First Coast Pet

Archive for December, 2008

Dogs love to dig. Whether it is to bury a bone, look for a bone, or to just see what is underneath the dirt this time, dogs enjoy digging.

This natural behavior can wreak havoc on your yard and garden if it goes unchecked. What is the best way to curb the digging impulse?

Why does your dog dig? Does he just like the action and feeling or is there another reason lurking underneath? Figuring out why your dog is engaging in this undesirable behavior is the first step in correcting it.

Some dogs do enjoy the act of digging, but others use it to communicate with you. They may be crying out for attention or more exercise. They may need a shelter to stay warm or cool. They may be burying food. If you’ve recently put down fertilizer or dug in your garden, your dog may be responding to the scents.

If you can determine why your dog is digging, you can take appropriate action. For instance, do you notice your dog digging when it is very hot? He could simply be seeking some shelter from the sun. Remedying the situation by getting a doghouse or taking the dog inside will most likely stop the digging. Sit Stay Fetch can help to change negative habits.

If that doesn’t help, your dog may have developed a digging habit! The following suggestions can help:

1. Bury inflated balloons in places where your dog likes to dig. One popped balloon can be a great deterrent.

2. Along the same lines, you can mix in his feces when you refill a hole he’s dug. Dogs will often return to the same spots, and when he discovers the feces, he’ll be turned off digging.

3. Try burying some chicken wire just below the surface where your dog likes to dig. When your dog pits the wire with his paws, he’ll hate the sensation and stop digging.

4. When you catch your dog digging, give him a spray from a water bottle or hose. They hate this (but it is not harmful). They will learn to associate the punishment with the crime. Only do this when you catch him digging or he will not connect the behavior with the consequence.

Digging doesn’t have to be a part of your dog’s normal routine. With a little work and training, you can get past this behavior and have a hole-free yard. Just like with puppy potty training, naughty habits can be corrected.

Clicker Training for Great Dog Behavior

The use of clickers in dog training has increased in recent years. It is a gentle way to condition your dog to repeat good behavior.

When you use clicker training, you teach your dog to associate good behavior with a treat or reward. This is known as the principle of operant conditioning. How does it work?

A clicker is a small plastic box with a metal strip. When you push and release the metal strip, it makes a sharp clicking sound.

Ask your dog to perform a command, such as sit, stay, heel, etc. When he does, click right away and give your dog a treat. You are pairing the clicking sound with the treat.

This teaches your dog to connect the behavior with the click. Since the click is associated with the treat, he’ll be more apt to perform the good behavior. Eventually, you can phase out the treat, and he will respond to the click. After successful training, you won’t need the clicker either.

Clicking is immediate. Dogs need to know exactly what they are being praised for, and the clicking sound helps let them know. This is why the clicker method is so effective for training.

Your dog really wants to make you proud. Using the clicker method is a great way to teach your dog in an effective and humane manner.

Be aware of your pet’s behaviour issues and needs, learn more about puppy training.

Puppy Training

You are walking down the street and the next thing you know, your normally loving dog becomes aggressive towards other dogs and people he sees. It’s enough to make you want to keep him inside all the time!

Skipping walks is not an option and may exacerbate the problem. Can you curb leash aggression so your daily walks aren’t nightmares?

If your dog seems like he is about to become aggressive, divert him with a command like sit or down. This will keep him occupied and should reroute his attention.

If you are about to pass another dog, don’t tense up or pull the least taut. Your pet will be able to tell and he will think that you are scared, so aggression is much more likely. Animals pick up on our signals – just remain calm and relaxed.

Muzzles and gentle leader harnesses can be useful training tools for dogs who lunge. Gentle leaders are designed to keep a dog from lunging, and muzzles will prevent biting. If you use them, make sure to train your dog at the same time. Don’t plan on relying on these tools indefinately.

If you have tried to curb leash aggression and your dog still misbehaves during walks, it is time to find a good trainer. You need professional help to stop this at once: not only is it disruptive to your own walks, it is dangerous to everyone and every animal you pass on the sidewalk.

