Archives for October, 2009
Pet travel cages allow you to easily and safely transport your pet almost anywhere. The type of cage you pick will depend on the type of pet you need to transport. There are a lot of kinds of cages to pick from, however. If designer cages are your cup of tea, you can pick one of those from the hundreds of assorted styles and designs available. With a little searching, you are sure to find the right one for you and your pet.
If you have a medium or large dog, you are going to want a large crate. You could require assistance with the crate if you have a larger animal. The crate needs to be a size that allows your dog to sit down up, turn around, and stand easily. You also need to make quite sure you can fit dishes for food and water in the crate.
If your pet is small enough to use a small carrier or travel bag, you may be able to maintain the animal with you. Animals traveling this way is allowed on quite a few airlines. Travel bags for dogs can include backpack carriers, front slings, and handbags that allow the dogs head to poke through the top.
Cat travel carriers are available for transporting your feline companion. When traveling with a cat, these cages are the customary means of transporting them safely. Cats usually prefer to travel while lying down, so the carrier does not need to accommodate a standing cat. As long as the cat can stretch out comfortably without his head touching the top of the carrier, the cage will be large enough for the cat to travel in safely and quite comfortably.
Once you have chosen one of many appropriate pet travel cages for you and your pet, you will be ready to travel in style. With a full range of appropriate carriers available, it’s time that your pet accompany you to any destination! So, bring your pet along with you in confidence and security and see what a great time the 2 of you have together.
Purchasing items for your pet, and caring for them are part of what makes pet ownership so rewarding. A travel carrier is necessary to properly secure your pet and keep the animal comfortable during travel. These cages will make either a two week vacation or a day shopping trip, more enjoyable for both of you. I mean they are an extension of the family - Are they not? Mine certainly believe that they are!
Layla writes articles on dog cages and about the important safety aspects of dogs cages to keep your pet safe.
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Oct 29, 2009 | | dog training
Puppies should be house trained as early as possible. Over 80% of dogs in the U.S. are kept inside the home by their owners. Failing to properly teach them to control their bladders and bowels will have frustrating consequences later. Fortunately, providing a healthy does of consistent discipline, patience, and attention upfront can help ensure your pup is housebroken early. There will be accidents, so plan for them. In the same way toddlers eventually learn to use the toilet, your puppy will also learn to avoid making a mess in your home.
In this article, we’ll describe two important ground rules that you should follow when housetraining your puppy. We’ll also explain why establishing a routine is critical and how to handle the occasional accident when it happens.
Establishing The Ground Rules
Owners who are trying to housebreak their puppies often punish them when they make a mess, even if they don’t catch them in the act. Avoid doing this. If you see you pup having an accident, a stern “no!” is good enough. There’s no need for punishment; in fact, punishing him can have a negative effect.
Also, be generous with your praise. If your puppy is doing things properly, let him know. Remember, dogs need positive reinforcement from their owners. If you only reproach him when he makes a mess and neglect to recognize his successes, it will have a lasting effect.
The Value Of A Simple Routine
The importance of a regular routine when house training your pup cannot be overstated. The repetition reinforces positive behavior. First, make sure you’re providing your pup with plenty of opportunities to go outside; once every two hours is appropriate because they cannot control their bladders for long. Second, choose a specific spot outside that he can use to eliminate, and stick to it. If he has an accident, place the rags you use to clean it up in that spot. The odor will remind him where he is supposed to eliminate.
Third, establish a routine that includes regular feeding, playing, and walking time for him. That will help him adopt a consistent elimination schedule.
Paying Attention And Dealing With Accidents
When your pup is indoors, watch him. Don’t allow him to roam freely throughout your house. That is an invitation for him to leave a hidden “surprise” for you. Instead, confine him to a certain area and pay attention to signs that he needs to eliminate. When you notice those signs, take him to his designated elimination spot and praise him for his success.
As noted, your puppy will have a few accidents. Don’t punish him. If you catch him making a mess inside, interrupt him without scaring him (avoid yelling or chasing him). Take him to his designated area so he can finish. Then, praise him for it. Too many owners are quick to punish their puppies for having an accident. The result is that a pup learns to fear his owner.
Housetraining a puppy requires patience and diligence. However, if you approach it in the right manner, your pup will not only learn to control himself, he’ll learn to trust you in the process.
Find the best Odor Free Bully Sticks and healthy dog products at Pawlux.com
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Oct 28, 2009 | | dog training
Today is all about natural herbal treatments for many ailments. How about those same herbal uses for our own pets. We are going to share some great herbal remedies for use with common ailments in our pets.
