Posts Tagged ‘pet’

A Couple Of Thoughts On Giving A Puppy A New Home

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Going a new puppy for your house is going to be one of the most wonderful decisions you will ever make. The joy and pleasure that a puppy can bring to a new household, especially one with children in it, is something that cannot be understated. However, it is also true to say that you need to be aware of all of the problems that a puppy can bring along with it. I puppy is going to really cause you a lot of stress in many ways, and they will take years in some cases to gain maturity. As such it is a decision that cannot be taken lightly, and some people will want to simply adopt a adult dog instead. However, if you have your heart set on a puppy, here are a couple of thoughts on giving a puppy a new home.

There are lots of things that you have to consider before you do bring a puppy into your household. Never say that you have not been warned, and that you are not aware of the effort that you are going to have to put in.

The first consideration that you will need to make ears whether the puppy is entirely healthy when you go and get it. It is not uncommon to find puppies in kennels that have certain physical problems associated with them, and if this is not what you want then you should look elsewhere.

The next thing to do will be to make sure that the puppy is socialised. The natural traits of any puppy are to be very playful and friendly. However, it can sometimes be difficult for a puppy to show the signs if they are indeed somewhat restricted confines of a dog shelter. As such you should definitely make sure that you take a few minutes at least play with the puppy as much as possible and to try to drag its personality out.

You really need to check on the puppy’s personality in order to make sure that it is not too aggressive. It is okay to find a puppy that is a little bit reserved and shy, as this is perfectly natural in a shelter. However, finding a puppy that is overly aggressive is not going to be the best thing to do.

The last thing that you really need to look into is the breed of the puppy. In many cases you will already know exactly what sort of breed you are after, and the breed is also going to be a serious indication of how the puppy will behave and act as they get older.

These are just some thoughts on adopting a new puppy.

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How To Take Care Of A Puppy: 5 Things You Should Know

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

You are getting a dog for the first time and you are excited. There’s just one thing. You don’t know how to take care of a puppy. What do you do with a puppy? What are its needs?

She will need some sort of protection since she is so small, but how do you do that?

And then there are health concerns. How do you make sure she stays healthy? What things do you have to worry about? Can you take precautions?

You probably never thought of these issues when you fell in love with that bundle of joy.

The first step is to understand what dangers lurk and what you can do to ensure she stays protected and well.

Here are 5 tips to get you started.

1. Make her comfortable. Make a special place for her to sleep. Gather up some safe toys designed for puppies. Soft toys will help to provide the comfort that her littermates would have given her. She also will need tough toys to ease her when she is teething. Yes, puppies teethe, just like babies do.

2. Watch out for potentially hazardous situations throughout your home where she is allowed to go. Puppies are adventurous. They want to check things out. They instinctively test things they don’t understand.

Put all wiring, chemicals, cleaning fluids and the like out of her way. Thoroughly inspect the yard to make sure there are no holes and broken fence parts where she can escape. Get rid of all plants in and around your home that present a danger to dogs. You’ll have to ask your vet or dog expert for a list of what those plants are. One is poinsettias, but there are others that seem innocent but are not.

3. Take time to visit the vet regularly. As a puppy, she will need vaccinations against major diseases like rabies and distemper. Ask your vet what she needs and when. She must remain isolated from other animals until she has completed her series of shots. As well as keeping her vaccinations up to date, the vet can check your puppy to make sure there are no developmental problems as she grows into an adult.

4. Your puppy will need puppy formula. Her body needs more nutrients than she will get from adult dog food. This is vitally important. If she does not get the right food, she can have growth problems, such as deformed joints, and other health issues that can affect her entire future. Speak to your vet to find out what he would suggest you feed your puppy at different stages of development.

5. Always use the right tools, gear and products for your puppy. For example, a rope collar is no guarantee that she can’t be harmed. Choose a proper collar from your local pet store, one that fits properly without choking or slipping off. You will need to upgrade the collar as she grows and becomes stronger. Keep her bed in a warm location, free of drafts. Prolonged exposure to cold can leave her with arthritis as an adult.

We’ve only had time to cover 5 tips on how to take care of a puppy, but there is so much more to know. You will soon discover that your learning will be an ongoing process, especially during her puppy years. What you do now can have a significant impact on your puppy’s life.

Want to find out more about dog weight, then visit our site on how to choose the best pregnant dogs for your needs.

