Doggy Mentor

Archive for October, 2009

Puppy socialization is a very important part of teaching your new pet how to get along in this world.  Many dog owners are surprised to learn that quite a few cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known about this important aspect of dog training.

Why Is Puppy Socialization So Important?

When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary.

You’ll want to start dog socializing while your pet is still a youngster.  You may not know that the best age for puppy socialization is when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks.  A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people.  This helps to prevent canine aggression towards strangers when he gets older.

But don’t be discouraged, because it’s never too late to work on dog socializing.  It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.

How Is Puppy Socialization Done?

Dog socializing is not that difficult, if you’re willing to make a little effort.

Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool.  This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners.Usually you’ll find about 10 puppies and their people, plus a couple of dog trainers.  During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.

Puppy preschool teaches your dog more than just basic obedience lessons.  The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills.When the play sessions are happening, the puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to interact with each other.  Why is this important?

First, your puppy is learning valuable lessons about getting along with other dogs.

Second, your pup will see lots of unfamiliar people since there are dog trainers and other dog owners present.  This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.

Third, it’s a controlled environment.  The dog trainers make sure things don’t get too wild.

Don’t Stop Puppy Socialization Too Soon

Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized.  This mistaken idea can lead to problems with aggression in puppies later on.

It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places.  Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons.  By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing puppy aggression towards strangers.

You can learn more about using puppy socialization to prevent future problems with canine aggression by clicking on any link in this article.

Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.In fact, it’s the second most common reason for people to give up their dogs or even have them put to sleep. 

To avoid a sad ending for your dog, learn the signs of the condition and find out what to do about it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Different levels of bad behavior can be shown by dogs with separation anxiety.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself. 

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don’t know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it’s time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here’s how you can tell:

• The destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If he’s demolishing your house just for fun, he’ll do it anytime, not just when he’s alone.
• Your dog is “hyperattached” to you.He keeps a close eye on you, following you around the house, when he’s not in your lap.  This is flattering for the owner, but it’s not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
• He’s learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
• He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
• He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
• Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy’s distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

If your pet does some, or all, of these things, his dog behavior problem is because of separation anxiety, not boredom.

Suggestions For Helping Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own. 

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha dog, or pack leader, he’ll get very upset if you leave him, since you’re not supposed to do that.His job is to watch over his pack members, so if you leave, he thinks something might happen to you.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, click on any link in this article to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

You may be surprised to learn that many dog owners think that canine urinary tract infections are no big deal.  All you need to do is give your dog an antibiotic for a couple of weeks, and the problem’s solved, right?

Wrong.Being sure of whether or not your dog even has canine cystitis can sometimes be difficult.

Does My Dog Have A Canine Urinary Tract Infection?

As smart as dogs are, they can’t talk and tell us what their problem is.They use their behavior to let us know what’s going on with them.  If your dog has canine cystitis, she’ll try to tell you by her actions.

If you’ve ever had a bladder infection, you know that the main symptom is pain and burning when you urinate.If your dog is showing restless behavior, like whining and pacing around the house, she’s telling you she may have a problem.  She may want to go out again right away, even though she just came in.

Worse, she may urinate on the floor, your bed, or in other inappropriate areas.  Many dog owners mistakenly think this is a behavior problem.  Before you start looking for a dog trainer, rule out bladder infections in dogs first.

Tests Your Vet Should Do To Diagnose Canine Cystitis

Tests to diagnose a canine urinary tract infection include urinalysis, a dog urine culture, and a sensitivity test.

A urinalysis should be done to see if bacteria or stones are present in your dog’s urine.  If bacteria are found, a urine culture needs to be done to find out exactly which bacteria they are.  The sensitivity test will tell your vet the correct antibiotic to use.

The problem arises because urine culturing and sensitivity testing increases your vet bill by $25 to $100.  Some dog owners can’t afford the extra money, and others just won’t pay for it even it they can afford it.

So what happens?  Your vet ends up prescribing an antibiotic that may or may not kill the bacteria causing your dog’s bladder infection.

