Archive for the ‘Pets’ Category

How To Teach Your Dog To Cross Their Paws

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

The very simplest of cool tricks to teach your pup how to do is to cross their paws. It is very easy and adorable especially for miniature, toy, and small dogs. You can teach your dog this sophisticated and cute trick by following these simple instructions. Start the exercise with your dog in the down position (of course he should already be trained to do so before attempting the ‘cross paws’ trick)

Now you can very easily have your dog give them your paw practically any time you like. If your dog doesn’t seem to react to the command, then you can simply reach and grab one of his paws and place it in your hand. You should be sure to click once and give your dog a nice training treat as a reward. It is also very important that your dog be in the down position while performing this trick.

One great tip is that if your dog still does not seem to understand you, then place the treat in your hand a few inches away from the paw you want to shake with. And before long your dog will almost instantly move his paw to the treat in your hand.

Continue having your dog offer his paw, but be sure to concentrate only on one paw at a time and do so repetitively with a click and a treat. When your dog has reached the stage where you can rely on him to target your hand with one of his paws, slowly move your hand closer to your dog’s other front paw. Now in order to offer you is paw, he must lift it up and move over sideways in order to reach your hand.

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What may happen is that he may choose to lift the opposite paw instead of continuing with the trained paw. Each time this happens, all you have to do is pull away your hand and simply ignore this response from your dog.

When your dog can target your hand as it has moved to the opposite side, near his other paw, quickly snap your hand back at the last second. His moved paw should now land right over the other paw and in a crossed-paw fashion. Be sure to click and offer a treat.
Finally,continue repeating this training regimen and each time his paw crosses over, slowly fade your hand away so it is further from the dog. Eventually, your dog will automatically cross his paws when he sees your hand signal, and at increasingly longer distances away from you.

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The Joy Of Holiday Travel With Your Pets

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

One of the rewarding parts of having a pet is being able to travel with them. However, let’s be honest. At times pets can be a hassle, and sometimes it’s relaxing to have some time away from them. Furthermore, think of it from your pet’s vantage point. Traveling is stressful for animals. Comfortable travel is usually limited to smaller pets, and even then it can be a terrifying event in a pet’s life.

If you love traveling with your pet, then you need to know how to find pet friendly hotels. Many tourists who wish to bring their pets along for a long holiday may have dilemma in terms of which hotel or vacation rental offers pet-friendly services. Pet friendly hotels do exist. In fact, they are not as hard to find as you may think. Even a few of the well-known hotel chains allow guests to bring their pets.

In order to find out whether the hotel you are considering allows dogs, cats or other pets, the simplest thing to do is call and ask. If you travel often, having a list of some of your favorites that you have previously visited will help you plan your travel in the future. As you stay at various hotels with your dog, make note of whether or not you would like to stay there again. Pretty soon, you will know just where to go when you are on the road with your pet.

In many large cities, there are lots of pet-friendly hotels available which offer full services for their guests to make their holidays more pleasurable. Obviously not everyone likes pets and if the owner of a hotel you book is one of these people then you’re going to be sorely disappointed if they turn you away because they don’t allow pets. All is not lost though as there is a niche hotel market for pet-friendly Bed and Breakfasts. These hotels accommodate pets either in the guest’s rooms or have specific areas for your pet to stay at. Furthermore, there are some holiday rental cottages that will accommodate your pets with the added bonus of having your own living space for your pet to enjoy.

Some hotels which allow guests with pets under their special terms and conditions. They have a tendency to charge additional fees to compensate them for daily maintenance and other pet insurance related problems like treatment against fleas, possible destruction, and losses incurred by pets. Loews Hotel limits the number of allowed pets to two per room to guarantee the comfort of all their guests. Loews Hotel is an extremely pet-friendly hotel and has a well- trained staff in terms of pet care. If you find a hotel which will allow pets in your room, you will likely be asked to sign a pet policy. This will tell you exactly what the rules are for keeping your pet at the hotel. Hotels generally require pets to remain attended in the room unless being taken outside on a leash for a walk. Hotels may amend their pet policies to avoid difficulties, so always call the hotel to make sure they know you will be bringing your pet.

