I Love Animals

Everyone who owns a puppy or dog will eventually have to deal with and correct less than desirable behaviors on the part of their companion animal. There are a number of behaviors that should be nipped in the bud, including:

Jumping up on people

This is one of those behaviors that many owners inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a young puppy. When that puppy is older, larger and heavier, however, this jumping up behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become annoying and even dangerous.

A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be dangerous to young children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound plus dog can easily knock down a child or small adult. Since you as the owner are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is important to nip this problem behavior in the bud.

The best time to do that, of course, is when the puppy is still small and easy to handle. When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the puppy’s feet back on the floor. When the dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it extensively.

It is also important to give the puppy an alternative to jumping up. Puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable direction. Try teaching the puppy to present his paw instead of jumping up.

When teaching the puppy to not jump up on people, it is important to be consistent. Consistency is important in any training program, and all members of the family must understand that the puppy is not permitted to jump on them.

Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead

One problem you definitely want to nip in the bud is this one. It is important that the puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small and light enough to handle. Teaching this lesson to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the same lesson to a 150 pound dog.

Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or to retrain a dog that has already learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, it is important to allow the puppy to walk around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it.

The first thing your puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your dog to heel. Teaching your dog to walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all dog training, and until your puppy has mastered this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more advanced training.

When walking with a puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep slack in the leash. If the puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler should quickly change directions. The puppy will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging ahead. The least will be loose except for the split second it takes to change directions. It is important for the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson.

When teaching the puppy to walk properly, it is important to never allow the puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash. Allowing the puppy to pull you around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.

It’s the usual thing every Parent goes through from time to time I guess.

“Daaaad, why can’t we get a dog?”

“Well son it’s like this, they take a lot of caring, they’re a big responsibility, they need feeding (this is starting to sound like a job description for Parenthood in general I know), and they need someone to walk them on cold dark winter nights.” Hit them hard with the triple mantra of “Dog Health, Dog Grooming and Dog Training” I thought, that will do the trick……..

So four weeks later there I was heading with my sister in law to the nearest branch of the Dogs Trust to check out some abandoned puppies from a litter that had been taken in before Christmas and were coming up to eleven weeks old and it was crunch time.

“What sort of dog were you looking for sir and what sort of experience have you had with dogs? We will need to take out references and check out where the dog is going to live, whether it is safe.” Heck, this was starting to sound like a job interview with the local bank not some search for an abandoned pooch.

It would possibly have been easier to pack a suitcase full of cash and hop on the next plane to some third world country and come home with a baby – a contentious view point I know but says more about the shoddy approach to most Intercountry Adoptions but I digress.

Five minutes later there I was walking round the inner courtyard of what sounded like canine hell. There is something deeply tragic about the way we treat our pets in this world (marginally better then we treat our fellow humans I know) and unless we stop treating pets and dogs especially with the same disposable mentality that we use when buying our next cheeseburger it is only going to get worse.

Trying to take a reasoned and rational approach to what can only be best described as a display of truly pathetic (in the truest of senses) wretchedness is extremely difficult. The Dogs Trust is wonderful organisation that copes, alongside numerous others, in a much challenged environment, with a miniscule budget and essentially damaged goods. It is a hard task to manage in a situation whereby the credo of the organisation is “we do not destroy any dogs” means that there is an ever increasing strain on budgets. The upshot of all of this is that you find yourself in a canine equivalent of a used car showroom but without the shiny cars, heating and cheap aftershave to keep you company.

It is a very functional environment whereby the dogs are well cared for, fed, kept warm, safe, dry and medically cared for but the Ritz Carlton it is not. The dogs are kept in pens with wire partitions and once one starts barking the rest join in for what seems to be the fun of it. The inhabitants of this canine community seem to recognise what is going on and pathetically struggle to out muscle, out do, and generally create as much interest in them as possible. Of course there is always the compete opposite, the really damaged ones who seem to have lost all interest in human contact remembering not too fondly the lack of humanity or brutality that led them to be here in the first place.

Interesting choice, I thought, feeling rather guilty at the fact that no matter what choice I made there were going to be at least forty or fifty of these frantic barking creatures that would be left here waiting for a better draw from the “lottery of fate” on another day.

I was very aware of the fact that the main driving force behind this choice was the fact that I had a seven year old son who was probably going to be the dogs main companion over the course of it’s life and therefore it would be an idea to find a dog that got on well with humans (not as easy as you think) and kids especially.

