Apr
30
Buying a new puppy is an important decision, especially if you already own a dog. It may be a good idea to ask the previous owners or the pet store where you make your purchase how your
puppy interacted with other dogs around him. If he didn’t get along or if your other dog has acted aggressively to other dogs, you might have to spend a lot of time with them until they get accustomed to each other.
When the day arrives to introduce your new puppy to your existing dog, you can give both dogs a head start and make them feel more comfortable by making introductions in an unfamiliar place.
Start by introducing your new puppy to your dog in a place other than your home, such as a friend’s house or a park that you have never taken your dog to. This will help keep territorial issues out of the way and to keep your dog from feeling threatened. Dogs are territorial and feel that their home is their territory. When another animal crosses their territor, they may feel threatened or become aggressive.
To keep this from happening, let your dog meet his new companion at least twice before bringing him into the home.
Never expect dogs to hit it off right away when introducing your new pup to your dog. Just like people, it may take a little while for your dog to become friendly and trusting of the new puppy. On the other hand, if you have a well-natured dog, you may find him treating the new puppy like it was his own.
Always pay close attention when first introducing your new puppy to your dog. If it seems as though the two are not getting along, or there is growling back and forth, step in the middle and give out treats. Spend extra time with the older dog to show it that the puppy isn’t stealing your attention. You don’t need jealousy adding to the tension. Continue to intercept between the two until they begin to get along.
This won’t take long, as between the two they will decide who’s the leader and soon will become friends.
Dogs, just like children need a lot of tender, loving care. When introducing your new puppy to your dog, remember that you are lucky to have both of these additions to your family. Treat them with love and you’ll get much more in return.
By: Ken Shorey About the Author:
Dating
Apr
29
Hopefully by this fourth and final article in my series on Canine Parvovirus, you realize how serious and deadly this disease is. Needless to say, your puppy’s best chance of survival lies in not contracting Parvo in the first place. So, how do you protect your puppy?
The best way to protect your puppy is to follow the recommended vaccination schedule. At Mill Creek Animal Rescue, weaned puppies are vaccinated at 2 week intervals between 6 and 12 weeks (depending upon when they are weaned). Until your puppy is 2 weeks past its final round of vaccinations, it is at high risk of contracting Parvo. The safest thing to do is to keep your puppy away from the virus as much as possible. This means keeping your puppy confined to your home as much as possible. When you do take your puppy outside, your puppy should be carried unless you are in your own fenced-in yard. When you go to the veterinarian, you should carry your puppy. Your puppy should not be allowed to socialize with other dogs or walk on the ground of any areas where other dogs have been until two weeks after its last vaccination.
There is no “magic number” of vaccinations required to protect your puppy. The number of vaccines has nothing to do with it. When a puppy is born, its body is unable to manufacture antibodies to protect it. Instead, they are protected by the colostrum in their mother’s milk, just the same as human babies are. The mother’s own immunity is passed on to her babies, protecting them until it wears off. How much colostrum a puppy gets depends on its birth order and aggressiveness in nursing. Every nine days, the antibody level drops in half. At a certain level, it is no longer enough to protect the puppy from illness. The problem is knowing when to vaccinate the puppy, because the mother’s antibodies will attack and destroy the vaccine as though it were an actual infection. There is a window of vulnerability where the mother’s antibody isn’t strong enough to fight infection, but is still too strong for a vaccine to be effective. This is when most puppies contract Parvo.
Exactly when a Vaccine will “take” varies even among puppies from the same litter. This is why we vaccinate puppies in a series of shots. Vaccinations given more frequently than 2 weeks will cause the same interference as the maternal antibody and render the vaccine ineffective.
Once a dog has been fully vaccinated, or recovered from a bout with Parvo, it may be immune for life. Although recommendations vary, most veterinary health care professionals recommend an annual vaccination. Some veterinarians recommend a three year vaccination, others recommend vaccinating high risk dogs every 6 months.
