Are you at present aiming to get a dog? A lanky dog maybe something you want, perhaps? One that can cope well with your lifestyle? Walk with you in the mornings or even at nighttime? Play catch or go after the Frisbee in the park? Do you want a pet weimaraner that looks haunting or one that’s really stately looking? Do you want it to be low maintenance? After all, your habits may not give you enough time to worry about grooming and stuff. If the above sums up to a T, the kind of weimaraner you want, then you ought to really think about getting a weimaraner. And, to enable you to get the ball rolling, here are some weimaraner training tips that you will have the ability to use.

Tip 1 – Be the Alpha Dog

When it relates to dog training, weimaraners or any other breed, it is essential to remember that you ought to always be the superior animal/alpha dog. Dog owners will discover that their pets are all sorts of things, they are awfully playful, they are adoring, and at the same time, they are pack dogs.

This means that they seek the direction of a superior animal/alpha dog.

If you have ever had more than 2 dogs at one time, there is an excellent possibility that you’ll notice that one of your creatures is dominant compared to the others. If you want your pet dogs to be obedient, then you ought to be at the dominant position at all times. You need to act the role of the alpha family pet, the alpha male, the one that your dogs look up to, the one that they would not dare disobey.

When it relates to weimaraner training tips, establishing dominance is all important. Do so and you’ll find that your dogs follow commands much easier.

Tip 2 – Take care of Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a usual concern among weimaraners. Since these were specialized to be true animal companions, they have a strong tendency to take on a very close relation with their owners. It is this kind of attachment that makes them at risk to developing separation anxiety. To have the ability to train your family pet correctly, he/she should be left alone without developing anxiety.

Tip 3 – Exercise to Prevent Boredom

Weimaraner training tips also encompasses the need of dealing with any underlying considerations that may be causing training delays. If you realize that your weimaraner keeps chewing at things regardless of how many times you tell him ‘no’, then there is a very good chance that your pet is having troubles with boredom. Weimaraners are especially active animals – they were designed to be just like so. To keep your family pet’s boredom to the least, you need to take your pet dogs on regular walks and on runs.

Tip 4 – Make Sure You Have Everyone On one page

When it comes to training weimaraners, it is vital that you make sure you get everyone in the family on the same page. This will help give your family pet consistency. You don’t plan to have you pet weimaraner ignore your demand of not jumping on the divan just because someone else in the family will allow him to just that.

Use the above weimaraner training tips to help you train your weimaraner. Doing so can enable you to train your weimaraner better.

The post Specific Tips to Help You Train Your Weimaraner first appeared on Puppy Blog.

It’s all too common, a big athletic dog suddenly comes back from the park limping, or even holding up the hind leg completely. You end up at the veterinarian’s office, where you are told your dog has just injured its ACL.

ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament; in proper veterinary terminology this ligament is the Cranial Cruciate Ligament, or CCL. We think of ACL injuries occurring in athletes, such as football players and skiers, but this happens in dogs and cats too. In fact, cruciate ruptures are the most common orthopedic injury seen in veterinary medicine; having dog insurance can often make this injury more financially feasible to treat.*

The cruciate ligaments are located in the knee (or stifle in animals). These ligaments are vital for proper movement of the knee. The term “cruciate” implies there are two ligaments that form an ‘X.’ The cranial and caudal ligaments do just this and normally function to stabilize the knee so the shinbone (tibia) doesn’t slide back front to back in relation to the thigh bone (femur) .

One big difference between veterinary and human cruciate injuries is that human cruciate ruptures tend to be due to traumatic injuries, such as, playing sports. In animals this isn’t always the case, which is another good reason it’s often a good idea to look into insurance for dogs.

While some may occur as the result of some injury, such as after chasing a Frisbee, 75% of cases are thought to be due to congenital predisposition (genetics) or degeneration in the stifle. Obesity is a huge predisposing factor! Breeds prone to this condition include the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, and St. Bernard among others.

Due to the degenerative nature of cruciate disease, between 30-40% of dogs will go on to eventually injure the other knee. This is due to increased weight bearing on the ‘good’ knee while the dog is lame, combined by the fact that the knees are generally symmetrical. Thus, an underlying predisposing problem in one knee will undoubtedly be present in the other.

There are basically four ways of treating a torn or ruptured cruciate ligament, three of these are surgical and can be quite costly; dog health insurance can often help to reduce these costs. Non-surgical treatment is only ever considered in pets weighing less than 15 pounds. Even in these smaller pets this is generally unrewarding and typically fails. About 50% of cats and 20-to 25% of dogs may respond to strict cage rest, weight control and pain relievers.

There are several companies that are making orthopedic knee braces for dogs. Although some dog insurance companies might cover the cost of these types of braces, most people agree that they are cumbersome to put on and difficult to keep on the patient. They also are not a long term solution, as the amount of stability provided isn’t sufficient for healing.

A permanent surgical correction is a better option, although braces may be suitable for post-operative rehabilitation. The majority of pets need to have surgical correction to provide return to normal function of the leg. Surgery is generally expensive and dog health insurance can often come in handy.

There are three main types of surgical repair. Your veterinarian should help you decide which is appropriate for your pet.

A Lateral Stabilizing procedure, also called a ‘Tight Rope’ or ‘Fishing Line’ procedure is generally less costly and can be a good choice for dogs weighing up to 40 or 50 pounds. This implant approximates the position and plane of the torn cruciate, providing stability. In people a graft can be used to replace the ligament, but this doesn’t provide long term stability in dogs and has fallen out of favor. Success rate is about 85% with surgical correction.

