Archive for September, 2009
« Older Entries | Newer Entries »Monday, September 14th, 2009
“Why do some pet foods have puppy food (or kitten food) and others do not? Shouldn’t I give my new pup – puppy food?”
Before I answer that question – I need to share a little pet food history. Back in the early days of commercial pet food, veterinarians noticed that when puppies were fed the same commercial food that the adult dogs were eating – they did not grow and thrive the way they should. Back then, commercial dog foods and cat foods contained very little quality meat – the protein mostly came from grains the food contained. It was determined that puppies and kittens need a higher protein food in order to develop properly. This change was important, however the bad news is that the protein was not required to come from meat sources – the majority came from inferior grain sources. The new requirements just required a higher percentage of protein for a growth food – a puppy food or a kitten food – there were no specifications as to where the protein came from (still holds true today).
Today, AAFCO has set standards for puppy foods to be a minimum of 22% protein (adult dog food minimum 18% protein), standards for kitten food must be a minimum of 30% protein (adult cat food 26% minimal protein). Besides a few other very insignificant differences – the amount of protein is the only difference between an adult dog food or an adult cat food to a puppy food or kitten food.
So, to answer the question above – you can feed a puppy food or kitten food, but you don’t have to if you are feeding the right food! Remember, except for percentage of protein, there are no significant differences in an adult pet food to kitten or puppy food.
Many pet food lines have protein percentages above the minimal requirements for puppies and kittens. Some pet food formulators have determined in their research that 18% protein for adult dogs and 26% protein for adult cats is not optimal – so they formulate their foods with higher protein levels than the required minimal. In other words – many adult foods meet the same nutritional requirements for puppies and kittens even though they are not labeled specifically as puppy food or kitten food. As an example…ABC Chicken & Rice Puppy Food has a protein percentage of 23% and ABC Chicken Kitten Food has a protein percentage of 32% – but XYZ Chicken & Rice Dog food has a protein percentage of 25% and XYZ Chicken Cat Food as a protein percentage of 35%. Both ABC brands and XYZ brands meet the required protein levels for puppy or kitten foods as well as adult dog and adult cat food. So, a puppy owner or a kitten owner could feed their new baby the XYZ pet food – even though it is not labeled specifically for puppies or kittens.
Before I go any further – I have to mention a little about canned pet foods. ANY canned or pouched pet food (a moist pet food) contains at least 70% to 85% moisture. Protein percentages in canned pet foods vary from 7% to 11% – far below the minimal requirements necessary for adult dogs and cats as well as kittens and puppies. Pet owners do not want to feed solely a canned or pouched pet food to adult dogs and cats or puppies and kittens. They simply do not provide the necessary nutrition. If you want to feed a canned pet food, feed it WITH a quality dry food. Maybe soft for breakfast and kibble for dinner.
OK, back to puppy foods and kitten foods…a common question I hear on this subject is…’Is it ok for my adult dog (or cat) to be eating a food that has such a high protein percentage?’ Many pet owners – after hearing my explanation of puppy foods and kitten foods, are then concerned about feeding an adult dog or cat a pet food that has a higher percentage of protein. The best way I can ease those concerns is from sharing the words of many pet nutrition experts. As a dog or cat goes from being a puppy or kitten, to a young adult, to a mature adult, to a senior pet – their body continually produces new cells, new tissue, and new muscle – the entire process feeds off of protein. So the pet continues to need a quality protein source throughout its entire life. (There are exceptions for senior pets and pets with illnesses – this discussion is strictly for healthy animals – consult your veterinarian if you have any questions.) Science – not speculation – has determined that a higher protein level benefits young dogs and cats as well as adult pets. I have reviewed some dog and cat foods in Petsumer Report that have protein levels as high as 50%! I’m not so confident that 50% protein in a dog food or cat food is optimal for house pets (more for a working dog – example being a working cattle dog tending to a herd) – the point is that higher protein level pet foods are out there, and not all of them are labeled as puppy food or kitten food.
The thing that makes most pet owners choose a puppy food or kitten food is the marketing. Those television commercials that show adorable puppies and kittens stating this food ‘meets the unique needs’ or ‘specially formulated’ or ‘Extra Nutrition’ or ‘developed to meet the higher energy needs’ and so forth have lured pet owners into firm beliefs that their puppy or kitten has to have a puppy food or kitten food. The cute little faces along with the expertly researched tag lines – have helped to grow the puppy food and kitten food business into phenomenal numbers. Part of the marketing strategy is to get puppy owners hooked into a particular emotional commitment to the manufacturer through a puppy or kitten food. If you start off with ABC puppy food – the marketing goal is for you to stay loyal to that company later with ABC adult dog food. The pet food manufacturers have become SO successful at this marketing technique – several manufacturers that make a quality maintenance pet food (not a specific puppy food or kitten food) have been forced to package their food in a puppy or kitten format.