What vaccine should be used?
It is believed that killed vaccine is the least effective against the maternal antibody. Live vaccine is generally believed to be more effective. A high titer vaccine is believed to be even more effective, leaving some virus left over after the maternal antibody has been used up to stimulate the puppy’s immune system.
What can you do to eliminate the virus in your environment?
An infected dog sheds 35 million viral particles (35,000 TIMES the typical infectious dose) per OUNCE of stool. If you believe your environment has been contaminated with Parvo virus, there are steps you can take to prevent it spreading.
Indoors:
Untreated, Parvo probably loses its ability to infect a new host within one month.
The best and most effective disinfectant against Parvo and other viruses is common household bleach. One part bleach mixed with 30 parts water should be used to clean bowls, floors, surfaces, toys, bedding, and anything contaminated. Bleach will completely kill the Parvo virus.
Outdoors:
Shaded areas should be considered contaminated for seven months. Areas with good sunlight exposure should be considered contaminated for five months.
Personally, I would recommend soak your yard with it — better to kill the grass than your next dog!
If you think you may have come in contact with Parvo, you can wash your shoes and clothes, even your hands with a bleach solution to reduce the risk of infecting your dog.
If in doubt, before you bring home another dog, be sure it has a strong immunity to Parvo. Your veterinarian can run a titre to find out how well your dog will fare if exposed to Parvo.
Parvo is a very common problem, and kills thousands of puppies every year. Because of the ease with which is can be transmitted on hands, clothes, and most likely rodents and insects, it is virtually impossible to have a kennel that will not eventually be exposed to Parvo disease. Even with the best vaccination protocol in place, all puppies will have a window of at least several days when they are at risk. Using the newer high titer vaccines may shorten this window. Prompt treatment by your veterinarian will increase your puppy’s chances of survival. But, again, your puppy’s best chance is to be kept away from public areas until after it has received its full round of vaccinations.
Please, for your puppy’s sake, be safe, not sorry.
By: CD Miller About the Author:
CD Miller is the founder of Mill Creek Animal Rescue. You can view pets available for adoption at
Petfinder.com Also, be sure to visit
The New Pet Zone for the latest news and product reviews for a healthier happier pet!
Children’s Furniture
Apr
29
As a dog owner, the most serious behavior you will need to deal with is puppy aggression. The level of aggression in puppies and dogs depends on two factors - genetics and environment. As a result, some dogs, even with training, will remain higher risk than others.
Dog aggression is a serious matter, especially if you have small children. If you do, obtain an expert opinion to find out if it’s safe to keep your aggressive puppy around them. Talk to a professional dog trainer, a dog behaviorist, even your veterinarian.
Let’s get back to the subject of dealing with puppy aggression…
You are probably asking now: “But how do I know if I have an overly aggressive dog?”
Here are some…
Symptoms of Puppy Aggression
Take a look at the following list of dog behaviors…
Biting and Snapping
Growling
Excessive barking
Raised fur along the back of the neck and the ridge of the spine
Do you recognize several of the above behaviors? Are they more than isolated instances?
If you answered “YES”, chances are that you have an aggressive puppy or dog.
What are the Causes of Puppy Aggression?
First and foremost, genetics play a major role in puppy and dog aggression.
Breeds such as Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers and Pit Bull Terriers are good examples. They are more aggressive than Golden and Labrador Retrievers because they were bred to be more aggressive.
Another very important factor that influences dog aggression is an environment.
Factors such as living conditions and surroundings, physical punishment and the amount of socialization training that your puppy had received can and will influence puppy aggression.
Something else to keep in mind… All dogs are unique and have their own personalities. Some dogs are born to be “leaders” and will use their aggression to maintain that “alpha dog” status with other dogs AND humans.
Types of Aggression
Aggression is aggression.
Right?
Well, yes and no.
Just like there are several causes of aggression, there are also several types of dog and puppy aggression. To effectively treat your puppy’s aggressiveness, you need to understand the type of aggression your puppy is exhibiting.
