From the monthly archives:

October 2008

How Can I Find My Lost Dog?

by Pet Care on October 7, 2008


When one gets a puppy, it is not a thought out decision. The puppy’s owner once the decision has been made to get a new puppy may spend weeks looking at various litters before choosing only a single pup. The concept is that the owner chooses the puppy, however in some cases the puppy will choose his owner. In the later case, it is a stay and lost puppy that finds him or herself wandering in to the new owner’s home and life.

It is important that before you choose to keep this new puppy, that you make every attempt possible to find its original owners because there is most likely a sad owner out there who is missing their puppy. Once you have done this, there is a number of steps that you should take before allowing the puppy to become a permanent member of the household.

First things first is a visit to the veterinarian.

As soon as possible after bringing an new puppy into your home,. You need to take it to the vets in order to get that puppy a full check up. The vet will check the puppy’s health as well as make sure that he or she has no contagious diseases or parasites that can be spread to your family. If the veterinarian finds the puppy to be sick, then the vet can take immediate care of the ailment so that the puppy can be returned to you with a clean bill of health.

A possibly mentally unstable puppy.

It is important to realize that not ever single puppy is well taken care of and in the event that it was not, there is the chance of some mental instability. While the younger the puppy the lower this problem can be, in the event that it is an older dog that was brought into your home, then mental issues can prove to be an issue.

While there is no way to tell for sure how the puppy was taken care of before it found its way into your home, it is important to remember that you should take the necessary precautions just incase there is the chance of mental instability in your new found dog.

Changing your mind.

There are no absolutes in this world and no matter how much you had originally wanted to keep the puppy, you may opt that keeping the puppy is no longer in your best interest. This does not means that you simply throw him or her back out on the street from whence it came, as that would be inhumane. While you may feel a bit guilty about giving the puppy up, it is important to realize that the moment the though crosses your mind, it is now in the puppy’s best interest to go to a home where it will be loved unconditionally.

About the author: James Nash is an avid pet lover. He provides lots of advice on dog training such as Tips For Crate Training Puppies and gives lots of tips on what type of Dog Apparel you should choose for your dog.

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Some Ways To Give Your Pet Proper Dog Grooming: Essential Help

by Pet Care on October 7, 2008


As well as offering your pet dog a balanced diet and a pleasant house to live in, grooming too is an important element to bringing up your pet at home. It is also essential to ensuring the continued well being of your pet. Thus, it is vital that you understand what is required to provide proper dog grooming health training.

The first thing that requires your consideration is that proper dog grooming health training can best be achieved by apying a professional groomer to look after your pet. Although this may seem a bit extravagant, it may still be your best option if you don’t want to take the responsibility yourself.

Only Use Dog Shampoos
Next, you should avoid bathing your pet with your own favorite shampoo because your dog’s hair will only gain from a bath if you use a dog shampoo. This is particularly important to know as a shampoo created for people will be far too harsh for your dog. Thus, you should only use a shampoo that has been formulated to work on dogs.

Proper dog grooming can also require that you use a conditioner for your pet. Conditioners actually do a lot of good though they should be of a tear free type to ensure that, should it get into the pet’s eyes, it won’t get hurt them.

And, you must regularly trim your dog’s hair. Using special dog grooming scissors will help you keep its hair at a proper length.

Finally, you may also need to trim your dog[/spin[’s nails, and this may be best achieved by having a vet or one of his staff do it for you.

Only with the proper kind of dog grooming can you looks and feels good.

Furthermore, it is necessary that you note down any changes in your dog’s behavior and to also be aware of the symptoms of any changes that have recently taken place in your dog’s behavior.

Grooming the dog and ensuring his health must be a top priority and these can only be achieved if you have the necessary knowledge and you also give your dog the appropriate dog grooming health training, as well as giving it any prescribed medications, whenever necessary.

You must also watch for common symptoms that might indicate that your pet is feeling poorly and among such symptoms you can include choking, trembling and also breathing heavily. So, if you sense that there is a problem with your pet’s health, you must immediately take him to your vet and then give him the recommended medications so you are able to nip the trouble before it gets too serious.

And another aspect of caring for a dog is to make sure they are properly house trained.
how to crate train a puppy
how to housebreak your puppy
Puppy litter training
Check out these articles for advice on the best house training methods.

