First Coast Pet

Archive for August, 2009

At times, dogs’ barking can become frustrating and irritating, and a bark control collar might be needed to solve the problem. Control collars have shown results and are able to silence dogs at times where barking is not convenient. They are completely humanitarian and do not punish or inflict cruelty on your dog.

The SBC-6 works by detecting your dog’s barking and then administering a correction at the same time it barks. The colllar has 6 levels of correction, and it can fit comfortably and safely on the neck of any dog that weights at least 3 and a half kilograms. For small dogs, you can try one of our other collars.

Just make your dog wear the SBC-6 whenever you have a situation where barking is not appropriate. The SBC-6 collar detects the bark of your dog via vibration sensors and in return offers him a static correction that grabs his attention and makes him understand that this act of him induces an undesired static shock.

If your dog barks again within the succeeding 30 seconds, the correction level automatically increases through 6 progressive levels after which the auto-shut-off feature turns off the unit for a 3 minute duration in case your dog continues to bark for more than 15 times within a 50-second timeframe. You will hear a beep and see a LED light flashing every time the collar corrects your dog.

Being light-weight and waterproof, the SBC-6 collar comes with a low battery indicator and a limited warranty. Equipped with a plastic orange strap, this collar can be adjusted for neck sizes from 6″ – 28″. Attractive feature offerings include the test collar feature and RFA-118 battery pack that comes with every purchase of the no bark 6 collar.

Things to Take into Account When Using the SBC-6

The no bark 6 collar should be used from 8 to 12 hours at most per day. Do not attach tethers to the collar for that may lead to false corrections. Never use the collar in situations where barking is normal and healthy. Make sure that the collar is neither too tight nor too lose. Maintain it tidily and let your dog be free of irritations with SBC-6 collars.

Buying the right comfortable dog bed is important as most individuals view their dog as family. You would not want a family member to be uncomfortable when sleeping. Dogs have different sleeping pattern and do spend about half of the life sleeping. The breed of the dog will determine the sleep pattern. Large digs can sometimes sleep as much as 16 hours each day.

The size of your dog will dictate the size of bed to purchase. Dogs do not like too much room as they like to feel secure, so the bed should envelope them without being too small. Dog beds that have sidewalls or are curved tend to make a dog feel very safe and secure. If you have a large dog then you need to make sure the dog bed is sturdy or the dog will break the bed when it gets up.

The age of your dog will also play a part in choosing a comfortable dog bed. Older dogs may have trouble moving and can get arthritis. There are special orthopedic beds for older dogs that are easy for them to get in and out of as well as being heated. The heat can soothe your dog’s aches and pains. Puppies and young dogs will not have as much trouble getting into and out of a bed though if the sidewalls are too high your puppy may have difficulties.

You also need to think about which room the dog bed will go in and how much space you want it to take up. There are dog beds that are designed to be compact and others that are very spacious. Some of the most expensive designer dog beds are even made to look like a regular bed. It is important to get a dog bed that fits the space your have chosen.

Besides coming in all different sizes comfortable dog beds also come in a wide variety of prices. Make sure you stick within your budget. Your dog will not care about the price as long as they are comfortable in their bed. You want your dog to be comfortable and it is possible to find a good dog bed at your desired price point.

If you have a very active dog that likes to run around outside for most of the day then purchasing a bed with a removable cover is a good idea. Your dog will probably get dirty frequently and in turn get his or her bed dirty. A removable cover makes it easy to wash the bed.

Benefits to having a dog bend include providing a private space for your dog that makes them feel secure, provides insulation for both the summer and winter, cushions their bones and joints and controls the spread of dirt, dander and hair.

The most popular all around dog bed for dogs of any age is similar to a beanbag chair. It is a dog’s nest bed that allows the fog to curl up and sleep while contouring to the dogs shape. If your dog likes to stretch out then you can also purchase this bed in a rectangular shape.

Most people who have had a pet with separation anxiety problems will nearly all agree that it can be an agonizing and stressful time for both of you. Something that needs to be said is that many myths surround the dog separation anxiety discussions and you will need to understand the difference between fact and fiction.

A few ways that will let you know if your pet truly has anxiety problems:

Anywhere that you go in your home he follows, never losing eye contact; Your pets attitude changes at all as you get ready to walk out the door;When your pet is left alone he urinates in the house.

Should your pet show any of the symptoms mentioned above he is more than likely suffering from a little bit of dog separation anxiety. Below are some of the better known myths about this behavior.

Help Your Dog Separation Anxiety

Our dog destroyed the house just because we left him home alone.

Yes, there are some pets who will tear things up because of dog separation anxiety but they are not doing it to punish anybody. No, it is the result of a lot of stress building up because he feels all alone.

