Dog Training

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DOG GOES BALLISTIC WHEN JOGGING WITH OWNER

Author: Adam G. Katz

Dear Adam:

My dog, Chance, we think is a Golden retriever mix, but he's mostly white with gold patches. Also he's about 2/3 the size of a Golden Retriever.

He's 18 months old and has been loose-leash trained pretty well as long as you don't let him get distracted.

The thing I don't know how to handle is that some dogs that we meet when we're out jogging or walking, he goes ballistic.

We have used a choke chain to train him, and it seemed to work well. But there is that occasional dog that we meet will get him so riled that he pulls, then spins, then pulls backwards, then jumps up and down, then spins again - all to get loose to go attack the other dog.

What are my options?

- Greg

Dear Greg:

My first question is: Why aren't you using a pinch collar? This is advocated ad nausea in the book�

Furthermore, distractions should not be avoided. They should be actively sought after. Distractions make your dog better. They allow you to teach your dog that you are going to make him behave EVEN AROUND A DISTRACTION.

My hunch is that he�s not listening to you because you�re using a choke chain collar and you�re not able to get a good correction. If you WERE getting a good correction, he wouldn�t be throwing a tantrum.

He can�t be watching the other dog and watching you at the same time. If he has to worry about you sneaking off and getting caught at the end of the leash (where he gets a correction from the collar)� then he�s not going to have enough room in his brain left to think about going after the other dog.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!

About the Author

Author, �Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!� which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq

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Dog Grooming

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Dog Ear Care - Keeping Your Dog's Ears Healthy & Pain Free

Author: Teresa James, Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com

Importance of Regular Home Dog Ear Care

Routine home dog ear care is very important to the health of your dog. Performed between your regular checkups with the veterinarian, it will help keep your dog�s ears healthy and pain free. If you see signs of trouble you may be able to head them off before they require an extra visit to the vet. Excessive wax, foul odor, redness, constant scratching, excessive matting of hair in the external ear, rubbing the ears against other objects, head shaking, and disorientation can all be signs of ear problems.

Inspect Your Dog�s Ears Regularly By Using Your Eyes & Your Nose!

By performing a home dog ear care inspection; you will be able to detect problems early. Use both your eyes and your nose. If you need help seeing inside your dog�s ears you may want to invest in a pet scope. A tool very similar to the kind your doctor uses to check your ears. Check for redness, excessive wax build up or any other foreign matter.

Sniffing your dog�s ears is another way to detect problems early. Normally a dog�s ears shouldn�t smell foul in any way. If you see a dark waxy discharge this may be a sign of ear mites. On the other hand, if you see a pus-like discharge along with a foul smell this may be a sign of a bacterial infection. Allergies are also known to cause some dogs to have smelly ears. If you�re new to this and are unsure have the vet check your dog�s ears. Right after the vet gives your dog a clean bill of health make sure you inspect your dog�s ears. This way you will learn how your pet�s ears should normally look and smell.

Is Your Breed of Dog More Susceptible To Dog Ear Care Problems?

Due to the warm, damp, and dark environment, as well as poor air circulation, your dog�s ear canal can be the prefect breeding ground for mites, yeast or bacterial infection. This is why, for certain breeds, home dog ear care is even more important. Some pets may require routine applications of dog ear care products to keep their ears free of mites, yeast or bacterial infections.

Some dog�s ears stand straight up which allows for more air to flow into the ear canal. Dogs with floppy ears, like spaniels and bloodhounds, are very prone to ear infections because very little air flows into their ear canals. There are also breeds, like the Lhasa, that have a heavy growth of hair inside their ears. This hair must be routinely removed as a prevention against chronic ear problems.

If Excess Ear Hair Is A Dog Ear Care Problem Learn How To Remove It

If you suspect that excess ear hair is a problem, you may need to pluck the hair that grows inside your dog�s ears. This is a routine dog ear care task that can be performed at home and is much easier then it sounds. You will want to apply dog ear powder to the inside of both ears. Make sure that the hair is completely covered, especially at the base. Once the powder has dried start plucking a few hairs at a time with your fingers or a tweezers. Plucking just a few hairs at a time will be less irritating for the dog.

You may want to stop a few times to give your dog�s ears a good rub. Make sure you give your dog lots of praise and a few dog treats too. Once all the inside hair has been removed, follow up by cleaning and inspecting the ears. If you are unsure about this dog ear care procedure, have your vet or a professional groomer show you how to do it.

Things You Should Know About Cleaning Your Dog�s Ears

Some vets recommend that owners routinely flush their dog�s ears with warm water at the slightest hint of odor. Other home dog ear care cleaning remedies include mineral oil, hydrogen peroxide, or a combination of equal parts of vinegar and rubbing alcohol. If your dog has open sores it's best not to use the vinegar and alcohol because it will cause a burning sensation.

