First Coast Pet

Archive for March, 2009

When you bring home a new puppy or new dog, the first thing that will be a worry for you, naturally, is how you will potty train the dog or puppy.  Although some folks will get lucky and get dogs from breeders who took the energy and time to train them, this won’t always be the case.  Indeed, much of the time, the new owners will be the ones responsible for any dog training.  This might be a daunting idea for many of us, but training dogs is actually much easier than it might appear to be.

Patience and consistency is the most important thing to know when you need to potty train a dog.  You can’t be relaxed one day and strict the next.  If you do this, it will take a long while to succeed in potty training.  Keeping the right mindset and  concentrating on what needs to be done will make it fun and exciting.  You need to first decide where you want the dog to go potty.  Are you wanting it to go outside or on a pee pad inside?

Choosing a place for the pee pad and leaving it there can be one of the most important steps in training your dog.  He will usually adapt well to your choice.  If he decides that his pee pad should go somewhere else, then that is where the training should begin; learning to work with his current behavior will be the start of training him the way you want him to behave.

Instead of simply shouting on where the dog go to the bathroom,just place the pee pad at the spot.By doing this,the dog will start going on it and you will be happy for it.After a few days pass,simply move the pee pad a few feet away in the direction where you want to keep it.After every few days keep on moving the pee pad,as your dog gets comfortable with it,to the place where you actually want your dog to go.

Learn more about how to Potty Train Dog here.

No matter whether indoor or out,  when you potty train a dog you should be careful to only give food and water during set meal times, so that there are less accidents. For outdoor training, wait about twenty minutes after eating, then put the leash on and take your dog outside, but do not let it just wander around as it pleases.  Instead, lead it directly to a designated spot, and when your dog does what it’s expected to,  give lots of acknowledgment along with a treat.

Continue doing this but a plan of action will be required when you are unavailable at home.Unlike the training to dogs for the pee pads,your dog will not have a means for relieving itself properly.Training a dog for doing potty in the bathroom is also a way of teaching it on how to hold its bladder.Here the crate training is useful.If you put your dog in a safe crate while you are asleep or not at home,there are more chances that it will not go to the bathroom.However,once you reach home,you will need to take it out straight away.

Learn more about how to Potty Train Dog here.

If you don’t have the space for a large dog, there are a lot of smaller breeds that are fine in apartments or smaller backyards. Yet while lap dogs are very popular these days, there are also those that prefer the mannerisms of larger dogs. For these people, who like the temperament of larger dogs but cannot get one, small terrier dogs may be the answer. These little dogs look just like mini-me versions of their cousins, yet they are not submissive like a lap dog.

Small terriers are, actually, quite the opposite of submissive. You’ll discover them to be outgoing, fearless, confident, and willful. Consequently they need strong leadership from their owners, so they always know their place in the ‘pack’. Don’t get a terrier if you can’t be firm and assertive when it’s necessary. And you can’t let any situation develop, even when you’re playing, when your terrier gets to be dominant, even for a moment. – Because most terriers will challenge their owner some time anyway, even if you do everything right. But if you don’t, you set up some potentially unruly behaviour in your terrier.

Terriers are lovely dogs. They’re affectionate and happy. If they’re socialized properly they should be fine with the household cat, although to a terrier, other cats will always be seen as prey. This is because terriers have a high prey drive, a leftover from the ratting days, so if you have small kids and you have or want a terrier, they should always be supervised when together.

You can see the many small breed terriers below

•  Welsh Terrier 
•  Irish Terrier
•  Scottish Terrier 
•  Smooth Fox Terrier
•  Border Terrier 
•  Cairn Terrier 
•  West Highland White Terrier 
•  Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier 
•  Yorkshire Terrier 
•  Australian Terrier 
•  Toy Manchester Terrier 
•  Manchester Terrier 
•  Miniature Bull Terrier
•  Sealyham Terrier
   Kerry Blue Terrier 
•  Boston Terrier 
•  Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Of course, even though terriers share the common characteristics described, the various breeds have their own unique traits. These range from the obvious, like coat type and color, to temperament. Some breeds take longer to groom compared to others, even within the terrier group. That can be an important consideration when choosing a dog.

Many cat owners are probably not aware that cat pet training can actually work. You can train cats to do lots of things but there are certain things that will be very challenging.

If you want your cat to fetch you your morning paper, fetch a stick that you have thrown or rollover and play dead, then don't buy a cat, get yourself a dog.

