Friday, September 16, 2011

Tips for Training Your Pets

Tips for Training Your Pets: We consider pets as part of the family. They live together with humans inside the homes. Remember that initially pets are learning from their surroundings. Their traits are developed base on their relation with people or other animals. That is why not all the traits they have are acceptable inside the homes.

The best thing to do is to train them as early as possible. In this way, they will be able to learn proper behavior while around people.   

It is a fact that that the way your pet behaves may vary from time to time. They may be showing good traits today but on the following days it could be different.  
Training your pets will definitely teach them how to redirect their actions and instead act on a way that is domestically suitable. However, in some cases, bad traits are rather preferred to be totally eradicated.   

Proper pet training is helpful between the owner and the pet. This will even enhance their relationship making them more bonded. To start training your pet, here are some tips that are deemed helpful. 

Trainers believe that pets should be trained using a positive approach. Ever since pet training has started, pets that are trained with positive approach are more eager in responding to commands from their trainers. This is better rather than using the negative approach where pets tend to follow commands because of the fear of punishment. 

Training tools are also seen very important in the training process. Simple tools such as a leash can help a lot. Having your pet in a leash while outdoors needs also proper training. Some pets are used to be on a leash during a walk. A clicker is also one of the tools that can be used. Clicker training will also make the pets follow commands and is proven to be also effective. 

The last simple guide is to reward your pet. Food is the best reward to be given to get their attention. They love being rewarded if they are able to follow commands and for them food is a good sign of approval. 

Traveling with Pets

Traveling with Pets: It is quite difficult for some people to travel and leave their pets in the comfort of their homes. This is true especially if they will be away for a couple of days. Some would prefer asking another person to take care of their pet while they are away. These people could be their friend, relative or neighbor. This is fine, but it is better not to give other people a hassle in taking care of the pets unless they are professional pet sitters who would definitely do the pet sitting because it is their job. 

What is still best is to have your pets travel with you so you can always keep an eye on them. But is it allowed? Will it not give you more headache than leaving your pet at home? The answer is no.  

Traveling with pets nowadays was made even easier. There are just some guidelines that are essential to be followed in order to make your travel with your pet more convenient. 
If traveling by land, make sure that you help your pet get accustomed to the ride. Bring your pet with you on a ride for quite a few times before the day of travel. In this way, your pet will be gradually learning how to behave on such situations.  

Second, secure an identification tag on the collar of your pet. See to it that your name, address and contact numbers are written so in the event that your pet gets lost, it will be easier for people to get in touch with you. 

You must also check with the establishments that you wish to visit if they allow entry of pets. Some of the public and private areas permit pets around while some do not.  
It is also important that your pet gets used to be walking around on a leash. Some pets get scared of unfamiliar surroundings and they have the tendency to run away. Being on a leash would also prevent them from bothering other people.  

Finally, bring your pet to a veterinarian to make sure that it is safe for traveling. There are also medicines that they can administer to the pet before traveling. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Are You Poisoning Your Dog ?

When people give their dogs a treat, it's frequently the same kind of things that they enjoy eating and drinking themselves. After all, what harm can it do occasionally? Sadly, although you mean it as a reward it can often make your dog unwell. A dog's digestive system is very different to that of a human's and the wrong food can cause anything from short-term discomfort to serious long-term harm.

A quick look at a list of what you might think is usually OK will reveal things you shouldn't be offering your faithful friend at all. What's more you have to be strict with yourself. Your dog trusts you completely and believes that anything you offer is safe, simply because it comes from you.

Milk Products

Although all mammals have milk at first, they grow out of it eventually. Your canine friend quickly develops to a point where they can't actually process the lactose (a kind of sugar) which is present in all dairy product. In the stomach that sugar begins to ferment, becoming a form of alcohol. Your dog is likely to suffer stomach pain and possibly diarrhoea.

Cheese and yogurt also contain lactose and although you can find lactose-free products (because some people are lactose intolerant), why give your pet something that has no benefit? If you want to give your dog a drink they would prefer plain water!

