Fashionable Attires For A Sweet Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are a highly priced dog breed from the ancient Aztec Royalty and deserve to be dressed up with beautiful Chihuahua clothing. There are many pet clothes shops that offer dog sweaters, dog coats, large and small dog clothing. You will be able to find it online and in pet boutiques too. Just choose whatever shopping options you may find comfortable and easy to access.
Chihuahuas have their own unique characteristics but generally they are active and refined. With this, there is a variety of Chihuahua clothing which was specifically designed for this kind of breed. Chihuahua dog coats are categorized into two varieties, the long haired and the short haired. The long haired is malleable and longer and appears wavy and thicker. The short haired is thinner and shorter. Dog coats that are short do better with clothing that fits close and fully wraps over to the body.
Chihuahua dog sweaters come with different colors such as red, green, white, gray, blue, orange and many more. Also, these available colors may be in solid color, stripes, marked with splashed colors or a combination of all available colors. Since Chihuahuas are known to be an average shedder, these coats were designed to cope up with its nature and characteristics. The Chihuahua dog coat needs to be washed once a month or depending on the need, using a soft spine brush and a placid shampoo.
Most pet clothing shops have clothing variety for different dog breeds, both large and small. Here are some of the available coat designs for Chihuahuas: pink or brown hooded corduroy coat, rugged corduroy ranch coat, watermelon or brown and tan reversible puffy coat, blue rip stop coat, base camp parka and a lot more. These small dog clothing designs are best when used for small dog breeds such as Chihuahuas.

Removing Mats and Tangles From Your Dog's Coat

Anyone with a long haired dog knows the importance of keeping their coat smooth and clean. Long haired dogs are vulnerable to tangles and matted hair, much more than short haired dogs. These tangles are tough to get out, but more importantly they are bad for your dog's health. The tangles can cause ulcers on the skin, skin problems, and can also require complete hair removal to fix the issue. Most tangles and mats start around a tangible object such as a burr, twig, or random trash. Locating the tangle is step one.
There are many ways to remove these tangles at home, some of which are fairly easy and painless also. The best way to get a tangle out is with a wide tooth comb. Along with pet stores, you can also find these in any beauty aisle in convenience stores for humans. There are different sizes available, and the bigger you get, the easier it will probably be to deal with the tangle. Start with a small area of hair near the outer edge of the tangle and work your way towards the center. Be gentle with your strokes so you keep your dog at ease.
Pet stores sell detangler specifically designed for dogs for cases such as this. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results. These detanglers are safe for your dog's hair and skin and lessen the tangle. If you don't find any at your pet store, human detangler might also work but I very highly suggest consulting your vet before ever using human products on your dog. If you don't have any detangler, baby oil may also work. Use a very small amount and make sure you don't rub the oil in or in circular motions, as this will only make the tangle worse.
Do a thorough check up of your pup for tangles and mats at least once a month. Prime spots to look at are the armpits of the dog, behind the legs, near the paws, and around the collar and ears. Chances are, if a foreign object is causing the tangle, the dog will become irritated with that area and begin to scratch or itch at it. It would be wise to take care of the tangle immediately so your dog is comfortable again. Don't spend too much time on one spot because this could annoy the dog's skin and make him become sensitive in that area. Once the tangle is taken care of, lightly spray your dog with mink oil, which will help prevent tangles in the future.

