Saucy Pet

Archive for May, 2009

Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States today, primarily because their friendly disposition makes them an excellent choice as a family pet. This dog was originally bred in Newfoundland, Canada, and was used by fisherman to jump into icy waters and pull up nets. These dogs turned up in England in the 1800’s, and this is where the retrieving instincts of the breed were sharpened. Today, in addition to being a popular family dog, the Labrador retriever is used as a service dog for the disabled and as a drug detector for law enforcement organizations. If you are considering this type of dog for your next family pet, there are a few basics that you need to know about Labrador puppy training.

The Temperament of the Labrador Retriever

This breed of dog is extremely social and energetic, so a big part of your Labrador puppy care will be to provide your dog with plenty of room for running and lots of playtime with you. A large fenced yard is the best place for this type of pup to play, and you will want to have a few toys on hand that you can use to play fetch with your pup. Another important part of Labrador dog traing is to take him on many walks, but never allow your dog out of his confined space without a leash. Because Labrador retrievers have so much energy, the more exercise you offer to your pup, the easier it will be to train him.

Labrador retrievers are intelligent animals, so training needs to begin as soon as your puppy comes home. An obedience class is a good idea as part of your Labrador puppy care as well, and should be done as early as possible for best results. House breaking your puppy is one of the first types of training that you will do, and will require plenty of consistency and patience on your part for the best results. For more specific information about house breaking as a part of your Labrador puppy care, you can contact your breeder, veterinarian or consult sites on the Internet.

Socializing your Labrador Retriever

Labs are social and friendly creatures by nature, so most do very well in families with children and even other pets. Keep in mind that while this dog may bark if a stranger approaches, it may not make a particularly effective guard dog. Because of their social nature, these dogs can become bored and destructive when left to their own devices too often. If you are considering a Labrador retriever as a family pet, it is important for you to be prepared to spend plenty of time with your new pet as a part of your Labrador puppy care. This will ensure that you and your pup will start out a relationship on the right foot – or paw, as the case may be.

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To have good quality dog care products need not be an expensive exercise. You can create homemade dog treatments that are as good as the store bought ones. One of these things are homemade dog shampoos, conditions and treatments. Here are some suggestions that you can create for your dog.

Homemade Shampoos For Normal And Sensitive Skins

This shampoo is simple, clean, easy to make and inexpensive. You can store it in an old shampoo bottle and just shake thoroughly before shampooing your dog.

You only need four things and about three minutes.

INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup glycerin
1 cup all natural dish soap
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 quart water

Mix ingredients into a large bottle, shake, and use as needed.

Use the shampoo the same way you would any dog shampoo. Be careful not to get it into your dog’s eyes or ears. Start with a small amount because it lathers well and work the suds deep into the coat. Rinse well and dry.

Homemade conditioners

To treat dry or damaged coat, whisk the yolk of an egg vigorously and add a little bit of water until it becomes creamy.  Mix the white of the egg. Wet dog’s coat with warm water and remove excess water. Add the lotion to the fur gently until the froth reaches the skin. Rinse the mixture throughly way with water.

Tick and Flea Removal

Here is a tick and flea eliminator that works well on dogs. Some people are concerned about the garlic content in this recipe but garlic in small doses is safe for your dog
Ingredients:

1 heaping T. brewer’s yeast ,

1 level tsp. garlic powder, (or 3 or 4 garlic capsules)

Instructions:

These ingredients are inexpensive when bought in bulk, and besides being an effective flea and tick repellent, they provide vitamins and nutrients and promote a glossy coat. This combination emits an odor through the pet's skin that pests find very offensive. The ingredients also make the animal’s blood taste bad, which discourages ear mites, ticks and other biting pests.

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Using the right kinds of dog care products take care of your dog’s fur can be very helpful for you and your pet. Grooming your dog does not need to be an expensive exercise as you can make the products yourself which are safe for your dogs skin and will produce a nice smelling healthy coat.

