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Many dog owners have established a kind of bond over the frustrating, but equally comical, experience of their dog’s reaction to water during bath time. However, water is imperative to a dog’s well being in many ways rather than just the obvious thirst-quenching factor.

 Involving the use of water in housetraining is a first. The norm has usually been to limit a dog’s water during the fact to keep them from urinating when you are unable to let them out. This technique is generally flawed. For one thing, dogs keep cool by panting, which is done effectively only if there is enough moisture in their respiratory system. Water helps in transporting waste products out through the kidneys and intestines, and also helps in cleansing the kidneys, reducing the risk of infection. Furthermore, if a dog is deprived of water when he needs it, he will make up for it after by drinking more than he needs to after. This in itself is a problem as it can cause physical ailments such as diarrhea, bloating, vomiting and urinating inside the house, the one thing you wanted to avoid in the first place.

Cooling is the next obvious use of water. Dogs are unaware of their needs, and are therefore thoroughly dependent on you to fulfill this essential need This is imperative since it is hard to distinguish overheating in dogs and can lead to death. Keep a close watch on your dog when the temperature starts rising, as your dog has not yet adjusted. It is normal behavior for your dog to occupy himself for long periods of time with activities that distract them such as chasing squirrels or some outdoor activity. Try to avoid leaving them alone for too long in hot temperatures because a dog will not realize it needs water until it is too late. If you are not sure if your dog is overheating, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Water is also great for a recreational use. In order to work through a dog’s natural fear of water, introduce them to it gently. On hot days, spraying them with cool water will not only cool them down but also create a positive association that dogs can have with water. Water is also sometimes used as a part of a physical therapy regimen for dogs with orthopedic problems.

Whatever the reason, make water your dog’s friend. They will thank you for it later.

 

We all know that exercise is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For all of us dog lovers, we like to have them participate in our activities, but we have to remember that our energetic little friends have limits that differ from ours.

Here are some potentially hazardous scenarios to avoid when exercising with your pup.

High Jumping- While dogs love to chase around a ball or Frisbee, tossing these objects too high or off of a tall structure can cause your dog to land awkwardly. Unfortunately this accounts for the crippling of many canines each year. Be sure to keep the objects lower to the ground to protect your pet from over extending themselves and causing an injury.

Dangerous Objects- When fetching, use lightweight safe toys like a tennis ball for instance. Heavy and hard objects can damage dog’s teeth when caught. Sticks can also pose a hazard to pups when caught, because they can easily extend to the back of the mouth or throat causing an injury.

Over-Exercising- Our dogs may seem like they have an endless supply of energy, but the reality is, they experience fatigue just like we do. Without moderation a dog will become tired, lethargic, and extended bouts of extreme exercise can lead to more serious conditions like heat stroke or dehydration. Always bring water to keep your canine friend hydrated throughout exercise sessions.

Heat- In South Florida we are accustomed to a hot climate. We have to remember that unlike humans, dogs have an inability to regulate body temperature efficiently. Dogs that have short muzzles, black and long-haired dogs, and especially young or old dogs are most susceptible to overheating. Remember that the top temperature for a working (or allowing a dog to play excessively) is about 85° F. However 85° would be too hot for those dogs that are most susceptible to overheating. Also remember the humidity, as the heat index increases with the level of humidity.

Warming Up- It is crucial to have your dog warm up before sessions of intense exercise like pulling a sled or doing a lot of running. This can prevent strain and fatigue. Light activity allows the pup to warm up his muscles and get moving before taking on a heavier activity load. The rest period after activity is also vital as it is the time allotted for muscle recovery.

Following these basic guidelines will have you and your pet living a happy, safe and healthy lifestyle together. Now all you have to do is get moving!

Not everyone is aware of the challenges that come with caring for a deaf dog. The training process itself requires a lot of commitment and patience since you are basically substituting words with physical signs and facial expressions.  The luxury of yelling commands across a room in order to stop your dog from digging in the trash is unfortunately not your best option. However, do not be discouraged! Dogs are smart and they will surprise you in how quickly they’ll adapt to your new sign language. You will notice that it is easier to interact with your dog while you’re indoors, but the exciting setting of being outdoors may hinder your communication making it more difficult to retain your dog’s attention. Here are a few helpful tips in how to keep your deaf dog’s attention.