Ingredients in Dog Treats - What You Should Know

If you own a dog, then you are bound to have purchased many different types of dog treats to reward him or her. Although dog treats are very popular and many boxes are bought every week, do you actually know what you are feeding your beloved pooch? You can get a wide range of different dog treats and some brands and types are far healthier than others. You will find treats in popular flavors like peanut butter, beef, cheese and chicken. What treats you buy will be entirely up to your dog's taste, health and your budget.
Due to recent pet food recalls, some of which ended up killing thousands of dogs, pet owners are becoming more aware and cautious about what they are feeding to their dogs. Dog treats are ideal to reward good behavior and as a snack between meals, so it is likely that you will be giving them to your dog quite often. Knowing what goes into the dog treats is essential, so that you know exactly what you are giving to your dog.
It's vital that the treats that you pick contain natural ingredients, and not fillers, hydrogenated oils, excess sugars, preservatives and chemicals. You should try to avoid treats that have the words byproduct on the ingredients label, as this is simply parts of an animal which are seen to be unfit for human consumption. It is simple common sense that if something is not fit for you to eat, then it is likely to be unhealthy for your dog as well. Look for treats which are high in whole foods that are vitamin rich.
You should also establish a preferred texture as this will help your dog's digestive system and teeth. Harder treats are good for your dog as they have to use their jaws and teeth to bite down on them. For older dogs, treats that are soft will be easier for them to eat.
If your dog suffers from some sort of allergy or health problem then you will need to check the ingredients carefully. You will want to ensure that all of the ingredients are safe for your dog to eat, and if in doubt, the pet store or even your vet will be able to advise you.
Some breeds of dogs are prone to become diabetic, especially later in life. Breeds like the Chow Chow can have problems metabolizing sugars, whether the sugar is an additive or it is a natural sugar from fruit or dairy. It's important to know your dog's breed and it's characteristics as far as possible health problems, so you can more easily avoid problems later on.
Organic treats are perfect for all dogs whether they have allergies or health problems or not and when you buy organic treats, you know that you are buying treats with the best ingredients. You can be assured that all of the ingredients in the treats will be made from fresh proteins and produce which is natural and very healthy. So next time you go to buy treats, stop to read the labels and try to find the healthier options.

Loss of a Beloved Pet Dog

What Would Losing a Pet Feel Like?
Dogs have shorter lives than humans. If you decide to get a pet, you will most likely go through the painful experience of losing a pet. Although dogs are different from people, losing a beloved pet can cause similar amount of pain and grief as when you lose a loved one. Pet loss can be especially painful when you've had the dog ever since it was a pup. The grief caused by the loss of a pet can also vary in magnitude. Some dogs can die a natural death, which would be a less traumatic loss than losing a pet in an accident or the sudden death of a pet due to a fast-killing disease. Pet loss caused by diseases that act slow can also cause heavy feelings of distress in the pet owner who is forced to witness the dog's suffering and pain while struggling to help the pet get treated. In the case of diseases, sometimes, the dog owner is able to undergo a processing period, during which he begins to accept the loss of a pet as the disease progresses. There are also cases, however, when the dog undergoes a long stream of treatments with the hopes of getting cured of a particular disease, only to still die of the disease in the end. Such situations can also be very striking and painful for the pet owner who tried his best to get his pet treated. In this way, grief due to pet loss can vary in degree, but in general, the loss of a pet is not to be taken lightly.
Handling Your Grief Over Losing A Pet
Not everyone can understand the pain of losing a pet. People who do not own dogs will be especially unsympathetic. Grieving a pet is just like grieving over any form of a loved one. If possible, when you are grieving a pet, try to avoid people who won't understand the pain you are going through. This might just give you feelings that no one understands you at all. In some cases, you may also be driven to think that what you just went through is not a big deal, and this can make you feel worse. If you've suffered the loss of a pet, the best way to handle your grief is to give yourself time to take it in. Some routines in your life will definitely be changed, and the feeling inside your home may lose the life and cheerfulness provided by the dog. Don't force yourself to just accept the changes. Try to ease yourself into the unfamiliar situation of not having your dog with you. Also, it would be a good idea to have a good cry. That can help you release feelings of pain and grief, and will do you much good.
Getting a New Pet
Most importantly, don't go out and get a new pet immediately. Some grieving dog owners may feel tempted to get a new pet as soon as the old one dies to avoid feelings of loneliness and grief. If you do this, you are not really getting a new pet. You are simply looking for a replacement pet. You might then be frustrated when you find differences between your new dog and your old one. Wait some time before you go out to get a new dog. By then, you'll be ready to start anew, and this time, it will be with an entirely brand new dog.

