Basic Dog Training

Basic Dog Training

Basic Dog Training
Although there are various techniques used to train dogs, the basics of any training regime are consistency and plenty of exercise. Discipline and affection are also key to a well-trained dog. Dogs need a leader - they feel more confident with a leader. If their owner is not the leader, they will take the role instead of their owner or anyone else. No matter what training methods you implement, without consistency, your dog will be confused. Consistency should include the whole family and any friends whom your dog regularly encounters.
Dogs tend to follow precedent, if you allow your dog to jump up on a passerby, then your dog will try to jump up on other people too. Make sure the whole family understands and follows the rules with your dog, or else your dog will learn when and with whom it can misbehave.
Children are at a greater risk for injury because dogs learn quickly that they don't have to follow the rules with them. Kids should learn the dog's obedience commands, and with an adult's supervision, the dog should learn that they have to obey children, too.
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To establish more leadership in the dog's mind, family members should eat before feeding the pets. In the dog's world, who ever eats first is dominant. Another great way to establish dominance and leadership is exercise. As many dog trainers say, "a tired dog is a good dog," so regular exercise is a must.
There is no better way to demonstrate you're the leader than by walking your dog. Walking your dog when it is tired makes it much easier to keep your dog from pulling you. Your dog should walk next to you calmly with a loose leash; walking incorrectly will reinforce to your dog that it is in fact the leader. If your dog pulls at the leash, wanders, zig-zags, or stops to relieve or mark, it is the one making the decisions and this reinforces the fact the dog is the leader.

Affection and rewards are good, but too many people only give praise and treats without discipline. Make sure you are not sending mixed signals, do not give your dog any positive attention while it is misbehaving. For example, when a dog whines, some people think they should reassure it, by stroking it and saying it is okay. Not only is this telling the dog that it is okay to whine, but it also tells the dog that when it whines, it will get praise and attention. This is where people have to pay close attention to the signals they are sending to their dogs, because miscommunication is always a possibility and difficult to correct.

Another common mistake is repeating obedience commands to your dog. If you tell your dog to "Sit" and it does not do so, repeating the command "Sit" multiple times encourages the dog to ignore you more. The best training technique is to tell your dog to "Sit", and if it does praise it. If it does not sit, make it sit by pulling up gently on the leash and pushing down with your hand on their pelvis. Dogs start to ignore commands when people repeat commands and don't follow through. A command should be said once and then you should follow through with making your dog do what you asked. Remember, in any method of dog training, consistency and exercise are key to training an obedient dog. The dog will be happier and will be a wonderful family member.

Do Cats Really Love Milk?

Do Cats Really Love Milk?

Cats, unlike dogs, are true carnivores which means they thrive on meat only diets and require no vegetable, grain, or dairy supplementation. Cows milk is not recommended for cats because it can be too rich for their digestive systems. This is because most cats can't digest milk properly because it contains lactose and most cats are lactose intolerant. The proteins in cow milk are too large for cats to properly digest which can cause intestinal upset, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Kittens especially can have difficulty digesting milk. There are other things that you can provide for your cat which are healthier. For young kittens that have been separated from their mothers before the age of weaning, try kitten milk subsititute. Recently, special new lactose-free milk has been developed and is now sold at pet food stores and most large pet supply stores. It is formulated to contain the same vitamins as the mother's milk and is gentle on kittens' digestive systems. These specially formulated kitty "milks" do not have cow's milk in them and are treated with the enzyme lactase to break down the milk sugar and make it digestible. Please consider looking for one of these the next time you would like to treat your kitty with milk.

Not all cats react badly to milk, but it is better be on the safe side. Generally speaking, milk is not recommended for cats, however, some experts advise that cream is better than regular milk if you must give it to your cat, most likely because cream has less lactose than whole or skim milk.

Essential to a cat's health is plenty of clean water. Change your cat's water dish regularly and keep it within easy reach.