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Guides To Dog House Training

by Pet Care on October 7, 2008


Concentrate On How You Want Your Dog To Behave

If you’re not sure what you want, how are you going to get it? This applies to pretty much everything we do every day of our lives, and it’s true of basic dog training as well

It’s a natural emotion to concentrate on the things we don’t want in our lives. This is also the case with dog training too. Not wanting our dog to pee anywhere inside our house is right up there, or chew our shoes, or ignore us when we tell him what to do, or bark like a guard dog when we have friends come into the house.

Contemplate this for a minute. Lets imagine you’re about to pick up a new puppy. Are you actually considering spending the next eight to fifteen years chasing your dog telling him off for things you didn’t want him to do? Isn’t it easier and more satisfying to teach your dog correct behavior from the beginning?

For example, instead of thinking, “I really do not want the dog to chew the furniture,” try, “I want my dog to chew his toys.” Better than, “I don’t want the dog to embarrass me when I have guests,” try instead, “I would like my dog to sit to greet people.”

By framing your training goals in positive terms, it’ll be much easier to attain your desired training goals. What better way to start your training program.

Reward Good Behavior

The most important aspect people have realized in housetraining puppy over the last few years is the trend away from concentrating on correcting bad behavior, or penalizing mistakes, to rewarding obedience and favorable actions.

The practice of rewarding your dog’s good behavior is a smart one, especially for puppy toilet training. One of the critical reasons for this is that if you use punishment, regardless of the reason why, the consequences could be very demoralizing for both of you. If your dog is of a particular temperament, he could become frightened or even aggressive in response to the punishment. Some dogs, especially timid breeds, may close off completely. They lose their sparkle. Some may simply curl up and shy away all the time.

The good thing about reward based training is that it also makes you feel good as the trainer. Heaping praise and treats on your dog gives a powerful sense of achievement.

But the best news is that this approach to dog obedience training works extremely well. Primarily because rewards training techniques build strong relationships which are key to good behavior. When he learns that a particular behavior gets rewarded, your dog is more likely to exhibit that behavior again in the future. By learning how to apply that simple rule, you can use rewards to reach virtually any training goal.

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Imperative Health Care Practices And Maintenance For Pets

by Pet Care on October 6, 2008


Routine health care for pets is critical to their ongoing well-being and overall health. In addition to feeding, exercising your pets and other pet-related products, you need to maintain their general health.

These health care measures include regular veterinarian visits, parasite control, dental care, grooming and more. To learn more about each preventive health care measure, keep reading.

Ongoing Veterinarian Visits

Your adult cat or dog should see the veterinarian at least annually. Puppies and kittens should have a vet visit at least once a month for the first 4 months and then as needed until they’re ready for annual check-ups. Cats and dogs over 7 or 8 years old should see the veterinarian every six months.

During your veterinarian visit, you can expect your veterinarian to look for signs of possible illness, disease or injury. They may also prescribe blood work, prescription drugs, vaccinations or a health care program such as hydrotherapy or physiotherapy.

Parasite Control

The primary intestinal parasites of dogs and cats include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. These worms damage the digestive tract or interfere with absorption of essential nutrients. Intestinal parasites are typically diagnosed after finding worm eggs or actual worms in your pet’s feces.

Fecal samples should be tested periodically – this is typically done at your annual veterinarian checkup or on an as-needed basis.

Heartworm is another type of internal parasite that is almost always deadly. The worms are contracted by mosquito bites, then the eggs later hatch and live in the blood vessels around the lungs and heart. It is painful and deadly, but also preventable. During mosquito season and sometimes year-round, your veterinarian will prescribe preventive heartworm health care for pets in the form of a pill.

Common external parasites include fleas, ticks and mites. Monthly preventive measures consists of regular grooming, baths, spray and a thorough inspection for bites or bugs.

Dental Care

Just like humans, dogs and cats are vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. You can prevent this common problem by brushing your pet’s teeth regularly. While dogs may need daily brushing, cats are usually fine with an occasional sweep.

You can help keep your dog’s teeth and gums in good condition by brushing their teeth regularly and providing them with certain toys like flossies or dental bones.

Grooming of Hair

Loose or shed hair cannot only mat and cause problems, but it can also be inhaled and lead to digestive issues or hair balls. Keep your pet well groomed to avoid skin irritation, which can also lead to bacterial or parasite infection.

Health care for pets is about more than an occasional visit to the vet or treating specific problems. Additionally, it includes ongoing maintenance and a regular health care routine. So, give your pet a long and happy life by practicing good grooming, regular dental care, parasite prevention and appropriate trips to the vet.

