Author: Mary Thompson

In the modern days of bigger is better, having a large family of pets in a small home may sound like it is not only impractical but unwise. If not well managed, the house may be covered in pet hair and can even smell like a barn. When this happens, one is never justified to blame the pets. This is because there are some steps that can be taken so as to ensure the owner together with all of his or her pets peacefully coexist. Below are some of the things that can be done so as to avoid one’s house being smelly:

Investing in a good vacuum

It is obvious that an apartment belonging to a pet is prone to either looking or feeling dirty.

Whether the pets are heavy shedders or not, when they are added, dirt and dust can quickly pile up.

A vacuum is a necessity if one would like to keep allergens at bay and to improve the quality of the air around.

A good vacuum does not have to be very expensive but rather just good.

There are quite a number of vacuum cleaners in the market that are an investment and they work like magic.

Having a puppy or a pet that is prone to accidents, one ought to look into the deep cleaning steam models.

This will not require much scrubbing and this is the reason why so many companies that produce vacuum cleaners make special animal hair versions so as to provide some extra help.

In the case where one does not want to pull out the full-sized vacuum, it is important to have helpers that can be programmed so as to run between cleanings in the pet hair department.

If the pets are heavy shedders, then a weekly cleaning routine has to be set up.

The only disclaimer with this is that it is quite costly.

Proper management

It is hard to maintain a multiple pet household without employing even the lowest level of management.

It is common that some other pets may prove to be very aggressive especially if they see the other pets playing with their toys.

For this reason, if the owner is not home, it is important the he or she keeps the toy out of reach so as to prevent possible fights.

Life can be of little stress in as far as the pets are concerned only and only if one gets to know what sets off the aggression and properly manages it.

Furthermore, however little the space might be, it is always wise to all the pets having their little heavens.

This not only keeps the pets happy but also makes the cleaning process easier.

These heavens can be cleaned either once or twice in a week so as to keep everything fresh.

Again, a good manager should learn to give all his or her pets a one-on-one time because this alleviates the fear and encourages resource guarding.

This should not however give the pets a chance to overpower the owner.

For the sake of his or her sanity, the owner should be sure to create time and space for just for him or herself.

It is impossible to keep the pets happy if the owner is not happy and healthy.

 Having a cat box

A cat box is basically used by the cats and one should ensure that he or she regularly cleans it.

An alternative to this cleaning exercise is investing in a self-cleaning box that will automatically scoop after the cat has used it.

Since space is minimal, a cat box should be stored in a space that can be used primarily for the purpose only.

In the case where there is no space for this at all, then a purifier should be place right next to the box.

However, deodorizers and air fresheners that do not absorb odor should never be used.

Bathing and feeding the pet with a diet of high quality

For a pet to be happy and to avoid being smelly, it has to be healthy.

This can only be achieved be regularly bathing the pet and ensuring that it is fed with a diet of high quality.

This kind of diet does so much for the pet’s skin, coat and also the digestive system which when it gets unhealthy it can produce the worst smell.

It is important to note that for one to keep unpleasant pet odors at bay, one has to do the cleaning on a more frequent basis and most importantly ensure that the pets do not have any smell.

Precaution to the new pet

In the case where a new pet comes into question, the most important consideration is to look for a breed that is right for the kind of space available.

A breed that does not shed could be the best option for a small space.

However, no matter the kind of breed, one should fist consider adopting.

When the pet has been acquired, it is important to make a designation for a spot just for that pet.

Conclusion

A small home is hard to live in. It takes a monumental shift in mindset.

One will need to cut everything down to basics.

This can prove even harder in the case where an individual is living with multiple pets.

At some point, living in a small home with multiple pets can be trying.

With proper management however, this trying task can at the same time bring joy into one’s life.

One very important thing with the pets however is to ensure that however small the place they live in could be, it should at all times be kept clean.

This will relieve the owner of unnecessary health problems related to dirt. At the same time, the home will be free of bad smell and this brings comfort.

With the above steps, one can be in a position to achieve the best out of a small home with multiple pets.

