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Posts Tagged ‘firm’

postheadericon If you’re curious to know whether your dog is pregnant or not, you have to do certain steps to find out for sure

If you’re curious to know whether your dog is pregnant or not, you have to do certain steps to find out for sure. Pregnancy has its symptoms. And if you have noticed all of them on your pet, then high are the chances that they would deliver puppies real soon. Have you noticed the dog heat symptoms in your pet? Does your pet recently have the need to mate with male dogs? Dogs aged 6 to 12 months would go through what is called the heat cycle. This is when they reach sexual maturity. When they mated during the heat season, which normally lasts for 21 days, the dogs are surely going to be pregnant. Even so, vets and pet experts always say it is best for a dog to be pregnant when it is a year and a half to two years old to be safe.

The dog heat stage would have its own signs and symptoms. The most apparent would be blood discharges and redness of the dog’s vulva or rear. These symptoms indicate that your dog is in heat. Sooner or later, the female dog would want to mate. If you don’t want this to happen, you have to do the necessary precautions. The dog heat cycle normally comes twice every year. So if you see it on your pet today, it may take five to seven months before you see it again.

Generally, to know if your dog is pregnant for sure, it is best that you take it to the vet. You can also try to feel your dog’s abdomen. It should be firmer. Firm bellies indicate that there are puppies forming inside. The ultrasound is the best device to determine dog pregnancy. An x-ray, on the other hand, is powerful enough to determine how many puppies your dog is carrying in its abdomen. The dog’s pregnancy cycle lasts for an average of 63 days. Some dog breeds would deliver puppies in 54 days, though. Others, however, may take as much as 74 days before giving birth.

Pregnant dogs tend to be more affectionate. A good number of them are very clingy too. There are dogs that act very possessively during their pregnancy stage. However, some dogs do the other extreme. If other dogs enjoy the company of their masters, other gets very irritated, aggressive, and anti-social. This is one of the reasons why dog owners should be very wary of the fact that their dog is pregnant so they can adapt measure to protect their pet, family, and strangers around the house.

Pregnant dogs tend to lose their appetite too. For a week or so, the dogs would refuse to touch its food, only to eat like a glutton after three weeks. The increase in its appetite would continue a month and a week into pregnancy. And when the female dog is ready to deliver the pups, it would consume twice as much food as it used to. You have to prepare for the puppies’ coming at this point. Prepare beddings to keep them warm and comfortable after delivery.

postheadericon The razor sharp teeth that puppies seem to have can cause you some pain

 The razor sharp teeth that puppies seem to have can cause you some pain. You need to try to prevent your puppy from forming this habit of biting. In order to stop puppy biting different methods may have to be tried. Any little annoying or bad habits should not receive a reward. If you want your pup to mature into that wonderful family pet, you will need to take responsibility for helping him. Dog behavior is never “good” or “bad” it’s just behavior. It is going to take some time, but stopping a puppies bad habits needs to be done.

The playing behavior for a litter of puppies involves lots of nipping and biting. Nipping and biting their new owners is very common for puppies and will most likely be the first problem they have to overcome. All new puppies take part in this behavior, but as a new member of your family actions will need to be taken to control it.

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When your pup bites you, quickly give him a sharp tap on the nose and say “NO”. If you tap the nose softly the puppy is only going to think that you are playing. A timid correction is a worthless correction. One good tap on the muzzle, that gets the puppies attention could stop puppy biting}. Another way to go is, immediately after he bites, grab his muzzle with one hand, point at him with the other, and firmly say “NO”, this will eventually tell him that biting is the wrong behavior. Your puppy may pick it up rather quickly, or it may take a little time, just remember to show some patience. You will eventually be able to correct your pup verbally once he understands what is going on. This verbal “NO” command is going to prove to be very handy when he starts chewing on your shoes, socks, newspapers or anything else laying around for him to test his teeth on.

