30 Jun 2009

Could You Foster a Dog in Need?

If you have ever watched animal rescue shows on television, you have probably seen some of the sick or injured dogs or puppies be placed with a foster caregiver. These dedicated volunteers provide much needed help to dogs recovering from their ordeal, whether its from physical abuse and neglect or lack of socialization. Do you think you could foster a dog in need?

Fostering a dog is a big responsibility and requires a real commitment from the whole family. Anyone who wants to foster a dog or a puppy should have some experience with dogs. Dogs that have been abused or neglected are often the most difficult to foster. They have fear and trust issues and will need someone who knows how to slowly, gently encourage their confidence and teach them to be social and how to play. Certain breeds will require foster caregivers with specific experience. Naturally, very large dogs or dogs that have a tendency toward aggression when afraid, will not be suitable for homes with young children or other pets. These dogs will need a person who is able to be firm yet gentle in handling behavior issues.

You will need to learn specific things that may frighten the dog and help him to learn to adapt to different triggers. For example, he may be afraid of your other dogs loud barking or of thunder. He may feel afraid if there are a lot of people around him. He can slowly be desensitized to the things that he fears. This will allow him to be a good candidate for adoption.

It is important that you have an appropriately sized house, for the size of the dog you will foster. Someone will need to be home during the day and have time to spend with the pup. The dog may require a special diet or medication. You may have to take your foster pet to the veterinarian for treatment of injuries. There are some other things to consider before you volunteer for fostering. Do you have children? Are there other pets in your home? The workers at the shelter or the rescue will be able to match you with a pet that will be the best fit in your household. Keep in mind that some of the dogs in need of fostering may not be house trained or have even the most basic manners. This will be an additional challenge for you to take on.

Its a good thing for a foster dog to just learn how to part of a normal home. You will be surprised how after a slow start, the pup you're fostering, will be at ease as a member of the family. This transformation is what foster caregivers are striving for. There is a true sense of satisfaction in giving these dogs a chance to live a happy, healthy life with a loving family.

It takes a certain kind of person to be able to invest time and love in a neglected or injured dog, and see him become healed and healthy, then to give them over to another family. Animal foster caregivers volunteer knowing that they will fall in love with their temporary pet, then turn them over to a permanent home. These volunteers make all the difference in shelters and rescue being able to find homes for many of the dogs brought to them. Many of the dogs not suitable for adoption when they arrive, would likely be euthanized.

If you think you have it in your heart to foster a dog in need, contact your local humane society or a local breed rescue. While it can be challenging, it is also a very rewarding experience.

About the Author:
Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information.

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Labrador Retrievers Make Great Family Pets

Throughout the whole of the UK and the USA there is one dog amongst all the other dog breeds that stands head and shoulders above the others for popularity, the Labrador Retriever.

If you are fortunate enough to spend some time in the company of a Labrador Retriever you will soon discover why these lovable dogs are proving to be so popular. These dogs are friendly, playful, intelligent and loyal. Labrador Retrievers absolutely adore children and this is why families rate them as one of the best dog breeds around.

The Labrador Retriever is a fun loving breed, they enjoy the water either swimming in it or generally simply splashing around having a good time. Another reason that the Labrador Retriever is such an ideal choice for families is the fact that they are a dog that can just go on for hours, much like children! They love to play fetch and swim. They will keep your children entertained all day long as well as wear them out. Labradors have unparalleled energy. Some have even run until they have given themselves a heart attack. They simply don't know when they have given their all.

There are numerous dog breeds that make brilliant family dogs but none that are quite as good at filling the vacancy than the Labrador Retriever. These particular dogs do not simply just fill the gap in a family they become companions and friends. Any information on Labrador Retrievers will tell potential owners how mellow these dogs truly are, if you are considering a watchdog then a Labrador Retriever is probably not a good first choice. Intruders would just be covered in licks! They do possess quite a deep bark though and stand fairly tall and if the intruder pays no attention to their exceedingly waggy tail then they could feasibly be worried by a Labrador Retriever.

As far as dogs go the Labrador Retriever is an easy dog to train due to its intelligence. They are a breed of dog that simply loves to please its owner and make them happy and pleased with them. When compared with other dog breeds Labrador Retrievers do not shed as much fur as others, this is always a bonus.

If you read any dog information it will normally tell you of the biggest flaw the Labrador Retriever possesses, its appetite. These dogs are like dustbins on legs! They have a big appetite and are prone to gaining weight quickly. The trick is to monitor their food intake and also ensure they receive enough exercise. This is a clever dog though and will attempt bribery with its gorgeous big, brown eyes.

Labrador Retrievers are prone to several disorders that are associated with too much weight, as are most dog breeds. It is therefore imperative to watch their diet especially the amount of treats consumed. They are also prone to hip dysplasia, a disease that causes the joints to deteriorate. It is very painful for them and often fatal. It is important to have your dog screened for dysplasia before you take them home from the breeder.

The Labrador Retriever is a perfect addition as a family dog due to its incredible nature and temperament.

About the Author:
There are many more articles on Labrador Retrievers and other dogs at GreatDogSite!

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How To Bathe a Westie

West Highland White Terriers are prized possessions for dog owners, particularly those of you that cherish that luxurious, long white coat. The plush, thick coats consist of a double coat - a cottony undercoat and an outer coat of hard straight, white hair. Although the white coat makes for a distinctive look, it can also become the bane of your existence - given that the Westies love to dive into holes or digging their own in the backyard. Unfortunately, since your West Highland White Terrier has sensitive skin, he can only be bathed sparsely, although sometimes bathing is needed more often. So why should Westies be bathed infrequently, exactly, and what should you do if he need more than the usual requirement?

