Stop Excessive Barking...

Dogs do not engage in unrewarding behavior. Dog training is mostly about making bad behaviors unrewarding. If we simply employ this principle, we can stop our dog from barking excessively. Dogs bark because it is a natural behavior. Barking is used to alert their pack of possible danger and to give warning to others. This natural behavior can go astray when the canine is bored, stressed or for various other reasons. An analogy would be overeating in humans. Eating is obviously a natural behavior. However, if we are bored, stressed or suffer from...

Dealing With the Loss of a Pet...

Death Of The Family Pet: A Proper Goodbye To Your Faithful Friend As the words of a sad, but sweet, eulogy was echoed over the loudspeaker of a public address system, a spotlight began to slowly illuminate an object in the center of the show ring: a leash, attached to an empty training collar. The Occasion? It was graduation night for an obedience training class. As the graduating dogs sat silently by their owners, one spot in a row was obviously vacant. One of the dogs who was to have graduated had been struck and killed by an automobile just the night before. The trainer...

Advice for Pet Owners at Halloween Time...

Pet Owners Can Avoid Halloween Hazards It’s no secret Halloween’s popularity is growing and is second only to Christmas in the United States for holiday decoration sales. While the appeal to children is obvious, adults have now pushed Halloween to the status of America’s wildest party time. Family pets are often included in the festive mood or they are ignored, both of which can lead to veterinary medical problems. Estimates from 2006 showed 3.5 million Americans bought some type of Halloween product for their pets according to the American Pet Product...

Advice for Protecting Pets from Californ...

Almost 20 million California households have pets at risk of harm during a disaster. – Recent disasters and follow-up research have shown that proper preparation and effective coordination of animal issues enhance the ability of emergency personnel to protect both human and animal health and safety. – Ten to 25 percent of pet owners will fail to evacuate because of their animals. – Thirty to 50 percent of pet owners will leave pets behind, even with advance notice of evacuation.  Many will return before it is safe or “all clear” to rescue...

SPCA Warns on Fireworks Danger for Pets...

As the days grow shorter, and the nights grow darker, many people across Scotland look forward to one of the last outdoor celebrations of the year – Bonfire Night. Before revellers get too excited about the festivities and start stocking up on fireworks, the Scottish SPCA would like to issue a warning about the potential harm these celebrations can cause animals. Domestic pets, livestock and wildlife are all at risk from the fear fireworks can create but there are simple steps which can be taken to minimise the problem. Sharon Comrie, Deputy Head of the Scottish...

Canine Nutrition – How Important i...

Your dog’s body is made up of 70% water. He can live even if he loses all the fat and half of the protein in his body. However, he will die if his body loses even just 1/10 of his water. In order to survive, a full-grown dog requires, at the very least, two milliliters (mls) of water for every pound he weighs every single day (keeping in mind that there are 30 milliliters of water per 1 ounce). The two milliliters are just enough for the dog to produce urine in his body. Without enough water necessary for urine production, your dog, any dog, will not be able to...

Training Tips for Older Dogs...

Your adult dog needs the right amount of balance in his training. These needs include a regular dose of physical exercise, mental exercise, and the need to socialize.   Providing your dog with these needs will keep him happy, healthy, and may even add extra years to his life. Mental Needs Of Your Adult Dog The more you teach your dog, regardless of his age, breed, and personality, the better he will become at all levels of his life. Training your dog to perform certain tasks gives him purpose, which in turn greatly improves the quality of his life. Once your dog learns...

What to Do if you Think your Dog is Bein...

What are the signs of “dog bullying” and how can you prevent your dog from being bullied by other dogs? There are dogs out there that bully other dogs when in a “doggie environment”, such as a dog park, dog daycare, or a beach area designated for dogs and their owners.   Often, bullying takes place in large groups, regardless of the size. Most of these dog bullies are of the large breed and prey on smaller dogs, although there are also smaller breeds with a strong, dominant personality whom bully on other dogs of all sizes. The next time you take your dog to the...

Helping the Hyperactive Dog...

Hyperactivity in dogs is a common problem. Generally it is present amongst a cluster of other inappropriate behaviors such as jumping, pulling on the leash and unwarranted barking. In most cases, canine hyperactivity is stress induced. We must realize that simply living with humans involves a certain degree of stress for most dogs. Many humans do not understand dog communication and do not respect the fact that dogs are of a different species with different needs. To gather an in depth understanding of some of the many communication difficulties that exist between man and...

Now Ear This! What Your Dog’s Ears...

Understanding What Dog Ear Movements Mean All positions of a dog’s ears should be gauged relative to the way the dog normally carries his ears when he is relaxed. Dogs with severely cropped or very long ears will be harder to read. Ears erect or slightly forward: “What is that?” This is a sign of attention in response to a sound or when studying a new situation. Accompanied by a slightly tilted head and a relaxed or slightly open mouth, the meaning changes to “This is really interesting” or “I do not understand that” and is...