Here are some more ideas on quick things you can do with your dog to make her feel special:
Teach a trick. The internet is full of fun and easy tricks you can teach your dog. Some can take a matter of minutes to learn. Your dog will appreciate the time you spent with him, and you’ll look cool in front of your friends when you show off your new trick.
Work on obedience. Just a few minutes a day reinforcing commands your dog knows is time well spent. Have your dog hold a “sit” for you or put him in a “down” while you are watching TV. Not only does it place you as pack leader, it keeps your dog’s mind stimulated.
Give a treat. Your local butcher has lots of uncooked bones with small bits of leftover meat and lots of flavor. There are lots of healthy, tasty treats you can give your dog. My dog loves her frozen ice cubes made from chicken stock. Be sure you are careful about giving high-fat, high-calorie treats to dogs that are overweight.
For more tips on working and playing with your dog, visit http://www.leashrlylife.com/.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Are you spending enough time with your dog?
Ever feel like your beloved friend isn’t getting enough of your attention? I do. As much time as I spend walking her, stroking her and taking her out for a hike or a swim, I sometimes feel like I’m not a good owner. Here are some quick ideas on things you can do with your dog to make him feel special:
Brushing. Some dogs love to be brushed and others simply tolerate it. In any case, brushing your dog is not only a good hygiene habit, it’s another way of showing him you care. Tender stroking of his hair feels good so try to be gentle especially if your dog isn’t one who seems to like it. The more you do it, the more comfortable and enjoyable it becomes for him.
Talking to your dog. While we know our dogs don’t understand complicated language, they do understand words. More importantly, they understand tone. By speaking softly and gently to your dog, he knows you are there and are being a good friend to him. Don’t be afraid to talk calmly to your dog. You will only put him at ease! (Note: If your dog is frightened or alarmed, you should not speak to him in a soothing way. This will only encourage your dog to be more frightened or alarmed. It is as if you are saying “that’s right. You go ahead and be scared. You should be scared. Good dog.” If your dog is afraid of a sound, for example, simply ignore the frightened behavior and go about your business. Your dog will learn by your behavior that there is nothing to be frightened about.)
Playing with your dog . I know we don’t always have but a few minutes a day, but playing fetch or keep-away is so much fun – not only for our furry friends but for ourselves as well. Throw the ball, tie a string around a toy and when your dog runs to get it, snap it away from her, toss a stick, or chase her around the yard to get her moving.
Brushing. Some dogs love to be brushed and others simply tolerate it. In any case, brushing your dog is not only a good hygiene habit, it’s another way of showing him you care. Tender stroking of his hair feels good so try to be gentle especially if your dog isn’t one who seems to like it. The more you do it, the more comfortable and enjoyable it becomes for him.
Talking to your dog. While we know our dogs don’t understand complicated language, they do understand words. More importantly, they understand tone. By speaking softly and gently to your dog, he knows you are there and are being a good friend to him. Don’t be afraid to talk calmly to your dog. You will only put him at ease! (Note: If your dog is frightened or alarmed, you should not speak to him in a soothing way. This will only encourage your dog to be more frightened or alarmed. It is as if you are saying “that’s right. You go ahead and be scared. You should be scared. Good dog.” If your dog is afraid of a sound, for example, simply ignore the frightened behavior and go about your business. Your dog will learn by your behavior that there is nothing to be frightened about.)
Playing with your dog . I know we don’t always have but a few minutes a day, but playing fetch or keep-away is so much fun – not only for our furry friends but for ourselves as well. Throw the ball, tie a string around a toy and when your dog runs to get it, snap it away from her, toss a stick, or chase her around the yard to get her moving.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Dog diseases to watch for
Distemper
A dog with distemper will have a fever spike of 103-105 degrees. A second spike may occur with loss of appetite, listlessness, watery discharge from eyes and nose and a dry cough may accompany these symptoms. The dog will have seizures and may have hard pads on its feet. It is a very serious condition.
Hepatitis
This condition effects the liver, kidney and the lining of blood vessels. Dogs with hepatitis may have a fever and won't eat. There may also be passing of blood or he may vomit blood. The dog's belly may be tucked up and there is a swelling of the liver. The eyes may be sensitive to light; there may be bleeding gums, jaundice and/or "blue" eyes (cloudy cornea).
