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Keeping Your Dog Tick-Free

By Admin
03
Dec 2009

Dogs tend to spend more of their summer time outdoors. Therefore it is very important to be careful of parasites, bugs and micro organisms that can harm your pet while they get their whiff of fresh air. Precautions are necessary to keep these dangers away from your puppy. One of these pests that can cause a lot of nuisance and damage are ticks since they carry diseases. In particular Lyme disease. Avoiding ticks should be a priority to the new pet owner.

Why Ticks?

Ticks tend to stick to warmer temperatures, water, and movement. Ticks do not transmit through the air. Their motion is limited to crawling. They transmit themselves by climbing up taller structures or plants and drop onto any living and moving human or animal. Puppies and adult dogs frolicking in the outdoors is very susceptible to acquiring these pesky little creatures. The danger of having ticks on your dogs body begins once the tick bites. The bite itself is painless and unfeeling but the place of bite might get infected in no time. Consulting a veterinarian is advisable for treatment which normally involves oral antibiotics. If your pet dog is diseased due to a tick bite, there is a risk of infection spreading to other pets.

How to keep ticks away from your pet dog

The best way to avoid ticks is to avoid walking your dog in the midst of vegetation during tick season. Always keep the vegetation around your house trimmed. Certain preventive medication products are also available, but first consult with you veterinarian for proper application and products. Products vary depending on the dogs age and weight. Remember these medications are suited for a particular pet, meaning what is used on an adult dog may not be suitable for a puppy. Again it is recommended you consult with your vet before purchasing or administering any medication to your puppy or adult dog.

Removing Ticks

When your pet comes back from outdoors make sure to check him carefully for ticks by inspecting his or her body. For long haired dogs it will require some moving of the hair around so you can get a good luck at your pet. Check the underside of the pet and areas that are not easily noticeable upon looking at the dog. They are normally found in warm areas, under the arms, in the ears, between the toes and in the folds of the skin. If you find any, remove them carefully. Do not touch the tick, use a alcohol swab, then pull it up slowly with tweezers. Make sure not to leave any parts of the tick sticking to your dog. If you are unsuccessful contact your vet for advice.

Part of puppy and dog ownership is assuring your pet is healthy and happy. By attending to your pets health needs you can expect many happy and healthy years with your pet.

Category: Puppy and Dog Health  Tags: health, puppy  Leave a Comment

Why Do Puppies Bite Part 1?

By Admin
28
Nov 2009

“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Newton’s third law of
Motion

We must first understand why puppies or dogs bite to understand how to stop them from biting or control their biting. The main reason I have found in my research is puppies bite because they are teething. Experts have determined the teething period for puppies range from 4 to 6 months up to a maximum of 10 months.

It is very crucial within this period for the new owner to control the puppy’s training process. All puppies like to play by being mouthy and chewing on anything they can get their sharp little teeth into. This is the time the new dog owner should control the puppy’s biting inhibition. The puppy must learn what is acceptable biting and what is not acceptable biting.

Within the litter puppies will play and bite naturally. However the mom will correct the puppy if the puppy bites mom while nursing, by rolling the puppy over and correcting it, or just get up and walk away. The mom in this situation is the pack leader and the puppy knows the rules of the pack. In the home, the puppy must understand that the new owner is now the new pack leader, and the rules of the pack. It is very important to correct a biting puppy if the behavior is not acceptable.

It is very important to socialize your puppy. Lack of socialization of your puppy between the age of 3 wks to 3mths with your environment, your children, other people and other dogs can also lead to growling which can lead to biting. You can read about socializing your puppy and the importance of this aspect of training in Socializing Puppy Tips:Aritcle.

All puppies explore things in their environment with their nose and mouth. They sniff around, find something, and next thing you know it is in their mouth. Many of times I have turned my back to see my dog with a dish towel I have dropped, my shoe that I left out, or a sock they found in the bedroom in their mouth.

