In a previous article about Earthquake Preparedness, I mentioned having your pet marked with either a tattoo or a microchip, plus having a name tag on the collar. We can be fairly complacent in carrying ID ourselves, and likewise about our pets. If your pet gets lost the sooner whomever finds it can contact the owner, the sooner the pet gets home. The sooner your pet gets back to familiar surroundings the less stress for your pet.

Micro-chipping is performed by your local veterinarian. Depending on your vet, he/she will have a preference of how, where and when to do the insertion of the chip. This procedure is barely more painful than a vaccination. Some vets will do the procedure while the dog is conscious, and some will prefer to do it while the pet is asleep, and possibly having other procedures done such as surgery and dental cleaning. The usual site for a chip is either in the ear or shoulder areas. These chips have numbers and can be registered with many Pet Find Associations. Check with your Veterinarian and the local SPCA for more information.

Many breeders tattoo their litters. These numbers are registered with the Canadian Kennel Club. This number consists of the breeders kennel number, the litter number and the puppies number in order of birth. These numbers can fade as the puppy grows and the skin stretches. Your local veterinarian can arrange to do a tattoo for you and your pet. The usual sites for these tattoos are on the lip, ear, and stomach.

Most Pet Food convenience stores and Veterinarian offices offer a list of locations to obtain ID tags. Some locations offer same day service or an order service where it can take a few weeks for the ID tag to arrive. It is advisable to not only have the dogs name on the tag, but your name, address, and phone number. Tags are a quick way to identify your pet, but they can get lost. Addresses and telephone numbers can change. Tattooing and micro-chipping are more permanent.

Which ever method you use, please keep the information updated annually or when the situation arises and it needs to be changed. This is for your pets safety and your peace of mind.

Choosing the right dog for your family is a bigger decision than you may initially think. There are about 330 pure breeds and almost another 80 that were developed by breeders by mixing different combinations of pure breeds.

Some breeds were mixed in ways that kept the characteristics, yet caused the dogs to be larger or smaller than the original breed. With so many choices, you have to think of each dog breed as having specific characteristics, temperament, size, function and abilities.

Each dog within that breed will share some common elements. For example, some dogs who were hunting dogs in times past have been bred differently to reduce the hunting instinct and make the dog more suitable as the pet for a family whose only “hunting” is stopping at grocery store or fast food to bring home dinner.

Major categories of dog breeds include: toys, companions, guards, working, spaniels, terriers, sighthound, scent hounds, spitz and herding. This doesn’t include the famous “Heinz 57″ - or pound mutt, whose exact heritage is unknown.

Each of the breeds is known for its ability to perform certain jobs. Historically, all dogs were working dogs - helping with sheep herding, cattle tending, fetching game, guarding property or tracking escapees.

House pets were not common as they are today. Each dog breed still carries the genetic code for its original type of work. You need to know how that dog is genetically programmed before you bring him home.

The dog that’s naturally a watchdog won’t be the cuddly playmate for your small children. The greyhound, particularly the rescued greyhound, is gentle and quiet, but they must have plenty of outdoor time to run. As a dog that can gain speeds of up to 45 mph, the greyhound is not a dog for couch potatoes.

If you want a medium to large dog that will be easily trained and protective over your children, then choose a pastoral or herding dog like the Old English sheepdog, Collie or Welsh Corgi. The instincts they have for keeping sheep in the pasture adapt to keeping your children inside the backyard while keeping intruders outside.

When having a dog means a smaller pet that’s purely for amusement with little expectation, then look at the toy dog breed. Among this group, you find Chihuahua, Poodle, Manchester Terrier, Pug, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and King Charles Spaniel. Don’t expect any work from this group. Toy dogs are masterful at finding ways for you to work for them.

The hunting breed has a proud tradition as the faithful companion and partner to hunters. These dogs include the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, English Springer Spaniel, English Setter, Irish Setter and Cocker Spaniel. Even if you don’t hunt, give these dogs the kind of open field exercise that makes them feel useful in the way that’s part of their heritage.