1. Loose Leash: keeping your dog on a leash is very important in the early stages of training for the obvious reasons. However, make sure that while trying to establish contact, the leash is not tight. That way they are forced to watch you rather than just feel you through the leash, so keep that leash loose!
2. Reward: the act of praise plays a vital role when training a dog, deaf or not. Since they cannot hear the sound of your voice, giving them a treat is the best way to reward a deaf puppy. Each time they respond correctly to a sign, reward them by instantly whipping out a tasty treat! Remember; keep the food out of sight until you are ready to give it. This will prevent the treat from becoming, in the dog's mind, an actual part of the command--or a bribe.
3. Creative attention methods: if your dog is facing away from you, one of the simplest things to do is to wait until they turn around. Indoors, if you walk up behind your dog, they may feel the vibrations of your approach and turn around or touching them lightly so you don’t startle them. Outdoors during the day, you can also try tossing a small stone or ball near your dog to get his attention. Be very careful not to hit your dog!
4. Vibrating Collar: possibly the best way to retrieve your dog’s attention when they are distracted is with the use of a vibrating collar. A vibrating collar works much like a pager. It has 2 parts, a hand held unit for the person, and another unit that the dog wears as a collar. This device is very popular for owners with deaf dogs and usually become less necessary once their dog is past their adolescent phase and are trained to the point that their owners feel confident that the dog will "check in," and come when called.

Remember to always train your dog in this sequence: 1) do the sign, 2) move away, 3) give praise when they follow, 4) take out treat, 5) give it. Always conduct at least 3 to 5 repetitions in a row before you release the dog's attention. This is what teaches them to sustain that attention on you until you release it.  Be patient and loving and your dog will do the rest!

As a dog owner, one of the things you look forward to during the day is going home and being greeted by your playful pooch. Your puppy loves you so much that he/she can’t help but jump all over you and kiss your face as much as possible! What do you do, though, when that rambunctiousness lasts all day? We love how playful and happy our dogs are, but at some point, they’ve got to settle down!

Set up a Schedule!

Routines are absolutely necessary to keep dogs feeling happy and secure.   Knowing they will get food and water at certain intervals in the day and will get to go to the bathroom is important to them! Dogs give us unconditional love, the least we can do is give them ease of mind about when they will go outside next!

How do you know when your dog needs to go potty and when he/she just wants to go outside to play? Well, you really never know. Your best bet to keep your pup from badgering you for attention would be to take him/her outside more often. Even if the emergency is to go chase a squirrel, at least you know there won’t be a loss of bladder control all over your newly installed carpet. Keep in mind that if your dog is feeling under the weather, be sure to take him/her out even MORE! This will prevent accidents and builds up the dog’s trust in you even more.

Some of the most important things to a dog are food and exercise. Without either of these, dog will definitely become agitated, ultimately leading to some wild antics. Feed your dog based on a regular schedule, and try your absolute best not to sway from this routine. Your dog expects to be fed at a certain time of the day, and if not, he/she will be upset. The best way to split up meal time is to feed your dog 2 times a day. Exercise cannot be neglected either. Throughout the day, your dog needs to have an energy release to keep from getting wild at home.  So, take your dog to play regularly; this will help to steer away from any rowdy behavior.

Training is incredibly important, but it will be pointless unless reinforced regularly. Training will not only build a solid foundation for your pup, but also strengthens the relationship between the two of you. You will become more established as the leader in your dog’s mind So go ahead, scout some classes and join a good training class for you and your furry friend, you both will be glad you did!

Things You Don’t Like

1)      Jumping on people: Dogs to this for attention and affection. To get your dog to stop this, don’t let anyone pet him/her while on hind legs! Be sure to pet them, though, when they are on all fours.

2)      Going crazy over the leash: Whenever your pup gets boisterous over the leash, PAUSE. Don’t put the leash on until your dog has settled down. A good way to go about this would be to ask for a “sit.” Patience is crucial here.

