Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Stopping Your Dog From Digging (Positively)

All puppies and dogs go through stages where digging is a very entertaining pastime. Unfortunately for owners this often coincides with planting the garden or landscaping the yard. It is not that the dog is trying to sabotage your beautiful yard, it is simply that you have provided an excellent patch of tilled earth for them to dig in. By understanding some of the natural tendencies of digging dogs owners can easily anticipate and plan for digging problems.

Reasons for Digging

As with most traits there are some breeds that are more prone to digging than others. Hunting dogs that have been bred to “go to ground” or actually dig through the ground to get to prey are more likely to be problem diggers than other breeds. Some of the most well known digging breeds are:

· Scotties

· Dachshunds

· Most of the Terrier breeds

All breeds of dogs may also dig for several reasons. Dogs that are bored will dig because it gives them something to do that is fun and entertaining, at least for the dog. In excessively hot or cold conditions dogs will dig into the ground to provide temperature control and to help protect them from the sun or cold. Females will often dig to prepare a den, even if they are not pregnant at the time. All dogs may dig to prepare a bed for themselves simply because it is comfortable and soft in the loose soil. Finally, dogs may dig to bury bones or toys to protect them from being found by other dogs or people.

Spend a bit of time considering why your dog is digging. If it is for bedding reasons or temperature control, consider providing a dog bed or straw or other bedding for them to snuggle into if they get cold. In very hot climates perhaps keeping the dog in a shady area or even misting water into the area they normally sleep in will keep the temperature cooler.

Dogs that dig for boredom may just need additional exercise before they are left alone in the yard. Try taking the dog for a long run or walk or throwing the ball or Frisbee around in the yard for a bit before leaving. In addition dogs that dig to escape may just be bored with the yard. Add a few toys and balls for them to play with, or consider leaving a chew toy or large size joint bone that will be safe for them to chew on for the time you are gone.

Breeds that dig because of characteristics are a bit more of a challenge. One of the best ways to control digging is to set aside a small area of the yard for the activity. Keep the ground soft and tilled so that the dog will enjoy digging there. Praise the dog or puppy when he or she digs in the selected area. Hiding some toys or treats in the area will help the dog learn that this is the right spot to deal with those digging urges.

Dogs can learn to dig only in the selected areas. In the meantime consider filling existing holes with water as they will usually not dig in muddy soil. In addition pepper can be sprinkled around the edges to make the area unsuitable for sniffing and playing around.

Find hundreds more articles like this at ohmydogsupplies.com - also find creative and unique dog gear like Dog Supplies, Dog Beds, and so much more. Coupons available!

Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Marshall
Posted by martin at 10:21:48 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Are You Compatible With German Shepherd Dogs?

German Shepherds are one of the most intelligent and versatile dog breeds in the world. But you need to know basic German Shepherd information to discoverwhat to expect from them before you bring one home. German Shepherd dogs are not satisfied until they are the center of attention. They are not vicious, but don't know their own strength at times. German Shepherds are smarter than most people, which may get them into mischief in order to get your attention. They also can get more health problems than other breeds, especially hip and elbow dysplasia.

When anyone says the word dog, the image that pops up in most people's mind is that of the German Shepherd. Also known as Alsatians (from the province in France where the breed was developed), the German Shepherd is one of the most popular dogs in the world. With their distinctive look, incredible intelligence and remarkable personalities, you would think the German Shepherd would be the perfect dog.

But a German Shepherd is not the dog for everyone. Their large size, their exuberant nature, their coats and sometimes health problems leave many thousands of German Shepherd Dogs to be abandoned every year. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that a quarter of all strays are purebreds, including purebred German Shepherds. Knowing basic German Shepherd information can help teach you what to expect from them as pets will help you decide if a German Shepherd is right for you and your family.

The incredible popularity of the German Shepherd has led to it being over bred. To keep up with the market for German Shepherd puppies, some breeders and puppy mills breed to death any German Shepherd they can find, no matter what it's health. Responsible breeders and caring dog lovers are trying to stop this indiscriminate breeding and only breed healthy dogs. But German Shepherd can often seem to develop more health problems than other breeds.

