Friday, January 14, 2011

Stop Your Dog Barking



Grooming - Supplies Your Dog Needs

Grooming is important to a Boxer dog as it is to you. Can you imagine yourself with unruly hair, dirty fingernails and unwashed cloth? Probably not! Everyday, we are spending ample amount of time to take a bath, get dressed and various other routines to clean ourselves, look good and above anything else, to stay healthy. Pets, too, need to be cleaned regularly, though everyday bath is not always necessary. You can take your dog to a groomer in your area, but for a fee of course. However, there is no need for you to spend bucks of money if you can groom your dog at home.

Learn the proper procedure on how to groom your Boxer dog easily. Naturally, you will be needing various grooming supplies. To keep the coat shiny and healthy, choose a shampoo that is specially formulated for a dog. Never use human shampoos because they are too harsh for a dog. Check your local pet store or pet supply section at grocery stores for a variety of shampoos for you to choose from. There are shampoos for light colored dogs, hypoallergenic shampoos as well as medicated shampoos for dogs with specific skin problems. Ask your vet's advice if you are not sure which one to choose. Read product labels carefully. You will also need brush for your dog's coat. Since Boxer dogs have short hair, a stiff natural bristle brush and a soft bristle brush are ideal to distribute natural oils to the hair.

Good dental hygiene is necessary to prevent dental diseases. To have a clean and healthy mouth, brush your dog's teeth with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste specifically formulated for dogs. Human toothpastes may cause problems so never use one. You will also need cotton balls, cotton swabs, damp wash cloth as well as ear cleaning solution to clean the ears of your pet. Some use mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide as a substitute to ear cleaning solution however, vets are now discouraging the hydrogen peroxide for homemade ear washes. Ear wash or ear cleaning solution can be obtained from your vet, local pet supply store or pet supply section of grocery stores.

The feet should not be taken for granted. Trim the nails every two to three weeks to prevent tears especially during exercise. Nail clippers come in two types- scissor style and guillotine style. File or dremel tool is also needed to file any jagged edges after clipping. It is also important to have styptic powder in handy. Styptic powder will stop the bleeding and alleviate pain if you accidentally cut the quick.

By having these things, you are now ready to give your four legged friend a total grooming that you desire.

Richard Cussons is a writer with knowledge on Boxer dog and other breeds of dog. Discover more Boxer dog training tips at boxersavvy.com.



Canine UTI - Cause, Symptoms, and Prevention

Urinary tract infection is a common problem that affects a lot of pet dogs these days. It is a painful problem that can cause a lot of discomfort to your dog. To be able to treat and prevent this problem, you should know what causes it in the first place. In this article, I am going to review the common causes of this problem and give you some tips to prevent it.

What is the cause of canine UTI?

A urinary tract infection is caused when bacteria enter your dog's bladder and start multiplying. Particularly, when your dog's urine pH balance is affected, these bacteria start proliferating very quickly.

How do these bacteria enter my dog's body?

Bacteria usually enters the urinary tract from outside the body through the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the body. If you do not bathe your dog regularly and if your dog is dirty, bacteria can also enter its body through its external urinary orifice.

How do I know if my dog has an infection?

A dog suffering from UTI tends to lick its genitals often. It tends to moan in pain while urinating. It tends to avoid food and remain inactive mostly. It also has great difficulty in urinating and tends to pass a few drops of blood while urinating. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, it could indicate the presence of an infection.

How is it treated?

It is usually treated with antibiotic drugs. These drugs, however, can have side effects such as vomiting for diarrhea. While they address the immediate problem, they do not prevent recurring infections in most cases. Recurring causes of canine UTI include dog bladder stones, birth defects in the urethra or bladder, canine kidney infection, bladder tumor or other disease that lowers the bodies resistance to infection such as Diabetes or Canine Cushings Disease.

This is why a lot of people these days have turned their attention towards natural remedies. These remedies do not cause any side effects and they can treat and prevent urinary problems in dogs.

What is the best way to prevent canine UTI?

Once you have a good understanding of canine UTI cause and symptoms, you can prevent this problem by taking some of the following steps:

. Always keep a bowl of filtered water for your dog. You can add a few drops of cranberry juice to water to reduce the risk of urinary problems (berries keep bacteria from clinging to the urinary tract and bladder walls).

. Make sure your dog urinates frequently and doesn't hold it in for too long. Taking your dog for an extra walk each day could encourage urination.

. Start giving a small dose of homeopathic remedies like berberis vulg and uva ursi to strengthen your dog's urogenital system. These remedies treat both the symptoms and the cause of canine UTI. They can treat and prevent a wide range of urinary problems in dogs. They also boost your dog's immune system and prevent recurring infections.

