Dog Care & Dog Training Tips

Going home from the office with a day full of accomplishments makes you want to rest in a comfty couch as a reward for job well done. Upon entering your house you see a pile of pet waste in your expensive Persian carpet and more than a hundred deep scratches in your white door’s paint job; which makes your idea of peace frustrating. These are some situations that are a major bummer. If you’re having a problem with your pet unattended in your house then you might want to consider buying a pet door and an invisible fence which will enable your dog to go outside whenever he need to take a poop, while an invisible fence restrict their freedom from places that are dangerous to them.

Pet doors give your pet a sense of freedom to roam around your house and in the backyard, especially your dog who always want to see who enters the gate and your cat that will find a way whenever it wants to go outside. Not to mention the damage that dogs and cats do when they are being restricted from getting out.

In buying a pet door you should consider the following:

The Size of Your Pet:
To get the right size for your pet measure their height and width. Don’t forget to consider your pet’s breed; if it is a large breed dog then choose a dog door that your dog can fit even if it becomes an adult, same goes for cats in buying a cat door.

Thickness of the Door:
Aside from the measurement of your pet, you also need to know the thickness of the door or wall frame where your pet door will be attached to, so you can get the right pet door that will best suit your pet. Quality dog doors and cat doors always comes with instruction manual and by following it you can install your pet door perfectly.

Type of Pet Door:
There are several pet doors to choose from, which will depend on your preference and also whether you own a cat or a dog. There are those Magnetic pet doors which uses magnetism in order to open the pet door. This is done through magnet attach to your pet’s collar, thus restricting other animals from entering your house.

Infrared cat and dog doors are consider one of the most reliable products. It is designed to open through an infrared signal triggered by the collar worn by the pet. Unlike magnetic pet doors, infrared pet doors use a programmed code which specifically made only for your pet’s collar and the pet door. With an infrared pet door no other pet can enter your house unlike magnetic dog collars.

With a dog door you can definitely increase your peace of mind while having fun with your pet.

Conservative estimates suggest there are just under 7m pet dogs in the UK, making them the second most popular pet after their traditional arch enemy, the family cat.

Pet insurance can be used to protect your pet, and more importantly your wallet, from a host of potential threats - and there are many varieties available. Yet in spite of this, pet insurance is a relatively unheard of concept in the UK, and research suggests just 15% of UK pets are covered by any kind of policy.

The cost of fixing Fido when he breaks is something that many people simply do not consider until it is far too late, but it pays to be prudent because the cost of keeping that nose cold is not to be sniffed at.

Quite apart from the enormous emotional attachment one tends to place on a family dog, they are expensive to replace and vets fees have been increasing at a rate in excess of 11% per year as more advanced techniques to help your pet have become available.

Vets estimate that around 60% of pet owners make a claim at least once a year and the RSPCA believes up to 40% of the total cost of a dog can be made up of unforeseen vets fees. With this in mind pet insurance is available at such a cheap rate that the benefits become clear.

Consider Lassie, for example, a Rough Collie. A dog like this would set you back probably around £300 and then another £10 to £15 a week in food, so after five years you’re looking at an investment of over £4,000, which you can protect for between £19 and £40 a month depending on the level of cover you go for - assuming in this example that Lassie was a five year old male living in north-west London.

Sticking with the famous dogs theme, Toto, the Cairn Terrier belonging to Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz could be safely insured for as little as £16 per month, assuming he picked up a typical price of £300.

A policy like this will include the usual things such as vets fees and the level of cover available will be reflected in the price you pay. Injury and illness cover will usually include the cost of x-rays, surgery and medication, as well as the cost of boarding fees - which will be required if your pet is hospitalised for any length of time.

The cost of replacing your pet is also usually included in the fee - protecting you from the worst case scenario when your pet is lost or stolen. Perhaps most importantly of all, most policies allow you to opt for public liability and accidental damage insurance worth up to £1m.

