Beagle Hunting Dogs

25 Human Foods That Can Poison Your Dog
Recent alerts about unsafe commercial pet foods sounded an alarm among pet owners. Unfortunately, this problem isn’t a first occurrence â€" or even extremely rare. Incidents similar to this occur from time to time. Perhaps this is one reason more and more pet owners are opting to ‘home cook’ for their pets. However, in order to properly home-cook for your pets, you should first have a basic knowledge of canine nutrition; and, even more importantly, a thorough knowledge of human foods that are harmful to dogs. Some foods which are safe for human consumption can be poisonous for our canine companions. E-dog-training.com has put together a list of 25 common human foods that are toxic to dogs. Of course, when in doubt, always check with your vet. Here is a list to get you started:

1. Onions (Both onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate. But onions are more of a danger. Many dog biscuits contain *small* amounts of garlic â€" garlic contains less of this toxin so huge amounts would need to be consumed to be toxic. And, by the way, this poison builds up the system â€" it can be toxic in one large dose â€" or with repeated consumption of small amounts.)
2. Chocolate (Chocolate contains Theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. This can be fatal to dogs.)
3. Grapes (Grapes are dangerous because of an unknown substance which is toxic to dogs â€" affects canine’s kidneys)
4. Raisins (See above.)
5. Most Fruit Pits and Seeds (Contain Cyanogenic Glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning â€" though the fruit itself is OK.)
6. Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia nuts contain an unknown substance that is toxic to dogs.)
7. Bones (Most bones should *not* be given (especially chicken bones) because they can splinter and cause laceration of the digestive system and/or become lodged in your pet’s throat â€" so they also pose a choking hazard.)
8. Potato Peelings and Green Potatoes (Contain Oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.)
9. Rhubarb leaves (See above.)
10. Broccoli (Broccoli is only toxic in large quantities.)
11. Green parts of Tomatoes or Green Potatoes (Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.)
12. Yeast Dough (Yeast Dough can produce gas and swell in your pet’s stomach â€" leading to rupture of the digestive system)
13. Coffee, Coffee Grounds, Tea, Soft Drinks (Coffee, tea, & most soft drinks are dangerous due to the caffeine.)
14. Beer/Wine/Alcohol of any kind (Alcohol of any kind could lead to coma or even death.)
15. Human Vitamins (Human vitamins, especially those containing iron, can cause damage to the lining of the digestive system as well as cause kidney and liver damage)
16. Moldy or Spoiled Food (I think this goes without saying.)
17. Persimmons (Persimmons can cause intestinal blockage)
18. Raw Eggs and Raw Fish (Raw eggs and some raw fish can cause Salmonella poisoning.)
19. Salt, Baking Soda, Baking Powder (In large amounts these can cause an electrolyte imbalance â€" and severe electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle spasm or even congestive heart failure.)
20. Mushrooms (Mushrooms may contain toxins which could cause liver and kidney damage)
21. Sugar-Free Foods (Sugar-free foods containing Xylitol have been found to cause liver failure in some dogs.)
22. Nutmeg (Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures, and central nervous system damage.)
23. Excessive Fatty Foods (Excess fatty foods can cause Pancreatitis.)
24. Avocado (All parts of the avocado and avocado tree are toxic to dogs.)
25. Diary Products (Dairy products don’t usually pose a great danger; but many dairy product have high fat content (see number 23) â€" and many pets are lactose intolerant â€" some pets more than others. Lactose intolerance leads to gas and diarrhea; though small amounts of yogurt and cheese are usually fairly well tolerated.)

Keep these 25 toxic foods in mind when cooking for your dog. There may be other foods that your dog can not consume; so always ask your vet when you are unsure about anything concerning your pet â€" including being sure you include all ingredients necessary for proper pet nutrition.

Full article available at: http://www.e-dog-training.com/HumanFoodsToxicToDogs.html -- Puppy Training Tips: http://www.e-dog-training.com/Top10PuppyTrainingTips.html - Copyright 2007 – Article may be reprinted and/or distributed if credit/link provided to: http://www.e-dog-training.com

Doggy odor in Labrador Retrievers
Why does a Labrador have doggy odor?

