Canines jump on people for a variety of reasons. One of the most common is to greet a person. Dogs learn to do this when they’re puppies, so it is instinctive. Another reason is to display dominance. As pack animals, it’s a natural behavior for them to stand on their back legs and place their front paws on others. That communicates their place in the pack. A third reason is because they have been encouraged to jump in the past. This often happens when owners condition their dogs to jump when they are puppies.

Whether your pooch is jumping on you, your visitors, or your neighbors, it’s important to curb the habit. It can frighten people and make them less inclined to treat your dog with respect and kindness. The good news is that discouraging the behavior can be accomplished quickly with the following three tips:

Tip 1 - Block Him

When your pooch jumps, avoid letting him place his front paws on you. If he is able to do so, he will have already achieved his goal; removing him is unlikely to communicate that you find the behavior unacceptable. Instead, turn immediately to the side and lift your leg to block him. After he has landed on the ground, tell him to sit. Once he does so, kneel down by him and give him your attention. Doing this teaches him that remaining on all four paws is more likely to result in your attention than jumping.

Tip 2 - Turn And Walk Away

There will be situations in which your canine will jump and place his front paws on you before you have had a chance to turn and lift your leg. Avoid shoving him off. He may misunderstand your intent and believe you’re playing with him. Instead, simply turn around and walk the other way. Don’t tell him “down!” or “stop!” Avoid giving him any attention at all. Simply turn and walk. Then, come back to him. If he remains on the ground, kneel down and give him attention.

Tip 3 - Provide An Alternative

Dogs adopt behaviors as a response to stimuli. To curb his jumping, give him an alternative response that he can use. For example, train him to sit when someone knocks at your door. Or, train him to retreat to his crate or another area of your house when he hears the doorbell. Providing an alternative response may not help curb his jumping on you (use the two tips above to accomplish that), but it will prevent his jumping on visitors.

When canines jump on people, the reason is usually due to they’re being excited to see the person on whom they’re jumping. Remember, dogs are sociable by nature. Use positive reinforcement such as praise rather than punishment to discourage the habit. Before long, your pooch will learn that he can gain your attention without putting his front paws on you.

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If you’re considering traveling with your dog, there are a number of important considerations. Dog transport does carry risk. If you’ve looked into this at all, you’ve probably been warned or heard about horror stories, particularly with travel by airplane, of dogs dying during the flight, or being injured, or even lost. Obviously the risk of these things happening is relatively small, or no one would ever think of putting dogs in transport dog crates and transporting them by airplane, or using pet travel carriers of any type.

Simply because thousands and thousands of pets are safely transferred from one destination to another via the airlines, does not mean that dog owners do not need to take responsible precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their family pet. After all, it only takes one incident to change your life forever when your dog becomes seriously injured or dies because of a lack of preparation on your part.

The first thing to consider is whether your dog needs to travel at all. The second thing is whether your dog needs to travel by airplane, or whether dog transport via train or car is a possibility.

Before proceeding with dog transport of any type, it’s a wise decision to see your veterinarian for a general checkup for your dog to ensure that he is in fact in good health, and well enough to travel safely. He could be suffering from a medical condition that could put him at risk during travel that has never been pointed out to you, or that has only recently arisen.

As far as comfort for your dog goes, do your best to select a flight that is either during the early morning hours or early evening time. These are the best times during the day in which your dog will experience the most comfortable of temperatures. Avoid flying your pet during extreme weather climates that are too hot or too cold. Remember, he will be stuffed down in the cargo area.

It may seem like common sense to advise this tip, but it does happen at times where puppies are loaded in a crate and do not handle the flight very well. Always fly your puppy with you in the cabin area so that you can keep the dog comfortable with small treats and affection. A puppy’s early weeks (and months) are a very crucial time in its life. Everything that the dog experiences becomes downloaded into its memory. It’s called socialization and a traumatizing flight that keeps a puppy in a constant state of shock and anxiety for hours on end may have disastrous results that could last a lifetime for the pup.

All dogs, no matter what their age, can be affected by separation anxiety. And unfortunately larger dogs have no option but to be placed in the cargo section of the airplane in transport dog crates for this purpose. Travel pet carriers that go underneath seats are not an option for larger dogs.

Separation anxiety is a real condition that should not be overlooked. It is estimated that almost 20% of all dogs suffer at some level from separation anxiety. These personality types make very poor candidates for dog transport by airplane, unless they can travel in the passenger cabin with you (which medium and large dogs obviously cannot). Such dogs should not be left alone and when their condition reaches elevated levels, it is not uncommon for a dog to literally chew through a metal cage in the attempt of trying to escape, causing severe injuries that can cause the dog to bleed to death. It may be possible to treat your dog with natural anxiety remedies, or you may even want to talk to your vet about a sedative if you think your dog will react badly to being transported.

Luxury pet carriers are popular today. But if you’re doing any serious traveling around with your dog, or dog transport, you may want to forego stylish pet carriers for heavier duty transport dog crates.

Many pet owners are turning to holistic health care as an alternative to help their well-loved pets live healthy, long and happy lives.