Yes, you got it; we ended up with a puppy, a cross between a Black Labrador and a Border collie (we think). It was one of those tragically funny situations when I looked at the paperwork and there it was in front of me, “Mother – Black Labrador, Father – unknown”. Apparently, the litter had been taken in before Christmas and though the mother was acquired at the same time and therefore known, the “likeliest suspect” for the Father apparently was a working dog at the nearest farm thereby giving rise to the “Border Collie, we think” routine.

As most dog owners will testify, despite feeling as if I had accomplished a great deal, it was only the beginning.

If you have a fish tank, then a fish tank pump is also a necessity. Finding the fish tank pump that is right for you can be difficult if you are not familiar with the industry. In most cases, when you buy a fish tank, you will also be given a fish tank pump. This makes things much easier, as you are ensured that everything will be compatible, and that you are setting everything up correctly. But if you are in the market for a new fish tank pump, or your aquarium did not come with one, you should seek out the advice of a professional. Professionals are at many of the popular pet stores and their knowledge is invaluable.

A fish tank pump is what gets air to your fish. Without a pump, there would be no air flow in your tank, making it uninhabitable for your fish. As you can see, a fish tank pump can be considered the life blood of your tank. If your pump stops working for any reason, you need to have it replaced as soon as possible. It is often good to have an extra fish tank pump on hand in case of emergencies. This way, if something happens, you will be able to swap them out quickly, keeping your fish in healthy, oxygenated water. Fish breath the air through the water and if your pump fails, the fish will not have any air to live on.

Finding a fish tank pump that works with your tank can be done by visiting your local pet store. They should have many options in stock, and will be able to provide you with a pump that will fit your current set up. Be sure to know the specifications of your tank, so that the pet store employee can point you in the right direction. Most fish tank air pumps are universal, but to make sure it fits it always helps to have as much information on hand as possible. Information such as the dimensions and capacity in gallons are needed in order to fit the pump to your fish tank.

Buying the right fish tank pump is very important. Without a pump, your fish would not be able to get the oxygen that they need. Always remember to check on your fish tank pump during your maintenance checks. Also periodically check the pump whenever you take time out to enjoy watching your fish.

Dog owners need not be surprised if your pet tends to be choosy when it comes to their dog toys. Usually, dogs get fussy about the craziest things, and toys are no exception. They must be the right size, shape, and style; and, above all, they must have the right feel. If the toy is wrong, it ends up gathering dust in the corner.

Chewing and nipping are just some of your pet dog’s inevitable addictions. They will not be content with merely sniffing things. Try giving them toys made of soft, plushy material. When they are gnawing on your personal items, you can be sure that soft and plushy are somehow involved. They will find things to get their mouths and teeth on almost anything in sight. In order to divert their attention from your personal belongings, handing them some plush dog toys will make their day less boring and ripping the toys apart will be so much fun.

Plush dog toys are cute and fluffy, and your puppies can carry them one place to another. They may come in varied sizes, shapes, and forms such as balls, bones, bears, and the like. These plush dog toys are commonly equipped with bells and other squeaky noisemakers. Although some dogs tend to get scared of the squeaky sound, others just love it. Once dogs hear bells jingling or squeaky sounds from their toys, they will all the more get curious as to where the sound is coming from, and they’ll chew it until they find out.

Many people when they first decide to get a dog do their dog search and then determine what dog breed best suits them. In your case the Greyhound dog. More often than not what comes next is thinking of dog names even before other important considerations. This can tell you how important a dog’s name is to a dog owner. But most people are not aware that the dog names that they choose can have a strong impact on their relationship with their pet and has implications to dog health in general.

Dog names that are harsh sounding can be stressful to your dog, particularly for the more sensitive breeds, which you’ve probably discovered is a trait of the sweet Greyhound dog. A name can be harsh sounding due either to the letters used in the name or the meaning of the name. For example if you say the name Asha as opposed to Buck you can feel the effect on yourself, imagine the effect it would have on a sensitive little Greyhound puppy or shy newly adopted dog. This can have implications when training your dog as well because positive reinforcement will always give you the best results and using a name that is inviting and pleasing to your dog is a form of positive reinforcement. Ultimately training using positive reinforcement will not be a stressful experience thus contributing to over all dog health.

The best way to pick dog names is to choose names that feel and sound pleasant to you and end in vowels so it ends softly. Even better is a name that starts with a vowel as well. Don’t worry if you want to get their attention, even a gentle sounding name will get the attention of your Greyhound dog when you mean business, the tone of your voice will speak volumes -so to speak. Various other dog health issues will be discussed throughout this web site see the menu for direction.

Gabriele’s website http://www.1st-greyhound-dog-care.com was created for the appreciation of this unique breed. Having been an owner for fifteen years has given her first hand knowledge and a special love for the sensitive and beautiful Greyhound dog.

