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Friday, October 20, 2017

Can’t Sit, Won’t Sit: Getting Your Dog to Play Ball

Some dogs are naturally well-behaved. In just a few sessions, they’re able to sit and heel on command, calm down when they’re told to, and all-around be good, obedient members of the family. Then there are the other dogs, the free-spirited canines who never seem quite to understand that they’re not masters of their destiny. So what do you do if you find yourself looking after one of these pups? You don’t have to give in to their ways. Take our tips below, and you’ll have a happy dog that’s able to follow the rules in no time.




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Understand: Training is Good



It can often feel like you’re not making any progress with your pet, but all great journeys begin with small steps. If your dog is struggling to master the big changes you’re trying to instil in them, then start small. Your dog needs to learn that training can be good for them; they need to know, in other words, that good behaviour will be rewarded (and, to your dog, the best reward will be food). Once you’ve made that connection, they should be more malleable in your hands.


Be Consistent



You’d be surprised at one of the biggest barriers to your dog’s progress: it’s your family. They don’t mean to, but they might, unbeknownst to you, be undermining your progress. The key is to be consistent; if you have one rule for your dog, then the whole family need to have the same rule. You can’t blame a dog for failing to get a message if they’re receiving several different messages throughout the day; how will they know which one to follow?


Tricks of the Trade



If your dog is stubborn, there are a few things you can do. These will be either divided into bribing your dog so that they do what they’re told because they know there’s a reward waiting at the end; or you can outright trick them, as is the case with dogs who won’t take their medication. When that happens, you should use Vetiq pill pockets; they’ll swallow their pills purely because they think they’re getting a treat. For everything else, it’s about showing positivity and staying on top of the bad behaviours that can derail their progress.


Limit the Triggers



Your dog might have a natural tendency to go mad, but it won’t always just spring out from thin air. It’s possible that your dog has triggers that cause them, in one way or another, to temporarily lose their mind. If you can make a connection between these triggers and their madness, then you’ll be able to control their behaviour better. It’s not so much a long-lasting solution, but it’ll ensure you can get some peace for a while.


Be Patient


Finally, remember that you’re asking a lot from your dog. They’re not human, and you shouldn’t expect progress to be made overnight. Be patient; they’ll get it eventually. And if they don’t, you’ll still have a lovable - albeit slightly crazy - dog to play with.

5 Reasons Why Your Dog Has A Bad Appetite

Like humans, dogs too suffer eating disorders, which can be extremely distressing if you are a new pet owner. Generally, dogs are insatiable animals with a healthy appetite for food. And in most cases, they'll feed on basically anything you serve. For this reason, a dog that won't eat raises a lot of concern. There are several reasons for poor appetite in dogs. Knowing what might be the cause for that can help you remedy the situation. So, what are the main reasons why your dog won't eat?



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1. Medical Conditions

Poor appetite in dogs is a possible sign of an underlying health issue. Although this may not indicate what the problem is precisely, it's important to watch out for other symptoms.

Conditions and illnesses such as fungal infections, kidney failure, heartworm and lyme disease as well as cancer can cause dogs to avert eating. Not only will it impact on your dog's weight, but also its overall health. Take your dog for a checkup and inform your vet doctor on the symptoms you've noted.

2. Dental problems

If you've ever suffered a toothache then you probably understand how it feels trying to chomp something. Similarly, dogs with dental disease have difficult time eating, dry food in particular. But unlike humans, dogs cannot show pain. Hence the conditions usually go unnoticed.

Common dental issues in dogs include broken teeth, swollen gums, periodontal disease and gingivitis. To know if your dog has a tooth infection, check out for signs such as foul-smelling saliva, the presence of tooth abscess red gums among others.

3. Medication

Although vaccination is vital in managing diseases and ensuring your dog stays healthy, some drugs have undesirable side effects.

One usual side effect is lack of appetite, which is a temporary condition that should wear off after a few hours. If the condition persists, check with your vet for solutions. He or she will recommend effective medications for your furry friend. Be sure to learn more about the medications and their effects. For example, you want to read Advantix for dogs reviews to know other pet owners’ opinions.

4. Quality of food

While dogs occasionally become picky in what they eat, the quality of food they feed on also matter. If your dog is used to eat foods that are rich in protein, serving  it something different can cause them to avert eating altogether.

Go for quality dog food that has the special ingredients your canine is used to. If you are thinking of introducing a different food, feed it in small amounts until it develops a taste for it. Another reason why your dog might be avoiding food it's because the food is spoiled. So, when shopping for pet food, ensure it hasn't spoiled. Foods that have stayed long on the shelf tend to develop a different taste and smell. And dogs easily detect lousy food.

5. Unusual Surroundings and Routine

A new environment can make your dog not to eat. This is because unfamiliar places make dogs feel insecure and develop nervousness, which can hinder them from eating.

In some cases, changing your dog's feeding time or moving their feeding bowl to a different location can make them avert food, at least temporarily. Dogs are sensitive to their surroundings, and they thrive in familiar places. Until a dog feels secure again, that's when they'll eat.

A dog that has stopped eating is like a toddler refusing milk. It's worrisome and stressful to their owners. By noting abnormal signs and seeking expert advice, you can effectively handle the situation and get your dog back to healthy eating habits.

Author Amber Higgins

Author Amber Higgins
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Welcome UK and worldwide visitors and friends to Family Disaster Dogs online! Although I'm an American author and dog professional the worldwide web has given me the opportunity to connect with some wonderful folks who have contributed pictures for my books. The "Start Mantrailing" book features RRI K9 North Scotland trained Search and Rescue Dog "Amber" on the cover and her teammates training in the book, plus American dogs using my training methods. A portion of sales of the Start Mantrailing book or copies were donated to RRI North Scotland. The children's picture book "My Puppy Can Find Me" has my daughter and bloodhound as illustrations by UK cartoonist Scotty King. You can find the books on Amazon UK or use the contact page to order from me. When you click the links will take you to your own county pages of this site.

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