Archive for Animal Care
01.03.09
Posted in Animal Care at 7:44 am by admin
Are seagulls annoying when you are at the beach? They could be annoying if you view them that way, or they can be the most beautiful animal in the world. I love seagulls just because of what they represent to me, they represent the beach and the ocean. I just love the sound that they make, as you are laying in the sun and letting the rays hit your skin, the gulls make the most relaxing sound. There are even C.D.s made based off the sound of seagulls, but they also usually include the sound of rolling waves crashing onto the shore. The beach is so much fun, it is fun when you are skinny after taking Acceletrim and losing your body fat. Exercising on the beach is fun, but laying there and relaxing is the best. The smell, the sound, and the feeling of the beach gives such a great feeling inside. The seagull represents the beach and without the sound of the seagull we would all be missing out on the full beach experience. It is crazy when people feed seagulls at the beach, they all come in by the droves and crowed around, it can make for a real mess. I try and avoid feeding the seagulls at the beach because there are plenty of fish for them to pick up in the water.
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05.27.08
Posted in Animal Care at 4:21 am by admin
How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say, “I hate it when he barks non stop… or he utterly embarrassed me when he mounts people’s leg”. Dog owners usually have no problems to fill in tons of their dog behavioral problems into the above statements.
I have to admit that I feel disappointed, even sad whenever I hear dog owners say that statement. Why? Because, these owners have failed to see things from their dog’s prospective! To put it simply, I should say that they don’t understand their dogs at all.
Dogs do not misbehave because they’re spiteful, or are out to annoy or anger you. They just behave in a manner which is expected of a dog!
The fact is that dog behavioral problems that we can’t stand are not problems at all to the dogs. In fact, do you know that dogs “misbehave” for a reason or two? To list a few:
1. Dogs bark because they have something to say, something to tell you.
2. Dogs dig because they smell something underneath the ground.
3. Dogs chew because they are teething and are feeling uncomfortable.
4. Dogs chase after moving objects because they are following its instinct.
5. Dogs turn aggressive because they want to protect you.
For your information, most dogs actually misbehaved (in our eyes) because of the lack of care, concern and training from their very own owners:
1. Health Issue - Many behaviorists & dog trainers believe that at least 20% of all behavior problems are related to the dog’s health in some way or another. For all that you might know. Your dog could be misbehaving because he is sick or in pain. Bring him to the vet for a thorough check-up if he misbehaves suddenly when he has always been a good dog.
2. Imbalance Diet - Feeding your dog the wrong food, with too high in protein, fat or carbohydrates is known to cause hyperactivity. Sugars, starches and many other factors in your dog’s diet can also cause behavioral problems in your dog. Always read the label of the food before you feed him, seek advice if necessary. Remember that dogs need different type of food in different stages of their life.
3. Exercise - Lack of exercise also cause plentiful of problems. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise is unhealthy and tends to be hyperactive, and display destructive behaviors. Dogs depending on breed type need plentiful of exercises - Do consider this factor before you get a puppy.
4. Lack of Leadership -I can’t stress enough on the importance of the leadership issue. Dogs display TONS of behavioral problems when they lack a leader. Aggressive & destructive behaviors, leg lifting, marking, mounting, barking & etc… It’s very important that you assume the role of the alpha leader!
You must understand that all dog develop behavior problems. These dog behavior problems never develop in a vacuum. They are always the outcome of the interaction between a dog and its environment, including you! Most canine behavioral problems can be controlled if not solved completely. You just got to put in some effort and understand that prevention is better than cure.
Lastly, do try to see and comprehend things from your dog’s prospective the next time your dog misbehaves. You’ll soon find that you love him even more!
Moses
Chia is a dog lover and owner of
DogsObedienceTraining.com - The resource site for dog obedience training
tips and dog obedience training books review. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content
and live link intact.
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05.24.08
Posted in Animal Care at 5:41 am by admin
Weaning normally occurs at 4-5 weeks of age, but keep in mind that some kittens take longer, particularly without their mom to show them the ropes. You will know that a kitten is ready to begin the weaning process when it is biting the feeding nipple and is able to lick formula from your finger.
