Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Succeeding with Puppy Potty Training

Puppy potty training or housebreaking can be accomplished successfully if you keep a few things in mind.

Right Age

A puppy under eight weeks old is not physically or neurologically ready to be potty trained. If your puppy is younger than eight weeks, it will only frustrate you to try to housebreak or potty train him. Resolve yourself to the idea that you will have to clean up after him for a couple more weeks until he's ready.

Paper Training

Some people choose to begin puppy potty training with paper training. Most experts advise against this because in essence, you are teaching your dog to do his business on your floor. A dog is not capable of telling the difference between a newspaper put down for his purposes and a report you've been working on for weeks that happens to be on the floor next to your chair. Having your puppy learn to use a paper, then expecting him to unlearn it when you want to housebreak him is unreasonable.

Puppy Crates

Crating your puppy can be very helpful. Dogs naturally like to den, so a comfortable crate gives your puppy a secure place to call his own. Under normal circumstances, a dog will not soil his bed so crating a puppy at night after he's been given the opportunity to go outside to potty will help prevent accidents.

Feeding

Puppy potty training begins with proper feeding. Choose a high quality dog food,even if it is more expensive. Not only does it provide better nutrition for your growing puppy, it does not have all the filler cheaper dog foods use. This filler is indigestible and causes gas as well as making your puppy need to move his bowels more often. Feed your puppy at the same times every day then take him outside 15-20 minutes after he's eaten to relieve himself.

Communicating With Your Puppy

Watch your puppy's behavior for signs he needs to relieve himself. Whining, sniffing around and restlessness all indicate a dog that needs to go. Get him outside quickly then praise him for doing well. Establish a word you will use with your dog for potty training. When you praise him, use this word. "Good boy to go potty outside" will help your dog associate what he just did with your pleasure. Dogs love to please.


http://www.pottytrainingtipsonline.com/ provides articles and information if Your Child is Ready for Potty Training for new parents. Great free help, links and more.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Tips On True Nutritional Value Of Ingredients In Dog Food

The evolution of dogs has gone from one of a being a strict carnivore to an omnivore digesting both animal and plant tissues. Dogs are no longer similar to their relative, the wolf, which is a strict carnivore subsisting on only meat. Although dogs do have a preference for meaty diets, they are able to live on vegetable protein as long as they supplemented with additional amino acids and other missing nutrients.
Chunk Dog Food 21/8 (5 lb Bonus) - 40 lb Chunk Dog Food 21/8: GR

Good nutrition and a balanced diet are essential for your dog's health. People often have questions on dog food. Here is some dog food information that should help. What and when you feed your dog early in life will shape its preferences when it is older. This applies to time of day, odor, texture and taste and meal temperature. Up to fifty percent of an adult dogs diet can come from carbohydrates such as grain.

It is important to feed and water your pet on a regular basis. To prevent overheating and dehydration, water should be available to your pet at all times, especially during periods of high activity. Puppies need to eat often, while adult dogs can be fed once or twice each day. For pet owners interested in feeding their dog a homemade diet, dog food recipes are available on the internet under the dog information section.

Life's Abundance food for dogs can be obtained in either the regular formula or a special formula designed to help obese dogs trim down. Overall dry dog food outsells all other types. Typically, dry food contains about ninety percent dry ingredients with about ten percent water, blending some grain, meats, meat by products, fat, minerals and vitamin content. Life's Abundance is a premium type dry dog food that contains no meat by products, instead containing a high protein mixture of meat, grain, dried veggies, fruits, and herbs.

There are some dogs that like canned food more than dry. The scent, taste, and texture of dry foods don't seem as appealing to them as those of the canned product. It has been noticed through time that less tartar accumulates on the teeth of canines that eat dry food, and they don't suffer as frequently from gingivitis. They are also not as likely to be overweight. Because of the gum swelling that accompanies a canned food regime, the tissue around the teeth recedes and the teeth themselves become loose. Renal and hepatic damage can occur as well, due to the gradual passage of bacteria from the infected gums into the blood stream.

