Loose Leash Training

It turns out that dogs don’t know they should walk without pulling the leash or lagging behind unless you teach them. This can be a challenge as dog get excited about exploring outdoors and they move faster than we do. Some dogs want to walk as quickly as they can, while others want to sniff around and investigate anything around them. To teach them properly, you should consistently never allow them to pull. Red Light, Green Light According to the ASPCA, there are several ways to train your dog on a loose leash. One of these is known as red light, green light. Begin by walking the way you want… Read More Continue Reading

General Signs of Sick Dogs

Dogs have evolved alongside humans for the past ten thousand years and accordingly are pretty good at communicating with us when they are not feeling well.  Dogs can get sick from many, many things – but generally speaking, the signs are pretty universal. Malaise When a dog is feeling sick, he will have less energy than normal. It’s where the phrase ‘looking hang dog’ came from: sick dogs will mope, flop around, not want to play, and sleep more than usual. Changes in Appetite and Weight A dog that is sick will usually eat less than normal and lose weight, but some diseases, such as cushings disease, will have an… Read More Continue Reading

Prednisone in dogs

Prednisone is a medication that has a wide range of usages in dogs. Generally speaking, steroids are used to reduce inflammation, allergies, or suppress the immune system. Prednisone in dogs is prescribed for many different conditions, including atopy (skin allergies), inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune blood disorders, autoimmune disorder such as lupus, arthritis, allergic conjunctivitis, uveitis (inflammation inside the eye), asthma, specific muscular disorders, and more. Prednisone, if used properly, is a very useful drug and can cure many conditions, but must be used with caution because it has many side effects. Prednisone, if taken long enough and at high enough dosages, can weaken the immune system and cause problems with… Read More Continue Reading

Sports for Dogs

CaniX Ever heard of CaniX? It is a form of cross country running with your dog. It is appropriate for any size of dog, big or small. To do CaniX with your dog, you will need a running harness, a flexible lead and a walking belt. CaniX is a great way to get exercise for you and for your dog at the same time. CaniX UK says that you should aim for 30 minutes of running with your dog five times a week. The idea is to get your dog to pull you to run faster. There are worldwide CaniX clubs around that hold races that you can participate in.… Read More Continue Reading

How to Use Rewards with Dogs

One effective way to reward your dog is with what is known as a reward marker. This is a way of communicating with your dog the exact moment that they do something right. A reward marker is a sound that is made before the dog receives the treat. This sound can be made with a clicker, in what is known as clicker training. Clickers are beneficial as they are easily heard by most dogs. With practice, precise timing can be easily communicated. It is a distinguishable sound that is not likely to be confused with background noise. Be aware that a clicker may be too loud for some dogs such… Read More Continue Reading

Vet Dogs: Mission K-9 Rescue

A non-profit organization, Mission K-9 Rescue is devoted to bringing happiness to veterans and military dogs who have retired. Many people don’t realize that there are thousands of dogs who have unknowingly risked their lives protecting military personnel. These dogs have carried out important missions like detecting bombs, drugs, weapons and more. Mission K-9 rescue works to provide money to aid these rescue dogs. They are in charge of transporting the dogs, and handling their adoption into their new family. It costs money to ship the dogs back to the United States to become adopted. These dogs must have a handler accompany them on their journey. Having the money and… Read More Continue Reading
Goal

Is dog breeding tormented by its biggest crisis ever?

Dog breeding is a pretty sensitive field where antagonism are extremely present. On one hand, you have dog breeders disagreeing within themselves, whether it is because of genetics or simply politic and etic beliefs. On the other hand, animal rights activists tend to harass the media platforms with aggressive campaigns against dog breeders and puppy mills, while promoting adoption from shelters. So who’s right? Let’s find out… What Are Dog Breeders Disagreeing About? One thing is sure: dog breeding always ends with a prospect owner paying a sum of money to adopt a puppy. Dog breeders tend to have opposed views about this transaction. Many refuse to call it a… Read More Continue Reading

Foxtail Grass Can Kill Your Dogs

What dog doesn’t enjoy running through a field of grass? However, you should be aware that there are some wild grasses that are dangerous for your dog. Foxtail grass is one of these. They have sharp seeds that can be extremely detrimental for dogs. They are designed to burrow into the ground with seed. However, they can also get into a dog’s skin where they can cause serious injury, infection and even death. The torpedo-shaped awns found on foxtails are similar to bullets, as they can penetrate any part of a dog’s body. These often can get lodged in a dog’s nose, ears, underbelly, rear end and paws. Dogs with… Read More Continue Reading

Dog Bleeding From Rectum

If your dog has ever had blood coming from his hind area, chances are you were immediately worried. Bleeding from the rectum is a serious condition in most any species, dogs included, but the source of the bleeding isn’t always the intestinal tract.   One of the more common causes of bleeding from the rectum is an anal gland problem. In the dog, there are two scent glands located just inside the anus at the 4 and 7 o’clock position. Normally, these scent glands excrete a small amount of material on fecal material when it passes, leaving a distinct odor that lets other dogs know who’s poo is whose.  A… Read More Continue Reading

Do Dogs Watch TV?

In short, it depends on the dog. What breed a dog is may have an influence on how he reacts to images on the television. For example, hounds which are driven by smell may not care too much about what is visually going on, but herding breeds like terriers may be more interested. Dog owners may commonly leave on a radio or TV when they leave home, in hopes that hearing the sound will be more comforting than hearing the silence. Nicholas Dodman, veterinary behaviorist at Tufts University talks about dogs watching TV when he says, “They orient to things they’re interested in, look at it for a couple of… Read More Continue Reading