Should Your Child Walk Your New Puppy?

I don't know about you but one of the reasons I got a dog was to enjoy nice, leisurely walks. I would see people walking in the evening, strolling along with their dog walking nicely beside their human.

I've had dogs for the past 14 years. I still see people strolling along after dinner with their dogs. I also see some people being dragged along; their dogs barking, lunging, jumping and behaving in a less than desirable manner.

I live in a neighborhood with lots of children of all ages and lots of new puppies. I love the idea of children growing up with a family pet and of children learning the responsibility of caring for an animal.

What I don't love is seeing young children with the family pet on a leash and no adult supervising the interaction. Young puppies are very impressionable when you first get them. They are always making associations - whether good or bad.

Imagine this scenario:

3 or 4 young children outside with a new puppy on a flat collar and a short leash. The puppy is doing what puppies do - pull, chew, dig, jump, bark, get over aroused.

Children, excited to have a puppy, are also aroused - yelling, shouting, screaming in high pitched voices, jumping around. The puppy is getting more and more bitey and out of control. The children don't have the skills to calm themselves, let alone the puppy.

The children are jerking the puppy's leash, along with screaming and jumping around because they don't know what to do as the puppy keeps pulling and barking at people and dogs passing by.

Think of what the puppy is learning. He is making lots of associations which will impact what he experiences for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, they are not the associations you want him to make. See people = get jerked on the leash. See dogs = get jerked on the leash.

It's no different than your first experiences of anything novel with your teacher - whether piano, dance, baseball, math, you name it. A good teacher will make sure the experience is fun and ensure you want to continue. If you have a bad teacher, you never want to play the piano or continue with dance classes again.

A puppy who is jerked around on leash when he sees people, bicycles, children, cars, or other dogs, for example, will have negative associations with those things.

If you would like a well-adjusted adult dog, the first experiences a new puppy needs are positive ones. See children = get chicken! See cars = chicken!

In my opinion, any untrained puppy needs to be walked by someone who can guide both child and puppy during this very important learning period.

Puppyhood and adolescence have different challenges. Both phases need the guidance of an adult so unwanted behavior does not develop and desired behavior is reinforced.

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Older Dog Health Issues and What to Do About Them

If you have a dog in your family, you hope she will live to a very old age. But, just like with humans, as a dog ages, various health issues are almost certain to show up. This article will explore some of those issues.

On a personal note, my family is fortunate to have a Dalmatian who just recently turned 17 years old. With a normal maximum lifespan of 14 years, that is old! And we have experienced many of the health issues we will discuss here.

Common Health Issues Facing Older Dogs

Senior dogs are obviously not all the same. The health concerns they experience as they get older is greatly reliant on the type of dog, its normal activity level, and how big they are. But there are some conditions that are common among most types and sizes of dogs, so we will limit this article to those issues.

Joint and Bone Issues

Arthritis is probably the most common condition experienced by our older canine friends. This is a painful inflammation of the joints

Glucosamine for Dogs

which causes a great amount of discomfort in your dog. She will typically slow down a lot, due to this discomfort.

The natural reduction in activity experienced due to arthritis means a greater probability of obesity problems, unless you counter with a reduction in her meals.

The pain and discomfort, fortunately, can be reduced significantly by using one of several anti-inflammatory drugs your veterinarian can suggest.

Your dog also may experience other bone and joint problems, such as intervertebral disk disease, where the disk becomes weaker with age. This causes a portion of the disk to protrude upward, putting pressure on the spinal cord. You probably have heard of this as either a ruptured disk or a herniated disk.

Vision Problems With Your Elderly Dog

The most common vision related issues your dog may experience as she ages are cataracts, glaucoma, and nuclear sclerosis. Cataracts and glaucoma can often lead to total blindness. Nuclear sclerosis, while it appears to be cataracts, is simply when the lens fogs due to fibers in the lens, and is normal.

Cataracts are painless, so normally they are left untreated. However, if the dog is completely blind in both eyes due to cataracts, surgery may be recommended to remove the cataract in one of the eyes.

Glaucoma, on the other hand, is extremely painful, and can result in blindness within hours. If you suspect your dog is suffering from glaucoma (she avoids bright areas, tearing is excessive, or she keeps her eyes closed), get her to a vet as soon as possible! There are certain drugs that have been successful in reducing the pressure in the eye. If the drugs fail, then surgery will be recommended.

Obesity

Becoming overweight is very common in older dogs, mainly because of the lowering activity levels. The extra weight your dog carries can result in many more problems, not only with the joints but also in the circulatory system and digestive tract.

