Archive for January, 2010

Until the last twenty years or so, it was possible for a dog to live a healthy life eating table scraps. However, as the modern American diet has changed, table scraps have changed to the point that feeding them to dogs is not longer advised. Fats, so important to a dog, are neatly trimmed and boned from meats sold for people. Vegetables are now sold frozen, dairy products are pasteurized and chicken is thoroughly cooked. Prepackaging makes cooking for families simpler, but it also reduces the amount of leftovers that most families have.

When a meal is prepared from all these cookie-cutter packages, there is almost no extra food for our little furry friends. The only things left are usually inedible or tiny amounts. Certainly nothing that would satisfy a hungry dog. These tiny unwanted quantities of food will not suffice as a proper diet for a dog.

To determine the value of table scraps, the dog owner should ask himself what he would do if he did not have a dog to feed those scraps to. If scraps being tossed to the dog might have otherwise have been saved in the refrigerator, then they are probably appropriate for the dog. But if the alternative to the dog is the trash can, then he is truly feeding his dog garbage.

And this is not the only concern when it comes to table scraps. While table scraps are lacking in nutrition, they are very tasty for your dog. And as your dog develops a taste for these table scraps, he will loose his taste for the healthier, balanced dog food that he should be eating. In fact, when table scraps are tossed onto a pile of commercial dog food, most dogs will just pluck out the table scraps and leave the rest of the dog food behind.

Unfortunately, these scraps are loaded with fats, carbohydrates and calories, but not the nutrients and vitamins that they truly need. This means that the dog eats his fill with this nutritionally incomplete food and then is able to completely disregard the commercial food. When an owner refuses to feed a dog table scraps, he may feel guilty and that he’s denying his dog a truly enjoyable treat. However, most dog owners realize that to feed their dog table scraps is the equivalent of letting children choose candy over a healthy, balanced meal.

If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, consider getting them an Outdoor Dog Bed. Jaden is also into crafts and has a Long Arm Quilting Machine review site.

Owning a Dog: Turning Challenges into Joys

I have had dogs in my life for over 35 years, and in that time, have definitely experienced all the ups and downs that go along with having a pet. Despite the challenges that have come along, there is no question in my mind that dogs are truly “man’s best friend”. It’s just that with some, we have to work a bit harder to cultivate that friendship!

Currently we share our home with a very smart, and very loving little miniature schnauzer. Although things are great with him, they weren’t always. Shortly after he came to live with us, we learned that he:

1. Jumped and/or growled at every visitor to our house and barked at everything.

2. Absolutely hated going to the groomers to get clipped.

So what did we do? We did some research and spoke with our vet to discover some strategies and techniques that we could use to help make him a “good friend”. Here is how we resolved these issues.

1. The barking/growling/jumping issue took some time because schnauzers, like all good little terriers are territorial, and are adamant about protecting that territory. Still, we could not scare away everyone who came to visit. So we tried all kinds of reward systems, squirting water, coins in a can, newspaper, just about everything. Nothing really worked. Finally our vet suggested a remote training collar, and after a lot more research, we tried the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer. One of the first things that we liked about it was that it has 9 stimulation levels so that we could start with the very lowest one first until we found the lowest one that was effective. It also has a tone-only training option providing more versatility. And we actually got the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer, 300 yds., which has a 300 yard range, allowing us to train from a distance. The best thing about the Innotek Ultrasmart? It worked. Within a short period of time our little guy learned good manners and our friends were no longer afraid to come visit us.

2. Achieving a stress-free grooming experience each month has involved training as well…but it was training us, not our dog. We determined that by clipping him at home each month, he would be happier and more comfortable, so we decided to purchase a good set of dog clippers. We ended up choosing the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper due to the Oster reputation for lasting years, and because of the many positive product reviews stating that they worked smoothly, quickly, and quietly, all important qualities for us. And I have to say that we could not be more pleased with how well the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper has worked out for us and for our dog. Other than it getting warm at times, which we easily solved by cleaning and changing the blades, and using Oster Kool Lube, it has worked out great. It is amazing that such a simple product that is so easy to use has made such a difference in our little dog’s life, and once we learned how to get the cut right, it has been smooth sailing for us all.

Having a dog can, and should be a joy, but it often takes a little work to get to that point. In our case, we had a little help from the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer, and the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper. But the investment and time we took to use these tools to help make life with our dog better for us and for him have been so worthwhile. The reward has been a merry, little schnauzer whose intelligence, loving nature, and desire to please truly make him our best friend!

