Don’t Your Pets Deserve the Best?

 Although often thought to be a teething behavior, nipping, mouthing and biting in young dogs is generally a form of social play. Teething is more likely to involve gnawing or chewing on household objects. The first thing you must do is provide ample opportunity for play, without biting. Social play with people could involve retrieve games (ball, Frisbee or soft toy), hide n’ seek (with the puppy finding the humans for a treat), chasing after soap bubbles as well as walks, swimming or learning tricks. Although wrestling and tug of war games can be fun, they may lead to play that is too rough or rambunctious.  Another quick remedy would be to provide the puppy with a dog chew or dog treat, like greenies.  This will be sure to keep him busy for a while and detour him from destroying personal items.

Puppies need to learn bite inhibition. This is something they start to learn while with their litter mates It is one reason that puppies should not go to new homes until 7 - 8 weeks and they have had time to practice social skills with other dogs. It can therefore be extremely beneficial for the puppy to have regular interactive social play periods with other dogs or puppies in the home or in the neighborhood.

 Today’s domestic dog is still closely related to the wolf.  Like all wolves living in a pack, dogs must be part of a stable family and feel safe.  Most domestic behavioral problems occur when the dog is confused about how to act/behave in different situations such as in your home or out on a walk.

It is recommended that you keep your dog confined (in a crate or in a room) no matter his age for at least the first month in your home.  This will allow him to settle in more comfortably and adapt to your lifestyle.  At the same time, confinement or crate training will reduce such misbehaviors as chewing and separation anxiety.  When crate training, always use a dog treat, like greenies, as a reward when he/she enters his cage.  It will help make him feel more at home!
 

 The human-animal bond is strong. Dogs were amongst the first animals to be domesticated, and as they proved their worth as hunters, guards and companions, the bond has continued to grow stronger. Many people will agree that animals can make a positive influence on our lives. Dogs used for therapy are just one way they make a positive impact.

What is a therapy dog? Therapy dogs are of any size, breed, colour, shape, sex or age and use the power of the human-animal bond to help people. The help may come in the form of emotional support. For example, a dog may visit the elderly and show them that they are loved by allowing the person to hold the dog while they laugh or cry. The help may also be physical. For example, dogs can be used to encourage a stroke victim to move an arm to pet the dog.

Why are animals used as part of therapy? It is the unconditional love that these animals provide to those that are ill, disabled, elderly or anyone who is in a facility and is deprived of acceptance, love or touch. Therapy dogs can be used in many different situations, such as during social activities or physical therapy. Everyone benefits from therapy dogs - the individual(s) who needs the therapy, the staff at the facility, the individual’s family, and the therapy dog him/herself.

As with all dogs, even dogs used as therapy love a healthy dog treat, like greenies.  It is sure to make them even happier than they were before!

Until they reach 16 to 18 weeks of age, a puppy will be in a socialization period. This period is the most important and critical in its life. Every effort should be made to socialize your puppy; meaning to expose him or her to a variety of positive and pleasant meetings. The greater the exposure you can give to your dog during this period, the more it will lead to improved social flexibility, emotional stability and trainability. Also, always make sure to give him a dog treat, like greenies, after a job well done!

You must socialize you puppy to a number of different things; people, adults and children of various ages, animals and environments. Use the socialization table for ideas or for tracking your progress. Place a check mark beside the experience that your puppy has had the opportunity to add to his repertoire. Notice which spaces are blank and take you puppy out! The more experiences in its repertoire, the better equipped the puppy will be to socially to deal with new situations. Take advantage of puppyhood, because after this period, socializing your dog will take longer and be much more difficult…

Remember that before the puppy has its second shot, the puppy’s immunity won’t be as strong. Exposure to only vaccinated dogs at this time is highly recommended.

 A dog barks for various reasons. Barking could be a sign of seeking attention, anxiety, stress or aggression. But whatever the reasons are, a bark collar is a universal solution to solve that behavioral problem. It is a very good option if your dog’s barking has become excessive and annoying to other people.

Contrary to popular beliefs, a bark control collar is not an unsafe electronic equipment but a very effective tool in training your dog if used properly. There are various advantages of using a bark collar. In fact, it is too effective that you can notice an enormous improvement in your k9’s barking within the first week of training.

