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I have lived 16 happy years with my eyes & ears wide open and gained so much knowledge, many fleas, a couple of booboos, and lots of love. I have such a good life and to hopefully make things a little easier along your way I want to share some of it with you. ( Not the fleas!) My personal two legged assistant will translate for me…

Now, there are all sorts of critters to deal with, mostly outside your door. I lived near the woods so I learned very quickly the ins and outs of all the critters that lived near my house. You will need to explore some of these on your own but here’s what I have learned so far…

First, moles don’t hold up well when you try to play with them. For smaller dogs it might work ok but all 32 lbs of me was too much for those delicate little guys. One or two paws on their heads and they’re done. Caput. No fun.

The raccoons don’t play nice at all. One took out a chuck of my ear when I tried to play with it. My two legged assistant had stuff that I didn’t like at all but she put it on my ear and the booboos on my mouth, front leg, back leg and that really sore spot on my chest. I had to put up with that for a couple of days till she stopped doing that to me. Try to avoid it, or raccoons, for that matter. It healed quickly and I would like to say that I was back outside playing again long before I saw that raccoon back out. Hmphh.

The other really bad critter to avoid is the black & white kitty with the strong perfume. If you get near one of those your person will probably give you a bath in tomato juice. I tried to catch an old tomato once when I was a puppy and that didn’t turn out so well, never thought I’d have to get a bath in that stuff!

The first time I got some of that black and white kitty perfume I thought I smelled good. My person didn’t agree so I had the tomato juice bath. My skin was burning badly after that, and I smelled like black & white kitty and tomato juice, so she gave me another bath in some stuff that made the burning go away. Too many baths for my taste.

The next several times I tried to get some of that good perfume she gave me a bath in a special home made recipe…
1/4 Cup Baking Soda
1 tsp dish detergent
and 1 quart bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
I was totally drenched in the stuff and all my perfume disappeared, but it didn’t make my skin burn like the tomato juice and I only endured the one bath.

As far as chasing bunnies goes, be very careful. They have a tendency to stop right in the middle of a good chase. One day I was having such fun when all of a sudden the darned thing stopped on a dime. I didn’t have time to stop so I ran into, somersaulted over, and came up on the other side of the beast a bit disoriented with a slight pain in my hip. Save yourself the embarrassment, when you must chase maintain a safe distance for bunnies.

Birds always fly away so do not waste good energy on them but rather use them as a pleasant pastime. Chipmunks & squirrels climb trees so they’re not fun for long. Snakes are sneaky long things and can really surprise you with quick moves so it’s best to stay clear of them unless you’re just as fast.

Ground hogs always have a hiding place in the dirt but if you dig after them your two legged assistant may not like it, especially if it’s the middle of the green flat area. If you dig a hole in the woods after them she may not even notice what you did so that’s okay.

Cats, on the other hand, are fair game. (Not to offend any cat lovers out there, but I am a dog. Come on!) Some cats just get hissy and some climb trees but most are worth a good run after. Its good to run just for the fun of it every day.

Speaking of running, I’m off for one myself now. Maybe I’ll go into the woods and chase groundhogs because digging is good for you too!

Susanne Bargel has been the lucky assistant to Clara the wonder beagle for 16 years. Her has tons of natural remedies and regular pet products, as well as a complete pharmacy for people. Run by for a visit at http://www.prescriptionmedstore.com

Dog aggression can be a very serious problem. So why do some dogs become aggressive? They may feel threatened or they may feel their territory is being threatened. Dogs that are insecure and lack confidence can also be aggressive. Also we can not forget that if a dog is mistreated or abused this can definitely lead to aggression.

We see biting as a display of aggression but we sometimes overlook that dogs that bark and lunge at people or other animals are also displaying aggression. Aggressive behaviour has to be dealt with immediately before it escalates into a very serious situation. Possible injury to a person or another dog or animal can be a reality that we cannot overlook.

The number one solution to a dog’s aggressive behaviour is training. Unfortunately simple obedience training is not going to be that effective when dealing with an aggressive dog.

Normally, aggressive dogs are not allowed into normal obedience and training schools for the simple fact of protecting the other participants in the class. You are going to have to find a trainer who specializes in dog aggression. Your vet may be able to help you with this or you can check out the yellow pages or even the internet.