The differences in cat training and dog training are vast. Cats are independent animals, however they will respond to treats and rewards, basically they will want to know what is in it for them if they do something for you. Throw a stick for a cat to fetch and it will look at you and think "what do I want the stick for? If it's important to you, well you fetch it".

Using punishment to train a cat will not work either; all it will do is alienate the cat from coming anywhere near you. Train your cat by putting something on offer when it does something good. I'm not talking about rewarding your cat when it does something wrong, but rewarding it when it does something right.

First of all you shouldn't try to punish your cat when it misbehaves in any way, a better method would be to ignore it. Contrary to popular believe, cats do want attention, regardless of how aloof they may come across. Cats are clever creatures and need interesting things to do to stop them becoming bored. When your cat misbehaves and you don’t supply any attention or stimulus, it will register this in its brain, and your cats problems with behaviour can increase.

However cat pet training will work when you give your cat rewards, attention, and stimulus. When you see your cat behaving in a way that you want it to, you should then make it a habit to act in this everytime. Give your cat lots of attention and a treat if it uses it's litter tray. When it uses it's scratching post instead of your couch, reward it with attention and some treats. Once your cat understands that acting in a certain way will result in some form of reward, it will be more prone to act in that way.

From when your cat is a kitten, make sure that you spend plenty of time with it and offer it plenty of attention, so that it becomes normal for you to act in this way with your cat. When you ignore your cat after it misbehaves, it will focus more on doing things that gets it attention.

Cat pet training does work, it’s just a question of doing the right things, and knowing how your cat’s mind works, realise this and cat training becomes easier.

There are many different types of bird species, each with different nesting needs.  That means that bird houses must be constructed according to the type of bird that the person wants to nest in the house.  In addition, there are other animals that enjoy bird houses for homes, such as squirrels and even wasps.  Since this is the case, it is often wise to build several different bird houses at a time so that the unwelcome guests can use one or two and the birds that are desired in the homes can use the other ones.  There are some species of birds that are on the decline in their populations, so finding bird house plans that will support or attract these species to nest is helpful in preserving them for the future, such as the bluebird.

Bird House: Building a Home

There are some species of birds that require a bird house to be mounted on a pole so that pests and predators are less likely to be able to disturb the nest.  The main predators that can disturb nesting birds are those that can climb into treesto get into the nest, such as cats, snakes, squirrels and raccoons.  These creatures enjoy a tasty snack of the bird’s eggs or even the little nestling, so it is important to plan the bird house in such a way so as to provide the best protection possible for the nesting mother and eggs.

The bird house should also be built to fit the size of the bird that will be nesting in it.Smaller entrance for smaller birds helps the bird to stay safer from predators and it makes more difficult for them to reach into the bird house for eggs.  In addition, there should be a drainage hole in the bottom of the bird house so that any water that happens to get into the house or any waste material can filter out through the bottom of the box rather than sitting and getting moldy.

It is also helpful to build the bird houses out of a wood that naturally deters insects from the house, such as cedar.  In this way the home does not get overrun with these pests, thus deterring the birds from nesting in it.  For those who like to be able to see the progress in the nest, there are houses that can be built with a front that opens on hinges so that the nest can be viewed without disturbing it. 

Having pets around is like being with a friend or a family. They should be loved and cared for just like anybody else. Some people treat their pets as a part of their lives, while some are too busy to look out for them. Luckily when this happen there is always a pet sitter available to do the job for you.

Pet sitters provide a variety of services for the care and nurture of your pets. These individuals are intended to give their professional skills and devotion to properly look out for your pets. Generally they will tend a great job on doing that. Moreover these services offer a lot of positive advantages for you and your animal friend.

Here are some of the advantages and services of hiring a pet sitter:

– Your pet will be more comfortable and familiar at their own home. They will not be distracted or confused with other animals and activities at the kennel.

– Less time is spent in transferring your pet from your home to the kennel. The pet will not have a travel trauma because of the usual trips.

– Your pet will be cared and loved for by a pet sitter who they are familiar with. A pet sitter will also give the necessary attention for your animal friend.

– Your homes will be much safer from unwanted people while there are activities performed by the sitter and the animal.

– Extra services are given by the pet sitter like watering the plants and picking up the mail and newspapers.

– Your pets will not be exposed to sickness and parasites from other animals in a kennel.

– Relatives, neighbors, and friends are not compelled to look out for your pet.

– Normal routines will be achieved because there are no sudden changes in environment.

