Archive for September, 2009
Crate training is the quickest way to get the job done when you are house training puppies. The reason why crate training puppies works is because it’s very easy to get a grip on the eating and toilet schedule for your dog, and his opportunities for accidents are greatly reduced.
Some people have a difficult time with crate training because they feel it is cruel, and your puppy may fuss a bit about being kept in the crate, and that’s normal. However, dogs like having a den area, and this creates a safe area for your dog that he knows is his “home”. Crate training works because a puppy is very resistant to messing up his own space, and will hold off on relieving himself until he can get to another location.
The crate needs to be large enough so your puppy can comfortably walk around in a circle and then lie down. As he gets older, upgrade to a larger crate if necessary. Crate training puppies works basically because dogs want to avoid lying in their urine so they hold off on using the toilet when in the crate for as long as possible.
Keep track of the times each day your puppy drinks, eats and goes to the bathroom throughout the day. Then put together a toilet break schedule based on the times of day your puppy might need to go potty. Potty times usually happen first thing in the morning, after vigorous play, about 30 minutes after eating, and just before bedtime. For very young puppies a few nighttime time trips might be needed if they cannot hold it all night long.
When you take your puppy out of the crate in the morning, take him right to his toilet area. Simply carry him straight there and set him down in the toilet area if he tends to get distracted or run off. You should just stand there for 10-15 or so minutes, simply watching and waiting. If he actually goes to the bathroom, immediately give your puppy lots of verbal praise and affection, and you can also give a treat. If he doesn’t go, then take him back to his crate, and in about 20 minutes or so, try again. Just repeat this pattern until successful, and once your puppy does go, reward the good behavior with playtime. You want to teach your dog that he needs to take care of business first, then he gets playtime. This sets up good habits.
Crate training puppies can take a lot of time and effort in the initial stages of house training puppies. However, if you do it properly you will be results soon. Your puppy will need frequent breaks for stretching and playing, but for the most part stays in the crate during the day during the training process.
Whenever your dog is out of his crate, keep your eyes on him at all times. If you catch him about to have an accident on the carpet, shout No! and whisk him up and take him immediately out to the right area. This can be messy and chaotic, but it is really the only chance you have to help him understand where to go.
When you are house training puppies, be patient and understanding, because accidents will happen. What you should do is quietly clean up the mess without letting your dog see, so you aren’t drawing any attention to it. Be sure and use a proper cleaning product to remove the urine smell. And remember, your puppy is just a baby and doesn’t know any better, so take the time to teach him what to do, and your patience will be rewarded!
What is dog’s Cushing’s disease? Dogs Cushing’s disease is a common problem that affects senior pets, and is caused by overactive adrenal glands. This condition can easily be confused with premature signs of aging in dogs. Cushing’s disease symptoms include:
* weight gain * hair loss * urinating in the house * increased consumption of water * increased urination * increase in appetite
Thankfully, this disease is treatable and once treated your dog can live a much longer and healthier life. This condition can be treated at home using homeopathic remedies.
In dogs, Cushing’s disease can look like the debilitating effects of aging, so some pet owners may mistakenly consider euthanasia in order to let their pets go peacefully. It is very important to understand when your dog is truly just aging or if they are suffering from Cushing’s disease. Your vet can help you determine what your pet is facing.
In dogs, Cushing’s disease is usually found in pets that are around ten years old. Cushing’s disease is more likely to strike in miniature dogs and in spayed/neutered dogs. Since it can strike just about any dog and there are very few known predispositions for the disease it is sometimes hard to diagnose. Even the physical signs of the disease can be similar to a variety of other health problems.
Because the symptoms are so much like aging it is important to note the symptoms that are more than common signs of aging. These can be disproportionate drinking(water) as 80-85% of Cushing’s dogs will drink 2-10 times their normal amount. Another possible sign is a change in the color of your dog’s coat, 85-100% of Cushing’s dogs have a change in the skin or coat. 90-95% of dogs will also take on a pot-bellied appearance. By recognizing these signs you can treat the disease and make your dog live longer and more comfortably. Once you suspect the problem, a simple blood test could prove that your dog is suffering from Cushing’s.
If Cushing’s disease is left to progress without treatment it can lead to even more serious problems such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, failure of the liver and kidneys, and other problems like infections in numerous places on the body. These problems combined with Cushing’s disease can prove fatal to your pet. So if you pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms for dog’s Cushing’s disease and they are over 6 years of age, it is best to take them to a vet right away for a diagnosis.
Ok so what are dog allergies and why you should be concerned about them. For one, they can cause problems for your pets to the extent that they can be suffering quite a bit from it. This means you’ll have to take them to the vet and that costs money and time.
Usually these problems arise from the fact that dog owners do not take remedy actions in the early stages of dog allergies. By the time the dog allergies have become serious, it usually takes quite a bit more to solve the allergies. So take heed. Here i will share a few quick tips on how to spot early signs of dog allergies so you can do something about it right away.