The next step is to persuade the kitten to lap up formula from a spoon. Once they’ve accomplished that hurdle, try offering formula in a small, flat dish.
If the kittens appear to need encouragement to lap from a bowl, dip your fingertip in the formula and let him lick it off your fingers as you move them down to the bowl. DO NOT push their nose into the dish as they can aspirate the fluid and develop pneumonia! Once the kittens become accustomed to lapping liquids you can add weaning formula or baby cereal by combining them with the formula. While the kittens are grasping the art of eating from a bowl you will still need to bottle-feed them and monitor the amount of formula and food they are consuming. Always offer food from the bowl first, and then offer the bottle. When you see they are eating well from the bowl begin to decrease the amount of formula they are receiving from the bottle.
At that point, you can mix the kitten formula with baby food into a gruel and try to get the kittens to lap it up from a dish or a spoon. We recommend Chicken Baby Food but any meat flavor will do, just be absolutely sure there are no onions in the list of ingredients. You can also try using Dr. Hill’s A/D brand which is sold at any veterinarians. Eventually, you can mix canned kitten food (we recommend Wellness, Avo Derm, Nutro Max Kitten or any other premium brand of kitten food) with formula, gradually reducing the amount of formula until the kittens are eating just the food. Try to buy high quality food for the kittens (from the vet or pet food stores). Much of what is sold in supermarkets is junk food and will not help your kitten thrive. It is not uncommon for weight gain to slow and minor, temporary diarrhea to occur during weaning.
Some kittens grasp the concept right away; others take days. Keep bottle feeding while weaning to make sure they get enough to eat. Reduce bottle feeding as their solid-food consumption grows. If you give dry food, moisten it, because kittens can’t chew dry food well until they are about 8 weeks old.
Never make the mistake of rushing the weaning process. It may seem slow and often messy, but it is an essential part of learning for the kittens and they are doing the best they can without their mother to help them. Never give up and NEVER get upset!
Remember, these changes in diet can quickly cause diarrhea, so keep an eye on your kitten’s stools. Diarrhea can be life-threatening to a young kitten if left untreated; however a dose of antibiotics prescribed by your vet will get them back on track again.
Anne Pottinger is the owner, director and publisher of 4PetsOnline.com a pet and domestic animal website with a difference. This user-friendly website contains hundreds of pages of information covering pet selection and care advice, as well as many humorous and often poignant articles.
She is always available to answer pet and domestic animal related questions.
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05.14.08
Posted in Animal Care at 9:52 am by admin
Walking on a collar and lead is an important skill that every
dog must learn. Even the best trained dog should never be taken
outside the home or yard without a sturdy collar and leash. Even
if your dog is trained perfectly to go off lead, accidents and
distractions do happen, and a collar, with proper identification
attached, is the best way to be sure you will get your beloved
companion back.
Of course before you can teach your new puppy to accept a leash,
he or she must first learn to accept wearing a collar. The first
step is to choose a collar that fits the dog properly. It is
important to measure the puppy’s neck, and to choose a collar
size accordingly. After the collar has been put on the puppy,
simply let him or her get used to it. It is not unusual for a
puppy to try to pull on the collar, whine, roll or squirm when
first introduced to a collar.
The best strategy is to simply ignore the puppy and let him or
her get used to the collar. It is a mistake to either punish the
dog for playing with the collar or to encourage the behavior.
Distracting the puppy often helps, and playing with a favorite
toy, or eating some favorite treats, can help the puppy quickly
forget that he or she is wearing this strange piece of equipment.
After the dog has learned to accept the collar, try adding the
leash. Hook the leash to the collar and simply sit and watch the
puppy. Obviously, this should only be done either in the house
or in a confined outdoor area. The puppy should be allowed to
drag the leash around on its own, but of course the owner should
keep a close eye on the puppy to ensure that the leash does not
become snagged or hung up on anything.
