Adopting A Puppy - What You Need To Know By Adam Katz

This was a last minute e-mail I sent to a friend in California, who contacted me only a few hours befote she was leaving to pick a puppy from a breeder she's been researching.

(EMAIL FROM ME, STARTS HERE)

Actually, everything looks really good - for a show breeder. And even better, what I really like is that she's doing things with the dogs (using them in commercials) - which to me, suggests that the dogs she's breeding should (in theory, anyway) have solid temperaments.

The only thing I really wasn't crazy about is the way her dogs look. I don't like the pigment or the luster of the coats. But really, that's more of a personal preference, as I'm not a show breed judge.

I also like that she gets the pups started with crate training.

The main test I recommend is that you should cradle the pup in your arms, so that its feet are up toward your chin, and its back is cupped in your hands. The pup should lie still, like a sack of potatoes and just gaze sweetly up into your eyes. If he won't let you turn him upside down, or won't stop squirming... throw him back and pick another one.

If he passes that test, the next one should be to pin him on his side. He might squirm a little bit at first but then settle down and let you hold him in that position... at least for 10-20 seconds.

And finally, find a metal bowl... or something that makes a lot of noise... like a ring of about 20 keys... and while the pups are playing, toss the bowl or object about five feet from the pups (the breeder won't like this, but ignore it, you're picking a companion for the next 15 years, and you want to make sure you get a good one! So don't ask permission... just do it!) Watch the pups. Good pups should run up to it to investigate. Weak pups will cringe and hide. Do not buy a pup that cringes and hides. If the dog just shows indifference, this is okay... but then I'm going to test to see if the pup is deaf or not. If he's not deaf (clap, or shake keys behind the pup, when he's not looking)... but he was still indifferent to the bowl drop... then the dog is still one I WILL consider.

This is really all you need if you're choosing a dog for a pet. You can also test his ball drive, but to be honest, for a pet that's just going to lounge around the house, a pronounced ball drive is unnecessary.

She seems like a good breeder, as far as one can tell from a web site. So, I'm sure she'll help you out. Just be honest about what you are and aren't looking for in a dog.

That's all for now, folks!
Adam

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=69169&ca=Pets

Ear Infection in Dogs: All You Need to Know By Cristian Stan

Ear infection, no matter how mild, requires a veterinarian's attention. While some infections can possibly heal on its own, the vet should always be consulted so that the right treatment therapy is provided to your pets. The cure of dog ear infection should start the moment it is diagnosed. Otherwise, the condition may worsen. Ear infection is one health concern that all dog owners should be well-informed about because of its high number of noted cases.

There are different types of dog ear infection– the outer, middle, and inner ear infections. The primary symptoms of this disease are foul-smelling wax discharges, swelling, redness, pain, and inflammation. Oftentimes, the cases of inner and middle ear infections are a lot harder to treat than that of outer ear infections.

If your dog is suffering from this health concern, you will find it shaking or cocking its head frequently and at an unusual angle. It may also rub its ear incessantly because of irritation. In worse cases, dogs would develop balance problems and hearing impairment due to the disease.

There are different reasons why ear infection in dogs develops. Sometimes, it is due to bacterial and yeasts finding its way in the dog's ears. Mites may cause this disease as well. So if your dog has some parasites, be sure that you do what it takes to eliminate them from your pet's body. Allergies, underlying diseases, and foreign objects may trigger the problem as well.

If your dog is suffering from ear infection, anti-bacterial medications and ear drops are usually the foremost cures. However, it is strongly advised that you don't just buy over-the-counter medications as they may not necessarily help your pets. Instead, talk to the vet, ask for a prescription, and follow his advice.

For milder cases of ear infection, there are home remedies that you can use to help alleviate the discomfort that your dog goes through. Sometimes, it is necessary to provide your dog with both the medicines prescribed by the vet and the remedies found around the house to achieve fast relief from ear infections.

But more than treatment, dog owners should be more concerned on how to prevent ear infections. Regular grooming and proper hygiene can help a lot. For as long as you know how to take care of your pets properly, infections and all types of diseases shouldn't be a concern for you.

If left untreated, ear infection could pave the way to a host of complex health concerns for your dog. Aside from deafness, your dog can develop tumors and diseases that are hard to treat. The bottom line is that simple ear infection can develop into diseases with complications are next to impossible to reverse. And these diseases shouldn't have occurred in your beloved pets, if you were only there to give them the necessary medical attention.

So the next time you see your pets irritable, scratching its ears often, and has abnormally high ear wax excretion, better be ready for an appointment with the vet. Keeping your dog's health problems at minimum could help both of you greatly in the long run.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=299484&ca=Pets

Do You Need Dog Training Tools When You Train Your Dog? By Eddie Gillespie

There is no question about it, if you own a dog you need to make sure that it behaves well with people, strangers, and with other animals. Your dog needs to obey commands to keep the dog and his surroundings save. This means you need to train your dog and the best time to start with training is during its puppy time. It is possible you do not have a clue what it takes to train a dog, in that case we advise you to go to a puppy training school where you and the puppy can learn together.

During the time you are training with your dog (and that can be its whole life) you will come across dog training tools and you will wonder if these can help you to train your dog. The most controversial of the dog training tools you will come across is the electronic dog collar.

Is an electronic dog collar necessary?

Well that question can be answered quick and clear, No it is not necessary at all, there are many ways you can train your dog and there are many tools that can assist you with the training process, but an electronic dog collar is not one of the dog training tools we can advise. We already said it these kind of collars, (there are different types and forms) are controversial to say at least. If you look them up on the internet, you will read stories of people who think these collars are the best way of training and they absolutely do not harm or hurt the dog in any way, well I suppose those people did not put the collar around their arm or neck because it does, it hurts like a sting of a wasp and we all know that can hurt like hell.

The electronic dog collar works by giving the dog a shock that makes him understand that certain behavior is not right and it has to be avoided as much as possible. The idea is not bad, but there are so much other ways to train your dog

Do you need other dog training tools?

Also a no to that question, you do not need dog training tools at all, if you gather the needed basic knowledge for dog training and you do some research about how you can best train your dog you do not need a thing. But there are some handy dog training tools available that can be fun to try and dog training needs to be fun for the dog and for you, because when you play and learn, dog training comes natural and much more easy.

When you follow the market carefully for a couple of years you will notice that there are many dog training tools introduced that seem very attractive but almost all are no substitute for basic normal dog training. There is just one of the dog training tools that stick for quite a few years now, and that is the clicker training.

Clickers are hand held devices that fit in the palm of your hand and make a click-clack sound when you push them. It is rather loud and your dog should be able to hear it even when surrounded with common background noises. when you give a command and the dog obeys you click and give a treat or other reward. and you keep repeating this until you are sure that the dog understands, when you regular repeat this type of training it can be very effective.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=297053&ca=Pets