Fruit
Although your dog is a carnivore (nature gave them those teeth for cutting through meat) many dog foods contain vegetables as well, primarily for added vitamins and minerals. If you buy dog food from a reputable manufacturer and It contains vegetables, that's fine. The same is not true of fruit.

While the vitamin C in fruit is beneficial, most fruit also contains citric acid which is likely to cause your dog intestinal discomfort. Bananas contain potassium which in large amounts can cause heart problems Raisins and grapes have recently been linked to potential kidney failure. Nuts must also be included in this section because, just like in some people, they can cause surprisingly violent and dangerous reactions.

Are You in the Market for a Dog Mansion

Affluent pet owners finally have something spectacular and out of the ordinary to offer their pets. In particular, dog owners can now purchase a deluxe mansion for their beloved dog instead of the typical doghouse.

Pampered pets are nothing new. It's simply the level to which pet owners can now go that is. Birthdays and holidays have always been celebrated for many a dog or cat, but how many can actually say that they have received a mans'on of their own for their birthday?

As time goes by and as more companies sprout up, more and more dogs will own a mansion of their own. Today's dog owner who is in search of an over-the-top gift with style and substance can select from among an entire entourage of differently sized and priced doggie mansions

Doggie mansions start as low as $1500 for a smaller, less extravagant model to $100,000 for a higher end model. The sky is pretty much the limit too with a custom made doggie mans'on that is constructed per the purchaser's specifications. Does your pet prefer a New England Colonial, a cottage, or perhaps something with a Mediterranean theme?

The construction of the homes is as varied as that of homes designed for the human owners Aluminum siding, stucco, brick, or stone are only some of the options that are offered. Personal taste and the size of your wallet are the only things that truly dictate what it is that you can purchase. These aren't skimpy dog homes either. Some of them can run as tall as twelve feet high.

In addition to the style of the home, several add ons are available including decks, picket fences, and gardens In fact, custom windows are another option for the purchaser of a doggie mansion to consider. Hinged windows, bay windows, double windows, and more are all available for the discerning dog owner.

On the inside of the home, special upgrades can include air conditioning, ceiling fans, and deluxe lighting. Of course, you can purchase the home and furnish it yourself or perhaps you'd rather get it already furnished.

Some people might consider these homes for pets as a bit outrageous, but affluent owners are not shy about purchasing one at all. In fact, even pet owners who aren't affluent, but who are centered on their dog are looking into some of the less expensive models These mansions are not for everyone. In fact, they're only for the dogs.

Alaskan Malamute: the Kotzebue

The Alaskan Malamute has his beginnings in the arctic as freight or sled dog for the native group of Innuits who were known as the Mahlemut. The Mahlemut lived primarily neat the Anvik River in Alaska. However, their group did stretch out to other areas.

Originally, these dogs of long ago were powerful creatures that were capable of hauling extreme amounts of weight. In particular, they were used to haul large amounts of supplies such as food, to the villages During the gold rush in the late 1800s, the Alaskan Malamute was in high demand for his skills

Two different types of Alaskan Malamutes are recognized today- the Kotzebue and the M'Loot. The Kotzebue is slightly smaller and only has a coat in the gray coloring. The M'Loot is available in a variety of colors. In addition to these differences, the Kotzebue is less aggressive. Moreover, the Kotzebue is more active or hyper than the M'Loot.

The Alaskan Malamute is known for his powerful build with his strong muscles, deep chest, and strong stance. He holds his head in an erect posture that clearly indicates his proud nature. His eyes are always alert and curious, taking in his surroundings at all times

The Alaskan Malamute's head is large and broad. His ears are triangular and typically held erect above the head, especially when he is alerted by noise or movement. His muzzle is neither long or short. His tail is full of fluff and character, rising above and over the back in a seemingly waving gesture.

His body is heavily boned providing him with strength and power to perform his tasks efficiently. He is a tireless dog that is not designed for speed, but rather, for endurance and stamina.

The Alaskan Malamute needs lots of exercise to keep him healthy and content. Daily walks and periods of exercise including play are recommended. Although it is important not to over exercise the dog particularly in hot weather, it is essential to his well being to keep him fit. If boredom sets in due to a lack of attention, he can become destructive in his behavior out of frustration as well as a lack of anything else to do.