With the decreased level of activity, it is important that you begin lowering the amount of food provided. She simply does not need the same amount of calories she used to. Also, make sure you have switched to a diet more appropriate for the senior canines.

We have discussed three of the more common problems your senior dog may experience as she ages. But, as you can see, it is possible to respond to those issues in a way to minimize pain and ensure he or she enjoys their golden years.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Older-Dog-Health-Issues-and-What-to-Do-About-Them&id=9420394

My Older Dog Is Going Blind! What Do I Do?

Have you noticed your older dog has become just a bit more clumsy? Is she bumping into that coffee table or even the wall? Does she have a little more difficulty finding her favorite toy? Or did you notice a haze in her eyes? These are all signs of one of the common ailments in elder dogs - going blind.

We will briefly discuss some of the reasons your dog might go blind. More importantly, we will discuss what you can do to make your blind companion more comfortable with her condition; what you can do both in the house and while outside. Blindness is not a death sentence. Many dogs have thrived and enjoyed a very fulfilling life, even with the loss of one of their senses.

Causes of Blindness in Elderly Dogs

There are several conditions that can lead to vision loss and eventual blindness in your dog. Here are the more common ailments:

· Cataracts - Just as in humans, this condition causes a clouding in the lens of the eye. Depending on the extent of the clouding, either partial or full loss of vision can occur. While surgery is possible to correct this condition, many vets do not recommend it, since it can result in scar tissue that is worse for the dog's vision than the original cataracts.

· Diabetes - About 10% of elderly dogs suffer from diabetes. This is generally more common when the dog is obese, or if the nutrition in her meals was less than adequate. Diabetes will result in cataracts, discussed above, and partial or full loss of vision.

· Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) - Progressive Retinal Atrophy is actually a collection of several similar diseases that are inherited by various breeds of dog. These diseases cause the degeneration of the rods and/or cones in the dog's retina. Since rods are responsible for the dog's excellent night vision, night blindness is usually the first symptom, but full blindness will eventually occur.

· Suddenly Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS) - This disease is similar to PRA, in that it results in the degeneration of the rods and cones of the retina. However, unlike the gradual progression of PRA, SARDS causes blindness in a very short period of time, from a couple days to a couple of weeks. This disease is most common in overweight elderly dogs, particularly females.

Blindness can also be caused by many other conditions, such as tumors, epilepsy, and Cushing's disease. This is why it is so important to take your elderly dog to a veterinarian when you first notice symptoms of blindness. Many times, if the condition causing the blindness can be treated, the blindness may also be treatable.

So What Can You Do?

In most cases, dogs who go blind experience a slow progression of vision loss, allowing them to adapt to their new environment before they have completely lost their sight. This is why many people who think their dog went blind overnight find out that, in fact, their dog has been blind for some time. One day they move the couch, and the blind dog, unaware of the change to her environment, promptly dashes right into the new obstacle!

Remember that vision is not relied upon in a dog's life as much as it impacts us humans. Dogs can readily adapt to their loss of vision, with their other senses becoming more acute. Their blindness will prove to be much more of an issue to you than to your canine companion! If you want to make the transition from sight to blindness easier on your dog, though, there are some simple methods you can use.

Establish a routine, and stick with it. Feeding time should always be at the same time, and in the exact same location. Call your girl to her meal in the same tone and manner each time. And, while on the subject of mealtime, make sure your dog does eat. Blindness, especially sudden blindness, can lead to depression in your dog. If you see she is not eating, seek a veterinarian's advice immediately.

Talk to your dog regularly. It is not important what you talk about. Your voice will relieve her feeling of isolation and comfort her, since she knows you are there.

Minimize changes within the home. Your dog will become used to her surroundings, and if you change them, it will only confuse her. Consider adding some sort of padding to sharp objects your dog might encounter, such as the corners of your coffee table.

Most of all, you need to maintain a calm, positive attitude at all times. Your dog can sense your feelings, and if you emote stress, the dog will pick up on that stress, becoming stressed herself.

We have discussed several of the more common causes of blindness in an elderly dog, and what you can do to make your blind dog more comfortable with her condition. Remember, your dog will adapt much more easily than you can imagine... just give her time and love!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?My-Older-Dog-Is-Going-Blind!-What-Do-I-Do?&id=9434554

Great Advice For Training Your Dog

One of the easiest ways for you to begin to train your dog(s) is to research the types of training classes available in your area. Consider checking out the classes and the venues before committing to one so that you can make sure both you and your pet feel comfortable before beginning the training process.

