Getting Your Dog to Use Dog Stairs
If you haven’t bought your dog a sturdy set of pet stairs, you should seriously consider doing so. Dog stairs not only help your pooch get where he needs to go (be it the sofa or the bed), but it also helps to save his joints and the tissues around them from becoming damaged from the daily impact of leaps and descends. Dog steps come in a variety of heights and sizes, but you must make sure that the steps you choose aren’t too tall or too short as this could cause him to trip.
If you already have a set of pet stairs—good for you!! This is an important tool to make your dog’s everyday activity easier and safer. The next step is teaching your pet how to use them. Some owners struggle with convincing their stubborn pet to use the steps, especially if the dog is a little older and is “set in his way” of doing things. The best way to convince your pet to use pet stairs is to show him how it can be worth his while.
Showing your dog “what’s in it for him” isn’t nearly as hard as it sounds. One way you can do this is by positioning the stairs where they will be used most and dangling your dog’s favourite toy or snack to lure him up. This may not work the first couple of attempts, but perseverance really does pay off. If your dog tends to be easily excitable, dangling his toy or a treat in front of him may not be the best trick. Instead, try sitting on the bed or sofa—or wherever you plan to position the stairs—and call to your dog. If he tries to climb up without the stairs, give him a gentle scolding and place him in front of the stairs, repeating the process over until he uses the dog stairs correctly.
We’ve also heard of dog owners who have denied their dog access to the bed unless the dog steps were used. This was done by either verbally dismissing the dog from the bed or bodily removing him from the bed onto the floor in front of the steps. This tactic is quite successful, as is high praise. Anytime your dog uses the stairs to get onto the furniture, make a big deal about it. Give him a cheery “good boy!” or any other phrase of praise you commonly use. This not only lets him know that you prefer for him to use the stairs, but also that it pleases you—and that’s what dogs want to do!
For information about getting your dog a set of pet stairs, visit Help Your Pets.
Tips For Good Puppy Health
If you have never owned a puppy before, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed with the sudden responsibility of caring for the wellbeing of your new pal. In this article you will learn about the basic health responsibilities you should attend to and how you can go about doing so.
Your puppy’s diet is first on our list. Puppies are on their mother’s milk until they are about six to eight weeks old. This weaning age is usually when breeders allow the puppies to be taken home by their new owner. Ask your breeder what the pup is currently eating and continue to feed him that. Usually they will be eating a soft canned food mixed with puppy milk replacer. Use less and less milk until your puppy is on pure canned food. You can do the same when switching to dry food by mixing in a little soft food and then cutting back a little each day until the puppy is on dry food only. Dry food is recommended as the best type of food for dogs as it has less fat content and keeps your dog’s teeth strong and free of plaque build up. This should happen gradually over the course of about 7 – 10 days. You should never feed your dog human food (ie: table scraps) at any time during his life. A dog’s diet requires a specific balance of certain nutrients and feeding your dog table scraps will upset this balance. Also remember to keep a water bowl filled for your pup at all times.
Your next concern should be to see that your dog gets all of the required vaccinations. Some breeders may start the vaccination process, so check with your dog’s breeder to find out if any vaccinations have been given to your pup. There are three shots given three weeks apart. These shots are referred to as the “core” injections. They help to prevent your pup from contracting distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis. You can have the first shot administered when your puppy is 6 weeks old. Your veterinarian may suggest vaccinations to prevent illnesses that are a concern for certain breeds or demographic regions. These are called non-core vaccinations as they are not a requirement for all dogs. To be on the safe side, we recommend you keep your dog away from other dogs (that are not in your home) until your puppy has completed his round of core vaccines. They will become effective about 10 days after the last vaccination.
Our next health tip is grooming. Regardless of the breed of your puppy, all dogs require a certain amount of grooming. For instance, long-haired dogs will require much more brushing and haircuts than other breeds, but there are also some breeds, particularly the ones with long ears, that need their ears cleaned frequently to avoid infection. All dogs need to have their nails clipped every so often, but we recommend that you have this done professionally if you aren’t experienced at the job, as clipping too close to the quick in your dog’s nails causes a great deal of pain and bleeding. Do a bit of research on your puppy’s breed to get a good idea as to what your grooming responsibilities will be.
Exercise is one of the most vital aspects of your dog’s health. Your puppy will have a great deal of energy, which is completely natural! You should encourage playtime, especially outdoors so that he can have tons of room to romp around. If your puppy becomes restless, he may chew excessively which can be dangerous for your puppy (think of all the cords/cables plugging into your outlets, as well as wooden furniture that can splinter!). Pet steps are a great tool you can use to give your dog a workout. The time you spend training him to use the dog stairs to get onto furniture will encourage your pup to bond with you as well as to be obedient and respectful.
