Pet Care and Training

Nipping - the playful biting and mouthing of your hands and clothes by your dog - is particularly common among puppies, but can also occur in older dogs that haven’t been taught proper bite inhibition.

It’s natural for dogs to mouth and nip. They explore the world using their mouths - to a dog, his mouth is as important as eyes and hands are to us. Nipping is very different from true aggression: it’s a form of communication, interaction, exploration, and play. From birth, pups use their mouths to explore the den, their mother, and their littermates. From a few weeks old, they use their mouths to play with their siblings: puppies play by biting and mouthing each other. Some adult dogs - usually, those with owners who encourage rough play, or who were removed from the litter at too early an age - retain these same tendencies to nip during play and in moments of emotional duress.

Sibling play is actually how young pups learn a very important lesson, called bite inhibition. If a puppy bites another puppy too hard, the other pup yelps loudly in pain and stops playing with him. This teaches the biter that such a degree of bite force results in an undesirable outcome: social isolation. When other puppies bite him, that’s how he learns what that pain feels like. (This is one of the reasons that puppies removed from the litter too early are often ‘maladjusted’ - they’ve missed out on some of the important lessons their mother and littermates have to teach).

Even pups that have learned basic bite inhibition from their siblings usually need to be reconditioned again upon entering their new home: humans are much more easily damaged than dogs, so it’s necessary for us to intervene and refine the puppy’s bite pressure even further. A dog without any concept of bite inhibition is both annoying and dangerous to have around: a harmless play session can rapidly turn into painful ordeal. Puppies aren’t capable of inflicting serious damage - although their little teeth are razor sharp, their jaws are too weak to do much more than elicit a trickle of blood - but an adult dog can do a great deal more than just scratch the surface, and it makes very little difference to a wounded human that the dog “didn’t mean to do it”!

Here’s what to do to teach your dog good bite inhibition. Note: this same technique is applicable to older dogs, although the same results may take a little longer to attain.

- When playing with your puppy or dog, you’ll need to choose the level of mouthing that you’re prepared to accept. Some owners are content for their dogs to touch their hands with their teeth, as long as no pressure is exerted; others (particularly those with large, strong-jawed dogs) prefer to get the message across that no tooth-contact is acceptable whatsoever.

- Whenever you reach your level of tolerance with your pup - he might give you a good nip, or he might just grab your fingers gently in his mouth - squeal shrilly and loudly in pain and immediately turn your entire body away from him. Get up and walk a few paces away from him, keeping your face and eyes averted. Don’t speak to him, and don’t touch him. The aim here is for the puppy to be completely socially isolated for the next 20 to 30 seconds - long enough for the lesson to sink in, but not long enough for him to forget what it was that elicited such a response and start playing with something else. (Note: if there are other people present, you’ll need to ensure that they mimic your behavior here - don’t allow them to start playing with or otherwise paying attention to the puppy or dog, or else all your good work will have been undone).

- Most young dogs, and some older ones, seem to have an innate need to chew something - anything! - whenever they’re being played with or petted. To keep the focus off your hands, and prevent him from learning what a delightful chew toy your fingers make, supply him with a more appropriate chew: anything with a slight give to it should do the trick. Rawhide bones, pigs’ ears, or squeezy rubber toys all go down a treat.

- If he should start snapping for your hands or face while playing, correct him quickly with a sharp, “No!”, or “AH-ah-aaah!” He should stop, startled. As soon as he stops, praise him (you’re praising the stopping, not the original behavior - don’t be confused by their close proximity) and then quickly redirect his attention to an appropriate chew. When his jaws close around it, praise him again and give him a pat.

- Never use physical force to correct your dog for inappropriate chewing or mouthing. Not only is it mostly unnecessary, but in most cases it will actually encourage further nipping and biting. The cold-shoulder technique (as outlined above) is the most effective, and humane, manner of conveying your displeasure to your dog. He wants to please you: he just has to figure out how to do so. He has a much better chance of doing so if you refrain from corporal punishment and give him 30 seconds of isolation instead.

