Archive for February, 2010

Having a dog entails more than just feeding and walking him. Dog owners should adhere to a grooming regimen to help keep their pet healthy and happy. Regular grooming at home and with a professional groomer is an important factor in the healthy life of any dog. Your kit should include brushes, combs, nail trimmers, pet shears, a pet trimmer or dog clipper, quality shampoo and conditioner specifically for your pet.

Right now, we will take a look at the dog clipper specifically. There are numerous products to select from, in a wide price range. As a professional groomer, I can tell you that the lower priced clippers will only lead to disappointment in the short term. A number of well-known manufacturers, such as Oster, Andis and Wahl, create a good quality product that will last much longer, at a mid-range price. Remember to just use groomers that are created specifically for use on dogs.

Caring for your pet’s coat can be an overwhelming chore. If you need help with how to properly trim, brush or clean your pet’s coat, consult a professional groomer or your veterinarian. Many groomers will be glad to show you how to properly do this, if they have some time, or between other clients. Doing a bit of regular home grooming will make the overall grooming process – including trips to the professional groomer – much easier.

A FEW THINGS TO TRY TO REMEMBER WHEN SEARCHING FOR A PET GROOMER * A price tag that suits you * Manufacturer – pet industry leaders * Variable speed options * High RPM’s which will result in a clean cut * How much the trimmer weighs * What options are available for the blades and what does the manufacture have in terms of interchangeable blades * Whether you prefer battery or electrically operated groomers

A pet groomer ought to be of superior quality, lightweight and fairly noiseless. The right handling of the pet groomer will give a smooth trim and a calming experience for your pet. Should you require assistance in how to manage the dog trimmer on your pet, ask your groomer for a short instructional appointment. We would preferably help you maintain your pet’s coat than for you wait too long and have to have your pet’s coat completely removed.

Invest in a high-quality pet trimmer that will last a long time and make the task much easier.

Learn more about dog clippers. Stop by Babette Woodhouse’s site where you can find out all about professional dog clippers and what it can do for you.

We love dogs for a reason. Having a loyal friend and playmate that will love you forever and never run out of energy? Perfect. Getting close to a dog is harder for some people than others, however. Certain dog allergies can rear their ugly heads and cause unexpected problems. A significant minority of the population suffers from dog and pet allergies. Some are even forced to find a new home for their dog because of intensified allergies. This wouldn’t be the most desired solution, of course, and it can be heartbreaking. Fortunately, there are other ways.

Allergens from Dogs find their origins proteins from three sources; Dander (shed skin cells,) saliva, and urine. Allergic reactions in people to these causes usually happen if they have over active immune systems. Notice that hair is not in the list. A well-known myth is that hairless dogs will not cause reactions. While they do produce far less allergens, in the case of shedding skin cells, you can’t really stop a dog from slobbering and going to the bathroom. Typically symptoms are normal allergy symptoms that everyone is used to, such as itchy eyes, a runny nose, shortness of breath, red itchy skin or a rash. While these can be annoying, there are many ways to mitigate them to make them less problematic.

A clean home is the best defense against dog allergies and allergens. Vacuuming every week or so, buy furniture that doesn’t absorb allergens, avoiding clutter, and running air purifiers will reduce the amount of dander floating around in your house. Bathing your dog will also flush out anything festering in the fur. Just remember to also wash your dog’s bedding as well, or else that bath won’t do any good.

Or you can go the easy route and buy some products specifically made to reduce allergens. Allerpet D is a shampoo that helps keep the skin on the dog without drying it out too much. Lowering the chance of dog allergies is as easy as adopting good habits and behaviors!

Of course, if the allergies are too bad, consulting with a professional may be your best bet. Some strong medication is out there, both prescription and over the counter, that can mitigate the runny noses and itchy eyes. For extreme cases, you can get allergy shots, which are a good idea if you have bad allergies in general. Kicking your dog to the curb should be a last resort.

Visit the Hypoallergenic Dog Food Guide for more info on allergies that can occur within dogs.

Do you have to put your dog away when visitors come to your house in the fear of your dog jumping on someone? Do you get greeted at the door with sharp paws and a slobbery wet kiss everyday after a long day at work? No matter how ofter you scold or punish your dog, does he keep jumping up on you and others when you walk though the door? A dog jumping up on you and your visitors is a very common problem and one that can be eliminated rather quickly if you know what to do.

