The post Puppy Breed Selector Tool first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Of course, the more you are willing to spend, the more comfort and attention your pet will get. In-home services typically also offer services such as watering plants and general house-care in your absence. Do not mistake a pet sitter, however, for a house-keeper – or you may soon need to get a new one!

People can become a pet sitter without any qualifications and it may be hard to gauge the experience any candidate can bring to the job. This is why it is sometimes very hard to choose a sitter from classified listings. Sometimes your individual impression of someone, and watching how they interact with your pet can be a good way of choosing. However, also look for accreditation from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, whose members abide by a code of ethics and have completed study courses and conferences.

Before selecting a person or company to look after your pets, interview the candidates over the phone or at your home. Find out if they will work in your home or whether you will take your pet to them. You will also want to know if potential candidates will be caring for other pets at the same time as yours, and if so how many pets and if your pet will receive as much attention as he needs. You should ask what other services your sitter might offer, such as walking your dog or watering your plants.

If you are satisfied with the conditions in which your pet will be cared for, you should find out what training and qualifications the candidate has and what arrangements are in place if the candidate cannot make it to work one day (an emergency, car travel etc.) – for example can their agency provide backup? From a legal point of view you should find out if the candidate has commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence) and is bonded (to protect against theft). Finally, you should request that candidates provides a service contract to ensure that she is legally obliged to provide the care for which you are paying.

Find out from the candidate names and numbers of previous pleased customers who can provide a reference. Also judge your candidates on their interaction with your pet, and their interest in their well-being. For example, Does he/she seem interested when you are telling them about your pet? Do they take notes about feeding and medicating?

Once you have chosen a pet sitter, it is important that you do everything you can to make things as easy as possible for your pet and his new sitter. Every time you want to make a reservation with your sitter you should do so well in advance of your requirements. You should provide your pet sitter with clear instructions detailing specific pet-care responsibilities and contact information for you and for your vet. Most pet sitters will require that your pet’s vaccinations are current, particularly if your pet is not the only animal being cared for on the premises, and you should make sure that you attach current identification tags to your pet’s collar. Finally, a good tip is to leave a key with a trustworthy neighbor as a backup in case of loss, and make sure your pet sitter knows how to contact them.

The post Guide to Choosing a Pet Sitter for Your Puppy first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Make sure that your dog has been exercised before you leave the House.
It is unfair for you to expect your dog to hold his bladder all day so if necessary employ a dog baby sitter to let him out – they can be a little expensive though – so if you can get back home during the day to let them out even that is even better.

This is important

Try not to show any signs that you are leaving the House – put your coat on in a different room – don’t get dressed into your business suit or apply any make up in front of your dog as it will only get your dog anxious.
If you do show signs of going out – these may be the pre-conditioning signals that are causing your dog so much distress.
Get your dog nice and settled before you go out – tell him to “go to bed” and give him a treat so that he knows he is being good – You can also leave the radio on if you think this will help – make it soft music – not heavy metal!
It may help to find something that he can smell you on – like one of your sweat shirts or something – leave it with him on his bed.

Don’t make a big deal of it!

If you feel guilty that you are going out – don’t make a big deal of it.
Don’t give him the sad eyes or a sad voice just say ‘bye’ and go on your way.

If you follow these steps it should help to recognize and separation anxiety and any subsequent house training problems.

Puppy House training – Introducing the Leash

In the initial stages of House training it’s important to use a leash and collar as part of the puppy house training process when taking your puppy/dog outside to eliminate.

Step 1

– Attach yourself to your puppy so that he can’t run off. If you start by letting your puppy run around the garden chasing birds and flys and rolling in mess you are setting yourself up to fail. – Remember that a puppy finds it hard to stay focused so make sure that the area is quiet and fenced off. – If your dog isn’t attached to you, you are offering him the chance to become wayward and distracted – so make sure he is on a leash

Step 2

The benefits of toilet training on a leash.

– If your puppy/dog has been trained firstly on a leash he won’t get stressed out going to the toilet in front of you – believe it or not but it is quite common for a puppy/dog to get stressed out when you are right behind them when they eliminate

Step 3

– Use a leash that is about 4-6 ft long – but make sure the snap (if its metal) isn’t too heavy. – Don’t use retractable leashes in the initial stages of the training process as they can teach your dog to pull – which is a bad thing. By using a fixed length lead you’re puppy/dog is learning that there needs to be some slack on the leash – this teaches them not to pull. Only use a retractable leash when he has learned the basic toileting techniques and is not pulling on his fixed length leash.

What collar should you use.

– Use a plain collar with a flat buckle or a quick-snap collar. I personally don’t use choke chains or prong collars as they really aren’t necessary and if you are doing the training properly you shouldn’t need one. Just use a regular flat collar.

The post House Training a Puppy & Puppy Leash Training first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dog training with an obedience instructor can vary in price and it usually takes place in a class. If you do the dog training yourself, it is usually free and you can do it from your own home. If you do choose to do the dog training yourself, it is best to get educated on dog training.