Training a Deaf Dog - Tips and Guide

Adopting a deaf dog can be one of the most compassionate things a pet owner can do. These dogs, often left to live their lives at animal shelters, can make wonderful pets just like any other dog. It may take a little extra training, but well-trained deaf dogs do exist and are often very happy pets.
If you look on the positive side of things, there are some blessing to own a deaf dog as well. A deaf dog will not hear all the other neighborhood dogs barking and so will not join in. The same goes for the sound of your neighbors coming home late, a raging thunderstorm or other sounds that might set off an excited dog.
Without a doubt, owning a deaf dog has its own set of challenges. Your deaf dog may not hear important sounds like that of approaching danger. A deaf dog is not going to be a good guard dog for obvious reason. Easily the greatest difficulty accompanying canine deafness is training. So much dog training is done by speaking. How then does a dog owner train a deaf dog?
Before we go any further, it is important to realize that not all deafness is permanent. It may be wise to first take your dog to see a veterinarian. Certain scenarios such as a ear infection, foreign objects lodged in the ear, sometimes medication can cause temporally deafness in dogs.
If your dog is indeed permanently deaf, don't give up hope quite yet. If you are observant, you would realize that a professional dog trainer usually use hand signals together with vocal commands. Some trainers will not use vocal commands at all, instead using only hand and body signals. The reason why this works is because dogs are sensitive to movements, be it hand signal or body language. They also communicate with other dogs using body language. The position of a dog's tail, head, body, and tail can reveal a lot about how a dog is feeling or thinking.
Your first step is to decide what hand signals you would like to use for each command. The most important thing is to be consistent. Nothing could set back training more than to confuse your dog by either using the same signal for two commands, or using different signals for the same command.
Hand signals should be very clear and obvious. Signals such as a raised hand (in the "stop" position) or a fist are of the best kind, whereas signals with only slight variations (two fingers up and three fingers up) can be very confusing.
Once you have decided on your signals, you can commence with the training. This is done exactly as you would train a hearing dog. Carry treats with you to give as rewards each time your dog performs the correct action. Remember that using negative reinforcement (punishing a dog for doing the wrong thing) often confuses a dog and doesn't aid in training. If you are training a young deaf puppy, you can make use of the feeding time to train him, feeding him when he gets the command right.
Remember to be patient. Your dog will understand your hand signals sooner or later if you are consistent. Don't be surprise if they respond better than normal dogs. Many find it challenging to praise their dogs when they do the right thing. The easiest way to praise a deaf dog would be to use treats as reward.
If you run out of treats, giving your dog a huge smile follow up with a good rub is also effective. You may also consider choosing another hand signal such as clapping to sign that you are pleased with your dog.

Probiotics for Pets: Dogs and Cats

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, the "good" or "friendly" bacteria that populate the entire digestive tract and play an important role in digestion, nutrient assimilation and immune system function. Unfortunately, many people have been lead to believe that all bacteria are harmful, but the reality is that we live in symbiosis with beneficial bacteria throughout our environment, and some of the most important are our friendly intestinal bacteria.
The average animal, depending on size, can have up to four pounds of bacteria in his body with the majority residing in the digestive tract. Your pet would become very ill or die without the right intestinal bacteria, and unfortunately this actually happens more often than most people realize. Many holistic veterinarians believe that imbalances in intestinal bacteria are a major factor in many of the chronic disorders that we see in our animals today. My experience with animals leads me to believe this is very true!
Probiotics play some vital roles in your animal's body such as:
*Help the digestive tract function properly by producing enzymes that aid digestion and the assimilation of nutrients.
*Manufacture B vitamins.
*Help lower cholesterol.
*Keep levels of pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella and Helicobacter pylori) and pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans) in check by competing for available space and nutrients. In addition, beneficial bacteria produce antibiotic like substances and acidify the intestinal tract by producing lactic acid, both of which inhibit harmful bacteria growth and the toxins they produce.
*Protect against tooth decay and gum inflammation.
*Help to maintain a healthy mucous lining (mucosa) in the intestinal tract. This assists in the prevention of bacteria, food particles and toxins from entering the blood stream. The results of a damaged mucosa are often referred to as Leaky Gut Syndrome which contributes to allergy like symptoms, skin conditions, systemic infections, arthritis and other disease processes.
*Maintain or increase immune system health. Since 70% of the immune system in animals is found in the gastrointestinal tract, a healthy mucosal lining populated by beneficial bacteria is very important to preventing and fighting infection. In addition, beneficial bacteria are also found in the respiratory system where they help guard the body against invasion by harmful germs.
*Aid in the absorption of magnesium that is used for hundreds of different functions throughout the body. A magnesium deficiency can result in asthma and migraines and have other dramatic impacts on your pet's health.
*Synthesize vitamin K that is needed to clot the blood and keep bones strong.
Anything that places stress on the body can reduce levels of probiotics. Common culprits include poor diet, antibiotics, steroids, NSAIDs, surgery, medications, acute and chronic diarrhea, chlorinated water, artificial ingredients and preservatives in foods, toxins in food and the environment, and stress. Since many of these issues are hard to avoid, I feel that you should provide your pet with a quality probiotic supplement on a continuous basis to ensure that a healthy, viable population of beneficial bacteria are always present in the intestinal tract.
Probiotics would be specifically recommended in situations where there are symptoms of imbalance or in which healthy bacterial populations may be adversely affected making your animal susceptible to disease, such as with antibiotic or steroid use. An imbalance between friendly and unfriendly bacteria in the body plays a role in many of the chronic disorders we see today. Symptoms can include:
*Allergies and food sensitivities.
*Fatigue, constipation or diarrhea.
*Poor digestion that displays as gas or stomach pain.
*Poor nutrient assimilation that displays as weight loss or lack of weight gain.
*Painful joint inflammation or stiffness.
*Bad breath, gum disease and dental problems.
*Frequent infections.
*Chronic yeast problems, which display as itchy/infected ears/skin.
Supplementing with probiotics is easy and safe and a great insurance policy because not only do friendly bacteria decrease naturally in the body as your companion ages, but our animals come into contact with so many things in everyday life that reduce healthy intestinal flora.

