How to Take Care of a Black Lab Dog

By Anna Hart

Imagine seeing this entry at an online dating site: “Avid swimmer, EBLD seeking lifetime relationship. Must haves: long runs in the park; exciting games of ball or Frisbee; constant attention. Must not haves: someone who’s too busy for me; someone who’ll put me in the doghouse.”

Who is EBLD? An Energetic Black Lab Dog! If you’re thinking of getting one, you’re going to want to know how to take care of a black Lab dog. And if you think you can take care of a black lab dog with little time, think again. This dog belongs with owners that are willing to spend time with and for it.

Attention

The most important factor in the care of a black Lab is attention. A black Lab will do without a lot of things, but it will not do without attention. A black Lab simply will not be ignored.

The Labrador Retriever is one of the most lovable, even-tempered dogs there is. He wants to share his immense supply of love with his owners, and can’t imagine they won’t take time to reciprocate.

Labrador Retrievers are also highly intelligent dogs. They can quickly sense reluctance on their owners’ part to spend time with them. They are eager to please, and use their intelligence to please you. In return, your care of a black Lab must include plenty of energetic play, and intelligent interaction.

Microchip

It is not essential to the care of a black Lab to have a microchip inserted, but it does provide a level of protection if your retriever strays.

Exercise

To provide good care of a black Lab, you will need to give it regular, daily exercise in large doses. Plan on 30 to 60 minutes daily as a minimum. Your black Lab will love to have 30 minutes morning and evening if possible.

Exercise should be varied. Include walks, on or off leash. Work in games of fetch (to allow you to breathe while he races!). Incorporate obedience or hunting training into your care of a black Lab and he will be able to exercise his intelligence, too.

Be sure the exercise is regular, as your black Lab’s boundless energy must find an outlet. If the outlet is not exercise, it may be destructive behavior.

Preventative Care

You should not limit your care of a black Lab to its present needs. You can forestall certain medical concerns, such as hip dysphasia, by giving the Labrador preventative care. Begin preventative care of a black Labrador when you first get the dog. First, check with the breeder to be sure the puppy’s parents are free of genetic problems. The puppy should have had its first shots and worming. Take it to a veterinarian for a check-up, and continue to take it for “wellness” visits.

Maintain preventative health care of a black lab by having your vet include, minimally: checks for external and internal parasites, inoculations, and heart worm preventative.

Food

The cook involved in the care of a black Lab must consider several things.

1. Black Labrador Retrievers will eat almost anything – think goat! To take care of a Black Lab, you need to guard against it eating junk.

2. The best food to give when taking care of a black Lab is real food. Give it real meat, raw or cooked: beef, chicken, and turkey. Give it fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Mix in brown rice and oatmeal for fiber, eggs and yogurt. Commercial dog foods, unknown before 1930, seem to exist as an outlet for rejected grains and meats that could not be sold to humans.

3. Watch your Labrador’s intake. If you really want to take proper care of a black Lab, you will not let it become overweight, risking heart disease, arthritis, and other health problems.

Grooming

You won’t need a professional groomer to take care of a Black Lab’s coat, but you should not assume the dog needs no grooming. Black Labradors shed a lot in spring and autumn, but they need to be groomed year-round.

To take proper care of a black Lab’s coat, you will need a narrow-toothed comb, short-haired rake, toenail clippers, wide-toothed comb, and a wire slicker brush. A bristle brush is nice for distributing oils when your Lab is not shedding.

Proper care of a black Lab will require daily grooming during seasonal blowing of the coat. The job is not nearly as large if done daily, and the sooner you remove dead hair, the sooner new hair can grow. Use the short-haired rake first, to rake out dead hairs. Use the wire slicker brush to get what the rake missed. Use the wide-toothed comb lightly to loosen matted hairs. The next step proves how intent you are on proper care of a black Lab. Go over the entire dog carefully with your narrow-toothed comb! Finish the job with your bristle brush to catch loose hairs.

Aside from spring and autumn’s major shedding periods, your Retriever will need to be brushed twice a week. Cut its toenails once every month to avoid foot problems.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about the care of a Black Labrador Retriever at http://www.lovablelabradors.com Anna has posted additional information on that site about Labrador Retrievers of all colors. If you ever wondered about black and white labs, you’ll enjoy Anna’s perspective on the subject.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

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Dogs of Germany

Finally here they are! The dogs of Germany. The dogs there definately have more freedom and you rarely see one misbehaving or acting aggrssively.