There are different breeds of dogs that are known chewers. I have a Chocolate Lab that likes nothing better than to sit by my side with a chew toy in her mouth. She is just content to chew on that toy until she goes to sleep. I have taught my dog what is acceptable biting and what is not. It is acceptable to chew on the toy; however it is not acceptable to chew on my shoes. I did this by sternly saying no while pointing at my shoe and positively rewarding her with her chew toy. This worked for me and it may work for you.

Rewarding positive behavior will get you the acceptable behavior you want out of your new puppy. The rules are consistency in your training methods. Don’t reward the puppy for everything or the puppy may be confused. Some biting from the puppy may be acceptable but the intensity of the biting is what you are looking to control.

My adult dog has learned how to use her mouth to grab my arm when playing however the pressure is controlled. If the pressure is too intense I say no, she stops, or I walk away. This teaches her the biting was not acceptable and if she cannot control that she does not get to play.

Remember it is all in the training process. I never recommend the new dog owner using training in a negative manner. This can only add to your dogs inhibitions and could create the opposite behavior than what you expect. Positive reinforcement and rewards are recommended for a healthy and happy puppy.

Category: Aggressive Dog Behavior, Puppy Training Steps, Socializing A Puppy  Tags: agressive behavior, biting, dog, puppy, puppy training  Leave a Comment

How To Train Dogs To “Stay” On Command

By Admin
27
Nov 2009

Stay Command So you want your puppy to sit and stay on command. Good luck because some get it some don’t. Training your puppy to stay can be very trying. You tell your puppy to stay and you walk out of the room just to turn around and see your puppy bouncing behind you. Everyone at one time or another during training their dog to stay has had the same experience. We walk the puppy back into the other room and tell it to “sit and stay” and as soon as you turn your back there he or she is right on the back of your heels. Watch these short and informative videos by expert dog trainers on how to train your dog to stay on command. Pick up tips, tricks, and advice on puppy training in these 9 videos by an dog trainers in how to get your dog to obey the “dog stay” command.

Dealing with Different Scenarios when Training a Dog to Stay: Part 1. In this 1.49 minute video the trainer will teach you how to teach your dog to stay in different environmental areas. Part 1 of 2 training videos.

Dealing with Different Scenarios when Training a Dog to Stay: Part 2. Learning to deal with mishaps when training your puppy to stay is covered in this 2.36 minute video which is Part 2.

Category: New Puppies, Puppy Commands  Tags: command, dog, dog stay, puppy, stay command, training  Leave a Comment

Socializing Puppy Tips

By Admin
26
Nov 2009

Socializing a puppy with family, friends, and other animals is an important aspect of dog ownership. A well adjusted and social dog is a well trained and happy dog. Socializing Puppies

It is never too early to start the process of socializing your puppy with unfamiliar surroundings, animals, and people. During the early stages of a puppy’s life the puppy is very impressionable to external influences. If the puppy’s experiences are positive at a young age then it is more likely the puppy will be open to them during his adult life. If his experience is unpleasant or absent the puppy may be apprehensive to these external influences later in life.

Socializing your puppy to external influences should be just as important to the new pet owner as is house breaking the puppy. The puppy should be exposed in a safe environment to other animals especially dogs and cats, and to other people in particular small children. The puppy should be exposed to various situations. Exposure to traffic and loud noises within reason can help the dog avoid anxieties common to some dogs.

When exposing the puppy to these external influences try to keep them fun, light-hearted, and pressure free. Never drag a dog or force a dog to experience something in a negative manner. The goal is for the puppy to have a pleasant and happy experience not scare the puppy.

Involve the puppy in social events such as family get to gathers, family walks, family sporting events, dog parks, dog beaches, and other safe socializing events. In all the circumstances listed ensure you supervise your puppy for behavior, abuse, or overwhelming issues. If the puppy looks overwhelmed or scared, reinforce the puppy with a happy and light-hearted behavior or play. Show the puppy there is nothing to be afraid of by interacting with the puppy in the external influences that he or she is experiencing.

Your role is to help your puppy become social while still protecting the puppy from any negative experiences. Do not force your puppy on an experience. Remove the puppy from the situation and crate your puppy for security reasons. Once the puppy has calmed down remove the puppy from his or her crate and reintroduce your puppy into the social event while supervising and praising your puppy when responsive.

