Gifts, Supplies & Information
These fun and functional ceramic dog salt and pepper shakers will bring a smile to every meal and have your friends remembering your thoughtful gift on a daily basis! Each salt and pepper shaker is approximately 3″ tall by 2″ wide.
It’s true: washing your dog can make a big mess. They are squirmy and water inevitably will be sprayed everywhere. But in the long term, regular cleaning habits for you and your pet will ensure that your dog stays healthy and your home stays clean. Include these five tasks in your regular dog care and you will make your home a much better place for both you and your pet.
* Regularly groom your dog. Keep your dog’s hair trimmed and neat to limit shedding. Dogs with longer, straight hair only shed completely twice a year, but that still translates into a steady layer of fur on your furniture. Short-haired dogs shed much more frequently. Both need regular brushing (outside!) to keep the shedding under control when the dogs are in the home. It will help remove dirt as well as loose fur, and better distribute the dog’s natural oils around their fur.
* Get your dog accustomed to regular bathing. This will also help remove fur and limit odors on your dog, who may have a penchant for lying on your couch. Under ordinary circumstances, a monthly bath should be sufficient. Only use soaps and shampoos that are formulated for veterinary use, so the natural oils in your pet’s fur remain and their skin isn’t irritated. Clean the dog’s ears to catch any hiding insects, check for fleas, and trim their nails to keep the floor free of scratches. Be sure to start this routine when the dog is a puppy, as old dogs have a more difficult time adjusting.
* Brush your dog’s teeth. Most vets recommend two times a week for healthy teeth and gums. Purchase toothpaste and a toothbrush for dogs, available at most pet stores. Brush the front teeth up-and-down and the back in a circular motion.
* Only use ceramic or stainless steel bowls for your dog’s food and water. Both materials are dishwasher safe and somewhat resistant to bacteria, keeping your kitchen clean and your dog healthy. Wash them on a daily basis—it might be helpful to do this just before you feed your dog each day, to ensure that his food isn’t contaminated and the bowls get washed regularly.
* Only purchase toys for your dog that are easy to wash and dry, and clean them regularly. Dirty toys will smell and promote bacterial growth wherever your dog leaves them, and they can pose a risk to his health. Hard plastic and rubber are good options, as long as they are made of materials that aren’t dangerous for your dog in case he accidentally eats parts of them.
In addition to caring for his hygiene and health, be sure that your dog gets as much attention and affection as you can give him. If you and your dog truly enjoy one another, these cleaning routines won’t seem like chores at all—rather, they will be nice things you do for someone you love.
Dog training doesnât have to be that difficult and really, when it comes to basic dog training, you only need a few dog training tools. Sure you can buy all the latest and greatest tools that money can buy but you donât really need to and sometimes, such as is the case with dog training tools, less is actually more. That being said, I would like to point out that the type of training that you do will greatly affect the type of dog training tools that you need. For example, if you are training your dog for hunting, you will need a variety of tools such as dummies, birds, whistles and, possibly, a rifle. While hunting training may be a step that you are moving toward, for now we are just going to look at dog training tools that you will need for basic dog training.
Tool #1: The Bait Since most dog trainers use positive reinforcement you need some form of bait and reward for your dog. Obviously, food is a big incentive for many dogs but you may need to invest in something different if your dog is really not interested in food or your trainer recommends a different type of reward, such as a clicker. If you will be using food, it is important to use a soft treat that is cut into small morsels; usually about the size of your pinkie nail. Using small bites is the perfect dog training tool since a dog wonât lose focus when he is chewing the food and you wonât need to spend large amounts of money renewing your food reward.
Tool #2: The Lead (or leash) One piece of everyday dog gear that you will use as a dog training tool is a lead or leash. This is just a standard leash that you can use for walks on a daily basis and the only thing that it should be is sturdy. For many areas of training, this will be the most important dog training tool that you will use, outside of food, since this will give you the greatest control over your dog. What is usually recommended with leads is to purchase one that is 6 feet long with a sturdy clip. Do not purchase a retractable leash to use as a dog training tool since you will not have as much control over your dog if you do. If you decide to take your dog to different types of training, such as conformation, you will find that you need different styles of leads but for basic training, a simply 6 foot nylon lead is essential. When you move into long distance âcome,â your trainer may ask you to purchase a 20 foot lead but that will be at the discretion of your trainer.