The most common problem is hip dysplasia, which makes the hind legs crippled. This is a treatable condition that often involves X-rays and surgery. Many German Shepherds are abandoned just because the owners were not willing to pay the vet bills. You must be committed to caring for the dog's health over luxuries for yourself. Many older German Shepherds also become blind, but dogs deal with blindness a lot better than people. The companionship of a German Shepherd should not have a price tag placed upon it.

German Shepherd dogs need to feel they have a job in order to be well-adjusted. They love company and to be part of the family. They hate being left out of anything. They use their intelligence to find ways of doing things they think you will like and praise them for. Whether you will like these actions is another matter. German Shepherds need supervision and training.

Because of their popularity, German Shepherd Dogs have been over bred, which has lead to health problems. Although responsible breeders would not breed an animal with health problems, which can be inherited by their puppies, many still do. The most common health problems with German Shepherds are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and cancers. Even though many of these health problems can be easily treated, the previous owners do not want to or cannot pay the vet bills and instead abandon the dog. When you get a German Shepherd keep in mind that they may need frequent visits to the vet.


Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/are-you-compatible-with-
german-shepherd-dogs-297607.html
Posted by martin at 07:23:34 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday, July 11, 2008

Dogs for the Deaf and Hearing-Impaired

Dogs have incredible hearing capabilities. In fact, a dog's sense of hearing is second only to his sense of smell. Dogs can detect sounds that are far too faint for any human ear to hear.

The first hearing dog was trained by a man named Anthony Blunt in England. He trained the dog for his own use. The first hearing dog's name was Favour. Since then, hearing dogs have become increasingly in demand by those who are deaf or who are hearing-impaired.

While most guide dogs for the blind are purebred dogs, most hearing dogs are mixed breeds that are rescued from animal shelters. The first thing that happens to a dog that has been rescued in order to be trained as a hearing dog is that they are given all of their vaccinations, they are spayed or neutered, and their health is brought to top form. Usually younger dogs are chosen to become hearing dogs, although occasionally older dogs and even dogs with disabilities themselves are chosen and trained as hearing dogs.

Hearing dogs go through intensive training before they become certified. They are trained to respond to sounds - all kinds of sounds. The dog is taught to identify and locate a sound and then touch his owner and show him where the sound is coming from. This system is called the Touch and Tell system. The only sound that a hearing dog responds to differently is a fire alarm. If the dog hears a fire alarm, he touches his owner and then lies down flat. This is a signal to the owner that the sound is a fire alarm.

Hearing dogs allow those who are deaf or severely hearing-impaired to live independently and to lead normal lives.

Source:EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milos_Pesic
Posted by martin at 05:30:30 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Dog Emergencies

You know your dog. You know when your dog is just not feeling well. But when is it necessary to get them to an Animal Emergency Hospital? First, stay calm and focus. If you panic, so will your dog. Be gentle, loving, and compassionate. Your dog knows you'll do your very best to care for them.

The following is a list of symptoms and/or situations that require an Animal Emergency Hospital room & Veterinary care pronto!

