Did you know that your young pup could actually be allergic to her puppy food? Since the symptoms are very similar (and we are not trained vets), many dog owners have a hard time distinguishing the difference between an allergic reaction to food, vs. one from some other source. Keep in mind that a food allergy can present itself over a long-term time frame, like months or years, or last a short while, for a few days. And they can occur at ANY age, so it is certainly not unheard of for your pup to develop allergies to the same puppy food he’s been eating for months or years. Unfortunately, the downfall of consuming the same chow can sometimes create allergens to built in you dog’s system prior to ever seeing any symptoms. Research has proven that if your young pup eats the same puppy food for over two years, and develops a reaction, there’s a 70 percent chance it came from her food!

As a responsible dog-owner, the first things that you should know are the symptoms manifested by your dog when he has food allergies.

* Development of Skin Problems The very first sign of a allergy is when you see your dog excessively scratch or lick himself. This means that his skin is itchy. You may also see him rub his face on the floor, carpets, and other inanimate objects just to relieve his discomfort. Excessive scratching, and even biting, can lead to skin being even more irritated (red patches, scaly skin). Your puppy may even suffer from hair loss.

* One more sign is trouble digesting food. Frequent flatulence, abnormally runny excrement, and vomiting are common symptoms that often accompany a food allergy.

* Breathing problems is another. Your pup may have trouble breathing (a common allergic reaction). He may begin to sneeze, cough, or wheeze more often.

Now, let’s explore some things you can do to help prevent / treat these reactions.

* Elimination Diet – This simply means that you need to stop giving him all the food that your puppy is on now. The idea is to gradually introduce the old ingredients from his previous diet gradually or one ingredient at a time. This will allow you to know when you dog is having an allergic reaction, and narrow down which ingredient is the cause. This way, you will know the specific food item/ingredient that needs to be eliminated. Do this program for 12 weeks, under the supervision of a qualified veterinarian.

* Introduce puppy food with hypo-allergenic ingredients such as the following: lamb, rice, duck, potato, vegetables – natural whole foods.

* Hyposensitization/Desensitization Desensitization is a process that helps your dog develop resistance against common food allergens by injecting him with a minute quantity of allergen at a regular basis. Through which, he will develop antibodies that will combat allergic reactions.

* Antihistamine These are medications that are used to treat allergies, both in animals and humans. Ask your doctor for help regarding the proper use of antihistamines on your dogs.

* Blood and skin testing is also available. Veterinarians specializing in animal dermatology can perform these tests. Research shows a very high rate of accuracy with these tests in pinpointing specific allergies, thereby eliminating any doubt as to which puppy food ingredients to remove from your pup’s diet.

If you’ve just picked up your family’s new furry addition and want to find out the right way to care for your puppy, then check out Puppy Pet Supplies for helpful tips and advice on puppy training, and so much more! Plus, discover how to potty train your puppy effectively and quickly!

A new puppy brings to mind lots of wrestling, romping, and playing with an energetic ball of fur. It also makes people think of chewing, jumping, and little messes about the house that need to be cleaned up. Training a puppy takes time and lots of patience. Being repetitious in your actions and reinforcing good behavior is going to be the quickest way to teach this little guy the proper way to behave. The puppy training tips listed below should help you get started.

Housebreaking: Using a crate is the most desired way to start with housebreaking a puppy, since it’s easier to keep track of his whereabouts when he’s in the crate. This should be an area filled with toys and a comfortable bed for him to nap on. Try taking him outside every hour to relieve himself, until you know how long his breaks are between bathroom needs. It’s a good idea to give him a break from the kennel every couple of hours, just to have a chance to romp around the house. The crate method is great for the evenings too, since puppies will usually whine when they need to go to the bathroom in the night when they are crated.

The other method of housebreaking is by simply monitoring the puppy’s whereabouts all day long. This works for people who are able to do so consistently. Not everyone can do this all day long.

People who use this method watch for signs of bathroom searching and immediately take the pup outside. As soon as his nose goes to the ground, you might only have a few seconds before he starts to leave a puddle.

Once you figure out his bathroom pattern, then you can adjust the amount of time in the kennel. It’s a good idea to let him out every two hours or so to play, even if he doesn’t need to use the bathroom. Dogs usually won’t make a mess where they sleep, so be prepared for some whining in the night when he needs to relieve himself.

Chewing: Problem chewing can be solved by having plenty of chew toys available for your new puppy. Sometimes sore gums is an issue and is why chewing starts. Having a clean sock in the freezer that is filled with some crushed ice is a great treat for soothing sore gums.

