The kidneys normally filter the blood, cleansing it of waste products, toxins, and other substances. They maintain the correct balance of water and electrolytes, help regulate blood pressure, and keep the blood pH at the right level. Unfortunately, failure of the kidneys is one of the most common diseases of dogs. In this condition, the functional tissue of the kidneys is damaged, leaving them unable to filter the blood adequately. Toxins build up within the body, a condition known as azotemia.
Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
Acute Renal Failure means that the kidneys are damaged suddenly. This is usually caused by poisoning or a lack of blood flow. Poisons that can cause ARF are ethylene glycol (antifreeze); heavy metals such as zinc and lead; and large doses of certain antibiotics, acetaminophen, and chemotherapy drugs. Inadequate blood flow can be caused by shock, hemorrhage, low blood pressure, or dehydration. Infectious illnesses like Leptospirosis can also cause ARF.
Signs of acute renal failure are not very specific. Loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea or dehydration may be seen. Some pets with ARF urinate excessively while others stop urinating altogether. Information on the pets recent experiences is crucial in diagnosis of ARF. Once the veterinarian suspects kidney disease, blood and urine tests are used to determine the cause and the severity of the condition.
Animals with ARF are treated with IV fluids. Additional medications are used to correct electrolyte and pH imbalances and to reduce symptoms. Specific treatment for the original cause of the kidney damage is given if the cause is known. Healing can occur in tissues that are merely damaged, and viable parts of the kidneys will work harder to compensate. Unfortunately, the portions of the kidneys that have been destroyed will not recover.
Pet owners can do several things to reduce the chance of ARF. Keep antifreeze away from pets, and clean up spills immediately. Follow medication dosage instructions, and never give people medicine to pets without first consulting your veterinarian. Make sure that pets, especially older ones, always have access to fresh water.
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
Chronic Renal Failure is seen most often in pets over eight years of age. CRF occurs when the functional structures of the kidneys wear out. The damage happens gradually, so months or years may pass before symptoms appear. As much as 75% of the kidney tissue may be destroyed by that time.
Like ARF, symptoms of CRF can be vague. Early signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and sores in the mouth. As the illness progresses, animals drink more water, urinate more, and may have urinary accidents in the house. Eventually, toxin buildup and electrolyte imbalances can damage the nervous system and the eyes, causing seizures, coma and blindness. Many animals with CRF become anemic, because the kidneys are also responsible for stimulating production of new blood cells. The veterinarian will perform blood and urine tests to confirm a diagnosis of CRF and to assess the severity of symptoms.
CRF is a progressive, irreversible disease. Treatment is aimed at slowing the rate of damage and minimizing symptoms. Diets for pets with CRF usually contain restricted amounts of high quality protein and are low in minerals. Many pets require supplemental fluids given periodically under the skin or intravenously. Medications are given to manage nausea, correct electrolyte and pH imbalances, control high blood pressure, and stimulate blood cell production.
The newest treatments available for pets with CRF are hemodialysis and kidney transplantation. These procedures are very costly and are only available at certain veterinary teaching hospitals and specialty practices. Hemodialysis is used as a temporary, emergency method for cleansing the blood. Transplantation can extend a pets life for two or more years. Kidney transplants are complex surgeries with a high rate of success. Pets that receive transplants must remain on anti-rejection medicine for life. Regardless of the type of treatment, the goal is to maintain the pets quality of life. When this is no longer possible, euthanasia may be considered.
Chronic Renal Failure is not preventable. Although some have suggested that low protein diets might have a protective benefit for animals with healthy kidneys, scientific research does not support this belief
Filed under Articles by on Aug 12th, 2010. Comment. 
As pet owners, we all hope that our dogs never have to experience disc disease. However, this is a fairly common condition in some breeds and in many geriatric pets. Discs are essentially cushions that help to absorb tension and pressure between the vertebrae. Humans have this same mechanism and can also suffer from disc disease. By acting as shock absorbers, discs help to protect the very delicate nerves found within a dogs spinal column.
