Archive for January, 2010

Dog Health – Keeping Your Dog Healthy

Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Routine Exercise

Many dog owners underestimate their dogs’ exercise needs in relation to keeping their dog healthy. Destructive behavior may lead to a diagnosis of separation anxiety or other behavioral problems. While these conditions truly exist, in many cases the behavior is actually the result of an energy surplus. If you feed your dog a healthy diet, it should give her plenty of energy. However, if your dog can’t release that energy with exercise, it may be released on your furniture, carpet, doorways, or even your prized collection of rare books. Read More…

Exercise – Why Dogs Need It

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

A dog whose exercise needs are met may rest more calmly at home and be less fretful when left alone. The modern dog-management mantra of “A good dog is a tired dog” is gospel to many people. Exercise can improve bone and joint health. Heart and lung function can improve. Sport and working dogs need the right exercise to be able to perform well. Exercise makes show dogs look better and feel better to a judge’s exploring hands. Read More…

Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Your beloved canine companion clearly isn’t a cow, so you might be confused when you see him eating grass. You might even be worried. Is he hungry? Bored? Sick? Will eating grass hurt him?

First, rest assured that you’re not alone in your concern, especially if your dog is eating grass and vomiting. Read More…

Teach Your Dog To Play Frisbee

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Great Video by Zak George

Dog’s Need Exercise!

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

We often think of exercise only as a health issue, but it has significant day-to-day effects on a dog’s behavior as well. Dogs–particularly puppies and young dogs–have a lot of energy, and if they don’t get the chance to burn it off, destructive behavior is often the result. If you’re annoyed at the holes your dog has dug, have headaches from his barking, and have to replace pillows shredded into expensive fluff, your dog’s probably not getting enough exercise. Read More…

3 Minutes a Day Can Protect Your Pet

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Did you know that spending three minutes brushing your pet’s teeth can improve his or her quality of life?

It’s true.

Brushing your pet’s teeth may be one of the most important and easiest things you can do at home to safeguard his or her health. Without it, bacteria, tartar and plaque pile onto teeth. The first symptom of illness may be bad breath, which evolves to periodontal (gum) disease. Left untreated, bacteria in the mouth get into the bloodstream and can affect overall health. Read More…

12 General Rules for Training Dogs

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

Training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog. If you are not in the right mood for training, don’t even start. Keep training sessions short, on the order of 5-10 minutes, to maintain your dog’s motivation.

If your dog doesn’t respond appropriately to a command after several attempts, don’t reward him. Resume training a few seconds later using a simpler command. Return to the more complex task later. Read More…

ASPCA Virtual Pet Behaviorist: Barking

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Barking is one of many forms of vocal communication for dogs. People are often pleased that their dog barks, because it alerts them to the approach of people to their home or it tells them there’s something that the dog wants or needs. However, sometimes a dog’s barking can be excessive. Because barking serves a variety of functions, you must identify its cause and your dog’s motivation for barking before you can treat a barking problem Read More…