Every dog owner knows that dog fur sticking to everything, from your clothes, to the furniture, to the carpets is one of those minor inconveniences we all have to deal with. While some dogs shed more than others, shedding is for the most part, inescapable. Since you cannot prevent your dog from shedding, as a responsible dog owner, you ought to clean up well after your pooch. This ensures a clean and healthy home environment for you all, while prolonging the life of your carpets, furniture or even car interiors.

However, if we’re being totally honest, dog fur is not the easiest thing to clean up. Not only is it hard to spot, but it can also cling tight to the fibers of the furniture, carpet or clothing that you are trying to get it out of. For these reasons and more, you can’t always get it all. This task can be particularly frustrating and futile if you are trying to get it out without any strategy. It could really have you feeling like you are fighting a losing battle. To maintain your sanity, I am going to share with you some of the best, tried-and-tested methods that are guaranteed to get dog hair off your surfaces quickly and effectively.

Before we dive in, I just want to quickly point out some of the methods that could work, but not quite as well as you would like.

One of the most common ones is using adhesives like sticky tape. Dog owners wrap the tape around their hand with the sticky side out, and just kind of blot on a surface to pick up the hairs. This method is only practical for small jobs because it would be tedious and cumbersome to use on, say, a carpet. The downside of this method is that you run the risk of leaving that sticky residue from the tape on that surface, and then lo and behold, more dog hair.

Another one is spraying the carpet with diluted fabric softener or sprinkling some baking soda before you vacuum. For starters, these are chemicals and it is not a good idea to introduce them into your dog’s environment.

Another popular method is wet cleaning with a wet hand. This entails rubbing your wet hand on the carpet or furniture to collect the dog hair. Well, this could work. But depending on the material of the carpet or furniture, you could irritate your hand. Also, the inevitable end result is wet dog fur on your hand and it is not a very pretty picture. With wet cleaning, you are also rolling the dice on dampness and musty odors around the house.

This is not to say that these are entirely bad methods. If you have found a way to work around the disadvantage and they work for you, then why not?

Getting back on track, here are some of the best methods to remove dog hair.

How remove dog hair from furniture?

To remove dog fur from furniture, a viable option is using rubber gloves. The technique is rather simple, because you just use a sweeping motion to gather up the hairs with your hand then follow up with a vacuum.

The rubber does a lot to free the hair from the fibers of the furniture. If you want, you can use just a teeny-tiny bit of water on the glove.

You could also use fur remover brushes made specifically for upholstery. They have fine bristles, so as not to damage your furniture.

To clean up with these, just brush in short, quick strokes to loosen and remove the hairs.

How remove dog hair from carpet?

A winning appliance in this category is pet vacuum cleaners. Regular vacuum cleaners do so little in terms of cleaning up pet hairs. Pet vacuum cleaners are made specifically with this task in mind and boy, do they deliver!

If you have a lot of dogs or even one dog that sheds a lot, this vacuum might be a good investment for your household.

Carpet rakes are a great tool for cleaning too. They have plastic or metal bristles that really comb through the carpet fibers. The hair will loosen and collect within the bristles so you will need to stop and clean out the hair from the bristles them from time to time.

There are brushes designed to get fur off carpets too.

Typically, these have stiffer and sharper bristles unlike the brushes used on furniture.

Just like in furniture cleaning though, short, quick strokes will give the best results.

A simple hack is brushing in different directions to get as much hair as you can off your carpet.

An interesting tool for de-hairing a carpet is a squeegee.

I would be skeptical too, but it has been tried-and-tested and it gets the job done.

It is the rubber on the squeegee that attracts hairs off the carpet. Just use short strokes and voila!

How to remove dog hair from clothes?

Being a dog owner, chances are that you already own a lint roller.

If you don’t, it is a good idea to buy one to roll over your clothes before you leave home.

If it is a lot of hair that cannot be removed by a lint roller, throw the clothes in the dryer with a dry sheet for about 10 minutes.

A chemical free option is the use of dryer balls to lift the fabric, loosen the hairs and reduce static which otherwise causes the hairs to stick more.

