Helpful Tips to Prevent Dog Bite Accidents...

Helpful Tips to Prevent Dog Bite Accidents

All dogs have a tendency to bite, no matter how social your pet can be; and we all know how painful a dog bite is. Not just that, but much more on the health hazard a dog’s bite may offer, think of the deadly rabies virus.

As a responsible dog owner you should ensure that your pet dog does not pose any threat and danger when he is around other people especially with playful kids. Numerous studies show that a dog’s aggressive and non-aggressive behavior greatly depends on his environment and training.

Below are helpful tips you can do to improve your pet’s behavior around people and preventing your dog from biting.

Socialize your pup. Start socializing your puppy when he is about 8 to 12 weeks of age. During this early stage, it is best to introduce your pet pup to other people as well as other animals, just make sure that these other animals are already vaccinated so that your pup will not be able to acquire harmful diseases during interaction. Let your pet interact with strangers in a friendly environment such as in parks, pet stores and puppy classes. Do not forget to praise your pet if he shows a positive behavior during interaction.

Teach your pet not to bite. It is very typical for dogs to mouth, chew and bite everything they can put their mouth into. But you must be able to teach your dog when this act is no longer appropriate. If your pet starts growling or biting at your kids or at you or any member of the family, be prompt on distracting him with a quick sound. You can call his name using a firm voice or can simply clap your hands once. Just ensure that the noise you make is heard by your pet at the precise moment he is biting so that he will be able to associate the clapping, for example, as a signal for him to stop.

Dog control. Keeping your dog on a firm leash whenever you are out in public is one way of preventing bites. Statistics shows that 82 percent of fatal dog bites are caused by unrestrained dogs. When you are with strangers or outside of the house, make sure that your pet is calm and relaxed; tensed and startled pets tend to bite easily. Provide fencing around your house if you want to leave your pet out in your yard.

Dog behavior alert. Keeping an eye of your dog’s behavior is the most crucial part of preventing your dog from biting. Avoid showing your dog any consenting act if he starts growling, snapping, or biting family members; growling or snapping at strangers; or extreme fear of strangers. If your pet starts exhibiting this kind of behavior, visit your veterinarian for help.

Alter your pet. Have you pet dog spayed or neutered. Territorial instincts and territorial aggression of your pet will be decreased when he is altered. This is due to the fact that spaying and neutering decreases the levels of progesterone and testosterone in your pet’s body that also causes aggressive behavior.




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Why You Should Spay your Dog?

Why You Should Spay your Dog?

Dog spaying or ovariohysterectomy is the surgical removal of the female reproductive organs. The operation removes the two ovaries, the uterine horns and the body of the uterus. In most cases, spaying operation takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform including the required time for preparation and anesthesia. However, for older or large-breed dogs, the procedure may last longer and may require two surgeons to do the process.

Like in humans, spaying operation in dogs requires general anesthesia to induce complete unconsciousness and relaxation. In the typical case, the dog will receive a pre-anesthetic sedative-analgesic drug to help her relax, a brief intravenous anesthetic to allow placement of a breathing tube in the windpipe, and subsequently inhalation (gas) anesthesia in oxygen during the actual surgery. After the operation, a dog is usually recommended to stay in the hospital from one to two days.

Spaying is done to female dogs to avoid heat (estrus) cycles, prevent pregnancy, remove diseased or cancerous female reproductive organs and markedly decrease the risk of acquired diseases of the female reproductive system. The spay operation essentially removes the possibility of a severe infection of the uterus (pyometra). There is also evidence that spaying a dog at an early age markedly reduces the future risk of developing mammary (breast) cancer.

The following are the advantages of spaying your female dog:

Avoid heat (estrus) cycles. Spaying a female dog eliminates her periods or menstruation by lowering the hormone levels that trigger menstruation. Thus, you will be freed from the inconvenient and messy dog care during menstruation periods.

Lessen pet wandering. Since a spayed dog will not go into heat, your female pet will no longer wander around looking for a mate and then return home pregnant.

Prevention of unwanted dog pregnancies. This contributes to the control of dog population and any unintended cross breeding with other dogs.

Complete prevention of pyometra or the infection of the uterus. Pyometra is a common condition in unsprayed dogs and is a serious infection inside the uterus which results to blood poisoning and even death of the dog if left untreated.

Reduction in breast cancer. Percentage of acquiring breast cancer is decreased significantly to 0% if done before the dog’s first “heat”.

Reduction of the spread of inferior genetic traits, genetic diseases and congenital deformities. Since your dog is no longer capable of breeding, transfer of defective or inferior genes and genetic traits from one generation to the next in a breed is reduced. Female dogs with heritable genetic diseases and congenital defects/deformities should be desexed to lessen the spread of these genetic diseases to their offspring.

Prevention or reduction of hormone-induced diseases. It is common knowledge that female dogs suffer from a wide range of diseases and medical conditions that are directly associated with high blood estrogen and/or progesterone levels, the hormones produced by the ovaries. These conditions include: vaginal hyperplasia, mammary neoplasia, mammary enlargement, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, pyometron and pseudopregnancy (false pregnancy or phantom pregnancy with accompanied signs of 'expecting' including: nesting behaviors, abdominal enlargement, breast enlargement and even lactation) among others.

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Dog Feeding 101...

Dog Feeding 101

Nourishing your pet dog is one of the major responsibilities you embrace of having a pet. Like any member of your family, it is one of your concerns to feed him with proper and healthy foods.  But what to feed him is another important point to consider. Take note that dietary needs differ from one dog to another, depending on the dog’s breed, age and his overall body weight. Your neighbor’s dog diet program for his pet may not be suitable for your pooch. Thus, if you happen to own two dogs, each dog has to have its own diet in accordance to his needs. It is recommended that you consult your vet for proper feeding specifications for your dog’s breed.

