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Why Shouldn’t I Punish My Dog for Accidents in the House?

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pettrainersnow.com - Why Shouldn’t I Punish My Dog for Accidents in the House?

House training a dog can be a frustrating experience, particularly if your dog isn’t making the transition as quickly as you would like. At some point during your house training, your dog is likely to have an accident in the house, and the way you handle it is very important. It is crucial that you do not punish your dog for having an accident in the house for a number of reasons, which are discussed below.

The Details

  • Puppies can’t control their bladders. A puppy can only control his bladder for one hour for every month of age. Thus, a 2-month old puppy can only control his bladder for about two hours.
  • It might not be the dog’s fault. If you left the dog alone for longer than he could control his bladder, you should not punish him for something he could not control.
  • Your dog might not connect the punishment with the behavior. If your dog has an accident in the house, it is likely that you will discover it after the fact. Punishing your dog will not make sense to your dog unless it immediately follows the behavior itself.
  • Your dog could become confused. If you start pushing your dog for having accidents in the house, he may not understand what he is being punished for. He may, therefore, start to become nervous around you.

P.S. Keep these tips handy for your board by pinning this! Thanks!

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  • It could harm your relationship with your dog. If your dog starts to associate having your attention as a bad thing, a precursor to a punishment, he may start to avoid you. This is not a good way to foster a healthy relationship with your dog.Repeated punishment could induce fear. Dogs have a natural desire to please their masters, but if you start to punish your dog repeatedly, he could learn to become afraid or nervous around you.
  • Punishment doesn’t address the core issue. Punishing your dog for having an accident in the house does nothing to dissuade him from doing it again. You need to teach your dog where it is appropriate to do his business, and give him opportunity to do so by taking him outside frequently.
  • Punishment is not an effective training method. Studies have shown that dogs learn more quickly with positive reinforcement than they do with punishment. If you reward your dog for good behavior rather than punishing him for negative behavior, he is more likely to repeat the good behavior.
  • It could be a medical condition. If your dog has already been housetrained but starts having accidents in the house, you may want to take him to the vet to make sure he doesn’t have a medical condition affecting his ability to control his bladder.

Tpuppy-training-tips-1he Bottom Line
When housetraining your dog, you should expect to deal with an accident in the house from time to time. It is important during these times that you do not get mad and punish your dog. Punishment is not an effective training method, and it may do more harm than good.

Do Siberian Huskies Really run away when their not on a dog leash ?

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pettrainersnow.com - Do Siberian Huskies Really run away when their not on a dog leash ?

When i grew up we had a family dog or rather “extra member of the family” that was a Siberian husky female. Of all our family dogs we once had, this husky with light blue eyes called ‘Sasha’ was a truelly remarkable dog. I say was as she sadly passed away recently. Thinking back i remember that we were never allowed to let her off the leash due to being told that she would simply, “get a smell and her ‘wolflike’ instinct would take over and she would run away and get lost”. She would then be disorientated and lost and get even more anxious. Cool, i loved my dog so that’s what we did. Whenever we walked her we never let her off the leash.

The Details

The Bell of the ball – She was a beautifully natured and curious companion, loved attention and admiration from others.Yet she always had a wild streak, and i saw what was meant by ‘her animal instincts taking over’. But is this not all dogs? In this article i explore a bit about Siberian huskies behaviors.

pettrainersnow.com - Do Siberian Huskies Really run away when their not on a dog leash ?

The Siberian husky originated in north-eastern Siberia, and they are well know to howl rather than bark.
After doing some research i found that the breed is known to be independent, and having their own agenda, a tendency to roam and make escape attempts. Some articles even describe them as being “escape artists from backyards”. Huskies are very unpredictable and seem to just have that instinct in their blood to run.

Daily obedience classes has been shown to work but they need consistent training classes and do very well with a positive reinforcement training program.Huskies require a daily excursive routine, their great with children and very active indoors. They need alot of space, companionship and love and cant be bored.

P.S. Keep these tips handy for your board by pinning this! Thanks!

Do-Siberian-Huskies-Always-Run-Away-When-Not-On-Dog-Leash

My recommendation is to that if your brave and have the time – keep up the outside behavior training, but Their just too precious of cargo in my opinion, to risk having them run away on a whim.So  i would personally keep my husky on a leash for my own sanity.

 

Dog Obesity

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Often, when we see underweight and malnourished dogs, we are hit with a feeling of sadness and anger. Of course, it goes without saying, that these feelings are completely valid and it is completely normal to assume abuse and neglect. On the other end of the spectrum, when we look at fat dogs, we don’t feel the same feelings, unless, of course we know that owners who allow their dogs to become obese, are (often without realising), also exposing their dogs to abuse and neglect. We see these plump critters as well fed, much loved and even cute looking dogs. The truth is, dog obesity can be incredibly dangerous and come with numerous health problems.

