Dog House Training Tips and Resources

HERE'S A GREAT TIP! I've been following this dog trainer for a long time (I love her books!) and was really psyched to see that she has a video up now about this. It's only a couple minutes long but it's really helpful. Click on the video to watch it. It should answer your questions...

When the dog’s nails go “click, clicking” on the floor as the pet walks, it is the dog owner’s cue to bring out the nail clipper. Trimming the dog’s nails is an often forgotten part of the grooming routine. The normal walk of the dog can be encumbered by long toenails. Long toenails run the risk of getting snagged and broken thereby causing the dog pain and discomfort. Nail trimming though can be a challenge especially if the pet is not accustomed to having its paws touched. Trimming the nails of a fidgety pet can result to bleeding as it would be very easy to cut the quick especially for dark colored nails.

Cutting the quick would cause profuse bleeding because of the number of capillaries present on the nail bed. The bleeding of a nail cut too short is not a serious condition. A dab of styptic powder will easily resolve the bleeding. Instead of styptic powder, cornstarch or flour packed on the broken toenail would stem the bleeding.

The dog owner would be very apprehensive if the pet that has been roaming the streets will enter the house and leave a bloody trail on the floor. Due to the energetic nature of dogs, most dog owner have gotten accustomed to dealing with the scrapes the pet get into. Dogs would often sustain broken toenails.

A broken toenail that is still attached would bleed and cause the dog pain every time pressure is placed on the affected paw. If the still attached broken nail is disturbed like getting snagged on the carpet, it can bleed again and make the dog cry in pain. Because of the bleeding, a broken toenail may appear to be a serious condition but it usually does not need a vet’s attention. Panicking pet owners would bring the dog to the vet but oftentimes the bleeding would have been controlled before arriving at the vet’s.

To save the pet from discomfort and to prevent infection a dog owner need to administer first aid to the pet’s broken toenail. The broken toenail has to be removed. A broken toenail that is still attached would have to be removed with a nail clipper. Barely attached nails can be pulled easily. Clean the paw and the toes after the toenail was removed. If the toenail is still bleeding, a piece of cloth or a towel can be used to apply firm pressure on the bleeding toe to stop the bleeding. If a large portion of the nail was detached, the pet would need medical attention. A course of antibiotics will be necessary to ward off infection.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on broken toenails as well as first aid for dogs.

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Expand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video.

Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from mvazqu and more videos in the Housebreaking and Training Dogs category.

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With kindness, time, and lots of newspapers, you can train your dog to go to the bathroom outside of the house.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Lots of patience
Newspapers
White vinegar
Liquid detergent
Odor-masking spray

Step 1: Keep the papers in one spot

Choose one area, such as a back bedroom or the bathroom, and lay down three layers of newspapers on the floor. This will become your dog’s “potty place” in the house. During the times that no one is at home, keep your pet confined to the potty place.

Step 2: Watch for warning signs

Whenever your dog crouches, sniffs the ground, or walks in circles, take them outside; these typically mean they “gotta go.” While they’re relieving themselves, speak a voice command such as “Go pee” or “Go outside.”

Step 3: Transition them outside

As your dog gets used to going outdoors, the next time you see one of the warning signs, ask your dog if they have to “Go pee” or “Go outside” and then take them into the backyard. Give them lots of praise after they’ve gone to the bathroom outside the house.

Step 4: Accidents do happen

While your dog is learning, accidents will happen. If they relieve themselves in another part of the house, say “No!” Then firmly pick them up and take them to their potty place. After your dog has finished doing their business in the right spot, praise them for going in the right spot.

Tip: If your pet does have an accident, don’t get angry or rub their nose in the spot.

Step 5: Hide the scent

Clean up an accident with 1/4 cup white vinegar and a squirt of liquid detergent mixed with 1 quart warm water. Scrub the area with this mixture and then spray it with an odor-masking product found at pet stores. This will keep your puppy from coming back to this area.

Step 6: Smaller targets

Over time, reduce the number of papers in the potty place. This will teach your dog to go in one small spot. Within a few weeks, you should be able to stop using papers totally — your dog is now housebroken!