*Difficulty breathing, noisy respiration, gasping for air or shallow breathing. *Blue tongue. *Bleeding from anywhere that doesn't stop. (get a clean, lint free cloth; apply some pressure and go to the E.R.) *Hypersensitive or a bloated belly. *Your dog tries to go pee or poop and can't or they're in obvious pain when they go. *Uncontrolled urinating or pooping in an otherwise potty trained dog. *Bloody pee or poop. *Heatstroke. *Heavy panting that doesn't stop. *They're obviously weak; your dog can't get up or falls down when they get up. *Fever--104 degrees Fahrenheit is a canine fever. *Difficulty in labor or delivery of puppies. *Contractions lasting more than an hour. *Labor pain lasting longer than 15 minutes. *A puppy fetus or its membrane is showing. *Any seizure, tremors, coma, staggering, convulsions or sudden blindness (running into things). *Head tilting or snapping at imaginary objects. *Sudden & severe behavior changes--withdrawal/depression/aggression. *Chronic crying/whimpering or obvious pain. *Any major trauma: vehicle accident, fall, porcupine encounter, gun shot wound, broken bone, venomous/poisonous snake bite. *Rapid heartbeat. *Disorientation, having a bewildered look, your dog doesn't recognize you. *Pupils are dilated. *Exposure to poison: fertilizer, herbicide, certain plants *Ingestion or exposure to common household cleaning supplies like cleanser, pine cleaner, borax, window cleaner, and bleach. (bring the suspected poison container or plant to the E.R.) *Puncture wounds from a dog fight or running into a sharp object. (these wounds can go deeper than you think & injure internal organs. They also become infected easier than a scrape. *Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea--especially if there's any blood. *Refusal to eat or drink for more than 1 day. *Limping; can't put weight on a leg. *Green goopy stuff/crustiness in or around their eyes. *Swelling or redness around the eyes or snout (dogs sometimes eat a bee, hornet or wasp and must be seen immediately). *Redness or hotness of ears: Especially if they're scratching or have constant head shaking (ear infections, mites and fox tails happen fast). *Any chronic, severe itching or patchy red spots on the skin--self mutilation is soon to follow & can cause more infection. *Your dog is acting really weird.

If you're unsure of what's going on with your dog and if it's an emergency, call your Veterinarian (many Veterinarian's handle all their own emergencies) or call the nearest Animal Emergency Center/Hospital.

Often times, at an Animal Emergency Hospital, you can speak with a highly trained veterinary technician, triage intake worker or the Veterinarian. These incredibly dedicated people will help you assess whether your dog needs to be seen immediately, sometime today, or if it can wait until tomorrow.

If you have any doubts, call a Veterinarian. Whatever you do, remember you're caring for a family member who doesn't understand what's going on. Your dog is scared and confused. Be calm. Be brave and do the very best for your cuddly canine. The rewards are endless.

Source:goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=803297
Posted by martin at 05:56:33 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

A Dog Day Care Business Can Be A Lot of Fun!

If you love dogs and you enjoy making money then a dog day care business may be a very good fit for you!

Let me ask you a question, "Can you imagine starting your very own dog day care business?" If you asked yourself that question and still aren't sure, let me give you a bit of dog day care business advice....

First, make sure that you truly love dogs. Second, study your area and see if there is a large dog population. Finally, get some legal advice.

You see, if you love and care for the dogs that you keep, the chances of your dog day care business being a huge success is much better than if you are just starting a dog day care business for the money.

Now the reason that I mentioned studying your area to make sure there are plenty of dogs is simple, no dogs equals no money for your dog day care business!

Here's a dog day care business tip: See how many veterinarians are in your area. Also, be sure to look in the paper at the classifieds section.

Finally, I mentioned obtaining proper legal advice. A local attorney in your area can give you valuable information about starting a dog day care business in your area. You want to make sure you comply with all laws.

A dog day care business can be a lot of fun! Just make sure you enjoy dogs, research your area, and always obtain good legal advice.

Good luck in your dog day care business endeavor!

Source:EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelley_Blackston
Posted by martin at 06:08:59 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Friday, June 27, 2008

Dogs And Humans - Centuries Old Partnership

The modern domesticated dog is a result of centuries of interaction with humans. While it is true that the ancestor of the domestic dog was the wolf, dogs are now different animals. True domestication comes after generations of interaction between humans and animals and causes some basic changes in the animal.

A recent study with wolves that have been acclimated to humans is a case in point. A piece of meat was placed under a cage in such a way that the wolf could not get to it. A human stood by the cage to observe. The wolf could smell and see the meat but not actually get to it. The wolf would try for a long time, not pay any attention to the human, and then eventually give up. The same was done with a dog, and after a few tries the dog would stop trying. The dog would look at the cage, then sit and look at the human, waiting for the human to help it get the food.