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Dog Beds Buying Guidelines

by Pet Care on October 6, 2008


To all owners of dogs, you may possibly have a furry friend other than your human significant other keeping you warm at night. Who is taking up valuable room in your luxury bed? Your dog of course! He wants to be comfortable too when he goes to sleep. We can’t blame him. Especially if you have allowed him to be our nighttime snuggler. You can take back control of your bed, if you give him a comfortable one of his own.

Quality and durable dog beds come in many shapes, sizes, colors and prices. The easiest way to find and purchase a dog bed that meets your standards is on the internet. Many people tend to want to run out to the large local pet store to make their purchase. This drastically limits your choice of size, color, quality and price. It is a big decision choosing a dog bed that your furry family member will be spending much of his time curled up on. If your dog is not comfortable, you may not be able to reclaim your sleeping spot.

There are a few important things to keep in mind when shopping for comfortable dog beds:

1) Look for a pet store that has free shipping. Dog beds can be quite expensive to ship. Also,keep in mind that if you purchase from the local pet store, you will be paying sales tax. Purchasing from an online store, will help you avoid this fee unless the retailer is based in your home.

2) make sure to check the dimensions of the bed. Make sure it will fit in the location you have planned. More importantly, make sure it is the appropriate size for your pup. Although dogs tend to ball up, it is preferable to give them room to stretch out.

3) Choose your online pet supply store wisely. Since there are so many, it can be confusing. Don’t mistake quantity for quality. Many online stores that have too many selections do not necessarily take much time in selecting their beds carefully.

4) Dog beds come in many colors and designs. Select a bed that is not only comfortable for yourdog but that matches your décor. A machine washable dog bed is an added bonus to keep it looking and smelling clean.

5) Most importantly, stay within your budget. Not one dog bed will last forever. More than one purchase is inevitable. A $300 dog bed is not always better than a $75 dog bed. Instead of the higher price bed, you could purchase more than one bed for separate rooms. This is actually an excellent idea for older, arthritic dogs, who benefit from orthopedic dog beds, or if you live in a multiple story home.

You can always get quality dog beds at affordable prices online. Just enjoy the shopping experience and your dog will love you for it! You will appreciate your dog much more if you can get a good night sleep.

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Caring for Your Injured Dog

by Pet Care on October 6, 2008


Though it is unfortunate, it is possible that during the lifetime of your dog they will get hurt. Hopefully it will not be a fatal injury and will be one they get over quickly. The best way to insure your dog doesn’t get injured is to train your dog. Obedience is the key here. If your dog goes into the street they could get hit by a car. So to avoid that, you want to train your dog to obey words like “stay”, or “sit”. Other possibilities of injury are dog fights. Training won’t insure that your dog never gets hurt, but should make the chances of it happening far less likely.

So if your dog does get hurt, what do you do? The first thing you need to do is assess the situation. If you happen to see the incident, then you will immediately know what just happened. If not, then you will get a good indication when you examine your dog. If your dog is unable to walk or won’t come to you then you know there is a very good chance there are broken bones. Make sure to carefully look them over. The worst possibility is that there is a spine injury.

The next step is to get them to a place of safety. If they can’t move, then to keep them from further injury it is good to get a coat or something flat under them. Then you can either drag them away, or if possible, carry them to safety. If they are bleeding a lot, then try to find some cloth to wrap around the wound to stop bleeding. You might have to tear or cut off a piece of your shirt if this is the case, or use your coat if you have one. You can also use their collar to help stop bleeding if there is nothing else. Just tighten it up as best you can. Some kinds of collars won’t work though. It will be difficult, but one of the best things you can do is to try to comfort your dog by using a calm voice. Just keep speaking to them. If you and your dog have had time to become close, then your dog should already see you as security and comfort. It won’t help a lot, but it will help.

Of course the next step is to get them to the vet quickly. Even if the injury isn’t severe, it is good to take them anyways. After your dog checks out, they will need some time to rest and recover. If the injury was pretty bad, you will want to get them a comfortable bed to sleep in. There are plenty of comfortable quality dog beds to choose from that will work. You want something that will take pressure off of joints so make sure it is well padded. You will also want to put their favorite dog chew toys by them for comfort. Also, if you wound up using their collar to stop any bleeding or it got damaged, there are plenty of fancy pet collars out there to replace it with. Just keep up their fluid intake and try to get them to eat. Monitor the progress and follow up with a visit to the vet as needed.

