Dog Pub

Most pet dogs brought into families are for companionship for the owner, kids and to protect the family property. Every breed of dog has a different temperament, and characteristic that may or may not suit every family. Dog training in both obedience and behavioral are important in the development of a dog’s healthy lifestyle.

Some owners have become overwhelmed with dog training. From one of the first training methods of toilet training which may go onto house training. Crate training is another aspect if there are issues with toilet training. From there it goes onto chewing and destructive behaviour which leads to dog obedience training which can solve many of these problems through positive training.

Learning how to use a dog leash is essential for keeping your dog under control while out in public places. Using a leash will assist in obedience training and highly recommended by all dog trainers.

Understanding the power of positive training achieves a higher success rate than punishment based training. Punishment can create fear and anxiety in a dog making it harder to train, while positive reinforcement is encouraging particular behavior that has proven to be most effective.

The secret to dog training is being patient and consistent with commands. Dogs are similar to people as they have varying levels of learning capabilities, some dogs are able to gasp commands quickly while other may need a bit more encouragement and repetition.

Positive reinforcement by rewarding good behavior works better than punishment. It’s the most effective tool to use when training a dog as they tend to respond quicker. Aggressive behavior may warrant a firm voice to make known that their behavior is unacceptable. Be aware of the tone of voice used and the frequency it is used as it may have the opposite effect.

Most bad habits are acquired, but easily stopped if not ignored. It’s never too early to start dog obedience training, putting 20 – 30 minutes aside each day will correct these bad habits. Choose an appropriate time during the day where the dog is in calm state and receptive to learn.

Taking a positive approach to dog training will be an enjoyable experience for both, as it works on building the relationship between the dog and owner. Training gets easier over time and before long it will become second nature and will be done automatically. Make training fun, and the benefits will be rewarding.

Lea Mullins talks about positive methods of dog training. Visit TrainPetDog.com to learn more about puppy training, puppy housebreaking and more.

Pregnant dogs go through a certain stage. Surely, there would some signs that would tell you. The first, and the most common sign, would be changes in your pet’s appetite. It is quite natural for a pregnant dog not to touch its food during the first few days of pregnancy. Like humans, dogs undergo morning sickness too. Don’t worry though. Most dogs make up for their lost meals a few weeks into the pregnancy. If after the dog heat period your dog still refuses to eat, there are high chances that it had mated.

Pregnant dogs are lazy too. Lethargy is quite a common thing for some dog breeds when they are pregnant. A dog that is active before but had suddenly lowered its desire to run and play around is likely to be pregnant. This symptom would normally follow the mating period, when the dog continues to be lazy when it should be back to its old self. Pregnant dogs tend to experience exhaustion as a direct result of hormonal changes. These changes are caused by embryo production.

There would be a lot of physical changes in your dog too. Your dog’s nipple will begin to grow. Most of the changes that humans go through during pregnancy can be observed in dogs. Pregnant dogs would have plumper nipples in preparation for milk production.

There would be changes in the dog’s behavior too. Pregnant dogs can be on the extremes - they can either be very affectionate or want to be left alone. It is possible for your dog’s attitude to change for worse. All these are caused by pregnancy so be very patient. This is just a phase that your pet goes through. Try to know and understand what it is that makes your pet feel that way.

A few weeks in the pregnancy, your pet would have a flair for eating. This is when it gains back everything it has lost during the first few days. However, the extra weight will be seen in the abdominal area. Try to feel the belly of your pet. You should feel small bumps in there. This means that the puppies are starting to form. A dog’s abdomen is normally soft. But when it is pregnant, it will be firmer.

The increase in your pet’s abdomen would be more noticeable a little later on. After several weeks, you’d feel movements in the belly. The experience is going to be similar to babies forming and moving inside a mother’s womb. The puppies are moving as they prepare to get out of the womb.

At a certain point, there would be milk discharges in the female dog. A few days prior to the delivery, milk would start to come out of your dog’s nipple. This is a sign that the dog would soon give birth. Your pet would become very restless. It would now pick a spot where it would give birth and stay there often. You should make your dog comfortable by giving it warm blankets or some newspapers. This will help keep the pups warm after coming out.

