Author: Warren Porter

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Understanding About Puppy Potty Training

potty training a puppy

 

Does your puppy forget to eliminate inside the house? swinging, chewing furniture, digging, barking, whining and submissive urinating? If so, then your puppy potty training problem might be your preference. Over 70% dogs of all breeds and sizes could use some kind of puppy potty training help.

Puppy potty training is basically one of three things: either you are teaching your puppy not to pee or potty inside the house, teaching your puppy to pee or potty outside or teaching your puppy some other way to achieve permanent housebroken behavior.

What age is your puppy? Larger puppies tend to have bladder control issues. They must be taught to hold urine, but as they get older, they must learn to hold it. Puppies must be slowly introduced to taking their urine outside. The faster you teach the puppy how to eliminate outside, the sooner you will be able to stop paying this high dollar per month for a trainer.

Various bits of advice for housebreaking your dog are:*Make sure your puppy is present in the house so it can view the family and easily learn what your household rules are.*Keep the puppy in the same room as you when you are home.*Keep all food, water, toys and bedding in the same room.*Keep your puppy in the crate when you are home which helps to prevent it from wandering around at night.*Keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule to eliminate frequent “accidents.”

Dogs are creatures of habit and being home all day breaks the dog’s schedule. Allowing your puppy to have free roam of the house before it is housebroken is basically inviting it to have accidents.

This is especially true when you only have a very small apartment or lager. This creates “accidents.” It is easier to clean up one accident than it is to clean up 12 or more.

If you do happen to find an accident, here are some things you should do:

Take the puppy out immediately. Using a leash, take the dog out to the same spot every time and issue the same command. Create an impressive good impression. If you want to be effective, you must do this every single time.

There is a lot of time you will share with the puppy. Eventually, it will understand the rules and your routine. You should have consistency from the start. Once the puppy understands what is expected, it will be happier and you will be happier when your puppy is trained.

If you didn’t see the accident occur, catch your puppy in the act and correct it gently. This does nothing except apply major pressure to the puppy.

A friend who runs a Virtual Ergonomics Workshop gave me this advice when her puppy was misbehaving. Give consistent commands, both verbal and nonverbal. The nonverbal command is usually understood by the dog faster than the verbal command and should be the norm.

Never use an object such as a ball or toy as a form of entertainment. If you catch your puppy “in the act” you can clap your hands or say “no” firmly and move the puppy outside or wherever it was doing it the wrong way. Now clean up the mess and move on. Your puppy will understand what is expected from it when you are firm but gently.

Depending on your puppy’s age, its genes, its breed and its personality, puppy potty training takes a lot longer.

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Dog Beds – Providing the Comfort Your Dog Needs

why dogs need a dog bed

When most people think of bringing their dog into their lives they often think of a cute toy breed or even a well mannered older dog. Small dogs are easy to bring into a home, they are very good companions, and they don’t require the extra care and attention that a larger dog may require. However, each dog is a unique living creature, and his needs will vary depending on his breed, age, personality, and health, and based on this they need a dog bed.

The smaller dog breeds are much easier to bring into your home, and provide you with many years of loving companionship. You can find a range of small dogs from all over the world in animal shelters, and even local humane societies. All of the dogs will need to be either housebroken, or you can get an older dog that is already trained. An adult dog can be very difficult to find in a shelter, but many of the small dogs are adults and would make great pets.

A person often wonders at how to choose a small dog breed for their home. It is actually much easier than it is with a larger breed. For starters small dogs are very people oriented. They love to go places with the owner. They are less of a stranger to you, and will show up to be very loyal. Because they love to go places with the owner they are very easy to train to go outdoors whenever their owner is ready for them to do so. They love to go for walks with the owner, and will show much interest in the dog’s toys and Drew desires to play with them.

A person should keep in mind that each kind of dog has a different temperament, and that even close neighbors have a difference of opinion regarding certain dogs. A person should never get a small dog based on looks alone, a small dog should be chosen for a reason. The dog must fit the owner’s lifestyle, and it must mesh with the other pets at the home.

