Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at
12:45 pm
Mats pull tightly on the pet’s skin, causing them constant discomfort and sometime suffering. But even more serious is the fact that air cannot circulate through the hair and skin, which lead to major skin irritations and infections. A proper pet grooming can maintain your pets healthy skin and prevent these problems.
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As a highly trained professional, your pets groomer understands how serious matting is and what health consequences your pet can suffer as a result of the matting. She or he will evaluate the condition of your pet’s coat and recommend what is best for him.
The solution for mating, when a pet’s hair becomes severely matted, there is simply no way to remove it except to give the pet a very short haircut, often referred to as a ‘smoothie’. A smoothie groom is very time consuming, as the groomer must use extreme caution as she or he removes the tightly matted coat from your pet. You don’t just shave the hair off. It is much more involved. Your groomer uses specialized equipment to separate the matting from the pet’s skin. It is very difficult and delicate work releasing your pet from the hairy prison surrounding him.
Great care must be taken, as the matting is removed it may reveal skin conditions, parasites or even foreign objects imbedded in the pet’s hair. The skin can become unhealthy under matting, sometimes to the point that immediate medical attention is needed.
After the matting is removed your pet will feel different for awhile. After finally being free of the matting that has confined him for so long like a body cast or straight jacket he may feel itchy or his skin may have become irritated and sore from the matting.
Proper dog grooming is a must for the health of your best friend, it does much more than pamper your pet. Taking your dog to the groomer can reveal important health concerns that you previously unaware of.
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at
2:33 am
Dogs were probably first domesticated from wolves throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and then accompanied people or were taken by them to other parts of the world.
Wolves the original dog may have been simply camp followers, willing to consume whatever they could from their strange masters. It is highly likely that young wolves were raised in human settlements and treated as pets. Due to the wolves adaptable nature, taming soon led to controlled breeding or domestication as we now call it.
The first known domestic dogs date back to around 12,000 years ago. Distinct dog breeds have been in existence for thousands of years. In Israel, for example, archaeologists have found a grave over 10,000 years old containing a puppy. The puppy’s skeleton was similar to that of the Canaan Dog, a species still found in the Middle East today.
Dingoes arrived in Australia with settlers more than 3,000 years ago. The Salukis have been bred in the Middle East for several thousand years while over in China the Pekingese have not changed in 2,000 years. In the New World, native people kept dogs varying from the Alaskan Malamute to the Chihuahua of Mexico. In Europe they have had similar developments from guard and herding dogs such as the indigenous wolf.
Some of the first dog breed included
• Alaskan Malamute a very powerful wolf like dog
• Newfoundland, the result of cross breeding European dogs with Native island dogs
• Boston Terrier one of the wholly American breeds it was first developed in New England as a fighting dog
• Chihuahua a tiny dog possible introduced to Mexico by traders from China
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Dogs have been our best friends for thousands of years and are still cherished throughout the world today. Our pets have depended on us for their nurturing care and return the favor with love and companionship. Remember to honor your pets by paying close attention to their grooming needs after all aren’t they worth it.
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at
2:32 am
Grooming your pet should be a pleasant experience whether done at home or with a professional pet groomer. The last thing you want is a rambunctious animal hindering your efforts to pamper him with good dog grooming.
It is imperative that your dog except the pet grooming process as part of their normal routine and to behave properly during the grooming sessions.
If your pet objects to and type of the grooming it may be due to:
1) Lack of obedience training
2) Fear of what’s going to happen
3) Any pain that they may associate with the procedure
First let’s look at the first one, obedience training. With dogs it should be started at about eight weeks of age, that is when their true memory begins, this will be the best time to start their training. Typically the first things they learn at that age tend to stick with them for a lifetime. There are several good books on obedience training for your puppy or seek the assistance of a qualified trainer.
Always remember when training your puppy never to use physical punishment on your dog, this can and probably will cause permanent behavior issues, but rather use lots and lots of praise for a job well done this will be more effective than a reprimand.
Fear can be another issue you will have to deal with prior to grooming your pet or taking them to the groomer. For example, your dog or cat may be afraid of water, or the sound of hair trimmers. These can be difficult issues to overcome and will have to be dealt with slowly and with lots of patience.
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Finally pain, if your dog grooming experience is painful for your dog they will never view it as something special that they should enjoy. There should be no pain involved in the grooming process. If your pet has an infection or irritation that would be aggravated by a groomer then you need to see a vet prior to getting him groomed.
With a little patience and love your pet will learn to look forward to being groomed as something that the two of you share together and will further strengthen the bond between the two of you.
