Friday, October 8, 2010

Grooming Your Pet at Home

Grooming Your Pet at Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Stackson]John Stackson

The guy I work with cuts his own hair. This saves him time and money. In this economy people are looking for every way to save a penny here and there. One such way a pet owner can save time and money is by being your dog's own personal groomer. That's right...cutting your dog's hair yourself. If you invest in a good pair of clippers, then grooming your dog in the privacy of your own home can save you time and money.

Aside from saving you time and money, pets know their owners and trust us. This should be the number one reason to want to groom your pet yourself. By keeping your pet at home, you are keeping him in a comfortable area that he is already familiar with. When you stay at home for grooming, there won't be other pets around to distract him. If there are other pets around, then I'm sure they are pets your pup is probably already used to. My dog gets really excited around other dogs so we groom her at home and it keeps her calm.

Grooming your pet at home will save you time. Instead of having to rush around town trying to make an appointment or find a walk-in pet salon, you can just groom your pet on your own time at your own home. For me, I have a hard time remembering meetings and appointments as it is, and to add one more appointment would just make it worse. It's so convenient to be in the comfort of your own home and groom your pet. As I said earlier, my dog isn't exactly the most friendly dog and by grooming her at home, I don't have to deal with whether or not she likes the groomer...because it's me! If I had to find a pet salon to take her to, it might take awhile because it would be trial and error, with mostly errors!

Finally, grooming your pet saves you money. Between driving to work and the gym and the grocery store, I don't want to make anymore stops than I have to. The price of gas right now is high enough as it is, I don't need to add on anymore to my gas bill by making an unnecessary stop at a pet salon. Also, the bills at a pet salon can add up quickly. The average grooming session starts at $50 and goes up from there. You can get a great pair of pet clippers for the same price as 3 sessions at a salon.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Grooming-Your-Pet-at-Home&id=5166687] Grooming Your Pet at Home

Friday, October 1, 2010

Step By Step Guide For Training Golden Retrievers

Step By Step Guide For Training Golden Retrievers
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ed_Harolds]Ed Harolds

Golden retriever is the top choice for family dog because of their look and personality. The most endearing qualities of this breed are their loyalty, intelligence, friendliness, and gentleness. Despite these qualities, you have to train them so that they can develop good habits in the household where they live. Presented in this article is a short guide about training golden retrievers.

It is very easy to train a golden retriever. This dog is very playful, smart, and eager to please you. However, because they are so intelligent, they learn new things very fast, including bad habits. It is imperative that you train your dog as soon as it arrives at your home.

Learn about your dog and its psychology before the training begins. A golden retriever is very friendly and sensitive. It quickly learns if you choose positive reinforcement techniques. They respond very well to praises, love, rewards, and encouragement. Simple dog treats will go a long way in motivating them. Your training will fail badly and your relationship with your dog will also suffer terribly if you employ harsh methods such as intimidation, physical punishments, and harsh words.

There are basic trainings that your dogs should undergo. Your dogs should be taught not to chew or bark, to follow simple orders, to allow anyone to take away its food and toy at anytime, and potty training. Each behavior needs different training method.

You should only teach your dog in the correct method. Training it in the wrong way might cause your dogs to develop bad behavior. People who have difficulty in training their dogs or are not sure about their training methods should contact local professional dog trainers. They will also counsel you how to teach your dog and maintain the result of the training. Professional dog trainers are also useful if you want your dogs to learn something more advanced.

Training sessions are supposed to be enjoyable for the trainer and the dog. Training golden retrievers is usually interesting and fun. When the sessions are interesting, the dogs are more likely to learn more and more responsive to your instructions.

Ed is a retriever lover and has been involved in dog training for a few years.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Step-By-Step-Guide-For-Training-Golden-Retrievers&id=5096216] Step By Step Guide For Training Golden Retrievers

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Top 10 Doberman Tips

If you are thinking about bringing a Doberman home or if you already have one but are having a few issues, below are some tips that you should find quite helpful.

1. Always ignore your Doberman when he jumps on you by standing perfectly still or by continuing on with what you are doing. Never block the dog with your feet, knees or arms because not only can he misinterpret this as a playful gesture, the dog can be injured. Giving him any attention, good or bad will only encourage his behavior.

2. Approach housebreaking with a schedule, a command word and a designated area in the yard. These three things combined will make it much easier for your Doberman to understand what is expected of him.

3. Become the alpha leader and hold your position through constant training and using basic commands such as "wait" to remind your dog that you are always in charge.

