Doggy Mentor

Archive for November, 2009

Today rising number owners, having pets from any of the dog breeds, demands answers and help for dog grooming and dog breeding. Want to breed your dog but feel like you can’t handle the responsibility? It’s amazing how a little know how can actually assist you to make that decision for yourself. Firstly one should ponder on why they wish to breed their dog. The next step is assessing the sensibility of that reason and the third is getting the know how on how to breed a dog. It’s crucial that you have some understanding of the matter if you wish to breed your dog yourself. The first thing one should know is that the female dog is called a bitch while the male dog is called a sire. 

When pondering on how to breed a dog, you should know a little bit about the canine mating cycle. For instance a female dog usually gets in heat once every six months. It’s not advisable to breed your dog if it happens to be young and in its first cycle since it could lead to a growth stunt. This happens because the vital vitamins and nutrients are taken by puppies, leaving the bitch feeble and unhealthy. Therefore do not try to speed up the process.

When considering how to breed a dog it is essential that you know how to know when the bitch is in heat. The first sign is that the owner will be able to observe a clear discharge along with the swelling of the vulva before the actual bleeding commences. If you know how to breed a dog then you will only let the dog mate ten to fourteen days after the first sign of color in the discharge. Due to the fact that your dog could be harmed by sires who may refuse to leave your dog alone this is a vital precaution.

A key lesson for having the knowledge on how to breed a dog is to look out for the symptoms that the female is prepared to mate. Just scratching the correct are above the tail is all what you would need to do in order to ensure this. If she raises her tail and moves it to one side then this is a clear sign that she is ready. Make sure that you do not interrupt when the actual mating is taking place. Instead keep a hold on the females head incase she has a change of heart and attack the sire. Any disruption maybe harmful to both dogs and the duration could be anything between 10-45 minutes. Repeat this daily until the bitch refuses any more sires.

Now that you have sufficient knowhow on how to breed a dog make sure that you do not ignore the technicalities. For example it is essential that you keep record of the first and last dates of the breeding and do not interfere with her until sixty three days have passed as this is the normal conception time for a dog. You should take the precaution of getting her examined by a veterinarian if she has not conceived by the end of this period.

Dog breeding and dog grooming problems, in any of the dog breeds, are all common with the huge increase in popularity of dog breeding in U.S.A. and around the world. Due to the lack of necessary knowledge in the dog breeding field, many individuals will find it difficult to deal with the tasks associated with dog breeding.

When dog breeding problems occur, many people will seek professional advice from an expert. This is a smarter option if you are hoping to sell the puppies once they are born and properly brought up.You can be ensured of higher profits if the puppies are in good health and the offspring would be of higher quality with the expected behaviors and qualities of the dog.Many bitches will have several kinds of problems that may cause to dog breeding problems. One such kind is the occurrence of a disease. The born puppies would contain characteristics such as undesirable qualities or illnesses , if the bitch is ill before birth.One other kind of a problem is that of the disliking by the bitch towards the dog. This will happen when the male is more of a shy dog.One solution will be to bring a bitch that?s in her periods of heat, so that a natural attraction by the bitch towards the dog will occur.

Sometimes, stress can also affect the dogs.Traveling is a possible cause for this kind of dog stress.In some cases people tend to bring their dogs in to a longer distance in order to breed.This will cause of undesirable stress on the dog or the bitch and make it not so ready for a breeding.The most common form of stress caused on dogs is by traveling by air to another state or a country.

Sometimes a bitch which is in the period of heat might not show it off, hence will be very difficult for the owner to identify its behaviors for good breeding. In some cases the bitch might experience some vaginal issues related to breeding, hence will prevent pregnancy.

Prior for any good breeding it is desirable to identify dog breeding problems and make sure that you address these once a failure occurs.  For a successful breeding the literature study of past breeding by others will surely help.Referring to some of very important online advices and explanations given by experts on the field will be a smart idea.

While the main interest is focused on dog breeding and dog grooming, we as owners should not forget about the dog’s health. Acunpuncture is a method renowned for its healing effects. But did you know this form of therapy not only works on humans but could also be used on your pet dogs? Canine acupuncture is a common form of therapy used by many pet owners to help their dogs.