Discover how your dog can be trained to be a well-behaved and joyful best friend. Read all about about the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer and the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper, read the product reviews from other satisfied pet owners, and determine if they are what you and your dog need.

Looking For Shiba Inu Breeders?

Are you looking for a pet? Do you want to adopt a shiba inu for your pet? If you are looking for shiba inus as a pet, there are two ways to do this. You may look for shiba inu breeders or go to shiba inu rescue and choose from the adult dogs in their kennel.

The usual thing that happens when people search in the shiba inu rescue is that they can’t find the right pet that they’re looking for so it always end up in looking for a shiba inu breeder. Before anything else, you must need to know a few considerations about shiba inu breeders.

Finding a breeder is easier but finding a breeder that will provide you the best shiba inu is very hard. In this article, we will give you different things to consider. These things to consider will let you know the characteristics of a good shiba inu breeder. It’s not actually on the shiba inu itself, but it is more on what kind of breeder that you are looking for. Of course, two good qualities of a good breeder are that they must possess a good reputation and is very reliable.

It is important that the breeder is not hiding anything. The breeder should allow you to see their dogs and to interact with them. This is a good characteristic of shiba inu breeders. It is a manifestation that they are honest and are not hiding anything.

Another characteristic is that a shiba inu breeder must not have an excessive amount of litters. This is a per year basis. The litter amount will be the measure if he or she is a good breeder because too much may be an indicator that he or she is a dirty breeder and that it will only lead you to have a puppy which is prone to diseases, with the potential to become a big problem in the future.

A good contract should also be available once you buy from the breeder. Make sure that the contract will ensure you on a guarantee that the puppy is healthy and it can be returned once you find an unsatisfactory trait. This kind of contract will be a sign of good business.

Some breeders do not agree with the return but if health is a problem, then it should be allowed. Otherwise, you can just move on to the other shiba inu breeders if you do not feel comfortable with this one. The breeder should also be easy to reach and their health certificates should be in the NSCA Breeder Referral introduction. When you find the breeder that fits all these parameters, then you may be able to adopt your shiba inu puppy from them.

The above mentioned are the good parameters of a shiba inu breeder. Moreover, you should also know the bad traits of shiba inu breeders to be avoided. Bad shiba inu breeders have a dirty place. If they won’t let you go to your place, then choose another one quickly. Another thing is about the contract. The contract should state how much is the puppy and the different conditions once you buy from them. If the ones mentioned are not stated in the contract, then they are not trustworthy enough so go on and find another shiba inu breeder.

To get all your questions answered about shiba inu breeders make sure to visit Melissa’s Webiste www.shibainupuppiesinfo.com

Canines are hardwired to protect their territory from intruders. In most cases, they communicate a warning to others by barking; it’s a form of intimidation. If a trespasser fails to heed the warning, your pooch’s barking might turn into pacing and growling as if he is preparing for a physical confrontation. If the trespasser still refuses to leave, the pacing and growling may evolve into an attack.

If your pooch shows signs of territorial aggression, it is important to begin discouraging the behavior as soon as possible. Otherwise, your visitors’ safety might be at risk. This article will provide several tips you can use to discourage your dog from behaving aggressively over his territory.

Before Training Begins

There are a few medical conditions that can influence your canine’s tendency to act aggressively toward others. For example, hypothyroidism causes a deficiency of thyroid hormones and can lead to his feeling overly-anxious. If he becomes agitated enough, his anxiety can potentially prompt an attack.

You should also take precautions to ensure that you and your dog will not be interrupted by strangers during your training sessions. Close and lock your gates, especially if you’re training him off-leash.

Action Steps To Curb Aggressive Behavior

First, make sure your canine receives at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. That will help prevent pent-up energy from contributing to his anxiety or aggression.

Second, devote time each day to training your dog to respond to your single-word commands. Many professional trainers recommend a program that includes two or three short sessions (5 minutes per session is sufficient) each day. Whenever your canine successfully responds to your commands, provide a food treat.

In addition to these training sessions, make your pooch work for everything he desires. For example, require him to sit before serving him meals or giving him attention. Over time, your canine will learn that if he wants something, he must follow your commands to acquire it.