Look at all those people. They should take a rest

They come in all shapes and sizes.

Hey, when can I get out?

Time for a break

Enjoy!!!

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Novartis Suspends Production of Interceptor Sentinel Program Clomicalm and Deramaxx

Novartis Suspends Production of Interceptor, Sentinel, Program, Clomicalm and Deramaxx

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A List Of The Best Dog Breed That Will Suit Your Lifestyle Perfectly

August 14, 2010

HIRE OF DOG EXERCISE AREA

Filed under: General News — field of dreams @ 10:16 pm

PICTURE OF OUR EXERCISE FIELD

This is aimed at owners who would like their dogs to have a run off the lead in complete safe secure surroundings. People with many dogs often find it difficult to walk them altogether and with the bye-laws of only 4 dogs per person on the lead at any one time it can be a problem especially in public places. It is also useful for owners with dogs that have a poor re-call, they can have a good blast off the lead or on a training line if in use.

Dogs with issues can also come along, the owners feel completely at ease knowing that their dog can have a run without the risk of running into problems. Dogs with dog to dog aggression or people aggression are welcome but will only be booked in after answering a questionnaire so that they do not pose a risk to other dogs/people. This is purely for safety reasons.

All sessions are individual to each owner and not for multiple owners, however should you wish to have a group session then please ask for our group rates.

The field is adjacent to the training field which is in use the majority of the time.

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A List Of The Best Dog Breed That Will Suit Your Lifestyle Perfectly

Posted by asinina on 08.40 with No comments so far

As far as the visual aspect is concerned, you will already recognize what style of pooch youre searching for. But are you sure if thats the best dog breed for your lifestyle? For example, you might love the curly hair of a white Poodle, but are you prepare for the grooming treatment thats required to maintain that delightful curly coat? You respect the intelligence of a German shepherd dog, but are you aware that this breed will shed year-round? So unless you could bear to have hair constantly on your furniture, this affectionate dog might not be perfect for you.

Here is a list of the best dog breed species that belong in the top three of there respective categories. Find out which one has the ideal temperament for your household!

The Best Dog Breed For Child Friendly Living

If you have children in your family, its necessary that your doggy will get along with them. The following breeds will certainly enjoy playing with your children:

1. Beagle
2. Collie
3. Labrador Retriever

The Dogs That Will Need Less Grooming

Any dog will require some form of grooming. The teeth must be brushed, nails need to be trimmed, the coat needs to be brushed and they all require a bath on occasion. But as far as caring for the coat is concerned, these breeds of dog dont need that much maintenance:

1. Whippet
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
3. Chihuahua

The Small Lapdog

If youre seeking a small dog breed that you will nestle on your lap, these can be the finest option:

1. English Toy Spaniel
2. Pomeranian
3. Shih Tzu

The Energetic Dog

If you enjoy a great run and want a companion dog that could join you for a trek on a trail or a ten mile jog. Consider one of these:

1. Siberian Husky
2. Border Collie
3. Parson Russell Terrier

The Athletic Dog

Are you looking for a sporting buddy? These breeds are strong, vigorous, agile, and active – the formula of a winner:

1. Sheltie
2. Border Collie
3. Greyhound

The More Obedient Dog

If youre seeking a dog who will listen, one thats willing to please and does not become distracted easily, go over one of these best dog breed:

1. Shih Tzu
2. Golden Retriever
3. Border Collie

If youre interested in getting a more detailed look at dog ownership (like the best dog breed), including a huge variety of detailed information on canine problem behaviors, dog psychology, and the most effective ways to train your dog, you ought to take a look at http://www.dogs-for-all.com


Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com

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Featured Toy of the month

Spike with his new Kong Wubba toy







This month I am very proud to say I will be spotlighting a wonderful toy from THE KONG COMPANY. It was my pleasure to talk to Mark Hines from the Kong Company and discuss my plans for featuring toys from The Kong Company. As we spoke it came to my attention that I would be spotlighting The Kong Company and its products for many months because of the many useful toys they offer. Most of you are familiar with the KONG, so I am going to begin by spotlighting a different toy. Read and enjoy!!