- If your dog’s getting really revved up and is making repeated attempts to nip you, despite cold-shouldering him, he might need to cool down a bit. In this case, the ‘time out’ method is appropriate: take him to his crate, or to a small room by himself, and leave him there for five minutes to chill out a bit. When it’s time to bring him back into the heart of the household, you can start playing again - just try to tone it down a notch or two until you’re sure he can tolerate the play without further nipping.

- For a dog that needs little encouragement to become overexcited and mouthy (high-energy herding breeds in particular are prone to this), choose non-contact play whenever feasible. Frisbee and fetch are great choices; even tug-of-war, provided your dog knows a reliable ‘drop it’ command, is suitable. Avoid rough play like slap-boxing (where you hit the sides of a dog’s face gently with open palms) and full-on wrestling at all costs: these games encourage nipping, but also call a dog’s instinctive aggression into the mix, which is something to be avoided. Keep games friendly and low-key instead.

Our dogs give us time and affection like no other. It is our duty and obligation to provide for these animals with as much love and care. And since different breeds have different needs and personalities, dog care can be tough to master.

Upon owning a dog, you will have to learn basic dog care. This means, as the proud owner of a canine, you now have to feed, bathe and train your pet. Here a few dog care tips you should know.

1. Get your dog a collar and an ID tag with your name, address and telephone number written on it. It will make identification of your dog easier and will have a higher possibility of being returned to you.

2. Check for dog license in your area. If your community requires a dog license, you best get Fido one too.

3. Have your pet visit the veterinarian for his physical check-up. Dog care is making sure your pet is in good health. If there are any concerns, the dog can be treated immediately.

4. Dog care requires tough love. Have your pet vaccinated.

5. Proving dog care requires a good shelter. You can build him a doghouse for when he goes outside to play and a doggie bed when he’s inside the house. Dogs are very clingy creatures and crave for companionship so they may spend more time inside the house.

6. Food in dog care is essential. A balanced diet with vitamin supplements and readily available water is essential to any dog regime. Ask your vet about the proper foods.

7. Dog hygiene is an essential part of dog care. The eyes, ears and teeth of your pet must be cleaned. At the first sign of abnormalities like soreness or discoloration, go to your veterinarian.

8. Train your dogs. Dog care is not only physical. As the owner, you are responsible for your dog mentally too. Dogs need a stimulating activity to develop their skills and keep disciplined.

9. Play with your pets. Dog care requires exercise for the pooch. Run with him, play ball or just spend your time with him.

10. Have your dog neutered. Dog care experts say that those animals that get surgery tend to have less behavioral problems and live longer. And by getting your dog neutered, you can help reduce pet overpopulation.

Dog care can be very demanding but its beneficial for the owner and pet. A healthy well-being will make their time together as great as possible. Just like taking care of a child, following your dog care routine will prevent any problems in the future.

More and more businesses are realizing the increasing industry of dog care. Go to your favorite store and you’ll see a variety of dog care products available to dog owners. The latest craze to hit this industry is institutions that cater to dogs. These are hotels or restaurants that offers dog care service from their own doggie menu, to a daycare for dogs and even a doggie spa.

Whether you choose a professional dog care institution to take care of your baby or just skip the extravagance and train poochie yourself, remember that your dog is another living creature that needs your love, time and attention. It may seem so tiring but it’s worth it in the end.

Persons own the pet rabbits mainly because they are docile in nature. Unlike species like dogs or cats, the biting tendency of pet rabbits is almost absent and hence, highly wanted one by many persons.

In fact, in species like dog and cats, you cannot predict when they will become so aggressive and it has been documented that persons have been bitten seriously due to so many factors by their pets. But in case of rabbits such incidences are not noticed.

Further, many rabbits are lovely in their appearance. The cost of maintenance also is some what less when compared to the rearing of cats and dogs. It is only vegetarian food items that are often required for rearing of rabbits. Hence, owners may many times choose rabbits as their pet animal species.

Children many times will make pressurizing demands to their parents for owning of rabbits as their pets. Due to these reasons, there are owners who go for rabbits as their pets.