Like any other animal, dogs will walk, run, and play in areas that might result in their gathering dirt, disease, or odor. The Labrador retriever may begin to produce odor due to a number of factors, such as oily skin, dirt accumulation, ear or anal infections, and dental/plaque buildup. Not only can odor be offensive, it can be a sign of an unhealthy retriever. If a Labrador retriever is not monitored, and the sources of doggy odor are not removed, the Labrador retriever will develop chronic physical problems.

What to do About Doggy Odor?

When a Labrador retriever begins to emit doggy odor, closely inspect the dog from head to tail. Check the retriever’s ears for debris, red skin, and odor. If an ear infection is present, it could be the result of the dog’s ears not being properly ventilated. Ear infections are common in dogs with ears that are floppy or folded over. If the dog’s ears are not properly ventilated, the inside becomes moist and warm, and infection can easily result.

Look in the dog’s mouth for plaque buildup on the teeth, and for discolored or missing teeth. In addition to the well-known “dog breath,� additional odor may be coming from the dog’s mouth as a result of food buildup and poor oral hygiene. Check the retriever’s feet; there may be a cut or infection on the dog’s foot pads. This type of injury should be immediately cleaned and bandaged. Run your fingers through the dog’s coat, and make sure you inspect all sides of the coat. There may be a concealed skin injury underneath the Labrador’s fur. Also, check for an oily or greasy texture appearing on the retriever’s coat. The coat might be producing dandruff or the skin may be flaky.

One of the most prominent areas for odor generation is the retriever’s backside. There could be anal infection, a buildup of feces on the dog’s coat, or the Labrador might be constipated or have diarrhea, both of which will produce significant odor.

As you are inspecting the retriever’s body, take detailed notes on what you see, smell, feel, and hear. These notes will become valuable when you take the dog to a veterinarian. Also, it will document signs or symptoms that you might forget to tell the veterinarian.

If your dog is exhibiting odor and is found to have an infection or illness, take proactive measures to protect your Labrador retriever. Take action and make a dog-care schedule for your Labrador.

Dogs need to be kept clean, but caution must be taken not to give the Labrador too many baths. If the dog is bathed every week, the retriever’s coat is deprived of natural oils. As a result, over- bathing a Labrador can increase odor. A dog should be bathed once a month.

Part of maintaining a clean home includes washing animal bedding, play toys, and the dog’s collar. After washing the Labrador’s bedding, make sure that the bedding is completely dry before allowing the dog to sleep on it. If the bedding has been removed from the dryer or brought in from a clothes line, vacuum the bedding with a small hand vacuum; this will remove any debris that was left by the dryer.

A Labrador retriever should be monitored when it goes outside, especially if your home is in a rural and/or wooded area. The dog might be picking up odors from discarded garbage or a dead animal carcass. Odors from rotting food or meat are extremely pungent. Also, they can induce vomiting if eaten. If your Labrador is allowed to go into wooded areas or alleys, follow the dog to see if he is eating carrion or miscellaneous garbage.

When dogs have odor emitting from their teeth or gums, it can be treated with a professional brushing which can include removing plaque from the dog’s mouth. Ask the vet about dog treats that are designed to help keep teeth and gums clean. Make teeth inspection a regular part of your dog’s cleaning schedule.

When your retriever has been playing in dirt or mud, keep two or three old towels ready to clean the dog’s coat. One towel can be put in water and used to clean the dog’s coat, and the other towel can remain dry and used to dry the dog’s coat. Dogs enjoy physical attention and respond well to having their coats cleaned.

Brushing the retriever on a daily basis helps to reduce smell, remove excess fur, and stimulate new hair growth.

Finally, ask your veterinarian about changing the Labrador’s diet. Dog food that contains solid meat promotes healthy skin, teeth, gums, and stools. High-quality food is available through a veterinarian or at large-scale pet shops. When shopping at a pet store, ask the store staff for recommendations.

Animal odors can result from a number of different sources. To make sure that your Labrador retriever is free of odor, it is necessary to perform regular visual checkups. The doggy odor will be removed when the dog’s body is inspected thoroughly, cleaned regularly, and taken to the veterinarian for regular checkups.

Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you are searching for odor, learn the reason.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog

dog adoption costs
Before you decide to bring a dog home, it is absolutely essential that you give some thought to the costs that you will be incurring in the process. It’s not the purchase alone, though even that is likely to be expensive in the case of some superior breeds of dogs, but also the cost of the equipments you will have to buy to make your home habitable for your pet. Then there are the visits to the vet, which have to be regularly made, and the expensive vaccinations, which the puppy has to be given. So, all in all, you will have to make pretty sure that your wallet can take the beating before you bring your doggy home.

