The One Dog Trick That All Dogs Must Know - The Hand Shake Trick
The first dog trick that is generally taught a dog is to shake hands, and there are very few puppy and dog owners who do not teach their pets this simple trick.In most cases it is so easily accomplished that the amateur trainer does not know exactly how it was done, for if you take hold of a dog's paw and say "paw" or "shake" and repeat the performance often enough and at odd times, it will be the most natural thing for a dog to place his paw in your hand as soon as you extend it and he hears the word "paw," to which he has become accustomed.
It's A Dog Eat Dog Nonprofit World
You would not be working at a nonprofit if there was not a passion for your mission that compensated for the sacrifices in salary and other benefits you could probably earn in the commercial world. That says something about the kind of people we are. Most of us are:
Buyer Beware: Purebred Dog Myths
Every month I am approached by dog owners of my breed who complain about how poorly behaved, how sickly, how untrainable, and generally my breed is and how deeply they resented spending money on this breed. I listen patiently, but time taught me not to defend 'good' breeders, or explain to the angry owners how their own ignorance cuased them to become victimized.
MAX-imize Life's Potential With Philosophy From a Dog Named Max
As I look back on my life, I can honestly say it wasn't always easy I mean I was abandoned by my first family when I was just a pup
Warm Loves from Heated Dog Beds
When the weather gets a little cold, what do you usually do? Starting up the fire place would be a start, wearing thick clothes such as wearing sweaters, ear muffs, and gloves. Or something more simple like drinking some hot choco, or coffee, or just simply lie down on a warm bed. Those are some that we humans do when there?s a sudden drop of temperature, but what of the animals, particularly those domesticated ones like dogs and cats. Well they have those furs to protect them from such weathers, but those won?t last very long. Dog and cats often go to a warm place like in front of a fire place, but we cannot always keep the fire going, or put thick blankets over them. Which is why many dog accessory shops have started on selling some heate...
Dog Food: Which Food Is Best For Your Dog?
When it comes to choosing a pet, it's easy to see why dogs are so popular. Dogs are easily the friendliest animals. As much fun as they are, however, dogs also require attention and commitment from their owners. Taking care of a dog is much like taking care of a baby; both have special diets that need to be followed.
Small Dog Clothes - A Brief History
If you have a small dog, then you more than likely already know all about the various small dog clothes that are out on the market today. However, in case you are not familiar with the items that are available, you should know that they include collars, coats, sweaters, costumes, shoes, shirts and dresses. These things can protect your dog from cuts, scratches and bad weather. Once you see all of these items, you may be wondering just where all of these small dog clothes have come from.
Dog House Training - Do it Right and it's Easy, Do it Wrong and You've Got B-I-G Problems
Don't let the idea of house training overwhelm you. It's not difficult to successfully house train your puppy but it will take some effort on your part. With the right tools, tips and techniques, you will be well on your way to enjoying the company of a well behaved, reliably house trained dog in no time. It's so important to start this part of your dogs training off right and not allow bad habits to form.
Dog Treats - Make Them Yourself!
Ever heard the phrase "he doesn't know he is a dog"? Dogs aren't just "dogs" anymore. They are celebrating their own birthday's, have Christmas presents, have their own chair to sit in, go where we go, and are considered just as big a part of the family as the kids, grandparents, or crazy Aunt Buhela. Along with their status of family, they also get their own personal gourmet dog treats.
Teaching Your Dog to Heel
Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most basic and important dog training commands you can teach. With an active and younger dog or puppy, it can be especially difficult, but with patience and consistency, it doesn't really have to be that hard to train your dog to heel.
When Buying Hunting Equipment Get Something For Your Dog Too!
One of the most fun experiences while hunting is spending time with your hunting dog. Hunting dogs aren't all about business. They are also a great companion with you when you are out stalking your prey. If you like to go hunting a lot, you should always bring a hunting dog with you so that you don't get lonely. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be hard to transport hunting dogs to the locations you plan to hunt at. The best way to do it is with hunting dog boxes. These are dog carrier units that can fit in the bed of a truck or can be towed behind a car. This is especially helpful for bigger dogs that take up too much space in the car. This can be a seeing hazard otherwise. In these situations, you should use a dog box to transport ...
A No Fail Method To Train Your Dog To Potty
We all know the kind: a dog who acts as though everywhere he can sniff and sit on is his toilet If this dog profile is consistent with how you know your dog, then your dog needs potty training
How to Do Dog Leash Training
Leashes are made up of cotton, nylon and leather It is better to use leather leash for your dog as your dog can easily tare into pieces cotton leashes
Having A Dog As A Pet
Pet owners are very loyal to their pets and there is nothing a pet owner will do to make sure their pet lives long and is healthy. Instead of buying a more than one puppy it is better to purchase a single puppy this way the puppy will have a better chance bonding with the owner and it will be easier to will bond to its owner better and will be easier to train than having many puppies. Avoid the temptation of buying two or more puppies. Depending on the breed, the best time to purchase a puppy is between 7-9 weeks of age. The puppy should get used to being around people and other dogs. Your puppy should not be allowed to roam the house freely until he is properly housetrained. A common misconception is that healthy dogs and cats must eat e...
Achieving Dog Training Success With The 18 Donts Rules
A well-train dog usually leads a happier and healthier life and its owner also can enjoy a trouble-free life long companion. Dog training - basic obedience, house and potty training are therefore essential and important to a dog's education.
Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible than others to ear disease. Dogs whose ears "drop" or fall over the opening of the ear canals are the most suceptible to ear problems. Ears that drop allow moisture and debris to build up in the ear canal. Making the situation even worse is the fact that hair grows in the ear canals of these breeds.
Bacteria, ear-mites, and yeast grow especially well in areas that are moist, alkaline, and dirty, making ear canals prime targets for these disease causing elements. Add hair to such an environment, and you have the ideal breeding ground for these bacteria, ear-mites, and yeast to grow with wild abandon.
The goal of ear care, then, is to keep the ear canals of our little buddies clean and dry. Doing so will greatly reduce the opportunity for ear infections to occur.
Good ear care begins with frequent inspection of the ear canals for any signs of irritation. An excellent time to do this is during your grooming sessions, several times each week. Ideally, your dog should learn to happily accept you peeking into and handling their ears as pups, but it is never too late to gently and gradually train this vital health behavior.
When inspecting your dog's ears, it is important to know how they should look. A healthy ear will be light pink in color. It will appear clean, with minor appearance of wax. It will also be odor-free. Any variations from light pink, clean, and non-smelling, are "red flags" that call for attention and action.
Similarly, there are a number of easily identifiable signs that indicate irritation or infection in the ear canal. The presence of any one of these signal a need for further investigation. These signs may include behaviors such as frequent scratching or pawing the ears, shaking the head, or tilting the head to one side. Other behaviors may be observed as problems with balance, hearing, or disorientation. We may be alerted that there is sensitivity to having an ear touched. Visual signs may also include redness or swelling of the ear canal, and discharges that may be yellowish, blackish, bloody, or the consistency of coffee grounds. There can be an accumulation of dark brown wax. An unpleasant odor is often detectable. Finally, there may be behavioral changes including listlessness, or irritability when ear canal irritation or infection is present.
Whatever the signs, when irritation or infection of the ear canal is suspected, seek veterinary care quickly! Ear problems cause considerable discomfort.
So far, we've learned why some breeds are so susceptible to ear canal irritations and infections and the general kinds of ear canal issues they tend to get. We understand the importance of examining our little buddies' ears regularly. And, we know how to recognize healthy ears, and the signs and symptoms of infected or irritated ear canals.
INFECTIONS
Infections of the external ear (otitus externa) or of the middle ear, (otitus media) are most frequently caused by the growth of bacteria or yeast. Bacteria and yeast thrive in such warm, moist, dark environments. The accumulation of wax, hair, dirt, and other foreign matter in the ear canal, besides being problems in and of themselves, are high risk factors. These elements trap moisture and further prevent any circulation of air. Because of this, the accumulation of wax, hair, dirt, and other matter contribute to the both the beginning and the continuation of these bacterial and yeast infections in the ear canal.
Veterinary intervention is needed to correctly diagnose and prescribe the needed treatment for such infections. Antibiotics are often used for bacterial infections, while antifungals are ususally the choice for addressing yeast issues.
When yeast or bacterial infections are present, a dog will often shake its head, scratch or paw its ear, and may tilt the head to one side. This type of infection frequently produces a pungent odor. As the situation worsens, the ear canal will become inflamed and often produce a pussy discharge.
It should be noted that ear infections can also be symptoms of possible allergies or hormonal imbalances. Again, a veterinarian can determine if this is the case and prescribe the appropriate interventions.
Ear mites are common parasites that are highly contagious, easily spreading from pet to pet. Because parasites depend upon a living "carrier," if one pet in a home has been diagnosed with ear mites, any other pets in the home also need to be examined for similar infestations and treated, by a veterinarian, as necessary.
Excessive itching is the most common sign of ear mites. Ear mites create dark, crumbly debris, resembling coffee grounds.
Proper ear care can usually prevent recurring infections. This involves keeping the ear canals clean and dry. A first step is removal of excess hair in the canal. Hair in the ear canal tends to trap dirt and water. Hair removal should be done as gently as possible, handling only a very few hairs at a time.
Twisting hair clusters around a tool and yanking can cause irritation! Please avoid such abrupt, massive actions, as they can do more harm than good.
A few hairs at a time can be comfortably removed using the thumb and forefinger to grasp the hairs at their bases, next to the skin, and carefully pulling.
After removing excess hair, the ear canals may be flushed with a commercial cleanser designed specifically for canine ears. Ask your veterinarian's advice! After flushing, gently massage the base of the ears, next to the dog's head, to distribute the solution within the folds inside the canal. A good ear cleaning solution will be designed not only to clean the ear canal, but also to liquify the wax, dry the moisture from the canal, and normalize the pH (acidity-alkaline factor) in the canal.
During warm weather your furry friend is likely to have more opportunities to be in water, whether for fun or for bathing. As preventative maintenance, a veterinarian-approved solution to treat the ears after water exposure can be useful.
Please, avoid alcohol as it can cause tremendous burning and further irritation! Also, Q-tips are "out" for ear canal care!
Regular ear exams and periodic maintenance to keep the canals clean and dry can prevent untold ear discomfort!
Sandy Schneider, author, is a devoted dog mom. Agility, grooming, obedience, and just plain having fun with her dogs are her passion. She operates Bichon World and invites you to visit the site for great information and articles.