Why Using The Wrong Antibiotic Is A Bad Idea

The first reason is that you can spend a lot of time and money treating your dog with an antibiotic that won’t do the job.  Giving a dog an expensive antibiotic for two or three weeks is no picnic, so you don’t want to waste time with the wrong drug.

Secondly, if you skip the sensitivity test, you may be treating your dog with a drug that won’t kill the bacteria causing the infection.  This can lead to a life-threatening bacterial infection that’s very hard to treat.

An even more important reason to use the right drug is the problem of antibiotic resistance.

Can Bladder Infections In Dogs Be Prevented With Natural Remedies For Pets

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a safe, effective, natural remedy you could give your buddy every day to prevent bladder problems in dogs?  Well, you’ll be happy to know that there is.  This remedy is manufactured specifically for pets, not humans, which is very important.  And it’s made by a company with a great reputation for producing the highest-quality natural remedies for pets.

Click any link in this article to learn more about a safe, effective remedy for canine urinary tract infections.

Is separation anxiety in dogs destroying your hopes of having a happy, well-behaved dog?  Are you tired of having your pet go into a frenzy of destructive dog behavior whenever you leave him alone?  

Well, you’re not alone.  This dog behavior problem is the second most common reason that pet owners have for giving up a dog, or even having him to put sleep.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  

What Is Canine Separation Anxiety?

Basically, your dog has a panic attack when you leave him alone, usually within a half hour of your leaving.  Your canine may show the following dog behavior problems:

• High-pitched yipping and whining, in hopes of getting you to come home
• Digging at doors and windows in an effort to escape
• Inappropriate urination or defecation, even if he’s housebroken
• Destroying furniture, clothing, or whatever else he can get into

Your dog isn’t doing these things to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared.

Why Does My Dog Have This Problem?

Nobody knows for sure why some dogs with separation anxiety develop this condition, and others don’t.  Some breeds, including Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales, are more likely to develop canine separation anxiety.  

When the owner is absent from home a lot, it often contributes to the problem.  Dogs are social animals who need lots of interaction with their owners to be happy.  You can break up the day for a lonely dog by taking him to a doggy day care, or having somebody come by to walk him during the day and spend some time with him.  

Avoid Making A Big Fuss When You Get Home

Does your dog greet you when you get home by jumping around and barking, almost to the point of being out of control?  Do you encourage this behavior by petting him, and lavishing attention on him when he’s acting crazy?  

If you do, you’re making a big mistake.  It’s flattering to have your dog so happy to see you, but giving him attention when he acts like this only reinforces the idea that your daily homecoming is the highest point of his day.  Your dog is dizzy with joy when you come home, but he’s in the pits of despair the next day when you leave again.

Keep your comings and goings low-key.  Yes, he should be happy to see you, but not excessively so.

Are You The Alpha Male Or Is Your Dog?

Many dog owners make the mistake of trying to treat their dog as an equal.  You need to know that dogs are pack animals, and there’s always a leader in the pack.  If you aren’t the alpha dog, there’s a leadership vacuum that your dog will step up to fill.  

If your canine thinks he’s the pack leader, he may suffer separation anxiety in dogs if you leave.  This is because in the wild, the pack leader can leave the pack and come back.  However, the other dogs (the followers) don’t have this option of leaving their pack leader.  

Your dog sees you leaving, and this upsets him because he believes he’s responsible for you as his pack member.  This is another reason you need to be the pack leader, not your dog.

The Right Training Is Key

Dogs don’t think the way we do.  They run on instinct much of the time.  Learning how your canine thinks is very important to avoid dog behavior problems.

A good dog training course that teaches you how your dog thinks is worth its weight in gold.  You’ll see how quickly and easily you can train him when he understands what you want him to do instead of wasting your time teaching him to do the wrong things.  

Click on any link in this article to learn how you can solve the problem of separation anxiety in dogs.