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Duration : 0:1:58

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A dog offers friendship, companionship, unconditional love, protection and empathy. As such, humans repay their four legged friends not only with regular meals. Pet owners ensure the good health of the pet by providing premium quality feeds and regular veterinary checkups.

One of the most common health concerns of dogs owners is intestinal parasite infestation. A pet owner has to know how to deworm the dog as the infestation can be transmitted to other pets and also to humans. Correct diagnosis of the type of worm is the key to effective treatment.

Whipworms, roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms infest more that 30% of dogs. As the name implies, heartworms is a deadly parasite that survive in the pet’s heart to restrict blood blow that will damage other vital organs and eventually cause death if no treatment is given. Dogs generally have worms in their lifetime. Puppies are born already infested as the worms are transmitted by the dam.

Getting rid of the pesky worms is not as easy as shoving a deworming pill down the dog’s throat. Over the counter worming medications may not be very effective as aside from being dose dependent, the medication chosen may not be right for the type of parasite the dog has. A dog that have had deworming treatment can be reinfested again thus the treatment must be an ongoing process.

All puppies have intestinal worms thus they would need an assertive deworming treatment. Treatment must begin at 2 weeks old and repeated at 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. This course of treatment will eradicate not only the existing worms inside the dog’s body but also the worms that will be hatched. The same kind of treatment must be given to the nursing dam. Until the dog has reached the age of six months worming treatment must be done monthly. Internal parasite infestation can spread easily as infested dogs would excrete feces with the parasite’s larva. The risk of reinfection is very high given the dogs tendency to eat poop and to play in areas where they have previously defecated. To prevent reinfection, dog owners must ensure that the pet has an ongoing deworming treatment by giving the dog a wide spectrum anthelmintics every three months

Read all about how to deworm a dog and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Always there with a wagging tail when we have had a rough day. Cats are great but dogs are surely man’s best friend. There is often a moment in any dog owners life when they will need to their pet moved but simply cannot do it themselves. However, many owners do not like the idea of entrusting their dogs to a stranger. Every dog is different and none should be transported without proper care and preparation. However, by following these useful tips, you can rest easy knowing that transporting your dog will be as smooth as possible.

Preparation

The first thing to remember is that every dog is different. Not only in shape and size but also in terms of temperament and health. This is why you need to assess your dog before you decide on having it moved. Take in consideration the behaviour your dog exhibited when it was last transported.

You will need to make a visit to the vets to have your dog checked that it is properly vaccinated and healthy enough to cope with being transported. Shipping a sick dog is always best avoided as transport can worsen a pre-existing condition. The vet might prescribe a sedative to calm your dog during transit – dogs get car sick too!

Mark your dogs name, your name, address and telephone number on a kennel – if you are providing one. If your dog has any tags or identity collars put them on before it is transported.

Fed and Watered

Make sure your dog is fed five or six hours before being transported. Regardless of who is transporting your dog, he or she will need a bowl of water during transit. Your dog will feel less agitated if it has few home comforts such as its favourite toy and few snacks.

When you move house

If you are moving home and bringing your dog as a consequence you need to research whether your new place is dog friendly. If it is a new apartment then you need to check with the owner or landlord whether animals and specifically dogs are permitted. Some places will ban particular breeds so it is important to specify what breed your dog is. Also, there may be a cap on the number of pets allowed in any one property.

If your dog is moving with you when you move house it is best to know what day the removals company will be coming. Once you know the day of the move you should organise to have your dog kept either at a kennel or a friends until your possessions have been move and properly unloaded and unpacked.

Your vet will be best source of information when it comes to working out whether your dog will have any special requirements and they will also be able to give a copy of the dogs veterinary records.

Dog Couriers

In the United Kingdom, delivery services that transport dogs are obligated to be licensed with DEFRA. Prior to handing your dog over to your chosen dog moving company, be sure to check they have the required paperwork. Ask to see what insurance they have and whether it covers your dog in particular; investigate their levels of experience with dog transportation.

Your doggy courier should be given the fullest amount of information available. Tell the courier the dogs breed, its size, temperament and any special requirements. You should ask whether they supply the enclosure for transport and if they don’t you will need to naturally supply your own.