Put Some Teeth Into Your Pet’s Dental Care

Put Some Teeth Into Your Pet’s Dental Care

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, nearly two-thirds of pets suffer from dental problems because their owners do not provide dental care for them. Imagine what would happen to your own teeth if they were never brushed or examined by a dentist,
The same thing can happen with your pet’s teeth. Just as in humans, not brushing leaves bacteria and plaque in your pet’s mouth. As this hardens into tartar and builds up on the teeth, it starts invading between the teeth and gums. Left unchecked, your pet can experience gingivitis, loss of the gum and supporting structures, and eventually the loss of a tooth. Abscessed teeth frequently develop from this process or from a fractured tooth. These can lead to an infection, problems eating, or serious health complications in your pet’s heart, kidneys or liver. Studies show that poor dental care shortens their life span by 20%.

Fortunately there are many steps that can be taken to insure good oral health for pets. Most importantly, you can begin at home by brushing your pet’s teeth regularly, this means every day! Don’t use your toothpaste, it creates suds, which is ok for humans since we can rinse and spit. There are special pet toothbrushes you can use on pets and toothpastes that are ok for pets to swallow. It’s best to start when you first bring your puppy or kitten home, but even an older dog or cat can be taught to tolerate regular brushing. Chewing hard food and playing with hard toys can also help dislodge some of the plaque in your pet’s mouth, but make sure the chew toy is not too hard or your dog could fracture a tooth.

You should also be sure to make regular appointments with your veterinarian for dental care. Dental specialists recommend annual dental cleanings under anesthesia with your veterinarian. He will examine your pet’s teeth and may take x-rays to look for hidden lesions of dental decay, abscesses at the tip of the root, or retained roots from broken teeth. The doctor will remove accumulated plaque, clean and polish your pet’s teeth, and may apply fluoride or a protective sealant. In certain cases your veterinarian may need to perform dental surgery such as a root canal or extraction.

One sign that your pet may be having dental problems is bad breath. Other signs may include a disinterest in eating, drooling, loose teeth, pain when touched, inflamed or red gums, or bleeding. If you notice any of these signs in your pet, it is important to make an appointment with your veterinarian right away. But don't wait for these signs to develop, brush their teeth daily. With annual dental cleanings and treatments and regular brushing, you could prevent these symptoms!

Don’t ignore your pet’s teeth. Work together with your veterinarian to take the steps necessary to insure your pet keeps those pearly whites for a long time to come!
Sources:
American Animal Hospital Association, Dental Care Guidelines
ASPCA, Ten Steps to Your Dog’s Dental Health

American Veterinary Dental College

career working with animals

Are you interested in a career working with animals?

Are you interested in a career working with animals? World of Animals Veterinary Hospitals Inc. is looking for reliable, dedicated veterinary assistants to work part time. Potential for full time. Primary duties will include, restraining pets for examinations and diagnostics; walking and feeding pets in the hospital and kennel; cleaning cages, runs and hospital facility; developing x-rays and running lab tests. Ideal candidates are anxious to learn and willing to work with our doctors, technicians and front desk staff as a team to provide caring, efficient service to our patients. Previous veterinary experience is a plus but we are willing to train the right people. There are openings at both of our locations: Center City and Huntingdon Valley.

If interested please email your resume with references and salary requirements to: wofainc@gmail.com

 

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Good Dental care can add 3-5 years

Good Dental care can add 3-5 years to your pets life !

 Our goal is to make our clients aware of the benefits of regular dental care. Just as you brush your teeth and have them professionally cleaned for good overall health and appearance, so should your pet.

Plaque and tarter build up on teeth over time. If unchecked, it eventually can cause a variety of dental conditions that range from bad breath, to root abscesses and difficulty eating.

Consider these facts:

* 85% of all dogs and cats, 5 years of age and older have some degree of dental disease.
* Infected gums and teeth contain a multitude of bacteria that can spread to other parts of the body, infecting the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.

In order to help more of our patients receive the preventative dental care they need, World of Animals Veterinary Hospital is offering a Dental Promotion for 2013.

$45.00 OFF any dental cleaning from January through March 31, 2013

Bloodwork to check liver & kidney values is required of all patients going under anesthesia and will be included in your estimate.

Call to make an appointment today - your pet depends on you !