My name is Philip Reich and I am co-founder of The Pet Health and Nutrition Center. I am an herbalist and at the time this article was written, I am nearing completion of my Master Herbalist studies. Having spent the last twenty years working with animals and studying natural healing, I hope the knowledge and experience I have attained can benefit the health and well-being of your animal companion(s) in some way.
The Pet Health and Nutrition Center was founded on the premise of providing only select pet products for concerned pet parents who want only the very best for their animals! We strive to be a place where people can trust that the products they purchase for their animals are the healthiest and safest available and can use as a resource for help and guidance with animal nutrition questions and pet health concerns.

Dog Training - Discover Why Is It So Important

I have a Yorkie that I can say is now the companion pet that I have always wanted. People are always telling me how well behaved she is and ask me, "How did you train her to be that way?" Effective dog training is NOT as hard as you think. You do not need to waste your money sending your dog to dog training classes or doggie bootcamp. There are things that you can do right now to start seeing changes in your dogs behavior today. I give even further details of secret dog training tips on my website that you can view below. Please take advantage of the free video on my site filled with secret tips on how to train your dog on your own.
If you have an obedient dog both you and your dog benefit by not needing to deal with obedience issues. No one wants to waste their energy trying to discipline their dog. Train your dog to be obedient so you can put all your energy into making your relationship with each other a fulfilling one. You owe it to your dog to get right to bottom of the most persistent problems that are robbing you of the true enjoyment of dog ownership.
When you train your dog you will be strengthening the bond between the two of you. At the same time you will be building understanding, communication and a mutal respect. A well trained dog understands that you are the leader of the pack, otherwise known as the "Alpha". It is so important that your dog respects you as his leader otherwise you could be in for some real trouble!
You will find that having a well-behaved, obedience trained dog is a pleasure to own because he can go virtually anywhere with you without being a risk or nuisance to others. And who doesn't want a dog who exhibits appropriate behavior in a crowd, good manners when we have guests over in our home, is reliable around children, and who doesn't threaten other dogs or those passing by?
Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to stop your dog from barking, biting, chewing, peeing in the wrong places, fighting with other dogs, tearing up your garden, etc? The point that I am trying to get across to you is that dog obedience training truly benefits everyone. You owe it to your dog to unlock the relationship that both of you deserve!