Did you know that puppy bladder infections are very common?  It’s easy to miss a puppy urinary tract infection, simply because puppies do tend to piddle a lot.  But if you’re having trouble housetraining your puppy, and she can’t seem to hold her urine for more than a few minutes, you should investigate this possibility further.

Symptoms Of Bladder Infections In Puppies

We all know our dogs are super-smart, but even the smartest pup can’t talk to you and tell you what’s bothering her.  It’s up to us as responsible dog owners to keep our eyes open for the symptoms of canine urinary tract infections:

• Bloody urine
• Urine that smells really bad
• Straining while urinating
• No energy; just lays around a lot
• Lower abdomen is tender to the touch
• Urinating all over the house

This last symptom is the one you’ll want to watch for with a puppy.  

What Can Cause A Puppy Urinary Tract Infection?

There are several reasons why your little buddy develops a puppy bladder infection.  Female dogs are more prone to this problem because their urethras are shorter and broader than a male dog’s urethra.  Since it’s easier for bacteria to get into a female dog’s bladder, a canine bladder infection usually results.  

It’s also important that your puppy is drinking enough water.  If your dog’s urine is too concentrated, she may be at risk for a puppy urinary tract infection.

Your puppy will mature before you know it.  Her hormone balance will be changing as she goes through puberty.  When this happens, her body’s ph balance changes.  Just like in humans, this can make her more prone to a canine urinary tract infection.  You can avoid this whole scenario by having her spayed before her first heat.  

We all want to save money, but cutting corners on your puppy’s diet isn’t the way to do it.  Making the investment in the highest-quality dog food possible will pay itself back many times by avoiding health problems and high vet bills later on in your dog’s life.  

Look for a dry food that contains lots of beef and chicken in it if you can’t feed a high quality canned food.  Avoid dry dog food that’s mostly grain.  Grain-based dog food changes the urine ph, which can lead to recurring urinary tract infection in dogs.

Natural Remedies For Pets With Puppy Bladder Infections

There are many natural ways to treat bladder infections in puppies.  Try giving her a 1000 mg dose of vitamin C once a day for a couple of days.  It’s important that she drinks lots of water.  Adding a broth with salt in it to her food will make her thirsty and encourage her to drink more water and flush her system.

People have been treating bladder infections with herbs and homeopathic remedies for many years.  You’ll be happy to know that there is now a safe, effective herbal pet remedy that you can give your puppy every day to support bladder health and prevent bladder infections in dogs.  If your young dog is already having problems with puppy bladder infections, click any link in this article to see how this remedy can help.

We’ve every done it.  Our cute, little furry friend is practically smiling at united states of america from beneath the kitchen table.  The ears are perked and the tail is wagging.  We know what our dog is after.  Just a tiny tidbit from dinner would be delightful, accurate?  What could it hurt?  It’s just a bite or two after every. 

Hold Fido’s ears he won’t aim to listen this.  A dog’s diet plan truly must not contain table scraps.  People meal is only that…for persons.  A dog’s nutritional needs aren’t the same whether a human’s.  Sure, we eat several of the same things, but feeding your pet from the table is one of the biggest mistakes for  your pet.  A dog’s diet program does not want every the added goodies we put into our meals.

Persons have problems with obesity.  A dog could have this trouble, as well.  When your dog’s diet program consists mostly of scraps from the dinner table, chances are good that your dog will have problem maintaining a healthy weight.  Even though some pounds over weight can really make a dissimilarity in the quality and length of your pet’s life.  Curb the begging and stick to your guns. 

When you’ve a dog who is not a picky eater, it could be tempting to permit your pet be the garbage disposal in the home, but really, this isn’t a good hint.  Certain persons foods could hurt your dog and should never be a part of your dog’s diet plan.  Grapes, for example, have been known to cause dangerous problems for dogs, although death.  Chicken bones & popcorn can also be a problem for your dog.  Allowing large quantities of chocolate can be unsafe in a dog’s diet plan.

A poor diet program though shows up out in the yard.  While your dog’s diet program is not at its excellent, your pet’s outputs would be better in size, smell, & mess.  Benefits of choosing a healthful diet for your dog would be noticeable in your pet’s medical, as well whether, during those walks around the block.