I am not saying that puppy foods and kitten foods are bad – it still boils down to ingredients in the pet food. What I am saying is that it is not a requirement to feed a puppy or kitten specifically a puppy food or a kitten food. As long as you provide them with a quality pet food that meets the protein percentage they need – you are fine.
Always, always, always – consult your veterinarian.
And one more quick bit of information – I wish I could tell you that when you find a good puppy food or kitten food, with quality human grade US ingredients, and added health bonuses such as chelated or proteinated minerals and probiotics – that you can stick with that same manufacturer for your adult pet food and treats…but that is not always the case. Actually it is more just the opposite. From reviewing many lines of pet food and pet treats from one manufacturer for Petsumer Report, I have found that many pet food manufacturers make some pet foods that have quality human grade ingredients and then their pet treats are close to junk food. While others might have one or two varieties of pet food that are good, and have several more varieties that I would never recommend a pet owner to feed. It’s just not that easy. You must look at the ingredients, ask the questions, and look at the Guaranteed Analysis and Best By Date on everything.
Wishing you and your pet the best.
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Tags: Cat Food, Compare Cat Foods, Compare Dog Foods, Dog Food, Kitten Food, puppy food
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Sunday, September 13th, 2009
Puppy training is an important aspect of owning and raising a pup. However many people do not fully understand the importance of puppy training. It is not meant to turn your pup into some kind of robot who follows commands accurately and mindlessly. It is also not aimed to make your puppy into a show dog that can do tricks to amuse your friends. Puppy training is all about making the bond between you and your pup stronger. It is about teaching your pup the basic rules to make him/her a safer pet as well as a pleasant companion.
Puppy training is not about subduing your pup to follow your every whim; it is about communication. Regardless of your purpose for owning a puppy, whether it is for company or for protection, you should train your pup so that you will not have any behavioral problems with it in the future. Puppy training will turn your frisky puppy to a more docile dog that will obey your command and stay away from trouble.
Puppy training is highly recommended regardless of your lifestyle or the breed of your pup. It is also recommended to start training your dog while still a puppy. This is because older dogs are more difficult to train. Sometimes, different dog breeds may require different dog training techniques. For instance, you can’t use the same technique to train a large Great Dane and tiny Chihuahua.
Simple puppy training starts with obedience training. First, your puppy must recognize his/her name and be responding to it every time you call it out. You can then start to train him/her to come to you whenever you call him/her. Use the verbal commands come and here when you are calling him/her. Then you can start introducing some other techniques such as the sit command. You should start with the simple commands first and gradually advance to more complicated commands.
The importance of puppy training is a disciplined and docile companion who can follow simple commands and keep away from trouble such as destroying your neighbors flower patch. Also, the goal of puppy training is to make your pup safer, not only to you and your family, but also to everyone in your neighborhood. This is especially important if you have a large pup that can be capable of damage or injury. A trained pup will simply not run off to chase a cat and will not be aggressive to other pets, children and adults.
Puppy training is not easy. You have to possess patience and perseverance to be always consistent in your commands so that your pup will learn faster and more effectively. You should also respect your pup. Remember that you chose him/her and he/she didn’t choose you. You should treat him/her right in the first place, because if you don’t you will end up with an unhappy puppy who will likely run away from you and be quite difficult to train.
If you are truly determined to train your puppy personally, you can find a lot of resource material on puppy training in many books, manuals, pamphlets and others. It may be helpful to get some information about puppy training even before you get a puppy. Sometimes pet shops will offer puppy obedience training either for free or for a fee. Just make sure that it is attuned to the requirements of your puppies breed. You can also hire a professional puppy trainer to assist you in training your beloved pet.
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009
Cozy shape that can be cuddled for comfort when puppy is sleeping or stressed. Chewy tail offers an appropriate chew object. Filled with Buckwheat the Puppy Cuddle Pal can be microwaved to provide warmth.
Tags: Cuddle, Puppy
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009
It is a puppy that has bonded with his “pack” and fits in well. It has been socialized – but how do you socialize a black Labrador puppy?
