Browsing the blog archives for April, 2009.

Dog Allergies Information

Basic Care

If you are one of the many people who suffer from allergies you know how uncomfortable it can be.

Imagine how hard it must be for your dog to suffer with allergies. She cannot complain and she cannot ask for help. So as responsible dog owners it is up to us to figure out when she is having an allergy outbreak and to provide her with medicine as soon as possible.

Similar to humans, dog allergies are usually passed through genetics from parents to puppies.

There are various things that can cause a dog to have an allergic reaction. The more common dog allergies include dog food allergies, protein allergies, allergies to pollen, and dog skin allergies. Thankfully with the proper treatment they can all be treated. For dog food allergies you can try and change her food until you find one that is fine for her to eat. For other types of allergies you should be able to find the appropriate treatment.

If you believe your dog has allergies then schedule a vet appointment. You vet can examine her and then recommend the best course of treatment.

The easiest way to identify dog allergies is to know your dog. Know what “normal” looks like for her. So, you may be able to better tell when something looks out of the ordinary. This can be helpful not only in identifying potential allergies, but it can help to identify the start of other illnesses as well.

Several symptoms can indicate that your dog may be allergic to something. You may notice that she is always scratching, or she may be gnawing at her skin. There is no sure set of symptoms that you can use to identify your dog’s allergies since there is no telling how a dog will exactly react to something.

So anything that seems out of the ordinary is cause for further investigation. Try to find out what is causing the change in your dog’s behavior.

Dog allergies should be identified and treated as soon as you can. This can help you poor little dog to avoid additional pain and discomfort and bring her some relief to her allergy suffering.

If you got your dog from a breeder then it is quite likely that they can tell you if her parents had dog allergies too. That may make it a bit easier to pinpoint what she may be allergic to.

Read the rest of the articles in the dog allergy series.

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Labrador Problems: Territorial Invasions

Medium Dog Breeds

The Labrador retriever is essentially a creature that does not suffer from any specific behavioral problems, though as with all breeds there are always certain animals that will show some abnormalities including those related to their health and also behavior. Sometimes, these rather large animals will have problems related to their size including being too aggressive and often diagnosing the exact nature of such Labrador problems can be both confusing as well as difficult. Another common Labrador problem is that of chasing cats and smaller dogs, and this is an instinctive problem that should be addressed through providing adequate Labrador training to your pet at an early stage in his life.

To overcome such problems you may want to check out an expert behaviorist who can suggest possible methods to solve the problem, though if you choose to train your pet on your own be prepared to spend a lot of time in the training him and also exercise patience as well as be determined to teach your pet how he must behave in an appropriate and acceptable manner.
There are certain Labradors that can prove to be a handful and these pets will not easily learn to behave properly unless sent to a behaviorist. This and other Labrador problems such as having a pet that always seems to be dreaming can be reason for you to become worried, though in reality these can be overcome through proper Labrador training. A typical Labrador problem that many pet owners will have to deal with has to do with a pet that chews up everything he can sink his teeth into. Such a problem can arise when the Labrador is too energetic and it also occurs when having someone or something invade his territory frustrates the Labrador.

To overcome these Labrador problems, it would pay to talk to a veterinary behaviorist or provide strict Labrador training and also ensuring that you spend a lot of time with your dog in helping him release his energy in a more productive manner.
Typical of Labrador problems is that of chasing cats and since this is more of an instinctive driven behavioral problem it can best be changed through giving your pet proper Labrador training which may require spending a lot of time and being patient so that he is taught how to stop this instinctive reaction on his part. Another common behavioral problem that your Labrador can show is that of becoming destructive and this in turn is generally due to his becoming anxious about something. Because dogs have advanced hearing capabilities, they can become aware of things even before humans get wind of these things and thus your Labrador may behave in a manner that is incomprehensible to human beings and so, this is another common Labrador problem that pet owners will have to contend with.

