What About Puppy Training

What About Puppy Training

 1. Correct the dog any time he has an accident in the house.

 Keep him confined to either a crate, or a dog run outside when you can't supervise him.

 2.Establish a specific spot, and a command you repeat (such as "Get busy!")  while you're     waiting for him to eliminate outside.

 3.Set up a rigorous feeding and watering schedule, and take him out immediately after he does both.

 4.Praise the dog anytime he eliminates outside.

 5. Use an odor neutralizer, such as a product called "Nature's Miracle" (you can  buy this at   your local pet store, or through a mail order catalog.)

  The best way to actually get your dog housebroken, in the least amount of time,  is to take a look at a new DVD we've just released called, "Housebreaking In A  Hurry!

 "

I can honestly say that "Housebreaking In A Hurry!" is THE tool that will allow  you to get your dog housebroken in no time at all.

It shows:

 - How to correct your dog when he eliminates in the house.

 (You'll see me demonstrating how to give a motivational correction on a hungry  Rottweiler that's trying to get to a pile of hot dogs.)

- The proper way to size, fit  and use a training collar.

- Which leashes and tabs to use.

- A home-made solution you can use to clean up accidents, and actually 'lift' the    stain out of your carpet, rather than 'masking' the scent.

- How to establish an 'elimination' command, so that you can tell your dog where and when it's okay to eliminate... even if you travel or move.

- How to make and use a tie-down that will assist in your housebreaking efforts.

- How  to confine your dog, so that he doesn't have accidents when you're not around to  correct him.

- How to make your dog understand that eliminating in the house is something

The should NEVER DO!

 - Three Keys To Successful Behavior Modification: Timing, Consistency and Motivation.

 And how to use these three keys to speed up the housebreaking process.

- Tips for housebreaking a new puppy.

- Why correcting your dog for submissive urination will actually make it worse.

- A cleaning solution that many of the dog training books still recommend that will actually SABOTAGE your housebreaking efforts!

- And much, much more

If you think that this DVD might help you with your housebreaking woes, I've got a few copies available for $39.97 (plus s/h).

 In fact, I'm so confident that this information is the absolute fastest way to get your dog housebroken that I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that if this doesn't work, then your dog must have a bladder or urinary tract infection.

In other words, if your dog isn't completely housebroken in less than 30 days, you've got to be an idiot or someone who is merely incapable of following instructions.

Nor will you see dogs or puppies that are left in the house to eliminate, just so that we could get it on camera.

That would be cruel.

What you will see is ME explaining what you need to know in order to get your dog housebroken, quickly.

It's as if you were one of our clients, and I was meeting with you, face-to-face and explaining what has worked to housebreak literally thousands of dogs.

These techniques work! All you need to do is put this DVD into your DVD player, follow the simple instructions, and you'll be able to leave your dog in the house without worrying that he'll defecate or urinate on your expensive rug or new furniture.

how to house train a dog

how to house train a dog
Generally, dogs are very clean animals - they won't soil close to where the
y eat, or where they sleep.

 But living in a house is unnatural for an animal whose instincts would be to roam wherever she wants to go, so you will have to help her learn where and when she can relieve herself.

It is essential that you form good toilet habits for your dog as early on as possible. 

Trying to break the habit of a dog is quite difficult and it can be very frustrating.

You need to use guidance and encouragement to help the pet.

  Animal behaviorists have some helpful tips that you can use to help with the housebreaking of your pet.

Believe it or not, dogs are sanitary creatures.

  If a dog does soil accidentally in the wrong place, it is likely that it will be far from his dog dish, at least six to ten feet.

 This is true for the place where the dog sleeps as well.

 But, unless you find a good place for her to go and train her in that manner, the rest of your house is okay to them.

The process for housebreaking a dog is the same if he is a puppy or an adult dog new to your home. 

You’ll need to take him outside every few hours and also 30 minutes after he eats. 

Take your pet to the designated bathroom spot.

 Stay with the pet until she goes, and then praise her when she does. 

If she does not go, bring her back inside and try again in fifteen minutes.

 Watch her though.