The food debate

Cat foods have been used by Ferret owners for many years, but there’s a fair bit of debate about which food is best for ferrets, whether high-quality cat/kitten foods are good enough, and so on. The usual conclusion is that while foods designed for cats probably aren’t the best, many of the foods with ferret pictures on the bags weren’t designed for ferrets either — they were designed for mink or cats and maybe modified slightly, and priced twice as high. If you choose a food packaged for ferrets, check its label just as you would a cat food. Recommended quality Ferret specific diets include: Eight in One, Marshall, Sheppard & Greene, as well as Totally Ferret.

Many feel that Ferret specific foods are the best food, however these people also agree that cat/kitten foods are entirely sufficient, and that there’s not that much difference between them.

Kitten or cat food

Many people feed their ferret’s high-quality cat food, such as Iams, Science Diet, or ProPlan. High-quality food may cost a bit more than grocery store brands, but your pet will eat far less and be much healthier. Keep in mind also that an 8-pound bag of dry food can last two ferret’s a couple of months, so the cost of feeding them even high-quality food is not very great.

Because of their high protein requirements, you should feed ferrets three to four years old kitten or “growth” foods. Older ferrets may develop kidney problems if given too much protein, so they should be switched to adult cat formulas.

Soft cat food is not good for ferrets, because it generally contains much less protein than the dry kind and because it isn’t hard enough to rub plaque off their teeth which can lead to tooth decay. However, young kits and those recovering from illness or surgery may need their food moistened at your veterinarian or breeders request. Keep in mind that moistened food spoils much more quickly than the same food left dry, so dump out leftovers every day.

Additional Information

Dog food is NOT acceptable, as it lacks some nutrients ferrets (and cats) need. Among other things, ferrets and cats both need taurine, which is found naturally in poultry; many cat and ferret foods supplement it as well.

Variety and change

In general, feeding your pet a variety of foods, rather than just one brand, may be a good idea. Ferrets are known to be finicky eaters, and if the brand you’ve been using changes or is suddenly unavailable, you could run into problems. To switch from one brand to another, it’s best if you mix them gradually, which should aid in determining what other product(s) your pets will eat, as well as allow the time necessary to successfully complete the process. As your ferret reaches the “half & half” mark, you can slowly decrease and/or eliminate mixing of the two products.

Shih Tzu ear infections are also commonly called Otitis Externa. It is an infection of the outer ear canal. There are three parts to the ear; the outer, the middle, and the inner ear. Ninety percent of infections occur in the outer ear, the part of the ear that you can see.

Shih Tzu are prone to ear infections because of the anatomy of their ears. They have a horizontal and a vertical component to them, so it is hard for anything in there to drain out, like water or debris. They are also more prone to ear infections because of the long hair over their ears.

Signs of an ear infection include excessive head shaking, yellow to brown exudates in the ears, or a yeast like smell. Additional signs of ear infections include redness and swelling.

There are several causes of ear infections. The most common cause of ear infections are due to allergies. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others; therefore they get more ear infections. Some ear infections are due to ear mites. It is very important to keep the hair pulled out of a Shih Tzu’s ears.

Another common cause is sporting dogs that swim. They get water inside their ears, and provided their difficult anatomy; the water in the ears cannot drain out. Therefore, this provides the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow. It is recommenced that if you let your Shih Tzu play in the water you dry your dog’s ears thoroughly afterwards.

If your Shih Tzu does have an ear infection it is important to properly clean your dog’s ears before applying any medication.

To clean your Shih Tzu’s ears, start by placing a few drops of an ear cleanser into the ear and massage the ear to help loosen any debris that is in the ear. Then use a cloth or cotton gauze to whip the dirt out.

After your dog’s ears are thoroughly clean, then you can apply your medication. Follow your veterinarian’s advice about how much medication to apply to the ear, usually a few drops.

The treatment your veterinarian will prescribe will vary depending on the cause of the ear infection. For yeast infections they prescribe anti-fun gals, for bacterial infections they will prescribe antibiotics. Normally treatment is applied directly into the ears, but in severe cases systemic treatment may be needed. This usually means have to give your dog pills orally.

In some Shih Tzu with severe ear problems, the veterinarian will usually clip the hair around the ear to help let more air into the ear. In extreme cases your veterinarian may recommend surgery to reconstruct the ear canal to let it drain easier.

Breeds of dogs that are prone to ear infections include all breeds with large ears that flap over the ear canal, and breeds of dogs that have a very small canal. By knowing what to look for, you can detect ear infections early.

Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu puppies. Purchase online at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com Sign up for our newsletters.

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