Frequent bathing your West Highland White Terrier will deprive his sensitive skin of the natural oils that are produced to help keep the white coat healthy. If you bathe your Westie too often, you must take the natural oils into consideration, because the oil glands could eventually cease production. As a result, your pet's skin could become flaky, itchy and quite uncomfortable. Due to this condition, many Westie clubs and associations recommend washing your Westie only three or four times a year. Although this is a good general rule, you should definitely wash him if he rolls in something particularly nasty.

Some owners, perhaps yourself, may prefer to have your West Highland White Terrier groomed by a professional groomer. To take full advantage of the freshly cut hair, many owners choose to bathe their pet every four to six weeks. Many owners choose to get a variety of cuts. It's really up to the person. It's your dog so why not have fun with his or her hair?

In a very few circumstances, it is necessary to bathe your West Highland White Terrier more often than every four weeks. Allergies and other skin disorders may require a medicated shampoo prescribed by the veterinarian. On the other hand, your West Highland White Terrier may produce an excess of natural oils and more frequent baths will help remove them. It's important not to bathe too frequently. Many of these oils are good for the Westies coat and help prevent skin irritations. Each dog is different, so try to find a time frame that allows your pups skin to be balanced and healthy. Those dogs that spend a great deal of time outside may often find smelly things to roll around in. Of course, there are some owners who simply prefer for their dog to be bathed more often.

If you do decide that you either prefer to or need to bathe your West Highland White Terrier, it would be best to consult with your local veterinarian about the proper bathing products to help keep your pet's skin in its best health. There are specially formulated products for Westies that should always take preference over any other formulas, unless recommended by your vet. There are also specialized conditioners and rinses to help keep your Westie's skin healthy, which is just as important as keeping your dog clean. A clean, healthy Westie is a happy pet.

About the Author:
For more information on West Highland White Terriers and other dogs, browse the rest of GreatDogSite!

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The Bichon Frise Is a High Energy Dog

These small, white, fluffy dogs with a curly coat and plumed tail are extremely characteristic. When you see one of these dogs, you know immediately that it is a Bichon Frise. What you may not know is the energy level of these dogs. Although the Bichon Frise is a fun, intelligent and playful dog, some have a very high energy level. For that reason, it is important, as with all dogs, that the Bichon Frise attend a basic obedience training course as well as a more advance course, to teach the dog that you must be in control. Typically, such high-energy dogs do well in homes where there is often someone home with them, in order to keep them busy and exercised. A moderate to high level of exercise should keep your Bichon Frise tired out and happy.

Easily excited and high energy Bichon Frises tend to overreact when you return home or when you have visitors. This can be quite embarrassing, so commands learned in obedience classes such as down, sit and stay are very important to curb this behavior quickly. Exercise on a regular basis and mental stimulation is necessary to keep the Bichon Frise under control, as simply running around the house does not provide enough stimulation or exercise. Property destruction such as chewed shoes or furniture can occur if a hyperactive, overly excitable, or high energy Bichon Frise does not receive proper exercise and stimulation. An obedient dog is a happy dog.

Walking is probably the best exercise for your high energy Bichon Frise. When walking, your pet gets to dispel some of his energy, see some interesting sights along the way, and spend time with you. Two or three brisk walks a day will help reduce your Bichon Frises abundant energy. In addition, it will stimulate your pet's respiratory and circulatory systems and keep you pet toned. There are two benefits to ample exercise: dogs with enough exercise sleep well, and they also get into less trouble due to boredom. Bichon Frises are tricky, however. Walking alone will not do the trick; it is necessary to channel that high amount of energy into interesting and entertaining tricks for your pet. If you are one of those people that are away from home on a regular basis, it is probably a good idea to hire a pet sitter to come in during the day to take your pet on a walk and play with him. This will help the Bichon Frise have a tolerable level of energy when you get home.

Although walking briskly a few times a day is enough to release the pent up energy of your Bichon Frise, it is not the only exercise option you have. Spend time playing games such as hide and seek, tag, or fetch. These games will stimulate the mind of your dog and burn excess energy. The same as with food and housebreaking, the Bichon Frise prefers a routine, so you should keep the exercise for your dog in a sort of routine as well. Always have plenty of fresh water available for your Bichon Frise, while exercising or not, and be careful that he doesn't overheat or become overly fatigued. Instead of a chore, exercise should be a fun, interesting and exciting activity for your Bichon Frise.

Mental challenges of learning new tricks and skills are an excellent way to reduce the high energy of the Bichon Frise. Cute tricks such as rolling over, waving, and dancing are sure to gain the attention that your dog wants when he is around your friends. Create an obstacle course with items that you have on hand and teach your Bichon Frise to go around boxes, cross boards, go under chairs and through hoops and then back. Both mental and physical exercise is necessary to keep your Bichon Frise happy.

About the Author:
GreatDogSite is the best place on the web to find Information on Bichon Frises and other dog breeds!

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19 Jun 2009

Caring For The Older Cat

The world of today is revolving on advanced technological inventions and medical science. Markets are full of goods that are highly nutritious and for the calorie conscious. If you thought that the market is meant to cater to us humans only then you might be wrong. Off late, there has been a surge in the availability of highly nutritious pet supplies, which along with modern medicines have allowed cats to live beyond their normal age.

Some 30 years back, cats always moved around the house and even out of the house unsupervised. This caused several accidents that claimed many lives. Apart from that cat distemper is one of the deadliest diseases that have claimed many a life. According to a study conducted by National Research Counsel, it has been found that taurine is essential nutrients that can help cats lead a healthy life. Due to nutritious food consisting of taurine, it has been seen that there are more and more cats that enjoy a life over twelve. This is a remarkable breakthrough as far as pet health is concerned.