Of all of the types of dogs, Pit Bulls have gotten a bad rap when it comes to their temperament, and what kinds of dogs they become as they get older. This means that for those that are looking for pit bull puppy care, the most important thing for them to worry about should be socialization and puppy training. Yes, it is important to take care of your puppy properly, including feeding the correct food and doing the correct things for dog training, but with pit bull puppy care socialization is going to be the most important thing you can do.

How To Do It?

There are many mistakes that people make with pit bull puppy care. First of all, some people buy a pit bull because they are rumored to be mean and to be a fighting dog, and this is what the people want. When this happens, the owners tend to get into pit bull puppy care in the way that they would want their pit bull to behave. This means that they will play roughly with their pit bull puppy, and try to make him into something he is not. Playing rough and hitting or teasing a pit bull, or any dog, will make it mean and aggressive as it ages.

This means that the most important parts of pit bull puppy care are loving it and giving it socialization. A dog, any breed of dog, will end up being exactly the dog you treat it as when it is a puppy. If you act like you are fearful of the dog and want the dog to act aggressively towards you, even in jest, and this is your type of pit bull puppy care, you will find that your puppy grows up to be exactly what you treated him as.

Therefore, when you are looking at pit bull puppy care you need to socialize your puppy very much. You need to take him places and have him exposed to many different sounds and loud noises, as well as people. You need to expose him to children and other animals and make sure that he is able to handle the stress of meeting new animals without getting aggressive.

Remember your dog will be as you want him to be. This means that pit bull puppy care should include teaching him how to be kind and loving and gentle, and should not include teaching him how to be mean and aggressive.

The benefits of crate training make for a happier and healthier household. When a dog understands his boundaries, he can be more affection and loving towards the family he is part of. The owner will also benefit with loving obedient dog.

A Crate Makes Housebreaking Easier

Housebreaking your dog becomes considerably easier when crate training because no dog likes to soil where they sleep (dog cages). Confinement to a dog cage helps the dog gain better bladder control by associating going outside with the act of relieving themselves.

Generally, dogs are den animals that like their place to be quiet and clean.  It is good to keep in mind that puppies need to go frequently, so limit their time in the crate.

A Crate Stops Destructive Behaviors

It is natural for your dog to enjoy chewing.  They need to be taught what are acceptable things to chew on and prevent them from chewing on the wrong things, like chair legs, shoes, socks, etc. Consequently, your job is not to stop your dog from chewing, but provide the right things to chew on in the right place. By providing safe chew toys to your dog in his crate, you accomplish two things: you make the crate a wonderful place to be in and you teach him what are the acceptable chew toys in the house.

Dog Crates Protects Your Dog from Household Hazards

Typically, a house contains many potentially dangerous objects for your dog.  You can be asking for trouble when you let your dog roam the house unsupervised.  Your dog may be tempted to chew on lethal objects like electrical wires or poisonous foods or plants.

Crate training your dog will bring you peace of mind since your dog will be out of danger when you’re not around to supervise him.

A Crate Makes Car Rides Safer

A crate-trained dog will rest in his crate during a car drive and make the trip for you and him safer and more peaceful. Containment will eliminate some possible distractions if you have a very active dog.

Crates provides you dog security when he desires to rest or be alone.

Dogs are, by nature, den animals and feel secure in small, enclosed spaces. Most dogs will seek out a place in your home that will mimic a den. You will often find them sleeping under a table or desk. Dog crates make excellent dens and can serve as a refuge, a hangout and a bedroom. By simply crate training your dog, you give him the tools to cope with any potentially stressful situations like going to the vet.

Crate training a dog is not only good for your dog – but also good for you. Do yourself and your dog a favor, buy a dog cage,  and start crate training him today!

Saint Bernard puppy training will take a lot of patience from its new family. Although cute and cuddly with a large tongue and lots of fur, this pup has a very fast growth rate. He will be a bear of a puppy in no time at all. The Saint Bernard’s fast growth is a trait within the Saint Bernard breed. This fast growth rate leads to serious deterioration of the bones if the dog does not get proper food and exercise in his early months and years.