Kong Wubba (catchy name)

This wonderful toy has quickly become one of Spikes favorites! As you can see by the above picture he has a great time with it.

The Wubba is a Kong shaped toy that is covered with durable fabric. The Wubba is NOT a Kong covered with Fabric, but rather a softer squeezable toy with a squeaker for lots of interactive fun. I love to use this toy when Spike and I go out for a game of fetch, I also use it for training purposes and when I take Spike into new environments (especially the vet).

The amazing properties of this toy make it very versatile. It squeaks so I can use the sound to get and keep attention. The Wubba has a nice long tail that I use to get the prey instinct going and get Spike even more interested in the toy. Once the instincts are going we can either have a game of tug or I can throw the Wubba for a wonderful game of fetch. The unique shape of the Wubba gives it an unpredictable bounce making it a challenging fetch toy for any dog.

Can you use it for training? Absolutely!! Pull out the Wubba instead of food treats when you are ready to teach your dog something new or reinforce already learned commands. Take it on walks with you for distraction, if your dog reacts to other dogs or you find keeping his attention difficult when out in the big world. As a distraction approaches begin by squeaking, then wave it in front of your dog, next tell him to sit then toss it to him and play a little tug. in the 10 seconds it took you to do this you now have your dogs undivided attention and the distraction passes.

The Wubba comes in various sizes ranging from puppy to extra large. Be sure to get the size best suited for your dog. This is not a chew toy and you should not leave it around for your dog to chew. If you use it as a play/training tool and put it away after each use your dog will be that much more excited when you pull it out the next time.

Go pick up a Kong Wubba today and enjoy some wonderful play times with your dog!!

For more toys visit the Kong Company web site at http://www.kongcompany.com/





Spike showing off his Kong Wubba

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The Effects Of Dog Training Collars

Training Dog Collars are have long been known to be one of the most effective ways to train your dog; which makes it the top contender for anyone wanting to have their pet trained. Training collars offer anyone a humane pet friendly method of training their dogs. They come in a variety of and sizes and types and are relatively inexpensive.

Dog Collar Training?

Pet Training is an ongoing process like building a fire. It has to be done the right way and with a little bit of care and patience. Training collars can be uses as an aid to add reinforcement to training commands, signals and obedience. They also help dogs to change their undesirable natural behavior and to learn to perform to what their owners expect.

If you are looking to self-train your dog the proper way, then training collars are the perfect tools for coaching a variety of training methods. The can be used for basic obedience training, advanced training, and even sport dog training.

Side-Bar => Training should be both motivational and balanced in order for your dog to learn the optimal.

Buying Training Collars

A proper collar fit is one of the many insider secrets professional dog trainers keep behind their closed doors. When considering buying a training collar, try finding one which fits your dogs neck snuggly. The more expensive and branded training collars are usually covered by a one to two-year manufacturers warranty.

Dog training collars are a great investment to have if you plan to save money by self-training your dog. Collars make sure that your unruly and unpredictable dog is kept under control for the future.

Training dog collars are simple, easy to use and aids maximum productivity from minimum effort. Training your dog will ultimately make both your "best friend" and you more contented. A little elbow greases and patience often results with vivid rewards as time goes by. So give it a try and Start your Dog Collar Training Today!

Jeremy C.W write information articles for websites such as DogCrateTraining.net and DogNpuppies.com. For more Training Dog Collars Articles, please visit TrainingDogCollars.com for your dose of Dog Collar Secrets Today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Wong

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Full Documentary Giant Megalodon Biggest Shark of the Dinosaur World Wildlife Documentary HD

Full Documentary Giant Megalodon Biggest Shark of the Dinosaur World Wildlife Documentary HD Full Documentary Giant Megalodon Biggest Shark of the Dinosaur W...

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German Shepherd The Infos Every Owner Of This Dog Breed Ought To Know

A.k.a. the Alsatian or German Police Dog, the German Shepherd is a young breed, having exclusively recognized as a distinct breed for nearly a century. The German Sheperd can retrace its ascendants back to an array of shepherding dogs in Germany, and a few groups tried to informally breed this dog. This attempt failed but in 1899, a recently reknowned group was established. Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaeferhunde was founded by Max von Stephanitz, who desired to breed an all purpose functional dog.

