10 Tips On Finding A Good Buyer For Your Dog

The best indicator for predicting future behavior of dog owners is past behavior. People and conditions best avoided include:

1. People who have gotten rid of a dog because of "inconvenience" created by a behavior problem, moving, a change in family status (new child, divorce, etc.), excessive shedding, grooming requirements, etc.

2. People who complain about veterinary expenses, feeding costs, etc.

3. People who have never trained a pet.

4. People who kept former dogs outdoors, especially for "protection."

5. People who state that past pets became overly aggressive toward family members, outsiders or other dogs.

6. Families showing signs of friction relating to how the puppy is to be raised.

7. Assignment of feeding and care to one child in a multi-child household, or to a single child that is too young or too disinterested to care for the puppy.

8. Evident hostility between family members, whether or not related to raising of the puppy.

9. Signs of alcohol or drug abuse.

10. Unstable economic conditions.

Understanding How Dogs Learn

All dogs learn through experience. However, the number of times a particular action must be repeated for a dog to learn and to commit it to memory varies. If the dog perceives the action as being particularly advantageous to him, he may learn it on the basis of one experience.

Similarly, the dog learns to avoid particularly disadvantageous situations on the basis of one experience. Like the child who touches the hot stove, the dog will shy from activities that have previously produced discomfort or fear.

The actions and exercises that we teach our dogs in training are not, in themselves, viewed by the dog as either advantageous or disadvantageous. For training to succeed, we must clearly distinguish in terms understandable to the dog what is to his advantage and what is not. Once the dog perceives that it is to his benefit both to refrain from conduct we consider objectionable and to adopt those actions we consider desirable, he learns very quickly.

6 Steps To Introducing A New Puppy To Your Other Pets

Introducing a puppy to the existing pets in a household is accomplished positively if the established house-pet is acknowledged before the puppy is acknowledged.

1. Before bringing puppy home, feed your established pet a partial meal.

2. When you bring the puppy home, bring your pet outside to greet the puppy. If you have a particularly dominant-type pet, arrange this meeting a block or so from your home.

3. Walk the pet with the puppy (however well you can get the puppy to walk!) and let the existing pet sniff the puppy all he wants. Stay outside for forty-five minutes to an hour.

4. Take the pet and puppy into the house and just walk around the house for ten to fifteen minutes, letting everyone get adjusted to a new body in the house.

5. Feed the established pet another partial meal and let puppy watch.

6. Feed the established pet again, and this time put a bowl down for puppy. If the other pet comes to the puppy's bowl, tell him "No." Whenever you feed your animals, feed the older ones first, but make them respect the puppy's bowl.

How To Get Your Dog Used To Getting His Teeth Brushed

This can be a real challenge. While there are alternatives, brushing is best. You just need to know how. The biggest problem with dogs getting their teeth brushed is that the idea is totally foreign to them. Nothing in their instincts prepares them for this, so take it slowly.

Rather than a regular brush, use a finger toothbrush. Use flavored toothpaste for pets, and start by brushing just the fronts of the front teeth. Always have a small treat ready and, after a 3-second tooth-brushing session, reward your pet's good behavior.

Brush just the fronts of the teeth once a day for several days, until your dog or cat seems comfortable with the whole thing. Follow with a treat every time. When your pet is accustomed to this daily routine, start with the front teeth as usual, but move your finger brush along to the teeth on the sides of the mouth too, then quit and give the treat. As he gets relaxed with this part of the routine, you move further back in his mouth. Remember to always start in the front and end with the treat.

Common birth defects in dogs

A vital part of good prevention is to know the common types of illnesses and disorders associated with particular dog breeds. For dogs, the parts of their body that are most frequently affected by congenital problems are the central nervous system, the eyes, the muscles, and the bones. For instance, the Beagle, Collie, miniature Poodle, German Shepherd, and Keeshond are more likely to inherit epilepsy.

Also, different types of nervous system disorders are often passed on within certain breeds. Examples are paralysis of the front and back legs, which is common in the Irish Setter, a failure of muscle coordination common in Fox Terrier, and abnormal swelling of the brain is common in the Chihuahua, English Bulldog, and Cocker Spaniel.