This hair ends up in the lint trap.

From the Pets Themselves

Grooming your pet to remove loose hairs will drastically decrease the amount of fur that ends up on your carpet or furniture.

In the larger scheme of things, you will have less need for the other tools and appliances that I have mentioned.

There are so many pet grooming tools to choose from, which will remove loose fur before it gets a chance to be shed.

They stimulate the skin too, resulting in a healthy, shiny coat. Most pet parents agree that the holy grail of pet grooming tools is the FURminator.

The FURminator targets loose fur from the top coat and even the undercoat, making it a powerful de-shedding tool.

So, there you have it! Now cleaning time will be much easier and a lot more successful. Happy hair cleaning, pet parents.

If you want your dog to enjoy all the freedom and at the same time keep your dog within certain boundaries, a wireless dog fence is the best option. The dog will not need any leash and is not going to be restricted by any physical boundary. The dog can also be managed using the wireless fence even when the owner is not at home. If you decide to carry your pet on holiday but do not want the dog to disappear from view, a wireless dog fence will be of great help.

A wireless dog fence consists essentially of two parts – a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver is usually installed in the dog’s collar. Once the base station is powered by an 110 Volt system, and the collar receiver is activated with batteries, it is easy to set up the boundary within which you would like your pet to roam. By switching on the ‘program’ button on the base station, walking the collar up to the desired boundary, and then saving the program in the base station sets the boundary. The wireless dog fence is a great training aid and can be set up in just a few minutes. However, many attempts may be required to set up a proper boundary for your pet. Some wireless dog fence systems allow two dogs to be contained within the boundary. Under best conditions, the boundary set up can be as much as 200 feet in radius. It is a good idea to place the base station on non-metal surfaces and away from large appliances.

The base station continuously communicates with the pet’s collar and tracks their distance from the established boundary in the yard. The owner has access to critical information about the safety of the dog and is instantly alerted if the dog attempts to break out of the boundary. Any attempt by the dog to get out of line elicits a high- pitched tone that is continual till the dog is back into the boundary. Any loss of signal from the pet is also alerted through visible feedback signals at the base station.

It is a good idea to ensure that large metal objects such as cars, metal sheds, etc., do not pose obstructions. The radio signals may not pass through these objects or may get completely reflected. Also check the collar regularly to ensure that it is not damaged.

Though two base stations can be theoretically used to increase the size of the roaming boundary, sometimes there are signal interference issues that may not allow the fence to operate as required.

ADVANTAGES OF A WIRELESS DOG FENCE

The wireless fence works without the aid of computers or any other device. The dog fence system comes with an instruction manual and sometimes an accompanying DVD. The fence can be set up very quickly unlike wired systems or physical fences that take much longer to install. The collar receiver uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery can be charged by plugging onto the base station. The time took to charge the battery fully is about four to six hours. The battery can be recharged many times (a 3.6 Volt battery is capable of taking about 350 recharge cycles!) and lasts many years. The battery should be charged only when there is an alert from the base station. The rechargeable battery is inexpensive.The dog fence is completely portable. The dog feels more comfortable than when constantly tethered to a leash.

DISADVANTAGES OF A WIRELESS DOG FENCE

The fence’s effective range may sometimes be reduced if the base station loses sight of the dog’s collar when over a hilly terrain. The base station may be placed on a higher location in the house to overcome this problem. Based on the power requirements and the circuitry, the size of the collar receiver may be large. Some collar receivers are fit only for pets that are 25 pounds or larger.
Summarizing, the benefits of using a wireless dog fence far outweigh the disadvantages.

A wireless dog fence is ideal for a lot of dog owners and is relatively easy to install. You will most likely need a couple of hours or so to finish it. With the wireless fence system, your dogs can easily wander in your yard, but within the borderline that you have set.

TRANSMITTER INSTALLATION

Deciding where to place your transmitter is the first thing you need to decide. Consider the location on your yard where you want your dog to roam around freely. It is also usually placed at a central area where a power source is near. Your transmitter should be in a ventilated space and is about two to four ft off the ground. It should also be placed at about three feet away from any objects that are made of metal to get the maximum coverage space for your pet and also to enable the transmitter to have a power source.