4. Socialize your Doberman immediately and continue to do so regularly. Your dog will be a better protector and pet if he is comfortable with new people, animals and surroundings because he will be confident.

5. Always make sure that your dog is relaxed before allowing anyone to approach you. Learning your Doberman's body gestures will enable you to clearly recognize when he is unsure of a situation.

6. Never allow your Doberman to bite or chew on you. Always replace your skin with a toy and praise him for chewing on it. Doberman puppies that are not taught that this behavior is unacceptable grow up to be dangerous adults that still think that biting is allowed.

7. If you plan on using a crate, make sure that it is the appropriate size and used for the right reason. Crates are never an acceptable means of punishment.

8. Don't leave your Doberman home alone for long periods of time. These dogs are prone to separation anxiety and really prefer to be by your side as much as possible.

9. Provide your dog with daily mental stimulation and physical exercise. They need both to be happy and calmer and you will decrease your chance for destructive behavior.

10. Out of all of the Doberman tips, the most important one to remember is to treat your dog with respect. Dobermans are very sensitive and will treat you the way that they are treated.

Author: Tod Woodward.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-10-Doberman-Tips&id=5077465] Top 10 Doberman Tips

Friday, September 3, 2010

Pet Behaviors - Learning The Source Of Aggression In Canines - Preventing Dog Bites

Aggressive or violent dogs may have causal reasons for doing so. A well-behaved dog is generally a jovial dog, so learning the source of aggression in canines is essential to your pet and also to the general safety of yourself and those around you.

* Dominance Aggression
* Establishing dominance is the reason for dogs to have violent acts of aggression. This may be displayed to humans but is much more common towards other pets or animals. Canines are pack animals and they think of their human family as their pack. Combatant behavior might occur if ever there are people present that they do not consider a part of the pack. This aggression can be prevented or changed with early training to establish dominance over your dog. Territorial Aggression
* Territorial aggression is also a problem for some canines. They make their homes and family a very important possession and will try to protect them furiously. They can sense it when their territory has been invaded and the family is threatened. There are reasons why they act that way but still not accepted and not desired by humans. Making sure you are the "leader" of the pack in your dog's eyes will relieve them of the duty of being the guard dog or Alpha dog of your pack. This often stops the canine aggression. Fear Aggression
* Fear is another contributory factor of why canines manifest aggressive behavior. There are indicators that a dog might be afraid of something and should be taken seriously. When dogs are in the position of fear, it exhibits behaviors such as growling, ears pulled back and tail between thighs. Never approach a canine in this state. Instead, eliminate the cause of the fear first. Once you see the canine relax, it is safe to go to the dog. If fear is the reason behind your dog's aggression, training should be done to make your dog more confident in non-threatening situations. Predatory Nature
* Other dogs when in fear settle in predatory behavior. They are used to hounding and playing games occasionally with cats, with other smaller canines or children. Redirected Aggression
* One reason also for hostile behavior in your canine is redirected anger, and very seldom understood. This occurs whenever a canine can't blurt out its anger on the definite object rooting the fear, territorial thoughts and other feelings. For example, if your dog is in the yard and someone they think is a trespasser enters the house, your dog may turn on someone else. Many do not understand this because they aren't aware of the root cause of the presented behavior. Medical Reasons for Aggression
There can be medical conditions that might cause animals to display aggression. Sometimes, females are very violent when nursing or pregnant. Even if maternal protectiveness is usual in females' aggression, they can be controlled through training in early stages. In order to learn the reasons for aggressiveness, it is important to know about the training methods which can be utilized to become more efficient.

Knowing the reason for your dog's hostility will help you take control of the situation and find ways of giving your pet the best quality care. You develop a happier and healthier relationship with your pet and ensure the safety of anyone who comes in contact them.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_McCormick

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Top Dog Bite Treatments Simple Guide

Top Dog Bite Treatments Simple Guide
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Linda_C_Allen]Linda C Allen

A dog bite can be a very painful encounter and experience which can put on both emotion and physical scars. Treatment of a dog bite is very essential. It takes time to heal and will also need constant care including appropriate treatment in the way of remedies and medication. This free article has more information on the treatments, keep reading.

People face this problem, either because of the dogs in their neighborhood, the dogs that belongs to their friends, colleagues, relatives or even you own the dog yourself. There are very common in children as there are lots of dog breeds that are really tolerant with children. Dog biting poses numerous problems that will urgently need special attention and constriction and lacking of the treatment may result to the development of a dog bite infection.