If your dog has become too violent to the point that he scares you and your neighbors, you should consider purchasing bark collars . This tool can correct the barking problem and can make the people around you feel safer when walking by your canine pet.

Another advantage of having a bark collar placed around your dog’s neck is that your dog will not bark when an unfamiliar person visits your house. It will also not disturb your neighbors during night time.

However, first time users of this type of training collar should be extra careful. The first instance your k9 receives a correction from a bark control collar he may react in a certain way. He may yip or jump slightly. But don’t worry for these reactions are just normal.  You could always calm him by giving him some tasty lamb dog treats also.

The first reaction of your dog will always be the most intense. But after a few sessions, his reaction will be minimized and he will consequently refrain from doing some unwanted things such as excessive barking.

 Dogs are just like people when it comes to liking something. They have different tastes and feelings towards different things. Certain dogs may like one taste of dog food while another may not even give it a chance. The only way to know what your dog will like for dog treats is to try different ones and go from there.

There are so many different kinds and tastes when it comes to dog treats. The different flavors may not be as agreeing with all dogs. The only way to know if your dog will like a certain dog treat is to give him one and see what the dog’s reaction is. If the dog likes this particular dog treat, then he will surely let you know by wagging his tail, and licking his lips.

If the dog hates this dog treat, chances are he will drop it to the ground, sniff it and walk away all after he gives you a very dissatisfying look. This is how most dogs would react. Some dogs may even bark at you as if to say, “what were you thinking”. However, this is the only way that you will ever know if the dog agrees with your choice in treats or not.

If you have more than one dog, you may find that they all like a different treat. If this is the case, then you will have to buy more than one brand of dog treat. When this happens, it may be hard to keep them straight especially if you have a few dogs. The best way to keep the dog treats separate and know which one is for what dog, you will have to put them in separate containers and mark them.

There is crunchy, soft, sweet, and salty dog treats available. There are so many new treats on the market today, that you will be sure to find a few dog treats that your dog will love.  The newest on the market are the all natural lamb dog treats.  These are very healthy and are similar to the bully stick product line.

Keeping the dog treats in airtight containers with lids will keep them safe and secure from the dogs as well. They will not be able to help themselves when they feel like it. Use clear plastic or glass containers and write the dogs name on the outside of the container so that you know what dog treats are for what dog. This will make your life a whole lot easier because you will not be mixing up the treats. That will make your dog just as happy and satisfied as you are.

For more about dog treats and how you can provide the best for your dog, please visit Gibdog Pet Supplies.

Microchip Identification - Is It Right for Your Pet?

It’s a horrible experience for a family - a pet was lost and never made it home. Though most dog owners fear this situation, few have done much to protect themselves from this painful ordeal.

Though collar tags that include your contact information on them can be a fair bit of protection, they can easily be lost, or worn and damaged to the point of being unreadable. Many families forget to buy new tags after moving to a new location, and this makes them entirely useless for recovering the pet.

Tattoos are another option that may be employed, but these too often blur and become unreadable over time and, depending on where they are located, can go completely un-noticed, particularly on thick-furred breeds. Tattoos are a bit more difficult to “update” when you move, and you must keep in mind that receiving a tattoo is *not* a pleasant experience for your pet.

In this age of modern technology, perhaps the best way to protect your canine family member is by using a microchip. While some owners will argue that they don’t want to subject their pets to an “invasive” procedure, you must understand that receiving a microchip is no more invasive than receiving a vaccination. In fact, they are injected using a syringe, usually under the skin between the shoulder blades, and most animals show no reaction at all to receiving them. These chips are no larger than a grain of rice, cannot be felt by hand, and do not move around under your pet’s skin. If you own a teacup breed, rest assured that the same chips are used in rare an exotic birds, so even the smallest dogs can use them.

The use of microchips in animals, reptiles, and even fish has been extensively tested an found to be harmless to the animal, so for this reason are widely advocated by veterinarians and other animal professionals worldwide. The chip itself has no battery or other internal power supply, so it cannot “burn out”, and it will last the lifetime of your pet. They are read by the use of a small handheld scanner, which sends a harmless radio wave out and allows the chip to emit its unique pre-programmed identification number almost instantaneously. This information is displayed on the scanner’s screen, along with brief data that allows your pet’s “rescuer” to know which company to call to learn whom the animal belongs to.