Socializing the Black Labrador Puppy
All dogs are social creatures, but few are as social as a black Labrador puppy. A black Labrador puppy loves attention, and wants to get it from everyone and everything. A black Labrador puppy does not want to share, however, and must learn that every member of the “pack” shares. He must learn how to respond to both human and animal members of his new pack.
Understanding black Labrador puppies involves 7 simple steps that help puppies become well-rounded.
1. Puppy Pats
Your black Labrador puppy needs to be patted, touched, and caressed. Most people do this instinctively from the time they get the puppy. Children, especially, touch the puppy in every possible place they can. The more children there are, the more puppy pats your black Labrador puppy will receive. Even if yours is a gun dog, and children are not playing with it, it still needs puppy pats. Let it feel your hand on its ears, its nose, and its paw pads. Get your black Labrador puppy accustomed to being touched and patted. It will help him fit into his new life. While you’re at it, teach children how to treat the puppy.
2. Puppy Playtime
It is important that you and your black Labrador puppy have several playtimes each day. If possible, give him at least one in the morning and one in the evening, as this will establish a pattern for future exercise times. Teach your black Labrador puppy that you are his friend. Play fetch. Take a toy away, teaching the importance of sharing. Do not let him take it back in an aggressive manner. Hide a toy and let him hunt it.
3. Puppy Rolling Game
Every black Labrador puppy needs to be involved in frequent bouts of the puppy rolling game. This game shows the puppy that his position in your pack is one of submission. When playing with your black Labrador puppy, roll him on his side now and then. Hold him there as you silently count to 10. When you reach 10, remove your hand and let the puppy get up. If he struggles while you’re holding him, do not let go. You must not let your black Labrador puppy overpower you, or he will believe he is the pack’s dominant member.
4. Share-a-Puppy
A big part of understanding black Labrador puppies is recognizing that they need a wide circle of acquaintances. When you get your pup, note his age in a notebook. Subtract it from 24 weeks. If your puppy is 8 weeks old, you would subtract 24 – 8 = 16. In those weeks (whatever number you wrote), you need to share your puppy with at least 100 new people. If you wrote 16 weeks, set a goal of having your puppy meet 6-7 new people each week. Keep track so you know it is happening. Simply have strangers hold your black Labrador puppy, and touch it. Hand it back and forth carefully so it does not fall.
5. Share-a-Meal
A black Labrador puppy can quickly learn to be protective of his food dish. If left to natural instincts, he may become hostile when others come near his bowl. To avoid this, share a meal by sitting or standing close to the bowl when the pup is eating. Have other family members do the same. Teach your black Labrador puppy that his food is safe even when someone is very near.
6. Puppy Home School
From the time you get your black Labrador puppy, teach him every day. He is old enough to learn basic commands such as come; down; drop it; leave it; and sit. Avoid yelling at the puppy or punishing it. There are good Labrador training courses available on the Internet. Order one and use it faithfully.
7. Puppy Support Group
Please understand that a black Labrador puppy needs the constant support of everyone in his home. Life is full of exciting things, as well as frightening things. When a garbage truck comes banging down the street, he will tuck his little tail between his legs and run for cover. What do you do. You – and everyone else present – act as though nothing happened. Your black Labrador puppy will notice that he is the only one running. He will soon decide that, if no one else is afraid, the sound of garbage trucks is not important.
Understanding black Labrador puppies is an ongoing process, but these 7 steps will give you a good start.
By: Anna Hart
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Tags: Black Lab Puppies, Black Labrador Puppy
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009
This article focuses on some of the nutritional foundations needed to insure your puppy grows into a healthy adult.
The mother’s milk provides the puppy with all the nutrients and antibodies he needs for the first four weeks of life. You can introduce moistened puppy kibble around the age of four weeks. This will be introduced to the puppy as he continues to nurse. You may feed the puppy his kibble twice a day as long as he is still getting enough of his mother’s milk. Whenever he gives up his nursing, which will be around the age of seven to eight weeks, his dry food feeding will increase. It is still advisable to moisten his dry food with warm water for a few weeks until he has adjusted. Unless your breeder or vet advises, it is not necessary to add canned puppy food to your puppy’s dry kibble. The dry puppy kibble is sufficient as long as you use a high quality puppy food.