The German Shepherd came up to the United Sates in 1908 with soldiers impressed by the bravery and abilities of this dog. German Shepherds will achieve an average height of 22 to 26 inches, weighting 77 to 85 pounds and last an average of 13 years. There are an extensive mixtures of coats in this breed. Some German Shepherds are longhaired and some are shorthaired. The color is most often black and tan, but can likewise be coal black, entirely black, blue and liver and white.

The one thing all German Shepard coats have in common is that they shed extravagantly, and shed bigger during their shedding time of year. Daily brushing usually helps fight the shedding, and German Shepherds should only be bathed once in a while. Just about all German Shepherds are identified as self-confident and loyal.

German Shepherds are extremely intelligent and frequently used as police dogs, rescue dogs and guide dogs. German Shepherds can be excellent guard dogs and are very loyal to their family. They make excellent defenders, barking when someone unfamiliar is drawing near. German Shepherds do make good family pets and will protect the children of their family. They will permit the poking and prodding children are prone to do. However, they are occasionally unaware of their size and power relative to a small child and may arbitrarily bang them across.

A German Shepherd and child should always be watched to avoid this. German Shepherds can endure apartment living if given adequate physical exercise on a regular basis and given enough activities. If left alone too long or not stimulated enough, German Shepherds will get bored and destructive. They love being in the companionship of their human family but not other pets. As a working dog that wishes to delight, a German Shepherd will do alright with obedience training. German Shepherds are prone to some genetic disorders including hip and elbow dysplasia, blood disorders, digestive problems, epilepsy, chronic eczema, keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), dwarfism and flea allergies.


Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com

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Picture of my dog

Hi,

no new tips today but a picture from my dog. It is a "Deutsch Drahthaar". A German hunting dog. She is a female and her name is Afra. Soon she will be 7 years old. So, she is an older dog but very active which is typical for those kinds of dogs.

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A Review of SitStayFetch Dog Training Book

I can feel your frustration! Your dog does his business on your new carpet. He rips your unread newspaper apart and then uses it as padding for his nap. Youre outside with your dog. Its time to go in so you call to him and he just stands there with that you talking to me look! Youre afraid to be in public with him because you cant trust him around people. Oh yea, I can feel your frustration with these problems and more.

I then came across this great dog and puppy training book SitStayFetcth. I was very impressed with the quantity and quality of the training methods in the book. Cutting-edge methods which are actually easy to learn and in short time youll be training your dog like the professional trainers do. No more ripped newspapers and hell come when you call him, and youll be comfortable in public with him, etc. Plenty of photos to help you with these methods. There are also videos available.

So whats your dogs problem? Too aggressive? Disobedient? It doesnt matter what the problem is or what kind of dog you have or its age. You dont need to go to a professional dog trainer and spend a lot of money if you dont want to because you will learn all of the secrets that they use. Fix any dog behavior problem yourself with these easy to learn methods.

What also impressed me about this book is all the information they give you besides the dog and puppy training methods. They go beyond the training knowing that besides you wanting an obedient dog you also want a healthy and happy dog. You and your dog will have fun together while teaching him tricks like rolling over, crawling, shake hands, and even climb a ladder, etc. Youll know about all of the illness concerns of dogs and also what you must know before you choose a Vet. Homemade recipes you can use for a healthier dog. No need to buy separate books-you get it all here.

You even get personal help by email for any problem with your dog and through the members forum, not to mention the large list of bonus books you get. They truly over-deliver on what you get for the small price. You can try it out with a FREE 6 day mini-course of selected training methods. That sure helped me make up my mind.

This review cant possibly give you all of the numerous benefits that are in the book but after checking out other books, I found this book to be the best and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

For more information please visit some of my sites dog training tips and dog training help

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_J_Viccica

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Should avoid the use of excessive force

Dog training can be one of the most important investments that you make in your dog. If you can instill obedience and loyalty in your dog as a puppy, you will have a family friend for life. You can learn more about how important training your dog is.

It takes small steps to crate train your puppy; they must become accustomed to it. Once he is comfortable walking in and out of the crate, try quietly closing the door and offering him a biscuit through the wires. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If they become upset, you are moving too fast.