The majority of Saint Bernard dogs are eventually afflicted with hip dysplasia or osteosarcoma. So, it is extremely important in Saint Bernard puppy care, that your puppy get the correct amount of nutrients and the proper exercise.  Other than this one specific trait, the care of Saint Bernard puppies is not that unusual to any other breed of puppy.

The Early Weeks

The early weeks of your Saint Bernard puppy care should be limited to enjoyment of master and dog.  Puppies are like infants and are unable to learn in the early weeks. So have plenty of toys for your puppy and lots of playtime with master. Saint Bernard puppies grow so large that they need a lot of socialization throughout their young lives.  The environment and treatment of the puppy in his early years will have a big impact on his personality and social skills later in life. Without socialization in the early years, these dogs can become quite aggressive. Obviously, families do not need a big aggressive dog as a family pet.

A Big Bundle of Energy

Saint Bernard puppies are great big bundles of energy. They need proper nutrition because of their active lifestyle.  Your Saint Bernard dog training should consist of high quality dog food. This food will help keep your puppy happy and healthy.  Your vet or local pet store can recommend the best food for your Saint Bernard puppy care. Puppies that are 8 to 12 weeks old need to be fed three or four times a day.  Puppies that are 3 to 6 months old need to be fed three times a day, and puppies 6 to 12 months old need to be fed twice a day.

After getting on a proper feeding and exercise schedule, it is probably time to begin training. The best way to train your puppy is in a positive and consistent manner. Housebreaking your puppy is a big part of your Saint Bernard puppy care.

Taking him outside often, and especially after he has eaten, will make it an easier experience on both of you. A firm “go” when outside is a good idea. Keep your puppy within sight as much as possible when indoors, and if you don’t catch him within 30 seconds of ‘going’ indoors, do not bother scolding him.

Eventually, your puppy will catch on and your Saint Bernard puppy care will be successful. Remember to enjoy this ‘little’ puppy time, because your little puppy comes from a large-breed category. In no time, your puppy will become the king of your household.

Getting a new puppy is very exciting. It doesn’t take long, however, to realize that a new puppy takes more patience than you may have thought.  Potty training a puppy, including teaching him to go outside requires a lot of effort on your part. The biggest question new owners ask all the time is how to potty train a puppy.

If you try to potty train your dog to go to potty outside before it is a month old you may be wasting your time.  It’s easier and better to start potty training your puppy around two months of age.  At this point, the best approach is to work out some kind of routine with your puppy.  Haphazard training rarely works.

If you jump up to take out the puppy every few minutes you will soon grow weary and your puppy may not get the point of too frequent visits outside.  Set up a schedule to take your puppy out about once every thirty minutes or so.  It’s also a good idea to take your puppy out before you sit down for a meal.  You don’t want to have to get up and take the puppy out when you are in the middle of eating.

Get a routine going and maintain it and you will have your puppy potty trained in no time.  Trust me; it seems to take forever if you don’t work with your dog on a schedule.  You and your puppy will be more happy with a schedule which you intend to stick with.

Don’t think of a routine as overly ridged or harsh.  Working out a schedule may seem like more work than it actually is.  The point is, however, that in the long run your puppy will learn faster.  Routine and repetition are keys to your puppy’s potty training.

Sometimes you have to try to determine why your puppy doesn’t want to go outside.  This is difficult, but not the worst problem you will face.  There are other issues like puppy whining and barking.  Take one thing at a time.  Don’t give your puppy sensory overload.  Get him accustomed to pottying outside first.  This will be your most pressing task. Keep up and be persistent. In doing so, you will learn how to house break a puppy.