Here are some examples…
Defensive aggression
Territorial aggression
Dominant aggression
Gender aggression (Ex.: male vs. female)
Here is a word of caution regarding defensive aggression. Some puppies exhibit aggressive behavior when they are fearful. But just because a puppy is fearful, don’t assume he is not dangerous. More than half of all dog bites are caused by frightened dogs.
Dominant puppy aggression is probably the most dangerous and difficult to treat because you will be trying to change your puppy’s innate desire to “lead”.
The approach to puppy aggression training will depend on the type of aggression your puppy is exhibiting. But in general, any puppy aggression training should also include some form of puppy socialization training.
To successfully treat puppy aggression, try to be proactive. Act at the first sign of aggression. Like with any negative behavior, it’s a lot easier to prevent it from becoming a way of life than to treat it after it sets in. Good luck!
By: Ed Nodelman About the Author:
Making Money at Home
Apr
27
Have you ever wondered how to create powerful puppy housebreaking plan? Here are five simple steps that will skyrocket your dog housebreaking training, guaranteed.
1. Utilize dog’s inborn instincts
Puppies have inborn instincts to seek out their own den and to take care of it. We can use this very handy in our training efforts by “assisting” puppy to “find” his new den which of course will be one of our choosing. If used properly this will prove to be the backbone of our success.
2. Create puppy housebreaking schedule
As in so many other fields schedule plays very important role in the puppy housebreaking as well. We should have schedule in place not only for feeding our puppy but also to take him out. This will help us greatly to predict our puppy needs. In addition to this we should create proper puppy diet.
3. Use rewards instead of punishment
Over the time we have learned that rewards work much better than the punishment. Rewards motivate our puppy greatly to offer desired behavior over and over again. Yelling and punishing out puppy would have counterproductive effect since our puppy will not know why is he being punished.
4. Consistence
Bring out puppy out at the same time and to the same place plays extremely important role in our overall puppy housebreaking efforts. Repetition is the secrets to how our puppy learns.
5. Patience
As with everything else the patience is the key to success. There will be time when our puppy will have an accident and it is very important to follow positive training approach and avoid punishing out puppy for that.
By: Lejla Zukic About the Author:
Criminal Lawyers
Apr
22
You have decided to get a puppy; you have brought her home…now what? You don’t know how to train a puppy, no worries; we’ll help you get through this. We will help you handle the chewing, digging, house breaking and so on. The first thing we are going to go over is the very first week; this is when the biggest adjustments will occur for both you and the puppy.
The first week is critical to future endeavours of training your puppy. You must stick to prearranged schedules and rules set forth. This is going to be tough. You decided to put the puppy in a crate at night but after a little whining she is now on the bed. You all discussed keeping her calm and off people but she is so excited because everyone else is excited she is jumping up on people. The following morning you see she has gone to the washroom on the bed and now she has been banned to her crate, no one wants to get up at the appointed time to feed her, so far…the schedule has gone to pot. Remember, you must stick to the schedules, and rules you have set forth, being a puppy does not give her free reign to rule the roost.
Play with her using the toys and praise her when she uses them. Never hit or reprimand harshly, remember a puppy only does what comes naturally and until taught otherwise has no idea of their boundaries. Keep the excitement level low the first week, friends and family are all going to want to visit…they can wait, she will be here next week. If she is going to be alone you might as well get her used to that as well, if she wakes up and whines, don’t go rushing to her. You will also want to schedule her first veterinary appointment so you can determine with the vet when she will be ready to socialize with other dogs, once you have determined this, set up training and dog socialization classes.
For your puppy to grow into a healthy well adjusted adult dog you must set the tone and decide how to train a puppy early on, before you even have her home you should make the decisions on scheduling and house breaking. You must set the tone in the first week of how the rest or your relationship with your puppy will be.
