September 5th, 2010

Pets Travel Insurance

A pet is a household animal kept for companionship. Most of the people have one animal or the other. We all love out pets. It is of utmost importance to keep good care of such animals. We should regard our pet as a part of our family. It certainly deserves our love and affection like our kids do. So, if you are a hardcore animal lover then this article is meant for you. You should definitely take a sneak through this article. Further in this article we are going to talk about animal travel insurance in detail.

Most of the governments worldwide have adopted certain laws regarding animal care and travel. Recently, the government of United States has made a law under which you can take your pet along with you while traveling from one city to another. However, you need to fulfill certain formalities. You should keep in mind that such an insurance is very necessary for your pet as well. So, you must take this concept pretty seriously.

Pet travel insurance is more or less similar to that of humans. It is different only on certain accounts. The travel insurance scheme for animals expands to cover up only household pets such as dogs and presently functions within 25 countries. These countries include most of the European countries that have signed the agreement for animal travel insurance. This insurance implies that you don’t have to compensate for the expenditure of floor boarding kennels for your four legged friends.

Travel insurance for your dog or cat is sold as a separate product and is completely disconnected to your own insurance. So, before going to your travel mediator and reserve your vacation trip, don’t forget to inspect the pet travel strategies and advantages and the places you can take a trip to. If you keep all these things in mind then I can assure you that you would have a great time with your family members including your pet.

Let me tell you before hand that this insurance has certain complications. But it also has its own benefits. You will certainly save a lot of money by opting for this insurance. Before you take your animal for insurance you must arrange a proper health check up for it. It is certainly very important.

So, these are some of the things regarding pet travel insurance that you must keep in mind. You should read this article at least once. It could be of great help to you.

August 4th, 2010

What causes hot spots on dogs

Hot Spots and rashes

Symptoms:

Does your dog have the following symptoms?

- Licking, biting and chewing a spot on the skin endlessly.
- The spot suddenly increases in a matter of hours, sometimes with pus inside.
- The sore may sometimes ooze pus or blood out.
- The hot spot loses hair.
- The sore smells funny.
- Your usually friendly hairball best friend is now bad tempered and growls at you when you accidentally touch him/her.

If your dog has these symptoms and if the spot seems to breed other spots like it, then your dog may be experiencing what veterinarians call pyotraumatic dermatitis, or hot spots. A dog hot spot is a very annoying skin lesion that can grow rapidly if left untreated. These infuriating nuisances on your little pooch are not only making him or her suffer, it can also make your doggie friend look like he or she has a contagious disease.

Causes

Here are 3 of the main causes of a dog hot spot:

1. Hot spots are usually seen in dogs that have furry coats like Shih-Tzu’s or Pomeranians because they are more susceptible to get tangled and matted hair that causes these irritating pyotraumatic dermatitis. Also, dogs with long coats are more prone to have trapped dead hair inside the skin which is also something that causes hot spots.

2. Dogs with allergic reactions to house dust, household chemicals, commercial dog food and even plant pollen are also vulnerable to hot spots.

3. Other dogs are just plain hyper and will end up biting, licking and gnawing at themselves if left alone. This can also cause hot spots to appear.

Solution

If you see that your loyal four-legged best friend has a hot spot then you must act quickly. Below are steps you can take to treat this horrible condition:

1. First of all, isolate the area by trimming the hair around the sore itself to prevent the spreading of the infection. Some find it easier to wipe away the fur if you put some water-based jelly on the fur that you will trim off. Trimming the hair around the spot not only makes it easier to treat the spot, it will also lessen the cause of itchiness.

2. Clean the sore well by using a mild antiseptic soap. Thoroughly wash the area to make sure no residual soap is left that can cause further irritation.

3. You need to dry out the sore so that it will not flame up and have some pus in it. Do this by applying wet tea bags on the sore.

