The focus of many pet owners seems to be directed towards their animals, which makes a great deal of sense in most cases. However, when trying to correct unwanted behavior in your dog you might want to point that finger inward sometimes and have a little glimpse in the mirror. It is easy to become annoyed with your pet when you feel as though you have tried everything and nothing seems to work.
Maybe your Boston Terrier continues to chew on your shoes or other objects while you are not at home. Perhaps the Maltese in your life still has accidents in the house rather than letting you know she needs to go outside. On the other hand, possibly you have a Yorkshire Terrier that snips at strangers, even guests in your home when they try to pet him. All of these and many other undesirable behaviors that dogs may posses can leave a pet owner feeling frustrated and at their wits end with their furry little friend.
Have you ever considered though when faced with one of these situations that the dog is trying to communicate something to you? Is it possible that Sparky just feels neglected during those long days alone at home while you are at work? Sometimes we can have a big impact on our dogs if we look at our own behavior and consider what the pooch may be trying to tell us through their difficult behavior. Obviously dogs can not talk or speak with us as a human can when they need to communicate their feelings. That is not to say that canines are not vocal because as many of us know they can express quite a lot at times through their barking, growling or whining. However, to really pinpoint what the issue is for your pet you may find that you are the one that actually holds the answers.
Dogs have a very keen awareness for their surroundings and the people in their environment. As most dog owners come to realize, the bond between your dog and you can be extremely strong. There are people who report that during a challenging illness or devastating time in their life that their dog responded as though they knew what was going on and they helped their owner through the rough time. Sometimes by just sitting near their owner or laying at their feet, other times dogs may whine and pace back and forth, especially when other people are around because they are trying to indicate that their owner needs help.
Experts have even confirmed that dogs do have an ability to detect several human emotions and many of them will respond in unique ways. For example; when there is a lot of anger or arguing occurring within a household your dog may respond by acting up in a number of ways, which is not a problem with the dog but rather your pet is responding to the hostility and unpleasantness it senses in the house. Everyone goes through difficult periods in their life and it is obviously impossible to avoid exposing your dog to any anger or hostile situations throughout their life. The important thing to remember is that your situation and how you handle it is not your dog’s choice or within their area of responsibility.
Dogs deserve and hopefully get, the majority of times anyway, a good, loving and stable home. They respond well to a structured environment, complete with rules and routines. If you typically get up each morning and walk your dog before you go to work and then you suddenly stop doing it all together, your dog will respond in some way, possibly a negative one. It is not the dog’s fault that you changed your behavior and they have no other way of communicating other than to chew up stuff or have an accident in the house as their way of saying, “hey what is going on.” In some cases dogs can even become depressed, this happens most frequently in situations where the dog was once loved and well cared for and then suddenly became ignored and forgotten about. It is really sad to see a dog that is in this form of doggy-depression because again, they did not ask to come to live with you, you chose them.
There are obviously other concerns you must deal with when you are going through a difficult time, like loosing your job or going through a divorce, and you should always take care of the important aspects related to these situations. It is understandable that a dog can suddenly become a lower priority in your life however, if you are unhappy with their behavior because they are acting out in response to their environment; take that into consideration before disciplining your pet or giving up on them all together.
Dogs may secretly harbor the desire to have all humans attend some sort of training school before they decide to become a pet owner, however, since that is not very likely to happen, remember to think about your own behavior when examining your dog’s. That precious pooch can sometimes be just what you need to get through a difficult time and maintaining their routine for their benefit can in many ways benefit you also.
2008年8月23日星期六
Dog Allergies Are Making My Dog Lick And Scratch Herself Silly
Poor Annie.
For the first 12 years of her life she was as normal as most dogs. That is to say she spent her days in search of the doggy basics: food, walk, play time and loving. Not to mention the never ending hunt for the single best place to pee or poop.
Then about a year ago Annie began to develop dog allergies. At first we thought she had fleas. We diligently applied Frontline, gave her flea baths and combed and brushed her but this did not relieve her itching for long. Over time she developed red and scaling sores on her belly and especially on the butt near her tail.
Her licking and scratching went on every day and, worse, into the night. It was not uncommon to be awakened by the sound of her licking. She, and I, needed relief.
We visited the vet and she informed us that dog allergies occur in over 40% of the dogs that seeks vet treatment for itching and scratching. She explained that these allergies are caused by any number of food or airborne allergens.
The first issue was to get her licking and scratching under control.
To do this involved a three step approach. The first step was a medicated bath that helped sooth the skin. Step two was to start Annie on a course of antibiotics to kill the sores that had formed on her body. Finally, to control the scratching, a 10 day steroid dose was prescribed. In terms of side effects the main issue was the steroids that caused her to drink a ton more water than normal and to be hungry all of the time. Fortunately she did not start to exhibit personality changes brought on by mood swings caused by the steroids.