For more tips on raising a healthy pup, visit HelpYourPets.com.
Dog Fitness: Is Your Pooch Out of Shape?
Have you begun to notice that your dog is looking a little overweight, or simply less lean than he should be? It might be time to start considering what your options are to help him get into shape. We’re going to talk about a few ways you can discover where your pet’s health is suffering and how to get it back up.
You must realize that all dogs require exercise. Whether you have a Pomeranian or a Great Dane, every breed and size of dog must maintain certain levels of activity on a daily basis. Think about your dog’s average day from beginning to finish. If you can’t bring it to mind, keep an eye on him for a few days and write down his usual activities. For my dog, I drew a time line of his average day. In my timeline I wrote down when he woke up, his meal times, his usual trips outside, nap times, etc. This really helps to put into perspective whether your dog is truly lacking exercise or if a change of diet is required.
That brings us to our next topic: the great outdoors. Have you ever stepped outside on a nice crisp morning, taken a deep breath of cool air and revelled in how good it feels to connect with nature? Maybe you don’t do this all the time, but for a dog, this is a common comparison of how natural it is for them to crave the outdoors—because dogs are natively the “outdoorsy type.” Being outdoors can cause inspiration, not just ideas, but for activity—and this is what your dog needs. If your dog doesn’t get to go outside often enough, this could be an answer for why his spirit for activity has shrunk. Try taking him outside at least twice a day, and not just for a bathroom break. Encourage him to run about and play with toys. It might help to remember that your dog is more likely to want to play if he has someone to play with. If you don’t have a private yard, try taking him on pet-friendly walking trails or to do a dog park where he can socialize and spend some alone time with you. Walking is a great way to improve your owner-dog bond as well as lose weight. Going outside isn’t the only activity you can do. Dog steps are a great tool to use to give your dog a bit of exercise while staying in the comfort of your home (especially on rainy or snowy days!). Make a game of running him up and down the steps, such as pushing the stairs against your bed and hiding treats in your covers. This is a favourite of mine as I love watching my dog go crazy as he paws through the covers!
If your dog seems to be getting enough exercise but still seems to be overweight, it may be time to reconsider what you’re feeding him. Does he get a lot of table scraps? Most of the food humans eat simply doesn’t offer any health benefits to dogs. The canine diet is supposed to consist primarily of lean meat, supplemented with raw vegetables and specific types of grain. Feeding your dog leftover pizza crusts or the leftover casserole that no one else would eat is a sure-fire way to cause health decline. So cut out the human food! You can also try putting your pooch on a name brand diet kibble for a month or two to see if that helps.
Any time you feel that there could be something amiss with your dog’s health, it’s always best to make an appointment with your dog’s vet to rule out the possibility of an underlying health condition.
For more great information about caring properly for a dog, or to buy a durable set of dog stairs, please visit Help Your Pets.
Dog Health Problems: Signs There Might be A Health Problem
Dog owners should know a bit about the various common dog health problems that their pet couild get over the course of their lives. There is an old canine folklore held and believed by people from long ago saying that a cold and wet nose on a dog is a sign of good health. The truth is that there is no basis in science whatsoever that when a dog has a cold, wet nose, that they are healthy and have no problems such as heart problems, worms, mange mites or any other canine health condition.
Responsible owners should disregard such beliefs without scientific basis and focus on looking at the overall condition of the dog including regular physical checks of the eyes, teeth, ears, mouth and skin for any abnormalities that could be signs and symptoms of a particular disease. On top of that, the dog owner should be responsible enough to provide all the care and attention that their dogs need including proper nutrition, preventative medicine and good grooming to ensure that their pets will be in good and healthy condition for years to come.
Signs Of Common Dog Health Problems
There are a number of signs and signals that might be telling you that your dog has specific dog health symptoms or problems or diseases. Dog owners need to make sure they are familiar with symptoms of potential dog health problems so they can take quick action and avoid bigger problems later on.
* Overall, a healthy dog’s coat is shiny, soft to the touch and full. With wiry coated dogs, like Australian terriers, you need to be sure that the coat is springy and has thick strands of fur. Breeds with double coats should have no indication of thinning on the undercoats.
* Redness, sores, scabs, scales, flakes, lumps and growths on the dog’s skin can be signs of health problems. Your dog’s skin and fur should be free of parasitic infestation like ticks, fleas or mange mites. An overabundance of scartching or biting of their own skin could mean your dog is infested with parasites like mange mites.
