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(Posted 3/10/2010)
Are You A Nag?
Stop! Do you realize how many times you have said, “No” to your puppy already today? Do you realize all the things you have said, like “Stop it! Don’t do that! Get out of there! Leave it! No! Off! Quiet! Bad Dog! Come on, hurry up! No, no!
My oh my, would you just listen to yourself. And you wonder why your dog has quit listening to you and decided to do whatever she wants
Your dog wants to know what she is doing RIGHT. She WANTS to please you, not frustrate you. Let her know when she is acting the way you want her to act, and she will act that way more often because she likes the results.
If you have ever had an immature, nagging boss, you know how your dog might feel. You resent that type of boss, you hold him in distain, you don’t take him seriously and you have little respect for him.
A good boss acknowledges when his employees are doing a good job. His criticism is minimal; because he finds ways to help his employees succeed.
As dog owners, however, we often expect too much and set our dogs up for failure. We give mixed messages with our body language, and if the dog responds he wrong way, we nag him for it. How fair is that?
Be a good boss, and don’t be a nag. The next time you are about to say something negative to your dog, find a way to turn the situation around so your dog can be praised instead. Remember that life is a balance of good and bad, right and wrong. ALWAYS offer your dog the option of an alternative behavior when he does something that displeases you. That way, you will be tipping the scales in your favor.
(Posted 3/10/2010)
Treating a Bloody Toenail
It’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” You will someday accidentally trim your dog’s toenail too short, and it will bleed.
This is not a medical emergency! Your dog will not bleed to death from this pesky little drip. It can, however, make a mess on your floors, and some dogs bleed much more profusely than others. So what do you do?
Before you begin trimming the toenails, have a styptic product on hand. Styptic powder works best; you simply dip the tip of the bleeding nail into the powder, and then let your dog rest quietly so the blood will clot. A styptic pencil may also work. Some people even use cornstarch as they would use the powder. You can also purchase liquid styptic products that resemble Super-Glue. In fact, some people actually do use Super-Glue…just be careful not to glue your dog’s toes together!
If your dog is not the kind to rest quietly waiting for blood to clot, put him outside and let him lay in the grass. The seeping vein will usually seal up in a few minutes. Try to discourage the dog from licking the toenail, which could dislodge the clot and start the seeping all over again.
Once in a great while, you may encounter a dog whose toenail bleeds profusely. He still won’t bleed to death, but to keep the mess at minimum you may want to bandage the foot and make a quick trip to the vet, who can cauterize it.
A torn toenail is an entirely different matter. If your dog tears or splits a toenail down to the pad, it’s going to hurt badly and bleed a lot. This IS a veterinary matter. Get your dog into the clinic immediately. The vet may have to sedate your dog, and then trim the torn nail or maybe even remove the entire nail.
(Posted 3/10/2010)
Allergic To Your Dog?
You want your dog to live in the house with you, but you are constantly fighting your own allergies. You are willing to make the sacrifice and be marginally miserable; as long as you can have your puppy close to you (it’s worth it, after all). Well, let’s look at some ways to minimize your allergic reactions.
1. Bathe your dog frequently. Use a mild shampoo. Your best bet is to consult your veterinarian for an appropriate shampoo that doesn’t dry out your dog’s skin and lead to even more itching and dander.
2. Wipe down your walls and doors more often than you do. Okay, so you haven’t washed your walls in three years. Here is a good reason to start. One of the things you are allergic to is pet saliva (yuck) which clings to the walls and curtains. Your pet barks, sneezes, licks himself and rubs against the walls, or shakes…all of these acts can spread salvia around your room without you even noticing it. The protein matter in the saliva can cause extreme allergic reactions. So…washing walls and laundering curtains will help a lot.
3. Use a hypoallergenic pet wipe to pick up loose dander on your pet’s coat. Nature’s Miracle makes a great pop-up wipe that is odorless and very effective. They leave the coat shiny, but not oily. Some pet wipes leave an oily film that collects dust and dirt, but Nature’s Miracle wipes do not.
Experiment with some homeopathic remedies for your allergies. These solutions may not work for everyone, but be open-minded and give them a try. You just might find a remedy that is less expensive and less harmful than traditional allergy drugs.
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