Dog First Aid tips

By nature, dogs have a tendency to get into trouble - they get cut, hurt and sometimes even break bones. Dogs are impetuous animals and lack the reasoning skills of humans. So you are going to have to help guide your dog and keep him from harms way.
Always keep your dog on a leash when you are walking him outdoors to avoid any accidents which involve automobiles or other dogs. Keeping your dog on a lease prevents nasty bites and cuts as well as practicing to be a good neighbor.
Your own home can have dangers lurking for your dog. The kitchen should be closed off while you are cooking. Imagine how much damage to a dog's face can occur is they reach up to a pot of hot boiling water. Not to mention a dog in the kitchen while cooking could mean you trip over him and spill hot water or worse.
Do you have first aid information readily available should your do get sick or hurt? Let's start with heatstroke. Dogs can quickly become overheated in hot weather. If your dog does get heatstroke do not put him under cold water as this could put him into shock. Slowly lower the dog's body temperature with cool water and ice packs to the back of the neck and head. Also call your Veterinarian for advice.
There are many different types of injuries that can happen to your dog. Just remember to try and remain calm and always have your Veterinarians phone number close by and also the number for the ASPCA could also prove helpful.
Choking is one of the main injuries that dogs can suffer. Because dogs are always biting on things and they use their mouths to play with toys and anything else they find, they can easily choke.
If your dog is choking he may display symptoms of violent head shaking, gagging or even foaming from the mouth. His gums may turn grey or sometimes blue from lack of oxygen. Try to remove the object if you can see it but be careful. The most gentle, loving dog might try and bite you at a time like this when they are scared and in pain. ( by Dog Lovers Source )

Stopping Your Dog From Jumping Up

Many dogs jump up when greeting their owners, friends and other pets, but in many cases this is not behavior that should be encouraged. You, as the dog's owner, may not mind, but guests may well be annoyed, frightened or simply worried about hygiene issues of having a dog's face close to their own.
Some trainers have advocated kneeing a dog in the chest to stop it from jumping up. I DO NOT advise this - it may hurt the dog or your knees and it will almost certainly not cure the behavior. We need to look at the reason the dog responds and tackle the problem from its root.
The behavior usually begins with a trigger, such as a knock at the door or a doorbell ringing. The dog will be immediately alert and ready for a visitor - he thinks that it is his job to welcome a guest, to check a stranger, to keep the pack and the territory safe. This is where the problems begins, because it should be the owner who has the responsibility of welcoming, checking and maintaining safety, not the dog.
So, when the trigger occurs, put your dog away in another room. You have effectively controlled your dog's behavior and can now welcome your guest in your own way. You will have raised your status in the pack and reduced your dog's, showing him that you are in control of who enters the house and in what manner they are greeted. You will also have saved your guest from being jumped on!
When your dog is allowed through to see your guest, do this in a controlled manner and don't allow him to jump up. As soon as his behavior is anything less than acceptable, banish him to another room. He will soon realise that he must follow your rules if he wants to stay with you and the guest.
If your dog jumps up at you yourself when you come back home, there are two strategies for dealing with this. The first is to ignore your dog for a good five or ten minutes when you the enter the house. Don't look at him, don't speak to him and don't react if he does something to get your attention. Just turn away and ignore even bad behavior. He will be very confused at first, especially if you're in the habit of making a big fuss of him on entering the house, but after five to ten minutes he will settle down and maybe even lay down quietly. Then you can call him to you, praise him and give him a little treat.
If your dog jumps up at you, it's because he has been rewarded in some way for this behavior. Even being told off or shouted at can seem to be a reward to a dog that's desperate for attention. So when he jumps up, hold his front paws and keep him standing up on his back legs. Don't let him down and stretch him upwards a little. He will wriggle and want to get down, even mouth your hands to make you let go of his paws. Let go and reward him when he is back on the ground where he belongs.
If he jumps up again, go through the same procedure until he learns that jumping up produces a situation he doesn't find rewarding. You must be firm, kind and consistent to ensure that the message is being received loud and clear. ( by Justine Kay )

Don't Be A Dog Butler - Get A Dog Door!!

