Puppy Training

Puppies are very social and enjoy being around humans. Start your puppy training when your new puppy first arrives in your home. Make a game of sitting on the floor and calling your puppy to you, once your pup gets to you, make a big fuss. If you make coming to you an enjoyable and rewarding experience, you will see the benefits when your puppy gets older.

The next step in your puppy training is going to be to teach your puppy not to jump on you or other people. All puppy's love to jump up when they are greeting people. Rather than reprimand the pup, simply ignore the behavior and wait until they settle down and are not jumping and then give them the attention they want. It's important to train them not to jump before they get bigger.

You need to decide what is going to be acceptable and what isn't when your puppy is young. Don't allow the puppy to sit on your lap when you are sitting on the couch if you don't want them to use the couch as an excellent dog bed. If the couch is going to be off limits, then set their dog bed right next to the couch when you are sitting on the couch and encourage them to sleep there.

During your puppy training session, remember that your pup will have a short attention span. The important part of early training with your puppy is to establish a good bond and mutual trust. If your puppy trusts you then they won't rebel against later when you start with more specific types of training.

Keep Your Pets Safe During The Holidays

We love to celebrate the holiday season with parties, friends, family and our favorite sweet treats. Several popular holiday treats are toxic to pets. Any candy containing the sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even a small amount of xylitol can be dangerous because it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression lack of coordination, seizures and even liver failure.

Dark chocolate and baker's chocolate can also be potentially poisonous to dogs. Symptoms your dog might display if they've had a significant amount of chocolate are vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst and urination, as well as abnormal heart rate/rhythm and even seizures.

Cats love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.

If you have a real Christmas tree in your home, cover the Christmas tree water so that your pets can't drink it. Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers which, if swallowed, can cause stomach upset. Stagnant tree water can also act as a breeding ground for bacteria, and if swallowed, your pet could end up with abdominal discomfort, vomiting and diarrhea.

By taking just a few precautions, this holiday season can be a safe, joyous time for both you and your pet.

Thanksgiving and Your Pets

Thanksgiving is a time to get together with your family and friends. Changes in household routines can cause stress for your pets. Make this Thanksgiving season a safe and stress free occasion for your pets.

Don't feed your dog any turkey bones. They are soft and can splinter easily which creates a choking hazard. Raw and undercooked turkey may contain salmonella bacteria and can cause your pet to become extremely sick.

Give your pets an extra treat inside their favorite treat toy. This will keep them occupied (and not begging for food) while you and your family are enjoying your Thanksgiving dinner.

Sage is an excellent spice for seasoning your dressing, but it contains oils and resins that can cause your pets to suffer an upset stomach and possibly depress their central nervous system.

Please don't leave any batteries they you use for cameras, radios and other battery operated electronics laying around where your pet could get to them. If your pet swallows a battery it can cause choking or become lodged in their throat. If your pet should bite and puncture the battery, the chemical in alkaline batteries can cause burns to their mouths and esophagus.

If you think your pet has eaten something that could be potentially dangerous, contact your vet immediately.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Kitten Kindergarten

Kindergarten classes are no longer just for puppies. There are now kitten kindergarten classes. Improving social skills for your cat is important to make sure they are properly socialized. This is especially important if your kitten is waiting to be adopted. New owners will like the fact that their newest family member is well socialized.

In the kitten kindergarten classes, you and your cat will be learning. Owners are taught how to correct problems in their pets before they become permanent and they will learn how to play and interact with their kittens. Kittens will be taught good manners and social skills during kitten kindergarten.

It is recommended that you enroll your kitten when they are seven to eight weeks old. Younger kittens will adjust much faster in a positive way than when they are older. You will need to make sure that your kitten is current on their vaccinations before you can enroll them in the kitten kindergarten classes.

During the class sessions, owners will learn how to properly place their kittens on their backs, touch their paws and bellies, and pick them up and hold them. Tips will also be given on how to check inside your kittens mouth, brush their teeth, clean their ears, trim their nails, giving them pills and walking on a leash. Just like when you are training puppies, you will want a good supply of treats on hand for rewards which will motivate your kitten to perform in a positive manner.