* Just like us, bright, shiny eyes in your dog means good health. Around their eyeballs, dogs have an area that needs to be pink to show that they are healthy. This area is called the conjunctiva and a pale color in this area could signify some underlying health problems. Its important that there be no abnormal discharges from the eyes, especially no greenish or yellow fluids.
* Bad odors and/or bloody discharge from the ears is good symptom that something is wrong. Its important to keep the ears clean and free of parasites like mange mites.
* Gums that have a healthy pink color which may contain some black pigmentation is a sign of good health. Pale or very light colored gums could mean your dog has anemia. Reddish gums that leak droplets of blood can often be signals that there is something amiss peridontally and this combined with a rank breath odor can spell trouble with a hidden health problem.
* Thinking back to the old time thinking about a dog’s nose, a dog full of health usually has a cold, wet nose but this is really only due to the kind of clear and watery discharge that are normal in dogs. If a foul and colored discharge from the nose emanates, this is a sign of an abnormal condition and should be looked at. These kinds of discharges in young puppies could indicate canine distemper and may turn out to be fatal.
A few of the other factors to indicate good dog health are weight, body temperature and the appearance of urine and feces. The most important thing is to understand these symptoms of dog health problems so that the minute you spot something out of the ordinary, you can take action right away.
Buying A Dog Bed For Your Dog
Your dog provides you so much love, care and protection, that providing him a bed is a small return. Your dog's comfort is important, however, you need to make choices about a dog bed that works in your home and with your dog. There are several options that are available but some of the factors that you consider are the size of your dog, the construction of the bed, the materials of the bed, the ease in keeping the bed clean and the cost of the bed. One of the options you should consider is a wicker dog bed, or if you have a large wicker dog bed.
A wicker dog bed has many things to recommend it to the dog owner. First a wicker dog bed can be formed into any shape. The wicker material iss is natural and renewable, and is wholly biodegradable when you dispose of the bed. Wicker can be dyed or painted to any color, so it can be an addition to you home that enhances your decor, not detracts. A wicker dog bed is then filled with a pillow or mattress on which the dog actually sleeps. The wicker dog bed pillow or mattress can be make of many different materials to accommodate the needs of your dog and to make it attractive to you, and comfortable for you pet.
A wicker dog bed provides an easy way to keep the bed clean. The wicker dog beds allow dirt, hair and depis to fall through to the floor for cleaning, while keeping a defined space for your dog to sleep. The sleeping mattresses have become available in foam and memory foam as of late, which can truly been a boon to your pet, and a nice change for your pocket book. The new foam and memory foam are long lasting and hold up to heavy wear.
One of the nice parts of a wicker dog bed is that you can replace the mattress or pillow without having to replace the entire bed, thus providing long term economy. It is not horrible to consider that some items for your pet are too expensive, it is a reality of our lives. The wicker dog bed provides a medium ground with environmental friendly, renewable materials and a mattress that is cleanable for long term use without the need for disposable. Comfort for your beloved dog and cleanliness and low-cost for you is an all around winner.
About Author: David Hueber is a Green Hosting expert. He also offers top Dog training and puppy training tips online.
Choosing the Right Dog
While the thought of becoming a dog owner is a very exciting notion, it is also one that requires commitment and responsibility. Choosing a dog is an important decision, and there are questions you should ask yourself before you commit to caring for a dog. Read on to learn a few tips that will help you choose the best dog to compliment your family, as well as ways you can help your furry addition make a smooth settlement in your home.
You have probably already asked yourself this question, but I’m tossing it in here just in case: Do you have what it takes to care for a living, breathing, thinking, feeling creature? Caring for a dog means fulfilling both its physical and emotional needs. If you don’t have any spare time or are away from home a lot, you might want to consider another pet. I recommend a fish. If you believe you’ve got what it takes to raise a dog, then you need to ask yourself what characteristics you want in your future pet. All dogs are different, of course, but I’m talking about things like: patience with children, trainability, size, level of activity, etc.
Your goal at this point should be to choose a breed of dog whose lifestyle will mesh nicely with your own. If you don’t lead a very active life, you might do better with a dog who can maintain good health with a short walk every day. On the opposite end of the table, you don’t want a dog who can’t keep up with you, either. Both you and your dog will be much happier if you can live similar lifestyles in contentment. The best way to find your ideal breed of dog is to do lots and lots of research. There are plenty of online resources you can access by doing a simple Google search. Try searching things like: best dog breed for children or small dog breeds. You will feel much more at ease bringing a dog into your home if you know roughly what kind of temperament you can expect from the breed.