  If the dog starts sniffing and circling take them out right away as this is a sign that she is about to go.

  Pay attention to her signs and take her out. 

Soon, she will relate to going outside to going to the bathroom.

Some dogs are housebroken much faster than others.

  Some dog’s personality will cause her to go one way or the other.

 But, if you take her outside at the right time, it will go smoother.

  A puppy of less than four months old will need to go out during the night.

 Older puppies can hold it that long. 

A dog that cries to be let out has an urgent need. 

Positive reinforcement is necessary for success.

Get up and take her out, she needs every chance to succeed that she can get. 

If you catch your dog going in the act, distract her with a clap or call her name. 

How you treat accidents will affect your dog’s overall learning curve.

Take her outside calmly at that time and praise her for finishing outside.

 If the dog approaches during this time, ignore her.

 Don’t talk to or punish her at this point.

Clean up any accident that you find on the floor.

 The worst thing that you can do is to yell at her or physically punish her.

 This will cause her to fear you and to not bond as well to you.

 She won’t connect it to the accident at all. 

Ignoring her is the best course of action here.

how to walk a dog

how to walk a dog
City walks are the principle form of exercise for urban pets.

 Try to find a nearby park or enclosed area where you can let your dog stretch his legs for a few minutes, off the lead.

If this is impossible, buy an extra-long leash and seek a safe spot where he can roam within its limits.

Dog owners can strengthen their position by respecting a few rules when walking their pets on the street.

This is unfortunately easier said than done, since more and more cities are banning dogs from wider areas.

Since most dogs feel the urge to relieve themselves shortly after they are taken out of doors, plan your walk to start with suitable stations.

-    Train your dog to relieve himself in the gutter, and walk him on the curb side of the sidewalk so that you can pull him into the gutter if necessary.

Always carry a few plastic bags with you.

 If your dog should make "a mistake" on the sidewalk, slip your hand into the bag as if it were a glove, scoop up the mistake, then pull the bag inside out in order to enclose it.

Never cross the street against a traffic light.

 Even if the light is green, it is better to wait for the beginning of the next green phase in order to have plenty of time for crossing.

Always keep your dog on a leash and under control.

 If he is well-trained, you can run the risk of unleashing him in selected safe spots, but always be prepared to snap on the leash if necessary, and always leash to cross the street.

Try to avoid rush hours and crowded places.

When you are unavoidably caught in a crowd, keep your dog close at heel on a short leash, or if he is small enough, carry him in your arms.

Never let your pet greet a passing dog if the encounter would cause a pedestrian traffic jam, nor let him make advances to strangers. Some people, believe it or not, do not like dogs.

Suburban walks aren't much different from those in the city.

The vehicle traffic may be less, but it is even more dangerous because it moves faster.

Your dogs greatest freedom and enjoyment will be had with walks in the woods, the mountains, or along the beach.

The woods are full of fascinating sights and scents for a dog.

 Let him roam on his own, but call him back when he gets out of sight.

 In the mountains, your dog will be more sure-footed if he is unleashed.

At the same time, many dogs have an instinct for finding passages through apparently impenetrable country, and are excellent guides.

The beach is a great place for giving your dog a good long run.

Unfortunately, many beaches are out of bounds for dogs during the swimming season, sometimes all year round.

Shingle beaches and pebbly ones are hard on a dog's pad. Even more dangerous is the risk cuts from broken bottles and picnic litter.

 Small dogs are light enough to scamper over such debris unharmed, but it represents a real chance to heavy breeds.

 Steer your dog clear of debris when you can, and check his paws when you get home.

What Dogs Need

What Dogs Need

Loyal, friendly, protective, affectionate, fun. Those qualities have earned dogs a special place in the lives and hearts of humans.

Most dogs now are owned as pets mainly because they are THE ideal pets.
A dog will always try to keep you pleased and smiling.
It will never hold grudges against you, and will never judge you for your looks or mistakes.
It isn't called man's best friend for nothing.
Dogs have a basic need for shelter, good nutrition, exercise and companionship. 