What then, are the costs, and how much are they? Let’s start at the beginning. You have to buy the dog unless you are lucky enough to have it presented to you by a friend or a family member and the cost of this initial purchase can vary very widely. The variance will firstly depend on the type of dog you are buying. A purebred “companion only� puppy usually starts from around $800 but can go up to astronomical amounts for rare or exotic breeds. If you prefer to adopt a non-purebred variety from a shelter, it will cost you from around $150 to $300.

Costs also differ in different geographic locations so it is difficult for us to tell you of one fixed sum that you will have to pay for any given variety of dog. Visit the sources in your locality from where people normally buy dogs and check on the prices. And this includes the internet. After some queries on your part, you will be able to come to a fix on what your desired dog costs.

Now that you’ve got your dog, it’s time to look at the other costs you will have to start to incur. Let’s start with the one - time costs.

One Time Costs Average Cost
Fence $300 - $1500
Bowls $25
Collar $6
Training Collar $10
Leash $12
Bed $40
Crate $100
Brush/Grooming tools $20
Shampoo/ Coat care $15
Neuter/ Spay ( Based on weight ) $300
Microchip $50



Then there are the annual costs, which you have to be prepared for. I enumerate them below:

Vaccinations $185
Heartworm Test $35
Heartworm Preventive $65
Flea/Tick Preventive $120
Food $480
Toys/Treats $45
Tag $5

And then there are other costs:

Boarding â€" per day ( with 2 playtimes ) $25
Grooming â€" per time $50
Training classes ( Per 6-8 classes ) $100
Individual training ( Per session ) $100



And remember, this list is for grown up dogs and not puppies. If it’s a puppy you are adopting, the costs increase. There’s a check up, a series of 4 sets of vaccines, worming, heartworm tests, all of which will cost you close to $300. Then there is puppy food, which will set you back around $450 and toys/treats, which will cost approximately $65.

So, as you will have counted up from the figures given above, in the first year, you will be spending approximately $1500 to $2500 over and above the cost of buying your dog. After the first year, you will spend less per year â€" about $1000. Smaller dogs cost a bit less and larger dogs cost more.

Apart from all this, your dog will have lifelong healthcare needs. There will be shots and medicines you will be administering as preventive care and there will almost certainly be unexpected accidents, injuries or illnesses, however well you look after your dog.

It is therefore utterly essential that you objectively evaluate your budget and come to a decision as to whether you can really afford a dog. He will look to you for your support in all things and you owe it to him to give him, not only your love, but proper care, food and medical attention. These don’t come free â€" so ask yourself whether you can afford to get that dog you always wanted. If you realize that you can’t, it’s best to do without, both for your sake and his.

Anybody is free to use the article in their website as long as an acknowledgement is given Nancy Richards' and a link to the site www.traindogsandpuppies.com

5 Tips To Easy Puppy House Training
The sooner you potty train your puppy the better. You want to establish good habits from the start. And, a dog who has never gone potty in the house will never consider the house a place *to* go potty. I’ve always found the puppies we purchased from actual working farms (NOT puppy farms) were the easiest to house-train. They only ever wanted to go potty on grass or hay â€" as they had only ever gone in the barn or outside. They frequently wouldn’t even go potty in a parking lot â€" we’d need to find grassy areas on the way home for them to go potty.

Here are some house training tips that will help â€" as long as you follow them consistently:

1. Closely supervise your pup while potty training. Do not let your puppy out of your sight while he is loose in your house! Watch him as though you were babysitting a very young child who could/would get in trouble if you didn't watch them. A puppy is the same as a toddler in this respect. Keep your puppy in a crate to keep him out of trouble when you can’t attentively watch him.

If you see your puppy starting to sniff around, take him outside (or to the selected potty area) right away. If you’d like the potty area to be outside â€" try to make the area outside from the start; and if for any reason you can’t make the area outside from the start at least make the area near the door. This way when you are ready to house train to outside you can bring your pup outside whenever you see him beginning to sniff around near the door. *When you can't supervise your un-trained dog, keep him in a crate*. Be sure you have the proper size crate too. Your pup should be able to stand up and turn around â€" but no larger. If you bring your pup with you to purchase the crate, the store personnel should be able to help you select the correct size. Some people have tied their dog's leash to their waist while potty training - but you still need to *pay attention*. (I once told my daughter that her puppy potty training problem was that she wasn’t paying enough attention. She phoned one day to tell me that I must be right â€" her puppy had two accidents that day â€" both on her foot!)

