Archive for December, 2007

Appreciation of Dog Behaviour for Effective Dog Training

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Dog behavior is not to be perplexed with human behavior because their is completely differ from human behavior. Dog behavior is formed by a mixture of aspects, it is not the simple abc or 123 that people thought and believed. The frequent oversight is that people always thought dog behavior as either good or bad where actually it is always both. Behavior nuisance are as widespread with dogs as they are with human being.

Just like people, where behavior can be instilled and changed, dog behavior can be changed by modification exercises. Behavior modification involve evaluation, and adjustment of dog behavior through reward and punishment disciplines conducted again and again which sometimes can last for weeks or months. The myth that you cannot train an old dog new tricks is undeniably wrong. Even though there is no assurance that training will solve all dog behavioral problems, they do produce a solid foundation for deciphering just about all dog problem.

Understanding that dog behavior changes quickly from time to time, continuous training and consistency is therefore necessary in shaping dogs behavior. Since dogs are different from human who inherit their many behavioral traits from their ancestors, people have the psychological abilities to self-alter their behavioral instinct with a better behavior by way of thinking which are not available with dogs. However since dog behavior are largely developed from where they dwell and who has owned them before, it is absolutely achievable that the change of owner behavior and environment where the dog is living could modify their behavior traits.

There you have it, once you understood the reason following each of the dog behavior problems, then you can solve it by modification exercises, doesn

Healthy dog biscuit recipes

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

An overwhelming majority of people around the world own pets and most folks buy treats for their pets at one time or another. Some people own cats and buy cat treats, others own dogs and buy dog biscuits and chew toys. The one thing all of these people have in common is that they want their pet to have the healthiest food and treats possible! That

Crate Training Your Dogs - Ultimate Dog Training Method

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

They say that the Crate Training method is the most effective way to train dogs. How do we crate train our dogs? Is it harsh to confine a dog or an adorable puppy in solitary confinement so to speak? Crate Training was once seen as cruel and inhumane but it has gain popularity in recent years. Crate Training can be a useful tool to train a puppy or even a stubborn old dog.

The crate can be a place of sanctuary and security when needed by our dogs. There are people who find success in doing crate training but there are also dog owners that find it so hard to do crate training with their dogs. A simple reason why this happens could be a dog

Picking the Right Dog Chews and Treats for Your Pets

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

With all of the options available for dog chews and treats both online and at your local pet store, it’s hard to know which one is your best option. Which one will your dog not only enjoy, but will be healthy for them at the same time. It’s not unlike picking out an afternoon snack for a small child. In light of the recent pet food recalls, many pet owners have turned to bully sticks as an all natural treat for their dogs. But not all bully sticks are created the same. Here are some things to keep in mind when picking out a bully stick for your dog.

There is a Difference in Quality

Bully sticks are made out of beef, and like all meat from cattle, there is a difference in the quality of the beef. The better the cattle are raised, the better the quality of the product from those cattle. Choosing bully sticks that come from quality, free-ranging cattle, like those raised in Brazil and other parts of South America, creates a superior bully stick than those produced in countries like India, China, and even the US.

Where They’re Raised Matters

Cattle raised in countries like India, China, and the US are often raised in feedlots, where they are given antibiotics to stave off disease, and hormones to increase their growth at an unnatural rate. Cattle from these locations are also used to create bully sticks and other dog treats and chews. However, most of the cattle raised in Brazil and other parts of South America are free-ranging cattle, and the bully sticks created from them isn’t subjected to the same hormones and antibiotics as those from the US, India, and China.

In addition to being the leading supplier of cattle raised in a free-ranging environment, Brazil and the rest of South America have been recognized as the world’s number one source of “Green Cattle” for years. The bully sticks, and other all natural dog treats and chews, created from these cattle are much healthier for you dogs.

Recalls Are a Factor

When the pet recalls swept through the US, many people turned to bully sticks because they were lead to believe that there were no recalls associated with the treat. This is only half true. While bully sticks, and really all treats and chews for dogs, from those cattle that are raised free-range like those in South America were free from the sweeping pet recalls, those created from cattle raised in the US, India, and China were still subject to the same pet recalls that caused panic amongst pet owners.

Do the Research

The best advice for finding the perfect all natural dog treats and bully sticks for your dog is to do some research. If you’re buying from a store, look at the label and see where it comes from. If you’re buying from an online retailer read their product description to see if they list where their bully sticks come from. If they don’t, contact the company and ask them. Don’t settle for less when it comes to picking out a bully stick for your dogs.