Tool #3: The Collar Although this dog training tool is often linked with the leash, it is important to look at the collar on its own. Generally, when you are looking for a good collar for training, you will want one that is flat and has a snapping clip to prevent the collar from slipping. Some trainers will recommend that you use a choke or a prong collar as an essential dog training tool but it is important that you only use those if you are told to do so and that you use the collar correctly since they can lead to serious injuries for the dog if used incorrectly.
Tool #4: The Toy While this isnât a dog training tool that you will really use during the training, it is a good tool to have handy for breaks or even for distractions. During a training session, take a few breaks for the dog to be rewarded through play. This will keep your dog interested in training and it wonât seem too long for you puppy. In addition to providing a break, a toy can be placed out as a distraction when you are teaching come. Having the distraction will teach your dog that no matter what he is doing, he needs to listen when you give the command. Once you have all the essential dog training tools, I would recommend speaking with your trainer to find out if there is anything that he would recommend or, if the training is specialized, if there is anything extra you should bring. Usually, all you will really need is a lead, a collar and the reward.
Nancy Richards has been involved with dog training for several years. Learn all about companion dog training , aggressive dog training etc. with positive reinforcement dog training tools.
Almost every day, a story about a dog bite victim is seen on the evening news. City and state governments struggle with how to enforce aggressive dog laws. Wouldn’t it be easier if we could learn to avoid dog bites altogether?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 5 million dog bites are reported every year and more than 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. Estimates from insurance companies and hospitals range as high as $250 million dollars spent annually on the treatment of dog bites. Given that the majority of dogs are euthanized due to behavior issues, this is an issue that not only affects humans, but can, quite obviously, affect dogs in an extremely negative way.
If you read through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, you might be inclined to believe that working with pets is also a very dangerous proposition. During a six year study, more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses were reported involving dogs or cats and 8 of those occurrences were fatal. An amazing fact though is veterinarians and veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% of the total, despite their obvious closeness with their patients. What secrets can this profession teach us about avoiding these injuries and the associated costs?
According to Dr. Kersti Seksel, a noted animal behaviorist and veterinarian from Australia, dogs will often provide numerous warning signs before attempting to bite. “It is important to look at the whole dog, its body language as well as its facial expression,” says Dr. Seksel. “A dog may growl, bark menacingly, lift its lips and grimace. The body is often tense, the hackles along the back and neck may be raised indicating a heightened state of arousal, and the tail may be slowly wagging.”
Due to the large numbers of dogs seen on a daily basis, veterinary staff members have learned to monitor a dog’s body language, preparing for any potential aggressive movement. And while this is important information to learn, Dr. Seksel cautions everyone to remember that many of these signs can be subtle and there are occasions when a dog may not give the usual signs. A pertinent example might be the dog who has been previously punished for growling. As Pavlov and other behaviorists have shown, dogs will learn avoidance if negative stimuli are applied after certain behaviors. Thus, a dog owner who reprimands his dog for growling may be unknowingly removing the dog’s only outward expression of emotion or displeasure.
Veterinary experts recommend that all puppies undergo an initial “puppy training class” and socialization exercises. Just like kids, some puppies will immediately take to their new friends and some will take a little longer to overcome their shyness. Unless the dog is going to be used for police or military work, no puppy should receive positive reinforcement for any sort of aggressive behavior. Owners should seek veterinary advice when contemplating buying a breed of dog they are unfamiliar with or if the description of the breed discusses “extreme loyalty”, “intolerant of children”, or “prefers single owner household”.
Finally, an important part of avoiding dog bites is the education of our children. The vast majority of dog bites occur in children 4-9 years of age and a larger percentage occurs in young boys. Teaching your children some of the following guidelines could help to avoid a painful lesson and potentially even save his or her life. When faced with an unknown dog, or a dog whose behavior seems to be odd, Dr. Seksel recommends the following:
Children should be taught to never run up on a dog, especially one who is eating and that not every dog may be as friendly as their own pet. Teaching a child to ask the dog owner if it is OK to approach the dog and then if it is OK to pet him can help to avoid many of the common mistakes made by dog bite victims.