When a person decides to get a small dog and bring it into their home they need to take into consideration their families and other pets in the home. If there are small children in the home they need to be sure that the dog will not be abused and neglected. Just like a child, a small dog needs to be looked at as part of the family, and trained properly to behave correctly. It is easy as long as the owner ensures the dog is safe and loved before committing him or herself to the responsibility of a dog in the home.

Anyone considering a small dog need to consider the space they will need to keep the dog, and family members that will need to spend time with the new dog. If you live in a who buys houses home with a fenced in back yard a small dog will be,) able to get plenty of exercise running around. If you live in an apartment a small dog will be able to go for walks with the owner as well as play with the dog. This is very important to the dogs well being. Every person that has a small dog is going to have a great responsibility, but a great responsibility it will be worth it.

If you find someone that wants to adopt a small dog with a great responsibility, and wants to make sure they go to a good home, then a small dog may be the right choice for you. Before you collect your new small dog or find a breeder or rescue that has small dogs it is always a good idea to investigate the traits and characteristics of small dogs.

There are people out there that want to collect small dogs and breed them, and then there are people that are entertainment or breeders only looking for a profit, these people should be avoided. There are enough breeders and rescues to go around. A breeder that is serious about producing dogs that have the traits that they hope to find are worth their weight in gold, but digging deeper into the bloodlines of the dogs is not always as well. As a matter of fact there are some pure breeders that may be waiting for a puppy from a rescue, and they may want to make certain they have found a good home for their dogs, but it is still possible they may have shared a similar fate as a tragic accident or illness.

Keep in mind that a great deal of care must be taken when considering adopting any dog, and small or large it is important that you exercise a lot of caution before making such a life changing decision. Take a bit of time to research the different breeds and find the ones that will be most suitable for your lifestyle. Before making a final decision, determine first if the potential pet will be welcome in your home and the other rooms to have it roam in. You will want to exercise caution when adopting a small dog as well, but the rewards are so great that the extra care is well worth the effort that is needed.

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Pet News

Stop The Chewing Habit

stop puppy chewing

 

While it can be a prized Zozo masteredrug, the world is not synonymous with fair and equal principles. To even get close to his prized assets, Labradors must learn to unwind – specially the tail. This is one of the most defining traits of the Labrador breed, but a destructive habit like chewing should be dealt with early on. Chewing for puppies is just like English chewing; they experience greater degrees of teething and will chew on whatever comes in handy. Puppies possess an innate desire to chew on something in order to ease the discomfort they feel.

While it is natural for them to chew on household items, your desire should be to make them refrain from engaging their affections with household items. To do so, you will require diligence on your part – but not overload your patience. Like German Shepherds, Labradors possess a natural tendency to nip. In their canine nature, they consider the act of chewing a perfectly natural act.

How to Protect Your Puppy chin| While your puppy is a hot water and chew machine, protect your possessions from potential damage. Here are a few tips:

o Make sure that you don’t give your puppy the occasion to chew on your possessions. If you have a cherished pillow, sofa, or floor, there’s no need to hire flooring removal contractors when your puppy can just chew through it.  However, with all joking aside, you most definitely have to take precautions such as closing the item away in a closet on the first day and letting your puppy know if he tries to chew it by placing a bad tasting substance on it. Before long, your puppy will get the idea. Be patient yet firm in commanding him to get off the object. Shouting or hitting him at one point won’t stop him but repeating the word ‘off’ will.

o Beware of tempting objects. If you do the unthinkable and allow your puppy to chew on your favorite pair of shoes, you have only yourself to blame. A Labrador puppy has an innate desire to chew. But if you don’t allow him to, then you’re not responsible for his actions. It’s not your role to check his activities. If you want to, then you can train your puppy by keeping out of his reach certain types of items. Bones, for example, are a delicious chew toy but they have to be removed from his reach because they’ll continue to splinter.

o Bury chicken bones and nothing else in the cracks of door frames. Puppies are attracted to the noise and smell of the wood.ending up with a splinter in his paws is quite painful for a Labrador puppy.

