Posts Tagged ‘Dog Collars’
Animal Safety to Keep You Pet Cool
Dogs in hot cars face an immediate crisis that is entirely preventable,” Alexis Raymond, Communications Director of the national non-profit, told Zootoo Pet News. “By educating pet owners and others that leaving a dog in the car when the weather is even mildly warm, we hope to save many animals from suffering and dying.
Download your reminder and share with others. I found these 2 posters on
http://www.mydogiscool.com/downloads/HotCar-Store-Sign.pdf
http://www.mydogiscool.com/downloads/MDIC_poster_8×11.pdf
This post is all about being aware of who you carry in the car with you. I know my dog, Baby, discovered she loves taking car rides now. So every time I pick up my car keys she is dancing around. I would love to take her everywhere I go but I also have to keep in mind that I may not be able to take her in the various companies that I have to visit. It is for their safety not our companionship that should be taken into account.
Another part of the safety issue is leaving their dog leash on them unattended. There is always a possiblity of it getting caught in the seat or over the headrest. This creates a whole new problem for your pet. Just please be aware of any and all dangers.
So I am asking you to please think before you accidently do something to harm the health and safety of your pet.
Maintaining Canine Health
If you care enough about your dog, you must learn how to take care of him properly. Aside from the necessities like food, water, and shelter that you need to provide, dog health is one important aspect that every dog owner should be very knowledgeable on. After all, pets need more than love to be happy and healthy. Know what important dog care products you should buy that are ideal for your dog’s specific needs.
When buying dog care products, keep these tips in mind:
~Ask your vet; he’s the best person to get advice from when it comes to suggesting good pet products
~Read consumer reviews before shelling out any money
~Bring your dog along to pet stores when choosing health care supplies. He might even choose his toys and treats himself
~Research the climate in your area and how it can affect your pet’s health
~Learn more about your dog’s breed, their common problems and particular needs
~Know your dog’s size and weight well so it would be easy when buying items like dog leads, collars and carriers
The Glam Pet For 2010
Give them a gift of a New Look!
In 2010, give your pet the gift of glam! A regular grooming regimen will make your pet feel proud, pampered and healthy. After all the pampering of their bath and brushing and teeth cleaning, why not dress them up in a new dog collar and outfit. Or purhaps you will need a new halter for your horse or a lead rope.
What will you do for you pet today?
Is A Halter Better For My Dog?
Many people today want to use the gentlest method possible for controlling and training their dog. Choke collars, pinch collars, and prong collars make many people uncomfortable. Some people prefer to use halters such as the Halti or Gentle Leader for their dogs but there are pros and cons to these head collars. Should you use one for your dog?
A head collar is different from an ordinary collar for dogs. Most regular collars fit around a dog’s neck. Head collars work like a horse halter. They have straps that fit behind your dog’s ears, along the cheeks and over your dog’s nose. It is this nose strap that really controls your dog. There is a D ring on the underside of the head collar where you attach your leash.
It’s important to properly size a head collar to fit your dog. Otherwise the halter won’t be effective at all.
Most dogs don’t like a head collar at first. Some dogs never get used to them. When you put the head collar on your dog you should allow plenty of time for your dog to get used to it. Let your dog wear the head collar in the house a few times before you ever try to take him anywhere wearing the halter. Give him some treats when you put the head collar on. Give treats and take the head collar off. You can do this a few times so that he associates the head collar with something pleasant. You can even put the head collar on before you feed your dog and let him eat while he’s wearing it.
After your dog has gotten used to wearing the halter you can attach your leash and practice walking your dog. You can practice in the house before going in the backyard or on a quiet street.
It’s a good idea to have a standard collar on your dog and an extra leash with you, just in case. It’s always possible that the halter could break and you might need to attach your leash to the back-up collar.
Walk your dog on a loose leash and let him walk in front of you. Head collars are great for controlling boisterous dogs and dogs that aggressively pull. They are often chosen by small people with very large dogs since they help them control the dogs better. Your dog should be walking more quietly for you with the head collar.
You can practice walking 10 to 20 feet, then give your dog a treat. Keep this up for a few days and your dog should be walking quietly for you.
Those are the basics of training your dog to walk with a head collar. It’s not hard to teach your dog but there are pros and cons about using a halter on a dog. Some trainers believe that a head collar is a “quick fix” for a training problem. If your dog pulls when you walk him with an ordinary collar, you haven’t really solved the problem by putting your dog in a head collar. You have only increased your control. If you put your dog back in an ordinary collar your dog will likely still pull.
Other people dislike using the head collar because, with the nose strap around the dog’s muzzle, it looks like your dog is wearing a muzzle. This can give people the impression that you have an aggressive dog which makes many owners uncomfortable.
By far the most serious negative about using the head collar is that there is the potential for soft tissue damage and damage to the spine from using the halter. The head collar works on a dog’s nose instead of the lower neck. If a dog moves out to the end of the leash and yanks or is pulled back, or if you simply don’t see what he’s doing, his head can be whipped to the side at the top of the spine. This is similar to a facemask injury in football, with the head being whipped around to the side and it can cause a lot of physical damage to your dog, especially if it happens repeatedly.
And, as already mentioned, many dogs simply seem to hate the head collars. They don’t seem to like having something placed on their nose, especially so close to their eyes. Although the halter is similar in design to a horse halter, the head of a horse and that of a dog are very different.
Head collars are very effective for dogs that pull a lot, especially for small people trying to control large dogs, but you’ll have to make your own evaluation about the pros and cons and whether you think the good outweighs the bad.
