Looking After Pets

If you’re a first time puppy owner, you’re probably starting to wonder about your new responsibilities. Now that you’re responsible for another life, it’s important that you understand what these responsibilities entail.

The first thing we’re going to talk about is your pup’s diet. The food your puppy eats will likely change from semi-liquid to a solid, depending upon the age of your dog when you bring him home. Puppies usually start to wean from their mother’s milk between six and eight weeks of age, which is about the same time that breeders will allow the puppy to go live with its new owner. Find out what the breeder is feeding the puppy, and continue feeding him on that food. Usually at that age they are eating moist food from a can mixed with a bit of puppy milk replacement. After a week or two, start taking away the milk and gradually adding dry food over the course of 7 – 10 days until your pup is eating nothing but dry food. You’ll also need to make sure that his water bowl is constantly filled. You should also know that it can be very harmful to feed your dog table scraps. There are many foods that can cause your dog severe health issues and even death. Some of these foods include chocolate, raisins, onions, garlic, and potatoes.

The next item on the list is vaccinations. If your dog’s breeder hasn’t taken care of the vaccinations, then it’s up to you to see that your dog gets immunized. There are three separate shots given to cover the “core” illnesses, which are: distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis. The first shot is usually given at 6 weeks of age with the other shots following in three week intervals at 9 and 12 weeks. Your veterinarian will be able to take care of the vaccinations for you, as well as recommend any non-core vaccines that they feel your dog should have. The importance of non-core vaccines differs depending on your dog’s breed and where you live. You will need to return to the vet every year of your dog’s life for an adult “booster” shot. You should be aware that social interaction with other dogs is not recommended until after your puppy has completed his round of vaccinations, with an additional 5 – 10 days for the immunization to become effective.

Grooming is another important aspect of owning a puppy. Some dogs have stricter grooming requirements than others, particularly ones with long or curly fur. Certain breeds of dog are particularly susceptible to ear infections and require that their ears be cleaned frequently. All dogs should have their nails clipped periodically (usually when you hear their paws click on the floor you know it’s time for a trim!). It’s very important that this is done in the correct fashion using proper canine nail clippers, as cutting to deeply in your dog’s claws can result in severe pain and bleeding.

Exercise is one of the most vital aspects of your dog’s health. Your puppy will have a great deal of energy, which is completely natural! You should encourage playtime, especially outdoors so that he can have tons of room to romp around. If your puppy becomes restless, he may chew excessively which can be dangerous for your puppy (think of all the cords/cables plugging into your outlets, as well as wooden furniture that can splinter!). Pet steps are a great tool you can use to give your dog a workout. The time you spend training him to use the dog stairs to get onto furniture will encourage your pup to bond with you as well as to be obedient and respectful.

For more tips on raising a healthy pup, visit HelpYourPets.com.

Dog Walking is work our that everyone can do. What’s great about it is that you can do it by yourself or with a friend. If you do not have somebody, the dog supplies great company. It’s simple to do, and requires no special equipment, apart from a dog, a lead and comfy shoes. It is also free, in fact you can make money out of it. In addition it can be done anywhere, anytime, even in London dog walking is popular.
Dog walking has many benefits. It is the key element of dog care. It uses calories, it is a weight loss aid. One hour of dog walking (you as well) will use between 200 and 300 calories, depending on your weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. Walking does not strain your legs and ankles, unlike running, which can damage your joints and bones.
In fact it really helps the knees. The action of dog walking stimulates cartilage growth and the flow of synovial fluid within the knee. It also strengthens the muscles that protect the knee.
Because dog walking is weight-bearing it also helps strengthens the muscles that protect the hips. At the same time it strengthens bones therefore reducing the probability of fracture due to osteoporosis. By strengthening the core muscles of the spine and abdomen, dog walking helps reduce the chance for getting low back pain.
The increased exertion needed for dog walking helps the heart to pump more strongly. This helps reduce blood pressure with the subsequent reduced risk for stroke and heart attack.
Dog walking increases the respiratory rate (breathing rate), promotes increased flow of oxygen to the rest of the body and also helps eliminate the build up of carbon dioxide. A major plus for you and the dog is improved energy.
Studies show that exercise such as dog walking raises endorphin levels which helps relieve pain, reduces serum cortisol levels which helps reduce anxiety (as does having animals around, so a double benefit), and may also decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
So how do I {kick off with} start dog walking.
Pretty simple. Start with a good pair of walking shoes. If you have a history of flat feet, you should use orthotics.
Do not try to do too much at the very beginning. Build up gradually increasing the amount you walk. A great objective is 10,000 steps per day, which is approximately 5 miles. If that seems like a lot, note, most people already walk about 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day during the course of a normal day. Please note that many dogs, who evolved from wolves still have the same characteristics, require to walk over 5 miles a day. Most have the stamina for ten or more miles a day.
Depending on your fitness, you can start from low levels. Only one issue, I don’t have a dog. Not a problem, enquire around, there are many individuals who are time starved and don’t have ~ enough time for walking their dog. Increasingly, during this credit crunch period, dogs are being given to into dog charities, so either volunteer to become a dog walker or why not take a dog home with you.
Strapped for cash, why not help out people who do not have time for dog walking and set up a business walking their dog.
What speed for your dog walking will depend on you and your dog. Start slowly. A medium pace, you can walk up to about 2-3 miles an hour. You should be breathing faster and feel your heart rate increasing but still be able to carry on a conversation. You need to make sure that the dog is not pulling you, its not good for him and it is more exhausting for you.
Remember, it’s crucial to keep up your dog walking routine, for both you and the dog! Enjoy it.