how to build a chicken house

Chicken House Plans

There’s an old saying that goes about people . . . “don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan.” (I believe that was Harvey MacKay). Same holds true for your Chicken House Plans. You want to have plans so that your baby chicks wil grow in a healthy, safe environment. There are a number of reasons that families want to raise chickens, as many as there are people. For our family, we received a “present” of 12 baby chicks for Easter Sunday. My first impression was, “holy cow, where are all these chickens going to sleep???” However, I remembered another great saying “if life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” (I promise, no more quotes). I was not thinking of eating the little chicks, but the thought of low-cost eggs sounded like a great idea to me. I was reveling in the thought about how fun it would be — a family project to build a chicken house, and soon we would be enjoying our own organically fresh eggs. It was a one-time investment that if done correctly, it could pay off for years just in fresh eggs alone. So when you are looking for the best Chicken House Plans, consider these following steps in your plan. The first step is to consider the location or placement of your chicken house. From this point, you will know what your limitations are. On e thing to keep in mind is a simple 4 foot by 8 foot box-type structure. This makes it easy on the materials sides because most plywood and other materials come in 4 x 8 foot sheets. Second, you want to frame out a play area for the chicken house. You can accomplish this with nails or screws at the bottom of the four pieces. (I recommend using screws and an electric screwdriver. This makes it easy to disassemble in case you ever need to move your chicken house; you can simply unscrew the wood and away you go!) When this is finished, you can secure two corner sections, consisting of two parts that make up each corner. When this frame is done, you can enclose the play area with chicken wire. Once the basic chicken house frame is complete, you can begin with the actual house. You would probably want to consider if you are installing some sort of chicken house door, and if so, where the location would be. It’s been our experience that if you put the door closer to the nesting area rather than in the front, it works a little bit better for your other tasks down the road. Attaching the door will depend on what kind of door you prefer. We had a door that opened toward the back of the nesting area that had a long piano hinge across the top, and the door opened by pulling the door up (toward the sky). Our door had a long wooden dowel added to prop in the “up” position so we could easily access inside the chicken house. The next step is generally installing the roof. Plywood (which comes in 4 x 8 foot sheets) is perfect for this, but you can check with your local lumbar supplier to see if your location requires a different type of building material. Once the roof is up you can move forward with the nesting area of your chicken house. Here, the size is going to depend on the number of chickens you want to raise. A basic 4 foot by 8 foot chicken house is probably enough room to raise 10 chickens. For our nesting area, we made two support from 4 foot sections attached on both sides of our frame to support the nesting box. With the support in place, you can build a basic nesting box out of plywood to place on this support system. The location of this nesting area is in the back wall (away from the small chicken entrance) where our upward opening door is location for easy access to the fresh eggs. In the front of your chicken house you want to cut an opening, much like the size of a small pet door, so that the chickens can access the chicken house play area. When completed, you want to make sure you sand smooth all the edges and corners for the safety of your chickens. You also want to double check that no sharp edges of the chicken wire protrude and are either removed or bent in such a way that they will not harm the chickens. Ventilation and lighting are critical to your chicken’s health and welfare. You may want to have open sides that can be closed with hinged doors made of plywood. That way you can open the doors in the daytime hours for light and ventilation, and they can be closed in the evening or when you need to protect the chickens from bad weather. For your chicken coop floor, you have a few options. Most folks use sawdust, but some farms and others have access to hay or use straw. Some people even used sand as a bottom for their chicken coop. Check with your local feed store or veterinarian to see what is the best material for the weather conditions in your area. With a solid chicken house, you will provide your chickens with a healthy, safe living arrangment where they can grow and propser. Our family enjoyed watching the chickens grow, and they took pride in the eggs that were collected for our breakfast table. Enjoy your flock of chickens, and make sure you consider these steps in your Chicken House Plans

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Almost everyone will agree Yorkies are some of the most adorable dogs. They are one of the few breeds who are actually cuter as they get older. If you want to adopt one of these bundles of energy there are a few things you need to know about Yorkie puppy training. Bundle of energy is an understatement. These babies seem to have a never ending supply of bubbly, bouncy, energy. For many people, this energy is too much for them to deal with. If you are looking for a docile lap dog, you might want to consider another breed.

