Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts

21 Dec 2010

How To Stop Dog Pooping in the House?

"How do you stop a dog from eating poop" has been pondered worldwide by many aghast dog owners. Not all dogs will indulge in this activity, however there are still several that will. For the ones that do, however, it is a behaviour that puzzles and mystifies dog trainers and veterinarians around the globe. Take it from someone who has witnessed it first hand, this is not something you should have to see.

There are many theories as to what causes this unusual behaviour in dogs.

The carnivorous/scavenging instinct
Some hypothesize that coprophagia is caused by a powerful natural instinct. When carnivores kill, they eat the carcass, which includes the digestive tract, which includes the poop.

Boredom or stress
A deficiency of human affection, and mental and physical stimulation, is cited by many as a cause for coprophagia. The dog will eat the poop because there is really nothing else for her to do.

Improperly housetrained dogs
In an attempt to escape punishment for pooping in the house, some postulate that dogs will eat it before their owners see it.

Nursing mothers
Some nursing mothers will eat their puppies' poop as a way of keeping the "den" clean, and to conceal evidence of the existence of their puppies from predators. Poop eating is quite ordinary with puppies who are seen to emulate the behavior of their mother.

The "leave it" command
This can be helpful when you are in the yard with her, when you take her for a walk, or if she decides to poop on your new leather car seats.

Positive reinforcement
If you see your dog attempting to eat her own poop, stop her in the act, and reward her with treats and praise. It is essential to duplicate this reinforcement on a regular basis.

Bring your creative side out
You can also experiment by adding natural deterrents, such as canned pumpkin or pineapple, to your dog's meals. She will likely eat the deterrents, however their presence in the poop makes it unpalatable.

Use of products
If nothing seems to be working, you may wish to regard the possibility of buying certain products which, when mixed with her food, make her poop smell and taste very bad.

By : Maxie - Maxie Jewell has been around dogs her entire life. Through her extensive interactions with professional dog trainers and veterinarians, she has acquired a vast wealth of knowledge about learning how to stop dog problems. Her hope is that she can impart her wisdom and knowledge to other dog owners and dog enthusiasts around the world.

http://www.howtostopdogproblems.com/how-to-stop-dog-pooping-in-the-house


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Yorkshire Terriers: Small But Mighty

Yorkshire Terriers, or Yorkies as they are commonly called, are very small dogs that do not seem to realize that they are small. They are very brave, always up for an adventure, and they are almost always full of energy. You will be hard pressed to find a small dog that has more spunk and attitude than a Yorkie has.
The average dog in this breed weighs a mere 7 pounds and is around 7 inches tall from the floor to their shoulders. They have very petite bodies, and are very susceptible to injury. This makes this dog a bad match for families with small children.

The Yorkie has long, straight flowing hair in various different colors. Because of this, it is important to have them bathed, groomed, and cut more often than other breeds. If the hair becomes too long in the front, the dog will have a hard time seeing, and may begin to have eye problems due to infections caused by hair in their eyes.
Yorkshire Terriers are very effective and make great companions as long as they understand, and except, that their human owner is the alpha of the pack. If they are not trained in this manner, then they will be suspicious of other people, as well as other animals, and may begin to show aggressive tendencies. It is very important, with this breed of dog, for the owner to be in charge of every situation, which will allow the dog to feel secure and part of the pack. In this way, they will not act out and they will be well behaved pets.
These dogs are fairly easy to train as long as the alpha status is immediately established, but they can be very unruly and stubborn at times. To prevent this, the owner must be in control, but must also give the dog the space that it needs in order to learn and explore on their own.
If the Yorkie begins to feel alone, abused, or in need of constant human attention, they can display mood swings, jumpiness, and even aggression. Once again, these types of dogs demand positive attention, but they also have to have some personal space.
The Yorkie is a perfect companion for older children and adults because they are so loyal and active, but are not a good match for younger children because they are so fragile. They also require a lot of attention when it comes to cleaning and grooming them, and since they are so small, they have a hard time adapting to severe weather changes. Before you purchase a Yorkshire Terrier be sure that you have the correct temperament, and that you have the patience to deal with them. They are very demanding and needy dogs at times, and if that need is not met by their owners, they can become dogs with behavioral problems.

By : Kathleen Chester : Puppy Match 4 You offers you best Yorkshire Terrier puppies that would be a wonderful addition to your family. Visit Puppymatch4you.com for more information.

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10 Oct 2009

Dog Tips: Learn How To Read Your Pit Bull Terrier

Dog training is an art and there are right ways to go about it, as well as wrong ways. An often overlooked aspect of dog training is how your dog communicates back to you. If you want to successfully train your American Pit Bull Terrier, you’ll have to work hard on understanding how he communicates with you.

You’ll only be able to form a close bond where you understand your Pit and he understands you, when you can read his non-verbal body language. An excellent way to begin learning about your Pit Bull’s body language is to watch his interaction with other dogs. This is just another benefit that you’ll get from a properly socialized dog.

So what things should you look for specifically? Watch how your dog responds to the movements of other dogs. How does he greet dogs he knows? Dogs he doesn’t recognize?

Ask yourself these questions when you are learning about your dog’s communication language and actions. Reading books about wolf behavior is another thing that you can do to greatly improve your understanding of dog communication.

“Why study wolf behavior?” you ask? Wolf behavior and dog behavior are closely related. Since they are both so similar, the interactions of wild wolves gives us a chance to monitor their communication habits without any human interference.

