2008年9月17日星期三

Puppy Training - The Importance of Early Puppy Training

That sweet little bundle of fur you brought home for the kids is getting bigger now, and needs to learn some manners. At what point does its nibbling on your fingers stop being cute? When do its “accidents” start being on purpose? How do you know when it’s a good time to start training your puppy?

Some experts have recently begun to suggest that the training process starts before the puppy is born. In the past, the prenatal period wasn’t considered in the social development of dogs because the unborn puppies couldn’t be observed. The availability of the ultrasound machine shed new light on what happens in the womb as early as the fourth week of gestation.

Scientist theorize that since puppies’ are responsive to touch at birth, their conditioning to touch begins before they’re born, possibly by nudges from the pregnant mother. Studies show that the offspring of pregnant animals are calmer and easier socialized when the mother is regularly petted.

In roughly the first 14 days of a puppy’s life it may be able to learn some associations, such as recognizing a human caregiver, but it is still so mentally undeveloped that anything he learns isn’t likely to carry over to progressive stages of development.

During the three to 12-week period the puppy begins to pick up on social behaviors. Playful wrestling, curiosity and even mimicking sexual behavior is an important part of teaching the puppy its place in the family. It’s also important that the puppy has plenty of time with its mother and littermates, where the mother will teach it to play well with others. Puppies can learn tricks and basic commands, such as sit and stay as early as eight weeks of age. At this point, it’s only limited by its still-developing coordination, concentration and physical stamina.

Obedience classes are a good place for pet owners to learn how to communicate with their animals. Some trainers offer socialization classes as soon as the puppy is established in its permanent home, but obedience classes typically want the animal to have at least started getting its initial vaccinations first, usually around three to six months of age. The longer training is put off, the more difficult it will be for both dog and handler, especially if the dog has already begun to pick up bad habits. It’s easier to instill good behavior than to try to deprogram bad behavior.

The emotional maturity and stability of the dog is equally important as the age factor in deciding when to start the training process. Often the handler focuses too heavily on making sure the dog understands the commands being issued and doesn’t pay enough attention to the information the dog is sending. This is counterproductive, because an animal that is stress, scared, confused or distracted will not learn efficiently.

2008年9月5日星期五

Feeding Your Pit Bull Terrier The Right Dog Food

Pit Bull owners who love their pets obviously want to do what is best for them. They want them to have the best care possible and be happy. Part of providing the best care comes with providing the best nutrition. All of the different types of dog food produced can make deciding what is best difficult for owners. There are many selections that are very healthy and nutritional, while others are very unhealthy with little to no nutritional value. The most nutritional foods seem to be those offered by the larger companies, in part, because they routinely test for food quality and nutritional worth.

Out of all the different types of food available, dry food tends to be the least pricey. Many owners prefer dry food because they have several dogs and it costs significantly less to feed them. The quality and nutrition of dry food varies dependent on the manufacturer. One advantage to dry food is that it can be purchased in large quantities and stored for quite some time, allowing the owner to avoid trips to the store. Being able to store the food also helps the wallet, if you purchase it in bulk when it is on sale. Dry food also is easier to prepare for your dog, as all you do is pour it into a bowl. It also doesn’t smell bad, which is a plus for owners of indoor dogs. Storing dry foods for long periods of time may affect the nutritional worth of the food.

The semi-moist dog foods are usually made up of about twenty five percent water and meat products, making them very popular with most dogs, however, they are not very good for the dog’s teeth as they tend to be very high in sugar content. They are also high in preservatives and additives, which most owners would prefer to avoid. Semi moist food is usually the most expensive food to purchase. As with the dry food, it all varies with each manufacturer; ingredients, nutrition, quality, taste, are all different from brand to brand.

Canned foods win the popularity bonus hands down. Canned foods offer a full meal in one can, which is often convenient for pet owners. They usually are made from animal by products, and contain more moisture than other dog foods. They often contain the least preservatives, and are the easiest food for dogs to digest. Purchasing canned food can be expensive, especially if your dog eats a lot, or if you have several to feed.

As with buying any food, it is always recommended to read the labels, so that you know what the ingredients are. You don’t have to buy the most expensive food for it to be nutritional; you just need to be a smart shopper. It is important not to feed your Pit Bull too much, and to make sure he gets a lot of exercise. If you are still confused about the type of food that would be best, your veterinarian should be able to help.

2008年9月2日星期二

Pet Stroller Website Offers Fun Alternative for Pet Wheelchairs

Pet Stroller Site Offers Delightful Alternative To Pet Wheelchairs

Handicapped animals sometimes are forced to be in wheelchairs made especially for pets, and although the chairs is often very useful to animals in terms of exercise, additional alternatives can be utilized, especially if the animal gets fatigued, or is simply momentarily not able to utilize a pet wheelchair. This is where disabled pets may benefit from a pet stroller. And actually,, a stroller could in truth end up very beneficial, to the animal, along with its owner.

Pet Strollers have just recently started to be popular, but there aren't very many pet shops that carry products such as these, and shops that do, offer them at a major price. Pet Stroller Mart has started selling pet strollers that are available in a variety of colors, styles and sizes that can fit varied habitats, and types of pets. And don't forget price range. regardless of whether you and your pet live in an urban or a rural area, Pet Stroller Mart strollers are designed to comfortably get through all terrains, and actually make it effortless to tote pets where they should be to be.

To illustrate, if you have got two pets that you need to transfer at the same time, http://www.petstrollermart.com offers a fantastic Double Decker stroller than can efficiently carry both animals at the same time. No need to bring carriers either since each section detach easily and quickly and can become pet carriers themselves. In addition, the stroller simply folds for storage or transport.

For animals that weigh under 25 pounds, Http://www.petstrollermart.com has an unmatched collection of one of a kind strollers so that you and your pet can get around quickly. You can go with a stroller that has a more classic carriage type, or select a more sleek pet stroller or a stylish stroller. Despite the fact that these pet strollers are built for smaller animals, they are still created with the same sturdy excellence of Pet Stroller Mart's other various offerings for larger animals.

The adjustablitiy of the pet strollers carried by Pet Stroller Mart is what really makes their products stand out from other products. For example, they even sell a unique three in one pet stroller that acts as a pet carrier, pet stroller, and even a car seat for a pet. This is just one of the primary advantages of Getting a pet stroller from Pet Stroller Mart, they will save you cash since you won't need to buy other pet storage items. All Strollers from Pet Stroller Mart are nearly effortless to keep clean and maintain, and are built for simple fold down and storage. The poly/cotton mesh fabric gives extra safety and air ventilation for your pet's transport. So look into http://www.PetStrollerMart.com today to look at their uncommon selection and prices on pet strollers. Free shipping is included in the price of all items.

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