Training your puppy can be a rewarding experience. A confident and well-socialized puppy that looks to you as a leader will be a more enjoyable friend to all that he or she comes into contact with.

Category: New Puppies, Socializing A Puppy  Tags: puppy, puppy tips, puppy training, socializing puppy, training  Leave a Comment

How Do I Select A Crate For My Puppy?

By Admin
26
Nov 2009

Selecting a crate for a puppy is one of the first importatn aspects to dog ownership. Crates are a perfect sanctuary for a puppy and an adult dog. Dogs are considered pack animals and prefer to rest in a den type surrounding or a confined space. If you look around at dogs where do you see the laying? If you look at a dog at rest they are under a table, in a corner, next to a couch, chair, or under a bed. This is why a crate is a perfect solution for your new puppy.

How do you select a crate for your puppy? There are many things to consider when selecting a crate for a puppy. You need to consider the size of the puppy, where the crate is going to be located, your life style, and will the crate be mobile or sedentary.

Examples of crates that are on the market today are wire frame crates, plastic crates, soft-side crates, solid-framed crates, exercise crates, outdoor kennels, and more. Selecting a crate for you puppy is not only based on your puppy’s needs but your family’s life style.

If you are an active family and you would like to take your puppy with you a travel crate is recommended. Travel crates are easy to transport and fast to set up. Some travel crates are soft-side with mesh a mesh door and side windows for visibility and ventilation.

The wire frame crates are can be disassembled and move from location to location. This crate may require a little more work but is very suitable for your puppy or adult dog. The crate has a latching from door and a tray that slides under the wire framing to form the base of the crate. Crate pads are available for more comfort or just place a towel or blanket on the bottom of the crate. An advantage to this type of crate is the easy clean up from accidents that your puppy will have from time to time until he or she is potty trained.

An outside dog kennel provides as much room as you would like your puppy or adult dog to have in the yard. This kennel provides your dog with luxury and limited outdoor freedom. The K9 kennels consist of for four sturdy steel from sides and an optional a sunscreen cover for you dogs. The sun screen cover is always a good idea to include in this kennels. Your puppies and dogs too are susceptible to the heat and the direct rays of the sun.

So you want a crate that fits in with the decor of your home. Well good news there are some of those on the market now. Crates that look like a piece of furniture are a great way to have style plus a place to have your puppy rest within the confines of a secure and safe crate in a family area. Some of the crates double as an end table next to a couch, chair, or blends right in with the rest of the furniture. Your puppy will have a stylish home around the family and you will have a stylish crate that fits your family’s lifestyle.

When selecting a crate for you puppy you must consider your puppy’s size. If you do not want to purchase another crate as the puppy gets older it’s okay to purchase a larger crate for you dog’s breed. However, when crate training your puppy do not let the puppy have access to the entire crate. You will need to section off the crate so it just big enough for you puppy to safely enter, feed, turn around in, and lay comfortably inside. If you give the puppy too much space they may start eliminating at one end of the crate and sleeping at the other end. This is what you want to avoid the puppy eliminating inside the crate. If the crate is small enough the puppy we see the area of the crate as his or her sleeping area and dogs will not eliminate in the sleeping area.

If you have a very rambunctious puppy you may not want to purchase soft-side pop up crate. If the puppy is playful in the crate the puppy may collapse the crate or turn the crate over.

Here is one last thing to consider when selecting a crate for your puppy. Puppies will chew on anything they can get their little teeth on. To prevent them from chewing on the crate place their favorite chew toy inside the crate with them. With any chew toy you will need to supervise the puppy while playing with the toy. Keep a watchful eye on the toy so as to prevent any choking situations.

This is just a bit of information on selecting a crate for a puppy. Ask your local veterinary for recommendations on selecting a crate for your breed of puppy. I am sure they will provide you with very useful and informative information.

Category: Crate Training A Puppy, New Puppies  Tags: crate, kennel, puppy, puppy training  Leave a Comment
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