Giving your puppy the right nutrition will provide him a healthy beginning for a healthy life. During a puppy’s first six months, he will need a highly digestible diet consisting of more protein and fat. A puppy is usually fed three to four small meals a day until he is about four months old. The amount at each feeding will be determined by the brand of food and the advice of the breeder and your vet. It is very important not to over feed the puppy as this may lead to problems later in their life. Along with the vet, your breeder will be able to guide you on the proper feeding plan of your new puppy.
When the puppy is four months old, you may start feeding him three times a day. Once again, the amount of each feeding will be determined by many factors including brand of food, breeder and vet advice. Around nine months of age a puppy is fed twice a day. Some vets recommend feeding a puppy once a day when they reach a year in age. There are some who think you should continue feeding a dog twice a day; just feed them smaller amounts in the morning and evening. This will help avoid gastro-intestinal problems, especially in larger breed dogs. This varies of course and should be discussed with the vet and breeder.
There are many commercial pet foods available for puppies and the quality of these foods vary. Normally the higher quality foods cost more as they use higher quality ingredients and less fillers. This means your puppy will be able to get more nutrients while consuming less food. During a puppy’s growing stage is not the time to try to save money on cheaper pet food or to feed your puppy table scraps. A quality puppy food will have all the necessary vitamins, proteins and nutrients the animal needs. Also, it is not necessary to give your puppy extra vitamins or supplements if the animal is on a quality pet food unless your vet advises you to do so. Along with quality puppy food make sure your puppy has fresh water at all times.
Large breed puppies actually need less calories and calcium in their diets. A puppy who consumes too many calories and too much calcium may develop joint problems. Large breed dogs have a slower metabolic rate and actually reach their adult weight later then smaller breed dogs. It is essential that large breed puppies don’t grow too fast or put on too much weight as puppies as this could cause developmental skeletal problems in later life. Large breeds are usually kept on puppy food longer then smaller breeds; sometimes from one year to eighteen months. Ask your vet or breeder when the large breed puppy should be switched to adult dog food.
As discussed before, table scraps are not recommended for dogs. Any human food that contains salt, sugar or other addictives may upset the puppies or dogs gastro system. Animals don’t need salt or sugar in their diet and human food is loaded in these ingredients.
Good nutrition for your puppy is the stepping stone to a healthy, happy dog. A well cared for puppy is easier to train and will make an obedient and trusted member of the family.
For more information, visit http://LargeBreedFamilyDogs.com
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Tags: Puppy Dog Training, Puppy House Training, Puppy Kennel Training, Puppy Obedience Training, Puppy Training, Puppy Training Crate
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Saturday, September 12th, 2009
Puppy training for obedience is a continuous process. Puppy obedience training for obedience is basically a program that requires active involvement of both the owner and the pup. The whole puppy training teaches them how to communicate with each other effectively. In case you do not know, puppy training for obedience is vital to building a strong and close relationship with your pup. To achieve that, house training your pup is the most effective and quickest way to accelerate the puppy training for obedience of your pup.
Proper puppy training for obedience is built on the principle of proper and strict reinforcement of discipline. Puppies are naturally social creatures and are able to live in packs. As such, they are not loners and they are inclined to conform to social hierarchy or authority within the pack of puppies. Likewise, because of this, they are ready to listen and obey your commands. But puppy obedience training is effective and easier for you if you know what you are doing. Otherwise, a lot of times, your puppy training efforts become futile and counter-productive.
One common goal in puppy training for obedience is to train your pup to respond to your command willingly and quickly every time you issue it. Puppy obedience training is basically communication between you and your pup so that your pup understands how you want it to respond to you. At times, you will realize that training your pup is more about training yourself the owner. This is because your attitude, patience and effort towards puppy training for obedience are so critical to the training success. One more tip for you is that puppy training for obedience is an ongoing process.
The ideal puppy obedience training method is using a consistent reward and punishment system as puppies respond well towards this especially when they are young puppies. Puppy obedience training starts first with sit and come training. Make sure that it pays attention to your commands and not get distracted. Your pup needs to know that you are serious about the training and command. Do not merely threaten to punish it. Carry it out consistently so that he/she senses you are serious about the puppy training session. The same goes for rewarding your pup for executing each command. Other basic puppy obedience training techniques include training your pup to stay and keep down.
Puppy training for obedience of course includes other more advanced commands such as off leash training. You will find a fair bit of information online. On top of these, you can find a good puppy obedience training school for your pet. But be sure to use only Certified Pet pup Trainers as they are professionally trained to handle most puppies.