Newborn Yorkie dog training is much like care for any other type of puppy. They need attention, food, water, and lots of grooming. Yorkies have beautiful long coats that require daily attention. A thorough brushing is needed every day to prevent matting. Starting the puppy out at a very young age will help the puppy learn to tolerate this activity.

Yorkies are a member of the toy breeds and are subject to bouts with low blood sugar. Because of their high energy level their small bodies sometimes expend more energy than they take in. This can be a serious problem if not given immediate attention. A small amount of sweet water or syrup will usually be all that is needed but if your puppy does not respond you need to make a trip to the vet. This problem usually is not a threat after twelve weeks of age.

Because of their demure stature and high energy level you need to take care that your Yorkie puppy gets enough to drink. Dehydration can happen quickly and needs immediate attention. If your puppy is playing hard he will need to drink water frequently. It is extremely important for you to have a fresh supply of water available at all times.

Yorkie Puppy Care And Training

For some unknown reason Yorkies don’t realize they are little dogs. They often exhibit stubborn behavior especially when you are trying to house train them. They are one of the more difficult breeds to train and they will require a lot of patience on your part. A very young Yorkie is probably not going to learn very fast. Most people have more success when the dog is five to six months old. If you are exercising proper Yorkie puppy training you will not spank your puppy when he has an accident. Instead try scolding him in a rough voice. Most puppies want to please their master and it makes them unhappy when they know they have disappointed you. Since you are dealing with a baby you should not expect too much too soon. It is also important to note that treats should be given when your puppy goes where you want him to. This will help to reinforce his positive behavior.

You need to understand that Yorkie puppy care will sometimes try your patience. The first year of life is usually the most difficult but their temperament will get better as they mature. With patience and understanding you will find that the Yorkie is one of the most lovable dogs you can own.

There are few things quite as cute and lovable as a newborn puppy. They make you want to grab them up and just squeeze them but care should be taken with the newborn puppy. They need special care in these early days of their life. Most of the attention they need will be provided by their mother until they are about six weeks old. Your job at this point of newborn dog training is to make sure mom and babies have a healthy environment. You need to make sure they have clean and comfortable bedding everyday since they will be spending all of their time there at first. They need to be placed away from cold drafts and sheltered from the outside elements.

Giving Mom A Hand With Newborn Puppy Training

Most moms know exactly how to take care their young and will devote every hour of every day to that task. In the early days moms will lick their babies to help them with elimination. You can give mom a break some of the time by gently massaging these little ones right after they eat. This helps their little systems develop to the point they no longer have the need for manual stimulation. This is also an important point to remember in the unfortunate case that mom is not around.

Mom will also bathe her pups every day by licking them. This serves to stimulate healthy blood flow as well as keeping the young pups clean. Here again you can give mom a hand by gently rubbing the puppies with a soft, warm, and moist cloth. You should always rub them dry with a soft towel after bathing. Also keep in mind that at this age you should not use soap since this could be dangerous to their delicate systems.

Newborn Puppy Care For The Growing Puppy

As these new babies grow they will soon need less of mom’s attention. They will open their eyes and start moving around. Mom may choose to start weaning them so you will need to step in and provide additional nourishment. Because their teeth are so delicate at this age they will need something they can easily chew. Starting them out on moist food is probably the best option. As they mature and develop you can start mixing dry food in with the moist food to help them develop strong and healthy teeth.

When these little fur balls begin to eat more food they will also have increased elimination. They usually do not like to eliminate in the same place where they sleep and eat. Providing them an area where they can go will not only help teach them potty training, it will also help to keep their environment healthy.

Newborn puppy care can be time-consuming and in the early days might disrupt your normal schedule. You need to keep in mind that this only lasts a few weeks and the rewards are numerous. When you are happily watching these new babies romp and play you will feel a sense of satisfaction that you helped them reach this point.

ear video

The most common ear problem in dogs is inflammation of the outer ear, technically termed otitis externa. The area between the outside opening and the eardrum can be irritated by infections, parasites, allergies and foreign objects.