o Initiate chewing prevention by hiding select chewable items such as rawhide and other suitable teething items well out of reach of your puppy. In other words, don’t leave your puppy a couple of inches from your sofa.

o One of the simplest and most effective ways to handle this situation is to apply a bitter tastes such as bitter apple, bitter herbs or even Tabasco sauce. Rubbing this on your dog’s chew toy will not only prevent chewing but also distract your puppy from chewing on other inappropriate objects.

o You can also apply a specific deterrent. There are commercial substances available that can be sprayed on whatever you want to prevent your puppy from chewing on. These are extremely safe and non-toxic and will have the effect of making your puppy avoid the chewing behaviour.

o As a last resort, wrap your dog in a towel or bed sheet and then place in the freezer just long enough to make him uncomfortable. The cold will have a pleasurable psychological effect on your puppy and he’ll soon understand that chewing certain objects brings disastrous consequences.

 

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Pet News

Do Not Forget the Body Language in Dog Training

Body Language in Dog Training

 

One of the misunderstandings when a professional trainer makes their appearance is that they don’t need our help bending or breaking an established reposition.

This is frequently done in our local area by the dog owners themselves. Occasionally it can also be done by the trainer with the owners help. As the trainer helps himself, his position changes without notice. Often we have unintentionally trained our dog to think that he is in charge, as he seemingly cannot be bothered to follow a natural lead. We then expect him to be able to resist our commands and actions without any visible results. This, on occasions, leads to confusion, which then results in our dog not taking responsibility of his role as leader. It becomes a self fulfilling mechanism which causes the owners position to become untenable and leads to entropion, or turning away from the dog, as he cannot manage to hold his position.

As the owner is increasingly frustrated by the dog’s behaviour he will become increasingly increments restless. This can lead to the dog then becoming defensive or reactivity and can definitely turn a simple dog walk by prefab construction company work into a stressful and potentially dangerous situation.

The simmering tension that exists between the dog and his owner is made worse by the fact that the owner is trying to hold onto his position of influence. This tension can be seen in the tension between the dog and his owner/trainers. tension

If you observe this leash based energy communication between you and your dog, you will see that it is very similar to what occurs between toddler and their parents. toddlers will now and then remove their parents for a more intimate experience, they do this because they are now assured that they can now take independent action without their parents as pining for them. Much like the dog you too must be confident that you can give your dog a direction that is independent of your whims.

The toddler will take independent action because they are now allowed to make their own decisions, free to decide their path through life without our influence. They are now more independent and are allowed to make their own decisions, and have confidence in their ability to make the right choice without being overly worried about what the consequences may be!

The same thing is happening to your dog! He is regaining his confidence, his freedom, and his ability to decide his own pace without our influence. This is what you are now encouraging and rewarding as your way of leading him.

So therefore, what steps can we take to stop the dog separation anxiety?

The first and most important thing we must do is to restore our rightful influence and control. This can be achieved through being assertive, standing tall, showing confident authority and setting boundaries around the home.

Being authoritative is not aggression, it is a healthy assertiveness that is a strong foundation for a healthy relationship with our dog. Just like your healthy options, your dog should desire, and receive.

Like a child, dog separation anxiety is very difficult to deal with, as it besets us into a situation of concern, but your dog is not any less important. Look at the problem from your dog’s point of view, as the latter will interpret our actions as threatening or intimidating. (Remember that threat may be considered threatening by some dog breeds as well as some humans.)

The following are some suggestions to help you restore your rightful position as the alpha leader as well as help your dog at the same time. (Bear in mind that this situation can be vastly different between dogs of the same breed, but the principle is the same.)

1. Following the instruction “live with me”. Now that you have managed to get the point across to your dog in a non-coercive manner, follow these instructions to the letter. Your pet will now have a clear understanding of the rules and will be more willing to abide by them.

2. Always use the same command when it is time to leave the home.

3. Never go directly to the door and ask your dog to come inside.

4. Never pat your dog down or bend over him.

5. Never disturb your dog whether he is sleeping, eating, playing or waking up.

6. Remove your pet from the doorway after he has left.

7. After a few seconds of no contact, go back to the door and open it. Your dog may resent the interruption to his day to day routine. Return to your seat andantino or vomiting.

