A Tangled Pooch

How many of us dog owners brush and comb our pooch’s coat on a regular basis in-between grooms?  If you said, “never”, “not often”, or “not enough”…then you may have come across the issue of bunches of itty-bitty knots or mega-tangles in your pooch’s coat.  These knots or tangles (better known in the grooming world a “matt”) can be very obvious or not obvious and/or unsightly, but above all, an eventual painful obstacle for your pooch to a good grooming.

De-tangling (also known as de-matting) your pooch’s coat is an appropriate and necessary step to grooming your dog.  The de-matting process will take place well before the dog is bathed.  Bathing a matted dog will only make the matts worse upon drying and this will result in even more discomfort for your dog. Attempting to dry a tangled and knotted coat will result in the knot drying and result in possible pulling at the skin, if it has not already done so, causing not only irritated skin and discomfort, but poses a hazard to your dog during the grooming process. 

During the grooming process…should clippers come into contact with one of these knots of fur while trying shorten the fur, the clippers could cut into the dog’s skin presenting a new and more serious risk.

To help find the presence of matts, one should be able to run a small tooth comb through the pooch’s coat from head to tail, chest through belly as well as the underarms, hindquarters through the tail including under the tail.  The inability to do so will likely hinder not only the grooming process but the bathing phase as well.  Though, in most cases, de-matting is possible…it does come with risks and concerns…not to mention extra charges.  The added charges depend on the condition of the coat and the degree of the severity of the matts that are found. Charges are added because of the risk to the pooch, the risk of a possible dog bite to the groomer (dogs fight the process), extra wear-tear on equipment, and the time it takes a groomer to dematt or detangle a dog…so do not be upset with the added charges. They are fair and necessary charges.

Any and all grooming shops will have thier respective de-matting fee structure.  Please inquire as to thier de-matting fees and how those charges are incurred.  They may be accessed as a base rate or upon intervals of time.  In either case, be sure to ask your groomer about their particular grooming process and fees.   Ask your groomer how you can help keep your dog’s coat matt free with regular brushing including a thorough comb-through with a small tooth comb, so that when your  pooch comes in for their regular grooming you will not be surprised with… a tangled pooch and the added charge!

Dog Immuse System

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

Depending on the strength of your dog’s immune system, your trips to the vet can be more frequent or less frequent. Some things about your dog’s immune system you can’t change because when your dog was born, he might have inherited a very weak or a strong immune system. If your dog has an immune system which is weak, your dog’s immune system can be strengthened to help prevent your dog from getting sick. There are three main causes why your dog’s immune system may become weak. Stress, no exercise, and a poor diet. Any or all three of these situations can cause your dog’s immune system to weaken and your dog to become ill more often.

Your dog’s diet may need different things depending on what the size of your dog is, weight, and the age of your dog. Some dog foods have been designed for particular age groups or weights. Dog food with vitamin C can help keep your dog’s immune system strong. Exercising your dog is necessary for him to become healthy and is good for his immune system. Walking your dog several times a week can help your dog maintain a health weight and keep his immune system healthy. Playing with your dog can also help reduce stress and you can also get exercise for your dog at the same time. This is a great way for getting exercise in, and it can get two of the things that cause a weaken immune system taken care of.

The amount of time you spend exercising and what you feed your dog will depend on your dog’s weight, age, and size. But the time you spend with your dog is all up to you. At least spend ten to twenty minutes a day with your dog to keep him happy and healthy. Keeping your dog’s immune system strong can help keep your dog healthy longer, and keep him alive longer.

Your Dog And The Sun

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

Dogs that spend most of their time running around and playing outside have a high risk of getting sunburned and skin damage from the sun. This can be costly and lead to health issues later in your dog’s life. Short haired dogs or lighter colored fur will also increase the chance of your dog having issues with the rays of the sun. Keeping your dog inside might not be the best solution to the problem. Keeping your dog inside where he can’t run around will fill him with excess energy, and he might pick up a few bad habits if he gets bored.

There is clothings for dogs that will reflect the rays of the sun, or just regular clothing for dogs can help prevent some of the rays. But the clothing shouldn’t be too thick or keep too much heat in or else it could cause heat stroke or other problems. Another option is using some different sun screens which can prevent sunburn and other damage. Sun screen that is made for kids can also work for dogs most of the time. But sun screens with scents can sometimes cause irritation to your dog’s skin. There are also some sun screens designed for dogs that are less like to cause problems when applying it to your dog.

Even though there are ways to prevent it, there really is no way to keep the sun from posing some problems. There still is a chance that it can pose problems, but sun screens and clothing that reflects it will help prevent the chance of it harming your dog. So instead of leaving your dog locked inside the house the whole day so he is full of energy and is bored, try some sun screens and different clothings that can keep your dog safe from the rays of the sun.

Heat Exhaustion in Dogs

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

While you’re out walking or at the dog park with your dog during a hot summer day, there is one deadly risk associated with these activities…heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion can affect dogs differently depending on if you have a long or short haired dog. If you have a long haired dog, you’ll want your dog stay out of the heat for longer periods of time then a short haired dog. An average dog’s temperature will be around one hundred to one hundred and three. If the temperature is above one hundred and four, your dog will probably start reacting to the heat and will start to show problems.