Puncture wounds

Puncture wounds occurs in which the dog's teeth pierce into the person skin without tearing off the skin. If this incident occurs, dog bite treatment should be administered as soon as the victim has managed to set free of the dog or at least within 8 hours of the dog bite. Take the victim away as far possible from the dog and lock the dog up in a crate. The next thing you will need to do is to start administering dog bite treatment by following basic first aid instructions. If the victim bleeding continues badly, try stopping the bleeding by applying pressure. And make sure you clean the victim wound thoroughly of all the dirt. You will also need to apply some betadine to the victim wound site and then cover it up with some antibiotic ointment also applied to sterile gauze.

Laceration

This injuries can be in form of laceration wounds, in this case the skin is torn by the penetration of the dog's teeth into the victim skin. This kind of wound is a serious type of wound and needs immediate medical attention. Stitches will be needed to cure this type of wound and it usually leaves back a noticeable scar. Laceration wound will also require and need more time to heal as compared to the puncture wounds which may not take much time to heal.

Taking Care of the Wounds

It should be noted that antibiotics should be administered to prevent dog bite infections, whether it is the Puncture or Laceration types of wounds.

These infections can be caused by the bacterial which can be found on the dog's teeth. Keep the wound covered for its healing to take place well. You need to keep the victim affected area in an elevated position to reduce the swelling.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-Dog-Bite-Treatments-Simple-Guide&id=4598327] Top Dog Bite Treatments Simple Guide

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Do You Know What Kind of Dog Shampoo For Fleas and Other Conditions to Use on Your Pet?

Do You Know What Kind of Dog Shampoo For Fleas and Other Conditions to Use on Your Pet?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Deborah_Munger]Deborah Munger

It isn't enough that I have to sort through a barrage of hair, body and tooth products to aid in my personal hygiene, I have to do that for my doggie hygiene too? How do I know what effective dog shampoo for fleas and other conditions he really needs? Well, here are some different types of dog shampoos and how they will affect your pet.

The first shampoo I will discuss is Scratchtex Antibacterial Flea and Tick Shampoo. This shampoo starts killing fleas and ticks on contact, and also leaves the skin soft, clean and deodorized. It also gives temporary relief from itching.

Another excellent shampoo to get rid of fleas on your dog is Adams Pyrethine Dip. This pet medication kills and repels fleas, ticks, lice, gnats, mosquitoes and flies on your pet. It contains aloe vera and lanolin to condition coats and is fortified with sunscreen to prevent sunburn in pets.

Farnam Bio Guard Shampoo is a water-based formula and will not wash out any drops or spot-on flea control products you have previously put on your pet. It's Ph-balanced and will not irritate your dog's skin. You can even use it on puppies. There are no known side effects and it leaves your pet with a clean fresh scent.

If your pet has any cuts, Pyoben Shampoo is a good choice. This shampoo treats superficial cuts and infections. It's special formula will remove warts, treats the hair follicles and softens the dog's coat. Pyoben has a slow-release technology and will continue to treat the skin long after you administer it. It leaves a protective film on your dog's coat and it has no side effects.

Ever end up more soaked than your dog after a doggie bath? How about trying a spray-on waterless shampoo? Waterless bath shampoo is made with tree oil and soothes your pet's skin and conditions your pet's coat. It also detangles his coat and relieves irritation caused by fleas and ticks.

Ooh, la-la! How about Pearls Au Lait Milk Bath Moisturizing Shampoo? This shampoo is a gentle shampoo that is enriched with the goodness of milk proteins. It leaves the skin and coat clean, moisturized and silky. This shampoo has Nova Pearls which release moisturizers onto your pet's coat and skin. Gives your pet that "doggie spa" treatment.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-You-Know-What-Kind-of-Dog-Shampoo-For-Fleas-and-Other-Conditions-to-Use-on-Your-Pet?&id=4558508] Do You Know What Kind of Dog Shampoo For Fleas and Other Conditions to Use on Your Pet?

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Signs My Dog is Getting Old

Signs My Dog is Getting Old
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ethel_Smith]Ethel Smith

When you take that cute little puppy into your home, it is easy to forget that sooner or later this animal will get old. Aging is a fact of life, for all living creatures. How quickly a dog will age though, does depend on certain factors. Like people, there will be genetic predispositions toward certain health problems. Different breeds of dog have different life expectancies also. On the whole, though there are some obvious signs that your dog is getting old.