Most dogs, if not all of them, have a habit of licking people's faces and mouths. You many not understand why dogs do this, but close observation of wolves has shown that wolf puppies are fed by the older wolves in the pack through regurgitation. Mouth and face licking persists as they get older as a way of greeting another animals.

Spend some time trying to understand your dog and closely watching his communication habits. Before long, you’ll understand him better and the bond you share will be even stronger!

By: Tim Amherst To learn all about American Pitbull Terriers and training a Pitbull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

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Pit Bull Puppy Potty Training: 7 Important Things To Watch

Potty training your Pit Bull puppy the right way takes time and a lot of patience. Many different things come in to play as you are going through the housebreaking process.

If you’ve been trying to housebreak your new Pit Bull terrier pup but have been having major problems, then this article is for you. It is very possible that you have missed some of the more important points when it comes to puppy potty training.

To help you out, I’ve created the following list. Take a minute to read it and see if you spot some things you may not be doing correctly.

1. Are you writing down your dog’s potty habits so that you can easily spot trends and correct them?

2. Is the entire family on the same page when it comes to training routine? Consistent repetition is vital to the potty training process, if you’re missing this element you’re destined to fail!

3. Are you going outside with your puppy to confirm that he is going potty when he’s in the yard?

4. Are you using a crate or gate to confine your Pit Bull pup when you can’t keep an eye on him?

5. Are you giving your little pup full run of the house?

6. Do you have unrealistic expectations of your Pit puppy and then harshly scold him when he messes in the house?

7. Do you keep your puppy’s feeding times and portions the same every single day? It is important to be consistent and don’t give him extras such as treats, etc.

As you can see, there are many areas which are easy to make errors in and a new dog owner must be very careful not to skip over any of these steps when trying to housetrain their new puppy.

By: Tim Amherst To learn all about Pitbull puppies and training a Pitbull terrier, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

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10 Great Ideas For Naming Black Dogs.

How can you look the dog in the eyes ever again? Every time you call his name, he wallows in shame. You've banished him to the lowest level of dog name hell - you've named your Lab "Blackey."

Any four-year-old can explain that a dog's name should reflect something about him - the way he looks, the way he acts, what he likes to eat… something. So most four-year-olds will take the next most obvious step - naming a black dog Blackey... or Smokey... or something equally inane.

The thought that so many grown adults were not able to muster more creativity could undermine our society's basic faith in democracy. So let's hope that the over-abundance of such uninspiring monikers is the work of children - parents' having left the honor of naming the family pet to junior or sissy. While common, this type of delegation is rarely a good idea. Remember: Dogs can last half a generation; your little tyke will be mighty embarrassed in college to own up to a dog named Blackey.

So to help inspire you - or your little one - here are some more unique names - and naming ideas - that might help you side-step the pit of pet name remorse:

1. Dirty Stuff: Grunge, Pitch, Soot (or Sooty), Spade

2. Darkness: Dusky, Midnight, Shade (or Shady), Twilight

3. Black / Dark Clothing: Patch, Sable, Suede, Tux (or Tuxedo), Velvet

4. Black Food: Gumbo, Goulash, Meatball, Meatloaf, Molasses, Mushroom, Plum, Rib-eye, Roux (Avoid Pepper)

5. Coffee Derivatives: Chicory, Latte, Mocha

6. Dark Beers: Guinness, Porter, Stout, Xingu

7. Small Black Dogs: (Also cute for very large dogs.) Scrap, Smudge, Smidgeon, Speck, Splotch, Wisp

8. Black as Evil: (These can be particularly cute for very large or very small dogs.) Cujo, Darth, Jezebel, Katrina, Lilith, Mordor, Reaper, Smut, Snitch, Sorrow, Vader, Vice, Wicked

9. Traditional or Famous Black First Names: (Most appropriate for African-American families.) Tanika, Aisha, Oprah, Bionce, Latifa, Snoop

10. African Geography: Congo, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda

By: Randal Breaux : Randal Breaux runs the Internet Pug Club, a community of pug lovers, featuring special screen savers, browser start pages, electronic greeting cards, and more - all featuring the almighty pug. Free Sign-Up: http://www.go-pugs.com

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Why Does My Cat Drink Dirty Water?

You know that cats should always have a supply of water, especially if you are feeding them dried food. There on your nice clean kitchen floor is a bowl of nice clean fresh water, in a nice clean bowl.

What does your cat do? Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.

"Okay", you think to yourself, "Kitty just isn't thirsty at the moment". But then later, you happen to spy your cat busily lapping up stale water from a puddle in your garden as if it was nectar.


Cats are self-reliant, independent creatures, but surely your cat is not going to turn its nose up at the nice clean water you provide, just to let you know it can survive without you? After all, kitty does not reject the food you provide even though it is perfectly capable of catching mice.

No, the answer is not your mouser's independence. Tap water is usually treated with chemicals, often chlorinated strongly enough for a cat to smell it. Cats noses are far more sensitive than human noses and many cats find this chemical odor very offensive. Stale water in puddles and pools has a far more attractive smell are far as a cat is concerned. Puddles may be full of rotten vegetation and microbes, but cats find this organic soup very tasty.

As well as the off-putting odor of chemicals in tap water, cats find the smell of detergents repugnant. So, because you diligently clean your cat's water bowl in the interest of hygiene, the detergent that you use deters your cat from drinking from it. You use the same detergent to wash your cat's food bowl, why then, does your feline friend eat heartily from the bowl, and not be repelled by the smell of the detergent? This is because the aroma of the fish or meat is stronger than the smell of the detergent.