Rabies
There are two types of rabies - Vicious and Paralytic. Animals with vicious rabies will act boldly and attack. Those with paralytic rabies have trouble with muscle coordination, will have excessive drooling and act "dumb." The law requires owners to have dogs vaccinated for rabies and it should be done when the dog is 12 -24 weeks old.
Parvo Virus
This is a common condition that might be found in puppies from 6 - 20 weeks old. Symptoms include profuse diarrhea with mucous or blood, depression and/or lethargy, vomiting and a "tucked-up" abdomen. Dehydration develops very quickly so seek medical attention immediately. Untreated Parvo Virus results in a sloughing off of the intestinal lining.
Corona Virus
The signs of Corona Virus may be varied. There may be acute diarrhea or no signs of diarrhea. Diarrhea often times is yellow/orange in color and is foul smelling. Dogs will display a loss of appetite, depression and vomiting. Dehydration is also common.
Leptospirosis
Dogs can pick this up from drinking water from puddles and streams. If left untreated it causes liver and kidney damage. Severe jaundice is usually present and fever, lethargy, depression, muscle pain, diarrhea and blood in the urine can also accompany it. If the virus gets into the blood stream it will cause the kidneys to swell and shut down. People can also be affected by this disease.
Lyme Disease
Dogs get this by being bitten by a deer tick. Symptoms include a sudden onset of lameness, and swollen joints that are painful to the touch. If left untreated Lyme disease can affect everything including the heart, limbs, etc.
Ringworm
Ringworm is recognized by a scaly, crusty circular patch. Dogs tend to lick and scratch at the infection site. The patch is identifiable from the red circular rind and hair loss surrounding the area. Humans can also be affected by ringworm.
If you're not sure if your dog is sick, but he or she doesn't seem or act "right," err on the side of caution and make an appointment with your vetrinarian. Your intuition may save your pet's life.
A dog with distemper will have a fever spike of 103-105 degrees. A second spike may occur with loss of appetite, listlessness, watery discharge from eyes and nose and a dry cough may accompany these symptoms. The dog will have seizures and may have hard pads on its feet. It is a very serious condition.
Hepatitis
This condition effects the liver, kidney and the lining of blood vessels. Dogs with hepatitis may have a fever and won't eat. There may also be passing of blood or he may vomit blood. The dog's belly may be tucked up and there is a swelling of the liver. The eyes may be sensitive to light; there may be bleeding gums, jaundice and/or "blue" eyes (cloudy cornea).
Rabies
There are two types of rabies - Vicious and Paralytic. Animals with vicious rabies will act boldly and attack. Those with paralytic rabies have trouble with muscle coordination, will have excessive drooling and act "dumb." The law requires owners to have dogs vaccinated for rabies and it should be done when the dog is 12 -24 weeks old.
Parvo Virus
This is a common condition that might be found in puppies from 6 - 20 weeks old. Symptoms include profuse diarrhea with mucous or blood, depression and/or lethargy, vomiting and a "tucked-up" abdomen. Dehydration develops very quickly so seek medical attention immediately. Untreated Parvo Virus results in a sloughing off of the intestinal lining.
Corona Virus
The signs of Corona Virus may be varied. There may be acute diarrhea or no signs of diarrhea. Diarrhea often times is yellow/orange in color and is foul smelling. Dogs will display a loss of appetite, depression and vomiting. Dehydration is also common.
Leptospirosis
Dogs can pick this up from drinking water from puddles and streams. If left untreated it causes liver and kidney damage. Severe jaundice is usually present and fever, lethargy, depression, muscle pain, diarrhea and blood in the urine can also accompany it. If the virus gets into the blood stream it will cause the kidneys to swell and shut down. People can also be affected by this disease.
Lyme Disease
Dogs get this by being bitten by a deer tick. Symptoms include a sudden onset of lameness, and swollen joints that are painful to the touch. If left untreated Lyme disease can affect everything including the heart, limbs, etc.