I always make it a point to think of the comfort of my dog wherever we go, bringing things such as homemade dog treats. I guess it’s like kids - if they are not comfortable they will not be happy; and neither will you. Take a minute the next time you’re watching Entertainment Tonight or Hollywood extra and see how they treat their pets. It’s almost as if they are little children needing their parents to go with them everywhere.

How To Tell If Your Dog Is Pregnant.

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Unsure if your pet is pregnant? Of course the easiest thing to do is to take your dog to the Veterinarian. The veterinarians have a few options available to them to determine if your pet is pregnant. Ultrasound is the most reliable since the doctor can actually see if there are any puppies. Depending on how far along, the vet may be able to feel the dog’s uterus to determine pregnancy. This is not something pet owners should try because you do not want to damage any puppies. The other thing the vet might try is a blood test. Or your doctor might decide to do an x-ray on the animal. One big advantage about talking the dog to the vet is that he may be able to give you a better idea about when the puppies will be born.

Is My Dog Pregnant - Some indicators.

There are signs that a pet owner can watch that are good early detection signs that your dog is pregnant. Many dogs lose their appetite during the first few weeks. They may sleep a lot more during this time. Another good indication is swollen nipples. A dog that is not pregnant will normally have small flat nipples. A pregnant dog’s nipples will start to swell. You might also see that there is a color change.

Some dogs will even display behaviour changes. They may want to be left alone. This is normal. Try not to be concerned. Or your dog might become overly affectionate. They might want to be with you all the time.
Once you have determined that your dog is pregnant a trip to the vet is recommended. They can offer advice about diet and address any pre-natal treatments that your dog may require.

Now all you can do is wait. If you are wondering how long are dogs pregnant - the normal length of pregnancy is between 54 and 72 days depending on the breed. Congratulations, you are having puppies.

Dog Training Treats Bring Positive Results

Friday, December 12th, 2008

Every dog owner wants a dog that is obedient. When House Breaking a Dog the owner wants to instil habits  that become automatic and long lasting. Dog training treats are known as useful tools for training dogs.   Treats can be helpful when a dog is just a puppy and starting to learn to go outside and relieve himself.  Most dog owners realize that a dog does not  always learn this habit on it’s own. Dog treats can hasten and reinforce the learning of this desired behavior.

Dog training treats can also be used to help dogs learn many other appropriate behaviors. Dogs bark, but they should not be barking at inappropriate stimuli. It is appropriate to bark at an intruder, but not to bark because they do not approve of the rearrangement of furnishings.  They should not bark when a stranger enters if it is in the presence of a human who does not display any fear toward the stranger. Treats can be used as a reinforcement when a dog chooses the response the owner wants.

Some Dog Training Treats Are Better Than Others

Pet food and dog training treats are good income generators for the companies that produce them so these companies work hard to compete with their rivals. There are some excellent and effective dog training treats available. These dog training treats are usually something like cubes of beef that many dogs yearn for as a snack. Other dog treats are made from chicken, turkey and rice. Some companies are intent on producing dog treats that are free from preservatives and fresh on the shelves. These are the products you should look for. You can visit their websites or usually find a toll free phone number somewhere on their packaging to call if you have particular questions about what you’re feeding your pet.

Dogs need positive reinforcement. Although many dogs respond to a nice pat as a sign of approval many more respond even better to good dog treats.  Read labels and choose healthy treats to avoid Dog Diseases.   Treats should be used appropriately, according to many skilled dog trainers,  because the training process could be undermined if treats are not provided in an appropriate time after the dog has responded properly to a command. Dog treats should be used for initial phases of training. They need to be consistently used as intermitant rewards can be confusing.  Treats can train for both visual and verbal commands.