There are several reasons that may cause your dog to develop disc disease. In many cases, disc disease occurs due to a trauma, such as falling, jumping off of furniture, being struck by a car or even rough-play. Discs can also degenerate as a pet becomes geriatric. Obese dogs are very prone to developing disc disease as well due to the extra pressure on the back caused by the fat. Certain breeds, such as Daschunds, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels and other breeds with long backs can be more prone to developing disc disease especially if overweight.
The symptoms of disc disease are normally rather obvious. These signs will vary; however, depending on which disc is affected as this disease can occur anywhere on the spinal cord. For example, if your dog leaps from the bed and a disc in the middle back becomes slipped (known as a slipped disc), they will have greater pain in this area and the rear legs may be more affected. The abdomen may become rigid, the dog may tremble and in some cases they may even lose control of their bowel and bladder. In cases where a disc in the upper vertebrae around the neck is affected, the dog will likely have difficulty holding its neck and head up. In any case, the dog will be weakened and often lethargic. In severe cases, disc disease can also lead to paralysis.
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your dog, you should seek immediate veterinary attention. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough exam and will likely need to take X-Rays to further assess the health of your dogs vertebral column. If caught early, disc disease can be successfully treated with medications. Anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, pain medications or a combination can be used to treat this condition. Be sure to closely follow your veterinarians instructions on how to administer these medications.
Treatment does not just involve giving medications. Your pets activity may need to be restricted and jumping and rough-play are definitely prohibited. This means no more leaping from furniture! If your pet is overweight, it will also be very important to begin a high quality diet that promotes weight loss. Your veterinarian will recommend a diet that is right for your pet. Once your pet has been cleared for increased exercise by your veterinarian, regular walks will greatly benefit your dogs weight and overall health.
Filed under Articles by on Aug 10th, 2010. Comment.
Puppies tend to be natural chewing machines. Anything within their range is fair game: your sandals, sofas, kid’s toys, power wires, sticks, Television controllers; if it’s loose and attainable, it might be destroyed.
Considering that it is a natural instinct for your pup to chew, it’s your task to redirect the pup to exactly what can be chewed and just what can’t be chewed. Which means that your foremost task should be to puppy proof your house by keeping the puppy limited to a crate while you are not home and restricting his free range to the puppy proof parts when you are home.
I found out the hard way when our daughter left her bedroom door ajar and my Golden Retriever commenced to chew my antique dollhouse and also the hand made furnishings and turned them into toothpicks. It seriously looked like a bomb had been dropped on the dollhouse with bits and pieces of my miniature furniture scattered all over the floor. Crayons as well as telephone books were also Chris’s most desired items to chew on and my Labrador, Jake, coveted books and magazines.
Whenever you do realize that something has been destroyed by your puppy, your very first response is to discipline your dog. The fact is that, your dog does not have any clue just what you’re punishing him for,even if you are waving the cherished artifact in your hand, after all, any thing within reach is fair game and their memory is very short. You merely must ignore your dog and clean up the clutter.
Young puppies really need to chew simply because they’re teething. Chewing on things provides them some pain relief to their tender gums as well as dislodges their baby teeth so their adult teeth can come in. As soon as their teeth come in, then they chew because they’re just bored, trying to play or searching for attention from you.
Provide your dog with lots of safe chew toys, such as Kong Toys, dental chews, Greenies, and also digestible rawhides. Never ever offer your dog real bones to chew on. Bones can crack their teeth, or perhaps splinter when swallowed. A variety of chew toys keeps the dog interested. When offering your puppy a new chew toy, observe him to be certain it is not shredded or ingested, especially latex chew toys or stuffed toys with squeakers. Air Kong squeakers are generally Jake’s treasured chew toy and in addition they are likely to stand up to his chewing far better than any other toy we have tried using.
Continue to keep all stuff picked up off the floor and out of reach from your puppy, this includes books, magazines, remotes, telephone books and Harry Potter books, (these are just a few things that were lost to my puppies over the years).
For much larger objects, for example sofas, recliners and also tables, you could try using non-toxic bitter sprays that can be sprayed on the larger items.
As soon as you spot your puppy chewing on an item he or she shouldn’t, say “No” or “Leave It”, after which swap the article with a chew toy. You have to be vigilant when monitoring your puppy so that you could redirect him to what precisely should be chewed and what is off limits.
