Overweight Dog - Tips For Dogs in Condos

An overweight dog faces many of the same problems as an overweight human. Chubby canines have a higher risk of developing diabetes, joint problems, infections, certain cancers and a list of other ailments associated with being an overweight dog.

Obviously the best way to deal with this is to not let your furry friend get fat in the first place but if you're reading this then he probably is already a tubbo. This is becoming and increasingly bigger problem because of the number of urban dogs that spend their day inside a townhome or condo where exercise is limited to barking at cars through the window.

But let's start at the beginning. Just how fat is your dog? The first thing you want to do is establish if there is a waist or not. There should be a visible indentation behind the rib cage and before the hips. Secondly check the rib cage itself. If you can't easily feel the ribs, if all you feel is a roll of fat, then your dog is overweight.

If you really want to get serious about this, take a trip to the vet and insure that the condition is not being caused by some physical malady. Ask the vet for ideas as to how much weight the dog needs to lose and how fast he or she should lose it. That can be the tricky part for as a general rule, dogs don't tolerate rapid weight loss very well.

Now that you have a goal, it's time to put a plan together. In order to lose weight in a healthy manner, the pooch is going to need the proper diet and exercise. This can be a problem for urban dogs. Ideally you would feed the dog at set times and then put the bowl up so bowser can't free feed all day long. Dogs, like people, eat when they get bored.

It means that the dog bowl has to be put up before you leave for work and that's may be an adjustment problem for the pooch at first. Obviously dinner is served when you get home, and if you tend to work late or do chores straight from work, that means the dog goes without food for 10 to 12 hours. It won't kill him but it will probably make you feel guilty and you'll want to give him treats.

There's nothing wrong with that so long as you give healthy treats. Carrots and broccoli may not be your favorite but most dogs love them. They are chock full of good vitamins and antioxidants and almost no calories. Give it a shot. These veggies will also save you some bucks compared to commercial dog treats.

And that brings up another area you might want to explore. Making your own dog food not only saves you a ton of money but gives you complete control over just what the dog is eating. Forget the contaminated dog food recalls that come around about once a year, the regular dog food isn't really all that great either. It's not until you get into the premium foods that you are providing your dog with the proper mix of nutrients.

Exercise is the second part of the weight loss program and again it's important not to do more than your dog can. They can't sweat like people so they don't have nearly the capability to cool down and they are easily overheated. Don't put you fat dog on a leash and take him jogging or cycling with you. A brisk walk should do the trick.

Your dog loves you and relies on you to take care of him. Do the right thing for your overweight dog and take the time to slim him down to a healthy size.

If you have an overweight dog you may have a dog with other problems as well. Check out http://homeremediesfordogs.info for helpful ideas on everyday dog problems like fleas, mange, itch skin and the ever popular how to get rid of skunk smell.

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Travel With Your Dog - Tips For the Road

By far, my dog is my favourite companion on long road trips. She's great company, always happy to be in the car, and gives me a good reason to get out and stretch occasionally. I'm also a bit of an adventurer, so when I suddenly decide to cut down a back road just to see where it goes, it's nice to have company that's always along for the experience. It's also nice to have a little protection from those with less than friendly intentions. My dog wasn't always a good travel companion though, it took a little time to train her to respect the car, the rules of the road, and so on.

When she was a puppy it was particularly difficult to go on long trips. She was far too excited, knowing that every trip means a nice long run. She would jump around the backseat, crawl onto my lap, under the seats, and worse. The trips to the drive thru at Tim Hortons were particularly bad as she would always try to jump for the window (and my coffee/breakfast). It didn't take too long though and she was getting used to the idea of being in the car. She started to relax when we were driving, no longer moving around and bumping into things. Dogs are smart and they understand that a moving car can be dangerous (maybe not puppies, but give them some time).

Here's a few tips for longer trips, once your dog is up for them. Pack some extra food, treats, and water. Dogs get thirsty and a hot summers day will really have an impact. If you don't have a travel bowl for your dog, stop and give her a drink outside the car. It's very difficult to clean mold out of upholstery and constant spilling from bumps (or just from your thirsty dog) will eventually cause some damage. Make sure your dog has a special place of her own. If she's always in the front seat, make it more comfortable for her. And bring a toy or two so she has something to play with.

It's also important to remember any medications that your dog may need and all the typical supplies such as a leash and some doggie bags (be responsible). Enjoy the summer!

I highly recommend the K9 Travel Mug, it fits directly into your cars cup holders, is spill resistant, and made of durable stainless steel.

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Do it Yourself Dog Grooming - Save Big Bucks!

One of the less desirable Cockapoo characteristics is that they need grooming about every six weeks. At $65 -$75 dollars a dog, taking our two Cockapoo puppies to a groomer is too costly. It would cost $565 - $650 a year, depending on the type of groomer (mobile dog groomer or at groomer's workplace).

So we bought a nail clipper and an electric trimmer kit containing scissors and a DVD showing a groomer in action. Then came the hard part - using them!