The news groups pertaining to rabbits provide all information about the rearing of rabbits including health care measures required for the rabbits. Such groups are available with googles and yahoo.

Some times, the older person in the house may be willing to go for rabbits because they may not be able to control the dog or other pet animals due to their age related weakness.

In such cases, rabbits are owned and taken good care by the concerned persons in addition to the other members of their family.

During the Ester festivals, you may come across many cute bunny rabbits being sold in the roadsides and departmental stores or pet shops.

If the child or any family member seeing such lovely rabbits with curious look, twitching nose regions, soft skin which provides nice feeling to touch, often they can not resist the feeling of getting the animals as pets.

Many persons want to have small sized pets and hence, they go for the smaller breeds of rabbits like Polish, Dutch, Mini Lop, and Holland Lop etc.

Some times, many persons have such breeds as pets since they are the species which prefer cleanliness and can be trained well to the litter box.

Further, it can be noted that the rabbits can be trained in going out with a leash and hence, rabbits are highly preferred by persons who otherwise have hardships if they own a cat like species as their pets.

Stress is everywhere in the workplace these days. What better way to reduce this stress than by bringing your lovable pooch to work with you?

Researchers have discovered that pets provide many health benefits, one of which is lowering of the blood pressure. More and more companies are starting to allow you to bring your dog to work with you - but for this to be a success for you, the dog, and the company, here are a few tips to help pooch settle in:

• Only bring dogs that are properly socialized and well-behaved. Your pooch must be able to get along with other people and pets, and must not bark, fight, or otherwise misbehave. You are still at a place of business; your pet must not disrupt the work of your coworkers or clients.If you find your dog misbehaving, you can try providing him with more exercise. Tired dogs are good dogs! Take him out for a long walk before work so that he’ll be calm when you get in. At lunch, play a game of fetch or take him for a jog. If you can’t do provide him with enough exercise, think of hiring someone else to do it for you.

  Oh - and be sure to take him out regularly for bathroom breaks. You can’t blame a dog for misbehaving when he’s really got to go!

• Bring doggie essentials. Be sure he has a food and water bowl, some toys (no noisy ones!), a blanket or bed, a brush or comb, and some treats. You’ll also want to bring a clean-up kit just in case poochie has an accident.
• Keep your dog confined to your space. Hard though it may be to believe, some people are not fond of dogs. Others may have allergies. Regardless of the reason, you should have a way of keeping your pooch beside you.Some examples are: tying his leash to your desk; erecting a pet gate; using a kennel; or simply shutting your office door.

There are thousands upon thousands of people who would love to have their pets beside them at work. If you’re one of the lucky ones with this opportunity, take some time to help your pooch adjust. You’ll be able to enjoy each other’s companionship throughout the day - and your dog can bask in the attention of your pet-loving coworkers and his new doggie-friends!

Will your dog be killed by its food?

Did you know that the wrong diet can cause your dog to die prematurely? The fact is, commercial dog foods that are high in preservatives can cause cancer in dogs, as well as liver failure, leukemia and even increased aggressiveness - something that can be a real problem if the dog is around kids.

For a while now I have been dreaming of taking the recently re-introduced high-speed ferry service from Toronto to Rochester. The ferry service briefly ran last year, introduced by a group of private investors, but stopped running after a few weeks due to financial difficulties. It was reintroduced this year after the City of Rochester purchased the ferry at an auction and contracted an experienced ferry service based out of Nova Scotia to run it.

North America’s newest CAT fast ferry is an amazing vessel. Built in Australia in 2003, it made its way around the globe to its new home on Lake Ontario in 2005. It’s as long as a football field and can also reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers or 52 miles an hour. The CAT can carry up to 774 passengers and 220 cars, and is one of the fastest and largest car ferries in North America.

It’s a sharp-looking ship and its aerodynamic style and 44,000 horsepower engines allow it to make the lake-crossing within only 2.5 hours. I had a look around the ship and when you first come upstairs from the cargo hold area, you arrive in a sleekly designed passenger room that has airline-style seats, some of them with tables in-between so people can comfortably sit down and enjoy food that they may have purchased at one of a number of on-ship bars and bistros.

