Training Your Dog to Sit
May 31, 2008
Training your dog to “sit” is probably the first thing you will train your puppy to do. I write puppy because you can start the training as soon as the puppy has settled in his new home. You might think this isn’t that important, a dog knows how to sit. Well, I think it is very important. Read on and you will found out why and how to train your dog to sit.
1. This first one is easy. You just start by saying “sit” every time the puppy sits itself. He learns to associate the word sit with the action. This is a tip you can use in all training.
2. Take out his favorite treat and keep it in your hand. Sausage usually works well but remember to cut it in small pieces so the puppy can swallow it fast.
3. Sit down on the floor so you get to the same level as the dog. You are less threatening when you sit. More important is that you are close to the dog so you can reward him faster. More about this soon.
How to Housebreak Your Dog or Puppy
May 30, 2008
Dogs are creatures of habit; and once they develop a habit, breaking it can be a long, frustrating process. Your dog needs guidance and encouragement from you to develop a toilet habit you can live with. Animal behaviorists have learned a lot about dogs over the last couple of decades, and there are many tips available that will make housebreaking your dog or puppy a less frustrating task.
When you consider some of the things your dog or puppy is willing to roll in, or put in their mouth, it’s a bit hard to believe they’re picky and specific about their toilet areas. Dogs will go to great lengths to avoid soiling near where they eat and/or sleep. That means any accidents an un-housebroken dog has will be far from its food dish and bed. To a dog, however, “far” can mean about 6-10 feet. This leaves lots of “fair game” space in your home, unless you guide the dog to suitable spots.
Whether your dog is a puppy, or an adult dog new to your home, the process is the same:
- Every few hours, take the dog outside to a place you designate as a “bathroom” area.
Whats the Best Diet for a Pregnant Cat?
May 29, 2008
Pregnant cats have to eat for two, three, four, five, even six cats. So her regular meal is just not enough. What should you give instead?
Pregnant and lactating queens need more calories than normal. However, you won’t have to force her to eat. Cats are very intelligent animals. They know when they have to eat and how much.
Don’t get worried if your cat’s appetite decreases in the very early stages of pregnancy. Soon her appetite will increase, and this time dramatically.
The quality of the food is essential. Of course you should always give your cat a nutritionally balanced meal, but this time it’s even more important than usual. You are not feeding one cat anymore, but a few (soon-to-be) kittens as well!
It’s recommended to buy food from a pet store. Most experienced breeders agree that kitten food is the best for your pregnant cat ? yes, even when the kittens are not there yet. Why? Because kitten food contains more calories and protein, and that’s just what your queen needs.
Gradually start mixing your cat’s regular food with this high-quality kitten food you found in your pet store. Add more kitten food every week. During the week of birth your queen should eat only kitten food.
How to Litter Train a Cat
May 29, 2008
For most cat owners, training their cat to use the litter is a relatively painless process. It is among a cat’s natural instincts to eliminate in an area that they can cover their feces in. This behavior may be a way of your cat accepting what they perceive to be as the natural order of dominance. In the wild feral cats will bury their feces if they are not at the top of their social hierarchy, if a feral cat does not bury his or her feces it is likely that the cat exhibiting that behavior is the dominant feline. So when your housecat buries his or her waste he or she may be recognizing your role as the dominant animal in their social community. It is also possible, however, that your cat may be displaying his or her inherited instinct to bury his or her feces in order to hide their trail from would be predators.
Generally kittens will learn the behavior of burying their feces and using the litter through their mother once they are weaned assuming the mother is litter trained. So if you bring home a young kitten of about 12 weeks, you may only need to place kitty in the litter box and gently scratch the clean litter with your fingers shortly after she eats to indicate to her what she is to do.
Social Robotic Dogs in Kennels
May 28, 2008
Have you ever been to a dog kennel and listen to all the noise of the dog’s barking, yapping and howling? The often do not seem like happy campers. Maybe they are, who knows; what I do know is if I were a dog I would not want to be put in a cage. Dogs have four feet and paws for traction, they are built to run and jump, explore and dig. Sticking them on a concrete floor in a cage, well that is not my idea of a good time. So, here is a through. We introduce good looking, in dog terms; social robotic dogs to each kennel.
They cruise around and discuss dog things with all the animals there and promote good behavior and happiness. Now before you say this guy is nuts, please be advised that Robotic Dogs already exist and people like them a lot. Dogs also like to play with their robotic friends.
http://www.carouselmalinois.com/silverimages/indi12wks1.jpg
Golden Moments and Dog Training
May 27, 2008
Let me introduce my dogs. I have 3, Nikki and Benny are my therapy dogs, and Dukie is my blind dog. Nikki is a 1 1/2 year golden retriever and Benny is my 5 year old black lab. Dukie is now 10 years and also a black lab.