As dog owners, we love our pets and want the very best for them. Animal shelters and humane societies would like to see the number of dogs euthanized for behavior issues decrease and our society, as a whole, has a strong desire to see a lessening in the number of dog bites each year. Following the recommendations of veterinary behaviorists and other animal experts can be the first great step to achieving these goals.
If you are having difficulty with your dog and aggression, please see your veterinarian immediately.
There is not much of anything in the world than the sight of a child who is grieving a lost dog. Teary-eyed and depressed, yet hopeful, she goes around the neighborhood tacking Xeroxed signs to telephone poles, pleading for the safe return of her beloved pet, all the time knowing that the odds are stacked against her and her dog.
Over the years there have been various methods enacted to try and raise the number of lost pets that are reunited with their owners. Dog licensing and tag laws are one way that local governments have tried to help, but they don’t work very well at all. If a lost dog has lost its identification tag it is nearly impossible for anyone to find the dog’s owner.
For many years the owners of show dogs have used tattoos to put permanent identifying marks of their dogs. The tattoo is placed on the skin of the inner thigh, near the abdomen and contains a unique number assigned by the American Kennel Club. The tattoos aren’t readily visible to the average person, however, and shelter employees seldom check for tattoos on the “strays” that are brought to them on a daily basis.
A newer method of dog identification hopes to put an end to the number of lost dogs that can’t be reunited with their owners, or at least reduce it significantly. A microchip is inserted under the dog’s skin near the shoulder. This chip contains encoded data about the dog and its owner that may then be read by a scanner. It is a more permanent method than a simple metal tag, less painful and inconvenient to the dog than tattooing, and has a higher success rate than any other method when it comes to getting lost dogs back together with their owners.
The method isn’t perfect; some microchips may shift over time and become unreadable to scanners and there is the possibility, however remote, that the microchip can become demagnetized. It is the best method developed so far and is now being used all over the world.
Insertion of the microchip is a simple and nearly pain free process for the dog. Unlike tattooing, which requires the dog to be restrained and often shaved, implantation of the microchip is similar to an injection. After a tiny pinprick, its over and the dog can now be identified at any shelter equipped with the scanning device. The information on the chip is unique to the dog and the owner and makes a reunion a high probability instead of a remote possibility.
Thanks to microchip technology, we may have seen the last child crying over her lost dog and that would be a Very Good Thing.
Shedding is a natural process for dogs and is normally linked to the amount of sun the dog is exposed to during the day. Outside dogs shed their coats in the fall and then in the spring. Shepherds, Huskies and other long haired dogs can shed their undercoats all at once, commonly called “blowing their coats”. Inside only dogs will shed on a daily basis because the lights are on in the house from early in the morning till late at night and this has “tricked” the dog’s natural biology to think it is summer every day.
Excessive shedding can be caused by parasites, (fleas, mites, lice and ticks), poor nutrition, allergies, hormonal imbalances and some genetic conditions. If your dog is scratching incessantly, or if the skin is red, crusty or has sores on it, then the hair loss is more than just simple shedding and warrants a visit to your veterinarian.
As far as controlling the normal shedding on the dog, frequent brushing and combing is necessary. Brushing your dog on a daily basis will at least control where the hair lands and also allows you to check for matts, parasites,lumps and sores on your dog.
The furminator has also been a great tool to get the loose hair off the dog easier. The furminator uses a clipper blade that can cut the hair. You must go in the direction of hair growth and only stroke one area one or two times. Excessive use or going against the grain may leave your dog bald.
Regular grooming of your pet will reduce the shedding of hair throughout your house.
