and may appear to “lash out” against being left alone by ruining furniture, creating messes or otherwise acting in ways wholly inconsistent with his training. Separation anxiety is relatively easy to diagnose: an otherwise well-adjusted dog seems to transform into a monster when left alone. Unfortunately, it is not always quite as easy to treat the disorder.

Helping a dog to overcome problems with separation anxiety is a process, just like other aspects of training, it takes time and repetition to be truly successful. The idea of “training away” separation anxiety seems unlikely—how can you address a behavior when you are not present to see, prevent or correct it? Fortunately, there are actions one can take to decrease separation anxiety and to prevent your dog’s frustrated behavior from spiraling out of control during your absence.

Prepare the dog for your departure. Many people have a tendency to lavish attention on their dog before leaving. They may take extra time to play with the dog or find other ways to try to squeeze in a little extra “quality time” with their canine friend. Though well intended, this only makes the owner’s departure even more noticeable and worrisome for the dog. Instead of petting and kissing the dog goodbye, owners dealing with separation anxiety should take measures to correctly prepare the pet for their absence.

This can be done by intentionally decreasing interaction with the pet prior to leaving. Although one may want to spend extra time with a pet before leaving him alone, the best practice is to actually come close to ignoring your pet for several minutes prior to leaving. This will make your departure less jarring and should serve to decrease the dog’s level of anxiety.

If you are leaving for an extended period and feel the need to connect with your pet and to enjoy their company, find ways to do so earlier in the day. Resist the urge to say “goodbye” before actually leaving.

Provide an immediate distraction for the dog. Right before leaving, it is desirable to provide the pet with some sort of distraction. A new toy, for instance, may serve to occupy his attentions, allowing for a smoother transition to his “alone time.” Whatever immediate distraction is provided, make sure it is something that is likely to interest the dog for several minutes. The objective, after all is to maintain his attention on something other than your absence for as long as can be reasonably expected.

This technique has the added benefit of teaching your pet that his time alone will result in a pleasurable experience. He will begin to connect your departure with a fun toy or diversion instead of feeling it will only bring anxiety and loneliness.

One should also provide a more lasting distraction. Dogs crave human contact and will unavoidably miss it while alone. However, maintaining something of a human element to their surroundings can decrease the separation anxiety the feel when left without company.

Many have experienced success by keeping a radio or television tuned to programming featuring a great deal of dialogue. The dog will hear human voices and although he certainly won’t be fooled into believing he is in the company of human friends, the sound is still soothing and can reduce feelings of stress and loneliness.

Separation anxiety can be an absolutely befuddling issue for a dog owner. Even the most well-mannered and well-trained dogs can suddenly transform into destructive troublemakers as a result of separation anxiety. Training away this difficulty can be hard, especially when a dog feels very connected to his owner. However, by preparing your dog and utilizing appropriate immediate and lasting distractions, one can reasonably expect to reduce the anxiety experienced by their dog.

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How To Break Down the Different Dog Breed Types

2006-11-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

Of the approximately four hundred breeds of dog in the world, there are only 146 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Divided into sub groups, these groups are:

· Terriers
· Non-sporting
· Toys
· Sporting
· Working
· Hounds
· Herding

In the Terrier group, some of the breeds of dog are American Staffordshire terrier, border terriers, bull terriers, fox terriers, and jack Russel terriers. These breeds of dogs are usually competitive and determined. The fighting breeds, such as bull terriers and pit bulls, are assertive and fearless but they are trying to breed down their aggression. The vermin hunters such as jack Russel terriers are extremely fast.

In the non-sporting group, there is a huge diversity in origin, size and type of dogs. They bred many in the non-sporting groups to do specific jobs but because it is obsolete, they became companion dogs. The most popular are miniature and standard poodles. Some of the other dogs in the non-sporting group are chow chow, Dalmatian, American Eskimo, French bulldog, and Boston terrier.

The Toy Dog group consists of very small dogs that are wonderful companions. They are usually very affectionate pets and great for smaller homes and apartments. Some of the many dogs in the toy group are Boston terrier, cavalier King Charles spaniel, Chihuahua, Papillon, toy poodle and pug.

Dogs in the sporting group are alert and naturally active with remarkable instincts in the woods or water. Many sporting dogs still participate in field activities and hunting. These loyal, intelligent dogs require a lot of exercise. Some sporting dogs are the American water spaniel, Chesapeake Bay retriever, pointer, Irish water spaniel and Labrador retriever.

Working dogs do just that. They breed these dogs to do jobs such as water rescues, pulling dog sleds, avalanche rescue, smell out illegal drugs and guarding people or property. Saint Bernard dogs, Dobermans, boxers are just a few of many working dogs.

Dogs in the hound group are great hunters. Some use their intense sense of smell to trail their prey. Other hounds have tremendous stamina which shows when they run down their quarry. Some dogs in the hound group are beagles, black and tan coonhounds, American foxhound, and the bloodhound. Hounds have a very distinct howl that is not for everyone.

Dogs in the herding group have an uncanny ability to control sheep and other livestock by controlling their movements. Although most herding dogs are fabulous family pets, their herding instincts are still apparent when they try herding their owners, especially children. Along with herding, these dogs love playing, working, exercise, and easy to train. Herding dogs make fabulous companions and are quick at training exercises. Some herding dogs are the Australian cattle dog, Border collie, Belgian sheepdog, collie, Pembroke Welsh corgi, German shepherd and Shetland sheepdogs.

The advantage of getting a purebred dog is their predictable behavior but there are many wonderful mixed breeds dogs also. No matter which group of dog you consider for a pet always become knowledgeable before selecting a breed.

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Experts Agree: Pets as Gifts Not a Good Idea

2006-11-24T07:39:00.000-08:00

It certainly makes a heartwarming picture, but be kind to animals and resist the temptation to give a pet as a gift.

The scene of a wide-eyed puppy emerging from a brightly colored gift box cleverly placed under the tree on Christmas morning to the joy of the children nestled around is an image ingrained in advertisements and art during the holiday season. After all, the innocence and joy a pet provides seems perfectly in tune with the sentiments expressed during this time of giving and sharing.

But pet experts say that giving a pet, primarily a puppy or kitten, as a Christmas present is not in the best interest of the animal. What happens after the new owner finds a mess made on the carpet? Did anyone consider that a pet can live in upwards of 15 years for some breeds? There are many factors that play into the consensus that it's probably smart to skip the pet as present this year.

1. Between the ages of 7 and 12 weeks, the time when most puppies and kittens are allowed to leave their litter and be adopted or purchased, is an important time of development. At this stage an animal learns fear and avoidance, and can be traumatized if the conditions aren't calm and quiet when being introduced to a new family. The chaos of Christmas morning, replete with flashing cameras, cheers and hordes of people, definitely isn't the right environment for welcoming a pet, and could cause lasting anxiety issues not easily remedied by training.

2. What happens to holiday gifts come February or March, when the lights and tree are a distant memory? Many kids lose interest in the latest and greatest toys opened, and most are stored away, forgotten. If a puppy or kitten is relegated to "gift" status, he or she might also fail to enthrall a child once the realization of responsibility sets in.

3. Which brings to mind the next point ... responsibility. An animal is not a toy that can be shut off at the end of play. It has very real needs that must be met. Many gift-givers fail to consider whether the gift recipient is financially capable or mentally ready to care for a pet, which can take a considerable amount of time and effort. Dogs, particularly, require daily walks and lots of exercise. Cats may require a little less care, but need attention nonetheless.

Cats can live from 12 to 15 years. Many dog breeds have an average lifespan of 10 years. In the heat of the moment, a pet may seem like the ideal gift. But who will be caring for him or her several years down the line? Will your eight-year-old be available to play fetch when the dog is 12 and your "child" is now 20?

4. According to statistics kept by the Humane Society of the United States, the majority of puppies and kittens born in the United States never reach their second birthdays, even though their natural lifespans should be many times that length. They die from being hit by cars, euthanized by owners, starving tied up in the yard or being fatally injured in fights with other animals. Many run away or are taken to shelters, pounds or vets, where they are "put to sleep," usually before the age of two.

Veterinarians are very familiar with adoptions and gifts gone bad. This reality is often the result of a pet owner not comprehending the responsibility involved in owning a pet. Consider this fact from the Humane Society of the United States: Within six months of the release of Disney Studio's "101 Dalmatians," relinquishment of these dogs to animal shelters and Dalmatian rescue organizations had increased by at least 25 percent; preliminary statistics indicate a similar trend following the release of the sequel, "102 Dalmatians." This dalmation statistic indicates that pet purchases or adoptions should not be made impulsively based on trends or with heightened emotion during the holiday season, but rather when careful consideration has been given to welcoming a pet into the family. In fact, most reputable breeders who care about the animals they raise will not send a pet home with a person for Christmas morning.

5. If you have your heart set on getting a pet for the family, wrap up a leash, feeding bowls and a book on choosing the right pet under the tree. Once the recipient opens the gifts, he or she will realize your intentions. Then, together, the entire family can decide if it's the right time for a pet and choose a loveable companion that will be the right fit for all or choose to make a donation to a local shelter to provide care for an animal while not taking it into your home.

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Putting An End To Digging

2006-11-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

Dogs have a natural inclination to dig holes. It is instinctive behavior, but can be extremely destructive and inappropriate for dogs that spend a great deal of time in yards. A digging dog can ruin a great landscaping job, creating both great annoyance and expense for his owner. If your dog is a problem digger, there are three effective means by which to combat this frustrating behavior. These three guidelines, used in concert, will often eliminate digging behavior in dogs.

Address Your Dogs Comfort

First, it is important to realize one of the most common motivations for digging. Dogs often dig holes as a means of personal climate control. On hot days a dog may dig himself a cooling well. His newly dug hole will be a place for him to rest on a surface that is cooler than the rest of the ground.

If your dog’s digging habits seem to be related to heat, it is easy to solve the problem simply by addressing his needs. By providing a cool, shaded location in the yard, your dog may no longer feel a need to dig. Many have found that the use of a kiddy pool or other larger tub containing some water may also be of use in this endeavor. By making the dog’s surroundings “cooler,” you can easily eliminate his need to remove chunks of the yard to relax.

Likewise, dogs will sometimes dig to create a warm space during cold weather. By digging a small pit in which they can rest, the dog creates a space removed from brisk winds. Again, it is relatively easy to address the situation. Providing a warm space, such as a well-insulated doghouse can reduce the dog’s need to dig holes throughout your lawn.

By tending to a dog’s comfort, one can reduce a prime motivator of digging behavior. Keeping a pet adequately cooled during the summer and sufficiently warm in the winter is one of the most simple, yet effective, means of eliminating digging.

Exercise Your Dog Adequately

Dogs will also dig when they are inadequately exercised or are overly confined. A dog with excess energy to burn may turn to digging as a means of release. A dog who feels confined in his yard and yearns to run free will be likewise attracted to the prospect of digging those annoying holes.

This cause for digging can be addressed simply by making sure your dog is adequately exercised. Regular walks, play opportunities and other exercise outlets will leave your dog better rested—and less inclined to dig. The value of exercising a dog is immeasurable. It produces a happier, calmer dog who is more receptive to training and who is likely to be considerably more healthy than his under-exercised brethren. Thus, exercise should be pursued in all cases with all dogs. However, it brings with it the additional advantage of decreasing a dog’s interest in digging.

Keep Your Dog Entertained

Digging can also be symptomatic of boredom. A dog with little to do may find the instinctive behavior of digging holes to be a great way to occupy his time. The bored dog is more likely to seek solace in the instinctive act of digging holes than is the appropriately engaged pet.

As such, one can combat digging simply by making sure the dog has sufficient alternative sources of entertainment. As previously mentioned, regular exercise and activity offers hope in reducing digging behavior. Additionally, the presence of attractive and entertaining toys can provide a dog with other ways to spend his time and can reduce the likelihood that he will dig holes.

Dogs who are simply left alone in a yard with little else to do are, not surprisingly, apt to invent their own diversions. As digging is an instinctive activity, it is often latched upon as “something to do” for an otherwise bored dog. By providing more attractive play activities, one can remove this frequent cause of destructive digging behavior.

There are certainly other reasons why dogs dig and there are certainly problem dogs whose digging behavior will not immediately cease simply by following the three rules covered here. However, most dogs will curtail their destructive digging if their climate is appropriately managed, they are adequately exercised and they are provided with alternative diversions.

Though instinctive, digging is not necessarily inevitable. By tending to a dog’s needs, one can reduce instances of inappropriate digging.

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How Intelligent is Your Dog

2006-11-17T13:26:00.000-08:00

It is entirely normal to look for signs of intelligence in your dog. Even puppies that are not especially smart nonetheless display flashes of brilliance in their behavior.

And it is also very normal to look for the same things in our pets that we look for in our children, like a keen mind, a sense of humor and loyalty. But the trait that we tend to brag about the most is actually our dog’s intelligence.

There is not really a single type of canine intelligence. According to Stanley Coren, writer of 'The Intelligence of Dogs', there are several types of dog intelligence that can be measured by canine IQ tests...

The first one is named Adaptive Intelligence. This relates to learning and problem solving capability, the knowledge and skills a dog can acquire. It also pertains to how much time it takes for your dog to learn new a relationship.

As an example, if your dog recognizes people after just one or two visits, this indicates a good adaptive intelligence capability. You might also look at how well your dog comprehends the laws of cause and effect by observation.

The next type is Instinctive Intelligence, which simply deals with behaviors and skills programmed into the animal’s genetic code. For example, Sheep dogs and Border Collies are superb herding dogs. This is an innate abilty that these breeds of dogs have and has little to do with training.

The third type is Working/Obedience Intelligence, which involves the ability of an animal to follow commands. This type of intelligence is primarily dependant on the actual breed of the dog. Two examples are the dogs used for guiding the blind and for K9 police work.

Here are several tests you can try on your dog to check his intelligence.

At a time of the day that you do not usually walk your dog, pick up your keys and his leash when you know he’s watching. If he starts wagging his tail and gets excited, 3 points. If you have to walk to the door before he knows what’s going on, two points. If he sits there with a dumbfounded look, give him one point.

Now if your dog lets YOU know it is time to go to the bathroom by bringing you his own leash (without being trained to) or has mastered the toilet, your dog is truly a genius!

One way to test your dog's problem solving ability is to take a sizeable towel (or a blanket will do fine as well) and toss it over your dog’s head. If he frees himself from the covering in less than fifteen seconds, give him three points. If it takes fifteen to thirty seconds, two points. If it takes him longer than thirty seconds, give him or her a single point.

To check your dog's memory, Place some sort of treat under one of three buckets that are lined up in a row. And be sure that your dog sees which bucket the treat is under. Turn the dog away for about ten seconds or so and then let him go. If he or she goes straight to the bucket with the treat under it, three points. If it takes two tries to find the treat, two points. If he/she checks the wrong two first before finding the right one, one point.

Now if your dog scores six points or more, you have a canine genius; four to five points is average; three points or less, well…who said that intelligence was a prerequisite for love?

For additional information on dog wellness visit Dog Food and other Resources and learn more. Ryan Joseph is a writer/researcher in Pet and General health issues. For more detail visit http://www.dog-food-nutrition.info/ http://friskydog.blogspot.com http://friskydog.blog.com Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_Joseph http://friskydog.blogspot.com

The Saucy Chihuahua

2006-11-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

Nothing is cuter than a tiny Chihuahua. She is a graceful, alert, swift moving dog with a saucy expression.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world - 6-9 inches tall and weights between 2-6 pounds.

She has a small apple-shaped head with a short pointed muzzle. Very large, round dark bright eyes and large erect ears.

The Chihuahua has a stout body that is longer than it is tall with a sickle-shaped tail which is curled over the back or to the side.

Color: Can be any color. Common colors are, chestnut, black, tan, fawn, multi-colored and splashed.

Coat: Two distinctive Breed types: one with a long soft coat, the other with a short coat.

Life Expectancy: 15 years or more

PERSONALITY

A Chihuahua is very intelligent but can be strong willed.
Extremely loyal to her owner - Gives and demands a lot of affection.

Very intuitive and will copy the behavior and moods of her owner(s).

Has the reputation of being a good watch dog - very courageous, bold and aggressive. She does not seem to realize how tiny she really is.

Chihuahuas are very spunky and mischievous.

Unless she is properly socialized, she will not like strangers.

CHICHUAHUA AS A PET

A great companion dog - you will not find a better friend.

Not good with small children as the Chichuahhua will bite when teased.

Good with cats.

Can be aggressive toward other breeds of dogs. Usually will tolerate another Chihuahua in the home.

A great little dog for apartment living.

GROOMING

The Chihuahua with a smooth short-haired coat should be brushed occasionally. The breed with the long coat should be brushed daily with a soft brittle bush.

Both types should be bathed about once a month (careful not to get water in their ears).

TRAINING

Some Chihuahuas may be difficult to train, but they are very smart and learn quickly.

With a little patience you can have a wonderful little dog. They will respond well to gentle but firm training.

EXERCISE

Chihuahuas needs regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight. Since she is so tiny a body harness is safer than a collar for walks.

Be careful on extremely cold days as she hates cold weather.

FOOD

A Chihuahua should be feed a high quality dog food.

She has a tendency to overeat so her food consumption should be monitored.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

A Chihuahua tends to wheeze and snore because of her short nose.

She is susceptible to corneal dryness and glaucoma. Prone to gum problems, stress, colds, and Rheumatism. Vulnerable to factures and accidents due to her small size.

HISTORY

The Chihuahua was named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

It is the oldest breed of dog on the American continent.

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Jasmine Macdonald is an avid dog lover who writes the daily Frisky Dog. You can visit her site at: http://friskydog.blogspot.com for all kinds of advice for your "best friend" (A.K.A. your dog). http://friskydog.blog.com Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jasmine_Macdonald

Dogs Are Not People! Understanding the Differences Between People and Dogs

2006-11-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

Dogs are not people. It may seem like an obvious observation, but so many people make the mistake time and time again of expecting their dog to act and think like a person. They attribute human traits and emotions to these noble animals and thus undermine their whole relationship, sending confusing signals and stressing the dog.

Remember, the dog is an animal. Yes, even your cute little friend who curls up on the sofa next to you and loves to have his tummy tickled. He's an animal, and he MUST be treated as such to give him a healthy, fulfilling life. Small dogs are particularly prone to being treated as children or babies and this can lead to a multitude of behavioural problems, not to mention confusion and misery for the dog.

Firstly, let's look at the exchange of love between ourselves and our dogs. Most of us love our dogs and can feel a warm spot in the middle of our chests when we see them or think of them. Does the dog feel that too? We have to assume not. He loves us, but he loves us in a different way. He relies on us for his well-being and survival. He looks to us (if we are successful) as a leader of his pack and he trusts us in our decisions.