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How To Buy A Dog Over The Internet

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

You can buy just about anything online these days, cars, groceries, a date, even a new dog. It seems strange but people purchase dogs over the internet all the time. Some from breeders clear across the country. It’s almost the new designer thing to do. Personally, I think it’s ridiculous to purchase a dog across the country when there are so many unwanted dogs right in your own backyard. Why put the poor animal in such a stressful situation for traveling? I think it’s cruel but that’s just my opinion and may not count for much. So, if you are going to purchase a dog, here are some guidelines to help make the experience a little more pleasurable for both of you.

The internet has come a long way but it still can’t quite mimic the experience of actually touching and caressing a dog you may have chosen as a potential pet. All you can do is trust that the person selling the dog is being honest with you about the dog’s temperament and demeanor. A picture says a thousand words but unless you can come face to face and interact with the pup, I’m not really sure how you can be certain that he will make the perfect match for your family. But, I digress again. So, how do you choose a dog based on a picture and a paragraph? How do you know if the seller is reputable or not?

When looking online to purchase a dog, be very wary of an ad that professes to be selling “papered” purebred pups. Does this ad come from a credible licensed breeder or is it just an individual selling his litter of puppies and claiming them to be purebred? It’s pretty tricky because pictures of purebred pups do not resemble their adult counterparts at all so just seeing pictures will not be convincing. They must show proof of AKC membership for both the parents and the puppies as having been certified as purebred. Be sure you get a certificate of authenticity from the American Kennel Club with the appropriate documentation. Do some research ahead of time so you know what you’re looking at when you receive it as these documents can be easily forged as well. Purebred dogs are big business these days and just like anything else worth scamming, this is no exception.

Before you start a random search for reputable breeders, go to the American Kennel Club website and look for the link of approved breeders. I personally would trust the AKC of doing their homework as they would not be putting up breeder’s websites if they haven’t been checked out thoroughly. Even with this knowledge however, do not go head on and purchase a dog outright without doing some checking on your own as well. Play it safe throughout the whole process and if anything feels funny about the way the breeder does business, don’t ignore that feeling. Do a little more research to find out if what they’re doing is common practice among all breeders. Pretend that you are buying a car and that you want to make the best deal possible for what you’re getting even though what you get is far more precious than just a car.

Before you consider the sale complete, have the dog checked out thoroughly by your veterinarian to ensure that he is as healthy as the breeders documents claim him to be. If there is any discrepancy, speak to the seller and discuss what (if anything) needs to be done. There is a chance that the original vet check was indeed valid, and if it is only a minor injury or slight issue, keeping the dog might not be that big of a deal, but you should have part of your purchase price refunded to offset this medical care. Be careful, know what you are looking for and be wary of any thing that sounds far too good to be true.

Want to find out more about small puppies, then visit our site on how to choose the best dog car seat for your needs.

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Wouldn’t You Just Love To Build A Lovely Home For Your Faithful One?

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Building a dog house for your dog could be the best thing that you could do for him. A dog house provides adequate shelter from rain, sun, snow, storms and inclement weather conditions. It also is a personal space for the dog just like our home is for us. Dogs are very protective about their possessions and would definitely like to have a place of their own. There are quite a few points to be considered while building doghouse for your dog.

Things to Consider for Building Your Dog House:

The Size of the Dog -

A smaller sized dog would need a smaller house but you should have adequate space to move around. Cramped quarters doghouse would put the dog off and he may not like to go into it at all.

Location of the Doghouse -

If space is not a constriction when you build doghouse, then it is advisable to have some free space around the doghouse. So ideally it should not be too close to your house, allowing the dog enough freedom while remaining in close proximity.

Climate of the Area -

The idea when you build doghouse is that it should not be too hot during summers and not cold during winters. The dog might feel stifled if the doghouse is too hot.

Budget Required -

According to the budget you can plan out the kind of doghouse you want to build. Even a modest budget can be enough while building the dog house.

Build Your Own Doghouse:

1. When you have put together all the above factors it would be a good idea to consider suitable doghouse blueprints.

2. Plan in advance even if your dog is a puppy. If you are crate-training your dog then it is fine to have a smaller crate but build a doghouse big enough to accommodate your dog when it is full-sized.

3. The material to be used for building a doghouse is usually wood, as wood is all-weather, and provides warmth during the winter months, and keeps the interiors cool during summer.

4. The floor should be constructed well using pressure-treated lumber using joists wherever required. However this should be only for the floor as this may be harmful if chewed. The framework can be covered with a thick sheet of plywood.

5. Walls of the doghouse can be made of lumber with studs.

6. The front of the doghouse has the door. This needs to be solid and easily opened. Lumber in vertical and horizontal manner is used in this.

7. The roof should be made with sufficient inclination to make the rain slide off easily.

8. Siding made of plywood is to be nailed to the walls and the roof.

9. Painting the doghouse is a personal choice but the paint should be non-toxic and water-proof. Add bright colors with a differently colored door when you are building the doghouse.