With the water bowl, the combination of the two unpleasant smells, the chemicals in the tap water and the detergent, means that your cat will only quench its thirst from the water bowl if there is no better smelling option to be had.

So, what can you do? You need to rinse your cat's bowl more thoroughly than you would a plate for a human. Remember feline noses are far more sensitive than ours, every trace of detergent needs to be rinsed off. Secondly, let the water from the tap stand for a while before putting the bowl down for your cat, this will allow the chemicals to dissipate.

These two things should have kitty drinking happily from the dish, unless, of course, kitty has got so used to drinking from puddles it just can't kick the organic water habit!

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5 Oct 2009

Quick Ways To Teach Your Puppy To Climb Stairs And To Accept The Collar

Bringing home a new puppy is always an exciting time for the entire family. Getting that new puppy off the right start with proper training is very important to making that puppy a valued member of his human family. There are a number of talents that every new puppy must master, including going up and down the stairs, and how to accept a new collar as if she’s worn it her entire life.

It is best to introduce a new puppy to the household when everyone in the family is present, and when the household is as calm as possible. That is why animal care experts discourage parents from giving puppies and kittens as holiday presents.

The holiday season is typically much too busy, with far too many distractions, for a young puppy or kitten to get the attention it needs. It is best to wait until the holidays have passed before introducing the new family member.



Once the puppy is part of the household, there are some things he or she will need to learn. One of the first challenges of a multi-story home will be learning to climb up and down the stair. Many puppies are afraid of stairs, and that usually means that they do not know how to climb them properly.

It is important for the puppy’s owner to slowly build the confidence of the dog, starting off at the bottom of the stairs. In general, a wide stairway will probably be less frightening to the puppy.

To build confidence, the owner should go up the first step, then encourage the puppy to join them, using their voice, treats or a toy. After the puppy has joined you on the first stair, go back down and repeat the process until the puppy will go up that step on his own. It is important to build confidence slowly and not rush the process. Taking a one step at a time approach is the best way to teach the puppy to not be afraid of stairs.

Another thing every new puppy must learn is how to accept the collar. Learning to wear a collar is important to every dog, but many puppies are baffled, frightened and bewildered by this new piece of equipment. Many puppies constantly try to remove their new collar by pawing and pulling at it.

Fit is important when choosing a collar for your new puppy. A properly fitted collar, chosen for your puppy’s size, is more likely to be comfortable and accepted. While choke collars, slip collars and training collars can be good training aids, they should never be used as a substitute for a sturdy buckle type collar. And of course that collar should have an identification tag and license attached. This identification will be vital in having your puppy returned if she becomes separated from you.

The best way to introduce the puppy to the collar is to simply put the collar on and allow her to squirm, jump, roll and paw at the color to her heart’s content. It is important to not encourage this behavior by trying to soothe the puppy, but it is just as important not to punish or reprimand the puppy.

The best strategy is to simply ignore the puppy and them her work through her issues with the collar on her own. Introducing distractions, such as food, toys or playing, is a good way to get the puppy used to the color. Getting the puppy to play, eat and drink while wearing the collar is a great way to get her used to it. After a few days, most puppies will not even know they are wearing a collar.

by : Jonathan Cheong at http://www.absolute-dog-training.com

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Puppy Agility Training

You may be asking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?" Puppies are always learning, so every time you are with your pup you can be playing and socializing with agility in mind. Always remember, if you can control your puppies environment, you can teach and train the behaviors you want, left on their own, even in a fenced yard, puppies will learn and develop behaviors that later we may want or need to extinguish.

One of the first behaviors we teach our pups is "Table" or "Box". This behavior transfers to the agility pause table. But more than that, the table is the center and control point of our puppy training. We introduce pups and older dogs to the table set at a 12 inch height. If you have a very small pup you could use an 8 inch table, but even with bigger dogs we use the 12 inch table and not higher. To begin, lure pup up on a low pause table, treat him for getting on the table. Once the pup is comfortable getting up on the table, then lure the pup up to a sit. You can also lure to a down.



Next you want to work on distance to the table. If you have a person to help you you can use a white target plate on the table, take the pup and step back from the table about 3 feet. Have your helper make a noise to get the pup's attention, and place a treat on the table. Release your pup to, "Go table." The pup gets his reward only when getting up on the table. If you don't have a helper, than place your treat in a covered container that will be recognized as a treat box for your pup. Leave the treat container on the table, step away from the table about 3 feet, face the table and say, "Go Table".

If your pup is very young, you can hold him as you lift him off the table and move away from the table. If your pup is too big for you to hold then use a flatbuckle collar and light dragline for your pup.

Now introduce your jumps to your pup. But you are not going to use the jump bars yet. First you want your pup to go through or between the jump uprights. Set a jump about 4 feet away from your table. Take your pup to the other side of the jump. So you are lined up pup, jump, then table. You want to get your pups attention to the treat on the table, either with a helper or a treat container, release your pup to the table, "Go Table". Let the pup run ahead of you, but go meet him at the table so that he can get his treat, praise him then offer him another treat for sitting on the table.

Progress with adding one extra jump at a time. Spacing the jumps about 3 feet apart. You are developing a jump chute that will lead the pup to the table. Remember your goal is to build the command, "Go" and "Table". You are also teaching the pup to move out ahead of you, working away from you and getting comfortable working around tables and jumps. Your pup is getting familiar running through the jump uprights, but you are not focusing on having your pup jump.

