Students Of Success

Every year well over 4 million people are bitten by dogs. While some of these bites may be minor, others can leave serious injuries or even death. If you own a dog which bites someone, you could find yourself in legal trouble. If it kills someone, you could end up behind bars. While I don’t want to scare you away from owning a dog, there are some things you will want to do to make sure your dog doesn’t bite you or others.

The first thing you want to do is never approach strange dogs. Even if the dog is behind a fence or tied up, it could see you as being a threat. You should also keep your own dog away from other strange dogs. It could be injured or killed if the strange dog decides to attack it. You should also avoid petting your dog without letting them sniff your hand first so that they know who you are. Under no circumstances should you run from a dog. Dogs are natural predators, and will almost always chase you unless they’re trained.

When a dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for its young, it is best not to startle or disturb them. They may snap at or bite you. It may be necessary to neuter your dog if it is going around and getting into fights with other dogs constantly. You can also take your dog around others to keep it from being nervous when in the presence of people it is not familiar with. Dogs should also be trained not to chase anyone. This is one of the most common things which leads to a dog biting someone. You should also give your dog rabies vaccinations, and never allow it to go places without your supervision.

If you should be attacked by a dog, the first thing you want to do is remain calm. If you panic you are likely to make bad decisions. You will also want to wash the wound as soon as possible. Use soap and water and contact your doctor as soon as you can. Contact the animal care agency in your area and let them know that you have been bitten. Describe the dog and where you encountered them. Let them know what direction you think the dog went in.

Being the owner of a dog which likes to bite is a serious issue. You can avoid biting by training the dog while they’re young. Once they get older, it will be difficult or impossible to get them to follow your commands, and if they bite somone else, you could be in a lot of trouble.

Michael Colucci is a technical writer for Free Dog Training and Dog Care

Have you ever had this happen? You’re a happy cat owner, your kitty is using the box just fine, but one day…you come home and find a giant urine spot in the living room…the bathroom…heaven forbid - on your bed!

What happened? What went wrong? It isn’t normal for a cat to use her litter box faithfully, then one day decide it’s no longer right for her. There’s always a reason why a cat stops using the litter box.

Always.

If this happens to you, don’t panic! The earlier you realize kitty isn’t using her box, the earlier you can stop this problem cold. By careful investigation, you can figure out what’s going on, and how to get kitty to use her litter box again.

Let’s examine 5 common causes that could affect kitty, and the solutions for each.

Medical condition:

Your kitty suddenly stops using the litter box because she’s developed a medical condition. It is most likely crystals in her urine, which form in the bladder, and make urination extremely painful. Kitty associates the urination pain with her litter box, so she continually tries to find a spot in the house that isn’t painful - to her!

The solution - get kitty to the vet as quickly as possible. A course of medication can clear the crystal problem in the short term. A permanent solution is to change your cat’s diet to canned food. Be sure to consult with your vet on large-scale diet changes for your cat.

New house or residence:

You moved to another location. It’s fine by you…but kitty is stressed out by the move. A week or two after moving in and unpacking boxes, you start finding “accidents” in the new digs.

To solve this problem, you will need to confine your cat to one room, and retrain her to use the litter box. She’s most likely stressed out by the new house or apartment. Set up a room with her food, water, litter box, and toys. Shrink her new world down to a manageable size, and start over with litter training. As she demonstrates her willingness to use the litter box again, bring her out, under supervision, and watch her. After a week or so, your cat should be better acclimated to the new residence, and use her litter box again.

Change to a different cat litter brand:

Cats can be fussy creatures. You change to a different brand of litter because it’s cheaper, it hides the smell better, or it’s simply more available. Kitty tells you she hates her new litter by the most obvious method - she stops using it!

Switch back to the old brand you were using. Assuming kitty liked that, the problem should be solved. If not, try Cat Attract brand litter. It has a unique blend of herbs and clay, and it really does solve the problem for about 98% of the feline population that has a litter box complex.

You change the litter box location:

You decided it’s time to move kitty’s box down to the laundry room from the dining room. Kitty is not pleased, so she continues her habit of using the dining room - minus the litter box!

One solution is to find a new location that’s acceptable to both of you. Barring that, you may well have to give in to kitty’s wishes, and put the darn box back where she likes it. It’s certainly cheaper than fighting the battle of cleaning up the urine stains and odor.

I feel your pain on this; my darn cat Scout loves the exercise room as a prime litter box location. I really, really hate it when I’m on the elliptical machine, and Scout has to answer a call of nature that lingers long after she’s vacated the box. Such is life!

