Pet Information

Yes! Believe it or not you can train your pet cat to do almost anything a cat is physically capable of doing using humane positive reinforcement techniques using a process called Clicker Training.

Clicker Training is a method of training using the scientific principles of Operant Conditioning. Simpler than it sounds, clicker trainers use a plastic box noise maker called a “clicker” to mark the behaviour they want and follow up with a reward, usually a food treat.

By a process known as “shaping”, clicker trainers mould their cat’s behaviour into the behaviour they want.

Clicker Training can also be used to solve common cat problems such as spraying, scratching, clawing, climbing on kitchen benches and difficulties in administering medication. Clicker Training is a no-force method of training which is ideal for sensitive or no-nonsense animals such as cats.

Some of us, when learning to clicker train, decided to try it on our cats first, so we didn’t make any mistakes with our competition dogs. We soon learned that it was impossible to make mistakes that couldn’t be easily fixed using this method, unlike with traditional training methods where little mistakes tended to snowball into bigger ones or crop up when we least expected them. What’s more, our dogs were having more fun, so were our cats, and so were we!

If you have a cat, or a dog, guinea pig, rabbit, goat, ferret, horse or pig, type “clicker training” into any search engine and discover a whole new world of training possibilities!

Animal lovers have been saying it for years, but animals, especially pets, are people too! While this is usually meant as a joke, there are elements of truth in it. Many people consider their pet to be a member of the family, and especially for children, the companionship of a loved pet can be something they’ll remember and cherish for their whole life.

That is why there are some things that you should think about for your pet. Obviously you will want it to be happy, and you should therefore make sure that you are feeding it well, with nutritious and healthy food. This doesn’t mean going overboard and giving your dog steak every day, but there are plenty of good quality pet food brands on the market and if you choose one of these it should keep your pet happy and healthy.

Another thing you may wish to give consideration to is housing and space. Make sure you have enough space for the pet you choose. While this is a matter of personal choice, it is generally not such a great idea to have a large dog in a small apartment. If you don’t have a garden then make sure you take your dog out for a walk every day and let it get the exercise it needs. Physical exercise is very important to an animal’s well being, both mental and physical.

As far as health goes, you may wish to have you pet visit the vet for health check-ups. At least have necessary injections provided and other treatments that are recommended for the animal you have. This not only benefits the pet’s health but yours and your families also if they are in close contact with the animal. While vet costs can be very expensive, it is now possible to get pet insurance that will cover all the costs that may be incurred by vets. This is very important for your pet as many trips to the vet may not seem vital, but in fact are very important to an animal’s health and if you have insurance to cover the costs, you are far less likely to put the visit off and instead you will go and give your pet the treatment it needs.

Pet insurance is growing rapidly in popularity as people who genuinely care about their animal, but are not in a position to meet the potentially very high costs of treatment realise that they can provide everything their pet needs at an affordable monthly price.

The Pyrenean Mountain Dog, or Great Pyrenees in the United States, is an extremely old flock guardian breed dating back to the Bronze Age. Favored by the French nobility, the Great Pyrenees, served as the royal French court’s official dog. Full grown, this is a massive and muscular animal with bushy white fur, course fur that enables the Great Pyrenees to blend in extremely well with the flock and to live outside all year even in very harsh environments.

The adult Great Pyrenees looks rather like a brown bear with white fur and is famous for their ability to keep a bear at bay while the shepherd evacuates the flock. The Great Pyrenees makes a wonderful addition to a family providing fierce devotion and loyalty. While wary of strangers, they are amazingly gentle with children and other animals and do will warm up to friendly people, women in particular.

As a serious working dog they have a independent, even stubborn streak, especially with an owner who fails to establish their dominance. The breed is also notorious for roaming and owners should ensure their yard is securely fenced in. Bad habits must be nipped in the bud as the ‘puppy’ will be approaching 100 pounds within 8 months. While not on guard against some potential danger, the breed’s demeanor is extremely calm, affectionate and patient but once its protective instincts are triggered the breed is absolutely fearless of any predators, this dog is a match for not only coyotes and foxes, but larger animals like cougars, bears and mountain lions. Obviously, it is a very effective deterrent against burglars as well.