By: Adrian Van Drunen About the Author:
Toddler Safety
Apr
21
When you bring a new puppy into your home, it is important to begin training right away. If you wait to start, your puppy may pick up bad habits that will be hard to drop in the future. Although you may want your puppy to learn how to sit on the first day, those tricks will have to come behind potty training, biting, and chewing. When your puppy learns the meaning of “no,” training will become much easier. Although it’s not necessary to physically punish your puppy, you must remember to be stern, no matter how cute your puppy is. Puppy Training doesn’t always have to be unpleasant. With the use of praise and rewards, training can be a fun bonding experience for both of you.
The first step in training your puppy is teaching him the word “no.” The sooner he begins to understand “no,” the sooner he will understand everything else. During the first couple of weeks that your puppy is in your home, you may be tempted to make excuses for his behavior. However, if you don’t teach him where to go to the bathroom, and certainly where not to go, he will never learn. It is understandable that you want your puppy with you at all times, but carpet should be avoided like the plague until he has been completely housebroken.
Treats and rewards will speed up this process, puppies need motivation just like humans. Your puppy wants to please you, so when he sees how happy you are that he didn’t potty on the floor, he will want to do it again. As long as you are consistent with your training, he will be consistent in his understanding and progress.
You will be amazed at how sharp those little teeth are the first time your puppy uses your finger as a chew toy. Depending on how hard he bites you, it may really hurt. This is a problem because he does not mean any harm, he’s only playing, and your first reaction is going to be anger. Many times your first reaction is to hit back, and this is never the answer.
In the same way that a child who is abused regularly, your puppy will not obey you because it makes you happy, he will obey you because you terrify him. This is not a healthy relationship and it can be avoided by simply firmly scolding your puppy verbally as opposed to physically. The result to this technique is a mutual desire to make each other happy.
When you bring a puppy home, you may need to do a puppy version of child proofing your house. Puppies teeth just like babies do, and they will chew on anything they can get their hand on. This includes your favorite pair of designer shoes. It is important to show your puppy that you are upset about his behavior without scaring him by throwing a hysterical fit. Introduce him to the world of chew toys that are colorful, tasty, and inexpensive.
This way, your shoes are safe, and your puppy can always find something to chew on. He will enjoy having something that is exclusively his, and you will enjoy wearing your shoes sans holes. Puppy training can be simple and enjoyable if you are prepared for what’s to come before it happens. Your puppy is a lot like you, and he’s not trying to make you angry by biting you or chewing on your things. He simply doesn’t know any better, and it’s your job to teach him.
By: Kristi Ambrose About the Author:
This author is a HUGE fan of puppy dog training [http://www.puppydogtrainingusa.blogspot.com]
Niche Marketing
Apr
20
Previous dog owners are all very well aware of the unique bond that can be formed between master and dog. Previous dog owners could also tell you about the responsibility, the long term commitments, and responsible consideration for society and the people in it, when it comes to your dog. Of course most people, whether they have owned a dog or not, realize what a loyal and affectionate friend a puppy can be if treated properly and taught the difference between good and bad behavior. Choosing a new puppy, is not just a matter of the heart, but firstly a matter of the head when making this important decision. You need to logically consider things like how big the puppy will grow to, what potential health issues there could be, what the temperament of the dog will be, and how well that will fit into you and your families life style. Of the many important questions you should ask yourself before choosing a new puppy as a pet, probably the most important question is one you should ask yourself.
Puppy Expectations
That questions is, what exactly is it that you want from a dog. Or perhaps what are your expectations for this new member of your family. Your dog will in essence become a new member of your family. Are you willing to share your home, and your life with this very new, very dependent family member? Some people expect a dog to carry out a specific task as a new member of their family. Such as expecting the dog to become a watchdog. Dogs, regardless of size will almost definitely sound some kind of warning, when your home or family members are approached by a stranger. Of course if you have more exacting requirements, than just having a poodle that barks at the mailman, then there are several things to consider. Certain breeds are excellent for guarding family and property, but specific training and handling are required to train and teach a dog to behave in this manner. Perhaps your expectations revolve around competing in dog shows and other competitions. If so, consider why you would enjoy this, and perhaps talk with someone who has done this type of thing before. Perhaps you looking for a dog that can be a playmate, and confidante to younger members of your family. Having a dog can be a great way to teach responsibility to young and growing members of your family.
