Pets

Puppy training is a lot like training your child. When dealing with behavior issues you should always be consistent. When you bring the puppy home decide on one person who will be training the dog. Try to always have that person training the dog, this creates less confusion. Dogs are pack animals and will try to assert there dominance but a few training tips can help him see someone else as the leader of the pack.

Puppies like babies teeth. Biting and chewing are caused by the puppy teething. It can also be caused by excess energy and stress. Puppies understand low guttural sounds and will react to them. If he begins to bite or chew on something inappropriate then say “no” in a low guttural voice. Then proceed to give him a safe chew toy that he can chew and bite. Giving them chew toys that resemble things he cannot chew or bite will only confuse him , so be careful of what chew toys he receives.

Barking is another common and annoying puppy behavior. Excessive barking can be fixed with a little puppy training. It is often caused by loneliness or boredom. If the cause is loneliness then spending a little more time with the dog may be the answer. If this puppy training doesn’t work it may be that it has become a habit. Try filling an empty can with some pebbles, when the dog barks roll the can in his direction and use the low guttural voice to tell him “no”. The can is not to hit dog , only to startle him and grab his attention.

Puppies like to dig. Sometimes it is because of the breed. Some breeds are just known to be diggers. Unfortunately there is no definite puppy training to cure this one. Instead try to understand why they are digging and fix that problem. It may not cure the problem but it may help. If the dog is digging during the summer months to find a cooler spot, try providing a cooler spot for your dog to lay down.

A puppy that jumps on you might be cute but imagine him as an adult dog jumping on you. Part of puppy training is fixing the behavior problems before they become adult dogs. There is a way to discourage the puppies jumping. Avoid petting your puppy when he jumps, it will only encourage him. When your puppy jumps lean towards him and say in a low guttural voice “off”. When he backs away tell him to sit and then praise him. This shows him that he will only get what he wants by doing the desired behavior.

Puppy training takes patience and consistency. However puppy training is a lot easier than training an adult dog. Taking care of the problems while he is still a puppy will save you a lot of frustration in the end.

Sand fleas are one of the most dangerous species of fleas commonly found in the North Pacific region. They are the parasitic crustaceans who attach themselves to the flesh and scale of the other water creatures, and then eat the creatures they are attached to. Various water creatures who are the common targets of these sand fleas are small fish, swordfish, sunfish, flying fish, starfish, and even whales.

The size of the sand fleas can vary in size from as small as a small grain of sand to three or four times larger. Their attack is localized, as one part of the host can be seen to be severely affected by these fleas, while other parts show no damage.

As a first step of their predation on the host’s body, sand fleas first appear to feed off their outer layer of slime. Then the fleas slowly eat away the top layer of the host’s skin. Their presence on the host’s body is made evident by the presence of a non-glossy, whitened appearance on the areas where the skin has been eaten by these fleas. They enter the body of the host mainly through the entrances created by these parasites, and by eating the skin membrane near the eye area, anus, or dorsal fins. Once they enter the skin of the host, the host is assumed to be dead, so deadly dangerous are these sand fleas. They attack the host body and suck and eat everything from the skin to sweet glands to the blood. The chewed remains of the unfortunate sea-creatures afflicted with the sand-fleas may be found in craters underwater.

It is very important to feed your Shih Tzu a well-balanced diet of pet food and not table scraps. Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas that can result from feeding your Shih Tzu table scraps.

A Shih Tzu with pancreatitis may suddenly vomit, become dehydrated, be lethargic and have diarrhea. These symptoms are common to a lot of different canine diseases; therefore, the diagnosis of pancreatitis is very difficult for a vet to make. He will depend a lot upon a good history from the Shih Tzu owner.

High amounts of fat in the Shih Tzu’s diet, a high-fat meal or allowing your Shih Tzu to get into the garbage and consume leftover food may cause pancreatitis Pesticides. Some canine drugs can cause side effects of pancreatitis as well. There is a higher incidence of this disease in obese Shih Tzu.

Pancreatitis can also lead to diabetes and loss of some liver function in your Shih Tzu. It is very important to introduce an easily digestible diet to avoid diarrhea.