Within 3 days Annie was feeling much better. She was better but the cause of her dog allergies was not yet understood.
Was it in her food? Was it in our home? Was she allergic to our cat?
The search for answers is a long process much like getting to the bottom of a human allergy problem. There are many approaches to take but we chose to focus on the food related possibilities. The first step was to eliminate all the store bought food from her diet. But wait, this can have unforeseen side effects. You see as bad as dog food is, given the fact that it contains simply unknown parts of unknown animals, there has been enough testing to know that from a nutritional standpoint it does provide the right blend of nutrients to keep our normally healthy dogs healthy. So by feeding a diet of homemade food we effectively removed the potential allergen but compromised her health. An alternative solution was to move to a vegetarian based dog food and get the animal impurities out of her system.
The follow up step was to do lots of research, as even the best vet in town does not have the time to dedicate to understanding the issue as much as the dogs owner. The internet contains a huge database of information on dog allergies as written by drug companies, veterinarians, pet owners, and complied into many useful sites.
Don't let your best friend suffer. Start by getting some help for your dog today and then do your homework. Making your dog feel better will make you feel better.
For the first 12 years of her life she was as normal as most dogs. That is to say she spent her days in search of the doggy basics: food, walk, play time and loving. Not to mention the never ending hunt for the single best place to pee or poop.
Then about a year ago Annie began to develop dog allergies. At first we thought she had fleas. We diligently applied Frontline, gave her flea baths and combed and brushed her but this did not relieve her itching for long. Over time she developed red and scaling sores on her belly and especially on the butt near her tail.
Her licking and scratching went on every day and, worse, into the night. It was not uncommon to be awakened by the sound of her licking. She, and I, needed relief.
We visited the vet and she informed us that dog allergies occur in over 40% of the dogs that seeks vet treatment for itching and scratching. She explained that these allergies are caused by any number of food or airborne allergens.
The first issue was to get her licking and scratching under control.
To do this involved a three step approach. The first step was a medicated bath that helped sooth the skin. Step two was to start Annie on a course of antibiotics to kill the sores that had formed on her body. Finally, to control the scratching, a 10 day steroid dose was prescribed. In terms of side effects the main issue was the steroids that caused her to drink a ton more water than normal and to be hungry all of the time. Fortunately she did not start to exhibit personality changes brought on by mood swings caused by the steroids.
Within 3 days Annie was feeling much better. She was better but the cause of her dog allergies was not yet understood.
Was it in her food? Was it in our home? Was she allergic to our cat?
The search for answers is a long process much like getting to the bottom of a human allergy problem. There are many approaches to take but we chose to focus on the food related possibilities. The first step was to eliminate all the store bought food from her diet. But wait, this can have unforeseen side effects. You see as bad as dog food is, given the fact that it contains simply unknown parts of unknown animals, there has been enough testing to know that from a nutritional standpoint it does provide the right blend of nutrients to keep our normally healthy dogs healthy. So by feeding a diet of homemade food we effectively removed the potential allergen but compromised her health. An alternative solution was to move to a vegetarian based dog food and get the animal impurities out of her system.
The follow up step was to do lots of research, as even the best vet in town does not have the time to dedicate to understanding the issue as much as the dogs owner. The internet contains a huge database of information on dog allergies as written by drug companies, veterinarians, pet owners, and complied into many useful sites.
Don't let your best friend suffer. Start by getting some help for your dog today and then do your homework. Making your dog feel better will make you feel better.
2008年8月14日星期四
Proper Grooming of Horses
Grooming is a subject of importance, and the adage that a good grooming is as good as a feed is true.
The dandy brush is used for removing rough mud, and must be used gently on horses with tender skins when they have been clipped.
The body brush does the main work. The groom should stand well back from the horse and lean the weight of his body on to the brush, which should penetrate to the skin. It is worked in the direction that the coat lays. By its action the grease is removed from the skin and the pores rendered more open to exude sweat when work is being done. The brush is kept clean with the curry comb, and this should be the only function of the curry comb in grooming.
The water brush has longer hairs than the body brush. It is used for the mane and tail, and is also admirably adapted for the dry brushing of the head and legs.
A hoof pick is another essential tool which cannot be used too frequently when a horse is in the stable.
A sweat-scraper is useful when a horse is brought in hot or when he comes in very wet.
Straw wisps and hard hay wisps are also used for drying and stimulating the skin and acting as a massage to the muscles.
The stable rubber, which is a great favorite among grooms, is nothing but a duster. It may be used to give a final polish to the coat, but it does not take the place of a body brush, and its excessive use is to be deprecated.
