Crucial Steps for Getting Your Dog Ready for the Show

By Brent A McCoy

Many dog owners may consider entering their dogs in a dog show and if this is the case then it's necessary that you have your dog looking their best and able to overcome any challenge they might come across. This gives you greater confidence if you ever choose to enter them in a show as you won't have to worry about the little things that might affect their performance. The result should be a positive experience any time you choose to enter your dog in a show.

The first thing to be mindful of is your dog should be well trained. Obviously this is more important if competing in activities like agility, but as a general rule it is expected your dog will be on their best behavior. This means going through obedience training as a puppy and being well socialized so that they're accustomed to being in different environments and around different people or animals.

Likewise, your dog should be accustomed to the dog crate by going through the crate training process as a puppy. It should be a positive and happy place for them to stay inside, and it should become their place of refuge anywhere they travel. They will likely spend a lot of time in their crate while on the road so it helps a lot if they enjoy being inside.

Your dog should also get used to traveling. If you plan on going to a lot of dog shows, then your dog will probably be in the car a lot and for long periods of time. Get them used to it by going for short trips first before going on longer ones, and always make sure it's a positive experience for them.

Show dogs should look at their absolute best, and a key part of this is getting groomed. This can be done by a professional groomer, or if you want to develop the skills yourself then you can do it as well. Getting washed, cut and dried will make your dog absolutely shine. Be mindful of your local kennel club standards if you do expect to do it yourself.

Take your dog to the show regularly, and they'll get better at it with practice. Not everyone is likely to be a star performer at their first show appearance. Just make sure it remains an enjoyable experience for them each time, and don't force them into anything they don't want to do.

The last thing is remember to accessorize your dog accordingly using things like dog show leads - leads specifically designed for use in the show circuit.

The Benefits of Hiring a Pet Care Professional

By Leslie Fiore

Dog Walking and Pet Sitting services in your own home have many benefits for you and your pets. Let's face it, the economy has us all tightening our belts, but the one expense we refuse to cut back on is the care of our pets. We may be buying cheaper shampoo, but "Princess" is still going to the groomers once a month. That's how it is for us pet parents.

Dog Walking Services:

You are probably asking yourself, "Is hiring someone to walk my dog everyday worth it?" The answer is yes. If you are gone for 10 hours a day, like most of us are... think of how your dog must feel for those 10 hours. Daily scheduled walks benefit the dog in many ways, not the just... "I GOTTA GO!!" potty breaks. Dogs require outside stimulation, exercise and socialization. Without these basic needs, your cute little Pomeranian can turn into Cujo.

Working dogs or "high energy dogs" really benefit from dog walking services. I'm owned by a Siberian Husky, more like a Werewolf than a dog... and if she doesn't get her 1 hour walk everyday... I am looking at a level of destruction that would rival Chernobyl. As long as she has her walkies before I go to work, she is fine. This also helps our training re-enforcement. Huskies pull, that is what they do... dogs that pull while walking make the whole bonding experience less than desirable. Hiring a professional dog walker to work with your dog on pulling issues and basic commands, really helps you! Consistent training that professional dog walkers offer makes YOUR walks with your pet much more enjoyable.

Overweight dogs are highly susceptible to Diabetes. If your veterinarian suggests more exercise and a dietary plan for your dog, a professional pet sitter can greatly contribute to your pets well being through additional exercise as well as helping you track your dogs progress.

Pet Sitting in YOUR home:

Before at home pet sitting became more mainstream, your only choice for pet care while you where away was a family member, Kennels or "Honey, we can't go". You have more options these days, with the expanding pet care services. Choosing a pet sitter that will come to your home daily or overnight is a fantastic option to boarding your pet at a Kennel.

For one, no need to worry about your pet contracting an illness, such as Kennel Cough & Parvovirus. Stress on your pet is also greatly reduced by keeping them in their homes.

They will miss you, they will go through separation anxiety... but having someone come in to care for them will indeed lessen their stress.

"How do I choose a Pet Care Professional?"

My dog is my child... crazy, I know... but she is... and I would not trust her with just anyone. As a Pet Care Professional, I can tell you what I would look for in someone to be entrusted with her care:

Licensed, Bonded and Insured - this lets me know they are serious about their services

Red Cross Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR - life saving credentials

Disaster Preparedness Plan - If they have one in place, and ask me to have one as well, they are very concerned with the safety of my pet.

References

Initial Interviews - Pet Care Professionals take the time to value your needs as well as your pets needs.