COLLAR AND TRANSMITTER CONNECTION

The transmitter comes with a rechargeable collar which can be fully charged in 2 hours and will last around two or three weeks depending on how frequently your dog challenges the boundary. You should ensure that the unit is fully charged before you start testing the system.

The receiver collar has two contact points, long and short. If your pet has long fur the long contact points are used, on the other hand, shorter contact points are ideal for pets that have short fur. The units come with a wrench which you can use to install the contact points.

Just hold the mode button for about 5 seconds to turn the receiver collar on. There is a light that will turn on to indicate that it’s powered on. Just press the mode button again to turn it off.

Some collars don’t need to be synced or paired up with a particular fence. Everything you should know about how to sync your collar and fence and other important things you need to learn is included in the documentation that comes with the unit.

SETTING BOUNDARIES

The majority of wireless systems comes with a radius and diameter settings or a high and low setting and most systems either have a 90 ft. or a 120 ft. radius. Leave the system on its highest setting if you require the maximum full range. Modify accordingly to the provided documentation that comes with the fence system if you want a smaller range.

PUTTING THE RECEIVER COLLAR ON YOUR DOG

It is vital that the receiver collar fits perfectly on your dog to ensure its safety. Check that the collar is snug and its contact points are touching your pet’s skin. Do not tug the receiver collar and never put pressure on the probes alongside your dog’s neck.

HOW TO LOCATE THE FENCE’S EDGE

Receiver collars come with all fences and often is the easiest and in a few cases the way to locate where the fence boundary is. As you stroll around your compound or yard, hold the collar that is activated until you hear a beeping sound. It is a good idea to put a flag in this area. Do this and place flags at every five to ten feet to give your pet and yourself a visual edge to learn from.

When a dog joins a new home, it becomes a family member, and therefore should be trained to attain some emotional and behavioral balance. Unfortunately, some of us have unintentionally adopted some bad dog-training habits, and the worst of it is that we don’t even know that such habits are bad for pet training.
However, as a pet trainer, I usually see many dog lovers struggle to inculcate emotional and behavioral balance on their dogs while still making these same common errors, which usually leads to frustrating results and pitfalls. Hence, if you would like to train the best behaved, friendly and happy dog on the block, then you have to avoid these six most common mistakes when training your dogs on new behaviors and tricks.

Long Training Sessions

Dog training sessions should have some time modulation, which should, in turn, reflect some positive behavior or result in the dog, and once you have attained this result, you may need to reward the pet and quit the training. Puppies, adolescents and some breed of dogs have short attention span, and training them on and on for long sessions would make the training session uninteresting to the pet.
Therefore, a long training session is a common mistake you can make when training your dog, and it can also get to you by making you tired in the process, and thereby reducing your level of attention to how your dog is responding to the training.

Confusing commands

Dogs are better at reading body languages rather than interpreting words, so if you are giving your dog a long cue of commands while making the wrong body language like gesture, facial expression or hand signal, it may take too long for your dog to process the command. It is also important that all your family members use the same set of commands in communicating with the dog, and should avoid repeating cues of command over and over again because this could depict a lack of confidence or authority.

Transferring aggression

Transferring aggression on your pet usually result from engaging in dog training when you are in a bad mood, and this can lead to serious disaster. If your dog makes a little mistake, and suddenly you are taking out your frustrations out on the poor pet, then you are making this mistake. It has also been noted by modern dog trainers that punishing a dog in training sessions is not very effective. So, if you want to see better behavioral and emotional result from your dog, then cool off your temper before engaging in a dog training session.

Using corrections rather than positive reinforcement method

Using Correction based method (i.e. focusing on the negative) is not the ideal way of training a dog because using punishment (negative reinforcement) or correction based training usually materialize to problematic behaviors in the future. Hence, scientists believe that positive reinforcement is the most effective training method for dogs and other pets. The worst scenario comes to play when you mix these two correction methods together in your training sessions; it becomes disastrous because it confuses your dog on whether he is going to be rewarded or punished when he carries out a command, and would never agree to do anything.