The use of Aloe Vera as a medicinal purpose has been going on for centuries. People have been using it for scrapes, burns and other injuries. Our pets can also benefit from this for stomach ulcers, wounds and burns.
Gas or constipation can also be cured by this amazing plant. For internal issues, this aloe Vera can be ingested by your dog by mixing it into the dog’s food. External issues are cured by rubbing a little Aloe Vera on the affected area. Topically or ingested, Aloe Vera is a plus for dogs.
The flower from the calendula herb can be used antifungal or anti-inflammatory but the majority of it usage is for cuts and wounds. You can also use this on wounds and cuts as well. This flower just keeps on providing us with medicinal uses as listed below.
The petals of the flowers can be directly applied to dress the wound. The petals can also be used as an antiseptic wash by making them into a tea which helps to prevent bacteria from growing. Good to know that these sweet little petals can also serve a purpose.
How many of you use ginger in your tea to cure a cold. Well, the root of the ginger can be made into tincture or tea to cure your sweet pets upset stomach. This delicious herb has been used for centuries by people, now it’s time share this great remedy with your dogs.
Goldensel is a powerful herb that helps prevent bacteria from attaching to the walls of your cells. For those dogs with the nasty weeping eye syndrome; give them relief by using the goldensel as a tincture or tea and wash their eyes. No more weepy eyes after use of this amazing cure.
Try the triple action of chamomile, valerian and California poppy for your hyper dog. Only a few drops of valerian are needed combined with the tinctures, teas and extracts all serve to keep your pets blood pressure lowered asthma under control and repel those parasites!
As with any illness, we do suggest that you consult your local veterinarian before using the above mentioned remedies. Herbs have been curing our aliments for centuries so it’s only natural that we explore options for our pets. Happy and healthy dogs deserve it.
Have a Pet that you Love? Visit Catherine’s recommended Pet Supplies for Dogs website that uses nature’s best ingredients. They have the greatest selection of wonderful Natural Organic Dog Shampoos on the market.
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Oct 27, 2009 | | Dog Health
AAFCO stands for the Association Of American Feed Control Officials. This association is responsible for setting the standards and guidelines for the commercial production of pet foods. AAFCO tests the ingredients used and applies a minimum nutritional value that pet food manufacturers must follow. Having this minimum value however, allows for much interpretations to the standards, making the quality of the food produced less than desirable. The AAFCO stamp of approval on a label of dog food just means that the food meets minimum requirements.
How then are we as consumers going to know what is the best dog food to serve our pets? Dog food labels provide us with much information. Some of it can be misleading. So if we want to feed our dogs with a nutritious meal, it is important for us to gain some knowledge in how to read and interpret what a label is really telling us.
Many of us are loyal to certain brands of dog food mostly because of the many marketing programs we have been subjected to. We think that we are buying a good product. However, many of us don’t know that if a product name has an ingredient in its name (beef chow,) then 95% of that products weight must be of that ingredient, if it is a dry food or 70% if it is a wet food product. If the label mentions the word dinner or formula (chicken dinner,) then 25% of the weight of that product must be of that ingredient.
The ingredients of a particular dog food product are listed by weight in descending order. So if we were to read the ingredients of say a “chicken dinner” product, then by the percentages mentioned above, the chicken is only 1/4 of the product and therefore probably not the main ingredient. The main ingredients are more likely to be corn and bone meal. Both are undesirable as main ingredients and are mostly found in generic or discounted brands.
Many labels don’t mention an ingredient in the product name. Instead the word “flavored” will be used. In this case there is no amount requirement for a percentage of an ingredient in the product. The product, with whatever ingredients are used, is just flavored with the taste of say chicken. “Natural” dog food is another word found on labels. All that this is stating is that no artificial colors or ingredients, and preservatives are being used. “Premium” dog food is worth mentioning because products using this word in their labels follow the AAFCO standards to the fullest and their products provide good nutritional value.
An easy way to determine if the dog food you are buying is of good quality is to find the fat source ingredient on the content list. Look for such ingredients as beef fat or chicken fat. Ingredients listed before this fat source are main ingredients. If there are just a few ingredients listed before the fat source the product is good. The quality of the product diminishes with the addition of more ingredients. The ingredients listed after the fat source are just food enhancers and fillers.
If we are feeding our dogs a commercial dog food brand, then the most important thing that we can do as a dog owner is to learn to read dog food labels. When reading through the list of ingredients if we come across an item that doesn’t sound like something we would like to eat, then we should think twice about feeding it to our dogs. Let us take a little extra time to learn what we are really feeding our dogs.