Two of the most widely-used and recognized microchip companies are HomeAgain and Avid. Shelters and veterinarians are familiar with them and know what to do when your pet is found wearing one of these chips. Both companies maintain databases that have detailed information on your pet, including your contact information, as well as some “backup” contacts, such as your veterinarian and/or other family members in case you cannot be reached. These databases are available 24 hours a day to shelters and other animal professionals. If you move to another location or the animal changes hands, it is a simple matter for the owner to have the information in the database updated.

 Of course when taking your dog to the vet to get microchipped, its always a great idea to give him dog treats during the procedure.  This is sure to distract him and keep him happy!

 Dogs have been around for as long as man can remember. And for many of us that’s a good thing because our lives have been made that much richer. There seems to be a breed to suit just about anybody. Good job because some of us are hard to please.

Obviously it depends where you live as to just what dog you can have. It’s no good owning a great big dog like the mighty St Bernard if you live in a flat on the 5th floor of a high rise. Apart from it being cruel it’s just not practical in any way shape or form.

No if that’s you then a much much smaller dog like the Toy Fox Terrier or a Pug or a Jack Russell is the order of the day.

Obviously another thing to take into consideration is the costs of dog food and the like. You don’t need me to tell you that Bernie is going to woof down more chunks than little Chuiy.

Chihuahuas eat very little, but feeding costs can still be a bit high, since these dogs are often picky eaters. Recommended feeding for Bernie though is up to 4 cans (13.3oz) of a high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal amount or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food. This dog can eat 8-12 cups of food a day. Ouch!

If you’re looking for a dog somewhere in the middle then a Whippet just might fit the bill. The Whippet is a 25 to 45 pound dog that stands 19 to 24 inches in height. This dog is well muscled without being overly bulky or stocky and has loads of energy. A great dog to go for if you want a jogging partner for chasing squirrels and rabbits. They also love all kinds of dog treats, like pig ears.

Mr Rottweiler or St Bernie need a good sized yard to exercise in. Also remember these dogs as a puppy are still quite big dogs, so if you’ve got little toddlers yourself just be careful they don’t get knocked over or sent flying in some cases.

By the way don’t get hoodwinked by what you see in the films, Rottweiler’s and the like aren’t vicious dogs unless trained to be so. They can be the most loving and most gentle of pets, but they can be highly wary of strangers.

The Toy Fox Terrier on the other hand is just right for an apartment, weighing in as little as just 8 pounds and being around 10 inches high.

Nevertheless these tiny dogs, (one of the world’s smallest breeds) don’t believe what they see in the mirror. They actually think they are as powerful as something like a Rottweiler, you’ve just got to admire these little critters and you can’t help having a little laugh to yourself when you see them yapping away in a threatening manner against a much bigger dog.

 Dog lice - When it is time to see the vet

Chances are that you have noticed lately that your dog’s new favorite hobby is scratching himself in at least three places at once. When you part his coat to examine what is causing the itch and excessive scratching, you notice tiny white dust-like particles that are attached to the hair shafts. What are these tiny particles and why are they causing your dog to itch?

Your dog is suffering from lice infestation. Dog lice are six legged parasites that feed either on your dog’s flesh or their blood, triggering intense itchy reactions. The tiny white particles that are attached to his hair are lice eggs or nits. Although dogs rarely get lice and it is actually more common for people to get human lice, dog lice is still out there and our dogs are not immune to them.

One tiny louse cannot kill your dog, but once that tiny louse decides to invite all his louse friends to live off of your dog, then your pet could literally be eaten alive. If your dog is suffering from a severe case of lice, he could lose about one quarter of his blood volume within months, causing severe anemia or shock.

If you have to take your dog to the vet for lice treatment, make sure to give him a nice treat after he gets home, like pig ears.  This is sure to make him forget his worries!

Clicker Training - What is a Clicker ?

Clicker training is merely a tool that is used in operant conditioning. A clicker has also been called a bridge or a marker. Clicker training has been successfully used in animal training over the last couple of decades. Over 140 different species have been successfully “clicker trained”. Many of the animals you have seen in movies/theatrical appearances or commercials have been clicker trained.

To put it very basically, whenever an animal performs a desired action, the handler should immediately click with a hand held clicker, then deliver a reward the animal desires (such as a tasty treat like bully sticks). The animal will associate the click as a marker that clues the animal when it does a specific action, they will get a reward.