Edie MacKenzie On Dogs

Archive for April, 2009

You will never regret taking your puppy to puppy training School and here are some tips to ensure a smooth start at the first class. You will not be a spectator as you will be totally involved in the training of your puppy and this may mean also sitting on the floor. So, be prepared and wear shoes with low heels and soft soles and dress in comfortable casual clothes.

You probably will also need a pocket or waist bag for tit-bits and it is a good idea to wear trousers if possible as skirts tend to flap in a dog’s face.

These tips will help you prepare your puppy too. To ensure that your puppy is comfortable wearing a collar start placing one on it long before the first day at school.

Many puppies get either frightened or very excited the first time they ride in a car so it is advisable to get the puppy used to going in the car before the first day at school.

It is advisable to take the puppy for short rides in the car a few days prior to starting school so that it gets used to it.

Do not make the mistake of feeding your puppy just before you are about to leave to attend the class. Rather feed your puppy at least an hour before training so that it has time to do its business before you leave for class. The last thing you want is to have to clean up accidents in the middle of class!

You can help your puppy by arriving at the Puppy School in good time so that it can have another little run around outside to get acquainted with the area and have time to meet the other puppies too.

You will I am sure find that there are a variety of dogs attending the same puppy class, but this will not be a problem if your puppy is already used to socializing with other dogs.

Be prepared to give the puppy a lot of reassurance and love as it may be a little nervous if your puppy is not used to other dogs. I recommend choosing a spot next to another puppy of similar size to your own.

Be committed to attending all the classes if you have enrolled your puppy at Puppy School for a full course. Even if your puppy is not well, it will still be worth your while to attend the class without your puppy so that you can teach it what it missed at home prior to the next class.

Be sure to give your puppy lots of praise during and at the end of each class and remember to do your homework before the next lesson and practice what you both have learnt in the training when you get home.

As consistency in training a puppy is very important share the commands and training techniques that you learnt at the puppy school with the other members of your family so that you all use the same commands and avoid confusing the puppy.

You are invited to visit Puppy Dog Training Tips for more puppy training tips. and subscribe free to the Puppy Dog Training Tips Newsletter and receive free dog and puppy training tips.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

First we need to recognize that nutrients are not the same thing as ingredients. It’s not the combination of ingredients that determines the quality of your dog’s diet and whether or not the dog’s nutritional needs are being met, it’s the blend of nutrients. The ingredients in dog food only have to do with digestibility and palatability. A given dog food can contain certain ingredients that have no nutritional value or that can’t be digested by your dog. You can find two different dog foods that may both seem to nutritious, but one may have ingredients that are better for your specific breed of dog. You should discuss your dog’s nutritional requirements with your vet in order to select a diet that provides everything needed.

Healthy feeding habits should start as soon as you bring your dog home! Your dog’s diet influences such things as health status, appearance, development and attitude. The way you feed your dog will affect certain behavioral aspects like, potty training and begging. When your dog is a puppy, it is very important to prevent it from gaining a lot of weight, which may contribute to the likelihood of obesity and its related health problems as they age.

Since dogs come in all sizes and shapes, there are specific foods available that you should consider depending upon if it’s a small breed, large breed, puppy or adult. The nutritional needs of dogs will change as they age depending on how active they are. For instance, small dogs tend to require more calories per pound than larger dogs and thus need a dog food that provides a lot of energy.

As of late, many dog owners have become seriously concerned about the safety of commercial pet food. With all the recent pet food recalls, many more dog owners are starting to prepare their own nutritious dog foods. There is more than a little concern about how poorly regulated the pet food industry is concerning preservatives. Commercial dog food makers add all kinds of chemicals to keep their foods from deteriorating while setting on the grocery store shelves. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publications lists 35 known preservatives being used by commercial dog food companies. Some of these have no restriction on amount that can be added to your dog’s food. Chemicals such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Ethoxyquin have controversial safety reputations at best.

Many of the commercial dog food formulations contain meat and bone meal, which has been shown to contain the remains of euthanized cats and dogs. These dead animal bodies are sent to rendering plants, along with road kill and dead live stock. At the plants they are boiled down to get the fat, which is sold to dog food manufacturers as "animal fat." The leftover animal parts are dried, crushed and sold to the same manufacturers as "meat and bone meal." Knowing this, many dog owners have put their pets a on raw diet or started making their own homemade dog food.