During pregnancy, the dog would also go through some drops in its temperature too. The body heat of pregnant dogs may reach up to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. This is also the indication that it is going to deliver its puppies real soon.

Companion dog training is really no different than more advanced training in its principles. All types of training should involve structure and boundaries with clearly defined rules but should be done in a consistent and fun manner. The main difference between companion dog training and more advanced types of training is really the depth of the training.

For example, all dogs should know a stay command. A stay for companion dog training may be short, only a minute or two, and not very far away from the handler; whereas, more advanced training might require a stay of more than 10 minutes in duration and be out of sight from the handler. Companion dog training should include commands such as: sit, down, come, wait/stay, loose leash walking, off (of furniture and people), give or drop it, and leave it. These are the foundation for a well rounded program of companion dog training.

All of these skills can easily be taught (and should be) in a positive and motivational manner. When we train our dogs using motivation instead of force or compulsion, we tap into what our dogs most desire. Just like with people, when a dog wants something, it will work hard to figure out how to get it. Motivation allows us to use these desires to train in more reliably the commands we would like for our dogs to know.

There are different kinds of motivation that can be used effectively in both companion dog training and more advanced types of training. Motivation is anything your dog wants: toys, high value food items like hot dogs, cheese, or jerky, attention and petting, playtime outside, a walk, etc. Motivation also can be used effectively to teach dogs about impulse control and patience. When a dog has to wait to receive its dinner or sit before going outside, it learns that it has to control its impulses and limit its frustration to receive what it wants. Teaching a dog patience should be a cornerstone of companion dog training. The best way to begin a companion dog training program is to invest the time and money in a knowledgeable and patient dog training professional. The Association of Pet

Dog Trainers has a large membership of qualified professionals to select from as do many local Kennel Clubs. A dog training school, club, or professional should always care about what is in the best interest of your dog, have the experience and knowledge, and have the communications skills to convey it. They should be flexible with you and allow you to ask questions as well. Companion dog training should be fun and interesting for both you and your dog. Companion dog training is fun and easy when you set boundaries for your dog using the different commands, teach him patience by asking him to do commands to get what he wants, work with motivations that matter to him, and have the knowledge to train gained from working with a professional.

What you should know about parvovirus in your Jack Russell dogs? Canine parvovirus or commonly called CPV is a highly infectious disease affecting our four-legged friends. Every mammal has its own specific parvovirus. Canine parvovirus affects dogs and can not affect cats or other animals.

In the late 1970s, Canine Parvovirus was discovered but was only recognized in 1978. Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers and Pit bull terriers are at higher risk but that doesn’t exempt Jack Russell dogs from developing this disease.

Canine Parvovirus is spread through physical contact among dogs. The feces carry the virus, and once ingested, the virus attacks the gastrointestinal tract of that innocent dog. CPV can also damage the heart muscle of young and even unborn pups.

Symptoms of this disease include lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever and diarrhea usually visible within three to ten days. Prolonged vomiting and diarrhea leads to dehydration so it is important that these two should be treated as soon as possible. Dogs with CPV are also at risk of intussusception. It is a condition wherein part of the intestine has prolapsed to another section of the intestine.

Canine Parvovirus should be treated immediately upon discovery. Worsen case of this disease may need extensive hospitalization especially when dehydration sets in. The presence of CPV can be diagnosed either through hemagglutination or electron microscopy. Your vet will then prescribe medication based on the result of clinical appearances and laboratory tests.

Veterinarians can not prescribe what drug can exactly kill the virus in infected dogs because until now, there is still no known drug for this disease. The treatment usually starts in treating dehydration. Electrolytes and fluid losses should be replaced immediately. Vomiting and diarrhea should be controlled.

Young pups are immune to diseases because of their mom’s milk. This immunity wears off in due time and if that happens, CPV can get in. Without vaccination they are just exposing more of themselves to this infectious disease.

