| ||
| ||
|
Best Pet Articles | |
|
|
|
Does Your Dog Miss You Too Much?
Your dog seems to be driving you up the wall lately, exhibiting serious behavior problems -- and no amount of verbal correction seems to work. She chews the furniture, gnaws on shoes, turns over the trash cans, howls and barks when you're not around, or even seems really depressed when you come home. There could be many reasons for behavior problems such as these, but chances are that your dog just misses you too much, and is showing she's bored and lonely. This is especially true if you only have one dog in the house and she's home alone while you work. One solution to the problem is to try to keep your dog entertained while you are gone. Get a bone or a Kong chew toy, so she'll have a challenge for when you're not around. Another tactic is to turn on the radio so she'll hear human voices. Puppies respond especially well to this; it seems to reassure them much like an actual human presence. Also, if you can lend her a worn shirt, try leaving this in your dog's bed so that your smell remains even when you aren't there. Discourage Destructive Behavior In cases of destructive behavior problems, it pays to correct your dog immediately when you catch her chewing your furniture or taking out her frustrations on your belongings. Be vigilant at first -- instant feedback is much easier for your dog to understand than corrections a minute or two later. When you catch her, rush to your dog's side, grab her by the back of her neck and give her a firm "No!" This should let her know she's done wrong, but if you catch your dog doing it again, some owners may want to roll up 10 to 20 sheets of newspaper and give her a mild whack on the thigh. This won't hurt her, but the sound will seem threatening and loud. I used to come home to the remains of a stack of mail, ripped to shreds by my dog. I knew that she'd probably done it hours ago, so to reinforce the memory of the negative behavior, I grabbed some of the mail, put it near her mouth and uttered a firm "No!" She shredded the mail a few more times, but each time I reinforced with "No!" and she soon got the message, to our mutual happiness. Help Your Pup Feel "Up" Are you playing with and talking to your dog when you come home? Doing so can make a great difference to her feelings. Just like us, dogs want to be acknowledged and fussed over when we're around. Dogs being such social animals, it doesn't work if we merely feed and walk them and ignore them the rest of the time. If we can't spend some quality time with our pets, we might as well not have them at all. If you can afford it and your dog is alone, give serious thought to getting another. This worked well for me -- after my second dog came into the picture, my first turned into an angel, and has stayed that way ever since -- which is to say, I have a happier dog! If a second dog just isn't an option for you, you could also spend a little more time bonding with your dog by enrolling both of you in an obedience class. This way, you'll learn more control and teamwork involving your four-footed friend. You may even find your dog more relaxed and better behaved, as the training puts you in a dominant light and takes the pressure off her to lead the household "pack". Plus, your dog gets a chance to meet other dogs. You'll soon notice how eager she is for the next class! About the Author Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of Poodle-oo: Fashion for Toy Dogs. Stop by for toy dog couture and home decor, free toy dog postcards and the Toy Dog Blog. http://www.poodle-oo.com/ Learn more about pet insurance:http://www.poodle-oo.com/pet-insurance.htm
MORE RESOURCES:
Pets - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Truth About Declawing There seems to be an alarming trend to have cats declawed.. Healthcare for Your Goldfish Goldfish HealthcareYou would think that it's unfair that such a small little creature that brings you so much joy can actually fall sick. But it's a fact of life that all living things are susceptible to illness, infections, and diseases and will ultimately die. Buyer Beware: Purebred Dog Myths Every month I am approached by dog owners of my breed who complain about how poorly behaved, how sickly, how untrainable, and generally my breed is and how deeply they resented spending money on this breed. I listen patiently, but time taught me not to defend 'good' breeders, or explain to the angry owners how their own ignorance cuased them to become victimized. Dog Breeds for Allergy Sufferers Allergies to dogs can strike anyone at any age, yet with how attached most owners are to their dogs, they seem to chose living with their allergies rather then giving up their beloved pets.If you find yourself getting congested or suffering a runny nose, itchy nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing, sore throat, skin rashes or hives, headaches, fatigue, difficulties breathing, or asthma symptoms when you're around dogs, then you probably have allergies. German Sheperds People love big, protective and loving dogs and that's why there are a lot of german sheperd breeders.The German Shepherd is sometimes called an Alsatian because that's where they originated in Germany. Protecting the Smallest Member of Your Family: A Step-by-step Guide to Pet Insurance Let's face it - Fido and Fluffy are an important part of your family. Do you want to have to assign a dollar value to them if they become sick or injured?That may well be the case if you don't have pet health insurance. A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is totally fun and such is the case with my assignment to review Cat Fancy Magazine. My own two Bengal cats volunteered to assist with my research but in the end both of them were found sleeping on the job. Games You Can Play With Your Dog Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive creatures, and they love spending time with their owners, and other people in your family. Finding the Perfect Cat or Kitten for You and Your Family Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they only want to have a cat as a pet. That doesn't mean that just any cat will be the right companion. First Aid for Felines - How to Keep Your Car Safe from Harm Cats are known for their curious and adventurous nature. Curiosity doesn't always kill the cat, but can often cause injury. Our Childrens Story One we must regrettably share with our children for they most certainly will find out on their own.PREFACE:We hope they learn from our foibles stemming from ignorance, apathy and politics. Love of Horses My love of horses began at the age of 11 when I worked every summer at a ranch. My twin brother and I would walk about ten miles a day in circles taking children on pony rides. Top Five Dog Breeds for Homes with Children Top five dog breeds for homes with children* Beagle* Bernese Mountain Dog* Bichon Frise* Bloodhound* Boston Terrier* Boxer* Brittany Spaniel* Bulldog* Coonhound* English Setter* Foxhound* Gordon Setter* Irish Setter* Keeshond* Labrador Retriever* Mastiff* Newfoundland* Pugs* Samoyed* Siberian Husky* Springer Spaniel* Standard Poodles* VizslaWith proper training of both the children and the dog, any one of the above breeds should be able to adapt without many problems. Of course, there are some individuals, both human and canine, that simply refuse to get along. Dog Trick To Cure A Nuisance Barker: Training Buddy to "Speak" on Command All breeds and sizes of dogs can be taught easily to speak, and the way to go about it is to call your dog, show him a treat and say "Speak." He will not understand what you mean and will probably at first jump for it, and then sit down and eye it attentively; finally, he will get impatient and utter a sharp bark, which is what you have been waiting for, and the instant he does so reward him with the treat. How To Choose A Professional Dog Trainer 1.) Versatility- A good dog trainer will use techniques and training styles which are compatible with your dog's temperament. The Fun of Do It Yourself Snake and other Reptile Cages Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a hammer is fun? No, I don't. But building your own snake and other reptile cages can be a fun and rewarding experience. Seven Ways to Boxer-Proof Your House You are ready to bring your Boxer home? First, you must prepare your house. Whether you are bringing home a puppy or adult Boxer, you may want to spend some time surveying your house from a Boxer eye view (about 2 feet off the ground). A Reference Guide for Symphysodon Aequifasciatus (Discus) This is general information on Discus, a member of the family Cichlidae. Although certainly not a complete reference guide, it will give those interested some background information on this exotic fish. But My Pet Will Never Run Away (or Why We Need Licenses) The city I live in just increased its fees for dog and cat licenses. It's now $30 a year for unneutered/unsprayed pets and $20 a year for sprayed/neutered pets. West Highland White Terrier - Picking the Right Breeder Do you want a Westie as a pet? What are your expectations? What do you know about the breed? You take time out to know these answers. Knowing your motives and being sufficiently educated about the breed, is key to getting the dog that's right for you.
|
| home | site map | SubArticle |
| © 2008 |