At first, the leash should only be left on for a few minutes at
a time. It is a good idea to attach the leash at mealtimes,
playtime and other positive times in the life of the puppy. That
way the puppy will begin to associate the leash with good things
and look forward to it. If the puppy shows a high degree of fear
of the leash, it is a good idea to place it next to the food
bowl for awhile to let him get used to it slowly. Eventually, he
will come to understand that the leash is nothing to be afraid
of.
After the puppy is comfortable with walking around the house
wearing the leash, it is time for you to pick up the end of the
leash for a few minutes. You should not try to walk the puppy on
the leash; simply hold the end of the leash and follow the puppy
around as he or she walks around. You should try to avoid
situations where the leash becomes taut, and any pulling or
straining on the leash should be avoided. It is fine for the
puppy to sit down. Try a few games with the collar and lead. For
instance, back up and encourage the puppy to walk toward you.
Don’t drag the puppy forward, simply encourage him to come to
you. If he does, praise him profusely and reward him with a food
treat or toy. You should always strive to make all the time
spent on the leash as pleasant as possible.
It is important to give the puppy plenty of practice in getting
used to walking on the leash in the home. It is best to do
plenty of work in the home, since it is a safe environment with
few distractions. After the puppy is comfortable walking indoors
on a leash, it is time to start going outside, beginning of
course in a small, enclosed area like a fenced yard. After the
puppy has mastered walking calmly outdoors on a leash, it is
time to visit some places where there are more distractions. You
may want to start with a place like a neighbor’s yard. Walking
your new puppy around the neighborhood is a good way to
introduce your neighbors to the new puppy, while giving the
puppy valuable experience in avoiding distractions and focusing
on his leash training.
Puppies sometimes develop bad habits with their leashes, such as
biting or chewing on the leash. To discourage this type of
behavior, try applying a little bit of bitter apple, Tabasco
sauce or similar substance (just make sure the substance you use
is not toxic to dogs). This strategy usually convinces puppies
that chewing the leash is a bad idea.
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05.04.08
Posted in Animal Care at 8:33 am by admin
The sex of a puppy is determined by the sire. The dam determines the number of puppies that can be conceived. Breeding should occur every other day during the dam’s full estrous period to the allow the stud to recuperate and rebuild viable sperm.
At the moment of conception a puppy’s genetic makeup is set for life. A breeder can only support the litter by providing an optimum environment, first for the dam and then later for the puppies.
The genetic history of a puppy is not always just from the immediate sire or dam. It is also based on earlier family members such as the grandparents, great grandparents and even earlier generations.
The discipline of breeding along with the successes and heartaches is found learning the aspects of linebreeding, inbreeding and outcrossing of the various bloodlines available. It takes years of concentrated study and effort, trial and error, to achieve a successful breeding program.
It is important to know the breed standard and to have a fundamental grasp of genetics. However, even with the most scientific approach, breeding dogs involves a certain amount of luck. It is like the spin of a roulette wheel, or a numbers game. I often think one needs to have a bit of a “gamblers” mentality to be able to stick with it. There is a “high” that can be experienced by the dedicated and passionate breeder….at the time of whelping….at the time of puppies departing and at the time of finally mating the perfect pair, and much uncertainity all along the way of whether this is a win or a loss.
Puppies’ temperaments are affected by genetics, environment and initially through their dam, her relationship with the breeder and her generalized perception of her environment. The attitude of the dam will be reflected to some degree in every puppy.
The time between birth and the first eight to ten weeks of puppies’ lives is the most critical time. It is at this time that they acquire much of their mother’s temperament. Puppies are highly focused on their mother during this time period.
Puppies and older dogs learn through mimicking those closest to them, their mother and their littermates. Inherited behaviors is believed to be only about 10 percent and 90 percent is acquired. The environment in which a puppy is eventually raised into an adult dog plays the biggest role on the puppy’s ultimate temperament and behaviors.
Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Coupons for shih tzu puppies and other products are offered to subscribers. Updates of available puppies. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com
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04.05.08
Posted in Animal Care at 12:27 am by admin
I was doing some research on dog health when I came across a site for Dog Spa’s. This soon set me on the path of thinking of all the different ways you could pamper your favorite puppy. It’s quite amazing what’s out there to make your dog feel special, from gourmet treats to interesting outfits to doggy massage. Here is a list of some pampering ideas that will not only keep your dog happy, they can also provide valuable services as well.
Dog Grooming and Dog Spas
Dog grooming salons have been around for ages. Ranging from hair cutting, nail trimming and bathing, many owners prefer to take their dogs to a grooming establishment mainly because it’s just easier than trying to do it yourself. However, if you don’t wish to spend that kind of money or if your dog is not “high maintenance” as some are, you should definitely take care of the grooming requirements yourself. There’s several related articles on my website that you can read to brush up on how to groom your dog -> Dog Grooming and Skin Care http://www.caringforcanines.com/grooming-aids.shtml
A Dog Spa however, will usually go beyond the normal range of typical grooming. At some you can book massage therapy for your pup, plus there are places that also offer warm-water swims (which are great exercise and are wonderfully soothing for dogs with joint problems).
Doggy Daycare
If you’re gone all day long your dog is probably often lonely and bored. Taking them to a Doggy Daycare may be the answer. Most daycares provide playtime (both indoor and outdoor), naptime, snack time, and in some cases even provide a “puppy kindergarten” where your dog can be taught obedience training.
Pet Sitters
What do you do with your pet when you are going on a business trip or vacation? Some owners will put their dogs into a boarding kennel. Your dog however, probably won’t be very happy about the situation. Picture yourself stuck in a cage in an unfamiliar environment with strange dogs all around. Most of his/her day will be spent in that cage with the occasional outdoor run. Your dog’s stress level will rise significantly and they may refuse to eat. Often times they will need a good bath after you pick them up because guess where they were forced to use the bathroom? By hiring a pet sitter your pet can remain in his/her own familiar environment and still receive the attention and exercise requirements they need each day. The pet sitter will also continue to carry out the same routine that your dog is use to, reducing much of its stress due to you being gone.
If you are thinking about trying out a pet sitting service, there’s a good article that I found on the Human Society of the United States website that you should read -> Choosing a Pet Sitter http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/choosing_a_pet_sitter/
Dog Massage
Who doesn’t love to get a wonderful massage? Giving your dog a massage has many benefits including relaxation, stress reduction, pain relief of sore muscles and joints, improved circulation and increased bonding between you and your pet.
There are several books you can read that will teach you the proper techniques in massaging your dog:
The Healing Touch For Dogs: The Proven Massage Program For Dogs
Canine Massage: A Complete Reference Manual
The Well-Connected Dog: A Guide To Canine Acupressure
Although gourmet dog biscuits, cute little jackets and snazzy collars are fun to give your pet, they’re really more for the owner’s enjoyment rather than the dog’s. Really, how many dogs even know what their collar looks like (or care for that matter?) Show your dog how much you love and appreciate him by playing with him, talking to him, and just enjoying some quiet time together while performing a gentle massage. It’s the little things that count!
Copyright 2005. Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines, a web site that provides information on natural dog health care. Please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com/. Be sure to also check out the Caring For Canines - Pet Health News Blog at: http://caringforcanines.blogspot.com/
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03.21.08
Posted in Animal Care at 9:59 pm by admin
Allergies to dogs can strike anyone at any age, yet with how attached most owners are to their dogs, they seem to chose living with their allergies rather then giving up their beloved pets.
If you find yourself getting congested or suffering a runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing, sore throat, skin rashes or hives, headaches, fatigue, difficulties breathing, or asthma symptoms when you’re around dogs, then you probably have allergies.
You can still indulge in your appreciation for canines, but you will need to learn some basic techniques for protecting your health, while still enjoying your pet’s company.
Firstly, dog allergens can adhere to clothing, drapes, walls, furniture and even remain airborne for quite awhile. You can ease your allergies by observing some basic rules of cleanliness.
