Having Healthy Pups: A Few Tips On Keeping Your Dog Healthy By David Riewe

The responsibility of a new pet is sometimes overwhelming. One of your new duties as a dog owner is to take care of your pet's health. Here are two pointers for you to follow in taking care of your pet.

- The Veterinarian Is our Friend

Part of your duty as a dog owner is to know when to call for the vet. Don't take a 'wait and see' attitude when it comes to your pet's health. Sometimes, that approach is fine but most often professional help is needed to treat your dog's sickness. Depending on the dog's condition, there are many ways a veterinarian may help.

There are several instances when it is essential that you call your veterinarian:

a) Always call your vet when your dog has been in an accident. If your regular veterinarian is not available, look for the closest emergency vet clinic.

b) Always call your vet when you suspect your dog has eaten something that may be poisonous or something inedible.

c) Call your vet immediately when your pet is in obvious distress. Sudden weight gain or weight loss should be a warning sign for you to take your dog to the vet.

d) If your dog is coughing, vomiting or having seizure, call the vet immediately.

- An Ounce of Prevention Is Better Than A Pound Of Cure

Of course, going to the vet should be the last recourse. Preventing your dog from being hurt or getting sick is your primary responsibility.

Remember, that good food and a lot of exercise equates into a long life for your pet. A balanced diet and a regimen of exercise helps prevent sickness and strengthens your pet. Monitor what your pets eat. Clean your dog's cage regularly to get rid of any disease-causing bacteria. Check your dog's water supply. Make sure it's clean and healthy for your pet.

Keep your dog on a leash. Running in front of a car is not very good for your dog's health and heaven knows where your pet may end up if you just let it wander around.

Give your dog a regular bath. Fleas and ticks can give your dog extreme discomfort and are often carriers of disease.

Of course, keeping your dog in tip-top shape goes beyond these pointers. It's always advisable to ask a veterinarian for additional health tips and as your experience with your pet grows, you'll think up of a couple more rules that are special to your beloved hound. Just remember that when your pet's health is in question, it's always better to be safe!

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=22704&ca=Pets

Know Your Friendly Neighborhood Assistance Dogs By Jack Russell

Dogs, aside from being his best friend has also served man in so many useful and varied ways – from shepherding, to cattle rustling, to rescue, and protecting property. It doesn’t come as a surprise that they also are able to assist those who cannot get about by themselves. Assistance dogs are specially trained dogs that serve to complement, assist, and aid those that may have some sort of limitation. They have also become indispensable to some who have difficulty with mobility due to some disability.

Below are a few ways dogs have truly become man’s best friend as assistance dogs.

Guide Dogs:

When you mention assistance dogs, this is the first function they perform that comes to mind. These types of dogs help those who have visual impairment and help them move about conveniently. They help these people cross roads, climb stairs, and find their way around a place. They are usually able to help these people manage even potentially hazardous areas.

Hearing Dogs:

These dogs assist those that have hearing impairment, and are specially trained to nudge their owners when they hear certain noises such as telephone rings, doorbells, and horns among others.

Mobility Assist Dog:

These friendly canines pull wheelchairs, and carry light equipment for their owners in their backpacks. These amazing dogs assist those who cannot move around easily to at least find convenience moving around an area. They are a delight to watch in action and are usually heartwarming to see.

Seizure Alert/Response Dog:

These dogs are trained to hit a button that contacts 911 in case of a seizure or cardiac attack. Operators are advised in advance that calls coming from this line are activated by dogs. In turn, they alert paramedics on a possible emergency situation. As with most assistance dogs, they do not leave their owner’s side and are constantly alert and observant.

Psychiatric Service Dog:

Psychiatric Service Dogs provide an emotional security blanket to those who may have mental illnesses and phobias. They also help autistic people stay focused. These dogs never leave their owner’s side and provide steady, reliable companionship to their owners.

Combo Dogs

These dogs are a hybrid combination of the above mentioned assistance dog types. They are trained to assist those with multiple disabilities or needs. Although their jobs may seem quite overboard, they do accomplish such with a gladdening reliability.

Assistance dogs serve a vital part of many people’s lives. They are not only ‘tools’ that assist a deficiency, but friends that provide companionship for the duration of their lives.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=23269&ca=Pets

How To Make Your Dog Obey You? By Jack Russell

Most people contend that dogs are created to obey their masters. That is why they are considered the man’s best friend. However, obedience is not an innate quality in dogs. That is why it is important to teach them how to obey commands in order for them to know in what manner they should behave.

In reality, obedience training is created to impose control over dogs. These canine friends should know who the master is and who the follower is.

With all the teachings of science and man’s remarkable brain, the guidelines about obedience training in dogs were created. All of these are inclined to teach the dogs how to obey simple to complex commands and how to behave properly.

However, the concept of training dogs how to obey may vary on styles, equipment being used, or on the principles being implemented. Nevertheless, all of these things are focused on making dogs obey their masters.

The question is: How do trainers or these concepts make the dogs obey their masters? What is the reason that lies beneath the idea considering the fact that dogs are not humans who can logically understand why they have to obey?

What people don’t know is that there are only two keys in order to make their dogs obey them: consistency and compassion.