Again like humans, pet health and longer life cycle is genetically driven. There are some cats that enjoy exceptional pet health due to the genes they have inherited and this allows them to live beyond their normal lifespan. If your cat is getting older then it doesn’t mean that it is nearing death or that you should stop taking care of the cat. The older they get, the more important it is to take care of pet health. In fact, when you shop for pet supplies, you need to bear in mind the fact that the food or nutrition requirements for an older cat are different from that of a young cat. Above all, one thing that shouldn’t lessen is the amount of love for your cat. After all, ageing is a natural process and it is something we will never have control over. But what we can have control over is things like taking care of pet health, regular check ups and good and nutritious food. As your cat grows older, you need to be with him or her more so that he or she feels more loved and taken care of. At the end of the day, he or she is not just a pet but an integral part of our lives.


About Author : Mark Stimpson / im Mark work for a website selling cheap Pet Supplies

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Problems With Owning An Ostritch Farm

In America there are lots of individuals who have farms or ranches. On these farms they grow crops of corn and wheat as well as other things. They also may nurture animals like pigs, chickens, and cows. Every farm is unique and numerous of them care for these animals before they sell them off for meat or utilizing their milk to produce cheese or for people who love to drink milk.

One type of farming that we normally do not know about much is ostritch farming. The ostritch is a flightless bird that we all know and have seen on National Geographic episodes - but seldom are they seen in person. In fact several of us cannot even know why or how they are being farmed and sold for meat like cows and pigs.

The ostritch is regarded to be a free ranging livestock that does not demand a great dea ofl care once they have reached four months old. In fact numerous of these farmers feel that they are some of the greatest environmentally friendly creatures because they do not require as much food.

More than one hundred countries have placed money into these farms and have worked hard to create a living from them. In the early 1990’s it was thought to be quite profitable - but it did not take long for the business to die down because there was such a lack for their product. Without anyone to buy them many of the farms were pushed to close down.

Yet, not everything is lost. The few ostritch farms that are still around in the United States are asking the government to make things easier. They believe that if the USDA were to inspect the meat like they do with cows and pigs then the marketing price might be lowered. People would be more inclined to purchase them if the price were lower. For now all they have the ability to do is wait and hope that something is done quickly.

About Author : Ostritches are a type of flightless bird and are very unusual. That is why it is unusual to hear about Ostritch Farms.

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Has Your Dog Got A Cold?

Did you know that even your dog health can suffer from cold? However, he doesn’t get a runny nose like you, but his dog health can get affected by a coughing infection generally known as Kennel cough. Kennel cough (medical term: canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is an infection that causes mild irritation due to the thickening of the trachea lining. Pet health care experts suggest that a dog who suffers from this disease may cough frequently. The frequency of coughing could be every few minutes as well as through the entire day. Pet health care experts have observed that dog cold does affect dog health as it is one of the most common infectious dog diseases, though in most cases the condition doesn’t develop into a serious dog health problem. It’s been observed that Kennel cough goes away on its own with a week or two.

Causes of Kennel Cough

Bordatella bronchiseptica is the most common cause of this cough. This bacteria or virus is airborne and usually invades the dog’s body when he inhales infected air. The pet health care experts are of the opinion that dogs that participate in large canine gatherings such as dog or kennel shows tend to contract the Bordatella virus more.

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

Some of the symptoms of Kennel cough affect dog health in the following ways:

1. Dog tries to clears his throat every time it coughs
2. Dog coughs whenever he is participating in a physical activity such as exercising
3. Dog develops coughing almost a few weeks after he has been to a dog gathering and taken in virus-infected air
4. You dog coughs continuously and vomits food or mucus

The color of the mucus indicates the seriousness of the dog health infection. White mucus means the infection is not serious, while green mucus means a very serious infection. If your dog is coughing hard and vomiting green mucus, you must take him to a pet health care expert immediately.

Diagnosing Kennel Cough

A pet health care expert such as a veterinarian will check the dog health by rubbing his larynx. Sometimes, the vet may also ask you to get some tests done to ensure the extent of damage on the dog health.

Home Treatment for Kennel Cough

You can protect the dog health from Kennel cough by ensuring his immune system stays strong. You have a choice of homeopathic as well as allopathic treatments to keep your dog ailment free. A dog cough suppressant can alleviate Kennel cough or dog cold and help your dog and your family sleep well at night.

Remember, not to give your dog antibiotics if his appetite stays normal and the coughing is not frequently. In such cases, letting the disease complete its course is the best recourse. If the coughing lasts over 10 days, take the dog to the vet for a thorough check up to ensure best dog health.

About Author : Mark Stimpson

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12 Jun 2009

How to Stop Dog Aggression

Aggression is instinctive to dogs. Survival in the wild required the evolution of this trait over many centuries. Many centuries of selective breeding techniques have reduced dog aggression traits. Below are some reasons why your dog could be displaying aggressive behaviour.

Why is my dog aggressive?

Factors such as lack of exposure to other people and dogs as well as dominance are the most common causes of dog aggression.

Stranger aggression:

Caution and wariness are natural behaviours for dogs. If your dog isn't used to being in unfamiliar situations it may become quite on edge around strangers and new environments. You are responsible for making sure your dog is exposed to new experiences in a positive way. Browse our Review of Dog Training Zone for help to train aggressive dogs.

What can I do about it?

From a young age your dog needs to be socialised in order to feel relaxed in unusual situations. In your choice of experiences include other people, places and animals. Experience will teach your dog how much fun other places, people and animals can be. Socialising your dog doesn't need to be worrying. You might want to begin with puppy pre-school. Exposure to new people and other dogs will increase your confidence about where you can take your dog. Your dog will continue to need socialisation, to stay stranger friendly.