8. If your dog tries to follow you, simply point to his leash and make it clear that you are not going to move. Must be patient – it may take several weeks for him to learn that you mean business.

9. You may have to inform your friends and neighbors that should your dog attempt to follow you on any given day to keep their distance.

10. Never ever allow your pet to gain control of the walk.

 

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Pet News

Tips To Find The Perfect Canine

find the perfect dog

 

Puppies have the tendency behind causing chaos in the house by their ceaseless barking and gnawing. Even chewing at Vacuum cleaners and newspapers will not deter their actions. Some people have horrible experience, but even with that habit, with a little bit of patience and commitment from you, you can overcome it.

Before you ever get a dog, you need to decide on a breed that will fit your lifestyle. If you are young, you need to minimize your decision on which breed is best for you. Every dog breed has different characteristics that make them fit better for certain lifestyles. For example, if you are an active runner or a couch potato, a small dog will never be proper for you. A big dog, on the other hand, will be much happier confined to the house all day while you are at work. Before you ever bring your dog home, you need to examine your lifestyle to decide on what type of dog will compliment your lifestyle. If you are young, single or rarely out doors, do not get a puppy. A puppy requires a lot of attention, training and care. If you are older, married and have kids, maybe bringing home a puppy offer the children a chance to get a dog. Choose wisely, taking into consideration everything about yourself that comes into having a dog. If you do not want to breeder or give your dogs away, think about getting a dog from a shelter. You will be saving a life.

The following are 5 tips that will help you kick start your search for the perfect canine:

1. If you live in an apartment or a condo, check with local laws when purchasing or adopting your pet. Some cities require dogs be indoors and may charge for that reason. Contact your local city hall or town hall to find out the specific laws in your area.

2. If you live in a townhome or a house with a fenced in yard, check with the local laws when it comes to dog breeds that are allowed. Some breeds are not allowed in townhome developments, while others are not allowed in the city limits, so it is sometimes worth the trip to find out the law when you are going to adopt your canine.

3. If you are interested in adopting a purebred, visit a local dog pound or call a local kennel club to find out which breeds they currently have available. You want to be able to find out if a certain breed is allowed in your town.

4. If you want a mutt, go online and search for dog rescue or animal shelters. As a volunteer, you will be able to save the life of a dog that needs a loving home and family.

5. Lastly, talk to dog breeders and ask them any questions you may have. Ask the local law (or the local Human Society) about any breed specific laws in your town and in the surrounding areas.

You want to be a responsible dog owner and keep your dog as safe as possible. Keep your dog in mind when you are out and about with your dog and make sure they are wearing ID tags with the dog owner’s phone number, address and any other contact information. Secure the perimeter of your home by putting up a lock and a lock on the gate. Pick up any dog waste and litter box with the instruction “Pick up your bags” or “place your dog’s bags in the container.” Be sure to bring your dog’s leash and keep it near you. Our dog ran past a sign that said concrete suppliers near me and almost ran into a concrete construction site and could have been seriously hurt if we were not able to get the leash on in time. It will be important to have current id tags for your dog and rabies cards. Once your dog is gone, you will want this information to bring it back home to your dog. Having these items will ensure your dog can be returned to you quickly and easily. Have a good safety adventure with your dog.

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Your Dog’s Lack of Contribution to Dog Training

dog training basics

 

In dog training, if you want to improve your dog’s behavior, it is best to start training them from young. Before you adopt a puppy train him good behavior. If you do the wrong thing, your puppy will never know the right from wrong behavior. For starters, you will need to start training your puppy right away. This is to let your puppy know that you are his boss and you will not accept such behavior. Dog training is all about discipline and right from wrong. Although training your dog is not easy, but you can make it easier on yourself.