3)      Constant barking: Barking is an adrenaline rush for dogs. To get this to stop, call for your dog, pet, and praise him/her. Do this each time your dog begins barking. This will reduce the adrenaline rush and lower the overall drive for your dog to bark.

None of this advice will help your situation unless you watch how you behave too! Here are some tips to help you out:

• If your dog becomes overly excited, STOP MOVING. Movement stimulates responsive movement in our dogs.
• Slow your movements when you are around a high-strung dog. This goes hand-in-hand with the previously mentioned tip.
• Don’t chase your dog! This teaches them to run from humans which is incredibly inconvenient when you really need to catch them. Plus, many dogs are struck by cars while running away from their owners.
• Adjust the volume and pitch of your voice according to certain situations. If you’re playing with your dog, excitement in your voice is great! When you are grooming him/her, however, a calmer voice is necessary to keep your dog composed.

Dogs are like children. If they are hungry or have to use the bathroom, they will do whatever it takes to get your attention. Do yourself a favor; meet your dog’s needs with schedules, training, and the proper care. Helping your dog to become more manageable is essential! Not only will this lead to healthier habits, but ultimately an improved relationship between the two of you!

Puppies learn through trial-and-error. They are constantly testing out new things to see what pays off for them--- “Will banging on my food dish get me fed?” “Will jumping on you get me your attention?” Puppies learn by carefully noting your reactions to their behavior, continuing to do what works out to their benefit. The learning period of a puppy is in their first 16 weeks, so using this time to take control and teach him how to behave on YOUR terms is essential. Here are a few guidelines to help lead your pup in the right direction during this period.

• Supervision is key when bringing home a puppy. One of the most common mistakes people make is letting a puppy roam around, exploring the house when coming home for the first time, and then punishing him when a mess is made. The puppy isn’t aware of what is right or wrong yet, so supervising and taking out your pup when you notice circle-and-sniff behavior is important. Even if you’re not home to watch over him, set up an area in a bathroom or laundry room to avoid any mishaps.
• Going around yelling “No, no, no!” is an ineffective way of training your puppy. Instead, reward him for doing good things. Reinforce your puppy’s good behavior with a treat or kind words, letting him know that he did was good and acceptable.
• Teach your puppy rules that you want him to carry on as he gets older. Sure, it may be cute for your little buddy to try and jump on you and sleep on your bed at night now, but when he grows up to be a 100-something pound Great Dane, it gets a little inconvenient. Make life easier for you and your pooch, teach him good behavior when he’s young instead of trying to fix unwanted problems when he’s older.
• Hitting your puppy is NEVER okay. You want him to know you are in control, but you also want him to trust you. Hand-feed your puppy and pet him while he eats--- let him know your hands are powerful, but never a threat.
• Teach your puppy not to bite.  When playing, use words like “gently,” cueing him off to mouth more gently. When he does this, praise him for playing nicely.
• Taking field trips with your puppy is a great way to promote good behavior and courage around people. Introduce him to as many people, animals, and places as possible, and then reward him for being so brave.

It may take some work to get your puppy ready for his new home and life with you, but in the end it is definitely worth it! By taking these steps, not only are you encouraging good manners, you are also setting up a strong relationship between you and your puppy.

It’s understandable that you want to spend money on your pet. They are definitely worthy of a little gift every now and then, but when money is tight, less money spent is better. Your pet will love you whether or not you spend loads of cash on them, so, how about giving them priceless gifts that really only require your attention? Check out these “gift” ideas that will make you pet and your wallet happy.

The gift of health

It’s no secret that pets have their own issues with obesity, so one of the best gifts you can give to your pet is making sure they are healthy. Regularly take your animal to get some exercise; even just going out for a walk is helpful. In fact, getting your pet exercise may even help you stay in shape! As far as a healthy diet, your pet can’t exactly head out to the drive-thru window or use the microwave---the owner is the one provoking the bad eating habits! Be sure to give your animal the proper portions at meal time, cut back on those treats. Your pet will be forever thankful.