Abusing the clicker

Clicker has become a popular and effective training tool for quite some time now, but some of us have come to abuse it because they never learned how to use it well in the first place. You should make your dog associate the click with a reward, and you should click once for every good behavior then reward the pet. However, if you click for many times, your dog would not know for what reason you are rewarding and would not take note of such behavior. Also, avoid clicking and not rewarding your pet, because the clicker would lose its value.

Not practicing enough

Training is a regular thing; it shouldn’t be done once and be done with because if you are not practicing regularly or you occasionally take few months off training sessions, your dog may become rusty, and it may affect it behaviorally and emotionally. Therefore, you should schedule to train your dog for 10 – 15 minutes for three days in a week. You can always bring up new things to teach you dog but make sure to occasionally visit those old commands that your dog have already mastered.
In all, it is pertinent to mention that consistent and error free dog training session is the key to getting good and positive results. It is also important to mention that there are other common mistakes you can make when training your dog other than the ones we have discussed, and some of them include excessive repetition of command, training in the same location, Using treats, inconsistent training sessions, etc.

Fun games are great ways to exercise with your dogs. One thing each dog owner should enjoy is the fun derived when having a fun time with your pet. Irrespective of whether it is cold or sometimes miserable, exercising with your dog at all times will help to maintain his health both mentally and physically. There are so many ways you can exercise with your dog both indoor and outdoor, and this article will give you ten solid ideas on how to go about them. Just make sure you create a “dog-play time” and exercise as well. You may end up enjoying it if you prepare fully for it. Let us consider ten fun ways to exercise with your dogs:

Frisbee

Frisbee is a physical exercise/game which is perfect for an active dog. You may call it an advance fetch game where you toss a flying disk known as a “Frisbee.” It is left for your dog to catch the Frisbee in midair and bring it back to you. With constant practice, you and your dog will get really good at this, and you may decide to join competitors (other dogs). Doing this will increase both the confidence of you and your dog.

Biking, Jogging or Rollerblading

This should be practiced with a well-trained dog. A well-trained dog will stay by your side without pulling or yanking, and you will have no choice but to enjoy biking, jogging or rollerblading with your pet close by. You might need to come along with additional water and a protective doggie shoe for their sensitive pads.

A Pet Stroller

This is a good alternative for dogs that can’t walk for a long time for older and less mobile dogs or for an injured dog. Your dog can spend half of the dog-play time walking and then take a ride for the rest of the trip. As a matter of fact, most dogs enjoy riding in a pet stroller.

Challenge Your Dog’s Nose

Another creative way to make your dog work or think for her food. Create an obstruction that she has to get the past for her favorite treat or meal. This kind of game is also mentally invigorating and will keep her involved.

Hula Hoop

This game can be played indoors or outdoors, but it requires you to start with a hoop that best fit your dog size. Lay the loop on the ground to start the game; if your dog realizes that he has to be in the circle, reward and praise him. When he gets used to this game, you can advance further by teaching him how to jump through the hoop standing above the ground.

Wrap Up and Go Outside!

During the winter months, the best way to overcome your fear is to go out and face it. Plowing and running through the snow is a great exercise for your dog during this season. He will enjoy the fun until he gets tired. Go for a walk, play around in the snow with your dog and enjoy some winter fun together.

Tracking

Tracking is a great way to test and develop your dog’s abilities. A small piece of cloth or your dog’s ball can be used for this exercise. Start by walking down a path, and then drop the cloth or ball while your dog is not looking at you. Take a few steps, stop, and turn around, now give your dog the “find” command and start walking toward the cloth or ball. Encourage your dog by showering plenty of praise on him and play the game again.

Swimming

Swimming is another fun exercise to enjoy with your dog. Though not all dogs are natural swimmers, yet most will surely learn to enjoy it. Swimming, especially during the summer months will relax your pet while they are inundated in the physical activity of this sport. While swimming, take a few fetch toys along, so your pet will retrieve and return to you.