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at
2:30 am
The old saying you are what you eat holds equally true for your pets as well as for humans. A well balanced diet is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and healthy skin. Following a good pet grooming program can alleviate a lot of potential problems.
Did you know that up to 30% of the daily protein requirement in dogs and cats can be used for the replacement of dead skin and hair? Obviously proteins play a major role in maintaining the integrity of your pets skin and coat. Deficiencies can arise either from rations that are low in protein or contain poor sources of protein. Diseases such as parasitism or malnutrition can also rob the body of needed proteins.
Signs of protein deficiency can include a dry, rough, thin coat, with or without bald spots, flaky skin and abnormal shedding cycles.
Adult dogs need roughly 20 percent of their daily energy as proteins. Puppies and kittens need even more. Most of the commercial dog and cat foods are engineered to satisfy these requirements. However not all are created equal, you should choose a ration that contains protein from multiple food sources to ensure your pet gets a well balanced meal.
Beware however of foods labels high in protein, in fact most researchers feel that such a diet fed to your pet long term could seriously impair kidney function.
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Always consult your veterinarian before putting your pet on any new diet. Vitamins and minerals are required for healthy skin and hair. However, they should never be used indiscriminately to treat skin conditions or disorders. Giving your pet large amounts of one particular vitamin or mineral could actually lead to other deficiencies.
When it comes to how our bodies operate we are not that much different than our furry friends. The rules that apply to our own good nutrition also generally work for our pets. Always insure that your dog or cat gets regular checkups to insure that he or she is eating the proper diet and getting the right amount of nutrition. Remember good pet grooming and good nutrition habits will keep your best friend healthy and happy.
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at
5:16 pm
So you have that new puppy but soon learn that he has a mind of his own. What should I do, you ask. You could enroll in a dog training class or with a little patience and research teach your new friend how they should behave.
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Before you begin trying to train that new puppy there are a few things you must be aware of. You must have a thorough knowledge of how dogs learn and the best methods that you should use. This will determine the success or failure that you experience.
1) In order for a dog to learn any new behaviors he must perform it for at least 42 consecutive times in various environments.
2) Dr. Edward Thorndike a noted American psychologist gave us a learning theory that applies to man and equally to dogs. It states that a behavior that results in a pleasant event tends to get repeated, while behaviors resulting out of unpleasant events tend not to be repeated. For example yelling at your puppy or using force will not get you the results your after.
3) With every step of training you must use positive reinforcement wither it be a toy or food treat.
For example if you want your dog to “sit”, sitting becomes the desired behavior and the “treat” is the positive reinforcement.
Negative methods of training should only be used by qualified professional trainers in certain circumstances, which are few and far between.
There are a few items you will need to begin training your new pet, a collar, a leash or lead and some of his favorite doggie treats. This method of training is referred to as inducive which means you create a desire in the dog to do what you desire because he knows you will give him something he wants.
With a little effort, patience and compassion you can train your new puppy to act in the manner that you wish.
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at
5:13 pm
Regardless of your family size, your new puppy needs to learn right away from the day he comes home that he is a member of your pack. If you fail to teach this valuable lesson it could spell disaster for you and your puppy.
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When you introduce a new puppy to your home it is imperative that the dog accept the fact that he is a member of your pack and is content knowing that you provide for his welfare.
When the puppy was born his birth pack consisted of his mother and siblings. The dam was the leader of the pack and made all decisions. She would also provide safety and sustenance to the rest of the family members.
The puppy began to grow knowing his mother was the leader and tolerated no wavering of the pack rules.
Disobedient pups were quickly disciplined for miss behavior. The pups quickly learned that obedience meant survival. Any pups refusing to obey would be driven from the pack. When the puppy is removed from its birth pack and placed in a human family it is a very important event in the puppy’s life.
If the pup is shown right away that his new owner is the pack leader the dog will conform accordingly.
If the new owner fails to demonstrate leadership over the pup the dog will become confused and eventually try to take the leadership role.
If an owner lacks authority and the dog is allowed to establish a role of leadership this will lead to the dog using aggressive behavior when he wants his way.
This obviously would become intolerable and in some cases the animal would have to be euthanized.
Demonstrating your leadership should not be done with harsh language or abusive actions. You want the puppy to respect you as a leader not fear you as a predator.
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 at
1:25 pm
When training a new puppy there are several inexpensive training items you will need, however this is probably the most important. Using this one item could save you and your patience a lot of pain and suffering.
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You may find this to be insignificant before you start training your dog but this one item will save you lots of frustration and make the training experience more enjoyable for you and your pet.
When you have a puppy they are typically excitable and love to race around the house. Each time you try and catch him the more excited he becomes and the more your puppy thinks you want to play.