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Another way of moving him away from biting you and your personal items is doggy bones and chew toys. When the teething stage hits he is going to need something to chew and bite on so the chew toys get to serve another purpose. Whatever toys you choose need to be appropriate, they will need to be able to stand up to the intense chewing by sharp teeth for an extended period of time. Be careful of toys that are to small or poorly made because they can break off into s tiny pieces and get stuck in their throat.

While playing with your puppy, don’t encourage him to bite and play rough or it may become a bigger challenge to stop puppy biting, it’s best to avoid any bad behavior traits at this stage. It is going to take some time to fix the problem no matter what method you choose to use. All puppies go through certain stages in their life and puppy biting happens to be one of them. Don’t worry though, you will be able to get through the biting stage, just stay firm and patient.

postheadericon Al bullington keeps all kinds of pets including a dog, cats, quail, bantam chickens, standard chickens, guinea fowl and parakeets

Al Bullington keeps all kinds of pets including a dog, cats, quail, bantam chickens, standard chickens, guinea fowl and parakeets.

Shih Tzu puppy training can be done faster than you may think. Here are the tricks to get started right…

Shih Tzu puppy training is essential if you’re going to have a well-behaved adult Shih Tzu. It isn’t that an older dog cannot be trained, but it’s so much easier to start your dog off right. With just a few general training principles your puppy can get off to a great start.

Remember that what is cute behavior in a tiny little dog could be annoying at best in your adult pet. Remember too that no matter how much you love your new puppy, that puppy will grow to be an adult dog. Many times unacceptable behavior in an adult dog results in the dog leaving it’s home, not by choice either. So, you must not let behavior go that will endanger your long-term relationship with your pet.

We are talking about discipline here. You must first do some thinking about what is acceptable behavior to you. You as the pet owner must make decisions. And start early to set boundaries for your pet. What do you expect from your pet? What are your responsibilities? Do not let behavior problems go unchecked. Caring for a Shi Tzu puppy is a major responsibility, but a fun one too!

If you see a behavior problem developing and you do not know what to do, get some help. Training resources are widely available either with a local trainer or on the Internet plus books and videos. See, your pet is looking to you for guidance. You must not fail your pet. It may be you that really needs the training and not your pet.

But it is a large mistake to expect too much from a tiny puppy. Little Shih Tzu puppies are very easily distracted and have tiny small attention spans. Your little puppy can learn quickly, but do not push too hard and fast with training. Be patient, very patient with puppies.

To be successful with Shih Tzu puppy training, try to link rewards with desired behavior. Link a less desired outcome with undesired behavior. Please don’t think violence is necessary. Firm but gentle is the way to head off problems.

One of the first training steps is housebreaking your puppy. Don’t start too early. Check with your dog’s breeder for a suggested time to start training. Housebreaking is a task that must be done or else your pet will probably not stay at your house.

One way to handle this is to monitor your pup closely and scoop the pup up and get to the proper place for elimination before it happens. There are several methods plus several different products to help. Products to help include dog litter boxes, doggie diapers and potty pads.

House training is just the start. You can move on to obedience training and even on to teaching tricks to your puppy.

Your puppy can grow to be a fun and important part of your family with just a little guidance from you.

postheadericon Try as we may, there are certain afflictions that our animals seem to be prone to contracting despite our best efforts

Try as we may, there are certain afflictions that our animals seem to be prone to contracting despite our best efforts.  Ear mites are one of those maladies.  Ear mites can affect cats and dogs and left untreated can cause considerable harm.  Therefore, all pet owners need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of ear mite infestation and understand the necessary treatment.

An ear mite is a tiny insect related to the tick.  The feast off of the blood of your pet and burrow into the skin.  If viewed under a microscope they look like tiny crabs.  Once the mites have a firm hold with the tiny hooks on their legs, they are impossible to remove and must be killed.