He is happy to be with you because he is a pack animal and his attachment to you may well be very deep. But he doesn't have the complicated love-psychology of a human being. He doesn't have the same concept of ethics and morality and he certainly doesn't know anything above and beyond what his animal instincts tell him. If a friend of yours enters the house and your dog doesn't like him, he's not going to “be nice” to the friend for your sake! Conversely, he doesn't misbehave or sulk to get attention or “pay you back” for something you did. These are human emotions and motives that we attribute to our dogs almost unconsciously.

We should also look at the concept of praise and punishment in training. On the whole, I advocate praising good behavior and ignoring misbehavior. I do not believe in punishing a dog for bad behavior, but sometimes a short, sharp shout can be a good reminder to a dog that is doing something he knows he shouldn't. It is essential to remember that you can only praise or give correction to your dog AT THE VERY MOMENT he is exhibiting the behavior in question. He is not a child and will not know nor remember what he did five minutes ago. This is a fundamental difference between people and dogs and if remembered, will make training a much easier task.

So the key to this is “think like a dog”. Imagine you are a pack animal like him. Don't ever think of him as a human, still less a child or a baby, whatever his size and however cute his face. You have to hard-wire this concept into your relationship with your dog and he will only thank you for it. He is a dog, an animal, and only by truly understanding this will you be able to fulfill his needs and form a meaningful, satisfying relationship for both of you.

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Positive Reinforcement Dog Training with a Clicker Really Works

2006-11-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Positive reinforcement has long been accepted as the most effective method to train children. Instead of disciplining for bad behavior, reward for good behavior. This is also true with most trainable animals, including dogs.

One popular method of using positive reinforcement to train a dog is to use a clicker. In case you were wondering, a click is not your TV remote control. A clicker is exactly what it sounds like: a device that makes a clicking sound.

Establishing clicker training is simple. First, bring your dog into a fairly closed in area so he can't wander off too far. Then click the clicker and give your dog a small treat. After giving your dog the treat, praise him and pet him extensively.

Then repeat the process. Click the clicker, give a treat, and praise your dog.

After doing this for about 15 minutes, walk to another area of the room. If your dog does not follow you, click the clicker and wait. When your dog makes even a small movement toward you, click the clicker, give a treat, and praise your dog.

When your dog moves away from you, do not click the clicker. Stay quiet and wait. As soon as your dog makes another move toward you, click the clicker, give a treat and praise your dog. If he comes all the way to you, make a real fuss over him and give him two treats. Show that you are really happy with him.

Once your dog has connecting coming to you with getting a treat (which may take a few practice sessions), start using the phrase "Rex, come here!", with your dog's name substituted for "Rex", of course. Then click the clicker and give a treat if he comes to you.

Are you starting to see the pattern here? Begin first by clicking the clicker and rewarding any step made toward the goal--in this case coming to you. Once that goal is associated with a treat, start associating the goal with the words (such as "Rex, come here!"). In time the clicker will not be necessary, as the dog will associate the words with the desired action.

This method can be repeated with virtually any other commands that you want to teach your dog.

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Opening A Kennel: General Tips and Guidelines

2006-11-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

Opening a kennel is a huge undertaking, even for those who have worked in kennels before or think they know all there is to know about caring for dogs. The following tips and guidelines will help you plan for your business and will, perhaps, bring to mind things you hadn’t considered before.

1. Consider the cost of opening up a new business and make sure that you have the financial backing to support the venture. You should have enough funding set aside just in case it takes a few months or more for your business to really take off.

2. Make sure that the location of your kennel is zoned for that use.

3. Make sure that the building you choose to house your kennel either has all of the facilities you’ll need (enough space, fixtures, etc.) or can be easily modified to accommodate your needs.

4. Make sure that you have either applied for or received all the relevant state, county or local permits. Become an expert on the all of the regulations and statutes that govern kennel operations in your region and follow them to the letter.

5. Exceed the minimum standards of care at your kennel. This will help to ensure that you are indeed following all regulations and statutes. Potential customers will also be attracted by this attentiveness.

6. If you have employees, you’ll need to investigate group insurance plans. Some businesses pay for a portion of employee premiums. Even if you can’t afford to, however, you still may be able to negotiate a low group insurance rate for you and your staff.

7. Learn all you can about workman’s compensation insurance. If you have employees, you will have to pay for this insurance yourself – you cannot deduct it from the paychecks of your employees. Workman’s compensation insurance is mandated in every state and will pay your employee’s medical bills should he or she be injured on the job, even if the injury is the employee’s fault Workman’s compensation insurance will also cover any of your injured employee’s lost wages. If you keep a consistently safe workplace and keep the number of accidents down, you may qualify for lower premiums.

8. Utilize low-cost advertising and marketing to spread the word about your kennel. Neighborhood newspapers and door-to-door flyer distribution are great places to start. Word-of-mouth advertising, however, especially in a business that involves entrusting your furry family member to a stranger, can be very powerful as well. Encourage this by offering discounts to your current clients in exchange for referrals. Also maintain a professional looking website.

9. Provide multiple services (grooming, day care, pet supplies, obedience training, etc.) This will not only broaden your customer base, but will prompt multiple visits from existing customers.

10. Make sure that you and all of your employees are trained to deal with dogs in any situation and can remain calm in a crisis. Inexperienced and nervous dog handlers will only inspire fear and nervousness in the dogs they are caring for. This, of course, can lead to aggression and biting.

11. Provide a kennel that allows for dogs to play together for a set period of time everyday. Also make sure that all of the animals boarded there will receive an adequate amount of exercise throughout their stay.

12. Make it clear to the pet owners that if their animal becomes a serious threat to the safety of the employees or other boarded animals, you will be unable to board the animal again. Let the owner know that if the danger posed by their animal is serious enough, they will have to pick up their pet immediately or arrange for someone else to pick him up. Make sure that you have a signed contract that clearly states your obligations to the pet and the pet owner’s obligations to you.

11. Gain accreditation through the American Boarding and Kennel Association (AKBA). Accreditation through AKBA will increase the comfort level of your customers by letting them know you are dedicated to providing the best possible facilities for their pet. AKBA will examine and certify the following areas of your business and facility: personnel, office, reception area, record keeping practices, business practices, grounds, work areas, kennel area, animal care procedures, environmental controls, sanitation, trash and sewage disposal procedures, pest control, fire safety, grooming facilities, business vehicles, community play areas and availability and diversity in the animals boarded.
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Do You Need Pet Insurance?

2006-10-30T09:12:00.000-08:00

Should you seriously consider buying a dog health insurance policy? Yes, you should. Here's why health insurance for dogs is a good idea:

Dog health insurance saves you money. As with just about all other costs, veterinary expenses have increased rapidly in recent years. Without dog medical insurance (or more accurately, veterinary insurance), you are responsible for paying for everything: routine checkups, preventive procedures, emergency care and disease treatments. That will run into hundreds of dollars. Why not get some help?

Dog Health Insurance: Quick Cost Facts

Health insurance for your dog, like health insurance for yourself, has annual premiums and deductibles. Pet insurance premiums depend on the breed of your dog and the type of policy you decide upon. If you have more than one dog, there is usually a reduced rate after the first policy.

Dog health insurance deductibles can vary as well. The average annual deductible is about $100. You may choose among different coverage plans which are based on your dog’s age, breed, and pre-existing medical conditions. Some policies even consider the dog’s lifestyle; for instance, whether your dog is purely a pet or a watchdog, too.

Health Insurance for Dogs: Quick Coverage Facts

Dog insurance healthcare plans can vary greatly. Some canine health plans are quite comprehensive, covering annual checkups, routine care, vaccinations and other preventive medications, and spaying/neutering, as well as illnesses and accidents. Others only cover unexpected sickness or injuries.

Dog insurance coverage for emergencies begins immediately on most new dog health plans, with a 30-day waiting period for illness and other claims.

Your dog’s age can affect your dog's health insurance coverage. Typically, policies begin veterinary healthcare coverage when the dog is 6 to 8 weeks old, although some will start when the dog is younger. Similarly, some dog health insurance companies only will cover dogs under 8 years old unless the animal was already insured with them before turning 8.

Many dog health insurers will not cover your pet if she has a preexisting condition or a terminal illness. Some will insure the dog only if the condition is controlled or stable, usually for 6 months.

With all these options, it is important you check out the various dog health insurance companies, their pet insurance policies and corresponding dog healthcare plans.

In short, if you care about your dog, you should care about his health. If you care about your wallet, you should care about your dog's health insurance coverage, too.

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How To Teach Children To Care For The Dog

2006-10-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

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If you have a child, you’ve probably heard these familiar words, “Can we keep him?” Dog’s aren’t just a man’s best friend anymore; they’ve become the whole family’s friend. If you’re like any typical family, the children will probably spend the most time with your new dog. This is why it’s very important you teach your child how to take care
of him. Here are a few dog rules to teach them:

1. Make sure you remember to feed the dog and give him fresh water each day. Explain that dogs, especially puppies, need nutrition each day for energy and proper growth. If you have an outside dog, it’s especially important that his water dish is changed everyday. Standing water is a breeding place for mosquitoes. Also dirt can get flung into their dish. It is equally important for small children to be supervised when dealing with this type of responsibility. Sometimes smaller children can be too eager to help. Explain to your children why we don’t feed dog’s certain foods such as sweets. Dog food is made to meet their dog’s nutritional needs and sweets can make their dog sick.

2. Being N-I-C-E to your dog is another lesson to teach children. Younger children, particularly under the age of four, have a tendency to be rough with animals. Pulling tails and ears just comes naturally with their curiosity. With a new dog, you may not know his temperament very well or how he may react to your child’s curiosity. Lead by example. Show your child how to be kind to animals. Show them how to gently pet them on the head or back and that hitting or pulling can hurt the dog.

3. Teach your child about the importance of exercise with the family dog. In order for the dog to stay healthy he must move around and play. If the dog is not overpowering, let your child walk the dog with a leash. Another fun activity for exercise is fetch. Let your child throw a ball or stick for the pet to chase. This is lots of fun for both participants.

4. If you have a rambunctious puppy, make sure your child doesn’t leave things lying around. Puppies love to chew on whatever they can sink their teeth into. If they see your daughter’s favorite dolly on the floor, or your son’s tennis shoe, the puppy will show no reserve. They will usually dive right in. Tell your child that your puppy is too young to understand, and that until he gets older, be extra careful about leaving things lying around.

5. Keep bathroom doors shut. Dogs are notorious for drinking from the toilet bowl. If you can help it, reduce the temptation for him, by teaching your child to keep bathroom doors shut.

6. If you have an indoor dog then he’s got to have potty breaks outside. Keep a schedule of bathroom breaks for your dog. This is one of the not so fun parts of taking care of a new pet. Remind your child that if the new dog doesn’t keep to the scheduled potty breaks that he may find a place in the house. In training a new dog to use the bathroom outside, the scheduled times must be strictly kept.

7. Make a chart. If you child is having problems remembering to feed the pet or take it out for breaks, it would be a great idea to make a chart of things to do each day. Let your child mark a check when the chore has been completed. The more he/she completes the chore, the easier it will be to remember.

Children don’t always see the bigger picture of taking care of a new dog, but with our guidance, they will no doubt become good little pet owners. It’s a good idea to applaud your child when he/she takes on responsibility and follows through with it. This will give them confidence to mature and take on more responsibility as they get older. Taking care of a pet is a big responsibility. Teach your kids that just as they have to be taken care of by parents, their pet has to be taken care of as well. Our pets depend on us everyday.
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How to Teach Your Dog To Heel

2006-10-14T07:13:00.000-07:00

One of the first commands your dog learns should be the “HEEL” command. This command will be helpful in insuring the safety of your pet while out in public and will make you look like the owner of a well-mannered and lovable pet. To add to the beauty of all this, the command itself is quite simple and almost any dog can learn the meaning of the command with 30 minutes or so of effort.

So what is the function of the “heel” command? This one word command tells your dog that the animal is to walk directly at your side, not before or after you. This provides safety for your pet in public places as well as for yourself. The command keeps your pet at your side rather than running through the picnic blankets of park goers and, if you own a larger more menacing breed, makes you seem a less approachable target to would-be criminal elements.

Wow, that sounds great… How do I teach my pet? Well, it isn’t as difficult as you might think. There are two general methods of training. One uses only positive reinforcement and the other uses a mixture of both positive and negative tactics. First we will discuss the positive reinforcement method.

In this method, you must first place your dog on a short leash and procure several of the dogs favorite food treats. Decide which side you prefer your dog to walk on and train from this side in the following manner:
With the dog by your side, facing in the same direction, place a treat in your hand next to your hip. In a firm, yet gentle voice, say “heel” and walk forward. When the dog responds by stepping with you, praise her and reward her with the treat. Remember to be consistent and not to reward before the action is carried out, yet always reward for a good performance.

With a lot of patience, this method will work well for most dogs and results in a close bonding of the pet to the owner. However, some dogs are just naturally harder to train, just like some people. If you are blessed with one of these independent and strong willed pets then you might have to avail yourself of a different method of training, which was mentioned earlier in this discussion.

To use the second training method, you must start with a slightly longer leash of approximately seven to ten feet. Allow your pet a few moments to explore the boundaries of the leash and understand how it works. Then call the animal to your side and position yourself as before with the animal next to you, facing the same direction. In a firm voice, say “heel” and walk forward. At this time, the dog will probably not walk with you. It will, instead, begin to explore most likely running in a different direction than where you are leading.

To correct this behavior, turn in the opposite direction of the pets’ direction of travel and take a few steps forward, quite briskly, as you raise the leash to shoulder height and let it play out behind you. The result of this action will be seen as the animal quickly reaches the end of the leash and their forward momentum teaches them the age old physics lesson that “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.” The animal will quite quickly learn that to disobey the heel command results in a discomforting feeling from the sudden stop at the end of the leash and, after a short while, will learn to obey the command. When the dog reaches the state of obedience, be sure to reward her with lots of positive reinforcements, such as play time and treats, along with rich verbal praise.

Whichever of these methods you choose in the training of your pet, the “heel” command is sure to go a long way in making you a much happier pet owner who will be proud to show your pet anywhere. Remember to train with love, patience and consistency and your pet will reward you with loyalty and many, many years of companionship.

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The Most Popular Dog Breeds For Children

2006-10-12T03:15:00.000-07:00

In choosing a dog for the family, it’s a good idea we keep the children in mind. Some dogs are not tolerant of children and can be a threat to them. There are many breeds of dogs out there to choose from. Do your homework to see which one works the best with your family and especially your children.

By far the number one best dog breed for children hands down, would have to be, you guessed it, Labrador Retriever. This dog is well accepted because of its good nature. It is not generally aggressive or hyper. It is playful, easy-going, intelligent and patient. No wonder it is loved by the young and old. Because of its mild manner, it is first choice in working with the handicapped. It is has desire to please as if it knows its plight. The Lab is also a great pick if you have other animals. They are very accommodating. A well taken care of Lab can live up to 13 years. In order to reduce boredom in these dogs, they should be kept active. These dogs love playing in the yard or taking walks.

Number two on the list is the Golden Retriever. They are similar to the Lab in their personality. They are also mild mannered, kind and they enjoy being around people. They too are a top pick for working with the handicapped as well as the elderly. They too get along with other pets. These dogs are intelligent creatures to train. Playing fetch is a favorite game for them. Because of their playful nature, this breed of dog would be great for an older child who enjoys the outdoors. Regular grooming is required because of their long hair.

The next pick is the Beagle. Even though they have a baying bark, they are not aggressive dogs. What their barking does say about them is they make great watch dogs. These dogs have a friendly demeanor about them. Their tails seem to be in an unending wagging motion. Because friendliness comes natural with them, they do not like being left alone. They become bored when left by themselves for too long. They are great picks for smaller children because of their size.

Another great pick for children is the Basset Hound. They are generally docile, yet they’re known for their stubbornness. They are also known for their gentleness and are quite sweet by nature. They’re great with children of all ages and enjoy attention from them.

The German shepherd is another pick. Again, these are probably best for older children who enjoy playing outdoors. Because of their size and strength, they are probably not suitable for younger children. German Shepherds are known for their loyalty. Police often use this type of dog for search and rescue missions. They are protective by nature and are quite tolerant. It’s best to start training these dogs as pups. Without training, they can be a handful.

The black and white spotted Dalmatian is associated with fire trucks. But for a family, a Dalmatian would be a trusted friend. They are very outgoing dogs with lots of energy to spare. This dog needs companionship from humans.

The Bearded Collie is another great pick. These are active dogs and would do best outdoors. They like to have open space to run, so being confined to an apartment would not suit these dogs.

Then there’s the American Cocker Spaniel. They are sensitive and sweet dogs. They are generally obedient to their master and enjoy the attention of children. They are definitely a people friendly dog.

The Bearded Collie is known for its bounce. This dog is very playful and happy. They like to be around people and will not hide their excitement of being around you. Female Collie’s tend to be calmer, while males are more rambunctious.

Cockapoos not only are good around children, but they get on with other pets as well. They do not need a lot of space. Apartment life is OK with them.

In choosing the right dog for your family, always remember that there are always exceptions to the rules. Each dog is an individual, and why for the most part certain breeds are more children friendly, you should always be cautious with your child around unknown dogs.

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Keeping Your Dog Warm In The Winter

2006-10-10T04:24:00.000-07:00

For many dog owners, how to keep their dog warm during the cold winter is a big concern. Luckily for them, there are many ways to do this.

If your dog is small, has short hair, or is older, you may want to consider purchasing a jacket to help keep him warm. In some climates, it is appropriate to choose a sweater for the fall months and a heavier jacket for the colder winter months. When choosing outerwear for your dog choose something simple that is easy for you to put on. You may need to acclimate your dog to wearing a coat as some dogs do not like to be dressed up. To do this, simply put the coat on for short periods each day making sure to give lots of good treats. Your dog will learn to associate wearing his coat with yummy treats making it much easier for you to dress him.

Choose a coat made from durable materials that are easy to care for. Just because it’s cute doesn’t necessarily mean that it is appropriate. Also, if snow is a concern, look for water resistant materials. Make sure to know your dog’s measurements and follow the manufacturer’s directions to ensure proper fit.

Dogs that walk a lot, work outside, or are older, may also need to wear boots. Dog boots are available from many manufacturers and help keep feet protected from ice, snow, and salt. As with coats, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions to ensure proper fit. If you choose not to purchase boots for your dog, make sure to remove ice and snow from between his pads when he comes inside. This will help keep him warm as well as help prevent dry, cracked, irritated pads.

If your dog lives primarily outside, you will want to make sure you get him a good quality shelter of some sort. Many pet supply stores and online manufacturers make great quality dog houses in a variety of styles for every budget. You will want one that will help keep wind, rain, and snow away from your dog. You will want to make sure that the opening to the dog house does not face the wind. You will also want to make sure that you lay down straw or provide a bed or several blankets to help protect your dog from the frozen ground. Make sure to change the straw and/or bedding periodically.