Building a doghouse would be a venture involving fun, innovation, and you can really unleash your creativity by experimenting. There are various sites that have doghouse blueprints and this makes the job easier. You could add your own dash of innovation, and make the doghouse different and nice for your pet to enjoy.

Get Great Dog Training Tips and Learn Excellent ways to Love Your Dog

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How You Can Successfully House Train Your Dog

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Widely recognized as the most popular and effective way to house train puppies the crate method utilizes your dog’s natural instincts. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will not by nature relieve themselves in the area where they sleep.

Knowing how to communicate properly with your dog lies at the heart of the house training process. Lecturing, yelling or other forms of punishment will not achieve the desired result. The key is to reward good behavior. Puppies are like babies, much too young to be held responsible for their bowel movements. Punishments are not the way to get through to your puppy. If you are going to use the crate method it’s vital that you learn about the proper, humane method to house train your dog.

Choosing the right crate

This is very important when it comes to the humane treatment of your puppy. A crate that is too small is very cruel. The puppy should have enough room to maneuver around and be comfortable inside. If the crate is much too large – the puppy might even relieve himself inside the crate.

The plastic varieties of crates are much easier to clean, durable and easier to carry around than the metal varieties.
It is also cruel to leave your puppy inside the crate for too long. Night time is crate time and often even very young puppies can go the entire night without soiling their crates.

You will want to slowly get the puppy used to the crate. The idea here is to create a positive feeling about the crate. Put a nice soft blanket inside and your puppy’s favorite toys too. You can also put some yummy treats inside to entice your dog.
Never, ever force your dog inside the crate. It is his sanctuary within your home.

Tips for house training

- Prepare the area that your puppy will spend most of its time in with a layer of newspaper.
- Designate an official toilet area for your puppy
- Supervise (or have the children do it) until the puppy has relieved himself.
- If your puppy starts sniffing or circling pick him up and get him outside fast!

Golden rules for house training your dog using the crate method:

- Take your puppy out first thing in the morning
- Take your puppy out directly after meals
- If your puppy has had an accident be sure to clean the area thoroughly. Use a product that will remove the odor.
- Never punish your puppy for accidents. You would never yell at your baby and put her nose in her mess. Rather use positive reinforcement when your puppy does her business outside.
- Take your puppy out just before bedtime and make sure he does his business.
- Give praise freely where it is due. Treats, walks and positive reinforcement will go a long way toward getting your puppy to understand that eliminating outside is the goal.

Housetraining your puppy will take time and patience. The kind of dog and your methods will greatly influence how long it takes for your puppy to be fully house trained.

There is a reason that the crate method is the most widely used house training method. It works well. Of course house training your puppy isn’t your only concern when it comes to raising a well behaved dog. You will also want to set some distinct boundaries. Puppies should not be allowed free reign of the house; at least not until they are fully house trained. Your puppy is a sponge and above all – keen to please you. You are the pack leader and the puppy will look to you to figure out what is and isn’t acceptable in your home.

By deciding early what your puppy may chew on and what furniture he is allowed on you can eliminate confusion and behavioral problems later in life.

Want to find out more about citronella dog collar, then visit our site on how to choose the best obedience training for dogs for your needs.

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Toilet Training for Dogs – Tips from Animal Behaviorists

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

Generally, dogs are very clean animals – they won’t soil close to where they eat, or where they sleep. But living in a house is unnatural for an animal whose instincts would be to roam wherever she wants to go, so you will have to help her learn where and when she can relieve herself.

It is essential that you form good toilet habits for your dog as early on as possible. Trying to break the habit of a dog is quite difficult and it can be very frustrating. You need to use guidance and encouragement to help the pet. Animal behaviorists have some helpful tips that you can use to help with the housebreaking of your pet.

Believe it or not, dogs are sanitary creatures. If a dog does soil accidentally in the wrong place, it is likely that it will be far from his dog dish, at least six to ten feet. This is true for the place where the dog sleeps as well. But, unless you find a good place for her to go and train her in that manner, the rest of your house is okay to them.

The process for housebreaking a dog is the same if he is a puppy or an adult dog new to your home. You’ll need to take him outside every few hours and also 30 minutes after he eats. Take your pet to the designated bathroom spot. Stay with the pet until she goes, and then praise her when she does. If she does not go, bring her back inside and try again in fifteen minutes. Watch her though. If the dog starts sniffing and circling take them out right away as this is a sign that she is about to go. Pay attention to her signs and take her out. Soon, she will relate to going outside to going to the bathroom.