Feedback - A Pet Care Professional will provide you with a diary that notes any marked changes with your pet that may be of concern to you.

Safety - are they prepared for all types of situations? Do they carry a first aid kit and aggressive animal deterrents?

Finding someone to care for your pet while you are away is not that difficult. Go with your gut instincts and always remember... if your pet doesn't like them at the first meeting... chances are you will not. Animals are a great judge of character. Let them help you decide.

As always, if you have any questions or comments... please feel free to comment or contact me at walkies.doggies@yahoo.com or visit my website http://www.walkiesdoggies.com

Build A Deep Heart Bond With Your Dog

By E. Blinn

Do you remember how the house smelled on Thanksgiving, as a kid? The oven warmed the whole house. Your pets feel the same way when you cook homemade dog food for them. They remember the smells, the taste, and the sounds of you cooking for them.

Sharing good food with your family builds strong bonds, and happy memories. Sharing homemade pet food with your dog will strengthen your deep heart bond with her too. The next step is how to get your dog to understand that you are sharing your food with her.

For your puppy, kneel down in front of her, and get her attention. Curl your hand up and slowly reach over your pups head, she'll lean back, she'll turn his head, and sooner or later she'll sit down to look up at your hand. You can also use her food dish. Praise her every time she sits. Good sit! Repeat it a few times. Even young puppies usually catch on quick. Teach your puppy or your dog to sit and stay before each meal.

Stand where her food dish usually sits on the floor, and ask her to sit. Hold her food dish in both hands in front of you, about chest high. She's probably going to stare at her food dish at first. Stay like that a second, you want her to look up at you, when she does, just say good girl. Don't put the food down yet, still hold it. When she looks back up at you, praise her again. The next time she looks up at you, tell her good girl, tell her to stay, put the food down, have her wait before you tell her OK. Do this every time you feed her. I stay in the kitchen with Max while he eats.

Start as young as possible, and teach her to sit, everywhere, before she eats, and before you open the door to take her for a walk. Ask her to sit, praise her, teach her to stay, spend some time until she waits for your OK to go out. On her walk, teach her to sit before you cross the street. Sit. Stay. Have her wait until you say it's OK to cross. I don't care if your mother-in-law is coming, don't cross the street until she sits and waits for you. Soon she'll look up at you for approval. The sooner you make it clear to your dog or your puppy what you will and won't allow, the happier you'll both be. By being patient, and consistent, your dog will want to earn your praise and approval. It's a win, win. Your goal is to get her to want to do what you ask of her. The best way to do this, is with her food. It takes a few minutes to make a home cooked meal for your dog, you want her to understand it's your food, and you are sharing it with her.

Praise your dog when she comes to you, even if you stood for an hour in the rain. Your dog expects praise when you're smiling and clapping. If she gets scolded, next time instead of coming when you call, she'll head the other way. You might fool her once, but remember, she's taking notes. You will lose her trust if you are not consistent.

Here's some advice to help you get started. Spend some time having her come to you. If you feel more comfortable with treats, start with them, but keep in mind that you'll need to cut back on using them later. Keep a hot dog sliced up in a freezer bag. Start by walking her on a leash at the park, when she starts to sniff and explore, drop the leash. Let her go ahead. Stop and kneel down, if she comes to you, praise her. If not, call her, when she comes, have her sit, give her a treat and praise her. After you get more confident, drop the leash and walk with her. Stop and stand still, see if she turns to you. Give her a second, she will start to look back to see where you are. It takes some time, but each time she does, call her to you, have her sit and reward her. She'll start to come back on her own, check on you, and head off again. Work on this in different places, with different distractions.

Teach your dog what you want her to do. It's that simple.

Teaching a Dog to Lie Down

By Alexander Fitzgerald

Teaching a dog to lie down is a very important command, and will always come in hand. Whether you have company come over, or you just need your dog to relax, having the dog lie down is useful.

This is one of the highly debated types of training in the pet owner community. An owner can use the "treat" approach, which concentrates on the dog modeling the behavior and receiving a treat. The other approach, which is my least favorite, is the "forcing and then rewarding" approach. This concentrates on forcing the dog into the position while saying the command, and then rewarding the treat. It does create a better form from the beginning, but it can cause aggression problems later with some dog breeds. In this article, we will be concentrating on the treat approach.

Here is the simple five step training process for teaching a dog to lie down:

1. Give your dog the "sit" command - at this point I do not give my dog a treat, because he already knows how to obey. However, if your dog is still new in the training process, you may want to reward your dog with a treat now and then later.