A great number of common breeds suffer from congenital eye abnormalities including glaucoma, cataracts, and blindness.

A hernia is a common muscular problem for many breeds. Breeds such as Basenji, Basset Hound, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, and Cairn Terrier have a high risk for inguinal hernias (gut protrudes into the groin). Umbilical hernias (gut protrudes through the navel) are inherited defects in breeds like Bull Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Pekingese, Basenji, Collie, Weimaraner, Airedale Terrier, and Pointer.

How Confident Is Your Puppy?

There is a simple way to find out how confident your puppy is. Keep in mind, however, to not perform this test if the puppy is from eight to eleven weeks of age, as this is the "fear imprint stage." During this period, sudden noises or unexpected, scary events can have a profound, lasting effect on him.

Wait until the puppy is not paying attention to you. Then, without him seeing you, drop an object down on the floor. It should be something that will make a fairly loud, sudden noise, perhaps a steel pan or container of some sort. Do not throw it down too close to him. Observe his reaction:

A favorable response would have the puppy showing some caution at first, but quickly recovering and then showing some curiosity toward the object. This puppy is confident, well-adjusted, and does not show irrational fear.

An unfavorable reaction would have the puppy howling and bolting in fear, heading for the farthest corner of the room, perhaps even urinating or defecating. This puppy lacks confidence, and could end up being fearful of unexpected situations or persons. A puppy that reacts in this way could become fear-aggressive.

Just Going Out For A Walk With Your Dog

Having a dog that knows how to Heel demonstrates control and is useful under situations where he needs to stay close to you and pay attention to you. But for many of us, the main reason we take our dogs for a walk is for daily exercise where it does not really matter what he does, so long as he does not pull. Usually the dogs are somewhere ahead of us, checking out who has been there and just sort of following their noses.

For this type of a walk, it makes little sense to have him do a Heel since his main enjoyment is to use his nose and all you want is no pulling. The following is a simple, yet effective way to teach him to remain within the length of your leash without pulling:

Start the walk with "Let's go," and as soon as he gets to the end of the leash and starts to pull, stop and say "Easy." His reaction will be to turn toward you and come back a few steps. Start walking again with "Let's go," and when you begin to feel tension on the leash, stop with "Easy."

You may have to repeat this sequence a few times over the course of several sessions. If you do it consistently, he will quickly learn that pulling causes you to stop, which in turn will stop him from pulling.

Inspecting Your Dog's Semi-Moist Food Packaging

You owe it to your dog to thoroughly inspect and check the dog food that you buy for him. If you are purchasing semi-moist dog foods that come wrapped in cellophane then be sure to follow the simple guidelines below.

The cellophane should be soft and pliable, and it should not be off color. Pillow-pouched bags should contain a small amount of air that does not escape under moderate pressure. A careful inspection should also be made through the unopened wrapper for any dull or furry, gray or black spots; or for any shiny or moist, whitish or yellowish spots. The first is mold growth, the second bacteria.

Soft-moist foods are not subjected to high heat and many species of both mold and bacteria remain viable in soft-moist foods. A little water is all either needs to get started, and away they go, held in check only by the inhibitors within the soft-moist food.

Once the visual inspection of the wrappers and wrapped surface of the food has been made, tear open the cellophane. Observe all odors at the time of opening the wrapper. Pick up a piece of the food and squeeze it. Regardless of the type, it should be soft, spongy, and tender. It should have a slight lubricated feel, but should not feel moist on the surface.

3 Simple Steps To Cleaning Your Dog's Face

Routine grooming serves three major purposes: First, it keeps your dog's skin, coat, teeth, gums, and nails in a healthy state. Second, it helps you detect any signs or symptoms of problems or abnormalities. Third, grooming allows you to spend quality time with your pet which helps create a special bond between you and your dog. It is therefore important to establish a daily or weekly grooming ritual that both you and your dog can enjoy. If your dog refuses to be groomed, command him to sit and stay. In addition, grooming should always involve a reward for your dog.

Below are 3 simple steps to properly clean your dog's face:

1. Gently wash the skin around the eyes using a fresh piece of moistened cotton for each one. If you notice any discharge or inflammation, contact a vet for advice.

