Dog and Puppy Training San Antonio

   by Marlene Ringin Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-12-01)

It can be overwhelming to deal with training a puppy or handling behavior issues of an older dog. This does not mean the owner is a bad. With modern social schedules packed with events, it often leaves little time to devote to proper training, for this reason it is even more important to learn the most direct way to get results with the least amount of stress for both puppy and owner.

Canines have their own method of communication that is not always translated properly to human understanding. This miscommunication can lead to a number of training problems for dog and owner alike. When this happens, having a third party step in and help work the issues out is the perfect solution. Like a counselor for a relationship in trouble, a San Antonio dog training professional can offer proven methods and suggestions of how to address the issues that are being dealt with.

A canine has a deep, natural desire to please its owner. This has been bred into generations of dogs to make training and human interactions easier.

Occasionally, an owner may not be giving the right instruction to help the animal understand what is expected. For instance, it was a long held belief that beating a dog and shoving its nose in its indoor accident was the best approach to teach it not to do it, or housetraining. Studies have shown this situation leads to a dog becoming fearful of its owner's arrival and it cannot correlate the punishment with the crime. Instead, it was discovered that frequent visits outside and positive reinforcement, like a treat, when the right behavior was performed lead to not only a more rapid result, but less stress for the human and canine alike.

Many methods have been developed which incorporate the positive feedback system when training. This provides a more amicable exchange between dog and owner and enables a stronger bond to be formed. Owners who are familiar with these approaches often comment on the lack of stress that it causes and how quickly the animal responds when compared to the older, negative methods previously used.

Just like humans, there are some animals that learn more rapidly than others. There are some that are more timid and require additional encouragement, or those that are aggressive and need to learn to curb the unwanted trait. It can be difficult to understand the root of the behavior and how to modify it, especially for new owners. This is where the expertise of a San Antonio puppy training expert is an even more important resource.

About the Author

Marlene Ring is the driving force behind PAWSitive Solutions dog and puppy training. Her extraordinary love for dogs and the desire to share her knowledge with others is what makes her special dog training style unique. Get her FREE "Dog Training Tips" report at http://www.PawsitiveSolutionsSite.com and call her office at 830.981.5003 to talk about your pet.

Marlene Ring

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Ways to Indicate Signs of Fleas on Dogs and Prevention

   by Iren Georgievain Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-11-21)

Fleas and ticks are very somewhat difficult to deal with. They may go and come once again. The worse thing that may happen is when your dog suffers from disease due to the bites of fleas, soreness, growth of moles and red, painful bumps. Learn the different causes of fleas on dogs so you know if your own dog is suffering from this insect's bites. You also have to be aware of the solutions and treatment against fleas.

Signs of the Presence of Fleas

1. Scratching of the Body

If your dog sleeps outside your house, he or she most likely gets flea infestation. The environment is one major factor of the influx of fleas. Once your dog has fleas, he or she starts scratching the entire body. Fleas live and hide under the hair or coat of dogs. They feed on the blood so whenever they suck blood, a dog feels itchiness and pain. That causes your dog to scratch most of the time. This is one sign of infestation of fleas on dogs.

2. Red Bumps or Moles

Ticks and fleas on dogs can cause different kinds of diseases and illnesses. They can get skin irritation or allergy due to the disease brought by the bites of fleas. The bite of a single flea or tick can actually cause red bumps that are very sore and itchy. Dogs usually scratch them off making the condition a lot worse. If not bumps, it can be moles which may become cancerous. If there are moles due to flea bites, you have to bring your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

3. Hair Loss

Because of constant scratching, a dog may lose some of his or her hair. It is not just solely about scratching the body that tends to lose hair on dogs. It is also about the impact of the bites of fleas because they create soreness and diseases inside the body or the blood is affected.

Treatments of Fleas

Getting rid of fleas on dogs is a big challenge and responsibility for owners but a very essential thing to consider. To keep your dog free from fleas, you have to maintain his or her health and hygiene. You need to take care of your dog every day so there is no chance that a group of fleas flock onto his or her body. Bathing your dog regularly, feeding him or her the right foods and giving some time to exercise can help prevent the infestation of ticks and fleas.