Author Info:

About the Author Avrum Elmakis is the president of Best Bully Sticks, a leading provider of bully sticks and all natural dog treats and chews. Best Bully Sticks offers all natural bully sticks and dog treats and can be found at: http://www.bestbullysticks.com .

7 Tips on How to Get Rid of Dog Urine Odors

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

If you’ve just gotten a new puppy, you will need to know how to get rid of dog urine smells.

Dog urine odors will often be found in unusual places where you might not think to look. Sometimes that new puppy can get sneaky! By the time you’ve found the problem, the urine has soaked into the carpet. Once it has soaked into the carpet, it may have soaked into the carpet’s padding as well. Then, the problem is intensified.

Here are seven tips on how to get prevent and rid of dog urine smells:

1. Begin training a new puppy right from the start. Take him outside and show him where his bathroom area is. Every time you take your puppy outside, take him to the same potty spot. Keep his special area away from the main part of the yard. That will make it easier to clean up and visitors to your home won’t be stepping in doggy doo. It will also contain any odors in that one area.

2. For small dogs that are kept indoors, you can train them to use a litter box. Yes, just like a cat. Put the box in an out-of-the-way place. This is not an easy route to take. It will take some intensive training sessions to achieve it.

3. Some people like to buy doggy diapers for the male dogs. The diapers are not available for females at this time.

4. Watch your puppy when visitors are around or when a repairman comes to your home. Unusual visitors or activities can throw your pup off schedule.

5. If your dog does have an accident, get it cleaned up immediately. Buy an odor remover or cleaner developed specifically for pet odors. Your dog will believe that the spot is for him to use regularly if the smell isn’t removed completely. These cleaners can be purchased at pet stores and online.

6. The commercial odor removers can be quite harsh so some people will not want to use them. If you want a home remedy, try a vinegar and water mixture. However, the professional mixtures work much better. Packages of the cleaner are available that can clean an entire room but hopefully, the problem won’t get this severe.

7. New puppies aren’t the only dogs that can have a potty problem. Older dogs can also have accidents when they reach their senior years. They can’t wait as long before they need to be taken outside. Older dogs may not be able to “hold it” as long as younger dogs, so you will need to make sure someone lets them outside more often.

Dog urine smells aren’t the only odors you will have when you get a dog. Some of these smells can be taken care of by grooming your dog. A good brushing and a bath can work wonders.

Sometimes a veterinarian will need to examine the dog to see if there is some underlying medical cause for the smell. Then, a treatment can be found for it.

There will always be some dog odors that you will have to live with. These are natural and are part of owning a pet. But, there are ways to get rid of the worst dog smells with a bit of persistence and common sense.

Author Info:

Jude Wright is the owner of multiple websites. Learn more about taking care of your dog at http://dogandpuppycare.com for more information on dogs.

The Art of House Training Your Puppy

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

You have just brought home a cute little puppy dog and you are ready to make him or her part of your life. This is really a wonderful thing as it is well known that dogs and cats can bring us humans a lot of personal pleasure. It is no wonder that a dog is called “Man’s best friend”
It is an established fact now that pets can help us to live longer and create happiness in our life’s. We all know that babies need a lot of attention in the early stages of their life as they tend to be a little helpless at first and need to learn some basic potty habits. Of course a puppy is no different to a baby in that respect, they too need to learn how to behave in a household and need to be trained so that accidents can be avoided. Nobody likes these kind’s of accidents and the consequent work they create.

Of course the earlier we start the training procedure the faster good toilet and eating habits are established and we have a happy household. Of course their are further benefits in training your puppy as quickly as is possible as this will establish you as the puppies master and your puppy will always look to you for directions instead of being uncontrollable and direction less. This of course is what we want to establish as soon as possible.
It is of great importance to plan your interaction and training procedures early, preferably prior to getting your puppy home. Just as a baby, they learn rapidly and unless you are prepared as a teacher you could just as easily teach your puppy bad habits without ever realizing it.

It is also important to set up an early training schedule for your puppy so that you can control your puppy’s eating habits and therefore the potty training times. In the early stages it is also advantages to watch your puppies behavior so that you can fine tune the training schedule of your puppy. Their are many techniques in training your puppy available to you to consider, but it is important to remember that whatever training schedule you adopt, you must be in control of your puppy and this means that you must have the patience to spend your time with your puppy to teach him or her what you want your puppy to do.

Remember your puppy looks to you for directions and so it is important to teach your puppy some basic commands, such as “No” “Stay” “Sit”. To teach these commands eye contact is required with a large dose of patients on your part. Puppies love to be praised and so they are no different to you and me in that regard. So you should lavish your puppy with praise whenever your puppy follows your commands correctly, this will quickly re-enforce your puppies good behavior patterns and strengthens the bond between you and your puppy.