Symptoms of Ear Problems
Signs of irritation include scratching, shaking the head, and reacting painfully when the ears are touched. You may also see a discharge. Ear hematomas, (a rupturing of the blood vessels in the ear flap causing the ear flap to swell) are common if irritation goes untreated. Depending on what caused the ear problem, one or both of the ears may be affected.

How Ear Problems are Diagnosed
Your veterinarian will use an otoscope to view the ear canals. She will also take a sample of ear discharge and examine it microscopically to check for signs of infection or ear mites. If infection is present, the sample may be sent to a lab for culture. Culturing the ear can give the veterinarian information about the kinds of bacteria and what type of antibiotics will best treat the ear.  During the examination, the veterinarian may also see foreign objects such as fox-tails or ticks in the ear canal. If your dogs ears are very painful, sedation or anesthesia may be required to fully examine and treat the ears.

Common Causes of Ear Problems
Some pets are prone to ear problems due to anatomy, allergies, or skin conditions. Ventilation of the ears is poor in dogs with floppy ears, resulting in a warm, moist environment perfect for growth of bacteria and yeast. Certain breeds of dogs are also more likely to suffer from skin allergies and disorders like seborrhea. These skin problems affect the ears too, causing chronic inflammation and susceptibility to infection.

The lining of the ear canal, like the rest of the skin, normally contains small amounts of bacteria and yeast. These organisms are harmless unless they multiply out of control. Overgrowth of these organisms causes irritation, inflammation, foul odor and discharge. Long term infections can lead to damage to the ear tissues and may even rupture the ear drum. If the ear drum is ruptured, the infection can gain access to the middle ear, causing serious problems like head tilt, loss of balance, and inability to walk normally. Chronic ear infections may require surgery to remove the diseased ear canal (ear ablation) or to improve air flow to the ear (lateral ear canal resection)

Parasites that can infect the ears include ear mites and ticks. Ear mites are tiny creatures that are just barely visible with the naked eye. You can view the ear video to observe the mites magnified. They are quite contagious between animals. They cause severe itching and produce large amounts of black, waxy discharge. Pets with ear mites scratch their ears incessantly. This can lead to ear or skin infections as well as damage to deeper ear structures. Sometimes ticks will attach themselves inside the ear. They may irritate the ears or obstruct the canal, preventing normal ventilation and interfering with hearing.

The most common foreign bodies in the ears are fox-tails or grass awns. These pointy seeds get caught in pets fur and gradually work their way into the skin, nose, ears, and paws where they can cause major damage. Fox-tails in the ears are very irritating. If they are not removed from the ear canal, they may actually puncture the ear drum.

Treatment for Ear Problems
The first step in treating ear problems in your dog is to thoroughly clean the ears. This may require sedation or anesthesia. Once all the debris is cleaned from the ear, specific medications are then prescribed. Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections, anti-fungals for yeast, anti-inflammatories for irritation and allergies, and insecticides for ear mites. Most of the medications should be applied directly into your dogs ears and are crucial to effectively treat the ear problem. Medication must be given exactly as instructed and continued for the full duration prescribed, even if the pet seems to be fully recovered sooner. If the ears were particularly full of debris, weekly flushing may be needed to get all the debris out of the ear.

The final step is to reduce the causative factors that produced the ear problem. Skin problems and allergies often respond to dietary supplements, antihistamines or anti-inflammatories. Routine ear cleaning with a product recommended by your veterinarian can also help. It is vital that the ears stay clean and the pH of the ear corrected to minimize the return of the yeast or bacteria. Avoid allowing pets in areas that contain fox-tails and check for fox-tails when they return from outdoors. If signs of ear problems recur, seek prompt medical attention before the condition worsens.

For routine cleansing of your pet’s ears, we commonly use T8 Ear Solution.

If your pet has a discharge, pain or itching of his ears, please take your pet to your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Using the improper medication will only prolong your pet’s problem and take longer for the ear to heal.

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