How to Stop Your Dog from Hunting Small Animals

Most dogs, from puppies on up, are going to want to chase small animals like squirrels, bunnies, chipmunks, chickens and even cats.

This is not a behavioral problem as some pet owners might believe. 

It’s what’s known as your dog’s prey drive and it’s instinct. They’re born with it. However, that doesn’t mean that it can’t be stopped. Your dog can learn to control his prey drive with some lessons.

➤ Start Early-Train Your Dog.
You have to start early training your dog to control himself and you must correct the behavior every time he begins a chase.
Understand that when your dog is listening to his prey drive, he’s tuning you out - and that’s only because the drive is strong and natural.

Puppies are easier to distract from their prey drive. The minute they go after prey, immediately step in and stop them. If your dog is small enough, you can easily just pick him up and with a stern no, interrupt his action.

➤ It Will Be Harder With Senior Dogs.
If your dog is an adult or senior dog, it can be a little harder to teach him to stop hunting small animals, but it can be done. You just have to constantly reinforce that his behavior won’t be accepted.

If he’s reached adulthood and has never been trained to stop hunting, then until he is, it’s best that when he’s out, you walk him on a leash.

He’ll still pull forward, wanting to chase the animal, but again, this is instinct and not a sign of a dog that’s out of control or one who won’t listen.

A dog sees a small animal from a distance and usually has a better ability to remain where he is. However, the second he catches a whiff of the dog, he may lunge to chase it.

➤ Dogs Can Smell Other Animals.
Just like most animals, dogs can smell the small animal. So what you have to do is get another scent between the smell of the other animal and your dog’s sensitive nose.

When he’s taken off to chase an animal or he’s lunged forward in that attempt, you can use the treat method to reinforce positive, obedient behavior or you can use the aversion method.

The aversion method usually works best with puppies. To use this, when your puppy starts off running after prey, you vigorously shake a handful of pennies that are in a tin can.

➤ Using Treats Help.
The noise is loud and startling and gets the puppy’s attention. For all dogs, using the treat method is pretty effective as well. You keep dog treats on hand when you’re out with him and tuck one in your hand.




When he’s focused on the area where the animal went and he’s sniffing around, he’s trying to pick up that scent. Keeping the treat out of sight in your hand, briefly bring your hand close to his nose and tell the dog to come.

He’ll pick up the scent of the treat instead. From the time that your dog is a puppy, train him using distraction methods to teach him to stay focused on you and your commands regardless of what’s going on around him.

5 Puppy Training Mistakes That You Can Make

Puppy training can be a challenging undertaking. It takes time, effort and patience to have a dog that is attentive, obedient and wants to please you.

A dog that is well-trained will not bark incessantly or get out of control when strangers or other dogs approach it.

It all starts when they’re puppies. 

If you train them right when they’re young, they’ll grow up into good dogs that you can be proud of.

Many people do their best to train their dogs but often, it takes them longer than they predict and their dogs’ behavior is inconsistent at best.

This is often due to mistakes that are made during the training phase.

Let us look at 5 common mistakes that many ‘puppy parents’ make when training their puppy and how you can avoid them.

➤ 1. Failure to Encourage Your Dog.
Encouraging your dog is very important and makes it want to please you even more.

When your puppy does something right, lavish it with love, attention and verbal encouragement. Do maintain calmness while encouraging your puppy.

Some owners get overexcited and hug and roll around with their puppy as they squeal with joy. This will just overexcite the puppy and cause it to lose concentration.

Encourage your puppy sincerely and calmly. It needs to know that you’re pleased with its actions.



➤ 2. Inconsistency In Your Puppy Training.
The training needs to be consistent and should be done daily.

At most, you want to train your dog for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time. You could train them twice or thrice a day but keep the sessions short so that your dog doesn’t get tired or distracted.

Quality of training is more important than quantity.

The words you use should also be consistent. If you’re training it to sit, always use the command “Sit!” Do not use different words like “Down, boy!” or “Play dead!” or other terms to get the same desired action. Your puppy will only get confused and not know what you want.

➤ 3. Tone of Your Voice When Training.
You need to have a firm and authoritative voice.

The goal here is to have a commanding presence without appearing angry or irritable. You should not shout at your puppy. Being firm and enthusiastic will do the job.

If your dog does not obey your commands initially, be patient.

➤ 4. Repeating Your Cues Unnecessarily.
When you give your puppy a cue, ideally, it should obey the cue immediately.

If you toss a toy and say “Fetch!” your puppy should run and fetch it. If it looks at you lazily and lies on its back expecting a belly rub, do not repeatedly say, “Fetch! Fetch!! FETCH!!!” That’s not going to work.

By repeating cues over and over agin, you’re conditioning the dog to tune you out. The puppy needs to take your cues and commands seriously and not ignore you. So, only give a cue once.

➤ 5. Poor Leash Handling.
You should never drag or pull your pup around on a leash. You shouldn’t let the puppy walk in front of you either when you’re taking it out for a walk.

The puppy should always walk by your side. When you stop, your puppy stops.

If the puppy is always ahead of you leading the way, it’s following a pack mentality and considers itself to be the alpha dog.

It’s not going to obey you over time because you’ve made it think that it’s the boss. If it tries to pull you around, do not move.

Stand fixed till your puppy comes back to you.

At the other end of the spectrum, do not drag your puppy around if it is not following you. Learn proper leash handling. Practice at home with a leash so that the puppy follows you for a few steps.

Gradually increase the distance till it is comfortable walking by your side.

Keep these 5 tips in mind and you’ll have a puppy that’s more obedient and your life will be much easier too since it will learn new tricks and cues faster.

"The animal is NEVER wrong. You get what you reinforce. All behavior has function, including undesirable behavior. The question is NOT 'Why is the animal behaving this way?' but rather, `What is reinforcing this behavior?' —Susan Friedman, PhD

What's the Best Way To Trim Your Dog's Nails?