As dog owners we are in total control when it comes to caring for our dogs. Knowing what the best dog food is, what are the right dog food ingredients and what dog food nutrition they provide can sometimes be confusing. Find out more about commercial and homemade dog food recipes by visiting www.onlinedogfoodrecipes.com.
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Oct 26, 2009 | | Dog Food
“All natural dog food” is a phrase commonly describing dog food that contains natural or organic ingredients. This phrase is widely used and may be misleading.
Commercial dog foods typically use artificial colors, artificial flavoring, and preservatives. Several small dog food manufacturers produce natural dog food that does not contain these artificial ingredients.
If the dog food claims to be natural, does not necessarily make it healthy for dogs. For example, a dog food that consists of corn and other grains and no protein could be labeled as all natural if it only contains grains, but a diet such as this can be detrimental to the dog’s health.
Dog owners need to consider what the ingredients are and not be solely concerned with whether or not the ingredients are natural. The healthiest dog food is a meat-based dog food. Dogs diet should not consist only of meat, but should contain a significant percentage of meat.
There are many different forms of healthy dog food with quality ingredients that are beneficial to dogs. A dog owner can look for a commercial food that has organic ingredients and is a good source of protein from meat.
Some dog owners prefer to make their own all natural dog food. Homemade dog food could be a raw dog food diet or cooked dog food recipes. Many dog owners prefer homemade dog food since it gives them control over the ingredients.
Most of the dogs diet should come from protein from a natural animal source such as chicken or beef. Whether the dog owner decides to feed the dog commercial dog food or homemade dog food, the dog owner should ensure that the dog’s diet is mostly protein. Few commercial dog foods contain mostly natural protein.
A variety of grains and vegetables are often added to the meat in homemade dog food. The dog should be fed a variety of foods to make sure the dog receives the proper vitamins and minerals.
Any dog owner who decides to feed the dog homemade dog food should make sure that they know which foods should never be put in dog food such as chocolate, onions, raisins, garlic, or avocado. Dog owners who make homemade dog food should also be mindful of the fat content of the dog food since obesity can cause physical problems for the dog. If the dog owner has concerns about the dog’s diet, the dog owner should consult the veterinarian.
Do you want to know more on how to make homemade dry dog food and found out details on natural dog food recipes that you can give to your beloved dogs? Find out more at our healthy dog food resource site.
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Oct 25, 2009 | | Dog Health
Your dog relies upon you to keep him safe both inside your home and outside. Most owners realize that they should keep their canines on a leash while they’re outside in order to prevent their roaming into the street. But, their responsibility extends much further. In this article, we’ll provide five tips that you can use to ensure the safety of your pooch.
#1 - Keep Dangerous Poisons Out Of Reach
Your canine’s appetite isn’t limited to the meals you provide him during the day. Given the opportunity, he’ll eat items that are not meant to be consumed (at least, not by him). For example, he may begin eating antifreeze if it is left within his reach. He might also start eating mouse bait, pesticides, and your own medications. Each of these items can lead to significant health issues. Keep them out of his reach.
#2 - Tag Him
You may think it could never happen, but many owners have learned that their dogs are always willing to explore if they’re given the chance. One of the reasons animal shelters in many cities are overflowing is because canines get loose and roam until they’re found. Put a collar and tag on your pooch. Also, consider microchipping him. Then, once a week, check to make sure his collar and tags are secure.
#3 - Keep His Head In The Car
It is a rare dog that doesn’t love to ride in a car with his head sticking out of the window. The problem is that it invites bugs and debris into his eyes. Plus, if you’re involved in a traffic collision, your pooch can be injured. If he’s going to ride in the car with you, keep the windows up enough to prevent him hanging his head outside.
#4 - Make Him Ride In The Cab
Owners will often place their dogs in the exposed bed of their trucks. This is incredibly dangerous for a few reasons. First, the stopping and starting can throw him off balance, often into the sides of the vehicle. Second, taking a sharp turn while your pooch is elevated on the side of the vehicle can throw him from the back into traffic. If you own a truck and you’re bringing him along, keep him in the cab.
#5 - Have A Veterinarian On File
The worst time to look for a veterinarian is when your dog desperately needs one. You should have the name and contact information of a trusted vet within reach. That includes his or her office phone and an emergency number. You should also have a back-up veterinarian that you can take your canine to in the event your primary vet is unavailable.
Your dog’s safety is at risk from accidents. Whether he’s getting into rat poison, becomes lost, or is riding in the back of your truck, you don’t expect him to get into trouble. It happens unexpectedly. Take the time to make sure he’s as safe as possible.