It is also always possible to condition your Labrador to not become skittish when he hears various kinds of sounds and a simple Labrador training step you can use is to play recordings of certain sounds at low volumes and then increasing the volume gradually to make your Labrador get accustomed to these sounds. In fact, this is an especially useful way to becalm your Labrador who could otherwise become so nervous that you may even be forced into giving him anti-anxiety medicines to overcome his fears.

Labrador problems are generally not a major concern for pet owners and with timely Labrador training you can easily ensure that your pet behaves in an appropriate manner at all times. Besides consulting dog training books you could also read this article to learn more about common Labrador problems.

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Dog Training; What’s Up?

Obedience Training

Most people consider their dog as a family member. You certainly wouldn’t want to have any of your family living under your roof unless they knew the family rules and your pet is no different.

Of course we all know how cute a new puppy can be but picture that puppy at its full adult size and many owner will tell you that you need to start training at a puppy age. Starting at a young age means no un-doing of bad habits this is a huge benefit, plus a new puppy is much more open to learning.

The trick to begin with is to not teach your new puppy any bad lessons. This can happen in such harmless forms such as wanting your pet to jump on a couch to watch tv with you but not wanting him on the couch by themselves.

By not correcting a dog’s behavior to jump on you it is impossible for a dog to understand that he can’t jump up on other people as well. It is important to keep things simple and rules firm so the pet does not become confused.

Dogs are pack animals and they love to be led and usually look at their owner as their leader. It is important that you assert yourself as the leader so the dog is able to understand who is in charge and is paying attention to the commands.

This means repeating commands till your dog understands them such as: no, stop, off, sit, stand, down, heel, come and quiet. If you can teach your dog all of these then it is fun to go beyond to more complicated commands such as fetch, jump…etc.

All dogs need repetition in order to understand commands. This means that you will need to do 30 minute sessions, or more, daily until your pet understands.

Better yet most owners repeat the commands throughout the day such as making a pet sit to eat before getting their food or having a pet learn to stay down while greeting guests at the door….etc.

The joys of having a dog as a family member far outweigh the months of dog training. By making dog training fun both you and your pet will live a happy “obedient” life :).

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Dog Diabetes: Things You Need To Know

Health and Safety

Diabetes

There are really 3 methods that you can help prevent your dog from getting diabetes. This illness is one that you want your dog to avoid so that the dog lives as long and healthy as possible. even though it is pretty rare, there are many dogs whose diabetes go into remission just by having their diet, supplementation, and exercise all in good order.

1. Lower the carbohydrates. Most dog foods sold in pet shops contain as much as 98% carbohydrates. By reducing the amount of carbs in your dog’s daily meals, this moderate carbohydrate level can go a long way towards diabetes prevention.

The diet is very critical for dogs that are genetically at risk for dog diabetes. It is crucial that you study up on your dog breed and make sure that he is getting the right nutrients so that the gene which can store diabetes will not be triggered off.

Golden retrievers are amongst the most common dogs in the US. Unfortunately, many of these retrievers get diabetes because their owners did not do enough research for their breed type in order to get their diet correct from puppy hood.

2. Seek out the nearest holistic veterinarianin your city. dicuss with the vet natural options. The majority of dog owners miss this very critical dog diabetes prevention step. taking with organic products such as antioxidants and herbs for the immune system can make a large impact on preventing diabetes, particully for the dog breeds which are genetically at risk for this disease.

Flea prescriptions and tick insecticides can also trigger diabetes from thetoxic state produced in the body. By keeping your dog clean of these chemicals and toxinsyou are helping his immune system stay healthy.

3. Physical exercise! It is very sad to see so many dogs out there who develop canine diabetes that should never have in the first place had they been active and not become overweight. This of course is the direct responsibility of you, the dog owner. If your dog is inactive and gains weight, he can develop diabetes even if he is not a breed that is genetically at risk.

20 minutes of intense walking two to three times daily is all your dog calls for for optimum health and to keep him in good shape. If you can go jogging with your dog then that is even better. Having your dog swim is also a great option for exercise.

About house training dogs - useful tips from real life.