Unintentionally you may have encourage this behavior for the start. You see when a new puppy comes into our lives they are cute and cuddly, they meet us with excitement and come running. And what is our natural reaction to this? Well, we bend down and pet them or pick them up.

You have just taught your puppy a very important lesson, “when I jump up on my owners leg he/she gives me love!” Fast foreword a few months and now that once small little puppy is 3, 4, maybe 5 times the size he once was. He doesn’t understand the difference, he just wants the love that he knows how to get by jumping on you.

Before we move on to how to stop dogs jumping on you, let me make it clear that there are two main reasons why a dog may jump on you.

Most often dogs jump out of extreme excitement. Such as, seeing you after a long absents (coming home from work) or during high energy playtime.

The second and much more serious reason why some dogs jump on people is to show dominance. Dominance issues are a more complicated problem of communication and attitude. Dominance, If let unchecked for too long could really be difficult to over come. If you feel that you may be dealing with a dog that is jumping on people to display dominance, I suggest that you brush up on your alpha dog skills.

Your success in stop dog jumping will depend greatly on how you react to this problem. You must make a committed effort as with any dog training to be consistent. You have to make it clear to your dog that jumping on people is no longer allowed what so ever.

What this means is you are going to fallow though with the same training all the time every day until he masters this new behavior. You can’t expect your dog to know the difference between nice cloths and play cloths, muddy paws and clean paws or play time and greeting time. If you let him jump in one situation he will think it’s ok to jump when ever he feels like it.

Most professional trainers agree that the most effective way is also the easiest way to stop unwanted behavior (such as jumping) in your dog is to ignore him whenever he jumps. No need to yell or correct, although that is usually the first thing that comes to mind when your dog just ruined another pair of nylons or scratch one of your children. You must ignore the bad behavior.

When your dog goes to jump on you, turn your back on him right away. Dogs understand body language much more than the spoken word. So, what you need to do here is use your posture to get your message though loud and clear. As soon as he gets his paws are back on the ground, reward him with praise. If he gets excited again and goes to jump, turn your back, head and eyes away from him (the cold shoulder). You can repeat this cycle several times in a matter of seconds. Don’t concern yourself with confusing your dog because they can only comprehend your reaction to their given behavior at that moment. Continue this training technique for the next several days and soon your dog will stop jumping on you.

Like people, dogs have personalities and every dog has a different personality. Training a dog can be a challenging and frustrating experience. It doesn’t have to be. If your having trouble with potty training, chewing, digging, leash training or any number of problems. I can help! The animal control facilities are full of misunderstood pets. Before you give up please use every resource possible. Most likely I have a tip or method to help you. If I haven’t covered your problem in one of my articles than I know some how has. Take a look at correcting dog behavior problems over at Ez Dog Training At Home to get started.

If you are trying to find the right dog training book, you might feel like your head is spinning around because of all the options available to you. Some books are simply rehashed material that has been said time and time again while other books genuinely have good quality information for you.

One of the best places to find a dog training book is by looking online. E-books contain the most up-to-date information because they are so easy to edit. Physical books can go out of date quickly, so finding an online e-book can provide you with instant information that you’re looking for.

Before choosing a dog training method, it is important to consider the type of breed you are trying to train. Dog breeds have specific characteristics that are ingrained in them due to their genetic heritage. Therefore, it is advisable to find a dog training book that is specific to the breed you are working with.

For instance, Jack Russell terriers were trained and bred to chase foxes which means that their noses often overpower their brains. The same can be said for beagles. For these reasons, training these kinds of dogs can be particularly frustrating if you don’t have a set game plan.

Before you purchase any kind of a dog training book, you want to first be sure that you have read over the material and know whether or not you will be comfortable with the training style being suggested. It is important that you can follow through with the training methods in the book.

You also want to know that the author of the book has specific experience in training dogs. You don’t want someone who simply put a bunch of material together but doesn’t really know what they’re doing.
If possible, look into the background of the person who wrote the book to make sure that they have the right kind of training.

Finally, never purchase a dog training book that talks about punishing a dog using physical methods. Punishing a dog is quite different than disciplining the dog. Punishment can harm the relationship between the owner and the dog. You can find the right dog training book by spending some time doing a little bit of research.

Looking to find the best deal on dog products, then visit www.trainingfordogs101.com to find the best advice on dog training basics for you.