Why giving a puppy as a gift is a bad idea
December 21st, 2007
No matter what holiday you’re celebrating this season, please remember that it’s almost never a good idea to give a new puppy as a gift. You may have heard this before without being sure of the reasoning behind this statement. Petrescue.com has an excellent article that sums up many of the reasons why, including this one:
“THE ATMOSPHERE OF CHRISTMAS MORNING FRIGHTENS THE PUPPY.
People who study canine development and behavior have found that puppies, like children, go through developmental stages. The first fear/avoidance period in a puppy’s development occurs roughly between 7-12 weeks of age. However this is also when the puppy is developmentally best capable of leaving its litter and beginning to form bonds of attachment with its new family. Most breeders agree that this is the right time to send a young puppy home with its adoptive family. However, it is also extremely important not to over-stress or unduly frighten the puppy during this vulnerable time. Fears learned during this first fear/avoidance period can be very, very difficult to overcome later, even with the very best training or behavior modification techniques. In other words, traumatic experiences at this point can have a permanent impact on your puppy’s personality as an adult dog.
Your puppy’s experiences of leaving its mother and litter-mates, and its arrival in its new home and introduction to its new family, can permanently affect its ability to bond with and trust humans. The puppy needs to be introduced to its new home and family during a relaxed and quiet, gentle time, with a minimum of loud noises, flashing lights, and screeching children, ringing phones, visiting company, and other types of general hub-bub. Christmas morning is absolutely the worst time, in terms of the puppy’s developmental needs, for introducing this newly-weaned youngster to its new family.”
Read the rest of this article at http://www.petrescue.com/library/no-pups.htm. Thanks, and have a happy holiday!
Playing safely with your puppy
December 7th, 2007
Paw-rescue.org has some great tips on how you can make sure that you and your children are playing safely and appropriately with your dog. A must-read for all dog owners!
“Screaming, laughing children racing about with a dog chasing them. Someone grabs a stick and starts playing tug-of-war with the dog. The dog grabs a sleeve and starts to yank. Another child holds up a ball and encourages the dog to jump for it. Another child snatches the ball and runs off. The dog gives chase, the children scream even more. Then the children “pig-pile” and start to wrestle with the dog.
How often do we see situations like this? Are we aware that all these games can lead to a child being bitten and undesired behaviors in our dog? Playing in the manner these children are encourages jumping, chasing and even biting. The sounds and speed of the children can excite a dog to the point where he forgets not to use his mouth. Play like this can also make a dog feel threatened. Part of having safer children and dogs is playing safer games and knowing the rules of all games.”
Read the rest at paw-rescue.org.
Who needs store-bought? Make your own dog treats
November 30th, 2007
Many manufactured dog treats contain lots of empty filler that offers your dog no nutritional value, and in fact may even cause him to gain excess weight. So why not make the treats yourself?
Check out this article on wikiHow for a great recipe that makes delicious — and healthy — banana pupcakes.
How To Make Healthy Dog Treats (wikiHow)
Taking care of your dog in the winter
November 26th, 2007
Here are a few tips from the ASPCA on how to best take care of your dog in the cold winter months ahead.
- Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
- Thoroughly wipe off your dog’s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
- Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
- Never leave your dog alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
- Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
- Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
- Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
- Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
Protecting Your Dog With Identification
November 16th, 2007
What Type of Dog Identification Should You Choose?
There are many different ways to help your dog be identified if she becomes lost. The most common types of dog identification are described below.
Collars and identification tags
These are the traditional way to identify a pet. Both metal and plastic identification tags are readily available and are not very costly. These tags can be personalized with your name, address, and telephone number so your dog can be easily identified and you can be notified.
The disadvantage of simple identification tags is that they can easily be removed or may fall off your dog’s collar. Without his identification tags, there may be little hope for finding a lost dog or puppy. Some people will remove a dog’s collar or tags so they can keep the dog for their own. Identification tags will not prevent these thieves.
Microchips
Microchip identification for pets has been an option for several years now. Today, most microchips operate on a 134.2 kHz frequency to be compatible with international systems, but the first microchip identification in the United States worked on a 125 kHz signal.