Many dogs pull on their leashes, especially when they are first being trained. Stopping this behavior as soon as possible is important. It can lead to more annoyance at the very least. At worst, it can hurt a person, pet, and you. Start early before you have to take more drastic measures.

Teaching your dog to stay can be an immensely useful command, and it will definitely impress other dog owners. As always, use treats and praise to help you train your dog. You can use SitStayFetch to enhance your results.

First, tell your dog to sit or lie. When he does, put your hand, palm towards the dog, and say, “Stay.” Use a firm voice.

Your dog may only be able to stay for a second or two at first. No matter how long he stays, remember to praise him and give him a treat. He will be able to stay longer as he practices.

In addition teach him the release command so he learns when it is time to get up. “Ok” or “Come” are often used. Again, kudos and treats make training easier. Praise and treats help alot when it comes to puppy potty training.

As you work on the stay command, demand that your dog stay for longer periods of time. Don’t give him his treat until he performs to your satisfcation. Have him do a little more each time.

You don’t want to practice for an hour though. Keep your training sessions short and sweet. Make them fun for your dog, provide lots of praise and rewards, and you’ll get results. Five to ten minutes is a great amount of time for each training session, and you can do it several times a day.

Dogs do not respond to long training sessions. They get bored, lose focus, or fail to respond to commands. Remember also to be patient, especially at first. Remind your dog to stay often, until he gets it on his own. You may also have to reteach the basics a few times before it is learned. Knowing they are about to get a treat may make your dog antsy, but be patient and make him obey the command each time before he gets his treat.

If you keep working, your dog will be able to stay for longer periods. You’ll be impressed when he stays even when you leave the room. Treats will become unnecessary after training, but praise is never obsolete. Let your dog know when he is doing a good job.

Discover more about potty training a puppy.

Greyhounds are beautiful animal athletes.  As they race and perform through their profesional careers, they usually race until they are between 1.5 and 4 years old.  During this time, they become accustomed to being walked and lead on a leash, so upon retirement from their profesional careers, they make wonderful pets!

As a retired athlete, they are smart, quiet, calm, clean, gentle, and generally good-natured and happy to adapt to a new home environment.  They respond well to positive attention and reinforcement and thus they are a joy to train and work with for the new homes they become a part of.

Greyhounds love attention and although they do need exercise, they do not need as much space to run as people might think.  Inside the home, they prefer to curl up in a corner on a gentle rug.  They are gentle creatures and perfectly well behaved inside a house and around people.

Greyhounds spend most of their life with other dogs, people, and handlers, thus they are very sociable animals and get along well with others.  Their personality makes them an excellent breed to be around children.  Their intelligence and dedication make them an perfect companion.  And because they are well mannered, they are great around company and in public.

There is probably a local Greyhound Pets of America club near you.  So consider adopting a former Greyhound racer.  For more information, check out the Tucson Greyhound Park.  Various chapters have different expectations and fees, but all will encourage you to come visit and find out more about whether a Greyhound might be right for you!

Please help by volunteering your time.  Most local chapters need volunteers to help with care, vet appointments, and even just shopping for doggie supplies.  Of course, monetary donations are also welcome, but your time and love is needed most!

how to train a puppy

Right from the beginning of your dog training routine, concentrate on the end result you’re after, and not the actions you want to steer away from. So when you’re going through your training routines, you need to have clear understanding of exactly what you want to happen, and hold that image through the session. Never give a second thought to what it is that you don’t want to happen.

If you don’t know where you’re going, how can you get there? That’s true of most things in life, especially where dog house training too

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of concentrating on things that we don’t want. And it seems to be a wide spread phenomenon with dog training too. We don’t want our dog to pee in the house, or chew our shoes, or disobey our commands, or start barking incessantly when our sweet old aunt comes to visit.

Just think about it for a moment. Lets imagine you’re about to pick up a new puppy. Do you really want to spend the next ten, twelve, or fifteen years chasing your dog telling him off for things you didn’t want him to do? Wouldn’t it be better to guide your dog into behaviors that you want?

A perfect example is when you think, “I really do not want the dog to chew the furniture,” try, “I will encourage him to play with his toys.” Rather than, “I don’t want my dog to jump up on my guests,” change it to, “I would like my dog to sit to greet people.”