Those who advocate raw diets say it is the most natural because canines in the wild are carnivores and have survived and thrived for millions of years. They indicate that ever since commercial dog food appeared on the scene about 60 years ago, the increase in dysplasia, allergies and other health conditions in dogs has increased dramatically. However, proponents of homemade dog food say that dogs are actually omnivores and they need the nutritional benefits of grain. They intimate that dog owners who use only raw food are depriving their dogs of valuable nutrients. In addition, with homemade foods you can be creative while making your own healthy dog food. Proponents of homemade food report the activity as a fun way to feel even closer to their dogs. Especially if they really like what you make. And the debate goes on.

Garry Neale is and avid dog enthusiast and creator of the popular e-book, “The Dog Lovers Guide“, a FREE dog owners handbook you can download at no cost from his Dog Lover Website.

Article Source: Nutrition For Dogs – Dog Food Ingredients – ArticleSpan.com

In this article, "How To Avoid A Dog Ear Infection Or Other Canine Ear Problems", we investigate the some causes of ear infections and other related ear problems as well as providing some pratical advice on how to keep your dog’s ear in good working order.

Regular examination of your dogs ears should be another integral part of your grooming routine. Your examination should not only be checking for dirt, excessive wax, offensive odors, but also for tears and swellings. There are three main parts to a dogs ears: the outer flap (the pinna), the ear canal, and the middle or inner ear.

The pinna can either be pendulous (floppy) or erect. It can be covered in long hair in breeds such as spaniels and setters or with short hair in breeds such as shepherds and terriers. The ear canal is L-shaped. It starts of at a vertical angle and then makes a horizontal turn. Because of this shape we can only make a cursory examination. A veterinarian can make a complete examination using a device called an otoscope. Using the otoscope the veterinarian can also check the inner ear.

A dog which shakes its head, scratches or rubs it head against the floor or furniture is indicative of a dog with a possible ear problem. Offensive odors could also be indicative of an ear infection. These as well as tears and swellings on the outer ear should be checked and treated by a veterinarian.

Cleaning of the ear canal can be accomplished by using various solutions. There are cleansing solutions, ear-wax loosening and removal solutions and ear drying solutions available through your veterinarian and pet stores. Before putting anything in your dogs ears, consult with your veterinarian.

If the ear flap is dirty, it can be cleaned with a soft moist cloth or gauze wrapped around a finger tip. Q-tips can be used inside the small outer crevices. Gentleness is essential so as not to cause trauma to the outer ear or cause wax or dirt to be forced down the ear canal. Dogs with excessive hair such as spaniels should have the hair on the underside of the flap removed by trimming it, thus causing adequate ventilation and drainage. A build-up of dirty waxy hair can seal off the ear canal creating an environment suitable for bacterial growth such as yeast infections, or a breeding ground for parasites such as ear mites.

Another good time to check your dogs ears is when you come home from exercising in open fields or in the forest (hunting or tracking). Check for bugs such as ticks and for tears. A good brushing and bathing can remove dirt, bugs and allergens, which can also affect the ears.

Because of the shape of the dogs ears damage to the ear drum is rare but caution should be exercised when cleaning the ears. Again, never put anything in your dogs ears unless advised by your veterinarian and use extreme gentleness when cleaning the ears. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you have any concerns. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.

Terrie Simpson has been involved in the dog world for over 28 years and has achieved numerous awards with her Springer Spaniels in tracking and obedience. Over that time, she has amassed a good amount of knowledge about how to keep a dog healthy. Terrie brings her years of experience to the K9 KlearUp team. K9 KlearUp is an organic dog balm that helps clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems. Visit www.k9klearup.com for more information…

Article Source: Dog Health Care Article: How To Avoid A Dog Ear Infection Or Other Canine Ear Problems – ArticleSpan.com

Clicker dog training works best for your dog. Give the command to your dog. He executes it perfectly. Clicker sound. Give him his reward. Give another command and your dog performs excellently. Click. Another reward for your dog.