The one thing that gives you control over your new dog is the “house line”. A house line should be about 6’ long and be made of nylon. Attach a clasp to one end so it can be snapped onto the puppy’s collar and burn the other end to prevent fraying.
The sole purpose of the house line is to give you control of the puppy while he plays freely in the home.
The puppy should only have a house line when with you (the trainer), never when you’re gone or when in his crate.
Why have a house line, you ask.
If you’ve ever tried to catch a whirly dog that’s racing through the house in a frantic game of catch me if you can, then you know how frustrating it can get.
The house line allows you to step on or grab the line as the puppy races past you.
This tells the dog that he must slow down and respond to your call.
Make sure you praise him lavishly when you catch him with the aid of the house line.
The house line cuts down on the frustrations of training your new dog and helps you to establish positive control.
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at
5:35 pm
When training a dominant puppy it is imperative to assert your position as pack leader. Your methods of achieving this need not be abusive or inhumane at all. Proper training will insure a long lasting enjoyable relationship between you and your new friend.
A physical confrontation is neither necessary nor recommended to teach a dominant puppy you’re his new master. There are several easy ways of demonstrating these lessons. One way is to begin training the dog as soon as you get him.
Your new puppy should be fed after you eat if possible. The pack leader always eats first. After that the other pack members eat oldest to youngest.
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Anytime you walk through a doorway this is a good time to demonstrate your leadership role to your dog. The puppy must learn to stop and wait (for you to enter first) before entering the room.
To achieve this have the puppy in a collar and lead and hold him back as you approach a doorway. Tell him to “wait” as you pass through. Say “ok, good boy”, when you’re ready to let the puppy follow you into the room.
You should never allow your new puppy to get in or out of a car without your ok first. Control your dog and let him enter or exit the car at your command.
He needs to learn to wait while he’s young so that as the dog grows you maintain control for his safety.
When you play games with your puppy always keep back one special toy. When you play with him take out the special toy, when your done put it away. This way he will learn that you control the toys and games.
These are the first steps in training your new puppy. With a little effort and patience you will have a happy and enjoyable relationship with your new dog.
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at
5:34 pm
It is imperative to training your new dog to determine whether or not he is dominant or submissive. We will discuss a few ways of determining where your dog stands. This will determine which way you go with his training.
To find out if your dog is submissive or dominant here is a simple non abusive test.
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Gently lay the puppy on his side and watch how the dog reacts to this awkward position. If you have a small dog you can do this on your lap if the dog is larger you will need to place him on the floor and kneel beside him.
Preferably the dog will be completely on his side laying flat. This puts the dog in a completely submissive position.
If the puppy allows you to place him in this position without any resistance then you probably have a submissive dog. A dominant puppy will struggle and fight to keep out of that position.
At birth the puppy’s mother did this same thing to teach the new pup she was the pack leader.
This little test will tell you how willing and cooperative your little guy is going to be to his training.
Once the puppy regardless of his personality accepts the dominant position of the leader (you), he should be allowed to get up and be praised lavishly for accepting his new position in your pack.
If your puppy is already submissive you may never have to place him on his side again as where a more dominant dog may have to endure this time and again in order for him to accept you as his leader.
It is very important to apply this test prior to the start of any training. If your dog is too submissive his training will have to be structured differently than if he is dominant.
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at
5:33 pm
As with everything in life success is a goal that everyone pursues no matter what field there in. Success will come from careful planning, which will be necessary when house training a puppy.
Just like human babies who do not have any control over their bodily functions, puppy’s haven’t yet fully developed their intestinal tract muscles and must relieve themselves quit often.
You will be leading your puppy to his relief area a dozen or more times daily. He will have to go after he’s been sleeping, playing, after he eats and several other times throughout the course of the day.
For a puppy around 8 weeks old your puppy will be needing to relieve himself about once an hour. Preferably it’s a good idea to have someone at home all day with the dog at least when you first get him.
As the puppy gets older he will have more control over his bodily functions and have to go out less often. When the pup reaches around 4 months old he will only have to go out about 6 to 8 times a day, and that will decrease to 3 to 5 as he ages.
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In order to house train the puppy he must be restricted to (1) room of the house. Canines are social creatures so restricting them to a family room is preferable. They will want to be around the rest of the family.
The dogs crate should also be placed in their favorite room to further enhance their confidence and sense of belonging.
Consistency and frequency are the preamble to successful house training. Your pup needs to be led to his relief area every time that he is released from the crate and every time he exhibits any signs that indicate he might have to relieve himself. Patience will be the key to house training your new puppy.