Blankets and beds can get wet and straw, when wet, can get moldy. Moldy straw can lead to upper respiratory and skin infections. Some people like to provide heat to their outside dog houses. It is not a good idea to do this with heating pads or space heaters with electrical cords. Your dog can chew through these cords causing a hazardous accident. If you choose to provide heat to your outdoor dog, it is best to have this done professionally. Some pet stores offer heated beds that contain a disc that can be heated in the microwave or with hot water periodically.

During the winter, it is just as important to keep your dog properly groomed as it is during the summer. Your dog’s coat provides natural insulation against the elements. It is important to keep your dog’s coat brushed and free of mats and burrs. The hair between the foot pads needs to be trimmed up to help prevent ice balls from forming. Regular grooming will help ensure proper body temperature during the winter months.

Some dogs, especially those kept outside, will require extra food during the winter months. It is important to discuss these nutritional needs with your veterinarian or pet professional. If your dog is kept outside, it is also very important to make sure that he has access to clean, fresh water at all times. Snow and ice are not appropriate for hydration. Be careful to make sure that his water has not frozen over.

There are many things you can do to ensure that your dog stays warm and safe during the winter months. If you have further questions about how to do this, please ask your veterinary staff or pet professionals.

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5 Easy Steps To Stop Your Puppy From Chewing

2006-10-08T04:01:00.000-07:00

You got your new puppy almost a week ago. In that time, the little beast has eaten three pairs of shoes, four of your favorite Stephen King novels ( He left Cujo alone… Maybe he is a fan too? ), gnawed the trim around the bathroom doorway, chewed thru the power cord of your laptop and, just this morning, you found him gleefully chewing up your wallet with a side order of your credit cards. This is getting expensive really fast and starting to get dangerous for the pup also. Maybe it’s time we intervened?

So how do we handle this situation? Once again, we want to be sure our young charge is healthy to begin, so off to the vets office if you haven’t been recently. There is a medical condition that can cause chewing in pups aside from the normal tendencies they have of chewing to explore their world. This illness is called Pica and causes your pet to eat non-food items in an attempt to deal with nausea. So please visit your veterinarian and make sure your animal has a clean bill of health.

The next step involves understanding that, while chewing is a normal and healthy part of any pup’s development, it has acceptable and unacceptable outlets. Puppies learn about their world thru chewing much the same as human children. They use their senses to explore the new world, which lies before them and their tactile sense, and sense of taste is brought into play as they chew on various objects. Much like human children, pups also need our protection from the dangers that lurk in their explorations. Electrical cords, needles, poisonous houseplants and household chemicals, even chocolate, all pose very real threats to your pet. It is your duty to protect the animal from these dangers.

Consistent training with the “NO” command can do this. No is a word your dog should learn early and respond to instantly. This one word has saved many dogs from many horrible fates. The pup is trained by repeatedly using the “NO” command every time a situation occurs. If you pet is caught chewing on your shoes, say “NO” in an affirmative tone and take the item from the animal. Do not let it become a game of tug-o-war. Rather, remove the item quickly or back up your “NO” with a spray from a water bottle, a loud clapping of the hands or a light but convincing tap on the nose. This little diversion is usually enough to make a dog lose interest in whatever they may have been chewing on. Also, do not give chase to an animal chewing on an undesirable selection of chew toy.

The will interpret this action to be a game and they will be most happy to play for hours on end. Instead, calmly work your way towards the animal and then remove the object. For items that are habitually mistreated, a chemical additive such as Bitter Apple may be in order to impart a foul taste to the item and make it unpalatable for the animal to chew on. Crate Training is also effective to stop chewing behavior and we shall discuss this course at length in later articles.

You do not want to completely destroy your dogs urge to chew however as this habit is healthy for them when exercised correctly. Instead, offer them suitable objects for their chewing pleasure. Perhaps a dog toy ( For quieter households, remove any squeakers from the toy. ) Rope toys and crunchy dog biscuits provide good outlets for a dog’s destructive behavior and also help to keep up the oral hygiene of your pet.

Also be aware that all animals are different. Your dog may react differently than another dog in a given situation. Some dogs develop aggressive stances upon attempts to remove an object from their possession. If your dog becomes aggressive and territorial, then professional assistance is highly recommended to avoid further problems or biting.

With these simple suggestions, you can insure your pups’ good health and the well being of your book collection. You might even find the time to spend some quality time reading Cujo again with your new best friend.
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How To Teach Your Dog To Fetch

2006-10-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

The time has come to have a bit of fun with your pet. You step out the door, unhook the leash and throw a tennis ball to the other end of the yard… And your dog looks up at you like you just lost your mind. What went wrong? Looks like its time to head back to the training ground for Fetch lessons.

Fetch is a simple command and is taught easily to puppies but is not beyond the grasp of older dogs as well. In this simple form of a rudimentary game, fetch is primarily used as an entertainment with a primary purpose of creating bonding time between dog and trainer. In more advanced forms, it is used in police dog training for such things as weapon recovery and drug location. So how do we go about teaching this behavior?

One of the basic methods of training the fetch command is using two toys in a bait and switch routine. The toys must be identical and something the dog enjoys playing with. Starting with the dog on a leash or a halter, hide one of the toys on your person and throw the other a short distance after showing it to your pet. Release the dog from the leash and say “fetch” or whatever cue word you choose. The dog will chase after the toy and, most likely, will pick it up. When the animal starts to return with the first toy, produce the hidden one.

The animal will likely drop the toy they are carrying in favor of the new toy. When this happens, wait for the dog to return to you and be reattached to the leash before throwing the new toy. After throwing the new toy, say “fetch” while releasing the animal to give chase. While your dog is chasing the new toy, run and retrieve the first toy. Repeat this process several times using the fetch command. For dogs that are not toy motivated, try adding a bit of flavoring to the game by way of some meat spread or some food reward when the behavior is carried out properly. Toys such as the Kong toys are great for this as they can be stuffed with all manner of pleasant surprises for your pet.

Another method is the forced retrieve. This is accomplished by throwing the toy a short distance and manually walking the dog to the object and waiting for them to pick it up. Reward them generously for finding and picking up the object. In further stages, have a partner walk the dog out for the pick up and then have them walked back to you with the item. Again reward them generously for making the retrieve.

A few of the common tips given by many pet trainers are quite useful in this area. One of the first is not to go for long distance throwing. Short throws are easier for the animal to keep a visual on and require less concentration. They also make for less work for the trainer should the dog fail to adequately grasp the concept. Another point is to reserve fetch toys for fetch. If you let your dog play with the toy all the time, they lose their novelty and the dogs drive to chase them will be greatly diminished. If you make the dog wait to play with these toys then they are a special treat and the dog will see the toy itself as a reward.

Another tip is to be certain to hold the animal a moment before allowing them to chase the object. This gives them a moment to clearly focus on the objective and to build a stronger desire to retrieve the object they seek. Thus, when they are released, they spring to the object in a flurry of motion and grasp it up easily. Another wonderful tip is to avoid the use of sticks as fetch toys. They are hard on the animal’s mouth and may contain parasites or poisonous substances, not to mention confusing the animal if you play near an area with tree growth.

With these simple techniques and tips mastered, you are ready to take to the park with your Frisbee, tennis ball or throwing dummy and enjoy a great afternoon of exercise and bonding with your pet.
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Pet Sitters Know Home is Better for Animals

2006-10-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

There is something about home that is comforting to people and animals alike. Familiar surroundings, noises and routines have a calming effect on the day. Despite the benefits of being at home, many people regularly rely on outside boarding for their pets largely due to lack of knowledge of other options.
According to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), 60 percent of all households in the United States have some sort of pet, be it a dog, cat, bird or small animal. Most treat their pets just like a child or another member of the family, with the needs of the pet ranking highly. Decisions, then, about health care, grooming and pet sitting are very important
In the past pet owners had to rely on an animal hospital, private boarder or a family member to watch their animals when they needed to be away from home. This often required pets to be taken out of their familiar surroundings and placed in a different home or into a cage for extended periods of time - something that was against the norm. While some animals are more forgiving of being uprooted, many display feelings of anxiety when separated from their owners and home. This can result in erratic or destructive behavior. Upon pickup, the animal may act depressed or despondent toward his owner.
NEW OPTION: PET SITTERS
Pet sitters provide a better option for many pets, as experts agree that the in-home and personalized care a pet sitter can provide is more in tune with an animal's needs.
Pet sitters are individuals who visit the home and take care of a pet while an owner is away, whether at work or on a vacation or business trip. While many pet sitters operate independent businesses, NAPPS was created to provide education, networking and professional integrity, helping to foster success for pet sitters. The association promotes excellence among pet sitters and serves as a voice for the expanding industry. Participating members agree to a Pledge of Professional Conduct, and NAPPS can provide certification in pet sitting as well.
ADVANTAGES TO SITTERS
Besides the apparent benefits of a pet sitter, including keeping a pet in his home environment, there are other advantages to going the pet sitter route.
· Pet sitters eliminate the need to pack up the animal to transport to a boarding establishment. This is a plus for those who are time-crunched. Plus, some boarding establishments do not allow toys and food to be brought in. A pet who has to eat food that is not the norm could develop short-term stomach upset.
· Many pets do not like car travel. Since pet sitters come to the home, a pet owner needn't stress out their pet with a car ride.
· Pet sitters are professional individuals who take pride in watching a pet. They will not "forget" to check in on an animal as friends and family members may happen to do with hectic schedules.
· In addition to pet care, sitters also may be able to take care of other needs while a person is away, such as watering plants, taking in the mail/newspapers, and serving as a deterrent to would-be burglars, since it is apparent someone is visiting the home on a regular basis.
EASING THE TRANSITION
Communication is key to pet sitting. There are steps pet owners can take to make the experience go on smoothly.
· Talk about what is required of the sitter. Clearly spell out the pet's eating, playing and resting schedules. If the animal is taken on walks, mention those times as well.
· Leave all supplies in a designated space that is easy to access. This should include food, litter, treats, toys, medicine, etc. Also, post the vet's phone number and include emergency information.
· Talk about the pet's behavior and temperament. Point out favorite hiding places or things that may frighten him. Set up a meeting with the pet sitter in advance of a trip so that the pet becomes familiar with the sitter's appearance, smell and disposition and will remain calm when she enters the home without an owner present.
· Let the sitter know of any rooms or behaviors that are off limits.
For more information on pet sitting or to locate the services of a local sitter, visit http://www.petsitters.org/.

Fun Site

(Please click picture!)
http://friskydog.blog.com

Stopping Your Dog From Jumping Up

2006-10-02T05:04:00.000-07:00

Many dogs jump up when greeting their owners, friends and other pets, but in many cases this is not behavior that should be encouraged. You, as the dog's owner, may not mind, but guests may well be annoyed, frightened or simply worried about hygiene issues of having a dog's face close to their own.

Some trainers have advocated kneeing a dog in the chest to stop it from jumping up. I DO NOT advise this – it may hurt the dog or your knees and it will almost certainly not cure the behavior. We need to look at the reason the dog responds and tackle the problem from its root.

The behavior usually begins with a trigger, such as a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing. The dog will be immediately alert and ready for a visitor – he thinks that it is his job to welcome a guest, to check a stranger, to keep the pack and the territory safe. This is where the problems begins, because it should be the owner who has the responsibility of welcoming, checking and maintaining safety, not the dog.

So, when the trigger occurs, put your dog away in another room. You have effectively controlled your dog's behavior and can now welcome your guest in your own way. You will have raised your status in the pack and reduced your dog's, showing him that you are in control of who enters the house and in what manner they are greeted. You will also have saved your guest from being jumped on!

When your dog is allowed through to see your guest, do this in a controlled manner and don't allow him to jump up. As soon as his behavior is anything less than acceptable, banish him to another room. He will soon realize that he must follow your rules if he wants to stay with you and the guest.

If your dog jumps up on you when you come back home, there are two strategies for dealing with this. The first is to ignore your dog for a good five or ten minutes when you the enter the house. Don't look at him, don't speak to him and don't react if he does something to get your attention. Just turn away and ignore even bad behavior. He will be very confused at first, especially if you're in the habit of making a big fuss of him on entering the house, but after five to ten minutes he will settle down and maybe even lay down quietly. Then you can call him to you, praise him and give him a little treat.

If your dog jumps up at you, it's because he has been rewarded in some way for this behavior. Even being told off or shouted at can seem to be a reward to a dog that's desperate for attention. So when he jumps up, hold his front paws and keep him standing up on his back legs. Don't let him down and stretch him upwards a little. He will wriggle and want to get down, even mouth your hands to make you let go of his paws. Let go and reward him when he is back on the ground where he belongs.

If he jumps up again, go through the same procedure until he learns that jumping up produces a situation he doesn't find rewarding. You must be firm, kind and consistent to ensure that the message is being received loud and clear.
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Justine Kay is an experienced dog owner and trainer. She is the webmistress at WWW.DOGTRAININGTIPS.COM where she writes dog training articles and discusses the intricacies of dog psychology. http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Tips for Safe Travel With Your Pet

2006-09-30T05:37:00.000-07:00

Planning a road trip with Rover? Even the most enthusiastic traveler can become agitated and anxious on a very long ride. Here are some suggestions for making car travel safe and pleasant for you and your dog:

* Watch the temperature. Even with the air conditioning on, a dog riding in the back of a van can become overheated from direct sunlight shining into the vehicle. Sun shades will reflect heat and keep your traveling companion cool. And small battery-operated fans attached to the dog's crate will keep the air moving.

* Remember to never leave your dog in a closed car. It can take just minutes for the temperature to rise enough to kill an animal.

* Help your dog relax. If your dog becomes anxious, a calming product, like Pluto Pet's Pet Calming Spray, may help relieve his fear, nervousness and aggression. Made from natural ingredients, the spray acts quickly, causes no side effects and meets all Food and Drug Administration guidelines for good manufacturing practices.

Avoid tranquilizers, which can lower the animal's blood pressure and make the dog more prone to heat-related medical emergencies.

* Keep the dog contained. Your travel companion should either be in a crate or restrained by a seatbelt made especially for animals. Dogs riding unrestrained in a car can be dangerous to themselves, the humans riding with them and other motorists.

* Make two tags: one with your home address and another with the destination address in case the dog gets lost while on the road. You should also have your dog's rabies tag and certificate and medical records.

* Pack a doggie bag. Your dog will appreciate some familiar things from home - a favorite blanket, for instance, and some toys. Bringing drinking water and food from home will help avoid stomach upset. And don't forget the cleanup supplies, because accidents happen.

* If your dog is territorial and you spend a night in a motel, keep the curtains drawn so the dog won't feel the need to protect his new turf from everyone who walks by your windows.

* Have fun! A trip together can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your dog.
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Is Your Dog Overweight?

2006-09-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

Obesity is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting dogs today. The frequency of obesity has increased greatly in recent years, due primarily to overeating and lack of exercise. Dogs are not much different than people in this respect. But how do we know if our dog is overweight?

A check-up with your veterinarian is always best, especially since he has your dogs records from his last exam and can compare weight as well as any other clinical indicators. However, you can perform a similar examination at home.

Start by running your hands down the dog’s sides, over her rib cage. You should be able to feel the ribs with only a slight layer of fat over them. Each rib should be distinct to your touch. However, you should not be able to see the dog’s ribs. This would indicate that the dog is too thin and under-nourished.

Next look at your pet from above to see if he has a waist behind the ribs. If the area is slightly smaller than the rib cage, the weight is ok. If the area is larger than the ribs, a diet should be started soon. However, if the rib cage is pronounced, along with the upper leg, your pet is too thin.

Look at your dog from the side. Specifically look at the spine at the top, and the abdomen or stomach behind the rib cage. You should be able to feel the spine and the tops of the shoulders with only a slight amount of fat over them. Too much fat is overweight, too little is undernourished.

The abdomen or stomach should show a slight truck or taper up from the rib cage back to the hind legs. If your dog is overweight, he will have no tuck, if he is too thin, the tuck will be extreme, along with a pronounced rib cage.

A good rule of thumb to follow is simply if your dog looks healthy and nourished he probably is. Before you begin a diet on an obese animal or trying to force feed a too thin animal, please consult your veterinarian for a check-up. There could be an underlying medical problem causing either extreme.
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FUN SITE

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Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed Joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest pink dog collars and more. Check it out at www.joncopets.com http://friskydog.blogspot.com

640-spy

2006-09-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

640-spy, originally uploaded by windsorlady7.

ROTTWEILER

2006-09-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years the Rottweiler has been unfairly described in the media as a vicious dog. In reality, a Rottweiler can be a great family pet.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Rottweiler is a medium-large robust dog with a massive, powerful body. Agile and athletic, the Rottweiler has a broad head with a rounded forehead. Her triangular ears lean forward. She has dark almond-shaped, friendly eyes. She usually doesn’t have a tail as it is usually docked at an early age.

A male Rottweiler is 24-27 inches tall and weighs between 95-130 pounds. A female is 22-25 inches tall and weighs approximately 85-115 pounds.

Coat: Glossy short thick coat. Coat is black with rust to mahogany markings. Although uncommon , a Rottweiler can be red with brown markings.

Life expectancy: 10-12 years.

PERSONALITY

The Rottweiler is a very intelligent dog. She is calm, confident and courageous.

A natural guard dog with a mellow personality. She has a reliable temperament

Fiercely oval to her owner(s).

Can be aloof to stranger, but will happily welcome friends and family.

Requires a lot of companionship to be happy.

Some of the Rottweilers talents are: guarding, police work, tracking, herding, and competitive obedience.

ROTTWEILER AS A PET

A properly trained Rottweiler can be a wonderful pet

She can be a great friend and protector to children.

Usually will tolerate cats and other animals in the home.

Can live in an apartment as long as she is properly exercised. She is generally an inactive dog while indoors.

EXERCISE

A Rottweiler will thrive with plenty of exercise. She has great endurance and loves to swim, run, and retrieve her ball. Let her run in a open field or in the woods and she will be ecstatic.

She loves to go for walks and will not wander from you when taken outside.

Can be aggressive toward strange dogs and should be kept on a leash in public places.

TRAINING

A Rottweiler is very trainable.

Firm and careful training is very important; otherwise you will end up with a very powerful and aggressive dog.

Training should start a young age; and great care should be taken to ensure that the dog is not vicious.

A Rottweiler needs a lot of socialization and loves to be with her family and friends.

NUTRITION

A Rottweiler should be feed a high quality dog food. She has a hearty appetite and tends to overeat so food should be monitored.