2. Put the treat between two fingers and put it in front of your dog so he or she clearly sees it. Do not keep it close to your dog face, or else it may snatch at it.

3. Say "lay down" and slam your hand down on the ground in the same moment. Be sure not to slam it down aggressively, but do use enough force. Most dogs will immediately lie down. If your dog does not sit down immediately, bring the treat slowly away from your dog. At this point, you may want to gently place your other hand on your dog's lower back and apply a little pressure - just do not force.

4. Praise your dog and provide the treat.

5. Repeat as necessary.

Remember, forcing your dog down may immediately get the training done. But, it can cause aggressive behavior. Use your judgment as trainer and owner. If your dog seems to not respond to the training, you may have to take a different approach. Research leadership training to reset your status to "alpha dog" and maybe consider going to an obedience school for some more tips. Most dogs, however, should respond well to this training method.

Alexander Fitzgerald, also known as the "Pack Leader," writes on many topics within dog training. With new blog posts everyday, youarethepackleader.com is the place to go. We offer a free eBook on how to be the Alpha Leader that helps people learn how to be more commanding within the home pack. Visit us for more information on Dog Training.

Why It Is Wise to Use a Pet Stroller in the Winter

By Cecelia Brown

If you live in a part of the country with four seasons, then winter is just around the corner. It is always important for your dog or cat to get as much exercise as possible, but time outside tends to get reduced during the frigid months. The air is drier so you need to make sure your pet has plenty of clean water to drink whenever he wants it. Your pet may want to eat more, but be sure he doesn't pack on the extra pounds this winter.

Taking your pet to the park may require extra attention as the winter months bring snow and ice to the streets. Ice and salt can irritate and abrade paw pads. If you pet does not have booties then his paw pads must be wiped off after a walk. Winter is also a time that antifreeze is found by pets. The sweet smell and taste is enticing, but also deadly. Frostbite, although uncommon, is possible for our furry friends. Their foot pads, nose, ear tips and tail tip are susceptible if overexposed to the freezing temperatures. Using a pet stroller to transport your pet to the vet, the dog park, shopping, or just about anywhere is a fine way to protect your pet from winter hazards.

Pet strollers are available in many styles. You can find a lightweight, collapsible stroller for frequent trips in and out the car, or a more substantial stroller that you can use for jogging or longer walks on uneven roads. Bicycle trailers for pets are also commonly used to transport pets, especially if you live in a bike-friendly city. Several brands of bike trailers have stroller kits available, so you would have two methods of travel from which to choose. Pet strollers and trailers are created to carry very small pets and some can carry pets up to 165 pounds. The wheeled carriers for large animals have an entry point that is low to the ground, making it easier for the large pet to get into the cabin.

Whether your pet is walking on a leash or riding in a stroller or bicycle trailer, consider an extra layer of warmth for him. A sweater or jacket will help protect him from the wind on the ride. Pet strollers and trailers have mesh windows and many have another layer of protection from wind while still allowing your pet to breathe comfortably. Many pet strollers and bicycle trailers for pets have optional weather covers for purchase. A weather cover protects pets from wind, rain and snow. Getting outside with your pet is a valuable experience no matter what the weather brings. Be sure your travels are safe for your pet.

Cecelia Brown is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in stress management strategies. She has a special interest in pets and pet products. Please visit her website: http://www.PerfectPetStroller.com to find out more about Pet Strollers and Pet Bike Trailers

How Do You Tell Your Child That Their Pet Has to Be Put to Sleep?

By Colleen Mihelich

A couple of years ago I received a sad email from a dear friend who was reaching out to me for advice on how to tell her five year old daughter that the dog she's known her whole 5 years, has to be put down. He's sick and suffering and it is the only humane choice for them to make.

My heart broke for her - for her own loss of the dog she's known and loved for 9 years, and also for the pain and heartache that she knows her daughter will experience in losing her best friend.

Her questions were tough ones - Do I let her say goodbye? How do I tell her? How do I help her to understand?

I went through these same questions with my own children when we lost our dear, big ole Golden Retriever Bobo. It was hard to navigate. It's much easier to help others through these hard times, which is part of my job, but to go through it myself was more difficult and confusing. There are no clear black and white answers. We all have different beliefs about death and the existence of the afterlife. How I handled it may not work for everyone, but this is what I did, and what I shared with my friend.

1) Be honest. Be gentle, but don't sugarcoat or lessen the truth of what is going to happen. My 3 year old couldn't quite yet wrap her little mind around it all, but kids are too smart not to be honest with them.