This is a highly trainable breed that responds well to positive reinforcement, especially in regard to obedience training. However, training must be consistent to achieve desired results Early socialization with other dogs is important for the best results.

The Alaskan Malamute is a very friendly breed that does well with groups of people. Therefore, he makes an exceptional family pet. His tendency to be affectionate is notable. Likewise, he is an extremely loyal and devoted dog.

Their coloring ranges from light gray to black and gold to liver. White is always the color on the under body. Any solid coloring other than white is frowned upon with this particular breed. Face markings are quite distinguishable. They typically involve a cap over the head with a mask or bar of color on the face. The coat of an Alaskan Malamute is double coated. It is quite thick with a coarse topcoat that protects a soft, long, and rather wooly undercoat. Trimming is not required at any time.

However, shedding occurs on a semi-annual basis and can be quite troublesome due to the excessive amounts of hair. The summer months typically encourage a coat that is less dense in nature; and therefore, one such period of shedding occurs at this time. During the rest of the time, very little shedding is noticed.

Additionally, the Alaskan Malamute does not exude any odor. He is a rather fastidious animal, and like a cat, will clean himself. Bathing may not be necessary more than once or twice a year. Grooming needs are minimal, although a regular brushing is certainly enjoyed by the dog and will produce a shine to his coat.

Adding To The Family: The Dog Decision

The decision to purchase a dog for your family is a big one, it's a bigger decision that deciding to buy a new car or a new home. This decision is one that many people don't realize it's magnitude until after they have the dog. This is quite unfortunate for many of these dogs because some of them end up in a pound somewhere or being sold or given away to other families, or worse put down or neglected.

The idea of a puppy in the home is one that kids everywhere beg their parents for - they ask and plead, promising to take care of it fully. Parents usually know better-the novelty of a puppy only lasts for a short period of time, or until the kids have to pick up their first puppy present on the living room carpet. The fact of the matter is that kids can't actually fully care for a puppy, a puppy needs an adult who can train and teach in house training and obedience.

There are a number of things that you need to research before you decide to purchase a dog and it starts right in your own home.

Step one - Look Around Your Home

The first step to the decision is to look around your home, even if the decision has already been made, take a last look at the way your home used to look, because in the near future, it probably won't look the same once you have a puppy. If you are quite fond of your furniture, you may want to look at where you can house the puppy until it learns not to chew the legs off your chairs and the arms on your sofa - if you don't have an area like this, you will have to consider other methods of containment or rethink your decision.

Take a look at your carpet. Remember, puppies don't come house broken, and there is a pretty good chance that they will have an accident or two on your living room carpet. It's not the end of the world, but you have to be willing to clean it u p with pet odor spray for carpets or perhaps even a rug shampooer.

Do you have knick-knacks around your home? If they are low to the ground where a puppy could get to them, or easily knocked over onto the floor by a large beating tail or a running-out-of-control puppy, you will want to relocate these objects.

These steps are known as puppy proofing your home. If you have children, it is similar to baby proofing your home, except that it seems a little more extreme in some cases Babies don't ruin furniture and carpets, but puppies can.

Step Two - Decide How Much Time You Have

Puppies take time — a lot of it. You should expect that your new puppy will require at least two hours of your time each and everyday, including that of your children. All together, a puppy(depending on the type)can eat up to five hours of your time each day.

You will need to allot time each morning to take your puppy outside, have someone to be there through the day to take the puppy outside once every half an hour until they learn their housebreaking. You will also have to allot time throughout the day and evening for walks, for a puppy, 15 minutes of a walk is plenty, but that should happen at least twice a day. As you puppy gets older, those two walks a day will need to increase in time and intensity so that your dog has enough exercise and playtime.

If your family can't find two hours each day to care for your puppy, then the decision is made — a puppy isn't right for you at this time. However, once you have established that everyone can and will allocate time to the puppy of at least two hours, not including extra play and training time, a puppy may fit well with your family.