Find the best Odor Free Bully Sticks and healthy dog products at Pawlux.com
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Oct 24, 2009 | | dog training
The dog should be trained to eat at every place. He should be told how to eat indoors or outdoors. This is necessary in case you need to take the dog to any event or show.
An important part of dog training is to train him to use the crate. Then you can carry the crate anywhere. The puppy should be trained to sit in the crate. As far as potty training is concerned, you should buy a flexi leash and train the dog to go potty there.
You should also train him not to make a lot of noise in the vehicle. He should sit there calmly. You can consider rewarding him for the quietness so that he will have an incentive to be quiet in future and will not make noise again.
You can use the dog training session to establish a good and respectful relationship with your dog. If the dog is trained well, you will be confident of controlling him in any situation.
You should never beat or kick your puppy. This will have a bad effect on him and he will not accept your orders. You can warn the dog by saying “No”. Also teach him to use the toilet every time and clean the spot where he urinates sometimes.
Some dogs love chewing the furniture. The reason can be that he just likes chewing things. You can stop him from doing so. You can buy some good chewing toys that will catch the interest of your puppy and not make him feel bored.
You can also paint some objects with substances that taste foul. Such substances are available at pet stores but you should make sure that these are not toxic. You can also use the Aversion therapy.
You should obedience training an important part of dog training. Do not train your dog for long hours otherwise he will be bored and not learn anything. Try to teach your dog to follow simple commands and never slap or kick him.
Find out more Potty Training Tips. Read more about how to train a Puppy to go Potty. You can get a unique content version of this article from the Uber Article Directory.
categories: dogs,pets,family,home,training,kids,health,fitness,education,improvement,internet,motivational,self help,animals
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Oct 24, 2009 | | dog training
Dog health is important first and foremost because you are your dog’s primary guardian. A dog, like most pets, can be a loyal friend and companion, but they are really as vulnerable as a child. Dog health is often a cause of worry for every pet owner. Dog health questions are on the top of the mind for every dog lover and owner. Senior dog health often has more urgency than puppy health, but preventative medicine for any dog is critical to your dog’s health and well being.
Exercise is a important part of your dog’s health, however, where you live and the type of job you have can effect the amount of exercise that your dog can get. If you work eight hours a day, work down town or far away from work, or if you have a apartment where residences are built close together and you can barely find some grassy area, let alone walk your dog, he probably won’t get a lot of exercise. Exercises depend on your dog’s sex, age, and health level. A dog likes to jog, fetch, and race-walk a lot.
Who let the dogs out? Having a fenced yard to run around without any dangers is great for your dog. The next best location is a local park. And dogs love to play! Bring a tennis ball or other dog toy along so you can interact with your dog. Regular exercise maintains healthy heart, lungs and muscles so your dog will live a long and healthy life. Not to mention that you require regular exercise to stay healthy too!
Once started, feeding your dog table scraps is a hard habit to break. Do yourself a favor and don’t start! All breeds of dogs require a quality, nutritionally sound food source. Consult with your vet if your dog has any conditions that may require special foods. Otherwise there are many good, trusted dog foods on the market. If you do choose to feed your dog “people” food, beef liver is a good choice. It is high in iron, and rich in protien, B complex and B12 vitamins. If your dog is extremely finicky, consult your vet as there may be other issues going on.
To help your dog live a long and healthy life, preventive medicine is the key. Schedule regular check ups, professional cleanings, and give scheduled heart worm and other medicines. Start these good habits as soon as you bring home that cute, cuddly new puppy. If you provide regular visits to your vet for vaccinations, dental care, heart worm checkups, your dog will provide you with love and devotion always.
Want to find out more about your dog’s health, then visit My Best Friend’s Health, My Dog site as well as visit the best place to ask dog health questions ask your dog’s health questions.
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Oct 22, 2009 | | Dog Health
Millions of people are bitten by dogs each year; young children are usually the victim. Not only does this result in a possible health risk for the person who has been bitten, but in the case of kids, it can leave a damaging impression of canines. That is unfortunate. The bond shared between humans and dogs is incredibly strong. Being bitten at a young age can lead to an emotional scar that destroys any chance of enjoying that connection.
The good news is that a canine’s biting tendency can be eliminated. Below, I’ll explain a strategy that relies heavily upon startling a dog when he bites. I’ll also describe the steps you need to take in the event your pooch sinks his teeth into someone.
Curbing The Tendency Through Startle Response
Dogs learn to bite as puppies. If you were to observe them playing with their littermates, you would notice them biting each other while playing. It is natural to them because their mouth is the primary tool they use to hunt. Unfortunately, if your canine’s natural tendency to bite is not curbed, it will continue to grow and become a problem for you, your family, and guests.