Author Info:

Jeff Tonnies is an article writer and dog lover. Jeff owns blogs on Puppy Training. For more information .. click here ..puppy training

Pet Health Insurance Explained

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Pet health insurance is simple, affordable solution for those owners who love their pets but is concerned about the financial hardship of high-quality pet care. It brings peace of mind, protecting you and your beloved pet from the inevitable and the unexpected.

Pet health insurance is still relatively new, and many pet owners are still unaware of their choices. By going though the components of a typical pet health insurance policy, you will know what to look for when selecting the right pet insurance policy for you.

The principal component and the number one reason for people insurance their pets, is to cover vet fees. The majority of pet insurance companies will quote the vet fees as an amount per incidents, illness or condition. The vet fees listing will be one for three types.

Type 1: Time & Fee Limit
This type of cover has a time limit over which the condition can be claimed (usually 12 months) and a maximum payout amount per condition. One the time limit or dollar amount has been reached the condition is no longer covered. This is commonly referred to as a

Simple Yet Effective Remedies for Stinky Dogs

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Why are there dogs that have a very foul odor? Even if you bathe them regularly, they still have that stinky smell in them. Sometimes dogs with bad odor lick themselves a lot, and actually pulling out their hair. They lick themselves often and their breath smells very bad after they do that.

There are a lot of reasons why a dog stinks and there are also a lot of simple remedies to combat this. There are times when you even have to go to the vet just to cure and get rid of a dog

Heartworms in Dogs Must Be Treated Early

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Heartworm in dogs in one of the most dangerous conditions that a dog can get. The worms can block a dog’s blood vessels and badly damage the heart. The infected dog can have all types of symptoms: weight loss, shortness of breath, cronic cough, heart failure, and then, death.

Unfortunately, by the time these symptoms are noticed, it’s too late to cure most dogs. Treatment must be started as soon as possible so watch for the following signs:

1. Your dog coughs frequently without any apparent reason. This cough is different than the “kennel cough” that some dogs get when you adopt them from the dog pound.

2. Your dog seems to tire easily with very little activity. He is gasping for breath and he will be panting almost constantly.

4. When you walk with your dog, he can’t keep up with you and needs to rest more often. He will often just lie down and stay down even when you call him to get up.

5. Your dog’s weight has dropped dramtically. By the time you notice her weight loss, it is usually too late for treatment.

6. By the time your dog has reached the end of her life, she is convulsing and has vision problems.

You can now see why a dog must be treated, but how did he get heartworms in the first place? From mosquitos.

Mosquitos feed on the blood of the dog around the muzzle, the ears, and on the stomach where there is the least amount of hair. They infect the dog while they are feeding on the dog’s blood.

Treatments for heartworms is almost as dangerous as the heartworms themselves. The chemicals that are used must be very strong to be effective.

There are two ways to go with chemical treatments. The first is by smaller dozes given over a longer period of time. This isn’t quite as dangerous as giving just one massive dose when a large amount of chemical is given. If the heartworms all die at once, the corpses travel through to the dog’s lungs. This would cause immediate death.

Treatment for heartworm should never be given by anyone other than a highly qualified veterinarian.

There are also drugs available for heartworm prevention. These drugs kill the heartwarms before they get to the adult stage. Dogs can still get infected during mosquito season but they don’t develop heartworms.

Preventative heartworm drugs can’t ever be given to dogs that already have heartworms. Only a veterinarian can determine if a dog is already infected with heartworms. Blood tests can show if a dog has heartworms and to what degree.

You should make sure that your dog has a protected place to sleep during mosquito season. Bring him or her into the house, garage or a screened porch. Mosquito repellent is also available but it’s not very effective.

Take your dog to the vet for frequent checkups so that heartworm infestation can be caught before it gets a good foothold. The veterinarian will be able to see the symptoms of heartworms long before you do.

Heartworm in dogs can be treated, but treatment must be started as soon as possible.

Author Info:

Jude Wright is the owner of multiple websites. Learn more about taking care of your dog at http://dogandpuppycare.com.

Enjoy Teaching Your Dogs Basic Tricks

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

Have you ever trained your dogs to do some tricks? Would it be nice to have a pet that knows tricks? I know the feeling of those dog owners who can ask their pet dogs to follow their commands. You will be a proud owner when you know that your dog could do some tricks, you will love to show and brag your dog to your friends and neighbors.

Here are some basic and simple steps to teach your dogs different tricks. Let’s start with the common trick for dogs which is the “handshake”. It