Ringworm
Ringworm is recognized by a scaly, crusty circular patch. Dogs tend to lick and scratch at the infection site. The patch is identifiable from the red circular rind and hair loss surrounding the area. Humans can also be affected by ringworm.
If you're not sure if your dog is sick, but he or she doesn't seem or act "right," err on the side of caution and make an appointment with your vetrinarian. Your intuition may save your pet's life.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Save your pet's life: bloat
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus - commonly known as Bloat
Bloat is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate veterinary assistance for proper diagnosis and treatment. If not treated immediately it can quickly take your dog's life.
This ailment is commonly seen in deep-chested breeds, such as Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, and Great Danes. It is caused by an intake of gasses and fluids that aren't released. It often happens by eating too quickly, gulping water, and/or strenuous exercise after a meal.
Gasses and excess fluid trapped in the stomach expand, causing a distention (bloat) of the stomach, which is readily visible from the appearance of the dog. The distention of the stomach causes it to flip possibly a full 360 degrees and the spleen may rotate. Symptoms may include:
In order to prevent bloat from happening, feed your pet smaller meals, broken up over the course of the day particularly if you have a large, barrel-chested breed like those mentioned above. Avoid exercising your dog immediately after eating and limit water after exercise to avoid gulping.
Once bloat happens, it is common that it may happen again. Owners of deep-chested breeds that have a history of bloat may consider having the stomach stapled to abdominal muscles to prevent future problems. This preventative step should only be taken under the advisory of one or more veterinarians.
Bloat is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate veterinary assistance for proper diagnosis and treatment. If not treated immediately it can quickly take your dog's life.
This ailment is commonly seen in deep-chested breeds, such as Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, and Great Danes. It is caused by an intake of gasses and fluids that aren't released. It often happens by eating too quickly, gulping water, and/or strenuous exercise after a meal.
Gasses and excess fluid trapped in the stomach expand, causing a distention (bloat) of the stomach, which is readily visible from the appearance of the dog. The distention of the stomach causes it to flip possibly a full 360 degrees and the spleen may rotate. Symptoms may include:
- Restlessness
- Distended abdomen
- Glassy eyes
- Unproductive retching/dry heaves
- Excessive panting
- Salivating
- Arrythmia
- Pale gums and mucous membranes
In order to prevent bloat from happening, feed your pet smaller meals, broken up over the course of the day particularly if you have a large, barrel-chested breed like those mentioned above. Avoid exercising your dog immediately after eating and limit water after exercise to avoid gulping.
Once bloat happens, it is common that it may happen again. Owners of deep-chested breeds that have a history of bloat may consider having the stomach stapled to abdominal muscles to prevent future problems. This preventative step should only be taken under the advisory of one or more veterinarians.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Making man's best friend even better II
Does your dog still:
For owners who would like to continue beyond Basic Obedience training, an advanced class may be available. This should cover in-motion commands and commands from a distance. This sets the foundation for your dog’s off-leash conditioning.
Your dog should learn:
Some dog trainers offer a "sleep over camp," where your dog stays with a certified trainer, taking care of your dog's daily needs along with advancing his training during the course of his stay.
Your dog should learn:
- Bark excessively?
- Pull on the leash?
- Destroy household items?
- Jump on people?
For owners who would like to continue beyond Basic Obedience training, an advanced class may be available. This should cover in-motion commands and commands from a distance. This sets the foundation for your dog’s off-leash conditioning.
Your dog should learn:
- Proper behavior and socialization
- To heel by your side
- Automatic sit and hold the sit
- Down and sit by your side
- Down and sit from a distance
- Down and stay command
- Come
- Place
- Down and sit in motion
Some dog trainers offer a "sleep over camp," where your dog stays with a certified trainer, taking care of your dog's daily needs along with advancing his training during the course of his stay.
Your dog should learn:
- Proper behavior
- Socialization skills
- Crate training
- House breaking
- On leash commands with hand signals
- All basic obedience commands and in-motion commands
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Making man's best friend even better I
Does your dog:
Look for a personal trainer with years of experience. Programs should not be a textbook format. Your trainer will show you techniques that will be tailored specifically for your dog's personality. With that in mind you will see fast results that will last.