A major aspect of grooming your dogs is keeping their nails at an appropriate length. Here are some tips on how to safely trim your dog's nails.

There are a number of things that can go wrong if you let your dog’s nails grow too long.

➤ First, your dog won’t be able to walk or run properly.

Imagine trying to walk around with your toes curled under your feet. When the dogs can’t walk properly, it puts a lot of unnecessary strain on their muscles and their spine.

➤ Can Become Ingrown Nails.
 
If the nails grow too long, they can become ingrown, and those ingrown nails are prone to infection and cause your dog a lot of pain.

➤ It’s very important that you start trimming your dog’s nails when they’re a young puppy. 

If you get them comfortable with having their nails trimmed early on, it will make everything much easier moving forward.

To get your puppy comfortable with having its nails trimmed, you should first get them comfortable with the sight and sound of the clipper. Give them some peanut butter, and clip the clippers near their paws without actually trimming their nails.

After some time doing this, they’ll be happy to see the clipper.

➤ Take It Slow.
Make sure you take things slow, because you don’t want to make your puppy afraid of the clippers. When clipping your dog’s nails, it’s very important that you don’t clip the quick.

The quick is the part of the nail that is colored differently and closer to them. On some nails, the quick will appear pink and the actual nail will appear white, while on others, it may appear black on black.

If you clip the quick, it will not only cause tremendous pain to the dog, but the cut will also bleed for hours.

➤ Make Small Clips.
Avoid clipping the quick by making multiple small clips and making your way up before you go too far.

Dog’s nails should be trimmed whenever they get too long, no matter how old they are.

To tell if your dog’s nails are too long, you can see if you hear their claws click against the floor when they walk.

If their claws are clicking against tile or concrete floors, they need to be trimmed. You can also tell by holding up their paw and looking to see if the nail comes down beyond the pad of the paw.

You can choose to use nail clippers or nail files to shorten your dog’s nails, depending on which you feel more comfortable using. The clippers are quicker, while you’re less likely to have an accidental cut with a file.

What Is Canine Reverse Sneezing?

If you’re a dog owner, you’ve probably experienced your dog having what is referred to as a canine reverse sneezing fit.

It can be incredibly worrying for a first time dog owner, because it sounds so scary. You might mistake it for an asthma attack, or even worse - a choking fit.

You might think you need to rush out to the veterinarian and have your dog checked out. However, there’s no need to panic or break out the Heimlich maneuver, because reverse sneezing is completely harmless.

➤ It will happen to puppies, adults, and senior dogs of all breeds. 

It is known to occur more often in smaller breeds and flat faced breeds, like Chihuahuas and Shi Tzus.

➤ Despite how horrible it sounds, reverse sneezing is a very simple thing.

Instead of expelling air out like a sneeze, they take air in very quickly. It’s caused by the same things that cause a sneeze, like dust, powders, and other outside particles. Dogs may also begin to reverse sneeze after getting too excited.

➤ You’ll know your dog is reverse sneezing when you see them inhaling rapidly and snorting. 

A reverse sneeze is basically a spasm fit, and there are actually a few ways to help your dog get through it quickly.

When you notice that your dog is reverse sneezing, you can try moving them to an area with fresh air. This helps because there will be less particles in the air to disturb their respiratory system.

➤ Here's What to Do
Then, you can try blowing on their face, and if that doesn’t work, try holding their nostrils shut for a split second and massaging their throat gently.

This will make them calm down and swallow, which will most likely stop the fit.

You can decrease the chances of your dog getting in these fits to begin with by not using perfumes or carpet cleaners around them. Again, it’s completely understandable that owners would be worried by reverse sneezes.

They can occur in the middle of the night in any part of the house, out on walks, or in the car. These fits will probably scare any children around, as well. You just have to remind yourself that this is nothing to worry about unless your dog already has other major issues.

As long as you have a healthy, stable dog, reverse sneezes are nothing to worry about. Veterinarians may prescribe antihistamines if your dog experiences reverse sneezing episodes extremely frequently, especially if they’re brought on by allergies.

Tips On How To Keep Your Dog's Ears Clean

Dog’s ears are extremely prone to having dirt, debris, germs, and infections. The more you clean your dog’s ears, the less likely they’ll be to have infections and other issues. However, it’s not too hard to do it yourself instead of going to a vet or groomer regularly.

It requires very few tools, and it can be a bonding experience for you and your dog. 

First, you need to know how to tell if your dog’s ears need cleaning or not. Then, you need to know how to clean them.

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There are a few ways you can tell if your dog’s ears are dirty.

➤ 1. Smell Your Dog's Ears - Yep, that right 😀
The first way might sound strange, but it’s by smell. If your dog’s ears are healthy, they will have no odor at all. However, if they’re dirty, you’ll notice they smell off.

➤ 2. Are The Ears Red?
Another way you can tell is by color. If the dog’s ears are whatever color they normally should be, then they’re probably fine. But if you see that they’re red, that means they’re ready to be cleaned.

➤ 3. Other signs include sensitive ears, swelling, and discharge.

➤ Products You Should Never Use
When cleaning your dog’s ears, there are a few products that should never be used.  For example, you should never use alcohol to try and disinfect their ears, because that may dry out their ears.

You should also never use Q-tips or similar cotton tipped sticks, because that will only push dirt and debris farther down into the ear. You should use a pair of hemostats, which are like medical pliers, and a cotton ball.

➤ How To Clean Your Dog's Ears
First, you want to take some dog ear cleaning solution and apply it inside their ears. Then, massage the base of their ears for about half a minute. Once you’ve let the solution sit, let the dog shake the solution out.

Now you can use your hemostats and cotton ball to clean up the inside of their ears.

If you have a puppy, they will be hesitant to let you clean their ears. Coax them into letting you clean them by giving them treats and touching around their ears.

They will eventually be comfortable with you touching their ears and allow you to clean them.

You should give your puppy a treat once you’re done, so they’ll be excited to have their ears cleaned again next time.