A person comes to live with you and kitty:

If you subscribe to the saying, “Love me, love my cat,” it can be challenging for a new partner if she/he wasn’t a cat person. Discomfort, anger, and resentment can manifest in bad kitty behavior outside the litter box. Your significant other moves in (or you make the move), and the next thing you know, there are presents around the residence you’d rather not have.

You can solve this problem by ensuring that your cat and the other loved one give each a chance to get used to one another. This may entail confining your cat for periods of time, or getting your partner accustomed to cat behavior (climbing on the lap, meowing, sharing the couch, chair, or bed) over a period of time. The worst thing that can happen is for your partner to tease or abuse kitty. This could trigger an inappropriate elimination response.

Anytime your kitty stops using her box for no apparent reason is cause for immediate investigation. If you stop and think about any changes that have occurred in the immediate past, address those first. If you haven’t made any changes, the culprit is most likely a medical condition that can easily be diagnosed and cured by your local kitty vet.

About the Author: http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com
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Whether you are searching for something to say “Happy Birthday” or “Merry Christmas” a dog owner will agree that dog lover gifts are always among those most cherished and appreciated.

Many times, a dog lover’s gift is designed with a specific breed in mind; among the various popular breeds owned include the following:

Beagles
Boston Terriers
Chihuahuas
Bulldogs
Jack Russell Terriers
Pugs
Golden Retrievers
Poodles
Dachshunds
Shih-Tzu

The type of dog an owner has often is a reflection of their personality; thus it shouldn’t be too difficult selecting a dog lover gift that is well suited for Fido and Fido’s parents.

Many owners are fans of the smaller breeds, often referred to as “toy” dogs. Among these include Pomeranians, Shih-Tzu and toy poodles. These animals are often purebreds, and owners traditionally love showing off their animals to anyone willing to admire. These dogs often are “stereotyped” in movies, hiding out in the purses of “well bred” women who are polished, coiffed and manicured. These small animals often are depicted as enjoying a trip to the salon with mom for a brush and trim. Smaller breeds of dogs are often the perfect selection for families living in smaller apartments. Some dogs are even smaller than popular breeds of cats! The Yorkshire terrier is a perfect example of a pup small enough to fit in the palm of your hand!

Many owners of specialized breeds enter their pups into competition. Many hours are spent grooming, fluffing and primping the animals for show; thus dog lover gifts might include any accessories that help complement their dog’s unique features or characteristics. Undoubtedly upon entering the house of one of these award winning animals, you will find ribbons and hundreds of pictures of the stunning champion. The ideal dog lover gifts for people owning a prize dog would be anything that highlights and helps show off puppies stunning nature and well behaved personality. Clothing and picture frames are often popular choices for this category of dog.

Still other dogs are cherished for their warm, loving personalities and “family” natures. Golden Retrievers for example, are a popular choice among families with children. These animals are generally high energy but very well behaved, making them the perfect selection for a family with many young, energetic and playful children. For these, toys woudl be very well received, as the kids can play with them, while enjoying their pet.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don’t blow the bank. You can find more Dog Lover Gift Ideas at her
site. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for Gift News her free monthly newsletter.

Many people are under the mistaken assumption that commands need to be one syllable.

“Sit.”

“Down.”

“Up” (in the car).

“Kennel up.”

This is not an accurate understanding (or observation) of how dogs learn.

In my experience, dogs recognize sound patterns, rhythms and tonality. Have you ever noticed how your dog’s ears perk up when
you ask, “Do you want a cookie?” just as much as they do if you
just say, “Cookie”?

Now, when you’re out in the field, sometimes it’s best to have
commands that are only one syllable. However, for non-essential
commands, I like to incorporate a bit of humor into my training.

For example, “Shake,” becomes, “Slap me some skin, brotha,” or
“What’s shakin’, Mama?”

And, “Hup” (short for “Get in the truck,”) become, “Get your tookis in the truck.”

“Kennel up,” humorously becomes, “Get in the mansion.”

“Bark” transforms into, “Who’s your daddy?”

The command I use for “attack,” becomes, “Easy.” Short for “Take
it easy.” (This tends to fool the bag guy into thinking you’ve got an uncontrollably vicious animal. And tactically, it’s not always beneficial to let a potential assailant know you’re giving your dog the attack command).

When I put the food bowl down and make the dog wait for the release command, the normal “Free” or “Take a break,” becomes “Chow time!” (The release command in this context is situational).