GROOMING

Coat is very easy to care for. Brush with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. She is an average shedder.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Rottweilers are susceptible to ACL damage. Prone to hip dysphasia. Also prone to entropion - a narrowing of the slit between the eyelids.

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS

Females often have large litters - 10 to 12 puppies are not uncommon.

Rottweilers tend to snore.

Often born with rear dewclaws, these are usually removed when the tail is docked.

HISTORY

The Rottweiler is probably descended from the Italian Mastiff.

During the middle ages it was used as a herd dog.

It was bred in the German town of Rottweiler in Wurttemberg.

The breed was practically extinct in the 1800’s. The breed population began to grow in the early 1900’s due to the efforts of dog breeders in Stuttgart.
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RECOMMENDED READING
The Everything Rottweiler Book: A Complete Guide To Raising, Training, And Caring For Your Rottweiler (CLICK HERE!)
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Top 10 Most Popular Dogs

2006-09-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

According to the American Kennel Club, here are the top ten dogs based upon registration numbers.

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Golden Retriever

3. German Shepherd

4. Beagle

5. Yorkshire Terrier

6. Dachshund

7. Boxer

8. Poodle

9. Shih Tzu

10. Chihauha
Recommended Reading: AKC GAZETTE
Great Magazine for Purebred Dog Owner's

AKC GAZETTE (CLICK HERE!)

See ya tomorrow!

Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Scams Play on Owners' Love for Animals

2006-09-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Purebred dogs such as English Bulldogs are especially susceptible to pet scams involving theft.

Most pet owners consider their pets part of the family. Such a bond can make for some scary moments if a pet decides to wander off. In such unfortunate circumstances, many pet owners will do anything it takes and pay whatever price to get their pet back home safe and sound.

That willingness, in turn, makes pet owners highly susceptible to scams. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell people not to think with their hearts when they're worrying about a lost pet. Here are some common pet scams that target distraught individuals.

· Found Pet ads. The age of technology has opened the door for scam artists in many arenas, and the lost pet arena is no exception. Upon losing a pet, many decide to head to the Internet or their local newspaper and search through the "Found Pet" ads. This can be a great way to find a lost pet, but it can also be a way to get scammed. Acting carefully is the best advice in these situations.

These scams typically follow the same pattern. A pet owner who recently lost a pet will find an ad saying a dog was recently found in a certain area. Pet owners will then respond, and someone will then say they found the pet on the highway, but due to the nature of their work (truck driver, salesman, even a vacationer) or travel they cannot return the pet without first being reimbursed for the transportation fees. Oftentimes, these scammers will even ask the pet owner to describe the pet and then tell them it is, in fact, the right animal. Excited pet owners will then agree to wire funds, only the scammer does not actually have the dog. The scammer will then keep the money and the pet owner will be left still looking for the pet and out a lot of money as well.

The best way to approach a situation like this is to remain rational. Anyone who found the pet and was willing to take it in and post an ad for it will no doubt be willing to return the animal in person.

· Lost Pet ads. Many scammers use "Lost Pet" ads as a source of information and to find their next victim. Anyone posting a "Lost Pet" ad, be it online, on a local community bulletin board, or in the newspaper should be careful what they include in such postings. Giving away all pertinent information, such as where and when the dog was lost, can make it difficult to determine if the person who has "found" your pet is really a scammer.

· Pet Theft. A common scam, particularly with dogs, is to steal a dog and then wait for a reward to be offered. Purebreds, which can cost upwards of thousands of dollars, are usually the targets of such scams, as con artists know they can demand higher rewards.

A way around this is to avoid leaving any dog outdoors unattended. All it takes is a few minutes for a thief to run off with a dog. While the thief may attempt to acquire a reward, an expensive dog can also be sold to other private individuals, or even worse, to dog fighting rings to use as bait dogs or medical testing companies.

High-priced reptiles and birds are also targets of thieves, who may purposefully break into a home to steal these pets and sell them to others who are willing to fork over big bucks.

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Until next time!

Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Dog Constipaton

2006-09-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

A dog should defecate at least once in two days, with soft feces. The dog suffers from Constipation if it does not do so.
Mechanical obstructions such as tumors, strictures and foreign bodies are the most probable causes of initial Constipation. The ingestion of large meals of bones and some indigestible fibrous material can cause Constipation. If we do not notice it in time the feces accumulates in the colon, loses its moisture and becomes dry. It makes it all the harder to move the bowel. The older dogs are affected more. The dog may strain to defecate, and pass a small amount of liquid stool. Loss of appetite, vomiting and lethargy are other symptoms of Dog Constipation.

Frequent Constipation causes a condition called megacolon. When the feces accumulate in the colon, it dilates to hold the feces. Over a period it loses its ability to contract and expand to propel the feces out.

Clinical signs are the important methods by which the Constipation is diagnosed. Physical examination and, in certain cases, radiography can help in assessing the Constipation of the pet. First, treatment may involve enemas and or the physical removal of the feces in a veterinary clinic. If that doesn’t work then surgery may be used. The dog may need intravenous liquids to treat dehydration. Various laxatives are available for dogs, that soften the stools and improve colon contraction.

We can take several measures to prevent Dog Constipation. A high-fiber diet and the availability of water at all times are most important. Regularly exercising the dog is very important, and it also allows the dog regular chances for bowel movements. Encouraging the dog to pass stools by taking the dogs out often can improve the frequency. There are serious diseases that can cause Constipation. As the dog ages, the chance of Constipation also increases.

If the normal treatment is not effective, the veterinarian may do surgery to partially or fully remove the colon.
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Until Next Time!
Jas

http://www.e-constipation.com/ provides detailed information about constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is the sister site of Osteoarthritis Web Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely http://friskydog.blogspot.com

GOLDEN RETRIEVER

2006-09-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Golden Retriever is beautiful both inside and out. She is one of the best companion dogs in the world.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

A well developed dog with muscular thighs, broad head with a tapering, but wide, powerful muzzle. Scissor like teeth. She has medium sized brown friendly eyes and rather short, medium sized ears.

The female retriever is 20-22 inches tall and weights between 55-70 pounds. The male is 22-24 inches tall and weighs 60-80 pounds.

Coat - Medium length- can be wavy or straight. Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Outer coat is neither coarse nor silky.

PERSONALITY

A Retriever has a charming personality. She is intelligent, and extremely loyal.

She is not very aggressive and loves to be around people. She is moderately active.

Usually quiet but will bark loudly to signal a strangers approach

Talents - A Retriever has many talents such as hunting, retrieving, agility, performing tricks, and narcotics detection.

RETRIEVER AS A PET

Perfect family pet. Patient and loving with children.

Usually will get along well with other animals.

Can live in apartment but needs plenty of exercise.

TRAINING

Very intelligent and easy to train. A retriever cannot do enough for her owner(s) so obedience training can be fun.

EXERCISE

Retrievers need daily exercise. She loves to retrieve toys, and swim, so exercise is fairly easy.

NUTRITION

Will thrive on high quality dog food. She tends to gain weight easily, so food consumption must be monitored.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Prone to hip dysphasia, and congenital eye defects.

Skin allergies are common in retrievers and require veterinary attention.

MISCELLANEOUS FACTS

Life expectancy is 10-12 years.

The golden retriever was originally form the British isles. It is believed she is a cross between a yellow flat-coated retriever, the spaniel, the setter, and possibly a bloodhound.

Many of the top obedience competition dogs in the country are golden retrievers.

A great bird dog - both land and water.

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Until Next Time!
Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

The Magnificent Akita

2006-09-12T16:46:00.000-07:00

An Akita will always make a memorable lasting impression. The combination of size and elegance makes this dog truly distinctive.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Akita is a large powerful dog: the male is 26-28 inches tall and weighs between 100-125 pounds. The female is a bit smaller. She is 24-26 inches tall and weighs about 70 to 100 pounds.

*Color: No particular color. Akitas can even be pure white.

*Coat: Short moderate in length, but very dense and consists of two layers. The undercoat is very soft and is the primary insulator, while the outer coat is slightly longer and coarser.

*Head: The Akita has a very large head with small erect ears. She has very distinct small triangular shaped eyes with black rims.

*Tail: Large full and curled.

PERSONALITY

Very intelligent and dignified.

Extremely protective and loyal - An Akita will live her life as if her only purpose is to protect and spend time with you. She will thrive on human contact.

Since an Akita is so loyal, she usually will not show affection toward someone that is not a member of her family.

Typically Akitas are not aggressive towards people, but do have a well developed guarding instinct.

Akitas are very quiet and will not bark unless there is a reason.

Will show aggressive tendencies toward other dogs of the same sex. Can live peacefully with a dog of the opposite sex. However, some Akitas want to be the only dog.

Will usually get along with cats.

AKITA AS A FAMILY PET

An Akita would make a wonderful addition to most families as she is usually very gentle and patient with children - she will be a great friend, and protector.

Akitas are extremely clean and easily housebroken.

A very calm demeanor and do not require a lot of exercise. However to maintain her proper weight, an Akita needs regular exercise.

An Akita is not suitable for apartment living.

TRAINING

Very easy to train - No professional dog training will be needed.

Akitas are extremely intelligent and tend to get bored easily; so short training periods are suggested.

NUTRITION

An Akita has a very large appetite.

She is very food possessive so she should not be feed with other animals.

Akitas should be feed a good quality meat and bone based food and do not thrive as well on a soybean based dog food.

COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS

Many Akitas have a problem with Hypothroid disease - this can be treated very easily with hormone replacement therapy.

Other diseased found in Akita s include: impaired night vision, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (blindness), hip problems, and kidney problems in older dogs.

MISCELLANEOUS AKITA INFORMATION
With proper care and nutrition an Akita should live 10-14 years.

Most Akitas like to carry things in their mouths - including your wrist! It is not unusual for an Akita to take you by the wrist to lead you to her food bowl or a favorite place. (She does this out of love rather than aggression.)

An Akita can easily be trained to carry in the newspaper or mail.

HISTORY

An Akita is Japanese bred with a very long history (one of the most primitive breeds).

This breed is considered a national treasure in Japan. It is believed that a home with an Akita is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune.

Helen Keller brought the first Akita to the United States in 1937.

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Live with Passion!

Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Training Your Hunting Dogs

2006-09-10T18:21:00.000-07:00

Producing a “finished” hunting dog, one that will perform the tasks of pointing out game or retrieving game, is not a simple matter. In some cases, it can take several hunting seasons and specialized training equipment to achieve the desired results.

It would be ludicrous to begin training a dog to perform hunting skills without first teaching it basic obedience. Your dog must be able to sit, stay, remain quiet and come on demand before moving into the more complex areas of the hunt. The success of the hunt, as well as the safety of the dog and its handler, is directly correlated to the dog’s performance and self control. For example, an unruly dog that barks at incoming geese will not only spoil the hunt, but will not be invited back again. Further, a dog that bolts out of a blind too quickly can jeopardize a shot and even cause a shooting accident. Control is most essential.

When the hunter is ready to begin training his dog for the hunt, there is a variety of equipment that will prove valuable. Probably the first and most essential item is a piece of 3/8-inch polypropylene rope of about 30 feet in length. The rope allows the handler to maintain control of his dog during exercises and eliminates the chance of having to chase the dog and correct him for straying.

Most dogs have a natural fear of loud noises, especially gunfire. Therefore, the trainer will have to involve a training pistol or firearm in his training program. A handgun is preferable; a shotgun is too large and difficult to handle while holding the lead line and juggling other training devices. When training the retriever, training “bumpers” or dummies are utilized to teach the dog to fetch. These aides come in various colors and sizes. White bumpers are generally used for “marking” drills where the dog is being taught to retrieve by sight and colored bumpers are used for “running blinds” where the dog is sent blindly into an area to retrieve a downed bird that fell out of sight.

The retriever should be trained to respond to the sound of a whistle. The voice of the dog’s handler will not always be loud enough or distinct enough to alert the dog to give up the search and return to the handler’s side. Some of the more elaborate whistles come with built-in megaphones that allow the sound to be heard more easily and direct the blaring sound away from the hunter(s). They are usually well worth the extra cost.

Some trainers will use a friend or “bird boys” who position themselves some distance from the trainer and toss the bumpers high into the air to simulate a falling bird. For those who train without assistance, bird launchers are a big help. These launchers come in single or multiple bird capacity; however, they are usually bulky and can be expensive.

Electric dog training collars are effective but controversial. These collars have a small electronic device attached that administers a remote controlled mild electric shock to the dog. The control is hand held by the trainer. These pieces of equipment allow an immediate correction when the dog fails to respond to the more conventional command. The level of shock involved has been compared to the static shock one receives from a carpet or from touching a car door handle in cold weather. Actually, the electric collar could be considered a humane alternative to the aggressive tactics or brute force used by some trainers.

One of the best ways to embark on training your hunting dog is learn from the experts. Training tips and guidelines are now available on tapes that show the student step by step training procedures. These instructional tapes should be on every novice trainer’s list of essential training equipment.

When you’re training your dog in the wilds you should be prepared to care for him if he is injured. Therefore, the final thing on our list of essentials is a First Aid Kit. Many of the items you’ll need for your dog are also appropriate for use on humans, so the kit can be mutually beneficial to both you and your dog. Fill the kit with such items as: sterile bandages, topical solutions, tape, scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin, ibuprofen (safe for both humans and canines) and possibly a veterinarian prescribed anti-inflammatory such as Deramaxx or Rimadly. A well stocked First Aid Kit has prevented many a pleasant hunting trip from becoming a nightmare.
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Until Next Time!
Jasmine

If you want to add this dog article to your website, you must include the following author information with the dog article - including the links: Dog Article courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Pets Are Often More Than a 'Best Friend'

2006-09-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Family pets can wear many hats for children, helping them develop socially as well as emotionally. Pets Are Often More Than a 'Best Friend'

Though pets play an important and often familial role in the lives of adults and children alike, the role a pet can have in a child's development is especially important. Children learn many of life's lessons from caring for animals, learning how to both take care of a pet and care for it emotionally. Dr. Gail Melson of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine points out that children learn empathy and nurturing behaviors as a result of having a pet. The latter lesson is particularly important for male children, who typically do not participate in nurturing games such as playing dolls or house, and often view nurturing activities as signs of weakness. When it comes to male children and pets, however, that nurturing bias disappears.

Dr. Alan Beck, who directs the Human-Animal Bond center at Purdue, notes that pets provide other lessons for children as well, whether it's how to cultivate a friendship or deal with the inevitability of death.

"For children, animals teach responsibility and compassion," Dr. Beck said in a 2005 online forum for WebMD. "They can be a best friend, a source of learning about life, and are often the first exposure to death, which is still important for children to understand."

Though pets can play such an integral role in a child's development, it's important parents understand which pets might be the most appropriate for their children. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) notes that choosing an appropriate pet is essential to how beneficial your pet can be for your child's development. For instance, the ASPCA suggests parents of toddlers or infants avoid choosing a pet that is also in its infancy or toddler stage. Having a pet and child at such a similar learning and developmental stage can be detrimental to both child and pet, as each is learning its respective boundaries and how to interact with others. Child and pet, then, are both more likely to overstep their boundaries, perhaps making the relationship between child and pet strained and quite possibly dangerous.

The ASPCA also suggests parents keep a watchful eye on the interaction between child and pet, particularly if your child is younger. For young children, responsibility can be instilled with the simplest of tasks, be it filling a water bowl each day or simply coming along for the daily walk. As time goes by and children get older, increasing their responsibilities with respect to the family pet will only foster their sense of responsibility.

Children can also learn a sense of social responsibility from having a pet. As Dr. Beck points out, animals encourage social contact between people.
"We are a social species, and we find great comfort in each other's company," Dr. Beck says. "Our studies and others have shown that people with animals are actually viewed by others as being nicer, better people."

While that's a definite benefit, animals could also increase the likelihood of a child succeeding in social opportunities. According to the ASPCA, parents of young children should encourage appropriate behavior between child and pet, such as not playing too roughly and not disturbing the animal while it's sleeping or eating (both of which could be dangerous to a child, as animals, dogs in particular, may respond to such disturbances with aggressive behavior). By encouraging your child to behave appropriately with your pet, you'll help your child get a better understanding of how best to behave around other children and a stronger sense of what is appropriate and what is not.

Dr. Beck also notes that pets can often play a calming, healing and even nurturing role for their owners. For instance, simply petting a dog or cleaning a fish tank has been shown to lower blood pressure. While children are not necessarily prone to high blood pressure, everyone, including toddlers and younger children, has bad days, making the calming effects of a pet all the more beneficial. An animal's ability to recognize when a person is having a bad day is also an interesting thing to note.

"Many social species, including humans, dolphins, and dogs, notice when a member of the group needs more attention," Dr. Beck says. "And dogs are particularly sensitive to human behaviors and often even anticipate it. They are incredibly observant of the most minor, nonverbal behaviors. It is common that a dog senses a 'pack' member who is behaving differently and orients to that person and tries to bring comfort."

While many people love a pet simply because of the way they look, it's good to know as well that your pet, be it a dog, cat or even some fish, is paying dividends you might not even be aware of.

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Live with passion!!!
Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Pet Overpopulation a Prevalent Problem

2006-09-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

(MS) - Many animals are forced to spend months in shelters, or are euthanized in the prime of their lives. The chief reason for this is the overpopulation of cats and dogs throughout the country.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) estimates between three and four million cats and dogs are euthanized each year. Part of the problem in addressing overpopulation is a failure from pet lovers to realize just how damaging it can be, and how quickly things can get out of hand.
Please help reduce the pet population by having your pets spayed and neutered.
If you are considering buying a new pet, why not visit your local animal shelter. Or visit www.petfinder.com
Until next time!
Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com/

Your Dog's Bad Breath

2006-09-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

A dog's bad breath usually has basically the same cause as bad breath in humans: anaerobic bacteria break down proteins in the dog's mouth and release volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), which smell like rotten eggs. These bacteria live in airless pockets in the back of the mouth, between the teeth and the gums and on the back of the tongue. In dogs more often than humans, however, the worst problem lies with a layer of tartar on the teeth.

Tartar is made up of mineral
deposits, bits of food, and live bacteria: if you could magnify the tartar on a dog's teeth, you would be able to see that it is actually very rough with numerous hollows and cavities where bacteria can live, digesting the little bits of food that are caught there as well. When the tartar is very advanced, it extends beyond the gum line, creating ideal conditions for the proliferation of bacteria that flourish in the absence of oxygen. This is often the source of halitosis in dogs, and because older dogs often have a considerable buildup of tartar, dogs bad breath is particularly associated with elderly dogs.