4. A number of natural products have also proven to be very effective against dog hot spots. Among these are witch hazel and apple cider vinegar. Tepezcohuite, which forms the foundation of one of my pet related products (k9klearup.com), has been found to be quite effective on hot spots as well, so much so that we guarantee it’s efficacy

Prevention

In preventing hot spots, you need to address the causes of course. So make sure you brush your furry friend’s coat all the time to avoid tangles, clean your home or the area where your pooch loves to play regularly and give him or her proper exercise so your doggie pal will not get restless and mutilate his or her own skin.

June 27th, 2010

Shock Collar Pros And Cons

A shock collar is a type of “control tool” used to correct a dog’s behaviour, but are they safe and effective? Learn more in this article.

Your dog has some outrageous behaviour - it doesn’t like children or maybe any visitors? Or perhaps it keeps using the house as a toilet? It never seems to listen to you? So maybe a shock collar could be the answer?

A shock collar is one of a family of what are called control tools. They work by giving negative reinforcement to a dog’s behaviour. Then the dog will learn and over time it should stop doing the bad behaviour.

Pros

These collars can be very good for overly aggressive dogs that are not responding to traditional methods. For example, a mistreated but strong dog that won’t listen to you. Sometimes, these collars can save the dog from otherwise being put to sleep.

The effect of a mild electric shock is just a small discouragement to the dog but enough to show that bad behaviour is not tolerated. It is no worse than a quick “clip” from a dog’s mother.

Cons

They are not a magic bullet or cure. If they are not used correctly then they will be of no use to you. Make sure you get good training on how to use one and when to use a shock collar.

Some dog trainers argue that dog training shock collars are antiquated and totally unnecessary. They say that with a dog, you can always create a reward or punishment for any behaviour and a dog will always learn.

Some people say that any electric shock, no matter how small, is a form of torture and cruelty.

June 15th, 2010

Electric Shock Collars For Dogs

Should electric shock dog collars be banned? I say yes. And I don’t just say yes in a mild manner, I strongly say yes. The equipment should be banned because it’s cruel and unreliable.

Using pain to discourage unwanted behaviour is simply wrong. You could and should be using rewards to encourage good behaviour instead of relying on punishment to train. The bottom line is that you can and absolutely should train your dog without the use of painful shock therapy.

The concept of how this equipment works is simply horrific. It allows the trainer or owner to remotely deliver an electric shock to a dog in order to suppress an undesirable behaviour. Shock collars train a dog to respond out of fear of further pain and even allow increasing the pain level if the dog continues its bad behaviour.

Scientific research confirms that this method is painful and can influence the animal’s well being negatively in the long term. There is clear evidence that the use of this devices is unsafe, unnecessary and inhumane.

Experiments showed that shocks can cause responses associated with fear and distress such as yelping, struggling, hiding, biting, freezing, trembling, cowering, defecation and urination, just to name a few. They can make a dog scared of almost anything that they are looking at or smelling when they get shocked.

Shock collars also have a high potential for misuse, especially if they get into the hands of owners who may be inexperienced, impatient, angry, frustrated or even sadistic. Regrettably, they often do.

All experts agree that there is absolutely no need to use this sort of equipment. Positive, reward based training methods are far more effective than punishment or negative reinforcement methods.

I have no doubt that shock collar training can be at least superficially effective, but your dog could end up being afraid of you or even damaged in the long term. The use of reward-based training is far more effective and results in a more positive relationship between the dog and the owner.

Luckily, shock collars has already been subjected to ban or control in a number of countries in Europe, including France and Germany. But they are still widely available and used in the US.

I would never consider using a shock collar on my dogs. I’ve always used positive reinforcement to train them and had nothing but great results. Remember, dogs need training not punishment.

September 17th, 2009

Dog Food Coupons

People who used to pet a dog know what really a food coupon is. As we need good food to survive so as our dogs too. They also need some sort of good food and the good food may be very expensive, even more expensive than the food you and your family eat. So a dog food coupons may be very helpful to weight down your pocket.

First of all what must you consider when buying the food for your dog..