Prince Alvin, the Do It Yourself Dog Groomer's Dream

At 7 months, Alvin is (sometimes) calm AND he's been groomed twice by a professional. After a thorough brushing, we set him up on a bench at the right level for grooming. As long as I hold his head, he's lulled into a trance by the sound of the clippers.

Alvin is a Bichon Frise/Cockapoo mix and looks the best when he's groomed with a modified poodle cut.

Sir Simon, the Do It Yourself Dog Groomer's Nightmare

Simon, a 14-week-old, may look cute, but he's a little monster. Grooming him is not easy. Besides that he has a short attention span, the only way we can use the trimmer is if someone is feeding him treats at the same time.

The real bad news is that during a recent grooming session he ate too many treats mixed in with a few hair balls and barfed them up an hour later. He also has 2 bare patches when he moved unexpectedly. He's good for about 2 - 5 minutes; then, he loses focus and starts moving.

The good news - over the last 3 times we've groomed him, we found a puppy underneath all that hair. And he should associate grooming and the treats. Eventually, his grooming will get easier.

Right now, we groom Simon fairly short all over. Also, with both dogs, we pay attention to the hair around the eyes. The dogs need to see, and short eye hair minimizes Simon's tear stains. Be careful to angle the scissors flat in front of the eyes.

Do IT Yourself Dog Grooming Tips

It's easy to understand why you would not want to groom your dog on your own, especially if you have a Simon-like dog. But here's a plan that might work for you. Try these dog grooming tips:

1. Get a pair of clippers, scissors, brush, and a nail trimmer. Some dog grooming packages come with a DVD showing you how to groom. A must-do: Watch the dog grooming DVD!

2. Get your dog groomed professionally at least once. Take pictures so you know what he's supposed to look like.

3. Once you're ready to clip your dog for the first time, get someone to help you. He/she can hold the dog's head so you can clip.

4. Have plenty of treats and have your assistant feed the dog treats if he's not cooperating.

5. Clip in short increments of time - no more than a few minutes. Stop when he moves too much or starts biting.

6. Clip his nails after you've clipped his hair/fur. Be careful how much you clip. If you clip the "quick," the dog will bleed. Check out remedies online before you run into this situation. It's a good idea to clip a little at a time to avoid cutting the "quick."

Best of luck with your do it yourself dog grooming!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Valerie Mills is a copywriter/designer and the author of alvin and simon's blog - Everything you wanted to know about getting and raising designer dogs, featuring Alvin and Simon, Cockapoo pups.
You can download two free ebooks from the blog's right column:
Are YOU Training Your Dog Or Is HE Training You? and Bringing Your New Puppy Home - Are You Ready?

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Dog Grooming Supplies

Dog grooming supplies and tools are necessary for any vet center, grooming salon or kennels as well as for pet owners who prefer home maintenance for their four-legged friends. Supplies need investment, because without good tools, hair cuts, nail trimming, bathing and ear cleaning cannot be properly performed.

Moreover, according to the specificity of the business, mobile services allow professional grooming at the client's home. Here are just a few examples of grooming supplies for dogs necessary for home or professional use alike. Selection may be stricter for home use because you don't need the same variety of tools as for professional applications.

The most important item is the grooming table preferably with a noose or grooming arm. This kind of dog grooming supplies facilitate work a lot as you can comfortably adjust the height at which you need to work. For large dogs you'll drop the table, for smaller breeds you'll raise it as high as you need. Moreover, grooming tools for dogs should include items capable of restraining the dog on the table so that it stays still but comfortable at the same time.

A sometimes overlooked item, non-slip coverings are important dog grooming supplies. A wet and frightened dog is hard to keep standing. The anti-slip surface is possible thanks to the use of special coverings if the table does not include such features in the design. As for brushes and combs, there is no need for home users to invest much in such dog grooming supplies, as they can buy something highly specialized that corresponds to the dog's features. A natural bristle brush, for instance, will enable an even distribution of the dog's hair oils and will make bathing necessary only once a month.

Matting may become an issue if you don't groom thick-haired dogs daily. There are special dog grooming supplies used for de-matting but only when the fur is highly unkempt. For very serious mats, only coat shaving helps. Check catalogs and guides to find the right dog grooming supplies particularly when you know that a simple brush is not enough to complete the grooming. More or less professional maintenance can be carried out in terms of dog grooming, as long as you don't neglect grooming tasks, it simply doesn't matter who bathes and grooms the dog.

Tip: Check out Dani's dog grooming tips, articles and his dog grooming book and discover "The Secrets Of Master Dog Groomers And Save Hundreds Of Dollars On Your Dog Grooming Bills Without Even Leaving Your Home!"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dani_Waser

Your Dog Tips - Should You Get a Puppy Or an Adult Dog?

Are you considering a canine companion, a hound to have around, or a puppy pal? There are pros and cons to considering puppies vs. adult dogs. Puppies are great fun, but plenty of work. Puppies need a great deal of attention, much more care and training-and lots and lots of play time. Puppies cannot be left alone as long as adult dogs. They must be watched at all times or kept in a secure place such as a crate when you can't watch them. They need frequent trips outside to relieve themselves; they eat several times a day. An advantage of having a puppy is you train and socialize the dog right from the beginning. A puppy will quickly bond with family members.