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Dog Health Top Pet Guidance

by Pet Care on October 5, 2008


In order to keep your pet dog healthy you might wish to consider a preventive medicine program for your pet dog. It will allow you to reduce the risk of disease or illness harming your pet dog and it can also cut down on veterinary costs. It’s best to give your pet dog a weekly check-up and take your dog to the veterinarian’s office for an annual check. A thorough annual dog health check at the veterinarian’s office is a worthwhile expense.

A good veterinarian will do much more than just give your pet dog his vaccinations. He will typically perform a number of palpitations on your pet dog to check to see if the internal organs feel healthy and this also gives him a chance to check for any lumps that annual check will also provide your veterinarian with a chance to look over his eyes and ears as well as listen to his heart. An annual pet dog health check is especially vital as your pet dog ages. It’s a good idea to give your veterinarian the chance to discover a health issue as early as possible in order to stop it from becoming a serious problem.

Vaccinations for Your Dog
Vaccinations are also very important in order to prevent illnesses and disease from seriously affecting your dog. Vaccinations can help to defend your pet dog from acquiring diseases such as distemper, rabies, parvovirus, leptospirosis, para influenza as well as viral hepatitis, corona virus and kennel cough. You might also wish to ask your veterinarian if a vaccination against Lyme disease would be helpful for your pet dog.

Exam at Home
There is also an easy to do dog health exam at home that you can perform. Look to see if his skin has the healthy gray –white appearance. If his skin is pink or perhaps red he probably has an inflammation problem. Also a largeamount of dandruff in his fur is an unhealthy condition for your pet dog. Brush your dog’s hair with your fingers and then check the odor on your fingers. If your fingers smell rancid or have a fishy smell to them this is an indication that your dog has a health problem. During the pet dog health exam, Look into his mouth and check for a red line along the roots of his teeth. During the dog health exam take a close look at all of his teeth and see if any of them have become brown and also check to see if he has very foul breath which can be an indication of a health problem. Don’t allow your pet dog to become overweight because obesity can lead to health problems and it can also shorten his life. To keep your pet dog in good health it isvital to carry out a weekly dog health spin]examination|check|check-up|exam[/spin] at home and an annual check-up at the veterinarian’s office.

Other articles
House training puppies
House training a puppy
puppy potty training
These articles are packed with useful tips on the best methods of house training dogs. Crate training is amongst the most successful toilet training methods whether you have a puppy or dog. And forget ant misconceptions you have about a crate being a place of punishment. It is most definitely not – if used correctly.

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Should I Get Myself A New Puppy?

by Pet Care on October 4, 2008


When it comes to the first time that you choose to get a puppy and bring it home, you may wonder as to whether having the new puppy will be a positive experience or not. The truth is that if you have never had a dog before, then having a new puppy in your home will be nothing less than that of a rewarding experience. It does not matter if you are single, have small children ion your home or even if you are retired, adding a dog to your home is a great way of sprucing up your lifestyle. You will need to learn How to Train Your Dog first.

If you are considering buying a puppy for the first time and are not sure whether or not bringing a pet into the house will be a positive experience, just ask around and I can guarantee that you will never find a dog owner who was not happy. Puppies are a great addition to any household, regardless if you have children, whether you are retired, and even if you are a busy young adult going to school or just getting started in life.

If you are retired…

Let’s face it, when it comes to being of retirement age, this also means that there is no longer any kids living in the house which just leaves you and your partner. A dog is a great way of bringing back some life into your home well after you retire. Tending and caring for a puppy is just like having young children in your home.

It is important though that you remember to do your research on the various dog breeds to determine which one will be right for you. When you are retired, you do not need a large dog that easily gets overly excited you need a dog that is usually well mannered and quiet. For every person out there, there is a perfect dog for you.

Getting out on your own…

You don’t have to be retired or even have a family in your home for a new puppy to make a positive change in your life. You could be a young and single adult, maybe even one who is still attending school for a new dog to change your life. It is important to remember certain points of interest and determine if you are able to offer these to your dog without hesitation to determine if getting a puppy is right for you.

1) For starters, a new puppy or even a full grown dog need to receive one on one attention from you on an almost constant basis. If you are not really able to offer this to your new puppy then perhaps you should wait until you can.