Foods Dogs Should Not Eat

This is the time of year I always check in on ASPCA's poison control center updates to see if any new foods dogs should not eat has popped up that I need to be careful to lock away from Tessie. Most of the foods that are toxic to dogs are the usual suspects that remain the same and are the ones that are locked behind vault doors at our house.
So if you're not aware of all the possible foods poisonous to dogs, here's a top 10 list to get you started.
1. Chocolate - This is one of the few times I'm happy not to be my dog. If I had to stop eating chocolate all together or suffer extreme illness due to eating it, I'd be exceedingly depressed.
2. Alcohol - I always need to watch Tessie during parties as she has a penchant for the spiked punch. Similar to humans but on a much larger scale, alcohol is not good for your pooch at all, even in moderation.
3. Macadamia Nuts - My girlfriend keeps these on hand for making cookies, which is actually quite rare. However, be sure they do not make their way into the stomachs of your "best friends".
4. Grapes and Raisins - No worries in this household. You won't catch us eating anything that has raisins in it and the closest we get to eating grapes is drinking them with wine. So I think it's safe to say that since wine has both grapes and alcohol, that could be a double whammy.
5. Raw or undercooked meat or eggs - We're pretty much a well done type of family here. But take extra precautions if your dog is ultra sly when you're preparing meals with these ingredients. There's been many occasion when I'm cooking and all of a sudden, any food I've had on the chopping board has "mysteriously" disappeared. Fortunately, Tessie can't keep a straight face and hands it back pretty quickly.
5 More Foods Dogs Should Not Eat
6. Xylitol (the sweetener) - A lot of candy and cookies are made with this sugar free sweetener. We're pretty careful about natural products and foods so we check labels pretty intensely. Just be careful about tossing your terrier a chip if you're unsure about whether Xylitol is being used in the food.
7. Onions - Who can't live without an onion a day? Well apparently dogs must or they're going to suffer some severe consequences. Apparently though, it takes a fairly large dose to get them sick but it's really not worth that chance. Just keep that onion breath all to yourself.
8. Milk - Just remember your dog isn't a human and doesn't require milk to keep their bones strong. The only thing milk will provide is a nice upset stomach and some possible diarrhea.
9. Salt - I salt everything, I will confess. Fortunately my blood pressure is quite low. However, it's not good for a lot of humans as well when ingested in large amounts. For your dog, a large enough amount of sodium on a daily intake can cause sodium ion poisoning so just keep your eye on your extra salted french fries, a favorite of Tessie's by the way.
10. Coffee (+caffeine) - Again, my thanks to my un-dogness. This is always a problem as Tessie seems quite taken with trying to take a big old lap of my coffee every day. However, like chocolate, coffee and caffeine contain certain substances that do not cause healthy reactions in dogs. So no matter how much they beg, just stand your ground and go buy a portable coffee mug with the lid.
There are several other foods that are listed with the Animal Poison Control, so be sure to check out their site. We've listed them in our recommended resources sidebar.
So just remember to be alert especially this time a year. Between trick or treat sweets and pie dough being in constant counter reach, all the foods dogs should not eat are in abundant supply.
Tessie and I encourage you to have a safe and healthy eating season!

How to Make a Fashionable Crochet Dog Boots

If you want to make a fashion statement for your dogs, here are some guidelines on how to make a fashionable crochet dog boots. You can also start making stylish dog sweater or dog raincoat that will suit your dog perfectly. These days, most people are now accessorizing their dogs to show them off. That is why, most dogs' accessories, food, and health prices are becoming expensive. These guidelines will aide you in making a fashion statement for your dog without splurging lots of money.
Here are the materials you will be using for this project: crochet hook, yarn or any crochet balls (color will be of your choice), buttons that will match your crochet balls or yarn. Familiarize yourself with these stitches before you start: slip stitch (ss), double crochet (dc), single crochet (sc), half-double crochet (hdc), and half-treble crochet (htc).
Step 1: Chain 11, join with slip stitch to first chain. Chain 2 (this will serve as 1 dc throughout this pattern), 2 dc in each stitch. Do this to the next remaining chains; join with slip stitch to 1st dc. Repeat this step until the bottom part is big enough to fit your dog's paws.
Step 2: Chain 1, hdc in each stitch of the sole, join with slip stitch. Chain 2, double crochet in each of the hdc and join with slip stitch to the first dc (repeat once).
Step 3: Granting that you have 44 hdc in step 2, for step 3 dc in the next 10 stitches, and hdc on the next stitch (repeat around) and join with slip stitch to the first dc. Replicate these procedures till you reach your desired length for your dog boots.
Step 4: Chain 6, skip 3 stitches, double crochet on the next stitch. Chain 3, skip next 3 stitches and dc on the next stitch (repeat around) and join to the third chain of chain 6. You have now created holes for your ribbon to pass thru. If you want your boots to be slightly loosen, adjust your ribbon. If you want it to be tighter do the same procedure.
Now that you have the basic steps on how to make a fashionable crochet dog boots, you can make as many as you want without spending a huge amount of money. Now, have fun and be more creative in doing your next projects. Perhaps you can start making a dog sweater and dog raincoat for your pet. Do not be afraid to experiment. Great ideas normally come out from them.