Some breeds require space, while others need primping for show that rivals what you see among fashion models. Perhaps the easiest breed to bring home and love is the “pound mutt.” In all shapes and sizes, these dogs have endured hardships that landed them in the shelter, when all they want is a family to love. Bring one home and you’ll have a friend for life.

Did you know that dental care is just as important for your dog as it is for us human beings? Just like with our teeth, your dogs’ teeth can gather plaque during eating. This plaque can then build up and harden which then becomes known as a brown substance called tartar.

Then as this tartar accumulates it will work its way beneath the dog’s gums and become the reason behind painful infections and gum disease. This process occurs in the mouths of dogs, and is no different to what occurs in people. You no doubt brush your teeth on a regular basis, but think about your poor dog for a moment. What can he/she do?

The Veterinary world says that dog owners should brush their dog’s teeth twice a week to stop the accumulation of tartar. Well, I honestly don’t know any owners who take the trouble to do this. Hopefully you do. A lot of pet shops stock toothbrushes and toothpaste especially for dogs. You need to know that a dog’s sense of taste is a lot more sensitive than that of us humans and the minty, tingly, sort of toothpastes that we use will be pretty unpleasant to a dog. So just make sure you use the proper doggie toothpaste.

It is fortunate that dog’s have a natural tendency to chew and this acts as a dental care mechanism. Dogs crunch biscuits into small pieces when chewing and these rub against their teeth, providing a cleaning function. This is no substitute for brushing, but if you can’t manage that, just try to ensure he/she regularly gets some type of crunchy dog biscuit.

Any dogs that do not get the correct dental care and do not have access to good teeth cleaning foods run the risk of different types of mouth disease. These can be mild like gingivitis or a rather more serious type of infection that can get into the dog’s bloodstream and damage vital organs.

Dental services are readily available for dogs. A dog’s teeth can be capped, filled, and extracted if required, just like a human beings. Of course the best way is to avoid the need for these services by looking after your dog’s teeth. Preventative dental care for your dog can save you money as well. Dog dental care can unfortunately be quite costly, but then it’s less painful than toothache.

Since the holiday season is coming , buy a dog toy to keep your dog company. Just like kids, your dog may sense that the holiday season is near. With New Year, Thanksgiving and Christmas’s coming, why not buy a dog toy for them and put it under the Christmas tree for them too? 

There are a large number of of different dog toys in the market. Here’s a list of dog toys to help you choose a suitable toy for your pup. Whether they are small, big or medium size dogs, there will definitely be one to suit them.

a)Plush Dog Toys comes in different sizes and shapes. From sporting themes to toys that look like car and train, to hot dog and donuts shape like toy. Your dog will definitely be excited with all these fun stuffed toys lying on his dog bed. There’s also nothing like a big dog toy and small dog toy to cheer your dog up and get him in the mood for this holiday season with buying a Christmas theme toy like Santa hats and candy canes plush dog toy .

b) For puppies who have teething problem, it is best to get them dog chew toys. Because if you don’t take this precaution, your books and shoes may be destroyed by your pup.. There are numerous dog chew toys available.

Dog Kong Toys promotes jawrobics workout. It is also healthy, stimulating nose-to-tail workout for reflex and every muscle. Inside the Kong toy, you can stuff in healthy dog treats and when they managed to squeeze out the treats from the Kong toy, they can enjoy a delicious treat coming out from the Kong toy. It satisfies a dog’s natural need to chew and also conditions the gum and cleans the teeth.

While there are Dog Kong toys, there’s another chewable dog toy that has the durability. The rubbers used are non-splintering, non-toxic, non-abrasive and does not get sharp when chewed. The rubbers are made out of various shapes and these dog chew toys can be chilled in a deep freezer and be used all over again. The tough plastics consist of non-toxic water which are safe to be chews by all dogs.