  • Breed Plays a very important role while you choose food for your dog. Small dogs not eat too much and need some sort of soft food than the big dogs eat.
  • Age, which can’t be ignore. It plays the same role which happens in humans too. Like a child need more energetic food so as the puppy.
  • Health Condition may also make you to think for your pet like if it is sick then you have to buy special nutrition having food.
  • Now comes the price which plays significant role in choosing the food. But for prices you have a solution and that is you have to find dog food coupons.

You can find these coupons in daily newspaper adds. Now a days the coupons may be found on internet too. What you can do is, just google and you will find a lot of coupons and you have to try them. Also there are many websites which used to distribute their coupons or gives some trail membership or even they gives coupons with their promotional products.  Although it is also possible that you can find your coupon from retail store. Many big stores used to have the coupons for daily buying or some kind of promotional activities, that may be a great help. Also keep your eye open, whenever thier comes a new food in the market, manufactures used to give lot of discount on that.

September 17th, 2009

Pet Health (Providing Dogs With Enzymes and Cleaning Their Eyes)

If you have a white dog, you would have  noticed that cute little puppy had tear stains around its eyes and worried to find out what was going on. Maltese dogs have a tendency toward eye stains as do many other dog breeds. Although dog tear stain remover is available in the market but here are some basic tips to share that might help you.

Tip 1 - It helps your dog to keep their faces clean and dry. When  dealing with white dog tear stains you are going to washed puppy’s face every day. After cleaning make sure the area is thoroughly dry.

Tip 2 - Take a close look at the food your dog is eating along with the water that they drink. In some cases there are dyes in the food which can actually exacerbate the tear staining further. One solution is to actually prepare the food yourself using only natural ingredients and allow them only to drink bottled water.

While the 2 tips above may help - the next one is the one that has worked best for my dogs.

Tip 3 - This is the only method I use now because it is so easy and it works for all 5 of my dogs to keep their faces clean, dry and beautifully white. I use this special all natural powder and mix it in with my dog’s food or water. And within about 2 weeks the draining from the eyes stopped and after trimming away the stained hair as it grew out my Maltese were beautiful and no longer had eye stain problems. So this is now my favorite way to battle those eye stains - with 5 Maltese I needed a simple, one step, all natural fail-safe way that works.

Digestive Enzyme Supplements for Your Dog

Digestive Enzymes are produced by the salivary glands, stomach, pancreas and liver and are released into the digestive tract. Enzymes help your dog’s body to breakdown proteins, fats and carbohydrates in his food so they can be absorbed and utilized.

Production of your  dog enzymes naturally decreases with increasing age. Illnesses, stress, food intolerances, allergies and drugs like antibiotics also have a negative affect on enzyme production and function. This can result in a variety of digestive disturbances ranging from flatulence and gas to diarrhea, life threatening dehydration and malnutrition.

Digestive Enzymes are vital to maintain your dog’s overall health. They improve the efficiency of digestion so your pet’s body can utilize the nutrients essential for energy production and ultimately for life itself.

They help the body to recover from disease and promote restoration of good health in your dog. Enzymes are useful to reduce pain and swelling after exercise or trauma and help speed up recovery rates. Enzymes support your dog’s immune system thereby enhancing his ability to ward off disease and infection. They have been also been used effectively in cancer therapy for people and pets.

Papain is an enzyme that has aspirin-like effects to decrease swollen, painful inflamed tissues in your dog. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple stems that inhibits the spread of lung cancer in mice.

Digestive Enzyme supplements may be beneficial in dogs with digestive problems, immune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis, cancer and a variety of bowel disorders. They are especially useful in older dogs with reduced digestive ability.

August 15th, 2009

Golden Retriever Puppy

Golden retriever puppies are the cutest puppy on the earth and possibly the most useful of all the breeds on earth. They include in them every thing which other puppies do and we should say much more than that. You can also take the enjoyment and all the fun which they give as they grow up. Golden retriever puppy never looks like a monster dog because it never grows in that much size and have weigh between sixty and seventy pounds. The golden retriever is a smart and very easy going dog which can be kept at the top of the list when it comes to have a cute pet in home.