If a dog is suffering from heat exhaustion, he will start to look distressed and may start circling or pacing, and may have his tongue hanging out of his mouth at weird angles. Your dog may also have glazed over look in his eyes that can also be a sign of heat exhaustion. You may also want to feel the temperature of your dog’s fur to know how hot it is. If it feels like it’s on fire, you will definitely want to take your dog over to a shady area or into some water to help him cool down.

If your dog happens to get heat exhaustion take him into a cooler area like under some shade, or if possible, inside. Once in a cooler area, put some lukewarm to cool water on your dog’s belly to cool down your dog faster. If you put the water on your dog’s back, it won’t cool your dog down as fast because the hair on your dog will get cooled more from the water meeting contact with that first. You also do not want to dump a bucket of cold water on your dog if he has heat exhaustion. That can lead to putting your dog’s body into shock and killing him. Avoid the use of ice because it may do more harm than good…cooling your dog down slowly is more effective…you do not want to make your dog shiver as this may raise his body temperature. Also, do not let your dog drink ice water when he is over-heated, this can lead to stomach cramps and possible bloating which can also result in death. If you decide to try and drive your dog to the vet, make sure the car is not hot, and you keep your dog’s temperature down on the ride there.

If you go outside with your dog during a hot day, make sure your dog can get plenty of water and make sure he stays cool. Also do not leave your dog inside a car without air conditioning. This will cause your dog to over heat quickly and possibly kill him. So remember to keep your dog safe when you go out into a hot place. You don’t want your dog to get heat exhaustion.

How to Keep Your Dog Healthy

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

Keeping your dog healthy is one of the most important responsibilities a dog owner has. Exercise is a important part of your dog’s health, however, where you live and the type of job you have can effect the amount of exercise that your dog can get. If you work eight hours a day, work down town or far away from work, or if you have a apartment where residences are built close together and you can barely find some grassy area, let alone walk your dog, he probably won’t get a lot of exercise. But if you live in the country area or have a large yard or any yard, he will get a lot more exercise. One thing you could do to get your dog to get more exercise if he lives in the city, is to drop him off at a local doggie day care center that will take care of your dog during certain hours like a babysitter. Usually they will let your dog roam around freely and get some exercise for him. Even though it costs some money, it save you the time and trouble of trying to do this yourself.

The next important thing that effects your dog’s health is diet. Your dog shouldn’t be fed a lot of people food or this can lead to a poor diet and to poor health. If you feed him too much, this will also lead to health problems. For smaller dogs you should feed them about a half a cup of food to about one cup of food twice a day to keep them healthy. For medium sized dogs, this will be about one cup to one and a half cups twice a day, and for large dogs, about one and a half cups twice a day should work. This is a good estimate of what your dog should eat every day.

The two important things that affects your dog’s health is exercise and diet. (These are also the two main things that effects people’s health.) Even though it can seem like a pain to get your dog exercise that he needs, it can also help you stay in good health, too. And as for diet, if the amount I recommended  here results in your dog gaining too much weight, cut down by about a half cup, and if he loses too much, add about a half cup until it is perfect.

A Few More Dog Tricks

There are many other tricks that can be useful. One of these commands is “retrieve”. Retrieve, getting your dog to get a item from one place and bring it to you, can be used for many things. From just playing at the park and retrieving a ball, to getting an egg from the refrigerator and so on.

Yet how would you train your dog to do this? Simple. First find your dog’s favorite toy. Then get your dog into a clear area to train him free of distractions. Now when you are training him, it is recommended that you have already taught your dog a non-voice command to help him come to you in the beginning.

When you have your dog next to you paying attention, you should throw your dog’s favorite toy about five to ten feet from you. While you are throwing the toy, make sure to say “retrieve” so your dog knows what command to do. When he picks up the toy, use that non-voice command to get him to you.

If your dog comes back with the toy, make sure to reward him.

There are many other tricks that your dog can learn, but the four most helpful are “sit”, “stay”, “retrieve”, and “come here”. Most of the other tricks are most advanced versions of other tricks, like “lay” and “roll over”. Teaching your dog one of those trick can help with the more advance tricks.

Yet if you are going to be out of town or having your dog being groomed, you could have your dog learn some of these tricks if you ask your local boarding place about it. This can help when you are busy at work and your dog needs to learn a trick, or when you are away. Getting your dog to learn tricks and commands can be useful and fun in different situations. At the park to show your friends or if your dog gets out, commands can be useful.

Which Is Better, Vets Or Grooming/Boarding Places?

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

Which is better? Deciding to board your dog at a vet clinic or at a local boarding place? The vet can take care of serious sicknesses, can board your dog and in some instances groom them. At your local groom/boarding place, you can have him boarded and groomed for about the same price or less usually…but you must get his vaccinations from your veterinarian. 