2. If you find your puppy going potty in the wrong place interrupt him by saying "NO!" in a sharp tone of voice- then immediately take him to the proper place to finish. (If you don’t catch him â€" you aren’t watching closely enough.) It could help to put the paper towel you clean the mess with where you want him to potty- so that he will have the scent there. Be sure to *thoroughly* clean and de-odorize the area where he pottied in the house. Use special products made for this purpose - or he will go there again. In fact, watch him *extra closely* and/or take him to his potty place when he starts sniffing around those areas.


3. Pick a potty place that is free of distractions. No playing of any kind until the pup has gone potty. Do NOT turn potty time into play time until after he goes potty. When he does go potty give him a treat and then PLAY with him. Reward him lavishly and immediately!

4. Set a schedule. Keeping a routine will help to establish good habits. Control when your puppy eats and drinks. Feed your puppy 3 times a day when you first bring him home (or as your breeder recommends). You can decrease this to one or two times a day as he gets older. Be sure he always has fresh water to drink. Take your puppy to his potty area about once an hour â€" and always take him to his potty area within 10 minutes after he eats or drinks, wakes up, and after exercise or play. Permit absolutely no playing or distractions until he has ‘done his business’. Once he has gone potty you can begin to take him outside about once an hour for a very young puppy â€" and extend the time between ‘potty breaks’ as your pup gets older and firmly forms good house training habits. But be sure to *watch your pup carefully* whenever he isn’t either confined or in an ‘OK to potty’ area.

5. Reward your puppy as soon as he does go potty in the appropriate location. Give him a bit of a very tasty special treat. Tell him, “Yes! Good boy!â€� And play with him! Make the moment he goes potty the moment the fun and good stuff begin. Dogs love good stuff; and they will usually do whatever they need to do to get it. So all you really need to do is to make sure your dog knows what you expect of him â€" what it takes to get the ‘good stuff’.

This is a lot of work at first until the habits are formed. But really, it is the most effectiveâ€" and sometimes the only- way that it can be done. Be sure to take your puppy outside as much as possible to increase his opportunity to eliminate outdoors. If he doesn't go outside do NOT take your eyes off him when you bring him in. Most importantly: lavishly praise, reward, and play with him when he does go outside. With the use of patience, persistence, consistence, and lavish reward - you will both succeed! For more free dog training information, advice, and tips, as well as free information on dog care, puppy care, dog health & nutrition, and free canine cuisine recipes visit: http://www.e-dog-training.com.

Http://www.e-dog-training.com provides free dog training information on puppy training, house training, dog obedience & behavior training, crate training, dog trick training, and general dog training tips and advice. You’ll also find free information on dog care, puppy care, dog health & nutrition, and free canine cuisine recipes. Visit <http://www.e-dog-training.com> soon for the latest free dog training tips and advice. Copyright 2007 – Article may be reprinted and/or distributed if reference to http://www.e-dog-training.com remain intact.

Hypoglycemia in Chihuahuas
Hypoglycemia is a blood sugar disorder, prevalent among toy breed dogs like Chihuahuas. Mostly young pups suffer from this disease of extremely low sugar levels in their blood. As a result of which the pup’s brain becomes devoid of essential nutrients. The effects of the above syndrome can be fatal. In some cases low blood sugar can also cause coma in puppies.

Even healthy Chihuahua pups can develop this problem. Absence of fat stores in their body, which they could have used for energy, might cause hypoglycemia. Inadequate sugar produced by the liver, that could have been used as energy, is also one of the factors for hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia may also occur if the pancreas produces excessive sugar and the dogs do not do away with this additional energy through ample exercise. Moreover, puppies that take insulin supplements on a regular basis may become hypoglycemic due to excessive insulin intake.

There are several external factors that contribute to such disorders. Some Chihuahuas suffer from stress arising due to change of home or out of traveling. Most Chihuahua puppies are so very playful that they exhaust all their energies using up all their fat reserve. Missing meals at frequent intervals might cause hypoglycemia in Chihuahuas as well.