It is rare for a dog to enjoy being transported by car when kept in a enclosure, so remember to reward him or her with a treat when they arrive at the destination.

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As soon as the cold weather kicks in people will be heard sniffling, sneezing. People will sport watery eyes and red noses so that you would think Rudolph’s red nose is the current fad. When the demand for Kleenex increases it is for certain – people have colds. Noted to be the most affectionate and loyal pets, dogs seem to be one with the family even in illness as dogs can suffer from cold too. The dog may not have a reddened nose but for sure a dog can sniffle, sneeze, cough and have watery eyes – all telltale signs that the dog is affected by the cold weather.

Cold is an ordinary human illness that often times would not need any treatment. A bowl of soup or a cup of tea are the old fashioned cure-all for colds thus people would not really need cold pills. Would the hot soup or the cup of tea be effective to cure the dog’s cold too? The cold of the dog can due to other reasons. Similar to humans that can transmit the cold to other humans , dogs can get colds from other dogs too. A dog with a weak immune system can be easily affected by cold-causing germs and viruses.

Dogs are noted for being very energetic animals. Dogs are seen often enjoying romping on the snow and heavy pouring rain would not stop a dog from trailing a prey and as expected, the dog would have a cold.

A cold is an ordinary non-serious illness that is normally allowed to run its course as after a day or two the cold will be gone. Dogs are tough thus the same thing may be true with the pet. Even if the dog does not need medication, the ailing pet should be made comfortable. Keep the dog warm.

Dogs must not be allowed to play in the cold lest the cold develops into a more serious illness. Dog owners can provide the pet with supportive therapy. Keep the dog well fed with nutritious foods will boost its immune system. Vitamins and supplement would be most beneficial for a sick pet. A steam filled bathroom will unclog the nasal passage and allow the dog to breathe more easily. Give the dog plenty of water to drink as more fluids will hasten the dog’s recovery. The cold should last only for a few days but if the dog doesn’t get better head to a vet at once.

Sarah’s Dogs provides more information on what to do if your dog has a cold as well as first aid for dogs.

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In a home where there are children or aging family members, a well stocked medicine chest is a must. Due to the boisterous nature, kids are always injured and it is common for senior members of the family to have health concerns. A medicine chest at home will ensure that any member of the family will receive immediate first aid care when needed. This is true with pets as well. Dogs are as well prone to accidents because of their very energetic and inquisitive nature. With the right equipments and the appropriate medicines, a dog owner can administer first aid to the pet. First aid kit ensures that the owner can administer measures that will stabilize the pet’s condition before it is transported to a veterinary facility.

A dog owner needs to be ready for any eventuality. As caring for a dog is comparable to caring for a baby, a medicine kit for the pet will be very useful given the fact that accidents can never be prevented. A first aid kit is still a must even if the neighbor is a vet. Running to the vet for every minor bleeding cut will of course be very costly. Moreover, the vet may not be around.

A dog owner equipped with a first aid kit can give the pet emergency care anywhere and anytime of the day. Dog owners would want to have the pet around. In the wild or in far flung places where no veterinary facility is nearby, a well stocked medicine kit in the car can save the life of an injured pet.

A dog owner can buy ready made kits or create a customized kit. As expected, the first aid kit of an owner that lives in the city would not be as complete as the kit of an owner that lives in remote areas.

Basic equipments for the dog’s first aid kit are scissors, rectal thermometer, cotton balls and swabs as well as leash and muzzle. The kit should also contain bandaging materials in various sizes. The kit should contain antibiotics ointments for the skin and for the eyes, wound disinfectants, antidiarrhea and antihistamines. First aid kit for dogs must have activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide as these animals are very curious about their surrounding and because they use their mouth to investigate they often end up ingesting poisonous substances. Along with the equipments and basic medications, a first aid kit for the pet has to have the phone numbers of the vet or the location of a veterinary facility.

Find out more about first aid kit as well as information on first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.