Price varies between a veterinarian clinic and a boarding place…many have basic rates and then there  may be “add-ons” at either facility. You may be able to find more special offers and coupons to get a discounted price at boarding facilities. You will need to tour all facilities to ensure quality care, adequate exercise space, comfortable spacious sleeping areas, and friendly/caring caretakers.

But even with the prices being lower at the boarding place most of the time, there are a couple things a vet tends to be better at. If your dog has a chronic illness or has a history of becoming extremely sick, you would be better off bringing your dog to the vet for this. And if he breaks something like a bone, your vet would be available to tend to it quickly. However, there is a downside to boarding at a vet…your dog may be exposed to sick dogs as a vet clinic because along with being a boarding facility, it is a medical facility focused on the treatment of illnesses.

When it comes down to deciding between the two, the boarding/grooming place may be cheaper for boarding, grooming, and may offer training as well. A veterinarian clinic has the medical expertise onsite to take care of  extreme sicknesses, broken bones, administrering vaccines, etc. So when picking a place to board, think about primary needs of your dog.

 

What To Do If Your Dog Gets Out

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

If you live in a busy area or next to one and your dog is always trying to go out the door… this can be a problem. The chances of your dog getting out is affected by how well he is trained and if he listens to commands you give him. There are different ways to teach your dog from running out the door and some of those can be used if he gets out, too.

The first thing you can do is to block off this area so only you can get out. It could be set up with a dog gate or some boxes that your dog can’t get through. This will only help with keeping your dog from getting out but will not help with getting him to come back to you if he gets out.

The other one is training him “stay”. This command will keep him from running out the door if he obeys it. If he understands and obeys the command, it will make it easier to get out the door then you don’t have to use boxes or a gate to block the exit/entrance off.  The command will also help if your dog gets out the door.

Now what would you do if your dog does get outside? Well, getting low to the ground and calling your dog’s name, or saying the command “come here” if he knows it, will make it easier. But yet, what if you live in front of a busy street? A couple things you could do is get a fence or have a gate with the area around it blocked off, too.

Now if you try teaching your dog a command, but yet you go off to work and never have time to teach him, your local boarding place might be able to watch and teach him while you’re away so you don’t have to go through the trouble. If your dog happens to get distracted by noise easily, and you live near a busy road, then getting your local boarding place to teach him while your away is probably the best choice to get him to learn the trick quicker. It is always a good idea to have a plan if your dog gets out, and something to help prevent it. This will help make sure your dog will be there by your side when you’re with him.

What To Do If Your Dog Gets Out

If you walk your dog a lot or head out to work every day, there is a chance your dog may get out and try to run away. If your dog gets free of your grip to chase another person or slips out the door… what is the best thing to do to keep him back? And if he doesn’t come back to you… what would be the best thing to do to get him to come back?

Well if he gets away from you, then first thing you should do is get low to the ground and call his name. Getting low to the ground and staying where you are is more effective than chasing after him. If you chase after him, then he will think that you’re playing and will try to out run you. If that does not work, then if your dog knows the command “stay” or the command “sit”, this can be useful for getting him to stay still for a minute so you can get a hold of him. You might be able to get your local dog boarding or grooming place to reinforce some of these tricks and others while you are at work or away.

The next thing to try if commands don’t work is using your dog’s favorite toy, perhaps a squeaky toy, or another toy that makes noise. You may be able to lure your dog to you with the sound, but there is a chance your dog may ignore the sound and keep on going.

If all else fails, try to think of a place where your dog would want to go to. Most likely, your dog will go to a place where he can bark at other dogs and run around. If there are any places where he goes nuts and runs around barking at other dogs, it would be worthwhile checking there first.

If you love your dog and treat him well, he will most likely come back to you, happy to be with you again. And remember, the most important thing is to have an identification tag on your dog, just in case.

 

A Few Tricks a Dog Should Know

<!– @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>

A few tricks that may seem small can be big in different situations. One of those is “sit”. A simple trick, yet can be useful for different things. If you are having a guest or your boss over for dinner or the night, sit can be very useful. If this person comes in dressed nice, a dog jumping up onto him can be the difference between getting a promotion or having them stay over again. Or getting on your boss’ bad side or having some friends avoid your house. Having the command “sit” will help keep your dog from jumping up onto your guest.

Another command that can be useful is “come here”. If your dog happens to get away, or you lose your grip on him/her, you can call that command and get your dog to come back to you. This can be a very useful command if you live near a busy street.

“Stay” is another useful command. If your dog likes to attempt to sneak out the door every time you go out, this command can be used. It will help keep him from running out and causing something bad to happen, and will keep you from having to go through the trouble of finding him. This command should be taught with “come here” in cause he does get out after he has learned “stay”.

These three commands which don’t seem like they can do much, can be very useful. They can be taught by your local grooming place and boarding place most of the time. This can make the process go faster by having someone else who has had experience training dogs. But for just a little fee, this can help you get multiple things done at once. You could get him trained while you’re at work, or out of town, or just getting him groomed. Those three commands should be taught to your dog to make sure that whenever you need them, he knows them already.

Next Page »