One of the challenges owners have with canines that are territorially aggressive is that their dogs often try to usurp the role of leader. This can be due to several factors, including a laxity toward actively curbing the aggressive behavior. To that end, it may be necessary to place a head halter on your pooch in situations that might provoke his aggression.

For example, if you’re expecting visitors with whom your dog is unfamiliar, a head halter will gently encourage him to submit to your authority. That gives your pooch an opportunity to meet new people, and be rewarded (with treats) for staying calm when others trespass on “his” territory.

The suggestions above are effective for canines whose territorial aggression is based on dominance. If the aggressive behavior is triggered by a fear-based mechanism, a modified approach including desensitization and counter conditioning is necessary. Training in such cases is focused on reducing a dog’s level of fear and changing the manner in which he perceives a potential threat. We’ll address those training issues in an upcoming article.

Find the best Dog Treats and Dog Chews at http://www.bestbullysticks.com

What Happens When Your Dog Is Teething

Furniture, shoes, toys and tennis balls are all prime targets for the little puppy that you’ve just brought home. When this happens, you might be inclined to discipline your dog but avoid doing this.

When a puppy goes through its teething period, it just can’t be helped and unlike full-grown dogs, they know no better. The only thing you can do is keep your precious things out of the puppy’s reach.

you will be able to find formulated dog food at any good pet store, especially made for teething dogs. The type of food needs to not be too crunchy or it will be difficult for your pup to chew. Your dog might even suffer a loss of appetite for a few days and it’s normal. Just make sure you give it plenty of water to drink to maintain its level of hydration.

Chewing on anything that might splinter like wood or bones should be avoided though you can buy special chewing bones from the pet store designed for dogs with overly sensitive teeth. Chewing on these type of objects should be encouraged as it can help your dog get past this stage of its life.

Whatever you give your dog to chew, make sure the objects do not have any loose bits that might come off and choke your puppy. Also avoid any old toys that might have poisonous chemicals present in the paint or material. Good toys for chewing can be rubber balls or rubber bones - these are perfectly safe.

Other dangerous items around the house that could harm a dog would be anything with an electrical current running through it (obviously). Puppies just love biting through cables and similar items so keep them out of reach of your dog.

Getting a in-house dog fence is a great idea to prevent your puppy from roaming to hazardous locations around your home. They’re an effective and inexpensive solution to keep your dog safe until it grows a little older. You will find these pet fences readily available for you to order on the internet.

Just know that this teething period will pass in good time so in the meantime, you job will be to keep a close eye on your dog to make sure it plays safely. Never leave your puppy to run around on its own unsupervised in the garden.

You will be able to find the most up-to-date in pet accessories recommendations within this author’s dog guide website. The latest stories available are on puppy essentials like the cute pink dog bed and dog grooming clippers.

Who Else Wants a Healthier Pet?

When you are a pet owner, you have a large responsibility to take care of your pet. There are many things that go into making sure your pet is healthy. If you have ever been through your pet being sick you know how heart breaking it is. I know how I feel when my dog gets sick; all I can think of is getting her healthy again. Who else wants a healthier pet?

Make sure to feed your pet good nutritionally balanced food. Also be sure the food is made special for them. Your pet’s food is specifically made to have all the nutrients their body needs for their health. No matter if the pet is a hamster or a cat, they require specifically designed food for their bodies.

If you are going to feed them any people food, make sure it follows the guidelines of what they should have to eat. Take dogs for instance they should never have anything that has caffeine in it. Caffeine is very bad for a dog’s heart and could lead to them having a heart attack. They also should not be fed sugar.

If animals are overfed they can put on too much weight. This is the reason you should not feed any pets table scraps. You can actually make fish die by feeding them too much. Pets like people can become unhealthy by consuming too much food. Allow your pet to drink enough water per day for them to get hydrated. Now if you own fish for pets make sure to keep their water clear and clean. You need to keep a close eye on the water so that you can spot problems early.

Don’t skip your pet’s checkup at the vet; this is important to its health. Dogs and cats regularly need exams and vaccines to keep certain diseases from happening. The most important one is probably the rabies vaccine. If your pets are in close contact with numerous other animals domesticated or wild this becomes twice as important.

Every pet needs exercise even fish. Fish do of course get a lot of exercise swimming constantly like they do. Cats and dogs should be ran, played with, and walked be certain that they receive enough healthy exercise. This helps keeps their bodies strong and their weight at the right point. It also helps your pet’s heart be healthy. Walk your cat or dog when you go for a stroll. This is how both of you can get healthier at the same time. Provide a hamster with a wheel to run on for their health, if that is your pet of choice. This way it gets enough exercise for its health.