The Details

  • Causes

Obesity in dogs can be a result of a few factors, however the biggest cause of dog obesity is overeating, and under exercising. It’s difficult to ignore those sweet pup eyes looking at you, hoping for a treat, or a few scraps from dinner. Other causes of dog obesity may include genetics (breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Scottish Terriers and Basset Hounds are more prone to obesity), as well as hyperthyroidism and certain medications. However, the majority of dogs that suffer from obesity become this way due to lifestyle.

  • Dangers

Dog obesity can result in many unpleasant health conditions, some of them even life-threatening. Some of these include incontinence, respiratory problems,a shorter lifespan, heart disease, joint and muscle deterioration, diabetes, constipation, cancer and a generally bad quality of life.

  • Treatment

The first line of treatment would be to take your dog to a veterinarian to be assessed as to just how overweight he is, as well as an all around checkup to see if any damage has been caused by obesity. A vet will establish a healthy BMI and weight for your dog, and provide you with information on both nutrition and exercise regimes to get your dog back to an optimum weight. He will most likely recommend a dog food which is rich in both fiber and protein, and advise a lower intake of calories.

Another vitally important aspect of recovery from obesity is increasing your dog’s physical activity. There are loads of enjoyable activities that you can do with your dog. Going for walks (15 minutes twice a day is a great start), letting him run along the beach, and playing outdoor games such as fetch.

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The Bottom Line

While you may think treats and loads of delicious food is a way of showing your dog how much you love him, you are more likely causing more bad than good. There are many ways to give your dog a happy life, including healthy activities such as playing,giving him fun toys to play with and showering him with loads of love.

 

 

Arthritis in dogs

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scared-dog

It’s a sad reality that one day, our darling little pups will no longer be the balls of fun and energy they once were. Just like people, dogs get old. They lose energy, become tired and frail, and aren’t able to engage in the fun activities they once used to. One of the most (if not THE most) ailments associated old age in dogs, is Arthritis. It can be heartbreaking to watch our beloved four legged friends start to suffer with pain and discomfort when doing even relatively stress free things, such as getting up to get his food. The good news is that with modern science, there are many ways to treat your dog’s Arthritis. While it may not be cured, it will ensure that your precious furry will live out the rest of his days with comfort and dignity.

The Details

Causes

As your dog gets older, cartilage in his joints begin to wear thin. These cells die and cause inflammation of the joints as well as a large release of joint fluid. With the thinning of cartilage, joint spaces become smaller and the bone underneath these spaces begin to deteriorate. With all of these unfortunate triggers, your dog will begin to experience horrible side effects, including muscle atrophy, lameness, pain, and an inability to use limbs properly.

Diagnosis

There is a wide range of medical treatments for dogs with Arthritis,as well as holistic approaches. If you suspect your dog may be suffering from Arthritis, taking him to a Veterinarian would obviously be your first port of call. Your vet will perform a variety of checks physically, such as moving and feeling limbs. The best way to confirm arthritis, however, is by X-Ray.

Medical Treatment

Please Don't Hurt Me

  • NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) have been shown to be highly effective in pain management of dogs with Arthritis.

Dog owners must, however, be very aware of the possible side effects of these drugs, which, although quite rare, may do far more harm than good. Some possible side effects include:

  • Stomach and intestinal problems
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Slowing the blood clotting process

Other methods of treatment include:

  • Acupuncture
  • IV therapeutic laser therapy-a more recent form of arthritis treatment which helps to stimulate blood flow to joint and muscle tissues.
  • Adequan Injections:These injections have been shown to be extremely effective for the treatment of arthritis in dogs. It assists the cartilage in repairing its tissue. The only downside is that quite a few treatments are needed, and the injections are expensive.
  • Tramadol is an analgesic which is a great pain reliever, with very few side effects. Home CareAlong with medicinal care, appropriate care at home is just as beneficial.
  • Use a heating pad (the cold aggravates arthritic symptoms greatly) to ease sore joints.
  • Light exercise is not at all harmful, although it must be kept very light, such as a few slow walks around the yard throughout the day.
  • Make sure your dog has a nice warm and cozy bed to sleep in and that it is easy to get out of.
  • Keep your dog’s nails trimmed, so they are close to the floor.Make sure your floors are soft, carpeting is best, and most importantly, not slippery.

The Bottom Line

It is an unfortunate reality that most of us will outlive our beloved dogs, and see them age, but with the right love, care and medical attention, you can be certain you have given them the best they deserve!

 

 

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