A TPLO, or Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy is another common type of surgical repair. Smaller dogs may not be good candidates for this type of surgery due to the size of the surgical implant. This surgery is different from the lateral stabilizing surgery because it changes the biomechanics of the knee, negating the need for the cranial cruciate. It alters the slope of the top of the shinbone (tibia) to neutralize the forward motion of the shinbone in the absence of an intact cruciate ligament.

A TTA, or Tibial Tuberosity Advancement, has a similar goal to alter the biomechanics of the knee, and can be another excellent choice for surgical repair. Studies show that regardless of the surgery type, the TPLO or TTA surgeries appear to be associated with better results and less degenerative joint disease in very large dogs than the Lateral Stabilizing procedure.

There are some things you can do to prevent this type of injury. If you have a larger dog, or any pet for that matter, consider having dog insurance prior to any problems occurring. Don’t let your pets become obese, monitoring treats and people food is essential. Regular check ups with your veterinarian can help you to determine if your pet is getting too heavy.

If you are concerned your pet may have a torn cruciate ligament, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

*Pets Best Insurance does not cover cruciate injuries within in the first 12 months of coverage. After 12 months, regular benefits will apply to cruciate injures that develop after the first year of coverage.

The post ACL Injuries – What They Mean For Your Pet first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Keeping your dog healthy through exercise

Since the weather has now taken a warmer turn, it is likely that many people will want to allow their pets more time outdoors for play. Just as our children need to heed to certain guidelines for safety and soundness, so does your dog.

Your dog’s basic overall health really depends on his size, weight and breed type. Obviously, the larger kind of breed your pet is, the more space is needed to provide for his or her exercising needs. Of course, walks in the park are a recreational way for both dog and owner to keep fit in spare time, but what about the times when you are unable to take your dog out to the park?

As a responsible pet owner, it is your duty to see that your dog gets the proper amount of exercise as is significant for maintaining their well being. Many owners of the larger breeds of dogs may keep their animals outside while they are out working or attending other functions with the family that don’t allow pets. However, keeping your dog tied to his doghouse or a tree while you are away does not constitute for proper care and exercise. Most dogs will bore of this and eventually find ways to entertain themselves; like breaking free and exploring the neighbourhood.

The best part about owning a dog of any size is that it requires that everyone in the family pitch in for its care. If walks in the park are out of the question then try getting the kids to walk the dog before going off to school or some other event. Purchasing a fence for your yard where the dog can run about on its own while you’re busy is another option.

Leaving a dog to entertain itself is an okay back up plan, but you didn’t get a dog to just leave it in the backyard. Interaction and companionship is what you wanted from your pet, so interact with it!

Playing Frisbee and fetch with a ball or a stick is an excellent way to build muscle in your pet and it entertains everyone in the process. If your dog is the kind that loves to travel, then taking him with you on long trips such as when you’re camping are another way that you and your pet can achieve exercise while getting involved with new scenery and learning about nature.

While having fun with your dog, however keep in mind that like you, he also needs periods of rest and plenty of water in order to stay hydrated throughout an eventful day, especially during the summer months because dogs are unable to sweat as humans do, therefore their only means of cooling themselves is through panting, which also helps to keep their blood circulated and flowing in a regular fashion.

If your dog is kept outdoors for long periods of time throughout the day then make sure that he has plenty of water and has access to a lot of shade where he can stay cool and protected from the heat. Lastly, remember that if you start a regular exercise routine or pattern with your dog to keep it going. The only way to make a healthy pet is to be consistent and also, to keep it interesting, mix up the routine every once in a while to keep both of you from boredom.

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Just like human beings, dogs can suffer from a wide range of diseases. Most of the times dogs encounter problems with their joints, bones, eyes or nervous system. Dogs can also develop health issues that are more difficult.

Hereditary issues like cancer can sometimes happen. The health of your dog should be of concern. But there are some simple steps you can take in order to ensure the health of your dog. There are some breeds that are more predisposed to certain illnesses and you should get to know them. Research the breed that you have and make sure you know everything about it.

The Exercises

Usually all the dogs need to exercise each day. The small breeds have to exercise indoors and also outdoors. It also depends on the breed. Some breeds do not like to do sports and it is easy to ready about that. There are many dogs that like to sit in the room and sleep for many days.

But turning the back yard into a playing ground for your dog will be something he will appreciate. During summer many dogs prefer to sit in the shade and not exercise at all. They like to rest and keep calm. When they are puppies, dogs love to go out and play and you, as its owner, must keep up with that. Dogs especially like to play fetch or Frisbee and they like to feel appreciated and loved. Encouraging the dog to take walks with you is also a great thing.

Diet

The food that the dog eats is very important its quality is highly important and you should avoid wet foods and the ones that are of low quality. Make sure you feed it nutritional food, to keep it out of trouble.

You should avoid giving your dog: chocolate, sweets, sugars, raisins, raw fish, raw pork, poultry bones, coffee, garlic, mushrooms and onions. Also, make sure the dog has plenty of water every day.

Details

You must keep a close eye on your dog and make sure he does not show sings of anxiety or discomfort. Also, if you notice changes in its behavior, you must address the situation.

Vet Visits

The visits to the vet must be regarded as routine. The dog must be kept under surveillance especially if he shows signs of a disease.

Love and Caring

This is an important aspect as dogs love to be loved and they appreciate all the attention they can receive.

The post Dog Health Care Basics first appeared on Puppy Blog.