Once you’ve decided on a dog, try letting every member of the family meet him before you bring him home. This is a great way for your new dog to get comfortable with you while he is still in the comfort of familiar surroundings. When it’s time to bring the dog home, ask his breeder or the shelter if they have a blanket, toy, or other familiar item that your dog can bring with him. If it’s a puppy, try to obtain an item that smells like his mother or the rest of his litter. This can be a HUGE help when you’re trying to settle the little guy in his new home. Let your dog roam around the house on his own for a bit (but keep an eye on him if he isn’t potty trained!). It’s perfectly natural for a dog to want to explore new territory and scents, and it will be less stressful for him if you aren’t hovering over his back all the time.
The more time you spend with your dog, the quicker you will begin to form a bond, which is very important! Try spending special play time with your dog or go for walks together. Training is an excellent way to let your dog know that you’re the boss, which gains his respect and obedience. You can get pet steps and teach our dog to walk up and down them. It’s a great source of indoor exercise and proves a health benefit when used to get onto furniture, as opposed to jumping. As long as you put thought and effort into choosing a dog you feel will fit your lifestyle the best, you can look forward to having many wonderful experiences with your pet!
If you’d like to read more about caring for dogs or purchasing dog stairs, visit HelpYourPets.com.
The Big Dog Wicker Beds Are Now Available
If your dog resembles “Clifford” or “Marmaduke” you understand the difficulties that come with finding accessories and necessary items for your pet. I’m not talking about silly little sweaters, I’m talking about collars, bed, leashes and toys that are of a sufficient size. The large dog wicker beds are now available to the great joy of all of us large dog owners. I love my dog, but the big galoot is an one hundred and fifty pound black hole of dog beds.
I really don’t think he intends to be rough with his beds, but he has a lot of power and the beds have just not held up well. I’ve spent a great deal of money, over time, trying to provide my loveable monster with a bed that is big enough for him and still provide him a bed that will keep him skeletally healthy for as long as possible. The invent of large dog wicker beds makes me happy, because wicker is tough stuff, and the detachable, cleanable bed portion means that I’m not trying to pull the carpet cleaner out every time the critter find one of his beloved mud puddles. Instead I pull the cover off the memory foam, vacuum the memory foam and toss the cover in the washer. I love the convenience, even if my dog hates a clean dog bed.
Like all the other wicker basket dog bed the large dog wicker beds provide a wonderful bed for your dog, though they have less choices of shapes in the larger beds. There are many choices for the material with which you fill your dogs bed. You can you regular foam, crushed or shredded foam, memory foam, or other materials. For me I prefer the memory foam and then I zip in the edges of the mattress a couple of little cedar blocks. They are at the edge of the mattress not on top or on bottom and the wicker basket holds them into place.
While I’m not much of an advocate for any type of one size fits all, these beds come close. While not all dogs will be comfortable or use a bed such as the large dog wicker bed, it is truly one of the better choices available to the large dog owner. If your dog goes outside you need a bed that will stand up to dirt and be able to be easily cleaned. My dog cannot be the only one who loves a good mud puddle. He’ll fight you about a bath, but some good dirty, nasty, smelly water and he’s so happy he bounces
About Author: David Hueber is a Green Geeks Web Hosting expert. He also offers top Dog training and puppy training tips online.
Organic Pet Food – A Simple Guide
It is almost impossible to turn on the TV and not see some happy pet wiggling the tail or purring after a delicious meal. Trusting brands and increasing sales, this is the effect of such advertising, but one can simply wonder about how healthy this so praised food actually is! Pet food is certainly an issue if we think of quality, because it is made of dry blood, ground bones and a whole range of additives and chemicals that make it tasty but not healthy. A recent tendency is to use organic pet food as a substitute, and a much healthier alternative, so that the pet’s diet be based on valuable nutrients alone.
You can order organic pet food on the Internet, or purchase it online. Veterinarians recommend this kind of products because due to the absence of artificial compounds, they are really balanced in terms of nutrition. Just like in the case of humans, animals get fat or come to suffer from various diseases, the causes of poor health are rooted in the intoxication with food chemicals. Pets that are not fed on natural organic pet food grow old at a much quicker pace, they lack vitality and prove more exposed to viruses.