Acupuncture has been around for over thousands of years and is known to have originated in China. This form of therapy is implemented by inserting thin needles into various points of the body, {along certain paths known as  meridians~into identified acupuncture points in the body on pathways called meridians} , to provide relief for several disorders~diseases}. The acupuncture therapy relies on the theory that the vital energy in the body should be balanced for efficient healing.

If you are thinking about canine acupuncture for your dog, you would want to visit a canine acupuncturist, who would commence canine acupuncture treatment after asking you several important questions relating to your dog, and will also check to see whether the animal shows any external signs of illness. It is important that you go to a canine acupuncturist who is licensed, so as to ensure safe treatment. It is best that you first take your dog to its regular doctor who will refer you to an acupuncturist. Several websites online also have lists of veterinarian acupuncturists.

Canine acupuncture is said to be relaxing and may therefore make your dog drowsy. Canine acupuncture not at all painful. Pet owners therefore need not worry about their dogs suffering while canine acupuncture is being carried out.

Canine acupuncture could handle other diseases such as arthritis, various allergies and problems with regard to fertility, to name a few. Canine acupuncture treatment does not last very long. It lasts a minum of 10 minutes and a maximum of 30 mintues. Based on your dogs condition and other important matters regarding your dogs health, the number of sittings will be established. Usually it would take around 5 sessions to cure the dog of its ailments. Not only does canine acupuncture cure physical ailments, but is also known to help improve psychological and emotional disorders. What better way to keep your dog healthy!

Secrets to Dog Training’ by Daniel Stevens is thought by many experts to be the best online dog training program you can get.

Secrets to Dog Training has sold over 220,000 copies and has been the No.1 best seller for the past 4 years running.

When I took a look at this course, I was immediately impressed by how thorough it is – a Table of Contents 5 pages long says it all!

All areas of dog training and welfare are covered in its 260+ easy–to-follow pages. 

The ebook contains some great photos and pics which help to illustrate the instructions contained in the course.

If you’d like to read more about Daniel Stevens ‘Secrets to Dog Training’ course, check out Review of Daniel Stevens ‘Secrets to Dog Training’

Section 1 examines somes general questions relating to owning a dog, such as How To Select Your Puppy Or Dog, and Nutrition and Diet, but also some different training techniques such as head collar training and clicker training.

Section two looks at our dogs thinking process, their instincts, and how they use their senses.

A particularly interesting chapter in this section looks at communicating with your dog using signals and body language.

I was most impressed however with section 3, which deals with over 25 separate dog behavioural issues, from leash-pulling, whining and destructive chewing through to barking, biting and aggression.

It explains why these behaviours arise in the first place, before going on to detail how we can stop them.

My own personal experience is that the results from following these instructions can be both dramatic and immediate.

Remember, if you would like further information on this great online dog training course, have a look at

Secrets to Dog Training Review

Secrets to Dog Training covers more subjects than I have time to list here, from introducing your new dog to your other pets, to how to stop him chasing cats!

Some of the free bonuses that are offered with the course include a thirty minute online video which will teach you how to successfully assert yourself as the dominant pack member, and access to
the Members-Only Dog Community, where you can have your questions answered by the vets, dog trainers and dog owners who you’ll find there.

In case you’re not sure, the course comes with a’No Hassles’ 60-day 100% Money Back Guarantee.

Having used the course myself, I can honestly say that the effect on my own dog has been amazing.

My ‘badly-behaved-but-loveable’ black labrador has now become a happy, attentive, obedient and content dog thanks to the advice given in this course.

If you are looking for a comprehensive online dog training course, I strongly recommend that you have a look at ‘Secrets to Dog Training’ by Daniel Stevens.

I trust you’ve enjoyed reading this. Why not check out my review of another fantasic dog training course by visiting Review of Dove Cresswells ‘Puppy and Dog Training Online’

{For loads more helpful tips and useful advice an all areas of dog training, why not take a look at http://fixmydogonline.com/}

Is your dog in constant search of the coolest place to sleep? Is your dog always sweating all over it’s bed? Are you constantly cleaning your dog’s bed? Maybe it’s time for a change and to look at one of the few really good cooling dog beds on the market?

After searching and researching for quite some time, I think i have narrowed the list to three of the best cool dog beds available today. The three cool dog beds to really consider are the K&H Cool line of Beds, Coolaroo cool dog beds and the K&H Snuggly Sleeper.