A dog will rely on its owner for all of these needs, in addition to training and protection.
These are all basic needs, but really, what a dog needs the most is veterinary care. If a person has a dog for a pet, it is a good idea to ensure that it is seen by a vet regularly.
Dogs are prone to a wide array of illnesses and diseases and it is best that he gets vaccinated against these diseases.
 Some of the most fatal diseases that a dog should be administered with a vaccine against are listed below.
1. Canine Adenovirus - or Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH).
ICH is an extremely contagious disease that only dogs could be transmitted with and other canine-type animals.
This disease is transmitted in urine and eye or nasal secretions of animals with this disease and affects the liver, kidneys and lining of the blood vessels.
Dogs of all ages are prone to acquire this disease, although puppies and younger dogs are at a higher risk.
2. Parvovirus - This is an extremely contagious viral disease that affects white blood cells, the intestines, and heart.
It is characterized by vomiting, severe diarrhea and fever.
 It is often fatal in puppies.
At the highest risk for this disease are dogs in crowded places such as dog shows and kennels.
3. Para Influenza - Also known as tracheobronchitis, it is a contagious infection of dogs seriously affecting young puppies' upper respiratory.
Its symptoms are gagging and coughing.
Dogs in stressful and crowded conditions are at the highest risk for this disease.
4. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) - It is transmitted through contact with infected dogs and affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems. This disease is often fatal to puppies and adult dogs.
5. Rabies - Rabies can affect all warm-blooded animals that are unvaccinated against the disease, including humans.
 It affects the brain and is always deadly.
Pets get exposed to rabies from the bites of wild animals which include bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
The bottom line is to keep a dog disease-free.
Have it vaccinated. After all, what dogs need . . .good health!

What Dog Breed I Recommend

What Dog Breed I Recommend

To recommend a good dog breed to someone, you need to know two things:

1. You need to understand both the wants and needs of the family who is looking to adopt a new dog.

A couple who have very dominant personalities and no children will generally be able to handle a dog with more horsepower than would a quiet, submissive couple with a few small children.

2. You must have an in-depth and personal experience with many different breeds.

And more specifically, you must have multiple experiences with each breed.

 When you've been training dogs professionally for about 10 years, you've seen pretty much everything cross your path, at least three or four times.

 And for the more popular breeds, you've had literally hundreds of experiences that can put you in a very good position to analyze the pro's and con's of each breed.

That being said, here are the top five breeds I recommend to people I don't know very well:

1. Golden Retriever: These dogs have a soft, pliable and easily trainable temperament. They are very pain-resistant and very forgiving to the owner who accidentally steps on a toe or clumsily trips on the dog.

Purchased from a good breeder, these dogs are a joy to own.

2.  Australian Shepherd: Not to be confused with the Australian Cattle Dog (also an excellent breed but not for the amateur or weak owner) the Australian Shepherd - if obtained from a quality breeder - is fantastic.

I don't think that there is anything you can't train this breed to do.

3.  Poodle (any variety): These dogs score extremely high on both the trainability scale and on the intelligence scale.

 I'm always amazed at how quickly these dogs can pick up an new behavior. It's almost like communicating to a human in dog clothing. If it wasn't for the sissy factor, I'd probably own one myself.

 Professional dog trainers see very few dog owners who walk through the door with troubling behavior problems.

If everyone owned a Poodle, we'd all be out of business.

4. Boston Terrier: These dogs are clean and quiet.

They make a fantastic house dog and are very easy to get along with.

 A perfect companion for the elder dog owner, or just somebody who wants a very peaceful dog ownership experience with a breed that is not very demanding.

5. Shetland Sheepdog: Small, easily trainable and possessing a soft temperament, they are intelligent and - with the right training techniques - will learn new behaviors very quickly.

That's all for now,

Leather Dog Collar

Leather Dog Collar

Dog collars come in a variety of colors, styles and even functions.

There’s the obedience or choke collar, bark control collars, flea collars, and a whole array of just dog collars.

 So which to choose?

If barking is an issue perhaps a bark control collar will do the trick.

 Bark control collars use two types of bark detection, either external sound or vibrations from the dogs throat.

 Neither type is totally infallible; the vibration type can be set off by motion and the sound type by external sounds other than the dog barking.

