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Why do dogs bark & what can be done about it? Part 2

So, now we have arrived at the other big reason dogs bark…exercise (or lack thereof). Let’s be honest, most of us do not give our dogs enough exercise, let alone mental stimulation (boredom anyone?) If you are not walking your dog at least an hour a day, at least six days a week, you are not even going to touch their energy level! And as we stated in an earlier post, we have jobs, spouses, kids, dinner and of course the boob tube to contend with, so what do we do? 

Besides us walking our own dogs, which we should all be doing anyway since it’s good for us as well, we can use doggy day care or professional dog walkers! If you own a dog and cannot afford the 10-20 bucks a day for doggy day care or professional dog walker and if you don’t have the time to exercise the dog because of the hecticness of your life, I really need to ask the question “should you own a dog?” I know that is a cruel question, but it is not fair to relegate a social animal such as a dog to solitary confinement 18-20 hours a day! This is a question you and your family must answer on your own, but unfortunately not everyone should own a dog.

Sorry… off my soapbox and back to doggy day care.  Facilities such as this will not only give your dog exercise, but will allow the dog to, well, be a dog! I am a big believer in the fact if dogs are not allowed to interact with their own kind (outside of the pack they have at home) they forget how to speak dog.  Doggy day cares are a great way to keep them proficient at their native tongue, while properly socializing them. It also allows dogs to spend some quality time away from Mom and Dad, realizing that being away from the family is not a bad thing, but is actually fun! It can actually help prevent, and even help in some cases of separation anxiety! This being said, doggy day care will not be a good fit for every dog, and any reputable facility will tell you if you have an anti-social dog. Dogs, like people, have different personalities, just like some people don’t like being around other people, some dogs don’t like being around other dogs. (See later post on how to choose a good doggie day care/boarding facility!)

Now you are ready to experience a worn out dog. One of the first things I teach in my classes is “A tired dog is a good dog!” This alone, with some dogs, will have a marked difference on all sorts of problem behaviors, including barking. If not, you can at least work with the dog since their attention will be more focused because of the exercise and socialization from the doggy day care facility or the exercise from other sources. Think of it this way, we have a first grade class who does not get recess, and is given 2 pounds of chocolate to eat and Mt Dew to drink! Do you want to even try to teach them arithmetic? But say we have kids who get physical exercise with 2 recesses a day, socialization with Gym class and a healthy lunch, now how about arithmetic?  I’m pretty sure I would choose the second group of kids! 

So the next step is to get started with some cues/commands (now that we have the edge off with exercise) that can help you get barking, and even some other problem behaviors more under control.  Think about it this way…our kids have had recess & now it’s time to learn our ABC’s.

An Easy Method To Clean Your Dog’s Teeth – ( Here is a step-by-step, super easy plan – only $7 )

Cleaning dogs teeth – is it very hard, and why is is important? I’ll answer those questions in this article. First, let’s examine why it is so important to be regularly cleaning your dogs teeth. Did you know that dental problems, including halitosis (bad breath) are the number one disease condition in dogs? Did you also know that it is sadly the most under-treated problem in dogs today?

The sad fact it, most dog owners simply don’t’ want to keep their dog’s teeth clean. They think it is going to be too much trouble, and it would be a big hassle. Well, I don’t think that is thinking like a responsible dog owner. You need regular dental care, why shouldn’t your dog? In fact, dogs need it more! Plaque builds up on a dog’s teeth within only 72 hours of ingesting food. So to be effective, you have to brush at least that often.

The other reason why cleaning dogs teeth is so important: long-term health and longevity. As I stated before, this is the number one health condition – and it can be very detrimental or even fatal to your dog. As plaque forms in your dog’s mouth, it turns to tartar – stubborn deposits of bacteria and residue. You can see it clearly on the incisor teeth of most older dogs. Drooling, gingivitis, halitosis and infection set in. Also, the bacteria begin to attack the gum and bone tissue that holds the teeth in place, and once this periodontal disease becomes prevalent, your dog’s teeth begin to loosen and fall out.