Repeated episodes of acute pancreatitis or has signs of diabetes may be chronic pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis can appear suddenly, but doesn’t last as long. There is little or no permanent damage to the organ. In chronic pancreatitis the pancreas undergoes permanent damage and possible loss of function.

Once a Shih Tzu is diagnosed with pancreatitis, the intestinal tract must be rested. All food and water is withheld from the dog for a period of time, usually 24 hours. If the Shih Tzu is dehydrated, intravenous fluids will have to be given. The Shih Tzu normally responds to treatment in a few days and can gradually be put back on food.

You need to avoid acute or chronic pancreatitis at all times with your Shih Tzu. Feed your Shih Tzu a well balanced commercially prepared diet to be certain your Shih Tzu is getting all the nutrition it needs.

The best choice of food for your Shih Tzu is a veterinarian formulated product inspired by nature and made using good science. Your Shih Tzu depends upon you to make the right choices when it comes to his or her health and happiness. Your Shih Tzu is a part of your family and you probably want the very best for him.

You might think all pet food manufacturers have your pet’s best interests in mind. This is not always the case. Current pet food regulations allow manufacturers to use ingredients that you would never give to your pet. You probably would be shocked to learn what some brands of pet food really contain.

For example, the use of by-products on the label of a dog food actually means “feet, bones and intestines, etc.). You will often see listed on the dog food label, chemical preservatives (BHA and BHT), and grains that are often difficult to digest (corn, wheat, gluten and soy). These things are often used as a protein source instead of meat. These types of ingredients can also cause acute pancreatitis and possibly even chronic pancreatitis in your Shih Tzu.

Choose a dog food for your Shih Tzu that is made with the freshest, human-quality ingredients, which can give your Shih Tzu the best quality possible. This would be also a dry dog food that contains all natural chicken and top quality catfish with the best fresh fruit, vegetables and select farm foods. The dog food you choose for your Shih Tzu should contain no artificial flavors, colors, sugars, or chemical preservatives. Be sure to read the labels on the dog food before purchasing for your Shih Tzu.

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Shock Collars

Are you at a loss as to whether or not to purchase a shock collar for your pet? Yes, you love the little guy but the neighbors don’t want him in their yard. Or, maybe they are complaining about the dog’s barking? You need to do something and you are thinking about getting a shock collar? Here’s some information to think about regarding shock collars.

When you are looking into shock collars you should think about what your goal is. Is the ultimate goal to keep the dog from barking? Perhaps you wish to limit the aggressiveness your dog shows? Even more so, you may need to ensure the animal stays on your property. There are different types of shock collars to accomplish these tasks.

While it may seem cruel to shock an animal into submission, the actual shock the dog receives is small. It will not leave a lasting mark or pain. There are always stories of shock collars malfunctioning and by doing so the animal gets hurt. But, the risk is much smaller than allowing that same animal to run into a busy street. So, the pet owner will have to decide if they want to use a shock collar or not.

Shock collars work by shocking the animal when it behaves badly. Say for example, that an animal is to remain in a certain area. No amount of telling the animal to stay keeps him there and the owner does not want to keep an eye on the animal the whole time they are outside. So, the result is purchasing and using a shock collar. The animal steps over the buried boundaries and it causes a small shock to emit from the collar. This tells the animal, NO! So, the dog backs away and ends up staying in its assigned area.

As you can see, there are many benefits to using a shock collar on your pet. While it may seem harmful, it really is minimal compared to its benefits. While many people may never decide this is for them, it may eventually become something that you find useful and gives you great success. Shock collars are one method of training an animal. If you should choose this method for your pet, take the time to realize the pros and cons. It is a rather large expense and should not be taken lightly.

http://www.dogtraining collars.net

The origins of Ragdoll cats are full of myth and controversy. This cat’s history is often contradictory and confusing; some of the Ragdoll story is just not possible. Other parts we know to be factual. First things first: the Ragdoll cat breed started in California back in the 1960s. It was founded by a woman named Ann Baker. The very first cat of this breed was for all intensive purposes a regular cat named Josephine. Ann Baker noticed something special about Josephine and her offspring. She decided to breed for this characteristic. Ragdoll cats get their name from the fact that they go limp like a Ragdoll when held. Ann Baker went so far to trademark the term Ragdoll; anyone who bred Ragdoll cats had to pay her royalties to use the name.