The most common area of infestation is along the outside edges of the ears.  The ears are relatively dirty areas, especially on a dog, and the mites feast off of the dead skin and dirt found there.  The mites can quickly move from one animal to another through contact or through contaminated bedding.  In rare cases the mites can even infect humans, though it’s rare due to normal human hygiene.  Once one of your pets is infested, the rest of your menagerie will soon exhibit the tell tale ear scratching behavior of the afflicted.  A serious infestation can prevent the animal from sleeping and nearly drive them insane.

This furious scratching causes its own complications.  Often the animal will scratch until the skin is raw and bleeding.  As the mites multiply, they move farther and farther into the ear, leading to hearing problems.  Ears can be permanently scarred.  These wounds then become infected and if left untreated can be life threatening.  A good pet owner will never let the condition progress to this stage.

Preventive measures as always are the best option, followed by early treatment.  Owners should inspect their pets’ ears regularly for signs of infestation.  Vigorous scratching or shaking of the head will probably be the first sign that ear mites are present.  Visible indicators will look like dirty spots in the ears and there will usually be signs of bleeding.  Ears should be cleaned inside and out, especially if the animal has large floppy ears.  Medicated washes are available that can treat mild cases if caught early.  More serious cases might require medications and antibiotics to treat for infection.

Though difficult to prevent, ear mites are easily treated and should not cause a major problem.  However, if you ignore your pet’s health and hygiene, ear mites can blossom into a serious health problem.  Save yourself the annoyance and your pet the discomfort and perform routine checks every couple of weeks.  This simple measure is all that is required to keep this parasite at bay.

postheadericon Understanding that dogs and humans require care that is very similar is very important for the dog owner

Understanding that dogs and humans require care that is very similar is very important for the dog owner. Dogs adjust to their environment throw growth and learning in much of the same ways as a small child does. Understanding what is expected of them is a knowledge that the dog is not born with. From birth a dog must be taught to act and react to situations in the way that we expect them to. They need to know the difference between right and wrong. Introduced in this article are some common challenges in dog behavior.

“Separation Anxiety”, a type of anxiety that is common in both children and adults has been discovered that many dogs also suffer from this type of anxiety. Being separated from their owner can cause a lot of stress for the dog as a result of Separation Anxiety. There is a wide range of separation anxiety symptoms that a dog can the same as humans can show an assortment of symptoms. In the majority of the cases pertaining separation anxiety in dogs there are several symptoms that are present. They are as follows.

Sign of physical and emotional distress are signs that are made apparent to the owner. This symptom can become very severe. Showing these signs is a distinguished symptom caused from severe anxiety. One of the most common symptoms of separation anxiety is the habit of constant barking in the absence of the owner. The chewing of personal belongings may be another symptom of separation anxiety. As a result of high stress levels when separated from their owner, many dogs develop a habit of self injury.

Many dog owners may become extremely frustrated when their pet experiences these issues. If the situation has turned into a complication in your home, it is best to approach the pet with a calm demeanor and love. You may also consider visiting a veterinarian. The animal specialist may be able to prescribe a medication that will allow a change of attitude in the pet. Furthermore, they may be able to provide you with a reasonable manner of handling of the behavioral issue in the pet.

Many dog owners face the complication of overly excited pets that consistently jump up frequently. If this is something that you find is a common occurrence, and you are not keen on the idea, it is essential that you gently persuade an alternative behavior by being loving and gentle. Many dogs see this as a sign of their excitement to see you, and their love for you. In order for you to encourage a more acceptable behavior, follow the guidelines listed below:

? If you see that the dog is about to jump up, it is important that you take a step back and instruct the animal to sit. While this should not be said in a loud or negative way, it is imperative that it is said in a firm way.

? If the dog reacts in an appropriate manner, it is important to ensure that you encourage and reward as you deem appropriate.

? If you find that the basic behavior reward system fails to work as appropriate, then it is important to review basic skills, such as sitting.

By using the guidelines in this article, you are sure to see a positive change in the behavior of your pet. It does take patience, and dedication, but success is eminent if handle your pet with the same love and consideration that you would