If your dog is prone to ear infections you may want to use a pet ear care product that is specifically formulated to clean and dry up excess moisture in the ear canal. A dog ear wash containing Tea Tree Oil, which is also formulated to dry the ear canal is an excellent choice. Tea Tree Oil�s natural antiseptic, antibacterial and fungicidal properties can help keep your dog�s ears problem free.

It�s also a good idea to use a pet ear-drying agent after bathing or swimming especially if your dog's ears retain moisture and don't dry promptly. There are many good pet ear care products available for routine ear cleaning that will dissolve wax, remove foreign debris and dry the ear canal. There are also home dog care treatments available that will kill pesky ear mites and ear ticks.

A dog�s ear canal is L-shaped. It descends vertically and it makes a 90-degree horizontal turn before it reaches the eardrum. Even though your dog�s eardrum is better protected than a human�s, you should still proceed with caution when cleaning the ear canal. Many vets urge caution when inserting anything into the ear canal, especially cotton-tipped swabs. They can actually push dirt and foreign matter deeper into the ear if not handled properly. You can even lose the cotton tip in the ear canal.

Start cleaning the external part of the ear by swabbing inside the earflaps and all around the gnarled area at the entrance of the ear canal. If you choose to use a cotton-tipped swab you will need a long type since a dog�s ear canal is much deeper than ours. If your dog will tolerate it, gently and carefully swab the inside of the ear canal. A much safer method is to fill the ear canal with a pet ear cleaning solution and gently massage the outer ear. After a few minutes allow your dog to shake his head to help clear the ear canal. If you�re using a commercial pet ear care product be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

Make Ear Inspections An Important Part Of Your Home Dog Ear Care Routine

Checking your dog�s ears only takes a few minutes so make it a part of your dog grooming routine. And when your dog�s ears need a cleaning don�t put it off. Remember regular cleanings can prevent many common ear problems. If you think a problem may be developing that is beyond the scope of your home dog ear care routine, take your dog to the vet for a check up immediately. An infection, if left untreated, can be very painful for your dog and could even damage your dog�s hearing.

About the Author

Article courtesy of: href="http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/">Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com a website dedicated to providing dog care advice on a broad range of dog-related topics. Includes informative articles, frequently asked questions, recommendations, and href="http://www.dog-supplies-advisor.com/free-dog-ezine.html">Free Ezine.

Copyright 2004 Dog-Supplies-Advisor.com, all rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

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Dog Breeding

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Dog Breeding

Author: Mark Woodcock

So you have a female pedigree dog with papers, you want to make some extra cash, so you think you'll go ahead and mate her with a stud so she'll breed and have some puppies. Not so easy! Proper breeding needs time, education, experience and of course money. Dog breeding does not make you money. If you are a good dog breeder, after postnatal care costs and proper veterinary care costs, there is little money left. Inexperienced dog breeders could end up with unwanted puppies which will just contribute to the growing dog overpopulation problem that exists. There are some 3 million plus unwanted dogs and cats in the United States, around 25 per cent of them are purebred. Of course there has to be some breeding, as without breeding we would have no puppies to grow into dogs.

Good reasons to breed your bitch is to perpetuate good qualitities of certain breeds of dog and to perpetuate a specific breed. If you breed puppies which are in demand, then you will usually be able to find them good homes. You should consider several things first if you are seriously considering breeding. Is your bitch of a good quality to be bred? Does your bitch fit her breed standard? Have your bitch examined by a veterinarian for her suitability for pregnancy and therefore avoiding inheritable abnormalities. If your bitch can match up to these things and fits her breed standard, is healthy you may want to breed her to pass on her good traits. You should start by finding a reputable breeder to mentor your, attend dog shows and educate yourself by reading about breeding. You should also develop a good relationship with your veterinarian, one who could be called upon for any pregnancy and whelping problems you may encounter.

Getting your bitch pregnant is not as simple as you may first think. You should choose a good stud dog, check out its pedigree. cycles also vary from breed to breed and individual to individual to the timing of mating is also crucial to ensure pregnancy and in some cases may have to be repeated if mated to early or too late in your bitches cycle. Some people assume that dogs don't have problems during pregnancy or whelping, in the case of purebred dogs that have been unnaturally selected, this is not the case and some breeds may be prone to complications. It is common during whelping to lose some puppies and therefore it is essential that you work along with your veterinarian to laern how to identify and handle any problems that may arise. Breeding is not a light undertaking, it's not just a hobby and does not always make you money like a business should. You should therefore take your time, you should have some money to invest along with plenty of energy.

If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this live link to: http://www.1fleacontrol.com" target=_new>http://www.1fleacontrol.com

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