It is amazing to see how dogs learn easily the tricks that are being taught them using proper obedience training without resorting to any form of violence or hurt. When your dog hears your voice, he would be willing to follow whatever you tell him to do. There is really no need to hurt your dog. The sound of a click is enough in training your dog.

Once upon a time, dog obedience training was not very peaceful. Trainers used collars, bits, and other things that brought harm to dogs just so they can impose their will on the dogs.

The dogs then had no choice but to obey. But their obedience was rooted in fear and without that fear, they barely obey their masters. Because of years of subservience, however, these dogs learned to accept their fate and simply let their human masters have their way.

Good thing though, there arose a new breed of trainers who did not use violence. They discovered the use of the plastic clicker. This way, clicker dog training became popular.

The new breed of trainers loved their dogs so much that they winced every time they see a dog in pain because of electric shock. This prevented them from using electric shock. Instead, they had to rely on the gadget called the clicking device to make the dog realize that they only want to have fun with them and enjoy what they are doing. The dogs were also elated because every time they execute a good trick, goodies are being given to them. Not a bad way of obedience training and spending their time.

This training using the plastic clicker is quite easy to follow. Clicker training helps trainers condition the minds of the animals that if they do something correctly, they will get a reward for it. As such, every time that the clicking device produces a sound, the dog will then know that something is up and that they will receive a reward soon after. With the help of a clicker, the dog can easily learn the tricks and maneuvers and he will not be harmed along the process.

So effective is clicker dog training that dogs are not the only animals being trained with this. In fact, dolphins can easily recognize the click and implement the tricks in different water parks. Pigeons are also being trained using the plastic clicker so that they can deliver messages. The bond between the trainer and the dog is so important that violence and harm should not come between them. With the use of a clicker, the obedience training certainly becomes more peaceful and more enjoyable for both the trainer and the dog.

If you are thinking of a training process for you dogs, why not research more about the clicker and try practicing with your dog. With clicker dog training, you can even become more attached together.

Katia Lorenzen learned about dog obedience training when her dog was a puppy. And now she is pleased to tell you about the ultimate source of clicker training information: http://www.DogTrainingIsEasy.com.

Article Source: Clicker dog training Is Best For Your Dog – ArticleSpan.com

There are 2 effective methods for getting any form of liquid medication down your dogs throat, Make a pouch or pry the mouth open.

1. Making a pouch: Using one hand, pull out the corner of the dogs lower lip to make a little pouch. Keep his head slightly tilted back and pour the liquid into the mouth using your other hand.

In some instances, the medication does not go in right away. This occurs when the dogs teeth are clenched too tightly. When this happens, gently pry his mouth open using your fingers. If the dog tries to move away, position his rear end in a corner so he will not be able to back away from you. You can also get another person to help you hold the dog during the process.

Another way of doing this method is to sit on the floor or a bed with the dog between your legs. Position his rear end toward you with his head facing away. This way, you can keep him positioned more easily. As soon as you have the liquid medicine in, induce swallowing by carefully and gently holding the dogs mouth almost closed and lightly massage his throat. You can tell that he has swallowed the medication when his tongue emerges briefly from between the front teeth. You can also make him swallow the liquid by briefly and gently putting your thumb over his nostrils.

2. Prying the mouth open: Gently grasp the dogs upper jaw using one hand and insert your thumb and fingers in the gaps just behind the fangs. For a tiny dog, just one finger is necessary along with the thumb. Most dogs will then relax their mouths a little so that you can easily pour the liquid with a dropper or a spoon between his front teeth. Make sure that his head is tilted back so that the liquid does not run down his throat.

How to administer capsules and pills

When giving a dog solid medication such as capsules or vitamin pills, open his mouth by grasping around his upper jaw, just like what you would do for liquid medications. Hold the capsule or pill either between your thumb and the first finger or between the first and second fingers. Use the remaining fingers to press down the lower front teeth to pry the jaw open.

Once you have managed to open his mouth, put the medication into the throat and push it as far back as you can. Induce swallowing the same as you would when giving liquid medication. This method may seem awkward and difficult at first. But after a few tries, you will get more experienced and find it much easier and effortless.