Continue treating them as normal when they’re more grown up, but be gentler with them as they grow older, and treat them more often.

Does Your Dog Show Aggresion During Feeding?

Some dogs will show aggression over their food. This can begin when a dog is a puppy and remain through his senior years unless it’s corrected.

Dogs show aggression over their food because it’s their way of keeping it safe from other animals and from anyone who might take it away.

This behavior is done because it’s rooted in fear of the dog losing his food. Some dogs become anxious over the thought of not getting food. They’re fearful that they won’t be able to eat.

This can be both an instinctual and a learned behavior. 

Dogs will often growl, snap or even resort to biting an animal or a human who comes near him while he’s eating. This behavior must be corrected or the dog can become too dangerous to yourself, family members and visitors to keep in your home.

➤ Puppies Are Easier to Correct.
Puppies who show aggression over food are easy to correct, but you must swiftly correct it so that it doesn’t grow into a worse problem.

If your puppy growls at you when you come near his bowl, don’t leave him alone right away.

If you do that, he’s established himself as alpha over your actions. Get his attention, say a firm no and then stay near while he starts to eat. Talk to him in a soothing tone, then walk away.

➤ Feeding On Time Helps
When an adult dog knows that the food is always going to be given to him on a regular time table, that alleviates his anxiety over food.

Do whatever you can to make sure that your dog is always fed on time.

➤ Hunger Makes them Snappy.
Just like humans get snappy sometimes when they’re hungry, hunger can cause a dog to become snappy. Stay in control of your puppy, adult and senior dog at all times even during meal times.

Never let your dog run at you while you’re getting his food ready. Don’t let him jump on you, nip at you or try to force the food out of your hand. This behavior can quickly turn aggressive.

➤ Teach Your Dog to Be Still When Feeding.
Instead, regardless of his age, teach your dog to be still while you’re fixing the food. Command him to sit and order him to stay until you put the food in his bowl and placed the bowl in his regular eating spot.

Don’t leave the bowl, even after you give the command to come. Once your dog starts eating his food, then you walk off. It teaches your dog that it’s okay for you to be near his food.

➤ Be the Alpha Member.
With puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs, you always need to be the alpha member. If you’re not in control during meal times, then your dog will take the lead. You can stop food aggression behavior by training your dog to eat what you hand him and take it directly from his food bowl.

He’ll see that you’re giving it to him and not taking it and he’ll learn that it’s okay for his human to touch and be around his food. If you have an adult or senior dog with food aggression, you can still retrain them.

One of the ways that you can do this is by adding some food to his bowl before he’s done eating. He’ll quickly learn that you’re adding delicious stuff to his bowl, not taking it away.

With puppies, when they start eating, you need to break his concentration by giving him something that he really likes such as a bite of meat. He’ll learn that leaving his food is a good thing and that when you interrupt him, he might get a treat. If you train your puppy this way, then when he’s older, he won’t show signs of food aggression.

Does Your Dog's Coat Shed Too Much? | Dog Shedding Tips

As your puppy grows and changes, grooming is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that they grow up healthy. Dog coats shed naturally to get rid of old, damaged hair.

However, if your dog’s coat sheds too much, that may be a sign of a few ailments, depending on how old your dog is. It may be something having to do with your dog’s health, or it may have something to do with you not taking proper care of your pet.

Either way, if you’re unable to diagnose the issue at hand, be sure to take it to a vet so they can check your pet out.

➤ First, you can try to rule out grooming issues.

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If your dog is still a puppy, and they’re shedding excessively, that can just mean that their adult coat is coming in, and you need to continue brushing them thoroughly every night so that their puppy coat will eventually be replaced.

In fact, once some dogs begin to mature, their owners get their old coat trimmed to expedite the process.

           

➤ Another grooming issue could be that you’re using chemical-based shampoo.

Chemical-based shampoo can lead to faster hair loss in older dogs and irritation in younger dogs. If it’s not a grooming issue, it can be a number of ailments causing unnatural hair loss.

Other Causes Of Unnatural Hair Loss In Dogs.

➤ Check For Parasites
First, check to see if there are any parasites on the dog. Parasites such as lice, mites, and fleas can cause excessive shedding very easily, and they’re fairly common. It may also be from a bacterial skin infection, such as mange.


➤ Check Medication
Some medicine can also cause hair loss as a side effect especially with the overuse corticosteroid drugs. Should your dog be shedding his fur and he is on any form of medication, it's best to visit your vet for a check up.

➤ It Could Be Something Serious - Visit Your Vet.
It could also be something more serious, such as disease or skin cancer. If your dog’s fur is coming off in dry clumps, take them to the vet immediately so they can be diagnosed and treated.

➤ Preventing Excessive Shedding.
To prevent excessive shedding in your dog, there are a few things you can try.

⧫ First, be sure to bathe them regularly. Baths help wash away any old, dirty fur so it doesn’t end up around your house or on your clothes. 

⧫ You should also brush your dog regularly, more frequently for longer haired breeds, so you get all of their shedding out at once.

⧫ Go over their fur once with a wire brush to get out tangles and mats, and then with a softer brush made from bristles. 

⧫ There are even some silicon mitts on the market that are great for grooming shorter haired dogs.

First Aid Kit All Dog Owners Must Have Always

For any dog owner, it’s important that you always have a first aid kit if anything goes wrong with your dog. Items in first aid kits will mostly help with flesh wounds, but there is some medication that you can keep in your kit to help your dog as well.

Watch the video above as Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Wooten reviews some basic supplies for your dog first aid kit. this kit will be useful in an emergency either at home or should you take your dog along when hiking and camping.

First aid kits allow you to quickly treat your dog in a dire emergency, before you can take them to an emergency or regular veterinarian.

If you don’t have any medical experience, it would also be beneficial to take a first aid class, so when the time comes that you need that kit, all of the tools won’t be useless.



➤ First, you’re going to need items for any cuts, gashes, or nicks. 