 Have your dog learn to just hold one of his toys in his mouth, instead of chewing on it immediately. Every time he does it, give him a snack and use the clicker. After your dog succeeds in mouthing an object a few times, move on to rewarding the dog for picking it up with his mouth. When he does respond, click and provide a reward. Also, rewards should only be given if the toy remains in the dogs mouth.

 If you are welcoming a guest into your home, give them clear instructions about how to interact with your dog. These reactions may actually encourage dogs to jump up on your guests or attempt to dominate them.

 Many people are bitten by dogs because of their fears of that exact thing happening. The dog will feel fear if it is startled, trapped or feels threatened. While training your dog, you should avoid the use of excessive force. Doing so may result in injury to you. Your dog will be eager for your approval.

 Everyone in your household needs to be on board for dog training to be effective. While he may have one person who works with him on a regular basis, having everyone be a part of his training will teach him that he must follow the rules of the house at all times, and keep his training more consistent.

 Use treats your dog really loves to achieve maximum training efficiency. This might be an extra-special treat that your dog does not ordinarily have the opportunity to enjoy.

 Be consistent with the words you use when trying to teach your dog a new behavior. This causes a strong association between a word and an action in your dogs mind. It is essential not to confuse your dog with commands that are not the same every single time. Your success rate in training your pet will be higher if you follow these guidelines.

 One of the most basic dog training tips around is to use your dogs name to command its attention. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Get your dogs attention this way ten times every day. Also, it is very inappropriate for you to call the dog over to you and then punish him, as this will teach him to fear you and discourage him from coming when called.

 Introductions to new dogs or any other animals should occur slowly and carefully. Consider your pet at home before adopting a new one. In order to maximize bonding, a new pet will need a personality which complements the personality of the pet you already have.

 Teach your dog the difference between right and wrong. You will need help from everyone in the family to teach this. It can quickly undermine your efforts.

 Do not quit when you are training your dog. If your dog doesnt get reinforcement for his current level of training, hes likely to slide back into how he acted before he was trained. Much like providing your pet with food, training is a continuous process that is never truly finished.

 When house-breaking your puppy, choose a specific phrase to use when its time to go outdoors. When you take your dog out, repeat this command. This will help him form an association between being taken outside and doing his business.

 Decide on a single phrase to use when housebreaking your new puppy. If you use the special phrase you have come up with each time you take him outside, you will get him to focus on what he is supposed to do.

 Try to use the same words or actions when you are training your dog. A dog will respond to this positively, as they will start to associate that action or word with each kind of behavior. Remember to be consistent about what commands you use and what behaviors you expect in every training session. The more consistent you are, the more likely you are to successfully train your dog to obey your commands.

 There are many different approaches that can be used to crate train a new puppy. Many dogs are intimidated by the crate. To cure this, place something they enjoy in it and shut the door. If a dog sees something in the crate that they want, they will desire to enter it. Praise your dog once he gets into the crate.

 As with any professional, research their reputation to verify that you are getting the best animal behavior specialist out there. There are a lot of different approaches taken by dog trainers concerning how to correctly train a dog. Understand the trainers philosophy so that you can be sure the trainers approach is similar with your own views of dog training.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Dogs need consistent reinforcement in what you have taught them so they remember the good behaviors and dont revert back to their old, disobedient ways they had before training. Training never ends. It is an important part of taking care of your dog.

 If you catch your puppy chewing on something that he shouldnt be, stop him as soon as you catch him. Redirecting your puppy towards a chew toy teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. This can prevent further damage to your possessions.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for mans best friend..

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Importance Of Dog Containment Devices

Do you love pets but having trouble with the place where your home is located? Then you need a dog containment system that will limit your dog’s curiosity to places that might be dangerous to them. Dog containment may sounds like bad idea for dog lovers, but actually it depends on the situation. Even though Dogs should be free to play around and explore their surroundings, they should be taught to avoid places where they might get an accident. After all it is solely the master’s responsibility to maintain the wellness and safety of their pets. Dogs are born curious, especially when it comes to anything that they are not familiar with. This includes new appliances and furniture that most dogs love to play around that will definitely end up filled with drool stain, scratches, bite marks and often times broken.

