All About Dog Care

Dogs possess a 2-year-old child's capacity to understand human pointing gestures, with dogs requiring next to zero learning time to figure out the visual communication, according to two recent studies.

Some of the most common, and beautiful, ornamental plants can be deadly for pets. Among the most dangerous are azaleas, rhododendron, oleander, foxglove and lily of the valley.

The first few moments after an emergency are the most important, and your quick response could save a dog’s life.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug made specifically to treat cancer in dogs.

The importance of socializing a puppy can never be over-emphasized, but what exactly does it mean? And how does one go about it?

Socialization is the process where a puppy learns to recognize and interact with other individuals of its own species, with people of different ages, races and genders, and with other animals that she is likely to come into contact with, such as cats and birds.

The dog will learn the skills necessary to communicate with and interpret the other animals’ intentions, avoiding unnecessary hostilities. The dog will also learn to cope with stress and will suffer less as an adult in stressful situations.

When talking of socialization, we need to get  a puppy accustomed to different places, sights and sounds so that he becomes confident in new situations and gets used to as many different stimuli as possible.

There are certain periods in a puppy’s development that are more important than others. The most sensitive socialization period begins at around 3 weeks of age and begins to reduce by 12 weeks. Peak sensitivity is between 6 and 8 weeks of age. It is important to remember that puppies need continual social interaction to maintain their socialization and failure to do so will mean that they regress or become fearful again.

During the 6-8 month period is another sensitive time for socialization and owners and trainers can use this window to further train their dogs.

Early socialization is, of course, in the hands of the breeder and if they are conscientious and responsible they will ensure that the puppies are handled frequently, as well being exposed to normal household stimuli such as the television, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, doorbell etc. Puppies raised in a quiet kennel or room will have trouble adapting to a normal family environment and may take a little more patience in your methods.

So, now we know why and when socialization should be carried out, how do you do it?

1.Introduce your puppy to new stimuli and other people and pets in a systematic and controlled way.  The idea is that it should be pleasurable and fun, as behavior is being formed. They may be challenging, but if done in the right way, the puppy will learn that there is no threat and that he is safe to explore and meet new friends and situations without being fearful. This provides the best chance of him developing a sound temperament and capacity to cope in all circumstances.

2.Once the puppy is at home with you, it is your job to continue carefully introducing him to different people, animals and stimuli. As you introduce the puppy to new people, places, objects and situations you must be in complete control of the experience. Avoid unfriendly dogs, adults, and children who do not understand how to be kind and gentle with animals.

3. Invite friends to your house soon after you bring your puppy home to teach him that guests are friendly and welcome in his new home. Give your friends treats to give to the puppy so he is rewarded.

4.Introduce him to one or two other friendly, healthy, fully-vaccinated dogs  –he can join in with bigger groups once he has all his shots and has learned some dog social skills and has over-come any fear. Always be ready to intervene if your puppy is scared, threatened or being bullied by another dog.

5.Evaluate your lifestyle and environment and assess what situations are lacking.  If you live near a dog friendly beach, or a dog park take him there. Nowadays, pet stores allow you to take your pet too.   Be sure they have had all their vaccinations first.  Inform your veterinarian you plan to socialize your dog to new environments, possible dog populated.

6. Make sure your dog meets some cats who are dog-friendly. If you do have a feline in your home, don’t force the relationship, it will develop on its’ own.  Both puppy and cat will be curious and will work out their domains.  Discourage your puppy from chasing the cat early on, avoiding a habit that will be difficult to change.  Many dogs and cats cohabitate with great success.

7.If your household has no children, introduce your puppy to some children who can regularly play gently with him. Always supervise them to ensure the children are gentle and that your dog is responding well and not becoming nervous or aggressive.

8.Another helpful step would be to enroll in puppy socialization and training class. This provides a great opportunity for puppies to socialize with other dogs, for puppies to learn obedience training in a playful environment with plenty of distractions and also for owners to learn training and communication techniques

9.You can still socialize your puppy by carrying him into different situations and taking him in the car, allowing him to see many different things in a safe environment and he will get used to trips in the car at the same time.  Keep in mind to use the leash whenever your pet is in the car.

10.Use treats and praise to reinforce good behavior.  If your puppy appears fearful of a situation, simply change the situation (i.e. ask an approaching person to step back or pick up your puppy to get him out of a difficult situation) until he feels safe and secure once more.

Even though early socialization is important to your puppy’s success, always protect your his health. If your dog is not fully vaccinated, don’t put him down on the ground where there may be dog urine or feces, and don’t let him interact with other dogs that may carry disease.

All interaction with your puppy during the early stages of his life involves consistently rewarding desirable behavior which will increase the likelihood the dog will repeat this behavior. It will also help to prevent the development of undesirable habits.

If you've ever left your dog in the car for "just five minutes" on a summer day, the officers of the Washington Humane Society want you to hear some cautionary tales.

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Year round, but especially in the summer, ticks are everywhere and can carry some dangerous diseases. Here’s how to remove any that attach to you or your pet.