Vomiting, bloating and diarrhea make the main manifestations of a digestive chronic or acute ailment that can be traced back to the consume of regular pet food. The metabolism can improve in time if organic pet food becomes the basis for the animal’s daily meals. Improvements have also been signaled with the immune functions of pets fed on organic food, because the higher quantity of nutrients thus available, allows the body to create and support the defensive barrier constantly, with low chances of getting exposed to viruses and bacteria. This means that the pet will be happier and healthier, with more vitality than ever.
Organic pet food is available for cats and dogs more than for other pet categories, but organic pet food can be found for fish, canaries, parrots and tortoises as well. Plus, for dogs and cats, you’ll see that food is provided for age groups. Thus, for young animals, the amount of nutrients needs to be larger and in formulas that correspond to the body demands during the intense growth period. Dry or fresh food is both available, but you need to pay attention to the packaging so that the food may be preserved in optimal conditions.
Why Get A Big Orthopedic Dog Bed
Older dogs, dogs with hip dysplasia and just about any other dog would love an orthopedic dog bed. If you are considering getting one for your dog, consider getting as large an orthopedic dog bed as you can afford and can fit in your home. There are some ridiculously tiny orthopedic dog beds made for toy dogs, but even toy dogs need their personal space. For them, an orthopedic dog bed large enough for a fat Beagle would be a large orthopedic dog bed.
What About The Cost?
Large orthopedic dog beds are far more expensive than traditional pillow or beanbag dog beds. If you can only afford a small orthopedic dog bed and have a small dog suffering from joint or mobility problems, then that would be better than nothing. But if you have a dog that’s at least thirty pounds, then you should consider investing in a large or very large orthopedic dog bed.
In the long run, you’ll pay less for a large orthopedic dog bed than you would for a series of regular beds and trips to the vet. Large orthopedic dog beds last for a long time, which is one reason why they cost so much more than a usual dog bed. They also are made with little extras like reversible covers, easy clean covers and the dog’s name, too. They also stand up to dog claws a lot better than a beanbag dog bed.
Not The Same Old Mattress
Have you ever really watched your dog sleep? They go into quite a lot of contortions. A dog that only stays in one position in sleep all night is usually not having a very deep, satisfying sleep. Good sleep is key in overall canine health and combating illnesses. This is one reason why you need to get the largest orthopedic dog bed that you can afford.
If you have an older dog or a dog who loves to get messy, then don’t worry. There are many waterproof orthopedic dog beds on the market. Of course, they won't survive being stranded at the bottom of the ocean, but won't rot when a rain drenched doggy decides to take an afternoon nap on them.
Many large orthopedic dog beds are nearly as long as your mattress. In case of emergency, your dog probably won’t mind sharing his or her large orthopedic dog bed with you. You never know when your own mattress is going to give up the ghost -- or if your spouse send you to the doghouse.
About Author: David Hueber is a Green Geeks Web Hosting expert. He also offers top Dog training and puppy training tips online.
The Importance of a Healthy Dog Food
Click to visit Dog Food for Life
If you have ever owned a dog before, you probably know about the joy that a furry pal can inflict on your life. The best way that you can repay your pooch for his loyalty and companionship is to ensure that he leads a healthy way of life.
There are many factors that can influence the health of your pet, but the single most important one is his diet. Many store-bought dog foods do not provide the highest-quality nutrients; while they will give your dog just what he needs to function, they do not support a healthy lifestyle.
In fact, does your dog show any of the following symptoms: large, smelly stool, gaseous, burps often, sheds constantly, prone to ear and skin infections, lack of energy, or hyperactivity. If these issues seem familiar, your dog is likely not getting enough nutrients from his food.
So, what does a dog need in his diet? Your dog needs 45 nutrients to function properly. Major groups for these nutrients are protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals, as well as water. These nutrients have to be in the right amounts so that they are properly digested and absorbed by the body.
However, not all brands of dog food provide all of these nutrients. Even expensive, premium commercial dog foods often contain ingredients that are simply not good for your dog. For example, the first ingredient in a dog food may be “meat,” but what kind of meat is it? If the species isn’t specified, it could be just about anything: Animals that were dead or dying when they reached the slaughterhouse. Animals that were diseased. Cancerous tumors. In some cases, plants that supply pet food companies use road-kill and dead pets from animal shelters and veterinarians’ offices. You can read more about this by checking out the Confidential Dog Food Report.
The best thing you can do for your dog is to start reading dog food labels and take the time to find out which brands offer the most health benefits. Your dog depends upon you to give him the nourishment he needs; if you fail to provide that, you could be shortening his lifespan or putting a limit to his quality of life.
To learn more about dog food company cover-ups and how to find a healthy dog food, visit Dog Food for Life.