Same with humans, hygiene and proper cleaning is very important. Kennels and areas where infected dogs are kept should be properly cleaned and disinfected. It is also a good idea if infected dogs are separated from other dogs.

Just always remember to be cautious when it comes to your dog’s health. Check the vaccinations, provide the right foods, maintain regular grooming and cleaning and be extra cautious when taking your Jack Russell dogs outside such as parks, obedience classes or dog shows.

Richard Cussons is a writer and a dog expert. He has written articles about different breeds of dogs. Wish to learn more about Jack Russell Terrier training? Visit this site dedicated to Jack Russell dogs.

Many people know someone who has had a pacemaker implanted for a cardiac rhythm disturbance. Like so many treatments, this has now made the switch from human to veterinary medicine and pacemakers are widely available for implantation into dogs that would otherwise be reliant on less effective drugs.

What is a pacemaker?

A pacemaker is an electronic device for use in certain cases of heart disease to assume the functions of the natural cardiac pacemaker. The first pacemaker to be implanted in a human was in 1957, the first dog to have a pacemaker fitted was in 1968. Since then, the implantation technique has developed so that a pacemaker can now be implanted by feeding it up a peripheral vein to the heart, rather than via open chest surgery.

When is a pacemaker required?

Pacemakers are useful in the treatment of a slower than usual heart rate (bradyarrhythmia) that causes symptoms in the patient. These types of rhythm disturbances are poorly responsive to drugs.

The 2 most common types of bradyarrhythmia in dogs are:

1) Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block
2) Sick Sinus Syndrome

Dogs with either of these conditions usually have a history of a slow heart rate, exercise intolerance, lethargy and sometimes collapse (syncope). Some dogs with third-degree atrioventricular block may already have signs of congestive heart failure, such as fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and fluid between the lungs and chest wall (pleural effusion).

What is required for diagnosis?

A complete baseline blood profile, including hematology and biochemistry, should always be conducted to rule out concurrent disease.

Chest xrays often show an enlarged heart, and are useful to rule out primary respiratory disease.

Ultrasound is used to assess the contractility of the heart muscle, the dimensions of the heart chambers and the function of the valves.

The most important of all diagnostic tests is electrocardiography (ecg). This measures the electrical pulses in the heart itself, so is the most useful for studying rhythm disturbances.

How is a pacemaker fitted?

The dog is put under general anesthetic, taking care to maintain circulation and ventilation as best possible during the procedure. Sometimes a temporary pacemaker is placed via a leg vein, from induction of anesthesia until the permanent one is implanted.

The permanent pacemaker is fitted via a lead in the right jugular vein in the dogs neck. The lead is passed all the way down into the right ventricle of the heart. Once in place, the lead is connected to the pulse generator and the heart is paced as necessary. A pulse generator is implanted under the skin on the right side of the neck. Once implanted, the pacemaker can be interrogated to find out information about sensing and pacing thresholds. The heart rate can be set according to the heart disease present.

Is there much postoperative care?

A bandage is placed around the neck for 7 days following surgery. Dogs should be kept calm for the 48hrs following surgery, the anti anxiety drug acepromazine is sometimes prescribed for this purpose. Antibiotics and painkillers are given for a week or so after the implantation.

What about longer term aftercare?

Aftercare of pacemaker dogs is vital. Animals must be kept quiet for 28 days after implantation to allow the lead to become imbedded in the heart wall. If the lead becomes dislodged the pacemaker with fail, with potentially disastrous results.

Regular follow up appointments with the cardiologist are very important. Stitches are removed 10 days after the procedure, with further appointments at 4 week intervals for several months.

Summary

Whilst for many uninsured pets pacemakers might not be affordable, technological advances mean they are becoming cheaper and more widely available. Although implantation is considered a high risk procedure, complications rates are low and the severity of the disease means it is the treatment of choice.

Pacemakers allow many dogs to return to their normal day to day activities, and most of them can enjoy a relatively normal life expectancy.

Dr Matthew Homfray is one of the veterinary pet experts at www.televets.com. Our dedicated community of caring pet experts are waiting to offer you free advice, second opinions and support.