With all your puppy training, have fun with your pup. Use all your puppies motivators, praise, toys, and food. It is up to you to be more interesting to your pup than all the other distractions out in the yard.

By : Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit his website at http://www.carlson-agility.com

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How To Take Care Of Your Pet Parrot?

Parrots make wonderful family pets because they are great companions, they are beautiful birds with colorful feathers and you can teach them to talk. But you must have a strong level of commitment to your parrot because he will need daily and weekly maintenance, as well as plenty of attention.

What a Parrot Needs

When you consider how to take care of you parrot, you will have to consider what you will need to get started. The first thing you will need is a large cage for your parrot to live in. Make sure it is big enough for him to move around a bit and be comfortable. To occupy his time and make him feel comfortable you should place a mirror, a swing and a toy in the cage. You will also need something to properly line the cage.

What To Feed Your Parrot

A parrot should have a healthy, well-balanced diet. It should consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, meat and grains. Peanut butter and cooked eggs are other sources of protein that are good for parrots. Pre-packaged parrot food is certainly another valid option. It takes the guesswork out of feeding your bird a wide variety of balanced nutrition.



As with most pets, avoid feeding your parrot caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and salty foods.

Teaching Your Parrot To Talk

One of the most attractive features of this type of bird is that you can teach them to talk and whistle. Most people get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It does require a lot of time and repetition though and training should begin when the parrot is young. New words should be introduced with an activity so the parrot can link the two. He may even pick up on words you don’t really want him to learn just because he hears them often.

Whistling may come more natural for the birds and may be encouraged after you have trained him to talk.

Provide Exercise

Your parrot will need to get daily exercise. Let him out of the cage for small amount of time, starting with fifteen minutes at a time. Let them fly around the house and tire themselves out. See a professional for wing clippings when necessary.

Beak Care

Never try to trim your parrot’s beak at home. Seek a professional’s help when needed. Some things you can do at home to help your bird with beak care is to provide a concrete perch or a cuttle bone for him.

Maintenance

The basic things you need to commit to for taking care of your bird are quite simple, but they do require some effort on the owner’s part. In addition to never leaving his food bowl empty, you will need to provide him with fresh water twice a day. You will need to clean his cage on a weekly basis. You will also need to groom him 2-3 times per week. This can include a full bath given in a sink or washtub or by simply misting the bird and using specialized bird shampoo on him.

When all the work is done, you will have a beautiful pet that will provide hours of entertainment and joy.

By : Naldo Camarones from Resources about Parrots with lots of Information

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23 Aug 2009

Basics Of Dog Training

The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping dog’s attention and understanding your dog.

To get the respect of your dog you must be consistent. You should make a set of do’s and don’ts for your dog. Follow these guidelines to the letter, if a dog does something desirable always reward it, if a dog does something bad punish him or her appropriately. In dogs world consistency is a sign of a leader. You will make your training my easier and effective by being a leader who the dog respects and follows.

Ninety percent of your dogs training will be getting his or hers attention and keeping him focused on yourself. If your dog cannot focus on you, it will not listen to you, and thus making the commands you give fall on empty ears. I will describe a technique on how to get and keep your dog’s attention with few very simple exercises. First, most dogs will respond to their name, so call them and when they look at you tell them “watch”. After doing it few times the dog will associate the command with looking at you. After you have perfected the “watch” command, start doing exercises aimed at expanding your dog’s attention span. A good technique is to hold a treat with your teeth and while standing in front of your dog give it a watch command. Stand in position for a few seconds keeping dogs attention, then praise. Repeat the exercise until your dog focus on you for about a minute. The more attention your dog can give you the better student it will be.


A vital part of dog training is the understanding of how a dog thinks. Dogs, like small children, have a very short attention span. Most dogs can be focused on training for about ten to twenty minutes, after that time they will start loosing focus and will require a small break. A good idea is to make regular training sessions of 20-30 minutes per day. Another important thing is to make the training fun for the dog. Make the dog look forward to the training time instead of dreading it. To achieve this you should always make their effort worthwhile. After every successful command make sure to give them a treat or praise them with very excited voice. The more willing the dog is to train the more effective the training will be!

Incorporate these techniques into your training sessions and in no-time you will be ready to proceed to much more complex obedience training exercises. You and your dog will both enjoy the time spent together, your dog will respect you for being a responsible owner and other people will appreciate your dog’s great behavior after you are done!

Author : Dmitry Belov is founder of Dnepr Import. Visit their site at: http://www.dneprimport.com


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How To Give Your Dog A Bath.

Bathing your dog helps to keep it healthy as well as clean. Bathing helps reduce the amount of flea repellents you need to use as well as prevents hotspots, a potentially serious problem for your best friend.

Bathing too frequently can dry out the skin and coat so only one bath a month is recommended by experts.

Brush the dog before giving it a bath. Be sure to get all tangles and matts out because the water will make it worse. If a comb or brush cannot remove all the matts use a conditioner or detangler if necessary.

Gather up what items you need before you start the bath: A brush, comb, collar and leash, shampoo, face cloth, and several towels.

If bathing the dog in the bathtub, use a safety mat. A hand held shower or pail for applying water and rinsing. Use a dog shampoo which is formulated for the pH of a dogs skin. Human shampoos can strip a dog's coat of essential oils.