Offer your puppy with his own “toy box”. This may be a small box or a basket to store their chew toys in. My dog thinks it is a great game whenever I vacuum the floor and set all of his toys away in the basket. He then he commences to drag all his toys out and plays with them 1 by 1 whenever the vacuuming is finished.
Some dogs chew due to separation anxiety. This particular subject matter is covered more in depth in a separate article. Your veterinarian may also assist with some prescription medication to help calm the dog when you are re-training your pet to be left alone. Crate training your puppy when they are younger can help prevent separation anxiety from developing when they are older.
Remember, chewing accidents are generally your carelessness for not paying attention to your puppy carefully or permitting free roaming when you may be out. Supply your puppy plenty of his own toys to chew on so he will leave other objects alone. Praise him whenever he is chewing on their toys and try not to scold or holler at your dog in the event you discover a cherished item chewed on when you were not watching. He has absolutely no memory after the event in order to connect the destroyed item to your ranting and can result in more harm than good
As far as my dollhouse furniture, I was able to save a few pieces, and I purchased another Harry Potter book to replace the one that had been shredded. We additionally learned to keep the bedroom doors closed, and we relocated all the books to a “no dogs allowed” room. I suggest you look at your home through the eyes of the furry friend and clear away tempting items from their range. Puppies can be trained what could be gnawed upon and what is off limits, if the puppy parent is there to teach them.
To learn more about training your puppy, pick up our free “90 Dog Training Tips” at my new puppy care and training website MyPuppyCare101.com
Filed under Articles by on Jul 23rd, 2010. Comment.
Barking is the most common complaint of dog owners and their neighbors. Barking is after all, a natural and instinctive behavior of dogs dating back to the pre-historic wolf packs. Dogs communicate with their bark. They bark to warn of territory encroachment or danger. Some dogs will bark when there is unusual sounds, sights or even odors. During times of stress, frustration, anxiety or separation, some dogs will bark. Just about anything or anyone in some dogs will start the barking, wailing and howling.
So, what can you do to curb excessive barking?
The key to preventing your dog from barking is through socialization and habituation. In other words, get your puppy used to as many people, animals, situations, noises, thunder, raccoons, cats, kids, squirrels, etc. as possible when they are puppies. The more familiar a noise or an object is to your puppy, the less likely your dog will exhibit anxiety or stress induced barking as an adult dog. Socialization will also help to reduce the amount of alarm barking as well as the intensity and duration of the barking. A socialized puppy should only be allowed to alert owners and then be controlled and stopped before the barking gets out of control. By learning how dogs communicate and understand their pack mentality, it will be much easier to control their barking. Here are a few scenarios we will discuss to help you curb the barking.
#1 – My dog barks constantly when I leave.
The common cause of this type of barking is from separation anxiety and your lack of leadership skills. A dog suffering from separation anxiety often thinks that he is the alpha leader and considers you as another member of his pack. As the alpha leader, when a member of his pack (you) walk out the door, the barking initiates because it is his job as the leader to worry about the pack members. To combat this type of barking, you will have to learn how to be the alpha leader of the pack. An excellent dog training system set up by Barkbusters.com can help you with this problem. 
An excellent dog training program on line is the “Secrets to Dog Training” . They have a special edition that also covers dog barking.
To prevent this problem in grown dogs, effective crate training techniques when you first get your puppy will help to decrease the anxiety when he is left alone in the crate. The puppy will associate the crate as his den and will eventually be able to spend time in the crate without barking. The biggest mistake most people do when trying to crate the puppy is let the puppy out when he is barking. This actually reinforces the attention seeking behavior. You must ignore the puppy when he is barking, and then let him out either on a regular schedule or when he is calm and quiet. The ultrasonic sound emitter, BarkOff, works to interrupt the dog’s barking. When you follow that with praise when the dog stops barking, you are rewarding the good behavior (being quiet).
If your are experiencing separation anxiety in your dog, your veterinarian may be able to assist your with some treatment options such as DAP,(Dog Appeasing Pheromone) a synthetic pheromone,
or medications (Clomipramine hydrochloride- sort of a doggy prozac) to help calm your dog while you initiate leadership control.