Puppy training for obedience is something you should begin from the very day your pet pup arrives at your doorstep. It is not something you can procrastinate or delay as your pup would quickly form its habits. It can become difficult down the road to change and correct any puppy behavior problems like excessive barking, chewing etc as they stay longer at your home. Remember that puppy obedience training is an excellent way of communicating and building friendship with your best friend. It also ensures he/she is under control and safe for the whole family.
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Friday, September 11th, 2009
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Puppies should be eating solid food and should no longer be nursing at around 8 weeks of age. At this tender age, puppies are ready for their new homes and life without their mother.
* Choose food designed specially for Puppies. Puppies over the age of 8 weeks no longer require milk. In fact many puppies develop diarrhoea if you feed them milk.
* Raw meat should not be given to puppies. Dogs are just as susceptible to Salmonella or Campylobacter diarrhoea as you are. If you feed your dog with raw meat and it catches these bugs, you might catch them from your dog too.
* Human foods should be given in moderation. There are no major reasons as to why you cannot feed your puppy or dog food such as breakfast cereals, table scraps and other titbits once in a while but it is best to avoid them for the following reasons:
- If fed in large quantities and regularly it causes an unbalanced diet.
- You will teach your puppy bad eating habits. It will quickly get used to tastier human foods and refuses puppy food.
- It will cause serious behavioural problems by elevating the puppy’s status in the household through the feeding of human foods. You should always start your puppy on less palatable puppy/dog food, not human foods. Dogs have a pack instinct, with a dominant leader in a strict hierarchy. You must train your puppy to know you are superior to him to overcome dominance and aggression issues in the future.
* Additional vitamin supplements and minerals should only be prescribed to your puppy following advice from your veterinarian to treat a specific condition. There is a high risk of skeletal damage when adding supplements that are unnecessary for a normal healthy puppy.
* It is important to measure the total amount of food given daily to suit your puppy’s nutritional needs. Dietary requirements are not fixed. Factors such as age, activity, the type of breed and health of a puppy play significant roles in determining the amount to be fed. But generally for a 10-week old puppy, it should be fed 4 times a day.
* If you change the type of food your puppy has been fed with, do it slowly over 3 or 4 days. Feed your puppy a proprietary puppy food designed to supply all the essential nutrients that a growing puppy needs. Check the package label to ensure it provides a complete and balanced ration, and that the Association of American Feed Control Officials (or the appropriate food control body) has approved the food. Their official stamp of approval ensures that the food has been tested and found satisfactory for feeding puppies that are growing rapidly.
* Your puppy can be fed both dry and wet food. Dry food is generally cheaper but is less palatable than wet food. Try mixing in a little chicken or beef stock over the dry food with a little warm water – this will make the food more appetising and softer for your puppy.
* Try not to make food readily available to your puppy (i.e. dry food always available in its food dish) as this encourages your puppy to over-feed and become overweight which puts undue stress on their soft growing bones and joints at a most vulnerable time. Not only it makes house-breaking much more difficult as there are no predictable regular feeding times, it also makes it harder for you to spot any problems with your puppy’s feeding behaviour. By 12 weeks of age, feeding can be reduced to 3 times a day, and by 16 weeks to twice daily. Try and keep to a regular schedule, as puppies are creatures of habit. An easy schedule consists of waking up around 7 a.m., with a quick trip outside to empty his bladder, followed by breakfast. After 5 minutes of feeding, take another trip outside to a designated potty area as your puppy will need to both pass faeces and urine, and when it’s successful, reward your puppy with praises.
* Nap time is next, followed by play time (you can include obedience training such as sitting and staying). At around noon to 1pm is lunch time, with the next meal at between 5 to 6pm and possibly a small snack or treat at bedtime. At 10 weeks old, your puppy is too young to go without food from 5pm to 6 or 8am the next morning.
* Be consistent about where you feed your puppy and keep to a time schedule for feeding. If your puppy gulps his meal down very quickly and then looks for more, the amount may need to be increased. If there is still food left in the bowl after 15 minutes, pick it up and feed a little less next time. Look at the size of your puppy. Viewed directly from above, she should appear to have the indication of a waist. If the puppy looks round with no waist, then she may be a little too fat.
* Treats may be used as a reward for good behaviour when training a puppy, but don’t over do them. Treats should be small and used sparingly; otherwise they could cause an imbalance in the diet. Words of praise work very well for housebreaking, reserving treats for when training the puppy to come when called and other basic training. At this age puppies get more than enough exercise running around the house and yard and do not need to be taken for walks. In fact, excess exercise may be detrimental to their development and predisposing your puppy to various joint problems later.