 The best collars employ both methods at the same time to reduce the ‘false’ readings and help bring barking under control.

But once your dog has stopped barking what do you need to consider in a dog collar?

One of the essentials of a dog collar is to make sure that it’s personalized and has the dogs name and your contact details engraved somewhere on the collar or on a tag.

 This will make it easy for someone to get in touch with you if your dog gets lost. It can also help keep your dog calm in what can be a distressing situation.

 Leather makes an excellent dog collar.

 It is very strong, hard wearing, weather proof and comfortable for your dog.

There are flat collars for dogs with shorter hair, and rounded collars for longer haired dogs.

While your dog may be amongst strangers, they will know his name from his collar and he’ll feel less threatened if called by name.

This is to stop breaking the hair around your dog’s neck.

Try and keep the dog collar as thin as you can while maintaining the strength for your dog’s comfort.

    Finally pick a dog collar that suits your dog’s personality and size.

After all it is part of your dog’s image!

Dog Agility Training In Winter

Dog Agility Training In Winter

Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training.
  Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.
Get creative with your training locations.
 Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage?  Then you have a place to train!  Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
 Bring in one piece of equipment at a time, and begin your indoor training.
We do a lot of indoor training with a Pause Table.
 In fact, we keep one in our living room for both obedience training and agility training all the time. 
 The Pause Table is a great obstacle for developing your obedience behaviors and teaching agility directional commands
Don't forget to work on your contacts.
 If you don't have indoor matting, don't jump.  You don't want your dog jumping on concrete or wood floors. 

But you can use the uprights or posts to practice your handling.
Use your Sit-stay or Down-stay and practice your lines or dogs path with no jump bars. 
Weaves can be practice indoors. 
Are you training with a weave-chute or straight line weaves?  Five minutes a day of weave training through out the winter will have your dog weaving smoothly by springtime.
 It's easy by having a Contact Trainer indoors. A 3-Piece Contact Trainer offers you versatility; you have an A-frame side, the Pause Table, and a Dog-walk plank.  Practicing your two feet on and two feet off is convenient and quick when you have indoor contacts, only a few minutes a day to steady your dog's behavior.
Indoor jumping must be approached carefully.
 There are mini-teeters, mini-dog walks, and mini-A-frames.
 You can practice weave entries and weave sends or weave recalls.
There is also a variety of mini agility equipment that can be purchased, and don't require the same space as standard equipment.
 These are great obstacles for puppy training or indoor winter training.
So, during the cold winter months, don't give up on your agility training.
 Whether you are starting a young pup, working a novice dog, or an experienced titled dog there is always something that you can do indoors with your agility training.

Why Training Dog Could be the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Pet

Why Training Dog Could be the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Pet

Most dogs enjoy listening and are proud of the knowledge and skills they acquire.

Untrained dogs are seldom as happy as trained ones, and lead much less interesting lives.

 Many dogs also get a sense of security from obedience and discipline, especially the more intelligent ones.

Every observant dog owner can see for himself that his dog gets greater satisfaction from the praise rewarding a well- executed command or good behavior than he does from the momentary excitement of disobeying, which is usually followed by the evident guilt feelings, (ears back and avoiding eye contact), even when he has not been punished.

Owners vary in their training talents just as dogs vary in their train ability.

Some people are born animal trainers and accomplish remarkable results with little effort.

But even the best trainers are seldom equally successful with every breed of dog.

The training procedures that are highly successful with one type of dog may be totally ineffective with another.

A basic mental affinity, even a certain type of personality seems to be necessary when training a dog.

All good trainers possess authority, patience, and self-control. Brilliant ones possess an additional indefinable "x" quality that is probably a combination of love and respect.

Dog training techniques have been so well systematized in recent years that the least gifted owner can achieve reasonable good results with effort, persistence, patience, and understanding.

Dogs have a much higher understanding intelligence than most people give them credit for. They can and do learn, but we have to give them our time and patience.

All pet dogs should be given basic obedience training as a matter of course, and not only when they develop bad behavior.

Today s dogs live in a much faster paced world, just as we do.