Over the years, dogs are considered as a member of a family or more of a man’s best friend. However, treating them that way doesn’t make them half as much as human. They may understand us though; they don’t still have the same level of mind like ours. To train your dog properly you need a dog containment device that is right for your dog’s weight and also to the kind of place you are living in. In the early years wooden fences were used for dog containment, which is not that effective especially for large stubborn dogs that usually jump across the fence or even drill under the fence. To solve this problem several innovations were developed to create the safest and the most effective pet containment device both for indoor and outdoor use. The following are the most common and effective pet containment in the market today:

* Underground/Wireless Pet Fence
In all of modern pet containment devices the Underground and Invisible Pet Fence is the most effective when it comes keeping your dogs from venturing in the off-limit areas of your home. What makes underground pet fence effective is the lightweight receiver worn on the dog’s collar that sends signal to the dog through a low electric charge or a high frequency noise and sometimes by a harmless chemical spray; every time your dog goes near the underground wiring which you set as the boundary for your pet. For dog lovers and also gardening enthusiast underground/wireless pet fence is a must have.

* Scat Mats
Scat Mats are effective when it comes on protecting your valuable furniture against your dog’s habit of sleeping on top of them. Scat Mats work as a static blanket that every time your dog touches the scat mat a mild static stimulation emits, quickly training them that the particular furniture is not a place for them.

Dog Containment, Dog Containment System, Dog Fence

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_II_Arroyo

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Beware of These Tick Problems with Your Dog!

By Kelly Marshall

The first kind of ticks that you would hate!

Generally, we love ticks, especially, as a child. What a feeling we had, when we got them on our Math papers! But beware! These are some fatal ones!

Are you enjoying a walk with your dog, especially, in a shrubby area, full of grass and bushes? If yes, better take care. Ticks will lie in the grass and bushes sometimes climbing higher for a better chance of making contact. They can detect vibrations of an animal walking through and are also able to use their modified scent to detect the carbon dioxide and odors of a mammals breath. Once detected, they will just jump on you.

Ticks on dogs and puppies are unsightly, painful, and sometimes very dangerous. These blood sucking insects feed on all vertebrates but are particularly kin to dogs and cats as they tend to enjoy the same places your pets do. And they can expand 20 to 100 times its size as it feeds. And the scariest thing about them is the fact that ticks can go unnoticed. Tiny as they are, they can attach themselves to you or your dog without being seen or felt. If your dog has a light coat, then you are just as lucky, for you will notice the ticks quickly. But, if your dog has a dark coat, ticks will often continue to go unnoticed until theyre well engorged with blood.

Then how do you check for them? Youll certainly feel them by running your fingers or a fine toothed comb or a flea comb through your dogs coat. Check your dog all over, but especially around the head and neck, ears and paws. In most ticks, it can take 12 - 24 hours from the time it attaches itself to regurgitate the bacteria back into the host.

What can ticks do your pet? They can spread Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, making them potentially lethal. Also, too many ticks feeding on a single dog can cause severe anemia or a condition called tick paralysis.

Alright, then how do you control and prevent ticks? This is especially important in avoiding diseases associated with them. To prevent tick exposure, use a flea and tick spray before taking your dog into thick, shrubby area. Also keep your grass and plants well trimmed. This decreases the amount of ticks you and your dog may run into. If you are living in a tick-populated area, then your vet may suggest your dog be vaccinated against ticks. Always make sure ticks you find and remove are dead before you dispose of them. A good way to kill them is to stomp the life out of them. Most importantly, keep a close eye on your dog for the next few days to make sure he or she doesnt get sick!

To remove ticks off your dog, use tweezers, not your fingers, petroleum jelly or a match. Simply place the tweezers level with the skin, squeeze, and then rock it with a firm grip while pulling straight up. Be sure not to compress the belly of the tick as you could facilitate a regurgitation of its contents which could spell a disease. After all, your diligence in finding and removing ticks before they attach is the best preventive measure of all.

So, do enjoy a walk with your dog. But avoid wooded areas, tall grass, and damp areas!

Provided by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - the largest choice of dog feeders online, visit http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/elevated-dog-feeders/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Marshall

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Tip of the week

Tip of the week

Nylabones and Kongs are great for teething puppies.

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Quiet on set! in praise of verbal cues

I was perusing some other animal wranglers sites on the interwebs. One successful group was going on and on about how all their animals are trained using visual cues. This is a useful thing, but it got me thinking. If your dog (or what have you) is having to stare at you the whole time in case you cue a behaviour, they cant look natural in their environment.