Hereditary Problems of the Doberman Pinscher

Out of all dog breeds, perhaps the Doberman is most suited for the role of guard dog. However behind the Doberman Pinscher's tough exterior comes a myriad of health issues to be dealt with as well. As with other dog breeds, the "Dobie" or "Doberman" can be quite vulnerable to certain canine diseases if not given the proper care. Doberman owners should be even more wary of certain diseases that are hereditary.
Color dilute alopecia or color mutant alopecia is one of the milder health risks encountered by Doberman. This disease which is somewhat similar to how humans experience hair loss and is caused by an irregularity in the production of hair follicles. Due to this irregularity, the dog's coat may appear patchy and turn up as unusual colors. Eventually, this can lead to other skin diseases. Unfortunately, this disease is controllable but not treatable.
Von Willebrand's Disease is another common health concern for Pinschers. This disease has quite the same effect as hemophilia has on humans. It is a condition that significantly affects the platelets in the dog's blood. The primary concern here is that the proteins in the dog's system are significantly altered, which makes it harder for platelets to clot if the dog gets cut. This means that if ever a Doberman with Von Willebrand's Disease has to undergo surgery, it would be quite difficult for veterinarians to control the bleeding.
Cervical Vertebral Instability or (CVI), also known as "Wobbler Syndrome" is another serious health issue. CVI can cause your dog to experience difficulties in walking and it can go as far as completely paralyzing your Doberman. The tricky thing about CVI is that it doesn't manifest itself until the dog is way past its prime. Since this disease can be acquired through genetics or diet, the best way to go would be to have your Doberman Pinscher have checkups on a regular basis.
Hip Dysplasia is another inherited medical problem for Pinschers. This disease causes malformations in the dog's hip joints, which in turn causes instability, pain, and limping. Luckily this medical condition is easily detected through radiographs.
All in all, there are certain medical conditions that to a certain extent are unavoidable. But through early detection, the quality of life of your Doberman Pinscher can certainly be improved. Make sure to have your dog regularly checked and keep a balanced and healthy diet alongside regular exercise. But most importantly, stand firm by conscientious breeding. Testing dogs for genetic diseases before having them breed is essential. This way, it would be easier to avoid contracting diseases that only manifest symptoms towards the later part of the dog's life. It is your responsibility to care for your Pinscher's health in the best way possible.

American Bulldog - Helping Your Dog Adjust to Your New Kid

The House is Big Enough; What's the Problem?
There are several kinds of home setups, but in a household where a pet is pretty much the center of attention, especially in those of newly married couples with a pet and waiting for their firstborn, a period of adjustment is clearly necessary. The response of the long-time pet to the new baby may avry based on the attitude of the pet. In most cases, they are the ones who manifest signs of surprise and disorientation with regards to the new member of the family. Opinions about how to treat a long-time pet and a new baby vary. Some dog experts think that distance should be placed between the pet and the baby, while some dog experts disagree by saying that frequent time together can help a dog ease into the idea of having a new addition to the family. However, the dog's discomfort may also be heightened because of the new changes, the noises, and the new routines that need to be formed at the arrival of the new kid. This gives us a very helpful insight into how to prepare for this situation even before it comes.
Preparing Your Dog Even Before the Stork Arrives
Pets can be very sensitive to the new noises and the new routines. You can, however, ease it into the transition by familiarizing your dog with signs of the new baby even before the baby is brought home. Some dog owners prepare their dogs during the period when the new baby is still at the hospital. They bring home blankets that carry the baby's scent, or let the dog listen to taped baby cries.
When the Baby Arrives
If, over the years of taking care of your dog, you've managed to make it feel like the baby of the family, the arrival of a new baby that will surely attract all the attention can also cause negative feelings in the dog. The best way to help your dog adjust to the new kid is to assure your pet that the arrival of the new baby does not affect its status in the household at all. If you are a couple, take turns watching the baby, and also, the dog. Create a schedule or an agreement so that both the baby and the dog will get equal attention.
Don't just suddenly shut your dog out like some unwanted stray mutt. This will definitely cause problems in your dog's behavior, and it may even feel inclined to not like your new kid at all, which can also cause bigger problems. Aside from that, though isolating your dog from the new baby is not exactly a good idea because the dog will certainly not get used to the baby that way, putting a safe distance between a dog and a new baby may also be a good idea. You don't need to keep them apart for long, just until the dog is warming up to the idea of a new member of the family. The dog will start to warm up to the idea when it is assured that it will still be given attention, care, and love.
You can also further encourage the dog's acceptance of the new member of the family by also exposing them to each other at times. It would also probably be a good idea to expose them to each other at a time when the new baby is not irritable and uncomfortable. Dogs are very sensitive creatures; they can also pick up such emotions, and that's obviously not a good way to jumpstart their friendship. Also, as the baby grows up, increase the interaction between your pet and your baby. This will help in developing a bond between them as well, and to make sure that your baby does not get scared of the dog.