A good trainer will provide private classes with purposeful distractions, such as toys and other dogs on site so your dog will have positive experiences with another dog.
Puppies, dogs that are under 20 weeks of age, are at the most impressionable time in their lives. It is much easier to teach good behavior than it is to break bad habits. In a 45-minute consultation you should learn how to prevent bad behaviors from starting and to stop current negative behaviors.
The initial consultation should help you learn about your puppy’s personality. Basic commands such as sit, come, place and how to walk without pulling on the leash would be reviewed. Behavioral problems along with house breaking would be covered as well.
When a dog is at least 16 weeks old, basic obedience training is the first step in solving a behavioral problem. Obedience training is your dog's education on how to coexist with humans. It establishes a line of communication between you and your dog.
A basic training program should cover basic commands like:
- Bark excessively?
- Pull on the leash?
- Destroy household items?
- Jump on people?
Look for a personal trainer with years of experience. Programs should not be a textbook format. Your trainer will show you techniques that will be tailored specifically for your dog's personality. With that in mind you will see fast results that will last.
A good trainer will provide private classes with purposeful distractions, such as toys and other dogs on site so your dog will have positive experiences with another dog.
Puppies, dogs that are under 20 weeks of age, are at the most impressionable time in their lives. It is much easier to teach good behavior than it is to break bad habits. In a 45-minute consultation you should learn how to prevent bad behaviors from starting and to stop current negative behaviors.
The initial consultation should help you learn about your puppy’s personality. Basic commands such as sit, come, place and how to walk without pulling on the leash would be reviewed. Behavioral problems along with house breaking would be covered as well.
When a dog is at least 16 weeks old, basic obedience training is the first step in solving a behavioral problem. Obedience training is your dog's education on how to coexist with humans. It establishes a line of communication between you and your dog.
A basic training program should cover basic commands like:
- Sit
- Down
- Place
- Heel
- Come
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Caring for your dog in the summer II
Sunscreen
Boston or Bull Terriers, and other white, shorthaired dogs or dogs with pale ears or noses need special care in the summer months. If your dog is white or has a pale nose or ears, buy some sunblock for your pet. Apply it to vulnerable spots every day. Because dogs have a natural inclination to lick off anything that is applied to their fur and skin, use a sunscreen that is known to be non-toxic to dogs. Your vet will be able to advise you if you are not sure which product to buy.
Swimming
Many dogs love the water. If your dog has never been swimming, try slowly introducing him to a lake, a pond or a pool. Get in the water with your dog as he builds confidence. Throw a toy or a stick a small distance away from you and encourage him to retrieve it. Or, bring another dog with you who loves the water and watch as your pet learns to swim by keeping up with his friend. If you want to be even more comfortable, purchase a life vest made especially for pets. The vest has handles to help you lift your dog into and out of the water. Finally, don't forget to rinse your dog with clean, fresh water after he's been swimming to be sure to get off any chemicals or bacteria.
By following these simple guidelines (including those regarding heat and hydration), you and your pet will surely have a more fun and safe summer!
Boston or Bull Terriers, and other white, shorthaired dogs or dogs with pale ears or noses need special care in the summer months. If your dog is white or has a pale nose or ears, buy some sunblock for your pet. Apply it to vulnerable spots every day. Because dogs have a natural inclination to lick off anything that is applied to their fur and skin, use a sunscreen that is known to be non-toxic to dogs. Your vet will be able to advise you if you are not sure which product to buy.
Swimming
Many dogs love the water. If your dog has never been swimming, try slowly introducing him to a lake, a pond or a pool. Get in the water with your dog as he builds confidence. Throw a toy or a stick a small distance away from you and encourage him to retrieve it. Or, bring another dog with you who loves the water and watch as your pet learns to swim by keeping up with his friend. If you want to be even more comfortable, purchase a life vest made especially for pets. The vest has handles to help you lift your dog into and out of the water. Finally, don't forget to rinse your dog with clean, fresh water after he's been swimming to be sure to get off any chemicals or bacteria.
By following these simple guidelines (including those regarding heat and hydration), you and your pet will surely have a more fun and safe summer!
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