 Even though we may be with them when they are out in public, they can still "stray" or disobey.

 While training cannot completely compensate for poor breeding, a bad environment, or poor upbringing, it can surely help.

 They world will teach them how to misbehave, but it's up to us as pet parents to teach them how to behave.

Specialized training isn't necessary unless the dog is to perform or be seen, such as the purebred show dogs.

This level of training and behavior requires much more time and labor and usually requires a higher aptitude on the part of the dog, and much more skill and patience on the part of the trainer.

Training your dog is the basics of behavior and communication with you can be very rewarding.

Training of so called "champion" show dogs usually begins when they are puppies and continues through most of their lives.

What you may lack in experience, equipment, facilities, etc.

is usually compensated for by your dogs desire to please the person he loves and lives with, which is his strongest motivation.

Dogs Weight

Dogs Weight,
People may not be aware of this, but obesity is one of the greatest problems dogs are dealing with these days.
 Obesity, like humans, is also caused by excessive eating and unhealthy binges.
Mostly, this situation is triggered by some environmental factors that when not controlled may just lead to more problems.
Like humans, dogs develop certain diseases too when they are overweight.
These diseases will lead to more serious complications including death.
So for people who wish to know the repercussions of obesity in dogs, here are some of the known consequences:                                      
1. Diabetes
Like humans, dogs can get diabetes too.
We all know for a fact that overweight cause diabetes in humans, this can also happen in dogs. This is because the more fat is stored in the dog’s body, the greater its system will generate insulin in order to cope up with its growing mass.
 Hence, dogs have the tendency to resist too much insulin in the body.
The end result is diabetes.

  2. Arthritis
Obesity in dogs tends to put extra weight on their bones.
 In turn, the joints and other parts of the dog’s bones develop arthritis
Excess weight in dogs may also initiate the development of other muscle and joint problems like spinal disc disease,
hip dysplasia, and cracks on the joint ligaments.
  3.  Capacity to tolerate heat
With too much fat deposits accumulated in their skin, dogs are more inclined to problems
concerning heat tolerance.
This is because dogs find it hard to tolerate heat due to the build-up of fats in their skin.
That is why most obese dogs are prone to heat stroke especially during summer time.
  4.Skin problems
Obesity in dogs can cause some skin problems. This is because excess fat deposits are being stored in their skin; hence, their owners are having a hard time grooming them. When dogs lack proper grooming, there is a tendency to accumulate bacteria, dirt, or other elements that could cause harm to your dog’s skin.
 In the end, they develop rashes, skin ruptures,
and infections.
  5. Respiratory problems and other heart diseases
Like humans, obese dogs have also the tendency to develop respiratory problems and heart diseases.
This is because the chest cavity is already covered with thick fat deposits.
Hence, whenever the dog breathes, the lungs are having a hard time to expand, so does the heart.
The problem starts when the heart and the lungs can no longer produce the right amount of oxygen and circulate it within the dog’s body.

  6.Gastrointestinal problems
Obesity in dogs causes some problems in their intestines and pancreas.
This problem results to inflamed pancreas, which, in reality, is very painful to the dogs and can also cause death among them.
   7. Liver problems
Fats are harder to strain and this can pose a great problem to the dog’s liver.
 Hence, when the liver can no longer function well because of the fat deposits that accumulated in the area, liver problems may occur and may even cause the death of your dogs.

These health problems are indeed life threatening.
And so, it depends upon the owner how to combat these problems in order to keep their dogs healthy.
One of the greatest ways in solving weight problems is a strict exercise schedule.
So, it is a must that owners should create a healthy exercise schedule for their dogs.
This can be done by tagging them for a walk every afternoon or letting him run through a field.
The best thing about this program is that not only the dogs get the chance to exercise but their owners as well.
 So, it’s a double result with just one purpose.
Next is to create a healthy diet for your dogs. Diet meals are extremely important for dogs so that they can still obtain the necessary nutrients they need in order to stay healthy.
 This should include the right combination of fiber, meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.
However, dog owners should always keep in mind that when their dogs are taking fiber, more water should be employed so as to prevent constipation.
Alternatively, dog owners should also remember that before incorporating all of these things to your dog, it’s best to consult the veterinarians first.
 In this way, only the proper methods of dieting for dogs shall be employed.