The domestication of dogs has changed them from their wild ancestors. Early humans and wolves began their relationship for mutual benefit. The wolf's keen sense of smell and athleticism was taken advantage of by humans to help with the hunting of game, to guard other animals and property. The wolf used humans to help it have a more steady supply of food.

The bond between dog and human is so strong, that dogs rely on humans for their survival. The domestic dog now needs humans to feed and care for them. Some dogs still 'work' for their keep by being Seeing Eye dogs, search and rescue dogs, hunting and herding dogs. And some dogs do nothing for their keep but be the family pet. But it is still a relationship with mutual benefit. There are many humans that need the companionship, love and loyalty that a dog can give. A centuries old partnership between dogs and humans that is still going strong.

Source:EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Beggerow
Posted by martin at 06:07:24 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Dog Quilt Patterns Come in Many Breeds...varieties!

If you want to make a quilt for a dog-lover, you will certainly have fun with the project! There are almost as many dog quilt patterns as there are breeds of dogs

If the recipient of your quilt loves Scottie dogs, you will find various Scottie dog quilt patterns available for free online. Some are appliqu?uilt projects and others are foundation quilting projects. There's also a very good Scottie dog block quilt pattern design for those who prefer traditional block piecing.

If you enjoy appliqu?uilting, you can find just about any breed you'd like to create your dog quilt pattern. Whether your quilt will feature a poodle or a boxer, there are many dog quilt patterns online, free for the using. If you have a specific breed in mind, use your favorite search engine to look for the dog quilt pattern you need.

If you want to feature cute dogs in general on your dog quilt pattern, there are plenty of options as well. One is called a "Floppy Eared Dog" and is sometimes referred to as the "Happy Dog" quilt pattern. The cut puppy would make an adorable quilt for young and old alike, either as a quilted throw or a full size quilt!

There is also a Sundrop Puppy dog quilt pattern available for free online. This dog quilt pattern was created to honor the special dogs who worked in rescue efforts after the September 11 bombing of America's World Trade Center. The Sundrop Puppy dog quilt pattern is offered free online and is to be used for children's charitable causes. Enlarge the puppy to make a coordinating pillow or cherished stuffed animal.

If the recipient of your quilt likes cats and dogs, the two animals harmoniously come to live in the puppy and cats quilt pattern. This quilt features blocks of cats with small fish cutouts combined with a puppy and his favorite treat, a bone. This cat and dog quilt pattern is sure to delight those who love pets!

You can always create a truly personalized dog quilt pattern by using your favorite traditional quilt pattern, and transferring photos of your featured dog onto the blocks. The transfer to fabric is simply done at home by using photo transfer paper available from your local hobby or craft store. Make sure you get the paper that fits the color of fabric you plan to use. The transfer paper you would use for white (and light colored) fabrics differs from the paper you would use to transfer to darker fabrics.

If you plan to use white or a light colored fabric, you could use a process known as digital direct to garment printing.

Since the equipment used for this process is generally expensive, most people don't have direct to garment printers in their homes. The process is becoming more populare due to the soft feel of the transfer on the fabric. Photos printed with digital garment printing remain soft and long-lasting. The photo actually becomes part of the fabric because the inks penetrate the fibers! To find a digital garment printer in your area, check with local screen printers to see if they provide the process.

If you decide to try transferring your dog photos to your quilt with direct to garment printing, make sure your printed uses a digital process, not a sublimation process. Sublimation requires chemical pretreatment of the fabric and it will lose its natural look and feel.

Source:articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/dog-quilt-patterns
-come-in-many-breedsvarieties-406212.html
Posted by martin at 05:45:29 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Dog Training - Train Your Dog Fast

It's important to train your dog. Training strengthen the bond between a dog and his owner. It shows communication and mutual respect. But most importantly it shows your dog that you're the leader.

Training your dog can saves his life. Your dog will become responsive and you'll have control over your dog behavoir. It can prevent your dog from the shelter. It comes in handy in emergency situation. Fewer dogs would end up in the shelter. If the owners takes the time to train them. Obedience dogs are a lot easier to live with. And you don't have to worry about your dog jumping all over your visitor. A well train dog is happy dog. A will train dog often receive more attention and interactions by family, visitors, and passer-by. If a train dogs ever needs to be adopt. It's much easier for them to find a new home.