When choosing cute dog toys, it is a must to know what type of size or toys that are best for your dog. If the dog you have is small, make sure the toys are not too big for them. Inspect the dog chew toys before buying one. This is to make sure that there are no small pieces that can fall off from the toy and choke your pet or strings that can come unraveled and wrap around your pet’s neck.

This holiday season, cook up a scrumptious meal for your dog but let them eat in moderation. While it is fun to give them dog gifts, you can also consider giving them healthy dog treats and warm dog apparel to keep them looking hip, happy and healthy .

When you bring home a new puppy, it can be difficult to not fret at every little cough, every little whimper, and every little whine. Puppies are like small children in that they are susceptible to so much, yet our minds seem to create even more of an issue with their health than what they are probably already experiencing. Good puppy parenting is about finding a balance between paranoia and concern, and knowing the difference between problems you can solve on your home and those that require the care of a veterinarian.

To help get you started, here are a few of the most common problems that your puppy may experience that you don’t have to seek veterinary care for.

Cuts and Scrapes

Cuts and scrapes are part of the life of a puppy; just like children, they tend to get into everything and part of learning what is safe and what is not is getting into things that are not the best idea. This means that cuts, scrapes, and scratches will occur in the life of your pet, and it is your responsibility to discern between what things are safe to have in your small dog’s environment, and what things are not.

Whether your dog stays in the house all day or they spend a majority of their time outside, it is going to be difficult to pick up any and everything that could potentially draw blood from their delicate skins. Sharp objects, rocks, and even other pets can cause cosmetic damage to the skin of your pet, but remember that it is just that-cosmetic. They won’t kill your pet, and if you clean them right and do the right thing you might not even have to worry about a scar later on down the line.

In this case, some warm water and antibacterial soap is the best thing to have around. Your dog’s skin heals a lot like yours, so keeping the wound clean and bandaging it if necessary can make all of the difference in the world.

Paw Problems

Again, remember that your puppy is new to the world and they are going to have to find out a lot of things the hard way. Chances are that whether you have them inside or out, they are going to stick their noses-and their paws-where they don’t belong. This means that somewhere along the line they may end up with an object or a piece of an object in their delicate little paw pads.

While your little guy may be wailing like there is no tomorrow, don’t let that fluster you. This type of thing happens all the time but as dogs get older the skin on their paw pads gets tougher, as do they. You may see a bit of blood, but what is important is removing the object (usually with the help of a pair of tweezers) and cleaning the area as you would any other wound. Paw pads go directly on the ground, so it may be harder for them to keep this area clean than other wounds they may incur. Be careful to pay close attention to the area and make sure that it looks clean and that is as comfortable for them as possible.

Internal Parasites

Another part of puppy-hood is contracting internal parasites. They can come from a variety of places, and they can be pretty nasty at that. If not treated, worms and other parasites can do harm to the inside of your dog’s body and so it is your responsibility to make sure that your pet is de-wormed and ready to go. Luckily, this does not require the services of a veterinarian, at least in common cases.

Worms can be cured with a simple pill that can be bought over the counter, or picked up from your vet’s office. After they take the pill, the worms will likely be flushed out of the body; they should be fairly apparent in your pup’s waste material.

Of course, getting your dog to swallow the pill is half the battle. In most cases rolling it up in a piece of cheese or lunch meat or hiding it in a glob of peanut butter should do the trick just fine-your little guy probably won’t even notice!

A puppy always tells his dog owner whether he is getting too much or too little dog food in several ways. Crying is one of the most often recognized, but least likely to be always accurate. Although hungry puppies do cry, so do cold puppies, hot puppies, puppies that were disturbed from a nap, lost puppies, sad puppies, etc. Crying is simply nature’s way of giving a puppy a means of telling everybody that he is unhappy. Anything that makes a puppy unhappy will probably also make him cry, even having his tummy too full. Therefore, to say that a puppy is crying because he is hungry requires a judgment on the owner’s part. And since we do not think like a puppy, we have to use the reactions of the puppy’s system to determine whether or not he is getting enough to eat.