Some dogs are housebroken much faster than others. Some dog’s personality will cause her to go one way or the other. But, if you take her outside at the right time, it will go smoother. A puppy of less than four months old will need to go out during the night. Older puppies can hold it that long. A dog that cries to be let out has an urgent need. Get up and take her out, she needs every chance to succeed that she can get. Positive reinforcement is necessary for success.

How you treat accidents will affect your dog’s overall learning curve. If you catch your dog going in the act, distract her with a clap or call her name. Take her outside calmly at that time and praise her for finishing outside. Clean up any accident that you find on the floor. If the dog approaches during this time, ignore her. Don’t talk to or punish her at this point. The worst thing that you can do is to yell at her or physically punish her. This will cause her to fear you and to not bond as well to you. She won’t connect it to the accident at all. Ignoring her is the best course of action here.

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Give Comfort and Shelter to Your Dog

Friday, March 5th, 2010

You can find few individuals who can nicely tolerate with their growing pets. Sometimes it happens that your growing pets might trigger fantastic troubles for you. They may well cut the legs of the wooden table or they might destroy the back and front door of one’s residence by scratching.

Nevertheless, it truly is actually frustrating when a pet starts behaving in this manner. So, what you definitely require is really a perfect dog property to keep your pet away from your house hold. In this way you may possibly save your interior also as precious commodities.

Snoopy is really significant if you have a pet dog. In fact it really is the right of the dog that it enjoys water and food too as proper shelter. So, to give comfort there must be some very good and suitable arrangements for a pet dog.

Some men and women have large dogs while others may well have little pets. So if your dog is large adequate then you need to build a home that is definitely massive adequate to support your dog. Moreover, dog house hold need to be according for the size of one’s pet. Don’t go for little houses for large pets.

This may possibly trigger health problems and injuries for your pet. Even so that doesn’t mean that you provide grand home to a dog. Truly average house hold according towards the physique size is usually necessary so that the physique heat of the dog keeps the home warm in winters. So, before building a home make a comprehensive plan of all the materials needed too as the size of boards which is essential to cut.

Within the market there are lots of shops of animal supplies that also present professionally drawn plans and prints for a dog home to their customers. These are nicely planned designs. So, you can effortlessly go with them. This will not only save your cash but time also that might spend otherwise on working out for suitable plans for a dog property.

Dog Medications .

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Take The Time To Train Your Puppy – It’s Worth It!

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Dogs make wonderful pets and the key factor to having a well behaved dog that the whole family will enjoy, is by using proper dog training techniques. Dogs are kind-of like kids, especially puppies; they need to understand the rules of the household and they must respect the authority of their owners. Many new pet owners fall in love with cute puppies or even adult dogs that they purchase or adopt before they bring them home, only to become upset and frustrated when that adorable fur-ball chews up the furniture or makes messes on the carpet. While all puppies will find their share of trouble, a responsible dog owner must be patient and utilize plenty of time to raise that pup into a well behaved dog that is a joy to all. This article will provide some basic but very important dog training tips to help you and your puppy develop a happy relationship. I have learned over 50 years of owning and dogs and these tips are a great start.

Establish The Rules

The first step in dog training is to establish the rules of the household, and do not waste any time here! This means that if you don’t want your 100 pound Labrador Retriever jumping up on your bed at night, don’t let him do it when he’s a puppy at 5 pounds! Never let him do it. I know it’s tough because I am guilty, but take it from my lesson leaned. Never; not even once. Good news: it is never too early to teach your pup to stay off the furniture or avoid jumping on you or your guests. Oh, and don’t forget, before you bring your puppy home, make sure the whole family understands and is prepared to enforce the rules consistently.

Be Consistent With The Rules

Once your learn and establish rules, it is up to you and the rest of thre family to makes sure you live by them.Every time your puppy breaks a house rule, he should be reprimanded with a quick and firm “No!” and then shown the proper behavior. This applies to all aspects of your puppy’s training, such as house breaking and chewing on his toys instead of your shoes (they seem to love to chew up the shoes!). Just like kids, dogs learn the rules quickest when they are enforced consistently. This means that the dog owner(s) must be disciplined in their enforcement of the “rules.” With time, the rules become second nature to your dog and enforcement is rarely required.

Reward Your Puppy For Good Behavior!

This is a key tip. When your puppy follows the rules appropriately, reward him for his good behavior. Effective dog training requires positive reinforcement more often than punishment to produce great dog behavior. At the beginning of your dog training, make a big deal about his good behavior and give him a healthy edible treat. Within a short period of time, your puppy will understand what he’s supposed to do and you will be able to “wean” him off treats to praise and positive attention. Trust me on this, they are smart and learn quick.