For this, you don’t want to use regular adhesive bandages like Band-Aids. You want to use the non-sticking bandages that you can wrap around the wounded area, so when you or the vet takes it off, it won’t take a big clump of fur with it.

➤ Be sure to have gauze in case of any bleeding injuries. 

➤ You should also have some blood clotting solution or powder, so you can stop the bleeding faster. One good product for stopping bleeding is ClotIt, who actually sells a full animal first aid kit in addition to their blood clotting products.

➤ Bleeding More Serious In Puppies.
It’s also important to take your dog’s age into consideration. For puppies, bleeding injuries are more serious, because they have less blood in them. It’s extremely important that you stop any continuous blood flow immediately on your puppy.

➤ Mild Tranquilizers Are Helpfu.
Puppies may also be more likely to have a conniption when you’re trying to treat them, so a few tranquilizers may be useful as well. Be sure that the tranquilizers aren’t too powerful - you don’t want your dog to overdose on medications that were meant for 100+ pound dogs.

For adult dogs, tranquilizers shouldn’t be necessary if you’ve raised them to be calm. However, if they’re still rowdy and rambunctious, have some appropriately dosed tranquilizers in your kit.

Tranquilizers can help you wrap wounds where your dog may not like being touched. For example, if your dog is sensitive about having its legs touched, then it may bite and be uncooperative when you’re trying to wrap it while they’re scared and in pain.

For older dogs, it would be best to just add on to your adult dog kit, and bring some medications for them if they get sick.

Is Raw Food Diet Good for Your Dog?

You can feed your dog a variety of diets and one of those is the raw food diet.

Deciding whether it’s a good choice for your pet or not will depend on a number of factors such as the dog’s age, his health and whether or not he currently has any conditions that must rely on a certain nutritional balance.

When feeding your dog a raw food diet, it means that you’re going to focus on foods like fruits and vegetables, lean raw meats and some types of dairy.

Certain types of dogs do well on raw food diets, but others don’t. 

Take a few minutes and watch what 7 experienced vets have to say about a raw food diet for dogs..

If you decide that you want to do this, then you need to understand the right balance for your dog. There are many benefits for your dog from a raw food diet. You’ll notice that he has more energy, that his coat looks better and that he seems healthier.

The closer dogs can eat to the way of their ancestors is good for them which is why some dog foods are so bad. They contain far too much grain and dogs are carnivores. If you choose this type of diet for your dog, you’ll need to buy meats like beef or liver, pork, chicken and bones.

➤ Be Careful With Bones
You have to be careful with bones because dogs can get them lodged or injure their mouths. Dogs can have certain types of food like raw eggs or yogurt on this diet. The diet, when done correctly can help your dog live a long and happy life.


➤ Raw Food - Not For Puppies
It’s not a good idea if you have puppies to put them on a raw food diet. Because they’re in a stage of constant growing, you can unintentionally rob them of the nutrients they need to grow healthy muscles, strong joints and bones.

If you feed a puppy a raw food diet, you have to be sure that they’re getting the right amount of calcium. But it’s better not to give a puppy a raw food diet. Adult dogs, however, can benefit from eating this way.


➤ Senior Dogs - Depends On Health
You can give them more spring in their step, fewer gastrointestinal issues than they get with processed food and a stronger immune system. Feeding senior dogs a raw food diet will depend on the dog.

If your dog is struggling with his health, he could probably use the more natural way of eating. It could help improve issues that he might be having. Raw foods are often much easier for them to be able to digest than commercial dog food diets are.

If you choose to feed your dog a raw food diet, regardless of his age, you’ll want to introduce it slowly to give his system time to adjust to the new change in his way of eating.

Three Dog Potty Training Issues That Are Easily Solved

There are three dog potty training issues that always go hand in hand with trying to train a puppy, adult dog or senior dog. Some older dogs never had the training, so they never ended up housebroken.

But regardless of age, any dog can be trained to do his business outside.

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➤ Start Here - Crate Training Is The Best Way
Crate training is the best way to train any dog, so you always want to start there. The reason that this method is so effective is that dogs are extremely reluctant to go to the bathroom where they sleep.

If you have a dog that’s constantly relieving himself in his crate, it’s because the crate that he’s in is too big. He has room to go relieve himself in one area and turn around and lie down away from his elimination.



That means that your crate needs to either be downsized or you need to use a crate divider to take away some of his room. If you do that and your dog is still using the bathroom in his crate, it means that you’re not taking him out often enough or he may have a medical condition and can’t hold his bathroom needs as long as other dogs can.

➤ When Your Dog Relieves Himself in the House.
Another common potty training issue is when a dog relieves himself in the house. If he’s gone through crate training, then this shouldn’t be an issue. But it can happen with puppies if they end up drinking something or eating something.

Their systems are small and fast. They usually need to relieve themselves within a half an hour after eating or drinking. Adult dogs have potty training accidents when they eat something that upsets their system or when they’re left inside for too long.

➤ Senior Dogs Can Have Accidents
With senior dogs who have potty training accidents inside, it’s usually because their system isn’t what it used to be. They may have trouble holding their urine or they may have digestive problems that make them need to eliminate quickly after eating.

The solution is to watch your dog more closely when he’s sick and make sure you let the dog out more often when he’s prone to having accidents.

Keep him on a schedule and that can help stop accidents.

Also, dogs that have potting training issues could pee inside your home if they’ve done it before because of the scent that’s left behind. Even if you’ve cleaned up their accident and you can’t smell it anymore, it doesn’t mean they can’t.

Their noses are more sensitive. You have to use a product that can completely remove the scent.

➤ Distractions and Anxiety Can Cause Issues
The third potty training issue you run into with dogs of all ages is they don’t use the bathroom when they’re outside even when you know it’s time for them to.

The causes of this are anxiety or they get distracted by a bird, a squirrel, the sound of someone or something else. Sometimes dogs will need to go, but dart back inside without going because they want the calmness and security of being in the home which they see as their den.