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Having a dog is a massive responsibility. Some even compare looking after a dog to that of a baby. The sole advantage having dogs compared to having babies {is that they} won’t get older and turn into stressful teenagers. Because dogs are like babies they often additionally end up in harmful situations. They would generally get themselves trapped during a tight place or get hit by one thing that can injure one amongst their limbs. When that happens, we tend to ought to find out how to bandage our dogs to forestall further damage. Here are some basic ways of the way to bandage your injured dog.

1. When your pet has a bandage, it ought to perpetually be clean and dry. Thus it’s pretty necessary to make sure your pet stays inside normally when it has a bandage. To stop the bandage from getting wet when the pet goes to pee or poop, a trash bag or plastic covering ought to cowl the bandaged leg. You may use empty bread bags. When your pet has wet or dirtied up the bandage, it might require changing. Make positive to check the bandage twice each day to work out if it is clean and dry. Check additionally for foul odors or discharge and if there is any, decision your veterinarian immediately.

2. Once bringing home your pet from the veterinarian make sure {that the} bandage remains in place. Your pet would possibly are irritated by it and has chewed or tried to scratch it off. Look closely at the position and the situation of the bandage when you do check. Take a look at the toes of the pet, the bandage would possibly have slipped up creating the toes stick out. Conjointly take a look at the size, if the bandage has become loose. This could be taken under consideration when a dog has been bandaged in the abdomen or leg area. This can be because one end will be larger than the other and eventually become narrower. When the bandage telescopes down the limb of the dog it may bunch up and abrade the limb. When that happens, the bandage ought to be changed as well.

3. If the dog is bandaged up within the leg make positive it isn’t too tight. Observe how the toes can appear at the underside of the bandage at least twice a day. This is done to check for sweating, swelling, or pain. Check for skin chaffing, redness, discharge or swelling before and when the bandage has been applied.

4. To forestall the pet from chewing the bandage as a result of of the bothersome expertise it provides, place an Elizabethan collar. If you have got observed {that the} pet is chewing or scratching it excessively, ask the vet if there might be problems.

These are the days that you should already be taking the pet back to the veterinarian:

• Swelling on top of or below the bandage

• Chewing the bandage

• Bandage becomes wet

• Bleeding or discharge higher than, below or through

• Scheduled bandage changes

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Is a German Shepherd right for you? Too many pets are brought back to animal shelters or worse, because of inexperience owners. Not just these type of dogs, but any pet. You need to know as much about that breed before you take them home.

A former co-worker of mine decided to get a dog for their oldest son. Neither he nor his wife had ever owned a pet before. They were inexperience. After a month went by, I asked about their dog. “

So you got a new pet, now what do you name her? Wait!

As a first time dog owner you are likely to experience a lot of difficulty in choosing a pet name. You want the name to be unique and meaningful but still perfect for your dog. Naming a dog Brownie or Spot is out of your options since a thousand other pets may share the same name for it is some of the most common dog names. So where do you draw an inspiration? (Light bulb flicks in your brain) How about from a celebrity pet? Bright idea!

Hollywood celebrities do not only shine in TV, movies, music, sports, etc. They also shine in choosing some of the cutest, weirdest, funniest pet names. To give you an example here are some of the coolest celebrity pet names.

ames. To give you an example here are some of the coolest celebrity pet names.

None of my pets came with an owner’s manual.

A-list duo Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner named their pet Martha Stewart. This is not to insult the chef and green thumb celebrity, but rather to show admiration for her.

How would you like to learn the secrets of having the healthiest and happiest canine possible without having to pay for an expensive training course?

She has raised them from puppies to senior citizens. Debbie’s past experiences with her own dogs has given her an insight into this type of breed that few people have and she would like to share her knowledge with you. This 195 page book is very through and it answers just about any questions that you might have about your dog.

Jake Gyllenhaal loves both dogs and literature. So how did he show this? By naming his dogs based on the characters of the Harper Lee Pulitzer Prize winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

You may wish to also read more about What To Give A Dog With Diarrhea.

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The lively and inquisitive behaviors of dogs are reasons why these furry animals make wonderful companions. These behaviors though are the common reasons why dogs are injured. Aware of the dog’s propensity to get into tight spots, dog owners make sure that the house is dog proofed. No amount of precautionary measure would ensure that accidents would not befall the pet.