I am not a “pro” at dog training but I have read a lot of books and of course have owned dogs for years. What I have found is that dog training is not particularly difficult, it just takes some reading, some patience, and definitely some consistency to gain success with these wonderful animals. The time you put in to training your puppy is well worth the years of enjoyment you, your family, and your guests will have with this new member of the tribe!

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Advice On Buying The Most Suitable Dog Cage

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

When looking to buy a dog cage it can be quite confusing as there are so many different dog cages out there to buy. There are numerous to choose from such as the large, heavy duty travel cages, to the smaller, cute, decorative types that look more like a piece of furniture.

You will probably find one of the most popular and cheaper types are the wire cages. These are easy to service and are often used for crate training and travelling. One slight disadvantage is that they do not really provide a quiet retreat for your dog as they are open on all sides. This can be easily solved by placing a blanket over the cage.

A popular chice nowadays is the soft dog cage. They are popular because they look cute and thay are nice and warm and cozy for your dog. Although they are quite durable, you may run into problems if your dog likes to chew things or is going to grow a lot bigger. They are ideal for the smaller breeds of dogs.

The next type is the wicker dog cage, which is one of my favorites. It will often blend in with the furniture at home and so is ideal if you plan on keeping the cage indoors. As with the soft type of cage, these types are best suited to small dogs.

For transportation purposes the most common type used is the plastic dog cage. These come with a door at the front of the cage with vents on the side and top. They are often more expensive than the other types. If you are going to invest that extra money in one of these, it is worthwhile buying one that is airline carrier approved. For travelling on a car, I prefer this type over the wire cages.

When considering what type of cage is most suitable it is important to also consider the size of your dog and his habits. If he is large and a chewer, I would recommend a hard plastic dog cage, especially if he is going to be spending a lot of time in the cage.

Whichever type of cage you decide to buy, it is important to remember that this is your dogs new home. He should see this as somewhere that provides him with security and somewhere quiet to rest.

Fran writes many articles on car dog cages and about training your dog with small dog cages.

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Rearing 4-Legged Friends ” How To Control Your 4-Legged Friend While Loving It All The Same

Monday, March 1st, 2010

You will likely find this article helpful to detail the various and extensive methods to keeping your best four legged friend safe and happy for its whole life. While this mainly would pertain to the dietary choices and exercise, it will also pertain to learning how to control your dog and give it purpose for its time in your possession.

You see, dogs are man’s best friend for a good reason. They keep us happy and feeling loved, and that feeling is reciprocated by us towards them. Dogs are always there to make us smile and even laugh, and so that is something that you protect and appreciate. Caring for a dog can be tricky, because there is a lot that this entails.

Taking care of your dog begins with its diet. You see, you might know that dogs will eat just about anything they have put in front of them. They even will eat things they don’t have placed in front of them. This does not mean they should be a garbage disposal. You have to give them foods that will promote a healthy body and coat for your best friend.

Exercise is crucial to the quality of your dog’s life. You see, a dog has to burn off the energy it obtains from the food that it eats. If it is not able to do so, it might have trouble relaxing at the appropriate times. At worst, it might also encourage them to behave badly because they simply do not know what to do with itself. Taking them outside to burn off this energy is the best solution.

So how do you control your dog when it gets out of line? Many people have trouble with overly excitable dogs, and these dogs are equally as troubled. You see, any dog can become the well behaved dream pet, but it might take some tough love from you to accomplish it. You can look into some technique, but you have to think of it like raising children. You don’t let your kids do something they know is wrong, and nor should you allow your pets.

Similar to young children, dogs like to feel as though they are important to the order of things. You see, breeds like German Shepherds know that they are work dogs, and therefore they want to do things to help you and feel important. One way to accomplish this, is to allow the dog to carry items that you will use on walk in a special backpack. This will make them feel as though they have a distinct purpose.

If you have a dog, then you have the possibility of that animal contracting fleas and ticks from being out in the yard or the park. There is little that your animal can do to defend itself. What you can do is to keep him safe through the purchase of certain items that will keep him bug free, healthy and happy. So do him a favor.

Taking care of a dog is a giant responsibility, but a very rewarding one all at the same time. More than nutrition and exercise, your dog needs to be under control and under the impression that they are important to what you do. Otherwise, you can expect poor behavior. Hopefully, you can learn a thing or two about how to control your dog.

Learn all the natural ways that you can help your dog with their canine anxiety disorders. When you are looking for a natural and easy way to help your dog, using Bach Rescue Remedy will provide your dog the relief it needs quickly.

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