The solution is to walk out with your pet and stay out in the yard with him until he goes. You can help him not be distracted and your pet feels more secure when he knows you’re with him.

Stop Your Dog From Digging Up Your Yard

Your yard can quickly become a landscape of one hole after another if your dog has a digging habit. It can destroy the soil balance, kill the grass, uproot flowers and lower your home’s value if your yard looks like a dug up mess.

Dogs Dig for Different Reasons.
Dogs of all ages dig for different reasons and if you sort out the particular reason that your dog is digging, then you can end the behavior.

Puppies dig because they have short attention spans.

They get bored pretty easily - especially if they’re not with playmates. So when they’re outside they’ll start digging as a way to entertain themselves.

Adult dogs dig because they’re bored but they also dig when they catch the scent of prey.

Small animals like to burrow under the ground and when your dog smells them, he’s going to frantically dig up the yard trying to locate that animal. Senior dogs often dig holes because they’re looking for comfort.

Lying in the cool, soft soil eases their bones and provides cushioning.

Many dogs are just more prone by their nature to dig than other dogs are. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t stop the behavior.

Ways to Train Your Dog To Stop Digging and Protect your Yard. 

➤ Make sure that your dog gets plenty of activity so that he doesn’t dig just because he’s bored. If your dog is a natural digger, then you may want to assign him a spot in the yard where it’s okay for him to dig.

➤ You can teach him to go to that area only.

➤ Dogs also dig holes because they want to bury their toys or anything else that they deem important to them.

➤ Sometimes dogs dig because what’s on the other side of the fence seems a lot more exciting than the yard that they’re in.

➤ To stop a puppy from digging, you have to constantly watch him until he’s trained to know that his actions aren’t acceptable to you. The second he begins to sniff around and begins to scratch at the grass, interrupt him.

➤ You can use a training whistle, coins in a tin can or some other object to get his attention. When he stops digging, give him something else to do like play with a toy or play a game of fetch.

➤ Adult dogs who dig may be doing it because they’re after an animal or want out of the yard. If that’s the case, you have to interrupt that behavior every time he digs. Make sure that your yard is eradicated from burrowing animals.

➤ Some owners set up a sandbox for their dog and allow him to dig only in that. Your dog can quickly get used to digging only in that restricted area.

➤ Remember to always reinforce good behavior but stop bad behavior immediately.

➤ Train your dog to come the second you command him. So if he starts digging, get his attention and order him to come to you. When he obeys, give him a treat.

➤ If your dog is a senior dog digging holes for comfort and to cool off, then give him a way to stay cool and comfortable when he’s outside.

Parvo - How To Prevent Your Dog From Contracting Pravo

Parvo is a very serious infection that can occur in puppies, with a mortality rate of about 90% if not treated. 

Video: 8 Tips on how to prevent your dog from contracting Pravo.

Parvo is a viral illness that is extremely contagious, so if your dog is afflicted with it, you should take them to the vet ASAP where they can be treated properly and separated from other dogs.

➤ Parvo is particularly common in puppies.
The chances of dogs getting parvo decreases significantly as they get older. Most cases of parvo were found to be in dogs from six weeks to six months old. 

➤ Puppies are to be vaccinated for Parvo.
This should be done at regular intervals between 6 and 12 weeks. After those vaccinations, they shouldn’t get the disease, though it is still possible.

➤ Pravo Symptoms.
It shouldn’t be too hard to notice something’s wrong with your puppy when it has parvo.

The puppy will experience terrible symptoms like bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and unhealthy weight loss.

Parvo weakens your dog’s immune system greatly, and this can lead to further complications.

Parvo Virus Combo Pack

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➤ Visit Your Vet ASAP
When you notice your dog begin to exhibit these symptoms, take them to the vet immediately to get proper treatment.

The puppy will need plenty of water, because in addition to the vomiting, the disease interferes with the dog’s ability to absorb water and nutrients.

➤ Dogs contract Parvo fairly easily. 
When dogs infected with parvo defecate, their feces contains an extremely high concentration of the disease. If your healthy puppy so much as sniffs it, they can contract the infection.

Parvo has also been found to be able to live within soil for up to a year. So if your parvo afflicted dog defecates, be sure to pick it up and then bleach the spot. Bleach is one of the few chemicals known to be able to actually kill off parvo.

Parvo is so infectious, that if you step in some parvo-riddled feces and walk inside, your dog can contract it from sniffing your shoe.

➤ Some breeds are more susceptible than others to Parvo. 
These breeds include German Shepherds, Dobermans, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and Labs. 

There are precautions you can take to prevent your dog from contracting parvo. Most importantly, make sure that they get their shots, and that they don’t interact with other dogs until a few weeks after their final shots.

For the breeds mentioned above, you may want to consider additional shots, to ensure that they’re fully protected from Pravo. You should then continue to get booster shots around every three years to make sure they’re still protected.

How to Find the Right Dog Shampoo For Your Dog's Bath

Part of being a responsible pet owner is ensuring that your animals are clean and healthy. In the case of dogs, one of the easiest ways to make sure they’re well-groomed is by bathing them regularly, and with the right dog shampoo.

First things first - Is there a right way to give your dog a bath? I suppose there is, as you will want to ensure that your dog gets properly cleaned, plus you and your dog have an enjoyable experience.

Generally, most dogs tend to 'hate' having a bath but this need not be the case. The video above goes over how to properly bathe your dog, whether it's a puppy or a dog who already hates getting a bath. This method involves reading your dog and giving them a choice in the matter.  

Do watch the video above as there are some good tips in it.

Not washing your dog will lead to the dog getting fleas, having an unpleasant odor, and discomfort. Washing should be done monthly, but don’t take it as a chore. Washing your dog strengthens the bond between you and your pet.

It can even benefit you by having less dirt and allergens in the house carried in from outside or on the floor. However, with so many options available for dog shampoo, it can be difficult even deciding where to start.