2) Explain what is wrong with your pet in very simple terms (cancer) and that it is time for him to go. Often times our pets are suffering and we can explain that they won't feel pain and suffering anymore after they're gone.

3) Children are very visual, so it's helpful to help them to create an image in their minds. It seemed to help my children a lot to know that their dog is now in a place where he can run around and play with lots of other animals who have died too.

4) Everyone's spiritual beliefs vary widely, but being a big believer in spirit I was able to tell my children something that has helped them greatly. I told them that Bobo will always be with them in spirit. And he is still a part of their consciousness today. He receives occasional hellos from them and waves toward the sky from the from time to time. They still count him as one of our family members.

5) Allow your children to feel whatever they're feeling. Drawing pictures of their pet and things that they used to do together can be very helpful in the healing process. For older children, writing down their favorite memories or writing a letter to their pet can be immensely helpful.

6) Don't get a new pet too soon. Children need their time to grieve. They may not talk about the loss of their pet a lot, but that doesn't mean that they're not still processing what has happened. Children are very loyal and may feel disloyal to their pet that they've lost if you bring a new pet into the home too soon. It may also suggest that their grief is not important if their pet is so replaceable.

7) It's okay not to have all of the answers for them and it's also okay to admit that.

By providing a safe place for your children to grieve and by listening and being there for them, you are beginning to build a foundation in their hearts and minds for handling the future losses that they will experience in their lives. Death is a part of life, and while we yearn to protect our children from pain and suffering, it is our responsibility to gently teach them about the more difficult realities of life.

Colleen Mihelich
Owner, Peternity... honoring your pet for eternity.
colleen@peternity.com
877-PET-PEACE

Parasites and Your Pets - What Should You Do?

By Dr. Jason Heller, DVM

Parasites! Parasites! Parasites! they are all over the place. A parasite is an organism that inhabits or interacts with another organism, doesn't help the host and most times causes harm.

In veterinary medicine and ultimately in our homes parasites cause significant problems to animal and human health alike. There are parasites on the outside of cats and dogs that can affect both us and them, most commonly, FLEAS!!!

Not far behind, but possibly more dangerous to our pet's health and ours, are TICKS! Ticks spread life threatening diseases to animals and humans alike. One of the most common tick diseases on Long Island is Lyme disease, which causes arthritis-like symptoms and fever most times.

Fleas bite our animals and us and cause anemia or low red blood cells. Little do people realize that the "BLACK PLAGUE" was spread by fleas. EEEWWW!!

Internal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms to name a few sometimes can affect people and animals in almost the same way, causing vomiting and diarrhea, upset stomach, or worms coming out of the mouth or the rear.

Sometimes parasites in animals and humans also can cause severe diseases and even death. Young children and seniors are more prone to contracting parasites, due to their compromised immune system. Heartworm disease spread by mosquitoes can severely injure or even cause the death of both cats and dogs!

How To Protect Against Parasites?

Each one of the major parasites that we discussed above such as heartworm, fleas ticks and internal worms can be either prevented and or controlled with proper veterinary preventative intervention. Cats and dogs alike get all the above parasites!

Indoor cats get parasites... heartworm in cats is really causing sickness in our indoor-only cats.

Deworming kittens and puppies with proper veterinary products is most important. Continual parasite control for cats and dogs year round can prevent extreme pain and discomfort in animal and humans alike.

Products such as Sentinel, Heartgard, Frontline, Advantix, Vectra 3D, all have a place in the prevention and control of parasites. It is the responsibility of the veterinarian and pet owner to test feces once or twice a year and offer the best preventative protocols available to suit the needs of the cats, dogs, their owners and their environment.

Proper preventative protocols established by your veterinarian for you and your pets are most important. Buying products from the veterinarian is almost as important. Having the faith in the doctor to consult on and ensure the products and knowledge are correct is and should always be the reason to buy proper products from your veterinarian.

Remember, any product purchased from an outside source other than your veterinarian, including online pet stores, large chain stores, pet stores, supermarket, etc. has a potential to be counterfeit or ineffective, or worse yet, painful, dangerous or deadly to you and your pet!

Ask your veterinarian about proper preventative medicines at competitive prices to keep your furry four-legged friends and everyone else in the home healthy!

Dr. Jason Heller is a veterinarian with over 17 years of experience working with cats, dogs, small mammals, birds and reptiles. He is the head veterinarian at the Northport Animal Clinic, a leading veterinary practice in Northport, Long Island, offering 24-hour emergency care for your pets.