Caring for Jack Russell Puppies - Top Tips

Jack Russell puppies can be a real handful to look after. If you've just got a new JR pup, you are probably at a loss about where to even begin. This article will provide you with some useful tips about the most important things you need to know when raising a JRT puppy.
The Crate
Having a crate is going to be an essential part of looking after your puppy. You're not going to be able to keep an eye on your pup 24/7. The crate gives the pup a safe haven when there's no people around. Being alone can be very scary for a JRT puppy - this breed is prone to developing separation anxiety problems. Crate training is a great way to avoid this problem. Once the pup learns to be comfortable in her crate, you can leave her there for a couple of hours at a time when you need to pop out. But don't abuse the crate - it's cruel to leave a dog crated up for too long.
Toilet Training a Jack Russell Puppy
This is probably the most important issue to deal with when you first get your JRT puppy. Remember that toilet training can take up to six months before your puppy gets it right 100% of the time, so you have to be patient.
Take the pup outside after every meal and encourage her to go to the toilet. Use a command word like "Toilet" and reward her with a treat when she does the right thing. Again, this will take patience. It may take ten or twenty minutes for her to go, but if she's just had a drink you can bet it will be coming out again soon. Always take your pup outside after every meal, after sleeping and before bed.
Be careful to clean all accidents thoroughly, as the scent lets the puppy know where the toilet area is - so if you leave the scent on the carpet, that's where she will go next time. Most importantly, never punish accidents - this won't stop the behaviour and will only create fear in Jack Russell puppies. Instead, reward the pup when she gets it right.
Basic Jack Russell Puppy Training
When your pup is young, don't worry too much about training. Any advanced training you try to teach either won't take, or will most likely be forgotten during adolescence. That said, you can start working on some basic commands, such as Sit and Come. These help set a foundation for obedience and build a stronger bond between the two of you. This should also help avoid behaviour problems further down the track.
Feeding JRT Puppies
Finding the right food for your pup is important. You should aim to find a food which is high in protein with plenty of meat content - avoid watered-down dog foods. In terms of feeding times, you should be feeding your puppy four times a day when you first pick her up at 8 weeks of age. At 3 months old you can reduce to three times a day, or two if you feel your pup is ready for that step. Make sure your pup has access to fresh water, but be careful about leaving the water dish lying around as this can lead to difficulties with toilet training since your pup will be drinking whenever she wants.

Glow Dog Collars Protect Your Pet

The world of 21st century is considered very selfish. Everyone is just concerned about themselves. It is very hard to form true friendship in such a world. However, no matter what the century is our pets will always remain very true and loyal to us. Everyone forms a very close attachment to their pets. This is why every pet owner is very concerned about their pets' nutrition, security and safety.
Technology has provided us with many different and unique solutions for all these concerns. Regardless it is necessary that there is a widespread awareness about these technological advancements otherwise people would just remain ignorant and would fail to use all the help of the can get.
Glow dog collars are one such very important tool that the technology has provided us. The purpose of these collars is basically to make sure that even in very adverse conditions there is a solution for the dog to be spotted out. This is very necessary especially in cases of blackouts or even in cases where the pet has the tendency to run out during night time.
Most pet owners already equip their pets with different gadgets and technological tools that would provide security to their pets through different means. However, these tools and gadgets are either quite bulky and require extra external machinery to support them or are eligible to help in only one possible way and therefore relatively they are quite expensive.
A dog collar that glows is a quite simple piece of tool that is not dependent on heavy machinery and has its basis n simple scientific rules. Also, the idea is quite simple that with this tool, the animal would be provided with a chance that the people around them would be able to notice them even in the off chance that there is reduced visibility due to any particular reason. This helps in the reduction of accidents that occur due to these reasons.
These collars are also beneficial for the dogs that are already quite dark in color. Researches show that dark colored dogs are considerably more at risk of accidents and run over than light colored dogs, for obvious reasons. With a glow in the dark dog collar, the collar would glow immediately as soon as the vehicles' headlights fall on the animal. This would make sure that the dog is spotted easily and fast.
There are also, some nocturnal pets that are in the habit of escaping outside in the dark. This can be a source of extreme worry for the owners. However, this most definitely cannot be helped and stifling the pets' natural urges or habits might harm them more than help them. Since, these are some conditions that cannot be avoided, the only way is to prepare oneself and the pet in the best possible way that there is. The glow dog collars can be considered to be almost customized for these kinds of situations and therefore people should consider getting one for their pets immediately.