Now, just a quick note - you might have the temptation to use your own shampoo for your dog but it is not advisable. This is because dog's pH and human pH is far different. Watch the video below to find out more on why human shampoo is not suitable for your dog.

➤ Use A Puppy Specific Shampoo
When your dog is only a puppy, it’s very important that you stay away from artificial ingredients.

While it’s best to stay away from those ingredients in general, puppy shampoos that have artificial ingredients are less harsh than ones for fully grown dogs.

So, if you must use artificial ingredients, use puppy-specific shampoo. No matter how old your dog is, artificial ingredients and chemicals can cause itching, dry skin, and even hair loss.

Puppies are much more susceptible to these side effects, because their skin is more sensitive than that of older dogs.

➤ Instead, opt for shampoos that are certified organic. 

This means that the USDA has certified that all ingredients in the shampoo are grown on a farm that doesn’t use chemicals to grow their ingredients.

These shampoos are almost guaranteed not to cause your dog any itching or skin problems.

>>Click Here For A Choice Of Organic Dog Shampoos At Amazon<<

Organic shampoos can be used on dogs of all ages, from puppies to senior. Organic shampoos use natural fragrances, such as honey and lavender, to make sure your dog still smells fresh after a bath.

There are plenty of different kinds of dog shampoo for every situation. Some shampoos help with excessive shedding, while others are made with Aloe Vera to help with dry skin.

Some can be useful in treating mange and similar parasitic infections. 

It’s important that you begin washing the dog from a very early age. They might be scared at first, but with some coaxing, you’ll get them to love it. After a few months of fun baths, they’ll be excited to have a bath just like they would be happy to go on a walk or get a treat.

Do You Worry About Your Dog Home Alone?

Do you often worry about your dog when it is home alone?

Watch as Lucy gets into a 325 degree oven to retrieve some chicken nuggets 😁😁

Well, it seems that dog parents need no longer worry about their dog when it is left home alone. A team from India has developed an App - just for it.

Dog parents will now be able to track and monitor their dog's activities, as well as the location of their dog on their mobile phones, using their App. Guess what it's called - Wagr. 😀

Talk to any dog parent and they will tell you that leaving their dog home alone when they have to be away, or at work is a huge cause of stress and worry for them.

However now, thanks to three young men from India, dog parents will be soon able to relax, knowing that their loving pooch is safe and healthy.

It consists of a smart doggie wearable device which is attached to the collar. This device will relay your dog's movements instantly to the App.  You will need a mobile application that will allow dog parents to track their dog’s movements and activities in real time, on their mobile devices.

This App will track to monitor if the dog is sleeping, walking or eating. If he leaves your designated 'safe zone' you will receive a alert.

On top of all this it even records the amount of sleep your dog has had and whether he is getting enough exercise. Sounds like a 'must have' 😉

More information can be obtained for this article's source linked -  >Click Here<

Dog Rashes and How to Care for Them

Many dog parents have faced this issue before - you’re petting your dog, when suddenly, you notice a patch of rash covered skin. You’re not sure what these dog rashes are and if you need to take your dog to the vet - if you need to have it treated urgently - if it’s life threatening, or what caused these rashes.

However, there are tell-tale signs such as color, texture, and location that can help you identify what your dog is afflicted with, what to do next, and how you can prevent it from happening again.

If you notice that your dog has dandruff flakes on them that could be from a few things.

➤ One common ailment is Seborrhea.
Seborrhea is primarily genetic, and the dandruff flakes will begin to form when the dog is just a puppy, lasting the rest of their lives. Seborrhea is nothing to worry about, medically speaking. You can buy seborrhea shampoo that will make your dog feel better and reduce the scaling.

➤ Another flaky rash is dermatitis, which is usually brought on by allergies.

It will appear red on the skin, with light flakes around the fur. Talk to your vet about allergies and find out what’s causing this rash to prevent it from further harm. One of the scabbier, more serious rashes is mange.

➤ Mange is a serious skin condition brought on by mites. 
There are two types of mange: Sarcoptic and Demodectic. The main difference between the two is that Sarcoptic mange is contagious, while Demodectic mange is not.

Both cause red, itchy skin, hair loss, and sores, but Demodectic mange causes scabbing. Sarcoptic mange can be transmitted to humans, but the mites won’t actually survive on humans.

In both cases, you should take the dog to see a vet, so they can apply a scabicide to the area. This will kill off any embedded parasites, and may up to six weeks to be complete. Rashes can also be brought on by other parasites, most notably fleas and ticks.

Flea treatments are readily available, and can be given to the dog orally or through an ointment. Owners should also be sure to make their homes and yards flea-free, so the problem doesn’t come back.

➤ Ticks can carry Lyme Disease
Ticks aren’t as infections, but they can be more dangerous. Ticks can carry Lyme disease and cause some nasty infections if not treated. When removing a tick, be very careful, because improper removal could leave the tick’s head burrowed in the dog’s body, causing further infection.

Use a pair of tweezers to grab the tick close to the dog’s skin, and pull up slowly to remove them, you can then put them in a glass of alcohol or hydrogen peroxide overnight to kill them.

How To Treat Your Dog's Enviromental Allergies

There are generally 2 types of allergies that your dog could be suffering from -

Food allergies
For more on Dog Food Allergies - Read - 'How to Find Out And Control Your Dog's Food' 

 Environmental allergies
The causes of  allergic reactions with your dog will fall into one of those two categories.

Just like us humans, dogs can be allergic to any type of food or ingredient as well as they can also be allergic to a numerous number of irritants that can be found in their environment. And not just things like ragweed, grasses, pollens, molds and dust mites, but also materials like wool or cotton, and chemicals like those found in cleaning products.


Watch the video above where proactive veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker discusses pet's environmental allergies and how to treat it with natural remedies for more information.

The Best Way to Socialize Your Dog

It is important to ensure that your dog is socialized because it will help him get accustomed to different situations, other dogs and animals and most importantly other people.

When a dog is socialized, he’ll be more friendly, less fearful and aggressive. 