Sophie Neary, product director at BeatThatQuote.com, said: "Owning a dog can be a hugely rewarding experience but the cost of protecting your four legged friend can be quite the opposite if he falls ill.

"The last thing anyone wants is to make a choice at a time like that based upon financial necessity, and pet insurance is a way to avoid that. BeatThatQuote.com can help you find a policy which suits your needs."

Are you tired of cleaning your dog’s waste? Yet don’t want to get rid of your most loved pet. Then a dog waste management equipment is what you need. One of the most challenging parts of owning a pet dog is cleaning its waste everyday; not to mention when your dog is having a problem with their digestive system which makes their waste more disgusting. Even sometimes when walking your dog to the park you can’t help but pick up your dog’s waste with anything that will do the job including with your hands. Yuck!

Good thing there are complete dog waste management products that can help you do the job at the cleanest way possible. When you say complete it means from scooping the waste up to disposing it in a dog waste container with a deodorizer and waste dissolving chemicals. Here are some of the recommended dog poop management products that can make your life a bit easier.

• Pooper Scooper

Pooper Scoopers is one of the simplest yet really needed waste disposal products in the market. Especially for those who love walking their pets in the park, so when your dog take care of his business in the streets, you can easily take care of his waste with a pooper scooper rather than your hand with just a piece of paper. Think about it, getting the dog poop with your hand will definitely makes non-pet lover by passers think twice before trying to own a pet.


• Waste Disposal Bags

Waste disposal bags, like pooper scooper is a must have for taking care of your dog’s waste. Waste disposal bags eliminate the fear of dripping the waste to the ground and the bad odor that will make you literally breathless.


• Dog Waste Container

Dog waste disposal container is where you put your dog’s poops using a pooper scooper or a waste disposal bag. When choosing the right dog waste container, choosing the right brand and size should be of priority. Dog waste container should be made of high quality plastic or stainless steel to prevent rusting. Dog waste container should lock in odor, break down waste to prevent the infestation of bacteria and germs that may cause unsafe health and physical condition.


• Dog Waste Chemicals

Dog waste chemicals such as deodorizers and digesters are very helpful especially for those who live in condominium style residence. With a dog waste deodorizer and dog waste digesters you can give your neighbor a peace of mind from the terrifying odor that will definitely disturb their sub-conscious.

Owning a dog comes with a lot of responsibilities. But come to think of it having a dog to play and cuddle with makes every responsibility worth while.

Did you just buy a new puppy? Are you thinking about doing so sometime in the near future? If so, you will also want to become familiar with puppy training. The fact of the matter is that if you do not train your puppy you may end up with a problem on your hands. Luckily, with a bit of puppy training you can get past all of this and be well on your way to living a happy life with your new pooch.

Most people who do not look into puppy training fail to do so because they are not aware of what it entails. Although each obedience school has a different way of doing things, most of them touch on the same basics. For instance, your puppy will learn the basic commands. This includes sit, stay, lie down, heel, and come among others. When you teach these commands to your puppy at an early age they will remember them for the rest of their life.

Additionally, training will help to get your puppy used to being around other people as well as other dogs. And as you can imagine, this is quite important. When your puppy is trained to socialize with anybody that they are around, you will have a much easier time keeping it under control.

As you can see, puppy training is well worth the time and money. Many people do not move forward with the puppy training process and end up regretting it in the end. Remember, when you train your dog at an early age you have a much better chance of getting through to it.

So before your puppy gets too old, find a training class in your area. For a minimal amount of money you can teach your puppy the basics of behaving and socializing before they are too old.

By: R. Bird -

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.

The History Of Small Dog Clothes

The history of small dog clothes dates back to the time when King Arthur reigned Great Britain in 520 A.D. During this time, the knights' horses wore clothing to protect them from external elements and attacks. Dogs were also being used as part of the military and in law enforcement. They also wore clothing to safeguard them from the surrounding environment and in case of an attack.

