First Coast Pet

Archive for August, 2009

Dogs have their specific points for either admiration or consternation. Take basset hounds for example, they make wonderful pets but have many things that owners wish would improve or disappear. Below, we will take a more careful look at some of their rather unbecoming traits, and where basset hound training comes in. Talk about literal pet peeves!

Stubborn

Basset hounds have wills that are truly tough to break. The reason for this is their deeply rooted independence that seeks to surmount any sort of Basset Hound training, such as housebreaking. This implies that the valuable process of crate training may take around six long months to get accomplished. You as owner-trainer will need to practice patience and total consistency throughout, in order to get across to the breed. But overcoming the dog’s stubbornness is but only one among the many challenges that this hound can present to you.

Loud

These dogs are loud too. Their barks, although low, can cover an area far and wide, and can actually be a public complaint if not acted upon.

Messy

Basset hounds shed their short hair rather too often and too much. Plenty of the stuff will stick to your furniture, your clothes, and just about the surfaces of everything in your home. While it is not the worst thing in the world (for those not allergic to hair, that is), the cleaning up to remove the shedding is something to think about. But that is already the area of hygienic matters.

Gassy

The breed can be subject to gas pains, which is already the root of a few heady implications. The best way to help the dog is to employ a dietary plan of real meat and other similarly fresh foods; this step is bound to lessen the problem.

Chronic Health Problems

Basset hounds are prone to a number of chronic health problems. Among the likely conditions are certain skin disorders, joint problems, and ear infections (to be expected since they are drop-eared). Causes of the problems are the dogs’ unique body types and poor breeding techniques and plans.

To end, having an overview of the basset hound’s ownership issues really help. In fact, this is applicable to any breed, since the motive is only to know the best and the worst. Bassets in particular are capable of hard-hardheadedness, heavy shedding, loud barking, gassiness, and susceptibility to a variety of health issues. Getting a dog for your home is a real family decision. Be advised that while the breed is very friendly and also talented, they do bring with them a good-sized amount of concerns that need to be addressed promptly by Basset training.

Many pet owners prefer dog grooming at home solutions to professional grooming; in times of financial crisis any saving is welcome. There are pros and cons to dog home grooming, since you may save money but you definitely invest time and effort in the activity. Some dogs are easier to groom than others, and statistics indicate that most dog grooming home solutions are put into practice by people who own small and medium short-haired breeds. Special-maintenance breeds are a different thing, and without professional hair, a pet owner can hardly cope with dog care.

Equipment could be a problem with dog grooming at home trials. Anyone who grooms the pet at home needs a minimum of supplies and tools for the operation. Grinders, brushes, clippers and even a grooming table represent the basis for efficient home grooming. Scissors and combs are optional, although on many occasions they are a must. And finally, let’s not forget about the special dog shampoos meant to kill flees and ticks or keep them away. Dog grooming home practice comes with the responsibility for the pet’s health condition, therefore, don’t take it lightly.

Look for tips and suggestions related to dog grooming home conditions. Try to find out about the possibly special needs of the breed and talk to the veterinarian if you notice any injury or health problem under the dog’s coat. When left untreated or neglected because they are not noticed in time, lots of apparently harmless bumps on the dog’s hair could become real health problems. The advantage of professional grooming here is that such cases are easier to find and signal on thorough cleaning. Moreover, do not resume the dog grooming home routine to brushing and occasional baths, because the nails, the teeth, the eyes and ears require attention and care too.

Nail trimming should be performed once a month at least, depending on the length of the pet’s nails. When cutting too short, vein injuries may be caused; hence, be extremely cautious during the procedure. Dog grooming home care takes a lot of patience: you have to treat the dog gently because few pets like their paws touched. In fact, the process of nail cutting and trimming is pretty slow considering that you need to take breaks, pat and reward the dog with small treats in order to make it cooperative. In conclusion, you may save money with dog grooming home solutions, but you’ll definitely put time and effort into it. The choice is all yours!