Several symptoms may indicate that the puppies actually suffer from hypoglycemia. These include excessive sleeping, depression, weakness, staggering, seizures, restlessness, disoriented looks and glassy eyes. Chihuahuas might even have brain damage if hypoglycemia is not treated as a medical emergency.

Chihuahua puppies six to ten weeks of age are prone to this disease. This is the most stressful phase of their life. Changes such as de-worming and vaccinations are introduced at regular intervals. Moreover, it is a stage when they are bathed and their nails are clipped for the first time. They have to be weaned away from their mother’s milk, which is the source of nutrients and thus become vulnerable to diseases. They are then sold to their owners where they face a completely different ambience. Socialization problems in a new environment can cause such disorders in Chihuahua puppies.

There are lots that can be done to prevent dogs from succumbing to this fatal disease. Owners should be careful till the puppy attains 16 weeks of age. If the pup is falling asleep frequently, he should be awakened and made to stand on his feet. If he staggers, glucose water or else a vet, are immediate calls. Feeding puppies at proper intervals with high quality food and giving him glucose and karo syrup will help if such a deficiency occurs.

If the puppy gets unconscious due to hypoglycemia, rubbing the syrup on their gums and their tongues might help regain his consciousness. If the pup is conscious, the syrup can be injected. Other than karo syrup, pancake syrups, nutri-cal vitamin paste, nutristat could also be fed. Injecting insulin may also prevent mishaps. In spite of all possible measures, if the puppy continues to have attacks of hypoglycemia, then a vet should be consulted without any delay.


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The most important factor in training your dog.
Is your dog driving you crazy? Or are you getting a pappy and it has to be trained? Read on to understand what considerations to take into account before you start training your dog. It is very rewarding to have a well behaved dog, but please note that successful dog behavior training requires some time and patience. Dogs cannot figure out basic obedience on their own, they must be trained. The first word the puppy should learn is its name. Dogs actually learn the sound of their name and that will be the main recognition for them. Using the puppy’s name alerts it that a command is coming, that it is for him, and that he should pay attention. This will come naturally over time since the family will be calling the pup by its name. Before you start training verbal commands you need to understand your puppy’s personality. Ask yourself if it is timid, aggressive, quiet, sensitive, playful, etc? These traits will affect the type and speed of the training with your dog. Basically, the dog training is about communication between you and your dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred in what circumstances. You must communicate what behaviors will give the dog the most satisfaction to his natural instincts and emotions. Without that inner satisfaction, a dog will not work well. To be successful in training your dog, you must understand the communication that the dog sends to you. The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited and so on. The emotion state of the dog is an important consideration in directing the training, as he will not learn efficiently. They are 4 important messages that you can send the dog: • Reward • Keep going signal • No reward • Punishment Using consistent signals or words for these messages enables the dog to understand them more quickly. If you say “good� as a reward marker and sometimes as a keep going signal, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has earned a reward. Many dog owners make the mistake of using effusive verbal praise as both the reward marker and a reward, which can confuse the dog and owner. These four massages do not have to be communicated with words, a nonverbal signal are often used. In particular, clickers are normally used for reward marker. Hand signal and body language play an important part in learning for dogs. But the only meaning of these massages will give you the successful result in training your dog if they are taught through repetition and everyone in the family must be on the same page. The other aspect of the communication is positive tone of voice. When giving comments in a calm, firm, authoritative voice is most effective. Dogs do not respond well to hesitate, pleading voice, or yelling, which might sound to the dog like threatening or scolding. It is also important that voice used for comments and the pitch of the voice to be consistent each time giving a comment so the dog can more easily learn what you mean. Communication is the most important task in successful dog training. Other aspects that you should consider in training a dog are: use of various tools, doing tricks, potty training a dog, how to care for a dog, how to praise a dog, etc…

If you would like to learn more about training a dog, visit <a href="http://teresa137.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training/">Dog Training Reviews</a>

adopting a dog or a puppy
Since time immemorial, dogs have held a secure place in man’s hearth and home, whether it be merely for use as mousers and ratters, as in the middle ages, or to act as a guard of the household or purely as a companion to his owners. There has been no change in this scenario down the years and dogs remain, to this day, the animal that the largest numbers of humans adopt as their pet.