It is for this characteristic of the Ragdoll cat breed that Ann Baker made her unusual claims. Josephine was once hit by a car. On one account Ann Baker claimed she had taken the injured cat to a local University to have her patched up; she asked the University to give her cat new DNA and this is why Ragdoll cats came to be.

Another claim the breed’s founder made was that Ragdoll cats feel no pain whatsoever. The reason she gave for this followed suite with her previous claims that the cats were genetically altered and that they were in fact, alien hybrids. Move over x-files, there have been alien-feline hybrids on earth since the 60s.

Other claims made about this breed of cat are that they felt no fear, they are the ideal cat for people with cat allergies, and they do not have cat instincts due to the fact they are alien hybrids.

When it comes to myths about, ragdoll lore is truly stranger than fiction.

Trends and fads in diets have always garnered attention in the media and, at times, even sparked debates. Considering this, it was probably just a matter of time before pets got pulled into the fray.

Believe it or not, a major movement called feeding raw is becoming popular with pet owners across the country.

What is Feeding Raw?

Basically, this refers to a diet comprised entirely of natural foods. In other words, it excludes any kind of commercial pet food. For example, instead of a cup of kibble, you would serve your dog a raw egg or a piece of a (raw) chicken. The idea here is to mimic how an animal would eat in the wild. So instead of cooked and processed food, it would be food in its most natural form.

Is Feeding Raw Safe?

Not all pet owners and vets will support the feeding raw movement. There are several possible reasons for this. First, it can be a burden on your lifestyle and on your pocket. It’s not always easy to find a supplier of chicken carcasses or organ meat, and it can be expensive to purchase these things. Obviously, buying pre-packaged foods is an easier and cheaper solution.

Next, some vets have a personal stake in the foods they offer. For example, they may earn a percentage on every bag of food they sell to their clients. In addition, since feeding raw is a relatively new trend, not all vets learn about it in their schooling.

But those who have jumped on the raw food bandwagon will be the first to tell you that most packaged pet food, even the “natural” brands, have altered ingredients and components that are unnecessary and potentially harmful to animals. For example, many claim that dogs and cats do not need to eat grains, fruits, or vegetables and, in fact, these ingredients may upset an animals’ digestive system. They would go on to say that by following a raw food diet and controlling exactly what your animal eats you are bound to have a healthier, happier pet.

What are Benefits of a Raw Food Diet?

According the followers of the raw food movement, your pets will benefit in the following ways:

Healthier teeth and gums

More attractive breath and overall odor

Fewer stools

Healthier digestive system

Stronger jaws and muscles (from chewing meaty bones)

Fewer allergies

Better weight control

Those who follow a raw food diet for their pet also claim that their pets have more energy, a sunnier disposition, and are healthier all around.

The Trouble with Raw Foods

Well, if feeding raw is so beneficial, why isn’t everyone doing it?

As we stated above, this movement is relatively new on the scene, so there have not been many long-term studies that show the pros and cons of feeding raw. Until these are available, many pet owners will choose to stay with the familiar—namely, the packaged goods.

Also, not all pet owners want to handle carcasses and animal parts or watch their pets tear into them for a meal. Although it is possible to argue that there is nothing “unnatural” about this, we can not blame people for cringing at the sight of Fluffy gnawing on a lamb’s neck.

And, of course, there is always a danger of infection whenever dealing with raw meats of any kind. Although raw foods die-hard will downplay this risk, it definitely exists.

We think it is safe to say that a raw foods diet is not for every pet or every pet owner.

Have you ever had the pleasure of having a dog as a pet? Are you aware of the many health benefits that owning a dog can bring? I am a bit biased I suppose because I have always loved having a dog around the house, but I find it hard to understand why more people do not take the plunge and own a dog. In this article I write about the ways in which a dog can help and improve peoples health.