It also helps if your take your dog to a veterinarian on a regular basis to have him or her checked. A vet can give you good suggestions and pieces of advice regarding how to deal with fleas on dogs. You can ask some good products to apply in order to eliminate fleas as well as ticks. If there are bumps and moles, you will know the proper way to remove them. Hence, do not ignore the help a vet can offer to you and your dog.
About the Author

If you you know how to deal with fleas on dogs and what products to use visit this site in Danish the term is (Loppemiddel).And if you need more information here for loppemiddel til hunde in Danish.

Iren Georgieva

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How to Train a Chihuahua

   by Greg Sanchezin Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-11-21)

If you have brought home a Chihuahua, then the very first thing on your mind is to train it right. There are specialist trainers for Chihuahuas who would be able to run it through the obedience training commands. At the same time, you as the owner of the Chihuahua could also teach it the rudiments and have a well behaved dog on hand,
The thing to remember is that you must familiarize your Chihuahua to the commands that you are going to use. Once your puppy is familiar with these commands and knows what is expected from it, then it will be able to respond right. The right way to go about with this is to reinforce the training in the most positive way to your puppy. Even if it does not get it right the very first time you shouldn't lose your cool and scold it. Raising your hand or voice on your puppy is not going to work and rather make it all the more stubborn and not listen to you. Positive reinforcement is what will get your puppy to behave well and do as you wish it to.
The right age to start off your puppy is to start the training right after it is eight weeks old. This will enable you to be able to catch it at the right age. Also, the puppy won't be too young to be able to understand your commands. But, the only thing that you need to be aware of is that a puppy has a far lesser attention span than an adult dog. Therefore, the training sessions that you conduct for your puppy should be spread out throughout the day and at the same time every single day. Rather than putting your puppy through one long training session you can do well to chunk it up. This will allow your puppy to be more receptive to the training and be obedient as well.
If you still want to know , then one thing you need to make sure of is that you let your puppy know right from day one that you mean business. These little pets can be so very adoring, cute and loveable that one look from them can make your heart melt. But, hold on since you want the very best for them and yourself. Do not allow your pet to start ruling you since that could happen without you realizing it.
The thing that works really well for is that you need to be consistent in your commands and actions. Ensure that the day is divided into various time frames and at each one you do something specific. This will fix feeding times, time for exercise, time that you take your puppy out for a walk and so on. This will make your puppy realize that there are certain times that it is expected to do certain things.
About the Author

To read more about training a Chihuahua puppy you can visit http://chihuahuatraits.com/

Greg Sanchez

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Advantages of Getting Dog Car Seats

   by Michelle Chingin Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-11-21)

Riding the car with your four legged furry friend is not the easiest thing to do. Dogs are very playful in nature so you can't really stop them from doing their thing. As for my dog, he loves to jump around the car and even dig the seat as if there is a hidden treasure beneath it while we are on the road. I love traveling with my dog but sometimes, it could really be both frustrating and annoying at the same time. Fortunately, I've found a solution to this. I got a dog car seat and my trips with my pet have changed ever since. There are a lot of advantages of getting seats specially designed for your dog. Let me share to you some of them.

One of the benefits of having a dog car seat is that it makes your furry companion comfortable while you're on the road. It also prevents your dog from crossing to the driver's seat and kissing the driver. Having a seat specially designed for your dog prevents you from getting distracted and losing your focus from driving. It's very important to keep your dog secure so that they won't be able to distract you in any way which can put both your lives in danger. Some seats even have built in food bowls which is quite neat. It's really a good way to keep tantrums at bay because your pet can eat anytime they want. Dogs tend to be demanding when it comes to their basic needs so it's nice to have all their needs at their reach.

Another benefit of having a dog car seat is having a clean car. Dog seats prevent your pet's fur and dirt from getting to your car seat. Human car seats tend to smell like your pet if you don't have a seat designed for your dog, so it's nice to have a barrier between your pet and your car seat. And another thing, having one also prevents your dog from digging and scratching your car seat cover. Seat covers are not cheap these days so it's better to invest in a much cheaper seat for dogs rather than change your expensive seat cover repeatedly.

Some people who are not into dogs might think having a seat for their dogs is a pathetic idea. Some might think it is just a waste of money. But for people who love their dogs and consider them as family members, they are willing to do everything necessary to secure the safety of their pets. About the Author

Shop for dog car seats and dog car harness at Pet's World Online. Save big on your dog car seat here.