If you do not train your puppy, chances are, he may become difficult to live with in the future. Puppies are easy to train compared to older dogs. There are several ways to get the dog trained. The latest trend is positive training. With positive training, the owner or trainer, instead of punishing the dog, gives rewards, like treats, for good or right behavior. By doing so your dog will learn that he is rewarded if he behaves well. Dogs are animals after all.

If you do the wrong thing to your dog, like spanking or whipping him, you may cause him to be scared of you. Your dog can easily transfer his fear from you to someone else, especially if you constantly beat him. That’s why you should avoid doing such things. If you dominate a dog, he will become scared of you and maybe even develop a strange aggressive behavior. Dogs, like humans, love to be loved. If you become his master, the dog will love you.

Dogs are fun to train, especially if you are the one doing the training. If you do the training yourself, you will realize that it does not take more than 10 to 20 minutes per day to train your dog using the latest techniques. Training a dog does not have to be a tiring activity. Remember, that dogs are animals and they will easily get the hang of what you teach them in just a few days. Soon, your dog will respond to your commands making both of you happy.

If you want to train your dog, the best way to start is by taking him to dog training classes. This is because it is much easier to train a dog if you train him at home. If you take your dog to obedience classes, he might be so distracted by the other dogs that he will not listen to your commands. In Philadelphia, a close friend who runs a Philly interior designers firm told me about dog obedience classes in her building.  Obedience classes are also good because it helps build social skills. Just like kids, puppies learn best through social interactions.

Expect puppies to be rowdy and energetic at first, so it is wise to have lots of patience. The old saying “give the dog a bad name” might be a good tip, because dogs can be easily provoked and may become aggressive if they are looked down upon or mistreated. If you’ve got the patience and the time, it is best to give training to your dog personally.

One essential thing you and your dog need to learn is how to take a command. Your dog must know how to respond when you order him or her. Barking or growling at the wrong time is a common behavior for dogs to do. Your dog must know when to bark and when not to.

It may be necessary for you to reinforce your dog’s good behavior. Rewarding your dog’s good behavior is a part of training your dog. It is normally easy to notice every little step your dog takes. There are times when you must show your patience too. If you’re feeding your dog, make sure he only eats on your command. It may take a while before he fully understands the things he needs to do, but with patience and proper training, he will eventually understand.

Training a dog takes devotion, consistency and patience. Training your dog can be great experience as long as you have all these qualities. Remember, the most important thing is to love and care for you dog. Don’t give up and enjoy each another!

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Supplementary Treatment for a Dog With Crystals in Urine

bladder stones in your dog

 

You will want to take your dog to the veterinarian if you notice the following symptoms of bladder stones in your dog. The longer the crystals have been in your dog’s bladder the more difficult they will be to treat. You vet will probably run several tests such as urinalysis and x-rays to eliminate any serious underlying problems.

Bladder stones may result from your dog drinking a lot of fluids and urinating frequently as a result. Your dog may even have blood in his urine and his urine may have a foul odor. You dog may urinate a few times after you give him a dose of antibiotics but then will stop urinating.

If your dog has crystals in his bladder and is urinating frequently you can treat him by giving him an antibiotic. This may treat the underlying cause of the crystals but may not eliminate them. Call your vet to rule out any other serious causes. If your vet determines there is nothing serious and the crystals are in fact crystals it would be a good idea to place your dog on antibiotics.

Your dog may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) that can be treated with antibiotics. If your dog does not have a UTI a bladder stone can sometimes block the urethra causing irritation and constipation. This can cause your dog to urinate frequently and attempt to relieve him from this painful experience. If your dog has a bladder stone, it will be painful for him both physically and mentally. He may become lethargic and you may notice behavioral changes in your dog as well.

If your dog does have a stone or a UTI, take him to the vet for proper treatment. Your vet may decide to treat your dog with a special diet that is formulated to dissolve bladder stones. Urinary stones are probably a minor issue and in most cases they should just be treated accordingly. Your vet will advise you of whether to treat your dog or not and you ultimately will not have to make a decision.