Try a Dog Treadmill

There are treadmills specifically designed for dogs. However, they can be quite expensive. Using human treadmill as an alternative isn’t bad, but you have to play it safe. Acquaint your dog with its functions. Start at a moderate speed, increase it slowly, and keep working on the amount of time you usually spend on walks.

Find The Treat

This is very fun game to play with your dog. It encourages the dog to utilize his sense of smell. Start by hiding a food treat for your dog to find. Start by leading your dog to the treat, while using the command “find.” Very soon, your dog will get used to this game and will quickly find any hidden treat. These ten dog activities are fun ways to exercise with your dog. They are beneficial for your health and that of your dogs’. Remember not to get things done in excess, especially in hot weather. Always take breaks between your play sessions and, bear in mind to take a lot of water for your dog.

And be sure to check this great infographic from bowwowtech.co.uk if you want safe night time dog walking.

11 Tips for Safe Night Time Dog Walking

The pregnancy period of a dog is usually 63 days in total so this isn’t a long term project. It is just a time you have to set out for yourself to properly feed and care for your bitch. This is when you need to keep watch over any pregnancy symptoms and make sure you are aware when they became pregnant.

Before you even think about the number of puppies you’ll have after two months, ensure you take proper care of your dog first right from day one. If you fail to fulfill the nutritional needs of your pregnant dog, you may have to get ready for labor complications and miscarriage.

During The First Week of Pregnancy

In the earlier stages of pregnancy, you don’t really need to get her fed frequently. During this period, you have to stay alerted and watch out for any symptoms that’ll hinder them from taking in sufficient nutrition that is needed for the day. Also, if you realize your dog hasn’t been reaching her daily nutritional requirements, make sure you have a veterinarian check her ASAP.

The First Thirty Days

The first thirty days marks the half way mark of her pregnancy. She will naturally have some symptoms of morning sickness that will make her turn down food for a few days, usually towards the end of the second week into the third week (gestation week). This is temporary; it will take a period of two to three days but if symptoms continue after that period, make sure she is checked out by the veterinarian.

After Six Weeks of Pregnancy

After around a month and a half (six weeks), it is expected that you start noticing your bitch gain weight. This is the perfect time to increase her food. So adjust feeding speeds on your automatic dog feeder if you’re not at home. Keep in mind that it’s bad for a dog to be stout when she goes into labor. Try feeding her with smaller meals as opposed to larger meals. This is because as the puppies increase in size they will press on her organs and hence, will prevent her from eating much at once.

During The Last Three Weeks of Pregnancy

During this period, it is recommended that the pregnant dog is isolated from other dogs for the last three weeks of pregnancy. Also, make sure to switch her feed over to a high-quality puppy kibble during this period. This puppy nibble has enough protein content to help the mother stay fit as a fiddle for nursing the puppies. This is needed because at this time, the puppies are growing at an incredible rate which will eventually drain her metabolic system. So make sure you provide quality protein foods to keep her in a healthy weight range.

PREGNANT DOG DIET

It is very important to feed your dog a high-quality food. A pregnant dog should eat foods that contain high protein and essential fats. Don’t risk your dogs’ life with cheap dog foods; buy quality dog food from big brands that manufacture dogs’ food.

In addition to that, make sure there are enough provisions for fresh water during the pregnancy period. Like we stated earlier, it is only natural for the morning sickness to occur yet, she should be hydrating efficiently during this period. If there are any signs that she appears in discomfort, or that she is not drinking enough water, make sure she gets checked by a veterinarian doctor.
Vitamins and mineral supplements are quite essential for pregnant dogs. This is particularly when they approach their fourth week of pregnancy as they would require more mineral and vitamins supplements. Most vitamins and minerals are sold in tablet and powder forms, regardless of which form you decide for your dog, ensure they are from trustworthy brands.
Lastly, always avoid feeding them with foods or supplements that contain high calcium. It’s best for dogs to have several small meals all through her pregnancy period. Her stomach limits the amount of food she can consume due to the development of puppies. Smaller foods will prevent her from vomiting and indigestion risks.