Today I saw a picture of a ceramic rabbit statue for the garden; boy did it bring back loving memories. It also made me think of the importance of training your dog. That is why I am writing this article.
When we first took our golden retriever up north to the cottage she loved it. Of course she would, she was a golden after all, and goldens love cottage life, the outdoors and the lakes!!
Now, my golden was running around lose, just having a great time. My husband, Chris and I were sitting outside talking with our friends who had a house beside the cottage.
All of a sudden my golden comes running right over to us, all exited and happy. Our golden always ran to us when she had something in her mouth, never away from us. WOW, she had gone hunting, and she was proud of it.
How To Stop Your Dog From Barking ? Training Your Dog To Keep Quiet
May 26, 2008
Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process. Really. It also doesn’t cost any money. But it’s not an obvious process - witness the many dogs barking all the time in parks, backyards on street corners, with their owners tugging at their leash and yelling at them and the dogs completely ignoring their commands. My dog was driving me crazy until I learned how to stop his barking.
My dog barked and whined all the time, and it was a breed (husky), that was known for making a lot of noise. The situation was especially bad when the doorbell rang or he saw strangers. It was almost impossible to stop him once he started, and if there was another dog involved, forget it ? my dog would yap his head off until the dogs were separated and out of sight.
One weekend, though, my friend came over to visit. She worked at the Chicago Zoo and knew animals better than anyone I had ever seen. In an hour she had my dog completely quiet, and she taught me how to do it, too. One hour to solve a problem that was driving me crazy for the last three years!
Using Electrolytes to Avoid Equine Dehydration
May 25, 2008
For heat dissipation and body cooling, a horse trotting at 11.2 mph loses about 3.3 gallons of sweat per hour under moderate conditions. The salts/electrolytes sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium are also lost with this loss of fluid. These electrolytes are responsible for the transfer of water through cell membranes, for nerves to fire and muscles to contract. Large losses of electrolytes can result in several neuromuscular and systemic disturbances including muscle cramping, tying up, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (thumps) and systemic alkalosis.
Our goal as the equine caretaker is to prevent electrolyte imbalance and dehydration in the performance/stressed horse thru proper fluid and electrolyte replacement. Balance can greatly prolong reaching the point of fatigue and also decrease recovery time.
If you’re feeding a well formulated commercial ration intended for a performance horse, the chances are good that they’ve met the electrolyte needs of the lightly to moderately worked horse, under most conditions (always make plain salt available). Electrolyte availability can become a problem when the rate of loss exceeds the rate of replacement. If the horse sweats for a prolonged period of time, due to extreme weather conditions (high humidity, high heat), prolonged exercise (endurance type work), heavily worked/trained horses (race horses in training) or stressed horses (transporting), electrolyte needs will not always be met through their feed. For these horses, electrolyte supplementation becomes necessary to maintain body functions at an optimum level and to increase water intake preventing dehydration. Electrolytes should not be given to a horse that is already dehydrated, except under the supervision of a veterinarian.
How to Maintain Your Love Affair With Your Dog: Part One - Training
May 24, 2008
Training Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your Canine Companion
When I first laid eyes on my little ball of black fluff at an adoption fair, I knew there was no turning back. My husband and I had been looking for just the right dog for months, and all the research and networking had finally paid off. There was no doubt in my mind that we had found the most perfect, precious four-legged family member in the world.
As luck would have it, the adoption fair was right around the corner from our home, this gave us a great opportunity for a home visit at the end of the event. I ran home, scrubbed and cleaned and did everything I could to make sure our home was ‘puppy worthy’. As soon as she arrived with her foster mom, the puppy made sure to let us know she was in the right place?but more about that later.
Because both of us had lived with dogs before, I was sure we knew everything we needed to start off on the right foot and have a loving and healthy relationship with our dog. I was only partially right. Through lots of hands-on experience and a great deal of patience and training, I’ve learned a number of ways to maintain that original love-at-first sight feeling.
Fat Dogs - How To Get Overweight Dogs to Diet and Slim Down Without Whining
May 24, 2008
Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause many problems including heart disease, joint problems, and diabetes. Almost half of dogs in America are fat, especially beagles, dachshunds, basset hounds, and Labrador retrievers. Before your dog reaches the point where they need insulin shots, you can slim them down. It will take almost a year, but it’s worth it.
Even puppies shouldn’t be overweight ? all dogs need to be slim, not fat, to be healthy. A dog is at the right weight if you can feel the ribs without excess fat covering. From the side, the dog’s belly should be tucked up, and from above, there should be a noticeable waist in front of the hips. When you feel his ribs, they should be shallow indents which you can count, although you shouldn’t be able to count them just by looking.
