Every dog owner must eventually deal with some unwanted behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of the most frequently encountered training problems with puppies and dogs alike are jumping on people and performing those amazing feats of escape.
Jumping up on people Jumping up on people can be a cute trick for puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the dog gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy dog can easily knock a child or even a small adult of his or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an annoying one.
The reason puppies and older dogs jump on people is obvious - they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways. Many well meaning owners, family members and friends inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.
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Not every owner can hire “The Dog Whisperer” to train their dog. When a dog’s behavior is consistently bad, however, or if you are a first time dog owner, you may want to hire a trainer to teach your pet the basics.
To this end, here are 10 tips for choosing the right dog trainer.
1. The trainer should use techniques that do not harm the dog in any way.
2. His methods should be above reproach and treat the dog fairly and firmly, but not in an unkind manner.
3. Does the trainer get to know the dog? Another words, does he become familiar with his personality and needs before he commences training.
4. Does the trainer keep you informed as to how the dog is progressing?
5. Does the trainer require your presence during the actual training?
6. How much does the trainer charge?
7. Does the trainer give you a time-frame as to when you will see real results?
8. Does the trainer praise the dog?
9. Does the dog seem comfortable with the trainer?
10. Does the trainer provide you with information that you can utilize after he has completed the training process?
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Originally posted 2008-03-11 12:35:05. We hope you have enjoyed this Post From the Past!
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Most cats are not aggressive towards people, but if you have one that is, it can be a nightmare. Cat bites and scratches are not normally as harmful as those from a dog, but it’s still not very nice being attacked by a cat as an adult, and even worse if you’re a child.
Although aggressive cats are nowhere near as common as aggressive dogs, there are still more than 20,000 cases of cat-scratch disease in the United States annually. If you are bitten or scratched by a cat, it’s important to clean the wounds with an antiseptic solution as soon as possible.
So, why exactly do cats turn aggressive and attack people? Well, there are several reasons:
A cat in pain can tend to lash out. If a normally good-natured cat suddenly strikes out at you for no reason, take it to a vet and have it checked out for illness or injury.
A fearful cat can be dangerous. A mature cat that was never properly socialized when younger, or a cat that has been mistreated at some time in its life, can lash out through fear.
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Litter box training
Ferrets are not drawn to use their litter-boxes like cats, so patience and treats work best to insure a potty trained fuzzy in your home. Here’s how to do it:
1. Begin by training in a smaller space, such as your ferrets cage.
2. As with kittens, look for signs that your ferret is ready to go (such as spinning or backing into a corner) then placing them in the litter pan.
3. After each successful potty session, reward them with a treat immdediately.
4. When you feel comfortable that your ferret has the proper manners, begin placing litter-boxes throughout the areas (outside of the cage) they are allowed.
5. If you are still having accidents, especially in a cage, try placing food or ferret bedding in the offending area. If this area smells more like their kitchen or bedroom, your ferret will be less likely to continue the unwanted relief in that area.
6. Remember, even a potty-trained ferret can make mistakes. Be sure to clean these areas thoroughly, removing any scent with a cleaner such as Nature’s Miracle for Ferrets which will remove any ferret scent, keeping these areas free of the potty smell which could lead to further accidents.
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Whether you have a big sized aquarium with lots of tropical fish or just a glass bowl on your table with a couple of Gold fishes, they give you great pleasure and tranquility to see them. Fishes are most soothing pets, but they can be real delicate too. However you can take a good care for your fishes by remembering some small tips. Whether you are out for a couple of days, your fishes will be there waiting for you when you come back. Here are some tips to keep your fishes healthy.
1) Cleaning your aquarium or tank
Your fish survives in the water of your tank or your aquarium. Not only they eat in it but also the water gradually accumulates the bio-waste from our fishes and gravel.