However, you may want to do research on the ailments that are most common in your breed of dog. When you find specialized information about your dog’s breed history and habits you can make an informed decision on how to treat him. After all, prevention is the best medicine as they say. Prevention not only will help your dog avoid getting a disease but it will help your dog maintain a perfect overall state of health. After you do research on your dog’s breed and diagnose him properly you will know when to administer appropriate treatment.

Your dog’s fur can also give you a warning of problems that are developing. When your dog’s fur starts to look mottled, which is often the case in elderly dogs or breeds that have been corticosteroid injected for some reason, visit your vet right away. A trip to the vet is the best thing that you can do for your best friend. Your veterinarian will be able to remove the mottling and if the condition continues it may be time to use some disciplinary action, which is a drastic measure at first. Most often this is simply to shave or quarantine the dog from traffic.

A skin scraping is another warning of a problem. If you feel your dog is scratching too much, leaving behind a trail of irritated fur, a skin scraping is the next step.  Our dog scratched himself on spray foam rigs for sale till he started bleeding. If you feel your dog is wetting and urinating more than usual this is also a pretty good sign of a chemical imbalance in the dog’s system. This will probably require some sort of supplement.

If your dog is exhibiting any symptoms or signs of illness that you notice, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. Don’t wait until symptoms worsen or get worse. It is better to be safe than sorry. Don’t jump to conclusions when your dog doesn’t show symptoms for a long time. But do be aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate something serious is wrong.

Your veterinarian may perform blood tests, an urinalysis and a urine culture to see what is causing the problem. These are probably the most important steps and most often overlooked. You should see your veterinarian for testing and analysis that can rule out other problems. Don’t delay and get your dog examined. If you delay, your dog may end up with a sub clinical condition that can cause the same signs and symptoms.

This is a very sad fact that many people fail to understand. The health of our pets is closely monitored by large companies that make and sell animals. These companies are there not to make money, but to provide the health needs of an animal that may not be able to fend for itself. In turn, these large companies licensed the use of their products by vets, shelters, animal welfare groups, etc. Many large companies have refused to change their labeling to clearly label their products as chemical preservatives.

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How to Sustain Newborn Puppy Health

how to care for your puppy

 

We all know that having a dog as a pet is a delight. However, caring for a dog can be a lot of work, especially if you buy your animal from a highly regarded breeder. If you have purchased your new friend from a non-sufficient breeder, it is a good idea to look for a exemplary breeder that really cares about the welfare of their animals. This is not always as easy as it may sound, particularly if you are looking for a purebred dog. The first thing that you will want to do is investigate the breeder behind the pet. As a result, you will want to ensure that you are buying a healthy animal that is going to grow up healthy and live a long life. This is where using a puppy milk replacer comes into play.

What is a Puppy Milk Replacer?

Simply put, a puppy milk replacer is a milk replacer that is intended to be the nutritional foundation for mother and puppies alike. These products are made from the same quality ingredients that are used in human mothers milk and are comparable. These products have been through highly controlled feeding processes with nutritional elements that are appropriate for young puppies.

There are a variety of puppy milk replacer products that are maintained by separating mother’s milk and the puppies’ milk. The milk replacer is then heated, created into a liquid and then freeze. Dog food companies who handle milk replacer are constantly improving their formulas in order to be more digestible for your dog.

Owners who wish to purchase puppy milk replacer products from their pet stores can feel confident that the milk replacer contains only high quality ingredients. The life-enhancing nutrients that are included in these products are completely unmatched by any other food or formula in the market. This is also why the puppy milk replacer products that you purchase are extremely rich in nutrients.

Puppy milk replacer products have gained much popularity and have been commonly used by pet owners. This is primarily attributed to the fact that these products are highly digestible. When combined with the fact that these products are readily available and affordable, using a puppy milk replacer has become a more convenient option for any pet owner.

Puppy milk replacer products are also commonly recommended by veterinarians and animal experts. This is most likely because of the fact that these products are units of Feeding formulate for Puppies That is recommended by experienced veterinarians.

The process of milk replacer formula is commonly compartmentalized in two main types of compartment: the fullydesktopinated and the pumpable compartment. These two types of replacer formulas are highly recommended by experienced animal careers because they contain all the nutrients and vitamins that your puppy needs to ensure good health and robustness at all times.