Each specific dog has its own specific dietary requirements. This means that no two dogs will need the same amount of food to maintain good weight as well as health. Active dogs, and the breeds they come from, function with a greater need for calories than less active breeds. To this end, many dogs today are overweight. While the weight almost never shows on legs, dog's loin and lumbar areas become consumed by fat. Growing dogs and puppies do require more food per pound than adult or senior animals, but there are special foods for all stages of your pet's life, making your job as a caretaker, easier.

Hi-Pro Dog Food 27/12 - 50 lb Hi-Pro Dog Food 27/12: GR

Check the dog food if you find that your dog has less energy, dog food nutrition and visit this website for more detail www.DogFoodReview.net

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Saturday, November 15, 2008

So, will ear mites propose a danger to my dog? The simple answer to this question is yes. Ear mites may affect your dog greatly.

While it can rarely cause accidental death, it would certainly affect your dog's joyful nature. Ear mites are small inconveniences for your pets. Worse, they are living organisms that are thriving on their body for food.

It is possible to find ear mites in dogs and cats, as well as other small animals. Ear mites can be considered as parasites, which actually feed on the epidermal wastes of your pet's body. In this case, they found food in the ears. And there they will stay for as long as they are getting the proper nourishment.

Ear mites may or may not be seen by the naked eye. There are species that are big enough to be seen floating about the hair and the skin of your pet. However, there are also some that can only be observed under a microscope. But then again, you don't have to see ear mites just to know whether or not your dog is suffering from it. There are telltale signs to watch out for.

Dogs that are very irritable and are scratching their ears a lot are most likely to be suffering from this condition. And most of these dogs would have brownish discharges coming out of their ears. The discharges are excessive ear wax. The mites trigger its production.

Generally, you don't have to clean the ears of your dog frequently because they can do it by themselves. So if you see a build up of ear wax in your pet, there's every reason to be alarmed. Your dog could be suffering from ear mites and you have to provide a quick solution to it.

Ear mites rarely lead to death. But that doesn't mean that it is not possible. The most common problem with ear mites is the fact that they can trigger the loss of your dog's hearing. Mites penetrating deep into the ears may cause damage to the ear drums. Keep in mind that the ear is responsible for keeping the body's balance. This is true with both dogs and humans. Ear mites could disrupt that balance and cause seizures to your pet. And if your dog suffered from a bad case of seizure, that's when sudden or eventual death may arise.

Ear mites are highly contagious. So you definitely want to keep your other pets away from the infected ones. This is also the reason why it is very important to address the problem early on. If you are not careful, the disease may spread to all of your pets. And in which case, the mites become harder to eliminate.

Keep your dog clean. That's the first line of defense against ear mites. Make sure that it gets is daily bath. Groom your pet as frequently as required. A healthy, hygienic dog is not likely to acquire any type of diseases - especially not ear mites.


DogEarMites.net - resources and articles dealing with the ear mites in dogs infection, how to prevent ear mites in dogs and how to treat ear mites in dogs






The Art of Raising a Puppy

The Art of Raising a Puppy


You aren''t going to get anywhere with a newborn dog if you don''t understand where it is going and what it wants...












Friday, November 7, 2008

Personalized Maltese Dog Breed Christmas Ornament

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step.


Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash after they have become masters of all the basic obedience commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on command.

Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off the leash.

Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before removing the leash.

After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard.

Have a friend or neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold you dog on the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the outside of the fence, watch your dog's reactions closely. If he starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back.

Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually removing the leash and repeating the distraction. It is important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.

After your dog is able to remain still in the face of distraction, start introducing the come when called lessons with distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced in yard, try calling your dog.

When the dog comes to you, immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward. After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day, making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow him to go back to his fun.

After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area well away from people and cars.

Practice with your dog by allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around, then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities. Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and continued good times.

Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to come when called, even when there are many distractions around, is it safe to allow him time off leash. Off leash time should never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well being and your dog's, that you know where he is and what he is doing at all times.

It is easy for a dog to get into trouble quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just chasing a ball with the neighbor's kids.

For more information please visit http://about-animals.info/
 

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