Do Some Doggy Homework
These are only a few of the possible expectations you may have for a dog in your life. The best thing you can do at this point, would be to sit down and carefully consider all the reasons why you want a new pet, and all the expectations you will have for the dog. Once you’ve done this, then you can start looking at the different types of breeds, and find the dog that will be right for you, your lifestyle, and your family. Happy puppy hunting.
By: Chris Campbell About the Author:
Babies
Apr
15
I think all new puppy owners have experienced the following at some point. They are showing off their new dog to their friends, perhaps trying to get him to do tricks, etc. However, the puppy has other ideas and starts to try and bump and grind anyone and anything in sight. Why do puppies do this, and can anything be done about it?
There are actually two opposing views on this subject. The more conventional view is that puppy humping is a demonstration of dominance behaviour. All dogs are pack animals, and your puppy is simply trying to determine their place within your family pack. If you observe puppies in a litter, it is not uncommon to see the males attempt to mount their litter mates whenever possible. Female puppies can also exhibit this behaviour, although it is not as common.
To those dog experts that subscribe to the dominance theory, the general consensus is that if the puppy humping is not harming anyone, do nothing. Given enough time, it will resolve itself on its own when your puppy understands his social standing (in your family, this should be at the very bottom). However, if it is still causing problems, you and other family members will have to demonstrate your dominant position by using “Sit” and “Stay” commands whenever your puppy starts to mount someone. If you do this for 2 months, and it is still an issue, you may want to consult a professional animal behaviourist. He may recommend having your dog neutered (if it isn’t already), or a comprehensive behaviour management program may be in order.
A newer view of the phenomena of puppy humping is that is has nothing to do with pack behaviour or dominance at all. Rather, the only thing it indicates is that your puppy is in an excited state, and is looking for a way to release that energy. The puppy humping you see is simply a motor pattern that your dog performs when in this state.
This concept rose from ideas on dog psychology. Dogs do not think like people. They live in the present, and can use past experience. However, dogs cannot comprehend how a present action will affect future events. So, in this view, they can use past experience to realize that puppy humping felt good in the past, and will feel good now. They cannot comprehend that humping another dog today will somehow affect his social standing in the future. This is beyond his understanding.
Whether this view has any truth to it at all, the solution remains the same. If your puppy is in an excited state and is performing objectionable acts, he needs to be calmed down by using “Sit” or “Stay” commands. If your dog doesn’t respond to this, place him in his crate until his excited state passes. Your dog should learn quickly that puppy humping will result in an automatic crating, which should curtail this behaviour.
In the end, almost all dogs will exhibit signs of puppy humping at some point. Although embarrassing, it is not really a problem so long as your dog is not hurting anyone. If you feel this behaviour must be curtailed, using the basic commands, as well as the crate, should do the trick. Good Luck!
By: David Nordmark About the Author:
Parenting Toddlers
Apr
7
There are many changes that a puppy may go through during puppy development. In this article we will list and describe some of the changes in your puppy’s behavior from 16 weeks up to the age of 19 weeks.
At this point during puppy development you need to be vigilant and remember that this is the point where he is in effect an angry teenager. You may have thought that you have witnessed all the possible behavior problems in the earlier stages of your puppy’s life, but if you do not keep your puppy under strict supervision you may start to see other problems manifesting.