Its a big pet peeve of mine. MOST dogs in TV and movies dont look like they belong with the people. They rarely interact with their owners and when they do you can tell its done as fast as they can so they can then watch their real owner out of frame.

I dont see the big deal with verbal cues. With todays technology its not a big deal for a voice cue to be edited out providing you arent giving it over top of the actors lines. A dog who is waiting for a verbal cue is then free to make eye contact and interact with the actors and in short look FAR more natural and believable. Also verbal cues allow you to be out of your dogs eyeline. This is handy when you are working on a very tight set, when the dog is positioned where its impossible for you to have eye contact and be out of frame, or if your dog needs to be sick and dying and have their eyes closed (see pic)

Dekka has only done 2 movies at this point. BUT it was a major role both times. She was the leading lady in Off Season and one of the central characters in Road Kill. Both times she was in scenes where she couldnt see me. She was excellent and interacting with the actor in both cases making it very believable that she was his dog.

One scene where I dont know how it could be done without verbal was the no eat scene. Dekka had to lie with her head on the actors thigh whilst he ate dinner. He reaches forward grabs his plate and settles it on his lap right in front of Dekkas nose. He then proceeds to eat for a bit, the offers a piece of pork to Dekka. She cant take it. She cant even look happy about the prospect of food. (and let me tell you the little dog is vvvverrry food driven) He then proceeds to try to tempt her with the food in different ways. She has to maintain a sick facade and remain uninterested. On the other hand you want her to look at the actor, the food and not off set. A real dog in that situation would still be engaging with her owner, not staring fixedly at the wall. Right before he would offer her the food the first time I simply said "mine" which is the cue that you are not to take the food offered. A simple one word cue that is easily edited out allowed Dekka to interact with the scene and pull off a believable performance.

So horray for verbal cues. (this is not to say that Dekka does not have hand signals too, she does. Simply that if you go with all hand your dog will not look natural in most scenes)

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Discover the secrets of puppy and dogs training!

Discover How You Can Train Your Dog to Do Anything You Wish In Less Than Half The Time By Using Proven Techniques That Get Immediate Results!

Kevin Lynch, is the author of the hugely popular dog training book Puppy n Dog Secrets. This book is where he reveals the techniques and secrets used by professional dog training experts including:

- Simple and Powerful techniques that will solve ANY dog problem such as house training difficulties, Eliminating such nuisances as unnecessary barking, digging, destructive chewing, general disobedience, and much, much more...

- How you can train your dog to follow any command, from simple commands like SIT and STAY to the much more complex tricks like you see in dog shows.

- Remove the frustration of training your dog, learn how to communicate in a way that your dog will respond to quickly so you can increase the speed of your dogs training.

.....And there is much, much more!

To magically transform your dogs behavior and learn the secrets that professional dog trainers use, check out: http://www.puppy-and-dog-secrets.tk.

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The Benefits Of Good Dog Training Aids

By Garnett Johnston

Dog training aids involve more than just a simple collar and leash and over the years have seen good improvements in the range and availability of these training tools. If you are taking on the task of training your own dog then there are several advantages you can benefit from by using good dog training aids to assist you in achieving the goals of your training with your dog.

An obvious case of where this is true is whilst teaching your dog to fetch. It simply cant be done without having something to be thrown, collected by the dog and brought back to you. Typically a stick is a good choice, but if you are in a park and there are dozens of similar sticks then your dog may become confused and you wont have the same success.

An alternative to the stick would be something like a training dumb-bell. These can be thrown a good distance without much effort. They are bright and easy to retrieve - even when your dog doesnt and many of these float on water if you are using it on a pond or lake. These are also easy and comfortable for your dog to pick up whereas I have seen sticks cause damage to a dogs mouth and gums over time.

Teaching your dog to heel can be aided by the use of a dog training line. This is essentially a long leash that can be used to indicate, by tugging, that you wish the dog to return to you when you issue the heel command. These training methods do not do away with the need for voice commands but instead make it easier for your dog to understand the desired response you are looking for when you do call to him.

Other training aids can include collars that discourage barking. These collars emit a pungent spray when your dog barks. The smell is not liked by the dog and over time the dog will realise that not barking prevents the release of the spray. The collar can be removed and hopefully the dog will not bark just as often as before.