Anyway–the point is: Have fun with your training. Your dog
doesn’t inherently understand one word from another–he only gets
the associations you create with each word. This is why you can
train your dog in a variety of different languages, and your
friends will think your dog is multi-lingual.

I once had a dog that spoke three languages. (Or understood three languages at least!)

And I’m not above lowering myself and my dog training for cheap
laughs amongst my friends.

Meanwhile, they all think that the dog must be a genius. And trust me–your dog will have a big smile on her face as she soaks up all the attention, too.

That’s all for now, folks!
Adam
Dogproblems.com

Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider’s Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History.” Get a free copy of his report “Games To Play With Your Dog” when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: http://www.dogproblems.com

Do you really know all there is to know about your canine companion’s nutritional needs? Many pet owners think they’re doing what’s best for their dogs when it comes to food, but in reality they rely on pure instinct more than science. Nutrition isn’t a guessing game, even when it comes to your pooch. Think about it - if you were left to feed yourself based only on what you craved and had no knowledge of what your body needs to function, would you be eating 5 servings of fruit and veggies or would you head straight for the Ding Dong case at the market?

Cover all of the bases

A dog’s diet can be as complex as any human’s (including yours!), and it’s absolutely essential that you, as an owner, hit all of the vital nutritional bases. A deficiency of certain vitamins and nutrients can lead to upset tummies; overly dry or oily skin, brittle bones, weight issues, and, in some of the worst cases, death. A balanced and proper diet is the building block of your dog’s overall health - if he doesn’t get the right blend of nutrients, the most impeccable care otherwise won’t mean a thing. But with the right diet, his defences against disease and disorders are infinitely stronger than a dog whose owner hasn’t put much thought into an eating plan.

Mix it up!

For the most part, pre-packaged food will help you cover all of the major nutritional requirements a healthy, fairly young dog has. This where many owners trip up simply because of the ease of the decision; Most think that the major choice is between dry and moist food, when in reality the best diet you can provide your dog is one varied in ingredients, textures, and nutritional value. Wolves where carnivores, and that instinct remains with their our modern day dog; to this day. They continue to hunt prey (poor Kitty), love sausage-flavoured treats, and adore the great crunch they get when chowing down on a bone. Those varied elements should give you a little bit of insight into how diverse your dog’s diet can be.

Move beyond meat.

Building some portion of his diet from meat gives you many of the crucial nutrients he needs for energy and growth, but he also needs fiber and carbohydrates to aid in digestion and stability. You could throw down a bowl of dry food every day and maybe give him a “treat” of moist food once a month, but how would you like it if the tables were turned and he insisted on feeding you pancakes every day for the rest of your life? Not such a sunny outlook, is it?

Make it a real meal.

Listen, nobody ever said you had to rely on a bag or can of food to feed your dog. You cook for your family all the time. Doesn’t your dog deserve similar treatment? Most owners say they’d love to cook for their pups but just don’t know where to start, and that’s where I come in. Now you can help fulfil all of your dog’s nutritional needs as well as his taste desires with just one quick flip through my new book, 180 Delicious Gourmet Dog Recipes. I know, I know, you’re busy, and there’s barely time to cook your family a proper meal. That’s why you’ll love this book - in addition to covering all of the usual recipes like traditional dog chow and cookies, I’ve created several that are healthy and delicious enough for you, your dog, and your family. Being skeptical is natural; after all, I never dreamed I’d come up with recipes I could easily share with my dogs! But how can you pass up recipes like biscotti, muffins, omelettes, dinner mints, and even sushi?

Give him some green.

Your dog needs a well-balanced diet, and the best way to accomplish that is through a wide variety of ingredients. Did you know that many dogs love veggies? In fact, if your dog likes to nibble on grass, he may appreciate some of the veggie-oriented recipes in the cookbook. Give it a shot and see what you - and your dog - think. After all, the worst that could happen is an improvement in your pooch’s health!

About The Author

Paul Duxbury is Head of Training for a major UK Charitable Organisation. He has just launched http://www.dog-lover.co.uk which offers a range of products for all Dog Lovers!

The purpose of this article is to improve the public’s knowledge about dogs, the Beagle in particular. Many people decide that they want a dog based off of appearance alone. While this may not be a terrible thing to do if the person has the ability to accommodate all types of dogs, for some individuals the care for specific types of dog breeds is not possible. The best way to avoid any surprises after the adopting or purchase of a dog is to understand the breed and what it takes to care for it. We will go over some of the basic characteristics of the Beagle to help you get a better understanding of the Beagle as a breed and possibly a new addition to your family.