Perhaps it might be of interest for us to try and work out the various reasons why people want to have a dog. After all, they’ve been part of human households for quite a while. It is said that dogs are descended from a creature, which was very similar to a wolf, called Tomarctus. Apparently, it wandered the earth some 15 million years ago. Since the transformation into their current form, the first known records show them as being pets to cavemen. Exactly what caused the cavemen to keep dogs as pets instead of some other creatures can only be guessed at. Perhaps they helped him in his hunts, or acted as a guard or just provided companionship in the desolate wilds.

Today, the situation can be said to be somewhat different, although companionship and providing security still remain valid reasons. Let’s look at some of the other reasons why people keep dogs.

It could be because the owner has just lost a dog that he considered his best friend and feels frantic to get another one. This would be one of the most common reasons for wanting a dog. Once you discover the joys of having a dog around you, one that becomes your friend and companion; it becomes hugely difficult to do without his friendly presence.

A second reason could be the “keeping up with the Jones’s� syndrome. A family or a person living close to you have got themselves a dog and you see for yourself the fun they are having with their new pup. That is when you start thinking to yourself how much a dog could enrich your life and that of your family. Their selfless love and devotion can’t but thrill you when you come back into your house. If you live by yourself, all the more reason for you to get yourself a “friend�. Someone who is genuinely happy to see you and who likes your company above all others.

A further reason for people bringing dogs into their homes is because someone in their family might be pressurizing them to get a dog. In all probability, it will be the young son or daughter and really, dogs do indeed provide wonderful companionship to kids. However, if you do face a similar kind of pressure someday, give some thought to the set-up in your home before you give in to your kids’ pleas, because there will have to be someone who will take care of the dog’s upbringing and, if your kid is less than 10 years old, he or she may not be up to this task as yet.
Another very common reason for people bringing dogs into their households is also one of the most obvious. Someone sees a cute puppy or dog, which they like very much and which is available and they bring it home. As simple as that. But really, if you come to think of it, isn’t this what life’s all about. The love and affection that springs up within you when you see a particular person or animal first off is probably the chemistry that is likely to work best.

Finally, you may have fond memories of a dog you had in the old days and feel that you really enjoyed the time when he was with you. It may have helped you develop personal qualities being with him and perhaps you feel that your children would also benefit from being around a pet dog.

Now that we’ve examined the major reasons why people such as you may want to keep dogs, let us now try evaluating whether you are, in fact, ready to have a dog of your own. Remember, this is not a one-day exercise. You are going to be your dog’s keeper for the whole of his life, which, for many dogs is 12 to 15 years.

If it is a puppy that you are bringing in, you have to be prepared to go through the entire life cycle of the dog with its attendant joys, sorrows, trials and tribulations. Training him, seeing to his needs when he is little, right up to the time when your aging dog may be on medication and may need your help to even move.

It is a labor-intensive and tiring job and you will have to forego many a party and tailor your movements to suit the needs of your pet. Don’t even attempt to take on a dog in your household if you are a clean freak. There will be many times when your puppy will poop and pee all over the house and you will have to clean the muck. Don’t take him on if you are basically lazy and don’t like too much activity. Don’t take him on if you love vacations and often travel for weeks or months at a stretch.

But, if you are prepared to spend quality time at home with your dog and are not too fussy about cleaning up your puppy’s poop and have the sense of humor to accept his little pranks, maybe even in the middle of the night, a dog is the perfect companion for you.

So go ahead, join the ranks of the millions who, over the centuries, have chosen to keep a dog as their pet. You won’t regret it.


Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you want to know why people want a dog, learn the right reasons.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog.