Whether you decide to attend a kitten kindergarten class or to perform the training yourself, remember to have a lot of patience and fun when you are training your kitten.

Cat Body Language

Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck or by the front legs. To pick up your cat, place one hand behind the front legs and another under the hindquarters. Treat your cat as a friend and it will be one to you. Cats can form attachments to their owners if given the chance, and will reciprocate the love they’re shown. Cats are more intelligent than people give them credit. They have individual personalities. Owners can get to know their cat and bring out the best in them by playing with them whenever possible. Cats are known for doing certain activities without being taught or trained. Cats were domesticated sometime between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago in Africa and the Middle East.

Just like humans, cats have their own way of expressing themselves without ever opening their mouths. A healthy, confident and alert cat walks straight with its tail extended and its eyes narrow. Angry cats usually vigorously swish or wag their tails when they are irritated.
A wagging tail doesn't mean a cat is friendly or happy to see you. Each cat will establish its own way of communicating with you. You may also notice that its ears point downward and point toward the back of its body, that means it’s ready to fight. An angry cat shows his aggression by pointing his ears forward at an angle.

If your cat sits focused on you in front of you in an upright and perky position for a long period of time, perhaps it wants to be fed. An irritated or sick cat has whiskers that are pulled back more tightly towards the face. If a cat rubs against you with its body or the sides of its face, it's only marking its territory. One of the favorite body languages an owner has for its cat is when it arches its back, seems to stretch out a bit, curls its tail upward loosely and puts its head down.

Summer Tips For You and Your Pets

Summer is the time when you and your pets can have fun and enjoy the sunshine and the great outdoors. Summertime can also pose dangers to your pets. Take a few minutes and read through these tips to keep your pets save this summer.

Safe Pet Tip #1:
Even though it is extremely tempting to take your dogs with you when you are running your errands, remember that the inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in just a matter of minutes, even if you do park in the shade. Dogs and cats can't perspire and can only get rid of heat through panting and the pads of their feet. Pets left in hot cats even for a short period of time can suffer from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage and can even die. Do your pet a favor and leave them at home where they are cool and comfortable on hot summer days.

Safe Pet Tip #2
It can be dangerous and even illegal in some states to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Debris flying up from the road can cause serious injury. Also if the driver of the truck suddenly hits the brakes, swerves or is hit by another car, your dog can be thrown into traffic. On a hot summer day, the back of the truck can become so hot that it can damage the pads of your dogs feet. Either let your dog ride in the cab of the truck or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

Safe Pet Tip #3
Summer is a time when you want to get out and work in your garden and fertilize your lawns. Be aware that some plant food, fertilizer and insecticides can be fatal to your pet if ingested. There are also over 700 plants that can be extremely danger to your pet if they should eat them. Check your plants and make sure they are safe before you plant them in an area where your pet could come in contact with them.

Remember to provide plenty of fresh water and shade for your pets to keep them cool during the summer and both of you will enjoy the outdoors.

Pets - Summer and Hot Weather

Remember that your dogs and cats can suffer from overheating, dehydration and even sunburn just like humans do. There are some simple precautions you can take in order to keep your pet happy and healthy.

Don't let your dog stand on hot asphalt when the temperature is very hot. Their sensitive paw pads can easily burn and their body can heat up quickly. Walk your pet either during the early morning hours or later on in the evening when the temperatures are cooler.

Good grooming can also help keep your pets cool during the summer. Cats should be brushed often and if you decide to clip your dogs hair make sure you don't shave it all the way to the skin. Leave at least an inch of hair to protect them from the sun.

Never, ever leave your pet in a parked vehicle during the summer. The inside of a car can become a furnace in a very short period of time.

Watch your pet for signs of overheating such as excessive panting, drooling and mild weakness along with an elevated body temperature.