The Beagle is a perfect companion for an active family. They make great members of a team. Though they are a little more difficult to house train than other breeds and not always very interested in learning training commands, the Beagle is a low maintenance, clean dog that will live to a ripe old age. At about 20lbs and 16 inches tall, this super friendly, giving, stubborn, energetic breed is a fantastic family companion.

We hope that we have assisted you I your quest for knowledge and understanding of the Beagle. Please look below for some additional resources. The first thing you will want to do is see what the Beagle looks like. The next thing you will need to do is house train your Beagle. We find that one of the most common reasons that someone will get rid of Beagle’s is that they are not house trained. There is a wonderful manual that can be used and you will find the link below. Lastly we want you to show off your new Beagle. There is a wonderful online dog community complete with a forum for you to post pictures to. Check it out.

The key to success is to love your Beagle and nothing will help you achieve that more than bonding with them. Spend time with your Beagle and make them a happy and healthy addition to your family.

Dog House Training is important for your Beagle. Look at Dog Pictures and send in your own. Talk with fellow Beagle owners in our Dog Forum.

Are you considering adopting an older or rescued dog? Older dogs
are great family members and need homes. Depending on the breed,
senior dogs are often are more subdued than a puppy and
therefore easier on your home. But what about behaviors learned
or tolerated by a previous owner? Senior dogs can be still be
trained using a few tried and true ideas! Just as with puppies
it will take time and patience but the outcome is worth it. A
trained dog will be a happier dog because he will know what is
expected of him.

5 TIPS for Teaching NEW Tricks to Older Dogs

1. Use the proper tone when communicating with your dog:

High/Enthusiastic–Use for Praising (i.e. “Good Dog!”)

Demanding/Authoritative–Use for Commands (i.e. “Sit!”)

Growly/Low–Use for reprimanding (i.e. “Bad Dog!”)

2. Give a command only once. This teaches your dog to listen
the first time.

3. Hands Off when giving a command. Touching or petting
distracts from training.

4. Recall (or “Come”) is the most pleasant of all commands for
your dog. Never reprimand a dog that finally comes to you…even
if you had to chase him through the neighborhood before he
obeyed. He needs to know that you will lavish praise and pet him
when he comes to you!

5. Training not to jump up on people and furniture is best done
with a metal can or box with 10 pennies, stones or marbles taped
inside. For convenience, it is a good idea to have several cans
located in various areas throughout your home. Shake the can up
and down once or twice whenever your dog jumps up. Remember to
reprimand with the low tone at the same time. The noise will
startle the dog and eventually the behavior will stop.

The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part of a dog’s education, is an accomplishment that offer dog owners and his friends a great deal of amusement and adds materially to the value of a dog.

All dogs can be taught tricks, but some breeds have a special aptitude in that direction. At the head of the list of trick dogs is the poodle, as he takes to the performance of tricks as if it was second nature, and he is the main reliance of all showmen dogs.

Newfoundlands, St. Bernards and Great Danes learn without difficulty, while the collies and spaniels are very intelligent; the terriers are quick learners and among the toy dog breed, the Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier and Toy Poodle are highly spoken of and can pick up tricks almost effortlessly.

In selecting the tricks that are to be taught a dog, the owner must show some discretion and no attempt should be made to teach dogs tricks that are not within their powers. For example, a big St. Bernard or Great Dane is sadly out of place or rather almost unachievable attempting to sit up, walk on his hind legs or dance.

These dog breeds are physically incapable of doing such tricks and persistent attempts to train them are really toying with their dignity. They can, however, with appropriate guidance and training taught to fetch and carry, jump, shake hands or speak. Talking about specialty, it is interesting to note that dog breed such as spaniels are particularly apt at fetching and carrying, collies can learn to count and speak readily, and the terriers have a wide sphere of possibilities.

Dogs which are to be taught tricks must have their education begun early in life, so that the playfulness of puppy hood can be taken advantage of, for as dogs mature they take on a sedateness and seriousness that increases the difficulty of teaching them to assume unnatural positions, whereas, with a puppy a trick can be made more or less a matter of play and he will enjoy going through with it.

In the general education and training tricks to a puppy, very little punishment should be given and in trick puppy training no punishment at all. A dog can be forced to do certain things, but if forced he generally acts so slow and sulky that it detracts from his performance, whereas, if he is coaxed into doing them and performs because he likes to, he will go through with his act with an enthusiasm and spontaneous that is most attractive and fun loving.

For these reasons you must not get overly excited while training your young dog nor speak loud, nor cuff and whip him, but should by frequent good-natured repetition of the same performance persuade and coax him to assume certain attitudes or do certain things, and when he has done so, praise him; he will then know that you appreciate what he has done. It is also most desirable to reward him with plentiful of praise and treats.