The puppy is new and oh so cute. You cuddle with it every day and love to chase it around the yard or play tug of war with the stuffed animal that, in a year will probably be missing most of its limbs. However, all is not fun and games in the house with the new puppy. Now comes the hard part, house training the dog.

As the new puppy does one of two things to relieve him/herself in the middle of your new white carpet you find yourself wondering why it is so difficult for the dog to understand that you do not go in the house. You think to yourself why would anyone, animals included, go to the bathroom where they live? Would they not want it as far away as possible? You think your puppy must just be thickheaded, anyone with a dog has looked at their animal at this stage and said “you stupid dog”. However, then you remember that for a couple years after you were born you not only went to the bathroom where you live but actually in your pants and you feel slightly bad for being so frustrated with your dog’s seeming lack of intelligence.

House training a dog is without a doubt a frustrating process. You wish you could just throw them outside and they would figure it out themselves. Unfortunately it is not this easy; it requires a bit more patience and perseverance. So you do a couple things as you look at the seemingly hopeless situation that has the potential to turn very expensive if you are again forced to replace your carpet. First of all you remember that you knew house training a dog was not easy or fun, second you remember that you are the idiot that bought new carpet two months before you decided to get a dog. Now you suck it up and you go to the book store to get the newest book on house training a dog and hope that it has some enlightening information that will save you both time and money-discounting the $30 you just spent on the book of course.

Dogs have long been regarded as man’s best friend. As such, a dog’s health should be treated with care to ensure that your dog will live a long and happy life.

Only in the recent decades did it become fashionable for dogs to live inside the house of its owners. Dog owners often look at their dog with such care and concern, similar to the way they look at the child. Similar to pampered kids, dogs that are well loved by their owners are provided with the best possible shelter, food, training, medical care, and special treats to ensure general health and well being.

There are some important points to consider regarding dog health. Affection refers to the strong bond between humans and dogs. Treatment and prevention of allergies among dogs is serious business for dog owners. It is important to note that human shampoos are not good for dogs. Natural and non-toxic flea repellants are available for your four-legged friend. Note also that all dogs need fun grooming. So go ahead and make it fun for you and your dog.

It is also important to pick a toy that is safe for your dog. Also, take note of the ingredients that can be poisonous to dogs such as grapes, raisins, and onions. You should also be able to distinguish the facts from the myths on spaying or neutering pros and cons. Know also the symptoms if your dog has worms.

The use of dog crates is also an important consideration. It is used for disciplining the dog and making him safe and trustworthy. Used inappropriately, it can cause your dog stress and will hamper his training progress. Used correctly, crates can be very good tools for disciplining and house training dogs. Improper use of crates will make your dog unhappy, instilling fear and torture in your canine friend.

Keep these tips in mind for you and your dog’s peaceful coexistence.

The main problem with dog food is the dearth of digestive enzymes, beneficial and delicate vitamins that are so very important for the balanced growth of your dog. Though major dog food producers make every effort to provide a balanced diet of proper nutrients in digestible form, they fail on many counts.

One of the main reasons why manufactured dog food fails to be up to mark is the heating process that includes its manufacture. Commercial dog foods are heat processed during their manufacture which in process destroys the beneficial bacteria and digestive enzymes your dog needs. The extreme heat is also the reason for destroying a host of other delicate and useful nutrients. Even the finest, most dietary dog food on the market fails to provide all the essential vitamins and nutrients dogs need to flourish healthily.

The gap between what your dog needs and what commercial dog food provides leads to deficiencies which are the cause of issues with your dog’s digestive tract and immune system. Over time, these deficiencies show up as symptoms such as hot spots, infections, itchy skin, etc. and lead to:

• Weight loss

• Gas problems

• Joint pain

• Ear problems

• Allergies

• Stool eating

• Shedding

• Itching

• Scratching

• Skin problems

• Bad dog odor

• Bad dog breath

Now the question that arises is “Why does it happen?” The answer is simple. They all are starting with the same deficiency as the dog food lacks digestive enzymes, delicate nutrients or live bacterial cultures. This is what sets the stage for dog food supplement. The dog food supplements are full of vital dog vitamins and nutrients that keeps the dog healthy and away from all other dog health problems.