Aggression around family members:

When dogs feel they need to protect something that is theirs, they can react aggressively towards their family members. This is called resource guarding. Resource guarding usually appears as snarling, growling or over possessiveness. This sort of aggression is a result of a dominance problem. Pack animals such as dogs need to know who is the head of the pack. Dogs are used to structure and are ranked according to a hierarchy of position and power in relation to everyone in their family or pack. Since your dog does not have a dog family, it will rank itself against its human family and this ranking will tell it how to behave at all times. If your dog is behaving aggressively then it perceives itself to be at the top of the pack. If your dog behaves in a submissive/passive way it perceives its self to be ranked lower than other family members and wouldn't dare growl or snarl if you approached during eating or if you took away a toy. The message to your dog must be clear, that you are the boss and your dog is a lower ranking member of the pack.

What can I do about my dogs aggressive behavior?

Rebuild your authority with your dog by regular and consistent obedience training work. Keep your training sessions short for effective behavior modification and control. Make each training session enjoyable: play a game by giving your dog lots of praise, pats and treats when it has worked well with you.

More information about handling aggressive and dominant behaviors, as well as detailed information on a host of other common dog behavior problems, can be found at Secrets to Dog Training. Browse an in-depth look at Daniels Stevens Secrets to Dog Training at DogHelpdesk.com

About the Author

I provide free articles, advice and product reviews related to Dog Training at http://www.doghelpdesk.com

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How to Stop your Dog from Barking

A key component in training your dog to bark less is understanding the reasons for the barking. Barking is one way that your dog communicates with you and over time you will develop an understanding of why your dog is barking. Sometimes your dog will bark for the right reasons, when it needs to go to the toilet or when something is wrong. Don't forget, there is good barking and bad barking!. Neighbours with barking dogs are annoying and it is up to you to train your dog about barking behaviour. You are in control and your dog will look to you for instruction about when to and when not to bark.

For more help with your training take a look at these reviews of the best dog training guides available today. Go to Best Dog Training Guides now.

Is your dog feeling bored, anxious or lonely?

The number one cause of uncontrolled barking is a dog who is feeling nervous and lonely. Are your dogs days spent almost entirely alone? To accomodate being left alone so long you will need to make sure your dog is getting one to one and a half hours of exercise per day, depending on breed. A recommended routine is a long walk before or after work. Consider hiring someone to walk your dog in the mornings and/or evenings if it's too difficult to arrange. A big thankyou will be your dogs reaction to this attention. A host of dog toys are available from pet shops etc, to try when you are away from home. Dogs love balls and perhaps you could even leave your dog a bone to chew on. If you have a few dog toys, try rotating them weekly to help your dog "rediscover" a toy.

Barking is commonly attributed to dogs who spend too much time alone. Dogs need lots of interaction, attention and communication as is the nature of a social animal. Your dog will need you to play with it and recieve a great deal of affection from you. This is what dogs love. Find activities that include your dog, when at home. Loved dogs are content dogs. A dog that is well attended to is also less likely to manifest other problem behaviors and you won't need to Stop Your Dog Whining.

Is it playtime for your dog?

Do not give in to a demanding, barking dog. A bad habit will be reinforced, if you do. A relationship built on mutual respect does not tolerate this sort of harassment. Ignore this type of behavior if you want your dog to stop demanding your attention in this way. An effective way to do this is to turn your back to your dog, without responding and move away. Your dog is not used to this and will be confused to begin with. Since the barking behavior has worked in the past your dog may thinking that if it barks for just a little longer you will give in. Don't do it! Be firm. Almost certainly the barking will get worse before it gets better. Lots of praise is required to reinforce the correct behaviour. Positive reinforcement is the key and your dog wants to please you. After a short time of consistent work your dog will re-learn this behavior and stop barking to attract your attention.

Consistency is a requirement to effectively train your dog. Pack animals such as dogs are most at ease and well behaved when they understand the pecking order. Your leadership is necessary for your dog to respect you and become well adjusted, well behaved and happy. A good dog is not necessarily a quiet dog. It is your clear direction that will teach your dog when it is appropriate to bark.

To discover more about barking behavior take a look at How to Stop Your Dog Barking.

About the Author

I provide free articles, advice and product reviews related to Dog Training at http://www.doghelpdesk.com

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Training Your Dog to Get Used To a Leash

Although training your dog to get used to a leash is not very hard, it is also not particularly easy. You are will quickly find out that training your dog to use a leash has its difficulties, especially when they are still puppies. Every dog breed has a specific way of learning. This article will give you some pointer on how to train your dog to get used to a leash.

Certain dog breeds might find this type of training slightly harder than other breeds. Dog leash training involves lots of practice together with a lot of tolerance from the owner. You as the owner of the dog should ensure that you always stay on top of the training sessions so that your dog will know that you are serious for them to make use of a leash.

After your dog understand the basics of walking with a leash, the training process will become less difficult. As soon as they realize that the leash is not their enemy and that it will not harm them, they will get used to it around their neck. Something else to keep in mind is to use the best approach so that your dog will not be afraid of the leash.

The leash should be an appropriate length in order for you to have full control over your dog. Leash control entails you having the dog within reach at all times. A leash that is too long leash will give you less control, which will give your dog too much room to run and drag you.

If your dog is dragging you while on the leash you must use a shorter leash in the beginning to cater for this. Some breeds have a tendency to pull more than others. If you do proper leash training with your dog you will soon realize that the best time to get your dog used to the leash is when you are outside for a walk.

Walking the dog is a wonderful way in which your dog can get some exercise. You will also discover that it offers you time to connect with your dog in a special way. As soon as you have gotten used to this routine you and your dog will not have any problems.

It is also important to attach the leash to the collar of your dog in a safe manner. If you use choke collars for your dog you should make sure that you know how to use them correctly. You should always put safety first when it comes to the training of your dog.

There are a lot of dog training collars that can assist you with this training process, and they are readily available in most of the pet shops. By making use of the correct training methods you and your dog effortlessly master the dog leash training process.

About the Author

For more information on dog breeds or Cheap Dog Beds, visit this Dog Supplies website.