– Required vaccinations from kennel will be avoided.

– Walking and giving a proper exercise for your pet can also be done by a pet sitter.

– Giving the preferred foods and snacks for the pets.

– Some pet sitters are also knowledgeable in training your pet to be more diligent.

– Picking up the droppings and cleaning them is one of the jobs of a pet sitter.

So if you consider all of these advantages involved in hiring a pet sitter, you may conclude that this is the best possible way to show how much you care and love your pet while you are away.

Recently, pet sitters are highly regarded and are increasing its popularity in the society. People are demands grow more and more for these kinds of services. Pet sitters are found everywhere. You can acquire there services through the internet or through the network of your neighborhood.

While some people are busy with their work and activities, they need someone who will take care of their pets, so that by the time they get home their pets will be waiting happily for them.

Long Island Pet Sitting has expertise in all varieties of Dog Care services. If you are in need of a Pet Sitters Long Island then stop looking. For Additional great information and articles about Long Island Dog Walkers stop by today!

The title Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer Course by author Adam G. Katz is the downloadable version which has included many other dog training and obedience guides. Check out the Product Specifications section for further details of the bundle items included. The book can also be purchased in hardcopy offline and via the internet purchase site Amazon.com.

Adam G. Katz is the author of Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer as well as the founder of the South Bay K-9 Academy. This book was written to be a simple and fast way to train a dog and correct behavior problems in a dog. The focus of the work is on the removal of anti-social traits that make you embarrassed by your pet dog. Check out the website dogproblems.com for further information on this great resource.

One of the best behavior dog training books on the market is “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer”. On purchase of this great title you are able to access member only areas of the website dogproblems.com such as “”Dog Trainer On Demand”" and get assistance from the canine behavior experts and the author of this fabulous book Adam Gatz.

In the general online census conducted using unbiased comments and articles, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer and its bonus bundle package were seen to be a very good solution to proper dog training and the elimination of dog behavior problems. This dog obedience book and all the online resources at the website address many common problems that can be easily solved reading the book and using the website.

This package is extreamly comprehensive and should contain more than enough to learn how to train dogs correctly and solve the most common dog problems. It is worth considering as an option for learning how to solve your dogs problems (if you have one at the current time), or simple learn the correct way to train a dog.

The author Adam G. Katz is the founder of the South Bay K-9 Academy, and is the founder and owner of dogproblems.com.

Adam also runs the $10K Dog Trainer Challenge. See DogProblems.com Website

The Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer has 316 formatted pages and this title also comes as a dog training ebook available for download. As an added bonus there are six dog training and obedience guides bundled together with this purchase.

To aid in obedience training for canines this ebook includes:

• Help in all types of dog training problems
• Everyday tips and secrets to use daily in your training regime
• Help in selection, adoption and rearing a puppy or older dog
• Consultations and advice via access to the private, member’s only discussion forum
• Photographs and step-by-step tutorials to make learning faster and easier

The obedience training for canines information provided is reputed by the website to be utilized by many top dog trainers around the globe.

There are more resources available in the Dog Training and Obedience section of the website DogTrainingCompare. For more advanced K9 dog training skills and methods then check out the Dog Training Product Industry Reports.

View a complete industry report on: Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer by Adam G. Katz.

Although for many people the word pig conjures up images of a farm yard with huge pigs rolling in mud, or eating at a pig trough, for some it is a well mannered pig sitting in the living room with you as you watch television. Teacup potbellied pigs are becoming increasingly popular as domestic pets around the country. Teacup Pigs come in very many colors and are much smaller than the standard farm pig and the regular potbelly pig. They are not really teacup size like one imagines except when they are born when they are around 9 oz. But compared to a full grown regular pig at 600-800 pounds or a full grown regular potbelly pig at 120 – 200 pounds then they are teacup. Adults typically weigh around 40 – 65 lbs, are fully-grown at 2-3 years and are about the height of a cocker spaniel. Living 15-20 years and low maintenance pets, with about the same daily care as a dog. Teacup pigs are becoming popular city pets because of their small size. They litter box train in a matter of days and as early as 4 weeks old.

The regular potbellied pig originated in Vietnam, and is a combination of several breeds. They will breed with other types of pigs even farm pigs causing mixed breeds. The teacup pigs were bred first in Devon, England.

