Aug 302008

For many dogs, thunder and lightning can be incredibly frightening. If ignored, these fears are not likely to improve but only get worst. Therefore, it is important that you acknowledge them and try to help your dog deal with them as best as you can.

Many times, when a dog is frightened by thunder or other loud noises, their first instinct is to run away from it. Sometimes this can be OK. However, other times this can be dangerous. They may run into a car or into another dangerous place. That is where you, as the owner, needs to step in and try to help them deal with their fear in a much more safe manner. You'll want to pay close attention to your dog and see how they react when loud thunder or other sounds bother them. If they tend to jump into your bed or hide under the porch, make sure that they have access to those places so that they are able to run somewhere safe when they do get scared. Even out when you are t home, encourage them to go to those places, so when you are not there, they know where to go.

Another thing that you can do to help is try to provide a distraction when the loud noises occur. You will want to do this when you first notice your dog is beginning to panic or act distressed. Participate in an activity with them that you know he or she enjoys and that will take their mind off of the loud noises. If they like to play with a ball or if they have a favorite toy, make sure you reward them for interacting with you during this time with either praise or treats.

Aug 282008

The first thing that you want to do is to record when your dog first becomes pregnant. You can expect for your dog to give birth around two months later, or 60 days. Be sure that you make arrangements to be at home during this, and are prepared for the birth. Avoid giving your dog foods out with a lot of extra calcium while they are pregnant. This is especially true during the last week to two weeks of their pregnancy. Do not give them any type of calcium supplement. They will need some calcium, you just do not want to provide them with too much. While your dog is in labor and after the puppies are born, you may then give them extra calcium.

The first week that you determine that your dog is pregnant, you may have noticed some sort of morning sickness in your dog. They may also act differently. Watch them carefully for infection. You may want to make an appointment with your veterinarian so that they can examine her. Keep feeding your pet good, healthy dog food and provide any additives that you deem necessary. Your dog will still need to get plenty of exercise. Being in good shape will help them during labor and while they are caring for their puppies. You want to be careful about administering any medications. Talk to your vet first to make sure that any medicine that you give them will be safe. If you are worried about worms, again, speak to your vet, because there are medications that can be given even while your dog is pregnant. You will want to avoid giving them anything for insects or fleas and live vaccinations are also off limits.

Aug 262008

There may be certain instances when you have to re-train an older dog. This may occur when you have gotten your dog from a shelter. Many times, when dogs are placed in shelters, either they were abused or a family could no longer take care of them and so while they may have been initially trained, being in the shelter may not have given them an opportunity to use what they had already learned. This will require you to be a little patient and to be willing to take the time to train them again. In many cases, it is important to start from scratch. If your dog has already been trained, this should speed up his or her re-training. However, if they have never been trained, count on the process to take a little more time.

The first thing that you will want to do is to establish a routine. Make sure that you take your pet out at around the same time each day. Therefore, if you start by taking him out in the evenings after work make sure this is something that you do on a regular basis. When your dog does something correct like urinates and defecates outside where he or she is supposed to, make sure that you really give them a lot of praise and treats. Make sure that you do so right after they have gone to the bathroom, so that they understand what they're being praised for.

Aug 242008

A dog can be a really great traveling companion. They will listen to all of your jokes and banter without complaining. They won’t argue with you about which way to go or force you to ask for directions. However, unless your dog is properly trained to ride in your vehicle with you, it can make for an annoying ride or one that is even dangerous for you and your dog. Your dog needs to be either properly trained to ride in the car or either restrained.

To start off, it is best to take your dog on short trips where you do not need to get out of your car. For example, taking your dog with you to McDonald's or to a fast food restaurant where you can use the drive through, is a good way of to get started and to get the dog acclimated to riding in a car. This will give your dog some exposure to riding in the car with you without having to get out or without you leaving them in the car by themselves.

If your dog is not yet trained, you want to make sure that your dog is in their crate or is strapped in using a pet harness, which is generally anchored into a seatbelt. After you have broken in your dog a little bit with shorter trips, it is OK to start taking them on longer ones. However, you will need to ensure that you are properly prepared. Pack a bag for them that will include treats, water and food. You also may want to bring some toys, any medication that they need or any other necessary products. Make sure that if the trip is especially long, that you stop and take some breaks so that your dog can get out, go to the bathroom, drink some water and stretch their legs a bit.

Aug 222008

Male dogs can begin developing sperm as young as seven months. However, most of them will develop it between ten months and one year. Stud dogs are generally at their best, in terms of sperm production and mating at between 1 1/2 and 4 years. After about four years, there will be a noticeable decrease in the quality of a dog’s sperm. After male dogs turn nine years old, their sperm is really of poor quality. In this article we will talk about a dog breeding tie. This is part of the process of breeding male and female dogs. It occurs when the male’s penis swells and gets stuck inside of the female dog’s vagina. Both of the dogs will be locked together for a period of two to thirty minutes. The male dog will ejaculate into the female dog during this time. Many breeders use this method of mating.

When the dogs lock, generally they will turn so that their butts will be facing each other. They will be essentially “tied” or stuck together. During this time, it is important for the owner or breeder to not do anything to try to break them apart. This is part of the process and trying to stop it may cause harm to the male dog.

In some cases, the female dog may get antsy or nervous and may try to get untied. During this time, she can hurt the male dog so make sure that ties are only done under supervision when you can help it. A male dog’s penis can potentially be hurt if the female dog gets scared and either tries to get away or swing the male dog around. If the female dog gets panicky or upset, just make sure that you do what you can to calm her but don't try to pull them apart.

Aug 032008

The first thing that you need to know is that each breed of dog is different in its determination of senior years. A lot of your smaller breeds tend to be around 10 years old or so when they are considered seniors. This changes up a lot so do your research on the breed of dog you currently own so that you can know roughly when to expect these changes to take place. Bigger dogs are usually considered seniors at five years of age.

If you can't find any information concerning the aging of your particular dog's breed you should call up your local vet and ask him or her if they can tell you that information. If the vet tells you your dog falls into this category you need to make sure you pay close attention to how your dog behaves and how he moves. Older dogs like this get sick a lot more often than younger dogs so don't be surprised if your trips to the vet seem to increase. You may start to see your dog start moving a lot slower than he used to, which is a definite indication he is officially a senior dog.

One important aspect of caring for an older dog is his diet. As your dog ages you will need to change up the type of food he eats in order to make sure he is getting all the vitamins, nutrients, and protein he needs to be strong and healthy. Buying food that is specifically designed for older dog is a must. This food will not only give your dog nutrients but will also help your dog to maintain the correct weight.

Something most people tend to neglect is taking their senior dog out for some good healthy exercise. Just because your dog is getting older doesn't mean he's dead! Your dog still wants to play and have fun with you so feel free to take your dog out for a walk and play with him or her. They will enjoy it and it will help keep them healthy and in shape.