Although proper training may be expensive and not that easy or simple you have to do what you can to resolve your dog’s aggression.

Before you sign up check out what techniques are being used to deal with an aggressive dog. Some outdated methods can actually be more harmful than helpful to your dog. Be sure to do your research. Ask the potential trainer if you can watch his training methods. At the end of the day what you want is for your dog to stop attacking. You don’t want to be constantly worried whether or not your “companion” is going to bite you, someone else, or another animal.

Remember also that some states or provinces have laws in effective that deal very harshly with an aggressive dog.

In Ontario Canada right now they have Bill 132 commonly referred to as the Pit Bull ban. This is very scary legislation.

This legislation bans pit bulls and other bull terrier types and the onus is on the owner to prove their dog is not a pit bull. It also allows your dog, if seized, to be put down or given to someone else that lives where the ban is not in place. They can also give your dog to a laboratory for research.

This legislation does not define what a bite is, what an attack is or even what menacing behaviour is. (Hope you get along with your neighbour).

I strongly believe that we should have some protection from aggressive dogs but to ban specific breeds is not the way to do it. To follow their trend of thought would be to say that if we found one white male politician that had not kept his campaign promises then we should never allow any white males to hold politic office since they all are not trustworthy. For some reason I can’t see something like that even being considered.

Remember when you get a dog they are a lifetime commitment. Training is vital for them and you. With the proper training and socialization you can establish that bond that you really both desire.

As an owner of dobermans for the last 25 years, Maureen recognizes the need of properly training your dog. She offers useful hints and tips on training your dog. You can find thesesimple techniques for your dog and you at http://www.traineddogsrule.com

Not all Miniature Pinschers are categorically the same. You can have an energetic Min Pin and then there are placid Min Pins. There are extroverted Mini Pinschers and then there are introverted ones. There are serious Min Pins and then there are the seriously off-beat goof balls who cannot sit still for one stitch of proper miniature pinscher training.

When it comes to miniature pinscher training, dog trainers are often at a loss on what to do with these little rascals. Some pet owners find this breed too tiny (or too cute) to be subjected to any form of training, which makes the dog more difficult to manage (if they can be managed at all) in the end. Some Min Pins even suffer from the Little Napoleon syndrome: a tyrannical behavioral problem that causes the dog to bark excessively, to attack people (or other dogs) even when unprovoked and to be physically destructive to any and all things in the house.

If you are subjecting your dog (and yourself) to miniature pinscher training, you must first remember a few basic characteristics of your pet. Such a dog can be energetic to a point of insanity. They are extremely athletic, agile and can move very quickly with its prancing gait. Its small size is in complete reciprocal to its fearless spirit; some first time Min Pin handlers even find the dog a bit too assertive or feisty.

This is a breed that will definitely not spend most of its time snoozing placidly on your lap. In fact, you can consider yourself extremely blessed if your dog manages to sit still for one whole minute during training. Also, the Min Pin is an inquisitive animal, literally poking its nose into trouble. On the other hand, they make excellent watchdogs because they are alert, sensitive to their surroundings and bear residues of being territorial.

In miniature pinscher training, pet owners must provide their pets enough physical activity and mental stimulation; not to mention enough space to run around. These dogs need to expend their energy in some constructive manner. They are notorious for destroying anything when they become bored or agitated. They also become increasingly noisy and often fall into excessive barking. Miniature pinscher training may take the form of obedience classes or agility classes.

Desensitization is also part of miniature pinscher training. Min Pins are generally suspicious in nature, which makes them excellent watch dogs in their own way. Unfortunately, this trait may also translate to aggressive displays towards people and animals. In fact, this dynamo is even known to run after its perceived “enemy” because its chasing instincts are still very strong — a drawback to its ancestors who were bred to chase after vermin in the fields of Germany.

This chasing instinct may also work in reverse manner. When the Min Pins feel threatened or bored or simply naughty, they will make you chase them for hours on end. These dogs are extremely sharp-witted and all your attempts to pacify it will be in vain.

Unless, controlled early on, the Min Pins will react with aggression towards any unfamiliar stimuli in its environment. That is why it is essential desensitization in miniature pinscher training is essential.

