Dog Care 101

Savvy Tips For Selecting The Right Dog Trainer

Take a trip to your local animal shelter. You'll find dozens (even hundreds) of pooches who need a home. The tragedy is that many of them were exiled from their past homes because their owners grew frustrated with their behavior. So, they're brought to the shelter and abandoned.

By enrolling your dog into professional obedience classes, you can curb his/her unacceptable behaviors or even prevent them from developing. Below, I'll give you 3 tips for finding a trainer who can work with your pooch and turn him/her into a faithful, loving, and obedient companion.

Tip #1: Choose Positive Reinforcement

Even today, as canine experts continue to gain a better understanding about the most effective strategies for training dogs, some trainers still use negative reinforcement. In effect, they punish poor behavior. A hard tug on the leash or collar, shouting, and physically mishandling your pooch can cause pain and fear.

Take your canine companion to an expert who uses positive reinforcement. Your pooch's acceptable behaviors should be rewarded while objectionable behavior should be ignored. Not only is such training more humane, but it's also more effective.

Tip #2: Ask For Referrals

Similar to finding a dentist or mechanic, asking other people for referrals is a great way to find a suitable trainer. If possible, visit a few training facilities and interview the owners. Ask about their experience, where they were trained, and the strategies they use in the obedience classes.

Keep in mind that the industry isn't regulated by any authoritative association. If a canine expert claims to be part of a professional group, that alone doesn't necessarily mean he (or she) is qualified or competent. Ideally, you should ask other owners who have enrolled their dogs into obedience training classes. If they had a positive experience, you - and your pooch - will likely have one, too.

Tip #3: Enroll In Group Classes

Obedience training is normally conducted in one of two ways: within a group setting or alone. In group classes, your canine companion will not only learn to modify his/her behaviors, but they will do so while interacting with other dogs and their owners. The experience socializes him/her; they will grow accustomed to being approached and handled by other people. Your pooch will also learn to get along with their peers.

If you enroll your pooch into training that doesn't provide this type of interaction, they will miss a valuable learning opportunity.

Don't let your dog's age deter you from enrolling them into obedience classes. The earlier, the better, of course (after a puppy has reached 8 weeks). But, even if they are older, they can still benefit from the training. Ask other owners for referrals, choose a trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques, and consider group education. You'll discover the experience carries long-lasting advantages for you and your dog.

Please make sure to check out our ever growing selection of all natural dog treats and chews like bully sticks !

101 Dog Care Tips - Tip 11 - Owning a New Puppy - Vaccines

Owning a new puppy can very exciting, but also overwhelming.  You always want to start off on the right foot and here are few tips for vaccinating your pooches.   This is coming from owners that were very excited about their first pooch, but ended up being very sad after a vaccination reaction almost ended very badly.

1.  Your puppy may not need every vaccination out there.  Remember, the veterinary pharmaceutical companies are in the business to make money, so the more vaccinations sold, the more money made!  Discuss with your veterinarian whether all vaccinations need to be given.  Depending on your pooches lifestyle and where you live, you may not need them all.

3.  Smaller breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Pugs, Toy Poodles, Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apsos, are more likely to have reactions to vaccines. It is very important to minimize the number of vaccines given to small breeds.  It is also recommend to space out the vaccinations.  They should not all be given all at the same time.  It is also recommend to use a quarter to a half dose of the vaccine per visit rather than the entire dose.

4.  Homeopathic remedies, such as thuja and lymphomyosot which minimize toxicity, may be given to reduce the chance of a vaccine reaction.

5.  Certain supplements, such as antioxidants, may improve your puppy’s immune response to a vaccine, offering stronger protection against infectious diseases.

6. Once your dog is 2 years or older, consider a blood test (vaccine antibody titer test).  This will give you an idea of how long the vaccine is protecting you dog for.  This way you can reduce the time between vaccination (the vaccine companies may recommend yearly vaccinations, but the vaccine might be protecting your dog for longer). Current research shows that most pets only require a few vaccines throughout their entire lives because of the excellent immunity vaccines produce.

Please check out our all growing selection of dog chews and treats like bully sticks and if you have recommendations for future dog care tips please pass them along!