There are 3 basic things your dog should learn through basic dog training. These are: sit, stay, and come. The first part of dog training is to teach your dog to sit. To start this dog training, you will first need some dog treats.

Do this dog training in a quiet environment so your dog doesn’t get distracted. Tell your dog to sit repeatedly as you hold the dog treat just over their head. This way the dog has to look up and may sit on there own to reach the treat.

If not, gently push there rear down. When they sit, praise them and reward them with a treat. This kind of dog training works because the dog constantly hears “sit” and will learn to associate the command with sitting and receiving praise.

The next part of dog training is to teach your dog to stay. This is often a difficult part of dog training. This kind of dog training is also incorporated with teaching your dog the command “come.” Sit your dog in an area with no directions.

Tell your dog to stay repeatedly as you back away. Start out by keeping eye contact with the dog. If the dog gets up, tell it “no” and start again. Remember this dog training takes a while. You may need someone to sit with the dog to help reinforce the dog to stay the first few times.

Once you have made progress with this dog training, you then start by walking away with your back turned. Dogs will often get up to follow you at this point. Tell your dog “no” and start the dog training again by repeatedly telling your dog to stay as you walk away.

Once your dog has mastered this part, you can teach it to come. After your dog has stayed, tell it to “come.” Have a happy voice and pat your knee as you say “come.” Your dog should respond to this dog training right away and you may then reward it.

Always use praise instead of punishment with dog training. Dogs respond best to positive dog training, rather than negative. With all of this in mind, you should be able to teach your dog the 3 basis commands.

Follow all of this advice and you should soon have a more obedient dog that is worth everyone’s praise!

The post Basic Puppy Training first appeared on Puppy Blog.

To keep your dog healthy he needs plenty of fresh water and should be fed good quality dog food in amounts just right to meet his energy requirements. Always follow the guidelines on the dog food package for recommended feeding amounts.
Picking a dog food

The first challenge in choosing a dog food is picking one that has overall quality. The term that comes up a lot about dog food is human grade. Human grade implies that the dog food is good enough for us to eat. Many commercial dog foods are made from materials unusable or less desirable for human consumption. Often the meat that is used in dog food is of a quality considered unfit for humans to eat.

Major dog food companies try to provide balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for maximum benefit to your dog. Although you may see that many brands of dog food have almost identical labels, a reputable dog food company will provide an explanation for each supplement and how it benefits your dog.

Always read the label to see what proteins, vitamins and minerals are being provided to your dog. Try not to use store brand dog food they may short change your dog on much needed nutrition.

Studies have shown that the primary ingredient in dog food should be meat-based protein, not corn meal, flour or corn gluten meal. According to reviews a better quality dog food results in a healthier coat, fewer digestive problems and firmer stools. Pet-nutrition experts agree that the best dog food is made from human-grade ingredients like meat, whole grains and vegetables. Premium dog food is so important because good nutrition is essential for a long, healthy life.

Types of dog food

There are many varieties of dog food to choose from. The three most popular types of dog foods are dry, semi-moist and canned products. Check the color of your dog food. Usually dog food made from natural ingredients will have soft earth tones and contain no preservatives, artificial colors and flavors.

Raw dog food is becoming more popular. More and more veterinarians recommend feeding your dog with raw dog food. They feel that this is the best choice and is the healthiest food for your dog. After all, you’ve never seen your dog enjoy commercial dog food the way he enjoys a good meaty bone.

Raw food advocates concede the diet costs more than traditional dog food, but they argue it’s worth it. You may find that locating free natural home made dog food recipes is not easy. Try making a mixture of ground turkey, rice and carrot as your own dog food. Your dog will thank you for it.

If you decide to go the commercial route, try and choose a good premium dog food since it contains more energy and protein than an economy brand. Unfortunately not all dog food brands contain high quality and natural ingredients, so always check the label. It is best if you seek advice from your veterinarian before deciding on which dog food to feed your dog or puppy. He will know your dog’s dietary needs and you will find that veterinary offices and feed stores often carry excellent and natural dog food.

All Natural Dog Food

Many natural dog foods contain only fresh, natural and wholesome ingredients for your dog. Not only are the protein ingredients digestible, but the carbohydrates in the dog food are digestible. Natural dog food has 100% nutritional value which is important for healthy strong dogs. Chicken, egg and fish are examples of protein that is provided in natural dog food. There are also ingredients in natural dog food that really help the health of your dog’s skin and also your dog’s coat. One of the main draw backs of natural dog food is that it has a shorter shelf life and may spoil before it is used.

Dried Dog Food

A good high quality dry dog food will work out to be more economical than the generic brands even though they cost more per pound. A vast majority of dog owners go for dry dog food for its convenience and ease of storage. The cheaper dry dog foods are made from soybean, corn or rice, while many premium dry dog foods are made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients.

Vegetarian dog foods

There are dog foods specially formulated for dogs that are allergic to wheat, corn, and/or chicken. There are also vegetarian dog foods marketed to owners who do not want their dogs to consume meat products. Most vegetarian dog foods use soy as a protein source. If your dog has allergies consult your vet before putting him on a specialized diet.