Puppy Behavior - 16 - 19 weeksA step by step Guide of What you Should Expect Your puppy may show different sides to his character. He maybe sweet and well behaved one minute and then the next minute he maybe quite ignorant and ignore your training commands Your puppy is showing the common characteristics of a teenager as he believes that he is all grown up and an adult - but in fact he is still only a baby. You may see your puppy exhibiting nervous behavior, aggression and dominance issues. Depending on your breed of dog - the genetic predisposition may start to show through - do some research on the breed that you have. Keep an eye on any fearful behavior. You may see your puppy running away from what he perceives as frightening. Of course you should protect him from any actual dangers - but don’t be over protective. If you are constantly picking him up - he will start to believe that he has a reason to be scared - by picking your puppy up and coddling him you are reinforcing his negative response. Although your puppy is acting like a teenager he will also start to bond with you and other members of the family. Your puppy may start to chew items around the House - he is basically challenging any authority by doing this. Expect your puppy’ s behavior to really start testing you. You may start to see house training issues with your puppy having accidents around the House. Watch out for anxiety based problems - barking, separation anxiety and barking can appear at this stage in your puppy;s life. You may even see food aggression. If you have a well trained puppy - you should be able to pick up your puppy’s food, sleep in his bedding and anything that proves your standing within the pack
without your puppy showing any aggression. Continue to be consistent in every aspect of your training program. You should start training your puppy basic commands - you will need to start letting him off the leash soon. Some people feel that puppy training classes is admitting failure. This is far from the truth as they are a great way to ask other owners questions, get access to a dog trainer, and socialize your puppy with other dogs of varying breeds, genders and sizes. Your puppy should be wormed again during this period, It is important that your puppy is also checked for fleas. Expect some of your puppy’s teeth to fallout - don’t panic they are the deciduous teeth and will soon be replaced by adult teeth.
Apr
7
The Irish Setter is an active, lovable dog. She is full of spirit and needs plenty of exercise. She is a watch dog but not a guard dog. She can get along with other dogs but it is best if she is socialized with other pets early. She is patient with children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
Approximate Adult Size
The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Irish Setter is 26 to 28 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 65 to 75 pounds. The female ranges from 24 to 26 inches to the withers and 55 to 65 pounds.
Special Health Considerations
Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Irish Setter is no exception. Be on the look out for severe skin problems, epilepsy (common in dogs), Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness), bloat (Gastric Dilation-Volvulus, the second leading killer of dogs, can kill within the hour, this space is too limited for a complete explanation but you should read up on this). Feeding more then once a day and avoiding exercise right after meals may help guard against bloat, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (inherited disease of the retina that can cause vision loss and blindness), and hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
Grooming
The Irish Setter has a moderate length soft and flat coat that sheds average. She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
Life Span
The Irish Setter can live between 12 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
History
The Irish Setter comes from Ireland where they are possibly a cross between setters, pointers and spaniels. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1878.
Some Registries
UKC United Kennel Club NKC National Kennel Club CKC Continental Kennel Club APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc. AKC American Kennel Club FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club KCGB Kennel Club of Great Britain ANKC Australian National Kennel Club ACR American Canine Registry
Litter Size
7 to 8 Irish Setter puppies
Category
Gundog, Sporting Group
Terms To Describe
Active, swift, sweet, trainable, aristocratic, balance, outgoing, stable, intelligent
SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Very good watch dog. A non aggressive dog. Easy to housebreak.
SPECIAL BAD POINTS
They have a mind of their own. Very poor watch dog. Can be hard to train. Can be a bit flighty. Will roam if not controlled. Needs activity and exercise.
Other Names Known By
Red Setter
Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
By: Mitch Endick About the Author:
About the Author
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site http://www.petpages.com, a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info. Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.
International Lawyers
Apr
6
Fetching can be a fun game that you and your puppy can enjoy throughout your life together. Many sporting dog breeds like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Spaniels and others are born with a strong desire to retrieve. Some other breeds like to chase toys and play keep away. You can teach any dog of any age to play fetch but it will likely be easier to teach a puppy. Some dogs will enjoy the game of fetch more than others but all can learn the basics of the game.