Your dog’s nutritional needs may be the most important aspect when it comes to a dog health diagnosis, as nutrition is the basis for health. Dogs neede a certain balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to ensure everything from the digestive systems to the bones, joints, and organs as well as the skin and coat are as healthy as possible. Dogs’ nutritional needs differ to our own. A diet of meat, vegetables, and whole grains without any processed foods or unnecessary fillers is usually recommended when thinking about holistic dog health.

Throughout the course of various millennia, humans have controlled illness through the remedial use of various herbal, floral and other plant extracts. Because pet owners prefer less risky and less invasive treatment alternatives, pet care now incorporates ancient healing practices once a dog health diagnosis has been made, or in order to prevent illness and disease in the first place.

Both calendula and chamomile assist with wound healing, in both dogs and humans, and chamomile can also be helpful in treating respiratory issues too. Constipation or diarrhea can benefit from crushed flaxseed mixed with lot of water. For dry, sensitive skin, oats are helpful for canine skin. And if your puppy cannot sleep well, the smell of lavender may help them relax so he sleeps soundly.

Before concocting any type of herbal remedies of your own, make it a point to do plenty of research and be absolutely certain that what you’re giving your dog isn’t toxic or harmful in any way, as not all herbs and flowers are safe for pets, or even people for that matter. It is always wise to consult with your veterinarian about the proper care and possible remedies for holistic dog health.

In recent years, thousands of veternarians have made holistic dog health diagnosis a greater part of their practice. A vet practicing holistic pet medicine cares for the whole animal instead of just finding a specific problem and prescribing a single therapy for that particular trauma or disorder.

As an example, if your dog presents with a skin rash displaying symptoms like itching, irritation, redness, and possible infection with concomitant fur loss, a presciption from a “traditional” vet would certainly include an antibiotic and maybe an ointment for the itching.

A holistic veterinarian will be more concerned about the source of the rash and why it happened even though they may still prescribe the two remedies. Keeping holistic care in mind, the dog’s indoor and outdoor environment, its daily lifestyle, eating habits and nutritional intake are all to be considered before diagnosing or treating the animal.

For information on holistic dog health and dog health diagnosis to improve dog health in your dog, go to HealthierDogs.com

Alarmingly, many people still decide to get a puppy for Christmas, only to realize by the New Year that they have made a mistake. Tragically, this means that many pets in January are either abandoned or taken to animal shelters.

It starts innocently enough with a child pleading his, or her, parents, “Please can we get a puppy?” While I believe that it is wonderful and very healthy for a child to have a pet, it is crucial that all parents think carefully about the responsibility they are taking on with a dog. Dogs are not like goldfish, they are demanding of your time and they require training, otherwise they become unruly and messy. Therefore, below is a list of things that all potential dog owners should consider before making the commitment to make a dog part of their family.

• If both you and your spouse or partner work, consider how much time the dog will have to spend alone. Remember, that a dog, by nature, is a pack animal used to spending all of its time with the other members of the pack. As a dog sees its human family as its pack, it can become very distressed if left alone all day. Consequently, behavioral problems, such as howling, chewing and messing on the floor can all manifest themselves.

• Bear in mind, dogs need training. No puppy is going to learn to go to the toilet outside, come when it is called or stay when it is told to do so, without being obedience trained. It is important to understand that training a dog is not difficult, but it does require the time and patience of an owner.

• Remember, that dogs can be expensive. Initial visits to the vet include worming, vaccinations and spaying or neutering. Then, of course, your dog could become sick or have an accident that requires emergency medical treatment. Therefore, it is advisable to take out pet insurance, but it is also wise to consider unexpected bills that may not be covered by insurance.

• If you have a dog and still choose to go away on vacation, you may need to consider a pet sitter, or placing your dog in boarding kennels while you are away. In some cases, this can cause a dog great distress and anxiety. Alternatively, you may choose to select vacations, such as road trips, camping etc., where your dog can be included.

• Dogs require exercise every day. That means that even when it is cold, wet and miserable, your dog will need to be taken for his, or her, daily walks. There are times when this is not enjoyable, but if your dog is not getting enough exercise he, or she, can become frustrated, which may result in bad behavior.

• When choosing a dog, remember that he, or she, will get bigger. Depending on the breed, a puppy can seem tiny and sweet, but as it becomes older, it will grow much larger. Therefore, it is a good idea to think about the amount of space available in your home and garden before purchasing a cute little puppy.

Before making the decision to own a dog, it is wise to remember that it will have a large impact on your lifestyle. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that dog ownership changes your life. The thought of getting a puppy is very exciting, but it is important that it is considered seriously before making a lifelong commitment to a dog. Think it over carefully, because you don’t want to be one of the many people who buy a puppy for Christmas and then discover that they’ve made a huge mistake.

Samantha Markham is a professional freelance writer, based in the UK. She works for a variety of clients, including Remmeer.com, which is an online resource for pet supplies. Remmeer.com offers a high quality range, including gifts for pet lovers and cat picture frames.

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