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by Amy Nut
Your adorable little dog has started barking at the back door. Does he need to go out to do his business, or does he want to go bark at a raccoon? How well do you really know your dog? Dogs cannot talk, so this can be difficult. If you take the time to listen and watch, you will find that your dog can communicate, and can communicate clearly. It simply takes a little practice to get to know your dog.
Pay Attention
The first step towards getting to know your dog is paying attention. You will quickly learn your pup's quirks if you take your eyes off of the TV or computer screen long enough to interact with your pet. Unfortunately, many pet owners are quick to buy a dog, even though they do not have the time or attention to spend with their new pet.
Think Like a Pack
You think of your dog as a member of your family. Your dog, on the other hand, thinks of your family as a pack. In a pack, one dog is the dominant dog. You need to be the dominant member of your pack. Here are some ways to do this:
* Never move for your dog, but always have the dog move for you * Eat before your dog eats * Maintain eye contact with your dog * Walk through doors before your dog * Have the dog sleep in his own bed
By following these suggestions, you can establish yourself as the dominant pack member. If you are going to control your dog and have his devotion throughout your relationship, this is essential.
Use Eye Contact
While dogs do use vocalization to communicate via whines and barks, the majority of the communication that goes on between canines is nonverbal, and eye contact is a huge part of this. A dog that will not break eye contact is trying to be the dominant pack member. Always maintain eye contact until your dog breaks it. Also, if your dog refuses to look at you when called, you do not have dominance over your pet.
Recognizing Fear
One of the most important ways you can get to know your dog is recognizing when your dog is afraid. After all, you need to be able to calm your dog's fears before he does something drastic. Remember, a dog that is afraid can lash out at those around him. Here are some signs of fear in dogs:
* Ears lay flat or back against the head * Head held down * Tail between the legs * Tense, trembling body * Loss of bowel or bladder control * Panting, yawning, or drooling
If you notice your dog acting afraid, try to remove him from the situation and assess what may be causing his fear.
Recognizing Happiness
Your goal as a pet owner is to make your pet as comfortable and happy as possible. How can you know that you accomplished this? Sure, your dog may be quiet and obedient, but is she truly happy? Here are some signs that a dog is happy, content, and well adjusted:
* Friendly with most people * Easily handled * Will give up a toy * Wags tail when approached or spoken to * Ears and eyes alert * Wants to play
Of course, some of these signs will diminish as your dog ages, but by that time you will know your dog well enough to know whether or not she is happy. By establishing dominance and then meeting your dog's needs, you can keep your dog happy and content. Soon the two of you will be best friends, provided you take the time to really get to know your dog.
About the Author
Bark Busters is a leading provider of dog training, dog obedience and puppy training to ensure that you have a healthy and happy relationship with your beloved dog!
Cat Furniture - Without It, Your New Kitty Will Destroy Your Home
By Jennifer Akre
You just bought a new kitty and have found out that she likes to run crazy around your house. She jumps on and off furniture, tries to rip apart your pillows any chance that she can get, and she scratches anything and everything. Now, if you want to keep your home from getting destroyed, it's probably a good idea that you invest in some cat furniture for your furry companion.
With cat furniture, you actually get a lot of options that are perfect for making your new kitty feel right at home. First off, you'll want to get her a cat house or kitty condo so she has her own personal space to sleep at night. This furnishing will generally be cylindrical in shape while standing vertical off the ground and it has openings where your cat can go into and sleep at night. It will typically be crafted out of wood and then covered in some type of plush fabric, usually carpeting will be used. If your cat likes to be by the window, a nice spot where she could sleep would be a padded cat perch.
Once you have a spot for your kitty to sleep, then it's on to getting her some place where she can play. A good choice are cat trees, they are designed just like a real tree since they have a center pole with limbs sticking out of it. Again like with the cat house, it will be crafted out of some type of wood with a fabric covering. This selection is great because it gives your furry friend and great place to jump and get rid of her energy.
In addition to cat trees, there are also a number of other cat furniture options that give your kitty a great place to play. Another choice are kitty gyms that are just a deluxe version of a cat tree since it also has perches, more juxtaposing limbs, and even hanging toys and hammocks built right into them. And, if you don't have a lot of space, but need a place for your cat to scratch, then a scratching post would be the way to go. One that is covered in sisal rope is probably the best option as it will nicely stand up to your cat's scratching.
For a great way to check out all the cat furniture options that you could get for your kitty, the thing to do is to avoid the pet store all together and instead jump on your computer for some online shopping. In no time at all will you be able to browse all the stores and what they have to offer, making it easy for you to make an informed decision on what you buy. Not to mention how you can find something at the best prices around and you purchase will even be shipped to you, now that is convenient.
So, if you have a new kitty, cat furniture is something that you just need to buy in order to save your house from being destroyed by your kitty's playful ways.
Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops such as http://www.simplycatsupplies.com/blog that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous area for your kitty by using stylish cat furniture purrfect for your finicky feline.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jennifer_Akre
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Lyme Disease and Dogs: Common Symptoms & Lyme Disease Treatment
by Kelly Marshall
Lyme disease in puppies is a sickness that is newly recognized. This type of dog disease is transmitted by deer ticks. Lyme disease in pets not only infects puppies but could also infect humans. The two seasons for the largest number of exposure to Lyme disease in pets is during spring through fall.
This dog disease appears mostly in the Midwestern and northwestern part of the US. Since 1975, several cases of Lyme disease in pets have been reported in more than 40 states.
White-footed mice and white-tailed deer are the hosts for the deer tick that is the direct cause for transmitting Lyme disease in pets. Since the ticks do not fly or hop, they wait on the ground where plants grow in tall-grassed or wooded areas that are heavily inhabited by mice, deer, and ticks. They wait patiently and eagerly to stick on to anything that brushes up against them.
Deer ticks can strike a dog on any part of the body, although they often attach and bite at his head, ears, neck and even his feet. This is where Lyme disease in a dog begins. A tick's bite barely causes sensation, unlike the painful bites from bees and mosquitoes. Dogs and other animals can be saturated with ticks and not show any distress.
Symptoms of Lyme disease in pets include fever, slowness, and sudden onset of lameness mixed with warmth, pain, and swelling in his joints. Sometimes a round area of inflamed skin around the tick bite may emerge with Lyme disease in pets, even though it may be hard to notice this due to the thickness of a dog's coat.
Call your vet right away when you notice any symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs. Those who recognize the early stages of Lyme disease can prevent your dog from suffering. When Lyme disease in your dog reaches its progressive stages of infection, your dog could suffer from paralysis. If this disease is left untreated, Lyme disease can attack the front and hind limbs. It will then attack the muscles in the chest area and even disable the respiratory muscles. This can cause the dog to suffocate.
If you believe your dog has Lyme disease and that the disease is in its progressive stages of infection, immediately call your vet. Hospitalization is necessary for progressive stages of Lyme disease in a dog.
To learn more, head to Amazon.com and search for books on, "lyme disease and dogs" to see which are the most popular choices. Using the tool in their drop-down menu on their search results page, you can rank their listings accordingly and choose what you like.
Funds short for shopping? No problem. Key in titles you find form Amazon into your local public library search box. Borrow the books and read more at your leisure at home or during break times at the office.
Other places to search are eBay.com - for new and used books, videos, cassettes and more on the topic. And MySimon.com, a price comparison site.
About the Author
Article by Kelly Marshall from Oh My Dog Supplies - where you can find designer dog bowls to match any decor
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