If your dog is still a puppy, he will need three meals a day until he reaches the age of six months, after which this can be reduced to two. You can also start introducing adult dog food in your puppy's diet when he reaches six months old.

Keep in mind that when feeding, size does matter. Smaller dogs means smaller stomachs, lesser feeds should be given to smaller dogs in a meal compared to big dogs. You can also feed your small dog twice a day to assist him with his digestion. If you have a pregnant dog, you should provide her with feeds fifty percent more than normal.

Varieties of dog food are also available to choose from. Dry dog food is easy to store and provides four times as many calories per pound as canned foods, it is also stable and long lasting; semi-moist foods provides high carbohydrate content for very active dogs; canned foods are high in protein and are more suitable to dogs who have a picky appetite.  A quality dog diet must contain the following: protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, vegetables and fruits.
A proper dog diet means feeding your pet with healthy food. Below are some suggested ways on how you could provide your dog with a proper dog diet:
Refer to your vet about a reputable and ideal dog food brand. If your vet makes a list of recommended dog food brands, be sure to select the one that is of high quality. Take into account your dog’s size, weight, activity, age and level before making a choice.
Dry food and moist canned dog food should be included in your pet’s daily meals to attain a balanced diet. Moist food also helps maintain cleanliness of your dog’s teeth.
Pay a close attention to the protein ratio of the dog food you are feeding your pet. Since protein is very vital in a dog’s body, your dog’s food should consist of about 20% to 30% protein in each meal to make up for the recommended protein intake.
Avoid over-feeding your dog for this may result to obesity in your pet if done in regular basis. Similarly with humans, obesity in dogs could also lead to several medical conditions, like abnormal growth and musculoskeletal problems.
Feeds should be given to your dog about twice each day, though some dog breeds requires only a single feeding in a day. Make the dog’s meal time regularized during specific and consistent times of the day. Feeds should also be given in a very and exactly measured amount.



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Preparations For Bringing Your Puppy Home...

  Preparations For Bringing Your Puppy Home

After what seems like a long wait you are finally ready to get your new puppy. Preparing for a new puppy is exciting, after all, you are adding to your family. And just like preparing for a human baby, you need to be ready for this little fur-baby.

Planning ahead will make the move to your home easier for the puppy and for you. One of the first things you will want to do is have the puppy checked out by a veterinarian. It’s a good idea to know in advance, what veterinarian you plan to take your puppy to. Some veterinarians will do this first check for free. It is simply to confirm that your puppy is healthy and that the vaccinations are on track. This also gives you an opportunity to ask any questions you may have at that time.

Most breeders will provide a puppy packet which usually includes a sampling of the food the pup is used to and a toy and/or blanket that has been used by the momma dog and the littermates. The scent on these items is comforting to the puppy. Some breeders also include booklets of information related to the care of the puppy.

Your puppy will need a safe environment. He will be curious and he is likely to chew on any and every thing. It is your responsibility to see that he is kept in an area that is safe. A puppy play pen works well for this. These are flexible in shape and even in size. They are large enough to have a place for a bed, a place for food and water, a play area, and a place for the puppy pad. Many people find that dog crates can come in handy at times.

Because your puppy will want to be with you as much as possible you will probably find it convenient to have at least two or three dog beds for him. Put these in strategic places that you spend a lot of time, spots that will be close to you.

Grooming supplies are essential. At minimum you will need a dog shampoo and a brush. But keep in mind that dogs do not need bathes as often as humans; in fact, you should not bath your dog more than one time per week unless it is absolutely necessary.

Every puppy needs toys. You can make your own with pieces of rope, old toys, or even an old sock with a tennis ball in it. Or you can buy actual dog toys such as the squeaky toys or stuffed animals made especially for dogs. As long as you provide all the essentials, including food, water, playtime and love, your puppy will be happy.

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How Important Is Your Dog’s Name?

How Important Is Your Dog’s Name?

When you get a new puppy you of course have to name him or her. If the puppy is registered you will need a name for the official registration papers as well as a call name. Both names are important, but in different ways.

The registered name often begins with the name of the kennel that the dog came from. This is also a part of his show name. All registered names must be original. Although these names have a rather fancy sound to them, when you understand more about how they are given they are actually fun.

Besides the kennel name the registered names can include the name of the dam and or the sire. Any combination of ancestors along with a theme is very common. However, AKC limits the name to thirty-six characters in length, including spaces, so if the names are long it can certainly present a problem. For an extra fee the length can be extended up to fifty characters.

Registered names often have no relationship whatsoever with the call name. Call names should be rather short; two to three syllables is the recommended length. Another thing to keep in mind is that if you have more than one dog the names should be different enough that the dogs can easily distinguish them. For example, naming one dog Holly and another one Molly would not be a good idea.

Many people choose to name their dogs right away; in fact, they may even have the name picked out before they ever see the dog. Other people want to keep the dog a wait or two before naming him so that they can choose a name that matches the dog’s personality. And still others prefer a name that describes the dog’s physical appearance to some degree, such as naming a big dog Bruno or a Black dog Blackie.

Originality is nice but when it comes to dogs, just like people’s names, there are certain names that are all time favorites for particular breeds or dog stereotypes. And just as with human names, dog names sometimes become popular because of a TV show, a song, an actor, a movie, a rock band, etc. Since dogs can live to be up to twenty years or longer it is suggested that the name be one that is somewhat evergreen; simply meaning that the name will have significance in the years to come, even if the namesake doesn’t.

Once you have decided on a name you should begin using it as much as possible. The goal is to find ways to get your dog to associate the name with a meaning. By using his name regularly he will quickly pick up on the fact that the name refers to him.

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