Teacup potbellied pigs are considered exotic pets, which can make them a bit more troublesome than a cat or a dog for this reason: not all veterinarians treat them which can make it difficult to get these pets the care they require. All types of pigs need maintenance with tusks trimmed and hooves trimmed. A veterinarian, or an owner who has learned how from a doctor, can perform these tasks. Pigs will need to be spayed or neutered and require regular vaccinations.

Teacup potbellied pigs make enjoyable pets because they are very intelligent and affectionate. With their intelligence rivaling that of dogs they must be exercised and socialized as they are prone to laziness. At times, an adult pig may raise a challenge against the owner in so-called “dominance aggression”, much like any pet will at first and they will need to be reprimanded gently yet strongly, and taught to respect the owner’s authority. They take well to positive reinforcement when they are behaving well, but should not be physically punished. Properly motivated these intelligent animals learn tricks very easily like sit and playing golf.

Pigs should have daily leash-led walks or they will gain weight. If you find that your pig is getting too fat you can scatter raw oatmeal where they have to search for it and doesn’t amount to much to eat. This gives them something to eat and exercise at the same time. Of course this is when they are outside. They will eat nearly endless amounts of food, particularly high-carbohydrate unhealthy food, if allowed, so it is vital to restrict your pet’s access to the food it craves. They are relentless in searching for food, and should be kept far away from the kitchen or any food storage. Special pig feed can be purchased in a pet store or special-ordered and local feed stores are starting to carry the specialty feed. Pigs are omnivores, equally interested in vegetables, meats, sweets, and carbohydrate-based foods.

Pigs are social herd creatures, and it is often recommended that they be kept in pairs or groups, especially if they are kept outside the house. While in your house they will want your attention. Give them toys to play with just like children have. This keeps them stimulated and active. Left to their own if pigs get bored they will often become destructive, they are very intelligent. Lack of attention can lead to pigs tearing up your house. Keep pigs in their own area of the house or a confined outdoor area. They are clean and essentially odor-free, so it is not usually difficult to find a room where they can roam.

Teacup pigs require specialized care of time and resources and should not be taken without a serious commitment. Do your due diligence before getting a pig to make sure that you and a pig are compatible. Shelters are overflowing with abandoned pigs whose owners did not anticipate the kind of attention that their pet would need. However, the intelligence, affection and personality of a well trained, adequately cared for teacup potbellied pig can be very rewarding for the prepared, responsible owner.

Most pet owners will readily admit that caring for their pets is not only necessary but also very expensive. Therefore it is not surprising to learn that part of the reason for this costly nature of vet care is the dramatic changes taking place in modern veterinary medicine. The days have long gone by since James Herriot and other vets treated an animal regardless of which type of animal it was and furthermore were given to making house calls as well.

High Costs

In these modern times dogs, men’s best friends, when they need vet care will require to be taken to visit the vet clinic where the costs of the visit and treatment can prove to be rather high. Today, the study of veterinary medicine has undergone a sea change and the costs involved in becoming a veterinarian too are on the high side.

Veterinary medicine implies the study of correct medical procedures as well methods of making appropriate diagnoses of animals based on principles of therapies that help treat domestic, companion as well as exotic animals. The study of veterinary medicine is important for protecting the animal kingdom as well as controlling the further spreading of diseases.

People that study veterinary medicine need to acquire the necessary skills as well as knowledge in a variety of disciplines whose main intent is to prevent as well as control disease in domestic as well as in wild animals.

You will be totally surprised to know that that the study of veterinary medicine began in the ancient Indian and Egyptian civilizations that date back to about the year 1900 BC. From those early times to the present day, veterinary medicine has changed in form and content and today we are far better equipped to keep the animal kingdom in better health despite the spread of certain diseases in different parts of the world that are infecting and killing wild animals.

Veterinary medicine is as old as the mountains and there is in fact special bond that exists between man and animal that drives us into learning how to provide better dental, surgical as well as medical help to any animal in need of such care.

World War II affected veterinary medicine in a big way and in fact there was major fear during those years among the officials of the US government that their stock of cattle would be sabotaged in a bid to cripple the food supply in the country. This led to more and more people being hired into becoming doctors of veterinary medicine whose mission was to prevent such sabotage. Though nothing untoward happened it set the stage for greater interest in becoming qualified veterinarians.

Part 2 of this article on small dog breed types covers small dogs in the non-sporting, herding, toy, and terrier groups.