Every time you give dog food to a puppy, two things should happen. First, he should have a bowel movement and second, he should urinate. Sometimes a puppy may need a little encouragement by rubbing his anal area, but he should always perform both acts if everything is going right. The makeup and amount of his feces and urine are important clues that tell you how well you are doing when it comes to properly feeding your pet. For one thing, the puppy’s stool should be formed as it is expelled, but its consistency should be soft and pasty. The color will depend to some extent on what you are feeding him. But in every case, it should not vary from a pale tan to a mahogany brown. The inside of the stool may be yellow-brown in many cases. Stools that are green, bluish-white or clear signal trouble. Even tan or brownish stools that are watery, lumpy, hard or curdled may indicate something is not right. Whenever either off-color or off-form stools occur, stop feeding all dog food immediately and skip the next feeding entirely .

Begin the following feeding with a formula that has been diluted one-half with boiled water. Continue to feed the same quantity as you did the undiluted dog food. If this fails to produce an improvement in the stool, reduce the quantity you are feeding by 25 % at each feeding. If stools continue to be off-color or off-form, consult your vet.

A puppy’s urination is an indicator of his water balance. The quantity should be about the same each time the puppy urinates. It might be pale yellow to almost clear, but should never be deep yellow or orange. Also, it should always be like water and never like syrup and should smell like urine. Urine that is scanty, dark in color, or syrupy, indicates that the pup is not getting enough water. More water should be supplied, either added to the dog food formula or fed separately. If the urine seems excessive in amount, unduly clear, or thin, the water concentration of the formula should be re-checked to make sure that he is not getting too much water. If urine production stops altogether for longer than four feedings, take the puppy to a vet as soon as possible.

Small toy dogs teach us more about the mystery and magic of canines than the larger dog breeds. Sharing your life with a toy dog can be one of the most enjoyable and intimate experiences you will have with a pet. These little guys will follow you from room to room. In fact, they can be quite nosey. The little guys just love to know exactly what you are doing at all times. He will hop on your lap suddenly while you are reading or watching T.V. You will just routinely start to take him with you on all your errands. Just be sure you have chosen the right type of dog carrier for all your expeditions with these little guys, or better yet, with the choices we have today in dog carriers and dog accessories you will want to have a different dog carrier for each type of journey.

There is a pocket-sized toy breed dog for every kind of dog lover, teeny tiny Terriers, Poodles and Yorkies, Japanese Chin, Pomeranian, Miniature Pinschers, teacup and imperial size Shih Tzu, and Chihuahuas. The little guys look so sweet and adorable dressed up in the latest of dog fashions and accessories.

The little guys can do almost anything their larger canine cousins can do, but they do it in less space. Humans don’t have to be top athletes to keep up with them. The little guys have a spirit that is every bit as big as the dogs 10 times his size. He just comes in a much handier package to haul around.

The little guys fit into our lives in a way big dogs just can’t. As we live closely with each other, we breathe the same air; we experience the same places and hear each other’s heartbeats. This connection with your little guy may be the most profound bond you’ll have with any animal in a lifetime. Registration for larger dogs has decreased while registration for the little guys continues to increase.

Although it can be very rewarding to share you life with these little guys it can also be quite frustrating. There are always negatives to everything in life we encounter. The toy breeds seem to be notoriously harder to housetrain. If they decide not to come to you when you call for them, well then that is just the way it is. You have a pocket-sized rocket racing between your feet that you can’t catch no matter how hard you try.

There is hope, however, and with all that said, you can still live peaceably with the little guys. It just takes a little more patience and time with all things you want him to learn.

And after all is said and done with the little guys, when you dress up your little guy or gal in the latest from the dog fashion world for your Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, you will still be glad you gave your heart and home to that cute, adorable little bundle of fur.

Every year thousands and thousands of cats and dogs are euthanized because they lack a home and family to adopt them. We humans are to blame for this situation. Every year the newspapers are full of articles submitted by the S.P.C.A. relating to the number of animals they have had to kill.