Michelle Ching

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Ingredients in Dog Food: Additives to Avoid - Part 2

   by Kent Simmonsin Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-11-21)

Introduction

In my previous article on this subject I looked at some controversial ingredients in dog that should be avoided. Specifically, I spoke about BHA and BHT, two additives which are used to preserve kibble.

In this article, I want to focus on three additional ingredients that should have no part in your dog's consumption: these are ethoxquin, propyl gallate and propylene glycol.

Some Important Reminders

First, it is important to make two disclaimers:

1) Your best bet for your pet's health is the homemade dog food recipe route. The testimonies of thousands of dog owners who have switched bear out this fact. I urge you to look into this alternative method of feeding your pet.

2) Not every ingredient in a dog food label that is unpronounceable is dangerous. We should be wise consumers, not easily frightened ones. With a bit of homework we can become quite astute in deciding what is best for our pets.

Additives to Avoid

All right then, there are five additives that you should avoid in dog food: BHA, BTA, ethoxquin, propylene glycol and propyl gallate.

We will examine ethoxquin, propylene glycol and propyl gallate in this article:

1) Ethoxquin

Ethoxquin is a chemical preservative that keeps the fat additives in pet food from going rancid. Come again? Does it not seem strange to you that fat flavoring must be added to your pet's food in order to make it appealing? Such are the extreme processing conditions of most manufactured dog food.

The FDA has rated ethoxquin a safe food additive, however, there is much speculation and controversy that surrounds this chemical. The Department of Pathology at Nagoya City University Medical school in Japan has found ethoxyquin to promote kidney and bladder cancer as well as stomach tumors.

2) Propyl gallate

Propyl gallate is used as a dog food preservative. It is a controversial ingredient, which has also been linked to cancer.

3) Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol is a chemical compound with many commercial applications. Among other things, it is used as a solvent in many pharmaceuticals, as a moisturizer in cosmetics, as a non-toxic antifreeze and of course, as an additive to dog food to preserve soft-moist foods and treats. To be fair, it is also used as an additive in some human foods as well.

Though propylene glycol appears on the FDA's "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) list of dog food additives, it has been banned for use in cat food because of its adverse affect on feline red blood cells.

The bottom line is that it remains a controversial ingredient with many pet experts and the toxicity to cats (particularly in its connection to cat food) provides reason enough to avoid this ingredient in their pet's food.

Conclusion

As you can see, even this cursory review of these preservatives should give any dog lover pause when feeding their pet a steady diet of processed commercial pet food.

If you are unable to follow through with a diet of fresh, homemade dog food recipes then it is critically important that you read your dog food labels and stay clear of the above-mentioned chemicals. About the Author

Kent Simmons believes that homemade dog food recipes are the best thing that ever happened to your dog!

For more great information on ingredients in dog food, visit www.recipes4dogfood.com.

Kent Simmons

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More Overlooked Reasons to Choose a Homemade Dog Food Recipe vs. Processed Food

   by Kent Simmonsin Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-11-21)

Introduction

There are tons of reasons for choosing a homemade dog food recipe diet for your pet vs. feeding processed food.

The most obvious reasons have to do with the questionable ingredients in many dog foods; the methods which are used to make dog food and the fact that processed pet food is really NOT the best nutritional option for your dog (no matter how many star ratings it receives.)

In this article, however, I wanted to focus on some overlooked reasons for why a homemade dog food recipe diet is better any kibble or canned food.

#1 - Conviction (or Confidence or Certainty)

When you truly get a handle on making homemade recipes, and when you see the transformation in your pet, you are going to have such a supreme confidence when it comes to your dog's nutrition.

You will no longer be subject to bogus claims of "balanced and complete meals" nor will you be intimidated by veterinarian claims that only trained "experts" can feed your dog (if you visit your vet at all, that is!)

Your dog's nutrition is the key to a long lasting and healthy life, and when you come up to speed on feeding homemade recipes, you will have the profound conviction that you know EXACTLY what you are doing when it comes to his / her diet.

# 2 - A Certain Unease

Let's be honest, for many dog owners feeding time is a matter of convenience (something many dog owners fear they will lose if feeding homemade recipes. While this is not entirely true, we'll leave it for another article).

Yet, if owners really looked deep inside they would have to admit that feeding a complete and balanced meal from a processed food bag just makes no sense. You wouldn't open a can and feed a child a complete and balanced meal, every day for every single meal.

Nature intended animals to have variety, to have natural ingredients, whether they were grabbing bananas directly from a tree or settling down to finish off their prey.