Older dogs often have poor hearing. That once alert dog, who heard the slightest rattle of the garden gate, may hear little these days. In fact, a burglar may be able to enter, raid and leave your home without your dog hearing a sound.

Weight gain can also be associated with age in dogs. Some of this will depend upon how well you have cared for your dog. Giving the animal too many treats to show your love is not really a kind act. Make sure that your dog has a healthy diet and reduce the amount of food accordingly as the animal becomes less active. An older dog generally has less nutritional needs.

Creaking joints affect a dog in much the same way as a person. The animal's mobility may decrease and it may be in pain. If a dog shows signs of pain be assured that, the animal is suffering. Dogs tend to hide their pain well. No dog should ever be allowed to suffer so consult your veterinarian in order to receive advice and treatment regarding pain management.

Poor eyesight affects dogs in much the same way as people. An older dog may develop cataracts. Many eye problems are treatable but can be expensive. Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to have eyesight problems than others.

Dental problems can cause older dogs problems. Tooth pain and infections may mean that the animal finds it difficult to eat properly. If your dog has bad breath this could be a sign of dental problems. A good dental routine, started when the animal is young, will help. Tooth scaling is possible, at the veterinary surgery, but will be costly. You also have to remember that the dog will need to be anaesthetised, which may be problematic for an older dog.

Heart problems and even heart failure can occur in dogs. If the animal has led a healthy life style with a sensible diet and plenty of exercise this may be minimised. Your dog's hair or fur will probably turn a little grey and the texture will change. You may notice that the dog's coat is less sleek and shiny and is more wiry and sparse.

As we see our pets everyday, it is often a person who visits rarely who will notice the changes in your dog. You may find that you have to walk more slowly and less far with your pet, raise the height of the dog's feeding bowl because it has back problems or even help the animal to its feet at times. As long as the dog is not in pain and has some quality of life this part of aging is simply nature running its course.

Ethel Smith is a freelance Internet writer. Her work is currently available via Infobarrel.com, Hubpages.com and Helium.com. Her interests include animal welfare, travel, World Cup football and current affairs. Catch up with a little of Ethel's growing porfolio at http://ethelsmithstravelexperiences.wikispaces.com/ and her intermittent blog http://ethelsworld.blogspot.com/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Signs-My-Dog-is-Getting-Old&id=4506737] Signs My Dog is Getting Old

Monday, June 14, 2010

Are Dog Houses a Good Idea?

Are Dog Houses a Good Idea?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Simon_Waker_Haughtone]Simon Waker Haughtone

Do you own a dog? If you do then you will love him unconditionally, and he will certainly be a member of your family. Every now and again you want to spoil your family members or buy them something to show that you care. As a dog cannot appreciate many things which you can buy, your choice becomes limited immediately. If you really want to buy your dog something which can be used plenty which he is sure to love look into dog houses. This need not be an expensive item, but it will definitely be an excellent addition to your home.

Most doghouses are made with wood, others are made with metal. The majority are made to look like little sheds, which can be an attractive option. It depends which kind of home you are trying to give your dog.

If you are purchasing a house or entertaining the thought, then chances are you doing it to properly care for your dog. You want to see him happy and you think this will help. The list of reasons people have is in no way exhaustive.

Wanting to spend money on your dog is in no way a bad thing, however you want to ensure that this money is utilised and spent well, not wasted. The most important thing to consider is the size of your dog, and the size of the house he will need to be comfortable. Do not think that a huge house is what a small dog will want.

If you want to purchase a house, it is best to do it whilst they are still puppies. This is so they have plenty of time to get used to the idea. And they are also far more open to learning new things and not quite so set in their ways.

Time and patience is needed if you have an adult dog when you purchase a house. Not all dogs will be happy or open to the idea. The last thing you want is to waste your money or time taking it back, so be prepared to spend time trying to get your dog accustomed to it. This may be tiresome and annoying but stick with it.

Dog houses mean your dog can be happy inside, and outside the home, for example, if you decide to take a trip. It can be one of the best purchases you make for your dog so put adequate thought into the idea.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-Dog-Houses-a-Good-Idea?&id=4467626] Are Dog Houses a Good Idea?

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Recipes For Dogs
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tony_Hanes]Tony Hanes

As a devoted animal lover and Dog Companion, its all too obvious at the expense of feeding my beloved animal brothers. Many people cant really afford to provide nice chewy dog food, and simply provide hard bits of dry food that I think we can all agree would be rather nasty for a human to eat. I can only believe the dog feels the same way.