 Socializing your puppy to be around other dogs and people will help ensure they grow up to be comfortable and confident. In the video above, Victoria Stilwell shows you some positive techniques for introducing your puppy to other dogs, so they can have rewarding social experiences.

A puppy needs to be socialized - and you can do that by having him be with other puppies, but he needs to be around other humans and children besides just those in his owner’s family.

Take Your Puppy With You - Broaden His Horizon
This teaches him about positive interactions. Take your puppy with you when you go out of the house. Take him to the park and to any stores where puppies are allowed to be inside.

Get him used to different environments. He needs to be exposed to quiet places and noisy places. He needs to be able to run around in a city area as well as in a rural setting.

By giving the puppy these new adventures, you broaden his horizon. It teaches him how to act and how to interact in different settings and among different people. Though puppies are the easiest to socialize, that doesn’t mean that you can’t train an adult dog.

Socializing Adult Dogs Positively
Some adult dogs aren’t properly socialized because they weren’t around other dogs or pets, weren’t around children or many other adults. The only situation and setting they know is their owner’s place and that limits a dog’s ability to be social.

In the video below, professional dog trainers describe various techniques to help you train your dog and to help you acquire leadership skills.

You will learn a variety of topics including how to use your training equipment effectively, how to establish yourself as the pack leader, how to teach your dog basic obedience commands, how to introduce your dog to another dog without altercation, how to socialize the unsocial dog and how to introduce your dog to strangers.

If you have an adult dog in need of socialization, you need to introduce it in a positive manner. If it’s a negative experience, the dog will be reluctant or even aggressive toward other pets and people.

• Start by slowly letting your dog get used to other people and pets. 
• You can take him on a leash and go to the park. 
• Keep your distance from other people and pets to start out with.
• Just take him to the outside of the area where other people are. 
• Let him sit or stand and simply observe. 
• Don’t do it for long periods of time. You don’t want to tire him out. 
• Let him become familiar with a place or with a person, and then slowly increase the places he goes and the people he interacts with.

Don't Overwhelm Your Senior Dog - Gradually Expand His World
You can’t overwhelm an adult dog with sudden new situations. By gradually expanding his world, he’ll grow used to the changes. Always give him something to look forward to when he’s going somewhere - such as taking a treat with you and giving it to him every time you arrive at that same place.

• He’ll learn to associate the socialization event with a reward.  
• Remember not to overwhelm a dog with new places and people too fast. 
• Slowly increase his social circle of places, people and pets.
• Senior dogs can be socialized as long as you’re supervising them. 
• Teach him that new people and places are a good thing by praising him and giving him treats. 
• Take him out different places.
• Arrange visits with family or friends who have a gentle dog and let your pet meet that dog. 

Take it slow and give your senior dog a new social event on a regular basis. At least once or twice a week will quickly help socialize your dog.

How to Make the Best Homemade Dog Treats

So many dogs have problems with mass produced dog treats that people are looking into alternative options. While you can certainly buy organic treats, not only are those expensive, but sometimes the taste isn’t one that most dogs like.

Now, before we fill you in with tips on how to make your own healthy dog treats, we understand that for some of you, time and environmental issues may not permit you making your own treats. So why not check out the link below for high quality dog treats available at Amazon.

>>Click Here For - Organic Dog Treats - Made in USA<<

Still, your dog deserves treats. Plus, they’re one of the best ways to train a dog to encourage good behavior and put a stop to poor habits.

One of the best ways that you can have delicious, nutritious treats for your puppy, adult or senior dog is to make them yourself.

By making treats at home, you can help senior dogs who might be experiencing weight issues. You can help adult dogs with their oral hygiene when you have homemade treats on hand.

Puppies need homemade dog treats because their immune systems aren’t yet on the same level as adult or older dogs.

By making their treats at home, you can eliminate many of the common allergies triggered by mass produced dog treats.

Making Dog Treats Is Easy

Making dog treats at home is easy because you don’t have to have all those fillers and other items used in store bought treats that offer your dog nothing nutritious. You can mix food or create one particular food in a dog treat.

There’s no limit to what you can make for your pet. Many human foods are just as nutritious for dogs to have as treats and are better for them than what you can buy from the dog food aisle.

Not only that, but in the end, you’ll save money, too. When you make homemade treats, you want to focus on baking with natural ingredients.

➤ You can create jerky treats from chicken.
All you have to do is cut thin chicken strips, and as an optional step you can spice it up with 'dog friendly' herbs like thyme, rosemary or parsley - then bake them on a low temperature until the meat has the texture of jerky.

➤ You can also make treats from vegetables like sweet potatoes.
Just put the thinly sliced potatoes in your dehydrator until they’re chewy or crispy whichever your dog likes the best.

➤ Liver Treats - Your Dog Will Love Them
Another treat that you can make for your dog using your dehydrator or oven is liver treats. Just put thinly sliced pieces of beef or another type of liver in your oven or dehydrator and cook until it’s done. You’ll usually have to change cooking times based on the thickness of the meat slices.

➤ Lots More - Bananas, Tuna, Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits
Dogs also like banana slices that have been dried out or tuna chunks. Some pet owners make peanut butter treats for dogs using flour, baking soda, salt, peanut butter and honey or molasses.

 Easy Peasy Peanut Butter Dog Treats. - Watch the video below
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make this easy dog treats for your dog!

But you have to be careful because some dogs have allergies to peanut butter or flour. You’d want to make sure you knew if he had those allergies before giving him such a treat.

2017 World's Ugliest Dog Contest - Check Them Out

Something you might want to check out - this year's ugliest dog contestants 😀
They might look 'ugly' to many - but I bet they are 'cute' to their loving dog parents 😍

 Image via Daily Mail

These mangy mutts are set to battle it out in a very peculiar beauty contest for the coveted title of the world's ugliest dog.

The annual event brings together the most unattractive hounds from all over the world and this year's contest is no different.

Some of the entrants include those with permanently jutting-out tongues, squashed faces, and issues with their fur or drool.