EXERCISE FOR YOUR PREGNANT DOG

Expect your dog to exercise normally during the first half of the pregnancy. Take her out on daily walks as frequent as possible but don’t practice any form of strenuous exercise with her. She can play with other dogs and jog with you as she always has. When the pregnancy approaches 32 days, you may discover she has lesser energy than normal yet she should not be lazy or sluggish.
The last three weeks of pregnancy would require less strenuous exercise. Taking her for longer walks in your area would be cool provided you don’t take other dogs along with you. You two can play less strenuous games in the back yard. At this time, she is likely not to be over vivacious and she will naturally perform at a lower pace.

In conclusion, if you have other dogs in the same house as your pregnant dog, ensure they are quiet and not prone to rowdy behavior with her.

Like humans, a dog’s need changes as he advances in age. If you are over 50 or more, then you will understand that your dietary prerequisites are different to when you were a youth. This is the same for dogs. As dogs advance in age, their metabolism slows down and they become less active. This is why their dietary needs change.

As a general guideline, a 7 years old dog is likened to a 50 years old man in age. Older dogs require fewer calories from their diet to prevent them from becoming overweight as they are more prone to weight issues. Protein is still essential to maintain muscle mass and a good body posture.

Nowadays, pets are living longer (which is great news) with the higher quality of nutrition and veterinary care available. But the side effect is that they are at risk of developing age-related conditions such as kidney disease, canine Alzheimer’s, and arthritis.

Some symptoms of these problems can include changes in behavior and weight, sleeping more, bad breath, uncontrolled drinking and urination. It is your responsibility to look for these signs as your dog advances in age.

Prevention, they say is better than cure. The best way to avoid these diseases is by switching dog food or use automatic dog feeder. This switch ought to specially formulated foods for older dogs. These foods will help prevent the age-related diseases and also slow down aging.

Older dog diets should contain:

Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-3 And Omega-6)

Both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help promote a strong immune system, enhance cell growth, and maintain healthy skin. If your old dog is not getting enough fatty acids, you will start to observe these signs of deficiency: hair loss, dermatitis, dry and flaky skin, and dull coat. The proper, appropriate amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may benefit dogs with a coat, and skin problems. This can be achieved by feeding your dog with fatty acids or fatty acid supplements, or them both. Essential fatty acids are the most economical and convenient solution to feed older dogs.

Optimum Levels Of Fiber

Fiber should be added to your dog’s diet in the form of steamed fresh green, wheat bran, plain canned pumpkin, or canned green beans.

High Quality Protein

Feeding older dogs with lower quality foods over time could cause serious health issue associated with the kidney and liver. Therefore, a sufficient amount of high-quality proteins is exactly what older dogs need.

Minerals

Older dogs require more minerals than younger ones, which is why dosing is so vital when it comes to supplementation and food. However, it is important to understand the various functions of minerals. Minerals are multi-functional in nature and do a lot more than just support and maintain healthy bones and joints in dogs.

For instance,

Zinc is very important in promoting healthy immune responses and stimulating bone formation activity.

Potassium supports heart health. Experts say carbohydrates are good sources of potassium.

Boron assumes a major role in calcium integration and metabolism, and also has vital ramifications for joint health.

Iron plays an important role for healthy blood formation and transporting oxygen throughout your dog’s body. High quality meat is a source of iron for older dogs.

Calcium is essential in bone density, but supports proper muscle contraction and healthy heart function.

Vitamins A, B-12, C, E

Vitamin A plays an essential role in weight loss and also helps older dog burn more fat. Liver is a good source of this vitamin.

Vitamins A and E contributes to your dog’s skin and eye health. They fight disease and stave off the aging process. These vitamins help your dog but more fat and loss weight as a result. Eggs are great source of both vitamins A and E.

Vitamin B-12 helps in cell growth and development.

Vitamin C is vital to both human and dogs. It promotes healing, boost the immune system, and fight disease.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Glucosamine is naturally found in your dog’s body which is mostly found in healthy cartilage. Give your older dogs with foods rich in glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to help support healthy cartilage and joint.