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11 Jun 2009

Dog Shedding Problems & Tips

Almost all dogs shed, probably except those hairless dogs such as Peruvian Inca or America Hairless Terriers that are considered non-shedding dogs. Human sheds too. Hair loss usually results by environment change and genetics. "Blowing the coat" or shedding is important to prepare the body from season change and give way for new coats to come. Most dogs will shed between seasons, either to prepare for dealing with the summer heat, or to shed a lighter undercoat for a heavy, dense undercoat for the wintertime. Dogs also shed in a similar fashion as humans, in order to get rid of damaged or broken hair on their coat. Shedding dogs that are not properly groomed may be prone to matting.

Some breeds have a seasonal shedding season in the spring, as their winter coats are lost. But if your dog is an indoor dog it may not be outside enough for the dog's body to register the change of season, so he may shed all year round. Lack of needed skin vitamins, skin problems or any internal health problems also causes shedding. Knowing the right ways to deal with shedding will benefit you both from keeping your dog healthy and eliminate those hairs easily.

Regular Grooming. Proper and constant grooming is the key for a healthy dog coat and skin. Keeping in mind that the hair is going to fall out regardless, and it is best to remove it yourself and throw it in the trash rather than to let the hair fall out naturally all over your house. Brushing your dog once a day will greatly reduce the unwanted hair all over your clothes, carpet and furniture, especially during shedding season. Depending on your specific breed, you will need to do brush your dog at least weekly. Others may have to do it on a daily basis. Using a slicker brush will keep hair from falling all over the place during the process. That way you won't have to vacuum it up afterwards.

Healthy Diet. The diet of a dog becomes essential, as dogs that are fed an unhealthy diet may have more problems with their coat than dogs that are fed the right dietary foods. For many dogs the amount of fat content is essential to maintain a healthy coat of hair. This does not just account for a shiny haired canine, but dogs need this oil for their skin which in turn holds the hair follicles in place. Dog's sebaceous gland needs oil to properly produce for hair to be healthy.

Dietary Supplements. This helps a lot for dogs that are shedding too much. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplements work best. A lack of omega 3 and 6 in your dog's diet can cause dry skin, dull coats, and excessive shedding. These supplements usually take at least a month before you can see a noticeable improvement in the amount of shedding.

Control Skin Problems. Ensuring a healthy skin is important. Dry skin can lead to dog shedding problems. Therefore, you should make sure your dog doesn't have any skin conditions. These skin conditions can be very itchy or painful and prompt your dog to scratch himself excessively. Treat dog skin infections with medicated shampoo or an oral medication.

Physical Problems. There are physical problems that can cause large, abnormal amounts of shedding such as ringworm, skin infections, stress, mange, thyroid imbalance and cancer. If your dog's hair loss is abnormal you will see bald spots. If you see bald spots or you think your dog is shedding abnormally, take your dog to the vet to perform some blood tests.



About The Author:
Hannah Serrano is a passionate writer of http://www.americaoutdoor.com, an informative website about dog beds and petsafe containment systems for dogs, pets and animals.

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Can You Do Dog Training?

The dog training professionals agree that the best way (and certainly the most humane) to do dog obedience training is through the use of positive reinforcement training. This phrase refers to the use of positive reinforcement – rewarding good behavior and ignoring unwanted behavior.

This is unlike some of the once widely used dog training methods which included inflicting pain, intimidation and inhumane aversion training methods, including electric shock collars.

Dog obedience training with positive reinforcement works very well with dogs. Remember that your dog has a natural inclination to try to please you – which makes positive reinforcement effective. Your dog will also remember these lessons better and repeat the desired behavior more consistently.

Here are some ways to make dog obedience training with positive reinforcement an easier process for you and your best friend: Use these tips to train your dog and make good training progress.

1. Do dog training with good rewards. While your dog does like being praised and getting a pat on the head, this will only go so far in training your dog to behave well. To really keep your dog’s attention, you need to use food rewards. These are what dog trainers call “primary incentives” – and every dog owner knows how food-motivated a dog can be!

2. Give rewards at the right time. Timing is everything when you are training your dog. Give a command, if he follows it, give him a reward immediately. Delayed rewards will get confused training results. You dog will not know what to do to get that reward. You will lose control of your dog obedience training session.

A clicker can be used when your train your dog. These are small devices made of metal, which make a clicking sound when pressed. You click this device right when your dog exhibits a desirable behavior, such as following a command.

A click is not a necessity for dog training. If you have a strong voice you can use voice like clicker. Use a comment like “yes”, “good boy”, with a voice tone that is happy, loving, and strong. Be consistent with the words you use. Do not change from one phrase to another.

When you start with your dog obedience training, determine what type of command technique you will use. Don’t use the clicker one day and your strong voice the next. Always be consistent with the way you train your dog. This will eventually let your dog know that it is training time. If you make training fun, your dog will look forward to dog training time.

No matter how smart your dog may be, they have a very limited capacity to understand human speech. They can learn, but you’ll need to use consistent repetition of the markers and rewards with the associated action in order to cement this positive behavior in your dogs’ mind.

Use love and understanding during your dog obedience training is what you want to do. You dog will sense if you are upset and angry. If he senses love, he will respond and try to make you happy by trying to do what you want. Take your time and love your dog and both of you will survive the training sessions.



About The Author:
Are you looking for some really good tips and information on dog training? With the right training methods, your dog will learn. For a Free Report on Dog Training Myths Stop by our site and get your copy. Go now here, Dog Training and Obedience, and get your own copy of this report.

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Dog Training Made Easy And Fast

It is now well know that when you use positive thoughts and approaches to dog obedience training, your dog will enjoy his training and reward you with good behavior. Treating your dog with kindness and respect will determine how he will learn and behave during training.

When you think positive thoughts to train your dog, your dog will respond. Dogs have a natural sense of what humans feel and think. So, when you use abusive action, your dog will get confused and not know what to do.