As in all areas of educating, there are different methods of doing things, and different beliefs about what is right and wrong. Religion is at the top of this list. The next thing that occurs is that parents can train their children in more than one way. To hit or not to hit, that is the question. How to train your dog might run a close third with questions like Pinch collar, or Choke Chain or none of the above?

There are 3 ways of reinforcing a dog’s behavior in order to get what you want.

1. Positive reinforcement is a reward that encourages a response. Your dog will likely repeat his good behavior if you reward him more than once for that postiive behavior.

2. Negative reinforcement means that something is taken away in order to encourage a response. A dog learns that it is better to not get shocked and will repeat the behavior that gets that result. After behaving there is no shock, hence he learns to behave to avoid the shock. When you left early for work one day and suddenly the traffic was diminished you valued what was missing for your action, hence you repeat the action of leaving early for that result. More and more times the traffic is less and less which makes you want to leave the house early. Traffic is taken away.

3. Punishment is an unpleasant thing that is added to the situation. This is different from “Negative Reinforcement”. When your dog acts aggressive to you or another dog you might hit him. Parents might get loud and in a child’s face when that child is not behaving well. Punishment only encourages fear which will give you the desired response.

Eventually they all work. Your dog will follow you when you yank on his leash. The dog will come when you give it a reward for coming. Also, dogs will chase after running people.

Rough or noisy behaviors coming from you can result in the response you wanted when the dog was misbehaving. Or, he knows that if he is good he will get from you that wonderful treat.

Does this mean what it sounds like? Would you rather your dog respond to you out of love or out of fear? You choose.

By

Dr. Marika Zoll

DrDogTalk.com

The SBC-18 collar is handy for those who are on the look out of a humanist solution to stop the relentless barking of their dog. It is one of the most technological advanced bark training collars in the market, and includes 18 levels of correction, which react to either sound or vibrations caused by barking, and can be used on dogs with necks that fall within the 6″ to 28″ range.

Among its modes, there is the “Test Collar” mode, which will let you see that the no bark 18 collar is working correctly. In this mode, you place the collar 8 inches away from you and you say the word “test” in the direction of the sensor. The LED should flash, indicating that the first level of static correction offered.

Starting with the lowest level of static shock, the correction level adjusts itself automatically for every bark of the dog that is within 30 seconds of the previous one. However, the collar will turn itself off for 3 minutes if your dog barks a minimum of 15 times in 50 seconds.

Remember to restrict the use of the SBC-18 to those times where barking is out of place. The static corrections are induced at every bark of the dog thereby tranquilizing him by using the progressive correction levels offered. However, these static shock corrections are very mild and painless, so the dog is never in danger of being injured or hurt.

Features of The SBC-18

The most appealing features include the umpteen correction levels, light-weightiness, waterproof capability, presence of test feature, limited warranty and a low battery indicator.

And when it comes to looks, the SBC-10 comes in a great looking orange color.

Pre-Usage Instructions for SBC-18 Collars

The collar shouldn’t be used on agressive dogs. Do not use any other collar or object at the same time that the dog wears the SBC-18. For example, tether strings that can damage or activate the collar. Also, don’t make your dog wear the collar for more than 8 hours per day. Finally, don’t make your dog wear the collar too tightly in order to avoid rashes.

All dogs bark, it’s their way to communicate a message.

A dog barks for different reasons: to greet, to alert, because they’re bored, to attract attention or when they are excited.

Although some form of barking is acceptable, too much barking is certainly irritating, especially for your neighbors and it  may eventually lead to complaints. The easiest way to prevent dog barking is to control his/her barking when you are at home.

Dog barking can be stopped in various ways.Set up a situation where your dog will always bark.   For instance, you may ask a neighbor to ring your doorbell or knock on your door.

When your dog charges to the door and starts to bark loudly, approach your dog, grab its collar and give the command “quiet” – without shouting please, it doesn’t help.