Terrier Dogs

Terrier dogs were bred for the hunt – rabbits, foxes, rats, and even badgers, otters, and river rats. Today, most terriers are bred as pets. And with their affectionate and loyal temperament, they make lovely pets. It’s important to remember, however, that they are dogs with a strong personality, and they need equally strong willed owners. This is just as true for the small, toy terriers – they don’t see themselves as small dogs. Terriers also have an abundance of energy, so will need their exercise. They have wiry coats, and they have special grooming needs in order to maintain that characteristic wiriness.

If you’re after a small dog, you’re spoilt for choice in the terrier group. The small dog breeds are: the Australian Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Border Terrier, Irish Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Bedlington Terrier dog breed, Scottish Terrier and Sealyham Terrier.

Toy Dogs

Toy dogs are a very recognizable small dog type, due to their popularity with celebrities and people alike. Because some toy dogs are large breeds bred down to size, you’ll find toy breeds in many of the other groups as well.

Toy dogs are friendly, though they can be fierce and angry as well. They do make great lap dogs, however, and are often cherished members of the family, akin to a child. Toy dogs include: Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, Miniature Poodle, the Papillon, Yorkshire Terrier, and the Pomeranian dog breed.

Non-Sporting Dogs

Non-sporting dogs is a general term for those breeds the AKC recognizes, that don’t fall into any of the other categories. They have different ancestry, temperaments, coats, sizes, and colors. Small breeds in the non-sporting group are: the bichon frise, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Boston Terrier, Schipperke, French Bulldog and the Lhasa Apso.

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are a fairly new classification in the AKC. The dogs in this category used to be part of the working group. In fact, a lot of breed registrars across the globe they still are a sub-catgory of the working group. The dogs registered by the American Kennel Club are generally bought as pets, although working (and herding) dogs are still used throughout the world on farms, cattle stations, and ranches because of their abilities to herd livestock. They can be trained to respond to specific commands and whistles, and perform a variety of herding related tasks particularly well. In families as pets, herding dogs may try and good naturedly herd their human family, especially the children.

Small dog breeds in the herding group are the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Border Collie, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and the Shetland Sheepdog. 

Miscellaneous Dogs

The miscellaneous category covers breeds not fully recognized by he AKC. There are no small dogs here.

Learning about the types of small dogs can help focus the selection process for a new canine friend. The American Kennel Club (AKC), which is the main registrar of breeds in the United States, divides dog breeds into 7 categories, plus the miscellaneous category. The miscellaneous [class is for those breeds who are in the process of getting their AKC registration, but are yet tobe recognized as official breeds due to some requirements for membership having not yet been met.

The 7 classes of AKC recognized dog breeds are:

•  sporting
•  hound
•  working
•  terrier
•  toy
•  non-sporting
•  herding

Most of the small dogs are in the toy group, but there are also a lot in the terrier class, and a smattering in the herding, sporting, hound, and non-sporting groups. There are no official AKC recognized small dog breeds in the working class.

What Do These Classes Mean?

Most of the breeds in these groups share common characteristics. Some are in these groups because of particular talents like a great hunting or herding ability, (in the herding and hound groups). Others are there because of their size (toy dogs), or ancestry (terriers). The working and sporting dogs are a bit like the medley racers in Olympic swimming – they are all-rounders, talented in doggy sports, or excelling in the many skills needed for working dogs. The non-sporting group don’t seem to have much at all in common however. The exception being that they don’t fit well in any other category.

Types Of Small Dog Breeds

Sporting Dogs

Sporting dogs are great hunters, although they make loyal and loving pets with the right owners. Sporting dogs can hunt all types of small game, including birds, and they can hunt either on land or in the water. There are in this group twenty-seven breeds, including the English cocker spaniel dog breed, a type of small spaniel. Other breeds in this category are other spaniels, pointers, retrievers, and setters. Sporting dogs are high energy dogs, and do need exercise on a regular basis.

Hound Dogs

Hound dogs are also hunters. Hunting dogs classified in this group have been helping humans in the hunt historically. In doing so, they were bred to take advantage of particular talents each breed had. Some hounds use speed, others sight or smell, to find their prey. There are 23 breeds in this group, which includes three small breeds – the whippet, basenji, and dachshund.

Working Dogs

Working dogs can be kept as pets, however the reason they are called working dogs is because they provide some function for people, whether it is herding livestock, as a guide dog, or part of a paid entertainment act.

The AKC uses this broad definition a little bit differently. It places breeds here when they have been bred to perform a task which can’t be accurately categorized in one of the other existing categories. There are no small dogs in the working dog category.