There are some occasions when a supplement or treat from the kitchen might be alright, but never in excess.  Talk to your veterinarian about healthful snacks for your dog’s diet program.  If you simply should keep on feeding Fido at the table, many vets propose you offer your pet ice cubes or pieces of carrot to munch on between scheduled feeding times.  Offering your pet these healthful choices to pizza & cupcakes provides you the freedom to take a healthful & nutritious snack for your dog’s diet program. 

So, the next time your favorite pet starts eyeing your grub, redirect his or her attention. Don’t accomplish for your fatty steak or chicken leg.  Instead, toss your buddy a cool, refreshing ice cube to bat around & munch on.  A couple of babe carrots will maintain Fido happy and leave you feeling good about your alternatives for the nutritional value of your dog’s diet plan.  You will know that you’re doing your best to keep a high-quality diet plan for your pet. Find more other useful articles about dog car seat, miniature dogs and dog pounds

Bathing a dog pet requirements to be given more emphasis. This is because of the fact that wheter you are careless in bathing, the animal might end up having a few infections.  For example, if you do not close the ears through large cotton ball, the water might enter into ear canals and might cause some ear infections through signs love constant discharge from the ears & shaking of head.

Frequency of bathing actually depends on the type of the dog pet. When the dog is of a hairy kind like the cocker spaniel, then the bathing is to be carried out when in six to eight weeks. When these breeds are bathed too constantly, then the skin & coat loose the protective characters.  By the way, when the pet dog possesses defecated on the skin due to the frequent digestive upsets leading to diarrhea, to stay away from the bad smell, the dog may be subjected to frequent bathing some moments with the owners.

Select more treatment in avoiding a few irritant soaps or human soaps. The soap materials used for human beings are not suitable for dogs.  Similarly, numerous human shampoo goods are having some ingredients that are not proper in the proportions that are to be applied in case of dogs. So, always try to purpose the shampoo products that are discribed primarily for purpose in dogs. Pick extra care in using any new product. 

Usually have best occasion & patience for foodstuffs needed for bathing in one place by availability of water source.  Dogs like the sprinkling of water, river, & oceans.  Though when you’re using bathtub, have everything in one place & then begin bathing of the dog. Try to have a leash, conditioner, towel, and shampoo in the bath place.

Conditioner is of advantageous to make the combing activity easier later. Bathing should be a convenient activity to both the dog pet and the owner. This must not be a burden.  Find more other useful articles about dog weight, pregnant dogs and small puppies

The grey is a fitting and wonderful companion for the home that is interested in a large, indoors dog. When they are socialized starting from puppyhood, they are among the most amiable, spreading warmth to people getting back from school or work. Older dogs have a natural grace that radiate calm and ease, and more so if they have greyhound dog training tips. In fact, adult greyhounds are surefire couch and sofa hoggers, and not the type to go around bumping into things.

But make no mistake about the instinct of this sighthound. It is crucial that they be trained and get used to being with other animals. Adults that will be staying in a home for the first time with a few pets need strict supervision. Remember that an adult’s predatory instinct is fine-tuned, and may push the dog to go after anything furry and small in the home.

This dog is happy bonding with the family and learns quite quickly to love children. But the first time a dog gets home, it must be supervised when spending time with the kids. And aside from this, it will take time to be friendly and enjoy being with kids. While the dog can also get exasperated and will need to be muzzled, the dog prefers overall a quiet environment, and works well with adults who are laidback.

Separation anxiety is something unexpected among greys who are suppose to be used to total strangers. But this is just one more indication that their sweet personalities are vulnerable. The breed responds to greyhound training and to obedience training, but not as well as other breeds. The breed can also get bored, and a side effect of this is the predictable, but trainable, propensity for destructive chewing. One basic solution for helping them overcome the anxiety is to have many good chew toys at home.