Being a responsible and concerned dog owner, you should be giving your dog a food supplement that has just the right mix of live good bacteria, digestive enzymes, delicate nutrients and vitamins that are necessary for its internal balance for keeping it healthy.

The best dog food supplement contains good and balanced amounts of bacteria, digestive enzymes, delicate nutrients and vitamins. Digestive enzymes are complex proteins formed in plant or animal cells involved in digestion that stimulate chemical changes in other substances working as organic catalysts to alter or speed up the assimilation of specific nutrients. The catalytic effect of these enzymes is very nutrient specific. Some of the enzymes work on specific starches, some on specific proteins and some on others fats. Without these digestive enzymes acting as catalysts, nutrients just pass right on through, unutilized.

The dog food supplements are a rich source of nutrients in a form that your dog can use to grow, be energetic and be capable of repairing its own body. Nutrients are chemicals ingested by living organisms that are necessary for basic survival. The basic nutrients that are required for cellular survival are protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. Extreme heat is the main cause of destruction of healthy and essential nutrients in commercial dog food.

Dog food supplements also contain bacteria that are essential to keep your dog healthy. These bacteria keep the other harmful bacteria and yeast in check, thereby aiding digestion, boosting the immune system, and increasing resistance to infection. These bacteria function is several ways. They produce organic compounds that change the pH balance which acts as a deterrent for the survival of harmful, disease causing bacteria and yeast. They also produce compounds that act as natural antibiotics.

Most of today’s commercial dog food disturbs the internal balance of your dog’s body. The solution is to use the right dog food supplement that helps in improving and maintaining your dog’s good health so as to restore his internal balance. When these supplements are added to your dog’s diet; digestive enzymes, bacteria and delicate nutrients work to restore the balance that are missing in your dog’s food.

If a natural dog food supplement meets your dog’s nutritional needs, your emotional needs, and your budget, then as a caring and responsible owner, you should buy it. It’s a small price you would pay for a healthy and energetic dog.

Living in Portland, Oregon in the beautiful Northwest has its advantages. There are many artists of all genres living and working in this inspiring part of the country.

When looking for an artist to render a likeness of your pet, you may want to consider the following tips:

1. Build a rapport with the artist of your choice by meeting them in person or via e-mail. Be sure they have a real love and devotion to animals, as this will come across in their artwork.

2. The artist will most likely ask for a deposit of half the cost of the painting up front, and the remainder due upon completion. Ask that a scan or photo be sent to you for approval and to make any needed changes before the painting is shipped to you, or that you’re able to pick it up at the artist’s home. This will assure you that the painting is to your liking before you receive it. The cost is usually based on the size of the canvas requested and the complexity. Most artists have many sizes and styles to choose from. They may provide a simple background for a painting, a head shot only, or two or more animals in the same painting, and a more complex background.

3. There are many types of media that an artist may use, including acrylic, oils, pastel (both chalk and oil pastel), watercolor and colored pencil. Paintings done with acrylic and oil may not need framing. Artwork done in pastel, watercolor and colored pencil usually do need to be framed under glass, so be sure to consider this additional cost when commissioning a painting. Some artists recommend which frames will look best, while others leave the framing to the client.

4. A photograph will need to be provided for the artist to work from. He or she may request additional photographs to be sure to capture a likeness of your pet. If you live in the same area as the artist, they may offer to photograph the animal for you. Photos can be provided to the artist either by regular U.S. Postal service, or via e-mail. The artist can give you tips on the best way to photograph your animal for his or her painting.

5. Be sure to discuss the time frame involved for your receipt of the painting. Some artists have a backlog. If you have a deadline for your painting because of an anniversary, birthday or holiday, be sure to let the artist know. Sometimes they may be able to accommodate your deadline. Remember that they can always give you a gift certificate if the painting will need to be completed a few days after the time you would like to receive it. Once you have decided on which artist you are going to work with, it’s been my experience that the short wait to complete your portrait is definitely worth it!

6. After your painting is completed, ask if the artist also provides greeting cards of the portrait image, or other services that you may want.