Keep the dog out of areas where you will be sleeping or spending prolonged periods of time. Wash your hands after playtime, petting or grooming. You may need to take an over the counter allergy medication prior to playtime, extensive petting or grooming. A shower and change of clothing may help as well.
Never allow the dog to jump, sleep or play on furniture where you will be sitting, sleeping or using extensively. Dander will pool in these areas and cause a severe allergic reaction. Keep floors swept or vacuumed, and shampoo or steam carpets every second or third month. Keep the dog’s bedding, toys and feeding area washed and clean also.
Second. A good HEPA air filter may help keep airborne dander under control, but you will need to maintain a rigorous grooming schedule if you want to prevent dander at the source. If grooming the dog yourself is a problem, you might need to recruit a friend or family member for this job.
Bathing should be once or twice a week, but be sure that the shampoo does not dry out the dog’s skin or it will create worse dander. The use of a soft body brush can be daily, if gentle. It will remove loose dander on and in the hair.
A full body scrub down should be scheduled once or twice a week, this will work loose any flakes deeper in the coat. When I say ’scrub’ I’m suggesting a firm body brush that will be able to massage the skin but not hurt the dog. If you brush too roughly your dog will quickly learn to dislike grooming, and it will become a miserable chore for both of you!
Third. No dog should be considered completely non-allergenic because, regardless of strict grooming and prevention techniques, all dogs produce dander, saliva and urine, which are the cause of allergies. There are some breeds, however, that produce less dander than others, and sufferers should seriously consider choosing from one of these breeds.
Airedales, Poodles and Schnauzers make the best choices for allergy sufferers. All three of these breeds shed less dander then other breeds. They also shed very little hair, and have very little dog odor if they are kept regularly groomed and cared for.
Airedales
Airedales are a medium large breed originated in England where they were bred to be a brave, strong, and intelligent hunting dog. Today it is highly prized as a companion for it’s beauty, shape and type. They’re called the “King of Terriers” by dog fanciers. They have a merry temperament and love to play games. They are good learners, good with children and adapt themselves easily to either home, yard or garden.
On the downside, Airedale’s coat should be trimmed by a professional, as they require their hair to be “plucked” or it will cause unhealthy skin problems, severe irritation, itching and of course, more dander.
Poodles
One of the best features of this breed is choice in size. The standard and giant sized Poodles are a good choice for a family or individual with a large house or yard. They make excellent watchdogs or pets, and are so intelligent that they can be easily housebroken and even taught to do tricks. The miniature and toy poodles are less then 15 inches tall at the shoulder, and are just as intelligent and loving as their larger counterparts.
Poodles are an excellent choice for allergen sensitive owners. They do not shed, and the coat can be clipped quite close by your groomer, making soft brushing less of a chore. In fact, some poodle owners even learn how to clip their own dogs. Bathing is very simple for a poodle with a short coat, just avoid those lion manes and you’ll have a perfect companion.
Schnauzers
This breed also comes in a variety of sizes from Giant to Miniature, and the best part is that they have almost NO doggy odor! Just like Poodles, the Schnauzer needs to be clipped because they do not shed out hair as most dogs do. But unlike the Poodle, most Schnauzers are allowed to keep their beard and some fuzzy socks. If necessary, however you can modify his furry attire to best suit your needs.
Schnauzers are very brave, intelligent and aristocratic. He is excellent in a family setting, and was even given the name “kinder watcher” for his loving care of the children. They are so talented and versatile that they are equally suited for hunting, tracking, retrieving, security, guarding, military work, agility, competitive obedience and even learning tricks.
So if you find yourself driving past the dog park and thinking about how much you’d enjoy having a dog in your life, now might be a great time to act upon your desires.
You don’t have to give up your love of dogs; you just need to find the right balance to fit a dog into your life. These beautiful and loving creatures truly deserve a warm place in our hearts, and the title of man’s best friend.
Visit http://www.avidpets.com for additional helpful tips and advice on caring for both puppies and adult dogs.
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