It's best to try to prevent halitosis in dogs by avoiding the troublesome buildup of tartar in the first place. There are several ways to do this: get into the habit of brushing your dog's teeth when the dog is very young - Toothpastes
are available especially for dogs and cats that contain enzymes to break down the tartar and prevent it from advancing. Take your dog to the veterinarian regularly and have his or her teeth professionally examined. Dental cleaning is available to clear away accumulating tartar before it gets too bad. You can also purchase a variety of chew toys and bones that help dogs scrape the tartar off their own teeth while they are chewing. If you do all of these things, you should be able to avoid dogs bad breath.

If tartar is already a problem, and you are starting to notice your dogs bad breath, you will probably find yourself paying for an extensive cleaning, probably under general anesthetic, by the veterinarian. There is some risk involved when the dog is old, but heavy tartar on the teeth comes with high risk of health complications anyway, so in most cases, it is worth taking a chance. Aside from improving your pet's health, the procedure is effective at putting an end to severe halitosis in dogs.

Recommended Products

Dog Toothpaste (Click Here!)-Available in beef or poultry flavor

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Dog Dental Care Kit (Click Here!)

Until Next Time!

Jasmine

R. Drysdale is a freelance writer with more than 25 years experience as a health care professional. She is a contributing editor to Bad Breath Cure, a blog dedicated to the treatment of bad breath.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Drysdale http://friskydog.blogspt.com

Skunk Odor and Your Dog!

2006-09-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

Oh no! Your pet got sprayed by a skunk. What should you do now? The first thing many people think of is tomato juice. Don't bother, because it doesn't work. I will explain why later in this article. So, if tomato juice won't work, then what will? A 2% solution of vinegar will help a little, but it won't really do that much.

You need to Neutralize the Skunk odor NOT mask it. Here is the formula to change the chemical structure of the compounds in skunk spray that make it smell so bad, and stick around for such a long time. The Formula was invented by Illinois chemist Paul Krebaum. By the way, this is not just for pets; it will work on you too, if you're unlucky enough to get sprayed!

Skunk Odor Removal Formula

1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (found in any drug store)
¼ cup Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap (like Dawn or Palmolive, but any similar dish soap will work)

* This solution must be mixed in an OPEN wide mouth container like a bucket. It will bubble or fizz profusely, so DON'T mix it or store it in a closed container or bottle. This formula will produce pressure in a closed container and cause it to burst. Use it as soon as you make it, because it will lose all effectiveness if it is stored. It must be freshly made in order to work properly.

* Wet your pet's coat with warm water then thoroughly massage formula into pet's coat. Be sure to massage it in very well so that you neutralize every trace of skunk spray. Be VERY careful not to get any of the formula into his eyes nose or mouth. You may use a wash cloth to CAREFULLY wipe it onto his face. Leave it on for about five minutes then rinse off thoroughly (do not get into eyes). Repeat if necessary.

Your Pet's Eyes

Call your vet immediately if the skunk sprays your pet directly in the eyes. You will know because your pet's eyes will be very red, irritated, and probably watery. The spray will make his eyes sting very badly. Your pet will not be permanently blinded but it is very painful.

What Is Skunk Spray Made Of And Why Is It So Strong?

Skunk spray contains compounds called Thiols and Thioacetates. Our noses are very sensitive to Thiols, so sensitive in fact that we can detect then in parts per billion! Thiols smell so horribly noxious because of the sulfur they contain.

The Thioacetates in Skunk spray decompose very slowly into; you guessed it.....Thiols! So the reason that Skunk spray has such staying power and lingers for so long is because of the slow decomposition of Thioacetates into Thiols. In essence you are getting "timed release" Skunk odor because of the slow release of Thiols.

Why Doesn't Tomato Juice Work?

You may have heard that tomato juice is the magic potion to get rid of Skunk odor, but it isn't magic, it's just an illusion. It is an illusion because strong odors such as Skunk tend to cause something called "olfactory fatigue". Olfactory fatigue happens when an odor binds very strongly to the odor receptors in your nose.

For example olfactory fatigue can occur if someone is wearing strong perfume and you are in the same room for an extended period of time. The odor receptors in your nose become fatigued and you stop noticing the smell, but if you leave the room for a while and return, you will notice the perfume again. The same thing happens with many other odors even strong cooking odors.

So when you use tomato juice, perfume or room or fabric deodorizer sprays on skunk odor. One strong odor is replacing another and it fools your odor receptors. So if you use tomato juice or a deodorizer on your pet, chances are YOU will think your problem is solved but it isn't. Just ask a friend or family member if they smell skunk. They will!

What Do I Do About The Odor In And Around My House?

Clothing, fabrics or surfaces that can withstand bleach may be deodorized by using one cup of bleach per gallon of water. NEVER USE BLEACH ON YOUR PET!

You can also use the peroxide formula to remove the odors from washable items but please remember to spot check the item for color fastness.

If the odor has drifted into the air in your home, try to air out your house as much as possible, time and ventilation will remove the smell.

Any outdoor areas such as decks or concrete that can tolerate being bleached may be deodorized by using one cup of bleach per gallon of water. NEVER USE BLEACH ON YOUR PET!

Fun Site:
See What's New at Active K9! (Click Here)

Until Next Time!

Jasmine

Karen Gluberman has been a dog trainer and Breeder of Dobermans for the past twenty years. Find out how to have a happy, healthy, and well behaved dog or puppy at: http://www.dogtrainingadvice.com/ Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Gluberman, http://friskydog.blog.com

Canine Hip Dysplasia - Signs, Symptoms, and Tips To Prevent It

2006-09-02T05:42:00.000-07:00

Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic issue that starts to appear from the ages of 4 to 12 months. Not all puppies in a litter will develop it, though if your dog has canine hip dysplasia, she should not be bred.

Larger breed dogs have a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, due to the greater weight these joints will have to bear. But it's important to realize that small dogs can be affected also. Large breed dogs at risk include rottweilers, german shephards, golden retrievers, dalmations, and blood hounds.

Canine hip dysplasia affects the ball and socket joint of the hip. The head of the large bone in the dog's leg doesn't fit snugly into the hip socket. The problem is that the socket itself is not well developed, and it creates a lot of stress on the joint. The muscles don't develop as quickly as the bone grows, and a situation is created where the weight the joint has to bear is greater than the capacity of the ligaments, tendons, and muscles around the joint. Thus joint instability develops. This in turn leads to a greater wear and tear than the joint would normally experience.

Canine hip dysplasia ranges from mild to moderate. In mild cases, the space between the joints is greater than normal and the ball at the top of the hip bone is part way out of its socket. Fortunately, in mild cases, there are no associated arthritic changes in the joint.

In moderate canine hip dysplasia, the top part of the normally rounded hip bone begins to flatten, and it sits only loosely in the joint. Bone spurs begin to develop, and arthritic changes start to happen.

Unfortunately, in severe hip dysplasia, there is definite arthritis present. And once arthritis appears in the joint, the condition is irreversible. In the severe cases such as this, the hip bone is completely out of the joint. The silver lining is, however, that not all dogs with hip dysplasia and arthritis will become lame. Some may become lame as puppies, some may not ever become lame.

Symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

* walking with a limp
* a swaying gait
* bunny hopping when running
* difficulty in the back legs when getting up
* pain in the hip
* when the puppy is lying on its back, its back legs may not extend towards the front legs without pain

The only way to find out if your dog definitely has hip dysplasia is if he has an x-ray by a vet. This normally means the dog will have to be heavily sedated, or go under anaesthetic.

Tips To Prevent Canine Hip Dysplasia

* Don't feed a growing dog a diet too high in calories. It's important that the growing dog's nutritional needs are met, but excessive weight, and rapid weight gain, create more of a load for the joints to bear. If a dog is genetically predisposed to hip dysplasia, this can delay the beginning of symptoms, or reduce the chance of it developing into a more severe form.

* Be careful about the type of exercise growing dogs get. Jumping up and down from heights, and standing on their back legs, such as when they stand against a fence or window to look over it, can aggravate the joints whilst they are growing quickly.

* Buy dogs from a reputable breeder. If one parent dog has hip dysplasia, the risk of it occurring in the litter is doubled. Good breeders take care to prevent this situation from occurring. The pedigrees of dogs can be checked to see whether they have been certified as normal by the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFA) in the US. Their website is www.offa.org

Other organizations that check for markers of hip normalcy in dogs are PennHip and the GDC (Genetic Disease Control in Animals). Large breed dogs have a greater chance of developing hip dysplasia, and prospective owners would be wise to take this precaution.
Fun Site:
Unique Dog Gifts (Click Here!)
Until Next Time!
Jasmine

References: J Griffin and L Carlson, Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook

http://www.articledashboard.com
Whilst large breed dogs are more susceptible to canine hip dysplasia, buying from a reputable breeder can prevent this developing. Find out more about some of these loveable breeds here at The Dogs Bone. Large breed dog articles, with photos, include these on the bloodhound dog, and the dalamation. http://friskydog.blogspot.com http://friskydog.blogspot.com

When Should I Start Training My Puppy?

2006-08-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

If you have a puppy, you must start training early, but do it gently.

Your puppy has to have confidence in you before he can begin learning. Remember that puppies are like children - they have growing bodies, short attention spans, and will only learn things when the conditions are right and when they understand what it is you're trying to teach them.

That said, the earlier you start training dogs, the better. More specifically, it's best if you start “socialization” from 8 weeks, simple commands like “come” and “sit” from 12 weeks, and more intensive training at 5 to 6 months.

**************

While some early training can be started as soon as you bring your puppy home, the optimum time to begin obedience training is somewhere around 9 to 12 weeks of age.

Keep in mind that training can cover a broad range of topics – I’m not suggesting that you begin training your puppy at 8 weeks of age for agility competitions! Your training should start off with the basics – teaching him “No!” and beginning house-training.

Socialization skills are next – experts tell us the best window for your puppy to learn socialization skills is between 3 and 16 weeks – that’s the best time to insure that your puppy grows into a well-adjusted adult.

And remember, socialization isn’t about teaching him the right fork to use at the dinner table – it’s about giving your dog the self-assurance to deal correctly with any social environment he finds himself in is one of the most valuable and lasting lessons you can teach him.

A well-socialized dog will interact well with all types of people and situations, even those he has never been in before. With appropriate social skills, your dog will show little or no fear of most objects, people or other animals, and even if startled, will recover quickly and won’t panic.

Bottom line, a well-adjusted dog is one that is comfortable in a variety of situations and surroundings. He may be excited in a new setting, but not fearful. The key here is to create positive experiences as you expose your dog to more and more new situations.

Even training your puppy for 5 – 10 minutes per day as soon as you bring him home will make a big difference in the social skills and adaptability of your puppy.

Keep in mind that puppies have very short attention spans, so keep your lessons short and fun. How short an attention span? That depends on the age of the puppy, his breed and how mature your individual puppy is – but a good rule of thumb is to keep the training sessions within that 5 -10 minute range.

Depending on your puppy’s age and maturity level, sometime between 3 and 6 months of age you should be moving the training into the area of the basic commands such as Sit, Heel, Down, etc.

It’s important you have realistic expectations about your dog’s capabilities at this point – I don’t expect a puppy to be responding to the basic commands with any degree of regularity until they’ve reached 6 months of age.

Fun Sites:

Animal Den (Click Here)
Until next time!
Jasmine

2004 by Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!"
To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit:

Dog Training (Click Here!) , http://friskydog.blogspot.com

The German Shepherds

2006-08-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

As their name implies, German Shepherds were bred as herding dogs. As such they were bred to work closely with people and to control large moving masses. Herding dogs were bred to work and need work; if you don't provide them with it they will find their own work to do. Also bred to think independently at times, these dogs can be smart problem solvers.

From their background as herders, you can expect these dogs to chase moving objects like bicycles and cars. They also have a tendency to nip at running children the same way they would nip at the heels of livestock. This is known as movement-stimulated nipping.

German Shepherds are very intelligent and versatile. They can be trained to be police dogs, guide dogs, seeing-eye dogs, protection dogs and so on. They can make wonderful companions. Even though highly trainable, German Shepherds require professional assistance at least for the first two years. They need constant, daily training and socialization sessions. Intensive early socialization is required to offset the problems of shyness and noise sensitivity that is common among all herding breeds. One should definitely not reward aggression or cowardice in this breed. Male German Shepherds should be neutered early.

German Shepherds have been an extremely popular breed for many years which has led to problems associated with overbreeding and poor breeding. Widespread genetic and temperament problems has left the Shepherd breed abounding with dogs who suffer from health and behaviour problems, excessive shyness and aggression. German Shepherds often become over attached to their owners which leads to separation anxiety, over protectiveness and fear of new situations.

The average height of a German Shepherd is between 22-26 inches and their average weight ranges from 65-100 pounds. Some, of course, can get much larger than this. Most Shepherds are black and tan in color, but some can be solid black, white, or gray. These dogs are double-coated breeds and as such shed profusely. When shedding occurs, usually in the spring and fall, German Shepherds need to be brushed daily. Shedding lasts a couple of weeks, during which time the dogs will shed an amazing amount of hair.

As previously mentioned, these dogs need work and that translates into plenty of exercise. At least two sessions per day would be a minimum requirement. Daily training sessions would also be highly recommended.

Due to the high volume of breeding over the years, the behavior of German Shepherds around children and other pets can be quite unpredictable. Some dogs can be fantastic around kids and pets and others can be the opposite. Some of this behavior can be attributed to inherited traits but training and early socialization also play an important role here.

German Shepherds are prone to a vast array of health concerns. Here is a small list: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, spinal degeneration, auto-immune disease, thyroid dysfunction, subaortic stenosis, skin disorders and gastrointestinal problems. Poor temperament has now become so common that a stable, confident and calm Shepherd is a very pleasant surprise.

At their best, German Shepherds are second-to-none for their companionship and devotion. They can be trained to do almost anything. It is a sad situation that these good specimens are hard to find with so many unhealthy and unstable dogs out there.
Fun Sites:

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Until Next time!
Jasmine

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dogs
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Siberian Huskies

2006-08-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

Description

Siberian Huskies are strong, compact, working dogs. The Siberian Husky comes in all colors from black to pure white are allowed. A variety of markings on the head is common, including many striking patterns not found in other breeds. Color choices include Black and White, which ranges from light (dilute) to dark (jet), Sable and White (which is red-orange with black tips), Agouti and White (which is sometimes referred to as the coyote color and contains a lot of dark gray coat), and White (not to be confused with a Samoyed). The face mask and underbody are usually white, and the remaining coat any color.
The eyes are almond shaped, moderately spaced and set a trifle obliquely. It is a common misconception that all Siberians have blue eyes. They can have eyes that are blue, brown, amber, or any combination thereof including eyes which are half blue and half brown, which is referred to as being parti-eyed. Having one blue eye and one brown eye is referred to as being bi-eyed.
They have large "snow shoe" feet with hair between the toes for gripping the ice. It's ears are set high and erect, with a sickle shaped tail. The Siberian Husky has a thick, wooly undercoat and a soft outer coat.

Temperament

These dogs are gentle and playful, but willful and mischievous. This cheerful dog is very fond of his or her family. A puppy at heart, they are clever, sociable and loving, easy-going and docile. Though they do generally have a lot of energy, especially as puppies. Good with children and friendly with strangers, they are not watchdogs, for they bark little and love everyone. Huskies are very intelligent and trainable, but they have a mind of their own and will only obey a command if they see the point.

Huskies make an excellent jogging companion, as long as it is not too hot.This breed likes to howl and gets bored easily. They do not like to be left alone, so if this is the breed for you, you may want to consider having two. A lonely Husky can be very destructive.
Remember that the Husky is a sled dog in heart and soul. They are good with other pets if they are raised with them from puppyhood. Huskies are thrifty eaters and need less food than you might expect.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, as even the top breeders in the country will tell you that they learn something new about their dogs every day! They have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
Fun Sites:

Bark Magazine (Click Here)
www.Siberianbreeders.com

Until Next Time!
Jasmine

For more information and links regarding Siberian Huskys visit Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dy_Loh http://friskydog.blogspot.com

The Pug: Dignified Clown with a Lot of Attitude

2006-08-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

Pugs are clowns at heart, known for their silly antics, but they still manage to maintain a sense of dignity. They are known as a lap dog and enjoy lounging around in the company of their human companion, and enjoy daily exercise in the form of a walk. An inside dog, they should never be left out-of-doors for any extended period of time.
The Pug is of Chinese origin. They were prized possessions of the Emperors of China and lived in a most luxurious atmosphere and at times were even guarded by soldiers. The Dutch traders brought the Pugs from the east to Holland and to England where the pug was enjoyed by many Monarchs of Europe.
The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1885. The Pug Dog Club of America was founded in 1931 and recognized by the AKC that same year.
Being a purebred dog, the pug does come with some high maintenance medical issues. Typical medical problems include ear infections, eye problems, mast cell tumors, and skin infections.
Some pugs can suffer from a collapsing trachea or elongated palate making it difficult for them to breathe, especially in hot weather. During the hotter months of the year, it is best to keep your pug in a cool room and avoid walks during the hottest part of the day as they can easily become overheated.
Pug owners in hot climates, besides running the air conditioner, can purchase items such as a cooling body wrap and cooling mat to keep their pug from overheating.
Although the pug comes in a small package, their shedding can be extreme. Be prepared to vacuum or sweep your floors almost daily during the summer when shedding is at its worst and several times a week during the cooler months. Invest in a good lint brush as your clothing will be covered in pug hair also (a minor inconvenience for those of us who love our pugs).
The pug loves food and can easily become overweight if over-indulged with snacks or larger than necessary meal portions. Talk to your vet about your pug’s appropriate weight.
Since the pug is susceptible to skin infections, a healthy diet is a must. Choosing a high quality food for your pug will pay off in a healthier dog with fewer visits to the vet (that means no grocery store dog food!). Read your food labels carefully and choose a dog food with more natural ingredients.
Your pug should visit the vet at least once a year for a physical. A blood test at age six is a good idea and can catch many potential health problems allowing early treatment with the appropriate diet or medication.
Pugs make excellent traveling companions and many pug owners take their pugs with them on vacation. Sharing their human’s bed is the preferred sleeping arrangement for the pug, although for those who would find this a difficult arrangement, a dog bed next to the bed will be tolerated.
If considering a pug breed, try adopting from a local pug rescue. You can find a pug rescue near you at www.rescuers.com.
Fun Sites:
All Natural, Premium Dog Food (Click Here)
Shop PETCO.com's Free Shipping Store (Click Here)
Until next time!
Jasmine

http://www.articledashboard.comCarol Stack enjoys writing articles about dogs. Carol and her daughter Christy volunteer their time for a local dog rescue and are currently working together on a web site to promote the selection, care, and training of dogs => www.christysdogportal.com rticle Source: http://friskydog.blogspot.com

5 Tips For Choosing the Best Vet For Your Dog

2006-08-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

If you haven’t already found one, or worked with one in the past, you need to find a vet. Pick one you feel comfortable with, and who answers your questions in full, completely and gives you answers you can understand. You don’t need a vet who talks down to you, or acts like you’re too dumb to understand what they’re saying!
Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals (as opposed to one who treats large and small – like horses, cows, cats and dogs.) Your community may only have vets that do a little bit of everything – and there’s nothing wrong with that, if that’s all that’s available, but I’ll remind you – you usually go to a specialist for your health issues, don’t you?
If you’re new in the community, or haven’t needed a vet before – word of mouth is a great way to start looking for a new vet. Ask everybody you can get your hands on – co-workers, friends with pets, local humane societies or shelters. Ask questions: are they happy with their vet? Do they like the way they’re treated when they take their dogs in?
If your dog is a particular breed, check with the local or state breed associations to find out who they use, or local breeders. This can be especially useful if you buy a puppy from a local breeder, because the vet will have seen your puppy and know at least some of his history.
You may want a holistic vet. Go to their website at www.ahvma.org and check out their referral directory.
You may also be interested in a veterinarian who has been trained in acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Log onto their website at http://www.ivas.org .
Once you have a referral from someone you trust, here are some questions to ask:
1. What services does the vet offer?
Is it a one-doctor office, or a multi-doctor practice? As vets try to streamline services many are consolidating practices and forming partnerships and group practices. There’s nothing wrong with this – just be aware that you may not always see the same vet. And find out if they offer 24 hour emergency services, or if he or she is affiliated with someone in the area who does. Like everything else in life, illness or accidents don’t always happen between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
2. Does the vet offer a full surgery suite with on-site lab work? X-rays? Ultrasound?
If the vet has to send all lab tests to an outside agency to be processed, you may be getting popped with additional charges because those tests aren’t being performed or processed in-house.
3. Get a fee schedule. Cost is usually one of the biggest considerations for dog owners, and it should be lowest on the list of importance, at least in my mind. Not because cost isn’t important – of course it is, but - if you have a vet that you’re happy with – who gives your dog the best care you can possibly find in your area – does paying a little extra for that care really matter in the long run?