So, for healthier and happier dogs, give them the best love and care you can give plus a great dietary regimen.

As they say, a healthy do is a happy dog.

Dog Grooming Tips

Dog grooming tips
Most dogs handle their own grooming needs.  But, you can offer a helping hand as necessary.
  If you do this, you will have many benefits to it. 
For example, it helps the two of you to bond.  And, it allows for you to catch diseases or other health problems that can affect your pet.
  Can’t get your dog to sit still long enough?  Then, do a small portion of her each day. 
Eventually she will enjoy it and allow you to do it easily.
Dogs use licking, shaking and scratching to stay clean.
 If you brush them, you can help the fur to stay clean and unmated.
 Some dogs that have longer hair will require this attention daily.
 Others who have shorter hair can be brushed just once a week. 
Most dogs will enjoy the brushing.
  Others will not right off the bat. 
In order to help this process, use the brush in a small amount while talking soothingly to her. 
Afterwards, give her a treat for being good. 
Add a little more time on each time.
Dark specs on the skin can be fleas.
 In order to check for these types of problems, run your hands down here coat as you brush her. 
If you see quite a bit of black flecks, which are flea dropping, then you need to seek help for your animal right away. 
You may also notice rice like debris near her tail. 
These are a sign that the dog has worms.
 Again, you need to take your pet to the vet in this case as they will need treatment.

Just like you, your pet needs her teeth brushed daily.
 You can do this using a child sized toothbrush or just a finger toothbrush that is designed for your pet.
 The paste that you use should be one designed for dogs only. 
Your toothpaste can seriously make your dog ill. 
To help keep dog’s teeth in tip top shape, give them rawhide chews to gnaw on.  This helps keep teeth as well as gums healthy.
You’ll need to do other types of grooming as well, but not as frequently.
Make sure, though, that the nails are not too long.
You should check ears and nails weekly or monthly.
Look into your dog’s ears. 
If you see small, black/brown specks, this can be ear mites.
  For nails, walks that are given on sidewalks as well as in the driveway can help to wear them down. 
 You can learn from your vet the proper way to trim them to help the dog to stay healthy and to walk correctly.
 You should not trim them without getting some training though.

The Basics Of Dogs Health

The Basics Of Dogs Health:

 The first rule in taking care of your dog is:  When your dog is sick, take him to a veterinarian!  Use with caution advice of friends or people who are supposed to be "old, experienced dog breeders."  Only a veterinarian is qualified to diagnose trouble and prescribe treatment.
While a puppy is nursing, it may receive protective antibodies in its mother's milk.  As soon as the puppy is weaned, this natural immunity will begin to disappear and may be gone within two weeks.  

Many puppies are susceptible to diseases at this young age. 

Your veterinarian may prescribe a vaccination program beginning at 6 to 8 weeks, so it is important that you contact him/her immediately.
However, it is your job to keep your dog from getting sick.  Let us assume you start with a puppy. 

You should know something about "shots", worm medications, flea powders, and poisons. 
Distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis are common and serious diseases which destroy many pets each year. 

The only satisfactory method of protecting your dog is by vaccination. 
Your veterinarian may want to give your puppy immediate temporary protection at the time of purchase or adoption with a "puppy shot" of antiserum which contains antibodies against distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis as well as some of the other common diseases. 
Vaccinations provide long term immunity and most puppies will be started on a series of vaccinations on their first visit to the veterinarian.
Booster vaccines are then advisable on a regular basis for adult dogs, to maintain his overall health for years to come.

What About Dogs In Heat

What about dogs in heat

What is heat stroke?

 Too much time exposed to the dangerous combination of increased temperature and humidity can lead to a heat stroke.

A mammal's body (and that includes humans, too) can only tolerate temperatures up to about 107 degrees before cells start dying.

The higher the temperature, the faster this occurs.

The longer the body remains at an elevated temperature, the less chance there is for recovery.