#2 – My dog is always barking.
Attention seeking barking can be very difficult to get a handle on as the dog receives attention whenever he barks and this actually reinforces the behavior. An example of inadvertent reinforcement includes letting the dog in when he barks. In this case the dog is training you rather than the other way around. Other examples of inadvertent reinforcement are feeding, patting, praising, playing with, giving a toy or even going to the dog to attempt to quiet it down. Never reward barking with any type of attention, even occasionally.
#3 – So, how do I get him to stop barking?
Training your dog to be “quiet” on command is an invaluable aid for curbing annoying barking. Many owners usually accept their dog’s barking as normal or even desirable in the beginning. However, the barking soon becomes a problem once it gets too loud, too often or just won’t stop when you tell him to. In order to train your dog to quiet down on cue, you must find a verbal command your dog will understand. Barkbusters uses a command “Bah” which is a sharp, guttural growl. If it does not embarrass you when you utter such sound, you are not doing it right.
Another method is with remote training with either a check chain, halter lead, clicker trainer or ultrasonic bark deterrent. 
With my dog, I used the check chain and the “bah” command. To teach our dog to quit barking when someone came to the door, we had a friend go to the door and ring the bell. We drew a line a few feet away from the door and our dog could bark and approach to that line. Once he reached the line, he was given the command “bah” and slightly corrected with the check chain. He was then told to go kennel. After repeating this process for about 15 minutes a day, he has learned to alert us that some one is at the door, then he will go and lay down on his bed (kennel) where he stays until we tell him he can get up. This process also eliminates the jumping on visitors when they enter the door.
The key to controlling barking is to reward the behavior we want (i.e. quiet and still) rather than to give any attention to the behavior we don’t want (barking). Each time you pay attention (any type of attention) to the barking dog, you are actually inadvertently rewarding the barking behavior. If you yell or try to punish the dog when he is barking, you will make your dog more anxious and may accutally aggravate the problem thus making the barking worse.
#4 – All right, I admit it. I was a bad puppy parent and my dog is now a barking menace. What can I do now?
Your chances are good that you will be able to resolve most barking problems with effective leadership training. But what if your current situation, such as a new baby or an irate neighbor, requires that the barking stops immediately and you do not have the time to implement the corrective behavior?
There are newer anti-bark treatments available to help you when you need to stop the barking now. But first let us cover an anti-barking program to initiate in your household.
1. Make sure that you and the other family members are not inadvertently rewarding the barking behavior. Avoid giving your dog any type of attention, play, toys, food or affection when he is barking. Only give your dog attention when he is quiet and calm. (This is tough, because it is our nature to yell at the dog when he is barking) By the way, as a mother,rewarding the good behavior while ignoring the bad behavior, works for children, too.
2. Make sure that your response to the barking is not aggravating the problem. When a dog is barking due to anxiety or as a territorial response to a squirrel or other such enemy, yelling at the dog or throwing something at him will only increase his anxiety and the barking.
3. Modify the home environment so that the dog is kept away from the stimuli (sounds and sights) that can cause the barking. A simple way is to confine the dog to a crate or a small room away from the windows so he cannot see outside to bark at the local squirrel or cat. You can also try to mute or mask the sounds that stimulate the barking by playing music or leaving the TV on. There are actual doggy CD’s that claim can help calm your dog when you are away. Dogs that are outside may have to brought inside. Condition your dog to trigger sounds, such as doorbells, by practicing with a friend and reward him when he stops the barking on command. In cases of separation anxiety, your veterinarian can help with a prescription of Clomicalm while you are re-training your dog.
4. Consider enrolling your dog in a training class to help you with leadership training. Several pet stores and even community colleges hold training classes. It is important that you know how to control your dog, so sending him off to school without you will only teach your dog and he may revert to the old behaviors if you haven’t been re-trained as well. Barkbusters will come to your home and teach you how to be the pack leader and thus your dog will learn to follow you. There are some excellent on-line dog training videos that you can access also.