The gift of time

Sadly, it’s not unusual that many pets end up spending most of their lives alone. People gets busy with work or school and rarely are at home. So it is truly a gift to your pet to have time to spend with you! Obviously you can’t avoid work or school considering those are pretty essential, but the time you spend on the internet or watching television can be replaced by playing with your pet. Always look for opportunities to hang out with your little buddy!

The gift of training

A well-trained pet typically has a better relationship with his/her owner. Through training, a pet and its owner are able to establish a good means of communication and get to spend more time together. Don’t know where to start? Call up your veterinarian for referrals to a local trainer.

The gift of safety

Making your home a safe place for your pet to live is crucial! Lock up those cleaning supplies and put those toxic plants out of reach. Most importantly, don’t forget to put a collar and ID tag on your pet. This is the best way to ensure that if your pet gets out, he/she will make it home safely.

So go ahead and show your love to your furry friend! Remember, it isn’t about how much you spend. It’s the thought that counts; even when it comes to our pets. 

“Please mommy, please, please, can we get a puppy….I promise I’ll take care of it!” How many times have kids used that to convince their parents to get a family dog? If you do choose to welcome a new family member, make sure that you are prepared for the changes and responsibilities. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind before adding a puppy to the family and we are here to help you prepare for the arrival and care of your new puppy.

Delegating amongst the home
As you know, although the kids may claim to care for the puppy before it’s arrival, this initiative tends to fade once the puppy sets paw inside the home. Make sure to divide the work evenly among the family members. There are a few daily chores that need to be taken care of, such as walking, feeding, training, cleaning the yard, and the multiple middle of the night/early morning potty breaks! If you have children who are a little bit older they could probably help out more in the walking and training area. On the other hand, if you have younger ones they can be helpful when feeding and keeping the puppy’s toys picked up and organized. An easy way to keep track of who is completing the puppy chores is to create a chore chart. You can even offer rewards for your children if they carry out their responsibilities.

Prior to purchasing your fluffy mate, find out information on local trainers and see who would work best with your family, and who could successfully train your new puppy.  You want your puppy to grow into a confident and socially welcoming member of your family. While you are in the process of finding the perfect trainer for your puppy, you should also be proactive and begin looking for other pet care professionals like groomers, boarding kennels or pet sitters.

Also consider puppy-proofing your house in order to keep your puppy and your belongings safe. Dogs spend a lot of time outside so remember to keep your yard as puppy safe as possible.

There is much more that goes into the purchasing of a new puppy. So before you make the decision, consider the many factors that need to be taken care of adding that fluffy family member. Make sure to learn all you can about the care of your puppy, before he or she sets paw in a new home. 

There is a reason why the phrase “fighting like cats and dogs”, is part of our vocabulary. This is indicatively clear when introducing a new pet to the house of another well-established pet. Just this week, we introduced a new puppy to our 10-year-old cat. Needless to say it has been an interesting few days. However, throughout the process we have learned what works and what to steer away from when welcoming a new family member.

Correct Certain Actions.
In most cases, the cat tends to be the dominant pet of the house. Intimidating hissing ensues and threatening body language begins to show. Correct this behavior, and allow the cat to feel safe. Soon, it will become clear aggression is not necessary. Alternatively, dogs tend to be hyper and excited to meet their new comrade. It is important to correct overly excited behavior from your dog, which can lead to an agitated cat.    

Reinforce Confidence.
If you notice insecurity from your cat step into the dog’s space to make the dog retreat and the cat will instantly feel more power.  Do the same if your dog is feeling insecure.

Break Staring Contests.
Have you ever noticed if you stare in an unfamiliar dog’s eyes, aggressive behavior quickly emerges? It happens among cats and dogs as well. Body language is key to communication between these two animals and staring must be avoided. If you see your pets engaging in this behavior find a way to break the staring contest and avoid confrontation.

Muzzles and Kennels
In extreme circumstances these tools can be utilized to effectively alleviate tempers. Place your cat in a kennel if he or she seems to have calmed and allow the dog to approach with an eased mood. Do not allow pacing, barking, or excited behavior from the dog and make sure the cat remains calm within the kennel for the optimal effect. Muzzles are great if you fear the dog may try to attack your cat. This will allow for safe and close contact, while trust is instilled between the two furry friends.

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