The principal grooming of the day should take place after work, and a thorough grooming will take one man an hour. A brisk grooming gives the skin a healthy-glow in the same way as the brisk rub of a Turkish towel does to a man.
Grooming of this kind diminishes the chance of a horse breaking out into a cold sweat.
The eyes, nostrils and dock should be cleaned with a moist sponge each time the horse is groomed.
Every week the sheath should be cleaned with a sponge and water.
When a horse returns from work the girths should be loosened, the saddle raised and replaced, and the girths again done up slackly. The groom should water the horse, do the other parts and then remove the saddle. By this time the back will have cooled down slowly, regained circulation and be ready for grooming.
Quartering is an abbreviated form of grooming in which the roller is not removed. The eyes, nose and dock are sponged and the rugs turned back so that the quarters and then the forehand can be groomed.
The feet should be picked out at least twice a day, and three times if the horse is bedded on peat or sawdust.
A common vice of grooms is the washing of a horse's legs. This should never be allowed as it is most likely to cause mud fever and cracked heels. When a horse comes in with wet, muddy legs the rough mud should be removed with a straw wisp and the legs loosely bandaged with flannel bandages. When they are thoroughly dry the mud should be brushed out with a dry brush.
As a preventive of mud fever it is advisable to smear the legs and heels with Vaseline before hunting in wet weather.
The shoes should be inspected daily to see that they are tight and should be removed every four weeks at least and replaced or renewed.
The dandy brush is used for removing rough mud, and must be used gently on horses with tender skins when they have been clipped.
The body brush does the main work. The groom should stand well back from the horse and lean the weight of his body on to the brush, which should penetrate to the skin. It is worked in the direction that the coat lays. By its action the grease is removed from the skin and the pores rendered more open to exude sweat when work is being done. The brush is kept clean with the curry comb, and this should be the only function of the curry comb in grooming.
The water brush has longer hairs than the body brush. It is used for the mane and tail, and is also admirably adapted for the dry brushing of the head and legs.
A hoof pick is another essential tool which cannot be used too frequently when a horse is in the stable.
A sweat-scraper is useful when a horse is brought in hot or when he comes in very wet.
Straw wisps and hard hay wisps are also used for drying and stimulating the skin and acting as a massage to the muscles.
The stable rubber, which is a great favorite among grooms, is nothing but a duster. It may be used to give a final polish to the coat, but it does not take the place of a body brush, and its excessive use is to be deprecated.
The principal grooming of the day should take place after work, and a thorough grooming will take one man an hour. A brisk grooming gives the skin a healthy-glow in the same way as the brisk rub of a Turkish towel does to a man.
Grooming of this kind diminishes the chance of a horse breaking out into a cold sweat.
The eyes, nostrils and dock should be cleaned with a moist sponge each time the horse is groomed.
Every week the sheath should be cleaned with a sponge and water.
When a horse returns from work the girths should be loosened, the saddle raised and replaced, and the girths again done up slackly. The groom should water the horse, do the other parts and then remove the saddle. By this time the back will have cooled down slowly, regained circulation and be ready for grooming.
Quartering is an abbreviated form of grooming in which the roller is not removed. The eyes, nose and dock are sponged and the rugs turned back so that the quarters and then the forehand can be groomed.
The feet should be picked out at least twice a day, and three times if the horse is bedded on peat or sawdust.
A common vice of grooms is the washing of a horse's legs. This should never be allowed as it is most likely to cause mud fever and cracked heels. When a horse comes in with wet, muddy legs the rough mud should be removed with a straw wisp and the legs loosely bandaged with flannel bandages. When they are thoroughly dry the mud should be brushed out with a dry brush.
As a preventive of mud fever it is advisable to smear the legs and heels with Vaseline before hunting in wet weather.
The shoes should be inspected daily to see that they are tight and should be removed every four weeks at least and replaced or renewed.
2008年8月9日星期六
All The Unknown Secrets Of Iguanas
The most common iguana is the green iguana and is easily recognized with its bright green color. Like most iguanas it also contains the traditional spikes running down the centre of its back. Most of you will know that iguanas are masters of camouflage and have the ability to change color to fit their surroundings. This is their only defense against some of their predators and they use quite effectively.
There are in fact 8 types of iguanas in total. They include the Galapagos marine iguana, the Fiji banded iguana, the land iguana, ground or rock iguanas, the desert iguana, the common green iguana, the rock dwelling iguana and the spiny-tailed iguana. Many of these are of course protected species as their numbers have quickly been dropping over the period of the last century, mainly due to the destruction of their natural habitats. ie. Rainforests.
Of course as you may well know, iguanas are also commonly kept as pets and are one of the most unusual things you might see lazing around in someone's house. The thing that attracts most people to keeping an iguana as a pet is the fact they can be trained to live outside of a cage unlike some other reptiles such as snakes and tortoises.
