Fever pets

Reach The Superior Health Level of Your Dog With a Clean Colon
By George Christodoulou

Anyone who knows anything about dogs, knows that the best way to check the stake of his or her health is to run your hand across its nose or snout as it is known. If the snout is wet it is a sure sign that the dog is healthy and everything is functioning as it should be.

There are also other external signs that a dog is healthy, if they is active or frisky or dull and lethargic, if their eyes are bright, and especially if their coats are sleek and shiny. A dog with a sleek and shiny coat is dog how is healthy. A dog that is healthy is a testament to their owners who make sure that they get the proper diet, not too much junk to eat and plenty of exercise which the average healthy dog will crave.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, whichever way you look at it human beings have neither snouts or furry coats. Despite that fact you can generally look at a human and see that all is not right with them of not. Their mucous may look dry and pasty; it may even be spotty even though they are well passed their adolescent years. What does this usually indicate? That all is not well with their digestive system, and their colon and bowel may well be clogged up with an accumulation of undigested grease and toxins. This accumulation will have been usually brought about by a culmination of three factors.

1. A highly unhealthy diet based around fast foods and not drinking enough fresh water
2. Insufficient if not total lack of exercise.
3. Exposure to toxics in the air or cigarette smoke.

The only way a person can break free of this self imposed viscous circle of a poorly maintained digestive system is to begin a new healthy diet and exercise regime. The best way to signal the start of this new regime is having the colon thoroughly cleaning carried out. This will remove all the junk that is clogging up there and set this sickly looking individual looking live the human version of Lassie the wonder dog.

Watch Out For These Common Household Items That Can Kill Your Dog
By Douglas Hanna

Just as you child-proof your home before the new baby begins to walk, you have to consider the fact that a new dog will go after just about anything in the house. Here are some common household items that are poisonous to dogs.

* Prescription medications that that should be kept out of the reach of dogs: Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, aspirin, cough and cold syrups.

* Indoor plants can be very dangerous for dogs and should only be kept on a counter high enough that the a dog cannot reach them. If you have a large dog, you may want to get rid of these plants altogether. Plants that can cause harm to dogs are tulip bulbs, poinsettias, philodendrons, daffodils, lily of the valley, and azaleas.

* Foods: Dogs have a way of getting into cabinets where you store the "good stuff." Foods that are dangerous to dogs: chocolate, yeast, grapes, onions, and raisins.

* Insecticides: These kept in a locked cabinet or on a high shelf in the garage and not in the home: rat poison, flea and tick products, and other insecticides.

* Cleaners: If you keep these under the kitchen sink, be sure to dog-proof the cabinet. This will make sure these items cannot be taken out by your dog: bleach, detergent, furniture polish, soap, and disinfectants.

* Chemicals: These include lighter fluid, turpentine, antifreeze, gasoline, glue, paint, solvents, and any type of acids.

* Tobacco: Try to avoid leaving out a pack of cigarettes that can be easily eaten by your dog.

* Household Hazards: Ensure that there are all the electrical outlets in your home are covered. No extension cords should be in a placed where dogs can chew on them. All electrical appliances should be turned off or unplugged.

* Small collectible items that you have showcased in your home should be transferred to the top of an open bookshelf or an enclosed glass closet.

* Ensure that no bathroom items are left out on the sink or counter. If you have a cabinet under the bathroom sink, make sure it has a safety lock as well.

I am curious dog

Dogs are a curious animals and are inherently prone to forage for food or other items they consider to be chewable toys. Think of your dog as another child. As dedicated as you are to child-proofing your home, you should be just as careful about dog-proofing it. This way, there is little or no chance of an accident happening when you are not home or when you are fast asleep.

For puppies, a good recommendation is to keep them in a kennel during the night so that they can sleep peacefully and not roam around the house.

Err on the side of caution

However, always err on the side of caution. A simple test would be to get down on your hands and knees and go through your entire home. This test has been used by those who wish to child-proof their homes. It is a sound idea for dogs as well.

8 Tips For Choosing The Right Dog Food
By Douglas Hanna

If you were told that some of your dog's diet should consist of spaghetti and meatballs (without the sauce), what would you think? Would you be amazed to learn that this can be quite good for your dog?

Here are some tips for choosing the right diet for your dog.

First, although more and more dog owners are choosing to prepare homemade dog meals, there are others who opt for the premium dog foods. Still, others simply feed their dogs whatever is cheap or on sale. The big problem with commercial dog food is that there is no set standard for what goes into the can except that it must contain vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

Top #1. The only real way to determine if the quality of the commercial food you're buying is by reading the label. And in some cases, you almost need an advanced degree to understand the actual ingredients. However, try to determine what percentage is preservatives as they can have a very negative effect on the dog's longevity.