If your dog stops barking, praise it and offer him/her some reward. She/He’s great and surely deserves it.

When he/she continues barking, close its mouth with your hand, hold it by its muzzle – use both your hands if needed, and give the command for him/her to stay quiet.Praise if he/she stops.

Most dogs will be able to learn the “quiet” command with repeated training like this. Set up similar situations to “lure” your dog to bark and repeat this training whenever possible.

If you happen to have a hard-core persistent barker, use this method:

Vinegar-Water solution – mix a proportion of 7/8 water & 1/8 of vinegar together.Pour the mixture into a water pistol or what children call “super soaker” for longer distance shooting.

Aim and shoot at his chest whenever he/she can’t stop barking when you command it. Dogs hate the smell of vinegar and will usually back off and stop barking. She/Hemight even sneeze a few times. It won’t do him/her any harm, so you need not worry.

As always, praise it when it stops barking.

It’s important to know that your dog might still be barking noisily and disturbing your neighborhood when you are away. In this case, you’ll need some training equipment known as “bark collars” to help train him/her.

There are various types of bark collars on the market.

Some of these collars send a gentle electric shock to your dog when ithe barks, some make a high pitch sound or emit a squirt of citronella, which is annoying but safe for your dog.

Usually, these collars can help to make your dog stop barking..

Personally, I usually recommend the high pitch sound or citronella collars. They are very effective and more humane dog training tools.

kennel training a puppy makes all the other steps in dog’s training go so much smoother, the same way a solid foundation makes for a superior wall.

Establishing you as the Alpha member of his “pack” is one very good reason for when he is very young.

Another reason for crate training is that dogs love predictability.

To know what is going to happen in any given situation makes him/her happy, and more apt to be the best-behaved dog it can possibly be.

A strong crate is the very basis of good puppy training. A wire crate with a lock is the best kind.  Check that it is large enough for him/her to stand up and turn around. But not so large that he/she can roam and wander around. A too-large crate will inhibit house breaking.

A crate that is just the right size will be perceived as his/her “den”, where puppies never “go potty”. They will learn to hold it if you don’t make a prison out of it.

Never leave a puppy under 8 weeks, longer than one hour in his/her crate. He/She will soil it, after struggling and suffering as long as he can.

Place a nice mat in there with a bone. Start with leaving a tasty treat in there, they will go in and get it. Do this several times without closing the door, let it come in and out freely for an hour or so. Praise it highly each time s/he goes in; make it all very pleasant.

Once its attention is on the treat, close the door. Praise it quietly, “What a good boy/girl, it’s ok, such a good boy/girl!” In 10 or 20 seconds, no longer, let it out without a word, no praise, just a pat. Do this for increasingly longer intervals, without giving him/her an opportunity to get upset. This can be done several times the very first day.

Make sure every training session ends on a happy note, this is extremely important.

Once he/she sees the crate is his/her own private territory, he/she will go in there on its own, expecting treats and your attention. When he/she does, say, “Wanna crate?” with a happy face while getting his/her treats.Start leaving the room while he/she is in there for 2 minutes and onward, gradually. When you return, don’t make a fuss, just walk over and open the crate. In 3 days he/she will be officially crate-trained, ready to be left alone for some time – no longer than an hour at first.Leave him/her gradually longer, slowly and carefully.

Why do I need a crate for my puppy? Because they love it is the best reason.

They feel very safe and secure in there.

When you leave a puppy alone, |it[he/she] always suffer from separation anxiety to a certain extent.This may lead him/herhim to any behavior that brings him/her comfort, which is chewing, digging, or when it is severe, voiding his/her bowels.

When placed in a crate, he/she feels safe because nothing can get to it, nothing can harm him/her. It will sleep and chew and wait for you to come back. When leaving it overnight at the vet, if your dog is not crate trained he/she will cry the entire time, feeling lost and abandoned.