4. Check out the physical characteristics of the facilityIs it clean, or does it smell? Are the ads or magazines in the waiting room current? (That may not sound important, but if the staff and doctors aren’t keeping up-to-date on the latest and greatest information, this may not be the place you want to bring your dog.)
5. Communication – by that I mean how well does your vet communicate with you?
Will he or she explain the condition or illness in terms that you can easily understand, or do they try to confuse you with high-tech or medical jargon? A good vet will go over treatment options with you, explain necessary tests, review x-rays or test results, give complete and clear instructions for home care or further testing requirements, etc.
Take your time to do a complete and thorough evaluation before choosing a new vet. Your dog’s life literally depends on what choice you make. Make it a careful one.
Fun Sites:
VetBalance K-10 Supplement. Free Offer!*(Click Here)

All Natural, Premium Dog Food at Only Natural Pet Store (Click Here)
Until Next Time!
Jasmine
http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Why Your Puppy Nips - And 5 Ways To Get Him To Stop

2006-08-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

Here’s a news flash – puppies nip!
Okay, I guess you already knew that. But here’s the surprise – you may actually be encouraging your puppy to nip. Let’s talk about how to stop this behavior before it grows up to be an adult-sized dog problem.
Puppies are a lot like babies – they use their mouths in part to explore their world. Little kids are forever sticking things in their mouth – from your favorite house plant to the bar of soap in the tub. That’s one of the ways they experience taste and texture, and figure out what’s good and what’s not. It’s all about experimentation.
Puppies are the same. They want to see just how soft your finger is, or what that leash tastes like. In addition, biting or nipping is an important part of learning social skills in their “wolf” pack – the social structure that makes up your dog’s life.
And with some breeds, such as Border Collies, biting or nipping is even more instinctive because of the nature of the breed – they’re born and bred to herd livestock, and that’s how a 50 or 60 pound dog will control a 1,000 pound cow – by biting at the heels or nose.
If your dog was allowed to remain with mom and his littermates for an appropriate amount of time (until at least 8 weeks of age), then mom should have taught him the beginnings of bite inhibition. As the pups began to grow and develop those needle-sharp little puppy teeth, mom would have disciplined him for being too rough, either with her or his littermates. Junior soon learns that all play will stop and he’ll get smacked down by mom if he gets carried away.
But when you get that puppy home, and he becomes part of the family, you may be encouraging him to nip by letting the kids run away from him, squealing and giggling in an effort to play “chase” games. While this is cute at the beginning, it can soon turn into a full-fledged problem when he’s no longer such a small, cute puppy, and views any child running away as fair game.
You can also encourage this kind of bad behavior by teasing him with toys – holding them just above his head and yanking them out of range when he jumps for the toy or nips at it. (This also encourages another bad habit: jumping.)
Here’s 5 things you can do to stop your puppy from nipping.
1. When your puppy does nip – stop all play
If your puppy nips too hard, say “Ouch!” in a loud-enough voice to surprise him (don’t start off by screaming!) and stop all play. Turn your back on him, and refuse to continue the game. He should come around to face you and find out what’s wrong – tell him “bad dog – no bite” in a firm tone of voice. Do this every time he nips until he gets the idea that nipping means no more fun.
2. Replace your flesh with a toy
When you’ve resumed play, and if your puppy tries to nip again, try replacing your hand or arm (or whatever’s being nipped) with a toy. Teach your puppy that you’re not the toy. Put a toy in between you and those needle-sharp teeth!
3. The Nose Tap
If your puppy nips turn to him immediately and give him the “sit” command. Take your forefinger and hold it up in front of his nose, then tap him on the nose and say “no bite” in a stern tone of voice.
It’s important to note two things here:
The nose tap isn’t designed as a dire punishment – you’re not trying to hurt him, but rather startle him into stopping the behavior.
Your tone of voice is just as important as the nose tap. Don’t scream at him – your voice should be stern and give a clear warning – think of it as a verbal growl – something that he can understand as a dog.
An interesting result of this manner of breaking this habit is that down the road, when your puppy has learned to recognize the raised finger – he’ll usually stop whatever behavior he’s engaging in just because he knows what’s coming. You won’t even have to raise your voice – just lift that finger.
4. Don’t encourage biting or nipping in the first place
Don’t let the kids start “chase” games – that encourages dogs to think that the kids are prey. Don’t play games that involve waving your hands in front of your dog and encouraging him to jump or nip.
Don’t play tug-of-war with your dog – it will not only encourage him to think he’s your equal, it can promote nipping if you use a rope toy, for example, because he’ll try to bite at your hands to make you lose your grip on the toy.
Play games of fetch and retrieval, but be sure that your dog knows the “drop” or “release” command so you’re not fighting over the toy.
5. Be consistent
Stop the nipping behavior as soon as it starts, and be consistent about disciplining your puppy for it. Don’t let him get away with nipping on one day, and then discipline for the same behavior the next. Dogs don’t understand “sometimes it’s ok,” or “maybe it’s ok it you don’t nip too hard and I’m in a good mood.“ They understand “Don’t ever do that,” and “No more treats if you do that.”
Fun Sites:
Animal Den (Click Here) - This Dog Lovers Gift Shop is highly recommended. Great products, top service, five stars.
Dog Supplies at PetCareCentral.com (Click Here)

Until next time!
Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Is a Collie Puppy Right For You?

2006-08-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

The television series "Lassie" made Lassie the beloved symbol for Collies in America. Your new Collie puppy won't measure up to the wonder dog, but you'll most likely find him a wonderful family dog.
The Family Protector
The Collie was originally bred to herd sheep, and still has a strong protective instinct, which makes them an excellent choice for a family dog. The American Kennel Club classifies the Collie as part of the Herding Group. These dogs weigh 55 to 80 pounds and stand 22 to 26 inches tall.
The Collie is strong and graceful and has lots of endurance. This dog's almond shaped eyes seem to sparkle with intelligence, whether they are brown or blue in color. The Collie's ears -- 3/4 erect with 1/4 folded -- make its appearance both alert and appealing.
The coat can be either rough or smooth. The rough coat is longer and fuller than the smooth coat. This breed can come in sable and white, tricolor (black, white and tan), or blue merle (tortoise shell) colors.
The Collie enjoys living in the midst of an active family. This breed is not a good choice for apartment living, since it's a large dog and loves to spend time outside. A home with a big yard is ideal. Although the Collie is friendly and outgoing, this dog is protective of its family and takes its duties as a watchdog seriously. Your Collie will bark at intruders, whether they are people, cats, squirrels, or pieces of trash blowing around the yard.
Stubborn, But Trainable
The Collie can be quite headstrong and can get into a lot of mischief as a puppy. You should consider attending puppy obedience classes with your Collie, since it is easier to train a small puppy that hasn't developed bad habits than a 60-pound dog that has. Also, be firm with your puppy about staying on the floor if you do not want Collie hair on all of your furniture. Once you allow your dog onto the furniture, he will feel that he has a right to be there any time you leave the room.
The Collie breed has few health problems. Eye diseases and PRA (a genetic defect leading to blindness) are the most common problems these dogs face.
A Good Eater
Collies can pack away a lot of food. These dogs have a tendency to overeat, so it is best to give them 3 small meals a day. If your Collie develops a bulge around his middle, talk to your veterinarian about switching to a food that promotes weight loss.
Although a rough coated Collie has long hair, the dog does not need extensive grooming. Brush through your dog's coat several times a week to avoid mats, paying close attention to the hair around his face, behind his ears, and around his legs. A smooth coated Collie needs only occasional grooming.
If you want a medium-sized dog to protect your family and play with the kids, the Collie may just be the perfect pet for you.
Fun Sites:
Energize your canine! (Click Here)
Dog Health Insurance (Click Here)

Until next time!
Jasmine
http://friskydog.blogspot.com/

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit New Pup learn more about this subject.Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact. Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_King

Things to Consider Before Adding a Pet

2006-08-13T17:45:00.001-07:00

Getting a family pet is a big step. In addition to financial considerations, parents who have decided it's time for an addition to the family have many more things to consider, not the least of which is what pet is the most appropriate choice for the family.

Children will no doubt jump at the chance to add a pet to the family, likely preferring a dog or a cat. While pets can be a great way to teach your child about responsibility and friendship, among other things, it's wise for parents to recognize that not every pet is tailor-made for every family. Consider the following:

· Age of your children. Some would strongly recommend keeping your home pet-free until your children are at least six years old, when they're already in school and have already begun to mature. However, as the Humane Society of the United States points out, parents are the best judge of their child's maturity. If you feel your child, though young, is capable of exhibiting the self-control and discipline necessary to care for an animal, then
by all means go ahead and add one to the family. A good barometer could be how your child acts around pets owned by friends or extended family. If possible, set up a time when your child can play with other people's pets.

· Type of animal. Most children, when told the family is getting a pet, are quick to think "dog," as dogs are known for being more social and fun-loving than cats. That said, the breed of dog can be important. However, the Humane Society notes that all dogs can bite and the behavioral tendencies of a dog often play a more significant role in how well your child and dog will interact. Therefore, look for a dog that has been treated properly and socializes well with other people and animals.

While saving a dog from a shelter is a great idea and one that can also teach a valuable lesson to your child, be cautious around dogs that have been sheltered because they're products of abuse from previous owners or owners who did not train or feed them properly. Such dogs may not be as trusting of humans, taking a while to warm up to a new family, and might react negatively toward your child. Shelters typically inform potential adopters of a dog's special needs, such as a family free from other pets or young children.

· Make sure a pet is what you want. Children learn the most from their parents, who must set a positive example for their children. That applies to everything, and pets are no exception. Adults who aren't thrilled about a pet shouldn't get one simply because it's what their children want, particularly if children are young and won't be handling many of the responsibilities. Children can learn how to deal with pets and even people from watching you care for a family pet. If pets have traditionally gotten under your skin, holding off on a family pet until your child will be the one largely responsible for its care is probably your best bet.

· Lay down the law before the pet comes home. Let your child know beforehand that the latest addition won't be just a friend, but a responsibility as well. Again, much of this will be based on your own assessment of your child's maturity, but even a toddler can be involved in the care of a pet. Something as simple as filling a water dish can instill an early sense of responsibility in a child, and more responsibility can be granted as your child's maturity level grows. It's important that children's roles in caring for a pet are set in stone before the pet is welcomed into the family.

· Discuss possible behaviors of both children and animals. In addition to establishing responsibilities beforehand, parents should let their children know of certain behaviors their pet may be prone to. Typical behaviors should be discussed with a breeder or adoption agency. For instance, if you plan on keeping the dog outside in a fenced-in area, the dog might look at that area as his, and could grow defensive when anyone tries to enter it.

Also, certain behavior from children, such as screaming loudly or throwing tantrums, could cause an animal to react negatively. Discuss behaviors that are off-limits to avoid potential problems.

Fun Sites

Only Natural Pet Store - Everything Natural for Dogs & Cats (Click Here)

Shop PETCO.com's Free Shipping Store (Click Here)

Until next Time!

Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

5 Surefire Ways to Show Your Dog You’re The Boss

2006-08-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Do you have problems at your house with who’s in charge? By that I mean, does your dog think he’s the boss? In your effort to form a stronger bond with your dog you may have inadvertently told him he’s the Leader of the Pack. Here are 5 simple and effective ways to correct that.
You Must Be The Alpha Dog
First, let’s take a look at what a “pack mentality” means. Dogs are born into packs – in the wild, packs are the essential social order. Unlike humans, who use a variety of political processes to determine leadership and rank, dogs sort out their social order by dominance and power. In a wolf pack, there is a Top Dog – a clear leader who is the dominant, Alpha male. He’s the Big Dog, with pride of place at the dinner table (well, if wolves had a dinner table!), first in mating, first in decision making for the pack.
Whether you realize it or not, your dog views your household as his own personal wolf pack. The pack mentality is so engrained in your dog’s psyche that he will either view you as a leader - or a follower - depending on your actions.
If you are to have a well-trained dog, you must establish that you are the leader, and he is the follower. Your dog has to know in his heart that you are the Alpha Dog, the Head Honcho, the Big Dog, the Top Dog – call it whatever you want, but your dog needs to know you’re in charge.
Dogs are a little like children in one respect – they’re looking for someone else to be the leader – they want rules and regulations because that makes their role in the pack more clear-cut and understandable. It’s scary being the leader – if you’re not up to it, your dog may assume the role – because someone has to be in charge!
If that’s what’s happened at your house, you need to re-establish your position as the Top Dog, or “Leader of the Pack.” But here’s an important note: being the leader of the pack has absolutely nothing to do with harsh punishment. It has everything to do with consistency and setting limits.
A simple rule to remember (and one people have great difficulty keeping in mind) is that you are the leader, not your dog.
1. You Go Through The Door First
Even something as straightforward as who walks through the door first can reinforce your position as “dominant dog.” Leaders lead. Followers follow. If you allow your dog to charge through the door ahead of you, he perceives that as asserting his dominance over you. Put your dog on the leash, and make sure you’re the first one through the door.
2. You Eat Before Your Dog
Who gets fed first in your house – you or your dog? In a wolf pack, the leader eats first, and when he is done, the rest of the pack can dine. Do you feed your dog first because he pesters you when you’re cooking your dinner, and it’s simply more convenient to have him quiet and out of the way when you’re eating?
Food is a powerful motivator that can be used to clearly demonstrate who is the ruler of the roost at your house. In no way, shape or form am I suggesting that you withhold food from your dog – that’s cruel and unusual punishment any way you look at it. What I am suggesting is that you control the timing of the food – you should eat first, your dog second, after you’re done with your meal.
3. Don’t Walk Around Your Dog
Does your dog lie on the floor and expect you to walk around him? In the wild, dominant dogs lie wherever they want, and dogs lower in the social order go around so they don’t disturb the Big Dog. If you walk around your dog, he will assume this to be an act of submission on your part; therefore he must be the leader, not you.
If your dog is lying in the middle of the hallway, or right in front of your easy chair, make him move. If he’s on the couch and you want to lie down, make him move. Don’t step over him. Just gently nudge him and make him get out of your way. You’re the Big Dog, remember?
4. You Determine When Your Dog Gets Attention
Even asking for attention or affection can be seen as an act of dominance from your dog’s point of view. Dogs that demand attention are asserting dominance, so if your dog gets pushy, ignore him. When you’re ready to give him attention or affection or pet or play with him, ask him to sit first.
Don’t run after him just so you can pet him. Make him come to you when you’re ready to give him attention, or play with him. And when you play with a toy, make sure that you end up with possession of the toy, and then put the toy away when you’re done. (Note: I’m not talking about his favorite toys that you leave in his crate. I’m talking about play toys that the two of you use for games.)
5. Don’t Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed
This is a tough one for a lot of people, but when you let your dog share your bed, at best you’re making him an equal to you. He should have his own bed, either a dog pad or his crate that he feels comfortable in – you can even put the dog pad next to your bed if that makes both of you happier – but don’t let him take over the sleeping arrangements. Before you know it, he’ll be trying to make you sleep on the floor!
Again, reinforcing or retraining your dog to recognize you as the Head Honcho has absolutely nothing to do with harsh discipline. These are changes you can make that will change the way your dog thinks about you. And making even small changes like these can have an enormous impact on the way your dog views the social hierarchy in your home – all without a harsh word being spoken!
FUN SITES:
Only Natural Pet Store (Click Here!)
Dog.com - Discount Pet Supplies (Click Here) - Great site for all your pet needs at deep discounts!

Until Next Time!
Jasmine
http://friskydog.blogspot.com, http://friskycat.blog.com

5 Ways Your Dog Senses The World Differently From You

2006-08-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

Do dogs sense things differently than humans do? Well, yes and no. Dogs share the same basic senses with us: they see, hear, touch, smell and taste. But the level of their senses is different – an important distinction when you’re trying to figure out just what your dog is doing.
Sight
It was once thought that dogs were “color-blind” – only able to see shades of black and white with some grey, but scientific studies have found that’s not true. Dogs can see in color – ranging from blues and greens to grays and crèmes, and of course, black and white. It’s been estimated that humans can distinguish somewhere between 7 and 10 million different colors. (We don’t even have names for that many colors!)
But dogs have it all over humans in detecting motion – that’s one reason they can detect a cat up a tree at a much greater distance than you can! And their night vision is typically better than ours – dogs have an additional reflective layer in the eye called the tapetum lucidum, which reflects light back into the receptor cells of the eye, which not only increases their night vision, but gives them that spooky appearance of eyes glowing in the dark.
Hearing
When your dog is barking like crazy in the middle of the night, don’t just assume he’s lonely and wants you to get up and keep him company. He may be listening to something that you can’t hear, that’s extremely upsetting to him – like a burglar breaking in your basement window.

