Dog Blog

The easiest way to potty train a puppy is to limit its access to the household while maintaining a safe area for him to relieve himself. Once a puppy has done his business in a certain part of the house, it will be drawn back time and again to that certain spot because of its smell. Dogs instinctively don’t go to the bathroom where they sleep, so keep the sleeping area and the potty area separate.

Potty training requires patience and constant vigilance. Showing the pup where to pee once or twice and then expecting him to return to that same spot all alone is unacceptable. Another thing that is unacceptable is getting mad when he makes a mistake. Remember, puppies are babies, and potty training a two-year-old child is a difficult and drawn-out process as well.

Puppies need to use the bathroom every few hours, after every meal, after waking and right before they go to bed. Puppies aren’t used to holding it, so it is very crucial to take them outdoors often. There are some definite signs that a puppy needs to “go,” like sniffing a certain spot and walking in circles with his bottom low to the ground. Take the puppy to the designated potty location immediately! He needs to poop!

Take the pup to a predefined locale where he can go, and go back there repeatedly. When the puppy goes in the right location on his own, be sure to praise him for a job well done. This will encourage him to return to that spot in future. It is also important to accompany the puppy outside for his restroom visits. When he’s left alone, he may become panicked, start to cry and want to come back in without ever doing his business, preferring to leave a mess in company rather than alone outside.

If he has to be alone for more than a few hours, be sure to confine him to a crate with newspapers down in case he can’t hold his bladder. Also make sure the crate is big enough he isn’t directly on top of his bathroom, and be sure to change his crate upon arriving home.

Potty training can be picked up within a few weeks, as long as the puppy is shown consistency and patience in his training.

By Kenna Rogers

When naming your puppy, it’s important to choose a name that you don’t mind saying 30,000 times. It’s also important to choose something that your dog will understand and won’t confuse with other commands.

Avoid names that sound like a command, for example, “Stay” and “Stacy.” Commands are often one-syllable words like “No,” “Sit,” and “Down.” Instead, choose a name with two or three syllables that ends in a vowel sound.

Invite your kids join in the decision process. Children usually come up with simple names that are easy to say and to remember. Be sure to avoid using negative words as names, like “Butthead” or “Jerk.” You will be saying this dog’s name in public.

Names that are extremely common are easy for other people to pick up on, and may cause your dog running to them instead of you.

Using family members or friend’s names as an honorary gesture may be nice, but be sure and tell your beloved aunt before you name your pug after her.

Some things that may help you in choosing a name are:

1. Appearance. Take note of your dog’s size, color and personal style.
2. Personality. Every dog has a unique and individual personality, just like humans. If your dog is sweet and cuddly, choose something that reflects that part of him.

Another great place to get dog names is from your favorite celebrities, TV shows, movies, comic books, cities or even what country the breed originated from.

Try out the new name for a few days, and if it doesn’t stick, move on to something the animal will pick up easier. Also, be sure to give him plenty of praises when he starts to respond to his new name. Positive reinforcement aids in helping him learn his new name quicker.

By Kenna Rogers

Kenna Rogers is a full-time college student taking publication courses. She is a life-long lover and owner of various pets, including a black Labrador named Booe, a Siberian husky named Xaber, and a chow/golden retriever mutt named Suey.

Clipping Dog Nails
By Kenna Rogers 

Cutting your dog’s nails without prior knowledge can lead to a skittish dog, crying, and blood all over the floor.¬¨‚Ć The proper way to trim nails is to first research how to complete the tasks the right way and then execute with patience and a soothing voice.

Dog’s nails grow constantly, like our own, but the rate of growth is essentially based on lifestyle.¬¨‚Ć If your dog walks on hard surfaces, friction plays a role in wearing the nails away.¬¨‚Ć Alternately, if a soft substrate is what they mainly walk on, clipping nails should be done often.

Nail trimming should always start at a very young age, since starting when they’re older and unaccustomed to it may frighten them.¬¨‚Ć The first step is to have your dog get used to you touching, holding, and having the trimmers near his paws.¬¨‚Ć Next you can start applying force to their paws by lightly pinching ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ a reward should be given afterward.

When your dog is used to his paws being handled, start trimming off the tips of his nails, starting with a couple of nails a day.  Treats and a soothing voice will help your dog become accustomed to this uncomfortable necessity.

It may be necessary for a second person to hold your dog steady while you trim.¬¨‚Ć If your dog is small, simply placing them on the counter covered with a no-slip mat will suffice.¬¨‚Ć Put the clipper tool of your choice over the nail, and wait for the dog to quit squirming (if at all), check that the clippers are still in the right place and then clip quickly and efficiently.¬¨‚Ć Be sure to clip the dewclaws as well, the nails that grow on the inside of the legs.¬¨‚Ć These nails don’t come into contact with any surface and can actually grow quite long, getting snagged in bedding, foliage, etc.¬¨‚Ć My Husky’s dewclaws get caught on just about everything, and then they bleed, causing him to limp.¬¨‚Ć Another option for these pesky nails is surgical removal, which is the route I’ve chosen.