If You Crate Your Pet, That Will Help

Sure, if you crate your pet he won’y tear stuff up, but it isn’t going to help his anxiety problems one little bit. There is the chance that by handling the behavior this way with a dog with this kind of problem, he could injure himself in his attempt to get free.

Dog Separation Anxiety Can Be Fixed Through Punishment.

This method will produce an opposite effect. When you go somewhere your dog is already anxious and uptight. Now just imagine how your dog feels when you walk through that door and he is met with some sort of punishment. Remember, this bad behavior is not intential, it is happening because he is feeling panic.

So, what is the solution for dog separation anxiety? There are different answers and they all depend on how severe the condition is. You can use simple methods for mild forms of anxiety. Try this, ignore him for a short time when you get home and then gently pet on him and avoid “Big Productions”.

A few people have found that if they left an item behind that had their scent on it, it seemed to help a dog with the mild form of separation anxiety find some comfort.

You will not be able to fix dog separation anxiety overnight, especially if it severe. If it is the severe form of anxiety you may want to leave your dog with friends or family while you are gone.

Dog separation and bad behavior are not the same, your dog is in misery and he is looking to you to come up with a solution that works.

Find Your Answers Here

Traveling with your pet can be extremely difficult most of the time. This is especially true if you are traveling on a plane with your pup. One thing that you want to make sure before you even think about purchasing your tickets is getting an airline approved dog carrier. This will not only keep your dog extremely safe during the plane ride, but you will actually be able to get on the plane!

It might seem like a hassle to seek proper airline approved dog carrier when purchasing a pet carrier. However, the whole reason for doing so is to make sure that neither you nor your dog get stressed out during your journey. A lot of people travel with their pets these days. Even still, a lot of airlines have put into place very strict restrictions concerning the type of carrier they will allow on board.

If you do not find out exactly what your airline wants out of a dog carrier and you show up with your own dog carrier, you could actually miss your flight. You always want to make sure that you call ahead of time, that way when you get to the airport, there are no surprises.

The first thing you need to think about – and ask about – is the size of your dog. Bigger dogs typically need to be checked, so they will travel in the plane’s cargo area. Thus, you are going to want to make sure that you purchase a large carrier – you want your dog to be comfortable back there.

You also want to make sure that your airline accepts larger dogs. Some planes do not, so you want to get this issue cleared up before you even purchase your tickets. Think about it, the larger the dog, the more weight on the plane – there are size restrictions sometimes and you need to respect those.

There are a few airlines that will allow you to bring your dog with you as a carry on. These are generally the smaller dogs that can fit in a shoulder carrier and a lot of people, especially celebrities are doing this now-a-day. When you opt to do this, you need to make sure that you are keeping your dog calm, cool and collected.

One of the biggest things that you need to make sure of is that your pet is comfortable. You want to make sure that the carrier has enough room for him/her to turn around and be totally comfortable.

There are all kinds of dog carriers which meet airline approval. You simply need to know what your airline expects and what will make your dog comfortable. Taking the time to find out long before your trip is thus extremely necessary.

Nowadays, any good dog owner is on the lookout for fashionable and stylish dog coats for their pet. There are numerous styles and levels of functionality. More-and-more, pets are becoming like a human member of the family, and it makes sense to begin looking after their needs in a way that befits their up-and-coming stature.

You see a preoccupation with doggie fashion in many couples or people whose children have grown up and left home. Their dogs are their new children, so it’s no surprise when they begin outfitting their pooch in a style and manner that befits their place in the family unit.

Dog coats come in all sorts of sizes, shapes, styles and fashions. There are specially-built kinds, for when a dog might need actual protection from the elements, like in a hairless breed. Also, there are cases where a dog might have a skin problem and needs the additional protection a coat like this can give. For the most part, though, many of these coats are typically just for amusement and as a fashion statement for the dog and the owner.

Dog coats can fall into various categories. There are pullover type sweaters and half-pullover types. These are generally of cotton, wool or some mixture of both fabrics. They’re designed to go on relatively easily and with little fuss on the part of the dog or its owner.

If the coat comes with any snaps or zippers make sure to avoid pinching any of the dog’s skin, especially down in the abdomen or underbelly region. That’s an especially sensitive part of a dog’s body, and he or she might not take kindly to a human pinching anything or causing some sort of pain.

Dog raincoats are a big fashion statement these days. After all, who wants to have to bring back a wet, shaggy dog from its constitutional or walk? Usually, it ends up shaking violently all over the place and now you’ve got to wipe up the offending mess. Full-bodied raincoats also protect the underside, and you can accessories them with actual little rain booties and a Gloucester fisherman’s cap. It’ll be up to you and your dog to decide how far to go with this.