By focusing on the positive aspects of your training goals, you’ll have a clear destination in mind. I can’t think of a better way to get started with training your new dog.

Let Him Know When He’s Been Good

The most important aspect people have realized in puppy house training during the last decade is the trend away from concentrating on correcting bad behavior, or penalizing mistakes, to rewarding obedience and favorable actions.

Most trainer now favor the practice of rewarding a well behaved dog especially for potty training tricks. Perhaps the most important reason is that if you make a mistake using punishment, the outcome can be pretty sad. Punishment can make a dog feel threatened when she could possibly react to punishment by withdrawing and becoming frightened of you. Other dogs shut down. They seem to lose their sense of adventure. Some may even appear completely broken spirited.

Using rewards training methods also makes you feel good. Heaping praise and treats on your dog gives a powerful sense of achievement.

But the best news is that this approach to dog obedience training works extremely well. The main reason being that rewards of this nature help to stimulate and build acceptable behavior. If a behavior is rewarding, your dog is more likely to exhibit that behavior again in the future. When you learn how to apply that simple rule, using rewards will make your training days a lot easier and more productive.

An early relationship strain will be caused by your dog's propensity to chew

Dogs carry out destructive chewing for three main reasons, they are simply bored, they find it pleasurable to do so, or they find it helps get them through emotional times. The nearest human equivalent for which might be to consume a bar of chocolate!

Anything that gets in the way of this chewing normally ends up in poor state. A lot of things, usually valuable ones, can be damaged by your dogs sharp teeth.

Chewing is only acceptable of your dog's toys, never let her have a go at your own possessions.

How To Avoid Your Possessions Being Destroyed

The first tip for dog behavior training is to not place valuable objects in the way of temptation. If you have ev er baby proofed your house then you know what to do here. Why let providence intervene.

In addition, when hiding things be aware of just how agile your dog is. How high can she reach when standing on her back legs for example?

Consider that common targets in the home include books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.

It should not need saying that food needs to be put away very securely. A sensible thing to do with food is to always make sure it is stored either in high cupboards or locked away in airtight containers.

The phrase prevention is better than cure applies to dog behaviour training too, if your dog is not given the opportunity to discover the delights of chewing a forbidden item then it is a lot easier for her to learn your house rules.

Allowing your dog to carry on some old habits can seriously undermine your training efforts. Once she has the taste do not be surprised to find shoes you care about being treated to the same destructive chewing.

Why not buy some doggy toys to show your pet what it is she can play with. Take a look around your local pet store for tough items such as rubber bones and balls etc. Buy a few and rotate their use as a way to keep your dog behaviour training interesting.

Some final advice on dog behaviour, when you catch your dog chewing something inappropriate be sure to interrupt her immediately and provide a suitable alternative and give lavish praise when this is accepted as a way of reinforcing good behaviour.

They’re beautiful, stylish and sometimes controversial. They come mass made and some with designer labels. They also make unbelievably expensive chew toys for many puppies and dogs. They’re leather dog collars, once the average dog gear and now a luxury piece. Is a leather dog collars right for your dog?

Pros

Some of the advantages of using leather dog collars are that they are long lasting provided you take care of them properly. Although they are more expensive initially than other collars, they can sometimes last longer than the life of your dog. Some owners of dogs who get good and muddy prefer to use leather dog collars and leashes than of other materials because it is so durable.

Another advantage is that leather always matches your pet’s fur, whether it is brown leather or black leather. Leather has an undeniably timeless look and a great smell, provided you take care of the leather properly. There are now a big selection of leather dog collars in different patterns, colors, with rhinestones or other additions. There are even renowned designers of people fashions who are getting into doggie couture.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage of leather dog collars is that it’s made out of very tasty animal hide. At least, your dog thinks it’s tasty. You can’t explain to your dog that it’s not okay to chew on the $100 rolled leather dog collar but it is okay to chew on rawhide treats. They are made of nearly the same stuff. Dogs will chew on leather, but with patience and persistence, they can be trained not to.