* Never feed your puppy scraps from the table at meal times, as this will lead to begging and pestering people at meal times. This may be cute in a puppy, but irritating in an adult dog, and once the habit has been formed it is very difficult to break.
* Do not feed raw meat to your puppy, as it may be contaminated with a variety of bacteria that can cause life threatening vomiting and diarrhoea. Many people do not feed any sort of human food table scraps as they think it leads to fussy feeding, but a few cooked steak remnants added to the regular meal does no harm, especially for Labradors, which normally do not develop any hang ups over feeding. Greed is more of a problem than finicky feeding.
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009
If you just got a brand new puppy, congratulations! You’re in for a very fun yet frustrating time. One second, you’ll be smiling at him for being so cute, while the next second, you’ll want to scream at him for breaking something in the house. So when it comes to a puppies training, the sooner you do it, the better off you’re going to be.Although it’s important to get a puppy trained early, this still means you are going to have to show some patience. Let’s face it. This is a brand new situation for a puppy. You are going to have to give him a little leeway. He’s not going to pick it all up on his first day at a new home.The beginning part of the puppy training should be focused on boundaries. What can the puppy do? Where can it go? All these things have to be answered. The best way is just to simply keep an eye on him. Watch and see where he goes when he is in the house. If he walks into closet, be prepared to say “NO”. The dog will soon get a sense by your tone, and where he is in the house, as to where he can go, and where he cannot.Obviously, take him out a lot with a leash. Not only is it great for outside stimulus, but is also important for the dog to know that he has to relieve himself outside, not indoors. Whenever he does his business, make sure to give him a little treat, so he knows he’s done good.
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Please measure your pet’s neck before purchasing. Adjustable formal tuxedo collars are perfect for weddings, parties and special occasions. Removable tie for easy washing or bleaching! Doggie Clothesline is your #1 source for wedding apparel and formal wear for dogs. We offer many other styles so you and your pet can find the perfect accessory for ANY occasion!
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Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
Training Pitbull puppies to be great family pets takes more “know how” than most people would expect. Whlie Pits are a loving and loyal breed, they still can get out of control if not properly trained. Laura and I should know, we spent several months trying to get our Pitbull, “Rocco”, to cooperate. We had no success until we received expert advice from a professional Pitbull handler.
The key to training Pitbull puppies is to start the training when they are very young. Even at a very young age, Pitbulls are very responsive to vocal tone and one word commands. In fact, Laura and I learned that you can begin training as early as 8 weeks!
Needless to say, at such a young age, Pitbulls have EXTREMELY short attention spans! Nevertheless, firm commands such as “NO” and “Down” can be applied from the day you bring your Pitbull home. The key is to be consistant and firm. Don’t make the mistake of being firm in some instances, and not firm in other instances when the behavior is the same.
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We learned that Pitbulls learn best in an environment where the “alpha leader” of the household conducts one on one training in a controlled environment on a regular schedule. Of course, the dog must be old enough to pay strict attention for approx. 10 minutes each session. Generally, this form of training Pitbull puppies can begin at about 5 months.
For training to be effective, a Pitbull must get plenty of exercise. If they are restless and have too much pent up energy, their attention spans suffer. And for Heaven’s sake, if you want your Pitbull puppy training to go smoothly, don’t isolate your dog. Allow your puppy to socialize REGULARLY!
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Tags: how to train a pit, how to train a pitbull, information on pitbulls, pit bull, pit bulls, pitbull puppy training, pitbull training, pitbulls, training pit bulls, training pitbull puppies
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
So far, we have discussed the first three steps for tube feeding a puppy. Listed below is the four remaining steps on how to properly administer the procedure.
Step 4: With the puppy’s mouth open, insert the end of the tube into the groove formed by the top of the tongue. Carefully push the tube back into the pharynx. You have to push the tube straight in until it reaches the depth of the pre-determined mark. If it does not go down smoothly to the depth of the mark, it is not where it should be. If the tube is accidentally inserted into the trachea, healthy puppies will cough and struggle violently. In addition, a tube that is inserted into the trachea will usually stop about half-way to the mark where it encounters the division of the trachea. Once the tube is successfully inserted to the depth of the mark, slip your thumb and forefinger from the cheeks to the tube, and hold it firmly in the mouth at the level of the mark. Slide your other fingers up and around the puppy’s head, leaving the little finger behind the front legs to give it a steady hold.