The last thing our pets to be healthy is our love and attention. We need to pet them and talk to them to let them know they are loved. Even grooming them is part of showing them attention. Dogs and cats both for the most part shed or their coats can become matted without proper brushing.

These tips will assist you in providing your pet with the best of care, so that they can be the healthiest they can be. Now isn’t that what we all want for our pets? Get your pet healthier today!

Wanting to become a pet owner is great. But there are two things that you need to know about. One is quality pet health insurance because without it your pet is not safe. The next key thing is that using cheap pet meds can hurt your pet terminally if you find the wrong quality of medication.

The Perfect Pet Urn For Your Pets Ashes

The best way to honor your the loss of your pet is to choose a pet urn that reflects its personality. You can often find pet urns at your vets office or a local pet store but you will pay a premium. When you buy a urn for your pet online you can often find a much wider selection. They are often made of many different materials and come in many different styles leading to a difficult choice.

The loss of a pet can be sudden and very difficult to deal with when deciding weather to have a funeral, have a pet memorial stone or something to hold your pets ashes or mementos such as a tags or a collar and a few photos or keepsakes. Many are meant to last but you have options of burial, biodegradable or memorial type of pet urns. Many materials are used from stone such as marble, soapstone even granite. Metals can be brass, bronze or even copper. The use of wood is very common and can be woods such as cherry, walnut, oak or just pine. Ceramic pet urns are very common and can be made into many different shapes often a vase shape or even a figurine and can often be personalized with a photo of your pet.

Regardless of a the material you choose it is more important where you will place your pet urn. If it is indoor on a mantle material is not really important. If it is to be placed outdoors in the elements you may want to stick to metals and stone that is and enclosed container that keeps out the elements. Most metals will tarnish or show weather within a year or two. Depending on the metal you could use the appropriate metal cleaner and in some cases use an acrylic floor wax to help protect it from the elements. The best way to do this is to slowly wipe it on with a clean sponge to avoid small air bubbles from forming on the surface. The wax will not keep it forever but keeps it looking like new for a longer period of time between cleanings.

A popular pet urn is a photo urn. They can be mad of many different materials and often have a place holder for a pets photo or an area to laser engrave and image or your pet with a few kind words. This may be done with laser engraving or with an engraving tool such as a grinder. Most materials that work great for this process are likely wood or stone.

Consider stone or metal for a lasting burial urn. Many people often plant a small shrub or plant over the area to designate it as a pet memorial. You could also use yard ornaments or concrete statues to mark off the area as a dedicated pet memorial.

When you loose a pet it can often be overwhelming searching for the perfect urn or memorial urn. When buying a pet urn online you can often save a lot of money and find the perfect choice.

Check out a large selection of marble pet urns or photo pet urns Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.

How to Make Your Dog Stop Jumping on You

In order for you to learn how to make your dog stop jumping on you, you must first understand what your dog could possibly be thinking.  Look at it from his prospective.  He is being brought up by two-legged beings, and he wants to be just like you.  You are his role model, and since you walk on two legs, he naturally wants to do the same, even though we know that he is not one of us.

In most cases, when a dog jumps on you, your instinct is to push him off of you and tell him “no” or “get down” or even “bad dog.”  All this does is encourage him do it even more.

I think that we have all been told to put our knee up when a dog jumps on you.  This is only partially true.  What normally happens when we do this, is that we back up a step, and when you back up the dog looks at it as a sign of weakness.

In order for this technique to work, you must step forward into the dog, pushing him off balance, and keep walking into him, picking up your knee as if you were taking steps until he stops jumping.  When you do this, don’t say a word, he will get the message, also remember not to use your hands.

Sometimes he might try to be a wise guy and jump on you from the side, or from behind you, do the same thing at each angle until he stops.  Then pause for a moment before you tell him what a good dog he is for not jumping.

One common mistake that pet owners make when they are trying to figure out how to make your dog stop jumping on you is that we are afraid we are going to hurt our dog, and we just let our dogs jump all over us.  This technique does not hurt your dog in any way, and he will learn that you are the boss, which is what you want to accomplish so that you have a well behaved dog.

Always keep in mind that for any training tip to work, you must be consistent, and use praise and reward.  If you only do this part of the time, your dog gets confused, and doesn’t know what you want him to do.