If your dog is crate trained, he/she will be confident that you will return, you always do. Needless to say, the vet’s office will be strange and will cause him/her some anxiety, but nothing compared to the sheer terror he/she will feel without experience in being locked in.

When you crate train a puppy, make sure you do not make a prison of its crate. Do not use it as punishment. Do not leave him/her there for more than 2 hours, just time for a long puppy nap and some chew time.    After that, he/she may cry. Don’t remove him/her while he is crying. This will only make it think he has to cry to get out. No matter what, make sure it is being good when you open the door. It will learn he/she that crying will not get him/herout.Do not make a fuss when you are letting him/her out, just quietly open the door and take it out to potty. When he/she potties, praise him/her to high heaven! Dogs naturally do not go where they nest, but sometimes it happens.   Don’t scold, simply clean it out with a bland face. He/She will learn the lesson. If possible, try to clean it while he/she is outside so it returns to a clean crate.

 crate training a dog is critical for your dog’s well-being.

A dog grooming book is  a great learning material for people who want to groom their pets at home without having to regularly pay for professional services. Moreover, dog grooming books represent a good course support for anyone who takes classes or attends a training program to get certification and licensing. The number of publications is very large, and you may have difficulties choosing. The best idea is to check for reviews, author’s recognition and then order the material on eBay. A special place among dog grooming books is occupied by e-guides and other materials available for download on the Internet. Here are a few tips to make selection easier.

Clearly state your objectives before purchasing dog grooming books. Do you you want to learn how to take care of your pet or do you plan to open a business? In case you want to develop skills for business purposes it is worth mentioning the fact that studying a dog grooming book is not enough; you’ll need qualifications from an institution specialized in dog grooming training. Then, check the list of contents! Most books are general in the approach, because they apply to almost all dog breeds. Try to identify the grooming element that raises most challenges for you: nail trimming, coat brushing, hair cutting or ear cleaning.

Dog grooming books can be more or less details on the topic that interests you. You may not need a few paragraphs but whole chapters dedicated to various topics or subtopics. Depending on the author and the aim of the book, some materials focus more on equipment and supplies, others on grooming techniques while many have a general content. Specialized books deserve all of our attention, because many professional groomers provide solutions to home dog grooming through individual publications dedicated to a certain topic only, which is discussed in detail.

Some dog grooming books cover medium and long-haired breeds while others discuss short-haired dogs only. Cuts for heavy coats make a very popular subject that you’ll come across in lots of dog grooming books, because even for professionals there is something new to learn. Last but not least, certain breeds have physiological peculiarities that require special grooming. This happens with dog breeds that have hair in the eyes. Someone inexperienced may feel inclined to cut it so as to improve vision, but this could be really detrimental for the dog’s eye health. Good dog grooming books teach you how not to make such blunders!

Do you have a dog that barks at your visitors uncontrollaby? Or one that barks very loudly until late hours at night and keeps you and your neighbors awake? If so, then the SBC-10 is the training collar you need to solve this problem.

Activated by the vibration or the sound of the dog’s bark, the no bark 10 collar is equipped with a display that shows the battery condition and correction levels. Customizability of the operational modes that come with the SBC-10 collar is remarkable. For instance, if you want to know the number of corrections that are needed to reduce your dog’s barking, you can set the collar to “Temperament Learning,” and then choose one of the 10 levels for correction that are offered to you. Or, you can let the collar detect automatically the level at which your dog stops barking by setting it to “Progressive Correction” instead. You can even select how the correction level is administered by using the collar’s “Use Correction” mode.

The SBC-10 collar comes with plastic black straps that can be adjusted for neck sizes up to 27″ and this facilitates the use of this collar on dogs of any color and type. There is yet another mode that is featured: the “Test Mode,” and the collar also comes with a 6 Volt battery that is rechargable.