2. Hold open the ear with one hand and gently clean inside the flap with a small piece of moistened cotton. Use a fresh piece for each ear. Do not probe too deeply into the ear canal.

3. Loose facial skin must be cleaned regularly with damp cotton. This prevents dirt, dead skin, and bacteria from collecting in the folds and causing irritation and infection.

What If My Dog Refuses To Walk On A Leash?

Nothing will make your dog want to move away from you more than jerking the leash and dragging him. If your dog lags, be careful not to reinforce this behavior by giving him attention when he stops. Instead, stand still facing away from your dog and put gentle pressure on the leash and wait. Praise your dog if he moves even one inch to come towards you. Alternatively, go to the end of the leash and kneel down facing away from your dog and wait for your dog to come to you, praising him all the way.

It does not matter how long it takes for him to start walking, (although it should not be more than a minute or two), he eventually will. Then, walk another few feet away and repeat if he stops. If your dog is afraid of leash walking, you will need to take him out for numerous confidence building training sessions on leash. You do not want to take him with you on an errand when you may be in a hurry and get frustrated with your dog. Once you have taken the time to teach your dog to enjoy leash walking, he can come along with you on all your errands.

4 Things To Look For In A Dog Training School

Enrolling in a dog obedience class can be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog, but choosing the wrong class can make the experience unpleasant for both of you. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where you have a selection, shop around. Observe the class prior to taking your dog.

Below are 4 things to look for in a dog obedience class:

Individual Attention: Is the size of the class such that the instructor is able to give individual attention when needed?

Pleasant Atmosphere: Is there a relaxed friendly atmosphere in the class? Tension and disorder will affect both your ability to learn as well as your dog's.

Training Concept: Is the approach to training used in the class consistent with your own
feelings about dog training? Does the instructor wants you to do something to your dog that you are unwilling or reluctant to do?

Instructor Expertise and Ability to Teach: Does the instructor seem knowledgeable about dog training? And beyond that, is the instructor able to communicate his or her knowledge effectively?

A Few Of Your Dog's Favorite Things

There are many ways you can reward your dog other than giving him his favorite treat. Generally, the more reliably your dog has learned a behavior, the more you can give him rewards in place of foods. For dogs who love certain things more than a treat, rewards can become a more important primary motivator than food. Many dogs will turn up their noses at treats if you offer him a game of catch.

Below are 10 examples of great rewards that you can give to your wonderful pet:

1. Chasing a ball or a Frisbee

2. Playing with other dogs

3. Chewing a chew toy

4. Digging a hole

5. Going outside or coming inside

6. Playing tug-of-war or chase

7 Taking a walk or going for a car ride

8. Swimming

9. Chasing birds in a safe environment

10.Anything else your dog loves to do

What To Do If Your Dog Is Bitten By A Snake

Only a few varieties of snakes in North America are poisonous to dogs. The rattlesnake, copperhead, water moccasin (the cottonmouth), mangrove, coral and California lyre are the most commonly found poisonous reptiles. Of these, the rattlesnake's bite accounts for approximately 80 percent of all fatalities.

Snake bites demand immediate first-aid treatment by the owner and intensive veterinary treatment as quickly as possible. The venom's progress can be restricted by use of a tourniquet when the bite is on a leg or tail. Place the tourniquet snugly above the wound site. The tourniquet may be fashioned from hosiery, rope, a rubber band, a bungee cord or even a shirt sleeve.

Next, make a single-line incision through the cutaneous layer, slightly into the muscle fascia at the bite site. Express the venom by squeezing the wound. If a bulb syringe is available, use it. Allow the wound site to slowly ooze blood. If ice is available, pack it around the area but not directly over the wound. Ice also helps to slow the venom's progress.

Immobilize the dog: do not allow it to walk. Carry the dog to your vehicle for quick, direct transportation to the nearest veterinary clinic. Any movement of the dog will increase heart, metabolic and respiration rates and, at the same time, the spread of the venom.

Does The Size Of Your Home Really Matter When Getting A Pet Dog?

The idea that big dogs need a big yard and that if you live in an apartment you need a small dog is too oversimplified. What should be a concern rather than just the dog's body size is its general level of activity. A dog that is known for high general activity will typically require more exercising space than a dog who is not, whether it is a small, medium, or large dog.