7. The copyright for the finished work belongs to the artist, but you can discuss with them any special needs you may have. You may want to use the painting for your business cards or company logo.

French bulldogs trace their origin back to England. Most of the French dogs today are descendents of English bulldogs

The French warmed up to the strange-looking creature and began rearing the dog within their country. Over the years, the French bulldog acquired its own characteristics, and it now looks different from its English ancestors. The French bulldog has front facing, rounded bat ears and a very lively expression. It is a stocky creature and weighs around 28 pounds. French bulldogs normally have a medium sized muscular body and bright expressive eyes.

French bulldogs have unique, upright “”bat”" ears. They are genial dogs, with a happy look about them. In fact, it does appear that they constantly have a smile on their faces. With short and stout legs, short tails and ears, they come in a variety of colors — the most common being a mix of black and brown. As is common with their breed, they do not require much grooming. Their coat is short, dense and smooth – they may be said to be maintenance free.

French bulldogs are good watchdogs, and they are a friendly breed. They make friends quite easily and are happy to wag their short tails at strangers. They have an out-going personality and are generally warm and affectionate. They adapt easily to a new environment and like to receive attention from their owners.

French bulldogs are difficult to breed. As a result, there are not too many of them around. The litter of a French bulldog at the most bears three pups. They mature slowly and their life span ranges 12 and 14 years. As with their English counterparts, French bulldogs are sensitive to heat. They are not the sort of a dog that can be left alone in a car for they may get overheated. They are extremely intelligent and often end up as permanent fixture in the life of their owners.

The basis of training any shih tzu is winning its trust, confidence and respect. True training cannot begin until the shih tzu has accepted you as its leader, respects you and entrusted you with his or her confidence.

The mistake many shih tzu puppy owners make is mistaking love and affection for respect and confidence. While it is certainly important to love your new shih tzu puppy, it is also very important that the shih tzu puppy respect you and see you as his leader. Dogs are naturally pack animals, and every dog looks to the lead dog for advice and direction. Making yourself the pack leader is vital to the success of training any dog.

Failure to gain the respect of the shih tzu can create a shih tzu who is disobedient, out of control and even dangerous. Problem shih tzu are dangerous, whether they are created through bad breeding, owner ignorance or improper training. It is important to train the shih tzu right from the start, since retraining a problem shih tzu is much more difficult than training a shih tzu puppy right the first time.

It is important for any new shih tzu owner, whether working with a 12 week old shih tzu puppy or a twelve year old shih tzu dog, to immediately get the respect of the animal. That does not mean using rough or dangerous handling methods, but it does mean letting the dog know that you are in control of the situation. Shih Tzu need structure in their lives, and they will not resent the owner taking control. As a matter of fact, the shih tzu will appreciate your taking the role of trainer and coach as you begin your training session.

When working with the shih tzu, it is important to keep the training sessions short at first. This is particularly important when working with a young shih tzu puppy, since shih tzu puppies tend to have much shorter attention spans than older shih tzu dogs. Keeping the training sessions short, and fun, is essential for proper training.

Beginning training sessions should focus on the most basic commands. The heel command is one of the most basic, and one of the easiest to teach. Start by putting the shih tzu dog or shih tzu puppy in a properly fitted training collar. Be sure to follow the instructions for fitting and sizing the color to ensure that it works as intended.

Begin to walk and allow your shih tzu to walk beside you. If the shih tzu begins to pull, gently pull on the leash. This in turn will tighten the training collar and correct the dog. If the gentle pressure is ineffective, it may be necessary to slowly increase the pressure. Always be careful to not over-correct the shih tzu. Using too much pressure could frighten the shih tzu and cause it to strain more. If the opposite problem occurs and the shih tzu lags behind, the owner should gently encourage it until it is walking beside the owner.

Most shih tzu figure out the heeling concept fairly rapidly, and quickly figure out that they should walk beside their owners, neither lagging behind nor pulling ahead. Once the shih tzu has mastered heeling at a moderate pace, the owner should slow his or her pace and allow the shih tzu to adjust along with it. The owner should also speed up the pace and allow the shih tzu to speed up as well. Finally, walking along and changing pace often will reinforce the lesson that the shih tzu should always walk at the heel of the handler.