It is best to buy a puppy from a specialist breeder. Specialist breeders conduct hereditary checks before breeding. They also provide Kennel Club registration, pedigree and golden retriever calendar. The buyer can go back to the breeder for help.

The most important thing with the golden retriever puppies are that they have to be ordered before and have to wait for them to born. Before that you can choose the mother for the look. After the born it is ready to take home after 7-8 weeks. Also it is very important to look after the puppy with great affection and love and warmth to grow it in a friendly and long living manner as it is the time when the puppy’s temperament is judged.

The puppyhood of your golden retriever will last three or more years. You will have the pleasures and the responsibilities almost like those of raising a child. It will be like a roller-coaster ride with its ups and downs. There will be times when you will have to be soft, and times when you will have to be strict, so that your puppy keeps away from danger. Regular exercise and grooming, timely inoculation and worming and consistent training will ensure the health and well-being of your pup. What else do you need for your puppy? A cute name, and then you are ready for a good ten years of unadulterated joy and love.

April 5th, 2009

Dog Training Collars

Dog training collars can be used to teach your dog basic obedience training, sport dog training and advanced training without the aid of a dog trainer. These collars help owners keep their pet under control. Dog training collars can be used to teach basic obedience commands such as ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and ‘heel.’ The collar has to be the correct size, so measure your dog’s neck with a string or tape and add two to three inches to the measurement.

Electronic dog-training collars (also called shock collars) were introduced to the market about thirty years ago. Today, they serve as one of the most effective ways to train a dog. Some of the other dog training tools are remote training collars and e-collars. These collars are remote-controlled and emit a light, corrective static shock as soon as the dog does something wrong. The corrective signal sent by the collar draws the dog’s attention, and it links the behavior with the response of the dog teaching them what is good and bad — consequently stopping the bad. Most of the collars have several levels of correction.

There are lightweight and reliable water resistant collars for all kinds of dog activities. The different kinds of collars available include plain buckle collar, martingale collar, limited choke collar, choke chain, snap-around choke, head collar, pronged collar and no-bark collar. The choke collar is the safest if used properly. The most popular is the slip collars. These training collars work properly when fitted and used properly. Even though some disapproval exists among people regarding the use of dog training collars, professional dog trainers and veterinarians accept this as a safe training tool.

March 31st, 2009

Collars For Dogs - Choosing the Right One

Other than the bond that you form with your dog, his/her leash and collar are your only connection for communication. While most collars are humane and effective in training, some can be dangerous if they’re not used correctly. Here are a few tips on how to choose a collar that will provide proper training aid and allow dog pet to be perfectly safe.

Nylon Collars

A nylon or leather collar is the only type of collar that is safe for your dog to wear at all times. It should be firmly tightened so your dog cannot get it off, yet loose enough for you to easily insert two fingers between it and your dog’s neck. This type of collar has a metal ring on it for ease in fastening a leash, dog tags and other identification tags.

Choke Chains and Slip Collars

Choke chains and slip collars have metal links with a ring on each end. It is important to make sure that these types of collars fit properly. Take your dog with you if you are planning on purchasing either of these.

When used properly, choke chains and slip collars allow the trainer to correct the dog with a “popping” movement to the leash. This quickly tightens the collar and releases just as quickly. A choke or slip collar that is improperly used or doesn’t fit correctly can choke your dog and put painful pressure on his neck.

To properly fit your dog’s choke or slip collar, stand on his right side and loop the chain through the link and hold the collar like a lazy “P.” The straight part of the “P” must go across the top of your dog’s neck.

Gentle Leaders

The hottest rage in the dog collar industry is head collars, also called “gentle leaders.” These are not muzzles. A muzzle is a mesh cup that fits over a dog’s nose. It is attached to his head with a strap behind his ears. A muzzle completely covers the dog’s nose and mouth. He cannot drink, bark or bite. It is never attached to a leash, or used as a training aid. A “gentle leader” or halter lets the dog pant, drink and bark and yes, even bite. It is used as a training aid and they work wonderfully. Essentially, the “gentle leader puts steady but pressure on the back or your dog’s neck (scruff,) which is the way his mother would discipline him. Pressure at the scruff of the neck and the muzzle is a correction and leadership method that your dog understands perfectly. Another type of head collar is called a “Promise Halter.” These are very similar to the gentle leader and are perfectly safe for your dog.