Alright let’s look at food allergies. The most usual sign for dog food allergies is that your dog will scratch a lot. If you see your pet scratching, licking or even chewing themselves constantly, it is a pretty sure symptom of dog allergies. Some possible triggers for this kind of reactions can be the food they are eating. A quick way to test this out is to systematically remove each dog food ingredient until the symptoms disappears. This helps you to isolate the cause of the dog food allergies.
Another common type of dog allergies is something called Atopy. This is caused by allergy due to their surrounding environment. Certain dust mites, pollen or molds can trigger such kinds of allergies. Again, some of the symptoms are chewing and scratching themselves, specifically the paws and face. Some remedy actions you can take is to remove your dog from these environmental triggers.
If they are allergic to dust mites, be sure to take them out of that area where it is full of dust mites. Now, this may not be possible in some cases, where the allergens are in the house itself. For this situation, you can clean your dog by giving them more frequent baths with medically-approved shampoos. Boosting their immune system is also another feasible way to fight against the allergies. Feed your dog with an omega three rich diet.
Those are just a few quick tips and tricks you can utilize to help alleviate your dog of allergies. Remember the golden rule: Detect early and treat it when possible!
It’s an impressive statistic to say we spend a third of our lives in bed, but it’s probably an exaggeration. It comes from the assumption that people get a full night’s sleep of 8 hours – or a third of twenty-four hours – every day, and this is rarely true. However, we do need as much sleep as we can get, and so you might want to look into adjustable beds.
Different people need different amounts of sleep, some requiring more than the average recommended amount, and some less. However, a lot of people get much less sleep than what is necessary, and can face all sorts of troubling consequences due to this. We often don’t give sleep enough credit, but the truth is, we might well not even be able to function without it.
We realize how important beds are when we wake up sore from trying to sleep somewhere not very comfortable, like on the couch. Fortunately, beds have come a long way where the only mattress we’d get would be a pile of hay on the floor. Now, they use boxed springs, come in a variety of firmnesses, and can be designed and decorated as much as you want them to.
Of course, the box spring mattress might seem a little mundane itself next to some of the newer options on the market. Foam beds are becoming increasingly well known, as are water beds and air beds. Adjustable beds aren’t talked about as much, though, and yet they’re a really great option because of the variety of positions they can be adjusted to.
While some of the other types of beds really are new technologies, adjustable beds have been around since the 1960s. Yet they were very appealing then, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be anymore. They might have once only been used in hospitals, but now you can buy them for use almost anywhere – including right in your own home.
Watching TV in bed used to be a hassle. Now, with the press of a button, you can get into a sitting position with your bed supporting you all the way. But there are more important issues as well. Setting the bed in such a way that it won’t place pressure on your spine is a great way to treat back pain and support any other problems you might have.
People are talking about adjustable beds once again – on the streets, in the shopping world, and in infomercials. True, this might seem to be a fading trend, but there’s a lot to gain if you get one for yourself. Consider taking a look at this option.
Size doesn’t matter that much with canines and caring for a small dog is pretty much the same as a big one. Having said that, there are certain points they need to be made aware of when looking after a small dog.
There are a few things that will need to be carefully considered before you proceed to buy one.
Food considerations: Some of the standard size food you may provide a larger dog ma not be suitable to a smaller breed. You may need to go along to a larger pet food store if you want to find a kibble that will not be to big for his (or her) tiny jaw. You ought to give the miniature canines some canned soft foods.
How to contain them: All dogs need exercise and a safe place to potty outdoors, and a fenced-in yard provides all the security they need, right? Smaller dogs are much more nimble that larger dogs and what might be a secure environment for one is not necessarily for the other. It is also important to remember that fences can not provide top protection where you might find hawks eyeing your tiny pet as they are known to come down fast and sweep away minute dogs and puppies. A simple answer to this problem is to construct an enclosed play area which should stop this from happening.
Dog training: While the training methodologies may be the same for large as well as tiny and are not any harder, but canine experts confirm that more often than not, the smaller counterparts are usually over-mothered. Although your pet might indeed fit into your pocket (and some breeds can), they still see the world in relation to pack mentality and someone has to be the leader so if you are weak, they will govern you. One of the most important aspects of training is that the dog must imperatively be house trained even if the mess seems insignificant. Dogs are naturally working creatures with many types bred purely for this function so this should also refer to your pet too. for a small reward or treat.
Your dogs appearance: Small dogs have some particular requirements when it comes to grooming you need to bear in mind. One such specific need for a minuscule pet is that he needs more frequent nail trimming than his larger counterpart since he hardly walks or runs on uneven surfaces which would have naturally shaped up his nails. As they are eating more canned food, their teeth will need to be brushed more regularly (at least twice per week) to eliminate unwanted and harmful deposits. The above makes it clear that it does not matter whether you are taking care of a small dog or a large dog the methods are pretty much the same. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog’s specific requirements.