5. Once you have sufficient control and your dog responds to your commands and handling, it should be possible to stop your dog to bark on your command. Over time, your dog will remain quiet for longer periods of time. You can then start conditioning the dog to other stimulus that causes barking, such as the squirrel in the back yard or kids on the bikes riding by the window. Slowly introduce the dog to the stimulus and and give the command to stop barking and enforce it with either the check chain, halter or some other disruptive bark trainer. Over time, these barking stimuli will no longer initiate the barking.
What are anti-barking collars and other devices and do they actually work?
There are many products on the market today from anti-bark collars that spray citronella, to products that emit an ultrasonic sound that only the dog can hear. The most annoying one I came across was an anti-barking device that produced such a loud, shrill noise, that I thought it was worse than the barking. Many of the products will interrupt the barking, but if you have not implemented the concurrent retraining techniques, many dogs will soon begin to ignore the devices and commence their annoying barking once again.
The bark activated products are the most practical to help deter the inappropriate barking when use in conjunction with the environmental modification and training. Owner initiated anti-bark devices such as the ultrasonic sound emitter, Bark Off, work best when you are with your dog and are able to reward your dog for being quiet. Off collar devices are useful to stop barking in selected areas such as doorways or windows, or for dogs that continue to bark in their crate or kennel.
Bark activated collars can be used when the barking does not occur in any predictable location. Audible and ultrasonic training collars are occasionally effective, but they are usually not sufficient or unpleasant enough to be a reliable deterrent. 
The collars that emit a spray of citronella each time the dog barks may be effective when you are away, but without the concurrent re-training, the dogs will soon learn to bark over the spray. You also have to re-charge the batteries and the spray chamber or the dog soon learns that he can bark and it won’t spray.
If you opt for the citronella collar, begin to use it when you are present so that when the dog is startled by the spray and stops barking, you are there to reward the dog with an enjoyable activity, such as a belly rub or a toss of his favorite ball. This will help to reinforce the quiet behavior and the barking will gradually reduce.
What if it is not my dog, but the neighbors dog that is doing all the barking?
There are some outdoor ultrasonic anti-bark devices available that are disguised as birdhouses that you can put outside. These may be only a temporary fix because without the behavioral re-training and conditioning, the dog may soon learn to ignore the noise and start barking again.
If all else fails, you can print out this article and anonymously mail it to your neighbor.
Filed under Articles by on May 27th, 2010. Comment.
A well-trained canine makes a better companion. Obedience classes can help your dog learn to behave the way you want him to. He’ll be able to adapt more easily to his environment within your home as well as interact more socially with your family and friends. A well-trained dog is a pleasure to be around.
It’s impossible to overstate the value of enrolling your pooch into obedience classes that are taught by a professional trainer. Not only will that person use effective methods that yield long-term benefits, but your canine will also have a chance to interact with other pets and their owners.
That said, there’s a lot you can do at home. Below, we’ll provide three dog training basics that you can use to help your canine become a well-adjusted member of your family.
Have Fun
First, keep your sessions short – no more than 15 minutes. Otherwise, your canine may lose interest and begin responding poorly to your commands (frustrating you in the process). The key is to create a training environment that is enjoyable for both of you. If you don’t feel like participating, wait until you do. Also, to help motivate your dog for future sessions, end every session by giving him an easy command and then provide him with dog treats when he responds correctly.
Get Rid of Negative Reinforcement
Owners often react in a negative manner when their dog fails to respond to commands. For example, they might strike or yell at them. It’s important to realize that positive reinforcement methods are far more effective when you train your pooch. Remember, he wants to please you. If he responds to your commands correctly, give him a treat. If he doesn’t, withhold the dog treats. He’ll get the message loud and clear and modify his behavior accordingly.
Teach The Long Stay
Canines get antsy, especially if you’re nearby. Sitting still can be a major challenge for them. Your pooch may have no trouble sitting for 10 or 15 seconds when you command him to do so. However, most dogs will fail to sit for longer periods. It is important to teach your dog self-control.