The K&H Cool dog beds require no electricity to keep your dog cool. You can just fill it water. These things spread the water uniformly so that your pup gets a fantastic night’s sleep and remains cool when desired. More comfort, less odor and easy to clean will ensure that this is a great find for you and your dog!

The Coolaroo cool dog bed works in a completely different manner. This thing has legs and keeps your dog elevated. It is very rugged and durable. The four legs allow air to circulate under the sleeping surface which helps to keep your dog cool and dry. These are easy to clean, can be hosed off and are flea and mite resistant. If a great value is what you are after, then a cool dog bed should be something that you consider.

The K&H Snuggly Sleeper is your all season solution and gives you the luxury of having two beds in one. The framework of the sides offer excellent comfort and then this is where this bed is a beauty. In the winter, use the soft heated pad. In the summer, use the K&H award winning Cool Bed III insert mentioned above! You cannot go wrong here. For just a couple extra dollars you can have your pup covered through all of the seasons!

Finding the right dog bed can be tough until you have sorted through all of the brands to find one that you trust. If a cool dog bed is what you are looking for then you cannot go wrong with any of the three selections above.

To find out more about any of these cooling dog beds checkout the cool dog beds at http://www.ShopforPetBeds.com

My family run an animal sanctuary in Birmingham, England. Even though we love what we do, we feel that some people need to realise that a pet should be a long term commitment. They should not be seen as just a bit of fun which they can then get rid of when they get bored.

In more recent years I have started to become less and less involved with the running of the sanctuary. I work in other sectors including composite doors, offering how to stop stuttering course and advising people about becoming a foster carer.

Many people arrive at the animal sanctuary with their pets, which are mainly dogs, with many excuses as to why they are no longer able to look after or care for them. I am sure many of their reasons are valid but am also aware that many others are just an excuse to offload them.

The excuses they give are varied:

I have broken up with my long time boyfriend/girlfriend and this was their dog – I certainly do not want it as it reminds me of my ex-partner.

The dog has started to bite my children

The dog is too difficult to handle and is destroying my furniture

We are no longer living in a house; we are now living in a top floor flat. One of their rules is that no animals can live in these flats

The dog barks to much and it is upsetting the neighbours

Our other animals do not like the dog

The dog is affecting my health

I am too ill to look after my dog

As well as the dogs in the sanctuary we also have a few of our own “pet dogs”. These tend to be the waifs and straifs that other people tend not to choose. I would have to say that my favourite out of all of these dogs is a dog called Cassie. She is full of life and has been ill treated it seems when she was a puppy. Half of her left ear is missing and she is seemingly quite afraid of men.

At the outset Cassie had to be treated with a lot of love and sincerity as she had a real lack of trust in human beings. She can be too lively at times which is possibly why three people who attempted to re-home her, have bought her back. She is not aggressive in any way but does tend to jump up at people.

Cassie is turning into a wonderful dog to have around the house and now feels for the first time as part of a family.

With a little more patience most other dogs can turn out this way. This is why we want more people to take more responsibility and to give their animals more of a chance to settle into their homes, and to get used to a new set of rules.

I highly recommend that all dog owners crate their dogs.   Some people believe that crating your dog is cruel.This is misinformation and completely incorrent.   Dogs have a den instinct and a crate is a great way to give them a den where they can go to sleep and feel safe.   By nature, a dog in its den will be calm and settled.    I highly recommend crating your dog with separation anxiety.  It will help with separation anxiety in canines

There are a couple of added benefits to crating your dog separation anxiety.  The first thing that crating your dog gives you is peace of mind while you are gone.An appropriate sized crate is one where the dog can lay sideways and stand in.   Take your dogs collar off before you crate them.Dog Collars can get stuck in Vari-Kennel and wire crates.Sadly, dog have been killed from this.

If your dog has chewed up your carpet, couch or cupboards, the most sure-fire way to make sure it doesn’t happen anymore put your dog in its crate while you are gone.   If you have dog that chews their crate, you can coat those spots in bitter apple, or hot pepper sauce.    If you have a dog that can break out of their crate, you simply need a stronger crate.Some people have to get aluminum crates to keep their dogs.

Another benefit of crating your dog is that they are less likely to have accidents in the house. Dogs try not to go to the bathroom in their den.Crating your dog is a great way to avoid accidents in the home or minimize the damage to the crate alone.