With their mixed formula, Experienced animal carers know that milk replacer products are always efficient and effective. Before using the puppy milk replacer, experienced animal carers perform a series of evaluation to verify that milk replacer is tolerated well by puppies, as well as other factors, such as obese and overly active dogs.

Obviously, completely pumping a lactating dog is not a good idea. Doing so can affect milk production and cause problems during whelping. By the time the puppies are ready to be weaned, most of them will have produced milk for their mother, making it easier for the experienced animal carers to coax the puppy to feed well.

Nevertheless, professional animal carers and experienced pet owners still suggest using a puppy milk replacer. After all, it is important to ensure that the animal is producing good milk because good milk produces a better result than bad milk. Besides, pumping the dog actually preserves the ‘moment’ that the mother produces.

How do animal milk replacer products work?

As milk replacer products, they act as a complementary feeding method to meet your dog’s nutritional needs. They replace the nutrients that are lost during digestion. Using these products, it is possible for your animals to develop a healthy diet on their own. You don’t need kitchen consultants to have a perfect kitchen for your puppy – just knowledge. This gives your dog more time to enjoy a healthy and balanced diet.

The type of animal milk replacer product that you select depends greatly on the stage of development and the age of your pet. There are products that are ideal for certain life stages, breeds, and sizes. In addition, these products are also optimal for pets that have certain health concerns. After all, they are animals and their nutritional needs are different.

Additionally, these products are also different based on the animals’ health. For example, puppies and kittens are extremely difficult to feed. If you are looking for an animal milk replacer that is designed for a baby, there are organic k baby formula products that are sold at many major pet stores.

Iams is one of the world’s best and most trusted animal welfare brands.

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Pet News

Is Dry Skin on Dogs Serious?

how to treat dog dry skin

 

Dry skin on dogs is one of the most common skin conditions that vets are called about but is it really a serious condition? I would normally ask pet owners if their dog had been scratching for a while and then noticed that their dog has started to have skin flakes in places that are particularly itchy.

One of the possibilities is that your dog may have allergies. As you know if your dog has allergies it can cause pretty much anyone of the symptoms that are associated.

The first thing you should do though is to rule out any serious health conditions. Unfortunately there isn’t really any reliable way to do this. Another thing you can do is to ask your vet if they think it’s funny that your pooch keeps scratching. Obviously if the itchy skin is due to serious health problems then having your dog seen by a vet is the immediate thing to do.

If your dog is itching for no apparent reason and especially if it is becoming constantly itchy you should consider whether there are any environmental reasons that could be causing your dog to be scratching. Is your dog scratching for fungal or bacterial infection? Have you noticed that the bedding area of your dog is slightly greasy or wetter than normal? Are there any other areas of your dog’s body that appear to be overly dry? If you think that your dog is suffering from a bacterial infection you may also want to check for any sores on your dog. A normally healthy dog should have pink skin on the stomach and inside of the legs. On the other hand if your dog is steadily scratching and showing signs of pain and inflammation you should take your dog to the vet the soonest possible time.

The best way to determine if dry skin on dogs is indeed due to allergies is to take your dog to be examined by a vet. If the skin is leathery and feels greasy to the touch or if the patch of skin looks extremely dry and is breaking away then you may be dealing with a particularly agitated dog. It is a very common occurrence for dogs to develop dry skin in their masters from a very young age. It is very possible for the skin to become dry when they become star-crossed lovers.

Just like us human beings, every dog will at one time or another suffer from dry skin. However, it is very rare for dogs to suffer from it for prolonged periods of time. When dry skin on dogs first becomes a problem it is usually due to discomfort and it can be very uncomfortable for the dog. The solution for this problem is to simply bathe the dog more often, especially if the weather is warm, and if the dog likes to lay on granite flooring; all of this can cause the dog to have a dry skin reaction to the above cause. Usually the solution to this problem is to stimulate the dog’s skin to produce enough oil for the dog to keep its skin in a healthy condition.