Today, not only do narcotic sniffing police dogs wear clothing, but there are also entire lines of small dog clothes available for you to choose from. These small dog clothes are great for families who have dogs as pets. Of course, just as fashion changes over the course of time, so does the various styles of small dog clothes that are available.

The Beauty Of Fashionable Dog Collars

Every dog needs to have a collar for holding its identification because if it ever gets lost, you will want to make sure that it can find its way back home to you. However, beyond simply being practical, these collars can also be quite fashionable. As such, this can be the most fashionable part of a small dog clothes' wardrobe because, even when you do not have your pampered pooch all decked out in his small dog clothes, everyone can still see just how pampered and stylish he really is.

You can actually stop to think of this piece of small dog clothes as your dog's jewelry. With this thought in mind, you will definitely want your small dog to have several of these collars. There is definitely a collar available in every style imaginable and for every occasion you may have. Of course, the dogs that are owned by celebrities actually tend to have the most fabulous-looking collars. This is because, just like everyone else, the rich and famous truly enjoy splurging upon fashionable collars for their dogs.

The History Behind Fashionable Dog Collars

Over the course of history, people throughout the world have used fashionable dog collars that are made out of jewels, brass or velvet. This love of dogs is not something new. In fact, in the museum that is located inside of the Leeds Castle in England, there is a collection of dog collars displayed. These date as far back as to medieval times. These collars also contain some form of identification on them, much like we use on our dog tags today.

The Popularity Of Fashionable Dog Hats

Many people are shocked to see such small dog clothes as hats on dogs in their neighborhood. In fact, these small dog clothes oftentimes catch a lot of attention and admiration. Nevertheless, this is the most popular type of small dog clothes on the market today. The reason why people have their dog wear a hat varies from one person to the next and even from one culture to the next. Some of the most popular reasons for a dog to wear a hat are for protection from the weather outside or simply to make a fashion statement of sorts.

The History Behind Dog Hats

The history behind these small dog clothes goes back at least 27,000 years to the time of the Stone Age. At this time, small dog clothes were woven. They included such things as basket hats, caps, sashes and belts. There is archaeological evidence of this found in clay impressions. Evidence also exists in Eurpoe. At this time in history the people were dependent upon hunting and gathering for their food, so this type of clothing was more than likely an aid for them whenever they were getting their food supplies.

Then, in the late 1800's the term "underneath hat" came to mean "keeping something secret." This makes sense since women were the ones who wore hats in the late 1800's. Of course, this idiom is still in effect today. However, today it is usually the spies and celebrities who are wearing hats because they do not want to be recognized by anyone.

As you can see, hats tend to give us a sense of identity in this day and age. For instance, if you wear a baseball hat, you will know what team this person is rooting for. Of course, there are also hats that have the name of a famous designer on it or simply a phrase that will express who a person is.

Today, these things have also extended to small dog clothes. There are dog hats available for every taste and occasion. You can find dog hats with your favorite baseball, football, basketball or even hockey team's logo on it. If these are not what you are looking for, then you can even find more fashionable hats on the market, everything from furry to sheik is out there if you want to purchase it for your pet.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a wide variety of small dog clothes on the market today. While only collars and hats were discussed above, there are also many other small dog clothes available. Some of the other small dog clothes that are available today include:

• Shirts, sweaters, dresses, coats, costumes and shoes


• Harnesses and leashes


• Hair accessories

There are even beds, bowls and carriers available.

Regardless of the history behind these items, or why you would like to purchase such small dog clothes for your dog, there are some very beautiful items for you to choose from by visiting www.swankpets.com.

Puppies who chew are normal. Chewing is a natural and necessary puppy behavior. Puppies at about four months of age are more prone to chewing because this is when they usually start teething. Other dogs that chew, especially when you are not at home, may be suffering from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety requires an entire new behavior treatment plan. In this newsletter, I want to give you a few tips for your typical, normal-behaving puppy chewer!