Electronic Collars

Electronic collars are a source of debate. They give your dog a static shock or blast of citronella spray. They are sometimes used to stop excessive barking. With some, the blast or shock is triggered when your dog barks. Others are operated manually - you have to administer the blast or shock. There are also shock collars that confine dogs to a specific area. If he/she tries to overstep the boundary, he gets a shock. Though these collars can, and do, have their place in dog training and control, they won’t help your dog to learn to behave on a leash.

Prong and Pinch Collars

Prong and pinch collars are used to handle dogs that are very hard to control. The prong collar lies flat on your dog’s neck until he pulls or you give a correction. Pressure from either your dog pulling or from you giving a correction, cause blunt metal prongs to poke into the dog’s neck. Never use a prong or pinch collar without the supervision of a professional dog trainer. Trainers use these only when all other methods fail, and then for only a short period of time. If you use one of these collars incorrectly, it will cause your dog to become very aggressive. This can result in him/her biting or attacking someone, which could mean that your dog will have to be put down. So please be careful!

Harness

Some dogs require the use of a harness. This is strapped onto the dog’s body across the chest and around the ribcage. There is a ring on which you can attach the dog’s leash at the top, between the dog’s shoulder blades. A harness doesn’t allow you to direct your dog’s body, nor can you give correction when it is on. Your dog can pull when he feels like it and if he is a northern breed, this can be often. They were bred for the specific purpose of pulling a sled. This can cause pulled muscles and tendons in your arms if your dog decides he’s going to pull in excess. A harness is recommended only for dogs that have a medical problem of the neck.

Summary

Never chain a dog who is wearing any type of collar other than a buckle collar. Tying a dog on a chain that is wearing a choke or slip collar is sentencing him to certain death. When you and your dog have finished a training session or walk, remove all training aids except his buckle collar, which he should wear at all times.

All collars should be fitted properly in order to be an effective training tool and to keep your dog safe. If your dog is a puppy, you will have to buy a new collar several times over the next few months, as he will rapidly outgrow them. An adult dog’s collar will last for months, but should be checked often for signs of wear and replace as needed. This will ensure that your dog will not get loose to run in city streets or get hit on a busy country highway. After all, you want your dog to be safe and assuring his collar is the right one for his breed will allow you to meet that goal.

March 19th, 2009

How to Stop Dog Barking

How to stop dog barking first involves determining why they are barking to begin with. In the majority of situations, the problem barker has never learned to be bye themselves. Your dog is used to having the attention they want when they want it, when they are alone they are not able to get that attention and often resort to barking. The following will greatly reduce the amount of barking.

  1. Be a good role model: Words mean nothing to your dog, what matters is the way you say those words. Constantly reassuring the dog when you leave and being over excited upon your return compound the issue.
  2. All praises must be earned: While breaking your dog of barking it is important to restrict your praises and petting to only when he has responded correctly to a command.
  3. Be out of touch: Get some chew toys, once your dog is sufficiently distracted calmly and quietly leave the room. Return to the room before the dog has an opportunity to miss you and continue what you were doing. When the dog rushes over to greet you, do not react, the separation was unimportant to you and should also be unimportant to your dog.
  4. No more goodbyes: Now that you are ready to leave your dog alone, I suggest your start your day a little earlier. Get ready to leave and then sit down with the paper for a bit, ignore your dog completely. Quietly walk out the door after some time of quiet separation.
  5. Keep them busy while you’re gone: It is unnatural for your dog to be alone with nothing to do, ensure you provide various distractions for the dog to play with throughout the day. Toys such as kongs and nylabones are excellent for this.

To answer the questions of how to stop dog barking you just need to follow the simple steps listed above, those together with some patience and persistence and you will lick this problem.