Use warm, but not hot, water.

Avoid getting water and shampoo in the eyes and ears. Use a washcloth to wash the dogs face. Do not get water or soap in the eyes or ears!!

Be sure to rinse all the shampoo and conditioner off the dog. If you leave any of this on the dog, it will get itchy skin.

If using a tub, open the drain and let the water drain. To dry, put a towel over the head. Use another towel to dry off its back and legs. Then gently rub or pat with the towel. If your dog is long-haired don't rub vigorously because you can put mats back in the coat.

To finish use a blow dryer on the lowest setting and hold at a distance so the dog receives only warm air. Use a dryer only if your dog isn't afraid of the noise. To some dogs, the dryer is much worse than the bath.

Author : Marilyn Pokorney, Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

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How To Train Kittens To Use The Cat Litter Box

There are several things you need to do to help the mama cat train her kitties to develop good cat litter box habits. While the kids may try to follow mom's example, here's how you can help cement that success.

First, since kittens are so physically small and they're still developing coordination and agility, it's critical that you, the human mom, make sure they can easily get in and out of any cat litter box. The easiest way to do this is buy disposable aluminum roaster pans from your grocery store. Kittens grow as fast as weeds in the summertime, so this is a temporary, but completely justifiable purchase.

If your regular litter boxes are too tall for the babies to climb in and out, they'll become discouraged and they'll select the easiest spot (for them, at least) to eliminate waste. Once they get this idea in their little heads, it could be hard to get out. So, don't give them the excuse!

The type of litter you use for kittens can be dangerous. Since kittens are so darn curious, they test everything with their mouths. If they eat clumping litter, this could kill them. Use a non-clumping litter for several weeks. It won't be any easier to watch them taste test the non-clumping litter, but neither will it be dangerous.

Depending upon the size of the litter, you'll need at least two, and possibly several roasting pans. Since the babies all pretty much eat at the same time, they'll feel the call of nature in a group as well. You can ensure successful cat litter box habits by making certain there are enough boxes to accomodate a group elimination activity.

Young kitties don't have great control of their bladder and bowel functions. Place all cat litter boxes in close proximity to their living quarters. Keep the pans away from their food and water, but don't place them out of the same room, if possible. The closer the pans are, the better the chances are the babies will make it to the box in time to let loose.

Also, make certain that mom is teaching the babies by the time they are five weeks old. If mom seems to be falling down on the job, you must step in during week five of their lives and start the training process. Shortly after the little ones have fed, take them to the litter pan, and place them in it. You may need to gently take a front paw, and scratch for them. Fortunately, almost all cats "get it" very quickly. Your coaching period should be relatively short.

By working with mama cat, the two of you make sure the babies develop good cat litter box habits for life.

Author : Nancy stopped the cat urine odor problem at her home, and kept the kitty that caused it. "18 Ways to Stop Cat Urine Odor Problems" saves you money, time and frustration by solving your cat urine odor problem - permanently. http://www.stopcaturineodor.com

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10 Aug 2009

Got A Cat As A Pet? Here’s How To Keep Them Healthy

Our cats are often as close to us as members of our family. In fact, they are virtually are members of our family! That's why cat owners should know as they may about cat health. Here are the great things to know on caring for your pet cat in a loving way:

GROOMING: Long-haired cats should be groomed regularly for optimum cat health. Use a pet brush and groom no less frequently than once a week.

Food: Cat health is strongly affected by what your cat eats. Obesity is an important factor heart diseases including as your cat is aging. Choose a pet food for your cat it is true that it s age but feed regularly. Consistency is the key to a well fed cat.

Elderly CATS: some diseases occur simply because your cat is aging. These older persons may be labelled cat health problems. Such as cats age their kidneys and the view fail and that they may need special regimes.

LITTER: The litter may be dangerous for the two cat health and human health if it isn t cleaned regularly. Change your pet s litter least once every four days and keep a small dish of baking soda near the litter.

SCRATCH: scraping is a major cat concern for the health because if a cat scratches regularly that it is often a sign of other problems. If your cat scratching a particular field often try a delousing product, and then take your pet to vocational training.

DECLAWING: Declawing your cat can be a major factor in Cat health. If you choose to declaw your animal it is important to remember to keep the interior at any time.

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: many cat health problems concern difficult or uncommon behavior. May be a symptom of depression. Strange aggression is sometimes caused by hormone imbalances.

STRESS: Your cat can easily get stress. Stress situations as moving, traveling, natural disasters or even changes in family cannot affect cat health. To minimize the effects of stress on your animal, buy a tranquillizer for distance travel and have a place in your home where your cat can escape if there are occupied changes to the House.

POISON: make sure you dangerous poisons like the antifreeze cannot be reached by your pet. Some plants are fatal for cats so make sure you to increase your plants and lock your toxins.

PESTS: Parasites such as not, heart worms and rabies can greatly affect cat health. Blood in cat s stool or uncommon appetite are common signs of parasites.

MOUTH: cats have often diseases of the mouth and this may affect cat health. Cats are also subject to gingivitis as humans. For the problems as rodents ulcer or bad breath, your brush cat s teeth with a small child s toothbrush.

Has the interior/exterior : one of the greatest factors in determining cat health is whether your pet goes outside. Cars, children, other animals and toxins are all hazardous and should be avoided by keep your cat interior.

Take care of your cat is critical to your health cats. We hope that this article you provided information that will your pet s life that much more healthy, happy and more.