An easy and fun way to start teaching your dog to play fetch is to use the two-toy fetch method. Get two identical dog toys that your dog can be crazy about. These toys can be a plush dog toy or a bouncy ball; even a tennis ball works well. The idea is to playfully tease your dog with one of the toys and then throw it a ways from you. Make sure to not throw it too far at the beginning, keep it close until your dog learns. As soon as your dog goes to get the toy, call out praise and then when she retrieves the toy call her back to you and show her the other toy. She will probably run back to you to get the other toy. As soon as she gets close, take the first toy away from her and throw the second toy. She will then run after it and you can start the process over again.
Start slowly and build up over time. Fetching balls can be good exercise so let your dog acclimate to the increased activity. Make sure your dog still wants to play fetch when you stop for the day!
Do not use the fetch toys for any other purpose than to play fetch. It will confuse your dog if she can play with the toys at home but must fetch the toys when you are at the park!
If your dog has no interest in retrieving toys, you can create a positive association and still teach her to fetch the toys. Every time she picks up the toy reward her with a small treat. It will take time and repetitions before this really kicks in for her but you will create a desire to fetch for you by using the treats as a reward.
With a little time and patience you will have a well-trained dog to play fetch with and you both can enjoy the game for years to come.
By: Kevin Lynch About the Author:
Parenting Tips
Apr
1
Nurturing and Caring for your sick puppy
Now a day’s our pets are just like our children. They are very precious to us and when one takes ill can cause us great concern. When puppies get sick it can be even more of a concern because just like young children the illness can take a harder toll on the young sick pup. Finding out why he or she is sick can be very hard to diagnose because unlike children they can not tell you were it hurts. This article will help you learn some of the basic first aid items so your puppy can make a quick recovery. First we must mention that if your sick puppy is vomiting blood or defecating blood please call your vet right away. This can be a very serious case.
Ways to tell your dog is sick.
All dogs have cold and wet noses. When a puppy or adult dog becomes sick they will have a dry and warm nose. This will let you know your dog is having a fever. Fevers are not bad per say because it is a natural body reaction and the increased body temperature is a sign the immune system is fighting of the sickness. You can also take your dogs temperature but this can be very difficult to do so feeling the nose is the best way for a quick answer.
When ever you notice your dog vomiting or not being itself feel the puppies nose and if it is warm then you should call your vet and ask what you can do. Be sure and follow the vet’s advice. I was visiting my brother just last week and his wife noticed their 9 moth old boxer had baseball size bruise on its side. The bruise was noticeable up close but not far away. My brother thought it might just be a bee sting and gave it no more thought. His wife felt the dog’s nose and it was dry and warm. To make a long story short she called the vet and the next morning took the dog in. It ended up being a huge infection from something and the vet said if she did not take him in he probably would have died in a matter of days. The moral here is to always call a professional when in doubt.
When your puppy is ill give him a quiet place to sleep and make it a comfortable as possible. Taking care of your sick puppy is just as simple as taking care of a sick human. IN most cases you should only give the dog water and no food for that day.
It has been proven that puppies respond to love more then they do food. Try and give them lots of it. Pet the dog and let him lay in your lap. This will comfort your sick little pet. Often times a vet will tell you to crush half an aspirin and feed it to your dog with water. Please call your vet first before ever giving your dog any medicine because what is good for humans may kill your pup.
When you go to bed at night let the puppy sleep in your room. This really does a lot for the pup because he knows you are there. This will also let you keep a close eye on him so you can monitor his condition and be able to tell if he gets any worse. If the dog is still sick in the morning you should bring him into a vet clinic.
Puppies are normally not sick for a long period of time. In most cases it will only last a day. If it lasts longer please call your vet because something may be very wrong. If follow these common puppy care tips your pup will be running around your home in know time at all.
By: Jacob Erdei About the Author:
For many of us our little pets mean so much. If you want to learn more ways of taking care of your little friend or have some advice to give then got to
puppycaresite.com
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