As responsible pet owners we have to make the decision whether or not we want to contribute to the problem or do our part to keep unwanted pets out of the shelters and off the streets. So when do we need to neuter or spay the animals? We need to decide by the time our pet is 6 to 8 months old whether or not to sterilize him/her.

Being a responsible breeder is no easy task and there is no profit to be made. Breeding is done strictly for the betterment and continuation of the breed. The costs of the stud service, the buying or making of a whelping box, the veterinarian bill for the care of the mother dog, possible fees for delivering the pups, puppy food, veterinarian checkups for the puppies, eye exams, worming, fees for docking of the tails, vaccinations, etc., etc., quickly eat up any profits to be made. Then there are the countless sleepless nights waiting for the moment of birth, worrying about the newborn puppies, the noise from yelping puppies keeping you awake. It’s simply a labor of love for a responsible breeder.

Whether or not you have a mixed breed or a purebred dog you need to take the precaution so that accidental breedings do not happen. If you have an unspayed female dog you dog will every 6 to 10 months go into heat that lasts about 3 weeks. A heat is also known as an oestrus period. During this time the female will have menses or a period, where she will secrete blood from her vagina. This is a messy situation for a house pet. There are protective garments that may be purchased to contain the mess, but also help deter unwelcome entry from male dogs. Also during this time your dogs behaviour may change and she will be less obedient.

Unsterilized (un-neutered) male dogs can become aggressive and may show overt sexual behaviour when there are in-season females nearby. The male dogs will mark territory in the neighbourhood or in the home by urinating small amounts. Adolescence, is a trying period. Your male dog and you will likely have confrontations over whom is the alpha personality. Now is the time to remember, that you love your dog, but you are the master.

To spay a female dog, a veterinarian removes it’s uterus and ovaries. A male dog is neutered when the veterinarian removes the dog’s testicles. Both operations are usually safe and require one nights stay at the clinic.

The benefits to sterilizing your dog not only include unwanted off-spring, avoiding temperment problems, but also can benefit your dogs health. Having your pet sterilized will decrease the risk of developing tumors in the genital area. Males can develop problems with the prostate gland. Females can develop problems with the mamary glands. Consult your veterinarian before your pet becomes 6 months old. Take a trip to your local S.P.C.A. and take a look at all the homeless cats and dogs before you decide to leave your pet unsterilized.

By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of fear aggression in dogs.  Plus you’ll also know several dog training behavior modification techniques to use when dealing with this problem in your dog.

What Causes Dog Behavior Problems Like This One?

Fear aggression in dogs can have many causes.  Certain dog breeds, like the herding breeds, are more prone to this problem than others.  Neglecting to socialize your dog when he’s a puppy can contribute to canine aggression towards strangers.  Past abuse may also be a factor.

Even if puppy socialization isn’t an issue, many dogs go through a “shy” period when they hit adolescence at around six months.  It’s important to keep exposing your pup to lots of situations to avoid him becoming wary of new people and new animals.



Dog Behavior Modification Techniques

If your dog is already displaying fear aggression, here are six steps for dog training behavior modification you can use to desensitize your dog to strangers.  What you’ll be doing is teaching your dog that strangers are great!

To start, you’ll need a few volunteers to act as strangers.  You dog also needs to be on a leash so he’s under your control at all times.

First, you need to identify your dog’s favorite treat.  It shouldn’t be something he gets on a regular basis.  Steak, liver, chicken, cheese, hot dogs, whatever it is, it should be something he absolutely loves.

Second, the only time he gets this favorite treat is when a stranger is present.  You’re training your dog to associate this wonderful treat with a stranger being around.

Third, figure out what is triggering your dog to show canine aggression.  He may be OK if strangers are outside, but not in the home.  He may be scared of all men, certain men, or kids.  Do sudden movements, or somebody getting too close agitate him?  Observe him carefully to see what sets him off.

The fourth step is to expose your dog to a stranger.  Stay inside your dog’s comfort zone.  You want to move slowly so you don’t provoke him to an aggressive display.  Your dog should know a stranger is around, but he shouldn’t be overly concerned about it. 