About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip identification is surgically implanted beneath the dog’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. The tiny computer chip contains the name and address of the dog’s owner and is read with a specialized scanner. Microchips can be read at most animal shelters, as well as by many veterinarians.
Tattoo Identification
Tattoo identification is quick, simple, and doesn’t cost very much. Most dog identification tattoos contain the dog’s name and the owner’s phone number. These tattoos are usually placed on the dog’s ear or stomach and can protect against theft as well. The only downfalls to tattoo identification is that the tattoo may lose color and become difficult to read or the tattoo may be altered so the dog cannot be identified.
Joann Henry operates “Doggie Health Care” http://www.DoggieHealthCare.com a blog all about our beloved four legged family member’s health. She loves to give away free stuff! If you sign up to receive her newsletter, not only will you get some free tips to keep your dog healthier, but FOR A LIMITED TIME, she’ll give you a FREE ebook. For more information, please visit: http://www.DoggieHealthCare.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joann_Henry
Are table scraps okay to feed your dog?
November 9th, 2007
There are a few different schools of thought on whether or not you should slip your dog the occasional bit of your dinner, but I liked this answer from Drs. Foster & Smith, a leading pet supply company.
Is it ok to give dogs healthy table scraps?
You can give your dog table scraps, provided that they are low in fat and sugar, but treats developed for dogs are a much better choice. Just make sure that treats or table scraps do not comprise more than 10% of your dog’s total diet. If you do give your dog table scraps, give samples of foods such as rice, green beans, or a scrap of lean meat. Avoid fatty foods like chicken skin, or the scraps of fat you’ve trimmed off your dinner steak, as well as high-sugar foods like candy and baked goods.
Be aware, however, that by feeding table scraps, you’ll typically have a lifelong “beggar” at your table whenever you eat. Further, feeding table scraps may encourage your dog to steal food left on the table unattended - some of which could be hazardous to your dog’s health.
(http://www.drsfostersmith.com/)
Ten Tips to Choose a Dog Product
November 8th, 2007
- Is the material fruitful? Check out what they promise to deliver - Subject covered
- What exactly is your dog’s problem? Is the area being touched upon in the product? - Objective>
- Are you looking at the right area of dog care.(You can need training,skin solutions,food or dietary changes,vet advice), etc. - Subject deals with objective
- How expensive is the product? (hey, sometimes it is worth spending your money for a decent product package. You need to give your pet a x-mas gift and the classes are expensive!) - Out of pocket expense
- Can the same book help you with other problems which are minor.(You might as well get your money’s worth!) - Extra coverage
- Do the training solutions cover the psychology behind their working.(One needs to justify what they are trying,right?) - Insight into the material
- Does the material have proof it has worked previously? Else does it have credibility? - Review the product
- Make sure the product is not made just for the profit! - Money is not everything
- Make sure it is not a story book but an action oriented training material. - Workable solution
- Go for the material which is of easy access to you.(you should choose a book if you read by the patio, an e-book if you are the desktop guy, audio material, if you are the travelling guy and video if you are the visual person! - all of these work!) - Accessibility
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Preity_Z
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It’s flu season for humans, but what about dogs?
October 26th, 2007
Here’s an interesting article I dug up on what the flu season can mean for our canine friends. No, you don’t have to take Fido to get his flu shot alongside yours, but there are a few things you should know:
As the air cools and autumn approaches, the flu season is also right around the corner—not just for you, but for your pets as well. Unlike humans, there is no vaccine for canine influenza which is a relatively new virus. Canine flu is an airborne disease, much like kennel cough, and is spread from dog to dog.
Most dogs affected by the flu will have a soft, moist cough with or without yellow/green nasal discharge. Those more severely affected may also have rapid/difficult breathing which is usually caused by a secondary complication of pneumonia. It’s important to note that these symptoms can also represent other respiratory diseases and your dog should be taken to your veterinarian at the earliest signs of illness to be accurately diagnosed and receive appropriate treatment.