Most dogs accept crates quickly and learn to love them! You dogs crate is i’s home – provide them one for their whole life. You can always remove the door once your puppy has grown up and can be trusted. Make sure you keep the door on if your dog has separation anxiety and has wrecked items in your house!

Dog separation anxiety can become a major, expensive issue when left alone.  Be sure to spend the time to get the issues solved now!

No matter how much we love our puppy, we wonder when it will ever be house trained. A new puppy has no idea about picking a place to “go.” Dogs really want to be house trained, because they want to have a clean living space. Here are three tips for using clicker training to help your dog be house trained faster.

First, take your puppy to his potty place after eating and sleeping. It’s at these times that a puppy most likely needs to empty his bladder and bowels. Stay with your puppy and reward him when he goes where you want him to. If you’re using clicker training, click when he squats and reward when he’s done.

If he’s not ready to go just yet, give him some more time. But always watch for signs — walking in circles, a certain kind of sniffing around — that it’s time. You’ll get the hang of it as you watch your dog’s day-to-day behavior. Always click when he does something you want him to repeat and reward him with your enthusiasm and a treat.

Second, set a place for the dog to go potty. If that’s outside, you might want to designate a part of the yard specifically for your dog’s “business.” You’ll want to pick up after your dog frequently, because they don’t like to walk through their waste, but it’s one way to narrow the area that needs to be cleaned.

If the potty place is inside, find an easily cleaned space of floor and tape down an oven liner or a pet training pad. As the dog gets older and better able to control his bladder and bowel movements, he can wait longer times before eliminating. You can stop clicking when your dog has mastered a behavior and go back to the training when it’s time for your dog to learn something new.

Don’t hit your dog for making a mistake. Instead, help your dog learn to succeed. Formerly, common wisdom advised dog owners to house train their dogs by rubbing their noses in their own excrement. This is cruel and pointless. By the time he is finished with his bowel movement, he has no clue why you’re doing this to him.

If you reinforce the right behavior, they’ll do it because they want to please you. Dogs are creatures of habit, and if you can get them to succeed — and reward their success — they’ll be more than happy to get it right in the future. With clicker training, the dog knows exactly what he’s being rewarded for — and so exactly what you want him to do.

Dogs want to have a designated area for their waste away from their living area, an instinctive desire they share with wolves in the wild. They are really on your side in this effort. Your dog really wants to please you. You can use clicker training to help make your dog a welcome companion around your house.

Click here for more information about clicker training.

Many people believe that hunting dogs should never be contained indoors or allowed to be around children.  They think that because the dog has “tasted blood” on the hunt, it cannot be trusted not to hurt children.  This line of thinking is simply not true.  Hunting dogs make wonderful family pets because of their natural tendency to want praise and acceptance from their masters.  They are also quite intelligent and follow commands easily.  Most hunting dogs, especially retrievers, have “soft mouths”, which means that they don’t bite down hard.  This is definitely an advantage for young children who love to play with dogs.

One of the most popular dogs anywhere in the USA is the Golden Retriever.  These dogs love the water, they are docile dogs and they are great hunters, though seldom trained for hunting.  These dogs are perfect dogs for children since they have energy to spare and they love to play. 

Training your hunting dog to take to children is pretty simple. It’s important to remember that a hunting dog sees you (as the adult and trainer) as the top dog and therefore considers children who they are living with as part of the ‘litter’.  As your children grow up, the hunting dog will follow your example. He will watch and see how you treat him as well as his ‘litter-mates’ and he’ll determine what the ‘pecking order’ is in the home.

Very young children don’t always understand how rough or gentle they are when they play.  Make sure that you show your children how dogs, especially puppies, are to be played with.  If your child likes to wrestle and roughhouse, make sure it doesn’t go too far.  You don’t want your child or your puppy to be injured. 

Set rules and boundaries for both your children and your dog and make sure they follow them consistently.  Children don’t always remember that a dog does not act or think like they do.  Your dog is certainly a member of the family, but a canine member, not a human.  Have rules such as: never feed the dog from the table or let him beg; the dog sleeps in his crate, not in anyone’s beds; or,  the dog is not allowed in certain areas of the house.  This may not seem fair to your children, but it will help them understand the boundaries set for them and for your dog.