Generally they are one of the easiest pets to take care of as they are very clean and extremely independent. They require small amounts of food and are prone to very few diseases. If there is one thing to look out for it is the fact that like most other reptiles they carry salmonella in their digestive tract that may cause disease. Therefore it is recommended that you wash your hands after you have come in contact with one.
With that said however there is a very small chance that you will contract anything too nasty and what difference is it from owning a dog or a cat, most pets carry disease and it's recommended that you wash yourself after coming into contact with most animals. If you think an iguana would be perfect for you, then you can buy one from most local pet stores.
If you don't want to buy your iguana from the local pet store then you have another option. You can look for breeder in your area. This is actually a better idea as most pet stores sell iguanas that a cross breeds and usually don't live for as long.
There are in fact 8 types of iguanas in total. They include the Galapagos marine iguana, the Fiji banded iguana, the land iguana, ground or rock iguanas, the desert iguana, the common green iguana, the rock dwelling iguana and the spiny-tailed iguana. Many of these are of course protected species as their numbers have quickly been dropping over the period of the last century, mainly due to the destruction of their natural habitats. ie. Rainforests.
Of course as you may well know, iguanas are also commonly kept as pets and are one of the most unusual things you might see lazing around in someone's house. The thing that attracts most people to keeping an iguana as a pet is the fact they can be trained to live outside of a cage unlike some other reptiles such as snakes and tortoises.
Generally they are one of the easiest pets to take care of as they are very clean and extremely independent. They require small amounts of food and are prone to very few diseases. If there is one thing to look out for it is the fact that like most other reptiles they carry salmonella in their digestive tract that may cause disease. Therefore it is recommended that you wash your hands after you have come in contact with one.
With that said however there is a very small chance that you will contract anything too nasty and what difference is it from owning a dog or a cat, most pets carry disease and it's recommended that you wash yourself after coming into contact with most animals. If you think an iguana would be perfect for you, then you can buy one from most local pet stores.
If you don't want to buy your iguana from the local pet store then you have another option. You can look for breeder in your area. This is actually a better idea as most pet stores sell iguanas that a cross breeds and usually don't live for as long.
2008年8月3日星期日
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Traits and Characteristics
Before you bring a Staffordshire bull terrier puppy into your home, make sure you know what owning a 'Staffy' entails. Bear in mind that the cute little puppy you have set your heart on will grow into a powerful and muscular animal which will require firm handling and lots of time and energy. This breed of dog is very strong and requires firmness and consistency while training. You need to be sure that you wish to commit yourself to your dog's welfare for the next 10-12 years. Of course, the Staffordshire bull terrier has many wonderful inherent characteristics - he is a dog with special intrinsic qualities, which makes him an endearing pet. The Stafford is renowned for its affinity with humans and is exceptionally good with children and infants. Adored and adoring within their own family circle, these dogs are more than happy to share your home with you rather than spending long periods on their own in a kennel. They really enjoy getting involved in family activities like car rides, going on hikes and walks, romping on the beach, and especially cuddling up with you when you settle down for an evening of TV watching or reading. Staffords will also often be boisterously welcoming with visitors and you and your friends have to be ready for this. These dogs are incredibly like humans in a furry form!Although each dog will have its own individual personality traits, there are some personality characteristics common to all dogs of this breed. Staffords are tough, courageous, tenacious, and stubborn by temperament. They are also very protective, curious, active, quick and agile. The Staffordshire bull terrier is highly intelligent and being ever eager to please, he will give you and your family a lifetime of devotion.As puppies, these dogs need to chew on anything they can set their teeth into and need a safe alternative to furniture, toys and clothing for their busy jaws. Stafford puppies love to play rough, but you must make it clear right from the start who is the boss. This is not a difficult task if you begin working with your 'Staffie' when she or he is a puppy. Puppies require a lot of time and patience and to housebreak will require double the effort and twice the patience. Of course, these puppies love people and need to be comforted and loved in return.When a Stafford shows its teeth in a snarl, it can be rather disconcerting. They look tough and strikingly menacing, but because of their natural fondness for people, DO NOT make good guard dogs. These dogs can be trained for agility and competitive obedience.The Staffordshire bull terrier does everything with persistence, passion and intensity. Totally fearless and curious, these dogs love a challenge and variety. These energetic dogs are active from dawn to dusk, and are unable to be left for long periods without outside stimulation. Whilst they thrive on being with people, they react if challenged by another dog. Born fighters, these dogs possess the strength and tenacity of the Bulldog with the exceptional athletic ability of the Terrier. Staffords also have no fear of traffic and sadly often become road accident victims. These trustworthy dogs with their sound temperament are faithful companions to humans all through their life.
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