Author : Michael Erder is the author of http://www.elitepetproducts.com a site completely dedicated to pets and pet products. Visit http://www.elitepetproducts.com and keep your pet happy and healthy!

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5 Aug 2009

First Aid For Dogs

If your dog is hit hard in your house or then and with you, you must know how to administer first help until you can reach a veterinarian. A first aid kit adapted to your needs of the dog can really be a lifesaver. If you have your dog on frequent outings away from home, you would be wise to maintain a second first aid kit practice in your car.

A first aid kit for a dog contains many the same points it would do to man. A roll of cotton wool and some cotton balls, gauze pads and the band, a pair of scissors small with rounded advice, tweezers, instant ice pack, hydrogen peroxide, a bandit syringe for suction mucous membranes of your nose or mouth sterile wrong solution made specifically for pets, a clean environment, white cotton sock (to cover wounded paws), small flashlight, rectum thermometer, injection syringe without the needle (to give liquid medication), and not liquid electrolyte (such as Pedialyte). Keep it all in a robust plastic container with a lid. Write your veterinarian the name and phone number on the lid, as well as the closest to pet emergency hospital.

If you travel often and leave your dog with another person, put several copies of a release signed in the first aid kit authorizing the helping to approve the necessary treatment. Dog owners often tend to for the domestic animals which have been stung by a bee. If your dog is piqué while I have watched around, limit its and remove the stinger either with tweezers or by scraping outside (moving parallel to the skin surface). Bathing piquer place with a mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda will ease some of the pain. Swelling may be reduced by the application ice packs or to grant a dose of Benedryl-be sure to ask your veterinarian to the right mix.

If your dog is injured, its approach calmly and with care. Do not assume that it will not snap or bite you - injured animals often react negatively to first sight any attempt to touch. Talk marble and move slowly, so that it can see that you want to say that it any damage. If your dog is bleeding heavily, it is important to slow down or stop the flow as soon as possible. Use a towel own or cloth to apply a pressure directly on the wound. Change towels/tissues as necessary, but maintain pressure on up to achieve a veterinarian. If necessary, you can apply thick gauze pads and the use band to obtain while you transport your cat. It is better, however, to maintain pressure on the wound and approximately another drive.

If your dog seems to be stifle, use a flashlight to verify the throat. If you see and can easily remove the object, do. If you can not see the object, but are some your dog is choking, you might need to execute a modification Heimlich maneuver. It is important to obtain adequate training for this, as he can cause serious injury if done incorrectly. Many societies protective of animals and animal organizations offer courses on pet first aid, which include the Heimlich maneuver, CP, and techniques for dealing with serious injuries and poisoning.

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18 May 2009

Labrador Training Tips

Labrador Retriever is one of the favorite dog breed not only in the United States but also around the world. A good-natured dog, the Labrador's personality makes it a sought-after pet and popular addition to any family. And just like other dogs, Labs need to undergo Labrador training when they are still young and gullible.

The first thing to do during a Labrador training is to socialize him with other puppies. Make him get used to different people and different places. Play, exercise, and train your dog at least an hour everyday. Do not leave your pet alone for Lab puppies are balls of energy that can get into trouble .

Potty training at an early age is the best move to be done. Take him outside when he needs his potty time and praise him if he has done his potty session in the right location. Avoid yelling at your Lab if in case he has done it in the wrong way.

The basic commands like sit and play are the very first activities dogs usually learn. Repetition and consistency are the keys to successful training and use your dog's name and repeat commands. A Boxer dog training can become successful if positive reinforcement techniques are added up to it. Words of praise, petting and an occasional food treat make the bond between you and your Boxer fonder.

Teach "Sit" by holding a treat in your fist so that the dog can see it. Move the treat over his head from front to back while saying "Sit." When he sits, reward him with the treat in your hand by putting his bowl on the ground right before you.

Use the "Come" command often. Reward your dog when she comes to you with the word "Come" or a whistle. Again, be repetitive and give rewards for success. Start with frequent rewards and then decrease the frequency until he gets used to it. Saying NO should be taught in a gentle tone.

Early leash training on Labrador Retriever puppies is very necessary in order to break the hard-to-break habit of pulling on the leash. Give your Lab pup the chance to be a natural retriever by teaching him to "Fetch." Toss a tennis ball or small flying disk past your dog. Once the object is in his mouth, say "Come." Reward your pup when he brings it to you.

Labrador Retrievers need the Labrador training that they deserve in order to be more loved by people around the world. In doing so, the world will become a perfect place not only for Labs and other dog breeds but also for their owners who treat them as part of their families.

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Dog Treats To Encourage and Train Your Pet

Just like some dog owners like to go through tons of dog names to find the one that suits their dog the best, similarly, dog treats should be only selected after careful consideration of their nutritional and quality values.

The one name you choose out of the many dog names, speaks as much about you, the dog owner, as it does about your pooch. Not only do dog names depict your relationship with your, but they also convey how much the dog matters to you. If you care for your dog, then you will always be careful about his/her well-being and good health. Dog treats are an important part of your dog's diet. Though dispensed with only on special occasions, dog treats are a source of nutrition, taste, and pleasure for your dog.

Rewarding your dog with dog treats every time he/she does as told can have long-lasting and beneficial effect on the animal. An important aspect of dog training is to reward the dog with gourmet dog treats every time he obeys your orders. Many dog trainers also dispense with dog treats while teaching dogs how to respond to dog names, dog commands and similar things.