Your house will have to be "child protected" with latches on cabinets where potentially dangerous things like cleaning supplies are kept. Puppies are curious and explore everywhere, often by chewing. New pups often have difficulty adapting to being away from their litter mates and your sleep will be interrupted for the first days after you bring him home. Housebreaking a puppy can be a messy chore. You have to be patient when the puppy makes mistakes. The good thing about a puppy is he is a blank slate: he can be trained and socialized so he is a perfect fit with your family. You don't have to worry about breaking him of bad habits.

An alternative is adopting an adult dog from a shelter or foster home, or breed rescue organization. An older dog is usually already housebroken and can be left alone for longer periods of time. With an adult dog, you know right away what you're getting in terms of: the size of the dog, the temperament, the activity level and personality. What you don't know is the dog's past, what may have happened that led the dog to be in a situation of being rescued-or abandoned. Adult dogs sometimes have developed behavioral issues because of past neglect or abuse. It may take time for you and your new adult dog to develop mutual trust. Some adult dogs can be nervous or have separation anxiety when introduced into a new home. Treat an adult dog with respect and affection. Talk softly and don't move suddenly until you know your new canine companion and he knows you.

Don't make the mistake of treating adult toy dogs, like Miniature Schnauzers as puppies. They're not. Some small dogs don't realize they're little (just like some Great Danes think they're lap dogs). Toy dogs should be house broken and well behaved just like their bigger cousins.

Many well-trained, sociable dogs are available for adoption, however, and you can certainly find one that will fit right into your household with minimal stress or period of adjustment. Just remember to give the dog extra care, attention and love when he first comes into your home. If he feels completely welcome and loved, he is bound to make a smoother transition.

Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books, and the novel Over Time. She's the proud two legged companion of dogs rule Find out more about Miniature Schnauzers.

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How to Train a Dog - Tips For Effective Dog Training

Training dogs can be easy if you are serious and passionate about it. If you are a dog lover, you know that dog training requires your time and attention. To train a dog requires your commitment and dedication. You just have to follow some basic guidelines to learn how to train a dog effectively.

Know your dog's breed.

Know the nature of the breed of your dog. Use technology to know his characteristics. Know the difference between a play and a guard dog and know what they love doing more. This way you will better understand your dog's behaviour and you will not expect a guard to behave more like a play dog and vice versa.

Raise your voice when necessary to relay the message that the action is unacceptable.

Train a dog by making him understand the meaning of the word "No". Say it to communicate that you are not pleased with the action. If you need to raise your voice, you should do it to let him know that you are the master and in control and you know what you are telling him. Dogs have the tendency to ignore an instruction if there is no assertion. They know when to take instructions seriously. Let him know that you are serious and in control.

Do not hit your dog.

Hitting your dog may bring psychological and emotional problems. Train a dog this way and he can be traumatized and may tend to go away when you need to teach him a lesson. This is not an effective approach in a train dog program. Use your voice to communicate the unacceptability of action and avoid aggressive physical contact. He may also turn out to be aggressive and this can cause a major concern later on. This can defeat the purpose of your dog training program.

Want to Find Out More?
For more information about how to effectively train a dog, then http://properdogtraining.com/

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House Training Dog Tips - 4 Tips For A Clean House And Obedient Dog

There can be nothing more frustrating that your new puppy using your house as a toilet! Luckily, there are some easy ways to "potty train" your dog. Learn more in this article.

Don't worry - your new pup need not "poop" or urinate all over the house anymore with these great tips:

Feed your dog in the morning and the evening

It's not just dogs, even humans like to go to the toilet after a meal. If you feed your dog at a different time every day then you are just asking for trouble! Encourage your dog to do its business in the morning after its first meal and remember to praise him or her.

Don't be harsh on your dog if it makes a mess in the house

Never chastise your dog if it makes a mess in your house. It is not the dog's fault and it didn't know any better. If you punish your dog then it will just get confused.

Be patient with nature

When you let your dog out to do its business, be patient and let it sniff around for a little bit. Soon enough it will do its business then praise it nicely. Always be consistent in your praise and then go back indoors. This is a signal to the dog that the routine is to wait for it to do its business then he or she can go back inside.

Set aside an area if you cannot take your dog to the toilet at the scheduled time

If you need to leave the dog indoors during its normal toilet time, don't try to adjust his or her toilet time to suit your schedule or it will get confused. Instead, make sure to set aside some newspaper where it can do its thing and tidy up afterwards. At least by putting out the newspaper, you are showing the dog that this is a special preparation for it to go to the toilet and it shouldn't see this as a cue to do this anywhere else in the house - unless you like to throw your newspapers on the floor every else then beware!

Get more house training dog tips and general advice on dog obedience. Register now on my free ecourse at http://www.DogTrainingByEmail.com

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