One of the other disadvantages is having to clean and condition the leather dog collar and leash. You dont have these worries with nylon or rayon collars and leashes. You can throw them in the bath along with the dog. But prolonged exposure to soaking water will destroy leather. You need to get special soaps and conditioners for them. You might need to have the leather collars worn only on special occasions.

If you are a vegetarian or vegan, than you are already trying to cut out all animal-based products from your life. The thought of killing cows for dog collars might not sit well in your mind. But there are attractive man-made leather dog collars that are almost as tough as leather on the market. As an added bonus, they don’t have the strong smell that attracts dogs looking for a quick snack.

Some people have known for a long time that certain crossbreeds of animals are an improvement on each of the original breeds. It’s a matter of finding which breeds cross best with other breeds. A few of these crossbreeds even go on to become established breeds by themselves. One of the most successful crossbreeds in dogs is seen in the Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy, known also as Golden Labrador Retrievers. Even at an early age, they readily show the best of both the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.

The Perfect Personality?

Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are dogs that love people and are eager to please. Keep in mind that not every one is alike, and poor training will always make for a rowdy, fearful dog (regardless of breed), but on the whole, a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is a born people lover. They are fascinated by people and seem to easily bond with them. They also have a lot of strength and energy, which comes in handy for service and search and rescue dogs.

Best Seeing Eye Dogs

The Golden Labrador Retriever are hailed as the best seeing eye dogs by experts that train seeing eye dogs in England. There is an excellent breeding program run in England by Guide Dogs to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs. A Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is first tested at about eight weeks of age to see what his personality is like.

Their training never really stops. Many a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy fails the program and is put up for adoption as a pet. It costs about $70,000 US Dollars to take a Golden Labrador Retriever puppy and turn it into a specially trained service dog. They work until old age or illness forces them to retire, and then they are placed in care homes for the remainder of their days.

Other Facts

Although many online Labrador puppies information web sites will say that a Golden Labrador is always yellow, this is not true. Every now and then there is a black or chocolate Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy born. American Canine Hybrid Club is where you can register your Labrador Golden Retriever puppy.

Every day, there is a newborn Golden / Labrador Retriever puppy who makes that first step to being a specially trained service dog. They all can rescue us from ourselves and our selfishness and help give our souls back to ourselves.

In general, poodles are dogs that love fun and have a nice reserved temperament, if you need to have a pet that your family will love, then you might want to consider getting a miniature poodle. Read on and find out more information on the miniature poodle and use these as guides for making your decision in addition to knowing what you can expect when you bring the miniature poodle home.

Any Concerns

There are a few concerns that you may have about owning a miniature poodle and one of them is grooming. The poodle’s hair tends to be curly and thick, so it will be necessary for you to make sure that your poodle puppy is groomed regularly or as often as possible. For puppies the standard grooming cut is normally short hair all over the body, and this may need to be done every month so that your miniature poodle looks great. The colors of the miniature poodles vary from brown, white, black and cafe-au-lait, and these are on many occasions displayed in the pet stores. In addition to this you can also have your poodle’s coat temporarily dyed for special occasions or events. These can come in a variety of colors like apricot, red, blue, gray or silver which are the normally accepted colors for poodle coats. Such coloring or dyeing normally do not damage the miniature poodles hair.

Learning about your dog’s temperament is also ideal before you buy your miniature poodle. You may have to socialize your dog as a puppy, since poodles tend to be very reserved when dealing with strangers. Miniature poodles tend to bark a lot as well, which means that will do a good job of alerting you if something goes wrong in the home. In most cases, your dog will like to play with children, but some poodle varieties can be a little high-strung, so try to see the parents or even grandparents of the puppies you are considering before taking them home. Your miniature poodle will also be great at learning tricks in most cases, which means you can entertain family and friends.

The miniature poodle generally has a pretty long life span as well, but you’ll need to watch out for certain genetic problems that can arise. Cataracts is common in all poodle varieties, and retinal atrophy could cause blindness, so you’ll need to take your poodle to the vet often for vision and nervous system checkups. Your poodle should also be checked for runny eyes and ear infections often. And, poodle skin tends to be sensitive; allergies and skin rashes can occur when certain types of dog shampoo or dyes are used, and clippers could cause skin conditions in poodles as well. Make sure that your grooming facility uses sanitized and hypo-allergenic materials when grooming your poodle.