Tip #2: Selecting the right diet for dogs is similar to choosing the right diet for humans. It will depend on factors such as the dog's size, weight, allergies, etc., as dogs are as different from one another as are humans. The important thing with all dog breeds it to choose the right diet, assuring that it is well-balanced and offers the right amount of nutrients.

Tip #3. The recent recall of pet food suggests that homemade dog food might be the best way to feed your dog. However, it does take some preparation time and effort to make sure the food is fresh, prepared properly, and is well balanced.

Tip #4. There are foods that should never be given to dogs. This includes dairy products, chocolate, and foods containing sugar.

Tip #5. Many experts suggest you feed your dog a diet of protein such as meat, chicken, and turkey. While this is probably a good idea, keep in mind that the only meat not suitable for dogs is pork and pork products.

Tip #6. Premium dog foods usually contains vegetables, fruits, fat, fiber, and Vitamin E and can be a healthy alternative to homemade meals.

Tip #7. Althoug some people consider premium dog food to be too expensive, it is important to keep things in perspective -- the healthier the food, the less you will have to feed your dog in order for it to obtain all the nutrition it needs. If you feed your dog a sub-standard product, you most likely will have to give the dog more to assure it is properly fed.

Tip #8, While homemade food preparation is becoming more popular, so too is holistic diets for dogs. There is information available online about holistic dog diets, including those recipes that are available if you choose to go holistic.

How to Choose the Perfect Dog Breed for Your Family
By Lewis L

Thinking of adding a new dog to your home? Congratulations! It's an exciting decision, but also a very important one. After all, you are choosing to take on the well being of another living thing. This makes it necessary for you to make sure that you go with a dog that is right for your living circumstances. Here are a few examples of factors you should keep in mind when choosing a dog.

How much free time do you have?

One of the first considerations has to do with the amount of time you will be able to spend with your new pet. Do you work long hours that leave you with little free time? Perhaps your work requires that you travel frequently, which means you will need to place your pet into a kennel on a regular basis. If these two factors apply to you, then think long and hard before getting a dog. Pets need attention that goes beyond a comfortable place to sleep and fresh food and drink. If your pet is not likely to see much of you, then perhaps goldfish would be a better choice.

Will your new dog be comfortable?

Next, take a look around your home and think in terms of how comfortable various breeds would be in your home. If you live in an apartment and have limited space, a smaller dog might be a good option. On the other hand, if you have a home with a fenced in back yard a larger dog will do very well, since there is always the option of getting some exercise in a safe place. When choosing a dog, always keep in mind that your pet will need room to roam. Only consider breeds that will fit into your living space nicely.

Why do you want a dog?

Third, consider your reasons for wanting to own a dog. Are you mainly interested in having some company? If that is the case, then you will want to go with a breed that is very loving and will provide you with an energetic welcome when you come home. On the other hand, if the point of having a dog is to add an element of security to your life and home, you may want to go with a dog that is a little larger and tends to be somewhat territorial. Most of these dogs are still somewhat affectionate, but will tend to be somewhat suspicious of strangers in the home until they get a clue from you that it is okay for the individual to be there.

Do you have children?

Last, if you have children in the home, be very careful in your selection of a dog. Some dogs take very well to children and become playmates. At the same time, they will also become very protective of your children, which is a good thing. However, not all breeds mix well with children. When choosing a dog to be the family pet, go with a breed of dogs that is known to be children friendly.

Canine ADHD
By Eric Letendre

I would be on drugs.

There would be no doubt about it. If I was in high school today some guidance counselor would have suggested and strongly recommended that I be put me on some type of drug therapy to get through high school.

You see, I barely, and I mean barely, squeaked out with a diploma. I was really just pushed through my junior and senior year of high school. When I look back on my school days, I was really just pushed through most of my schooling.

I was "diagnosed" as having a learning disability in the third grade. Today I would would be classified as ADHD.

Some of my teachers would literally fall out of their chairs if they knew that I had written a book called The Amazing Dog Training Man.

It's not that I couldn't learn, I just had a very active brain and I was BORED out of my mind. I could not concentrate on what was being taught but, when I had a subject and a teacher that was interesting, I was at the top of my class.

You see, I love to learn but for some weird reason, it has to be on my terms. I have traveled all over the United States and sat for days at a time to learn from some of the best dog trainers in the world.

So why do I share all of this with you?

Simple...

I am asked by a lot of people if it is possible for their dogs to have canine ADHD. My honest opinion is that I have NEVER come across a dog that I felt had any kind of learning disability.

What I have found is that the dog that is having a difficult time learning obedience is usually a dog that cannot pay attention. I worked with a dog, not too long ago, that had so much pent up energy that he truly could not focus. The dog was kept in a crate every day, sometimes up to ten hours. I tried and tried to explain to the person that owned the dog that no amount of training can overcome an exercise problem. I won't go into it today but the story had a very tragic ending.