Heat stroke can occur very quickly, given the right set of circumstances, and if too much time has elapsed, even your best efforts may not be enough to keep your dog alive.

Is my dog at risk for heat stroke ?

Any dog can fall victim to heat stroke, but hot weather is especially hard on puppies and older dogs, (they have a harder time regulating their body temperature), short-nosed breeds, (like pugs, pekes, boxers and bulldogs), overweight dogs, those with heart or lung problems, and dogs recently moved from a cooler climate.

These risk factors increase if your dog doesn't have enough water, if he's in an enclosed space or is exposed too long to direct sunlight.

How can I recognize heat stroke?

Heat stroke causes dogs to pant rapidly and heavily, the body's defense in an effort to lower the core temperature.

Their eyes may be open abnormally wide, and they may appear to stare blankly, ignoring your commands. They may drool excessively and stagger weakly.

 The gums will appear pale and dry and eventually, if left untreated, the animal will collapse into unconsciousness.

What should I do if my dog has a heat stroke?

If you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke and you're close to a vet or animal hospital, put him in the car, crank the air conditioning all the way up and get him there as soon as possible.

 They're the ones best equipped to handle your dog's recovery.

 If that's not possible, you must try to reduce your dog's temperature yourself.

Get him to a shady area and either put him in a tub of cool (not cold) running water, or spray him with a hose.

 Be sure the water penetrates his coat and wets the skin beneath.

Run it over his tongue and mouth, inside the legs and on his stomach. Remember that small dogs will cool down more quickly than larger breeds.

 Take your dog to a vet as soon as you can.

Hopefully your dog will never suffer a life-threatening heat stroke.

 If he does, at least now you know the signs and symptoms to be aware of, and the measures you can take that will offer him the best chances for a full and total recovery.

Your Intelligent Dog

Your Intelligent Dog The intelligence of the dog is among the highest of all the animals, maybe higher than we give him credit for.

 Although his brain is proportionately only half as large as ours, he is certainly the most intelligent of domestic animals.

As with humans, individual intelligence varies greatly according to inherited genes.

While no one breed can be said to be more intelligent that another, some breeds that have been selectively bred for work ability are often brighter and more receptive than those bred primarily for purely physical attributes.

Whether a dog is a mixed breed for purebred, studies have shown that neither is much more intelligent than the other.

However, dogs that have been exposed to a more varied lifestyle, both indoors and out, and with both human and animal interaction, does show more intelligent behavior.

Simply put, giving your dog an opportunity to investigate and manipulate all sorts of objects, to explore all sorts of places, to share all sorts of experiences with you will stimulate his or her intelligence.

Aside from getting a lot more out of life, your dog will be eager to learn more and he will learn with increasing ease and rapidity.

 Nothing is sadder and more wasteful than an intelligent dog that is confined in a kennel and deprived of mental stimulation.

Despite opinions to the contrary, dogs are endowed with an elementary reasoning power.

Anyone who has ever owned a dog has often seen him size up a situation and then taken some logical action.

 Guide dogs for the blind, as well as working and hunting dogs of many breeds constantly have to use their judgment and make decisions.

Memory is an important component of intelligence.

 The dog's memory for scents is extraordinary.

 His visual memory is only fair, but his memory for sounds is very good, since he can remember and identify familiar voices even after an absence of many years.

While he builds up a large store of identifiable sounds without the slightest effort, remembering different words requires more concentration.

The dog's capacity for learning is more a matter of memory than of true understanding. He will remember the sequence of cause and effect in his actions, but he is unable to draw broad conclusions from his experience.

The greater the variety of experiences and contact with others they have, the quicker they learn, and the more they retain.

Dogs are bound by nature to remain intellectually inferior to man, but we owe them a chance to develop their native intelligence by training, teaching, and working with them as much and as often as we can.

Your Dog Shed

Your dog shed,

If your dog sheds a lot it does not necessarily denote ill health.

Dogs that spend a lot of their time indoors are exposed to electric lights and central heat and air which can throw off their normal shedding schedule that nature built in. However, profuse shedding may have other causes like an unbalanced diet, a kidney or bladder infection or a parasitic ailment.