Need help with your dog’s behavior? It is every dog owners dream to have a well behaved dog. Free articles and power tips will show you how to make your dog stop jumping on you on command, regardless of the age of your dog or the severity of the problem that you are having.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-make-your-dog-stop-jumping-on-you-1783141.html

Does It Matter If You Train Your New Puppy?

So you brought home your brand new puppy. Dog obedience training is the last thing on your mind. Oh, you know you will have to train your dog to go to the bathroom outside but that is no big deal.

You can clearly see how your life will be know that you have a wonderful dog. In your mind you see you and your pet running free at the park and playing. He will always stay by your side eliminating the need for a leash and he will go with you everywhere that you go.

He might even be a best friend to your daughter or son. They will run and play together on hot summer days the way a kid and his best friend are meant to. Life is going to be so wonderful!

Then real life comes back to smack you in the face.

Your well mannered dog refuses to go to the bathroom outside and thinks your couch is the best place to sleep. He snubs his nose at his food and instead forges the counter to find a meal fit for a king. Your carpet is a digging zone.

Never mind that you bought him plenty of bones and toys to chew, the sides of your favorite recliner is the perfect chew toy. He barks all day and night and slowly but surely your hopes and dreams of owning the perfect dog has vanished.

So what in the world do you do know?

Well you can’t get rid of the blasted dog because even though he is a monster he has the saddest eyes that he stares up at you with when he’s in trouble. He really loves you and you are quite fond of him.

If only he would behave.

Well, my friend, the answer to your problem is good old fashioned dog obedience training and that does not mean going to a dog training class a handful of time with a half hearted attempt to train your dog. Your dog needs training on an on going basis but it is really not as difficult as you might think it would be. Dogs really love to please so when you two finally figure out how to properly communicate and he knows what to expect, he will go out of his way to make you happy.

When training a dog 2 of the big things people want to learn is how to stop a dog whining how to stop aggression towards other dogs. Visit safedogobedienceadvice.com, which is a free training a dog resource, for the answers.

If the chewing habit of your dog is giving you a headache, you need to find a way to stop your dog from chewing on things around the house. Seeing your precious shoes, carpets, mats and home furniture get ruined due to the destructive chewing behavior of your pet can be very depressing. Although you love your pet, you also need to keep the things around your house in good condition and stop your dog from chewing anything around the house.

Here are the 5 little known methods to stop your dog from chewing on things around the house:

Do not get angry with your dog. You have to understand that chewing is a natural behavior and a part of their development. Getting angry with your dog is not helpful if you want your dog to stop this annoying habit. Instead of getting angry, you have to be objective about this and find the most effective ways of controlling the bad habit of your canine friend.

Find out the reason behind the destructive chewing habit of your dog. Teething for puppies and dental problems are some of the reasons for destructive chewing of dogs. Find out if your dog has dental problems because dogs keep chewing to relieve gum pain. Dogs are also unwilling to eat if they have dental problems. Your veterinarian can assess if the chewing habit is due to dental problems. For teething problem, it is best to give your dog chew toys to help him with his teething and to stop your dog from chewing on things around the house.

Love and attention. The chewing habit may be a result of lack of love and attention. If your dog is being neglected he may get bored and lonely. Destructive chewing is one way to get your attention. Give your dog some love and attention. Play with your dog and take him for a walk.

Encourage you dog to chew his toys. To stop your dog from chewing on things around the house, keep chewable things away from your pet. Give your dog his own place where he can play and chew his toys. Dog chew toys are good chewable alternatives for you dog. Train him to chew on his toys and correct him not to chew on anything around the house. Praise him and give him treats for following your instructions.

Proper dog obedience training. It is best to ask advice from the experts. If you cannot enroll your pet in a proper obedience training program, it will be very helpful to read books and training guides especially designed to correct the bad habits of your dog. With the proper training guide you can stop your dog from chewing on things around the house and you can raise a well behaved dog.

Stop your dog from chewing on things around the house and raise an adorable and obedient dog. Put an end to your stress and stop the behavior problem of your dog visit Sit Stay Fetch.

To know more about pet training visit Dogs’ Corner.

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including 5 Secret Methods to Stop Your Dog from Chewing on Things Around the House. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/5-secret-methods-to-stop-your-dog-from-chewing-on-things-around-the-house-1775547.html

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