I took a stroll around the ship and was quite astounded by the amenities: the CAT offers 2 movie theatres, a duty-free shop, a video arcade / children’s game area and a gorgeous Panorama seating area at the front of the ship that allows you to take in the scenery as you approach the harbours.

While it was raining 2 days ago on my trip to Rochester, yesterday was a crisp day with crystal-blue skies and the experience of approaching Toronto’s skyline in the ferry was breathtaking. The Panorama lounge holds comfortable table and airliner-style seating and offers excellent views through its large windows. The only unfortunate thing is that when you ride the ferry with your car, you have to leave about 10 minutes early to get to your vehicle so you don’t get to see the complete docking process.

I really enjoyed the expansiveness of the CAT. You can walk around, sit in different areas, or you can go up to the top level viewing deck and watch the vessel depart the harbour. Since it was such a beautiful day yesterday, I went upstairs to the open-air deck and watched the process as the ferry pulled away from the attractive Rochester Ferry Terminal, a 55,000 sf terminal facility built at the Rochester Harbor with ground level restaurant and retail facilities. Then it slowly proceeded to glide out between the two long stone piers, and picked up speed once out on the open water.

The return price for one passenger is US$ 144.00 including passenger, vehicle transportation and security fees and it shaves substantial time off the drive the Rochester. There is a $15 return vehicle discount in addition to numerous packages and special offers throughout the year. I thought one of the greatest advantages of taking the ferry are the border processing facilities. The inspection procedures on both the American and Canadian side were extremely efficient and friendly and definitely alleviated one of my worst fears of crossing the border since 911: the wait times at the border crossings. If passengers have proper ID and travel documents as required by Canada and US Customs, the check-through procedures are very smooth. On the way back I was actually the second vehicle out of the ship and within less than 5 minutes I was on my way home, well-rested after an exciting , luxurious high-speed adventure across Lake Ontario.

Your cat looks to you to find love and comfort and your cat relies on you to make sure she stays healthy and that you take care of her. Cats are great pets and they bring lot of joy and happiness into our lives and in exchange they want you to take care of them. One must make required changes at home in order to take care of the cat properly like removing small items that may choke or can be dangerous to a cat or any other pet at the home these items include but are not limited to small tinsels or rubber bands. In order to take proper care of your cat you must also try to train your pet cat so that she can take care of her own self too like providing and training a cat to use litter box so that a cat can take care of her waste.

Socialize your cat

One important requirement of proper cat care is to socialize your cat so that she fits into the environment and does not feel like an outsider. In order to socialize and take proper care of your cat you need to familiarize yourself with cat behavior and her needs. A Pet owner must be very familiar with the behavior and needs of his or her pet cat before training her to avoid your cat to engage in unwanted behavior.

Cat food and nutritional care

Another important part of cat care is cat nutritional needs. Cat food and nutrition needs is the most important part of proper cat care and this changes as your cat grows older. It is very important for you to familiarize yourself with the needs of your cat and to provide her all the necessary nutrients and food which is required for the proper growth and health of a cat. One of the best food that you can offer to your cat is milk in addition to special cat food available in the market.

Cat Health Care

Health is also one of the major and most important part of proper cat care as it is essential for a cat owner to take good care of his or her cat. Taking care of cat’s teeth is very important as cats get affected by dental diseases as much as humans do and to prevent such problems one must brush his or her cat’s teeth very often and offer your cat proper food which is nutrients enriched.

Cat Safety

Safety is another important requirement of proper cat care and one must ensure safety for his or her cat. A cat owner should keep the doors and windows locked specially if you are living in high story apartments or multiple story homes. A cat owner must also keep away everything that can be harmful to his or her cat in any way.

Proper grooming and trimming the claws of cats is also very important specially if you have a long hair breed. You can prevent lot of health problems and diseases just by taking proper care of your cat so it is very important for a cat owner to familiarize himself with the behavior of his cat and how to take proper care of a cat. For more detailed information on how to take care of cats health please check detailed articles and your cat breeds behavior and how to take proper care of that cat breed.

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