Nowadays, completely natural and gourmet dog treats are gaining popularity so much so that many dog owners even bake healthy and nutritious dog treats for their pooches right at home. More and more dog owners are finding that dog treats made from ingredients similar to those used in human food offer a satisfying choice from the commercial brands of dog treats available in stores. Moreover, if you believe your dog's health is mostly dependent on his diet, you will be quite satisfied with the latest all natural dog treats. These treats are not just delicious, but are nutritious and look great too. The minute your dog smells the treats in your hand he'll pretty much do anything you want him to!!

Dog treats are no longer limited to dog biscuits, just like dog names are no longer mean Maggie or Max. Today, you can take your dog to special bakeries that cater to only domestic pets such as dogs and cats. You with your dog can together browse through the range of dog treats that are on display. Dog treats here include hide, brownies, tarts, and of course, biscuits.

If you are not fortunate enough to have such gourmet bakeries for pets in your neighborhood, then you can hook on to the internet and browse the many online gourmet dog treat bakeries. These bakeries provide natural, free of preservatives, and tasty dog treats packaged in small plastic bags that even make excellent gifts if you have friends who have pet dogs. If your dog is overweight or suffering from diabetes, you can opt for low calories dog treats!

Finally, as with dog names, going overboard with dog treats can be detrimental to the health of your invaluable pet dog! So make sure you never give him more than 10% of his regular diet as dog treats per day.

by James Gosling

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How to Choose the Right Bed for your Dog

One of the most essential commodities for dogs that you can purchase when looking for pet supplies is the dogs bed. The dogs bed will not only provide comfort to your pet when they sleep but also provide them with the much needed rest especially when they are recovering from an illness or an injury.

One of the important things that you need to consider while buying a bed is the way your dog or cat or any other pet sleeps. A dog bed is mostly required for dogs and cats only, although you can buy them for rabbits and some of the other smaller dogs too.

The second most important thing to understand is that a dog bed will be different for a dog and different for a cat. Normally, what you use for your dog will not be used for your cat. You can find dog beds at various stores offering other pet supplies and also online. One of the good things is that you will find a lot of variety when it comes to dog beds including the very popular heated beds. The heated beds have grown in popularity because of the fact that they have a heating element that will keep the bed warm in the winters and will be comfortable and relaxing for your pet. You can choose from a heated orthopedic bed to a heated thermo dog bed. Most of the beds are available in three sizes, which are:

- Small: 19"x24" - The small dog bed can take weights of up to 20lbs
- Medium: 26"x29" - The medium dog bed can take weights of up to 40lbs
- Large: 36x38" - The large dog bed can take weights of up to 60lbs

Another type of popular dog bed found in pet supplies is the round bed. This is a perfect bed for dogs that like to cuddle up when they sleep and for cats that love to sleep with their legs thrown apart. This dog bed is available in three sizes for dogs and they are:

- Medium: 36 inches - The medium dog bed can take weights of up to 50lbs
- Large: 42 inches - The large dog bed can take weights of up to 80lbs
- Extra Large: 52 inches - The extra large dog bed can take weights of up to 140lbs

You can also get these beds in different combinations of colour and design like blue polyester suede that will look neat and even go with the overall décor of your home. The important aspects that needs to be considered while buying a dog bed include the size of your pet, the amount of space in the room, the number of pet you have, their weights, if you need separate pet beds or a single one, the colours, do you need a simple dog bed or a heated bed etc.
Many pet supplies stores, in the high street or online, now sell pet beds that are raised from the ground. These beds allow the dog or cat the comfort of support without cold from sleeping on the floor. Many owners now agree that their dog's mobility significantly improved after using a raised pet bed.

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How To Train Your Cat To Use Cat Scratching Posts

Cats are cute. Cats are loveable. Unfortunately, many cats love to scratch your furniture and carpets. If you do not want to replace your sofa every few months, you will need to train your cat to use cat scratching posts. Although this is not a difficult task, it can be time-consuming. It needs a lot of love, patience and understanding from you. If you cannot make this kind of commitment to your feline friend, you are better of giving him away.

Having said that, here is a shortcut which work for many cats. Catnip works wonders for training your cat to use the scratching post. For your convenience, modern science has created a catnip spray which you can use to spray the cat scratching post. You should place this post near the sofa or furniture where your cat likes to scratch. You should also get a cat repellant spray - to spray the places where he likes to scratch.

Many cats scratch furniture as a means of marking their territory. The scratching serves as a visible mark and also leaves behind a scent from the glands in his paws. This means your cat, or cats, probably have more than one favorite piece of furniture where they like to scratch. You will need to buy more than one scratching post.

Cats also scratch furniture as part of their exercise, as well as to shed the dead outer layers of their claws. You should not buy a cat scratching post just because it looks cool. You should buy a post which fits your cat best. One way is to find something which feels like your furniture or carpet. Do not limit your thoughts to just a scratching post. Cats which like to scratch carpets often respond well to something flat laid down flat on the ground. If your cat is like this, it may take longer to train him to use a vertical scratching post.

Given this fact, it is better if you only buy cat scratching posts from your local shops - where you can see and feel the material of the post. If it looks or feels different from the furniture which your cat is scratching now, he is unlikely to switch to the new post. This factor makes buying cat furniture online a bit chancy.

Cat scratching posts bought from the store can be expensive for some cat owners. Here are some ideas for cheap, homemade cat furniture:


* Cheap, square pieces of carpet which you can buy from WalMart, etc. Should cost you under $10. You may also be able to get some free from your local carpet shop.