2) Taking care of a dog costs money. You have to pay for food and veterinarian visits among many other things. If you are wanting to bring home a new puppy, make sure that you can afford to do it first.

3) Dogs are not temporary friends, they are friends for life. Will you be able to give 5 or even 10 years to your dog without hesitation? Do you think for any reason that you may have to get rid of the dog in a couple years? Bringing a dog into your home is a long-term commitment and make sure that you are able to fully commit before accepting a new dog into your home.

You can learn alot more about Puppy Crate Training and Make Airline Travel With Your Dog Easy right now to help you with training your dog and much more.

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Fun With Birds And Bird Watching

by Pet Care on October 3, 2008


Do you like fresh air? Do you like peaceful moments in the forest? Do you enjoy nature? If you answered yes to a few of these questions why dont’t you try a great hobby like bird watching? You can even travel the world and still take time for this simple and not expensive pastime during a vacation.

If you’re an avid bird watcher, a unique bird watching vacation to try is a world tour visiting some of the world’s best bird watching sites. Even nearby in the United States, many states offer bird sanctuaries and aviaries where you can go. Every places is home to countless species of native avian life, and assures you a amazing experience. If you decide to go farther abroad, here are a few of the more prominent international sites you’ll want to visit:

South America – the jungles of South America house to thousands of incredible birds. Bird watching vacation popular spots in South America include the Itatiaia National Park in Brazil, which houses to around 350 variety of species of birds native to the Amazon. The Iguazu National Park is the leading natural reserve in Argentina, with over 400 types of native birds. Hato Pinero and Hato Cedral ranches in Venezuela, which are especially popular for bird watching, are other great places to visit in South America.

Asia – if you’re ready to choose far afield, Asia is a fantastic place to go for bird watching vacation as species live there that you can not see anywhere in the west. Japan alone is home to around 600 species of birds. The most well-known wildlife preserves where you can see them is the Lake Utonai and Tateyama Bird sanctuaries. China’s main attraction is not only its original species of birds, but the fact that some places like Beidaihe are a migratory hub for far-ranging birds from all across Asia. Another good place to visit for bird watching is Thailand’s Doi inthanon International Park, which boasts 382 resident species. Obviously there exist many places you could indulge yourself in a good bird watching vacation. Don’t forget to take your trusty bird watching binoculars and camera with you!

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Things To Know About Poodle Puppies

by Pet Care on October 1, 2008


All poodle puppies are cute, cuddly, and curly and definitely a pet anyone would want to take home. Poodles make great pets, and have the most fun with them you will need to know as much about poodle puppies so that they are comfortable when you take them home, so read on to see what you should know in order to be a responsible poodle owner.

No matter which poodle breed you decide to purchase, you should know that some poodles tend to be a little reclusive or anti-social, and aren’t very friendly around strangers – unless they are trained. You will need to socialize your poodle puppies by placing them in an environment where people will be present often, so that it won’t be so overwhelming for the dogs when you have people over or take the puppies on an outing.

You should also make sure that you take your poodle puppies to the vet often for checkups, since poodles tend to have vision problems fairly often. Your poodle’s eyes should be alert and shiny, and if you start to notice a film around the eyes, or if you see that your puppy’s eyes are running often, this could be a sign of cataracts. Treating this condition in the early stages is key, so be sure to tell the vet if you notice that your dog’s vision is a little cloudy. Poodle puppies are also prone to ear infections, as are most other poodles, so be sure to have your puppy’s ears checked at the vet as well; hearing tests, as well as medication may need to be administered, and you should ask your animal doctor about dosages for your puppy as well.

You may also notice that your poodle has very sensitive skin, and that certain grooming products should not be used on your poodle puppies. Poodle owners are often dying their dog’s hair in a variety of colors, or shampooing the thick fur of the poodle with expensive shampoos that come in a variety of scents. However, the chemicals in some of these cleaning agents could be harmful to your poodle puppies, and could cause rashes and skin irritations. Your puppy could also develop an allergy to these products, so if you notice that your dog is more sluggish than usual, or is sneezing often, you should let your grooming professional know, or shampoo your poodle at home.

Feeding your poodle puppies nutritious food, and making sure that dog food is free or harmful starches and gluten, which can harm your dog, is also important in preserving your puppy’s health. For more great information on how to care for your poodle puppies and monitor their growth, you can visit sites like www.poodle-lovers.com.

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