You’ll need to train him by starting with a short period of time and gradually extending it as he succeeds. For example, start with 20 seconds and give him a treat when he succeeds. Once he’s done this. Persist with this activity until your dog can sit still with you nearby for at least 60 seconds. It might also help to teach specific words (like “easy”) that you can say to calm him down.
There are few experiences more rewarding than owning a well-trained dog. While professional training is important, you can use the above tips at home to help your pooch become a better companion.
Filed under Articles by on Mar 8th, 2010. Comment.
Feeding the pets with dog bowl feeders is a snap, these days. Let’s face it; our lives are hectic, and sometimes the pet gets neglected a little. Using one of these automated devices is a way to make sure a beloved animal gets the food and water it needs, and when it needs it.
Many of the best elevated dog bowl feeders have cold storage zones to keep canned food fresh and on-tap for your pet. Pet owners can even designate a few of these feeders to open and dispense the pet food cans automatically, and at the right time for feeding a pet. Several smaller numbers of right-sized pet feedings helps reduce the possibility of increases in weight and boredom in your pet, by the way, according to vets. These units use the latest-technology portion control feeding programs. Also, excellent pet food dispensers keep onboard and mete out a full level of dry dog food up to ten pounds in a designated period.
Putting a elevated dog bowl feeder together is relatively easy and stress-free, and making use of the animal food dispenser is easy to do. The best units never fail to make sure an easy to understand instruction manual to guide the pet owner through the assembly process is supplied. Make sure it presents its information in a no-nonsense, uncomplicated manner. Many units even have online help guides and tips for usage, including feeding times and amounts of food to dispense, in case you have a question about such a thing.
Most regular automatic pet food dispensers can handle up to two dogs or other pets. They periodically feed and supply water to the animal or animals on a schedule you set up and monitor. Making one of these feed schedules only takes a few minutes, generally, and they’re not difficult to revise or edit.
People who have larger and taller dogs may find one these units in an elevated version to be the best bet. This is especially true if the animal has arthritis or some other movement-restricting condition. With these kinds of machines, the large animal owner can have the convenience of automatic feeding just like any other smaller-size animal’s owner does.
Automated double dog bowl feeders dispense recommended amounts of animal food for pets in the fifteen to forty pound range, normally. There are other feeders that can handle larger-than-forty-pound dogs, and they’re just as easy to set up and utilize, for the most part. In this way, even the largest dogs can get in on the automated feeding fun!
Many of these double dog bowl feeders are supplied with large-size food storage hoppers of up to about 1.5 gallons of volume. These food storage containers are able to allot out more than 1.8 total gallons of regular dry dog or animal food in a completely efficient manner. Just about every automated food dispenser provides a self-watering set of features to allow for a continuous and steady flow of liquid refreshment. Good animal feeders never fail to provide for pet feeding and watering periods that are regularly scheduled and healthily administered to your pet.
All the good units come in a wide array of fashions, materials and styles. They all also have at least two bowls. Check to make sure the feed bowls are made of stainless steel or ceramic, rather than plastic. That material, when it’s gouged, can become a hiding place for food borne bacteria. Smart animal owners also know that they shouldn’t try to have these units dispense wet pet foods. Used smartly, these units make winners out of the owner and his or her pets!
Filed under Articles by on Feb 25th, 2010. Comment.
If your dog seems to go over the top with barking and howling when left alone, he may be suffering from canine separation anxiety.This can be a [severe|serious] [condition|ailment] that can cause [suffering|harm] to your dog and your house. Canine separation anxity is a medical condition that should not be ignored. Good behavioral techniques are needed here to help your pet.
Separation anxiety is demonstrated by your pets panicky reaction to being left alone, even if only briefly and possibly even only in another part of the house.Your dog has become unbalanced.
Canine separation anxiety is more often spotted in the younger and older dogs. It is often seen in the rescue dog who, having been abandoned once, doesnt trust that it wont happen again.
If you are suffering because your pet is suffering and need help fast see help with canine separation anxiety
A dog can get used to spending too much time with you and this can lead to separation anxiety. This can happen when you take the dog with you to the mall, stay at home with it for extended periods or take them away with you on vacation. When a dog becomes accustomed to being with you over an extended length of time without separation, but is suddenly left alone, the dog may suffer from separation anxiety, worried if they have been left alone forever and their loved one isn’t coming back for them.