INTRODUCTION
The main benefit of a dog door is obvious: with the addition of a simple flap to your back door, your dog will be free to come and go from your house. With a dog door, you will no longer have to wake up before dawn to let your howling dog out. Whenever nature calls, your dog will be able to use your dog door to get to your backyard. And while it is not a substitute for walks and games of fetch, allowing your dog to go outside when it wants to run around will help your dog maintain its health.
PROBLEMS WITH MANUAL DOG DOORS
There are some potential problems with having a dog door, however. A manual dog door, a simple wooden or plastic flap installed in a wall or door at ground level, can cause a host of problems. The main problem is that, in the process of allowing your dog to come and go when it wants, you could also be opening your house up to anything else that can fit through the dog door. Stray dogs and cats have been known to wander into houses through the open flap. Also, if you have multiple pets, it will be difficult to allow only some of them to use the door. And if the hole is sufficiently large, a bugler could use it to gain access to your house.
ELECTRONIC AND MAGNETIC DOG DOORS
Getting an electronic or magnetic dog door can address many of the concerns you may have with a manual flap. With an electronic dog door, the door remains bolted shut until an infrared key attached to your dog's collar triggers it. Similarly, a strong magnet on your dog's collar would unlatch a magnetic door. While more expensive, an electronic or magnetic dog door will help ensure that it is only your dog that is making it into or out of your house. Indeed, electronic dog doors can even be attached to your home security system.
THINGS TO THINKS ABOUT BEFORE YOU BUY A DOG DOOR
No matter what type of dog door you decide to install in your home, you should at a minimum consider the following features. For security purposes, it is best to get a dog door that can be securely locked. If you already have one that cannot be properly locked, you can purchase a pane that can drop into place over the hole.
A final consideration is your local climate and the potential loss of cold or hot air through the new hole in your door or wall. If you live in a fairly temperate area where you do not have to heat or cool your house, then this will not be a major concern. Otherwise, you should take steps to ensure that your dog door is properly insulated. This requires buying a dog door with thicker materials, and with a panel that forms a perfect seal when closed. In particularly harsh climates, you may want to consider purchasing a model with a double flap. ( by David Amos )

General Hitory of Dogs

Your male dog will appreciate the freedom you have given him in life through your decision to neuter. There are many behavioral and medical benefits to spaying and neutering your pet. You will also be doing your part in helping reduce this countries pet overpopulation problem. Millions of dogs and cats are euthanized each year because there are too many animals to adopt and not enough homes for them.
Below are some facts and medical benefits of neutering your male dog.
1. Your dog will have an 80% less chance of contracting Prostate Cancer.
2. Testicular Disease is practically eliminated.
3. Decrease in the desire to roam. Non-neutered male dogs can smell a female in heat up to a five mile radius and they will do just about anything to get to that female.
4. The desire to mark is eliminated. Non-neutered dogs feel the need to mark their territory to defend it from other dogs whether it is inside on your furniture or outside in your yard.
5. Decreased aggression against other animals. It decreases fights, thus saving you aggravation and expensive veterinary bills.
6. You will have a much calmer dog that is more motivated to please you rather than be preoccupied with undesirable sexual behavior.
7. The annoying problem of mounting the legs of children and adults is eliminated.
8. Dogs enter puberty around 6 months of age. Neutering is beneficial at any age but especially before your dog enters puberty. At puberty your dog will become more stuborn and protective so it is best to neuter before the negative behavioral problems start.
Below are some myths of neutering your male dog.
1. Neutering does not take away the male dogs ability to be a watch dog. He will be just as protective of his territory as he would be without the surgery.
2. Your dog will not become fat or lazy from the surgery. This will happen from too much food or not enough exercise.
3. The surgery will not hurt your dog. Neutering is a relatively painless procedure done by a licensed veterinarian.
Your dog will be free to love and please you and be a member of the family with improved health and behavior. Please do your part to help the millions of unwanted animals that are euthanized each year and neuter your male dog. ( J. Foley )