Some things you can do is try to teach your puppy not to chew inappropriate items. You can sit on the floor with him, casually place an object before him like a shoe, or a pencil (something he has chewed on inappropriately). As puppy approaches the object, give a firm "No," and replace the item with appropriate chew toy. When puppy takes the appropriate chew toy, praise him. You might even offer him a treat to try and reenforce the appropriate behavior and also.....that chewing on treats is alright too.

Have a variety of chew toys on hand. Give him no more than 3 or 4 chew toys at a time. Rotate the chew toys to provide variety and to help stimulate interest. Puppies can be compared to children who enjoy a new toy or returning to a toy they have not played with in a while.

Keep plenty of Bitter Apple Spray on hand and use it on spots where you find puppy has chewed or is about to chew. This has been the absolute best trick I have ever found in keeping puppies/dogs away from objects I don't want them chewing on.

My Puppy Bites my Hands When we Play!

If you have ever watched puppies playing together or moms playing with their puppies, you will notice how they nip and bite each other sometimes to the point of what sounds like a blood curling scream.....Very Normal Behavior, however. Not so pleasant though when puppy plays with you and attempts the same kind of antics. You will need to teach puppy not to play biting games with you. Try screaming: "Ouch!" Walk away from her for several minutes. You don't want to give her attention for this behavior. You want to plainly tell her "THAT HURTS," and I do not like it!!! If she just barely touches your skin with a little nip, just gently say "No." Try feeding her treats straight from your hand and do not throw them on the floor or leave them out for her to nibble on. Sort of like, puppies/dogs will not bite the hands that feed them, most usually, unless they have some kind of severe psychological disorder. You can also grab her mouth, hold it together firmly and say "NO BITE."

Everyone has a preference as to the size of dog they want and larger dogs are just as popular as the smaller ones. With some breeds of large dogs, you may have some health problems just like the smaller ones, but hip dysplasia is the number one health concern in older dogs because of their bone structure. The Health problem in large dogs also includes kidney failure and food allergies.

Beautiful Large Dog Breeds

The Afghan hound and the Great Dane are very large as they tower about other large dog breeds. The German shepherd and the Rottweiler are a little smaller than the hound and Great Dane but still fit the large dog breed category. All of these breeds suffer health problems in large dogs from birth to adulthood.

Hip Dysplasia and Health Problems in Large Dogs

Hip dysplasia is a condition that affects the hip joint and prevents many male and females from breeding. Breeds of dogs that have a possibility of displaying hip dysplasia receive x-rays in the first year of life to determine if they have such a potential problem. If the dog shows positive signs of hip dysplasia, they are deemed unsuited for breeding. This does not affect their ability to be the perfect and lovable companion.

Other Health Problems in Large Dogs

One health problem is diarrhea, which results from many different reasons such as bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Parasites also cause dogs to have the diarrhea, depending on the type of parasite. Some other reasons for diarrhea in a healthy dog are over eating, changing the food and indigestion. Some medications given to dogs also cause diarrhea and at times can be severe.

If the dog continues to have diarrhea for more than twenty-four hours, medical treatment is required. The first thing you can try is a bland diet of rice and potato instead of their regular food. This may help, but in case it does not, you may need to have a veterinarian determine the cause.

Treating the Health Problem in Large Dogs

Most vets recommend withholding food for twenty-four hours to give the dog’s system time to recuperate. After this time, smaller quantities of food can resume to test the dogs ability to digest the food properly. After a few days of limited food consumption, the dog can be put back on a normal diet. If the diarrhea is caused by an infection, diarrhea may last for several days until the medication has time to work through the bloodstream.

This health problem in large dogs causes a lack of energy and sometimes incontinence, as accidents happen due to the inability to move outdoors fast enough. By restricting food, the dog will eventually stop the diarrhea and give the intestines time to heal. If the diarrhea results from infection or parasite, the problem will persist until proper medical is received. This condition affects all sizes and breeds of dogs no matter what you do to prevent it.