You may experience something similar if you are a parent leaving a child in daycare for the first time,they can tend to cling. My pediatrician tells me when my children do this to reassure them that I am going to work and I will be back to get them when I am through working. Dogs need the same [reassurance|assurances|help].
The separation anxiety suffered by our pets can range in severity. Usually, they will react dramatically within 20 to 45 minutes of separation. A few signs of separation anxiety to watch for in your pet include barking, howling, whining, digging, chewing, scratching, attempts to get out of their surrounding and find their owners, and sometimes house trained dogs may poop or tinkle when in distress. As a result of a day of separation anxiety, your pet may terrorize your home or yard. Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety may chew on your doors, window seals or anything they can find.
Visit training dogs helpfor more help
You can consider a number of steps to deal with this including medication. Your dog is suffering and you must remember that it is not doing it to be a pain. They are simply dealing with the stress of their emotions. Punishment for things your dog may do during their anxiety while you are gone, does not help. It could actually make it worse
Some things that might help with canine seperation anxiety will include trying to leave in a non dramatic way, ie making it a bit of a non event to be ignored, leaving them something with your smell on it and establishing a word or series of words that you always say when leaving. Animals associate these repetitive words with your actions and they will eventually realize that you will come back. A few test runs of picking up your keys and pretending to leave may help also with dealing with their anxiety, showing them that you do return.
Some other advice would be to enroll them in a doggy daycare, leave your dog with a friend or family member while you are away, or seek medical care for possible drug therapy. If your dog chews during their separation distress you could give them a chewing toy or bone to help.
Dogs love their owners and are attached to us just like our kids. We need to reassure our dogs that we are coming back for them and there is no reason to worry. Dog separation anxiety can improve but can be very troublesome for dogs and their owners.
Visit training dogs help for more help
Filed under Articles by on Feb 25th, 2010. Comment.
Dog grooming for our pets is needed to maintain their good appearance and futhermore with dog grooming we can avoid unwanted health conditions with our pets. For this we should know more about dog grooming…
Dog grooming books are a great learning material for people who want to groom their pets at home without having to regularly pay for professional services. Moreover, to people who want to make a career out of pet caring, dog grooming books may become a good course support and a step closer to getting a professional license. The number of publications is very large, and you may have difficulties choosing. The best idea is to check for reviews, author’s recognition and then order the material on eBay. E-guides are very easy to access dog grooming books because they can be downloaded directly from a web page. Here are a few tips to help you select well.
First of all, why are you looking for dog grooming books? Do you plan to start a business or are you merely interested in learning how to care for your pet? In case you want to develop skills for business purposes it is worth mentioning the fact that studying dog grooming books is not enough; you’ll need qualifications from an institution specialized in dog grooming training. Then, check the list of contents! Sometimes there is a too general approach, because they apply to almost all dog breeds. In case there is a grooming process that challenges you more than the rest, search dog grooming books dedicated to ear cleaning, hair cutting, nail trimming and coat brushing.
Dog grooming books can be more or less details on the topic that interests you. There should be chapters, sub-chapters, topics and subtopics included for just one subject alone to actually get comprehensive information. Depending on the objective of the book and the author’s intention, some materials will focus on supplies or equipment, others on grooming techniques while many have a general content. Specialized books deserve all of our attention, because many professional groomers provide solutions to home dog grooming through individual publications dedicated to a certain topic only, which is discussed in detail.
There are dog grooming books that focus on short-haired breeds only, while others cover medium and long-haired breeds. Moreover, very professional materials will describe hair cut options available for dogs with heavy coats, but this kind of dog grooming books target professional groomers first and foremost. Last but not least, certain breeds have physiological peculiarities that require special grooming. This is the case with dog breeds that have lots of hair in their eye area. Someone inexperienced may feel inclined to cut it so as to improve vision, but this could be really detrimental for the dog’s eye health. Good dog grooming books may teach you about such cases and lots of others!
Filed under Articles by on Feb 25th, 2010. Comment.