Your dog will live longer, be happier and more pleasant to be around if you simply make the commitment to clean the dogs teeth regularly. It’s not really that hard, if you take the right approach. The cleaning cost at a vet under anesthetic can be hundreds of dollars – doesn’t it make sense to invest in a little preventative care? I promise your dog will love to have his teeth brushed after you have introduced him to it properly.

Here is how to do it – (Click here for a easy to follow plan – only $7 )

You will need a step-by-step plan to introduce the dog to the process over time. Cleaning dogs teeth is not hard or expensive – you need dog-specific toothpaste (don’t use human toothpaste- it’s dangerous to your dog!) and a soft-bristle toothbrush. There are long-handled dog brushes, but a soft regular brush will do as well.

Take a slow, steady approach and introduce the dog to the process over several weeks. If you have a puppy, it’s a no-brainer; puppies will love it. Be careful though, puppy teeth are temporary – your aim is to just get him used to the process of cleaning the young dogs teeth. If your dog is an adult, it is going to take a bit of time, but soon your dog will begin to look forward to the brushing sessions.

Cleaning dogs teeth is easy – once you and your dog get the hang of it. And it is so important for the long-term health of your dog. Be a responsible pet owner and take care of your dog’s dental health, starting today.

The dog is one of the most beloved house pets around the world and have been bringing joy and laughter to families for years and years.  They have also brought a little known issue called shedding into the lives of many families around the world.  This is not something that anyone is fond of and often can be a nuisance.  If you want a simple solution to your dog’s shedding problem, then the FURminator might just be the answer you’re looking for.

The problem stems from the dog’s undercoat, which is where you are most likely to find loose dead hair that is trapped underneath your dogs upper coat.  This hair slowly comes free and falls to the ground, which is where the shedding issue comes from.  The result is usually balls of hair in the corners of your home, or underneath your table, and in little hard to reach places.

The FURminator is designed to get under the top layer of fur to pull out the dead undercoat fur instead of letting it fall onto the floor, or your sofa, or under your table.  This great product is quite inexpensive, and can be found in many different retail stores, both offline and online.

The other great thing about the FURminator is that there is nothing about it that would hurt your pet, so you can be sure that your dog will come out with a healthier looking coat, and no scars to show for it!  The FURminator is the ultimate tool for removing your dog’s loose dead undercoat.

The FURminator is available in three convenient sizes, small, medium, and large, which typically are made for different size dogs.  Small being the most appropriate for small dogs, and so on.  If you would like to save yourself the trouble of having to constantly pick up after your shedding dog, then you may want to consider purchasing the FURminator to help eliminate the problem.

Has this ever happened to you?  You find your cat in his litter box, straining to urinate, crying out in pain.  He can’t seem to pass any urine.  You take him to the vet, who tells you that your cat’s urinary problem is due to cat bladder stones.

Bladder Stones In Cats

A bladder stone, or urolith, is made up from minerals present in your cat’s urine.  These minerals sometimes form crystals that stick together to form a stone in your cat’s bladder.  These stones can be as small as grains of sand, or they can grow to the size of a piece of pea gravel. 

Your feline friend may have only one stone, or he could have several dozen. 

Why do the minerals form crystals?  There are several theories.  Your cat’s urine may be high in minerals due to his diet, or it may be because he has an infection in his bladder.

Bladder stones usually take several months to form, but they can grow in just a couple of weeks.

Symptoms Of Cat Urinary Problems

If your cat suddenly starts urinating in places other than his litter box, this can indicate that he’s having a urinary problem.  You may notice him licking his bottom more than usual, too. 

Blood in the urine is another symptom to watch for.  It can sometimes be hard to see this in cats as they usually go in the litter box.  But if he’s urinating outside his box, you may see it.

If your cat is straining to urinate, or can’t pass any urine, this indicates a blockage.  A urinary blockage is a veterinary emergency, and you need to get your cat to the vet as soon as possible.

Treatment For Cat Bladder Stones

Your vet will probably take some x-rays or do an ultrasound to verify the presence of bladder stones.  Once they are diagnosed, you vet will probably outline two treatment options.