Many dog will misbehave if they do not receive the proper training. When the dog misbehave ,everyone suffers. A untrained dog can cause many problem in the future. They can also easily get lost. And no one wants to lose their dog. You can prevent many incidents with a train dog. And you won't have to worry about law suits and complains.

An obedience dog is a pleasure to own because he can go anywhere. And you never have to worry about him bothering others. We'll want a dog who we can bring to the crowd, is reliable around out children and who doesn't threaten people that walk by us.

Source:EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Lambatan


Posted by martin at 06:20:41 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Dog Attack Escape

Do you know how to deal with a vicious dog if ever you need to save yourself or a loved one? Here's how:

A 125 pound dog attacked five-year-old Selena Burks as she played with friends in Alabama on April 8, 2008. She suffered crushed ribs, a punctured lung and liver. An heroic 11-year-old boy kicked the dog away and possibly saved her life.

An elderly woman was walking her little dog when a pit bull suddenly attacked her dog and clamped its jaws around its head. The woman had no luck trying to pry the pit bull's jaws apart and could see her dog dying. So she bit the pit bull’s neck as hard as she could. It let go and backed off, but came back to attack the little dog again. The woman bit it again. That’s when a neighbor ran up and hit the pit bull with a baseball bat and drove it away.

The Humane Society says children are more likely victims of a dog attack because they behave in ways that dogs find disturbing, like running, yelling or making sudden moves, and less likely to be perceived as dominant because of their small size.

10-year-old Kenny survived a dog attack by a huge Mastiff. As the dog lunged at his throat, Kenny instinctively threw up his arm. The dog latched onto his forearm as Kenny remembered his father's advice, "Plunge your thumb deep into the dog's eye." Kenny burst the dog's eyeball like a grape. The dog released him and fell whimpering to the ground just as Kenny's older brother arrived with a pipe and beat the vicious dog to death.

Usually, a dog's body language indicates it's about to attack by standing still with a stiffly upright tail while barking and snarling. An especially attack-prone dog usually will not back away, and in fact may try to circle around and attack from a different angle.

PASSIVE DEFENSE

Arizona’s Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says that our impulse is to run when threatened by a dog attack. That’s the worst response – it triggers the chase instinct in dogs (and knocking down a runner from behind is easy).

Instead, stand still and act calm. Don't stare into its eyes because dogs consider that an aggressive challenge, so just look in its general direction and watch it with your peripheral vision. Oftentimes it will eventually lose interest and wander away.

Make fists so the dog won't bite off a finger and cross your forearms across your chest. Be ready to protect your most vulnerable anatomy – the front of your torso from your groin to your throat – often a dog's primary target. Let the dog sniff you. In a low voice say, "No!” Stay still until the dog leaves. Back away slowly until it's out of sight.

An ultrasonic dog repellent is useless on a vicious dog attack, but pepper spray usually works.

MODERATE DEFENSE

If a dog does attack you, try to "feed" it your jacket, bike equipment, briefcase, or purse as a distraction while you back slowly away toward safety. If you’re knocked down or fall, curl into a ball and keep your arms wrapped around your ears, face, and neck (with your hands curled into fists). Try not to scream or roll around.

If a vicious dog has clamped onto you, do not try to wrench yourself free – that’ll just add to the damage.

One myth says to use a free hand to grab the dog’s jaw and nose, pinning the nostrils shut. It can’t breathe with its mouth full and nostrils shut, so must release you. Unfortunately, that’ll be a very brief solution – until it immediately resumes its attack. Since a vicious dog can severely injure or even kill you, an aggressive defense may well be necessary.

A second myth says putting your thumb into a dog’s mouth and pressing down on its tongue (while curling your fingers into a fist around its jaw) engages the dog’s gag reflex making it unable to bite down. However, that may well be very dangerous for your thumb.