<a href=”http://information.i-love-dogs.com/dog-articles/dog-training/4190-Halter-Better-For-Dog.html”>Is A Halter Better For My Dog?</a> courtesy of <a href=”http://information.i-love-dogs.com/dog-articles/”>Dog Articles</a>
Do You Approve of the Shots Required??
After you pick out your new puppy or adopted a new dog and bought all the new toys and new dog collars and great food, the next thing you need to do is to take them to the vet to make sure they are healthy.
The first thing the Vet wants to do is to de-worm them as well as give them a multitude of shots, for parvo, dis-temper and rabies, etc. There has been some controversy over the amount of shots as well as how often they need to be given. WHat are your thoughts?
Medicated Dogs?
Genuine separation anxiety can be a serious problem for a dog. It is much more than simply having a dog that barks and cries when you leave the house. With genuine separation anxiety your dog cannot stand to be away from you even when you’re home. He follows you from room to room. He may become so stressed about being near you that he will use the bathroom in the house. He can even bark and cry for you when you are gone and there are other people present. And he will do these things if you are gone for 30 minutes or less. Dogs with separation anxiety may also dig, chew, scratch themselves, or exhibit other kinds of destructive behavior. Separation anxiety is a psychological condition and it may require medication for treatment.
Separation anxiety can occur with any dog but it is most common with dogs who have been abused, abandoned or with those which were not properly socialized when young. No one knows exactly what causes it but you should know that it is an actual anxiety condition. When your dog does these things he is not disobeying you or being deliberately destructive. Even if he is housebroken or normally well-behaved, he cannot help his behavior when he has this much anxiety. A combination of medication and behavior modification can allow him to live a normal life again.
If you suspect that your dog has separation anxiety you should first consult with your veterinarian. He or she can rule out any physical reasons for your dog’s problems. Your vet may recommend a complete blood count, urinalysis and other tests. Once other causes are ruled out your vet may prescribe one of the medications often used for separation anxiety, such as clomipramine and amitriptyline. These drugs should be given exactly as prescribed. They must be taken regularly and not just when your dog is showing symptoms of anxiety. It may take several weeks for them to begin to be effective so it’s necessary to follow the prescription and directions precisely.
Once your dog begins to respond to medication it’s a good idea to consult with an animal behavioral consultant. This professional can try some behavior modification techniques to try to help your dog. Your vet may also be able to help you with these behavior modification exercises. These exercises will work on some of the behaviors your dog exhibits under stress, such as barking or housebreaking problems. Your dog may not be able to respond to these exercises until he is taking medication to reduce his anxiety. That’s why behavior modification usually comes after medication has begun.
It’s also a good idea to make sure your dog gets plenty of outdoor exercise. Exercise in general will be good for him and it will help provide some positive stimulation for him. Don’t forget mental stimulation, too. Do things at home with your dog. Provide toys and chews for him so he won’t get bored.
If you still must leave your dog during the day while you work (and most of us do), consider taking your dog to a doggy daycare where he will be around other people and dogs. Or think about taking him to a friend’s house during the day, or getting a pet sitter to come to your house. These things will all help your dog cope with your absence; at least until his separation anxiety is under control.
Genuine separation anxiety is a serious psychological problem and it needs a combination of treatments. Don’t give up hope. Your dog can be treated and live a normal life again. You will be able to leave the house without your best friend falling to pieces. It just takes patience and treatment.
Gift of Adoption
If you read the newspapers or watch the news you have a slight idea of the animal abuse that occurs day in and day out. It is a never ending battle of what the American Humane Society fights daily.
I am taking a hint from the American Humane Society and asking that if you are thinking of adopting a pet for a family member or friend, please remember that it is a huge decision to take on your own. You may have the best of intentions to rescue an animal in need but if the receiver of that gift that does not appreciate the gesture than it is more heartbreaking and confusing for the animal to have to return the adoption center.
The best way to give the gift of adoption is to wrap a dog collar, dog toys or a horse halter in a box and present that as a gift with a card. In the card let them know that you are giving the gift of adoption to them at a time when they can visit a shelter and choose the best pet for them.
Providing a gift in this way is providing happiness for both the animal and the person receiving your gift.
Check out www.americanhumane.org for more information on adoption.
Pet Holiday?
Just a quick question for everyone.
Do you do anything special for your pets during the holidays?
I know we usually have special gifts and we hang a stocking for them. Maybe its the time of year to give a new collar or leash. Or maybe even a special new halter.
Canine Wheelchair
I am in the process of developing a new wheelchair for dogs. I have found, after having to purchase one for my dog Charlie, that it is a very expensive tool. There are also very few brands to choose from ranging from$300-$575. My thought on this topic is that it is not at a price point that most can afford. To think that you would possibly have to euthanize your pet because of a medical condition that can be assisted is absolutely heartbreaking.
I would like to ask a few questions from others that have had this experience or those that may soon face the need to purchase a canine wheelchair.
1. How much would you pay?
2. What are some concerns (i.e. portability, weight, etc)?
3. Would it beneficial to have it size adjustable?
Energy Work for Animals
I was wondering if anyone else has ever performed Reiki or any other kind of energy work on their pets.
Since I began providing massage many years ago, I found that energy work was just another stepping stone to provide a noninvasive treatment to my pets. It seemed to lessen their arthritis symptoms and actually helped to enhance their recovery after surgery. It was also just another way to provide that special bond. It was also an amazing thrill to be able to provide a noninvasive treatment to those horses that are not use to the touch that massage entails.
The best thing about the energy work is that they don’t have to be tied up with leads or leashes, they don’t even need a dog collar on or a halter!