Katia Lorenzen learned miniature pinscher training when her dog was a puppy. And now she is pleased to tell you about the ultimate source of min pin training information: www.My-Miniature-Pinscher.com.

Pet urine or pet odor got you down? Is Fifi having trouble remembering to use the litter box? Whatsoever to do? Here is the answer!

Cleaning cat urine can be hard, and few trivial, easy ways of how to clean cat urine exist. Pet urine leaves hard to remove stains and odors in your home. The stink can be breathtaking in an enclosed area, and you don’t want that! You can use cleaning products and air fresheners, but stains may remain and the odor may come back if you don’t use dedicated cat urine cleaning products. This is bad because kitty will smell it and be likely to become recidivistic. As cats have a much more highly evolved faculty for smell than do people, they will know that there is a “peepee spot” there much before you do, and long after no longer notice it.

Cat urine, like other types of pet urine, or any all, smells badly because of the uric acid, which consists of salts and crystals. These do not emit much odor when dry, but the pet urine or pet odor smell comes back wrathfully when they become moistened. So any period of dampness, such as rain, humidity, washing, etc., will net you still more malodorous funk.

Ordinary cleaners will not competently clean the stains and smells but established cat urine cleaners are significantly more effective and useful. They are specifically designed to clean the stains and destroy the odors that you can’t see or smell but your cat still can. How to choose a cat urine remover? Cat urine cleaning products are commonly available but one should never use ammonia-based cleaners around cats. People don’t much like them either, for what that’s worth.

You should educate yourself on how to clean cat urine, but you should be aware of the root cause of the problem as well. Once they’ve urinated somewhere, you will have to use cat urine removers completely; otherwise the cat might still smell the previous urine scent and strike again!

Inherent problems:

Non-spayed males may spray urine to mark their territory. If you love your pets, spay and neuter them. This will remove that collision between your territorial claims.

Nasty litter boxes are equally abhorrent to cats and people. You don’t like the rank odor any more than they do. If your bathroom reeked, would you want to use it? Consider this. If you have multiple cats, use a litter box per cat to ameliorate the risk.

Upsetting situations can cause issues for cats, like people. If you have several cats for example, you might have a situation where 2 cats just don’t get along.

Urinary infections can bring on bladder control problems and be life-threatening to your cat. If urination problems continue to occur, see your vet at once.

Avoid using ammonia-based cleansers. You’ve smelled them both before, and your cat will assume the ammonia is from urine, since that’s their experience. They’re not exactly chemical engineers. They’ve peed there before, so they figure its ok.

As you can see, several methods exist how to remove cat urine and deal with your pet urine or pet odor problems. The problem may be behavioral or biological. Find the problem and stop having to cover the external manifestations. You and your cat will be able to enjoy your lives again, having a happy healthy cat. Cat urine cleaners and cat urine removers will help solve with your pet urine or pet odor problems, allowing you and your happy healthy cat to enjoy your life.

Robert Blake runs several websites, among them Web Marketing HowTo and Happy Healthy Cats Original article Pet Urine or Pet Odor Got You Down?

Is trying to control your dogs barking getting a bit of a pain when all you want to do is get a decent sleep, leave your dog for 5 minutes, or have some respected guests round without having to get the earplugs out?

Training your dog to stop barking doesn’t have to be stressful, no one likes the loud barking sound coming from your dog, especially at 3 in the morning so lets go through some tips to control dog barking.

1. Need Attention huh?

Don’t give your dog the attention he wants from barking at you. if I was getting everything I wanted just for barking id probably do it too. You’ve got to teach your dog that barking won’t get him anywhere. If he wants something wait till he has stopped barking first.

2. Time to bark yet?

If your dog barks when you leave the house, 8 times out of 10 it will be because you’re making to much fuss over them when you leave. Dogs can’t fully grasp the idea of saying goodbye and may find it upsetting when you give them cuddles and play then go out the door and leave for 8 hours while you’re in work. For a dog that’s a good enough reason to bark and howl the house down for you to come back and play. Try leaving the house without any fuss, Leave the house without drawing any attention to yourself and the barking will lessen and stop.