The correct way to cut the nails is to trim them at a 45-degree angle just below the quick of the nail.  If your dog has light colored nails, the quick is the dark center.  Cutting the quick can cause limping and even malformations.  If your dog has black nails, the procedure is extremely more difficult, and only the tips of the nails should be removed.  A file can be used to take away the sharp or rough edges afterward.

Oh no!¬¨‚Ć You’ve cut the quick!¬¨‚Ć First of all, don’t panic.¬¨‚Ć It was an accident, and I’m sure if your dog could speak, he would vouch that as well.¬¨‚Ć When you hear the yelp ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ and even the most experienced clippers will ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ blood will flow.¬¨‚Ć Staunch it quickly with a napkin, cuddle your dog, and give him a treat when the ordeal is over.¬¨‚Ć Do not allow your dog to lick the area; this will make it bleed longer.¬¨‚Ć Cornflower pressed firmly against the source will help stop the bleeding, or take a styptic pen and apply it to the nail ‚Äö√Ñ√¨ this will stop the flow immediately.

Clipping dog nails can be sort of a long, drawn-out, sometimes painful process, and if you absolutely don’t feel comfortable doing it, the procedure can be done at any pet grooming shop near you for a reasonable fee.¬¨‚Ć

Kenna Rogers is a full-time college student taking publication courses. She is a life-long lover and owner of various pets, including a black Labrador named Booe, a Siberian husky named Xaber, and a chow/golden retriever mix named Suey.

The best pet insurance for your new dog.

Getting a new dog is an exciting experience but owning a dog involves more than just playing with a furry companion. Not only will you be responsible for your dog‚àö‚â†s daily needs but you also need to plan for your dog’s health. More and more pet owners are taking a proactive approach to their dog’s health by purchasing pet insurance policies.

Having dog insurance is a smart decision. It is estimated that one out of three dogs will need emergency vet care every year. With the rising cost of vet procedures pet owners can find comfort in knowing that if the unthinkable happens they can get some or most of the vet bill covered by their pet insurance policy. Some of the most common pet afflictions include cuts, traffic accidents, growths, abscesses, bites, ear infections and swallowed foreign bodies. The vet bills for any of these could surmount to hundreds of dollars.

Once you have found the perfect dog one of the first things you should do before you buy pet insurance is to research and compare the different pet insurance companies. Not all pet insurance providers cover the same things so it is a good idea to compare pet insurance providers in detail. Deciding on a pet insurance provider will be determined by a few factors. Obviously your budget must be taken into consideration. You should also research the pet insurance policies in regards to dog breeds. Not all pet insurance companies treat all breeds the same based on hereditary factors. Also it is important to note that many dog insurance companies offer various policies that allow you to pick variations of coverage.

Loving your new puppy is easy, but taking care of you new pet is a life long commitment. Give your dog the gift of a long healthy future with the best pet insurance policy you could find.

Dog food sold under 50 brands and cat food sold under 40 brands including Iams, Nutro and Eukanuba. The food was distributed by major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kroger and Safeway.

The recall is limited to “cuts and gravy” style pet food that was sold in cans and pouches.

For more information see http://www.menufoods.com/recall/

The recalled brands are:

Cat Food
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Best Choice
Companion
Compliments
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Fine Feline Cat
Food Lion
Foodtown
Giant Companion
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Li’l Red
Loving Meals
Meijer’s Main Choice
Nutriplan
Nutro Max Gourmet Classics
Nutro Natural Choice
Paws
Pet Pride
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Science Diet Feline Savory Cuts Cans
Sophistacat
Special Kitty Canada
Special Kitty US
Springfield Prize
Sprout
Total Pet
Wegmans
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie

Dog Food
Americas Choice, Preferred Pets
Authority
Award
Best Choice
Big Bet
Big Red
Bloom
Bruiser
Cadillac
Companion
Demoulas Market Basket
Eukanuba
Food Lion
Giant Companion
Great Choice
Hannaford
Hill Country Fare
Hy-Vee
Iams
Laura Lynn
Loving Meals
Meijers Main Choice
Mighty Dog Pouch
Mixables
Nutriplan
Nutro Max
Nutro Natural Choice
Nutro Ultra
Nutro
Ol’Roy Canada
Ol’Roy US
Paws
Pet Essentials
Pet Pride - Good n Meaty
Presidents Choice
Price Chopper
Priority
Publix
Roche Bros
Save-A-Lot
Schnucks
Shep Dog
Springsfield Prize
Sprout
Stater Bros
Total Pet
Western Family
White Rose
Winn Dixie
Your Pet