AGGRESSIVE DEFENSE: ATTACK THE BEAST!

A passive defense may well be futile, if not deadly. You can strangle an attacking dog by pressing with all your might on the carotid arteries on both frontal sides of its throat (a few inches below its jaw's hinges). Its brain is quickly deprived of blood/oxygen and the dog will go limp within seconds (or die, if held longer). YOU NEED BOTH HANDS with your thumbs pressing while your fingers grasp the back of the dog's neck for leverage.

If you release the limp dog too soon, it will regain consciousness within seconds and perhaps attack again. Thus you may want to first bang its head against a solid surface to knock it out, or break its ribs by ramming its chest with your bent knee, or heel-stomp on its legs to break them so the dog will be less able to attack you further.

In 2002, a stray pit-bull dog attacked a two-year-old Detroit boy and began dragging him down the street. Horrified witnesses tried to intervene but the dog would attack them briefly then resume dragging the child. No police were nearby, six people were hurt, and the child seemed doomed until a passing motorist noticed the commotion, stopped, and shot the dog to death.

If a dog has clamped onto another person or dog, simply use the same grip but now you’ll be behind the dog and your thumbs will be on the back of its neck for leverage while your fingertips press on the carotid arteries.

Make sure you press on the carotid arteries on both frontal sides of its throat, rather than pressing on its windpipe in the center of its throat because that merely chokes it (depriving it of oxygen to its lungs) and takes 30-90 long seconds for the now violently convulsing beast to be rendered unconscious (or dead, if held longer).

Source: articlesbase.com/nature-articles/dog-attack-escape-442540.html
Posted by martin at 07:34:12 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Waukesha Day Care Services For Your Dog

The Waukesha kennel club provides a dog day care program founded in 1961 and is a non-profit organization. Members of the kennel club are breeders, exhibitors and AKC judges. They commonly participate in hunting tests, dog shows and obedience trails to name a few. The Wisconsin based kennel club contributes to the advancement and development of the breeding of purebred dogs all around the state.

This non-profit Waukesha day care service also has dog supplies as well as providing information on dog travel, dog boarding facilities and a dog cemetery. They provide a twenty-four hour help center that can answer questions and help you with determining if emergency medical care is needed or answer questions about problems.

Requirements for Waukesha Dog Day Care

The staff of the Waukesha day care center receive advanced training and are kept up to date on the proper care and current health problems that plaque animal today. The center for doggie day care is conveniently located and affordable for the normal family to be able to use the day care service. The facility is clean with enough rooms to accommodate all the dogs when in play or rest. They have enough room for running and playing together if this is a requirement of the dog owner. You as the dog owner are welcome to visit and inspect the facility at any time during your dogs care from the organization.

Considerations to Ponder Upon

If the dog likes to play with other dogs, you need to find out if the dogs he will play with are behaved and not aggressive to prevent injury. The staff of the Waukesha day care should have complete supervision of the area that the dogs play in as well. Doggie day care centers need the dog to follow basic commands such as sit, stay, lie down and come. You need to make sure you train your dog in these certain types of commands to make the stay more enjoyable.

How many dogs will there be in one facility at one time and how many staff members will be onsite during this time. As with nursing homes or child day care canters, your companion needs to be protected from under staffing and possible injury due to over enrollment in the Waukesha day care center. The next thing to consider is the nutrition provided. Do they feed or will you bring your own food. Some dogs are fussy and may require a different diet than others. Therefore, you need to know this information.

If an injury results is there a veterinarian on call in case of an emergency would be another consideration. The last thing to consider is the disease or illness control the facility has in place. If a dog is sick, do they still allow the dog into the center or is there another area that provides sick dog care. You do not need your dog getting a disease or illness that happens in so many child day care centers. Your dog is your companion and in some cases your child so to speak, you need reassurance their health will be protected.

You can also find more info on shih tzu dog health and pomeranian dog health. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog's illness symptoms and treatment options.

Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Wellsworth
Posted by martin at 07:36:04 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |