May 22 2011

Pee Alert- Dog Urine And Your Lawn(2)

One of the best ways to counter the effects of nitrogen burn is to dilute your dog’s urine – but you have to dilute the urine before it dries on the grass. Most people don’t realize that just a few ounces of really good dog urine can make whole gallon of delicious urine-aid. If you can pour water on the urine immediately after the dog relieves himself, often that alone will prevent the urine from burning the grass.

Many owners, however, can’t follow their dogs around with a container of water every time the dog needs to relieve himself, so for them keeping the lawn adequately watered is most assuredly an easier solution.

If you live where the temperatures are generally cool and wet, you wouldn’t have to worry about dog urine in your grass most of the year. Summer is the worst time for this because the heat dries the urine so fast, there’s almost no time to dilute it with water.

Grasses more resilient to urine damage are also available and may be a good option for those living in the warmer regions.

For example, a study done in 1981 by A.W. Allard, D.V.M., of the effects of dog urine on four different grasses in Colorado showed fescue and perennial ryegrass to be the most resistant to dog urine, and Kentucky bluegrass and Bermuda grass to be the most sensitive. The latter grass would sometimes wilt at merely the mention of dog urine.

Studies in the Southern region shows different results. Bermuda grass proved to be the sturdy one while fescue was the weakest.

There is no universal test for dog urine effects on grass as it depends on the location and climate. What works for California won’t neccesarily work in Nebraska or New York.

To avoid the hassle of testing the grass yourself, consult an expert. You can visit the nearest agriculture office to gather the information you need.

Another option is someone from a reputable nursery who is truly knowledgeable about what grasses tolerate dog urine in your location, not to mention what plants can withstand urine burn. In other words, talk to someone who sells a lot of grass. OK, let me rephrase that. Talk to a lawn and garden expert.

Try Chinese holly, it is an excellent choice for dog owners. Or just ask your local nursery which ones they would recomment\d for you and your dog.

Looking to find the best dog training advice , then visit www.e-zdogtraining.com to find the best advice on secrets to dog training for you.

May 22 2011

Canine Early Education – Sending Your Young Pup Off To School (Part 6)

The typical training class for young dogs is one hour per week for four, six or eight weeks. Are you and your puppy done with training upon graduation? No way! Think of it like that was your dog’s elementary school graduation and he still needs his middle school and high school graduations, bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, PhD and post-doc work- whoops, I meant post-dog.

It’s really just the beginning. Dogs learn all their life. You don’t necessarily have to attend group classes continuously, there are other ways. A dog owner with experience in training previous dogs may be able to train his puppy by himself. Although, since dogs encounter problems too, it might be helpful to hire a trainer or still attend group class. It is always more convenient to have an expert ready to assist you.

Puppy training determines how what your dog’s attitude in live would be. The training will provide the basics needed for the dog to survive and socialize. follow through with training and be consistent. Your dog’s training program will depend on what the two of you need.

How To Find A Trainer

A lot of dog trainers belong to organizations for dog obedience instructors. These organizations help them by providing information on the latest techniques and tools for their profession. They basically undergo training too. Belonging to an organization also means that they adhere to certain organization guidelines.

Aside from being able to communicate effectively with the puppies, the instructor should also be appealing to the owners because it is not just the puppies that are attending class. Also, a dog trainer’s dog should be well-trained and able to perform according to the lesson. A dog trainer not owning a well-trained dog just won’t make any sense! The class should inspire students and make them want to come to class to learn more tricks for their pup.

Dog owners can also contact these organizations for referrals to members of their community. The predominant organizations include:

Association of Pet Dog Trainers
150 Executive Center Dr.
Box 35
Greenville, SC 29615
(800) 738-3647
Website: apdt.com

International Association of Canine Professionals
P.O. Box 560156
Montverde, FL 34756
(407) 469-2008
Website: dogpro.org

National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors
729 Grapevine Hwy.
PMB 369
Hurst, TX 76054
Website: nadoi.org

Looking to find the best advice on how to train your dog, then visit www.e-zdogtraining.com to find the best dog training tips for you.

May 21 2011

No Barking Zone – Handle An Attention-Seeking Barker

Did you get your dog when it was still a puppy? If you did, then I’m pretty sure you experienced what most people go through when they bring home a new pup – loud and incessant barking. Plus, yelping that’s so annoying, it tempts you to purchase some earplugs. Good news is that you don’t have to. All you need a a whole lot of training.

One of the biggest phases a puppy goes through is the fear of being alone. And being alone can mean just you leaving the room for a split second. They can’t bear to be alone because they are used to having their mommy or litter mates around non-stop. Puppies are inherently social animals!

What is the best way to handle this situation? If you pretend to not hear anything, your neighbors might come banging at your door. On the other hand, if you comfort your puppy whenever he cries, you risk raising a spoiled dog.

Some things you can try when faced with this dilemma:

1. Yelling will only create more fear in your puppy and as you already know, fear equals barking. Don’t yell at him but instead, just try to ignore his barking if you can. Don’t add to his anxiety.

2. Get an item called a “teaching lead,” available at many pet-relayed stores, which enables your puppy to be around you at all times in the house.

3. Sneak out of the house when you need to go somewhere. Long goodbyes only create more stress when they start to associate your caressing to leaving. Whenever you arrive, don’t make a fuss of it. Avoid energetic welcomes as this might aggravate him.

4. Have a bunch of pennies ready. When your dog starts barking as you start to leave, throw the can of coins in his area. This will give you enought time to escape.

I learned about dog training hand signals from Ed Randall’s site where you can find out all about dog training and what it can do for you.

May 20 2011

Why Canine Early Education – Sending Your Young Pup Off To School (Part 2)

Early puppy training introduces you and your puppy to the basic obedience commands that will be used throughout the dog’s life. The most common commands are “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “come,” and “heel.” Other commands may include “watch me,” “leave it,” and, if you’re a fan of The Sopranos, “fuggedaboutit.”

Ideally, the instructor will demonstrate each command, so that you can then teach your puppy. Most instructors first demonstrate on one of their own dogs, then with an untrained puppy. Of course, their already trained dogs make it look easy! Consider these pups to be “ringers.”

The trainer will sample a command, after which, you will try it with your own pet.

For those having a hard time executing the techniques, the trainer will give a different style to help your puppy learn more easily. As th owner and puppy master each technique, a new one is taught.

Since owners and puppies are not all the same, there are also a variety of techniques used for training. As long as there is no violation of animal rights, and the technique is doable by the average pet owner, there is no right or wrong. It will all depend on what the owner and the puppy can understand.

While there are alsosome awful training methods – too difficult or illegal, legitimate dog trainers usually keep a positive teaching style but stil teach you about setting guidelines for your puppy.

It is essential for puppy training that you use the correct commands in daily life. For example tell your dog “down” when he is jumping at you, not when he is already on the floor. You reap the benefits of training once you know how to make the commands work for you.

It is important to use the basic commands daily.

Proper behavior at home and outside can be achieved through the basic obedience commands. Avoid traouble when you take your dog out on a field trip. Surely, a trained dog is an enjoyable companion.

I learned these and moredog training advice from Ed Randall’s site where you can find out all about puppy training and what it can do for you.

May 19 2011

Avocados: Not Just For Humans Anymore (2)

The avocado fruit is a deliciously rich source of fat that dogs seem to can’t get enough of. Dogs need this fat to maintain healthy fur and have some stored energy.

Interestingly, it was dogs themselves who led us to the idea of using the avocado as a supplement to the canine diet. Avocado growers’ pet dogs were competing with the growers for any fallen fruit. Most of the dogs were chowing down on the avocados immediately. A few were setting up ramshackle “California Avocado” stands on the side of the road and making some extra cash. The growers became curious and decided to compare the nutrients that this amazing fruit contained with those needed by canines.

According to a Veterinary professor at Iowa State University, avocados enhance hair quality and skin tone, which is most likely due to the amount of linoleic acid in the fruit. Linoleic acid is not what makes linoleum shiny. It is an important fatty acid!

While it’s not recommended as the sole nutrient source for dogs, avocados, in small quantities as a supplement, might be helpful if adequate amounts of fat are not available from other sources.

The amount of fat that a dog needs largely depends on the amount of his physical activities. The more active a dog is, the more fat he would need. A dog that works all day needs up to 20 percent of fat, while a dog that just goes on liesurely walks need as little as five. A larger amount of fat in the diet is required by pregnant and nursing dogs.

Canned dog food found in stores typically have adequate fat content to nourish the average household dog. For dogs fed strictly of dry meal, however, additional sources of fat should be available.

An occasional treat, avocados provide an extra source of fat for dogs that get most of their fat from dog food. Add it to your dogs diet, as an alternative to other food supplements. Just be sure to remove the skin and the pit because they can be very harmful to your dog.

Like some other animals, dogs can be seriously harmed and even killed after ingesting avocado leaves, pit and skin. An avocado supplemented diet must be free from these and must only contain the meat of the fruit.

I learned these and somedog training advice from Ed Randall’s site where you can find out all about puppy training and what it can do for you.

May 18 2011

Avocados: Not Just For Humans Anymore(2)

The avocado fruit is a deliciously rich source of fat that dogs seem to can’t get enough of. Dogs need this fat to maintain healthy fur and have some stored energy.

Interestingly, it was dogs themselves who led us to the idea of using the avocado as a supplement to the canine diet. Avocado growers’ pet dogs were competing with the growers for any fallen fruit. Most of the dogs were chowing down on the avocados immediately. A few were setting up ramshackle “California Avocado” stands on the side of the road and making some extra cash. The growers became curious and decided to compare the nutrients that this amazing fruit contained with those needed by canines.

According to a Veterinary professor at Iowa State University, avocados enhance hair quality and skin tone, which is most likely due to the amount of linoleic acid in the fruit. Linoleic acid is not what makes linoleum shiny. It is an important fatty acid!

When taken in small quantities as a supplement, avocados might be helpful in providing adequate amounts of fat, if other sources are not enough.

A dog’s fat requirement depends mostly on the amount of activity he engages in. For instance, an active working dog needs up to twenty percent fat in his diet, while the average household dog that walks a few blocks everyday needs only five to eight percent of fat in his diet. The dog that lives in a glass pod in a self-induced, medically-supported coma needs only two percent. The very thin dog should get a diet rich in fat until his weight and health improve. And until he stops making the fatter dogs feel bad about themselves. The skinny jerk! The pregnant and nursing female dog also needs greater amounts of fat in her diet.

Canned dog food found in stores typically have adequate fat content to nourish the average household dog. For dogs fed strictly of dry meal, however, additional sources of fat should be available.

Avocados are an excellent source of fat for this purpose. And for canines that get most of their fat from canned foods, this tasty fruit also serves as an occasional treat. Avocados might be alternated with other occasional food supplements to add variety to the dog’s regular diet. Simply put, dogs love avocados and the soft, green fruit is very good for them. The only part of the avocado, beside the skin, which isn’t good for a dog, is the pit. It can harm his teeth, choke him and, if he does swallow it, cause a really uncomfortable stool.

Word Of Warning: Documented evidence suggests that some dogs, as well as other domestic animals like cats and cattle, can be severely harmed and even die when they eat the avocado pit, skin, leaves, and bark of the avocado tree. Therefore, when supplementing your dog’s diet with avocados, make sure to only give him the meat of the fruit. Ideally, you can hire a server in a cheerful shirt and sombrero to hand-make dog guacamole tableside while your dog enjoys a dog Margerita and tortilla chips. Ole!

Looking to find the best dog training advice , then visit www.e-zdogtraining.com to find the best advice on secrets to dog training for you.

May 16 2011

Noisy Dogs In The Car

Going on long drives with your pet can be very enjoyable but if your dog starts barking uncontrollably, then you’re in for one noisy ride. Anything that goes rushing past the windows can excite your dog and get him in defense mode, thus barking incessantly.

If you’re ever tempted to yell at your dog to shut him up, you might be surprised at his reaction. Instead of quieting down, your dog will only bark more, and probably louder, too.
This is because your yelling gets him even more excited about the object outside the window.

The good news is that with a little training and some patience, you can diminish your dog’s incessant barking while in the car. Here are a few specific tips:

1. Be a role model. When choosing music, go with soft and soothing tunes. Avoid loud heavy metal. Although dogs can enjoy a huge variety of styles and genres, loud music can agitate them. When your dog gets excited, try to stay calm and cool. Comfort your dog by patting his head and gently stroking his fur, while talking to him in a soft voice. This will usually result in your dog wanting more of the attention, and forgetting about his excitement and constant barking.

2. If your dog can bark on command, then you can teach him to stop on command. Observe your dog to see what agitates or excites him to cause him to bark annoyingly. Once you figure out what that trigger is, you have to do it yourself, saying “speak” before you do the trigger. After several tries, your dog will understand that “speak” means bark. Then teach him the command “enough”. When he has learned this, then you can easily stop him from barking when necessary.

3. When driving somewhere with a small dog, use a crate. The create will help prevent your dog from seeing out the window which, in turn, will stop the crazy barking. Crates won’t work for large dog’s though. This would work best for small to medium sized dogs.

I learned this from dog training, Visit Ed Randall’s site on how to choose the best dog obedience training for your needs.

May 14 2011

It’s A Hot Dog Party!

If you plan proactively for the dogs in attendance, not only will your BBQ appeal to everyone attending, but your human guests will appreciate being told that they should specifically bring their dog along for some fun and games.

Plan Well

According to the Hearth Patio and BBQ Association, the backyard party trend has blown up into a $55 billion dollar per year industry. Interestingly humans are spending approximately $55 billion of that while dogs are spending approximately $0. Houses are becoming smaller and more and more families look towards their home for fun and relaxation. Lawn chairs, picnic tables, and cooking facilities are all designed to bring the inside party “out”.

A dog suddenly jumping into someone else’s lap to get some food can ruin your party so it is essential that you plan to avoid this. For some people, a ruined outfit can drastically alter their mood.

Provide special toys for your guests to use to play with the dogs. It is important that you segregate the dog enthusiasts from those people scared of dogs to maintain order at your party.

Dogs and human guests should have a common area to mingle. It would be wise for you to build a fence around the area where you could let the dogs play, without disturbing the rest of your guests. Dog lovers can just hangout at the doggie area if they prefer. This enclosure also keeps the dogs’ games in order and the humans free to enjoy their barbecue.

If you are hosting a backyard party at night, consider the animals’ safety. Should you allow them to run free, attach a small flashlight to each of the dogs’ collars. This is a perfect way for your guests to see them coming and also not accidentally step on the any animal. You can also attach a bell that jingles, which will give warning that a dog is approaching. Keep your lawn free of such hazards as enriched uranium, IED’s and live porcupines.

I learned this and more about dog training devices, visit www.e-zdogtraining.com to find the best advice on puppy training for you.

May 13 2011

AMG (American Humane Association) – It’s Origins

One of the leading organizations when it comes to fighting cruelty and with regards to its dedication against animal maltreatment is the American Humane Association. Just as there are many anti-cruelty for animals, there are also many who promote cruelty against them such as horse racing, dog sledding, and laboratory testings on animals such as mice and guinea pigs.

The American Humane Association was organized in 1877 through the cooperative efforts of the 26 existing animal and child protection agencies, and various tortured animals. The AHA was formed as a federation in order to represent its members at the national level in dealing with problems of cruelty to children and animals.

Until this very day, the federation has championed the cause of the children and animals by securing the passage of anti-cruelty laws, and by having a promotion on a law controlling the interstate transportation of livestock. They continue to be doing an active participation presently. In 1878, the AHA has been able to help pass a law regulating the interstate transportation. it was however, being poorly implemented. There were many who witnessed cattle being transported for 24 hours on conducting trains. Since airplanes and other modern forms of transportation were absent in 1906, the law was rewritten to include the application to shipment of animals by rail and boat, which have limitations. There was one incident wherein a poorly mistreated cow was thrown off a cliff with an attached wing, but the poor animal smashed and has provided a feast for the vultures.

Today, there are regulations within the act which permit the Department of Agriculture to control humane housing and the care and feeding of animals in national and international shipment so regulation can be imposed on air freight. Next came the Humane Slaughter Act of 1958, effective in 1960. Among other things, this law dictates that any high school football game with a point differential of seven or more touchdowns be stopped immediately.

How Many Other Organizations Are In The Humane Field, And What Are They?

The SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the very first organization to champion the cause of the animals. They have begun in the late 1860s and 1870s to put a halt to the cruelty of horses and of the livestock. They further advanced into the protection of children and was therefore known and SPCC. Then it became banned to make children pull ploughs that weigh more than half a ton and receiving only hay for food.

In Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and other Midwestern states, there were similar organizations that have sprouted in the 1880s. Both anti-cruelty to children and animals were concerns of the said groups, which is the primary reason for them to take the name of Humane Society. Both the SPCC and the SPCA were included.

Auxiliaries and branches were formed in the early 1900s, and women were involved. These branches became concerned with the pet population; domestic pets – mainly dogs and cats, and with animal shelter. The Morris Animal Refuge in Philadelphia and the Animal Rescue League of Boston were one of the first, and their official concern was providing shelter for stray pets. However, the hidden motive was to have parties, and have the stray animals turned into spicy Italian sausages.

Many of the organizations have started from being leagues that are interested in pet animals which eventually became organizations for animal rescue and shelter. They have combined their activities and have included the education of children and helping stray animals. These agencies ended up having several names and have begun these types of activities from the beginning of the first decade of the past century.

teaching proper dog training is what Ed Randall is great at. His site is where you will potentially learn more how to effectively do dog obedience training and never be frustrated in imposing dog discipline.

May 11 2011

Your Dog, A Tripod

Depending upon the cause of your dog’s amputation surgery, and whether or not there was an underlying disease or other condition at fault, you are going to have to work with your veterinarian or other specialist on rehabilitating the animal so that he can get back to good health and emotional stability. For instance, if you accidentally chopped off one of your dog’s legs while preparing a Thanksgiving turkey, he may be suspicious and untrusting of you.

To Exercise or Not To Exercise

Having seen your pet go through the painful and scary surgery, you probably just want to pamper and spoil him with all your tender loving care. Your dog would certainly enjoy that- at first. Amputated dogs need exercise too.

Amputated dogs usually recover after one to two weeks and they forget that they only have three limbs. They might even forget that they are dogs and start walking on two feet! An amputated dog can still enjoy the activities of a four legged dog including swimming, playing, climbing stairs and jumping around. They can adapt quite fast.

Not only is it a delight to see your dog back to normal, with the exception of a hop or a limp (of which the animal does not notice after a while), watching this quick healing process take place is also an uplift to your emotional experience. In fact, you may go on to purposefully amputate pets, later in life, whenever you are down and need a boost.

Keep close watch.

As your dog heals quickly, he will also be so excitable and full of energy. Be careful and watchful so as to avoid further injuries especially the first few weeks after the surgery. No strenuous exercise and rigorous activities.

The usual trouble with a prosthetic leg is the fact that it slips easily. Slippery floors are considered dangerous and accident prone. Your dog might break another limb, or even lose the prosthetic limb if he slips. To avoid another accident, replace smooth surfaces with a carpet.

Another situation to keep an eye on is your dog’s remaining healthy limbs, especially the leg opposite the amputated one. Dogs can live a long and healthy life with only three legs, but of course if another of his healthy limbs starts to decline in any form or fashion, this can cause a serious mobility problem. Dogs have a very difficult time walking on two legs, especially the front legs, as that means doing a constant handstand!

Make sure that his other limbs are strong enough to hold the extra weight. Perhaps your dog can take up wright lifting, get some tattoos and hang around Gold’s Gym shooting steroids. OK, that wouldn’t end up well! Watch his movements on a daily basis and make sure that he is not getting slower or weaker. Should this happen, you might need to use a harness, or anything that can help remove the extra weight. It is better to utilize a harness and keep his healthy legs strong than it is to have a dog that’s immobilized for the rest of his life.

Looking to find the best deal on dog training tricks, then visit www.e-zdogtraining.com to find the best advice on secrets to dog training for you.