Step 5: While the tube is held firmly in place, stick the open end of the tube into a small jar of water. If a series of bubbles are produced in the water, it is likely an indication that the tube has slipped into the trachea. It may also indicate that the puppy has a little gas in his stomach. In any case, however, the tube should be removed and blown clear of water, then reinserted until no air bubbles appear in the water.
Step 6: Once the tube is safely inserted in the stomach, continue to hold the tube firmly in the puppy’s mouth with the thumb and forefinger. With the other hand, place the open end of the tube between the forefinger and middle finger of the hand that holds the tube in the puppy’s mouth. Once again, with the opposite hand, pick up the previously filled syringe and insert it snugly into the open end of the tube.
Step 7: With the syringe firmly attached, apply gentle pressure with the thumb to the syringe plunger and deliver the substitute mother’s milk. Continue to deliver the food until the correct amount has been administered. Then, draw back slightly on the plunger and gently slip the tube out, still attached to the syringe.
Tags: Dog Food, Dog Nutrition, Tube Feeding Puppy
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
There are nearly as many dog and puppy training methods as there are dog trainers; but, there are some basic elements that all successful dog and puppy training methods have in common. Follow these tips when training your canine companion and you’ll be well on the road to having a well trained dog, who is a source of great enjoyment and pride. But remember, dog training isn’t instantaneous – it is ongoing. Even when your pooch has acquired a desirable behavior it is still important to reinforce the behavior on a regular basis. Here are 10 of the most important tips to keep in mind when dog and puppy training:
1. All successful dog training programs require: patience, persistence, and consistence. This really is number one – most important – first and foremost.
2. Dogs are pack animals – use this to your advantage in your dog training
endeavor. Be sure your dog knows you are the Alpha Dog. Encourage your
dog to ‘give kisses’ (lick the back of your hand) – this is his acknowledging
you as the leader. Also rub your dog’s belly. Exposing his belly to you is a
sign of submission. It is extremely important that your dog always
remembers that you are his ‘pack leader’; and teaching him this as soon as
possible will make your dog and puppy training sessions progress much more
smoothly.
3. Remember that dogs (like humans) do make mistakes. The important thing is to correct the mistakes WHILE they are occurring – later is too late.
4. Lavishly praise and reward the behaviors you want to establish as you see them occurring during your puppy training sessions – and continue to reward whenever you see the behavior occur. This will lead to a snowballing effect: the more you reward appropriate behaviors the more they will occur – the more opportunity you will have to reward good behavior…
5. Don’t stretch dog or puppy training sessions out too long for you or your dog. Ten or fifteen minute sessions are plenty for most pups. And be aware that several short sessions are much more effective than one long marathon session. In fact, long marathon sessions are more likely to discourage you both and make you both want to give up.
6. Make your dog and puppy training time fun and positive. This should be a positive bonding experience for you and your pup.
7. Short dog training sessions are best – but sessions should occur frequently. Twice a day would be good – but once a day, every day, should be the absolute minimum for training your puppy.
8. Always end dog training sessions on a positive successful note. If either you or your dog are not in the mood for a training session, make the session short and easy that day. Only practice things you know your dog enjoys and will gladly do successfully at those times. Don’t make any session a struggle. Save the more difficult tasks for times when both you and your pup are in the proper frame of mind.
9. Reward works better than punishment. Use this knowledge to positively ‘shape’ your dog’s behavior. To do this, begin by rewarding your pup’s behaviors that come closer and closer to the precise behavior you’re trying to establish.
10. Correct inappropriate behavior from the beginning. Things that might seem cute for a puppy to do are totally unacceptable behavior for a full grown dog. Correct these behaviors from the start with your puppy – before habits form. The longer the behavior occurs the stronger the habit forms – the more difficult it will be to eliminate the behavior. Nip it in the bud!
Practice the above tips without fail during your dog and puppy training sessions. Always keep in mind that patience, persistence, and consistence are key. Throw in lavish praise and reward – and both you and your canine companion be well on your way to success. And visit http://www.e-dog-training.com for more up to date tips, advice, and information on all your dog and puppy training problems.
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Tags: dog obedience training, Dog Training, Puppy Potty Training, Puppy Training
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Monday, September 7th, 2009
For the longest time I put off Pitbull puppy training. I don’t know, maybe I thought that “Rocco”, our Pitbull puppy, would train himself. At first I was clueless about training Pitbull puppies. However, my wife Laura and I followed the advice of a Pitbull handler, and followed these training tips.