Pet-Tabs Vitamin Tabletsare a source of essential vitamins and minerals to add to a pet’s regular diet. They contain 8 vitamins and 10 different minerals. The liver base provides a quality source of protein, and dogs love the flavor. Safe for pregnant or nursing dogs also. Can be given on a daily basis. Available in both 60 count and 180 count bottles. Select bottle size below. Guaranteed Analysis per tablet:(All values are minimum quantities unless otherwise stated) Minerals:Calcium (minimum)…2.5%, (maximum)…3.5%, Phosphorus…2.5%, Potassium…0.4%, Salt (minimum)…0.1%, (maximum)…0.6%, Chloride…0.1%, Magnesium…0.15%, Iron…3.0mg, Copper…0.1mg, Maganese…0.25mg, Zinc…1.4mg Vitamins:Vitamin A…1,000 IU, Vitamin D…100 IU, Vitamin E…2 IU, Thiamine…0.81mg, Riboflavin…1.0mg, Niacin…10.0mg, Pyridoxine…0.1mg, Vitamin B12…0.5mcg
Almost every day, a story about a dog bite victim is seen on the evening news. City and state governments struggle with how to enforce aggressive dog laws. Wouldn’t it be easier if we could learn to avoid dog bites altogether?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 5 million dog bites are reported every year and more than 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. Estimates from insurance companies and hospitals range as high as $250 million dollars spent annually on the treatment of dog bites. Given that the majority of dogs are euthanized due to behavior issues, this is an issue that not only affects humans, but can, quite obviously, affect dogs in an extremely negative way.
If you read through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, you might be inclined to believe that working with pets is also a very dangerous proposition. During a six year study, more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses were reported involving dogs or cats and 8 of those occurrences were fatal. An amazing fact though is veterinarians and veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% of the total, despite their obvious closeness with their patients. What secrets can this profession teach us about avoiding these injuries and the associated costs?
According to Dr. Kersti Seksel, a noted animal behaviorist and veterinarian from Australia, dogs will often provide numerous warning signs before attempting to bite. “It is important to look at the whole dog, its body language as well as its facial expression,” says Dr. Seksel. “A dog may growl, bark menacingly, lift its lips and grimace. The body is often tense, the hackles along the back and neck may be raised indicating a heightened state of arousal, and the tail may be slowly wagging.”
Due to the large numbers of dogs seen on a daily basis, veterinary staff members have learned to monitor a dog’s body language, preparing for any potential aggressive movement. And while this is important information to learn, Dr. Seksel cautions everyone to remember that many of these signs can be subtle and there are occasions when a dog may not give the usual signs. A pertinent example might be the dog who has been previously punished for growling. As Pavlov and other behaviorists have shown, dogs will learn avoidance if negative stimuli are applied after certain behaviors. Thus, a dog owner who reprimands his dog for growling may be unknowingly removing the dog’s only outward expression of emotion or displeasure.
Veterinary experts recommend that all puppies undergo an initial “puppy training class” and socialization exercises. Just like kids, some puppies will immediately take to their new friends and some will take a little longer to overcome their shyness. Unless the dog is going to be used for police or military work, no puppy should receive positive reinforcement for any sort of aggressive behavior. Owners should seek veterinary advice when contemplating buying a breed of dog they are unfamiliar with or if the description of the breed discusses “extreme loyalty”, “intolerant of children”, or “prefers single owner household”.
Finally, an important part of avoiding dog bites is the education of our children. The vast majority of dog bites occur in children 4-9 years of age and a larger percentage occurs in young boys. Teaching your children some of the following guidelines could help to avoid a painful lesson and potentially even save his or her life. When faced with an unknown dog, or a dog whose behavior seems to be odd, Dr. Seksel recommends the following:
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Our top two products that just about every dog or cat can benefit from on a daily basis, as recommended by our holistic veterinarian.
Pet-Tabs Vitamin Tabletsare a source of essential vitamins and minerals to add to a pet’s regular diet. They contain 8 vitamins and 10 different minerals. The liver base provides a quality source of protein, and dogs love the flavor. Safe for pregnant or nursing dogs also. Can be given on a daily basis. Available in both 60 count and 180 count bottles. Select bottle size below. Guaranteed Analysis per tablet:(All values are minimum quantities unless otherwise stated) Minerals:Calcium (minimum)…2.5%, (maximum)…3.5%, Phosphorus…2.5%, Potassium…0.4%, Salt (minimum)…0.1%, (maximum)…0.6%, Chloride…0.1%, Magnesium…0.15%, Iron…3.0mg, Copper…0.1mg, Maganese…0.25mg, Zinc…1.4mg Vitamins:Vitamin A…1,000 IU, Vitamin D…100 IU, Vitamin E…2 IU, Thiamine…0.81mg, Riboflavin…1.0mg, Niacin…10.0mg, Pyridoxine…0.1mg, Vitamin B12…0.5mcg