* Cardboard cartons and boxes - you should be able to get these free from your local grocery shop.

* Wooden logs.

* Old furniture, or parts of old furniture. If you have some handy wood-working skills, you can turn a small cabinet into a cat house.

* Rough wooden planks.



Here is another shortcut to prevent your cat from damaging your furniture - regularly take him to the vet to get his nails clipped, either once or twice a month. The vet will clip the hooked part of the claw. This is the part which causes the most damage to your furniture and carpet. You may want the vet to teach you how to do it yourself. Please note that this is different from declawing your cat, which is cruel and inhumane. Declawing actually involves chopping off the tips of your cats toes. How would you feel if someone cut off the tips of your fingers?

Some cats appear intransigent, and refuse to use the cat scratching post. The fact is, you may just need to understand him better. And also use a different way of training him. You have to remember that shortcuts do not always work.

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Cat Scratch Disease: My Cat Just Scratched Me, What Do I Do?

Cat scratch disease is also known as cat scratch fever. This disease strikes people who are infected by the Bartonella henselae bacteria. In almost all cases, cat scratch disease occurs when the person was scratched or bitten by his cat. The cat itself does not catch cat scratch disease. It is just a carrier. Now, before you panic and send your cat to the pound, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (CDC) estimates that 40% of all cats carry this disease at some time in their lives. Considering how many cat owners exist in the world, clearly, this disease is not very infectious or dangerous.

But how do you know whether you were infected by cat scratch disease? The first thing you want to look at is the place your cat bit or scratched you. Is the wound infected? (Note: If you cannot find the wound, then you do not have cat scratch disease.) Then you want to check your lymph nodes. Are the nodes around your head, neck and upper limbs swollen? Do you also have fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite? These are the typical cat scratch fever symptoms.

What can you do? The first step is always preventative. If you own a cat, or play with cats, you will definitely get bitten or scratched. What you should do every time you get scratched is simply to clean the wound with soap and running water. Then clean it with an antiseptic like peroxide and apply an antibiotic cream (neosporin works pretty well). Just applying these basic hygiene practises will prevent most cases of infection from cat bites or scratches, not just cat scratch disease.

What if you have already been infected - your wound is swollen and reddish, your lymph nodes are swollen and you have a fever? Then just go to your doctor. He will probably give you an antibiotic, and maybe drain the wound if necessary. You should also send your cats to the vet. Let him make sure they are not still carrying the bacteria. Otherwise they may infect you again, or infect other people.

In the long run, you need to train your cats not to bite or scratch too hard. Your cats need to learn how to show affection without drawing blood from you. And you need to learn not to provoke or over-excite your cats.

Provided that you are not the one who provoked the cat scratch, you can spray kitty with water every time it bites or scratches you. This means you will need to carry around a spray bottle with you at home. Spray kitty consistently when it bites you, and it will learn to stop biting you. Remember to spray when it bites - not 30 seconds later, or 1 minute later, or 5 minutes later. It will only learn if your response is immediate. Too many people spray only after the cat scratched or bit, then they complain that the technique does not work.

If your cat tends to bite or scratch you during playtime, then you need a different approach. Play with your cat normally. When he bites or scratches you, stop playing and ignore him. Too many people just continue playing - unfortunately, this teaches kitty that biting or scratching is good.

As you can see, cat scratch disease is not a big deal. As long as you practice basic hygiene, and train your cat not to bite or scratch too much, everything should be alright.

by Katherin Towers

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15 May 2009

Teaching Basic Obedience Skills To Your Dog

It is really challenging as well as exciting to teach the basic obedience skills to your dog when teaching is avoid of any type of punishment or humiliation. Your endurance will surely make you a good teacher and your dog a good learner.

Dogs generally get distracted pretty easily because of their short attention spans. Therefore select of a place that is free of other distractions such as other pets, children or loud noises for training is important. Remember not to exceed your training period more than 30 minutes because the dog gets restless and easily distracted. Paying attention to your commands will be the beginning of your first lesson in obedience. Start calling your dog by his name and then follow using a keyword like “watch” or “look” after your dog gets acquainted with his name. Once you find your dog going well with your commands you get the signal to step forward for the next step of your teaching. Doing some attention exercises for a short length of time will help your dog to be able to pay attention to your commands. For this you need to hold a toy or dog treat in near your mouth and then give him the keyword command. Praise him, for each time he takes the time to watch because this will encourage him to increase the time of paying attention to you. Try getting him to watch for at least a minute. Let him know that he is doing a good job by rewarding him. Dogs learn best this way.

To make your dog pleasant to be around you need to teach him the basic obedience commands that begins with the word “sit”. Help him to understand your command by gently pushing his backside down. Next basic obedience command will be “down.” this command will stop them from pouncing or jumping which they usually do to express their excitement which may be not liked by some people around. Help him to understand your command by placing their legs down if required. Next is the command of “stay” which is especially over-ruly dog. Putting something desirable on the ground and commanding to “Stay’ when you see your dog approaching toward it. Once he begins to become obedient in this area, do the same exercise by moving farther away from him and if he tries to breach the rules then tell him “stay” which will convey that even though you are moving away you expect him to continue to obey.

Frustration can lead you to cause pain to your dog if you find your dog not learning properly but remember animals are like children. They also need time, love and care to learn.

By : peter john

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