Conclusion

Overall it’s usually best to let dogs enjoy dog food and not our food, even though they may prefer what we’re eating! Of course you can feed your dog treats from time to time, every dog needs some TLC from time to time!

The post Are You Feeding Your Dog The Right Dog Food? first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Those big brown eyes gazing at you with complete adoration. The cool, wet nose nudging bare feet in the early morning. That tireless wagging tail that symbolizes pure joy in your presence.

We know that dogs are dedicated companions that offer unquestioning attachment and acceptance. In the past several years, mounting scientific evidence suggests that they benefit us even beyond eager devotion. Numerous studies have shown that dogs — one of the earliest domesticated animals — can help lower blood pressure, ease the loneliness of the elderly in nursing homes, and help children overcome allergies.

Now there’s new research from the University of Missouri-Columbia suggesting the hormonal changes that occur when humans and dogs interact could help people cope with depression and certain stress-related disorders. Preliminary results from a study show that a few minutes of stroking our pet dog prompts a release of a number of “feel good” hormones in humans, including serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin.

In addition, petting our pooches results in decreased levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol, the adrenal chemical responsible for regulating appetite and cravings for carbohydrates.

“The notion that serotonin increased with their own dog is a very powerful thing. Could a dog help mediate serotonin levels in order to help depressed patients?” asks Dr. Rebecca Johnson, a nursing professor and associate director at the Center for Animal Wellness, Missouri University College of Veterinary Medicine, who is heading the study with collaborator Richard Meadows.

Why does Spot make us feel better?

Dog owners may not be surprised to hear about the emotional benefits of stroking a beloved pet, but for researchers like Johnson, it’s important to understand why Spot makes us feel better.

Therapy dogs have been used to visit nursing homes, calm traumatized children and help ease pain in people undergoing physical rehabilitation, but the field of animal-assisted therapy is still in its infancy, Johnson says. Researchers are trying to determine which types of people would best benefit from being with pet animals and how often they need to interact with them to get results.

“By showing how interacting with pets actually works in the body to help people, we can help animal-assisted therapy become a mainstream medically-accepted intervention that would be prescribed to patients and, in the long run, be reimbursed by insurance companies,” says Johnson. The University of Missouri-Columbia study was funded by The Skeeter Foundation, a group headed by Dr. Jack Stephens, founder of Veterinary Pet Insurance, a nationwide insurer of pet medical coverage.

Johnson’s study expanded on research conducted in 1999 by South African scientists who found that 15 minutes of quietly stroking a dog caused hormonal changes that were beneficial to both the dog and the human.

But the South African study was small, involving only 18 people and a few friendly dogs, and didn’t test for serotonin, the brain chemical strongly linked with depression. Increased levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin make us more mentally alert, improve sleep and can make us less sensitive to pain.

Comparable to eating chocolate

In the larger Missouri study, 50 dog owners and 50 non-dog owners over the age of 18 sat in a quiet room for 15 to 39 minutes with their own dog, a friendly but strange dog, and a robotic dog. The robotic dog was included because electronic pooches, such as Sony’s AIBO, are being studied as a possible resource for the elderly who can’t look after a live animal.

Each session involved calm stroking or petting. Researchers checked blood samples of both the humans and dogs at the beginning of each session and monitored their blood pressure every five minutes. The dogs’ blood pressure dropped as soon as they were petted. The humans’ blood pressure dropped by approximately 10 percent about 15 to 30 minutes after they began petting the animal, at which point blood was again drawn.

Johnson’s study found that serotonin levels increased when interacting with the human’s own dog, but not with the unfamiliar animal. And serotonin actually decreased when interacting with the robotic dog.

Dr. Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, says the serotonin changes reveal the “mechanism” of how pets influence our health.

“It shows that there is a physiological mechanism [to relaxing with a pet], that it really is comparable to other things we know cause relaxation, like eating chocolate,” says Beck.

Not just learned behavior

In other words, the warm feeling we get from our dogs and other pets isn’t just a learned behavior, Beck says, but something that’s hard-wired into humans so that the presence of animals can help us stay well and even recover from illnesses.

By Jane Weaver

For The Rest Of The Story: Click Here

The post Puppy Love first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Birth

Puppies are born after a period of approximately 61 days of gestation, and they begin to nurse nearly immediately. Puppies continue to nurse for the first seven weeks of age.

Senses

Puppies are born deaf and blind, but they have a completely functional sense of smell from birth. Their senses all develop rapidly during the first two weeks of life.

Development

Much of a puppy’s initial body and personality development occurs in the first three to six weeks. Personalities become more apparent at about four weeks old.

Independence

Puppies are dependent on their mother for the first eight weeks, not only for nourishment but also interaction and other aspects of development.

Socialization

Socialization is of vital importance in the first 12 weeks of the puppy’s development, including socialization with other puppies, adults and children.

The post Puppy Info first appeared on Puppy Blog.