I hope the article gave you a good idea of canine UTI cause, signs, treatment, and prevention. By following the tips given in the article and taking the right preventive measures, you can prevent canine urinary problems easily.

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Handbook, which has additional information on how to find the canine UTI cause.

The author also recommends the Pet Health Guide, which also includes information on the symptoms, cause of canine UTI and treatment options.



Stop Your Dog Barking

Perhaps one of the most annoying habits a dog can have is barking.

Most dogs bark as a means of communication with others dogs and ourselves. However, do not allow this to become an annoying habit nor something that could make you open to public prosecution. A dog will bark for many reasons:

o Defending his territory

o Loneliness

o Boredom or frustration

o Attention seeking or possibly

o Medical problems

o Lack of training.

Perhaps one of the most important points you should consider before buying a dog is - are you able to give any dog a sufficient amount of your time and attention?

Having decided that you do, then the following points should be of assistance to both you and your dog.

Always remember that it is far better to train a dog by reward than punishment.

Start training your dog as early as possible to prevent bad habits becoming established.

Get your dog used to being alone - start by putting him into another room for a few minutes then gradually build up the time you leave him alone. Don't make a fuss of him when you leave him and do not return until he is quiet for a while - when you do return praise him for his good behaviour. This will prevent the dog from barking due to separation anxiety.

A dog cage or crate is also very good for reinforcing this type of good behaviour. Do not use the cage as a punishment zone, but as a place where your dog will feel safe and secure, where he can rest with his favourite toys in his own space. Get him used to being in the cage while you are in the house, then he should not feel the separation feeling when you go out. Always make sure there is water available to your dog when he is left the best way to supply this in a cage is by using a coup cup as this is unlikely to be spilt. A coup cup can be purchased from your local pet stpoe and can be attached to the inside of the cage at a suitable height for drinking.

Some dogs bark because they want to join in with what going on outside - if this is the problem leave him in an area where he cannot see outside.

Often dogs will calm down if they can hear a human voice - try leaving a radio on (at low volume!) with a news type programme. Possibly Radio 4. or Classic FM. Results of recent studies have proved that modern or pop music can encourage dogs to be excitable and increase barking.

Try not to leave your dog for long periods, but if you have to, then make sure you walk him before you go out and leave him. Put him in his cage - as above - in a well-ventilated room. If you are unable to get back home during the day, arrange for someone to walk him or let him out in the garden if you have one. This is only fair to the dog. Dogs will not normally defecate on their own bedding, and you might be putting a tremendous strain on his internal organs if he is not walked once during the day.

Defending his territory. How can I stop my dog barking at the door when people arrive?

First of all, ask yourself do you really want him to completely stop this habit?

This can be a very useful thing for him to do when the house is empty because he will be on guard and in charge. Some companies now manufacture 'dog alarms'. The recorded sound of a dog barking plays whenever someone knocks at the front door.

Perhaps training him not to do so when you are at home and in charge would be a better idea.

When someone knocks at the door and he starts barking, check whether they are friend or foe. If they are friend put him into the sit position, hold the palm of your hand out flat in front of him and sternly command No'. If they are foe or just an unwanted caller do not deter him. After a few times with this repetition he should learn what is expected of him and to sort out the good from the not so good.

You can test him when the next time you go out. Close the door as usual, and if you have a car, drive off. Stop a short distance away and then ask a neighbour to go to your house and knock or ring the bell. You will then see what his reaction is.

Your dog should recognise your neighbour and remain silent.

Some more points for you to consider and remember:

1. Dogs that are kept outside are often the cause of complaints for barking so think carefully before you leave the dog alone in a yard or garden. If you do leave him outside make sure that his kennel is not near to an adjoining fence or in another location where he will be tempted to bark.

2. Don't blame the dog for barking - dogs are pack animals and often bark because they are left alone. It may be your lifestyle and not the dog that is the main cause of the problem. Maybe you have insufficient time to devote to your dog, so replacing this dog with another may not help.

3. Talk to your vet - sometimes a dog will bark because he is ill or anxious. Your vet will check for any problems or may be able to refer you to an animal behaviourist who can help suggest ways to improve his behaviour.

4. In extreme circumstances, you may wish to consider a bark control collar, (citronella). An electric collar is not recommended in these circumstances.

Jo Withey - the author of this article has considerable personal experience in dealing with dogs. having owned many friendly pals. For more information go to her web site http://mydoggiesupplies.com.

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