Submissive urination in cocker spaniel
Why and When do Cocker Spaniels Urinate? Many Cocker Spaniels have a tendency to urinate (pee) when excited or scared, which can happen to other breeds as well, particularly when they are puppies. Excitement urination happens when infant muscles in puppies cannot hold urine if the puppy gets excited, and it pees. The puppy gets so excited when he sees his owner that he loses control of his bladder. The puppy is not aware of or able to control this and punishment will confuse him and is not fair to him. Often dogs outgrow this problem as they mature and gain control of the muscles that control peeing. Sometimes Cocker Spaniels do not outgrow the problem. Common situations in which Cocker Spaniels get excited or fearful and urinate are: Over-affectionate and boisterous greetings when you arrive home Guests entering your home Arguments between people Scolding Loud noises Playing indoors Angry behavior In order to understand submissive urination, you must understand dominance and submissiveness. Young puppies learn this from their mothers. Averting their eyes, rolling on their backs, and urinating, are all used to express submissiveness. In situations where a dog feels intimidated, their response is to give a submissive signal to show the person or other dog that they recognize their dominance. The most important thing is to never scold or punish your dog for excitement urination; it makes the situation worse as the puppy will then start to pee out of fear! Excitement or submissive urination is part of this breed’s specific instincts. It is not a “behavior�; it is instinctual. The dog is not doing it to be disobedient or punish you! He is excited, scared, or showing submissiveness to a person or animal he perceives as dominant. Excitement urination that causes an owner to get angry can easily become submissive urination. The dog does not understand why you are angry and, in a dog’s mind, peeing is his attempt to calm and appease you. Cocker Spaniels often see other animals and people as dominant, so submissive urination occurs. Even a housetrained Cocker Spaniel may show excitement or submissive urination when greeting you or when in an exciting or scary situation. How to Prevent and Handle Excitement or Submissive Urination? The first thing to do is have your veterinarian examine your dog for possible physical problems causing this problem. Sickness and disease can make it difficult for your pet to control their peeing muscles. If physical problems are the cause, discuss options regarding your dog's situation with your veterinarian, such as surgery, drugs, and coping mechanisms. Dog owners who are too dominant and strict will reinforce submissive urinating. So, calm down and be gentle and kind with your Cocker Spaniel. Get your temper under control! Never scold or punish for excitement or submissive urination. One way to handle the problem is to make sure your Cocker Spaniel is outdoors while you are gone (in a fenced and safe area naturally) so that when you come home, if he urinates, your floors are not damaged. But this does not solve the problem. It is a good idea to do more to help the puppy stay dry. All indoor activities should take place only after taking the dog out for a pee or poop. If a dog is almost ready to pee or poop, but hasn't gotten around to doing it, any physical activity will trigger the urge to go. So, if your dog wakes up and you start playing with her, you're asking for trouble! Take a potty break first, have play time second. Play time outdoors is the best idea, especially for the puppies that have small bladders. Don’t hover over your Cocker Spaniel when you come home. She will see this as dominance and will become intimidated. Don’t look her directly in the eyes. Dogs assume that direct eye contact is a challenge. For a submissive dog, even a moment's eye contact can be intolerable. Eye contact from above heightens the reaction. Another behavior that challenges a dog is bending over or touching the dog's head, neck, or shoulders. Dominant dogs often control by placing the neck or a paw over another dog's neck or shoulders. When a human pats a dog on the head, a submissive dog sees it as a display of dominance and finds it intimidating, leading to peeing. A goal in controlling excitement urination is to prevent your dog from becoming so excited in the first place. Do this by exposing your dog to whatever excites him, over and over until it no longer excites him. If your dog gets excited and wets when you return home, ignore him; don't even look at him. Then take him outside to pee. Then leave again for a few minutes, return and ignore, leave, return and ignore. Keep doing this until you can see that your dog is actually bored with the whole thing. If excitement urination is a problem when visitors arrive, have them do this too. It may take many sessions to get your dog calmed down. When your dog stays calm and no longer gets excited when you come in, then very quietly and gently say hello. If any signs of excitement appear, repeat the coming in-and-leaving routine. A rapid sequence of heel-sits will capture your dog's attention to the game of heeling and sitting instead of urinating. Then, take him outdoors. Praise him when he pees outside; this builds self-confidence. Remember to ignore all excitement urination and never scold or get angry at your dog. As the dog matures, he can learn to sit and shake hands when visitors arrive. Use a small food treat as a reward for not peeing in the house when you arrive home or guests enter. It’s difficult for a dog to eat and pee at the same time. Take the dog outdoors quickly thereafter. If your Cocker Spaniel pees while being trained, be especially careful not to yell or scold him. Be firm and use a confident-sounding, but kind, “No� when the dog misbehaves. If your dog's problem doesn’t improve with the above suggestions, there may be other options. For example, drugs can sometimes be prescribed by a vet for excitable dogs to calm them down. But, remember, this kind of training can take weeks or months before Learn all about Dog Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and Puppies. If you are searching for dog breeders, learn how to choose the right dog breeder.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog

Luxury Dog Beds for the Cultured Canine
In the last few years there has been an increasing trend in how dog owners pampering their dogs. Many designers have begun making products to compensate for the demand for these products. A large industry has been built around fancy dog beds. Your dog no longer has to settle for a simple square pillow that you throw in the corner. Now you can get your favorite pet something that reflects the love you have for them.