Chemical burns are one of the not so common injuries a dog can get. Apart from being inquisitive dogs are voracious eaters thus the tongue and the mouth can get burned when the pet licks acidic and corrosive chemicals. Unknowing of the harmful effects of acidic and corrosive chemicals, the curious dog would satisfy its curiosity by licking and rolling on chemicals so that the eyes, the mouth and other parts of the body can sustain burns.

First aid treatment would be very necessary for dogs that have sustained chemical burns. Severe chemical burns can cause the dog to pass out. Chemical burns caused by acids, pesticides and other household chemicals would make the dog have pale or blue gums, shallow breathing and rapid heartbeats. In cases such as these, it would be best to take the pet to a veterinary facility for immediate professional medical treatment.

For less severe chemical burns, the dog owner has to administer first aid treatments to control the damage of the chemicals. Dogs though have this habit of hiding whenever they are in pain or when they have injuries . The first aid treatment that would alleviate the pain is not given simply because the dog owner would not be aware that the pet was hurt. To lessen the damage the area or body part that gets in contact with chemicals must be thoroughly washed with large amounts of water. The dog’s body part that got in contact with the chemicals must be thoroughly washed in running water to remove the contaminants that can cause further damage to the other parts of the dog’s body. Burns on the tongue and on the mouth must as well be washed in flowing water for about 10 to 15 minutes. The toxic chemicals must be fully washed out from the dog’s fur as other parts of the dog’s body that gets in contact with the chemical drenched fur can get burned as well.

Chemical burns result when the chemical damages the proteins in the skin. One proven first aid treatment for chemical burns is to smear the affected area with milk or egg white. When these protein-rich foods are applied on the affected skin the chemical’s effect of destroying protein in the skin will be arrested as the protein in the milk or egg are the ones that will be destroyed.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can learn more about chemical burns as well as first aid for dogs.

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Profuse external bleeding is a condition that can take your dog away from you. There is no first aid for internal bleeding but while external bleeding is easily seen, signs of internal bleeding can be difficult to recognize so that the professional medical management that will save the life of the pet is not administered in time. Dogs are often injured from accidents that results from these animals’ inclination to run, jump, explore and to chase prey. Dogs seem to attract accidents thus a dog owner needs to learn how to administer first aid treatments to the pet. To be able to help the pet, the owner has to remain calm, to have presence of mind and most importantly to know what must be done to the injured pet.

Because of the inquisitive and energetic nature dogs seem to have an invisible magnet for accidents. A dog owner therefore has to have the ability to apply first aid to the pet. Fortunately most of the injuries are minor scrapes and abrasions that can be easily dealt with at home using the contents of the dog’s first aid kit. Some injuries would need professional medical care and the dog owner has the important role of stabilizing the condition of the pet.

A quick that is accidentally cut when trimming the dog’s nails can cause the pet to bleed. This kind of bleeding though can be resolved easily with styptic powder. If the pet comes home trailing bloody footprints because of a profusely bleeding wound, can you administer first aid?

First aid for pets should not be too difficult as it is pretty much the same as the emergency care for humans. First aid methods to stop bleeding are very necessary as a dog can go into shock if two teaspoons of blood per pound of body weight is lost. A bandage or a towel must be applied directly on the wound. Place another towel over the one that is already soaked through with blood to maintain the pressure. Another first aid method that controls bleeding is to elevate the bleeding body part above the heart. Excessive bleeding can be controlled by applying pressure to the pressure points. Tourniquet can be used to stem profuse bleeding but this must be administered only by a qualified person as it can do the dog more harm if incorrectly applied.

Internal bleeding is rather hard to recognize as no bleeding will be noticed in the dog. A dog hit by a car or one that has fallen from heights can have internal bleeding. Symptoms of internal bleeding are weak pulse, shallow breathing and pale gums. First aid methods cannot resolve internal bleeding. The pet must have immediate medical attention.

Bleeding? More information on this and first aid for dogs can be found at Sarah’s Dogs.

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