Your anxious dog should have something to do when you're not home. By appealing to a dog's natural love of food and chewing, food shoved in a rubber toy can make a world of difference for anxious dogs that are home alone.

When training your dog, be sure to enforce every command you give. When you give a command, this helps your dog understand that they must listen to you. If your dog learns to think that he can ignore you when you give a command, it can be very difficult to correct this.

Walking your dog is one of the most important aspects of dog training. It is essential that you are in command of the walk and not the dog.

Make sure you're not reinforcing an undesirable behavior. If they're not performing the task properly, you don't want to give your dog treats or special attention during training. If you do, then they'll think you're pleased and continue to do things the way they're doing them, and they won't improve.

Don't let your dog 'own' the furniture. To a bossy dog, the furniture is his fortress, giving him much more status than sitting on the floor. If your dog becomes possessive about the furniture, deny him access until he is ready to move for any human being, including a child or stranger. Stand with an erect posture and use a firm voice. Don't use food to entice your dog off the furniture if he has already growled, as he will think he has been rewarded. Wait until he gets off the furniture on his own, and don't allow him back up.

Training a dog is a great experience. Seeing how your pet develops good behavior and respect for your command you is a rewarding experience and well worth your time. Training a dog should be treated as an opportunity to have fun instead of a chore, so have fun trying out the suggestions in this article!

By appealing to a dog's natural love of food and chewing, food shoved in a rubber toy can make a world of difference for anxious dogs that are home alone. When training your dog, be sure to enforce every command you give. If your dog learns to think that he can ignore you when you give a command, it can be very difficult to correct this.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Great-Advice-For-Training-Your-Dog&id=9445800

Top Three Factors Why Your DOG Needs A Dog Trainer

A lot of pet owners struggle to house train their dogs due to lack of dog trainers. It is certainly true that a dog trainer is a lifeblood for training any fussy furry pal having behavioral issues. He is a wonderful resource to help pet behave in the right manner and develop techniques to help them overcome their aggressive nature or teach them good habits. Though it takes much time and at times pet may ignore the commands, your pet can benefit hugely from obedience training.

Not Listening to Owners

Not all breeds are easier to train. Some are easier, whereas some are tough shells to break. However, all canines can be trained to fall into the league to follow simple commands. Pet owners get frustrated when they command their pooch to sit and the furry pal just barks back or run away from them. If you have to shout or nag or repeatedly give them the command before they listen to you, it straightly means that they lack respect towards you. Some pet owners may be wondering that their pets obey them most of the time, but still do they need a dog trainer. If your pet doesn't give a heed to simple commands at the very first time, it is likely that opting a dog professional would be really beneficial.

Though, your furry pal listens to you, it is good to hire a dog trainer to improve the ability of your dog to always obey your commands and behave in the shell even in the presence of others.

Barking

Barking is a natural instinct of canines. This is the way of their communication through which they express their emotions and feelings such as pain, anger, fear, and excitement, to the human world. Nevertheless, this becomes abnormal when a dog's barking becomes excessive. For example, even if for a small thing like a moving car, a passerby, a pet cat, a little sound from TV or a presence of a guest, your pooch barks it seems wrong.

Excessive barking may be related to behavioral issues pertaining to separation anxiety, stress, attention seeking, barking out of boredom or loneliness. A professional dog trainer can very well understand the underlying issue of your pooch and can help in to assess out the right theory in order to correct his behavior and carries on a few techniques to help your pooch wad out of this problem.

Licking

Normally, dogs like to lick to show their feelings of love and attachment with their owner. Canines are social and playful creatures. At times, Fido may start licking aggressively on his owner's face or hand, and they may even lick to the strangers or the guests in the house. Owners may take it wrongly thinking that their dog is really lovable and is affectionate towards everybody, even those coming to the front door.

However, you need to understand that this pet behavior is not likely to be appreciated or liked by outsiders especially small kids and old people. And, if you have a large breed dog, then there is every possibility that your dog with his huge body and powerful stamina can overpower the person. A qualified dog trainer knowing rightly to handle such dogs can help your furry pal to control his excitement a little bit, and under training he can learn to greet people without licking.

A dog trainer is really helpful if you think you need to house-train your pooch or in case if he is facing some particular behavioral issue.