There is no price that can be set on owning a dog.  Their unconditional love will be remembered forever in your children’s hearts.  Every dog is unique.  Think about your first dog – can you remember the special tricks he did, what treats he loved to eat, the little quirks of his personality?  Who would not want that for their own children?  Dogs help us remember that the little things in life are what’s most important, and they give us an appreciation for nature.  In this respect, hunting dogs are no different than other breeds. 

To help you train your hunting dog you should make sure you have the proper supplies. Some of the more popular supplies include: Tracker Maxima Tracking Collars and  Innotek ADV 300 Dog Training Collars.

After a long winter’s rest and the sedentary comfort of the indoor life, you, your family, and especially your dog will be feeling the fever – spring fever, that is!  It’s time to go outdoors and enjoy the sun again.  Take advantage of the unpredictable weather and the on-again, off-again activity level of the springtime in order to ease into summertime’s high-gear.  Walking, running, swimming, biking, and hiking are all fantastic activities to share with your dog.  However, veterinarians strongly suggest exercising your dog moderately at first, gradually working up to longer periods of activity.  If you don’t, you could risk your dog’s health.  Heat exhaustion is very common for dogs in the summertime.

Start Slow and Work Up

{Every athlete knows they won’t win any medals on their first day of training.  The same is true for us and for our dogs.  Start out with shorter walks and gradually increase the length and intensity of your workouts.  Watch your dog carefully for signs that he’s reached his limit.  Watch yourself too – you may reach your limit before he does!  As long as your dog is healthy, it won’t take him long to get back into shape and be able to maintain an active schedule.If you were going to run a marathon, you would not go from your sofa to a twenty mile run would you?  Certainly not – you would work up slowly.  Things are no different when dealing with your dog.  Start out slow, and every day adds time onto your daily trek with your furry friend.  Regardless of whether your dog is your special family friend or a hunter, be sure that the exercise that they are getting is in line with their overall health.  Watch to make sure that your dog is content, and not overly exercised and gradually increase the activity level.  For most dogs, going from low activity to high activity is not a long drawn out process. The more energy they expend, the higher their energy level will be.}

Timing

Always be cognizant of the hottest times of the day.  Take advantage of the early morning and late evenings when the heat is not intense.  Remember that concrete and asphalt get extremely hot and can easily burn your dog’s sensitive paw pads.  Planning on when the best times to exercise are will keep you and your pet cooler during your workouts.

Grooming

Most of us like to have our haircut shorter for summer wear. Think about your longhaired dog (or those who have dual coats).  Keeping their hair trimmed and brushed in the warmer weather becomes even more important.  One word of caution: if you are having a groomer cut your dogs hair, make sure they do not cut it too short – just like you, your dog can suffer from sunburn.  This is especially important if your dog has light colored fur, as they tend to be more sensitive to the sun.   

Cooling Off

We often wonder how our dogs perspire in the summer – especially in the heat of the day.  Canines unlike people do not perspire through sweating, but instead through panting – perspiring through the mouth.  Dogs’ bodies cool down from moving air and from shaded areas (or a dip in the water).  They do not however cool down as quickly as we do.  Keep your dog in an area where he will have access to shaded and if possible, moving air. This will help him stay cool and comfortable in the hot sun. 

Watch For Heat-Related Problems

Owners need to know the signs of heat stroke in dogs: 

                Labored or deep and uncontrolled breathing or excessive panting with broken rhythm

                Tacky and bright red gums

                Fatigue, unwillingness to move, or collapse

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should immediately care for your dog.  It is never recommended that you use cold or ice water for cooling your dog down. Instead, use tepid water to wet your dog.  Then place wet towels over your dog to keep the water on their bodies.  If you move the towels, this will help airflow as well.  Keep in mind, a dog who is suffering from heat related problems should not be allowed to go into a pool or other body of water that might require swimming. Their lack of energy could result in drowning. 

Find emergency care for your dog quickly, or contact your vet for advice.  Even if he appears to be recovered, he may not be.  Only an expert examination by a veterinarian can tell you for sure if he’s really better.

Keeping your dog safe in warm weather means using a practical approach to exercise and care. Keeping your dog healthy in warm weather means that they will have a happy summer time with you and your family.

 Having a dog is like having a child, they become part of you and your family, with the being said you have to make sure you have the proper training gear as well.  There are lots of great brands out there. Some of the most popular supplies include: Tracker Maxima and Innotek ADV300P Do you research and choose which one is right for you and your dog.