But no matter their appearance, the dogs are all still much beloved by their owners.

You can read more - plus lots more images of the 2017 Ugliest Dog Contestants at the link below.

Content via the Daily Mail - >Click Here to Read More<


UPDATE

 Martha Crowned World's Ugliest Dog 2017

Martha, a Neapolitan mastiff, has been named this year's World's Ugliest Dog. 

Read more @BBC News - >Click Here<

 

How to Find Out And Control Your Dog's Food Allergies

Just like us humans, your dog can be allergic to one or more foods that you might be feeding him.
Preventing and managing food allergies with your dog can be a problem that is faced by many pet parents.

In the video below, an integrative wellness veterinarian, Dr. Karen Becker discusses about food allergies in pets and how to avoid it.

 So What Do You Mean by Dog Food Allergy?

You can say that a food allergy occurs when your dog’s immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food ingredient in his dog food as hazardous. His body then reacts and begins to create defensive antibodies to 'fight off' this enemy - being ingredient in the food.

Sometimes, it can be just one ingredient in the food you are feeding your dog - that’s made up of a mixture of other foods. However, even if it is just that one item, it can cause your dog to become ill and feel pretty miserable.

What Are The Signs and Symptoms To Look For?
Allergies in dogs can start when they’re puppies, so it’s critical that you pay attention to how your puppy behaves after you’ve fed him.

One of the most common signs of food allergies in puppies is dry or itchy skin.

He may start to scratch so much that he develops raw spots on his skin. If your puppy has a thick coat of fur and he’s itching, you’ll have to spread his fur backward to be able to see his skin.

Adult Dogs Prone To Ear Infections
Adult dogs can also have the itchy skin and rashes, but they’re also prone to getting ear infections when they’re allergic to the foods that they eat. You may notice an odor coming from their ear and there may also be swelling.

If the allergy persists or is severe, you’ll see a discharge coming from one or both ears. Senior dogs with food allergies can experience throwing up after eating as well as loose stools or diarrhea.

All dogs can experience a mix of any of the common symptoms associated with food allergies. Most puppy and adult dog foods contain items that can trigger these allergies. Look for things like fillers or dyes.

Among the most common dog food ingredients that may spark an allergic reaction in your dog are: Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Fish, Corn, Dairy, Wheat and Soy. At times, it could be contaminants that may have found its way into the dog food during processing or storage.

➤ Do An Elimination Diet
One way that you can check to see if your dog is allergic to the food that he’s eating is to do an elimination diet. Look at the ingredients list on whatever food you’ve been feeding your pet.

Buy other foods that don’t contain that item. For instance, if there’s dairy in the food that you’ve been feeding him, then buy one that’s dairy free.

If you give him the dairy free dog food and his allergies clear up, then you know you’ve found his allergy trigger.

Do the elimination diet with each food on whatever you’ve originally been giving him so that you can narrow it down to what’s causing his reaction. You’ll need to feed him the food without the suspected allergen for about five days to a week to see if there’s any change.


➤ Try Organic Dog Food
If you’re using regular dog food, then you can change brands and you can also look for food that’s organic. Organic dog food doesn’t contain the common allergy foods that regular dog food does, such as fillers.

If you feed your dog organic dog food and it still doesn’t help, then you may need to cook whole meats for him. If that doesn’t work, then you need to take your dog to the vet to have him tested for allergies.

Are You Feeding Your Dog Too Much Human Food?

Are you a dog owner that's feeding leftovers and table scraps to your furry friend?. 😊

Are you feeding your dog too much human food? 

And, can dogs eat certain foods that were actually meant for us humans?

Watch the video below....

Can Dogs Consume Human Food or Not?

There are two separate mindsets when it comes to feeding your dog human food and in what amounts. One group believes that dogs should never consume human food, while another group believes anything goes and dogs can eat foods just like a human does.

The truth is that dogs can eat human foods, but should avoid certain types. 

It’s also true that too much of a good thing can be bad for your dog. As with anything, there has to be a healthy balance.

Puppies are Notorious 😀

Puppies are notorious for not knowing boundaries. If you have something to eat, they’re going to do their best to get some of it.

But if you give your puppy a bite of food every time that you’re eating, then you’re probably giving him too much.


He can develop an appetite for human food and turn his nose up at his own food.

➤ Adult Dogs Know You Have Tasty Food
Adult dogs have mastered the pitiful look whenever you’re eating something and it’s easy to toss them a bite or several bites when they put on that long face.

You train your dog to eat with you every time you give him a bite of what you’re having.

Senior dogs have discovered that humans have tasty foods. When they hear you moving around in the kitchen, opening a cabinet or the refrigerator, they’re going to come and check it out to see what you’re having.

If your senior dog is overweight, that could be a sign that you’re giving him too much human food - especially if you know that he’s eating all of his dog food as well.

➤ Is Your Dog Leaving Food in his Dish?
One clear sign that you’re giving your dog too much human food is if he’s leaving food in his dish, but he’s still running to you when he knows that you’re eating something.

It’s okay to give your dog certain bits of human food such as lean meats or vegetables. You’ll find those in many of the top quality dog foods.

But giving your dog junk food and other items is not only a sure way for him to add on extra pounds, but it can also make him very ill.

➤ Avoid High Salt Content Food
The human food that you give him shouldn’t have a high salt content like potato chips because salt isn’t good for dogs. You should also refrain from giving him chocolate or onions or certain types of nuts.

➤ Garlic Is Toxic To Dogs
You should avoid giving garlic coated human food items to dogs because it’s toxic to them. A good way to tell if you’re giving your dog too much human food or not is to pay attention to how much food he’s supposed to be eating.

Then track the human food that you’ve been feeding him.

Giving him some food won’t hurt him and certain human foods are good for dogs, but overdoing it can make him miss out on some of the nutritional value he needs from his own food.

Just keep a log of how much human food you’re giving him and balance that with how much food he’s supposed to have for the entire day.