Work training your dog like you would teach your child how to do something. If you cannot show love, understanding, and patience, while dog training, then let someone else train your dog. Forcing your dog to learn new behaviors can leave deep seated fear in your dog that will last a life time.

Here are more tips and ideas that you can use to do dog training. Don’t try to train your dog on a lot of different commands in the first day. Only work on one command so your dog does not get confused.

1. Do dog training with good rewards. While your dog does like being praised and getting a pat on the head, this will only go so far in training your dog to behave well. To really keep your dog’s attention, you need to use food rewards. These are what dog trainers call “primary incentives” – and every dog owner knows how food-motivated a dog can be!

2. Give rewards at the right time. Timing is everything when you are training your dog. Give a command, if he follows it, give him a reward immediately. Delayed rewards will get confused training results. You dog will not know what to do to get that reward. You will lose control of your dog obedience training session.

A clicker can be used when your train your dog. These are small devices made of metal, which make a clicking sound when pressed. You click this device right when your dog exhibits a desirable behavior, such as following a command.

A click is not a necessity for dog training. If you have a strong voice you can use voice like clicker. Use a comment like “yes”, “good boy”, with a voice tone that is happy, loving, and strong. Be consistent with the words you use. Do not change from one phrase to another.

When you start with your dog obedience training, determine what type of command technique you will use. Don’t use the clicker one day and your strong voice the next. Always be consistent with the way you train your dog. This will eventually let your dog know that it is training time. If you make training fun, your dog will look forward to dog training time.

So many times, you make think your dog is almost human by what it does and how it reacts. Dogs have survival instincts that can be activated immediately. But since it can only comprehend a few words, you need to be patient, when you train your dog. Over time with repetition, your dog will begin to understand what you mean and want.

With your patience, love, and care during your dog obedience training, you dog will start to see and understand what you are trying to teach him or her. Don’t rush the training, since your dog has a mind of its own and knows what it want to do and does it instantly. But with repetition, you will be rewarded with new behavior from your dog.



About The Author:
Get more free information on training your dog at our site. Change your dog’s behavior with expert dog training guidance. Come by and get your free report on mistaken ideas about dog training. Go now here, , and get your own copy of this report.

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Puppy Training - Analyzing Animal Behavior

When training your pets, you may notice that different dogs behave differently, and they may respond in various ways to your training methods. The right thing to do, is to observe their behavior and be tolerant if they make mistakes during training. As a good trainer, you should never try to instill fear into your pet. Over time, the dog will learn to fear the owner, and tends to run away when the owner arrives. As a pet owner, you want the pup to be closer to you. With fear, the distance between you can your pet will drift further apart.

In other words, as you train your dog, you need to aware of the inner world of your pet. That is where behavior analysis comes in. In the beginning, you may not know what the behavior means. What you can do, however, is to pay attention and take note of the behavior. You can always consult other pet owners or a professional specialist later on if you still can't figure out why your pet is behaving in a certain manner. Below is a list of commonly seen behavior.

1) Barking unnecessarily.

Barking is the only way a pup knows how to attract attention. For sure, you know that the pup needs some attention. Your job, is to figure out why your pet is barking unnecessarily. There are many reasons that may account for the excessive barking. For instance, it may be suffering from separation anxiety and all it needs is some company. It may be left in the crate for too long, and it's getting bored. Or it may be suffering from some health issues. Don't just scold or cane the dog just because it's barking. That is jumping to conclusions. Investigate first to find out the cause. Punishment is usually unnecessary.

2) Damaging home furniture.

In many ways, dogs behave like children. They sometimes have a short attention span, and need things to keep themselves occupied. This is especially true for puppies. If they are left alone with nothing to play with, they will run around the house and start nibbling at your furniture. Soon, you will notice unsightly marks on your wooden furniture. To solve this problem, have a room for your puppy, and keep it occupied with lots of toys. There are many types of toy bones in the market. Those silicon types will do just fine.

3) Digging holes in the garden.

Some dogs have a strong digging instinct. These are dogs that will chase after smaller animals, or dig holes in the garden or the back yard. The Jack Russell is one such example. Understand that the dog is just following its instincts. However, with proper training, these dogs can become obedient. Be patient with the dogs, especially if they are just puppies.

Most of the behavioral problems are caused by the natural personalities of the dogs, or by health issues. Therefore, to investigate the cause, always check for health problems. If the pet is perfectly healthy, then it's just the dog being its playful self.



About The Author:
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Puppy Training - Be a Patient Trainer

Being a puppy trainer is not an easy job. The pup is like a little child, always restless, and always allowing itself to be distracted. As the trainer, your job is to guide the young pup back to the training activities, so that the training session is not wasted. Being patient is the key to success. Here are some practical tips that may help you if your pup tends to wander off the path of training.

1) Verbal commands.

A dog has a heightened sense of hearing. So if you use a harsh tone for your verbal commands, the pup may sense your aggression and back down. A young pup doesn't need aggression. It needs love, assurance, and encouragement. In the beginning, it does not even understand why it has to go through the training. Hence, it may feel a little apprehensive at first. But over time, with enough encouragement, it will learn to enjoy the training more. So be careful with the tone of voice that you use. Use a firm tone if the pup is not obeying your commands. But never try to be too harsh on the little animal.

2) Dog treats!

Always have dog treats in your pockets. Your pet will small the rewards in your pockets and respond with excitement. It will feel more energized and will respond more positively to the training. When reward is due, be generous and give the treat to your pet. When you catch it doing something right, reward your dog. Sometimes, this doesn't have to happen during formal training. It can happen at any time. For instance, the first command when you come home from work may be to get the dog to sit so that it doesn't jump up at you. If the dog obeys, give it the treat immediately and praise the animal. Pat its head to let it know that it's doing something right. Then go ahead and do your other things.