Precations to Take When Using The Collar

Opt to resort to the use of SBC-10 collars only when the barking of your dog is undesirable and ensure that it fits snugly onto the dog’s neck. Make sure that your dog is not aggressive if you plan to go in for the no bark 10 collars. Never attach a leash or other object to the collar, as it may activate it accidentally even when the dog isn’t barking. Finally, always make sure that the bark control collar is clean and free of any objects, as otherwise, your dog’s skin might become infected or get a rash.

Not everybody can afford to constantly pay for professional dog grooming, which is why lots of people cover this pet care at home effectively and safely. Here are some dog grooming tips that can help you enjoy your pet’s look without having to pour money into other people’s pockets. The breed is important as well as the anatomical structure because every dog has different needs according to these two elements.

Brushes have to be well chosen to match the hair thickness and length. Maximum two brushes should do for regular brushing. Read some dog grooming tips to see which items are more suitable for your dog’s coat. Check pictures and then find the items either at the local pet store or directly online from various dealers.

You can also learn how to clean the pet’s ears by reading professional dog grooming tips. Hair, wax and dirt make a very unpleasant combination building up in the ear canals and thus reduce the auditive acuity of your pet. Pull out the long hair and thus prevent the wax from accumulating. There are some special accessories which you can put on fingers and grip the hair without causing any damage or discomfort.

Clipping toenails is another challenge, and many home dog grooming tips can help you with it. Pet owners hate long claws because they mean damage to the carpets, floors and unpleasant scratching. Some medium clippers should do to help you cut the nails without injuries. Ask your vet for nail trimming recommendations too.

The eyes also require special care, particularly stains appear under the eyes because of tears. Tearing can be natural with some breeds, while with others it is a symptom of a health problem. For light colored dogs that develop stains, you can use some hydrogen peroxide for hair discoloration, but you need to pay attention not to touch the eyes. This is not a standard dog grooming solution, but rather an improvisation that could prove a very bad idea on certain occasions.

Otherwise, with a little care and interest, you can implement many dog grooming tips successfully for your pet’s well being. You should nevertheless be aware of the fact that grooming requires regularity, and you need to devote some time to it on a weekly basis. In the absence of proper care, nails and hair condition deteriorates rapidly, do not neglect their importance for your dog’s well being.

Correct pet hygiene keeps the animal happy and healthy. And although dog bathing is recommended once a month most of the time, what are you to do after a weekend camping? Water and shampoo are bliss and any dog grooming bath makes a great occasion to trim nails, clean eyes and ears and brush the hair. In case you lack the basic grooming skills or you prefer professional grooming services, you can pay for a dog grooming bath with a local business weekly, once or twice a month. While hair brushing should be done regularly, bathing hardly has any rules.

A dog grooming bath can be an occasion for great fun if the pet is accustomed to bathing as a puppy. A young animal will always be more open to new experiences because it is playful; consequently, start a bathing routine as early as possible. If you adopt an older animal and you can’t handle the dog grooming bath on your own, it’s your duty to have it done. Check with local groomers for grooming and bathing services in one, because they are usually cheaper. Depending on the size of the pet and the hair thickness, you can pay up to $100 or even more for very large breeds.

High-maintenance dogs require great skill for dog grooming bath and only an experienced groomer will be able to handle heavy coats for instance. The advantage of professional services is that all sorts of bumps, lumps and even injuries may pass unnoticed by the owner under the thick coat, and the sooner they get detected, the better for the dog’s health. Unless you prevent matting, you’ll pay a great deal of money to get the dog’s hair untangled. Moreover, such a delicate procedure really tries the dog’s patience. There are even cases when the coat has to be shaved off to remove mats, and that is certainly not desirable at all.

To conclude, dog grooming bath should not be neglected regardless of whether you carry it out at home or you hire a professional. Ask the vet for the most suitable shampoo or cleaning product so that you may solve the issue of coat parasites as well. Drying the dog’s coat is another issue you need to handle carefully, because the blow-dryer may be useful, but it is not accepted by lots of dogs. Make the best of decisions starting from your pet’s preferences and individuality!