We love our four-legged companions but training can help them to mingle in human society very smoothly without any complaint from the outsiders or neighbors.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Three-Factors-Why-Your-DOG-Needs-A-Dog-Trainer&id=9449775

This Will Help Your Pet In An Emergency

Worry and stress can rule us when a natural disaster or other emergency happens. Relieve some of this by making sure your pets, and not only you and your human family, have everything they need. Be prepared for an unexpected emergency. Here are the basics, but pets are individuals, so add whatever else that is not listed to your "in case of emergency" storage that they require.

Food and Water with Bowls. Keep a store of your pet's regular food and plenty of water. Ideally, you want enough for 5 days. Rotate this out, so it doesn't go bad.

Tip: For the bowls, use Tupperware that can not only store the food and water, but allow your pet to eat and drink from them. Replace and replenish this as needed. Water should be replaced every 2 months and keep note of expiration dates for food.

Leash, Collar with Tags & Pet Carrier. You need to be able to keep your pet close and secure. And tags will ensure that you get your pet back if lost. If your dog is the size of mine, over 100 lbs, a crate probably isn't an option. But for cats and smaller dogs, having one handy can give you quick & easy mobility.

Dog First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit. This will include most of the same items that we need as well. You can purchase one or make your own. A DIY First Aid Kit would be ideal as you can include whatever your particular pet may need.

Tip: Include a few treats as well to distract your pet when giving medical attention.

Current Photos. Include at least one of you and your pet.

Medications & Vet Records. If your pet has medicines or other needs, include them in your emergency pack along with any special instructions. Keep the instructions simple and clear, so there isn't any confusion.

Calming Collar

If your pet is prone to anxiety, I recommend including a tight-fitting garment or calming collar. This can help relax your pet in times of stress.

Contact List. Phone numbers and addresses of pet-friendly hotels, veterinarians, American Humane Association, and friends & family in town and out.

All of these supplies can be safely stored in a lidded tub or other waterproof containers. Mark it boldly on the outside, such as Dog's Emergency Gear. This way, you can easily identify it and everyone in the family knows to grab it.

And don't forget to create an emergency pack for you and the other humans in your house. It's always good to be prepared.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?This-Will-Help-Your-Pet-In-An-Emergency&id=9454917

Dog Training: How To Train Your Dogs Easily

Keeping a dog at home is something fun and interesting. Studies have shown that having a little pet at home can make your life fun and at the same time, release your stress and pressure from work.

Getting a pet dog is easy to do, but taking care and training him is another story. Most people would love to have a dog as a pet, but when it comes to taking care of the dog or training him, the owners feel challenged.

In this article, you are going to discover the 5 tips on how you can train your dog easily.

You can learn how to teach him to come to you when called. You can ask him to stay quiet, to give you his paw and do 'handshake', or even request your dog to crawl.

Here are the 5 tips that you must apply...

1. Create a training schedule

Do you know that training a dog requires a proper schedule? The more strictly you follow the schedule, the better the result and the quicker your dog will learn what you have to teach him. This is because when you have a schedule, your dog will be better prepared and expected to be trained by you.

2. Use the right reward

Using treats as rewards for your dog is extremely important during a training session. Praising your dog and giving him a pat on the head is just not enough. Most dogs love to eat and if you use the right treat that they love, they will follow through what you ask them to do.

3. Use a clicker only when necessary

Some dogs are not as obedient and they will never listen to you. If that is the case, choose to use a clicker. It is always better to train your dog without using a clicker. Why? The answer is that you do not want your dog respond to you only when the clicker is there. You want your dog to follow your instructions, not the clicker.

4. Start small and train

Try to train your puppy when you brought him home. You do not have to wait until he is 3 months old only to teach him. Your puppy will basically learn every move you make and try to understand your interaction with him. So start small and train when it is just a puppy.

5. The key to great dog training is patience

This is where most people are going to give up and quit. At first, they feel fun and interesting to teach their dog to do army crawl. However, after some days and their dogs still don't get it, they started to lose hope and give up. Training requires a lot of effort and patience. This is especially true if you are not a good training and you do not show that you are the pack leader to your dog.

However, never give up and continue to train. Stick to your schedule and try to improve from time to time. You will only get better and eventually, your dog will understand what you want him to do.

Conclusion

Training a dog is something fun and interesting to do, but it may not be as easy as you think. You should always start from easy and simple training such as command your dog to come to you when called or teach him to sit when requested.

Once you have successfully taught your dog the basic and simple command, only then you bring it to the next level.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Training:-How-To-Train-Your-Dogs-Easily&id=9460546