To a small dog that is highly active, a house will seem perhaps twice the size as to a large dog. Small dogs can obviously get more exercise in an apartment than can big ones. The general rule that large dogs require a large backyard generally holds true more for the active large dogs like the Airedale and Irish Setter than for the more sluggish large dogs such as the Bloodhound or Norwegian Elkhound.

Of critical importance to owners wanting to keep a dog in an apartment are the traits such as tendency toward excessive barking, which is a disturbance to neighbors, the amount of hair shedding, the dog's destructiveness when left alone, and its odor. Some dogs, such as Beagles and Labrador Retrievers, have a stronger body odor than Keeshonds and Poodles, for example. The Doberman Pinscher has short hair, is fairly easy to clean, has little body odor, and is very low in general activity, so it could be an ideal pet for an owner who wants protection in an apartment.

3 Ways To Connect With Your Dog

All praise is good, but praise specially tailored to connect with the dog's way of reacting is ten times as effective. Here are some tips to follow:

1. Use the right tone of voice. Dogs communicate with one another through sounds easily duplicated by humans. If you're angry with your dog, for example, dropping your voice to a low rumble closely approximates the growling of a dog. For praise, use a sweet, high-pitched crooning voice: "Goooooooood, doooogggg!"

2. Tailor your petting style to your dog. Some dogs go crazy when petted; others hardly notice. Use a little chest pat or scratch for those who tend to be overly enthusiastic, and be a little more boisterous for the ones who really warm to being jollied. Don't let the dog use petting as an excuse to go crazy - lighten up on the pats, but don't correct him - and let your voice do most of the praising.

3. Smile. Dogs understand many of our facial expressions because they use similar ones to communicate with each other. A smiling face is understood in both species, but if you really want to get through, make the smile as wide open as you can. You're trying to approximate that big panting grin a happy dog has.

Choosing A Dog That Matches Your Personality

The personality of a potential owner is one of the key ingredients that should be considered in the decision-making process. If the owner's temperament clashes with that of the dog's, then this could lead to problems.

For example, some breeds absorb training at a slower rate and respond only to a patient, empathetic approach. An owner who is used to training Rottweilers, which need a more demanding training technique, will fail miserably if he or she uses the same assertive approach with a Belgian Sheepdog, a breed with a more delicate constitution.

A large, loud, physically imposing ex-football player should not pick an extremely submissive Italian Greyhound as his pet. The dog could be too intimidated to do anything but urinate submissively and shake.

That same person would be better off with a fairly dominant male German Shepherd, a dog capable of appreciating a more imposing leader. Honestly determine what your presentation to the dog will be like, both temperamentally and physically. Are you tall, short, mild-mannered, overly nurturing, loud, meek, impatient? Making an honest assessment of yourself now will aid you greatly when you go through the breed-specific profiles that follow.

5 Steps To Successful Dog Ownership

Choosing the right dog for your lifestyle is crucial to successful pet ownership. There are five key steps to successful ownership:

1. Self-Appraisal: Know your personality, body type, and potential for leadership. Are you large or small, active or sedentary, extroverted or introverted, nurturing or distant, loud or soft? Be honest with yourself.

2. Choice of a Breed: Go through the breed profiles carefully and choose several breeds that most closely suit your personality and environment. Do not settle on just one; there will be several breeds that suit your situation.

3. Choice of a Dog: Take your time, and do not fall for the first puppy you see! Make sure you are totally comfortable with the breeder before you make a decision.

4. Training: Enroll your dog in a basic obedience class as soon as you can, whether it is a puppy or an adult dog. What you learn will be invaluable and may be the key to happy, successful ownership.

5. Commitment and Consistency: You must provide your dog with consistent leadership, guidance, and stimulation. Without these things both you and your dog will be unhappy. With them you will learn to appreciate each other. And that's what having a dog is all about.

How To Give Your New Puppy As Much Attention Possible

Life can be busy. Between full time careers and outside obligations during off-work time, we must remember that our little puppy need as much attention as possible when we are at home with them. You should enjoy short play and training sessions hourly. If you cannot pay full attention to your puppy's every single second, play with your pup in his playpen, where a suitable toilet and toys are available.