Consistency is extremely important in every training program. This is because as mentioned earlier, dogs are not logical thinkers. This means that they don’t know and they don’t understand why they have to obey or what does their master want from them. That is why it is important to let them know the things they should do and the things they shouldn’t do.

In this way, people should be consistent on distinguishing the things that should be done and those that are not appreciated.

On the other hand, compassion is needed in teaching dogs to obey because they are not like humans who will immediately understand what is wrong or right. This means that people should be a little more patient when teaching dogs to obey in order for them to gain the dog’s trust.

There are instances wherein trainers get impatient after repeating one command several times. In the end, they tend to hurt the dog. In turn, the dog gets hurt and may no longer trust his trainer.

The bottom line is that, dogs are not humans and they don’t behave like humans. That is why training them to obey needs more time, more patience, and more understanding from people who know better.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=22887&ca=Pets

Do You Know Your Dog? By Vincent Carney

Dogs thrive on positive direction and are extremely social animals. Over the years, the breeds have been protected and perfected. The outcome is a breed who have a deep foundation within the respectful human dog relationship. This is why the respected relationship is the most significant factor between pet and pet owner. As such, a good relationship between dog and man is built on trust and honor.

In such a relationship the dog is guided and not pushed to understanding himself naturally. By doing this, a pet owner is committing themself into truly understanding who the dog species really is. This is first developed by understanding the dog and its history.

Within a dogs pack are its inner circle of friends. This consists of both human, the pet owner and family, and dogs, either friend or sibling. We know this because all dogs are derived from the wolf, who are social-pack animals. By understanding and studying the wolf, we gain a deeper knowledge of the dog's human relationship; where the canine views those humans he lives with as pack members. By recognizing and understanding this simple yet crucial fact you now understand and know 95% more about the true dog than the average pet owner. This will lead to the best possible training of a puppy through the inclusion of the dog in the pack and naturally developing a pecking order with your dog.

What about the alpha dog? Is this for real or is it another dog myth? By all scientific documentation the alpha male is for real and is a common fact. All wolf packs have an alpha male that can be seen as the head boss. They can take on single or multiple roles depending on each pack that can be: leadership, setlling fights between pack members, dictator, etc... All other wolves look to the alpha male dog for leadership and guidance and therefore create a stable 'family pack relationship.' If you've got a dog who hasn't be trained properly and is the alpha of your house a change is needed. There should be no question in your dog's mind tha you are the alpha and he is the subordinate. You must present yourself as a leader starting with the first impression.

When dealing with your dog, an enormous amount of communication is sent through body language. One important way alphas command respect is with authority in their eye contact. Gentle looks will signify acceptance and stern dominant expressions will demand respect and compliance. This is done through various training techniques to aid the dog in establishing and making eye contact with its owner. Training in general should start the day the little puppy enters the world. Dog training should be a complete life experience for the dog focusing on the big picture and the human dog relationship. This is different than the basic sit, roll over, shake, stay and find commands and requires much more than breaking a dog through disciplinary actions and reward systems. When the inner pack relationship is established between owner and dog, an unbreakable and non-duplicated bond is formed. This bond is not done justice with words but is known by many pet owners throughtout our world.

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Dog Supplies Buying Guide By Jack Russell

Just like a baby who needs utmost attention and care, the acquisition of the best supplies for your dog needs some major consideration, too. Here's how you can ensure that your beloved pet gets the best toys, food, and other necessities.

Dog Food and Treats

Your dog's needs should be the emphasis when considering what food or treat to buy him. The proper balance of vitamins and minerals should be given, particularly to growing puppies. Sporting and working dog breeds need to eat something that will sustain their hyperactive lifestyle. Dogs that aren't getting any younger need low-calorie food to avoid weight gain. Don’t scrimp on the budget here no matter how compelling it might be. A healthy dog is reflected by the food he eats.

Dog Leashes and Collars

The size and weight of the dog should be taken into account in choosing the right dog collar. The collar's material needs attention too. Nylon is good for water-loving dogs since it is more durable and light. For a tougher look, leather collars are a lot better since they are more durable and can even be accessorized with spikes.

Dog leashes come in cloth, nylon, retractable, and leather styles.

Dog Toys

The safety of your dog should be the top priority in looking for a dog toy. What fun could be derived from a toy if it will endanger your pet's life, right? A dog toy should be large enough so that it can't be swallowed by your pet. However, it should be small enough for your dog to be able to grip it well.

The durability of the toys will need major consideration too, especially for dogs that are serious chewers. Light chewers can settle for vinyl and latex dog toys.

Training Guides for Your Dog

Dog whistles, dog harnesses and bitter-tasting sprays compose the wide array of dog-training guides that will keep a dog from chewing. If the chewing problem is a lot more serious, one may use a dog bark collar or an electric fence. It is advised that one stays consistent and humane in training his or her dog. Dog training books may also be availed for this endeavor.

Dog Health Items

Tick and flea infestation control medications are available to ensure that your dog's health is secured against these pests. Brands like Advantix, Advantage and Frontline are some of the popular flea and tick drugs in the market.

Your dog's dental health should never be taken for granted either. Dog toothbrushes and toothpastes, and even dog toys are now made available to support the dental health of your pet.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=22883&ca=Pets