If your dogs shedding leads to bald spots you should seek help from your veterinarian as soon as possible.

All severe shedding conditions are either parasitic or non-parasitic.

Parasitic means caused by parasites such as mites or fleas.

Non-parasitic means conditions created by a hormonal imbalance and or poor diet, which can easily be treated with vitamins and a more controlled diet.

Eczema is a symptom of an underlying disorder, usually dietary, rather than a disease. In older animals and altered ones, it may be caused by a hormonal imbalance due to a change of body chemistry.

 The skin becomes scaly and the hair falls out in patches.

You must correct the cause by hormone injections or a change in diet, usually by adding fat supplements of Vitamin A and E.

Eczema can also be caused by fleabite allergy, or a parasitic condition.

However, these bald spots usually appear suddenly and resemble lesions, or burns. To treat these, after veterinarian diagnosis, you must eliminate the fleas and use a local application of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medicines.

Bald spots can also be caused by mange.

 There are two types of mange, ot mange, Sarcoptic mange or “Scabies”, which has a musty odor, often starts on the head and spreads to the ears, tail, the abdomen, chest and under the front legs.

 Skin eruptions may take the form of red dots or blisters, then scabs.

Your veterinarian can provide medicated baths; generally sulfur preparations and anti-itch topicals.

The second type of mange is Follicular or Demodectic mange or “red mange”, caused by a different family of mites that burrows into the hair follicles and most often attacks young puppies.

 Entire litters can be born with it.

 It is more serious and persistent that the other variety.

 In the most serious cases, pustules dot the skin where the hair has fallen out. Veterinary treatment will include oral medications and external treatments to kill the mites, but this type of mange takes a long time to cure.

Lastly, he may have contracted ringworm, a contagious fungal infection, (non-parasitic), that grows on hair follicles, rather like athletes foot.

 It is characterized by ring-shaped red patches covered with scales, and may be dry or moist, usually starting on the head, neck, and legs.

Your vet will advise strict anticontagion measures, since it is communicable to humans. Treatments include oral medications, anti-fungal shampoos or dips, and frequent applications of iodine.

Remember, shedding is a symptom of an underlying condition that is best diagnosed by your Veterinarian usually by microscopic analysis of skin scrapings and or blood tests. While bald spots may not be life threatening, the animal is suffering and the conditions usually only get worse with time, so asking your veterinarian for his opinion is more sensible than just worrying about it.

What Dog Should &Should Not Be Drinking To Stay Healthy

What Dog Should &Should Not Be Drinking To Stay Healthy

A constant supply of fresh water is essential to your dog's good health and comfort.    Like man, a dog can go without food for a surprisingly long time, but if he is deprived of water, he can't survive for more than a few days, or even hours, in a hot, dry environment.

Water is very important, representing and estimated 70 percent of the dog's weight.

A dog's water consumption varies according to the climate to his activity, and to the composition of his meals. 

Heat and exercise dehydrate him quickly. 

He gets very thirsty in cars or any confined space.

 However, excessive thirst for not good reason should be reported to your vet, because it may be an early symptom of diabetes or kidney trouble.

At home he should have a clean, full water bowl next to his food dish, another in his play area, and possibly a third one that is accessible at night.

 Away from home the problem is more difficult. 

A thirsty dog is attracted to water in the gutter, in stagnant pools and rain puddles.  Clean rain water is fine, but hard to find.

 Caustic chemicals used to melt snow on streets and sidewalks, weed-killers and insecticides on lawns and golf courses contaminate most standing water and should be avoided.

Try to keep a water-filled plastic container with you or in your car, especially if you plan on a lot of walking or running during hot weather.

Try to train your dog to drink only from his own bowl or what you offer him.

Milk is the only liquid, aside from water, that appeals to dogs and still agrees with them, (although it may cause loose stools). 

They are seldom tempted by other drinks and particularly dislike carbonated drinks.  Milk is always another good source of protein but should not be used as a substitute for meat. 

Most any flavored drink should be avoided, as it only tends to irritate the kidneys, causing frequent urination and dehydration.