If you are training your dog for more sporting activities then the use of whistles can be effective. Here you will typically issue a command to the dog like heel or sit and then back this up with a whistle command. The dog will eventually associate the whistle with the desired response. The trainer or owner can now issue the same command to the dog but over a larger distance. This technique is also used extensively by sheep farmers or herding dog owners for the same reason.

Training your own dog can provide lots of rewards and satisfaction, however it does take considerable patience. Good dog training aids can help reduce the amount of time required to reinforce the training and provide positive results. Remember to reward your dog when you see them showing the right response regardless of what training aid is being used.

The author runs a free dog training information site where you can pick up lots of hints and tips on training your dog. There are also some useful free dog training videos that can make the whole process of training your dog much easier to understand. For more advice on dogs please visit http://www.dogtraininghut.com. Training your own dog can be a rewarding and satisfying experience and will help you bond more closely with your dog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garnett_Johnston

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History Of The Mastiff

Mastiffs were made to attack various animals that were chained up and bound.

These animals consisted of lions, bears, bulls and even other dogs. A lot of the time, they were even fed the remains of the carcase they killed. Back then they were even known for getting an elephant down.Some claim that the mastiff has been around during the ancient Babylonian era. There are pictures that appear to be depicted from about 5000 years ago even. Some writers have even included them in their stories.

Those writers include Caesar, Marco polo, Herodotus, Chaucer and Shakespeare. As time went on the Mastiff became more like a guard dog then anything. they would guard the castle grounds.In 1873 the Mastiff was crossbred with various other dogs. This is when the pedigree initially started.

Then a club called the Old English Mastiff Club had launched. Then again they were used in the many blood sporting events. For all of those Mastiff lovers, there is a man from Canada named C.W. Dickinson that you can thank for preserving this awesome breed. Then the Mastiff Club of America was born, in 1929. America holds more Mastiffs then any other country in the world.

You may be curious as to what famous people happen to own a Mastiff. Those people include Kubla Khan, Randy Bish, Hannibal, FLEA (bass guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, King Henry VII, Bob Dylan, George C Scott, Kirsty Alley and Marlon Brando.

The different breeds of Mastiff that have come about over the years also brings about a little bit of personality differences. For instance, the Bullmastiff has taken on the pit bull stance. Most of the Mastiff breeds are extremely friendly and loving towards their own family. Certain others are not friendly towards anyone other then their family. Good news for those who have children because despite its huge size, the Mastiff is actually very gentle towards kids. Some of the Mastiff breeds are totally aggressive towards other dogs. Then there are those that have been raised, say around a cat. They grow up together and are the best of friends. You will find that most Mastiffs are on average about 27-31 inches from their shoulders to the ground. That is for both male and female. Their average weight is about 120-220 pounds. You will find one quality that is the same in all of the Mastiff breeds and that quality is the fact that they are very well behaved.

Not to mention they are extremely loyal to their master and gentle with their family. There is even one in particular that will not bark, not even with an intruder. However, if you leave him his separation anxiety kicks in and he barks, just ask your neighbors.The Mastiff breed is very easy to manage. They have short fur that can easily be brushed. They do have a tendency to be a little bit on the slobbery side.

They are full of courage and pride. With their obedience comes train ability. The biggest dog ever recorded was a Mastiff. He weighed about 315 pounds and when stretched from nose to tip of tail, he was over eight feet long. Then there was another record broken when a Neapolitan Mastiff gave birth to twenty four puppies. They had to be the most beautiful puppies, with blue fur and cure wrinkly faces.

Most of the different Mastiff breeds are actually short haired. Then there is the Tibetan Mastiff. he has a longer coat and is one of the smaller of the Mastiff family.

Rest assured that whichever Mastiff that you decide is the best for you and your family, they all are a great family dog. They are well rounded dogs. So if you have energy and room for a huge dog, the Mastiff is perfect!

Tom Ambrozewicz is a caring and loving mastiff dog owner. He also owns and maintains Mastiff Secrets website at http://www.mastiffwhisperer.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Ambrozewicz

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Puppy Training Tips How to be Leader of Your Pack

http://bit.ly/1mRNcHN - More awesome tips and tools for raising a happy and healthy puppy! Puppy Training Tips: How to be Leader of Your Pack Professional Do...

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