There is a certain unease that some pet owners have when they reach for the bag or can. That feeling is their conscience letting them know that another method of feeding awaits, one which is infinitely better for their pets.

# 3 - Camaraderie

This may sound strange since you probably already have a great friendship with your dog. It's just that when you really begin to take control of his / her nutrition, it really does begin to transform that relationship.

You will feel pride, joy, and love well up inside you because now you KNOW, you KNOW (again it's that conviction) that you are prolonging your dog's precious life and reducing his/her ailments by feeding natural. (You may at times feel sadness for having left his nutrition to some large conglomerate).

But no worries, now you have chosen a better way, and it is one more way that you are showing your dog how much you care.

Conclusion

Conviction, a Certain Unease and newfound Camaraderie... again, less common (but no less important) reasons to begin feeding your pet a diet of homemade dog food recipes.

Happy feeding! About the Author

Kent Simmons is crazy about homemade dog food recipes for your dog.

For more information on what constitutes a good homemade dog food recipe, visit http://recipes4dogfood.com.

Kent Simmons

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Taming the Untamable Puppy

   by David Beartin Family / Pets    (submitted 2011-11-18)

So there you are . . . at the pet store or local rescue shelter. Your daughter's pigtails sway as she rushes to pick out "the one" that makes her heart bounce high. You clench as she passes the golden puppy on the right that has drug his food bowl all across his pen, ripped the head off his squeaking Santa toy and managed to destroy his padded bed in one swift chewing session. Just keep walking. Just keep walking. You reason inside your head. But no luck . . . she has fallen head over ballet flats for this little rascal - and you just don't have the heart to tell her "no way".
Maybe things will get better once you get home right?
But then it happens, you set the puppy in the living room and it's like you set free the Tasmanian Devil! You can see it's going to be an uphill climb . . . but she loves the darn thing too much to give it back. Besides it's not really your style to give up so easy. You might be stuck with problem pup now but you don't have to be stuck with that problem behavior. With a little patience and these tips you can change that problem pup into a prized pal.

Stay Clam
One of the most amazing things about animals, especially our pets, is that they can sense your emotional state. Perhaps this derives from their ability to get "in sync" with the leader of the pack in the wild. Since YOU are now the leader of the pack your pup will be looking to you for emotional cues. This is why it is imperative that you remain calm and in control. Freaking out will only send mixed signals. When you react to a no-no simply remain calm but use a calm authoritative voice when training the puppy to nix a behavior.

Enlist the Help of Your Kids
Because your puppy probably does more playing with your children than with you the best advice that you might not implement is helping your kids know how to reward the puppy for good behavior. Discipline is a bit harder for kids and it might be hard for them to send the pup to his kennel for shoe chewing but rewarding them is always fun and easy.
Encourage your child to praise the pup for good behavior. Shower him with love and affection . . . the more over the top the better. This helps the puppy to really soak in what's going on and associate good behavior with approval and praise.

Don't Give Up
At first, conquering the problematic behavior of a new pet can seem like it will never end. Maybe you have taken your "tinkling on the expensive couch" pet outdoors a zillion times and you are simply getting frustrated because he can focus enough to pee on the exact same edge of the Lazy Boy but when he gets outside he starts chasing a squirrel . . . in a circle. These types of instances are what make you want to give up. It's not exactly the monotony that gets you instead it is the little things that make the job just so much more difficult!
While it is certainly a daunting task it is not an endless one. If you are dedicated to seeing a change and put in equal parts love and training you won't have a problem pet forever. Just like children, some pets just need a little extra love and attention to grow and thrive.

Consider the Possibilities
When the going gets tough remind yourself that this relationship can be a win win. Did you know that people with pets have been statically live longer? (Yes. Even those with pets like YOURS.) Pets are now even prescribed to patients with seizures, anxiety disorders, emotional issues and other needs that go outside the realm of what a typical service dog provides. Your pet can do the same for you . . . you just have to keep on keeping on.

Right now the way sure looks rough right? But if you're reading this you are taking the first steps to making it work and implanting a good plan of action. So just keep trying. When you do, you're sure to find that they begin to leave less and less paw prints on your prized begonias and more and more paw prints on your heart. About the Author

David Beart runs the Professors House. Our family based site covers everything from raising children and marriage problems to pet advice.

David Beart

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