Fifth, as soon as your dog is aware of the stranger, start feeding him treats.  Sixth, before the dog starts getting aggressive toward the stranger, you either have the stranger leave, or your and your dog will leave.

It’s very important that your dog is continuing to eat the treats.  If he won’t eat, then the stranger is too close.  If the dog isn’t relaxed enough to eat, you’re moving too quickly with the dog training behavior modification. 

Remember that you aren’t rewarding your dog for doing something right.  What you’re doing is changing his emotional state.

More Tips For Dog Behavior Modification

You’ll continue to work within your dog’s comfort zone, varying the distance the stranger is from your dog.  The stranger may be six feet away one day, eight the next, seven after that.  As long as aggressive dog behavior isn’t seen, you’re doing fine. 

Continue these steps for several weeks.  Now you’re going to start working outside your dog’s comfort zone by having the stranger come a little closer, maybe five feet away.  Keep working to reduce the distance your dog is from the stranger. 

You can see that this is a long, slow process.  It can be tempting to try to move along faster, but if you push too hard, you can undo all your hard work.  Keep the training sessions short, and end the session if your dog is getting nervous.

Do yourself a favor and find a good dog training course.  This can be a very helpful aid when using dog behavior modification techniques.  You’ll want to look for one that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer so you can get help, if necessary.

Just like babies, puppies have no control of when or where they “unleash their goods”. Having a puppy urinate inside your house is definitely not going to make you happy and it won’t do any good for your puppy when you get mad with him/her.

It’s important that you tackle this issue early on in the pup’s life and teach them some discipline. You may be surprised to hear this, but it’s true that a dog that has an authority figure and learns right from wrong will lead a more prosperous life and will make your job of caring for them much easier.

It’s not too difficult to correctly potty train your puppy, however keep in mind the process can take anything up to 1 year.

So how exactly do you potty train your puppy? Read on to find out the basic techniques and a lot of useful advice.

Restrict the Puppy’s Freedom

You should restrict the area in which the puppy can move around. What this will do is decrease the chance of the puppy urinating in a place, which they shouldn’t. Lay the potty paper in an area outside and then put a fence around so the puppy cannot roam elsewhere. It’s not supposed to be a jail so make it large enough so the puppy can run around and have fun. Of course you can take the puppy inside occasionally but you need to make it clear that the area is their home for the time being.

Wet the Potty

When setting up your potty you should place some of your pup’s urine on the paper and then walk them to it so they can smell it. This will give them the idea that the area is where they should be urinating.

One Potty,One Place

Many people who try to potty train their puppy have great difficulty, so they decide to set up multiple potty areas in hope that the puppy will use at least one of them. This is a bad idea as it will only confuse your puppy and they will not learn to use a potty effectively. You should only ever need one potty area.

It Takes Time

Younger pups need to go to the toilet every few hours, so put a leash on them and take them to the potty area and give the puppy 10 minutes to do their thing. If they don’t need to go, take the puppy back to its area and then try again in about 20 minutes. You should not play with the puppy until it uses the potty, once they do, you should reward them by playing with them, praising them or feeding them.

Reward Good Behavior

Whether you feed them or praise them, it’s essential that you reward your puppy for their good behavior. Rewarding a puppy will make them happier and teach them discipline and a happier dog in the long run is going to listen to you. A good idea is to reward them every time they use the potty.

Make a Potty Journal

By keeping a journal of the time it takes your puppy to urinate after eating, it will make it easier for you to train them and understand their habits.

Mistakes will Happen

Please remember not to get angry with your puppy if they urinate in the wrong area. At an early age they lack many skills that older dogs have much like how a toddler may urinate before they make it to the toilet. The best thing to do if your puppy urinates in a wrong place, is to simply say “no” or “bad dog”and then walk them to their potty area.

All in all, by following the above advice, your puppy will be well on there way to being potty trained and you will have a well mannered and obedient dog because of it. However make sure you give it time, it’s not something that most puppies can learn in a week or so.