Many trainers and veterinarians suggest using a “startle response” strategy to teach your pooch not to bite. When he does, make a sharp noise at a high pitch that startles him. If, as a puppy, he were to hurt one of his littermates by biting too hard, this is the noise they would make. When he hears it, he’ll know instinctively that he has done something wrong. In some cases, you’ll notice that he’ll look confused. Take that opportunity to substitute a chew rope or another toy that he can bite. That teaches him that biting is acceptable as long as he doesn’t do it to people.
You should also socialize your puppy as soon as possible so he’ll learn at an early age what kind of behavior is appropriate around people. Spaying or neutering your dog can also reduce the likelihood of biting.
What To Do If Someone Is Bitten
If your canine bites someone, control him immediately. Then, ask the person who has been bitten whether he or she needs medical attention. Give that person all of your contact information as well as that of your veterinarian. Also, provide your pooch’s last vaccination date.
If animal control workers arrive, answer their questions openly; they’ll likely want as much information about your canine and the events surrounding the bite as possible. Finally, ask your vet to recommend a professional trainer to help curb the behavior as quickly as possible.
Your dog’s biting tendency can be eliminated easily if you devote time toward it when he is still a puppy. Even as an adult dog, the tendency can be suppressed by enrolling him into professional obedience classes. The investment helps ensure the safety of your family and guests.
Find the best Odor Free Bully Sticks and healthy dog products at http://www.Pawlux.com
categories: Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Dog Biting, Dogs, Pets, Canines
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Oct 21, 2009 | | dog training
Bark! Bark!! BARK!!!
The dog barked the neighbor boy right off of his bicycle last week, and they complained. Other people have complained about his barking, and it’s getting hard to sleep through the night without getting woken at least once by his barking fits. GRRR! WOOF!!
Can anything be done?
Some problem behaviors are more straightforward to deal with than others. Learning how to deal with your dog’s excessive barking problem can seem difficult on several levels. It’s absolutely possible to correct and deal with this type of behavior, but you have to take a few things into account. There are a lot of reasons that dogs bark, and you can’t stop them from ever barking. You wouldn’t want to stop your dog from barking when it’s appropriate.It’s important to be aware of the possible causes of excessive barking so that you can approach and correct it in the right way. There are 3 or 4 reasons that dogs will bark.
BOREDOM
Your dog may bark because he isn’t getting enough mental or physical stimulation. Just like a little kid acting out, your dog may bark because he’s bored. Make sure that he’s getting the exercise and attention that he needs from you. Don’t give him attention when he barks for this reason, though. A direct reaction to this type of barking, even a negative reaction, will only encourage your dog to behave in the same way again.
BREED
Certain dog breeds bark more than average. Because of the job that they were bred to do, many herding dogs and hounds are like this. In spite of this, you can train her to bark a great deal less, almost a normal amount.
SEPARATION
Dogs are pack animals. Your dog may bark too much when you leave him home alone because he’s separated from his pack (you) and doesn’t know how to find you again. This can be one of the most difficult barking problems to solve, but it can be done when you know what’s causing the problem.
The main pitfall you have to be sure to avoid in this type of situation is unconsciously rewarding your dog’s barking every time you come home. If your dog is barking while you’re gone, and then you come home and immediately give him attention, he will think that it was his barking that caused you to return. In order to break this cycle, you have to ignore your dog if he is barking when you first come home. Once he settles you can initiate contact and give him the attention that he wants.
STRANGERS
Anytime a stranger comes near the house, dogs usually perceive them as being an intruder to the pack. It’s tricky to eliminate this because strangers generally unwittingly reward barking behavior. The mailman comes, makes intruder type noises with the mail slot, the dog barks, the mailman retreats. Good Boy!
Certain breeds, boredom, separation from the pack, and strangers will sometimes make dogs bark too much. Although it can be annoying, there are times when it’s appropriate for your dog to bark. Barking is one of the ways that dogs express themselves. They just need to know when YOU think it’s appropriate, or not.
4 Causes of Barking:
* Strangers (intruders into the pack)
* Certain breeds
* Separation from the pack (you)
*Separation from pack (you)
Bark, Bark! GRRR!! GOOD DOG!!
AVOID DISASTROUS Blunders with your pooch. NOW REVEALED: 3 POWERFUL, humane, and loving ways to train your friend: 3 Dog Training Plans reviewed, Amazing results from 1 method! Or browse excellent, helpful FREE pooch training articles. I am Scott Erickson, and am an enthusiastic long term pooch buff, trainer, and author.
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Oct 19, 2009 | | dog training