You will need to replace this item with a toy of his own, so he knows that chewing is okay, but only on his toys. For new puppy teeth, having a clean sock with crushed ice in it is a great chew toy. This can be kept in the freezer when not in use and provided when there seems to be an excessive amount of chewing going on.

The key to having these puppy training tips be successful is by being consistent with each process. Getting frustrated and giving up will only confuse your puppy. There is a lot of work involved in the beginning with letting him know what all the rules are, but once he has them down, he will be a very well-behaved little pup.

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It takes more than a few stacks of newspaper to house train a puppy. Patience, commitment, paying attention and consistency are needed.

A guide for training your puppy is listed below. Remember that accidents will happen even if you have a full grown dog.

To house train your puppy faster, be consistent. Training can last for several weeks or more so be patient.

Create a routine.

As with babies, puppies learn faster with normal schedules. This helps the puppy learn that there is a time for going to the bathroom, playing and eating.

Normally, a puppy is able to control their bladder one hour for every month of age. If your puppy is three months old, he can hold it for about three hours. Make sure to schedule the bathroom breaks accordingly or an accident will probably happen. A dog walker may need to be hired if you work outside of the home so your puppy will have his bathroom breaks.

Your puppy should be taken outside after or during playing, after he eats or drinks and as soon as he gets up. Find a spot outside that will be the designated bathroom area. Use a leash and take him to that area. Using phrases or words like go potty while he is using the bathroom will teach him that this means go to the bathroom.

Rewards are one way to teach your puppy. When he has finished using the bathroom praise him or give him a treat before he goes back into the house.

On average, puppies eat approximately three to four times per day. Feed your puppy at the same time to help develop a regular feeding schedule and bathroom schedule.

To keep your puppy from needing to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, put his dishes up about two hours before bedtime. If he does wake up in the middle of the night, stay calm, so he won’t think it is time to play. Don’t turn on a lot of lights or play with him. Take him outside and then go back to bed.

Supervise.

Keep an eye on your puppy when he is inside so he will not soil in the house.

Keep him by you by using a leash, that is at least six feet long, when you are not playing with him or training him. If your puppy begins to bark, scratch at the door, circle, sniff or become restless, take him outside instantly. He may need to use the bathroom. Once he is done, give him a treat or praise to reward him.

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Dogs are a lot like human beings. They love to interact with just about anyone. You would actually be quite amazed at the way they take to different animals, such as other dogs, or even reptilian creatures. Of course this isn’t the same for all dogs. You will find that some dogs are very hostile, even to their own species. It’s strange, but it is quite factual. Like people, all dogs are different.

When you love animals, you can appreciate the value in having more than one puppy or dog as a pet, regardless of their type of breed. When you have more than one dog in the house, it can be somewhat difficult to keep a clean house. Canine territorial conflict is not pretty and can destroy a house as well as stress you out. Take the instance of walking your dog at night and a rival dog wanders by your property. It may not be as simple as merely strolling back into the house.

There are ways to remedy this. Your dog needs to be taught social behavior as soon as humanly possible. They’re like children, and as children, their minds are more susceptible to learning. You remember how easily you accepted things when you were a child, right? They have not established the line between a friend and an enemy; they’re just trying to learn, and you need to take advantage of that.

Take the time to introduce your puppy to other dogs, if you only plan to keep one dog as a pet. You can teach the dog that not all dogs are the enemy. In order for it to become used to being touched, you should touch and pet the puppy. Doing so reduces the chance of the dog biting as well as creates a friendlier dog.

Make sure you have and keep a tight grip on the leash, when you introduce your dog to other dogs, at least until you are positive that they will not fight one another. It may seem controlling, however, it is your job to teach the puppy right from wrong as well as keep it safe from harm.

Puppies enjoy jumping, shoving and biting, it is part of their play; however, you can teach them not to do so. They will do this while playing with one another, just ensure they are not really hurting one another. It can be terribly annoying to try to watch television, while your puppy or dog is jumping on you continually, whether it is a lap dog or not.

Barking is a part of the nature of a dog or puppy. However, it can be nerve racking when a dog continually barks. Teach the dog not to bark continually by distracting it with a doggie treat. Keep trying even if it does not work the first few times, the dog will learn to stop barking, if you only give it a treat while it is being quiet. Using this method repeatedly will help you teach your dog to bark only when necessary.

Train a puppy or dog to be quiet by placing the animal on its back and then yell into his or her face. It does not look so pleasing to others; however, it is a good working method many professional dog trainers use to train a puppy or dog to be quiet. This method works well with rescue animals as well to help teach him or her to be quiet.

Take the time to train a puppy early. Doing so will make a much better pet of your dog or puppy. You will be able to enjoy your pet for years to come if you remember to do these things while dog training.

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