Senior Dog Care

Our pets are living longer than ever these days, thanks to advances in veterinary medicine and pet nutrition. As our dogs age, they face a variety of conditions that can negatively affect their health. Some of the conditions that commonly affect senior dogs include diabetes, kidney and liver disease, tumors and cancer, arthritis and other joint pain, obesity and thyroid conditions, as well as dental disorders.

Scheduling regular veterinary examinations is key in keeping your dog healthy. When dogs enter their senior years, regular exams are more important than ever (most recommend twice yearly). Senior care, which starts with regular veterinary exam, is necessary to diagnose or delay the onset of disease; and for the early detection of problems such as organ failure and arthritis.

Veterinarians depend on laboratory results to help them understand your dog's health. When your dog is healthy, laboratory tests determine baseline” values. When your dog is sick, your vet is able to compare the “baseline” values and the current values.  Changes in these laboratory test results, may be a sign of the presence of an underlying disease (lab tests frequently include: blood count, urinalysis, blood chemistry and parasite evaluation).

It is also necessary to keep your senior pooch active.  Activity is necessary to keep your dog at a healthy weight, while helping to maintain proper muscle tone. In addition, choosing a premium dog food and healthy treats will help by giving your pooch the necessary protein and vitamins that they need to stay healthy.  As we mentioned in previous posts, fish oil is a great way to be preventative, none of us consume enough omega 3’s with our normal diets.  Also, including natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin in our pooches diet can help with hip and joint health (our beef trachea chews and fish chews are a great natural source of this).

Please let us know if there is a topic you would like to see covered!  As always, we appreciate your continued business and support!

Fish Oil for Dogs

Vets originally used fish oil to treat dogs with allergy problems, but more recently they have found it to benefit many different aspects of our canines’ health.  Since our pooches cannot produce the fats contained in these oils themselves, they rely on their diet to supply the needed fats.

Much like it’s benefits for humans, omega 3 oils (fish oil) support heart, vision, and joint health, along with providing important nutrients for proper immune function, and a healthy skin and coat.   The icing on the cake is that… it’s a natural source of all sorts of other vitamins and minerals.

We have seen two forms of fish oil.  One is in pill form that can be taken in a piece of cheese or some peanut butter and the other is in liquid form.   We have found the liquid form is more calorie friendly (those pieces of cheese and peanut butter can add up) and just plain easier to give (putting over their food has worked well for us).

We do recommend that you consult with your veterinarian about specific doses for your pooch, although there are dosing instructions on most bottles.  Some dogs require more than others based on certain conditions.  Stay tuned to our website… we will be adding some very unique salmon treats and jerky’s to the site really soon!

We carry the Plato Salmon Oil for dogs which can be found by clicking the link, however there are many great oils on the market; and the important thing is to make sure to add it to your pups daily regimen!

101 Dog Care Tips - Best Bully Sticks Tip 8 - Spring Dog Care

We are approaching spring and with that comes walks through the park, maybe a jog, and dangers that you should be aware of.

Heart-worm is caused by mosquitoes and can be fatal for our pooches.  Spring time is a major time for this because of the weather warming up and the mosquitoes becoming more active.  There are many products out on the market that can prevent this.  Check with your vet to find out which one is right for your dog.

As the weather warms up, we also need to monitor our dogs tolerance for heat and the sun.  Some dogs like pugs and bull dogs can not tolerate the heat for very long and can actually become dehydrated and get heat stoke.  Dogs can also get sunburn, like us, so monitor the amount of sun that your pooch gets.

Also be aware that it is also approaching flea and tick season.  There are many holistic flea and tick medicines that your vet can recommend.  Although it is recommended to treat your pet for fleas and ticks all year round, we are approaching the season when this medication is most necessary.

Although we think that fairs and concerts are a great bonding experience for us and our dogs, the noise and commotion can be stressful for your pups.  These are places that should be avoided for long periods of time.

Dogs love spring and summer because it means more outdoor time and more time to release all of that pent up winter energy.  By keeping tabs and following these few tips, you can ensure a safe and happy season for you and your pooch.

Please check out our every growing selection of unique and natural dog chews and dog treats !