There are dog coats for special occasions. Some are made to resemble tuxedos, for that special high-class event or dinner. Others might look like versions of a human’s suit or even a dinner dress, in the case of a female pooch. And accessories for the dog coat are plentiful and creative. There are little hats, booties and even capes or walking sticks. Where the sticks are carried is a question for some other time.

Our dogs are ever-increasingly like extremely close members of our family, especially in cases where the children have grown and moved away. As a fashion industry, dog coats bring in big bucks in a lot of pet supply stores these days. With dogs appreciated the world over, for the most, for their loyalty and dedication to their owners, it’s no wonder we’ve gone the fashion route on them.

Nail clippers are the essential tools for dog nail grooming, working for both professional and home use. There are many sizes and models available for clippers, it is all about choosing the model that best suits your dog’s needs. Medium-sized clippers normally work on all breeds except for very large dogs. Grinders are an alternative to clippers that lots of groomers prefer, and which should definitely prove suitable for a wide range of dog nail grooming applications.

Grinders smooth off edges while clippers cut.Dog nail grooming is complex and it usually requires a combination of tools for maximum of efficiency. Certain clippers have a guard attached that prevents cutting too much nail, nevertheless, this feature partly blocks vision and you could cut tissues close to the nail without realizing it. Such accidents are frequent in home grooming because of the wrong use of tools.

More advanced equipment for dog nail clipping stems the bleeding and cauterizes the vein if the clippers touch it. The problem with dog nail grooming is that you have to be very careful and maximize the dog’s comfort, or you risk to make the animal nervous and agitated, thus reducing the chances of trimming the nails properly.

Even so, dog nail grooming should not be neglected. Without trimming or the chance to smooth the nails against the ground, a pet that lives mainly indoors will suffer when the nails get too long. Improperly trimmed nails also carry the risk of ingrown nails, which are both painful and uncomfortable. If you can hear the dog’s nails clicking against the floor, then, you should cut them right away.

When the dog has too brittle nails to cut by normal dog nail grooming methods, filing or grinding is the alternative that avoids the formation of splinters. Consider your dog’s tolerance and disposition when trimming nails. Don’t attempt at cutting them all at once; breaks are usually necessary in order to allow the animal to relax. There have been cases when pets have bitten their masters during this kind of grooming episodes.

With many dogs it takes a lot of time to get used to nail trimming. Tolerance can be helped with careful handling, but this doesn’t always work. Try the reward system and give your pet a tiny treat after each nail cut. Wait for a while, then move on to the next nail.

Dog grooming training is available with many accredited schools and institutions. Thanks to a comprehensive range of programs, trainees can learn how to perform pet care according to the highest standards. After you complete dog grooming training you can get a job in a pet care organization or start your own pet grooming business. Traditional dog grooming training is conducted in accredited institutions that function on the basis of a well established curriculum. And although Internet programs are a lot more flexible, their reliability is doubtful most of the times. Another criticism against home training is the lack of resources and the impossibility to develop proper skills.

A lot of emphasis is placed on video materials in distance dog grooming training, because they are supposed to cover the practical part of the education. It is up to you to decide whether this kind of programs are suitable for starting a new career or not. Certifications are provided at graduation, but before paying for any such courses it is important to check whether the program or the center organizing the training is accredited and corresponds to the legal policy of the Better Business Bureau.

The costs of dog grooming training represent another issue worth considering because budget often has limitations. Traditional school classes are more expensive than long distance programs. Nevertheless, there are pros and cons for any situation, yet, an expert recommendation will always go for the in-class form of training because of the possibility to develop skills more rapidly and in better circumstances. Thus, choose a local dog grooming training facility instead of a long-distance course conducted on the Internet.

All forms of grooming a dog training tips, courses and videos are very modern in terms of educational background. The demand for professional groomers has only increased over the last thirty years. Social changes and transformations have given birth to such careers in the first place, hence the need for dog grooming training with the following generations. Consequently, a grooming school that has a fifteen year tradition is more reliable as compared to one that has just been founded. Longer lasting training traditions thus become better school references.

All breed dog grooming is for professionals, that is a fact! A dog owner will usually learn how to groom his/her pet according to the breed specificity, but an expert needs training to handle all kinds of dogs of different breeds and sizes. Classes and courses are necessary to get qualification for all breed dog grooming. Over the years, plenty of schools have been founded and there is even the possibility to take a certification online, through long distance courses. In case this alternative works for you, then, the trainer you pay for the classes should be accredited.

Once the all breed dog grooming training is complete you can move on to the next level: starting your own business. Vet centers, rescue centers, kennels and local groomers service local neighborhoods. In case you are trying to launch your business, you should first invest in grooming equipment such as table and brushes.

All items of equipment have a certain role to play, and you don’t know when some will prove very useful. All breed dog grooming cannot be performed without a very large range of hair brushes, combs, grinders, clippers and the rest, so that you can handle any grooming task successfully. Skill and experience are the advantages that will win you most customers. All breed dog grooming means working on all sorts of dogs, some hairier than the rest. There is a simple explanation for this: a pet owner cannot groom a thick-haired dog at home because of the very the nature of the dog’s coat. You’ll have to do the job and for good money too! It is neither easy nor cheap, hence, everybody has something to gain.

All breed dog grooming is also tackled with in lots of books written by expert groomers. Nevertheless, although such guides are practical and useful, they do not qualify one for a real dog grooming career. The part with the professional grooming a dog training tips and steps we’ve mentioned above stays valid. Any business requires certification and authorization, and those are the first things you should be concerned about!

The Chihuahua is a very little dog with a fiery personality to go with the tenacity. They make a good pet for the elderly, and moreover, will feel at home in both small condominiums and big homes. The dog breed is loyal and dedicated to their human companions and will feel more secure with a couple or a single elderly person, than with a family of small, active tots. Here are more concerns about owning chihuahuas, all concentrating on the chihuahua training:

Do Chis do well in dog sports?

Chis may be smaller than those who hog the top positions in dog competition contests, but they are all dog and show that they are up to the challenge of obedience, agility, flyball, and the like.

Do Chihuahuas make excellent family dogs?

Watch out, because the answer is not really! Chihuahuas consider a single person as more of home, more than a whole family. Chis can also be territorial, so if a “Wawa” happily lives and settles with you, get ready to be among the things it will literally guard! All this implies that you got a dog which will love you and fawn over (or rather next to) you, but will find it totally unthinkable to share you with others, and may growl or make a charge at those who gets close to you. But relax, since that scenario is not a regular possibility, and the dog with Chihuahua training simply stays happy being with their person.

Are Chis excellent pets?

Chis make interesting and engrossing pets. A chi without chihuahua training, and therefore has a dominant streak, is even capable of tearing up your newspaper, peeing on your slippers, and knocking out of your hand your morning coffee.

Can Chis be litter-trained?

They could. With Chihuahua training, chihuahuas have the chance of being good apartment or condo pets (and as long as the people in the other units can take the barking). When housetraining your dog, orient them to relieve themselves either outside, or on pee pads, or in a litter box. When the dog shows signs of going, just pick the dog up and bring it to its relief-spot. Reward it when it is successful. The dog will catch on soon enough.

Are Chis welcoming of training?

Most often not, for the reason that Wawas are simply smart. They may be difficult dogs, but that is because they are bright, good at manipulating doting owners and people to be at their beck and call, and will want to be stubborn if they can help it. It is a reality that in almost any dog breed, smart and easy to train do not lead to a good and quiet dog. To begin training, the dog needs to be convinced that what you are asking is in their best interest– certainly no small feat. The Chi is not for novice owners; those who make the mistake may end up only frustrated. You need to be dog savvy and dog smart to be able to have fun with a Chihuahua.

Chihuahuas make loyal friends that love being with one or two masters. Their sometimes-frightful personalities can be as real as their diminutive sizes. They can also be excitable, and are not necessarily always good friends to bring to children. Nevertheless, a Chi can learn to adjust and blend for the long-run into any setting through the help of proper Chihuahua training and socialization.

Socializing your Chihuahua

The timeliest moment to bring a new Chi puppy into the house is when it is between 12 and 20 weeks. Once your Chi puppy is settled, the breaking-in needs to kick off, i.e. the socialization process. As stated, the dog is known for preferring the fewest masters possible, so it is important that they get the hang of living with an entire household of adults, pets, children, and even visitors.

But socializing the chihuahua (an important part of Chihuahua training) is not something to take for granted here. Your dog will need to get used to being handled by both family and stranger alike. Getting accustomed to handling is the best way to help the dog overcome its fear and prevent its tendency to acting startled, flashing teeth, biting, and growling.

Is your chi amenable to being petted and having its ears, feet and teeth checked? If your puppy does not mind, or it is getting used to being fussed over, then it is possible to allow different people to hold your chi.

Having Food Taken Away

The Chi puppy with Chihuahua training must be ready for tension-inducing scenarios like another dog eating on its dish. A chi living treated this way by other animals that live with it needs to praised if it does not show aggression.

Excessive Barking

Chihuahua training will also be needed for the dog that is prone to excessive barking. Without a doubt, chis make satisfactory watch dogs, raising the alarm by barking. But they can also bark for a plethora of other reasons, such as boredom, loneliness, or overexcitement.

Your Chihuahua and the Public

Teach and get your dog used to a variety of familiar and strange noises by taking them out to busy places from time to time. You need to be aware that a chi raised in a quite neighborhood will find it more difficult to going out in public.