Yorkie Training - Easy Methods

Among the intelligent dogs, yorkies come as the one that is bred nowadays. Yorkie or the Yorkshire terrier is the dog that is highly popular because of the cute look and easy training. They are the fast learner and very loyal to its master. But the thing with these yorkies is they forget fast as they learn fast. They must be taught many lessons and be sure that they learn and never forget. So this article will give you some tips for the easy yorkie training.
Yorkie generally loves foods and you can get them their loved food. You can use steaks or beef as their basic food during the training sessions. Or you can use it as a treat for them whenever they understand you and do the trick correctly. And let them know that whenever they do the trick right, they get the treat. But you have to teach them the tricks again and again. The yorkie training should be done every day. They are very stubborn dog and the habit accordingly should be reinforced in them.
You can give them crate training as their first lesson. This is commonly given when they are pup. You can make sure that they are comfortable inside the crate in their soft bedding. The temperature should not be too cold. Chew toy can also be kept inside the crate. You must be sure that they sleep in comfort inside the crate. At morning you can take the dog out of the crate and take him outside. Repeat this for many starting days and they will naturally understand that potty should be done outside. You can feed him after he does potty. Don't be rude with your yorkie.
If accidentally your dog does potty inside the house then in such case you can take him and show the waste. Use harsh words as that used for humans but without hitting. Same way if your pet does the potty outside, then praise him and give him a treat. This helps them to realize that they will get treat if they do potty outside and keep their master happy.
The other important thing during the yorkie training is to train the dog alone so that they won't get any kind of distraction. They are enthusiastic and want to play all the time. They should be focused on you and should teach them with your voice. They should be familiar with the different commands and using the same command every time will help them.

Puppy Housebreaking - Time For House Training A Puppy In An Apartment

Puppy housebreaking method is said to be the matter of the preference and to the certain extent it may be the case. However, as many unfortunate dog owners with impaired mobility or puppy owners who live in high-rise building in downtown area will point out, sometimes there is no choice but to opt in for the so-called indoor puppy housebreaking.
Fortunately, house training a puppy in apartment, thanks to some great tools that we have at our disposal, could be done at least as simple as outdoor puppy housebreaking method. There are few things that work in our favor:
Inborn instinct to seek out a den.
Puppies have inborn instinct to seek out and to take care of their den. This alone is great help when creating the plan for house training a puppy in an apartment. Armed with this knowledge we should help our new puppy to find his den. That's right. How about nice create? When choosing right create we should pay attention not to buy too large create or our puppy could decide to use one side as a toilet. To avoid this (if our crate is large) we should block off one side and leave only enough space for our puppy to stand up and turn around.
Puppy potty schedule
Puppy potty schedule is very important part of our overall puppy housebreaking plan. Knowing our puppy schedule or scheduling potty breaks for our lovely puppy will help to predict when our puppy will need to eliminate. And this is will be great help for we now have opportunity to match the behavior with positive experience. Be now we should have our verbal cue ready (go potty, do your business or something that makes sense to you). The idea is simple! We know that our puppy needs to eliminate and therefore we will use our verbal cue to match with the behavior. If repeated enough our puppy with associate the cue with the behavior and in the future when we say the cue he will eliminate. And when he does we should reinforce it with some kind of reward...be it yummy treat or toy or just a praise. It has been found out that dog is more willing to repeat or to offer behavior that he gets reward for. It is called operant conditioning.
Choosing the potty spot
To make it easier for our puppy (and for ourselves as well) we should establish potty area in our apartment and should always take our puppy to this area. If we stay consistent our puppy will soon learn that this is his potty area. There are many great products out there that can help us keep this area clean.
Stay consistent and patient
The consistence and patience are two last pieces of the puzzle that we will need to master the art of house training a puppy in an apartment. Dogs learn through repetition and therefore we should give them some time to build the association between the behavior and its consequence.