Free Online Dog Care Articles
If you’re looking for free dog care, you will be happy to know you can find it online. There’s free dog care info onlinethat will help you find the care your dog desperately needs but you don’t have to pay for it. What you’re looking for is free online dog care articles that will relieve your fears so that you can get your dog free care without feeling like it will be second rate care. Free dog care doesn’t have to equal bad care; it’s just free. That’s the only difference. All you have to do is do a free online dog care search to find lots of articles with the information you need.
Free Online Dog Care Information
When you’re searching for free online dog care, you’re looking for articles that explain where to look for free dog care, how to ask for it, how to qualify for it, what kind of services you get for free, what kind of dogs are available to get free care, and much, much more. Many people have lots of questions and some even have apprehensions about taking their dog for free care and you’re really looking for free online dog care articles that will help to alleviate those fears.
More Questions Answered In Free Online Dog Care Information
So what happens when you’re doing a search for free online dog care and you come across information that just makes you more apprehensive? And what if you can’t find any more information online that alleviates these new fears? That’s when you’ll want to expand beyond the online realm and you’ll actually want to call your local SPCA and your local vet’s office. They will usually give you all the advice you need so that you don’t have any fears or apprehensions about taking your dog to get free care. And that’s why some people don’t get their dog free health care; because they don’t know how good the care is or they have some other fear that keeps them from this very useful offer.
Everyone should know that free dog care is good care. It’s just free. Some places provide free dog care to the people who are not able to bear regular care. They would rather provide free dog care rather than have sick or dying dogs. Free online dog care helps a perso to clear all his doubts so that he can understand the care needed by the dog. A search can help a person to collect all the information of his need.
Filed under Articles by on Feb 23rd, 2010. Comment.
If you are interested in clicker training for dogs then you are looking at one of the more useful dog training techniques. It is a popular method as it is pain free for your dog and it does seem to work. It uses behavioral psychology, that is reward for good behavior. The dog is rewarded with a treat for good behavior which is marked with a click .
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The clicker method when coupled with the treat for correct behavior is a humane way to train dogs and other animals.The animal is not harmed or shouted at or given pain in any way. Your dog wants to please you in reality which can appear surprising. If there are any problems, it’s most likely in the area of communication. Your dog will understand that attempt at communication much easier through the use of clicker training.
The term used by researchers for this method of training, is ‘Operant Conditioning’. Basically the dog does something with the intention of bringing about what they want ie a treat. Dogs tend to associate people, places, and events or objects with a pleasurable or un-pleasurable grading system. So the more they’re associated with an event in a pleasurable sense, then the more they associate that event in a favorable light. It’s a type of conditioning.
If the dog learns that it is rewarded for good behavior then it will repeat it. This conditioning is how the dog is trained. This form of conditioning gives you a dog with purposeful behavior and other forms can give you habitual behavior. When the two come together you get a potent form of training.
The clicker sound is a more effective sound than the human voice for a good reason. Our voices can say the same words with different inflection and intensity. It’s difficult for a dog to always know what we mean. It comes back to communication. But with the clicker, it sounds the same every time, and the dog quickly associates it with good behavior and rewards.
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The Dolphin is one of the other animals that this method has been used on. I’d say that it’s pretty much impossible to force a Dolphin to do something, so methods like this have to be employed in order to train them. And it’s been very successful in doing so, and has since been used on a lot of other animals as well. From cats and leopards, to birds and rabbits, this method has found great success.
The clicking should be done while the dog is actually performing the desired behavior. You should not wait until the task if finished. Give a click and a treat before the behavior and after the behavior is complete. As you watch your dog in a normal setting, click whenever the dog does something positive that you want to re-enforce. The clicks should always be the same, but you can increase the treats in order to encourage enthusiasm for a specific behavior.
The use of clicker training for dogs you are putting the communcation between you on a new footing. You will find that your dog will begin to enjoy giving you his good behavior side as he is rewarded for it. Punishment does not work if you want to train you dog quickly and humanely, it can lead to more bad behavior. The use of positive reinforcement will lead to more positive behavior.
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Filed under Articles by on Feb 23rd, 2010. Comment.