For more great information on how to care for your miniature poodle, visit www.poodle-lovers.com.

organic dog food

When searching for quality dog food brands it is vital that you read the label and have the knowledge to understand and interpret the information you find. When reading the label, look for the first fat or oil that is listed. All items placed above the first fat source are considered to be the main ingredients along with the first fat source. The other items shown on the label are typically added to the dog food for flavor, as preservatives, to aid in the processing of the food or for health benefits such as minerals or vitamins.

It is important that you check the ingredients for their nutritional value. However, due to the names the manufacturers use for food items it can be somewhat difficult to analyze the usefulness of the food substances. It is difficult to know what quality grade of food items they are placing in the foods as well as the quantity of the ingredients.

Surf Manufacturer’s Websites

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) does not allow dog food manufacturers to place information on the labels regarding the quality of the food substances. It is important to read the information that is available on the websites of the various pet food companies and carefully read the information they provide about the quality of the ingredients they use in their products.

Protein

Protein is the most vital substance in your dogs diet and you want to make sure the food you serve your pet uses quality sources of protein. Quality dog foods usually have a meat meal listed as the first ingredient on the label or a meat with the second ingredient being a meat meal substance. Meat by-products are not high quality protein sources. If the label mentions a specific type of meat meal, such as chicken meal this type of protein source is not inferior to whole meats. Avoid products that do not mention the specific animal the meat source comes from.

Regarding fats look for chicken fat, herring oil canola oil, sunflower oil, flax oil and other fat sources with specific names. See if the quality fats such as Omega three and Omega six are on the label. Avoid dog foods that contain nonspecific items such as animal fat, poultry fat, vegetable oil and other nonspecific fat sources.

Look for whole grains which may also be categorized as meal or ground and also look for fresh vegetables. Avoid products that are filled with too much grain fragments and flour. Also the healthiest dog food are typically preserved with natural substances such as vitamins. When looking for quality food products that will keep your dog healthy make sure you examine the label and read information provided at the websites of the dog food manufacturers.

Everybody has heard about the benefits of changing to an organic diet for a sounder and healthier living. But did you know that your dog can benefit from taking organic dog food, too? By switching your dog to an organic diet, you can help to ensure that he or she experiences a longer, sounder lifetime; with less travels to the veterinary surgeon, more vigour, and better overall health.

You might even be able to save a good amount of your money by producing your private brand of organic dog food right in your own home. Not only does this give you the piece of mind of knowing that you’re feeding your dog a prospect for a more appreciable lifespan, but likewise the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve saved a bunch of money in the operation.

A Success Formula

One of the foremost things that you want to have obtainable when you go to make your personal organic dog food is an airtight container to store the finished food in. Do-it-yourself dog food should just be stored for a couple of days, no more than four or five, so be certain not to make up any more than your four-legged friend can eat up in that time. Organic dog food should be given in practically the corresponding style as standard dog food; for instance, if your dog presently eats up a cup of dry food per day, so the like amount of your home-cooked food should be sufficient.

The next most important part of your organic dog food are the ingredients you use. Pick Out only the purest ground beef, turkey, or chicken that you would give your family, and you will aid to ascertain that your pet eats as nutritious as you. Cook the meat you choose thoroughly, and mix it into a nice ground in your blender or food processor.

Choosing veggies for your organic dog food is likewise significant. Dogs require beta carotene like humans do for positive eyesight, so we recommend grinding several carrots (three or four) through your blender into a fine pulp. Mix In both meat and vegetables together and add various cups of well prepared, brown rice to bind it all together. This should later be stored in an air-tight container in your refrigerator, and fed to your dog on a regular schedule.

As you can realise, producing your personalized nourishing organic dog food is easy as pie, and it solely appends a couple of bucks to your market budget every week. If you have a breed of dogs that necessitates nutritional add-on, you will see that they can be easily blended with your organic and healthy dog food concoction, in order to take the hassle out of feeding them to your dog.