To end, remember not all dogs can perform every single dog tricks, as some breeds do have some physical limitations. Even so, enjoy teaching your dog “achievable” new tricks, and most importantly have fun along the way!

About the Author

Moses Chia is a dog lover and owner of DogsObedienceTraining.com – The dog training resource site for a happier and healthier dog. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Dogs’ nutritional needs may differ from ours. What we deem as
healthy for us might not sufficient or appropriate for them. To
give your dog the best nutrition available you will have to
understand their specific needs and how to address them. After
all, taking care of man’s best friend does take a little
preparation and know-how.

Your dog needs the essential nutrients to grow, go, and glow. If
your dog does not receive proper nutrients it may result in poor
health, stunted growth, lethargy and shortened lifespan.

Dogs like most animal life forms need the six basic nutrients
for survival: carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and
minerals. These nutrients serve different functions in
sustaining the health and well-being of your dog. This guide
will elaborate on dogs’ need of these nutrients.

1. Proteins: the building blocks of your dog’s health Proteins
are chemicals made of amino acids. Your dog can produce some of
these chemicals in their own bodies. The rest has to be supplied
through food. The best sources of these amino acids are meat and
its byproducts. Dogs can extract proteins from these sources a
lot easier than it would with plant sources.

Choose feeds that have an adequate amount of protein in them to
help your puppies and working dogs grow. Too much of this,
however, may cause kidney problems and has been known to cause
temperament problems.

2. Fats: delivering other nutrients to the body Fat sound like a
bad word - everyone tries to avoid it because it causes tons of
health problems. Dogs, however, just like man, also have a need
for these nutrients - albeit in a moderate amount.

The right amount of fat is needed to promote good skin health,
and to transport fat-soluble vitamins. Fats are also essential
to kidney function and reproductive health. They make food
tastier too. Too much fat will result in obesity and lethargy.

3. Carbohydrates: doggie fuel Fifty percent of your dog’s diet
should consist of carbohydrates since they need it for their
energy. Corn is one of the more popular sources of this
nutrient, along with soybeans. If this source is clean and of
good nutritional quality then that should be fine as well.

4. Vitamins and Minerals: keeping your dog healthy It would have
been easier if your dog only had to splurge on vitamins and
minerals to get optimal health. However, the opposite is true.
Your dog needs an exact amount of vitamins and minerals to be
healthy. Although, your dog may receive these nutrients from
food, vitamin supplements for your dogs could be helpful.
Specially formulated commercial feeds also make it easier for
dog owners to give their dogs good nutrition.

Many people don’t realize that their dogs, just like human beings, can suffer from allergies. In fact, about twenty percent of the dogs in the United States alone suffer from one allergy or another, with flea allergy dermatitis being the most common form of allergies in dogs. Other types include atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and inhalant allergies.

Signs and symptoms of dog allergies may vary but are often marked by persistent itching and discoloration of the skin (most common in skin allergies), coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and mucus discharge (most common in inhalant allergies), and nausea, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea (common to food allergies and other ailments.)

Over-the-counter preparations and treatments for common dog allergies exist and may be purchased at any good pet supply store, but care should be taken when choosing such treatments. Consultation with a vet is the best first course of action for several reasons. First of all, what you think is an allergic reaction may actually be signs of a more serious ailment and a vet should be the one to determine whether that is the case. Secondly, if the allergy is severe enough, over-the-counter treatments may not be sufficient to treat the symptoms and a prescription strength treatment may be required. There is also the chance that the dog does not have an allergy at all. The last thing you want to do is medicate your pet unnecessarily.

If you do think your dog has some type of allergy, consult your vet. The doctor will be able to perform tests to determine whether an allergic condition exists, how severe it is, and what the proper treatment will be. If the dog has an allergy to certain foods, it will be imperative to restrict the animal’s diet to eliminate those items that cause a reaction. The vet’s testing methods can help to determine whether this type of allergy exists as well. If the dog has flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, rather than to the insects themselves), an extreme flea prevention regimen will be recommended.

Just like humans, dogs that suffer from various allergies can live comfortably with them if they are detected and treated properly. It is important to keep in mind that this is not a time to “play doctor” by attempting to diagnose and treat a possible allergic condition yourself. Only your veterinarian is qualified to determine whether your dog is suffering from allergies and what course of action to take.

About the Author

This article courtesy of http://www.dog-obedience-solutions.net