If your dog is scratching for no apparent reason continue to encourage it to groom itself. This will in turn lead to the solution for dry skin on dogs being much more severe and frequent. The dog in this situation is obviously scratching its own skin in a desperate attempt to find relief. This principal may well apply to you and actually helping the dog to become normally accustomed to bathing in the home environment and hence stop knotting totally.

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So Many Pet Owners Use An Old School Approach to Train Their Pet

understanding your dog

 

Reinforcement strengthens behavior by either a consequence (negative) or a reward (positive). Now a day’s researchers have found positive reinforcement is the most powerful when it comes to behavior modification. So why do so many pet owners still use the old school approach of negative reinforcement to train their furry family member? I am not an expert but I feel this topic needs to be addressed at least to the point that pet owners will think about my question. Really, I am just a dog lover who needs to get this shortrients to generate results with dog training.

I have recently rescued a very small mixed breed from a shelter. She is about one year old and a true rarity. Most of her shots were up to date at the time of rescue. She has already been housebroken and in obedience classes. She faces the possibility of being put to sleep unless connected to her family. In her youth she was a “runaway” and scared of everything. Now she is fearful of the very things that made her fear in the past, such as a vacuum cleaner.

Does she understand verbal instructions? Yes! She is very smart! But she has no understanding of the motivation behind basic obedience commands such as Sit, Down, Stay, Come or Come here? I ask this simple question so you can move on to the next point of discussion.

Can she sit on command? No! And if she does, is she prepared to do so at the drop of a hat? And you ask yourself, why is she prepared to do a behaviors that she previously avoided?

If you don’t have that answer prepared and implemented, then you should not be in the small puppy training business. You need preparation, far more than just smarts. Being prepared means being able to assess the traits of your subject. Then you can decide if those traits fit with your lifestyle, or if they don’t.

Invariably, if you fully understand the temperament of your dog and evaluate her traits, the solution to the problems you face will be simple. If you don’t, then odds are you’re going to make trial and error errors until you find the best one.

So did she chew on you? Because you “roomed” her to such a degree that she now believes she has a right to hurt you with her teeth, attack you with the same force with which she opens your hand in exchange for a chew toy, or feign an attack with the toy in order to “get even” with you for leaving her alone too long without a chew toy.

Ask yourself, “is she afraid or bold? Is she energized by a nutritious snack or tasty bone? Does she feel frustration, stress, nervousness, eagerness, or franticness?

Understanding the traits of her breed will help you predict the approach that will best suit her. She may be overly timid if she has a herding breed, or overly protective and self-confident if she’s part Rottweiler, Doberman, Belgian Sheepdog, Malamute or Great Dane.

A canine doesn’t discriminate. Accept that your dog will run, jump, and leap; that she loves to play, and that she needs to be allowed to be a dog and scratch on trees which sometimes requires an independent arborist to keep your trees alive. She is genetically programmed to do these things. Being a good pack leader for her, requires you not to let her run the show, but to instead recognize who the Alpha dog in the pack is, and how you can best best communicate and lead with that Alpha dog’s traits.

If you’re not sure of what I’m talking about, watch your dog when she’s interacting with another dog. You’ll quickly learn what attracts her attention and whatetrains her reaction.

Believe me, you’re better off making up your own mind about your dog’s traits before you try to train her. You’re better off doing this before your dog has already learned certain behaviors, instead of trying to change what she’s already learned. Changing the way your dog behaves is much easier than correcting all the causes of her misbehavior.

When you acquire your dog from a reputable breeder, you systematically remove the likelihood of her having a bad habit. You must accept the fact that the way your dog responds to misbehavior, is almost never in any way predictable from her breed’s traits. Behavioral genetics research tends to emphasize the fact that “non-mutts” (or dogs with one or two parents who are not purebreds) tend to have better emotional traits and emotional development, even though their physical makeup might otherwise predict misbehavior.

This is due to the fact that in the past, non-Mutts were more often physically and emotionally neglected than their purebred counterparts. As a result, they suffered greater psychological damage and pursued a much wider range of emotional misbehavior and behavior problems.