Age 7 is the standard age at which you need to change your dogs’ diet. However, this age varies according to breed. For example, a smaller dog will start slowing down when it attains 7 years of age, while this same process will happen to larger dogs at around 5 years old.

Side effects of age-related diseases are usually detected when there has been critical damage, so be vigilant and don’t wait until you notice strange behaviors from your dog. For instance, kidney disease is one common disease among older dogs, yet the symptoms will only appear once 75% of kidney function has been lost.

The advanced dog training commands you give to your dog must be clear, short, and well defined. It should be well articulated and vulnerable words that would end up confusing the dog should be avoided.

It is not a training command if your dog doesn’t understand what you want him to learn. Now, before hopping into this, there is one thing to take note of. Be attentive to your dog’s needs and situation. Sometimes, the set time for your dog to deal with the advance command may not be now.

However, there are misconceptions on certain dog breeds, such as Rottweiler’s and Pitbull. Most people believe these dogs to be naturally aggressive and cannot be trained. Aggression is a learned behavior that often abused animals uses in self-defense.

If you and your dog have been through basic training sessions, an advanced session shouldn’t be a problem. At this stage, your dog is already accustomed to you training it, so teaching more commands will be fun and welcoming.

Start with the easiest dog training commands. You should teach these commands to your dogs during the early stages of their life (puppyhood) before moving on to these advanced commands. Advanced dog training is a controlled activity that can’t be done if your dogs haven’t accomplished basic dog training commands.

Advanced dog training commands to practice

1. Stand

The dog is commanded to “stand” still. This command will be effective for dogs that require constant grooming, however; they must stand while being groomed.

2. Get Back

This command can be handy when you want him to back away from something or when you want him to get out of the way.

3. With Me

This is almost similar to the “heel” command that keeps your dog strictly by your side. The “With Me” command will teach your dog to walk freely without any constraint during walks. This command allows your dog to sniff and observe the neighborhood. It will be allowed to follow your lead without getting out of your sight.

4. Drop It

Using the “Drop it” command is very useful when your dog grabs something unappealing or unhealthy to human. It will also prevent your dog from destroying household objects.

5. Release

The “Release,” “free,” “okay,” or “break“ command informs your dog that he’s successfully obeyed one of your commands and is now free to “release” or “break” from that position. This command should be applied after you have praised and shown affect to your dog as a reward for his obedient behavior.

6. Leave It

This command instructs your dog not to sniff or touch a particular item. It is used to prevent your dog from picking up dangerous items or things he is not supposed to pick. The “leave it” command will also protect your dog from chewing anything that can be harmful to him.

7. Hold It

This command trains your dog to hold or sniff a particular object. It is a handy command that instructs your dog to carry some of your belongings whenever you need a quick short assistance. These belongings should be portable enough for them to carry. It shouldn’t be weighty at all.

8. Give

The “give” command is used when your dog has one of your belongings in his mouth. The command trains your dog to release the object and to drop it into your hand.

9. Stop

This will train your dog to immediately “stop” whatever he’s doing and relax.

10. Turn Left

This is another advanced dog training command that is effective whenever you and your dog are taking a walk. It trains your dog to “turn left” when it needs to go the opposite way.

11. Turn Right

This command is a direct opposite of the “turn left” command.

12. Find It

This command can be helpful when you have missing object to search for. You can use it to instruct your dog into a search mission. Always make sure you encourage your dog with a treat if he successfully finds the missing object.

13. Quiet

You can relate this command with the “shut the hell up” used by humans. When your dog starts grumbling when he is supposed not to, a “quiet” command will teach him how to stay silent.

14. Walk Faster

This is another useful command your dog should get familiar with especially when you are taking a walk. If he lags behind, this command will instruct him to hasten up.

Dog training command is very important if you want to become the leader or take charge of your dog. Training your dog at home or enrolling him in a training class is an integral part of your dog’s education. Home practice is very common, so you have to equip yourself and learn about several dog training techniques as well. I wish you and your dog a happy training. Enjoy every bit of time spent with your dog and you will have a lot of fun with him.