From heeling, the next step should be to halt on command. This halt command works well as an adjunct to heel. As you are walking, stop and watch you shih tzu. Many shih tzu immediately realize that they are expected to stop when their handler does. Others may need the reminder of the leash and the training collar.

After the halt on command has been mastered, the handler should encourage the shih tzu to sit on command as well. Once the shih tzu has stopped, the handler gently pushes on the shih tzu’s hindquarters to encourage the sit. Usually, after this walk, halt, sit procedure has been done a few times, the shih tzu will begin to sit on his own each time he stops. Of course, it is important to provide great praise, and perhaps even a treat, every time the shih tzu does as he is expected.

Las Vegas animal boarding info is probably the last thing people think of when thinking of Vegas, and while the city is known for the unusual and offbeat, but it is also reputed to be the fastest-growing city in America with many families and businesses relocating to this city in the desert. While Bugsy Segal’s dream was to establish a legal gambling center with entertainment for all, it has also become very family oriented with a vibrant center of culture and an attractive site for businesses to drop anchor.

Vegas will always may be a Mecca for gamblers, but it is now a city that is middle-class and bourgeois, and with the middle-class you get middle-class lifestyles of which pets are a part. Believe it or not, dog sitting and cat services are among the most popular web searches regarding Las Vegas. To that end, this article was written in order to point you in the right direction when procuring your Las Vegas dog sitting or cat services.

More Las Vegas Animal Boarding Info

Animal boarding services are in high demand with over 120 Las Vegas dog watching services available in the greater Vegas metropolitan area alone. (Las Vegas cat services are also available as well for your feline friend.) However, finding a good, trustworthy Las Vegas animal boarding service for Fido or your ferocious feline is not that easy. To that end, I’ve compiled a list of some of the better Las Vegas dog sitting or Las Vegas animal boarding full-service organizations that can help you with your beloved pet. They are:

1. Sunset Eastern Animal Hospital, 6521 S Eastern Ave - Las Vegas, NV 89119; (702) 361-2566
2. Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital, 1550 S Rainbow Blvd - Las Vegas, NV 89146; (702) 259-9200
3. Animal Inn Kennels, 3460 W Oquendo Rd - Las Vegas, NV 89118; (702) 736-0036
4. Tropicana Animal Hospital, (702) 736-4944 2385 E Tropicana Ave - Las Vegas, NV 89119;
5. Courtyard Animal Hospital, 3250 N Decatur Blvd - Las Vegas, NV 89130; (702) 648-0662
6. Chapparal Animal Spa, 2105 E Alexander Rd - Las Vegas, NV 89101; (702) 649-6383
7. Hot Dog Heaven 87 E Lake Mead Pkwy Henderson, NV 89015-5531.

4 Tips on What to Look for When Searching for a Las Vegas Animal Boarding Service

I’d suggest the following when looking for a good Las Vegas dog watching or cat-caring service.

#1). Look for a full-service Las Vegas animal boarding service. I already mentioned this but it is important as the more services at the shop will save you money. And of course, if you just want your basic Las Vegas dog sitting or cat services, you can opt for just that. If you just want your family pet boarded while you take your vacation, you can do that too. Dog or cat sitting, animal spa, vet, and animal boarding services should be the core services offered by a good Las Vegas animal boarding service or a Las Vegas dog sitting service. (A Las Vegas dog sitting service is bit of a misnomer as they also provide cat services as well.)

#2). Look for Las Vegas animal boarding services that also have a veterinarian on staff.

#3). Look for services that have high-quality, nutritionally-complementary food. As with humans, you are what you eat. If a dog or cat is fed nutritionally-sound food, it will make their stay more comfortable provided they are being temporarily boarded. #4). Make sure the staff is trained to work with animals. Most Las Vegas animal boarding services tend to hire anyone. Those trained with animals will ensure your pet gets the attention and care he/she deserves.

These basic tips included herein on Las Vegas animal boarding or Las Vegas dog watching services will point you in the right direction in the care and keeping of your beloved family pet.