Step Three —Time To Research Breeds

You can't just run out to the pet store, pound or breeder and choose the cutest puppy you see. Choosing a puppy that is right for your family and lifestyle is the biggest decision of all. If you live in a small home with little or no yard space, owning a large breed dog that weighs well over 100 pounds is not ideal for you. Each breed has it's own characteristics that need to be considered, here's a list of considerations that you should make with each breed of dog before choosing.

• Size and weight -find out how much the dog will weigh approximately and how big you can expect them to get. You can research on the Internet to find information on different breeds of dogs or in dog breed books.

• Disposition and personality - not all dogs are created equal. Some are labeled as better family pets, while others do well in a small family or adult only situation. Some dog breeds don't tolerate children very well, while other breeds love children.

• Health concerns-most dog breeds have a set of potential health concerns that you need to be aware of. Some of the most common and severe problems to watch for are hip, back, endocrine, nodal and ear problems. If you are planning on a registered bred puppy, you can check the lineage of the puppies parents to see if any problems have occurred in the line.

• Intelligence - dog breeds have been categorized by their intelligence - some breeds are just smarter than others and pick up on training quicker than others. This will affect the time that it takes you to train your puppy and how much time you will have to devote to the overall training process for both housebreaking and obedience.

Step Four - To Crate or Not To Crate

Crate training is a subject that has been debated for decades - some trainers will tell you that it is necessary for a properly trained dog while others will tell you that it is cruel to your animal. The fact is that crate training when done properly, is a great training tool. You must not leave your puppy or dog in a crate for too long-they can't spend the entire day in their kennel, only being let out to eat and go outside to do their business. Puppies need affection and attention or they will go crazy and no amount of training in a crate or not, will fix that.

Some dog breeds respond better to crate training than others, and for some dog breeds, crate training is a must. While researching your breed, you will likely find methods of teaching and training your new puppy and whether or not a crate is necessary.

Step Five-Consider Your Pocketbook

Dogs are expensive and not just to purchase. You will have to consider the costs of vaccinations and neutering or spaying your dog. It's also important to have a cushion of funds for emergencies and vet bills that can crop up unexpectedly.

A Dog's First Night

Many pet owners enjoy the excitement of bringing home a new puppy, admiring the youth and vigour that it instantly brings to the household. However, that excitement generally turns to dismay when their new companion keeps them up all night with its lonely howling. To help you and your new puppy adjust to the first few long nights, here are five items to consider:

1.Provide Adequate Bedding

A puppy's sleeping quarters should provide sufficient space to include a dog bed or blankets, a water bowl (with a food bowl, if needed), and a noiseless toy or two for entertainment. A kennel, lined with newspapers, is often the best choice because it keeps the puppy safe from any outside elements.

2. Provide Comfort Items

Two of the best items to have with the puppy include a hot-water bottle and a clock. A hot-water bottle wrapped in a blanket or towel and placed within the puppy's bedding simulates the heat generated from the mother or litter-mates. A clock also kept close by further soothes the restless puppy by simulating a heartbeat.

3. Create a Stable Sleeping Environment

Where the puppy's sleeping quarters is placed will greatly influence how well it sleeps It is best to place the puppy in a quiet area, avoiding areas with a lot of appliances that may create too much noise. The area should be checked regularly, taking great care to ensure that it is dry, as well as being warm or cool as needed.

4. Engage in Physical Activities

About an hour or two before bed, allow the puppy to experience a lot of play. Use the last hour before bedtime to let the puppy calm down so that sleep comes more easily after being exhausted by play. Do not allow the puppy to sleep too much in the hours prior to putting it to bed because it will simply be restless since it has already rested plenty.

5. Provide Tough Love

Although it makes an owner feel as though they are being mean or neglectful, the best thing to do when the puppy throws its nightly tantrum is to let it wear itself out. It crying out is its way of getting the owner's attention and the owner is only reinforcing the unwanted behaviour by tending to it when it does so. This may also create separation anxiety later in life, which can become obsessive and disruptive, if the puppy is not given the opportunity to learn how to be by itself. It is best to leave the puppy be, allowing for it to adapt to the owner's sleep cycle, which it will eventually adopt as its own.

Patience is key when training a new puppy. Although the first few nights may be difficult, with this and plenty of love, the owner and puppy can begin developing a life-long bond.