The good news is you can provide a very nice alternative, at a 75 percent discount. No, I'm not selling anything. I'm just passing along some very useful information.

If you purchase large cans of dog food, that can be a hefty price in excess dollar per can. If your dog is well exercised as he should be, then your dog requires feeding at least twice a day. That's 3 dollars a day, times 30 days, and you are in almost 100 dollars a month. And of course that comes out of the budget for the medications, toys and other accessories.

You can shave off a good deal of money by just purchasing the mass market dry dog food. The good thing about this food, is it is closely watch by the FDA, which is a good thing and assures the food meets certain requirements and is even well fortified with vitamins.

HOWEVER, in the exact same way you would quickly get tiered of eating potato chips everyday for breakfast and dinner, our dogs are no different. In a way, this is the bodies way of saying, I need more variety, of minerals, proteins and vitamins. Now, we can take the benefit of the dry dog food, and supplement it with a protein source of high calories and carbohydrates. What is this very inexpensive, easy to prepare and very tasty food source? Rice.

You can purchase a bag of dry rice, that when cooked is the same cost as 1 can of large dog food, and will weigh 8 pounds heaver. Quantity wise, you have 400 percent more volume and weight for the same price.

Dogs naturally love rice. Rice will take on the taste of anything mixed with it. After you have cooked up a weeks worth of rice, you can pour into that your own homemade gravy of chicken broth, or instant gravy mixes or anything that you think is tasty. You want the final product to be a little on the soupy side, so that you can mix this 50/50 with the dry dog food. The soupy part will envelope the dry food and provide that great taste that will have them eating now as if they are really enjoying it.

Obviously, this is a good time to throw in any left overs you have accumulated in the last few day. By the way, I've noticed this is also a great method for sneaking in medication tablets. My dogs tear through this so fast they don't even notice.

So, get yourself a large sealable container to keep this rice concoction prepared and in the fridge so it is easily ready to mix in to the morning and evening feedings. I advise you to provide lots of exercise for your dog on this diet as it is high in calories. But there is nothing wrong with calories, if your companion is running and playing like he should be. Of course you should consult with your vet about your dogs needs. Keep in mind, rice is found in the upper end can dog foods.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Recipes-For-Dogs&id=4386488] Recipes For Dogs

Saturday, May 29, 2010

The No 1 Secret of Positive Dog Training

The No 1 Secret of Positive Dog Training
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brad_Rosen]Brad Rosen

Positive dog training, clicker training, positive reinforcement dog training..etc..they are all really talking about the same thing. Words like command aren't used so much as cue and marker. The idea behind this method of puppy training is to reward when your puppy does the correct behavior and correct or ignore them when they do an unwanted behavior.

Lets take an example of training your puppy to sit. Sit is one of the first commands/behaviors most people teach in puppy obedience training. First the reward, food is a great motivator for dogs so we'll use food for a reward. Instead of giving them the cue/command to sit, we lure them into a sit by holding the food close to their nose and raising it up and back until they sit. When they sit you use your marker, be it a clicker or a word like "good" or "yes", and give them the reward. You have not given the cue/command yet. Now repeat repeat repeat. It won't be long before your puppy is sitting on their own in anticipation of the reward. What has just happened is secret to positive dog training.

The secret is to train your puppy to offer good behaviors to you rather than you commanding them to do a behavior, like in our example of sitting. Your puppy will start looking for chances to be rewarded. When they are eager to try a behavior that gets them something good, like their reward, your puppy training will become fun for both of you and they will learn faster.

Dogs can be motivated by other things also besides food. Some like to chase a ball, or go for a ride in a car. The reason food is used often by dog trainers is that they can be given their reward and it's gone in a second or two. Now they can focus on the next thing in your puppy training schedule. A toy or something like that as a reward takes time and it will be harder to get the dog back on task.

Whatever you use as a marker, it can be a clicker, a clap, a word, etc.. get your puppy used to hearing it and immediately getting a reward. In the beginning they don't have to do any particular behavior, what you want them to learn is that the marker means good stuff is coming. It won't take long before their eyes light up at the sound of your marker.

The timing of the marker is critical. Whatever behavior they do that you are working towards, you have to mark and reward immediately so that they associate whatever they did with the reward. Once they have learned the behavior, every time they do it start using a word, the cue, in our example it would be "sit" and soon they will learn to associate the cue with the behavior.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-No-1-Secret-of-Positive-Dog-Training&id=3954913] The No 1 Secret of Positive Dog Training