One of the big influences on my training career was a British dog trainer, John Rogerson. I had the great opportunity to attend his seminars in New Hampshire and Memphis, TN.

Mr. Rogerson made a very simple but profound statement that I have never forgotten. He stated: "In order to have a good dog, you have to be a good dog owner."

Brilliant!

It changed the way I helped people train their dogs. I boiled down what I felt were the four important steps to becoming a good dog owner. Here they are:

Step #1: Effectively control and manage your dog's behavior. Or as I wrote in my book, The Amazing Dog Training Man, - M.O.B. Rules which stands for Management of Behavior.

Step #2: Give your dog enough exercise. There are two forms of exercise that every dog needs. Physical and Mental. Your dog needs to exercise his body and his brain.

Step #3: Become the leader. Dogs do respond to structure. Structure your relationship so your dog understands that you are in charge.

Step #4: Learn about behavior. Learn when to reinforce behavior and how to stop behaviors.

By following those four steps you'll develop a great relationship with your dog and your dog will become much more responsive to your training.

And remember that all training starts with attention. Your dog has to be paying attention to you before they will respond to any of your commands. It's your job to get and keep your dog's interest when you are training.

Top Tips For Training A Labrador Puppy
By Darren Gibson

You've made the decision to bring a Labrador puppy into your life - good for you! Your next step is to get some tips for training a Labrador puppy so you don't run into problems later.

A few things you need to bear in mind, particularly about this breed of dog are:

1. Labradors love people! It's no good getting a Lab then spending all day at the office while your new dog pines for you at home. If you are going to have a Labrador in your family, then you need to be prepared to spend plenty of time with her.

2. Labs are an active breed, originally bred to retrieve prey from the shoot.  If they do not spend enough time exercising, then you are highly likely to run into problems, both health wise (getting overweight, which will promote the common problem of hip dysplasia) and in terms of behavior as a result of separation anxiety.

If your Labrador is left without physical exercise, she will get overweight and have all the health problems associated with it.  If she is not mentally stimulated, she will have behavioral problems and be difficult to control.

So here are my top tips for successfully training a Labrador puppy:-

#1. Spend as much time as possible with your Labrador and use positive reinforcement (treats and praise) during training sessions.

#2. Exercise your dog at least twice a day, and incorporate training into the exercise times

#3. If there are times when you will not be home for prolonged periods, make sure you have someone available who can take her for a run to feed her need for both companionship and exercise.

Labradors are a very devoted breed.  If you give your dog the attention she rightly deserves, then the rewards will be many fold. If you do not have the time needed to raise and nurture a Lab, then please think twice before making the decision to bring one into your family. If you do have the time spare, then follow these very simple tips for training a Labrador puppy and you will have a friendship with your dog that lasts for many years.

Training Your Dog Through Punishment Should Be a Thing Of The Past
By Darren Gibson

Punishment as a form of training is still widely used by dog owners who know no better when training a dog. What your dog sees as a punishment can take many forms: verbal (shouting or an angry tone), physical (kicking, hitting or other forced actions such as rubbing his nose in the carpet) or even the posture of his master. No dog wants to be punished, nor will he do anything 'on purpose' and be aware of the (physical) consequences beforehand.

If you come home to find your dog has upset the garbage can and spread the contents all over the house, he is unlikely to realize when he is being yelled at that it is because of the mess he made some hours ago. What he will do is associate the return of his master with physical or verbal punishment, making him anxious about you returning home. You may even begin to notice your dog showing fear towards you if your training methods have included physical punishment.

If you see your dog crawling or slinking around looking "guilty" about the time you have noticed something he did earlier, you might think he knows he has done something wrong. This is not the case. Dogs have no sense of right and wrong. When shouted at, he is not acting "guilty", but is in fact just showing submissive posture in response to your harsh tone of voice or angry demeanor.

There are forms of behavior modification that may be acceptable even though they are based upon negative reinforcement that you could use in correcting unwanted behavior in a dog. If this is a method you wish to use, it is best that the 'perceived punishment' does not come from you, but instead comes from the environment your dog is in. For instance, noise can be an effective form of correction. When the dog is caught doing something that is undesirable, a sudden loud noise can disrupt what he is doing. It is important that the sound does not appear to come from you, but is something that 'mystically occurs' whenever he is misbehaving - it can come from an air horn or a tin full of beans that is shaken to make a noise. In time, your dog will associate the unwanted noise with the behavior you want to correct and avoid doing it again, even when you are not around.

If any of the above sounds familiar to you, or punishment to correct your dog's behavior is not the way you want to train your dog, why not consider positive reinforcement as a training method? Positive reinforcement is the exact opposite of punishment as a dog training technique, and providing you are consistent, it can be much more effective, rewarding and enjoyable for both you and your dog.