A trait of the dog that is like the two sides of a coin is the fact that the Greyhound does not bark that much. This is good news since the dog gets to stay indoors, but that means the Grey at home is one less effective guard dog.

If the home has stairs, the new Greyhound may need training on how to use them. Their racing background makes it a challenge for them to use something as unfamiliar as stairs.

Their large size is not a deterrent for them to learn crate training, which is the best way for them to be house trained. All ex-racers will need house training.

It is estimated that about 25,000 greyhounds are retired every year from racing. Many of these dogs are sent to rescue centers or adopted out. Potential grey owners that are considering adopting ought not to fall for the misconception that greyhounds want a high energy lifestyle; quite the opposite! It’s fascinating just observing how these dogs turn into almost ideal housedogs. They actually morph into couch worshippers, basking in the quiet calm of the home… that is, if greyhound training is put to use.

The genetics and breeding history of Greyhounds have also made them low maintenance, and generally healthy too. Most large dogs have hip dysplasia, have some hereditary disease, or bloat, or are excessive barkers. But greys are far from having them. Considering that greyhounds retire by the age of four, that leaves them plenty more years to go with loving and caring family. It can be said that a total of twelve years for a rehomed greyhound smacks of an adventurous doggie life story!

Anybody keen on owning a grey can try getting in touch with any of the adoption agencies based all over the country. All that is needed is usually a filled out application form and sometimes also a small donation to the animal agency. On second glance, the fee is definitely a bargain, considering how these institutions are dead-serious about maintaining the health of their wards.

Upon bringing a grey home, it will need to be socialized into the family using greyhound dog training. Ex-race dogs are largely used to being in the company of both familiar people and strangers, but greys need time to adjust to having an intimate house for its home. Among the most prudent ideas for a greyhound owner is to have the dog on a lead when walking, or when at home, secured by a tall fence. If not, the dog may give in to the temptation to run after squirrels, or the neighbor’s cat, or even to stray away.

When retired at the age of four after having been race dogs, greyhounds usually are wonderful companions for the home. They are among the most suitable low maintenance, low physical activity house dogs. Their short, low-shedding coat is easily kept clean. They are low key when it comes to producing noise, and their natural timidity makes them neighborhood-friendly. But they are couch potatoes through and through, and will actually jostle for precious space against the owner.

When you start to train a young puppy having the right dog crate is essential. When you take your puppy home, it will be unable to cope with the whole area of your house and it will be calm and happy in the perfect sized dog crate. Housebreaking a puppy is easy with a dog crate to help you. A good dog crate is an invaluable dog training tool.

If you housetrain a puppy using a dog crate, they are an excellent solution if your pup becomes overexcited, as it will calm down in a crate. All you have to do is put your puppy inside the crate in order to help it relax. A crate is a stress free way for a pup to remain unattended in your home and not get into mischief, or soil on your carpet.

Dog crates are a great way to feed your puppy in case it becomes easily distracted. Your puppy will focus on its food and eat until it has had enough and then you can take it away.

Using A Dog Crate Tips

1. Make sure that you get the appropriate size crate based on your dog’s height and width. Housebreaking your puppy depends on you having the correct sized crate. If the box is too large, then your puppy may use the bathroom on one side, but keep sleeping on the other side, which defeats the purpose of crate training in terms of potty training.

2. If you have a fast-growing puppy, then consider buying a large crate that is meant for an adult dog, but has a divider built into it. This way you can divide the crate in half so that your puppy will be able to lie down comfortably and still be able to turn around if needed. A divided dog crate can also be used for your larger puppy by removing the division bracket.

3. The type of bedding is an important aspect of your dog crate. Even though the crate may be the appropriate size for potty training, some dog owners have noticed that their puppies still use the brathroom inside. In most instances it turns out that the bedding that they laid down was a little too thick and had a tendency to induce urination in dogs.

Older dog crate training is a simple procedure too. You will find so much information is available to you for training older dogs and the use of a dog crate is an invaluable dog training tool. Any problems crate training can be overcome if you follow the recommended procedures for potty training or house training your dog.