I think that there are 2 main reasons dog owners are doing this more than ever before. The first one is because of the increase in availability of these high-end beds, and the second reason is probably the most obvious. People simply love their dogs, and if you can find a really nice bed for them to sleep on, it is worth it. The other thing that is note worthy is that most of the designer beds out there aren't so expensive that the average pet owner can't afford them. In fact, a lot of them can be found in the $100- $400 range. There are also some manufacturers that produce pieces that are very expensive and can cost thousands of dollars.

Here are a couple of things to remember when making the decision to get a bed for your dog.

1. If your dog is older, you probably want to make sure that the pad or mattress is thick enough to avoid joint pressure.

2. Remember to check the dimensions of the bed in which you are to purchase to ensure that it is a good fit for your dog.

Many designers have taken great lengths to ensure that their customers are happy. Some companies allow their customers to pick custom fabrics and pillows. The beds also can come in many different varieties from chaise lounges to sleigh beds. Some of the fine materials that these beds are made of include alder and other fine woods, luxurious chenilles, satin, and more. Some of them come with matching bolster pillows, tassels, feather trim, and enough elegant touches that your dog will feel like a king or queen. These fine beds also compliment your existing furniture as well if you choose correctly. With most of these luxury dog beds you also don't have to worry about your dog having an accident and ruining the bed. Most are made with removable covers that are machine washable. You want to make sure that you find out before you buy if you are concerned about it.

With the tremendous variety and selection out there, you will probably find that the most overwhelming thing about these beds is the fact that there are so many to choose from. A lot of these are perfect for all small dog breeds, as the vast majority are made for smaller dogs. However, designers are starting to make more larger beds as well. Remember though to relax. Have fun with it and make it into an adventure. After all, your dog is worth it. With a little patience, you can find designer dog beds that will turn an ordinary pooch into a diva dog.

Galen is the owner of Bling Bling Puppywhere you can find many varieties of luxury dog accessories for your dog.

Dog's Diet
Like most dog owners, you probably assume that commercial dog foods with brand names that are easily identifiable - Purina, Iams, Pedigree, etc. and surely you would not give your dog something harmful. Unfortunately, after lots of careful observation and tracking it has been found that dogs fed commercial foods, both wet and dry, from the cheapest brands to the so-called "premium" brands are weak with less life span than those dogs who were fed vegetarian diets, as well as those fed raw meat and bones known popularly as the BARF Diet. Undoubtedly the best possible diet to feed your dog is raw meat and bones with an occasional Wet feed made up of vegetables, fruits, and organ meat that will lead to three amazing results: much better overall health, excellent dental health, and longer life spans. If you recall the past food habits of dogs you will find that they evolved eating prey the pack took down and feeding the carcasses raw! They did not have processed commercial food from bags or cans, cooked meats or vegetables, fruits, and grains. This is the fact every dog owners should concentrate and plan the diet accordingly for their dog. Many owners bear a common fear over the bones getting caught in their dog's throat or splintering and cutting them internally. There is a solution for it and that is stop feeding your dog with a cooked bone and especially chicken bones. Raw chicken cages are ideal because they provide a good balance of meat and bone but at the same time remember not to feed your dog always with chicken instead alter their diet by supplying some pork and some beef now and then to vary their protein sources a bit and remember to mix up a slop of green veggies, carrots, apples, bananas, and some raw livers or hearts at least twice a month. It is recommended to have your pet checked for allergic reactions to any food and then plan the diet. The raw meat and bone diet should be prescribed for your dog for 60 days. A meat and bones source that is close to a 50/50 meat-bone ratio for example chicken breast cages are ideal, or you can also try pork necks or beef ribs from any grocery store. If you do not see any noticeable improvements in your dog then it is better go back to his former diet and if you find healthier coat, more energy, better teeth, excellent blood work-ups then you can conclude the main idea behind the success of the raw meat and bones diet which imitate what dogs naturally fed on for tens of thousands of years.

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