Dogs can hear at four times the distance humans can – that means you might hear something from a 100 yards away your dog could hear from a quarter of a mile away. Their ears are also better designed to gather more of the available sound wave – they have 15 different muscles that move their ears in all directions, plus they can move one ear at a time – and independently of the other to absorb even more information!
Touch
Dogs also have a well-developed sense of touch, surprising perhaps under all that fur, although this sense is much less sophisticated than a human’s. Puppies are born with sensory receptors in their faces so they can find mama even if they’re separated before they open their eyes. But they also can sense touch all over their bodies, just as humans can. One reason your dog flops down on the couch next to you and tries to snuggle up on a hot day (or any other day for that matter!) is because he likes the comfort of feeling that you’re right there!
Smell
We can’t even come close to our dog’s ability to smell things. It’s been estimated that a dog’s sense of smell is 100,000 times more powerful than a human’s. Scientists think that humans have about 40 million olfactory receptors, versus 2 billion for your dog! That’s part of the reason dogs make such good trackers, and can trace scents across all sorts of distractions – like across roadways or through dense woods.
Dogs also use their sense of smell as a communications tool – when they’re running around the park with their nose to the ground, sniffing everything in sight, they’re actually reading the calling cards of everyone – dogs, humans, cats, squirrels, and anyone or anything else, that has been there before him. Which is why he may not pay attention to you when you first get to the park – he’s trying to see if any of his buddies have been there before him!
Taste
Just as with humans, taste is closely linked to the sense of smell – the main difference is humans won’t eat something that smells bad; while dogs are the opposite – the smellier the better. Dogs will gulp first and ask questions later.

While humans many times won’t eat something that doesn’t look appealing, let alone doesn’t smell good, dogs are more concerned with smell, than taste. They frequently gobble down food before they have time to chew it, let alone taste it. But that’s ok – it’s why when we clean out our refrigerators our dogs think it’s time for treats.

So the next time your dog engages in some puzzling behavior, whether it’s barking for no reason, or ignoring you at the park, he might not be trying to irritate you – he’s just responding to a different level of senses than you are. Take a moment to look around and try and figure out what’s triggering his behavior before you get mad. Your dog could be trying to tell you something!
Recommended Readings & Fun Sites:
The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source to All Things Dog (Click Here)
Click Here For The Real Skinny On How To Train Your Dog
Until Next Time!
Jasmine
www.friskydog.blogspot.com

(c) 2004 by Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!"
To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit:

Choosing A Good Dog Breeder

2006-08-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Anyone can put two dogs together and let them breed, and in turn call themselves a “breeder.” However being called a “reputable” breeder encompasses far more than that. You wont find a reputable breeder trying to sell their dogs to local pet stores, or advertising in the classified section. A good breeder does not need these “gimmicks.” Instead, they rely on the quality of their dogs. Breeding is a practice that should be done with a sense of pride, and a feeling of fulfillment.

So once you have decided that a pure bred dog is right for you, how do you go about the overwhelming task of choosing the perfect breeder? Well ideally there are several key things to look for. Below is a simple check list to follow when looking for your breeder.

- Who is the breeder? It is very important to find out who the breeder is. One way to find out, is checking references. If the breeder is unable to provide written references, you should move on. Snoop around a bit. Talk to other breeders, rescue groups, veterinarians, anyone who can give you some information.

- Does the breeder require a Spay/neuter contract and limited registration? This means that you are legally obligated to promise that you will NOT attempt to breed your new dog. This helps stop poor quality breeding, and insure high standards of the breed.

- A reputable breeder should provide you with a “health check” which tests the lineage for known and testable genetic disorders. The breeder should be familiar with the health line of several generations. As a result, he/she should provide you with a health guarantee for a certain time period.

- A reputable breeder should encourage you to select a puppy with the temperament and personality that is compatible with you and your family. Do not let the breeder convince you that “this” one is for you. A good breeder will only produce litters AFTER they have buyers.

- The breeder should be honest about the dogs’ characteristics. They should tell you both the good points and the bad points concerning a breed. Different breeds of dogs have unique characteristics that are traditional in their breed. So it is important you educate yourself.

- Check out the facilities. Make sure the breeder is keeping the dogs in a clean healthy environment. Ask to see where the dogs are kept. If the breeder insists on only bringing the dogs to you, stay clear!

- Is your breeder involved in the breed? Most often you will find that a good breeder is involved in either, showing, performance, local clubs or rescue. An active breeder is a good sign that he/she truly cares about the breed.

As you can see, choosing a good breeder should involve more than finding a number in the newspaper. Be sure to educate yourself before making any decisions. Prior to meeting with a prospective breeder write down some questions, know the breed, and be patient. Choosing the right breeder and pup is not something that you should rush. Remember being a responsible dog owner starts from the beginning.
Until Next Time!
Jasmine
FUN SITES & RECOMMENDED READINGS
An Eye for a Dog: Illustrated Guide to Judging Purebred Dogs (CLICK HERE) ~ Interesting Book!
Need help finding a Dog Breeder (Click Here)

For more great articles and tons of other great info visit our Dog forum, visit Ron's blog or visit our Pet blog Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Swerdfiger http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Common Skin Problems in Dogs

2006-08-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

Dogs are susceptible to various skin problems -- which can be frustrating for owners who want to see Fido comfortable and happy. Does your dog have a skin problem, and if so, how do you fix it?

That depends on the symptoms you see. Of course, the most common sign of a possible skin problem in your dog is constant, excessive itching. Other symptoms include fur loss, either localized in a certain location or spread across the dog’s entire body. More severe cases may involve redness in the skin, changes in skin pigmentation or even open sores that your dog constantly licks.

No particular symptom necessarily proves your four-footed friend has a certain type of skin disorder, and you’ll need to investigate other areas before you draw conclusions. While it’s common and helpful for veterinarians to diagnose skin problems, it’s also essential for dog owners like you to familiarize yourself with typical canine skin problems, so you can react quickly and keep his discomfort to a minimum.

Fleas, Lice and Ticks
One of the most common problems in dogs is the presence of fleas, lice and ticks, which are parasites that live on the surface of the skin and feed on the dog’s blood. These parasites’ saliva causes skin irritation and results in intense scratching.

Lice and ticks can be detected visually when you check your dog’s fur, while fleas are hard to spot with the naked eye. However, fleas cause red pimple marks on the skin and also can be spotted through the black, gritty trail of “dirt” they leave on a dog’s belly.

While you can remove ticks and lice with tweezers -- applying alcohol will relax the tick’s grip before doing so -- you can also adopt more general methods. For instance, you can give your dog a dip with special tick shampoo to eliminate ticks. Flea sprays or flea powder can also be applied to the dog to kill parasites. But all these require persistence and it may be a while before you see results.

One of the best methods to keep your dog comfortable is to prevent ticks from living off your dog in the first place through the use of a spot-on product, such as FrontLine or BioSpot. To apply these chemicals, you drip a small amount onto the back of your dog’s neck once a month. The chemical spreads throughout the dog’s skin and kills parasites -- including the eggs and larvae. When regularly treated, your dog becomes an unattractive host.

Mange
Mange is a skin problem caused by mites that burrow underneath the dog’s skin, causing intense and even agonizing itching. Bald spots or inflamed red skin are common symptoms of mange. Two types of mange exist in dogs: sarcoptic mange and demodectic mange, depending on the kind of mite involved.

Most dogs carry the mites involved in demodectic mange or demodex. However, these mites usually do not cause itching except when they suddenly multiply into huge numbers. This may happen in young puppies, or in dogs with decreased natural body defenses, sometimes from stress.

On the other hand, Sacroptic mange or scabies causes intense itching in the dog as the mites burrow under the skin and even lay their eggs there. This causes large red spots on the dog’s skin, and sometimes fur loss on the ears and elbows. Scabies can infect humans as well and cause itchiness, although infection in humans usually disappears by itself after a while. However, it is still important for people to seek treatment if they get infected.

Treatment for mange requires patience and time, as eliminating them or lowering the mite population takes a while to take effect. The best way to kill the mites is to soak your dog in a lime and sulfur medicated dip for 10 to 15 minutes a few times in a week. The dip should not be washed off, but left to dry on your dog’s skin and fur. During this time, it’s best to watch your dog closely and prevent him from licking himself dry. As a further precaution, you can feed him a raw egg to line his stomach before dipping him in the solution. This way, even if he does lick himself, the solution won’t be absorbed on an empty stomach.

When fighting mange, it’s also important to support your dog with the highest quality diet you can find, to improve his/her immune system. Healing from mange will take a lot of his/her internal resources. You might consider looking into the raw diet for dogs and avoiding any corn or rice-based products for the time being.

Recommended Products:
All Natural Flea Control for Dog & Cats (Click Here)

FrontLine - Flea & Tick Medication for your Dog & Cat (Click Here)

Well that's all for now, until next time!
Jasmine

Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of Poodle-oo: Fashion for Toy Dogs. Stop by for toy dog couture and home decor, free toy dog postcards and the Toy Dog Blog. http://www.poodle-oo.com/ Source: ArticleTrader.com
http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Yikes I Saw A Flea On My Dog

2006-07-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

At some stage of your pet's lifespan every pet owner will have to deal with the problem of fleas, ticks and mites. If left untreated they can take over your pet's skin and coat so it is really important to keep it under control. It's best to stop the problem before it gets out of control. Rather treat your pet for a few fleas than treat the whole house for an infestation!

There are some misconceptions about fleas. It is not something that only happens to dirty animals! In fact it is probably more common in clean animals because fleas prefer a clean coat. Coming into contact with other animals also causes exposure to the problem and can start a flea problem in your home.

Fleas, mites and ticks are parasites with a short lifespan so they reproduce quickly. Female fleas can lay up to 25 eggs a day. So you can see just how quickly the problem can get out of hand! They tend to prefer warm conditions so summer and spring are the most troublesome times for pets and owners.

The main thing is that you want to catch the problem early! This means brushing your dog often and inspecting their coat. Fleas, ticks and mites are tiny black, brown crawling creatures that can even look like dirt. It may help for you to examine the fur under their ears and arms/legs.

Fleas like warm places. You can also see flea egg sacks and flea droppings in their fur if you look closely. If you still cannot see the fleas try combing your dog on a bright surface, something like a piece of paper should work well.

This is a problem that needs to be treated right away. Instead of heading for the pet store to buy expensive over-the-counter treatments, sprays or dips you should rather seek professional help right away. It will save you time. Your vet should have some pamphlets or handouts about flea control. Some vets even prescribe oral treatments if the problem is out severe.

If you choose to shop for the products yourself you will need to read the labels carefully to check that you are not inadvertently poisoning your pet! Never allow your pet to ingest any of the products you use; they are highly poisonous. It's also important to protect their eyes from these harsh chemicals. There is a lot of disagreement about whether or not flea collars work. They tend to kill fleas in a localized area around the collar.

It is important to treat your home for fleas as well. Fleas can survive in almost anything in your home-furniture, rugs and bedding. Any flea treatments will be pointless if the flea's eggs or fleas themselves remain in your living space.

To clean your home properly you will need to sanitize and clean the areas where the pet sleeps. Depending on the severity of the problem you may need to throw away blankets that have become infested with eggs. Often - just washing the affected bedding in hot water and some flea shampoo should do the trick. Rather safe than sorry though - if in doubt toss the bedding. Having to have your home fumigated will cost a lot more!

Fleas can become a nightmare for any pet owner. Rather stop the problem early - check your pet everyday for fleas and regularly use a preventative product approved by your vet.

If your dog has fleas, a great product you might want to check out is called Frontline Flea and Tick Spray (Click Here) (This stuff is also great for cats).

Until Next Time!

Jasmine

Gary Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies he occasionally has for sale at http://allmypuppiesonline.com. Gary is also the author of two consumer guides, http://carpetsecrets.com and http://movingsecretsguide.com. http://friskydog.blogspot.com

The 7 Stages of Puppy Development

2006-07-24T14:54:00.001-07:00

In order to understand why your puppy doesn’t listen to you at times, you need to understand each stage of development a puppy goes through as it matures.

Let’s take a look at the different stages, but before we do, keep in mind that these stages are generalizations – each dog will progress at its own pace.

Stage 1: The Transitional Stage - 2-3 Weeks

The Transitional stage generally lasts from age two to three weeks, and it’s during this time that your puppy’s eyes will open, and he’ll slowly start to respond to light and movement and sounds around him. He’ll become a little more mobile during this period, trying to get his feet underneath him and crawling around in the box (or wherever home is.) He’ll start to recognize mom and his littermates, and any objects you might place in the box.

Stage 2: The Almost Ready To Meet The World Stage - 3-4 Weeks

The Almost ready to meet the world stage lasts from 3 to about 4 weeks, and your puppy undergoes rapid sensory development during this time. Fully alert to his environment, he’ll begin to recognize you and other family members. It’s best to avoid loud noises or sudden changes during this period – negative events can have a serious impact on his personality and development right now. Puppies learn how to be a dog during this time, so it’s essential that they stay with mom and littermates.

Stage 3: The Overlap Stage - 4-7 Weeks

From 3-4 weeks your puppy begins the most critical social development period of his life – he learns social interaction with his littermates, learns how to play and learns bite inhibition.

He’ll also learn discipline at this point – Mom will begin weaning the pups around this time, and will start teaching them basic manners, including accepting her as the leader of the pack. You can begin to introduce food to the pups starting around the 4th week – transition gradually as Mom weans them.

Continue handling the pups daily, but don’t separate them from either Mom or litter mates for more than about 10 minutes per day. Puppies that are removed from the nest too early frequently are nervous, more prone to barking and biting and have a more difficult time with socialization and training. Puppies need to be left with Mom and siblings until at least 7 weeks of age - and preferably a little longer - for optimum social development.

Experts say that the best time in a puppy’s life to learn social skills is between 3 and 16 weeks of age – that’s the window of opportunity you have to make sure your puppy grows up to be a well-adjusted dog. It’s extremely important to leave your puppy with Mom and his littermates during as much of this period as possible. Don’t discipline for play fighting, housebreaking mistakes or mouthing – that’s all normal behavior for a puppy at this stage.

Stage 4: The “I’m Afraid of Everything” Stage - 8 Weeks to 3 Months

The “I’m Afraid of Everything” Stage lasts from about 8 weeks to 3 months, and is characterized by rapid learning as well as a “fearful period” that usually pops up at around 8 to 10 weeks. Not all dogs experience this, but most do, and they’ll appear terrified over things that they took in stride before. This is not a good time to engage in harsh discipline (not that you ever should anyway!), loud voices or traumatic events.

At this time your puppy’s bladder and bowels are starting to come under much better control, and he’s capable of sleeping through the night. (At last, you can get some rest!) You can begin teaching simple commands like: come, sit, stay, down, etc. Leash training can begin. It’s important not to isolate your puppy from human contact at this time, as he’ll continue to learn behaviors and manners that will affect him in later years.

Stage 5: The Juvenile Stage - 3 Months to 4 Months

The Juvenile stage typically lasts from 3 to 4 months of age, and it’s during this time your puppy is most like a toddler. He’ll be a little more independent - he might start ignoring the commands he’s only recently learned – just like a child does when they’re trying to exert their new-found independence. As in “I don’t have to listen to you!” Firm and gentle reinforcement of commands and training is what’s required here.

He might start biting you – play biting or even a real attempt to challenge your authority. A sharp “No!” or “No bite!” command, followed by several minutes of ignoring him, should take care of this problem.

Continue to play with him and handle him on a daily basis, but don’t play games like tug of war or wrestling with him. He may perceive tug of war as a game of dominance – especially if he wins. And wrestling is another game that can rapidly get out of hand. As your puppy’s strength grows, he’s going to want to play-fight to see who’s stronger – even if you win, the message your puppy receives is that it’s ok to fight with you. And that’s not ok!

Stage 6: The Brat Stage - 4-6 Months

The Brat Stage starts at about 4 months and runs until about 6 months, and it’s during this time your puppy will demonstrate even more independence and willfulness. You may see a decline in his urge to please you – expect to see more “testing the limits” type of behaviors. He’ll be going through a teething cycle during this time, and will also be looking for things to chew on to relieve the pain and pressure. Frozen doggie bones can help sooth him during this period.

He may try to assert his new “dominance” over other family members, especially children. Continue his training in obedience and basic commands, but make sure to never let him off his leash during this time unless you’re in a confined area. Many times pups at this age will ignore commands to return or come to their owners, which can be a dangerous, even fatal, breakdown in your dog’s response to you. If you turn him loose in a public place, and he bolts, the chances of injury or even death can result – so don’t take the chance.

He’ll now begin to go through the hormonal changes brought about by his growing sexual maturity, and you may see signs of rebelliousness. (Think adolescent teen-age boy!) If you haven’t already, you should have him neutered during this time. (Or spayed if you have a female.)

Stage 7: The Young Adult Stage - 6-18 Months

The Young Adulthood stage lasts from 6 months to about 18 months, and is usually a great time in your dog’s life - he’s young, he’s exuberant, he’s full of beans – and yet he’s learning all the things he needs to become a full-fledged adult dog.

Be realistic in your expectations of your dog at this time – just because he’s approaching his full growth and may look like an adult, he’s not as seasoned and experienced as you might expect. Gradually increase the scope of activities for your dog, as well as the training. You can start more advanced training during this period, such as herding or agility training, if that’s something both of you are interested in. Otherwise, extend his activities to include more people and other animals – allow him to interact with non-threatening or non-aggressive dogs.

Congratulations! You’ve raised your puppy through the 7 stages of childhood, er, I mean puppyhood, and now you have a grown-up, adult dog! Almost feels like you’ve raised a kid, doesn’t it?

Click Here to Check Out "Dog Training Secrets!" - I
Highly Recommend It!

Until Next Time!

Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

The Right Leash and Collar for Your Dog

2006-07-23T09:37:00.000-07:00

In the past, when people spoke of training collars, they really generally were referring to “choke chains.” A choke chain is a metal chain with a sliding ring that is attached to your dog’s nylon or leather leash.

There’s a reason it’s called a choke chain. Because there is no limit on how tight the training collar can pull against your dog’s neck, there exists a very real possibility it can choke him, as well as cause other injuries, such as:

Severely sprained necks
Tracheal and esophageal damage
Injured ocular vessels
Cases of fainting
Transient foreleg paralysis
Laryngeal nerve paralysis
Hind leg ataxia

And if you think I’m kidding about any of these injuries: I’m not; they’re all well-documented cases taken from hundreds of veterinary practices who have treated the dogs injured by choke chains.

Bottom line? In the hands of an experienced trainer, a choke chain can be used appropriately, but for the most part, your average person has no idea what an appropriate use of a choke chain entails.

My own personal preference is for a flat buckle collar, either nylon or leather, which can be used for training and everyday use. It should fit snugly, but leave room enough for you to slide two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck. Any looser than that, and it may slide off over your dog’s head. Any tighter and it may cause chafing and discomfort.