Pitbulls, in general, have TONS of energy! Consequently, it is important that they get plenty of exercise. Make sure that before you bring a Pitbull into your life, that you are able to provide adequate channels for your puppy to release energy. It is sad to see Pitbull owners who keep their puppies tied up or in a confined area. It is very difficult for Pitbull puppy training to be successful with a hyperactive dog.
In fact, whenever it is possible, obtaining a 2nd puppy can accomplish two important objectives. The 2nd puppy can provide a playmate for your Pitbull, which will allow your puppy an outlet for energy. Also, interacting with another dog is a great way for your Pitbull puppy to get used to being around other dogs.
Pitbulls have the reputation for being aggressive toward other dogs. Consequently, your Pitbull puppy training should include introducing your puppy to other dogs at a very early age. Allowing your puppy to be around small children is good training as well. Introducing them to as many new social situations as possible is a great way create a “sociable” pitbull!
Pitbulls are quite intelligent, and training can begin at a very young age. Generally speaking, one word commands such as “down” and “No”, can begin as early as 9-10 weeks. Each family member should be consistant in training Pitbull puppies.
As your dog’s attention span increases, more advanced training can begin. When the more advanced training begins, one family member at a time should initiate the training sessions. They should be no more than 10-12 minutes.
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Tags: how to train a pit, how to train a pitbull, information on pitbulls, pit bull, pit bulls, pitbull puppy training, pitbull training, pitbulls, training pit bulls, training pitbull puppies
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Sunday, September 6th, 2009
Potty training aid for puppies is a scientifically formulated attractant. Using this product will help train a puppy to urinate in the appropriate area. It is made for both outdoor and indoor use. For inside dogs, simply spray the product on newspaper or a puppy training pad to attract the animal to the spot.
Tags: Ounce, Puppy, Simple, Solution, Spray, training
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Sunday, September 6th, 2009
Puppy Behavior 8 – 11 weeks old.Puppy behavior is important to be able to understand as when a puppy goes through certain stages in its development their behavior will also go through changes. We will look at the stages a puppy goes through between the ages of 8-11 weeks of age and how you can learn how to train a puppy during this stage. (more…)
Tags: dog obedience training, Dog Trainers, How To Train A Dog, How To Train A Puppy, Puppy, puppy behavior, Puppy Development, Puppy's, training
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Friday, September 4th, 2009
A puppy always tells his dog owner whether he is getting too much or too little dog food in several ways. Crying is one of the most often recognized, but least likely to be always accurate. Although hungry puppies do cry, so do cold puppies, hot puppies, puppies that were disturbed from a nap, lost puppies, sad puppies, etc. Crying is simply nature’s way of giving a puppy a means of telling everybody that he is unhappy. (more…)
Tags: Dog Food, Dog Nutrition, feeding your puppy, Puppy Health
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Features a new 8-page color section The bestselling guide to making the most of puppy’s first year Bringing home a puppy? This fun, friendly guide to puppyhood prepares you for this tough but terrific time. From the basics — housebreaking, feeding, training — to the latest on doggie day care, traveling with a puppy, and the new designer breeds, you get everything you need to help your puppy grow up to be a healthy, playful, well-mannered dog. Discover how to * Choose (more…)
Tags: Dummies, Paperback, Pets, Puppies
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Ignoring the necessity of puppy training could lead to a whole bunch of problems in the future. For one thing, housebreaking needs to be done as soon as possible, for your household’s hygiene – and your dog’s as well. Also, training your puppy more basic things like not going out into the street in busy traffic, or keeping away from poisonous creatures like rattlesnakes, could well save your puppy’s life! (more…)
Tags: Puppy Training
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
No description for this product could be found, but have a look over at Amazon for reviews and other information.
Tags: Breeder's, Care, Guide, Intensive, Newborn, Paperback, Puppies, Puppy
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
You are bringing your new bundle of joy home finally. You have done your research, know you have the right breed and you have complete faith in the breeder of your new pup. (more…)
Tags: Dog, feeding, Food, Health, Information, Kibble, Puppy, Weight
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Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009
Puppy training is only as hard as you want it to be. Learning how to properly train you puppy is almost a necessity when you first get one. Puppy training during the first week of getting your pet is critical. (more…)
Tags: Dog Training, Puppy, Puppy Training
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