The first is surgery to remove the stones.  This is the fastest solution to the problem. 

The second is to try to dissolve the stones with a special diet.  This is a good option for many cats.  However, it may not work well for all felines.  The major reason is that it’s a slower treatment.  It can take several weeks or months for the stones to dissolve.  During this time your cat will still be passing bloody urine, and may still be straining to urinate.

Diet therapy doesn’t work with all stones.  It’s helpful if the cat passes a stone so that you vet can analyze it to see what it’s made of.  Some types of stones can’t be dissolved.

Some cats won’t eat the special diet food.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work unless it’s the only thing your cat is eating.

Are Herbal Pet Remedies The Answer To Cat Bladder Stones?

Many cat owners are turning to herbal pet remedies to help solve cat urinary problems.  These herbal and homeopathic remedies have been used by people across the world for centuries.  These remedies work to solve the underlying problem, instead of just treating the symptoms. 

It’s very important to buy these herbal pet remedies only from reputable companies that specialize in producing them.  Do your homework and be sure that the company stands behind its products.  You want to be sure that you find remedies especially formulated for pets.

These natural remedies are inexpensive and readily available.  They have stood the test of time, and there are no side effects to worry about. 

Now that you have this information, you can take action to prevent cat urinary problems.

When one first sees the Puli, the question is always asked “How on earth do you give this dog a bath?” The answer is, obviously, “It takes a LONG time!”

The Hungarian Puli develops a “corded” coat as it ages. The coat tends to naturally gather itself together in ringlets which are very tightly curls and gnarled together into long cords. A mature coat takes a good 10 to 12 years to reach its full glory for the Show Ring, as a consequence there are Pulik (the plural of Puli) who are still in the prime of their show career at an age when most dogs are being shown in Veteran’s Class.

Among the other breeds which have a similar coat one finds the Komondor and years ago the Poodle. The tight cords protect the breed from weather and harsh elements. The preferred color is black, however there can be white, rust colored and various shades in between. The Puli was originally bred in Hungary as a herding dog and those with a black coat could be more easily seen by shepherds and thus be distinguished from the sheep.

Pulik are nimble on their feet and smaller than they appear, usually standing less than 20 inches at the shoulder. Like most herding breeds, they are built so they can move quite nimbly, nipping at the heels of the sheep to keep them grouped together. They are even known to run upon the backs of a tightly bunched flock of sheep.

This is not a common breed. Most folks who own Pulik do keep the short coat if they are not being shown, since a corded coat is difficult to care for and develops a strong smell if not kept clean. Which brings us to the question, “How are they bathed?” Usually the entire dog is immersed in a large tub filled with room temperature water and a bit of shampoo, the individual cords are squeezed by hand and the skin is gently massaged.

Care must be taken not to damage the cording or the individual cords will become tangled together and the show look requires that the long cords hang naturally and separately from each other. Once the shampoo has been squeezed through the coat, the dog is immersed in several tubs of tepid clear water as a rinse and also sprayed thoroughly and finally, toweled dry with the same squeezing process. A blow dryer can then be used, provided it is not so powerful that it “frizzes” the coat. The entire process usually takes a full day. Since the cords are long and reach to the ground, it is important to keep the dog from running in underbrush and that sort of thing.

One would question why this dog with this kind of coat can be running with sheep, but the fact is that this coat when it is in a natural state completely protects the dog from thorns and brambles. The thick wooly cords are also natural weather barriers to rain and snow, so that the body of the Puli is well protected from the elements of harsh weather. Furthermore a would-be predator can not sink its teeth into the flesh of this nimble dog and can only get a mouthful of hair. Thus the Pulik are naturally quite self sufficient out in the flock, needing little in the way of human care.

Their job requires a certain independence and they are not necessarily in need of a lot of human companionship. Pulik should not exhibit shyness or nervousness , usually are wary of strangers and should not be aggressive. They are energetic and require a job of some sort or plenty of exercise or the owner of a Puli will find that it is getting into all sorts of things, out of boredom.