The choice of nylon or leather is simply a matter of personal preference – nylon comes in a variety of bright colors, and is a good choice for dogs that spend a lot of time in the water (or mud!) Leather is durable and will absorb oils from your dog’s coat, making it more flexible over time.

The width of the collar should be appropriate to your dog’s size. For example, a wide, heavy or thick collar just won’t work on a Chihuahua, in fact, it would look ridiculous. By the same token, if you have a Rottweiler, a diamond- or rhine-stone-studded poodle collar is going to look pretty silly. And don’t forget an identification tag – if your dog is lost or stolen, this is a quick way for authorities to notify you when your pet is located.

Another terrific solution is a harness – a device that goes around the neck and ribcage, thus eliminating the possibility of choking. Harnesses are an excellent resolution to the problem of having a large dog that hasn’t been well-trained and pulls or lunges when out for a walk. It’s a great way to restrain the pulling without getting in that choking “tug of war” that you sometimes see. Harnesses are also good for small dogs, which can have serious problems with collars pressing on their small and fragile airways.

Now for the proper leash. As with collars, you have a choice of flat nylon or leather (or braided leather is also available), and as with collars, it’s largely a matter of personal preference.

I use a 6 foot nylon leash for training my dog. I find it’s the perfect length for walking, heeling and virtually all of my training sessions.

Many dog owners prefer a retractable leash. These are nylon leashes that are encased in a plastic casing, and vary in length up to about 25 feet or so. The best models of this type have a one-button “braking” system that stops your dog from going beyond a set distance, as well as a spring mechanism that allows you to adjust just how far you want to extend the lead.

Retractable leashes are a good idea if you walk your dog in a variety of settings: you can “reel” him in if you’re on city sidewalks or in situations where there are a lot of people or other dogs around, then you can expand the distance between you when you get to the park or an open space.
(c) 2004 by Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!"
To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit: www.DogTrainingZone.com (Click Here)

Until Next Time!
Jasmine

http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Small Dogs - Different Breeds, Different Personalities

2006-07-20T05:07:00.000-07:00

Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities are all different, it's a good idea to look at their individual characteristics to see if they fit with your lifestyle.
Pomeranians:
Pomeranians developed from a much larger dog breed and seem to have retained the mellow character. They are good with children if they have been raised with them from puppyhood. They are playful and active. They tend to bark and require daily grooming.
Chihuahuas are an interesting small breed. I have raised several herds - and that is a good word for a group of chihuahuas - and their temperment is a bit different from other small dogs. They can be very aggressive towards other dog breeds. I adopted one chihuahua who kept attacking a German Shepherd who finally bit her. After she got out of the hospital she went after him again. I ended up with her because she wasn't going to quit attacking bigger dogs. Some chihuahuas will growl and nip at small children. Good points - chihuahuas are very loyal and affectionate. They don't require as much exercise as other small breeds so they make ideal pets for apartment dwellers or older people. They are good with cats.
Boston Terrier:
Good with children and other animals, the Boston terrier is a good small dog for families. They are suitable for any lifestyle. They can be aggressive chewers. Their short coat is easy to keep clean.
Jack Russell Terrier:
This dog breed is only for the most active owners. They love to chase balls, can hop onto a table with ease and can be aggressive if not trained properly. Very intelligent and lively, they require a lot of attention and discipline.
Maltese:
This small dog breed can be very protective of its owner. It is not suitable for families with children because they are very fragile.
Shitzu or Shih tzu:
Good natured and non-aggressive, these friendly little dogs make great family pets. They require daily brushing but their hair is non-shedding. Good with other animals.
Bichon Frise:
These little dogs make good family pets. They are good with children as well as other animals. Very intelligent, easy to train and lively. Their coat doesn't shred.
Dachshund:
Not a hound but a terrier bred to go after vermin, the breed is lively and affectionate. Good with family members but will become aggressive to children outside the family. They make good watchdogs and will bark frequently to alert their owners.
Pekinese:
Very fierce and loyal, these little dogs are not good around children or other animals. These are good dogs for the elderly. Their coats require a good deal of grooming.
Skye Terrier:
Great with children, okay with other dogs but not tolerant of cats. This unique breed makes a fine pet. Distrustful of strangers.
The next step after selecting a breed is to find a reputable breeder.
If you would like some more information about dog breeds why not check out your local library or buy used books on Amazon.com.
There are several books which I recommend:
Click Here for the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds
and
Click Here for "Dog Breeds for Dummies"
Happy Dog Hunting
Until Next Time!
Jasmine

Pat Schraier has not only owned chihuahuas but a cocker spaniel, a dachshund, a black lab, a boxer, and a terrier mix. Visit the website http://www.dog-match.com for breed information, health care and other resources.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Scraier http://friskydog.blogspot.com

Does Your Dog Have Bad Breath?

2006-07-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

Your cute little pooch is the joy of your life, you love to be around him….Until you get too close!
Bad breath in dogs can be a common problem and while easily taken care of, it can be detrimental to their health if left unattended.
Bad breath can be blamed on a number of culprits. A couple of the most common are dental or periodontal disease. This can all be associated to your dog not properly chewing his/her food (i.e. not allowing saliva to do its job), having a broken tooth or dental plaque and tartar.
Also, your dog could be suffering an internal problem that is causing his/her bad breath. He/she could be having problems with kidney or liver function. The best thing to do in extreme cases is to consult with your vet.
The first tool in battling bad breath in dogs is a toothbrush and some enzymatic toothpaste. Yep, that’s right, fido needs his/her teeth brushed regularly.
Almost 80% of dogs over 3 years old have periodontal disease. This is very serious and is causes a buildup on the teeth and gums that results in deterioration of the gums, teeth and bones. Not only does it cause bad breath, but the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and threaten the health of your dogs vital organs. In fact, proper dental care may help your dog live up to 5 years longer!
You should brush your dogs teeth every day. At first this may really be a struggle, but after a while it will become routine and eventually you and your dog may even enjoy this time together.
There are two types of brushes - a special dog brush which looks pretty much like a regular toothbrush and one is a rubber finger brush with little rubber bristles that you place over your finger. You may need to experiment to see which one is best for your dog.
Never use human toothpaste on your dog - it can hurt him/her! You should use special Enzymatic Toothpaste that will help kill the bacteria. Plus it comes in flavors dogs like like chicken and beef (I know my dog loves it).
Another way to insure your dogs breath smells sweet as well as his/her overall health is to make sure that you are meeting your dog’s nutritional needs. Do not feed your dog table scraps—ever. And, never feed your puppy or dog candy (especially chocolate!). Give your dog the best food designed for his/her body type and breed.
Finally, you’ll want to be sure to have your dog’s teeth brushed and professionally treated by a veterinarian every six to twenty-four months. After your first consultation, ask your vet what schedule he/she believes is best. It can vary dependent upon breed and lifestyle. Your dog will have to undergo a general anesthesia in the vet’s office before the brushing.
For older dogs, talk to your vet, especially if it’s been awhile (up to a few years) since your dog’s last cleaning. Some vets will not put older dogs under anesthesia for regular cleanings.
If you haven’t tended to your pets dental needs in a while, you may find he/she needs a dental cleaning and scaling right away. He/she may even need to have some teeth removed. Once you have this taken care of however you can start on a routine of daily brushing and he/she may never need to get a dental from the vet again.
Once you take care of any buildup and start on your brushing routine, your dogs breath should be sweet in no time!
Do you have the cutest pet? Click Here to Find Out!
Until Next time!
Jasmine :)
Frisky Dog
Lee Dobbins is an avid dog lover and writes for many pet related sites. Find out more about dog care at the webs Pet Center or learn about the loveable pug at The Pug Pages Frisky Dog
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

How To Administer Ear Medication for Your Dog - Painlessly

2006-07-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Has your dog ever had an ear infection? Likely your vet will have prescribed ear medications for treatment or prevention of future ear infections.

The problem with ear medications is that they can be quite uncomfortable for your dog, the medication often needs to be administered in liquid form directly into the ear canal.
Your dog may find this uncomfortable and start avoiding you, or even becoming aggressive towards you.
If your dog becomes aggressive, consult with your vet and seek help from a competent behavioral trainer knowledgeable in desensitisation and counter-conditioning. Avoid anyone who suggests punishing your dog for this behavior.
If the problem is only mild, then you can begin this simple and effective desensitisation procedure yourself.
Have some small, yummy treats ready. Do this exercise before a meal, not after. The exercise involves forming a positive association with the ear medication and having the ear touched by pairing with yummy treats (for more information, Google "Pavlov").
The first step is to have your dog used to having his ears handled - without medication. Touch the outside of his ear and give a treat, do this a few times. Then touch the inside of the ear and give a treat. Don't stick your finger into the ear canal, just touch the actual ear and give a treat. Do this a few times, as many times a day as you can. Gently massage your dogs ears if he likes it, tell him how good he is!
When your dog seems to enjoy having his ears touched, show him the medicine bottle and give a treat. You can do this a number of times.
Next, leave the lid on the medicine bottle and touch the inside of his ear with it, then give a treat. This step is probably the most critical, particularly if your dog has already had ear medication and doesn't like it.
Now we get to the point where we need to administer some medication. I would suggest you administer just a small amount unless your vet insists upon a full dosage all in one go. Feed treats while you administer the medication, and after. Now tell your dog how proud you are while you gently massage the outside of his ears (if he enjoys having his ears massaged, of course, we are building positive associations!
Remember to keep it positive, don't move ahead too fast, and give plenty of treats and praise as you go!

Until Next Time!
Jasmine :)
http://friskydog.blogspot.com
Aidan Bindoff is intensely interested in dog behaviour and training and works to remediate fearful, anxious and aggressive dogs in Australia. For more information visit http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/traininglevels/
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aidan_Bindoff

Dog Training: Success Tips

2006-07-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

A well-mannered dog is a pleasure to be with and is a terrific companion. You can literally set yourself up to be successful in raising a puppy that will be obedient.
Throughout the first year of your dog’s life with you, take the time and effort to plan your dog’s training and exercise with patience and persistence. Here are some strategies to get you started on the right path.

Plan the physical space that your puppy will be living in. Consider safety issues such as a fenced-in yard or a crate or gated space inside where your puppy can be kept when you cannot actively monitor it. Puppy-proof your living space to ensure that dangerous items like household cleaners and electrical cords are secured. Close off areas that you do not want your dog to enter. Keep your tables and countertops clear of food so that your pet doesn’t develop a counter surfing habit.
Crates should be used when you cannot watch your puppy or when you and/or your puppy just simply need a break. The crate should be a place where your puppy feels safe and comfortable. Remember that dogs like den-like places and the crate will serve this purpose. Crates are very useful for house-breaking dogs.
Choose a crate that your puppy can grow into. Dogs will never eliminate where they sleep so make sure that when your puppy is small that they aren’t urinating in one area of the crate and sleeping in another. If this happens, block off part of the crate and make the area inhabited by your puppy too small for him/her to find a place to go to the bathroom.
If you are crating your puppy at night, make sure that he/she is tired and well exercised before putting him/her in. Dogs are social animals and don’t like to be alone at night so place the crate near your bed at night. When placing your puppy in the crate, if he/she whines or cries, ignore it. You must wait them out or it will just get worse.
It is a good idea to make your puppy feel comfortable in the crate by putting some of his/her favorite toys inside. Here is a great trick: show your puppy a special treat and place it inside the crate and shut the door. Your puppy will literally be dying to get inside and have the treat. When you let him/her in to get it, gently close the door behind him and praise him.
Dogs must become accustomed to being left on their own. This way they will not suffer stress when left alone and then engage in destructive behavior. Again, it is imperative to leave them in a safe and comfortable environment. To help them be alone do not fuss over them before you leave. Just be casual and even ignore them when you leave. This way your dog will not be overly emotional every time you leave the house.
It is a great idea to exercise your dog to tucker him/her out before you leave the house for long periods of time. You should also leave your dog with something to keep him/her busy. Chew toys, Kongs stuffed with treats, marrow bones, and so on work very well here. Leave your stereo on with some relaxing classical music to keep your dog company while you are out.
Good management on your part is required for effective house training. It is important to know that puppies under four months have little bladder control but they can often hold it through the night as their metabolism slows down. A dogs’ instinct is to move away from their sleeping area to go and the difference between inside and outside must be taught to them.
A regular feeding and sleeping schedule is vital to house training. Make sure to take your puppy outside after meals and upon awakening from sleeping. If they don’t go right away, keep an eye on them. Encourage them to go and while they are going say something like “do your business” so that they associate that phrase with eliminating. Soon you can use phrases such as “do your business” almost as commands and your dog will follow your direction. Remember to praise your dog lavishly after they go where you want them to.
Set yourself up for success by being attentive to all the things you can do to provide an optimal environment for your puppy to learn and grow. Combine this with daily exercise, discipline, and affection and you will have a fabulous companion.
A great resource for your pet supplies is Petco. You can either visit their store in person or shop online at Petco.com. I just ordered a new bed online for my dog (Sasha) and received free shipping. I am not sure if Petco offers free shipping on all products, but you might want to check it out.
Until Next Time!
Jasmine

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Article Source: Michael Russell* Your Dog Training Guide* Visit us for more information.

Ring Worm in Dogs

2006-07-05T09:53:00.001-07:00

Ringworm is one of the most common diseases in pets, especially dogs. Unlike its name, Ringworm is not a worm but fungi called Dermatophytes that thrives on dead tissues present on skin surface and follows circular path to spread infection.
Ringworm is an infectious skin disease and your pet usually picks it up from his surroundings like kennels, rodent burrows or from other animals who are already infected. There are about 35 species of ringworm that can affect dogs. The most common is ‘Mircosporum Canis’, which accounts for majority of ringworm cases
One symptom of ringworms in dogs is a lesion on the skin that looks like a rapidly growing circular patch of broken hair. The patch may look inflamed and may appear to have dandruff-like flakes on it. The most common areas where it can occur are face, ear tips, tails and paws.
If you find any of these symptoms, take your pet to the veterinarian. He may diagnose the disease by plucking hairs from the infected area and examining it under ultra violet light. On finding fungi traits, he may advise some anti fungal pills or topical medications for your pet
Humans need to take some precautions since ringworm is an infectious disease. Be sure to keep kids away from an infected pet, and adults should wear gloves when handling any items that have come in contact with the animal. Also keep your dog neat and clean and clip his/her hairs short since longer hairs promote unhygienic conditions.
Although, ringworm is a mild disorder the problems due to its infectious nature and slow recovery time (2-3 weeks) can be problematic.
After your dog is done with his/her treatment you should use a very gentle shampoo such as Oatmeal & Aloe shampoo . This shampoo gently cleans as it heals and re-moisturizes dry and irritated skin.
Until Next Time!

Jasmine :)
Ring Worms provides detailed information about ring worm, human ring worm and more. Ring Worms is affiliated with Dry Skin Lotion.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marcus_Peterson

How To Socialize Your Puppy

2006-07-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Teaching a puppy or a dog proper socialization skills is vital to the safety of both your dog and people with whom he/she comes into contact. A properly socialized dog is a happy dog, and a joy to be around for both humans and animals. A poorly socialized dog, or one with no socialization at all, is a danger to other animals, to people and even your family.
Socialization is best done when the puppy is as young as possible. The socialization lessons a young puppy learns are difficult to undo, and it is important to remember that the socialization skills the puppy learns will affect his/her behavior for the rest of her life.
A dog that is properly socialized will be neither frightened of nor aggressive towards animals or humans. A properly socialized dog will take each new experience and stimulus in stride, and not become fearful or aggressive.
Dogs that are not properly socialized often bite because of fear, and such a dog can become a hazard and a liability to the family who owns it. Improperly socialized dogs are also unable to adapt to new situations. A routine matter like a trip to the vets or to a friends house can quickly stress the dog out and lead to all sorts of problems.
Socialization is best done when the puppy is very young, perhaps around 12 weeks of age. Even after 12 weeks, however, it is important that the puppy continues its socialization in order to refine the important social skills. It is possible to socialize an older puppy, but it is very difficult to achieve after the all important 12 week period has passed.
There are some definite do’s and don’ts when it comes to properly socializing any puppy. Let’s start with what to do. Later in this article we will explore what to avoid.
Socialization Do’s
• Make each of the socialization events as pleasant and non-threatening for the puppy as possible. If a puppy’s first experience with any new experience is an unpleasant one, it will be very difficult to undo that in the puppy’s mind. In some cases, an early trauma can morph into a phobia that can last for a lifetime. It is better to take things slow and avoid having the puppy become frightened or injured.
• Try inviting your friends over to meet the new puppy. It is important to included as many different people as possible in the puppy’s circle of acquaintances, including men, women, children, adults, as well as people of many diverse ethnic backgrounds and ages.
• Also invite friendly and healthy dogs and puppies over to meet your puppy. It is important for the puppy to meet a wide variety of other animals, including cats, rabbits and other animals he/she is likely to meet. It is of course important to make sure that all animals the puppy comes into contact with have received all necessary vaccinations.
• Take the puppy to many different places, including shopping centers, parks, and on walks around the neighborhood. Try to expose the puppy to places where there will be crowds of people and lots of diverse activity going on.
• Take the puppy for frequent short rides in the car. During these rides, be sure to stop the car once in a while and let the puppy look out the window at the world outside.
• Introduce your puppy to a variety of items that may be unfamiliar. The puppy should be exposed to common items like bags, boxes, vacuum cleaners, umbrellas, hats, etc. that may be frightening to him. Allow and encourage the puppy to explore these items and see that he has nothing to fear from them.
• Get the puppy used to a variety of objects by rearranging familiar ones. Simply placing a chair upside down, or placing a table on its side, creates an object that your puppy will perceive as totally new.
• Get the puppy used to common procedures like being brushed, bathed, having the nails clipped, teeth cleaned, ears cleaned, etc. Your groomer and your veterinarian with thank you for this.
• Introduce the puppy to common things around the house, such as stairs. Also introduce the puppy to the collar and leash, so he/she will be comfortable with these items.
Socialization Don'ts:
There are of course some things to avoid when socializing a puppy. These socialization don’ts include:
• Do not place the puppy on the ground when strange animals are present. An attack, or even a surprise inspection, by an unknown animal could traumatize the puppy and hurt his socialization.
• Do not inadvertently reward fear based behavior. When the puppy shows fear, it is normal to try to soothe it, but this could reinforce the fear based behavior and make it worse. Since biting is often a fear based behavior, reinforcing fear can create problems with biting.
Most of all make sure you give your puppy plenty of attention.
Don't forget summer is flea and tick season so be sure to protect your little ball of fur. I purchase my flea & tick medication online at PetCareRx. If you would like to check it out, simply click on the link below.
Save Up To 50% On Your Pet's Flea and Tick Medications at PetCareRx

Until Next Time!
Jasmine

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com