Or, for periods of no longer than an hour at a time, confine your puppy to his doggy den, or short-term close confinement area, such as a portable dog crate. Every hour, release your puppy and quickly take him to his doggy toilet. Your puppy's short-term confinement area should include a comfortable bed, and plenty of hollow chew toys (stuffed with dog food).

It is much easier to watch your pup if he is settled down in a single spot. Either you may move the crate so that your puppy is in the same room as you or you may want to confine your pup to a different room to start preparing him for times when he will be left at home alone. If you do not like the idea of confining your puppy to a dog crate, you may tie the leash to your belt and have the pup settle down at your feet.

Developing Regular Dog Grooming Habits

Grooming should be started immediately in order to ensure that you know your dog's body and can spot any potential health problems, and to make the dog realize that he must tolerate grooming.

1. Each day during the first week, run a soft brush over his back and down his sides.

2. During the second week, comb out mats and get the comb down to the skin on the back and sides.

3. The third week, start working on the chest, tummy, tail and legs.

4. The fourth week, start on nails, teeth and baths.

5. Try to groom at the same time each morning or night, even if only for a few minutes. Your new dog will come to enjoy it, and the grooming will help the bonding process as well as establish dominance. It will also make the dog look and feel good!

6. Consult your breeder or a good groomer to find out how to groom your particular breed. Make sure he covers coat care, ear care, nail care and mouth care.

What Can I Do Daily To Keep My Dog Happy?

Some new dog owners may think that this is a silly question, but it is in fact a great one to ask! Why? Because the answer boils down to only three basic needs that – if kept up properly - is all you need to keep your dog strong, healthy, and happy.

1. Food: Give excellent food in two measured feedings each day. Pick up the food bowl when he or she walks away from it. If you have more than one pet, feed them at the same time but in separate places, so they can't see each other. This prevents competitive eating, which leads to obesity.

2. Water: Clean the bowl and refill with fresh water at least twice daily. Pets drink more when the water is fresh. This reduces wear on the kidneys and promotes strong immunity and long life. Rest room activities: Make it possible for your dog to get outside at least every few hours. If he or she can't urinate often, the risk of bladder and kidney disease will escalate.

3. Walks: Add a good brisk walk or other regular exercise and life will be near perfect for your dog as well as give you fresh air too.

When Children Harm Dogs

The role of children in pet dog problems deserves an entire book by itself. Children and pets are too intricately interwoven into the total family picture to allow analysis as individuals. However, it is possible to list some of the behavior children display that can cause or aggravate behavioral problems in the family dog or even with other people's pets.

About half of these child behaviorisms are quite innocent. Once parents become aware of their contribution to a problem, things are normally brought under control within a few days or weeks, depending on the severity of the problem. However, if the parents do not represent effective authority figures to the children, rehabilitation is often difficult and prolonged, sometimes requiring qualified child-parent guidance as well as canine behavioral guidance.

Cases involving deliberate, mischievous stimulation, sadistic tendencies, jealousy of the dog, and sexual experimentation or disorientation require extremely sensitive consultations that must often be preceded by private telephone consultation with the parents to ensure a neutral emotional atmosphere during the fact-finding stages. Parents should not remain passive, but should display genuine interest and understanding for the child's behavior. If the child or children believe that telling the truth may result in punishment, effective communication can be stifled.

Learn How To Bond With Your Puppy

Bonding is the key to a great relationship with your dog. Bonding means gaining your puppy's love and trust. It's usually easy and is a lot of fun. The formula is simple:

1. Be your pup's buddy.
2. Take him for short romps in the woods or park.
3. Pet him and play with him.

Most puppies are very insecure when they first come home from the breeder. Their entire world has been turned upside down. They are suddenly separated from their mother and their litter mates. You can help overcome some of this insecurity by setting up the puppy's crate is in your bedroom. There he will not feel exiled from his pack during the night. In fact, it will help him feel accepted into his new pack.

Do not undermine your puppy's growing trust with overly harsh or badly timed corrections. Trust is essential to bonding and to successful obedience training. Strive toward convincing your dog that you would never harm him or put him in a harmful situation. Owners who have their dog's trust and have formed a close bond with their dog have the highest potential of training success.