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Importance Of Dog Vaccination

Health and Safety

Dogs are meant to be the most faithful animal on this universe. They are3 treated as the best buddies. So their care and health is our responsibility. Dog vaccination is one of the ways.

Dogs have a natural immunity system also which they get from their mothers in milk, but it is not enough for them. As soon as they get older they loose their immunity so they need to be vaccinated.

TYPES OF VACCINATIONS:

* DISTEMPER: it is the first vaccination which is given to your puppy and it helps fighting against respiratory distress and seizures. Its symptoms are a discharge from eyes, nose, lethargy and fever. You need to secure your pup from that.

* KENNEL COUGH: it is the next vaccination which your dog needs. It leads to loud dry cough. It affects the bronchi and trachea of dogs. It is not a fatal dieses but it is really contagious. It is also known as BORDETELLA.

* LEPTOSPIRASIS: this is given with other vaccines. It is not a very common or large disease but still harmful and is found among big and large dogs. It affects liver and kidney.

* PARVOVIRUS: This is a very common disease which is found in all most all dogs. It very dangerous too. It can cause serious vomiting, dehydration, diarrhea. This affects the white blood cells in dogs and can harm their immune system.

* LYME: it mostly happens during warm climate and in warm regions. Mostly dogs are vaccinated by Lyme disease. It can cause severe arthritis and lethargy. It can recur, once your pet has been affected by this. It is not a fatal disease and can be cured by antibiotics.

There have been many debates on the topic that whether dogs should be vaccinated or not? The only answer to this question is consulting a vet. No other person in this world can give you the perfect knowledge of this. You need to be sure on this point after all it is about your best buddy. Moreover, if you want your’s pet health in sound then check out some of the information related to health like dog diseases and those who dont have any lovable pet, you can have it here from this site http://www.indianpetdogs.com/

Consult your vet and let him tell you that which type of vaccination does your dog require? Or whether he requires it or not? He will definitely give you the perfect advice.

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Get Useful Tips About Getting your Dog to Swallow a Pill

Health and Safety

Today canines have become like one of our children. We put clothes on them, buy beds for them and care about there health. That is why a dog’s health should definitely be the top priority. There are many vitamins for preventive measures and a vast range of medicines to make them feel better. In our modern times we now have drugs to cure infections, get rid of parasites, dog pneumonia, and many other medical conditions that can happen. However there are not very many canine drugs that are available in tasty tablets like most vitamins on the market. Most of the drugs are bitter tasting and our four legged friends usually try to run for the hills when they see the capsules coming their way.

There are many tricks to administer medication you might try if you have difficulty giving your canine their daily vitamin or medicine. The first method is to go to your dog and give him a tasty treat without a pill. It should be something strong tasting such as peanut butter or soft cheese on a dog biscuit. Then immediately give him the pill smothered in the same tasty thing. This helps to get a good flavor in their mouth first and then hopefully they will be excited and just eat the whole thing. They also make easy to use pill pouches in various flavors that dogs love that are less messy.

The next method is for the more sly pooches; the ones who hide the pill inside their mouth until you are busy with other activities and then just spit it out on the floor. This strategy unfortunately is a little more involved but with your soothing voice and gentle hand you can make the experience a decent one. Make sure to always go to your dog first. Never call their name. They might associate that with pill time and become afraid. First have your dog sit (reassure him) then carefully take one hand and open their mouth. With the other hand put the pill as far back in the throat as you can keeping the head upwards. Calmly stroke their throat as this will cause a swallowing response. Then immediately praise your dog with plenty of attention and maybe his most favorite delicious treat after the pill has been swallowed. This will create a positive experience for your dog and hopefully they will remember the tasty treat next time.

The real truth is that our canine companions don’t live nearly as long as we do. So as dog lovers we try to make their lives as wonderful as we can. Not only is it unfortunate to have to take a unhealthy dog to the vet for a vet bill, it is not fun to see your dog sick. So by bringing positive association into the pill taking process, you should be able to administer any pills that they might need to take in the future. We care for our dogs and always try to do what is right for them. After all, if we take care of our best friends right they will be healthy and happy and live a long life.