Steps

1. Get a pair of fine pointed tweezers.
2. Find the head of the tick, which is usually buried just beneath the skin.
3. Get your tweezers as close to the head of the tick as you possibly can. Do not grasp the tick’s body, as this will cause it to inject saliva or blood into your skin, increasing the chance of transmitting a disease.
4. Without jerking, pull firmly and steadily directly outward. It’s not uncommon for the skin to pull with it until the tick finally detaches.
5. Make sure that the tick has been removed entirely from your skin. If part of the tick remains in the skin, as shown in the picture, have a doctor pull it out.
6. Treat the wound with antiseptic. Alcohol can be used to help prevent the spreading of tick-borne disease. This is most effective right after the tick is removed.
7. Note the date of the tick bite on your calendar in case symptoms develop later. You will need this information for your doctor.

Video

In this video Dr. Lauren shows you how to remove a tick from your pet.

Tips

• Removing a tick shortly after being bitten greatly reduces the chance of disease transmission. It is unlikely that you will contract Lyme disease if the tick has been attached to you for 24 hours or fewer.
• Learn to recognize Lyme disease symptoms. Lyme disease is generally characterized by a large, circular rash that looks like a target, though some may experience other symptoms.

Warnings

• Do not twist the tick out or apply petroleum jelly, a hot match, alcohol, nail polish or any other irritant to the tick in an attempt to get it to back out. Doing so may cause the tick to release extra saliva or regurgitate, increasing the chances of being infected by any pathogens carried by the tick.
• Do not try to pull it off with your hands. You may leave the head piece, which can lead to infection

Things You’ll Need

• Tweezers
• Cotton ball
• Rubbing alcohol

Related wikiHows

• How to Recognize Lyme Disease Symptoms
• How to Get Rid of Fleas
• How to Kill Fleas in a Home

Sources and Citations

1. ? http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/Prevention/ld_Prevention_Avoid.htm
2. ? http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tick_removal.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Thanks to the many special authors of this content from wikiHow at How to Remove a Tick. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Do you have a Marley at your house?

Whether you are a new dog owner or you have had a dog or multiple dogs in your home for some time, you know the joy and challenges owning dogs can be. And if you are new to being a dog owner, you may need help to keep the harmony.

Many pet owners will agree, bringing home a new dog is almost like having a newborn in the house, especially those first few nights away from mom, siblings and environment.

One of your main concerns after learning general health care for your dog should be your dogs’ behavior.

How do you ensure that your dog behaves in the manner of you expect?

If you are thinking that the answer is “breed” you are partially correct. Indeed, breed does play a role in a dog’s behavior.

But an even greater factor in the dog’s behavior is based on the training he receives. Good dog training resources can go a long way toward helping both you and your dog.

The Benefits of Training

If you are like most people, you are extremely busy. Some days, there just doesn’t seem like enough hours to take care of yourself, let alone a dog or two!

But, the time that you spend training your dog in the beginning will reap huge rewards with your  relationship for many, many years to come.

There are five main benefits of training:

1.Training Builds a Relationship.

There is no better way to create a bond with your dog than through the process of training. You may think that training begins at the time you decide to try new tricks, but it actually begins at the very moment you acquire your dog.  Their routine is established by you.

Your dog is constantly watching you and learning from your actions. He learns from the way you react to his actions. He looks to you for guidance, for food, for warmth, for comfort, and for playtime. Can you see the different body language reactions?

Although dogs may not be able to reason, they react to different tone and volume in your voice in different ways.  Pick up the dog bowl, what does your dog do?  He wags his tail, barks, etc. because he relates your body actions to what his reward is going to be…food!

2.Training Corrects Behavioral Problems.

Barking at anyone who passes by the front window, chewing up your favorite pillows, digging through your freshly planted garden, bolting out of an open door…do any of these actions look familiar to you?

When you have developed a trusting bond with your dog, you can teach him how to correct these behavioral problems. He will learn by your reactions whether or not his actions are acceptable to you. No doubt, he will test his limits!

3.Training Stimulates Intellect.

Yes, it is true that dogs are very curious creatures. With exposure to so many unusual smells, sights, and sounds, dogs can’t help but want to explore. It’s in their nature!

Most dogs have the capacity to be very intelligent. But, they need to be stimulated first, and then they will be motivated to learn. Training is a huge benefit for stimulating your dog’s intellect.

4.Training Encourages Inclusion.

The sense of “inclusion” is very important to a dog’s security. From the earliest days of being a part of a litter, your dog is comfortable being a part of the pack. That includes being a member of your household now.

Although there is usually a primary dog trainer, everyone in your family or household should take the time to train your dog in one way or another. The undivided attention he receives makes him feel like part of the family and adds to his social skills.

5.Training Saves Time.

Another huge benefit of training your dog is that it saves you time. Taking the time to train your dog now, will actually save you time in the long run. For example, if you take the time to train your dog to behave properly inside the house, you will actually be saving time cleaning up mischievous messes that he could create in the future-if he didn’t have the training.

Begin training as soon as possible, give lots of praise even for the little steps.  Remember, your dogs’ time with you is very short, be patient and your reward will be well worth your time invested.  It doesn’t take a dog long to know what is expected from him and provide you with unconditional love and devotion.

Training is a joint effort with your pet and family.  Sharda Baker has published several excellent dog eBooks and audios. If you need more dog training help and advice, I highly recommend getting one of Sharda’s guides.