Most dogs will successfully recover, with fatalities from the flu being uncommon. However, a complication of developing pneumonia can be very serious and generally requires antibiotics. While you won’t contract the flu from your dog, your sick pet can infect other dogs in the household. Keep Fido away from other dogs until he is back to his healthy self again.
Reprinted from Medical Vet Specialist Newsletter September, 2007
Grooming Your Way to a Healthy Dog
October 19th, 2007
2. Grooming helps in improving the blood flow in the follicles of hair thus improving the health of their coat. The way massage makes our skin healthy, grooming beautifies the coat of the dogs. The health effects too are similar as the dogs’ lymphatic system is also stimulated due to grooming.
3. Grooming also helps in making the bonds stronger between you and your dog. Your gentle grooming is pleasing to your dog and it improves its emotional state.
4. While grooming your dog, it is easy for you to familiarize yourself with your dog’s body. You may also be able to check if your dog has any health related issues, such as any injuries that you had not noticed before. Health problems such as ticks can also be noticed and taken care of in time.
5. It is also beneficial to groom your pet’s paws by checking the growth of its nails and looking for any injuries on its pads which may not be visible otherwise.
Pay a visit to your local pet supply store and you will find numerous grooming materials for your dog. But if you are not sure of how to groom your dog, you can always do some research using Google. You will get a number of tips and good advice on grooming your dog. Your dog owning neighbors can also provide valuable input. If there are no dogs in your neighborhood, try finding dog clubs where you will find many dog owners who can share their experiences of grooming the dogs.
If you develop a liking for grooming and if you can do it really well, you may also consider starting a grooming service for other dogs and make it a profitable business for yourself. Dog grooming is in great demand and your services will surely be valued.
Spend some time to groom your lovely dog everyday and you will gift him with good health and thus have a better looking and healthier dog. If you have never done grooming before, don’t worry, there is no better time that the present. Start now and you will learn with time.
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Aggressive behavior in dogs can be a big problem and a major source of conflict between pets and their owners. Aggressive dog behavior needs to be controlled, for your safety and the safety of your canine companion. Aggressive Dog Behaviour
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Searls
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Pampering your little Sweet Pea to the tune of $41 billion
September 23rd, 2007
Owners are treating their animal companions more like humans. But the extent gives some experts pause.
When the late billionaire Leona Helmsley left $12 million to her Maltese, Trouble, a lot of people were shocked. But maybe a lot of people weren’t.
Americans are pampering their pets more than ever. They treat dogs and cats as if they were human, buying them bathing suits, strollers, antidepressants and, for the neutering-conflicted, testicular implants.
This is more than puppy love. Elena Rodriguez witnessed it when a customer at the PetSmart PetsHotel she manages in Glendora asked that someone perform the sign of the cross over Sweet Pea, a Shar-Pei/chow mix, every night. One evening, Rodriguez neglected to administer the ritual.
“I was on my way driving home and I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I forgot to bless the dog,’ ” Rodriguez said. She called a co-worker to attend to Sweet Pea. For people who check their darlings into PetsHotel, she said, “It’s not just about watching them overnight.”
The link between pet and person has become deep and complex. Humans are relying more on pets for comfort as traditional support systems falter, experts in relations between the species say, with families becoming fragmented, baby boomers facing empty nests, job security a fading notion, employers less generous and, for many, religion under scrutiny.
“There’s an extraordinary, revolutionary shift in the relationships between people and companion animals,” said Jon Katz, an author of six books about dogs. “People in extraordinary numbers are turning to companion animals, especially cats and dogs, to fill the holes in their lives.”
At the same time, people have more money than ever to spend, and businesses are giving them more ways than ever to spend it. Pet industry sales are expected to swell to almost $41 billion in the United States this year, making it the second-fastest growing retail category, after electronics.
Even Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Assn., has been taken aback by the offerings.
“I just got a brochure from a company that makes wigs for dogs,” he said. “I don’t know when my dog ever walked past a mirror and said, ‘Gee, my hair is ugly, I need a wig.’ ”
Pets have their own bakeries, day-care centers and GPS devices, the latter so their owners can find them faster if they get lost. The Best Little Cathouse in Pasadena is “cage free” and playrooms are outfitted with webcams so that absent owners can observe their kitties.