Along with great dog tips, you can find many great fancy pet accessories for your dog at www.blingblingpuppy.com our internet store.

Read about house training dogs.

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Dogs are More Than Pets

Advice

Dogs are unique animals because they can immediately become a part of your family.If you have had your dog a long time then you know this is true. This animal and human relationship is so strong that it even goes back to the prehistoric times.

Just imagine, a prehistoric hunter finds a lost wolf cub and brings the cub home and cares for it.Eventually, they may have found out that the cub became a part of their family. To top it off the hunter probably found that the wolf was helpful for practical reasons as well.

Part of the reason for this is because wolves and dogs in general have similar social systems to those in the human world. They survive with the lead of an adult male who is dominant over all others in the pack. If the leader oversteps his boundaries then a strong and competent female will step in.

A dog pack must work together just like a human family. There are social bonds and loyalty on both sides.A group of dogs will always come together when it matters, even if they fight at other times.

Dogs have a great number of strengths.They are incredibly alert and have a strong sense of smell. Their ability to survive on something as small as food scraps makes them ideal to have around whether you’re referring to ancient or modern times.

Of course, the wolf pack that prehistoric man would have found isn’t quite as gentle and kind as the dogs we keep in our homes today.Wolves were suited to the personalities of prehistoric people, much like dog’s today are suited to us. It is our own domestication of dogs that makes them more and more suitable to living the family lifestyle with each passing generation of dog.

The bond between dog culture and human culture is very strong.It doesn’t matter what kind of dog you have, it is a friend that will stick with you for life.

You might not use the dog as you primary means of survival like some groups did years ago, but it’s likely your dog has its own role. Some of the roles dogs take on today are:

* Herding stock
* Drug detecting
* Leading the blind
* Home protection
* Rescue services

Beyond those extraordinary roles your dog can develop a special, emotional bond with you and the other members of your family. Whether you’re ready to have a good time or need some extra comforting, your dog will be there.

It’s important to nurture and care for your dog so that they can thrive.As long as you give them food and attention you will have a friend for life.

Get more information about dogs.

Buy your dog pet supply.

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Dog Training Tips: Can’t Your Handle Your Dog Behavior Problem?

Obedience Training

Whether you just got a new puppy, or you adopted an older dog, no doubt you want to train your dog to be well behaved. This can vary from house training your dog, to training your dog how to sit and stay. No matter what kind of training you are trying to do with your dog, there are some tips that can be very helpful to you. The following are some of the effective dog training tips that can help you train your dog in half the time.

1.Dog Training Tips - Get your dog’s attention

Before you can start training your dog you first need to get its attention. You can do this by talking to him and offering him a small treat.

2. Dog Training Tips - Praise

Always praise your dog when he learns a new command.

3. Dog Training Tips - Reprimand

Do not hit your dog! Any time your dog is engaging in bad behavior, use the opportunity to teach him the ’stop!’ or ‘no!’ command. Using the ’stay!’ command can also be effective in these situations.

4. Dog Training Tips - Play with your dog

This will help in building the bond between you and your dog.

5. Dog Training Tips - Do some dog training everyday

Don’t rush dog training. Teach your dog one command at a time and don’t move on until he gets it. A little dog training everyday is all that’s needed.

If you own a new dog, you must be able to point out the problems with your pet. Once you determine the dog behavior problems of your pet, you can now begin to apply the dog obedience training to them. If your dog loves to chew on your household items, this is not his fault.

But it is a natural tendency of the dog to chew on furniture. These are common negative behavior of dogs that you must focus on, and to be able to learn the training procedures that is essential for the dog to know that his behavior is not appropriate.

If you did not exert any effort to train your puppy, eventually it grows older, the behavior problem that it possesses will worsen, and this would make it more difficult to train the dog. Many more information on anxiety issue with dogs and dog training, visit - www.reviewsitstayfetch.blogspot.com

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