3) Don't send the wrong signals to your dog.

When you catch the dog doing something right, you reward it with a treat. But if you catch it doing something that it is not supposed to be doing, don't encourage it! The best thing to do, is to ignore the dog. If you really want to respond, don't respond with anger. Just be firm and use verbal cues like "Bad dog" to discourage the animal. Punishment is often unnecessary. If the behavior gets out of hand, use the crate or the leash to confine the animal temporarily.

Fortunately, dogs are intelligent animals and they learn very quickly, especially young pups. They not only pick up verbal commands and new tricks quickly, they also learn social behavior from the owner, family members and other human beings.

You will notice that even when there is no training going on, the young pup is constantly observing its surroundings. And that includes the people around him. That means you must always set a good example for your pet. If you express aggressive behavior, the young pup may just think that it's the right thing to do, and display aggression as well. And it's display of aggression will be far more superior than yours.



About The Author:
For more Puppy training tips, please visit puppy training website.

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10 Jun 2009

Dogs Are More Than Pets

Dogs are unique animals because they can immediately become a part of your family. If you have had your dog for a long time there is no question this is true.

Dogs in general have similar social systems to those in the human world. They survive with the lead of an adult male who is alpha or dominant over all others in the pack. If the leader oversteps his boundaries then a strong and competent female will step in.

Just like your family works together as a group, so does the dog pack. There are social bonds and loyalty on both sides. Even if the family group or pack of dogs fight, it doesn’t matter they are always united and come together when it counts.

Dogs have a great number of strengths. They are incredibly alert, have a strong sense of smell and many are superior hunters. Their ability to survive on something as small as food scraps makes them ideal to have around whether you’re referring to ancient or modern times.

>From Ancient Times to Today

This animal and human relationship is so strong that it even goes back to the prehistoric times.

Imagine a prehistoric hunter finding a lost wolf cub in the woods and bringing the animal home to care for it. They might have found that the cub fit in quite nicely at home. To top it off the hunter probably found that the wolf was helpful for practical reasons as well.

Of course, the wolf pack that prehistoric man would have found isn’t quite as gentle and kind as the dogs we keep in our homes today. Wolves had just the rough type of personality that suited the prehistoric people, just like dogs suit our families today. It is our own domestication of dogs that makes them more and more suitable to living the family lifestyle.

The blending of dog and human culture is very strong. It doesn’t matter what kind of dog you have or whether it’s simply a companion or a working dog, it is a friend that will stick with you for life.

You might not use the dog as your primary means of survival like some groups did years ago, but it’s likely your dog has its own role. Some of the roles dogs take on today are:

·Herding stock on farms
·Detecting drugs
·Helping lead the blind
·Guarding homes and businesses
·Rescue services

Beyond those extraordinary roles your dog can develop an emotional bond with you and the other members of your family. This ability and desire to bond with the family lifestyle and humans individually has given them a special place and role in the hearts of many humans. Most dogs naturally love people and are extremely protective of children. Through the domestication process they have definitely earn the right to be called “man’s best friend”.

Whether you’re ready to have a good time or need some extra comforting, your dog will be there offering true “unconditional love“.

It’s important to nurture and care for your dog so that they can thrive. As long as they are receiving the nourishment they need and the attention they deserve you can count on having a friend for life.

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Admired Clippers: A Pet Training Shaft

Admired clippers: A Pet Training Shaft Every Preferred Owner Should Have

There are many exemplifies when you can bond with your Favourite, and Training him is one of these. Although there are mortals who power see Training their pets as a chore, there are others who in reality see this as an opportunity to get shorter to their dogs or cats. So rather of playing your domestic dog to a Preferred shop to be set, you can just do it yourself. Just branch yourself with the right kind of brush and a pair of Precious clipper ships and you are set to start. In the outgrowth, you will also see the gizmo of Training your domestic dog by yourself as this would save you money.

Organising Your Favorite Training Tools

It is important that before you start Arranging your domestic dog, you would already have everything you motive on hand. This is because you don’t want to be running around looking for this and that while you are already in the Grooming shape. Being union will not only put your dog at ease but will also save you from getting careful out as well. Now, the basic things that you involve to prepare in Developing your Preferred are Admired limiters, brushes, towels, Canis familiaris shampoo and conditioner, nail clipper ships, and a tub. You must have these things near you so you won’t have to reach out to far while you are in the process of bathing or clipping your Canis familiaris’s hair.

The Grooming work

Developing your Canis familiaris can be loads of fun if you will train your dog to think so. You can start this off with a bath to get rid of the dirt and grease from his coat. If you really love dogs and you plan to dress them yourself for a long period of time, then it is best that you get a proved tub for them. Because of its height, the tub will have you feeling at ease when bathing your domestic dog. Once your domestic dog has been bathed, then it is already time to work at untangling his hairs with brushes that are worthy for his type of coat. After you have worked out all the mazes from your domestic dog’s hair, then this could be the time when you would use a pair of Favored clippers on him. Although you can also use regular trimmers for this part, you will find that Cherished clipper ships can do the job in tiny time and with more accuracy. Once you are done with clipping away the entangled hairs of your dog that you just can’t extricate with his brush, you will already have one good looking and neat Precious.

Teaching Your Favourite about Developing

You have to call up though that while Doing your domestic dog on your own can be very executing, it is also something that takes time, patience, and lots of love. As such, you must in truth take the time to train your domestic dog to get old to the things that you will do to him during the forge. It is also best if you will familiarise him with the electrical tools in his Arranging kit like his pair of Treasured limiters so that he will get employed to the stochasticity that they give off. This way, both you and your Canis familiaris would genuinely enjoy the Doing work unneurotic.

Great Precious Checking Kits Online

If you are planning to get a Checking kit for your Canis familiaris and you require a pair of Pet limiters, visit Cherished Depot Online. Here, you will be able to find the pair that you demand at a price that would be just straight.