Owning a dog can help people who are often stressed out in their life. Going out in the garden or in the local park and throwing a ball to my dog to fetch, often brings a smile to my face. I can see my dog wagging her tail in enjoyment as she retrieves the ball, she then drops the ball at my feet in the hope that I will throw it again. As she runs full speed after the ball again, I just stand their in amazement at the sheer power of her. Being somebody myself who has always struggled to cope with stress, I find this whole experience helps me in a number of ways. As well as bringing the smile to my face as previously mentioned, which of course is showing that I am happy, this game is helping me to take my mind off all of the things that I was worrying about.

When back in the house the dog shows me a lot of love and likes to cuddle up with various members of our family on the sofa, including me of course. This makes our home so much cosier and warmer, this itself helps in reducing the amount that I stress. The warmth and love always makes me feel better and helps me to think in a more positive way. There is nothing worse for somebody like myself than spending long periods on my own as this makes my mind start to wonder, I basically start to think too much about aspects of my life and the future. This thinking is probably better described as worrying.

Taking the dog on these walks to the park is also a great form of exercise for me. I am sure that I do not have to explain the health benefits of exercise to the readers of this article, but you can see that this is another good reason for owning a dog. When walking the dog, the fresh air and the time away from the house helps me to clear my mind. As an example, if my wife or children are starting to annoy or nag me, which in turn can lead me to becoming a bit stressed, this is then the time that I will put the dog on her lead and take her for a walk. Sometimes I do this eight times a day! I hope that when I return home that the house will be a lot calmer and a more relaxed place to be.

As you can probably tell, I gain a lot of pleasure out of having a dog as a pet and I am sure that more people could as well, if only they were willing to give it a try.

Question: How do I get my 6m old Shih Tzu to stop biting me? When I come home from work (my husband is with her all day) She spends the entire night biting my finger and toes. I’ve tried various form of discipline, and none of them have worked.

Answer: Your absolutely right- you need to get this behaviour stopped, and stopped quickly. There are three techniques that I recommend to quickly stop your puppy from biting you.

Tactic 1: “NO” and ignore - One of the reasons your puppy is nibbling on you is because she wants attention. Just as humans crave social interaction, so do our dogs. We can use this to shape behaviour. As soon as your puppy nips you, yell “NO!” and walk away - ignore the dog for a couple of minutes. Then return to the dog with a toy, and encourage him to play with the toy. If he bites you again, simply repeat. Be consistent with this technique - your husband will need to be consistent as well.

Tactic #2 - The Shake Can - If you cannot get your puppy to respond to Tactic 1 in a reasonable period of time, you can turn to the shake can. To make a shaker can simply take a clean soda or beer can, put at least 10 pennies in it and tape over the opening. When your puppy starts to nibble, shake the can or drop it as you say “NO!”. When he stops because he is startled, praise him and offer the appropriate chew toy.

Tactic #3 - physical grab - This is the “last resort” tactic, that I only recommend if 1 and 2 have not worked. As soon as the puppy nips you say “NO!” and grab the skin on the back of his neck. Don’t shake or lift him, but simply move your hand back and forth. Release the puppy and give him a toy. After a while, you can stop the grabbing and simply say “NO!”.

As with any training tactic, you have to be consistent. Over time, just like young children, your puppy will learn how to behave appropriately in your home!

Like any animal, lizards at times in captivity will need to be force fed. There are situations and conditions which will result in a lizard not eating on their own.

Some diseases lizards can get will result in seizures, or a similar condition. It is imperative not to feed them during an incident like this. They will most likely not be able to swallow the food. It is best to seek the help of a veterinarian at this point. The animal will need to have a tube placed into their stomach to feed. If the animal shows no signs of seizures, they can be fed using a syringe. It is tricky to get their mouth open, but should be possible using the syringe itself.