3. Bored with nothing to do!

Dogs enjoy barking, it’s something they like to do. The barking sound might not be completely to your taste but dogs enjoy it and it’s a completely natural thing for them, so if your dog has nothing to do in his spare time then barking passes the time like nothing else. Keep your dog busy with lots of exciting toys if he seems to bark a lot at night, something to chew and play with when you’re not around will help comfort the dog and keep him from barking and waking the neighbours. With nothing else to do your dog will bark through the night until you wake up.

4. Visitor time

When visitors come round it’s an exciting time for your dog, new faces, new smells and more attention than usual. This often causes dogs to bark, they want all the attention they can get in the form of cuddles and play time. You can solve this by using the ‘Stop’ command, teach him this and praise him when he listens to you and you should have no more problems with your over excited dog.

5. Be Consistent

Unfamiliarity can trigger your dogs barking off a lot of the time so keep constant with the times he barks most, for a lot of dog owners this is at night time. Decide where your dog or puppy sleeps. If one night your dog is out in the cold and the next he’s all snug and warm in bed with you or your kids you can guarantee he won’t want to be back out in the cold getting no attention from anyone again. Stick to consistency with your dog and you won’t go far wrong, otherwise you may be in for another sleepless night shouting at your dog.

For more information on Dog Behavior Training or Dog Health take a look at this Dog Training website .

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The term in the “Dog house” used to mean that one was in some sort of trouble. These days dog houses are worth being in. The pet business is becoming a booming business. There are stores selling pet accessories opening up and businesses dedicated to making mans best friend comfortable. Not only do dog houses provide shelter from the elements, they are also designed to be comfortable, safe and clean.

Dog houses now offer more than just a few pieces of lumber and some nails. There are many different types of dog houses available in the market; some simple and others more complicated. To ensure that your pet gets exactly what it needs, build one yourself. Include in your dog house budget other necessary pet accessories like appropriate toys for inside and outside use.

Building a dog house can be a fun family project. First go online and find what dog house plans there are and decide on one. Make sure that the plan is suited to match your dog’s size and is also suitable for the climate that you live in. Use building materials that can last and survive the elements and are locally available. Consider the proper bedding within your dog house and determine the dog house best location.

Dog houses do not need to be overly complicated. Keep in mind dog houses main purposes are to keep it dry, to keep the dog out of the elements and to provide for the dog’s safety. A dog house can also be built to include a storage area for all the pet accessories.

Dog houses need to be kept dry.

Dog houses should be water proof and should have the ability to stay dry; even when the dog brings water into the dog house. Keeping the dog house dry is not only for the dogs comfort but a dry dog house may prevent the growth of bacteria, parasites and viruses that can cause certain health issues for the dog. Installing windows that will allow for cross ventilation can be helpful or better install a fan to circulate air. If you live in an area where humidity is a problem, a canvas flap may be installed as a door.

Dogs cope well with the elements.

Dogs have the body hair which acts as insulation. Short hair dogs and long haired dogs are both designed to keep warm in cold weather. Putting a heat source into a dog house isn’t necessary depending on you live. Comfort is crucial. Use reasonable judgement to make sure that your pet will be able to stand in a dog house under current weather conditions of the area you live in. Therefore, insulating a dog house wall isn’t necessary if you live in Florida but could definitely be a consideration if living further north. Proper installation of insulation can be a hazard as the dog may start pulling on it and inevitably eat some of it. Once again, careful thoughts and planning are necessary to create a succesful environment.

Size Matters

Since the dog’s body is going to keep the dog house warm, it does not make sense to build a dog house that is too big. Measure the dog’s size when he curls up for his nap and add a few inches; this should be a comfortable inside size for a dog house. Also add a few inches of height taller than its shoulder.

Other tips

Your local building supply store or lumber yard offers the supplies you need for your dog houses. Wood is the preferable material; make sure it is treated to prevent the growth of unwanted germs. Do not use cement floors as these tend to be cold during winters. Finish the dog house with pet accessories like bedding materials and pet toys. Pet accessories can be purchased at any of your local pet supply stores. Alternatively, there are many online stores that sell the pet accessories you need to have for your dog in his new happy home.

Symphony, Inc. presents a wealth of resources. Find out at www.symphonydoghouses.com.