PetsHotels show themed movies in its dog “suites,” such as “101 Dalmatians” and “Lady and the Tramp.” (Not “Old Yeller,” though. Too tragic.) The chef at Club-Beverly Hills, advertised as “paparazzi-free,” whips up kosher food and pasta.
“You have a parallel life now with your dog,” said Marjorie Lewis, who owns the club, which is actually in West Hollywood. “If you eat all-natural food, you want your dog to eat all-natural food.”
Petco Animal Supplies Inc. just introduced organic food sections in its stores and is shipping fall fashions, including sweaters and scarves. Also available: a $225 bed that warms or cools to adjust to an animal’s temperature.
“We really cater to the pet parent,” said Rachel McLennan, a spokeswoman for the San Diego-based company.
Muttropolis, which describes its boutiques as “Crate & Barrel meets Whole Foods for dogs and cats,” expects to have 100 locations within five years. Offerings at existing stores, including three in Southern California, include all-terrain boots for dogs and soap-free wheat grass shampoo for cats.
Healthcare options have multiplied. Fluffy doesn’t have to go to an ordinary vet, she can see specialists — cardiologists, radiologists, neurologists, oncologists, behaviorists. Cats can have kidney transplants at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital.
And dogs that have been spayed can be fitted with prostheses made by Neuticles, a company in Missouri. Owner Greg Miller has found plenty of takers, selling almost a quarter of a million worldwide, with California his best market.
“If your dog’s leg or tail or nose got cut off, wouldn’t he know they’re missing?” Miller said. “If you’re neuter-hesitant and you want your dog to look like nothing’s ever changed, that’s where Neuticles come in.”
Most of the billions of dollars spent on pets goes for normal stuff, which, these days, includes life-extending surgeries and tooth-and-gum cleansing wipes but also leashes and kitty litter. People may spend liberally on their animals, but most aren’t interested in buying them diamond-studded collars.
“I don’t want to de-dog my dog,” said Marla Shives, an engineering plumbing specialist from Glendora who named her fluffy white Coton de Tulear Piper, after, well, pipes.
“I feel personally that when people try to humanize their pets to the point where they put clothes on them, that’s about your own needs,” she said. “That’s not what your dog wants.”
In fact, there are serious misgivings about the overindulgence of pets and about the intensity of Americans’ feelings for dogs in particular. It was evident in the scalding reaction to the Michael Vick dog-fighting case, which Katz, the dog-book author, found disturbing.
“It resembled the medieval mob. There were just people howling everywhere,” he said. “In our culture now, we are loving animals more than people.”
That can be a problem for the animals, he said, noting that obesity is a leading cause of death in dogs because their owners can’t say no to them.
“The bottom line is, your dogs don’t do well when treated like children any more than children do when treated like dogs,” he said. “They’re different species.”
In Covina, Gloria and Fernando Cervantes, who don’t have kids, aren’t ashamed to call Dodger, a boxer, “our child.”
“We threw her a birthday party on her first year, cake and all,” Gloria said. “She had all her friends there. . . . We bought them all doggie bones with their names on it.”
Fernando said Gloria and Dodger were very affectionate. “[Gloria’s] like, ‘Oh, baby, come here.’ I think she’s talking to me and she’s talking to the dog,” he said.
Susan and Nick Dominguez don’t have children either. They have Lola and Bianca, American bulldogs that act like offspring and are treated like them too.
Bianca shoots them “the stink eye” if they short her on food, Susan said, and Lola is a “drama queen” who pitches a fit when things don’t go her way and insists on riding shotgun when Nick is driving, propping her front leg on the armrest as she gazes out the window.
“She’s not a dog by any stretch,” Susan said. “Quite frankly, my husband and I think Lola is a little girl that was reincarnated in a dog’s body.”
Both sisters have had surgeries — hip and knee — that set the Huntington Beach couple back $20,000. They destroyed two couches at home, so they’re shuttled to day care, at $50 a visit.
The two are so dearly cared for that Susan is almost jealous.
“If there is reincarnation,” she said, “I’d like to come back as a dog.”