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How to Administer Pet Wormer

It is inevitable that once in the life of a dog, no matter how healthy it may look, will have parasites in its body particularly the intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites feed on the host by absorbing the nutrients in the intestine. Among these parasites, the most common are hookworm, tape worms, round worms and whip worms. These parasites are transmitted in various ways and through different carriers whether it is the mother of the dog, eggs in the stool, infected animals and insects like rodents and fleas and so forth. It is important that dogs are dewormed in a scheduled chart so as to flush out these parasites. However, there are instances where administering pet wormer could be hard. Yet, as veterinary medicine progresses, there are new ways to administer the drug without making the dog distress.

Intestinal parasites can be deadly especially when they are not immediately attended to. Since these parasites feed on the host’s nutrition, the health of the dog suffers greatly. Some of the recognizable symptoms are loss of weight and appetite, vomiting and bleeding. In case of tapeworm infections, the eggs of the tapeworms may dry up at the anus which looks like dried scales or dried rice. There are also parasites that could not be wipe out with a single wormer and therefore it is necessary that deworming is done on a series.

There are several ways to administer wormer. Pet wormers have evolved into several varieties making deworming easier. Some wormer comes in the form of tablets where there are also flavored varieties, dog suspensions, and syrup. Most of these kinds are dosed from 2 to 12 weeks or every 3 months. One famous brand is Drontal that comes in suspensions and tablets. And another is Panacur with drug fenbendazole as its main ingredient, which is effective against all roundworm and most tapeworm infections.

To administer the drug, you should follow the instructions by the vet or through the product instructions. There are wormers that should not be given to pregnant dogs and lactating ones. There is also a new technology called “spot on” drug which is better to be administered by the vet itself.

If you are unsure in administering the wormer, you should let someone who knows it or better have a vet do it for you.

Worm infections are definitely inevitable but it could be avoided by having a good hygiene and clean environment at home. Make sure that you give the dog regular worming schedule and use of the right pet wormer to fight the infection. Worming the dog is not only for the sake of the animal but the entire family as well since the mentioned parasites can be transmissible to humans too.

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Pet Training Tips: For Dog Owners

It can be a great feeling being the owner of a dog they can bring you joy and companionship and you will always have someone to come home to after a hard day at work, there is nothing better than being greeted by a wagging tail and a happy face! But are you in need of some pet training tips? When you have a dog, no matter what breed you own, it is important that your pet is well trained and behaved, and that is why it is important to begin pet training as early as you can. Your dog needs to learn pet training tips such as; house breaking, walking on a leash without pulling and coming back to you when you call him. These are all basic obedience traits that your dog needs to adopt in order to be well trained and easier to look after.

Here are some pet training tips that you should remember before you begin training your dog:

1. Try not to ask your dog to do anything that he can evade. If your dog gets frustrated by you being strict and commanding, then your dog will see this as a negative thing, so you must try to respect your dog’s behaviour and act correctly at the early stages of pet training.

2. Always remember to praise or reward your dog for any good performances that he does. This is a very important pet training tip that you must follow strictly in order to boost your dog’s confidence and so that your dog will be more willing to follow instructions that you give him and he will also develop a good relationship with you. Doing this will lead to good habits in your dog’s behaviour.

3. Try never to punish or tell your dog off during training because a punishment will act as a negative for your dog and you will find that he might not want to listen to what you are saying. Praise him for the good things he does instead.

4. Make sure to penalize your dog. This means that you should issue your dog a penalty which might be anything that your dog does not enjoy, such as ignoring him or maybe a leash jerk when he is not walking like he should on his leash remember, this is not a punishment it is a simple prod in the right direction.

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Cleaning Up Pet Messes at Home

It’s inevitable. Even the best pets make messes sometimes. Here’s how to clean them up, as painlessly as possible.

Pet Piddle

If your cat misses the litter box or your dog has an accident on the rug, you don’t have to live with the pungent reminders of accidents past. Pet accident on carpet and upholstery can be removed, especially if you attack them while they’re still fresh.

Start by soaking up excess liquid with a white rag or paper towels. Blot on a solution of one-quarter teaspoon of mild liquid laundry detergent and one cup of warm water. Repeat until there is no more stain transferring to your towel or rag. If needed, follow the detergent application with a solution of one cup white vinegar to two cups water. Blot dry.

Finally, cover the area with several layers of paper towels weighed down with a heavy, nonfading object. Continue changing the paper towels until the carpet is dry.

Pet Poop

Gently scoop up excess with a spoon or spatula. Deposit into a bag that you can immediately take outside.

Blot with the vinegar ammonia solution as described above. Allow the area to soak for several minutes. Blot and repeat until the stain is removed. Rinse with cold water. Blot dry.

To remove lingering carpet odors, sprinkle baking soda on the spot. Let it sit overnight, and then vacuum. If you can’t remove either stain, however, consider recovering the furniture item or replacing the carpet. This might also be a great time to consider the benefits of a good dog trainer.

Litter Boxes

It’s a messy task but someone has to do it. It’s handy to keep all of your litter-box-cleaning tools together near the litter box: liners (great to cut down on weekly cleanings), scooper, gloves, and bags.

Each day, scoop the lumps out of your litter box as many times a day as you have cats. (Using a clumping litter helps tremendously with this task.) For example, we have two cats so my daughter scoops once in the morning and once before bed, wearing gloves and disposing of the scoopables outside, of course.

Each week, take the litter box outside for a thorough cleaning.

First empty the contents into the garbage. Then, using a scraper, dislodge any lumps of wet litter remaining. Fill the empty box with hot water, and then add a half-cup of bleach. Allow this mixture to sit and disinfect for at least 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, allow to dry in the sun outdoors, or use clean rags to dry.

Add fresh litter.

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