Using the syringe, squeeze the processed food into the back of the throat, taking great care to avoid the trachea at the back of the tongue. Make sure to only offer as much food as the animal can handle. Larger lizards can obviously handle more food. It may also be possible to force-feed feeder insects. If the lizard is having digestive problems however, the liquid substitute is much easier to digest, as much of the work is already done. Another advantage of liquid feeding is the fact that you control exactly what the lizard is getting into its diet.

For the vegetable part of the liquid diet, vegetable baby food works very well. This food is high in vitamins and can easily be digested by the lizard. Make sure to add in a calcium supplement to the food. Younger lizards need to be fed more often but in smaller quantities, while larger lizards will need to be fed less often, but with higher quantities per feeding. You have to follow the natural way your lizard eats its food, as not to upset their natural metabolism. If your lizard eats both insects and vegetables, you can use a type of cat food (used for sick cats) if they will eat it. You can also try to add insect matter (use fresh insects) into the liquid mix.

All of us dream of parenting the perfect dog, a pup that is a CGC or canine good citizen and is well behaved and dependable at all times. Well dreams do come true if the training is done with care and dedication. Remember pups learn from day one and need to be taught what is right, what is wrong, and proper socialization.

Pups are like children, they need constant supervision and training. Training a pup need not be an ordeal all you need to keep in mind are a few simple rules:

• Until your pup learns you need to keep an eye on him at all times. When you cannot then you must crate him. Create a schedule for the pup this will help the pup settle down quickly. The schedule must include things like hourly bath rooming visits, eating times, rest periods, walks, play time, training, and so on. A pup that has a busy day has no time to be bored and get into mischief.

• Teach the pup to respect you. Dogs live in packs and instinctively follow a leader. If you establish your leadership in no uncertain terms then training will become easy as the pup will obey you at all times and not challenge your authority.

• Use only positive training methods. Never shout at, hit, or punish a dog. It is not just cruel but can lead to behavioral problems. Use of electric shocks, prong collars, sprays, and so on could hurt the animal.

• Teach the pup “nothing in life is free.” This is a system that is widely acknowledged as a useful training tool. If you practice this, the pup will learn that to get something like love, a walk, or treat, he must behave well.

• Teach the meaning of “No,” from day one. Do not encourage behaviors like jumping, mouthing, tug-o-war, barking, or running out of open gates and doors. Praise good behavior and ignore or walk away when there is bad behavior. The pup will learn that if he misbehaves he will loose his companion/playmate.

• To correct a behavior you must catch the pup in the act and startle him by rattling a can of pebbles. Once you have done this make him correct his behavior and immediately offer him a treat and praise. Pups do not recall what happened earlier so scolding him after an event is of no use.

• Always call/use his name positively. Never say “Bad TOM,” or “No Tom,” this will cause confusion and the pup will think that if you call his name then it is something bad. The pup must associate his name with happy events like hugs, petting, walks, treats, and such. If this happens he will come willingly when you call out his name.

• Create a training schedule that is short and sweet say 10 minutes thrice a day. Long repetitive lessons can be boring and the pup will loose interest in learning. Make learning fun and use trick training to teach commands like sit, down, come and so on.

• Bond with the pup and both of you will enjoy your lessons. The pup must look forward to spending time with you and not avoid you by running away or hiding. Be sure to socialize the pup early. Socialization is one of the most important lessons. The pup must learn to be around other animals, people, sounds, vehicles, and other activities. So, slowly introduce the pup when he is little to everyday activities and sounds. Take him to the mall/ park, introduce him to children and other pets, and make him unafraid of the vacuum and garden hose.

• Learn all about crate training, leash walking, house breaking, as well as food training. These are kindergarten lessons that every pup must master. Know about all the idiosyncrasies as well as peculiarities of the breed this will give you valuable insights on how to successfully train the pup.

As a pet-parent you have many choices. You could choose to train the dog yourself or register at a professional training school. Training a dog has many stages: kindergarten, obedience training, doggy sports, showing and conformation, as well as other aspects like therapy dogs, hearing dogs, and so on. What level you choose to train depends on you as well as the learning abilities of your dog. As you know, different dogs like humans have varied talents. Choose well and both you and your pup will have fun times together.