So it makes a god sense to clean the aquarium and change the water once a week. Do not change the entire water immediately. Fishes are sensitive to water temperature and a sudden change may affect them. Collect your fishes in a tub or a plastic bag with some water of your tank or aquarium. Seal the plastic bag and put it safely. Then clean the aquarium and change the water. Put the plastic bag (with the fishes and water) inside the aquarium -without opening it.
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It is a mad jungle out there when it comes to selling dog food. Seeing the number of brands, the different types of sales pitches adopted by marketers and the fancy names with tongue twisting ingredients printed on labels, it appears the focus is on attracting buyers and grabbing a share of the whopping $ 11 billion pie..
In addition, each manufacturer launches numerous types of pet food under one brand. There are moist, semi moist and dry dog foods. Their use of terminology, like ‘premium’, ‘super-premium’, and ‘gourmet’ are mere nomenclatures since they hardly mean any thing. Even though the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regulates what must be printed on the labels. The warnings are all mentioned in small print and therefore do not serve to warn the consumers adequately.
Apart from checking the nutritional adequacy and information about the manufacturer, you should focus on the ingredient list. Ethoxyquin is one of the most common preservatives used in dog food. This is used to prevent fats from turning rancid. There is verifiable evidence that there is a connection between Ethoxyquin and the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX and the elevation in liver related enzymes that can ultimately cause liver disease in dogs.
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Almost everyone, adults and kids alike have a natural fondness for cats. They are loving, quiet, and very playful pets that can provide you with years of entertainment. Although most of us have a fondness for cats, that fondness can rapidly diminish when it comes to the litter box. Even the most hardened cat lover may get tired of litter box duty, especially when it comes down to scooping “you know what” from the litter box.
Cats are very intelligent, instinctively knowing how they should use the litter box. After the cat has finished using the litter box, someone in the family will need to scoop the waste from the litter box. This can be a very dirty and somewhat smelly job, one that is often overlooked during the day when the workload gets heavy.
Cleaning up the litter box doesn’t take but a few minutes, although most would prefer not to do it at all. Although the litter box will need to be scooped out daily, it will also need to be changed once a week as well, by throwing the current bag out and replacing the box with a new bag and fresh litter.
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People often thought in the olden days that their dogs just became lazy as they advanced in age, little realizing that for the best friend of man, it was not laziness but painful joints that prevented them from much activity.
Today, the most common reason owners of older pets seek veterinary attention is not laziness but lameness. And a minor examination reveals arthritis, more specifically osteoarthritis affecting the canine friend.
Although the real cause of arthritis is not known, it may be a good idea to study the symptoms and then take appropriate steps. Of the two most common forms of arthritis, i.e. the Rheumatoid arthritis and the Osteoarthritis, the former disease condition is extremely rare while the latter tends to affect pets mostly.
As most breeds wear a heavy coat, the inflammation caused by osteoarthritis does not become immediately visible – it can though be felt by touching the affected joint. Another negative point relates to the cartilage lacking nerves as a result of which the pain is not felt till it goes beyond repair.
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Coccidiosis is caused by a one-celled organism called coccidia. Coccidia can often be confused with “worms” because it lives in the small intestines of pets. However, it is classifed as a protozoan, not a worm. In fact, it is one of the most commonly diagnosed protozoan diseases in puppies and kittens and is rarely a problem in adult pets.
Many pets that are infected with coccidia will not have any clinical signs. However, the most common clinical sign of infection is diarrhea. Coccidia infestation is the most common cause of diarrhea in kittens.
When coccidia eggs (oocysts) are found in the stool of adult pets without diarrhea, they are generally considered to be an insignificant finding. In the majority of cases no treatment is necessary. However, in young and debilitated animals, they may cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal distress, and vomiting. In severe cases, death can occur.
Pets become infected with coccidia by ingesting oocysts which have been passed through feces by other infected pets. It is often a problem in areas where a large number of pets are housed together such as breeding kennels, pet stores, and puppy mills.
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