One of the coolest things about dogs is that they can cure just about any problem you may have. If you’re sad, a dog is happy to comfort you, and let you rattle off all your problems to their ever available ears. If you’re full of energy, a dog is happy to take you for a run or walk, granted you bring travel dog water bowls with you, speeding up or slowing town to your pace at any given moment. Dogs are always there to keep you company or play a game when you are lonely. There is a reason why a canine is known to be man’s best friend – they will always be there for you when you need them. Dogs are great for children, the disabled, and the elderly and everyone in between.

Whenever my husband comes home tired and beaten down from a hard day of office slavery, the dog is likely to lift his spirits as much if not more than my home-made meatloaf. We own a Great Dane that we named Cody. His beautiful face seems to smile all the time, and his coat is so soft I will lay next to him on any one of the great dane dog beds we got for him. You can tell he has more energy than even I can believe, just by watching how much his tail wags. Cody loves to ride in cars, so it’s no hassle to bring him along on vacations, even though it sometimes seems like a bit of work to brush him, feed him and take him for multiple walks throughout the day.

I suppose it doesn’t matter that we treat Cody better than friends, because he is our responsibility and a part of the family; he repays us with love and joy that is difficult to find elsewhere.

Does your dog’s energy outlast your arm and shoulder when you are playing fetch?  And as a result, is your dog not running enough to make it a good exercise session?  I know I have exhausted my arm playing fetch and even put my joints at risk by continuously throwing the ball for an extended period of time.  I noticed that as my arm got tired, my throws would get sloppier and sometimes I almost overextended my elbow or my shoulder.  I love golf, and I did not want to risk any injuries that would prevent me from playing every weekend.  I needed to find a better way for us to play fetch.

Then one day I was throwing the tennis ball for my dog, and I was getting tired and wondering how I could throw it farther so he would be the one getting the workout, and it finally occurred to me how to throw a tennis ball farther… by not throwing it!  I ran into my garage and grabbed an old tennis racquet and started to lob the ball for my dog to catch.  And our game of fetch was instantly transformed.  Hey, why didn’t I think of this before?!  Within minutes, I was offering him a medley of ball distances, speeds and trajectories, all with less exertion on my part.  I could tweak the arc of the ball depending on how much I wanted him to run, and I was astounded at how far I could hit the ball with just a gentle underhand stroke.  It was also fun to launch the ball high and watch him try to figure out where it was going to land.  And I always get a kick out of him trying to catch a high-bouncing ball.

To my dog’s surprise and delight, we can now play fetch long enough to make us both happy.  This low impact way of playing fetch has rescued my arm and shoulder joints so my golf game is not in jeopardy.  And it has added the variety necessary to keep our fetch playing interesting and fun.

So the next time you play fetch with your dog, grab a tennis racquet and give this a try.  And if tennis isn’t your game, then grab your racquetball racquet, your baseball bat or anything that will propel a ball will less strain from you.  Your dog will love this!

Make sure to visit my blog MyDoggie.org for helpful dog tips and advice on Eliminating Barking, Leash Training and much more!

If you’re a first time puppy owner, you’re probably starting to wonder about your new responsibilities. Now that you’re responsible for another life, it’s important that you understand what these responsibilities entail.

The first thing we’re going to talk about is your pup’s diet. The food your puppy eats will likely change from semi-liquid to a solid, depending upon the age of your dog when you bring him home. Puppies usually start to wean from their mother’s milk between six and eight weeks of age, which is about the same time that breeders will allow the puppy to go live with its new owner. Find out what the breeder is feeding the puppy, and continue feeding him on that food. Usually at that age they are eating moist food from a can mixed with a bit of puppy milk replacement. After a week or two, start taking away the milk and gradually adding dry food over the course of 7 – 10 days until your pup is eating nothing but dry food. You’ll also need to make sure that his water bowl is constantly filled. You should also know that it can be very harmful to feed your dog table scraps. There are many foods that can cause your dog severe health issues and even death. Some of these foods include chocolate, raisins, onions, garlic, and potatoes.

Your next concern should be to see that your dog gets all of the required vaccinations. Some breeders may start the vaccination process, so check with your dog’s breeder to find out if any vaccinations have been given to your pup. There are three shots given three weeks apart. These shots are referred to as the “core” injections. They help to prevent your pup from contracting distemper, parvovirus, and hepatitis. You can have the first shot administered when your puppy is 6 weeks old. Your veterinarian may suggest vaccinations to prevent illnesses that are a concern for certain breeds or demographic regions. These are called non-core vaccinations as they are not a requirement for all dogs. To be on the safe side, we recommend you keep your dog away from other dogs (that are not in your home) until your puppy has completed his round of core vaccines. They will become effective about 10 days after the last vaccination.

Grooming is another important aspect of owning a puppy. Some dogs have stricter grooming requirements than others, particularly ones with long or curly fur. Certain breeds of dog are particularly susceptible to ear infections and require that their ears be cleaned frequently. All dogs should have their nails clipped periodically (usually when you hear their paws click on the floor you know it’s time for a trim!). It’s very important that this is done in the correct fashion using proper canine nail clippers, as cutting to deeply in your dog’s claws can result in severe pain and bleeding.

Exercise is one of the most vital aspects of your dog’s health. Your puppy will have a great deal of energy, which is completely natural! You should encourage playtime, especially outdoors so that he can have tons of room to romp around. If your puppy becomes restless, he may chew excessively which can be dangerous for your puppy (think of all the cords/cables plugging into your outlets, as well as wooden furniture that can splinter!). Pet steps are a great tool you can use to give your dog a workout. The time you spend training him to use the dog stairs to get onto furniture will encourage your pup to bond with you as well as to be obedient and respectful.

For more tips on raising a healthy pup, visit HelpYourPets.com.